Herr Mannelig
(The Courting of the Mountain Troll)
One morning ere the sun arose before the birds could sing
A troll she sought out her young man
She sought to snare his soul away with words she falsely sang
With words she falsely sang:
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig, oh will you marry me,
To you I will give my treasure,
My offer is for you to have or you to turn away,
Will you have me, will you say?
To you I would give untamed coursers numbering twelve
In my secret grove among roses
Never have they bourne a man or saddle on their backs
The bit they never have tasted
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig (Chorus)
To you I would give a gleaming hard-forged elvish sword
Of old they hailed it gold-ringer,
However he should fight who bares its shining golden blade
In sport or war he’s the winner
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig (Chorus)
To you I would give a sterling silver magic wheel
that grinds out gold from its mill house,
Never shall you lack a penny while you own this wheel,
you will have peace and plenty
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig (Chorus)
Such gifts I would receive from an honest mortal bride,
if you were a true Christian woman,
But you are trickster who seeks to claim my soul,
A spawn of the deep and the devil
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig (Chorus)
The mountain troll then shook, and stamped, and wailed and tore her hair,
the young man saw through her dark plans,
she turned her heels, sprang out his door and was not seen again,
her evil spell was now broken
Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig (Chorus)