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ancient poems-第13章

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ll; Whether my name I chuse to tell to thee。

'I am Gamble Gold (3) of the gay green woods; And travelled far beyond the sea; For killing a man in my father's land; From my country I was forced to flee。'

'If you are Gamble Gold of the gay green woods; And travelled far beyond the sea; You are my mother's own sister's son; What nearer cousins then can we be?'

They sheathed their swords with friendly words; So merrily they did agree; They went to a tavern and there they dined; And bottles cracked most merrilie。



Ballad: THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT。



'THIS is the common English stall copy of a ballad of which there  are a variety of versions; for an account of which; and of the  presumed origin of the story; the reader is referred to the notes  on the WATER O' WEARIE'S WELL; in the SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL VERSIONS  OF ANCIENT BALLADS; published by the Percy Society。  By the term  'outlandish' is signified an inhabitant of that portion of the  border which was formerly known by the name of 'the Debateable  Land;' a district which; though claimed by both England and  Scotland; could not be said to belong to either country。  The  people on each side of the border applied the term 'outlandish' to  the Debateable residents。  The tune to THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT has  never been printed; it is peculiar to the ballad; and; from its  popularity; is well known。'


AN Outlandish knight came from the North lands; And he came a wooing to me; He told me he'd take me unto the North lands; And there he would marry me。

'Come; fetch me some of your father's gold; And some of your mother's fee; And two of the best nags out of the stable; Where they stand thirty and three。'

She fetched him some of her father's gold; And some of the mother's fee; And two of the best nags out of the stable; Where they stood thirty and three。

She mounted her on her milk…white steed; He on the dapple grey; They rode till they came unto the sea side; Three hours before it was day。

'Light off; light off thy milk…white steed; And deliver it unto me; Six pretty maids have I drowned here; And thou the seventh shall be。

'Pull off; pull off thy silken gown; And deliver it unto me; Methinks it looks too rich and too gay To rot in the salt sea。

'Pull off; pull of thy silken stays; And deliver them unto me; Methinks they are too fine and gay To rot in the salt sea。

'Pull off; pull off thy Holland smock; And deliver it unto me; Methinks it looks too rich and gay; To rot in the salt sea。'

'If I must pull off my Holland smock; Pray turn thy back unto me; For it is not fitting that such a ruffian A naked woman should see。'

He turned his back towards her; And viewed the leaves so green; She catched him round the middle so small; And tumbled him into the stream。

He dropped high; and he dropped low; Until he came to the side; … 'Catch hold of my hand; my pretty maiden; And I will make you my bride。'

'Lie there; lie there; you false…hearted man; Lie there instead of me; Six pretty maids have you drowned here; And the seventh has drowned thee。'

She mounted on her milk…white steed; And led the dapple grey; She rode till she came to her own father's hall; Three hours before it was day。

The parrot being in the window so high; Hearing the lady; did say; 'I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray; That you have tarried so long away。'

'Don't prittle nor prattle; my pretty parrot; Nor tell no tales of me; Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold; Although it is made of a tree。'

The king being in the chamber so high; And hearing the parrot; did say; 'What ails you; what ails you; my pretty parrot; That you prattle so long before day?'

'It's no laughing matter;' the parrot did say; 'But so loudly I call unto thee; For the cats have got into the window so high; And I'm afraid they will have me。'

'Well turned; well turned; my pretty parrot; Well turned; well turned for me; Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold; And the door of the best ivory。' (4)



Ballad: LORD DELAWARE。  (TRADITIONAL。)



'THIS interesting traditional ballad was first published by Mr。  Thomas Lyle in his ANCIENT BALLADS AND SONGS; London; 1827。  'We  have not as yet;' says Mr。 Lyle; 'been able to trace out the  historical incident upon which this ballad appears to have been  founded; yet those curious in such matters may consult; if they  list; PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS; for 1621 and  1662; where they will find that some stormy debating in these  several years had been agitated in parliament regarding the corn  laws; which bear pretty close upon the leading features of the  ballad。'  Does not the ballad; however; belong to a much earlier  period?  The description of the combat; the presence of heralds;  the wearing of armour; &c。; justify the conjecture。  For De la  Ware; ought we not to read De la Mare? and is not Sir Thomas De la  Mare the hero? the De la Mare who in the reign of Edward III。; A。D。  1377; was Speaker of the House of Commons。  All historians are  agreed in representing him as a person using 'great freedom of  speach;' and which; indeed; he carried to such an extent as to  endanger his personal liberty。  As bearing somewhat upon the  subject of the ballad; it may he observed that De la Mare was a  great advocate of popular rights; and particularly protested  against the inhabitants of England being subject to 'purveyance;'  asserting that 'if the royal revenue was faithfully administered;  there could be no necessity for laying burdens on the people。'  In  the subsequent reign of Richard II; De In Mare was a prominent  character; and though history is silent on the subject; it is not  improbable that such a man might; even in the royal presence; have  defended the rights of the poor; and spoken in extenuation of the  agrarian insurrectionary movements which were then so prevalent and  so alarming。  On the hypothesis of De la Mare being the hero; there  are other incidents in the tale which cannot be reconciled with  history; such as the title given to De la Mare; who certainly was  never ennobled; nor can we ascertain that he was ever mixed up in  any duel; nor does it appear clear who can be meant by the 'Welsh  Lord; the brave Duke of Devonshire;' that dukedom not having been  created till 1694 and no nobleman having derived any title whatever  from Devonshire previously to 1618; when Baron Cavendish; of  Hardwick; was created the first EARL of Devonshire。  We may  therefore presume that for 'Devonshire' ought to be inserted the  name of some other county or place。  Strict historical accuracy is;  however; hardly to be expected in any ballad; particularly in one  which; like the present; has evidently been corrupted in floating  down the stream of time。  There is only one quarrel recorded at the  supposed period of our tale as having taken place betwixt two  noblemen; and which resulted in a hostile meeting; viz。; that  wherein the belligerent parties were the Duke of Hereford (who  might by a 'ballad…monger' be deemed a WELSH lord) and the Duke of  Norfolk。  This was in the reign of Richard II。  No fight; however;  took place; owing to the interference of the king。  Our minstrel  author may have had rather
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