The Fountain of Maribo and other ballads   By: George Henry Borrow (1803-1881)

THE FOUNTAIN OF MARIBO AND OTHER BALLADS

BY GEORGE BORROW

LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION

1913

Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .

THE FOUNTAIN OF MARIBO OR THE QUEEN AND THE ALGREVE

The Algreve {7} he his bugle wound The long night all — The Queen in bower heard the sound, I’m passion’s thrall .

The Queen her little page address’d, The long night all — “To come to me the Greve request,” I’m passion’s thrall .

He came, before the board stood he, The long night all — “Wherefore, O Queen, has sent for me?” I’m passion’s thrall .

“As soon as e’er my lord is dead, The long night all — Thou shalt rule o’er my gold so red,” I’m passion’s thrall .

“O speak not, Queen, in such wild style, The long night all — Thou know’st not who may list the while,” I’m passion’s thrall .

She fondly thought alone they were, The long night all — There stood the King, to all gave ear, I’m passion’s thrall .

The King two serving men address’d, The long night all — “To come to me the Queen request,” I’m passion’s thrall .

“Hear thou, my Queen, so fair and sleek, The long night all — What with the Algreve didst thou speak?” I’m passion’s thrall .

“The speech that I with him did hold, The long night all — Was all about thy actions bold,” I’m passion’s thrall .

“The King two servants did command, The long night all — “Bid ye the Greve before me stand,” I’m passion’s thrall .

“Hear thou, my Greve, what with my Queen The long night all — Didst thou discourse of yestere’en?” I’m passion’s thrall .

“The whole discourse that we did hold, The long night all — Was of thy virtues manifold,” I’m passion’s thrall .

The King his little page address’d, The long night all — “To come to me the cook request,” I’m passion’s thrall .

“Thou cook, the Greve to pieces chop, The long night all — And to thy Lady serve him up,” I’m passion’s thrall .

Long sat the Queen, the meat she eyed, The long night all — “This is no Roe I’m satisfied, I’m passion’s thrall .

“But ’tis the Greve our hall who grac’d.” The long night all — The pieces she collects in haste, I’m passion’s thrall .

She wrapped them in white ermine skin, The long night all — A gilded chest she placed them in. I’m passion’s thrall .

She them collects, then wends her slow, The long night all — Unto the fount of Maribo. I’m passion’s thrall .

She dipped them in the water pure, The long night all — “Rise, Christian man, I thee conjure!” I’m passion’s thrall .

The man arose, and thanked his God, The long night all — Then from the country forth he trod. I’m passion’s thrall .

RAMUND

Ramund thought he should a better man be If better apparel arrayed him; Of garments of leather, and hemp patch’d together, The Queen then a present made him. “These I will not wear,” bold Ramund he said, “They beseem me not fair,” said Ramund the young.