The Boy's Book of Ballads

Front Cover
Bell and Daldy, 1861 - Ballads, English - 187 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 75 - I thought he would not come, No longer would I stay ;" With that a brave young gentleman Thus to the Earl did say : " Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come, His men in armour bright ; Full twenty hundred Scottish spears All marching in our sight ; All men of pleasant Teviotdale, Fast by the river Tweed...
Page 80 - With that there came an arrow keen Out of an English bow, Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart, — A deep and deadly blow; Who never spake more words than these: "Fight on, my merry men all; For why, my life is at an end; Lord Percy sees my fall.
Page 83 - Percy there was slain Sir John of Egerton, Sir Robert Ratcliff, and Sir John, Sir James, that bold baron. And with Sir George and stout Sir James, Both knights of good account, Good Sir Ralph Raby there was slain, Whose prowess did surmount. For Witherington needs must I wail As one in doleful dumps ; For when his legs were smitten off, He fought upon his stumps.
Page 77 - Ere thus I will out-braved be, One of us two shall die. I know thee well; an earl thou art, Lord Percy, so am I. " But trust me, Percy, pity it were, And great offence, to kill Any of these our guiltless men, For they have done no ill. "Let thou and I the battle try, And set our men aside."— "Accursed be he," Earl Percy said,
Page 73 - The hunting of that day. The stout Earl of Northumberland A vow to God did make, His pleasure in the Scottish woods Three summer days to take ; The chiefest harts in Chevy-Chase To kill and bear away.
Page 131 - The conquerors did cry. This news was brought to England With all the speed might be, And soon our gracious queen was told Of this same victory. O this is brave Lord Willoughbey, My love that ever won, Of all the lords of honour Tis he great deeds hath done.
Page 133 - AN ancient story I'll tell you anon Of a notable prince that was called King John ; And he ruled England with main and with might, For he did great wrong, and maintained little right. And I'll tell you a story, a story so merry, Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury; How for his house-keeping and high renown, They rode post for him to fair London town.
Page 67 - And I desire thee do thy worst." " Ho ! ho !" quoth Tarquin tho, " One of us two shall end our lives, Before that we do go. If thou be Lancelot du Lake, Then welcome shalt thou be ; Wherefore see thou thyself defend, For now defie I thee.
Page 131 - Tis he great deeds hath done ! ' To the soldiers that were maimed, And wounded in the fray, The queen allowed a pension Of fifteen pence a day, And from all costs and charges She quit and set them free : And this she did all for the sake Of brave Lord Willoughby.
Page 134 - fore our father the pope. Now welcome, sire abbot, the king he did say, Tis well thou'rt come back to keep thy day ; For and if thou canst answer my questions three, Thy life and thy living both saved shall be.

Bibliographic information