18SIR LIONEL.

FOOTNOTES:[159]This I should have missed but for the kindness of Mr W. Macmath.[160]Motherwell's printed copy, Minstrelsy, p. 36, is thus made up: stanzas 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, from Cromek (D); 4-7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24-28, 30-37, fromB; 12, 17, 18 fromE. 23 ==A14. 10, 21, 22, 29, have not been found in his manuscripts. The first line of the burden is fromB, the second fromE. Motherwell alters his texts slightly, now and then.[161]C16, 17 are corrupted, and alsoF19, 23,G21; all three in a way which allows of easy emendation. Hymon [high, man] inCshould of course be Hyn Horn. The injunction inG,Hshould be to ask nothing for Peter or Paul's sake, but all for Horn's.[162]When Horn was near the city, he stopped to see how things would go. King Modun passed, with Wikel, in gay discourse of the charms of Rimild. Horn called out to them insultingly, and Modun asked who he was. Horn said he had formerly served a man of consequence as his fisherman: he had thrown a net almost seven years ago, and had now come to give it a look. If it had taken any fish, he would love it no more; if it should still be as he left it, he would carry it away. Modun thinks him a fool. (3984-4057, and nearly the same in 'Horn Childe and Maiden Rimild,' 77-79). This is part of a story in the Gesta Romanorum, of a soldier who loved the emperor's daughter, and went to the holy land for seven years, after a mutual exchange of fidelity for that time. A king comes to woo the princess, but is put off for seven years, upon her alleging that she has made a vow of virginity for so long. At the expiration of this term, the king and the soldier meet as they are on the way to the princess. The king, from certain passages between them, thinks the soldier a fool. The soldier takes leave of the king under pretence of looking after a net which he had laid in a certain place seven years before, rides on ahead, and slips away with the princess. Gest. Rom., Oesterley, p. 597, No 193; Grässe,II, 159; Madden, p. 32; Swan,I, p. lxv. A similar story in Campbell's Tales of the West Highlands,I, 281, 'Baillie Lunnain.' (Simrock, Deutsche Märchen, No 47, is apparently a translation from the Gesta.) The riddle of the hawk, slightly varied, is met with in the romance of Blonde of Oxford and Jehan of Dammartin, v. 2811 ff, 3143 ff, 3288 ff (ed. Le Roux de Lincy, pp. 98, 109, 114), and, still further modified, in Le Romant de Jehan de Paris, ed. Montaiglon, pp. 55, 63, 111. (Le Roux de Lincy, Köhler, Mussafia, G. Paris). 'Horn et Rimenhild,' it will be observed, has both riddles, and that of the net is introduced under circumstances entirely like those in the Gesta Romanorum. The French romance is certainly independent of the English in this passage.[163]See the excellent studies of King Horn by Wissmann, in Quellen und Forschungen, No 16, and Anglia,IV, 342 ff.[164]A,B, andE, which had not been printed at the time of his writing, will convince Professor Stimming, whose valuable review in Englische Studien,I, 351 ff, supplements, and in the matter ofderivation, I think, rectifies, Wissmann's Untersuchungen, that the king's daughter in the ballads was faithful to Horn, and that they were marrying her against her will, as in the romances. This contingency seems not to have been foreseen when the ring was given: but it must be admitted that it was better for the ring to change, to the temporary clouding of the lady's character, than to have Horn stay away and the forced marriage go on.[165]See the ample introduction to 'Henrik af Brunsvig,' in Grundtvig, No 114,II, 608 ff.[166]It appears that these half rings are often dug up. "Neuere Ausgrabungen haben vielfach auf solche Ringstücke geführt, die, als Zeichen unverbrüchlicher Treue, einst mit dem Geliebten gebrochen, ja wie der Augenschein beweist, entzwei geschnitten, und so ins Grab mitgenommen wurden, zum Zeichen dass die Liebe über den Tod hinaus daure." Rochholz, Schweizersagen aus dem Aargau,II, 116.[167]Translated, with introduction of verses fromA, by Prior, Ancient Danish Ballads,II, 71.[168]I have not seen this, and depend upon others here.[169]Gödeke, 'Reinfrît von Braunschweig,' p. 89, conjectures that the half ring was, or would have been, employed in the sequel by some impostor (the story may never have been finished) as evidence of Brunswick's death. A ring is so used in a Silesian tradition, of the general character of that of Henry the Lion, with the difference that the knight is awakened by a cock's crowing: 'Die Hahnkrähe bei Breslau,' in Kern's Schlesische Sagen-Chronik, p. 151. There is a variation of this last, without the deception by means of the ring, in Goedsche's Schlesischer Sagenschatz, p. 37, No 16.[170]There are marked correspondences between Boccaccio's story and the veritable history of Henry the Lion as given by Bartsch, Herzog Ernst, cxxvi f: e. g., the presents of clothes by the empress (transferred to Torello's wife), and the handsome behavior of two soldens, here attributed to Saladin.[171]Without the conclusion, also in Binder's Schwäbische Volkssagen,II, 173. These Volksmärchen, by the way, are "erzählt" by Gottschalk. It is not made quite so clear as could be wished, whether they are merely re-told.[172]Germaine's husband, after an absence of seven years, overcomes his wife's doubts of his identity by exhibiting half of her ring, whichhappenedto break the day of their wedding, or the day after: Puymaigre, p. 11, Champfleury, Chansons des Provinces, p. 77. The conclusion to Sir Tristrem, which Scott supplied, "abridged from the French metrical romance, in the style of Tomas of Erceldoune," makes Ganhardin lay a ring in a cup which Brengwain hands Ysonde, who recognizes the ring as Tristrem's token. The cup was one of the presents made to King Mark by Tristrem's envoy, and is transferred to Ysonde by Scott. The passage has been cited as ancient and genuine.[173]In the Greek rite, rings are used in the betrothal, which as a rule immediately precedes the marriage. The rings are exchanged by the priest and sponsors (Camarda says three times). Crowns, of vine twigs, etc., are the emblems in the nuptial ceremony, and these are also changed from one head to the other.[174]I was guided to nearly all these Greek ballads by Professor Liebrecht's notes, Zur Volkskunde, p. 207.[175]This high-mettled horse is a capital figure in most of the versions. In one of them the caution is given, "Do not feel safe in spurring him: he will scatter thy brains ten ells below the ground." The gray (otherwise the black) is of the same breed as the Russian Dobrynya's, a little way on; or the foal that took Charles the Great, under similar circumstances, from Passau to Aachen between morn and eve, ('Karl der Grosse,' from Enenkels Weltbuch, c. 1250, in von der Hagen's Gesammtabenteuer,II, 619 ff); or the black in the poem and tale of Thedel von Walmoden.[176]In Jeannaraki the bey says, "My slave, give us a song, and I will free you." John sings of his love, whom he was to lose that day. So Zambelios, as above, Tommaseo, p. 152, andΝεο. Αναλ.No. 20. Compare Brunswick, in Wyssenhere, and Moringer.[177]Otherwise: Nastasya waitssixyears, as desired; is told that Dobrynya is dead and is urged to marry Alesha; will not hear of marriage for six years more; Vladimir then interposes. Dobrynya is furious, as these absentees are sometimes pleased to be. He complains that women have long hair and short wits, and so does Brunswick in Wyssenhere's poem, st. 89. Numerous as are the instances of these long absences, the woman is rarely, if ever, represented as in the least to blame. The behavior of the man, on the other hand, is in some cases trying. Thus, the Conde Dirlos tells his young wife to wait for him seven years, and if he does not come in eight to marry the ninth. He accomplishes the object of his expedition in three years, but stays fifteen, never writes,—he had taken an unnecessary oath not to do that before he started,—and forbids anybody else to write, on pain of death. Such is his humor; but he is very much provoked at being reported dead. Wolf and Hofmann, Primavera y Flor de Romances,II, 129, No 164.[178]Kathá Sarit Ságara (of the early part of the 12th century), Tawney's translation,I, 136 ff. The story is cited by Rajna, in Romania,VI, 359. Herr v. Bodman leaves his marriage ring in a wash-bowl! Meier, Deutsche V. m. aus Schwaben, 214 f.[179]The ring given Horn by Rymenbild, in 'King Horn,' 579 ff (Wissmann), and in the French romance, 2056 ff, protects him against material harm or mishap, or assures him superiority in fight, as long as he is faithful. So in Buchan's version of 'Bonny Bee-Ho'm,' st. 8:'As lang's this ring's your body on,Your blood shall neer be drawn.'"The king's daughter of Linne" gives her champion two rings, one of which renders him invulnerable, and the other will staunch the blood of any of his men who may be wounded: Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Introduction, p. lvii. Eglamore's ring, Percy MS.,II, 363, st. 51, will preserve his life on water or land. A ring given Wolfdietrich by the empress,DVIII, st. 42, ed. Jänicke, doubles his strength and makes him fire-proof in his fight with the dragon. The ring lent Ywaine by his lady will keep him from prison, sickness, loss of blood, or being made captive in battle, and give him superiority to all antagonists, so long as he is true in love: Ritson, Met. Rom.I, 65, vv 1533 ff. But an Indian ring which Reinfrît receives from his wife before he departs for the crusade, 15,066 ff, has no equal, after all; for, besides doing as much as the best of these, it imparts perpetual good spirits. It is interesting to know that this matchless jewel had once been the property of a Scottish king, and was given by him to his daughter when she was sent to Norway to be married: under convoy of Sir Patrick Spens?

[159]This I should have missed but for the kindness of Mr W. Macmath.

[160]Motherwell's printed copy, Minstrelsy, p. 36, is thus made up: stanzas 1, 2, 3, 8, 15, from Cromek (D); 4-7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24-28, 30-37, fromB; 12, 17, 18 fromE. 23 ==A14. 10, 21, 22, 29, have not been found in his manuscripts. The first line of the burden is fromB, the second fromE. Motherwell alters his texts slightly, now and then.

[161]C16, 17 are corrupted, and alsoF19, 23,G21; all three in a way which allows of easy emendation. Hymon [high, man] inCshould of course be Hyn Horn. The injunction inG,Hshould be to ask nothing for Peter or Paul's sake, but all for Horn's.

[162]When Horn was near the city, he stopped to see how things would go. King Modun passed, with Wikel, in gay discourse of the charms of Rimild. Horn called out to them insultingly, and Modun asked who he was. Horn said he had formerly served a man of consequence as his fisherman: he had thrown a net almost seven years ago, and had now come to give it a look. If it had taken any fish, he would love it no more; if it should still be as he left it, he would carry it away. Modun thinks him a fool. (3984-4057, and nearly the same in 'Horn Childe and Maiden Rimild,' 77-79). This is part of a story in the Gesta Romanorum, of a soldier who loved the emperor's daughter, and went to the holy land for seven years, after a mutual exchange of fidelity for that time. A king comes to woo the princess, but is put off for seven years, upon her alleging that she has made a vow of virginity for so long. At the expiration of this term, the king and the soldier meet as they are on the way to the princess. The king, from certain passages between them, thinks the soldier a fool. The soldier takes leave of the king under pretence of looking after a net which he had laid in a certain place seven years before, rides on ahead, and slips away with the princess. Gest. Rom., Oesterley, p. 597, No 193; Grässe,II, 159; Madden, p. 32; Swan,I, p. lxv. A similar story in Campbell's Tales of the West Highlands,I, 281, 'Baillie Lunnain.' (Simrock, Deutsche Märchen, No 47, is apparently a translation from the Gesta.) The riddle of the hawk, slightly varied, is met with in the romance of Blonde of Oxford and Jehan of Dammartin, v. 2811 ff, 3143 ff, 3288 ff (ed. Le Roux de Lincy, pp. 98, 109, 114), and, still further modified, in Le Romant de Jehan de Paris, ed. Montaiglon, pp. 55, 63, 111. (Le Roux de Lincy, Köhler, Mussafia, G. Paris). 'Horn et Rimenhild,' it will be observed, has both riddles, and that of the net is introduced under circumstances entirely like those in the Gesta Romanorum. The French romance is certainly independent of the English in this passage.

[163]See the excellent studies of King Horn by Wissmann, in Quellen und Forschungen, No 16, and Anglia,IV, 342 ff.

[164]A,B, andE, which had not been printed at the time of his writing, will convince Professor Stimming, whose valuable review in Englische Studien,I, 351 ff, supplements, and in the matter ofderivation, I think, rectifies, Wissmann's Untersuchungen, that the king's daughter in the ballads was faithful to Horn, and that they were marrying her against her will, as in the romances. This contingency seems not to have been foreseen when the ring was given: but it must be admitted that it was better for the ring to change, to the temporary clouding of the lady's character, than to have Horn stay away and the forced marriage go on.

[165]See the ample introduction to 'Henrik af Brunsvig,' in Grundtvig, No 114,II, 608 ff.

[166]It appears that these half rings are often dug up. "Neuere Ausgrabungen haben vielfach auf solche Ringstücke geführt, die, als Zeichen unverbrüchlicher Treue, einst mit dem Geliebten gebrochen, ja wie der Augenschein beweist, entzwei geschnitten, und so ins Grab mitgenommen wurden, zum Zeichen dass die Liebe über den Tod hinaus daure." Rochholz, Schweizersagen aus dem Aargau,II, 116.

[167]Translated, with introduction of verses fromA, by Prior, Ancient Danish Ballads,II, 71.

[168]I have not seen this, and depend upon others here.

[169]Gödeke, 'Reinfrît von Braunschweig,' p. 89, conjectures that the half ring was, or would have been, employed in the sequel by some impostor (the story may never have been finished) as evidence of Brunswick's death. A ring is so used in a Silesian tradition, of the general character of that of Henry the Lion, with the difference that the knight is awakened by a cock's crowing: 'Die Hahnkrähe bei Breslau,' in Kern's Schlesische Sagen-Chronik, p. 151. There is a variation of this last, without the deception by means of the ring, in Goedsche's Schlesischer Sagenschatz, p. 37, No 16.

[170]There are marked correspondences between Boccaccio's story and the veritable history of Henry the Lion as given by Bartsch, Herzog Ernst, cxxvi f: e. g., the presents of clothes by the empress (transferred to Torello's wife), and the handsome behavior of two soldens, here attributed to Saladin.

[171]Without the conclusion, also in Binder's Schwäbische Volkssagen,II, 173. These Volksmärchen, by the way, are "erzählt" by Gottschalk. It is not made quite so clear as could be wished, whether they are merely re-told.

[172]Germaine's husband, after an absence of seven years, overcomes his wife's doubts of his identity by exhibiting half of her ring, whichhappenedto break the day of their wedding, or the day after: Puymaigre, p. 11, Champfleury, Chansons des Provinces, p. 77. The conclusion to Sir Tristrem, which Scott supplied, "abridged from the French metrical romance, in the style of Tomas of Erceldoune," makes Ganhardin lay a ring in a cup which Brengwain hands Ysonde, who recognizes the ring as Tristrem's token. The cup was one of the presents made to King Mark by Tristrem's envoy, and is transferred to Ysonde by Scott. The passage has been cited as ancient and genuine.

[173]In the Greek rite, rings are used in the betrothal, which as a rule immediately precedes the marriage. The rings are exchanged by the priest and sponsors (Camarda says three times). Crowns, of vine twigs, etc., are the emblems in the nuptial ceremony, and these are also changed from one head to the other.

[174]I was guided to nearly all these Greek ballads by Professor Liebrecht's notes, Zur Volkskunde, p. 207.

[175]This high-mettled horse is a capital figure in most of the versions. In one of them the caution is given, "Do not feel safe in spurring him: he will scatter thy brains ten ells below the ground." The gray (otherwise the black) is of the same breed as the Russian Dobrynya's, a little way on; or the foal that took Charles the Great, under similar circumstances, from Passau to Aachen between morn and eve, ('Karl der Grosse,' from Enenkels Weltbuch, c. 1250, in von der Hagen's Gesammtabenteuer,II, 619 ff); or the black in the poem and tale of Thedel von Walmoden.

[176]In Jeannaraki the bey says, "My slave, give us a song, and I will free you." John sings of his love, whom he was to lose that day. So Zambelios, as above, Tommaseo, p. 152, andΝεο. Αναλ.No. 20. Compare Brunswick, in Wyssenhere, and Moringer.

[177]Otherwise: Nastasya waitssixyears, as desired; is told that Dobrynya is dead and is urged to marry Alesha; will not hear of marriage for six years more; Vladimir then interposes. Dobrynya is furious, as these absentees are sometimes pleased to be. He complains that women have long hair and short wits, and so does Brunswick in Wyssenhere's poem, st. 89. Numerous as are the instances of these long absences, the woman is rarely, if ever, represented as in the least to blame. The behavior of the man, on the other hand, is in some cases trying. Thus, the Conde Dirlos tells his young wife to wait for him seven years, and if he does not come in eight to marry the ninth. He accomplishes the object of his expedition in three years, but stays fifteen, never writes,—he had taken an unnecessary oath not to do that before he started,—and forbids anybody else to write, on pain of death. Such is his humor; but he is very much provoked at being reported dead. Wolf and Hofmann, Primavera y Flor de Romances,II, 129, No 164.

[178]Kathá Sarit Ságara (of the early part of the 12th century), Tawney's translation,I, 136 ff. The story is cited by Rajna, in Romania,VI, 359. Herr v. Bodman leaves his marriage ring in a wash-bowl! Meier, Deutsche V. m. aus Schwaben, 214 f.

[179]The ring given Horn by Rymenbild, in 'King Horn,' 579 ff (Wissmann), and in the French romance, 2056 ff, protects him against material harm or mishap, or assures him superiority in fight, as long as he is faithful. So in Buchan's version of 'Bonny Bee-Ho'm,' st. 8:'As lang's this ring's your body on,Your blood shall neer be drawn.'"The king's daughter of Linne" gives her champion two rings, one of which renders him invulnerable, and the other will staunch the blood of any of his men who may be wounded: Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Introduction, p. lvii. Eglamore's ring, Percy MS.,II, 363, st. 51, will preserve his life on water or land. A ring given Wolfdietrich by the empress,DVIII, st. 42, ed. Jänicke, doubles his strength and makes him fire-proof in his fight with the dragon. The ring lent Ywaine by his lady will keep him from prison, sickness, loss of blood, or being made captive in battle, and give him superiority to all antagonists, so long as he is true in love: Ritson, Met. Rom.I, 65, vv 1533 ff. But an Indian ring which Reinfrît receives from his wife before he departs for the crusade, 15,066 ff, has no equal, after all; for, besides doing as much as the best of these, it imparts perpetual good spirits. It is interesting to know that this matchless jewel had once been the property of a Scottish king, and was given by him to his daughter when she was sent to Norway to be married: under convoy of Sir Patrick Spens?

'As lang's this ring's your body on,Your blood shall neer be drawn.'

"The king's daughter of Linne" gives her champion two rings, one of which renders him invulnerable, and the other will staunch the blood of any of his men who may be wounded: Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Introduction, p. lvii. Eglamore's ring, Percy MS.,II, 363, st. 51, will preserve his life on water or land. A ring given Wolfdietrich by the empress,DVIII, st. 42, ed. Jänicke, doubles his strength and makes him fire-proof in his fight with the dragon. The ring lent Ywaine by his lady will keep him from prison, sickness, loss of blood, or being made captive in battle, and give him superiority to all antagonists, so long as he is true in love: Ritson, Met. Rom.I, 65, vv 1533 ff. But an Indian ring which Reinfrît receives from his wife before he departs for the crusade, 15,066 ff, has no equal, after all; for, besides doing as much as the best of these, it imparts perpetual good spirits. It is interesting to know that this matchless jewel had once been the property of a Scottish king, and was given by him to his daughter when she was sent to Norway to be married: under convoy of Sir Patrick Spens?

A.'Sir Lionell,' Percy MS., p. 32, Hales and Furnivall,I, 75.B.'Isaac-a-Bell and Hugh the Græme,' Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs,I, 110.C. a.'The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove,' Allies, The British, Roman and Saxon Antiquities and Folk-Lore of Worcestershire, 2d ed., p. 116.b.Bell's Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 124.D.Allies, as above, p. 118.E. a.'The Old Man and his Three Sons,' Bell, as above, p. 250.b.Mr Robert White's papers.F.Allies, as above, p. 120.

A.'Sir Lionell,' Percy MS., p. 32, Hales and Furnivall,I, 75.

B.'Isaac-a-Bell and Hugh the Græme,' Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs,I, 110.

C. a.'The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove,' Allies, The British, Roman and Saxon Antiquities and Folk-Lore of Worcestershire, 2d ed., p. 116.b.Bell's Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 124.

D.Allies, as above, p. 118.

E. a.'The Old Man and his Three Sons,' Bell, as above, p. 250.b.Mr Robert White's papers.

F.Allies, as above, p. 120.

Bcan be traced in Banffshire, according to Christie, for more than a hundred years, through the old woman that sang it, and her forbears.C a,Dwere originally published by Allies in the year 1845, in a pamphlet bearing the title The Jovial Hunter of Bromsgrove, Horne the Hunter, and Robin Hood. No intimation as to the source of his copy,C b, is given by Bell, i. e., Dixon. Apparently all the variations from Allies,C a, are of the nature of editorial improvements.E ais said (1857) to be current in the north of England as a nursery song.

One half ofA, the oldest and fullest copy of this ballad (the second and fourth quarters), is wanting in the Percy MS. What we can gather of the story is this. A knight finds a lady sitting in a tree,A,C,D[under a tree,E], who tells him that a wild boar has slain Sir Broning,A[killed her lord and thirty of his men,C; worried her lord and wounded thirty,E]. The knight kills the boar,B-D, and seems to have received bad wounds in the process,A,B; the boar belonged to a giant,B; or a wild woman,C,D. The knight is required to forfeit his hawks and leash, and the little finger of his right hand,A[his horse, his hound, and his lady,C]. He refuses to submit to such disgrace, though in no condition to resist,A; the giant allows him time to heal his wounds, forty days,A; thirty-three,B; and he is to leave his lady as security for his return,A. At the end of this time the knight comes back sound and well,A,B, and kills the giant as he had killed the boar,B.CandDsay nothing of the knight having been wounded. The wild woman, to revenge her "pretty spotted pig," flies fiercely at him, and he cleaves her in two. The last quarter of the Percy copy would, no doubt, reveal what became of the lady who was sitting in the tree, as to which the traditional copies give no light.

Our ballad has much in common with the romance of 'Sir Eglamour of Artois,' Percy MS., Hales and Furnivall,II, 338; Thornton Romances, Camden Society, ed. Halliwell, p. 121; Ellis, Metrical Romances, from an early printed copy, Bohn's ed., p. 527. Eglamour, simple knight, loving Christabel, an earl's daughter, is required by the father, who does not wish him well, to do three deeds of arms, the second being to kill a boar in the kingdom of Sattin or Sydon, which had been known to slay forty armed knights in one day (Percy, st. 37). This Eglamour does, after a very severe fight. The boar belonged to a giant, who had kept him fifteen years to slay Christian men (Thornton, st. 42, Percy, 40). This giant had demanded the king of Sydon's daughter's hand, and comes to carry her off, by force, if necessary, the day following the boar-fight. Eglamour, who had been found by the king in the forest, in a state of exhaustion, after a contest which had lasted to the third or fourth day, and had been taken home by him and kindly cared for, is now ready for action again. He goes to the castle walls with a squire, who carries the boar's head on a spear. The giant, seeing the head, exclaims,

'Alas, art thou dead!My trust was all in thee!Now by the law that I lieve in,My little speckled hoglin,Dear bought shall thy death be.'

Percy, st. 44.

Eglamour kills the giant, and returns to Artois with both heads. The earl has another adventure ready for him, and hopes the third chance may quit all. Eglamour asks for twelve weeks to rest his weary body.

Bcomes nearest the romance, and possibly even the wood of Tore is a reminiscence of Artois. The colloquy with the giant inBis also, perhaps, suggested by one which had previously taken place between Eglamour and another giant, brother of this, after the knight had killed one of his harts (Percy, st. 25).C11,D9 strikingly resemble the passage of the romance cited above (Percy, 44, Thornton, 47).

The ballad has also taken up something from the romance of 'Eger and Grime,' Percy MS., Hales and Furnivall,I, 341; Laing, Early Metrical Tales, p. 1; 'Sir Eger, Sir Grahame, and Sir Gray-Steel,' Ellis's Specimens, p. 546. Sir Egrabell (Rackabello, Isaac-a-Bell), Lionel's father, recalls Sir Eger, and Hugh the Græme inBis of course the Grahame or Grime of the romance, the Hugh being derived from a later ballad. Gray-Steel, a man of proof, although not quite a giant, cuts off the little finger of Eger's right hand, as the giant proposes to do to Lionel inA21.

The friar inE13, 41, may be a corruption of Ryalas, or some like name, as the first line of the burden ofE, 'Wind well,Lion, good hunter,' seems to be a perversion of 'Wind wellthy horn, good hunter,' inC,D.[180]This part of the burden, especially as it occurs inA, is found, nearly, in a fragment of a song of the time of Henry VIII, given by Mr Chappell in his Popular Music of the Olden Time,I, 58, as copied from "MSS Reg., Append. 58."

'Blow thy horne, hunter,Cum, blow thy horne on hye!In yonder wode there lyeth a doo,In fayth she woll not dye.Cum, blow thy horne, hunter,Cum, blow thy horne, joly hunter!'

A terrible swine is a somewhat favorite figure in romantic tales. A worthy peer of the boar of Sydon is killed by King Arthur in 'The Avowynge of King Arthur,' etc., Robson, Three Early English Metrical Romances (see st. xii). But both of these, and even the Erymanthian, must lower their bristles beforethe boar in 'Kilhwch and Olwen,' Mabinogion, Part iv, pp. 309-16. Compared with any of these, the "felon sow" presented by Ralph Rokeby to the friars of Richmond (Evans, Old Ballads,II, 270, ed. 1810, Scott, Appendix to Rokeby, note M) is a tame villatic pig: the old mettle is bred out.

Professor Grundtvig has communicated to me a curious Danish ballad of this class, 'Limgrises Vise,' from a manuscript of the latter part of the 16th century. A very intractable damsel, after rejecting a multitude of aspirants, at last marries, with the boast that her progeny shall be fairer than Christ in heaven. She has a litter of nine pups, a pig, and a boy. The pig grows to be a monster, and a scourge to the whole region.

He drank up the water from dike and from dam,And ate up, besides, both goose, gris and lamb.

The beast is at last disposed of by baiting him with the nine congenerate dogs, who jump down his throat, rend liver and lights, and find their death there, too. This ballad smacks of the broadside, and is assigned to the 16th century. A fragment of a Swedish swine-ballad, in the popular tone, is given by Dybeck, Runa, 1845, p. 23; another, very similar, in Axelson's Vesterdalarne, p. 179, 'Koloregris,' and Professor Sophus Bugge has recovered some Norwegian verses. The Danish story of the monstrous birth of the pig has become localized: the Liimfiord is related to have been made by the grubbing of the Limgris: Thiele, Danmarks Folkesagn,II. 19, two forms.

There can hardly be anything but the name in common between the Lionel of this ballad and Lancelot's cousin-german.

Percy MS., p. 32, Hales and Furnivall,I, 75.

1Sir Egrabell had sonnes three,Blow thy horne, good hunterSir Lyonell was one of these.As I am a gentle hunter2SirLyonell wold on hunting ryde,Vntill the forrest him beside.3And as he rode thorrow the wood,Where trees and harts and all were good,4And as he rode over the plaine,There he saw a knight lay slaine.5And as he rode still on the plaine,He saw a lady sitt in a graine.6'Say thou, lady, and tell thou me,What blood shedd heere has bee.'7'Of this blood shedd we may all rew,Both wife and childe and man alsoe.8'For it is not past 3 days rightSince SirBroninge was mad a knight.9'Nor it is not more than 3 dayes agoeSince the wild bore did him sloe.'10'Say thou, lady, and tell thou mee,How long thou wilt sitt inthat tree.'11She said, 'I will sitt in this treeTill my friends doe feitch me.'12'Tell me, lady, and doe not misse,Where that your friends dwellings is.'13'Downe,' shee said, 'in yonder towne,There dwells my freinds of great renowne.'14Says, 'Lady, Ile ryde into yonder towneAnd see wether your friends beene bowne.15'I my self wilbe the formost manThat shall come, lady, to feitch you home.'16But as he rode then by the way,He thought it shame to goe away;17And vmbethought him of a wile,How he might that wilde bore beguile.18'Sir Egrabell,' he said, 'my father was;He neuer left lady in such a case;19'Noe more will I' .... . . . . . .20'And a[fter] that thou shalt doe meeThy hawkes and thy lease alsoe.21'Soe shalt thou doe at my commandThe litle fingar on thy right hand.'22'Ere I wold leaue all this with thee,Vpoon this ground I rather dyee.'23The gyant gaue Sir Lyonell such a blow,The fyer out of his eyen did throw.24He said then, 'if I were saffe and sound,As with-in this hower I was in this ground,25'It shold be in the next towne toldHow deare thy buffett it was sold;26'And it shold haue beene in the next townesaidHow well thy buffett it were paid.'27'Take 40 daies into spite,To heale thy wounds that beene soe wide.28'When 40 dayes beene at an end,Heere meete thou me both safe and sound.29'And till thou come to me againe,With me thoust leaue thy lady alone.30When 40 dayes was at an end,Sir Lyonell of his wounds was healed sound.31He tooke with him a litle page,He gaue to him good yeomans wage.32And as he rode by one hawthorne,Even there did hang his hunting horne.33He sett his bugle to his mouth,And blew his bugle still full south.34He blew his bugle lowde and shrill;The lady heard, and came him till.35Sayes, 'the gyant lyes vnder yond low,And well he heares your bugle blow.36'And bidds me of good cheere be,This night heele supp with you and me.'37Hee sett that lady vppon a steede,And a litle boy before her yeede.38And said, 'lady, if you see that I must dye,As euer you loued me, from me flye.39'But, lady, if you seethat I must liue,'. . . . . . .

1Sir Egrabell had sonnes three,Blow thy horne, good hunterSir Lyonell was one of these.As I am a gentle hunter

2SirLyonell wold on hunting ryde,Vntill the forrest him beside.

3And as he rode thorrow the wood,Where trees and harts and all were good,

4And as he rode over the plaine,There he saw a knight lay slaine.

5And as he rode still on the plaine,He saw a lady sitt in a graine.

6'Say thou, lady, and tell thou me,What blood shedd heere has bee.'

7'Of this blood shedd we may all rew,Both wife and childe and man alsoe.

8'For it is not past 3 days rightSince SirBroninge was mad a knight.

9'Nor it is not more than 3 dayes agoeSince the wild bore did him sloe.'

10'Say thou, lady, and tell thou mee,How long thou wilt sitt inthat tree.'

11She said, 'I will sitt in this treeTill my friends doe feitch me.'

12'Tell me, lady, and doe not misse,Where that your friends dwellings is.'

13'Downe,' shee said, 'in yonder towne,There dwells my freinds of great renowne.'

14Says, 'Lady, Ile ryde into yonder towneAnd see wether your friends beene bowne.

15'I my self wilbe the formost manThat shall come, lady, to feitch you home.'

16But as he rode then by the way,He thought it shame to goe away;

17And vmbethought him of a wile,How he might that wilde bore beguile.

18'Sir Egrabell,' he said, 'my father was;He neuer left lady in such a case;

19'Noe more will I' .... . . . . . .

20'And a[fter] that thou shalt doe meeThy hawkes and thy lease alsoe.

21'Soe shalt thou doe at my commandThe litle fingar on thy right hand.'

22'Ere I wold leaue all this with thee,Vpoon this ground I rather dyee.'

23The gyant gaue Sir Lyonell such a blow,The fyer out of his eyen did throw.

24He said then, 'if I were saffe and sound,As with-in this hower I was in this ground,

25'It shold be in the next towne toldHow deare thy buffett it was sold;

26'And it shold haue beene in the next townesaidHow well thy buffett it were paid.'

27'Take 40 daies into spite,To heale thy wounds that beene soe wide.

28'When 40 dayes beene at an end,Heere meete thou me both safe and sound.

29'And till thou come to me againe,With me thoust leaue thy lady alone.

30When 40 dayes was at an end,Sir Lyonell of his wounds was healed sound.

31He tooke with him a litle page,He gaue to him good yeomans wage.

32And as he rode by one hawthorne,Even there did hang his hunting horne.

33He sett his bugle to his mouth,And blew his bugle still full south.

34He blew his bugle lowde and shrill;The lady heard, and came him till.

35Sayes, 'the gyant lyes vnder yond low,And well he heares your bugle blow.

36'And bidds me of good cheere be,This night heele supp with you and me.'

37Hee sett that lady vppon a steede,And a litle boy before her yeede.

38And said, 'lady, if you see that I must dye,As euer you loued me, from me flye.

39'But, lady, if you seethat I must liue,'. . . . . . .

Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs,I, 110. From the singing of an old woman in Buckie, Enzie, Banffshire.

1A knicht had two sons o sma fame,Hey nien nannyIsaac-a-Bell and Hugh the Graeme.And the norlan flowers spring bonny2And to the youngest he did say,'What occupation will you hae?When the, etc.3'Will you gae fee to pick a mill?Or will you keep hogs on yon hill?'While the, etc.4'I winna fee to pick a mill,Nor will I keep hogs on yon hill.While the, etc.5'But it is said, as I do hear,That war will last for seven year,And the, etc.6'With a giant and a boarThat range into the wood o Tore.And the, etc.7'You'll horse and armour to me provide,That through Tore wood I may safely ride.'When the, etc.8The knicht did horse and armour provide,That through Tore wood Graeme micht safely ride.When the, etc.9Then he rode through the wood o Tore,And up it started the grisly boar.When the, etc.10The firsten bout that he did ride,The boar he wounded in the left side.When the, etc.11The nexten bout at the boar he gaed,He from the boar took aff his head.And the, etc.12As he rode back through the wood o Tore,Up started the giant him before.And the, etc.13'O cam you through the wood o Tore,Or did you see my good wild boar?'And the, etc.14'I cam now through the wood o Tore,But woe be to your grisly boar.And the, etc.15'The firsten bout that I did ride,I wounded your wild boar in the side.And the, etc.16'The nexten bout at him I gaed,From your wild boar I took aff his head.'And the, etc.17'Gin you have cut aff the head o my boar,It's your head shall be taen therfore.And the, etc.18'I'll gie you thirty days and three,To heal your wounds, then come to me.'While the, etc.19'It's after thirty days and three,When my wounds heal, I'll come to thee.'When the, etc.20So Graeme is back to the wood o Tore,And he's killd the giant, as he killd the boar.And the, etc.

1A knicht had two sons o sma fame,Hey nien nannyIsaac-a-Bell and Hugh the Graeme.And the norlan flowers spring bonny

2And to the youngest he did say,'What occupation will you hae?When the, etc.

3'Will you gae fee to pick a mill?Or will you keep hogs on yon hill?'While the, etc.

4'I winna fee to pick a mill,Nor will I keep hogs on yon hill.While the, etc.

5'But it is said, as I do hear,That war will last for seven year,And the, etc.

6'With a giant and a boarThat range into the wood o Tore.And the, etc.

7'You'll horse and armour to me provide,That through Tore wood I may safely ride.'When the, etc.

8The knicht did horse and armour provide,That through Tore wood Graeme micht safely ride.When the, etc.

9Then he rode through the wood o Tore,And up it started the grisly boar.When the, etc.

10The firsten bout that he did ride,The boar he wounded in the left side.When the, etc.

11The nexten bout at the boar he gaed,He from the boar took aff his head.And the, etc.

12As he rode back through the wood o Tore,Up started the giant him before.And the, etc.

13'O cam you through the wood o Tore,Or did you see my good wild boar?'And the, etc.

14'I cam now through the wood o Tore,But woe be to your grisly boar.And the, etc.

15'The firsten bout that I did ride,I wounded your wild boar in the side.And the, etc.

16'The nexten bout at him I gaed,From your wild boar I took aff his head.'And the, etc.

17'Gin you have cut aff the head o my boar,It's your head shall be taen therfore.And the, etc.

18'I'll gie you thirty days and three,To heal your wounds, then come to me.'While the, etc.

19'It's after thirty days and three,When my wounds heal, I'll come to thee.'When the, etc.

20So Graeme is back to the wood o Tore,And he's killd the giant, as he killd the boar.And the, etc.

a.Allies, The British, Roman, and Saxon Antiquities and Folk-Lore of Worcestershire, 2d ed., p. 116. From the recitation of Benjamin Brown, of Upper Wick, about 1845.b.Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, edited by Robert Bell, p. 124.

1Sir Robert Bolton had three sons,Wind well thy horn, good hunterAnd one of them was called Sir Ryalas.For he was a jovial hunter2He rang'd all round down by the woodside,Till up in the top of a tree a gay lady he spy'd.For he was, etc.3'O what dost thou mean, fair lady?' said he;'O the wild boar has killed my lord and his men thirty.'As thou beest, etc.4'O what shall I do this wild boar to see?''O thee blow a blast, and he'll come unto thee.'As thou beest, etc.5[Then he put his horn unto his mouth],Then he blowd a blast full north, east, west and south.As he was, etc.6And the wild boar heard him full into his den;Then he made the best of his speed unto him.To Sir Ryalas, etc.7Then the wild boar, being so stout and so strong,He thrashd down the trees as he came along.To Sir Ryalas, etc.8'O what dost thou want of me?' the wild boar said he;'O I think in my heart I can do enough for thee.'For I am, etc.9Then they fought four hours in a long summer's day,Till the wild boar fain would have gotten away.From Sir Ryalas, etc.10Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword with might,And he fairly cut his head off quite.For he was, etc.11Then out of the wood the wild woman flew:'Oh thou hast killed my pretty spotted pig!As thou beest, etc.12'There are three things I do demand of thee,It's thy horn, and thy hound, and thy gay lady.'As thou beest, etc.13'If these three things thou dost demand of me,It's just as my sword and thy neck can agree.'For I am, etc.14Then into his locks the wild woman flew,Till she thought in her heart she had torn him through.As he was, etc.15Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword again,And he fairly split her head in twain.For he was, etc.16In Bromsgrove church they both do lie;There the wild boar's head is picturd bySir Ryalas, etc.

1Sir Robert Bolton had three sons,Wind well thy horn, good hunterAnd one of them was called Sir Ryalas.For he was a jovial hunter

2He rang'd all round down by the woodside,Till up in the top of a tree a gay lady he spy'd.For he was, etc.

3'O what dost thou mean, fair lady?' said he;'O the wild boar has killed my lord and his men thirty.'As thou beest, etc.

4'O what shall I do this wild boar to see?''O thee blow a blast, and he'll come unto thee.'As thou beest, etc.

5[Then he put his horn unto his mouth],Then he blowd a blast full north, east, west and south.As he was, etc.

6And the wild boar heard him full into his den;Then he made the best of his speed unto him.To Sir Ryalas, etc.

7Then the wild boar, being so stout and so strong,He thrashd down the trees as he came along.To Sir Ryalas, etc.

8'O what dost thou want of me?' the wild boar said he;'O I think in my heart I can do enough for thee.'For I am, etc.

9Then they fought four hours in a long summer's day,Till the wild boar fain would have gotten away.From Sir Ryalas, etc.

10Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword with might,And he fairly cut his head off quite.For he was, etc.

11Then out of the wood the wild woman flew:'Oh thou hast killed my pretty spotted pig!As thou beest, etc.

12'There are three things I do demand of thee,It's thy horn, and thy hound, and thy gay lady.'As thou beest, etc.

13'If these three things thou dost demand of me,It's just as my sword and thy neck can agree.'For I am, etc.

14Then into his locks the wild woman flew,Till she thought in her heart she had torn him through.As he was, etc.

15Then Sir Ryalas drawd his broad sword again,And he fairly split her head in twain.For he was, etc.

16In Bromsgrove church they both do lie;There the wild boar's head is picturd bySir Ryalas, etc.

Allies, Antiquities and Folk-Lore of Worcestershire, p. 118. From the recitation of —— Oseman, Hartlebury.

1As I went up one brook, one brook,Well wind the horn, good hunterI saw a fair maiden sit on a tree top.As thou art the jovial hunter2I said, 'Fair maiden, what brings you here?''It is the wild boar that has drove me here.'As thou art, etc.3'I wish I could that wild boar see;'Well wind the horn, good hunter,And the wild boar soon will come to thee.'As thou art, etc.4Then he put his horn unto his mouth,And he blowd both east, west, north and south.As he was, etc.5The wild boar hearing it into his den,[Then he made the best of his speed untohim].6He whetted his tusks for to make them strong,And he cut down the oak and the ash as he came along.For to meet with, etc.7They fought five hours one long summer's day,Till the wild boar he yelld, and he'd fain run away.And away from, etc.8O then he cut his head clean off,. . . . . . .9Then there came an old lady running out of the wood,Saying, 'You have killed my pretty, my pretty spotted pig.'As thou art, etc.10Then at him this old lady she did go,And he clove her from the top of her head to her toe.As he was, etc.11In Bromsgrove churchyard this old lady lies,And the face of the boar's head there is drawn by,That was killed by, etc.

1As I went up one brook, one brook,Well wind the horn, good hunterI saw a fair maiden sit on a tree top.As thou art the jovial hunter

2I said, 'Fair maiden, what brings you here?''It is the wild boar that has drove me here.'As thou art, etc.

3'I wish I could that wild boar see;'Well wind the horn, good hunter,And the wild boar soon will come to thee.'As thou art, etc.

4Then he put his horn unto his mouth,And he blowd both east, west, north and south.As he was, etc.

5The wild boar hearing it into his den,[Then he made the best of his speed untohim].

6He whetted his tusks for to make them strong,And he cut down the oak and the ash as he came along.For to meet with, etc.

7They fought five hours one long summer's day,Till the wild boar he yelld, and he'd fain run away.And away from, etc.

8O then he cut his head clean off,. . . . . . .

9Then there came an old lady running out of the wood,Saying, 'You have killed my pretty, my pretty spotted pig.'As thou art, etc.

10Then at him this old lady she did go,And he clove her from the top of her head to her toe.As he was, etc.

11In Bromsgrove churchyard this old lady lies,And the face of the boar's head there is drawn by,That was killed by, etc.

a.Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, edited by Robert Bell, p. 250.b.Mr Robert White's papers.

1There was an old man and sons he had three;Wind well, Lion, good hunterA friar he being one of the three,With pleasure he ranged the north country.For he was a jovial hunter2As he went to the woods some pastime to see,He spied a fair lady under a tree,Sighing and moaning mournfully.He was, etc.3'What are you doing, my fair lady?''I'm frightened the wild boar he will kill me;He has worried my lord and wounded thirty.'As thou art, etc.4Then the friar he put his horn to his mouth,And he blew a blast, east, west, north and south,And the wild boar from his den he came forth.Unto the, etc.* * * * *

1There was an old man and sons he had three;Wind well, Lion, good hunterA friar he being one of the three,With pleasure he ranged the north country.For he was a jovial hunter

2As he went to the woods some pastime to see,He spied a fair lady under a tree,Sighing and moaning mournfully.He was, etc.

3'What are you doing, my fair lady?''I'm frightened the wild boar he will kill me;He has worried my lord and wounded thirty.'As thou art, etc.

4Then the friar he put his horn to his mouth,And he blew a blast, east, west, north and south,And the wild boar from his den he came forth.Unto the, etc.

* * * * *

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