Ebbe Galt

In Holding sit the King's men all,
And drink till dawn of day.
Among them sits young Ebb Gait,
And dearly his freak will pay.

He rose from wine, young Ebbd Gait,
And rode through Rosenshaw,
And there in a luckless hour for both
A farmer's wife he saw.

"List now! Thou pretty farmer's wife,
"Show me the way to town,
"I'll give thee gold, and a handsome gift,
"A gay new Lundish gown."

Aye, Sir, you seem so gently bred
The way I'll gladly show.
"How much I fear these drunken men!
"God help me, while we go!")

But when he reached the farmer's house,
From bad he grew to worse,
He beat them all, and outraged heaven,
So foully did he curse.

The farmer's wife went to and fro,
For best of meat and drink,
But what for her he had in view,
Was bad as one can think.

With spurs he tore her trembling limbs,
He dragg'd her by the hair;
Had not the ale his master been,
Such deeds did he not dare.

"And now you've had your will of me,
"To both our loss and shame,
"I pray by all that's good above
"You tell me what's your name."

"The horse I ride is dapple-gray,
"My cloak is striped with blue,
"My men have call'd me Ebb. Gait
"Since service first I knew."

Back to his home from Sessions house
The honest farmer came.
And met in tears and bitter grief
Poor Gundelille, his dame.

"On me there's fall'n a foul disgrace,
"While you were still away;
"And never, come what luck there will,
"Shall I forget the day.

"I went across to Rosenshaw
"Our pretty foals to house,
"And there on horseback met a knight
"All heated from carouse.

"My hair he seized, and dragged me down,
"And wrought me greater shame;
"No more may I your wife be call'd,
"No longer bear your name."

He clasp'd her in his arms again.
And tapp'd her pallid face;
"My own dear wife you still shall be,
"To you 'tis no disgrace."

The honest farmer went to court
To tell his sad distress;
"My wife has been most foully used
"And here I seek redress."

Wroth was the Danish king thereat,
And grasp'd his glittering knife;
"If here he serves who did thee wrong,
"This deed shall cost his life.

"Good farmer, hear me, honest man,
"All in thy coat of gray;
"The youth who did thy wife this wrong,
"His name I bid thee say.

"His name then I will not conceal,
"One all too widely known;
"He bears the name of Ebb Gait,
"Is serving near thy throne."

Full sad was then the Danish king,
And black as earth his face;
"Ebbe, the grief that fills my heart
"No time will ever chase.

"And is it thou, my sister's son,
"Has done this lawless deed?
"I rather had lost the half my realm,
"Than death for it decreed."

Then summoned up the Danish King
His nephew, Ebb Gait;
"Come forward thou, my sister's son,
"Disprove or own thy fault."

And forward stepp'd young Ebbe Gait,
So bold of speech was he;
"Bring thou thy housewife here to court,
"She'll not complain of me."

The honest farmer turn'd his head,
And look'd along the hill;
"Here comes astride her dapple gray
"My housewife Gundelille."

"You know that when, Sir Ebb Gait,
"You came with us to dine,
"I pour'd you with unsparing hand
"The best of mead and wine.

"The sparkling ale, the luscious mead
"I gave your men and you;
"To treat our guests with hearty cheer
"My husband's wish I knew.

"I spread for you a bed of silk,
"As suits a noble knight,
"And show'd you in to sleep thereon
"With tapers burning bright.

"I with my children went to rest,
"As I was wont to do,
"And well you know, Sir Ebbe Gait,
"You broke the door in two.

"My five poor faithful waiting maids
"Are ill from blows you gave,
"And three my best and bravest swains,
"Are dead and in their grave."

Uprose Sir Peter, Ebbe's sire,
A hero strong and bold;
"I bid my horse for Ebb's life,
"And a thousand marks of gold"

But answered him the Danish king,
"For judgement here he stood;
"I'd give myself thee thousand marks,
"Release him if I cou'd.

"iVe sworn to pass a righteous doom,
"To heaven I dare not lie;
"The woman he has foully used,
"This instant he shall die."

"Ha!" said the young Sir Ebb, Gait,
The while he passed the Queen;
"I should not so regret my life,
"Had she but fairer been."

"What?" answer she with royal grace,
"What was the wife to thee?
"And had her face been black or white,
"Thou should'st have let her be."

They led the handsome Ebb Gait
Away to the bushy field.
And off his shoulders chopped his head,
And laid it on his shield.