Earl Haldan's Daughter-Charles Kingsley

EARL HALDAN'S DAUGHTER

It was Earl Haldan's daughter,

She looked across the sea;

She looked across the water,

And long and loud laughed she:

'The locks of six princesses

Must be my marriage fee,

So hey, bonny boat, and ho, bonny boat!

Who comes a-wooing me?'


It was Earl Haldan's daughter,

She walked along the strand;

When she was aware of a knight so fair,

Come sailing to the land.

His sails were all of velvet,

His masts of beaten gold,

And hey, bonny boat, and ho, bonny boat!

Who saileth here so bold?


'The locks of five princesses

I won beyond the sea;

I clipt their golden tresses

To fringe a cloak for thee.

One handful yet is wanting,

But one of all the tale;

So hey, bonny boat, and ho, bonny boat!

Furl up thy velvet sail!'


He leapt into the water,

That rover young and bold;

He gript Earl Haldan's daughter 

He clipt he locks of gold;

'Go weep, go weep, proud maiden,

The tale is full to-day.

Now hey, bonny boat, and ho, bonny boat!

Sail westward ho, away!'


CHARLES KINGSLEY


Summary: 'Earl Haldan's Daughter' by Charles Kingsley is a ballad about a young woman who is determined to marry only the man who can provide her with the locks of six princesses as her marriage fee. One day, a knight arrives in a boat made of velvet and beaten gold and claims to have already won five of the princesses' locks. He asks the young woman to marry him, but she insists that he must first bring her the final lock. The knight jumps into the water, grabs the young woman, and cuts off her golden locks. He tells her to weep because he has won the final lock and now has all six. He then sails away, leaving the young woman heartbroken. The ballad is a tale of greed and the consequences of setting unreasonable conditions for love.

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