In then came the lovely maid, In white silk clad was she: “Now welcome, welcome my dearest heart, Young Swaigder, welcome be!”

“Wilt thou consent baptized to be, And the Christian faith receive, And follow me to Denmark With young Swaigder to live?”

“Willingly I baptized will be, Will the Christian faith receive; And will follow thee to Denmark, Young Swaigder, with thee to live.”

On a Thursday she baptizèd was, She the Christian faith received; On a Sunday they their bridal held, And ever in peace they lived.

p. 13They kept their bridal feast for a day, They kept the same for nine; And there sat waiting the ancient man, And through all of them did pine.

p. 13

Be thanks to brave young Swaigder, He kept so well his word; A Knight he made of that ancient man, Set him highest at the board.

Now joyful is young Swaigder, His trouble all has fled; He King became upon that land, She Queen, when her sire was dead.

p. 14THE HAIL STORM [14]

p. 14

As in Horunga haven We fed the crow and raven, I heard the tempest breaking Of demon Thorgerd’s waking; Sent by the fiend in anger, With din and stunning clangor; To crush our might intended, Gigantic hail descended.

A pound the smallest pebble Did weigh, and others treble; It drifted, dealing slaughter, And blood ran out like water, p. 15Ran recking, red and horrid, From battered cheek and forehead; But, though so rudely greeted, No Jornsberg man retreated.

p. 15

With anger ever sharper, Thorgerda fierce, and Yrpr, Shot lightning from each finger, Which sped and did not linger. Then sank our brave in numbers To cold, eternal slumbers; There lay the good and gallant, Renowned for warlike talent.

To bide the storm unable Our chieftain hewed his cable, And with his ship departed— We follow, broken-hearted; For in Horunga haven Our bravest feed the raven; We did our best, but no men Can stand ’gainst hail and foemen.

p. 16ROSMER MEREMAN [16]

p. 16

In Denmark once a lady dwelt, Hellelil the 

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