Hedeby's Ghost

At fall of night I ceas'd to ride,
And so my horse in tether tied.
The talk of U spreads around.

Down on a tump I laid my head,
And made the grassy sward my bed;

I scarce my first short nap had slept,
When up to me the dead man crept.

"If thou art of my name and race,
"Thou shouldest take in hand my case.

"Do thou to Hedeby repair;
"My kin, all ten, are living there.

"'Tis there my father and mother dwell,
"My brother and sister too as well;

"And there lives Kirstin, once my wife;
"Who, wicked traitress, took my life.

"With five her maids, on silken bed
"She stifled me, and left me dead.

"My corpse they then in haybands roll'd,
"And cast me on the cheerless wold.

"The swain, on whom I most relied,
"Now takes my horse himself to ride;

"Carves with my silver-mounted knife,
"And nightly sleeps beside my wife;

"With wine and meat his heart he cheers,
"And all the while my children jeers;

"With niggard hand he doles their bread,
"And flouts them, now their father's dead;

"He rides my horse, he hunts my hounds,
"And deer he chases through my grounds.

"Each one, that through the thicket breaks,
"Me in my grave from slumber wakes.

"Be sure, if home to him I go,
"My visit brings him bitter woe."
The talk of il spreads around.