The Brother Avenged, and Other Ballads

Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
by GEORGE BORROW
London: printed for private circulation
1913
Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .
I stood before my master’s board, The skinker’s office plying; The herald-men brought tidings then That my brother was murdered lying.
I followed my lord unto his bed, By his dearest down he laid him; Then my courser out of the stall I led, And with saddle and bit arrayed him.
I sprang upon my courser’s back, With the spur began to goad him; And ere I drew his bridle to, Full fifteen leagues I rode him.
And when I came to the noisy hall Where the Kemps carouse were keeping, O then I saw my mother dear O’er the corse of my brother weeping.
Then I laid an arrow on my good bow, The bow that never deceived me; And straight I shot the King’s Kempions twelve, Of my brother who had bereaved me.
And then to the Ting I rode away, Where the judges twelve were seated; Of six to avenge my brother I begged, And of six protection entreated.