{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_27407/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_27407","id":"gutenberg_27407","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27407","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.  Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library,\nUK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was\nmade.\n\n\n\n\n\n                                   THE\n                            RETURN OF THE DEAD\n                            AND OTHER BALLADS\n\n\n                                    BY\n                              GEORGE BORROW\n\n                                 LONDON:\n                     PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION\n                                   1913\n\n\n\n\nTHE RETURN OF THE DEAD\n\n\nSwayne Dyring o'er to the island strayed;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nHe wedded there a lovely maid--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nTogether they lived seven years and more;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nAnd seven fair babes to him she bore--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThen death arrived in luckless hour;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThen died the lovely lily flower--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe Swayne he has crossed the salt sea way,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nAnd he has wedded another may--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd he that may to his home has brought;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nBut peevish was she, and with malice fraught--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd when she came to the castle gate,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe seven children beside it wait--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe children stood in sorrowful mood,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nShe spurned them away with her foot so rude--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nNor bread nor meat will she bestow;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nSaid \"Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nShe took away the bolsters blue;\n   _And were I only young again_!\n\"Bare straw will serve for the like of you\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAway she's ta'en the big wax light;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nSaid she \"Ye shall lie in the murky night\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe babies at night with hunger weep;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe woman heard that in the grave so deep--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nTo God's high throne such haste she made;\n   _And were I only young again_!\n\"O I must go to my babies' aid\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nShe begged so loud, and she begged so long,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThat at length consent from her God she wrung--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"But thou must return when the cock shall crow,\n   _And were I only young again_!\n\"No longer tarry must thou below\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThen up she struck with her stark thigh bone,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nAnd burst through wall and marble stone--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd when to the dwelling she drew nigh,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe hounds they yelled to the clouds so high--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd when to the castle gate she won,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nHer eldest daughter stood there alone--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"Hail daughter mine, what dost thou here?\n   _And were I only young again_!\nHow fare thy brothers and sisters dear?\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"O dame thou art no mother of mine,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nFor she was a lady fair and fine--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"A lady fine with cheeks so red,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nBut thou art pale as the sheeted dead\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"O how should I be fine and sleek?\n   _And were I only young again_!\nHow else than pale should be my cheek?--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"And how should I be white and red?\n   _And were I only young again_!\nBeneath the mould I've long been dead\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd when she entered the high, high hall,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nDrowned with tears stood the babies all--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe one she combed, the other she brushed,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe third she dandled, the fourth she hushed--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe fifth upon her breast she plac'd,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nAnd allowed the babe of the breast to taste--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nTo her eldest daughter she turned her eye;\n   _And were I only young again_!\n\"Go call Swayne Dyring instantly\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAnd when Swayne Dyring before her stood,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nShe spake to him thus in wrathful mood--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"I left behind both ale and bread;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nMy children with hunger are nearly dead--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"I left behind me bolsters blue;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nUpon bare straw my babes I view--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"I left behind the big wax light;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nMy children lie in the murk at night--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"If again I'm forced to seek thee here,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nBefall thee shall a fate so drear--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"But hark! the ruddy cock has crow'd,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe dead must return to their abode--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\"I hear, I hear the black cock crow;\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThe gates of heaven are opening now--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nThe white cock claps his wings so wide,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nNo longer here I dare to bide\"--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nEach time the dogs began to yell,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThey gave the children bread and ale--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nAs soon as they heard of the hounds the cry,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThey feared the ghost was drawing nigh--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\nWhene'er the dogs were heard to rave,\n   _And were I only young again_!\nThey feared the woman had left her grave--\n   _To honied words we list so fain_.\n\n\n\n\nTHE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL\n\n\nI take my axe upon my back,\n   To fell the tree I mean;\nThen came the man the wood who owned,\n   And thrust his heft between.\n\n\"If thou hew down my father's grove,\n   And me this damage do,\nIf I but see thee fell the tree\n   Thou dearly that shalt rue.\"\n\n\"O let me hew this single tree,\n   Nor to resist me seek;\nUnless I yonder bird obtain\n   With grief my heart will break.\"\n\n\"Now list thou fair and gallant swain,\n   To me incline thine ear!\nThou ne'er wilt yonder bird obtain\n   Unless some bait thou bear.\"\n\nFrom off my breast the bait I cut,\n   And hung it on the bough:\nThe breast it bled, the bait it reeked,\n   Mine is the birdie now.\n\nDown flew the lovely little bird,\n   Fluttering its wings o'erjoyed;\nIt seemed to smile as if the guile\n   It knew that I employed.\n\nIt clawed and picked so hastily,\n   So well did smack the bait;\nAnd still the more it seemed to please\n   The more the birdie ate.\n\nDown flew the lovely little bird,\n   Alighting on the sand;\nThe loveliest damsel she became,\n   And gave the youth her hand.\n\n\n\n\nTHE FORCED CONSENT\n\n\nWithin her own fair castelaye\n   There goes a damsel bright;\nA whole year's tide for her has sighed\n   A young and handsome knight.\n\n\"Now do thou hear, thou beauteous maid,\n   Could I thy troth obtain,\nThen thou shouldst tread on silk outspread,\n   And ne'er on the earth again.\n\nAnd do thou hear, my lovely maid,\n   My wedded lady be,\nAnd the slightest care thou shalt not bear\n   If I can save it thee.\"\n\n\"I've vowed an oath to Mary maid,\n   And to keep it is my plan;\nNe'er live will I beneath the sky\n   With any sinful man.\n\n\"Here with my seven brothers bold\n   To-morrow I will come;\nYourself array in costly way,\n   For you must follow us home.\"\n\nIt was the young and handsome knight,\n   He out of the doorway springs;\nAnd he in haste the Runes has traced,\n   And them on her lap she flings.\n\nAnd so he cast the magic Rune\n   The maiden's dress below;\nThen beat her heart, and blood did start\n   From her finger nails I trow.\n\n\"If thou with thy seven brothers bold\n   To-morrow here wilt come,\nMyself I'll array in costly way\n   And follow ye to your home.\"\n\nThe very next morn, the very next morn,\n   When rose the sun in gold,\nFull three times ten bold knightly men\n   Were waiting on the wold.\n\nFull three times ten bold knightly men,\n   On a bonny grey steed each one;\nWith silk so white was the courser dight\n   Which the maid should ride upon.\n\nBut what think ye that maiden did\n   Ere mounting on her horse?\nA draught she drank of poison rank,\n   Thought death her wisest course.\n\nThrough the shallow streams they dashed their steeds,\n   Through the deep their steeds they swam;\nAnd ever and anon the maid would groan,\n   \"How dreadfully ill I am.\"\n\nAnd when they came to the house of the knight,\n   Where the bridal kept should be;\nSpread out on the earth was silk of worth,\n   And gold so red of blee.\n\n\"Now thou may'st see, my lady love,\n   That I my promise hold;\nNow thou dost tread on silk outspread,\n   And not on the earth so cold.\"\n\n\"There's spread enough of the silken stuff,\n   And plenty of gold is strown;\nBut better I ween in heaven sheen\n   With our Father God to wone.\"\n\nThen they led her to the high, high hall,\n   And in scarlet her array'd;\nBut their joy was brief, soon came their grief,\n   She died alack a maid!\n\nThanks be to him the youthful knight,\n   No truer e'er was seen;\nHe built her a grave in the church, and gave\n   The churchmen farms fifteen.\n\nThen as he stood by the maiden's grave,\n   The gallant young noble cried:\n\"O would to God beneath the sod\n   I were lying by her side!\"\n\n\n\n\nINGEBORG'S DISGUISE\n\n\nSuch handsome court clothes the proud Ingeborg buys,\nSays she \"I'll myself as a courtier disguise.\"\n\nProud Ingeborg hastens her steed to bestride,\nSays she \"I'll away with the King to reside.\"\n\n\"Thou gallant young King to my speech lend an ear,\nHast thou any need of my services here?\"\n\n\"O yes, my sweet lad, of a horseboy I've need,\nIf there were but stable room here for his steed.\n\n\"But thy steed in the stall with my own can be tied,\nAnd thou 'neath the linen shalt sleep by my side.\"\n\nThree years in the palace good service she wrought,\nThat she was a woman no one ever thought.\n\nShe filled for three years of a horse-boy the place,\nAnd the steeds of the monarch she drove out to graze.\n\nShe led for three years the King's steeds to the brook,\nFor else than a youth no one Ingeborg took.\n\nProud Ingeborg knows how to make the dames gay,\nShe also can sing in such ravishing way.\n\nThe hair on her head is like yellow spun gold,\nTo her beauty the heart of the prince was not cold.\n\nBut at length up and down in the palace she strayed,\nHer colour and hair began swiftly to fade.\n\nWhat eye has seen ever so wondrous a case?\nThe boy his own spurs to his heel cannot brace.\n\nThe horse-boy is brought to so wondrous a plight,\nTo draw his own weapon he has not the might.\n\nThe son of the King to five damsels now sends,\nAnd Ingeborg fair to their care he commends.\n\nProud Ingeborg took they and wrapped in their weed,\nAnd to the stone chamber with her they proceed.\n\nUpon the blue cushions they Ingeborg laid,\nWhere light of two beautiful sons she is made.\n\nThen in came the prince, smiled the babies to view:\n\"'Tis not every horse-boy can bear such a two.\"\n\nHe patted her soft on her cheek sleek and fair:\n\"Forget my heart's dearest all sorrow and care.\"\n\nHe placed the gold crown on her temples I ween:\n\"With me shalt thou live as my wife and my Queen.\"\n\n\n\n\nSONG\n\n\nI've pleasure not a little\n   A dancing youth to see,\nNor less--one single tittle--\n   An old man full of glee.\n\nTo dance I ever glory\n   With those of youthful mien;\nIt shows, although I'm hoary\n   In hair, my mind is green.\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                 LONDON:\n               Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.\n                   _Edition limited to Thirty copies_.","title":"The Return of the Dead, and Other Ballads","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":2175}