THE LAST MAN.

I.

’Twas in the year two thousand and one,
A pleasant morning of May,
I sat on the gallows-tree, all alone,
A channting a merry lay,—­
To think how the pest had spared my life,
To sing with the larks that day!

II.

When up the heath came a jolly knave,
Like a scarecrow, all in rags: 
It made me crow to see his old duds
All abroad in the wind, like flags;—­
So up he came to the timber’s foot
And pitch’d down his greasy bags.—­

III.

Good Lord! how blythe the old beggar was! 
At pulling out his scraps,—­
The very sight of his broken orts
Made a work in his wrinkled chaps: 
“Come down,” says he, “you Newgate-bird,
And have a taste of my snaps!”—­

IV.

Then down the rope, like a tar from the mast,
I slided, and by him stood: 
But I wish’d myself on the gallows again
When I smelt that beggar’s food,—­
A foul beef bone and a mouldy crust;—­
“Oh!” quoth he, “the heavens are good!”

V.

Then after this grace he cast him down: 
Says I, “You’ll get sweeter air
A pace or two off, on the windward side”—­
For the felons’ bones lay there—­
But he only laugh’d at the empty skulls,
And offer’d them part of his fare.

VI.

“I never harm’d them, and they won’t harm me: 
Let the proud and the rich be cravens!”
I did not like that strange beggar man,
He look’d so up at the heavens—­
Anon he shook out his empty old poke;—­
“There’s the crumbs,” saith he, “for the ravens!”

VII.

It made me angry to see his face,
It had such a jesting look;
But while I made up my mind to speak,
A small case-bottle he took: 
Quoth he, “Though I gather the green water-cress,
My drink is not of the brook!”

VIII.

Full manners-like he tender’d the dram;
Oh it came of a dainty cask! 
But, whenever it came to his turn to pull,
“Your leave, good sir, I must ask;
But I always wipe the brim with my sleeve,
When a hangman sups at my flask!”

IX.

And then he laugh’d so loudly and long,
The churl was quite out of breath;
I thought the very Old One was come
To mock me before my death,
And wish’d I had buried the dead men’s bones
That were lying about the heath!

X