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Title: The Wicked Stepmother
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
Sir Ove he has no daughter but one,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
He bestow'd her the Lord of Elling upon.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
He bestow'd her upon a gallant knight,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Sir Stig Cob was the gallant hight.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
When a year to end had well nigh come,
_All underneath a green hill's side_.
Two sons had Thorelil in her womb.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
Hither and thither they carry the dame,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
But worse and worse her plight became.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
Sir Stig his bonnet he has put on,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
And into the hall to his mother is gone.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"Hear me, dear mother, canst thou rede,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
How it with Thorelil shall speed?"
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"For forty weeks and a year I trow,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Thy Thorelil with child shall go."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"O mother dear, it can scarce be so,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
But forty weeks Mary with Christ did go."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"Since I no help can here obtain,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
From whence I came convey me again."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"The horses are grazing upon the moor,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
And in their beds the coachmen snore."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"If coach nor coachmen I can get,
_All underneath the green hill's side_,
I'll tramp on my feet through dry and wet."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
Her lips the word had scarcely said,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
When the horses to the coach were led.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
Stig took her so tenderly by the waist,
_All underneath a green hill's side_.
And her in the gilded coach he plac'd.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
He set her down on the cushions gray,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
And he himself drove the coach away.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
And when they came under the green wood bough,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Her chariot broke her weight below.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"A wondrous woman I sure must be,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Since my own coach won't carry me."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"My dearest, my dearest, be not dismay'd,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Thou back canst walk with thy husband's aid."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
And when to the castle gate they won,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
His sister stood and lean'd thereon.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"O my dear sister, canst thou rede,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
How it with Thorelil will speed?"
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
Unto her coffer proud Mettelil flew,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Of wax she has fashion'd babies two.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
She drew her blue mantle o'er her head,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
And unto her mother's bower she sped.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"From thy heart, dear mother, all sorrow chase,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
And thy grand-babes take to thy embrace."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"O I had thought with my bunch of keys,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
To overturn her bliss with ease.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"I thought I'd bewitch'd each inch of land,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Save the spot alone where her chest doth stand."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
No sooner was Thorelil thither convey'd,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
Than of two fair sons she light was made.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"O God grant me so long to breathe,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
That parting presents I may bequeath.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"Stig's mother, I give her my sarke to wear,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
May she use it like me with grief and care!
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"To his sister I give my embroider'd shoe,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
To wear with glee unmixt with woe.
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
"A lovely rose is my last bequest,
_All underneath a green hill's side_,
For Stig to wed, and with her be blest."
_In such peril through the forest they ride_.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: The Wicked Stepmother
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