Stories and Ballads of the Far Past Part 30

53. Forth when Hervik's frigate Touched the fair land, Cast she forth her anchor Into the white, white sand.

54. Cast she forth her anchor Into the white, white sand; And forthwith her brother Angantyr Came riding down the strand.

55. She gave to him the sword then Was wonderfully made.-- The length of it was eighteen ells, And poisoned was its blade.

56. She gave to him the sword then Was wonderfully made.-- No leechcraft could avail the man Was wounded by its blade.

57. Angantyr sits in his high seat, And with his men spake he!-- "O where will I get a make to myself?

This thought has been long with me."

58. One and all they hung their heads, And never a word spake they, Save Hjalmar his brother, and better were it He had held his peace that day.

59. "I can no truer tell thee, But and thou list to hear: The King of Upsala has a daughter, And she is pa.s.sing fair.

60. "The King of Upsala has a daughter As lovely as the sun.

Her cheeks they are as red and white As blood on driven snow.

61. "The King of Upsala has a daughter: Of many is her fame the word.

Her throne it is of the red, red gold, And stands at the King's own board."

62. "O gin the maiden be so fair, And gin she be so fine, I swear an oath, though ill betide, To call that maiden mine.

63. "O long and long will the journey be O'er breaker but and billow; But I go forth to Upsala, Hjalmar, And thou, my brother, must follow."

64. Then up spake Hjalmar the warrior, And straightway answered he: "The bird feels joy when he spies a corpse, And so do I follow thee!"

65. Up then rose him Angantyr, And manned s.h.i.+p hastily.

Its cables were of s.h.i.+ning gold All twisted cunningly.

66. Up then rose him Angantyr, And decked his s.h.i.+p so fine, And bade them store within the hold Both ale and costly wine.

67. He hoists aloft his silken sail, Striped gold on a scarlet ground Nor ever once does he strike it again Till he comes to Uppsaland.

68. Forth then when his frigate Touched the fair land, Cast he down his anchor Into the white, white sand.

69. Cast he down his anchor Into the white, white sand.

And Angantyr was the first to light With his foot to land.

70. Angantyr was the first to light With his foot to land, And by him Hjalmar his brother, Close at his right hand.

71. By him Hjalmar his brother Close at his right hand; Truly is it told to me He sank to his knees in sand.

72. Up they went from the sea-sh.o.r.e, Those men of wealth and worth; The rollers brake, and the earth it shook As they set their s.h.i.+ps in berth.

73. Up they went from the sea-sh.o.r.e, In their clothes of scarlet so fair; Their helmets were of burnished gold, And no man did they fear.

74. All in the middle of the garden They clad them in cloaks of skin; They busked them in their cloaks of fur And entered the high hall within.

75. They busked them in their cloaks of fur And entered the high hall belive, Where the King of Uppland sat at the board With a hundred men and five.

76. Hjalmar went into the high hall With silk embroidered hood.

His cheeks were red as lobster's claws, His eyes were like the dove.

77. Angantyr has do'en him to the high hall, 'Twas the custom in days gone by; And all in a word did he hail the King And ask for the maid truly.

78. Angantyr stands on the hall floor, Offers him greeting there;-- "Now hail be to thee, bold King of Uppsaland, Give me thy daughter fair!"

79. Then up and spake the bold Hjalmar, Before the broad board he stood:-- "O King, I pray thee, give me thy daughter Who is so fair and good."

80. Up then rose the bold Hjalmar, Before the broad board sat he:-- "O King, I pray thee, give me thy daughter Who is so wise and fair to see."

81. Long in sorrow sat the King And silently pondered.

What he should answer the two fierce warriors, Who stood before the board.

82. Up then rose the King of Uppsaland; Angry and wroth was he: "My lady daughter shall come to the hall And for herself reply."

83. They have led his daughter to the hall, Attended fittingly; And Hjalmar's face grew red and pale As in the high-seat sat he.

84. "Now thanks and thanks to my n.o.ble father Who gave this choice to me.

Hjalmar the champion from Uppland, He shall my husband be.

85. "I will not wed me to Angantyr: He is so vile a troll; So is his father and so his mother, And so are his kinsfolk all."

86. "Come forth, come forth, thou bold Hjalmar For ne'er so brief a tide.

To battle on an island make thee bowne; She shall not be thy bride."

87. Then up and answered Odd the Young: "Once more we are fighting here.

You shall go against Arngrim's Sons, And I against Angantyr."

88. "We two, Angantyr and I, Shall fight with mighty strife; I would not that lady Ingibjorg hear That I sought to flee for my life.

89. "We two, Angantyr and I, Shall meet in a mighty gripe, And long will lady Ingibjorg wait Ere she hear that I shrank for my life."

90. Out then spake the Young Odd, And pondered heavily; "O gin thou go'est against Angantyr, Thou choosest thy death truly."

91. All the sons of Arngrim Rode up the river sh.o.r.e A-tightening of their s.h.i.+eld-straps Till they could tighten them no more.

92. All the sons of Arngrim Rode through the plain so green; A league and a league you could hear on the stones The clang of their spears so keen.

93. All the sons of Arngrim, Angry were they in mood.

Little recked they for weapons, But tore up clubs of stout oakwood.

94. All the sons of Arngrim Rode up the river strand.

It is the young Odd will lose his life, For Hjalmar is not at hand.

95. Odd rode against the Sons of Arngrim, His n.o.ble weapons proved he so, And he slew all the eleven brothers Yet never dealt he a second blow.

96. Angantyr and the bold Hjalmar On the island combated.