To see this fight, all people then Got up on trees and houses; 90 On churches some, and chimneys too; But these put on their trowses, Not to spoil their hose. As soon as he rose, To make him strong and mighty, He drank by the tale, six pots of ale, 95 And a quart of aqua-vitæ.
It is not strength that always wins, For wit doth strength excell; Which made our cunning champion Creep down into a well, 100 Where he did think, this dragon would drink, And so he did in truth; And as he stoop'd low, he rose up and cry'd, "Boh!" And hit him in the mouth.
"Oh," quoth the dragon, "pox take thee, come out! 105 Thou disturb'st me in my drink:" And then he turn'd, and s... at him; Good lack how he did stink! "Beshrew thy soul, thy body's foul, Thy dung smells not like balsam; 110 Thou son of a w...., thou stink'st so sore, Sure thy diet is unwholesome."
Our politick knight, on the other side, Crept out upon the brink, And gave the dragon such a douse, 115 He knew not what to think: "By cock," quoth he, "say you so, do you see?" And then at him he let fly With hand and with foot, and so they went to't; And the word it was, Hey boys, hey! 120
"Your words," quoth the dragon, "I don't understand"; Then to it they fell at all, Like two wild boars so fierce, if I may Compare great things with small. Two days and a night, with this dragon did fight 125 Our champion on the ground; Though their strength it was great, their skill it was neat, They never had one wound.
At length the hard earth began to quake, The dragon gave him a knock, 130 Which made him to reel, and straitway he thought, To lift him as high as a rock, And thence let him fall. But More of More-Hall, Like a valiant son of Mars, As he came like a lout, so he turn'd him about, And hit him a kick on the a... 136
"Oh," quoth the dragon, with a deep sigh, And turn'd six times together, Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing, Out of his throat of leather; 140
"More of More-Hall! O thou rascàl! Would I had seen thee never; With the thing at thy foot, thou hast prick'd my a... gut, And I am quite undone forever."
"Murder, murder," the dragon cry'd, 145 "Alack, alack, for grief; Had you but mist that place, you could Have done me no mischief." Then his head he shaked, trembled and quaked, And down he laid and cry'd; 150 First on one knee, then on back tumbled he, So groan'd, kickt, s..., and dy'd.