Proud Signild foremost went, and stepped The threshold of her chamber o’er; With secret glee came Hafbur, he Had never been so glad before. Then lighted they the waxen lights, So fairly twisted were the same. Behind, behind, with ill at mind, The wicked servant maiden came. The lights were out, the train retired, They thought that they were all alone; His upper wede the knight with speed Did off, then bright his faulchion shone. King Hafbur with delighted heart Upon the bed himself has flung; I tell to ye for verity That as he fell his hauberk rung. Then out and spake proud Signelil, She could not wonder half enough: “Since I’ve been born no maid has worn, That I have known, a sarke so rough.” Her hand upon young Hafbur’s breast Which shone with ruddy gold she laid: “To me make known why are not grown Your breasts like those of another maid?” “’Tis custom in my father’s land For maids to mount and ride to fight; My breasts not growing more, is owing Unto the chafe of my hauberk tight.” And there reclined the night so long The youthful hero and the may; They talking kept and nothing slept, For in their hearts so much there lay. “Now do thou hear, proud Signild fair, Since all alone ourselves we find, Tell me the truth, who is the youth For whom most stands your maiden mind?” “O there is none within the world For whom I feel the least inclined, Save Hafbur young, whose deeds are sung, And he for me is not designed. “Save Hafbur young whom it has been These eyes hard fortune ne’er to see; I’ve heard alone his bugle blown, When to and fro the Ting rides he.” “And if it is prince Hafbur young Whom them dost hold at heart so dear, Straight turn your face and on him gaze, For he does lie to thee so near.” “If thou art he, why dost thou seek A princely maiden to inveigle? In manly sort to Siward’s court Why cam’st thou not with hawk and beagle?” “O maiden, to your father’s house Long since I came with hawk and hound; But my desire he met with ire, Still in my ear his scoffs resound.” All, all the time that they did talk They thought that quite alone were they; But one stood near, and lent an ear To every word that they did say. Shame, shame befall the wicked maid, ’Twas she brought much mishap to pass; She sly removed the sword approved Of Hafbur, and the new cuirass. When she had removed the sword approved, And Hafbur’s good cuirass beside; To the hall away where Sivard lay The wicked maiden swiftly hied. “Awake, awake, good Sivard King, Too much of sleep is in thy head! Prince Hafbur know is lying now With Signild fair in silken bed.” “O young Prince Hafbur is not here, And it is false what thou hast told; To the Eastern main his way he’s ta’en, With Russ and Finman fight to hold.