XII, XIIIOH, SEVENTY-SEVEN TWICE-TOLD WERE THEYHOLGER DANSKE AND STOUT DIDRIK

These Ballads are two of a large group celebrating popular legendary heroes. Those concerned with Didrik—all jovial ones with happy endings—were adapted or translated from the work of the wandering German minstrels known as the “Saxon Singers,” who visited Denmark during the time of Knud Lavard and Sven Grade (1131-57). Part of this poetry, moreover, apparently trickled into Scandinavia by circuitous routes, since a lengthy “Didrikssaga” was composed during the thirteenth century at Bergen.

There are those who consider Didrik as a mere Mrs. Harris, and derive his name from the vague appellation þioðreke = folk-king. But most authorities believe that he had a flesh-and-blood original in Theoderic, King of the East Goths, and conqueror of Italy, whose royal seat was at “Bern,”i. e.Verona. Be that as it may, this kingly shade enlisted his champions among the most august phantoms of the North. Sivord Snarensvend, for example, is no less a personage than Sigurd Fafnirsbane; while Helled Haagen is Hogne the Hero, Sigurd’s slayer. Raadengaard may (or maynot) be the Hrothgar of “Beowulf,” and the “Sir Aldingar” of British ballad. Most of the other figures may be pursued through the mazes of legend; but Falkvor the Fiddler is a creation of the “fiddling” minstrel’s; and he or his translator inserted Tetlev Danske as a compliment to the Danes.

As for Holger Danske, he is the French hero Ogier le Danois, originally one of Charlemagne’s champions, who fought for Christendom against the infidel. The oldest Danish ballad of Holger describes his victory over Burmand, an amorous Troll, who would fain carry off the Lady Gloriant, the King of Hungary’s daughter, from her rightful lover King Karvel. This chivalrous deed of Holger’s captivated the popular fancy, which adopted him henceforth as national hero, crowned him with the “red, red gold” and pictured him as defending Denmark against the power of the German Empire, personified in the giants Sverting and Bermer-Ris. “Holger Danske and Stout Didrik may,” says Olrik, “be considered Denmark’s first patriotic song.”

Verses 4 and 5 find a parallel in “The Battle of Otterburn” (English version).

“Up spake a berne upon the bentOf comfort that was not cold,And said: We have brente Northumberland,We have all wealth in hold.“Now we have harried all Bambroughshire,All the wealth in the world have we;I rede we ride to NewcastleSo still and stalworthlie!”

“Up spake a berne upon the bentOf comfort that was not cold,And said: We have brente Northumberland,We have all wealth in hold.

“Up spake a berne upon the bent

Of comfort that was not cold,

And said: We have brente Northumberland,

We have all wealth in hold.

“Now we have harried all Bambroughshire,All the wealth in the world have we;I rede we ride to NewcastleSo still and stalworthlie!”

“Now we have harried all Bambroughshire,

All the wealth in the world have we;

I rede we ride to Newcastle

So still and stalworthlie!”

1Oh, seventy-seven twice-told were theyWhen out from Hald they went,And when they came to BrattingsborgThey pitched the silken tent.—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.2King Isung stands on high watch-tower,And looks forth far and wide:“Oh, little care for their lives have theyThat hither list to ride!3“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,Hast wandered here and there;Tell me what warriors are theyThese golden shields that bear?”4“There shineth on the foremost shieldA lion all so bold;The bearing of Didrik the King it is,With a crown of ruddy gold.5“And shining on the second shieldHammer and tongs appear;The sign of Vidrik VerlandsonThat takes no prisoner.6“And on the third shield shining seeA golden serpent, bound;That beareth Master Hildebrand,Cunning in counsel found.7“And on the fourth shield, see where shinesA leafy linden-tree;That beareth youthful Humlunger,Earl Hornbook’s son is he.8“There shineth on the following shieldA wolf in a wild wood,The sign of Ulv van Jærn the youngWho is a warrior good.9“And on the sixth there shineth stillA vulture red as gold;And that bears Helled HaagenWho is a champion bold.10“And see, the seventh shining shieldFiddle and bow doth keep,The sign of Falkvor Minstrel-ManWould liefer drink than sleep.11“And on the eighth an elephantIs pictured with a swain,The sign of Tetlev DanskeThat swings his sword amain.12“All on the ninth shield shining, loA swarthy vulture shows,The sign of young Sir RaadengaardFull many a rune who knows.13“And on the tenth shield, lo there shineTwo arrows wan and white,He bears them, Hvitting Hermandson,Is foremost still in fight.14“There shines on the eleventh shieldNought but a burning brand;That bears Sir Brand VidfærlingAgainst all lordling’s land.15“And on the twelfth shield shining, see,There stands a cowl so grey;That bears the monk, Brother Alsing,Would follow fain the fray!”16“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,Thou art a warrior free!Shalt fight with one of Didrik’s menFor all my land and me!”17Up stood Sivord Snarensvend,And to the tents he hied:“Now is there ever a warrior stoutA joust with me will ride?”18Oh, on the board they cast the diceThat fell both far and wide,And the lot it was young Humlunger’sWith Sivord there to ride.19It was he, young Humlunger,Did forth to Vidrik speed:“Now I will give thee a pledge to holdWilt lend me Skemming thy steed.”20“Oh, Sivord sees not the point of his spear,Because his sight is dim,And if my Skemming to-day wins scatheNor thou nor thy kinsfolk can pay for him!”21“But I, I have a sisterIs fairer than maidens all;And if thy Skemming wins scathe to-dayI’ll pay it her hand withal.”22“Oh, nought of Skemming thou’lt see to-dayUnless thy surety firm doth stand;The hand I’ll have of thy sister fair,And seven castles in Birtingsland!”23“Seven castles in BirtingslandThy surety they shall be;Thereto the maid my sister,A pledge of price for thee!”24Oh, he has backed that steed so bold,And gaily ridden away;Good sooth, but Skemming thought it strangeTo feel the spur that day!25The gold did shine upon his shieldLike the sun in summer-tide:“God help me now, a simple swain,The brunt to bear and bide!”26The first course that they ran togetherWould neither champion yield;And both their shields were shattered there,And hurled so far afield.27“Methinks thou art a fair young swain,That well can run and ride!Go now and take thy shield again,And I the brunt will bide.”28And when they ran the second course,Then one of them must yield;Young Humlunger was stricken,And hurled so far afield.29“Oh, I have struck thee down to earth,And wounded thy steed alsò;Now whence thou comest, thou fair young swain,Full fain am I to know.”30“Oh, Hornbook hight my father,In Birtingsland is lord,And I am called young HumlungerWhenas I ride abroad.”31“Full well I know thy father,For comrades kind we were;Now take thy shield and mount again,Son of my sister dear!32“And take thou up my shattered shield,Bind me to oaken tree;Then ride and tell the championsThe game is won by thee!”33Forth to the tents fared Humlunger,Cast blade upon the board:“Now have I bound the grey-beard carleThat spake the vaunting word!”34“Now hold thy peace, young Humlunger,That aye must prate thy fill!If thou hast bound him, Sivord,’Tis with his own good-will!”35Up stood Vidrik Verlandson,Bade saddle his steed so free:“I will fare forth to the forest,This conquered carle to see!”36Oh, Sivord all in the greenwoodSaw where the knight did ride;Up by the roots he reft the oak,For he might not his bonds abide.37Up by the roots he reft the oak,For he might not his bonds abide:“If Vidrik Verlandson comes hereMy ribs he’ll hew from my side!”38The Queen stood in the lofty bower,And looked both up and down:“Oh, hither comes Sivord SnarensvendA-bearing summer to town!”39The Queen looked out with her ladiesAll from the lofty bower:“Sivord hath been in good greenwoodAnd gathered a gallant flower!”40Gay went the dance at Brattingsborg,Where champions danced amain;There danced with oak-tree in his beltSivord the purblind swain!—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

1Oh, seventy-seven twice-told were theyWhen out from Hald they went,And when they came to BrattingsborgThey pitched the silken tent.—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

Oh, seventy-seven twice-told were they

When out from Hald they went,

And when they came to Brattingsborg

They pitched the silken tent.

—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

2King Isung stands on high watch-tower,And looks forth far and wide:“Oh, little care for their lives have theyThat hither list to ride!

King Isung stands on high watch-tower,

And looks forth far and wide:

“Oh, little care for their lives have they

That hither list to ride!

3“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,Hast wandered here and there;Tell me what warriors are theyThese golden shields that bear?”

“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,

Hast wandered here and there;

Tell me what warriors are they

These golden shields that bear?”

4“There shineth on the foremost shieldA lion all so bold;The bearing of Didrik the King it is,With a crown of ruddy gold.

“There shineth on the foremost shield

A lion all so bold;

The bearing of Didrik the King it is,

With a crown of ruddy gold.

5“And shining on the second shieldHammer and tongs appear;The sign of Vidrik VerlandsonThat takes no prisoner.

“And shining on the second shield

Hammer and tongs appear;

The sign of Vidrik Verlandson

That takes no prisoner.

6“And on the third shield shining seeA golden serpent, bound;That beareth Master Hildebrand,Cunning in counsel found.

“And on the third shield shining see

A golden serpent, bound;

That beareth Master Hildebrand,

Cunning in counsel found.

7“And on the fourth shield, see where shinesA leafy linden-tree;That beareth youthful Humlunger,Earl Hornbook’s son is he.

“And on the fourth shield, see where shines

A leafy linden-tree;

That beareth youthful Humlunger,

Earl Hornbook’s son is he.

8“There shineth on the following shieldA wolf in a wild wood,The sign of Ulv van Jærn the youngWho is a warrior good.

“There shineth on the following shield

A wolf in a wild wood,

The sign of Ulv van Jærn the young

Who is a warrior good.

9“And on the sixth there shineth stillA vulture red as gold;And that bears Helled HaagenWho is a champion bold.

“And on the sixth there shineth still

A vulture red as gold;

And that bears Helled Haagen

Who is a champion bold.

10“And see, the seventh shining shieldFiddle and bow doth keep,The sign of Falkvor Minstrel-ManWould liefer drink than sleep.

“And see, the seventh shining shield

Fiddle and bow doth keep,

The sign of Falkvor Minstrel-Man

Would liefer drink than sleep.

11“And on the eighth an elephantIs pictured with a swain,The sign of Tetlev DanskeThat swings his sword amain.

“And on the eighth an elephant

Is pictured with a swain,

The sign of Tetlev Danske

That swings his sword amain.

12“All on the ninth shield shining, loA swarthy vulture shows,The sign of young Sir RaadengaardFull many a rune who knows.

“All on the ninth shield shining, lo

A swarthy vulture shows,

The sign of young Sir Raadengaard

Full many a rune who knows.

13“And on the tenth shield, lo there shineTwo arrows wan and white,He bears them, Hvitting Hermandson,Is foremost still in fight.

“And on the tenth shield, lo there shine

Two arrows wan and white,

He bears them, Hvitting Hermandson,

Is foremost still in fight.

14“There shines on the eleventh shieldNought but a burning brand;That bears Sir Brand VidfærlingAgainst all lordling’s land.

“There shines on the eleventh shield

Nought but a burning brand;

That bears Sir Brand Vidfærling

Against all lordling’s land.

15“And on the twelfth shield shining, see,There stands a cowl so grey;That bears the monk, Brother Alsing,Would follow fain the fray!”

“And on the twelfth shield shining, see,

There stands a cowl so grey;

That bears the monk, Brother Alsing,

Would follow fain the fray!”

16“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,Thou art a warrior free!Shalt fight with one of Didrik’s menFor all my land and me!”

“Now harken, Sivord Snarensvend,

Thou art a warrior free!

Shalt fight with one of Didrik’s men

For all my land and me!”

17Up stood Sivord Snarensvend,And to the tents he hied:“Now is there ever a warrior stoutA joust with me will ride?”

Up stood Sivord Snarensvend,

And to the tents he hied:

“Now is there ever a warrior stout

A joust with me will ride?”

18Oh, on the board they cast the diceThat fell both far and wide,And the lot it was young Humlunger’sWith Sivord there to ride.

Oh, on the board they cast the dice

That fell both far and wide,

And the lot it was young Humlunger’s

With Sivord there to ride.

19It was he, young Humlunger,Did forth to Vidrik speed:“Now I will give thee a pledge to holdWilt lend me Skemming thy steed.”

It was he, young Humlunger,

Did forth to Vidrik speed:

“Now I will give thee a pledge to hold

Wilt lend me Skemming thy steed.”

20“Oh, Sivord sees not the point of his spear,Because his sight is dim,And if my Skemming to-day wins scatheNor thou nor thy kinsfolk can pay for him!”

“Oh, Sivord sees not the point of his spear,

Because his sight is dim,

And if my Skemming to-day wins scathe

Nor thou nor thy kinsfolk can pay for him!”

21“But I, I have a sisterIs fairer than maidens all;And if thy Skemming wins scathe to-dayI’ll pay it her hand withal.”

“But I, I have a sister

Is fairer than maidens all;

And if thy Skemming wins scathe to-day

I’ll pay it her hand withal.”

22“Oh, nought of Skemming thou’lt see to-dayUnless thy surety firm doth stand;The hand I’ll have of thy sister fair,And seven castles in Birtingsland!”

“Oh, nought of Skemming thou’lt see to-day

Unless thy surety firm doth stand;

The hand I’ll have of thy sister fair,

And seven castles in Birtingsland!”

23“Seven castles in BirtingslandThy surety they shall be;Thereto the maid my sister,A pledge of price for thee!”

“Seven castles in Birtingsland

Thy surety they shall be;

Thereto the maid my sister,

A pledge of price for thee!”

24Oh, he has backed that steed so bold,And gaily ridden away;Good sooth, but Skemming thought it strangeTo feel the spur that day!

Oh, he has backed that steed so bold,

And gaily ridden away;

Good sooth, but Skemming thought it strange

To feel the spur that day!

25The gold did shine upon his shieldLike the sun in summer-tide:“God help me now, a simple swain,The brunt to bear and bide!”

The gold did shine upon his shield

Like the sun in summer-tide:

“God help me now, a simple swain,

The brunt to bear and bide!”

26The first course that they ran togetherWould neither champion yield;And both their shields were shattered there,And hurled so far afield.

The first course that they ran together

Would neither champion yield;

And both their shields were shattered there,

And hurled so far afield.

27“Methinks thou art a fair young swain,That well can run and ride!Go now and take thy shield again,And I the brunt will bide.”

“Methinks thou art a fair young swain,

That well can run and ride!

Go now and take thy shield again,

And I the brunt will bide.”

28And when they ran the second course,Then one of them must yield;Young Humlunger was stricken,And hurled so far afield.

And when they ran the second course,

Then one of them must yield;

Young Humlunger was stricken,

And hurled so far afield.

29“Oh, I have struck thee down to earth,And wounded thy steed alsò;Now whence thou comest, thou fair young swain,Full fain am I to know.”

“Oh, I have struck thee down to earth,

And wounded thy steed alsò;

Now whence thou comest, thou fair young swain,

Full fain am I to know.”

30“Oh, Hornbook hight my father,In Birtingsland is lord,And I am called young HumlungerWhenas I ride abroad.”

“Oh, Hornbook hight my father,

In Birtingsland is lord,

And I am called young Humlunger

Whenas I ride abroad.”

31“Full well I know thy father,For comrades kind we were;Now take thy shield and mount again,Son of my sister dear!

“Full well I know thy father,

For comrades kind we were;

Now take thy shield and mount again,

Son of my sister dear!

32“And take thou up my shattered shield,Bind me to oaken tree;Then ride and tell the championsThe game is won by thee!”

“And take thou up my shattered shield,

Bind me to oaken tree;

Then ride and tell the champions

The game is won by thee!”

33Forth to the tents fared Humlunger,Cast blade upon the board:“Now have I bound the grey-beard carleThat spake the vaunting word!”

Forth to the tents fared Humlunger,

Cast blade upon the board:

“Now have I bound the grey-beard carle

That spake the vaunting word!”

34“Now hold thy peace, young Humlunger,That aye must prate thy fill!If thou hast bound him, Sivord,’Tis with his own good-will!”

“Now hold thy peace, young Humlunger,

That aye must prate thy fill!

If thou hast bound him, Sivord,

’Tis with his own good-will!”

35Up stood Vidrik Verlandson,Bade saddle his steed so free:“I will fare forth to the forest,This conquered carle to see!”

Up stood Vidrik Verlandson,

Bade saddle his steed so free:

“I will fare forth to the forest,

This conquered carle to see!”

36Oh, Sivord all in the greenwoodSaw where the knight did ride;Up by the roots he reft the oak,For he might not his bonds abide.

Oh, Sivord all in the greenwood

Saw where the knight did ride;

Up by the roots he reft the oak,

For he might not his bonds abide.

37Up by the roots he reft the oak,For he might not his bonds abide:“If Vidrik Verlandson comes hereMy ribs he’ll hew from my side!”

Up by the roots he reft the oak,

For he might not his bonds abide:

“If Vidrik Verlandson comes here

My ribs he’ll hew from my side!”

38The Queen stood in the lofty bower,And looked both up and down:“Oh, hither comes Sivord SnarensvendA-bearing summer to town!”

The Queen stood in the lofty bower,

And looked both up and down:

“Oh, hither comes Sivord Snarensvend

A-bearing summer to town!”

39The Queen looked out with her ladiesAll from the lofty bower:“Sivord hath been in good greenwoodAnd gathered a gallant flower!”

The Queen looked out with her ladies

All from the lofty bower:

“Sivord hath been in good greenwood

And gathered a gallant flower!”

40Gay went the dance at Brattingsborg,Where champions danced amain;There danced with oak-tree in his beltSivord the purblind swain!—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

Gay went the dance at Brattingsborg,

Where champions danced amain;

There danced with oak-tree in his belt

Sivord the purblind swain!

—There sounds thunder the captains under, when they ride forth.

1Stout Didrik dwells in BernelandWith brethren eight all told,And each of them twelve sons hath got,All doughty knights and bold.—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.2Stout Didrik dwells in BernelandWith fifteen sisters bright,And each of them hath twelve fair sonsThat hold their lives full light.3And when they rode out all by Bern,A goodly companie,Sooth to say, each warriorWas tall as a beechen tree.4“Now we have fought o’er all the worldAnd conquered far and wide,And we have heard of Holger DanskThat doth in Denmark bide.5“We have heard tell of Holger Dansk,In Jutland doth abide,And he is crowned with the red, red gold.And ne’er will bate his pride.”6Oh, Sverting seized a pike of steel,And spake up loud and high:“A hundred of Holger Danske’s menI count them not a fly!”7“Oh, harken, Sverting, thou swarthy swain,Or ever thou rue the day!We ha’ heard of Holger Danske’s men,And bold young blades are they!”8Up and spake tall Bermer-Ris,And a vaunting word spake he:“Oh, we will fare to Denmark,And try if the King will flee!”9Now all with eighteen thousand steedsFrom Berneland they fare,And they’ve drawn up to DenmarkTo see King Holger there.10Stout Didrik hath sent a messengerAnd bidden King Holger yield,To pay him scot and lot for aye,Or meet him in the field.11Up spake Vidrik Verlandson,He spake a word so stout:“And come they in to Denmark thus,They shall not thus go out!”12Oh, they have met, a mighty host,All on the darksome heath;And that was a woeful trysting-placeWhere warriors fought till death.13They’ve fought for a day, for three they’ve fought,And stiff in stower they stand;Holger the King and his mighty menSlew many from Berneland.14Oh, mild of mood was Bermer-Ris,And softly spake he then:“Now how shall we conquer Holger DanskWith scarce a hundred men?”15It was doughty DidrikLooked upward to the sky:“No help is here for us, I ween,’Tis time to turn and fly!”16Stout Didrik took to both his legs,To fly o’er hill and dale,And Sverting went the self-same wayFor all his boastful tale.17Up spake little Iron-Wolf,That held the hill beside:“Oh, they that are come to fight the DanesHave little praise or pride!”18When they rode out of BernelandThey were eighteen thousand men;’Twas scarce a tithe of all that hostThat won back home again.19Oh, stern the stream of red, red bloodRan o’er land and lea!The reek of it rose up to heavenTill the sun was bloody and red to see.—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.

1Stout Didrik dwells in BernelandWith brethren eight all told,And each of them twelve sons hath got,All doughty knights and bold.—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.

Stout Didrik dwells in Berneland

With brethren eight all told,

And each of them twelve sons hath got,

All doughty knights and bold.

—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.

2Stout Didrik dwells in BernelandWith fifteen sisters bright,And each of them hath twelve fair sonsThat hold their lives full light.

Stout Didrik dwells in Berneland

With fifteen sisters bright,

And each of them hath twelve fair sons

That hold their lives full light.

3And when they rode out all by Bern,A goodly companie,Sooth to say, each warriorWas tall as a beechen tree.

And when they rode out all by Bern,

A goodly companie,

Sooth to say, each warrior

Was tall as a beechen tree.

4“Now we have fought o’er all the worldAnd conquered far and wide,And we have heard of Holger DanskThat doth in Denmark bide.

“Now we have fought o’er all the world

And conquered far and wide,

And we have heard of Holger Dansk

That doth in Denmark bide.

5“We have heard tell of Holger Dansk,In Jutland doth abide,And he is crowned with the red, red gold.And ne’er will bate his pride.”

“We have heard tell of Holger Dansk,

In Jutland doth abide,

And he is crowned with the red, red gold.

And ne’er will bate his pride.”

6Oh, Sverting seized a pike of steel,And spake up loud and high:“A hundred of Holger Danske’s menI count them not a fly!”

Oh, Sverting seized a pike of steel,

And spake up loud and high:

“A hundred of Holger Danske’s men

I count them not a fly!”

7“Oh, harken, Sverting, thou swarthy swain,Or ever thou rue the day!We ha’ heard of Holger Danske’s men,And bold young blades are they!”

“Oh, harken, Sverting, thou swarthy swain,

Or ever thou rue the day!

We ha’ heard of Holger Danske’s men,

And bold young blades are they!”

8Up and spake tall Bermer-Ris,And a vaunting word spake he:“Oh, we will fare to Denmark,And try if the King will flee!”

Up and spake tall Bermer-Ris,

And a vaunting word spake he:

“Oh, we will fare to Denmark,

And try if the King will flee!”

9Now all with eighteen thousand steedsFrom Berneland they fare,And they’ve drawn up to DenmarkTo see King Holger there.

Now all with eighteen thousand steeds

From Berneland they fare,

And they’ve drawn up to Denmark

To see King Holger there.

10Stout Didrik hath sent a messengerAnd bidden King Holger yield,To pay him scot and lot for aye,Or meet him in the field.

Stout Didrik hath sent a messenger

And bidden King Holger yield,

To pay him scot and lot for aye,

Or meet him in the field.

11Up spake Vidrik Verlandson,He spake a word so stout:“And come they in to Denmark thus,They shall not thus go out!”

Up spake Vidrik Verlandson,

He spake a word so stout:

“And come they in to Denmark thus,

They shall not thus go out!”

12Oh, they have met, a mighty host,All on the darksome heath;And that was a woeful trysting-placeWhere warriors fought till death.

Oh, they have met, a mighty host,

All on the darksome heath;

And that was a woeful trysting-place

Where warriors fought till death.

13They’ve fought for a day, for three they’ve fought,And stiff in stower they stand;Holger the King and his mighty menSlew many from Berneland.

They’ve fought for a day, for three they’ve fought,

And stiff in stower they stand;

Holger the King and his mighty men

Slew many from Berneland.

14Oh, mild of mood was Bermer-Ris,And softly spake he then:“Now how shall we conquer Holger DanskWith scarce a hundred men?”

Oh, mild of mood was Bermer-Ris,

And softly spake he then:

“Now how shall we conquer Holger Dansk

With scarce a hundred men?”

15It was doughty DidrikLooked upward to the sky:“No help is here for us, I ween,’Tis time to turn and fly!”

It was doughty Didrik

Looked upward to the sky:

“No help is here for us, I ween,

’Tis time to turn and fly!”

16Stout Didrik took to both his legs,To fly o’er hill and dale,And Sverting went the self-same wayFor all his boastful tale.

Stout Didrik took to both his legs,

To fly o’er hill and dale,

And Sverting went the self-same way

For all his boastful tale.

17Up spake little Iron-Wolf,That held the hill beside:“Oh, they that are come to fight the DanesHave little praise or pride!”

Up spake little Iron-Wolf,

That held the hill beside:

“Oh, they that are come to fight the Danes

Have little praise or pride!”

18When they rode out of BernelandThey were eighteen thousand men;’Twas scarce a tithe of all that hostThat won back home again.

When they rode out of Berneland

They were eighteen thousand men;

’Twas scarce a tithe of all that host

That won back home again.

19Oh, stern the stream of red, red bloodRan o’er land and lea!The reek of it rose up to heavenTill the sun was bloody and red to see.—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.

Oh, stern the stream of red, red blood

Ran o’er land and lea!

The reek of it rose up to heaven

Till the sun was bloody and red to see.

—But the battle is raging northward up in Jutland.

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