But lo! all in his abfence came

Two hungry lyons fierce and fell, And tore the eunuch on the fame

In pieces fmall, the truth to tell; Down by the lady then they laid, Whereby they fhew'd, fhe was a maid.

But when he came from hunting back,
And did behold this heavy chance,

Then for his lovely virgin's fake

His courage ftrait he did advance,

235

240

Now when St. George did furely know
This lady was a virgin true,

His heart was glad, that erst was woe,

255

And all his love did foon renew:

He fet her on a palfrey steed,

And towards England came with speed.

Where

Where being in fhort fpace arriv'd
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 fee,
And led their lives at Coventry.

260

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

Where the midge dares not venture,

Left herself fast she lay;

If love come, he will enter,
And foon find out his way.

You may esteem him

A child for his might;

Or you may deem him

A coward from his flight;

But if the, whom love doth honour,
Be conceal'd from the day,

Set a thousand guards upon her,

Love will find out the way.

15

20

IV.

LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET,

A SCOTTISH BALLAD,

-feems to be compofed (not without improvements) 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 bardly have adopted two fuch different flories: befides, this contains enlargements not to be found in either of the others. It is given with Jome corrections, from a MS. copy tranfmitted from Scotland.

L

ORD Thomas and fair Annet

Sate a' day on a hill;

Whan night was cum, and fun was sett,
They had not talkt their fill.

Lord Thomas faid a word in jeft,

Fair Annet took it ill:

A'! I will nevir wed a wife

Against my ain friends will.

Gif

The nut-browne bride haes gowd and
Fair Annet she has gat nane;

And the little beauty fair Annet haes,
O it wull foon be gane!

And he has till his brother gane :

Now brother rede ye mee;

A' fall I marrie the nut-browne bride,

And let fair Annet bee?

gear,

20

The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother,

25

The nut-browne bride has kye;

I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,

And caft fair Annet bye.

Her oxen may dye i' the house, Billie,