But a stepdame soon ’twas my lot to get, And fierce and wild she proved to me; Within a coffer me she set, And pushed it out upon the sea. By one wave I was borne to land, And by the next away was ta’en; But God on High, it seems, had plann’d, That I should footing there obtain. p. 13The tide it drove me to the shore, And in its backward course retook; Sure ne’er had child of king before Such buffeting on sea to brook. p. 13 But God He help’d me, so that I Was cast above the billows’ reach; And soon a savage wolf drew nigh, Was prowling on the sandy beach. Soon prowling came a wolf so gray, And me up-taking in his jaws, He carried me with care away Deep, deep into the forest shaws. That self-same wolf he was so kind That me beneath a tree he laid; And then came running a nimble hind, And me unto its lair convey’d. There me for winter one she nurs’d— She nursed me for two winters’ space. To creep, to creep, I learnt at first, And next I learnt to pace, to pace. p. 14And I was full eight years, I wot, Within the quiet, green retreat. Close couched beside the hind I got Full many a slumber calm and sweet. p. 14 I had clothes and shelter of no kind, Except the linden green alone; And, save the gentle forest hind, Had nurse and foster-mother none. But forth on courser reeking hot There rushed a knight of bearing bold, And he my foster-mother shot With arrow on the verdant wold. He pierced the hind with mortal wound, And all our fond connection cut; Then wrapped his cloak my frame around, And me within his buckler put. That self-same knight, so bold and strong, Within his bower the foundling bred; He tended me both well and long, And finally his bride he made. p. 15He had by long inquiry found My father was a noble count In Vendel’s land, who castles own’d, And rul’d o’er many a plain and mount. p. 15 The first night we together slept Was fraught with woe of darkest hue; Foes, whom he long at bay had kept, Broke in on us, and him they slew.
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