The Maiden’s Morning Dream

To the bower went Riseli,
(But a Frankish mile away)
And the maid awakened she.
(The Wends come up to the castle.)

With honour and praise should maidens awake,
But a whip for the waking did Riseli take.

“If thou dost lie and sleep so late,
Never a knight wilt thou win for mate!”

“Oh, better I love my morning dream
Than other maids their silken seam!

“Methought I was but a spirit light,
To the land o’ the Wends I took my flight.

“So wide my wings were spanned
They covered lea and land.

“I set me down on a linden-root,
And the branches bowed beneath my foot.”

“Now heed, O niece, what I say to thee;
Shalt give thy morning dream to me!

“Shalt give to me thy morning dream,
And I’ll give thee all my summer’s seam.”

“Oh, keep thyself thy summer’s seam!
Far dearer to me is my morning dream.”

Oh, scarcely had they done debate,
When the Wendish King rode up to the gate.

The Wendish King rode up to the door,
Riseli went and stood before.

“Welcome, noble lord of mine!
Now shall I pour thee mead or wine?”

“I will have nor mead nor wine,
But I will see Vesselil, niece o’ thine!”

“But five years old is Vesselil,
She bides with her foster-mother still.”

“And an she were but three years old,
These eyes the maiden must behold!”

“My other maids sit sewing still,
But never of sleep can she have her fill.”

Into the hall the King she led,
And forth to seek her niece she sped.

Her hair she tore, her face she struck:
“Woe worth thee, Vesselil, for thy good luck!

“Now do thou on thy garments bright,
For thou shalt see the King to-night.”

Into the hall did Vesselil fare,
And it seemed as the sun shone in with her.

“Oh, never a maiden did I behold
Was grown so well for five years old!”

He stroked her on her cheek so white,
He called her love and heart’s delight.

“I give thee my word, O Vesselil,
Shalt sleep as long as thou hast a will.”

They clad her all in silken weed,
They lifted her on the good grey steed.

They set on her head a crown of gold,
And the King he led her from the hold
—But a Frankish mile away—
The Wends come up to the castle.