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THE THREE RAVENS.
From Ritson's Ancient English Songs, ii. 53. It is there reprinted from Ravenscroft's Melismata, 1611. Another copy follows, taken from Scott's Minstrelsy. Motherwell has recast the ballad in modern style, p. 7 of his collection.
There were three ravens sat on a tree, Downe, a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
There were three ravens sat on a tree, With a downe,
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be,
With a downe, derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
The one of them said to his mate,
" Where shall we our breakefast take ? " —
" Downe in yonder greene field, s
There lies a knight slain under his shield. |
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