Prince Heathen

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Prince Heathen is Child ballad 104, existing in several variants.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The heroine -- Margery May or Margaret -- is raped by Prince Heathen, sometimes after he has tried to woo her. Sometimes he tells her he has massacred her family; in all variants, he imprisons her until she bears a child.

She has a son and weeps. She tells Prince Heathen it is not for him but because she has nothing to wrap the baby in. His heart softening, he gives her silk to wrap him and milk to bath him in, and loves her.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] See also

Gil Brenton also features the hero finally desiring to treat the baby well, though in his motive is the final evidence that the baby is his, and not the softening of heart that Prince Heathen manifests.