Sir Peter

________________________________________________
Title:     Sir Peter
Author: George Borrow [More Titles by Borrow]

Sir Peter and Kirstin they sat by the board,
Betwixt them in jest there passed many a word.

"Now listen to me, good Sir Peter the knight,
Say, when wilt thou me to thy bridal invite?"

"'Twill be held in a far distant country, I trow,
So far that to come quite unable art thou."

"And though thou shouldst hold it, Sir Peter, in Rome,
If thou shouldst invite me I'd certainly come."

"And if at my bridals thou wish to appear,
Behind thou must leave all thy red golden gear."

"In my red golden gear I will ever go dight,
For it was not gained by dishonor, Sir Knight."

Sir Peter he bids them his bridals get ready,
Cries Kirstin: "Now shoe ye my palfrey so steady."

Fair Kirstin she saddles her courser so gray,
To the house of Sir Peter she taketh her way.

She rides her horse into Sir Peter's court yard,
And there stood the knight, clad in sable and mard.

"Now hear thou, Sir Peter, so handsome and fine,
Say, may I this day skink before thee the wine?"

"To skink wine before me if thee I permit,
Thou on the stone bench with the servants shalt sit."

Adown her cheeks trickled the tear-drops so free--
How hard by each mortal insulted to be!

To the high and wide hall good Sir Peter proceeds,
Fair Kirstin behind him in rich scarlet weeds.

A coronet glittered her temples upon,
And full of gold rings were her fingers, each one.

When into the hall little Kirstin she came,
Uprose to receive her each maiden and dame.

She took in her fair hand the white silver can,
To skink mead before the young knight she began.

The youthful bride said to her servant: "Canst tell
The name of that skinker, that sweet demoiselle?"

Then answered the servant, as low as she might:
"'Tis only Sir Peter his love-lady light."

"And if he possessed such a leman, why rode
Sir Peter the knight to my father's abode?

"And had good Sir Peter a leman so brave,
O why did he me of my father e'er crave.

"More gold she displays on her ten fingers small,
Than my father could show in his good castle all."

Now o'er was the supper, the laugh and the song,
To retire to her bed the young bride she doth long.

With the bride to the bridal apartment they go,
Fair Kirstin in front bears the yellow flambeau.

The bride in the soft bridal couch they have plac'd,
To come to her arms good Sir Peter made haste.

[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Sir Peter

________________________________________________



GO TO TOP OF SCREEN