King Diderik and the fight between the Lion and Dragon, and Other Ballads
Author: Unknown
Date: 2008-10-07T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Ballads; English poetry

The Project Gutenberg eBook of King Diderik and the fight between the Lion and Dragon, and Other Ballads

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: King Diderik and the fight between the Lion and Dragon, and Other Ballads

Translator: George Borrow

Editor: Thomas James Wise

Release date: October 7, 2008 [eBook #26802]

Language: English

Credits: Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING DIDERIK AND THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE LION AND DRAGON, AND OTHER BALLADS ***

Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet, email ccx074@pglaf.org

KING DIDERIK
and the fight between the
lion and dragon

AND OTHER BALLADS
by
GEORGE BORROW

London:
printed for private circulation

1913

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

KING DIDERIK AND THE LION’S FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON

From Bern rode forth King Diderik,
A stately warrior form;
Engaged in fray he found in the way
A lion and laidly worm. [5]

They fought for a day, they fought for two,
But ere the third was flown,
The worm outfought the beast, and brought
To earth the lion down.

Then cried the lion in his need
When he the warrior saw:
“O aid me quick, King Diderik,
To ’scape the Dragon’s claw.

“O aid me quick, King Diderik,
For the mighty God thou fearest;
A lion save for the lion brave,
Which on thy shield thou bearest.

“Come to my rescue, thou noble King,
Help, help me for thy name;
Upon thy targe I stand at large,
Glittering like a flame.”

Long, long stood he, King Diderik,
Deep musing thereupon;
At length he cried: “Whate’er betide
I’ll help thee, noble one.”

It was Sir King Diderik,
His good sword bare he made:
With courage fraught, the worm he fought,
Till blood tinged all the blade.

The gallant lord would not delay
So fast his blows he dealt;
He hacked and gored until his sword
Was sundered at the hilt.

The Lindworm took him upon her back,
The horse beneath her tongue;
To her mountain den she hurried then
To her eleven young.

The horse she cast before her young,
The man in a nook she throws:
“Assuage your greed upon the steed,
But I will to repose.

“I pray ye feed upon the steed,
At present no more I can;
When I upleap, refreshed, from sleep,
We’ll feast upon the man.”

It was Sir King Diderik,
In the hill he searched around;
Then, helped by the Lord, the famous sword
Called Adelring he found.

Aye there he found so sharp a sword,
And a knife with a golden heft:
“King Sigfred be God’s grace with thee,
For here thy life was reft!

“I’ve been with thee in many a fight,
In many an inroad too,
But that thy doom had been in this tomb
I never, never knew.”

It was Sir King Diderik,
Would prove the faulchion’s might;
He hewed upon the flinty stone
’Till all around was light.

It was the youngest Lindworm saw
The sparks the hill illume:
“Who dares awake the fiery snake
In her own sleeping room?”

The Lindworm gnashed its teeth with rage,
Its grinning fangs it show’d:
“Who dares awake the mother snake
Within her own abode?”

Then spake the other little ones,
From the dark nooks of the hill:
“If from her sleep the old one leap,
’Twill fare with thee but ill.”

Then answered Sir King Diderik,
His eyes with fury gleam:
“I will awake your mother snake
With chilly, chilly dream.

“Your mother she King Sigfred slew,
A man of noble line;
I’ll on ye all avenge his fall
With this good hand of mine.”

And then awaked the Lindworm old,
And on her fell such fear:
“Who thus with riot disturbs my quiet?
What noise is this I hear?”

Then said King Diderik: “’Tis I,
And this have I to say:
O’er hill and dale, ’neath thy crooked tail,
Thou brought’st me yesterday.”

“O hew me not, King Diderik,
I’ll give thee all my hoard;
’Twere best that we good friends should be,
So cast away thy sword.”

“I pay no trust to thy false device,
Befool me thou wouldst fain;
Full many hast thou destroyed ere now,
Thou never shalt again.”

“Hear me, Sir King Diderik,
Forbear to do me ill,
And thee I’ll guide to thy plighted bride,
She’s hidden in the hill.

“Above by my head, King Diderik,
Is hung the little key;
Below by my feet to the maiden sweet
Descend thou fearlessly.”

“Above by thy head, thou serpent curst,
To begin I now intend;
Below by thy feet, as is full meet,
I soon shall make an end.”

Then first the laidly worm he slew,
And then her young he smote;
But in vain did he try from the mountain to fly,
For tongues of snakes thrust out.

So then with toil in the rocky soil
He dug a trench profound,
That in the flood of serpent blood
And bane he might not be drowned.

Then bann’d the good King Diderik,
On the lion he wroth became:
“Bann’d, bann’d,” said he, “may the lion be,
Confusion be his and shame.”

“With subtle thought the brute has brought
On me this grievous risk;
Which I ne’er had seen had he not been
Graved on my buckler’s disc.”

And when the gallant lion heard
The King bewail his hap:
“Stand fast, good lord,” the lion roared,
“While with my claws I scrap.”

The lion scrapp’d, King Diderik hewed,
Bright sparks the gloom relieved;
Unless the beast had the knight released
He’d soon to death have grieved.

So when he had slain the laidly worm,
And her offspring all had kill’d;
Escaped the knight to the morning light,
With heavy cuirass and shield.

And when he had now come out of the hill
For his gallant courser he sighed;
With reason good he trust him could,
For they had each other tried.

“O there’s no need to bewail the steed,
Which thou, Sir King, hast miss’d;
I am thy friend, my back ascend,
And ride where’er thou list.”

So he rode o’er the deepest dales,
And o’er the verdant meads;
The knight he rode, the lion strode,
Through the dim forest glades.

The lion and King Diderik
Together thenceforth remain;
Each death had braved, and the other saved
From peril sore and pain.

Where’er King Diderik rode in the fields
The lion beside him sped;
When on the ground the knight sat down
In his bosom he laid his head.

Wherefore they call him the lion knight
With fame that name he bore;
Their love so great did ne’er abate
Until their dying hour.

DIDERIK AND OLGER THE DANE

With his eighteen brothers Diderik stark
Dwells in the hills of Bern;
And each I wot twelve sons has got,
For manly feats they yearn.

He has twelve sisters, each of them
A dozen sons can show;
Thirteen the youngest, gallant lads,
Of fear who nothing know.

To stand before the King a crowd
Of giant bodies move;
I say to ye forsooth their heads
O’ertopped the beechen grove.

“With knights of pride we war have plied
For many, many a year;
Of Olger, who in Denmark reigns,
Such mighty things we hear.

“Men talk so fain of Olger Dane
Who dwells in Jutland’s fields;
Crowned is his head with gold so red,
No tribute us he yields.”

Then Swerting took a mace, and shook
That mace right furiously:
“From ten times ten of Olger’s men
I would not look to flee!”

“Hark, Swerting, hark, of visage dark,
Esteem them not so little;
I’d have thee ken that Olger’s men
Are knights of gallant mettle.

“They feel no fright for faulchions,
For arrows no dismay;
The desperate fight is their delight,
They deem it children’s play.”

Then cried the mighty man of Bern,
When pondered long had he:
“To Denmark we will wend, and learn
At home if Olger be.”

They took their route from Berner land,
They eighteen thousand were;
King Olger good they visit would,
And to Denmark all repair.

A messenger by Diderik sent
To Danish Olger goes:
“Say, will ye tribute pay to us,
Or with us bandy blows?”

Then full of wrath King Olger grew,
Such speech he could not bear:
“Let Diderik meet us on the wold,
We’ll battle with him there.

“Tribute to pay each Dane would scorn,
He’s wont himself to take it;
Our tribute ye will like but ill,
If ye come here to seek it.”

His kemps then gathering in a ring
The news to them he told:
“Bern’s haughty lord has sent us word
That he’ll have tribute-gold.

“He’ll either tribute have, or hold
With us a bloody feud;
But the first King he will not be
We have this year subdued.”

Then cried in scorn a kempion good,
King Diderik’s envoy to:
“To waste our home if Berners come
They all hence out won’t go.”

Soon as the news he heard, full glad
Was Ulf Van Yern, and gay;
Then laughed outright bold Hogen knight:
“Too long do they delay.”

It was Vidrik Verlandson,
High beat with joy his heart;
Then said amain Orm Ungerswayne:
“To meet them let us start.”

“The first man I’ll be in the van,”
Sir Ivor Blue he cried:
“Nor shall ye say that I was last,”
Sir Kulden Gray replied.

King Olger on the verdant wold
With Diderik battle join’d;
To fight they went, no jest they meant,
So wroth were they in mind.

Endured for three long days the fray,
And flinch would neither side;
To help his lord each Dane his sword
In desperation plied.

Down ran the blood, like raging flood
Which ’neath steep hills doth pour;
Then tribute they were forced to pay
Who tribute asked before.

Rose in the sky the blood-reek high,
And dimmed the lustrous sun;
’Twas sad to spy the brave men lie
So thick the earth upon.

In gore lay thick both men and steeds,
Dear friends were parted there;
All did not laugh the feast who sought,
Too hot they found the fare.

Now tamer grown, the Berner Jutt
Thought thus himself within:
“Of us a hundred scarce remain,
We cannot hope to win.”

Then took he to his heels and ran,
Not often back looked he;
To say good night forgot Swerting quite,
For Bern, for Bern they flee.

Then Diderik turned him with a shout
That shook the vaulted skies:
“Bern, Bern’s the place for us, I guess,
For here no refuge lies!”

Then answered ’neath the green hill’s side
The son of Verland keen:
“Ye and your host will little boast
Ye have in Denmark been.”

Full eighteen thousand knights were they
When out they marched from Bern;
Wounded and worn but seventy-five
With drooping crests, return.

OLGER THE DANE AND BURMAN

Burman in the mountain holds,
Makes his shield shine brightly there;
A message he sends to Iceland’s King,
For he has a daughter fair.

“Hear, good King of Iceland, hear,
Hear what now I say to thee:
Give to me thy daughter fair,
And divide thy land with me.

“Either yield thy daughter fair,
And divide with me thy land,
Or the warrior good prepare
Who in fight can me withstand.”

“I have daughter none but one,
Damsel Gloriant her they call;
To King Carvel she’s betrothed,
And in him my trust is all.

“I have given her to a King
And King Carvel hight is he;
If he fail to defend the maid,
Then thy booty she shall be.”

’Twas the King of Iceland good,
To his daughter’s bower he goes;
And the Damsel Gloriant
To receive him gently rose.

“Hear, all dearest daughter mine,
For I bring thee tidings new;
Burman in the mountain holds,
He would win thee and doth woo.

“Burman is a kempion dour,
And of jesting nought he knows;
He will surely have thee soon,
If no warrior him oppose.”

It was Damsel Gloriant,
Silent would no longer stand:
“In our tower a prisoner is
Who will Burman take in hand.”

It was Damsel Gloriant,
Her blue mantle o’er her threw;
Swiftly to the prison tower,
Where the prisoners lay she flew.

It was Damsel Gloriant,
’Bove the prisoners all she cried:
“Hear thou, Olger good, the Dane,
Have thy legs yet power to stride?

“Art thou living, Olger Dane?
I have something to impart;
There is a trold for me that lusts,
And that trold is Burman swart.

“I’ll not wed the filthy guest,
I’m betrothed to Christian knight;
I to thee will subject be
If thou conquer him in fight.”

“Here I’ve lain for fifteen years,
All in chains and bondage hard;
Blessings on thee, Gloriant,
That to me thou hast repaired.

“Here for fifteen years I’ve lain,
Borne fierce hunger-pangs, and thirst;
I’m not able now to wage
Fight as I was able erst.”

“Hear thou me, good Olger Dane,
Save me from my peril, save;
Ere I take the ugly trold
I would fling me in my grave.

“Burman is fierce, his horse is wild
I to thee will tell forsooth,
I have heard and been assured
That he bites with wolfish tooth.

“Nothing, nothing will he eat
But the flesh of Christian men;
And nothing, nothing, will he drink
But human blood mixt up with bane.”

“Thy father means a gallant man,
King Carvel to share thy bed;
Can he not hold thee from the trold,
That thou unto me hast sped?

“Blessings on thee, Gloriant,
That thou didst upon me think,
With Burman I will break a lance
If thou give me good meat and drink.

“Canst thou procure my horse again,
My good sword and hauberk tried?
Then for thy sake it will be,
I a course with him will ride.

“Carvel is my stall-brother true,
To his ears ’twill doubtless come;
Rather would I lose my life
Than the fiend should bear thee home.”

“The best food which thou shalt choose
I for thee will straight provide;
And I will give thee thy steed again,
Which thou lovest best to ride.

“I will give thee the strongest sword
E’er that armed a warrior’s side;
Give thee too a faulchion hard,
Well thereon thou may’st confide.”

Olger from the tower they took,
Garments for him have they wrought;
They sat him highest at the board,
And rich meats for him they brought.

Burman riding came to court,
Thought to bear the maid away;
Olger the Dane against him rode,
And soon found him rougher play.

For two days they stoutly fought,
As the third towards evening drew
Down upon a stone they sat,
They their strength would there renew.

Then the valiant Burman kemp,
To the Danish Olger said:
“Quarter I will grant, if thou
Wilt believe in Mahommed.”

Little could brook that, Olger the Dane,
On his foe fierce looks he bent:
“When thou dwell in blackest hell
Say by Olger thou wast sent.”

Up then leapt the kempions twain,
’Gainst each other rode anew;
Then asunder went their helms,
And afar their faulchions flew.

They fought so long, they fought so hard,
That their strength was well-nigh flown;
Slain at length was Burman Kemp,
Dead to earth fell Burman down.

Olger to the Damsel rode:
“Thou mayst take thy plighted knight,
For I have with my good sword
Slain the foul and poisonous sprite.”

* * * * *

London:
Printed for THOMAS J. WISE, Hampstead, N.W.

Edition limited to Thirty Copies

Footnotes:

[5]  Dragon.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING DIDERIK AND THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE LION AND DRAGON, AND OTHER BALLADS ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

- KING DIDERIK and the fight between the lion and dragon

- KING DIDERIK AND THE LION’S FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON

- DIDERIK AND OLGER THE DANE
- OLGER THE DANE AND BURMAN
- Footnotes:
- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE