Classic Poem

1.

The maiden wooes the handsome knight
To plight to her his troth,
Would give him gifts to sleep with her
Of gold and silver both.
" O Magnus plight thy troth to me,
" So longingly I pray;
" And thou canst answer " nay" or " no,"
" Or " yea and yea and yea." "

2.

" I'll give thee a richly broider'd shirt,
" As fine as e'er was bought,
" And every seam, there is therein,
" With silken thread is wrought.
" O Magnus etc.

3.

" I'll give thee too a horse to ride
" So stout of wind and bone,
" He walks as well on billows blue
" As on the hardest stone.
" O Magnus etc.

4.

" I'll give thee a ship with gold belaid;
" Will stem the roughest seas;
" Its sails are all of scarlet cloth,
" It flies with every breeze.
" O Magnus etc.

5.

" I'll give thee a costly sword of gold,
" The best thou couldest wield;
" With it the victory shall be thine
" On every battle field.
" O Magnus etc.

6.

" And hark! I'll give thee a falcon blue,
" No swifter sits on bough;
" Such precious gifts would I not miss,
" Were I a knight as thou. "
" O Magnus etc.

7.

" Thee would I gladly wed, wert thou
" Like other woman-kind;
" But thou'rt as foul a mountain elf,
" As one on earth may find. "
" O Magnus etc.

8.

The Knight girt up his good grey steed,
To Rendsborg he would ride,
But seiz'd his skirt the elfin maid,
" Nay here shalt thou abide. "
" O Magnus etc.

9.

The Knight he drew the costly blade,
And at his side he wore,
And chopp'd the maid to bits as fine
As sand on ocean shore.
" O Magnus etc.

10.

The maiden turn'd to a blazing fire,
And rose in angry flake,
And made the mightiest forest trees
To tremble all and quake.
" O Magnus etc.