CARP-GOSSIP. 155 



THE CUNNING CARP AND THE CONTENTED 

 KNIGHT. 



(To the Tune of St. George and the Dragon.) 



" Within the wood a virgin ash 

 Had twenty summers seen ; 

 The elves and fairies marked it oft 



As they tripped on the green ; 

 But the woodman cut it with his axe, 



He cruelly fell'd it down, 

 A rod to make for the Knight of the Lake, 



A knight of no renown. 

 Turn and taper round, turner, 



Turn and taper round, 

 For my line is of the grey palfrey's tail, 

 And it is slender and sound. 



St. George he was for England, 

 St. Denis he was for France, 

 St. Patrick taught the Irishman 



To tune the merry harp. 

 At the bottom of this slimy pool, 



There lurks a crafty carp, 

 Were he at the bottom of my line, 

 How merrily he would dance. 



" In the Pacific Ocean 



There dwelt a mighty whale, 

 And o'er the waves from London town, 



There went a noble sail, 

 With hooks and crooks, and ropes and boats, 



'Twas furnished in and out, 

 Boat-steerers and bold harpoon eers, 



With sailors brave and stout : 



