Sir Axel to the lovely maid
Now bids good-night with groans and sighing;
His heart with sorrow down is weigh'd,
Like heart of wretch in fetters lying.

Wends to her chamber Valborg fair,
Her maidens all behind her pacing;
Her heart with anguish and despair
With more than furnace heat was blazing.

Early in the morning tide
The sun began to shine so proudly,
Queen Malfred to her maidens cried
Within her bower oft and loudly.

To work the gold so red of blee
Queen Malfred has her maidens ordered;
But still stood Valborg, still stood she,
Her heart with care was all disordered.

"Now Valborg hear, thou damsel dear,
Why sitt'st thou lonely and dejected?
A joy to thee it sure must be,
Thou art a prince's bride elected."

"Much sooner I, O Queen, would wone
With Axel as his mate, much sooner
Than I would wear Norwegia's crown,
Enjoying all the regal honour.

"'Twill profit me in scanty guise
That all are flatteries on me heaping,
If with the water of my eyes
My pallid cheeks I'm daily steeping."

For many a day thus matters stood,
For many a day till months were ended;
Sir Axel and his damsel good
Their sports and laughs have all suspended.

Then war, fierce war, drew near that clime,
The foes they were in force alarming;
For Hogen, son of the King, 'tis time
To rise and 'gainst his foes be arming.

He summoned his good banner round
All, all his men both clerks and laity;
To the heart of Axel, knight renown'd,
The call to arms brought sudden gaiety.

It was Hogen the King's son bold
Unto the field of battle wended,
And every one who brand could hold
His sovereign to the field attended.

Each man in the land could bear a blade
To fight the foe with him has wended;
Sir Axel he his captain made,
He knew that much on him depended.

Wide o'er the field shone Axel's shield,
That shield which was of white and azure;
Two hearts there stood, both red with blood,
For fame he'll risk his life with pleasure.

Then soon they saw upon the plain
In glittering ranks outspread their foemen;
To fight with men was the question then,
I ween, and not to dance with women.

Sir Axel on that dreadful day
For country fought in manner fitting;
Before him knights in steel array
Are fast their gilded saddles quitting.

He slew so many of noble race,
And trampled them his warhorse under;
Not one, not e'en of highest pla