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Translated by C. T. Brooks
SHE said: This narrow chamber is not for me the place, | |
| Said the Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| ’T is pleasanter on horseback, I ’ll hie me to the chase, | |
| Said the Lady Kunigunde! | |
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| She said: The knight who weds me, I do require of him, | 5 |
| Said the Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| To gallop round the Kynast and break nor neck nor limb. | |
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| A noble knight came forward and galloped round the wall; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast, | |
| The lady, without lifting a finger, saw him fall. | 10 |
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| And yet another galloped around the battlement; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde, | |
| The lady saw him tumble, yet did she not relent. | |
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| And rider after rider spurred round his snorting horse; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde | 15 |
| Saw him vanish o’er the rampart, and never felt remorse. | |
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| Long time the folly lasted, then came not rider more; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde, | |
| They would not ride to win her, the trial was too sore. | |
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| She stood upon her towers, she looked upon the land, | 20 |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast: | |
| I ’m all alone at home here, will no one seek my hand? | |
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| Is there none will ride to win me, to win me for his bride, | |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast? | |
| O fie, the paltry rider who dreads the bridal ride! | 25 |
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| Then out and spake from Thüringen the Landgrave Adelbert: | |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| Well may the haughty damsel her worthiness assert. | |
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| He trains his horse to gallop on narrow walls of stone; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | 30 |
| The lady shall not see us break neck or limb or bone. | |
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| See here, O noble lady, I ’m he that dares the ride! | |
| The Lady Kunigunde, | |
| She looks in thoughtful silence, to see him sit in pride. | |
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| She saw him now make ready, then trembled she and sighed, | 35 |
| The Lady Kunigunde: | |
| Woe ’s me that I so fearful have made the bridal ride! | |
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| Then rode he round the Kynast; her face she turned away, | |
| The Lady Kunigunde: | |
| Woe ’s me, the knight is riding down to his grave to-day! | 40 |
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| He rides around the Kynast, right round the narrow wall; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde! | |
| She cannot stir for terror her lily hand at all. | |
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| He rides around the Kynast, clear round the battlement; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde! | 45 |
| As if a breath might kill him, she held her breath suspent. | |
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| He rode around the Kynast and straight to her rode he; | |
| Said the Lady Kunigunde of Kynast: | |
| Thanks be to God in heaven, who gave thy life to thee! | |
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| Thanks be to God that into thy grave thou didst not ride! | 50 |
| Said the Lady Kunigunde: | |
| Come down from off thy horse now, O knight, unto thy bride! | |
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| Then spake the noble rider, and greeted, as he sate, | |
| The Lady Kunigunde: | |
| O trust a knight for horsemanship! well have I taught thee that. | 55 |
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| Now wait till comes another who can the same thing do, | |
| O Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| I ’ve wife and child already, can be no spouse for you. | |
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| He gave his steed the spur, now; rode back the way he came; | |
| The Lady Kunigunde! | 60 |
| The lady saw him vanish, she swooned with scorn and shame. | |
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| And she remains a virgin, her pride had such a fall, | |
| The Lady Kunigunde! | |
| Changed to a wooden image she stands in sight of all. | |
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| An image, like a hedgehog, with spines for hair, is now | 65 |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| The stranger has to kiss it, who climbs the Kynast’s brow. | |
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| We bring it him to kiss it; and if it shocks his pride, | |
| The Lady Kunigunde of Kynast! | |
| He must pay down his forfeit, who will not kiss the bride, | 70 |
| The Lady Kunigunde! | |
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