| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Anonymous. 17th Cent. |
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| 379. The Three Ravens |
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| THERE were three ravens sat on a tree, | |
| They were as black as they might be. | |
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| The one of them said to his make, | |
| 'Where shall we our breakfast take?' | |
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| 'Down in yonder greene field | 5 |
| There lies a knight slain under his shield; | |
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| 'His hounds they lie down at his feet, | |
| So well they can their master keep; | |
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| 'His hawks they flie so eagerly, | |
| There 's no fowl dare come him nigh.' | 10 |
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| Down there comes a fallow doe | |
| As great with young as she might goe. | |
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| She lift up his bloudy head | |
| And kist his wounds that were so red. | |
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| She gat him up upon her back | 15 |
| And carried him to earthen lake. | |
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| She buried him before the prime, | |
| She was dead herself ere evensong time. | |
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| God send every gentleman | |
| Such hounds, such hawks, and such a leman. | 20 |
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