ll take place.

"She's betrothed to a Duke of high degree,
Live and die with her will he."

"Ere he shall gain my betrothed may,
I'll have with that Duke a bloody fray."

His cloak of sable he o'er him throws,
And unto Sir Sallemand's hall he goes.

He took the shining chess-table of gold,
And into the high hall strode he bold.

"Is there any man this hall within,
Who at chess with me a game can win?

"Who a game at chess can skilfully play,
And win a foreigner's gold away?"

All then sate so hushed and still,
None save May Thure would prove their skill.

But Damsel Thure, she answered free:
"Yes, I will at chess-table play with thee."

May Thure covered her golden head,
And unto her father she is sped.

"Here thou sitt'st and drink'st wine from the shell,
And may I sit down at chess-table?

"At the table a game of chess to play,
Will help to beguile the longsome day."

"Yes, by the Saints! my daughter bright,
At chess thou may'st play from now till night.

"At chess to play thou, my girl, art free,
Whether within or without I be."

Thereto her mother answer made,
In evil arts she was deeply read:

"Of Sir Thor the powerful have thou care,
Lest he at chess-table thee ensnare.

"Do thou with thy maids in thy bower stay,
At tables of gold thou shalt not play."

But the maid no ear to her mother lent,
To play at tables away she went.

The first game on the board they played
Was won by Thure, the lily maid.

"The eagle flies across the moor,
He heeds but little the tempest's roar.

"All that he findeth he swalloweth,
How like to a woman devoid of faith!"

"O do not cast such reproach at me,
Remember I waited eight years for thee."

"Hear thou, Damsel, what word I say
Wilt follow me now to Norroway?"

"I'll follow thee gladly to Norroway's land,
If I with thee can reach the strand."

The Damsel she was a lily flower,
She followed Sir Thor to the rugged shore.

He took her tenderly by the waist,
And on the gilt prow the Damsel placed.

Sir Thor spread his sail on the yard-arm good,
And out to the open sea he stood.

The wind filled bravely the silken sail,
The ship sprang lightly before the gale.

Sir Thor he waved his hat with delight,
"Bid ye, Sir Sallemand, a long good night

"And tell the Duke, when he comes to wed,
That Thor has taken his plighted maid."

A messenger swift Sir Sallemand hailed:
"Away with thy daughter Sir Thor has sailed!"

To that Sir Sallemand repl