The Tournament

A troop they were of seventy-seven,
As out from Hald they went,
And forth they march'd to Bratingsborg,
And boldly pitched their tent.

The king he stood on Bratingsborg,
And look'd around so far:
"Are yonder champions tired of life,
"That here they come to war?

"Now hark thee, Siward, Hasty swain,
"Thou wanderer far and wide,
"Go thou and view these warriors arms,
"Up off to their army ride."

Siward stepp'd in beneath the tent,
And duly greeted all;
"Is one among you, gallant knights,
"Will try with me a fall?

"Whoever rides a tourney best,
"Here's one that him defies;
"Our prowess let us fairly test,
"Our horses be the prize."

On table-board the dice were thrown,
And roird about so wide,
And on Childe Hummer fell the lot
A joust with him to ride.

To Verland's son Childe Hummer went
To help him in his need;
"Lend me to-day against a pledge
"Skimming, thy noble steed.

"Eight castles, all so strongly built,
"These will I give thee first;
"And then the sister I love the best,
"Of pledges not the worst. "

"Yon Siward he is a hairbrain knight,
"Sees not his weapon's end;
"If Skimming's hurt, not all thy kin
"Could make me due amend.

"For were these castles all of gold,
"And all their water wine,
"All would I not for Skimming take;
"Thank God! the horse is mine."

Vidrick his hand struck on the board;
"Four winters now are past,
"Since with a girth for battle fray
"I girded Skimming last."

Childe Hummer mounted upon his back,
Glad such a horse to ride;
It seem'd to Skimming wondrous strange,
When spurs stuck in his side.

The gold shone bright on Hummer's shield
As sun in summer 's heat;
"And now God help me, poor young swain,
"Firmly to keep my seat!"

Against him rode a gallant knight,
A hero stout and bold,
And both their shield-straps burst in twain,
And far their shields were roll'd.

"Young man, thy horse thou sittest well,
"And like a gallant knight,
"Dismount, I'll wait thy thrust awhile,
"Make thou thy saddle tight."

The second bout those heroes rode,
They proved their prowess well,
Childe Hummer's shield was struck so hard,
That. on the ground he fell.

"The good horse Skimming now is mine,
"From off his back thou'rt thrown;
"So now, brave youth, say, what the race
"Thou claimest for thine own.

"My mother is Lady Helwig call'd,
"And dwells at Lesen-eye;
"My father's name is Jensen Boe,
"And Hummer hight am I."

"If thou art Holmboe Jensen's son,
"My next of kin art thou;
"So take thy horse and go in peace,
"I knew thee not till now.

"But first with shield straps bind my arms,
"Bind me to yonder tree,
"And ride and tell King Diderick,
"That thou hast beaten me."

Childe Hummer stepp'd beneath the tent,
On table toss'd his blade;
"I've bound to an oak the stalwart knight,
"Who late such boasting made."

"Hark thee, Childe Hummer, Vidrick said,
"'Tis spoken but in joke,
"Or Siward with his own good will ff' /' "-. '.
"Was bound to yonder oak/'

Vidrick then took a little horse
And rode away to the wood;
He fain himself would see the place,
And learn how matters stood

As Siward there was standing bound,
And saw him on the way,
Up by the roots he tore the tree,
He dared no longer stay.

The king he stands on Bratingsborg,
And looks o'er dale and down;
"Hither conies Siward Hasty swain,
"And summer brings to town'

The Queen is looking far and wide,
From out her lofty bower;
"Siward has in the forest been,
"And brings us back a flower.

"But hark thee, Siward Hasty swain,
"What now, my son, I say:
"Where is the horse that thou hast won,
"And brought me home today?"

"That horse to one my next of kin
"I've given for friendship's sake,
"Nor hast thou here a knight, would dare
"That horse from him to take."

"Then tell me, Siward Hasty swain,
"For thou wast in their tent;
"What is their several shields' device?
"And what therewith is meant?"

"Blazon'd upon the first shield stands
"A lion stout and bold;
"And Diderick's that, the king's device,
"A lion crown'd with gold.

"Blazon'd upon the second stands
A lion and giant tall:
"And that is Master Hildebrand's,
"The bravest knight of all.

"Blazon'd upon the third shield stand
A hammer and pair of tongs;
"And that to one, no quarter gives,
"To Verlandson belongs.

"Blazon'd upon the fourth shield stand
"Two spurs with gold so bright;
"And those the Hero Hagen wears,
"That forward eager knight.

"Blazon'd upon the fifth shield stand
"A fiddle and fiddle-bow;
"And that bears Folker Spilleman
"To play them never slow.

"Blazon'd upon the sixth shield stand
"Two arrows clean and white;
"And that one claims Childe Wifferlin,
"Who never shrunk from fight.

"Blazon'd upon the seventh shield stands
"A linden all in leaf,
"And that bears Holmboe Jensen's son,
"Young Hummer, gallant chief.

"Blazon'd upon the eighth shield stands
"A table of gold so red,
"And that bears gallant Wolf of Yern
"A champion courtly bred.

"Blazon'd upon the ninth shield stands
"A lindworm's monster length,
"And that is bearing young Sir Orm,
"Who fears no mortal strength.

"Blazon'd upon the tenth shield sits
A hawk so swift of flight;
"And that childe Detloff bears, the Dane,
"So prompt of hand in fight.

"Blazon'd upon the eleventh shield,
"A naked sword-blade lies;
"And that the rich Sir Herman bears
"In every bold emprize.

"Blazon'd upon the twelfth shield stand
"A cowl and bar of steel;
"And that the stout monk Alsing bears
"And makes the foeman feel.

"And now as many as I have seen,
"Their shields I've truly told,
"And sooth to say, there carry them
"As many heroes bold."

The gladness spread through all the court,
Outside and in the hall;
The knights they parted best of friends,
And home went joyous all.