Skimming sprang up, with both his legs,
Against the giant’s side
Asunder went five of his rib-bones then,
And the fight began at that tide.
It was Langben the lofty Jutt,
He wav’d his steel mace round;
He sent a blow after Vidrik;
But the mace struck deep in the ground.
It was Langben the lofty Jutt,
Who had thought his foeman to slay,
But the blow fell short of Vidrik;
For the good horse bore him away.
It was Langben the lofty Jutt,
That shouted in wild despair:
“Now lies my mace in the hillock fast,
As though ’t were hammer’d in there!”
Vidrik paus’d no moment’s space;
So ready was he to assail:
“Upon him, Skimming, upon him once more!
Now, Mimmering, now prevail!”
He seiz’d his sword in both his hands,
Unto Langben Giant he flew;
He struck him so hard in the hairy breast,
That the point his lungs went through.
Now Langben Giant has got a wound,
And he’s waken’d thoroughly now;
So gladly would he have paid it back,
But, alas! he knew not how.
“Accursed be thou, young Vidrik!
And accurs’d thy piercing steel!
Thou hast given me, see, a wound in my breast,
Whence rise the pains I feel.”
“I’ll hew thee, Giant, I’ll hew thee as small
As leaves that are borne on the blast,
Except thou showest me all the gear,
That hid in the forest thou hast.”
“Forbear, O Vidrik Verlandson,
Strike me not cruelly dead!
And I will lead thee straight to my house,
That’s thatch’d with gold so red.”