For with his launce that was so strong, 145 Three grooms of the King of Persia As he came gaping in his face, In at his mouth he thrust along; For he could pierce no other place: And thus within the lady's view This mighty dragon straight he slew. The savour of his poisoned breath Could do this holy knight no harm. Thus he the lady sav'd from death, And home he led her by the arm; Which when King Ptolemy did see, There was great mirth and melody. When as that valiant champion there Had slain the dragon in the field, To court he brought the lady fair, 191 By night this valiant champion slew, 195 And then away from thence he flew 150 Which when he knew he was full mad. Towards Christendom he made his flight, 200 Most valiantly a summers day: 155 Who yet, for all his bats of steel, Which to their hearts much joy did yield. He in the court of Egypt staid Till he most falsely was betray'd. That lady dearly lov'd the knight, Dayly to take the pleasant air, For pleasure sake he us'd to walk, St. George with Lady Sabra talk: Those kings together did devise To make the Christian knight away, With letters him in curteous wise They straightway sent to Persia: But wrote to the sophy him to kill, And treacherously his blood to spill. 161 165 170 Then straight Morocco's king he slew, And took fair Sabra to his wife, But meant to try if she were true 176 Ere with her he would lead his life; And, tho' he had her in his train, She did a virgin pure remain. 220 Toward England then that lovely dame 180 These three from Egypt went alone. Love will find out the Way. THIS excellent song is ancient: but we could only give it from a modern copy. OVER the mountains, And over the waves; Under the fountains, But if she, whom love doth honour, Some think to lose him, By having him confin'd; Poor thing, to be blind; You may train the eagle Or you may inveigle IV. Ford Thomas and Fair Annet, A SCOTTISH BALLAD, And her kye into the byre; -SEEMS to be composed (not without im- | Her oxen may dye i' the house, Billie, provements) out of two ancient English ones, printed in the former part of this volume. See book I. ballad XV., and book II. ballad IV. If this had been the original, the authors of those two ballads would hardly have adopted two such different stories: besides this contains enlargements not to be found in either of the others. It is given, with some corrections, from a MS. copy transmitted from Scotland. And he has till his sister gane: Now, sister, rede ye mee; And set fair Annet free? Ise rede ye tak fair Annet, Thomas, No, I will tak my mithers counsel, 30 35 40 5 O rede, O rede, mither, he says, A gude rede gie to mee: Let us gae to St. Maries kirke, And see that rich weddeen. The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother, 25 The horse fair Annet rade upon The nut-browne bride has kye; I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride, He amblit like the wind, Wi' siller he was shod before, W' burning gowd behind. GO VI. George Barnwell. THE subject of this ballad is sufficiently popular from the modern play which is founded upon it. This was written by George Lillo, a jeweller of London, and first acted about 1730.-As for the ballad, it was printed at least as early as the middle of the last century. It is here given from three old printed copies, which exhibit a strange intermixture of Roman and black-letter. It is also collated with another copy in the Ashmole Collection at Oxford, which is thus entitled, "An excellent ballad of George Barnwell, an apprentice of London, who . . . thrice robbed his master and murdered his uncle in Ludlow." The tune is "The Merchant." This tragical narrative seems to relate a real fact; but when it happened I have not been able to discover. Which when I had declar'd, She gave me then a kiss, And said, if I would come to her I should have more than this. Fair mistress, then quoth I, If I the place may know, This evening I will be with you, For I abroad must go, To gather monies in, That are my master's due: And ere that I do home return I'll come and visit you. Good Barnwell, then quoth she, Do thou to Shoreditch come, And ask for Mrs. Millwood's house, Next door unto the Gun. And trust me on my truth, 30 35 THE FIRST PART. ALL youth of fair England Regard my story that I tell, And to my song give ear. A London lad I was, A merchant's prentice bound; My name George Barnwell; that did spend My master many a pound. |