From oral tradition, in Erk's Deutscher Leiderhort, p. 6. Our homely translation is, as far as possible, word for word. Other German versions are The Stepmother, at p. 5 of the same collection, (or Uhland, i. 272,) and Grandmother Adder-cook, at p. 7. The last is translated by Jamieson, Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 320.
"Where hast thou been away so long,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"O I have been at my true-love's,
Lady mother, ah me!
My young life,5
She has poisoned for me."
"What gave she thee to eat,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She cooked me a speckled fish,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.10
"And how many pieces cut she thee,
Henry my dearest son?"
"She cut three little pieces from it,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"Where left she then the third piece,15
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She gave it to her dark-brown dog,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"And what befell the dark-brown dog,
Henry, my dearest son?"20
"His belly burst in the midst in two,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"What wishest thou for thy father,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish him a thousandfold boon and blessing,25
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"What wishest thou for thy mother,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish for her eternal bliss,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.30
"What wishest thou for thy true-love,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish her eternal hell and torment,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.