Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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An Old Danish Ballad Re-sung.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
5
An Old Danish Ballad Re-sung.
The princess she was a winsome thing,
Only seventeen years that Spring.
Only seventeen years that Spring.
She said to her love, “I fain would see
Your pack of hounds loose on the lea.
Your pack of hounds loose on the lea.
“Saddle thy horse and gird thee, Brand,
And we will ride to a happier land.”
And we will ride to a happier land.”
“Lady fair, I've no steed but one;
But thou shalt ride and I will run.”
But thou shalt ride and I will run.”
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“Earl Brand, my father has horses three:
More than enough for you and me.”
More than enough for you and me.”
So away they galloped o'er moss and moor,
And these lovers met neither rich nor poor.
And these lovers met neither rich nor poor.
They never slackened for sun nor rain,
On the hill-side or over the plain.
On the hill-side or over the plain.
Fox might bark, or wild hawk scream,
Life with them was a Summer dream.
Life with them was a Summer dream.
Till at last they met, at the side of a wood,
With one who was evil and never good.
With one who was evil and never good.
“Earl Brand,” said the maiden, “if ye love me,
Slay that traitor, or he'll slay thee.”
Slay that traitor, or he'll slay thee.”
“I cannot slay him, my lady fair,
For bent is his back and grey his hair.”
For bent is his back and grey his hair.”
“Why, Sir Knight, in such haste to ride?
And where have you stolen that bonny bride?”
And where have you stolen that bonny bride?”
“She is my sister, and not my wife,
And I fear me much for the maiden's life.”
And I fear me much for the maiden's life.”
“If she is weary and all but dead,
Why does she wear that hood of red?
Why does she wear that hood of red?
“If she's been sick and like to die,
Why do I gold and jewels spy?”
Why do I gold and jewels spy?”
He ran back fast to her kith and kin,
And beat at the door till they let him in.
And beat at the door till they let him in.
“Now, where is the lady of this hall?”
“Out at play with the cowslip ball.”
“Out at play with the cowslip ball.”
“No!” he cried, “you are all mista'en:
Go, count your maidens o'er again.
Go, count your maidens o'er again.
“I met her but now in headlong flight
With young Earl Brand, the English knight.”
With young Earl Brand, the English knight.”
Her father he mounted with fifteen men,
And rode swift down the mountain glen.
And rode swift down the mountain glen.
The lady looks back, as the stream they ford,
And cries, “Ride faster, or draw your sword.”
And cries, “Ride faster, or draw your sword.”
“If they come on me one by one,
You must stand by till the fight be done;
You must stand by till the fight be done;
“But if they charge on me one and all,
You must stand by and see me fall.”
You must stand by and see me fall.”
Then one by one they on him ran,
And fourteen times he slew his man:
And fourteen times he slew his man:
Ten of the rascals dead by the burn,
Four rogues stretched on the trampled fern.
Four rogues stretched on the trampled fern.
The fifteenth traitor, stealing round,
Gave him a deep and deadly wound.
Gave him a deep and deadly wound.
The knight of his wound took little heed,
But kissed his lady upon her steed.
But kissed his lady upon her steed.
They rode till they came to the brimming tide,
And there he bound his bleeding side.
And there he bound his bleeding side.
“O Earl, I see your red heart's blood!”
“'T is but the gleam of your scarlet hood.”
“'T is but the gleam of your scarlet hood.”
They rode till he came to his mother's door,
Then he fell dead on the chamber floor.
Then he fell dead on the chamber floor.
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |