And came into the lions sight, Who ran at him with all their might.
Their rage did him no whit dismay, Who, like a stout and valiant knight, Did both the hungry lyons slay 250 Within the lady Sabra's sight: Who all this while sad and demure, There stood most like a virgin pure.
Now when St. George did surely know This lady was a virgin true, 255 His heart was glad, that erst was woe, And all his love did soon renew: He set her on a palfrey steed, And towards England came with speed.
Where being in short space arriv'd 260 Unto his native dwelling-place; Therein with his dear love he liv'd, And fortune did his nuptials grace: They many years of joy did see, And led their lives at Coventry. 265
This excellent song is ancient: but we could only give it from a modern copy.
[Earlier editions of this spirited song are printed in Evans's _Old Ballads_, iii. 282 (1810), and Rimbault's _Little Book of Songs and Ballads_, p. 137. It is quoted in Brome's _Sparagus Garden_, acted in 1635, and Shirley's _Constant Maid_ was republished in 1661, under the title of _Love will find out the Way_, by T. B.
Dr. Rimbault has the following note in his _Musical Illustrations_, "The old black-letter copy of this ballad is called '_Truth's Integrity: or, a curious Northerne Ditty_, called _Love will finde out the Way_. To a pleasant new Tune Printed at London for F. Coules, dwelling in the Old Bailey.' There is a second part consisting of six stanzas, which Percy has not reprinted. The tune is here given (translated from the _Tablature_) from _Musicks Recreation on the Lyra Viol_, published by Playford in 1652. It is also preserved in Forbes's _Cantus_, 1662; in _Musick's Delight on the Cithren_, 1666; and in D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, 1719. The _Pepysian Collection_ contains several ballads to this tune."
Mr. Chappell writes, "The air is still current, for in the summer of 1855, Mr. Jennings, Organist of All Saints' Church, Maidstone, noted it down from the wandering hop-pickers singing a song to it on their entrance into that town." _Popular Music_, vol. i. p. 304.]
Over the mountains, And over the waves; Under the fountains, And under the graves; Under the floods that are deepest, 5 Which Neptune obey; Over rocks that are steepest, Love will find out the way.
