You May or You May Not Believe

You may or you may not believe
That soldiers have been known to thieve:
The question is not settled well
By what I am about to tell.
Frederick the Great was reigning, when
One of the bravest of his men
Before his majesty was call'd
By two grave priests, and sore appall'd;
For, in despite of every care, he
Took jewels from the Virgin Mary;
And on his person stow'd the same
Where she would never look, for shame.
So thought he; but each wily priest
W ould search the wicked knave undrest.
Down dropt the jewels. When they both
Told the same tale, the king, tho' loth
To hang him, very justly said,
" To-morrow, I am much afraid,
The soldier, thus accused, must bleed . .
Without your pardon."
No indeed,"
' said the king,
You, as true Catholics, will own
Mary can favour anyone."
"Beyond a doubt."
"And sometimes does it
Where no man ever could suppose it.
The Virgin may have bow'd from heaven,
And what he took she may have given:
For ladies always love the brave,
And Mary is the maid to save.
I can but order that no suitor
Accept from her such gifts in future."