She has taken the babe, and in linen white
Hath wrapped it tenderly;
“Farewell, farewell, my dearest son,
Thou owest thy death to me.”
Then bore they out the little babe,
On its mother’s breast that lay;
O’er the cheeks of all did big tears fall,
Such woe was and wail that day.
The Raven took the child in his claw,
He croaked in joyous guise;
Sir Nilaus stood and looked thereon,
Pouring forth bitter sighs.
Then tore he amain its right eye out,
Drank the half of its heart’s red blood;
Then he became the handsomest knight
That upon earth e’er stood.
He changed into the loveliest knight
That with eye man ever had seen:
It was Irmindlin’s brother himself,
Who had long enchanted been.
All the folk that stood thereby,
They fell upon their knees bare;
And the child it was to life restored
When to God they had made their prayer.
Now sitteth Dame Irmindlin so glad,
All her grief has from her hied;
For she has now both brother and son,
And sleeps by Sir Nilaus’ side.
THE COUNT OF VENDEL’S
DAUGHTER
Within a bower the womb I left,
’Midst dames and maids who stood to aid;
They wrapped me first in silken weft,
And next in scarlet red array’d.
But a stepdame soon ’twas my lot to get,
And fierce and wild she proved to me;
Within a coffer me she set,
And pushed it out upon the sea.