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26
THE THREE RAVENS

THE THREE RAVENS

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a. Melismata. Musicall Phansies. Fitting the Court, Cittie, and Countrey Humours. London, 1611, No 22. [T. Ravenscroft.]


254

1

There were three rauens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
With a downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe

2

The one of them said to his mate,
‘Where shall we our breakefast take?’

3

‘Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a knight slain vnder his shield.

4

‘His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they can their master keepe.

5

‘His haukes they flie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie.’

6

Downe there comes a fallow doe,
As great with yong as she might goe.

7

She lift vp his bloudy hed,
And kist his wounds that were so red.

8

She got him vp vpon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake.

9

She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere euen-song time.

10

God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman.