e in body and limb;
Thou foremost shall ride, in the wood, this day,
And bear our challenge to him."

Then answer'd Master Hildebrand,
So careful a knight was he;
"Not so, my Lord, will I do, this day,
For the wages delight not me."

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson,
And he spoke in wrathful mood;
"O, I'll be first of the band, this day,
All through the Birting wood."

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson,
And he spoke with lofty pride;
"The smith he forg'd me a faulchion good,
That can steel, like cloth, divide."

They were three hundred valorous knights,
Unto Birting's land that rode;
They go in quest of Langben the Jutt,
To the gloomy wood, his abode.

Then out spoke Vidrik Verlandson;
"A wondrous game we'll play;
For I will ride in the green wood first,
If ye'll but trust me away."

Then answer'd bold King Diderik,
He answer'd hastily then;
"When thou therein shalt have found the Jutt
Come back for me and my men."

It was Vidrik Verlandson,
In the forest alone he sped;
And there he found so little a way,
Which up to the Giant led.

It was Vidrik Verlandson,
He came unto Birting's hill;
There black and dread lay Langben the Jutt,
He lay stretch'd out, and still.

It was Vidrik Verlandson,
With his lance touch'd him on the knee;
"Wake up! wake up! now Langben the Jutt,
Thou sleepest full sound, I see."

"Here have I lain, for many a year,
'Mid the leaf and the dew-wet herb;
But never, till now, came a warrior by,
That has dar'd my sleep to disturb."

"Here stand I, Vidrik Verlandson,
With a sword, so good, at my side;
I came to wake thee up from thy sleep,
Betide whatever betide."

It was Langben the Giant, then,
Turn'd up the white of his eye;
"O, whence can come this warrior youth,
Who such bold words lets fly?

"But hear, but hear, thou warrior youth;
I will not do battle with thee,
Except thou prove of a knightly race;
So thy lineage tell to me."

"A handsome smith my father was,
And Verland hight was he:
Bodild they call'd my mother fair;
Queen over countries three:

"Skimming I call my noble steed,
Begot from the wild sea-mare:
Blank {f:23} do I call my haughty helm,
Because it glitters so fair:

"Skrepping I call my good thick shield;
Steel shafts have furrow'd it o'er:
Mimmering have I nam'd my sword;
'T is harden'd in heroes' gore:

"And I am Vidrik Verlandson;
For