P. 309. From a manuscript collection of Charles Kirkpatrick
Sharpe's, p. 2; "Second Collection," see Sharpe's Ballad Book,
ed. 1880, p. 144. This copy closely resembles A.
| 1 |
Her mother died when she was young,
And was laid in the silent tomb;
The father weded the weel worst woman
This day that lives in Christiendom. |
| 2 |
She served her with hands and feet,
In every way that well could be,
Yet she did once upon a day
Throw her in over a craig of sea. |
| 3 |
Says, Ly you there, you dove Isabeal,
And let you never borrowed be
Till Kempenwine come ower the sea
And borrow you with kisses three;
Whatever any may do or say,
borrowed may you never be! |
| 4 |
Her breath grew strong, and her hair grew long,
And twisted thrice about a tree,
And so hideous-like she did apear
That all who saw her from her did flee. |
| 5 |
Now Kempenwine gat word of this
Where he was living beyond the sea;
He hied him straight unto that shoar,
The monstrous creature for to se. |
| 6 |
Her breath was strong, and her hair was long,
And twisted was around the tree,
And with a swing she cried aloud,
Come to craig of sea and kiss with me. |
| 7 |
'Here is a royal ring, ' she cried,
'That I have found in the green sea,
And while your finger it is on
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I vow this brand your death shall be.' |
| 8 |
He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal ring he brought him wi;
Her breath was strong, and [her] hair was long,
Yet twisted twice about the tree,
And with a swing she came about,
' Come to craig of sea and kiss with me. |
| 9 |
'Here is a royal belt,' she cried,
'That I have found in the green sea,
And while your body it is on
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I vow this brand your death shall be.' |
| 10 |
He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal belt he brought him wee;
Her breath yet strong, her hair yet long,
Yet twisted once about the tree,
And with a swing she came about,
'Come to craig of sea and kiss with me. |
| 11 |
'Here is a royal brand,' she cried,
'That I have found in the green sea,
And while your body it is on
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I vow my brand your death shall be.' |
| 12 |
He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal brand he brought him wee;
Her breath now soft, her hair now short,
And disengaged from the tree,
She fell into his arms two,
As fair a woman as ever could be. |
P. 307 f, II, 502 b, III, 504 a. Disenchantment; kissing a
serpent. A remarkable case alleged to have occurred at Cesena in
1464: [Angelo de Tummulillis, Notabilia Temporum, ed. Corvisieri,
1890, p. 124 ff.;] Giornale Storico della Letteratura Italiana,
XVII, 161. G.L.K. On the whole subject see R. Köhler's notes
in Mennung, Der Bel Inconnu, p. 20; S. Prato's notes, Bulletin de
Folklore, 1892, p. 333 f. [W.H. Schofield, Studies on the Libeaus
Desconus, in Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature
published under the direction of the Modern Language Departments
of Harvard University, IV, 199 ff.]
