The ferryman was wealthy, to serve he scarce could bear, And hence it seldom happened he deign'd to take a fare. His men were like their master, as moody and misproud. Still on this side Sir Hagan stood ever shouting loud. XLVII So loud and strong he shouted, that all the water rung, While the deep-chested warrior thus thunder'd from his tongue, "Come, put me o'er, I'm Amelrich, who Elsy serv'd and sued, The same who from this country fled for a mortal feud." XLVIII High on his sword an armlet held out the champion bold (Bright was it and glittering and ruddy all with gold) That he might be put over thence into Gelfrat's land. Then took the burly boatman himself an oar in hand. XLIX He was in sooth, that boatman, an ill-condition'd elf. Nothing leads men to ruin like hankering after pelf. He thought by ferrying Hagan his ruddy gold to get; A sword-stroke for an armlet, and death for gain he met. L With sinewy might the boatman row'd o'er to yonder strand, But not the man he heard of sprung to the boat from land. The ferryman wax'd furious when Hagan there he found; Thus he bespake the hero, and speaking darkly frown'd. LI "Your name it may be Amelrich for ought I know," said he, "But you're like him I look'd for as little as can be. In sooth he was my brother, by father and mother's side You've put a trick upon me, so on this bank shall bide." LII "Nay, think again, for heaven's sake," Sir Hagan made reply, "In pain for sundry comrades a foreign knight am I; So take my fare contented, and kindly put me o'er; You'll bind me to your service, your friend for evermore." LIII "No, no," replied the ferryman, "it must not, faith, be so; My good lords all around them have many a deadly foe; For this, I ne'er put over strangers into this land, So, as your life you value, out with you to the strand." LIV "Nay, speak not so," said Hagan, "you see my drooping cheer; Take of me, and welcome, the gold I hand you here, And ferry a thousand horses and as many knights of pride." "That will I do never," the ferryman grim replied. LV With the word up caught he an oar both broad and long, And lent the knight a buffet so sturdy and so strong, That in the boat he brought him at once upon his knee. Such a boisterous boatman never before met he. LVI Yet more the haughty stranger to wrath would he provoke, So on the head of Hagan a boat-pole next he broke, The ferryman of Elsy was sure a lusty wight, Yet naught but loss and ruin got he by all his might. LVII The grim knight up starting ended soon the fray; To the sheath quick gripp'd he wherein his weapon lay. Off he his head has smitten, and to the bottom thrown. Soon were the glad tidings to the bold Burgundians known. LVIII