“Now hail, thou maiden of the sea,
Of wisdom thou art rife;
Say, if I go to Hvenild’s land,
Can I retain my life?”
“Of castles hast thou plenty, knight,
And store of gold so red,
If thou shouldst go to Hvenild’s land
Thou wilt be smitten dead.”
It was the Hero Hogen,
He straight drew forth his blade,
And he struck off at a single blow
The head of the ocean-maid.
Then out amid the Sound he cast
The head all dropping gore;
The body rolled down after it,
In the deep they joined once more.
It was the Hero Hogen,
He further wandered on,
Until the Ferry-carl he spied
The ocean beach upon.
“Now list to me, good Ferry-carl,
Convey me o’er the Sound,
And I’ll give thee my good gold ring,
It weighs full fifteen pound.”
“I will not take thee o’er the Sound
For all thy gold so red,
If thou dost go to Hvenild’s land
Thou wilt be smitten dead.”
It was the Hero Hogen
His faulchion round did whirl,
And he struck off at a single blow
The head of the Ferry-carl.
He gave the gold ring off his arm
Unto the dead man’s wife:
“Take that as an atoning gift
For the Ferryman’s young life.”
Sir Gunter and Sir Gernot [17]
The vessel pushed from shore;
So wrathful was the weather then,
So wild the waters’ roar.