The Norse King's Bridal
Ballad 8
Sir Dalebo built him a ship so great,
The king himself had not its mate.
They knew not Sir Dalebo Jonsen.
The king from his window was looking forth
so free;
"Whose is the gallant ship a-sailing in the
sea?"
"Now that is Sir Dalebo Jonsen's."
Up spake the king to his captains bold:
"Bind him, Sir Dalebo, have him and hold!
Bind him, Sir Dalebo Jonsen!"
Up sprang the captians on their steeds of
dapple grey,
And forth they galloped faster than a bird
can fly away---
For they knew not Dalebo Jonsen!
Now they are come to his castle fair and
great,
And there stood his mother a-tarrying by
the gate;
"Show us Sir Dalebo Jonsen!"
"I cannot show you Dalebo, I know not
where he be,
For it is seven years and more he rode away
from me---
I can show him not, Dalebo Jonsen."
The captian pulled off his cap of blue,
A thousand gold-pieces he told so true---
"Now show us Sir Dalebo Jonsen!"
"To the east o' the court, in the bower
above,
Sir Dalebo talks with his own true love;
Ye can find him there, Dalebo Jonsen."
They knocked at the door with shield and
with spear;
Up sprang Sir Dalebo: "Whom have we
here?
Who are these ?" said Dalebo Jonsen.
He put on his armour all shining and
bright,
Little Kirsten she clasped it, the best that
she might---
"Clasp it hard!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
Sir Dalebo out of the window sprang---
His gold-hilted sword at his girdle rang---
"I come!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
He struck down one, he struck down
two---
"'Tis thus the goodly game should go!
Doth it like ye?" said Dalebo Jonsen.
He struck down three, he struck down
four---
"The game goes better than of yore!
What think ye?" said Dalebo Jonsen.
Sir Dalebo he mounted his steed of dapple-
grey,
And forth he galloped faster than a bird
can fly away,
"Tread softly!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
Sir Dalebo has come to his castle fair and
great,
There stood his mother, a-tarrying by the
gate---
"Good-morrow!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
"Hearken, dear mother, to what I ask of
thee!
What didst thou with the money of my foemen
paid for me?
I ask it, Sir Dalebo Jonsen."
"Ah, Dalebo, ah, Dalebo, and wilt thou work
me woe?
Never for all the world would I sell thee to
thy foe---
I sold thee not, Dalebo Jonsen."
He drew his shining sword, and struck her
where she stood,
And all so small he hewed her as the beech-
leaves in the wood---
"Lie thou there!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
Sir Dalebo he mounted his steed of dapple-
grey,
And forth he galloped faster than a bird
that flies away---
For wroth was Sir Dalebo Jonsen.
Sir Dalebo has ridden to the castle fair and
great;
There stood the King o' Danes, a-tarrying
by the gate.
"Good greeting!" said Dalebo Jonsen.
"Hearken now, Sir Dalebo, and look thou
tell to me!
Where are they, my champions, I sent of
late to thee?
Tell me that, Sir Dalebo Jonsen!"
"Oh some of them are sick, and some of
them are sore,
And some are lying still, to rise again no
more,
That thou sentest to Dalebo Jonsen.
"Go then, get thy salt, bid thy scullions
ready be,
If thou wilt salt the flesh that I have carved
for thee!
I rede thee, Sir Dalebo Jonsen."
"I pray thee, dear Sir Dalebo, now sheathe
thy shining brand!
For freely will I give thee mine only daughter's
hand!
I pray thee, Sir Dalebo Jonsen!"
"What reck I of your wenches, or your
serving-maids so gay?
I have mine own true sweetheart, that's
fairer far than they!
I say it, Dalebo Jonsen!"
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