"And say how much thou wilt give unto me,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "That herself may into the hill come to thee?"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"Thee will I give the ruddiest gold,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "And thy chests full of money as they can hold,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

One Sunday morning it fell out so, Time with me goes slow.-- Proud Margaret unto the church should go, But that grief is heavy I know.

And all as she goes, and all as she stays, Time with me goes slow.-- All the nearer she comes where the high hill lay, But that grief is heavy I know.

So she goeth around the hill compassing, Time with me goes slow.-- So there openeth a door, and thereat goes she in, But that grief is heavy I know.

Proud Margaret stept in at the door of the hill, Time with me goes slow.-- And the hill-king salutes her with eyes joyful, But that grief is heavy I know.

So he took the maiden upon his knee, Time with me goes slow.-- And took the gold rings and therewith her wed he, But that grief is heavy I know.

So he took the maiden his arms between, Time with me goes slow.-- He gave her a gold crown and the name of queen, But that grief is heavy I know.

So she was in the hill for eight round years, Time with me goes slow.-- There bare she two sons and a daughter so fair, But that grief is heavy I know.

When she had been full eight years there, Time with me goes slow.-- She wished to go home to her mother so dear, But that grief is heavy I know.

And the hill-king spake to his footpages twain, Time with me goes slow.-- "Put ye the gray paeers now unto the wain,"[167]

But that grief is heavy I know.

And Margaret out at the hill-door stept, Time with me goes slow.-- And her little children they thereat wept, But that grief is heavy I know.

And the hill-king her in his arms has ta'en.

Time with me goes slow.-- So he lifteth her into the gilded wain, But that grief is heavy I know.

"And hear now thou footpage what I unto thee say,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Thou now shalt drive her to her mother's straightway,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

Proud Margaret stept in o'er the door-sill, Time with me goes slow.-- And her mother saluteth her with eyes joyful, But that grief is heavy I know.

"And where hast thou so long stayed?"

Time with me goes slow.-- "I have been in the flowery meads,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"What veil is that thou wearest on thy hair?"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Such as women and mothers use to wear,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"Well may I wear a veil on my head,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Me hath the hill-king both wooed and wed,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"In the hill have I been these eight round years,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "There have I two sons and a daughter so fair,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"There have I two sons and a daughter so fair,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "The loveliest maiden the world doth bear,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"And hear thou, proud Margaret, what I say unto thee,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Can I go with thee home thy children to see?"

But that grief is heavy I know.

And the hill-king stept now in at the door, Time with me goes slow.-- And Margaret thereat fell down on the floor, But that grief is heavy I know.

"And stayest thou now here complaining of me,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Camest thou not of thyself into the hill to me?"

But that grief is heavy I know.

"And stayest thou now here and thy fate dost deplore?"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Camest thou not of thyself in at my door?"

But that grief is heavy I know.

The hill-king struck her on the cheek rosie, Time with me goes slow.-- "And pack to the hill to thy children wee,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

The hill-king struck her with a twisted root, Time with me goes slow.-- "And pack to the hill without any dispute,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

And the hill-king her in his arms has ta'en, Time with me goes slow.-- And lifted her into the gilded wain, But that grief is heavy I know.

"And hear thou my footpage what I unto thee say,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Thou now shalt drive her to my dwelling straightway,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

Proud Margaret stept in at the hill door, Time with me goes slow.-- And her little children rejoiced therefre, But that grief is heavy I know.

"It is not worth while rejoicing for me,"

Time with me goes slow.-- "Christ grant that I never a mother had been,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

The one brought out a gilded chair, Time with me goes slow.-- "O rest you, my sorrow-bound mother, there,"

But that grief is heavy I know.

The one brought out a filled up horn, Time with me goes slow.-- The other put therein a gilded corn, But that grief is heavy I know.

The first drink she drank out of the horn, Time with me goes slow.-- She forgot straightway both heaven and earth, But that grief is heavy I know.

The second drink she drank out of the horn, Time with me goes slow.-- She forgot straightway both God and his word, But that grief is heavy I know.