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Hedeby Fair (2)                             Tune & original lyrics: Scarborough Fair (traditional)
                                                    Hedeby Fair (2) MP3 
Well are we met now, at Hedeby Fair,       Read "Hedeby Fair" by Michaela Macha
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
And tell her from me, whose sending you bear,
Who once was a true love of mine…

How can a ship go without wind or oar?
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
Or brew into strength where sweet was before?
So for to be a true love of thine?

How can bright metal be forged without heat?
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
To make soft the hard, or with softness to beat?
So for to be a true love of thine?

How for to shape thee a stave of a song,
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
That has no likening, nor line short or long?
So for to be a true love of thine?

Say: I am the ship that will steer to thy shore,
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
So close that the wyrm-prow shall knock at thy door,
Thus shall I be a true love of thine.

That ship bears not one, but two butts of such mead,
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
That shall refresh thee, howso great thy need,
Thus shall I be a true love of thine.

Thereby shall I craft thee a ring all of gold
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
Hair mingled on linen, in bed that was cold,
Thus shall I be a true love of thine.

I’ll teach thee to sing then, a most ancient rhyme
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
No woman loves better to sing for all time,
Thus shall I be a true love of thine.

And when I have come to thee and have done this,
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
There’ll be many gold rings, and many a kiss,
That each shall trade other, as we entwine.

Speed you well now from the Hedeby Fair,
Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim
And give her my answer, when to her you repair,
That she shall once more be a true love of mine.

© Nick Ford

Image: Released into the Public Domain by Pianopianissimo.

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