Grimild's Revenge (B)

It was the stately dame Grimild,
Let brew the wine and mead,
And sent for many a gallant man
Renowned for mighty deed.

"Go, bid them come to feats of war,
"And bid them come to strife;
"There's many a hero young and brave
"'Is doom'd to lose his life."

The Hero Hogen's mother dream'd,
She knew the purport well,
That, as his rider rode him out,
The foal slipp'd up and fell.

"Now what this dream betides, my son,
"I'd have thee well aware;
"Thy treacherous sister plots thy death;
"Of her designs take care."

The Hero Hogen, he it was,
Rode out along the strand,
And there he found a Merwoman,
Who bask'd upon the sand.

"Tell me, thou honest Merwoman,
"Tell me thou cunning wife,
"Shall I on When-isle slay my foes,
"Or shall I lose my life?"

"List, Hero Hogen, list to me,
"Thou gallant knight so bold,
"Here thou hast forts and castle towers,
"And silver too and gold:

"But if to When-isle thou shalt cross,
"And leave thy home so fair,
"Thou fallest slain by traitor hand,
"And buried stay est there."

Then wax'd the Hero Hogen wroth
At such ill-boding spell,
And smote the wretched Merwoman,
That on the earth she fell.

"There lie thou still, thou wretched wife,
"Stretch'd on the ocean sand;
"I well know how to make my way
"Back from the Whenish land."

Like lords they rode before the gate,
And bright their weapons, glanced,
In silken raiment they were clothed,
And high their horses pranced.

They beat the gate, till in the hall
Was heard the dinning knock;
"Up, Porter, up! why tarriest thou?
"Thy gate to us unlock."

"That dare not ?" the Porter said
With mantle-muffled chin;
"Without Grimild, my lady's, leave
"I let no stranger in."

He went and ask'd the proud Grimild,
Where at her board she sate;
"Two knights before the castle stand,
"And bid unbar the gate.

"There wait two lords before the door,
"And bright their weapons glance;
"In silken raiment they are clothed,
"And high their horses prance.

"The one he bears a fiddle bow,
"The other bears an em;
"That both are heroes stout and bold,
"That I can well discern."

"Surely they are my brothers both,"
The proud Grimild began;
"The Hero Hogen it will be,
"And Folker Spilleman."

And out went dames and maidens all
To view those champions' gait;
And slender were their belted waists,
Their persons tall and straight.

And went the stately dame, Grimild,
In scarlet robe array'd,
And courteously the stranger guests
To banquet table bade.

"But this is castle use and law,
"No sword may here be worn,
"Since traitor baud King Sigfrid slew,
"Whose death I daily mourn."

"Lady, 'twas I King Geffred slew,
"With this my hand and glaive;
"And I, who slew king Ottelin,
"So strong a man and brave

"Aye! camp'd before the walls of Troy
"I made those champions bleed,
"Tho' lost my trusty coat of mail,
"And gone my noble steed."

She led them into the banquet hall,
Where sat her men at board;
Against those two a hundred rose,
And brandish'd each his sword.

"Will one among ye, warriors,
"Who daily tat my bread,
"My brother Hogen dare to slay,
"And earn my gold so red?"

When that heard Folker ' Spilleman,
He sprang across the board,
He wrench'd the door from oft' its hinge,
He bared a fearful sword.

He seiz'd the heavy bolt of steel,
With glee he swung it round,
And fifteen champions at a blow
Laid lifeless on the ground.

"Bravo!" said Folker Spilleman,
"Now doth my fiddle sing;"
And then slew Hero Hogen too
His twenty at a swing

Up spake the stately dame Grimild,
Her breast with anger glow'd;
"'Twere better, had ye stay'd at home,
"When from your land ye rode.

"A hundred widows ye will leave,
"Before the fight is done."
"That" Hero Hogen answer'd her,
"Thyself thou hast begun,"

The Hero Hogen rais'd his helm
All burning off his brow;
"My flesh beneath the coat of mail
"With heat begins to glow.

"I feel with thirst and weariness
"My heart within mor sink;
"Would God in heaven I had at hand
"A horn of wine to drink!

He loos'd his helm, the raging thirst
With dead -man's blood to slake;
"In nomine Domini!" were the words,
The Hero Hogen spake.

Grimild's three hundred warriors all
Dead on the ground had lain,
By Hero Hogen's heavy hand
And by his brother slain.

"God help thee, Folker Spilleman,
"Who liest near me dead!
"Well has thy bar of steel today
"Serv'd thee in weapon's stead. "

Full four and twenty fell for one,
As there they stood in rank;
He like a champion mow'd them down,
Before, himself, he sank.

"If I live yet one other day,
"Ere it begin to wane,
"I'll make my sister rue thy death,
"I'll have her burnt or slain."

To her, Grimild, a fearful fate,
And day of reckoning came;
For Hogen's son closed in a cave
And starved that vengeful dame.