go your cloth to buy_]
LLANGOLLEN'S ALE. [_Llangollen's brown ale is with malt 275
and hop rife_]
POVERTY AND RICHES. AN INTERLUDE. [_O Riches_, _thy 328
figure is charming and bright_]
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript
of this _Interlude_ is given herewith, facing page 99.
AN ODE TO SYCHARK. BY IOLO GOCH. [_Twice have I pledged 392
my word to thee_]
VOL. III
TRANSLATION OF A WELSH ENGLYN ON THE RHYADR. [_Foaming 12
and frothing from mountainous height_]
ODE TO OWEN GLENDOWER. [_Here's the life I've sigh'd for 98
long_]
ODE TO A YEW TREE. [_Thou noble tree_; _who shelt'rest 203
kind_]
LINES. [_From high Plynlimmon's shaggy side_] 219
ODE TO A YEW TREE. [_O tree of yew_, _which here I spy_] 247
This is another, and extended, version of the _Ode_
printed on p. 203 of _Wild Wales_. Yet another version,
differing from both, is printed in _Alf the Freebooter
and Other Ballads_, 1913, p. 27.
LINES FROM ODE TO THE PLOUGHMAN, BY IOLO GOCH. [_The 292
mighty Hu who lives for ever_]
Previously printed, with some verbal differences, in _The
Quarterly Review_, _January_ 1861, p. 40.
LINES ON A TOMB-STONE. [_Thou earth from earth reflect 301
with anxious mind_]
ODE TO GRIFFITH AP NICHOLAS. [_Griffith ap Nicholas_, 327
_who like thee_]
The first six lines of this Ode had previously appeared
in _The Quarterly Review_, _January_ 1861, p. 50.
GOD'S BETTER THAN ALL. [_God's better than heaven or 335
aught therein_]
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript
of _God's Better than All_ will be found facing the
present page.
AB GWILYM'S ODE TO THE SUN AND GLAMORGAN. [_Each morn_, 377
_benign of countenance_]
There is a copy of the First Edition of _Wild Wales_ in the Library of
the British Museum. The Press-mark is 10369. e. 12.
[Picture: Manuscript of Poverty and Riches]
[Picture: Manuscript of God's Better than all]
(15) [ROMANO LAVO-LIL: 1874]
Romano Lavo-Lil: / Word-Book of the Romany; / or, / English Gypsy
Language. / With many pieces in Gypsy, illustrative of the way of /
Speaking and Thinking of the English Gypsies; / with Specimens of their
Poetry, and an account of certain Gypsyries / or Places Inhabited by
them, and of various things / relating to Gypsy Life in England. / By
George Borrow, / Author of "Lavengro," "The Romany Rye," "The Gypsies of
Spain," / "The Bible in Spain," etc. / "_Can you rokra Romany_? / _Can
you play the bosh_? / _Can you jal adrey the staripen_? / _Can you chin
the cost_?" / "_Can you speak the Roman tongue_? / _Can you play the
fiddle_? / _Can you eat the prison-loaf_? / _Can you cut and whittle_? /
London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1874.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. viii + 331; consisting of: Half-title (with
blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: /
_Printed by William Clowes and Sons_, / _Stamford Street and Charing
Cross_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. iii-iv; Prefatory Note
regarding the _Vocabulary_ p. v; Advertisements of five _Works of George
Borrow_ p. vi; Table of _Contents_ pp. vii-viii; and Text pp. 1-331,
including Fly-titles (each with blank reverse) to each section of the
book. The reverse of p. 331 is blank. At the foot of p. 331 the imprint
is repeated thus, "_London_: _Printed by Wm. Clowes and Sons_, _Stamford
Street_ / _and Charing Cross_." There are head-lines throughout, each
page being headed with the title of the particular subject occupying it.
The signatures, are A (a half-sheet of 4 leaves), B to X (20 sheets, each
8 leaves), Y (a half-sheet of 4 leaves), and Z (a quarter-sheet of 2
leaves).
Issued in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-label, lettered
"_Romano Lavo-Lil_; / _Word-Book_ / _of_ / _The Romany_. / _By_ / _George
Borrow_." The leaves measure 7.75 x 4.875 inches. The published price
was 10_s._ 6_d._
One Thousand Copies were printed.
The book was set up in type towards the end of 1873, and published early
in 1874. Proof-sheets still exist bearing the earlier date upon the
title-page.
A considerable amount of Verse by Borrow made its first appearance in the
pages of _Romano Lavo-Lil_, as detailed in the following list:
_Contents_
PAGE
LITTLE SAYINGS:
1. [ _Whatever ignorance men may show_] 109
2. [_What must I do_, _mother_, _to make you well_?] 111
3. [_I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally 115
sing_]
ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS:
1. The Gypsy Meeting. [_Who's your mother_, _who's your 175
father_?]
2. Making a Fortune (1). [_Come along_, _my little 177
gypsy girl_]
3. Making a Fortune (2). [_Come along_, _my little 179
gypsy girl_]
THE TWO GYPSIES. [_Two gypsy lads were transported_] 181
MY ROMAN LASS. [_As I to the town was going one day_] 183
This is the first stanza only of _The English Gypsy_.
The complete Song will be found in _Marsk Stig's
Daughters and Other_ _Songs and Ballads_, 1913, pp.
14-15. Here is the concluding stanza, omitted in _Romano
Lavo-Lil_:
_As I to the town was going one day_,
_I met a young Roman upon the way_.
_Said he_, "_Young maid will you share my lot_?"
_Said I_, "_Another wife you've got_."
"_No_, _no_!" _the handsome young Roman cried_,
"_No wife have I in the world so wide_;
_And you my wedded wife shall be_,
_If you will share my lot with me_."
YES, MY GIRL. [_If to me you prove untrue_] 185
THE YOUTHFUL EARL. [_Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy 185
girl_]
LOVE SONG. [_I'd choose as pillows for my head_] 187
WOE IS ME. [_I'm sailing across the water_] 189
THE SQUIRE AND LADY. [_The squire he roams the good 191
greenwood_]
GYPSY LULLABY. [_Sleep thee_, _little tawny boy_!] 193
OUR BLESSED QUEEN. [_Coaches fine in London_] 195
RUN FOR IT. [_Up_, _up_, _brothers_!] 195
This is the first stanza only of the _Gypsy Song_,
printed complete in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and other
Songs and Ballads_, 1913, p. 16.
THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS. [_Her temples they are aching_] 199
THE FRIAR. [_A Friar Was preaching once with zeal and 201
with fire_]
The Manuscript of these amusing verses, which were
translated by Borrow from the dialect of the Spanish
Gypsies, affords some curious variants from the published
text. Here are the lines as they stand in the MS.:
_A Friar_
_Was preaching once with zeal and with fire_;
_And a butcher of the plain_
_Had lost a bonny swine_;
_And the friar did opine_
_That the Gypsies it had ta'en_.
_So_, _breaking off_, _he shouted_, "_Gypsy ho_!
_Hie home_, _and from the pot_
_Take the butcher's porker out_,
_The porker good and fat_,
_And in its place throw_
_A clout_, _a dingy clout_
_Of thy brat_, _of thy brat_;
_A clout_, _a dingy clout_,
_of thy brat_."
MALBROUK. FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION. [_Malbrouk is 205
gone to the wars_]
SORROWFUL YEARS. [_The wit and the skill_] 211
FORTUNE-TELLING. [_Late rather one morning_] 240
THE FORTUNE-TELLER'S SONG. [_Britannia is my name_] 243
GYPSY STANZA. [_Can you speak the Roman tongue_?] 254
CHARLOTTE COOPER. [_Old Charlotte I am called_] 259
EPIGRAM. [_A beautiful face and a black wicked mind_] 262
LINES. [_Mickie_, _Huwie and Larry bold_] 272
LINES. [_What care we_, _though we be so small_?] 280
RYLEY BOSVIL. [_The Gorgios seek to hang me_] 296
RYLEY AND THE GYPSY. [_Methinks I see a brother_] 298
TO YOCKY SHURI. [_Beneath the bright sun_, _there is 301
none_, _there is none_]
LINES. [_Roman lads Before the door_] 325
Upon page 122 of _Romano Lavo-Lil_, is printed a version of _The Lord's
Prayer_ cast into Romany by Borrow. The original Manuscript of this
translation has survived, and its text presents some curious variations
from the published version. A reduced facsimile of this Manuscript
serves as Frontispiece to the present Bibliography.
Accompanying the Manuscript of _The Lord's Prayer_ in Romany, is the
Manuscript of a translation made by Borrow into the dialect of the
English Gypsies. This translation has never, so far as I am aware,
appeared in print. It is an interesting document, and well worthy of
preservation. A reduced facsimile of it will be found facing the present
page.
[Picture: Manuscript of The Lord's Prayer]
A Second Edition of _Romano Lavo-Lil_ was issued by the same publisher,
John Murray, in 1888, and a Third in 1905.
There is a copy of the First Edition of _Romano Lavo-Lil_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 2278. c. 15.
(16) [THE TURKISH JESTER: 1884]
The Turkish Jester; / Or, / The Pleasantries / of / Cogia Nasr Eddin
Effendi. / Translated from the Turkish / By / George Borrow. / Ipswich: /
W. Webber, Dial Lane. / 1884.
Collation:--Crown octavo, printed in half-sheets, pp. ii + 52; consisting
of: Title-page, as above (with Certificate of Issue upon the centre of
the reverse) pp. i-ii; and Text pp. 1-52. There are no head-lines, the
pages being numbered centrally. The book is made up in a somewhat
unusual manner, each half-sheet having a separately printed quarter-sheet
of two leaves imposed within it. The register is therefore B to E (four
sections, each 6 leaves), plus F (2 leaves), the whole preceded by two
leaves, one of which is blank, whilst the other carries the Title-page.
There is no printer's imprint. The book was issued without any
Half-title. The title is enclosed within a single rectangular ruled
frame.
Issued in cream-coloured paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced
upon the front, but reset in types of different character, and without
the ruled frame, and with the imprint reading _High Street_ in place of
_Dial Lane_. Inside the front cover the Certificate of Issue is
repeated. The leaves measure 7.75 x 5 inches. The edition consisted of
One Hundred and Fifty Copies. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._
The Manuscript of _The Turkish Jester_ was formerly owned by Dr. Knapp,
and is now the property of the Hispanic Society, of New York. It extends
to 71 pages 4to. The translation was probably made about 1854, at the
time when Borrow was at work upon his _Songs of Europe_. In 1857, the
book was included among the Advertisements appended to the second volume
of _The Romany Rye_.
There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Turkish Jester_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 758. b. 16.
(17) [THE DEATH OF BALDER: 1889]
The / Death of Balder / From the Danish / of / Johannes Ewald / (1773) /
Translated by / George Borrow / Author of "Bible in Spain," "Lavengro,"
"Wild Wales," etc. / London / Jarrold & Sons, 3 Paternoster Buildings,
E.C. / 1889 / All Rights Reserved.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. viii + 77; consisting of: Half-title (with
Certificate of Issue upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii;
Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Preface_ and List
of _The Persons_ (each with blank reverse) pp. v-viii; and Text pp. 1-77.
The reverse of p. 77 is blank. The head-line is _Death of Balder_
throughout, upon both sides of the page. At the foot of p. 77 is the
following imprint, "_Printed by Ballantyne_, _Hanson & Co._ / _London and
Edinburgh_." The signatures are A (4 leaves), and B to F (5 sheets, each
8 leaves). Sig. F 8 is a blank.
Issued in dark brown 'diced' cloth boards, with white paper back-label.
The leaves measure 7.75 x 5 inches. Two Hundred and Fifty Copies were
printed. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._
_The Death of Balder_ was written in 1829, the year during which Borrow
produced so many of his ballad translations, the year in which he made
his fruitless effort to obtain subscribers for his _Songs of
Scandinavia_. On _December_ 6_th_ of that year he wrote to Dr.
[afterwards Sir] John Bowring:
"I wish to shew you my translation of _The Death of Balder_, Ewald's
most celebrated production, which, if you approve of, you will
perhaps render me some assistance in bringing forth, for I don't know
many publishers. I think this will be a proper time to introduce it
to the British public, as your account of Danish literature will
doubtless cause a sensation."
Evidently no publisher was forthcoming, for the work remained in
manuscript until 1889, when, eight years after Borrow's death, Messrs.
Jarrold & Sons gave it to the world. In 1857 Borrow included the Tragedy
among the series of Works advertised as "ready for the Press" at the end
of the second volume of _The Romany Rye_. It was there described as "_A
Heroic Play_."
Although published only in 1889, _The Death of Balder_ was actually set
up in type three years earlier. It had been intended that the book
should have been issued in London by Messrs. Reeves & Turner, and
proof-sheets exist carrying upon the title-page the name of that firm as
publishers, and bearing the date 1886. It would appear that Mr. W.
Webber, a bookseller of Ipswich, who then owned the Manuscript, had at
first contemplated issuing the book through Messrs. Reeves & Turner. But
at this juncture he entered into the employment of Messrs. Jarrold &
Sons, and consequently the books was finally brought out by that firm.
The types were not reset, but were kept standing during the interval.
Another version of the song of The Three Valkyrier, which appears in _The
Death of Balder_, pp. 53-54, was printed in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and
Other Songs and Ballads_, 1913, pp. 19-20. The text of the two versions
differs entirely, in addition to which the 1913 version forms one
complete single song, whilst in that of 1889 the lines are divided up
between the several characters.
The Manuscript of _The Death of Balder_, referred to above, passed into
the hands of Dr. Knapp, and is now in the possession of the Hispanic
Society, of New York. It consists of 97 pages 4to. A transcript in the
handwriting of Mrs. Borrow is also the property of the Society.
There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Death of Balder_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 11755. f 9.
(18) [LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY: 1911]
Letters of / George Borrow / To the British and Foreign / Bible Society /
Published by Direction of the Committee / Edited by / T. H. Darlow /
Hodder and Stoughton / London New York Toronto / 1911.
Collation:--Octavo, pp. xviii + 471; consisting of: Half-title (with
blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp.
iii-iv; Dedication _To Williamson Lamplough_ (with blank reverse) pp.
v-vi; Preface vii-xi; Note regarding "the officials of the Bible Society
with whom Borrow came into close relationship" pp. xi-xii; _List of
Borrow's Letters_, _etc._, _printed in this Volume_ pp. xiii-xvii;
chronological _Outline of Borrow's career_ p. xviii; and Text of the
_Letters_, &c., pp. 1-471. There are head-lines throughout, each verso
being headed _George Borrow's Letters_, and each recto _To the Bible
Society_. Upon the reverse of p. 471 is the following imprint "_Printed
by T. and A. Constable_, _Printers to His Majesty_ / _at the Edinburgh
University Press_." The signatures are _a_ (one sheet of 8 leaves), _b_
(a quarter-sheet of 2 leaves), A to 2 F (29 sheets, each 8 leaves) plus 2
G (a half-sheet of 4 leaves). Sig. _a_ 1 is a blank. A facsimile of one
of the Letters included in the volume is inserted as Frontispiece.
Issued in dark crimson buckram, with paper sides, lettered in gold across
the back, "_Letters of_ / _George_ / _Borrow_ / _To the_ / _Bible
Society_ / _Edited by_ / _T. H. Darlow_ / _Hodder &_ / _Stoughton_." The
leaves measure 8.375 x 5.875 inches. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._
"When Borrow set about preparing _The Bible in Spain_, he obtained
from the Committee of the Bible Society the loan of the letters which
are here published, and introduced considerable portions of them into
that most picturesque and popular of his works. Perhaps one-third of
the contents of the present volume was utilised in this way, being
more or less altered and edited by Borrow for the
purpose."--[_Preface_, pp. ix-x].
The holographs of the complete series of Letters included in this volume
are preserved in the archives of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
There is a copy of _Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign
Bible Society_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is
010902.e.10.
(19) [LETTERS TO MARY BORROW: 1913]
Letters / To his Wife / Mary Borrow / By / George Borrow / London: /
Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 38; consisting of: Half-title (with blank
reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse), pp. 3-4; and
Text of the _Letters_ pp. 5-38. The head-line is _Letters to His Wife_
throughout, upon both sides of the page. Following p. 38 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 4 leaves), plus B
and C (2 sheets, each 8 leaves), 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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
Holograph Letters by Borrow are extremely uncommon, the number known to
be extant being far less than one might have supposed would be the case,
considering the good age to which Borrow attained. His correspondents
were few, and, save to the officials of the Bible Society, he was not a
diligent letter-writer. The holographs of this series of letters
addressed to his wife are in my own collection of Borroviana.
The majority of the letters included in this volume were reprinted in
_George Borrow and his Circle_. _By Clement King Shorter_, 8vo, 1913.
There is a copy of _Letters to his Wife_, _Mary Borrow_, in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 32.
(20) [MARSK STIG: 1913]
Marsk Stig / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for
Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 40; 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. 5-40. The head-line is _Marsk Stig_ throughout,
upon both sides of the page. At the foot of p. 40 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), plus B and C (2 sheets, each 8 leaves), 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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Marsk Stig_ consists of four separate Ballads, or _Songs_ as Borrow
styled them, the whole forming one complete and connected story. The
plot is an old Danish legend of the same character as the history of
David and Bathsheba, Marsk Stig himself being the counterpart of Uriah
the Hittite.
The four _Songs_ commence as follows:--
PAGE
1. _Marsk Stig he out of the country rode_ 5
_To win him fame with his good bright sword_
2. _Marsk Stig he woke at black midnight_, 15
_And loudly cried to his Lady dear_
3. _There's many I ween in Denmark green_ 23
_Who all to be masters now desire_
4. _There were seven and seven times twenty_ 34
_That met upon the verdant wold_
_Marsk Stig_ was one of the ballads prepared by Borrow for _The Songs of
Scandinavia_ in 1829, and revised for the _Koempe Viser_ in 1854. Both
Manuscripts are extant, and I give reproductions of a page of each. It
will be observed that upon the margins of the earlier Manuscript Borrow
wrote his revisions, so that this Manuscript practically carries in
itself both versions of the ballad. The Manuscript of 1829 is in the
possession of Mr. J. H. Spoor, of Chicago. The Manuscript of 1854 is in
my own library. As a specimen of _Marsk Stig_ I quote the following
stanzas:
_It was the young and bold Marsk Stig_
_Came riding into the Castle yard_,
_Abroad did stand the King of the land_
_So fair array'd in sable and mard_.
"_Now lend an ear_, _young Marshal Stig_,
_I have for thee a fair emprise_,
_Ride thou this year to the war and bear_
_My flag amongst my enemies_."
"_And if I shall fare to the war this year_,
_And risk my life among thy foes_,
_Do thou take care of my Lady dear_,
_Of Ingeborg_, _that beauteous rose_."
_Then answer'd Erik_, _the youthful King_,
_With a laugh in his sleeve thus answered he_:
"_No more I swear has thy lady to fear_
_Than if my sister dear were she_."
_It was then the bold Sir Marshal Stig_,
_From out of the country he did depart_,
_In her castle sate his lonely mate_,
_Fair Ingeborg_, _with grief at heart_.
"_Now saddle my steed_," _cried Eric the King_,
"_Now saddle my steed_," _King Eric cried_,
"_To visit the Dame of beauteous fame_
_Your King will into the country ride_."
* * * * *
"_Now list_, _now list_, _Dame Ingeborg_,
_Thou art_, _I swear_, _a beauteous star_,
_Live thou with me in love and glee_,
_Whilst Marshal Stig is engag'd in war_."
_Then up and spake Dame Ingeborg_,
_For nought was she but a virtuous wife_:
"_Rather_, _I say_, _than Stig betray_,
_Sir King_, _I'd gladly lose my life_."
"_Give ear_, _thou proud Dame Ingeborg_,
_If thou my leman and love will be_,
_Each finger fair of thy hand shall bear_
_A ring of gold so red of blee_."
"_Marsk Stig has given gold rings to me_,
_And pearls around my neck to string_;
_By the Saints above I never will prove_
_Untrue to the Marshal's couch_, _Sir King_."
* * * * *
_It was Erik the Danish King_,
_A damnable deed the King he wrought_;
_He forc'd with might that Lady bright_,
_Whilst her good Lord his battles fought_.
* * * * *
_It was the young Sir Marshal Stig_
_Stepp'd proudly in at the lofty door_;
_And bold knights then_, _and bold knight's men_,
_Stood up the Marshal Stig before_.
_So up to the King of the land he goes_,
_And straight to make his plaint began_;
_Then murmured loud the assembled crowd_,
_And clench'd his fist each honest man_.
"_Ye good men hear a tale of fear_,
_A tale of horror_, _a tale of hell_--
&c., &c.
There is a copy of _Marsk Stig A Ballad_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Title page of Marsk Stig, 1913]
[Picture: Manuscript of Marsk Stig--1829]
[Picture: Manuscript of Marsk Stig--1854]
(21) [THE SERPENT KNIGHT: 1913]
The Serpent Knight / and / Other 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 blank reverse) pp.
3-4; Table of _Contents_ (with blank reverse) pp. 5-6; and Text of the
_Ballads_ pp. 7-35. 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), plus B &
C (two sheets, each eight leaves), 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The Serpent Knight. [_Signelil sits in her bower alone_] 7
The only extant MS. of this ballad originally bore the
title _The Transformed Knight_, but the word
_Transformed_ is struck out and replaced by _Serpent_, in
Borrow's handwriting.
Sir Olaf. [_Sir Olaf rides on his courser tall_] 10
_Sir Olaf_ is one of Borrow's most successful ballads.
The only extant Manuscript is written upon paper
water-marked with the date 1845, and was prepared for the
projected _Koempe Viser_.
The Treacherous Merman. ["_Now rede me mother_," _the 15
merman cried_]
This Ballad is a later, and greatly improved, version of
one which appeared under the title _The Merman_ only, in
the _Romantic Ballads_ of 1826. The introduction of the
incident of the changing by magic of the horse into a
boat, furnishes a reason for the catastrophe which was
lacking in the earlier version.
In its final shape _The Treacherous Merman_ is another of
Borrow's most successful ballads, and it is evident that
he bestowed upon it an infinite amount of care and
labour. An early draft of the final version [a reduced
facsimile of its first page will be found _ante_, facing
p. 40] bears the tentative title _Marsk Stig's Daughter_.
Besides the two printed versions Borrow certainly
composed a third, for a fragment exists of a third MS.,
the text of which differs considerably from that of both
the others.
The Knight in the Deer's Shape. [_It was the Knight Sir 18
Peter_]
Facing the present page is a reduced facsimile of the
first page of the Manuscript of _The Knight in the Deer's
Shape_.
The Stalwart Monk. [_Above the wood a cloister towers_] 24
_The Stalwart Monk_ was composed by Borrow about the year
1860. Whether he had worked upon the ballad in earlier
years cannot be ascertained, as no other Manuscript
besides that from which it was printed in the present
volume is known to exist.
The Cruel Step-Dame. [_My father up of the country 30
rode_]
The Cuckoo. [_Yonder the cuckoo flutters_] 34
The complete Manuscript of _The Serpent Knight and Other Ballads_ is in
my own collection of Borroviana.
There is a copy of _The Serpent Knight and Other Ballads_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Title page of The Serpent King]
[Picture: Manuscript of The Knight in the Deer's Shape]
(22) [THE KING'S WAKE: 1913]
The King's Wake / and Other Ballads / 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 _Ballads_ pp. 5-23. There are head-lines
throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular
_Ballad_ occupying it. 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The King's Wake. [_To-night is the night that the wake 5
they hold_]
An early draft of this ballad has the title _The
Watchnight_.
Swayne Felding. [_Swayne Felding sits at Helsingborg_] 10
Of _Swayne Felding_ two Manuscripts are extant. One,
originally destined for _The Songs of Scandinavia_, is
written upon white paper water-marked with the date 1828.
The other, written upon blue paper, was prepared for the
_Koempe Viser_ of 1854. In the earlier MS. the ballad
bears the title _Swayne Felding's Combat with the Giant_;
the later MS. is entitled _Swayne Felding_ only. The
texts of the two MSS. differ widely.
Innocence Defamed. [_Misfortune comes to every door_] 20
The heroic ballads included in these collections are all
far too long to admit of any one of them being given in
full. As an example of the shorter ballads I quote the
title-poem of the present pamphlet, _The King's Wake_:
_THE KING'S WAKE_ {132}
_To-night is the night that the wake they hold_,
_To the wake repair both young and old_.
_Proud Signelil she her mother address'd_:
"_May I go watch along with the rest_?"
"_O what at the wake wouldst do my dear_?
_Thou'st neither sister nor brother there_.
"_Nor brother-in-law to protect thy youth_,
_To the wake thou must not go forsooth_.
"_There be the King and his warriors gay_,
_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_.
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.
[Picture: Title page of The King's Wake]
[Picture: Manuscript of The King's Wake]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
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 9
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.
The Wicked Stepmother. [_Sir Ove he has no daughter but 14
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.
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.
[Picture: Manuscript of Tygge Hermandsen]
(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 8.75 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Songs relating to Queen Dagmar:
I. King Valdemar's Wooing. [_Valdemar King and Sir 5
Strange bold_]
II. Queen Dagmar's Arrival in Denmark. [_It was 14
Bohemia's Queen began_]
III. The Mermaid's Prophecy. [_The King he has caught 19
the fair mermaid_, _and deep_]
Rosmer. [_Buckshank bold and Elfinstone_] 25
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.
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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Hafbur and Signe. [_Young Hafbur King and Sivard King 5
They lived in bitter enmity_]
Of _Hafbur and Signe_ two Manuscripts are extant. The first of these was
doubtless written in the early summer of 1830, for on _June_ 1_st_ 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.
[Picture: Hafbur and Signe--1830]
[Picture: Hafbur and Signe--1854]
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.
[Picture: Title page of Hafbur and Signe]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
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_ 17_th_,
1862, Vol. vi, pp. 572-574.
The _Story_ was reprinted in _The Sphere_, _Feb._ 1_st_, 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 5.125 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.
[Picture: Manuscript of History of Jack with the Bear's Ear]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
THE VERNER RAVEN. [_The Raven he flies in the evening 5
tide_]
THE COUNT OF VENDEL'S DAUGHTER. [_Within a bower the 12
womb I left_]
Previously printed in _Once a Week_, Vol. viii, _January_
3_rd_, 1863, pp. 35-36.
THE CRUEL MOTHER-IN-LAW. [_From his home and his country 18
Sir Volmor should fare_]
THE FAITHFUL KING OF THULE. [_A King so true and 25
steady_]
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 Vendel'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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The Return of the Dead. [_Swayne Dyring o'er to the 5
island strayed_]
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 19
proud Ingeborg buys_]
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:--
_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.
[Picture: Title page of The Return of the Dead]
[Picture: Manuscript of Ingeborg's Disguise]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg. [_At the wide board at 5
tables play_]
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 _Koempe 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.
[Picture: Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg--1854]
(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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
King Hacon's Death. ["_And now has happened in our 5
day_"]
Bran and the Black Dog. ["_The day we went to the hills 11
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_.
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, with untrimmed edges, and with the
title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Marsk Stig's Daughters. [_Two daughters fair the Marshal 7
had_]
The Three Expectants. [_There are three for my death 11
that now pine_]
Translation. [_One summer morn_, _as I was seeking_] 13
The English Gipsy:
He. [_As I to the town was going one day_ 14
_My Roman lass I met by the way_]
She. [_As I to the town was going one day_ 14
_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.
Gipsy Song. [_Up_, _up_, _brothers_] 16
The first stanza of this _Song_ was printed previously
(under the title _Run for it_!) in _Romano Lavo-Lil_,
1874, p. 195.
Our Heart is Heavy, Brother. [_The strength of the ox_] 17
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_.
Song. [_Nastrond's blazes_] 19
Another version of this _Song_ was printed previously
(divided up, and with many textual variations) in _The
Death of Balder_, 1899, pp. 53-54.
Lines. [_To read the great mysterious Past_] 21
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_.
_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.
[Picture: Title page of Marsk Stig's Daughters]
[Picture: Manuscript 'One summer morn']
(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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The Tale of Brynild. [_Sivard he a colt has got_] 5
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.
King Valdemar and his sister. [_See_, _see_, _with Queen 13
Sophy sits Valdemar bold_]
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.
[Picture: Title page of The Tale of Brynild]
(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 8.5 x 6.875 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Proud Signild. [_Proud Signild's bold brothers have 5
taken her hand_]
The Damsel of the Wood. [_The Knight takes hawk_, _and 16
the man takes hound_]
Damsel Mettie. [_Knights Peter and Olaf they sat o'er 22
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_.
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-title (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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Ulf Van Yern. [_It was youthful Ulf Van Yern_] 5
This ballad was here printed from the Manuscript prepared
for the projected _Koempe 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.
The Chosen Knight. [_Sir Oluf rode forth over hill and 16
lea_]
Sir Swerkel. [_There's a dance in the hall of Sir 19
Swerkel the Childe_]
Finn and the Damsel, or The Trial of Wits. ["_What's 23
rifer than leaves_?" _Finn cried_]
Epigrams by Carolan:
1. On Friars. [_Would'st thou on good terms with friars 26
live_]
2. On a surly Butler, who had refused him admission to 26
the cellar. [_O Dermod Flynn it grieveth me_]
Lines. [_How deadly the blow I received_] 27
The last four lines of this Poem had already served (but
with a widely different text) as the last four lines of
the _Ode from the Gaelic_, printed in _Romantic Ballads_,
1826, pp 142-143.
There is a copy of _Ulf Van Yern and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the
British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Damsel Mattie]
[Picture: Manuscript of Sir Swerkel]
(35) [ELLEN OF VILLENSKOV: 1913]
Ellen of Villenskov / 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Ellen of Villenskov. [_There lies a wold in Vester Haf_] 5
Uranienborg. [_Thou who the strand dost wander_] 13
Previously printed, with an earlier and far inferior
text, under the title _The Ruins of Uranienborg_, in _The
Foreign Quarterly Review_. _June_, 1830, pp. 85-86.
The Ready Answer. [_The brother to his dear sister 19
spake_]
Epigrams:
1. _There's no living_, _my boy_, _without plenty of 22
gold_
2. _O think not you'll change what on high is designed_ 22
3. _Load not thyself with gold_, _O mortal man_, _for 22
know_
NOTE.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
The Manuscripts of the poems included in _Ellen of Villenskov and Other
Ballads_ are in the Library of Mr. Clement K. Shorter.
There is a copy of _Ellen of Villenskov and Other Ballads_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(36) [THE SONGS OF RANILD: 1913]
The Songs of Ranild / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private
Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 26; consisting of: Half-title (with
blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp.
3-4; and Text of the Poems pp. 5-26. There are head-lines throughout,
each page being headed with the title of the particular poem occupying
it. Following p. 26 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 (six leaves),
and B (a full sheet of 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The Songs of Ranild:
Song the First. [_Up Riber's street the dance they ply_] 5
Song the Second. [_To saddle his courser Ranild cried_] 10
Song the Third. [_So wide around the tidings bound_] 13
Child Stig and Child Findal. [_Child Stig and Child 17
Findal two brothers were they_]
_The Songs of Ranild_ were first written in 1826, and
were finally prepared for press in 1854. I give
herewith, facing p. 191, a facsimile, the exact size of
the original, of the first page of the first draft of
_Song the Third_.
The complete MS. from which these four Ballads were
printed is in the Library of Mr. J. A. Spoor, of Chicago.
There is a copy of _The Songs of Ranild_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Songs Relating to Marsk Stig]
(37) [NIELS EBBESEN: 1913]
Niels Ebbesen / and / Germand Gladenswayne / Two Ballads / By / George
Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 32; consisting of: Half-title (with
blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page as above (with notice regarding the
American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_
pp. 5-32. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with
the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. At the foot of p. 32
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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Niels Ebbesen. [_All his men the Count collects_] 5
Germand Gladenswayne. [_Our King and Queen sat o'er the 22
board_]
There is a copy of _Niels Ebbesen and Germand Gladenswayne_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Title page of Niels Ebbesen]
(38) [CHILD MAIDELVOLD: 1913]
Child Maidelvold / 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 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), 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Child Maidelvold. [_The fair Sidselil_, _of all maidens 5
the flower_]
Another, but widely different and altogether inferior,
version of this beautiful and pathetic ballad--one of
Borrow's best--was printed (under the title _Skion
Middel_) in _The Monthly Magazine_, _November_, 1823, p.
308; and again (under the amended title _Sir Middel_, and
with a slightly revised text) in _Romantic Ballads_,
1826, pp. 28-31. In these earlier versions the name of
the heroine is Swanelil in place of Sidselil, and that of
the hero is Sir Middel in place of Child Maidelvold.
Sir Peter. [_Sir Peter and Kirstin they sat by the 11
board_]
Ingefred and Gudrune. [_Ingefred and Gudrune they sate 15
in their bower_]
Sir Ribolt. [_Ribolt the son of a Count was he_] 20
As a further example of these Ballads I give _Ingefred and Gudrune_ in
full.
_INGEFRED AND GUDRUNE_ {199}
_Ingefred and Gudrune they sate in their bower_,
_Each bloomed a beauteous fragrant flower_--
_So sweet it is in summer tide_!
_A working the gold fair Ingefred kept_,
_Still sate Gudrune_, _and bitterly wept_.
"_Dear sister Gudrune so fain I'd know_
_Why down thy cheek the salt tears flow_?"
"_Cause enough have I to be thus forlorn_,
_With a load of sorrow my heart is worn_.
"_Hear_, _Ingefred_, _hear what I say to thee_,
_Wilt thou to-night stand bride for me_?
"_If bride for me thou wilt stand to-night_,
_I'll give thee my bridal clothes thee to requite_.
"_And more_, _much more to thee I'll give_,
_All my bride jewels thou shalt receive_."
"_O_, _I will not stand for bride in thy room_,
_Save I also obtain thy merry bridegroom_."
"_Betide me whatever the Lord ordain_,
_From me my bridegroom thou never shalt gain_."
_In silks so costly the bride they arrayed_,
_And unto the kirk the bride they conveyed_.
_In golden cloth weed the holy priest stands_,
_He joins of Gudrune and Samsing the hands_.
_O'er the downs and green grass meadows they sped_,
_Where the herdsman watched his herd as it fed_.
"_Of thy beauteous self_, _dear Damsel_, _take heed_,
_Ne'er enter the house of Sir Samsing_, _I rede_.
"_Sir Samsing possesses two nightingales_
_Who tell of the Ladies such wondrous tales_.
"_With their voices of harmony they can declare_
_Whether maiden or none has fallen to his share_."
_The chariot they stopped in the green wood shade_,
_An exchange_ '_twixt them of their clothes they made_.
_They change of their dress whatever they please_,
_Their faces they cannot exchange with ease_.
_To Sir Samsung's house the bride they conveyed_,
_Of the ruddy gold no spare was made_.
_On the bridal throne the bride they plac'd_,
_They skinked the mead for the bride to taste_.
_Then said from his place the court buffoon_:
"_Methinks thou art Ingefred_, _not Gudrune_."
_From off her hand a gold ring she took_,
_Which she gave the buffoon with entreating look_.
_Said he_: "_I'm an oaf_, _and have drunk too hard_,
_To words of mine pay no regard_."
'_Twas deep at night_, _and down fell the mist_,
_To her bed the young bride they assist_.
_Sir Samsing spoke to his nightingales twain_:
"_Before my young bride sing now a strain_.
"_A song now sing which shall avouch_
_Whether I've a maiden or none in my couch_."
"_A maid's in the bed_, _that's certain and sure_,
_Gudrune is standing yet on the floor_."
"_Proud Ingefred_, _straight from my couch retire_!
_Gudrune come hither_, _or dread my ire_!
"_Now tell me_, _Gudrune_, _with open heart_,
_What made thee from thy bed depart_?"
"_My father_, _alas_! _dwelt near the strand_,
_When war and bloodshed filled the land_.
"_Full eight there were broke into my bower_,
_One only ravished my virgin flower_."
_Upon her fair cheek he gave a kiss_:
"_My dearest_, _my dearest_, _all sorrow dismiss_;
"_My swains they were that broke into thy bower_,
'_Twas I that gathered thy virgin flower_."
_Fair Ingefred gained_, _because bride she had been_,
_One of the King's knights of handsome mien_.
There is a copy of _Child Maidelvold and Other Ballads_ in the Library of
the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Child Maidelvold]
[Picture: Manuscript of Ingefred and Gudrune]
(39) [ERMELINE: 1913]
Ermeline / 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 Poems pp. 5-23. There are head-lines throughout,
each page being headed with the title of the particular poem occupying
it. 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), and
B (a full sheet of 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Ermeline. [_With lance upraised so haughtily_] 5
The paper upon which the Manuscript of _Ermeline_ is
written is water-marked with the date 1843. No other MS.
is forthcoming.
The Cuckoo's Song in Merion. [_Though it has been my 21
fate to see_]
The fifth stanza of this _Song_ was printed by Borrow in
_Wild Wales_, 1862, vol. i, p. 153. The two versions of
this stanza offer some interesting variations of text; I
give them both:
1862
_Full fair the gleisiad in the flood_,
_Which sparkles_ '_neath the summer's sun_,
_And fair the thrush in green abode_
_Spreading his wings in sportive fun_,
_But fairer look if truth be spoke_,
_The maids of County Merion_.
1913
_O fair the salmon in the flood_,
_That over golden sands doth run_;
_And fair the thrush in his abode_,
_That spreads his wings in gladsome fun_;
_More beauteous look_, _if truth be spoke_,
_The maids of county Merion_.
There is a copy of _Ermeline A Ballad_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Title page for Giant of Bern]
(40) [THE GIANT OF BERN: 1913]
The Giant of Bern / and Orm Ungerswayne / A Ballad / By / George Borrow /
London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 15; 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. 5-15. The head-line is _The Giant of Bern_
throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 15 is
the following imprint: "_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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
The Giant of Bern and Orme Ungerswayne. [_It was the 5
lofty jutt of Bern_, _O'er all the walls he grew_]
Fifteen stanzas, descriptive of the incident of Orm's
obtaining his father's sword from the dead man's grave,
were printed in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 59-61, under the
title _Birting_. _A Fragment_. The text differs greatly
in the two versions, that of the later (which, though not
printed until 1913, was written about 1854) is much the
superior. As an example I give the first two stanzas of
each version:
1835
_It was late at evening tide_,
_Sinks the day-star in the wave_,
_When alone Orm Ungarswayne_
_Rode to seek his father's grave_.
_Late it was at evening hour_,
_When the steeds to streams are led_;
_Let me now_, _said Orm the young_,
_Wake my father from the dead_.
1913
_It was so late at evening tide_,
_The sun had reached the wave_,
_When Orm the youthful swain set out_
_To seek his father's grave_.
_It was the hour when grooms do ride_
_The coursers to the rill_,
_That Orm set out resolved to wake_
_The dead man in the hill_.
There is a copy of _The Giant of Bern and Orm Ungerswayne_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(41) [LITTLE ENGEL: 1913]
Little Engel / A Ballad / With a Series of / Epigrams from the Persian /
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 blank reverse) pp.
3-4; and Text of the _Ballad_ and _Epigrams_ pp. 5-27. There are
head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the
particular Poem occupying it--save for pp. 23-27, which are headed
_Epigrams_. 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 (six leaves), and B (a
full sheet of 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
Little Engel. [_It was the little Engel_, _he_] 5
An Elegy. [_Where shall I rest my hapless head_] 21
Epigrams. From the Persian:
1. [_Hear what once the pigmy clever_] 23
2. [_The man who of his words is sparing_] 23
3. [_If thou would'st ruin_ '_scape_, _and blackest 24
woe_]
4. [_Sit down with your friends in delightful repose_] 24
5. [_The hungry hound upon the bone will pounce_] 24
6. [_Great Aaroun is dead_, _and is nothing_, _the man_] 25
7. [_Though God provides our daily bread_] 25
8. The King and his Followers. [_If in the boor's 25
garden the King eats a pear_]
9. The Devout Man and the Tyrant. [_If the half of a 26
loaf the devout man receives_]
10. The Cat and the Beggar. [_If a cat could the power 26
of flying enjoy_]
11. The King and Taylor. [_The taylor who travels in 26
far foreign lands_]
12. Gold Coin and Stamped Leather. [_Of the children of 27
wisdom how like is the face_]
13. [_So much like a friend with your foe ever deal_] 27
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_.
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.
[Picture: Title page of Little Engel]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
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 14
Denmark do_?"]
SIR PALL, SIR BEAR, AND SIR LIDEN. [_Liden he rode to 20
the Ting_, _and shewed_]
BELARDO'S WEDDING. [_From the banks_, _in mornings 23
beam_]
THE YEW TREE. [_O tree of yew_, _which here I spy_] 27
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.
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.
[Picture: Manuscript of Epigrams]
[Picture: Manuscript of Epigrams]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
KING DIDERIK AND THE LION'S FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON. 5
[_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.
DIDERIK AND OLGER THE DANE. [_With his eighteen brothers 14
Diderik stark_]
OLGER THE DANE AND BURMAN. [_Burman in the mountain 21
holds_]
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.
[Picture: King Diderik--Early draft]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
THE NIGHTINGALE, OR THE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL. [_I know 5
where stands a Castellaye_]
THE VALKYRIE AND RAVEN. [_Ye men wearing bracelets_] 11
Previously printed in _Once a Week_, _August_ 2_nd_,
1862, pp. 152-156, where the Ballad was accompanied by a
full-page Illustration engraved upon wood. [_See post_,
pp. 302-305.]
ERIK EMUN AND SIR PLOG. [_Early at morn the lark sang 21
gay_]
THE ELVES. [_Take heed_, _good people_, _of yourselves_] 25
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: