Young Swennendal

And it was he, young Swennendal,
Would play with golden ball,
And drove it into the maiden's bower,
And paled her cheeks withal.

"Hark thee! throw not, young Swennendal,
"Thy golden ball at me;
"There dwells a maid in Hovensland,
"Is longing after thee.

"No rest shall ease thy weary limbs,
"No slumber close thine eyes,
"Till thou hast freed that lovely maid
"From trance, wherein she lies."

Young Swennendal could rest no more,
But round him wrapped his cloak,
And mounting up to the upper room
His troopers thus bespoke.

"Sit here, my men, and quaff at board
"The wine and luscious mead;
"But I to Goliat cave must go,
"To ask my mother rede."

Alone he went, young Swennendal,
And wrapped him in his gear.
And took his way to Goliat cave
His mother's rede to hear.

And there did he, young Swennendal,
Beat on his mother's mound,
Till walls and stones and beams and grave
Were crumbling all around.

"Who is it here disturbs my sleep?
"Who deals these heavy blows?
"And may I not in peaceful sleep
"E'en in my grave repose?

"Who is it here? who beats so hard
"And seeks to give me pain?
"What not beneath the marble tomb
"In peace may I remain?'

"Young Swennendal, thy youngest son,
"'Tis I, my mother dear;
"And I have come to Goliat cave
"Counsel of thee to hear.

"he maid in a spell has bound me fast,
"And this her cruel vow;
"That rest no more shall ease my limbs,
"Nor slumber cool my brow."

"And spell-bound has the maiden thee?
"Made she this vow indeed?
"Three gifts then I'll on thee bestow,
"Shall serve thee in thy need.

"I'll give thee first a stout grey horse,
"And faithful he'll be found;
"He tramps as well on ocean wave
"As on the 'solid ground.

"I'll give thee too a sword of gold,
"Gird it upon thy side,
"And, where thou journey est in the world,
"In safety thou shalt ride.

"I'll give thee too a golden key,
"Its name is Adelring,
"Use but that key, and every lock
"Shall open to thee spring.

"I'll give thee too a table-cloth
"Spun of the moorgrass wool;
"Desire whatever meat thou wilt,
"With that it shall be full."

Young Swennendal he journey M forth,
And found a little lane;
A herdsman there his cattle drove
To pasture on the plain.

"O tell me. Herdsman, honest man,
"What now I ask of thee;
"To whom belongs the mighty herd,
"Thou drivest o'er the lea?"

"These cattle," said that aged man,
"That on the pasture run,
"Are all the maid's at Hovensland,
"Whom knight has never won."

"And tell me, Herdsman, honest man,
"What now I ask of thee;,
"If thou dost know that lady's fetch,
"Conceal it not from me."

"The lady's fetch right well I know,
"But never will reveal,
"For if her secret I betray,
"Her anger I shall feel."

"If thou the lady's fetch dost know,
"Conceal it not from me;
"If I become this country's king,
"I'll make a count of thee."

"Eight lions watch her night and day,
"Nine grisly bears beside;
"And only on an Elfin horse
"May any near them ride."

"If Elfin horse can help me hero,
"For that I do not lack;
"I've brought with me an Elfin horse,
"I'm sitting on his back/'

"The portals are of marble stone,
"The locks of steely plate,
"And only with an Elfin key
"Can any through the gate."

"If Elfin key is all I want,
"Then through the gate can I,
"For this is e'en an Elfin key,
"Is hanging on my thigh."

As through the gate young Swennendal
And up the courtyard went,
Lowly the bears and lions crouch'd.
And linden humbly bent.

From window loop the lady peered
To see the novel sight;
"Eat whence then is he hither come?
"And who, this handsome knight?"

Her little page the lady call'd,
The truth she longed to know;
"Ask, whence is come the handsome knight,
"And why he halts below."

But answered thus young Swennendal;
"The Lady of Hovensland
"Must hither come to hear the truth,
"Herself before me stand/'

So came the lady of Hovensland,
Herself before him stood;
"And whence has come this handsome knight?
"Why cross'd the briny flood?"

"It is from Denmark's isle I'm come
"To this your foreign clime,.
"To see the lady of Hovensland,
"And how she spends her time."

"And art thou come from Denmarks isle?
"Then prithee let me hear,
"How fares the brave young Swennendal,
"The youth to me so dear?"

"And is it then young Swennendal,
"Who is to you so dear?
"None else than he, young Swennendal,
"Is with you halting here."

And there was costly velvet cloth
And silk and sindal spread,
When Swennendal the gentle maid
To bridal banquet led.

Five days they held the marriage feast,
And wine they gladly pour'd,
And there was he the aged man
The uppermost at board.