Mrs. MacOubrey.

p. 14

The ballad of Grimhild’s Vengeance (Grimhilds Hevn) is given in three versions by Abrahamson, Nyerup and Rahbek. Borrow has closely followed the editors of 1812 and has translated each of the versions. He added a number of notes, the MS. of which is mutilated, but not so much so as to prevent us from observing that these are translated word for word from the appendix of Abrahamson, Nyerup and Rahbek, but, so far as can be discerned from the fragmentary and mutilated Manuscripts at our disposal, without a sign of acknowledgment.

Edmund Gosse.

Edmund Gosse

p. 15GRIMHILD’S VENGEANCE Song the First

p. 15

It was the proud Dame Grimhild Prepares the mead and beer, And unto her the valiant knights She bids from far and near.

She bade them come and not delay To tournament and strife; It was the Hero Hogen Who lost his youthful life.

It was the Hero Hogen Along the shore went he, And there he found upon the sand The maiden of the sea.

p. 16“Now hail, thou maiden of the sea, Of wisdom thou art rife; Say, if I go to Hvenild’s land, Can I retain my life?”

p. 16

“Of castles hast thou plenty, knight, And store of gold so red, If thou shouldst go to Hvenild’s land Thou wilt be smitten dead.”

It was the Hero Hogen, He straight drew forth his blade, And he struck off at a single blow The head of the ocean-maid.

Then out amid the Sound he cast The head all dropping gore; The body rolled down after it, In the deep they joined once more.

It was the Hero Hogen, He further wandered on, Until the Ferry-carl he spied The ocean beach upon.

p. 17“Now list to me, good Ferry-carl, Convey me o’er the Sound, And I’ll give thee my good gold ring, It weighs full fifteen pound.”

p. 17

 Prev. P 6/14 next