About and around they danced with glee,
There stood the Queen and the whole did see.
The Queen she felt so sore aggrieved
When the King with Signil she perceived.
Sophia the Queen to her maid did sign:
“Go fetch me hither a horn of wine.”
His hand the King stretched forth so free:
“Wilt thou Sophia my partner be?”
“O I’ll not dance with thee, I vow,
Unless proud Signil pledge me now.”
The horn she raised to her lips, athirst,
The innocent heart in her bosom burst.
There stood King Valdemar pale as clay,
Stone dead at his feet the maiden lay.
“A fairer maid since I first drew breath
Ne’er came more guiltless to her death.”
For her wept woman and maid so sore,
To the Church her beauteous corse they bore.
But better with her it would have sped,
Had she but heard what her mother said.