VI, VII, VIIITHE KING-SLAYING IN FINDERUPMARSK STIG AND HIS LADYEXTRACT FROM THE LONG BALLAD OF MARSK STIG

These Ballads have been selected from a cycle dealing with the murder of King Erik Klipping (1259-86), and the subsequent disturbances. All through his reign he was at feud with his turbulent nobles; in 1282 they extorted his signature to a Constitution (Denmark’s Magna Carta) safeguarding the rights of the nobility and liberties of the people; then, since he proved faithless, they did him to death. The murder took place on the night of November 22, 1286; his corpse was found next morning, with fifty-sixwounds, in a barn at Finderup, whither he had retired to sleep during a hunting expedition. The assassins escaped for a time, but their identity was suspected, and the young King Erik Mœndved (1286-1319) was determined to have justice. At the Parliament of Nyborg (1287) a grand jury was impanelled to try the late King’s principal adversaries; nine, mostly of one family, were found guilty and declared outlaws, the royal marshal, Stig Andersen, among them. They took refuge among the islands, whence they harried the coasts of Denmark; and the protection afforded them by Norway gave rise to a lengthy war.

The “King-Slaying” is the earliest of the Ballads on this subject. The innocence of the King’s page Rane was loudly maintained by his friends, who asserted that he, “naked and weaponless, warded his master,” but evidence was forthcoming that proved his treachery.

The Ballad next in date describes the outlaws’ departure from Denmark, and Stig’s resolve to build a castle at Hjælm. The third of the series tells of his ill-omened dream, and his wife’s attempt to explain it away—his ride to the royal castle, the Queen’s taunt that he wishes to usurp the crown, and his reply that such an ambition rather befits her paramour, Drost Ove.The young King declares him an outlaw; Stig threatens to keep his foot in Denmark, and begins the building of his castle, whose looming battlements scare the peasantry.

The fourth Ballad, “Marsk Stig and his Lady” (No. 7), was written after a lapse of time when the political motive for the Slaying had been forgotten, and replaced by one more romantic, based on a vague tradition. The King, in fact, appears as David, and Stig as Uriah the Hittite. The Ballad has therefore no claim to historical accuracy; moreover, it places the action throughout in Sjælland.

Latest of all comes “The Long Ballad of Marsk Stig,” which—after the fashion of the “Lytell Geste of Robin Hood”—unites all the other Ballads in a consecutive narrative, reproducing them mostly word for word, yet enriching them with its own characteristic touches. The King’s villainy is heightened by his promise to watch over Dame Ingeborg during her husband’s absence; “she shall suffer no more wrong than if thyself wert home.” Rane, the treacherous page, appears as sister’s son to the Dame, with whom he plots the King’s murder. After Stig’s defiance at the Thing, and before the Slaying, the Long Ballad inserts an episode peculiar to itself; the amorous King goes a-hunting with Rane,gets lost in the wood, and encounters an Elf-Maid, who, in riddling words, prophesies his imminent death.

This poem, fine as it is, foreshadows the decline of the Ballad pure and simple, and its supersession by the more lengthy and complicated Romance, or novel in verse.

There are other Ballads (not contemporary) dealing with the minor characters in the drama, which give picturesque glimpses of the outlaw’s adventurous life:

“Marstig he had daughters twain,And all their lot was sorrow and pain.The elder took the younger by the hand,And thro’ the wide world did lead her.”

“Marstig he had daughters twain,

And all their lot was sorrow and pain.

The elder took the younger by the hand,

And thro’ the wide world did lead her.”

(Since, in some versions, the wandering maidens are the King of England’s daughters, it is probable that Marsk Stig’s name crept in from a semi-historical Ballad of Erik Mœndved’s Bridal, wherein the young Queen begs the release of Stig’s daughters from prison.)

Another sings the “Wooing of Ranild Jonson,” who by threats forces his beloved from her reluctant parents:

“Nought for their bridal bower they foundBut the wood and the wild and the low green ground,For sorely was he severed from friends and kinsmen....Forests have ears, and fields have eyes;We must wander, my maid, as the wild swan flies,Since we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”

“Nought for their bridal bower they found

But the wood and the wild and the low green ground,

For sorely was he severed from friends and kinsmen.

...

Forests have ears, and fields have eyes;

We must wander, my maid, as the wild swan flies,

Since we are severed both from friends and kinsmen.”

1So many dwell in DenmarkWould all be masters there!They’ve ridden up to RibeAnd close disguise they wear.—And therefore the land lies in peril.2They’ve clothed them in a close disguiseAs friars of orders grey,And up the land they’ve riddenTheir leal lord to betray.3They watched him in, they watched him out,They watched thro’ time and tide,They watched him till the woful hourHe should to Finderup ride.4They rode into the goodman’s garth,And shining spears they bore;Was never a man might know themFor the monkish cowls they wore.5Oh, they rode in where the wax-light stoodA-burning in the bower;They led him out, the youthful King,And that was an evil hour.6“Harken, Ranild Jonson,Wilt thou defend my life,Half my kingdom I’ll give thee,And my sister to thy wife!”7It was Ranild JonsonThat hewed at beam and board;Good sooth, most like a traitorDid he defend his lord!8Oh, they’ve struck in at the shoulder,And out at the heart they smite:“There shall be woe in all DenmarkFor the deed we ha’ done this night!”9It was the little foot-pageThat mote not bear the sight;The saddle he took from the good grey steedAnd set it upon the white.10The saddle he took from the good grey steedAnd set it upon the white,And he has ridden to SkanderborgBefore the fall of night.11The Queen sits on the tower so tall,And looks forth far and wide:“Yonder I see a little foot-page,And swiftly doth he ride.12“All on his master’s steed he rides,And woe is me for fear!Now watch, Almighty God in heaven,Over my lord so dear!”13“NowGodhave mercy on his soul!For slain our lord doth lie;The King lies killed in Finderup,And the land is in jeopardy!14“Now watch ye well your castle,Now watch ye well your realm,Now watch ye well your own young sonShall stand at Denmark’s helm!”15“So long as thou and I shall live,Though ill thy tidings be,Fire and food in the royal courtThis shalt thou have in fee!”—And therefore the land lies in peril.

1So many dwell in DenmarkWould all be masters there!They’ve ridden up to RibeAnd close disguise they wear.—And therefore the land lies in peril.

So many dwell in Denmark

Would all be masters there!

They’ve ridden up to Ribe

And close disguise they wear.

—And therefore the land lies in peril.

2They’ve clothed them in a close disguiseAs friars of orders grey,And up the land they’ve riddenTheir leal lord to betray.

They’ve clothed them in a close disguise

As friars of orders grey,

And up the land they’ve ridden

Their leal lord to betray.

3They watched him in, they watched him out,They watched thro’ time and tide,They watched him till the woful hourHe should to Finderup ride.

They watched him in, they watched him out,

They watched thro’ time and tide,

They watched him till the woful hour

He should to Finderup ride.

4They rode into the goodman’s garth,And shining spears they bore;Was never a man might know themFor the monkish cowls they wore.

They rode into the goodman’s garth,

And shining spears they bore;

Was never a man might know them

For the monkish cowls they wore.

5Oh, they rode in where the wax-light stoodA-burning in the bower;They led him out, the youthful King,And that was an evil hour.

Oh, they rode in where the wax-light stood

A-burning in the bower;

They led him out, the youthful King,

And that was an evil hour.

6“Harken, Ranild Jonson,Wilt thou defend my life,Half my kingdom I’ll give thee,And my sister to thy wife!”

“Harken, Ranild Jonson,

Wilt thou defend my life,

Half my kingdom I’ll give thee,

And my sister to thy wife!”

7It was Ranild JonsonThat hewed at beam and board;Good sooth, most like a traitorDid he defend his lord!

It was Ranild Jonson

That hewed at beam and board;

Good sooth, most like a traitor

Did he defend his lord!

8Oh, they’ve struck in at the shoulder,And out at the heart they smite:“There shall be woe in all DenmarkFor the deed we ha’ done this night!”

Oh, they’ve struck in at the shoulder,

And out at the heart they smite:

“There shall be woe in all Denmark

For the deed we ha’ done this night!”

9It was the little foot-pageThat mote not bear the sight;The saddle he took from the good grey steedAnd set it upon the white.

It was the little foot-page

That mote not bear the sight;

The saddle he took from the good grey steed

And set it upon the white.

10The saddle he took from the good grey steedAnd set it upon the white,And he has ridden to SkanderborgBefore the fall of night.

The saddle he took from the good grey steed

And set it upon the white,

And he has ridden to Skanderborg

Before the fall of night.

11The Queen sits on the tower so tall,And looks forth far and wide:“Yonder I see a little foot-page,And swiftly doth he ride.

The Queen sits on the tower so tall,

And looks forth far and wide:

“Yonder I see a little foot-page,

And swiftly doth he ride.

12“All on his master’s steed he rides,And woe is me for fear!Now watch, Almighty God in heaven,Over my lord so dear!”

“All on his master’s steed he rides,

And woe is me for fear!

Now watch, Almighty God in heaven,

Over my lord so dear!”

13“NowGodhave mercy on his soul!For slain our lord doth lie;The King lies killed in Finderup,And the land is in jeopardy!

“NowGodhave mercy on his soul!

For slain our lord doth lie;

The King lies killed in Finderup,

And the land is in jeopardy!

14“Now watch ye well your castle,Now watch ye well your realm,Now watch ye well your own young sonShall stand at Denmark’s helm!”

“Now watch ye well your castle,

Now watch ye well your realm,

Now watch ye well your own young son

Shall stand at Denmark’s helm!”

15“So long as thou and I shall live,Though ill thy tidings be,Fire and food in the royal courtThis shalt thou have in fee!”—And therefore the land lies in peril.

“So long as thou and I shall live,

Though ill thy tidings be,

Fire and food in the royal court

This shalt thou have in fee!”

—And therefore the land lies in peril.

1It is young Sir Marstig must journey far and wide;It is young King Erik that hath betrayed his bride.—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.2It was young Sir Marstig that home from sea did fare;She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor give him greeting there.3It was young Sir Marstig that entered in apace;She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor look him in the face.4Still he stood, Sir Marstig, and thought right heavily:“What ails her then, mine own dear wife, that hath no word for me?”5“When thou didst depart, my husband, I was a knightly dame;Now am I queen in Denmark—the greater is my shame.6“Never again shalt slumber all on my lily-white arm,Until thou hast slain King Erik, that wrought me dule and harm!”7It was young Sir Marstig that rode away to the Thing;Never a word he answered, until he should meet with the King.8It was young Sir Marstig stood forth in all men’s sight,He greeted there both page and squire and many a noble knight.9Up he stood, King Erik, and took him by the hand:“Welcome now, Sir Marstig, home to lord and land!”10Up and spake Sir Marstig, and wrathful was his mind:“Oh, little I guessed when I fared forth what falsehood I left behind!11“Both Revel and Riga I won for thee, and that with mickle strife,While thou, King Erik, didst bide at home to ravish my fair young wife!”12“Harken now, Sir Marstig, and be not wroth with me!Seven castles in Sælland, all will I give to thee.”13“Seven castles in Sælland will never ’suage my shame;Know thou, King of Denmark, dearer I hold my dame!14“Harken, King of Denmark, and heed the words I say:No fealty shalt thou have of me until my dying day!”—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.

1It is young Sir Marstig must journey far and wide;It is young King Erik that hath betrayed his bride.—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.

It is young Sir Marstig must journey far and wide;

It is young King Erik that hath betrayed his bride.

—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.

2It was young Sir Marstig that home from sea did fare;She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor give him greeting there.

It was young Sir Marstig that home from sea did fare;

She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor give him greeting there.

3It was young Sir Marstig that entered in apace;She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor look him in the face.

It was young Sir Marstig that entered in apace;

She would not rise, his own dear wife, nor look him in the face.

4Still he stood, Sir Marstig, and thought right heavily:“What ails her then, mine own dear wife, that hath no word for me?”

Still he stood, Sir Marstig, and thought right heavily:

“What ails her then, mine own dear wife, that hath no word for me?”

5“When thou didst depart, my husband, I was a knightly dame;Now am I queen in Denmark—the greater is my shame.

“When thou didst depart, my husband, I was a knightly dame;

Now am I queen in Denmark—the greater is my shame.

6“Never again shalt slumber all on my lily-white arm,Until thou hast slain King Erik, that wrought me dule and harm!”

“Never again shalt slumber all on my lily-white arm,

Until thou hast slain King Erik, that wrought me dule and harm!”

7It was young Sir Marstig that rode away to the Thing;Never a word he answered, until he should meet with the King.

It was young Sir Marstig that rode away to the Thing;

Never a word he answered, until he should meet with the King.

8It was young Sir Marstig stood forth in all men’s sight,He greeted there both page and squire and many a noble knight.

It was young Sir Marstig stood forth in all men’s sight,

He greeted there both page and squire and many a noble knight.

9Up he stood, King Erik, and took him by the hand:“Welcome now, Sir Marstig, home to lord and land!”

Up he stood, King Erik, and took him by the hand:

“Welcome now, Sir Marstig, home to lord and land!”

10Up and spake Sir Marstig, and wrathful was his mind:“Oh, little I guessed when I fared forth what falsehood I left behind!

Up and spake Sir Marstig, and wrathful was his mind:

“Oh, little I guessed when I fared forth what falsehood I left behind!

11“Both Revel and Riga I won for thee, and that with mickle strife,While thou, King Erik, didst bide at home to ravish my fair young wife!”

“Both Revel and Riga I won for thee, and that with mickle strife,

While thou, King Erik, didst bide at home to ravish my fair young wife!”

12“Harken now, Sir Marstig, and be not wroth with me!Seven castles in Sælland, all will I give to thee.”

“Harken now, Sir Marstig, and be not wroth with me!

Seven castles in Sælland, all will I give to thee.”

13“Seven castles in Sælland will never ’suage my shame;Know thou, King of Denmark, dearer I hold my dame!

“Seven castles in Sælland will never ’suage my shame;

Know thou, King of Denmark, dearer I hold my dame!

14“Harken, King of Denmark, and heed the words I say:No fealty shalt thou have of me until my dying day!”—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.

“Harken, King of Denmark, and heed the words I say:

No fealty shalt thou have of me until my dying day!”

—The lady she sits in Sælland, and weeps right woefully.

35Sir Marstig has donned his armour of proofAnd ridden away to the Thing,With his merry men well weaponed in steel,All for to seek the King:—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.36It was young Sir MarstigBefore the Thing stood forth;He greeted the redesmen of the realmAnd the nobles of the north.37Sir Marstig stood in open Thing,And thus did speak and say:“Because my wife hath suffered wrongDo I stand here to-day.38“Oh, I fared forth to a far countrieAnd risked for the realm my life—Thou satst at home, King Erik,To ravish my fair young wife!”39Up spake young King Erik,And smiled ’neath cloak of vair:“Oh, her consent and will theretoAs good as mine they were!”40Up he spake, Sir Marstig,In mood that needs must mourn:“Oh, well we wot the ancient sawThat scathe must follow scorn.41“Now thou hast ravished my fair young wifeA mock o’ me to make,But wot thou wilt, King Erik,I’ll slay thee for her sake!”42It was young Sir MarstigThat turned him from the Thing:“Bear witness, redesmen of the realm,That I defy the King!”43“Now lithe and list, Sir Marstig,And let such prating be!Castles and holds and lands so greenAll will I give to thee.”44“Oh, little reck I of holds or lands,They ne’er shall ’suage my shame!I would that the wrong had ne’er been wroughtAgainst my dainty dame!”45“Oh, Marstig, never so fast canst ride,But I can ride faster still;But wilt thou be mine enemyThen follow thy wasteful will!”46“Oh, let my riding be ne’er so slow,And ne’er so mild my mind,Yet have we seen a small greyhoundRun down both hart and hind.47“Only do thou rememberThe cause I have had to plead;Oft haps it that a hillock smallDoth throw a mighty steed!”...86Now when Sir Marstig slew the KingLittle he rued the deed!Forth he fared to SkanderborgAll on his swiftest steed.87It was she, the Queen o’ Danes,Forth from the window spied:“Oh, yonder I see the self-made KingThat to our hold doth ride!”88“Nay, never a self-made King am IFor all thy words, I ween;That name befits Drost Lovmand,Lay last thine arms between.89“Oh, little to thee King Erik’s death,And less thy dule and pine,So long as he lives, Drost Lovmand,And thou dost hold him thine!”90Up spake young Prince Christopher,Clad all in the scarlet red:“Oh, little amends, I wot, ye makeFor my father fallen and dead!”91Up he stood, Prince Christopher,And spake a royal word:“Shalt get thee gone from out the realmIf I am King and lord!”92“And must I depart from DenmarkTo sail the sea so deep,So many a widow will I makeThat the noblest dames shall weep!93“And must I go a-roamingFrom wife and bairn, O King,Denmark shall feel my foot, I trow,Both winter and summer and spring!”...95It was young Sir Marstig,Home to his hold did fare;It was beauteous IngeborgCame forth to meet him there.96Up spake young Sir Marstig,And held her in his arm:“Now have I slain King ErikThat wrought thee hurt and harm!97“Now wilt thou follow an outlawed manTo dwell a landless dame,Rather than be a light o’ love,And bear the King his name?”98“Oh, rather I’d follow an outlawed manTo dwell a Danish dame,Than I would be a light o’ loveAnd bear the King his name!”...100Oh, they have builded a hold at Hjælm,A hold with tower and wall,Not to be won with engine of war,By arrow nor cannon-ball.[2]101Forth to his field went the farmerAll for to sow his corn:“Now help us, God in heaven above,Since Hjælm hath gotten a horn!”102Marstig he builded a hold at Hjælm,A hold with wall and tower;The King in vain laid siege theretoWith all his royal power.—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.

35Sir Marstig has donned his armour of proofAnd ridden away to the Thing,With his merry men well weaponed in steel,All for to seek the King:—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.

Sir Marstig has donned his armour of proof

And ridden away to the Thing,

With his merry men well weaponed in steel,

All for to seek the King:

—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.

36It was young Sir MarstigBefore the Thing stood forth;He greeted the redesmen of the realmAnd the nobles of the north.

It was young Sir Marstig

Before the Thing stood forth;

He greeted the redesmen of the realm

And the nobles of the north.

37Sir Marstig stood in open Thing,And thus did speak and say:“Because my wife hath suffered wrongDo I stand here to-day.

Sir Marstig stood in open Thing,

And thus did speak and say:

“Because my wife hath suffered wrong

Do I stand here to-day.

38“Oh, I fared forth to a far countrieAnd risked for the realm my life—Thou satst at home, King Erik,To ravish my fair young wife!”

“Oh, I fared forth to a far countrie

And risked for the realm my life—

Thou satst at home, King Erik,

To ravish my fair young wife!”

39Up spake young King Erik,And smiled ’neath cloak of vair:“Oh, her consent and will theretoAs good as mine they were!”

Up spake young King Erik,

And smiled ’neath cloak of vair:

“Oh, her consent and will thereto

As good as mine they were!”

40Up he spake, Sir Marstig,In mood that needs must mourn:“Oh, well we wot the ancient sawThat scathe must follow scorn.

Up he spake, Sir Marstig,

In mood that needs must mourn:

“Oh, well we wot the ancient saw

That scathe must follow scorn.

41“Now thou hast ravished my fair young wifeA mock o’ me to make,But wot thou wilt, King Erik,I’ll slay thee for her sake!”

“Now thou hast ravished my fair young wife

A mock o’ me to make,

But wot thou wilt, King Erik,

I’ll slay thee for her sake!”

42It was young Sir MarstigThat turned him from the Thing:“Bear witness, redesmen of the realm,That I defy the King!”

It was young Sir Marstig

That turned him from the Thing:

“Bear witness, redesmen of the realm,

That I defy the King!”

43“Now lithe and list, Sir Marstig,And let such prating be!Castles and holds and lands so greenAll will I give to thee.”

“Now lithe and list, Sir Marstig,

And let such prating be!

Castles and holds and lands so green

All will I give to thee.”

44“Oh, little reck I of holds or lands,They ne’er shall ’suage my shame!I would that the wrong had ne’er been wroughtAgainst my dainty dame!”

“Oh, little reck I of holds or lands,

They ne’er shall ’suage my shame!

I would that the wrong had ne’er been wrought

Against my dainty dame!”

45“Oh, Marstig, never so fast canst ride,But I can ride faster still;But wilt thou be mine enemyThen follow thy wasteful will!”

“Oh, Marstig, never so fast canst ride,

But I can ride faster still;

But wilt thou be mine enemy

Then follow thy wasteful will!”

46“Oh, let my riding be ne’er so slow,And ne’er so mild my mind,Yet have we seen a small greyhoundRun down both hart and hind.

“Oh, let my riding be ne’er so slow,

And ne’er so mild my mind,

Yet have we seen a small greyhound

Run down both hart and hind.

47“Only do thou rememberThe cause I have had to plead;Oft haps it that a hillock smallDoth throw a mighty steed!”

“Only do thou remember

The cause I have had to plead;

Oft haps it that a hillock small

Doth throw a mighty steed!”

...

86Now when Sir Marstig slew the KingLittle he rued the deed!Forth he fared to SkanderborgAll on his swiftest steed.

Now when Sir Marstig slew the King

Little he rued the deed!

Forth he fared to Skanderborg

All on his swiftest steed.

87It was she, the Queen o’ Danes,Forth from the window spied:“Oh, yonder I see the self-made KingThat to our hold doth ride!”

It was she, the Queen o’ Danes,

Forth from the window spied:

“Oh, yonder I see the self-made King

That to our hold doth ride!”

88“Nay, never a self-made King am IFor all thy words, I ween;That name befits Drost Lovmand,Lay last thine arms between.

“Nay, never a self-made King am I

For all thy words, I ween;

That name befits Drost Lovmand,

Lay last thine arms between.

89“Oh, little to thee King Erik’s death,And less thy dule and pine,So long as he lives, Drost Lovmand,And thou dost hold him thine!”

“Oh, little to thee King Erik’s death,

And less thy dule and pine,

So long as he lives, Drost Lovmand,

And thou dost hold him thine!”

90Up spake young Prince Christopher,Clad all in the scarlet red:“Oh, little amends, I wot, ye makeFor my father fallen and dead!”

Up spake young Prince Christopher,

Clad all in the scarlet red:

“Oh, little amends, I wot, ye make

For my father fallen and dead!”

91Up he stood, Prince Christopher,And spake a royal word:“Shalt get thee gone from out the realmIf I am King and lord!”

Up he stood, Prince Christopher,

And spake a royal word:

“Shalt get thee gone from out the realm

If I am King and lord!”

92“And must I depart from DenmarkTo sail the sea so deep,So many a widow will I makeThat the noblest dames shall weep!

“And must I depart from Denmark

To sail the sea so deep,

So many a widow will I make

That the noblest dames shall weep!

93“And must I go a-roamingFrom wife and bairn, O King,Denmark shall feel my foot, I trow,Both winter and summer and spring!”

“And must I go a-roaming

From wife and bairn, O King,

Denmark shall feel my foot, I trow,

Both winter and summer and spring!”

...

95It was young Sir Marstig,Home to his hold did fare;It was beauteous IngeborgCame forth to meet him there.

It was young Sir Marstig,

Home to his hold did fare;

It was beauteous Ingeborg

Came forth to meet him there.

96Up spake young Sir Marstig,And held her in his arm:“Now have I slain King ErikThat wrought thee hurt and harm!

Up spake young Sir Marstig,

And held her in his arm:

“Now have I slain King Erik

That wrought thee hurt and harm!

97“Now wilt thou follow an outlawed manTo dwell a landless dame,Rather than be a light o’ love,And bear the King his name?”

“Now wilt thou follow an outlawed man

To dwell a landless dame,

Rather than be a light o’ love,

And bear the King his name?”

98“Oh, rather I’d follow an outlawed manTo dwell a Danish dame,Than I would be a light o’ loveAnd bear the King his name!”

“Oh, rather I’d follow an outlawed man

To dwell a Danish dame,

Than I would be a light o’ love

And bear the King his name!”

...

100Oh, they have builded a hold at Hjælm,A hold with tower and wall,Not to be won with engine of war,By arrow nor cannon-ball.[2]

100

Oh, they have builded a hold at Hjælm,

A hold with tower and wall,

Not to be won with engine of war,

By arrow nor cannon-ball.[2]

101Forth to his field went the farmerAll for to sow his corn:“Now help us, God in heaven above,Since Hjælm hath gotten a horn!”

101

Forth to his field went the farmer

All for to sow his corn:

“Now help us, God in heaven above,

Since Hjælm hath gotten a horn!”

102Marstig he builded a hold at Hjælm,A hold with wall and tower;The King in vain laid siege theretoWith all his royal power.—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.

102

Marstig he builded a hold at Hjælm,

A hold with wall and tower;

The King in vain laid siege thereto

With all his royal power.

—My noble lord, the young Sir Marstig.

[2]Cannons (bösser) are first mentioned in the time of Valdemar Atterdag (1340-85), and were certainly not known when Hjælm was besieged by Erik Mœndved. Their mention here is a proof that the Long Ballad was put together some hundred years after the event.

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