Two words about the world we see, And nought but Mine and Thine they be. Ah! might we drive them forth and wide With us should rest and peace abide; All free, nought owned of goods and gear, By men and women though it were. Common to all all wheat and wine Over the seas and up the Rhine. No manslayer then the wide world o'er When Mine and Thine are known no more. Yea, God, well counselled for our health, Gave all this fleeting earthly wealth A common heritage to all, That men might feed them therewithal, And clothe their limbs and shoe their feet And live a simple life and sweet. But now so rageth greediness That each desireth nothing less Than all the world, and all his own; And all for him and him alone. THE LAY OF CHRISTINE. TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC. Of silk my gear was shapen, Scarlet they did on me, Then to the sea-strand was I borne And laid in a bark of the sea. _O well were I from the World away_. Befell it there I might not drown, For God to me was good; The billows bare me up a-land Where grew the fair green-wood. _O well were I from the World away_. There came a Knight a-riding With three swains along the way And he took me up, the little-one, On the sea-sand as I lay. _O well were I from the World away_. He took me up, and bare me home To the house that was his own, And there bode I so long with him That I was his love alone. _O well were I from the World away_. But the very first night we lay abed Befell his sorrow and harm, That thither came the King's ill men, And slew him on mine arm. _O well were I from the World away_. There slew they Adalbright the King, Two of his swains slew they, But the third sailed swiftly from the land Sithence I saw him never a day. _O well were I from the World away_. O wavering hope of this world's bliss, How shall men trow in thee? My Grove of Gems is gone away For mine eyes no more to see! _O well were I from the World away_. Each hour the while my life shall last Remembereth him alone, Such heavy sorrow have I got From our meeting long agone. _O well were I from the World away_. O, early in the morning-tide Men cry: "Christine the fair, Art thou well content with that true love Thou sittest loving there?" _O well were I from the World away_. Ah, yea, so well I love him, And so dear my love shall be, That the very God of Heaven aloft Worshippeth him and me. _O well were I from the World away_. "Ah, all the red gold I have got Well would I give to-day, Only for this and nothing else From the world to win away." _O well were I from the World away_. "Nay, midst all folk upon the earth Keep thou thy ruddy gold, And love withal the mighty lord That wedded thee of old." _O well were I from the World away_. HILDEBRAND AND HELLELIL. TRANSLATED FROM THE DANISH. Hellelil sitteth in bower there, _None knows my grief but God alone_, And seweth at the seam so fair, _I never wail my sorrow to any other one_. But there whereas the gold should be With silk upon the cloth sewed she.