Sir Middel (from The Old Danish) Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ DDKKGGLLMMNNOOFFFFPP QQRRSTJJUUVVQWAAXXVV RRYZA2A2B2B2| So tightly was Swanelil lacing her vest | A |
| That forth spouted milk from each lily white breast | A |
| That saw the Queen mother and thus she begun | B |
| What maketh the milk from thy bosom to run | B |
| O this is not milk my dear mother I vow | C |
| It is but the mead I was drinking just now | C |
| Ha out on thee minion these eyes have their sight | D |
| Would'st tell me that mead in its colour is white | D |
| Well well since the proofs are so glaring and strong | E |
| I own that Sir Middel has done me a wrong | E |
| And was he the miscreant dear shall he pay | F |
| For the cloud he has cast on our honour's bright ray | F |
| I'll hang him up yes I will hang him with scorn | G |
| And burn thee to ashes at breaking of morn | G |
| The maiden departed in anguish and wo | H |
| And straight to Sir Middel it lists her to go | H |
| Arriv'd at the portal she sounded the bell | I |
| Now wake thee love if thou art living and well | I |
| Sir Middel he heard her and sprang from his bed | J |
| Not knowing her voice in confusion he said | J |
| Away for I have neither candle nor light | D |
| And I swear that no mortal shall enter this night | D |
| Now busk ye Sir Middel in Christ's holy name | K |
| I fly from my mother who knows of my shame | K |
| She'll hang thee up yes she will hang thee with scorn | G |
| And burn me to ashes at breaking of morn | G |
| Ha laugh at her threat'nings so empty and wild | L |
| She neither shall hang me nor burn thee my child | L |
| Collect what is precious in jewels and garb | M |
| And I'll to the stable and saddle my barb | M |
| He gave her the cloak that he us'd at his need | N |
| And he lifted her up on the broad bosom'd steed | N |
| The forest is gain'd and the city is past | O |
| When her eyes to the heaven she wistfully cast | O |
| What ails thee dear maid we had better now stay | F |
| For thou art fatigu'd by the length of the way | F |
| I am not fatigu'd by the length of the way | F |
| But my seat is uneasy in truth I must say | F |
| He spread on the cold earth his mantle so wide | P |
| Now rest thee my love and I'll watch by thy side | P |
| O Jesus that one of my maidens were near | Q |
| The pains of a mother are on me I fear | Q |
| Thy maidens are now at a distance from thee | R |
| And thou art alone in the forest with me | R |
| 'Twere better to perish again and again | S |
| Than thou should'st stand by me and gaze on my pain | T |
| Then take off thy kerchief and cover my head | J |
| And perhaps I may stand in the wise woman's stead | J |
| O Christ that I had but a draught of the wave | U |
| To quench my death thirst and my temples to lave | U |
| Sir Middel was to her so tender and true | V |
| And he fetch'd her the drink in her gold spangled shoe | V |
| The fountain was distant and when he drew near | Q |
| Two nightingales sat there and sang in his ear | W |
| Thy love she is dead and for ever at rest | A |
| With two little babes that lie cold on her breast | A |
| Such was their song but he heeded them not | X |
| And trac'd his way back to the desolate spot | X |
| But oh what a spectacle burst on his view | V |
| For all they had told him was fatally true | V |
| He dug a deep grave by the side of a tree | R |
| And buried therein the unfortunate three | R |
| As he clamp'd the mould down with his iron heel'd boot | Y |
| He thought that the babies scream'd under his foot | Z |
| Then placing his weapon against a grey stone | A2 |
| He cast himself on it and died with a groan | A2 |
| Ye maidens of Norway henceforward beware | B2 |
| For love when unbridled will end in despair | B2 |
George Borrow
(1)
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