DAGMAR
Sick in Ribe Dagmar’s lying,
Soon she’ll be in Ringsted’s wall;
All the Dames in Denmark dwelling
Unto her she bids them call.
“Fetch me four, fetch five, I pray ye,
Fetch me those for wisdom famed;
Fetch Sir Carl of Haves’ sister,
Little Kirstine is she named.
“Fetch the old, and fetch the youthful,
Fetch the learned unto me;
Fetch the lovely little Kirstine,
Worthy all respect is she.
“Canst thou read and write, my darling?
Canst thou ease the pains I bear?
Thou shalt ride upon my coursers,
And the ruddy scarlet wear.”
“Could I read and write, my lady,
Blythely I would do the same;
Thy pains are than iron harder,
’Tis with grief I that proclaim.”
’Twas the lovely little Kirstine,
Took the book and read a space—
“Ah, thy pains than steel are harder,
God Almighty help thy case!”
THE ELF BRIDE [21]
There was a youthful swain one day
Did ted the new mown grass;
There came a gay and lovely may
From out the nigh morass.
Clad in a dress of silk was she,
Green as the leaves which deck the tree,
Her head so winsomely to see
With bulrush plaited was.
That lass he wooed, his suit she heeds,
And married are the pair;
To bridal bed his wife he leads—
But what befell him there?