To her eldest daughter she turned her eye;
And were I only young again!
“Go call Swayne Dyring instantly”—
To honied words we list so fain.
And when Swayne Dyring before her stood,
And were I only young again!
She spake to him thus in wrathful mood—
To honied words we list so fain.
“I left behind both ale and bread;
And were I only young again!
My children with hunger are nearly dead—
To honied words we list so fain.
“I left behind me bolsters blue;
And were I only young again!
Upon bare straw my babes I view—
To honied words we list so fain.
“I left behind the big wax light;
And were I only young again!
My children lie in the murk at night—
To honied words we list so fain.
“If again I’m forced to seek thee here,
And were I only young again!
Befall thee shall a fate so drear—
To honied words we list so fain.
“But hark! the ruddy cock has crow’d,
And were I only young again!
The dead must return to their abode—
To honied words we list so fain.
“I hear, I hear the black cock crow;
And were I only young again!
The gates of heaven are opening now—
To honied words we list so fain.
The white cock claps his wings so wide,
And were I only young again!
No longer here I dare to bide”—
To honied words we list so fain.
Each time the dogs began to yell,
And were I only young again!
They gave the children bread and ale—
To honied words we list so fain.