"Who are these heroes tall,—— Lusty-limbed Longbeards? Over the swans' bath Why cry they to me? Bones should be crashing fast, Wolves should be full-fed, Where'er such, mad-hearted, Swing hands in the sword-play." Sweetly laughed Freya :"A name thou hast given them Shames neither thee nor them, Well can they wear it. Give them the victory, First have they greeted thee; Give them the victory. Yokefellow mine! Maidens and wives are these,― Wives of the Winils; Few are their heroes And far on the war-road, They cry unto thee." Royally laughed he then ; Odin Allfather, Shaking the clouds. "Cunning are women all, Longbeards their name shall be, Where the women are heroes, What must the men be like? No need of me!"* *This punning legend may be seen in Paul Warnefrid's Gesta Langobardorum. Unfortunately, however, for the story, Lângbardr is said by the learned to have nothing to do with beards at all, but probably to mean "Longswords." The metre and language are intended as imitations of those of the earlier Eddaic poems. A. D. 1100. EVIL Sped the battle play Mighty war-smiths, thanes and lords, Up and spake two brethren wise, Foot of colt, and scent of hound, Up and spake the Swan-neck high, "Go! to all your thanes, let cry How I loved him best of all, I whom men his lemman call; Than the mother, which him bare. Rousing erne, and sallow glede, Thus fell Harold, bracelet-giver; Jesu rest his soul forever ; Angels all from thrall deliver; Miserere Domine. A. D. 1400. I. Ir was Earl Haldan's daughter She look'd across the sea; She look'd across the water, And long and loud laugh'd she: "The locks of six princesses Must be my marriage-fee, So hey bonny boat, and ho bonny boat! II. It was Earl Haldan's daughter, She walked along the sand; When she was aware of a knight so fair, Come sailing to the land. His sails were all of velvet, His mast of beaten gold, And "hey bonny boat, and ho bonny boat, Who saileth here so bold?" III. "The locks of five princesses |