"What for weary, and what for faint,
Sir Bevis was neer attaint:

The dragon followed on Bevis so hard,
That as he would have fled backward,
There was a well as I weene,

And he stumbled right therein.
Then was Sir Bevis afraid and woe,
Lest the dragon should him sloe:
Or that he might away passe,
When that he in the well was.
Then was the well of such vertu
Through the might of Christ Jesu,
For sometime dwelled in that land
A virgin full of Christes sand,

That had been bathed in that well,
That ever after, as men can tell,

Might no venemous worme come therein,

By the virtue of that virgin,

Nor nigh it seven foot and more:

Then Bevis was glad therefore,

When he saw the Dragon fell
Had no power to come to the well.
Then was he glad without faile,
And rested awile for his availe,
And drank of the water of his fill,
And then he lept out of the well,
And with Morglay, his brand
Assailed the Dragon, I understand:

On the dragon he strucke so fast, &c *."

* We have much the same miracle in the Seven Champions. 1. 2.

After which the dragon strikes the knight with such violence, that he falls into a swoon, and tumbles as it were lifeless into the well, by whose sovereign virtue he is revived.

"When Bevis was at the ground

The water made him whole and sound,
And quenched all the venim away,

This well saved Bevis that day."

And afterwards,

It

"But ever when Bevis was hurt sore,

He went to the well and washed him thore;

He was as whole as any man,

And ever as fresh as when he began."

may be observed, that this poem of Sir Bevis is in that short measure, which was frequently sung to the harp even in Queen Elizabeth's time: a custom which probably descended from the ancient bards. The author of the Arte of English Poesie, printed

1589, thus speaks of it-"Soon the other side doth the overbusie and too speedy returne of one manner of tune, too much annoy, and, as it were, glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular musickes song by these cantabanqui upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other audience than boyes, or country fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else by blind harpers, or such like taverne-minstrels, that give a fit of mirth for a groat; and their matters being, for the most part stories of old time; as the Tale of Sir Topas, the Reportes of Bevis of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, Adam Bell, and Clymme of the Clough, and such other old romances or historical rhymes, made purposely for recreation of the common people at Christmasse dinners and brideales; and in tavernes, and alehouses, and such places of base resort; also they be used in carols and rounds, and such light or lascivious pcemnes, which are commonly more

commodiously uttered by these buffoons and vices in plays, than by any other person: such were the rimes of Skelton (usurping the name of a poet laureate) being in deede but a rude rayling rimer, and all his doings ridiculous; he used both short distances and short measures, pleasing only the popular eare; in our courtly maker we banish them utterly." Hence it appears that Chaucer's pieces, or at least legends drawn from him, were at that time sung to the harp; for the tale, or rime, of Sir Topas is a poem of Chaucer now extant: so the Italians at present sing Tasso and Ariosto. Adam Bell and Clym of the Clough were two famous archers: the former of which is on that account alluded to by Shakspeare.

The same author in another place speaks of this kind of entertainment, by which we

* B. ii. c. 9.

may conjecture that it was not always confined to so vulgar an audience.-" We ourselves who compiled this treatise have written for pleasure, a little brief romance, or historical ditty, in the English tong, of the isle of Great-Britain, in short and long meeters; and by breaches or divisions to be more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the company shall be desirous to hear of old adventures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times past; as are those of King Arthur, and his knights of the round table: Sir Bevys of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, and such other like*."

But to return:-The circumstance of the dragon not being able to approach within seven feet of this well, is imitated by our author st. 49. below, where another water is mentioned, which in like manner preserves the knight.

* B. i. c. 19.