Romantic Ballads [15]
to thy back;" But to this and the like he would lend no ear, And home to his mother he now will steer. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
Svend Vonved gallop'd along the way; To fancies dark was his mind a prey: Riding he enter'd the castle yard Where stood twelve witches wrinkled and scarr'd: Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
There stood they all, with spindle and rok, {18} - Each over the shinbone gave him a knock: Svend turn'd his steed, in fury, round; The witches he there has hew'd to the ground. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
He hew'd the witches limb from limb, So little mercy they got from him; His mother came out, and was serv'd the same, Into fifteen pieces he hackt her frame. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
Then in he went to his lonely bower, There drank he the wine, the wine of power: His much-lov'd harp he play'd upon Till the strings were broken, every one. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
THE TOURNAMENT. FROM THE OLD DANISH.
This is one of those Ballads which, from the days of Arild, have been much sung in Denmark: we find in it the names and bearings of most of those renowned heroes, who are mentioned separately in other poems. It divides itself into two parts;--the first, which treats of the warrior's bearings, has a great resemblance to the 178th chapter of the Vilkina Saga, as likewise has the last part, wherein the Duel is described, to the 180th and 181st chapters of the same.
I cannot here forbear quoting and translating what Anders Sorensen Vedel, the good old Editor of the first Edition of the Kiaempe Viser, which appeared in 1591, says concerning the apparently superhuman performances of the heroes therein celebrated.
"Hvad ellers Kiaempernes Storlemhed Styrke og anden Vilkaar berorer, som overgaaer de Menneskers der nu leve deres Vaext og Kraft, det Stykke kan ikke her noksom nu forhandles, men skal i den Danske Kronikes tredie Bog videligere omtales. Thi det jo i Sandhed befindes og bevises af adskillige Documenter og Kundskab, at disse gamle Hellede, som de kaldes, have levet fast laenger, og vaeret mandeligere storre staerkere og hoiere end den gemene Mand er, som nu lever paa denne Dag."
"That part which relates to these Warriors' size, strength, or other qualities, so far surpassing the stature and powers of the men who now exist, cannot be here sufficiently treated upon, but shall be further discussed in the third Book of the Danish Chronicles: for, in truth, it is discovered and proved from various documents and sources, that these old heroes, as they are called, lived much longer, and were manlier, stouter, stronger, and taller, than man at the present day."
Six score there were, six score and ten, From Hald that rode that day; And when they came to Brattingsborg They pitch'd their pavilion gay.
King Nilaus stood on the turret's top, Had all around in sight: "Why hold those heroes their lives so cheap, That it lists them here to fight?
"Now, hear me, Sivard Snaresvend; Far hast thou rov'd, and wide, Those warriors' weapons thou shalt prove, To their tent thou must straightway ride."
It was Sivard Snaresvend, To the broad tent speeded he then: "I greet ye fair, in my master's name, All, all, ye Dane king's men.
"Now, be not wroth that here I come; I come as a warrior, free: The battle together we soon will prove; Let me your bearings see."
There stands upon the first good shield A lion, so fierce and stark, With a crown on his head, of the ruddy gold, That is King Diderik's mark.
There shine upon the second shield A hammer and pincers bright; Them carries Vidrik Verlandson, Ne'er gives he quarter in fight.
There shines upon the third good shield A falcon, blazing with gold; And that by Helled Hogan is borne; No knight, than he, more bold.
There shines upon the fourth good shield An eagle, and that is red; Is borne by none but Olger, the Dane; He strikes his foemen dead.
There shines upon the fifth good shield A couchant hawk, on a wall; That's borne by Master Hildebrand; He tries, with heroes,
Svend Vonved gallop'd along the way; To fancies dark was his mind a prey: Riding he enter'd the castle yard Where stood twelve witches wrinkled and scarr'd: Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
There stood they all, with spindle and rok, {18} - Each over the shinbone gave him a knock: Svend turn'd his steed, in fury, round; The witches he there has hew'd to the ground. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
He hew'd the witches limb from limb, So little mercy they got from him; His mother came out, and was serv'd the same, Into fifteen pieces he hackt her frame. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
Then in he went to his lonely bower, There drank he the wine, the wine of power: His much-lov'd harp he play'd upon Till the strings were broken, every one. Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
THE TOURNAMENT. FROM THE OLD DANISH.
This is one of those Ballads which, from the days of Arild, have been much sung in Denmark: we find in it the names and bearings of most of those renowned heroes, who are mentioned separately in other poems. It divides itself into two parts;--the first, which treats of the warrior's bearings, has a great resemblance to the 178th chapter of the Vilkina Saga, as likewise has the last part, wherein the Duel is described, to the 180th and 181st chapters of the same.
I cannot here forbear quoting and translating what Anders Sorensen Vedel, the good old Editor of the first Edition of the Kiaempe Viser, which appeared in 1591, says concerning the apparently superhuman performances of the heroes therein celebrated.
"Hvad ellers Kiaempernes Storlemhed Styrke og anden Vilkaar berorer, som overgaaer de Menneskers der nu leve deres Vaext og Kraft, det Stykke kan ikke her noksom nu forhandles, men skal i den Danske Kronikes tredie Bog videligere omtales. Thi det jo i Sandhed befindes og bevises af adskillige Documenter og Kundskab, at disse gamle Hellede, som de kaldes, have levet fast laenger, og vaeret mandeligere storre staerkere og hoiere end den gemene Mand er, som nu lever paa denne Dag."
"That part which relates to these Warriors' size, strength, or other qualities, so far surpassing the stature and powers of the men who now exist, cannot be here sufficiently treated upon, but shall be further discussed in the third Book of the Danish Chronicles: for, in truth, it is discovered and proved from various documents and sources, that these old heroes, as they are called, lived much longer, and were manlier, stouter, stronger, and taller, than man at the present day."
Six score there were, six score and ten, From Hald that rode that day; And when they came to Brattingsborg They pitch'd their pavilion gay.
King Nilaus stood on the turret's top, Had all around in sight: "Why hold those heroes their lives so cheap, That it lists them here to fight?
"Now, hear me, Sivard Snaresvend; Far hast thou rov'd, and wide, Those warriors' weapons thou shalt prove, To their tent thou must straightway ride."
It was Sivard Snaresvend, To the broad tent speeded he then: "I greet ye fair, in my master's name, All, all, ye Dane king's men.
"Now, be not wroth that here I come; I come as a warrior, free: The battle together we soon will prove; Let me your bearings see."
There stands upon the first good shield A lion, so fierce and stark, With a crown on his head, of the ruddy gold, That is King Diderik's mark.
There shine upon the second shield A hammer and pincers bright; Them carries Vidrik Verlandson, Ne'er gives he quarter in fight.
There shines upon the third good shield A falcon, blazing with gold; And that by Helled Hogan is borne; No knight, than he, more bold.
There shines upon the fourth good shield An eagle, and that is red; Is borne by none but Olger, the Dane; He strikes his foemen dead.
There shines upon the fifth good shield A couchant hawk, on a wall; That's borne by Master Hildebrand; He tries, with heroes,