Sir Thor and Lady Silvermor

The young Sir Thor and Silvermor
Were playing chess in lady's bower.

The more they play'd, more kind they grew,
Till love stole in between the two.

"But, Silvermor, how long, I pray,
"At borne unmarried would you stay?"

"If but my kinsmen do not chide,
"Nine years for you I'll bere abide."

"I ask you not so long to wait,
"Stay for me only winters eight."

Those long eight years away have roll'd;
Her kinsmen now a meeting boN.

"We'll wed the maid, we'll wait no more
"She shall not have the young Sir Thor;

"There come to woo from east and west,
"The richest come, and eke the best;

"And when a count so wealthy sues,
"His offer let us not refuse."

Her hasty father scorn'd delay,
And married her that very day.

It was a Sabbath's holy tide.
And richly clad for church the bride.

As on her balcony she stood,
She saw the vessels skim the flood.

Beyond the rocks she turn'd her gaze,
And ships saw steering through the haze.

She look'd along the mountain side,
And saw the gilded ro wheats glide.

"Each knight comes to his lady home,
"And will my trulove never come?

"O brother Salman, wouldst thou ride,
"To pleasure me, to yon sea-side?"

As Salman rode along the sand,
Sir Thor his vessel steer'd to land.

"Tell me, young swain, who ridest there,
"How all the island maidens fare?"

"One after eight years' long delay
"Will drink her wedding feast today.

"She wrings her hands for grief at heart,
"And oft is seen the tear to start."

Still stood the knight, and heard the news;
He thought his senses he should lose.

He went, and in his coffer sought.
And gilded harp and chessboard brought.

All with his gilded harp in hand
He went before the maid to stand.

First one, and then another lay,
The lady sat and heard him play.

"That," thought within herself the bride,
"Is my Sir Thor; tis none beside."

Sir Thor, with head wrapt in his cloak,
Enter'd the bridal hall, and spoke;

"Is any chess-player here within,
"From foreign swain a purse will win?

"Is any here, a knight or dame,
"Will sit with me and play a game?"

Silent sat all the knights aside;
Her father rose, and thus replied.

"There sits at present none within,
"Who prize at chess may hope to win;

"Except fair Silvermor, the bride,
"And she must at the board preside."

Her mother Torfred rose and spake;
She little knew the prize at stake.

"Yet, sure, this long midsummer day
"The bride a game or two may play.

"Fair Silvermor, from table rise,
"If you at chess will win a prize."

The maiden smiled within her sleeve;
"I'll first go ask my father's leave."

She wrapp'd herself in scarlet cloak.
And up to her father went, and spoke.

"Father, your leave I come to pray,
"Before I go at chess to play.

"May I sit o'er the board awhile,
"And so the tedious hours beguile?"

The knight his daughter led aside,
And long with solemn lecture plied.

"One small short hour thou may'st remain,
"But win no gold from foreign swain.

"And of that knight. Sir Thor, take care;
"I fear he plots some crafty snare."

The bride in mitfitle wrapped her head,
And up to the banquet-chamber sped,

Soon as she came within the door,
Rose up with due respect Sir Thor.

At first, as they their game begun.
It was the young Sir Thor, who won.

"The grisly wolf roams in the wood,
"And thinks to make the deer his food.

"He rends the one, lets others lie,
"And many wounded leaves to die.

"Gold it is hard enough to win,
"And quite as hard a faithless quean."

But when they play'd a second game.
That fairly won the youthful dame.

Fair Silvermor to his taunt replied,
And sad her tone, and deep she sigh'd.

"High o'er the heath the eagle flies,
"And proudly storm and wind defies.

"Perch'd on a rock he takes his rest,
"And feathers well his airy nest.

"True to their word would many be,
"Could they but rule their destiny."

"If you, fair maid, to your troth are true,
"Here sits a swain as true to you.

"If you, fair maid, will follow me,
"I'll face for you the roughest sea.

"My horse impatient paws the sand;
"My ship lies ready on the strand."

"Sir Thor, do you to your vessel go;
"To follow I shall not be slow."

By th' eastern door he left the hall;
The bride came round the western wall.

Soon as she reach'd the glittering sand,
Sir Thor held out to her his hand.

He caught her up, and was not slow
To place her on the gilded prow.

High on the yards they spread the sail,
And put to sea before the gale.

The news to her father soon was told,
"Sir Thor has Silvermor cajol'd."

Her mother sware a cruel oath.
Deep in the sea to sink them both.

"A storm I'll raise, and manage so,
"That both shall down to the bottom go."

And hardly had they left the strand,
Ere came a blast from off the land.

The ship no longer they could steer,
And pale grew every face with fear.

So rock'd their vessel, pitch'd and roll'd,
No sailor could the rudder hold.

Not one on deck could even stand.
But the fair bride with lily hand.

And as the helm she stood to hold,
She wore her precious crown of gold.

In her the crew a pilot found,
And what her mother loos'd, she bound.

"Now up the mast, my page, and see,
"If land we are nearing on the lea.

"But as thou goest aft or fore,
"Take care to tread not on Sir Thor."

"Lady, His Norway's rocks I see,
"God bring us there from danger free,"

"If all is true, that thou dost say,
"Thy tidings richly I'll repay;

"I'll thee with me at table seat,
"And courteously and kindly greet.

"And give thee a kirtle rich with lace,
"And horse of wild and fiery race."

"Aye!" said Sir Thor who lay below,
"Many see land, nor promise so."

They cast their anchor upon the sand;
Sir Thor the first stepped out on land.

The good Norse people, all, on shore
Greeted with cheers the rich Sir Th.

Their joy they show'd on every side,
And cheer'd no less his lovely bride.

To Ager-house he brought his spouse.
And wedded her with great carouse.