The King's Wake, and Other Ballads

 
   To fight with him will dare.
 
 
“But I have heard in all my days
   That Danemen know no fear;
No doubt it is to help us now
   That God has sent one here.”
 
 
“And had I horse and harness now
   Well suited to my back,
Then would I break with him a spear,
   Proud damsel, for thy sake.”
 
 
They led three hundred horses forth,
   Milk white was every one;
But the first sank down like a messan dog
   That Swayne laid the saddle on.
 
 
They led the Spanish horses forth,
   Their eyes were very bright;
Swayne drew the bridle o’er their heads,
   And straightway they took fright.
 
 
It was the brave Swayne Felding then
   Was sorely sad in mood:
“O had I but a Danish horse
   Who had eat of Denmark’s food.
 
 
“Full fifteen golden rings so good
   From Denmark I did bring,
But for a horse of Jutland breed
   They every one should spring.”
 
 
Then up came striding a millerman
   So gaily o’er the wold:
“O I have got a Danish horse,
   In Denmark he was foal’d.
 
 
“A mottled Danish horse I’ve got,
   In Sadbylund was born;
He bears each time that he goes to mill
   Full sixty bolls of corn.”
 
 
“Now hear thou honest millerman,
   Let me this same horse see,
For if we both be Daners born
   We’ll beat Italians three.”
 
 
Then forth was led the miller’s horse,
   He look’d a very Dane;
High hip, broad chest, the saddle gilt
   Upon his back laid Swayne.
 
 
Away he cast his gloves so small,
   His hands were white to see;
And he himself girded the noble horse,
   The groom ne’er trusted he.
 
 
He girded the horse with a saddle girth,
   He girded him with three;
The horse he gave a single shake
   And all broke instantly.
 
 
He girded the steed where he was most thick
   With such tremendous force,
That the girth did fly into pieces ten,
   And fell on his knee the horse.
 
 
“With fifteen golden rings so good
   From Denmark out I sped,
But I with every one would part
   Got I a good girth instead.
 
 
“Send ye a message o’er the mead
   Unto the beauteous lady,
And beg her for her champion’s steed
   To get a new girth ready.”
 
 
Full fifteen were the Damsels proud
   Who wove the ruddy gold,
And formed with care a saddle girth
   Swayne Felding’s horse to hold.
 
 
The maids of Hammer, the maids of Pommer,
   And many more maids with heed,
Wove silk and gold to form a girth
   For the mottled Danish steed.
 
 
The saddle girth was ready and made