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Title: Ingeborg's Lamentation
Author: George Borrow [
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From the Swedish of Tegner.
(An extract from Frithiof's Saga.)
Autumn winds howl;
Ocean is swelling so stormy.--My soul,
Would with the sighs which I utter
Forth thou wouldst flutter!
Long did I view
Far in the West the sail which flew--
Happy my Frithiof to follow
O'er the wave hollow!
Blue billow run
O not so high, for it still sails on!
Stars, for my mariner sparkle,
As the nights darkle!
Spring will appear.
He will come home, but unmet by his dear
Or in the hall, or the dingle,
Or on the shingle.
She'll lie in mould,
All for her love's sake, pallid and cold,
Or she will bleed, by no other
Slain than her brother.
Hawk, left behind!
Thou shalt be mine and I'll prove ever kind:
Ever, wing'd hunter, I'll scatter
Food on thy platter.
Here on his hand
Work'd on my kerchiefs hem thou shalt stand,
Pinions of silver and glowing
Gold-talons showing.
Hawk-pinions tried
Freia {1} one time, and around about hied;
Sought North and South to discover
Oder her lover.
E'en shouldst thou lend
Me thy brave wings, yet I could not ascend;
Only Death brings me, poor minion,
The divine pinion.
Hunter so free!
Sit on my shoulder and look to the sea;
Spite of our looking and yearning,
He's not returning.
When I'm at rest,
And he comes safe, do thou mind my behest:
O with best greetings receive him,
Frithiof, who'll grieve him.
Footnote: {1} The Northern Venus.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Ingeborg's Lamentation
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