To her little foot-swain little Kirsten did say: “Fetch hither Sir Buris, withouten delay.”

They met on the lofty hall’s high balcony, Together discoursed they so sorrowfully.

They gave then each other a tender caress, And swooned to the earth from of grief the excess.

The year has revolved, and home now from the fray, King Valdemar cometh triumphant and gay.

In, in through the portal King Valdemar strode, Sophia received him in complaisant mode.

About and around him King Valdemar stared: “Say! where is my sister, and how has she fared?”

p. 19Then sly ’neath her scarlet laughed Sophy the Queen: “It is full three months now since thy sister I’ve seen.”

p. 19

Sophia exclaim’d: “She is not to be taught, My advice and monition she holdeth at naught.”

“O why dost thou thus of my sister complain? In honour she liv’d without ever a stain.”

“The chamber of stone she has long made her home, There she of a little child light has become.”

Then the heart of the monarch was smitten with grief: “To thy words, O Sophia, I yield no belief.”

“The blessed Lord’s truth and no lie have I told, She invited me e’en her child-birth to behold.”

To five of his good knights spake sternly the King: p. 20“Depart, and my sister straight home to me bring.”

p. 20

The knights rode away as King Valdemar said, Much rather, much rather, would they have been dead.

They struck on the door ’neath their mantle of skin: “Sweet princess Kirstina, arise, let us in.”

To the chamber straight came the true serving lass: “We crave thy leave into the chamber to pass.”

“O sirs, ye may enter as free as the morn, For nobody here any baby has borne.”

Then in sorrowful mood good Sir Peter replied: “God grant that thy words I may see verified.”

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