Ashley MS 2376

'Romantic Ballads'.

1. 'The Death-Raven'; circa 1865. Fair copy, with a few revisions, written on both sides of ten quarto leaves of white laid paper. Watermark 'Cowan' and the figure of Britannia. The MS. is entitled 'The Death-Raven. From Oehlenslaeger' in Borrow's hand. The final text found in the fair copy differs by six lines and thirty-one words from that printed on pp. 1-20. The arrangement of the lines on the pages of the MS. corresponds exactly to that found in Romantic Ballads. ff. 8-17.

2. 'Fridleif and Helga'; circa 1865. Fair copy, written on both sides of three quarto leaves of white laid paper. Watermark 'Cowan'. The MS. is entitled 'Fridleif and Helga' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by six lines and ten words from that printed on pp. 21-27. ff. 27-29b.

3. 'Elvir-Shades'; circa 1865. Fair copy, written on both sides of three quarto leaves of white laid paper. Watermark figure of Britannia. The MS. is entitled 'Elvir Shades' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by five lines and two words from that printed on pp. 32-36. There are two versions of l. 51. ff. 36-38b.

4. 'The Heddybee-Spectre'; circa 1845. Fair copy, with revisions, of another version of this poem, written on one side only of one quarto leaf of cream laid paper and on both sides of another. Watermark part of [a lion?]. The MS. is entitled 'The Heddeby Spectre' in Borrow's hand. The fair copy consists of sixteen stanzas. While the sense of this version corresponds to that printed on pp. 37-39, except that there is nothing equivalent to the last stanza printed, the form of the stanzas is aaB4, iambs. ff. 41-42b.

5. 'Sir John'; circa 1829 and circa 1855. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, with revisions, of a version of the poem, written on both sides of a quarto leaf of cream laid paper; circa 1829. Watermark part of [a lion?]. The MS. is entitled 'Sir John' in Borrow's hand. While the sense, the rhyme scheme, and the number of stanzas in this fair copy are the same as in the version printed on pp. 40-43, only seven lines, all refrains, are identical, and the metre is different. There is an additional line between stanzas 1 and 2. ff. 45, 45b.

b. Fair copy, with one addition in pencil, written on both sides of two quarto leaves of blue laid paper; circa 1855. Watermark 'E Towgood / 1851'. The MS. is entitled 'Sir John' in Borrow's hand. With the exception of one word, obviously an error of transcription, the text found in the fair copy is identical with that printed on pp. 40-43. ff. 46-47b.

6. 'May Asda'; circa 1865. Fair copy, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of white laid paper, and on one side only of another. Watermark 'Cowan'. The MS. is entitled 'May Asda' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy is identical, except that it has 'elf-maidens' for 'Erl-maidens', with that printed on pp. 44-46. The footnote on p. 44 is identical in the MS., but that on p. 45 differs slightly. ff. 50-51.

7. 'Aager and Eliza'; circa 1845. Fair copy, written on both sides of two quarto leaves of cream laid paper, and on one side only of a third. Watermark lion with staff on crowned shield. The MS. is entitled 'Algar and Eliza' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy, in addition to having 'Algar' for 'Aager' throughout, differs by three lines and one word from that printed on pp. 47-52. ff. 54-56.

8. 'Saint Oluf'. Three fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, with revisions, of a version of the poem, written on one side only of a leaf of white laid paper 152 x 77mm.; circa 1826. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Saint Oluf' in Borrow's hand. The sense of the version found in this fair copy is the same as that printed on pp. 53-57, but it is in the form of thirty-eight lines of seven feet, with a mixed iambic and anapaestic meter, arranged as rhyming couplets. At the end of the fair copy are the first line and a half of what appears to be another version again. f. 60.

b. Fair copy, heavily revised, of a version of the poem, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of cream laid paper and on one side only of another; circa 1829. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Saint Oluf and the Trolds' in Borrow's hand. This version consists of nineteen stanzas with the same structure as is found in the printed version, except that the feet are mixed iambs and anapaests. The stanzas are preceded by the chorus I sails behold that shine like gold from out of Drontheim come'. Only four lines of the final text are identical with the printed version. The revisions appear to be circa 1840. ff. 61-62.

c. Fair copy, written on both sides of two quarto leaves of blue wove paper, and on one side only of a third (f. 65); circa 1855. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Saint Oluf and the Trolds' in Borrow's hand. The fair copy consists of nineteen stanzas with identical rhyme scheme and metre to those found in the version printed on pp. 53-57. The text found in this fair copy is almost identical with the final text found in (b), and seems to be intermediate between (b) and the printed version. The second leaf (f. 64) is wrongly bound, the recto and verso being transposed. ff. 63-65.

9. 'The Heroes of Dovrefeld'. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, with revisions and deletions, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of grey wove paper, and on one side only of another (f. 69); circa 1865. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'The Heroes of Dovrefeld' in Borrow's hand. The fair copy consists of eighteen rhyming couplets, each with the same refrain. The lines are of four feet, mixed iambs and anapaests. The sense of the version found in this MS. is the same as that printed on pp. 58-60, except that in the MS. the attributes of the seventh and eighth brothers are given to the fifth and sixth and vice versa. The portion of the poem treating of the fifth to twelfth brothers has been deleted where it first occurs on ff. 68 and 68b and rewritten on f. 69a. ff. 68-69.

b. Fair copy, written on both sides of a quarto leaf of blue wove paper; circa 1855. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'The Heroes of Dovrefield' in Borrow's hand. The form of the poem is the same as that found in (a), but the text differs in several respects. ff. 70, 70b.

10. 'Svend Vonved'; after 1828. Fair copy, with revisions and alternative lines in ink and pencil, written on both sides of six quarto leaves of white laid paper and on one side only of a seventh (f. 73). Watermark 'J Green / 1828'. The MS. is numbered 'X' and entitled 'Swayne Vonved' in Borrow's hand. Below the title is the note 'Chorus. / Look out, look out, Swayne Vonved.'. The stanzas are numbered '1' - '71'. The poem is followed by a note, apparently lacking the beginning, discussing its origins, and written on both sides of another quarto leaf of white laid paper (f. 80). The final text found in the fair copy differs by twenty seven lines and over fifty words from that printed on p. 62-81. In many cases the revisions have altered the text away from that found in the printed version. ff. 73-80b.

11. 'The Tournament'; circa 1829. Fair copy, with revisions and alternative lines, written on both sides of five quarto leaves of white laid paper, and on one side only of a sixth (f. 97). Watermark ['J Pump'?]. The MS. is numbered 'I' and entitled 'The Tournament' in Borrow's hand. Below the title is the autograph note 'Chorus. / It thunders 'neath the horses feet, when the Danish Courtmen ride.' The fair copy is preceded by a discarded introduction entitled 'The Tournament', and written on both sides of another quarto leaf of white laid paper (f. 91). In the right hand margin of f. 92 is an autograph list of titles of poems, possibly intended for The Songs of Scandinavia projected in 1830. The final text found in the fair copy differs from that printed on pp. 82-97 by over sixty lines and fifty words. Many of the revisions have altered the text away from that found in Romantic Ballads. In several cases the revisions have been made in order to achieve internal rhyme in the third line of stanzas. ff. 91-97.

12. 'Vidrik Verlandson'; circa 1829. Fair copy, with a few revisions and an alternative stanza, written on both sides of three quarto leaves of white wove paper and on one side only of another two (ff. 106, 110). Watermark figure of Britannia. The MS. is numbered 'III' and entitled 'Vidrik Verlandson's conflict with the Giant Langben' in Borrow's hand. Below the title is the autograph note 'Chorus. / There stands a castle, hight Bern, therein King Diderik dwells.'. The stanzas are numbered in Borrow's hand. Stanza 19, ll. 1 and 2, and stanza 20, ll. 1 and 2, are transposed. The final text found in the fair copy differs from that printed on pp. 98-110 by twenty-three lines and twenty words. The revisions and alternative stanza alter the text away from that found in Romantic Ballads. ff. 106-110.

13. 'Elvir Hill'; circa 1829. Fair copy, with revisions, written on both sides of a quarto leaf of white laid paper. Watermark figure of Britannia. The MS. is numbered 'XXXV' and entitled 'Elfin Hill' in Borrow's hand. Below the title is the autograph note 'Chorus / Since her I first beheld'. The stanzas are numbered in Borrow's hand. The final text found in the fair copy differs in every line from that printed on pp. 111-114, though the form and sense of the stanzas are the same. ff. 118, 118b.

14. 'The Merman'. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, with many revisions and with alternative lines, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of grey wove paper and on one side only of another (f. 122); circa 1865. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Marsk Stig's Daughter' in Borrow's hand. Below the title is a red ink note by T. J. Wise 'Afterwards styled "The Merman"'. The final text found in this fair copy differs by twenty-two lines and seven words from that printed on pp. 117-119. In addition there is one extra couplet. ff. 121-122.

b. Fair copy, with a few revisions, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of blue wove paper, and on one side only of another (f. 125); circa 1855. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'The Treacherous Merman' in Borrow's hand. The verso of f. 125 is occupied by part of art. 15. The final text found in this fair copy differs in every line from that printed on pp. 117-119. In addition there is one extra couplet. There are only three lines identical between the two fair copies. ff. 124-125.

15. 'The Deceived Merman'. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, written on one side only of two quarto leaves of blue wove paper and on both sides of a third (f. 126); circa 1855. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Agnes and the Merman' in Borrow's hand. The recto of f. 125 is occupied by part of art. 14. The final text found in the fair copy differs by twenty two lines and seventeen words from that printed on pp. 120-123. In addition there is one extra couplet. ff. 125b-127.

b. Fair copy, written on one side only of a quarto leaf of white wove paper (f. 129), and on both sides of a quarto leaf of white laid paper (f. 130); [1823-1826]. Watermark 'W D Wells / 1823'. The MS. is entitled 'The Deceived Merman / From the old Danish' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by two words only from that printed on pp. 120-123. ff. 129-130b.

16. 'Cantata'; [1823-1826]. Fair copy, written on both sides of three quarto leaves of white wove paper. Watermark 'W D Wells / 1823'. The MS. is entitled 'Cantata' in Borrow's hand. The pages are numbered 7-12. In the left hand margin of f. 134b opposite l. 26 is the note in another hand 'Sig. K p. 129'. In Romantic Ballads, 1826, l. 26 is at the head of p. 129, on which page is found signature 'K'. The numeration of the footnotes has been emended to the same as that found in the printed text. The text found in the fair copy differs by three words from that printed on pp. 127-135. ff. 134-136b.

17. 'The Hail-Storm'; circa 1855. Fair copy, written on both sides of one quarto leaf of grey laid paper and on one side only of another (f. 143). Watermark figure of Britannia. The leaves appear to have been formerly conjoined. The MS. is entitled 'The Hail-Storm' in the hand of T. J. Wise. Although the form of the poem in the fair copy is the same as that printed on pp. 136-138, only fourteen lines are identical. For another MS. of this poem see 2381, art. 14. ff. 142-143.

18. 'Ode'. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, written on both sides of a quarto leaf of white wove paper; [1823-1826]. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Ode / From the Gaelic. / "Is luaimnach mo chodal an nochd".' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy is identical with that printed on pp. 142-143. ff. 147-147b.

b. Fair copy, written on one side only of a quarto leaf of white laid paper; circa 1829. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Ode / From the Scottish Gaelic.' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs from that printed on pp. 142-143 by seventeen lines and one word in another line. f. 148.

19. 'Madness'; circa 1865. Fair copy, written on both sides of a quarto leaf of white laid paper. No watermark. The MS. is entitled 'Hecla and Etna / From Oelenslaeger.' in Borrow's hand and 'Madness' in that of T. J. Wise. The text found in the fair copy differs from that printed on p. 158 by six lines and one word in another line. ff. 157, 157b.

20. 'The Violet-Gatherer'. Two fair copies, as follows:―

a. Fair copy, written on both sides of two quarto leaves of white laid paper, and on one side only of a third (f. 161); after 1842, circa 1855. Watermark '1842'. The MS. is entitled 'The Violet Gatherer.' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by five lines and four single words in other lines from that printed on pp. 159-163. ff. 159-161.

b. Fair copy, written on both sides of three quarto leaves of white laid paper; circa 1865. Watermark 'Cowan' and figure of Britannia. The MS. is entitled 'The Violet-Gatherer / From Oehlenslaeger.' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by nine lines and one word in another line from that printed on pp. 159-163. ff. 162-164b.

21. 'Scenes'; circa 1865. Fair copy, written on both sides of four quarto leaves of white laid paper. Watermark 'Cowan' and figure of Britannia. The MS. is entitled 'Scenes; / From Oehlenslaeger.' in Borrow's hand. The text found in the fair copy differs by thirteen lines and nine words from that printed on pp. 175-181. ff. 172-175b.

Bound up with the MSS. are the pages from a copy of Romantic Ballads, 1826, imprint: London: / Published By Wightman And / Cramp, / 24, Paternoster Row. / rule / 1826. ff. 1-7b, 18-26b, 30-35b, 39-40b, 43-44b, 48-49b, 52-53b, 57-59b, 66-67b, 71-72b, 81-90b, 98-105b, 111-117b, 119-120b, 123, 123b, 128, 128b, 131-133, 137-141b, 144-146b, 149-156b, 158, 158b, 165-171b, 176-180b.

Quarto; ff. i+180.

includes:

• ff. 1-7b, 18-26b, 30-35b, 39-40b, 43-44b, 48-49b, 52-53b, 57-59b, 66-67b, 71-72b, 81-90b, 98-105b, 111-117b, 119-120b, 123-123b, 128, 128b, 131-133, 137-141b, 144-146b, 149-156b, 158, 158b, 165-171b, 176-180b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: 'Romantic Ballads' by George Borrow: (1826): Printed copy.
• ff. 8-17 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Death-Raven', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 27-29b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Fridleif and Helga', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 36-38b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Elvir-Shades', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 41, 42, 42b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Heddybee-Spectre', by George Borrow: circa 1845: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 45, 45b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Sir John', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 46-47b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Sir John', by George Borrow: circa 1855.
• ff. 50-51 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'May Asda', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 54-56 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Aager and Eliza', by George Borrow: circa 1845: Autogr. fair copy.
• f. 60 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Saint Oluf', by George Borrow: circa 1826: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 61-62 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Saint Oluf', here entitled 'Saint Oluf and the Trolds', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 63-65 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Saint Oluf', here entitled 'Saint Oluf and the Trolds', by George Borrow: circa 1855: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 68-69 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Heroes of Dovrefeld', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 70, 70b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Heroes of Dovrefeld', here entitled 'The Heroes of Dovrefield', by George Borrow: circa 1855.
• ff. 73-80b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Svend Vonved' here entitled 'Swayne Vonved', by George Borrow: aft. 1828: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 91-97 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Tournament', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 106-110 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Vidrik Virlandson', here entitled 'Vidrik Verlandson's conflict with the Giant Langben', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 118, 118b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Elvir Hill', here entitled 'Elfin Hill', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 121-122 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Merman', here entitled 'Marsk Stig's Daughter', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy, with revisions.
• ff. 124-125 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Merman', here entitled 'The Treacherous Merman', by George Borrow: circa 1855: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 125b-127 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Deceived Merman', here entitled 'Agnes and the Merman', by George Borrow: circa 1855: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 129-130b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Deceived Merman', by George Borrow: [1823-1826]: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 134-136b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Cantata', by George Borrow: [1823-1826]: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 142-143 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Hail-Storm', by George Borrow: circa 1855: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 147, 147b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Ode / From the Gaelic', by George Borrow: [1823-1826]: Autogr. fair copy.
• f. 148 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Ode/From the Scottish Gaelic', by George Borrow: circa 1829: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 157, 157b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Madness', here entitled 'Hecla and Etna/From Oelenslaeger', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 159-161 George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Violet-Gatherer', by George Borrow: 1842, circa 1855: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 162-164b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'The Violet-Gatherer', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.
• ff. 172-175b George Borrow, writer: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Scenes', by George Borrow: circa 1865: Autogr. fair copy.