An exceedingly popular Scandinavian ballad is manifestly of the same source, though the story is told in a very different way, the cruel trials to which the woman's love is put being entirely lacking: Danish, 'Jomfru og Stalddreng,' Grundtvig, V, 171, No 267, A-A. Swedish, A, 'Liten Kerstin Stalldräng,' Afzelius, II, 15, No 33; B, 'Stolts Botelid Stalldräng,' Afzelius, II, 20, No 34; C-E, 'Liten Kerstin Stalldräng,' Arwidsson, II, 179, No 109, Hofberg's Nerikes gamla Minnen, p. 254, Öberg in Aminson, I, 28; F-I, from Cavallius and Stephens's manuscript collection, Grundtvig, V, 217 f; J, 'Liten Kerstin och Dane-Peter,' Wigström, Folkdiktning, I, 66, No 32. Norwegian, A, 'Liti Kersti som stalldreng,' Landstad, p. 605, No 78; B-E, Grundtvig, V, 218-20; F, Landstad, p. 605, note. (Several of these are only a verse or two.) Danish A-F are from manuscripts of the sixteenth or seventeenth century; G was printed at the end of the seventeenth; the other copies are from recent tradition, but nevertheless point to a higher antiquity than those which were taken down earlier. There is naturally much variation in details among so many copies, and it will be sufficient to indicate the general character of the story. A young woman, who may be called Kirstin, clips her hair and puts on man's clothes, seeks service at court, and is taken as stable-boy, at the instance of a man (often the king's son, or of other high rank) who may be called Peter, with whom she, in some copies, seems to have had a previous connection. Peter, as an accommodation, lets the stable-boy sleep with him. In the course of time Kirstin cannot do duty any more, cannot buckle on spurs, is ill and requires woman's assistance, which the queen renders. She gives birth to twins in the stable (among the horses' legs, as in English, B 30, J 30). A merry wedding follows.[83]
Another Scandinavian ballad has a limited resemblance to 'Child Waters:' Danish, 'Den trofaste Jomfru,' Grundtvig, IV, 494, No 249, A-I; 'Den fredløse,' Kristensen, II, 191, No 57 (A-C), J-L. Swedish, A, 'De Sju Gullbergen,' Afzelius, III, 71, No 79; B, C, from Cavallius and Stephens's collection, Grundtvig, IV, 507f. Norwegian, A, 'Herre Per og stolt Margit,' Landstad, p. 590, No 74; B, Herr' Nikelus, Landstad, p. 594, No 75. The ballad begins like Danish 'Ribold og Guldborg' and 'Kvindemorderen.' A knight carries off a maid, making her fine promises, among which gold castles commonly figure. He takes her over a very wide piece of water, an arm of the sea, on his horse in most versions; in Danish B, K they swim it. When they come to land, she asks Where are the promised castles? Danish C, D, J, K, L, Norwegian A, B. He tells her that he is a penniless outlaw (wanting in Swedish A, C); she offers the gold she has brought with her to buy him his peace (wanting in Swedish A, C, Norwegian B). He tells her he has another love; she is willing to be their servant (wanting in Danish A, B, C, I, Norwegian B). Here he ceases his trial of her; he is a royal, or very opulent, person, she is to have a troop of servants, the castles are not in the air, and all ends happily.
Percy's edition of A is translated (freely) by Bürger, 'Graf Walter,' and Bürger's version is revised, to bring it slightly nearer the original, by Bothe, Volkslieder, p. 199. Percy is translated by Bodmer, I, 41. I is translated by Gerhard, p. 117, and Aytoun's compilation, I, 239, by Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 11. The Danish ballad is translated by Prior, III, 25, after Danske Viser, IV, 116, Syv, Fourth Part, No 31, Grundtvig's G c.
A
Percy MS., p. 274; Hales and Furnivall, II, 269.
1 Childe Watters in his stable stoode,
And stroaket his milke-white steede;
To him came a ffaire young ladye
As ere did weare womans wee[de].
2 Saies, Christ you saue, good Chyld Waters!
Sayes, Christ you saue and see!
My girdle of gold, which was too longe,
Is now to short ffor mee.
3 'And all is with one chyld of yours,
I ffeele sturre att my side;
My gowne of greene, it is to strayght;
Before it was to wide.'
4 'If the child be mine, Faire Ellen,' he sayd,
'Be mine, as you tell mee,
Take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,
Take them your owne to bee.