Then the dragon, like a coward, began to fly 25 Unto his den, that was hard by; And there he laid him down and roar'd; The knight was vexed for his sword. "The sword, that was a right good blade, As ever Turk or Spaniard made, 30 I for my part do forsake it, And he that will fetch it, let him take it." When all this was done, to the ale-house he went, And by and by his two pence he spent; For he was so hot with tugging with the dragon, 35 That nothing would quench him but a whole flaggon. Now God preserve our King and Queen, And eke in London may be seen As many knights, and as many more, And all so good as Sir Eglamore. 40 JEPHTHAH, JUDGE OF ISRAEL. We have thought it necessary to include in this collection one or two specimens of ballads founded on stories in the Jewish Scriptures. Besides those here selected, it may be well to refer to the following: _The Constancy of Susanna_, (cited in _Twelfth Night_,) Evans, i. 11; _David and Bathsheba_, _id._ p. 291; _Tobias_, _Old Ballads_, ii. 158; _Holofernes_, _The Garland of Goodwill_, p. 85, and _Old Ballads_, ii. 166. Every one will remember that the ballad of _Jephthah_ is quoted in _Hamlet_ (Act II. sc. 2). Percy published an imperfect copy of this piece, written down from the recollection of a lady (_Reliques_, i. 193). The following is from a black-letter copy reprinted in Evans, i. 7, which was entitled "_Jepha, Judge of Israel_." I have read that many years agoe, When Jeph[th]a, judge of Israel, Had one fair daughter and no moe,[L3] Whom he loved passing well. And as by lot, God wot, 5 It came to passe, most like it was, Great warrs there should be, And who should be the chiefe but he, but he. When Jeph[th]a was appointed now Chiefe captain of the company, 10 To God the Lord he made a vow, If he might have the victory, At his return, to burn, For his offering, the first quick thing, Should meet with him then, 15 From his house when he came agen, agen. It chanced so these warrs were done, And home he came with victory; His daughter out of doors did run To meet her father speedily: 20 And all the way did play To taber and pipe, and many a stripe, And notes full high, For joy that he was so nigh, so nigh.