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

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ANCIENT SONGS
IV.
KING ARTHUR'S DEATH.
A Fragment.
The fubjecl of this ballad is evidently taken from the old
romance Morte Arthur, but withfome variations, efpecially
in the concluding Jianzas ; in which the author Jeems ra-
4 her to follow the traditions of the old Weljh Bards, who
(< believed that King Arthur was not dead, but conveied
*' awaie by the Fairies into fome pieafant place, where he
* ' jhoidd remainefor a time, and then returne againe and
" reign in as great authority as ever.'''' Holingjhed*
B, 5. c. 14. or as it is expreffed in an old Chronicle
printed at Antwerp 1493 by Ger. de Leew, " The Bre-
' tons fuppofen, that he \K. Arthur] — Jhall come yet and
e
conquere all Bretaigne, for certes this is the prophieye of
c
Merlyn : Hefay d, that his dethJhall be doubteous ; and
1
faydfeth, for men thereofyet have doubte, and' Jhullenfor
' ever more, -for men wyt not whether that he lyveth
' oris dede." See more ancient tejlimonies in Selden's Notes
on Polyolbion, Song III.
Thisfragment being very incorreel and imperfedl in the
original MS. hath receivedJome cc nj eelural emendations, and
even a fuppleinent of 3 or 4 fanzas compofed from the romance
o/Morte Arthur.
ON
Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,
This fore battayle was doom'd to bee
Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye
Alacke, it was the more pittie.
; !
Ere