Stories and Ballads of the Far Past Part 26

38. "Well-nigh a foot and a fathom in height.

And it shone and gleamed like silver so bright.

39. "In days gone by, full far have I strayed, Nor found I my candle and span of days."

40. The King he gave him pole and boat, And directed the old man on his road.

41. "In the Land of the Franks is a lake broad and wide Where thy candle and span of days do bide."

42. Long and long dived the courteous man Before he came his candle upon.

43. Kornar the priest baptised him anon.

When the candle burnt out his life was done.

44. When the light in the lanthorn had burnt away, Refrain:--_Be ready with a plan in trouble!_-- Then ended too his own life's day.

Refrain:--_Every lad should do so!_

INTRODUCTION TO THE BALLAD OF HJALMAR AND ANGANTYR

The following ballad was taken down by Hammershaimb from oral recitation in Westmanhavn in 1846, and published at Copenhagen in 1855 in _Faeroiske Kvaeder_, Vol. II. He took down a second version of the same ballad, but consisting of only nineteen stanzas, at Sumb in 1847, which he published in the _Antiquarisk Tidsskrift_, 1849-50.

This second version differs slightly from the one given in our text.

In it Arngrim is said to have twelve sons of whom Angantyr was the youngest. Hjalmar is not expressly stated to have been a brother of Angantyr, as he is in our version and in the Danish ballad _Angelfyr and Helmer the Warrior_ (cf. p. 188 ff.). Moreover Angantyr is the first to learn of the franklin's daughter, and he forthwith builds a s.h.i.+p and sails away alone; and it is only later that Hjalmar also hears of her and sets sail, thus reaching the spot when Angantyr has already landed. More colour is given to the maiden's choice in the second version by the additional detail that

Hjalmar leapt so lightly to land, He made no footprint on the sand.

This, however, it is to be noted, is the regular formula by which the landing of the hero is described in the Faroese ballads. Cf. _Lokka Tattur_, v. 78.

It is the opinion of Hammershaimb that this ballad was the original from which the longer ballad of _Arngrim's Sons_ sprang. This would seem to be supported by Heusler's contention that _The Long Ballad_ of the _Marsk Stig_ Cycle was composed by welding together several shorter ballads[1]; and certainly the _Ballad of Arngrim's Sons_ suggests that at least two distinct ballads have been run into one, especially when we compare the two varying versions of Svabo and Hammershaimb. Against this, however, we have to place the fact that something of the same invertebrate impression is given by the _Saga of Hervor and Heithrek_, on which these ballads are ultimately based.

Even if we a.s.sume a composite origin for the _Ballad of Arngrim's Sons_, there is no evidence that any portion of it was based on the short _Ballad of Hjalmar and Angantyr_, while the difference of metre diminishes the probability of a connection.

The air and refrain to this ballad are given on p. 124 of Thuren's _Folkesangen paa Faererne_.

[Footnote 1: _Lied und Epos_ (Dortmund, 1905), p. 41 ff.]

_The Ballad of Hjalmar and Angantyr_

KIRKJUB.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Music quarter note=112]

[Lyric: Bondin undir eikini br, Vael bornir menn Eigir hann ellivu synir dr! Arngrims synir a Bjarn londum ber- jast vi Sams oy. ]

THE BALLAD OF HJALMAR AND ANGANTYR

1. A man lived up in a high oak-tree, Refrain:-- _Ye well-born men!_-- Eleven warlike sons had he.

Refrain:-- _Arngrim's Sons from Africa_, _They fought, they fought on Sams._

2. He had eleven sons so dear,-- The champions Hjalmar and Angantyr.

3. A s.h.i.+p, a s.h.i.+p did these warriors man, And swift 'fore the wind was the course she ran.

4. They hoisted their sail to the mast so high: They had faith in their strength and their valiancy.

5. Their anchor they cast in the white, white sand.

Hjalmar hastily sprang to the land.

6. Their anchor they cast in the white, white sand.

And Angantyr eagerly sprang on the strand.

7. Angantyr eagerly sprang on the strand.

Up to his knees he sank in the sand.

8. "I drew my hose from my legs so bare To hide the sand from my lady fair!"

9. In the garden they busked them in cloaks of skin, And so went up to the franklin sitting there within.

10. "Here sittest thou, franklin, drinking thy wine: I beg that thy daughter so fair may be mine!"

11. When Hjalmar stood before the board, Angantyr straight took up the word.--

12. "Here sittest thou, franklin, drinking thy wine: I beg that thy daughter so fair may be mine!"

13. In sorry plight was the franklin then, For there at the board stood two mighty men.

14. "No choice so hard will I ever make; The maiden herself must choose her mate."

15. "No choice so hard shall be made by thee: The warrior Hjalmar shall wed with me.

16. "With Hjalmar the Brave would I wedded be, Who is so lovely and fair to see."

17. "O franklin! Lend me a trusty blade, We two must fight for the hand of the maid."

18. "O franklin! Lend me a sharp penknife: Each of us surely must lose his life."

19. They fought their way forth of the hall.

They bellowed louder than any troll.

20. Till they reached a river they fought amain, Down on their knees and then up again.

21. Down on their knees and then up again Refrain:-- _Ye well-born men!_-- Till stiff and dead lay those champions twain.

Refrain:-- _Arngrim's Sons from Africa_, _They fought, they fought on Sams._