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Sir Cawline

Traditional song

1 min
estimated reading 4
complete sections 5.35
algorithmic grade estimate

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Words
172
Native text
1118 characters
Dictionary match
77%
Revision
1330629353 · 2026-01-01T16:08:03Z
Key vocabulary

Words to check before reading

Eldritch4 uses in this article princess2 uses in this article Child2 uses in this article falls2 uses in this article fight2 uses in this article sword2 uses in this article fragmentary1 uses in this article traditional1 uses in this article noteworthy1 uses in this article daughter1 uses in this article between1 uses in this article fifteen1 uses in this article History1 uses in this article meaning1 uses in this article romance1 uses in this article steward1 uses in this article through1 uses in this article Graham1 uses in this article others1 uses in this article worthy1 uses in this article

Overview

Sir Cawline (Roud 479, Child 61) is a traditional English-language folk song. A fragmentary form exists in The Percy Folio.

Synopsis

Sir Cawline falls love with the king's daughter and falls ill from it. She tells him that he must do some great deed to be worthy of her: he must keep watch all night on the Eldritch Hill, and the Eldritch (meaning Elf) king has meant that no man has lived through that. Sir Cawline goes, the king challenges him, and they fight with swords. Sir Cawline strikes him down, and the king's lady pleads for his life. Sir Cawline spares him but brings back his eldritch sword as proof. In some variants, the king agrees to the marriage at this point. In others, a giant demands the princess, and Sir Cawline must fight him, using the eldritch sword. The king agrees to the marriage, but a false steward releases a lion to try to kill him, and Sir Cawline must kill it. Then the marriage is performed, and Sir Cawline and the princess have fifteen sons.

Variants

There are noteworthy parallels between this tale and the romance, The History of Sir Eger, Sir Graham, and Sir Gray-steel.

See also

*List of the Child Ballads

Language & communication

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