the earth interred.

“Tord he shall not his hammer get, To thee I vow and swear, Save he give me Damsel Fridleifsborg, With all his goods and gear.”

p. 7It was Lokke Leyemand, O’er himself the feather robe drew; And with his answer back amain O’er the briny sea he flew.

p. 7

“Thou never wilt get thy hammer of gold, Upon that thou may’st rely, Unless he have Damsel Fridleifsborg, And all our property.”

Then answered straight the proud Damsel, Upon the bench as she sate: “Ye’d better give me a Christian man, Than the laidly trold for mate.

“But we will take our old father, And deck so fine his head, And we’ll carry him to the Northern hills, To stand for bride in my stead.”

And now to the house of the merry bridegroom They the young old bride convey; Upon her dress no gold was spared, For a verity I say.

p. 8And so they took the lovely bride, On the bride-bench placed her frame; And to skink before the bride himself The carlish Count he came.

p. 8

Then she ate six oxen bodies, And three fat swine beside; Loaves seven hundred were her meal, Ere for a draught she cried.

Before her thirst she could assuage She drank ten casks of ale; She set the can once more to her mouth And to hickuping then she fell.

The carlish Count strode up and down, And wrung his hands so sore: “O whence can this young bride be come? She does so much devour!”

The Count he called to his Botelere:  “Thou hadst better broach away, For we have here such a wondrous bride, She’ll drink for ever and aye.”

p. 9Answered then Lokke Leyemand,  ’Neath his sleeve he laughed with glee: “For full eight days she has not ate. She longed so much for thee.”

p. 9

Outspake the laidly carlish Count, And thus the Count did cry: “O, call ye in my serving swains, Bid them come instantly.

“Go, fetch me hither the hammer of gold, Glad I’ll surrender it; If I can either in honour 

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