Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/189

 Early English Poetry.

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��There is a famous story book written by Richard Johnson in the reign of Elizabeth, entitled, " The Seven Cham- pions of Christendom." *

The popular English ballad of "St. George and the Dragon," is founded on one of the narratives of this book, and the story in the book on a still older ballad, or legend, styled " Sir Bevis of Hampton." This, too, resembles very much Ovid's account of the slaughter of the dragon by Cadmus. In the le- gend of Sir Bevis the fight is thus described :

" Whan the dragon that foule is

Had a sight of Sir Bevis,

He cast up a loud cry

As it had thondered in the sky.

He turned his belly toward the sun

It was greater than any tonne;

His scales was brighter than the glas,

And harder they were than any bras

Betwene his sholder and his tayle

Was 40 fote without fayle,

He woltered out ^f his denne,

And Bevis pricked his stede then,

And to him a spcre he thraste

That all to shivers he it braste.

The dragon then gan Bevis assayle

And smote Syr Bevis with his tayle

Then down went hotse and man

And two rybbes of Bevis brused than."

Suffice it to say the knight at last conquered and the monster was slain. The same story is repeated in the ballad of " St. George and the Dragon," with variations. There a fair lady is rescued :

" For, wife his lance tnat was so strong.

As he came gaping in his face. In at his mouth, he thrust along,

For he could pierce no other place; And thus within the lady's view This mighty dragon straight he slew."

■'CkiMi British Poets, i: 139 and 149.

��The martial achievements of this pat- ron saint of the " Knights of the Gar- ter " are considered apocryphal, and, in 1792, it required an octavo volume by Rev. J. Milner to prove his existence at all. Emerson says he was a notorious thief and procured his prelatic honors by fraud. *

The English history is to a consider- able extent embodied in the national songs. Opinions, prejudices, and super- stitions, however, are oftener embodied in them than facts. This species of lit- erature has been very potent for good or ill in revolutionary times. Kings and parties have been both marred and made by them. The martial spirit, in all ages, has been kindled by lyrics ; national victories have been celebrated by them ; and by them individual prow- ess has been immortalized.

The English people were famous for their convivialty and periodical festivals such as May Day, New Years, sowing- time, sheep-shearing, harvest home, cor- responding to our Thanksgiving and Christmas. All these occasions were enlivened with songs and tales. The Christmas carol and story are famous in England's annals. Scott says :

" All hail'd with uncontroU'd delight

And general voice the happy night,

That to the cottage as the crown.

Brought tidings of salvation down.

'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale

'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer

The poor man's heart through half the year.*

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