But these put on their trousers,

So

Not to spoil their hose. As soon as he rose,

To make him strong and mighty,

He drank, by the tale, six pots of ale

And a quart of aqua-vitæ.

It is not strength that always wins,
For wit doth strength excel;

Which made our cunning champion

Creep down into a well,

Where he did think this dragon would drink,

And so he did in truth;

And as he stoop'd low, he rose up and cried, boh!
And kick'd him in the mouth.

Oh, quoth the dragon with a deep sigh,
And turn'd six times together,

Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing

Out of his throat of leather:

More of More-hall, O thou rascal,

Would I had seen thee never;

With the thing at thy foot thou hast prick'd my throat,

And I'm quite undone for ever.

Murder, murder, the dragon cried,

Alack, alack, for grief;

Had you but miss'd that place, you could

Have done me no mischief.

is head he shaked, trembled and quaked, down he laid and cried;

n one knee, then on back tumbled he; roan'd, and kick'd, and died.

Old Ballad

CXLVII

THE UNGRATEFUL CUPID

dead of night, when mortals lose heir various cares in soft repose, heard a knocking at my door: Who's that,' said I, 'at this late hour sturbs my rest?' It sobb'd and cried, nd thus in mournful tone replied, - poor, unhappy child am I, hat's come to beg your charity; ay, let me in. You need not fear; nean no harm, I vow and swear; t, wet and cold, crave shelter here; tray'd by night, and led astray, e lost, alas! I've lost my way.' oved with this little tale of fate, ook a lamp, and oped the gate! hen, see! a naked boy before e threshold; at his back he wore pair of wings, and by his side crooked bow and quiver tied. ly pretty angel! come,' said I, ome to the fire, and do not cry?' troked his neck and shoulders bare, d squeez'd the water from his hair;

Then chafed his little hands in mine,
And cheer'd him with a draught of wine
Recover'd thus, says he, 'I'd know,
Whether the rain has spoilt my bow;
Let's try'-then shot me with a dart.
The venom throbb'd, did ache and smart,
As if a bee had stung my heart.

6

Are these your thanks, ungrateful child,

Are these your thanks?' The impostor smiled. 'Farewell, my loving host,' says he,

All's well; my bow's unhurt, I see;

But what a wretch I've made of thee!'

nture in to swim,

Ito drink at the brim ; eds the Crocodile lay,

his tail and swept him away.

your boat, I pray,

wer lies my way,
eed Island bring,
he Crocodile King.

ow in Crocodilople,
at Constantinople;

reat city remain ;

eds is his whole domain.

ere he passes his days, and fasts and prays; ious and meek and mild, man, woman, or child.

Trocodiles never does wrong,

and strong,

rke and slay,

ear what I say.

complain

was wickedly slain; odles he is good, murderer's blood.'

woman. no;
I will not go;

ddy fing

mendile King'

'Then lend me now your little boat,

And I will down the river float,

I tell thee that no worldly thing

Shall keep me from the Crocodile King.

'The King of the Crocodiles he is good, And therefore will give me blood for blood; Being so mighty and so just,

He can revenge me, he will, and he must.'

The woman she leapt into the boat,
And down the river alone did she float,
And fast with the stream the boat proceeds,
And now she is come to the Island of Reeds.

The King of the Crocodiles there was seen;
He sat upon the eggs of the Queen,
And all around, a numerous rout,
The young Prince Crocodiles crawl'd about.

The woman shook every limb with fear
As she to the Crocodile King came near,
For never a man without fear and awe
The face of his Crocodile Majesty saw.

She fell upon her bended knee,

And said, 'O King, have pity on me,
For I have lost my darling child,

And that's the loss that makes me wild.

'A crocodile ate him for his food:

Now let me have the murderer's blood;
Let me have vengeance for my boy,
The only thing that can give me joy.

And tru