Rosmer (B)

Backlegs was there and Elfin-stone,
And more than I can say;
They built themselves a sturdy ship,
To Iceland steer'd away.

They launched the ship into the deep,
The sea growl'd like a bear,
The White Goose down to the bottom sank.
Some Trold was surely there.

Childe Roland left the sunken wreck,
And groped along the ground.
And leading towards Eline's bower
A little pathway found.

Childe Roland walk'd, till on a hill
He saw a fire's bright glow;
"Now hap to me, what happen may,
"To yonder fire I'll go."

And forward he childe Roland went.
And enter'd through the gate,
And there Eline, his sister, stood
Robed in a pall of state.

When Roland into the mountain went.
His hands he could not rear;
"Lord pity thee, poor luckless man!
"What can have brought thee here?

"Why?" spake the gentle dame Eline,
"Why hither art thou come?
"Tor be thy errand, what it may,
"'twere best to have stay'd at home.

"Into the chamber go, poor youth
"So dripping wet, and chill'd;
"But if the giant Rosmer comes,
"'Tis sure, thou wilt be grill'd.

"Sit down, thou poor unhappy man,
"And warm thy frozen feet;
"But if the giant hither stalks,
"He'll cut thee up for meat"

Home came great Rosmer Lengthylegs,
And fierce and angry grew;
"Some Christian man or wife is here,
"And coming here shall rue."

Then forward stepp'd the fair Eline,
And solemnly she sware.
That o'er the house a crow had flown,
A deadman's leg-bone bare.

Rosmer he screeched and sprang about,
"A Christian here must be;
"Unless thou tellest me the truth,
"I'll make my steak of thee."

A purple mantle o'er her thrown.
Before hira stood Eline;
"There's here a youth from Iceland come,
"My very near of kin."

"If here is a youth from Iceland come,
"And of thy kindred he,
"I pledge my oath that while he stays,
"In safety he shall be."

Two years was Roland dwelling there,
But now desired to go,
For fair Eline became with child,
The source of coming woe.

Then went the gentle dame Eline
Before her lord to stand;
"Will ye this youth a furlough give
"To see his native land?"

"If home again this youth will go,
"And thou dost tell me true,
"I'll in a coffer lay for him
"Both gold, and silver too."

He took a heap of ruddy gold,
And stowed it in a chest;
Eline, she laid herself therein.
But that he never guess'd.

Under his arm he took the man,
The coffer on his back,
And dived beneath the salty sea.
For him an easy track.

"And now I've brought thee back to a land,
"Where shines the sun and moon,
"I'll give thee up the chest of gold,
"I trow no paltry boon."

"I thank thee, Rosmer, generous man,
Tor that my home I've seen;
"And now I'll tell thee news I've heard,
"With child is fair Eline."

Like falling dewdrops at the linn
Ran tears on Eosmer's cheek,
"But for my oath I'd gulp the down
"My rage on thee to wreak."

As fast he back to his mountain hied,
As hart pursues the hind,
But when he reached his cave again,
Eline no more could find.

Eline held on by Roland's hand,
The path that he might show;
They revell'd in their mutual bliss,
And talk'd of suffered woe.

Rosmer he wax'd so wroth of mood.
When her he saw not come,
He changed to a cold gray granite stone.
And lies there stiff and dumb.