Fair Christel and the Heathen King

Fair Christel she serves the royal hall,
Fair Christelille of Fuen,
She robes her in silk and sable pall,
And well she eludes the Rune.

She wins the favour of knight and squire,
Fair Christelille of Fuen,
Wakes even the Danish king's desire,
And well she eludes the Rune,

"Dear Christel, would heaven the queen had died,
"And thou, my Christel, shouldst be my bride!"

"O hush, my king, hush! and say not so;
"Compare not to her a maid so low;

"For fairer would she he turn'd to clay,
"Than I in my scarlet on gala day.

"Aye! fairer would she be upon her bier,
"Than I am in health and best of cheer."

Now while they thought they were all alone.
The queen had listened to every tone.

The queen she spake to her servants twain,
"Go summon me Christel back again."

Fair Christel she stood before the board;
"My gracious Queen, you have sent me word?"

"What was it thou told'st the king of me,
"As he last evening spake with thee?"

"Naught else but only, so help me heaven!
"That thou art to every virtue given."

The queen with her kinsmen thought awhile
To burn her to death on faggot pile.

"Nay, burn her, that were too harsh amend;
"The maid to the Paynim ' sultan send.

"And let him roast her, or boil, or burn,
"Whatever he chooses, will serve my turn."

She lost not a moment, but wrote a brief,
Should bring little Christel into grief.

She gave them into her servants hand
To carry them both to a heathen land.

But when they were near the Paynim shore,
That hateful letter the servants tore.

They wrote in a new one to pray the king
To take for his wife the maid they bring.

Fair Christel she entered the castle gate,
Where wrapt in ermine the sultan ate.

"Now sooner than be that Paynim's wife,
"I gladly this instant would lose my life."

"Then rather than miss a maid so fair,
"Baptize me your Christian faith to share."

On Saturday night baptized was he.
On Sunday was married with games and glee.

Bright gold on the altar Christel laid.
And two full measures her servants paid.

"Salute me the King with as oft good bye,'
"As glitter the stars in a winter sky.

"But ban on the queen as many sad cares,
"As linden has leaves, or the hind has hairs."