Svend Vonved binds his sword to his side,
It lists him farther to ride, to ride;
He rode along by the grené shaw; [12]
The Brute-carl [13] there with surprise he saw.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
A wild swine sat on his shoulders broad,
Upon his bosom a black bear snor’d;
And about his fingers, with hair o’erhung,
The squirrel sported, and weasel clung.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
“Now, Brute-carl, yield thy booty to me,
Or I will take it by force from thee.
Say, wilt thou quickly thy beasts forego,
Or venture with me to bandy a blow?
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
“Much rather, much rather, I’ll fight with thee,
Than thou my booty should’st get from me;
I never was bidden the like to do,
Since good King Esmer in fight I slew.”
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
“And did’st thou slay King Esmer fine?
Why, then thou slewest dear father mine;
And soon, full soon, shalt thou pay for him,
With the flesh hackt off from thy every limb!”
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
They drew a circle upon the sward;
They both were dour, as the rocks are hard;
Forsooth, I tell you, their hearts were steel’d,—
The one to the other no jot would yield.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
They fought for a day,—they fought for two,—
And so on the third they were fain to do;
But ere the fourth day reach’d the night,
The Brute-carl fell, and was slain outright.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
Svend Vonved binds his sword to his side,
Farther and farther he lists to ride:
He rode at the foot of a hill so steep,
There saw he a herd as he drove the sheep.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
“Now tell me, Herd, and tell me fair,
Whose are the sheep thou art driving there?
And what is rounder than a wheel?
And where do they eat the holiest meal?”
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.
“Where does the fish stand up in the flood?
And where is the bird that’s redder than blood?
Where do they mingle the best, best, wine?
And where with his knights does Vidrik dine?”
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.