"But there's na water in the house, And what shall we do than?" "What ails ye at the pudding bree 35 That boils into the pan?" O up then started our gudeman, An angry man was he; "Will ye kiss my wife before my een, And scald me wi' pudding bree?" O up then started our gudewife, 40 Gied three skips on the floor; "Gudeman, you have spak the first word; Get up and bar the door." THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY. Percy's _Reliques_, iii. 350. _Old Ballads_, i. 37. This in its way most admirable ballad is clearly a parody of some ancient _K[oe]mpevise_. The armor studded with spikes connects this story with the legend of the _Worm of Lambton_ (see vol. i. p. 281, and _post_, p. 136), which, we are inclined to think with Grundtvig (i. 346), may have some radical connection with Regner Lodbrog's fight with the snake that guarded Thora's bower. The well in v. 100 corresponds to the pit in which the hero stands in _Ormekampen_, Grundtvig, i. 342.--Printed by Percy from a copy in Roman letter, in the Pepys Collection, "collated with such others as could be procured." PERCY. Old stories tell how Hercules A dragon slew at Lerna, With seven heads, and fourteen eyes, To see and well discerne-a: But he had a club, this dragon to drub, 5 Or he had ne'er done it, I warrant ye: But More of More-Hall, with nothing at all, He slew the dragon of Wantley. This dragon had two furious wings, Each one upon each shoulder; 10 With a sting in his tayl, as long as a flayl, Which made him bolder and bolder. He had long claws, and in his jaws Four and forty teeth of iron; With a hide as tough as any buff, 15 Which did him round environ. Have you not heard how the Trojan horse Held seventy men in his belly? This dragon was not quite so big, But very near, I'll tell ye. 20 Devoured he poor children three, That could not with him grapple; And at one sup he eat them up, As one would eat an apple. All sorts of cattle this dragon did eat; 25 Some say he ate up trees, And that the forests sure he would Devour up by degrees; For houses and churches were to him geese and turkies;[L29] He ate all, and left none behind, 30 But some stones, dear Jack, that he could not crack, Which on the hills you will find.