Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/311

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For fear did flee
For they took him to be
Some strange, outlandish hedgehog.
 
To see this fight, all people there
Got upon trees and houses;
On churches some, and chimneys some,
But they 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,
And a quart of aqua-vitæ.
 
It is not strength that always wins,
For wit doth strength excel;
Which made our cunning champion
Creep down into a well;
Where he did think,
This dragon would drink;
And so he did in truth;
And as he stoop't low
He rose up and cryed, bo!
And hit him in the mouth.
 
Oh! quoth the Dragon; pox take you! come out
Thou that disturb'st me at my drink;
And then he turned and spit at him—
Good lack! how he did stink,
Beshrew thy soul,
Thy body is foul,
Thy dung smells not like balsame;
Thou son of a witch,
Thou stink'st so sore,
Sure thy dyet is unwholesome.

Our politick knight, on the other side,
Crept out upon the brink,
And gave the Dragon such a doust,
He knew not what to think;
By cock, quoth he,