As an orphan you entered our house,
But you are not to go forth from it as an orphan,
You are not to go hence without a gift,
So that people see that women know you.

Take, therefore, the ruff and the golden cord,
And accept it solely for the sake of my will:
If the maidens in distant parts see it, they shall surely declare it fine,
And shall think that it might be from your sister.

Thus the lad took his loving departure from the house,
And then wandered off to foreign parts.
The old man accompanied him to the gate,
She gazed after him, until he was lost from sight.

After that three lads came walking by,
The maiden spoke thus to the wanderers:
Walk quickly, then you can still catch up with another wanderer,
He shall be a dear comrade to you.

He is wearing a golden cord upon his breast,
And upon a fine ruff rests his head -- a joy to see,
And if you meet him, greet him from me.
The three lads promised her that they would do so.

And after a year the three lads again
Came by at eventide,
The maiden was standing in front of her door,
She asked: Did you greet him from me?

And is he still wearing the golden cord,
And tell me, if many good things have happened to him.
Then they said: brigands set upon him
Because he seemed to be the finest of us all.

And he gladly offered everything to the brigands,
Except for one thing, and for that he was killed:
That was a delicate golden cord,
That must have been from his best beloved.

Thereupon the maiden wept, ah, many years:
Oh why did I not cut off my hair
And with my hair braid a cord for him,
Then the murderers would have let him go.

But that would have betrayed my heart too loudly,
Ah, I was only able to adorn my dear one,
And the lovely adornment that I offered him
Thus brought death to my beloved.