"Here's sorry cheer!" quoth the heir of And over them, in broad letters, Linne. These words were written so plain to see THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY. OLD stories tell how Hercules A dragon slew at Lerna, Or he ne'er had done it, I warrant ye; But More, of More-hall, with nothing at all, He slew the dragon of Wantley. This dragon had two furious wings, Each one upon each shoulder; With a sting in his tail as long as a flail, Which made him bolder and bolder. He had long claws, and in his jaws Four and forty teeth of iron; With a hide as tough as any buff, Which did him round environ. Have you not heard how the Trojan horse But very near, I'll tell ye; That could not with him grapple; And at one sup he ate them up, As one would eat an apple. All sorts of cattle this dragon would eat, Some say he ate up trees, And that the forests sure he would Devour up by degrees; This being done, he did engage Bespeak at Sheffield town; Both behind and before, legs, arms, and all o'er, Some five or six inches long. Had you but seen him in this dress, How fierce he looked, and how big, You would have thought him for to be Some Egyptian porcupig: He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all, Each cow, each horse, and each hog; For fear they did flee, for they took him to be Some strange, outlandish hedge-hog. To see this fight all people then Got up on trees and houses, But these put on their trousers, It is not strength that always wins, For wit doth strength excel; Which made our cunning champion Creep down into a well, For houses and churches were to him geese Where he did think this dragon would drink, and turkeys; He ate all and left none behind, But some stones, dear Jack, that he could not crack, Which on the hills you will find. Hard by a furious knight there dwelt; Oh, save us all, More of More-hall, Thou peerless knight of these woods; Do but slay this dragon, who won't leave us a rag on, We'll give thee all our goods. |