Read Ebook: Ballads from the Danish and Original Verses by Smith Dampier E M

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Ebook has 1921 lines and 181779 words, and 39 pages

BALLADS FROM THE DANISH

PAGE

KING OLAF AND THE TROLLS 3

SIR KARL'S LYKEWAKE 7

THE AVENGING SWORD 10

THE AVENGING DAUGHTERS 14

YOUNG DANNEVED AND BOY TRUST 17

THE KNAVISH MERMAN 21

THE WOOD-RAVEN 24

AN OWER-TRUE TALE 28

THE WOOING OF RANIL JONSON 31

LOVEL AND JOHN 34

RIME OF THE DEAD LOVER 38

ORIGINAL VERSES

THE KING'S HUNTING 45

BALLAD OF SIR HERLUIN 54

BOTHWELL'S SOOTHSAYING 58

THE RIDING OF THE SHEE 65

BALLAD OF LONDON TOWN 68

BALLAD OF THE TRAITOR'S HEAD 70

BALLADS FROM THE DANISH

NOTE

KING OLAF AND THE TROLLS

He set his sail for Norroway, Saint Olaf our good king; For Hornelummer he shaped his course To see what luck would bring.

Up and spake the steersman bold, Stood by the lading-gear: "At Hornelummer is no good haven, So grim a troll dwells there:

"Eyes he hath like a burning brand; With his mouth he well can roar; His nails stand out, like the horns of a buck, A good ell's length and more;

"A beard he hath like a horse's mane, Hangs downward to his knee; A long and loathly tail he hath; His claws they are ill to see."

Up and spake Saint Olaf the king, As the ship swung to and fro: "Cast off the ropes in the name of God, And let the vessel go!"

So soft she sank, so light she rose, O'er the billows she went a-striding; And fast she made for Hornelummer, Where the ugly troll was biding.

"Now who comes here, so overbold, My magic to defy it? Harken, thou with the ruddy beard! Full sore thou shalt abye it!

"Now nor never by this my coast Dares any ship to linger! I could drag thee into the rifts o' the rocks With the touch of my smallest finger!"

"Hear now, Ara, thou ancient imp, Nor anger thyself at all! Seize thou the ship as it liketh thee, And see what will befall."

He took the ship by stem and stern, To work her dule and dree, When lo! he sank down into the stone, That held him by the knee.

"Here stand I, sunken in the stone, To go no more a-roving! At wrestling or at hand-play hard Thy strength I'd fain be proving."

"Now tarry thou there, thou wilful wight, All under my powerful charm-- Tarry thou there till Doomsday dread, And work no Christian harm."

Out came running his evil mate, And stretched her neck so grim; Saint Olaf spake one little word, Bade her stand still by him.

Up and spake the little trolls Who sat i' the hill down under-- They asked where the mother-troll might be, With mickle woe and wonder.

"Perchance this is the Red-beard's work Who hath harried our race so long! But come we forth with our brands of iron, To work him wrong for wrong."

Up and spake our goodly king-- He held it a game so merry: "Stone to stone, and rock to rock, Together ye all shall tarry!"

Out they sailed from Hornelummer, Well-pleased with the fair adventure; The hill he blocked with a mighty stone, That none therein might enter.

Thanks, thanks to Olaf our gallant king! He wrought a goodly charm! Now men may sail by Hornelummer, And take no hurt nor harm.

Red as the ruddy gold, the sun sets over Trondhjem.

SIR KARL'S LYKEWAKE

It was young Sir Karel, His mother's rede did pray If he should to the convent ride, And bear his love away.

"Lo, on a bier thou'lt lay thee down, A corse so white and wan-- And never a one shall ask of thee If thou art a living man."

Late, so late at even, Sore sickness on him fell; All in the early morning They tolled for him the bell.

They took him, young Sir Karel, And streeked him for a corpse; And all to bear the tidings round, His page has taken horse.

Upon his bier they bore him To the convent door so wide-- The Prioress came to meet them With mickle pomp and pride.

Forth then went his little page, Was clad in the scarlet red-- He bade the maidens come to watch-- "For young Sir Karl is dead."

It was little Kirsten Who asked her mother dear: "Mother, may I to the watching wend Over the young knight's bier?"

"Put thou on thy scarlet cloak, And deck thy head with gold; But be thou ware of young Sir Karl, His wiles are manifold!"

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