The Knight in Bird-Dress

There lives a maiden within a bower,
I'll venture my life, will I,
As graceful, she, as a lily flower.
I'll venture my life for a lady.

There lives on a neighbouring isle a knight,
Who fain with the maid his troth will plight.

Her hand this lady will give to none,
Except to a flying knight alone.

The Master Hildebrand that had heard,
And learnt to dress him in guise of bird.

With plumes of silver and wings of gold
He flitted around and about so bold;

Both over and under her bower he flew,
And gazed on the maiden he came to woo.

So soon as the gentle bird she saw,
There seem'd her a something to him to draw;

And out she ventured, that lily flower,
To lure him within her maiden bower.

A dainty morsel as bait she threw.
And nearer the bird and nearer drew;

He flitted in, and he came so near.
And seem'd so gentle and free from fear.

"O bird, pretty bird, wert thou but tame,
"I'd seat thee hero on my broidery frame.

"Oh bird, pretty bird, wert thou but mine,
"I'd set for thy porch my gilded shrine."

'Twas evening twilight, the dew had spread.
And soon the lady retired to bed.

The bird he sat on her mantle pole,
And tardily seem'd the hours to roll.

The morning bell to the matins rang,
And up and twitter'd the bird and sang.

With wonder and fear the lady woke,
"Now who is here in the bower, and spoke?"

"Nay," answer'd her maid, "the voice you heard,
"Was only your pet, your pretty bird."

And down from his pole he flew below,
And strutted him boldly to and fro;

He flew and perch'd on the lady's bed.
And hopp'd and chirruped about her head;

He play'd with her hair, her pearls, and band,
And gently he peck'd the lady's hand.

"Dear bird, wert thou from feathers free,
"None other I'd take to wed but thee."

"You've plighted your word, and now be true,
"Give hither your hand, my claw take you."

The lady she gave the bird her hand,
And free from feathers she saw him stand.

He shook his limbs from the plumage free.
And straight a gallant young knight was he.

"By day in thy cage thou still shalt keep,
"By night shalt here in my bosom sleep."

So long did the knight her chamber share,
Till Ingelille two little babies bare.

For summer amusement the lady won
A bonny fair maid and a comely son.

Her father came in the babes to see,
And thus to his daughter dear said he.

"O say, my daughter, whom thou dost call
"The father to these pretty babes so small?"

"Dear father, to you the truth I'll tell,
"I found them both in a woody dell.

"I rais'd them from off the cold damp ground,
"And here have a foster-mother found/'

"Well well, my daughter, so let that be;
"The babies perhaps belong to thee."

At th' evening hour flew home her pet.
Whom she with a kindly welcome met.

"(to sue for me now to be thy bride,
"For here can I thee no longer hide."

The Master, Sir Hildebrand, donn'd his cloak,
And up to her father he went, and spoke;

"J,ist, worthy good knight, to my demand,
"And give me your gentle daughter's hand."

"What ails thee my Ingelille's hand to claim?
"She bears no better than leman's name.

"But if to thy word thou yet wilt hold,
"I'll give her for dowry two casks of gold.

"If thou wilt wed her, and wilt be true,
"Fifteen estates will I give her too."

"O keep your estates and all your store,
"And give me your daughter, and nothing more."

And now she may lay her griefs aside,
The Master Hildebrand's lawful bride;

For joke and banter no longer care,
The knight she has wedded can wing the air.