English poem
Cried Herwic, lord of Sealand: “Maidens fair and young
by Mary Pickering Nichols (1829–1915)
Cried Herwic, lord of Sealand: “Maidens fair and young, Tell us now, we pray you, to whom these clothes belong. We ask you in all honor, by the faith to maidens owing, Most fair and lovely ladies, that back to the shore you will again be going.”
Gu-drun, the maid, then answered: “It were a shame, forsooth, Since to the trust of woman you give your pledge in truth, Were I of this unworthy, nor faith in you were showing: To the shore we back will hasten, although my eyes with tears are overflowing.”
More by Mary Pickering Nichols
- Beyond her wont a little to laugh had the maid begun
- Both the well-clad heroes before their seats now stood
- By Wâ-te they were guided from the castle down to the sand
- Clothed in the garb of tradesmen, on the shore did stand
- Down to the beach they plodded, as was their wont before
- Early on the morrow, after the mass was said
- First spake the eldest maiden: “How darest thou in our cave
- For days full four and twenty they fared thro’ the piny wood