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

A N D B A L L A D S. 297
to which they allude. Thefe we have in vain endeavoured
to recover ; and are therefore obliged to acquiefce in the
common account ; namely, that this ballad alludes to a contejl
at law between an overgrown Tarkfhire attorney and a
neighbouring gentleman. The former, it jeems, had jlript
three orphans of their inheritance, and by his incroachments
and rapacioufnefs was become a nufance to the whole country
; when the latter generciify ejpoujed the caufe of the op-
prej/ed, and gained a complete vidiory over his antagonifi,
who with meer fpite and vexation broke his heart.
In handling this fubjeel the Author has brought in moji
of the common incidents which occur in Romance. The de-
• fcription of the dragon* his outrages the people
fiying to the knightfor fuccour— his care in chufing his armour—
his being dreft for fight by a young damfel—and
mojl of the circumjiances of the battle and viclory (allowing
for the burlefque turn given to them) are what occur
in every book of chivalry whether in profe or verfe.
If any one piece, more than other, is more particularly
levelled at, it feems to be the old rhiming legend of fir Be-
vis x There a Dragon is attacked from a Well in
manner not very remote from this of the ballad :
There nvas a well, fo have I wynne,
And Bevis ftionbled ryght therein.
# * #
Than vjas he glad without fayle,
And refied a why le for his avayle ;
And dranke of that vjater his fyll
And than he lepte out, with good cwyli >
And with Morglay his brande,
He affayled the dragon, I underfiande :
On the dragon he fmote fo fafie,
W'here that he hit the fcales brafte :
The dragon then fayntedfore,
And cajt a galon and more
Out of his mouthe of venim flrong,
And on fyr Bevis he'it flong ;
It was venymous y-wis.
See abevepag. 100. &p. 216,
;
This