Refrain:

/ \	Winter is fading; summer arrives, The earth becomes so gentle, Those fair masts are growing on the hillside.

2
A dark squall was brewing,
The sun was declining,
The farmer would rather be
At home^{* 2} in his own house.
3
A dark squall was brewing,
The day was fading,
The farmer would rather be
On his own domain.
4
The dark squall was fading,
The light became bright,
The farmer saw a mighty monster^{* 4}
Walking through the wood.
5
The monster rose from the earth,
The magic of Odin^{* 5} is strong,
He had a chessboard^* in his hands
And walked straight to the farmer.
6
He had a chessboard in his hands,
Ivory-white, and ready to play,
And all the dice^{* 6} were made
Out of pure gold.
7
The giant^{* 7} spoke and talked like this,
Strong by evil magic^*:
“ Please sit down, my dearest one^*,
We are going to play the chess^*! “
8
The farmer spoke and answered: “ No,
I don't think we are,
I never learned to play chess
Or any other games. “
9
“ You are going to play the chess, “
That evil giant^{* 9} said,
“ We will bet our heads,
But neither farms nor possessions! “
10
Then the farmer couldn't resist
He got a bright idea,
He put on his victory-gloves,
Then he was sure to win.
11
The farmer had to play the chess
Although he was reluctant,
But the result of their meeting was
That he won the game.
12
Their game was fast; their game was fierce,
They didn't play for goods,
The giant lost his hardened skull,
As well as his life and woods^{* 12}.
13
“ You have defeated me in chess,
You should be proud of your gift,
Let me buy my life back
I'll pay you what you want. “
14
“ If I let you buy your life back,
My first wish shall be this:
Beer and wine and mead of mast,
And anything I want!
15
You shall bring a large and broad
Castle to my homestead,
All its' walls and all its' vineyards
Have to last forever.
16^{* 16}
The castle floors shall be made of
Whitened marble stone,
The laths^* of hardened cypress wood,
And ivory^* for walls.
17
The castle floors shall be made of
Tiles and flint stones,
The roof be made of bluish lead,
The best that can be found.
18
There must be beds for real men^{* 18},
Built up from the floor,
The featherbeds^* and pillows must have
Feathers from a phoenix.
19
There must be beds for real men,
Filled with costly down,
The gables draped with purple clothing
And the purest gold.
20
There must be a magnificent spring^{* 21},
A very precious object,
Filled with rare and costly drinks
From all over the world.
21
There must be a magnificent spring
That flows until forever,
There mustn't any living creature
Ever become ill.
22
Nobody shall become ill
Before he wants to die,
Otherwise I'll chop your head of
Like a dog, that is put to death.
23
Nobody shall become ill,
Other than by choice,
Otherwise I'll chop your head of,
Like a dog who is sent to hell.
24
There must be food and drink^{* 24}
Ready on every table! “
The giant wanted to stay alive,
And accepted all the claims.
25
The farmer hails his wife with love,
When he returns that evening:
“ I expect that my wealth
Soon will increase a lot. “
26
The farmer's wife became sad,
She cried, and spoke like this:
“ Then the monster will seek your life
And you are going to die. “
27
Yet the farmer went to sleep,
In the arms of his wife,
The giant gathers all the gold,
Angry and exhausted.
28
The monster rushed on sand and sea,
Over vales and mountains,
He placed a castle on the farmers land,
Filled with goods and treasures.
29 ^{* 29}
He brought him a large and broad
Castle to his homestead,
All its' walls and all its' vineyards
Were to last forever.
30
He brought to the farmers land,
As the first demand:
Beer and wine and mead of mast,
And anything he wished for!
31
The castle floors were all made of
Whitened marble stone,
The laths of hardened cypress wood,
And ivory for walls.
32
The castle floors were all made of
Tiles and flint stones,
The roof was made of bluish lead,
The best that could be found.
33
There were beds for real men,
Built up from the floor,
The featherbeds and pillows had
Feathers from a phoenix.
34
There were beds for real men,
Filled with costly down,
The gables draped with purple clothing
And the purest gold.
35
There was a magnificent spring,
A very precious object,
Filled with rare and costly drinks
From all over the world.
36
There was a magnificent spring
Which flows until forever^{* 36},
There wouldn't any living creature
Ever become ill.
37
There was food and drink,
Set on the table,
The giant didn't want to loose his life,
He kept his promises.
38
The farmer stepped out in the dawn
He didn't expect danger,
There he saw a mighty castle,
Placed on his land.
39
The farmer steps out in the dawn
Anticipates no danger,
The giant hit him on his thigh,
And scratched him to the bone.
40
The farmer steps out in the dawn
He doesn't have a worry,
The giant hit him on his stomach,
His guts were hanging out.
41
The farmer fell down on the ground^{* 41},
It seemed like he was dead,
They helped him into the castle,
And all his wounds were gone.
42
The farmer hails his wife with love,
When he arrived that evening:
“ There are at least ten or twelve
Kings that are poorer than me. “
43
The farmer is glad and friendly,
Contented with his luck:
“ There are at least ten or twelve
Kings that are lesser than me. “
44
The farmer's wife is pregnant,
She wears scarlet robes:
“ I fear for what the giant will do,
He will seek your life. “
45
The farmer now has all he prayed for,
Outside as well as inside,
Now my tongue is getting tired,
And I will stop this fun..