Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS.
High fteward of this noble realme ;
Lord Albret was his name.
He had to wife a princelye dame,
Whofe beauty did excell.
219
This virtuous lady, being with child, 15
In fudden fadnefs fell
For thirty nights no fooner fleepe
Had clos'd her wakeful eyes,
But, lo ! a foul and fearful dreame
:
Her fancy did furprize : 20
She dreamt a dragon fierce and fell
Conceiv'd within her womb ;
Whofe mortal fangs her body rent
Ere he to life could come.
All woe-begone, and fad was me ; 35
She nouriiht conflant woe :
Yet ftrove to hide it from her lord,
Left he mould forrow know.
In Vain me ftrove, her tender lord,
Who watch'd her High tell look, 3©
Difcoverd foon her fecret paine,
And foon that paine partook.
And when to him the fearful caufe
She weeping did impart,
With