When he spoke to me, aye, or e’en drew near,
My spirit writhed with ruing.
[Clasping her hands.
And thus have I lived for three long years—
A life of sorrow, of unstanched tears!
Your coming was rumoured. You know full well
What pride deep down in my heart doth dwell.
I hid my anguish, I veiled my woe,
For you were the last that the truth must know.
Gudmund.