_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.
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.
[Picture: Manuscript of The Elves]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
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 14
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_?"
SIR GUNCELIN'S WEDDING. [_It was the Count Sir 19
Guncelin_]
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_, 27
_they thee ignite_]
EPIGRAM ON HIMSELF. BY WESSEL [_He ate_, _and drank_, 28
_and slip-shod went_]
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.
[Picture: Manuscript of Sir Guncelin's Wedding]
(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 8.5 x 6.875
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. 7
[_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_.
RAMUND. [_Ramund thought he should a better man be_] 13
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the manuscript
of _Ramund_ faces the present page.
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.
[Picture: Manuscript of Ramund]
(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 8.5 x6.75
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 13
Karisegaard_]
Previously printed (with some small differences of text)
in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_, June 1830, p. 83.
THE BARD AND THE DREAMS. [_O'er the sweet smelling meads 16
with his lyre in his hand_]
KING OLUF THE SAINT. [_King Oluf and his brother bold_] 23
Previously printed (with some slight differences of text)
in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_, _June_ 1830, pp.
59-61.
TO SCRIBBLERS. [_Would it not be more dignified_] 30
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 Ford's
_Handbook for Travellers in Spain_, 1845, in the
unmutilated and unamended form in which the author had
written it.--[See _ante_, No. 10.]
TO A CONCEITED WOMAN. [_Be still_, _be still_, _and 31
speak not back again_]
_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.
[Picture: Manuscript of The Bard and the Dreams]
[Picture: Title page of Finnish Arts]
(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.
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 Frontispiece is a reduced facsimile of the first page of the original
Manuscript of _Finnish Arts_, _or Sir Thor and Damsel Thure_.
_Contents_.
PAGE
FINNISH ARTS, OR, SIR THOR AND DAMSEL THURE. [_Sir Thor 7
was a knight of prowess tried_]
A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript
of _Finnish Arts_ will be found facing the present page.
A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE. [_Who starves his wife_] 22
ODE FROM ANACREON. [_The earth to drink does not 24
disdain_]
LINES FROM THE ITALIAN. ["_Repent_, _O repent_!" _said a 25
Friar one day_]
A DRINKING SONG. [_O how my breast is glowing_] 26
There is a copy of _Finnish Arts_, _Or Sir Thor and Damsel Thure_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Finnish Arts]
(49) [BROWN WILLIAM: 1913]
Brown William / The Power of the Harp / 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; Title-page, as above (with notice regarding the
American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of
the _Ballads_ pp. 5-31. There are head-lines 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 8.5 x 6.875
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
BROWN WILLIAM. [_Let no one in greatness too confident 5
be_]
Previously printed in _Once a Week_, _January_ 4_th_,
1862, pp. 37-38.
THE POWER OF THE HARP. [_Sir Peter would forth from the 12
castle ride_]
A reduced facsimile of one of the pages of the Manuscript
of _The Power of The Harp_ will be found facing herewith.
THE UNFORTUNATE MARRIAGE. [_Hildebrand gave his sister 18
away_]
THE WRESTLING-MATCH. [_As one day I wandered lonely_, 25
_in extreme distress of mind_]
THE WARRIOR. FROM THE ARABIC. [_Thou lov'st to look on 31
myrtles green_]
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _Brown William_, _The Power of the Harp_, _and Other
Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44.
d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of The Power of the Harp]
(50) [THE SONG OF DEIRDRA: 1913]
The Song of Deirdra / King Byrge and his Brothers / 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 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 (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 6.75
inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_Contents_.
PAGE
THE SONG OF DEIRDRA. [_Farewell_, _grey Albyn_, _much 5
loved land_]
THE DIVER. [_Where is the man who will dive for his 8
king_]
Previously printed in _The New Monthly Magazine_, vol.
vii., 1823, pp. 540-542.
KING BYRGE AND HIS BROTHERS. [_Dame Ingeborg three brave 18
brothers could boast_]
TURKISH HYMN TO MAHOMET. [_O Envoy of Allah_, _to thee 26
be salaam_]
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _The Song of Deirdra_, _King Byrge and his Brothers_,
_and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark
is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Title page of King Byrge]
(51) [SIGNELIL: 1913]
Signelil / A Tale from the Cornish / 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 (with notice regarding the American
copyright upon the centre of 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 (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
SIGNELIL. [_The Lady her handmaid to questioning took_] 5
A TALE FROM THE CORNISH. [_In Lavan's parish once of 8
yore_]
Previously printed, with some trifling inaccuracies, in
Knapp's _Life_, _Writings_, _and Correspondence of George
Borrow_, 1899, vol. ii, pp. 91-95.
SIR VERNER AND DAME INGEBORG. [_In Linholm's house_ 19
_The swains they were drinking and making carouse_]
THE HEDDEBY SPECTRE. [_At evening fall I chanced to 22
ride_]
An earlier, and utterly different, version of this ballad
was printed (under the tentative title _The
Heddybee-Spectre_) in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp.
37-39. Borrow afterwards described this earlier version
as "a paraphrase."
FROM GOUDELI. [_Yestere'en when the bat_, _and the owl_, 25
_and his mate_]
PEASANT SONGS OF SPAIN:
1. [ _When Jesu our Redeemer_] 27
2. [_There stands a stone_, _a rounded stone_] 28
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _Signelil_, _a Tale from the Cornish_, _and Other
Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44.
d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Signelil]
(52) [YOUNG SWAIGDER: 1913]
Young Swaigder / or / The Force of Runes / 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
YOUNG SWAIGDER, OR THE FORCE OF RUNES. [_It was the 5
young Swaigder_]
THE HAIL STORM. [_As in Horunga Haven_] 14
Previously printed in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp.
136-138. Again printed in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 42-43.
In each instance the text varied very considerably. The
present version was written about 1854, and represents
the text as Borrow finally left it. I quote the first
stanza of each version. It will be seen that the
revision was progressive.
1826
_When from our ships we bounded_,
_I heard_, _with fear astounded_,
_The storm of Thorgerd's waking_;
_With flinty masses blended_,
_Gigantic hail descended_,
_And thick and fiercely rattled_
_Against us there embattled_.
1835
_For victory as we bounded_,
_I heard_, _with fear astounded_,
_The storm_, _of Thorgerd's waking_,
_From Northern vapours breaking_.
_Sent by the fiend in anger_,
_With din and stunning clangour_,
_To crush our might intended_,
_Gigantic hail descended_.
1854
_As in Horunga haven_
_We fed the crow and raven_,
_I heard the tempest breaking_,
_Of demon Thorgerd's waking_;
_Sent by the fiend in anger_,
_With din and stunning clangor_,
_To crush our might intended_,
_Gigantic hail descended_.
Another translation of the same Ballad, extending to 84
lines, was printed in _Once a Week_, 1863, vol. viii, p.
686, under the title _The Hail-Storm_; _Or_, _The Death
of Bui_.
ROSMER MEREMAN. [_In Denmark once a lady dwelt_] 16
This ballad should be read in conjunction with _Rosmer_,
printed in _The Mermaid's Prophecy_, _and other Songs
relating to Queen Dagmar_, 1913, pp. 25-30.
THE WICKED STEPMOTHER. NO. II. [_Sir Peter o'er to the 23
island strayed_--]
This ballad should be compared with _The Wicked
Stepmother_, printed in _The Dalby Bear and Other
Ballads_, 1913, pp. 14-20.
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other
Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum The Press-mark is C. 44. d.
38.
(53) [EMELIAN THE FOOL: 1913]
Emelian the Fool / A Tale / Translated from the Russian / By / George
Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 37; consisting of: Half-title (with blank
reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4;
_Introduction_ pp. 5-7; and Text of the _Tale_ pp. 8-37. The reverse of
p. 37 is blank. The head-line is _Emelian the Fool_ throughout, upon
both sides of the page. The pamphlet is concluded by a leaf, with blank
reverse, carrying 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.
_Emelian the Fool_ first appeared in _Once a Week_, vol. vi, _March_
8_th_, 1862, pp. 289-294, where it formed the first of a series of three
_Russian Popular Tales_, in Prose, translated by George Borrow.
The _Tale_ was also included in _The Avon Booklet_, vol. ii, 1904, pp.
175-197.
There is a copy of _Emelian the Fool_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 57. e. 45 (1).
(54) [THE STORY OF TIM: 1913]
The Story of Tim / Translated from the Russian / By / George Borrow /
London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 31; consisting of: Half-title (with blank
reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4;
_Introduction_ p. 5; and Text of the _Story_ pp. 6-31. The head-line is
_The Story of Tim_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. 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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
_The Story of Tim_ first appeared in _Once a Week_, vol. vii, _October_
4_th_, 1862, pp. 403-406, where it formed the third of a series of
_Russian Popular Tales_, in Prose, translated by George Borrow.
The _Story_ was also included in _The Avon Booklet_, vol. ii, 1904, pp.
211-229.
There is a copy of _The Story of Tim_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 57. e. 45 (2).
[Picture: Title page of The Story of Tim]
(55) [MOLLIE CHARANE: 1913]
Mollie Charane / 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 notice 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 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
MOLLIE CHARANE. [_O_, _Mollie Charane_, _where got you 5
your gold_?]
Previously printed in _Once a Week_, vol. vi, 1862, pp.
38-39.
THE DANES OF YORE. [_Well we know from saga_] 8
A SURVEY OF DEATH. [_My blood is freezing_, _my senses 11
reel_]
Another version of this poem was printed in _The Monthly
Magazine_, vol. lvi, 1823, p. 245; and reprinted (with
some small textual variations) in _Romantic Ballads_,
1826, pp. 169-170. As the poem is a short one, and as
the two versions afford a happy example of the drastic
changes Borrow introduced into his text when revising his
Ballads, I give them both in full:
1823
_Perhaps_ '_tis folly_, _but still I feel_
_My heart-strings quiver_, _my senses reel_,
_Thinking how like a fast stream we range_,
_Nearer and nearer to life's dread change_,
_When soul and spirit filter away_,
_And leave nothing better than senseless clay_.
_Yield_, _beauty_, _yield_, _for the grave does
gape_,
_And_, _horribly alter'd_, _reflects thy shape_;
_For_, _oh_! _think not those childish charms_
_Will rest unrifled in his cold arms_;
_And think not there_, _that the rose of love_
_Will bloom on thy features as here above_.
_Let him who roams at Vanity Fair_
_In robes that rival the tulip's glare_,
_Think on the chaplet of leaves which round_
_His fading forehead will soon be bound_,
_And on each dirge the priests will say_
_When his cold corse is borne away_,
_Let him who seeketh for wealth_, _uncheck'd_
_By fear of labour_, _let him reflect_
_That yonder gold will brightly shine_
_When he has perish'd_, _with all his line_;
_Tho' man may rave_, _and vainly boast_,
_We are but ashes when at the most_.
1913
_My blood is freezing_, _my senses reel_,
_So horror stricken at heart I feel_;
_Thinking how like a fast stream we range_
_Nearer and nearer to that dread change_,
_When the body becomes so stark and cold_,
_And man doth crumble away to mould_.
_Boast not_, _proud maid_, _for the grave doth gape_,
_And strangely altered reflects thy shape_;
_No dainty charms it doth disclose_,
_Death will ravish thy beauty's rose_;
_And all the rest will leave to thee_
_When dug thy chilly grave shall be_.
_O_, _ye who are tripping the floor so light_,
_In delicate robes as the lily white_,
_Think of the fading funeral wreath_,
_The dying struggle_, _the sweat of death_--
_Think on the dismal death array_,
_When the pallid corse is consigned to clay_!
_O_, _ye who in quest of riches roam_,
_Reflect that ashes ye must become_;
_And the wealth ye win will brightly shine_
_When burried are ye and all your line_;
_For your many chests of much loved gold_
_You'll nothing obtain but a little mould_.
DESIDERABILIA VITAE. [_Give me the haunch of a buck to 13
eat_]
Previously printed, with a slightly different text, and
arranged in six lines instead of in three four-line
stanzas, in _Lavengro_, 1851, vol. i, p. 306.
SAINT JACOB. [_Saint Jacob he takes our blest Lord by 14
the hand_]
THE RENEGADE. [_Now pay ye the heed that is fitting_] 19
Previously printed, with some small differences of text,
in _The Talisman_, 1835, pp. 13-14.
AN IMPROMPTU. [_And darest thou thyself compare_] 21
A HYMN. [_O Jesus_, _Thou Fountain of solace and 23
gladness_]
THE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL. [_My father up of the country 25
rode_]
This Ballad should be compared with _The Cruel
Step-dame_, printed in _The Serpent Knight and Other
Ballade_, 1913, pp. 30-33. Also with _The Transformed
Damsel_, printed in _The Return of the Dead and Other
Ballads_, 1913, pp. 13-14. The actions described in the
earlier stanzas follow closely those of the opening
stanzas of _The Cruel Step-dame_; whilst the incident of
the lover cutting a piece of flesh from his own breast to
serve as bait to attract his mistress, who, in the form
of a bird, is perched upon a branch of the tree above
him, is common to both the _Transformed Damsel_ ballads.
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _Mollie Charane and Other Ballads_ in the Library of
the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of The Danes of Yore]
(56) [GRIMHILD'S VENGEANCE: 1913]
Grimhild's Vengeance / Three Ballads / By / George Borrow / Edited / With
an Introduction / By / Edmund Gosse, C. B. / London: / Printed for
Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 40; 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;
_Introduction_ pp. 5-14; and text of the three _Ballads_ pp. 15-40. The
head-line is _Grimhild's Vengeance_ 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 four 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
GRIMHILD'S VENGEANCE. SONG THE FIRST. [_It was the 15
proud Dame Grimhild Prepares the mead and beer_]
A reduced facsimile of page 2 of the 1854 Manuscript of
this _Song_ faces the present page.
GRIMHILD'S VENGEANCE. SONG THE SECOND. [_It was the 24
proud Dame Grimhild The wine with spices blends_]
GRIMHILD'S VENGEANCE. SONG THE THIRD. [_O_, _where will 32
ye find kempions So bold and strong of hand_]
The Introduction furnished by Mr. Edmund Gosse to _Grimhild's Vengeance_
is undoubtedly by far the most illuminating and important contribution
yet made to the critical study of Borrow's Ballads, a study which has
hitherto been both meagre and inadequate. Not only does Mr. Gosse handle
the three _Songs_ particularly before him, and make clear the
relationship they bear to each other, but he deals with the whole subject
of the origin of Borrow's Scandinavian Ballads, and traces fully and
precisely the immediate source from which their author derived them. One
of Borrow's most vivid records Mr. Gosse calls into question, and proves
indisputably that it must henceforth be regarded, if not as a fiction, at
least as one more result of Borrow's inveterate habit of "drawing the
long bow,"--to wit the passages in _Lavengro_ wherein Borrow recounts his
acquisition of the "strange and uncouth-looking volume" at the price of a
kiss from the yeoman's wife, and the purpose which that volume served
him.
Of the first and second of the three Ballads included in _Grimhild's
Vengeance_ two Manuscripts are available. The first of these was written
in 1829, and was intended to find a place in the _Songs of Scandinavia_
advertised at the close of that year. The second Manuscript was written
in 1854, and was prepared for the projected volumes of _Koempe Viser_ of
that date. Of the third Ballad there exists only a single Manuscript,
namely that produced in 1829. Apparently in 1854 Borrow had relinquished
all hope of publishing the _Koempe Viser_ before he had commenced work
upon the third Ballad. In the present volume the first two _Songs_ were
printed from the Manuscripts of 1854; the third _Song_ from the
Manuscript of 1829.
There is a copy of _Grimhild's Vengeance_ in the Library of the British
Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Grimhild's Vengeance: Song the First--1854]
(57) [LETTERS TO ANN BORROW: 1913]
Letters / To his Mother / Ann Borrow / and Other Correspondents / 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 a notice regarding the
American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of
the _Letters_ pp. 5-38. The head-line is _Letters to his Mother_
throughout, upon both sides of the page. Following p. 38 is a leaf, with
blank recto, and with the following imprint upon the reverse: "_London_:
/ _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to
Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves),
plus 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 7.5 x 5 inches.
Thirty Copies only were printed.
The series of letters contained in this volume were reprinted in _George
Borrow and his Circle_. _By Clement King Shorter_, 8vo, 1913. The whole
of the holographs are in Mr. Shorter's possession.
There is a copy of _Letters to his Mother_, _Ann Borrow_, in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 57. e. 46.
(58) [THE BROTHER AVENGED: 1913]
The Brother Avenged / and / Other 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 a note regarding the
American copyright upon the centre of 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
THE BROTHER AVENGED. [_I stood before my master's 5
board_]
Previously printed (with some textual variations) in _The
Foreign Quarterly Review_, vol. vi, _June_ 1830, pp
61-62.
THE EYES. {268} [_To kiss a pair of red lips small_] 9
HARMODIUS AND ARISTOGITON. [_With the leaves of the 12
myrtle I'll cover my brand_]
MY DAINTY DAME. [_My dainty Dame_, _my heart's delight_] 14
GRASACH ABO OR THE CAUSE OF GRACE. [_O_, _Baillie Na 16
Cortie_! _thy turrets are tall_]
DAGMAR. [_Sick in Ribe Dagmar's lying_] 19
THE ELF BRIDE. [_There was a youthful swain one day_] 21
These stanzas should be compared with _The Elves_,
printed in _The Nightingale_, _The Valkyrie and Raven_,
_and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 25-26.
THE TREASURE DIGGER. [_O_, _would that with last and 23
shoe I had stay'd_]
THE FISHER. [_The fisherman saddleth his good winged 25
horse_]
THE CUCKOO. [_Abiding an appointment made_] 29
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _The Brother Avenged and Other Ballads_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Grasach Abo]
(59) [THE GOLD HORNS: 1913]
The Gold Horns / Translated by / George Borrow / from the Danish of /
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschlager / Edited / with an Introduction by / Edmund
Gosse, C.B. / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.
Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 25; 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;
_Introduction_ pp. 5-9; and Text of _The Gold Horns_, the Danish and
English texts facing each other upon opposite pages, pp. 10-25. The
reverse of p. 25 is blank. There are head-lines throughout, each recto
being headed _The Gold Horns_, and each verso _Guldhornene_. The book is
completed by 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), B (a quarter-sheet of two 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.
Although the poem was not printed until 1913, it is quite evident that
the translation was made by Borrow in or about the year 1826. The paper
upon which the Manuscript is written is watermarked with the date 1824,
whilst the handwriting coincides with that of several of the pieces
included in the _Romantic Ballads of_ 1826. "There can be little doubt,"
writes Mr. Gosse, "that Borrow intended _The Gold Horns_ for that volume,
and rejected it at last. He was conscious, perhaps, that his hand had
lacked the skill needful to reproduce a lyric the melody of which would
have taxed the powers of Coleridge or of Shelley."
"_The Gold Horns_ marks one of the most important stages in the
history of Scandinavian literature. It is the earliest, and the
freshest, specimen of the Romantic Revival in its definite form. In
this way, it takes in Danish poetry a place analogous to that taken
by _The Ancient Mariner_ in English poetry. . . .
"Oehlenschlager has explained what it was that suggested to him the
leading idea of his poem. Two antique horns of gold, discovered some
time before in the bogs of Slesvig, had been recently stolen from the
national collection at Rosenberg, and the thieves had melted down the
inestimable treasures. Oehlenschlager treats these horns as the
reward for genuine antiquarian enthusiasm, shown in a sincere and
tender passion for the ancient relics of Scandinavian history. From
a generation unworthy to appreciate them, the _Horns_ had been
withdrawn, to be mysteriously restored at the due romantic
hour."--[_From the Introduction by Edmund Gosse_.]
There is a copy of _The Gold Horns_ in the Library of the British Museum.
The Press-mark is C. 57. d. 19.
(60) [TORD OF HAFSBOROUGH: 1914]
Tord of Hafsborough / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: /
Printed for Private Circulation / 1914.
Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 32; 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. 5-32. 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
TORD OF HAFSBOROUGH. [_It was Tord of Hafsborough_] 5
FROM THE ARABIC. [_O thou who fain would'st wisdom 10
gain_]
THORVALD. [_Swayne Tveskieg did a man possess_] 11
Previously printed in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_,
vol. vi, 1830, p. 74.
PETER COLBIORNSEN. ['_Fore Fredereksteen King Carl he 16
lay_]
Previously printed in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_,
vol. vi, 1830, pp. 84-85.
KRAGELILL. ['_Twas noised about_, '_twas noised about_] 21
ALLEGAST. [_The Count such a store of gold had got_] 25
EPIGRAMS:
1. [_Assume a friend's face when a foeman you spy_] 30
2. [_The lion in woods finds prey of noble kind_] 30
3. [_Though God provides our daily bread_] 30
4. [_To trust a man I never feel inclined_] 31
5. [_A hunter who was always seeking game_] 31
6. [_The plans of men of shrewdest wit_] 31
7. [_Well was it said_, _long years ago_] 31
8. [_Who roams the world by many wants beset_] 32
It is probable that the whole of these eight _Epigrams_
were derived by Borrow from Persian sources.
ON A YOUNG MAN WITH RED HAIR. [_He is a lad of sober 32
mind_]
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _Tord of Hafsborough and Other Ballads_ in the Library
of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
(61) [THE EXPEDITION TO BIRTING'S LAND: 1914]
The Expedition to / Birting's Land / and Other Ballads / By / George
Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1914.
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 half-sheet of four leaves), B (a
quarter-sheet of two leaves), and C (a full sheet of 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 EXPEDITION TO BIRTING'S LAND. [_The King he o'er the 5
castle rules_]
Of _The Expedition to Birting's Land_ no less than three
Manuscripts are extant. The first was composed in 1826,
and was originally destined for inclusion in the
_Romantic Ballads_ of that date. It is numbered to come
between _The Tournament_ and _Vidrik Verlandson_. The
second was written in 1829, and was intended to find a
place in _The Songs of Scandinavia_. The third was
prepared in 1854, with a view to its appearance in the
_Koempe Viser_. In the two earlier versions the Ballad
bears the tentative title _The Expedition of King
Diderik's Warriors to Birting's Land_. The texts of all
three differ very considerably, the final version being
that from which the Ballad was here printed.
THE SINGING MARINER. [_Who will ever have again_] 16
Previously printed in _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lvi,
1823, p. 335.
There exists an early Manuscript of this charming lyric,
differing entirely from the text as printed. This early
version is written in couplets, instead of in four-line
stanzas. Here is the first stanza, followed by the
equivalent couplet from the MS.:
Printed text.
_Who will ever have again_,
_On the land or on the main_,
_Such a chance as happen'd to_
_Count Arnaldos long ago_.
MS.
_Who had e'er such an adventure the ocean's waves
upon_,
_As had the Count Arnaldos the morning of St. John_.
Upon the opposite page I give a facsimile of this early
Manuscript, the exact size of the original. The tiny
waif affords a delightful specimen of Borrow's extremely
beautiful and graceful minute handwriting, of which one
or two other examples exist. The paper upon which the
lines are written is evidently a leaf torn from a small
note-book.
YOUTH'S SONG IN SPRING. [_O_, _scarcely is Spring a time 18
of pure bliss_]
THE NIGHTINGALE. [_In midnight's calm hour the 19
Nightingale sings_]
Previously printed in _The Monthly Magazine_, vol. lvi,
1823, p. 526.
LINES. [_Say from what mine took Love the yellow gold_] 20
MORNING SONG. [_From Eastern quarters now_] 21
Previously printed in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_,
vol. vi, 1830, p. 65.
FROM THE FRENCH. [_This world by fools is occupied_] 22
THE MORNING WALK. [_To the beech grove with so sweet an 23
air_]
Previously printed in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_,
vol. vi, 1830, pp. 80-81.
_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the
first time in this volume.
There is a copy of _The Expedition to Birting's Land and Other Ballads_
in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.
[Picture: Manuscript of Singing Mariner]
_PART II_.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PERIODICAL LITERATURE, ETC.
(1) _The New Monthly Magazine_, Vol. vii, 1823. Pp. 540-542.
THE DIVER, A BALLAD TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. [_Where is the man who
will dive for his King_?]
Reprinted in The Song of Deirdra and Other Ballads, 1913, pp. 8-17.
(2) _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lvi, 1823.
P. 244.
ODE TO A MOUNTAIN TORRENT. [_How lovely thou art in thy tresses of
foam_]
Reprinted, with the text substantially revised, in _Romantic Ballads_,
1826, pp. 164-166. Again reprinted in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 45-46.
The majority of Borrow's contributions to _The Monthly Magazine_ appeared
under the signature '_George Olaus Borrow_.' Dr. Knapp has recorded that
he found in the Corporation Library at Norwich a book on ancient Danish
Literature, by Olaus Wormius, carrying several marginal notes in Borrow's
handwriting. The suggestion that it was from this book that Borrow
derived the pseudonymous second Christian name which he employed in _The
Monthly Magazine_ is not an unreasonable one.
P. 245.
DEATH. [_Perhaps_ '_tis folly_, _but still I feel_]
Reprinted (under the amended title _Thoughts on Death_, and with some
small textual variations) in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 169-170.
Another version of the same poem was printed (under the title _A Survey
of Death_, the first line reading _My blood is freezing_, _my senses
reel_) in _Mollie Charane and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 11-12.
P. 246.
MOUNTAIN SONG. [_That pathway before ye_, _so narrow and gray_]
Pp. 306-309.
DANISH POETRY AND BALLAD WRITING. A Prose Essay, including, _inter
alia_, the following Ballad:
SKION MIDDEL. [_The maiden was lacing so tightly her vest_]
Reprinted, under the amended title _Sir Middel_, the first line reading
"_So tightly was Swanelil lacing her vest_," in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826,
pp. 28-30.
Another, but widely different, version of this Ballad is printed in
_Child Maidelvold and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 5-10. In this latter
version the name of the heroine is Sidselil in place of Swanelil, and
that of the hero is Child Maidelvold in place of Sir Middel.
Pp. 334-336.
LENORA. [_When morning's gleam was on the hill_]
P. 437.
CHLOE. [_Oh_! _we have a sister on earthly dominions_]
Reprinted in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 47-48.
When gathering _Chloe_ into the pages of _Targum_ Borrow very
considerably revised the text. Here is the concluding stanza of each of
the two versions:--
1823
_But God shook his sceptre_, _and thunder'd appalling_,
_While winds swept the branches with turbulent sigh_;
_Then trembled the host_, _but they heeded his calling_,
_And bore the sweet maiden_, _yet praying_, _on high_.
"_Ah_, _we had a sister on earthly dominions_!"
_All sung_, _as thro' heaven they joyously trod_,
_And bore_, _with flush'd faces_, _and fluttering pinions_,
_The yet-praying maid to the throne of her God_.
1835
_Then frown'd the dread father_;_ his thunders appalling_
_To rattle began_, _and his whirlwinds to roar_;
_Then trembled the host_, _but they heeded his calling_,
_And Chloe up-snatching_, _to heaven they soar_.
_O we had a sister on earthly dominions_!
_They sang as through heaven triumphant they stray'd_,
_And bore with flush'd faces and fluttering pinions_
_To God's throne of brightness the yet praying maid_.
P. 437.
SEA-SONG. [_King Christian stood beside the mast_]
In 1826 and 1835 the title was changed to _National Song_.
Borrow published no less than four versions of this _National Song_:
1. In _The Monthly Magazine_, 1823, p. 437,
2. In _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 146-148,
3. In The Foreign Quarterly Review, 1830, pp. 70-71,
4. In _Targum_, 1835, pp. 49-50.
Upon each occasion he practically rewrote the _Song_, so that all four
versions differ completely. As an illustration of these differences I
give the first stanza of each version:
1823.
_King Christian stood beside the mast_,
_In smoke and flame_;
_His heavy cannon rattled fast_
_Against the Gothmen_, _as they pass'd_:
_Then sunk each hostile sail and mast_
_In smoke and flame_.
"_Fly_, (_said the foe_,) _fly_, _all that can_,
_For who with Denmark's Christian_
_Will ply the bloody game_?"
1826.
_King Christian stood beside the mast_
_Smoke_, _mixt with flame_,
_Hung o'er his guns_, _that rattled fast_
_Against the Gothmen_, _as they passed_:
_Then sunk each hostile sail and mast_
_In smoke and flame_.
"_Fly_!"_ said the foe_: "_fly_! _all that can_,
_Nor wage_, _with Denmark's Christian_,
_The dread_, _unequal game_."
1830.
_King Christian by the main-mast stood_
_In smoke and mist_!
_So pour'd his guns their fiery flood_
_That Gothmen's heads and helmets bow'd_;
_Their sterns_, _their masts fell crashing loud_
_In smoke and mist_.
"_Fly_," _cried they_, "_let him fly who can_,
_For who shall Denmark's Christian_
_Resist_?"
1835.
_King Christian stood beside the mast_
_In smoke and mist_.
_His weapons_, _hammering hard and fast_,
_Through helms and brains of Gothmen pass'd_.
_Then sank each hostile sail and mast_
_In smoke and mist_.
"_Fly_," _said the foe_, "_fly all that can_,
_For who can Denmark's Christian_
_Resist_?"
P. 438.
THE ERL KING. [_Who is it that gallops so lat on the wild_!]
(3) _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lvii, 1824.
P. 235.
BERNARD'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY. [_Freshly blew the morning breeze_]
P. 335.
THE SINGING MARINER. [_Who will ever have again_]
Reprinted in _The Expedition to Birting's Land and Other Ballads_, 1914,
pp. 16-18.
P. 431.
THE FRENCH PRINCESS. [_Towards France a maiden went_]
P. 526.
THE NIGHTINGALE. [_In midnight's calm hour the Nightingale sings_]
Reprinted in _The Expedition to Birting's Land and Other Ballads_, 1914,
pp. 19-20.
(4) _The Universal Review_, Vol. i, 1824.
P. 391.
A REVIEW OF _Fortsetzung des Faust Von Goethe_. _Von C. C. L. Schone_.
(_Berlin_.)
P. 394.
A REVIEW OF _OElenschlager's Samlede digte_. (_Copenhagen_.)
Pp. 491-513.
A REVIEW OF _Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russia and
Siberian Tartary_, _from the Frontiers of China to the Frozen Sea_. _By
Capt. John Dundas_, _R.N._ (_London_, 1824.)
(5) _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lviii, 1824-1825.
Pp. 19-22.
DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. A Prose Essay. _Part i_.
Including _inter alia_ the following Ballad:
WALDEMAR'S CHASE. [_Late at eve they were toiling on Harribee bank_]
Reprinted in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 115-116.
P. 47.
WAR-SONG; WRITTEN WHEN THE FRENCH FIRST INVADED SPAIN. [_Arise_, _ye
sons of injur'd Spain_]
P. 432.
DANISH SONGS AND BALLADS. No. 1, BEAR SONG. [_The squirrel that's
sporting_]
Reprinted in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 144-145.
Pp. 498-500.
DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. A Prose Essay. _Part ii_.
(6) _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lix, 1825.
Pp. 25-26 and 103-104.
DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. A Prose Essay. _Parts iii and iv_.
Pp. 143-144.
THE DECEIVED MERMAN. [_Fair Agnes left her mother's door_]
Reprinted (with very considerable changes in the text, the first line
reading "_Fair Agnes alone on the sea-shore stood_") in _Romantic
Ballads_, 1826, pp. 120-123.
In 1854 Borrow rewrote this Ballad, and furnished it with a new title
_Agnes and the Merman_. The following stanzas taken from each, will
serve to show the difference between the two versions:--
1826.
_The Merman up to the church door came_;
_His eyes they shone like a yellow flame_;
_His face was white_, _and his beard was green_--
_A fairer demon was never seen_.
"_Now_, _Agnes_, _Agnes_, _list to me_,
_Thy babes are longing so after thee_."
"_I cannot come yet_, _here must I stay_
_Until the priest shall have said his say_."
1854.
_In at the door the Merman treads_--
_Away the images turned their heads_.
_His face was white_, _his beard was green_,
_His eyes were full of love_, _I ween_.
"_Hear_, _Agnes_, _hear_! _'tis time for thee_
_To come to thy home below the sea_."
"_I cannot come yet_, _I here must stay_,
_Until the priest has said his say_."
Pp. 308, 411, and 507.
DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. A Prose Essay. _Parts v_, _vi_,
_and vii_.
(7) _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lx, 1825.
Pp. 296-297 {291} and 424-425.
DANISH TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS. A Prose Essay. _Parts viii and
ix_.
(8) _The Universal Review_, Vol. ii, 1825.
Pp. 315-331.
A REVIEW OF _The Devil's Elixir_; _from the German of Hoffman_.
(_London_, _Cadell_, 2 _vols_.)
Pp. 550-566.
A REVIEW OF _Danske Folkesagn_, _Samlede af J. M. Thiele_.
(_Copenhagen_, 1818-1823.)
(9) _The Foreign Quarterly Review_, Vol. vi, No. xi, _June_, 1830, pp.
48-87.
A REVIEW OF _Dansk-norsk Litteraturlexicon_, 1818, AND _Den Danske
Digtekunsts Middelalder fra Arrebo til Tullin fremstillet i Academiske
Foreloesinger holdne i Aarene_, 1798-1800.
A long critical prose article by John Bowring, including, _inter alia_,
the following Ballads by George Borrow:--
1. KING OLUF THE SAINT. [_King Oluf and his brother bold_]
Reprinted in _Queen Berngerd_, _The Bard and the Dreams_, _and Other
Ballads_, 1913, pp. 23-29.
This is an entirely different Ballad from that which had appeared, under
the title _Saint Oluf_, in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 53-57.
2. THE BROTHER AVENGED. [_I stood before my master's board_]
Reprinted, with some textual variations, in _The Brother Avenged and
Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 5-8.
3. AAGER AND ELIZA. ['_Twas the valiant knight_, _Sir Aager_]
Previously printed, but with endless variations in the text, in _Romantic
Ballads_, 1826, pp. 47-52, where the first line reads, "_Have ye heard of
bold Sir Aager_."
As an example of the differences of text to be observed in the two
versions, I give three stanzas of each:
1826.
_Up his mighty limbs he gather'd_,
_Took the coffin on his back_;
_And to fair Eliza's bower_
_Hasten'd_, _by the well-known track_.
_On her chamber's lowly portal_,
_With his fingers long and thin_,
_Thrice he tapp'd_, _and bade Eliza_
_Straightway let her bridegroom in_!
_Straightway answer'd fair Eliza_,
"_I will not undo my door_
_Till I hear thee name sweet Jesus_,
_As thou oft hast done before_."
1830.
_Up Sir Aager rose_, _his coffin_
_Bore he on his bended back_.
_Tow'ds the bower of sweet Eliza_
_Was his sad and silent track_.
_He the door tapp'd with his coffin_,
_For his fingers had no skin_;
"_Rise_, _O rise_, _my sweet Eliza_!
_Rise_, _and let thy bridegroom in_."
_Straightway answer'd fair Eliza_:
"_I will not undo my door_
'_Till thou name the name of Jesus_,
_Even as thou could'st before_."
4. MORNING SONG. [From eastern quarters now]
Reprinted in _The Expedition to Birting's Land_, _and Other Ballads_,
1914, pp. 21-22.
5. DANISH NATIONAL SONG. [_King Christian by the main-mast stood_]
Previously printed:
1. In _The Monthly Magazine_, Vol. lvi, 1823, p. 437.
2. In _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 146-148.
Afterwards reprinted in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 49-50.
6. THE SEAMAN. [_A seaman with a bosom light_]
7. SIR SINCLAIR. [_Sir Sinclair sail'd from the Scottish ground_]
Reprinted in _Targum_, 1835, pp. 51-55.
8. THORVALD. [_Swayne Tveskieg did a man possess_]
Reprinted in _Tord of Hafsborough and Other Ballads_, 1914, pp. 11-15.
9. WHEN I WAS LITTLE. [_There was a time when I was very tiny_]
10. BIRTH OF CHRIST. [_Each spring_,--_when the mists have abandon'd
the earth_]
11. TIME'S PERSPECTIVE. [_Through the city sped a youth_]
12. THE MORNING WALK. [_To the beach grove with so sweet an air_]
Reprinted in _The Expedition to Birting's Land and Other Ballads_, 1914,
pp. 23-27.
13. THE ASPEN. [_What whispers so strange at the hour of midnight_]
14. DAME MARTHA'S FOUNTAIN. [_Dame Martha dwelt at Karisegaard_]
Reprinted in _Queen Berngerd_, _The Bard and the Dreams_, _and Other
Ballads_, 1913, pp. 13-15.
15. PETER COLBIORNSEN. ['_Fore Fredereksteen King Carl he lay_]
Reprinted in _Tord of Hafsborough and Other Ballads_, 1914, pp. 16-20.
16. THE RUINS OF URANIENBORG. [_Thou by the strand dost wander_]
Reprinted, but with much textual variation, in _Ellen of Villenskov and
Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 13-18.
(10.) _The Norfolk Chronicle_, August 18_th_, 1832.
A NOTE ON "THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD 'TORY'."
A short prose article, signed "_George Borrow_," and dated "_Norwich_,
_August_ 6."
(11) _The Athenaeum_, _August_ 20, 1836, pp. 587-588.
THE GYPSIES IN RUSSIA AND IN SPAIN.
Two letters from Borrow, giving an account of his experiences of the
gypsies in Russia and in Spain.
"All the episodes that he relates he incorporated in _The Bible in
Spain_. The two letters plainly indicate that all the time Borrow
was in Spain his mind was more filled with the subject of the gypsies
than with any other question. He did his work well for the Bible
Society no doubt . . . but there is a humourous note in the fact that
Borrow should have utilised his position as a missionary--for so we
must count him--to make himself thoroughly acquainted with gypsy
folklore, and gypsy songs and dances."--[Shorter, _George Borrow and
his Circle_, p. 240.]
(12) _The Illustrated London News_, _December_ 8_th_, 1855, p. 685.
ANCIENT RUNIC STONE, RECENTLY FOUND IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
Reprinted in _George Borrow and his Circle_, by Clement King Shorter,
1913, pp. 301-303.
(13.) _A Practical Grammar of the Antient Gaelic_. By the Rev. John
Kelly, LL.D. Edited by the Rev. William Gill, 8vo, 1859.
p. xi.
TRANSLATION FROM THE MANX. [_And what is glory_, _but the radiance of a
name_,--]
Borrow's statement in the closing paragraph (printed _post_, p. 299) of
his Essay on _The Welsh and their Literature_ renders it possible to
place this Translation to his credit.
p. xix.
A LETTER FROM BORROW TO THE EDITOR, regarding Manx Ballads.
(14) _ The Quarterly Review_, _January_, 1861, pp. 38-63.
THE WELSH AND THEIR LITERATURE. A Prose Essay.
This Essay was in fact a review, by Borrow himself, of his own work _The
Sleeping Bard_.
"In the autumn [of 1860] Borrow determined to call attention to it
[_The Sleeping Bard_] himself. He revamped an old article he had
written in 1830, entitled _The Welsh and their Literature_, and sent
it to Mr. Murray for _The Quarterly Review_. . . . The modern
literature and things of Wales were not introduced into the article .
. . and it appeared anonymously in _The Quarterly Review_ for
January, 1861. It is in fact Borrow's own (and the only) review of
_The Sleeping Bard_, which, however, had the decisive result of
selling off the whole edition in a month."--[Knapp's _Life and
Correspondence of George Borrow_, 1899, vol. ii, pp. 195-196.]
The Manuscript of this Essay, or Review, is not at present forthcoming.
But, fortunately, the MS. of certain paragraphs with which Borrow brought
the Essay to a conclusion, and which the Editor in the exercise of his
editorial function quite properly struck out, have been preserved. The
barefaced manner in which Borrow anonymously praised and advertised his
own work fully justified the Editor's action. I print these paragraphs
below. My principal reason for doing so is this, that the closing lines
afford evidence of Borrow's authorship of other portions of Gill's
Introduction to his Edition of _Kelly's Manx Grammar_, 1859, beyond those
which until now have been attributed to his pen:
"Our having mentioned _The Romany Rye_ gives us an opportunity of
saying a few words concerning that work, to the merits of which, and
likewise to those of _Lavengro_, of which it is the sequel, adequate
justice has never been awarded. It is a truly remarkable book,
abounding not only with strange and amusing adventure, but with deep
learning communicated in a highly agreeable form. We owe it an
_amende honorable_ for not having in our recent essay on Buddhism
quoted from it some remarkable passages on that superstition, which
are to be found in a conversation between the hero of the tale and
the man in black. Never was the subject of Buddhism treated in a
manner so masterly and original. But the book exhibits what is
infinitely more precious than the deepest learning, more desirable
than the most amusing treasury of adventure, a fearless, honest
spirit, a resolution to tell the truth however strange the truth may
appear to the world.
"A remarkable proof of this is to be found in what is said in it
respecting the Italians. It is all very well at the present day,
after the miracles lately performed in Italy by her sons, to say that
Italy is the land to which we must look for great men; that it is not
merely the country of singers, fiddlers, _improvisatori_, and
linguists, but of men, of beings who may emphatically be called men.
But who, three or four years ago, would have ventured to say as much?
Why there was one and only one who ventured to say so, and that was
George Borrow in his work entitled _The Romany Rye_. Many other
things equally bold and true he has said in that work, and also in
its predecessor _Lavengro_.
"In conclusion we wish to give Mr. Borrow a piece of advice, namely,
that with all convenient speed he publish whatever works he has
written and has not yet committed to the press. Life is very
precarious, and when an author dies, his unpublished writings are too
frequently either lost to the world, or presented in a shape which
all but stultifies them. Of Mr. Borrow's unpublished writings there
is a catalogue at the end of _The Romany Rye_, and a most remarkable
catalogue it is, comprising works on all kinds of interesting
subjects. Of these, the one which we are most eager to see is that
which is called _Wild Wales_, which we have no doubt whenever it
appears will be welcomed as heartily as _The Bible in Spain_ was
seventeen years ago, a book which first laid open the mysterious
peninsula to the eyes of the world, and that the book on Wales will
be followed by the one which is called _Wanderings in quest of Manx
Literature_. Now the title alone of that book is worth a library of
commonplace works, for it gives the world an inkling of a thing it
never before dreamed of, namely, that the little Celtic Isle of Man
has a vernacular literature. What a pity if the book itself should
be eventually lost! Here some person will doubtless exclaim,
'Perhaps the title is all book, and there is no book behind it; what
can Mr. Borrow know of Manx literature?' Stay, friend, stay! A Manx
grammar has just appeared, edited by a learned and highly respectable
Manx clergyman, in the preface to which are some beautiful and highly
curious notices of Manx vernacular Gallic literature, which are,
however, confessedly not written by the learned Manx clergyman, nor
by any other learned Manxman, but by George Borrow, an Englishman,
the author of _The Bible in Spain_ and _The Romany Rye_."
A number of translations from Welsh Poetry were introduced by Borrow into
this Essay. They were all, as he explained in a footnote, derived from
his projected _Songs of Europe_. With the exception of an occasional
stray couplet, or single line, the following list includes them all:--
1. FROM IOLO GOCH'S "ODE TO THE PLOUGH MAN." [_The mighty Hu with mead
would pay_]
Reprinted, with several changes in the text, in _Wild Wales_, 1862, Vol.
iii, pp. 292-293.
A further extract from the same _Ode_, "_If with small things we Hu
compare_" etc., is given in a footnote on p. 40.
2. SAXONS AND BRITONS. [_A serpent that coils_]
Reprinted (the first line reading _A serpent which coils_) in _Wild
Wales_, 1862, Vol. i, p. 48.
3. THE DESTINY OF THE BRITONS. [_Their Lord they shall praise_]
These lines were employed by Borrow in the following year as a motto for
the title-pages of _Wild Wales_.
4. FROM AN ODE ON LLYWELYN, BY DAFYDD BENFRAS. [_Llywelyn of the potent
hand oft wroght_]
5. FROM AN ODE ON THE MANSION OF OWEN GLENDOWER, BY IOLO GOCH. [_Its
likeness now I'll limn you out_]
6. EPIGRAM ON THE RISING OF OWEN GLENDOWER. [_One thousand four
hundred_, _no less and no more_]
7. FROM AN ODE TO GRIFFITH AP NICHOLAS, BY GWILYM AP IEUAN HEN.
[_Griffith ap Nicholas_! _who like thee_]
Reprinted in _Wild Wales_, 1862, Vol. iii, p. 327.
8. EPIGRAM ON A SPIDER. [_From out its womb it weaves with care_]
(15) _Once a Week_, Vol. vi, _January_ 4_th_, 1862, pp. 37-39.
BALLADS OF THE ISLE OF MAN. TRANSLATED FROM THE MANX. BY GEORGE BORROW:
1. BROWN WILLIAM. [_Let no one in greatness too confident be_]
Reprinted in _Mona Miscellany_, 1869, pp. 67-70.
Again reprinted (with the prose Introduction considerably curtailed) in
_Brown William_, _The Power of the Harp_, _and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp.
5-11.
2. MOLLIE CHARANE. [_O_, _Mollie Charane_, _where got you your gold_?]
Reprinted in _Mollie Charane and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 5-7.
(16) _Once a Week_, Vol. vi, _March_ 8_th_, 1862, pp. 289-294.
EMELIAN THE FOOL.
The first of a series of three _Russian Popular Tales_, in Prose,
translated by George Borrow.
Also printed privately in pamphlet form, as follows:--
_Emelian the Fool_ / _A Tale_ / _Translated from the Russian_ / _By_ /
_George Borrow_ / _London_: / _Printed for Private Circulation_ /
1913.--Crown octavo, pp. 37. [See _ante_, Part I, No. 53.]
The _Tale_ was included in _The Avon Booklet_, Vol. ii, 1904, pp.
175-197.
Borrow had projected a volume to contain a series of twelve _Russian
Popular Tales_, and this was included among the Works advertised as
"ready for the press" at the end of _The Romany Rye_.
Unfortunately the project failed to meet with success, and these three
_Tales_ were all that finally appeared.
(17) _Once a Week_, Vol. vi, _May_ 17_th_, 1862, pp. 572-574.
THE STORY OF YVASHKA WITH THE BEAR'S EAR.
The second of a series of _Russian Popular Tales_, in Prose, translated
by George Borrow.
Reprinted in _The Sphere_, _February_ 1_st_, 1913, p. 136.
Also printed privately in pamphlet form as follows:--
_The Story_ / _of_ / _Yvashka with the Bear's Ear_ / _Translated from the
Russian_ / _By_ / _George Borrow_ / _London_: / _Printed for Private
Circulation_ / 1913. Square demy octavo, pp. 23. [See _ante_, Part I,
No. 26.]
The _Story_ was also included in _The Avon Booklet_, Vol. ii, 1904, pp.
199-210.
(18) _Once a Week_, Vol. vii, _August_ 2_nd_, 1862, pp. 152-155.
HARALD HARFAGR. A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A VALKYRIE AND A RAVEN, &c. [_Ye
men wearing bracelets_]
Reprinted (under the amended title _The Valkyrie and Raven_) in _The
Nightingale_, _The Valkyrie and Raven_, _and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp.
11-20.
A Prose Introduction, which preceded the Ballad in _Once a Week_, was not
reprinted in _The Nightingale_, _The Valkyrie and Raven_, _and Other
Ballads_.
A facsimile (actual size) of a page of the Original Manuscript is given
herewith.
In _Once a Week_ this Ballad was accompanied by an Illustration, engraved
upon wood, representing the Valkyrie discoursing with the Raven.
[Picture: Manuscript of Harold Harfagr = The Valkyrie and Raven]
(19) _Once a Week_, Vol. vii, _October_ 4_th_, 1862, pp. 403-406.
THE STORY OF TIM.
The third (and last) of a series of _Russian Popular Tales_, in Prose,
translated by George Borrow.
Also printed privately in pamphlet form, as follows:--
_The Story of Tim_ / _Translated from the Russian_ / _By_ / _George
Borrow_ / _London_: / _Printed for Private Circulation_ / 1913-Crown
octavo, p. 31. [See _ante_, Part I, No. 54.]
The _Story_ was also included in _The Avon Booklet_, Vol. ii, 1904, pp.
211-229.
(20) _Once a Week_, Vol. viii, _January_ 3_rd_, 1863, pp. 35-36.
THE COUNT OF VENDEL'S DAUGHTER. [_Within a bower the womb I left_]
Reprinted in _The Verner Raven_, _The Count of Vendel's Daughter_, _and
Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 12-17.
(21) _Once a Week_, Vol. viii, _December_ 12_th_, 1863, p. 686.
THE HAIL-STORM; OR, THE DEATH OF BUI. [_All eager to sail_]
This Ballad differs entirely from those which appeared, under the title
_The Hail-Storm_ only, in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp. 136-138, in
_Targum_, 1835, pp. 42-43, and in _Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes
and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 14-15. Each of these three versions
consists of four eight-line stanzas; the present Ballad extends to 84
lines, arranged in irregular stanzas.
(22) _Benjamin Robert Haydon_: _Correspondence and Table Talk_. By
Frederic Wordsworth Haydon, 1876, Vol. i, pp. 360-361.
A LETTER FROM BORROW TO B. R. HAYDON.
Reprinted in _George Borrow and his Circle_. By Clement King Shorter,
1913, p. 25.
(23) _Life_, _Writings_, _and Correspondence of George Borrow_. By
William I. Knapp, 2 Vols, 1899:
Vol. ii, pp. 91-95.
TALE FROM THE CORNISH. [_In Lavan's parish once of yore_]
Reprinted (with some small textual revisions) in _Signelil_, _A Tale from
the Cornish_, _and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 8-18.
Vol. ii, p. 238.
HUNGARIAN GYPSY SONG. [_To the mountain the fowler has taken his way_]
The two volumes contain, in addition, a considerable number of Letters
and other documents published therein for the first time.
(24) _George Borrow_: _The Man and his Work_. By R. A. J. Walling, 8vo,
1908.
SEVERAL LETTERS BY BORROW, ADDRESSED TO DR. [AFTERWARDS SIR JOHN]
BOWRING,
were printed for the first time in this volume.
(25) _The Life of George Borrow_. By Herbert Jenkins, 8vo, 1912.
SEVERAL LETTERS, AND PORTIONS OF LETTERS, BY BORROW,
were printed for the first time in this volume.
(26) _The Fortnightly Review_, _April_, 1913, pp. 680-688.
NINE LETTERS FROM BORROW TO HIS WIFE.
The letters form a portion of an article by Mr. Clement Shorter, entitled
_George Borrow in Scotland_.
Eight of these letters had been printed previously in _Letters to his
Wife Mary Borrow_, 1913 [see _ante_, Part I, No. 19]. The remaining
letter was afterwards included in _Letters to his Mother Ann Borrow and
Other Correspondents_, 1913 [see _ante_, Part I, No. 57].
(27) _George Borrow and his Circle_. By Clement King Shorter, 8vo,
1913.
MANY LETTERS BY BORROW,
together with a considerable number of other important documents, were
first printed in this volume.
_Note_.
The various Poems and Prose Articles included in the above list, to which
no reference is appended, have not yet been reprinted in any shape or
form.
_Query_.
There exists a galley-proof of a Ballad by Borrow entitled _The Father's
Return_. _From the Polish of Mickiewicz_. The Ballad consists of
twenty-one four-line stanzas, and commences "_Take children your way_,
_for the last time to-day_." This proof is set up in small type, and was
evidently prepared for insertion in some provincial newspaper. This
paper I have not been able to trace. Should its identity be known to any
reader of the present Bibliography I should be grateful for a note of it.
* * * * *
*** In _The Tatler_ for _November_ 26, 1913, appeared a short story
entitled _The Potato Patch_. _By G. Borrow_. This story was not by the
Author of _Targum_. '_Borrow_' was a mis-print; the name should have
read '_G. Barrow_.'
_PART III_.
BORROVIANA: COMPLETE VOLUMES OF BIOGRAPHY AND CRITICISM.
(1)
George Borrow in / East Anglia / By / William A. Dutt / [_Quotation from
Emerson_] / London / David Nutt, 270-271, Strand / 1896.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 80.
Issued in paper boards backed with cloth, with the title-page, slightly
abbreviated, reproduced upon the front cover. Some copies are in
cream-coloured paper wrappers.
(2)
Life, Writings, / and Correspondence of / George Borrow / Derived from
Official and other / Authentic Sources / By William I. Knapp, Ph.D.,
LL.D. / Author and Editor of French and Spanish Text-Books / Editor of
"Las Obras de Boscan," "Diego de Mendoza," etc. / And late of Yale and
Chicago Universities / With Portrait and Illustrations / In Two Volumes /
Vol. I. [Vol. II.] / London / John Murray, Albemarle Street / New York:
G. P. Putnam's Sons / 1899.
Collation:--Demy octavo:
Vol. I. pp. xx + 402.
Vol. II. pp. x + 406, with an inserted slip carrying a List of _Errata_
for both Volumes.
Issued in dull green cloth boards, gilt lettered.
(3)
George Borrow / The Man and his Work / By / R. A. J. Walling / Author of
"A Sea Dog of Devon" / Cassell and Company, Limited / London, Paris, New
York, Toronto and Melbourne / MCMVIII.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. xii + 356.
Issued in dull red cloth boards, gilt lettered.
Several Letters from Borrow to Dr. [afterwards Sir John] Bowring were
first printed in this volume.
(4)
George Borrow / Von / Dr. Bernhard Blaesing. / Berlin / Emil Ebering /
1910.
Collation:--Royal octavo, pp. 78.
Issued in mottled-grey paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced
upon the front.
(5)
Cymmrodorion / Society's / Publications. / George Borrow's Second / Tour
in Wales. / By / T. C. Cantrill, B.Sc., / and / J. Pringle. / From "Y
Cymmrodor," Vol. xxii. {313} / London: Issued by the Society, / New Stone
Buildings, 64, Chancery Lane.
Collation:--Demy octavo, pp. 11, without title-page, the title, as above,
appearing upon the front wrapper only.
Issued (in _April_, 1911) in bright green paper wrappers, with the title
in full upon the front.
(6)
George Borrow / The Man and his Books / By / Edward Thomas / Author of /
"The Life of Richard Jefferies," "Light and / Twilight," "Rest and
Unrest," "Maurice / Maeterlinck," Etc. / With Portraits and Illustrations
/ London / Chapman & Hall, Ltd. / 1912.
Collation:--Demy octavo, pp. xii + 333 + viii.
Issued in deep mauve coloured cloth boards, gilt lettered.
(7)
The Life of / George Borrow / Compiled from Unpublished / Official
Documents, his / Works, Correspondence, etc. / By Herbert Jenkins / With
a Frontispiece in Photogravure, and / Twelve other Illustrations / London
/ John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. / 1912.
Collation:--Demy octavo, pp. xxvi [misnumbered xxviii] + 496.
Issued in bright green cloth boards, gilt lettered. A _Second Edition_
appeared in 1913.
(8)
George / Borrow / A Sermon preached in / Norwich Cathedral on / July 6,
1913 / By / H. C. Beeching, D.D., D.Litt. / Dean of Norwich / London /
Jarrold & Sons / Publishers.
Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 12.
Issued in drab paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced upon the
front, the words _Threepence Net_ being added at foot.
(9)
Souvenir / of the / George Borrow / Celebration / Norwich, July 5th, 1913
/ By / James Hooper / Prepared and Published for / the Committee /
Jarrold & Sons / Publishers / London and Norwich.
Collation:--Royal octavo, pp. 48, with a Portrait-Frontispiece, and
twenty-four Illustrations and Portraits.
Issued in white pictorial paper wrappers, with trimmed edges.
(10)
Catalogue of the Exhibition / Commemorative of George Borrow / Author of
"Lavengro" etc. held / at the Norwich Castle Museum. / July, 1913. /
Price 3_d._
Collation:--Post octavo, pp. 12.
Issued wire-stitched, without wrappers, and with trimmed edges.
(11)
George Borrow / and his Circle / Wherein may be found many / hitherto
Unpublished Letters / of Borrow and his Friends / By / Clement King
Shorter / Hodder and Stoughton / London New York Toronto / 1913.
Collation:--Square octavo, printed in half-sheets, pp. xix + 450; with a
Portrait of Borrow as Frontispiece, and numerous other Illustrations.
Issued in dark crimson paper boards, backed with buckram, gilt lettered.
There are several variations in this edition as compared with one
published simultaneously in America by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. of
Cambridge, Mass. These variations are connected with Borrow's attitude
towards the British and Foreign Bible Society, Mr. Shorter having taken
occasion to pass some severe strictures upon the obvious cant which
characterised the Bible Society in its relations with Borrow. These
strictures, although supported by ample quotations from unpublished
documents, the London publishers, being a semi-religious house, persuaded
the author to cancel.
(12)
A / Bibliography / of / The Writings in Prose and Verse / of / George
Henry Borrow / By / Thomas J. Wise / London: / Printed for Private
Circulation only / By Richard Clay & Sons, Ltd. / 1914.
Collation:--Foolscap quarto, pp. xxii + 316, with Sixty-nine facsimiles
of Title-pages and Manuscripts.
Issued in bright green paper boards, lettered across the back, and with
the title-page reproduced upon the front. One hundred copies only were
printed.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
BY RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LTD.
1914.
Footnotes:
{0a} The majority of the Manuscripts of Ballads written in or about 1829
are upon paper watermarked with the date 1828. The majority of the
Manuscripts of Ballads written in or about 1854 are upon paper
watermarked with the date 1852.
{0b} Among the advertisements at the end of _The Romany Rye_, 1857,
three works (1) _Celtic Bards_, _Chiefs_, _and Kings_, (2) _Songs of
Europe_, and (3) _Koempe Viser_, were announced as 'ready for the Press';
whilst a fourth, _Northern Skalds_, _Kings_, _and Earls_, was noted as
'unfinished.'
{0c} No doubt a considerable number of the Ballads prepared for the
_Songs of Scandinavia_ in 1829, and surviving in the Manuscripts of that
date, were actually composed during the three previous years. The
production of the complete series must have formed a substantial part of
Borrow's occupation during that "veiled period," the mists surrounding
which Mr. Shorter has so effectually dissipated.
{0d} "What you have written has given me great pleasure, as it holds out
hope that I may be employed usefully to the Deity, to man, and to
myself."--[_From Borrow's letter to the Rev. J. Jowett_.]
"Our Committee stumbled at an expression in your letter of yesterday
. . . at which a humble Christian might not unreasonably take
umbrage. It is where you speak of becoming '_useful to the Deity_,
_to man_, _and to yourself_.' Doubtless you meant _the prospect of
glorifying God_."--[_From the Rev. J. Jowett's reply_.]
"The courier and myself came all the way without the slightest
accident, my usual wonderful good fortune accompanying us."--[_From
Borrow's letter to the Rev. A. Brandram_.]
"You narrate your perilous journey to Seville, and say at the
beginning of the description '_my usual wonderful good fortune
accompanying us_.' This is a mode of speaking to which we are not
accustomed, it savours of the profane."--[_From the Rev. A.
Brandram's reply_.]
{12} In the majority of the extant copies of the book this List is not
present.
{23} The name of the ship.
{85} These preliminary pages are misnumbered viii-xx, instead of
vi-xviii.
{132} A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript of _The
King's Wake_ will be found facing page 136.
{161} Facing the following page will be found a reduced facsimile of the
first page of the Manuscript of _Ingeborg's Disguise_.
{199} A reduced facsimile of the first page of the original Manuscript
of _Ingefred and Gudrune_ will be found facing page 200.
{268} The Manuscript of this poem is in the possession of Mr. J. A.
Spoor, of Chicago, to whose courtesy I was indebted for the loan of it
when editing the present pamphlet.
{291} Pages 296 and 297 are misnumbered 216 and 217.
{313} _Y Cymmrodor_, vol. xxii, 1910, pp. 160-170.
Notes on the Project Gutenberg Transcription
In the original book the facsimiles occupy a full page and do not carry a
page number. In each the verso of the page is blank. In both cases the
page counts towards the page number, which is why there are gaps in the
page numbering.
The inset nature of the facsimiles also means that in the book they break
the flow of the text and are sometimes not even in the section to which
they belong. In the transcription they have usually been moved to the
end of the section to which they belong. Their original page position is
given by their filename (e.g. p304.jpg was originally on page 304).
On page 48 in the paragraph starting "_Targum_ was written by Borrow",
the "but a small proportion" is as in the book, but should probably be
"but only", or "with".
On page 87 the book has "One of these is now, in the possession . . ."
On page 136 the book has no full-stop at the end of "_To the ears of the
Queen in her bed it rang_".
On page 144 "Edition limited to Thirty Copies" has no closing quote.
On page 231 "Edition limited to Thirty Copies" has no closing quote.
On page 253 the full-stop is missing after "reproduced upon the front."
On page 287 for "Freshly blew" the book has "Freshl blew".
The original book also had an errata which has been applied. The
original errors were:
On page 86 the paragraph beginning "Issued in dark blue cloth boards..."
originally read:
Issued in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-labels,
lettered "_Borrow's_ / _Gypsies_ / _of_ / _Spain_. / _Two Volumes_. /
_Vol. i_. [_Vol. ii_.]." The leaves measure 7.75 x 4.875 inches.
The edition consisted of 3,000 Copies. The published price was
30_s._
On page 297 the book read "which Lockhart in the exercise of his
editorial", "fully justified Lockhart's action".