“O hush, Bishop Valdemar! nor let
Thy fury o’er thee reign;
Comst thou once more into Seaborough tower,
We ne’er shall meet again.”
But the Bishop could not stifle his wrath,
So the land he was forced to quit;
It grieved Queen Dagmar to the heart,
That he showed so little wit.
There was great joy over all Denmark
That Dagmar for Queen they had got;
Lived burger and boor in peace without
The plague of plough-tax and scot.
Christ bless the youthful Athelings two,
And lengthen their vital span,
That justice they may, and equity,
Do long in sight of man!
III. THE MERMAID’S PROPHECY.
The King he has caught the fair mermaid, and deep
( The mermaid dances the floor upon )
In the dungeon has placed her, to pine and to weep,
Because his will she had not done.
The Queen of the Danes addressed two of her band:
( The mermaid dances the floor upon )
“To come to my presence the mermaid command,
For my will by her it shall be done.”
The mermaid came in, to the Queen she up went:
( The mermaid dances the floor upon )
“What wilt thou, O Queen, that for me thou hast sent?
By me thy will can never be done.”
The Queen the blue cushion stroked down with a smile:
( The mermaid dances the floor upon )
“Sit down pretty mermaid and rest thee awhile,
My will by thee must now be done.”
“Why seek’st thou, O Queen, to betray my young life?
( The mermaid dances the floor upon )
For under that cushion is stuck a sharp knife,
By me thy will can never be done.”