For which offence he straight was thrown
Into a dungeon dark and deep;

Where, when he thought his wrongs upon,
He bitterly did wail and weep:

190

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,
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,

195

Towards Christendom he made his flight,
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.

200

He meant a tryal kind to make: Mean while the king, o'ercome in field,

215

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,

Ere with her he would lead his life; And, tho' he had her in his train,

220

She did a virgin pure remain.

Toward England then that lovely dame
The brave St. George conducted strait,

An eunuch also with them came,

225

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,
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.

230

III.

Love will find out the Way.

This excellent song is ancient: but we could only give it from a

seems to be composed (not without improvements) out of two ancient English ones, printed in this volume. See book vii., ballad xv.: and book viii., 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.

LORD THOMAS and fair Annet

Sate a' day on a hill;

Whan night was cum, and sun was sett,

They had not talkt their fill.

Lord Thomas said a word in jest,

Fair Annet took it ill:

"A'! I will nevir wed a wife

Against my ain friends will."

"Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee:"
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee:

"O rede, O rede, mither," he says,
"A gude rede gie to mee:

O sall I tak the nut-browne bride,
And let faire Annet bee?"