THE BIRTH OF ST. GEORGE.

The incidents in this, and the other ballad of ST. GEOrge AND THE DRAGON, are chiefly taken from the old ftory book of the Seven Champions of Christendome; which, tho' now the play thing of children, was once in high repute. Bp. Hall in his Satires, published in 1597, ranks

"St. George's forell, and his cross of blood," among the most popular flories of his time: and an ingenious critic thinks that Spencer himself did not difdain to borrow hints from it*; tho' I much doubt whether this popular romance were written fo early as the Faery Queen.

The author of this book of the Seven Champions was one Richard Johnfon, who lived in the reigns of Elizabeth *Mr. Warton. Vid. Obfervations on the Fairy Queen, 2 vol. 1762, 12. paffim.

and

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and fames, as we collect from his other publications: viz"The nine worthies of London: 1592, 4to.- "The pleafant walks of Moor fields: 1607, 4to.—“A crown garland of Goulden Rofes, gathered, &c. 1612, Svo." The life and death of Rob. Cecill, E. of Salisbury: 1612, 410." The Hift. of Tom of Lincoln, 4to." is alfo by R. J. who likewife reprinted" Don Flores of Greece, 4to."

The Seven Champions, tho written in a wild inflated ftyle, contains fome frong Gothic painting; which feems, for the most part, copied from the metrical romances of former ages. At least the ftory of St.George and the fair Sabra is taken almoft verbatim from the old poetical legend of "Syr Bevis of Hampton"

This very antique poem was in great fame in Chaucer's time [fee above pag. 102.], and fo continued till the introduction of printing, when it ran thro' feveral editions: trvo of which are in black letter, 4to. "imprinted by Wyllyam "Copland," without date; containing great variations.

As a fpecimen of the poetic powers of this very old rhimift, and as a proof how clofely the author of the Seven Champions has followed him, take a defeription of the dragon jlain by fir Bevis.

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Whan the dragon, that foule is,

"Had a fight of fyr Bevis,

"He caft up a loude cry,

"As it had thondred in the sky;

"He turned his bely towarde the fon;
"It was greater than any tonne:
"His fcales was bryghter then the glas,
"And harder they were than any bras:
"Betwene his fhulder and his tayle,
"Was forty fote withoute fayle.
"He waltred out of his denne,
"And Bevis pricked his ftede then,
"And to hym a fpere be thrafte
"That all to hyvers be it brafie:
"The dragon thengan Bevis affayle,
"And fmote fyr Bevis with his tayle;
"Then downe went horse and man,

And two rybbes of Bevis brufed than.

6

After

After a long fight, at length, as the dragon was preparing to fly, fir Bevis

"Hit him under the wynge
"As he was in his flyenge,

“There he was tender without scale,
"And Bevis thought to be his bale,
"He fmote after, as I you faye,
"With his good fword Morglaye.
"Up to the hiltes Morglay yode
"Through harte lyver, bone, and bloude:
"To the ground fell the dragon,

"Great joye fyr Bevis begon.
"Under the feales al on hight
"He fmote off his head forth right,
"And put it on a fpere: &c."

Sign. K. iv. Sir Bevis's dragon is evidently the parent of that in the Seven Champions, fee Chap. III. viz. "The dragon no "fooner had a fight of him St. George] but he gave fuch "a terrible peal, as though it had thundered in the elements.

more

"Betwixt his shoulders and his tail were fifty feet in diftance, bis fcales gliftering as bright as filver, but far hard than brafs; his belly of the colour of gold, but bigger than a tun. Thus weltered be from his den, &c. "The champion... gave the dragon fuch a thrust with "his fpear, that it fhivered in a thousand pieces: whereat "the furious dragon fo fiercely fmote him with his venomous "tail, that down fell man and horfe in which fall two "of St. George's ribs were fo bruifed, Sc- At length

St. George "fmote the dragon under the wing where "it was tender without fcale, whereby his good ford Al"calon with an eafie paffage went to the very hilt through "both the dragon's heart, liver, bone and blood. Then St. George-cut off the dragon's head and pitcht it "truncheon of a spear, &c."

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upon

the

The Hiftory of the Seven Champions, being written juft bcfore the decline of books of chivalry, was never, I believe, tranflated into any foreign language: But "Le Roman de "Beuves of Hantonne' was published at Paris in 1502, 4to. Let. Gothique.

The

The learned Selden tells us, that about the time of the Norman invafion was Bevis famous with the title of Earl of Southampton, whofe refidence was at Dundon in Wiltshire; but he obferves, that the monkish enlargements of his story have made his very existence doubted. Soe Notes on PolyOlbion, Song III.

This hath alfo been the cafe of St. George himself; whose martial hiftory is allowed to be apocryphal. But, to prove that there really exifted an orthodox Saint of this name (altho' little or nothing, it feems, is known of his genuine tory) is the fubject of "An Historical and Critical Inquiry "into the Existence and Character of Saint George," "&c. "By the Rev. J. Milner, F. S. A. 1792, Evo."

The Equeftrian Figure worn by the Knights of the Garter, has been underfood to be an emblem of the Chriftian warrior, in his fpiritual armour, vanquishing the old ferpent.

But on this fubject the inquifitive Reader may confult " A "Differtation on the Original of the Equestrian Figure of "the George and of the Garter, enfigns of the most noble "order of that name. Illuftrated with copper-plates. By "John Petingal, A. M. Fellow of the Society of Antiqua"ries, London, 1753, 4to." This learned and curious work the Author of the Hiftorical and Critical Inquiry would have done well to have feen.

It cannot be denied, but that the following ballad is for the most part modern: for which reafon it would have been thrown to the end of the volume, had not its fubject procured it a place here.

LISTEN, lords, in bower and hall,

I fing the wonderous birth

Of brave St. George, whofe valorous arm
Rid monsters from the earth:

Diftreffed ladies to relieve

He travell'd many a day;

In honour of the chriftian faith,
Which fhall endure for aye.

5

In

In Coventry fometime did dwell

A knight of worthy fame,

High steward of this noble realme;
Lord Albert was his name.

He had to wife a princely dame,

Whofe beauty did excell.

This virtuous lady, being with child,
In fudden fadnefs fell:

She dreamt a dragon fierce and fell
Conceiv'd within her womb;
Whose mortal fangs her body rent
Ere he to life could come.

All woe-begone, and fad was fhe;
She nourisht conftant woe:
Yet ftrove to hide it from her lord,
Left he fhould forrow know.

In vain fhe ftrove, her tender lord,

Who watch'd her flightest look, Discover'd foon her fecret pain,

And foon that pain partook.