It was gallant Danneved,
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.
“Stand up, now, lady mother,
And pour for us the wine!
For I will give him, little boy Trust,
The hand of sister mine.”
Ne’er shall I speak good Danish!
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.)
There danced knights with shining sword—
“None of them all is worth a word!”
Proud was the Princess, thus did she say,
That heard the merman under water that lay.
Up stood the merman; thus spake he:
“Perchance the king’s daughter will wed with me.”
He shaped him garments all glimmering;
He called him Sir Alfast, son of a king.