The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 4.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

Kallundborg Church.

“Tie stille, barn min!
     Imorgen kommer Fin,
Fa'er din,
     Og gi'er dig Esbern Snares öine og hjerte at lege med!”

“build at Kallundborg by the sea
A church as stately as church may be,
And there shalt thou wed my daughter fair,”
Said the Lord of Nesvek to Esbern Snare.

And the Baron laughed. But Esbern said,
‘Though I lose my soul, I will Helva wed!’
And off he strode, in his pride of will,
To the Troll who dwelt in Ulshoi hill.

“Build, O Troll, a church for me
At Kallundborg by the mighty sea;
Build it stately, and build it fair,
Build it quickly,” said Esbern Snare.

But the sly Dwarf said, “No work is wrought
By Trolls of the Hills, O man, for naught.
What wilt thou give for thy church so fair?”
‘Set thy own price,’ quoth Esbern Snare.

“When Kallundborg church is builded well,
Thou must the name of its builder tell,
Or thy heart and thy eyes must be my boon.”
‘Build,’ said Esbern, ‘and build it soon.’

By night and by day the Troll wrought on;
He hewed the timbers, he piled the stone;