Classic Poem

THE ICELANDIC

The King has asked of his son so good,
" Why art thou hushed and heavy of mood?
O fair it is to ride abroad.
Thou playest not, and thou laughest not;
All thy good game is clean forgot. "

" Sit thou beside me, father dear,
And the tale of my sorrow shalt thou hear.

" Thou sendedst me unto a far-off land,
And gavest me into a good Earl's hand.

" Now had this good Earl daughters seven,
The fairest of maidens under heaven.

" One brought me my meat when I should dine,
One cut and sewed my raiment fine.

" One washed and combed my yellow hair,
And one I fell to loving there.

" Befell it on so fair a day,
We minded us to sport and play.

" Down in a dale my horse bound I,
Bound on my saddle speedily.

" Bright red she was as the flickering flame
When to my saddle-bow she came.

" Beside my saddle-bow she stood,
" To flee with thee to my heart were good."

" Kind was my horse and good to aid,
My love upon his back I laid.

" We gat us from the garth away,
And none was ware of us that day.

" But as we rode along the sand
Behold a barge lay by the land.

" So in that boat did we depart,
And rowed away right glad at heart.

" When we came to the dark wood and the shade
To raise the tent my true-love bade.

" Three sons my true-love bore me there,
And syne she died who was so dear.

" A grave I wrought her with my sword,
With my fair shield the mould I poured.

" First in the mould I laid my love,
Then all my sons her breast above.

" And I without must lie alone;
So from the place I gat me gone. "

No man now shall stand on his feet
To love that love, to woo that sweet:
O fair it is to ride abroad.