SIR OLUF he rideth over the plain, | |
| Full seven miles broad and seven miles wide, | |
| But never, ah never can meet with the man | |
| A tilt with him dare ride. | |
| |
| He saw under the hillside | 5 |
| A Knight full well equipped; | |
| His steed was black, his helm was barred; | |
| He was riding at full speed. | |
| |
| He wore upon his spurs | |
| Twelve little golden birds; | 10 |
| Anon he spurred his steed with a clang, | |
| And there sat all the birds and sang. | |
| |
| He wore upon his mail | |
| Twelve little golden wheels; | |
| Anon in eddies the wild wind blew, | 15 |
| And round and round the wheels they flew. | |
| |
| He wore before his breast | |
| A lance that was poised in rest; | |
| And it was sharper than diamond-stone, | |
| It made Sir Oluf’s heart to groan. | 20 |
| |
| He wore upon his helm | |
| A wreath of ruddy gold; | |
| And that gave him the Maidens Three, | |
| The youngest was fair to behold. | |
| |
| Sir Oluf questioned the Knight eftsoon | 25 |
| If he were come from heaven down; | |
| “Art thou Christ of Heaven,” quoth he, | |
| “So will I yield me unto thee.” | |
| |
| “I am not Christ the Great, | |
| Thou shalt not yield thee yet; | 30 |
| I am an Unknown Knight, | |
| Three modest Maidens have me bedight.” | |
| |
| “Art thou a Knight elected, | |
| And have three maidens thee bedight, | |
| So shalt thou ride a tilt this day, | 35 |
| For all the Maidens’ honor!” | |
| |
| The first tilt they together rode | |
| They put their steeds to the test; | |
| The second tilt they together rode | |
| They proved their manhood best. | 40 |
| |
| The third tilt they together rode | |
| Neither of them would yield; | |
| The fourth tilt they together rode | |
| They both fell on the field. | |
| |
| Now lie the lords upon the plain, | 45 |
| And their blood runs unto death; | |
| Now sit the Maidens in the high tower, | |
| The youngest sorrows till death. | |
| |
