WARRIOR BALLADS AND BALLADS OF MAGIC

6
Now Havbor let his locks wax long
And did on woman's gear,
And so he rode to Denmark
As though he a maiden were.
7
Oh his cloak he changed in the castle-garth
All for the scarlet fair,
And forth to the ladies bower he went
To seek proud Signe there.
8
"Here sittest thou, stately Signelil,
With matrons and maids arow!
Havbor hath sent me hither
To learn to broider and sew."
9
"Now all the woman's craft I know
Shall be for thee displayed,
Shalt eat with me from the selfsame dish,
And sleep with my serving-maid."
10
"Oh I have lain with King's children,
And slept in their arms by night,
And must I sleep with thy serving-maid
I shall die of the sore despite."
11
"Now lithe and listen, fair maid, to thee
Shall no such ill betide,
Thou shalt eat with me from the selfsame dish,
And slumber by my side."
12
He's ta'en a knife so small and fine,
And cut as best he could,
He's shaped them out, both hart and hind,
That run in good greenwood.

13
Still sat all the dainty dames
And sewed their seams aright,
All save Havbor the Prince, and he
His needle still did bite.
14
Up and spake the serving-maid,
So evil a tongue had she:
"Oh, never saw I so poor a scam
Sewn by a fair ladye!
15
"Ever her needle is in her mouth,
She sets no stitches fine,
And still she drinketh the goblet out
So fast as they pour the wine.
16
"Ne'er have I seen a lady's hands
Suffer than steel, I trow.
Nor ever beheld so bold an eye
Under a lady's brow."
17
"Now hold thy peace, thou evil maid.
Let all thy prating be!
Let me turn mine eyes where'er I may
I'll turn them not on thee."
18
Now all were bound to slumber
Whenas the even was spent.
And Havbor with proud Signelil
To the selfsame chamber went.
19
Her hand she laid on Havbor's breast
That shone with gold so red:
"Why hast thou a bosom so like a man's,
And not the breasts of a maid?"

20
"Oh 'tis use and wont in my father's realm
That maids to the Thing must fare,
And therefore have I no woman's breasts
Because of the mail we bear.
21
"Now tell to me, proud Signelil,
Whilst we be all alone,
Is there ever a wight in all the world
Hast laid thy love upon?"
22
"Nay, there's never a wight in all the world
That lies my heart within,
Save only Havbor the King's fair son,
And him I ne'er can win."
23
"And is it Havbor in very truth
That to thy heart is dear,
Then turn thee hither, mine own fair love,
He lieth all so near!"
24
"And art thou Havbor the King's fair son,
Why hast thou shamed me?
Why didst not ride to my father's hold
With hawk on hand so free?"
25
"Oh, how should I ride to your father's hold
With hawk on hand so free?
Hath he not vowed, as well I know,
To hang me on gallows-tree?"
26
"Now hush thee, Havbor, hush thee,
And take thou heed, I pray!
My serving-maid lies waking
And listens to all we say."

27
"And doth she lie and listen,
Thine evil serving-maid?
'Neath my bolster blue lie hidden
Both byrnie and trusty blade.
28
"Beneath my bolster lie hidden
My byrnie and blade so true,
And were a hundred warriors here
The meeting they well might rue!"
29
Now she stood nearby to hear and spy,
That evil serving-maid,
And she stole away his byrnie brown,
And stole his trusty blade.
30
Both trusty blade and byrnie brown
She secretly stole away,
And she hied in haste to the chamber
All where King Sivord lay.
31
"Now sleep ye, wake ye, my noble Lord?
Nay, your slumber is all too deep,
For now lies Havbor the King's fair son
By Signelil's side asleep."
32
Now hold thy peace, thou evil maid,
For an thou art a liar,
Tomorrow or e'er the sun goes down
Thou shalt be burnt with fire!"
33
"Now harken and hear, King Sivord,
Well may ye trust my sword,
Behold, here is Havbor's byrnie brown,
All with his trusty sword!"

34
Forth he sprang, King Sivord,
And cried though bower and hall;
"Now up, now up, my merry men,
And don your byrnies all!
35
"Now don your mail, my merry men,
And clasp it well enough,
For here is Havbor the King's fair son,
A warrior tall and tough!"
36
Oh they have knocked at the chamber-door
With glaive and eke with spear:
"Come forth now, Havbor, Havbor,
Come forth and meet us here!"
37
Up sprang Havbor the King's fair son
Or ever they spake the word,
And gone I ween was his byrnie brown,
All with his trusty sword.
38
"Oh gone, gone is my byrnie,
And gone my blade so true,
Now by my troth, proud Signelil,
This meeting we shall rue!"
39
All hail to Havbor the King's fair son,
Who fought like a warrior stout.!
Ne'er could his foes come nigh him
Whilst the boards of the bed held out.
40
And some he slew with naked hands,
And some underfoot did tread,
Full thirty of King Sivord's men
By Signil's bower lay dead.

41
They've taken him, Havbor the King's fair son,
Fetters on him they draw, He burst them all asunder As though they had been of straw.
42
Now shame be on the serving-maid
That gave them counsel there:
"Never shall ye bind Havbor
Save with proud Signil's hair!"
43
They took a hair of Signil's head
To bind him foot and hand,
His haughty heart would have broken
Before he burst that band.
44
"Now lithe and listen, Signelil,
Wouldst show thy love to me,
Then burn thy bower and all therein
When they hang me to a tree!"
45
"Oh, is there a man of my father's men
That in thy death hath part,
Be sure I will avenge his deed
All on his own sweetheart!"
46
Up spake Havbor the King's fair son,
When first he saw the tree:
"Hang up my cloak of scarlet red,
A sign for all to see!
47
"Hang up my cloak of scarlet
That is both fair and fine,
The ladies all will weep and wail
When first they see the sign."

48
It was stately Signelil
To roof and reed set fire,
Both she and all her maidens
Burned m the selfsame pyre.
49
Long stood doughty Havbor
To look his last on land,
Until he saw proud Signil's bower
That all in flame did stand.
50
"Take down, take down my cloak of red,
That well its task hath done,
For had I now ten thousand lives,
I would not ask for one!"
51
Up and spake King Sivord
That looked and needs must speak:
"Oh, what is the bale that burns so red
All with the driving reek?"
52
Up spake the little foot-page,
And fast his tears did fall:
' 'Tis the deed of stately Signelil
That shows her love to all."
53
"Save her, save her. Signelil,
Ride ye in haste and run.
Hie ye in haste to the gallows
And save King Havbor's son."
54
When they came to the bower
Signelil's soul was sped.
When they came to the gallows
Havbor was hanged and dead.

55
"Now had I known but yesternight
How deep in love were they,
Not for all Denmark had I done
What I have done this day!"
56
Now woe is me for the gallows-tree
And the bower in ashes laid/
They buried her in the earth alive,
The cruel serving-maid.
 

2

ALF OF ODDERSKERRY

1
Now Alf dwells up in Odderskerry
With store of the red, red gold,
And two fair sons and tall had he,
Were known for warriors bold.
But now drives the storm o'er the white sands to north-

ward.

2
Now Alf dwells up in Odderskerry
With sons of great renown,
And both would woo the King's daughter
That rules o'er Opsal town.
3
It was the doughty Helmer Kamp
Bade saddle his steed so free:
"Now forth to Opsal will I fare
The Princess proud to see."
4
It was doughty Angelfyr
Bade saddle his steed of pride:
"What though the earth be rent beneath,
To Opsal will I ride!"

5
They donned their cloaks of scarlet
Beside the castle door,
And entered in the high-loft
To stand the King before.
6
In came doughty Helmer Kamp
And stood the board beside:
"O King, give me thy daughter fair,
For I will not be denied!"
7
In came doughty Angelfyr,
With shining sword in hand:
"Sir King, give me thy daughter fair,
And get thee from thy land!"
8
Long stood the King of Opsal
And thought, and thought again,
What answer should be given
Unto those champions twain.
9
It was the King of Opsal
Made answer good or ill:
"No man shall have my daughter
Save with her own good-will."
10
"Now thanks, now thanks, dear father mine,
That leav'st the word to me!
'Tis Helmer Kamp I fain would wed,
So true a man is he.
11
"For Angelfyr, that is half a troll,
Shall wed no Christian bride,
The troll is in his parents twain,
And half his kin beside."

12
Up and spake young Angelfyr
That came of wizard kin:
"Forth to the garth and fight with me,
The maiden's hand to win!"
13
Up stood the King of Opsal
That straight did speak and say:
"Brave are the words and keen the swords,
Ye well may prove their play.'"
14
Now Alf he stood in Odderskerry,
And looked o'er hill and glade,
And long gave ear, and still did hear
The clash of blade on blade.
15
If was Alf of Odderskerry
Sprang on his courser red,
And straight rode forth to the castle-garth
Or ever his sons fell dead.
16
"Now lithe and listen, young Helmer Kamp,
Thou dear-loved son of mine,
Say, why dost guide thy sword so ill
All with that hand of thine?"
17
'Oh, seven deadly wounds have ?
That are so deep and sore,
Had I but one of them, I wis,
I could not live an hour."
l8
It was Alf of Odderskerry
Tore up au oak amain,
And struck young Angelfyr to earth,
Ne' er to rise up again.

"Lie there, lie there, young Angelfyr,
And shed thy life-blood all!
So sore the smart that pierced my heart
When I saw Helmer fall."

1
Three maidens sit in a bovver,
Two broider with gold,
The third she weeps her own true-love
Under darksome mould,
For her troth to him was plighted.
2
It was the knight Sir Aage
That rode by land and lea,
He loved the lady Elselil,
So fair was she.
3
He wooed the lady Elselil
With gifts and gold.
On Monday thereafter
He lay in the mould.
4
Sore wept the lady Elselil
With wellaway,
That heard the knight Sir Aage.
Low where he lav.

5
Up stood the knight Sir Aage,
His coffin black he bore,
With mickle toil and trouble
He sought her door.
6
He knocked there with his coffin,
No cloak had he:
"Rise up, thou lady Elselil,
Open to me!"
7
Up spake the lady Elselil,
With tears spake she:
"Canst thou name the name of Jesu
I'll
open to thee!"
8
"Rise up, thou lady Elselil,
Open thy door/
I can name the name of Jesu
As ever I could of yore."
9
Up stood the lady Elselil
In dule and dread.
So opened she the bower door,
Let in the dead.
10
She took her golden comb
To smooth his hair,
For every lock she ordered
Down fell a tear.
11
"Now lithe and list, Sir Aage,
Dearest love mine,
How goes it under mirk and mould
in grave of thine?"

12
"So goes it under darksome mould
Where I am laid,
As in the happy realm of Heaven,
Therefore be glad."
13
"Lithe and list, Sir Aage,
Dearest love mine,
Fain would I lie 'neath mirk and mould
In grave of thine."
14
"So goes it under darksome mould
There where I rest,
As in the blackest depths of Hell!
Cross thou thy breast.
15
"For every tear thou lettest fall
in mournful mood,
Adown into my grave doth drip
A drop of blood.
16
"Up above my head
The green grass grows,
Down about my feet
The dark worm goes
17
"But when a song thou singest
All in delight,
Then all my darksome grave is hung
With roses red and white.
18
"Now in the darksome entry
The black cocks crow,
And all the doors are opening,
Forth must I go.

19
"And now the white cock croweth
In the high hall,
To earth I now betake me
With dead men all.
20
"Now croweth on the high-loft
The cock so red.
And I must back to earth again
With all the dead."
21
Up stood the knight Sir Aage.
His coffin took once more.
Forth fared he to the kirkyard
With travail sore.
22
Up stood the lady Elselil,
In mournful mood,
To follow him, her own true-love.
Through the green wood.
23
And when they came to the kirkyard
With toil and care,
Wan it grew and faded,
His godly golden hair.
24
"Behold now up in Heaven
The stars so bright!
There mayst thou see full surely
How goes the night.
25
She saw the stars a-shining
In Heaven so blue.
Down in the earth the dead man sank
Or e'er she knew.

26
Home went the lady Elselil
With care so cold,
And when a moon was over
Lay she in the mould.

1
Oh, seventy-seven twice told were they
When out from Hald they went,
And when they came to Brattingsborg
They pitched full many a tent.
There sounds thunder the captains under when they ride
forth,
2
King Isung stands on watchtower high,
And looks forth far and wide:
"Oh, little care for their lives have they
That hither list to ride!
3
"Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,
Hast wandered far afield,
What warriors are these who bear
Each one his golden shield?"
4
"There shineth on the foremost shield
A lion all so bold,
Didrik the King doth bear that sign
With crown of the red, red gold.

5
"And shining on the second shield
Hammer and tongs are seen,
For Vidrik Verlandson, who slays
And brings no prisoner in.
6
"And on the third shield shining see
A worm in fetters bound,
That beareth Master Hildebrand,
Cunning in counsel found.
7
"And on the fourth shield see where shines
A leafy linden-tree,
That beareth the lad young Humlunger,
Earl Hornbook's son is he.
8
"There shineth on the following shield
A wolf that roams the Ulf van Jœrn the young,
Who is a warrior bold.
9
"And on the sixth shield, red and grim
A vulture shineth still,
The crest of Helled Haagen,
Who ne'er can slay his fill.
10
"And see, the seventh shining shield
Viol and bow doth keep,
And that bears Folkvar Fiddle-man,
Would liefer drink than sleep.
11
"And on the eighth an elephant
Is pictured with a swain,
The bearing of Detlev Danske
That swings his sword amain.

12
All on the ninth shield shining, see,
A swarthy eagle shows,
The crest of young Sir Raadengaard,
Full many a rune who knows.
13
"And on the tenth shield see where shine
Two arrows wan and white,
The bearer, Hvitting Hermandson,
Is foremost still in fight.
14
"There shines on the eleventh shield
Nought but a burning brand,
That bears Sir Brand Vidfœrling
Throughout all lordlings' land.
15
"And on the twelfth shield shining see
A monkish cowl of grey,
For Brother Alsing aye is fain
To follow to the fray."
16
"Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,
Thou warrior bold and free,
Shalt fight with one of Didrik's men
For all my land and me!"
17
Up stood Sivord Snarensvend,
And to the tents he hied:
"Now is there ever a warrior stout
A joust with me will ride?"
18
Now on the board they cast the dice
They cast them far and wide.
And the lot fell on young Humlunger
That fateful joust to ride.

19
It was he, young Humlunger,
That did to Vidrik speed:
"I'll give thee a pledge to hold if thou
Wilt lend me Skemming thy steed!"
20
"Oh, Sivord sees not the point of his spear
Because his sight is dim,
And if my Skemming gets scathe today
No pledge will pay for him."
21
"But I, I have a sister,
The mirror of maidens all,
And if thy Skemming gets scathe today
I'll pay it her hand withal."
22
"Oh, nought of Skemming thou'lt see today
But for surety true and tried:
Seven castles in Birtingsland,
And thy sister fair beside!"
23
"Seven castles in Birtingsland
Shall to thy forfeit fall,
And therewith the maid my sister.
Most precious pledge of all."
24
Now he has backed that steed so bold,
And merrily ridden his way,
Goodsooth but Skemming thought it strange
To feel the spurs that day!
25
The red gold shone upon his shield
Lite sun in summer-tide:
"God help me now, a simple swain,
The brunt to bear and bide!"

26
The first course that they run together
Would neither champion yield,
And both their shields were shattered there,
And hurled so far afield.
27
"Methinks thou art a bold young swain
That well can run and ride,
Go now and take thy shield again,
And I the brunt will bide."
28
But when they ran the second course
The younger knight must yield,
For Humlunger was smitten sore
And hurled so far afield.
29
"Now have I struck thee down to earth
And won thy steed so free,
But who thou art and whence thou art
? pray thee tell to me!"
30
"Oh, Hornbook hight my father
In Birtingsland is lord,
And I am called young Humlunger
Whenas I ride abroad."
31
"Full well I knew thy father.
For comrades kind we were,
Now take thy shield and mount again,
Son of my sister dear!
32
"And take the thongs from off my shield,
Bind me to oaken-tree,
Then ride and tell the champions all
The game was won by thee."

33
Forth to the tents fared Humlunger,
Cast brand upon the board:
"Now have I bound the greybeard carle
That spoke the vaunting word!"
54
"Now hold thy peace, young Humlunger,
That needs must prate thy fill!
Didst thou hind Sivord Snarensvend
'Twas with his own good-will."
35
It was Vidrik Verlandson
Bade saddle his courser free:
"Now will I fare to the forest
This conquered carle to see!"
36
Now Sivord all in greenwood bower
Saw where the knight did ride,
Up by its roots he reft the oak,
For he would not in bonds abide.
37
Up by the roots he reft the oak.
For in bonds he would not bide:
"Comes Vidrik here, methinks he'll tear
My ribs from out my side!"
38
The Queen stood up in the high-loft
And looked both up and down:
"Lo, here comes Sivord Snarensvend
A-bearing summer to town!
39
The Queen looked forth with her ladies
All from her lofty bower:
"Sivord hath been in good greenwood,
And gathered a gallant flower!"

40
Gay went the round by Brattingsborg
Where champions danced amain,
There danced with oak-tree in his belt
Sivord the purblind swain!
 

5

HOLGER DANSKE AND STOUT DIDRIK

5

1
Stout Didrik dwells in Berneland
With brethren eight all told,
And each of them twelve sons hath got,
All doughty knights and bold.
But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.
2
Stout Didrik dwells in Berneland
With fifteen sisters bright,
And each of them hath twelve fair sons
That hold their lives full light.
3
And when they rode out all by Bern
A goodly host to see,
I say ye sooth, each warrior
Was tall as a beechen-tree.
4
"Now we have fought o'er all the world
And vanquished far and wide,
And news we hear of Holger Dansk
In Denmark doth abide.
5
"We have heard tell of Holger Dansk
That doth in Denmark bide,
And crowned is he with the red, red gold,
And ne'er will bate his pride."

6
Now Sverting seized a pike of steel,
And vaunted loud and high:
"An hundred of King Holger's men,
I count them not a fly!"
7
"Give heed, give heed, thou swarthy swain,
Or ever thou me the day!
We have heard tell of Holger's men,
And bold young blades are they."
8
Oh, then up spake tall Bermer-Ris,
And a vaunting word spate lie:
"Now will we up to Denmark,
And try if the King will flee!"
9
Now all with eighteen thousand steeds:
From Berneland they fare,
And they've drawn up to Denmark
To meet King Holger there.
10
Stout Didrik sent a messenger,
And bade King Holger yield
To pay him scot and lot for aye,
Or fight him in the field.
11
Up stood Vidrik Verlandson
And spake a word so stout:
'Now come they in to Denmark
They shall not thus go out!"


12
Oh, thus they met, a mighty host.
All on the swarthy heath.
And that was a woeful trysting-place
Where warrioirs fought till death.

13
They fought for a day, for twain they fought,
And stiff in stour did stand,
King Holger and his warriors bold
Slew many from Berneland.
14
Oh, mild of mood grew Bermer-Ris,
And softly spake he then:
"Now how shall we conquer Holger Dansk
With scarce one hundred men?"
15
It was doughty Bermer-Ris
Looked upward to the sky:
"Small help for us is here, I ween,
'Tis time to turn and fly!"
16
Stout Didrik took to both his legs
To fly o'er hill and dale,
And Sverting went the selfsame way
For all his boastful tale.
17
Up spake little Iron Wolf
That held the hill beside:
"Oh, they that are come to fight the Danes
Have little praise or pride!"
18
Oh, stern the stream of red, red blood
That ran o'er land and lea!
The reek of it rose up to heaven
Till the sun was red as blood to see.

7
Long 'twas not thereafter,
Or e'er five mouths were run,
The Queen lay down in the high-loft
And bore so fair a son.
8
Born was he at even
And christened the selfsame night,
They called him Germand Gladensvend
And fostered him while they might.
9
Now well he waxed and well he throve,
And well his steed could ride,
But when his mother looked on him
Full sore she wailed and cried.
10
"Now show me this, sweet mother mine,
What I shall ask of thee,
Why dost thou shed such bitter tears
Whene'er thou lookest on me?"
11
"Now harken, Germand Gladensvend,
Well may I weep for thee!
An unborn babe, thou wert given
To the fierce Troll of the sea."
12
"Now lithe and listen, sweet mother mine,
And cast thy cares away!
The weird that God hath laid on me
I'll dree as best I may."
13
All on a Thursday morning
When harvest did begin.
The door of the bower stood open wide,
And a fearsome voice came in.

14
Oh, there entered the Troll in vulture's shape,
And sat by that fair ladye:
"Hast thou forgotten, sweetheart mine,
The gift thou gavest me?"
15
She swore by God and man and all
Whereby could oath be sworn,
No son nor daughter in all the world
Was e'er of her body born.
16
With fearsome cry away did fiy
That grisly Troll and grim:
"But mine he is for aye, I wis,
Where'er I light on him!"
17
When fifteen years were past and gone
He loved, as did befall,
The King's fair daughter of Engeland,
Mirror of ladies all.
18
So sore he longed to seek her
As never a tongue might tell:
"Now give me thy leave, sweet mother mine,
To don the feather-fell!"
19
Oh, fast he flew o'er the billows blue
And over the low green ground,
But he heard the call of the grisly Troll
From out the midmost Sound.
20
"Now welcome, Germand Gladensvend,
Think not my power to scorn!
To me thy life was given
All as a babe unborn."

21
"Now let me fly 'twixt sea and sky
To find my bright ladye
Behold, when I turn homeward,
A tryst I'll hold with thee."
22
"My mark I'll set upon thee
Or e'er thou cross the main,
Whate'er thy plight 'mid squire and knight
I'll know thee once again."
23
Now his right eye the Troll struck out,
And of hearts' Wood drank his fill,
Yet on flew the swain in dule and pain
So strong was his steadfast will.
24
He perched on the beam of the ladies' bower
So bloody and wan to see,
And all the merry maidens there
Did cease their mirth and glee.
25
Little those merry maidens
Of woe so dire could dream,
But up she stood, fair Silverlad,
And cast down shears and seam.
26
She took a comb of silver
To smooth his shining hair,
For every lock she ordered
Down fell a bitter tear.
27
For every lock she ordered
She wept right bitterly,
She cursed and banned his mother
Who gave him that weird to dree.

28
"Now hush thee, hush thee, Silverlad,
Let no such words be thine,
She had no power in that past hour,
So weary a weird was mine."
29
Oh, high he flew in the feather-fell,
And swifter than the wind,
And it was the lady Silverlad
That followed close behind.
30
All the fowls of the air as she met them
She sundered in pieces three,
But mightier than all her magic
Was the grim Troll of the sea.
31
It was the lady Silverlad
Went flying o'er the strand,
And nought she found of her lover
Save only his right hand.

1
Sir Oluf rode by East and West
To bid his friends to his bridal-feast.
Gay goes the dance by the greenwood tree.
2
By the howe he took his way,
And there danced elf and fay.
3
By four and by five danced the blithesome band,
The Elf-King's daughter stretched out her hand.
4
The Elf-King's daughter spake up so free:
"And will Sir Oluf tread a measure with me?"

5
"I dare not, I may not the measure tread,
Tomorrow morn must I be wed."
6
"Oh, tread now a measure, Sir Oluf, with me!
Two buckskin boots will I give to thee,
7
"Boots that well beseem a knight,
With gilded spurs a-shining bright.
8
"Oh, tread now a measure, Sir Oluf, with me!
A silken kirtle I'll give to thee.
9
"A silken kirtle so fair and fine
That my mother bleached in the wan moonshine.'
10
"I may not, I dare not, the measure tread,
Tomorrow morn shall I be wed."
11
"Oh, tread now a measure, Sir Oluf, with me!
An orb of gold I'll give to thee."
12
"An orb of gold I fain would win,
But I may not dance with the fairy kin."
13
"And if thou wilt not dance with me,
Scathe and sickness shall follow thee!"
14
She struck him 'twixt his shoulders broad,
It pierced to his heart-roots like keenest sword.
15
She lifted him up on his steed of pride:
"Ride home. Sir Oluf, and seek thy bride!"
16
Slow did he ride to his castle door,
And it was his mother that stood before.

17
"Lithe now and list, Sir Oluf my son,
Why is thy cheek so white and wan?"
18
"Well may my cheek be wan and white,
I have seen the elf-maids' dance this night."
19
"Lithe now and list, dear son of mine,
What shall I say to true-love thine?"
20
"Shalt say I am in the mead
A-proving hound and steed."
21
All in the morning when dawned the day
The bride rode in with glad array.
22
They poured the mead, they poured the wine:
"But where is Sir Oluf, bridegroom mine?"
23
"Sir Oluf is in the mead
A-proving hound and steed."
24
"Loves he hound and steed so free
Better than he loveth me?"
25
Through house and hall in search she sped,
She found him laid upon his bed.
26
She lifted the mantle's fold.
There lay Sir Oluf, dead and cold.
27
She kissed him all in bridal bower,
She pined and died the selfsame hour.

1
Sir William and his plighted maid
(The string is all of gold)
All in her bower at dice they played.
So meltingly he harped before his maiden.
2
Whenas the dice dropped, one and all,
So many a tear did the maid let fall.
3
"Now dost thou weep o'er the gold so red,
Or weepest thou for that we shall wed?
4
"Dost weep that I lack both land and fee,
And deem me no fitting mate for thee?"
5
"I weep not o'er the gold so red,
And 'tis with my good-will we twain shall wed.
6
"I weep not for lack of land and fee,
And I deem thee a fitting mate for me.
7
"For Blide Bridge I cry
That I must pass thereby,
8
"For there they drowned, my sisters twain,
As they rode o'er with bridal train."

9
"Now weep not for that bridge of dread,
By all my swains shalt thou be sped.
10
"All my swains shall with thee ride,
A hundred gallants on either side.
11
"And this will I do to honour thee,
Twelve knights shall lead thy courser free."
12
He shod her steed with the gold so red,
And forth they fared to the bridge of dread.
13
But when they rode o'er the bridge eftsoon
Then stumbled her steed on the golden shoon.
14
From the golden shoe a nail was gone,
And down fell the maid in the water wan.
15
The knights they grasped at her saddle bow,
But they might not help the maiden so.
16
The maiden stretched forth her lily-white hand:
"My noble lord, now help me to land!"
17
"Call God and the Holy Ghost to aid,
For I cannot help thee, mine own true maid!"
18
Sir William cried to his page so bold:
"Now bring to me my harp of gold!"
19
Sir William took his harp in hand,
And went beside the stream to stand.
20
He played so soft and low,
No bird moved on the bough.

21
He played so loud and clear
'Twas heard both far and near.
22
From oaken-tree the bough was torn,
And from the lowing cow the horn.
23
The bark sprang from the birk,
And the vane from Our Lady's kirk.
24
So strong the spell, so sure the charm,
He played the bride from the Kelpie's arm.
25
Down to the deeps did William play,
Till the Kelpie rose to the light of day.
26
He rose up from beneath
With the maiden in his teeth.
27
And not alone his bride,
But both her sisters fair beside.
28
"Now William, take thy bride to thee,
But let me rule o'er my stream so free!"
29
"Right gladly I take my bride to me,
But ne'er shalt thou rule thy stream so free.
30
In the scarlet fair he lapped his bride,
And set her up on his steed of pride.
31
Now forth they fared o'er hill and dale,
And gaily they drank the blithe bridale.

 

9

SAINT OLAF AND THE TROLLS

1
It was Saint Olaf the King so bold
That ruled o'er Norroway;
He set his sail for Hornelummer,
The Trolls to seek and slay.
(Red as the ruddy gold the sun shines over Trondhjem.)
2
Saint Olaf built a bonnie ship,
And forth from land did fare:
"Now we will sail to Hornelummer,
And try our fortune there."
3
Up and spake the steersman bold
That on the lading stood:
" 'Tis no good haven by Hornelummer,
Because of the goblins' brood.
4
"For Are hight the ancient Troll
Hath dwelt there many a year,
Each ship so tall with crew and all
He draweth to his lair.
5
"For eyes hath he like a burning bale,
Full loudly doth he roar,
His nails stand out like the horns of buck
A good ell's length and more.
6
"A beard he hath like a stallion's mane
Hangs downward to his knee,
His tail runs out a hawser's length,
His claws are ill to see!"

7
Up and spake King Olaf
That swiftly sprung aboard:
"Now cast off rope and cable
In the name of God our Lord!"
8
Oh, on they sail and swift they sail,
With wind and tide they go,
Until they come to Hornelummer
To work the goblin's woe.
9
Now forth he fared, the Giant Troll,
All on the cliffs so steep,
And spied the Ox, that gallant ship,
A-sailing in the deep.
10
"Say, who is he, the overbold,
That to my realm dare steer?
I promise thee, thou Redbeard loon,
Thou shalt abye it dear!
11
"For never today or yesterday
Did good ship come to land,
But I could haul it into my hill
With the touch of a single hand."
12
"Now harken, Are, thou ancient Troll,
Let be thy longings all!
Cast off the rope and slip the chain,
And see what will befall."
13
Oh, he seized the Ox by stem and stern,
For an angry Troll was he,
And into the rock he sank adown
That held him to the knee.

14
"Here stand I sunken in the stone,
Here may I peak and pine,
Fain would I try a wrestling-bout
To prove that power o' thine!"
15
"Now hold thy peace, thou goblin grim,
Be stone from top to toe!
Shalt bide there till the Day of Doom,
And work no Christian woe!"
16
Now forth she fared and loud she roared,
The Troll-Wife old and grim,
But Saint Olaf bade her flee afar
And do no wrong to him.
17
Her neck she reared, and forth she peered,
And loud she roared and cried,
But Saint Olaf all with a word of power
Hath bidden her still to bide.
18
Then up and spake the little trolls
That sat within the hill:
"No word we hear from our mother dear,
Perchance she fareth ill.
19
"Perchance 'tis he, that Redbeard loon,
That harried our race so long,
But little his boot when we are afoot
With iron stake and prong!"
20
Up and spake Saint Olaf the King,
And a merry jest spoke he:
"Be each and all like stone and wall,
And good shall your gathering be!"

21
Now such was the hap at Hornelummer,
That ne'er was seen of yore,
He closed with that wall the mountain all,
And left it ne'er a door.
22
Up and spake the smallest troll,
And loud did he wail, I wis:
"We have raised ere now on our shoulders broad
A higher hill than this!"
23
Now tail and head in haste they laid
To draw the hill adown,
And they were broken to pieces small,
And crushed from heel to crown.
24
Now thanks to Saint Olaf our King and Lord
That did this mighty deed!
Now all men may fare to Hornelummer,
And well doth their sailing speed.

1
The King did a Mermaid catch and keep,
(The Mermaids all a-playing)
And chained her in a dungeon deep,
His will was no gainsaying.
2
The Queen she spake to her pages three:
"Now pray the Mermaiden to speak with me!"
3
In came the Mermaid and stood by the board:
"What wilt thou, oh Queen, that thou sentest me word?'

The cushion of blue she smoothed and pressed:
"Tarry now, Mermaid, and take thy rest!"
5
"Wilt thou by leasing take my life?
Beneath lies hidden a whetted knife!"
6
"Knowest thou that, then knowest thou more,
Tell what the future hath in store!"
7
"Three sons of thee shall soon be born,
But thy young life is lost and lorn.
8
"Denmark the first shall have and hold,
The second shall wear a crown of gold.
9
"The third shall be so great on earth
That thou must die to give him birth."
10
She decked the Mermaid with pomp and pride,
She led her to the strand with all her maids beside.
11
Out swam the Mermaid into the deep,
But ever the Queen so sore did weep.
12
"Now weep not for words thou didst hear from me,
The gates of Heaven stand open for thee!"
11

2
"Harken, Agnes, fair and fine,
Wilt thou he true-love of mine?"
5
"Yea, goodsooth, that will I be,
Canst thou bear me down into the depths of the sea."
4
Her ears he closed, her mouth he bound,
And bore her down through the sea to ground.
5
She dwelt with the Merman eight years and more,
Seven fair sons to him she bore.
6
Agnes she sat by the cradle and sang,
And she heard how the bells of England rang.
7
She to the Merman did speak and say:
"May I go up in the kirk to pray?"
8
"Thou hast my leave to go withal,
But see thou come back to thy children small!
9
"When through the kirkyard thou dost fare
Then see thou let not down thy shining golden hair.
10
"And when thou enterest in the door
Then sit by thy mother's.side no more.
11
"When the priest names the Name of dread
Then bow not down thy head."
12
Her ears he closed, her mouth he bound.
And bore her again to English ground.
13
When through the kirkyard she did fare.
Oh. then did she let down her shining golden hail.

14
And when she entered in at the door,
She sat by her mother as of yore.
15
When the priest named the Name of dread,
Then she bowed down her head.
16
"Hark now and hear what I ask of thee,
Where hast thou been eight years away from me?"
17
"I dwelt with the Merman eight years and more,
Seven fair sons to him I bore."
18
"Harken, dear daughter, and fear no blame,
What did he give for thy maiden fame?"
19
"He gave me a ring of golden sheen,
Never a better one has the Queen.
20
"Of golden shoon he gave me a pair,
Never a better the Queen might wear.
21
"He gave me a harp of gold to play,
That I might touch the strings to wile my cares away."
22
The Merman made him a path so straight
Up from the strand to the kirkyard gate.
23
In at the door the Menman hied.
And all the holy images they turned their heads aside.
24
Like purest gold was his shining hair,
His eyes were full of sorrow and care.
25
"Heed now, Agnes, what I say to thee!
All thy little children are longing after thee."

26
"Let them long as they will, let their longing be sore,
I shall return to them never more."
2" "Oh, think on the grown ones, and think of the small!
Of the baby in the cradle think most of all."
28
"I think not of the grown ones, nor yet of the small,
Of the baby in the cradle I'll think least of all."

1
The mother to her son did say:
(In the greenwood)
"The little hind thou shalt not slay,
That bears the band of gold.
2
"Mayst slay the hart and shoot the doe,
But the little hind must thou let go."
3
Sir Peter rode in greenwood bound,
And the little hind played before his hound.
4
The little hind sported his feet before,
And he thought on his mother's words no more.
5
He spanned his crossbow with hand and knee,
And shot the hind beside a tree.
6
His gloves from off his hands he drew
To flay the hind without ado.
7
Her neck he flayed, and there
Was his sister's golden hair.

8
He found in her bosom cold
His sister's rings of gold.
9
in her side with sore affright
He found her hands so white.
10
His hunting-knife to the ground he threw:
"Now has my mother's tale come true!"
11
Cold on the river falleth the rime,
There is luck for the lad who can take it in time.
12
Far the crane flieth up in the sky.
Lucky the lad who from trouble can fly!

1
It was Nilus Erlandson
Rode forth the deer to take,
And there he saw the lily-white hind
That ran through hush and brake.
So the knight hath won his lady.
2
He chased her, Nilus Eilandson,
That longed for her so sore,
But swift was she, and still did flee
For three days' space and more.
3
Now snares he set in every path
Where'er a beast might go,
But all so wise was the lily-white hind
That he could not take her so.
4
Sir Nilus all through the greenwood
Rode on, and rode in vain;
His hounds loosed he by two, by three,
To run her down amain.
5
Now can she spy no way to fly,
So hot the hounds pursue,
Her shape she changed to a falcon fierce,
And aloft m the air she flew.
6
Her shape she changed to a falcon fleet,
And perched on a linden green,
All under the boughs Sir Nilus stood,
And sighed for toil and tone.
7
Sir Nilus hath ta'en his axe in hand
To fell the linden-tree,
When forth there sprang a forester
That smote the shaft in three.

8
"And wilt thou fell my father's wood
And all to do me wrong,
I promise thee. Nilus Erlandson.
That thou shalt rue it long!"
9
"Now let me fell this single tree.
This tree alone of thine.
For but I can take the falcon fell
I die of dule and pine!"
10
"Now hark and heed, thou fair young knight,
The counsel that I bring,
Ne'er shalt thon take her till she taste
The flesh of a tamèd thing!"
11
A gobbet he cut from his bleeding breast.
Right bitter pain he knew,
She flapped her wings and down she dropped,
And on the bait she flew.
12
She flapped her wings and down she flew,
And on the bait she fell,
And she changed her shape to the fairest maid
That ever a tongue might tell.
13
She stood in a sark of silk so red
Where the linden tree did blow,
And all in the arms of Sir Nilus
She told her weird of woe,
14
"Oh, I sat and broidered lily and rose
My father's board beside,
When in she came, my false stepdame,
Whose wrath was ill to bide,

15
"She shaped me all to a lily-white hind
To run in wild greenwood
And my seven maidens to seven grey wolves,
And bade them drink my blood."
16
The damsel stood 'neath the linden-tree,
And loosened her golden hair,
And thither came they that erst were wolves,
But now were maidens fair.
17
"Now thanks to thee, Nilus Erlandson!
Hast saved me from hurt and harm,
Never shalt thou seek slumber
But on my lily-white arm.
18
"Now thanks to thee, Nilus Erlandson,
Hast set my sorrow to rest!
Never shalt thou seek slumber
But on my lily-white breast."

3
"Oh, never shouldst thou venture
Thy ball to throw to me!
There lieth a maul in a far-off land
A-longing after thee.
4
"Now ne'er shalt thou seek slumber,
And never rest shalt know
Till thou hast loosed that lovely maid
That long hath lain in woe."
5
It was he, young Svejdal,
Wrapped him in cloak of vair,
And to the hall betook him
To seek his captains there.
6
"Now sit in peace, my captains,
And pledge your healths in mead,
Whiles I fare forth to the grave-mound
To ask my mother's rede!"
7
It was the swain young Svejdal
That loud did cry and call,
Till the marble-stone was rent and riven
And the mound was nigh to fall.
8
"Now who is this that waketh me
And calls with cry so bold?
May I not lie and sleep in peace
All under darksome mould?"
9
" 'Tis I, 'tis I, young Svejdal,
Only son of thine,
And all I ask is counsel
From thee, dear mother mine.

10
"My sister and my stepmother
Have made me peak and pine,
All for lovely lady
That ne'er I saw with eyne."
11
"A palfrey will I give thee
Shall serve thy need, I ween,
He can bear thee as well o'er the billows
As over the lea so green.
12
"A shining sword I'll give thee,
Was tempered in dragon's blood,
'Twill glow like a burning bale-fire
When thou ridest through darksome wood."
13
it was the swain young Svejdal
That spurred his steed so free,
Forth fared he through the mirkwood
And over the wide sea.
14
It was he, young Svejdal,
That rode 'twixt sea and land
And there he saw a herdsman
That drove his flock to the strand.
15
"Now lithe and list, good herdsman,
And speak thou sooth to me,
Who owneth all this goodly flock
Thou drivest by the sea?"
16
"Oh, there lieth a maid in this countrie
In sorest dule and pine,
All for a swain hight Svejdal
That ne'er she saw with eyne."

17
"And knowest thou where the maiden dwells
Them hide it not from me!
When I am King of all this land
A knight I'll make of thee."
18
"Oh, yonder under the linden-tree
My lady's hold is dight,
The walls are decked with the marble grey,
And the doors with the steel so bright.
19
"The walls are decked with the marble grey,
And the doors with steel laid o'er.
She hath not looked upon the sun
These seven long years and more.
20
"There lieth a bear by my lady's bower,
And a lion so fell to see,
But art thou Svejdal in very sooth
Thou shalt pass by them free."
21
Forth fared the swain voting Svejdal,
And to the door he went,
All the locks that held it
Were riven asunder and rent.
22
The bear and the lordly lion
They followed him from the door,
The linden with all its silvery leaves
Bowed down to earth before.
23
The linden bowed adown to earth
With every silvery leaf,
And up stood she, the damsel proud,
That long had lain in grief.

24
Up she waked, the damsel proud
That heard the spurs a-ringing:
"Now thanks to God in Heaven above
Who help to me is bringing!"
25
In went the swain young Svejdal
That was both young and fair,
Up stood the stately maiden
To hail his entrance there.
26
"Now welcome, welcome, Svejdal,
Thou noble lord of mine,
Praise be to God in Heaven
Hath loosed us from dule and pine!"

NOTE: This ballad brings down the story of Svipdag and Menglad from the peaks of Valhalla into the flowery meads of fairy tale. "There is a vast difference between the simplicity of the ballad and the stately measure and rhetorical pomp of the original:
"Svipdag is my name; Sunbright was my father's name.
The winds have driven me far along cold ways;
No one can gainsay the word of Fate
Though it be spoken to his own destruction.
"The difference is as great as that between the Ballad of The Marriage of Gawayne, and the same story as told in the Canterbury Tales; or the difference between Homer's way of describing the recovery of lifted cattle, and the Ballad of Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead."? W. P. Ker, Epic and Romance, Chap. II, Sec. 3.

 

15

THE GRIEFS OF HILLELILLE

1
In bower sat Hillelil,
(My grief knows none save God alone)
And sewed her seam so ill.
No living wight is there to whom I tell my woe.

· 124 ·

(⇒)

     

2
She sewed with silken thread
Where she should broider the gold so red.
3
The red gold did she choose
Where she the silk should use.
4
A With word unto the Queen they go,
How ill the maiden did broider and sew.
5
The Queen she donned her cloak of vair,
And to the high-loft straight did fare.
6
"Now lithe and listen, Hillelil,
Say wherefore dost sew thy seam so ill?
7
"Thus dost thou sit and sew thy seam
As one that turns from a joyous dream."
8
"Be seated, gracious dame, by me,
And all my woes will I tell to thee.
9
"My father ruled o'er tower and town,
My mother wore the queenly crown.
10
"My father showed me honour and praise
With twelve bold knights to ward my ways.
11
"But one among those gallants so free
Did lure my love and all from me,
12
"And he was hight Sir Hildebrand,
Son to the King of fair England.
13
"With gold we loaded two coursers grey,
And on the third we rode away.

· 125 ·

(⇒)

     

14
"We found at eventide
A place wherein to bide.
15
"At dead of night they smote the door,
My seven bold brethren stood before.
16
"Now Hildebrand kissed my cheeks so white:
'Name not my name, Oh heart's delight!
17
" 'What though my blood run red,
My name must ne'er be said.'
18
"Forth he leapt, Sir Hildebrand,
All with his doughty sword in hand.
19
"In the first onset straight did fall
My seven yellow-haired brethren all.
20
"And next he slew in wrath and ire
Twelve kinsfolk and the King my sire.
21
"Hildebrand, Hildebrand, stay thy sword,
Hold in the name of God our Lord!
22
"Oh, spare my youngest brother dear
To tell our mother the tidings drear!
23
"But ere those words of woe were said,
With seven sore wounds the knight fell dead.
24
"My brother seized my lily-white hand,
And bound me fast with saddle-band.
25
"He seized me by my golden hair,
To saddle-bow lie bound me there.

· 126 ·

(⇒)

     

26
"Ne'er was a stream so deep and wide
But his courser swam it from side to side.
27
"Never o'er stone so small we sped
But the blood of my foot would dye it red.
28
"But when we came to the castle door,
My woeful mother she stood before.
29
"My bell was the price they paid for me
My mother sold me for a slave.
30
"A bell was the price they paid for me
To hang in the kirk of Our Ladye.
31
"When first the bell rang out at morn
My mother's heart in twain was torn."
32
When she had told her sorrow and tene,
Dead she lay in the arms of the Queen.
33
When her tale was told and her sorrow was said,
At the Queen's side Hillelille lay dead.

NOTE: In early medieval times, the father whose daughter engaged in a love-affair without his consent was permitted by law to sell her as a thrall-woman. This custom died out during the twelfth century owing
to the increasing influence of the Church, and when the ballads were
composed it survived only as a far-away memory.

 

16

THE AVENGING SWORD

l
Sir Peter rode to the castle door, .
The King of Danes he stood before.
Forward, hurrah, ride forward!

· 127 ·

(⇒)

     

2
"Welcome, Sir Peter, comrade mine!
Hast thou avenged him, father thine?"
3
"Oh, I have been so southerly
Until the sun bowed down to me.
4
"And I have been so westerly
Until the sun sank near to me.
5
"And I have been so northerly
Until the frost was frore to see.
6
"And I have been so easterly
Until the day was fair to see.
7
"But never could I find the wight
To rede me my father's death aright."
8
"Now say what wilt thou give the wight
Can rede thee thy father's death aright?"
9
"Of silver he shall have his fill,
And of golden coin whate'er he will.
10
"Yea, more I'll give to him,
A ship in sailing-trim."
11
He smiled, the King, his words to heed:
"Here stand I that did the deed!
12
"By God in heaven, I tell thee true,
None but I thy father slew!"
13
Sir Peter smote himself on the breast:
"Heart, bide still, nor break thy rest!

· 128 ·

(⇒)

     

14
"Heart, lie still, bide patiently,
Sure and swift shall my vengeance be."
15
Sir Peter walked abroad
To speak with his good sword.
16
"Harken, sword so good!
Wilt drink thy fill of blood?
17
"Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I on earth but thee."
18
"Oh, say, how can I fight for thee?
My hilt is broken in pieces three."
19
To the Smith his way he wended
That the hurt might be amended.
20
He gave him iron, he gave him steel
Of proof and price, the hurt to heal.
21
"Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I on earth but thee."
22
"Be only in thy blows so stern
As I'll be swift in point to turn!
23
"Be only in thy blows so stout
As I in hilt will bear thee out!"
24
M Sir Peter sought the hall
Where the knights were drinking all.
25
To prove his brand he was full fain,
Seven champions there lay slain.

· 129 ·

(⇒)

     

26
Up and down he swung his blade,
Neither matron he spared nor maid.
27
Up through the rafters did he thrust,
The King and his sons they bit the dust.
28
Up spake the babe in cradle lay:
"A red revenge dost thou wreak today,
29
"A red revenge for father thine,
God give me a day for avenging mine!"
30
"And have I avenged him, father mine,
Shalt see no day for avenging thine!"
31
He seized the babe amain
And smote it straight in twain.
32
"Cease, brown brand, thy thirst to slake,
Bide thou still for Our Saviour's sake!"
33
Wearily whispered the sword and still:
"Fain of thy blood I'd have my fill!
34
"Hadst thou not named my name, I vow
I would have slain thee, here and now!"
35
He sought the Smith again,
Bade forge an iron chain.
36
In chains he bound him, foot and hand,
For now he fain would leave the land.
37
When o'er the grave of the King he passed
The chains of iron were riven and brast.

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