Journey to Manhood

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Ballad of the Goodly Fere

Ha’ we lost the goodliest fere [mate] o’ all
For the priests and the gallows tree?
Aye lover he was of brawny men,
O’ships and the open sea.

When they came wi’ a host to take Our Man
His smile was good to see,
“First let these go!” quo’ our Goodly Fere,
“Or I’ll see ye damned,” says he.

Aye he sent us out through the crossed high spears
And the scorn of his laugh rang free,
“Why took ye not me when I walked about
Alone in the town?” says he.

Oh we drunk his “hale” in the good red wine
When we last made company,
No capon priest was the Goodly Fere
But a man o’men was he.

I ha’ seen him drive a hundred men
Wi’ a bundle o’ cords swung free,
That they took the high and holy house
For their pawn and treasury

I ha’ seen him cow a thousand men
On the hills o’ Galilee,
They wined as he walked out calm between,
Wi’ his eyes like the grey o’ the sea,

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging
With the winds unleashed and free,
Like the sea that he cowed at Genseret
Wi’ twey words spoke’ suddenly.

A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea,
If they think they ha’ slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.

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