Esbern and Sidselille

Sir Esbern he serv'd the King at court,
So long in his troop he rode.
The King at the last he dubb'd him knight,
And fiefs on him too bestowed.

So well and so truly he serv'd the king
With bravery and with skill,
He gave him besides a maid to wife,
The beautiful Sidselille.

They lived together the winter through,
Together for five whole years;
And nowhere a truer or tenderer love
Has man ever seen than their's.

They dwelt together in joy and peace
For more than winters nine.
Nor ever exchanged an angry word,
Nor ever did they repine.

Sir Esbern was wont to pace his yard
And flourish his silvered brand,
And often there came to his mind a vow
To go to the Holy Land.

"God bless thee, my gentle Sidselille,
"Who sittest to spin thy gold;
"My vow to visit the Holy Land
"In duty I'm bound to hold."

"You've gold in your chest, an ample store
"Of gold and of silver too;
"Now send on your errand your faithful squire,
"For ill can I part with you.

"You've silver and gold enough in store,
"Long treasur'd within your chest,
"Your squire may go on the pilgrimage,
"And you at your home may rest."

"O prithee, my gentle Sidselille,
"To this my design agree,
"For thither I must, and keep my vow,
"I'll soon be again with thee."

To church Sir Esbern on Sunday rode
At the holy hour of prayer,
And call'd aloud on his kinsmen all.
Were bidden to meet him there.

"If any among you I've ever wrong'd,
"Or wrought on you aught of ill,
"I pray you avenge it on me today,
"And not on my Sidselille."

Sir Esbern made ready to launch his ship,
That riding at anchor lay;
His lady was sitting with tearful eyes
And wailing the livelong day.

She down to the strand with her husband went,
So running her cheek with tears;
"Remember I am but a poor weak wife,
"Forgive me a woman's fears."

She press'd to her bosom the noble knight,
A thousand times bade 'Adieu,'
"Remember, my lord, in a distant land,
"There's one at home thinks of you."

"God bless thee and keep thee, my dearest wife,
"Whom here I must leave behind!
"Wherever I wander the world so wide,
"Thine image I keep in mind."

The gallant Sir Esbern stepp'd on board,
His row-boat he steer'd from land;
He manfully stood to the wild wide sea,
As loudly as roar'd the strand.

He thought he should on that pilgrimage
A year and a month remain;
It lasted him fully fifteen years,
Before he was home again.

'Twas hardly a month the gallant knight
Had sail'd from his native shore,
Ere Sidselille up in her lofty bower
A fair little daughter bore.

Full eighteen years was Sir Esbern gone
Still leading a pilgrim's life,
And often and sorely for home he long'd,
For home and his gentle wife.

Full eighteen long and weary years
Away did the knight remain,
And well we may think how pined his wife
To see him at home again.

At last when eighteen years were gone,
He came to his native land,
And there Sir Esbern a herdsman saw,
Was pasturing near the strand.

"Now hark thee and say, good honest man,
"Adriving thy cows to dell,
"Say truly what I would so gladly know,
"Does here any widow dwell?"

"Hard by there is living a widow hero,
"Caird Lady Sidselille;
"'Tis eighteen years that her husband left,
"And him she is mourning stilL"

"Now tell me how fares the country folk
"Around her and far and near;
"How Sidselille too, the Lady fares,
"For she is to me so dear."

"'Tis well is faring the country folk
"Of all and of each degree,
"And well is the Lady Sidselille,
"The worthiest dame is she."

In baste Sir Esbern he left his ship
To tread on his native ground.
And sought the lady he loved so well,
And her at her door he found.

A pilgrim's wallet was on his back,
A staff in his hand he bore;
A stranger be enter'd his house and home,
And nobody knew him more.

He greeted the lady in courtly tone,
As due to her rank and right,
"Now all for your husband Sir Esbern's sake
"Give lodging to me tonight."

"Full gladly," said Lady Sidselille,
In tears to the man she spake,
"Full gladly I lodge you in Jesus' name
"For dearest Sir Esbern's sake."

"God bless you, good Lady "Sidselille,
"So courtly of tone and air!
"But let for the same dear husband's sake
"A bath-room for me prepare."

Herself she fetch'd him the cleansing lye,
Herself the water too;
Just as she had bathed in former times
Her husband so good and true.

"A daughter I have, is his and mine,
"Eighteen she now must be,
"Her father's face she has never yet seen,
"And never, I fear, will see."

The Lady Sidselille all this time
Stood washing his hands so white;
"Let him, who longer could hide the truth,
"Be shorn of the name of knight/'

He clasp'd her hard to his heaving breast,
He call'd her his dearest dear;
"And now I shall tell thee a joyful news,
"Thy husband is standing here.

"No longer could I the truth conceal,
"My purpose thy love overcame;
"I'm here thy husband, Sir Esbern's self,
"And thou art my faithful dame."

She led him above to the ladies' bower,
So soon as she heard his tale,
And brightly her smiles lit up the check,
Had been with her grief so pale.

And all was glad in Sir Esbem's house;
His daughter she came anon,
And stood before him the fairest maid,
That ever the sun beshone.

Sir Esbern he gave his daughter's hand.
As fair as the very light,
He gave her hand to the young Sir Carl,
As gallant and good a knight.