Knight Stig's Death

Uprose the Danish King and spake;
"Knight Stig, my banner thou shalt take/'

"Too young am I, too weak my hand
"To bear your flag to foreign land."

"Young as thou art, yet do thy best,
"And front the foe with dauntless breast."

"If then your banner I must take,
"A new and bright one let me make.

"Behind it's yellow blue and red
"Falls battling many a warrior dead."

They march'd away to a foreign land;
The banner never left his hand.

Like hay the pelting arrows sped,
And lighted on his sleeve so red.

They glared bright as a burning brand,
They lighted on his very hand.

Then spake the king; "Stig, quit the strife;
"Throw down the banner; save thy life."

"Never shall hear my bride in town,
"That the king's banner I threw down.

"Never shall hear my bride on land,
That the king's banner left my hand."

"Ha!" cries the king in grief and pain,
"Stig lies beneath the banner slain."

The king with glory won the fight,
But lost his life the gallant knight.

The king rais'd high his royal hand;
"Our Danish men have gain'd the land:

"How gladly rode I home again,
"Were but Knight Stig amid the train!"

The King came back, rode up the street,
And him his sister went to meet.

"Welcome, my brother, home from war!
"O say how fared ye all afar?"

"All to my wishes; all went well;
"But that afield thy bridegroom fell."

The maid her hands so wildly wrung.
Her rings across the benches sprung.

"My sister, hark! thy grief control,
"And thine shall be the rich Sir Cole."

"Nay," said the lady, "nay," said she,
"Never shall he have claim on me.

"The rich Sir Cole he may be hight,
"He's not like Stig my gallant knight.

"He in my arms shall never sleep,
"For Stig, Knight Stig, I'll daily weep.

"He at my side shall never lie,
"For Stig, Knight Stig, I'll daily sigh/'