“Whan the dragon that foule is
  Had a sight of Sir Bevis,
  He cast yo a loud cry
  As it had thondered in the sky,
  He turned his belly toward the sun
  It was greater than any tonne;
  His scales was brighter than the glas,
  And harder they were than any bras
  Betwene his sholder and his tayle
  Was 40 fote without fayle,
  He woltered out of his denne,
  And Bevis pricked his stede then,
  And to him a spere he thraste
  That all to shivers he it braste. 
  The dragon then gan Bevis assayle
  And smote Syr Bevis with his tayle
  Then down went horse and man
  And two rybbes of Bevis brused than.”

Suffice it to say the knight at last conquered and the monster was slain.  The same story is repeated in the ballad of “St. George and the Dragon,” with variations.  There a fair lady is rescued: 

  “For, with his lance that was so strong,
    As he came gaping in his face,
  In at his mouth, he thrust along,
    For he could pierce no other place;
  And thus within the lady’s view
  This mighty dragon straight he slew.”

The martial achievements of this patron saint of the “Knights of the Garter” are considered apocryphal, and, in 1792, it required an octavo volume by Rev. J. Milner to prove his existence at all.  Emerson says he was a notorious thief and procured his prelatic honors by fraud.

The English history is to a considerable extent embodied in the national songs.  Opinions, prejudices, and superstitions, however, are oftener embodied in them than facts.  This species of literature has been very potent for good or ill in revolutionary times.  Kings and parties have been both marred and made by them.  The martial spirit, in all ages, has been kindled by lyrics; national victories have been celebrated by them; and by them individual prowess has been immortalized.

The English people were famous for their convivialty and periodical festivals such as May Day, New Years, sowing-time, sheep-shearing, harvest home, corresponding to our Thanksgiving and Christmas.  All these occasions were enlivened with songs and tales.  The Christmas carol and story are famous in England’s annals.  Scott says: 

  “All hail’d with uncontroll’d delight
  And general voice the happy night,
  That to the cottage as the crown,
  Brought tidings of salvation down. 
  ’Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale
  ’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
  A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
  The poor man’s heart through half the year.”

[Footnote 3:  Ritson and Bishop Percy speak of different ages:  one describing the rise and the other the decline of minstrelsy.]

[Footnote 4:  The song makes Arthur record his own death.]

[Footnote 5:  7th vol.  Child’s British Poets.]

[Footnote 6:  Childs British Poets, I:  139 and 149.]

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