“Leave me,” she said, “to get down by myself; if I must die ’twill be without weeping.”
“Thou art a fine girl,” said he.
And she, having dismounted from her horse, said: “My lord, before thou strikest, doff thine opperst-kleed of the colour of corn, for the blood of virgins gushes fiercely, and if mine should stain thee I should be grieved.”
But before the opperst-kleed was off his shoulders, his head fell to the ground at his feet.
And Magtelt, looking at the body, said: “He strode confidently, thinking himself invincible; but when the beast goes with assurance the hunter follows more easily.”
And she crossed herself.
XXXI. Of the sixteen deaths and of the Prince of the Stones.
Suddenly the head spoke, saying: “Go thou to the end of the road, and sound my horn aloud, so that my friends may hear.”
But Magtelt: