p. 28“O ’neath your red scarlet my poor body hide, For the sake of the Christ who for us sinners died.

p. 28

I let fall so many a big briny tear, God’s mercy upon me! my fate has been drear.

O brother, O brother, your cruel hand stay, For a moment, that soul-gifts distribute I may.

I give to thyself all my castles so grand, Because that my life thou dost hold in thy hand.

To my daughter so dear my red gold I bequeath, For she shall cause vengeance be ta’en for my death.

I give to Queen Sophy my silver-cased knife, Because she it was who betrayed my young life.

O Buris! God give thee misery smart, Enveloped with care the most black is my heart.

And now I’ve my testament made to my mind, Dear brother, prove towards me forgiving and kind.

p. 29I to Christ give my soul, may he shew it good grace, There’s no one, I trow, cares for me in this place.”

p. 29

She bade all good night that around her she spied. And all for the damsel so piteously cried.

For her wept every dame, for her wept every maid, All wept save Sophia, that vile wicked jade.

Then yielded the roselet her innocent sprite, To God she commended it as it took flight.

O then was King Vald’mar with sorrow opprest, And wildly his heart ’gan to knock in his breast.

“What a hard hearted wretch thou, O Sophy, must be, That thou her distress without pity could see.

Shame upon thee, thou basest of all womankind, Thou now hast obtained the great wish of thy mind.

p. 30Alack! well a day, my dear sister is dead; Now where shall we bury the rose-flower red?”

p. 30

“In Riber street, Sir, let thy flower repose, That o’er her may tread every day my horse-shoes.”

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