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Ballads and Songs |
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APPENDIX A is repeated here showing Cunningham's readings as indicated by Mr. Barry.
CORRECTED TO RESTORE CUNNINGHAM'S READINGS.
From A Compendium of English Literature, Chronologically Arranged, from Sir John Mandeville to William Cowper, by Charles D. Cleveland. Philadelphia, 1859 (original copyright date, 1848).
THE TWO RAVENS.1
There were two ravens sat on a tree Large and black as black might be; And one unto the other gan say, Where shall we go and dine to-day ? Shall we go dine by the wild salt sea ? Shall we go dine 'neath the greenwood tree ?
As I sat on the deep sea sand,
I saw a fair ship nigh at land,
I waved my wings, I bent my beak,
The ship sunk, and I heard a shriek;
There lie the sailors, one, two, three,
I shall dine by the wild salt sea.
Come, I will show ye a sweeter sight,
A lonesome glen, and a new-slain knight;
His blood yet on the grass is hot,
His sword half-drawn, his shafts unshot,
And no one kens that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.
His hound is to the hunting gane, His hawk to fetch the wild fowl hame, His lady's away with another mate, So we shall make our dinner sweet; Our dinner's sure, our feasting free, Come, and dine by the greenwood tree. |
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1 One of the most poetical and picturesque ballads existing. |
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