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

XVlll ANCIENT SONGS
P A R T II.
Sir Lybius fets out on the adventure : he is derided
by the dwarf and the damfel on account of his youth :
they come to the bridge ofPerill, which none can pafs
without encountering a knight called William de la
Braunch. Sir Lybius is challenged : they juft with their
fpears : DelaBraunchisdifmounted: the battle is renewed
on foot : Sir William's fword breaks : he yields. Sir
Lybius makes him fwear to go and prefent himfelf
to K. Arthur, as the firft-fruits of his valour. The
conquered knight fets out for K. Arthur's court : is
met by three knights, his relations : who, informed
of his difgrace, vow revenge, and purfue the conqueror.
The next day they overtake him : the eldeft of
the three attacks Sir Lybius : but is overthrown to the
ground. The two other brothers affault him : Sir Lybius
is wounded ; yet cuts off the fecond brother's arm
the third yields : Sir Lybius fends them all to K. Arthur.
In the third evening he is awaked by the dwarf,
who has difcovered a fire in a wood.
Part III.
Sir Lybius arms himfelf, and leaps on horfeback :
finds two Giants roafting a wild boar, who have a fair
Lady their captive. Sir Lybius, by favour of the night,
runs one of them through with his fpear : is afiaulted
by the
giant's
other : a fierce battle enfues : he cuts off the
arm, and at length his head. The refcued
Lady (an Earl's daughter) tells him her flory ; and leads
him to her father's caflle : who entertains him with a
great feaft ; and prefents him at parting with a fuit of armour
and aileed. He fends the giant's head to K.Arthur.
Par t IV.
Sir Lybius, maid Ellen, and the dwarf, renew their
journey : they fee a caitle ftuck round with human
heads ; and are informed it belongs to a knight called
Sir Geiferon, who, in honour of his lemman or miftrefs,
challenges all comers : He that can produce a fairer
lady, is to be rewarded with a milk-white faulcou, bur
he
if