SWAYNE FELDING
Swayne Felding sits at Helsingborg,
He tells his deeds with pride;
Full blythe at heart I ween he was,
His faulchion at his side.
He vows that he on pilgrimage
To regal Rome will go;
And many a Danish warrior bold
Doth make the self same vow.
So out they rode from Danish land,
And only two were they;
They stopped to rest them in a town,
Its name was Hovdingsey.
They stopped to rest in a lofty town,
Its name was Hovdingsey;
They guested with a Damsel proud,
A wondrous lovely may.
She placed Swayne highest at the board
Amidst a knightly band;
And then wherefrom they two were come
The Damsel did demand.
“Thou art no needy pilgrim, Sir,
Who honorest us this eve;
And that can I by thy small shirt
Hooked with red gold perceive.
“O I can plain by thy small shirt
With red gold hooked discern,
Thou art the King of Denmark come
To do us a noble turn.”
“I am not Denmark’s King, fair maid,
Nor any thing so high;
I’m but a needy pilgrim, born
Within the Dane country.
“Now list to me thou Damsel fair,
List kindly I beseech,
There’s many a child in Denmark born,
And with his own luck each.”