Sir Tonne

Sir Tonn forth from Alsey rode,
His sword slung at his side,
Alike on tented field and sea
A hero stout and tried.

Sir Tonn off to the green-wood rode
To chase the hind and hare,
And there the Dwarf-King's daughter met
With other maidens fair.

She sat with golden harp in hand
Beneath a linden tree;
"See hither the knight Sir Tonn rides;
"I'll make him come to me.

"Sit down, sit down, my maidens all,
"And thou, my page, be still;
"I'll play a rune that shall with flowers
"The field and meadow till."

She play'd a rune on golden harp,
And, when she touch'd the string.
The wild bird sitting on the bough
His song forgot to sing.

The wild bird sitting on the bough
His song forgot to sing;
The hart that in the green-wood skipped
With joy forgot to spring.

Charm'd with her runes the meadow bloom'd,
And greener grew the wood;
In vain Sir Tonn spurr'd his steed,
Move he no longer cou'd.

Sir Tonne sprang from off his horse,
No farther wish'd to ride,
And to the Dwarfs fair daughter went,
And sate him at her side.

"All hail, Dwarfs daughter, lovely maid!
"Of flowers the peerless rose!
"No mortal man thy beauty sees,
"But straight with passion glows.

"Hear me. Dwarfs daughter, beauteous maid!
"Plight thou thy love to me,
"And all the days, I have to live,
"I'll faithful be to thee."

"Ah stay. Sir Tonn, gallant knight,
"Nor me thy homage bring;
"My hand another lover claims,
"Our own Dwarf-people's king.

"My father dwells in mountain cave
"His courtiers round him stand;
"My mother dwells there too and plays
"With gold in lily hand.

"Myself I've stolen from out the cave
"My golden harp to play;
"But in a month my bridegroom comes
"To fetch me hence away."

"Before the Dwarf enjoy the luck
"Thee for his bride to take,
"I'll risk in fight my life for thee,
"My sword in shivers break."

"Ah! nay'' the dwarfs fair daughter said,
"From idle hopes refrain;
"A fairer maid thou well may'st find,
"Me thou shalt never gain.

"Now haste, Sir Tonn, gallant knight,
"And prithee speed thy pace;
"For both my father and bridegroom come
"Within a little space."

Then peer'd her mother from out the cave,
Would know who there might be;
And saw Sir Tonn, where he stood
Beneath the linden tree.

Out from the cave her mother came
With fierce and angry mien;
"But how then, Ulfhild, daughter mine,
"Here in the wood so green?

"'Twere better in thy mountain cave
"To work thy bride-Attire,
"Than here to sit beneath a tree,
"And strike the golden lyre.

"The King of Dwarfs didst thou betrothe,
"To him thine honour plight,
"Nor oughtest thus with runic strain
"To've bound yon gallant knight."

The Dwarf-wife went with all her train
Within the cavern door;
And with her went Sir Tonn too,
But saw and heard no more.

For o'er a chair she spread for him
A costly silken cloak
And on it sat the knight in trance,
At cockcrow first awoke.

The Dwarfs wife call'd her little page,
And hade him bring the hook,
And therewithal from off the knight
Her daughter's spell she took.

"Awake! I've thee for honour's sake
"Unbound from Runic spell;
"And full securely may'st thou now
"My daughter's art repel.

"And further still, Sir Knight, to prove
"What love for thee I bear,
"I'll wis a gentle bride for thee,
"A rose of beauty rare.

"For I was born of Christian folk,,
"Tho' dwarfs took me to wean;
"My sister, lady Adeline,
"Of Iceland is the queen.

"Her daughter once was stolen away,
"And vain her mother's search,
"For she no more to dance may go,
"No longer drive to church.

"E'en from her window's loop to look
"That maiden may not dare,
"Nor with the King may play at chess,
"Unless the Queen is there.

"No man, except that aged king,
"She ever yet has seen;
"And nightly locks her chamber door
"Herself the cautious Queen.

"In Upsal sits this captive maid,
"And Ermeline is hight;
"With iron bolt and massy chain
"Her door is fastened tight.

"The aged king to a brother's son,
"Designs to leave his land;
"And he, young Allevod, when king,
"Will claim the maiden's hand.

"Now horse and saddle give I thee,
"And spurs of gold beside;
"Thy way thou 'It find, tho' ne'er so wild
"The track, thou hast to ride.

"I'll give thee too a dress to wear
"With seams of golden braid;
"And on thine arm a broad red shield
"With jewels all inlaid.

"I'll give thee a precious golden band,
"And runes therein are bound,
"That when thou speakest, every word
"As from a book shall sound."

Then out her daughter Ulfhild came,
"Such love she bare the knight;
"And I'll give thee a trusty sword,
"And hence all burnish'd bright.

"And never shalt thou miss thy way,
"As wild as it may be,
"Or ever any foe engage,
"But gain the victory.

"Whatever track thy ship shall sail,
"Safe thou shalt come to land,
"Nor e'er receive in battle-fray
"A wound from mortal hand."

Now came her mother Thorelille,
And sparkling wine she pour'd;
"Haste from our cavern, haste away,
"Ere home returns my lord."

Sir Tonn through the green-wood rode,
And brightly gleam'd his spear,
" As riding towards his mountain cave
The Dwarf himself drew near.

"Well met. Sir Tonn, gallant knight,
"Right nobly steps thy horse;
"Now, tell me, is thy journey long?
"And whither bent thy course?"

"It is a courting I will ride,
"To win a blooming rose,
"And dare to couch the spear I bear
"Against the doughtiest foes."

"Ride on, Sir Tonn, noble knight,
"' "Ride on in peace, good bye;
"In Upsal lives a champion bold,
"Thy strength will gladly try."'

Sir Tonne rode to essay his luck
And came to Swedish land.
And saw beneath a spreading tree
Nine knights in armour stand.

Each bare a helmet on his head,
A shield before his breast,
And at his side a trusty sword.
And glittering lance in rest.

"There stand ye nine stout Swedish knights,
"Will ye your valour prove?
"For ruddy gold, or glory fight,
"Or for your lady love?"

Up spake the first. Prince Allevod,
So proud was he and bold:
"Enough have we and crave no more
"Of glory or of gold.

"A noble maid at Upsal sits,
"And Ermeline her name;
"For her sake let us break a spear,
"See which her hand shall claim."

Their first charge rode with all their force
Those gallant heroes twain,
And spears fell shiver'd on the grass,
And shields were rent in twain.

Again a second charge they rode,
And that with greater force,
And Allevod with broken neck
Was thrown from off his horse.

Much vex'd were they, the Swedish knights,
And tried to venge his fall,
But fortune did not prove their friend.
Sir Tonn beat them all.

Fain o'er their shoulders did the knights
Their purple mantles fling,
And mounted up to the lofty hall,
And stood before the king.

"A Jutish knight is come to land
"With raiment pied and striped,
"Eight knights he has wounded on the field,
"So ill for them he piped.

"Eight knights he has wounded on the field,
"And left them halt and lame;
"And Allevod, thy nephew, kill'd,
"Curse on his Jutish name!"

Then answered them the aged king,
All with his long gray hair;
"Avenge me on the plaided Jute,
"And sable ye shall wear."

Out rode those Swedish warriors all,
And thought a prize to gain,
But soon their laughter turn'd to woe.
And all their joy to pain,

Their calf-ekin dress they still must wear,
Nor sable earn'd that day,
And daily still must wrap their limbs
In cloth of wadmal gray.

Much were those Swedish warriors vex'd,
And mournful plaint began;
"There dares none in the world to strive
"Against this Jutish man."

Sir Tonne he to Upsal rode
With glory clad and grace;
The Swedish warriors dared no more
That doughty knight to face.

He kill'd the bear, that watched the door,
He broke the bar in twain;
And her released, the lovely maid.
So long in thrall had lain.

The Swedish courtiers all were still,
No word escaped their tongue;
A grudging grim consent the Jute
"From all of them had wrung.

He worsted all those Swedish knights,
The Lion and eke the Bear,
And enter'd into the lofty bower,
To see that peerless fair. -

"Welcome, Sir Tonn', gallant knight!
"Right welcome thou to me I
"For, if I should the truth avow,
"I've sorely long'd for thee.

"'Twas told me while a little child,
"A foreign knight should come,
"And Allevod my gaoler slay,
"And take me with him home.

"And now, Sir Tonne, gallant knight,
"Be true and good to me;
"For in the world is other none
"I rather wed than thee."

Then spake Sir Tonne, gallant knight,
And clasp'd the lovely fair;
"Forsake thee nevermore will I,
"By th' Highest name I swear."

He carried off the willing maid,
And all her treasure top.
And sail'd with her to Denmark home,
Each still to the other true.

He took her back to his Jutland home,
And led her to her bower,
And Alsey people all with joy
Embraced that blooming flower.

The knight Sir Tonne's love for her
From day to day increased,
And soon as thirty days were past.
He made his marriage feast.

In Iceland, when the news was brought.
That Ermeline was found.
Were greatly joy'd the King and Queen,
And all their people round.

The King he sent from Iceland word
To pray Sir Tonn come,
And share with him his northern realm,
And there to make his home.

Sir Tonn launch his gallant ship,
Spread sail on gilded mast,
And with his bride reached Iceland's shore,
Ere two whole months were past.

It was Sir Tonn gallant knight.
Who steer'd his ship to land,
And Iceland's aged King and Queen,
Who waited on the strand.

"Welcome, Sir Tonne, gallant knight,
"To this our foreign shore!
"My island kingdom far and wide
"Shall all be thine, and more."

The aged King resigned his realm.
And had Sir Tonne crown'd.
And soon was all the island his.
And all the lands around.

Now is Sir Tonn gallant knight
A happy man, I ween;
He rules in Iceland far and wide.
And sleeps with Ermeline.

He's now become a mighty king.
Whom towns and forts obey,
And never wish the Swedish knights
To see him come their way.