There's a dance in the hall of Sir Swerkel the Childe,
There dances fair Kirstine, her hair hanging wild.
There dance the good King and his nobles so gay,
Fair Kirstine before them she warbles a lay.
His hand to the maiden Sir Swerkel stretched free:
"Come hither and dance, little Kirstine, with me."
Her finger he pressed, and moved up to her near:
"Sweet Kirstine, I pray thee become my heart's dear."
Her finger he pressed, on her sandal trod he:
"Fair Kirstine, with pity my agonies see!"
They danced to the left, and they danced to the right,
And her troth the fair damsel bestowed on the knight.
Upon him Sir Swerkel his red mantle throws,
And to the high hall to his mother he goes.
"Hail, hail as thou sittest here, dear mother mine!
I come from betrothing the little Kirstine."
"Our Lady forbid, and our Lady forfend,
Relations like ye to betroth should pretend.
"In wedlock united ye never must be,
For brother and sister, believe me, are ye."
"Now tell me, I pray thee, O dear mother mine!
What time thou didst bring forth the little Kirstine."
"The time that thou wast on thy journey to Rome,
I bore the sweet flowret that's now in full bloom.
"Whilst thou to the sepulchre holy wast gone,
I bore the fair mirror thy love that hast won.
"In the court of the Queen she was reared up with care,
And scarlet and sable accustomed to wear."
"Now give me thy counsel, O dear mother mine,
How I may forget her, the little Kirstine?"
"Go chase thou the hart, and go chase thou the hind,
And thou wilt her image soon chase from thy mind.
"Go chase thou the hart, and go chase thou the roe,
And thou thy love-longing wilt quickly forego."
He chased the proud hart, and he chased the swift hind,
But he never could chase the fair maid from his mind.
He chased the tall hart, and he chased the sleek roe,
But the longing of love from his mind would not go.
So the knight from the country was driven at last,
And into a cloister the maiden was cast.
No little bird shaped from the far land its flight
Than enquiry she made for her dear betrothed knight.
A bird ne'er so little across the sea stray'd
But he enquired after his dear betrothed maid.
FINN AND THE DAMSEL
OR
THE TRIAL OF WITS.
"What's rifer than leaves?" Finn cried.
"Dew is more rife," the damsel replied.
"Hotter than fire?" Finn cried.
"The face of a kind-hearted man," she replied,
"When chance to his hut the stranger doth guide,
And unable he is for his guest to provide."
"Swifter than wind?" Finn cried.
"The vigour of woman," the damsel replied.
"Sweeter than honey?" Finn cried.
"The words of affection," the damsel replied.
"Ranker than bane?" Finn cried.
"A foeman's abuse," the damsel replied.
"More black than the crow?" Finn cried.
"Death is yet blacker," the damsel replied.
"More sharp than the sword?" Finn cried.
"Woman's sense at a pinch," the damsel replied.
"What's best of all gems?" Finn cried.
"A knife or a dirk," the damsel replied.
"Softer than down?" Finn cried.
"Love's palm on your cheek," the damsel replied.
"A ship for all cargoes?" Finn cried.
"The tongs of the smith," the damsel replied.
"Whiter than snow?" Finn cried.
"Truth is more white," the damsel replied.
"How many trees are there?" Finn cried.
"The green and the sere make two," she replied.
"What's reddest of red?" Finn cried.
"The flush of the freeman when praised," she replied.
"Or when praise to his merit is meanly denied."
"Than the radish more brittle?" Finn cried.
"The nature of woman," the damsel replied.
"What never grows old nor betied?"
"The friendship of man," the damsel replied.
"What does woman love best?" Finn cried.
"A fair or a dance," the damsel replied.
"What's best for your colour?" Finn cried.
"Cool air and good sleep," the damsel replied.
"How many steeds are there?" Finn cried,
"But two, a horse and a mare," she replied.
"What's best of all food?" Finn cried,
"Nought better than milk," the damsel replied.
"What adorns a man most?" Finn cried,
"High deeds, humble words," the damsel replied.
"The worst of all fare?" Finn cried.
"Strong drink, if it be too freely supplied,
Or the prate of a fool," the damsel replied.