XVIII, XIXTHE KNAVISH MERMANAGNES AND THE MERMAN
That the first of these Ballads is the more ancient appears probable through its conception of the Merman—the grim troll with his shape-changing and his glamour, fit image of the inexorable sea. The fine imaginative touch of the holy images averting their heads must have been borrowed from this by the later Ballad. Versionsexist in Swedish, Norwegian, Faroëse, Icelandic, and English (“Clerk Colvill and the Mermaid”).
The “Agnes” Ballad must, I take it, have been known to Matthew Arnold, who enriched its simple folk-melody with the elaborate orchestration of his “Forsaken Merman.” But, for dramatic power and genuine feeling, the honours remain with the more primitive bard.
It dates from the late mediæval period when creative power was on the wane, and is an adaptation of the German “Schöne Agnete”—which, in its turn, has a Slav original. The German Ballad, however, takes the more primitive view of the Merman, who ends by destroying his mortal mistress. Later Danish minstrels—Sven Grundtvig among them—have altered the conclusion accordingly.
1Gay goes the dance in the kirkyard there,—Welladay—They dance, the knights, with blades so bare,—Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.2They dance, the maidens, with hair unbound;It was the King’s daughter sang the round.3Proud was the Princess, sweet was her song;That heard the Merman, the waves among.4Up rose the Merman, thus spake he:“Perchance the King’s daughter will wed with me!”5Garments he shaped and a golden ring,He called him Sir Alfast, son of a King.6He shaped him a steed so black and bold,He rode like a knight in a saddle of gold.7He tied his steed where the shade was mirk,Withershins went he round the kirk.8Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside9Up spake the priest by the altar that stood:“Who may he be, this knight so good?”10The Princess smiled, her cloak behind:“Now would toGodthe knight were mine!”11“Listen, proud Princess, and love thou me!A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”12“Over three kingdoms my father was King,But ne’er did he give me so fair a thing.”13He wrapped her in his cloak of blue,Forth from the kirk they fared, they two.14They met all on the woldThe steed with saddle of gold.15As they rode o’er the leaHe became a troll, so foul to see.16When they rode down to the water’s brimHe became a troll, so fierce and grim.17“Sir Alfast, thou art christened man,What wilt thou with this water wan?”18“No knight am I, nor christened man,My dwelling is in this water wan!”19And when they reached the midmost SoundFifty fathom they sank to ground.20Long heard the fishers with dread and dreeHow the King’s daughter sobbed under the sea!—Welladay!Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
1Gay goes the dance in the kirkyard there,—Welladay—They dance, the knights, with blades so bare,—Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.2They dance, the maidens, with hair unbound;It was the King’s daughter sang the round.3Proud was the Princess, sweet was her song;That heard the Merman, the waves among.4Up rose the Merman, thus spake he:“Perchance the King’s daughter will wed with me!”5Garments he shaped and a golden ring,He called him Sir Alfast, son of a King.6He shaped him a steed so black and bold,He rode like a knight in a saddle of gold.7He tied his steed where the shade was mirk,Withershins went he round the kirk.8Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside9Up spake the priest by the altar that stood:“Who may he be, this knight so good?”10The Princess smiled, her cloak behind:“Now would toGodthe knight were mine!”11“Listen, proud Princess, and love thou me!A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”12“Over three kingdoms my father was King,But ne’er did he give me so fair a thing.”13He wrapped her in his cloak of blue,Forth from the kirk they fared, they two.14They met all on the woldThe steed with saddle of gold.15As they rode o’er the leaHe became a troll, so foul to see.16When they rode down to the water’s brimHe became a troll, so fierce and grim.17“Sir Alfast, thou art christened man,What wilt thou with this water wan?”18“No knight am I, nor christened man,My dwelling is in this water wan!”19And when they reached the midmost SoundFifty fathom they sank to ground.20Long heard the fishers with dread and dreeHow the King’s daughter sobbed under the sea!—Welladay!Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
1Gay goes the dance in the kirkyard there,—Welladay—They dance, the knights, with blades so bare,—Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
1
Gay goes the dance in the kirkyard there,
—Welladay—
They dance, the knights, with blades so bare,
—Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
2They dance, the maidens, with hair unbound;It was the King’s daughter sang the round.
2
They dance, the maidens, with hair unbound;
It was the King’s daughter sang the round.
3Proud was the Princess, sweet was her song;That heard the Merman, the waves among.
3
Proud was the Princess, sweet was her song;
That heard the Merman, the waves among.
4Up rose the Merman, thus spake he:“Perchance the King’s daughter will wed with me!”
4
Up rose the Merman, thus spake he:
“Perchance the King’s daughter will wed with me!”
5Garments he shaped and a golden ring,He called him Sir Alfast, son of a King.
5
Garments he shaped and a golden ring,
He called him Sir Alfast, son of a King.
6He shaped him a steed so black and bold,He rode like a knight in a saddle of gold.
6
He shaped him a steed so black and bold,
He rode like a knight in a saddle of gold.
7He tied his steed where the shade was mirk,Withershins went he round the kirk.
7
He tied his steed where the shade was mirk,
Withershins went he round the kirk.
8Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside
8
Into the kirk the Merman hied,
And all the holy images they turned their heads aside
9Up spake the priest by the altar that stood:“Who may he be, this knight so good?”
9
Up spake the priest by the altar that stood:
“Who may he be, this knight so good?”
10The Princess smiled, her cloak behind:“Now would toGodthe knight were mine!”
10
The Princess smiled, her cloak behind:
“Now would toGodthe knight were mine!”
11“Listen, proud Princess, and love thou me!A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”
11
“Listen, proud Princess, and love thou me!
A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”
12“Over three kingdoms my father was King,But ne’er did he give me so fair a thing.”
12
“Over three kingdoms my father was King,
But ne’er did he give me so fair a thing.”
13He wrapped her in his cloak of blue,Forth from the kirk they fared, they two.
13
He wrapped her in his cloak of blue,
Forth from the kirk they fared, they two.
14They met all on the woldThe steed with saddle of gold.
14
They met all on the wold
The steed with saddle of gold.
15As they rode o’er the leaHe became a troll, so foul to see.
15
As they rode o’er the lea
He became a troll, so foul to see.
16When they rode down to the water’s brimHe became a troll, so fierce and grim.
16
When they rode down to the water’s brim
He became a troll, so fierce and grim.
17“Sir Alfast, thou art christened man,What wilt thou with this water wan?”
17
“Sir Alfast, thou art christened man,
What wilt thou with this water wan?”
18“No knight am I, nor christened man,My dwelling is in this water wan!”
18
“No knight am I, nor christened man,
My dwelling is in this water wan!”
19And when they reached the midmost SoundFifty fathom they sank to ground.
19
And when they reached the midmost Sound
Fifty fathom they sank to ground.
20Long heard the fishers with dread and dreeHow the King’s daughter sobbed under the sea!—Welladay!Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
20
Long heard the fishers with dread and dree
How the King’s daughter sobbed under the sea!
—Welladay!
Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.
1Agnes she walked on the edge of the steep,And up came a Merman out from the deep.—Ha ha ha!Up came a Merman out from the deep.2“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me,And say if thou wilt my true-love be?”3“Yes, good sooth, that will I beWilt thou bear me down to the depths o’ the sea.”4Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth beside,And borne her down all under the tide.5There she dwelt eight years and more,Seven sons she to the Merman bore.6Agnes she sat by the cradle and sang,And she heard how the bells of England rang.7She to the Merman did speak and say:“May I go up in the kirk to pray?”8“Thou hast my leave to go withal,But see thou come back to thy children small.9“When to the kirkyard thou dost fare,Then see thou let not down thy shining golden hair.10“And when thou enterest in the doorThen sit by thy mother’s side no more.11“When the priest names the Name of dread,Then bow not down thy head.”12Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth amain,And so he bore her up to England’s shores again.13When thro’ the kirkyard she did fare,Oh then did she let down her shining golden hair.14And when she entered in the doorShe sat by her mother, as of yore.15When the priest named the Name of dread,Then she bowed down her head.16“Agnes, my daughter, I ask of thee,Where hast thou been eight years away from me?”17“I dwelt in the sea eight years and more,Seven sons I to the Merman bore.”18“Now tell me, daughter, and fear no blame,What did he give for thy maiden fame?”19“He gave me a ring of golden sheen,Never a better one hath the Queen.20“Of golden shoon he gave me a pair,Never a better the Queen might wear.21“He gave me a harp of gold to playThat I might touch its strings and wile my cares away.”22The Merman he made him a path so straitUp from the strand to the kirkyard gate.23Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside.24Like the purest gold was his shining hair,His eyes were full of sorrow and care.25“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me;All thy little children are longing after thee!”26“Let them long as they will, let their longing be sore,I shall return to them nevermore!”27“Oh, think of the big ones and think of the small!Of the baby in the cradle think thou most of all.”28“I think not of the big ones, I think not of the small,Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all!”—Ha ha ha!Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all.
1Agnes she walked on the edge of the steep,And up came a Merman out from the deep.—Ha ha ha!Up came a Merman out from the deep.2“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me,And say if thou wilt my true-love be?”3“Yes, good sooth, that will I beWilt thou bear me down to the depths o’ the sea.”4Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth beside,And borne her down all under the tide.5There she dwelt eight years and more,Seven sons she to the Merman bore.6Agnes she sat by the cradle and sang,And she heard how the bells of England rang.7She to the Merman did speak and say:“May I go up in the kirk to pray?”8“Thou hast my leave to go withal,But see thou come back to thy children small.9“When to the kirkyard thou dost fare,Then see thou let not down thy shining golden hair.10“And when thou enterest in the doorThen sit by thy mother’s side no more.11“When the priest names the Name of dread,Then bow not down thy head.”12Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth amain,And so he bore her up to England’s shores again.13When thro’ the kirkyard she did fare,Oh then did she let down her shining golden hair.14And when she entered in the doorShe sat by her mother, as of yore.15When the priest named the Name of dread,Then she bowed down her head.16“Agnes, my daughter, I ask of thee,Where hast thou been eight years away from me?”17“I dwelt in the sea eight years and more,Seven sons I to the Merman bore.”18“Now tell me, daughter, and fear no blame,What did he give for thy maiden fame?”19“He gave me a ring of golden sheen,Never a better one hath the Queen.20“Of golden shoon he gave me a pair,Never a better the Queen might wear.21“He gave me a harp of gold to playThat I might touch its strings and wile my cares away.”22The Merman he made him a path so straitUp from the strand to the kirkyard gate.23Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside.24Like the purest gold was his shining hair,His eyes were full of sorrow and care.25“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me;All thy little children are longing after thee!”26“Let them long as they will, let their longing be sore,I shall return to them nevermore!”27“Oh, think of the big ones and think of the small!Of the baby in the cradle think thou most of all.”28“I think not of the big ones, I think not of the small,Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all!”—Ha ha ha!Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all.
1Agnes she walked on the edge of the steep,And up came a Merman out from the deep.—Ha ha ha!Up came a Merman out from the deep.
1
Agnes she walked on the edge of the steep,
And up came a Merman out from the deep.
—Ha ha ha!
Up came a Merman out from the deep.
2“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me,And say if thou wilt my true-love be?”
2
“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me,
And say if thou wilt my true-love be?”
3“Yes, good sooth, that will I beWilt thou bear me down to the depths o’ the sea.”
3
“Yes, good sooth, that will I be
Wilt thou bear me down to the depths o’ the sea.”
4Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth beside,And borne her down all under the tide.
4
Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth beside,
And borne her down all under the tide.
5There she dwelt eight years and more,Seven sons she to the Merman bore.
5
There she dwelt eight years and more,
Seven sons she to the Merman bore.
6Agnes she sat by the cradle and sang,And she heard how the bells of England rang.
6
Agnes she sat by the cradle and sang,
And she heard how the bells of England rang.
7She to the Merman did speak and say:“May I go up in the kirk to pray?”
7
She to the Merman did speak and say:
“May I go up in the kirk to pray?”
8“Thou hast my leave to go withal,But see thou come back to thy children small.
8
“Thou hast my leave to go withal,
But see thou come back to thy children small.
9“When to the kirkyard thou dost fare,Then see thou let not down thy shining golden hair.
9
“When to the kirkyard thou dost fare,
Then see thou let not down thy shining golden hair.
10“And when thou enterest in the doorThen sit by thy mother’s side no more.
10
“And when thou enterest in the door
Then sit by thy mother’s side no more.
11“When the priest names the Name of dread,Then bow not down thy head.”
11
“When the priest names the Name of dread,
Then bow not down thy head.”
12Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth amain,And so he bore her up to England’s shores again.
12
Oh, he has stopped her ears and stopped her mouth amain,
And so he bore her up to England’s shores again.
13When thro’ the kirkyard she did fare,Oh then did she let down her shining golden hair.
13
When thro’ the kirkyard she did fare,
Oh then did she let down her shining golden hair.
14And when she entered in the doorShe sat by her mother, as of yore.
14
And when she entered in the door
She sat by her mother, as of yore.
15When the priest named the Name of dread,Then she bowed down her head.
15
When the priest named the Name of dread,
Then she bowed down her head.
16“Agnes, my daughter, I ask of thee,Where hast thou been eight years away from me?”
16
“Agnes, my daughter, I ask of thee,
Where hast thou been eight years away from me?”
17“I dwelt in the sea eight years and more,Seven sons I to the Merman bore.”
17
“I dwelt in the sea eight years and more,
Seven sons I to the Merman bore.”
18“Now tell me, daughter, and fear no blame,What did he give for thy maiden fame?”
18
“Now tell me, daughter, and fear no blame,
What did he give for thy maiden fame?”
19“He gave me a ring of golden sheen,Never a better one hath the Queen.
19
“He gave me a ring of golden sheen,
Never a better one hath the Queen.
20“Of golden shoon he gave me a pair,Never a better the Queen might wear.
20
“Of golden shoon he gave me a pair,
Never a better the Queen might wear.
21“He gave me a harp of gold to playThat I might touch its strings and wile my cares away.”
21
“He gave me a harp of gold to play
That I might touch its strings and wile my cares away.”
22The Merman he made him a path so straitUp from the strand to the kirkyard gate.
22
The Merman he made him a path so strait
Up from the strand to the kirkyard gate.
23Into the kirk the Merman hied,And all the holy images they turned their heads aside.
23
Into the kirk the Merman hied,
And all the holy images they turned their heads aside.
24Like the purest gold was his shining hair,His eyes were full of sorrow and care.
24
Like the purest gold was his shining hair,
His eyes were full of sorrow and care.
25“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me;All thy little children are longing after thee!”
25
“Lithe now and listen, Agnes, to me;
All thy little children are longing after thee!”
26“Let them long as they will, let their longing be sore,I shall return to them nevermore!”
26
“Let them long as they will, let their longing be sore,
I shall return to them nevermore!”
27“Oh, think of the big ones and think of the small!Of the baby in the cradle think thou most of all.”
27
“Oh, think of the big ones and think of the small!
Of the baby in the cradle think thou most of all.”
28“I think not of the big ones, I think not of the small,Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all!”—Ha ha ha!Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all.
28
“I think not of the big ones, I think not of the small,
Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all!”
—Ha ha ha!
Of the baby in the cradle I’ll think least of all.