The Queen and the Mermaid

The King he has got him a Mermaid caught,
She trips on the floor so gay,
And had her into the dungeon brought,
His will she would not obey.

The Queen two servants was heard to call,
"The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"Go, bring her to me to the castle hall,
"I'll make her my will obey."

In came the Mermaid before the board,
She trips on the floor so gay,
"What will you, my Queen? why send me word?
"I cannot your will obey."

The Queen with her hand the cushion press'd,
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"Come hither, and seat thee with me to rest,
"I'll have thee my will obey."

"What! is it your wish to take my life?"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"For under the cushion is hidden a knife,
"How should I your will obey?"

"If that thou knowest, thou knowest more,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"So tell me the fate for me in store,
"And prithee my will obey."

"Your fate, my Queen, if I knew and said,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"On blazing pile you would have me laid,
"Your will I fear to obey.

"You bear three children, three lovely boys,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"And you, their mother, your child destroys,
"And so your will I obey."

"If such is to be my own sad fate,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"Then tell me, what luck doth them await?
"And prithee my will obey."

"The sceptre of Denmark the one shall hold,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"The other shall wear a crown of gold,
"And so thy will I obey.

"The third shall be widely famed as wise,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"For him it is fated his mother dies,
"And so thy will I obey."

The Queen she veil'd her in purple cloak,
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
And went to the King in his room, and spoke;
Her will she had made her obey.

"My lord, my dearest, oh hear my prayer,
"The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"Now give her to me, so line and fair,
"I've made her my will obey."

"The Mermaid I give not up to thee,"
She trips on the floor so gay,
"Seven ships of mine she has drown'd at sea,
"And would not my will obey."

The Queen grew pale, she griev'd so sore.
The Mermaid is tripping so gay.
And fainting she fell on the chamber floor.
Her will she had made her obey.

"Oh think no more on the words I spake,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"But her to the sea with your ladies take,
"You've made her your will obey."

She dress'd the Mermaid in red and gold,
She trips on the floor so gay,
Although she had even her death foretold,
She made her her will obey.

And thus the Queen to her ladies spake,
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"The Mermaid down to the sea-shore take,
"I've made her my will obey."

They left her to sport on the billows blue,
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
The Queen she wept, and her ladies too.
She made her her will obey.

"Ah! cease your sorrow, and weep no more,"
She trips on the waves so" gay,
"For heaven has opened to you its door,
"And now your will I obey.

"Above is your dwelling among the blest,"
The Mermaid is tripping so gay,
"And comfort awaits you there, and rest,
"And so your will I obey."