Child Stig and Child Findal two brothers were they, There ne’er were two brothers more gallant and gay.

Child Stig serves the Dane King in bower and hall, High dames brushed his hair, and fair maidens withal.

Child Stig by the board of the Monarch he stood, To him little Kirstin was cruel of mood.

“Full seven years I have been Lord of the Rune, Of its power I’ll make trial this same afternoon.”

p. 18With his right hand he skinked the wine and the mead And cast with his left the Rune characters dread.

p. 18

To cast them on Kirstin the gallant Stig meant, But under the dress of Rigissa they went.

O pallid as ashes the gallant Stig grew, And red as the blood was Rigissa to view.

The gallant Child Stig placed his cap on his head, And unto his foster dame’s chamber he sped.

“Dear Foster dame, give me some counsel, I pray, How I may escape from this palace away.

“To cast the Rune letters at Kirstin I meant, But under the dress of Rigissa they went.

“I will mount my good courser so true and so tried, And away to the ends of the earth I will ride.”

p. 19Said she: “Shouldst thou travel all Finland around, This night at thy couch will Rigissa be found.

p. 19

“And e’en shouldst thou ride to the earth’s farthest land, This night by thy couch she will certainly stand.

“But, Child Stig, I advise thee, call up a good heart, And home to thy bed and thy slumbers depart.

“She’ll tap on the door of thy chamber, I ween, But still do thou keep, let her in by no mean.

“But ten fingers has she, so tiny and small, And with them from the door she will pick the nails all.

“She will set herself down on the side of thy bed, And play with the long yellow locks of thy head.

“So fondly she’ll stroke thy fair cheek in the dark, But do thou remain as thou wert stiff and stark.

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