men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,
No help his life could save;
His wife by him as sick did lie,
And both were near the grave.

No love between these two was lost:
Each to the other kind;
In love they lived, in love they died,
And left two babes behind.

Now if the children chanced to die,
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth:
For so the will did run.

"Now brother," said the dying man,
"Look to my children dear;
Be good unto my boy and girl,
No friend else have they here."

[Illustration: Babes and Uncle at death-bed.]

Their parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,
And brings them both unto his house,
Where much of them he makes.

He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a day,
When, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both away.

He bargain'd with two ruffians bold,
Who were of savage mood,
That they should take the children twain,
And slay them in a wood.

They prate and prattle pleasantly
While riding on the way,
To those their wicked uncle hired,
These lovely babes to slay:

[Illustration: Babes and Ruffians on horse-back.]

So that the pretty speech they had,
Made the ruffians' heart relent;
And they that took the deed to do,
Full sorely did 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 would not agree thereto,
So here they fell at strife;
With one another they did fight,
About the children's life:

And he that was of milder mood,
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;
The babes did quake for fear!

[Illustration: Ruffian being killed.]

He took the children by the hand,
While they for bread complain:
"Stay here," said he, "I'll bring ye bread,
When I do come again."

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and down;
But never more they saw the man,
Approaching from the town:

[Illustration: Babes wandering.]

Thus wander'd these two pretty dears,
Till death did end their grief;
In one another's arms they died,
Poor babes, past all relief:

No burial these innocents
Of any man receives,
But robin red-breast lovingly
Did cover them with leaves.

[Illustration: Robin covering Babes with leaves.]

The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judged