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Read Ebook: Niels Ebbesen and Germand Gladenswayne: Two Ballads by Wise Thomas James Editor Borrow George Translator
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Ebook has 140 lines and 7299 words, and 3 pages
Translator: George Borrow
Editor: Thomas J. Wise
NIELS EBBESEN AND GERMAND GLADENSWAYNE
TWO BALLADS
BY GEORGE BORROW
LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 1913
NIELS EBBESEN.
All his men the Count collects, And from Slesvig marched away; Never such as host was seen Or before or since that day.
Into Denmark marched the Count, Followed by so fair a band; Banners twenty-four they bore, Power like theirs might none withstand.
Gert the Count to Randers rode, To bad counsel lending ear; For from old it stood foretold, He should end there his career.
He would not the place avoid, But seemed bent to tempt his fate; Of the rural lords and thanes He the quarters up will beat.
Knights and freeborn men apart, There trooped eighteen thousand bows; Forty thousand made they all, Who could such a host oppose?
To Niels Ebbesen the Count Word to appear before him sent; And safe convoy him he gave, Which should doubt and fear prevent.
Gert the Count met Ebbesen North of Randers by the sea: "Welcome be, Niels Ebbesen! Say how matters stand with thee."
To Niels stretched the Count his hand, And to parleying straight they go; There was little then of jest, And of dallying less, I trow.
"Sir Niels Ebbesen, thou art Welcome as the flowers in spring; How stand minds in North Jutland, Thence what tidings dost thou bring?
"Say how all thy wealthy friends And thy heart's loved lady are; Which dost wish for at my hands, Smiling peace, or bloody war?"
"Well stand minds in North Jutland, Each man's courage there's erect; Say, dost come as friend or foe? What from thee may we expect?
"I have kindred in the North, Men of wealth and noble race; Shouldst thou it require of them They'll be ready for thy Grace."
"Wise art thou, Niels Ebbesen, And thy prudence none can doubt; When thou canst not straightway hit Widely then thou ridst about.
"Hear thou, Sir Niels Ebbesen, Thou must on mine errand ride; Say, how many men thou hast Brought, on whom thou mayst confide?"
"Kindred, Sir, I have, and friends, 'Mongst the hardy Jutlanders; Willingly they follow me To the stormy strife of spears.
"I have brought, such as they are, With me thirty mounted men; Be they fewer, or be they more, Dear are they to Ebbesen."
"Hast thou with thee thirty lads? That seems but a scanty force; Yester e'en at Sir Bugge's Gate Stood'st thou with a hundred horse."
Backward Ebbesen recoiled, And with high flushed cheek replied: "He nor knight nor gentleman Is, who me hath thus belied.
"Be it man or woman who To my face dares that to say, Till I've answered suitably, Ne'er from him I'll flinch away."
"Hear thou, dear Niels Ebbesen, We thereof will talk no more; To thy friend Sir Bugge ride, Him to serve me true win o'er."
"If your errand I shall do, And to Bugge bold repair, From thy part what I'm to say First to me thou must declare."
"Bugge bold has me defied, Young Poul Glob has done the same; Anders Frost makes one of them, Him your Chief 'tis said ye name.
"And e'en thou, Niels Ebbesen, Certain courtiers hast with thee, Who have eaten of my bread, And have basely quitted me.
"First there is young Eske Frost, And his stalwart brothers two; Without leave of mine obtained, From my service they withdrew.
"More there are whom I've obliged, And who pay me now no heed; If to Bugge's rede you list Soon ye'll see how you will speed."
"Nought of Bugge's rede I know, What he'll do or leave undone; Eske thy true servant was, Cast no blame that knight upon.
"Eske Frost's a gallant man, Guards his honour like his eye; Sought he his discharge to gain, Why to him didst it deny?
"Custom 'tis in Danish land, And has been from days of eld, That the man who will not serve Shall not be to serve compell'd.
"No two things, save Monk and cowl, Are for aye together tied; As they loathe or like their place Courtmen ride away or bide."
It was Count Sir Gert, could not Such like reasoning understand: "No one ought to quit his lord Whilst that lord would him command.
"And, Sir Niels, too long thou hast Here stood idly chattering; Either thou shalt Denmark quit, Or thou shalt on gallows swing.
"'Neath safe convoy since thou'rt come Thou shalt go withouten hurt; To thy cost else thou should'st learn What it is to anger Gert."
"I thy princely passport hold, Whether it avail or not; If thou do me aught of harm, Infamy thy name will blot.
"Thieves mayst thou on gallows hang, To be torn by carn and crow; For thy threat from native land, Wife, and child, I will not go.
"But if me from native land And my wife and babes you chase, Thou shalt soon, for certainty, Rue thou e'er hast seen my face!"
"Ride away, Sir Ebbesen, Quickly hence thyself betake, Or I will, as well I can, On thy skull the helmet break."
"None e'er saw me so adread But that I could tremble still, Hear, Count Gert! look to thyself, Guard thee from approaching ill."
"Ebbesen, thou tirest me, Suffering thus thy tongue to run; Till to-morrow thou art safe, Even till the set of sun.
"This, and the next day till eve, Thou for me shalt be at rest; But no belted knight am I If I be not soon thy guest."
Swift away rode Ebbesen, Shook his iron-gloved fist in air: "That I soon shall come again, Good Sir Count, in memory bear."
Forward rode Niels Ebbesen, Spurred his steed till blood outflew; With his men the Count remained, No one dared the knight pursue.
Till he reached his Castellaye, Still he rode withouten rest; To his dear Dame he complained, Begged of her her counsel best.
"Here thou sitt'st, dear Housewife mine, What advice canst thou bestow? Gert will drive me from the land, Hath declared himself my foe.
"To my choice three things he put, Least of all I liked the third; I should join him, or the land Quit, or hang, such was his word."
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