ved burger and boor in peace without
The plague of plough-tax and scot.

Christ bless the youthful Athelings two,
And lengthen their vital span,
That justice they may, and equity,
Do long in sight of man!

III. THE MERMAID'S PROPHECY.

The King he has caught the fair mermaid, and deep
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
In the dungeon has placed her, to pine and to weep,
Because his will she had not done.

The Queen of the Danes addressed two of her band:
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
"To come to my presence the mermaid command,
For my will by her it shall be done."

The mermaid came in, to the Queen she up went:
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
"What wilt thou, O Queen, that for me thou hast sent?
By me thy will can never be done."

The Queen the blue cushion stroked down with a smile:
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
"Sit down pretty mermaid and rest thee awhile,
My will by thee must now be done."

"Why seek'st thou, O Queen, to betray my young life?
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
For under that cushion is stuck a sharp knife,
By me thy will can never be done."

"If thou knowest that, then much more thou dost know,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
So do thou my destiny unto me show,
And thus by thee shall my will be done."

"If I should thy destiny to thee announce,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
On a fire of faggots thoud'st burn me at once!
By me unwilling your will is done.

"Three babes thou shalt bear, each a beautiful boy,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
And in leaving thy womb they thy life shall destroy,
And thus fair Queen thy will is done."

"If with me, luckless me, it no better shall speed,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
Inform me what fortune for them is decreed,
For thus by thee can my will be done."

"The first shall be King in old Denmark of them,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
The next shall succeed to the gold diadem,
By me can thus thy will be done.

"The third as the wisest of mortals shall shine,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
And for him thou art doomed thy young life to resign,
Thus all your will, fair Queen, I've done."

In her mantle of azure the Queen wrapt her head,
(_The mermaid dances the floor upon_)
And unto the hall to the Monarch she sped,
For she her will had fairly done.

"Now hear my entreaty, my he