“I hear the red cock crowing
I’ the mirk so grey,
And all the doors are opening—
I must away.
“I hear the black cock crowing
In the farm-stead—
And I must to the kirkyard
With all the dead.”
Up stood the knight Sir Aager,
His coffin took again:
He went his way to the kirkyard
With mickle pain.
Up she rose, proud Elsa,
Sad was her mood—
She followed him, her own true love,
To the dark wood.
When through the wood they wended
To kirkyard fair,
Wan it grew and faded,
His goodly golden hair.
“Behold thou up in heaven
The stars so bright!
There mayst thou see so soothly
How goes the night.”
She saw them up in heaven,
The stars so fair;
Down in the earth the dead man sank
Ere she was ’ware.
Home went the lady Elsa,
With care so cold—
On Monday thereafter
Lay she i’ the mould.