e heed_,
_Ne'er enter the house of Sir Samsing_, _I rede_.

"_Sir Samsing possesses two nightingales_
_Who tell of the Ladies such wondrous tales_.

"_With their voices of harmony they can declare_
_Whether maiden or none has fallen to his share_."

_The chariot they stopped in the green wood shade_,
_An exchange_ '_twixt them of their clothes they made_.

_They change of their dress whatever they please_,
_Their faces they cannot exchange with ease_.

_To Sir Samsung's house the bride they conveyed_,
_Of the ruddy gold no spare was made_.

_On the bridal throne the bride they plac'd_,
_They skinked the mead for the bride to taste_.

_Then said from his place the court buffoon_:
"_Methinks thou art Ingefred_, _not Gudrune_."

_From off her hand a gold ring she took_,
_Which she gave the buffoon with entreating look_.

_Said he_: "_I'm an oaf_, _and have drunk too hard_,
_To words of mine pay no regard_."

'_Twas deep at night_, _and down fell the mist_,
_To her bed the young bride they assist_.

_Sir Samsing spoke to his nightingales twain_:
"_Before my young bride sing now a strain_.

"_A song now sing which shall avouch_
_Whether I've a maiden or none in my couch_."

"_A maid's in the bed_, _that's certain and sure_,
_Gudrune is standing yet on the floor_."

"_Proud Ingefred_, _straight from my couch retire_!
_Gudrune come hither_, _or dread my ire_!

"_Now tell me_, _Gudrune_, _with open heart_,
_What made thee from thy bed depart_?"

"_My father_, _alas_! _dwelt near the strand_,
_When war and bloodshed filled the land_.

"_Full eight there were broke into my bower_,
_One only ravished my virgin flower_."

_Upon her fair cheek he gave a kiss_:
"_My dearest_, _my dearest_, _all sorrow dismiss_;

"_My swains they were that broke into thy bower_,
'_Twas I that gathered thy virgin flower_."

_Fair Ingefred gained_, _because bride she had been_,
_One of the King's knights of handsome mien_.

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

[Picture: Manuscript of Child Maidelvold]

[Picture: Manuscript of Ingefred and Gudrune]

(39) [ERMELINE: 1913]

Ermeline / A Ballad / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed f