II A Sledge-Ride on the Ice
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.