Flew o'er the mead his head.

His head flew into pieces nine,
His back asunder burst;
Swayne hied him to the Damsel's house,
There first he quenched his thirst.

Nine stately warriors out there came,
Took Swayne from off his steed:
"Broad lands on thee we will bestow
If thou wilt wed the maid."

"O I'm betrothed to one as fair
In Ostland realms already;
For seven tons of ruddy gold
I would not prove unsteady.

"But build before your Hovdingsey
A house upon the mead,
And there to Danish pilgrims give
Good wine and best of bread."

So Danish pilgrims there they give
Good wine and best of bread;
They pray for brave Swayne Felding's soul,
He now has long been dead.

INNOCENCE DEFAMED

Misfortune comes to every door,
And who can hope to 'scape its might?
And that can little Kirstine say,
And none alas with greater right.

It was the good Sir Peter, he
At fall of eve came home from Ting;
And it was little Kirstine fair,
That fell the knight to welcoming.

"Now welcome, welcome home from Ting,
Most welcome thou my father dear;
Whilst thou at Ting this day didst stand
Didst any news or tiding hear?"

"Enough of tidings I have heard,
To break my heart however sound;
Thy plighted youth has thee forsworn
Because thy name was bandied round.

"Thy plighted youth has thee forsworn,
And none can blame the youth I ween;
For eight long years it seems thou hast
A murdress and a harlot been."

"Now do thou hear, my father dear,
Such wicked rumours thou shouldst scorn;
For thus is many a virtuous maid
Of fame and honor daily shorn."

"And do thou hear, my daughter dear,
Thou shalt confess it to thy sorrow;
This evening thou shalt gather wood,
And burn upon that wood tomorrow."

And so they took the fair Kirstine,
And her arrayed in scarlet weed;
And mournfully they lifted her
Upon the grey and lofty steed.

It was little Kirstine fair,
She reached at last the verdant wold;
"Now bless'd be God on high that dwells,
My bride-bed yonder I behold.

"So red, red are my bridal sheets,
My bridal bolsters are so blue,
The knights who thus their daughters wed
I hope and trust are very few."

And so they took the little Kirstine,
And bade her sit a stump upon:
Then forward stepped her plighted youth,
And her yellow hair he has undone.

"Now do thou hear, my plighted maid,
I rede thee be of blythes