Down flew the lovely little bird,
Alighting on the sand;
The loveliest damsel she became,
And gave the youth her hand.
THE FORCED CONSENT
Within her own fair castelaye
There goes a damsel bright;
A whole year’s tide for her has sighed
A young and handsome knight.
“Now do thou hear, thou beauteous maid,
Could I thy troth obtain,
Then thou shouldst tread on silk outspread,
And ne’er on the earth again.
And do thou hear, my lovely maid,
My wedded lady be,
And the slightest care thou shalt not bear
If I can save it thee.”
“I’ve vowed an oath to Mary maid,
And to keep it is my plan;
Ne’er live will I beneath the sky
With any sinful man.
“Here with my seven brothers bold
To-morrow I will come;
Yourself array in costly way,
For you must follow us home.”
It was the young and handsome knight,
He out of the doorway springs;
And he in haste the Runes has traced,
And them on her lap she flings.
And so he cast the magic Rune
The maiden’s dress below;
Then beat her heart, and blood did start
From her finger nails I trow.
“If thou with thy seven brothers bold
To-morrow here wilt come,
Myself I’ll array in costly way
And follow ye to your home.”