English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
| |
| 12. The Three Ravens |
| | | Traditional Ballads |
| |
| |
| THERE were three rauens sat on a tree, | |
| Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe | |
| There were three rauens sat on a tree, | |
| With a downe | |
| There were three rauens sat on a tree, | 5 |
| They were as blacke as they might be. | |
| With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe. | |
| |
| The one of them said to his mate, | |
| “Where shall we our breakefast take?” | |
| |
| “Downe in yonder greene field, | 10 |
| There lies a knight slain vnder his shield. | |
| |
| “His hounds they lie downe at his feete, | |
| So well they can their master keepe. | |
| |
| “His haukes they flie so eagerly, | |
| There’s no fowle dare him come nie.” 1 | 15 |
| |
| Downe there comes a fallow doe, | |
| As great with yong as she might goe. | |
| |
| She lift vp his bloudy hed, | |
| And kist his wounds that were so red. | |
| |
| She got him vp vpon her backe, | 20 |
| And carried him to earthen lake. 2 | |
| |
| She buried him before the prime, | |
| She was dead herselfe ere euen-song time. | |
| |
| God send euery gentleman, | |
| Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman. 3 | 25 |
|
|
|
