WIELAND, THE SMITH, ARMING HIS SON WITTICH.
II.
DIETRICH’S COMRADES.
Heime.
In all countries and amongst all nations were spread the name and fame of Dietrich of Bern, for he was the favourite hero of many a wandering minstrel, and so it came to pass that numbers of brave warriors used to go and visit him, and take part in the amusements or serious occupations that engrossed the attention of their host during the time of their visit.
Even in the far north his name was famous, not only in the castle of the noble, but in many a wayside inn and solitary grange.
At the time of which we speak, a renowned horse-dealer called Studas lived in the heart of a great forest. He cared little for the singing and fiddling of the wandering minstrels, but his son Heime was different. He often declared that he knew he could wield lance and sword as well as the hero of Bern. His father was weary of his vainglorious talk, and one day, when the young fellow was boasting as usual that he was as good a man as Dietrich, if not better, his father exclaimed in a pet:
“Well, if that be the case, go up to the hollow mountain, and kill the dragon that is doing all this mischief in the neighbourhood.”
The lad looked up at him inquiringly. The father nodded, and Heime, casting a haughty look at him, turned and went out.
“He will not do it,” muttered the old man, “but I think I have cooled his hot blood for him.”