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THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY. |
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Percy's Eeliques, iii. 350. Old Ballade, i. 37.
This in its way most admirable ballad is clearly a parody of some ancient Kcempevise. The armor studded with spikes connects this story with the legend of the Worm of Lamblon (see vol. i. p. 281, and post, p. 136), which, we are inclined to think with Grundtvig (i. 346), may have some radical connection with Reg-ner Lodbrog's fight with the snake that guarded Thc-ra's bower. The well in v. 100 corresponds to the pit in which the hero stands in Ormekampen, Grundtvig, i. 342. — Printed by Percy from a copy in Roman letter, in the Pepys Collection, " collated with such others as could be procured." Percy.
Old stories tell how Hercules
A dragon slew at Lerna, With seven heads, and fourteen eyes, To see and well discerne-a: But he had a club, this dragon to drub, s
Or he had ne'er done it, I warrant ye: But More of More-Hall, with nothing at all, He slew the dragon of Wantley.
This dragon had two furious wings,
Each one upon each shoulder; w
"With a sting in his tayl, as long as a flayl, Which made him bolder and bolder. He had long claws, and in his jaws
Four and forty teeth of iron; With a hide as tough as any buff, »
Which did him round environ. |
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