“Where is the doughty champion
Yestre’en that talked so gay?
Let him now take the helm in hand,
For the anchor is reft away.
“Where is the doughty champion
That talked so loud last even?
Let him now take the helm in hand,
For the sail is rent and riven.
“Now we will cast the lots around,
And bide by heaven’s word;
Is there a man of evil life,
We’ll heave him overboard.”
And straight they cast the lots around
To see who worked them woe;
And the lot has fallen on good Sir John
All overboard to go.
“So far, so far from land are we,
With never a priest anear!
But I will make my shrift aloud,
And trust that God will hear.”
It was Sir John Remorsson
Fell on his bended knee,
And there he made his shrift aloud
Before the mainmast tree.
“Full many a wife have I beguiled,
And maidens bright of lee—
But never, ah never, good sooth, I thought
That I should die by sea!
“Many a maiden have I beguiled,
And many a loving wife—
But never, ah never, good sooth, I thought
That the sea would have my life!
“The merciful Christ in heaven above
I pray to pity me,
For well I wot my sinful soul
A heavy weird must dree.
“If ever a one of you comes to land,
And meets my love of yore,
Tell her to wed whene’er she may—
She’ll see my face no more.