courteous smile,
"The Queen will be here in a little while."

Then forward she stepped like a blushing rose,
She takes his hand and to dance she goes.

"Hear Signelil what I say to thee,
A ditty of love sing thou to me."

"A ditty of love I will not, Sir King,
But as well as I can another I'll sing."

Proud Signil began, a ditty she sang,
To the ears of the Queen in her bed it rang.

Says the Queen in her chamber as she lay:
"O which of my maidens doth sing so gay?

"O which of my maidens doth sing so late,
To bed why followed they me not straight?"

Then answered the Queen the little foot page,
"'Tis none of thy maidens I'll engage.

"'Tis none I'll engage of the maiden band,
'Tis Signil proud from the islet's strand."

"O bring my red mantle hither to me,
For I'll go down this maid to see."

And when they came down to the castle gate
The dance it moved at so brave a rate.

About and around they danced with glee,
There stood the Queen and the whole did see.

The Queen she felt so sore aggrieved
When the King with Signil she perceived.

Sophia the Queen to her maid did sign:
"Go fetch me hither a horn of wine."

His hand the King stretched forth so free:
"Wilt thou Sophia my partner be?"

"O I'll not dance with thee, I vow,
Unless proud Signil pledge me now."

The horn she raised to her lips, athirst,
The innocent heart in her bosom burst.

There stood King Valdemar pale as clay,
Stone dead at his feet the maiden lay.

"A fairer maid since I first drew breath
Ne'er came more guiltless to her death."

For her wept woman and maid so sore,
To the Church her beauteous corse they bore.

But better with her it would have sped,
Had she but heard what her mother said.

SWAYNE FELDING

Swayne Felding sits at Helsingborg,
He tells his deeds with pride;
Full blythe at heart I ween he was,
His faulchion at his side.

He vows that he on pilgrimage
To regal Rome will go;
And many a Danish warrior bold
Doth make the self same vow.

So out they rode from Danish land,
And only two were they;
They stopped to rest them in a town,
Its name was Hovdingsey.

They stopped to rest in a lofty town,
Its name was Hovdingsey;
They guested with a Damsel proud,
A wondrous lovely may.

She placed Swayne highest at the board
Amidst a knightly band;
And then wherefrom they two were come
The Damsel did demand.

"Thou art no needy pilgrim, Sir,
Who honorest us