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Reliques of Ancient English Poetry

consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other Pieces of our earlier Poets, (Chiefly of the Lyric kind.) Together with some few of later Date
Percy, Thomas (1729-1811)
  
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VOLUME THE FIRST.
  
[dedication]
  
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I.
 I. 
I THE ANCIENT BALLAD OF CHEVY-CHASE.
 II. 
II. THE BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE.
 III. 
III. THE JEW'S DAUGHTER,
 IV. 
IV. SIR CAULINE.
 V. 
V. EDWARD, EDWARD.
 VI. 
VI. KING ESTMERE.
 VII. 
VII. SIR PATRICK SPENCE,
 VIII. 
VIII. ROBIN HOOD AND GUY OF GISBORNE.
 IX. 
IX. AN ELEGY ON HENRY FOURTH EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
 X. 
X. THE TOWER OF DOCTRINE.
 XI. 
XI. THE CHILD OF ELLE
 XII. 
XII. ADAM O' GORDON,
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BOOK II.
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I. ADAM BELL, CLYM OF THE CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLY
 3. 
Part the Third.
 II. 
II. THE AGED LOVER RENOUNCETH LOVE.
 III. 
III. JEPHTHAH JUDGE OF ISRAEL.
 IV. 
IV. A SONG TO THE LUTE IN MUSICKE.
 V. 
V. KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR-MAID
 VI. 
VI. TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE
 VII. 
VII. WILLOW, WILLOW, WILLOW.
 VIII. 
VIII. SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE.
 IX. 
IX. CORYDON'S FAREWELL TO PHILLIS
 X. 
X. GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE.
 XI. 
XI. THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE.
 XII. 
XII. TITUS ANDRONICUS'S COMPLAINT.
 XIII. 
XIII. TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY.
 XIV. 
XIV. KING LEIR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS.
 XV. 
XV. YOUTH AND AGE
 XVI. 
XVI. THE FROLICKSOME DUKE, OR THE TINKER's GOOD FORTUNE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE FRIAR OF ORDERS GRAY.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE MORE MODERN BALLAD OF CHEVY CHACE.
 II. 
II. DEATH'S FINAL CONQUEST.
 III. 
III. THE RISING IN THE NORTH.
 IV. 
IV. NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS.
 V. 
V. MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS.
 VI. 
VI. THE PATIENT COUNTESS.
 VII. 
VII. THE GOLDEN MEAN.
 VIII. 
VIII. DOWSABELL.
 IX. 
IX. THE FAREWELL TO LOVE
 X. 
X. ULYSSES AND THE SYREN
 XI. 
XI. CUPID'S PASTIME.
 XII. 
XII. THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE.
 XIII. 
XIII. GILDEROY
 XIV. 
XIV. WINIFREDA.
 XV. 
XV. THE WITCH OF WOKEY
 XVI. 
XVI. BRYAN AND PEREENE,
 XVII. 
XVII. GENTLE RIVER, GENTLE RIVER.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. ALCANZOR AND ZAYDA,
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VOLUME THE SECOND.
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I.
 I. 
I. RICHARD OF ALMAIGNE
  
[note]
 II. 
II. ON THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD THE FIRST.
 III. 
III. AN ORIGINAL BALLAD BY CHAUCER.
 IV. 
IV. THE TURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM:
 V. 
V. FOR THE VICTORY AT AGINCOURT.
 VI. 
VI. THE NOT-BROWNE MAYD.
 VII. 
VII. A BALET BY THE EARL RIVERS.
 VIII. 
VIII. CUPID'S ASSAULT: BY LORD VAUX.
 IX. 
IX. SIR ALDINGAR.
 X. 
X. THE GABERLUNZIE MAN.
 XI. 
XI. ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.
 XII. 
XII. HARPALUS.
 XIII. 
XIII. ROBIN AND MAKYNE.
 XIV. 
XIV. GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME.
 XV. 
XV. K. EDWARD IV. AND TANNER OF TAMWORTH
 XVI. 
XVI. AS YE CAME FROM THE HOLY LAND.
 XVII. 
XVII. HARDYKNUTE.
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BOOK II.
 I. 
I. A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN.
 II. 
II. JOHN ANDERSON MY JO.
 III. 
III. LITTLE JOHN NOBODY.
 IV. 
IV. Q. ELIZABETH'S VERSES, WHILE PRISONER AT WOODSTOCK,
 V. 
V. THE HEIR OF LINNE.
 VI. 
VI. GASCOIGNE'S PRAISE OF THE FAIR BRIDGES, AFTERWARDS LADY SANDES,
 VII. 
VII. FAIR ROSAMOND.
 VIII. 
VIII. QUEEN ELEANOR'S CONFESSION.
 IX. 
IX. THE STURDY ROCK.
 X. 
X. THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALL-GREEN.
 XI. 
XI. FANCY AND DESIRE.
 XII. 
XII. SIR ANDREW BARTON.
 XIII. 
XIII. LADY ANNE BOTHWELL'S LAMENT.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE MURDER OF THE KING OF SCOTS.
 XV. 
XV. A SONNET BY Q. ELIZABETH.
 XVI. 
XVI. KING OF SCOTS AND ANDREW BROWNE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. YOUNG WATERS.
 XIX. 
XIX. MARY AMBREE.
 XX. 
XX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY.
 XXI. 
XXI. VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE WINNING OF CALES.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ARGENTILE AND CURAN
 XXV. 
XXV. CORIN'S FATE.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. JANE SHORE.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. CORYDON'S DOLEFUL KNELL.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE COMPLAINT OF CONSCIENCE.
 II. 
II. PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE.
 III. 
III. THE WANDERING JEW.
 IV. 
IV. THE LYE,
 V. 
V. VERSES BY KING JAMES I.
 VI. 
VI. K. JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY.
 VII. 
VII. YOU MEANER BEAUTIES.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE OLD AND YOUNG COURTIER.
 IX. 
IX. SIR JOHN SUCKLING'S CAMPAIGNE.
 X. 
X. TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON.
 XI. 
XI. THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS.
 XII. 
XII. LOYALTY CONFINED.
 XIII. 
XIII. VERSES BY K. CHARLES I.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE SALE OF REBELLIOUS HOUSHOLD-STUFF
 XV. 
XV. THE BAFFLED KNIGHT, OR LADY'S POLICY.
 XVI. 
XVI. WHY SO PALE?
 XVII. 
XVII. OLD TOM OF BEDLAM.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE DISTRACTED PURITAN,
 XIX. 
XIX. THE LUNATIC LOVER,
 XX. 
XX. THE LADY DISTRACTED WITH LOVE,
 XXI. 
XXI. THE DISTRACTED LOVER,
 XXII. 
XXII. THE FRANTIC LADY,
 XXIII. 
XXIII. LILLI BURLERO.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. THE BRAES OF YARROW,
 XXV. 
XXV. ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST
 XXVI. 
XXVI. JEMMY DAWSON.
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VOLUME THE THIRD.
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ANCIENT SONGS AND BALLADS, &c.
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BOOK I. BALLADS ON KING ARTHUR, &c.
 I. 
I. THE BOY AND THE MANTLE.
 II. 
II. THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE
 III. 
III. KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE.
 IV. 
IV. KING ARTHUR's DEATH.
 V. 
V. THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR.
 VI. 
VI. A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE.
 VII. 
VII. GLASGERION.
 VIII. 
VIII. OLD SIR ROBIN OF PORTINGALE.
 IX. 
IX. CHILD WATERS.
 X. 
X. PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.
 XI. 
XI. LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD.
 XII. 
XII. THE EW-BUGHTS MARION.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE SHEPHERD'S ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE.
 XV. 
XV. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR.
 XVI. 
XVI. CUPID AND CAMPASPE.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN
 XVIII. 
XVIII. GIL MORRICE.
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BOOK II.
 I. 
I. THE LEGEND OF SIR GUY
 II. 
II. GUY AND AMARANT.
 III. 
III. THE AULD GOOD-MAN.
 IV. 
IV. FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM.
 V. 
V. BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY.
 VI. 
VI. SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST.
 VII. 
VII. SIR JOHN GREHME AND BARBARA ALLAN.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.
 IX. 
IX. THE WILLOW-TREE.
 X. 
X. THE LADY'S FALL
 XI. 
XI. WALY WALY, LOVE BE BONNY.
 XII. 
XII. THE WANTON WIFE OF BATH.
 XIII. 
XIII. DULCINA.
 XIV. 
XIV. THE LADY ISABELLA'S TRAGEDY.
 XV. 
XV. A HUE AND CRY AFTER CUPID.
 XVI. 
XVI. THE KING OF FRANCE'S DAUGHTER.
 XVII. 
XVII. THE SWEET NEGLECT.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
 XIX. 
XIX. A LOVER OF LATE.
 XX. 
XX. THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD.
 XXI. 
XXI. THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION.
 XXII. 
XXII. THE WANDERING PRINCE OF TROY.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE WITCHES' SONG
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW
 XXV. 
XXV. THE FAIRY QUEEN.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE FAIRIES FAREWELL.
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BOOK III.
 I. 
I. THE BIRTH OF ST. GEORGE.
 II. 
II. ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
 III. 
III. LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY.
 IV. 
IV. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET,
 V. 
V. UNFADING BEAUTY.
 VI. 
VI. GEORGE BARNWELL.
 VII. 
VII. THE STEDFAST SHEPHERD.
 VIII. 
VIII. THE SPANISH VIRGIN, OR EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY.
 IX. 
IX. JEALOUSY TYRANT OF THE MIND.
 X. 
X. CONSTANT PENELOPE.
 XI. 
XI. TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS.
 XII. 
XII. VALENTINE AND URSINE.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY.
 XIV. 
XIV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.
 XV. 
XV. ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND,
 XVI. 
XVI. LUCY AND COLIN
 XVII. 
XVII. MARGARET's GHOST.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. THE BOY AND THE MANTLE,

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356

XIX. THE LUNATIC LOVER,

Mad song the third,

[_]

—is given from an old printed copy in the British Museum, compared with another in the Pepys collection; both in black letter.

Grim king of the ghosts, make haste,
And bring hither all your train;
See how the pale moon does waste,
And just now is in the wane.
Come, you night-hags, with all your charms,
And revelling witches away,
And hug me close in your arms;
To you my respects I'll pay.
I'll court you, and think you fair,
Since love does distract my brain:
I'll go, I'll wed the night-mare,
And kiss her, and kiss her again:
357

But if she prove peevish and proud,
Then, a pise on her love! let her go;
I'll seek me a winding shroud,
And down to the shades below.
A lunacy sad I endure,
Since reason departs away;
I call to those hags for a cure,
As knowing not what I say.
The beauty, whom I do adore,
Now slights me with scorn and disdain;
I never shall see her more:
Ah! how shall I bear my pain!
I ramble, and range about
To find out my charming saint;
While she at my grief does flout,
And smiles at my loud complaint.
Distraction I see is my doom,
Of this I am now too sure;
A rival is got in my room,
While torments I do endure.
Strange fancies do fill my head,
While wandering in despair,
I am to the desarts lead,
Expecting to find her there.
358

Methinks in a spangled cloud
I see her enthroned on high;
Then to her I crie aloud,
And labour to reach the sky.
When thus I have raved awhile,
And wearyed myself in vain,
I lye on the barren soil,
And bitterly do complain.
Till slumber hath quieted me,
In sorrow I sigh and weep;
The clouds are my canopy
To cover me while I sleep.
I dream that my charming fair
Is then in my rival's bed,
Whose tresses of golden hair
Are on the fair pillow bespread.
Then this doth my passion inflame,
I start, and no longer can lie:
Ah! Sylvia, art thou not to blame
To ruin a lover? I cry.
Grim king of the ghosts, be true,
And hurry me hence away,
My languishing life to you
A tribute I freely pay.
359

To the elysian shades I post
In hopes to be freed from care,
Where many a bleeding ghost
Is hovering in the air.
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