The Three Ravens
No: 26; variant: 26
- THERE were three rauens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
With a downe
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe
- The one of them said to his mate,
'Where shall we our breakefast take?'
- 'Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a knight slain vnder his shield.
- 'His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they can their master keepe.
- 'His haukes they flie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie.'
- Downe there comes a fallow doe,
As great with yong as she might goe.
- She lift vp his bloudy hed,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
- She got him vp vpon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake.
- She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere euen-song time.
- God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman.