“Ere he shall gain my betrothèd may,
I’ll have with that Duke a bloody fray.”
His cloak of sable he o’er him throws,
And unto Sir Sallemand’s hall he goes.
He took the shining chess-table of gold,
And into the high hall strode he bold.
“Is there any man this hall within,
Who at chess with me a game can win?
“Who a game at chess can skilfully play,
And win a foreigner’s gold away?”
All then sate so hushed and still,
None save May Thure would prove their skill.
But Damsel Thure, she answered free:
“Yes, I will at chess-table play with thee.”
May Thure covered her golden head,
And unto her father she is sped.
“Here thou sitt’st and drink’st wine from the shell,
And may I sit down at chess-table?
“At the table a game of chess to play,
Will help to beguile the longsome day.”