p. 25 The Count such a store of gold had got, His equal for wealth in the land was not. But the Count he had of a hare the heart, At the slightest thing he with fear would start. Yet at last he grew of courage so rife, That he wooed the King’s daughter to be his wife. Then answer made Carl, the son of the King: I ne’er will consent to such shameful thing. “For he served my father like a knave, He’ll not bear on his helm the stroke of a glaive. p. 26“Last year the King’s coursers he helped to groom, This year he’ll to wed the King’s daughter presume.” p. 26 Nought booted all Carl, the King’s son, could say; ’Gainst the wish of her brother they gave her away. Dreamt Carl, the King’s son, on his night-couch laid, That he would take up the thieving trade. “May the Lord God grant I the man may find, Who best can steal of the thieving kind. “God grant that I in with Allegast fall, Who best can steal of the world’s thieves all.” Early at morn the day shone clear, From the house Carl, the King’s son, rode in career. And when to the castle gate he had won, There Allegast stood, and leaned thereupon. p. 27“What kind of man, my friend, may you be, Whom loitering here by the gate I see?” p. 27 “The folks, young Sir, me Allegast call, I am the best thief of the world’s thieves all.” “Then we’ll to each other a solemn oath give, To steal and to thieve all the days that we live. “Now we will away to the house of the Count, And the courser we’ll steal which to ride he is wont.” And when they arrived on the verdant plain, Into hot dispute fell the comrades twain.
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