ations, the year in which he made
his fruitless effort to obtain subscribers for his _Songs of
Scandinavia_. On _December_ 6_th_ of that year he wrote to Dr.
[afterwards Sir] John Bowring:

"I wish to shew you my translation of _The Death of Balder_, Ewald's
most celebrated production, which, if you approve of, you will
perhaps render me some assistance in bringing forth, for I don't know
many publishers. I think this will be a proper time to introduce it
to the British public, as your account of Danish literature will
doubtless cause a sensation."

Evidently no publisher was forthcoming, for the work remained in
manuscript until 1889, when, eight years after Borrow's death, Messrs.
Jarrold & Sons gave it to the world. In 1857 Borrow included the Tragedy
among the series of Works advertised as "ready for the Press" at the end
of the second volume of _The Romany Rye_. It was there described as "_A
Heroic Play_."

Although published only in 1889, _The Death of Balder_ was actually set
up in type three years earlier. It had been intended that the book
should have been issued in London by Messrs. Reeves & Turner, and
proof-sheets exist carrying upon the title-page the name of that firm as
publishers, and bearing the date 1886. It would appear that Mr. W.
Webber, a bookseller of Ipswich, who then owned the Manuscript, had at
first contemplated issuing the book through Messrs. Reeves & Turner. But
at this juncture he entered into the employment of Messrs. Jarrold &
Sons, and consequently the books was finally brought out by that firm.
The types were not reset, but were kept standing during the interval.

Another version of the song of The Three Valkyrier, which appears in _The
Death of Balder_, pp. 53-54, was printed in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and
Other Songs and Ballads_, 1913, pp. 19-20. The text of the two versions
differs entirely, in addition to which the 1913 version forms one
complete single song, whilst in that of 1889 the lines are divided up
between the several characters.

The Manuscript of _The Death of Balder_, referred to above, passed into
the hands of Dr. Knapp, and is now in the possession of the Hispanic
Society, of New York. It consists of 97 pages 4to. A transcript in the
handwriting of Mrs. Borrow is also the property of the Society.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Death of Balder_ in the
Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 11755. f 9.