Romantic Ballads Part 10

The first course that together they rode, So strong were the knightly two, Asunder went Humble's saddle-ring, And a furlong his good shield flew.

"Methinks thou art a fair young swain, And well thy horse canst ride; Dismount thee, straight, and gird up thy steed; I am willing for thee to bide."

The second course that together they rode Was worthy of knights renown'd; Then both their saddles burst in two, And Humble was sent to the ground.

"Now have I cast thee from thy steed, Thy courser by right is mine; But, tell me, youthful and gallant swain, Who art thou, and of what line?

"Now have I won from thee the prize, And Skimming belongs to me; But, tell me, youthful and gallant swain, What parents gave birth to thee?"

"Abelon is my father's name; He sits upon Birting's throne: Queen Ellina my mother is, And that for truth is known.

"Queen Ellina my mother is-- A Queen whom all admire; Good King Abelon Haardestaal, So call they my h.o.a.ry sire.

"And who am I, but Humble, the young, A knight of Birting's land; Of hero race, whose fame extends To the wide earth's farthest strand."

"If Abelon be thy father's name, The courser I straight restore; Thou art, I find, my very good friend; I knew thee not, youth, before.

"If Queen Ellina thy mother is, Then Skimming thou hast rewon; Thou art, indeed, my very good friend; Thou art my sister's son.

"Take both the shield ropes, take them straight, And bind me to yon oak tree; Then hie thee back to King Diderik, And say thou hast conquer'd me."

In came Humble, the youthful knight, Was clad in a kirtle, green; "O! I have got my courser again, And have bound the warrior keen."

In came Humble, with boot and spur, He cast on the table his sword: "Sivard stands in the green wood bound, He speaks not a single word.

"O, I have been to the wild forest, And have seiz'd the warrior stark; Sivard there was taken by me, And tied to the oak's rough bark."

"Now hear me, young Sir Humble, the knight, 'T is plain a jest is meant, Whenever Sivard was bound by thee, 'T was done with his own consent."

It was Vidrik Verlandson, And he would fain know all.

"O, I will ride to the wood, and see How Sivard endures his thrall."

Vidrik spoke to his burly groom: "Go, saddle me Skimming gray, For I will ride to the wood, and hear What Sivard himself will say."

Sivard stands in the good green wood, There sees he Vidrik ride: "If Vidrik finds me bounden here, He'll hew my rib-bones from my side."

Then loud laugh'd Vidrik Verlandson, And Skimming began to neigh, For Sivard rooted the oak tree up; He dar'd no longer stay.

The queen she sat in the high, high, loft, And thence look'd far and wide: "O there comes Sivard Snaresvend, With a stately oak at his side."

Then loud laugh'd fair Queen Gloriant, As she look'd on Sivard full: "Thou wert, no doubt, in great, great need, When thou such flowers didst pull."

The King he stood at the castle gate, In his robes and kingly crown: "O there comes Sivard Snaresvend, And he brings us Summer to town."{f:22}

Now dance the heroes by Brattingsborg; They dance in their coats of felt; There dances Sivard, the purblind swain, With an oak tree under his belt.

VIDRIK VERLANDSON.

FROM THE OLD DANISH.

King Diderik sits in the halls of Bern, And he boasts of his deeds of might; So many a swain in battle he's fell'd, And taken so many a knight.

King Diderik sits in the halls of Bern, And he strikes his moony shield; "O, would that I knew of a hero now, 'Gainst whom I could take the field."

Then answer'd Master Hildebrand, (For he knew all things best,) "There sleeps a Giant at Birtingsberg; Dar'st thou disturb his rest?"

"Now, hear me, Master Hildebrand; Thou art huge in body and limb; Thou foremost shall ride, in the wood, this day, And bear our challenge to him."

Then answer'd Master Hildebrand, So careful a knight was he; "Not so, my Lord, will I do, this day, For the wages delight not me."

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson, And he spoke in wrathful mood; "O, I'll be first of the band, this day, All through the Birting wood."

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson, And he spoke with lofty pride; "The smith he forg'd me a faulchion good, That can steel, like cloth, divide."

They were three hundred valorous knights, Unto Birting's land that rode; They go in quest of Langben the Jutt, To the gloomy wood, his abode.

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson; "A wondrous game we'll play; For I will ride in the green wood first, If ye'll but trust me away."

Then answer'd bold King Diderik, He answer'd hastily then; "When thou therein shalt have found the Jutt Come back for me and my men."

It was Vidrik Verlandson, In the forest alone he sped; And there he found so little a way, Which up to the Giant led.

It was Vidrik Verlandson, He came unto Birting's hill; There black and dread lay Langben the Jutt, He lay stretch'd out, and still.

It was Vidrik Verlandson, With his lance touch'd him on the knee; "Wake up! wake up! now Langben the Jutt, Thou sleepest full sound, I see."

"Here have I lain, for many a year, 'Mid the leaf and the dew-wet herb; But never, till now, came a warrior by, That has dar'd my sleep to disturb."

"Here stand I, Vidrik Verlandson, With a sword, so good, at my side; I came to wake thee up from thy sleep, Betide whatever betide."

It was Langben the Giant, then, Turn'd up the white of his eye; "O, whence can come this warrior youth, Who such bold words lets fly?

"But hear, but hear, thou warrior youth; I will not do battle with thee, Except thou prove of a knightly race; So thy lineage tell to me."

"A handsome smith my father was, And Verland hight was he: Bodild they call'd my mother fair; Queen over countries three:

"Skimming I call my n.o.ble steed, Begot from the wild sea-mare: Blank {f:23} do I call my haughty helm, Because it glitters so fair:

"Skrepping I call my good thick shield; Steel shafts have furrow'd it o'er: Mimmering have I nam'd my sword; 'T is harden'd in heroes' gore:

"And I am Vidrik Verlandson; For clothes bright iron I wear: Stand'st thou not up on thy long, long legs, I'll pin thee down to thy lair:

"Do thou stand up on thy long, long legs, Nor look so dogged and grim; The King holds out before the wood; Thou shalt yield thy treasure to him."

"All, all the gold that I possess, I will keep with great renown; I'll yield it at no little horse-boy's word, To the best king wearing a crown."