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Lickbarrow v. Mason.
293

Then, as they sailed, did Turings take the bills;
And two he gave to Freeman, who with joy
Received them, nor by him to be outdone
In knightly courtesy, he turned and gave
Bills of exchange to Turings for the price.
So the days passed, and the moon waxed and waned,
And August days grew shorter, and the barge
Yet sailed apace. But Freeman meanwhile sold
To Lickbarrow of Liverpool his corn,
The corn that lay within the vessel's hold,
And sent his bills of lading, and assigned
Them duly over, and Lickbarrow paid
His price. But Freeman, ill at ease, and grave
With many cares, and bearing now the pain
Of former loss, was bankrupt. Turings heard
And shuddered; his acceptances as yet
Were not matured, and lost was this his wealth.
Yet rallying, as becomes a noble knight,
Wise in the tent as valiant in the field,
He seized the bill of lading he retained,
And sent it in hot haste to England's shore,
To Liverpool, to Mason; and he said:
"My hour of need is come; friend, be my friend
In this my travail. Get ye down with speed
To where the water beats upon the land,
And oozes black by the far stretching quays,
And where ye see the fair Endeavour lie,
There haste ye. Take the corn she groaning bears—
My corn it is—and sell it; yet unpaid
Am I; and send the money ye acquire."
And Mason, ever faithful to his charge
Stayed not to question, did as Turings bid.
Then said Sir Holmes, seeing in Mason's hand
The bill of lading, "Sir, so let it be
As ye would have it. I have done my deed
Do ye what resteth." So he gave the corn,
And Mason took, and sold it, in despite
Of Lickbarrow, who, turning, strove and cried:
"Wrong, bitter wrong and foul despite ye do,
As though the land were kingless, or as though
Rough Might ruled o'er us. Sirs, the corn was mine;