Roman nobleman, and cruel blackmoor in the wood

THE

Roman Nobleman,

AND CRUEL

Blackmoor

In the Wood.

AN ANCIENT BALLAD.

FALKIRK:

Printed by T. Johnston, 1814.

THE
BLACKAMOOR IN THE WOOD:

---

In Rome a Nobleman did wed
a Virgin of great fame,
A fairer creaturer never did
dame Nature ever frame,
By whom he had two children fair,
whoſe beauty did excel,
And were their parents' only joy,
they lov'd them both ſo well.
This Lord he lov'd to hunt the buck,
the tyger and the boar,
And ſtill for ſwiftneſs always took,
with him a Blackamoor:
Which Blackamoor within the wood,
his Lord he did offend;
For which he did him then correct,
in hopes he would amend.
The day it drew unto an end,
then homeward they did haſte,
Where with his Lady he did reſt,
until the night had paſt.
Then in the morning he did riſe,
and on his ſervants call,
A-hunting to provide to go;
ſtraight they were ready all.
Cause of his toil, his lady did
intreat him not to go,
Alas! good Lady, then quoth he,
why art thou grieved ſo?
Content thyſelf, I will return
to thee with ſpeed again.
Good father, quoth the little babes,
with us here ſtill remain.
Farewel, dear children, I will go
and ſomething to you buy;
But they herewith no whit content,
aloud began to cry.
Their mother took them by the hand,
ſaying, Come along with me,
Unso the higheſt tower, where
your father you ſhall ſee.
The Blackamoor perceiving now
(who then did ſtand behind,)
His Lord a-hunting to be gone,
began to call to mind,
My maſter he did me correct,
my fault not being great;
Now on his wife I'll be reveng'd,
he ſhall not me intreat.
The place was moated round about,
the bridge he did updraw,
The gates he bolted very ſtrong,
of none he ſtood in awe;
He up into the tower went,
the Lady being there,
Which when ſhe ſaw his count'nance grim,
ſhe ſtraight began to fear!
But now my trembling heart it quakes,
to think that I muſt write!
My ſenſes all begin to faint,
my ſoul it doth affright!
Yet I muſt make an end of this,
which I have here begun,
Which will melt the hardeſt heart,
before that I have done!
The wretch unto this Lady went,
and her with ſpeed did will,
His luſt forthwith to ſatisfy,
his mind for to fulfil!
The Lady ſhe amazed was,
to hear the villain ſpeak!
Alas! quoth ſhe, what will I do?
with grief my heart will break!
With that he took her in his arms,
the ſtraight for help did cry:
Content yourſelf, Lady, quoth he,
your huſband is not nigh;
The bridge is drawn, the gate is ſhut,
therefore come lie with me,
Or elſe I do proteſt and vow,
thy butcher I will be.
The chryſtal tears run from her checks,
her children cry'd amain,
And fought to help their mother dear,
but, alas! all was in vain.
For the egregious filthy rogue,
her hands behind her bound,
And then perforce with all his ſtrength
he threw her to the ground.
With that the ſhriek'd, her children cry'd,
and such a noiſe did make,
The townſmen hearing their lament,
did ſeek their part to take;
But all in vain, no way they found
to aid the Lady's need,
Who cry'd to them moſt piteouſly,
Oh! help, oh! help with ſpeed!
Some ran into the foreſt wide,
his Lord home for to call,
And they that stood did still lament
the gallant Lady's fall.
With ſpeed his Lord came poſting home,
but could not enter in;
His Lady's cries did pierce his heart!
to call he did begin:
Hold thy hand, thou ſavage Moor,
to hurt her do forbear,
Or elſe be sure, if I do live,
wild horſes ſhall thee tear!
With that the rogue ran to the wall,
he having had his will,
And brought one child under his arm,
his deareſt blood to ſpill.
The child ſeeing his father there,
to him for help did call,
O father, help my mother dear,
we ſhall be killed all!
Then fell the Lord upon his knees,
and did the Moor intreat
To ſave the life of his poor child,
whoſe fear as then was great.
But the vile wretch the little child
by both the heels did take,
And daſh'd its brains againſt the wall,
while parents' hearts did quake.
That being dead he ſtraightway ran.
the other child to fetch,
And pluckt it from its mother's breaſt,
most like a cruel wretch:
Into one hand a knife he brought,
the child into the other,
And holding it over the wall,
ſaid, Thus die ſhall thy mother.
With that he cut the throat of it!
to its father he did call,
To look how he the head had cut,
that down the brains did fall!!!
This done, he' throws it o'er the wall,
into the moat ſo deep;
Which made his father wring his hands,
and grievouſly to weep!
Then to the Lady went this rogue,
who was near dead with fear!
Yet the vile wretch moſt cruelly
did drag her by the hair,
And drew her to the very wall!
which when her Lord did ſee,
Then preſently he cried out,
and fell upon his knee:
Quoth he, If thou wilt ſave her life,
whom I do hold ſo dear,
I will forgive thee all that's paſt,
tho' they concern me uear.
O ſave her life, I thee beſeech!
O ſave her life, I pray!
And I will give thee what thou wilt,
demand of me this day.
Well, quoth the Moor, I do regard
the moan that thou doſt make,
If thou wilt grnnt what I requeſt,
I'll save her for thy ſake.
O ſave her life! and now demand
of me what thing thou wilt:
Cut off thy noſe, and not one drop
of her blood ſhall be ſpilt.
With that this noble Lord did take
a knife into his hand,
And there his noſe did quite cut off,
in place where he did ſtand.
Now I have bought my Lady's life,
then to the Moor did call:
Then take her, quoth the wicked rogue,
and down he let her fall!
Which when this gallant Lord did ſee,
his ſenſes all did fail!
Tho' many fought to ſave his life,
yet all could not prevail.
When as the Moor did ſee him dead,
then he did laugh amain
At them who for his gallant Lord
and Lady did complain.
Quoth he, I know you'll torture me,
if that ye could me get,
But all your threats I do not fear,
nor yet regard one whit.
Wild horſes ſhould my body tear,
I know it to be true;
But I'll prevent you of that pain,
then down himſelf he threw!
To good a death for ſuch a wretch,
a villain void of fear:
And thus doth end as ſad a tale,
as ever man did hear.

FINIS.