s is the case with quite a number of Borrow's ballads,
two Manuscripts of _Damsel Mettie_ have been preserved.
The earlier, composed not later than 1829, is written
upon paper water marked with the date 1828; the later is
written upon paper water-marked 1843. The earlier
version has a refrain, "'_Neath the linden tree watches
the lord of my heart_," which is wanting in the later.
Otherwise the text of both MSS. is identical, the
differences to be observed between them being merely
verbal. For example, the seventh couplet in the earlier
reads:

_I'll gage my war courser_, _the steady and tried_,
_That thou canst not obtain the fair Mettie_, _my
bride_.

In the later MS. this couplet reads:

_I'll gage my war courser_, _the steady and tried_,
_Thou never canst lure the fair Mettie_, _my bride_.

There is a copy of _Proud Signild and Other Ballads_ in the Library of
the British Museum. The Press-mark is C. 44. d. 38.

(34) [ULF VAN YERN: 1913]

Ulf Van Yern / and / Other Ballads / By / George Borrow / London: /
Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 27; consisting of: Half-title (with
blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Title-page (with notice regarding the American
copyright upon the reverse) pp. 3-4; and Text of the _Ballads_ pp. 5-27.
There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of
the particular _Ballad_ occupying it. Upon the reverse of p. 27 is the
following imprint: "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_,
_Hampstead_, _N.W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The
signatures are A (a quarter-sheet of two leaves), B (a half-sheet of four
leaves), and C (a full sheet of eight leaves), all inset within each
other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the
title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.5 x 6.875
inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

_Contents_.

PAGE

Ulf Van Yern. [_It was youthful Ulf Van Yern_] 5

This ballad was here printed from the Manuscript prepared
for the projected _Koempe Viser_ of 1854. In the MS of
1829 the ballad is entitled _Ulf Van Yern and Vidrik
Verlandson_. The texts of the two versions differ widely
in almost every stanza.

The Chosen Knight. [_Sir Oluf rode forth over hill and 16