The Three Robbers and Their Three Sisters

Sir Truel he dwelt beside the sea,
Far out on an island west
And with him his graceful daughters three,
The roses in silk were dress'd

"i Dame Mettelille wakes her daughters three
Far out on the &c.
"Get up, my daughters, and come to me.
The roses c.

"Get up, my daughters, you've slept so long,
"You've miss'd the sermon and morning song."

"Then if the matins we miss'd today,
"We'll much the longer at high-mass stay."

Dame Mettelille comb'd her daughters' hair,
Nor dream'd how ill they were doom'd to fare.

She clad them each in a mantle blue,
And sent them to church to Horbelew.

There, just as they reach'd the Tostrup shaw,
The robbers' dog in the path they saw:

Nor sooner had enter'd the Tostrup wood,
Than all three robbers before them stood.

"Now, say, will you rather be robbers' wives?
"Or here on the instant lose your lives?"

"We never will be three robbers' wives;
"We rather will all of us lose our lives/'

They murder'd one, and they murder'd two,
Hard strove the third one, ere her they slew.

"Then grant us this for our honour's sake,
"Tonight at Sir Truel's your rest to take/'

'Twas late as they came to Sir Truers house,
And there they halted and held carouse.

They feasted so long, they drank so deep,
Sir Truel retired to his bed to sleep.

"Now hark, Dame Mettelille, what we say,
"And plight us your favour, nor say us nay."

"Before I plight me to all the three,
"I fain would first in your wallets see."

She open'd their wallets, and saw therein
Her daughters' brooches and golden pin.

"Now tarry a moment and take your rest,
"I go but to fetch my treasure chest."

She fasten'd the door, as out she pass'd;
With bars of iron she made it fast.

She mantled her head, and up she stepped
To where in his loft Sir Truel slept.

"O wake. Sir Truel, and come with me;
"These robbers have murder'd our daughters three."

Sir Truel he hasted his men to wake,
"Up! up! my troopers, your weapons take.

"Up! buckle upon you coats of mail,
"These robbers are not the men to quail."

"Now speak and tell us, ye robbers three,
"Who are ye, and who may your fathers he?"

"Our father had seat us 'all to school,
"But us poor children the robbers stole.

"With them we have dwelt these fifteen years,
"And eaten our bread with grief and tears.

"Those older robbers are now all dead,
"And we on the highway seek our bread.

"One only crime we have dared to do,
"We yesterday night three maidens slew."

Sir Truel in tones of anguish griev'd,
"Of all my children I'm now bereav'd.

"Your mother it was ye wish'd to plight,
"Your sisters it was ye slew last night.

"Three suits of clothes for you I will buy,
"But out of the town and country fly."

"O nay! dear father, that will not we;
"Nay! 'Life for Life' is the law's decree."

They fetter'd and led them out of town,
And better at once had hewn them down,

The two were rack'd on a pole and wheel,
But one made off to the woods to steal.