Samson

Young Samson at court in service stood,
And there he his king's fair daughter wooed.

"Kirstin, now listen, fair maid, to me,
"And tell me, will you my trulove be?"

"Dear Samson, thy bride I gladly were,
"But thwart my father I do not dare."

The maid he wrapp'd in his mantle blue,
And up on his charger gently threw.

He hold her fast on his gallant gray,
And off to his home with her rode his way.

His hat he joyfully waved on high;
"And now then, king of the Danes, Good bye!"

The news to the king was quickly sped;
"Your daughter has e'en with Samson fled."

The king bade over his castle call,
"Up, troopers, and d'on your harness all!

"Up! up! my men, up! to horse! to horse!
"My daughter is carried away by force.

"Up, troopers! up, all! take spear and bow,
"In Samson ye'll find a dauntless foe.

"Ride, follow up hard on the villain's track,
"Till dead or living ye bring him back."

Nor were they tardy, his guardsmen leal,
But arm'd, and buckled their spurs on heel.

They rode, and as soon as they reached the mead,
Their horses urged to their utmost speed.

They rode and they came to Samson's gate,
Where Mette his stately mother, sate.

"Speak, Mette, lady so fine and fair,
"Where's Samson thy son? o tell us where."

US "My Samson yesterday rode away,
"And will not be back till Christmas day."

"We'll give thee heaps of the ruddy gold,
"To tell us where Samson has his hold."

"Right pleasant the sight of gold in store,
"But Samson is now at home no more.

"As gay as in chest are gold's bright hues
"'Tis painful an only son to lose."

They down on the grass a mantle spread,
And pour'd upon it the gold so red.

"A house is on yonder northward side,
"And Samson is there and his royal bride."

So false was his mother, she basely sold
Her only son for a heap of gold.

The troopers they rode to Samson's yard,
Were thinking to win a rich reward.

They batter'd the door with spear and shield,
"Out, Samson, and meet us upon the field!"

Young Samson he back the casement threw;
"Ye count so many and we so few;

"But wait) good troopers, sit down and rest,
Till I for the combat am duly drest."

To help him his lady did not fail,
But buckled about him his coat of on ail.

Well arm'd he sprang from his chamber door,
And thinn'd their ranks so close before.

He first slew four of them, then slew five,
Of thirty he left not one alive.

He hew'd them, till hew he could no more,
He trampled in thirty troop ors' gore.

"And now from his stall my charger bring,
"I'll mount him and ride to see the king/'

He stopp'd as he pass'd the homestead gate,
Where waiting his traitress mother sate.

He drew from his scabbard the reeking steel;
"My mother art thou, or its edge shouldst feel."

He drew from the sheathe his glittering knife,
"My mother art thou, or it cost thy life.

"The cruellest mother thou hast been,
"Hast sold my life to my foes yestreen.

"For yonder glittering heap of gold
"A mother her own son's life has sold!"

As Samson rode to the palace gate,
There stood the king in a robe of state.

"Hark, Samson, my man, and answer me,
"Where tarry the troopers I sent for thee?"

"Your troopers are all on my courtyard spread,
"Are wounded' some of them, some are dead:

"Some sick, some likely enough to die,
"And somE on the bier as corpses lie.

"So tell me, my king, so brave and fine,
"When "end you to fetch your mastfed swine?

"Let five of your baggage waggons come,
"And load them, and bring the slaughter'd home."

His sword from the scabbard Samson drew,
"And were you not king, this should you rue."

"Nay, gallant Samson, pat up thy blade,
"Thou pro vest thee worthy a royal maid.

"E'en take my daughter and sheath thy knife;
"I give her to thee to be thy wife."

He turn'd him about and homeward hied,
To visit in peace his royal bride.

He turn'd him, and gave his horse the rein,
And rode to his lovely bride again.