Danish ballads - 1

DANISH BALLADS

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
C. F. CLAY, Manager
LONDON: FETTER LANE, E.C. 4

NEW YORK:		G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
BOMBAY	}	MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd.
CALCUTTA	}
MADRAS	}
TORONTO:		J. M. DENT AND SONS, Ltd.
TOKYO:		MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA

DANISH BALLADS

TRANSLATED BY
E. M. SMITH-DAMPIER

CAMBRIDGE
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
1920

Printed in Great Britain by
Richard Clay & Sons, Limited,
BRUNSWICK ST., STAMFORD ST., S.E. 1,
AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.

PREFACE

So far as possible, I have reproduced the metrical variations of the original Ballads, and striven in general rather for literal accuracy than poetical effect.

All proper names are to be pronounced after the Danish fashion—with the one exception of “Sir Klaus Krummerdike” (“Niels Ebbeson,” Revised Conclusion, v. 46)—a lapse which, from a sorely-tried rhymester’s point of view, surely deserves rather mercy than judgment.

The Burdens should, of course, be repeated with each verse, but, for convenience’ sake, I have followed the modern custom in placing them only at beginning and end of the Ballads.

I am deeply indebted to the late Dr. Axel Olrik, who gave me invaluable criticism on my work as a translator. His Introduction to Danske Folkeviser i Udvalg (Copenhagen) is indispensable to the student. To his literary executors, Hr. Hans Ellekilde and Frøken I. Falbe Hansson, I am indebted for leave to make use of some of his ballad-versions.

My thanks are due also to Messrs. Andrew Melrose, Ltd., by whose courtesy I am enabled to reprint many translations previously published.

E. M. Smith-Dampier.

London, 1920.

CHAP.		PAGE
	Introduction	[1]
[HISTORICAL BALLADS]
I.	Valdemar and Tove (A)	[16]
II.	Valdemar and Tove (B)	[19]
III.	Queen Dagmar’s Bridal	[25]
IV.	Queen Dagmar’s Death	[28]
V.	Queen Bengerd	[32]
VI.	The King-slaying in Finderup	[38]
VII.	Marsk Stig and his Lady	[41]
VIII.	The Long Ballad of Marsk Stig (Extract)	[43]
IX.	Niels Ebbeson	[52]
[LEGENDARY BALLADS]
X.	Havbor and Signelil	[67]
XI.	Ebbe Skammelson	[77]
XII.	Oh, Seventy-seven Twice-told were They	[85]
XIII.	Holger Danske and Stout Didrik	[92]
[BALLADS OF MAGIC]
XIV.	Young Svejdal	[98]
XV.	Thord of Hafsgaard	[105]
XVI.	The Avenging Sword	[109]
XVII.	The Elfin Shaft	[116]
XVIII.	The Knavish Merman	[120]
XIX.	Agnes and the Merman	[123]
XX.	The Enchanted Maiden	[128]
[MISCELLANEOUS BALLADS]
XXI.	Torben’s Daughter	[133]
XXII.	The Maiden at the Thing	[135]
XXIII.	The Game of Dice	[139]
XXIV.	King Erik and the Scornful Maid	[143]
XXV.	The Maiden’s Morning Dream	[147]
XXVI.	Sir Karel’s Lyke-wake	[150]
XXVII.	Aage and Else	[154]
XXVIII.	Lovel and John	[159]
XXIX.	Tyge Hermandsson	[163]

PREFACE

CONTENTS