The Dalby Bear, and Other Ballads

Sir Tygge out of the window look’d,
The brooks ran boisterously;
“To ride out now would bring me woe,
So dear no bride I’ll buy.

“But hear thou, Nilaus Benditson,
Long shanks has thy good steed;
I beg for the love of the God above
You’ll fetch my bride with speed.”

Then answer’d Nilaus Benditson,
In his sleeve thus answer’d he:
“If me thou dispatch thy bride to fetch
I’ll trick thee certainly.”

It was Nilaus Benditson,
He rode the bride to meet;
There hung silk sheen and sendal green
Before his courser’s feet.

They clad themselves in silken cloth,
And in cloth of gold beside;
In long array to the Kirk their way
They took with the youthful bride.

The bride before the holy Kirk door
Like a blooming rose did stand;
Oft did she turn to the water, to learn
If the bridegroom was at hand.

Then answer’d Nilaus Benditson,
He stood by the bride so close:
“The brooks so roar’d that to cross the ford
He fear’d would wet his hose.”

They plac’d the bride on the bridal bench
With pomp and honor high;
Oft would they turn to the water to learn
If the bridegroom bold drew nigh.

In the silver cup they skink the ale,
And the nut-brown mead they pour;
Thus things they sped till day was fled,
And until of bed the hour.

They lifted up the youthful bride,
In the bride-bed her they set;
And there sat she for hours three,
There came no bridegroom yet.

The priests before the bride-bed stood,
And sang with all their might:
“Who in the bed in the bridegroom’s stead
Shall sleep with the bride tonight?”

Then forth stepp’d Nilaus Benditson,
His lac’d shoe off flung he:
“With the bride so bright I’ll sleep tonight,
And give her my troth with glee.”

So they the bridal solemnized,
And glad themselves they made;
At home was then Tygge Hermandsen,
To cross the brooks afraid.

It chanc’d upon a Wednesday,
The waters began to fall;
Across came then Tygge Hermandsen
With his gay bridesmen all.

And he came to the bridal house
Where the feast was spread in state,
Then up and cried the youthful bride:
“Ride back, you come too late.”

“Now hear, thou beauteous Sidselil,
I’ve this to complain of thee,
That thou hast ta’en another swain
And broke thy troth with me.”

“Now hear, thou Tygge Hermandsen,
Thou might’st have been aware,
I would disdain to wed the swain
To wet his feet had fear.

“If thou hadst been a Lady’s swain,
And hadst thou lov’d me true,
With thy sword’s stroke thou wouldst have broke
Thy way through the billows blue.”

“To the cloyster I’ll myself betake,
And the monkish vow I’ll swear;
For good or ill, proud Sidselil,
I’ll never more come here.”

“But if hereby thy way shall lie
When the brooks shall calmly run,
If cheeses two in my store I view
In thy sack I’ll drop thee one.” [1 - She taunts him with the idea of his becoming a monk, and going about with a sack begging for alms.]