Grimmer and Kamper The End of Sivard Snarenswayne and other ballads   By: Thomas James Wise (1859-1937)

BY GEORGE BORROW

LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION

1913

Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton , Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .

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.

MIMMERING TAN