Nor yet the man confound
For if thou do, like murderer
Thou here shall hanged be;
Likewise of flesh see that thou cut
No more than longs to thee;
For if thou take either more or lesse
To the value of a mite
Thou shall be hanged presently
As is both law and right.


It is reasonable to suppose the miser thereupon departed cursing the law
and leaving the merchant alive.

There is, also, a famous ballad called "King Leir and His Daughters,"
which embodies the story of Shakespeare's tragedy of _Lear_. It
commences thus:


So on a time it pleased the king
A question thus to move,
Which of his daughters to his grace
Could show the dearest love;
For to my age you bring content,
Quoth he, then let me hear,
Which of you three in plighted troth
The kindest will appear.
To whom the eldest thus began;
Dear father, mind, quoth she
Before your face to do you good,