The Tale of Brynild, and King Valdemar and His Sister: Two Ballads. Borrow George

      ’Twere better that this maid had died

      Within her mother’s womb,

      Than that these princely men through her

      To such an end should come.

      Now will I rede, each honest man

      Well to deliberate ever;

      Unequalled woman’s cunning is,

      Though guiles of men be clever.

      She laughs when ’tis her wish to laugh,

      And weeps when she will weep;

      Whene’er she wants thy heart to move

      Fair words on thee she’ll heap.

      Be she sick, or be she well,

      In woman ne’er confide;

      In murder red, by woman led,

      His hands Sir Nielus dyed.