Gundelille and Sir Palle

It was the maiden Gundelille
Her mother's rede would know,
Might she to drink her Yule-tide draught
To young Sir Palle go.
The leaves are hur sting out so green,

"My daughter, surely as thou shalt dare
"With him thy Yule to keep,
"He'll do what he so long has tried,
"And give thee cause to weep/'

Sir P. "O listen, maiden Gundelille,
"My tender love requite,
"And all the days, I have to live,
"I'll prove thy faithful knight."

"Now hark. Sir Fa6, gallant knight,
"If me no harm you do,
"As soon as Mass is duly sung,
"Home I will go with you.

"Yes, hark, Sir Palle, gallant knight,
"From troubling me refrain,
"And when the Priest has sung the mass,
"Mount with me in my wain."

But when the Mass was duly sung,
And people gone away,
Did still the maiden Gundelille
In church awhile delay.

In scarlet cloak of finest cloth
Her coachman boy she clad;
Herself, the maiden Gundelille,
Disguis'd her like the lad.

She took the reins, and towards the house
Drove off the buxom maid,
And there the rich Sir Palle stood
In marten robe array'd.

Sir Pall he, like gallant knight,
Stepp'd to the lady's wain,
And gently folded in his arms,
And lifted down the swain.

And then with graceful courtesy
Led to his room the lad;
Behind them follow'd Gundelille
In driving mantle clad.

There at the board they seated him
On bridal bench to dine;
The maiden Gundelille herself
Pour'd out and serv'd the wine.

And while he sat, that coachman boy,
And quaff'd the brimming horn.
Went Gundelille and gave the steeds
Their water and their corn.

But now with evening's chilly mist
The fields were overspread.
And time the lady's coachman boy
Should rise and go to bed.

They led him off to the bridal house,
That coachman boy so fair,
And in the van march'd Gundelille
The bridal torch to bear.

So soon as in the bridal bed
The lady's coachman lay,
No longer could the gallant knight,
Sir Palle, stay away.

Down in the bridal bed he sat,
And tapp'd him on the cheek;
"Turn round, my lovely Gundelille,
"Turn round to me, and speak."

"I'm not the maiden Gundelille,
"I do but drive her wain;
"Sir Palle, pry thee, gracious knight,
"Forgive an humble swain."

"Art thou not maiden Gundelille,
"But only hired to drive?
"Then never from this bridal bed
"Shalt thou come out alive."

To find a weapon, knife or spear,
Sir Palle turn'd him round,
And out of window sprang the lad,
And lighted on the ground.

Into the courtyard leap'd the lad
From off the window sill,
Where, waiting in her carriage, sat
The maiden Gundelille.

And off and through the courtyard gate
She drove her gilded wain,
And turn'd her round, and gaily laugh'd,
And gave her steeds the rein.

Anon with sundry courteous notes
The unhappy knight she teaz'd;
"Would know, if with his coachboy bride
"The gallant knight was pleas'd."

With cruel jokes and daily pranks
She drove him nearly wild;
A cradle sent and baby clothes
To rock and wrap the child.

The knight Sir Pall, vex'd was he,
And keenly felt her jest:
"O would to heaven I were but dead,
"And in my grave at rest!"

So vext was he, the baffled knight,
He broke his heart and died;
But she lives on, fair Gundelille,
In all her maiden pride.