Andersen. — The Verse-unit. 631 



Similarly, the stanza given by Percy as opening — 



(14.) Tiie[y] tooku [on] on etliar hand 

 Be the lyght off the mono ; 



(Part ii, stanza 25.) 



— should be, — 



(14rt.) The tooke on othar hand 



Be the lyght off the mono ; 



Again comparing the divided forms : — 



(146.) The[y]/ tooke [on]/ on e/tliar hantl/ be the/ lyght off/ the mone/ ; 

 The tooke/ on e/thav hand/ / be the,' lyght off/ the mone/ ; 



In both instances Percy has made an abrupt Ballad verse out of what was 

 originally an ordinary Alexandrine. Such alternation of Alexandrine with 

 Ballad was and is common enough : an example by the Earl of Surrey has 

 been given in example No. (28), Section I, of this chapter. The Nibelungen 

 verse is also found in " Chevy Chase " — 



(15.) Then sayd the doughte Doglas 

 Unto the lord Perse : 

 " To kyll all thes giltless men, 

 A-las ! it wear great pitte. 



(Part i, stanza 19.) 



(15rt.) Then sayd/ the dough/te Dog/las / unto/ the lord/ Perse/ : 



— though by the accent-marks Percy would make the verse Alexandrine. 

 In the stanzas following hereunder the Ballad of the first verse dwindles to 

 Nibelungen in the second and third, and to Alexandrine in the fourth : — ■ 



(16.) Thear was slayne with the lord Perse 

 Sir John of Agerstone, 

 Sir Roger the hinde Hartly, 



Sir Wyllyam the bolde Hearone. 



Sir Jorg the worthe Lovele 



A knyght of great renowen. 

 Sir Raff the ryche Rugbe 



With dyntes were beaten downe. 



(Part ii, stanzas 28, 29.) 



(16a.) Thear/ was slayne/ with the lord/ Perse/ Sir John/ of A/gerstone/, 



Sir Ro/ger the hin/de Hart/ly, / Sir Wyl/lyam the bolde/ Hearone/. 



Sir Jorg/ the wor/the Lo/vele / a knyght/ of great/ renowen/, 



Sir Raff/ the ryche/ Ruglje/ / with dyn/tes were bea/ten downe/. 



The swelling of the Ballad to the parent Romance is even more noticeable : — 



(17.) The dougheti Dogglas on a stede 

 He rode att his men beforne ; 

 His armor glytterj'de as dyd a glede ; 

 A bolder barne was never born. 



(Part i, stanza 14.) 



(17«.) The dough/eti Dog/glas on/ a stede/ he rode/ att his men/ beforne/ ; / 



His ar/mor glytt/eryde as dyd/ a glede/ ; a bol/der barne/ was ne/ver 

 born/. 



It swells to full Romance in both verses of the following : — • 



(18.) Tivydale may carpe off care, 



Northombarlond may mayk grate mone, 

 For towe such captayns, as slayne wear thear. 

 On the march perti shall never be none. 



(Part ii, stanza 34.) 



(18a.) Ti/vydale/ may carpe/ off' care/, Northom/barlond/ may mayk/ grate mone, 

 For towe/ such cap/tayns, as slayne/ wear thear/, on the marc h/ perti/ shall 

 ne/ver be none/. ^^qJO^M^ 



