Forasmuch as he would not refrain him, the Maiden sprang full-height—
“How dar’st thou so much as ruffle the hem of my vesture white,
Thou insolent knave, thou ruffian? The deed shalt thou dearly abide!
Yea, now will I make thee to know it!” that warrior maiden cried.
Arms like unto bands of iron she locked round the valiant thane.
She was minded in fetters to lay him even as the King had lain,
That still she might lie untroubled in the peace of her maiden sleep.
That he touched but her vesture, how fiercely did the flame of her fury upleap!
Despite his brawny sinews, in his magic power’s despite,
She gave dread proof to the hero of her matchless bodily might: