Hind Horn Poem by Anonymous Americas
Hind Horn
In Scotland there was a babie born,
Lill lal, etc.
And his name it was called young Hind Horn.
With a fal lal, etc.
He sent a letter to our king
That he was in love with his daughter Jean.
He's gien to her a silver wand,
With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.
She's gien to him a diamond ring,
With seven bright diamonds set therein.
"When this ring grows pale and wan,
You may know by it my love is gane."
One day as he looked his ring upon,
He saw the diamonds pale and wan.
He left the sea and came to land,
And the first that he met was an old beggar man.
"What news, what news?" said young Hind Horn;
"No news, no news," said the old beggar man.
"No news," said the beggar, "no news at a',
But there is a wedding in the king's ha.
"But there is a wedding in the king's ha,
That has halden these forty days and twa."
"Will ye lend me your begging coat?
And I'll lend you my scarlet cloak.
"Will you lend me your beggar's rung?
And I'll gie you my steed to ride upon.
"Will you lend me your wig o hair,
To cover mine, because it is fair?"
The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
But young Hind Horn for the king's hall.
The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.
When he came to the king's gate,
He sought a drink for Hind Horn's sake.
The bride came down with a glass of wine,
When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.
"O got ye this by sea or land?
Or got ye it off a dead man's hand?"
"I got not it by sea, I got it by land,
And I got it, madam, out of your own hand."
"O I'll cast off my gowns of brown,
And beg wi you frae town to town.
"O I'll cast off my gowns of red,
And I'll beg wi you to win my bread."
"Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,
For I'll make you lady o many a town.
"Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,
It's only a sham, the begging o my bread."
The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,
But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
Hind Horn exists in nine versions, of which the one here given was recorded in 1825. The first version to be printed appeared in Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads,1827. This ballad is derived either from the fourteenth century romance of Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild or from the traditions on which it was based. There are earlier Horn-romances in French and English. The ballad guves merely the most dramatic moments of a long exile-and-return story.1. In the romance Horn Childe is son of the king of Northumbria.2. Another version gives a refrain in full: With a hey lilloo and a how lo lan And the birk and the brume blooms bonny
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/4/2024 5:47:30 PM # 1.0.0.1119
This ballad is based on the various medieval metrical romances concerning the adventures of a legendary King Horn which date from the 13th century. The ballad concerns itself with only one incident of the many related in the romances. Hind Horn serves the King for seven years and has fallen in love with his daughter. The King is angry and sends Hind Horn to sea. The daughter has given young Horn a ring; as long as the stones keep their colour, she is true to him, but if they change hue, she has succumbed to another man. Hind Horn looks at the ring and finds it has turned pale. He makes for land and meets an old beggar who gives him the news that the King's daughter has married but will not go into the bridal bed until she hears of Hind Horn. Horn changes clothes and gear with the beggar and goes to the palace. The bride comes down to drink with the beggar and Hind Horn drops the ring into the glass. She questions him as to where he got the ring and Horn reveals his identity. The King's daughter is ready to give up her position to join him, but Hind Horn tells her he can maintain her as a lady. The ballad is known widely in Scotland, but has not been found in England. It is extremely rare in America, several texts having been recovered from Canadians of Scottish ancestry. (Kenneth S. Goldstein)