This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, "imprinted at London, 1612." It is more ancient than many of the preceding; but we place it here for the sake of connecting it with the _Second Part_.
[_Saint George that, O! did break the dragon's heart_ is one of the ballads offered for sale by Nightingale, the ballad-singer in Ben Jonson's comedy of _Bartholomew Fair_ (act ii. sc. 1), and according to Fielding's Tom Jones, _St. George, he was for England_, was one of Squire Western's favourite tunes.
This ballad is printed in several collections, and Mr. Chappell notices a modernization subscribed S. S. and "printed for W. Gilbertson in Giltspur Street," about 1659, which commences--
"What need we brag or boast at all Of Arthur and his knights."]
Why doe you boast of Arthur and his knightes, Knowing 'well' how many men have endured fightes? For besides king Arthur, and Lancelot du lake, Or sir Tristram de Lionel, that fought for ladies sake; Read in old histories, and there you shall see How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Mark our father Abraham, when first he resckued Lot Onely with his household, what conquest there he got: David was elected a prophet and a king, He slew the great Goliah, with a stone within a sling: Yet these were not knightes of the table round; Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did confound. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Jephthah and Gideon did lead their men to fight, They conquered the Amorites, and put them all to flight: Hercules his labours 'were' on the plaines of Basse; And Sampson slew a thousand with the jawbone of an asse, And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty spoyle: But St. George, St. George he did the dragon foyle. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The warres of ancient monarchs it were too long to tell, And likewise of the Romans, how farre they did excell; Hannyball and Scipio in many a fielde did fighte: Orlando Furioso he was a worthy knighte: Remus and Romulus, were they that Rome did builde: But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde. St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.