The Lamentable Ballad of the Foundling of Shoreditch
The ballad begins with a doctor and his companion traveling by train. On one station, an ill-looking woman, carrying a small baby, enters their carriage, exclaiming that she is too lonely in first class. Feeling sorry for her poor condition, the doctor offers the woman his help, which she refuses, claiming to be merely sick from the motion of the train.
After a long journey, the train finally stops at Shoreditch and the woman, still pale and ill-looking, hands the doctor her baby so she can go outside to find the people who are picking her up. After kissing it gently and looking at it peculiarly however, the woman runs off, leaving the doctor and his companion confused and still holding the baby. They wait for over an hour for the woman to return, but finally leave to bring the baby to a female friend who discovers a large amount of money hidden in the baby’s clothing. She also finds a note that explains that the baby’s wealthy parents would pay whoever took the baby in.
Just as someone is found however, the doctor receives a note to send the baby back. Desperately, he goes to ask a judge for advice who tells him to leave the baby in Shoreditch and go back to his own home. In the end, the doctor however decides to stay with the baby.
The Ballad of Eliza Davis
The narrator, who recounts the story in a tipsy vernacular, tells the tale of a young housemaid called Eliza Davis who meets a sailor named Charley Thompson on the street. The sailor stops her to tell her that she reminds him of his sister and propositions her. Eliza, innocently believing that the sailor intends to marry her, begins an affair with him. Over time, the sailor introduces her to another woman, ostensibly his landlady, who vouches for his honor and they begin to ask Eliza questions about the people living in the household where she works.
One day, Thompson finally sends Eliza out to run an errand while he waits at her place and, as soon as she has left, he and his accomplice begin to rob the wealthy people Eliza serves. They are, however, caught by the landlord who calls for help. Several policemen, who were dutifully patrolling the area, finally manage to arrest Thompson and he is convicted soon after. The narrator joyfully ends the tale by proclaiming that he hopes Eliza has either learned her lesson of being too trusting or should maybe romance a policeman next.
Lines On A Late Hospicious Ewent
In the story, the narrator is strolling around when he suddenly hears familiar canon shots, signaling the birth of a royal child. Close by, he witnesses the arrival of several statesmen at the palace, among them the well-known Duke of Wellington, famous for defeating Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo. A nurse finally comes to the gates and informs the waiting men that a new prince has been born. The duke nostalgically remarks that today is his birthday too and the narrator briefly wonders how the duke must have been as a baby.
The next day, Prince Albert, the baby’s father, arrives at the duke’s house and informs him that, given that the little new-born prince and the duke share the same birthday, Queen Victoria has decided to name the prince after the duke, Arthur, and make him his godfather. Prince Albert fondly reminisces about the duke’s achievements and declares that the name, shared by the duke as well as the legendary King Arthur, will bring the little prince luck and good fortune.
