George Borrow

“ Dame Ingeborg stood there, and leaned on the same.
“Proud Ingeborg, hear what I say unto thee:
What hast done with my daughter? declare that to me!”
“But yesterday ’twas that with sorrowful mind,
Her corse to the arms of the grave we consign’d.”
“Proud Ingeborg, hush thee, nor talk in this guise,
But show me the grave where my dear daughter lies.”
As soon as Dame Mettelil o’er the place trod,
Proud Lyborg she screamed underneath the green sod.
p. 23“Whoever will gold and will silver obtain,
Let him help me to dig now with might and with main.” ”

“ As golden threads which maidens spin;
God crown with bliss Sir Engelbret,
He ever was so free from sin.
But now I’ll take the holy vows,
Within the cloister under Ey;
I’ll ne’er become another’s spouse,
But in religion I will die. ”

“ To my mother a message in secret would take.”
Then answer’d proud Lyborg’s own little foot-boy:
“Your message in secret I’ll carry with joy.”
That they were alone they with confidence thought;
Dame Ingeborg stood nigh, and every word caught.
The lad he upsprang on his courser so high,
He galloped as fast as the wingèd birds fly.
p. 21In, in came the lad, in a kirtle red drest:
“Your daughter, Dame Lyborg, in death will soon rest.
“She bids you to come with all possible quickness,
To live through this night she can’t hope from her sickness.” ”

“ The less, the less, is my relief.
p. 18THE CRUEL MOTHER-IN-LAW
From his home and his country Sir Volmor should fare,
His wife he commends to his mother’s best care.
Proud Lyborg she sang, as the dancers she watched,
Behind stood Dame Ingeborg, malice she hatched.
“To live to the Fall if the luck I enjoy
Fair lady, thy beautiful voice I’ll destroy.”
Proud Lyborg’s fair maidens upon the floor sprang,
And all through the evening she unto them sang.
p. 19But alack two short summer days scarcely had pass’d,
When in desperate sickness proud Lyborg lay fast. ”

“ That the fire by them fed may burn brilliant and free.”
Dame Ingeborg forth from the house they convey’d,
And they burnt her to dust on the fire they had made.
Sir Volmor came home from the red field of strife,
Then tidings assailed him, with dolour so rife.
Then tidings assailed him, with dolour so rife,
Burnt, burnt was his mother, and flown was his wife.
He bade for proud Lyborg of red gold a store,
But he could the lily obtain nevermore.
p. 25THE FAITHFUL KING OF THULE
A king so true and steady
In Thule lived of old ”