Chapter X: Appendix (1)

FRAGMENT OF THE BALLAD OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KING OF CORNWALL.

Printed from the celebrated Percy MS. in Madden's _Syr Gawayne_, p. 275. The editor has added the following note.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Weele be clad in palmers weede,
Five palmers we will bee;
There is noe outlandish man will us abide, 30
Nor will us come nye."
Then they rived east and they rived west,[L32]
In many a strange country.

Then they travelled[L34] a litle further,
They saw a battle new sett; 35
"Now, by my faith," saies noble King Arthur,

[_Half a page is here torn away._]

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

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

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

"I have two poor rings of my finger,
The better[L50] of them Ile give to thee; 50
[To] tell who may be lord of this castle," he saies,
"Or who is lord in this cuntry?"

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

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

"Pray him for one nights lodging, and two meales meate,
For his love that dyed uppon a tree;
A bue[L65] ghesting, and two meales meate, 65
For his love that dyed uppon a tree.

"A bue[L67] ghesting, and two meales meate,
For his love that was of virgin borne,
And in the morning that we may scape away,
Either without scath or scorne." 70

Then forth is gone[L71] this proud porter,
As fast as he cold hye;
And when he came befor Cornewall King,
He kneeled downe on his knee.

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

[_Half a page is wanting._]

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

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

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

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

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

And then bespoke Cornewall [King] againe, 100
And these were the words he said:[L101]
"Come hither, five or three of my knights,
And feitch me downe my steed;
King Arthur, that foule cockeward,
Hath none such, if he had need. 105

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

"For the eyes that beene in his head, 110
They[L111] glister as doth the gleed;"--
"Now, by my faith," says noble King Arthur,

[_Half a page is wanting._]

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

Then King Arthur to his bed was brought, 115
A greeived man was hee;
And soe were all his fellowes with him,
From him they[L118] thought never to flee.

Then take they did that lodly boome,[L119]
And under thrubchandler[L120] closed was hee; 120
And he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,
To heere theire talke, and theire com'nye;

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

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

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

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

32, the rived west.

34, tranckled.

50, They better.

65, bue, _sic_.

67, bue, _sic_; of two.

71, his gone.

101, said he.

111, The.

118, the.

119, goome?

120, thrubchadler.

THE THIRD PARTE.

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

"Ile make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
That I will have yonder faire lady
To Litle Brittaine with mee. 150

"Ile hose her hourly to my hart,[L151]
And with her Ile worke my will;

[_Half a page is wanting._]

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

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

Then bespake him noble Arthur, 160
And these were the[L161] words said he:
"What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?
I pray thee tell to me."

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

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

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

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

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

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

[_Half a page is wanting._]

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

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

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

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

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

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,[L210] 210
These were the words said hee:
"If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,
For I have won all the victory."

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

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

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

The knight stood in the middle....

[_Half a page is wanting._]

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

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

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

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

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

He laid[L245] uppon him with heele and hand, 245
With yard that was soe fell;
"Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile,
"For I thinke he be the devill of hell.

"Helpe! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile.
"Helpe! for Christs pittye; 250
For without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,
He will never be rydden for me."[L252]

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
These were the words said he:
"I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beane,[L255] 255
Thou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country."
He saith, "There is a gold wand,
Stands in King Cornwalls study windowe.

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

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,

[_Half a page is wanting._]

A lowd blast....

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

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

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

Then he tooke the horne in his hand,
And a lowd blast he blew;
He rent the horne up to the midst,
All his fellowes this they knew.[L280] 280

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

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

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
To the king these words said he: 290
"Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King,
For the vowes sake that thou made Ile give it thee;
And goe strike off King Cornewalls head,
In bed where he doth lye."[L294]

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

He put the head upon a swords point,

[_The poem terminates here abruptly._]

151, hurt.

161, they words.

210, The Greene Knight is Sir Bredbeddle.

245, sayed.

252, p' me, _i.e._ pro or per.

255, Burlow-leane.

280, the knew.

294, were.

FRAGMENT OF CHILD ROWLAND AND BURD ELLEN.

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

"Child Rowland to the dark tower came."

We have extracted the fragment given by Jamieson, with the breaks in the story filled out, from _Illustrations of Northern Antiquities_, p. 397; and we have added his translation of the Danish ballad of _Rosmer Hafmand_, which exhibits a striking similarity to _Child Rowland_, from _Popular Ballads and Songs_, ii. 202. The tale of the _Red Etin_, as given in Chamber's _Pop. Rhymes of Scotland_, p. 56, has much resemblance to Jamieson's story, and, like it, is interspersed with verse.

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

* * * * *

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

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

"Burd Ellen round about the isle
To seek the ba' is gane; 10
But they bade lang and ay langer,
And she camena back again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[D] The cathedral of Elgin naturally enough furnished similes to a
man who had never in his life been twenty miles distant from it.

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

"There was his sister burd Ellen; 25
She stood up him before."

Says,

"'God rue on thee, poor luckless fode!
What has thou to do here?

"'And hear ye this, my youngest brither,
Why badena ye at hame? 30
Had ye a hundur and thousand lives,
Ye canna brook ane o' them.

"'And sit thou down; and wae, O wae
That ever thou was born;
For come the King o' Elfland in, 35
Thy leccam is forlorn!'"

A long conversation then takes place; Child Rowland tells her the news [of merry Carlisle,] and of his own expedition; and concludes with the observation, that, after this long and fatiguing journey to the castle of the king of Elfland, he is _very hungry_.

Burd Ellen looked wistfully and mournfully at him, and shook her head, but said nothing. Acting under the influence of a magic which she could not resist, she arose, and brought him a golden bowl full of bread and milk, which she presented to him with the same timid, tender, and anxious expression of solicitude.

Remembering the instructions of the Warluck Merlin, "Burd Ellen," said Child Rowland, "I will neither taste nor touch till I have set thee free!" Immediately the folding-doors burst open with tremendous violence, and in came the king of Elfland,

"With '_fi_, _fi_, _fo_, and _fum_!
I smell the blood of a Christian man!
Be he dead, be he living, wi' my brand
I'll clash his harns frae his harn-pan!'" 40

"Strike, then, Bogle of Hell, if thou darest!" exclaimed the undaunted Child Rowland, starting up, and drawing the good claymore, [Excalibar,] that never struck in vain.

A furious combat ensued, and the king of Elfland was felled to the ground; but Child Rowland spared him on condition that he should restore to him his two brothers, who lay in a trance in a corner of the hall, and his sister, the fair burd Ellen. The king of Elfland then produced a small crystal phial, containing a bright red liquor, with which he anointed the lips, nostrils, eye-lids, ears, and finger-ends of the two young men, who immediately awoke as from a profound sleep, during which their souls had quitted their bodies, and they had seen, &c., &c., &c. So they all four returned in triumph to [merry Carlisle.]

Such was the rude outline of the romance of Child Rowland, as it was told to me when I was about seven or eight years old, by a country tailor then at work in my father's house. He was an ignorant and dull good sort of honest man, who seemed never to have questioned the truth of what he related. Where the _et caeteras_ are put down, many curious particulars have been omitted, because I was afraid of being deceived by my memory, and substituting one thing for another. It is right also to admonish the reader, that the Warluck Merlin, Child Rowland, and Burd Ellen, were the only _names_ introduced in _his_ recitation; and that the others, inclosed within brackets, are assumed upon the authority of the locality given to the story by the mention of _Merlin_. In every other respect I have been as faithful as possible.

ROSMER HAFMAND,

OR,

THE MER-MAN ROSMER.

The ballad of _Rosmer_ is found in Danish, Swedish, Faroish, and Norse. All the questions bearing upon its origin, and the relations of the various _forms_ in which the story exists, are amply discussed by Grundtvig, vol. ii. p. 72. Three versions of the Danish ballad are given by Vedel, all of which Jamieson has translated. The following is No. 31 in Abrahamson.

There dwalls a lady in Danmarck,
Lady Hillers lyle men her ca';
And she's gar'd bigg a new castell,
That shines o'er Danmarck a'.

Her dochter was stown awa frae her; 5
She sought for her wide-whare;
But the mair she sought, and the less she fand,--
That wirks her sorrow and care.

And she's gar'd bigg a new ship,
Wi' vanes o' flaming goud, 10
Wi' mony a knight and mariner,
Sae stark in need bestow'd.

She's followed her sons down to the strand,
That chaste and noble fre;
And wull and waif for eight lang years 15
They sail'd upon the sea.

And eight years wull and waif they sail'd,
O' months that seem'd sae lang;
Syne they sail'd afore a high castell,
And to the land can gang. 20

And the young lady Svane lyle,
In the bower that was the best,
Says, "Wharfrae cam thir frem swains,
Wi' us this night to guest?"

Then up and spak her youngest brither, 25
Sae wisely ay spak he;
"We are a widow's three poor sons,
Lang wilder'd on the sea.

"In Danmarck were we born and bred,
Lady Hillers lyle was our mither; 30
Our sister frae us was stown awa,
We findna whare or whither."

"In Danmarck were ye born and bred?
Was Lady Hillers your mither?
I can nae langer heal frae thee, 35
Thou art my youngest brither.

"And hear ye this, my youngest brither:
Why bade na ye at hame?
Had ye a hunder and thousand lives,
Ye canna brook ane o' them." 40

She's set him in the weiest nook
She in the house can meet;
She's bidden him for the high God's sake
Nouther to laugh ne greet.

Rosmer hame frae Zealand came, 45
And he took on to bann:
"I smell fu' weel, by my right hand,
That here is a Christian man."

"There flew a bird out o'er the house,
Wi' a man's bane in his mouth; 50
He coost it in, and I cast it out,
As fast as e'er I couth."

But wilyly she can Rosmer win;
And clapping him tenderly,
"It's here is come my sister-son;-- 55
Gin I lose him, I'll die.

"It's here is come, my sister-son,
Frae baith our fathers' land;
And I ha'e pledged him faith and troth,
That ye will not him bann." 60

"And is he come, thy sister-son,
Frae thy father's land to thee?
Then I will swear my highest aith,
He's dree nae skaith frae me."

'Twas then the high king Rosmer, 65
He ca'd on younkers twae:
"Ye bid proud Svane lyle's sister-son
To the chalmer afore me gae."

It was Svane lyle's sister-son,
Whan afore Rosmer he wan, 70
His heart it quook, and his body shook,
Sae fley'd, he scarce dow stand.

Sae Rosmer took her sister-son,
Set him upon his knee;
He clappit him sae luifsomely, 75
He turned baith blue and blae.

And up and spak she, Svane lyle;
"Sir Rosmer, ye're nae to learn
That your ten fingers arena sma,
To clap sae little a bairn." 80

There was he till, the fifthen year,
He green'd for hame and land:
"Help me now, sister Svane lyle,
To be set on the white sand."

It was proud Lady Svane lyle, 85
Afore Rosmer can stand:
"This younker sae lang in the sea has been,
He greens for hame and land."

"Gin the younker sae lang in the sea has been,
And greens for hame and land, 90
Then I'll gie him a kist wi' goud,
Sae fitting till his hand."

"And will ye gi'e him a kist wi' goud,
Sae fitting till his hand?
Then hear ye, my noble heartis dear, 95
Ye bear them baith to land."

Then wrought proud Lady Svane lyle
What Rosmer little wist;
For she's tane out the goud sae red,
And laid hersel i' the kist. 100

He's ta'en the man upon his back;
The kist in his mouth took he;
And he has gane the lang way up
Frae the bottom o' the sea.

"Now I ha'e borne thee to the land; 105
Thou seest baith sun and moon;
Namena Lady Svane for thy highest God,
I beg thee as a boon."

Rosmer sprang i' the saut sea out,
And jawp'd it up i' the sky; 110
But whan he cam till the castell in,
Nae Svane lyle could he spy.

Whan he came till the castell in,
His dearest awa was gane;
Like wood he sprang the castell about, 115
On the rock o' the black flintstane.

Glad they were in proud Hillers lyle's house,
Wi' welcome joy and glee;
Hame to their friends her bairns were come,
That had lang been in the sea. 120

TAM-A-LINE, THE ELFIN KNIGHT. (See page 114.)

From _Scottish Traditionary Versions of Ancient Ballads_, Percy Society, xvii. p. 11.

Take warnin', a' ye ladyes fair,
That wear gowd on your hair;
Come never unto Charter-woods,
For Tam-a-line he's there.

Even about that knicht's middle 5
O' siller bells are nine;
Nae ane comes to Charter-woods,
And a may returns agen.

Ladye Margaret sits in her bouir door,
Sewing at her silken seam; 10
And she lang'd to gang to Charter woods,
To pou the roses green.

She hadna pou'd a rose, a rose,
Nor braken a branch but ane,
Till by it came him true Tam-a-line, 15
Says, "Layde, lat alane.

"O why pou ye the rose, the rose?
Or why brake ye the tree?
Or why come ye to Charter-woods,
Without leave ask'd of me?" 20

"I will pou the rose, the rose,
And I will brake the tree;
Charter-woods are a' my ain,
I'll ask nae leave o' thee."

He's taen her by the milk-white hand, 25
And by the grass-green sleeve;
And laid her low on gude green wood,
At her he spier'd nae leave.

When he had got his will o' her,
His will as he had ta'en, 30
He's ta'en her by the middle sma',
Set her to feet again.

She turn'd her richt and round about,
To spier her true love's name,
But naething heard she, nor naething saw, 35
As a' the woods grew dim.

Seven days she tarried there,
Saw neither sun nor muin;
At length, by a sma' glimmerin' licht,
Came thro' the wood her lane. 40

When she came to her father's court,
Was fine as ony queen;
But when eight months were past and gane,
Got on the gown o' green.

Then out it speaks an eldren knicht, 45
As he stood at the yett;
"Our king's dochter, she gaes wi' bairn,
And we'll get a' the wyte."

"O haud your tongue, ye eldren man,
And bring me not to shame; 50
Although that I do gang wi' bairn,
Yese naeways get the blame.

"Were my love but an earthly man,
As he's an elfin knicht,
I wadna gie my ain true luve, 55
For a' that's in my sicht."

Then out it speaks her brither dear,
He meant to do her harm,
"There is an herb in Charter-woods
Will twine you an' the bairn." 60

She's taen her mantle her about,
Her coiffer by the band;
And she is on to Charter-woods,
As fast as she coud gang.

She hadna poud a rose, a rose, 65
Nor braken a branch but ane,
Till by it came him, Tam-a-Line,
Says, "Ladye, lat alane."

"O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,
The pile o' the gravil green, 70
For to destroy the bonny bairn
That we got us between?

"O! why pou ye the pile, Margaret,
The pile o' the gravil gray,
For to destroy the bonny bairn 75
That we got in our play?

"For if it be a knave bairn,
He's heir o' a' my land;
But if it be a lass bairn,
In red gowd she shall gang." 80

"If my luve were an earthly man,
As he's an elfin grey,
I coud gang bound, luve, for your sake,
A twalmonth and a day."

"Indeed your luve's an earthly man, 85
The same as well as thee;
And lang I've haunted Charter-woods,
A' for your fair bodie."

"O! tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,
O! tell, an' tell me true; 90
Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,
What pedigree are you?"

"O! I hae been at gude church-door,
An' I've got christendom;
I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son, 95
An' heir ower a' his land.

"When I was young, o' three years old,
Muckle was made o' me;
My stepmither put on my claithes,
An' ill, ill, sained she me. 100

"Ae fatal morning I gaed out,
Dreading nae injurie;
And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,
Beneath an apple tree.

"Then by it came the Elfin Queen, 105
And laid her hand on me;
And from that time since e'er I mind,
I've been in her companie.

"O Elfin it's a bonny place,
In it fain wad I dwell; 110
But aye at ilka seven years' end,
They pay a tiend to hell,
And I'm sae fou o' flesh an blude,
I'm sair fear'd for mysell."

"O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line, 115
O tell, an' tell me true;
Tell me this nicht, an' mak' nae lee,
What way I'll borrow you?"

"The morn is Hallowe'en nicht,
The Elfin court will ride, 120
Through England, and thro' a' Scotland,
And through the warld wide.

"O they begin at sky sett in,
Ride a' the evenin' tide;
And she that will her true love borrow, 125
At Miles-cross will him bide.

"Ye'll do ye down to Miles-cross,
Between twall hours and ane;
And full your hands o' holie water,
And cast your compass roun'. 130

"Then the first ane court that comes you till,
Is published king and queen;
The neist ane court that comes you till,
It is maidens mony ane.

"The neist ane court that comes you till, 135
Is footmen, grooms, and squires;
The neist ane court that comes you till,
Is knichts; and I'll be there.

"I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,
A gowd star on my crown; 140
Because I was an earthly knicht,
Got that for a renown.

"And out at my steed's right nostril,
He'll breathe a fiery flame;
Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel, 145
And ye'll be busy then.

"Ye'll tak' my horse then by the head,
And lat the bridal fa';
The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,
'True Tam-a-Line's awa'.' 150

"Then I'll appear into your arms
Like the wolf that ne'er wad tame;
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,
Case we ne'er meet again.

"Then I'll appear into your arms 155
Like fire that burns sae bauld;
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,
I'll be as iron cauld.

"Then I'll appear into your arms
Like the adder an' the snake; 160
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,
I am your warld's maike.

"Then I'll appear into your arms
Like to the deer sae wild;
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae, 165
And I'll father your child.

"And I'll appear into your arms
Like to a silken string;
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,
Till ye see the fair mornin'. 170

"And I'll appear into your arms
Like to a naked man;
Ye'll haud me fast, lat me not gae,
And wi' you I'll gae hame."

Then she has done her to Miles-cross, 175
Between twal hours an' ane;
And filled her hands o' holie water,
And kiest her compass roun'.

The first ane court that came her till,
Was published king and queen; 180
The niest ane court that came her till,
Was maidens mony ane.

The niest ane court that came her till,
Was footmen, grooms, and squires;
The niest ane court that came her till, 185
Was knichts; and he was there!

True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,
A gowd star on his crown;
Because he was an earthly man,
Got that for a renown. 190

And out at the steed's right nostril,
He breath'd a fiery flame;
She loots her low, an' sains hersel,
And she was busy then.

She's taen the horse then by the head, 195
And loot the bridle fa';
The Queen o' Elfin she cried out,--
"True Tam-a-Line's awa'."

"Stay still, true Tam-a-Line," she says,
"Till I pay you your fee;" 200
"His father wants not lands nor rents,
He'll ask nae fee frae thee."

"Gin I had kent yestreen, yestreen,
What I ken weel the day,
I shou'd hae taen your fu' fause heart, 205
Gien you a heart o' clay."

Then he appeared into her arms
Like the wolf that ne'er wad tame;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
Case they ne'er met again. 210

Then he appeared into her arms
Like the fire burning bauld;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He was as iron cauld.

And he appeared into her arms 215
Like the adder an' the snake;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He was her warld's maike.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to the deer sae wild; 220
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
He's father o' her child.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to a silken string;
She held him fast, lat him not gae, 225
Till she saw fair mornin'.

And he appeared into her arms
Like to a naked man;
She held him fast, lat him not gae,
And wi' her he's gane hame. 230

These news hae reach'd thro' a' Scotland,
And far ayont the Tay,
That ladye Margaret, our king's dochter,
That nicht had gain'd her prey.

She borrowed her love at mirk midnicht, 235
Bare her young son ere day;
And though ye'd search the warld wide,
Ye'll nae find sic a may.

TOM LINN. (See p. 114.)

This fragment was taken down from the recitation of an old woman. Maidment's _New Book of Old Ballads_, p. 54.

O all you ladies young and gay,
Who are so sweet and fair,
Do not go into Chaster's wood,
For Tomlinn will be there.

* * * * *

Fair Margaret sat in her bonny bower, 5
Sewing her silken seam,
And wished to be in Chaster's wood,
Among the leaves so green.

She let the seam fall to her foot,
The needle to her toe, 10
And she has gone to Chaster's wood,
As fast as she could go.

When she began to pull the flowers;
She pull'd both red and green;
Then by did come, and by did go, 15
Said, "Fair maid, let abene!

"O why pluck you the flowers, lady,
Or why climb you the tree?
Or why come ye to Chaster's wood,
Without the leave of me?" 20

"O I will pull the flowers," she said,
"Or I will break the tree;
For Chaster's wood it is my own,
I'll ask no leave at thee."

He took her by the milk-white hand, 25
And by the grass-green sleeve;
And laid her down upon the flowers,
At her he ask'd no leave.

The lady blush'd and sourly frown'd,
And she did think great shame; 30
Says, "If you are a gentleman,
You will tell me your name."

"First they call me Jack," he said,
"And then they call'd me John;
But since I liv'd in the Fairy court, 35
Tomlinn has always been my name.

"So do not pluck that flower, lady,
That has these pimples gray;
They would destroy the bonny babe
That we've gotten in our play." 40

"O tell to me, Tomlinn," she said,
"And tell it to me soon;
Was you ever at a good church door,
Or got you christendom?"

"O I have been at good church door, 45
And oft her yetts within;
I was the Laird of Foulis's son,
The heir of all his land.

"But it fell once upon a day,
As hunting I did ride, 50
As I rode east and west yon hill,
Then woe did me betide.

"O drowsy, drowsy as I was,
Dead sleep upon me fell;
The Queen of Fairies she was there, 55
And took me to hersel.

"The morn at even is Hallowe'en,
Our Fairy court will ride,
Through England and through Scotland both,
Through all the world wide; 60
And if that ye would me borrow,
At Rides Cross ye may bide.

"You may go into the Miles Moss,
Between twelve hours and one;
Take holy water in your hand, 65
And cast a compass round.

"The first court that comes along,
You'll let them all pass by;
The next court that comes along,
Salute them reverently. 70

"The next court that comes along,
Is clad in robes of green;
And it's the head court of them all,
For in it rides the Queen.

"And I upon a milk-white steed, 75
With a gold star in my crown;
Because I am an earthly man,
I'm next the Queen in renown.

"Then seize upon me with a spring,
Then to the ground I'll fa'; 80
And then you'll hear a rueful cry,
That Tomlinn is awa'.

"Then I'll grow in your arms two,
Like to a savage wild;
But hold me fast, let me not go, 85
I'm father of your child.

"I'll grow into your arms two
Like an adder, or a snake;
But hold me fast, let me not go,
I'll be your earthly maik. 90

"I'll grow into your arms two
Like ice on frozen lake;
But hold me fast, let me not go,
Or from your goupen break.

"I'll grow into your arms two, 95
Like iron in strong fire;
But hold me fast, let me not go,
Then you'll have your desire."

And its next night into Miles Moss,
Fair Margaret has gone; 100
When lo she stands beside Rides Cross,
Between twelve hours and one.

There's holy water in her hand,
She casts a compass round;
And presently a Fairy band 105
Comes riding o'er the mound.

* * * * *

This seems to be the most appropriate connection for a short fragment from Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_, (p. 21.) It was taken down from the recitation of a lady who had heard it sung in her childhood.

BURD ELLEN AND YOUNG TAMLANE.

Burd Ellen sits in the bower windowe,
_With a double laddy double, and for the double dow_,
Twisting the red silk and the blue,
_With the double rose and the May-hay_.

And whiles she twisted, and whiles she twan, 5
_With a double_, &c.
And whiles the tears fell down amang,
_With the double_, &c.

Till once there by cam young Tamlane,
_With a double_, &c. 10
"Come light, oh light, and rock your young son!"
_With the double_, &c.

"If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,
_With a double_, &c.
For I hae rockit my share and mair." 15
_With the double_, &c.

* * * * *

Young Tamlane to the seas he's gane,
_With a double laddy double, and for the double dow,_
And a' women's curse in his company's gane,
_With the double rose and the May-hay_. 20

ALS Y YOD ON AY MOUNDAY. (See p. 126.)

In the manuscript from which these verses are taken, they form the preface to a long strain of incomprehensible prophecies of the same description as those which are appended to _Thomas of Ersyldoune_. Whether the two portions belong together, or not, (and it will be seen that they are ill enough joined,) the first alone requires to be cited here for the purpose of comparison with the _Wee Wee Man_. The whole piece has been twice printed, first by Finlay, in his _Scottish Ballads_, (ii. 163,) and afterwards, by a person who was not aware that he had been anticipated, in the _Retrospective Review_, Second Series, vol. ii. p. 326. Both texts are in places nearly unintelligible, and are evidently full of errors, part of which we must ascribe to the incompetency of the editors. Finlay's is here adopted as on the whole the best, but it has received a few corrections from the other, and one or two conjectural emendations.

Als y yod on ay Mounday
Bytwene Wyltinden and Wall,
The ane after brade way,
Ay litel man y mette with alle,
The leste yat ever y, sathe to say, 5
Oither in bowr, oither in halle;
His robe was noither grene na gray,
Bot alle yt was of riche palle.

On me he cald, and bad me bide;
Well stille y stode ay litel space; 10
Fra Lanchestre the parke syde
Yeen he come, wel fair his pase.
He hailsed me with mikel pride;
Ic haved wel mykel ferly wat he was;
I saide,--"Wel mote the betyde, 15
That litel man with large face."

I beheld that litel man
Bi the strete als we gon gae;
His berd was syde ay large span,
And glided als the fether of pae; 20
His heved was wyte als ony swan,
His hegehen was gret and grai als so;
Brues lange, wel I the can
Merk it to fize inches and mae.

Armes scort, for sothe I saye, 25
Ay span seemed thaem to bee:
Handes brade vytouten nay,
And fingeres lange, he scheued me.
Ay stane he tok op thar it lay,
And castit forth that I moth see; 30
Ay merk-soot of large way
Bifore me strides he castit three.

Wel stille I stod als did the stane,
To loke him on thouth me nouth lang;
His robe was alle gold begane, 35
Wel craftelike[L36] maked, I understande;
Botones asurd, everlk ane,
Fra his elbouthe ontil his hande;
Erdelik[L39] man was he nane;
That in myn hert ich onderstande. 40

Til him I sayde ful sone on ane,
For forthirmar I wald him fraine,
"Gladli wald[L43] I wit thi name,
And I wist wat me mouthe gaine;
Thou ert so litel of fleshe and bane, 45
And so mikel of mith and mayne,
War vones thou, litel man, at hame?
Wit of thee I wald ful faine."

"Thoth I be litel and lith,
Am y noth wytouten wane; 50
Ferli frained thou wat hi hith,
That[L52] thou salt noth wit my name;
My wonige stede ful wel es dyght,[L53]
Nou sone thou salt se at hame."
Til him I sayde, "For Godes mith, 55
Let me forth myn erand gane."

"The thar noth of thin erand lette,
Thouth thou come ay stonde wit me,
Forther salt thou noth bi sette,
Bi miles twa noyther bi three." 60
Na linger durst I for him lette,
But forth y funded wyt that free;
Stintid vs brok no beck;
Ferlich me thouth hu so mouth bee.

He vent forth, als y you say, 65
In at ay yate, y vnderstande;
In til ay yate wvndouten nay;
It to se thouth me nouth[L68] lang.
The bankers on the binkes lay,
And fair lordes sett y fonde; 70
In ilka ay hirn y herd ay lay,
And leuedys soth meloude sange.

[Here there seems to be a break, and a new start made, with a tale told not on a _Monday_, but on a _Wednesday_.]

Lithe, bothe zonge and alde:
Of ay worde y will you saye,
Ay litel tale that me was tald
Erli on ay Wedenesdaye.
A mody barn, that was ful bald,
My friend that y frained aye,
Al my gesing he me tald,
And galid me als we went bi waye.

"Miri man, that es so wyth,
Of ay thing gif me answere:
For him that mensked man wyt mith,
Wat sal worth of this were?" &c.

Finlay, 36, crustlike.

39, Clidelik.

43, Glalli wild.

52, That, qy. Yat?; with.

53, dygh.

68, south.

THE ELPHIN KNIGHT. (See p. 128.)

"The following transcript is a literal copy from the original in the Pepysian library, Cambridge." Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, Appendix, p. i.

"A Proper New Ballad, entituled, _The Wind hath blown my Plaid away, or, A Discourse betwixt a young Maid and the Elphin-Knight_; To be sung with its own pleasant New Tune."

The Elphin Knight site on yon hill,
_Ba, ba, ba, lilli ba,_
He blowes his horn both loud and shril,
_The wind hath blown my plaid awa_.

He blowes it East, he blowes it West, 5
_Ba, ba_, &c.
He blowes it where he lyketh best.
_The wind_, &c.

"I wish that horn were in my kist,
_Ba, ba_, &c. 10
Yea, and the knight in my armes two."
_The wind_, &c.

She had no sooner these words said,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
When that the knight came to her bed. 15
_The wind_, &c.

"Thou art over young a maid," quoth he,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
"Married with me thou il wouldst be."
_The wind_, &c. 20

"I have a sister younger than I,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
And she was married yesterday."
_The wind_, &c.

"Married with me if thou wouldst be, 25
_Ba, ba_, &c.
A courtesie thou must do to me.
_The wind_, &c.

"For thou must shape a sark to me,
_Ba, ba_, &c. 30
Without any cut or heme," quoth he.
_The wind_, &c.

"Thou must shape it needle- and sheerlesse,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
And also sue it needle-threedlesse." 35
_The wind_, &c.

"If that piece of courtesie I do to thee,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
Another thou must do to me.
_The wind_, &c. 40

"I have an aiker of good ley-land,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand.
_The wind_, &c.

"For thou must cure it with thy horn, 45
_Ba, ba_, &c.
So thou must sow it with thy corn.
_The wind_, &c.

"And bigg a cart of stone and lyme,
_Ba, ba_, &c. 50
Robin Redbreast he must trail it hame.
_The wind_, &c.

"Thou must barn it in a mouse-holl,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
And thrash it into thy shoes' soll. 55
_The wind_, &c.

"And thou must winnow it in thy looff,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
And also seck it in thy glove.
_The wind_, &c. 60

"For thou must bring it over the sea,
_Ba, ba_, &c.
And thou must bring it dry home to me.
_The wind_, &c.

"When thou hast gotten thy turns well done, 65
_Ba, ba_, &c.
Then come to me and get thy sark then.
_The wind_, &c."