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

302 ANCIENT SONGS
This being done he did engage
To hew the dragon down ;
But firfr he went, new armour to
Befpeak at Sheffield town ;
With fpikes all about, not within but without,
Of fteel fo fharp and flrong ;
Both behind and before, arms, legs, and all o'er
Some five or fix inches long. 80
Had you but feen him in this drefs,
How fierce he look'd and how big,
You would have thought him for to be
Some Egyptian porcupig
He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all, 85
Each cow, each horfe, and each hog :
For fear they did flee, for they took him to be
Some ftrange outlandifh hedge-hog.
To fee this fight, all people then
Got up on trees and houfes, 90
On churches fome, and chimneys too 5
But thefe put on their trowfes,
Not to fpoil their hofe. As foon as he rofe,
To make him ftrong and mighty,
He drank by the tale, fix pots of ale, 95
And a quart of aqua-vitas.
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75
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