33. "I washed his poitrail and breast for him, His thigh, his leg, and each long limb. 34. "The noble courser I made full clean. Then Sigurth took me for his horse-swain. 35. "So rode we forth to Fafnir's lair. Like the sun's own beams did the gold shine there. 36. "From Sigurth's steed did I draw a hair, Of wondrous length and beyond compare. 37. "The hair in the tail of Grani hung, --Well-nigh a foot and a fathom long. 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. Kˆrnar 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 _FÊrˆiske KvÊder_, 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 ship 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 T·ttur_, v. 78.