Part 17

"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."