XVITHE AVENGING SWORD
This fine Ballad (admired by Andrew Lang) is unique in its mingling of pagan and Christian sentiment. The hero, who in his Bersark blood-lust spares neither wife, maid, nor suckling—whose brother the sword is possessed by a demon—who has ranged the world in pursuit of revenge—ranges it again as a penitent pilgrim, bound, for the heavier penance, in iron chains. Since, however, the Ballads concern themselves little with ecclesiastical orthodoxy, the penance is depicted as ending, not at any saintly shrine, but at the grave of his enemy.
The belief that the warrior’s favourite weapons were animated by a mysterious personality is familiar to all students of Old Norse literature. One celebrated example occurs in Njàls Saga, 79, when Høgni, stealing out with Skarpheðinn by night to avenge the death of Gunnar, takes down the dead hero’s halberd, and hears it singing aloud. (The O.N. impersonal idiom, “it sang in the halberd,” hints at the indwelling soul.) “Then sprang up Rannveig (Gunnar’s mother) and cried in bitter wrath, ‘Who is taking the halberd, which I forbade all men to touch?’‘I would carry it,’ said Høgni, ‘to my father, that he may have it in Valhalla, and bear it at the Weapon Thing.’ ‘Further than that,’ said she, ‘wilt thou bear it, even to thy father’s avenging, for the halberd declares the death of one man or more.’”
That magical forces, once unchained, might end by destroying their liberator—that the naming of the name conferred power over the name’s possessor—are superstitions common to almost all primitive races.
Versions of this Ballad exist in Swedish, Norwegian, and Faroëse.
1Sir Peter rode to the castle door,The King of Danes he stood before.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.2“Welcome, Sir Peter, comrade mine!Say, hast thou avenged that sire o’ thine?”3“Oh, I ha’ been so southerlyUntil the sun bowed down to me.4“And I ha’ been so westerlyUntil the sun sank near to me.5“And I ha’ been so northerlyUntil the frost was frore to see.6“And I ha’ been so easterlyUntil the day was fair to see;7“But never did I find the wightCould rede me my father’s death aright!”8“Oh, say, what wilt thou give the wightCan rede thee thy father’s death aright?”9“Of silver he shall have his fill,And of golden coin whate’er he will!10“Yea, more I’ll give to him,A ship in sailing-trim!”11He smiled, the King, his words to heed:“Here stands he that did the deed!12“ByGodin heaven, I tell thee true,None but I thy father slew!”13Sir Peter smote himself on the breast:“Heart, bide still, nor break thy rest!14“Heart, lie still, bide patiently:Sure and swift shall my vengeance be.”15In the garth Sir Peter stayedTo speak with his good blade:16“Harken, sword so good!Wilt drink thy fill of blood?17“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”18“Oh, say, how can I fight for thee?My hilt lies broken in pieces three.”19To the smith his way he wendedThat the hurt might be amended.20He gave him iron, he gave him steelOf proof and price, the hurt to heal.21“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”22“Be only in thy blows so sternAs I’ll be swift in point to turn!23“Be only in thy blows so stoutAs I in hilt will bear thee out!”24Sir Peter sought the hallWhere the knights were drinking all.25To prove his sword he was so fainThat seven champions straight lay slain;26Up and down he swung his blade,Neither matron he spared nor maid;27Behind the arras there he thrust,The King and his sons they bit the dust.28Up spake the babe, in cradle lay:“A red revenge dost thou wreak to-day!29“A red revenge for that sire o’ thine—Godgive me a day for avenging mine!”30“And have I avenged that sire o’ mine,Shalt see no day for avenging thine!”31He seized the babe amain,And struck it straight in twain.32“Cease, brown brand, thy thirst to slake!Bide thou still for our Saviour’s sake!”33Wearily whispered the sword and still:“Fain o’ thy blood I’d have my fill!34“Hadst thou not named my name, I vowI would have slain thee, here and now!”35He sought the smith again,Bade forge an iron chain.36He bound in chains both foot and hand,For now would he leave for aye the land.37But when o’er the grave of the King he passedThe chains of iron were riven and brast.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.
1Sir Peter rode to the castle door,The King of Danes he stood before.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.2“Welcome, Sir Peter, comrade mine!Say, hast thou avenged that sire o’ thine?”3“Oh, I ha’ been so southerlyUntil the sun bowed down to me.4“And I ha’ been so westerlyUntil the sun sank near to me.5“And I ha’ been so northerlyUntil the frost was frore to see.6“And I ha’ been so easterlyUntil the day was fair to see;7“But never did I find the wightCould rede me my father’s death aright!”8“Oh, say, what wilt thou give the wightCan rede thee thy father’s death aright?”9“Of silver he shall have his fill,And of golden coin whate’er he will!10“Yea, more I’ll give to him,A ship in sailing-trim!”11He smiled, the King, his words to heed:“Here stands he that did the deed!12“ByGodin heaven, I tell thee true,None but I thy father slew!”13Sir Peter smote himself on the breast:“Heart, bide still, nor break thy rest!14“Heart, lie still, bide patiently:Sure and swift shall my vengeance be.”15In the garth Sir Peter stayedTo speak with his good blade:16“Harken, sword so good!Wilt drink thy fill of blood?17“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”18“Oh, say, how can I fight for thee?My hilt lies broken in pieces three.”19To the smith his way he wendedThat the hurt might be amended.20He gave him iron, he gave him steelOf proof and price, the hurt to heal.21“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”22“Be only in thy blows so sternAs I’ll be swift in point to turn!23“Be only in thy blows so stoutAs I in hilt will bear thee out!”24Sir Peter sought the hallWhere the knights were drinking all.25To prove his sword he was so fainThat seven champions straight lay slain;26Up and down he swung his blade,Neither matron he spared nor maid;27Behind the arras there he thrust,The King and his sons they bit the dust.28Up spake the babe, in cradle lay:“A red revenge dost thou wreak to-day!29“A red revenge for that sire o’ thine—Godgive me a day for avenging mine!”30“And have I avenged that sire o’ mine,Shalt see no day for avenging thine!”31He seized the babe amain,And struck it straight in twain.32“Cease, brown brand, thy thirst to slake!Bide thou still for our Saviour’s sake!”33Wearily whispered the sword and still:“Fain o’ thy blood I’d have my fill!34“Hadst thou not named my name, I vowI would have slain thee, here and now!”35He sought the smith again,Bade forge an iron chain.36He bound in chains both foot and hand,For now would he leave for aye the land.37But when o’er the grave of the King he passedThe chains of iron were riven and brast.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.
1Sir Peter rode to the castle door,The King of Danes he stood before.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.
1
Sir Peter rode to the castle door,
The King of Danes he stood before.
—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.
2“Welcome, Sir Peter, comrade mine!Say, hast thou avenged that sire o’ thine?”
2
“Welcome, Sir Peter, comrade mine!
Say, hast thou avenged that sire o’ thine?”
3“Oh, I ha’ been so southerlyUntil the sun bowed down to me.
3
“Oh, I ha’ been so southerly
Until the sun bowed down to me.
4“And I ha’ been so westerlyUntil the sun sank near to me.
4
“And I ha’ been so westerly
Until the sun sank near to me.
5“And I ha’ been so northerlyUntil the frost was frore to see.
5
“And I ha’ been so northerly
Until the frost was frore to see.
6“And I ha’ been so easterlyUntil the day was fair to see;
6
“And I ha’ been so easterly
Until the day was fair to see;
7“But never did I find the wightCould rede me my father’s death aright!”
7
“But never did I find the wight
Could rede me my father’s death aright!”
8“Oh, say, what wilt thou give the wightCan rede thee thy father’s death aright?”
8
“Oh, say, what wilt thou give the wight
Can rede thee thy father’s death aright?”
9“Of silver he shall have his fill,And of golden coin whate’er he will!
9
“Of silver he shall have his fill,
And of golden coin whate’er he will!
10“Yea, more I’ll give to him,A ship in sailing-trim!”
10
“Yea, more I’ll give to him,
A ship in sailing-trim!”
11He smiled, the King, his words to heed:“Here stands he that did the deed!
11
He smiled, the King, his words to heed:
“Here stands he that did the deed!
12“ByGodin heaven, I tell thee true,None but I thy father slew!”
12
“ByGodin heaven, I tell thee true,
None but I thy father slew!”
13Sir Peter smote himself on the breast:“Heart, bide still, nor break thy rest!
13
Sir Peter smote himself on the breast:
“Heart, bide still, nor break thy rest!
14“Heart, lie still, bide patiently:Sure and swift shall my vengeance be.”
14
“Heart, lie still, bide patiently:
Sure and swift shall my vengeance be.”
15In the garth Sir Peter stayedTo speak with his good blade:
15
In the garth Sir Peter stayed
To speak with his good blade:
16“Harken, sword so good!Wilt drink thy fill of blood?
16
“Harken, sword so good!
Wilt drink thy fill of blood?
17“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”
17
“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I on earth but thee.”
18“Oh, say, how can I fight for thee?My hilt lies broken in pieces three.”
18
“Oh, say, how can I fight for thee?
My hilt lies broken in pieces three.”
19To the smith his way he wendedThat the hurt might be amended.
19
To the smith his way he wended
That the hurt might be amended.
20He gave him iron, he gave him steelOf proof and price, the hurt to heal.
20
He gave him iron, he gave him steel
Of proof and price, the hurt to heal.
21“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?No brother have I on earth but thee.”
21
“Good brown brand, wilt fight for me?
No brother have I on earth but thee.”
22“Be only in thy blows so sternAs I’ll be swift in point to turn!
22
“Be only in thy blows so stern
As I’ll be swift in point to turn!
23“Be only in thy blows so stoutAs I in hilt will bear thee out!”
23
“Be only in thy blows so stout
As I in hilt will bear thee out!”
24Sir Peter sought the hallWhere the knights were drinking all.
24
Sir Peter sought the hall
Where the knights were drinking all.
25To prove his sword he was so fainThat seven champions straight lay slain;
25
To prove his sword he was so fain
That seven champions straight lay slain;
26Up and down he swung his blade,Neither matron he spared nor maid;
26
Up and down he swung his blade,
Neither matron he spared nor maid;
27Behind the arras there he thrust,The King and his sons they bit the dust.
27
Behind the arras there he thrust,
The King and his sons they bit the dust.
28Up spake the babe, in cradle lay:“A red revenge dost thou wreak to-day!
28
Up spake the babe, in cradle lay:
“A red revenge dost thou wreak to-day!
29“A red revenge for that sire o’ thine—Godgive me a day for avenging mine!”
29
“A red revenge for that sire o’ thine—
Godgive me a day for avenging mine!”
30“And have I avenged that sire o’ mine,Shalt see no day for avenging thine!”
30
“And have I avenged that sire o’ mine,
Shalt see no day for avenging thine!”
31He seized the babe amain,And struck it straight in twain.
31
He seized the babe amain,
And struck it straight in twain.
32“Cease, brown brand, thy thirst to slake!Bide thou still for our Saviour’s sake!”
32
“Cease, brown brand, thy thirst to slake!
Bide thou still for our Saviour’s sake!”
33Wearily whispered the sword and still:“Fain o’ thy blood I’d have my fill!
33
Wearily whispered the sword and still:
“Fain o’ thy blood I’d have my fill!
34“Hadst thou not named my name, I vowI would have slain thee, here and now!”
34
“Hadst thou not named my name, I vow
I would have slain thee, here and now!”
35He sought the smith again,Bade forge an iron chain.
35
He sought the smith again,
Bade forge an iron chain.
36He bound in chains both foot and hand,For now would he leave for aye the land.
36
He bound in chains both foot and hand,
For now would he leave for aye the land.
37But when o’er the grave of the King he passedThe chains of iron were riven and brast.—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.
37
But when o’er the grave of the King he passed
The chains of iron were riven and brast.
—Forward, hurrah! ride forward.