The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ballads from the Danish and Original Verses
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Title: Ballads from the Danish and Original Verses
Author: E. M. Smith-Dampier
Release date: May 30, 2022 [eBook #68204]
Most recently updated: October 18, 2024
Language: English
Original publication: United Kingdom: Andrew Melrose, 1910
Credits: Charlene Taylor, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BALLADS FROM THE DANISH AND ORIGINAL VERSES ***
BALLADS
FROM THE DANISH
AND
ORIGINAL VERSES
BALLADS
FROM THE DANISH
AND
ORIGINAL VERSES
BY
E. M. SMITH-DAMPIER
LONDON :: ANDREW MELROSE
3 YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN
1910
PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
TO THE
MEMORY OF MY PARENTS
CONTENTS
BALLADS FROM THE DANISH
NOTE
In the translations the metre of the original has in all cases been scrupulously followed.
KING OLAF AND THE TROLLS
He set his sail for Norroway,
Saint Olaf our good king;
For Hornelummer he shaped his course
To see what luck would bring.
(Red as the ruddy gold, the sun sets over Trondhjem.)
Saint Olaf our good king;
For Hornelummer he shaped his course
To see what luck would bring.
(Red as the ruddy gold, the sun sets over Trondhjem.)
Up and spake the steersman bold,
Stood by the lading-gear:
“At Hornelummer is no good haven,
So grim a troll dwells there:
Stood by the lading-gear:
“At Hornelummer is no good haven,
So grim a troll dwells there:
“Eyes he hath like a burning brand;
With his mouth he well can roar;
His nails stand out, like the horns of a buck,
A good ell’s length and more;
With his mouth he well can roar;
His nails stand out, like the horns of a buck,
A good ell’s length and more;
“A beard he hath like a horse’s mane,
Hangs downward to his knee;
A long and loathly tail he hath;
His claws they are ill to see.”
Hangs downward to his knee;
A long and loathly tail he hath;
His claws they are ill to see.”
Up and spake Saint Olaf the king,
As the ship swung to and fro:
“Cast off the ropes in the name of God,
And let the vessel go!”
As the ship swung to and fro:
“Cast off the ropes in the name of God,
And let the vessel go!”
So soft she sank, so light she rose,
O’er the billows she went a-striding;
And fast she made for Hornelummer,
Where the ugly troll was biding.
O’er the billows she went a-striding;
And fast she made for Hornelummer,
Where the ugly troll was biding.
Out he stalked from his hold i’ the hill,
By the rocky rifts a-going,
And there he saw Saint Olaf the king
In his vessel swiftly rowing.
By the rocky rifts a-going,
And there he saw Saint Olaf the king
In his vessel swiftly rowing.
“Now who comes here, so overbold,
My magic to defy it?
Harken, thou with the ruddy beard!
Full sore thou shalt abye it!
My magic to defy it?
Harken, thou with the ruddy beard!
Full sore thou shalt abye it!
“Now nor never by this my coast
Dares any ship to linger!
I could drag thee into the rifts o’ the rocks
With the touch of my smallest finger!”
Dares any ship to linger!
I could drag thee into the rifts o’ the rocks
With the touch of my smallest finger!”
“Hear now, Ara, thou ancient imp,
Nor anger thyself at all!
Seize thou the ship as it liketh thee,
And see what will befall.”
Nor anger thyself at all!
Seize thou the ship as it liketh thee,
And see what will befall.”
He took the ship by stem and stern,
To work her dule and dree,
When lo! he sank down into the stone,
That held him by the knee.
To work her dule and dree,
When lo! he sank down into the stone,
That held him by the knee.
“Here stand I, sunken in the stone,
To go no more a-roving!
At wrestling or at hand-play hard
Thy strength I’d fain be proving.”
To go no more a-roving!
At wrestling or at hand-play hard
Thy strength I’d fain be proving.”
“Now tarry thou there, thou wilful wight,
All under my powerful charm—
Tarry thou there till Doomsday dread,
And work no Christian harm.”
All under my powerful charm—
Tarry thou there till Doomsday dread,
And work no Christian harm.”
Out came running his evil mate,
And stretched her neck so grim;
Saint Olaf spake one little word,
Bade her stand still by him.
And stretched her neck so grim;
Saint Olaf spake one little word,
Bade her stand still by him.
Up and spake the little trolls
Who sat i’ the hill down under—
They asked where the mother-troll might be,
With mickle woe and wonder.
Who sat i’ the hill down under—
They asked where the mother-troll might be,
With mickle woe and wonder.
“Perchance this is the Red-beard’s work
Who hath harried our race so long!
But come we forth with our brands of iron,
To work him wrong for wrong.”
Who hath harried our race so long!
But come we forth with our brands of iron,
To work him wrong for wrong.”
Up and spake our goodly king—
He held it a game so merry:
“Stone to stone, and rock to rock,
Together ye all shall tarry!”
He held it a game so merry:
“Stone to stone, and rock to rock,
Together ye all shall tarry!”
Out they sailed from Hornelummer,
Well-pleased with the fair adventure;
The hill he blocked with a mighty stone,
That none therein might enter.
Well-pleased with the fair adventure;
The hill he blocked with a mighty stone,
That none therein might enter.
Thanks, thanks to Olaf our gallant king!
He wrought a goodly charm!
Now men may sail by Hornelummer,
And take no hurt nor harm.
He wrought a goodly charm!
Now men may sail by Hornelummer,
And take no hurt nor harm.
SIR KARL’S LYKEWAKE
It was young Sir Karel,
His mother’s rede did pray
If he should to the convent ride,
And bear his love away.
(The roses and the lilies all a-blowing.)
His mother’s rede did pray
If he should to the convent ride,
And bear his love away.
(The roses and the lilies all a-blowing.)
“Lo, on a bier thou’lt lay thee down,
A corse so white and wan—
And never a one shall ask of thee
If thou art a living man.”
A corse so white and wan—
And never a one shall ask of thee
If thou art a living man.”
Late, so late at even,
Sore sickness on him fell;
All in the early morning
They tolled for him the bell.
Sore sickness on him fell;
All in the early morning
They tolled for him the bell.
They took him, young Sir Karel,
And streeked him for a corpse;
And all to bear the tidings round,
His page has taken horse.
And streeked him for a corpse;
And all to bear the tidings round,
His page has taken horse.
Upon his bier they bore him
To the convent door so wide—
The Prioress came to meet them
With mickle pomp and pride.
To the convent door so wide—
The Prioress came to meet them
With mickle pomp and pride.
Forth then went his little page,
Was clad in the scarlet red—
He bade the maidens come to watch—
“For young Sir Karl is dead.”
Was clad in the scarlet red—
He bade the maidens come to watch—
“For young Sir Karl is dead.”
It was little Kirsten
Who asked her mother dear:
“Mother, may I to the watching wend
Over the young knight’s bier?”
Who asked her mother dear:
“Mother, may I to the watching wend
Over the young knight’s bier?”
“Put thou on thy scarlet cloak,
And deck thy head with gold;
But be thou ware of young Sir Karl,
His wiles are manifold!”
And deck thy head with gold;
But be thou ware of young Sir Karl,
His wiles are manifold!”
She went in where the black bier stood
Betwixt the tapers tall;
She could not see their burning flames
So fast her tears did fall.
Betwixt the tapers tall;
She could not see their burning flames
So fast her tears did fall.
Right soothly for his soul she prayed,
All sitting at his head;
“Alas! thou wast my liefest love
In the days ere thou wast dead!”
All sitting at his head;
“Alas! thou wast my liefest love
In the days ere thou wast dead!”
She laid her face against his feet,
All on the linen white—
“Oh, in the days ere thou wast dead
Thou wast my heart’s delight!”
All on the linen white—
“Oh, in the days ere thou wast dead
Thou wast my heart’s delight!”
Right softly then to her he spake:
“Nay, cease thy bitter crying!
For lo! ’tis all for love of thee
That on this bier I’m lying.
“Nay, cease thy bitter crying!
For lo! ’tis all for love of thee
That on this bier I’m lying.
“My steed stands in the cloister-garth
A-tarrying all for thee,
If thou now, little Kirsten,
Wilt fare afar with me.”
A-tarrying all for thee,
If thou now, little Kirsten,
Wilt fare afar with me.”
It was young Sir Karel
Rose up in his shroud so white—
And as they went from the convent-door
She bade them a gay good-night.
Rose up in his shroud so white—
And as they went from the convent-door
She bade them a gay good-night.
The nuns they all sat silent,
Each reading on her book;
They thought it was God’s good angel
The beauteous maid that took.
Each reading on her book;
They thought it was God’s good angel
The beauteous maid that took.
The nuns they all sat silent—
Each to herself said she:
“God grant that His good angel
May speedily come for me!”
Each to herself said she:
“God grant that His good angel
May speedily come for me!”
THE AVENGING SWORD
Sir Peter he rode to the castle stout,
The King o’ the Danes he stood without.
(Forward, hurrah! ride forward.)
The King o’ the Danes he stood without.
(Forward, hurrah! ride forward.)
“Welcome hither, my comrade good!
Hast thou avenged thy father’s blood?”
Hast thou avenged thy father’s blood?”
“Oh, I have been so southerly
Until the sun sank down to me.
Until the sun sank down to me.
“And I have been so westerly
Until the sun set close to me.
Until the sun set close to me.
“And I have been so northerly
Until the sun was frore to see.
Until the sun was frore to see.
“And I have been so easterly
Until the day was fair to see.
Until the day was fair to see.
“Say, what gift wilt give the wight
Thy father’s death can rede thee right?”
Thy father’s death can rede thee right?”
“Of silver he shall have his fill,
And of good red gold whate’er he will.”
And of good red gold whate’er he will.”
He smiled, the king, his words to heed—
“Here stand I, that did the deed!
“Here stand I, that did the deed!
“By God in heaven, I tell thee true!
None but I thy father slew.”
None but I thy father slew.”
Sir Peter smote himself on the breast—
“Heart, be still, nor break thy rest!
“Heart, be still, nor break thy rest!
“Heart, be still, bide patiently!
Sure and swift shall my vengeance be!”
Sure and swift shall my vengeance be!”
Alone Sir Peter stayed
To speak with his good blade.
To speak with his good blade.
“Harken, sword so good!
Wilt steep thyself in blood?
Wilt steep thyself in blood?
“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I in the world but thee.”
No brother have I in the world but thee.”
Straight to the smith he wended
To have the fault amended.
To have the fault amended.
He gave him iron, he gave him steel
Of proof and price, the hurt to heal.
Of proof and price, the hurt to heal.
“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I in the world but thee.”
No brother have I in the world but thee.”
“Deal thou thy strokes so lustily
As I’ll be sharp and swift for thee.
As I’ll be sharp and swift for thee.
“Be thou in thy blows so bold
As strongly to my hilt I’ll hold.”
As strongly to my hilt I’ll hold.”
Sir Peter went to the hall
Where the knights were drinking all.
Where the knights were drinking all.
To prove his sword he was so fain,
Eight of the champions there lay slain.
Eight of the champions there lay slain.
He struck so strong, he hewed so hard,
Neither wife nor maid he spared.
Neither wife nor maid he spared.
Behind the arras there he thrust—
The king and his sons they bit the dust.
The king and his sons they bit the dust.
“A red revenge for that sire o’ thine!—
God give me a day for avenging mine!”
God give me a day for avenging mine!”
“And have I avenged him, sire o’ mine?
Thou shalt have no day for avenging thine.”
Thou shalt have no day for avenging thine.”
He seized the babe amain,
And hewed it straight in twain.
And hewed it straight in twain.
“Cease, good sword, thy thirst to slake!
Bide thou still, for God his sake!”
Bide thou still, for God his sake!”
Wearily whispered the sword and still—
“Fain of thy blood I’d have my fill!
“Fain of thy blood I’d have my fill!
“Hadst thou not named my name, I vow
I would have slain thee, here and now!”
I would have slain thee, here and now!”
THE AVENGING DAUGHTERS
Elder to younger said
(For him who first loved me),
“Sister, wilt thou not wed?”
(She dwells beneath the greenwood tree.)
(For him who first loved me),
“Sister, wilt thou not wed?”
(She dwells beneath the greenwood tree.)
“None will I wed while I draw breath
Till I have avenged our father’s death.”
Till I have avenged our father’s death.”
“Thou speak’st an idle word,
We have neither mail nor sword.”
We have neither mail nor sword.”
“There are rich franklins dwelling hard by—
Mail will they lend us, and swords to try.”
Mail will they lend us, and swords to try.”
Each maiden bound a sword by her side,
Featly fared they forth to ride.
Featly fared they forth to ride.
“Bridegrooms are ye both, ye two,
Or else ye are riding forth to woo.”
Or else ye are riding forth to woo.”
“Bridegrooms are we not, we two,
But we are riding forth to woo.”
But we are riding forth to woo.”
“I rede ye ride where dwell in a bower
Two fatherless maidens, with gold for dower.”
Two fatherless maidens, with gold for dower.”
“If they have store of pelf
Why seek’st them not thyself?”
Why seek’st them not thyself?”
“I would flee them rather,
For I have slain their father,
For I have slain their father,
“And I have slain their brother,
And I have beguiled their mother.”
And I have beguiled their mother.”
“And hast thou slain father and brother,
Thou liest concerning our mother.”
Thou liest concerning our mother.”
So child-like out the swords they drew—
So man-like did they hack and hew.
So man-like did they hack and hew.
Sore did the maidens weep for woe
When to shrive them they must go.
When to shrive them they must go.
All they got for the deed of dread
Was Fridays three on water and bread!
Was Fridays three on water and bread!
YOUNG DANNEVED AND BOY TRUST
What shall I do in Denmark?
My corselet sore doth gall—
The Danish knights make mock o’ me,
For I am young and small.
(Ne’er shall I speak good Danish!)
My corselet sore doth gall—
The Danish knights make mock o’ me,
For I am young and small.
(Ne’er shall I speak good Danish!)
Firm he sat in the saddle;
His spurs were sharp and long.
At Lundy kirk in Skaane
There heard he even-song.
His spurs were sharp and long.
At Lundy kirk in Skaane
There heard he even-song.
Up and spake Sir Peter,
That was his parish priest:
“Welcome to thee, young Danneved!
To-day shalt be my guest.”
That was his parish priest:
“Welcome to thee, young Danneved!
To-day shalt be my guest.”
“For meat I will not tarry,
Nor will I wait for wine,
Until I come to Berneskov,
To talk with mother mine.”
Nor will I wait for wine,
Until I come to Berneskov,
To talk with mother mine.”
“Harken now, young Danneved,
And give thou heed to me!
A troop of thy deadly foemen
Are lying in wait for thee.”
And give thou heed to me!
A troop of thy deadly foemen
Are lying in wait for thee.”
“First I trust my goodly sword,
And next my steed so tall,
And then I trust my Danish men—
But myself the most of all.”
And next my steed so tall,
And then I trust my Danish men—
But myself the most of all.”
“First trustest thou thy goodly sword,
And next thy steed so tall—
Then trustest thou thy Danish men
Will fail thee first of all.”
And next thy steed so tall—
Then trustest thou thy Danish men
Will fail thee first of all.”
It was gallant Danneved
Rode forth i’ the gloaming grey—
And there he saw his foemen,
Three lances’ length away.
Rode forth i’ the gloaming grey—
And there he saw his foemen,
Three lances’ length away.
There he saw his foemen,
Three lances’ length away—
Then took they leave, his meiné,
To flee from him that day.
Three lances’ length away—
Then took they leave, his meiné,
To flee from him that day.
Leave took all his meiné
To turn and flee away,
All save the lad so little,
Who straight did up and say:
To turn and flee away,
All save the lad so little,
Who straight did up and say:
“Lo! thy bread I’ve eaten,
And I have worn thy weed;
And I will stand by thee to-day
To help thee in thy need.
And I have worn thy weed;
And I will stand by thee to-day
To help thee in thy need.
“I thy sword have sharpened,
And I have stalled thy steed;
And I will stand by thee to-day
To help thee in thy need.”
And I have stalled thy steed;
And I will stand by thee to-day
To help thee in thy need.”
They drew their ranks together
All by the greenwood bower—
Five there fought a couple
With mickle strength and stour.
All by the greenwood bower—
Five there fought a couple
With mickle strength and stour.
They drew their ranks together
Under the greenwood tree—
Five there fought a couple—
A fearful fight to see.
Under the greenwood tree—
Five there fought a couple—
A fearful fight to see.
It was gallant Danneved,
His sword sheathed at his side—
“Come thou hither, little boy Trust,
’Tis time for us to ride.”
His sword sheathed at his side—
“Come thou hither, little boy Trust,
’Tis time for us to ride.”
It was gallant Danneved
Rode to his castle fair;
His mother came to meet him
In velvet wrapped and vair.
Rode to his castle fair;
His mother came to meet him
In velvet wrapped and vair.
“Stand up, now, lady mother,
And pour for us the wine!
For I will give him, little boy Trust,
The hand of sister mine.”
And pour for us the wine!
For I will give him, little boy Trust,
The hand of sister mine.”
THE KNAVISH MERMAN
Gay was the dance in the kirkyard fair.
(Well aday!)
There danced maidens with flowing hair.
(Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.)
(Well aday!)
There danced maidens with flowing hair.
(Methinks ’tis hard to ride away.)
There danced knights with shining sword—
“None of them all is worth a word!”
“None of them all is worth a word!”
Proud was the Princess, thus did she say,
That heard the merman under water that lay.
That heard the merman under water that lay.
Up stood the merman; thus spake he:
“Perchance the king’s daughter will wed with me.”
“Perchance the king’s daughter will wed with me.”
He shaped him garments all glimmering;
He called him Sir Alfast, son of a king.
He called him Sir Alfast, son of a king.
He tied his steed where the shade was mirk;
Withershins went he round the kirk.
Withershins went he round the kirk.
Into the kirk he went, so gay,
And all the holy images they turned their heads away.
And all the holy images they turned their heads away.
Up spake the priest by the altar that stood—
“Who may he be, this knight so good?”
“Who may he be, this knight so good?”
The Princess smiled ’neath her veil so fine—
“Would to God that the knight were mine!”
“Would to God that the knight were mine!”
“Listen, proud Princess, and love thou me—
A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”
A crown of gold I’ll give to thee.”
“Over three kingdoms my father was king,
But he never gave me so fair a thing.”
But he never gave me so fair a thing.”
He wrapped her in his cloak of blue—
Out of the kirk they went, they two.
Out of the kirk they went, they two.
They met upon the wold
The steed with saddle of gold.
The steed with saddle of gold.
When they rode down to the water’s brim,
He became a troll, so fierce and grim.
He became a troll, so fierce and grim.
“Sir Alfast, thou art christened man—
What wilt thou with this water wan?”
What wilt thou with this water wan?”
“No knight am I, nor christened man—
My home is in this water wan.”
My home is in this water wan.”
When they reached the midmost Sound,
Fifty fathom they sank to ground.
Fifty fathom they sank to ground.
Long heard the fishers with dread and dree
How the king’s daughter sobbed under the sea!
How the king’s daughter sobbed under the sea!
THE WOOD-RAVEN
The raven flies at even
That flies not in the light,
And he must take the black fortune
That may not take the white.
(At even flies the raven.)
That flies not in the light,
And he must take the black fortune
That may not take the white.
(At even flies the raven.)
It was little Elva
Fared forth from the castle high;
She saw the wild wood-raven
That flew across the sky.
Fared forth from the castle high;
She saw the wild wood-raven
That flew across the sky.
“Fly down, thou wild wood-raven,
And speak a word with me;
All my secret sorrow
That I will tell to thee.
And speak a word with me;
All my secret sorrow
That I will tell to thee.
“My father gave me the son of a king
To plight me heart and hand—
She sent him, my cruel step-mother,
Afar to a foreign land.
To plight me heart and hand—
She sent him, my cruel step-mother,
Afar to a foreign land.
“She sent him, my cruel step-mother,
Forth under spell and ban;
She bade me love her brother foul,
Was liker a troll than a man.”
Forth under spell and ban;
She bade me love her brother foul,
Was liker a troll than a man.”
“Say now, little Elva,
What wilt thou give to me
All to the land of thy lover
If I shall carry thee?”
What wilt thou give to me
All to the land of thy lover
If I shall carry thee?”
“I’ll give to thee the silver white,
But and the ruddy gold—
Be kind, thou wild wood-raven!
Thy spells are manifold.”
But and the ruddy gold—
Be kind, thou wild wood-raven!
Thy spells are manifold.”
“A fairer gift than silver!
A goodlier gift than gold!
The first-born son that thou shalt bear
Him will I have and hold.”
A goodlier gift than gold!
The first-born son that thou shalt bear
Him will I have and hold.”
All in the swarthy raven’s claw
Her snow-white hand she laid;
She promised him her first-born son
By the faith of a Christian maid.
Her snow-white hand she laid;
She promised him her first-born son
By the faith of a Christian maid.
He took her, little Elva,
Set her his wings between—
With mickle toil and pain he flew
Across the sea so green.
Set her his wings between—
With mickle toil and pain he flew
Across the sea so green.
It was the wild wood-raven
Upon the tower stood still;
“Be glad now, little Elva!
Thou shalt have all thy will!”
Upon the tower stood still;
“Be glad now, little Elva!
Thou shalt have all thy will!”
Forth came bold Sir Nilus
With gold rings on his hand;
“Welcome now, little Elva,
All to this foreign land!
With gold rings on his hand;
“Welcome now, little Elva,
All to this foreign land!
“Thanks to thee, wild wood-raven!
Fly o’er the land amain,
And when a year is past and gone
Then come thou here again.”
Fly o’er the land amain,
And when a year is past and gone
Then come thou here again.”
He went, the wild wood-raven,
Flew o’er the land amain,
And when a year was past and gone
He came to them again.
Flew o’er the land amain,
And when a year was past and gone
He came to them again.
It was the wild wood-raven,
Upon the tower perched he—
“Hast thou forgotten, Elva,
The gift thou shalt give to me?”
Upon the tower perched he—
“Hast thou forgotten, Elva,
The gift thou shalt give to me?”
“Now wrap him in the linen white,
The little babe I bore!
Take him, thou wild wood-raven—
His mother he’ll see no more.”
The little babe I bore!
Take him, thou wild wood-raven—
His mother he’ll see no more.”
He’s pierced him in the lily breast,
And drunk the hot heart’s blood—
Then rose the raven as fair a knight
As e’er in the country stood.
And drunk the hot heart’s blood—
Then rose the raven as fair a knight
As e’er in the country stood.
AN OWER-TRUE TALE
So merry the knights were sitting
Around the queen’s own board—
Many a laugh was among them,
And many a waggish word.
(Under the lindens, there will I bide.)
Around the queen’s own board—
Many a laugh was among them,
And many a waggish word.
(Under the lindens, there will I bide.)
No word of the kirk was spoken,
And never a word of the cloister,
But many a word of the ladies
Who had fair maids to foster.
And never a word of the cloister,
But many a word of the ladies
Who had fair maids to foster.
“I will have a maiden
Who can both broider and sew;
I will not have a maiden
Goes gadding to and fro.
Who can both broider and sew;
I will not have a maiden
Goes gadding to and fro.
“I will have a maiden
Who well can spread the board;
I will not have a maiden
Too ready with her word.”
Who well can spread the board;
I will not have a maiden
Too ready with her word.”
Silent sat all the maidens,
And never spoke a word;
All save the youngest maiden,
Stood at the queen’s own board.
And never spoke a word;
All save the youngest maiden,
Stood at the queen’s own board.
“If I so old were waxen
That my maiden days were over,
So help me God in Heaven!
Thou shouldst not be my lover.
That my maiden days were over,
So help me God in Heaven!
Thou shouldst not be my lover.
“I must bide in my bower ...
I can both broider and sew—
Thou wouldst mount thy gallant steed,
Go gadding to and fro.
I can both broider and sew—
Thou wouldst mount thy gallant steed,
Go gadding to and fro.
“I must bide in my bower ...
Right well can I spread my board—
Thou in the Thing wouldst be standing,
And wasting full many a word.
Right well can I spread my board—
Thou in the Thing wouldst be standing,
And wasting full many a word.
“I must bide in my bower,
A-guiding my household gear—
Thou wouldst be sitting ’mid lords and knights,
Nor holding thy tongue for fear.”
A-guiding my household gear—
Thou wouldst be sitting ’mid lords and knights,
Nor holding thy tongue for fear.”
Up he stood, Sir Peter,
So ready with his tongue—
“Lo! I have found the self-same maid
That I had sought so long!”
So ready with his tongue—
“Lo! I have found the self-same maid
That I had sought so long!”
Merry were all the maidens
That goodly game to see;
The queen she gave the maid away,
Sir Peter’s bride to be!
That goodly game to see;
The queen she gave the maid away,
Sir Peter’s bride to be!
THE WOOING OF RANIL JONSON
Ranil bade saddle his steed so free—
“The wealthy Margrave I’ll go see,
Tho’ I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
“The wealthy Margrave I’ll go see,
Tho’ I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
Sir Ranil rode into the courtyard fair,
There stood the Margrave, wrapped all in vair.
(Lo! I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.)
There stood the Margrave, wrapped all in vair.
(Lo! I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.)
“There standest thou, Margrave, in furs so fine!
Give me now Kirsten, true love o’ mine,
For sorely am I severed from friends and kinsmen.”
Give me now Kirsten, true love o’ mine,
For sorely am I severed from friends and kinsmen.”
Up spake her mother, who loved her so dear—
“Never a sweetheart shalt thou have here,
Since thou art severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
“Never a sweetheart shalt thou have here,
Since thou art severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
“If ye refuse me my heart’s desire
All that ye have I will burn with fire,
Since I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
All that ye have I will burn with fire,
Since I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
“All that I have wilt thou burn with fire?
Then ride thou away with thy heart’s desire,
Tho’ thou art severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
Then ride thou away with thy heart’s desire,
Tho’ thou art severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
They wrapped her in a cloak of red,
And lifted her on to Ranil’s steed,
Tho’ he was severed both from friends and kinsmen.
And lifted her on to Ranil’s steed,
Tho’ he was severed both from friends and kinsmen.
Nought for their bridal bower they found
But the wood and the wild and the low green ground—
So sorely was he severed from friends and kinsmen.
But the wood and the wild and the low green ground—
So sorely was he severed from friends and kinsmen.
“If King Eric thou hadst not slain,
In the fair castles we might have lain—
Now we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
In the fair castles we might have lain—
Now we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
He struck her on the brow so fair—
“One should order one’s words when guests are there,
Now we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
“One should order one’s words when guests are there,
Now we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”
He struck her on the cheek so red—
“I never wished King Eric dead,
Altho’ I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.
“I never wished King Eric dead,
Altho’ I am severed both from friends and kinsmen.