THE KING'S DAUGHTER

O barren sea, thou bitter bird, And a barren tale my ears have heard.

THE RAVEN

Thy father's men were hard thereby In byrny bright and helmet high.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

O worser waxeth thy story far, For these drew upon me bolt and bar.

Fly south, O fowl, to the field of death For nothing sweet thy grey neb saith.

THE RAVEN

O, there was Olaf the lily-rose, As fair as any oak that grows.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

O sweet bird, what did he then Among the spears of my father's men?

THE RAVEN

'Twixt ashen plank and dark blue sea, He sang: My true love waiteth me.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

As well as this dull floor knows my feet, I am not weary yet, my sweet.

THE RAVEN

He sang: As once her hand I had, Her lips at last shall make me glad.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

As once our fingers met, O love, So shall our lips be fain thereof.

THE RAVEN

He sang: Come wrack and iron and flame, For what shall breach the wall but fame?

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

Be swift to rise and set, O Sun, Lest life 'twixt hope and death be done.

THE RAVEN

King's daughter sitting in tower so high, A gift for my tale ere forth I fly, The gold from thy finger fair and fine, Thou hadst it from no love of thine.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

By my father's ring another there is, I had it with my mother's kiss.

Fly forth, O fowl, across the sea To win another gift of me.

Fly south to bring me tidings true, _Fair summer is on many a s.h.i.+eld._ Of the eve grown red with the battle-dew, _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field._

THE RAVEN

King's daughter sitting in tower so high, _Fair summer is on many a s.h.i.+eld._ Tidings to hearken ere thou die, _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field._ In the Frankish land the spear points met, And wide about the field was wet.

And high ere the cold moon quenched the sun, Blew Steingrim's horn for battle won.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

Fair fall thee, fowl! Tell tidings true Of deeds that men that day did do.

THE RAVEN

Steingrim before his banner went, And helms were broke and byrnies rent.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

A doughty man and good at need; Tell men of any other's deed?

THE RAVEN

Where Steingrim through the battle bore Still Olaf went a foot before.

THE KING'S DAUGHTER