The Sword of Vengeance

Sir Peter came to a castle gate,
As e'en there sat the king in state.

"Welcome, Sir Peter! friend well met!
"What! not avenged thy father yet?"

"I've gone to th' utmost bounds of South,
"Where scalds the sun a land of drouth;

"I've gone to th' utmost bounds of West,
"Where sinks the sun to nightly rest;

"I've gone to th' utmost bounds of North,
"Where frost unceasing chills the earth;

"And here in th' East my course I stay,
"Where kindles up the light of day;

"Yet none, though wide and far I go,
"Can me my father's murderer show."

"And what wilt thou on him bestow,
"Who doth thy father's murderer show?"

"I'll give him silver, give him gold,
"And merchant coin I'll not withhold;

"I'll give him these, I'll give him more,
"The boat that lies on yonder shore."

Then said the king with scornful leer,
"Thy father's murderer seest thou here.

"Aye" said the king with scornful leer,
"Thy father's murderer seest thou here.

"The Lord my God to me be true,
"As I for thee a father slew."

Sir Peter smote his heaving breast,
"Lie still, my heart, be thou at rest.

"Lie still my heart, not too much haste;
"Our vengeance, trust me, we will taste."

Sir Peter walk'd the castle yard,
And with his faithful sword conferr'd.

"Hark thee, my sword, so staunch and good,
"Canst thou bestir thyself in blood?

"My sword, say, wilt thou stand by me?
"No friend on earth have I but thee."

"But how can I then lend thee aid,
"Wrench'd from its hilt my trusty blade?"

Sir Peter a famous smithy knew,
And got his sword-blade fix'd anew.

They forged the hilt of silver white,
The pommel made of gold so bright.

"My sword, now wilt thou stand by me?
"No friend on earth have I but thee."

"O be but thou as keen of mood,
"As thou shalt find my temper good.

"Be thou as firm and staunch in fight,
"As I shall in my hilt be tight."

Sir Peter went to a grassy bank,
Where fast and hard the champions drank.

Sir Peter would his sword essay,
And slain at once eight champions lay.

Sir Peter's sword so wildly flared,
It neither maid nor mother spared.

Sir Peter hew'd with deadly swing,
And spared not, he, or prince or king.

Up spake the child in cradle lain,
"So vengest thou a father slain?

"The vengeance, thou hast wreak'd for thine,
"Grant God I live to take for mine!"

"I've well avenged a father dead,
"To vengeance thou shalt not be bred."

With that the threatening brat he slew,
With one blow cut him through and through.

"Still thee, my pretty sword so brown;
"For God's sake keep thy choler down."

Then spake the sword in sullen mood,
"Thee would I slay and taste thy blood.

"Hadst thou by name not call'd on me,
"I would at once have slaughtered thee."

Back to the smith Sir Peter paced,
And got himself in iron cased.

He bade them case him foot and hand,
For he would march and leave the land.

He came where lay the buried king,
And off fell band and iron ring.