Vonved.

Svend Vonved came where the castle rose;
He bade the watchmen the gate unclose:
As none of the watchmen obey'd his cry,
He sprang at once over the ramparts high.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

He tied his steed to a ring in the wall,
Then in he went to the wide stone hall;
Down he sat at the head of the board,
To no one present he utter'd a word.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

He drank and he ate, he ate and he drank,
He ask'd no leave, and return'd no thank;
"Ne'er have I been on Christian ground
Where so many curst tongues were clanging round."
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

King Vidrik spoke to good knights three:
"Go, bind that lowering swain for me;
Should ye not bind the stranger guest,
Ye will not serve me as ye can best."
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

"Should'st thou send three, and twenty times three,
And come thyself to lay hold of me;
The son of a dog thou wilt still remain,
And yet to bind me have tried in vain.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

"Esmer, my father, who lies on his bier,
And proud Adeline, my mother so dear,
Oft and strictly have caution'd me
To waste no breath upon hounds like thee."
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

"And was King Esmer thy father's name,
And Adeline that of his virtuous Dame?
Thou art Svend Vonved, the stripling wild,
My own dear sister's only child.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

"Svend Vonved, wilt thou bide with me here?
Honour awaits thee, and costly cheer;
Whenever it lists thee abroad to wend,
Upon thee shall knights and swains attend.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

"Silver and gold thou never shalt lack,
Or helm to thy head, or mail to thy back;"
But to this and the like he would lend no ear,
And home to his mother he now will steer.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

Svend Vonved gallop'd along the way;
To fancies dark was his mind a prey:
Riding he enter'd the castle yard
Where stood twelve witches wrinkled and scarr'd:
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

There stood they all, with spindle and rok, {f:18}--
Each over the shinbone gave him a knock:
Svend turn'd his steed, in fury, round;
The witches he there has hew'd to the ground.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

He hew'd the witches limb from limb,
So little mercy they got from him;
His mother came out, and was serv'd the same,
Into fifteen pieces he hackt her frame.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

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