"Now heaps of sorrow press my soul;85
Now, now 'tis she takes her way;
I come, my love, without controule,
Nor from thee will longer stay."
With that he fetch'd a heavy groan,
Which rent his tender breast,90
And then by her he laid him down,
When as Death did give him rest.
Whilst mournful birds, with leavy bows,
To them a kind burial gave,
And warbled out their love-sick vows,95
Whilst they both slept in their grave.
[5], so then.
THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER.
See p. [114].
From Bell's Ballads of the Peasantry of England, p. 122.
This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that in Hildebrand og Hilde (Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank here ascribed to the lady.