"Why thus clay-bedaubed thy jacket,
Merry son of mine?"10
"Steeds kept stamping, steeds kept stamping,
O dear mother mine."
"But how came thy sword so bloody,
Merry son of mine?"
"I have stabbed my only brother,15
O dear mother mine."
"Whither wilt thou now betake thee,
Merry son of mine?"
"Far away to foreign countries,
O dear mother mine."20
"Where leav'st thou thy gray-haired father,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let him chop wood in the forest,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine."25
"Where leav'st thou thy gray-haired mother,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let her sit, her flax a-picking,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine."30
"Where leav'st thou thy wife so youthful,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let her deck her, take another,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine."35
"Where leav'st thou thy son so youthful,
Merry son of mine?"
"He to school, and bear the rod there,
[Never wish to see me more,]
"Where leav'st thou thy youthful daughter,
Merry son of mine?"
"She to the wood and eat wild berries,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine."45