Romantic Ballads Part 21

George Borrow commenced his literary career with a translation of Klinger's "Faustus" in 1825, and by a compilation of "Celebrated Trials"

in the same year. Both these books appeared in London while he was engaged as a bookseller's hack, as described in "Lavengro." In 1826 Borrow returned to Norwich, and there he issued from the printing-house of S. Wilkin, in the Upper Haymarket, these "Romantic Ballads." He had worked hard at collecting subscribers, and two hundred copies were reserved for Norwich at half a guinea each copy; the remaining three hundred out of an edition of five hundred were sent to London. Some of these bear the imprint of John Taylor, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, 1826, while the remainder bear the imprint of Wightman & Cramp, of Paternoster Row, in the same year. Dr. Knapp only knew of the Taylor edition, because that is referred to in the correspondence. Copies, however, of the Wightman & Cramp edition are in existence, and the t.i.tle-page will be found reproduced with those of the first and second issue in the opening pages of this volume. Borrow sent copies to Lockhart, and Cunningham advised gifts to other reviewers; but not a single review of the book appeared. Yet his subscription list "amply paid all expenses," as Borrow states in a letter to Cunningham. That list reveals the fact that such diverse persons as Dr. Bathurst, Bishop of Norwich, and Thurtell, the murderer of Mr. Weare, were among the Norwich subscribers, while Benjamin Haydon, John Timbs, and Thomas Campbell paid their half-guineas from London. Thurtell, we may add, was hanged before the book appeared.

APPENDIX No. 2.

Facsimile of Borrow's Ma.n.u.script from the Collection of Clement Shorter.

{i:Ma.n.u.script of The deceived Merman--part 1: borrow1.jpg}

{i:Ma.n.u.script of The deceived Merman--part 2: borrow2.jpg}

Footnotes:

{f:1} The G.o.ddess of death--according to the Northern mythology.

{f:2} The paradise of the Northern mythology.

{f:3} Moe in Danish signifies Maid, and is p.r.o.nounced nearly like "May."

May is Old English for Maid.

{f:4} The Fairies.--Ellefolk. _Dan_.

{f:5} Giants.--Jette. _Dan_.

{f:6} Dovrefeld is the highest mountain in Norway, and in Europe.

{f:7} Some of the many powers attributed to "Runic verses" will be found described in the song so int.i.tuled, in the latter part of this volume.

{f:8} Boune, to get ready.

{f:9} Rede, advise. Raader.--Dan.

{f:10} Woxen, grown. Voxen.--Dan.

{f:11} Jesus Christ.

{f:12} Grene shaw, green wood.--Old English.

{f:13} Brute-carl, dyre-carl.--_Original_.

{f:14} By this nose under the chin must be understood, that the elf has so long and crooked a nose, that it reaches and turns up under his chin.

Crooked noses are, in all stories, allowed to be an ingredient of fiendish physiognomy.

{f:15} Svobt udi maard.--_Original_.

{f:16} Slaae mig et mit Ledemod sonder.

{f:17} Burly, strong.

{f:18} Rok og teen. The Rok is no longer used in England, though still common in the North. It is a hazle stick, more than a yard long, round which the wool is wound. It is affixed to the side of the spinner, under the left arm.

{f:19} By scattering "Runes," or Runic letters, over graves, provided they formed a particular rhyme, the ancient Scandinavians imagined that the dead might be aroused.

{f:20} Han laerer de Kiaempers Ryg at verke.

{f:21} To ride at Dyst, to battle on horseback.

{f:22} It was formerly the custom in Denmark, upon St. John's day, to celebrate the arrival of Summer, by troops of youths and maids going out into the woods, and thence returning bedecked with leaves and branches.

This ceremony was called "bringing Summer to town."

{f:23} Blank, clear, s.h.i.+ning.--_Dan_.

{f:24} Called in Danish Kiaempe-steene; these stones either mark the burial place of a warrior, or the spot where some very remarkable circ.u.mstance has occurred.

{f:25} These were ancient Danish monarchs renowned in song and tale, for warlike exploits and strange adventures. Not far from the Bridge of Vaere in the diocese of Roeskild, is King Frode's grave-hill, which, according to tradition, contains immense treasures, and is the richest in all the land. "Around the King's neck is a gold chain, so long that its other end reaches round his feet." _See Thiele's Danske Folkesagn_.

{f:26} Denmark's wisest and greatest king. He entertained a warm friends.h.i.+p for James the First of England, and, attended by his court, came to London to visit him. The ceremonies and rejoicings which this event gave rise to, are well described in an old German book, at present in the British Museum.

{f:27} Tordenskiold Juul and Hvidtfeld--celebrated Danish admirals. The memory of Tordenskiold is sacred among the peasantry, on account of the victories obtained by him over the Swedes. It is reported of him in Jutland, that when the shot of the enemy was directed thick and fast against him, he would shake the leaden bullets from out the folds of his clothes.

{f:28} In the Northern mythology, the G.o.d of war and strength. He is girded by a belt of bear-sinews, and bears a hammer called "Miolner,"

which means the shatterer, and with which he destroys giants, demons, and other foes of Odin the supreme G.o.d.

{f:29} See preface to "Waldemar's Chase," p. 115.

{f:30} It was frequently the practice of the ancient Nors.e.m.e.n, after having entombed their dead kings and heroes, to plant oaks or other trees over them, in order to prevent their remains being disturbed with facility. In that sublimest of all poems, "The Incantation of Hervor,"

is a pa.s.sage to the following effect:

Hervadr, Hiorvadr, Hrani and Angantyr, I wake ye all under the roots of the trees.

{f:31} Between the islands of Ferroe the Sea exhibits a phenomenon, called, in the dialect of the Islanders, the Boff. Whilst the salt stream runs strong and gla.s.sy through its narrow channel, it is suddenly deformed by seven successive breakers, huge and foamy, which occur without any apparent cause, and infallibly overwhelm any boat which may chance to be in the way of their fury.

{f:32} The ancient Northern G.o.d of music and poetry.

{f:33} A mountain in the Scottish Highlands.

{f:34} The Duergar, or Dwarf-elves, of Scandinavia are famous for the dexterity with which they fabricate ornaments of every kind, from the gold which they dig out of the depths of the hills.

{f:35} Kemp, a warrior.--_Old Eng_. _Dan_. Kiempe.