How Sir Hylleland Wins His Bride

The good King Loffer had launched his ship,
And sail'd the billowy main;
There came a Trold, and his daughter seiz'd,
And bitter his grief and pain.
Sir Hylleland fetches his bride.

Sir Loffer, her father, that good old king,
At banquet table sat.
And talked to his men of times gone by
In cordial hearty chat.

"Whichever of you, my faithful men,
"Will bring me my child again,
"Shall wed the maiden, and share with me
"My castles and wide domain.

"If any will rescue my daughter dear,
"If any will ease my grief,
"I'll give him to wife the gentle maid
"With castles and ample fief."

All silent they sat, good honest men,
From danger they seem'd to quail;
Nor one but the gallant young Hylleland
Would offer himself to sail.

Up rose that gallant young Hylleland,
And sprang across the board;
"'Tis I will bring you your daughter back,
"Hold you, my lord, your word."

'Twas he, the gallant young Hylleland,
Sail'd Norway's shore along,
And there at her cave the mermaid found,
Who wrought them so grievous wrong.

"And here thou art sitting, thou lothely witch,
"Aye stirring a smoky brand;
"Go fetch me the maiden Hyllensborg,
"And bring her to yonder strand."

"The fair young maiden thou wilt not gain,
"Of that there is little doubt,
"Unless alone to the cave with me
"Thou goest to fetch her out.'"

And into the cave he boldly stepp'd,
And held in his hand his blade;
And there sat one he had known so long,
'Twas even the lovely maid.

Uprose to meet him the gentle fair,
And blush'd as a rose in bloom.
And wonder'd enough to see the youth
That into the cave was come.

"Stranger," said then the lothely witch,
"Thou winnest not her for bride,
"Until three truths thou hast told to me
"That never can be denied."

"There's money lying upon the floor,
"The walls are gleaming with gold,
"And thou art thyself the lothesomest witch,
"Mine eyes did ever behold."

Up then and answer'd that lothely witch
And angrily answered she;
"What sort of a footman boy is this,
"Come hither to rail at me?"

"A trooper am I, and serve the king,
"Sir Hylleland is my name,
"And who-so calls me a footman boy,
"I'll teach him to rue the same."

"This night together I'll let you sleep,
"Since such is your mutual will;
"Tomorrow you surely shall lose your life,
"Ere sun shines over the hill."

At evening was standing beside his bed
The maiden so fair and bright;
"Would God, that, as long as five, could last
"So happy and sweet a night!"

The young Sir Hylleland turn'd him round,
And smiled to the gentle maid;
"Regard not, my dearest, a witch's spite,
"Nor be of her threats afraid.

"Lie down, lie down there, my lovely fair,
"And quit you of all alarm;
"I've skill to write such a potent rune,
"That nothing shall do us harm."

So soon as had dawn'd the morning light.
And sun shone over the lea,
Uprose from her lair the lothely witch.
And sharpened her knife with glee.

Sir Hylleland laid the potent runes
Just under the threshold floor;
So soon as the witch had trodden thereon.
She threatened their lives no more.

She gently stepp'd to the bedstead side,
Her malice and spite repress'd;
And threw on the bed a quilt of silk,
And bade them in peace to rest.

"Arise from your bed, fair Hyllensborg,
"In gayest of raiment dight,
"And go with Sir Hylleland off to sea,
"For be is a gallant knight."

She bade them to bring the gilded shrine
All fill'd with the brightest gold:
"And that is for you. Sir Hylleland,
"As merits a heart so bold."

She bade them to bring a second shrine,
And ruddy the gold there lay,
"And this shall be your's, my lady fair,
"Your season of grief repay."

Right joyous were both the gentle maid,
And gallant Sir Hylleland,
And gladly they took the witch's gold,
And went to the ocean strand.

The knight in his arms the lady rais'd,
And down in his vessel stow'd.
And steering back to his native land
The prize of his valour show'd.

The king stood up on his castle tower,
And gazed on the sea so wide;
"She's coming — my daughter — her ship it is-
"Is speeding across the tide."

The good king Loffer was glad at heart
His daughter to see again;
And gave her to young Sir Hylleland,
With castles and wide domain.