{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_28817/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_28817","id":"gutenberg_28817","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28817","summary":null,"tags":["Ballads","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","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 DALBY BEAR\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 DALBY BEAR\n\n\nThere goes a bear on Dalby moors,\nOxen and horses he devours.\n\nThe peasants are in deep distress\nThe laidly bear should them oppress.\n\nTheir heads together at length they lay,\nHow they the bear might seize and slay.\n\nThey drove their porkers through the wood,\nThe bear turn'd round as he lay at food.\n\nOutspoke as best he could the bear:\n\"What kind of guests approach my lair?\"\n\nUprose the bear amain from his food,\nA christian man before him stood.\n\nA little hour together they fought,\nThe bear to the earth the man has brought.\n\nFast came a knight as he could make,\nHe heard the heart of the peasant break.\n\nThe bear upon him fiercely glar'd;\n\"Thou needst not hurry, I'm prepar'd.\"\n\n\"And thou by me shalt be stoutly met,\nSo thou may'st vapour and thou may'st threat.\n\n\"If thou hast spear and nimble hand,\nI've claws and teeth at my command.\"\n\nThey fought for a day, they fought for two,\nAnd so on the third they continu'd to do.\n\nBut when to night the fourth day drew,\nThe bear to the earth the warrior threw.\n\n\"Thou wilt no victory gain from me,\nThou haughty knight, thou may'st certain be.\n\n\"I late was the son of a powerful King,\nA Queen me into the world did bring.\n\n\"My Step-dame chang'd me, as you see,\nShe'd ruin me to eternity.\n\n\"About the wild forest I have run,\nTo the boors much scathe and violence done.\n\n\"In winter and in summer's tide\nIn peace for me they could not bide.\n\n\"But they may thank my cruel Dame,\nFor 'twas through her I a bear became.\n\n\"She plac'd around my neck so tight\nAn iron band in wrath and spite.\n\n\"If thou this accursed band canst break\nThy life from thee I will not take.\"\n\n\"O I will help thee from thy thrall;\nMaria's son who has power for all\n\n\"Will loosen from thee this stubborn band,\nFull able thereto is his right hand.\"\n\nO'er him the cross the knight did make,\nThe iron burst from the bruin's neck.\n\nHe became a youth as fair as day,\nHis father's realm he went to sway.\n\nA noble maid awaits the knight,\nThe hand of the Monarch's sister bright.\n\nThey liv'd together in honor and joy,\nTo the cruel Stepdame's great annoy.\n\nA hard flint rock she soon became,\nFor herself she earn'd both woe and shame.\n\n\n\n\nTYGGE HERMANDSEN\n\n\nDown o'er the isle in torrents fell\n   On a Thursday morn the rain;\nTo fetch his bride now forth shall ride\n   Sir Tygge Hermandsen.\n\nSir Tygge out of the window look'd,\n   The brooks ran boisterously;\n\"To ride out now would bring me woe,\n   So dear no bride I'll buy.\n\n\"But hear thou, Nilaus Benditson,\n   Long shanks has thy good steed;\nI beg for the love of the God above\n   You'll fetch my bride with speed.\"\n\nThen answer'd Nilaus Benditson,\n   In his sleeve thus answer'd he:\n\"If me thou dispatch thy bride to fetch\n   I'll trick thee certainly.\"\n\nIt was Nilaus Benditson,\n   He rode the bride to meet;\nThere hung silk sheen and sendal green\n   Before his courser's feet.\n\nThey clad themselves in silken cloth,\n   And in cloth of gold beside;\nIn long array to the Kirk their way\n   They took with the youthful bride.\n\nThe bride before the holy Kirk door\n   Like a blooming rose did stand;\nOft did she turn to the water, to learn\n   If the bridegroom was at hand.\n\nThen answer'd Nilaus Benditson,\n   He stood by the bride so close:\n\"The brooks so roar'd that to cross the ford\n   He fear'd would wet his hose.\"\n\nThey plac'd the bride on the bridal bench\n   With pomp and honor high;\nOft would they turn to the water to learn\n   If the bridegroom bold drew nigh.\n\nIn the silver cup they skink the ale,\n   And the nut-brown mead they pour;\nThus things they sped till day was fled,\n   And until of bed the hour.\n\nThey lifted up the youthful bride,\n   In the bride-bed her they set;\nAnd there sat she for hours three,\n   There came no bridegroom yet.\n\nThe priests before the bride-bed stood,\n   And sang with all their might:\n\"Who in the bed in the bridegroom's stead\n   Shall sleep with the bride tonight?\"\n\nThen forth stepp'd Nilaus Benditson,\n   His lac'd shoe off flung he:\n\"With the bride so bright I'll sleep tonight,\n   And give her my troth with glee.\"\n\nSo they the bridal solemnized,\n   And glad themselves they made;\nAt home was then Tygge Hermandsen,\n   To cross the brooks afraid.\n\nIt chanc'd upon a Wednesday,\n   The waters began to fall;\nAcross came then Tygge Hermandsen\n   With his gay bridesmen all.\n\nAnd he came to the bridal house\n   Where the feast was spread in state,\nThen up and cried the youthful bride:\n   \"Ride back, you come too late.\"\n\n\"Now hear, thou beauteous Sidselil,\n   I've this to complain of thee,\nThat thou hast ta'en another swain\n   And broke thy troth with me.\"\n\n\"Now hear, thou Tygge Hermandsen,\n   Thou might'st have been aware,\nI would disdain to wed the swain\n   To wet his feet had fear.\n\n\"If thou hadst been a Lady's swain,\n   And hadst thou lov'd me true,\nWith thy sword's stroke thou wouldst have broke\n   Thy way through the billows blue.\"\n\n\"To the cloyster I'll myself betake,\n   And the monkish vow I'll swear;\nFor good or ill, proud Sidselil,\n   I'll never more come here.\"\n\n\"But if hereby thy way shall lie\n   When the brooks shall calmly run,\nIf cheeses two in my store I view\n   In thy sack I'll drop thee one.\" {13}\n\n\n\n\nTHE WICKED STEPMOTHER\n\n\nSir Ove he has no daughter but one,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nHe bestow'd her the Lord of Elling upon.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nHe bestow'd her upon a gallant knight,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nSir Stig Cob was the gallant hight.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nWhen a year to end had well nigh come,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_.\nTwo sons had Thorelil in her womb.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nHither and thither they carry the dame,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nBut worse and worse her plight became.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nSir Stig his bonnet he has put on,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nAnd into the hall to his mother is gone.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"Hear me, dear mother, canst thou rede,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nHow it with Thorelil shall speed?\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"For forty weeks and a year I trow,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nThy Thorelil with child shall go.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"O mother dear, it can scarce be so,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nBut forty weeks Mary with Christ did go.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"Since I no help can here obtain,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nFrom whence I came convey me again.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"The horses are grazing upon the moor,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nAnd in their beds the coachmen snore.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"If coach nor coachmen I can get,\n   _All underneath the green hill's side_,\nI'll tramp on my feet through dry and wet.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nHer lips the word had scarcely said,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nWhen the horses to the coach were led.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nStig took her so tenderly by the waist,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_.\nAnd her in the gilded coach he plac'd.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nHe set her down on the cushions gray,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nAnd he himself drove the coach away.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nAnd when they came under the green wood bough,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nHer chariot broke her weight below.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"A wondrous woman I sure must be,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nSince my own coach won't carry me.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"My dearest, my dearest, be not dismay'd,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nThou back canst walk with thy husband's aid.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nAnd when to the castle gate they won,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nHis sister stood and lean'd thereon.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"O my dear sister, canst thou rede,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nHow it with Thorelil will speed?\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nUnto her coffer proud Mettelil flew,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nOf wax she has fashion'd babies two.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nShe drew her blue mantle o'er her head,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nAnd unto her mother's bower she sped.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"From thy heart, dear mother, all sorrow chase,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nAnd thy grand-babes take to thy embrace.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"O I had thought with my bunch of keys,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nTo overturn her bliss with ease.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"I thought I'd bewitch'd each inch of land,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nSave the spot alone where her chest doth stand.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\nNo sooner was Thorelil thither convey'd,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nThan of two fair sons she light was made.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"O God grant me so long to breathe,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nThat parting presents I may bequeath.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"Stig's mother, I give her my sarke to wear,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nMay she use it like me with grief and care!\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"To his sister I give my embroider'd shoe,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nTo wear with glee unmixt with woe.\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n\"A lovely rose is my last bequest,\n   _All underneath a green hill's side_,\nFor Stig to wed, and with her be blest.\"\n   _In such peril through the forest they ride_.\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                 LONDON:\n               Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.\n                   _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_.\n\n\n\n\nFootnotes:\n\n\n{13}  She taunts him with the idea of his becoming a monk, and going\nabout with a sack begging for alms.","title":"The Dalby Bear, and Other Ballads","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":1865}