Prince Heathen

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

[edit] Synopsis

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 she is not weeping for him but because she has nothing to wrap the baby in. His heart softening, the price gives her silk to wrap the baby in and milk to bath him in, and declares his love for her.

[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.