The stranger’s eyes flashed lightning which made his anger felt,
And quick a young man seizing with one hand, by the belt,
Both up and down he turned him; then ceased the gleeful din,
For all the rest were silent,—­so you and I had been.

“What causes such an uproar? who dares disturb our peace?  Old man, come here and answer, and let the tumult cease; Your name, your place, your errand; come, answer if you can.”  Thus spake the angered monarch to the half-concealed old man.

“You ask me many questions, I’ll answer every one: 
My name (I will not give it) belongs to me alone;
My birthplace was misfortune, my heritage is want,—­
I hither came but lately from wolf so fierce and gaunt.

“In youth I rode a dragon upon the waters blue,
Its wings were stout, and gayly and safely too it flew;
But crippled now and frozen, it leaves the land no more,
And I, grown old and weary, burn salt upon the shore.

“I came to see thy wisdom, renowned so far and wide;
And when they met me rudely (for scorn I’ll not abide),
One idiot by the girdle I grasped, and turned him round,
For that I beg your pardon,—­though now he’s safe and sound.”

“Thy words are wisely chosen,” said Ring, “I must agree;
The aged should be honored, come sit thee here by me;
Slip off these false disguises and let thy form appear,—­
Disguise is foe to pleasure, and pleasure ruleth here.”

The guest now loosed the bearskin,—­it fell from off his head,
Where stood old age decrepit, each saw a youth instead,—­
From off whose noble forehead, and round whose shoulders brave,
The light locks fell and floated in many a golden wave.

In azure velvet mantle, he then stood forth erect,
His belt a silver girdle with forest beasts bedecked,—­
Embossed by cunning workman, each figure deftly traced,
And round and round the hero they each the other chased.

A massive golden circlet his sinewy arm displayed;
His battle-sword hung by him as though the lightning stayed;
A hero glance about him he cast from time to time,
And stood as Balder beauteous, as Asa-Thor sublime.

Surprised, the queen’s cheeks quickly with changing color glow,
As northern lights so ruddy paint fields of driven snow;
As two twin water lilies, alarmed by tempest’s swell,
Stand swinging on the billow, her bosom rose and fell.

The horn a shrill blast sounded, then silence reigned throughout;
The hour for vows was coming, and Frey’s boar now they brought;
His mouth contained an apple, wreaths on his neck were laid,
His four knees bent beneath him upon a silver cade.

King Ring, his gray locks flowing, arose and straight-way now
The boar’s head gently touching, he thus declared his vow: 
“I swear to conquer Fridthjof, the champion in war,
So help me Frey and Odin, and. likewise mighty Thor.”