King Waldemar's Suit to Dagmar

Sir Strang with Waldmar, Denmark's King,
Sat over the festive board:
Between them there passed in friendly chat
Full many a mirthful word.

"Get ready, Sir Strang, thy ship and crew
"To launch on the rising tide;
"For off to Bohemia thou shalt sail
"To fetch me my youthful bride."

"Good;" answered Sir Strange Ebbe's son,
"And warily spake he so,
"But if to Bohemia I shall sail,
"Who is there with me to go?"

"Sir Limbeck of Aggerliouse take with thee
"The first of thy gallant crow,
"And take the wealthy Sir Peter Glob,
"Knights both of them good and true.

"The bishop of Seeland also take
"So pious and deeply read;
"And take Sir Albert of Eskilsey
"So clever and courtly bred."

Sir Strange to go on board his ship
Went down to the river bank;
And walk'd beside him the king himself
And many a man of rank.

They loos'd their hawser, and tossed about
For se'nnights more then three,
But saw the Bohemian coast at last,
And glad were his men and he.

They furl'd their sail and their anchor dropped,
And hasted to leap on land;
Sir Strang( of all the gallant crew
Was first on the foreign strand.

Their herald they then before them sent
The news to the court to bring,
That they who had landed, the envoys were
Of Waldmar, the Danish king.

The King made answer that come they might
To make him their message known;
And where they passed to the audience hall.
Was silk on the pavement strown.

"My greeting,' great and glorious prince,
"The king of the Boiers' land!
"The king of Denmark has sent to you
"To sue for your daughter's hand."

The servants water and napkins brought,
And seated them all at board,
And rose from his chair the noble lord,
To answer. in kindly word.

He rose to meet them, the good old King,
He rose from his seat with grace,
And kindness was in his words and tone.
And beam'd in his worthy face.

Sir Strang told him in courtly phrase
The wish of the Danish king;
"And may we back to our Danish homo
"A gracious answer bring?"

"A gracious answer V surely give,
"Ye gallant good men and true;
"Sit down to the table, my knights, sit down,
"I'll give you the answer due."

The King he went to the ladies bower.
Would rede of the queen demand;
"Now here there are come the Danish lords
"To sue for our daughter's hand."

"If Waldmar, the Danish king, indeed
"Our daughter will have for bride,
"We'll give her to him the mighty man,
"And many a gift beside,"

They dress'd her with jewels of brightest gold.
And into the hall she came;
Sir Strang and she, this gentle maid,
Should seat them and play a game.

And into the hall a board they brought
With purest of gold bestrown,
That he Sir Strange might play with her,
And talk with her all alone.

And all on a chequer board of gold
Three times their game they tried;
Sir Strang he won the lovely maid,
And claim'd her for Waldmar's bride.

They brought her array'd in robe of silk
Again to the festive board;
"Behold the gentle and lovely maid
"We give to your Danish lord."

They brought her before the stranger knight
So courtly and brave and good.
And, rising, Sir Strange with due respect
Before the maiden stood.

And now as the hour of night drew on,
And twilight and darkness spread,
Sir Strang must rise and leave the board,
And follow the bride to bed.

"Now tell me, Sir Strang, and truly say,
"While here we are only two,
"Is he — is Waldmar, the Danish king,
"As handsome a man as you?"

Sir Strange he turned him towards the sun,
And solemnly made reply;
"Indeed, sweet Dagmar, the Danish king
"Is handsomer far than I."

They spread on the ground their silken robes,
And led her aboard the ship;
She wished her parents a long farewell,
And bade them the hawser slip.

And thus had the good Bohemian king
His daughter her duty taught;
"When thou to thy Danish realm art come,
"Be honour thy constant thought.

"In piety virtue and fear of God
"Let all thy life be spent,
"And ever thy subjects be in thy thoughts,
"Their hopes on thy care be bent."

They steer'd their vessel away from land.
They merrily plied their oars,
And sighted in less than two months time
Their native Danish shores.

They anchored, and Dagmar, the lovely maid.
So happily came to land,
As Waldmar himself, the Danish king.
Was riding along the strand.

"But tell me, Sir Strang Ebbeson,
"Ere yet to the quay we reach
"What one-eyed and squinting youth is that
"Is riding along the beach?"

"O softly, Dagmar, gracious maid,
"No ill of the rider say,
"For he is king of our Danish isles,
"And him do they all obey."

"Now light, Sir Strange, shame on thee,
"So speciously thou canst lie;
"Methinks yon rider, your Danish king, "
"Has only a single eye."

"O trust me, my fair and lovely maid,
"You ought to he glad and gay;
"Your lifelong never shall you regret
"The voyage we end today.

"For me, as long as I live and breathe,
"My faithfulness I will prove,
"And all the nobles of Denmark too
"Will serve you with equal love."

They drank the wedding in joy and peace.
And gaily they passed the day.
King Waldmar and Dagmar, the lovely queen,
As happy and blithe as they.

Aye, merry and glad were great and small,
The wealthy and eke the poor.
But chiefly with all their heart rejoiced
The burgher and honest boor.

All, all that in Denmark dwelt were glad,
Wherever the news was told,
And gave to Sir Strang precious gifts,
And treasure of ruddy gold.