Oh, Seventy-Seven Twice-Told Were They

Oh, seventy-seven twice-told were they
When out from Hald they went,
And when they came to Brattingsborg
They pitched the silken tent.
—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

King Isung stands on high watch-tower,
And looks forth far and wide:
“Oh, little care for their lives have they
That hither list to ride!

“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,
Hast wandered here and there;
Tell me what warriors are they
These golden shields that bear?”

“There shineth on the foremost shield
A lion all so bold;
The bearing of Didrik the King it is,
With a crown of ruddy gold.

“And shining on the second shield
Hammer and tongs appear;
The sign of Vidrik Verlandson
That takes no prisoner.

“And on the third shield shining see
A golden serpent, bound;
That beareth Master Hildebrand,
Cunning in counsel found.

“And on the fourth shield, see where shines
A leafy linden-tree;
That beareth youthful Humlunger,
Earl Hornbook’s son is he.

“There shineth on the following shield
A wolf in a wild wood,
The sign of Ulv van Jærn the young
Who is a warrior good.

“And on the sixth there shineth still
A vulture red as gold;
And that bears Helled Haagen
Who is a champion bold.

“And see, the seventh shining shield
Fiddle and bow doth keep,
The sign of Falkvor Minstrel-Man
Would liefer drink than sleep.

“And on the eighth an elephant
Is pictured with a swain,
The sign of Tetlev Danske
That swings his sword amain.

“All on the ninth shield shining, lo
A swarthy vulture shows,
The sign of young Sir Raadengaard
Full many a rune who knows.

“And on the tenth shield, lo there shine
Two arrows wan and white,
He bears them, Hvitting Hermandson,
Is foremost still in fight.

“There shines on the eleventh shield
Nought but a burning brand;
That bears Sir Brand Vidfærling
Against all lordling’s land.

“And on the twelfth shield shining, see,
There stands a cowl so grey;
That bears the monk, Brother Alsing,
Would follow fain the fray!”

“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,
Thou art a warrior free!
Shalt fight with one of Didrik’s men
For all my land and me!”

Up stood Sivord Snarensvend,
And to the tents he hied:
“Now is there ever a warrior stout
A joust with me will ride?”

Oh, on the board they cast the dice
That fell both far and wide,
And the lot it was young Humlunger’s
With Sivord there to ride.

It was he, young Humlunger,
Did forth to Vidrik speed:
“Now I will give thee a pledge to hold
Wilt lend me Skemming thy steed.”

“Oh, Sivord sees not the point of his spear,
Because his sight is dim,
And if my Skemming to-day wins scathe
Nor thou nor thy kinsfolk can pay for him!”

“But I, I have a sister
Is fairer than maidens all;
And if thy Skemming wins scathe to-day
I’ll pay it her hand withal.”

“Oh, nought of Skemming thou’lt see to-day
Unless thy surety firm doth stand;
The hand I’ll have of thy sister fair,
And seven castles in Birtingsland!”

“Seven castles in Birtingsland
Thy surety they shall be;
Thereto the maid my sister,
A pledge of price for thee!”

Oh, he has backed that steed so bold,
And gaily ridden away;
Good sooth, but Skemming thought it strange
To feel the spur that day!

The gold did shine upon his shield
Like the sun in summer-tide:
“God help me now, a simple swain,
The brunt to bear and bide!”

The first course that they ran together
Would neither champion yield;
And both their shields were shattered there,
And hurled so far afield.

“Methinks thou art a fair young swain,
That well can run and ride!
Go now and take thy shield again,
And I the brunt will bide.”

And when they ran the second course,
Then one of them must yield;
Young Humlunger was stricken,
And hurled so far afield.

“Oh, I have struck thee down to earth,
And wounded thy steed alsò;
Now whence thou comest, thou fair young swain,
Full fain am I to know.”

“Oh, Hornbook hight my father,
In Birtingsland is lord,
And I am called young Humlunger
Whenas I ride abroad.”

“Full well I know thy father,
For comrades kind we were;
Now take thy shield and mount again,
Son of my sister dear!

“And take thou up my shattered shield,
Bind me to oaken tree;
Then ride and tell the champions
The game is won by thee!”

Forth to the tents fared Humlunger,
Cast blade upon the board:
“Now have I bound the grey-beard carle
That spake the vaunting word!”

“Now hold thy peace, young Humlunger,
That aye must prate thy fill!
If thou hast bound him, Sivord,
’Tis with his own good-will!”

Up stood Vidrik Verlandson,
Bade saddle his steed so free:
“I will fare forth to the forest,
This conquered carle to see!”

Oh, Sivord all in the greenwood
Saw where the knight did ride;
Up by the roots he reft the oak,
For he might not his bonds abide.

Up by the roots he reft the oak,
For he might not his bonds abide:
“If Vidrik Verlandson comes here
My ribs he’ll hew from my side!”

The Queen stood in the lofty bower,
And looked both up and down:
“Oh, hither comes Sivord Snarensvend
A-bearing summer to town!”

The Queen looked out with her ladies
All from the lofty bower:
“Sivord hath been in good greenwood
And gathered a gallant flower!”

Gay went the dance at Brattingsborg,
Where champions danced amain;
There danced with oak-tree in his belt
Sivord the purblind swain!
—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.