romantic ballads-第9节

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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　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。



ELVIR　HILL。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



Upon　this　Ballad　Oehlenslaeger　founded　his　〃Elvir　Shades；〃　a　　translation　of　which　has　already　been　given。


I　rested　my　head　upon　Elvir　Hill's　side；　and　my　eyes　were　beginning　　to　slumber；　That　moment　there　rose　up　before　me　two　maids；　whose　charms　would　　take　ages　to　number。

One　patted　my　face；　and　the　other　exclaim'd；　while　loading　my　cheek　　with　her　kisses；　〃Rise；　rise；　for　to　dance　with　you　here　we　have　sped　from　the　　undermost　caves　and　abysses。

〃Rise；　fair…headed　swain；　and　refuse　not　to　dance；　and　I　and　my　　sister　will　sing　thee　The　loveliest　ditties　that　ever　were　heard；　and　the　prettiest　　presents　will　bring　thee。〃

Then　both　of　them　sang　so　delightful　a　song；　that　the　boisterous　　river　before　us　Stood　suddenly　quiet　and　placid；　as　though　't　were　afraid　to　disturb　　the　sweet　chorus。

The　boisterous　stream　stood　suddenly　still；　though　accustom'd　to　foam　　and　to　bellow；　And；　fearless；　the　trout　play'd　along　with　the　pike；　and　the　pike　　play'd　with　him　as　his　fellow。

The　fishes；　whose　dwelling　was　deep　in　the　flood；　up；　up　from　their　　caverns　did　sally；　The　gay　little　birds　of　the　forest　began　to　warble；　forthwith；　in　the　　valley。

〃Now；　listen　thou　fair…headed　swain；　and　if　thou　wilt　stand　up　and　　dance　for　a　minute；　We'll　teach　thee　to　open　the　sorcerer's　book；　and　to　read　all　the　　Runic　that's　in　it。

〃The　bear　and　the　wolf　thou　shalt　trammel；　unto　the　thick　stem　of　the　　oak；　at　thy　pleasure；　Before　thee　the　dragon　shall　fly　from　his　nest；　and　shall　leave　thee　　sole　lord　of　his　treasure。〃

Then　about　and　around　on　the　moonlight　hill；　in　their　fairy　fashion　　they　sported；　Wh