Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.

 

QUEEN BERNGERD THE BARD AND THE DREAMS and OTHER BALLADS

and

by GEORGE BORROW

by

London: printed for private circulation 1913

London

printed for private circulation

p. 6Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter.

p. 6

p. 7QUEEN BERNGERD

p. 7

Long ere the Sun the heaven arrayed, For her morning gift her Lord she prayed: “Give me Samsoe to have and to hold, And from every maiden a crown of gold.”  Woe befall her, Berngerd.

The King he answered Berngerd thus: “Madam, crave something less of us, For many a maid lives ’neath our sway To ’scape from death could the like not pay.”  Woe befall her, Berngerd.

“My gentle Lord, then hear my prayer, Suffer not ladies the scarlet to wear; And, Sir, you must grant me this boon beside, Let no boor’s son a good courser ride.”  Woe befall her, Berngerd.

p. 8“What ladies can buy to wear they are free, And hindrance none they shall meet from me; If the son of a Boor can a horse support, ‘Fore God, I’ll never destroy his sport!”  Woe befall her, Berngerd.

p. 8

“My Lord, we’ll that matter let drop to the ground; With chains of steel let the land be bound, So that man or woman thereout or therein Withouten toll cannot 

  P 1/9 next