Would ye further hear the story? A maiden, in days of yore, Whose heart was free from falsehood, the crown of a fair land bore-- 610 Her heirdom was rich and noble, and lowly and pure her heart, And no taint of earthly longing had found in her soul a part. And wooers she had in plenty, of crownèd kings, I ween, And princes, whose race and kingdom fit mate for her own had been. Yet so humble she was, the maiden, she thought not of earthly love-- 615 And the counts of her realm waxed wrathful, since no pleading her soul could move, And their anger raged hot against her that she gave not her maiden hand To one who should be fit ruler o'er her folk, and her goodly land. In God was her trust, whatever men might in their anger speak, And guiltless, she bare the vengeance her folk on her head would wreak. 620 But she called of her land the princes, and they journeyed from far and near, From many a distant country, the will of their queen to hear. And she sware she would have no husband, and no man as her lord would own Save him whom God's Hand should send her, his love would she wait alone. Of the land of Brabant was she princess--From Monsalväsch he came, the knight 625 Whom God at His will should send her, and his guide was a swan so white. He set foot in her land at Antwerp, and she knew that her heart spake true, And gallant was he to look on, and all men the hero knew For a noble knight and manly, and his face, it was wondrous fair, And his fame was in every kingdom where men did his deeds declare. 630 And a wise man he was, free-handed, with never a doubting heart, And faithful and true, and falsehood it found in his life no part.