If me thou list thou at home wilt stay.”
“But the Queen will be there and her maiden crew,
Pray let me go, mother, the dance to view.”
So long, so long begged the maiden young,
That at length from her mother consent she wrung.
“Then go, my child, if thou needs must go,
But thy mother ne’er went to the wake I trow.”
Then through the thick forest the maiden went,
To reach the wake her mind was bent.
When o’er the green meadows she had won,
The Queen and her maidens to bed were gone.
And when she came to the castle gate
They were plying the dance at a furious rate.
There danced full many a mail-clad man,
And the youthful King he led the van.
He stretched forth his hand with an air so free:
“Wilt dance, thou pretty maid, with me?”
“O, sir, I’ve come across the wold
That I with the Queen discourse might hold.”
“Come dance,” said the King with a courteous smile,
“The Queen will be here in a little while.”
Then forward she stepped like a blushing rose,
She takes his hand and to dance she goes.
“Hear Signelil what I say to thee,
A ditty of love sing thou to me.”
“A ditty of love I will not, Sir King,
But as well as I can another I’ll sing.”
Proud Signil began, a ditty she sang,
To the ears of the Queen in her bed it rang.
Says the Queen in her chamber as she lay:
“O which of my maidens doth sing so gay?
“O which of my maidens doth sing so late,
To bed why followed they me not straight?”
Then answered the Queen the little foot page:
“’Tis none of thy maidens I’ll engage.
“’Tis none I’ll engage of the maiden band,
’Tis Signil proud from the islet’s strand.”
“O bring my red mantle hither to me,
For I’ll go down this maid to see.”
And when they came down to the castle gate
The dance it moved at so brave a rate.
About and around they danced with glee,
There stood the Queen and the whole did see.
The Queen she felt so sore aggrieved
When the King with Signil she perceived.
Sophia the Queen to her maid did sign:
“Go fetch me hither a horn of wine.”
His hand the King stretched forth so free:
“Wilt thou Sophia my partner be?”
“O I’ll not dance with thee, I vow,
Unless proud Signil pledge me now.”
The horn she raised to her lips, athirst,
The innocent heart in her bosom burst.
There stood King Valdemar pale as clay,
Stone dead at his feet the maiden lay.
“A fairer maid since I first drew breath
Ne’er came more guiltless to her death.”
For her wept woman and maid so sore,
To the Church her beauteous corse they bore.
But better with her it would have sped,
Had she but heard what her mother said.
20
There is a copy of The King’s Wake and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(23) [The Dalby Bear: 1913]
The Dalby Bear / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 20; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–20. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. At the foot of p. 20 is the following imprint: “London / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), with B (a full sheet of 8 leaves) inset within it.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
The Dalby Bear. [There goes a bear on Dalby moors]
5
Tygge Hermandsen. [Down o’er the isle in torrents fell]
The ballad was printed from a Manuscript written in 1854. I give a reduced facsimile of a page of an earlier Manuscript written in 1830.
9
The Wicked Stepmother. [Sir Ove he has no daughter but one]
This ballad should be read in conjunction with The Wicked Stepmother, No. ii, printed in Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads, 1913, pp. 23–37.
14
The complete Manuscript of The Dalby Bear and Other Ballads is in the library of Mr. Clement Shorter.
There is a copy of The Dalby Bear and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(24.) [The Mermaid’s Prophecy: 1913]
The / Mermaid’s Prophecy / and other / Songs relating to Queen Dagmar / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 30; consisting of Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Songs pp. 5–30. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Song occupying it. Following p. 30 is a leaf, with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: “London: / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A and B (two sheets, each eight leaves), the one inset within the other.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8¾ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
Songs relating to Queen Dagmar:
I. King Valdemar’s Wooing. [Valdemar King and Sir Strange bold]
5
II. Queen Dagmar’s Arrival in Denmark. [It was Bohemia’s Queen began]
14
III. The Mermaid’s Prophecy. [The King he has caught the fair mermaid, and deep]
19
Rosmer. [Buckshank bold and Elfinstone]
This ballad should be read in conjunction with Rosmer Mereman, printed in Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads, 1913, pp. 16–22.
25
Of The Mermaid’s Prophecy there are two Manuscripts extant. In the earlier of these, written in 1829, the Poem is entitled The Mermaid’s Prophecy. In the later Manuscript, written apparently about the year 1854, it is entitled The Mermaid only. From this later Manuscript the Poem was printed in the present volume.
Unlike the majority of Borrow’s Manuscripts, which usually exhibit extreme differences of text when two holographs exist of the same Poem, the texts of the two versions of The Mermaid’s Prophecy are practically identical, the opening stanza alone presenting any important variation. Here are the two versions of this stanza:
1829
The Dane King had the Mermaiden caught by his swains,
The mermaid dances the floor upon—
And her in the tower had loaded with chains,
Because his will she had not done.
1854
The King he has caught the fair mermaid, and deep
(The mermaid dances the floor upon)
In the dungeon has placed her, to pine and to weep,
Because his will she had not done.
There is a copy of The Mermaid’s Prophecy and other Songs relating to Queen Dagmar in the Library of the British Museum. The Press mark is C. 44
. d. 38.
(25.) [Hafbur and Signe: 1913]
Hafbur and Signe / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 23; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballad pp. 5–23. The head-line is Hafbur and Signe throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 23 is the following imprint: “London: / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves) inset within it.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
Hafbur and Signe. [Young Hafbur King and Sivard King They lived in bitter enmity]
5
Of Hafbur and Signe two Manuscripts are extant. The first of these was doubtless written in the early summer of 1830, for on June 1st of that year Borrow wrote to Dr. Bowring:
I send you “Hafbur and Signe” to deposit in the Scandinavian Treasury [i.e. among the Songs of Scandinavia].
The later Manuscript was written in or about the year 1854.
The earlier of these two Manuscripts is in the collection of Mr. Herbert T. Butler. The later Manuscript is in my own library.
As is usually the case when two Manuscripts of one of Borrow’s ballads are available, the difference in poetical value of the two versions of Hafbur and Signe is considerably. Few examples could exhibit more distinctly the advance made by Borrow in the art of poetical composition during the interval. Here are some stanzas from the version of 1854.
So late it was at nightly tide,
Down fell the dew o’er hill and mead;
Then lists it her proud Signild fair
With all the rest to bed to speed.
“O where shall I a bed procure?”
Said Hafbur then, the King’s good son.
“O thou shalt rest in chamber best
With me the bolsters blue upon.”
Proud Signild foremost went, and stepped
The threshold of her chamber o’er;
With secret glee came Hafbur, he
Had never been so glad before.
Then lighted they the waxen lights,
So fairly twisted were the same.
Behind, behind, with ill at mind,
The wicked servant maiden came
The following are the parallel stanzas from the version of 1830
So late it was in the nightly tide,
Dew fell o’er hill and mead;
Then listed her proud Signild fair
With the rest to bed to speed.
“O where shall I a bed procure?”
Said Hafbour the King’s good son.
“In the chamber best with me thou shalt rest,
The bolsters blue upon.”
Proud Signild foremost went and stepp’d
The high chamber’s threshold o’er,
Prince Hafbour came after with secret laughter,
He’d ne’er been delighted more
Then lighted they the waxen lights,
Fair twisted were the same.
Behind, behind with ill in her mind
The wicked servant came.
I give herewith a reduced facsimile of the last page of each Manuscript.
There is a copy of Hafbur and Signe A Ballad in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(26) [The Story of Yvashka: 1913]
The Story / of / Yvashka with the Bear’s Ear / Translated from the Russian / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 23; consisting of: Half title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Frontispiece (with blank recto) pp. 3–4; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 5–6; Introduction (by Borrow) pp. 7–10; and Text of the Story pp. 11–23. The head-line is Yvashka with the Bears Ear throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 23 is the following imprint: “London: / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N. W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A (a half sheet of 4 leaves), and B (a full sheet of 8 leaves), the one inset within the other. The Frontispiece consists of a reduced facsimile of the first page of the original Manuscript in Borrow’s handwriting.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
The Story of Yvashka was the second of three Russian Popular Tales, which were contributed by Borrow to the pages of Once a Week during 1862. The Story of Yvashka appeared in the number for May 17th, 1862, Vol. vi, pp. 572–574.
The Story was reprinted in The Sphere, Feb. 1st, 1913, p. 136.
The Text of Yvashka as printed in Once a Week differs appreciably from that printed in The Sphere, and in the private pamphlet of 1913, both of which are identical. The Manuscript from which the two latter versions were taken was the original translation. The version which appeared in Once a Week was printed from a fresh Manuscript (which fills 11 quarto pages) prepared in 1862. A reduced facsimile of the first page of the earlier Manuscript (which extends to 5⅛ quarto pages) will be found reproduced upon the opposite page. In this Manuscript the story is entitled The History of Jack with the Bear’s Ear.
Judging from the appearance of this MS., both paper and handwriting, together with that of fragments which remain of the original MSS. of the other two published Tales, it seems probable that the whole were produced by Borrow during his residence in St. Petersburg. Should such surmise be correct, the Tales are contemporary with Targum.
The Once a Week version of The Story of Yvashka was reprinted in The Avon Booklet, Vol. ii, 1904, pp. 199–210.
There is a copy of The Story of Yvashka in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 37.
(27) [The Verner Raven: 1913]
The Verner Raven / The Count of Vendel’s / Daughter / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 27; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with a note regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 3–4, and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–27. There are headlines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 27 is the following imprint: “London / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of 2 leaves), B (a half sheet of 4 leaves), and C (a full sheet of 8 leaves), all inset within each other.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
The Verner Raven. [The Raven he flies in the evening tide]
5
The Count of Vendel’s Daughter. [Within a bower the womb I left]
Previously printed in Once a Week, Vol. viii, January 3rd, 1863, pp. 35–36.
12
The Cruel Mother-in-Law. [From his home and his country Sir Volmor should fare]
18
The Faithful King of Thule. [A King so true and steady]
25
The Fairies’ Song. [Balmy the evening air]
27
Note.—Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the first time in this volume.
The Manuscript of The Count of Vendel’s Daughter is included in the extensive collection of Borroviana belonging to Mr. F. J. Farrell, of Great Yarmouth.
There is a copy of The Verner Raven, The Count of V
endel’s Daughter, and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(28) [The Return of the Dead: 1913]
The / Return of the Dead / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 22; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–22. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. Following p. 22 is a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: “London: / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty copies.” The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves), inset within it.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
The Return of the Dead. [Swayne Dyring o’er to the island strayed]
5
The Transformed Damsel. [I take my axe upon my back]
13
The Forced Consent. [Within her own fair castelaye]
15
Ingeborg’s Disguise. [Such handsome court clothes the proud Ingeborg buys]
19
Song. [I’ve pleasure not a little]
22
As a further example of Borrow’s shorter Ballads, I give Ingeborg’s Disguise in full. The entire series included in The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads ranks among the most uniformly successful of Borrow’s achievements in this particular branch of literature:—
A Bibliography of the Writings in Prose and Verse of George Henry Borrow Page 9
