The Tale of Brynild, and King Valdemar and His Sister: Two Ballads

The Tale of Brynild, and King Valdemar and His Sister: Two Ballads
George Borrow

Borrow George

The Tale of Brynild, and King Valdemar and His Sister: Two Ballads

THE TALE OF BRYNILD

Sivard he a colt has got,
The swiftest ’neath the sun;
Proud Brynild from the Hill of Glass
In open day he won.

Unto her did of knights and swains
The very flower ride;
Not one of them the maid to win
Could climb the mountain’s side.

The hill it was both steep and smooth;
Upon its lofty head
Her sire had set her, knight nor swain
He swore with her should wed.

Soon to the Danish monarch’s court
A messenger repaired,
To know if there was any one
To try the adventure dared.

’Twas talked about, and Sivard then
His purpose soon made known;
Said he: “I’ll try upon my colt
To bring Brynilda down.”

He rode away, the way was far,
The path was of the worst;
He saw the shining Glass Hill, where
The maid her durance curs’d.

And he away proud Brynild bore,
Nor deemed the adventure hard;
To bold Sir Nielus her he gave
To show him his regard.

Proud Brynild and proud Signelil
Those maids of beauteous mien,
Down to the river’s side they went
Their silken robes to clean.

“Now do thou hear, thou proud Brynild,
What now I say to thee,
Where didst thou get the bright gold ring
I on thy finger see?”

“How did I get the bright gold ring
Which on my hand you see?
That gave me Sivard Snareswayne,
When he betrothed me.”

“And though young Sivard gave thee that
When he his love declar’d,
He gives thee to Sir Nielus now
In proof of his regard.”

No sooner than did Brynild hear,
The haughty hearted may,
Than to the chamber high she went,
Where sick of rage she lay.

It was the proud Brynild there
Fell sick, and moaning lay;
And her the proud Sir Nielus then
Attended every day.

“Now hark to me, thou Brynild fair,
My mind is ill at ease;
Know’st thou of any medicine
Can cure thy sad disease?

“If there be aught this world within
Can make thee cease to moan,
That thou shalt have, e’en if it cost
All, all the gold I own.”

“I know of nought within this world
Can do my sickness good,
Except of Sivard Snareswayne
It be the hated blood.

“And there is nothing in this world
Which can assuage my pain,
Except of Sivard Snareswayne
The head I do obtain.”

“To draw of Sivard Snareswayne
The blood I have no might;
His neck is hard as burnished steel,
No sword thereon will bite.”

“O hark, Sir Nielus, hark to me,