Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by DavidPrice,
by
GEORGE BORROW
London:
printed for private circulation
1913
| Page |
Marsk Stig’s Daughters | |
The Three Expectants | |
Translation: “One Summer morn, as I wasseeking” | |
The English Gipsy | |
Gipsy Song | |
The Heart is heavy, Brother | |
Song: “Nastrond’s blazes” | |
Lines: “To read the great mysteriousPast” |
Two daughters fair the Marshal had,
O grievous was their fate and sad.
The eldest she took her sister’s hand
And away they went to Sweden’s land.
Home from the Stevn King Byrgye rode;
Up to him Marsk Stig’s daughters trode.
“What women ye who beset my gate?
What brings ye hither at eve so late?”
“Daughters of Stig, the Marshal brave,
So earnestly thee for help we crave.”
“Hence, hence away, ye outcasts two,
Your sire accurst my uncle slew.”
p.8“Guiltless are we of Erik’s blood,
So wide we wander in quest of food.”
The eldest she takes her sister’s hand,
And away they went into Norway’s land.
Home from the Ting King Erik rode
Up to him Marsk Stig’s daughters trode.
“What women are ye whom here I view,
And what may ye in my country do?”
“Daughters of Stig, the Marshal brave
So earnestly thee for help we crave.”
“To brew and bake full well ye know”—
“Alas, Sir King, not so, not so.
“To brew and bake we do not know,
We never stoop’d to employ so low.
“To spin red gold that is our pride,
Our mother taught us ere she died.
“And we can weave galloon as well
As the maidens with the Queen that dwell.
p.9“We can weave red gold with wool,
But oh, our hearts with grief are full.
“Had Marsk Stig stay’d in Denmark green,
Different far our fate had been.
“Had Ingeborg not chanc’d to die,
We had not borne this misery.”
King Erik replied in