XII.
So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murder's heart relent:
And they that undertook the deed,
Full sore did now repent.
Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him
Had paid him very large.
XIII.
The other won't agree thereto,
So here they fall to strife;
With one another they did fight
About the children's life;
And he that was of mildest mood,
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood:
The babes did quake for fear!
XIV.
He took the children by the hand,
Tears standing in their eye,
And bade them straightway follow him,
And look they did not cry;
And two long miles he led them on,
While they for food complain:
"Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread
When I come back again."
XV.
These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and down;
But never more could see the man
Approaching from the town:
Their pretty lips with blackberries
Were all besmeared and dyed,
And when they saw the darksome night?
They sat them down and cried.
