“I crave thee, woman, not to think I came for sport and play; Thou wast the wicked cause that I From honour went astray.”
It was the bold Sir Nielus then His faulchion he drew out; It was the beauteous Brynild whom He all to pieces smote.
“Now have I slain my comrade dear, And eke my lovely may, Yet still I am resolved in mind A third, a third to slay.”
So then against the hard stone floor He placed the trusty glaive; To his heart’s root the point in went, And him his death wound gave.
’Twere better that this maid had died Within her mother’s womb, Than that these princely men through her To such an end should come.
Now will I rede, each honest man Well to deliberate ever; Unequalled woman’s cunning is, Though guiles of men be clever.
She laughs when ’tis her wish to laugh, And weeps when she will weep; Whene’er she wants thy heart to move Fair words on thee she’ll heap.
Be she sick, or be she well, In woman ne’er confide; In murder red, by woman led, His hands Sir Nielus dyed.
See, see, with Queen Sophy sits Valdemar bold. About little Kirsten much parlance they hold.
“Now hark, my good Lord! I have this to propose, That thou shalt give Kirsten to Buris for spouse.
A sister thou hast, I a brave brother own, A wedding we’ll have ere this good year be flown.”
“It never shall happen, as long as I live, That I to a horse-thief my sister will give.
My sister’s a princess so fair and so bright, But Buris is liker a groom than a knight.”
Then pale as a corpse grew Sophia to see; “My noble lord, wherefore despisest thou me?”
The Queen struck with fury her hand on the board: “Be sure that I vengeance will have for that word.”
King Valdemar now to the war-field should wend, Behind stays Sir Buris the land to defend.
Forth, forth from the land the bold King his course bent, So many a beautiful knight with him went.
Him followed so many a chivalrous band; He disposed of his sister, the fair mirror’s hand.
To a prince rich and fine and of valour approved, He gave little Kirsten, his sister beloved.
With Buris Sophia sits over the board, And much brooded she on King Valdemar’s word.
“Sir Buris, my brother, list thou to my say: Beguile the King’s sister whilst he is away.”
Sir Buris he cast on his sister his eyes: “O why my dear sister dost talk in this guise?