The Magic Of The Harp

"Raw" English translation of the Danish ballad lyrics

1. Villemand and his beautiful bride
   refrain 1: The string is of gold
   they played golden 'Tavl' (1) in her house
   refrain 2: So delightfully he played for his virgin.
    
2. Each time a golden 'Tavl' ran on the table
   the virgin cried so many tears.
    
3. Why do you cry for the red gold ?
   you had better cry for being my bride.
    
4. Why do you cry because I'm not rich ?
   you should rather think that I can't be your equal.
    
5. I don't cry for for the red gold
   it is my will to be your bride.
    
6. I don't cry, for you are rich
   and you are fully my equal.
    
7. I cry far more for 'Blide' (2)
   that I must pass.
    
8. There my two sisters sank
   when they were preparing their wedding.
    
9. You should not cry for 'Blide'
   My swains will ride together with you.
    
10. My swains shall ride with you
    a hundred on each side.
     
11. This I shall do to your honour
    twelve knights will guide your horse.
     
12. He put golden shoes on her horse
    and then she rides towards the bridge of 'Blide'
     
13. When she came to the middle of the bridge
    her horse slipped on its golden shoes.
     
14. Her horse slipped on fifteeen nails
    the virgin sank in the rapid stream.
     
15. All knights grasped at her saddle
    but noone could save the beautiful virgin.
     
16. The virgin reached up her white hand
    my noble lord, help me ashore.
     
17. May God and the Holy Spirit Help you
    for I can not help you.
     
18. Villemand talks to the swain
    get my golden harp for me.
     
19. Villemand took his harp by hand
    he goes for to stop the stream.
     
20. He played with such skill
    that no birds moved on their twigs.
     
21. He stroke his harp so loudly
    that it was heard in all estates.
     
22. The bark fell off the oak trees
    and the horns off the roaring beasts.
     
23. The bark fell off the birches
    and the spire off the church of Mary.
     
24. Then he stroke the harp with such anger
    that he teared his bride out of the arms of the troll.
     
25. Then he stroke his harp to the bottom
    thus forcing the troll up from the ground.
     
26. The troll went up from the ground
    with the bride of Villemand in his mouth.
     
27. Not only his bride
    but also her beautiful sisters.
     
28. Villemand, Villemand, take your bride
    and let me alone with my sorrow.
     
29. Villemand took the virgin at home
    he played for her so joyfully.
     
30. Villemand played but the stick did stand
    everyone went to the wedding but noone left.
     
31. Villemand played until the quint (3) burst
    then his harp got another sound.
     
32. The bride who was earlier secretly stolen
    she bore a son for Villemand the next year.
     
33. Any young fellow capable of striking the harp
    will not allow his bride to be taken from him.
     

Refrain 1 and 2 form the 2nd and 4th verse of each stanza.

1)  'Tavl' denotes the board as well as the man of an ancient game

2)  'Blide' is the name of a mythical river

3)  'Quint' is the fifth string of a stringed instrument