Childe Daneved and Swain Trusty

"But what shall I ever in Denmark do,
"For armour like their's too young?
"The Danish troopers will surely laugh,
"So badly I talk their tongue."
But I shall never learn good Danish,

Childe Daneved he his varlets call'd,
And bade that his horse be drest;
"I'll mount and across to Borreby,
"And be my mother's guest."

They rattled and clank'd their glittering spurs,
And off their horses sprung;
In church at Lunden in Sconeland
They heard the Vesper sung.

The Vespers they stayed in church to hear,
And masses nine beside;
And then would again Childe Daneved
His gallant good horse bestride.

But kindly the reverend Clave spake.
Their own parish priest was he;
"Now list to my prayer, Childe Daneved,
"And tarry the night with me."

"I will with nobody eat today,
"Nor drink of the sparkling mead,
"Till first I have ridden to Borreby,
"And ask'd of my mother rede."

"But list to me, dear Childe Daneved,
"There's reason for What I say;
"Our foes are lurking beyond the town,
"And surely will thee belay."

"I trust to my good and well-tried sword,
"I trust to the steed I ride;
"And next I trust to my faithful swains,
"But most in myself confide.'

"You well may trust to your own good sword,
"And trust to your gallant steed,"
"But, trust, as you will, your faithful swains,
"They'll fail you in time of need."

They scarcely had ridden beyond the town;
The childe and his mailclad band,
Than met him his foes, some thirty men.
And halted, and bade him stand.

So strong and so many seem'd his foes,
That lurking in ambush lay,
Childe Daneved's swains their furlough took,
And ran from their lord away.

They took their furlough those troopers all,
Not one of the band was true,
Except Swain Trusty, and he so fought,
As though he was hired anew.

"And I have so long your livery worn,
"So long have ridden your steed,
"And faithful I'll stand by you today,
"Nor fail you in time of need.

"I've taken your silver and gold for pay,
"And long I have shared your bread;
"I will not swerve from your side today,
"But faithfully light, till dead."

They set them together back to back
All on the greenwood lawn;
Fifteen they had slain, those two alone,
Ere peep of the morning dawn.

They sot them together back to back
Alt under the greenwood spray.
And thirty they slew, those two alone,
Great honour they won that day.

And, ended the fight, Childe Daneved,
He belted his sword to side.
And off to his mother's, with joyful heart,
He mounted his horse to ride.

As up to her house Childe Daneved
Came riding within the gate.
Out stepped his mother in costly furs
Her son at the door to wait.

"O welcome, my son, my dearest son!
"Right welcome art thou indeed;
"Now wilt thou drink of the sparkling wine,
"Or rather the luscious mead?"

"I will not eat, nor a cup will drink
"Of either your mead or wine
"Till you give Trusty, my faithful swain,
"You only dear sister mine."

"But barken to me, my dearest son,
"For what I will say is true;
"Her brother is he, so help me God!
"Her brother, as well as you."

"O list to my prayer, dear mother mine,
"Nor fraudfully tell me so;
"For where could you rear Swain Trusty up,
"That naught of it' should know?"

"I sent him, a little and tender babe,
"Away to a foreign shore;
"I heard for a truth that he was dead,
"And spake of him never more."

He made her answer, Childe Daneved,
He spake like a brave man's son;
"No reason have I to plain of that,
"And have such a brother won. —

"God bless thee, young Trusty! and here to thee
"This pledge of my troth I give.
"I never will leave thee, or play thee false,
"As long as on earth I live."

Childe Daneved, he, and Trusty too
In raiment of sable both,
Rode off to serve in th' Emperor's court.
And truly were nothing loth.