Small Catechism 第18章

Itwasawilddrearytractofcountrythat，whichborethenameofNiflungsHeath.Accordingtotradition，theyoungNiflung，sonofHogni，thelastofhisrace，hadthereendeddarklyasadandunsuccessfullife.Manyancientgrave-stoneswerestillstandingroundabout;andinthefewoak-treesscatteredhereandthereovertheplain，hugeeagleshadbuilttheirnests.Thebeatingoftheirheavywingsastheyfoughttogether，andtheirwildscreams，wereheardfaroffinmorethickly-peopledregions;andatthesoundchildrenwouldtrembleintheircradles，andoldmenquakewithfearastheyslumberedovertheblazinghearth.

Astheseventhnight，thelastbeforethedayofcombat，wasjustbeginning，twolargearmieswereseendescendingfromthehillsinoppositedirections;thatwhichcamefromthewestwascommandedbyErictheAged，thatfromtheeastbyBiornoftheFieryEyes.Theyappearedthusearlyincompliancewiththecustomwhichrequiredthatadversariesshouldalwayspresentthemselvesattheappointedfieldofbattlebeforethetimenamed，inordertoprovethattheyrathersoughtthandreadedthefight.Folkoforthwithpitchedonthemostconvenientspotthetentofbluesamitefringedwithgold，whichhecarriedwithhimtoshelterhisgentlelady;whilstSintram，inthecharacterofherald，rodeovertoJarlErictoannouncetohimthatthebeauteousGabrielleofMontfauconwaspresentinthearmyoftheknightBiorn，andwouldthenextmorningbepresentasajudgeofthecombat.

JarlEricbowedlowonreceivingthispleasingmessage;andorderedhisbardstostrikeupalay，thewordsofwhichranasfollows:--"WarriorsboldofEricsband，Girdyourglitteringarmouron，Standbeneathto-morrowssun，Inyourmight.

FairestdamethatevergladdendOurwildshoreswithbeautysvision，Maythybrighteyesoerourcombat，Judgetheright!

TidingsofyonnoblestrangerLongagohavereachdourears，Wafteduponsouthernbreezes，Oerthewave.

Nowmidstyonderhostileranks，Inhiswarlikepridehemeetsus，Folkocomes!Fight，menofEric，Trueandbrave!"Thesewondroustonesfloatedovertheplain，andreachedthetentofGabrielle.Itwasnonewthingtohertohearherknightsfamecelebratedonallsides;butnowthatshelistenedtohispraisesburstingforthinthestillnessofnightfromthemouthofhisenemies，shecouldscarcerefrainfromkneelingatthefeetofthemightychieftain.Buthewithcourteoustendernessheldherup，andpressinghislipsferventlyonhersofthand，hesaid，"Mydeeds，0lovelylady，belongtothee，andnottome!"Nowthenighthadpassedaway，andtheeastwasglowing;andonNiflungsHeaththerewaswaving，andresounding，andglowingtoo.