LEGENDARY BALLADS

XHAVBOR AND SIGNELIL

The story of Havbor, or Hagbard, and Signelil is a very ancient one. Sven Grundtvig gives it a Russian origin; but, however that may be, it is traced back by other Danish authorities to the dim period of Folk-Migration, before the Skjoldung kings. Sung in an antique Lay—which has perished—it was re-told by Saxo Grammaticus, and frequently referred to in the works of the Icelandic skalds between the ninth and eleventh centuries. The twelfth-century Kormak’s Saga mentions a representation of Hagbard among the carvings in Thorkel’s hall. Snorris’ Edda (Skaldskarparsmal) gives Hagbard’s name in a list of sea-kings; and Brynhild (Volsunga Saga 25) calls him the first of men before the birth of Sigurd Fafnirsbane.

The probable scene of the tragedy is Sigarsted, in Sjælland, near Ringsted, the ancient royal residence. There the sites yet exist of Sigar’spalace and Signe’s bower—there, too, is the howe where the gibbet was raised, and the field where Sigar was defeated by Hagbard’s avenging kinsmen. They were visited by Ole Worm in 1642, and a map of them was published inMonumenta Danica. The Rev. S. M. Beyer, in 1791, excited the antiquarian world by his alleged discovery of a rune-stone commemorating King Sigar—but, since the stone, he was careful to add, had since been destroyed, the statement, to put it mildly, lacks verification.

The ballad-minstrel omits much of the original story, but adds details of his own—Havbor’s reply to the serving-maid, the King’s remorseful outburst, and the punishment of the tale-bearer. The binding of Havbor with Signe’s hair, and his refusal to break it, though appearing at first sight a touch of fantastic mediæval chivalry, probably harks back to a much more primitive superstition, well known to all witches—that which regards the hair as enshrining the life of its possessor. In verse 20 we have a faint reminiscence of the antique Shield-Maidens, Choosers of the Slain.

1Havbor the King and Sivord the KingHave fallen out in strife,All for the stately SignelilThat was so fair a wife.—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.2Havbor the King he dreamt a dream,And woeful did he wake;He went to seek his mother,And unto her he spake:3“Methought that I was up in heaven,And that was so fair a town;And I held proud Signelil in mine arms,And we fell from the sky adown.”4“And didst thou dream thou wast in heaven,And fellest adown from the sky,That bodes that thou wilt win the maid,But for her sake shalt die!”5“And if I win the maidenSuch happiness have I,I count the cost but littleThat I for her must die!”6Havbor he let his locks wax long,And clad him in woman’s gear,And so he rode to DenmarkAs though he maiden were.7All in the midst of the castle garthHis garment changèd he,Then entered in the ladies’ bowerProud Signelil to see.8“Here sittest thou, stately Signelil,With matrons and maids arow!Havbor hath sent me hitherTo learn to broider and sew.”9“All the woman’s craft I knowShall be for thee displayed;Shalt eat from the self-same dish as I,And sleep with my serving-maid.”10“Oh, I have eaten with king’s children,And lain in their arms at night;And must I sleep with thy serving-maidI shall die of the sore despite.”11“Now lithe and listen, my beauteous maid,Let all thy sorrow be!Shalt eat of the self-same dish as I,And sleep by the side of me.”12He’s taken out a knife so small,And cut as best he could;He’s shaped them out, both hind and hart,That run in good greenwood.13Still sat all the haughty maidsAnd sewed as best they might,All save Havbor, the son of kings,His needle still did bite.14Up and spake the serving-maid,So evil a tongue had she:“Oh, never saw I so poor a seamSewn by a fair ladye!15“Ever her needle is in her mouth,She sets no stitches fine;And ever she drains the goblet out,So deep as they pour the wine!16“Ne’er have I seen a lady’s handsStiffer than steel, I trow!And ne’er have I seen so bold an eyeUnder a lady’s brow!”17“Now hold thy tongue, thou evil maid,And speak no spite of me!Let me turn mine eyes where’er I mayI’ll turn them not on thee!”18Now all were bound to slumber,Whenas the eve was spent;Havbor and stately SignelilTo the self-same chamber went.19She laid her hand on Havbor’s breastThat shone with gold so red:“Why hast thou a bosom so like a man,And not the breasts of a maid?”20“Oh, the custom it is in my father’s landThat maids to the Thing should fare,And therefore have I no maiden’s breastsBecause of the mail we wear!21“Now tell me, stately Signelil,While we are all alone,Is there ever a man in all the worldThou hast set thy heart upon?”22“Oh, there’s never a man in all the worldThat lies my heart within,Saving young Havbor, the son of kings,That I may never win.”23“And is it Havbor, the son of kings,That to thy heart is dear,Then turn thee hither, mine own true love!He is sleeping all so near!”24“And art thou Havbor, the son of kings?Why hast thou shamèd me?Why didst not ride to my father’s courtWith hawk on hand so free?”25“Oh, how should I ride with hawk on handTo thy father’s court so free?Full well I know thy wrathful sireWould hang me to a tree!”26“Now hush thee, hush thee, Havbor,And take thou heed, I pray!My serving-maid lies wakingAnd listens to all we say.”27“Oh, let her lie and listen,Thine evil serving-maid!Beneath my bolster are hiddenBoth corselet and trusty blade.28“Beneath my bolster are hiddenBoth corselet and sword so true;And were a hundred warriors hereThe meeting they should rue!”29Oh, she has heard their counsel,The evil serving-maid;She’s stolen away his byrnie brownBut and his trusty blade.30Both trusty blade and byrnie brownShe’s secretly stolen away;She’s hied her to the chamber fairWhere Sivord the King he lay.31“Oh, sleep ye, wake ye, my noble lord?Your slumber is all too deep!For now lies Havbor, the son of kings,By your daughter’s side asleep.”32“Now hold thy peace, thou evil maid,For an thou art a liar,To-morrow or ever the sun goes downThou shalt be burnt with fire!”33“Lithe now and listen, King Sivord,Well may ye trust my word;For here is Havbor’s byrnie brownBut and his trusty sword.”34Up he sprang, King Sivord,And cried thro’ bower and hall:“Rise up, rise up, my merry men,And don your armour all!35“Now don your mail, my merry men,And clasp it well enough,For here is Havbor, the son of kings,A warrior tall and tough!”36Oh, they have knocked at the chamber doorWith glaive and eke with spear:“Rise up now, Havbor, son of kings!Come forth and meet us here!”37Up sprang Havbor, the son of kings,Or ever they spake the word,And he has missed his byrnie brown,But and his trusty sword.38“Oh, gone, gone is my byrnie,And gone my blade so true!Now by my troth, proud Signelil,This meeting we shall rue!”39All hail to Havbor, son of kings,That fought like a warrior stout!Ne’er could his foes come nigh himWhile the boards of the bed held out.40Oh, some he slew with his naked hands,And some underfoot did tread;Full thirty of King Sivord’s menBy Signild’s bower lay dead.41They’ve taken Havbor, the son of kings,And fetters on him they draw;He burst them all asunderAs they had been of straw.42Oh, shame be on the serving-maidThat gave them counsel there:“Never shall ye bind HavborBut with proud Signild’s hair!”43They took a hair of Signild’s headTo bind him foot and hand;His haughty heart had brokenEre he would burst that band.44“Now harken, haughty Signelil!Wilt show thy love to me,Then burn thy bower and all thereinWhen they hang me to a tree!”45“Oh, is there a man of my father’s menThat in thy death hath part,Be sure I will avenge itAll on his own sweetheart!”46Up spake Havbor, the son of kings,When first he saw the tree:“Hang up my cloak of scarletA sign for all to see!47“Hang up my cloak of scarletThat is both fair and fine!The ladies all will weep and wailWhen first they see the sign.”48It was stately SignelilTo roof and reed set fire;She and all her maidensBurned in the self-same pyre.49Long stood Havbor, the son of kings,To look his last on land,Until he saw proud Signild’s bowerThat all in flame did stand.50“Take down, take down my cloak of red,And cast it to earth so deep,For an I had ten thousand livesNot one of them would I keep!”51Up and spake King Sivord,That looked, and needs must speak:“Oh, what is the bale a-burning there,But and the driving reek?”52Up and spake the little foot-page,And sore his tears ran down:“Oh, that is stately SignelilThat lets her love be shown!”53“Save her, stately Signelil!See that ye ride and run!Get ye in haste to the gallowsAnd save King Havbor’s son!”54When they came to the bowerSignelil’s soul was sped;When they came to the gallowsHavbor was hanged and dead.55“Oh, had I known but yesternightHow deep in love were they,I would not ha’ done for all DenmarkThe deed I ha’ done this day!”56Now woe is me for the gallows-tree,And the bower in ashes laid!They’ve buried her in the earth alive,The cruel serving-maid.—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.

1Havbor the King and Sivord the KingHave fallen out in strife,All for the stately SignelilThat was so fair a wife.—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.

Havbor the King and Sivord the King

Have fallen out in strife,

All for the stately Signelil

That was so fair a wife.

—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.

2Havbor the King he dreamt a dream,And woeful did he wake;He went to seek his mother,And unto her he spake:

Havbor the King he dreamt a dream,

And woeful did he wake;

He went to seek his mother,

And unto her he spake:

3“Methought that I was up in heaven,And that was so fair a town;And I held proud Signelil in mine arms,And we fell from the sky adown.”

“Methought that I was up in heaven,

And that was so fair a town;

And I held proud Signelil in mine arms,

And we fell from the sky adown.”

4“And didst thou dream thou wast in heaven,And fellest adown from the sky,That bodes that thou wilt win the maid,But for her sake shalt die!”

“And didst thou dream thou wast in heaven,

And fellest adown from the sky,

That bodes that thou wilt win the maid,

But for her sake shalt die!”

5“And if I win the maidenSuch happiness have I,I count the cost but littleThat I for her must die!”

“And if I win the maiden

Such happiness have I,

I count the cost but little

That I for her must die!”

6Havbor he let his locks wax long,And clad him in woman’s gear,And so he rode to DenmarkAs though he maiden were.

Havbor he let his locks wax long,

And clad him in woman’s gear,

And so he rode to Denmark

As though he maiden were.

7All in the midst of the castle garthHis garment changèd he,Then entered in the ladies’ bowerProud Signelil to see.

All in the midst of the castle garth

His garment changèd he,

Then entered in the ladies’ bower

Proud Signelil to see.

8“Here sittest thou, stately Signelil,With matrons and maids arow!Havbor hath sent me hitherTo learn to broider and sew.”

“Here sittest thou, stately Signelil,

With matrons and maids arow!

Havbor hath sent me hither

To learn to broider and sew.”

9“All the woman’s craft I knowShall be for thee displayed;Shalt eat from the self-same dish as I,And sleep with my serving-maid.”

“All the woman’s craft I know

Shall be for thee displayed;

Shalt eat from the self-same dish as I,

And sleep with my serving-maid.”

10“Oh, I have eaten with king’s children,And lain in their arms at night;And must I sleep with thy serving-maidI shall die of the sore despite.”

“Oh, I have eaten with king’s children,

And lain in their arms at night;

And must I sleep with thy serving-maid

I shall die of the sore despite.”

11“Now lithe and listen, my beauteous maid,Let all thy sorrow be!Shalt eat of the self-same dish as I,And sleep by the side of me.”

“Now lithe and listen, my beauteous maid,

Let all thy sorrow be!

Shalt eat of the self-same dish as I,

And sleep by the side of me.”

12He’s taken out a knife so small,And cut as best he could;He’s shaped them out, both hind and hart,That run in good greenwood.

He’s taken out a knife so small,

And cut as best he could;

He’s shaped them out, both hind and hart,

That run in good greenwood.

13Still sat all the haughty maidsAnd sewed as best they might,All save Havbor, the son of kings,His needle still did bite.

Still sat all the haughty maids

And sewed as best they might,

All save Havbor, the son of kings,

His needle still did bite.

14Up and spake the serving-maid,So evil a tongue had she:“Oh, never saw I so poor a seamSewn by a fair ladye!

Up and spake the serving-maid,

So evil a tongue had she:

“Oh, never saw I so poor a seam

Sewn by a fair ladye!

15“Ever her needle is in her mouth,She sets no stitches fine;And ever she drains the goblet out,So deep as they pour the wine!

“Ever her needle is in her mouth,

She sets no stitches fine;

And ever she drains the goblet out,

So deep as they pour the wine!

16“Ne’er have I seen a lady’s handsStiffer than steel, I trow!And ne’er have I seen so bold an eyeUnder a lady’s brow!”

“Ne’er have I seen a lady’s hands

Stiffer than steel, I trow!

And ne’er have I seen so bold an eye

Under a lady’s brow!”

17“Now hold thy tongue, thou evil maid,And speak no spite of me!Let me turn mine eyes where’er I mayI’ll turn them not on thee!”

“Now hold thy tongue, thou evil maid,

And speak no spite of me!

Let me turn mine eyes where’er I may

I’ll turn them not on thee!”

18Now all were bound to slumber,Whenas the eve was spent;Havbor and stately SignelilTo the self-same chamber went.

Now all were bound to slumber,

Whenas the eve was spent;

Havbor and stately Signelil

To the self-same chamber went.

19She laid her hand on Havbor’s breastThat shone with gold so red:“Why hast thou a bosom so like a man,And not the breasts of a maid?”

She laid her hand on Havbor’s breast

That shone with gold so red:

“Why hast thou a bosom so like a man,

And not the breasts of a maid?”

20“Oh, the custom it is in my father’s landThat maids to the Thing should fare,And therefore have I no maiden’s breastsBecause of the mail we wear!

“Oh, the custom it is in my father’s land

That maids to the Thing should fare,

And therefore have I no maiden’s breasts

Because of the mail we wear!

21“Now tell me, stately Signelil,While we are all alone,Is there ever a man in all the worldThou hast set thy heart upon?”

“Now tell me, stately Signelil,

While we are all alone,

Is there ever a man in all the world

Thou hast set thy heart upon?”

22“Oh, there’s never a man in all the worldThat lies my heart within,Saving young Havbor, the son of kings,That I may never win.”

“Oh, there’s never a man in all the world

That lies my heart within,

Saving young Havbor, the son of kings,

That I may never win.”

23“And is it Havbor, the son of kings,That to thy heart is dear,Then turn thee hither, mine own true love!He is sleeping all so near!”

“And is it Havbor, the son of kings,

That to thy heart is dear,

Then turn thee hither, mine own true love!

He is sleeping all so near!”

24“And art thou Havbor, the son of kings?Why hast thou shamèd me?Why didst not ride to my father’s courtWith hawk on hand so free?”

“And art thou Havbor, the son of kings?

Why hast thou shamèd me?

Why didst not ride to my father’s court

With hawk on hand so free?”

25“Oh, how should I ride with hawk on handTo thy father’s court so free?Full well I know thy wrathful sireWould hang me to a tree!”

“Oh, how should I ride with hawk on hand

To thy father’s court so free?

Full well I know thy wrathful sire

Would hang me to a tree!”

26“Now hush thee, hush thee, Havbor,And take thou heed, I pray!My serving-maid lies wakingAnd listens to all we say.”

“Now hush thee, hush thee, Havbor,

And take thou heed, I pray!

My serving-maid lies waking

And listens to all we say.”

27“Oh, let her lie and listen,Thine evil serving-maid!Beneath my bolster are hiddenBoth corselet and trusty blade.

“Oh, let her lie and listen,

Thine evil serving-maid!

Beneath my bolster are hidden

Both corselet and trusty blade.

28“Beneath my bolster are hiddenBoth corselet and sword so true;And were a hundred warriors hereThe meeting they should rue!”

“Beneath my bolster are hidden

Both corselet and sword so true;

And were a hundred warriors here

The meeting they should rue!”

29Oh, she has heard their counsel,The evil serving-maid;She’s stolen away his byrnie brownBut and his trusty blade.

Oh, she has heard their counsel,

The evil serving-maid;

She’s stolen away his byrnie brown

But and his trusty blade.

30Both trusty blade and byrnie brownShe’s secretly stolen away;She’s hied her to the chamber fairWhere Sivord the King he lay.

Both trusty blade and byrnie brown

She’s secretly stolen away;

She’s hied her to the chamber fair

Where Sivord the King he lay.

31“Oh, sleep ye, wake ye, my noble lord?Your slumber is all too deep!For now lies Havbor, the son of kings,By your daughter’s side asleep.”

“Oh, sleep ye, wake ye, my noble lord?

Your slumber is all too deep!

For now lies Havbor, the son of kings,

By your daughter’s side asleep.”

32“Now hold thy peace, thou evil maid,For an thou art a liar,To-morrow or ever the sun goes downThou shalt be burnt with fire!”

“Now hold thy peace, thou evil maid,

For an thou art a liar,

To-morrow or ever the sun goes down

Thou shalt be burnt with fire!”

33“Lithe now and listen, King Sivord,Well may ye trust my word;For here is Havbor’s byrnie brownBut and his trusty sword.”

“Lithe now and listen, King Sivord,

Well may ye trust my word;

For here is Havbor’s byrnie brown

But and his trusty sword.”

34Up he sprang, King Sivord,And cried thro’ bower and hall:“Rise up, rise up, my merry men,And don your armour all!

Up he sprang, King Sivord,

And cried thro’ bower and hall:

“Rise up, rise up, my merry men,

And don your armour all!

35“Now don your mail, my merry men,And clasp it well enough,For here is Havbor, the son of kings,A warrior tall and tough!”

“Now don your mail, my merry men,

And clasp it well enough,

For here is Havbor, the son of kings,

A warrior tall and tough!”

36Oh, they have knocked at the chamber doorWith glaive and eke with spear:“Rise up now, Havbor, son of kings!Come forth and meet us here!”

Oh, they have knocked at the chamber door

With glaive and eke with spear:

“Rise up now, Havbor, son of kings!

Come forth and meet us here!”

37Up sprang Havbor, the son of kings,Or ever they spake the word,And he has missed his byrnie brown,But and his trusty sword.

Up sprang Havbor, the son of kings,

Or ever they spake the word,

And he has missed his byrnie brown,

But and his trusty sword.

38“Oh, gone, gone is my byrnie,And gone my blade so true!Now by my troth, proud Signelil,This meeting we shall rue!”

“Oh, gone, gone is my byrnie,

And gone my blade so true!

Now by my troth, proud Signelil,

This meeting we shall rue!”

39All hail to Havbor, son of kings,That fought like a warrior stout!Ne’er could his foes come nigh himWhile the boards of the bed held out.

All hail to Havbor, son of kings,

That fought like a warrior stout!

Ne’er could his foes come nigh him

While the boards of the bed held out.

40Oh, some he slew with his naked hands,And some underfoot did tread;Full thirty of King Sivord’s menBy Signild’s bower lay dead.

Oh, some he slew with his naked hands,

And some underfoot did tread;

Full thirty of King Sivord’s men

By Signild’s bower lay dead.

41They’ve taken Havbor, the son of kings,And fetters on him they draw;He burst them all asunderAs they had been of straw.

They’ve taken Havbor, the son of kings,

And fetters on him they draw;

He burst them all asunder

As they had been of straw.

42Oh, shame be on the serving-maidThat gave them counsel there:“Never shall ye bind HavborBut with proud Signild’s hair!”

Oh, shame be on the serving-maid

That gave them counsel there:

“Never shall ye bind Havbor

But with proud Signild’s hair!”

43They took a hair of Signild’s headTo bind him foot and hand;His haughty heart had brokenEre he would burst that band.

They took a hair of Signild’s head

To bind him foot and hand;

His haughty heart had broken

Ere he would burst that band.

44“Now harken, haughty Signelil!Wilt show thy love to me,Then burn thy bower and all thereinWhen they hang me to a tree!”

“Now harken, haughty Signelil!

Wilt show thy love to me,

Then burn thy bower and all therein

When they hang me to a tree!”

45“Oh, is there a man of my father’s menThat in thy death hath part,Be sure I will avenge itAll on his own sweetheart!”

“Oh, is there a man of my father’s men

That in thy death hath part,

Be sure I will avenge it

All on his own sweetheart!”

46Up spake Havbor, the son of kings,When first he saw the tree:“Hang up my cloak of scarletA sign for all to see!

Up spake Havbor, the son of kings,

When first he saw the tree:

“Hang up my cloak of scarlet

A sign for all to see!

47“Hang up my cloak of scarletThat is both fair and fine!The ladies all will weep and wailWhen first they see the sign.”

“Hang up my cloak of scarlet

That is both fair and fine!

The ladies all will weep and wail

When first they see the sign.”

48It was stately SignelilTo roof and reed set fire;She and all her maidensBurned in the self-same pyre.

It was stately Signelil

To roof and reed set fire;

She and all her maidens

Burned in the self-same pyre.

49Long stood Havbor, the son of kings,To look his last on land,Until he saw proud Signild’s bowerThat all in flame did stand.

Long stood Havbor, the son of kings,

To look his last on land,

Until he saw proud Signild’s bower

That all in flame did stand.

50“Take down, take down my cloak of red,And cast it to earth so deep,For an I had ten thousand livesNot one of them would I keep!”

“Take down, take down my cloak of red,

And cast it to earth so deep,

For an I had ten thousand lives

Not one of them would I keep!”

51Up and spake King Sivord,That looked, and needs must speak:“Oh, what is the bale a-burning there,But and the driving reek?”

Up and spake King Sivord,

That looked, and needs must speak:

“Oh, what is the bale a-burning there,

But and the driving reek?”

52Up and spake the little foot-page,And sore his tears ran down:“Oh, that is stately SignelilThat lets her love be shown!”

Up and spake the little foot-page,

And sore his tears ran down:

“Oh, that is stately Signelil

That lets her love be shown!”

53“Save her, stately Signelil!See that ye ride and run!Get ye in haste to the gallowsAnd save King Havbor’s son!”

“Save her, stately Signelil!

See that ye ride and run!

Get ye in haste to the gallows

And save King Havbor’s son!”

54When they came to the bowerSignelil’s soul was sped;When they came to the gallowsHavbor was hanged and dead.

When they came to the bower

Signelil’s soul was sped;

When they came to the gallows

Havbor was hanged and dead.

55“Oh, had I known but yesternightHow deep in love were they,I would not ha’ done for all DenmarkThe deed I ha’ done this day!”

“Oh, had I known but yesternight

How deep in love were they,

I would not ha’ done for all Denmark

The deed I ha’ done this day!”

56Now woe is me for the gallows-tree,And the bower in ashes laid!They’ve buried her in the earth alive,The cruel serving-maid.—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.

Now woe is me for the gallows-tree,

And the bower in ashes laid!

They’ve buried her in the earth alive,

The cruel serving-maid.

—Ne’er wilt thou win such a fair one.

Back to Index Next