“Stand up, thou lady Elsa!
Open thy door!
For I can name our Saviour
As I could before.”
Up stood she, lady Elsa,
With drearihead—
Straight opened she her bower door,
Let in the dead.
She took her golden comb
To comb his hair—
For every lock she ordered
Down fell a tear.
“Hear, thou knight Sir Aager,
Liefest love o’ mine!
How is it under darksome earth
In grave of thine?”
“So is it in the darksome earth
In my low bed,
As up in holy heaven,
Where all are glad.”
“Hear, thou knight Sir Aager,
Liefest love and dear!
Down with thee in darksome earth
Fain would I fare.”
“So is it in the darksome earth
Down where I dwell,
As it is grim and ghastly
In blackest hell.
“For every tear thou weepest
In woeful mood,
Into my coffin falls a drop
Of thy heart’s blood.
“Up above mine head
The green grass grows;
Down beside my feet
The wild worm goes.
“When thy mood is merry,
For each word said,
Out of my grave there springeth up
Roses red.