25
9. The Devout Man and the Tyrant. [If the half of a loaf the devout man receives]
26
10. The Cat and the Beggar. [If a cat could the power of flying enjoy]
26
11. The King and Taylor. [The taylor who travels in far foreign lands]
26
12. Gold Coin and Stamped Leather. [Of the children of wisdom how like is the face]
27
13. [So much like a friend with your foe ever deal]
The Manuscript of these Epigrams bears instructive evidence of the immense amount of care and labour expended by Borrow upon his metrical compositions. Reduced facsimiles of two of the pages of this Manuscript are given herewith. It will be observed that a full page and a half are occupied by the thirteenth Epigram, at which Borrow made no fewer than seven attempts before he succeeded in producing a version which satisfied him. The completed Epigram is as follows:—
So much like a friend with your foe ever deal,
That you never need dread the least scratch from his steel;
But ne’er with your friend deal so much like a foe,
That you ever must dread from his faulchion a blow.
27
The original Manuscript of Little Engel, written in 1829, is in the library of Mr. Edmund Gosse. The Manuscript of 1854, from which the ballad was printed, is in my own library.
There is a copy of Little Engel, A Ballad, &c., in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(42) [Alf the Freebooter: 1913]
Alf the Freebooter / Little Danneved and / Swayne Trost / 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
Sir Alf the Freebooter. [Sir Alf he is an Atheling.]
5
Little Danneved and Swayne Trost. [“O what shall I in Denmark do?”]
14
Sir Pall, Sir Bear, And Sir Liden. [Liden he rode to the Ting, and shewed]
20
Belardo’s Wedding. [From the banks, in mornings beam]
23
The Yew Tree. [O tree of yew, which here I spy]
Two earlier versions of this Ode were printed by Borrow in Wild Wales, vol. iii, pp. 203 and 247. The texts of all three versions differ very considerably.
27
There is a copy of Alf the Freebooter and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(43) [King Diderik: 1913]
King Diderik / and the Fight between the / Lion and Dragon / 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 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 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
King Diderik and the Lion’s Fight with the Dragon.
[From Bern rode forth King Diderik]
There exists a single leaf of an early draft of another, entirely different, version of this ballad. Upon the opposite page is a facsimile, the exact size of the original, of this fragment.
5
Diderik and Olger the Dane. [With his eighteen brothers Diderik stark]
14
Olger the Dane and Burman. [Burman in the mountain holds]
21
The complete Manuscript of King Diderik, &c., and Other Ballads, as prepared for the Songs of Scandinavia of 1829, is preserved in the British Museum.
There is a copy of King Diderik and the Fight between the Lion and Dragon, &c. in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(44) [The Nightingale: 1913]
The Nightingale / The Valkyrie and Raven / 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 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 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 Nightingale, or The Transformed Damsel. [I know where stands a Castellaye]
5
The Valkyrie and Raven. [Ye men wearing bracelets]
Previously printed in Once a Week, August 2nd, 1862, pp. 152–156, where the Ballad was accompanied by a full-page Illustration engraved upon wood. [See post, pp. 302–305.]
11
Erik Emun and Sir Plog. [Early at morn the lark sang gay]
21
The Elves. [Take heed, good people, of yourselves]
There are two Manuscripts of The Elves available. So far as the body of the poem is concerned the texts of these are identical, the fifth line alone differing materially in each. This line, as printed, reads:
The lass he woo’ d, her promise won.
In the earlier of the two MSS. it reads:
Inflamed with passion her he woo’d.
A cancelled reading of the same MS. runs:
Whom when he saw the peasant woo’d.
But the Ballad is furnished with a repeated refrain. This refrain in the printed version reads:
Take heed, good people, of yourselves;
And oh! beware ye of the elves.
In the earlier MS. the refrain employed is:
’Tis wonderful the Lord can brook
The insolence of the fairy folk!
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the later MS. will be found facing the present page.
The entire poem should be compared with The Elf Bride, printed in The Brother Avenged and Other Ballads, 1913, pp. 21–22.
25
Feridun. [No face of an Angel could Feridun claim]
26
Epigrams:
1. [A worthless thing is song, I trow]
27
2. [Though pedants have essayed to hammer]
27
3. [When of yourself you have
cause to speak]
27
Note.—Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the first time in this volume.
There is a copy of The Nightingale, The Valkyrie and Raven, and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(45) [Grimmer and Kamper: 1913]
Grimmer and Kamper / The End of Sivard Snarenswayne / 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 note regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 3–4; and Text of the Ballads pp. 5–28. There are headlines 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 (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
Grimmer and Kamper. [Grimmer walks upon the floor]
5
Mimmering Tan. [The smallest man was Mimmering]
11
The End of Sivard Snarenswayne. [Young Sivard he his step-sire slew]
The two Manuscripts, belonging to the years 1829 and 1854 respectively, of this ballad exhibit very numerous differences of text. As a brief, but sufficient, example I give the second stanza as it occurs in each:
1829
It was Sivard Snareswayne [sic]
To his mother’s presence hied:
“Say, shall I go from thee on foot,
Or, tell me, shall I ride?”
1854
It was Sivard Snarenswayne
To his mother’s presence strode:
“Say, shall I ride from hence?” he cried,
“Or wend on foot my road?”
14
Sir Guncelin’s Wedding. [It was the Count Sir Guncelin]
19
Epigrams:
Honesty. [No wonder honesty’s a lasting article]
27
A Politician. [He served his God in such a fashion]
27
The Candle. [For foolish pastimes oft, full oft, they thee ignite]
27
Epigram on Himself. By Wessel [He ate, and drank, and slip-shod went]
28
There is a copy of Grimmer and Kamper, The End of Sivard Snarenswayne, and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(46) [The Fountain of Maribo: 1913]
The / Fountain of Maribo / 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; Frontispiece (with blank recto) pp. 3–4; Title-page (with notice regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 5–6; and Text of the Ballads pp. 7–27. 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), 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.
The Frontispiece is a reduced facsimile of the first page of the original Manuscript of Ramund.
Contents.
page
The Fountain of Maribo, Or The Queen and the Algreve. [The Algreve he his bugle wound]
Of The Fountain of Maribo there are two Manuscripts available, one written in 1829 and the other in 1854. The text of these differs appreciably, that of the second being as usual the superior. Here are some stanzas from each version:
1829
The Algreve he his bugle wound,
The longest night.
The Queen in her bower heard the sound
Love me doth thrall.
The Queen her little foot boy address’d:
The longest night.
“Go, come to me hither the Algreve request.”
Love me doth thrall.
In came the Algrave, ’fore the board stood he:
“What wilt thou my Queen that thou’st sent for me?”
“If I survive when my lord is dead,
Thou shall rule o’er my gold so red.”
1854
The Algreve he his bugle wound
The long night all—
The Queen in bower heard the sound,
I’m passion’s thrall.
The Queen her little page address’d,
The long night all—
“To come to me the Greve request,”
I’m passion’s thrall.
He came, before the board stood he,
The long night all—
“Wherefore, O Queen, hast sent for me?”
I’m passion’s thrall,
“As soon as e’er my lord is dead,
The long night all—
Thou shall rule o’er my gold so red,”
I’m passion’s thrall.
7
Ramund. [Ramund thought he should a better man be]
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the manuscript of Ramund faces the present page.
13
Alf of Odderskier. [Alf he dwells at Odderskier]
22
There is a copy of The Fountain of Maribo and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(47) [Queen Berngerd: 1913]
Queen Berngerd / The Bard and the Dreams / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:—Square demy octavo, pp. 31; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1–2; Frontispiece (with blank recto) pp. 3–4; Title-page, as above (with a note regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 5–6; and Text of the Ballads pp. 7–31. There are headlines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular Ballad occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 31 is the following imprint: “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 8½ x6¾ inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
The Frontispiece consists of a reduced facsimile of the original Manuscript, in Borrow’s handwriting, of The Bard and the Dreams.
Contents.
page
Queen Berngerd. [Long ere the Sun the heaven arrayed]
7
Dame Martha’s Fountain. [Dame Martha dwelt at Karisegaard]
Previously printed (with some small differences of text) in The Foreign Quarterly Review, June 1830, p. 83.
13
The Bard and the Dreams. [O’er the sweet smelling meads with his lyre in his hand]
16
King Oluf the Saint. [King Oluf and his brother bold]
Previously printed (with some slight differences of text) in The Foreign Quarterly Review, June 1830, pp. 59–61.
23
To Scribblers. [Would it not be more dignified]
This delightful Squib, here first printed, was written by Borrow upon the refusal by Lockhart to insert in The Quarterly Review Borrow’s Essay suggested by For
d’s Handbook for Travellers in Spain, 1845, in the unmutilated and unamended form in which the author had written it.—[See ante, No. 10.]
30
To a Conceited Woman. [Be still, be still, and speak not back again]
31
Note.—Each poem, to which no reference is attached, appeared for the first time in this volume.
There is a copy of Queen Berngerd, The Bard and the Dreams, and Other Ballads in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(48) [Finnish Arts: 1913]
Finnish Arts / Or / Sir Thor and Damsel Thure / A Ballad / 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; Frontispiece (with blank recto), pp. 3–4; Title-page, as above (with notice regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 5–6; and Text of the Ballads pp. 7–27. 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), each inset within the other.
A Bibliography of the Writings in Prose and Verse of George Henry Borrow Page 12
