The Burghmaid´s praise Ode to Adela

Yes foreign friends, thousands are already come and yet more are on the way.¹
Well they will hear Adela’s wisdom.
Surely is she princess (forstine), for she has always been foremost.
Oh woe whereto should they serve.

Her shirt is linen, her tunic wool which she herself spun and wove.⁵
Wherewith should she enhance her beauty.
Not with pearls, for her teeth are whiter.
Not with gold, for her hair is more radiant; not with stones, well are her eyes soft as lambs eyes, though as well as fiery that one might not scarcely look therein.
But what say I of beauty.¹⁰

Frya was indeed no more beautiful.
Yes friends, Frya who had seven beauties, whereof her daughters have inherited but one each, at most three.
But although she were ugly, she should have been dear to us.
If she be warlike.
Hark friends, Adela is the only child of our grave.¹⁵
Seven earthfeet is she tall, yet greater than her body is her wisdom, and her courage like both together.

Look, there was once a fen fire, three children had sprung upon a gravestone.
The fell wind blew.
Everyone cried and the mom was confounded.

There came Adela: how standest thou and tarriest thou cried she, try to give help and Wralda will give you strength.²⁰
There hopped she to Krylwood, gripped elder branches, tried to make a bridge, now the others helped and the children were saved.
Yearly come the children here to lay flowers.

There came three Phoenician sailors who would do them evil but Adela came, she had heard their whoop, she knocked the offenders unconcious and so that they themselves should prove that they were unworthy men, she bound them fast to a spinning distaff.

The foreign gentlemen came asking their nation.
When they saw how ridiculously they were mistreated, wrath came up, though one told how it happened.²⁵
What they further did, they bowed before Adela and kissed the end of her dress.
Come foreign friend, the woodland birds fly before the many visitors.
Come friend, so mayest thou hear her wisdom.

By the gravestone wherein the elegy is mentioned, is mom here burried.
Upon her gravestone are these words written.³⁰
Walk not too hastily for here lies Adela.