INGEBORG’S DISGUISE [161]
Such handsome court clothes the proud Ingeborg buys,
Says she, “I’ll myself as a courtier disguise.”
Proud Ingeborg hastens her steed to bestride,
Says she, “I’ll away with the King to reside.”
“Thou gallant young King to my speech lend an ear,
Hast thou any need of my services here?”
“O yes, my sweet lad, of a horseboy I’ve need,
If there were but stable room here for his steed.
“But thy steed in the stall with my own can be tied,
And thou ’neath the linen shalt sleep by my side.”
Three years in the palate good service she wrought
That she was a woman no one ever thought.
She filled for three years of a horse-boy the place,
And the steeds of the monarch she drove out to graze.
She led for three years the King’s steeds to the brook,
For else than a youth no one Ingeborg took.
Proud Ingeborg knows how to make the dames gay,
She also can sing in such ravishing way.
The hair on her head is like yellow spun gold,
To her beauty the heart of the prince was not cold.
But at length up and down in the palace she strayed,
Her colour and hair began swiftly to fade.
What eye has seen ever so wondrous a case?
The boy his own spurs to his heel cannot brace.
The horse-boy is brought to so wondrous a plight,
To draw his own weapon he has not the might.
The son of the King to five damsels now sends,
And Ingeborg fair to their care he commends.
Proud Ingeborg took they and wrapped in their weed,
And to the stone chamber with her they proceed.
Upon the blue cushions they Ingeborg laid,
Where light of two beautiful sons she is made.
Then in came the prince, smiled the babies to view:
“’Tis not every horse-boy can bear such a two.”
He patted her soft on her cheek sleek and fair:
“Forget my heart’s dearest all sorrow and care.”
He placed the gold crown on her temples I ween:
“With me shalt thou live as my wife and my Queen.”
The complete Manuscript of The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads is in my own library.
There is a copy of The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C.44.d.38.
(29) [Axel Thordson: 1913]
Axel Thordson / and Fair Valborg / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 45; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3–4; and text of the Ballad pp. 5–45. The head-line is Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 45 is the following imprint: “London: / Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. / Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A to C (Three sheets, each eight leaves) inset within each other. The last leaf of Sig. C is a blank.
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
Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg. [At the wide board at tables play]
5
In some respects Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg is the most ambitious of Borrow’s Ballads. It is considerably the longest, unless we regard the four “Songs” of which Marsk Stig is comprised as forming one complete poem. But it is by no means the most successful; indeed it is invariably in his shorter Ballads that we find Borrow obtaining the happiest result.
Two Manuscripts of Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg are available. The first was prepared in 1829 for the Songs of Scandinavia. The second was revised in 1854 for the Kœmpe Viser. This later Manuscript is in my own possession. I give herewith a reduced facsimile of one of its pages.
There is a copy of Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C.44.d.38.
(30) [King Hacon’s Death: 1913]
King Hacon’s Death / and / Bran and the Black Dog / Two Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Crown octavo, pp. 14; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Two Ballads pp. 5–14. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. Following p. 14 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.” There are no signatures, the pamphlet being composed of a single sheet, folded to form sixteen pages.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7½ × 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
King Hacon’s Death. [“And now has happened in our day”]
5
Bran and the Black Dog. [“The day we went to the hills to chase”]
I venture to regard this ballad of the fight between Bran and the Black Dog as one of Borrow’s happiest efforts. Here are some of its vigorous stanzas:
The valiant Finn arose next day,
Just as the sun rose above the foam;
And he beheld up the Lairgo way,
A man clad in red with a black dog come.
He came up with a lofty gait,
Said not for shelter he sought our doors;
And wanted neither drink nor meat,
But would match his dog ’gainst the best of ours.
* * * * *
“A strange fight this,” the great Finn said,
As he turn’d his face towards his clan;
Then his face with rage grew fiery red,
And he struck with his fist his good dog Bran.
“Take off from his neck the collar of gold,
Not right for him now such a thing to bear;
And a free good fight we shall behold
Betwixt my dog and his black compeer.”
The dogs their noses together placed,
Then their blood was scatter’d on every side;
Desperate the fight, and the fight did last
’Till the brave black dog in Bran’s grip died.
* * * * *
We went to the dwelling of high Mac Cuol,
With the King to drink, and dice, and throw;
The King was joyous, his hall was full,
Though empty and dark this night I trow.
11
There is a copy of King Hacon’s Death and Bran and the Black Dog in the Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.
(31) [Marsk Stig’s Daughters: 1913]
Marsk Stig’s / Daughters / and other / Songs and Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Crown octavo, pp. 21; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse), pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse), pp. 3–4; Table of Contents, pp. 5–6; and Text of the Songs and Ballads, pp. 7–21. The reverse of p. 21 is blank. The head-line is Songs and Ballads throughout, upon both sides of the page. The pamphlet concludes with 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.” There are no signatures, but the pamphlet consists of a half-sheet (of four leaves), with a full sheet (of eight leaves) inset within it.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, w
ith untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7½ × 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
Marsk Stig’s Daughters. [Two daughters fair the Marshal had]
7
The Three Expectants. [There are three for my death that now pine]
11
Translation. [One summer morn, as I was seeking]
13
The English Gipsy:
He. [As I to the town was going one day
My Roman lass I met by the way]
14
She. [As I to the town was going one day
I met a young Roman upon the way]
The first of these two stanzas had been printed previously in Romano Lavo-Lil, 1874, p. 183.
14
Gipsy Song. [Up, up, brothers]
The first stanza of this Song was printed previously (under the title Run for it!) in Romano Lavo-Lil, 1874, p. 195.
16
Our Heart is Heavy, Brother. [The strength of the ox]
Another version of this poem was printed previously (under the title Sorrowful Tears, and with an entirely different text) in Romano Lavo-Lil, 1874, p. 211.
In order to give some clear idea of the difference between the two versions, I quote the opening stanza of each:
1874.
The wit and the skill
Of the Father of ill,
Who’s clever indeed,
If they would hope
With their foes to cope
The Romany need.
1913.
The strength of the ox,
The wit of the fox,
And the leveret’s speed;
All, all to oppose
Their numerous foes
The Romany need.
17
Song. [Nastrond’s blazes]
Another version of this Song was printed previously (divided up, and with many textual variations) in The Death of Balder, 1899, pp. 53–54.
19
Lines. [To read the great mysterious Past]
As a specimen of Borrow’s lighter lyrical verse, as distinguished from his Ballads, I give the text of the Translation noted above, accompanied by a facsimile of the first page of the MS.:
TRANSLATION.
One summer morn, as I was seeking
My ponies in their green retreat,
I heard a lady sing a ditty
To me which sounded strangely sweet:
I am the ladye, I am the ladye,
I am the ladye loving the knight;
I in the green wood, ’neath the green branches,
In the night season sleep with the knight.
Since yonder summer morn of beauty
I’ve seen full many a gloomy year;
But in my mind still lives the ditty
That in the green wood met my ear:
I am the ladye, I am the ladye,
I am the ladye loving the knight;
I in the green wood, ’neath the green branches,
In the night season sleep with the knight.
A second Manuscript of this Translation has the ‘ditty’ arranged in eight lines, instead of in four. In this MS. the word ladye is spelled in the conventional manner:
I am the lady,
I am the lady,
I am the lady
Loving the knight;
I in the greenwood,
’Neath the green branches,
Through the night season
Sleep with the knight.
21
Note.—Each poem to which no reference is attached appeared for the first time in this volume.
There is a copy of Marsk Stig’s Daughters and other Songs and Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(32) [The Tale of Brynild: 1913]
The Tale of Brynild / and / King Valdemar and his Sister / Two Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 35; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–35. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 35 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), and B and C (two sheets, each eight leaves), each 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 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
The Tale of Brynild. [Sivard he a colt has got]
Of The Tale of Brynild, two manuscripts are extant, written in 1829 and 1854 respectively. The text of the latter, from which the ballad was printed in the present pamphlet, is immeasurably the superior.
5
King Valdemar and his sister. [See, see, with Queen Sophy sits Valdemar bold]
13
Mirror of Cintra. [Tiny fields in charming order]
34
The Harp. [The harp to everyone is dear]
35
There can be little doubt that the series of poems included in this volume present Borrow at his best as a writer of Ballads.
There is a copy of The Tale of Brynild and King Valdemar and his Sister in the Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.
(33) [Proud Signild: 1913]
Proud Signild / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation: Square demy octavo, pp. 28; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page, as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–28. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. At the foot of p. 28 is the following imprint: “London: Printed for Thomas J. Wise, Hampstead, N.W. Edition limited to Thirty Copies.” The signatures are A (six leaves), and B (a full sheet of eight leaves), the one inset within the other.
Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8½ × 6⅞ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Contents.
page
Proud Signild. [Proud Signild’s bold brothers have taken her hand]
5
The Damsel of the Wood. [The Knight takes hawk, and the man takes hound]
16
Damsel Mettie. [Knights Peter and Olaf they sat o’er the board]
As is the case with quite a number of Borrow’s ballads, two Manuscripts of Damsel Mettie have been preserved. The earlier, composed not later than 1829, is written upon paper water marked with the date 1828; the later is written upon paper water-marked 1843. The earlier version has a refrain, “’Neath the linden tree watches the lord of my heart,” which is wanting in the later. Otherwise the text of both MSS. is identical, the differences to be observed between them being merely verbal. For example, the seventh couplet in the earlier reads:
I’ll gage my war courser, the steady and tried,
That thou canst not obtain the fair Mettie, my bride.
In the later MS. this couplet reads:
I’ll gage my war courser, the steady and tried,
Thou never canst lure the fair Mettie, my bride.
22
There is a copy of Proud Signild and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(34) [Ulf Van Yern: 1913]
Ulf Van Yern / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 27; consisting of: Half-tit
le (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Title-page (with notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–27. There are head-lines 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 two leaves), B (a half-sheet of four leaves), and C (a full sheet of eight 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
Ulf Van Yern. [It was youthful Ulf Van Yern]
This ballad was here printed from the Manuscript prepared for the projected Kœmpe Viser of 1854. In the MS of 1829 the ballad is entitled Ulf Van Yern and Vidrik Verlandson. The texts of the two versions differ widely in almost every stanza.
5
The Chosen Knight. [Sir Oluf rode forth over hill and lea]
16
Sir Swerkel. [There’s a dance in the hall of Sir Swerkel the Childe]
19
Finn and the Damsel, or The Trial of Wits. [“What’s rifer than leaves?” Finn cried]
23
Epigrams by Carolan:
1. On Friars. [Would’st thou on good terms with friars live]
26
2. On a surly Butler, who had refused him admission to the cellar. [O Dermod Flynn it grieveth me]
A Bibliography of the Writings in Prose and Verse of George Henry Borrow Page 10
