PAGE

King Hacon's Death. ["_And now has happened in our 5
day_"]

Bran and the Black Dog. ["_The day we went to the hills 11
to chase_"]

I venture to regard this ballad of the fight between Bran
and the Black Dog as one of Borrow's happiest efforts.
Here are some of its vigorous stanzas:

_The valiant Finn arose next day_,
_Just as the sun rose above the foam_;
_And he beheld up the Lairgo way_,
_A man clad in red with a black dog come_.

_He came up with a lofty gait_,
_Said not for shelter he sought our doors_;
_And wanted neither drink nor meat_,
_But would match his dog_ '_gainst the best of
ours_.

* * * * *

"_A strange fight this_," _the great Finn said_,
_As he turn'd his face towards his clan_;
_Then his face with rage grew fiery red_,
_And he struck with his fist his good dog Bran_.

"_Take off from his neck the collar of gold_,
_Not right for him now such a thing to bear_;
_And a free good fight we shall behold_
_Betwixt my dog and his black compeer_."

_The dogs their noses together placed_,
_Then their blood was scatter'd on every side_;
_Desperate the fight_, _and the fight did last_
'_Till the brave black dog in Bran's grip died_.

* * * * *

_We went to the dwelling of high Mac Cuol_,
_With the King to drink_, _and dice_, _and throw_;
_The King was joyous_, _his hall was full_,
_Though empty and dark this night I trow_.

There is a copy of _King Hacon's Death and Bran and the Black Dog_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Pressmark is C. 44. d. 38.

(31) [MARSK STIG'S DAUGHTERS: 1913]

Marsk Stig's / Daughters / and other / Songs and Ballads / By / George
Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. 21; consisting of: Half-title (with blank
reverse), pp. 1-2; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse), pp. 3-4;
Table of _Contents_, pp. 5-6; and Text of the _Songs and Ballads_, pp.
7-21. The reverse of p. 21 is blank. The head-line is _Songs and
Ballads_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. The pamphlet concludes
with a leaf, with blank reverse, and with the following imprint upon its
recto: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N.W._ /
_