JohnBarleycorn:ABallad

johnbarleycorn:aballad

therewasthreekingsintotheeast,

threekingsbothgreatandhigh,

andtheyhaeswornasolemnoath

johnbarleycornshoulddie.

theytookaploughandplough'dhimdown,

putclodsuponhishead,

andtheyhaeswornasolemnoath

johnbarleycornwasdead.

butthecheerfulspringcamekindlyon,

andshow'rsbegantofall;

johnbarleycorngotupagain,

andsoresurpris'dthemall.

thesultrysunsofsummercame,

andhegrewthickandstrong;

hisheadweelarm'dwi'pointedspears,

thatnooneshouldhimwrong.

thesoberautumnenter'dmild,

whenhegrewwanandpale;

hisbendingjointsanddroopinghead

show'dhebegantofail.

hiscoloursicken'dmoreandmore,

hefadedintoage;

andthenhisenemiesbegan

toshowtheirdeadlyrage.

they'vetaenaweapon,longandsharp,

andcuthimbytheknee;

thentiedhimfastuponacart,

likearogueforforgerie.

theylaidhimdownuponhisback,

andcudgell'dhimfullsore;

theyhunghimupbeforethestorm,

andturnedhimo'erando'er.

theyfilledupadarksomepit

withwatertothebrim;

theyheavedinjohnbarleycorn,

therelethimsinkorswim.

theylaidhimoutuponthefloor,

toworkhimfartherwoe;

andstill,assignsoflifeappear'd,

theytoss'dhimtoandfro.

theywasted,o'erascorchingflame,

themarrowofhisbones;

butamillerus'dhimworstofall,

forhecrush'dhimbetweentwostones.

andtheyhaetaenhisveryheart'sblood,

anddrankitroundandround;

andstillthemoreandmoretheydrank,

theirjoydidmoreabound.

johnbarleycornwasaherobold,