VII.

GLASGERION.

An ingenious Friend thinks that the following old Ditty (which is printed from the Editor's folio MS.) may possibly have given birth to the Tragedy of the _Orphan_, in which Polidore intercepts Monimia's intended favours to Castalio.

See what is said concerning the hero of this song, (who is celebrated by _Chaucer_ under the name of _Glaskyrion_) in the Essay affixed to vol. i. note H. pt. iv. (2).

* * * * *

[The hero of this ballad is the same as "gret Glascurion," placed by Chaucer in the _House of Fame_ by the side of Orpheus, and also associated with Orpheus by Gawain Douglas in the _Palice of Honour_. Percy's note in the Folio MS. is "It was not necessary to correct this much for the press;" (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i. p. 246). It will be seen, however, by the collations at the foot of the page that several corrections were made, not always for the better. Thus ver. 96, "who did his ladye grieve," is certainly weaker than the original,--

"And asked noe man noe leave."

Jamieson (_Popular Ballads_, 1806, vol. i. p. 91) prints an inferior version under the name of _Glenkindie_. Mr. Hale points out, however, that "the Scotch version is more perfect in one point--in the test question put to the page before the assignation is disclosed to him:--

'O mith I tell you, Gib my man, Gin I a man had slain?'

Some such question perhaps would give more force to vv. 85-88 of our version." He also very justly observes, "perhaps there is no ballad that represents more keenly the great gulf fixed between churl and noble--a profounder horror at the crossing over it."]

* * * * *

Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne, And a harper he was goode: He harped in the kinges chambere, Where cuppe and candle stoode.[93]

And soe did hee in the queens chamber, 5 Till ladies waxed "glad."[94] And then bespake the kinges daughter; And these wordes thus shee sayd.[95]

Strike on, strike on, Glasgèrion,[96] Of thy striking doe not blinne:[97] 10 Theres never a stroke comes oer thy harpe,[98] But it glads my hart withinne.

Faire might he fall,[99] ladye, quoth hee,[100] Who taught you nowe to speake! I have loved you, ladye, seven longe yeere[101] 15 My minde I neere durst breake.[102]

But come to my bower, my Glasgèrion, When all men are att rest: As I am a ladie true of my promise, Thou shalt bee a welcome guest. 20

Home then came Glasgèrion,[103] A glad man, lord! was hee. And, come thou hither, Jacke my boy; Come hither unto mee.[104]

For the kinges daughter of Normandye 25 Hath granted mee my boone: And att her chambere must I bee Beffore the cocke have crowen.

O master, master, then quoth hee,[105] Lay your head downe on this stone: 30 For I will waken you, master deere, Afore it be time to gone.

But up then rose that lither[106] ladd, And hose and shoone did on:[107] A coller he cast upon his necke, 35 Hee seemed a gentleman.

And when he came to the ladies chamber, He thrild upon a pinn.[108] The lady was true of her promise, Rose up and lett him in. 40

He did not take the lady gaye To boulster nor to bed:[109] "Nor thoughe hee had his wicked wille,[110] "A single word he sed."[110]

He did not kisse that ladyes mouthe,[111] 45 Nor when he came, nor youd:[112][113] And sore mistrusted that ladye gay, He was of some churls bloud.

But home then came that lither ladd, And did off his hose and shoone; 50 And cast the coller from off his necke:[114] He was but a churlès sonne.

Awake, awake, my deere master,[115] [The cock hath well-nigh crowen.[116] Awake, awake, my master deere,][116] 55 I hold it time to be gone.

For I have saddled your horsse, mastèr, Well bridled I have your steede: And I have served you a good breakfast:[117] For thereof ye have need.[118] 60

Up then rose, good Glasgeriòn,[119] And did on hose and shoone; And cast a coller about his necke: For he was a kinge his sonne.[120]

And when he came to the ladyes chamber,[121] 65 He thrild upon the pinne:[122] The ladye was more than true of promise, And rose and let him in.[123]

Saies, whether have you left with me Your bracelett or your glove? 70 Or are you returned backe againe[124] To know more of my love?

Glasgèrion swore a full great othe By oake, and ashe, and thorne; Lady, I was never in your chambèr. 75 Sith the time that I was borne.

O then it was your lither foot-page,[125] He hath beguiled mee.[126] Then shee pulled forth a little pen-kniffe,[127] That hanged by her knee: 80

Sayes, there shall never noe churlès blood Within my bodye spring:[128] [No churlès blood shall ever defile[129] The daughter of a kinge.][129]

Home then went Glasgèrion,[130] 85 And woe, good lord, was hee.[131] Sayes, come thou hither, Jacke my boy,[132] Come hither unto mee.[133]

If I had killed a man to night,[134] Jacke, I would tell it thee: 90 But if I have not killed a man to night Jacke, thou hast killed three.

And he puld out his bright browne sword, And dryed it on his sleeve, And he smote off that lither ladds head, 95 Who did his ladye grieve.[135]

He sett the swords poynt till his brest, The pummil untill a stone:[136] Throw the falsenesse of that lither ladd, These three lives werne all gone. 100

FOOTNOTES:

[93] [Ver. 4. where cappe and candle yoode, MS.]

[94] V. 6. wood, MS.

[95] [V. 8. sayd shee, MS.]

[96] [V. 9. saide, strike.]

[97] [cease.]

[98] [V. 11. over this.]

[99] [well may be thine.]

[100] [V. 13. you fall.]

[101] [V. 15. 7 yeere.]

[102] [V. 16. my hart I durst neere breake.]

[103] [V. 21. but whom then.]

[104] [V. 24. her love is granted mee.]

[105] [Ver. 29. but come you hither Master, quoth he.]

[106] [wicked.]

[107] [V. 34. and did on hose and shoone.]

[108] This is elsewhere expressed "_twirled the pin_," or "_tirled at_ _the pin_" (see b. ii. s. vi. v. 3.) and seems to refer to the turning round the button on the outside of a door, by which the latch rises, still used in cottages.

[The explanation given by Percy in this note is an unfounded guess. The Risp or tirling pin was very generally used in the north to do the duty afterwards performed by the knocker. There are several of these curious contrivances in the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh, and they are described by D. Wilson in his _Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time_, as follows,--"These antique precursors of the knocker and bell are still frequently to be met with in the steep turnpikes of the Old Town, notwithstanding the cupidity of the Antiquarian collectors. The ring is drawn up and down the notched iron rod and makes a very audible noise within." (1848, vol. i. p. 97).]

[109] [V. 42. nor noe bed.]

[110] [V. 43-4.

but downe upon her chamber flore full soone he hath her layd.]

[111] [Ver. 45. that lady gay.]

[112] [went.]

[113] [Ver. 46. when he came nor when he youd.]

[114] [V. 51. that coller from about.]

[115] [V. 53. awaken quoth hee my master deere.]

[116] [V. 54-5. not in MS.]

[117] [V. 59. have not I served a.]

[118] [V. 60. when times comes I have need.]

[119] [V. 61. but up.]

[120] [V. 64. he was a kinges sonne.]

[121] [V. 65. that ladies.]

[122] [V. 66. upon a.]

[123] [V. 68. rose up and.]

[124] [V. 71. you are. MS]

[125] Ver. 77. litle, MS.

[126] [V. 78. falsly hath.]

[127] [V. 79. and then.]

[128] [V. 82. spring within my body.]

[129] [V. 83-4. not in MS.]

[130] [V. 85. but home then.]

[131] [V. 86. a woe man good was hee.]

[132] [V. 87. come hither thou.]

[133] [V. 88. come thou.]

[134] [V. 89. ffor if.]

[135] [V. 96. and asked noe man noe leave.]

[136] [V. 98. till a. MS.]