Ellen Ove's Daughter

'Twas Ellen, Ove's daughter fair,
Was theme of every tale.
Nor that for all her heaps of gold,
Or fields of hill and dale.

'Twas not for all her heaps of gold,
Or grassy meads so fair.
But that at court so much was praised
The beauty of Ellen's hair.

Sir Magnus call'd his men, and bade,
His horse be duly drest;
"I'll ride across to Verslevsgard,
"And be fair Ellen's guest."

To learn with truth how matters stood
He ask'd at Sailing sound;
"Say, is Sir Ove now at home,
"Or on some foreign ground?"

Then answer'd him the ferryman,
And so began his say;
"Sir Ove is now no more at home,
"He left it yesterday."

Sir Magnus rode to the churchyard stile;
And there his horse he bound.
And hasted off on foot to church,
As best the way he found.

There stood the fair young maidens all,
Each at her mother's side;
But Ove's daughter stood alone.
And dropp'd a tear and sigh'd.

Sir Magnus stepp'd across a bench,
Stepp'd over two and three;
"Ellen, Ove's daughter, rise,
"And plight your troth to me."

"Nay!" answer'd him the maiden fair,
While tears bedew'd her face;
"I'm only Ellen's waiting maid,
"Of very humble race.

"These hose my mistress lent to me,
"And eke this pair of shoes;
"She lent me too my crown of gold;
"Her trust I'll not abuse."

She stripped a ring from off her hand,
And the aged parson fee/d;
"Now do, by all that's good above,
"Your longest lesson read."

While at the altar step she stood,
Her crown of gold she wore,
But in a coarse grey woollen hood
She pass'd the outer door.

Soon as she reached the churchyard gate,
She loos'd her lover's steed,
And rode him off to Sallingsound,
And, sooth, at fullest speed.

Amaz'd Sir Magnus stared about.
As he from church withdrew;
For off was Ove's daughter fair.
And what was he to do?

"While I delay'd so long at Mass
"To hear that droning priest,
"Has Ove's daughter, Ellen, flown,
"And stolen my trusty beast."

When Ellen came to Sallingsound,
"Up ferryman!" she cried,
"This money take, and good round gift,
"And off to the other side."

When half the Sound they had rowed across
She loosed her flowing hair;
"Sir Magnus, hark! this twelvemonth yet
"Thy hed I shall not share."

But when on the other bank she stood,
Her hat she gaily waved;
"Farewell, Sir Magnus, fare thee well,
"I've now my honour saved."