Herr Mannerlig (Swedish) 

Bittida en morgon innan solen upprann
Innan foglarna började sjunga
Bergatrollet friade till fager ungersven
Hon hade en falskeliger tunga

:Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
För det jag bjuder så gerna 
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej 
Om i viljen eller ej:

Eder vill jag gifva de gångare tolf
Som gå uti rosendelunde
Aldrig har det varit någon sadel uppå dem
Ej heller betsel uti munnen

Eder vill jag gifva de qvarnarna tolf
Som stå mellan Tillö och Ternö
Stenarna de äro af rödaste gull
Och hjulen silfverbeslagna

Eder vill jag gifva ett förgyllande svärd
Som klingar utaf femton guldringar
Och strida huru I strida vill
Stridsplatsen skolen i väl vinna 

Eder vill jag gifva en skjorta så ny
Den bästa I lysten att slita
Inte är hon sömnad av nål eller trå
Men virkat av silket det hvita

Sådana gåfvor toge jag väl emot
Om du vore en kristelig qvinna
Men nu så är du det värsta bergatroll
Af Neckens och djävulens stämma

Bergatrollet ut på dörren sprang
Hon rister och jämrar sig svåra
Hade jag fått den fager ungersven
Så hade jag mistat min plåga

Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
För det jag bjuder så gerna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej 
Om i viljen eller ej 


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Sir Mannerlig (English)

 

Early one morning before the sun did rise 
And the birds sang their sweet song
The mountain troll proposed to the fair squire
She had a false deceitful tongue

Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me 
For all that I'll gladly give you 
You may answer only yes or no 
Will you do so or no

To you I will give the twelve great steeds 
That graze in a shady grove 
Never has a saddle been mounted on their backs 
Nor had a bit in their mouths

To you I will give the twelve fine mills 
That stand between Tillo and Terno 
The mill stones are made of the reddest brass 
And the wheels are silver-laden 

To you I will give the gilded sword 
That jingles from fifteen gold rings 
And strike with it in battle as you will 
On the battlefield you will conquer 

To you I will give a brand new shirt 
The lustrous best for to wear 
It is not sewn with needle or thread 
But crocheted of the whitest silk 

Gifts such as these I would gladly receive 
If you were a Christian woman 
But I know you are the worst mountain troll 
From the spawn of Necken and the devil 

The mountain troll ran out the door She wailed and she shrieked so loudly 
"Had I gotten that handsome squire 
From my torment I would be free now" 

Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me 
For all that I'll gladly give you 
You may answer only yes or no 
Will you do so or no 

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This ballad is known in many different versions and with different melodies to the lyrics. A mountain-troll falls in love with the handsome knight Sir Mannelig, and offers him all kinds of gifts if he will marry her. Sir Mannelig refuses since she is not, after all, a Christian and honourable woman.