Herr Mannelig

Herr Mannelig (also known as Herr Mannerlig) is a medieval style Swedish ballad that tells the story of a female mountain troll who proposes marriage to a knight.

History

The troll is trying to convince Sir Mannelig (Swedish: Herr Mannelig) to marry her. She showers him with gifts but he refuses her, because he realizes that she is not a Christian woman but a troll (a Satanic creature). She is desperate about her failure, because winning Sir Mannelig would have "freed her of her torment" (presumably of the curse of living as a troll).

Lyrics

Swedish Bittida en morgon innan solen upprann Innan foglarna började sjunga Bergatrollet friade till fager ungersven Hon hade en falskeliger tunga Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig För det jag bjuder så gerna I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej Om i viljen eller ej: Eder vill jag gifva de gångare tolf Som gå uti rosendelunde Aldrig har det varit någon sadel uppå dem Ej heller betsel uti munnen Eder vill jag gifva de qvarnarna tolf Som stå mellan Tillö och Ternö Stenarna de äro af rödaste gull Och hjulen silfverbeslagna Eder vill jag gifva ett förgyllande svärd Som klingar utaf femton guldringar Och strida huru I strida vill Stridsplatsen skolen i väl vinna Eder vill jag gifva en skjorta så ny Den bästa I lysten att slita Inte är hon sömnad av nål eller trå Men virkat av silket det hvita Sådana gåfvor toge jag väl emot Om du vore en kristelig qvinna Men nu så är du det värsta bergatroll Af Neckens och djävulens stämma Bergatrollet ut på dörren sprang Hon rister och jämrar sig svåra Hade jag fått den fager ungersven Så hade jag mistat min plåga Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig För det jag bjuder så gerna I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej Om i viljen eller ej:|

English' Early one morning before the sun did rise And the birds sang their sweet song The mountain troll proposed to the fair squire She had a false deceitful tongue Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me For all that I'll gladly give you You may answer only yes or no Will you do so or no To you I will give the twelve great steeds That graze in a shady grove Never has a saddle been mounted on their backs Nor had a bit in their mouths To you I will give the twelve fine mills That stand between Tillo and Terno The mill stones are made of the reddest brass And the wheels are silver-laden To you I will give the gilded sword That jingles from fifteen gold rings And strike with it in battle as you will On the battlefield you will conquer To you I will give a brand new shirt The lustrous best for to wear It is not sewn with needle or thread But crocheted of the whitest silk Gifts such as these I would gladly receive If you were a Christian woman But I know you are the worst mountain troll From the spawn of the Neck and the devil The mountain troll ran out the door She wailed and she shrieked so loudly "Had I gotten that handsome squire From my torment I would be free now" Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me For all that I'll gladly give you You may answer only yes or no Will you do so or no

Performed By

"Herr Mannelig"
Song

The ballad has recently been performed and recorded by the following artists: In Extremo, Garmarna, Haggard (in Italian), Hedningarna, Psalteria, Satarial, Wolfenmond, Chur (in Russian), Galtagaldr, Cromdale, Dunkelschön, Annwn, Litvintroll (in Belarusian) and Heimataerde (in German).

External links

• Herr Mannelig Original text and English translation