Young Roland towards the mountain goes,
He saw the little sparkles fly:
“Betide whate’er the Lord God will
I here will house me verily.”
Young Roland into the mountain went,
Benumbed with cold his limbs they shook:
“What dost thou here, thou wretched man,
On whom the Lord with pity look?”
Then up and spoke Dame Ellenlile:
“Young swain why hither hast thou come?
What message hast thou brought to me?
Thou’dst better far have staid at home.
“Now hie thee to the chamber in,
So frozen and so wet withal;
But cometh Rosmer Giant home
He’ll tear thee into pieces small.
“Now sit thee down, thou wretched lad,
And at the fire thy body cheer;
If Rosmer Giant come striding in
He’ll stick thee on this spit, I fear.”
Then home came Rosmer Shank-stretcher,
And thus in anger he began:
“Full certainly there’s hither come
Some Christian woman, child, or man.”
Then forward stepped she, Ellenlile,
And swore so high and solemnly:
“A crow which bore a dead man’s leg
E’en now across the house did fly.
“A crow which bore a dead man’s leg
Just now across our house did fly;
He cast it in, I cast it out,
And that I trow full speedily.”
But Rosmer shrieked and sprang about:
“Some Christian wight thon dost conceal,
And I will spit and burn thee, Dame,
Unless the truth thou dost reveal.”
Then Ellenlile her mantle donned,
And went and stood by Rosmer’s knee:
“O here’s a swain from Iceland come,
And he’s of nearest kin to me.”