Excerpt
GRIMMER AND KAMPER
Grimmer walks upon the floor, Well can Grimmer wield his sword:“Give to me fair Ingeborg, For the sake of Christ our Lord.”
“Far too little art thou, lad, Thou about thee canst not hack;When thou comest ’mong other kemps, Ever do they drive thee back.”
“Not so little, Sire, am I, I myself full well can guard;When I fight with kempions I Gallantly can ply my sword.”
“Kamper dwells in Birting’s land, For a stalwart kemp he’s known;Thou shalt wed my daughter, if Thou to earth canst hew him down.”
Rage and grief his bosom filled, Grimmer through the door retires:“What answer did my father give?” Beauteous Ingeborg inquires.
“Kamper dwells in Birting’s land, And he bears a warlike name;If I him to death can smite, I may thee with honour claim.”
Answered him the fair young maid: “Ah! my father seeks thy death,Kamper for thee is far too strong, He will work thee rueful scathe.
“But I’ll lend a helm to thee, Thou may’st trust upon in fight;And an acton I’ll provide, Whereupon no sword will bite.
“I’ll give thee a faulchion good, And a harness on to put;On earth’s ground no sword is found Through that harness which can cut.
“I will give to thee a sword In thy youthful hand to bear;Thou therewith mayst iron cleave, E’en as though it water were.”
Kamper stands on Birtingsborough, Thence so far he sees and wide:“What can be that little wreck Hitherward that seems to glide?”
It was little Grimmer bold Steered his vessel straight to land;’Twas the bulky Kamper then Tow’rds him stretched a friendly hand.
“Welcome, little Grimmer, be! Here no harm thou hast to fear;Half my land I’ll give to thee, And my sister’s daughter dear.”
“Ne’er will I that Ingeborg, My beloved, should hear such shame,That I thy sister’s daughter took, And thy friend that I became.
“But we’ll go to Vimming’s hill, And do battle, as is fit;One of us his life shall lose, Ere the ring of death we quit.”
Thereto answered Kamper bold, He had such an eager hand:“I’ll the first blow have, forsooth, ’Tis on my own earth we stand.”
The first blow big Kamper struck, Given ’twas with wrathful yell;He so hard has Grimmer struck, Down to earth young Grimmer fell.
Upstood little Grimmer then Quickly little Grimmer rose:“Thou shalt also stand me one, Ere the sun sinks to repose.”
The next blow was Glimmer’s own, Fierce he hewed with his right hand;He hewed on Kamper’s golden helm, To his heart down went the brand.
Kamper bellowed as he fell, Dead upon the earth so hard:“Would to God that of my case Knew my brother Rodengard!”
Joyous little Grimmer was, That the fight to end had come;Gold and silver much he took, To the maid he bore it home.
Blood forth streaming from his wound Lies the mighty Kamper dead;Grimmer lives, the brave young swain, Carries off his gold so red.
When he had the victory won, Little space he tarried there;Joyous sailed his men away, Joyous with their booty fair.
Standing on the battlement, Looks the Damsel towards the strand:“Yonder I my youth espy, See his vessel touch the strand.”
Thanks to brave young Grimmer be, For his faith he kept so well;On next Monday morn, at dawn, Grimmer’s bridal feast befell.
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