%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> An excellent BALLAD of St. George for England, and the King of Egypt's on / ly Daughter, whom he delivered from Death: And how he slew a monstrous Dragon. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/29/2011 31318

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T33699 OF Hector's Deeds did Homer sing. / And of the Sack of stately Troy, Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 620 3: 621 An excellent BALLAD of St. George for England, and the King of Egypt's on / ly Daughter, whom he delivered from Death: And how he slew a monstrous Dragon. An excellent BALLAD of St. George for England, and the King of Egypt’s only Daughter, whom he delivered from Death: And how he slew a monstrous Dragon. An excellent BALLAD of St. George for England, and the King of Egypt’s only Daughter, whom he delivered from Death: And how he slew a monstrous Dragon. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic The New World travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/ crass humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/29/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America animals/ nature folklore love monstrosity religious figures religious types & sects royalty Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/29/2011 12:33:46 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/29/2011 12:33:46 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 12:33:46 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 12:33:46 PM Transcriptionist Two Fadel, Meghan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 12:33:46 PM Transcriptionist One Foley, Christopher Transcription of ballad manuscript 12/6/2010 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/2/2010 Checker Sue Hong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/29/2009 Bibliographer Meghan Fadel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 1/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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OF Hectors Deeds did Homer sing. And of the Sack of stately Troy, What Grief fair Helen did them bring, Which was Sir Pariss only Joy: And with my Pen I must recite St. Georges Deeds, an English Knight. Against the Saracens full rude, Fought he full long and many a Day; Where many a Gallant he subdud, In Honour of the Christian Way: And after many Adventures past, To Egypts Land he came at last. And as the Story plain doth tell, Within the Country there did rest A dreadful Dragon, fierce and fell, Whereby they were full sore opprest; Who by his poysond Breath each Day, Did many of the City slay. The Grief whereof did grow so great, Through all the Limits of the Land, That they their wise Men did entreat, To shew their Cunning out of Hand; Which Way this Dragon to destroy, That did their Country so annoy. The wise Men all before the King, Formd this Matter incontinent. The Dragon none to Death might bring, By any Means they could invent. His Skin more hard than Brass was found, No Sword nor Spear could pierce or wound. When this the People understood, They cryd out most pitiously, The Dragons Breath infects their Blood, That they each Day in Heaps did die: Among them such a Plague is bred, The Living scarce can bury the Dead. No Means there was that they could find, For to appease the Dragons Rage, But by a Virgin pure and kind, Whereby he might his Fury swage, Each Day he should a Maiden eat, For to allay his Hunger great. This Thing by Art the wise Men found, Which truly must observed be;
Wherefore throughout the City round, A Virgin pure of good Degree, Was by the Kings Commission still Snatchd up to serve the Dragons Will. Then did the Dragon every Day, A Maiden of the Town devour, Till all the Maids were worn away, And none were left that present Hour, Saving the Kings fair Daughter bright Her Fathers Joy and Hearts Delight. Then came the Officers to the King This heavy Message to declare; Which did his Heart with Sorrow sting. She is, quoth he, my Kingdoms Heir; Oh! let us all be poysond here, Eer she should die that is my Dear. Then rose the People presently, And to the King in Rage they went, Who said, his Daughter dear should die, The Dragons Fury to prevent. Our Daughters all are dead, quoth they, And have been made the Dragons Prey. And by their Blood thou hast been blest, And thou hast savd thy Life thereby, And now in Justice it doth rest, That thy own Daughter now shall die. Oh! save my Daughter, said the King, And let me feel the Dragons Sting. Then fell fair Sabrine on her Knee, And to her Father thus did say, O Father, strive not thus for me, But let me be the Dragons Prey: It may be for my Sake alone, This Plague upon the Land was shewn. Tis better I shoud die, she said, Then all your Subjects perish quite. Perhaps the Dragon here was laid, For my Offence to work this Spite; And after he has suckd my Gore, Your Land shall know the Grief no more. What hast thou done, my Daughter dear, For to deserve this heavy Scourge, It is my Fault, It shall appear, Which makes the Gods our State to grudge,
I ought to die to stint the Strife, And to preserve thy happy Life. Like mad Men all the People cryd, Thy Death to us can do no Good; Our Safety only doth abide, To make thy Daughter Dragons Food, Lo! here I am, O then, quoth she, Therefore do what you will with me. Nay stay, dear Daughter, said the Queen, Stand as thou art a Virgin bright, That has for Virtue famous been, So let me cloath thee all in White, And crown thy Head with Flowers sweet, An Ornament for Virgins meet. And when she was attired so, According to her Mothers Mind Unto the Stake she then did go, To which they did this fair Maid bind; And being bound to Stake and Thrall, She bid farewel unto them all. Farewel, dear Father, then quoth she, And my dear Mother meek and mild; Take you no Thought or Care for me, For you may have another Child. Here for my Countrys Good Ill die, Which I receive most willingly. The King and Queen with all their Train, With weeping Eyes then went their Way, And left their Daughter to remain, To be the hungry Dragons Prey: But as she there did weeping lie, Behold St. George came riding by. And seeing there a Lady bright, Fast tied to the Stake that Day; Most like unto a valiant Knight, Straight unto her did take his Way: Tell me, sweet Madam, then quoth he, What Person thus abused thee? And lo by all! his Blood I vow, Where he is figurd on my Breast, I will revenge it on his Brow, And break my Launce upon his Crest: And speaking thus whereas he stood, The Dragon issud from the Wood.
The Lady that did soon espy, The dreadful Dragon coming so, Unto St. George aloud did cry, And willed him away to go: Here comes that ugly Fiend, quoth she, That soon will make an End of me. St. George then looking round about, The fiery Dragon soon espyd, And like a Knight of Courage stout, Against him he did fiercely ride: And with such Blows he did him greet, That he fell at his Horses Feet. For with a Launce that was so strong, As he came gaping in his Face; In at his Mouth he thurst it long, The which could pierce no other Place: And there within the Ladys View, This dreadful Dragon then he slew. The Savour of his poysond Breath, Could do this Christian Knight no Harm: Thus did he save this Lady from Death, And home he led her by the Arm; Which when Ptolomy he did see, There was great Joy and Melody. When as this famous Knight St. George, Had slain the Dragon in the Field, And brought the Lady to the Court, Whose Sight with Joy their Hearts did fill, He in the Egyptian Court then stayd, Till he most falsely was betrayed. The Lady Sabrine lovd him well, He counted her is only Joy; But when their Loves were open known, It provd St. Georges great Annoy; The Morocco King was then in Court, Who to the Orchard did resort. Daily to take the pleasant Air, For Pleasures Sake he usd to walk Under the Wall, whereas he heard, St. George with fair Sabrine talk: Their Loves he revealed to the King, Which to St. George great Woe did bring. These Kings together did devise, To make the Christian Knight away: With Letters him Embassador, They strightway sent to Persia, And wrote to the Sophy him to kill, And treacherously his Blood to spill. Thus they for Good did him reward With Evil and much Subtility; By such vile Means they did devise To work his Death most cruelly: While he in Persia abode, He straight destroyd each Idol God. Which being done, he straight was flung, Into a Dungeon dark and deep: But when he thought upon his Wrong, He bitterly began to weep; Yet like a Knight of Courage stout, Forth out of Dungeon he got out. And in the Night three Horse-keepers, This valiant Knight by Power slew, Although he fasted many a Day, And then away from thence he flew, On the best Steed the Sophy had, Which when he knew, he was full sad.
Then into Christendom he came, And met a Giant by the Way, With him in Combat he did fight, Most valiantly a Summers Day: Who yet for all his Bars of Steel, Was forcd the Sting of Death to feel. For Christendom this warlike Knight; Then with a warlike Soldiers Haste; Vowing upon the Heathen Land To work Revenge, which at the last, Ere thrice three Years were gone and spent, He did unto his great Content. Save only Egypts Land he spard, For Sabrine bright her only Sake: And eer his Rage he did suppress, He meant a Tryal kind to make. Ptolomy knew his Strength in Field, And unto him did kindly yield. Then he Morocco King did kill, And took fair Sabrine to his Wife, And afterwards contentedly, With her St. George did lead his Life, Who by the Virtue of a Chain, Did still a Virgin pure remain. To England then St. George did bring, This gallant Lady, Sabrine bright: An Eunuch also came with them, In whom the Lady did delight; None but those three from Egypt came, Now let me print St. Georges Fame. When they were in the Forest great, The Lady did desire to rest; And then St. George to kill a Deer, To feed upon did think it best. Left Sabrine and the Eunuch there, While he did go and kill a Deer. The mean Time in his Absence comes Two hungry Lions fierce and fell, And tore the Eunuch presently In Pieces small, the Truth to tell; Down by the Lady then they laid, Whereby it seemd she was a Maid. But when St. George from Hunting came And did behold the heavy Chance, Yet for his lovely Virgin pure, His Courage stout he did advance; And came within the Lions Sight, Who run at him with all their Might. He being no Whit dismayd, But like a stout and valiant Knight, Did kill the hungry Lions both, Within the Lady Sabrines Sight; But all this while, sad and demure, She stood like a Virgin pure. But when St. George did truly know, His Lady was a Virgin pure, Those doleful Thoughts that eer were dumb, Began most firmly to renew. He set her on a Palfrey Steed, And towards England came with Speed. Where he arrived in short Time, Unto his Fathers Dwelling Place, Where with his dearest Love he livd, When Fortune did their Nuptials grace, They many Years of Joy did see, And led their Lives in Coventry.