But straight they took the little Sir Alf,
And gyves to his legs they fastened;
And away, away to Helsingborg,
With the captive Alf they hastened.
“Now take little Alf to the chamber high,
To the hall of the regal tower,
That the Queen at her ease, and her maids, if they please.
May behold this thief of power.”
Then up and spake the Danish Queen,
On first little Alf espying:
“The man that I see cannot surely be he,
Whose fame through the world is flying.”
“Though I of stature be little and mean,
I’ve every manly talent,
And ne’er wilt thou bear thy lord an heir,
Half, half so good and gallant.
“I’d give my mantle with roses red,
And lilies flowered over,
If I might sleep one night with thee,
And play the ardent lover.
“If I one night with thee might sleep,
None knowing but thy maid servant,
For then, I ween, thou would’st beg, fair Queen,
For my pardon in accents fervent.”
Then answered him the Danish Queen,
As she struck the board with vigour:
“To-morrow, ere folk to breakfast go,
On a gibbet thou shalt figure!”
“Why hang’st thou not Ivor of Holsterbro,
And Canute of Sonderboro?
They were thieves like me, but they slept with thee,
And their death would have caused thee sorrow.”
Then they took away the little Sir Alf
From the hall of the regal tower;
For the beauteous Queen and her ladies had seen
Enough of this thief of power.
They led the little Count Sir Alf
Out East from Helsing city;
With contrite breast he his sins confess’d,
And to God he cried for pity.