King Diderik and the fight between the Lion and Dragon, and Other Ballads

Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet, email ccx074@pglaf.org
AND OTHER BALLADS
by GEORGE BORROW
London: printed for private circulation
1913
Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton , Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .
They fought for a day, they fought for two, But ere the third was flown, The worm outfought the beast, and brought To earth the lion down.
Then cried the lion in his need When he the warrior saw: “O aid me quick, King Diderik, To ’scape the Dragon’s claw.
“O aid me quick, King Diderik, For the mighty God thou fearest; A lion save for the lion brave, Which on thy shield thou bearest.
“Come to my rescue, thou noble King, Help, help me for thy name; Upon thy targe I stand at large, Glittering like a flame.”
Long, long stood he, King Diderik, Deep musing thereupon; At length he cried: “Whate’er betide I’ll help thee, noble one.”