SIR ROLAND.

A wonder stranger ne'er was knownThan what I now shall treat upon.In Suffolk there did lately dwellA farmer rich and known full well.5He had a daughter fair and bright,On whom he placed his chief delight;Her beauty was beyond compare,She was both virtuous and fair.There was a young man living by,10Who was so charmed with her eye,That he could never be at rest;He was by love so much possest.He made address to her, and sheDid grant him love immediately;15But when her father came to hear,He parted her and her poor dear.Forty miles distant was she sent,Unto his brother's, with intentThat she should there so long remain,20Till she had changed her mind again.Hereat this young man sadly grieved,But knew not how to be relieved;He sighed and sobbed continuallyThat his true love he could not see.25She by no means could to him send,Who was her heart's espoused friend;He sighed, he grieved, but all in vain,For she confined must still remain.He mourned so much, that doctor's art30Could give no ease unto his heart,Who was so strangely terrified,That in short time for love he died.She that from him was sent awayKnew nothing of his dying day,35But constant still she did remain,And loved the dead, although in vain.After he had in grave been laidA month or more, unto this maidHe came in middle of the night,40Who joyed to see her heart's delight.Her father's horse, which well she knew,Her mother's hood and safe-guard too,He brought with him to testifyHer parents order he came by.45Which when her uncle understood,He hoped it would be for her good,And gave consent to her straightway,That with him she should come away.When she was got her love behind,50They passed as swift as any wind,That in two hours, or little more,He brought her to her father's door.But as they did this great haste make,He did complain his head did ake;55Her handkerchief she then took out,And tied the same his head about.And unto him she thus did say:"Thou art as cold as any clay;When we come home a fire we'll have;"60But little dreamed he went to grave.Soon were they at her father's door,And after she ne'er saw him more;"I'll set the horse up," then he said,And there he left this harmless maid.65She knocked, and straight a man he cried,"Who's there?" "'Tis I," she then replied;Who wondred much her voice to hear,And was possessed with dread and fear.Her father he did tell, and then70He stared like an affrighted man:Down stairs he ran, and when he see her,Cried out, "My child, how cam'st thou here?""Pray, sir, did you not send for me,By such a messenger?" said she:75Which made his hair stare on his head,As knowing well that he was dead."Where is he?" then to her he said;"He's in the stable," quoth the maid."Go in," said he, "and go to bed;80I'll see the horse well littered."He stared about, and there could heNo shape of any mankind see,But found his horse all on a sweat;Which made him in a deadly fret.85His daughter he said nothing to,Nor none else, (though full well they knewThat he was dead a month before,)For fear of grieving her full sore.Her father to the father went90Of the deceased, with full intentTo tell him what his daughter said;So both came back unto this maid.They ask'd her, and she still did say'Twas he that then brought her away;95Which when they heard they were amazed,And on each other strangely gazed.A handkerchief she said she tiedAbout his head, and that they tried;The sexton they did speak unto,100That he the grave would then undo.Affrighted then they did beholdHis body turning into mould,And though he had a month been dead,This handkerchief was about his head.105This thing unto her then they told,And the whole truth they did unfold;She was thereat so terrifiedAnd grieved, that she quickly died.Part not true love, you rich men, then;110But, if they be right honest menYour daughters love, give them their way,For force oft breeds their lives decay.

A wonder stranger ne'er was knownThan what I now shall treat upon.In Suffolk there did lately dwellA farmer rich and known full well.

5He had a daughter fair and bright,On whom he placed his chief delight;Her beauty was beyond compare,She was both virtuous and fair.

There was a young man living by,10Who was so charmed with her eye,That he could never be at rest;He was by love so much possest.

He made address to her, and sheDid grant him love immediately;15But when her father came to hear,He parted her and her poor dear.

Forty miles distant was she sent,Unto his brother's, with intentThat she should there so long remain,20Till she had changed her mind again.

Hereat this young man sadly grieved,But knew not how to be relieved;He sighed and sobbed continuallyThat his true love he could not see.

25She by no means could to him send,Who was her heart's espoused friend;He sighed, he grieved, but all in vain,For she confined must still remain.

He mourned so much, that doctor's art30Could give no ease unto his heart,Who was so strangely terrified,That in short time for love he died.

She that from him was sent awayKnew nothing of his dying day,35But constant still she did remain,And loved the dead, although in vain.

After he had in grave been laidA month or more, unto this maidHe came in middle of the night,40Who joyed to see her heart's delight.

Her father's horse, which well she knew,Her mother's hood and safe-guard too,He brought with him to testifyHer parents order he came by.

45Which when her uncle understood,He hoped it would be for her good,And gave consent to her straightway,That with him she should come away.

When she was got her love behind,50They passed as swift as any wind,That in two hours, or little more,He brought her to her father's door.

But as they did this great haste make,He did complain his head did ake;55Her handkerchief she then took out,And tied the same his head about.

And unto him she thus did say:"Thou art as cold as any clay;When we come home a fire we'll have;"60But little dreamed he went to grave.

Soon were they at her father's door,And after she ne'er saw him more;"I'll set the horse up," then he said,And there he left this harmless maid.

65She knocked, and straight a man he cried,"Who's there?" "'Tis I," she then replied;Who wondred much her voice to hear,And was possessed with dread and fear.

Her father he did tell, and then70He stared like an affrighted man:Down stairs he ran, and when he see her,Cried out, "My child, how cam'st thou here?"

"Pray, sir, did you not send for me,By such a messenger?" said she:75Which made his hair stare on his head,As knowing well that he was dead.

"Where is he?" then to her he said;"He's in the stable," quoth the maid."Go in," said he, "and go to bed;80I'll see the horse well littered."

He stared about, and there could heNo shape of any mankind see,But found his horse all on a sweat;Which made him in a deadly fret.

85His daughter he said nothing to,Nor none else, (though full well they knewThat he was dead a month before,)For fear of grieving her full sore.

Her father to the father went90Of the deceased, with full intentTo tell him what his daughter said;So both came back unto this maid.

They ask'd her, and she still did say'Twas he that then brought her away;95Which when they heard they were amazed,And on each other strangely gazed.

A handkerchief she said she tiedAbout his head, and that they tried;The sexton they did speak unto,100That he the grave would then undo.

Affrighted then they did beholdHis body turning into mould,And though he had a month been dead,This handkerchief was about his head.

105This thing unto her then they told,And the whole truth they did unfold;She was thereat so terrifiedAnd grieved, that she quickly died.

Part not true love, you rich men, then;110But, if they be right honest menYour daughters love, give them their way,For force oft breeds their lives decay.

This fragment, Motherwell tells us, was communicated to him by an ingenious friend, who remembered having heard it sung in his youth. He does not vouch for its antiquity, and we have little or no hesitation in pronouncing it a modern composition.

Whan he cam to his ain luve's bouir,He tirled at the pin,And sae ready was his fair fause luveTo rise and let him in.5"O welcome, welcome, Sir Roland," she says,"Thrice welcome thou art to me;For this night thou wilt feast in my secret bouir,And to-morrow we'll wedded be.""This night is hallow-eve," he said,10"And to-morrow is hallow-day;And I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen,That has made my heart fu' wae."I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen,And I wish it may cum to gude:15I dreamed that ye slew my best grew hound,And gied me his lappered blude.""Unbuckle your belt, Sir Roland," she said,"And set you safely down.""O your chamber is very dark, fair maid,20And the night is wondrous lown.""Yes, dark, dark is my secret bowir,And lown the midnight may be;For there is none waking in a' this tower,But thou, my true love, and me."25She has mounted on her true love's steed,By the ae light o' the moon;She has whipped him and spurred him,And roundly she rade frae the toun.She hadna ridden a mile o' gate,30Never a mile but ane,Whan she was aware of a tall young man,Slow riding o'er the plain.She turned her to the right about,Then to the left turn'd she;35But aye, 'tween her and the wan moonlight,That tall knight did she see.And he was riding burd alane,On a horse as black as jet;But tho' she followed him fast and fell,40No nearer could she get."O stop! O stop! young man," she said,"For I in dule am dight;O stop, and win a fair lady's luve,If you be a leal true knight."45But nothing did the tall knight say,And nothing did he blin;Still slowly rode he on before,And fast she rade behind.She whipped her steed, she spurred her steed,50Till his breast was all a foam;But nearer unto that tall young knight,By Our Ladye, she could not come."O if you be a gay young knight,As well I trow you be,55Pull tight your bridle reins, and stayTill I come up to thee."But nothing did that tall knight say,And no whit did he blin,Until he reached a broad river's side,60And there he drew his rein."O is this water deep," he said,"As it is wondrous dun?Or it is sic as a saikless maidAnd a leal true knight may swim?"65"The water it is deep," she said,"As it is wondrous dun;But it is sic as a saikless maidAnd a leal true knight may swim."The knight spurred on his tall black steed,70The lady spurred on her brown;And fast they rade unto the flood,And fast they baith swam down."The water weets my tae," she said,"The water weets my knee;75And hold up my bridle reins, sir knight,For the sake of Our Ladye.""If I would help thee now," he said,"It were a deadly sin;For I've sworn neir to trust a fair may's word,80Till the water weets her chin.""O the water weets my waist," she said,"Sae does it weet my skin;And my aching heart rins round about,The burn maks sic a din.85"The water is waxing deeper still,Sae does it wax mair wide;And aye the farther that we ride on,Farther off is the other side."O help me now, thou false, false knight,90Have pity on my youth;For now the water jawes owre my head,And it gurgles in my mouth."The knight turned right and round about,All in the middle stream,95And he stretched out his head to that lady,But loudly she did scream."O this is hallow-morn," he said,"And it is your bridal day;But sad would be that gay wedding,100If bridegroom and bride were away."And ride on, ride on, proud Margaret!Till the water comes o'er your bree;For the bride maun ride deep, and deeper yet,Wha rides this ford wi' me.105"Turn round, turn round, proud Margaret!Turn ye round, and look on me;Thou hast killed a true knight under trust,And his ghost now links on with thee."

Whan he cam to his ain luve's bouir,He tirled at the pin,And sae ready was his fair fause luveTo rise and let him in.

5"O welcome, welcome, Sir Roland," she says,"Thrice welcome thou art to me;For this night thou wilt feast in my secret bouir,And to-morrow we'll wedded be."

"This night is hallow-eve," he said,10"And to-morrow is hallow-day;And I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen,That has made my heart fu' wae.

"I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen,And I wish it may cum to gude:15I dreamed that ye slew my best grew hound,And gied me his lappered blude."

"Unbuckle your belt, Sir Roland," she said,"And set you safely down.""O your chamber is very dark, fair maid,20And the night is wondrous lown."

"Yes, dark, dark is my secret bowir,And lown the midnight may be;For there is none waking in a' this tower,But thou, my true love, and me."

25She has mounted on her true love's steed,By the ae light o' the moon;She has whipped him and spurred him,And roundly she rade frae the toun.

She hadna ridden a mile o' gate,30Never a mile but ane,Whan she was aware of a tall young man,Slow riding o'er the plain.

She turned her to the right about,Then to the left turn'd she;35But aye, 'tween her and the wan moonlight,That tall knight did she see.

And he was riding burd alane,On a horse as black as jet;But tho' she followed him fast and fell,40No nearer could she get.

"O stop! O stop! young man," she said,"For I in dule am dight;O stop, and win a fair lady's luve,If you be a leal true knight."

45But nothing did the tall knight say,And nothing did he blin;Still slowly rode he on before,And fast she rade behind.

She whipped her steed, she spurred her steed,50Till his breast was all a foam;But nearer unto that tall young knight,By Our Ladye, she could not come.

"O if you be a gay young knight,As well I trow you be,55Pull tight your bridle reins, and stayTill I come up to thee."

But nothing did that tall knight say,And no whit did he blin,Until he reached a broad river's side,60And there he drew his rein.

"O is this water deep," he said,"As it is wondrous dun?Or it is sic as a saikless maidAnd a leal true knight may swim?"

65"The water it is deep," she said,"As it is wondrous dun;But it is sic as a saikless maidAnd a leal true knight may swim."

The knight spurred on his tall black steed,70The lady spurred on her brown;And fast they rade unto the flood,And fast they baith swam down.

"The water weets my tae," she said,"The water weets my knee;75And hold up my bridle reins, sir knight,For the sake of Our Ladye."

"If I would help thee now," he said,"It were a deadly sin;For I've sworn neir to trust a fair may's word,80Till the water weets her chin."

"O the water weets my waist," she said,"Sae does it weet my skin;And my aching heart rins round about,The burn maks sic a din.

85"The water is waxing deeper still,Sae does it wax mair wide;And aye the farther that we ride on,Farther off is the other side.

"O help me now, thou false, false knight,90Have pity on my youth;For now the water jawes owre my head,And it gurgles in my mouth."

The knight turned right and round about,All in the middle stream,95And he stretched out his head to that lady,But loudly she did scream.

"O this is hallow-morn," he said,"And it is your bridal day;But sad would be that gay wedding,100If bridegroom and bride were away.

"And ride on, ride on, proud Margaret!Till the water comes o'er your bree;For the bride maun ride deep, and deeper yet,Wha rides this ford wi' me.

105"Turn round, turn round, proud Margaret!Turn ye round, and look on me;Thou hast killed a true knight under trust,And his ghost now links on with thee."

The editor has added the following note.

"It has no title, and the first line has been cut away by the ignorant binder to whom the volume was intrusted, but both are supplied from the notice given of the ballad in the Dissertation prefixed to vol. iii. of theReliques, p. xxxvii. Dr. Percy has added in the margin of the MS. these words: "To the best of my remembrance, this was the first line, before the binder cut it." The poem is very imperfect, owing to the leaves having been half torn away to light fires (!) as the Bishop tells us, but I am bound to add, previous to its coming into his possession. The story is so singular, that it is to be hoped an earlier and complete copy of it may yet be recovered. On no account perhaps is it more remarkable, than the fact of its close imitation of the famousgabsmade by Charlemagne and his companions at the court of King Hugon, which are first met with in a romance of the twelfth century, published by M. Michel from a MS. in the British Museum, 12mo., London, 1836, and transferred at a later period to the prose romance ofGalien Rethoré, printed by Verard, fol., 1500, and often afterwards. In theabsence of other evidence, it is to be presumed that the author of the ballad borrowed from the printed work, substituting Arthur for Charlemagne, Gawayne for Oliver, Tristram for Roland, etc., and embellishing his story by converting King Hugon's spy into a "lodly feend," by whose agency thegabsare accomplished. It is further worthy of notice, that the writer seems to regard Arthur as the sovereign of Little Britain, and alludes to an intrigue between the King of Cornwall and Queen Guenever, which is nowhere, as far as I recollect, hinted at in the romances of the Round Table."

"Come here my cozen, Gawain, so gay;My sisters sonne be yee;For you shall see one of the fairest Round Tables,That ever you see with your eye."5Then bespake [the] Lady Queen Guenever,And these were the words said shee:"I know where a Round Table is, thou noble king,Is worth thy Round Table and other such three."The trestle that stands under this Round Table," she said,10"Lowe downe to the mould,It is worth thy Round Table, thou worthy king,Thy halls, and all thy gold."The place where this Round Table stands in,It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee;15And all good Litle Britaine,"—"Where may that table be, lady?" quoth hee,"Or where may all that goodly building be?""You shall it seeke," shee sayd, "till you it find,For you shall never gett more of me."20Then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words said hee;"Ile make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,"Ile never sleepe one night, there as I doe another,25Till that Round Table I see;Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,Fellowes that ye shall bee."Weele be clad in palmers weede,Five palmers we will bee;30There is noe outlandish man will us abide,Nor will us come nye."Then they rived east andthey rived west,In many a strange country.Then theytravelleda litle further,35They saw a battle new sett;"Now, by my faith," saies noble King Arthur,[Half a page is here torn away.]But when he came that castle to,And to the palace gate,Soe ready was ther a proud porter,40And met him soone therat.Shooes of gold the porter had on,And all his other rayment was unto the same;"Now, by my faith," saies noble King Arthur,"Yonder is a minion swaine."45Then bespake noble King Arthur,These were the words says hee:"Come hither, thou proud porter,I pray thee come hither to me."I have two poor rings of my finger,50The betterof them Ile give to thee;[To] tell who may be lord of this castle," he saies,"Or who is lord in this cuntry?""Cornewall King," the porter sayes,"There is none soe rich as hee;55Neither in Christendome, nor yet in heathennest,None hath soe much gold as he."And then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words sayes hee:"I have two poore rings of my finger,60The better of them Ile give thee,If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,And greete him well from me."Pray him for one nights lodging, and two meales meate,For his love that dyed uppon a tree;65Abueghesting, and two meales meate,65 For his love that dyed uppon a tree."Abueghesting, and two meales meate,For his love that was of virgin borne,And in the morning that we may scape away,70Either without scath or scorne."Then forthis gonethis proud porter,As fast as he cold hye;And when he came befor Cornewall King,He kneeled downe on his knee.75Sayes, "I have beene porter, man, at thy gate,[Half a page is wanting.]....our Lady was borne,Then thought Cornewall King these palmers had beene in Britt.Then bespake him Cornewall King,These were the words he said there:80"Did you ever know a comely King,His name was King Arthur?"And then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words said hee:"I doe not know that comly King,85But once my selfe I did him see."Then bespake Cornwall King againe,These were the words said he.Sayes, "Seven yeere I was clad and fed,In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;90I had a daughter by King Arthurs wife,It now is called my flower;For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,Hath none such in his bower."For I durst sweare, and save my othe,95That same lady soe bright,That a man that were laid on his death-bedWold open his eyes on her to have sight.""Now, by my faith," sayes noble King Arthur,"And thats a full faire wight!"100And then bespoke Cornewall [King] againe,And these were the wordshe said:"Come hither, five or three of my knights,And feitch me downe my steed;King Arthur, that foule cockeward,105Hath none such, if he had need."For I can ryde him as far on a day,As King Arthur can doe any of his on three.And is it not a pleasure for a King,When he shall ryde forth on his journey?110"For the eyes that beene in his head,Theyglister as doth the gleed;"—"Now, by my faith," says noble King Arthur,[Half a page is wanting.]No body....But one thats learned to speake.115Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,A greeived man was hee;And soe were all his fellowes with himFrom himtheythought never to flee.Then take they did that lodlyboome,120And underthrubchandlerclosed was hee;And he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,To heere theire talke, and theire com'nye;That he might come forth, and make proclamation,Long before it was day;125It was more for King Cornwalls pleasure,Then it was for King Arthurs pay.And when King Arthur on his bed was laid,These were the words said hee:"Ile make mine avow to God,130And alsoe to the Trinity,That Ile be the bane of Cornwall KingeLitle Brittaine or ever I see!""It is an unadvised vow," saies Gawaine the gay,"As ever king hard make I;135But wee that beene five christian men,Of the christen faith are wee;And we shall fight against anoynted King,And all his armorie."And then he spake him noble Arthur,140And these were the words said he:"Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country."

"Come here my cozen, Gawain, so gay;My sisters sonne be yee;For you shall see one of the fairest Round Tables,That ever you see with your eye."

5Then bespake [the] Lady Queen Guenever,And these were the words said shee:"I know where a Round Table is, thou noble king,Is worth thy Round Table and other such three.

"The trestle that stands under this Round Table," she said,10"Lowe downe to the mould,It is worth thy Round Table, thou worthy king,Thy halls, and all thy gold.

"The place where this Round Table stands in,It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee;15And all good Litle Britaine,"—"Where may that table be, lady?" quoth hee,

"Or where may all that goodly building be?""You shall it seeke," shee sayd, "till you it find,For you shall never gett more of me."

20Then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words said hee;"Ile make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,

"Ile never sleepe one night, there as I doe another,25Till that Round Table I see;Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,Fellowes that ye shall bee.

"Weele be clad in palmers weede,Five palmers we will bee;30There is noe outlandish man will us abide,Nor will us come nye."Then they rived east andthey rived west,In many a strange country.

Then theytravelleda litle further,35They saw a battle new sett;"Now, by my faith," saies noble King Arthur,

[Half a page is here torn away.]

But when he came that castle to,And to the palace gate,Soe ready was ther a proud porter,40And met him soone therat.

Shooes of gold the porter had on,And all his other rayment was unto the same;"Now, by my faith," saies noble King Arthur,"Yonder is a minion swaine."

45Then bespake noble King Arthur,These were the words says hee:"Come hither, thou proud porter,I pray thee come hither to me.

"I have two poor rings of my finger,50The betterof them Ile give to thee;[To] tell who may be lord of this castle," he saies,"Or who is lord in this cuntry?"

"Cornewall King," the porter sayes,"There is none soe rich as hee;55Neither in Christendome, nor yet in heathennest,None hath soe much gold as he."

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words sayes hee:"I have two poore rings of my finger,60The better of them Ile give thee,If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,And greete him well from me.

"Pray him for one nights lodging, and two meales meate,For his love that dyed uppon a tree;65Abueghesting, and two meales meate,65 For his love that dyed uppon a tree.

"Abueghesting, and two meales meate,For his love that was of virgin borne,And in the morning that we may scape away,70Either without scath or scorne."

Then forthis gonethis proud porter,As fast as he cold hye;And when he came befor Cornewall King,He kneeled downe on his knee.

75Sayes, "I have beene porter, man, at thy gate,

[Half a page is wanting.]

....our Lady was borne,Then thought Cornewall King these palmers had beene in Britt.

Then bespake him Cornewall King,These were the words he said there:80"Did you ever know a comely King,His name was King Arthur?"

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words said hee:"I doe not know that comly King,85But once my selfe I did him see."Then bespake Cornwall King againe,These were the words said he.

Sayes, "Seven yeere I was clad and fed,In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;90I had a daughter by King Arthurs wife,It now is called my flower;For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,Hath none such in his bower.

"For I durst sweare, and save my othe,95That same lady soe bright,That a man that were laid on his death-bedWold open his eyes on her to have sight.""Now, by my faith," sayes noble King Arthur,"And thats a full faire wight!"

100And then bespoke Cornewall [King] againe,And these were the wordshe said:"Come hither, five or three of my knights,And feitch me downe my steed;King Arthur, that foule cockeward,105Hath none such, if he had need.

"For I can ryde him as far on a day,As King Arthur can doe any of his on three.And is it not a pleasure for a King,When he shall ryde forth on his journey?

110"For the eyes that beene in his head,Theyglister as doth the gleed;"—"Now, by my faith," says noble King Arthur,

[Half a page is wanting.]

No body....But one thats learned to speake.

115Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,A greeived man was hee;And soe were all his fellowes with himFrom himtheythought never to flee.

Then take they did that lodlyboome,120And underthrubchandlerclosed was hee;And he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,To heere theire talke, and theire com'nye;

That he might come forth, and make proclamation,Long before it was day;125It was more for King Cornwalls pleasure,Then it was for King Arthurs pay.

And when King Arthur on his bed was laid,These were the words said hee:"Ile make mine avow to God,130And alsoe to the Trinity,That Ile be the bane of Cornwall KingeLitle Brittaine or ever I see!"

"It is an unadvised vow," saies Gawaine the gay,"As ever king hard make I;135But wee that beene five christian men,Of the christen faith are wee;And we shall fight against anoynted King,And all his armorie."

And then he spake him noble Arthur,140And these were the words said he:"Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country."

32, the rived west.

34, tranckled.

50, They better.

65, bue,sic.

67, bue,sic; of two.

71, his gone.

101, said he.

111, The.

118, the.

119, goome?

120, thrubchadler.

And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,And these were the words said hee:145"Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,Here another vow make will I."Ile make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I will have yonder faire lady150To Litle Brittaine with mee."Ile hose her hourly to myhart,And with her Ile worke my will;[Half a page is wanting.]These were the words sayd hee:"Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,155It is better be drowned in the sea."And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,And these were the words said he:"Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,God! my governor thou shalt bee."160Then bespake him noble Arthur,And these werethe wordssaid he:"What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?I pray thee tell to me."He sayes, "Collen brand Ile have in my hand,165And a Millaine knife fast be my knee;And a Danish axe fast in my hands,That a sure weapon I thinke wilbe."Then with his Collen brand, that he had in his hand,The bunge of the trubchandler he burst in three.170What that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body.The fyer towards the element flew,Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;The knight stoode in the middle, and fought,175That it was great joy to see.Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,And his Millaine knife burst on his knee;And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,That a sur weapon he thought shold be.180But now is the knight left without any weapone,And alacke! it was the more pitty;But a surer weapon then had he one,Had never Lord in Christentye:And all was but one litle booke,185He found it by the side of the sea.He found it at the sea-side,Wrucked upp in a floode;Our Lord had written it with his hands,And sealed it with his bloode.[Half a page is wanting.]190"That thou doe....But ly still in that wall of stone;Till I have beene with noble King Arthur,And told him what I have done."And when he came to the King's chamber,195He cold of his curtesieSaye, "Sleep you, wake you, noble King Arthur?And ever Jesus watch yee!""Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,"These were the words said hee:200"For thee I have car'd; how hast thou fared?O gentle knight, let me see."The knight wrought the King his booke,Bad him behold, reede, and see;And ever he found it on the backside of the leafe,205As noble Arthur wold wish it to be.And then bespake him King Arthur,"Alas! thou gentle knight, how may this be,That I might see him in the same licknesse,That he stood unto thee?"210And then bespake himthe Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:"If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,For I have won all the victory."Then bespake him the King againe,215And these were the words said hee:"If we stand not stifly in this battell strong,Wee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree."Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:220Saies, "I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,In the same licknesse thou stood unto me."With that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body;The fier towarde the element flaugh,225Out of his mouth, where was great plenty.The knight stood in the middle....[Half a page is wanting.]... the space of an houre,I know not what they did.And then bespake him the Greene Knight,230And these were the words said he:Saith, "I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,That thou feitch downe the steed that we see."And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he cold hie;235And feitch he did that faire steed,And came againe by and by.Then bespake him Sir Marramile,And these were the words said hee:"Riding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,240The mastery belongs to me."Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,To ryd him he was full bold;He cold noe more make him goe,Then a child of three yeere old.245Helaiduppon him with heele and hand,With yard that was soe fell;"Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile,"For I thinke he be the devill of hell."Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile.250"Helpe! for Christs pittye;For without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,He will never be rydden "for me.Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,These were the words said he:255"I coniure thee, thouBurlow-beane,Thou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country."He saith, "There is a gold wand,Stands in King Cornwalls study windowe."Let him take that wand in that window,260And strike three strokes on that steed;And then he will spring forth of his hand,As sparke doth out of gleede."Then bespake him the Greene Knight,[Half a page is wanting.]A lowd blast....And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,265To the feend these words said hee:Says, "I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,The powder-box thou feitch me."Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,270As fast as he cold hie;And feich he did the powder-box,And came againe by and by.Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,And blent it with warme sweet milke;275And there put it unto the horne,And swilled it about in that ilke.Then he tooke the horne in his hand,And a lowd blast he blew;He rent the horne up to the midst,280All his fellowes thisthey knew.Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies. "I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,That thou feitch me the sword that I see."285Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he cold hie;And feitch he did that faire sword,And came againe by and by.Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,290To the king these words said he:"Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King,For the vowes sake that thou made Ile give it thee;And goe strike off King Cornewalls head,In bedwherehe doth lye."295Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,As fast as he cold hye;And strucken he hath King Cornwalls head,And came againe by and by.He put the head upon a swords point,

And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,And these were the words said hee:145"Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,Here another vow make will I.

"Ile make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I will have yonder faire lady150To Litle Brittaine with mee.

"Ile hose her hourly to myhart,And with her Ile worke my will;

[Half a page is wanting.]

These were the words sayd hee:"Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,155It is better be drowned in the sea."

And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,And these were the words said he:"Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,God! my governor thou shalt bee."

160Then bespake him noble Arthur,And these werethe wordssaid he:"What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?I pray thee tell to me."

He sayes, "Collen brand Ile have in my hand,165And a Millaine knife fast be my knee;And a Danish axe fast in my hands,That a sure weapon I thinke wilbe."

Then with his Collen brand, that he had in his hand,The bunge of the trubchandler he burst in three.170What that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body.

The fyer towards the element flew,Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;The knight stoode in the middle, and fought,175That it was great joy to see.

Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,And his Millaine knife burst on his knee;And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,That a sur weapon he thought shold be.

180But now is the knight left without any weapone,And alacke! it was the more pitty;But a surer weapon then had he one,Had never Lord in Christentye:And all was but one litle booke,185He found it by the side of the sea.

He found it at the sea-side,Wrucked upp in a floode;Our Lord had written it with his hands,And sealed it with his bloode.

[Half a page is wanting.]

190"That thou doe....But ly still in that wall of stone;Till I have beene with noble King Arthur,And told him what I have done."

And when he came to the King's chamber,195He cold of his curtesieSaye, "Sleep you, wake you, noble King Arthur?And ever Jesus watch yee!"

"Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,"These were the words said hee:200"For thee I have car'd; how hast thou fared?O gentle knight, let me see."

The knight wrought the King his booke,Bad him behold, reede, and see;And ever he found it on the backside of the leafe,205As noble Arthur wold wish it to be.

And then bespake him King Arthur,"Alas! thou gentle knight, how may this be,That I might see him in the same licknesse,That he stood unto thee?"

210And then bespake himthe Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:"If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,For I have won all the victory."

Then bespake him the King againe,215And these were the words said hee:"If we stand not stifly in this battell strong,Wee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree."

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:220Saies, "I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,In the same licknesse thou stood unto me."

With that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body;The fier towarde the element flaugh,225Out of his mouth, where was great plenty.

The knight stood in the middle....

[Half a page is wanting.]

... the space of an houre,I know not what they did.

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,230And these were the words said he:Saith, "I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,That thou feitch downe the steed that we see."

And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he cold hie;235And feitch he did that faire steed,And came againe by and by.

Then bespake him Sir Marramile,And these were the words said hee:"Riding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,240The mastery belongs to me."

Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,To ryd him he was full bold;He cold noe more make him goe,Then a child of three yeere old.

245Helaiduppon him with heele and hand,With yard that was soe fell;"Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile,"For I thinke he be the devill of hell.

"Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile.250"Helpe! for Christs pittye;For without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,He will never be rydden "for me.

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,These were the words said he:255"I coniure thee, thouBurlow-beane,Thou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country."He saith, "There is a gold wand,Stands in King Cornwalls study windowe.

"Let him take that wand in that window,260And strike three strokes on that steed;And then he will spring forth of his hand,As sparke doth out of gleede."

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,

[Half a page is wanting.]

A lowd blast....

And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,265To the feend these words said hee:Says, "I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,The powder-box thou feitch me."

Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,270As fast as he cold hie;And feich he did the powder-box,And came againe by and by.

Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,And blent it with warme sweet milke;275And there put it unto the horne,And swilled it about in that ilke.

Then he tooke the horne in his hand,And a lowd blast he blew;He rent the horne up to the midst,280All his fellowes thisthey knew.

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies. "I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,That thou feitch me the sword that I see."

285Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he cold hie;And feitch he did that faire sword,And came againe by and by.

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,290To the king these words said he:"Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King,For the vowes sake that thou made Ile give it thee;And goe strike off King Cornewalls head,In bedwherehe doth lye."

295Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,As fast as he cold hye;And strucken he hath King Cornwalls head,And came againe by and by.

He put the head upon a swords point,

[The poem terminates here abruptly.]

151, hurt.

161, they words.

210, The Greene Knight is Sir Bredbeddle.

245, sayed.

252, p' me,i.e.pro or per.

255, Burlow-leane.

280, the knew.

294, were.

It is not impossible that this ballad should be the one quoted by Edgar inKing Lear, (Act iii. sc. 4:)

"Child Rowland to the dark tower came."

We have extracted the fragment given by Jamieson, with the breaks in the story filled out, fromIllustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 397; and we have added his translation of the Danish ballad ofRosmer Hafmand, which exhibits a striking similarity toChild Rowland, fromPopular Ballads and Songs, ii. 202. The tale of theRed Etin, as given in Chamber'sPop. Rhymes of Scotland, p. 56, has much resemblance to Jamieson's story, and, like it, is interspersed with verse.

The occurrence of the name Merlin is by no means a sufficient ground for connecting this tale, as Jamieson would do, with the cycle of King Arthur. For Merlin, as Grundtvig has remarked (Folkeviser, ii. 79), did not originally belong to that cycle, and again, his name seems to have been given in Scotland to any sort of wizard or prophet.

["King Arthur's sons o' merry Carlisle]Were playing at the ba';And there was their sister Burd Ellen,I' the mids amang them a'.5"Child Rowland kick'd it wi' his foot,And keppit it wi' his knee;And ay, as he play'd out o'er them a',O'er the kirk he gar'd it flee."Burd Ellen round about the isle10To seek the ba' is gane;But they bade lang and ay langer,And she camena back again."They sought her east, they sought her west,They sought her up and down;15And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle,]For she was nae gait found!"

["King Arthur's sons o' merry Carlisle]Were playing at the ba';And there was their sister Burd Ellen,I' the mids amang them a'.

5"Child Rowland kick'd it wi' his foot,And keppit it wi' his knee;And ay, as he play'd out o'er them a',O'er the kirk he gar'd it flee.

"Burd Ellen round about the isle10To seek the ba' is gane;But they bade lang and ay langer,And she camena back again.

"They sought her east, they sought her west,They sought her up and down;15And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle,]For she was nae gait found!"

At last her eldest brother went to the Warluck Merlin, (Myrddin Wyldt,) and asked if he knew where his sister, the fair Burd Ellen, was. "The fair Burd Ellen," said the Warluck Merlin, "is carried away by the fairies, and is now in the castle of the king of Elfland; and it were too bold an undertaking for the stoutest knight in Christendom to bring her back." "Is it possible to bring her back?" said her brother, "and I will do it, or perish in the attempt." "Possible indeed it is," said the Warluck Merlin; "but woe to the man or mother's son who attempts it, if he is not well instructed beforehand of what he is to do."

Influenced no less by the glory of such an enterprise, than by the desire of rescuing his sister, the brother of the fair Burd Ellen resolved to undertake the adventure; and after proper instructions from Merlin, (which he failed in observing,) he set out on his perilous expedition.

"But they bade lang and ay langer,Wi' dout and mickle maen;And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle,]20For he camena back again."

The second brother in like manner set out; but failed in observing the instructions of the Warluck Merlin; and

"They bade lang and ay langer,Wi' mickle dout and maen;And wae were the hearts [in merry Carlisle,]For he camena back again."

Child Rowland, the youngest brother of the fair Burd Ellen, then resolved to go; but was strenuously opposed by the good queen, [Gwenevra,] who was afraid of losing all her children.

At last the good queen [Gwenevra] gave him her consent and her blessing; he girt on (in great form, and with all due solemnity of sacerdotal consecration,) his father's goodclaymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain, and repaired to the cave of the Warluck Merlin. The Warluck Merlin gave him all necessary instructions for his journey and conduct, the most important of which were, that he should kill every person he met with after entering the land of Fairy, and should neither eat nor drink of what was offered him in that country, whatever his hunger or thirst might be; for if he tasted or touched in Elfland, he must remain in the power of the Elves, and never seemiddle eardagain.

So Child Rowland set out on his journey, and travelled "on and ay farther on," till he came to where (as he had been forewarned by the Warluck Merlin,) he found the king of Elfland's horse-herd feeding his horses.

"Canst thou tell me," said Child Rowland to thehorse-herd, "where the king of Elfland's castle is?"—"I cannot tell thee," said the horse-herd; "but go on a little farther, and thou wilt come to the cow-herd, and he, perhaps, may tell thee." So Child Rowland drew the good claymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain, and hewed off the head of the horse-herd. Child Rowland then went on a little farther, till he came to the king of Elfland's cow-herd, who was feeding his cows. "Canst thou tell me," said Child Rowland to the cow-herd, "where the king of Elfland's castle is?"—"I cannot tell thee," said the cow-herd; "but go on a little farther, and thou wilt come to the sheep-herd, and he perhaps may tell thee." So Child Rowland drew the good claymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain, and hewed off the head of the cow-herd. He then went on a little farther, till he came to the sheep-herd. * * * * [The sheep-herd, goat-herd, and swine-herd are all, each in his turn, served in the same manner; and lastly he is referred to the hen-wife.]

"Go on yet a little farther," said the hen-wife, "till thou come to a round green hill surrounded with rings (terraces) from the bottom to the top; go round it three timeswidershins, and every time say, "Open, door! open, door! and let me come in; and the third time the door will open, and you may go in." So Child Rowland drew the good claymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain, and hewed off the head of the hen-wife. Then went he three timeswidershinsround the green hill, crying, "Open, door! open, door! and let me come in;" and the third time the door opened, and he went in.

It immediately closed behind him; and he proceeded through a long passage, where the air was soft andagreeably warm like a May evening, as is all the air of Elfland. The light was a sort of twilight or gloaming; but there were neither windows nor candles, and he knew not whence it came, if it was not from the walls and roof, which were rough, and arched like a grotto, and composed of a clear transparent rock, incrusted withsheeps-silverand spar, and various bright stones. At last he came to two wide and lofty folding-doors, which stood a-jar. He opened them, and entered a large and spacious hall, whose richness and brilliance no tongue can tell. It seemed to extend the whole length and height of the hill. The superb Gothic pillars by which the roof was supported, were so large and so lofty, (said my seannachy,) that the pillars of the Chanry Kirk,[4]or of Pluscardin Abbey, are no more to be compared to them, than the Knock of Alves is to be compared to Balrinnes or Ben-a-chi. They were of gold and silver, and were fretted like the west window of the Chanry Kirk, with wreaths of flowers composed of diamonds and precious stones of all manner of beautiful colors. The key-stones of the arches above, instead of coats of arms and other devices, were ornamented with clusters of diamonds in the same manner. And from the middle of the roof, where the principal arches met, was hung by a gold chain, an immense lamp of one hollowed pearl, perfectly transparent, in the midst of which was suspended a large carbuncle, that by the power of magic continually turned round, and shed over all the hall a clear and mild light like the setting sun; but the hall was so large, and these dazzling objects so far removed,that their blended radiance cast no more than a pleasing lustre, and excited no more than agreeable sensations in the eyes of Child Rowland.

The furniture of the hall was suitable to its architecture; and at the farther end, under a splendid canopy, seated on a gorgeous sofa of velvet, silk, and gold, and "kembing her yellow hair wi' a silver kemb,"

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