{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_26792/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_26792","id":"gutenberg_26792","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26792","summary":null,"tags":["Ballads","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","English poetry"],"text":"Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email\nccx074@pglaf.org\n\n\n\n\n\n                            GRIMMER AND KAMPER\n                     THE END OF SIVARD SNARENSWAYNE\n                            AND OTHER BALLADS\n\n\n                                    BY\n                              GEORGE BORROW\n\n                                 LONDON:\n                     PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION\n\n                                   1913\n\n               _Copyright in the United States of America_\n           _by Houghton_, _Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter_.\n\n\n\n\nGRIMMER AND KAMPER\n\n\nGrimmer walks upon the floor,\n   Well can Grimmer wield his sword:\n\u201cGive to me fair Ingeborg,\n   For the sake of Christ our Lord.\u201d\n\n\u201cFar too little art thou, lad,\n   Thou about thee canst not hack;\nWhen thou comest \u2019mong other kemps,\n   Ever do they drive thee back.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot so little, Sire, am I,\n   I myself full well can guard;\nWhen I fight with kempions I\n   Gallantly can ply my sword.\u201d\n\n\u201cKamper dwells in Birting\u2019s land,\n   For a stalwart kemp he\u2019s known;\nThou shalt wed my daughter, if\n   Thou to earth canst hew him down.\u201d\n\nRage and grief his bosom filled,\n   Grimmer through the door retires:\n\u201cWhat answer did my father give?\u201d\n   Beauteous Ingeborg inquires.\n\n\u201cKamper dwells in Birting\u2019s land,\n   And he bears a warlike name;\nIf I him to death can smite,\n   I may thee with honour claim.\u201d\n\nAnswered him the fair young maid:\n   \u201cAh! my father seeks thy death,\nKamper for thee is far too strong,\n   He will work thee rueful scathe.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019ll lend a helm to thee,\n   Thou may\u2019st trust upon in fight;\nAnd an acton I\u2019ll provide,\n   Whereupon no sword will bite.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll give thee a faulchion good,\n   And a harness on to put;\nOn earth\u2019s ground no sword is found\n   Through that harness which can cut.\n\n\u201cI will give to thee a sword\n   In thy youthful hand to bear;\nThou therewith mayst iron cleave,\n   E\u2019en as though it water were.\u201d\n\nKamper stands on Birtingsborough,\n   Thence so far he sees and wide:\n\u201cWhat can be that little wreck\n   Hitherward that seems to glide?\u201d\n\nIt was little Grimmer bold\n   Steered his vessel straight to land;\n\u2019Twas the bulky Kamper then\n   Tow\u2019rds him stretched a friendly hand.\n\n\u201cWelcome, little Grimmer, be!\n   Here no harm thou hast to fear;\nHalf my land I\u2019ll give to thee,\n   And my sister\u2019s daughter dear.\u201d\n\n\u201cNe\u2019er will I that Ingeborg,\n   My beloved, should hear such shame,\nThat I thy sister\u2019s daughter took,\n   And thy friend that I became.\n\n\u201cBut we\u2019ll go to Vimming\u2019s hill,\n   And do battle, as is fit;\nOne of us his life shall lose,\n   Ere the ring of death we quit.\u201d\n\nThereto answered Kamper bold,\n   He had such an eager hand:\n\u201cI\u2019ll the first blow have, forsooth,\n   \u2019Tis on my own earth we stand.\u201d\n\nThe first blow big Kamper struck,\n   Given \u2019twas with wrathful yell;\nHe so hard has Grimmer struck,\n   Down to earth young Grimmer fell.\n\nUpstood little Grimmer then\n   Quickly little Grimmer rose:\n\u201cThou shalt also stand me one,\n   Ere the sun sinks to repose.\u201d\n\nThe next blow was Glimmer\u2019s own,\n   Fierce he hewed with his right hand;\nHe hewed on Kamper\u2019s golden helm,\n   To his heart down went the brand.\n\nKamper bellowed as he fell,\n   Dead upon the earth so hard:\n\u201cWould to God that of my case\n   Knew my brother Rodengard!\u201d\n\nJoyous little Grimmer was,\n   That the fight to end had come;\nGold and silver much he took,\n   To the maid he bore it home.\n\nBlood forth streaming from his wound\n   Lies the mighty Kamper dead;\nGrimmer lives, the brave young swain,\n   Carries off his gold so red.\n\nWhen he had the victory won,\n   Little space he tarried there;\nJoyous sailed his men away,\n   Joyous with their booty fair.\n\nStanding on the battlement,\n   Looks the Damsel towards the strand:\n\u201cYonder I my youth espy,\n   See his vessel touch the strand.\u201d\n\nThanks to brave young Grimmer be,\n   For his faith he kept so well;\nOn next Monday morn, at dawn,\n   Grimmer\u2019s bridal feast befell.\n\n\n\n\nMIMMERING TAN\n\n\nThe smallest man was Mimmering\nE\u2019er born in the land of Carl the King.\n\nAnd ere he into the world was brought\nHis clothes already were for him wrought.\n\nEre yet he could walk across the floor,\nA ponderous iron cuirass he bore.\n\nAnd ere he had learnt to ride, to ride,\nHis father\u2019s sword to his hip he tied.\n\nThe first time he his sword could bear\nA better knight breathed not the air.\n\nSo down he went to the salt sea strand,\nAs the merchants lay before the land.\n\nHe saw then, under the steep hill\u2019s side,\nA knight with sheeny armour ride.\n\nCoursing came he at headlong speed,\nGrim as a lion was his steed.\n\n\u201cNow, gallant Sir Knight, to me attend,\nWilt let me with thee as a shield boy wend?\u201d\n\n\u201cThou art too little and young, I fear,\nMy heavy harness thou canst not bear.\u201d\n\nAt that word Mimmering wrathful grew,\nThe Knight from his steed to earth he threw.\n\nAnd much more harm to him was done,\nHe smote his head against a stone.\n\nHe clomb on the saddle and rode away,\nHe\u2019ll fain with other knights have a fray.\n\nAnd when to the green wood he had won,\nThere met he Vidrik Verlandson.\n\n\u201cWell met, well met, thou stalwart knight,\nSay, wilt thou for a fair maid fight?\u201d\n\nThen straightway Vidrik made reply:\n\u201cI\u2019ll meet thee, dwarf, or no man am I.\u201d\n\nThey fought for a day, they fought for twain,\nNeither could from the other the victory gain.\n\nSo good stall-brothership vowed have they,\nWhich should endure to the judgment day.\n\nHow should it endure that long time all?\nIt could not last till evening-fall.\n\n\n\n\nTHE END OF SIVARD SNARENSWAYNE\n\n\nYoung Sivard he his step-sire slew\n   To avenge his mother\u2019s wrongs;\nAnd now to sport in the Monarch\u2019s court\n   Young Sivard sorely longs.\n\nIt was Sivard Snarenswayne\n   To his mother\u2019s presence strode:\n\u201cSay, shall I ride from hence?\u201d he cried,\n   \u201cOr wend on foot my road?\u201d\n\n\u201cO never shalt thou go on foot\n   Whilst I\u2019ve a horse in stall;\nI\u2019ll give thee the steed of matchless breed,\n   Which courtiers Grayman call.\u201d\n\nThey led Grayman out of the stall,\n   His reins were gilt about;\nHis eyes were bright as the clear star-light,\n   And fire from his bit sprang out.\n\nOff Sivard throws his gloves, like snows\n   The stripling\u2019s hands appeared;\nAnd with all his force he girded the horse,\n   For to trust the groom he feared.\n\nIt was Sivard\u2019s mother dear,\n   In a kirtle red was clad:\n\u201cThe horse I fear will cost thee dear,\n   And that fear makes me sad.\u201d\n\nShe followed him a long, long way,\n   Her heart was filled with woe:\n\u201cO take good heed of the Grayman steed,\n   He many a trick doth know!\u201d\n\n\u201cNow list to me, my mother dear,\n   Quick cast your care aside;\nTo a son of worth thou hast given birth,\n   Who his horse full well can ride.\u201d\n\nAway they go, o\u2019er bridges now,\n   And now o\u2019er brooks in flood;\nClung so tight to his steed the knight\n   That his boots were filled with blood.\n\nThe horse he hurried o\u2019er the wold,\n   Right past the crowded Ting;\nThen wildly gazed the folk, amazed\n   That the horse he could so spring.\n\nFor fifteen nights and for fifteen days\n   The speed of their race endured;\nBefore them tall uprose a hall\n   With the gates all fast secured.\n\nThe Dane King stood on the battlement,\n   And thence looked far and wide:\n\u201cSome drunken peer is coming here,\n   Who his horse full well can ride.\n\n\u201cO that is either a drunken peer,\n   On courser good and keen;\nOr that, I swear, is my sister\u2019s heir,\n   And in battle he has been.\u201d\n\nThe horse did spit from his mouth the bit,\n   And, neighing, bounded high;\nThen maids and dames forsook their games\n   And trembled fearfully.\n\nThen maids and dames forsook their games,\n   And shook their weeds below;\nTo meet the boy, his sister\u2019s joy,\n   The King of the Danes did go.\n\nIt was the mighty King of the Danes,\n   And thus the King he cried:\n\u201cYe archers, straight undo the gate,\n   And fling it open wide.\u201d\n\nIt was Sivard Snarenswayne,\n   Through the portal in rode he;\nThen dames fifteen of beauteous mien\n   Before him bent their knee.\n\nThe Dane King to his merry men spake:\n   \u201cI rede ye treat him fair;\nI tell to ye for a verity\n   No jesting he will bear.\u201d\n\nIt was Sivard Snarenswayne,\n   He made his courser bound\nTen ells and more the ramparts o\u2019er,\n   And thus his death he found.\n\nFrom his gilded selle down Sivard fell,\n   Snapped Grayman\u2019s back outright;\nWept great and small in the Monarch\u2019s hall\n   For the wizard steed and knight.\n\n\n\n\nSIR GUNCELIN\u2019S WEDDING\n\n\nIt was the Count Sir Guncelin,\n   Who to his mother cried:\n\u201cO I in quest of knightly fame\n   Through foreign lands will ride.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd if thou from the land wilt ride,\n   To help thee on thy way,\nI give thee the steed, the wondrous steed,\n   The good steed Carl the grey.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll give the steed for thy time of need,\n   The good grey Carl, but know\nNo spur of steel must grace thy heel,\n   Nor helm be on thy brow.\n\n\u201cNever a warrior must thou heed,\n   But straight thy path pursue,\nTill thou in fight engage the knight\n   Whose name is Ivor Blue.\u201d\n\nIt was the Count Sir Guncelin,\n   By the green hill took his way;\nThere chanced he to meet little Tilventin,\n   And bade him promptly stay.\n\n\u201cNow welcome little Tilventin,\n   And where hast thou passed the night?\u201d\n\u201cI have passed the night at Brattingsborg,\n   Where from helms the fire they smite!\u201d\n\nIt was the Count Sir Guncelin,\n   From under his red helm glared:\n\u201cSir Tilventin it had better been\n   If that thou hadst never declared.\u201d\n\nIt was the Count Sir Guncelin,\n   His sharp sword out he drew;\nIt was little Tilventin,\n   Whom he did to pieces hew.\n\nHe rode away unto Brattingsborg,\n   On the door he struck with his spear:\n\u201cDoth any warrior bide therein,\n   Who will come and fight me here?\u201d\n\nIt was the Knight Sir Ivor Blue,\n   He turned to the West his eye:\n\u201cNow help me Wolf and Asmer hawk,\n   I hear a kemp\u2019s fierce cry.\u201d\n\nIt was the Knight Sir Ivor Blue,\n   He turned to the East his eye:\n\u201cNow help me, Odin, for thou hast might,\n   I hear Sir Guncelin\u2019s cry!\u201d\n\nIt was the Count Sir Guncelin,\n   His helm o\u2019er his white neck flung;\nThat sound in the ear of his mother dear\n   Through the dark night-time rung.\n\nThe Dame awoke at black midnight,\n   And unto her Lord she cried:\n\u201cNow deign, now deign, thou highest God,\n   With my son in this fray to bide!\u201d\n\nThe first course that together they rode,\n   So strong were the knightly twain,\nStruck Guncelin Sir Ivor Blue,\n   And stretched him on the plain.\n\n\u201cNow listen, Count Sir Guncelin,\n   If thou\u2019lt but let me live,\nMy young and newly wedded bride,\n   I unto thee will give.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not take thy wedded bride\n   Upon marriage stands my mind;\nGive me Salentia, sister thine,\n   And my fate to her\u2019s I\u2019ll bind.\u201d\n\nThey rode away to the bridal feast,\n   Withouten more ado;\nOf stalwart knights, and warrior wights,\n   They invited the best they knew.\n\nThey invited Vidrik Verlandson,\n   And Diderik, knight of Bern;\nThey invited Olger the Daneman too,\n   Who in battle is so stern.\n\nThey invited Silvard Snarenswayne,\n   Who before the bride should ride;\nAnd thither came also Langben the Jutt,\n   To sit at the Bridegroom\u2019s side.\n\nThey invited Master Hildebrand,\n   The bridal torch he carried;\nAnd he was followed by Kempions twelve,\n   Deep drank they whilst they tarried,\n\nAnd thither came Folker Spilleman,\n   With his humour the kemps must bear;\nAnd thither came King Sigfrid Hoon,\n   To his own pain and care.\n\nThen came the proud Dame Grimhild,\n   To prepare the bride for the hall;\nWith iron she caused her feet to be shod,\n   And her fingers with steel tipped all.\n\nAnd thither came Dame Gunda Hetta,\n   \u2019Mid the Norland hills her house;\nAnd there doth she pass a right merry life,\n   With dance and with carouse.\n\nThither came likewise Dame Brynhild,\n   She cut for the bride the meat,\nHer followed slender ladies seven,\n   \u2019Midst the knights they took their seat.\n\nThey follow\u2019d the bride to the chamber in.\n   Of a luncheon slight to taste;\nAnd there she eat four tuns of pottage,\n   Which pleased her palate best.\n\nThen before her sixteen oxen-bodies,\n   And eighteen swine disappear;\nAnd before her thirst she could assuage,\n   She drank seven tuns of beer.\n\nSo mighty the press of their garments was,\n   As they led the bride to the hall,\nThat they brushed down, ere they ushered her in,\n   Full fifteen ells from the wall.\n\nThey led the bride to the bride-bench up,\n   And sat themselves down so light,\nThat a bench of stone which they sat upon,\n   Sank into the ground outright.\n\nThey placed before her the very best food,\n   Nor did she the food decline;\nFifteen oxen the sea-wife ate,\n   And also ten fat swine.\n\nThe bridegroom\u2019s eyes were upon her fixed,\n   And at length surprised he grew:\n\u201cNe\u2019er have I seen a youthful bride,\n   To the dish such justice do.\u201d\n\nUp then sprang the Kempions all,\n   And to one another did say:\n\u201cNow, whether shall we cast the bar,\n   Or fight in knightly way?\u201d\n\nThe warriors began to describe the round,\n   Upon the verdant earth;\nFor the honour and pride of the young sea-bride,\n   Who should look on their deeds of worth.\n\nThe young bride up from the bride-bench sprang,\n   Two hands so weak had she;\nTowards her Langben the Giant leapt,\n   Fine sport began to be.\n\nThen danced the table, then danced the bench,\n   And the sparks from the helms flew high;\nOut ran the valiant warriors all:\n   \u201cDame Devil thou mak\u2019st us fly!\u201d\n\nThen there arose a mightier dance,\n   From Ribe unto the Slee;\nThe shortest warrior dancing had\n   Fifteen ells beneath the knee.\n\nThe shortest warrior in that dance,\n   Was little Mimmering Tan;\nHe was among that heathenish throng\n   The only Christian man.\n\n\n\n\nEPIGRAMS\n\n\nHonesty\n\n\nNo wonder honesty\u2019s a lasting article,\nSeeing that people seldom use a particle.\n\n\n\nA Politician\n\n\nHe served his God in such a fashion\nAs ne\u2019er put Satan in a passion.\n\n\n\nThe Candle\n\n\nFor foolish pastimes oft, full oft, they thee ignite,\nI oft a pastime prove for tongues with folly rife;\nBy wasting of thyself thou yieldest others light,\nAnd I in self same way must use my luckless life.\n\n\n\n\nEPIGRAM ON HIMSELF\nBY WESSEL\n\n\nHe ate, and drank, and slip-shod went,\nWas ever grieving and misgiving;\nFor nothing fit, nor competent,\nAt last not even fit for living.\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                 LONDON:\n               Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.\n\n                   _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_.","title":"Grimmer and Kamper, The End of Sivard Snarenswayne, and Other Ballads","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":2439}