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In the spring days has she bleached them,

In the summer months has dried them;

Splendid sheets the beds to spread on,

Cushions soft for heads to rest on,

Silken neckcloths of the finest,

Woollen mantles of the brightest.

“Noble damsel, fairest damsel,

With thy beautiful complexion,

In the house wilt thou be honoured,

As in father’s house the daughter,

All thy life shalt thou be honoured,

As in husband’s house the mistress.

“Never will we cause thee trouble,

Never trouble bring upon thee.

To the swamp thou wast not carried,

Nor from the ditch-side they brought thee,

From the cornfields rich they brought thee,

But to better fields they led thee,

And they took thee from the ale-house,

To a home where ale is better.

“Noble girl, and fairest damsel,

One thing only will I ask thee,

Didst thou notice on thy journey

Shocks of corn that stood uplifted,

Ears of rye in shocks uplifted,

All belonging to this homestead,

From the ploughing of thy husband?

He has ploughed and he has sown it.

“Dearest girl, and youthful damsel,

This is what I now will tell thee,

Thou hast willed our house to enter:

Be contented with the household.

Here ’tis good to be the mistress,

Good to be a fair-faced daughter,

Sitting here among the milk-pans,

Butter-dishes at thy service.

“This is pleasant for a damsel,

Pleasant for a fair-faced dovekin.

Broad the planking of the bathroom,

Broad within the rooms the benches,