King's daughter sitting in tower so high, _Fair summer is on many a shield_. Tidings to hearken ere thou die, _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_. In the Frankish land the spear points met, And wide about the field was wet. And high ere the cold moon quenched the sun, Blew Steingrim's horn for battle won. _The King's Daughter_. Fair fall thee fowl! Tell tidings true Of deeds that men that day did do. _The Raven_. Steingrim before his banner went, And helms were broke and byrnies rent. _The King's Daughter_. A doughty man and good at need; Tell men of any other's deed? _The Raven_. Where Steingrim through the battle bore Still Olaf went a foot before. _The King's Daughter_. O fair with deeds the world doth grow! Where is my true-love gotten now? _The Raven_. Upon the deck beside the mast He lieth now, and sleepeth fast. _The King's Daughter_. Heard'st thou before his sleep began That he spake word of any man? _The Raven_. Methought of thee he sang a song, But nothing now he saith for long. _The King's Daughter_. And wottest thou where he will wend With the world before him from end to end? _The Raven_. Before the battle joined that day Steingrim a word to him did say: "If we bring the banner back in peace, In the King's house much shall my fame increase; Till there no guarded door shall be But it shall open straight to me. Then to the bower we twain shall go Where thy love the golden seam doth sew. I shall bring thee in and lay thine hand About the neck of that lily-wand. And let the King be lief or loth One bed that night shall hold you both." Now north belike runs Steingrim's prow, And the rain and the wind from the south do blow. _The King's Daughter_. Lo, fowl of death, my mother's ring, But the bridal song I must learn to sing. And fain were I for a space alone, For O the wind, and the wind doth moan. And I must array the bridal bed, _Fair summer is on many a shield_. For O the rain, and the rain drifts red! _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_. Before the day from the night was born, Fair summer is on many a shield. She heard the blast of Steingrim's horn, Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field. Before the day was waxen fair Were Steingrim's feet upon the stair. "O bolt and bar they fall away, But heavy are Steingrim's feet to-day." "O heavy the feet of one who bears The longing of days and the grief of years! Lie down, lie down, thou lily-wand That on thy neck I may lay his hand. Whether the King be lief or loth To-day one bed shall hold you both. O thou art still as he is still, So sore as ye longed to talk your fill. And good it were that I depart, Now heart is laid so close to heart. For sure ye shall talk so left alone _Fair summer is on many a shield_. Of days to be below the stone." _Fair sing the swans 'twixt firth and field_. SPRING'S BEDFELLOW.