King's good son, at solemn pace;
For him sore cried all him that eyed,
So hard and stern they thought his case.

And when they reached the verdant plain,
Where he the gallant youth should die;
He begged he might have a short respite,
He'd prove his Signe's constancy.

"Do ye hang up my mantle red,
That Sivard King the same may see;
He may repent, and yet prevent
Young Hafbur's hanging on a tree."

When Signild proud the mantle saw,
The sight it pierced her like a knife:
"He's dead," she thought, "it vails me nought
To tarry longer here in life."

She called together her maids with speed,
Concealing well her bosom's woe:
"To have some play we'll wend our way
Unto the lofty chamber now."

Then out and spake proud Signelil,
She spake in stern determined guise:
"This day I will my own self kill,
And Hafbur join in Paradise.

"If any one in our band has helped
To bring him to his death so foul,
Shall rue his wrong when we ere long
Shall burn together all to coal.

"So many there are in this palace fair
Whom now the death of Hafbur gladdens;
But venge will I their cruelty
This moment on their plighted maidens."

Then fire she set to her bower high,
The fire so hastily it blazed;
How well she loved to all she proved
Who on that conflagration gazed.

It was Hafbur, son of the King,
O'er his shoulder blade he cast his sight;
Of Signe good the bower stood,
Enwrapt in one tremendous light.

"Now take ye down my mantle red,
And let it lie upon the plain;
Within my breast if I possessed
Ten lives to beg them I'd disdain."

King Sivard out of the window looked,
And on his mind such horror came;
For Hafbur he saw hang on a tree,
And Signild's bower enwrapt in flame.

Outspake amain the little foot swain,
And he a mantle red had on:
"Now burns in bower the beauteous flower
With her fair maidens, every one."

Then up and spake grey Sivard the King,
His face with paleness ghastly all:
"A fate so dour as this I'm sure
Did never princes two befall.

"If I before had heard or known
The power of love was half so great,
I'd ne'er, I swear, have vext the pair
For all the wealth of Denmark's state.

"Run some of ye to Signild's bower,
And strive to bear my child relief;
Let others race to the gallows place,
For Hafbur bold was ne'er a thief."

And when they came to Signe's bower
All burnt they found the Lad