272 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



mentioned in \h&jeu d!esprit, cannot be now identified. As the 

 song is completely buried from the notice of the general public, 

 in the only place in which it appears in print, no apology can 

 be required for introducing it to the reader : 



THE CUNNING CARP AND THE CONTENTED KNIGHT. 



To the tune of ' St. George and the Dragon.' 



Within the wood a virgin ash 



Had twenty summers seen ; 

 The elves and fairies marked it oft 



As they tripped on the green ! 

 But the woodman cut it with his axe, 



He cruelly fell'd it down, 

 A rod to make for the Knight of the Lake, 



A knight of no renown. 

 Turn and taper round, turner, 



Turn and taper round, 

 For my line is of the grey palfrey's tail, 



And it is slender and sound. 

 St. George he was for England, 



St. Denis he was for France, 

 St. Patrick taught the Irishmen 



To tune the merry harp, 

 At the bottom of this slimy pool 



There lurks a crafty carp. 

 Were he at the bottom of my line. 



How merrily he would dance. 



In the Pacific Ocean 



There dwelt a mighty whale. 

 And o'er the waves from London Town, 



There went a noble sail. 

 With hooks and crooks, and ropes and boats, 



'Twas furnished in and out, 

 Boat-steerers and bold harpooners, 



With sailors brave and stout ; 

 The dart flew true and the monster slew, 



The seamen blessed the day. 

 All from his fin a bone so thin, 

 , , At the top of my rod doth play. 

 St. George, &c. 



