The Song of Deirdra, King Byrge and his Brothers, and Other Ballads
The nobles to Sweden would fain away, Dame Ingeborg bade them at home to stay.

Dame Ingeborg stood at Helsingborg’s gate, “Dear brothers, go not, I beg and entreat!”

Then with one voice the brothers cried: “We’ve long for our realms paternal sighed.

“And we have too long with thee remained, Our hearts within us are sorely pained.”

“Five days with me, dear brothers, wait, Whilst I my dreadful dream relate.

p. 19“Methought that your mantles were of lead, With them, dear brothers, ye were arrayed.

p. 19

“They were fast tied about your throats, And treachery towards ye that denotes.”

To Dame Ingeborg’s rede no ear they lent, But to Sweden that very same day they went.

And when they had won to the sand beach white, There met them Brouk, that faithless knight.

“Ye brothers both, thrice welcome be, Ye’ll come and drink Yule with His Majesty?”

The nobles repair to Nykoping street, There they a deceitful counsel meet.

“Now off your bodies your armour lay, And hie to the castle in court dress gay.”

In at the doorway the nobles stepped, Up to receive them the monarch leapt.

“My dear brothers both, thrice welcome be, Will ye drink Yule with our Majesty?”

p. 20With his brothers down sate King Byrge to food, Much serious discourse betwixt them ensued.

p. 20

“Now welcome, my brothers, thrice welcome I say, May I not alone the country sway?”

“May God to our brother grant happiness, But he cannot alone the land to possess.”

The nobles they ate and they drank for a trice, Brouk has discovered another device:


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