Grimhild's Vengeance: Three Ballads

It was the Hero Hogen, he
Grew wrathful at her speech;
He strook the wretched mermaid
That she fell dead on the beach.

“There do thou lie and rest thee now,
Thou foul and wicked fay;
I know well how to guard me
And my enemies to slay.”

There rode up to the portal
Of Dame Grimhilda’s home,
Two men of noble bearing,
Their steeds were all in foam.

The blow they gave the portal
Rang all the castle through:
“O where art thou the porter,
Why dost thou not undo?”

Then up and spoke the porter,
So ready to deceive:
“I dare admit no stranger, Sirs,
Without my Lady’s leave.”

He hied him to Dame Grimhild,
To her he said in haste:
“Two knights before our castle wait,
Admittance they request.”

“O that is Folker Spillemand,”
Dame Grimhild she did say;
“And that is Hero Hogen,
My brothers both are they.”

Down went dames and maidens then
To see the twain alight;
They all were slender in the waist,
And just of proper height.

It was the proud Dame Grimhild
Herself in scarlet clad;
Then out she hastened to the court,
The heroes in she bade.

“’Tis custom of our castle none
A faulchion shall unsheath,
I cannot bear the sight of one
Since good King Sigfred’s death.”

“’Twas I that slew King Sigfred
E’en with my own right hand,
’Twas I that slew King Ottelin
And him could few withstand.

“’Twas then I lost my acton good,
And trusty courser grey,
In yonder ice-cold winters
When besieging Troy we lay.”

Then up the hall she led them
To a hundred of her train;
With naked faulchions brandished, they
Confront the heroes twain.

“If any knight among ye be
Who eat here of my bread,
Will dare to slay my brother,
I will give him gold so red.”

When heard that Folker Spillemand
He would no longer wait;
His sword from out the sheath he drew,
Down shivered fell the gate.

When he had bared the mighty blade
He felt at heart so light;
He slew full fifteen warriors
With blows of manly might.

“Ha, Ha,” said Folker Spillemand,
“Right goes my fiddle now” —
And then the Hero Hogen slew
Full twenty blow by blow.

It was the proud Dame Grimhild
With wrath well nigh was wode:
“Much better had ye stayed at home
Than come to our abode.

“Here will a hundred widows be
’Ere ye this fight have done.”
Then answered Hero Hogen:
“’Twas by thyself begun.”

It was the Hero Hogen,
His helmet lifted he:
“All under my cuirass of steel
I burn so furiously.