Young Swaigder: or, The Force of Runes, and Other Ballads

His ship to the shore he steers;
And the first man there that met him,
Was a man of many years.

It was then the ancient man
Was the first to make enquire:
“O, what is the name of the young swain
With the sword, and the look of fire?”

“O, he is hight young Swaigder,
So wide his fame doth fly;
And he for a maid is pining sore
On whom he ne’er set eye.”

“There is within this land a maid,
Who pining long hath been
For a swain that hight is Swaigder,
And him she ne’er has seen.”

“If longs she after a young swain
On whom she ne’er set eye,
And he is hight young Swaigder,
He is here in verity.

“Now do thou hear, thou ancient man,
If it as thou sayest be,
Become I King upon this land,
I’ll make a Count of thee.”

“’Midst of yonder verdant wood
Stands the castle of the maid;
The house is of gray marble stone,
The court with steel belaid.

“The house is of grey marble stone
The court with steel is floored,
The portal is of ruddy gold,
Twelve bears before it guard.

“In middle of the maiden’s court
A linden spreads its shade,
If truly thou art Swaigder,
Hie forward unafraid.”

Away then rode young Swaigder,
Cast towards the gate his eye;
And all the locks that before it hung,
Down fell they instantly.

Then withered the leaf, then withered the linden,
And the grass at the linden’s root;
And the twelve bears who the portal guard
They fell at the hero’s foot.

When he came into the castle-court,
He smoothèd his array,
Then proudly up to the high, high hall
To the King he took his way.

“Hail to thee, hail to thee, heathen King,
Who dost at the wide board sit,
Wilt thou give me thy daughter fair?
Return me an answer fit.”

“I have no daughter, I have no daughter,
No daughter but one have I;
And she so sorely longing
For a young swain doth lie.

“For a young swain whom she has never seen
My daughter longing lies;
The swain he hight is Swaigder,
So far his fame it hies.”

In went the little serving boy,
Wore a kirtle white to see:
“If thou dost long for Swaigder,
Know that hither come is he.”

In then came the lovely maid,
In white silk clad was she:
“Now welcome, welcome my dearest heart,
Young Swaigder, welcome be!”

“Wilt thou consent baptized to be,
And the Christian faith receive,
And follow me to Denmark
With young Swaigder to live?”

“Willingly I baptized will be,
Will the Christian faith receive;
And will follow thee to Denmark,
Young Swaigder, with thee to live.”

On a Thursday she baptizèd was,
She the Christian faith received;
On a Sunday they their bridal held,
And ever in peace they lived.

They kept their bridal feast for a day,