Grimhild's Vengeance: Three Ballads

He smote to death the warriors,
A bridge of them he made;
And broad and long I ween it was,
Full rough with them he play’d.

Above were laid the oxen hides,
Below the pease so small;
That trick has vanquished Hogen,
He fell down first of all.

It was the Hero Hogen
Would have bounded up with speed:
“No, no, desist, my brother,
Thou know’st what was agreed.

“No, no, desist, my brother,
Prove true to what you swore,
If ever you should fall to earth
You’d never rise up more.”

So brave was Hero Hogen
To his word he true was found;
Upon his two knees stood he then,
And got his mortal wound.

But still three warriors slaughtered he,
They were not of the least,
Towards Hammeren went he then to find
His father’s treasure-chest.

Fortune was yet to him so kind,
The damsel proud he won;
And she was haughty Hvenild,
He begot with her a son.

That gallant son, hight Ranke,
Avenged his father well;
Grimhild entombed by Niflung’s gold
Of hunger-pain did yell.

Then soon from out the land to Bern
In Lombardy he strayed;
And there ’mongst Danish men he was,
And prowess high displayed.

His mother she remained at home,
From her got Hveen its name
’Mongst knights and warriors through the world,
So widely goes its fame.

GRIMHILD’S VENGEANCE

Song the Second

It was the proud Dame Grimhild
The wine with spices blends;
And unto many a hero free
She messengers outsends.

“Go bid them come to battle,
Go bid them come to strife;
I reckon many a hero free
Shall lose his youthful life.”

’Twas Hero Hogen’s mother
She has dreamt a wondrous dream,
That the stately courser tumbled
As they rode him o’er the stream.

“That dream, dear son, a meaning has,
I rede thee cautious be;
Beware thee of thy sister,
She deals in treachery.”

It was the Hero Hogen
He rode along the strand:
The mermaid there he found at play
Upon the yellow sand.

“Now tell me, pretty mermaid,
The future thou dost know,
Shall I the prize in Hvenland win,
And warriors overthrow?”

“Now listen, Hero Hogen,
Thou art of kemps the flower,
Enough of land thou dost possess,
Enough of fame and power.

“And thou both gold and silver hast,
And castles fair to see,
If thou dost go to Hvenland,
For thy best it will not be.

“Goods and dominion hast thou, knight,
And store of gold so red,
If thou dost go to Hven this year
Thou wilt be smitten dead.”