Sir Luno and the Mermaid

Sir Luno he built a ship so grand, '
As never was seen on sea or land.
They gather gold in Greenland.

'Twas gilt all over from stern to prow,
The name of the Virgin on either bow.

'Twas gilt all over from deck to floor,
And blazon'd the name of Jesus bore.

The sails were of silk, so bright and new,
The one was yellow, and one was blue.

The yards they were all with silver bright.
The mainmast top with gold was dight.

Sir Luno bade, and they down to shore
The anchor bare and the slender oar.

As steer'd Sir Luno across the sea.
There met him a Mermaid, and wroth was she.

"Hark thee. Sir Luno, and wend thee back,
"Or high on a rock thy ship I'll wrack."

"Foul witch, thou never the day shalt live,
"That I should place to a Mermaid give."

The very first wave the Mermaid cast.
Asunder were rent both sail and mast.

The very next wave that the Mermaid threw.
The sails to the sea in tatters flew.

Said then the steersman, "lias none the skill
"With Runes the Mermaid's wrath to still V"

Up spake Sir Luno, that worthy knight,
"The Runes myself I have learnt to write."

On staff so slender he wrote the Rune,
And bound the struggling Mermaid down.

He wrote the Rune on a twig so small,
Yet bound her fast on a stone withal.

"Sir Luno, Sir Luno, oh set me free,
"Seven tons of silver I'll give to thee.

"Seven tons of silver and eight of gold;
"Have mercy, Sir Luno, and loose thy hold!"

"Sit thou and famish in cold and pain;
"The spell I never. will loose again.

"Sit there, and all who come near thee, tell,
"How thou hast been bound in Sir Luno's spell."

Sir Luno is home to Greenland gone.
The Mermaid is fast on a reef of stone.