King Erik and the Scornful Maid

All so rich a damsel
Dwells southward in our land,
And ne’er to dance with a poor young swain
Will she stretch forth her hand.
—Damsel, great is thy favour! I thank thee right courteously.

Ne’er to dance with a poor young swain
Will she hold forth her hand;
She’s tied up her sleeves with ribbons of silk
And many a golden band.

It was young King Erik
Bade saddle his steed so free:
“Forth will we fare to the southland
And visit this proud ladye!”

It was young King Erik
That forth to dance did stand;
He’s taken that dainty damsel
All by her lily hand.

“Now nay, I will not dance with thee!
Too hard are thy hands indeed;
Thou hast been hewing of hedges
Or spreading of muck on the mead!”

“Oh, yestre’en I played at a bridal-feast,
A-tilting with knights so tall,
And hard is my hand with grasping the brand
That won me the prize from all!”

“And wert thou yestre’en at a bridal-feast
There tilted no knights so tall!
Wert loading thy father’s wain with muck,
And deeper in dirt than all.

“Ill they become thee, thy garments,
Thy hosen are rent at the knee;
Thy master hath given thee holiday,
So thou must ride speedilie!”

“Are there no tailors, women or men,
Here in this town o’ thine,
Can cut me clothes of the scarlet cloth
And sew them with silk so fine?”

“Tailors there are, both women and men,
Here in this town o’ mine,
Can cut thee breeches of wadmal coarse
And sew them with hempen twine.”

“Lithe and listen, thou haughty maid,
Wilt yield thy love to me?
All the gold that in Denmark lies
Thy portion it shall be!”

“All the gold that in Denmark lies
Is held in strong duresse;
Get thee gone and patch thy shoon!
Thy feet will ache the less.”

Up spake the lady’s serving-maid
As boldly as she might:
“And it is young King Erik
That thou dost scorn and spite!”

“And is it young King Erik
That I have scorned and shent,
Methinks I ha’ done an evil deed,
And sore do I repent.

“All in the midst o’ my father’s garth
There standeth a linden green,
And many a knight and lady fair
Hold tryst beneath unseen!”

“All in the midst o’ thy father’s garth
There standeth a linden green,
And many a thief and rascal wight
Hold tryst beneath unseen!”
—Lady, great is thy favour! I thank thee right courteously.