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