She pressed out the milk ’fore the King on the floor: “My King and my husband, canst doubt any more?”

Then black as the earth grew King Valdemar’s face, And Kirstenlil swooned ’neath the load of disgrace.

“I intended to wed thee but full speedily, Now thou shalt this evening with agony die.

“To a mighty lord I’d resolv’d thee to espouse, Now this very night thy young life thou shalt lose.

p. 26“The death the most cruel and painful of all, This night thou shalt suffer in this very hall.”

p. 26

Little Kirsten she fell ’fore the King on her knee: “Dear brother! I pray shew some pity to me.”

“Thy kneeling, O Kirsten, will profit thee nought, The basest and vilest of sins thou hast wrought.

’Tis folly to hope I shall mercy display, Thou injured me hast in such infamous way.

I promised thy hand, for of this nought I knew, To the son of a king ’cross the Haf’s water blue.”

He turned to the foot-swain who stood at his side: “ Fetch hither five horse-whips,” King Valdemar cried.

Little Kirsten she fell down upon her bare knee: “Now mighty Lord God! look with mercy on me.”

p. 27“For four whips or five whips thou needest not send, One will be quite enough to bring me to my end.”

p. 27

The King in his hand the horse-scourges has ta’en, His bosom with sorrow was filled, and with pain.

“ Rise, rise Queen Sophia! and beg for me now, For brought me to this have thy brother and thou.”

“Little worthy were I of the title of Queen, Were I to essay such a harlot to screen.”

“I’ll punish her so, though I love her full dear, That all shall thereof with astonishment hear.”

He lashed her so long, and he lashed her so sore, That grovelling she lay in a stream of red gore.

She crept for defence ’neath Sophia’s array, With her foot she with vehemence spurned her away.

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