Classic Poem

At evening fall I chanced to ride,
My courser to a tree I tied.
So wide thereof the story goes.

Against a stump my head I laid,
And then to slumber I essay’d.
So wide thereof the story goes.

As soon as sleep had closed my eye,
The murdered man to me drew nigh.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“And if thy race to mine belongs,
I call thee to avenge my wrongs.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“And them to Heddeby shalt ride,
For there my kith and kin reside.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“My father dwells there, and my mother,
There dwell my sister and my brother.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“There Kirsten dwells, my lovely wife,
And it was she who took my life.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“Her sleeping husband stifled she,
With aid of cursed beldames three.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“Then in a truss of hay concealed,
They brought me forth to this wide field.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“The page I loved the best of all,
Now rides upon my courser tall.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“Eats daily with my silver knife,
And sleeps with Kirsten fair, my wife.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“He sitteth highest at the board,
My children tremble at his word.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“To them he gives so little bread,
And mocks them now that I am dead.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“He rides about the forest grounds,
And hunts the red deer with my hounds.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“Each time the caitiff slays a deer,
He wakes me in my grave so drear.
So wide thereof the story goes.

“But if I to him once repair,
With him ’twill sorely, sorely fare.”
So wide thereof the story goes.