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 and out."
Then answer'd Vidrik Verlandson, (He fear'd for himself some ill)
"'T is not the custom of any wise man His strength on a stone to spill."
"Therein, therein is much more gold Than fifteen kings can show;
Hear me, Vidrik Verlandson, Thou therein first shalt go."
Then answer'd Vidrik Verlandson, (For his cunning intent he saw)
"Thou shalt lead the way into thine own house, For that is warrior-law."
It was Langben the Giant then, To the door he stoop'd down low:
It was Vidrik Verlandson Cleft off his head at a blow.
Away the quivering body he drew, And propp'd it against an oak;
Then back he rode the long, long way, He's thought of a wondrous joke.
With giant's blood he besmear'd himself, And besmear'd his steed all o'er;
Then back he rides to King Diderik, Pretends to be wounded sore.
"Here bide ye in peace, my companions good, All under the grass-green hill;
Langben the Giant has smote me to day, I doubt I shall fare but ill."
"If thou from the Giant hast got a blow, Thy life must be nigh its close;
We'll ride swift back to the halls of Bern, No man more will we lose."
"Now wend thee, bold King Diderik, Wend into the wood with me;
And all the gold that the giant had, That will I show to thee."
"If thou hast slain the giant this day, 'T will far be blaz'd in the land;
And the warrior lives not in this world, 'Gainst whom thou may'st fear to stand."
But what befel King Diderik's men?
When the giant they first perceiv'd, They all stopp'd short, in the good green wood, Of courage at once bereav'd.
They thought the giant verily would That moment after them stride:
Not one of them all would have battled with him;
Back would they all have hied.
It was Vidrik Verlandson, He laugh'd at their craven fear:
"How would ye have fac'd him when alive, Ye dare not him, dead, go near?
With his lance's haft the body he push'd, The head came toppling down:
That the Giant was a warrior stark, Forsooth, I am forc'd to own.
Out took they then his ruddy gold, And shar'd it amongst the band:
To Vidrik came the largest part, For 't was earn'd with his good hand.
Little car'd he for the booty, I ween, But he thought of his meed of fame;
When men should say, in the Danish land, That the Giant he overcame.
So gladly rode they to Bern again;
King Diderik gladdest of all:
There caus'd he Vidrik Verlandson To sit next him in the hall.
