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Title: Ramund
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
Ramund thought he should a better man be
If better apparel arrayed him;
Of garments of leather, and hemp patch'd together,
The Queen then a present made him.
"These I will not wear," bold Ramund he said,
"They beseem me not fair," said Ramund the young.
"Your garments of tow and leather bestow
On the cleaners of trencher and platter."
The Lady to give him fresh clothes was not slow,
And of sammet and silk were the latter.
"Yes, these will I wear," bold Ramund he said,
"They beseem me right fair," said Ramund the young.
Ramund he into the shop now hies,
Where the best of all tailors was sitting:
"Now wilt thou, O tailor, so dext'rous and wise,
Make clothes for Ramund fitting?"
"And why should I not?" the tailor he said,
"Then thou'lt do well I wot," said Ramund the young.
"Twice twenty-five ells for the breeches take,
Fifteen for the points of the breeches;
And them thou must strong and durable make
If thou therein settest stitches."
"These are too tight," bold Ramund he said,
"I can't stride out aright," said Ramund the young.
Now Ramund his ships beside the shore
With everything needful prepareth;
And away, away, the salt ocean o'er
To the land of the Jutuns he beareth.
"We are come to this soil," bold Ramund he said,
"And withouten much toil," said Ramund the young.
Ramund he wanders along the strand,
There seven tall Giants faced him:
"If I take Ramund in my left hand
I afar from the land will cast him."
"You'll not do that alone," bold Ramund he said,
"Ye must come every one," said Ramund the young.
Ramund drew out his trusty glaive,
To which Dymling for name he had given;
And dead to the earth with seven blows brave
He hewed the Jotuns seven.
"There ye all seven lie," bold Ramund he said,
"And still living am I," said Ramund the young.
Ramund walked on till the big Jutt he spied,
And to see him he sorely wonder'd;
For full fifty ells was his carcase wide,
And his height was nearly a hundred.
"What a breadth, what a height!" bold Ramund he said,
"Dost wish for a fight?" said Ramund the young.
"Dear Ramund, if thou wilt let me live,
And to me no damage wilt proffer,
I'll bathe thee in wine, and to thee I will give
Seven bushels of gold from my coffer."
"Make 'em eight, if you will," bold Ramund he said,
"I will cut thee down still," said Ramund the young.
The first, first day that together they fought
With their naked fists they contested;
Then Ramund he hold of the Jutt's beard caught
And the flesh from the teeth he wrested.
"Thou grinnest full evil, bold Ramund," he said,
"Thou look'st worse than the Devil," said Ramund the young.
Next day they set to at the rise of the sun,
Again with a rage unexampled;
The huge stone mountain they stood upon
To the earth 'neath their feet was trampled.
"'Tis hard sport, I swear!" the giant he said,
"We began but this year," said Ramund the young.
Then Ramund again to his sword recurred,
To which Dymling for name he had given;
And the head of the Jutt, which no ox could have stirred,
He hewed high unto the heaven.
"'Twould not cut well I thought," bold Ramund he said
"Yet it cut as it ought," said Ramund the young.
Ramund he into the mountain strode,
Where the small trolds house were keeping;
The tears fast down their visages flow'd,
For Ramund they fell to weeping.
"Do ye weep for me," bold Ramund he said,
"I'll ne'er weep for ye," said Ramund the young.
Now Ramund behold is dealing his blows
Like the Kemps most famed for fighting;
About and around in the cave he goes
To the earth the demons smiting.
"I rule here at my ease," bold Ramund he said,
"And can do what I please," said Ramund the young.
On his ship entered he so vehemently
That it cracked his vehemence under;
In the ship the men all began loudly to bawl
And thought they should certainly founder.
"We shall not sink here," bold Ramund he said,
"So ye need not to fear," said Ramund the young.
Now Ramund he straight seven ships did freight
With the gold which the Trolds had hoarded;
Then across the tide to the land he hied
O'er which the Emperor lorded.
"To this land we are come," bold Ramund he said,
"We no farther will roam," said Ramund the young.
On the white sand Ramund his anchor flung,
The high prow strandward turning;
And the very first man to land that sprung
Was himself, with eagerness burning.
"Now do nothing more," bold Ramund he said,
"All labour give o'er," said Ramund the young.
To the Ball-house he sped, where the kempions play'd
At ball with glee and vigour;
But at his coming all stood adread,
At the sight of so fierce a figure.
"Pretty sport is this same," bold Ramund he said,
"I'll make one in the game," said Ramund the young.
With fear and dismay upon his brow
From a window the Emperor gazes:
"O who is that man in the yard below
That makes such horrible faces?"
"'Tis I, and with glee," bold Ramund he said,
"I'll do battle with thee," said Ramund the young.
Ramund he struck on his sword amain,
The earth to its centre trembled;
The small birds swooned and fell on the plain,
On the bough that were singing assembled.
"Come down to me, knave," bold Ramund he said,
"Or by God I shall rave," said Ramund the young.
Ramund he into the door now trode,
His face like a burning ember:
"Though iron and steel oppose my road
I'll penetrate to his chamber."
"Now be on thy guard," bold Ramund he said,
"I'm about to strike hard," said Ramund the young.
On the door Ramund smote with an iron bar stout,
The castle was rent and parted;
'Neath that blow's power nod wall and tower,
From their place the windows started.
"You see I broke in," bold Ramund he said,
"Now at stake is thy skin," said Ramund the young.
"Dear Ramund, dear Ramund, my life now spare,
And with benefits thee I'll cover;
I'll give thee my youngest daughter fair,
And the half of the land I rule over."
"Can take all any tide," bold Ramund he said,
"And thy daughter beside," said Ramund the young.
Ramund then drew out Dymling his blade,
Of his valour the trusty assistant;
And he hewed at the Emperor so that his head
Flew fifteen furlongs distant.
"I thought 'twould not sever," bold Ramund he said,
"But the blood runs however," said Ramund the young.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Ramund
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