Finnish Arts or Sir Thor and Damsel Thure, a Ballad

Excerpt

FINNISH ARTS
OR
SIR THOR AND DAMSEL THURE.

Sir Thor was a knight of prowess tried,
The son of a king he was beside.

He was a knight excelled by none,
At home such deeds of might he’d done.

And not alone in his native home,
But manhood had he displayed at Rome.

He faithfully served the emperor,
And hatred to all his foes he bore.

King of Norroway was his sire,
His fame spreads over the world entire.

He was a King both aged and grey,
So he summoned his son from Rome away.

He summoned his son from Rome away,
To help him Norway’s land to sway.

As soon as the tidings reached Sir Thor,
He hied to the Roman Emperor.

“Hail, Emperor Ludvig, great and brave!
Thy leave to return to my sire I crave.”

“Freely shalt thou permission gain,
And thy post shall vacant for thee remain.”

He greeted all the knightly train,
They begged him quickly return again.

When from Rome he came to his own countrie,
His father welcomed him heartilie.

His dear son married he fain would see,
And divide with him his domain would he.

He envoys sends with all despatch
To seek a maid with his son to match.

They travelled wide with unwearied mind
Before his equal they could find.

O’er land and sea so wide they speed,
Until they reached the land of Swede.

And when they reached the Swedish State,
They found one worthy to be his mate.

Damsel Thura the maiden hight,
In Swedish land was none so bright.

The loveliest maiden in all the land,
Her father was high Sir Sallemand.

He was a noble rich and great,
His equal was not in Sweden’s State.

So glad to Norroway back they wend,
That the matter be brought to a happy end.

They the tidings to their lord declare
That they had found a damsel rare.

No fairer was in the Swede countrie,
Nor in all the isles there round that be.

The heart of Sir Thor with joy beat loud
When they described the damsel proud.

He spoke to his men, so gallant and stout,
Who were to attend him in his rout:

“We must quickly away, so ready make,
I’ve sworn an oath I dare not break,

“As soon as the lovely rose was found,
To her o’er land and sea to bound.”

They hoisted their sails on the yard so high,
And out of the haven away they fly.

So gay thence sailed they every one,
To Sweden in less than a month they won.

The noble he steered his ship to the land,
Sir Thor was the first who stepped on the sand.

The knight he sprang on his courser red:
“God help us now to this lovely maid.”

As they through the land of Sweden hied,
The folks received them with joy and pride.

To Sir Sallemand’s house came Sir Thor on his steed,
Erect in his sables stood the Swede.

“Here stand’st thou, Sir Sallemand, gallantly dight,
Say, wilt thou house me with thee to-night?”

“As one from God thou shalt welcome be,
Respect and honour I pay to thee.”

To the hall of the women Sir Thor led they,
His eyes fell straight on the lovely may.

They washed their hands and to table went,
With the music and talk were they well content.

And when they had feasted all so free,
They cried for chess to increase their glee.

“Sir Sallemand, listen to what I say,
May I at chess with thy daughter play?”

“Yes, thou to play with her art free,
Whether within or without I be.”

The young Sir Thor and Thure the maid,
A game of chess at the table played.

The longer they played, they happier grew,
Full pleased with each other were the two.

“Hear thou, May Thure, thou lily bright,
Wilt thou with thy white hand thyself to me plight?”

“Hear thou, Sir Thor, I tell thee plain,
My faith and troth thou may’st obtain.

“My faith and troth I would plight to thee
If I knew thou would’st be true to me.”

“May Christ destroy the dastard vile
Who a noble maid would ever beguile!”

She gave him her troth with her hand so fair,
But what she did more there was none aware....