"Here stand I, Vidrik Verlandson, With a sword, so good, at my side; I came to wake thee up from thy sleep, Betide whatever betide." It was Langben the Giant, then, Turn'd up the white of his eye; "O, whence can come this warrior youth, Who such bold words lets fly? "But hear, but hear, thou warrior youth; I will not do battle with thee, Except thou prove of a knightly race; So thy lineage tell to me." "A handsome smith my father was, And Verland hight was he: Bodild they call'd my mother fair; Queen over countries three: "Skimming I call my noble steed, Begot from the wild sea-mare: Blank {f:23} do I call my haughty helm, Because it glitters so fair: "Skrepping I call my good thick shield; Steel shafts have furrow'd it o'er: Mimmering have I nam'd my sword; 'T is harden'd in heroes' gore: "And I am Vidrik Verlandson; For clothes bright iron I wear: Stand'st thou not up on thy long, long legs, I'll pin thee down to thy lair: "Do thou stand up on thy long, long legs, Nor look so dogged and grim; The King holds out before the wood; Thou shalt yield thy treasure to him." "All, all the gold that I possess, I will keep with great renown; I'll yield it at no little horse-boy's word, To the best king wearing a crown." "So young and little as here I seem, Thou shalt find me prompt in a fray; I'll hew the head from thy shoulders off, And thy much gold bear away." It was Langben the mighty Jutt, With fury his heart was fir'd; "Ride hence! ride hence! thou warrior youth, If of life thou be not tir'd." Skimming sprang up, with both his legs, Against the giant's side Asunder went five of his rib-bones then, And the fight began at that tide. It was Langben the lofty Jutt, He wav'd his steel mace round; He sent a blow after Vidrik; But the mace struck deep in the ground. It was Langben the lofty Jutt, Who had thought his foeman to slay, But the blow fell short of Vidrik; For the good horse bore him away. It was Langben the lofty Jutt, That shouted in wild despair: "Now lies my mace in the hillock fast, As though 't were hammer'd in there!" Vidrik paus'd no moment's space; So ready was he to assail: "Upon him, Skimming, upon him once more! Now, Mimmering, now prevail!" He seiz'd his sword in both his hands, Unto Langben Giant he flew; He struck him so hard in the hairy breast, That the point his lungs went through. Now Langben Giant has got a wound, And he's waken'd thoroughly now; So gladly would he have paid it back, But, alas! he knew not how. "Accursed be thou, young Vidrik! And accurs'd thy piercing steel! Thou hast given me, see, a wound in my breast, Whence rise the pains I feel." "I'll hew thee, Giant, I'll hew thee as small As leaves that are borne on the blast, Except thou showest me all the gear, That hid in the forest thou hast."