MISCELLANEOUS BALLADS

MISCELLANEOUS BALLADS

XXI, XXIITORBEN’S DAUGHTERTHE MAIDEN AT THE THING

“Torben’s Daughter” is a fine example of compressed, dramatic narration—we are not even told the names of hero and heroine. It is interesting also as depicting the simplicity of antique manners, when a knight might be found holding the plough. The maiden who pledges her father’s slayer, behaves, though in all innocence, as does the false wife of the Baron of Brackley:

“The lady she feasted them, carried them ben,She laughed wi’ the men that her baron had slain.”

“The lady she feasted them, carried them ben,She laughed wi’ the men that her baron had slain.”

“The lady she feasted them, carried them ben,She laughed wi’ the men that her baron had slain.”

“The lady she feasted them, carried them ben,

She laughed wi’ the men that her baron had slain.”

The second Ballad is that which, greatly daring, sings the praises of simple worth—thus expressing a tendency doomed by the spirit of later times. Unlike the reprover of Clara Vere de Vere, the minstrel adorns his theme with a dry humour, that spares neither hero nor heroine—dowdy country maid and dandified lordling. Thatis an excellent touch (verse 3) which shows the former’s resentment of the pert page’s remarks on her garments; so is her artful reference to the excellent appetite which will reward her future lord’s agricultural exertions—the ancient wisdom of “Feed the brute!” The Ballad craves a sequel, to be entitled “The Husband turned Husbandman.”

Oh, we were many sisters small,—On the lea—So early did our father fall.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.1All on a Sunday evening they scoured both spear and sword,All on a Monday morning wrathful they rode abroad.2When they went by the northern shawSir Torben ploughing his land they saw.3“There standst thou, Sir Torben, so fair and fine!Now pay me blood-money for kinsman mine.”4“I will give thee farm and stead,I will give thee my daughter, so fair a maid.”5“We come not hither for house nor land,We come for the blood of thy red right hand!”6They hewed Sir Torben to pieces smallAs the leaves that under the linden fall.7They’re ridden up to Sir Torben’s stead,And there stood his daughter, so fair a maid.8She stood, as slim as a willow-wand,With a goblet of gold in either hand.9She poured the wine with sport and play,She pledged the man who her sire did slay.10“Now had I guessed thee so mild of mood,I ne’er had spilt thy father’s blood!”11“And if thou hast my father slain,Then I must dree right bitter pain.”12“And have I done ill to thee therebyThou shalt fare hereafter as well as I.”13He set her up on his steed so true,He wrapped her in his cloak of blue.14They rode away o’er the darksome heather,—On the lea—Never more did she see her father.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

Oh, we were many sisters small,—On the lea—So early did our father fall.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.1All on a Sunday evening they scoured both spear and sword,All on a Monday morning wrathful they rode abroad.2When they went by the northern shawSir Torben ploughing his land they saw.3“There standst thou, Sir Torben, so fair and fine!Now pay me blood-money for kinsman mine.”4“I will give thee farm and stead,I will give thee my daughter, so fair a maid.”5“We come not hither for house nor land,We come for the blood of thy red right hand!”6They hewed Sir Torben to pieces smallAs the leaves that under the linden fall.7They’re ridden up to Sir Torben’s stead,And there stood his daughter, so fair a maid.8She stood, as slim as a willow-wand,With a goblet of gold in either hand.9She poured the wine with sport and play,She pledged the man who her sire did slay.10“Now had I guessed thee so mild of mood,I ne’er had spilt thy father’s blood!”11“And if thou hast my father slain,Then I must dree right bitter pain.”12“And have I done ill to thee therebyThou shalt fare hereafter as well as I.”13He set her up on his steed so true,He wrapped her in his cloak of blue.14They rode away o’er the darksome heather,—On the lea—Never more did she see her father.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

Oh, we were many sisters small,—On the lea—So early did our father fall.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

Oh, we were many sisters small,

—On the lea—

So early did our father fall.

—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

1All on a Sunday evening they scoured both spear and sword,All on a Monday morning wrathful they rode abroad.

1

All on a Sunday evening they scoured both spear and sword,

All on a Monday morning wrathful they rode abroad.

2When they went by the northern shawSir Torben ploughing his land they saw.

2

When they went by the northern shaw

Sir Torben ploughing his land they saw.

3“There standst thou, Sir Torben, so fair and fine!Now pay me blood-money for kinsman mine.”

3

“There standst thou, Sir Torben, so fair and fine!

Now pay me blood-money for kinsman mine.”

4“I will give thee farm and stead,I will give thee my daughter, so fair a maid.”

4

“I will give thee farm and stead,

I will give thee my daughter, so fair a maid.”

5“We come not hither for house nor land,We come for the blood of thy red right hand!”

5

“We come not hither for house nor land,

We come for the blood of thy red right hand!”

6They hewed Sir Torben to pieces smallAs the leaves that under the linden fall.

6

They hewed Sir Torben to pieces small

As the leaves that under the linden fall.

7They’re ridden up to Sir Torben’s stead,And there stood his daughter, so fair a maid.

7

They’re ridden up to Sir Torben’s stead,

And there stood his daughter, so fair a maid.

8She stood, as slim as a willow-wand,With a goblet of gold in either hand.

8

She stood, as slim as a willow-wand,

With a goblet of gold in either hand.

9She poured the wine with sport and play,She pledged the man who her sire did slay.

9

She poured the wine with sport and play,

She pledged the man who her sire did slay.

10“Now had I guessed thee so mild of mood,I ne’er had spilt thy father’s blood!”

10

“Now had I guessed thee so mild of mood,

I ne’er had spilt thy father’s blood!”

11“And if thou hast my father slain,Then I must dree right bitter pain.”

11

“And if thou hast my father slain,

Then I must dree right bitter pain.”

12“And have I done ill to thee therebyThou shalt fare hereafter as well as I.”

12

“And have I done ill to thee thereby

Thou shalt fare hereafter as well as I.”

13He set her up on his steed so true,He wrapped her in his cloak of blue.

13

He set her up on his steed so true,

He wrapped her in his cloak of blue.

14They rode away o’er the darksome heather,—On the lea—Never more did she see her father.—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

14

They rode away o’er the darksome heather,

—On the lea—

Never more did she see her father.

—The day it is dawning, and the dew it is falling so free.

1Young was Inge the maid,—In the green grove—Yet she rode to the Thing unafraid.—To ride to the maiden’s bower.2Up and spake to his knights the King:“I spy a maiden that rides to the Thing!”3The little foot-page he answered then:“Oh, she comes here a-riding to gaze upon the men!4“But see her kirtle’s old-fashioned shape,And only look on her ill-cut cape!”5For all the maiden was so meekShe heard each word the page did speak.6“And if my heart had felt no tene,I had been better at home, I ween!7“And did I not know mine errand well,I had been better at home to dwell!8“But my kirtle hath no ill-favoured shape,And after the mode is cut my cape.9“Thou King o’ Danes, now hark and hear;A plaint have I for thy gracious ear.10“I was but a little childWhenas I lost my mother mild.11“My father set me on his knee,And divided with me both gold and fee.12“But he died or ever two years were done;O’er house and lands I must rule alone.13“But in there came my uncles three,All my goods they waste from me.14“The mown they mar, the sown they spoil,Both man and maid they lure from toil.15“Oxen and kine they drive abroad,They wile my serving-men from my board.16“Ere I’ll live longer without reliefI’ll give thee my father’s lands in fief!”17“Now thanks to thee for thy gift, O maid!Say, which of my knights thou fain wouldst wed?”18“And may I speak as my choice is made,’Tis Sir Ove Stison I fain would wed.”19“Stand up, Sir Ove, and answer free;Here is a maiden will marry thee!”20Up stood Sir Ove, and answered so free:“Fair maiden, nought shalt thou win from me!21“Better can I tie a silken bandThan play the farmer on lea and land.22“Better can I ride with hawk and houndThan drive the plough through the heavy ground!”23“Oh, sit in my chariot all by me,So good a farmer I’ll make of thee!24“Take plough in hand, lay the furrow featly,Take corn in hand, and scatter it meetly.25“And let the harrow after go,Thou’lt make a goodly farmer so;26“And of thy meat thou’lt be so fainThat men will call thee a right true Dane!”27To laugh and be merry men were not lothWhen Sir Ove plighted the maid his troth.28All alone to the Thing she hied,The King he led her home again, and all his swains beside.—In the green grove,To ride to the maiden’s bower.

1Young was Inge the maid,—In the green grove—Yet she rode to the Thing unafraid.—To ride to the maiden’s bower.2Up and spake to his knights the King:“I spy a maiden that rides to the Thing!”3The little foot-page he answered then:“Oh, she comes here a-riding to gaze upon the men!4“But see her kirtle’s old-fashioned shape,And only look on her ill-cut cape!”5For all the maiden was so meekShe heard each word the page did speak.6“And if my heart had felt no tene,I had been better at home, I ween!7“And did I not know mine errand well,I had been better at home to dwell!8“But my kirtle hath no ill-favoured shape,And after the mode is cut my cape.9“Thou King o’ Danes, now hark and hear;A plaint have I for thy gracious ear.10“I was but a little childWhenas I lost my mother mild.11“My father set me on his knee,And divided with me both gold and fee.12“But he died or ever two years were done;O’er house and lands I must rule alone.13“But in there came my uncles three,All my goods they waste from me.14“The mown they mar, the sown they spoil,Both man and maid they lure from toil.15“Oxen and kine they drive abroad,They wile my serving-men from my board.16“Ere I’ll live longer without reliefI’ll give thee my father’s lands in fief!”17“Now thanks to thee for thy gift, O maid!Say, which of my knights thou fain wouldst wed?”18“And may I speak as my choice is made,’Tis Sir Ove Stison I fain would wed.”19“Stand up, Sir Ove, and answer free;Here is a maiden will marry thee!”20Up stood Sir Ove, and answered so free:“Fair maiden, nought shalt thou win from me!21“Better can I tie a silken bandThan play the farmer on lea and land.22“Better can I ride with hawk and houndThan drive the plough through the heavy ground!”23“Oh, sit in my chariot all by me,So good a farmer I’ll make of thee!24“Take plough in hand, lay the furrow featly,Take corn in hand, and scatter it meetly.25“And let the harrow after go,Thou’lt make a goodly farmer so;26“And of thy meat thou’lt be so fainThat men will call thee a right true Dane!”27To laugh and be merry men were not lothWhen Sir Ove plighted the maid his troth.28All alone to the Thing she hied,The King he led her home again, and all his swains beside.—In the green grove,To ride to the maiden’s bower.

1Young was Inge the maid,—In the green grove—Yet she rode to the Thing unafraid.—To ride to the maiden’s bower.

1

Young was Inge the maid,

—In the green grove—

Yet she rode to the Thing unafraid.

—To ride to the maiden’s bower.

2Up and spake to his knights the King:“I spy a maiden that rides to the Thing!”

2

Up and spake to his knights the King:

“I spy a maiden that rides to the Thing!”

3The little foot-page he answered then:“Oh, she comes here a-riding to gaze upon the men!

3

The little foot-page he answered then:

“Oh, she comes here a-riding to gaze upon the men!

4“But see her kirtle’s old-fashioned shape,And only look on her ill-cut cape!”

4

“But see her kirtle’s old-fashioned shape,

And only look on her ill-cut cape!”

5For all the maiden was so meekShe heard each word the page did speak.

5

For all the maiden was so meek

She heard each word the page did speak.

6“And if my heart had felt no tene,I had been better at home, I ween!

6

“And if my heart had felt no tene,

I had been better at home, I ween!

7“And did I not know mine errand well,I had been better at home to dwell!

7

“And did I not know mine errand well,

I had been better at home to dwell!

8“But my kirtle hath no ill-favoured shape,And after the mode is cut my cape.

8

“But my kirtle hath no ill-favoured shape,

And after the mode is cut my cape.

9“Thou King o’ Danes, now hark and hear;A plaint have I for thy gracious ear.

9

“Thou King o’ Danes, now hark and hear;

A plaint have I for thy gracious ear.

10“I was but a little childWhenas I lost my mother mild.

10

“I was but a little child

Whenas I lost my mother mild.

11“My father set me on his knee,And divided with me both gold and fee.

11

“My father set me on his knee,

And divided with me both gold and fee.

12“But he died or ever two years were done;O’er house and lands I must rule alone.

12

“But he died or ever two years were done;

O’er house and lands I must rule alone.

13“But in there came my uncles three,All my goods they waste from me.

13

“But in there came my uncles three,

All my goods they waste from me.

14“The mown they mar, the sown they spoil,Both man and maid they lure from toil.

14

“The mown they mar, the sown they spoil,

Both man and maid they lure from toil.

15“Oxen and kine they drive abroad,They wile my serving-men from my board.

15

“Oxen and kine they drive abroad,

They wile my serving-men from my board.

16“Ere I’ll live longer without reliefI’ll give thee my father’s lands in fief!”

16

“Ere I’ll live longer without relief

I’ll give thee my father’s lands in fief!”

17“Now thanks to thee for thy gift, O maid!Say, which of my knights thou fain wouldst wed?”

17

“Now thanks to thee for thy gift, O maid!

Say, which of my knights thou fain wouldst wed?”

18“And may I speak as my choice is made,’Tis Sir Ove Stison I fain would wed.”

18

“And may I speak as my choice is made,

’Tis Sir Ove Stison I fain would wed.”

19“Stand up, Sir Ove, and answer free;Here is a maiden will marry thee!”

19

“Stand up, Sir Ove, and answer free;

Here is a maiden will marry thee!”

20Up stood Sir Ove, and answered so free:“Fair maiden, nought shalt thou win from me!

20

Up stood Sir Ove, and answered so free:

“Fair maiden, nought shalt thou win from me!

21“Better can I tie a silken bandThan play the farmer on lea and land.

21

“Better can I tie a silken band

Than play the farmer on lea and land.

22“Better can I ride with hawk and houndThan drive the plough through the heavy ground!”

22

“Better can I ride with hawk and hound

Than drive the plough through the heavy ground!”

23“Oh, sit in my chariot all by me,So good a farmer I’ll make of thee!

23

“Oh, sit in my chariot all by me,

So good a farmer I’ll make of thee!

24“Take plough in hand, lay the furrow featly,Take corn in hand, and scatter it meetly.

24

“Take plough in hand, lay the furrow featly,

Take corn in hand, and scatter it meetly.

25“And let the harrow after go,Thou’lt make a goodly farmer so;

25

“And let the harrow after go,

Thou’lt make a goodly farmer so;

26“And of thy meat thou’lt be so fainThat men will call thee a right true Dane!”

26

“And of thy meat thou’lt be so fain

That men will call thee a right true Dane!”

27To laugh and be merry men were not lothWhen Sir Ove plighted the maid his troth.

27

To laugh and be merry men were not loth

When Sir Ove plighted the maid his troth.

28All alone to the Thing she hied,The King he led her home again, and all his swains beside.—In the green grove,To ride to the maiden’s bower.

28

All alone to the Thing she hied,

The King he led her home again, and all his swains beside.

—In the green grove,

To ride to the maiden’s bower.

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