Page:Poems and ballads (IA balladspoems00swinrich).pdf/144

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A BALLAD OF FRANÇOIS VILLON.

On that frail flesh and soul consumed with flame,
But left more sweet than roses to respire,
Villon, our sad bad glad mad brother's name?

envoi.

Prince of sweet songs made out of tears and fire,

A harlot was thy nurse, a God thy sire;
Shame soiled thy song, and song assoiled thy shame.
But from thy feet now death has washed the mire,
Love reads out first at head of all our quire,
Villon, our sad bad glad mad brother's name.