Grimhild's Vengeance: Three Ballads

Sir Gunter and Sir Gernot [2 - Squires in attendance upon Hogen.]
The vessel pushed from shore;
So wrathful was the weather then,
So wild the waters’ roar.

So furious then the weather was,
So wild the waters grew,
Asunder soon in Hogen’s hand
The oar of iron flew.

The iron oar asunder flew
In Hero Hogen’s hand,
Then with their broad and gilded shields
The heroes steered to land.

They ’gan to scour their faulchions
When they to land had won;
And there so proud a Damsel stood,
And their employ looked on.

O she was slender at the waist,
And just of proper height;
Swelling was her white bosom,
And maidenlike her gait.

They went away to Nörborough,
Where the gate was wont to stand:
“O where is now the porter
Who here should be at hand?”

“O here am I the porter,
To watch and ward I wait;
Did I but know whence ye were come
I’d bear your message straight.”

“O’er many a league of land and sea
We hither have repaired;
Dame Grimhild is our sister,
The truth is now declared.”

In then went the porter,
His stand by the board he took;
Quoth he: “Before our portal wait
Two knights of noble look.

“Two men of birth illustrious
Now wait before our gate;
The one he bears a fiddle,
And a gilded helm his mate.”

“O he no fiddle bears, I trow,
For any noble’s pay;
And whencesoever they are come
A prince’s sons are they.”

It was the proud Dame Grimhild drew
Her mantle o’er her head;
She hurried to the castle hall,
And in her brothers bade.

“O will ye go to bower now
And drink the mead and wine?
Or will ye sleep in beds of silk
With two fair maids of mine?”

It was the proud Dame Grimhild drew
Her mantle o’er her head,
And into the stone chamber
To her warriors all she sped.

“Here sit ye all my valiant men
And drink the mead and wine;
Now who will Hero Hogen slay,
Though he be brother mine?

“Whoe’er will do the doughty deed
Of striking Hogen dead,
Shall master of my castles be,
And of my gold so red.”

Then answered her a warrior,
A baron of that land:
“O I will earn the prize this day,
Forsooth with this good hand.

“O I will do the doughty deed,
Strike Hero Hogen dead;
Then I will o’er thy castles rule,
And o’er thy gold so red.”

Then answered Folker Spillemand,
With mighty iron spear:
“I’ll set my mark upon thee, knave,
Before thou scap’st from here.”

And at the first blow he has laid
Full fifteen warriors low:
“Ha bravely, Folker Spillemand,
You touch your fiddle bow!”