40. Glasgerion. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

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Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

40. Glasgerion

GLASGERION was a King’s own son,

And a harper he was good;

He harpèd in the King’s chamber

Where cup and candle stood,

And so did he in the Queen’s chamber,

Till ladies waxèd wood.

And then bespake the King’s daughter

And these words thus said she:

[‘There’s never a stroke comes over this harp,

But it glads the heart of me.’]

III

Said, ‘Strike on, strike on, Glasgerion,

Of thy striking do not blin;

There’s never a stroke comes over thine harp

But it glads my heart within.’

‘Fair might you fall, lady,’ quoth he;

‘Who taught you now to speak?

I have loved you, lady, seven year;

My heart I durst ne’er break.’—

‘But come to my bower, my Glasgerion,

When all men are at rest;

As I am a lady true of my promise,

Thou shalt be a welcome guest.’

But home then came Glasgerion,

A glad man, Lord, was he!

‘And come thou hither, Jack, my boy,

Come hither unto me.

VII

‘For the King’s daughter of Normandye

Her love is granted me;

And before the cock have crowen

At her chamber must I be.’

VIII

‘But come you hither, master,’ quoth he,

‘Lay your head down on this stone;

For I will waken you, master dear,

Afore it be time to gone.’

But up then rose that lither lad,

And did on hose and shoon;

A collar he cast upon his neck,

He seemèd a gentleman.

And when he came to that lady’s chamber

He tirl’d upon a pin;

The lady was true of her promise,

Rose up and let him in.

He did not kiss that lady gay

When he came nor when he yode;

And sore mistrusted that lady gay

He was of some churle’s blood.

XII

But home then came that lither lad,

And did off his hose and shoon,

And cast that collar from ’bout his neck;

He was but a churlè’s son:

‘Awaken,’ quoth he, ‘my master dear,

I hold it time to be gone.

XIII

‘For I have saddled your horse, master,

Well bridled I have your steed;

Have not I served a good breakfast

When time comes I have need?’

XIV

But up then rose good Glasgerion,

And did on both hose and shoon,

And cast a collar about his neck;

He was a Kingé’s son.

And when he came to that lady’s chamber,

He tirl’d upon a pin;

The lady was more than true of her promise,

Rose up, and let him in.

XVI

Says, ‘Whether have you left with me

Your bracelet or your glove?

Or are you back return’d again

To know more of my love?’

XVII

Glasgerion swore a full great oath

By oak and ash and thorn,

‘Lady, I was never in your chamber

Sith the time that I was born.’—

XVIII

‘O then it was your little foot-page

Falsely hath beguiled me’:

And then she pull’d forth a little pen-knife

That hangèd by her knee,

Says, ‘There shall never no churlè’s blood

Spring within my bodye.’

XIX

But home then went Glasgerion,

A woe man, Lord, was he;

Sayes, ‘Come hither, thou Jack, my boy,

Come thou hither to me.

‘For if I had kill’d a man to-night,

Jack, I would tell it thee,

But if I have not kill’d a man to-night,

Jack, thou hast killéd three!’

XXI

And he pull’d out his bright brown sword,

And dried it on his sleeve,

And he smote off that lither lad’s head

And ask’d no man no leave.

XXII

He set the sword’s point till his breast,

The pommel till a stone;

Through the falseness of that lither lad

These three lives wern all gone.

GLOSS: plat] pleated. wood] crazy, wild with delight. blin] stint, cease. lither] rascally, vile. tirl’d] rattled. yode] went.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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