Percy Manuscript, p. 32, Hales and Furnivall, I, 75.
| 1 |
Sir Egrabell had sonnes three,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Sir Lyonell was one of these.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 2 |
Sir Lyonell wold on hunting ryde,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Vntill the forrest him beside.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 3 |
And as he rode thorrow the wood,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Where trees and harts and all were good,
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 4 |
And as he rode over the plaine,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
There he saw a knight lay slaine.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 5 |
And as he rode still on the plaine,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
He saw a lady sitt in a graine.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 6 |
'Say thou, lady, and tell thou me,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
What blood shedd heere has bee.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 7 |
'Of this blood shedd we may all rew,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Both wife and childe and man alsoe.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 8 |
'For it is not past 3 days right
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Since Sir Broninge was mad a knight.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 9 |
'Nor it is not more than 3 dayes agoe
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Since the wild bore did him sloe.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 10 |
'Say thou, lady, and tell thou mee,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
How long thou wilt sitt in that tree.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 11 |
She said, 'I will sitt in this tree
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Till my friends doe feitch me.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 12 |
'Tell me, lady, and doe not misse,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Where that your friends dwellings is.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 13 |
'Downe,' shee said, 'in yonder towne,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
There dwells my freinds of great renowne.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 14 |
Says, 'Lady, Ile ryde into yonder towne
Blow thy horne, good hunter
And see wether your friends beene bowne.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 15 |
'I my self wilbe the formost man
Blow thy horne, good hunter
That shall come, lady, to feitch you home.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 16 |
But as he rode then by the way,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
He thought it shame to goe away;
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 17 |
And vmbethought him of a wile,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
How he might that wilde bore beguile.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 18 |
'Sir Egrabell,' he said, 'My father was;
Blow thy horne, good hunter
He neuer left lady in such a case;
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 19 |
'Noe more will I' . . .
Blow thy horne, good hunter
* * * * *
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 20 |
'And a[fter] that thou shalt doe mee
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Thy hawkes and thy lease alsoe.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 21 |
'Soe shalt thou doe at my command
Blow thy horne, good hunter
The litle fingar on thy right hand.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 22 |
'Ere I wold leaue all this with thee,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Vpoon this ground I rather dyee.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 23 |
The gyant gaue Sir Lyonell such a blow,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
The fyer out of his eyen did throw.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 24 |
He said then, 'if I were saffe and sound,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
As with-in this hower I was in the ground,
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 25 |
'It shold be in the next towne told
Blow thy horne, good hunter
How deare thy buffett it was sold;
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 26 |
'And it shold haue beene in the next towne said
Blow thy horne, good hunter
How well thy buffett it were paid.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 27 |
'Take 40 daies into spite,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
To heale thy wounds that beene soe wide.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 28 |
'When 40 dayes beene at an end,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Heere meete thou me both safe and sound.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 29 |
And till thou come to me againe,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
With me thoust leaue thy lady alone.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 30 |
When 40 dayes was at an end,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Sir Lyonell of his wounds was healed sound.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 31 |
He tooke with him a litle page,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
He gaue to him good yeomans wage.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 32 |
And as he rode by one hawthorne,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
Even there did hang his hunting horne.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 33 |
He sett his bugle to his mouth,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
And blew his bugle still full south.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 34 |
He blew his bugle lowde and shrill;
Blow thy horne, good hunter
The lady heard, and came him till.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 35 |
Sayes, 'The gyant lyes vnder yond low,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
And well he heares your bugle blow.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 36 |
'And bidds me of good cheere be,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
This night heele supp with you and me.'
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 37 |
Hee sett that lady vppon a steede,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
And a litle boy before her yeede.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 38 |
And said, 'lady, if you see that I must dye,
Blow thy horne, good hunter
As euer you loued me, from me flye.
As I am a gentle hunter |
| 39 |
'But, lady, if you see that I must liue,'
Blow thy horne, good hunter
* * * * *
As I am a gentle hunter |
