And that by Asbiorn Milde is borne;
He sets the knights' backs at work.
There shines on the three-and-twentieth shield An arm, in a manacle bound;
And that by Alvor Sir Lange is borne, To the heroes he hands mead round.
Now comes the four-and-twentieth shield, And a bright sword there you see;
And that by Humble Sir Jerfing is borne;
Full worthy of that is he.
There shines upon the next good shield A goss-hawk, striking his game;
That's borne by a knight, the best of all -
Sir Iver Blaa is his name.
Now comes the six-and-twentieth shield, A jav'lin there you spy;
Is borne by little Mimring Tan;
From no one will he fly.
Such knights and bearings as were there, And who can them all relate;
It was Sivard, the Snaresvend;
No longer he deign'd to wait.
"If there be one of the Dane king's men, Who at Dyst is willing to ride, Let him, I pray, without pause or delay, Meet me by the wild wood's side.
"The man among you, ye Danish court men, Who at Dyst has won most meeds;
Him I am ready to fight, this day, For both of our noble steeds."
The heroes cast the die on the board;
The die it roll'd so wide:
"Since, young Sir Humble, it stops by thee, 'Gainst Sivard thou must ride."
Sir Humble struck his hand on the board;
No longer he lists to play:
I tell you, forsooth, that the rosy hue From his cheek fast faded away.
"Now, hear me, Vidrik Verlandson;
Thou art so free a man;
Do lend me Skimming, thy horse, this day;
I'll pledge for him what I can:
"Eight good castles, in Birting's land, As pledges for him I'll set;
My sister too, the lily-cheek'd maid, A fairer thou ne'er hast met:
"Eight good castles, and eight good knights;
I'd scorn to offer thee less:
If Skimming should meet any hurt this day, My sister thou shalt caress."
"If yonder mountains all were gold, And yonder streams were wine;
The whole for Skimming I would not take;
I bless God he is mine.
"Sivard is a purblind swain;
Sees not to his faulchion's end:
If Skimming were hurt thou couldst not pay me With the help of thy every friend.
"The sword it whirls in Sivard's hand, As whirl the sails of the mill;
If thou take Skimming 'gainst that wild fool, 'T is sorely against my will."
Humble, he sat him on Skimming's back, So gallantly can he ride;
But Skimming thought it passing strange That a spur was clapt to his side.
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 hoary 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."
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.
