“Hail, hail to thee, dear Mother mine,
What counsel now canst thou award me?
I’ve long wooed Valborg, damsel fine,
But, ah! she deigns not to regard me.
“I proffered hand, I proffered land,
For the proud maiden’s acceptation;
But she loves Axel, and will stand
By him, that was her declaration.”
“If Valborg has on him bestowed
Her troth, to keep it is her duty;
There’s many a maid in Norway broad,
My son, of noble birth and beauty.”
“Ah! yes, of maids there’s many a one
Abounding both in wealth and graces;
But ah! so fair as Valborg none,
Or who such virtue bright possesses.”
“Thou canst not gain the maid by force,
For that were crying shame and scandal;
Shouldst thou to weapons have recourse
His sword Sir Axel well can handle.”
Then Hogen grew so wroth in mood,
And as in wrath he left his mother
Before him his confessor stood,
Was called Canute, the sable brother.
“Why goes my Lord with face of gloom,
And whither, whither is he roving?
If any ill is o’er him come
O let him tell his servant loving.”
“Misfortune’s come too hard to bear,
Beneath its heavy weight I cower;
Betrothed has Axel Valborg fair,
To gain her is beyond my power.”
“Though Axel to the maid aspires
There’s matter shall prevent their mating;
Within the house of sable friars
Are papers to their birth relating.
“They’re children of relations near,
Of knightly race renowned and stately;
Unto the fountain them did bear
One Dame, she died at Hoiborg lately.