But, if Fortune once do frown. XXIV. ANONYMOUS. CHEVY CHASE-A BALLAD. God prosper long our noble king, A woeful hunting once there did To hunt the deer with hound and horn. The child may rue that is unborn The stout Earl of Northumberland These tidings to Earl Douglas came, Who sent earl Percy present word, With fifteen hundred bowmen bold, The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran, And long before high noon they had The bow-men mustered on the hills, Their bodies all, with special care, The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, And with their cries the hills and dales Lord Percy to the quarry went, But, if 1 thought he would not come, "Lo yonder doth earl Douglas come, Full twenty hundred Scottish spears, All men of pleasant Teviotdale "Then cease your sport," earì Percy said, "And take your bows with speed. And now with me, my countrymen, That ever did on horseback come, I durst encounter man for man, Earl Douglas on a milk-white steed Rode foremost of the company, "Show me," said he, "whose men you be The man that first did answer make, Who said, "We list not to declare Yet will we spend our dearest blood, "Ere thus I will out-braved be, I know thee well; an earl thou art- But trust me, Percy, pity 'twere, Any of these our harmless men, Let thou and I the battle try, Then stept a gallant squire forth, You be two earls," said Witherington, "And I a squire alone. I'll do the best that do I may, While I have power to stand; While I have power to wield my sword, I'll fight with heart and hand." Our English archers bent their bows; Their hearts were good and true; At the first flight of arrows sent, Full three-score Scots they slew. They closed full fast on every side; No slackness was there found, And many a gallant gentleman Lay gasping on the ground. O Christ, it was a grief to see, At last these two stout earls did meet, Like lions moved, they laid on load, They fought until they both did sweat, Until the blood, like drops of rain, They trickling down did feel. |