“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.