Vidrick Verlandson and Wolf of Yern

Childe Wolf of Yern to sessions rode,
And stood before the King;
"O lend me men for a father's death
"A full revenge to wring."

"I'll freely lend thee a troop of men,
"Myself will with thee go,
"But pray thou Vidrick Verlandson
"To aid thy feebler blow.

"I lend thee troopers, mail clad all,
"My bravest men and best:
"Vidrick and Diderick the stout
"Bring low the loftiest crest.

"Two heroes they both strong and brave,
"Victors in many a fight;
"Their very names in every land
"The boldest fill with fright;'

In strode to the hall the Danish King
Bright as a burning flame;
Now who of you, ye Danish men,
"Will aid my kinsman's claim?"

The king came forward, where they sat,
A silver cup in hand;
"Who of my gallant troopers here
"Will join my kinsman's band?"

They answer'd naught, but to their lips
Their hoods in silence press'd,
Save only Vidrick Verlandson,
Who turn'd their fears to jest.

"For me' said Vidrick Verlandson
In tone of merry cheer,
"'Twould be like drinking a cup of mead,
"If once we cross'd a spear."

Diderick to hear what Vidrick said
So fierce and angry grew,
Their heads he lopp'd from troopers twain,
And at the King's feet threw.

"'Twere best," said Vidrick Verlandson
For glory all athirst,
"We steal not on them unawares,
"But send an envoy first."

That errand took young Helmer Gray,
And sped so fleet from town,
That dumb were all who saw him pass,
And every eye cast down.

The bold young Helmer Gray it was,
So bright with golden lace,
Whom neither hawk nor hound could beat,
Or hold him equal pace.

In came the bold young Helmer Gray,
And stood before the board;
A clever wight in parley he
To choose the fittest word.

"Hail, king of Brattens Vendel, hail!
"And Knights, who form thy train!
"Tomorrow comes Childe Wolf of Yern
"To venge a father slain."

"Wiser did Wolf to stay at home,
"And drive afield his kine,
"Than challenge send, and seek to match
"His puny strength with mine.

"Wiser would he, like some vile worm,
"Go creep beneath a stone,
"Than combat where a stouter man,
"His sire, was overthrown.

"Wiser did he to stay at home,
"And under brambles hide;
"His father stood me blows but nine,
"Still less will he abide."

"Hark! king of Brattens Vendel, hark!
"Keep teeth before your tongue;
"The whelp grows up with rending fangs,
"Remains not always young."

"There's not a man in all the world,
"For whom I need to fear,
"Save only Vidrick Verlandson,
"And he's not very near. M

"Ah not replied young Helmer Gray,
And struck the boaster dumb,
"'Tis even Vidrick Verlandson,
"Who with his men will come."

Then up and spake a trooper bold;
"Who that is, I can tell;
"His father was the famous smith,
"I know that champion well.

"Once on a time at Birtingsborg
"Our warriors all were met,
"And Vidrick play'd a wondrous game,'
"I never shall forget.

"Fifteen our stoutest men he fell'd
"With many a jest and jeer;
"I stood close by, and saw it all,
"And pale I was with fear."

"Now hark thee, good young Helmer Gray,
"A prayer I make to thee;
"What thou canst tell of Verlandson,
"Conceal it not from me."

"If Vidrick lay in his chamber sick,
"And could no longer ride,
"There's left to meet your force afield
"Enough brave men beside."

Then spake the Brattens Vendel king,
Spake like a man, did he:
"I'll meet him on the battle-field,
"If horse can carry me."

But up a trooper rose, and thus
His braggart speech begun;
"Vidrick! we'll never shrink from him,
"A low-bred collier's son."

Young Helmer Gray was standing near,
And, fired at what he said,
Struck him but once, and on the earth
Down fell the trooper dead.

"What!" said the Brattens Vendel king,
And spake in angry heat,
"What! strike my bravest champion dead
"Before my very feet!"

"My maxim", said young Helmer Gray,
"I need not seek to hide;
"I'll never bear that any man
"Vidrick or me deride."

Then said that bold young Helmer Gray
That raging thirst he found;
"So prithee, Brattens Vendel king,
"Let drink be handed round."

They brought him eighteen quarts of ale,
He drank them one by one,
And 'fore the king to fifty bits
He kick'd the empty tun.

Then off he ran, young Helmer Gray,
The news to his lord to bring;
"Now sharpen spear, and polish sword,
"Tomorrow comes the King."

Across the black and pathless heath
They rode in murk of night,
But from their armour, bright as day,
There gleam'd a guiding light.

They rode by night o'er Birting's plain,
They rode through Birting's moor,
Seven hundred warriors they were strong,
And costly armour wore.

Soon as they came to Birting's town,
Their men in ring they, drew,
And valiant Vidrick Verlandson
For captain chose anew.

A flag, whereon a lion gleam'd,
They raised on Birting's heath,
And doom'd was many a guiltless man
That day to meet his death.

They hack'd with sword, they shot with how,
They did not stint nor tire;
The crimson sweat ran off their limbs,
Their bucklers sparkled fire.

Then spake the Brattens Vendel king,
As through his helm he peer VI,
"What captain leads their troops today
"By all my men so fear'd?"

Thereto replied the little page
Who rode next at his side;
"There's none but Vidrick Verlandson,
"That fiery horse could ride."

Said one who knew the champion well,
One of the royal band;
"'Tis truly Vidrick Verlandson
"And Mimmering in his hand/'

Then look'd again the Vendel king
Through visor's narrow bar;
"Against that Tongs and Hammer shield
"'Tis useless waging war.

"I march to certain death today,
"Vidrick leaves none alive;
" Against that Tongs and Hammer shield
"It's vain for me to strive.

"Heathen or. Christian man alike
"To battle I defy,
"Save only Vidrick Verlandson,
"For him no match am I."

And off the Brattens Vendel king
Spurr'd fiercely o'er the down,
And Vidrick Verlandson assail'd,
And fain had overthrown.

His blows the Brattens Vendel king
Let fall so fast and hard,
That Vidrick nothing else could do,
Than stand awhile on guard.

"I've stood thee fairly eighteen blows,
"As fast as blows could fall;
"I charge thee on thy kingly name
'"To stand me one for all."

"If thou hast stood me eighteen blows,
"I'll do for thee the same;
"I'll stand unflinching eighteen blows,
"Nor stain my kingly name."

About his helmet bright with gold
A silken thread he bound;
"My bride hear not that hand of smith
"Dealt me the mortal wound!"

A word to Mimmering Vidrick spake,
"Now, Mimmering, do thy best,
"'Tis many years, since last the time
"I hew'd with equal zest."

He firmly clench'd his Mimmering's hilt,
With all his might he hove;
And the proud King from gilded helm
Down to his saddle clove.

Then shouted Vidrick Verlandson
Under the mountain side;
"Is none of all your troopers left
"A joust with me to ride?"

Dead lies the Brattens Vendel king,
His blood streams on the heath,
And glad at heart is Wolf of Yern
To've venged his father's death.

Around him o'er the battle-field
Young Helmer gazed his fill;
"These boasters lie. like sleeping mice,
"So mute they're all and still."

With Wolf rode home the King's men all,
And joy on every tongue,
That Vidrick for a father's death
A full revenge had wrung.