Poems By the Way Part 24

So to the Queen the word came in That h.e.l.lelil wild work doth win.

Then did the Queen do furs on her And went to h.e.l.lelil the fair.

"O swiftly sewest thou, h.e.l.lelil, Yet nought but mad is thy sewing still!"

"Well may my sewing be but mad Such evil hap as I have had.

My father was good king and lord, Knights fifteen served before his board.

He taught me sewing royally, Twelve knights had watch and ward of me.

Well served eleven day by day, To folly the twelfth did me bewray.

And this same was hight Hildebrand, The King's son of the English Land.

But in bower were we no sooner laid Than the truth thereof to my father was said.

Then loud he cried o'er garth and hall: 'Stand up, my men, and arm ye all!

'Yea draw on mail and dally not, Hard neck lord Hildebrand hath got!'

They stood by the door with glaive and spear; 'Hildebrand rise and hasten here!'

Lord Hildebrand stroked my white white cheek: 'O love, forbear my name to speak.

'Yea even if my blood thou see, Name me not, lest my death thou be.'

Out from the door lord Hildebrand leapt, And round about his good sword swept.

The first of all that he slew there Were my seven brethren with golden hair.

Then before him stood the youngest one, And dear he was in the days agone.

Then I cried out: 'O Hildebrand, In the name of G.o.d now stay thine hand.

'O let my youngest brother live Tidings hereof to my mother to give!'

No sooner was the word gone forth Than with eight wounds fell my love to earth.

My brother took me by the golden hair, And bound me to the saddle there.

There met me then no littlest root, But it tore off somewhat of my foot.

No littlest brake the wild-wood bore, But somewhat from my legs it tore.

No deepest dam we came unto But my brother's horse he swam it through.

But when to the castle gate we came, There stood my mother in sorrow and shame.

My brother let raise a tower high, Bestrewn with sharp thorns inwardly.

He took me in my silk s.h.i.+rt bare And cast me into that tower there.

And wheresoe'er my legs I laid Torment of the thorns I had.

Wheresoe'er on feet I stood The p.r.i.c.kles sharp drew forth my blood.

My youngest brother me would slay But my mother would have me sold away.

A great new bell my price did buy In Mary's Church to hang on high.

But the first stroke that ever it strake My mother's heart asunder brake."

So soon as her sorrow and woe was said, _None knows my grief but G.o.d alone_, In the arm of the Queen she sat there dead, _I never tell my sorrow to any other one_.

THE SON'S SORROW.

FROM 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.