Daily Stories

p. 24

“And though thou see me freely bleed, Let not my name from thy mouth proceed.”

His helm on his head Sir Ribolt cast, Gulborg with her fair hands laced it fast.

Then, crying his cry, he slays outright Her father dear and her plighted knight,

And, at the second “Halloo,” he slew Her brothers with locks of yellow hue.

“Desist, O Ribolt, my heart’s ador’d, ’Tis time, ’tis time to sheath thy sword.

“My youngest brother I pray thee spare, That he to my mother may tiding bear;

“Bear her the tidings of the slaughter, O would she never had borne a daughter!”

Scarce had the name of Ribolt sounded, When Ribolt tottered, deadly wounded.

p. 25He sheathed his faulchion, blood be-dyed: “Come, dear Gulborg, we hence will ride.”

p. 25

They thread the mazes of the wood, No word escaped him, bad or good.

“Hear, Ribolt, hear, my destined mate, Why art not glad as thou wast of late?”

“Gulborg, I feel my life-blood leak, Gulborg, I feel me faint and weak.

“But chiefly, chiefly I look not pleas’d Because Death’s hand my heart has seiz’d.”

“Myself of my girdle I’ll dis-array, And thy streaming blood will stanch and stay.”

“God bless thee ever, my own true love, Of service slight will thy girdle prove.”

And when to the Castle gate they won, His mother stood there and leaned thereon.

“Welcome, my son, thou art welcome twice, And thy fair young bride she is welcome thrice.

p. 26“I ne’er have seen a bride so pale Come travelling over hill and dale.”