n in he went to his lonely bower,
There drank he the wine, the wine of power:
His much-lov'd harp he play'd upon
Till the strings were broken, every one.
Look out, look out, Svend Vonved.

THE TOURNAMENT.
FROM THE OLD DANISH.

This is one of those Ballads which, from the days of Arild, have been
much sung in Denmark: we find in it the names and bearings of most of
those renowned heroes, who are mentioned separately in other poems. It
divides itself into two parts;--the first, which treats of the warrior's
bearings, has a great resemblance to the 178th chapter of the Vilkina
Saga, as likewise has the last part, wherein the Duel is described, to
the 180th and 181st chapters of the same.

I cannot here forbear quoting and translating what Anders Sorensen Vedel,
the good old Editor of the first Edition of the Kiaempe Viser, which
appeared in 1591, says concerning the apparently superhuman performances
of the heroes therein celebrated.

"Hvad ellers Kiaempernes Storlemhed Styrke og anden Vilkaar berorer,
som overgaaer de Menneskers der nu leve deres Vaext og Kraft, det
Stykke kan ikke her noksom nu forhandles, men skal i den Danske
Kronikes tredie Bog videligere omtales. Thi det jo i Sandhed befindes
og bevises af adskillige Documenter og Kundskab, at disse gamle
Hellede, som de kaldes, have levet fast laenger, og vaeret mandeligere
storre staerkere og hoiere end den gemene Mand er, som nu lever paa
denne Dag."

"That part which relates to these Warriors' size, strength, or other
qualities, so far surpassing the stature and powers of the men who now
exist, cannot be here sufficiently treated upon, but shall be further
discussed in the third Book of the Danish Chronicles: for, in truth,
it is discovered and proved from various documents and sources, that
these old heroes, as they are called, lived much longer, and were
manlier, stouter, stronger, and taller, than man at the present day."

Six score there were, six score and ten,
From Hald that rode that day;
And when they came to Brattingsborg
They pitch'd their pavilion gay.

King Nilaus stood on the turret's top,
Had all around in sight:
"Why hold those heroes their lives so cheap,
That it lists them here to fight?

"Now, hear me, Sivard Snaresvend;
Far hast thou rov'd, and wide,
Those warriors' weapons thou shalt prove,
To their tent thou must straightway ride."

It was Sivard Snar