Sir Lionel
No: 18; variant: 18C
- SIR ROBERT BOLTON had three sons,
Wind well thy horn, good hunter
And one of them was called Sir Ryalas.
For he was a jovial hunter
- He rang'd all round down by the woodside,
Till up in the top of a tree a gay lady he spy'd.
For he was, etc.
- 'O what dost thou mean, fair lady?' said he;
'O the wild boar has killed my lord and his men thirty.'
As thou beest, etc.
- 'O what shall I do this wild boar to see?'
'O thee blow a blast, and he'll come unto thee.'
As thou beest, etc.
- [Then he put his horn unto his mouth],
Then he blowd a blast full north, east, west and south.
As he was, etc.
- And the wild boar heard him full into his den;
Then he made the best of his speed unto him.
To Sir Ryalas, etc.
- Then the wild boar, being so stout and so strong,
He thrashd down the trees as he came along.
To Sir Ryalas, etc.
- 'O what dost thou want of me?' the wild boar said he;
'O I think in my heart I can do enough for thee.'
For I am, etc.
- Then they fought four hours in a long summer's day,
Till the wild boar fain would have gotten away.
From Sir Ryalas, etc.
- Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword with might,
And he fairly cut his head off quite.
For he was, etc.
- Then out of the wood the wild woman flew:
'Oh thou hast killed my pretty spotted pig!
As thou beest, etc.
- 'There are three things I do demand of thee,
It's thy horn, and thy hound, and thy gay lady.'
As thou beest, etc.
- 'If these three things thou dost demand of me,
It's just as my sword and thy neck can agree.'
For I am, etc.
- Then into his locks the wild woman flew,
Till she thought in her heart she had torn him through.
As he was, etc.
- Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword again,
And he fairly split her head in twain.
For he was, etc.
- In Bromsgrove church they both do lie;
There the wild boar's head is picturd by
Sir Ryalas, etc.