[Thefollowing is the original ballad from which Percy concocted his own. It is reprinted fromBishop Percy's FolioMS., ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 1.
[Thefollowing is the original ballad from which Percy concocted his own. It is reprinted fromBishop Percy's FolioMS., ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 1.
Iesus: lord mickle of might,that dyed ffor vs on the roodeto maintaine vs in all our right,that loues true English blood.ffor by a Knight I say my song,5was bold & ffull hardye;Sir Robert Briuse wold fforth to ffightin-to Ireland ouer the sea;& inthat land dwells a kingwhich ouer all does beare the bell,10& with him there dwelled a curteous Knight,men call him Sir Cawline.And he hath a Ladye to his daughter,of ffashyon shee hath noe peere;Knights & lordes they woed her both,15trusted to haue beene her peere.Sir Cawline loues her best of oné,but nothing durst hee sayto discreeue his councell to noe man,but deerlye loued this mayd.20till itt beffell vpon a day,great dill to him was dight;the maydens loue remoued his mind,to care bed went the Knight;& one while he spread his armes him ffroe,25& cryed soe pittyouslye"ffor the maydens louethat I haue most minde,this day may comfort mee,or else ere noone I shalbe dead!"thus can Sir Cawline say.30when our parish massethat itt was done,& our king was bowne to dine,he sayes, "where is Sir Cawlinethat was wont to serue me with ale and wine?"but then answered a curteous Knight35ffast wringinge his hands,"Sir Cawlines sicke, & like to be deadwithout and a good leedginge.""ffeitch yee downe my daughter deere,shee is a Leeche ffull ffine;40I, and take you doe & the baken bread,and eene on the wine soe red,& looke no day[n]tinesse ffor him to deare,for ffull loth I wold him teene."this Ladye is gone to his chamber,45her maydens ffollowing Nye,"O well," shee sayth, "how doth my Lord?""O sicke!" againe saith hee."I, but rise vp wightlye, man, for shame:neuer lye soe cowardlye here!50itt is told in my ffathers hall,ffor my loue you will dye.""itt is ffor your Loue, ffayre Ladye,that all this dill I drye.ffor if you wold comfort me with a Kisse,55then were I brought ffrom bale to blisse,noe longer here wold I lye.""alas! soe well you know, Sir Knight,I cannott bee your peere.""ffor some deeds of armes ffaine wold I doe60to be your Bacheeleere.""vpon Eldridge hill there growes a thornevpon the mores brodinge;& wold you, Sir Knight, wake there all nightto day of the other Morninge?65"ffor the Eldrige Kingthat is mickle of Mightwill examine you beforne;& there was neuer manthat bare his liffe awaysince the daythat I was borne.""but I will ffor your sake, ffaire Ladye,70walke on the bents [soe] browne,& Ile either bring you a readye tokenor Ile neuer come to you againe."but this Ladye is gone to her Chamber,her Maydens ffollowing bright;75& Sir Cawlins gone to the mores soe broad,ffor to wake there all night.vnto midnight they Moone did rise,he walked vp and downe,& a lightsome bugle then heard he blow80ouer the bents soe browne.saies hee, "and if cryance come vntill my hart,I am ffarr ffrom any good towne;"& he spyed ene a litle him by,a ffuryous King and a ffell,85& a ladye bright his brydle led,that seemlye itt was to see;& soe fast hee called vpon Sir Cawline,"Oh man, I redd thee fflye!ffor if cryance come vntill thy hart,90I am a-feard least thou mun dye."he sayes, "[no] cryance comes to my hart,nor ifaith I ffeare not thee;ffor because thou minged not christ before,Thee lesse me dreadeth thee."95but Sir Cawline he shooke a speare,the Kingwas bold, and abode,& the timber these 2 Children boresoe soone in sunder slode,ffor they tooke & 2 good swords,100& they Layden on good Loade.but the Elridge Kingwas mickle of might,& stiffly to the ground did stand;but Sir Cawline with an aukeward strokehe brought him ffrom his hand,105I, & fflying ouer his head soe hye,ffell downe ofthat Lay land:& his lady stood a litle thereby,ffast ringing her hands:"for they maydens louethat you haue most meed,110smyte you my Lord no more,& heest neuercome vpon Eldrige [hill]him to sport, gamon, or play,& to meete noe man of middle earth,&that liues on christs his lay."115but he then vp, andthat Eldryge Kingsett him in his sadle againe,&that Eldryge King& his Ladyeto their castle are they gone.& hee tooke then vp &that Eldryge sword120as hard as any fflynt,& soe he did those ringes 5,harder than ffyer, and brent.ffirst he presented to the Kings daughterthey hand, & then they sword.125"but a serrett buffett you haue him giuen,the King& the crowne!" she sayd,"I, but 34 stripescomen beside the rood."& a Gyant that was both stiffe [&] strong,130he lope now them amonge,& vpon his squier 5 heads he bare,vnmackley made was hee.& he dranke then on the Kings wine,& hee put the cup in his sleeue;135& all thé trembled & were wanffor feare he shold them greeffe."Ile tell thee mine Arrand, King," he sayes,"mine errand what I doe heere;ffor I will bren thy temples hye,140or Ile haue thy daughter deere;in, or else vpon, yond more soe broodthou shalt ffind mee a ppeare."the Kinghe turned him round about,(Lord, in his heart he was woe!),145says, "is there noe Knight of the round tablethis matter will vndergoe?"I, & hee shall haue my broad Lands,& keepe them well his liue;I, and soe hee shall my daughter deere,150to be his weded wiffe."& then stood vp Sir Cawlinehis owne errand ffor to say."ifaith, I wold to god, Sir," sayd Sir Cawline,"that Soldan I will assay.155"goe, ffeitch me downe my Eldrige sword,ffor I woone itt att [a] ffray.""but away, away!" sayd the hend Soldan,"thou tarryest mee here all day!"but the hend Soldan and Sir Cawline160thé ffought a summers day:now has hee slainethat hend Soldan,& brought his 5 heads away.& the Kinghas betaken him his broade lands& all his venison.165"but take you too & your Lands [soe] broad,& brooke them well your liffe,ffor you promised mee your daughter deereto be my weded wiffe.""now by my ffaith," then sayes our King,170"fforthat wee will not striffe;ffor thou shalt haue my daughter dereto be thy weded wiffe."the other morninge Sir Cawline roseby the dawning of the day,175& vntill a garden did he goehis Mattins ffor to say;&that bespyed a ffalse steward—a shames deaththat he might dye!—& he lett a lyon out of a bande,180Sir Cawline ffor to teare;& he had noe wepon him vpon,nor noe wepon did weare.but hee tooke then his Mantle of greene,into the Lyons mouth itt thrust;185he held the Lyon soe sore to the walltill the Lyons hart did burst.& the watchmen cryed vpon the walls& sayd, "Sir Cawlines slaine!and with a beast is not ffull litle,190a Lyon of Mickle mayne."then the Kings daughter shee ffell downe,"for peerlesse is my payne!""O peace, my Lady!" sayes Sir Cawline,"I haue bought thy loue ffull deere.195O peace, my Lady!" sayes Sir Cawline,"peace, Lady, ffor I am heere!"then he did marry this Kings daughterwith gold & siluer bright,& 15 sonnes this Ladye beere200to Sir Cawline the Knight.
Iesus: lord mickle of might,that dyed ffor vs on the roodeto maintaine vs in all our right,that loues true English blood.
ffor by a Knight I say my song,5was bold & ffull hardye;Sir Robert Briuse wold fforth to ffightin-to Ireland ouer the sea;
& inthat land dwells a kingwhich ouer all does beare the bell,10& with him there dwelled a curteous Knight,men call him Sir Cawline.
And he hath a Ladye to his daughter,of ffashyon shee hath noe peere;Knights & lordes they woed her both,15trusted to haue beene her peere.
Sir Cawline loues her best of oné,but nothing durst hee sayto discreeue his councell to noe man,but deerlye loued this mayd.20
till itt beffell vpon a day,great dill to him was dight;the maydens loue remoued his mind,to care bed went the Knight;
& one while he spread his armes him ffroe,25& cryed soe pittyouslye"ffor the maydens louethat I haue most minde,this day may comfort mee,or else ere noone I shalbe dead!"thus can Sir Cawline say.30
when our parish massethat itt was done,& our king was bowne to dine,he sayes, "where is Sir Cawlinethat was wont to serue me with ale and wine?"
but then answered a curteous Knight35ffast wringinge his hands,"Sir Cawlines sicke, & like to be deadwithout and a good leedginge."
"ffeitch yee downe my daughter deere,shee is a Leeche ffull ffine;40I, and take you doe & the baken bread,and eene on the wine soe red,& looke no day[n]tinesse ffor him to deare,for ffull loth I wold him teene."
this Ladye is gone to his chamber,45her maydens ffollowing Nye,"O well," shee sayth, "how doth my Lord?""O sicke!" againe saith hee.
"I, but rise vp wightlye, man, for shame:neuer lye soe cowardlye here!50itt is told in my ffathers hall,ffor my loue you will dye."
"itt is ffor your Loue, ffayre Ladye,that all this dill I drye.ffor if you wold comfort me with a Kisse,55then were I brought ffrom bale to blisse,noe longer here wold I lye."
"alas! soe well you know, Sir Knight,I cannott bee your peere.""ffor some deeds of armes ffaine wold I doe60to be your Bacheeleere."
"vpon Eldridge hill there growes a thornevpon the mores brodinge;& wold you, Sir Knight, wake there all nightto day of the other Morninge?65
"ffor the Eldrige Kingthat is mickle of Mightwill examine you beforne;& there was neuer manthat bare his liffe awaysince the daythat I was borne."
"but I will ffor your sake, ffaire Ladye,70walke on the bents [soe] browne,& Ile either bring you a readye tokenor Ile neuer come to you againe."
but this Ladye is gone to her Chamber,her Maydens ffollowing bright;75& Sir Cawlins gone to the mores soe broad,ffor to wake there all night.
vnto midnight they Moone did rise,he walked vp and downe,& a lightsome bugle then heard he blow80ouer the bents soe browne.saies hee, "and if cryance come vntill my hart,I am ffarr ffrom any good towne;"
& he spyed ene a litle him by,a ffuryous King and a ffell,85& a ladye bright his brydle led,that seemlye itt was to see;
& soe fast hee called vpon Sir Cawline,"Oh man, I redd thee fflye!ffor if cryance come vntill thy hart,90I am a-feard least thou mun dye."
he sayes, "[no] cryance comes to my hart,nor ifaith I ffeare not thee;ffor because thou minged not christ before,Thee lesse me dreadeth thee."95
but Sir Cawline he shooke a speare,the Kingwas bold, and abode,& the timber these 2 Children boresoe soone in sunder slode,ffor they tooke & 2 good swords,100& they Layden on good Loade.
but the Elridge Kingwas mickle of might,& stiffly to the ground did stand;but Sir Cawline with an aukeward strokehe brought him ffrom his hand,105I, & fflying ouer his head soe hye,ffell downe ofthat Lay land:
& his lady stood a litle thereby,ffast ringing her hands:"for they maydens louethat you haue most meed,110smyte you my Lord no more,
& heest neuercome vpon Eldrige [hill]him to sport, gamon, or play,& to meete noe man of middle earth,&that liues on christs his lay."115
but he then vp, andthat Eldryge Kingsett him in his sadle againe,&that Eldryge King& his Ladyeto their castle are they gone.
& hee tooke then vp &that Eldryge sword120as hard as any fflynt,& soe he did those ringes 5,harder than ffyer, and brent.
ffirst he presented to the Kings daughterthey hand, & then they sword.125"but a serrett buffett you haue him giuen,the King& the crowne!" she sayd,"I, but 34 stripescomen beside the rood."
& a Gyant that was both stiffe [&] strong,130he lope now them amonge,& vpon his squier 5 heads he bare,vnmackley made was hee.
& he dranke then on the Kings wine,& hee put the cup in his sleeue;135& all thé trembled & were wanffor feare he shold them greeffe.
"Ile tell thee mine Arrand, King," he sayes,"mine errand what I doe heere;ffor I will bren thy temples hye,140or Ile haue thy daughter deere;in, or else vpon, yond more soe broodthou shalt ffind mee a ppeare."
the Kinghe turned him round about,(Lord, in his heart he was woe!),145says, "is there noe Knight of the round tablethis matter will vndergoe?
"I, & hee shall haue my broad Lands,& keepe them well his liue;I, and soe hee shall my daughter deere,150to be his weded wiffe."
& then stood vp Sir Cawlinehis owne errand ffor to say."ifaith, I wold to god, Sir," sayd Sir Cawline,"that Soldan I will assay.155
"goe, ffeitch me downe my Eldrige sword,ffor I woone itt att [a] ffray.""but away, away!" sayd the hend Soldan,"thou tarryest mee here all day!"
but the hend Soldan and Sir Cawline160thé ffought a summers day:now has hee slainethat hend Soldan,& brought his 5 heads away.
& the Kinghas betaken him his broade lands& all his venison.165
"but take you too & your Lands [soe] broad,& brooke them well your liffe,ffor you promised mee your daughter deereto be my weded wiffe."
"now by my ffaith," then sayes our King,170"fforthat wee will not striffe;ffor thou shalt haue my daughter dereto be thy weded wiffe."
the other morninge Sir Cawline roseby the dawning of the day,175& vntill a garden did he goehis Mattins ffor to say;&that bespyed a ffalse steward—a shames deaththat he might dye!—
& he lett a lyon out of a bande,180Sir Cawline ffor to teare;& he had noe wepon him vpon,nor noe wepon did weare.
but hee tooke then his Mantle of greene,into the Lyons mouth itt thrust;185he held the Lyon soe sore to the walltill the Lyons hart did burst.
& the watchmen cryed vpon the walls& sayd, "Sir Cawlines slaine!and with a beast is not ffull litle,190a Lyon of Mickle mayne."then the Kings daughter shee ffell downe,"for peerlesse is my payne!"
"O peace, my Lady!" sayes Sir Cawline,"I haue bought thy loue ffull deere.195O peace, my Lady!" sayes Sir Cawline,"peace, Lady, ffor I am heere!"
then he did marry this Kings daughterwith gold & siluer bright,& 15 sonnes this Ladye beere200to Sir Cawline the Knight.
ffins.]
FOOTNOTES:[336]SeeNorthern Antiquities, &c.vol. i. p. 318; vol. ii. p. 100.Memoires de la Chevalerie, tom. i. p. 44.[337][mate.][338][describe.][339][maiden.][340][grief.][341][wrought.][342][sorrow.][343][must.][344][made ready.][345][medical care.][346][This is an odd misreading of Percy's. The MS. has "I and take you doe and the baken bread," wheredoeis the auxiliary verb and theandredundant.][347][lose.][348][swiftly.][349][pain I suffer.][350][knight.][351][if.][352][spectral, lonesome.][353][wide moors.][354][great.][355][before.][356][harm.][357][pagan.][358]Perhapswake, as above in ver. 61.[359][leaped.][360][fields.][361][if fear come to.][362][fierce.][363][advise.][364][mentioned.][365]i. e.Knights. See the Preface toChild Waters, vol. iii.[366][split.][367][laid.][368][burst.][369][battle.][370]Ver. 109, aukeward. MS.[371][green sward.][372][commands.][373][law.][374][fight.][375][slain.][376][spurred.][377][neither stopped nor lingered.][378][fetched.][379][since thou hast engaged.][380][mate.][381][started.][382][I know he would slay us.][383][verily.][384][bond or covenant.][385][rather.][386][lose.][387][nigh.][388][fine cloth.][389][leather jacket.][390][coat of mail.][391][quickly.][392][countenance.][393][flashed.][394][complexion.][395][bowed.][396][courteous.][397][injured.][398][burn.][399][equal.][400][mis-shapen.][401][reward.][402][detainest.][403][give blows.][404][unless.][405]["or else," redundant from a misunderstanding of the wordbut.][406][captivity.][407][rather.][408][come to harm.][409][mate.][410][deep-drawn.]
[336]SeeNorthern Antiquities, &c.vol. i. p. 318; vol. ii. p. 100.Memoires de la Chevalerie, tom. i. p. 44.
[336]SeeNorthern Antiquities, &c.vol. i. p. 318; vol. ii. p. 100.Memoires de la Chevalerie, tom. i. p. 44.
[337][mate.]
[337][mate.]
[338][describe.]
[338][describe.]
[339][maiden.]
[339][maiden.]
[340][grief.]
[340][grief.]
[341][wrought.]
[341][wrought.]
[342][sorrow.]
[342][sorrow.]
[343][must.]
[343][must.]
[344][made ready.]
[344][made ready.]
[345][medical care.]
[345][medical care.]
[346][This is an odd misreading of Percy's. The MS. has "I and take you doe and the baken bread," wheredoeis the auxiliary verb and theandredundant.]
[346][This is an odd misreading of Percy's. The MS. has "I and take you doe and the baken bread," wheredoeis the auxiliary verb and theandredundant.]
[347][lose.]
[347][lose.]
[348][swiftly.]
[348][swiftly.]
[349][pain I suffer.]
[349][pain I suffer.]
[350][knight.]
[350][knight.]
[351][if.]
[351][if.]
[352][spectral, lonesome.]
[352][spectral, lonesome.]
[353][wide moors.]
[353][wide moors.]
[354][great.]
[354][great.]
[355][before.]
[355][before.]
[356][harm.]
[356][harm.]
[357][pagan.]
[357][pagan.]
[358]Perhapswake, as above in ver. 61.
[358]Perhapswake, as above in ver. 61.
[359][leaped.]
[359][leaped.]
[360][fields.]
[360][fields.]
[361][if fear come to.]
[361][if fear come to.]
[362][fierce.]
[362][fierce.]
[363][advise.]
[363][advise.]
[364][mentioned.]
[364][mentioned.]
[365]i. e.Knights. See the Preface toChild Waters, vol. iii.
[365]i. e.Knights. See the Preface toChild Waters, vol. iii.
[366][split.]
[366][split.]
[367][laid.]
[367][laid.]
[368][burst.]
[368][burst.]
[369][battle.]
[369][battle.]
[370]Ver. 109, aukeward. MS.
[370]Ver. 109, aukeward. MS.
[371][green sward.]
[371][green sward.]
[372][commands.]
[372][commands.]
[373][law.]
[373][law.]
[374][fight.]
[374][fight.]
[375][slain.]
[375][slain.]
[376][spurred.]
[376][spurred.]
[377][neither stopped nor lingered.]
[377][neither stopped nor lingered.]
[378][fetched.]
[378][fetched.]
[379][since thou hast engaged.]
[379][since thou hast engaged.]
[380][mate.]
[380][mate.]
[381][started.]
[381][started.]
[382][I know he would slay us.]
[382][I know he would slay us.]
[383][verily.]
[383][verily.]
[384][bond or covenant.]
[384][bond or covenant.]
[385][rather.]
[385][rather.]
[386][lose.]
[386][lose.]
[387][nigh.]
[387][nigh.]
[388][fine cloth.]
[388][fine cloth.]
[389][leather jacket.]
[389][leather jacket.]
[390][coat of mail.]
[390][coat of mail.]
[391][quickly.]
[391][quickly.]
[392][countenance.]
[392][countenance.]
[393][flashed.]
[393][flashed.]
[394][complexion.]
[394][complexion.]
[395][bowed.]
[395][bowed.]
[396][courteous.]
[396][courteous.]
[397][injured.]
[397][injured.]
[398][burn.]
[398][burn.]
[399][equal.]
[399][equal.]
[400][mis-shapen.]
[400][mis-shapen.]
[401][reward.]
[401][reward.]
[402][detainest.]
[402][detainest.]
[403][give blows.]
[403][give blows.]
[404][unless.]
[404][unless.]
[405]["or else," redundant from a misunderstanding of the wordbut.]
[405]["or else," redundant from a misunderstanding of the wordbut.]
[406][captivity.]
[406][captivity.]
[407][rather.]
[407][rather.]
[408][come to harm.]
[408][come to harm.]
[409][mate.]
[409][mate.]
[410][deep-drawn.]
[410][deep-drawn.]
A Scottish Ballad.
From a MS. copy transmitted from Scotland.
[Theaffectedly antique orthography of this ballad has caused some to suppose that it was a modern invention, probably by Lady Wardlaw, the author ofHardyknute, but Motherwell obtained another version from the recitation of an old woman, which he printed in hisMinstrelsyunder the title of "Son Davie, son Davie." He there says that there is reason to believe that Lord Hailes "made a few slight verbal improvements in the copy he transmitted, and altered the hero's name to Edward, a name which, by the bye, never occurs in a Scottish ballad except where allusion is made to an English king."There is a Swedish ballad of the same character entitledTheFratricide's Lament and Dialogue with his Mother before he wandersaway from home for ever.The form of a dialogue between a mother and her son is a favourite one in the old ballads, and "Lord Donald" in Kinloch'sScottish Balladsand "Lord Randal" in Scott'sMinstrelsybear some likeness to the ballad of "Edward." The hero is supposed to have been poisoned by eating toads prepared as a dish of fishes, and the last stanza of Kinloch's ballad is as follows:—
[Theaffectedly antique orthography of this ballad has caused some to suppose that it was a modern invention, probably by Lady Wardlaw, the author ofHardyknute, but Motherwell obtained another version from the recitation of an old woman, which he printed in hisMinstrelsyunder the title of "Son Davie, son Davie." He there says that there is reason to believe that Lord Hailes "made a few slight verbal improvements in the copy he transmitted, and altered the hero's name to Edward, a name which, by the bye, never occurs in a Scottish ballad except where allusion is made to an English king."
There is a Swedish ballad of the same character entitledTheFratricide's Lament and Dialogue with his Mother before he wandersaway from home for ever.
The form of a dialogue between a mother and her son is a favourite one in the old ballads, and "Lord Donald" in Kinloch'sScottish Balladsand "Lord Randal" in Scott'sMinstrelsybear some likeness to the ballad of "Edward." The hero is supposed to have been poisoned by eating toads prepared as a dish of fishes, and the last stanza of Kinloch's ballad is as follows:—
"What will ye leave to your true love, Lord Donald,My son?What will ye leave to your true love,My jollie young man?The tow and the halter for to hang on yon tree,And lat her hang there for the poysoning o' me."]
"What will ye leave to your true love, Lord Donald,My son?What will ye leave to your true love,My jollie young man?The tow and the halter for to hang on yon tree,And lat her hang there for the poysoning o' me."]
Quhy dois your brand sae drop wi' bluid,[411]Edward, Edward?Quhy dois your brand sae drop wi' bluid?And quhy sae sad gang yee, O?[412]O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,5Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid:And I had nae mair bot hee,[413]O.Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,Edward, Edward.10Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,My deir son I tell thee, O.O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,Mither, Mither:O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,15That erst was sae fair and free, O.Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Edward, Edward:Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Sum other dule ye drie,[414]O.20O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Alas! and wae is me, O!And quhatten penance wul ye drie[415]for that,25Edward, Edward?And quhatten penance will ye drie for that?My deir son, now tell me, O.Ile set my feit in yonder boat,Mither, mither:30Ile set my feit in yonder boat,And Ile fare[416]ovir the sea, O.And quhat wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha',[417]Edward, Edward?And quhat wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha',35That were sae fair to see, O?Ile let thame stand til they doun fa',[418]Mither, mither:Ile let thame stand til they doun fa',For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.40And quhat wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Edward, Edward?And quhat wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Quhan ye gang ovir the sea, O?The warldis room,[419]let thame beg throw life,45Mither, mither:The warldis room, let thame beg throw life,For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.And quhat wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,Edward, Edward?50And quhat wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?My deir son, now tell me, O.The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,Mither, mither:The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,55Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.
Quhy dois your brand sae drop wi' bluid,[411]Edward, Edward?Quhy dois your brand sae drop wi' bluid?And quhy sae sad gang yee, O?[412]O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,5Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid:And I had nae mair bot hee,[413]O.
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,Edward, Edward.10Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,My deir son I tell thee, O.O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,Mither, Mither:O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,15That erst was sae fair and free, O.
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Edward, Edward:Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Sum other dule ye drie,[414]O.20O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Alas! and wae is me, O!
And quhatten penance wul ye drie[415]for that,25Edward, Edward?And quhatten penance will ye drie for that?My deir son, now tell me, O.Ile set my feit in yonder boat,Mither, mither:30Ile set my feit in yonder boat,And Ile fare[416]ovir the sea, O.
And quhat wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha',[417]Edward, Edward?And quhat wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha',35That were sae fair to see, O?Ile let thame stand til they doun fa',[418]Mither, mither:Ile let thame stand til they doun fa',For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.40
And quhat wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Edward, Edward?And quhat wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Quhan ye gang ovir the sea, O?The warldis room,[419]let thame beg throw life,45Mither, mither:The warldis room, let thame beg throw life,For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.
And quhat wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,Edward, Edward?50And quhat wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?My deir son, now tell me, O.The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,Mither, mither:The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,55Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.
This curious song was transmitted to the editor by Sir David Dalrymple, Bart., late Lord Hailes.
FOOTNOTES:[411][why does your sword so drop with blood.][412][and why so sad go ye.][413][no other but he.][414][some other grief you suffer.][415][undergo.][416][pass.][417][hall.][418][fall.][419][the world's large.]
[411][why does your sword so drop with blood.]
[411][why does your sword so drop with blood.]
[412][and why so sad go ye.]
[412][and why so sad go ye.]
[413][no other but he.]
[413][no other but he.]
[414][some other grief you suffer.]
[414][some other grief you suffer.]
[415][undergo.]
[415][undergo.]
[416][pass.]
[416][pass.]
[417][hall.]
[417][hall.]
[418][fall.]
[418][fall.]
[419][the world's large.]
[419][the world's large.]
Thisold Romantic Legend (which is given from two copies, one of them in the editor's folio MS., but which contained very great variations), bears marks of considerable antiquity, and, perhaps, ought to have taken place of any in this volume. It would seem to have been written while part of Spain was in the hands of the Saracens or Moors: whose empire there was not fully extinguished before the year 1491. The Mahometans are spoken of in v. 49, &c., just in the same terms as in all other old romances. The author of the ancient Legend ofSir Bevisrepresents his hero, upon all occasions, breathing out defiance against
"Mahound and Termagaunte;"[420]
"Mahound and Termagaunte;"[420]
and so full of zeal for his religion, as to return the following polite message to a Paynim king's fair daughter, who had fallen in love with him, and sent two Saracen knights to invite him to her bower,
"I wyll not ones stirre off this grounde,To speake with an heathen hounde.Unchristen houndes, I rede you fle.Or I your harte bloud shall se."[421]
"I wyll not ones stirre off this grounde,To speake with an heathen hounde.Unchristen houndes, I rede you fle.Or I your harte bloud shall se."[421]
Indeed they return the compliment by calling him elsewhere "A christen hounde."[422]
This was conformable to the real manners of the barbarous ages: perhaps the same excuse will hardly serve our bard, for that Adland should be found lolling or leaning at his gate (v. 35) may be thought, perchance, a little out of character. And yet the great painter of manners, Homer, did not think it inconsistent with decorum to represent a king of the Taphians leaning at the gate of Ulysses to inquire for that monarch, when he touched at Ithaca as he was taking a voyage with a ship's cargo of iron to dispose in traffic.[423]So little ought we to judge of ancient manners by our own.
Before I conclude this article, I cannot help observing, that thereader will see, in this ballad, the character of the old Minstrels (those successors of the Bards) placed in a very respectable light:[424]here he will see one of them represented mounted on a fine horse, accompanied with an attendant to bear his harp after him, and to sing the poems of his composing. Here he will see him mixing in the company of kings without ceremony: no mean proof of the great antiquity of this poem. The farther we carry our inquiries back, the greater respect we find paid to the professors of poetry and music among all the Celtic and Gothic nations. Their character was deemed so sacred, that under its sanction our famous king Alfred (as we have already seen)[425]made no scruple to enter the Danish camp, and was at once admitted to the king's headquarters.[426]Our poet has suggested the same expedient to the heroes of this ballad. All the histories of the North are full of the great reverence paid to this order of men. Harold Harfagre, a celebrated King of Norway, was wont to seat them at his table above all the officers of his court: and we find another Norwegian king placing five of them by his side in a day of battle, that they might be eye-witnesses of the great exploits they were to celebrate.[427]As to Estmere's riding into the hall while the kings were at table, this was usual in the ages of chivalry; and even to this day we see a relic of this custom still kept up, in the champion's riding into Westminster Hall during the coronation dinner.[428]
Some liberties have been taken with this tale by the editor, but none without notice to the reader in that part which relates to the subject of the harper and his attendant.