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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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X. ULYSSES AND THE SYREN

[_]

—affords a pretty poetical contest between Pleasure and Honour. It is found at the end of “Hymen's triumph: a “pastoral tragicomedie” written by Daniel, and printed among his works, 4to. 1623.—Daniel, who was a contemporary of Drayton's, and is said to have been poet laureat to Queen Elizabeth, was born in 1562, and died in 1619. Anne Countess of Dorset, Pembroke, and Montgomery (to whom Daniel had been Tutor) has inserted a small Portrait of him in a full-length Picture of herself, preserved at Appleby Castle in Cumberland.

This little poem is the rather selected for a specimen of Daniel's poetic powers, as it is omitted in the later edition of his works, 2 vol. 12mo. 1718.

Syren.
Come, worthy Greeke, Ulysses come,
Possesse these shores with me,
313

The windes and seas are troublesome,
And here we may be free.
Here may we sit and view their toyle,
That travaile in the deepe,
Enjoy the day in mirth the while,
And spend the night in sleepe.

Ulysses.
Faire nymph, if fame or honour were
To be attain'd with ease,
Then would I come and rest with thee,
And leave such toiles as these:
But here it dwels, and here must I
With danger seek it forth;
To spend the time luxuriously
Becomes not men of worth.

Syren.
Ulysses, O be not deceiv'd
With that unreall name:
This honour is a thing conceiv'd,
And rests on others' fame.
Begotten only to molest
Our peace, and to beguile
(The best thing of our life) our rest,
And give us up to toyle!

314

Ulysses.
Delicious nymph, suppose there were
No honour, or report,
Yet manlinesse would scorne to weare
The time in idle sport:
For toyle doth give a better touch
To make us feele our joy;
And ease findes tediousnes, as much
As labour yeelds annoy.

Syren.
Then pleasure likewise seemes the shore,
Whereto tendes all your toyle;
Which you forego to make it more,
And perish oft the while.
Who may disport them diversly,
Find never tedious day;
And ease may have variety,
As well as action may.

Ulysses.
But natures of the noblest frame
These toyles and dangers please;
And they take comfort in the same,
As much as you in ease:
315

And with the thought of actions past
Are recreated still:
When pleasure leaves a touch at last
To shew that it was ill.

Syren.
That doth opinion only cause,
That's out of custom bred;
Which makes us many other laws,
Than ever nature did.
No widdowes waile for our delights,
Our sports are without blood;
The world we see by warlike wights
Receives more hurt than good.

Ulysses.
But yet the state of things require
These motions of unrest,
And these great spirits of high desire
Seem borne to turne them best:
To purge the mischiefes, that increase
And all good order mar:
For oft we see a wicked peace,
To be well chang'd for war.

316

Syren.
Well, well, Ulysses, then I see
I shall not have thee here;
And therefore I will come to thee,
And take my fortune there.
I must be wonne that cannot win,
Yet lost were I not wonne:
For beauty hath created bin
T'undoo or be undone,

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