Vidrik rode, and the Giant crept,
So far through the forest ways,
They found the house with the red gold thatch’d;
It glitter’d like straw in a blaze.
“Therein, therein are heaps of gold,
No King has a greater store;
Do thou remove the big black stone,
And lift from the hinges the door.”
With both hands Vidrik seiz’d the stone,
But to stir it in vain did he try;
The Giant took it with finger and thumb,
And lifted it up in the sky.
“Now hear, now hear, thou warrior youth,
Thou canst wheel thy courser about;
But in every feat of manly strength
I could beat thee out and out.”
Then answer’d Vidrik Verlandson,
(He fear’d for himself some ill)
“’T is not the custom of any wise man
His strength on a stone to spill.”
“Therein, therein is much more gold
Than fifteen kings can show;
Hear me, Vidrik Verlandson,
Thou therein first shalt go.”
Then answer’d Vidrik Verlandson,
(For his cunning intent he saw)
“Thou shalt lead the way into thine own house,
For that is warrior-law.”
It was Langben the Giant then,
To the door he stoop’d down low:
It was Vidrik Verlandson
Cleft off his head at a blow.
Away the quivering body he drew,
And propp’d it against an oak;
Then back he rode the long, long way,
He’s thought of a wondrous joke.
With giant’s blood he besmear’d himself,
And besmear’d his steed all o’er;
Then back he rides to King Diderik,
Pretends to be wounded sore.