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A poem by George Borrow |
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The King's Wake |
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Title: The King's Wake Author: George Borrow [More Titles by Borrow] To-night is the night that the wake they hold, Proud Signelil she her mother address'd: "O what at the wake wouldst do my dear? "Nor brother-in-law to protect thy youth, "There be the King and his warriors gay, "But the Queen will be there and her maiden crew, So long, so long begged the maiden young, "Then go, my child, if thou needs must go, Then through the thick forest the maiden went, When o'er the green meadows she had won, And when she came to the castle gate There danced full many a mail-clad man, He stretched forth his hand with an air so free, "O, sir, I've come across the wold "Come dance," said the King with a courteous smile, Then forward she stepped like a blushing rose, "Hear Signelil what I say to thee, "A ditty of love I will not, Sir King, Proud Signil began, a ditty she sang, Says the Queen in her chamber as she lay: "O which of my maidens doth sing so late, Then answered the Queen the little foot page, "'Tis none I'll engage of the maiden band, "O bring my red mantle hither to me, And when they came down to the castle gate About and around they danced with glee, The Queen she felt so sore aggrieved Sophia the Queen to her maid did sign: His hand the King stretched forth so free: "O I'll not dance with thee, I vow, The horn she raised to her lips, athirst, There stood King Valdemar pale as clay, "A fairer maid since I first drew breath For her wept woman and maid so sore, But better with her it would have sped, [The end] GO TO TOP OF SCREEN |