t and said the wicked maid,
And loud with her sharp voice she spake:
"No maid I've viewed of noble blood
Such draughts of power ever take.

"She never sews so small a seam
But with her needle she doth stop;
No cup so great she gets, but straight
She drains it to the bottom drop.

"Two eyes she has, and eyes so bold
In high born maid I ne'er have seen;
And she doth bear of hands a pair
Which cast of iron seem, I ween."

"Now do thou hear, thou servant maid,
Thy jeers at me why dost thou throw?
Thou needst not fear or blame or sneer
From me, however thou may'st sew.

"Forego thy scoffs, forego thy jeers,
And do not watch me in such guise;
I thee don't mark on thy hand's work
Whatever way I turn my eyes."

'Twas Hafbur then the King's good son
To sew at length with zeal began;
And he sewed hart and hind with art,
E'en as they run pursued by man.

He lilies sews, and roses bright,
The birds upon the bough he sews;
At his address they all express
Surprise, they'd him by no means lose.

And on sewed they till end of day,
And till some part of night was fled;
With drowsy brows the proud maids rose,
It lists them now to go to bed.

So late it was at nightly tide,
Down fell the dew o'er hill and mead;
Then lists it her proud Signild fair
With all the rest to bed to speed.

"O where shall I a bed procure?"
Said Hafbur then, the King's good son.
"O thou shalt rest in chamber best
With me the bolsters blue upon."

Proud Signild foremost went, and stepped
The threshold of her chamber o'er;
With secret glee came Hafbur, he
Had never been so glad before.

Then lighted they the waxen lights,
So fairly twisted were the same.
Behind, behind, with ill at mind,
The wicked servant maiden came.

The lights were out, the train retired,
They thought that they were all alone;
His upper wede the knight with speed
Did off, then bright his faulchion shone.

King Hafbur with delighted heart
Upon the bed himself has flung;
I tell to ye for verity
That as he fell his hauberk rung.

Then out and spake proud Signelil,
She could not wonder half enough:
"Since I've been born no maid has worn,
That I have known, a sarke so rough."

Her hand upon young Hafbur's breast
Which shone with ruddy gold she laid:
"To me make known why are not grown
Your breasts like those of another maid?"

"'Tis custom in my father's land