Fair Anna

The rovers sail'd in search of spoil,
And far from home they came,
And stole a daughter of England's king,
Fair Anna call'd by name.

They took her off to a distant land,
And Anna there they sold;
A Duke's son he that bought the maid
With heavy sums of gold.

And while eight years with him she liv'd,
Seven sons Fair Anna bare,
And through her modesty and worth
He won a crown to wear.

This lord was born in Mecklenburg,
Of princely race and old;
And him the child of England's king
Was by those rovers sold.

But when eight years were past and gone,
Could Anna not mistake.
That he would wed another maid.
And her at last forsake.

Before his mother's chair she stood,
And, "Mother dear," said she;
"O pity me, and pray your son
"To marry none but me."

"That, Anna, gladly I will do,
"Will ask him even now;
"No other maid, that he could wed,
"Were dear to me as thou."

She went and stood before her son
Fair Anna's cause to plead;
"How long designs my lord and king
"This graceless life to lead?

"Your wife, your wedded wife and queen
"The faithful Anna make,
"And let your seven fair children too
"Their rank and station take."

"Nay, mother, nay! that will I not,
"With money she was bought,
"Nor know I, who her parents are,
"Nor whence the maid was brought."

The King his marriage-letters wrote.
And sent them up and down,
To name the lady he would wed.
And for his queen would crown.

Fair Anna heard up in her bower
The words the barons spake;
"O heavenly father, grant my prayer,
"That my poor heart may break."

There came the king, and Anna found,
And, "Anna," said the king;
"What gift, what worthy gift wilt thou
"My bride and princess bring?"

"I'll give her good and precious gifts,
"My lord and king," said she,
"I'll give her all my seven fair sons,
"Her pages they shall be."

"That is no precious gift to give,
"Anna, my gentle dove;
"Some other richer one bestow,
"Wilt thou retain my love."

"A richer gift than that I'll give,
"And very ill can spare,
"Thy own dear person to be her's,
"And try my loss to bear."

"That is no very precious gift,
"Anna, my gentle dove,
"Thy best gold buckle thou must give,
"Wilt thou retain my love."

"My best gold buckle gets she not,
"For never will I spare
"What eight years since as morning gift
"Yourself you bade me wear."

Then stood the king before his bride;
"Fair Princess, fain I'd know,
"On Anna, long my leman dear,
"What gift will you bestow?"

"A very good and fitting gift,
"My lord and king" said she,
"A pair of old and cast off shoes,
"As suits her base degree."

"My noble Princess, and my bride,
"That were not good or kind,
"Some better gift than that bestow,
"My love if you will find."

"So shall I give her richer gifts,
"My lord and king" said she,
"I've seven fine mills across the Rhine,
"And her's those mills shall be.

"Well built are all those mills, and deck'd
"With many a choice device;
"And rich indeed the rents they pay,
"They grind both wheat and spice."

Fair Anna stood before her lord;
"O grant me this request,
"That I may go to the bridal bower,
"To see your pretty guest."

"Nay, Anna, that thou mayest not,
"From all such thoughts forbear;
"For angry should I be to learn,
"That thou had'st enter'd there."

Before his mother then she stood.
And, "Mother dear she cried,
"I'd fain within the bridal bower,
"To see the pretty bride."

"Right welcome that to do art thou,"
'Twas thus the mother spake,
"But dress thee in thy richest suit,
"And all thy maidens take."

Fair Anna stepped within the door,
With anxious heart and sad:
Before her walk'd all seven her sons
In scarlet richly clad.

Fair Anna pour'd the bride a draught
From out the silver can,
And one may think, how down her face
The tears of sorrow ran.

Then went and stood before her lord
The fair and royal bride;
And ask'd him whence the lady came,
And why she wept and sigh'd.

"That lady then, my fair young bride,
"If I the truth should tell,
"Is but a niece, that from afar
"I fetched with me to dwell."

"Nay! nay! my lord, it is not so,
"Why such untruth pretend?
"Your leman, once so dear, is she,
"God knows how that may end."

"If to her pain and sorrow then
"The truth must needs be told,
"She from abroad was sent to me,
"For money she was sold.

"Her sons and mine those seven fair boys,
"Who stand before your chair;
"To see her children serving you,
"lias brought her to despair."

"I had a little sister once,
"And her name Anna too,
"Was stolen away and sold abroad,
"But where we never knew.

"By pirates she was stolen away
"In childhood's early years,
"And bitter was her parents' woe,
"And ceaseless were their tears.

"That sister Anna thou must be,
"That rosebud now in bloom;
"Thy mother has never smiled again,
"Since thou wast stolen from home.

"It is that sister's voice I hear
"Too plainly to be wrong;
"Keep now thy lord; God grant you both,
"Happy to live and long!"

Great was the joy and merriment
That through the palace spread,
To see, in all his royal state,
The King fair Anna wed.

Anon the fair young bride return'd
Back to her home again.
And took her sister's youngest boy
And all her bridal train.