Habor and Signild (A)

Habor and Siward, princely chiefs,
A deadly feud had they,
All for the gentle Signild's sake,
So fair that lovely may!

It was young Habor, royal Prince,
At midnight hour awoke,
And all in haste of his vivid dreams
He thus to his mother spoke.

"It seem'd I stood in heaven above,
"Was in the beauteous town,
"And held my trulove in my arms,
"And through the clouds fell down."

Her ladies heard the Prince's dream,
Nor gave it heed or thought,
But well his royal mother knew,
With fate that it was fraught.

"Now ride, my son, to yonder cave,
"No moment check the rein,
"And the Elfking's eldest daughter pray
"Thy dream to thee explain.

In left hand Habor, royal prince,
Held firm his trusty Made,
As off to the Elfin cave he rode
To see that graceful maid.

With fingers small in mantle roll'd
He gently tapp'd her cell,
She lay awake, the summons heard,
And knew his purpose well.

"Hail! Elf-king's daughter, peerless maid,
"Robed in thy pall of state!
"For God's sake tell what means my dream,
"And what shall be my fate.

"It seem'd I stood in heaven above,
"Was in the glorious town,
"And held my trulove in my arms,
"And through the clouds fell down."

"The maid, for that you've dream'd of heaven,
"Shall in your bosom lie;
"But falling through the cloud portends,
"That for her you must die.

"And if I once should have the bliss
"That lovely maid to gain,
"To suffer death for one so fair
"Will never give me pain.

Prince Habor let his hair grow long,
Got ladies' dresses made,
And so disguised to Siward's rode,
As though to learn to braid.

The Prince was dress'd in ladies' clothes,
Had all in ladies' style,
And up the land to "Siward's rode
His daughter would beguile.

There, as he cross'd the castle yard,
He d'onn'd his scarlet cloak,
And mounting up to the ladies' bower
To dames and maidens spoke.

"My greeting, Matrons all, and Maids!
"And dames of each degree!
"And you, the Princess, most of all,
"If you indeed be she.

"Your skill, fair Signild, royal maid,
"The silk to spin and throw,
"Prince Habor greets you and entreats
"To me you'll deign to show."

"And if Prince Habor sent you here,
"You're come a welcome guest;
"With all the skill that I can boast
"Shall you be soon possess'd.

"I'll teach you work in silk and gold,
"No secret from you keep,
"And at my table you shall dine,
"And with my maid shall sleep."

"With Princesses I am used to dine,
"And at their side to lie;
"If now with servants I must sleep,
"For sorrow I shall die."

"Fear not, sweet lady, lack of care
"For one so gently bred,
"With me at table you shall eat,
"And share with me my bed."

Around her sat her maidens all,
And each her needle plied;
But his laid Habor on his lip,
And sat awhile aside.

They broider'd stag, they broider'd doe,
That ran in woodland green;
The Prince, oft as the wine went round,
Drank out the goblet clean.

In sullen mood and ill-starr'd hour
Came in the spiteful maid;
"So fair a lady I never saw,
"Who could not weave or braid.

"So fair a lady I never saw,
"Who neither sew'd nor span;
"So fair a lady I never saw,
"So well could empt a can."

And aye she vented gibes and jeers
In still more bitter strain;
"So fair a lady I never knew
"Such draughts of liquor drain.

"With needle sews she not a seam,
"She keeps it 'tween her teeth,
"But rnipts at once, be it e'er so full,
"The cup that holds the meath.

"Was ever maiden known to gaze
"With eyes so bold and keen?
"Or with such hard and horny hand
"A noble lady seen?"

"Now list thee, maid, whoe'er thou art,
"Why scoffest thou at me?
"Was thy work wrongly done or right,
"I never chid at thee.

"Thy bitter gibes and foul affront
"No longer will I brook;
"Turn I mine eyes or in or out,
"Tis not at thee I look."

Then sate him down the royal prince,
And broider'd work began;
He pictured both the stag and doe,
And hounds that yelping ran.

He work'd the lily, work'd the rose,
And bird on leafy spray;
His skill those maidens much admired,
And begg'd him long to stay.

They stitch'd and broider'd all day long
Till twilight dusk of eve,
Then, rising, fain would all retire,
And ask'd their lady's leave.

So late the hour, that o'er the court
The dew was seen to sweep,
As Signild, rising too from work,
Herself would go to sleep.

Habor, the royal prince, would know,
Where he should rest him too;
"Up in the chamber you shall sleep
"Reclined on cushions blue."

Up stairs and round the balcony
The way fair Signild led;
Within himself Prince Habor laugh'd,
And follow'd her to bed.

The cheerful tapers there they lit,
And were so well inclined;
But came with ill designs at heart
The spiteful maid behind.

The lights burnt out; they seem'd alone;
The maid they thought was gone;
And then the Prince his kirtle doff'd,
And first his sword-blade shone.

So gently as he laid him down,
And on the cushions sank,
Was heard, and no mistaken sound,
His shirt of mail to clank.

Fair Signild wonder'd much and spake,
Her heart so ill at ease,
"I never knew so fair a maid,
"To wear so coarse chemise."

On Habor's breast so bright with gold
Her lily hand she laid;
"And why is not your bosom grown
"Like any other maid?"

"Because my country's mode requires.
"That when to court we go,
"We damsels ride in coat of mail,
"And so it cannot grow."

They lay the weary hours of dark,
The maid beside the knight,
And talk'd so long, and still to talk
They found so much delight.

"But now, dear Lady Signild, say,
"While here we're left alone,
"Whom would you rather choose to wed,
"Of all whom you have known?"

"To me no knight is half so dear
"Of all in court are bred,
"As brave young Habor, royal prince,
"And him I may not wed.

"Though true, as yet his graceful form
"Has never met mine eyes,
"I've heard him sound his golden horn
"In riding to th' Assize."

"And is the king's son, Habor, he
"That is to you so dear?
"Then Signild, turn, my sweetest maid,
Tis he beside you here."

"Can you the King's son, Habor, be,
"And put me thus to shame?
"Why ride not in with hawk und hound
"In court my hand to claim?"

"Within these walls with hawk and hound
"I've made for you request;
"And, sooth, your father spurn'd my suit
"With scorn and bitter jest."

But while they thought they lay alone,
And chatted hour by hour,
That base and treacherous waiting maid
Was listening near the door.

Foul shame befall the wicked maid
For woe, she caused that night!
She came, and stole away his sword,
And shirt of mail so bright.

She carried off his trusty sword,
His mail she stole away.
And went in haste to the upper room,
To where king Siward lay.

"Wake up! wake up! my Lord and King,
"Quick from your couch arise,
"For clasp'd in young Prince Habor's arms
"Signild your daughter lies."

"Tell me no falsehood: be 'tis not:
"Habor it cannot be;
"For off in th' East-land waging war
"And far away is be.

"Forbear, thou lying wicked jade,
"On her such charge to make,
"Or, ere the morning's light shall dawn,
"I'll burn thee at a stake."

"But if, my noble lord and King,
"You will not trust my word,
"Yet look at this, his coat of mail,
"And this, his glittering sword. "

In haste upstarted then the King,
And shouted fierce with rage;
"To arms! to arms! my household all,
"Hard fight is here to wage.

"With sword and shield strive each your best,
"And stand not one aloof;
"Habor, the Prince, a dauntless foe,
"Is now beneath my roof."

His voice the gentle Signild heard,
And wrung her hands for fear;
"Up! Habor, up! what means this noise?
"Give heed! There's danger near/'

"Be calm, my dearest, let them come,
"I've means their force to meet,
"Here at my head my trusty sword,
"My armour near my feet."

Up from his couch Prince Habor sprang,
To every corner flew,
But gone was both his trusty sword,
And gone his armour too.

In grief and anger Habor spoke,
As there he stood so bare;
"That traitress maid foul shame befall!
"'Tis she has laid the snare."

Against his door in tumult wild
They beat with sword and spear;
"Out! Habor, out to the tilting yard!
"Wake up, and d'on thy gear."

Now proved he him a gallant prince,
For manfully he fought,
Nor, while a bedpost yet was left,
To yield could he be brought.

With foot and hand he dealt his blows,
With table, bench, and stool;
Full thirty of Siward's bravest men
Lay in a gory pool.

In vain with new -forged iron bolts
They chain'd him feet and hands,
With ease, as though they'd been of lead,
He burst their strongest bands.

Then up and spoke the crafty maid,
Whose rede was aye for ill;
"Bind him with hair from Signild's head,
"And hand and foot are still."

From Sign i Id's head to tie his limbs
But two hairs did they take,
And, such the love he felt for her,
That band he could not break.

She spoke, and while she spoke, the tears
Kan down her cheeks so fair;
"Habor, you have my full consent,
"In sunder snap the hair."

They dragged him then, the royal prince,
Within the prison wall,
And men and maidens crowded round,
His trulove most of all.

His hands and feet, while there he lay,
In heaviest bonds were kept,
But to and fro Fair Signild went,
And bitterly she wept

"Habor," she said in saddest tone,
"My mother's sisters three
"Will of my father beg your life,
"If you to that agree.

"For firm is else his stern resolve
"To hear of no delay,
"But hang you straight on the highest oak,'
"Ere breaks the dawn of day."

"What?" answer'd Habor, gallant prince,
"And full of wrath was he,
"Think you it were so small disgrace,
"That women begg'd for me?

"Farewell, my Signild! one request —
"One proof of love I claim;
"When high you see me swing aloft,
"Your chamber set on flame."

And thus that gentle maid replied,
Tho' sorely did she weep;
"Habor, I pledge my word to this,
"And will my promise keep."

They led him forth, the royal prince,
Down from the castle gate,
And all the women sobb'd and wept,
And deeply mourn'd his fate.

But when to the open plain they came,
Where he was doom'd to die,
A little while he bade them stop,
Her love he wish'd to try.

"Hang up, I pray, my scarlet cloak,
"For first I wish to see,
"If yet perhaps the king regrets
"To hang me on the tree."

Fair Signild, when the cloak she saw,
More sad and desperate grew;
"What boots me now a longer life?
The worst is all too true."

With sullen grief and anger fill'd
She call'd her maidens near;
"We'll in our chamber a pastime find
"These weary hours to cheer.

"If there be any here with us
"For Habor's death to blame,
"I'll fearful vengeance take on all,
"And perish in the flame."

With that the brands she toss'd about,
Till all the chamber glow'd;
How stern that haughty woman's will,
To every eye she show'd.

Prince Habor turn'd him round to look,
Where stood his Signild's bower,
And saw the fierce and greedy flame
Its crumbling walls devour.

"Throw on the ground my scarlet cloak,
"Nor let it longer wave,
"For had I ten more lives to lose,
"Not one of them I'd save."

King Siward out of his window look'd,
Sad scene there met his gaze;
Prince Habor hanging on the oak,
And Signild's bower a-blaze.

"Oh! Had I known or heard before,
"That loveties were so strong,
"For Denmark and for Norway both
"Had I not done them wrong.

"Haste, ye, to save my daughter's life,
"If still alive she be,
"And ye to save Prince Habor too;
"No felon thief is he."

But when to Signild's bower they came,
She lay in the cinder red,
And when those others reach'd the tree,
Habor the Prince was dead.

Prince Habor's corpse they carried home
In fair white linen roll'd,
And at his trulove Signild's side
Laid him in Christian mould:

But seiz'd the maid by neck and hair,
And right the death she found,
They buried her, fit bridal bed,
Alive beneath the ground.