The Giant of Bern and Orm Ungerswayne: A Ballad

Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.
by GEORGE BORROW
London: printed for private circulation 1913
It was the lofty Jutt of Bern O’er all the walls he grew; He was mad and ne’er at rest, To tame him no one knew.
He was mad and ne’er at rest, No lord could hold him in; If he had long in Denmark stayed Much damage there had been.
It was the lofty Jutt of Bern Bound to his side his glaive, And away to the monarch’s house he rode With the knights a fray to have.
Now goes the lofty Jutt of Bern Before the King to stand: “Thou shalt to me thy daughter give, And a brief for half thy land.
“Here as thou sitt’st at thy wide board, Hail Monarch of the Danes! Thou shalt to me thy daughter give, And the half of thy domains.
“Thou shalt to me thy daughter give, And divide with me thy land, Or thou shalt find a kempion good In the ring ’gainst me to stand.”
“O thou shalt ne’er my daughter get, Nor a brief for half my land, I’ll quickly find a kempion good Shall fight thee hand to hand.”
Then strode the Monarch of the Danes To his castle hall amain: “Now which of ye, my courtiers, will The lovely Damsel gain?
“Here sit ye all my Danish swains On whom I bread bestow, Now which of ye will risk his life To lay the Berner low?