At the margin of the sea
A maiden is sitting,
A kerchief embroidering,
For the queen fitting.

When the work is half done,
The silk it is failing:
She sees a splendid ship
Near the shore sailing.

" Sailor, with ship so fine,
Have you silk aboard her? "
" Wilt thou have white silk, or green?
With which dost thou embroider? "

" A light green is best of all,
Other shades are duller. "
" Come and enter my good ship;
Choose thine own color. "

So she enters, and the ship
Full-sail goes winging,
And the sailor sings to her;
New songs he 's singing.

With the song the sailor sings
Sleep overtakes her,
But the surging of the sea
Soon it awakes her.

When she 's awake, she sees
The land disappearing,
And the ship on the great waves
Out to sea steering.

" Mariner, good mariner,
Home I 'd be sailing,
With the salt air of the sea
My heart is ailing. "

" Nay, nay, that cannot be,
Though thou despairest. "
" Oh, we were sisters three,
I was the fairest.

" One wedded with a duke,
One a prince married;
Poor me, a sailor lass!
Out to sea carried!

" One she wore robes of gold,
One silk all shining;
Poor me, in woollen stuff
I must go pining! "

" No gown of stuff; you 'll wear
Gold and silk blended;
No sailor's lass art thou,
But a queen splendid.

" My father 's England's king,
A gold crown he 's wearing;
I 've sought thee seven years,
On the sea faring. "