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Title: The Songs Of Ranild
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
SONG THE FIRST.
Up Riber's street the dance they ply,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
There dance the knights most merrily,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
On Riber's bridge the dance it goes,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
There dance the knights in scollop'd shoes,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
'Twas Riber Wolf the dance who led,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
In faith to his King he had been bred,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And next him danced the Tage Mouse,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Who Seneschal was in Ribe house,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And then danced bold Sir Saltensee,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Followed by wealthy kinsmen three,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
The noble Limbekk dances next,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Whose power the King had often vext,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
After him danced the Byrge Green,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Then many a knight of handsome mien,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And then came dancing Hanke Kann,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
His Lady followed, good Dame Ann,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
The next that came was the Ridder Rank,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
His Lady behind him, Berngard Blank,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And then the high Volravn came,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
His wife behind, who has no name,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And then came dancing Sir Iver Helt,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Who followed his sovereign over the Belt,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
Long stood the Ranild Lang apart,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
Ere he to join the dance had heart,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
"And were it not for my lovely hair,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
In that brave dance I'd have a share,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
"But for my cheeks so rosy red,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
The foremost in that dance I'd tread,"
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
Then Ranild Lang to dance began,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
And a ditty sang as he led the van,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
Sweet he warbled, light he sprang,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
After him every warrior sang,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
Then up the Spendel Sko arose,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
And on Ranild Lang her troth bestows,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
With silk was snooded her hair of gold,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
She danced before them free and bold,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
And into the Castle they dance their way,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
With drawn swords 'neath their scarlet array.
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
Never, I ween, was a braver dance,
_The Castle's won_, _the Castle's won_!
It wins the Castle of Rosenkrands,
_For young King Erik Erikson_.
SONG THE SECOND.
To saddle his courser Ranild cried:
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
"To visit the rich Greve I will ride,
Though banish'd from the land we be."
To the house came Ranild spurring hard,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
There stood the Greve arrayed in mard,
Though banish'd from the land we be.
"Hail, hail, Sir Greve, arrayed so fine!
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
I want my bride, the little Kirstine,
Though banish'd from the land I be."
Then up and spoke her mother dear:
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
"Thou hast no bride, Sir Ranild, here,
For banish'd from the land ye be."
"O if I can't my little bride get,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
On fire your house and your gear I'll set,
Though banish'd from the land I be."
"O rather than ruin us in thy wrath,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
Receive thy bride and ride thy path,
Though banish'd from the land ye be."
They o'er her threw the blue cloak with speed,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
And placed her upon Sir Ranild's steed,
Though banish'd from the land he be.
They had for their bridal bed alone,
_For thus the tale was told to ne_--
The holt, the field, and the mead new mown,
For banish'd from the land they be.
"The forest can hear, and the mead can view,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
We here must live as outlaws do,
For banish'd from the land we be."
"Hadst thou not helped the King to slay,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
In peace at home we now might stay,
But banish'd from the land we be."
He struck her a blow the table o'er,
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
"Should'st guard thy tongue, child, guests before,
Though banish'd from the land we be."
He struck her on her face so fair:
_For thus the tale was told to me_--
"In Erik's death I had no share,
Though banished from the land I be."
SONG THE THIRD.
So wide around the tidings bound
That Ranild's prisoner taken;
Had he been aware how it would fare
He had not Hielm forsaken.
The death of woe, spaed long ago,
They'll wreak on him now, I reckon.
Into the hall steps Ranild tall,
And withouten trepidation;
Bids his Lord good bye, and the chivalry
Who have at court their station.
O, Lord Christ! be each man kept free
From misfortune and tribulation.
"In mind dost bear, King Erik dear,
On whom may blessings pour,
That service I wrought in your father's court,
Of all his swains the flower?
Both in and out I've borne you about
In sunshine and in shower."
"Yes, service you wrought in my father's court,
For money and clothes imparted,
And betrayed his life to the foeman's knife,
Like a monster treacherous hearted.
And as sure as now the crown's on my brow,
To the wheel thou shalt be carted."
"Hew off, I intreat, my hands and feet,
Most willingly them I proffer;
My eyes blood red tear out of my head,
And the worst death let me suffer;
But all the pains that Ranild gains
For his treason scarce enough are."
"Thine eyeballs twain thou may'st retain,
And thy hands and feet unriven;
But thou thy breath shalt yield to a death
The cruellest under heaven;
And be it known, for my father alone
This punishment is given."
Ranild they brought from Roskild out,
He wrung his hands with sorrow;
And the women all salt tears let fall,
Who lived in that ancient borough.
The wretched wight wished all good night,
And a light heart on the morrow.
Ranild they bore the town before,
The wheel his sight saluted:
"Christ guard each noble from such like trouble,"
In agony he shouted,
"If at Hielm I'd staid it had better sped,
Nor to that had I been devoted.
"Would God would send a trusty friend,
Who would my message carry,
To Kirstine fair, who sits in care,
To Ranild true to tarry.
O Christ help all my babies small,
And bless my bosom's dearie!
"Ye Christian folk, whom, with dying look,
On the mead I am discerning,
A pater pray for my soul, to stay
Of God the anger burning;
That me He receive this very eve
To the joys for which I'm yearning."
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: The Songs Of Ranild
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