2 And as he was riding along, A riding along the highway, A gentleman-thief steps before the old man And thus unto him he did say. 3 ‘My friend, how dare you ride alone? For so many thieves there now be; If any should but light on you, They’d rob you of all your money.’ 4 ‘If that they should light upon me, I’m sure they’d be very ill-sped, For, to tell you the truth, my kind sir, In my saddle my money I’ve hid.’ 5 So as they were riding along, And going down a steep hill, The gentleman-thief slipped before the old man And quickly he bid him stand still. 6 The old man, however, being cunning, As in this world there are many, He threw the saddle right over the hedge, Saying, Fetch it if thou wouldst have any. 7 The thief being so greedy of money-- He thought that of it there’d been bags-- Whipt out a rusty old sword And chopped the saddle to rags. 8 The old man put his foot in the stirrup And presently he got astride; He put the thief’s horse to the gallop, You need not bid the old man ride. 9 ‘Nay, stay! nay, stay!’ says the thief, ‘And half the money thou shalt have;’ ‘Nay, by my troth,’ says the old man, ‘For once I have cheated a knave.’ 10 And so the old man rode along, And went with a merry devotion, Saying, If ever I live to get home, ‘Twill enlarge my daughter’s portion. 11 And having arrived at home, And got there with merry intent, Says he, Landlord, show me a room, And I’ll pay you your half-year’s rent. 12 They opened the thief’s portmanteau, And from it they took out so bold A hundred pounds in silver And a hundred pounds in gold. =c-f=, _the traditional copies, were beyond doubt all derived originally from print_. =c= _is from_ =a=; =d-f= _are from another edition, not recovered, resembling_ =b=. _This had variations, especially at the beginning and end, of which some specimens will suffice._ =d.= 1 Oh ’tis I that will sing you a song, A song of merry intent; ’Tis about a silly old man That was going to pay his rent. 2 And as he was riding along, Along and alone in a lane, A gentleman-thief overtook him, And said, Well overtaken, old man! 3 ‘You’re well overtaken, old man, You’re well overtaken by me;’ ‘Nay, further go,’ said the old man, ‘I’m not for thy company.’ 4, 6 _are wanting, as also in_ =e=, =f=, (_and in_ =b=). 8^{2-4} ‘He shall but poorly speed, For all the money I have In my old saddle ’tis hid.’ 19, 20 Oh, when that he came home, His daughter she looked like a duchess, And his old woman capered for joy, And danced him a gig on her crutches. =e.=