The #Polish# ballads of the class of 'Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight' (see p. 39 f) have thus much in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland:' a maid is induced to go off with a man on horseback, and takes gold with her; after going a certain distance, he bids her return home; in #AA#, #H#, #R#, he gives her her choice whether to return or to jump into the river; she prefers death (cf. #D# 3, 5, p. 116); in all they finally come to a river, or other water, into which he throws her.[125]
There is a #German# ballad which has some slight connection with all the foregoing, and a very slight story it is altogether: 'Stolz Heinrich,' Simrock, No 9, p. 23, 'Stolz Syburg,' Reiffenberg, No 16, p. 32, No 17, p. 34, from the Lower Rhine and Münster; made over, in Kretzschmer, I, 187, No 106. Heinrich, or Syburg, wooes a king's daughter in a distant land. He asks her to go with him, and says he has seven mills in his country. "Tell me what they grind," says Margaret, "and I will go with you." The mills grind sugar and cinnamon, mace and cloves. They come to a green heath. Margaret thinks she sees the mills gleaming: he tells her that a green heath is all he has. "Then God have mercy that I have come so far," she says; draws a sword; kneels before him, and stabs herself.
The ballad of 'Young Andrew,' further on, has points in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland.'
#C# is translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Lieder der Vorzeit, No 31, p. 137.
#a.# Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, 9th ed., London, 1633, reprinted by Halliwell, p. 61. #b.# Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169.
1 It was a knight in Scotland borne Follow, my love, come over the strand Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne, Even by the good Earle of Northumberland.
2 Then was he cast in prison strong, Where he could not walke nor lie along, Even by the goode Earle of Northumberland.
3 And as in sorrow thus he lay, The Earle's sweete daughter walkt that way, And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
4 And passing by, like an angell bright, The prisoner had of her a sight, And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
5 And loud to her this knight did crie, The salt teares standing in his eye, And she the faire flower of Northumberland.