II.

ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.

The following ballad is given (with some corrections) from two ancient black-letter copies in the _Pepys Collection_: one of which is in 12mo., the other in folio.

* * * * *

[The story of _St. George and the Dragon_ is found in many forms in the northern languages.]

* * * * *

Of Hector's deeds did Homer sing; And of the sack of stately Troy, What griefs fair Helena did bring, Which was sir Paris' only joy: And by my pen I will recite 5 St. George's deeds, and English knight.

Against the Sarazens so rude Fought he full long and many a day, Where many gyants he subdu'd, In honour of the christian way: 10 And after many adventures past To Egypt land he came at last.

Now, as the story plain doth tell, Within that countrey there did rest A dreadful dragon fierce and fell, 15 Whereby they were full sore opprest; Who by his poisonous breath each day, Did many of the city slay.

The grief whereof did grow so great Throughout the limits of the land, 20 That they their wise-men did intreat To shew their cunning out of hand; What way they might this fiend destroy, That did the countrey thus annoy.

The wise-men all before the king 25 This answer fram'd incontinent; The dragon none to death might bring By any means they could invent: His skin more hard than brass was found, That sword nor spear could pierce nor wound. 30

When this the people understood, They cryed out most piteouslye, The dragon's breath infects their blood, That every day in heaps they dye: Among them such a plague it bred, 35 The living scarce could bury the dead.

No means there were, as they could hear, For to appease the dragon's rage, But to present some virgin clear, Whose blood his fury might asswage; 40 Each day he would a maiden eat, For to allay his hunger great.

This thing by art the wise-men found, Which truly must observed be; Wherefore throughout the city round 45 A virgin pure of good degree

Was by the king's commission still Taken up to serve the dragon's will.

Thus did the dragon every day Untimely crop some virgin flowr, 50 Till all the maids were worn away, And none were left him to devour: Saving the king's fair daughter bright, Her father's only heart's delight.

Then came the officers to the king 55 That heavy message to declare, Which did his heart with sorrow sting; She is, quoth he, my kingdom's heir: O let us all be poisoned here, Ere she should die, that is my dear. 60

Then rose the people presently, And to the king in rage they went; They said his daughter dear should dye, The dragon's fury to prevent: Our daughters all are dead, quoth they, 65 And have been made the dragon's prey:

And by their blood we rescued were, And thou hast sav'd thy life thereby; And now in sooth it is but faire, For us thy daughter so should die. 70 O save my daughter, said the king; And let ME feel the dragon's sting.

Then fell fair Sabra on her knee, And to her father dear did say, O father, strive not thus for me, 75 But let me be the dragon's prey; It may be, for my sake alone This plague upon the land was thrown.

Tis better I should dye, she said, Than all your subjects perish quite; 80 Perhaps the dragon here was laid, For my offence to work his spite: And after he hath suckt my gore, Your land shall feel the grief no more.

What hast thou done, my daughter dear, 85 For to deserve this heavy scourge? It is my fault, as may appear, Which makes the gods our state to purge; Then ought I die, to stint the strife, And to preserve thy happy life. 90

Like mad-men, all the people cried, Thy death to us can do no good; Our safety only doth abide In making her the dragon's food. Lo! here I am, I come, quoth she, 95 Therefore do what you will with me.

Nay stay, dear daughter, quoth the queen, And as thou art a virgin bright, That hast for vertue famous been, So let me cloath thee all in white; 100 And crown thy head with flowers sweet, An ornament for virgins meet.

And when she was attired so, According to her mother's mind, Unto the stake then did she go; 105 To which her tender limbs they bind: And being bound to stake a thrall She bade farewell unto them all.

Farewell, my father dear, quoth she, And my sweet mother meek and mild; 110 Take you no thought nor weep for me, For you may have another child:

Since for my country's good I dye, Death I receive most willinglye.

The king and queen and all their train 115 With weeping eyes went then their way, And let their daughter there remain, To be the hungry dragon's prey: But as she did there weeping lye, Behold St. George came riding by. 120

And seeing there a lady bright So rudely tyed unto a stake, As well became a valiant knight, He straight to her his way did take: Tell me, sweet maiden, then quoth he, 125 What caitif thus abuseth thee?

And, lo! by Christ his cross I vow, Which here is figured on my breast, I will revenge it on his brow, And break my lance upon his chest: 130 And speaking thus whereas he stood, The dragon issued from the wood.

The lady that did first espy The dreadful dragon coming so, Unto St. George aloud did cry, 135 And willed him away to go; Here comes that cursed fiend, quoth she; That soon will make an end of me.

St. George then looking round about, The fiery dragon soon espy'd, 140 And like a knight of courage stout, Against him did most fiercely ride; And with such blows he did him greet, He fell beneath his horse's feet.

For with his launce that was so strong, 145 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. 150

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, 155 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, Which to their hearts much joy did yield. 160 He in the court of Egypt staid Till he most falsely was betray'd.

That lady dearly lov'd the knight, He counted her his only joy; 165 But when their love was brought to light It turn'd unto their great annoy: Th' Morocco king was in the court, Who to the orchard did resort,

Dayly to take the pleasant air, 170 For pleasure sake he us'd to walk, Under a wall he oft did hear St. George with lady Sabra talk: Their love he shew'd unto the king, Which to St. George great woe did bring. 175

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, 180 And treacherously his blood to spill.

Thus they for good did him reward With evil, and most subtilly By much vile meanes they had regard To work his death most cruelly; 185 Who, as through Persia land he rode, With zeal destroy'd each idol god.

For which offence he straight was thrown Into a dungeon dark and deep; Where, when he thought his wrongs upon, 190 He bitterly did wail and weep: Yet like a knight of courage stout, At length his way he digged out.

Three grooms of the king of Persia By night this valiant champion slew, 195 Though he had fasted many a day; And then away from thence he flew On the best steed the sophy had; Which when he knew he was full mad.

Towards Christendom he made his flight, 200 But met a gyant by the way, With whom in combat he did fight Most valiantly a summer's day: Who yet, for all his bats of steel, Was forc'd the sting of death to feel. 205

Back o'er the seas with many bands Of warlike souldiers soon he past, Vowing upon those heathen lands To work revenge; which at the last, Ere thrice three years were gone and spent, 210 He wrought unto his heart's content.

Save onely Egypt land he spar'd For Sabra bright her only sake, And, ere for her he had regard, He meant a tryal kind to make: 215 Mean while the king o'ercome in field Unto saint George did quickly yield.

Then straight Morocco's king he slew, And took fair Sabra to his wife, But meant to try if she were true 220 Ere with her he would lead his life: And, tho' he had her in his train, She did a virgin pure remain.

Toward England then that lovely dame The brave St. George conducted strait, 225 An eunuch also with them came, Who did upon the lady wait; These three from Egypt went alone. Now mark St. George's valour shown.

When as they in a forest were, 230 The lady did desire to rest; Mean while St. George to kill a deer, For their repast did think it best: Leaving her with the eunuch there, Whilst he did go to kill the deer. 235

But lo! all in his absence came Two hungry lyons fierce and fell, And tore the eunuch on the same In pieces small, the truth to tell; Down by the lady then they laid, 240 Whereby they shew'd, she was a maid.

But when he came from hunting back, And did behold this heavy chance, Then for his lovely virgin's sake His courage strait he did advance, 245

And came into the lions sight, Who ran at him with all their might.

Their rage did him no whit dismay, Who, like a stout and valiant knight, Did both the hungry lyons slay 250 Within the lady Sabra's sight: Who all this while sad and demure, There stood most like a virgin pure.

Now when St. George did surely know This lady was a virgin true, 255 His heart was glad, that erst was woe, And all his love did soon renew: He set her on a palfrey steed, And towards England came with speed.

Where being in short space arriv'd 260 Unto his native dwelling-place; Therein with his dear love he liv'd, And fortune did his nuptials grace: They many years of joy did see, And led their lives at Coventry. 265