{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_28826/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_28826","id":"gutenberg_28826","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28826","summary":null,"tags":["Ballads","Category: British Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Poetry"],"text":"Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email\nccx074@pglaf.org\n\n\n\n\n\n                           THE SONG OF DEIRDRA\n                       KING BYRGE AND HIS BROTHERS\n                                   AND\n                              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\nTHE SONG OF DEIRDRA\n\n\nFarewell, grey Albyn, much loved land,\n   I ne'er shall see thy hills again;\nUpon those hills I oft would stand\n   And view the chase sweep o'er the plain.\n\n'Twas pleasant from their tops I ween\n   To see the stag that bounding ran;\nAnd all the rout of hunters keen,\n   The sons of Usna in the van.\n\nThe chiefs of Albyn feasted high,\n   Amidst them Usna's children shone;\nAnd Nasa kissed in secrecy\n   The daughter fair of high Dundron.\n\nTo her a milk-white doe he sent,\n   With little fawn that frisked and played\nAnd once to visit her he went,\n   As home from Inverness he strayed.\n\nThe news was scarcely brought to me\n   When jealous rage inflamed my mind;\nI took my boat and rushed to sea,\n   For death, for speedy death, inclined.\n\nBut swiftly swimming at my stern\n   Came Ainlie bold and Ardan tall;\nThose faithful striplings made me turn\n   And brought me back to Nasa's hall.\n\nThen thrice he swore upon his arms,\n   His burnished arms, the foeman's bane,\nThat he would never wake alarms\n   In this fond breast of mine again.\n\nDundron's fair daughter also swore,\n   And called to witness earth and sky,\nThat since his love for her was o'er\n   A maiden she would live and die.\n\nAh did she know that slain in fight,\n   He wets with gore the Irish hill,\nHow great would be her moan this night,\n   But greater far would mine be still.\n\n\n\n\nTHE DIVER\nA BALLAD TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN\n\n\n\"Where is the man who will dive for his King,\nIn the pool as it rushes with turbulent sweep?\nA cup from this surf-beaten jetty I fling,\nAnd he who will seek it below in the deep,\nAnd will bring it again to the light of the day,\nAs the meed of his valour shall bear it away.\n\n\"Now courage, my knights, and my warriors bold,\nFor, one, two, and three, and away it shall go--\"\nHe toss'd, as he said it, the goblet of gold\nDeep, deep in the howling abysses below.--\n\"Where is the hero who ventures to brave\nThe whirl of the pool, and the break of the wave?\"\n\nThe steel-coated lancemen, and nobles around,\nSpoke not, but they trembled in silent surprise,\nAnd pale they all stood on the cliff's giddy bound,\nAnd no one would venture to dive for the prize.\n\"Three times have I spoke, but no hero will spring\nAnd dive for the goblet, and dive for the King.\"\n\nBut still they were silent and pale as before,\nTill a brave son of Eirin, in venturous pride,\nDash'd forth from the lancemen's trembling corps\nAnd canted his helm, cast his mantle aside,\nWhile spearman, and noble, and lady, and knight,\nGazed on the bold stripling in breathless affright.\n\nUnmoved by the thoughts of his horrible doom,\nHe mounted the cliff--and he paus'd on his leap,\nFor the waves which the pool had imbibed in its womb\nWere spouted in thunder again from the deep,--\nYes! as they return'd, their report was as loud\nAs the peal when it bursts from the storm-riven cloud.\n\nIt roared, and it drizzled, it hiss'd and it whirl'd,\nAnd it bubbled like water when mingled with flame,\nAnd columns of foam to the heaven were hurl'd,\nAnd billow on billow tumultuously came;\nIt seem'd that the womb of the ocean would bear\nSea over sea to the uppermost air.\n\nIt thundered again as the wave gathered slow,\nAnd black from the drizzling foam as it fell,\nThe mouth of the fathomless tunnel below\nWas seen like the pass to the regions of hell;\nThe waters roll round it, and gather and boom,\nAnd then all at once disappear in the gloom.\n\nAnd now ere the waves had returned from the deep,\nThe youth wiped the sweat-drops which hung on his brows,\nAnd he plunged--and the cataracts over him sweep,\nAnd a shout from his terrified comrades arose;\nAnd then there succeeded a horrible pause\nFor the whirlpool had clos'd its mysterious jaws.\n\nAnd stiller it grew on the watery waste,\nIn the womb of the ocean it bellow'd alone,\nThe knights said their Aves in terrified haste,\nAnd crowded each pinnacle, jetty, and stone:\n\"The high-hearted stripling is whelm'd in the tide,\nAh! wail him,\" was echoed from every side.\n\n\"If the monarch had buried his crown in the pool\nAnd said: 'He shall wear it who brings it again,'\nI would not have been so insensate a fool\nAs to dive when all hope of returning were vain;\nWhat heaven conceals in the gulfs of the deep,\nLies buried for ever, and there it must sleep.\"\n\nFull many a burden the whirlpool had borne,\nAnd spouted it forth on the drizzling surge,\nBut nought but a mast that was splinter'd and torn,\nOr the hull of a vessel was seen to emerge;\nBut wider and wider it opens its jaws,\nAnd louder it gurgles, and louder it draws.\n\nIt drizzled, it thunder'd, it hiss'd and it whirl'd,\nAnd it bubbled like water when mingled with flame,\nAnd columns of foam to the heaven were hurl'd,\nAnd flood upon flood from the deep tunnel came;\nAnd then with a noise like the storm from the North,\nThe hellish eruption was vomited forth.\n\nBut, ah! what is that on the wave's foamy brim,\nDisgorged with an ocean of wreck and of wood?\n'Tis the snow-white arm and the shoulder of him\nWho daringly dived for the glittering meed:\n'Tis he, 'tis the stripling so hardy and bold,\nWho swings in his left hand the goblet of gold.\n\nHe draws a long breath as the breaker he leaves,\nThen swims through the water with many a strain,\nWhile all his companions exultingly heave\nTheir voices above the wild din of the main:\n\"'Tis he, O! 'tis he, from the horrible hole\nThe brave one has rescued his body and soul.\"\n\nHe reach'd the tall jetty, and kneeling he laid\nThe massy gold goblet in triumph and pride\nAt the foot of the monarch, who instantly made\nA sign to his daughter who stood by his side:\nShe fill'd it with wine, and the youth with a spring\nReceived it, and quaff'd it, and turn'd to the King.\n\n\"Long life to the monarch! how happy are they\nWho breathe and exist in the sun's rosy light,\nBut he who is doom'd in the ocean to stray,\nViews nothing around him but horror and night;\nLet no one henceforward be tempted like me\nTo pry in the secrets contain'd in the sea.\n\n\"I felt myself seized, with the quickness of thought\nThe whirlpool entomb'd me in body and limb,\nAnd billow on billow tumultuously brought\nIt's cataracts o'er me; in vain did I swim,\nFor like a mere pebble with horrible sound\nThe force of the double stream twisted me round.\n\n\"But God in his mercy, for to him alone\nIn the moment of danger I ever have clung,\nDid bear me towards a projection of stone:\nI seized it in transport, and round it I hung,\nThe goblet lay too on a corally ledge,\nWhich jutted just over the cataract's edge.\n\n\"And then I look'd downward, and horribly deep,\nAnd twinkling sheen in the darkness below,\nAnd though to the hearing it ever might sleep,\nYet still the eye clouded with terror might know,\nThat serpents and creatures that made my blood cool,\nWere swimming and splashing about in the pool.\n\n\"Ball'd up to a mass, in a moment uncoil'd,\nThey rose, and again disappear'd in the dark,\nAnd down in the billows which over them boil'd\nI saw a behemoth contend with a shark;\nThe sounds of their hideous duel awaken\nThe black-bellied whale, and the slumbering craken.\n\n\"Still, still did I linger forlorn, and oppress'd\nWith a feeling of terror that curdled my blood;\nAh think of a human and sensible breast\nEnclosed with the hideous shapes of the flood;\nStill, still did I linger, but far from the reach\nOf those that I knew would await on the beach.\n\n\"Methought that a serpent towards me did creep,\nAnd trailing behind him whole fathoms of length,\nHe open'd his jaws; and I dropp'd from the steep\nRound which I had clung with expiring strength:\n'Twas well that I did so, the stream bore me up,\nAnd here is thy servant, and there is the cup.\"\n\nHe then was retiring, a look from the King\nDetain'd him: \"My hero, the cup is thine own,\n'Tis richly thy meed, but I'll give thee this ring,\nBeset with a diamond and chrysolite stone,\nIf again thou wilt dive, and discover to me\nWhat's hid in the deepest abyss of the sea.\"\n\nThe daughter heard that with compassionate thought,\nQuick, quick to the feet of the monarch she flew:\n\"O father, desist from this horrible sport,\nHe has done what no other would venture to do,\nIf the life of a creature thou fain must destroy,\nLet a noble take place of this generous boy.\"\n\nThe monarch has taken the cup in his hand,\nAnd tumbled it down in the bellowing sea:\n\"And if thou canst bring it again to the strand,\nThe first, and the best of my knights thou shalt be;\nIf that will not tempt thee, this maid thou shalt wed,\nAnd share as a husband the joys of her bed.\"\n\nThen the pride of old Eirin arose in his look,\nAnd it flash'd from his eye-balls courageously keen,\nOne glance on the beautiful vision he took,\nAnd he saw her change colour, and sink on the green.\n\"By the stool of Saint Peter the prize I'll obtain;\"\nHe shouted, and instantly dived in the main.\n\nThe waters sunk down, and a thundering peal\nAnnounced that the time of their sojourn was o'er;\nEach eye is cast downward in terrified zeal,\nAs forth from the tunnel the cataracts pour.\nThe waters rush up, and the waters subside;\nBut ah! the bold diver remains in the tide.\n\n\n\n\nKING BYRGE AND HIS BROTHERS\n\n\nDame Ingeborg three brave brothers could boast,\nFor the crown of Sweden their lives they lost.\n\nThe nobles to Sweden would fain away,\nDame Ingeborg bade them at home to stay.\n\nDame Ingeborg stood at Helsingborg's gate,\n\"Dear brothers, go not, I beg and entreat!\"\n\nThen with one voice the brothers cried:\n\"We've long for our realms paternal sighed.\n\n\"And we have too long with thee remained,\nOur hearts within us are sorely pained.\"\n\n\"Five days with me, dear brothers, wait,\nWhilst I my dreadful dream relate.\n\n\"Methought that your mantles were of lead,\nWith them, dear brothers, ye were arrayed.\n\n\"They were fast tied about your throats,\nAnd treachery towards ye that denotes.\"\n\nTo Dame Ingeborg's rede no ear they lent,\nBut to Sweden that very same day they went.\n\nAnd when they had won to the sand beach white,\nThere met them Brouk, that faithless knight.\n\n\"Ye brothers both, thrice welcome be,\nYe'll come and drink Yule with His Majesty?\"\n\nThe nobles repair to Nykoping street,\nThere they a deceitful counsel meet.\n\n\"Now off your bodies your armour lay,\nAnd hie to the castle in court dress gay.\"\n\nIn at the doorway the nobles stepped,\nUp to receive them the monarch leapt.\n\n\"My dear brothers both, thrice welcome be,\nWill ye drink Yule with our Majesty?\"\n\nWith his brothers down sate King Byrge to food,\nMuch serious discourse betwixt them ensued.\n\n\"Now welcome, my brothers, thrice welcome I say,\nMay I not alone the country sway?\"\n\n\"May God to our brother grant happiness,\nBut he cannot alone the land to possess.\"\n\nThe nobles they ate and they drank for a trice,\nBrouk has discovered another device:\n\n\"What will ye now do, ye worshipful knights,\nHave drinking and dancing for ye delights?\"\n\nThen they danced out and danced in with glee,\nAnd Brouk the clear wine poured so free.\n\nOn the floor stood the nobles and 'gan to sing,\nWhilst Brouk proceeded to plot with the King.\n\nThen unto his brother Duke Valdemar said:\n\"O Erik, we drink too much wine, I'm afraid.\n\n\"Be we on our guard 'gainst Brouk's pleasantries,\nHe knoweth all manner of villanies.\"\n\nDuke Erik held up his good right hand:\n\"Shall we fear aught in our fatherland?\n\n\"We are come with a safety assurance fair,\nAnd of no quarrel are we aware.\"\n\nThey drank and they danced till the day had ta'en flight,\nThen illumined was torch and big wax light.\n\nTo hie now to bed the nobles desired,\nAnd repose on the bolsters their bodies tired.\n\nThen in to the prison tower they were led,\nThe King himself went in his cloak of red.\n\nThey thought that in jest the thing was done,\n'Till he slammed the doors to every one.\n\nManlike fought Erik and scorned to yield,\nAs long as he'd sword or a post to wield.\n\nBroke sword! broke post! they no more could defend!\nInto prison they naked were forced to wend.\n\nThe noble brothers suffered sore,\nFrom frost and from cold and from hunger much more.\n\n\"We'll give thee, Brouk, the gold so red,\nIf thou'lt give us but water and bread.\"\n\n\"Ye shall not obtain in Sweden here,\nOr bread or water your hearts to cheer.\"\n\n\"Our dear brother's wife we are confident,\nTo let us be starved will ne'er consent.\n\n\"We know the Queen has a pitying breast,\nShe will straw send us whereon to rest.\n\n\"The hunger within us is sharp and strong,\nOur hearts must certainly burst ere long.\"\n\nThen Brouk at that word so wrathful grew,\nThe keys he into the salt fiord threw.\n\nTwas dismal to hear how with hunger they roared,\nEach others shoulders they devoured.\n\nAnd there is yet more woe to relate,\nThe flesh from the sides of each other they ate.\n\nMuch misery and woe there was that tide,\nIn each other's arms the brothers died.\n\nAnd thus things stood till five months were fled,\nKing Byrge came home from the war-field red.\n\n\"Now whither departed are brothers mine?\nWhy didst thou not give them their fill of wine?\"\n\nThen answered straight the little child:\n\"Brouk into the tower the nobles beguiled.\"\n\nKing Byrge peeped in the window through,\nThe state of the brothers was piteous to view.\n\n\"Now hear thou, Brouk, straight to me declare,\nWhere the prison keys are I gave to thy care?\"\n\n\"May the blessed Christ my soul ne'er save,\nIf I cast them not in the briny wave.\"\n\n\"O Brouk, shame fall thy head upon,\nSo evilly towards me thou has done.\n\n\"Thou fool and villain!  I've lost thereby\nThe keys to Sweden's sovereignty.\"\n\n\"If I have betrayed thy brothers twain,\nThou mayest alone over Sweden reign.\"\n\nThat deed such grief to the Dukes' friends gave,\nAnd that grief they carried to the grave.\n\nWith his Queen King Byrge must fly from his throne,\nBeheaded was Magnus, his beautiful son.\n\nBut Brouk to the infamous wheel was consigned,\nMay all such traitors a like end find!\n\nWhen sovereigns many there are to a land,\nYou'll never see them go hand in hand.\n\nThe one 'fore the other must certainly fall,\nNot seldom destruction comes o'er them all.\n\nThough fraud and deceit for a time have success,\nAt length on their owner they'll bring distress.\n\n\n\n\nTURKISH HYMN TO MAHOMET\n\n\nO envoy of Allah, to thee be salaam,\nWith my whole heart I love thee, O blest be thy name.\nAt the high throne of God thou for sinners dost plead\nWho forgives for thy sake each iniquitous deed.\nO Prophet of Allah, for all that I've done\nOf rebellion against Him, tis thou must atone.\nFor Thou art the one intercessor, Thou, Thou--\nThe prince of the prophets to whom the rest bow.\nIn the world's Judgment Day when all nations are met,\nWhen good deeds and bad in the balance are set,\nIntercession I hope for, from Thee, only Thee,\nSo breathe intercession for me, wretched me.\n'Tis true my misdeeds I'm unable to count,\nBut I know that thy goodness exceeds their amount.\nLike one who's defunct I a long time have been,\nMy body is drowned in an ocean of sin.\nMy rebellions they be of so dreadful a die\nThat to wend to my Maker no courage have I.\nNow save I in dust at thy feet myself throw,\nAnd thy footstool I strike with my agonis'd brow;\nAnd save thou for me dost benignantly speak,\nWhat for me will remain but despairing to shriek?\nFor unless I thy kind intercession procure,\nMy soul with the Kaffirs will torments endure.\nBut I trust thou wilt that for thy servant employ'\nAnd that rest I shall gain, and unspeakable joy.\nUnto thee without end shall be praises and prayers,\nAnd also to them, thy disciples and heirs,\nThe voyagers noble who trod the true road,\nAnd to others the path of salvation who show'd,\nThe four eldest friends of exalted degree\nWho of our religion the four pillars be.\nFirst of all the good King of the Kingdom of Grace,\nThe just Abon Bekir with truth in his face;\nThe next the stout lion so bravely who warr'd,\nThe Lyon of the Mussulman, Omar my Lord.\nThe third a high Emir, renowned midst our clan,\nThe child of the moment, the Emir Othman.\nThe fourth of the pillars, my Lord Ali dear,\nInspector acute of the dark and the clear.\nThen the light of our eyes, the delectable twain,\nThe Lovely Prince Hassan, the Emir Hoseyn.\nNor unnoticed by men shall be suffered to pass\nThose excellent uncles, Hanozah and Abbess.\nUnto each of that band be a thousand salaams,\nAn bless'd through all ages be each of their names.\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                 LONDON:\n               Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.\n\n                   _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_.","title":"The Song of Deirdra, King Byrge and his Brothers, and Other Ballads","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":3038}