Sir Eglamore (Related to Sir Lionel) c. 1720
Child details the relationship of "Sir Eglamour" in his narrative to Sir Lionel:
Our ballad has much in common with the romance of 'Sir Eglamour of Artois,' Percy Manuscript, Hales and Furnivall, II, 338; Thornton Romances, Camden Society, ed. Halliwell, p. 121; Ellis, Metrical Romances, from an early printed copy, Bohn's ed., p. 527. Eglamour, simple knight, loving Christabel, an earl's daughter, is required by the father, who does not wish him well, to do three deeds of arms, the second being to kill a boar in the kingdom of Sattin or Sydon, which had been known to slay forty armed knights in one day (Percy, st. 37). This Eglamour does, after a very severe fight. The boar belonged to a giant, who had kept him fifteen years to slay Christian men (Thornton, st. 42, Percy, 40). This giant had demanded the king of Sy don's daughter's hand, and comes to carry her off, by force, if necessary, the day following the boar-fight. Eglamour, who had been found by the king in the forest, in a state of exhaustion, after a contest which had lasted to the third or fourth day, and had been taken home by him and kindly cared for, is now ready for action again. He goes to the castle walls with a squire, who carries the boar's head on a spear. The giant, seeing the head, exclaims,
'Alas, art thou dead!
My trust was all in thee!
Now by the law that I lieve in,
My little speckled hoglin,
Dear bought shall thy death be.'
(Percy, st. 44)
Eglamour kills the giant, and returns to Artois with both heads. The earl has another adventure ready for him, and hopes the third chance may quit all. Eglamour asks for twelve weeks to rest his weary body.
Bronson uses the Sir Eglamore tune for his B group and say "Sir Rylas" uses the tune. Bronson also points out that the two once disctinct songs have blended melodically over the years.
R. Matteson 2012]
SIR EGLAMORE From D'Urfey III, 1719-1720 (Related to Child #18;)
Sir Eglamore, that valiant knight
Fa la, lanky down dilly
He took up his sword and he went to fight
Fa la, lanky down dilly
And as he rode o'er Hill and Dale
All Armed with a coat of Male
Fa la, la, la, la, la, lanky down dilly
There leap'd a Dragon outof her Den
That had slain God knows how many men
But when she saw Sir Eglamore
Oh that you had but heard her roar!
Then the trees began to shake,
Horses did tremble, Man did quake,
The birds betook them all to peeping
Oh! t'would have made one fall a-weeping.
But all in vain it was to fear
For now they fall to't, fight Dog, fight Bear
And to't they go and soundly fight
A live-long day from Morn to Night.
This Dragon had on a plaguey Hide
That cou'd the sharpest steel abide
No Sword cou'd enter her with cuts
Which vex'd the Knight unto the Guts.
But as in Choler he did burn,
He watch'd the Dragon a great good turn
For as a Yawning she did fall
He thrust his Sword up Hilt and all.
Then like a Coward she did fly
Unto her den which was haerd by;
And there she lay all night and roar's
The Knight was sorry for his Sword.
But riding away, he cries," I forsake it,
He that will fetch it, let him take it."