[
  {
    "title": "26. John Barleycorn: A Ballad",
    "author": "Robert Burns",
    "lines": [
      "THERE was three kings into the east,",
      "  Three kings both great and high,",
      "And they hae sworn a solemn oath",
      "  John Barleycorn should die.",
      "",
      "",
      "They took a plough and plough’d him down,",
      "  Put clods upon his head,",
      "And they hae sworn a solemn oath",
      "  John Barleycorn was dead.",
      "",
      "",
      "But the cheerful Spring came kindly on,",
      "  And show’rs began to fall;",
      "John Barleycorn got up again,",
      "  And sore surpris’d them all.",
      "",
      "",
      "The sultry suns of Summer came,",
      "  And he grew thick and strong;",
      "His head weel arm’d wi’ pointed spears,",
      "  That no one should him wrong.",
      "",
      "",
      "The sober Autumn enter’d mild,",
      "  When he grew wan and pale;",
      "His bending joints and drooping head",
      "  Show’d he began to fail.",
      "",
      "",
      "His colour sicken’d more and more,",
      "  He faded into age;",
      "And then his enemies began",
      "  To show their deadly rage.",
      "",
      "",
      "They’ve taen a weapon, long and sharp,",
      "  And cut him by the knee;",
      "Then tied him fast upon a cart,",
      "  Like a rogue for forgerie.",
      "",
      "",
      "They laid him down upon his back,",
      "  And cudgell’d him full sore;",
      "They hung him up before the storm,",
      "  And turned him o’er and o’er.",
      "",
      "",
      "They filled up a darksome pit",
      "  With water to the brim;",
      "They heaved in John Barleycorn,",
      "  There let him sink or swim.",
      "",
      "",
      "They laid him out upon the floor,",
      "  To work him farther woe;",
      "And still, as signs of life appear’d,",
      "  They toss’d him to and fro.",
      "",
      "",
      "They wasted, o’er a scorching flame,",
      "  The marrow of his bones;",
      "But a miller us’d him worst of all,",
      "  For he crush’d him between two stones.",
      "",
      "",
      "And they hae taen his very heart’s blood,",
      "  And drank it round and round;",
      "And still the more and more they drank,",
      "  Their joy did more abound.",
      "",
      "",
      "John Barleycorn was a hero bold,",
      "  Of noble enterprise;",
      "For if you do but taste his blood,",
      "  ’Twill make your courage rise.",
      "",
      "",
      "’Twill make a man forget his woe;",
      "  ’Twill heighten all his joy;",
      "’Twill make the widow’s heart to sing,",
      "  Tho’ the tear were in her eye.",
      "",
      "",
      "Then let us toast John Barleycorn,",
      "  Each man a glass in hand;",
      "And may his great posterity",
      "  Ne’er fail in old Scotland!"
    ],
    "linecount": "60"
  }
]