The Suitors Lyrics

The bard long debated how to woo and win the daughter

How to lead the bride of beauty fairy maiden of the rainbow

Paints his boat in blue and scarlet sings his ship down gliding

Steers the bark across the water on the blueback of the broad sea

Blacksmiths sister daughter of night and dawn who awakes early in the morning

Stood one morning on the sea shore washing in the foam her dresses

Looking through the clouds of heaven gazing far out on the blue sea

There she sees on the horizon something blue upon the billow

Speaks the maid whither sails you friend of water

Minstrel said I come to catch some seatrout hiding in these reeds and rushes

Do not speak to me in falsehood know I well the time of fishing

How the fisherman disposes how he rigs his fishing vessel

I have come to catch some wild-geese in these extending borders

Know I well a truthful speaker how the hunter rigs his vessel

To the wars my ship is sailing to the bloody fields of battle

Know I well the ship of battle speak no longer fruitless falsehood

Now I make a truthful answer I am sailing to the Northland

There to woo the maid of beauty bring her to my home and kindred

Then graceful maiden left unwashed her linen garments

To the blacksmith`s home and smithy here to found the hero artist

These the words his sister uses do you ever think to marry

Beautiful maiden of the rainbow fairest virgin of the Northland

Haste you then upon your journey to thy wooing in the Northland

Sails another now before you woo and win the maid of beauty

Straight way did the sister bring the finest of his raiment

Bring the softest of his linen brought to him his silken stockings

Brought him shoes of marten-leather brought a vest of sky blue color

Brought him scarlet colored trouser brought a fur coat made of sealskin

Brought for him his magic girdle

Hitch for me a fleet-foot racer hitch him to my sledge of magic

Place six cuckoos on the break board seven bluebirds on the crossbars

Merrily the steed flies onward bluebird singing cuckoos calling

On the seashore looking northward as he glides up on his journey

Travels one day then a second third day he overtakes the minstrel

Let us woo in peace the maiden let her wed the one she chooses

I agree to thy proposal let us woo in peace the maiden

Let the unsuccessful suitor harbor neither wrath or envy

Thus agreeing on the journey each according to his pleasure

Fleetly does the steed fly onward swiftly sails minstrels ship of beauty