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THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER. See p. 114.
From Bell's Ballads of the Peasantry of England, p. 122.
This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that in Hildebrand og Hilde (Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank here ascribed to the lady.
" Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand, Kongens sonn aff Engeland."
The "old Carl Hood" who gives the alarm in this ballad, is called in most of the Danish ballads " a rich earl"; in one a treacherous man, in another a young Carl, and in a third an old man ; which together furnish the elements of his character here of a treacherous old Carl.
O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand ?
Hey lillie, ho UUie lallie I He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England,
I' the brave nights so early. |
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