The night we lay together first A deed of horror was fulfill’d; The bride-house door his foemen burst, And in my arms my husband kill’d.

Soon, soon, my friends to counsel go, A husband new they chose for me; The cloister’s prior of mitred brow—  The good Sir Nilaus styl’d was he.

But soon as I the threshold cross’d, The nuns could not their fury smother; They vow’d by God and all His Host, The Prior Nilaus was my brother.

p. 16Forth from the cloister him they drew, They pelted him to death with stones; I stood close by, and all could view, I scarce could hear his piteous moans.

p. 16

Once more my friends to counsel hied, For me another spouse they get— Son of the King of England wide Was he, and hight Sir Engelbret.

Nine winters with that princely youth I lived; of joy we had no dearth, I tell to ye, for sooth and truth, To ten fair sons that I gave birth.

But pirate crews the land beset, No one, no one, my grief could tell; They slew with sword Sir Engelbret, And nine of my fair sons as well.

My husband and my sons with brand They slew. How I bewail their case! My tenth son here they from the land—  I never more shall see his face.

p. 17Now is my care as complicate As golden threads which maidens spin; God crown with bliss Sir Engelbret, He ever was so free from sin.

p. 17

But now I’ll take the holy vows, Within the cloister under Ey; I’ll ne’er become another’s spouse, But in religion I will die.

But first to all the country side I will declare my bosom’s grief; I find, the more my grief I hide, The less, the less, is my relief.

p. 18THE CRUEL MOTHER-IN-LAW

p. 18

From his home and his country Sir Volmor should fare, His wife he commends to his mother’s best care.

Proud Lyborg she sang, as the dancers she watched, Behind stood Dame Ingeborg, malice she hatched.

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