They prate and prattle pleasantly, As they rode on the way, To those that should their butchers be, And work their lives' decay. 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. 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. He took the children by the hand, Tears standing in their eye, And bade them straightway follow him, And look, they did not cry; [Illustration: THE CHILDREN DEAD.] [Illustration: THE UNCLE PUNISHED.] 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." These pretty babes, with hand in hand Went wandering up and down; But never more could see the man Approaching from the town. Thus wandered these poor innocents Till death did end their grief, In one another's arms they died, As wanting due relief: No burial this pretty pair Of any man receives, Till Robin Redbreast piously Did cover them with leaves. And now the heavy wrath of God Upon their uncle fell; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His conscience felt an hell: His barns were fired, his goods consumed, His lands were barren made, His cattle died within the field, And nothing with him stayed. And in the voyage to Portugal Two of his sons did die; And to conclude, himself was brought To want and misery. He pawned and mortgaged all his land Ere seven years came about, And now at length this wicked act Did by this means come out: The fellow that did take in hand These children for to kill, Was for a robbery judged to die, Such was God's blessed will. Who did confess the very truth, As here hath been displayed: Their uncle having died in jail, Where he for debt was laid. You that executors be made, And overseers eke Of children that be fatherless, And infants mild and meek; Take you example by this thing, And yield to each his right, Lest God with such like misery Your wicked minds requite. [Illustration: Book Cover (Back)] Transcriber's Note * Obvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired.