Daily Stories

prophesied, And dead thou liest there; I to the land of Hven will go, Soon as the wind is fair.”

p. 34

Then forward went the heroes two, They found the ferry-house: “Arise, arise, good ferryman, And come here out to us.

“Now listen what I say to thee, Convey us o’er the Sound, And I will give thee this gold ring, It weighs full fifteen pound.”

“Thy bright gold ring keep thou thyself, I it will not possess, I never to the town should come But ’twould bring me distress.

“I never should seek the town but I Should therefore sure be chidden; I shall not bear thee o’er to-day, My Lady’s me forbidden.”

p. 35And Hero Hogen grew so wroth, So wroth grew he in mood; The ferryman’s head hewed he off, So widely reeked the blood.

p. 35

Then straight the bloody head he cast Mid Öresund’s swift water; And, bidding them meet in the deep, He cast the body after.

Sir Gunter and Sir Gernot, they Their vessel steered from land; But when they reached the middle Sound The tempest was at hand.

O then the oars asunder snapped In Folker’s hardy hand; Here Hogen guided with his shield The ship with toil to land.

Then cast they out their anchors, All on the yellow sand; It was the Hero Hogen, He stepped the first to land.

p. 36The others they did not delay, But each as he could best Arrayed himself right manfully, And Folker ’bove the rest.

p. 36

Abroad the warden standing was, He on the rampart strode: “O, there are come our country to, Two Athelings so proud.

“O kemps are come our country to, And men so bold to see; They all yclad in iron are, Their steeds come springing free.

“The one he bears a hawk in flight, Gold on his buckler gleams; The other bears a fiddle, and A prince’s son he seems.”

Out came she, Dame Grimhild, She so fair to speak was able: “He does not bear a fiddle For he serves a noble’s table.

p. 37“But they two