Proud Eline

It was the handsome Sir Remold
He rode away.
And won Sir Bonders daughter's hand,
A lovely may.

He brought Sir Bonders daughter home
To his abode;
The Archbishop and the King himself
Beside them rode.

In state they brought that gentle bride,
To Sir Remold,
Nor for the minstrel stinted they
The ruddy gold.

They led the bride to banquet room
From out her wain,
There follow'd her both knights and squires
To hold her train.

They seated her, the lovely bride,
On bridal chair.
And walked in front both knights and squires
Her robe to boar.

Uprose with silver cup in hand
The proud Eline,
And all the day she pour'd the wine
Till dusk of e'en.

All the day long she serv'd the wine
From man to man,
But snatched in anger from the bride
The silver can.

She pour'd the bright and sparkling wine,
While yet was light;
The bride was led in state to bed
At fall of night.

From banquet hall to bridal house
They led the fair;
In front there march'd both knights and squires
The torch to bear.

They seated on her bridal bed
The gentle bride,
And he from table rose, and soon
Was at her side.

The rest they left the bridal house.
Friends all, so kind.
But crept beneath the silk Eline
And stay'd. behind.

Then spake the handsome Sir Remold,
As there he lay,
"One thing, my dear and gentle bride,
"I prithee say:

"Tell me between our own two selves,
"Are you not loth
"To sleep beside a faithless man,
"Who brake his oath?

"My Christian faith, my hope in God,
"My honour too,
"Was plighted all to proud Eline,
"Ere given to you/'

"While one you had at home so fair
"As here I see,
"Why rode you to my father's house
"To wed with me?

"While here so lovely a one you had
"Your home to share,
"Why ride across to plight to me
"Those vows you sware?"

"I would no longer lead with her
"A graceless life,
"And therefore, Loumor, wedded you
"To be my wife."

"And yet methinks," fair Loumor said,
So good was she,
"Might surely claim the proud Eline
"Your match to be."

While so they spake, thought Sir Remold
None other near,
But in the bride-house stood Eline
With listening ear.

When on his pillow Sir Remold
Sank down and slept,
The proud Eline to the bridal bed
For vengeance crept.

Her golden-hilted knife she drew
From sleeve so red,
And therewithal she stabb'd the knight,
Till he was dead.

From sleep awoke the gentle bride,
And weeping spake;
"Forbear, by all that's good in heaven,
"My life to take."

"But that e'en now I heard thee say
"Kind words for me,
"The selfsame death as Sir Remold
"Awaited thee.

"Put on thy maiden crown again,
"And band of gold,
"The bride thou wast but not the wife
"Of Sir Remold."

Back to her father's went the bride
In saddest mood.
And left the handsome Sir Remold
Drench'd in his blood.