Herr Heinerich [English translation]

When one courts a women,

There are three things he needs

An open heart, a little sack of gold

And a lot of courage, too

Sir Heinerich rides into the depths of the forest,

Drinks water instead of cool wine

About seven miles before the town,

He thinks of his beloved

He hunts the deer from the mountain to the valley,

He goes after it

Violently flies his ash tree spear,

Suddenly bringing the game to its fall

He carries the catch to his home,

His heart is filled with joy

He sits at the table

And the somber night falls

Then the dog starts to howl

And presses against Sir Heinerich's knee

A troll woman walks into the room,

A gray, horrible thing

Eleven cubits high is her torso,

Two sows wide is her body

"Cover yourself, Lady", calls out Sir Heinerich

"Take my coat by way of dress"

The teeth, a moss-covered fence

The nose, a tree

Nothing on this earth ressembles her,

She must then be the ghost of hell

"Bring some fresh meat, Sir Heinerich,

Bring some fresh meat over here"

"Tell me, where in this house is there flesh

To which you'd be welcomed?"

"Then slaughter your brown steed

And bring it here to me"

He slaughtered the brown steed,

His heart became so heavy

She threw it down her throat,

And there was not even a bone left

"More meat, more meat, Sir Heinerich

Bring some more meat over here"

"Tell me, where in this house is there flesh

To which you'd be welcomed?"

"Then slaughter your good dog

And bring it here to me"

He slaughtered the good dog,

His heart became so heavy

She threw it down her throat,

And there was not even a bone left

"A bed, a bed, Sir Heinerich,

Bring me a bed over here

A soft heather bed

Should be our wedding bed"

He plucks and pulls at the heather,

Prepares a good bed

He spreads his coat over it

And the witch lies down on it

"Remove your clothes, Sir Heinerich

And lay down by my side"

"Heaven forbid", says Sir Heinerich

"That I would ever do such a thing,

To share my bed at night

With a ghost come from hell"

The night passed by, the day was here

Through the window, the sun saw

The most beautiful woman in this country

Lying there, between the wall and him

"What a nice day", says Sir Heinerich

"May it forever stay that way"

To which the beautiful woman answers:

"It will stay that way until your end

I found myself many knights,

But every single one has failed

You are the only one who slept with me

Throughout the entire lovely night"