From the Swedish and Danish. Passages from Frithiof’s Saga. II. A Sledge-ride on the Ice

By Esaias Tegnér

KING RING with his queen to the banquet did fare,

On the lake stood the ice so mirror-clear.

“Fare not o’er the ice,” the stranger cries;

“It will burst, and full deep the cold bath lies.”

“The king drowns not easily,” Ring outspake;

“He who’s afraid may go round the lake.”

Threatening and dark looked the stranger round,

His steel shoes with haste on his feet he bound.

The sledge-horse starts forth strong and free;

He snorteth flames, so glad is he.

“Strike out,” screamed the king, “my trotter good,

Let us see if thou art of Sleipner’s blood.”

They go as a storm goes over the lake,

No heed to his queen doth the old man take.

But the steel-shod champion standeth not still,

He passeth them by as swift as he will

He carves many runes in the frozen tide,

Fair Ingeborg o’er her own name doth glide.