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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。〃｛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 noble steed； Begot from the wild sea…mare： Blank ｛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。〃
〃So young and little as here I seem； Thou shalt find me prompt in a fray； I'll hew the head from thy shoulders off； And thy much gold bear away。〃
It was Langben the mighty Jutt； With fury his heart was fir'd； 〃Ride hence！ ride hence！ thou warrior youth； If of life thou be not tir'd。〃
Skimming sprang up； with both his legs； Against the giant's side Asunder went five of his rib…bones then； And the fight began at that tide。
It was Langben the lofty Jutt； He wav'd his steel mace round； He sent a blow after Vidrik； But the mace struck deep in the ground。
It was Langben the lofty Jutt； Who had thought his foeman to slay； But the blow fell short of Vidrik； For the good horse bore him away。
It was Langben the lofty Jutt； That shouted in wild despair： 〃Now lies my mace in the hillock fast； As though 't were hammer'd in there！〃
Vidrik paus'd no moment's space； So ready was he to assail： 〃Upon him； Skimming； upon him once more！ Now； Mimmering； now prevail！〃
He seiz'd his sword in both his hands； Unto Langben Giant he flew； He struck him so hard in the hairy breast； That the point his lungs went through。
Now Langben Giant has got a wound； And he's waken'd thoroughly now； So gladly would he have paid it back； But； alas！ he knew not how。
〃Accursed be thou； young Vidrik！ And accurs'd thy piercing steel！ Thou hast given me； see； a wound in my breast； Whence rise the pains I feel。〃
I'll hew thee； Giant； I'll hew thee as small As leaves that are borne on the blast； Except thou showest me all the gear； That hid in the forest thou hast。〃
〃Forbear； O Vidrik Verlandson； Strike me not cruelly dead！ And I will lead thee straight to my house； That's thatch'd with gold so red。〃
Vidrik rode； and the Giant crept； So far through the forest ways； They found the house with the red gold thatch'd； It glitter'd like straw in a blaze。
〃Therein； therein are heaps of gold； No King has a greater store； Do thou remove the big black stone； And lift from the hinges the door。〃
With both hands Vidrik seiz'd the stone； But to stir it in vain did he try； The Giant took it with finger and thumb； And lifted it up in the sky。
〃Now hear； now hear； thou warrior youth； Thou canst wheel thy courser about； But in every feat of manly strength I could beat thee out an