this eve;
And that can I by thy small shirt
Hooked with red gold perceive.

"O I can plain by thy small shirt
With red gold hooked discern,
Thou art the King of Denmark come
To do us a noble turn."

"I am not Denmark's King, fair maid,
Nor any thing so high;
I'm but a needy pilgrim, born
Within the Dane country.

"Now list to me thou Damsel fair,
List kindly I beseech,
There's many a child in Denmark born,
And with his own luck each."

And there sat she the damsel fair,
And the silken seam she sewed;
For every stitch she sew'd a tear
From her eyes of beauty flowed.

"Now do thou hear, my damsel dear,
Why dost so sorely grieve?
If thou declare thy bosom's care
Perchance I can relieve."

"Within our land a Giant lives
Who waste our land will lay;
Upon no other food than maids
And ladies will he prey.

"Within our country lives a trold
From us our land will tear,
Unless we can procure a man
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 gr