And that by Asbiorn Milde is borne;

He sets the knights' backs at work.

There shines on the three-and-twentieth shield An arm, in a manacle bound;

And that by Alvor Sir Lange is borne, To the heroes he hands mead round.

Now comes the four-and-twentieth shield, And a bright sword there you see;

And that by Humble Sir Jerfing is borne;

Full worthy of that is he.

There shines upon the next good shield A goss-hawk, striking his game;

That's borne by a knight, the best of all -

Sir Iver Blaa is his name.

Now comes the six-and-twentieth shield, A jav'lin there you spy;

Is borne by little Mimring Tan;

From no one will he fly.

Such knights and bearings as were there, And who can them all relate;

It was Sivard, the Snaresvend;

No longer he deign'd to wait.

"If there be one of the Dane king's men, Who at Dyst is willing to ride, Let him, I pray, without pause or delay, Meet me by the wild wood's side.

"The man among you, ye Danish court men, Who at Dyst has won most meeds;

Him I am ready to fight, this day, For both of our noble steeds."

The heroes cast the die on the board;

The die it roll'd so wide:

"Since, young Sir Humble, it stops by thee, 'Gainst Sivard thou must ride."

Sir Humble struck his hand on the board;

No longer he lists to play:

I tell you, forsooth, that the rosy hue From his cheek fast faded away.

"Now, hear me, Vidrik Verlandson;

Thou art so free a man;

Do lend me Skimming, thy horse, this day;

I'll pledge for him what I can:

"Eight good castles, in Birting's land, As pledges for him I'll set;

My sister too, the lily-cheek'd maid, A fairer thou ne'er hast met:

"Eight good castles, and eight good knights;

I'd scorn to offer thee less:

If Skimming should meet any hurt this day, My sister thou shalt caress."

"If yonder mountains all were gold, And yonder streams were wine;

The whole for Skimming I would not take;

I bless God he is mine.

"Sivard is a purblind swain;

Sees not to his faulchion's end:

If Skimming were hurt thou couldst not pay me With the help of thy every friend.

"The sword it whirls in Sivard's hand, As whirl the sails of the mill;

If thou take Skimming 'gainst that wild fool, 'T is sorely against my will."

Humble, he sat him on Skimming's back, So gallantly can he ride;

But Skimming thought it passing strange That a spur was clapt to his side.

The first course that together they rode, So strong were the knightly two, Asunder went Humble's saddle-ring, And a furlong his good shield flew.

"Methinks thou art a fair young swain, And well thy horse canst ride;

Dismount thee, straight, and gird up thy steed;

I am willing for thee to bide."

The second course that together they rode Was worthy of knights renown'd;

Then both their saddles burst in two, And Humble was sent to the ground.

"Now have I cast thee from thy steed, Thy courser by right is mine;

But, tell me, youthful and gallant swain, Who art thou, and of what line?

"Now have I won from thee the prize, And Skimming belongs to me;

But, tell me, youthful and gallant swain, What parents gave birth to thee?"

"Abelon is my father's name;

He sits upon Birting's throne:

Queen Ellina my mother is, And that for truth is known.

"Queen Ellina my mother is -

A Queen whom all admire;

Good King Abelon Haardestaal, So call they my hoary sire.

"And who am I, but Humble, the young, A knight of Birting's land;

Of hero race, whose fame extends To the wide earth's farthest strand."

"If Abelon be thy father's name, The courser I straight restore;

Thou art, I find, my very good friend;

I knew thee not, youth, before.

"If Queen Ellina thy mother is, Then Skimming thou hast rewon;

Thou art, indeed, my very good friend;

Thou art my sister's son.

"Take both the shield ropes, take them straight, And bind me to yon oak tree;

Then hie thee back to King Diderik, And say thou hast conquer'd me."

In came Humble, the youthful knight, Was clad in a kirtle, green;

"O! I have got my courser again, And have bound the warrior keen."

In came Humble, with boot and spur, He cast on the table his sword:

"Sivard stands in the green wood bound, He speaks not a single word.

"O, I have been to the wild forest, And have seiz'd the warrior stark;

Sivard there was taken by me, And tied to the oak's rough bark."

"Now hear me, young Sir Humble, the knight, 'T is plain a jest is meant, Whenever Sivard was bound by thee, 'T was done with his own consent."

It was Vidrik Verlandson, And he would fain know all.

"O, I will ride to the wood, and see How Sivard endures his thrall."

Vidrik spoke to his burly groom:

"Go, saddle me Skimming gray, For I will ride to the wood, and hear What Sivard himself will say."

Sivard stands in the good green wood, There sees he Vidrik ride:

"If Vidrik finds me bounden here, He'll hew my rib-bones from my side."

Then loud laugh'd Vidrik Verlandson, And Skimming began to neigh, For Sivard rooted the oak tree up;

He dar'd no longer stay.

The queen she sat in the high, high, loft, And thence look'd far and wide:

"O there comes Sivard Snaresvend, With a stately oak at his side."

Then loud laugh'd fair Queen Gloriant, As she look'd on Sivard full:

"Thou wert, no doubt, in great, great need, When thou such flowers didst pull."

The King he stood at the castle gate, In his robes and kingly crown:

"O there comes Sivard Snaresvend, And he brings us Summer to town."

Now dance the heroes by Brattingsborg;

They dance in their coats of felt;

There dances Sivard, the purblind swain, With an oak tree under his belt.