Chapter V: Part I: Editiones Principes, Etc (3)

Another version of the song of The Three Valkyrier, which appears in _The Death of Balder_, pp. 53-54, was printed in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and Other Songs and Ballads_, 1913, pp. 19-20. The text of the two versions differs entirely, in addition to which the 1913 version forms one complete single song, whilst in that of 1889 the lines are divided up between the several characters.

The Manuscript of _The Death of Balder_, referred to above, passed into the hands of Dr. Knapp, and is now in the possession of the Hispanic Society, of New York. It consists of 97 pages 4to. A transcript in the handwriting of Mrs. Borrow is also the property of the Society.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Death of Balder_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 11755. f 9.

(18) [LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY: 1911]

Letters of / George Borrow / To the British and Foreign / Bible Society / Published by Direction of the Committee / Edited by / T. H. Darlow / Hodder and Stoughton / London New York Toronto / 1911.

Collation:--Octavo, pp. xviii + 471; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; Dedication _To Williamson Lamplough_ (with blank reverse) pp. v-vi; Preface vii-xi; Note regarding "the officials of the Bible Society with whom Borrow came into close relationship" pp. xi-xii; _List of Borrow's Letters_, _etc._, _printed in this Volume_ pp. xiii-xvii; chronological _Outline of Borrow's career_ p. xviii; and Text of the _Letters_, &c., pp. 1-471. There are head-lines throughout, each verso being headed _George Borrow's Letters_, and each recto _To the Bible Society_. Upon the reverse of p. 471 is the following imprint "_Printed by T. and A. Constable_, _Printers to His Majesty_ / _at the Edinburgh University Press_." The signatures are _a_ (one sheet of 8 leaves), _b_ (a quarter-sheet of 2 leaves), A to 2 F (29 sheets, each 8 leaves) plus 2 G (a half-sheet of 4 leaves). Sig. _a_ 1 is a blank. A facsimile of one of the Letters included in the volume is inserted as Frontispiece.

Issued in dark crimson buckram, with paper sides, lettered in gold across the back, "_Letters of_ / _George_ / _Borrow_ / _To the_ / _Bible Society_ / _Edited by_ / _T. H. Darlow_ / _Hodder &_ / _Stoughton_." The leaves measure 8.375 x 5.875 inches. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._

"When Borrow set about preparing _The Bible in Spain_, he obtained
from the Committee of the Bible Society the loan of the letters which
are here published, and introduced considerable portions of them into
that most picturesque and popular of his works. Perhaps one-third of
the contents of the present volume was utilised in this way, being
more or less altered and edited by Borrow for the
purpose."--[_Preface_, pp. ix-x].

The holographs of the complete series of Letters included in this volume are preserved in the archives of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

There is a copy of _Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 010902.e.10.

(19) [LETTERS TO MARY BORROW: 1913]

Letters / To his Wife / Mary Borrow / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 38; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse), pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Letters_ pp. 5-38. The head-line is _Letters to His Wife_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. Following p. 38 is a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto, "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half sheet of 4 leaves), plus B and C (2 sheets, each 8 leaves), inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7.5 x 5 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

Holograph Letters by Borrow are extremely uncommon, the number known to be extant being far less than one might have supposed would be the case, considering the good age to which Borrow attained. His correspondents were few, and, save to the officials of the Bible Society, he was not a diligent letter-writer. The holographs of this series of letters addressed to his wife are in my own collection of Borroviana.

The majority of the letters included in this volume were reprinted in _George Borrow and his Circle_. _By Clement King Shorter_, 8vo, 1913.

There is a copy of _Letters to his Wife_, _Mary Borrow_, in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 32.

(20) [MARSK STIG: 1913]

Marsk Stig / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 40; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballad_ pp. 5-40. The head-line is _Marsk Stig_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. At the foot of p. 40 is the following imprint, "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of 4 leaves), plus B and C (2 sheets, each 8 leaves), inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7.5 x 5 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Marsk Stig_ consists of four separate Ballads, or _Songs_ as Borrow styled them, the whole forming one complete and connected story. The plot is an old Danish legend of the same character as the history of David and Bathsheba, Marsk Stig himself being the counterpart of Uriah the Hittite.

The four _Songs_ commence as follows:--

PAGE

1. _Marsk Stig he out of the country rode_ 5 _To win him fame with his good bright sword_

2. _Marsk Stig he woke at black midnight_, 15 _And loudly cried to his Lady dear_

3. _There's many I ween in Denmark green_ 23 _Who all to be masters now desire_

4. _There were seven and seven times twenty_ 34 _That met upon the verdant wold_

_Marsk Stig_ was one of the ballads prepared by Borrow for _The Songs of Scandinavia_ in 1829, and revised for the _Koempe Viser_ in 1854. Both Manuscripts are extant, and I give reproductions of a page of each. It will be observed that upon the margins of the earlier Manuscript Borrow wrote his revisions, so that this Manuscript practically carries in itself both versions of the ballad. The Manuscript of 1829 is in the possession of Mr. J. H. Spoor, of Chicago. The Manuscript of 1854 is in my own library. As a specimen of _Marsk Stig_ I quote the following stanzas:

_It was the young and bold Marsk Stig_
_Came riding into the Castle yard_,
_Abroad did stand the King of the land_
_So fair array'd in sable and mard_.

"_Now lend an ear_, _young Marshal Stig_,
_I have for thee a fair emprise_,
_Ride thou this year to the war and bear_
_My flag amongst my enemies_."

"_And if I shall fare to the war this year_,
_And risk my life among thy foes_,
_Do thou take care of my Lady dear_,
_Of Ingeborg_, _that beauteous rose_."

_Then answer'd Erik_, _the youthful King_,
_With a laugh in his sleeve thus answered he_:
"_No more I swear has thy lady to fear_
_Than if my sister dear were she_."

_It was then the bold Sir Marshal Stig_,
_From out of the country he did depart_,
_In her castle sate his lonely mate_,
_Fair Ingeborg_, _with grief at heart_.

"_Now saddle my steed_," _cried Eric the King_,
"_Now saddle my steed_," _King Eric cried_,
"_To visit the Dame of beauteous fame_
_Your King will into the country ride_."

* * * * *

"_Now list_, _now list_, _Dame Ingeborg_,
_Thou art_, _I swear_, _a beauteous star_,
_Live thou with me in love and glee_,
_Whilst Marshal Stig is engag'd in war_."

_Then up and spake Dame Ingeborg_,
_For nought was she but a virtuous wife_:
"_Rather_, _I say_, _than Stig betray_,
_Sir King_, _I'd gladly lose my life_."

"_Give ear_, _thou proud Dame Ingeborg_,
_If thou my leman and love will be_,
_Each finger fair of thy hand shall bear_
_A ring of gold so red of blee_."

"_Marsk Stig has given gold rings to me_,
_And pearls around my neck to string_;
_By the Saints above I never will prove_
_Untrue to the Marshal's couch_, _Sir King_."

* * * * *

_It was Erik the Danish King_,
_A damnable deed the King he wrought_;
_He forc'd with might that Lady bright_,
_Whilst her good Lord his battles fought_.

* * * * *

_It was the young Sir Marshal Stig_
_Stepp'd proudly in at the lofty door_;
_And bold knights then_, _and bold knight's men_,
_Stood up the Marshal Stig before_.

_So up to the King of the land he goes_,
_And straight to make his plaint began_;
_Then murmured loud the assembled crowd_,
_And clench'd his fist each honest man_.

"_Ye good men hear a tale of fear_,
_A tale of horror_, _a tale of hell_--

&c., &c.

There is a copy of _Marsk Stig A Ballad_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of Marsk Stig, 1913]

[Picture: Manuscript of Marsk Stig--1829]

[Picture: Manuscript of Marsk Stig--1854]

(21) [THE SERPENT KNIGHT: 1913]

The Serpent Knight / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 35; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; Table of _Contents_ (with blank reverse) pp. 5-6; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 7-35. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 35 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to thirty copies_." The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), plus B & C (two sheets, each eight leaves), inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The Serpent Knight. [_Signelil sits in her bower alone_] 7

The only extant MS. of this ballad originally bore the title _The Transformed Knight_, but the word _Transformed_ is struck out and replaced by _Serpent_, in Borrow's handwriting.

Sir Olaf. [_Sir Olaf rides on his courser tall_] 10

_Sir Olaf_ is one of Borrow's most successful ballads. The only extant Manuscript is written upon paper water-marked with the date 1845, and was prepared for the projected _Koempe Viser_.

The Treacherous Merman. ["_Now rede me mother_," _the 15 merman cried_]

This Ballad is a later, and greatly improved, version of one which appeared under the title _The Merman_ only, in the _Romantic Ballads_ of 1826. The introduction of the incident of the changing by magic of the horse into a boat, furnishes a reason for the catastrophe which was lacking in the earlier version.

In its final shape _The Treacherous Merman_ is another of Borrow's most successful ballads, and it is evident that he bestowed upon it an infinite amount of care and labour. An early draft of the final version [a reduced facsimile of its first page will be found _ante_, facing p. 40] bears the tentative title _Marsk Stig's Daughter_. Besides the two printed versions Borrow certainly composed a third, for a fragment exists of a third MS., the text of which differs considerably from that of both the others.

The Knight in the Deer's Shape. [_It was the Knight Sir 18 Peter_]

Facing the present page is a reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript of _The Knight in the Deer's Shape_.

The Stalwart Monk. [_Above the wood a cloister towers_] 24

_The Stalwart Monk_ was composed by Borrow about the year 1860. Whether he had worked upon the ballad in earlier years cannot be ascertained, as no other Manuscript besides that from which it was printed in the present volume is known to exist.

The Cruel Step-Dame. [_My father up of the country 30 rode_]

The Cuckoo. [_Yonder the cuckoo flutters_] 34

The complete Manuscript of _The Serpent Knight and Other Ballads_ is in my own collection of Borroviana.

There is a copy of _The Serpent Knight and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of The Serpent King]

[Picture: Manuscript of The Knight in the Deer's Shape]

(22) [THE KING'S WAKE: 1913]

The King's Wake / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 23; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-23. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 23 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves) inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The King's Wake. [_To-night is the night that the wake 5 they hold_]

An early draft of this ballad has the title _The Watchnight_.

Swayne Felding. [_Swayne Felding sits at Helsingborg_] 10

Of _Swayne Felding_ two Manuscripts are extant. One, originally destined for _The Songs of Scandinavia_, is written upon white paper water-marked with the date 1828. The other, written upon blue paper, was prepared for the _Koempe Viser_ of 1854. In the earlier MS. the ballad bears the title _Swayne Felding's Combat with the Giant_; the later MS. is entitled _Swayne Felding_ only. The texts of the two MSS. differ widely.

Innocence Defamed. [_Misfortune comes to every door_] 20

The heroic ballads included in these collections are all far too long to admit of any one of them being given in full. As an example of the shorter ballads I quote the title-poem of the present pamphlet, _The King's Wake_:

_THE KING'S WAKE_ {132}

_To-night is the night that the wake they hold_,
_To the wake repair both young and old_.

_Proud Signelil she her mother address'd_:
"_May I go watch along with the rest_?"

"_O what at the wake wouldst do my dear_?
_Thou'st neither sister nor brother there_.

"_Nor brother-in-law to protect thy youth_,
_To the wake thou must not go forsooth_.

"_There be the King and his warriors gay_,
_If me thou list thou at home wilt stay_."

"_But the Queen will be there and her maiden crew_,
_Pray let me go_, _mother_, _the dance to view_."

_So long_, _so long begged the maiden young_,
_That at length from her mother consent she wrung_.

"_Then go_, _my child_, _if thou needs must go_,
_But thy mother ne'er went to the wake I trow_."

_Then through the thick forest the maiden went_,
_To reach the wake her mind was bent_.

_When o'er the green meadows she had won_,
_The Queen and her maidens to bed were gone_.

_And when she came to the castle gate_
_They were plying the dance at a furious rate_.

_There danced full many a mail-clad man_,
_And the youthful King he led the van_.

_He stretched forth his hand with an air so free_:
"_Wilt dance_, _thou pretty maid_, _with me_?"

"_O_, _sir_, _I've come across the wold_
_That I with the Queen discourse might hold_."

"_Come dance_," _said the King with a courteous
smile_,
"_The Queen will be here in a little while_."

_Then forward she stepped like a blushing rose_,
_She takes his hand and to dance she goes_.

"_Hear Signelil what I say to thee_,
_A ditty of love sing thou to me_."

"_A ditty of love I will not_, _Sir King_,
_But as well as I can another I'll sing_."

_Proud Signil began_, _a ditty she sang_,
_To the ears of the Queen in her bed it rang_.

_Says the Queen in her chamber as she lay_:
"_O which of my maidens doth sing so gay_?

"_O which of my maidens doth sing so late_,
_To bed why followed they me not straight_?"

_Then answered the Queen the little foot page_:
"'_Tis none of thy maidens I'll engage_.

"'_Tis none I'll engage of the maiden band_,
'_Tis Signil proud from the islet's strand_."

"_O bring my red mantle hither to me_,
_For I'll go down this maid to see_."

_And when they came down to the castle gate_
_The dance it moved at so brave a rate_.

_About and around they danced with glee_,
_There stood the Queen and the whole did see_.

_The Queen she felt so sore aggrieved_
_When the King with Signil she perceived_.

_Sophia the Queen to her maid did sign_:
"_Go fetch me hither a horn of wine_."

_His hand the King stretched forth so free_:
"_Wilt thou Sophia my partner be_?"

"_O I'll not dance with thee_, _I vow_,
_Unless proud Signil pledge me now_."

_The horn she raised to her lips_, _athirst_,
_The innocent heart in her bosom burst_.

_There stood King Valdemar pale as clay_,
_Stone dead at his feet the maiden lay_.

"_A fairer maid since I first drew breath_
_Ne'er came more guiltless to her death_."

_For her wept woman and maid so sore_,
_To the Church her beauteous corse they bore_.

_But better with her it would have sped_,
_Had she but heard what her mother said_.

There is a copy of _The King's Wake and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of The King's Wake]

[Picture: Manuscript of The King's Wake]

(23) [THE DALBY BEAR: 1913]

The Dalby Bear / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 20; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-20. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. At the foot of p. 20 is the following imprint: "_London_ / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), with B (a full sheet of 8 leaves) inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The Dalby Bear. [_There goes a bear on Dalby moors_] 5

Tygge Hermandsen. [_Down o'er the isle in torrents 9 fell_]

The ballad was printed from a Manuscript written in 1854. I give a reduced facsimile of a page of an earlier Manuscript written in 1830.

The Wicked Stepmother. [_Sir Ove he has no daughter but 14 one_]

This ballad should be read in conjunction with _The Wicked Stepmother_, _No. ii_, printed in _Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 23-37.

The complete Manuscript of _The Dalby Bear and Other Ballads_ is in the library of Mr. Clement Shorter.

There is a copy of _The Dalby Bear and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Manuscript of Tygge Hermandsen]

(24.) [THE MERMAID'S PROPHECY: 1913]

The / Mermaid's Prophecy / and other / Songs relating to Queen Dagmar / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 30; consisting of Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Songs_ pp. 5-30. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Song_ occupying it. Following p. 30 is a leaf, with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A and B (two sheets, each eight leaves), the one inset within the other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.75 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Songs relating to Queen Dagmar:

I. King Valdemar's Wooing. [_Valdemar King and Sir 5 Strange bold_]

II. Queen Dagmar's Arrival in Denmark. [_It was 14 Bohemia's Queen began_]

III. The Mermaid's Prophecy. [_The King he has caught 19 the fair mermaid_, _and deep_]

Rosmer. [_Buckshank bold and Elfinstone_] 25

This ballad should be read in conjunction with _Rosmer Mereman_, printed in _Young Swaigder or The Force of Runes and Other Ballads_, 1913, pp. 16-22.

Of _The Mermaid's Prophecy_ there are two Manuscripts extant. In the earlier of these, written in 1829, the Poem is entitled _The Mermaid's Prophecy_. In the later Manuscript, written apparently about the year 1854, it is entitled _The Mermaid_ only. From this later Manuscript the Poem was printed in the present volume.

Unlike the majority of Borrow's Manuscripts, which usually exhibit extreme differences of text when two holographs exist of the same Poem, the texts of the two versions of _The Mermaid's Prophecy_ are practically identical, the opening stanza alone presenting any important variation. Here are the two versions of this stanza:

1829

The Dane King had the Mermaiden caught by his swains,
_The mermaid dances the floor upon_--
And her in the tower had loaded with chains,
Because his will she had not done.

1854

The King he has caught the fair mermaid, and deep
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
In the dungeon has placed her, to pine and to weep,
Because his will she had not done.

There is a copy of _The Mermaid's Prophecy and other Songs relating to Queen Dagmar_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press mark is C. 44. d. 38.

(25.) [HAFBUR AND SIGNE: 1913]

Hafbur and Signe / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 23; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballad_ pp. 5-23. The head-line is _Hafbur and Signe_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 23 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves) inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Hafbur and Signe. [_Young Hafbur King and Sivard King 5 They lived in bitter enmity_]

Of _Hafbur and Signe_ two Manuscripts are extant. The first of these was doubtless written in the early summer of 1830, for on _June_ 1_st_ of that year Borrow wrote to Dr. Bowring:

_I send you_ "_Hafbur and Signe_" _to deposit in the Scandinavian
Treasury_ [i.e. among the _Songs of Scandinavia_].

The later Manuscript was written in or about the year 1854.

The earlier of these two Manuscripts is in the collection of Mr. Herbert T. Butler. The later Manuscript is in my own library.

As is usually the case when two Manuscripts of one of Borrow's ballads are available, the difference in poetical value of the two versions of _Hafbur and Signe_ is considerably. Few examples could exhibit more distinctly the advance made by Borrow in the art of poetical composition during the interval. Here are some stanzas from the version of 1854.

_So late it was at nightly tide_,
_Down fell the dew o'er hill and mead_;
_Then lists it her proud Signild fair_
_With all the rest to bed to speed_.

"_O where shall I a bed procure_?"
_Said Hafbur then_, _the King's good son_.
"_O thou shalt rest in chamber best_
_With me the bolsters blue upon_."

_Proud Signild foremost went_, _and stepped_
_The threshold of her chamber o'er_;
_With secret glee came Hafbur_, _he_
_Had never been so glad before_.

_Then lighted they the waxen lights_,
_So fairly twisted were the same_.
_Behind_, _behind_, _with ill at mind_,
_The wicked servant maiden came_

The following are the parallel stanzas from the version of 1830

_So late it was in the nightly tide_,
_Dew fell o'er hill and mead_;
_Then listed her proud Signild fair_
_With the rest to bed to speed_.

"_O where shall I a bed procure_?"
_Said Hafbour the King's good son_.
"_In the chamber best with me thou shalt rest_,
_The bolsters blue upon_."

_Proud Signild foremost went and stepp'd_
_The high chamber's threshold o'er_,
_Prince Hafbour came after with secret laughter_,
_He'd ne'er been delighted more_

_Then lighted they the waxen lights_,
_Fair twisted were the same_.
_Behind_, _behind with ill in her mind_
_The wicked servant came_.

I give herewith a reduced facsimile of the last page of each Manuscript.

[Picture: Hafbur and Signe--1830]

[Picture: Hafbur and Signe--1854]

There is a copy of _Hafbur and Signe A Ballad_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of Hafbur and Signe]

(26) [THE STORY OF YVASHKA: 1913]

The Story / of / Yvashka with the Bear's Ear / Translated from the Russian / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 23; consisting of: Half title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Frontispiece (with blank recto) pp. 3-4; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 5-6; _Introduction_ (by Borrow) pp. 7-10; and Text of the _Story_ pp. 11-23. The head-line is _Yvashka with the Bears Ear_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 23 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N. W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half sheet of 4 leaves), and B (a full sheet of 8 leaves), the one inset within the other. The Frontispiece consists of a reduced facsimile of the first page of the original Manuscript in Borrow's handwriting.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_The Story of Yvashka_ was the second of three _Russian Popular Tales_, which were contributed by Borrow to the pages of _Once a Week_ during 1862. _The Story of Yvashka_ appeared in the number for _May_ 17_th_, 1862, Vol. vi, pp. 572-574.

The _Story_ was reprinted in _The Sphere_, _Feb._ 1_st_, 1913, p. 136.

The Text of _Yvashka_ as printed in _Once a Week_ differs appreciably from that printed in _The Sphere_, and in the private pamphlet of 1913, both of which are identical. The Manuscript from which the two latter versions were taken was the original translation. The version which appeared in _Once a Week_ was printed from a fresh Manuscript (which fills 11 quarto pages) prepared in 1862. A reduced facsimile of the first page of the earlier Manuscript (which extends to 5.125 quarto pages) will be found reproduced upon the opposite page. In this Manuscript the story is entitled _The History of Jack with the Bear's Ear_.

Judging from the appearance of this MS., both paper and handwriting, together with that of fragments which remain of the original MSS. of the other two published _Tales_, it seems probable that the whole were produced by Borrow during his residence in St. Petersburg. Should such surmise be correct, the _Tales_ are contemporary with _Targum_.

The _Once a Week_ version of _The Story of Yvashka_ was reprinted in _The Avon Booklet_, Vol. ii, 1904, pp. 199-210.

There is a copy of _The Story of Yvashka_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 37.

[Picture: Manuscript of History of Jack with the Bear's Ear]

(27) [THE VERNER RAVEN: 1913]

The Verner Raven / The Count of Vendel's / Daughter / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 27; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with a note regarding the American copyright upon the centre of the reverse) pp. 3-4, and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-27. There are headlines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 27 is the following imprint: "_London_ / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of 2 leaves), B (a half sheet of 4 leaves), and C (a full sheet of 8 leaves), all inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

THE VERNER RAVEN. [_The Raven he flies in the evening 5 tide_]

THE COUNT OF VENDEL'S DAUGHTER. [_Within a bower the 12 womb I left_]

Previously printed in _Once a Week_, Vol. viii, _January_ 3_rd_, 1863, pp. 35-36.

THE CRUEL MOTHER-IN-LAW. [_From his home and his country 18 Sir Volmor should fare_]

THE FAITHFUL KING OF THULE. [_A King so true and 25 steady_]

THE FAIRIES' SONG. [_Balmy the evening air_] 27

NOTE.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the first time in this volume.

The Manuscript of _The Count of Vendel's Daughter_ is included in the extensive collection of Borroviana belonging to Mr. F. J. Farrell, of Great Yarmouth.

There is a copy of _The Verner Raven_, _The Count of Vendel's Daughter_, _and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

(28) [THE RETURN OF THE DEAD: 1913]

The / Return of the Dead / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 22; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-22. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Following p. 22 is a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves), inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The Return of the Dead. [_Swayne Dyring o'er to the 5 island strayed_]

The Transformed Damsel. [_I take my axe upon my back_] 13

The Forced Consent. [_Within her own fair castelaye_] 15

Ingeborg's Disguise. [_Such handsome court clothes the 19 proud Ingeborg buys_]

Song. [_I've pleasure not a little_] 22

As a further example of Borrow's shorter Ballads, I give _Ingeborg's Disguise_ in full. The entire series included in _The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads_ ranks among the most uniformly successful of Borrow's achievements in this particular branch of literature:--

_INGEBORG'S DISGUISE_ {161}

_Such handsome court clothes the proud Ingeborg buys_,
_Says she_, "_I'll myself as a courtier disguise_."

_Proud Ingeborg hastens her steed to bestride_,
_Says she_, "_I'll away with the King to reside_."

"_Thou gallant young King to my speech lend an ear_,
_Hast thou any need of my services here_?"

"_O yes_, _my sweet lad_, _of a horseboy I've need_,
_If there were but stable room here for his steed_.

"_But thy steed in the stall with my own can be tied_,
_And thou_ '_neath the linen shalt sleep by my side_."

_Three years in the palate good service she wrought_
_That she was a woman no one ever thought_.

_She filled for three years of a horse-boy the place_,
_And the steeds of the monarch she drove out to graze_.

_She led for three years the King's steeds to the brook_,
_For else than a youth no one Ingeborg took_.

_Proud Ingeborg knows how to make the dames gay_,
_She also can sing in such ravishing way_.

_The hair on her head is like yellow spun gold_,
_To her beauty the heart of the prince was not cold_.

_But at length up and down in the palace she strayed_,
_Her colour and hair began swiftly to fade_.

_What eye has seen ever so wondrous a case_?
_The boy his own spurs to his heel cannot brace_.

_The horse-boy is brought to so wondrous a plight_,
_To draw his own weapon he has not the might_.

_The son of the King to five damsels now sends_,
_And Ingeborg fair to their care he commends_.

_Proud Ingeborg took they and wrapped in their weed_,
_And to the stone chamber with her they proceed_.

_Upon the blue cushions they Ingeborg laid_,
_Where light of two beautiful sons she is made_.

_Then in came the prince_, _smiled the babies to view_:
"'_Tis not every horse-boy can bear such a two_."

_He patted her soft on her cheek sleek and fair_:
"_Forget my heart's dearest all sorrow and care_."

_He placed the gold crown on her temples I ween_:
"_With me shalt thou live as my wife and my Queen_."

The complete Manuscript of _The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads_ is in my own library.

There is a copy of _The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C.44.d.38.

[Picture: Title page of The Return of the Dead]

[Picture: Manuscript of Ingeborg's Disguise]

(29) [AXEL THORDSON: 1913]

Axel Thordson / and Fair Valborg / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 45; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and text of _the Ballad_ pp. 5-45. The head-line is _Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. Upon the reverse of p. 45 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A to C (Three sheets, each eight leaves) inset within each other. The last leaf of Sig. C is a blank.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg. [_At the wide board at 5 tables play_]

In some respects _Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg_ is the most ambitious of Borrow's Ballads. It is considerably the longest, unless we regard the four "_Songs_" of which _Marsk Stig_ is comprised as forming one complete poem. But it is by no means the most successful; indeed it is invariably in his shorter Ballads that we find Borrow obtaining the happiest result.

Two Manuscripts of _Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg_ are available. The first was prepared in 1829 for the _Songs of Scandinavia_. The second was revised in 1854 for the _Koempe Viser_. This later Manuscript is in my own possession. I give herewith a reduced facsimile of one of its pages.

There is a copy of _Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C.44.d.38.

[Picture: Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg--1854]

(30) [KING HACON'S DEATH: 1913]

King Hacon's Death / and / Bran and the Black Dog / Two Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 14; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Two Ballads_ pp. 5-14. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Following p. 14 is a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto, "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." There are no signatures, the pamphlet being composed of a single sheet, folded to form sixteen pages.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7.5 x 5 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

King Hacon's Death. ["_And now has happened in our 5 day_"]

Bran and the Black Dog. ["_The day we went to the hills 11 to chase_"]

I venture to regard this ballad of the fight between Bran and the Black Dog as one of Borrow's happiest efforts. Here are some of its vigorous stanzas:

_The valiant Finn arose next day_,
_Just as the sun rose above the foam_;
_And he beheld up the Lairgo way_,
_A man clad in red with a black dog come_.

_He came up with a lofty gait_,
_Said not for shelter he sought our doors_;
_And wanted neither drink nor meat_,
_But would match his dog_ '_gainst the best of
ours_.

* * * * *

"_A strange fight this_," _the great Finn said_,
_As he turn'd his face towards his clan_;
_Then his face with rage grew fiery red_,
_And he struck with his fist his good dog Bran_.

"_Take off from his neck the collar of gold_,
_Not right for him now such a thing to bear_;
_And a free good fight we shall behold_
_Betwixt my dog and his black compeer_."

_The dogs their noses together placed_,
_Then their blood was scatter'd on every side_;
_Desperate the fight_, _and the fight did last_
'_Till the brave black dog in Bran's grip died_.

* * * * *

_We went to the dwelling of high Mac Cuol_,
_With the King to drink_, _and dice_, _and throw_;
_The King was joyous_, _his hall was full_,
_Though empty and dark this night I trow_.

There is a copy of _King Hacon's Death and Bran and the Black Dog_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.

(31) [MARSK STIG'S DAUGHTERS: 1913]

Marsk Stig's / Daughters / and other / Songs and Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 21; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse), pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse), pp. 3-4; Table of _Contents_, pp. 5-6; and Text of the _Songs and Ballads_, pp. 7-21. The reverse of p. 21 is blank. The head-line is _Songs and Ballads_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. The pamphlet concludes with a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." There are no signatures, but the pamphlet consists of a half-sheet (of four leaves), with a full sheet (of eight leaves) inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 7.5 x 5 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Marsk Stig's Daughters. [_Two daughters fair the Marshal 7 had_]

The Three Expectants. [_There are three for my death 11 that now pine_]

Translation. [_One summer morn_, _as I was seeking_] 13

The English Gipsy:

He. [_As I to the town was going one day_ 14 _My Roman lass I met by the way_]

She. [_As I to the town was going one day_ 14 _I met a young Roman upon the way_]

The first of these two stanzas had been printed previously in _Romano Lavo-Lil_, 1874, p. 183.

Gipsy Song. [_Up_, _up_, _brothers_] 16

The first stanza of this _Song_ was printed previously (under the title _Run for it_!) in _Romano Lavo-Lil_, 1874, p. 195.

Our Heart is Heavy, Brother. [_The strength of the ox_] 17

Another version of this poem was printed previously (under the title _Sorrowful Tears_, and with an entirely different text) in _Romano Lavo-Lil_, 1874, p. 211.

In order to give some clear idea of the difference between the two versions, I quote the opening stanza of each:

1874.

_The wit and the skill_
_Of the Father of ill_,
_Who's clever indeed_,
_If they would hope_
_With their foes to cope_
_The Romany need_.

1913.

_The strength of the ox_,
_The wit of the fox_,
_And the leveret's speed_;
_All_, _all to oppose_
_Their numerous foes_
_The Romany need_.

Song. [_Nastrond's blazes_] 19

Another version of this _Song_ was printed previously (divided up, and with many textual variations) in _The Death of Balder_, 1899, pp. 53-54.

Lines. [_To read the great mysterious Past_] 21

As a specimen of Borrow's lighter lyrical verse, as distinguished from his Ballads, I give the text of the _Translation_ noted above, accompanied by a facsimile of the first page of the MS.:

TRANSLATION.

One summer morn, as I was seeking
My ponies in their green retreat,
I heard a lady sing a ditty
To me which sounded strangely sweet:

_I am the ladye_, _I am the ladye_,
_I am the ladye loving the knight_;
_I in the green wood_, '_neath the green branches_,
_In the night season sleep with the knight_.

Since yonder summer morn of beauty
I've seen full many a gloomy year;
But in my mind still lives the ditty
That in the green wood met my ear:

_I am the ladye_, _I am the ladye_,
_I am the ladye loving the knight_;
_I in the green wood_, '_neath the green branches_,
_In the night season sleep with the knight_.

A second Manuscript of this _Translation_ has the 'ditty' arranged in eight lines, instead of in four. In this MS. the word _ladye_ is spelled in the conventional manner:

_I am the lady_,
_I am the lady_,
_I am the lady_
_Loving the knight_;
_I in the greenwood_,
'_Neath the green branches_,
_Through the night season_
_Sleep with the knight_.

_Note_.--Each poem to which no reference is attached appeared for the first time in this volume.

There is a copy of _Marsk Stig's Daughters and other Songs and Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of Marsk Stig's Daughters]

[Picture: Manuscript 'One summer morn']

(32) [THE TALE OF BRYNILD: 1913]

The Tale of Brynild / and / King Valdemar and his Sister / Two Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 35; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-35. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 35 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), and B and C (two sheets, each eight leaves), each inset within the other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The Tale of Brynild. [_Sivard he a colt has got_] 5

Of _The Tale of Brynild_, two manuscripts are extant, written in 1829 and 1854 respectively. The text of the latter, from which the ballad was printed in the present pamphlet, is immeasurably the superior.

King Valdemar and his sister. [_See_, _see_, _with Queen 13 Sophy sits Valdemar bold_]

Mirror of Cintra. [_Tiny fields in charming order_] 34

The Harp. [_The harp to everyone is dear_] 35

There can be little doubt that the series of poems included in this volume present Borrow at his best as a writer of Ballads.

There is a copy of _The Tale of Brynild and King Valdemar and his Sister_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Title page of The Tale of Brynild]

(33) [PROUD SIGNILD: 1913]

Proud Signild / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation: Square demy octavo, pp. 28; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-28. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. At the foot of p. 28 is the following imprint: "_London_: _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (six leaves), and B (a full sheet of eight leaves), the one inset within the other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Proud Signild. [_Proud Signild's bold brothers have 5 taken her hand_]

The Damsel of the Wood. [_The Knight takes hawk_, _and 16 the man takes hound_]

Damsel Mettie. [_Knights Peter and Olaf they sat o'er 22 the board_]

As is the case with quite a number of Borrow's ballads, two Manuscripts of _Damsel Mettie_ have been preserved. The earlier, composed not later than 1829, is written upon paper water marked with the date 1828; the later is written upon paper water-marked 1843. The earlier version has a refrain, "'_Neath the linden tree watches the lord of my heart_," which is wanting in the later. Otherwise the text of both MSS. is identical, the differences to be observed between them being merely verbal. For example, the seventh couplet in the earlier reads:

_I'll gage my war courser_, _the steady and tried_,
_That thou canst not obtain the fair Mettie_, _my
bride_.

In the later MS. this couplet reads:

_I'll gage my war courser_, _the steady and tried_,
_Thou never canst lure the fair Mettie_, _my bride_.

There is a copy of _Proud Signild and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

(34) [ULF VAN YERN: 1913]

Ulf Van Yern / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 27; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page (with notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-27. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 27 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), B (a half-sheet of four leaves), and C (a full sheet of eight leaves), all inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Ulf Van Yern. [_It was youthful Ulf Van Yern_] 5

This ballad was here printed from the Manuscript prepared for the projected _Koempe Viser_ of 1854. In the MS of 1829 the ballad is entitled _Ulf Van Yern and Vidrik Verlandson_. The texts of the two versions differ widely in almost every stanza.

The Chosen Knight. [_Sir Oluf rode forth over hill and 16 lea_]

Sir Swerkel. [_There's a dance in the hall of Sir 19 Swerkel the Childe_]

Finn and the Damsel, or The Trial of Wits. ["_What's 23 rifer than leaves_?" _Finn cried_]

Epigrams by Carolan:

1. On Friars. [_Would'st thou on good terms with friars 26 live_]

2. On a surly Butler, who had refused him admission to 26 the cellar. [_O Dermod Flynn it grieveth me_]

Lines. [_How deadly the blow I received_] 27

The last four lines of this Poem had already served (but with a widely different text) as the last four lines of the _Ode from the Gaelic_, printed in _Romantic Ballads_, 1826, pp 142-143.

There is a copy of _Ulf Van Yern and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Manuscript of Damsel Mattie]

[Picture: Manuscript of Sir Swerkel]

(35) [ELLEN OF VILLENSKOV: 1913]

Ellen of Villenskov / and Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 22; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-22. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Following p. 22 is a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of four leaves), with B (a full sheet of eight leaves) inset within it.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Ellen of Villenskov. [_There lies a wold in Vester Haf_] 5

Uranienborg. [_Thou who the strand dost wander_] 13

Previously printed, with an earlier and far inferior text, under the title _The Ruins of Uranienborg_, in _The Foreign Quarterly Review_. _June_, 1830, pp. 85-86.

The Ready Answer. [_The brother to his dear sister 19 spake_]

Epigrams:

1. _There's no living_, _my boy_, _without plenty of 22 gold_

2. _O think not you'll change what on high is designed_ 22

3. _Load not thyself with gold_, _O mortal man_, _for 22 know_

NOTE.--Each poem to which no reference is attached, appeared for the first time in this volume.

The Manuscripts of the poems included in _Ellen of Villenskov and Other Ballads_ are in the Library of Mr. Clement K. Shorter.

There is a copy of _Ellen of Villenskov and Other Ballads_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

(36) [THE SONGS OF RANILD: 1913]

The Songs of Ranild / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 26; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the Poems pp. 5-26. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular poem occupying it. Following p. 26 is a leaf, with a notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse, and with the following imprint upon its recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A (six leaves), and B (a full sheet of eight leaves), the one inset within the other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

The Songs of Ranild:

Song the First. [_Up Riber's street the dance they ply_] 5

Song the Second. [_To saddle his courser Ranild cried_] 10

Song the Third. [_So wide around the tidings bound_] 13

Child Stig and Child Findal. [_Child Stig and Child 17 Findal two brothers were they_]

_The Songs of Ranild_ were first written in 1826, and were finally prepared for press in 1854. I give herewith, facing p. 191, a facsimile, the exact size of the original, of the first page of the first draft of _Song the Third_.

The complete MS. from which these four Ballads were printed is in the Library of Mr. J. A. Spoor, of Chicago.

There is a copy of _The Songs of Ranild_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

[Picture: Manuscript of Songs Relating to Marsk Stig]

(37) [NIELS EBBESEN: 1913]

Niels Ebbesen / and / Germand Gladenswayne / Two Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 32; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page as above (with notice regarding the American copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-32. There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. At the foot of p. 32 is the following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A and B (two sheets, each eight leaves), the one inset within the other.