Ebbe Skammelson

Northward in Thy Sir Skammel dwelt.
For wealth and goodness known;
Five sons had he, so courtly bred,
And two to manhood grown.

The one bight Ebbd Skammelson,
And Peter one, — the young;
A doleful story it is to hear,
The fate that o'er them hung.

Ebb laid saddle upon his horse,
And rode to an isle away,
And there betroth'd fair Adelaide,
A sweet and lovely may.

He won the gentle Adelaide,
A lily flower was she,
And brought her home to his mother's house,
And went himself to sea.

But first in the ladies lofty bower
He wish'd his bride adieu;
"While in the royal court I serve,
"Remain to your promise true.

"Wait for me, gentle Adelaide,
"Your honour keep in mind;
"Meanwhile I go to a distant land,
"A livelihood to find."

But while young Ebb serves at court.
And rank and fame pursues,
His brother Peter stays at home,
And her, his trulove, woos.

Ebbe he serves the king at court
To earn him gold and fee;
His brother Peter builds a ship
And rigs it out for sea.

His brother Peter builds a ship.
And ploughs the salty tide,
And steers across to North Jutland
To court his brother's bride.

And there young Peter Skammelson,
In scarlet cloak array'd,
Mounts to the ladies bower aloft.
Where sits that lovely maid.

"My greeting, gentle Adelaide!
"Your troth if me you'll plight,
"With love and honour all my days,
"Your favours I'll requite."

"How should I plight my love to you?
"Or share your house and land?
"Your brother Ebb, he it is,
"To whom I've pledged my hand.

"My vow to wait for eight whole years
"With all my kin I made;
"I will not marry another man,
"And that the King too bade."

"But," answer'd Peter Skammelson
In scarlet mantle dress'd;
"Ebb is in the royal court,
"And makes your love his jest."

Then up his cruel mother spake,
And evil rede she gave;
"Accept then Peter Skammelson,
"For Ebb he is a knave.

"Ebb is in the royal court,
"And glory wins and fame;
"And there's in the Queen's bower the maid,
"Is Ebb's latest flame.

"So take thou Peter, my younger son,
"With all his towers so red;
"For Ebb Skammelson, be sure,
"Another maid will wed."

"Nay hark thee, Peter Skammelson,
"Choose thee some other wife;
"I give no other man my troth,
"So long as he has life.'

"Hear then the truth in earnest tone
The mother so replied;
"Hear but the truth, fair Adelaide,
"Ebb last autumn died."

Then rose the maiden Adelaide,
As lily stalk so slim,
And Peter Skammelson betroth'd,
And gave her hand to him.

They hastened for the marriage feast
The luscious mead to brew.
While Ebb serv'd the king at court,
And nothing of it knew.

Ebb, when two months now were past,
At dead of night awoke,
And of the vivid reams he had dream'd,
He thus to his comrade spoke.

"It seemed that through my room of stone
"A glowing fire did glide,
"And there my brother Peter burn,
"And burn my lovely bride."

"Then surely, Ebbd Skammelson,
"Some trouble is near at hand,
"For when one dreams of blazing fire,
"It bodes a naked brand.

"Bat that it was thy room of stone
"All in a blaze of fire;
"That bodes that Peter Skammelson
"Betrothes thy heart's desire."

Up started Ebb Skammelson,
And braced his sword to side,
And sought the king, and furlough gain'd,
Home to his friends to ride.

In eager haste he mounted horse,
And he so swiftly flew,
A seven day's journey home from court,
The same he rode in two.

So well did Ebb time his speed,
As not to come too late.
The day they held their wedding feast
He reached his father's gate.

"Hark thee, and tell me, little page,
"What now I ask of thee;
"What means this joyous festival,
"And whence the company?"

"Here are the ladies met, Who dwell
"Along the North-sea shore,
"And their's are all these gilded wains,
"That halt at Skammel's door.

"They've dress'd and deck'd thy brother's bride,
"And therefore are they gay;
"Thy brother and gentle Adelaide
"Keep here their wedding day."

Outside stood Ebb's sisters two
With gold cups each in band:
"O welcome, Ebbe, brother dear,
"Back to your native land!"

Welcome so kind his sisters gave,
And rich rewards they won.
While e'en his parents stood aloof,
And welcome showed him none.

Buckle or brooch he gave them each
Of gold all richly wrought;
Gifts he had bravely earn'd at court,
And home to his trulove brought.

The one begg'd him at home to stay;
The other forth to go;
"If but one night thou stayest here,
"'Twill bring us bitter woe."

His parents pray'd him enter in
And take his seat at board;
But mute was Ebb Skammelson,
And answered not a word.

He turned his horse to leave the yard.
And fain would ride away;
His mother caught and held the rein,
And begg'd him there to stay.

She brought him forth a cushioned stool,
Would have him sit to dine,
"Nay'' answer'd Ebb Skammelson,
"Leave me to pour the wine."

With pearls and gold so gaily deck'd
There sat the lovely bride;
As oft as Ebb upon her gazed,
With grief at heart he sigh'd.

When daylight leaned, and o'er the field
Was shed the glistering dew,
Kissing with grace the fair young bride
From banquet hall withdrew.

With joyous hearts to the bridal house
They led the gentle fair,
And Ebb begged to head the train
The bridal torch to bear.

"And how!" said Ebb, when they came
Before the chamber door,
"The troth you plighted me the first,
"Remember you no more?"

"I've since to your brother plighted troth,
"Given all I had to give,
"But will a mother be to you,
"As long as I may live."

"Not for a mother wooed I you,
"I wooed you for my wife;
"And therefore Peter Skammelson
"Has now to end his life.

"Consent, fair maiden Adelaide,
"With me to go away;
"And be my fate, e'en what it will,
"My brother I will slay."

"And though your brother you should kill,
"You would not gain my love,
"For I should grieve myself to death,
"As on her bough the dove/'

To hear her Ebbe Skammelson
With anger fiercely frown'd,
And muttering vengeance on them both
Stamped wildly on the ground.

With that into the bridal house
They led the gentle bride,
But Ebb bare beneath his cloak
A drawn sword at his side.

He entered in and slew the maid,
Where near her bed she stood,
And left her lofty crown of gold
All swimming in her blood.

He took the gory dripping sword
Slily beneath his cloak,
And turning back to the banquet hall
He thus to his brother spoke:

"Hark thee, young Peter Skammelson,
" Tis time to leave the wine;
"Thy bride sits in her bridal bed,
"And seems for thee to pine."

Up rose young Peter Skammelson,
But sad at heart was he;
For well his brother Ebbe's rage
Was in his face to see.

"Now listen, Ebb, Skammelson,
"And lay thy wrath aside,
"Sleep thou with gentle Adelaide,
"To thee I yield the bride."

"Go, Peter, thou, nor longer leave
"The maid to pine alone;
"The bridal house and bridal bed
"With roses are bestrown."

But as young Peter Skaramelson
From banquet hall withdrew,
His brother cleft his head in twain.
And him so foully slew.

Great was the grief in bridal house.
And great the hall's dismay,
For dead were bride and bridegroom both,
E'en on their wedding day.

His father got a grievous wound,
His mother miss'd a hand;
And Ebbe Skammelson must forth
A vagrant from the land.

His brother, murderously slain.
And gentle bride lay dead.
And far and wide must Ebb roam.
And beg his daily bread.

From such a wedding. Gracious God,
Hinder both young and old!
Sour is the wine, and harsh the mead.
Where such sad news is told.