When he came into the castle-court,
He smoothèd his array,
Then proudly up to the high, high hall
To the King he took his way.
“Hail to thee, hail to thee, heathen King,
Who dost at the wide board sit,
Wilt thou give me thy daughter fair?
Return me an answer fit.”
“I have no daughter, I have no daughter,
No daughter but one have I;
And she so sorely longing
For a young swain doth lie.
“For a young swain whom she has never seen
My daughter longing lies;
The swain he hight is Swaigder,
So far his fame it hies.”
In went the little serving boy,
Wore a kirtle white to see:
“If thou dost long for Swaigder,
Know that hither come is he.”
In then came the lovely maid,
In white silk clad was she:
“Now welcome, welcome my dearest heart,
Young Swaigder, welcome be!”
“Wilt thou consent baptized to be,
And the Christian faith receive,
And follow me to Denmark
With young Swaigder to live?”
“Willingly I baptized will be,
Will the Christian faith receive;
And will follow thee to Denmark,
Young Swaigder, with thee to live.”
On a Thursday she baptizèd was,
She the Christian faith received;
On a Sunday they their bridal held,
And ever in peace they lived.
They kept their bridal feast for a day,
They kept the same for nine;
And there sat waiting the ancient man,
And through all of them did pine.