“But if I to-day must sail with thee,
Thou shalt change vessels, I swear, with me.
“For thou hast got the Dragon of speed,
I shall make with the Ox a poor figure indeed.
“The dragon is swift as the clouds in chase,
The ox he moveth at lazy pace.”
“Hear, Harald, what I shall say to thee,
What thou hast proposed well pleaseth me.
“If my ship in aught be better than thine,
I’m readily, cheerfully lend thee mine.
“Do thou the Dragon so sprightly take,
And I with the Ox will the journey make.
“But first to the Church we’ll bend our way,
Ere our hand on sail or on oar we lay.”
And into the Church Saint Oluf trode,
His beautiful hair like the bright gold glow’d.
But soon out of breath there came a man:
“Thy brother is sailing off, fast as he can.”
“Let them sail, my friend, who to sail may choose,
The word of our Lord we will not lose,