's famed town I've vowed to stray,
My mind is bent the Pope on seeing."

"From Gildish race if thou be sprung,
Then pilgrim thou art my relation;
Has Valborg me from memory flung?
Of her canst give me information?

"O Valborg is a damsel bright,
There's few than I should know her better;
Full many a gay and gallant knight
She holds in love's enchanting fetter.

"So well to me the maid is known,
The mard and sable rich she weareth;
From all the maids at court that wone
The belle, the belle sweet Valborg beareth.

"Upgrown Sir Knight is Valborg now,
A lily she among the daisies;
Amongst our maidens high or low
No fairer ever met my gazes.

"In earth beside her lord beloved
The good Dame Julli now is sleeping;
From cloister Valborg is removed,
The Queen is favours on her heaping.

"With strings of pearls her hair is tied,
Around her wrist red gold there gloweth,
She's named 'Sir Axel's bonnie bride'
By every voice where'er she goeth.

"They called her thy betrothed maid,
Sir Axel, but her friends united
Have hope she will Prince Hogen wed,
And with that hope they are delighted."

Sir Axel robed himself that day
In the best guise that he was able,
And to the hall he took his way
Where Emperor Henrik sat at table.

"Hail Henrik Emperor mild of heart,
In whose good grace I've long been basking,
For home that I may straight depart
The freedom I now take of asking.

"My sire and mother both are dead,
Exposed to foes my lands are lying,
Another my betrothed will wed,
And that's the call to me most crying."

"The leave for which thy heart doth yearn
Reluctantly Sir Knight I give thee;
Whene'er it please thee to return
Most gladly I'll Sir Knight receive thee."

Away from court Sir Axel rode,
A gallant band attend behind him;
And all that at the Court abode
Unto the care of God consign'd him.

So fast he speeded on his way,
Him followed thrice ten swains so merry;
But when he reached his castellaye
The noble knight was solitary.

Alone he reached his castle good,
His gallant courser panting, snorting:
And there his sister Helfred stood,
Against the gate herself supporting.

"Here standst thou, Helfred, sister dear,
Thou little didst expect my coming;
How doth it with sweet Valborg fare,
That roselet 'mongst the flowers blooming?"

"Dear brother well doth Valborg fare
She all our maids exceeds in