Redeblack

The emperor's daughter dwelt at Rome,
Her hue was like the rose in bloom.
So proudly he runs amid the fair damsels.

A maid on deeds of kindness bent,
A gift to Denmark's king she sent.

Five foals she sent from out her stall,
And Bedeblack the best of all.

Nine foals she sent, and all so fine;
Yet best was he of all the nine.

That fiery steed no stall could hold,
But while he champ'd on bit of gold.

No other food he deign'd to eat
But sifted grain of finest wheat.

He went not where the river flow'd.
Save when his back a prince bestrode.

And if he then would quench his thirst,
A prince must fetch the bucket first.

The king to war would march away.
His queen and Bedeblack should stay.

The sail of silk and golden oar
Down to the sea the sailors bore.

The king steer'd off his bark from land.
The queen stood waiting on the strand.

"Guide thou my realm, and guard my coast,
"But care for Bedeblack the most."

The queen to her palace hasted back.
And sought the stall of Bedeblack.

She took away his sifted wheat.
And made him fire and venom eat.

In stall would be no longer stay,
But to the sea-shore took his way.

The king gAzed from the heaving tide,
And there his Bedeblack descried.

The king to his aged steersman spake,
"Turn thee and landward steer my snake."

The king the foremost stepp'd on land,
Saw Bedeblack dead on the sand.

"Were it not sin, the monks should sing,
"And bells for Bedeblack should ring.

"Aye! but for what the world would say,
"His bones in Christian soil I'd lay."

They buried Bedeblack on shore;
The king smiled on his queen no more.