Ingefred And Gudrune

________________________________________________
Title:     Ingefred And Gudrune
Author: George Borrow [More Titles by Borrow]

Ingefred and Gudrune they sate in their bower,
Each bloomed a beauteous fragrant flower--
_So sweet it is in summer tide_!

A working the gold fair Ingefred kept,
Still sate Gudrune, and bitterly wept.

"Dear sister Gudrune so fain I'd know
Why down thy cheek the salt tears flow?"

"Cause enough have I to be thus forlorn,
With a load of sorrow my heart is worn.

"Hear, Ingefred, hear what I say to thee,
Wilt thou to-night stand bride for me?

"If bride for me thou wilt stand to-night,
I'll give thee my bridal clothes thee to requite.

"And more, much more to thee I'll give,
All my bride jewels thou shalt receive."

"O I will not stand for bride in thy room,
Save I also obtain thy merry bridegroom."

"Betide me whatever the Lord ordain
From me my bridegroom thou never shalt gain."

In silks so costly the bride they arrayed,
And unto the kirk the bride they conveyed.

In golden cloth weed the holy priest stands,
He joins of Gudrune and Samsing the hands.

O'er the downs and green grass meadows they sped,
Where the herdsman watched his herd as it fed.

"Of thy beauteous self, dear Damsel, take heed,
Ne'er enter the house of Sir Samsing, I rede.

"Sir Samsing possesses two nightingales
Who tell of the Ladies such wondrous tales.

"With their voices of harmony they can declare
Whether maiden or none has fallen to his share."

The chariot they stopped in the green wood shade,
An exchange 'twixt them of their clothes they made.

They change of their dress whatever they please,
Their faces they cannot exchange with like ease.

To Sir Samsing's house the bride they conveyed,
Of the ruddy gold no spare was made.

On the bridal throne the bride they plac'd,
They skinked the mead for the bride to taste.

Then said from his place the court buffoon,
"Methinks thou art Ingefred not Gudrune."

From off her hand a gold ring she took,
Which she gave the buffoon with entreating look.

Said he: "I'm an oaf and have drunk too hard,
To words of mine pay no regard."

'Twas deep at night, and down fell the mist,
To her bed the young bride they assist.

Sir Samsing spoke to his nightingales twain:
"Before my young bride sing now a strain.

"A song now sing which shall avouch
Whether I've a maiden or none in my couch."

"A maid's in the bed, that's certain and sure,
Gudrune is standing yet on the floor."

"Proud Ingefred straight from my couch retire!
Gudrune come hither, or dread my ire!

"Now tell me, Gudrune, with open heart,
What made thee from thy bed depart?"

"My father, alas! dwelt near the strand,
When war and bloodshed filled the land.

"Full eight there were broke into my bower,
One only ravished my virgin flower."

Upon her fair cheek he gave a kiss:
"My dearest, my dearest, all sorrow dismiss;

"My swains they were that broke into thy bower,
'Twas I that gathered thy virgin flower."

Fair Ingefred gained, because bride she had been,
One of the King's knights of handsome mien.

[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Ingefred And Gudrune

________________________________________________



GO TO TOP OF SCREEN