III.
THE CHILD'S LAST WILL.

Den lillas Testamente: Svenska Folk-Visor, iii. 13. Translated in Literature and Romance of Northern Europe, i. 265. See also Arwidsson's Fornsånger, ii. 90.

"So long where hast thou tarried,
Little daughter dear?"
"I have tarried with my old nurse,
Sweet step-mother mine."
For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah!5

"What gave she thee for dinner,
Little daughter dear?"
"A few small speckled fishes,
Sweet step-mother mine."
For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah!10

"What didst thou do with the fish-bones,
Little daughter dear?"
"Gave them to the beagle,
Sweet step-mother mine."
For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah!15

"What wish leav'st thou thy father,
Little daughter dear?"
"The blessedness of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."

For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah!20

"What wish leav'st thou thy mother,
Little daughter dear?"
"All the joys of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."
For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah!25