C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Sin and Death

From ‘Sigurd Slembe’

Translation of William Morton Payne

SIN and Death, at break of day,

Day, day,

Spoke together with bated breath;

Marry thee, sister, that I may stay,

Stay, stay,

In thy house, quoth Death.

Death laughed aloud when Sin was wed,

Wed, wed,

And danced on the bridal day;

But bore that night from the bridal bed,

Bed, bed,

The groom in a shroud away.

Death came to her sister at break of day,

Day, day,

And Sin drew a weary breath;

He whom thou lovest is mine for aye,

Aye, aye,

Mine he is, quoth Death.