Borrow George
The Songs of Ranild

 
But thou art the man on whom standeth my mind.”
 
 
The very next morning ere high was the sun,
Child Stig to complain to the Dane King is gone.
 
 
“Dear Lord, I have this to complain of to thee,
For thy sister at night I at rest cannot be.”
 
 
The King in displeasure his footboy address’d:
“To come to my presence my sister request.”
 
 
Rigissa came in, ’fore the table stood she:
“What mean’st thou, O brother, by sending for me?”
 
 
“O here is a knight doth complaint of thee make,
He cannot at night his repose for thee take.”
 
 
“It is but God’s truth that his chamber I sought,
But nothing unseemly betwixt us was wrought.
 
 
“Steel, glowing steel, I will bear on my hand,
And of crime with Child Stig I acquitted will stand.”
 
 
Long stood the Dane King, full of thought was his head:
“With no better man I my sister can wed.”
 
 
All hearts in the Dane King’s palace were gay,
The Dane King has given his sister away.
 
 
There was pleasure and smiling in every look,
For his beloved Lady Child Stig the maid took.
 
 
Child Stig he brews ale, and the wine doth prepare,
He the Dane King invites to his castle so fair.
 
 
The King and his gallant men all biddeth he,
And the Queen of the Danes of the party should be.
 
 
Outspake the fair Queen, on her steed as she rode:
“Methinks I behold of Child Stig the abode.”
 
 
And thereto the page at her bridle replied:
“Of Stig the brave castle is known far and wide.
 
 
“Within with the richest of gold it is graced,
Without with white silver ’tis all over cased.”
 
 
And, lo, when the gate of the castle they gained,
Five shaggy white bears stood before it enchained.
 
 
And when in procession they entered the court,
Within it the hart and the roebuck did sport.
 
 
In the midst of the court was a silver trough long,
Of birds and of animals round it a throng.
 
 
Above spread the poplar and linden their shade,
In its coolness the hart and the little hind played.
 
 
An apartment they entered, full lofty and fair,
Was crowded with women so courtly of air.
 
 
All of red amber composed was the floor,
The roof with gilt letters was written all o’er.
 
 
The table it was of the red shining gold
The napkin of Agerwool rare to behold.
 
 
The walls were constructed of fair marble stone,
The beams of the roof of the whitest whale bone.
 
 
On the floor they are dancing with rapture so high,
Tall, slender, and stately Sir Stig dances by.
 
 
Straight and slim as a sapling Child Stig dances up,
In each hand holding a fair silver cup.
 
 
Child Stig to the health of his bonny bride quaffed,
And forest and meadow delightedly laughed.
 
 
The forest it bloomed, the boughs leaves put forth —
She excels every damsel in beauty and worth.
 
 
Late in the evening the mist it descends,
Child Stig his young bride to her chamber attends.
 
 
Now gallant Child Stig has o’ercome his distress,
He sleeps in the arm of a lovely princess.
 
 
And Damsel Rigissa is free from her fright,
By the side of Child Stig she reposes each night.
 
 
“Dear Foster dame, give me some counsel, I pray,
How I may escape from this palace away.
 
 
“To cast the Rune letters at Kirstin I meant,
But under the dress of Rigissa they went.
 
 
“I will mount my good courser so true and so tried,
And away to the ends of the earth I will ride.”
 
 
Said she: “Shouldst thou travel all Finland around,
This night at thy couch will Rigissa be found.
 
 
“And e’en shouldst thou ride to the earth’s farthest land,
This night by thy couch she will certainly stand.
 
 
“But, Child Stig, I advise thee, call up a good heart,
And home to thy bed and thy slumbers depart.
 
 
“She’ll tap on the door of thy chamber, I ween,
But still do thou keep, let her in by no mean.