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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12455-0.txt b/12455-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1d5a2c --- /dev/null +++ b/12455-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14178 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12455 *** + +[Illustration: CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE.--Levy.] + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES + + +NARRATED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART + +BY H.A. GUERBER + + "Saddle the Hippogriffs, ye Muses nine, + And straight we'll ride to the land of old Romance" + WIELAND + +1896 + + +DEDICATED TO MY SISTER ADELE E. GUERBER + + "Men lykyn jestis for to here, + And romans rede in diuers manere + + "Of Brute that baron bold of hond, + The first conqueroure of Englond; + Of kyng Artour that was so riche, + Was non in his tyme him liche. + + "How kyng Charlis and Rowlond fawght + With sarzyns nold they be cawght; + Of Tristrem and of Ysoude the swete, + How they with love first gan mete; + + "Stories of diuerce thynggis, + Of pryncis, prelatis, and of kynggis; + Many songgis of diuers ryme, + As english, frensh, and latyne." + _Curser Mundi_. + + +PREFACE. + + + + +The object of this work is to familiarize young students with the legends +which form the staple of mediaeval literature. + +While they may owe more than is apparent at first sight to the classical +writings of the palmy days of Greece and Rome, these legends are very +characteristic of the people who told them, and they are the best exponents +of the customs, manners, and beliefs of the time to which they belong. They +have been repeated in poetry and prose with endless variations, and some of +our greatest modern writers have deemed them worthy of a new dress, as is +seen in Tennyson's "Idyls of the King," Goethe's "Reineke Fuchs," Tegnér's +"Frithiof Saga," Wieland's "Oberon," Morris's "Story of Sigurd," and many +shorter works by these and less noted writers. + +These mediaeval legends form a sort of literary quarry, from which, +consciously or unconsciously, each writer takes some stones wherewith to +build his own edifice. Many allusions in the literature of our own day lose +much of their force simply because these legends are not available to the +general reader. + +It is the aim of this volume to bring them within reach of all, and to +condense them so that they may readily be understood. Of course in so +limited a space only an outline of each legend can be given, with a few +short quotations from ancient and modern writings to illustrate the style +of the poem in which they are embodied, or to lend additional force to some +point in the story. + +This book is, therefore, not a manual of mediaeval literature, or a series +of critical essays, but rather a synopsis of some of the epics and romances +which formed the main part of the culture of those days. Very little +prominence has been given to the obscure early versions, all disquisitions +have been carefully avoided, and explanations have been given only where +they seemed essential. + +The wealth and variety of imagination displayed in these legends will, I +hope, prove that the epoch to which they belong has been greatly maligned +by the term "dark ages," often applied to it. Such was the favor which the +legendary style of composition enjoyed with our ancestors that several of +the poems analyzed in this volume were among the first books printed for +general circulation in Europe. + +Previous to the invention of printing, however, they were familiar to rich +and poor, thanks to the scalds, bards, trouvères, troubadours, minstrels, +and minnesingers, who, like the rhapsodists of Greece, spent their lives in +wandering from place to place, relating or reciting these tales to all they +met in castle, cottage, and inn. + +A chapter on the Romance literature of the period in the different +countries of Europe, and a complete index, will, it is hoped, fit this +volume for handy reference in schools and libraries, where the author +trusts it may soon find its own place and win a warm welcome. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I. BEOWULF + +II. GUDRUN + +III. REYNARD THE FOX + +IV. THE NIBELUNGENLIED + +V. LANGODARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS + +VI. THE AMBLINGS + +VII. DIETRICH VON BERN + +VIII. CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS + +IX THE SONS OF AYMON + +X. HUON OF BORDEAUX + +XI. TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL + +XII. MERLIN + +XIII. THE ROUND TABLE + +XIV. TRISTAN AND ISEULT + +XV. THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + +XVI. RAGNAR LODBROK + +XVII. THE CID + +XVIII. GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE--Lévy + +FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF--Cormon + +GUDRUN AND THE SWAN--Kepler + +BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG--Wagner + +REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE--Kaulbach + +GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE--Keller + +SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN--Pixis + +ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION--Keller + +FALKE KILLS THE GIANT--Keller + +THE VICTORIOUS HUNS--Checa + +THE TOMB OF THEODORIC + +THE DEATH OF ROLAND--Keller + +HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max + +HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD--Gabriel Max + +PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL--Pixis + +ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN--Pixis + +THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN--Burne-Jones + +SIR LANCELOT DU LAC--Sir John Gilbert + +ELAINE--Rosenthal + +ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN--Pixis + +THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE--Kepler + +FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING--Kepler + +STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller + +THE CID'S LAST VICTORY--Rochegrosse + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +BEOWULF. + + "List! we have learnt a tale of other years, + Of kings and warrior Danes, a wondrous tale, + How aethelings bore them in the brunt of war." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The most ancient relic of literature of the spoken languages of modern +Europe is undoubtedly the epic poem "Beowulf," which is supposed to have +been composed by the Anglo-Saxons previous to their invasion of England. +Although the poem probably belongs to the fifth century, the only existing +manuscript is said to date from the ninth or tenth century. + +This curious work, in rude alliterative verse (for rhyme was introduced in +England only after the Norman Conquest), is the most valuable old English +manuscript in the British Museum. Although much damaged by fire, it has +been carefully studied by learned men. They have patiently restored the +poem, the story of which is as follows: + +[Sidenote: Origin of the Skioldungs.] Hrothgar (the modern Roger), King of +Denmark, was a descendant of Odin, being the third monarch of the +celebrated dynasty of the Skioldungs. They proudly traced their ancestry to +Skeaf, or Skiold, Odin's son, who mysteriously drifted to their shores. He +was then but an infant, and lay in the middle of a boat, on a sheaf of ripe +wheat, surrounded by priceless weapons and jewels. As the people were +seeking for a ruler, they immediately recognized the hand of Odin in this +mysterious advent, proclaimed the child king, and obeyed him loyally as +long as he lived. When he felt death draw near, Skeaf, or Skiold, ordered a +vessel to be prepared, lay down in the midst on a sheaf of grain or on a +funeral pyre, and drifted out into the wide ocean, disappearing as +mysteriously as he had come. + +[Sidenote: Construction of Heorot.] Such being his lineage, it is no wonder +that Hrothgar became a mighty chief; and as he had amassed much wealth in +the course of a long life of warfare, he resolved to devote part of it to +the construction of a magnificent hall, called Heorot, where he might feast +his retainers and listen to the heroic lays of the scalds during the long +winter evenings. + + "A hall of mead, such as for space and state + The elder time ne'er boasted; there with free + And princely hand he might dispense to all + (Save the rude crowd and men of evil minds) + The good he held from Heaven. That gallant work, + Full well I wot, through many a land was known + Of festal halls the brightest and the best." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). +The inauguration of this hall was celebrated by a sumptuous entertainment; +and when all the guests had retired, the king's bodyguard, composed of +thirty-two dauntless warriors, lay down in the hall to rest. When morning +dawned, and the servants appeared to remove the couches, they beheld with +horror the floor and walls all stained with blood, the only trace of the +knights who had gone to rest there in full armor. + +[Sidenote: The monster Grendel.] Gigantic, blood-stained footsteps, leading +directly from the festive hall to the sluggish waters of a deep mountain +lake, or fiord, furnished the only clew to their disappearance. Hrothgar, +the king, beholding these, declared that they had been made by Grendel, a +descendant of the giants, whom a magician had driven out of the country, +but who had evidently returned to renew his former depredations. + + "A haunter of marshes, a holder of moors. + . . . . . Secret + The land he inhabits; dark, wolf-haunted ways + Of the windy hillside, by the treacherous tarn; + Or where, covered up in its mist, the hill stream + Downward flows." + _Beowulf_ (Keary's tr.). + +As Hrothgar was now too old to wield a sword with his former skill, his +first impulse was, of course, to offer a princely reward to any man brave +enough to free the country of this terrible scourge. As soon as this was +known ten of his doughtiest knights volunteered to camp in the hall on the +following night, and attack the monster Grendel should he venture to +reappear. + +But in spite of the valor of these experienced warriors, and of the +efficacy of their oft-tried weapons, they too succumbed. A minstrel, hiding +in a dark corner of the hall, was the only one who escaped Grendel's fury, +and after shudderingly describing the massacre he had witnessed, he fled in +terror to the kingdom of the Geates (Jutes or Goths). There he sang his +lays in the presence of Hygelac, the king, and of his nephew Beowulf (the +Bee Hunter), and roused their deepest interest by describing the visit of +Grendel and the vain but heroic defense of the brave knights. Beowulf, +having listened intently, eagerly questioned the scald, and, learning from +him that the monster still haunted those regions, impetuously declared his +intention to visit Hrothgar's kingdom, and show his valor by fighting and, +if possible, slaying Grendel. + + "He was of mankind + In might the strongest, + At that day + Of this life, + Noble and stalwart. + He bade him a sea ship, + A goodly one, prepare. + Quoth he, the war king, + Over the swan's road, + Seek he would + The mighty monarch, + Since he wanted men." + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Breka.] Although very young, Beowulf was quite +distinguished, and had already won great honors in a battle against the +Swedes. He had also proved his endurance by entering into a swimming match +with Breka, one of the lords at his uncle's court. The two champions had +started out, sword in hand and fully armed, and, after swimming in concert +for five whole days, they were parted by a great tempest. + + "Then were we twain there on the sea + Space of five nights, till the floods severed us, + The welling waves. Coldest of weathers, + Shadowy night, and the north wind + Battelous shocked on us; wild were the waters, + And were the mere-fishes stirred up in mind." + _Beowulf_. + +Breka was driven ashore, but the current bore Beowulf toward some jagged +cliffs, where he desperately clung, trying to resist the fury of the waves, +and using his sword to ward off the attacks of hostile mermaids, nicors +(nixies), and other sea monsters. The gashed bodies of these slain foes +soon drifted ashore, to Hygelac's amazement; but when Beowulf suddenly +reappeared and explained that they had fallen by his hand, his joy knew no +bounds. As Breka had returned first, he received the prize for swimming; +but the king gave Beowulf his treasured sword, Nägeling, and praised him +publicly for his valor. + +Beowulf had successfully encountered these monsters of the deep in the +roaring tide, so he now expressed a hope that he might prevail against +Grendel also; and embarking with fourteen chosen men, he sailed to Denmark, +where he was challenged by the coast guard and warmly welcomed as soon as +he had made his purpose known. + + "'What men are ye, + War gear wearing, + Host in harness, + Who thus the brown keel + Over the water street + Leading, come + Hither over the sea?'" + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Hrothgar received Beowulf most hospitably, but vainly tried to dissuade him +from his perilous undertaking. Then, after a sumptuous banquet, where the +mead flowed with true northern lavishness, Hrothgar and his suite sadly +left the hall Heorot in charge of the brave band of strangers, whom they +never expected to see again. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel.] As soon as the king had departed, Beowulf +bade his companions lie down and sleep in peace, promising to watch over +them, yet laying aside both armor and sword; for he knew that weapons were +of no avail against the monster, whom he intended to grapple with hand to +hand should it really appear. + + "'I have heard + That that foul miscreant's dark and stubborn flesh + Recks not the force of arms:--such I forswear, + Nor sword nor burnish'd shield of ample round + Ask for the war; all weaponless, hand to hand + (So may great Higelac's smile repay my toil) + Beowulf will grapple with the mighty foe.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The warriors had no sooner stretched themselves out upon the benches in the +hall than, overcome by the oppressive air as well as by mead, they sank +into a profound sleep. Beowulf alone remained awake, watching for Grendel's +coming. In the early morning, when all was very still, the giant appeared, +tore asunder the iron bolts and bars which secured the door, and striding +into the hall, enveloped in a long, damp mantle of clammy mist, he pounced +upon one of the sleepers. He tore him limb from limb, greedily drank his +blood, and devoured his flesh, leaving naught but the head, hands, and feet +of his unhappy victim. This ghastly repast only whetted the fiend's +ravenous appetite, however, so he eagerly stretched out his hands in the +darkness to seize and devour another warrior. Imagine his surprise and +dismay when he suddenly found his hand caught in so powerful a grasp that +all his efforts could not wrench it free! + +Grendel and Beowulf struggled in the darkness, overturning tables and +couches, shaking the great hall to its very foundations, and causing the +walls to creak and groan under the violence of their furious blows. But in +spite of Grendel's gigantic stature, Beowulf clung so fast to the hand and +arm he had grasped that Grendel, making a desperate effort to free himself +by a jerk, tore the whole limb out of its socket! Bleeding and mortally +wounded, he then beat a hasty retreat to his marshy den, leaving a long, +bloody trail behind him. + + "Soon the dark wanderer's ample shoulder bore + A gaping wound, each starting sinew crack'd, + And from its socket loosed the strong-knit joint.-- + The victory was with Beowulf, and the foe, + Howling and sick at heart, fled as he might, + To seek beneath the mountain shroud of mist + His joyless home; for well he knew the day + Of death was on him, and his doom was seal'd." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +As for Beowulf, exhausted but triumphant, he stood in the middle of the +hall, where his companions crowded around him, gazing in speechless awe at +the mighty hand and limb, and the clawlike fingers, far harder than steel, +which no power had hitherto been able to resist. + +At dawn Hrothgar and his subjects also appeared. They heard with wonder a +graphic account of the night's adventures, and gazed their fill upon the +monster's limb, which hung like a trophy from the ceiling of Heorot. After +the king had warmly congratulated Beowulf, and bestowed upon him many rich +gifts, he gave orders to cleanse the hall, to hang it with tapestry, and to +prepare a banquet in honor of the conquering hero. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf honored by the queen.] While the men were feasting, +listening to the lays of the scalds, and carrying the usual toasts, +Wealtheow, Hrothgar's beautiful wife, the Queen of Denmark, appeared. She +pledged Beowulf in a cup of wine, which he gallantly drained after she had +touched it to her lips. Then she bestowed upon him a costly necklace (the +famous Brisinga-men, according to some authorities)[1] and a ring of the +finest gold. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, p. 127.] + + "'Wear these,' she cried, 'since thou hast in the fight + So borne thyself, that wide as ocean rolls + Round our wind-beaten cliffs his brimming waves, + All gallant souls shall speak thy eulogy.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +When the banquet was ended, Hrothgar escorted his guests to more pleasant +sleeping apartments than they had occupied the night before, leaving his +own men to guard the hall, where Grendel would never again appear. The +warriors, fearing no danger, slept in peace; but in the dead of night the +mother of the giant, as grewsome and uncanny a monster as he, glided into +the hall, secured the bloody trophy still hanging from the ceiling, and +carried it away, together with Aeschere (Askher), the king's bosom friend. + +When Hrothgar learned this new loss at early dawn he was overcome with +grief; and when Beowulf, attracted by the sound of weeping, appeared at his +side, he mournfully told him of his irretrievable loss. + + "'Ask not after happiness; + Sorrow is renewed + To the Danes' people. + Aeschere is dead, + Yrmenlaf's + Elder brother, + The partaker of my secrets + And my counselor, + Who stood at my elbow + When we in battle + Our mail hoods defended, + When troops rushed together + And boar crests crashed.'" + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel's mother.] The young hero immediately +volunteered to finish his work and avenge Aeschere by seeking and attacking +Grendel's mother in her own retreat; but as he knew the perils of this +expedition, Beowulf first gave explicit directions for the disposal of his +personal property in case he never returned. Then, escorted by the Danes +and Geates, he followed the bloody track until he came to a cliff +overhanging the waters of the mountain pool. There the bloody traces +ceased, but Aeschere's gory head was placed aloft as a trophy. + + "Now paused they sudden where the pine grove clad + The hoar rock's brow, a dark and joyless shade. + Troublous and blood-stain'd roll'd the stream below. + Sorrow and dread were on the Scylding's host, + In each man's breast deep working; for they saw + On that rude cliff young Aeschere's mangled head." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +Beowulf gazed down into the deep waters, saw that they also were darkly +dyed with the monster's blood, and, after taking leave of Hrothgar, bade +his men await his return for two whole days and nights ere they definitely +gave him up for lost. He then plunged bravely into the bloody waters, swam +about seeking for the monster's retreat, and dived deep. At last, descrying +a phosphorescent gleam in the depths, he quickly made his way thither, +shrewdly conjecturing that it must be Grendel's hiding place. But on his +way thither he was repeatedly obliged to have recourse to his sword to +defend himself against the clutches of countless hideous sea monsters which +came rushing toward him on all sides. + + "While thro' crystal gulfs were gleaming + Ocean depths, with wonders teeming; + Shapes of terror, huge, unsightly, + Loom'd thro' vaulted roof translucent." + J.C. JONES, _Valhalla_. + +A strong current seized Beowulf, and swept him irresistibly along into the +slimy retreat of Grendel's mother. She clutched him fast, wrestled with +him, deprived him of his sword, flung him down, and finally tried to pierce +his armor with her trenchant knife. Fortunately, however, the hero's armor +was weapon-proof, and his muscles were so strong that before she could do +him any harm he had freed himself from her grasp. Seizing a large sword +hanging upon a projection of rock near by, he dealt her a mighty blow, +severing her head from the trunk at a single stroke. The blood pouring out +of the cave mingled with the waters without, and turned them to such a +lurid hue that Hrothgar and his men sorrowfully departed, leaving the +Geates alone to watch for the return of the hero, whom they feared they +would never see again. + +Beowulf, in the mean while, had rushed to the rear of the cave, where, +finding Grendel in the last throes, he cut off his head also. He seized +this ghastly trophy and rapidly made his way up through the tainted waters, +which the fiery blood of the two monsters had so overheated that his sword +melted in its scabbard and naught but the hilt remained. + + "That stout sword of proof, + Its warrior task fulfill'd, dropp'd to the ground + (So work'd the venom of the felon's blood) + A molten mass." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The Geates were about to depart in sorrow, notwithstanding the orders they +had received, when they suddenly beheld their beloved chief safe and sound, +and bearing the evidences of his success. Then their cries of joy echoed +and reechoed from the neighboring hills, and Beowulf was escorted back to +Heorot, where he was almost overwhelmed with gifts by the grateful Danes. A +few days later Beowulf and his companions returned home, where the story of +their adventures, and an exhibition of all the treasures they had won, +formed the principal topics of conversation. + +[Sidenote: Death of Hygelac.] Several years of comparative peace ensued, +ere the land was invaded by the Friesians, who raided the coast, burning +and plundering all in their way, and retreated into their ships before +Hygelac or Beowulf could overtake and punish them. The immediate result of +this invasion was a counter-movement on Hygelac's part. But although he +successfully harried Friesland, he fell into an ambush just as he was about +to leave the country, and was cruelly slain, his nephew Beowulf barely +escaping a similar untoward fate. + +When the little army of the Geates reached home once more, they either +buried or consumed Hygelac's remains, with his weapons and battle steed, as +was customary in the North. This ceremony ended, Queen Hygd, overwhelmed +with grief, and fearing the almost inevitable dissensions arising during +the long minority of an infant king, convened the popular assembly known as +the Thing, and bade the people set her own child's claims aside in favor of +Beowulf. This proposal was hailed with enthusiasm; but Beowulf refused to +usurp his kinsman's throne, and raising Hardred, Hygelac's infant son, upon +his shield, he declared that he would protect and uphold him as long as he +lived. The people, following his example, swore fealty to the new king, and +faithfully kept this oath until he died. + +Hardred, having attained his majority, ruled wisely and well; but his +career was cut short by the sons of Othere, the discoverer of the North +Cape. These youths had rebelled against their father's authority and taken +refuge at Hardred's court; but when the latter advised a reconciliation, +the eldest youth angrily drew his sword and slew him. + +[Illustration: FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF.--Cormon.] + +[Sidenote: Beowulf made king.] This crime was avenged, with true northern +promptitude, by Wiglaf, one of the king's followers; and while the second +youth effected an escape, Beowulf was summoned by the Thing to accept the +now vacant throne. As there were none to dispute his claims, the hero no +longer refused to rule, and he bravely defended his kingdom against +Eadgils, Othere's second son. Eadgils was now king of Sweden, and came with +an armed host to avenge his brother's death; but he only succeeded in +losing his own life. + +A reign of forty years of comparative peace brought Beowulf to extreme old +age. He had naturally lost much of his former vigor, and was therefore +somewhat dismayed when a terrible, fire-breathing dragon took up its abode +in the mountains near by, where it gloated over a hoard of glittering gold. + + "The ranger of the darksome night, + The Firedrake, came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.) + +[Sidenote: The Firedrake.] A fugitive slave, having made his way unseen +into the monster's den during one of its temporary absences, bore away a +small portion of this gold. On its return the Firedrake discovered the +theft, and became so furious that its howling and writhing shook the +mountain like an earthquake. When night came on its rage was still +unappeased, and it flew all over the land, vomiting venom and flames, +setting houses and crops afire, and causing so much damage that the people +were almost beside themselves with terror. Seeing that all their attempts +to appease the dragon were utterly fruitless, and being afraid to attack it +in its lair, they finally implored Beowulf to deliver them as he had +delivered the Danes, and to slay this oppressor, which was even worse than +the terrible Grendel. + +Such an appeal could not be disregarded, and in spite of his advanced years +Beowulf donned his armor once more. Accompanied by Wiglaf and eleven of his +bravest men, he then went out to seek the monster in its lair. At the +entrance of the mountain gorge Beowulf bade his followers pause, and +advancing alone to the monster's den, he boldly challenged it to come forth +and begin the fray. A moment later the mountain shook as the monster rushed +out breathing fire and flame, and Beowulf felt the first gust of its hot +breath, even through his massive shield. + + "First from his lair + Shaking firm earth, and vomiting as he strode + A foul and fiery blast, the monster came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +A desperate struggle followed, in the course of which Beowulf's sword and +strength both failed him. The Firedrake coiled its long, scaly folds about +the aged hero, and was about to crush him to death when the faithful +Wiglaf, perceiving his master's imminent danger, sprang forward and +attacked the monster so fiercely as to cause a diversion and make it drop +Beowulf to concentrate its attention upon him. + +Beowulf, recovering, then drew his dagger and soon put an end to the +dragon's life; but even as it breathed its last the hero sank fainting to +the ground. Feeling that his end was near, he warmly thanked Wiglaf for his +timely aid, rejoiced in the death of the monster, and bade his faithful +follower bring out the concealed treasure and lay it at his feet, that he +might feast his eyes upon the glittering gold he had won for his people's +use. + + "Saw then the bold thane + Treasure jewels many, + Glittering gold + Heavy on the ground, + Wonders in the mound + And the worm's den, + The old twilight flier's, + Bowls standing; + Vessels of men of yore, + With the mountings fall'n off. + There was many a helm + Old and rusty, + Armlets many + Cunningly fastened. + He also saw hang heavily + An ensign all golden + High o'er the hoard, + Of hand wonders greatest, + Wrought by spells of song, + From which shot a light + So that he the ground surface + Might perceive, + The wonders overscan." + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Beowulf.] The mighty treasure was all brought forth to +the light of day, and the followers, seeing that all danger was over, +crowded round their dying chief. He addressed them affectionately, and, +after recapitulating the main events his career, expressed a desire to be +buried in a mighty mound on a projecting headland, which could be seen far +out at sea, and would be called by his name. + + "'And now, + Short while I tarry here--when I am gone, + Bid them upon yon headland's summit rear + A lofty mound, by Rona's seagirt cliff; + So shall my people hold to after times + Their chieftain's memory, and the mariners + That drive afar to sea, oft as they pass, + Shall point to Beowulf's tomb.'" + _Beowulf_(Conybeare's tr.). + +These directions were all piously carried out by a mourning people, who +decked his mound with the gold he had won, and erected above it a Bauta, or +memorial stone, to show how dearly they had loved their brave king Beowulf, +who had died to save them from the fury of the dragon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +GUDRUN. + + +Maximilian I., Emperor of Germany, rendered a great service to posterity by +ordering that copies of many of the ancient national manuscripts should be +made. These copies were placed in the imperial library at Vienna, where, +after several centuries of almost complete neglect, they were discovered by +lovers of early literature, in a very satisfactory state of preservation. +These manuscripts then excited the interest of learned men, who not only +found therein a record of the past, but gems of literature which are only +now beginning to receive the appreciation they deserve. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of poem of Gudrun.] Among these manuscripts is the poem +"Gudrun," belonging to the twelfth or thirteenth century. It is evidently +compiled from two or more much older lays which are now lost, which are +alluded to in the Nibelungenlied. The original poem was probably Norse, and +not German like the only existing manuscript, for there is an undoubted +parallel to the story of the kidnaping of Hilde in the Edda. In the Edda, +Hilde, the daughter of Högni, escapes from home with her lover Hedin, and +is pursued by her irate father. He overtakes the fugitives on an island, +where a bloody conflict takes place, in which many of the bravest warriors +die. Every night, however, a sorceress recalls the dead to life to renew +the strife, and to exterminate one another afresh. + +The poem "Gudrun," which is probably as old as the Nibelungenlied, and +almost rivals it in interest, is one of the most valuable remains of +ancient German literature. It consists of thirty-two songs, in which are +related the adventures of three generations of the heroic family of the +Hegelings. Hence it is often termed the "Hegeling Legend." + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Hagen.] The poem opens by telling us that Hagen was +the son of Sigeband, King of Ireland, which was evidently a place in +Holland, and not the well-known Emerald Isle. During a great feast, when +countless guests were assembled around his father's hospitable board, this +prince, who was then but seven years of age, was seized by a griffin and +rapidly borne away. + + "Young Hagen, loudly crying, was filled with dire dismay; + The bird with mighty pinions soared high with him away." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The cries of the child, and the arrows of Sigeband's men at arms, were +equally ineffectual in checking the griffin, which flew over land and sea, +and finally deposited its prey in its nest on the top of a great cliff on a +desert island. One of the little griffins, wishing to reserve this delicate +morsel for its own delectation, caught the boy up in its talons and flew +away to a neighboring tree. The branch upon which it perched was too weak +to support a double load, however, and as it broke the frightened griffin +dropped Hagen into a thicket. Undismayed by the sharp thorns, Hagen quickly +crept out of the griffin's reach and took refuge in a cave, where he found +three little girls who had escaped from the griffins in the same way. + +[Sidenote: The three maidens.] One of these children was Hilde, an Indian +princess; the second, Hildburg, daughter of the King of Portugal; and the +third belonged to the royal family of Isenland. Hagen immediately became +the protector of these little maidens, spending several years in the cave +with them. He ventured out only when the griffins were away, to seek +berries or shoot small game with a bow which he had made in imitation of +those he had seen in his father's hall. + +Years passed by before Hagen found the corpse of an armed warrior, which +had been washed ashore during a storm. To appropriate the armor and weapons +for which he had so long and vainly sighed was the youth's first impulse; +his second was to go forth and slay the griffins which had terrorized him +and his little companions for so many years. The griffins being disposed +of, the young people roamed about the island at will, keeping a sharp +lookout for any passing vessel which might convey them home. At last a sail +came in sight! Hagen, the first to see it, climbed up on a rock and shouted +with all his young strength to attract the crew's attention. + + "With might young Hagen shouted, and did not cease to shout, + Howe'er the roaring tempest the wild waves tossed about." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The sailors reluctantly drew near, gazing fearfully upon the three maidens, +who, clad in furs and moss, resembled mermaids or wood nymphs. But when +they heard their story they gladly took them on board. It was only when the +island was out of sight, and when they were in mid-ocean, that Hagen +discovered that he had fallen into the hands of Count Garadie, his father's +inveterate enemy, who now proposed to use his power to treat the young +prince as a slave. But Hagen's rude fare, and the constant exposure of the +past few years, had so developed his strength and courage that he now flew +into a Berserker rage,[1] flung thirty men one after another into the sea, +and so terrified his would-be master that he promised to bear him and the +three maidens in safety to his father's court. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's +Myths of Northern Lands, p. 29.] + +[Sidenote: Hagen made king.] As Sigeband had died without leaving any other +heir, Hagen was warmly welcomed home, and ascending the vacant throne, he +took to wife Hilde, the fair maiden with whom he had shared his game and +berries for so many years. The royal couple were very happy, and Hagen +ruled so wisely that he became a terror to his enemies and a blessing to +his own subjects. Even when engaged in warfare he proved himself an upright +and generous man, never attacking the poor and weak. + + "On warlike enterprises into his enemies' land + He spared the poor from ravage of fire with powerful hand; + Whenever he encountered a warrior overbearing, + He broke his burgs and slew him with dire revenge unsparing." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Hilde's suitors.] Hagen and Hilde eventually became the parents +of an only daughter, who was called by her mother's name, and grew up so +beautiful that many suitors soon came to Ireland to ask for her hand. +Hagen, who loved his daughter dearly and was in no haste to part from her, +first replied that she was far too young to think of marriage; but when +this plea was disputed he declared that Hilde should only marry a man who +would defeat her father in single fight. + +As Hagen was unusually tall and strong, as well as uncommonly brave, he was +considered well-nigh invincible. The suitors, dismayed at this declaration, +reluctantly withdrew, even though they were all valiant men. In those days +Hettel (who corresponds to Hedin in the Edda story) was king of northern +Germany and of the Hegelings. He too heard marvelous accounts of Hilde's +beauty, and, as he was still unmarried, longed to secure her as wife. But +knowing that Hagen, in his anger, was likely to slay any ambassador who +came to his court with a proposal of marriage, Hettel vowed that he would +rather forego the alliance than run the risk of losing any of his tried +friends and faithful servants. + + "Then said the royal Hetel: 'The people all relate + That whosoe'er will woo her incurs her father's hate, + And for the maid has perished full many a noble knight; + My friends shall never suffer for me such woeful plight.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Strategy of Hettel's followers.] His faithful followers, Wat, +Horant, and Frute, perceiving that his heart was set upon the maiden, +finally volunteered to go and get her, saying that they could easily bear +her away by stratagem, although they did not dare to ask for her openly. So +they loaded their vessel with merchandise, hid their weapons, so that they +should be taken for the traders they professed to be, and sailed boldly +into Hagen's port, where, spreading out their wares, they invited all the +people to buy. + +Attracted by the extraordinary bargains they offered, the people came in +crowds, and soon all the inhabitants of Balian were busy talking about the +strange peddlers and praising their wares. These stories soon came to the +ears of both queen and princess, who, summoning the merchants into their +presence, asked who they were and whence they came. + +All three replied that they were warriors, and that, being banished from +Hettel's court, they had been forced to take up their present occupation to +make a living. To prove the truth of their assertions, Wat exhibited his +skill in athletic sports, while Horant delighted all the ladies by his +proficiency in the art of minstrelsy. + + "When now the night was ended and there drew near the dawn, + Horant began his singing, so that in grove and lawn + The birds became all silent, because he sang so sweetly; + The people who were sleeping sprang from their couches fleetly. + + "The cattle in the forests forsook their pasture ground; + The creeping creatures playing among the grass around, + The fishes in the water,--all in their sports were ceasing. + The minstrel might most truly rejoice in art so pleasing. + + "Whate'er he might be singing, to no one seemed it long; + Forgotten in the minster were priest and choral song, + Church bells no longer sounded so sweetly as before, + And every one who heard him longed for the minstrel sore." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +These soft strains so pleased the younger Hilde that she soon sent for the +minstrel again, and Horant, finding her alone, made use of this opportunity +to tell her of Hettel's love and longing. She was so touched by this +declaration of love that he easily won from her a promise to flee with him +and his companions as soon as a suitable opportunity occurred. + +The pretended merchants, having now achieved the real object of their +journey, disposed of their remaining wares. They then invited the king and +his family to visit their ship, and cleverly managing to separate the +willing princess from her parents and train, they sailed rapidly away, +leaving the angry father to hurl equally ineffectual spears, curses, and +threats after them. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hettel and Hilde.] The Hegelings sailed with their +prize direct to Waleis, in Holland (near the river Waal), where the +impatient Hettel came to meet them, and tenderly embraced his beautiful +young bride. There their hasty nuptials were celebrated; but, as they were +about to sail away on the morrow, Hettel became aware of the rapid approach +of a large fleet. Of course the foremost vessel was commanded by Hagen, who +had immediately started out in pursuit of his kidnaped daughter. Landing, +with all his forces, he challenged his new-made son-in-law to fight. + + "King Hagen, full of anger, leaped forward in the sea. + Unto the shore he waded; no braver knight than he! + Full many pointed arrows against him were seen flying, + Like flakes of snow, from warriors of Hetel's host defying." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The result of this battle was that Hettel was wounded by Hagen, who, in his +turn, was injured by Wat, and that the distracted Hilde suddenly flung +herself between the contending parties, and by her tears and prayers soon +brought about a reconciliation. Hagen, who had tested the courage of his +new son-in-law and had not found it wanting, now permitted his daughter to +accompany her husband home to Matelan, where she became the mother of a +son, Ortwine, and of a daughter, Gudrun, who was even fairer than herself. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's suitors.] Ortwine was fostered by Wat, the dauntless +hero, who taught him to fight with consummate skill; while Hilde herself +presided over the education of Gudrun, and made her so charming that many +suitors soon came, hoping to find favor in her eyes. These were Siegfried, +King of Moorland, a pagan of dark complexion; Hartmut, son of Ludwig, King +of Normandy; and, lastly, Herwig of Zealand. Although the latter fancied +that he had won some favor in the fair Gudrun's sight, Hettel dismissed him +as well as the others, with the answer that his daughter was yet too young +to leave the parental roof. + +Herwig, who was not ready to give the maiden up, then remembered that +Hettel had won his own bride only after he had measured his strength with +her father's; so he collected an army, invaded Matelan, and proved his +courage by encountering Hettel himself in the fray. Gudrun, who stood +watching the battle from the palace window, seeing them face to face, +loudly implored them to spare each other, an entreaty to which they both +lent a willing ear. + + "Fair Gudrun saw the combat, and heard the martial sound. + Like to a ball is fortune, and ever turns around. + + "Then from the castle chamber the royal maid cried out: + 'King Hetel, noble father, the blood flows all about + Athwart the mighty hauberks. With gore from warlike labor + The walls are sprinkled. Herwig is a most dreadful neighbor.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Herwig had in this encounter proved himself no despicable foe; so Hettel, +preferring to have him as a friend, no longer opposed his betrothal, but +even promised that the wedding festivities should be celebrated within a +year. Herwig tarried in Matelan with his betrothed until he heard that +Siegfried, King of Moorland, jealous of his successful wooing of Gudrun, +had invaded his kingdom and was raiding his unprotected lands. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun kidnaped by Hartmut.] These tidings caused the brave +young warrior to bid Gudrun a hasty farewell and sail home as quickly as +possible, Hettel promising to follow him soon and help him repel the +invaders, who were far superior in number to his small but oft-tried host. +While Herwig and Hettel were thus occupied in warring against one of the +disappointed suitors, Hartmut, the other, hearing that they were both away, +invaded Matelan and carried off Gudrun and all her attendants to Normandy. +He paused only once on his way thither to rest for a short time on an +island called Wülpensand, at the mouth of the Scheldt. + +The bereaved Hilde, who had seen her beloved daughter thus carried away, +promptly sent messengers to warn Hettel and Herwig of Gudrun's capture. +These tidings put an immediate stop to their warfare with Siegfried, who, +joining forces with them, sailed in pursuit of the Normans in the vessels +of a party of pilgrims, for they had none of their own ready for instant +departure. + +[Sidenote: The Wülpensand battle.] Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried reached +Wülpensand before the Normans had left it, and there took place a frightful +conflict, in the course of which King Ludwig slew the aged Hettel. The +conflict raged until nightfall, and although there were now but few +Hegelings left, they were all ready to renew the struggle on the morrow. +What was not their chagrin, therefore, on discovering that the Normans had +sailed away with their captives during the night, and were already out of +sight! + +It was useless to pursue them with so small an army; so the Hegelings +sorrowfully returned home, bearing Hettel's lifeless body back to the +disconsolate Hilde. Then they took counsel, and discovered that so many +able fighting men had perished during the last war that they would be +obliged to wait until the rising generation was able to bear arms before +they could invade Normandy with any hope of success. + + "Then spoke old Wat, the hero: 'It never can befall + Before this country's children have grown to manhood all.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Gudrun, in the mean while, had arrived in Normandy, where she persisted in +refusing to marry Hartmut. On her way thither the haughty princess had even +ventured to remind King Ludwig that he had once been her father's vassal, +and so roused his anger that he threw her overboard. But Hartmut +immediately plunged into the water after her, rescued her from drowning, +and when he had again seen her safe in the boat, angrily reproved his +father for his hasty conduct. + + "He said: 'Why would you drown her who is to be my wife, + The fair and charming Gudrun? I love her as my life. + Another than my father, if he had shown such daring, + Would lose his life and honor from wrath of mine unsparing.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun a captive.] After this declaration on the part of the +young heir, none dared at first treat Gudrun with any disrespect; and +Gerlinda and Ortrun, the mother and sister of Hartmut, welcomed her as she +landed on their shores. Gerlinda's friendliness was a mere pretense, +however, for she hated the proud maiden who scorned her son's proffered +love. She therefore soon persuaded her son to give the gentle captive +entirely into her charge, saying that she would make her consent to become +his bride. Hartmut, who was about to depart for the war, and who little +suspected his mother's cruel intentions, bade her do as she pleased; and he +was no sooner out of sight than poor Gudrun was degraded to the rank of a +servant, and treated with much harshness and often with actual violence. + +During three whole years Gudrun endured this cruelty in silence; but when +Hartmut returned she was restored to her former state, although she still +persisted in refusing his passionate suit. Discouraged by her obstinacy, +the young man weakly consented to abandon her again to Gerlinda's tender +mercies. The princess was now made to labor harder than ever, and she and +Hildburg, her favorite companion and fellow captive, were daily sent down +to the shore to wash the royal linen. + +[Illustration: GUDRUN AND THE SWAN.--Kepler.] + +It was winter, the snow lay thick on the ground, and Gudrun and her +companion, barefooted and miserably clad, suffered untold agonies from the +cold. Besides, they were nearly exhausted, and the hope of rescue, which +had sustained them during the past twelve years, had almost forsaken them. +Their deliverance was near, however, and while Gudrun was washing on the +shore, a mermaid, in the guise of a swan, came gently near her and bade her +be of good cheer, for her sufferings would soon be at an end. + + "'Rejoice in hope,' then answered the messenger divine; + 'Thou poor and homeless maiden, great joy shall yet be thine. + If thou wilt ask for tidings from thy dear native land, + To comfort thee, great Heaven has sent me to this strand.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The swan maiden then informed her that her brother Ortwine had grown up, +and that he would soon come with brave old Wat and the longing Herwig to +deliver her. + +The next day, in spite of the increased cold, Gerlinda again roughly bade +the maidens go down to the shore and wash, refusing to allow them any +covering except one rough linen garment. + + "They then took up the garments and went upon their way. + 'May God let me,' said Gudrun, 'remind you of this day.' + With naked feet they waded there through the ice and snow: + The noble maids, all homeless, were filled with pain and woe." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's deliverance.] Gudrun and Hildburg had barely begun +their usual task, however, ere a small boat drew near, in which they +recognized Herwig and Ortwine. All unconscious of their identity at first, +the young men inquired about Gudrun. She herself, to test their affection, +replied that the princess was dead, and did not allow them to catch a +glimpse of her face until she beheld Herwig's emotion at these tidings, and +heard him protest that he would be faithful to her unto death. + + "There spoke the royal Herwig: 'As long as lasts my life, + I'll mourn for her; the maiden was to become my wife.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The lovers, who had been equally true, now fell into each other's arms. +Ortwine was overjoyed at finding his sister and her companion, having long +secretly loved the latter, so he poured out an avowal of his passion, and +won from Hildburg a promise to be his wife. The first moments of joyful +reunion over, Herwig would fain have carried Gudrun and Hildburg back to +camp with him; but Ortwine proudly declared that he had come to claim them +openly, and would bear them away from Normandy honorably, in the guise of +princesses, rather than by stealth. + +Promising to rescue them on the morrow, the young men took leave of the +maidens. Hildburg conscientiously finished her task, but Gudrun proudly +flung the linen into the sea and returned to the palace empty-handed, +saying that it did not become her to do any more menial labor, since she +had been kissed by two kings. Gerlinda, hearing her confess that she had +flung the linen into the sea, ordered her to be scourged; but when Gudrun +turned upon her and proudly announced that she would take her revenge on +the morrow, when she would preside over the banquet hall as queen, Gerlinda +concluded that she had decided to accept Hartmut. + +The mother, therefore, flew to him to impart the joyful tidings. In his +delight he would fain have embraced Gudrun, who, however, haughtily bade +him refrain from saluting a mere washerwoman. Becoming aware only then of +her sorry plight, the prince withdrew, sternly ordering that her maidens +should again be restored to her, that her every command should be fulfilled +as if she were already queen, and that all should treat her with the utmost +respect. These orders were executed without delay, and while Hartmut was +preparing for his wedding on the morrow, Gudrun, again clad in royal +attire, with her maidens around her, whispered the tidings of their coming +deliverance. Morning had barely dawned when Hildburg, gazing out of the +window, saw the castle entirely surrounded by the Hegelings' forces; and at +cockcrow old Wat's horn pealed forth a loud defiance, rousing the Normans +from pleasant dreams, and calling them to battle instead of to the +anticipated wedding. + + "The morning star had risen upon the heavens high, + When to the castle window a beauteous maid drew nigh, + In order to espy there and watch the break of day, + Whereby from royal Gudrun she would obtain rich pay. + + "There looked the noble maiden and saw the morning glow. + Reflected in the water, as it might well be so, + Were seen the shining helmets and many bucklers beaming. + The castle was surrounded; with arms the fields were gleaming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The battle was very fierce, and the poem enumerates many of the cuts and +thrusts given and received. Clashing swords and streams of gore now +monopolize the reader's attention. In the fray Herwig slew King Ludwig. +Gudrun was rescued by Hartmut from the hands of Gerlinda, who had just +bidden her servants put her to death, so that her friends should not take +her alive. Next the Norman prince met his rival and fought bravely. He was +about to succumb, however, when his sister Ortrun, who throughout had been +gentle and loving to Gudrun, implored her to save her brother's life. +Gudrun, touched by this request, called out of the casement to Herwig, who, +at a word from her, sheathed his sword, and contented himself with taking +Hartmut prisoner. + +[Sidenote: Death of Gerlinda.] The castle was duly plundered, the whole +town sacked, and Wat, bursting into the palace, began to slay all he met. +The women, in terror, then crowded around Gudrun, imploring her protection. +Among these were Ortrun and Gerlinda; but while Gudrun would have protected +the former at the cost of her life, she allowed Wat to kill the latter, who +had deserved such a death in punishment for all her cruelty. + +When the massacre was over, the victors celebrated their triumph by a grand +banquet, at which Gudrun, fulfilling her boast, actually presided as queen. + + "Now from the bitter contest the warriors rested all. + There came the royal Herwig into King Ludwig's hall, + Together with his champions, their gear with blood yet streaming. + Dame Gudrun well received him; her heart with love was teeming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +When the banquet was over, the Hegelings set sail, taking with them the +recovered maidens, all the spoil they had won, and their captives, Hartmut +and Ortrun; and on reaching Matelan they were warmly welcomed by Hilde, who +was especially rejoiced to see her daughter once more. + + "The queen drew near to Gudrun. Could any one outweigh + The joy they felt together, with any wealth or treasure? + When they had kissed each other their grief was changed to pleasure." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: A fourfold wedding.] Shortly after their return home a fourfold +wedding took place. Gudrun married her faithful Herwig, Ortwine espoused +Hildburg, Siegfried consoled himself for Gudrun's loss by taking the fair +Ortrun to wife, and Hartmut received with the hand of Hergart, Herwig's +sister, the restitution not only of his freedom but also of his kingdom. + +At the wedding banquet Horant, who, in spite of his advanced years, had +lost none of his musical skill, played the wedding march with such success +that the queens simultaneously flung their crowns at his feet,--an offering +which he smilingly refused, telling them that crowns were perishable, but +that the poet's song was immortal. + + "The aged minstrel drew his harp still closer to his breast, + Gazed at the jeweled coronets as this thought he expressed: + 'Fair queens, I bid you wear them until your locks turn gray; + Those crowns, alas! are fleeting, but song will live alway.'" + NIENDORF (H.A.G.'s tr.). + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +REYNARD THE FOX. + + +Among primitive races, as with children, animal stories are much enjoyed, +and form one of the first stages in literature. The oldest of these tales +current in the middle ages is the epic of Reineke Fuchs, or Reynard the +Fox. This poem was carried by the ancient Franks across the Rhine, became +fully acclimated in France, and then returned to Germany by way of +Flanders, where it was localized. + +After circulating from mouth to mouth almost all over Europe, during many +centuries, it was first committed to writing in the Netherlands, where the +earliest manuscript, dating from the eleventh or twelfth century, gives a +Latin version of the tale. + +[Sidenote: Origin of animal epics.] "The root of this saga lies in the +harmless natural simplicity of a primeval people. We see described the +delight which the rude child of nature takes in all animals,--in their slim +forms, their gleaming eyes, their fierceness, their nimbleness and cunning. +Such sagas would naturally have their origin in an age when the ideas of +shepherd and hunter occupied a great portion of the intellectual horizon of +the people; when the herdman saw in the ravenous bear one who was his +equal, and more than his equal, in force and adroitness, the champion of +the woods and wilds; when the hunter, in his lonely ramble through the +depths of the forest, beheld in the hoary wolf and red fox, as they stole +along,--hunters like himself,--mates, so to say, and companions, and whom +he therefore addressed as such.... So that originally this kind of poetry +was the exponent of a peculiar sort of feeling prevailing among the people, +and had nothing whatever to do with the didactic or satiric, although at a +later period satiric allusions began to be interwoven with it." + +The story has been rewritten by many poets and prose writers. It has been +translated into almost every European language, and was remodeled from one +of the old mediaeval poems by Goethe, who has given it the form in which it +will doubtless henceforth be known. His poem "Reineke Fuchs" has been +commented upon by Carlyle and translated by Rogers, from whose version all +the following quotations have been extracted. + +[Sidenote: The animals' assembly.] As was the custom among the Franks under +their old Merovingian rulers, the animals all assembled at Whitsuntide +around their king, Nobel the lion, who ruled over all the forest. This +assembly, like the Champ de Mars, its prototype, was convened not only for +the purpose of deciding upon the undertakings for the following year, but +also as a special tribunal, where all accusations were made, all complaints +heard, and justice meted out to all. The animals were all present, all +except Reynard the fox, who, it soon became apparent, was accused of many a +dark deed. Every beast present testified to some crime committed by him, +and all accused him loudly except his nephew, Grimbart the badger. + + "And yet there was one who was absent, + Reineke Fox, the rascal! who, deeply given to mischief, + Held aloof from half the Court. As shuns a bad conscience + Light and day, so the fox fought shy of the nobles assembled. + One and all had complaints to make, he had all of them injured; + Grimbart the badger, his brother's son, alone was excepted." + +[Sidenote: Complaints against Reynard.] The complaint was voiced by Isegrim +the wolf, who told with much feeling how cruelly Reynard had blinded three +of his beloved children, and how shamefully he had insulted his wife, the +fair lady Gieremund. This accusation had no sooner been formulated than +Wackerlos the dog came forward, and, speaking French, pathetically +described the finding of a little sausage in a thicket, and its purloining +by Reynard, who seemed to have no regard whatever for his famished +condition. + +The tomcat Hintze, who at the mere mention of a sausage had listened more +attentively, now angrily cried out that the sausage which Wackerlos had +lost belonged by right to him, as he had concealed it in the thicket after +stealing it from the miller's wife. He added that he too had had much to +suffer from Reynard, and was supported by the panther, who described how he +had once found the miscreant cruelly beating poor Lampe the hare. + + "Lampe he held by the collar, + Yes, and had certainly taken his life, if I by good fortune + Had not happened to pass by the road. There standing you see him. + Look and see the wounds of the gentle creature, whom no one + Ever would think of ill treating." + +[Sidenote: Vindication of Reynard.] The king, Nobel, was beginning to look +very stern as one after another rose to accuse the absent Reynard, when +Grimbart the badger courageously began to defend him, and artfully turned +the tables upon the accusers. Taking up their complaints one by one, he +described how Reynard, his uncle, once entered into partnership with +Isegrim. To obtain some fish which a carter was conveying to market, the +fox had lain as if dead in the middle of the road. He had been picked up by +the man for the sake of his fur, and tossed up on top of the load of fish. +But no sooner had the carter's back been turned than the fox sprang up, +threw all the fish down into the road to the expectant wolf, and only +sprang down himself when the cart was empty. The wolf, ravenous as ever, +devoured the fish as fast as they were thrown down, and when the fox +claimed his share of the booty he had secured, Isegrim gave him only the +bones.[1] [Footnote 1: For Russian version see Guerber's Contes et +Légendes, vol. i., p. 93.] + +Not content with cheating his ally once, the wolf had induced the fox to +steal a suckling pig from the larder of a sleeping peasant. With much +exertion the cunning Reynard had thrown the prize out of the window to the +waiting wolf; but when he asked for a portion of the meat as reward, he was +dismissed with nothing but the piece of wood upon which it had been hung. + +The badger further proceeded to relate that Reynard had wooed Gieremund +seven years before, when she was still unmated, and that if Isegrim chose +to consider that an insult, it was only on a par with the rest of his +accusations, for the king could readily see that Reynard was sorely injured +instead of being guilty. + +Then, encouraged by the favorable impression he had produced, Grimbart +airily disposed of the cases of Wackerlos and Hintze by proving that they +had both stolen the disputed sausage, after which he went on to say that +Reynard had undertaken to instruct Lampe the hare in psalmody, and that the +ill treatment which the panther had described was only a little wholesome +castigation inflicted by the teacher upon a lazy and refractory pupil. + + "Should not the master his pupil + Sometimes chastise when he will not observe, and is stubborn in evil? + If boys were never punished, were thoughtlessness always passed over, + Were bad behavior allowed, how would our juveniles grow up?" + +These plausible explanations were not without their effect, and when +Grimbart went on to declare that, ever since Nobel proclaimed a general +truce and amnesty among all the animals of the forest, Reynard had turned +hermit and spent all his time in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, the +complaint was about to be dismissed. + +[Sidenote: Story of Henning and the Cock.] Suddenly, however, Henning the +cock appeared, followed by his two sons, Kryant and Kantart, bearing the +mangled remains of a hen upon a bier. In broken accents the bereaved father +related how happily he had dwelt in a convent henyard, with the ten sons +and fourteen daughters which his excellent consort had hatched and brought +up in a single summer. His only anxiety had been caused by the constant +prowling of Reynard, who, however, had been successfully at a distance by +the watchdogs. But when the general truce had been proclaimed, the dogs +were dismissed. Reynard, in the garb of a monk, had made his way into the +henyard to show Henning the royal proclamation with the attached seal, and +to assure him of his altered mode of living. + +Thus reassured, Henning had led his family out into the forest, where, +alas! Reynard was lurking, and where he killed all but five of Henning's +promising brood. They had not only been killed, but devoured, with the +exception of Scratch-foot, whose mangled remains were laid at the monarch's +feet in proof of the crime, as was customary in the mediaeval courts of +justice. + +The king, angry that his truce should thus have been broken, and sorry for +the evident grief of the father, ordered a sumptuous funeral for the +deceased, and commanded that a stone should be placed upon her grave, +bearing the epitaph: + + "'Scratch-foot, daughter of Henning, the cock, the best of the hen + tribe. + Many an egg did she lay in her nest, and was skillful in scratching. + Here she lies, lost, alas! to her friends, by Reineke murdered. + All the world should know of his false and cruel behavior, + As for the dead they lament.' Thus ran the words that were + written." + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the Bear.] Then the king, having taken advice with +his council, solemnly bade Brown the bear proceed immediately to +Malepartus, Reynard's home, and summon him to appear at Reynard and court +forthwith, to answer the grave charges which had been made against him. But +he warned his messenger to behave circumspectly and to beware of the wiles +of the crafty fox. The bear rather resented these well-meant +recommendations, and, confidently asserting his ability to take care of +himself, set out for Reynard's abode. + +On his way to the mountains he was obliged to pass through an arid, sandy +waste, and reached Malepartus weary and overheated. Standing before the +fortress, which rejoiced in many labyrinthine passages, he loudly made +known his errand; and when Reynard, peeping cautiously out, had ascertained +that Brown was alone, he hastened out to welcome him. + +With great volubility the fox commiserated his long journey, and excused +the delay in admitting him under plea of an indisposition caused by eating +too much honey, a diet which he abhorred. + +At the mere mention of honey the bear forgot all his fatigue, and when his +host lamented the fact that he had nothing else to offer him, he joyfully +declared no food could suit him better, and that he could never get enough +of it. + + "'If that is so,' continued the Red one, 'I really can serve you, + For the peasant Rüsteviel lives at the foot of the mountain. + Honey he has, indeed, such that you and all of your kindred + Never so much together have seen.'" + +Oblivious of everything else at the thought of such a treat, Brown the bear +immediately set out in Reynard's company, and they soon came to the +peasant's yard, where a half-split tree trunk lay in full view. Reynard +then bade his companion thrust his nose well down into the hollow and eat +his fill of honey. As soon as he saw that the bear had thrust not only his +nose, but both fore paws, into the crack, Reynard cleverly removed the +wedges, the tree clapped together, and he left the bear a prisoner and +howling with pain. + +These sounds soon attracted the peasant's attention, and he and his +companions all fell upon the captive bear with every imaginable weapon, and +proceeded to give him a sound beating. Frantic with pain and terror, the +unfortunate bear finally succeeded in wrenching himself free, at the cost +of the skin on his nose and fore paws, and, after tumbling the fat cook +into the water, swam down the stream and landed in a thicket to bewail his +misfortunes. Here he was found by the fox, who added insult to injury by +making fun of him, and reproved him for his gluttony, until the bear again +plunged into the stream and swam away. + +[Illustration: BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG.--Wagner.] + +Then, painfully making his way back to Nobel, Brown presented himself at +court all bleeding and travel-stained, and poured forth a doleful account +of his mission. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the cat.] The king, after consulting with his +principal courtiers, declared it the right of any man to be thrice +summoned, and, conceding that the bear's manners were not of a conciliatory +nature, selected Hintze the cat to bear his message to Malepartus. The cat, +disheartened by unfavorable omens, was nevertheless compelled to go on this +unwelcome journey. + +Reynard welcomed him cordially, promised to accompany him to court on the +morrow, and then asked what kind of refreshment he could offer. When Hintze +had confessed his preference for mice, the fox replied that it was very +fortunate, as there were plenty of them in the parson's barn. Hintze +immediately asked to be led thither, that he might eat his fill. + + "'Pray do me the kindness + Hence to lead and show me the mice, for far above wild game + Give me a mouse for delicate flavor.'" + +Reynard then conducted Hintze to the parson's barn, and pointed out a +little opening through which he had passed to steal chickens, and where he +knew that Martin, the parson's son, had laid a trap to catch any intruder. +Hintze at first demurred, but, urged by Reynard, crept in and found himself +caught in a noose. Reynard, pretending to take the cat's moans for cries of +joy, banteringly inquired whether that was the way they sang at court, as +the caterwauling grew louder. + +These sounds finally reached the ears of little Martin, who, accompanied by +his father, came into the barn to catch the intruder. Poor Hintze, +frightened at the sight of the bludgeon the parson carried, flew at his +legs, scratching and biting him, until the saintly man fainted. Then, +taking advantage of the confusion, Hintze managed to slip out of the noose +and effect his escape. He returned to court minus one eye, and there poured +out the story of his wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the badger.] The wrath of the king was now terrible +to behold, and assembling his council, he bade them decide how he should +punish the wretch who had twice ill treated his messengers. Grimbart the +badger, seeing that public opinion was decidedly against his relative, now +begged that a third summons should be sent, and offered to carry the +message himself. He furthermore declared that, even according to their own +showing, the cat and bear had come to grief through their greediness; and +then he promptly departed. + +Grimbart found Reynard in the bosom of his family, delivered his message, +and frankly advised the fox to obey the king's summons and appear at court, +where, perchance, he might yet manage to save himself; while if he remained +at home the king would besiege his fortress and slay him and all his +family. Reynard listened favorably to this advice, and, after bidding his +wife a tender farewell, and committing his beloved children to her care, he +set out with Grimbart to go to court. + +On the way the recollection of his many transgressions began to lie very +heavily upon his heart. The fear of death quickened his conscience, and, +longing to make his peace with Heaven, he expressed a great wish to confess +his sins and receive absolution. As no priest was near at hand, he begged +Grimbart the badger to listen to him, and penitently confessed all the +misdeeds we have already recounted. He also added that he once bound +Isegrim to the rope of the convent bell at Elkinar, where his frantic +tugging rang the bell, until the monks, crowding around him, cudgeled him +severely. Reynard related, too, how he once induced Isegrim to enter the +priests' house through a window and crawl along some beams in search of ham +and bacon. As the wolf was carefully feeling his way, however, the +mischievous fox pushed him and made him fall on the sleeping people below, +who, awakening with a start, fell upon him and beat him. These and sundry +other sins having duly been confessed, the badger bade the fox chastise +himself with a switch plucked from the hedge, lay it down in the road, jump +over it thrice, and then meekly kiss that rod in token of obedience. Then +he pronounced Reynard absolved from his former sins, and admonished him to +lead an altered life in future. + + "'My uncle, take care that your future amendment + In good works be visible. Psalms you should read, and should visit + Churches with diligence; fast at the seasons duly appointed; + Him who asks you point out the way to; give to the needy + Willingly; swear to forsake all evil habits of living, + All kinds of theft and robbing, deceit and evil behavior. + Thus can you make quite sure that you will attain unto mercy!'" + +The fox solemnly promised amendment, and with sanctimonious mien continued +his journey. But as he and the badger passed a convent, and some plump hens +crossed their path, Reynard forgot all his promises and began to chase the +chickens. Sharply recalled to a sense of duty by Grimbart, Reynard +reluctantly gave up the chase, and the two proceeded without further +drawback to the court, where Reynard's arrival created a great sensation. + + "When at the Court it was known that Reineke really was coming, + Ev'ry one thronged out of doors to see him, the great and the little. + Few with friendly intent; for almost all were complaining. + This, however, in Reineke's mind was of little importance; + Thus he pretended, at least, as he with Grimbart the badger, + Boldly enough and with elegant mien now walked up the high street. + Jauntily swung he along at his ease, as if he were truly + Son of the king, and free and quit of ev'ry transgression. + Thus he came before Nobel the king, and stood in the palace + In the midst of the lords; he knew how to pose as unruffled." + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] With consummate skill and unparalleled +eloquence and impudence, Reynard addressed the king, lauding himself as a +faithful servant, and commiserating the fact that so many envious and +backbiting people were ready to accuse him. Nobel the king, in whose mind +the recollection of the treatment inflicted upon Brown the bear and Hintze +the cat was still very vivid, answered him sternly, and told him that it +would be difficult for him to acquit himself of those two charges, to say +nothing of the many others brought against him. Reynard, still undismayed, +demanded with well-feigned indignation whether he was to be held +responsible for the sins of those messengers whose misfortunes were +attributable to their gluttonous and thievish propensities only. + +[Sidenote: Reynard condemned to death.] But in spite of this specious +pleading, all the other animals came crowding around with so many grievous +charges that matters began to look very dark indeed for the fox. In spite +of all Reynard's eloquence, and of the fluent excuses ever on his tongue, +the council pronounced him guilty, and condemned him to die an ignominious +death. Reynard's enemies rejoiced at this sentence, and dragged him off +with cheerful alacrity to the gallows, where all the animals assembled to +witness his execution. + +On the way to the place of punishment Reynard tried to think of some plan +by means of which he could save himself even at the eleventh hour; and +knowing that some scheme would occur to him if he could only gain a little +time, he humbly implored permission to make a public confession of his +manifold sins ere he paid the penalty of his crimes. Anxious to hear all he +might have to say, the king granted him permission to speak; and the fox +began to relate at length the story of his early and innocent childhood, +his meeting and alliance with Isegrim the wolf, and his gradual induction +by him into crooked paths and evil ways. He told, too, how the cruel wolf, +presuming on his strength, had ever made use of it to deprive him, the fox, +of his rightful share of plunder; and concluded by saying that he would +often have suffered from hunger had it not been for the possession of a +great treasure of gold, which had sufficed for all his wants. + + "Thanks be to God, however, I never suffered from hunger; + Secretly have I fed well by means of that excellent treasure, + All of silver and gold in a secret place that securely + Hidden I keep; with this I've enough. And, I say it in earnest, + Not a wagon could carry it off, though sevenfold loaded." + +At the word "treasure" Nobel pricked up his ears and bade Reynard relate +how this hoard was obtained and where it was concealed. The artful fox, +seeing the king's evident interest, rapidly prepared more lies, and, +speaking to the king and queen, declared that ere he died it would be +better for him to reveal the carefully guarded secret of a conspiracy which +would have resulted in the king's death had it not been for his devotion. + +The queen, shuddering at the mere thought of the danger her royal consort +had run, now begged that Reynard might step down from the scaffold and +speak privately to her and to Nobel. In this interview Reynard, still +pretending to prepare for immediate death, told how he discovered a +conspiracy formed by his father, Isegrim the wolf, Brown the bear, and many +others, to slay the king and seize the scepter. He described the various +secret conferences, the measures taken, and his father's promise to defray +all the expenses of the enterprise and to subsidize mercenary troops by +means of the hoard of King Ermenrich, which he had discovered and concealed +for his own use. + +Reynard then continued to describe his loyal fears for his beloved +sovereign, his resolve to outwit the conspirators, and his efforts to +deprive them of the sinews of war by discovering and abstracting the +treasure. Thanks to his ceaseless vigilance, he saw his father steal forth +one night, uncover his hoard, gloat over the gold, and then efface the +traces of his search with the utmost skill. + + "'Nor could one, + Not having seen, have possibly known. And ere he went onwards + Well he understood at the place where his feet had been planted, + Cleverly backwards and forwards to draw his tail, and to smooth it, + And to efface the trace with the aid of his mouth.'" + +Reynard then told the king how diligently he and his wife, Ermelyn, labored +to remove the gold and conceal it elsewhere, and how the conspiracy came to +naught when no gold was found to pay the troops. He mournfully added that +his loyalty further deprived him of a loving father, for the latter had +hung himself in despair when he found his treasure gone and all his plans +frustrated. With hypocritical tears he then bewailed his own fate, saying +that, although ready to risk all for another, there was no one near him to +speak a good word for him in his time of bitterest need. + +[Sidenote: Reynard Pardoned.] The queen's soft heart was so touched by +this display of feeling that she soon pleaded for and obtained Reynard's +pardon from Nobel, who freely granted it when the fox promised to give him +his treasure. Most accurately now he described its place of concealment, +but said that he could not remain at court, as his presence there was an +insult to royalty, seeing that he was under the Pope's ban and must make a +pilgrimage ere it could be removed. + +The king, after imprisoning Isegrim, Brown, and Hintze (the chief +conspirators according to Reynard's tale), and ascertaining that the place +the fox so accurately described really existed, bade Reynard depart, and at +his request procured for him a fragment of Brown's hide to make a wallet, +and a pair of socks from Isegrim and his wife, who were very loath to part +with their foot covering. The king, queen, and court then accompanied +Reynard a short way on the first stage of his journey, and turned back, +leaving Bellyn the ram and Lampe the hare to escort him a little farther. +These innocent companions accompanied Reynard to Malepartus, and while +Bellyn waited patiently without, Lampe entered the house with Reynard. Lady +Ermelyn and her two young sons greeted Reynard with joy, listened +breathlessly to the account of his adventures, and then helped him to slay +and eat Lampe, who, he declared, had brought all these evils upon him. + +Reynard and his family feasted upon the body of poor Lampe the hare, whose +head was then securely fastened in the wallet made of Brown's skin. This +the fox carefully carried out and placed upon Bellyn's back, assuring him +volubly the while that it contained important dispatches, and that in order +to insure him a suitable reward for his good offices he had told Nobel the +king that the ram had given him valuable assistance in preparing the +contents of the wallet. + + "'Yet, as soon as you see the king, and to still better favor + Wish to attain with him, 'twere well to bring to his notice + That you have sagely given advice in composing the letters, + Yea, and the writer have help'd.'" + +Thus instructed, and reassured concerning the absence of Lampe, whom +Reynard described as enjoying a chat with Ermelyn, Bellyn bounded off to +court, where he did not fail to vaunt that he had helped Reynard prepare +the contents of the wallet. Nobel publicly opened it, and when he drew out +Lampe's bleeding head his anger knew no bounds. Following the advice of his +courtiers, Bellyn, in spite of all his protestations, was given in +atonement to the bear and the wolf, who the king now feared had been +unjustly treated. They were then released from imprisonment and reinstated +to royal favor, and twelve days of festivity ensued. + +[Sidenote: Reynard again in disgrace.] In the midst of the dance and +revelry a bloody rabbit appeared to accuse Reynard of tearing off one of +his ears, while the garrulous crow, Merkinau, related how the same +unscrupulous wretch had pretended death merely to befool Sharfenebbe, his +wife, and induce her to come near enough for him to bite off her head. +Nobel the king, upon hearing these complaints, immediately swore that +within six days he would besiege Reynard in his castle, would take him +prisoner, and would make him suffer the penalty of his crimes. + +Isegrim the wolf and Brown the bear rejoiced at these tidings, while +Grimbart the badger, seeing the peril his uncle had incurred, hastened off +secretly to Malepartus to warn him of his danger and support him by his +advice. He found Reynard sitting complacently in front of his house, +contemplating two young doves which he had just secured as they were making +their first attempt to fly. Grimbart breathlessly related the arrival of +Bellyn, the royal indignation at the sight of Lampe's head, and the plan +for surrounding and capturing Reynard in his safe retreat. + +[Sidenote: Grimbart's advice.] In spite of this disquieting news Reynard's +composure did not desert him; but after vowing that he could easily acquit +himself of these crimes if he could only win the king's ear for a moment, +he invited his kinsman to share his meal and taste the delicate morsels he +had secured. Grimbart the badger, seeing that the fox was not inclined to +flee, now advised him not to await the king's coming and expose his wife +and children to the horrors of a siege, but boldly to return to court. + + "'Go with assurance before the lords, and put the best face on + Your affairs. They will give you a hearing. Lupardus was also + Willing you should not be punish'd before you had fully + Made your defense, and the queen herself was not otherwise minded. + Mark this fact, and try to make use of it.'" + +Once more Reynard bade a tender farewell to his wife and sons, resisting +all the former's entreaties to seek safety in flight, and, relying upon his +cunning, set out with Grimbart to visit the court. On his way he again +pretended repentance for his former sins, and resuming his confession at +the point where he had broken off, he told how maliciously he had secured a +piece of the bear's hide for a wallet, and socks from Isegrim and his wife. +He then went on to relate just how he had murdered Lampe, charged the +innocent Bellyn with the ambiguous message which had cost him his life, +torn off one of the rabbit's ears, and eaten the crow's wife. Lastly, he +confessed how he had gone out in company with the wolf, who, being hungry +and seeing a mare with a little foal, had bidden Reynard inquire at what +price she would sell it. The mare retorted that the price was written on +her hoof. The sly fox, understanding her meaning, yet longing to get his +companion into trouble, pretended not to know how to read, and sent the +wolf to ascertain the price. The result was, of course, disastrous, for the +mare kicked so hard that the wolf lay almost dead for several hours after. + + "So he went and asked the lady, 'What price is the filly? + Make it cheap.' Whereupon she replied, 'You've only to read it; + There you will find the sum inscribed on one of my hind feet.' + 'Let me look,' continued the wolf; and she answered, 'With + pleasure.' + + "Then she lifted upwards her foot from the grass; it was studded + With six nails. She struck straight out, and not by a hair's + breadth + Missed she her mark. She struck on his head, and straightway he + fell down, + Lying as dumb as the dead." + +Waxing more and more eloquent as they drew nearer court and his fears +increased, Reynard began to moralize. He excused himself for Lampe's murder +on the plea of the latter's aggravating behavior, said that the king +himself was nothing but a robber living by rapine, and proceeded to show +how even the priests were guilty of manifold sins, which he enumerated with +much gusto. + +They had scarcely finished this edifying conversation when they came across +Martin the ape, on his way to Rome; and Reynard hastened to implore him to +secure his release from the Pope's ban, through the intercession of the +ape's uncle, the cardinal, whose interest it was to serve him. Martin the +ape not only promised his good offices at the papal court, but bade Reynard +not hesitate to consult his wife should he find himself in any predicament +at court. + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] Thus supported, Reynard again made his +appearance at court, to the utter amazement and surprise of all; and +although, he was well aware that his situation was more dangerous than +ever, his assurance did not seem at all impaired. Kneeling with pretended +humility before the king, he artfully began his address by lamenting the +fact that there were so many unscrupulous people ever ready to accuse the +innocent; and when the king angrily interrupted him to accuse him of +maiming the rabbit and devouring the crow, he began his defense. + +First Reynard explained that since Martin the ape had undertaken to free +him from his ban, his journey to Rome was of course unnecessary. Then he +related how the rabbit, dining at his house, had insulted and quarreled +with his children, from whose clutches he had had much trouble to save him. +The crow's death was caused by a fish bone she had swallowed. Bellyn, the +traitor, had slain Lampe himself, and evidently put his head in the wallet +instead of some treasures which Reynard had intrusted to their care for the +king and queen. + +[Sidenote: The ape's intercession.] The king, who had listened impatiently +to all this discourse, angrily retired, refusing to believe a word, while +Reynard sought the ape's wife, Frau Rückenau, and bade her intercede for +him. She entered the royal tent, reminded the king of her former services, +and seeing his mood somewhat softened, ventured to mention how cleverly +Reynard once helped him to judge between the rival claims of a shepherd and +a serpent. The latter, caught in a noose and about to die, had implored a +passing shepherd to set it free. The peasant had done so after exacting a +solemn oath from the serpent to do him no harm. But the serpent, once +released, and suffering from the pangs of hunger, threatened to devour the +peasant. The latter called the raven, wolf, and bear, whom he met by the +way, to his aid; but as they all hoped to get a share of him, they all +decided in favor of the serpent's claim to eat him. + +The case by this time had become so intricate that it was laid before the +king, who, unable to judge wisely, called Reynard to his aid. The fox +declared that he could only settle so difficult a matter when plaintiff and +defendant had assumed the relative positions which they occupied at the +time of dispute. Then when the snake was safely in the noose once more, +Reynard decided that, knowing the serpent's treachery, the peasant might +again set him loose, but need not do so unless he chose. + + "'Here now is each of the parties + Once again in his former state, nor has either the contest + Won or lost. The right, I think, of itself is apparent. + For if it pleases the man, he again can deliver the serpent + Out of the noose; if not, he may let her remain and be hang'd there. + Free he may go on his way with honor and see to his business, + Since she has proved herself false, when she had accepted his kindness; + Fairly the man has the choice. This seems to me to be justice, + True to the spirit. Let him who understands better declare it.'" + +[Illustration: REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE.--Kaulbach.] + +The king, remembering this celebrated judgment, and skillfully reminded by +Frau Rückenau of the bear's and the wolf's rapacity, consented at last to +give Reynard a second hearing. The fox now minutely described the treasures +he sent to court,--a magic ring for the king, and a comb and mirror for the +queen. Not only was the fable of the judgment of Paris engraved on the +latter, but also that of the jealous donkey, who, imitating his master's +lapdog, and trying to climb into his lap, received nothing but blows. There +was also the story of the cat and the fox, of the wolf and the crane, and, +lastly, the account of the miraculous way in which his father, a noted +leech, had saved Nobel's sire by making him eat the flesh of a wolf just +seven years old. + +The pleader then reminded the king of a noted hunting party, where Isegrim, +having secured a boar, gave the king one quarter, the queen another, +reserved a half for himself, and gave the fox nothing but the head. This +division was of course very disloyal, and the fox showed that he thought so +by dividing a calf more equitably; i.e., giving the queen one half, the +king the other, the heart and liver to the princes, the head to the wolf, +and reserving only the feet for himself. + +[Sidenote: Duel between the fox and the wolf.] Reynard prided himself upon +these tokens of loyalty, and then, seeing that he had made a favorable +impression, he volunteered, in spite of his small size, to meet the wolf in +battle and leave the vindication of his claims to the judgment of God. This +magnanimous behavior filled the king with admiration, and the trial was +appointed for the following day, the intervening hours being granted to +both combatants for preparation. Reynard, still advised by Frau Rückenau, +was shaved smooth, rubbed with butter until he was as slippery as could be, +and instructed to feign fear and run fleetly in front of the wolf, kicking +up as much sand as possible, and using his brush to dash it into his +opponent's eyes and thus blind him. + +The combat took place. The wolf, blinded by the sand in his eyes, was so +infuriated that he finally pounced upon the fox, who, however, managed yet +to get the upper hand and come off victor, generously granting life to his +foe, whom he had nearly torn and scratched to pieces. Reynard, having thus +won the victory, enjoyed the plaudits of the crowd, while the wolf, being +vanquished, was publicly derided, and borne off by his few remaining +friends to be nursed back to health, if possible. + + "Such is ever the way of the world. They say to the lucky, + 'Long may you live in good health,' and friends he finds in abundance. + When, however, ill fortune befalls him, alone he must bear it. + Even so was it here; each one of them wish'd to the victor + Nearest to be, to show himself off." + +[Sidenote: Reynard's acquittal.] The king pronounced Reynard guiltless of +all charges, and made him one of his privy councilors. But the fox, after +thanking the king for his favors, humbly besought permission to return +home, where his wife was awaiting him, and departed, escorted by a +deputation of his friends. + +According to some versions of the tale, Reynard contented himself with +blinding the wolf and maiming him for life; according to others, he bided +his time, and when the king was ill, told him that nothing could save him +short of the heart of a wolf just seven years old. Of course no wolf of the +exact age could be found but Isegrim, so he was sacrificed to save the +king, who recovered. As for Reynard, he enjoyed great honor as long as he +lived, and his adventures have long been the delight of the people, whom +his tricks never failed to amuse. + + "Highly honor'd is Reineke now! To wisdom let all men + Quickly apply them, and flee what is evil, and reverence virtue! + This is the end and aim of the song, and in it the poet + Fable and truth hath mixed, whereby the good from the evil + Ye may discern, and wisdom esteem; and thereby the buyers + Of this book in the ways of the world may be daily instructed. + For it was so created of old, and will ever remain so. + Thus is our poem of Reineke's deeds and character ended. + May God bring us all to eternal happiness. Amen!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +THE NIBELUNGENLIED. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of Poem.] Germany's greatest epic is, without doubt, the +ancient poem entitled "Nibelungenlied," or the "Lay," "Fall," or "Calamity +of the Nibelungs." Although nothing certain is known concerning the real +authorship of this beautiful work, it is supposed to have been put into its +present form either by the Austrian minstrel von Kürenberg or by the German +poet von Ofterdingen, some time previous to the year 1210, the date +inscribed on the oldest manuscript of that poem now extant. + +According to the best authorities on ancient German literature, the +"Nibelungenlied" is compiled from preëxisting songs and rhapsodies, forming +five distinct cycles of myths, but all referring in some way to the great +treasure of the Nibelungs. One of these cycles is the northern Volsunga +Saga,[1] where Sigurd, Gudrun, Gunnar, Högni, and Atli, the principal +characters, correspond to Siegfried, Kriemhild, Gunther, Hagen, and Etzel +of the "Nibelungenlied." The story of the German poem, which can be given +only in outline, is as follows: [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of +Northern Lands, p. 225.] + +Dankrat and Ute, King and Queen of Burgundy, were the fortunate parents of +four children: three sons, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher; and one beautiful +daughter, Kriemhild. When the king died, his eldest son, Gunther, succeeded +him, and reigned wisely and well, residing at Worms on the Rhine, his +capital and favorite city. + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's dream.] As was customary in those days, Kriemhild +lived a peaceful and secluded life, rarely leaving her mother's palace and +protection. But one night her slumbers, which were usually very peaceful, +were disturbed by a tormenting dream, which, upon awaking, she hastened to +confide to her mother, thinking that, as Ute was skilled in magic and +dreams, she might give a favorable interpretation and thus rid her of her +haunting fears. + + "A dream was dreamt by Kriemhild, the virtuous and the gay, + How a wild young falcon she train'd for many a day, + Till two fierce eagles tore it." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Ute declared that the falcon her daughter had seen in her dream must be +some noble prince, whom she would love and marry; while the two eagles were +base murderers, who would eventually slay her beloved. Instead of +reassuring Kriemhild, this interpretation only saddened her the more, and +made her loudly protest that she would rather forego all the joys of +married estate than have to mourn for a beloved husband. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's home.] In those days there flourished farther down +the Rhine the kingdom of the Netherlands, governed by Siegmund and +Siegelind. They were very proud of their only son and heir, young +Siegfried, who had already reached man's estate. To celebrate his +knighthood a great tournament was held at Xanten on the Rhine, and in the +jousting the young prince won all the laurels, although great and tried +warriors matched their skill against his in the lists. + +The festivities continued for seven whole days, and when the guests +departed they were all heavily laden with the costly gifts which the king +and queen had lavished upon them. + + "The gorgeous feast it lasted till the seventh day was o'er. + Siegelind, the wealthy, did as they did of yore; + She won for valiant Siegfried the hearts of young and old, + When for his sake among them she shower'd the ruddy gold. + + "You scarce could find one needy in all the minstrel band; + Horses and robes were scatter'd with ever-open hand. + They gave as though they had not another day to live; + None were to take so ready as they inclin'd to give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +After the departure of all these guests, young Siegfried sought his +parents' presence, told them that he had heard rumors of the beauty and +attractions of Kriemhild of Burgundy, and declared his wish to journey +thither to secure her as his wife. + +In vain the fond parents tried to prevail upon him to remain quietly at +home; the young hero insisted so strongly that he finally won their consent +to his immediate departure. With eleven companions, all decked out in the +richest garments that the queen's chests could furnish, the young prince +rode down the Rhine, and reached Worms on the seventh day. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's arrival in Burgundy.] The arrival of the gallant +little troop was soon noted by Gunther's subjects, who hastened out to meet +the strangers and help them dismount. Siegfried immediately requested to be +brought into the presence of their king, who, in the mean while, had +inquired of his uncle, Hagen, the names and standing of the newcomers. +Glancing down from the great hall window, Hagen said that the leader must +be Siegfried, the knight who had slain the owners of the Nibelungen hoard +and appropriated it for his own use, as well as the magic cloud-cloak, or +Tarnkappe, which rendered its wearer invisible to mortal eyes.[1] He added +that this same Siegfried was ruler of the Nibelungen land, and the slayer +of a terrible dragon, whose blood had made him invulnerable, and he +concluded by advising Gunther to receive him most courteously. [Footnote 1: +For various legends of this cycle see Guerber's Legends of the Rhine, +article Xanten.] + + "Yet more I know of Siegfried, that well your ear may hold: + A poison-spitting dragon he slew with courage bold, + And in the blood then bath'd him; thus turn'd to horn his skin, + And now no weapons harm him, as often proved has been. + + "Receive then this young hero with all becoming state; + 'Twere ill advis'd to merit so fierce a champion's hate. + So lovely is his presence, at once all hearts are won, + And then his strength and courage such wondrous deeds have done." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to this advice, Gunther went to meet Siegfried and politely +inquired the cause of his visit. Imagine his dismay, therefore, when +Siegfried replied that he had come to test the Burgundian's vaunted +strength, and to propose a single combat, in which the victor might claim +the lands and allegiance of the vanquished. Gunther recoiled from such a +proposal, and as none of his warriors seemed inclined to accept the +challenge, he and his brother hastened to disarm Siegfried's haughty mood +by their proffers of unbounded hospitality. + +Siegfried sojourned for nearly a year at Gunther's court, displaying his +skill in all martial exercises; and although he never caught a glimpse of +the fair maiden Kriemhild, she often admired his strength and manly beauty +from behind the palace lattice. + +[Sidenote: War with the Saxons and Danes.] One day the games were +interrupted by the arrival of a herald announcing that Ludeger, King of the +Saxons, and Ludegast, King of Denmark, were about to invade Burgundy. These +tidings filled Gunther's heart with terror, for the enemy were very +numerous and their valor was beyond all question. But when Hagen hinted +that perhaps Siegfried would lend them a helping hand, the King of Burgundy +seized the suggestion with joy. + +As soon as Siegfried was made aware of the threatened invasion he declared +that if Gunther would only give him one thousand brave men he would repel +the foe. This offer was too good to refuse; so Gunther hastily assembled a +chosen corps, in which were his brothers Gernot and Giselher, Hagen and his +brother Dankwart, Ortwine, Sindolt, and Volker,--all men of remarkable +valor. + + "'Sir king,' said noble Siegfried, 'here sit at home and play, + While I and your vassals are fighting far away; + Here frolic with the ladies and many a merry mate, + And trust to me for guarding your honor and estate.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +This little force, only one thousand strong, then marched bravely out of +Worms, passed through Hesse, and entered Saxony, where it encountered the +enemy numbering no less than twenty thousand valiant fighting men. The +battle was immediately begun; and while all fought bravely, none did such +wonders as Siegfried, who made both kings prisoners, routed their host, and +returned triumphant to Worms, with much spoil and many captives. + +A messenger had preceded him thither to announce the success of the +expedition, and he was secretly summoned and questioned by Kriemhild, who, +in her joy at hearing that Siegfried was unharmed and victorious, gave the +messenger a large reward. + + "Then spake she midst her blushes, 'Well hast thou earn'd thy meed, + Well hast thou told thy story, so take thee costliest weed, + And straight I'll bid be brought thee ten marks of ruddy gold.' + No wonder, to rich ladies glad news are gladly told." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Celebration of Siegfried's victory.] Kriemhild then hastened to +her window, from whence she witnessed her hero's triumphant entrance, and +heard the people's acclamations of joy. The wounded were cared for, the +captive kings hospitably entertained and duly released, and great +festivities were held to celebrate the glorious victory. Among other +entertainments the knights tilted in the tournaments, and, by Gernot's +advice, Ute, Kriemhild, and all the court ladies were invited to view the +prowess of the men at arms. It was thus that Siegfried first beheld +Kriemhild, and as soon as he saw her he gladly acknowledged that she was +fairer than he could ever have supposed. + + "As the moon arising outglitters every star + That through the clouds so purely glimmers from afar, + E'en so love-breathing Kriemhild dimm'd every beauty nigh. + Well might at such a vision many a bold heart beat high." + _Nibelungenlied_ {Lettsom's tr.}. + +Siegfried's happiness was complete, however, when he was appointed the +escort of this peerless maiden; and on the way to and from the tournament +and mass he made good use of his opportunity to whisper pretty speeches to +Kriemhild, who timidly expressed her gratitude for the service he had +rendered her brother, and begged that he would continue to befriend him. +These words made Siegfried blush with pride, and then and there he +registered a solemn vow to fulfill her request. + + "'Ever,' said he, 'your brethren I'll serve as best I may, + Nor once, while I have being, will head on pillow lay + Till I have done to please them whate'er they bid me do; + And this, my Lady Kriemhild, is all for love of you.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The festivities being ended, Gunther bestowed many gifts on the departing +guests; but when Siegfried would also have departed he entreated him to +remain at Worms. This the young hero was not at all loath to do, as he had +fallen deeply in love with the fair Kriemhild, whom he was now privileged +to see every day. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild.] The excitement consequent on the festivities had not +entirely subsided in Worms when King Gunther declared his desire to win for +his wife Brunhild, a princess of Issland, who had vowed to marry none but +the man who could surpass her in casting a spear, in throwing a stone, and +in jumping. + + "Then spake the lord of Rhineland: 'Straight will I hence to sea, + And seek the fiery Brunhild, howe'er it go with me. + For love of the stern maiden I'll frankly risk my life; + Ready am I to lose it, if I win her not to wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In vain Siegfried, who knew all about Brunhild, tried to dissuade him; +Gunther insisted upon departing, but proposed to Siegfried to accompany +him, promising him as reward for his assistance Kriemhild's hand as soon as +the princess of Issland was won. Such an offer was not to be refused, and +Siegfried immediately accepted it, advising Gunther to take only Hagen and +Dankwart as his attendants. + +[Sidenote: The expedition to Issland.] After seeking the aid of Kriemhild +for a supply of rich clothing suitable for a prince going a-wooing, Gunther +and the three knights embarked on a small vessel, whose sails soon filled, +and which rapidly bore them flown the Rhine and over the sea to Issland. +When within sight of its shores, Siegfried bade his companions all +carefully agree in representing him to the strangers as Gunther's vassal +only. Their arrival was seen by some inquisitive damsels peering out of the +windows of the castle, and reported to Brunhild, who immediately and +joyfully concluded that Siegfried had come to seek her hand in marriage. +But when she heard that he held another man's stirrup to enable him to +mount, she angrily frowned, wondering why he came as a menial instead of as +a king. When the strangers entered her hall she would have greeted +Siegfried first had he not modestly drawn aside, declaring that the honor +was due to his master, Gunther, King of Burgundy, who had come to Issland +to woo her. + +Brunhild then haughtily bade her warriors make all the necessary +preparations for the coming contest; and Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart +apprehensively watched the movements of four warriors staggering beneath +the weight of Brunhild's ponderous shield. Then they saw three others +equally overpowered by her spear; and twelve sturdy servants could scarcely +roll the stone she was wont to cast. + +Hagen and Dankwart, fearing for their master,--who was doomed to die in +case of failure,--began to mutter that some treachery was afoot, and openly +regretted that they had consented to lay aside their weapons upon entering +the castle. These remarks, overheard by Brunhild, called forth her scorn, +and she contemptuously bade her servants bring the strangers' arms, since +they were afraid. + + "Well heard the noble maiden the warrior's words the while, + And looking o'er her shoulder, said with a scornful smile, + 'As he thinks himself so mighty, I'll not deny a guest; + Take they their arms and armor, and do as seems them best. + + "'Be they naked and defenseless, or sheath'd in armor sheen, + To me it nothing matters,' said the haughty queen. + 'Fear'd yet I never mortal, and, spite of yon stern brow + And all the strength of Gunther, I fear as little now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siegfried and the Tarnkappe.] While these preliminaries were +being settled, Siegfried had gone down to the ship riding at anchor, and +all unseen had donned his magic cloud-cloak and returned to the scene of +the coming contest, where he now bade Gunther rely upon his aid. + + "'I am Siegfried, thy trusty friend and true; + Be not in fear a moment for all the queen can do.' + + "Said he, 'Off with the buckler, and give it me to bear; + Now what I shall advise thee, mark with thy closest care. + Be it thine to make the gestures, and mine the work to do.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to these directions, Gunther merely made the motions, +depending upon the invisible Siegfried to parry and make all the attacks. +Brunhild first poised and flung her spear with such force that both heroes +staggered and almost fell; but before she could cry out victory, Siegfried +had caught the spear, turned it butt end foremost, and flung it back with +such violence that the princess fell and was obliged to acknowledge herself +outdone. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild's defeat.] Nothing daunted, however, by this first +defeat, she caught up the massive stone, flung it far from her, and leaping +after it, alighted beside it. But even while she was inwardly +congratulating herself, and confidently cherishing the belief that the +stranger could not surpass her, Siegfried caught up the stone, flung it +farther still, and grasping Gunther by his broad girdle, bounded through +the air with him and landed far beyond it. Brunhild was outdone in all +three feats, and, according to her own promise, belonged to the victor, +Gunther, to whom she now bade her people show all due respect and homage. + + "Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band, + Seeing in the ring at distance unharm'd her wooer stand: + 'Hither, my men and kinsmen, low to my better bow. + I am no more your mistress; you're Gunther's liegemen now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Illustration: GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE.--Keller.] + +The warriors all hastened to do her bidding, and escorted their new lord to +the castle, whither, under pretext of fitly celebrating her marriage, +Brunhild summoned all her retainers from far and near. This rally roused +the secret terror of Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart, for they suspected some +act of treachery on the part of the dark-browed queen. These fears were +also, in a measure, shared by Siegfried; so he stole away, promising to +return before long with a force sufficient to overawe Brunhild and quell +all attempt at foul play. + +Siegfried, having hastily embarked upon the little vessel, swiftly sailed +away to the Nibelungen land, where he arrived in an incredibly short space +of time, presented himself at the gates of his castle, and forced an +entrance by conquering the giant porter, and Alberich, the dwarf guardian +of his treasure. Then making himself known to his followers, the Nibelungs, +he chose one thousand of them to accompany him back to Issland to support +the Burgundian king. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Gunther and Brunhild.] The arrival of this +unexpected force greatly surprised Brunhild. She questioned Gunther, and +upon receiving the careless reply that they were only a few of his +followers, who had come to make merry at his wedding, she gave up all hope +of resistance. When the usual festivities had taken place, and the wonted +largesses had been distributed, Gunther bade his bride prepare to follow +him back to the Rhine with her personal female attendants, who numbered no +less than one hundred and sixty-eight. + +Brunhild regretfully left her own country, escorted by the thousand +Nibelung warriors; and when they had journeyed nine days, Gunther bade +Siegfried spur ahead and announce his safe return to his family and +subjects. Offended by the tone of command Gunther had assumed, Siegfried at +first proudly refused to obey; but when the king begged it as a favor, and +mentioned Kriemhild's name, he immediately relented and set out. + + "Said he, 'Nay, gentle Siegfried, do but this journey take, + Not for my sake only, but for my sister's sake; + You'll oblige fair Kriemhild in this as well as me.' + When so implored was Siegfried, ready at once was he. + + "'Whate'er you will, command me; let naught be left unsaid; + I will gladly do it for the lovely maid. + How can I refuse her who my heart has won? + For her, whate'er your pleasure, tell it, and it is done.'" + _Nibelunglied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Kriemhild received this messenger most graciously, and gave immediate +orders for a magnificent reception of the new queen, going down to the +river to meet and greet her in the most cordial and affectionate manner. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Siegfried and Kriemhild.] A tournament and banquet +ensued; but as they were about to sit down to the latter, the impatient +Siegfried ventured to remind Gunther of his promise, and claim the hand of +Kriemhild. In spite of a low-spoken remonstrance on Brunhild's part, who +said that he would surely never consent to give his only sister in marriage +to a menial, Gunther sent for Kriemhild, who blushingly expressed her +readiness to marry Siegfried if her brother wished. The marriage was +immediately celebrated, and the two bridal couples sat side by side. But +while Kriemhild's fair face was radiant with joy, Brunhild's dark brows +were drawn close together in an unmistakable and ominous frown. + +[Sidenote: Gunther's humiliation.] The banquet over, the newly married +couples retired; but when Gunther, for the first time alone with his wife, +would fain have embraced her, she seized him, and, in spite of his vigorous +resistance, bound him fast with her long girdle, suspended him from a nail +in the corner of her apartment, and, notwithstanding his piteous +entreaties, let him remain there all night long, releasing him only a few +moments before the attendants entered the nuptial chamber in the morning. +Of course all seemed greatly surprised to see Gunther's lowering +countenance, which contrasted oddly with Siegfried's radiant mien; for the +latter had won a loving wife, and, to show his appreciation of her, had +given her as wedding gift the great Nibelungen hoard. + +In the course of the day Gunther managed to draw Siegfried aside, and +secretly confided to him the shameful treatment he had received at his +wife's hands. When Siegfried heard this he offered to don his cloud-cloak +once more, enter the royal chamber unperceived, and force Brunhild to +recognize her husband as her master, and never again make use of her +strength against him. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild subdued by Siegfried.] In pursuance of this promise +Siegfried suddenly left Kriemhild's side at nightfall, stole unseen into +the queen's room, and when she and Gunther had closed the door, he blew out +the lights and wrestled with Brunhild until she begged for mercy, promising +never to bind him again; for as Siegfried had remained invisible throughout +the struggle, she thought it was Gunther who had conquered her. + + "Said she, 'Right noble ruler, vouchsafe my life to spare; + Whatever I've offended, my duty shall repair. + I'll meet thy noble passion; my love with thine shall vie. + That thou canst tame a woman, none better knows than I.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Still unperceived, Siegfried now took her girdle and ring, and stole out of +the apartment, leaving Gunther alone with his wife; but, true to her +promise, Brunhild ever after treated her husband with due respect, and +having once for all been conquered, she entirely lost the fabulous strength +which had been her proudest boast, and was no more powerful than any other +member of her sex. + +After fourteen days of rejoicing, Siegfried and Kriemhild (the latter +escorted by her faithful steward Eckewart) journeyed off to Xanten on the +Rhine, where Siegmund and Siegelind received them joyfully, and even +abdicated in their favor. + +Ten years passed away very rapidly indeed. Siegfried became the father of a +son, whom he named Gunther, in honor of his brother-in-law, who had called +his heir Siegfried; and when Siegelind had seen her little grandson she +departed from this world. Siegfried, with Kriemhild, his father, and his +son, then went to the Nibelungen land, where they tarried two years. + +In the mean while Brunhild, still imagining that Siegfried was only her +husband's vassal, secretly wondered why he never came to court to do homage +for his lands, and finally suggested to Gunther that it would be well to +invite his sister and her husband to visit them at Worms. Gunther seized +this suggestion gladly, and immediately sent one of his followers, Gary, to +deliver the invitation, which Siegfried accepted for himself and his wife, +and also for Siegmund, his father. + +As they were bidden for midsummer, and as the journey was very long, +Kriemhild speedily began her preparations; and when she left home she +cheerfully intrusted her little son to the care of the stalwart Nibelung +knights, little suspecting that she would never see him again. + +On Kriemhild's arrival at Worms, Brunhild greeted her with as much pomp and +ceremony as had been used for her own reception; but in spite of the amity +which seemed to exist between the two queens, Brunhild was secretly angry +at what she deemed Kriemhild's unwarrantable arrogance. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild and Kreimhild.] One day, when the two queens were +sitting together, Brunhild, weary of hearing Kriemhild's constant praise of +her husband, who she declared was without a peer in the world, cuttingly +remarked that since he was Gunther's vassal he must necessarily be his +inferior. This remark called forth a retort from Kriemhild, and a dispute +was soon raging, in the course of which Kriemhild vowed that she would +publicly assert her rank by taking the precedence of Brunhild in entering +the church. The queens parted in hot anger, but both immediately proceeded +to attire themselves with the utmost magnificence, and, escorted by all +their maids, met at the church door. Brunhild there bade Kriemhild stand +aside and make way for her superior; but this order so angered the +Nibelungen queen that the dispute was resumed in public with increased +vehemence and bitterness. + +In her indignation Kriemhild finally insulted Brunhild grossly by declaring +that she was not a faithful wife; and in proof of her assertion she +produced the ring and girdle which Siegfried had won in his memorable +encounter with her, and which he had imprudently given to his wife, to whom +he had also confided the secret of Brunhild's wooing. + +Brunhild indignantly summoned Gunther to defend her, and he, in anger, sent +for Siegfried, who publicly swore that his wife had not told the truth, and +that Gunther's queen had in no way forfeited her good name. Further to +propitiate his host, Siegfried declared the quarrel to be disgraceful, and +promised to teach his wife better manners for the future, advising Gunther +to do the same with his consort. + + "'Women must be instructed,' said Siegfried the good knight, + 'To leave off idle talking and rule their tongues aright. + Keep thy fair wife in order. I'll do by mine the same. + Such overweening folly puts me indeed to shame.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To carry out this good resolution he led Kriemhild home, where, sooth to +say, he beat her black and blue,--an heroic measure which Gunther did not +dare to imitate. + +Brunhild, smarting from the public insult received, continued to weep aloud +and complain, until Hagen, inquiring the cause of her extravagant grief, +and receiving a highly colored version of the affair, declared that he +would see that she was duly avenged. + + "He ask'd her what had happen'd--wherefore he saw her weep; + She told him all the story; he vow'd to her full deep + That reap should Kriemhild's husband as he had dar'd to sow, + Or that himself thereafter content should never know." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To keep this promise, Hagen next tried to stir up the anger of Gunther, +Gernot, and Ortwine, and to prevail upon them to murder Siegfried; but +Giselher reproved him for these base designs, and openly took Siegfried's +part, declaring: + + "'Sure 'tis but a trifle to stir an angry wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although he succeeded in quelling the attempt for the time being, he +was no match for the artful Hagen, who continually reminded Gunther of the +insult his wife had received, setting it in the worst possible light, and +finally so worked upon the king's feelings that he consented to a +treacherous assault. + +[Sidenote: Hagen's treachery.] Under pretext that his former enemy, +Ludeger, was about to attack him again, Gunther asked Siegfried's +assistance, and began to prepare as if for war. When Kriemhild heard that +her beloved husband was about to rush into danger she was greatly troubled. +Hagen artfully pretended to share her alarm, and so won her confidence that +she revealed to him that Siegfried was invulnerable except in one spot, +between his shoulders, where a lime leaf had rested and the dragon's blood +had not touched him. + + "'So now I'll tell the secret, dear friend, alone to thee + (For thou, I doubt not, cousin, wilt keep thy faith with me), + Where sword may pierce my darling, and death sit on the thrust. + See, in thy truth and honor how full, how firm, my trust! + + "'As from the dragon's death-wounds gush'd out the crimson gore, + With the smoking torrent the warrior wash'd him o'er, + A leaf then 'twixt his shoulders fell from the linden bough. + There only steel can harm him; for that I tremble now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Pretending a sympathy he was far from feeling, and disguising his unholy +joy, Hagen bade Kriemhild sew a tiny cross on Siegfried's doublet over the +vulnerable spot, that he might the better protect him in case of danger, +and, after receiving her profuse thanks, returned to report the success of +his ruse to the king. When Siegfried joined them on the morrow, wearing the +fatal marked doublet, he was surprised to hear that the rebellion had been +quelled without a blow; and when invited to join in a hunt in the Odenwald +instead of the fray, he gladly signified his consent. After bidding +farewell to Kriemhild, whose heart was sorely oppressed by dark +forebodings, he joined the hunting party. He scoured the forest, slew +several boars, caught a bear alive, and playfully let him loose in camp to +furnish sport for the guests while the noonday meal was being prepared. +Then he gaily sat down, clamoring for a drink. His exertions had made him +very thirsty indeed, and he was sorely disappointed when told that, owing +to a mistake, the wine had been carried to another part of the forest. But +when Hagen pointed out a fresh spring at a short distance, all his wonted +good humor returned, and he merrily proposed a race thither, offering to +run in full armor, while the others might lay aside their cumbersome +weapons. This challenge was accepted by Hagen and Gunther. Although heavily +handicapped, Siegfried reached the spring first; but, wishing to show +courtesy to his host, he bade him drink while he disarmed. When Gunther's +thirst was quenched, Siegfried took his turn, and while he bent over the +water Hagen treacherously removed all his weapons except his shield, and +gliding behind him, drove his spear through his body in the exact spot +where Kriemhild had embroidered the fatal mark. + +[Sidenote: Death of Siegfried.] Mortally wounded, Siegfried made a +desperate effort to avenge himself; but finding nothing but his shield +within reach, he flung it with such force at his murderer that it knocked +him down. This last effort exhausted the remainder of his strength, and the +hero fell back upon the grass, cursing the treachery of those whom he had +trusted as friends. + + "Thus spake the deadly wounded: 'Ay, cowards false as hell! + To you I still was faithful; I serv'd you long and well;-- + But what boots all?--for guerdon treason and death I've won. + By your friends, vile traitors! foully have you done. + + "'Whoever shall hereafter from your loins be born, + Shall take from such vile fathers a heritage of scorn. + On me you have wreak'd malice where gratitude was due; + With shame shall you be banish'd by all good knights and true.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +But even in death Siegfried could not forget his beloved wife; and laying +aside all his anger, he pathetically recommended her to Gunther's care, +bidding him guard her well. Siegfried expired as soon as these words were +uttered; and the hunters silently gathered around his corpse, regretfully +contemplating the fallen hero, while they took counsel together how they +might keep the secret of Hagen's treachery. They finally agreed to carry +the body back to Worms and to say that they had found Siegfried dead in the +forest, where he had presumably been slain by highwaymen. + + "Then many said, repenting, 'This deed will prove our bale; + Still let us shroud the secret, and all keep in one tale,-- + That the good lord of Kriemhild to hunt alone preferr'd, + And so was slain by robbers as through the wood he spurr'd.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although his companions were anxious to shield him, Hagen gloried in +his dastardly deed, and secretly bade the bearers deposit Siegfried's +corpse at Kriemhild's door after nightfall, so that she should be the first +to see it there when on her way to early mass. As he fully expected, +Kriemhild immediately recognized her husband, and fell senseless upon him; +but when she had recovered consciousness she declared, while loudly +bewailing her loss, that Siegfried was the victim of an assassination. + + "'Woe's me, woe's me forever! sure no fair foeman's sword + Shiver'd thy failing buckler; 'twas murder stopp'd thy breath. + Oh that I knew who did it! death I'd requite with death!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +By her orders a messenger was sent to break the mournful tidings to the +still sleeping Siegmund and the Nibelungs. They hastily armed and rallied +about her, and would have fallen upon the Burgundians, to avenge their +master's death, had she not restrained them, bidding them await a suitable +occasion, and promising them her support when the right time came. + +[Sidenote: Detection of Siegfried's murderer.] The preparations for a +sumptuous funeral were immediately begun, and all lent a willing hand, for +Siegfried was greatly beloved at Worms. His body was therefore laid in +state in the cathedral, where all came to view it and condole with +Kriemhild; but when Gunther drew near to express his sorrow, she refused to +listen to him until he promised that all those present at the hunt should +touch the body, which at the murderer's contact would bleed afresh. All +stood the test and were honorably acquitted save Hagen, at whose touch +Siegfried's blood began to flow. + + "It is a mighty marvel, which oft e'en now we spy, + That when the blood-stain'd murderer comes to the murder'd nigh, + The wounds break out a-bleeding; then too the same befell, + And thus could each beholder the guilt of Hagen tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Once more Kriemhild restrained the angry Nibelung warriors from taking +immediate revenge, and, upheld by Gernot and Giselher, who really +sympathized with her grief, she went through the remainder of the funeral +ceremonies and saw her hero duly laid at rest. + +Kriemhild's mourning had only begun. All her days and nights were now spent +in bitter weeping. This sorrow was fully shared by Siegmund, who, however, +finally roused himself and proposed a return home. Kriemhild was about to +accompany him, when her relatives persuaded her to remain in Burgundy. Then +the little band which had come in festal array rode silently away in +mourning robes, the grim Nibelung knights muttering dark threats against +those who had dealt so basely with their beloved master. + + "'Into this same country we well may come again + To seek and find the traitor who laid our master low. + Among the kin of Siegfried they have many a mortal foe.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Nibelungen hoard.] Eckewart the steward alone remained with +Kriemhild, with a faithfulness which has become proverbial in the German +language, and prepared for his mistress a dwelling close by the cathedral, +so that she might constantly visit her husband's tomb. Here Kriemhild spent +three years in complete seclusion, refusing to see Gunther, or the detested +Hagen; but they, remembering that the immense Nibelungen hoard was hers by +right, continually wondered how she could be induced to send for it. Owing +to Hagen's advice, Gunther, helped by his brothers, finally obtained an +interview with, and was reconciled to, his mourning sister, and shortly +after persuaded her to send twelve men to claim from Alberich, the dwarf, +the fabulous wealth her husband had bestowed upon her as a wedding gift. + + "It was made up of nothing but precious stones and gold; + Were all the world bought from it, and down the value told, + Not a mark the less thereafter were left than erst was scor'd. + Good reason sure had Hagen to covet such a hoard. + + "And thereamong was lying the wishing rod of gold, + Which whoso could discover, might in subjection hold + All this wide world as master, with all that dwelt therein. + There came to Worms with Gernot full many of Albric's kin." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although this wealth is said to have filled nearly one hundred and +fifty wagons, Kriemhild would gladly have given it all away could she but +have seen her husband by her side once more. Not knowing what else to do +with it, she gave away her gold right and left, bidding all the recipients +of her bounty pray for Siegfried's soul. Her largesses were so extensive +that Hagen, who alone did not profit by her generosity, and who feared the +treasure might be exhausted before he could obtain a share, sought out +Gunther and told him that Kriemhild was secretly winning to her side many +adherents, whom she would some day urge to avenge her husband's murder by +slaying her kindred. + +[Illustration: SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN.--Pixis.] + +While Gunther was trying to devise some plan to obtain possession of the +hoard, Hagen boldly seized the keys of the tower where it was kept, +secretly removed all the gold, and, to prevent its falling into any hands +but his own, sank it in the Rhine near Lochheim. + + "Ere back the king came thither, impatient of delay, + Hagen seized the treasure, and bore it thence away. + Into the Rhine at Lochheim the whole at once threw he! + Henceforth he thought t'enjoy it, but that was ne'er to be. + + "He nevermore could get it for all his vain desire; + So fortune oft the traitor cheats of his treason's hire. + Alone he hop'd to use it as long as he should live, + But neither himself could profit, nor to another give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +When Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher heard what Hagen had done, they were so +angry that he deemed it advisable to withdraw from court for a while. +Kriemhild would fain have left Burgundy forever at this fresh wrong, but +with much difficulty was prevailed upon to remain and take up her abode at +Lorch, whither Siegfried's remains were removed by her order. + +[Sidenote: King of Hungary a suitor for Kriemhild.] Thirteen years had +passed by since Siegfried's death in the Odenwald when Etzel, King of +Hungary, who had lost his beautiful and beloved wife, Helche, bade one of +his knights, Rüdiger of Bechlaren, ride to Worms and sue for the hand of +Kriemhild in his master's name. + +Rüdiger immediately gathered together a suitable train and departed, +stopping on the way to visit his wife and daughter at Bechlaren. Passing +all through Bavaria, he arrived at last at Worms, where he was warmly +welcomed, by Hagen especially, who had formerly known him well. + +In reply to Gunther's courteous inquiry concerning the welfare of the King +and Queen of the Huns, Rüdiger announced the death of the latter, and +declared that he had come to sue for Kriemhild's hand. + + "Thereon the highborn envoy his message freely told: + 'King, since you have permitted, I'll to your ears unfold + Wherefore my royal master me to your court has sent, + Plung'd as he is in sorrow and doleful dreariment. + + "'It has been told my master, Sir Siegfried now is dead, + And Kriemhild left a widow. If thus they both have sped, + Would you but permit her, she the crown shall wear + Before the knights of Etzel; this bids me my good lord declare.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Gunther gladly received this message, promised to do all in his power to +win Kriemhild's consent, and said that he would give the envoy a definite +answer in three days' time. He then consulted his brothers and nobles as to +the advisability of the proposed alliance, and found that all were greatly +in favor of it save Hagen, who warned them that if Kriemhild were ever +Queen of the Huns she would use her power to avenge her wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Rüdiger's promise.] This warning was, however, not heeded by the +royal brothers, who, seeking Kriemhild's presence, vainly tried to make her +accept the Hun's proposal. All she would grant was an audience to Rüdiger, +who laid before her his master's proposal, described the power of the Huns, +and swore to obey her in all things would she but consent to become his +queen. + + "In vain they her entreated, in vain to her they pray'd, + Till to the queen the margrave this secret promise made,-- + He'd 'full amends procure her for past or future ill.' + Those words her storm-tost bosom had power in part to still." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The journey to Hungary.] After receiving this promise, Kriemhild +signified her consent, and immediately prepared to accompany Rüdiger to +King Etzel's court. Eckewart and all her maidens accompanied her, with five +hundred men as a bodyguard; and Gernot and Giselher, with many Burgundian +nobles, escorted her to Vergen on the Danube, where they took an +affectionate leave of her, and went back to their home in Burgundy. + +From Vergen, Kriemhild and her escort journeyed on to Passau, where they +were warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by good Bishop Pilgrim, +brother of Queen Ute. He would gladly have detained them, had not Rüdiger +declared that his master impatiently awaited the coming of his bride, which +had duly been announced to him. + +A second pause was made at Bechlaren, Rüdiger's castle, where Kriemhild was +entertained by his wife and daughter, Gotelinde and Dietelinde, and where +the usual lavish distribution of gifts took place. Then the procession +swept on again across the country and down the Danube, until they met King +Etzel, whom Kriemhild graciously kissed, and who obtained a similar favor +for his brother and a few of his principal nobles. + +[Sidenote: The marriage at Vienna.] After witnessing some tilting and other +martial games, the king and queen proceeded to Vienna, where a triumphal +reception awaited them, and where their marriage was celebrated with all +becoming solemnity and great pomp. The wedding festivities lasted seventeen +days; but although all vied in their attempts to please Kriemhild, she +remained sad and pensive, for she could not forget her beloved Siegfried +and the happy years she had spent with him. + +The royal couple next journeyed on to Gran, Etzel's capital, where +Kriemhild found innumerable handmaidens ready to do her will, and where +Etzel was very happy with his new consort. His joy was complete, however, +only when she bore him a son, who was baptized in the Christian faith, and +called Ortlieb. + +Although thirteen years had now elapsed since Kriemhild had left her native +land, the recollection of her wrongs was as vivid as ever, her melancholy +just as profound, and her thoughts were ever busy planning how best to lure +Hagen into her kingdom so as to work her revenge. + + "One long and dreary yearning she foster'd hour by hour; + She thought, 'I am so wealthy and hold such boundless power, + That I with ease a mischief can bring on all my foes, + But most on him of Trony, the deadliest far of those. + + "'Full oft for its beloved my heart is mourning still; + Them could I but meet with, who wrought me so much ill, + Revenge should strike at murder, and life atone for life; + Wait can I no longer.' So murmur'd Etzel's wife." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's plot.] Kriemhild finally decided to persuade Etzel +to invite all her kinsmen for a midsummer visit, which the king, not +dreaming of her evil purpose, immediately hastened to do. Two minstrels, +Werbel and Swemmel, were sent with the most cordial invitation. Before they +departed Kriemhild instructed them to be sure and tell all her kinsmen that +she was blithe and happy, and not melancholy as of yore, and to use every +effort to bring not only the kings, but also Hagen, who, having been at +Etzel's court as hostage in his youth, could best act as their guide. + +The minstrels were warmly received at Worms, where their invitation created +great excitement. All were in favor of accepting it except Hagen, who +objected that Kriemhild had cause for anger and would surely seek revenge +when they were entirely in her power. + + "'Trust not, Sir King,' said Hagen, 'how smooth soe'er they be, + These messengers from Hungary; if Kriemhild you will see, + You put upon the venture your honor and your life. + A nurse of ling'ring vengeance is Etzel's moody wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But all his objections were set aside with the remark that he alone had a +guilty conscience; and the kings bade the minstrels return to announce +their coming, although Ute also tried to keep them at home. Hagen, who was +no coward, seeing them determined to go, grimly prepared to accompany them, +and prevailed upon them to don their strongest armor for the journey. + +Gunther was accompanied by both his brothers, by Hagen, Dankwart, Volker +(his minstrel), Gary, and Ortwine, and by one thousand picked men as +escort. Before leaving he intrusted his wife, Brunhild, and his son to the +care of Rumolt, his squire, and bidding farewell to his people, set out for +Hungary, whence he was never to return. + +In the mean while the Hungarian minstrels had hastened back to Gran to +announce the guests' coming, and, upon being closely questioned by +Kriemhild, described Hagen's grim behavior, and repeated his half-muttered +prophecy: "This jaunt's a jaunt to death." + +The Burgundians, who in this part of the poem are frequently called +Nibelungs (because they now held the great hoard), reached the Danube on +the twelfth day. As they found neither ford nor ferry, Hagen, after again +prophesying all manner of evil, volunteered to go in search of a boat or +raft to cross the rapid stream. + +[Sidenote: Prophecy of the swan maidens.] He had not gone very far before +he heard the sound of voices, and, peeping through the bushes, saw some +swan maidens, or "wise women," bathing in a neighboring fountain. Stealing +up unperceived, he secured their plumage, which he consented to restore +only after they had predicted the result of his journey. To obtain her +garments, one of the women, Hadburg, prophesied great good fortune; but +when the pilfered robes were restored, another, called Siegelind, foretold +much woe. + + "'I will warn thee, Hagen, thou son of Aldrian; + My aunt has lied unto thee her raiment back to get; + If once thou com'st to Hungary, thou'rt taken in the net. + + "'Turn while there's time for safety, turn, warriors most and least; + For this, and for this only, you're bidden to the feast, + That you perforce may perish in Etzel's bloody land. + Whoever rideth thither, Death has he close at hand.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After adding that the chaplain alone would return alive to Worms, she told +Hagen that he would find a ferryman on the opposite side of the river, +farther down, but that he would not obey his call unless he declared his +name to be Amelrich. + +Hagen, after leaving the wise women, soon saw the ferryman's boat anchored +to the opposite shore, and failing to make him come over for a promised +reward, he cried out that his name was Amelrich. The ferryman immediately +crossed, but when Hagen sprang into his boat he detected the fraud and +began to fight. Although gigantic in size, this ferryman was no match for +Hagen, who, after slaying him, took possession of the boat and skillfully +ferried his masters and companions across the river. + +In hope of giving the lie to the swan maidens, Hagen paused once in the +middle of the stream to fling the chaplain overboard, thinking he would +surely drown; but to his surprise and dismay the man struggled back to the +shore, where he stood alone and unharmed, and whence he slowly wended his +way back to Burgundy. Hagen now knew that the swan maidens' prophecy was +destined to be fulfilled. Nevertheless he landed on the opposite shore, +where he bade the main part of the troop ride on ahead, leaving him and +Dankwart to bring up the rear, for he fully expected that Gelfrat, master +of the murdered ferryman, would pursue them to avenge the latter's death. +These previsions were soon verified, and in the bloody encounter which +ensued, Hagen came off victor, with the loss of but four men, while the +enemy left more than one hundred dead upon the field. + +[Sidenote: The first warning.] Hagen joined the main body of the army once +more, passed on with it to Passau, where Bishop Pilgrim was as glad to see +his nephews as he had been to welcome his niece, and from thence went on to +the frontiers of Bechlaren. There they found Eckewart, who had been sent by +Rüdiger to warn them not to advance any farther, as he suspected that some +treachery was afoot. + + "Sir Eckewart replied: + 'Yet much, I own, it grieves me that to the Huns you ride. + You took the life of Siegfried; all hate you deadly here; + As your true friend I warn you; watch well, and wisely fear.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +As the Burgundians would have deemed themselves forever disgraced were they +to withdraw from their purpose, they refused to listen to this warning, +and, entering Rüdiger's castle, were warmly received by him and his family. +Giselher, seeing the beauty of the maiden Dietelinde, fell deeply in love +with her, and prevailed upon the margrave to consent to their immediate +marriage, promising, however, to claim and bear away his bride only upon +his homeward journey. Once more gifts were lavished with mediaeval +profusion, Gunther receiving a coat of mail, Gernot a sword, Hagen a +shield, and the minstrel Volker many rings of red gold. + +[Sidenote: The second warning.] Rüdiger then escorted the Burgundians until +they met the brave Dietrich von Bern (Verona), who also warned them that +their visit was fraught with danger, for Kriemhild had by no means +forgotten the murder of the husband of her youth. + +His evil prognostications were also of no avail, and he sadly accompanied +them until they met Kriemhild, who embraced Giselher only. Then, turning +suddenly upon Hagen, she inquired aloud, in the presence of all the people, +whether he had brought her back her own, the Nibelung hoard. Nothing +daunted by this sudden query, Hagen haughtily answered that the treasure +still lay deep in the Rhine, where he fancied it would rest until the +judgment day. + + "'I' faith, my Lady Kriemhild, 'tis now full many a day + Since in my power the treasure of the Nibelungers lay. + In the Rhine my lords bade sink it; I did their bidding fain, + And in the Rhine, I warrant, till doomsday 'twill remain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The queen turned her back contemptuously upon him, and invited her other +guests to lay aside their weapons, for none might enter the great hall +armed. This Hagen refused to allow them to do, saying that he feared +treachery; and the queen, pretending great grief, inquired who could have +filled her kinsmen's hearts with such unjust suspicions. Sir Dietrich then +boldly stepped forward, defied Kriemhild, and declared that it was he who +had bidden the Burgundians be thus on their guard. + + "''Twas I that the warning to the noble princes gave, + And to their liegeman Hagen, to whom such hate thou bear'st. + Now up, she-fiend! be doing, and harm me if thou dar'st!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Alliance between Hagen and Volker.] Although the thirst for +revenge now made her a "she-fiend," as he termed her, Kriemhild did not +dare openly to attack Dietrich, whom all men justly feared; and she quickly +concealed her anger, while Etzel advanced in his turn to welcome his +guests; and especially singled out Hagen, his friend's son. While many of +the Burgundians accompanied the king into the hall, Hagen drew Volker +aside, and, sitting down on a stone seat near Kriemhild's door, entered +into a life-and-death alliance with him. Kriemhild, looking out of her +window, saw him there and bade her followers go out and slay him; but +although they numbered four hundred, they hung back, until the queen, +thinking that they doubted her assertions, volunteered to descend alone and +wring from Hagen a confession of his crimes, while they lingered within +earshot inside the building. Volker, seeing the queen approach, proposed to +Hagen to rise and show her the customary respect; but the latter, declaring +that she would ascribe this token of decorum to fear alone, grimly bade him +remain seated, and, when she addressed him, boldly acknowledged that he +alone had slain Siegfried. + + "Said he, 'Why question further? that were a waste of breath. + In a word, I am e'en Hagen, who Siegfried did to death. + + * * * * * + + "'What I have done, proud princess, I never will deny. + The cause of all the mischief, the wrong, the loss, am I. + So now, or man or woman, revenge it whoso will; + I scorn to speak a falsehood,--I've done you grievous ill.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although the warriors had heard every word he said, and the queen again +urged them on to attack her foe, they one and all withdrew after meeting +one of Hagen's threatening glances. This episode, however, was enough to +show the Burgundians very plainly what they could expect, and Hagen and +Volker soon joined their companions, keeping ever side by side, according +to their agreement. + + "Howe'er the rest were coupled, as mov'd to court the train, + Folker and Hagen parted ne'er again, + Save in one mortal struggle, e'en to their dying hour." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After banqueting with Etzel the guests were led to their appointed +quarters, far remote from those of their squires; and when the Huns began +to crowd them, Hagen again frightened them off with one of his black looks. +When the hall where they were to sleep was finally reached, the knights all +lay down to rest except Hagen and Volker, who mounted guard, the latter +beguiling the hours by playing on his fiddle. + +Once, in the middle of the night, these self-appointed sentinels saw an +armed troop draw near; but when they loudly challenged the foremost men, +they beat a hasty retreat. At dawn of day the knights arose to go to mass, +wearing their arms by Hagen's advice, keeping well together, and presenting +such a threatening aspect that Kriemhild's men dared not attack them. + +In spite of all these signs, Etzel remained entirely ignorant of his wife's +evil designs, and continued to treat the Burgundians like friends and +kinsmen. + + "How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin, + Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, + He had at once prevented what afterwards befell. + Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs + to tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beginning of hostilities.] After mass a tournament was held, +Dietrich and Rüdiger virtuously abstaining from taking part in it, lest +some mishap should occur through their bravery, and fan into flames the +smoldering fire of discord. In spite of all these precautions, however, the +threatened disruption nearly occurred when Volker accidentally slew a Hun; +and it was avoided only by King Etzel's prompt interference. + +Kriemhild, hearing of this accident, vainly tried to use it as an excuse to +bribe Dietrich, or his man Hildebrand, to slay her foe. She finally won +over Blödelin, the king's brother, by promising him a fair bride. To earn +this reward the prince went with an armed host to the hall where all the +Burgundian squires were feasting under Dankwart's care, and there +treacherously slew them all, Dankwart alone escaping to the king's hall to +join his brother Hagen. + +In the mean while Etzel was entertaining his mailed guests, and had sent +for his little son, whom he placed in Gunther's lap, telling him that he +would soon send the boy to Burgundy to be educated among his mother's kin. + +All admired the graceful child except Hagen, who gruffly remarked that the +child appeared more likely to die early than to live to grow up. He had +just finished this rude speech, which filled Etzel's heart with dismay, +when Dankwart burst into the room, exclaiming that all his companions had +been slain, and calling to Hagen for aid. + + "'Be stirring, brother Hagen; you're sitting all too long. + To you and God in heaven our deadly strait I plain: + Yeomen and knights together lie in their quarters slain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Ortlieb slain.] The moment Hagen heard these tidings he sprang +to his feet, drew his sword, and bade Dankwart guard the door and prevent +the ingress or egress of a single Hungarian. Then he struck off the head of +the child Ortlieb, which bounded into Kriemhild's lap, cut off the minstrel +Werbel's hand, and began hewing right and left among the Hungarians, aided +by all his companions, who manfully followed his example. + +Dismayed at this sudden turn of affairs, the aged King Etzel "sat in mortal +anguish," helplessly watching the massacre, while Kriemhild shrieked aloud +to Dietrich to protect her from her foes. Moved to pity by her evident +terror, Dietrich blew a resounding blast on his horn, and Gunther paused in +his work of destruction to inquire how he might serve the man who had ever +shown himself a friend. Dietrich answered by asking for a safe-conduct out +of the hall for himself and his followers, which was immediately granted. + + "'Let me with your safe-conduct this hall of Etzel's leave, + And quit this bloody banquet with those who follow me; + And for this grace forever I'll at your service be.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: The massacre.] Dietrich von Bern then passed out of the hall +unmolested, leading the king by one hand and the queen by the other, and +closely followed by all his retainers. This same privilege was granted to +Rüdiger and his five hundred men; but when these had all passed out, the +Burgundians renewed the bloody fight, nor paused until all the Huns in the +hall were slain, and everything was reeking with blood. + +Then the Burgundians gathered up the corpses, which they flung down the +staircase, at the foot of which Etzel stood, helplessly wringing his hands, +and vainly trying to discover some means of stopping the fight. + +Kriemhild, in the mean while, was actively employed in gathering men, +promising large rewards to any one who would attack and slay Hagen. Urged +on by her, Iring attempted to force an entrance, but was soon driven back; +and when he would have made a second assault, Hagen ruthlessly slew him. + +Irnfried the Thuringian, and Hawart the Dane, seeing him fall, rushed +impetuously upon the Burgundians to avenge him; but both fell under Hagen's +and Volker's mighty blows, while their numerous followers were all slain by +the other Burgundians. + + "A thousand and four together had come into the hall; + You might see the broadswords flashing rise and fall; + Soon the bold intruders all dead together lay; + Of those renown'd Burgundians strange marvels one might say." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Etzel and the Huns were mourning over their dead; so the weary Burgundians +removed their helmets and rested, while Kriemhild continued to muster new +troops to attack her kinsmen, who were still strongly intrenched in the +great hall. + + "'Twas e'en on a midsummer befell that murderous fight, + When on her nearest kinsmen and many a noble knight + Dame Kriemhild wreak'd the anguish that long in heart she bore, + Whence inly griev'd King Etzel, nor joy knew evermore. + + "Yet on such sweeping slaughter at first she had not thought; + She only had for vengeance on one transgressor sought. + She wish'd that but on Hagen the stroke of death might fall; + 'Twas the foul fiend's contriving that they should perish all." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +An attempt was now made by the Burgundians to treat with Etzel for a +safe-conduct. Obdurate at first, he would have yielded had not Kriemhild +advised him to pursue the feud to the bitter end, unless her brothers +consented to surrender Hagen to her tender mercies. This, of course, +Gunther absolutely refused to do; so Kriemhild gave secret orders that the +hall in which the Burgundians were intrenched should be set on fire. +Surrounded by bitter foes, blinded by smoke, and overcome by the heat, the +Burgundians still held their own, slaking their burning thirst by drinking +the blood of the slain, and taking refuge from the flames under the stone +arches which supported the ceiling of the hall. + +[Sidenote: Rüdiger's oath.] Thus they managed to survive that terrible +night; but when morning dawned and the queen heard that they were still +alive, she bade Rüdiger go forth and fight them. He refused until she +reminded him or the solemn oath he had sworn to her in Worms before she +would consent to accompany him to Hungary. + + "'Now think upon the homage that once to me you swore, + When to the Rhine, good warrior, King Etzel's suit you bore, + That you would serve me ever to either's dying day. + Ne'er can I need so deeply that you that vow should pay.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Torn by conflicting feelings and urged by opposite oaths,--for he had also +sworn to befriend the Burgundians,--Rüdiger now vainly tried to purchase +his release by the sacrifice of all his possessions. At last, goaded to +madness, he yielded to the king's and queen's entreaties, armed his +warriors, and drew near the hall where his former guests were intrenched. +At first they could not believe that Rüdiger had any hostile intentions; +but when he pathetically informed them that he must fight, and recommended +his wife and daughter to their care in case he fell, they silently allowed +him and his followers to enter the hall, and grimly renewed the bloody +conflict. + +[Sidenote: Death of Rüdiger.] Rüdiger, after slaying many foes, encountered +Gernot wielding the sword he had given him; and these two doughty champions +finally slew each other. All the followers of Rüdiger also fell; and when +Kriemhild, who was anxiously awaiting the result of this new attack in the +court below, saw his corpse among the slain, she began to weep and bemoan +her loss. The mournful tidings of Rüdiger's death soon spread all over the +town, and came finally to the ears of Dietrich von Bern, who bade his man +Hildebrand go and claim the corpse from his Burgundian friends. + +Hildebrand went thither with an armed force, but some of his men +unfortunately began to bandy words with the Burgundians, and this soon +brought about an impetuous fight. In the ensuing battle all the Burgundians +fell except Gunther and Hagen, while Hildebrand escaped sore wounded to his +master, Dietrich von Bern. When this hero heard that his nephew and vassals +were all slain, he quickly armed himself, and, after vainly imploring +Gunther and Hagen to surrender, fell upon them with an armed force. The two +sole remaining Burgundians were now so exhausted that Dietrich soon managed +to take them captive. He led them bound to Kriemhild, and implored her to +have pity upon them and spare their lives. + + "'Fair and noble Kriemhild,' thus Sir Dietrich spake, + Spare this captive warrior, who full amends will make + For all his past transgressions; him here in bonds you see; + Revenge not on the fetter'd th' offenses of the free.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's cruelty.] By the queen's orders, Gunther and Hagen +were confined in separate cells. There she soon sought the latter, +promising him his liberty if he would but reveal the place where her +treasure was concealed. But Hagen, mistrusting her, declared that he had +solemnly sworn never to reveal the secret as long as one of his masters +breathed. Kriemhild, whose cruelty had long passed all bounds, left him +only to have her brother Gunther beheaded, and soon returned carrying his +head, which she showed to Hagen, commanding him to speak. But he still +refused to gratify her, and replied that since he was now the sole +depositary of the secret, it would perish with him. + + "'So now, where lies the treasure none knows save God and me, + And told it shall be never, be sure, she-fiend, to thee!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild slain.] This defiant answer so exasperated Kriemhild +that she seized the sword hanging by his side,--which she recognized as +Siegfried's favorite weapon,--and with her own hands cut off his head +before Etzel or any of his courtiers could interfere. Hildebrand, seeing +this act of treachery, sprang impetuously forward, and, drawing his sword, +slew her who had brought untold misery into the land of the Huns. + + "The mighty and the noble there lay together dead; + For this had all the people dole and drearihead. + The feast of royal Etzel was thus shut up in woe, + Pain in the steps of Pleasure treads ever here below. + + "'Tis more than I can tell you what afterwards befell, + Save that there was weeping for friends belov'd so well; + Knights and squires, dames and damsels, were seen lamenting all. + So end I here my story. This is the Nibelungers' Fall." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Although the "Nibelungenlied" proper ends here, an appendix, probably by +another hand, called the "Lament," continues the story, and relates how +Etzel, Dietrich, and Hildebrand, in turn, extolled the high deeds and +bewailed the untimely end of each hero. Then this poem, which is as +mournful as monotonous throughout, describes the departure of the +messengers sent to bear the evil tidings and the weapons of the slain to +Worms, and their arrival at Passau, where more tears were shed and where +Bishop Pilgrim celebrated a solemn mass for the rest of the heroes' souls. + +From thence the funeral procession slowly traveled on to Worms, where the +sad news was imparted to the remaining Burgundians, who named the son of +Gunther and Brunhild as their king, and who never forgot the fatal ride to +Hungary. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +LANGOBARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS. + + +Although the following tales of mythical heroes have some slight historical +basis, they have been so adorned by the fancy of mediaeval bards, and so +frequently remodeled with utter disregard of all chronological sequence, +that the kernel of truth is very hard to find, and the stories must rather +be considered as depicting customs and times than as describing actual +events. They are recorded in the "Heldenbuch," or "Book of Heroes," edited +in the fifteenth century by Kaspar von der Rhön from materials which had +been touched up by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Heinrich von Ofterdingen in +the twelfth century. The poem of "Ortnit," for instance, is known to have +existed as early as the ninth century. + +[Sidenote: The Langobards and Gepidae.] According to the poets of the +middle ages, the Gepidae and the Langobards settled in Pannonia (Hungary +and the neighboring provinces), where they were respectively governed by +Thurisind and Audoin. The sons of these two kings, having quarreled for a +trifle, met in duel soon after, and the Langobardian prince, having slain +his companion, took possession of his arms, with which he proudly returned +home. + +But when, flushed with victory, he would fain have taken his seat at his +father's board with the men at arms, Audoin gravely informed him that it +was not customary for a youth to claim a place beside tried warriors until +some foreign king had distinguished him by the present of a complete suit +of armor. Angry at being thus publicly repulsed, Alboin, the prince, strode +out of his father's hall, resolved to march into Thurisind's palace and +demand of him the required weapons. + +When the King of the Gepidae saw his son's murderer boldly enter his +palace, his first impulse was to put him to death; but, respecting the +rights of hospitality, he forbore to take immediate vengeance, and even +bestowed upon him the customary gift of arms as he departed on the morrow, +but warned him never to return, lest he should lose his life at the +warriors' hands. On leaving the palace, however, Alboin bore away the image +of little Rosamund, Thurisind's fair granddaughter, whom he solemnly swore +he would claim as wife as soon as she was of marriageable age. + +Alboin having thus received his arms from a stranger, the Langobards no +longer refused to recognize him as a full-fledged warrior, and gladly +hailed him as king when his father died. + +[Sidenote: Alboin's cruelty.] Shortly after Alboin's accession to the +throne, a quarrel arose between the Gepidae and the Langobards, or +Lombards, as they were eventually called; and war having been declared, a +decisive battle was fought, in which Thurisind and his son perished, and +all their lands fell into the conqueror's hands. With true heathen cruelty, +the Lombard king had the skulls of the Gepidae mounted as drinking vessels, +which he delighted in using on all state and festive occasions. Then, +pushing onwards, Alboin took forcible possession of his new realm and of +the tearful young Rosamund, whom he forced to become his wife, although she +shrank in horror from the murderer of all her kin and the oppressor of her +people. + +She followed him home, concealing her fears, and although she never seemed +blithe and happy, she obeyed her husband so implicitly that he fancied her +a devoted wife. He was so accustomed to Rosamund's ready compliance with +his every wish that one day, after winning a great victory over the +Ostrogoths, and conquering a province in northern Italy (where he took up +his abode, and which bears the name of his race), he bade her fill her +father's skull with wine and pledge him by drinking first out of this +repulsive cup. + +[Sidenote: Rosamund's revolt.] The queen hesitated, but, impelled by +Alboin's threatening glances and his mailed hand raised to strike her, she +tremblingly filled the cup and raised it to her lips. But then, instead of +humbly presenting it to her lord, she haughtily dashed it at his feet, and +left the hall, saying that though she had obeyed him, she would never again +live with him as his wife,--a declaration which the warriors present +secretly applauded, for they all thought that their king had been wantonly +cruel toward his beautiful wife. + +While Alboin was pondering how he might conciliate her without owning +himself in the wrong, Rosamund summoned Helmigis, the king's shield-bearer, +and finding that he would not execute her orders and murder his master in +his sleep, she secured the services of the giant Perideus. Before the +murder of the king became generally known, Rosamund and her adherents--for +she had many--secured and concealed the treasures of the Crown; and when +the nobles bade her marry a man to succeed their king, who had left no +heirs, she declared that she preferred Helmigis. + +[Sidenote: Death of Rosamund.] The Langobardian nobles indignantly refused +to recognize an armor-bearer as their king, and Rosamund, fearing their +resentment, fled by night with her treasures, and took refuge with +Longinus, viceroy of the Eastern emperor, who was intrenched in Ravenna. +Captivated by the fugitive queen's exquisite beauty, no less than by her +numerous treasures, Longinus proposed that she should poison Helmigis, and +marry him. Rosamund obediently handed the deadly cup to her faithful +adorer; but he drank only half its contents, and then, perceiving that he +was poisoned, forced her, at the point of his sword, to drink the +remainder, thus making sure that she would not long survive him. + +Longinus, thus deprived of a beautiful bride, managed to console himself +for her loss by appropriating her treasures, while the Langobardian +scepter, after having been wielded by different kings, fell at last into +the hands of Rother, the last influential monarch of a kingdom which +Charlemagne conquered in 774. + +[Sidenote: Rother.] Rother established his capital at Bari, a great seaport +in Apulia; but although his wealth was unbounded and his kingdom extensive, +he was far from happy, for he had neither wife nor child to share his home. +Seeing his loneliness, one of his courtiers, Duke Berchther (Berchtung) of +Meran, the father of twelve stalwart sons, advised him to seek a wife; and +when Rother declared that he knew of no princess pretty enough to please +his fastidious taste, the courtier produced the portrait of Oda, daughter +of Constantine, Emperor of the East. Rother fell desperately in love with +this princess at first sight. In vain Berchther warned him that the emperor +had the unpleasant habit of beheading all his daughter's would-be suitors; +Rother declared that he must make an attempt to secure this peerless bride, +and was only with great difficulty persuaded to resign the idea of wooing +in person. + +When Berchther had prevailed upon him to send an imposing embassy of twelve +noblemen, richly appareled, and attended by a large suite, Rother asked who +would undertake the mission. All the warriors maintained a neutral silence, +until seven of Berchther's sons volunteered their services, and then five +other noblemen signified their readiness to accompany them. + +To speed them on their way, Rother escorted them to the port, and, standing +on the pier, composed and sang a marvelous song. He bade them remember the +tune, and promised them that whenever they heard it they might be sure +their king was very near. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] Arrived at Constantinople, the +ambassadors made known their errand, but were immediately cast into prison, +in spite of the empress's intercession in their behalf. Here the noblemen +languished month after month, in a foul dungeon, while Rother impatiently +watched for their return. When a whole year had elapsed without his having +heard any tidings, he finally resolved to go in disguise to Constantinople, +to ascertain the fate of his men and win the lovely princess Oda for his +bride. + +Berchther, hearing this decision, vowed that he would accompany him; but +although all the noblemen were anxious to escort their beloved king, he +took only a few of them with him, among whom was Asprian (Osborn), king of +the northern giants, with eleven of his tallest men. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Constantine.] Rother embarked with this little train, +and sailed for Constantinople over the summer seas; and as he sat on deck, +playing on his harp, the mermaids rose from the deep to sport around his +ship. According to a prearranged plan, Rother presented himself before +Constantine as a fugitive and outlaw, complaining bitterly of the King of +the Lombards, who, he declared, had banished him and his companions. +Pleased with the appearance of the strangers, Constantine gladly accepted +their proffered services, and invited them to a banquet, in the course of +which he facetiously described how he had received Rother's ambassadors, +who were still languishing in his dampest dungeons. This boastful talk +gradually roused the anger of the giant Asprian, who was but little +accustomed to hide his feelings; and when the emperor's pet lioness came +into the hall and playfully snatched a choice morsel out of his hand, he +impetuously sprang to his feet, caught her in his powerful grasp, and +hurled her against the wall, thus slaying her with a single blow. + +[Illustration: ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION.--Keller.] + +Constantine was somewhat dismayed when he saw the strength, and especially +the violence, of the new servants he had secured; but he wisely took no +notice of the affair, and, when the banquet was ended, dismissed Rother and +his followers to the apartments assigned them. The Lombard king now freely +distributed the immense treasures he had brought with him, and thus secured +many adherents at court. They sang his praises so loudly that at last the +princess Oda became very anxious to see this noted outlaw. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Oda.] Bribing Herlind, one of her handmaidens, to +serve her secretly, Oda sent her to Rother to invite him to visit her. The +maiden acquitted herself adroitly of this commission; but the Langobardian +monarch, pretending exaggerated respect, declared that he would never dare +present himself before her beautiful mistress, to whom, however, he sent +many rich gifts, among which were a gold and a silver shoe. Herlind +returned to her mistress with the gifts; but when Oda would fain have put +on the shoes, she discovered that they were both for the same foot. She +then feigned a resentment she was far from feeling, and bade the handmaiden +order her father's new servant to appear before her without delay, bringing +a shoe for her other foot, unless he wished to incur her lasting +displeasure. Overjoyed at this result of his ruse, which he had foreseen, +Rother entered the princess's apartments unnoticed, proffered his most +humble apologies, fitted a pair of golden shoes on her tiny feet, and, +taking advantage of his position as he bent on one knee before her, +declared his love and rank, and won from Oda a solemn promise that she +would be his wife. + +The lovers spent some very happy hours together in intimate conversation, +and ere Rother left the apartment he prevailed upon the princess to use her +influence in behalf of his imprisoned subjects. She therefore told her +father that her peaceful rest had been disturbed by dreams, in which +heavenly voices announced that she should suffer all manner of evil unless +Rother's ambassadors were taken from prison and hospitably entertained. Oda +then wrung from Constantine a promise that the men should be temporarily +released, and feasted at his own board that selfsame evening. This promise +was duly redeemed, and the twelve ambassadors, freed from their chains, and +refreshed by warm baths and clean garments, were sumptuously entertained at +the emperor's table. While they sat there feasting, Rother entered the +hall, and, hiding behind the tapestry hangings near the door, played the +tune they had heard on the day of their departure. The hearts of the +captives bounded for joy when they heard these strains, for they knew that +their king was near and would soon effect their release. + +[Sidenote: War with Imelot.] A few days later, when the young ambassadors +had fully recovered their health and strength, Constantine was dismayed to +learn that Imelot, King of Desert Babylonia, was about to make war against +him, and wondered how he could successfully encounter such a universally +dreaded opponent. Rother, seeing his perplexity, immediately volunteered +his services, adding that if Constantine liberated the ambassadors, who +were mighty men of valor, and allowed them to fight, there would be no +doubt of his coming off conqueror in the war. The Eastern emperor gladly +followed this advice, and soon set out with Rother and all his companions. +The two armies met one evening and encamped opposite each other, intending +to begin the fight at sunrise on the morrow. During the night, however, +Rother and his companions stole into the enemy's camp, slew Imelot's +guards, and having bound and gagged him, Asprian carried him bodily out of +his tent and camp, while his companions routed all the mighty Babylonian +host. + +A few hours later they returned to the camp of Constantine, where they lay +down to rest. The emperor, entering their tent on the morrow to chide them +for their laziness, saw the captive Imelot, and heard the story of the +night's work. He was so delighted with the prowess of his allies that he +gladly consented to their return to Constantinople to announce the victory, +while he and his army remained to take possession of Desert Babylonia and +of all of Imelot's vast treasures. + +Rother and his companions returned in haste to Constantinople and rushed +into the palace; but instead of announcing a victory they told the empress +and Oda that Constantine had been defeated, that Imelot was on the way to +seize the city, and that the emperor had sent them on ahead to convey his +wife and daughter to a place of safety, with their most valuable treasures. + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Oda.] The empress and Oda, crediting every word of +this tale, made immediate preparations for departure, and soon joined +Rother on the pier, where his fast sailing vessel was ready to start. All +the Langobardians had already embarked, and Rother escorted the princess on +board, bidding the empress wait on the quay until he returned for her. But +as soon as he and his fair charge set foot upon deck, the vessel was pushed +off, and Rother called out to the distressed empress that he had deceived +her in order to carry away her daughter, who was now to become the +Langobardian queen. + +Constantine, on his return, was of course very angry at having been so +cleverly duped, and vainly tried to devise some plan for recovering the +daughter whom he loved so well. When a magician came, therefore, and +promised to execute his wishes, he gladly provided him with vessel and crew +to sail to Bari. The magician, disguised as a peaceful merchant, spread out +his wares as soon as he was anchored in port, and by a series of artful +questions soon ascertained that Rother was absent, and that Oda was at +home, carefully guarded by the principal nobles of the realm. When he also +learned that one of these noblemen had a crippled child, the magician +informed the people who visited his vessel to inspect his wares, that the +most precious treasure in his possession was a magic stone, which, in a +queen's hands, had the power of restoring cripples. + +The rumor of this miraculous stone reached the court, and the nobleman +persuaded the kind-hearted queen to go down to the vessel to try the +efficacy of the stone. As soon as Oda was on board, the vessel set sail, +bearing her away from her husband and back to her father's home, where she +was welcomed with great demonstrations of joy. + +Rother, coming back from the war shortly after her disappearance, +immediately prepared a vessel to go in pursuit of her, selecting his giants +and bravest noblemen to accompany him. Once more they landed at a short +distance from Constantinople, and Rother bade his men hide in a thicket, +while he went into the city, disguised as a pilgrim, and carrying under his +robe a hunting horn, which he promised to sound should he at any time find +himself in danger. + +He no sooner entered the city than he noticed with surprise that all the +inhabitants seemed greatly depressed. He questioned them concerning their +evident sadness, and learned that Imelot, having effected his escape from +captivity, had invaded the kingdom, and vowed that he would not retreat +unless Oda married his ugly and hunchbacked son that very day. + +[Sidenote: Imelot again defeated.] These tidings made Rother press on to +the palace, where, thanks to his disguise, he effected an easy entrance. +Slipping unnoticed to his wife's side, he dropped into the cup beside her a +ring upon which his name was engraved. Quick as a flash Oda recognized and +tried to hide it; but her hunchbacked suitor, sitting beside her, also +caught sight of it. He pointed out the intruder, cried that he was Rother +in disguise, and bade his guards seize him and hang him. Rother, seeing +that he was discovered, boldly stepped forward, declared that he had come +to claim his wife, and challenged the cowardly hunchback, who, however, +merely repeated his orders, and accompanied his guards to a grove outside +the city to see his captive executed. Just as they were about to fasten the +fatal noose around his neck, Rother blew a resounding blast upon his horn, +in answer to which call his followers sprang out of their ambush, slew +guards, Imelot, and hunchback, routed the imperial forces, recovered +possession of Oda, and sailed home in triumph to Lombardy. Here Oda bore +her husband a lovely little daughter called Helche (Herka), who eventually +married Etzel (Attila), King of the Huns. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Ortnit.] Another renowned Lombardian king is Ortnit (Otnit), +whose realm included not only all Italy, from the Alps to the sea, but also +the island of Sicily. He had won this province by his fabulous strength, +which, we are told, was equivalent to that of twelve vigorous men. + +In spite of all outward prosperity, Ortnit was lonely and unhappy. One day, +while he was strolling along the seashore at sunset, he saw a misty castle +rise slowly out of the waves. On its topmost tower he beheld a fair maiden, +with whom he fell deeply in love at first sight. As he was gazing +spellbound at the lady's beauty, castle and maiden suddenly vanished; and +when Ortnit asked his uncle, Ylyas (Elias), Prince of the Reussen, what +this fantastic vision might mean, he learned that the castle was the exact +reproduction of the stronghold of Muntabure, and the maiden a phantom of +Princess Sidrat, daughter of the ruler of Syria, which the Fata Morgana, or +Morgana the fay, had permitted him to behold. + + "As the weary traveler sees, + In desert or prairie vast, + Blue lakes, overhung with trees, + That a pleasant shadow cast; + + "Fair towns with turrets high, + And shining roofs of gold, + That vanish as he draws nigh, + Like mists together rolled." + LONGFELLOW, _Fata Morgana_. + +Of course Ortnit vowed that he would go and ask the maiden's hand in +marriage; and although his uncle warned him that Machorell, the girl's +father, beheaded all his daughter's suitors, to use their heads as +decorations for his fortifications, the young king persisted in this +resolve. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and the magic ring.] Forced to go by sea in order to +reach Syria, Ortnit had to delay his departure until suitable preparations +had been made. During that time his mother vainly tried to dissuade him +from the undertaking. Finally, seeing that nothing could deter him from +going in search of the lovely maiden he had seen, she slipped a ring on his +hand, and bade him ride out of town in a certain direction, and dismount +under a lime tree, where he would see something marvelous. + + "'If thou wilt seek the adventure, don thy armor strong; + Far to the left thou ride the towering rocks along. + But bide thee, champion, and await, where grows a linden tree; + There, flowing from the rock, a well thine eyes will see. + + "'Far around the meadow spread the branches green; + Five hundred armed knights may stand beneath the shade, I ween. + Below the linden tree await, and thou wilt meet full soon + The marvelous adventure; there must the deed be done.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +Ortnit obeyed these instructions, dismounted in a spot which seemed +strangely familiar, and, gazing inquisitively around him, became aware of +the presence of a lovely sleeping infant. But when he attempted to take it +in his arms he found himself sprawling on the ground, knocked over by a +single blow from the child's tiny fist. Furious at his overthrow, Ortnit +began wrestling with his small assailant; but in spite of his vaunted +strength he succeeded in pinioning him only after a long struggle. + +[Sidenote: Alberich.] Unable to free himself from Ortnit's powerful grasp, +the child now confessed that he was Alberich, king of the dwarfs, and +promised Ortnit a marvelous suit of armor and the sword Rosen--which had +been tempered in dragons' blood, and was therefore considered +invulnerable--if he would only let him go. + + "'Save me, noble Otnit, for thy chivalry! + A hauberk will I give thee, strong, and of wondrous might; + Better armor never bore champion in the fight. + + "'Not eighty thousand marks would buy the hauberk bright. + A sword of mound I'll give thee, Otnit, thou royal knight; + Through armor, both of gold and steel, cuts the weapon keen; + The helmet could its edge withstand ne'er in this world was seen.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +The king consented, but the moment he set the dwarf free he felt him snatch +the ring his mother had given him off his hand, and saw him mysteriously +and suddenly disappear, his voice sounding tauntingly now on one side, now +on the other. Some parley ensued before the dwarf would restore the ring, +which was no sooner replaced on the hero's hand than he once more found +himself able to see his antagonist. + +Alberich now gravely informed Ortnit that in spite of his infantile stature +he was very old indeed, having lived more than five hundred years. He then +went on to tell him that the king, whom Ortnit had until then considered +his father, had no claim to the title of parent, for he had secretly +divorced his wife, and given her in marriage to Alberich. Thus the dwarf +was Ortnit's true father, and declared himself ready now to acknowledge +their relationship and to protect his son. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit in Tyre.] After giving Ortnit the promised armor and +sword, and directing him to turn the magic ring if ever he needed a +father's aid, Alberich vanished. Ortnit, returning to town, informed his +mother that he had seen his father; and as soon as the weather permitted he +set sail for Suders (Tyre). Ortnit entered the harbor as a merchant, and +exhibited his wares to the curious people, while Alberich, at his request, +bore a challenge to Machorell, threatening to take Tyre and the castle of +Muntabure unless he were willing to accept Ortnit as son-in-law. + +The dwarf acquitted himself nobly of his task, and when Machorell +scornfully dismissed him, he hastened back to Tyre, bidding Ortnit lose no +time in surprising and taking possession of the city. This advice was so +well carried out that Ortnit soon found himself master of the city, and +marching on to Muntabure, he laid siege to the castle, restoring all his +men as soon as they were wounded by a mere touch of his magic ring. +Alberich, whom none but he could see, was allowed to lead the van and bear +the banner, which seemed to flutter aloft in a fantastic way. The dwarf +took advantage of this invisibility to scale the walls of the fortress +unseen, and hurled down the ponderous machines used to throw stones, +arrows, boiling pitch, and oil. Thus he greatly helped Ortnit, who, in the +mean while, was performing unheard-of deeds of valor, which excited the +admiration of Princess Sidrat, watching him from her tower. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and Liebgart.] Alberich next glided to this maiden's +side, and bade her hasten to the postern gate early on the morrow, if she +would see the king. As Ortnit had been told that he would find her there, +he went thither in the early dawn, and pleaded his cause so eloquently that +Sidrat eloped with him to Lombardy. There she became his beloved queen, was +baptized in the Christian faith, and received the name of Liebgart, by +which she was ever afterward known. + +[Sidenote: The magic eggs.] The happiness of Ortnit and Liebgart was very +great, but the young queen did not feel that it was quite complete until a +giant and his wife came from her father's court bringing conciliatory +messages, and a promise that Machorell would visit his daughter in the +early spring. They also brought countless valuable presents, among which +were two huge eggs, which the giants said were priceless, as from them +could be hatched magic toads with lodestones in their foreheads. Of course +Liebgart's curiosity was greatly excited by this gift, and learning that +the giant couple would see to the hatching of the eggs and the bringing up +of the toads if a suitable place were only provided for them, she sent them +into a mountain gorge near Trient, where the climate was hot and damp +enough for the proper hatching of the toads. + +Time passed by, and the giantess Ruotze hatched dragons or lind-worms from +the huge eggs. These animals grew with alarming rapidity, and soon the +governor of the province sent word to the king that he could no longer +provide food enough for the monsters, which had become the terror of the +whole countryside. They finally proved too much even for the giants, who +were obliged to flee. When Ortnit learned that ordinary weapons had no +effect upon these dragons, he donned his magic armor and seized his sword +Rosen. He then bade Liebgart a tender farewell, telling her that if he did +not return she must marry none but the man who wore his ring, and sallied +forth to deliver his people from the ravenous monsters whom he had +thoughtlessly allowed to be bred in their midst. + +Ortnit soon dispatched the giant and giantess, who would fain have hindered +his entrance into the fatal gorge. Then he encountered the dwarf Alberich, +and was warned that he would fall victim to the pestilent dragons, which +had bred a number of young ones, destined, in time, to infest all Europe. + +In spite of these warnings, Ortnit declared that he must do his best for +the sake of his people; and having given the magic ring back to Alberich, +he continued on his way. All day long he vainly sought the monsters in the +trackless forest, until, sinking down exhausted at the foot of a tree, he +soon fell asleep. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ortnit.] This slumber was so profound that it was like +a lethargy, and the wild barking of his dog failed to waken him so that he +could prepare for the stealthy approach of the great dragon. The monster +caught the sleeping knight in his powerful claws, and dashed him against +the rocks until every bone in his body was broken into bits, although the +magic armor remained quite whole. + +Then the dragon conveyed the corpse to his den, where the little dragons +vainly tried to get at the knight to eat his flesh, being daunted by the +impenetrable armor, which would not give way. + +In the mean while Liebgart was anxiously awaiting the return of her beloved +husband; but when she saw his dog steal into the palace in evident grief, +she knew that Ortnit was dead, and mourned for him with many a tear. As he +had left no heir to succeed him, the nobles soon crowded around Liebgart, +imploring her to marry one of them and make him king of Lombardy; but she +constantly refused to listen to their wooing. + +[Sidenote: Liebgart dethroned.] Angry at her resistance, the noblemen then +took possession of treasure, palace, and kingdom, and left poor Liebgart so +utterly destitute that she was forced to support herself by spinning and +weaving. She carried on these occupations for a long time, while patiently +waiting for the coming of a knight who would avenge Ortnit's death, wear +his ring, claim her hand in marriage, and restore her to her former exalted +position as queen of Lombardy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +THE AMBLINGS. + + +[Sidenote: Hugdietrich.] While Ortnit's ancestors were ruling over +Lombardy, Anzius was Emperor of Constantinople. When about to die, this +monarch confided his infant son, Hugdietrich, to the care of Berchther of +Meran, the same who had accompanied Rother on his journey to +Constantinople. + +When Hugdietrich attained marriageable age, his tutor felt it incumbent +upon him to select a suitable wife for him. One princess only, Hildburg, +daughter of Walgund of Thessalonica, seemed to unite all the required +advantages of birth, beauty, and wealth; but unfortunately this princess's +father was averse to her marrying, and, to prevent her from having any +lovers, had locked her up in an isolated tower, where none but women were +ever admitted. + +Berchther having informed his ward of his plan, and of the difficulties +concerning its fulfillment, Hugdietrich immediately made up his mind to +bring it about, even if he had to resort to stratagem in order to win his +bride. After much cogitation he let his hair grow, learned all about +woman's work and ways, donned female garments, and journeyed off to +Thessalonica, where he presented himself before the king as a princess in +distress, and claimed his chivalrous protection. Walgund welcomed the +pretended princess warmly, and accepted her gifts of gold and embroidery. +As soon as he had shown the latter to his wife and daughter, they expressed +a lively desire to see the stranger and have her teach them to embroider +also. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hugdietrich and Hildburg.] Hugdietrich, having thus +effected an entrance into the princess's tower as embroidery teacher, soon +managed to quiet Hildburg's alarm when she discovered that the pretended +princess was a suitor in disguise, and wooed her so successfully that she +not only allowed him to take up his abode in the tower, but also consented +to a secret union. All went on very well for some time, but finally +Hugdietrich felt it his duty to return to his kingdom; and parting from his +young wife, he solemnly promised to return ere long to claim her openly. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Wolfdietrich.] On reaching home, however, he found +himself unexpectedly detained by a war which had just broken out; and while +he was fighting, Hildburg anxiously watched for his return. Month after +month passed by without any news of him, till Hildburg, in her lonely +tower, gave birth to a little son, whose advent was kept secret by the +ingenuity and devotion of the princess's nurse. + +When the queen presented herself at the door unexpectedly one day, this +servant hastily carried the child out of the building, and set him down on +the grass in the moat, intending to come and get him in a few moments. She +could not do so, however, as the queen kept her constantly beside her, and +prolonged her visit to the next day. + + "In the moat the new-born babe meanwhile in silence lay, + Sleeping on the verdant grass, gently, all the day. + From the swathing and the bath the child had stinted weeping; + No one saw, or heard its voice, in the meadow sleeping." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +When the faithful nurse, released at last, rushed out to find her charge, +who could creep about, she could discover no trace of him; and not daring +to confide the truth to Hildburg, she informed her that she had sent the +child out to nurse. + +A few days later, Berchther of Meran arrived at Thessalonica, saying that +Hugdietrich had fallen in love with Hildburg on hearing a description of +her charms from the exiled princess, his sister, and openly suing in his +name for her hand. Instead of giving an immediate answer to this proposal, +Walgund invited the ambassador to hunt with him in a neighboring forest on +the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of Wolfdietrich.] Accidentally separated from their +respective suites, Walgund and Berchther came to a thicket near the +princess's tower, and peering through the underbrush to discover the +meaning of some strange sounds, they saw a beautiful little boy sitting on +the grass, playfully handling some young wolf cubs, whose struggles he +seemed not to mind in the least. While the two men were gazing spellbound +at this strange sight, they saw the mother wolf draw near, ready to spring +upon the innocent child and tear him limb from limb. As Berchther +skillfully flung his spear past the child and slew the wolf, Walgund sprang +forward and caught the babe in his arms, exclaiming that if he were only +sure his grandchildren would be as handsome and fearless as this little +boy, he would soon consent to his daughter's marriage. + +As the child was so small that it still required a woman's tender care, +Walgund next proposed to carry it to the tower, where his daughter and her +attendants could watch over it until it was claimed; and as Berchther +indorsed this proposal, it was immediately carried out. Hildburg received +the charge with joy, revealed by her emotion that the child was her very +own, and told her father all about her secret marriage with Hugdietrich, +whom Walgund now graciously accepted as son-in-law. + +In memory of this adventure the baby rescued from the beast of prey was +called Wolfdietrich, and he and his mother, accompanied by a nobleman named +Sabene, were escorted in state to Constantinople, where Hugdietrich +welcomed them with joy. Here they dwelt in peace for several years, at the +end of which, a war having again broken out, Hugdietrich departed, +confiding his wife and son to the care of Sabene, who now cast aside all +his pretended virtue. After insulting the queen most grossly, he began to +spread lying reports about the birth of the young heir, until the people, +doubting whether he might not be considered a mere foundling, showed some +unwillingness to recognize him as their future prince. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich in Meran.] Hugdietrich, returning home and hearing +these remarks, also began to cherish some suspicions, and, instead of +keeping Wolfdietrich at court, sent him to Meran, where Berchther brought +him up with his twelve stalwart sons, every one of whom the young prince +outshone in beauty, courage, and skill in all manly exercises. + +In the mean while Hildburg had borne two other sons, Bogen and Waxmuth, to +Hugdietrich; but seeing that Sabene was still trying to poison people's +minds against the absent Wolfdietrich, and deprive him of his rights, she +finally sought her husband, revealed the baseness of Sabene's conduct, and +had him exiled. Hugdietrich's life was unfortunately cut short a few months +after this, and when he felt that he was about to die, he disposed of all +his property, leaving the sovereignty of Constantinople to Wolfdietrich, +and making his younger sons kings of lands which he had conquered in the +south. + +[Sidenote: Hildburg banished by Sabene.] As soon as he had breathed his +last, however, the nobles of the land, who had all been won over by +Sabene's artful insinuations, declared that they would never recognize +Wolfdietrich as their ruler, but would recall Sabene watch over the two +younger kings, and exercise the royal power in their name. These measures +having been carried out, Sabene avenged himself by banishing Hildburg, who, +turned out of the imperial palace at night, was forced to make her way +alone and on foot to Meran, where her son Wolfdietrich received her gladly +and promised to protect her with his strong right arm. + +At the head of a small troop composed of Berchther and his sons, +Wolfdietrich marched to Constantinople to oust Sabene; but, in spite of all +his valor, he soon found himself defeated, and forced to retreat to the +castle of Lilienporte. Here he intrenched himself, rejoicing at the sight +of the strong battlements, and especially at the provisions stored within +its inclosure, which would suffice for all the wants of the garrison for +more than seven years. + +[Sidenote: Siege of Lilienporte.] In vain Sabene besieged this castle; in +vain he constructed huge engines of war; the fortress held out month after +month. At the end of the third year, Wolfdietrich, seeing that their +provisions would not hold out forever, resolved to make his escape alone, +and go in search of allies to save his trusty friends. He soon obtained the +consent of Berchther and of his mother for the execution of this scheme. + +While a skirmish was going on one day, Wolfdietrich escaped through the +postern gate, and, riding into the forest, rapidly disappeared in the +direction of Lombardy, where he intended to ask the aid of Ortnit. Riding +through the deserts of Roumelia, where his guardian had bidden him beware +of the enchantments of the witch Rauch-Else, he shared his last piece of +bread with his faithful steed, and, faint with hunger and almost perishing +with thirst, plodded painfully on. + +[Sidenote: Rauch-Else.] Finally horse and rider could go no farther, and as +the latter lay in a half swoon upon the barren soil, he was suddenly roused +by the appearance of a hideous, bearlike female, who gruffly inquired how +he dared venture upon her territory. The unhappy Wolfdietrich recognized +Rauch-Else by the description his guardian, Berchther, had given of her, +and would have fled, had strength remained him to do so; but, fainting with +hunger, he could only implore her to give him something to eat. + +At this appeal Rauch-Else immediately produced a peculiar-looking root, of +which he had no sooner tasted than he felt as strong and rested as ever +before. By the witch's advice he gave the remainder of the root to his +horse, upon whom it produced the same magic effect; but when he would fain +have expressed his gratitude and ridden away, Rauch-Else told him that he +belonged to her by decree of fate, and asked him to marry her. + +Not daring to refuse this proposal, which, however, was very distasteful +indeed, Wolfdietrich reluctantly assented, expressing a wish that she were +not quite so repulsive. No sooner were the words fairly out of his mouth +than he saw her suddenly transformed into a beautiful woman, and heard her +declare that his "yes" had released her from an evil spell, and allowed her +to resume her wonted form and name, which was Sigeminne, Queen of Old Troy. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne.] Slowly proceeding to the seashore, +the young couple embarked in a waiting galley and sailed directly to +Sigeminne's kingdom, where they lived happily together, Wolfdietrich having +entirely forgotten his mother, tutor, and companions, who were vainly +awaiting his return with an army to deliver them. + + "By the hand she led Wolfdietrich unto the forest's end; + To the sea she guided him; a ship lay on the strand. + To a spacious realm she brought him, hight the land of Troy." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Wolfdietrich's happiness, however, was not to endure long; for while he was +pursuing a stag which his wife bade him secure for her, a magician named +Drusian suddenly presented himself before Sigeminne and spirited her away. + +Wolfdietrich, finding his wife gone, resolved to go in search of her, and +not to rest until he had found her. Then, knowing that nothing but cunning +could prevail against the magician's art, he donned a magic silken vest +which his wife had woven for him, which could not be penetrated by weapon +or dragon, and covering it with a pilgrim's garb, he traveled on until he +came within sight of the castle of Drusian. + +Worn out by his long journey, he sat down for a moment to rest ere he began +the ascent of the steep mountain upon which the castle stood; and having +fallen asleep, he was roughly awakened by a giant, who bore him off +prisoner to the fortress, where he saw Sigeminne. + + "He led the weary pilgrim into the castle hall, + Where brightly burned the fire, and many a taper tall. + On a seat he sat him down, and made him right good cheer. + His eyes around the hall cast the hero without fear." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Sigeminne.] Wolfdietrich concealed his face in the +depths of his cowl, and remained quietly seated by the fire until evening +came. Then the giant turned to the mourning queen, declaring that he had +been patient long enough, and that she must now consent to marry him and +forget her husband. Hardly had these words been spoken when Wolfdietrich, +the pretended pilgrim, fell upon him, and refused to let him go until he +had accepted his challenge for a fair fight and had produced suitable arms. +The young hero selected an iron armor, in preference to the gold and silver +mail offered him, and boldly attacked the giant, who finally succumbed +beneath his mighty blows. Sigeminne, thus restored to her husband's arms, +then returned with him to Old Troy, where they ruled happily together until +she died of a mortal illness. + +When she breathed her last, Wolfdietrich, delivered from the spell she had +cast upon him by making him partake of the magic root, suddenly remembered +his mother, Berchther, and his faithful companions, and, filled with +compunction, hastened off to help them. On his way he passed through many +lands, and finally came to a fortified town, whose walls were adorned with +human heads set up on spikes. He asked a passer-by what this singular +decoration might mean, and learned that the city belonged to a heathen +king, Belligan, who made it a practice to slay every Christian who entered +his precincts. + +[Sidenote: Belligan slain by Wolfdietrich.] Wolfdietrich immediately +resolved to rid the earth of this monster, and riding boldly into the city, +he cried that he was ready to meet the king in his favorite game of dagger +throwing. This challenge was promptly accepted, the preparations all made, +and although the heathen king was protected by his daughter's magic spells, +he could not withstand the Christian knight, who pierced him through and +through, and left him dead. + + "Speedily Wolfdietrich the third knife heaved on high. + Trembling stood Sir Belligan, for he felt his death was nigh. + The pagan's heart asunder with cunning skill he cleft; + Down upon the grass he fell, of life bereft." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +But as Wolfdietrich attempted to leave the castle, waves suddenly +surrounded him on all sides, threatening to drown him, until, suspecting +that this phenomenon was produced by the princess's magic arts, he seized +her and held her head under water until she died. Then the waves +immediately subsided and permitted him to escape unharmed. + +Wolfdietrich next came to some mountains, where he encountered a giantess, +who told him the story of Ortnit's death, and so roused his compassion for +the unfortunate Liebgart that he vowed to slay the dragon and avenge all +her wrongs. To enable him to reach his destination sooner the giantess bore +him and his horse over the mountains, fifty miles in one day, and set him +down near Garden (Guarda), where he saw Liebgart and her sole remaining +attendant sadly walking up and down. + +Struck by Liebgart's resemblance to the dead Sigeminne, Wolfdietrich stood +quietly in the shade long enough to overhear her sigh and say that she +wished the brave Wolfdietrich would come along that way and avenge her +husband's death. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Liebgart.] In answer to these words the hero +presented himself impetuously before her, swore he would do all in his +power to fulfill her wishes, and having received from her fair hand a ring, +which she declared would bring the wearer good luck, he hastened off to the +mountain gorge to encounter the dragons. On the way thither, Wolfdietrich +met Alberich, who cautioned him not to yield to the desire for slumber if +he would overcome the foe; so pressing on in spite of almost overpowering +lassitude, he met the dragon. + +Notwithstanding all his efforts Wolfdietrich soon found himself carried off +to the monster's cave, where he was flung down to serve as pasture for the +young lind-worms. They would surely have devoured him had he not been +protected by Sigeminne's magic shirt, which they could not pierce. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit's sword and ring.] Looking about him for some weapon to +defend himself with, Wolfdietrich suddenly saw Ortnit's ring and his sword +Rosen, which he seized, and wielded the latter to such good purpose that he +soon slew all the dragons. He then cut out their tongues, which he packed +in a bag the dwarfs brought him, and triumphantly rode off to find Liebgart +and tell her of his success. But, as he lost his way in the forest, it was +several days before he reached the town where she dwelt, and as he rode +through the gates he was indignant to hear that Liebgart was about to marry +a knight by the name of Gerhart, who had slain the dragon, brought home its +head, and claimed the fulfillment of an old promise she had made to marry +her husband's avenger. Wolfdietrich spurred onward, entered the castle, +denounced the impostor Gerhart, and proved the truth of his assertions by +producing the dragons' tongues. Then, turning to the queen, Wolfdietrich +stretched out his hand to her, humbly asking whether she would marry him. +At that moment Liebgart saw Ortnit's ring glittering on his finger, and, +remembering her husband's last words, immediately signified her consent. + +The happy couple spent a whole year together in restoring order, peace, and +prosperity to the Lombards, before Wolfdietrich left his wife to go and +succor the companions whom he had neglected so long. Landing with his army +near Constantinople, Wolfdietrich, disguised as a peasant, made his way +into the city, and learned that Berchther and his sons had been put in +prison. There the former had died, but the latter were still languishing in +captivity. Wolfdietrich bribed the jailer to bear them a cheering message +and strengthening food, and led his army against Sabene, whom he utterly +routed. + +After recovering possession of Constantinople, granting full forgiveness to +his erring brothers, executing Sabene, and liberating his companions, to +whom he intrusted the sovereignty of the empire, Wolfdietrich returned to +Lombardy, and from thence proceeded with Liebgart to Romaburg (Rome), where +he was duly crowned emperor. + +To reward Herbrand, Berchther's eldest son, for his faithfulness, +Wolfdietrich gave him the city of Garden and all its territories, a realm +which subsequently was inherited by his son Hildebrand, a hero whom we +shall have further occasion to describe. + +Hache, another of Berchther's sons, received as his share all the Rhine +land, which he left to his son, the trusty Eckhardt (Eckewart) who ever and +anon appears in northern literature to win mortals back to virtue and point +out the road to honor. Wolfdietrich and Liebgart were the happy parents of +a son called Hugdietrich, like his grandfather; and this king's second son, +Dietmar, was the father of the famous Dietrich von Bern, the hero of the +next chapter of this volume. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +DIETRICH VON BERN. + + +DIETRICH VON BERN, whose name is spelled in eighty-five different ways in +the various ballads and chronicles written about him, has been identified +with the historical Theodoric of Verona, whose "name was chosen by the +poets of the early middle ages as the string upon which the pearls of their +fantastic imagination were to be strung." + +This hero is one of the principal characters in the ancient German "Book of +Heroes," and his adventures, which are recorded in many ancient +manuscripts, and more especially in the Wilkina saga, are about as follows: + +[Sidenote: Parentage of Deitrich.] Dietmar, the second son of Hugdietrich, +or of Samson according to other authorities, became the independent ruler +of Bern (Verona), and refused to recognize his elder brother, Ermenrich, +Emperor of the West, as his liege lord. The young prince had married +Odilia, the heiress of the conquered Duke of Verona, who bore him a son +called Dietrich. Gentle and generous when all went according to his wishes, +this child was uncontrollable when his anger was roused, and his breath +then came from his lips in a fiery torrent, scorching his opponent, and +consuming all inflammable articles. + +When Dietrich was but five years of age his training was intrusted to +Hildebrand, son of Herbrand, one of the Volsung race; and so well did the +tutor acquit himself of this task that he soon made his pupil as +accomplished a warrior as himself. Their tastes were, moreover, so similar +that they soon became inseparable friends, and their attachment has become +as proverbial among northern nations as that of David and Jonathan, Damon +and Pythias, or Orestes and Pylades. + +Hearing that a giant, Grim, and a giantess, Hilde, were committing great +depredations in a remote part of his father's territories, and that no one +had been able to rout or slay them, young Dietrich set out with Master +Hildebrand to attack them. They had not ridden long in the forest before +they became aware of the presence of a tiny dwarf, Alberich (Alferich, +Alpris, or Elbegast), and pouncing upon him, they held him fast, vowing +that he should recover his liberty only upon condition of pointing out the +giants' lurking place. + +[Sidenote: The sword Nagelring.] The dwarf not only promised the desired +information, but gave Dietrich the magic sword Nagelring, which alone could +pierce the giants' skin. Then he led both heroes to the cave, where Grim +and Hilde were gloating over a magic helmet they had made and called +Hildegrim. Peering through a fissure of the rock, Hildebrand was the first +to gaze upon them, and in his eagerness to get at them he braced his +shoulder against the huge mass of stone, forced it apart, and thus made a +passage for himself and for his impetuous young pupil. + +As Nagelring, the magic sword, had been stolen from him, Grim attacked +Dietrich with a blazing brand snatched from the fire, while Hildebrand and +Hilde wrestled together. The encounter was short and fierce between the +young hero and his gigantic opponent, who soon succumbed beneath +Nagelring's sharp blows. Then Dietrich, turning, came just in time to save +his master from Hilde's treacherous blade. But, although one stroke of +Nagelring cut her in two, the heroes were dismayed to see the severed parts +of her body knit together in a trice, and permit Hilde, whole once more, to +renew the attack. + +To prevent a repetition of this magical performance, Dietrich, after again +cutting her in two, placed his sword between the severed parts, and, +knowing that steel annuls magic, left it there until all power to unite was +gone and Hilde was really dead. The two heroes then returned home in +triumph with Nagelring and Hildegrim, the two famous trophies, which +Dietrich took as his share of the spoil, leaving to Hildebrand an immense +treasure of gold which made him the richest man of his day. This wealth +enabled Hildebrand to marry the noble Ute (Uote or Uta), who helped him to +bring up Dietrich's young brother, then but a babe. + +Although the young prince of Bern imagined that he had exterminated all the +giants in his land, he was soon undeceived; for Sigenot, Grim's brother, +coming down from the Alps to visit him, and finding him slain, vowed to +avenge his death. The brave young prince, hearing that Sigenot was +terrorizing all the neighborhood, immediately set out to attack him, +followed at a distance by Hildebrand and the latter's nephew, Wolfhart, who +was always ready to undertake any journey, provided there was some prospect +of a fight at the end. + +Dietrich soon came to a forest, where, feeling hungry, he slew an elk and +proceeded to roast some of its flesh upon a spit. While he was thus engaged +he heard shrill cries, and looking up, he saw a giant holding a dwarf and +about to devour him. Ever ready to succor the feeble and oppressed, +Dietrich caught up his sword and attacked the giant, who made a brave but +fruitless defense. The dwarf, seeing his tormentor dead, then advised +Dietrich to fly in haste, lest Sigenot, the most terrible of all the +mountain giants, should come to avenge his companion's murder. But, instead +of following this advice, Dietrich persuaded the dwarf to show him the way +to the giant's retreat. + +[Sidenote: Capture of Dietrich by giant Sigenot.] Following his tiny guide, +Dietrich climbed up the snow-clad mountains, where, in the midst of the +icebergs, the ice queen, Virginal, suddenly appeared to him, advising him +to retreat, as his venture was perilous in the extreme. Equally undeterred +by this second warning, Dietrich pressed on; but when he came at last to +the giant's abode he was so exhausted by the ascent that, in spite of all +his courage, he was defeated, put in chains, and dragged into the giant's +den. + +[Illustration: FALKE KILLS THE GIANT.--Keller.] + +Hildebrand, in the mean while, following his pupil, awaited his return at +the foot of the mountains for eight days, and then, seeing that he did not +appear, he strode up the mountain side. The giant encountered him, stunned +him with a great blow, and dragged him into the den, where, thinking him +senseless, he leisurely began to select chains with which to bind him fast. +Hildebrand, however, sprang noiselessly to his feet, seized a weapon lying +near, and stealing behind a pillar, which served him as a shield, he +attacked Sigenot, and stretched him lifeless at his feet. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich rescued by Hildebrand.] A moment later he heard +Dietrich calling him from the depths of the cave. To spring forward and +free his pupil from his chains was the work of a moment, and then, +following the dwarf, who openly rejoiced at the death of his foe, the two +heroes visited the underground kingdom. There they were hospitably +entertained, their wounds were healed, and the king of the dwarfs gave them +the finest weapons that they had ever seen. + +While hunting in the Tyrolean mountains shortly after this encounter, +Dietrich confided to Hildebrand that he had fallen in love with the ice +fairy, Virginal, and longed to see her again. This confidence was suddenly +interrupted by the appearance of a dwarf, who presented himself as Bibung, +the unconquerable protector of Queen Virginal, but who in the same breath +confessed that she had fallen into the hands of the magician Ortgis. The +latter kept her imprisoned in one of her own castles, and at every new moon +he forced her to surrender one of the snow maidens, her lovely attendants, +whom he intended, to devour as soon as they were properly fattened. + +Dietrich's eyes flashed with anger when he heard of his lady-love's +distress, and bidding the dwarf show him the way, he forthwith set out to +rescue her. They had not gone very far before they beheld the ice queen's +palace glittering far above their heads; and as they eagerly climbed upward +to reach it, they heard cries of terror, and saw a beautiful girl rush down +the pathway, closely pursued by the magician and his mounted train. + +[Sidenote: Magician Ortgis slain.] Dietrich allowed the maiden to pass +him, and then stepped boldly into the middle of the path, where he and +Hildebrand soon succeeded in slaying the magician and all his men. Jambas, +the son of Ortgis, alone effected his escape; but Dietrich and his master +closely pursued him, took forcible possession of his castle, set the +captive snow maidens free, and fearlessly slew all the monsters which +Jambas conjured up to destroy them. Then, resuming their interrupted +journey, Dietrich and Hildebrand soon came face to face with the +self-styled unconquerable guardian of the ice queen. He had been hiding +during the fray, and now implored them to hasten forward, as his mistress +was besieged by Jambas. The magician's son was anxious to secure Virginal +and all her maidens, but his principal aim was to appropriate the great +carbuncle shining in the queen's crown, as it gave the possessor full power +over the elements, the mountains, and all who ventured within reach of +them. + +Thus urged to greater speed, the heroes toiled upward faster and faster, +and soon came near the glittering castle of Jeraspunt, and the besiegers. +The latter were on the point of overpowering the garrison and gaining +possession of the queen. When Dietrich saw her on the battlement, wringing +her hands in despair, he rushed impetuously forward, crying that he had +come to save her. He struck right and left, and did such good execution +with his sword that the mountains shook, the icebergs cracked, and great +avalanches, rolling down into the abysses, carried with them the bodies of +the slain which he hurled down from the drawbridge. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of the ice queen.] In a very short time the enemy was +completely routed, and Dietrich was joyfully welcomed by Virginal, who, +touched by his devotion, consented to forsake her glittering castle, +relinquish her sway over the mountains, and to follow him down into the +green valley. Their wedding was celebrated in Jeraspunt, which was all hung +in bridal white; and the ice queen and her maidens wore misty veils and +crowns of glittering diamonds, which sparkled and flashed and lit up the +whole scene with fairylike splendor. Some versions of the story tell, +however, that the queen soon grew homesick down in the green valley, and, +deserting her hero husband, returned to her palace on the mountain top, +where she still rules supreme. + +Dietrich's numerous adventures soon became the theme of the wandering bards +and minstrels, and thus the rumor of his courage came to the ears of Heime, +the son of the northern stud keeper Studas. After distinguishing himself at +home by slaying a dragon, this youth obtained from his father the steed +Rispa and the sword Blutgang, with which he set out to test Dietrich's +courage, vowing that he would serve him forever if conquered by him. + + "King Tidrick sits intill Bern; + He rooses [boasts] him of his might; + Sae mony has he in battle cow'd, + Baith kemp [rough] and doughty knight." + _The Ettin Langshanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Heime soon reached Bern, boldly challenged Dietrich, and when defeated +entered his service, after procuring for his master's exclusive use the +matchless steed Falke, which could carry even such a gigantic man as +Dietrich without showing any signs of fatigue, and which served him +faithfully for many a year. + +[Sidenote: Wittich.] The rumor of Dietrich's courage also came to +Heligoland, where Wieland (Wayland, or Völund), the smith, dwelt with his +son Wittich (Witig). The latter, determined to cross swords with the hero +of Bern, persuaded his father to give him the celebrated sword Mimung, by +the help of which he hoped to overcome every foe. Wieland also fashioned a +complete suit of armor for his son, gave him much good advice, and parted +from him, bidding him to prove himself worthy of his ancestors, and to call +upon his grandmother, the mermaid Wachilde, if he were ever in great +distress. + +Thus instructed Wittich departed, and on the way to Bern fell in with +Hildebrand, Heime, and Hornbogi, another of Dietrich's noted warriors. They +concealed their names, encouraged the stranger to talk, and soon learned +where he was going and on what errand. Master Hildebrand, hearing of the +magic sword, and anxious to preserve his pupil from its blows, allowed +Wittich to fight single-handed against twelve robbers in a mountain pass. +As the youth disposed of them all without receiving a scratch, Hildebrand +substituted his own sword blade for that which Wittich bore, one night +while the latter was peacefully sleeping at an inn. This exchange remained +unnoticed until Wittich arrived in Bern. There, while fighting with +Dietrich, the blade suddenly snapped in two. + +Loudly reproaching his father, Wieland, for having provided him with such +an unreliable weapon, Wittich was about to announce himself conquered, when +Hildebrand, realizing that he had not acted honorably, gave him back his +own blade. Dietrich, to his surprise and dismay, found himself conquered in +this second encounter, and was forced to acknowledge that he owed his life +only to Wittich's magnanimity. But the northern hero soon confessed in his +turn that had it not been for his magic sword he would have been obliged to +yield to Dietrich, and voluntarily offered his services to him, thus +becoming one of his train. + + "Sae gladly rode they back to Bern; + But Tidrick maist was glad; + And Vidrich o' his menyie a' + The foremost place aye had." + _The Ettin Langskanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Dietrich's next adventure, which is recorded in the "Eckenlied," was with +the giant Ecke, who held Bolfriana, the widowed Lady of Drachenfels, and +her nine daughters, in his power. The hero of Bern encountered the giant by +night, and, in spite of his aversion to fighting at such a time, was +compelled to defend himself against the giant's blows. He was about to +succumb when his steed Falke, scenting his danger, broke loose from the +tree to which it had been tied, and stamped Ecke to death. + +Dietrich now rode on to Drachenfels, where he encountered Fasolt, Ecke's +brother, and, after defeating him also, and delivering the captive ladies, +went back to Bern, where Fasolt joined his chosen warriors. Dietrich, +moreover, delivered the knight Sintram from the jaws of a dragon, and made +him one of his followers. Then, having appropriated Ecke's sword, the great +Eckesax, Dietrich was about to give Nagelring to Heime; but hearing that +the latter had stood idly by while Wittich fought single-handed against +twelve robbers, he banished him from his presence, bidding him never return +until he had atoned for his dishonorable conduct by some generous deed. + +Heime, incensed at this dismissal, sulkily withdrew to the Falster wood on +the banks of the Wisara (Weser), where he became chief of a body of +brigands, ruthlessly spoiled travelers, and daily increased the hoard he +was piling up in one of his strongholds. + +But, although Dietrich thus lost one of his bravest warriors, his band was +soon reënforced by Hildebrand's brother Ilsan, who, although a monk, was +totally unfitted for a religious life, and greatly preferred fighting to +praying. There also came to Bern Wildeber (Wild Boar), a man noted for his +great strength. He owed this strength to a golden bracelet given him by a +mermaid in order to recover her swan plumage, which he had secured. + +[Sidenote: Dietlieb the Dane.] As Dietrich was once on his way to Romaburg +(Rome), whither his uncle Ermenrich had invited him, he accepted the +proffered service and escort of Dietlieb the Dane. This warrior, seeing +that the emperor had forgotten to provide for the entertainment of +Dietrich's suite, pledged not only his own steed and weapons, but also his +master's and Hildebrand's, leading a jolly life upon the proceeds. + +When the time of departure came, and Dietrich called for his steed, +Dietlieb was forced to confess what he had done. The story came to +Ermenrich's ears, and he felt called upon to pay the required sum to +release his guest's weapons and steeds, but contemptuously inquired whether +Dietlieb were good at anything besides eating and drinking, wherein he +evidently excelled. Enraged by this taunt, Dietlieb challenged Ermenrich's +champion warrior, Walther von Wasgenstein (Vosges), and beat him at spear +and stone throwing. He next performed feats hitherto unheard of, and won +such applause that Ermenrich not only paid all his debts, but also gave him +a large sum of money, which this promising young spendthrift immediately +expended in feasting all the men at arms. + +Dietlieb's jests and jollity so amused Isung, the imperial minstrel, that +he left court to follow him to the land of the Huns, where the fickle youth +next offered his services to Etzel (Attila). The King of the Huns, afraid +to keep such a mercurial person near him, gave him the province of +Steiermark (Styria), bidding him work off all surplus energy by defending +it against the numerous enemies always trying to enter his realm. + +[Sidenote: The dwarf Laurin.] Some time after this, Dietlieb returned to +his old master in sorrow, for his only sister, Kunhild (Similde, or +Similt), had been carried away by Laurin (Alberich), king of the dwarfs, +and was now detained prisoner in the Tyrolean mountains, not far from the +vaunted Rose Garden. This place was surrounded by a silken thread, and +guarded most jealously by Laurin himself, who exacted the left foot and +right hand of any knight venturing to enter his garden or break off a +single flower from its stem. + +As soon as Dietrich heard this, he promised to set out and rescue the fair +Kunhild. He was accompanied by Dietlieb, Hildebrand, Wittich, and Wolfhart; +and as they came to the Rose Garden, all the heroes except Dietrich and +Hildebrand began to trample the dainty blossoms, and tried to break the +silken cord. + + "Wittich, the mighty champion, trod the roses to the ground, + Broke down the gates, and ravaged the garden far renowned; + Gone was the portals' splendor, by the heroes bold destroyed; + The fragrance of the flowers was past, and all the garden's pride." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +While they were thus employed, the dwarf Laurin donned his glittering +girdle of power, which gave him the strength of twelve men, brandished a +sword which had been tempered in dragons' blood and could therefore cut +through iron and stone, and put on his ring of victory and the magic cap of +darkness, Tarnkappe (Helkappe). + +Dietrich, carefully instructed by Hildebrand, struck off this cap, and +appropriated it, as well as the girdles of strength and the ring of +victory. He was so angry against Laurin for resisting him that the dwarf +king soon fled to Dietlieb for protection, promising to restore Kunhild, +unless she preferred to remain with him as his wife. + +This amicable agreement having been made, Laurin led the knights down into +his subterranean palace, which was illuminated by carbuncles, diamonds, and +other precious stones. Here Kunhild and her attendant maidens, attired with +the utmost magnificence, welcomed them hospitably and presided at the +banquet. + + "Similt into the palace came, with her little maidens all; + Garments they wore which glittered brightly in the hall, + Of fur and costly ciclatoun, and brooches of the gold; + No richer guise in royal courts might mortal man behold." + _Heldentuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +The wines, however, were drugged, so the brave knights soon sank into a +stupor; and Laurin, taking a base advantage of their helplessness, deprived +them of their weapons, bound them fast, and had them conveyed into a large +prison. Dietlieb was placed in a chamber apart, where, as soon as he +recovered his senses, Laurin told him that he and his companions were +doomed to die on the morrow. + +At midnight Dietrich awoke. Feeling himself bound, his wrath burned hot +within him, and his breath grew so fiery that it consumed the ropes with +which he was pinioned. He then released his captive companions, and, while +they were bewailing their lack of weapons, Kunhild stealthily opened the +door. Noiselessly she conducted them into the great hall, bade them resume +possession of their arms, and gave each a golden ring, of dwarf +manufacture, to enable them to see their tiny foes, who were else invisible +to all of mortal birth. + +Joined by Dietlieb, who had also been liberated by Kunhild, the knights now +roused Laurin and his host of giants and dwarfs, and, after an encounter +such as mediaeval poets love to describe at great length, routed them +completely. Laurin was made prisoner and carried in chains to Bern, where +Kunhild, now full of compassion for him, prevailed upon Dietrich to set him +free, provided he would forswear all his malicious propensities and spend +the remainder of his life in doing good. + +When this promise had been given, Laurin was set free; and after marrying +Kunhild, he went to live with her in the beautiful Rose Garden and the +underground palace, which peasants and simple-hearted Alpine hunters have +often seen, but which the worldly wise and skeptical have always sought in +vain. + +[Sidenote: Rose Garden at Worms.] The mere fact of his having come off +victor in one Rose Garden affair made Dietrich hail with joy the tidings +brought by a wandering minstrel, that at Worms, on the Rhine, Kriemhild +(Grimhild, Gutrun, etc.), the Burgundian princess, had a similar garden. +This was guarded by twelve brave knights, ever ready to try their skill +against an equal number of warriors, the prize of the victor being a rose +garland and kisses from the owner of this charming retreat. + +Eager to accept this challenge, Dietrich selected Hildebrand, Wittich, +Wolfhart, and five other brave men; but as he could think of no others +worthy to share in the adventure, Hildebrand suggested that Rüdiger of +Bechlaren, Dietlieb of Steiermark, and his own brother, the monk Ilsan, +would be only too glad to help them. This little band soon rode into Worms, +where Dietrich and his men covered themselves with glory by defeating all +Kriemhild's champions, and winning the rose garlands as well as the kisses. + +The knights, if we are to believe the ancient poem, appreciated the latter +reward highly, with the exception of the rude monk Ilsan, who, we are told, +scrubbed the princess's delicate cheek with his rough beard until the blood +flowed. + +[Illustration: THE VICTORIOUS HUNS.--Checa.] + + "And when Chrimhild, the queen, gave him kisses fifty-two, + With his rough and grisly beard full sore he made her rue, + That from her lovely cheek 'gan flow the rosy blood: + The queen was full of sorrow, but the monk it thought him good." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Then Ilsan carried his garlands back to the monastery, where he jammed them +down upon the monks' bald pates, laughing aloud when he saw them wince as +the sharp thorns pierced them. + +On his way home Dietrich visited Etzel, King of the Huns, and further +increased his train by accepting the services of Amalung, Hornbogi's son, +and of Herbrand the wide-traveled. On his arrival at Bern, he found that +his father, Dietmar, was dead, and thus Dietrich became King of the Amaling +land (Italy). + +[Sidenote: Campaign against the Wilkina land.] Shortly after his accession +to the throne, he went to help Etzel, who was warring against Osantrix, +King of the Wilkina land (Norway and Sweden). With none but his own +followers, Dietrich invaded the Wilkina land, and throughout that glorious +campaign old Hildebrand rode ever ahead, bearing aloft his master's +standard, and dealing many memorable blows. + +In one encounter, Wittich was thrown from his horse and stunned. Heime, who +had joined the army, seeing him apparently lifeless, snatched the sword +Mimung out of his nerveless grasp and bore it triumphantly away. Wittich, +however, was not dead, but was soon after made prisoner by Hertnit, Earl of +Greece, Osantrix's brother, who carried him back to the capital, where he +put him in prison. + +When the campaign against the Wilkina men was ended, Dietrich and his army +returned to Bern, leaving Wildeber in Hungary to ascertain whether Wittich +were really dead, or whether he still required his companions' aid. + +Wishing to penetrate unrecognized into the enemy's camp, Wildeber slew and +flayed a bear, donned its skin over his armor, and, imitating the uncouth +antics of the animal he personated, bade the minstrel Isung lead him thus +disguised to Hertnit's court. + +[Sidenote: Wittich rescued by Wildeber.] This plan was carried out, and +the minstrel and dancing bear were hailed with joy. But Isung was greatly +dismayed when Hertnit insisted upon baiting his hunting hounds against the +bear; who, however, strangled them all, one after another, without seeming +to feel their sharp teeth. Hertnit was furious at the loss of all his pack, +and sprang down into the pit with drawn sword; but all his blows glanced +aside on the armor concealed beneath the rough pelt. Suddenly the pretended +bear stood up, caught the weapon which the king had dropped, and struck off +his head. Then, joining Isung, he rushed through the palace and delivered +the captive Wittich; whereupon, seizing swords and steeds on their way, +they all three rode out of the city before they could be stopped. + +When they arrived in Bern they were warmly welcomed by Dietrich, who forced +Heime to give the stolen Mimung back to its rightful owner. The brave +warriors were not long allowed to remain inactive, however, for they were +soon asked to help Ermenrich against his revolted vassal, Rimstein. They +besieged the recalcitrant knight in his stronghold of Gerimsburg, which was +given to Walther von Wasgenstein, while Wittich was rewarded for his +services by the hand of Bolfriana, the Lady of Drachenfels, and thus became +the vassal of Ermenrich. + +[Sidenote: Sibich.] The estates of Ermenrich were so extensive and so +difficult to govern that he was very glad indeed to secure as prime +minister a capable nobleman by the name of Sibich. Unfortunately, this +Sibich had a remarkably beautiful wife, whom the emperor once insulted +during her husband's absence. As soon as Sibich returned from his journey +his wife told him all that had occurred, and the emperor's conduct so +enraged the minister that he vowed that he would take a terrible revenge. + +The better to accomplish his purpose, Sibich concealed his resentment, and +so artfully poisoned Ermenrich's mind that the latter ordered his eldest +son to be slain. To get rid of the second prince, Sibich induced him to +enter a leaky vessel, which sank as soon as he was out at sea. Then, when +the prime minister saw the third son, Randwer, paying innocent attentions +to his fair young stepmother, Swanhild, daughter of Siegfried and +Kriemhild, he so maliciously distorted the affair that Ermenrich ordered +this son to be hung, and his young wife to be trampled to death under the +hoofs of wild horses. + +Sibich, the traitor, having thus deprived the emperor of wife and children, +next resolved to rob him of all his kin, so that he might eventually murder +him and take undisputed possession of the empire. With this purpose in +view, he forged letters which incited the emperor to war against his +nephews, the Harlungs. These two young men, who were orphans, dwelt at +Breisach, under the guardianship of their tutor, the faithful Eckhardt. +They were both cruelly slain, and the disconsolate tutor fled to the court +of Dietrich, little thinking that Ermenrich would soon turn upon this his +last male relative, also. + +[Sidenote: Herbart and Hilde.] Dietrich, forsaken by Virginal, and anxious +to marry again, had, in the mean while, sent his nephew Herbart to Arthur's +court in the Bertanga land (Britain), to sue for the hand of Hilde, his +fair young daughter. But Arthur, averse to sending his child so far away, +would not at first permit the young ambassador to catch a glimpse of her +face, and sent her to church guarded by ten warriors, ten monks, and ten +duennas. + +In spite of all these safeguards, Herbart succeeded in seeing the princess, +and after ascertaining that she was very beautiful, he secured a private +interview, and told her of his master's wish to call her wife. Hilde, +wishing to know what kind of a man her suitor was, begged Herbart to draw +his portrait; but finding him unprepossessing, she encouraged Herbart to +declare his own love, and soon eloped with him. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich in exile.] Dietrich had no time to mourn for the loss +of this expected bride, however, for the imperial army suddenly marched +into the Amaling land, and invested the cities of Garden, Milan, Raben +(Ravenna), and Mantua. Of course these successes were owing to treachery, +and not to valor, and Dietrich, to obtain the release of Hildebrand and a +few other faithful followers, who had fallen into the enemy's hands, was +forced to surrender Bern and go off into exile. + +As he had thus sacrificed his kingdom to obtain their freedom, it is no +wonder that these men proudly accompanied him into banishment. They went to +Susat, where they were warmly welcomed by Etzel and Helche (Herka), his +wife, who promised to care for Diether, Dietrich's brother, and have him +brought up with her own sons. + +There were in those days many foreigners at Etzel's court, for he had +secured as hostages Hagen of Tronje, from the Burgundians; the Princess +Hildegunde, from the Franks; and Walther von Wasgenstein from the Duke of +Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: Walther of Aquitaine and Hildegunde.] During the twenty years +which Dietrich now spent in the land of the Huns fighting for Etzel, peace +was concluded with Burgundy and Hagen was allowed to return home. Walther +of Aquitaine (or von Wasgenstein), whose adventures are related in a Latin +poem of the eighth or ninth century, had fallen in love with Hildegunde. +Seeing that Etzel, in spite of his promises to set them both free, had no +real intention of doing so, he and his ladylove cleverly effected their +escape, and fled to the Wasgenstein (Vosges), where they paused in a cave +to recruit their exhausted strength. Gunther, King of Burgundy, and Hagen +of Tronje, his ally, hearing that Walther and Hildegunde were in the +neighborhood, and desirous of obtaining the large sum of gold which they +had carried away from Etzel's court, set out to attack them, with a force +of twelve picked men. But Hildegunde was watching while Walther slept, and, +seeing them draw near, warned her lover. He, inspired by her presence, slew +all except Gunther and Hagen, who beat a hasty retreat. + +They did not return to Worms, however, but lay in ambush beside the road, +and when Walther and Hildegunde passed by they attacked the former with +great fury. In spite of the odds against him, the poem relates that Walther +triumphantly defeated them both, putting out one of Hagen's eyes and +cutting off one of Gunther's hands and one of his feet. + +The conflict ended, Hildegunde bound up the wounds of all three of the +combatants, who then sat down to share a meal together, indulged in much +jocularity about their wounds, and, parting amicably, sought their +respective homes. Walther and Hildegunde were next joyously welcomed by +their relatives, duly married, and reigned together over Aquitaine for many +a long year. + +In the mean while Dietrich had been engaged in warring against Waldemar, +King of Reussen (Russia and Poland), in behalf of Etzel, who, however, +forsook him in a cowardly way, and left him in a besieged fortress, in the +midst of the enemy's land, with only a handful of men. In spite of all his +courage, Dietrich would have been forced to surrender had not Rüdiger of +Bechlaren come to his rescue. By their combined efforts, Waldemar was +slain, and his son was brought captive to Susat. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and Queen Helche.] Dietrich and his noble prisoner were +both seriously wounded; but while Queen Helche herself tenderly cared for +the young prince of Reussen, who was her kinsman, Dietrich lay neglected +and alone in a remote part of the palace. The young prince was no sooner +cured, however, than he took advantage of Etzel's absence to escape, +although Helche implored him not to do so, and assured him that she would +have to pay for his absence with her life. + +In her distress Helche now thought of Dietrich, who, weak and wounded, rose +from his couch, pursued the fugitive, overtook and slew him, and brought +his head back to her. The Queen of the Huns never forgot that she owed her +life to Dietrich, and ever after showed herself his faithful friend. + +Twenty years had passed since Dietrich left his native land ere he asked to +return. Helche promised him the aid of her sons, Erp and Ortwine, whom she +armed herself, and furnished one thousand men. Etzel, seeing this, also +offered his aid, and Dietrich marched back to the Amaling land with all his +companions, and with an army commanded by the two Hun princes and Rüdiger's +only son, Nudung. + +The van of the army took Garden and Padauwe (Padua), and with Dietrich at +its head made a triumphant entrance into Bern. But, hearing that Ermenrich +was coming against him, Dietrich now went to meet him, and fought a +terrible battle near Raben in 493. The hero of Bern distinguished himself, +as usual, in this fray, until, hearing that Nudung, the two Hun princes, +and his young brother, Diether, had all been slain, he became almost insane +with grief. + +In his fury he wildly pursued Wittich, his former servant and Diether's +murderer, and would have slain him had the latter not saved himself by +plunging into the sea. Here his ancestress, the swan maiden Wachilde, took +charge of him, and conveyed him to a place of safety. Then, although +victorious, Dietrich discovered that he had no longer enough men left to +maintain himself in his reconquered kingdom, and mournfully returned to +Susat with the bodies of the slain. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Dietrich and Herrat.] It was during his second +sojourn at the court of the Huns that Dietrich married Herrat (Herand), +Princess of Transylvania, a relative of Helche. The latter died soon after +their union. Three years later Etzel married Kriemhild, Siegfried's widow; +and now occurred the fall of the brave Nibelung knights, recorded in the +"Nibelungenlied." Dietrich, as we have seen, took an active part in the +closing act of this tragedy, and joined in the final lament over the bodies +of the slain. + +Ten years after the terrible battle of Raben, Dietrich again resolved to +make an attempt to recover his kingdom, and set out with only a very few +followers. As Ermenrich had succumbed, either under the swords of +Swanhild's brothers, as already related, or by the poison secretly +administered by the traitor Sibich, the crown was now offered to Dietrich, +who was glad to accept it. + +All the lost cities were gradually recovered, and Hildebrand, coming to +Garden, encountered his son Hadubrand (Alebrand), who, having grown up +during his absence, did not recognize him, and challenged him to fight. +Mighty blows were exchanged between father and son, each of whom, in the +pauses of the combat, anxiously besought the other to reveal his name. It +was only when their strength was exhausted that Hadubrand revealed who he +was, and father and son, dropping their bloody swords, embraced with tears. + + "So spake Hadubrand, + Son of Hildebrand: + 'Said unto me + Some of our people, + Shrewd and old, + Gone hence already, + That Hildebrand was my father called,-- + I am called Hadubrand. + Erewhile he eastward went, + Escaping from Odoaker, + Thither with Theodoric + And his many men of battle, + Here he left in the land, + Lorn and lonely, + Bride in bower, + Bairn ungrown, + Having no heritage.'" + _Song of Hildebrand_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +Hildebrand then rejoined his wife, Ute, and Dietrich, having slain the +traitor Sibich, who had made an attempt to usurp the throne, marched on to +Romaburg (Rome), where he was crowned Emperor of the West, under the name +of Theodoric. Some time after his accession, Dietrich lost his good wife +Herrat, whom, according to some accounts, he mourned as long as he lived. +According to others he married again, taking as wife Liebgart, widow of +Ortnit. + +Etzel, according to this version, having been lured by Aldrian, Hagen's +son, into the cave where the Nibelungen hoard was kept, was locked up +there, and died of hunger while contemplating the gold he coveted. His +estates then became the property of Dietrich, who thus became undisputed +ruler of nearly all the southern part of Europe. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and the coal-black steed.] In his old age Dietrich, +weary of life and imbittered by its many trials, ceased to take pleasure in +anything except the chase. One day, while he was bathing in a limpid +stream, his servant came to tell him that there was a fine stag in sight. +Dietrich immediately called for his horse, and as it was not instantly +forthcoming, he sprang upon a coal-black steed standing near, and was borne +rapidly away. + +The servant rode after as fast as possible, but could never overtake +Dietrich, who, the peasants aver, was spirited away, and now leads the Wild +Hunt upon the same sable steed, which he is doomed to ride until the +judgment day. + +In spite of this fabulous account, however, the tomb of Theodoric is still +to be seen near Verona, but history demonstrates the impossibility of the +story of Dietrich von Bern, by proving that Theodoric was not born until +after the death of Attila, the unmistakeable original of the Etzel in the +"Heldenbuch." + +[Illustration: THE TOMB OF THEODORIC.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS. + + +One of the favorite heroes of early mediaeval literature is Charlemagne, +whose name is connected with countless romantic legends of more or less +antique origin. The son of Pepin and Bertha the "large footed," this +monarch took up his abode near the Rhine to repress the invasions of the +northern barbarians, awe them into submission, and gradually induce them to +accept the teachings of the missionaries he sent to convert them. + +[Sidenote: The champion of Christianity.] As Charlemagne destroyed the +Irminsul, razed heathen temples and groves, abolished the Odinic and +Druidic forms of worship, conquered the Lombards at the request of the +Pope, and defeated the Saracens in Spain, he naturally became the champion +of Christianity in the chronicles of his day. All the heroic actions of his +predecessors (such as Charles Martel) were soon attributed to him, and when +these legends were turned into popular epics, in the tenth and eleventh +centuries, he became the principal hero of France. The great deeds of his +paladins, Roland, Oliver, Ogier the Dane, Renaud de Montauban, and others, +also became the favorite theme of the poets, and were soon translated into +every European tongue. + +The Latin chronicle, falsely attributed to Bishop Turpin, Charlemagne's +prime minister, but dating from 1095, is one of the oldest versions of +Charlemagne's fabulous adventures now extant. It contains the mythical +account of the battle of Roncesvalles (Vale of Thorns), told with infinite +repetition and detail so as to give it an appearance of reality. + + +[Sidenote: Chanson de Roland.] Einhard, the son-in-law and historian of +Charlemagne, records a partial defeat in the Pyrenees in 777-778, and adds +that Hroudlandus was slain. From this bald statement arose the mediaeval +"Chanson de Roland," which was still sung at the battle of Hastings. The +probable author of the French metrical version is Turoldus; but the poem, +numbering originally four thousand lines, has gradually been lengthened, +until now it includes more than forty thousand. There are early French, +Latin, German, Italian, English, and Icelandic versions of the adventures +of Roland, which in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were turned into +prose, and formed the basis of the "Romans de Chevalerie," which were +popular for so many years. Numerous variations can, of course, be noted in +these tales, which have been worked over again by the Italian poets Ariosto +and Boiardo, and even treated by Buchanan in our day. + +It would be impossible to give in this work a complete synopsis of all the +_chansons de gestes_ referring to Charlemagne and his paladins, so we will +content ourselves with giving an abstract of the most noted ones and +telling the legends which are found in them, which have gradually been +woven around those famous names and connected with certain localities. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the heavenly message.] We are told that +Charlemagne, having built a beautiful new palace for his use, overlooking +the Rhine, was roused from his sleep during the first night he spent there +by the touch of an angelic hand, and, to his utter surprise, thrice heard +the heavenly messenger bid him go forth and steal. Not daring to disobey, +Charlemagne stole unnoticed out of the palace, saddled his steed, and, +armed cap-a-pie, started out to fulfill the angelic command. + +He had not gone far when he met an unknown knight, evidently bound on the +same errand. To challenge, lay his lance in rest, charge, and unhorse his +opponent, was an easy matter for Charlemagne. When he learned that he had +disarmed Elbegast (Alberich), the notorious highwayman, he promised to let +him go free if he would only help him steal something that night. + +Guided by Elbegast, Charlemagne, still incognito, went to the castle of one +of his ministers, and, thanks to Elbegast's cunning, penetrated unseen into +his bedroom. There, crouching in the dark, Charlemagne overheard him +confide to his wife a plot to murder the emperor on the morrow. Patiently +biding his time until they were sound asleep, Charlemagne picked up a +worthless trifle, and noiselessly made his way out, returning home unseen. +On the morrow, profiting by the knowledge thus obtained, he cleverly +outwitted the conspirators, whom he restored to favor only after they had +solemnly sworn future loyalty. As for Elbegast, he so admired the only man +who had ever succeeded in conquering him that he renounced his dishonest +profession to enter the emperor's service. + +In gratitude for the heavenly vision vouchsafed him, the emperor named his +new palace Ingelheim (Home of the Angel), a name which the place has borne +ever since. This thieving episode is often alluded to in the later romances +of chivalry, where knights, called upon to justify their unlawful +appropriation of another's goods, disrespectfully remind the emperor that +he too once went about as a thief. + +[Sidenote: Frastrada's magic ring.] When Charlemagne's third wife died, he +married a beautiful Eastern princess by the name of Frastrada, who, aided +by a magic ring, soon won his most devoted affection. The new queen, +however, did not long enjoy her power, for a dangerous illness overtook +her. When at the point of death, fearful lest her ring should be worn by +another while she was buried and forgotten, Frastrada slipped the magic +circlet into her mouth just before she breathed her last. + +Solemn preparations were made to bury her in the cathedral of Mayence +(where a stone bearing her name could still be seen a few years ago), but +the emperor refused to part with the beloved body. Neglectful of all +matters of state, he remained in the mortuary chamber day after day. His +trusty adviser, Turpin, suspecting the presence of some mysterious +talisman, slipped into the room while the emperor, exhausted with fasting +and weeping, was wrapped in sleep. After carefully searching for the magic +jewel, Turpin discovered it, at last, in the dead queen's mouth. + + "He searches with care, though with tremulous haste, + For the spell that bewitches the king; + And under her tongue, for security placed, + Its margin with mystical characters traced, + At length he discovers a ring." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +[Sidenote: Turpin and the magic ring.] To secure this ring and slip it on +his finger was but the affair of a moment; but just as Turpin was about to +leave the room the emperor awoke. With a shuddering glance at the dead +queen, Charlemagne flung himself passionately upon the neck of his prime +minister, declaring that he would never be quite inconsolable as long as he +was near. + +Taking advantage of the power thus secured by the possession of the magic +ring, Turpin led Charlemagne away, forced him to eat and drink, and after +the funeral induced him to resume the reins of the government. But he soon +wearied of his master's constant protestations of undying affection, and +ardently longed to get rid of the ring, which, however, he dared neither to +hide nor to give away, for fear it should fall into unscrupulous hands. + +Although advanced in years, Turpin was now forced to accompany Charlemagne +everywhere, even on his hunting expeditions, and to share his tent. One +moonlight night the unhappy minister stole noiselessly out of the imperial +tent, and wandered alone in the woods, cogitating how to dispose of the +unlucky ring. As he walked thus he came to a glade in the forest, and saw a +deep pool, on whose mirrorlike surface the moonbeams softly played. +Suddenly the thought struck him that the waters would soon close over and +conceal the magic ring forever in their depths; and, drawing it from his +finger, he threw it into the pond. Turpin then retraced his steps, and soon +fell asleep. On the morrow he was delighted to perceive that the spell was +broken, and that Charlemagne had returned to the old undemonstrative +friendship which had bound them for many a year. + + "Overjoy'd, the good prelate remember'd the spell, + And far in the lake flung the ring; + The waters closed round it; and, wondrous to tell, + Released from the cursed enchantment of hell, + His reason return'd to the king." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +Charlemagne, however, seemed unusually restless, and soon went out to hunt. +In the course of the day, having lost sight of his suite in the pursuit of +game, he came to the little glade, where, dismounting, he threw himself on +the grass beside the pool, declaring that he would fain linger there +forever. The spot was so charming that he even gave orders, ere he left it +that night, that a palace should be erected there for his use; and this +building was the nucleus of his favorite capital, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen). + + "But he built him a palace there close by the bay, + And there did he love to remain; + And the traveler who will, may behold at this day + A monument still in the ruins at Aix + Of the spell that possess'd Charlemain." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +According to tradition, Charlemagne had a sister by the name of Bertha, +who, against his will, married the brave young knight Milon. Rejected by +the emperor, and therefore scorned by all, the young couple lived in +obscurity and poverty. They were very happy, however, for they loved each +other dearly, and rejoiced in the beauty of their infant son Roland, who +even in babyhood showed signs of uncommon courage and vigor. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the boy Roland.] One version of the story +relates, however, that Milon perished in a flood, and that Bertha was +almost dying of hunger while her brother, a short distance away, was +entertaining all his courtiers at his board. Little Roland, touched by his +mother's condition, walked fearlessly into the banquet hall, boldly +advanced to the table, and carried away a dishful of meat. As the emperor +seemed amused at the little lad's fearlessness, the servants did not dare +to interfere, and Roland bore off the dish in triumph. + +A few minutes later he reentered the hall, and with equal coolness laid +hands upon the emperor's cup, full of rich wine. Challenged by Charlemagne, +the child then boldly declared that he wanted the meat and wine for his +mother, a lady of high degree. In answer to the emperor's bantering +questions, he declared that he was his mother's cupbearer, her page, and +her gallant knight, which answers so amused Charlemagne that he sent for +her. He then remorsefully recognized her, treated her with kindness as long +as she lived, and took her son into his own service. + +Another legend relates that Charlemagne, hearing that the robber knight of +the Ardennes had a priceless jewel set in his shield, called all his +bravest noblemen together, and bade them sally forth separately, with only +a page as escort, in quest of the knight. Once found, they were to +challenge him in true knightly fashion, and at the point of the lance win +the jewel he wore. A day was appointed when, successful or not, the +courtiers were to return, and, beginning with the lowest in rank, were to +give a truthful account of their adventures while on the quest. + +All the knights departed and scoured the forest of the Ardennes, each +hoping to meet the robber knight and win the jewel. Among them was Milon, +accompanied by his son Roland, a lad of fifteen, whom he had taken as page +and armor-bearer. Milon had spent many days in vain search for the knight, +when, exhausted by his long ride, he dismounted, removed his heavy armor, +and lay down under a tree to sleep, bidding Roland keep close watch during +his slumbers. + +[Sidenote: Roland and the jewel.] Roland watched faithfully for a while; +then, fired by a desire to distinguish himself, he donned his father's +armor, sprang on his steed, and rode into the forest in search of +adventures. He had not gone very far when he saw a gigantic horseman coming +to meet him, and, by the dazzling glitter of a large stone set in his +shield, he recognized in him the invincible knight of the Ardennes. Afraid +of nothing, however, the lad laid his lance in rest when challenged to +fight, and charged so bravely that he unhorsed the knight. A fearful battle +on foot ensued, where many gallant blows were given and received; yet the +victory finally remained with Roland. He slew his adversary, and wrenching +the jewel from his shield, hid it in his breast. Then, riding rapidly back +to his sleeping father, Roland laid aside the armor, and removed all traces +of a bloody encounter. When Milon awoke he resumed the quest, and soon came +upon the body of the dead knight. When he saw that another had won the +jewel, he was disappointed indeed, and sadly rode back to court, to be +present on the appointed day. + +Charlemagne, seated on his throne, bade the knights appear before him, and +relate their adventures. One after another strode up the hall, followed by +an armor-bearer holding his shield, and all told of finding the knight +slain and the jewel gone, and produced head, hands, feet, or some part of +his armor, in token of the truth of their story. Last of all came Milon, +with lowering brows, although Roland walked close behind him, proudly +holding his shield, in the center of which the jewel shone radiant. Milon +related his search, and reported that he too had found the giant knight +slain and the jewel gone. A shout of incredulity made him turn his head. +But when he saw the jewel blazing on his shield he appeared so amazed that +Charlemagne questioned Roland, and soon learned how it had been obtained. +In reward for his bravery in this encounter, Roland was knighted and +allowed to take his place among his uncle's paladins, of which he soon +became the most renowned. + +Charlemagne, according to the old _chanson de geste_ entitled "Ogier le +Danois," made war against the King of Denmark, defeated him, and received +his son Ogier (Olger or Holger Danske) as hostage. The young Danish prince +was favored by the fairies from the time of his birth, six of them having +appeared to bring him gifts while he was in his cradle. The first five +promised him every earthly bliss; while the sixth, Morgana, foretold that +he would never die, but would dwell with her in Avalon. + +[Sidenote: Ogier king of Denmark.] Ogier the Dane, owing to a violation of +the treaty on his father's part, was soon confined in the prison of St. +Omer. There he beguiled the weariness of captivity by falling in love with, +and secretly marrying, the governor's daughter Bellissande. Charlemagne, +being about to depart for war, and wishing for the hero's help, released +him from captivity; and when Ogier returned again to France he heard that +Bellissande had borne him a son, and that, his father having died, he was +now the lawful king of Denmark. + +Ogier the Dane then obtained permission to return to his native land, where +he spent several years, reigning so wisely that he was adored by all his +subjects. Such is the admiration of the Danes for this hero that the common +people still declare that he is either in Avalon, or sleeping in the vaults +of Elsinore, and that he will awaken, like Frederick Barbarossa, to save +his country in the time of its direst need. + + "'Thou know'st it, peasant! I am not dead; + I come back to thee in my glory. + I am thy faithful helper in need, + As in Denmark's ancient story.'" + INGEMANN, _Holder Danske_. + +After some years spent in Denmark, Ogier returned to France, where his son, +now grown up, had a dispute with Prince Chariot [Ogier and Charlemagne.] +over a game of chess. The dispute became so bitter that the prince used the +chessboard as weapon, and killed his antagonist with it. Ogier, indignant +at the murder, and unable to find redress at the hands of Charlemagne, +insulted him grossly, and fled to Didier (Desiderius), King of Lombardy, +with whom the Franks were then at feud. + +Several ancient poems represent Didier on his tower, anxiously watching the +approach of the enemy, and questioning his guest as to the personal +appearance of Charlemagne. These poems have been imitated by Longfellow in +one of his "Tales of a Wayside Inn." + + "Olger the Dane, and Desiderio, + King of the Lombards, on a lofty tower + Stood gazing northward o'er the rolling plains, + League after league of harvests, to the foot + Of the snow-crested Alps, and saw approach + A mighty army, thronging all the roads + That led into the city. And the King + Said unto Olger, who had passed his youth + As hostage at the court of France, and knew + The Emperor's form and face, 'Is Charlemagne + Among that host?' And Olger answered, 'No.'" + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +This poet, who has made this part of the legend familiar to all English +readers, then describes the vanguard of the army, the paladins, the clergy, +all in full panoply, and the gradually increasing terror of the Lombard +king, who, long before the emperor's approach, would fain have hidden +himself underground. Finally Charlemagne appears in iron mail, brandishing +aloft his invincible sword "Joyeuse," and escorted by the main body of his +army, grim fighting men, at the mere sight of whom even Ogier the Dane is +struck with fear. + + "This at a single glance Olger the Dane + Saw from the tower; and, turning to the King, + Exclaimed in haste: 'Behold! this is the man + You looked for with such eagerness!' and then + Fell as one dead at Desiderio's feet." + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +Charlemagne soon overpowered the Lombard king, and assumed the iron crown, +while Ogier escaped from the castle in which he was besieged. Shortly +after, however, when asleep near a fountain, the Danish hero was surprised +by Turpin. When led before Charlemagne, he obstinately refused all proffers +of reconciliation, and insisted upon Charlot's death, until an angel from +heaven forbade his asking the life of Charlemagne's son. Then, foregoing +his revenge and fully reinstated in the royal good graces, Ogier, according +to a thirteenth-century epic by Adenet, successfully encountered a +Saracenic giant, and in reward for his services received the hand of +Clarice, Princess of England, and became king of that realm. + +[Sidenote: Ogier in the East.] Weary of a peaceful existence, Ogier finally +left England, and journeyed to the East, where he successfully besieged +Acre, Babylon and Jerusalem. On his way back to France, the ship was +attracted by the famous lodestone rock which appears in many mediaeval +romances, and, all his companions having perished, Ogier wandered alone +ashore. There he came to an adamantine castle, invisible by day, but +radiant at night, where he was received by the famous horse Papillon, and +sumptuously entertained. On the morrow, while wandering across a flowery +meadow, Ogier encountered Morgana the fay, who gave him a magic ring. +Although Ogier was then a hundred years old, he no sooner put it on than he +became young once more. Then, having donned the golden crown of oblivion, +he forgot his home, and joined Arthur, Oberon, Tristan, and Lancelot, with +whom he spent two hundred years in unchanged youth, enjoying constant +jousting and fighting. + +At the end of that time, his crown having accidentally dropped off, Ogier +remembered the past, and returned to France, riding on Papillon. He reached +the court during the reign of one of the Capetian kings. He was, of course, +greatly amazed at the changes which had taken place, but bravely helped to +defend Paris against an invasion from the Normans. + +[Sidenote: Ogier carried to Avalon.] Shortly after this, his magic ring was +playfully drawn from his finger and put upon her own by the Countess of +Senlis, who, seeing that it restored her vanished youth, would fain have +kept it always. She therefore sent thirty champions to wrest it from Ogier, +who, however, defeated them all, and triumphantly retained his ring. The +king having died, Ogier next married the widowed queen, and would thus have +become King of France had not Morgana the fay, jealous of his affections, +spirited him away in the midst of the marriage ceremony and borne him off +to the Isle of Avalon, whence he, like Arthur, will return only when his +country needs him. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Oliver.] Another _chanson de geste_, a sort of +continuation of "Ogier le Danois," is called "Meurvin," and purports to +give a faithful account of the adventures of a son of Ogier and Morgana, an +ancestor of Godfrey of Bouillon, King of Jerusalem. In "Guerin de +Montglave," we find that Charlemagne, having quarreled with the Duke of +Genoa, proposed that each should send a champion to fight in his name. +Charlemagne selected Roland, while the Duke of Genoa chose Oliver as his +defender. The battle, if we are to believe some versions of the legend, +took place on an island in the Rhone, and Durandana, Roland's sword, struck +many a spark from Altecler (Hautecler), the blade of Oliver. The two +champions were so well matched, and the blows were dealt with such equal +strength and courage, that "giving a Roland for an Oliver" has become a +proverbial expression. + +After fighting all day, with intermissions to interchange boasts and +taunts, and to indulge in sundry discussions, neither had gained any +advantage. They would probably have continued the struggle indefinitely, +however, had not an angel of the Lord interfered, and bidden them embrace +and become fast friends. It was on this occasion, we are told, that +Charlemagne, fearing for Roland when he saw the strength of Oliver, vowed a +pilgrimage to Jerusalem should his nephew escape alive. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne's pilgrimage to Jerusalem.] The fulfillment of this +vow is described in "Galyen Rhetoré." Charlemagne and his peers reached +Jerusalem safely in disguise, but their anxiety to secure relics soon +betrayed their identity. The King of Jerusalem, Hugues, entertained them +sumptuously, and, hoping to hear many praises of his hospitality, concealed +himself in their apartment at night. The eavesdropper, however, only heard +the vain talk of Charlemagne's peers, who, unable to sleep, beguiled the +hours in making extraordinary boasts. Roland declared that he could blow +his horn Olivant loud enough to bring down the palace; Ogier, that he could +crumble the principal pillar to dust in his grasp; and Oliver, that he +could marry the princess in spite of her father. + +The king, angry at hearing no praises of his wealth and hospitality, +insisted upon his guests fulfilling their boasts on the morrow, under +penalty of death. He was satisfied, however, by the success of Oliver's +undertaking, and the peers returned to France. Galyen, Oliver's son by +Hugues's daughter, followed them thither when he reached manhood, and +joined his father in the valley of Roncesvalles, just in time to receive +his blessing ere he died. Then, having helped Charlemagne to avenge his +peers, Galyen returned to Jerusalem, where he found his grandfather dead +and his mother a captive. His first act was, of course, to free his mother, +after which he became king of Jerusalem, and his adventures came to an end. + +The "Chronicle" of Turpin, whence the materials for many of the poems about +Roland were taken, declares that Charlemagne, having conquered nearly the +whole of Europe, retired to his palace to seek repose. But one evening, +while gazing at the stars, he saw a bright cluster move from the "Friesian +sea, by way of Germany and France, into Galicia." This prodigy, twice +repeated, greatly excited Charlemagne's wonder, and was explained to him by +St. James in a vision. The latter declared that the progress of the stars +was emblematic of the advance of the Christian army towards Spain, and +twice bade the emperor deliver his land from the hands of the Saracens. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne in Spain.] Thus admonished, Charlemagne set out for +Spain with a large army, and invested the city of Pamplona, which showed no +signs of surrender at the end of a two months' siege. Recourse to prayer on +the Christians' part, however, produced a great miracle, for the walls +tottered and fell like those of Jericho. All the Saracens who embraced +Christianity were spared, but the remainder were slain before the emperor +journeyed to the shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela to pay his +devotions. + +A triumphant march through the country then ensued, and Charlemagne +returned to France, thinking the Saracens subdued. He had scarcely crossed +the border, however, when Aigolandus, one of the pagan monarchs, revolted, +and soon recovered nearly all the territory his people had lost. When +Charlemagne heard these tidings, he sent back an army, commanded by Milon, +Roland's father, who perished gloriously in this campaign. The emperor +speedily followed his brother-in-law with great forces, and again besieged +Aigolandus in Pamplona. During the course of the siege the two rulers had +an interview, which is described at length, and indulged in sundry +religious discussions, which, however, culminated in a resumption of +hostilities. Several combats now took place, in which the various heroes +greatly distinguished themselves, the preference being generally given to +Roland, who, if we are to believe the Italian poet, was as terrible in +battle as he was gentle in time of peace. + + "On stubborn foes he vengeance wreak'd, + And laid about him like a Tartar; + But if for mercy once they squeak'd, + He was the first to grant them quarter. + The battle won, of Roland's soul + Each milder virtue took possession; + To vanquished foes he o'er a bowl + His heart surrender'd at discretion." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Dr. Burney's tr.). + +Aigolandus being slain, and the feud against him thus successfully ended, +Charlemagne carried the war into Navarre, where he was challenged by the +giant Ferracute (Ferragus) to meet him in single combat. Although the +metrical "Romances" describe Charlemagne as twenty feet in height, and +declare that he slept in a hall, his bed surrounded by one hundred lighted +tapers and one hundred knights with drawn swords, the emperor felt himself +no match for the giant, whose personal appearance was as follows:-- + + "So hard he was to-fond [proved], + That no dint of brond + No grieved him, I plight. + He had twenty men's strength; + And forty feet of length + Thilke [each] paynim had; + And four feet in the face + Y-meten [measured] on the place; + And fifteen in brede [breadth]. + His nose was a foot and more; + His brow as bristles wore; + (He that saw it said) + He looked lothliche [loathly], + And was swart [black] as pitch; + Of him men might adrede!" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Ferracute.] After convincing himself of the danger of +meeting this adversary, Charlemagne sent Ogier the Dane to fight him, and +with dismay saw his champion not only unhorsed, but borne away like a +parcel under the giant's arm, fuming and kicking with impotent rage. Renaud +de Montauban met Ferracute on the next day, with the same fate, as did +several other champions. Finally Roland took the field, and although the +giant pulled him down from his horse, he continued the battle all day. +Seeing that his sword Durandana had no effect upon Ferracute, Roland armed +himself with a club on the morrow. + +In the pauses of the battle the combatants talked together, and Ferracute, +relying upon his adversary's keen sense of honor, even laid his head upon +Roland's knee during their noonday rest. While resting thus, he revealed +that he was vulnerable in only one point of his body. When called upon by +Roland to believe in Christianity, he declared that the doctrine of the +Trinity was more than he could accept. Roland, in answer, demonstrated that +an almond is but one fruit, although composed of rind, shell, and kernel; +that a harp is but one instrument, although it consists of wood, strings, +and harmony. He also urged the threefold nature of the sun,--i.e., heat, +light, and splendor; and these arguments having satisfied Ferracute +concerning the Trinity, he removed his doubts concerning the incarnation by +equally forcible reasoning. The giant, however, utterly refused to believe +in the resurrection, although Roland, in support of his creed, quoted the +mediaeval belief that a lion's cubs are born into the world dead, but come +to life on the third day at the sound of their father's roar, or under the +warm breath of their mother. As Ferracute would not accept this doctrine, +but sprang to his feet proposing a continuation of the fight, the struggle +was renewed. + + "Quath Ferragus: 'Now ich wot + Your Christian law every grot; + Now we will fight; + Whether law better be, + Soon we shall y-see, + Long ere it be night.'" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +Roland, weary with his previous efforts, almost succumbed beneath the +giant's blows, and in his distress had recourse to prayer. He was +immediately strengthened and comforted by an angelic vision and a promise +of victory. Thus encouraged, he dealt Ferracute a deadly blow in the +vulnerable spot. The giant fell, calling upon Mohammed, while Roland +laughed and the Christians triumphed. + +The poem of Sir Otuel, in the Auchinleck manuscript, describes how Otuel, a +nephew of Ferracute, his equal in size and strength, came to avenge his +death, and, after a long battle with Roland, yielded to his theological +arguments, and was converted at the sight of a snowy dove alighting on +Charlemagne's helmet in answer to prayer. He then became a devoted adherent +of Charlemagne, and served him much in war. + +Charlemagne, having won Navarre, carried the war to the south of Spain, +where the Saracens frightened the horses of his host by beating drums and +waving banners. Having suffered a partial defeat on account of this device, +Charlemagne had the horses' ears stopped with wax, and their eyes +blindfolded, before he resumed the battle. Thanks to this precaution, he +succeeded in conquering the Saracen army. The whole country had now been +again subdued, and Charlemagne was preparing to return to France, when he +remembered that Marsiglio (Marsilius), a Saracen king, was still intrenched +at Saragossa. + + "Carle, our most noble Emperor and King, + Hath tarried now full seven years in Spain, + Conqu'ring the highland regions to the sea; + No fortress stands before him unsubdued, + Nor wall, nor city left, to be destroyed, + Save Sarraguce, high on a mountain set. + There rules the King Marsile, who loves not God, + Apollo worships, and Mohammed serves; + Nor can he from his evil doom escape." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Battle of Roncesvalles.] The emperor wished to send an embassy +to him to arrange the terms of peace, but discarded Roland's offer of +service because of his impetuosity. Then, following the advice of Naismes +de Bavière, "the Nestor of the Carolingian legends," he selected Ganelon, +Roland's stepfather, as ambassador. This man was a traitor, and accepted a +bribe from the Saracen king to betray Roland and the rear guard of the +French army into his power. Advised by Ganelon, Charlemagne departed from +Spain at the head of his army, leaving Roland to bring up the rear. The +main part of the army passed through the Pyrenees unmolested, but the rear +guard of twenty thousand men, under Roland, was attacked by a superior +force of Saracens in ambush, as it was passing through the denies of +Roncesvalles. A terrible encounter took place here. + + "The Count Rollà nd rides through the battlefield + And makes, with Durendal's keen blade in hand, + A mighty carnage of the Saracens. + Ah! had you then beheld the valiant Knight + Heap corse on corse; blood drenching all the ground; + His own arms, hauberk, all besmeared with gore, + And his good steed from neck to shoulder bleed!" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ROLAND.--Keller.] + +All the Christians were slain except Roland and a few knights, who +succeeded in repulsing the first onslaught of the painims. Roland then +bound a Saracen captive to a tree, wrung from him a confession of the +dastardly plot, and, discovering where Marsiglio was to be found, rushed +into the very midst of the Saracen army and slew him. The Saracens, +terrified at the apparition of the hero, beat a hasty retreat, little +suspecting that their foe had received a mortal wound, and would shortly +breathe his last. + +During the first part of the battle, Roland, yielding to Oliver's entreaty, +sounded a blast on his horn Olivant, which came even to Charlemagne's ear. +Fearing lest his nephew was calling for aid, Charlemagne would fain have +gone back had he not been deterred by Ganelon, who assured him that Roland +was merely pursuing a stag. + + "Rolland raised to his lips the olifant, + Drew a deep breath, and blew with all his force. + High are the mountains, and from peak to peak + The sound reëchoes; thirty leagues away + 'Twas heard by Carle and all his brave compeers. + Cried the king: 'Our men make battle!' Ganelon + Retorts in haste: 'If thus another dared + To speak, we should denounce it as a lie.' + Aoi" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Steed Veillantif slain.] Wounded and faint, Roland now slowly +dragged himself to the entrance of the pass of Cisaire,--where the Basque +peasants aver they have often seen his ghost, and heard the sound of his +horn,--and took leave of his faithful steed Veillantif, which he slew with +his own hand, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. + + "'Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we to battle ride! + Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we sweet comrades be! + And Veillintif, had I the heart to die forgetting thee? + To leave thy mighty heart to break, in slavery to the foe? + I had not rested in the grave, if it had ended so. + Ah, never shall we conquering ride, with banners bright unfurl'd, + A shining light 'mong lesser lights, a wonder to the world.'" + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +[Sidenote: Sword Durandana destroyed.] Then the hero gazed upon his sword +Durandana, which had served him faithfully for so many years, and to +prevent its falling into the hands of the pagans, he tried to dispose of it +also. According to varying accounts, he either sank it deep into a poisoned +stream, where it is still supposed to lie, or, striking it against the +mighty rocks, cleft them in two, without even dinting its bright blade. + + "And Roland thought: 'I surely die; but, ere I end, + Let me be sure that thou art ended too, my friend! + For should a heathen hand grasp thee when I am clay, + My ghost would grieve full sore until the judgment day!' + Then to the marble steps, under the tall, bare trees, + Trailing the mighty sword, he crawl'd on hands and knees, + And on the slimy stone he struck the blade with might-- + The bright hilt, sounding, shook, the blade flash'd sparks of light; + Wildly again he struck, and his sick head went round, + Again there sparkled fire, again rang hollow sound; + Ten times he struck, and threw strange echoes down the glade, + Yet still unbroken, sparkling fire, glitter'd the peerless blade." + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +Finally, despairing of disposing of it in any other way, the hero, strong +in death, broke Durandana in his powerful hands and threw the shards away. + +Horse and sword were now disposed of, and the dying hero, summoning his +last strength, again put his marvelous horn Olivant to his lips, and blew +such a resounding blast that the sound was heard far and near. The effort, +however, was such that his temples burst, as he again sank fainting to the +ground. + +One version of the story (Turpin's) relates that the blast brought, not +Charlemagne, but the sole surviving knight, Theodoricus, who, as Roland had +been shriven before the battle, merely heard his last prayer and reverently +closed his eyes. Then Turpin, while celebrating mass before Charlemagne, +was suddenly favored by a vision, in which he beheld a shrieking crew of +demons bearing Marsiglio's soul to hell, while an angelic host conveyed +Roland's to heaven. + +Turpin immediately imparted these revelations to Charlemagne, who, knowing +now that his fears were not without foundation, hastened back to +Roncesvalles. Here the scriptural miracle was repeated, for the sun stayed +its course until the emperor had routed the Saracens and found the body of +his nephew. He pronounced a learned funeral discourse or lament over the +hero's remains, which were then embalmed and conveyed to Blaive for +interment. + +Another version relates that Bishop Turpin himself remained with Roland in +the rear, and, after hearing a general confession and granting full +absolution to all the heroes, fought beside them to the end. It was he who +heard the last blast of Roland's horn instead of Theodoricus, and came to +close his eyes before he too expired. + +The most celebrated of all the poems, however, the French epic "Chanson de +Roland," gives a different version and relates that, in stumbling over the +battlefield, Roland came across the body of his friend Oliver, over which +he uttered a touching lament. + + "'Alas for all thy valor, comrade dear! + Year after year, day after day, a life + Of love we led; ne'er didst thou wrong to me, + Nor I to thee. If death takes thee away, + My life is but a pain.'" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Roland.] Slowly and painfully now--for his death was +near--Roland climbed up a slope, laid himself down under a pine tree, and +placed his sword and horn beneath him. Then, when he had breathed a last +prayer, to commit his soul to God, he held up his glove in token of his +surrender. + + "His right hand glove he offered up to God; + Saint Gabriel took the glove.--With head reclined + Upon his arm, with hands devoutly joined, + He breathed his last. God sent his Cherubim, + Saint Raphael, _Saint Michiel del Peril._ + The soul of Count Rolland to Paradise. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +It was here, under the pine, that Charlemagne found his nephew ere he +started out to punish the Saracens, as already related. Not far off lay the +bodies of Ogier, Oliver, and Renaud, who, according to this version, were +all among the slain. + + "Here endeth Otuel, Roland, and Olyvere, + And of the twelve dussypere, + That dieden in the batayle of Runcyvale: + Jesu lord, heaven king, + To his bliss hem and us both bring, + To liven withouten bale!" + _Sir Otuel_. + +On his return to France Charlemagne suspected Ganelon of treachery, and had +him tried by twelve peers, who, unable to decide the question, bade him +prove his innocence in single combat with Roland's squire, Thiedric. +Ganelon, taking advantage of the usual privilege to have his cause defended +by a champion, selected Pinabel, the most famous swordsman of the time. In +spite of all his valor, however, this champion was defeated, and the +"judgment of God"--the term generally applied to those judicial +combats--was in favor of Thiedric. Ganelon, thus convicted of treason, was +sentenced to be drawn and quartered, and was executed at Aix-la-Chapelle, +in punishment for his sins. + + "Ere long for this he lost + Both limb and life, judged and condemned at Aix, + There to be hanged with thirty of his race + Who were not spared the punishment of death. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Roland and Aude.] Roland, having seen Aude, Oliver's sister, at +the siege of Viane, where she even fought against him, if the old epics are +to be believed, had been so smitten with her charms that he declared that +he would marry none but her. When the siege was over, and lifelong +friendship had been sworn between Roland and Oliver after their memorable +duel on an island in the Rhone, Roland was publicly betrothed to the +charming Aude. Before their nuptials could take place, however, he was +forced to leave for Spain, where, as we have seen, he died an heroic death. +The sad news of his demise was brought to Paris, where the Lady Aude was +awaiting him. When she heard that he would never return, she died of grief, +and was buried at his side in the chapel of Blaive. + + "In Paris Lady Alda sits, Sir Roland's destined bride. + With her three hundred maidens, to tend her, at her side; + Alike their robes and sandals all, and the braid that binds their + hair, + And alike the meal, in their Lady's hall, the whole three hundred + share. + Around her, in her chair of state, they all their places hold; + A hundred weave the web of silk, and a hundred spin the gold, + And a hundred touch their gentle lutes to sooth that Lady's pain, + As she thinks on him that's far away with the host of Charlemagne. + Lulled by the sound, she sleeps, but soon she wakens with a + scream; + And, as her maidens gather round, she thus recounts her dream: + 'I sat upon a desert shore, and from the mountain nigh, + Right toward me, I seemed to see a gentle falcon fly; + But close behind an eagle swooped, and struck that falcon down, + And with talons and beak he rent the bird, as he cowered beneath + my gown.' + The chief of her maidens smiled, and said; 'To me it doth not + seem + That the Lady Alda reads aright the boding of her dream. + Thou art the falcon, and thy knight is the eagle in his pride, + As he comes in triumph from the war, and pounces on his bride.' + The maiden laughed, but Alda sighed, and gravely shook her head. + 'Full rich,' quoth she, 'shall thy guerdon be, if thou the truth hast + said.' + 'Tis morn; her letters, stained with blood, the truth too plainly tell, + How, in the chase of Ronceval, Sir Roland fought and fell." + _Lady Alda's Dreams_ (Sir Edmund Head's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Legend of Roland and Hildegarde.] A later legend, which has +given rise to sundry poems, connects the name of Roland with one of the +most beautiful places on the Rhine. Popular tradition avers that he sought +shelter one evening in the castle of Drachenfels, where he fell in love +with Hildegarde, the beautiful daughter of the Lord of Drachenfels. The +sudden outbreak of the war in Spain forced him to bid farewell to his +betrothed, but he promised to return as soon as possible to celebrate their +wedding. During the campaign, many stories of his courage came to +Hildegarde's ears, and finally, after a long silence, she heard that Roland +had perished at Roncesvalles. + +Broken-hearted, the fair young mourner spent her days in tears, and at last +prevailed upon her father to allow her to enter the convent on the island +of Nonnenworth, in the middle of the river, and within view of the gigantic +crag where the castle ruins can still be seen. + + "The castled crag of Drachenfels + Frowns o'er the wide and winding Rhine, + Whose breast of water broadly swells + Between the banks which bear the vine, + And hills all rich with blossomed trees, + And fields which promise corn and wine, + And scattered cities crowning these, + Whose fair white walls along them shine." + BYRON, _Childe Harold_. + +With pallid cheeks and tear-dimmed eyes, Hildegarde now spent her life +either in her tiny cell or in the convent chapel, praying for the soul of +her beloved, and longing that death might soon come to set her free to join +him. The legend relates, however, that Roland was not dead, as she +supposed, but had merely been sorely wounded at Roncesvalles. + +When sufficiently recovered to travel, Roland painfully made his way back +to Drachenfels, where he presented himself late one evening, eagerly +calling for Hildegarde. A few moments later the joyful light left his eyes +forever, for he learned that his beloved had taken irrevocable vows, and +was now the bride of Heaven. + +That selfsame day Roland left the castle of Drachenfels, and riding to an +eminence overlooking the island of Nonnenwörth, he gazed long and tearfully +at a little light twinkling in one of the convent windows. As he could not +but suppose that it illumined Hildegarde's cell and lonely vigils, he +watched it all night, and when morning came he recognized his beloved's +form in the long procession of nuns on their way to the chapel. + +[Sidenote: Rolandseck.] This view of the lady he loved seemed a slight +consolation to the hero, who built a retreat on this rock, which is known +as Rolandseck. Here he spent his days in penance and prayer, gazing +constantly at the island at his feet, and the swift stream which parted him +from Hildegarde. + +One wintry day, many years after he had taken up his abode on the rocky +height, Roland missed the graceful form he loved, and heard, instead of the +usual psalm, a dirge for the dead. Then he noticed that six of the nuns +were carrying a coffin, which they lowered into an open tomb. + +Roland's nameless fears were confirmed in the evening, when the convent +priest visited him, and gently announced that Hildegarde was at rest. +Calmly Roland listened to these tidings, begged the priest to hear his +confession as usual, and, when he had received absolution, expressed a +desire to be buried with his face turned toward the convent where +Hildegarde had lived and died. + +The priest readily promised to observe this request, and departed. When he +came on the morrow, he found Roland dead. They buried him reverently on the +very spot which bears his name, with his face turned toward Nonnenwörth, +where Hildegarde lay at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +THE SONS OF AYMON. + + +The different _chansons de gestes_ relating to Aymon and the necromancer +Malagigi (Malagis), probably arose from popular ballads commemorating the +struggles of Charles the Bald and his feudatories. These ballads are of +course as old as the events which they were intended to record, but the +_chansons de gestes_ based upon them, and entitled "Duolin de Mayence," +"Aymon, Son of Duolin de Mayence," "Maugis," "Rinaldo de Trebizonde," "The +Four Sons of Aymon," and "Mabrian," are of much later date, and were +particularly admired during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. + +One of the most famous of Charlemagne's peers was doubtless the noble Aymon +of Dordogne; and when the war against the Avars in Hungary had been +successfully closed, owing to his bravery, his adherents besought the king +to bestow upon this knight some reward. Charlemagne, whom many of these +later _chansons de gestes_ describe as mean and avaricious, refused to +grant any reward, declaring that were he to add still further to his +vassal's already extensive territories, Aymon would soon be come more +powerful than his sovereign. + +[Sidenote: War between Aymon and Charlemagne.] This unjust refusal +displeased Lord Hug of Dordogne, who had pleaded for his kinsman, so that +he ventured a retort, which so incensed the king that he slew him then and +there. Aymon, learning of the death of Lord Hug, and aware of the failure +of his last embassy, haughtily withdrew to his own estates, whence he now +began to wage war against Charlemagne. + +Instead of open battle, however, a sort of guerrilla warfare was carried +on, in which, thanks to his marvelous steed Bayard, which his cousin +Malagigi, the necromancer, had brought him from hell, Aymon always won the +advantage. At the end of several years, however, Charlemagne collected a +large host, and came to lay siege to the castle where Aymon had intrenched +himself with all his adherents. + +[Sidenote: Loss of the horse Bayard.] During that siege, Aymon awoke one +morning to find that his beloved steed had vanished. Malagigi, hearing him +bewail his loss, bade him be of good cheer, promising to restore Bayard ere +long, although he would be obliged to go to Mount Vulcanus, the mouth of +hell, to get him. Thus comforted, Aymon ceased to mourn, while Malagigi set +to work to fulfill his promise. As a brisk wind was blowing from the castle +towards the camp, he flung upon the breeze some powdered hellebore, which +caused a violent sneezing throughout the army. Then, while his foes were +wiping their streaming eyes, the necromancer, who had learned his black art +in the famous school of Toledo, slipped through their ranks unseen, and +journeyed on to Mount Vulcanus, where he encountered his Satanic Majesty. + +His first act was to offer his services to Satan, who accepted them gladly, +bidding him watch the steed Bayard, which he had stolen because he +preferred riding a horse to sitting astride a storm cloud as usual. The +necromancer artfully pretended great anxiety to serve his new master, but +having discovered just where Bayard was to be found, he made use of a +sedative powder to lull Satan to sleep. Then, hastening to the angry steed, +Malagigi made him tractable by whispering his master's name in his ear; +and, springing on his back, rode swiftly away. + +Satan was awakened by the joyful whinny of the flying steed, and +immediately mounted upon a storm cloud and started in pursuit, hurling a +red-hot thunderbolt at Malagigi to check his advance. But the necromancer +muttered a magic spell and held up his crucifix, and the bolt fell short; +while the devil, losing his balance, fell to the earth, and thus lamed +himself permanently. + +[Sidenote: Bayard restored by Malagigi.] Count Aymon, in the mean while, +had been obliged to flee from his besieged castle, mounted upon a sorry +steed instead of his fleet-footed horse. When the enemy detected his +flight, they set out in pursuit, tracking him by means of bloodhounds, and +were about to overtake and slay him when Malagigi suddenly appeared with +Bayard. To bound on the horse's back, draw his famous sword Flamberge, +which had been made by the smith Wieland, and charge into the midst of his +foes, was the work of a few seconds. The result was that most of Aymon's +foes bit the dust, while he rode away unharmed, and gathering many +followers, he proceeded to win back all the castles and fortresses he had +lost. + +Frightened by Aymon's successes, Charlemagne finally sent Roland, his +nephew and favorite, bidding him offer a rich ransom to atone for the +murder of Lord Hug, and instructing him to secure peace at any price. Aymon +at first refused these overtures, but consented at last to cease the feud +upon receipt of six times Lord Hug's weight in gold, and the hand of the +king's sister, Aya, whom he had long loved. + +These demands were granted, peace was concluded, and Aymon, having married +Aya, led her to the castle of Pierlepont, where they dwelt most happily +together, and became the parents of four brave sons, Renaud, Alard, +Guiscard, and Richard. Inactivity, however, was not enjoyable to an +inveterate fighter like Aymon, so he soon left home to journey into Spain, +where the bitter enmity between the Christians and the Moors would afford +him opportunity to fight to his heart's content. + +Years now passed by, during which Aymon covered himself with glory; for, +mounted on Bayard, he was the foremost in every battle, and always struck +terror into the hearts of his foes by the mere flash of his blade +Flamberge. Thus he fought until his sons attained manhood, and Aya had long +thought him dead, when a messenger came to Pierlepont, telling them that +Aymon lay ill in the Pyrenees, and wished to see his wife and his children +once more. + +In answer to these summons Aya hastened southward, and found her husband +old and worn, yet not so changed that she could not recognize him. Aymon, +sick as he was, rejoiced at the sight of his manly sons. He gave the three +eldest the spoil he had won during those many years' warfare, and promised +Renaud (Reinold) his horse and sword, if he could successfully mount and +ride the former. + +[Sidenote: Bayard won by Renaud.] Renaud, who was a skillful horseman, +fancied the task very easy, and was somewhat surprised when his father's +steed caught him by the garments with his teeth, and tumbled him into the +manger. Undismayed by one failure, however, Renaud sprang boldly upon +Bayard; and, in spite of all the horse's efforts, kept his seat so well +that his father formally gave him the promised mount and sword. + +When restored to health by the tender nursing of his loving wife, Aymon +returned home with his family. Then, hearing that Charlemagne had returned +from his coronation journey to Rome, and was about to celebrate the +majority of his heir, Aymon went to court with his four sons. + +During the tournament, held as usual on such festive occasions, Renaud +unhorsed every opponent, and even defeated the prince. This roused the +anger of Charlot, or Berthelot as he is called by some authorities, and +made him vow revenge. He soon discovered that Renaud was particularly +attached to his brother Alard, so he resolved first to harm the latter. +Advised by the traitor Ganelon, Chariot challenged Alard to a game of +chess, and insisted that the stakes should be the players' heads. + +This proposal was very distasteful to Alard, for he knew that he would +never dare lay any claim to the prince's head even if he won the game, and +feared to lose his own if he failed to win. Compelled to accept the +challenge, however, Alard began the game, and played so well that he won +five times in succession. Then Charlot, angry at being so completely +checkmated, suddenly seized the board and struck his antagonist such a +cruel blow that the blood began to flow. Alard, curbing his wrath, simply +withdrew; and it was only when Renaud questioned him very closely that he +told how the quarrel had occurred. + +Renaud was indignant at the insult offered his brother, and went to the +emperor with his complaint. The umpires reluctantly testified that the +prince had forfeited his head, so Renaud cut it off in the emperor's +presence, and effected his escape with his father and brothers before any +one could lay hands upon them. Closely pursued by the imperial troops, +Aymon and his sons were soon brought to bay, and fought so bravely that +they slew many of their assailants. At last, seeing that all their horses +except the incomparable Bayard had been slain, Renaud bade his brothers +mount behind him, and they dashed away. The aged Aymon had already fallen +into the hands of the emperor's adviser, Turpin, who solemnly promised that +no harm should befall him. But in spite of this oath, and of the +remonstrances of all his peers, Charlemagne prepared to have Aymon publicly +hanged, and consented to release him only upon condition that Aymon would +promise to deliver his sons into the emperor's hands, were it ever in his +power to do so. + +The four young men, knowing their father safe, and unwilling to expose +their mother to the unpleasant experiences of the siege which would have +followed had they remained at Pierlepont, now journeyed southward, and +entered the service of Saforet, King of the Moors. With him they won many +victories; but, seeing at the end of three years that this monarch had no +intention of giving them the promised reward, they slew him, and offered +their swords to Iwo, Prince of Tarasconia. + +[Sidenote: Fortress of Montauban.] Afraid of these warriors, yet wishing to +bind them to him by indissoluble ties, Iwo gave Renaud his daughter +Clarissa in marriage, and helped him build an impregnable fortress at +Montauban. This stronghold was scarcely finished when Charlemagne came up +with a great army to besiege it; but at the end of a year of fruitless +attempts, the emperor reluctantly withdrew, leaving Montauban still in the +hands of his enemies. + +Seven years had now elapsed since the four young men had seen their mother; +and, anxious to embrace her once more, they went in pilgrims' robes to the +castle of Pierlepont. Here the chamberlain recognized them and betrayed +their presence to Aymon, who, compelled by his oath, prepared to bind his +four sons fast and take them captive to his sovereign. The young men, +however, defended themselves bravely, secured their father instead, and +sent him in chains to Charlemagne. Unfortunately the monarch was much +nearer Pierlepont at the time than the young men supposed. Hastening +onward, he entered the castle before they had even become aware of his +approach, and secured three of them. The fourth, Renaud, aided by his +mother, escaped in pilgrim's garb, and returned to Montauban. Here he found +Bayard, and without pausing to rest, he rode straight to Paris to deliver +his brothers from the emperor's hands. + +Overcome by fatigue after this hasty journey, Renaud dismounted shortly +before reaching Paris, and fell asleep. When he awoke he found that his +steed had vanished, and he reluctantly continued his journey on foot, +begging his way. He was joined on the way by his cousin Malagigi, who also +wore a pilgrim's garb, and who promised to aid Renaud, not only in freeing +his brothers, but also in recovering Bayard. + +[Sidenote: Malagigi's stratagem.] Unnoticed, the beggars threaded their way +through the city of Paris and came to the palace. There a great tournament +was to be held, and the emperor had promised to the victor of the day the +famous steed Bayard. To stimulate the knights to greater efforts by a view +of the promised prize, the emperor bade a groom lead forth the renowned +steed. The horse seemed restive, but suddenly paused beside two beggars, +with a whinny of joy. The groom, little suspecting that the horse's real +master was hidden under the travel-stained pilgrim's robe, laughingly +commented upon Bayard's bad taste. Then Malagigi, the second beggar, +suddenly cried aloud that his poor companion had been told that he would +recover from his lameness were he only once allowed to bestride the famous +steed. Anxious to witness a miracle, the emperor gave orders that the +beggar should be placed upon Bayard; and Renaud, after feigning to fall off +through awkwardness, suddenly sat firmly upon his saddle, and dashed away +before any one could stop him. + +As for Malagigi, having wandered among the throng unheeded, he remained in +Paris until evening. Then, making his way into the prison by means of the +necromantic charm "Abracadabra," which he continually repeated, he +delivered the other sons of Aymon from their chains. He next entered the +palace of the sleeping emperor, spoke to him in his sleep, and forced him, +under hypnotic influence, to give up the scepter and crown, which he +triumphantly bore away. + +[Treachery of Iwo.] When Charlemagne awoke on the morrow, found his +prisoners gone, and realized that what had seemed a dream was only too +true, and that the insignia of royalty were gone, he was very angry indeed. +More than ever before he now longed to secure the sons of Aymon; so he +bribed Iwo, with whom the brothers had taken refuge, to send them to him. +Clarissa suspected her father's treachery, and implored Renaud not to +believe him; but the brave young hero, relying upon Iwo's promise, set out +without arms to seek the emperor's pardon. On the way, however, the four +sons of Aymon fell into an ambuscade, whence they would scarcely have +escaped alive had not one of the brothers drawn from under his robe the +weapons Clarissa had given him. + +The emperor's warriors, afraid of the valor of these doughty brethren now +that they were armed, soon withdrew to a safe distance, whence they could +watch the young men and prevent their escape. Suddenly, however, Malagigi +came dashing up on Bayard, for Clarissa had warned him of his kinsmen's +danger, and implored him to go to their rescue. Renaud immediately mounted +his favorite steed, and brandishing Flamberge, which his uncle had brought +him, he charged so gallantly into the very midst of the imperial troops +that he soon put them to flight. + +[Sidenote: Renaud and Roland.] The emperor, baffled and angry, suspected +that Iwo had warned his son-in-law of the danger and provided him with +weapons. In his wrath he had Iwo seized, and sentenced him to be hanged. +But Renaud, seeing Clarissa's tears, vowed that he would save his +father-in-law from such an ignominious death. With his usual bravery he +charged into the very midst of the executioners, and unhorsed the valiant +champion, Roland. During this encounter, Iwo effected his escape, and +Renaud followed him, while Roland slowly picked himself up and prepared to +follow his antagonist and once more try his strength against him. + +On the way to Montauban, Roland met Richard, one of the four brothers, whom +he carried captive to Charlemagne. The emperor immediately ordered the +young knight to be hanged, and bade some of his most noble followers to see +the sentence executed. They one and all refused, however, declaring death +on the gallows too ignominious a punishment for a knight. + +The discussions which ensued delayed the execution and enabled Malagigi to +warn Renaud of his brother's imminent peril. Mounted upon Bayard, Renaud +rode straight to Montfaucon, accompanied by his two other brothers and a +few faithful men. There they camped under the gallows, to be at hand when +the guard came to hang the prisoner on the morrow. But Renaud and his +companions slept so soundly that they would have been surprised had not the +intelligent Bayard awakened his master by a very opportune kick. Springing +to his feet, Renaud roused his companions, vaulted upon his steed, and +charged the guard. He soon delivered his captive brother and carried him +off in triumph, after hanging the knight who had volunteered to act as +executioner. + +[Sidenote: Montauban besieged by Charlemagne.] Charlemagne, still anxious +to seize and punish these refractory subjects, now collected an army and +began again to besiege the stronghold of Montauban. Occasional sallies and +a few bloody encounters were the only variations in the monotony of a +several-years' siege. But finally the provisions of the besieged became +very scanty. Malagigi, who knew that a number of provision wagons were +expected, advised Renaud to make a bold sally and carry them off, while he, +the necromancer, dulled the senses of the imperial army by scattering one +of his magic sleeping powders in the air. He had just begun his spell when +Oliver perceived him and, pouncing upon him, carried him off to the +emperor's tent. Oliver, on the way thither, never once relinquished his +grasp, although the magician tried to make him do so by throwing a pinch of +hellebore in his face. + +While sneezing loudly the paladin told how he had caught the magician, and +the emperor vowed that the rascal should be hanged on the very next day. +When he heard this decree, Malagigi implored the emperor to give him a good +meal, since this was to be his last night on earth, pledging his word not +to leave the camp without the emperor. This promise so reassured +Charlemagne that he ordered a sumptuous repast, charging a few knights to +watch Malagigi, lest, after all, he should effect his escape. The meal +over, the necromancer again had recourse to his magic art to plunge the +whole camp into a deep sleep. Then, proceeding unmolested to the imperial +tent, he bore off the sleeping emperor to the gates of Montauban, which +flew open at his well-known voice. + +Charlemagne, on awaking, was as surprised as dismayed to find himself in +the hands of his foes, who, however, when they saw his uneasiness, +gallantly gave him his freedom without exacting any pledge or ransom in +return. But when Malagigi heard of this foolhardy act of generosity, he +burned up his papers, boxes, and bags, and, when asked why he acted thus, +replied that he was about to leave his mad young kinsmen to their own +devices, and take refuge in a hermitage, where he intended to spend the +remainder of his life in repenting of his sins. Soon after this he +disappeared, and Aymon's sons, escaping secretly from Montauban just before +it was forced to surrender, took refuge in a castle they owned in the +Ardennes. + +Here the emperor pursued them, and kept up the siege until Aya sought him, +imploring him to forgive her sons and to cease persecuting them. +Charlemagne yielded at last to her entreaties, and promised to grant the +sons of Aymon full forgiveness provided the demoniacal steed Bayard were +given over to him to be put to death. Aya hastened to Renaud to tell him +this joyful news, but when he declared that nothing would ever induce him +to give up his faithful steed, she besought him not to sacrifice his +brothers, wife, and sons, out of love for his horse. + +[Sidenote: Death of Bayard.] Thus adjured, Renaud, with breaking heart, +finally consented. The treaty was signed, and Bayard, with feet heavily +weighted, was led to the middle of a bridge over the Seine, where the +emperor had decreed that he should be drowned. At a given signal from +Charlemagne the noble horse was pushed into the water; but, in spite of the +weights on his feet, he rose to the surface twice, casting an agonized +glance upon his master, who had been forced to come and witness his death. +Aya, seeing her son's grief, drew his head down upon her motherly bosom, +and when Bayard rose once more and missed his beloved master's face among +the crowd, he sank beneath the waves with a groan of despair, and never +rose again. + +Renaud, maddened by the needless cruelty of this act, now tore up the +treaty and flung it at the emperor's feet. He then broke his sword +Flamberge and cast it into the Seine, declaring that he would never wield +such a weapon again, and returned to Montauban alone and on foot. There he +bade his wife and children farewell, after committing them to the loyal +protection of Roland. He then set out for the Holy Land, where he fought +against the infidels, using a club as weapon, so as not to break his vow. +This evidently proved no less effective in his hands than the noted +Flamberge, for he was offered the crown of Jerusalem in reward for his +services. As he had vowed to renounce all the pomps and vanities of the +world, Renaud passed the crown on to Godfrey of Bouillon. Then, returning +home, he found that Clarissa had died, after having been persecuted for +years by the unwelcome attentions of many suitors, who would fain have +persuaded her that her husband was dead. + +[Sidenote: Death of Renaud.] According to one version of the story, Renaud +died in a hermitage, in the odor of sanctity; but if we are to believe +another, he journeyed on to Cologne, where the cathedral was being built, +and labored at it night and day. Exasperated by his constant activity, +which put them all to shame, his fellow-laborers slew him and flung his +body into the Rhine. Strange to relate, however, his body was not carried +away by the strong current, but lingered near the city, until it was +brought to land and interred by some pious people. + +Many miracles having taken place near the spot where he was buried, the +emperor gave orders that his remains should be conveyed either to +Aix-la-Chapelle or to Paris. The body was therefore laid upon a cart, which +moved of its own accord to Dortmund, in Westphalia, where it stopped, and +where a church was erected in honor of Renaud in 811. Here the saintly +warrior's remains were duly laid to rest, and the church in Dortmund still +bears his name. A chapel in Cologne is also dedicated to him, and is +supposed to stand on the very spot where he was so treacherously slain +after his long and brilliant career. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +HUON OF BORDEAUX. + + +It is supposed that this _chanson de geste_ was first composed in the +thirteenth century; but the version which has come down to us must have +been written shortly before the discovery of printing. Although this poem +was deservedly a favorite composition during the middle ages, no manuscript +copy of it now exists. Such was the admiration that it excited that Lord +Berners translated it into English under Henry VIII. In modern times it has +been the theme of Wieland's finest poem, and of one of Weber's operas, both +of which works are known by the title of "Oberon." It is from this work +that Shakespeare undoubtedly drew some of the principal characters for his +"Midsummer-Night's Dream," where Oberon, king of the fairies, plays no +unimportant part. + +[Sidenote: Charlot slain by Huon.] The hero of this poem, Huon of Bordeaux, +and his brother Girard, were on their way from Guienne to Paris to do +homage to Charlemagne for their estates. Charlot, the monarch's eldest son, +who bears a very unenviable reputation in all the mediaeval poems, +treacherously waylaid the brothers, intending to put them both to death. He +attacked them separately; but, after slaying Girard, was himself slain by +Huon, who, quite unconscious of the illustrious birth of his assailant, +calmly proceeded on his way. + +The rumor of the prince's death soon followed Huon to court, and +Charlemagne, incensed, vowed that he would never pardon him until he had +proved his loyalty and repentance by journeying to Bagdad, where he was to +cut off the head of the great bashaw, to kiss the Sultan's daughter, and +whence he was to bring back a lock of that mighty potentate's gray beard +and four of his best teeth. + + "'Yet hear the terms; hear what no earthly power + Shall ever change!' He spoke, and wav'd below + His scepter, bent in anger o'er my brow.-- + 'Yes, thou may'st live;--but, instant, from this hour, + Away! in exile rove far nations o'er; + Thy foot accurs'd shall tread this soil no more, + Till thou, in due obedience to my will + Shalt, point by point, the word I speak fulfill; + Thou diest, if this unwrought thou touch thy native shore. + + "'Go hence to Bagdad; in high festal day + At his round table, when the caliph, plac'd + In stately pomp, with splendid emirs grac'd, + Enjoys the banquet rang'd in proud array, + Slay him who lies the monarch's left beside, + Dash from his headless trunk the purple tide. + Then to the right draw near; with courtly grace + The beauteous heiress of his throne embrace; + And thrice with public kiss salute her as thy bride. + + "'And while the caliph, at the monstrous scene, + Such as before ne'er shock'd a caliph's eyes, + Stares at thy confidence in mute surprise, + Then, as the Easterns wont, with lowly mien + Fall on the earth before his golden throne, + And gain (a trifle, proof of love alone) + That it may please him, gift of friend to friend, + Four of his grinders at my bidding send, + And of his beard a lock with silver hair o'ergrown." + WIELAND. _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Illustration: HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max.] + +[Sidenote: Huon's quest.] Huon regretfully, left his native land to begin +this apparently hopeless quest; and, after visiting his uncle, the Pope, in +Rome, he tried to secure heavenly assistance by a pilgrimage to the holy +sepulcher. Then he set out for Babylon, or Bagdad, for, with the visual +mediaeval scorn for geography, evinced in all the _chansons de gestes_, +these are considered interchangeable names for the same town. As the hero +was journeying towards his goal by way of the Red Sea, it will not greatly +surprise the modern reader to hear that he lost his way and came to a +pathless forest. Darkness soon overtook him, and Huon was blindly stumbling +forward, leading his weary steed by the bridle, when he perceived a light, +toward which he directed his way. + + "Not long his step the winding way pursued, + When on his wistful gaze, to him beseems, + The light of distant fire delightful gleams. + His cheek flash'd crimson as the flame he view'd. + Half wild with hope and fear, he rushed to find + In these lone woods some glimpse of human kind, + And, ever and anon, at once the ray + Flash'd on his sight, then sunk at once away, + While rose and fell the path as hill and valley wind." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin.] Huon at last reached a cave, and found a gigantic +old man all covered with hair, which was his sole garment. After a few +moments' fruitless attempt at conversation in the language of the country, +Huon impetuously spoke a few words in his mother tongue. Imagine his +surprise when the uncouth inhabitant of the woods answered him fluently, +and when he discovered, after a few rapid questions, that the man was +Sherasmin (Gerasmes), an old servant of his father's! This old man had +escaped from the hands of his Saracen captors, and had taken refuge in +these woods, where he had already dwelt many years. After relating his +adventures, Huon entreated Sherasmin to point out the nearest way to +Bagdad, and learned with surprise that there were two roads, one very long +and comparatively safe, even for an inexperienced traveler, and the other +far shorter, but leading through an enchanted forest, where countless +dangers awaited the venturesome traveler. + +The young knight of course decided to travel along the most perilous way; +and, accompanied by Sherasmin, who offered his services as guide, he set +out early upon the morrow to continue his quest. On the fourth day of their +journey they saw a Saracen struggling single-handed against a band of +Arabs, whom Huon soon put to flight with a few well directed strokes from +his mighty sword. + +After resting a few moments, Huon bade Sherasmin lead the way into the +neighboring forest, although his guide and mentor again strove to dissuade +him from crossing it by explaining that the forest was haunted by a goblin +who could change men into beasts. The hero, who was on his way to insult +the proudest ruler on earth, was not to be deterred by a goblin; and as +Sherasmin still refused to enter first, Huon plunged boldly into the +enchanted forest. Sherasmin followed him reluctantly, finding cause for +alarm in the very silence of the dense shade, and timorously glancing from +side to side in the gloomy recesses, where strange forms seemed to glide +noiselessly about. + + + "Meanwhile the wand'ring travelers onward go + Unawares within the circuit of a wood, + Whose mazy windings at each step renew'd, + In many a serpent-fold, twin'd to and fro, + So that our pair to lose themselves were fain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Meeting with Oberon.] The travelers lost their way entirely as +they penetrated farther into the forest, and they came at last to a little +glade, where, resting under the spreading branches of a mighty oak, they +were favored with the vision of a castle. Its golden portals opened wide to +permit of the egress of Oberon, king of the fairies, the son of Julius +Caesar and Morgana the fay. He came to them in the radiant guise of the god +of love, sitting in a chariot of silver, drawn by leopards. + +Sherasmin, terrified at the appearance of this radiant creature, and under +the influence of wild, unreasoning fear, seized the bridle of his master's +steed and dragged him into the midst of the forest, in spite of all his +remonstrances. At last he paused, out of breath, and thought himself safe +from further pursuit; but he was soon made aware of the goblin's wrath by +the sudden outbreak of a frightful storm. + + + "A tempest, wing'd with lightning, storm, and rain, + O'ertakes our pair: around them midnight throws + Darkness that hides the world: it peels, cracks, blows, + As if the uprooted globe would split in twain; + The elements in wild confusion flung, + Each warr'd with each, as fierce from chaos sprung. + Yet heard from time to time amid the storm, + The gentle whisper of th' aërial form + Breath'd forth a lovely tone that died the gales among." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +All Sherasmin's efforts to escape from the spirit of the forest had been in +vain. Oberon's magic horn had called forth the raging tempest, and his +power suddenly stayed its fury as Huon and his companion overtook a company +of monks and nuns. These holy people had been celebrating a festival by a +picnic, and were now hastening home, drenched, bedraggled, and in a sorry +plight. They had scarcely reached the convent yard, however, where +Sherasmin fancied all would be quite safe from further enchantment, when +Oberon suddenly appeared in their midst like a brilliant meteor. + + "At once the storm is fled; serenely mild + Heav'n smiles around, bright rays the sky adorn, + While beauteous as an angel newly born + Beams in the roseate dayspring, glow'd the child. + A lily stalk his graceful limbs sustain'd, + Round his smooth neck an ivory horn was chain'd; + Yet lovely as he was, on all around + Strange horror stole, for stern the fairy frown'd, + And o'er each sadden'd charm a sullen anger reign'd." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's aid promised.] The displeasure of the king of the +fairies had been roused by Huon and Sherasmin's discourteous flight, but he +merely vented his anger and showed his power by breathing a soft strain on +his magic horn. At the same moment, monks, nuns, and Sherasmin, forgetting +their age and calling, began to dance in the wildest abandon. Huon alone +remained uninfluenced by the music, for he had had no wish to avoid an +encounter with Oberon. + +The king of the fairies now revealed to Huon that as his life had been pure +and his soul true, he would help him in his quest. Then, at a wave from the +lily wand the magic music ceased, and the charm was broken. Sherasmin was +graciously forgiven by Oberon, who, seeing the old man well-nigh exhausted, +offered him a golden beaker of wine, bidding him drink without fear. But +Sherasmin was of a suspicious nature, and it was only when he found that +the draught had greatly refreshed him that he completely dismissed his +fears. + +[Sidenote: The magic horn.] After informing Huon that he was fully aware of +the peculiar nature of his quest, Oberon gave him the golden beaker, +assuring him that it would always be full of the richest wine for the +virtuous, but would burn the evil doer with a devouring fire. He also +bestowed his magic horn upon him, telling him that a gentle blast would +cause all the hearers to dance, while a loud one would bring to his aid the +king of the fairies himself. + + "Does but its snail-like spiral hollow sing, + A lovely note soft swell'd with gentle breath, + Though thousand warriors threaten instant death, + And with advancing weapons round enring; + Then, as thou late hast seen, in restless dance + All, all must spin, and every sword and lance + Fall with th' exhausted warriors to the ground. + But if thou peal it with impatient sound, + I at thy call appear, more swift than lightning glance." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Another wave of his lily wand, and Oberon disappeared, leaving a subtle +fragrance behind him; and had it not been for the golden beaker and the +ivory horn which he still held, Huon might have been tempted to consider +the whole occurrence a dream. + +The journey to Bagdad was now resumed in a more hopeful spirit; and when +the travelers reached Tourmont they found that it was governed by one of +Huon's uncles, who, captured in his youth by the Saracens, had turned +Mussulman, and had gradually risen to the highest dignity. Seeing Huon +refresh some of the Christians of his household with a draught of wine from +the magic cup, he asked to be allowed to drink from it too. He had no +sooner taken hold of it, however, than he was unmercifully burned, for he +was a renegade, and the magic cup refreshed only the true believers. + +Incensed at what he fancied a deliberate insult, the governor of Tourmont +planned to slay Huon at a great banquet. But the young hero defended +himself bravely, and, after slaying sundry assailants, disposed of the +remainder by breathing a soft note upon his magic horn, and setting them +all to dancing wildly, until they sank breathless and exhausted upon their +divans. + +[Sidenote: The giant Angoulaffre.] As Huon had taken advantage of the spell +to depart and continue his journey, he soon reached the castle of the giant +Angoulaffre. The latter had stolen from Oberon a magic ring which made the +wearer invulnerable, and thus suffered him to commit countless crimes with +impunity. When Huon came near the castle he met an unfortunate knight who +imformed him that the giant detained his promised bride captive, together +with several other helpless damsels. + +Like a true knight errant, Huon vowed to deliver these helpless ladies, +and, in spite of the armed guards at every doorway, he passed unmolested +into Angoulaffre's chamber. There he found the giant plunged in a lethargy, +but was rapturously welcomed by the knight's fair betrothed, who had long +sighed for a deliverer. In a few hurried sentences she told him that her +captor constantly forced his unwelcome attentions upon her; but that, owing +to the protection of the Virgin, a trance overtook him and made him +helpless whenever he tried to force her inclinations and take her to wife. + + "'As oft the hateful battle he renews, + As oft the miracle his force subdues; + The ring no virtue boasts whene'er that sleep assails.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Prompted by this fair princess, whose name was Angela, Huon secured the +ring, and donned a magic hauberk hanging near. But, as he scorned to take +any further advantage of a sleeping foe, he patiently awaited the giant's +awakening to engage in one of those combats which the mediaeval poets loved +to describe. + +[Sidenote: Angela and Alexis.] Of course Huon was victorious, and after +slaying Angoulaffre, he restored the fair Angela to her lover, Alexis, and +gave a great banquet, which was attended by the fifty rescued damsels, and +by fifty knights who had come to help Alexis. Although this gay company +would fain have had him remain with them, Huon traveled on. When too +exhausted to continue his way, he again rested under a tree, where Oberon +caused a tent to be raised by invisible hands. Here Huon had a wonderful +dream, in which he beheld his future ladylove, and was warned of some of +the perils which still awaited him before he could claim her as his own. + +The journey was then resumed, and when they reached the banks of the Red +Sea, Oberon sent one of his spirits, Malebron, to carry them safely over. +They traveled through burning wastes of sand, refreshed and strengthened by +occasional draughts from the magic goblet, and came at last to a forest, +where they saw a Saracen about to succumb beneath the attack of a monstrous +lion. Huon immediately flew to his rescue, slew the lion, and, having drunk +deeply from his magic cup, handed it to the Saracen, on whose lips the +refreshing wine turned to liquid flame. + + "With evil eye, from Huon's courteous hand, + Filled to the brim, the heathen takes the bowl-- + Back from his lip th' indignant bubbles roll! + The spring is dried, and hot as fiery brand, + Proof of internal guilt, the metal glows. + Far from his grasp the wretch the goblet throws, + Raves, roars, and stamps." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +With a blasphemous exclamation the Saracen flung aside the cup, and seeing +that his own steed had been slain by the lion, he sprang unceremoniously +upon Huon's horse, and rode rapidly away. + +[Sidenote: Princess Rezia.] As there was but one mount left for them both, +Huon and Sherasmin were now obliged to proceed more slowly to Bagdad, where +they found every hostelry full, as the people were all coming thither to +witness the approaching nuptials of the princess, Rezia (Esclamonde), and +Babican, King of Hyrcania. Huon and Sherasmin, after a long search, finally +found entertainment in a little hut, where an old woman, the mother of the +princess's attendant, entertained them by relating that the princess was +very reluctant to marry. She also told them that Rezia had lately been +troubled by a dream, in which she had seen herself in the guise of a hind +and pursued through a pathless forest by Babican. In this dream she was +saved and restored to her former shape by a radiant little creature, who +rode in a glistening silver car, drawn by leopards. He was accompanied by a +fair-haired knight, whom he presented to her as her future bridegroom. + + "The shadow flies; but from her heart again + He never fades--the youth with golden hair; + Eternally his image hovers there, + Exhaustless source of sweetly pensive pain, + In nightly visions, and in daydreams shown." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Huon listened in breathless rapture, for he now felt assured that the +princess Rezia was the radiant creature he had seen in his dream, and that +Oberon intended them for each other. He therefore assured the old woman +that the princess should never marry the detested Babican. Then, although +Sherasmin pointed out to him that the way to a lady's favor seldom consists +in cutting off the head of her intended bridegroom, depriving her father of +four teeth and a lock of his beard, and kissing her without the usual +preliminary of "by your leave," the young hero persisted in his resolution +to visit the palace on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Oberon again to the rescue.] That selfsame night, Huon and Rezia +were again visited by sweet dreams, in which Oberon, their guardian spirit, +promised them his aid. While the princess was arraying herself for her +nuptials on the morrow, the old woman rushed into her apartment and +announced that a fair-haired knight, evidently the promised deliverer, had +slept in her humble dwelling the night before. Comforted by these tidings, +Rezia made a triumphant entrance into the palace hall, where her father, +the bridegroom, and all the principal dignitaries of the court, awaited her +appearance. + + "Emirs and viziers, all the courtly crowd + Meantime attendant at the sultan's call, + With festal splendor grace the nuptial hall. + The banquet waits, the cymbals clang aloud. + The gray-beard caliph from his golden door + Stalks mid the slaves that fall his path before; + Behind, of stately gesture, proud to view, + The Druse prince, though somewhat pale of hue, + Comes as a bridegroom deck'd with jewels blazing o'er." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +In the mean while Huon, awaking at early dawn, found a complete suit of +Saracenic apparel at his bedside. He donned it joyfully, entered the palace +unchallenged, and passed into the banquet hall, where he perceived the +gray-bearded caliph, and recognized in the bridegroom at his left the +Saracen whom he had delivered from the lion, and who had so discourteously +stolen his horse. + +[Sidenote: Huon's success.] One stride forward, a flash of his curved +scimitar, and the first part of Charlemagne's order was fulfilled, for the +Saracen's head rolled to the ground. The sudden movement caused Huon's +turban to fall off, however, and the princess, seated at the caliph's +right, gazed spellbound upon the knight, whose golden locks fell in rich +curls about his shoulders. + +There are several widely different versions of this part of the story. The +most popular, however, states that Huon, taking advantage of the first +moments of surprise, kissed Rezia thrice, slipping on her finger, in sign +of betrothal, the magic ring which he had taken from Angoulaffre. Then, +seeing the caliph's guards about to fall upon him, he gently breathed soft +music on his magic horn, and set caliph and court a-dancing. + + "The whole divan, one swimming circle glides + Swift without stop: the old bashaws click time, + As if on polish'd ice; in trance sublime + The iman hoar with some spruce courtier slides. + Nor rank nor age from capering refrain; + Nor can the king his royal foot restrain! + He too must reel amid the frolic row, + Grasp the grand vizier by his beard of snow, + And teach the aged man once more to bound amain!" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Flight of Rezia.] While they were thus occupied, Huon conducted +the willing Rezia to the door, where Sherasmin was waiting for them with +fleet steeds, and with Fatima, the princess's favorite attendant. While +Sherasmin helped the ladies to mount, Huon hastened back to the palace +hall, and found that the exhausted caliph had sunk upon a divan. With the +prescribed ceremonies, our hero politely craved a lock of his beard and +four of his teeth as a present for Charlemagne. This impudent request so +incensed the caliph that he vociferated orders to his guards to slay the +stranger. Huon was now forced to defend himself with a curtain pole and a +golden bowl, until, needing aid, he suddenly blew a resounding peal upon +his magic horn. The earth shook, the palace rocked, Oberon appeared in the +midst of rolling thunder and flashing lightning, and with a wave of his +lily wand plunged caliph and people into a deep sleep. Then he placed his +silver car at Huon's disposal, to bear him and his bride and attendants to +Ascalon, where a ship was waiting to take them back to France. + + "'So haste, thou matchless pair! + On wings of love, my car, that cuts the air, + Shall waft you high above terrestrial sight, + And place, ere morning melt the shades of night, + On Askalon's far shore, beneath my guardian care.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's warning.] When Huon and Rezia were about to embark at +Ascalon, Oberon appeared. He claimed his chariot, which had brought them +thither, and gave the knight a golden and jeweled casket, which contained +the teeth of the caliph and a lock of his beard. One last test of Huon's +loyalty was required, however; for Oberon, at parting, warned him to make +no attempt to claim Rezia as his wife until their union had been blessed at +Rome by the Pope. + + "'And deep, O Huon! grave it in your brain! + Till good Sylvester, pious father, sheds + Heaven's holy consecration on your heads, + As brother and as sister chaste remain! + Oh, may ye not, with inauspicious haste, + The fruit forbidden prematurely taste! + Know, if ye rashly venture ere the time, + That Oberon, in vengeance of your crime, + Leaves you, without a friend, on life's deserted waste!'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The first part of the journey was safely accomplished; but when they +stopped at Lepanto, on the way, Huon insisted upon his mentor, Sherasmin, +taking passage on another vessel, which sailed direct to France, that he +might hasten ahead, lay the golden casket at Charlemagne's feet, and +announce Huon's coming with his Oriental bride. + +[Illustration: HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD.--Gabriel Max.] + +When Sherasmin had reluctantly departed, and they were again on the high +seas, Huon expounded the Christian faith to Rezia, who not only was +converted, but was also baptized by a priest on board. He gave her the +Christian name of Amanda, in exchange for her pagan name of Rezia or +Esclarmonde. This same priest also consecrated their marriage; and while +Huon intended to await the Pope's blessing ere he claimed Amanda as his +wife, his good resolutions were soon forgotten, and the last injunction of +Oberon disregarded. + +[Sidenote: Disobedience and punishment.] This disobedience was immediately +punished, for a frightful tempest suddenly arose, threatening to destroy +the vessel and all on board. The sailors, full of superstitious fears, cast +lots to discover who should be sacrificed to allay the fury of the storm. +When the choice fell upon Huon, Amanda flung herself with him into the +tumultuous waves. As the lovers vanished overboard the storm was suddenly +appeased, and, instead of drowning together, Huon and Amanda, by the magic +of the ring she wore, drifted to a volcanic island, where they almost +perished from hunger and thirst. + +Much search among the rocks was finally rewarded by the discovery of some +dates, which were particularly welcome, as the lovers had been bitterly +deluded by the sight of some apples of Sodom. The fruit, however, was soon +exhausted, and, after untold exertions, Huon made his way over the +mountains to a fertile valley, the retreat of Titania, queen of the +fairies, who had quarreled with Oberon, and who was waiting here until +recalled to fairyland. + +The only visible inhabitant of the valley, however, was a hermit, who +welcomed Huon, and showed him a short and convenient way to bring Amanda +thither. After listening attentively to the story of Huon's adventures, the +hermit bade him endeavor to recover the favor of Oberon by voluntarily +living apart from his wife, and leading a life of toil and abstinence. + + "'Blest,' says the hermit, 'blest the man whom fate + Guides with strict hand, but not unfriendly aim! + How blest! whose slightest fault is doom'd to shame! + Him, trained to virtue, purest joys await,-- + Earth's purest joys reward each trying pain! + Think not the fairy will for aye remain + Inexorable foe to hearts like thine: + Still o'er you hangs his viewless hand divine; + Do but deserve his grace, and ye his grace obtain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon's penance.] Huon was ready and willing to undergo any +penance which would enable him to deliver his beloved Amanda from the isle, +and after building her a little hut, within call of the cell he occupied +with the hermit, he spent all his time in tilling the soil for their +sustenance, and in listening to the teachings of the holy man. + +Time passed on. One day Amanda restlessly wandered a little way up the +mountain, and fell asleep in a lovely grotto, which she now for the first +time discovered. When she awoke from a blissful dream she found herself +clasping her new-born babe, who, during her slumbers, had been cared for by +the fairies. This child, Huonet, was, of course, a great comfort to Amanda, +who was devoted to him. + +When the babe was a little more than a year old the aged monk died. Huon +and Amanda, despairing of release from the desert island, were weary of +living apart; and Titania, who foresaw that Oberon would send new +misfortunes upon them to punish them in case they did not stand the second +test, carried little Huonet off to fairyland, lest he should suffer for his +parents' sins. + +[Sidenote: Amanda and the pirates.] Huon and Amanda, in the mean time, +searched frantically for the missing babe, fancying it had wandered off +into the woods. During their search they became separated, and Amanda, +while walking along the seashore, was seized by pirates. They intended to +carry her away and sell her as a slave to the Sultan. Huon heard her cries +of distress, and rushed to her rescue; but in spite of his utmost efforts +to join her he saw her borne away to the waiting vessel, while he was bound +to a tree in the woods, and left there to die. + + "Deep in the wood, at distance from the shore, + They drag their victim, that his loudest word + Pour'd on the desert air may pass unheard. + Then bind the wretch, and fasten o'er and o'er + Arm, leg, and neck, and shoulders, to a tree. + To heaven he looks in speechless agony, + O'ercome by woe's unutterable weigfit. + Thus he--the while, with jocund shout elate + The crew bear off their prey, and bound along the sea." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Oberon, however, had pity at last upon the unfortunate knight, and sent one +of his invisible servants, who not only unbound him, but transported him, +with miraculous rapidity, over land and sea, and deposited him at the door +of a gardener's house in Tunis. + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin's search.] After parting from his master at Lepanto, +Sherasmin traveled on until he came to the gates of the palace with his +precious casket. Then only did he realize that Charlemagne would never +credit his tale unless Huon were there with his bride to vouch for its +truth. Instead of entering the royal abode he therefore hastened back to +Rome, where for two months he awaited the arrival of the young couple. +Then, sure that some misfortune had overtaken them, the faithful Sherasmin +wandered in pilgrim guise from place to place seeking them, until he +finally came to Tunis, where Fatima, Amanda's maid, had been sold into +slavery, and where he sorrowfully learned of his master's death. + +To be near Fatima, Sherasmin took a gardener's position in the Sultan's +palace, and when he opened the door of his humble dwelling one morning he +was overjoyed to find Huon, who had been brought there by the messenger of +Oberon. An explanation ensued, and Huon, under the assumed name of Hassan, +became Sherasmin's assistant in the Sultan's gardens. + +The pirates, in the mean while, hoping to sell Amanda to the Sultan +himself, had treated her with the utmost deference; but as they neared the +shore of Tunis their vessel suffered shipwreck, and all on board perished +miserably, except Amanda. She was washed ashore at the Sultan's feet. +Charmed by her beauty, the Sultan conveyed her to his palace, where he +would immediately have married her had she not told him that she had made a +vow of chastity which she was bound to keep for two years. + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda reunited.] Huon, unconscious of Amanda's +presence, worked in the garden, where the Sultan's daughter saw him and +fell in love with him. As she failed to win him, she became very jealous. +Soon after this Fatima discovered Amanda's presence in the palace, and +informed Huon, who made a desperate effort to reach her. This was +discovered by the jealous princess, and since Huon would not love her, she +was determined that he should not love another. She therefore artfully laid +her plans, and accused him of a heinous crime, for which the Sultan, +finding appearances against him, condemned him to death. Amanda, who was +warned by Fatima of Huon's danger, rushed into the Sultan's presence to +plead for her husband's life; but when she discovered that she could obtain +it only at the price of renouncing him forever and marrying the Sultan, she +declared that she preferred to die, and elected to be burned with her +beloved. The flames were already rising around them both, when Oberon, +touched by their sufferings and their constancy, suddenly appeared, and +again hung his horn about Huon's neck. + +The knight hailed this sign of recovered favor with rapture, and, putting +the magic horn to his lips, showed his magnanimity by blowing only a soft +note and making all the pagans dance. + + "No sooner had the grateful knight beheld, + With joyful ardor seen, the ivory horn, + Sweet pledge of fairy grace, his neck adorn, + Than with melodious whisper gently swell'd, + His lip entices forth the sweetest tone + That ever breath'd through magic ivory blown: + He scorns to doom a coward race to death. + 'Dance! till ye weary gasp, depriv'd of breath-- + Huon permits himself this slight revenge alone'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda in fairyland.] While all were dancing, much +against their will, Huon and Amanda, Sherasmin and Fatima, promptly stepped +into the silvery car which Oberon placed at their disposal, and were +rapidly transported to fairyland. There they found little Huonet in perfect +health. Great happiness now reigned, for Titania, having secured the ring +which Amanda had lost in her struggle with the pirates on the sandy shore, +had given it back to Oberon. He was propitiated by the gift, and as the +sight of Huon and Amanda's fidelity had convinced him that wives could be +true, he took Titania back into favor, and reinstated her as queen of his +realm. + +When Huon and Amanda had sojourned as long as they wished in fairyland, +they were wafted in Oberon's car to the gates of Paris. There Huon arrived +just in time to win, at the point of his lance, his patrimony of Guienne, +which Charlemagne had offered as prize at a tournament. Bending low before +his monarch, the young hero then revealed his name, presented his wife, +gave him the golden casket containing the lock of hair and the four teeth, +and said that he had accomplished his quest. + + "Our hero lifts the helmet from his head; + And boldly ent'ring, like the god of day, + His golden ringlets down his armor play. + All, wond'ring, greet the youth long mourn'd as dead, + Before the king his spirit seems to stand! + Sir Huon with Amanda, hand in hand, + Salutes the emperor with respectful bow-- + 'Behold, obedient to his plighted vow, + Thy vassal, sovereign liege, returning to thy land! + + "'For by the help of Heaven this arm has done + What thou enjoin'dst--and lo! before thine eye + The beard and teeth of Asia's monarch lie, + At hazard of my life, to please thee, won; + And in this fair, by every peril tried, + The heiress of his throne, my love, my bride!' + He spoke; and lo! at once her knight to grace, + Off falls the veil that hid Amanda's face, + And a new radiance gilds the hall from side to side." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The young couple, entirely restored to favor, sojourned a short time at +court and then traveled southward to Guienne, where their subjects received +them with every demonstration of extravagant joy. Here they spent the +remainder of their lives together in happiness and comparative peace. + +[Sidenote: An earlier version of the story.] According to an earlier +version of the story, Esclarmonde, whom the pirates intended to convey to +the court of her uncle, Yvoirin of Montbrand, was wrecked near the palace +of Galafre, King of Tunis, who respected her vow of chastity but +obstinately refused to give her up to her uncle when he claimed her. Huon, +delivered from his fetters on the island, was borne by Malebron, Oberon's +servant, to Yvoirin's court, where he immediately offered himself as +champion to defy Galafre and win back his beloved wife at the point of the +sword. No sooner did Huon appear in martial array at Tunis than Galafre +selected Sherasmin (who had also been shipwrecked off his coast, and had +thus become his slave) as his champion. Huon and Sherasmin met, but, +recognizing each other after a few moments' struggle, they suddenly +embraced, and, joining forces, slew the pagans and carried off Esclarmonde +and Fatima. They embarked upon a swift sailing vessel, and soon arrived at +Rome, where Huon related his adventures to the Pope, who gave him his +blessing. + +As they were on their way to Charlemagne's court, Girard, a knight who had +taken possession of Huon's estates, stole the golden casket from Sherasmin, +and sent Huon and Esclarmonde in chains to Bordeaux. Then, going to court, +he informed Charlemagne that although Huon had failed in his quest, he had +dared to return to France. Charlemagne, whose anger had not yet cooled, +proceeded to Bordeaux, tried Huon, and condemned him to death. But just as +the knight was about to perish, Oberon appeared, bound the emperor and +Girard fast, and only consented to restore them to freedom when Charlemagne +promised to reinstate Huon. + +Oberon then produced the missing casket, revealed Girard's treachery, and, +after seeing him punished, bore Huon and Esclarmonde off to fairyland. Huon +eventually became ruler of this realm in Oberon's stead; and his daughter, +Claretie, whose equally marvelous adventures are told at great length in +another, but far less celebrated, _chanson de geste_, is represented as the +ancestress of all the Capetian kings of France. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the legend.] The most mystical and spiritual of all +the romances of chivalry is doubtless the legend of the Holy Grail. Rooted +in the mythology of all primitive races is the belief in a land of peace +and happiness, a sort of earthly paradise, once possessed by man, but now +lost, and only to be attained again by the virtuous. The legend of the Holy +Grail, which some authorities declare was first known in Europe by the +Moors, and christianized by the Spaniards, was soon introduced into France, +where Robert de Borron and Chrestien de Troyes wrote lengthy poems about +it. Other writers took up the same theme, among them Walter Map, Archdeacon +of Oxford, who connected it with the Arthurian legends. It soon became +known in Germany, where, in the hands of Gottfried von Strassburg, and +especially of Wolfram von Eschenbach, it assumed its most perfect and +popular form. The "Parzival" of Eschenbach also forms the basis of a recent +work, the much-discussed last opera of the great German composer, +Wagner.[1] [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Stories of the Wagner Opera.] + +The story of the Grail is somewhat confused, owing to the many changes made +by the different authors. The account here given, while mentioning the most +striking incidents of other versions, is in general an outline of the +"Titurel" and "Parzival" of Von Eschenbach. + +[Sidenote: The Holy Grail.] When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, one stone +of great beauty as detached from the marvelous crown which sixty thousand +angels had tendered him. This stone fell upon earth, and from it was carved +a vessel of great beauty, which came, after many ages, into the hands of +Joseph of Arimathea. He offered it to the Savior, who made use of it in the +Last Supper. When the blood flowed from the Redeemer's side, Joseph of +Arimathea caught a few drops of it in this wonderful vessel; and, owing to +this circumstance, it was thought to be endowed with marvelous powers. +"Wherever it was there were good things in abundance. Whoever looked upon +it, even though he were sick unto death, could not die that week; whoever +looked at it continually, his cheeks never grew pale, nor his hair gray." + +Once a year, on the anniversary of the Savior's death, a white dove brought +a fresh host down from heaven, and placed it on the vessel, which was borne +by a host of angels, or by spotless virgins. The care of it was at times +intrusted to mortals, who, however, had to prove themselves worthy of this +exalted honor by leading immaculate lives. This vessel, called the "Holy +Grail," remained, after the crucifixion, in the hands of Joseph of +Arimathea. The Jews, angry because Joseph had helped to bury Christ, cast +him into a dungeon, and left him there for a whole year without food or +drink. Their purpose in doing so was to slay Joseph, as they had already +slain Nicodemus, so that should the Romans ever ask them to produce +Christ's body, they might declare that it had been stolen by Joseph of +Arimathea. + +The Jews little suspected, however, that Joseph, having the Holy Grail with +him, could suffer no lack. When Vespasian, the Roman emperor, heard the +story of Christ's passion, as related by a knight who had just returned +from the Holy Land, he sent a commission to Jerusalem to investigate the +matter and bring back some holy relic to cure his son Titus of leprosy. + +In due time the ambassadors returned, giving Pilate's version of the story, +and bringing with them an old woman (known after her death as St. +Veronica). She produced the cloth with which she had wiped the Lord's face, +and upon which his likeness had been stamped by miracle. The mere sight of +this holy relic sufficed to restore Titus, who now proceeded with Vespasian +to Jerusalem. There they vainly tried to compel the Jews to produce the +body of Christ, until one of them revealed, under pressure of torture, the +place where Joseph was imprisoned. Vespasian proceeded in person to the +dungeon, and was hailed by name by the perfectly healthy prisoner. Joseph +was set free, but, fearing further persecution from the Jews, soon departed +with his sister, Enigée, and her husband, Brons, for a distant land. The +pilgrims found a place of refuge near Marseilles, where the Holy Grail +supplied all their needs, until one of them committed a sin. Then divine +displeasure became manifest by a terrible famine. + +As none knew who had sinned, Joseph was instructed in a vision to discover +the culprit by the same means with which the Lord had revealed the guilt of +Judas. Still following divine commands, Joseph made a table, and directed +Brons to catch a fish. The Grail was placed before Joseph's seat at table, +where all who implicitly believed were invited to take a seat. Eleven seats +were soon occupied, and only Judas's place remained empty. Moses, a +hypocrite and sinner, attempted to sit there, but the earth opened wide +beneath him and ingulfed him. + +In another vision Joseph was now informed that the vacancy would only be +filled on the day of doom. He was also told that a similar table would be +constructed by Merlin. Here the grandson of Brons would honorably occupy +the vacant place, which is designated in the legend as the "Siege +Perilous," because it proved fatal to all for whom it was not intended. + +In the "Great St. Grail," one of the longest poems on this theme, there are +countless adventures and journeys, "transformations of fair females into +foul fiends, conversions wholesale and individual, allegorical visions, +miracles, and portents. Eastern splendor and northern weirdness, angelry +and deviltry, together with abundant fighting and quite a phenomenal amount +of swooning, which seem to reflect a strange medley of Celtic, pagan, and +mythological traditions, and Christian legends and mysticism, alternate in +a kaleidoscopic maze that defies the symmetry which modern aesthetic canons +associate with every artistic production." + +The Holy Grail was, we are further told, transported by Joseph of Arimathea +to Glastonbury, where it long remained visible, and whence it vanished only +when men became too sinful to be permitted to retain it in their midst. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Titurel.] Another legend relates that a rich man from +Cappadocia, Berillus, followed Vespasian to Rome, where he won great +estates. He was a very virtuous man, and his good qualities were inherited +by all his descendants. One of them, called Titurisone, greatly regretted +having no son to continue his race. When advised by a soothsayer to make a +pilgrimage to the holy sepulcher, and there to lay a crucifix of pure gold +upon the altar, the pious Titurisone hastened to do so. On his return he +was rewarded for his pilgrimage by the birth of a son, called Titurel. + +This child, when he had attained manhood, spent all his time in warring +against the Saracens, as all pagans are called in these metrical romances. +The booty he won he gave either to the church or to the poor, and his +courage and virtue were only equaled by his piety and extreme humility. + +One day, when Titurel was walking alone in the woods, he was favored by the +vision of an angel. The celestial messenger sailed down to earth out of the +blue, and announced in musical tones that the Lord had chosen him to be the +guardian of the Holy Grail on Montsalvatch (which some authors believe to +have been in Spain), and that it behooved him to set his house in order and +obey the voice of God. + +When the angel had floated upward and out of sight, Titurel returned home. +After disposing of all his property, reserving nothing but his armor and +trusty sword, he again returned to the spot where he had been favored with +the divine message. There he saw a mysterious white cloud, which seemed to +beckon him onward. Titurel followed it, passed through vast solitudes and +almost impenetrable woods, and eventually began to climb a steep mountain, +whose ascent at first seemed impossible. Clinging to the rocks, and gazing +ever ahead at the guiding cloud, Titurel came at last to the top of the +mountain, where, in a beam of refulgent light, he beheld the Holy Grail, +borne in the air by invisible hands. He raised his heart in passionate +prayer that he might be found worthy to guard the emerald-colored wonder +which was thus intrusted to his care, and in his rapture hardly heeded the +welcoming cries of a number of knights in shining armor, who hailed him as +their king. + +The vision of the Holy Grail was as evanescent as beautiful, and soon +disappeared; but Titurel, knowing that the spot was holy, guarded it with +all his might against the infidels, who would fain have climbed the +mountain. + +After several years had passed without the Holy Grail's coming down to +earth, Titurel conceived the plan of building a temple suitable for its +reception. The knights who helped to build and afterward guarded this +temple were called "Templars." Their first effort was to clear the mountain +top, which they found was one single onyx of enormous size. This they +leveled and polished until it shone like a mirror, and upon this foundation +they prepared to build their temple. + +[Sidenote: Temple of the Holy Grail.] As Titurel was hesitating what plan +to adopt for the building, he prayed for guidance, and when he arose on the +morrow he found the ground plan all traced out and the building materials +ready for use. The knights labored piously from morning till night, and +when they ceased, invisible hands continued to work all night. Thus pushed +onward, the work was soon completed, and the temple rose on the mountain +top in all its splendor. "The temple itself was one hundred fathoms in +diameter. Around it were seventy-two chapels of an octagonal shape. To +every pair of chapels there was a tower six stories high, approachable by a +winding stair on the outside. In the center stood a tower twice as big as +the others, which rested on arches. The vaulting was of blue sapphire, and +in the center was a plate of emerald, with the lamb and the banner of the +cross in enamel. All the altar stones were of sapphire, as symbols of the +propitiation of sins. Upon the inside of the cupola surmounting the temple, +the sun and moon were represented in diamonds and topazes, and shed a light +as of day even in the darkness of the night. The windows were of crystal, +beryl, and other transparent stones. The floor was of translucent crystal, +under which all the fishes of the sea were carved out of onyx, just like +life. The towers were of precious stones inlaid with gold; their roofs of +gold and blue enamel. Upon every tower there was a crystal cross, and upon +it a golden eagle with expanded wings, which, at a distance, appeared to be +flying. At the summit of the main tower was an immense carbuncle, which +served, like a star, to guide the Templars thither at night. In the center +of the building, under the dome, was a miniature representation, of the +whole, and in this the holy vessel was kept." + +[Sidenote: Descent of the Holy Grail.] When all the work was finished, the +temple was solemnly consecrated, and as the priests chanted the psalms a +sweet perfume filled the air, and the holy vessel was seen to glide down on +a beam of light. While it hovered just above the altar the wondering +assembly heard the choir of the angels singing the praises of the Most +High. The Holy Grail, which had thus come down upon earth, was faithfully +guarded by Titurel and his knights, who were fed and sustained by its +marvelous power, and whose wounds were healed as soon as they gazed upon +it. From time to time it also delivered a divine message, which appeared in +letters of fire inscribed about its rim, and which none of the Templars +ever ventured to disregard. + +By virtue of the miraculous preservative influence of the Holy Grail, +Titurel seemed but forty when he was in reality more than four hundred +years old. His every thought had been so engrossed by the care of the +precious vessel that he was somewhat surprised when he read upon its rim a +luminous command to marry, so that his race might not become extinct. When +the knights of the temple had been summoned, and had all perused the divine +command, they began to consider where a suitable helpmate could be found +for their beloved king. They soon advised him to woe Richoude, the daughter +of a Spaniard. An imposing embassy was sent to the maiden, who, being +piously inclined, immediately consented to the marriage. + +Richoude was a faithful wife for twenty years, and when she died she left +two children,--a son, Frimoutel, and a daughter, Richoude,--to comfort the +sorrowing Titurel for her loss. These children both married in their turn, +and Frimoutel had two sons, Amfortas and Trevrezent, and three daughters, +Herzeloide, Josiane, and Repanse de Joie. As these children grew up, +Titurel became too old to bear the weight of his armor, and spent all his +days in the temple, where he finally read on the Holy Grail a command to +anoint Frimoutel king. Joyfully the old man obeyed, for he had long felt +that the defense of the Holy Grail should be intrusted to a younger man +than he. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Parzival.] Although he renounced the throne in favor of +his son, Titurel lived on, witnessed the marriage of Josiane, and mourned +for her when she died in giving birth to a little daughter, called Sigune. +This child, being thus deprived of a mother's care, was intrusted to +Herzeloide, who brought her up with Tchionatulander, the orphaned son of a +friend. Herzeloide married a prince named Gamuret, and became the happy +mother of Parzival, who, however, soon lost his father in a terrible +battle. + +Fearful lest her son, when grown up, should want to follow his father's +example, and make war against even the most formidable foes, Herzeloide +carried him off into the forest of Soltane (which some authors locate in +Brittany), and there brought him up in complete solitude and ignorance. + + "The child her falling tears bedew; + No wife was ever found more true. + She teemed with joy and uttered sighs; + And tears midst laughter filled her eyes + Her heart delighted in his birth; + In sorrow deep was drowned her mirth." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Illustration: PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL.--Pixis.] + +[Sidenote: Amfortas's wound.] While she was living there, Frimoutel, weary +of the dull life on Montsalvatch, went out into the world, and died of a +lance wound when far away from home. Amfortas, his son, who was now crowned +in obedience to the command of the Holy Grail, proved equally restless, and +went out also in search of adventures. Like his father, he too was wounded +by a poisoned lance; but, instead of dying, he lived to return to the Holy +Grail. But since his wound had not been received in defense of the holy +vessel, it never healed, and caused him untold suffering. + +Titurel, seeing this suffering, prayed ardently for his grandson's release +from the pain which imbittered every moment of his life, and was finally +informed by the glowing letters on the rim of the Holy Grail that a chosen +hero would climb the mountain and inquire the cause of Amfortas's pain. At +this question the evil spell would be broken, Amfortas healed, and the +newcomer appointed king and guardian of the Holy Grail. + +This promise of ultimate cure saved Amfortas from utter despair, and all +the Templars lived in constant anticipation of the coming hero, and of the +question which would put an end to the torment which they daily witnessed. + +[Sidenote: Parzival's early life.] Parzival, in the mean while, was growing +up in the forest, where he amused himself with a bow and arrow of his own +manufacture. But when for the first time he killed a tiny bird, and saw it +lying limp and helpless in his hand, he brought it tearfully to his mother +and inquired what it meant. In answering him she, for the first time also, +mentioned the name of God; and when he eagerly questioned her about the +Creator, she said to him: "Brighter is God than e'en the brightest day; yet +once he took the form and face of man." + +Thus brought up in complete ignorance, it is no wonder that when young +Parzival encountered some knights in brilliant armor in the forest, he fell +down and offered to worship them. Amused at the lad's simplicity, the +knights told him all about the gay world of chivalry beyond the forest, and +advised him to ride to Arthur's court, where, if worthy, he would receive +the order of knighthood, and perchance be admitted to the Round Table. +Beside himself with joy at hearing all these marvelous things, and eager to +set out immediately, Parzival returned to his mother to relate what he had +seen, and to implore her to give him a horse, that he might ride after the +knights. + + "'I saw four men, dear mother mine; + Not brighter is the Lord divine. + They spoke to me of chivalry; + Through Arthur's power of royalty, + In knightly honor well arrayed, + I shall receive the accolade.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The mother, finding herself unable to detain him any longer, reluctantly +consented to his departure, and, hoping that ridicule and lack of success +would soon drive him back to her, prepared for him the motley garb of a +fool and gave him a very sorry nag to ride. + + "The boy, silly yet brave indeed, + Oft from his mother begged a steed. + That in her heart she did lament; + She thought: 'Him must I make content, + Yet must the thing an evil be.' + Thereafter further pondered she: + 'The folk are prone to ridicule. + My child the garments of a fool + Shall on his shining body wear. + If he be scoffed and beaten there, + Perchance he'll come to me again.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Parzival's journey into the world.] Thus equipped, his mind well +stored with all manner of unpractical advice given by his mother in further +hopes of making a worldly career impossible for him, the young hero set +out. As he rode away from home, his heart was filled with regret at leaving +and with an ardent desire to seek adventures abroad,--conflicting emotions +which he experienced for the first time in his life. Herzeloide accompanied +her son part way, kissed him good-by, and, as his beloved form disappeared +from view in the forest paths, her heart broke and she breathed her last! + +Parzival rode onward and soon came to a meadow, in which some tents were +pitched. He saw a beautiful lady asleep in one of these tents, and, +dismounting, he wakened her with a kiss, thus obeying one of his mother's +injunctions--to kiss every fair lady he met. To his surprise, however, the +lady seemed indignant; so he tried to pacify her by telling her that he had +often thus saluted his mother. Then, slipping the bracelet from off her +arm, and carrying it away as a proof that she was not angry, he rode on. +Lord Orilus, the lady's husband, hearing from her that a youth had kissed +her, flew into a towering rage, and rode speedily away, hoping to overtake +the impudent varlet and punish him. + +Parzival, in the mean while, had journeyed on, and, passing through the +forest, had seen a maiden weeping over the body of her slain lover. In +answer to his inquiries she told him that she was his cousin, Sigune, and +that the dead man, Tchionatulander, had been killed in trying to fulfill a +trifling request--to recover her pet dog, which had been stolen. Parzival +promised to avenge Tchionatulander as soon as possible, and to remember +that the name of the murderer was Orilus. + +Next he came to a river, where he was ferried across, and repaid the +boatman by giving him the bracelet he had taken from Orilus's wife. Then, +hearing that Arthur was holding his court at Nantes, he proceeded thither +without further delay. + +On entering the city, Parzival encountered the Red Knight, who mockingly +asked him where he was going. The unabashed youth immediately retorted, "To +Arthur's court to ask him for your arms and steed!" + +[Sidenote: Parzival at Arthur's court.] A little farther on the youth's +motley garb attracted much attention, and the town boys made fun of him +until Iwanet, one of the king's squires, came to inquire the cause of the +tumult. He took Parzival under his protection, and conducted him to the +great hall, where, if we are to believe some accounts, Parzival boldly +presented himself on horseback. The sight of the gay company so dazzled the +inexperienced youth that he wonderingly inquired why there were so many +Arthurs. When Iwanet told him that the wearer of the crown was the sole +king, Parzival boldly stepped up to him and asked for the arms and steed of +the Red Knight. + +Arthur wonderingly gazed at the youth, and then replied that he could have +them provided he could win them. This was enough. Parzival sped after the +knight, overtook him, and loudly bade him surrender weapons and steed. The +Red Knight, thus challenged, began to fight; but Parzival, notwithstanding +his inexperience, wielded his spear so successfully that he soon slew his +opponent. To secure the steed was an easy matter, but how to remove the +armor the youth did not know. By good fortune, however, Iwanet soon came up +and helped Parzival to don the armor. He put it on over his motley garb, +which he would not set aside because his mother had made it for him. + +Some time after, Parzival came to the castle of Gurnemanz, a noble knight, +with whom he remained for some time. Here he received valuable instructions +in all a knight need know. When Parzival left this place, about a year +later, he was an accomplished knight, clad as beseemed his calling, and +ready to fulfill all the duties which chivalry imposed upon its votaries. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and Conduiramour.] He soon heard that Queen +Conduiramour was hard pressed, in her capital of Belripar, by an unwelcome +suitor. As he had pledged his word to defend all ladies in distress, +Parzival immediately set out to rescue this queen. A series of brilliant +single fights disposed of the besiegers, and the citizens of Belripar, to +show their gratitude to their deliverer, offered him the hand of their +queen, Conduiramour, which he gladly accepted. But Parzival, even in this +new home, could not forget his sorrowing mother, and he soon left his wife +to go in search of Herzeloide, hoping to comfort her. He promised his wife +that he would return soon, however, and would bring his mother to Belripar +to share their joy. In the course of this journey homeward Parzival came to +a lake, where a richly dressed fisherman, in answer to his inquiry, +directed him to a neighboring castle where he might find shelter. + +[Sidenote: Castle of the Holy Grail.] Although Parzival did not know it, he +had come to the temple and castle on Montsalvatch. The drawbridge was +immediately lowered at his call, and richly clad servants bade him welcome +with joyful mien. They told him that he had long been expected, and after +arraying him in a jeweled garment, sent by Queen Repanse de Joie, they +conducted him into a large, brilliantly illumined hall. There four hundred +knights were seated on soft cushions, before small tables each laid for +four guests; and as they saw him enter a flash of joy passed over their +grave and melancholy faces. The high seat was occupied by a man wrapped in +furs, who was evidently suffering from some painful disease. He made a sign +to Parzival to draw near, gave him a seat beside him, and presented him +with a sword of exquisite workmanship. To Parzival's surprise this man bade +him welcome also, and repeated that he had long been expected. The young +knight, amazed by all he heard and saw, remained silent, for he did not +wish to seem inquisitive,--a failing unworthy of a knight. Suddenly the +great doors opened, and a servant appeared bearing the bloody head of a +lance, with which he silently walked around the hall, while all gazed upon +it and groaned aloud. + +The servant had scarcely vanished when the doors again opened, and +beautiful virgins came marching in, two by two. They bore an embroidered +cushion, an ebony stand, and sundry other articles, which they laid before +the fur-clad king. Last of all came the beautiful maiden, Repanse de Joie, +bearing a glowing vessel; and as she entered and laid it before the king, +Parzival heard the assembled knights whisper that this was the Holy Grail. + + "Now after them advanced the Queen, + With countenance of so bright a sheen, + They all imagined day would dawn. + One saw the maiden was clothed on + With muslin stuffs of Araby. + On a green silk cushion she + The pearl of Paradise did bear. + + * * * * * + + The blameless Queen, proud, pure, and calm, + Before the host put down the Grail; + And Percival, so runs the tale, + To gaze upon her did not fail, + Who thither bore the Holy Grail." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_(Bayard Taylor's + tr.). + +The maidens then slowly retired, the knights and squires drew near, and now +from the shining vessel streamed forth a supply of the daintiest dishes and +richest wines, each guest being served with the viands which he liked best. +All ate sadly and in silence, while Parzival wondered what it might all +mean, yet remained mute. The meal ended, the sufferer rose from his seat, +gazed reproachfully at the visitor, who, by asking a question, could have +saved him such pain, and slowly left the room, uttering a deep sigh. + +With angry glances the knights also left the hall, and sad-faced servants +conducted Parzival past a sleeping room, where they showed him an old +white-haired man who lay in a troubled sleep. Parzival wondered still more, +but did not venture to ask who it might be. Next the servants took him to +an apartment where he could spend the night. The tapestry hangings of this +room were all embroidered with gorgeous pictures. Among them the young hero +noticed one in particular, because it represented his host borne down to +the ground by a spear thrust into his bleeding side. Parzival's curiosity +was even greater than before; but, scorning to ask a servant what he had +not ventured to demand of the master, he went quietly to bed, thinking that +he would try to secure an explanation on the morrow. + +When he awoke he found himself alone. No servant answered his call. All the +doors were fastened except those which led outside, where he found his +steed awaiting him. When he had passed the drawbridge it rose up slowly +behind him, and a voice called out from the tower, "Thou art accursed; for +thou hadst been chosen to do a great work, which thou hast left undone!" +Then looking upward, Parzival saw a horrible face gazing after him with a +fiendish grin, and making a gesture as of malediction. + +[Sidenote: Sigune.] At the end of that day's journey, Parzival came to a +lonely cell in the desert, where he found Sigune weeping over a shrine in +which lay Tchionatulander's embalmed remains. She too received him with +curses, and revealed to him that by one sympathetic question only he might +have ended Amfortas's prolonged pain, broken an evil spell, and won for +himself a glorious crown. + +Horrified, now that he knew what harm he had done, Parzival rode away, +feeling as if he were indeed accursed. His greatest wish was to return to +the mysterious castle and atone for his remissness by asking the question +which would release the king from further pain. But alas! the castle had +vanished; and our hero was forced to journey from place to place, seeking +diligently, and meeting with many adventures on the way. + +At times the longing to give up the quest and return home to his young wife +was almost unendurable. His thoughts were ever with her, and the poem +relates that even a drop of blood fallen on the snow reminded, him most +vividly of the dazzling complexion of Conduiramour, and of her sorrow when +he departed. + + "'Conduiramour, thine image is + Here in the snow now dyed with red + And in the blood on snowy bed. + Conduiramour, to them compare + Thy forms of grace and beauty rare.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Although exposed to countless temptations, Parzival remained true to his +wife as he rode from place to place, constantly seeking the Holy Grail. His +oft-reiterated questions concerning it caused him to be considered a madman +or a fool by all he met. + +In the course of his journeys, he encountered a lady in chains, led by a +knight who seemed to take pleasure in torturing her. Taught by Gurnemanz to +rescue all ladies in distress, Parzival challenged and defeated this +knight. Then only did he discover that it was Sir Orilus, who had led his +wife about in chains to punish her for accepting a kiss from a strange +youth. Of course Parzival now hastened to give an explanation of the whole +affair, and the defeated knight, at his request, promised to treat his wife +with all kindness in future. + +As Parzival had ordered all the knights whom he had defeated to journey +immediately to Arthur's court and tender him their services, the king had +won many brave warriors. He was so pleased by these constant arrivals, and +so delighted at the repeated accounts of Parzival's valor, that he became +very anxious to see him once more. + +[Sidenote: Parzival knighted.] To gratify this wish several knights were +sent in search of the wanderer, and when they finally found him they bade +him come to court. Parzival obeyed, was knighted by Arthur's own hand, and, +according to some accounts, occupied the "Siege Perilous" at the Round +Table. Other versions state, however, that just as he was about to take +this seat the witch Kundrie, a messenger of the Holy Grail, appeared in the +hall. She vehemently denounced him, related how sorely he had failed in his +duty, and cursed him, as the gate keeper had done, for his lack of +sympathy. Thus reminded of his dereliction, Parzival immediately left the +hall, to renew the quest which had already lasted for many months. He was +closely followed by Gawain, one of Arthur's knights, who thought that +Parzival had been too harshly dealt with. + +[Sidenote: Gawain's quest.] Four years now elapsed,--four years of penance +and suffering for Parzival, and of brilliant fighting and thrilling +adventures for Gawain. Seeking Parzival, meeting many whom he had helped or +defeated, Gawain journeyed from land to land, until at last he decided that +his quest would end sooner if he too sought the Holy Grail, the goal of all +his friend's hopes. + +On the way to Montsalvatch Gawain met a beautiful woman, to whom he made a +declaration of love; but she merely answered that those who loved her must +serve her, and bade him fetch her palfrey from a neighboring garden. The +gardener told him that this lady was the Duchess Orgueilleuse; that her +beauty had fired many a knight; that many had died for her sake; and that +Amfortas, King of the Holy Grail, had braved the poisoned spear which +wounded him, only to win her favor. Gawain, undeterred by this warning, +brought out the lady's palfrey, helped her to mount, and followed her +submissively through many lands. Everywhere they went the proud lady +stirred up some quarrel, and always called upon Gawain to fight the enemies +whom she had thus wantonly made. After much wandering, Gawain and his +ladylove reached the top of a hill, whence they could look across a valley +to a gigantic castle, perched on a rock, near which was a pine tree. +Orgueilleuse now informed Gawain that the castle belonged to her mortal +enemy, Gramoflaus. She bade him bring her a twig of the tree, and conquer +the owner of the castle, who would challenge him as soon as he touched it, +and promised that if he obeyed her exactly she would be his faithful wife. + +[Sidenote: Klingsor's castle.] Gawain, emboldened by this promise, dashed +down into the valley, swam across the moat, plucked a branch from the tree, +and accepted the challenge which Gramoflaus promptly offered. The meeting +was appointed for eight days later, in front of Klingsor's castle, whither +Gawain immediately proceeded with the Lady Orgueilleuse. On the way she +told him that this castle, which faced her father's, was occupied by a +magician who kept many noble ladies in close confinement, and had even +cruelly laden them with heavy chains. + +Gawain, on hearing this, vowed that he would punish the magician; and, +having seen Orgueilleuse safely enter her ancestral home, he crossed the +river and rode toward Klingsor's castle. As night drew on the windows were +brilliantly illumined, and at each one he beheld the pallid, tear-stained +faces of some of the captives, whose years ranged from early childhood to +withered old age. + +Calling for admittance at this castle, Gawain was allowed to enter, but, to +his surprise, found hall and court deserted. He wandered from room to room, +meeting no one; and, weary of his vain search, prepared at last to occupy a +comfortable couch in one of the chambers. To his utter amazement, however, +the bed retreated as he advanced, until, impatient at this trickery, he +sprang boldly upon it. A moment later a rain of sharp spears and daggers +fell upon his couch, but did him no harm, for he had not removed his heavy +armor. When the rain of weapons was over, a gigantic peasant, armed with a +huge club, stalked into the room, closely followed by a fierce lion. When +the peasant perceived that the knight was not dead, as he expected, he beat +a hasty retreat, leaving the lion to attack him alone. + +In spite of the size and fury of the lion, Gawain defended himself so +bravely that he finally slew the beast, which was Klingsor in disguise. As +the monster expired the spell was broken, the captives were released, and +the exhausted Gawain was tenderly cared for by his mother and sister +Itonie, who were among those whom his courage had set free. The news of +this victory was immediately sent to Arthur, who now came to witness the +battle between Gawain and a champion who was to appear for Gramoflaus. + +Gawain's strength and courage were about to give way before the stranger's +terrible onslaught, when Itonie implored the latter to spare Gawain, whose +name and valor were so well known. At the sound of this name the knight +sheathed his sword, and, raising his visor, revealed the sad but beautiful +countenance of Parzival. + +The joy of reunion over, Parzival remained there long enough to witness the +marriage of Gawain and Orgueilleuse, and of Itonie and Gramoflaus, and to +be solemnly admitted to the Round Table. Still, the general rejoicing could +not dispel his sadness or the recollection of Amfortas and his grievous +wound; and as soon as possible Parzival again departed, humbly praying that +he might at last find the Holy Grail, and right the wrong he had +unconsciously done. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and the hermit.] Some months later, exhausted by +constant journeys, Parzival painfully dragged himself to a hermit's hut. +There he learned that the lonely penitent was Trevrezent, the brother of +Amfortas, who, having also preferred worldly pleasures to the service of +the Holy Grail, had accompanied him on his fatal excursion. When Trevrezent +saw his brother sorely wounded, he repented of his sins, and, retiring into +the woods, spent his days and nights in penance and prayer. He told +Parzival of the expected stranger, whose question would break the evil +spell, and related how grievously he and all the Templars had been +disappointed when such a man had actually come and gone, but without +fulfilling their hopes. Parzival then penitently confessed that it was he +who had thus disappointed them, related his sorrow and ceaseless quest, and +told the story of his early youth and adventures. Trevrezent, on hearing +his guest's name, exclaimed that they must be uncle and nephew, as his +sister's name was Herzeloide. He then informed Parzival of his mother's +death, and, after blessing him and giving him some hope that sincere +repentance would sometime bring its own reward, allowed him to continue his +search for the Holy Grail. + +[Sidenote: Fierefiss.] Soon after this meeting Parzival encountered a +knight, who, laying lance in rest, challenged him to fight. In one of the +pauses of the battle he learned that his brave opponent was his +stepbrother, Fierefiss, whom he joyfully embraced, and who now followed him +on his almost endless quest. At last they came to a mountain, painfully +climbed its steep side, and, after much exertion, found themselves in front +of a castle, which seemed strangely familiar to Parzival. + +The doors opened, willing squires waited upon both brothers, and led them +into the great hall, where the pageant already described was repeated. When +Queen Repanse de Joie entered bearing the Holy Grail, Parzival, mindful of +his former failure to do the right thing, humbly prayed aloud for divine +guidance to bring about the promised redemption. An angel voice now seemed +to answer, "Ask!" Then Parzival bent kindly over the wounded king, and +gently inquired what ailed him. At those words the spell was broken, and a +long cry of joy arose as Amfortas, strong and well, sprang to his feet. + +A very aged man, Parzival's great-grandfather, Titurel, now drew near, +bearing the crown, which he placed on the young hero's head, as he hailed +him as guardian and defender of the Holy Grail. This cry was taken up by +all present, and even echoed by the angelic choir. + + "'Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail! + Seemingly lost forever, + Now thou art blessed forever. + Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail!'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH (McDowall's tr.). + +The doors now opened wide once more to admit Conduiramour and her twin +sons, summoned thither by the power of the Holy Grail, that Parzival's +happiness might be complete. All the witnesses of this happy reunion were +flooded with the light of the Holy Grail, except Fierefiss, who, being a +Moor and a pagan, still remained in outer darkness. These miracles, +however, converted him to the Christian faith, and made him beg for +immediate baptism. The christening was no sooner performed than he too +beheld and was illumined by the holy vase. Fierefiss, now a true believer, +married Repanse de Joie, and they were the parents of a son named John, who +became a noted warrior, and was the founder of the historic order of the +Knights Templars. + +Titurel, having lived to see the recovery of his son, blessed all his +descendants, told them that Sigune had joined her lover's spirit in the +heavenly abode, and, passing out of the great hall, was never seen again; +and the witch Kundrie died of joy. + +Another version of the legend of the Holy Grail relates that Parzival, +having cured his uncle, went to Arthur's court. There he remained until +Amfortas died, when he was called back to Montsalvatch to inherit his +possessions, among which was the Holy Grail. Arthur and all the knights of +the Round Table were present at his coronation, and paid him a yearly +visit. When he died, "the Sangreal, the sacred lance, and the silver +trencher or paten which covered the Grail, were carried up to the holy +heavens in presence of the attendants, and since that time have never +anywhere been seen on earth." + +Other versions relate that Arthur and his knights sought the Holy Grail in +vain, for their hearts were not pure enough to behold it. Still others +declare that the sacred vessel was conveyed to the far East, and committed +to the care of Prester John. + +The legend of Lohengrin, which is connected with the Holy Grail, is in +outline as follows: + +[Sidenote: Lohengrin.] Parzival and Conduiramour dwelt in the castle of the +Holy Grail. When their sons had grown to man's estate, Kardeiss, the elder, +became ruler of his mother's kingdom of Belripar, while Lohengrin, the +younger, remained in the service of the Holy Grail, which was now borne +into the hall by his young sister, Aribadale, Repanse de Joie having +married. + +Whenever a danger threatened, or when the services of one of the knights +were required, a silver bell rang loudly, and the letters of flame around +the rim of the holy vessel revealed the nature of the deed to be performed. +One day the sound of the silvery bell was heard pealing ever louder and +louder, and when the knights entered the hall, they read on the vase that +Lohengrin had been chosen to defend the rights of an innocent person, and +would be conveyed to his destination by a swan. As the knights of the Grail +never disputed its commands, the young man immediately donned the armor of +silver which Amfortas had worn, and, bidding farewell to his mother and +sister, left the temple. Parzival, his father, accompanied him to the foot +of the mountain, where, swimming gracefully over the smooth waters of the +lake, they saw a snowy swan drawing a little boat after her. + +Lohengrin received a horn from his father, who bade him sound it thrice on +arriving at his destination, and an equal number of times when he wished to +return to Montsalvatch. Then he also reminded him that a servant of the +Grail must reveal neither his name nor his origin unless asked to do so, +and that, having once made himself known, he was bound to return without +delay to the holy mountain. + +Thus reminded of the custom of all the Templars, Lohengrin sprang into the +boat, and was rapidly borne away, to the sound of mysterious music. + +[Sidenote: Else of Brabant.] While Lohengrin was swiftly wafted over the +waters, Else, Duchess of Brabant, spent her days in tears. She was an +orphan, and, as she possessed great wealth and extensive lands, many were +anxious to secure her hand. Among these suitors her guardian, Frederick of +Telramund, was the most importunate; and when he saw that she would never +consent to marry him, he resolved to obtain her inheritance in a different +way. + +One day, while Else was wandering alone in the forest, she rested for a +moment under a tree, where she dreamed that a radiant knight came to greet +her, and offered her a little bell, saying that she need but ring it +whenever she required a champion. The maiden awoke, and as she opened her +eyes a falcon came gently sailing down from the sky and perched upon her +shoulder. Seeing that he wore a tiny bell like the one she had noticed in +her dream, Else unfastened it; and as the falcon flew away, she hung it on +her rosary. + +A few days later Else was in prison, for Frederick of Telramund had accused +her of a great crime. He said that she had received the attentions of a man +beneath her, or, according to another version, that she had been guilty of +the murder of her brother. Henry the Fowler, Emperor of Germany, hearing of +this accusation, came to Cleves, where, as the witnesses could not agree, +he ordered that the matter should be settled by a judicial duel. + +[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN.--Pixis.] + +Frederick of Telramund, proud of his strength, challenged any man to prove +him mistaken at the point of the sword. But no champion appeared to fight +for Else, who, kneeling in her cell, beat her breast with her rosary, until +the little silver bell attached to it rang loudly as she fervently prayed, +"O Lord, send me a champion." The faint tinkling of the bell floated out of +the window, and was wafted away to Montsalvatch. It grew louder and louder +the farther it traveled, and its sound called the knights into the temple, +where Lohengrin received his orders from the Holy Grail. + +The day appointed for the duel dawned, and just as the heralds sounded the +last call for Else's champion to appear, the swan boat glided up the Rhine, +and Lohengrin sprang into the lists, after thrice blowing his magic horn. + +[Sidenote: Else rescued by Lohengrin.] With a God-sent champion opposed to +a liar, the issue of the combat could not long remain doubtful. Soon +Frederick of Telramund lay in the dust and confessed his guilt, while the +people hailed the Swan Knight as victor. Else, touched by his prompt +response to her appeal, and won by his passionate wooing, then consented to +become his wife, without even knowing his name. Their nuptials were +celebrated at Antwerp, whither the emperor went with them and witnessed +their marriage. + +Lohengrin had cautioned Else that she must never ask his name; but she +wished to show that he was above the people who, envying his lot, sought to +injure him by circulating malicious rumors, so she finally asked the fatal +question. Regretfully Lohengrin led her into the great hall, where, in the +presence of the assembled knights, he told her that he was Lohengrin, son +of Parzival, the guardian of the Holy Grail. Then, embracing her tenderly, +he told her that "love cannot live without faith," and that he must now +leave her and return to the holy mountain. When he had thrice blown his +magic horn, the sound of faint music again heralded the approach of the +swan; Lohengrin sprang into the boat, and soon vanished, leaving Else +alone. + +Some versions of the story relate that she did not long survive his +departure, but that her released spirit followed him to Montsalvatch, where +they dwelt happy forever. Other accounts, however, aver that when Lohengrin +vanished Else's brother returned to champion her cause and prevent her ever +being molested again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +MERLIN. + + +As Saintsbury so ably expressed it, "The origin of the legends of King +Arthur, of the Round Table, of the Holy Grail, and of all the adventures +and traditions connected with these centers, is one of the most intricate +questions in the history of mediaeval literature." Owing to the loss of +many ancient manuscripts, the real origin of all these tales may never be +discovered; and whether the legends owe their birth to Celtic, Breton, or +Welsh poetry we may never know, as the authorities fail to agree. These +tales, apparently almost unknown before the twelfth century, soon became so +popular that in the course of the next two centuries they had given birth +to more than a dozen poems and prose romances, whence Malory drew the +materials for his version of the story of King Arthur. Nennius, Geoffrey of +Monmouth, Walter Map, Chrestien de Troyes, Robert de Borron, Gottfried von +Strassburg, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Hartmann von Aue, Tennyson, Matthew +Arnold, Swinburne, and Wagner have all written of these legends in turn, +and to these writers we owe the most noted versions of the tales forming +the Arthurian cycle. They include, besides the story of Arthur himself, an +account of Merlin, of Lancelot, of Parzival, of the love of Tristan and +Iseult, and of the quest of the Holy Grail. + +The majority of these works were written in French, which was the court +language of England in the mediaeval ages; but the story was "Englished" by +Malory in the fourteenth century. In every European language there are +versions of these stories, which interested all hearers alike, and which +exerted a softening influence upon the rude customs of the age, +"communicated a romantic spirit to literature," and taught all men +courtesy. + +[The Real Merlin] The first of these romances is that of Merlin the +enchanter, in very old French, ascribed to Robert de Borron. The following +outline of the story is modified and supplemented from other sources. The +real Merlin is said to have been a bard of the fifth century, and is +supposed to have served the British chief Ambrosius Aurelianus, and then +King Arthur. This Merlin lost his reason after the battle of Solway Firth, +broke his sword, and retired into the forest, where he was soon after found +dead by a river bank. + +The mythical Merlin had a more exciting and interesting career, however. +King Constans, who drove Hengist from England, was the father of three +sons,--Constantine, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon. When dying he +left the throne to his eldest son, Constantine, who chose Vortigern as his +prime minister. Shortly after Constantine's accession, Hengist again +invaded England, and Constantine, deserted by his minister, was +treacherously slain. In reward for his defection at this critical moment, +Vortigern was offered the crown, which he accepted, and which he hoped to +retain, although Constans's two other sons, who, according to another +version of the story, were called Uther and Pendragon, were still in +existence. + +To defend himself against any army which might try to deprive him of the +throne, Vortigern resolved to build a great fortress on the Salisbury +plains. But, although the masons worked diligently by day, and built walls +wide and thick, they always found them overturned in the morning. The +astrologers, when consulted in reference to this strange occurrence, +declared that the walls would not stand until the ground had been watered +with the blood of a child who could claim no human father. + +Five years previous to this prediction, the demons, seeing that so many +souls escaped them owing to the redemption procured by a child of divine +origin, thought that they could regain lost ground by engendering a demon +child upon a human virgin. A beautiful, pious maiden was chosen for this +purpose; and as she daily went to confess her every deed and thought to a +holy man, Blaise, he soon discovered the plot of the demons, and resolved +to frustrate it. + +[Sidenote: Birth of the mythical Merlin.] By his advice the girl, instead +of being immediately put to death, as the law required, was locked up in a +tower, where she gave birth to her son. Blaise, the priest, more watchful +than the demons, no sooner heard of the child's birth than he hastened to +baptize him, giving him the name of Merlin. The holy rite annulled the evil +purpose of the demons, but, owing to his uncanny origin, the child was +gifted with all manner of strange powers, of which he made use on sundry +occasions. + + "To him + Great light from God gave sight of all things dim, + And wisdom of all wondrous things, to say + What root should bear what fruit of night or day; + And sovereign speech and counsel above man: + Wherefore his youth like age was wise and wan, + And his age sorrowful and fain to sleep." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +The child thus baptized soon gave the first proof of his marvelous power; +for, when his mother embraced him and declared that she must soon die, he +comforted her by speaking aloud and promising to prove her innocent of all +crime. The trial took place soon after this occurrence, and although Merlin +was but a few days old, he sat up boldly in his mother's lap and spoke so +forcibly to the judges that he soon secured her acquittal. Once when he was +five years old, while playing in the street, he saw the messengers of +Vortigern. Warned by his prophetic instinct that they were seeking him, he +ran to meet them, and offered to accompany them to the king. On the way +thither he saw a youth buying shoes, and laughed aloud. When questioned +concerning the cause of his mirth, he predicted that the youth would die +within a few hours. + + "Then said Merlin, 'See ye nought + That young man, that hath shoon bought, + And strong leather to do hem clout [patch], + And grease to smear hem all about? + He weeneth to live hem to wear: + But, by my soul, I dare well swear, + His wretched life he shall for-let [lose], + Ere he come to his own gate.'" + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin as a prophet.] A few more predictions of an equally +uncanny and unpleasant nature firmly established his reputation as a +prophet even before he reached court. There he boldly told the king that +the astrologers, wishing to destroy the demon's offspring, who was wiser +than they, had demanded his blood under pretext that the walls of Salisbury +would stand were it only shed. When asked why the walls continually fell +during the night, Merlin attributed it to the nightly conflict of a red and +a white dragon concealed underground. In obedience to his instructions, +search was made for these monsters, and the assembled court soon saw a +frightful struggle between them. This battle finally resulted in the death +of the red dragon and the triumph of the white. + + "With long tailis, fele [many] fold, + And found right as Merlin told. + That one dragon was red as fire, + With eyen bright, as basin clear; + His tail was great and nothing small; + His body was a rood withal. + His shaft may no man tell; + He looked as a fiend from hell. + The white dragon lay him by, + Stern of look, and griesly. + His mouth and throat yawned wide; + The fire brast [burst] out on ilka [each] side. + His tail was ragged as a fiend, + And, upon his tail's end, + There was y-shaped a griesly head, + To fight with the dragon red." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +The white dragon soon disappeared also, and the work of the castle now +proceeded without further hindrance. Vortigern, however, was very uneasy, +because Merlin had not only said that the struggle of the red and the white +dragon represented his coming conflict with Constans's sons, but further +added that he would suffer defeat. This prediction was soon fulfilled. +Uther and his brother Pendragon landed in Britain with the army they had +assembled, and Vortigern was burned in the castle he had just completed. + +Shortly after this victory a war arose between the Britons under Uther and +Pendragon, and the Saxons under Hengist. Merlin, who had by this time +become the prime minister and chief adviser of the British kings, predicted +that they would win the victory, but that one would be slain. This +prediction was soon verified, and Uther, adding his brother's name to his +own, remained sole king. His first care was to bury his brother, and he +implored Merlin to erect a suitable monument to his memory; so the +enchanter conveyed great stones from Ireland to England in the course of a +single night, and set them up at Stonehenge, where they can still be seen. + + "How Merlin by his skill, and magic's wondrous might, + From Ireland hither brought the Stonendge in a night." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Round Table established by Merlin.] Proceeding now to Carduel +(Carlisle), Merlin, who is represented as a great architect and +wonder-worker, built Uther Pendragon a beautiful castle, and established +the Round Table, in imitation of the one which Joseph of Arimathea had once +instituted. There were places for a large number of knights around this +board (the number varying greatly with different writers), and a special +place was reserved for the Holy Grail, which, having vanished from Britain +because of the sinfulness of the people, the knights still hoped to have +restored when they became sufficiently pure. + + "This table gan [began] Uther the wight; + Ac [but] it to ende had he no might. + For, theygh [though] alle the kinges under our lord + Hadde y-sitten [sat] at that bord, + Knight by knight, ich you telle, + The table might nought fulfille, + Till they were born that should do all + Fulfill the mervaile of the Greal." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +A great festival was announced for the institution of the Round Table, and +all the knights came to Carduel, accompanied by their wives. Among the +latter the fairest was Yguerne, wife of Gorlois, Lord of Tintagel in +Cornwall, and with her Uther fell desperately in love. + + "This fest was noble ynow, and nobliche y-do [done]; + For mony was the faire ledy, that y-come was thereto. + Yguerne, Gorloys wyf, was fairest of echon [each one], + That was contasse of Cornewail, for so fair was there non." + ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER. + +Yguerne had already three or four daughters, famous in the Arthurian +legends as mothers of the knights Gawain, Gravain, Ywain, and others. One +of the king's councilors, Ulfin, revealed the king's passion to Yguerne, +and she told her husband. Indignant at the insult offered him, Gorlois +promptly left court, locked his wife up in the impregnable fortress of +Tintagel, and, gathering together an army, began to fight against Uther +Pendragon. + +The day before the battle, Merlin changed Uther into the form of Gorlois, +and himself and Ulfin into those of the squires of the Duke of Cornwall. +Thus disguised, the three went to Tintagel, where Yguerne threw the gates +open at their call and received Uther as her husband, without suspecting +the deception practiced upon her. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Arthur.] On the morrow the battle took place. Gorlois +was slain. Shortly after, Uther married Yguerne, who never suspected that +the child which was soon born, and which Uther immediately confided to +Merlin, was not a son of Gorlois. Arthur, the child who had thus come into +the world, was intrusted to the care of Sir Hector, who brought him up with +his own son, Sir Kay, little suspecting his royal descent. This child grew +up rapidly, and when but fifteen years of age was handsome, accomplished, +and dearly loved by all around him. + + "He was fair, and well agré [agreeable], + And was a thild [child] of gret noblay. + He was curteys, faire and gent, + And wight [brave], and hardi, veramen [truly]. + Curteyslich [courteously] and fair he spac [spake]. + With him was none evil lack [fault]." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +When Uther died without leaving any heir, there was an interregnum, for +Merlin had promised that the true king should be revealed by a miracle. +This prophecy was duly fulfilled, as will be shown hereafter. Merlin became +the royal adviser as soon as Arthur ascended the throne, helped him win +signal victories over twelve kings, and in the course of a single night +conveyed armies over from France to help him. + +As Merlin could assume any shape he pleased, Arthur often used him as +messenger; and one of the romances relates that the magician, in the guise +of a stag, once went to Rome to bear the king's challenge to Julius Caesar +(not the conqueror of Gaul but the mythical father of Oberon) to single +combat. Merlin was also renowned for the good advice which he gave, not +only to Vortigern and Uther Pendragon, but also to Arthur, and for his +numerous predictions concerning the glorious future of England, all of +which, if we are to believe tradition, have been fulfilled. + + "O goodly River! near unto thy sacred spring + Prophetic Merlin sate, when to the British King + The changes long to come, auspiciously he told." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Palace at Camelot.] Merlin also won great renown as a builder +and architect. Besides the construction of Stonehenge, and of the castle +for Uther Pendragon, he is said to have built Arthur's beautiful palace at +Camelot. He also devised sundry magic fountains, which are mentioned in +other mediaeval romances. One of these is referred to by Spenser in the +"Faerie Queene," and another by Ariosto in his "Orlando Furioso." + + "This Spring was one of those four fountains rare, + Of those in France produced by Merlin's sleight, + Encompassed round about with marble fair, + Shining and polished, and than milk more white. + There in the stones choice figures chiseled were, + By that magician's god-like labour dight; + Some voice was wanting, these you might have thought + Were living, and with nerve and spirit fraught." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Rose's tr.). + +Merlin was also supposed to have made all kinds of magic objects, among +which the poets often mention a cup. This would, reveal whether the drinker +had led a pure life, for it always overflowed when touched by polluted +lips. He was also the artificer of Arthur's armor, which no weapon could +pierce, and of a magic mirror in which one could see whatever one wished. + + "It Merlin was, which whylome did excel + All living wightes in might of magicke spell: + Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wrought + For this young Prince, when first to armes he fell." + SPENSER, _Faerie Queene_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin and Vivian.] Merlin, in spite of all his knowledge and +skill, yielded often to the entreaties of his fair mistress, Vivian, the +Lady of the Lake. She followed him wherever he went, and made countless +efforts to learn all his arts and to discover all his magic spells. In +order to beguile the aged Merlin into telling her all she wished to know, +Vivian pretended great devotion, which is admirably related in Tennyson's +"Idylls of the King," one of which treats exclusively of Merlin and Vivian. + +This enchantress even went with him to the fairy-haunted forest of +Broceliande, in Brittany, where she finally beguiled him into revealing a +magic spell whereby a human being could be inclosed in a hawthorn tree, +where he must dwell forever. + + "And then she follow'd Merlin all the way, + E'en to the wild woods of Broceliande. + For Merlin once had told her of a charm, + The which if any wrought on any one + With woven paces and with waving arms, + The man so wrought on ever seem'd to lie + Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower, + From which was no escape for evermore; + And none could find that man for evermore, + Nor could he see but him who wrought the charm + Coming and going; and he lay as dead + And lost to life and use and name and fame." + TENNYSON, _Merlin and Vivien_. + +This charm having been duly revealed, the Lady of the Lake, weary of her +aged lover, and wishing to rid herself of him forever now that she had +learned all he could teach her, lured him into the depths of the forest. +There, by aid of the spell, she imprisoned him in a thorn bush, whence, if +the tales of the Breton peasants can be believed, his voice can be heard to +issue from time to time. + + "They sate them down together, and a sleep + Fell upon Merlin, more like death, so deep. + Her finger on her lips, then Vivian rose, + And from her brown-lock'd head the wimple throws, + And takes it in her hand, and waves it over + The blossom'd thorn tree and her sleeping lover. + Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round, + And made a little plot of magic ground. + And in that daised circle, as men say, + Is Merlin prisoner till the judgment day; + But she herself whither she will can rove-- + For she was passing weary of his love." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +[Illustration: THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN.--Burne-Jones.] + +According to another version of the tale, Merlin, having grown very old +indeed, once sat down on the "Siege Perilous," forgetting that none but a +sinless man could occupy it with impunity. He was immediately swallowed up +by the earth, which yawned wide beneath his feet, and he never visited the +earth again. + +A third version says that Vivian through love imprisoned Merlin in an +underground palace, where she alone could visit him. There he dwells, +unchanged by the flight of time, and daily increasing the store of +knowledge for which he was noted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +THE ROUND TABLE. + + +Fortunately "the question of the actual existence and acts of Arthur has +very little to do with the question of the origin of the Arthurian cycle." +But although some authorities entirely deny his existence, it is probable +that he was a Briton, for many places in Wales, Scotland, and England are +connected with his name. + +On the very slightest basis, many of the mediaeval writers constructed long +and fabulous tales about this hero. Such was the popularity of the +Arthurian legends all over Europe that prose romances concerning him were +among the first works printed, and were thus brought into general +circulation. An outline of the principal adventures of Arthur and of his +knights is given here. It has been taken from many works, whose authors +will often be mentioned as we proceed. + +King Uther Pendragon, as we have already seen, intrusted his new-born son, +Arthur, to the care of the enchanter Merlin, who carried him to the castle +of Sir Hector (Anton), where the young prince was brought up as a child of +the house. + + "Wherefore Merlin took the child, + And gave him to Sir Anton, an old knight + And ancient friend of Uther; and his wife + Nursed the young prince, and rear'd him with her own; + And no man knew." + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: The magic sword.] Two years later King Uther Pendragon died, and +the noblemen, not knowing whom to choose as his successor, consulted +Merlin, promising to abide by his decision. By his advice they all +assembled in St. Stephen's Church, in London, on Christmas Day. When mass +was over they beheld a large stone which had mysteriously appeared in the +churchyard. This stone was surmounted by a ponderous anvil, in which the +blade of a sword was deeply sunk. Drawing near to examine the wonder, they +read an inscription upon the jeweled hilt, to the effect that none but the +man who could draw out the sword should dare to take possession of the +throne. Of course all present immediately tried to accomplish this feat, +but all failed. + +Several years passed by ere Sir Hector came to London with his son, Sir +Kay, and his foster son, young Arthur. Sir Kay, who, for the first time in +his life, was to take part in a tournament, was greatly chagrined, on +arriving there, to discover that he had forgotten his sword; so Arthur +volunteered to ride back and get it. He found the house closed; yet, being +determined to secure a sword for his foster brother, he strode hastily into +the churchyard, and easily drew from the anvil the weapon which all had +vainly tried to secure. + +[Sidenote: Arthur made king.] This mysterious sword was handed to Sir Kay, +and Sir Hector, perceiving it, and knowing whence it came, immediately +inquired how Arthur had secured it. He even refused at first to believe the +evidence of his own eyes; but when he and all the principal nobles of the +realm had seen Arthur replace and draw out the sword, after all had again +vainly tried their strength, they gladly hailed the young man king. + +As Merlin was an enchanter, it was popularly rumored that Arthur was not, +as he now declared, the son of Uther Pendragon and Yguerne, but a babe +mysteriously brought up from the depths of the sea, on the crest of the +ninth wave, and cast ashore at the wizard's feet. Hence many people +distrusted the young king, and at first refused to obey him. + + "Watch'd the great sea fall, + Wave after wave, each mightier than the last, + Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep, + And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged + Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame: + And down the wave and in the flame was borne + A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet, + Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried 'The King! + Here is an heir for Uther!'" + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +Among the unbelievers were some of the king's own kindred, and notably his +four nephews, Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gareth. Arthur was therefore +obliged to make war against them; but although Gawain's strength increased +in a truly marvelous fashion from nine to twelve in the morning, and from +three to six in the afternoon, the king succeeded in defeating him by +following Merlin's advice and taking advantage of his comparatively weak +moments. + +[Sidenote: Sir Pellinore.] Arthur, aided by Merlin, ruled over the land +wisely and well, redressed many wrongs, reëstablished order and security, +which a long interregnum had destroyed, and brandished his sword in many a +fight, in which he invariably proved victor. But one day, having drawn his +blade upon Sir Pellinore, who did not deserve to be thus attacked, it +suddenly failed him and broke. Left thus without any means of defense, the +king would surely have perished had not Merlin used his magic arts to put +Sir Pellinore to sleep and to bear his charge to a place of safety. + +Arthur, thus deprived of his magic sword, bewailed its loss; but while he +stood by a lake, wondering how he should procure another, he beheld a +white-draped hand and arm rise out of the water, holding aloft a jeweled +sword which the Lady of the Lake, who appeared beside him, told him was +intended for his use. + + "'Thou rememberest how + In those old days, one summer noon, an arm + Rose up from out the bosom of the lake, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + Holding the sword--and how I row'd across + And took it, and have worn it, like a king; + And, wheresoever I am sung or told + In aftertime, this also shall be known.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Excalibur.] Arthur rowed out into the middle of the lake and +secured the sword which is known by the name Excalibur. He was then told by +the Lady of the Lake that it was gifted with magic powers, and that as long +as the scabbard remained in his possession he would suffer neither wound +nor defeat. + +Thus armed, Arthur went back to his palace, where, hearing that the Saxons +had again invaded the country, he went to wage war against them, and won +many victories. Shortly after this Arthur heard that Leodegraunce, King of +Scotland, was threatened by his brother Ryance, King of Ireland, who was +determined to complete a mantle furred with the beards of kings, and wanted +to secure one more at any price. Arthur hastened to this monarch's +assistance, and delivered him from the clutches of Ryance. He not only +killed this savage monarch, but appropriated his mantle and carried it away +in triumph as a trophy of the war. + + "And for a trophy brought the Giant's coat away + Made of the beards of Kings." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur's marriage with Guinevere.] After these martial exploits +Arthur returned to the court of Leodegraunce, where he fell in love with +the latter's fair daughter, Guinevere. The king sued successfully for her +hand, but Merlin would not allow him to marry this princess until he had +distinguished himself by a campaign in Brittany. The wedding was then +celebrated with true mediaeval pomp; and Arthur, having received, besides +the princess, the Round Table once made for his father, conveyed his bride +and wedding gift to Camelot (Winchester), where he bade all his court be +present for a great feast at Pentecost. + + "The nearest neighboring flood to Arthur's ancient seat, + Which made the Britons' name through all the world so great. + Like Camelot, what place was ever yet renown'd? + Where, as at Carlion, oft, he kept the Table-Round, + Most famous for the sports at Pentecost so long, + From whence all knightly deeds, and brave achievements sprong." + DRAYTON,--_Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Knights of the Round Table.] Arthur had already warred +successfully against twelve revolted kings, whose remains were interred at +Camelot by his order. There Merlin erected a marvelous castle, containing a +special hall for the reception of the Round Table. This hall was adorned +with the lifelike statues of all the conquered kings, each holding a +burning taper which the magician declared would burn brightly until the +Holy Grail should appear. Hoping to bring that desirable event to pass, +Arthur bade Merlin frame laws for the knights of the Round Table. As +distinctive mark, each of the noblemen admitted to a seat at this marvelous +table adopted some heraldic device. The number of these knights varies from +twelve to several hundred, according to the different poets or romancers. + + "The fellowshipp of the Table Round, + Soe famous in those dayes; + Whereatt a hundred noble knights + And thirty sat alwayes; + Who for their deeds and martiall feates, + As bookes done yett record, + Amongst all other nations + Wer feared through the world." + _Legend of King Arthur_ (Old Ballad). + +Merlin, by virtue of his magic powers, easily selected the knights worthy +to belong to this noble institution, and the Archbishop of Canterbury duly +blessed them and the board around which they sat. All the places were soon +filled except two; and as the knights arose from their seats after the +first meal they noticed that their names were inscribed in letters of gold +in the places they had occupied. But one of the empty seats was marked +"Siege Perilous," and could only be occupied by a peerless knight. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot du Lac.] + +Among all the knights of the Round Table, Sir Lancelot du Lac, who is the +hero of several lengthy poems and romances bearing his name, was the most +popular. Chrestien de Troyes, Geoffrey de Ligny, Robert de Borron, and Map +have all written about him, and he was so well known that his name was +given to one of the knaves on the playing cards invented at about this +time. Malory, in his prose version of the "Morte d'Arthur," has drawn +principally from the poems treating of Lancelot, whose early life was +somewhat extraordinary, too. + +Some accounts relate that Lancelot was the son of King Ban and Helen. When +he was but a babe, his parents were obliged to flee from their besieged +castle in Brittany. Before they had gone far, the aged Ban, seeing his home +in flames, sank dying to the ground. Helen, eager to minister to her +husband, laid her baby boy down on the grass near a lake, and when she +again turned around, she saw him in the arms of Vivian, the Lady of the +Lake, who plunged with him into the waters. + + "In the wife's woe, the mother was forgot. + At last (for I was all earth held of him + Who had been all to her, and now was not) + She rose, and looked with tearless eyes, but dim, + In the babe's face the father still to see; + And lo! the babe was on another's knee! + + "Another's lips had kissed it into sleep, + And o'er the sleep another watchful smiled; + The Fairy sate beside the lake's still deep, + And hush'd with chaunted charms the orphan child! + Scared at the mother's cry, as fleets a dream, + Both Child and Fairy melt into the stream." + BULWER LYTTON, _King Arthur_. + +The bereaved wife and mother now sorrowfully withdrew into a convent, while +Lancelot was brought up in the palace of the Lady of the Lake, with his two +cousins, Lyonel and Bohort. Here he remained until he was eighteen, when +the fairy herself brought him to court and presented him to the king. +Arthur then and there made him his friend and confidant, and gave him an +honored place at the Round Table. He was warmly welcomed by all the other +knights also, whom he far excelled in beauty and courage. + + "But one Sir Lancelot du Lake, + Who was approved well, + He for his deeds and feats of armes + All others did excell." + _Sir Lancelot du Lake_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Guinevere.] Lancelot, however, was doomed to much +sorrow, for he had no sooner beheld Queen Guinevere than he fell deeply in +love with her. The queen fully returned his affection, granted him many +marks of her favor, and encouraged him to betray his friend and king on +sundry occasions, which form the themes of various episodes in the romances +of the time. Lancelot, urged in one direction by passion, in another by +loyalty, led a very unhappy life, which made him relapse into occasional +fits of insanity, during which he roamed aimlessly about for many years. +When restored to his senses, he always returned to court, where he +accomplished unheard-of deeds of valor, delivered many maidens in distress, +righted the wrong wherever he found it, won all the honors at the +tournaments, and ever remained faithful in his devotion to the queen, +although many fair ladies tried to make him forget her. + +Some of the poems, anxious to vindicate the queen, declare that there were +two Guineveres, one pure, lovely, and worthy of all admiration, who +suffered for the sins of the other, an unprincipled woman. When Arthur +discovered his wife's intrigue with Lancelot, he sent her away, and +Guinevere took refuge with her lover in Joyeuse Garde (Berwick), a castle +he had won at the point of his lance to please her. But the king, having +ascertained some time after that the real Guinevere had been wrongfully +accused, reinstated her in his favor, and Lancelot again returned to court, +where he continued to love and serve the queen. + +[Illustration: SIR LANCELOT DU LAC.--Sir John Gilbert.] + +On one occasion, hearing that she had been made captive by Meleagans, +Lancelot rushed after Guinevere to rescue her, tracing her by a comb and +ringlet she had dropped on the way. His horse was taken from him by +enchantment, so Lancelot, in order sooner to overtake the queen, rode on in +a cart. This was considered a disgraceful mode of progress for a knight, as +a nobleman in those days was condemned to ride in a cart in punishment for +crimes for which common people were sentenced to the pillory. + +Lancelot succeeded in reaching the castle of Guinevere's kidnaper, whom he +challenged and defeated. The queen, instead of showing herself grateful for +this devotion, soon became needlessly jealous, and in a fit of anger +taunted her lover about his journey in the cart. This remark sufficed to +unsettle the hero's evidently very tottering reason, and he roamed wildly +about until the queen recognized her error, and sent twenty-three knights +in search of him. They journeyed far and wide for two whole years without +finding him. + + "'Then Sir Bors had ridden on + Softly, and sorrowing for our Lancelot, + Because his former madness, once the talk + And scandal of our table, had return'd; + For Lancelot's kith and kin so worship him + That ill to him is ill to them.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +Finally a fair and pious damsel took pity upon the frenzied knight, and +seeing that he had atoned by suffering for all his sins, she had him borne +into the chamber where the Holy Grail was kept; "and then there came a holy +man, who uncovered the vessel, and so by miracle, and by virtue of that +holy vessel, Sir Lancelot was all healed and recovered." + +[Sidenote: Gareth and Lynette.] Sane once more, Lancelot now returned to +Camelot, where the king, queen, and all the knights of the Round Table +rejoiced to see him. Here Lancelot knighted Sir Gareth, who, to please his +mother, had concealed his true name, and had acted as kitchen vassal for a +whole year. The new-made knight immediately started out with a fair maiden +called Lynette, to deliver her captive sister. Thinking him nothing but the +kitchen vassal he seemed, the damsel insulted Gareth in every possible way. +He bravely endured her taunts, courageously defeated all her adversaries, +and finally won her admiration and respect to such a degree that she bade +him ride beside her, and humbly asked his pardon for having so grievously +misjudged him. + + "'Sir,--and, good faith, I fain had added Knight, + But that I heard thee call thyself a knave,-- + Shamed am I that I so rebuked, reviled, + Missaid thee; noble I am; and thought the King + Scorn'd me and mine; and now thy pardon, friend, + For thou hast ever answer'd courteously, + And wholly bold thou art, and meek withal + As any of Arthur's best, but, being knave, + Hast mazed my wit: I marvel what thou art.'" + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +Granting her full forgiveness, Gareth now rode beside her, fought more +bravely still, and, after defeating many knights, delivered her sister from +captivity, and secured Lynette's promise to become his wife as soon as he +had been admitted to the Round Table. When he returned to Arthur's court +this honor was immediately awarded him, for his prowess had won the +admiration of all, and he was duly married on St. Michaelmas Day. + + "And he that told the tale in older times + Says that Sir Gareth wedded Lyoners, + But he that told it later, says Lynette." + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +[Sidenote: Geraint and Enid.] Gareth's brother, Geraint, was also an +honored member of the Round Table. After distinguishing himself by many +deeds of valor he married Enid the Fair, the only daughter of an old and +impoverished knight whom he delivered from the tyranny of his oppressor and +restored to all his former state. Taking his fair wife away with him to his +lonely manor, Geraint surrounded her with every comfort, and, forgetting +his former high aspirations, spent all his time at home, hoping thereby to +please her. + + "He compass'd her with sweet observances + And worship, never leaving her, and grew + Forgetful of his promise to the King. + Forgetful of the falcon and the hunt, + Forgetful of the tilt and tournament, + Forgetful of his glory and his name, + Forgetful of his princedom and its cares. + And this forgetfulness was hateful to her." + TENNYSON, _Geraint and Enid_. + +Enid, however, soon perceived that her husband was forgetting both honor +and duty to linger by her side. One day, while he lay asleep before her, +she, in an outburst of wifely love, poured out her heart, and ended her +confession by declaring that since Geraint neglected everything for her +sake only, she must be an unworthy wife. + +Geraint awoke too late to overhear the first part of her speech; but, +seeing her tears, and catching the words "unworthy wife," he immediately +imagined that she had ceased to love him, and that she received the +attentions of another. In his anger Geraint (whom the French and German +poems call Erec) rose from his couch, and sternly bade his wife don her +meanest apparel and silently follow him through the world. + + "The page he bade with speed + Prepare his own strong steed, + Dame Enid's palfrey there beside; + He said that he would ride + For pastime far away: + So forward hastened they." + HARTMANN VON AVE, _Erek and Enid_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.) + +Patiently Enid did her husband's bidding, watched him fight the knights by +the way, and bound up his wounds. She suffered intensely from his +incomprehensible coldness and displeasure; but she stood all his tests so +nobly that he finally recognized how greatly he had misjudged her. He then +restored her to her rightful place, and loved her more dearly than ever +before. + + "Nor did he doubt her more, + But rested in her fealty, till he crown'd + A happy life with a fair death, and fell + Against the heathen of the Northern Sea + In battle, fighting for the blameless King." + TENNYSON,--_Geraint and Enid_. + +[Sidenote: Sir Galahad.] One Pentecost Day, when all the knights were +assembled, as usual, around the table at Camelot, a distressed damsel +suddenly entered the hall and implored Lancelot to accompany her to the +neighboring forest, where a young warrior was hoping to receive knighthood +at his hands. This youth was Sir Galahad, the peerless knight, whom some +authorities call Lancelot's son, while others declare that he was not of +mortal birth. + +On reëntering the hall after performing this ceremony, Lancelot heard that +a miracle had occurred, and rushed with the king and his companions down to +the riverside. There the rumor was verified, for they all saw a heavy stone +floating down the stream, and perceived that a costly weapon was sunk deep +in the stone. On this weapon was an inscription, declaring that none but a +peerless knight should attempt to draw it out, upon penalty of a grievous +punishment. As all the knights of the Round Table felt guilty of some sin, +they modestly refused to touch it. + +When they returned into the hall an aged man came in, accompanied by +Galahad, and the latter, fearless by right of innocence, sat down in the +"Siege Perilous." As his name then appeared upon it, all knew that he was +the rightful occupant, and hailed his advent with joy. Then, noticing that +he wore an empty scabbard, and hearing him state that he had been promised +a marvelous sword, they one and all escorted him down to the river, where +he easily drew the sword out of the stone. This fitted exactly in his empty +sheath, and all vowed that it was evidently meant for him. + +That selfsame night, after evensong, when all the knights were seated about +the Round Table at Camelot, they heard a long roll of thunder, and felt the +palace shake. The brilliant lights held by the statues of the twelve +conquered kings grew strangely dim, and then, gliding down upon a beam of +refulgent celestial light, they all beheld a dazzling vision of the Holy +Grail. Covered by white samite, and borne by invisible hands, the sacred +vessel was slowly carried all around the great hall, while a delicious +perfume was wafted throughout the huge edifice. All the knights of the +Round Table gazed in silent awe at this resplendent vision, and when it +vanished as suddenly and as mysteriously as it had come, each saw before +him the food which he liked best. + +Speechless at first, and motionless until the wonted light again illumined +the hall, the knights gave fervent thanks for the mercy which had been +vouchsafed them, and then Lancelot, springing impetuously to his feet, +vowed that he would ride forth in search of the Holy Grail and would know +no rest until he had beheld it unveiled. This vow was echoed by all the +knights of the Round Table; and when Arthur now questioned them closely, he +discovered that none had seen the vessel unveiled. Still he could not +prevent his knights from setting out in quest of it, because they had +solemnly vowed to do so. + + "'Nay, lord, I heard the sound, I saw the light, + But since I did not see the Holy Thing, + I sware a vow to follow it till I saw.' + + "Then when he ask'd us, knight by knight, if any + Had seen it, all their answers were as one: + 'Nay, lord, and therefore have we sworn our vows.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +[Sidenote: Quest of the Holy Grail.] During this quest the knights traveled +separately or in pairs all through the world, encountered many dangers, and +in true mediaeval fashion defended damsels in distress, challenged knights, +and covered themselves with scars and glory. Some of the legends declare +that Parzival alone saw the Holy Grail, while others aver that Lancelot saw +it through a veil faintly. The pure Galahad, having never sinned at all, +and having spent years in prayer and fasting, finally beheld it just as his +immaculate soul was borne to heaven by the angels. + +The rest of the knights, realizing after many years' fruitless search that +they were unworthy of the boon, finally returned to Camelot, where they +were duly entertained by the queen. While they were feasting at her table, +one of their number, having partaken of a poisonous draught, fell lifeless +to the ground. As the incident had happened at the queen's side, some of +her detractors accused her of the crime, and bade her confess, or prove her +innocence by a judicial duel. Being her husband, Arthur was debarred by law +of the privilege of fighting for her in the lists of Camelot, and the poor +queen would have been condemned to be burned alive for lack of a champion +had not Lancelot appeared incognito, and forced her accuser to retract his +words. + +Throughout his reign Arthur had been wont to encourage his knights by +yearly tournaments, the victor's prize being each time a precious jewel. It +seems that these jewels had come into his possession in a peculiar way. +While wandering as a lad in Lyonesse, Arthur found the moldering bones of +two kings. Tradition related that these monarchs had slain each other, and, +as they were brothers, the murder seemed so heinous that none dared touch +their remains. There among the rusty armor lay a kingly crown studded with +diamonds, which Arthur picked up and carelessly set upon his own head. At +that very moment a prophetic voice was heard declaring to him that he +should rule. Arthur kept the crown, and made each jewel set in it the +object of a brilliant pageant when the prophecy had been fulfilled. + + "And Arthur came, and laboring up the pass, + All in a misty moonshine, unawares + Had trodden that crown'd skeleton, and the skull + Brake from the nape, and from the skull the crown + Roll'd into light, and turning on its rims + Fled like a glittering rivulet to the tarn. + And down the shingly scaur he plunged, and caught, + And set it on his head, and in his heart + Heard murmurs,--'Lo! thou likewise shalt be King.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot's prowess.] Lancelot had been present at every one of +these knightly games, and had easily borne away the prize, for his very +name was almost enough to secure him the victory. When the time for the +last tournament came, he pretended to take no interest in it; but, riding +off to Astolat (Guildford), he asked Elaine, the fair maiden who dwelt +there, to guard his blazoned shield and give him another in exchange. + +This fair lady, who had fallen in love with Lancelot at first sight, +immediately complied with his request, and even timidly suggested that he +should wear her colors in the coming fray. Lancelot had never worn any +favors except Guinevere's, but thinking that it would help to conceal his +identity, he accepted the crimson, pearl-embroidered sleeve she offered, +and fastened it to his helmet in the usual way. + + "'Lady, thy sleeve thou shalt off-shear, + I wol it take for the love of thee; + So did I never no lady's ere [before] + But one, that most hath loved me.'" + ELLIS, _Lancelot du Lac_. + +Thus effectually disguised, and accompanied by Sir Lawaine, Elaine's +brother, Lancelot rode on to the tournament, where, still unknown, he +unhorsed every knight and won the prize. His last encounter, however, +nearly proved fatal, for in it he received a grievous wound. As he felt +faint, and was afraid to be recognized, Lancelot did not wait to claim the +prize, but rode immediately out of the town. He soon fainted, but was +conveyed to the cell of a neighboring hermit. Here his wound was dressed, +and he was carefully nursed by Elaine, who had heard that he was wounded, +and had immediately set out in search of him. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Elaine.] When Lancelot, entirely recovered, was +about to leave Elaine after claiming his own shield, she timidly confessed +her love, hoping that it was returned. Gently and sorrowfully Lancelot +repulsed her, and, by her father's advice, was even so discourteous as to +leave her without a special farewell. Unrequited love soon proved too much +for the "lily maid of Astolat," who pined away very rapidly. Feeling that +her end was near, she dictated a farewell letter to Lancelot, which she +made her father promise to put in her dead hand. She also directed that her +body should be laid in state on a barge, and sent in charge of a mute +boatman to Camelot, where she was sure she would receive a suitable burial +from the hands of Lancelot. + +In the meanwhile the hero of the tournament had been sought everywhere by +Gawain, who was the bearer of the diamond won at such a cost. Coming to +Astolat before Lancelot was cured, Gawain had learned the name of the +victor, which he immediately proclaimed to Guinevere. The queen, however, +hearing a vague rumor that Lancelot had worn the colors of the maiden of +Astolat, and was about to marry her, grew so jealous that when Lancelot +reappeared at court she received him very coldly, and carelessly flung his +present (a necklace studded with the diamonds he had won at various +tournaments) into the river flowing beneath the castle walls. + + "She seized, + And, thro' the casement standing wide for heat, + Flung them, and down they flash'd, and smote the stream. + Then from the smitten surface flash'd, as it were, + Diamonds to meet them, and they passed away." + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Illustration: ELAINE--Rosenthal.] + +[Sidenote: The funeral barge.] As he leaned out of the window to trace them +in their fall, Lancelot saw a barge slowly drifting down the stream. Its +peculiar appearance attracted his attention, and as it passed close by him +he saw that it bore a corpse. A moment later he had recognized the features +of the dead Elaine. The mute boatman paused at the castle steps, and Arthur +had the corpse borne into his presence. The letter was found and read aloud +in the midst of the awestruck court. Arthur, touched by the girl's love, +bade Lancelot fulfill her last request and lay her to rest. Lancelot then +related the brief story of the maiden, whose love he could not return, but +whose death he sincerely mourned. + + "'My lord liege Arthur, and all ye that hear, + Know that for this most gentle maiden's death + Right heavy am I; for good she was and true, + But loved me with a love beyond all love + In women, whomsoever I have known. + Yet to be loved makes not to love again; + Not at my years, however it hold in youth. + I swear by truth and knighthood that I gave + No cause, not willingly, for such a love: + To this I call my friends in testimony, + Her brethren, and her father, who himself + Besought me to be plain and blunt, and use, + To break her passion, some discourtesy + Against my nature: what I could, I did. + I left her and I bade her no farewell; + Tho', had I dreamt the damsel would have died, + I might have put my wits to some rough use, + And help'd her from herself.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +Haunted by remorse for this involuntary crime, Lancelot again wandered away +from Camelot, but returned in time to save Guinevere, who had again been +falsely accused. In his indignation at the treatment to which she had been +exposed, Lancelot bore her off to Joyeuse Garde, where he swore he would +defend her even against the king. Arthur, whose mind, in the mean while, +had been poisoned by officious courtiers, besieged his recreant wife and +knight; but although repeatedly challenged, the loyal Lancelot ever refused +to bear arms directly against his king. + +When the Pope heard of the dissension in England he finally interfered; and +Lancelot, assured that Guinevere would henceforth be treated with all due +respect, surrendered her to the king and retreated to his paternal estate +in Brittany. As Arthur's resentment against Lancelot had not yet cooled, he +left Guinevere under the care and protection of Mordred, his nephew,--some +versions say his son,--and then, at the head of a large force, departed for +Brittany. + +[Sidenote: Treachery of Mordred.] Mordred the traitor immediately took +advantage of his uncle's absence to lay claim to the throne; and loudly +declaring that Arthur had been slain, he tried to force Guinevere to marry +him. As she demurred, he kept her a close prisoner, and set her free only +when she pretended to agree with his wishes, and asked permission to go to +London to buy wedding finery. + +When Guinevere arrived in that city she intrenched herself in the Tower, +and sent word to her husband of her perilous position. Without any delay +Arthur abandoned the siege of Lancelot's stronghold, and, crossing the +channel, encountered Mordred's army near Dover. + +Negotiations now took place, and it was finally agreed that Arthur and a +certain number of knights should meet Mordred with an equal number, and +discuss the terms of peace. It had been strictly enjoined on both parties +that no weapon should be drawn, and all would have gone well had not an +adder been lurking in the grass. One of the knights drew his sword to kill +it, and this unexpected movement proved the signal for one of the bloodiest +battles described in mediaeval poetry. + + "An addere crept forth of a bushe, + Stunge one o' th' king's knightes on the knee. + Alacke! it was a woefulle chance, + As ever was in Christientie; + When the knighte founde him wounded sore, + And sawe the wild worme hanginge there, + His sworde he from the scabbarde drewe; + A piteous case, as ye shall heare; + For when the two hostes saw the sworde, + They joyned in battayle instantlye; + Till of so manye noble knightes, + On one side there was left but three." + _King Arthur's Death_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur wounded.] On both sides the knights fought with the +utmost courage, and when nearly all were slain, Arthur encountered the +traitor Mordred. Summoning all his strength, the exhausted king finally +slew the usurper, who, in dying, dealt Arthur a mortal blow. This would +never have occurred, however, had not Morgana the fay, Arthur's sister, +purloined his magic scabbard and substituted another. All the enemy's host +had perished, and of Arthur's noble army only one man remained alive, Sir +Bedivere, a knight of the Round Table. He hastened to the side of his +fallen master, who in faltering accents now bade him take the brand +Excalibur, cast it far from him into the waters of the lake, and return to +report what he should see. The knight, thinking it a pity to throw away so +valuable a sword, concealed it twice; but the dying monarch detected the +fraud, and finally prevailed upon Bedivere to fulfill his wishes. As the +magic blade touched the waters Sir Bedivere saw a hand and arm rise up from +the depths to seize it, brandish it thrice, and disappear. + + "'Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems + Should blind my purpose; for I never saw, + Nor shall see, here or elsewhere, till I die, + Not tho' I live three lives of mortal men, + So great a miracle as yonder hilt. + Then with both hands I flung him, wheeling him; + But when I look'd again, behold an arm, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him + Three times, and drew him under in the mere.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +Arthur gave a sigh of relief when he heard this report; and after telling +his faithful squire that Merlin had declared that he should not die, he +bade the knight lay him in a barge, all hung with black, wherein he would +find Morgana the fay, the Queen of Northgallis, and the Queen of the +Westerlands. + +Sir Bedivere obeyed all these orders exactly; and then, seeing his beloved +king about to leave him, he implored permission to accompany him. This, +however, Arthur could not grant, for it had been decreed that he should go +alone to the island of Avalon, where he hoped to be cured of his grievous +wound, and some day to return to his sorrowing people. + + "'But now farewell. I am going a long way + With these thou seest--if indeed I go + (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)-- + To the island-valley of Avilion; + Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, + Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies + Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard lawns + And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea, + Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur in Avalon.] It was because Arthur thus disappeared and +was never seen again, according to one version of the myth, and because +none knew whether he were living or dead, that he was popularly supposed to +be enjoying perpetual youth and bliss in the fabled island of Avalon, +whence they averred he would return when his people needed him. This belief +was so deeply rooted in England that Philip of Spain, upon marrying Mary, +was compelled to take a solemn oath whereby he bound himself to relinquish +the crown in favor of Arthur should he appear to claim it. + + "Still look the Britons for the day + Of Arthur's coming o'er the sea." + LAYAMON, _Brut_. + +Other romances and poems relate that Arthur was borne in the sable-hung +barge to Glastonbury, where his remains were laid in the tomb, while +Guinevere retired into the nunnery at Almesbury. There she was once more +visited by the sorrowing Lancelot, who, in spite of all his haste, had come +upon the scene too late to save or be reconciled to the king, to whom he +was still devotedly attached. In his sorrow and remorse the knight withdrew +into a hermitage, where he spent six years in constant penance and prayer. +At last he was warned in a vision that Guinevere was no more. He hastened +to Almesbury, and found her really dead. After burying her by Arthur's +side, in the chapel of Glastonbury, Lancelot again withdrew to his cell. +Six weeks later, worn to a shadow by abstinence and night watches, he +peacefully passed away, and a priest watching near him said that he had +seen the angels receive and bear his ransomed spirit straight up to heaven. + +Lancelot was buried either at Arthur's feet or at Joyeuse Garde. He was +deeply mourned by all his friends, and especially by his heir, Sir Ector de +Maris, who eulogized him in the following touching terms: "'Ah, Sir +Lancelot,' he said, 'thou were head of all Christian knights; and now I +dare say,' said Sir Ector, 'that, Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, thou were +never matched of none earthly knight's hands; and thou were the courtliest +knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend to thy lover +that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man +that ever loved woman; and thou were the kindest man that ever struck with +sword; and thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of +knights; and thou were the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in +hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that +ever put spear in rest.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +TRISTAN AND ISEULT. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the story.] The story of Tristan, which seems to have +been current from earliest times, refers, perhaps, to the adventures of a +knight, the contemporary of Arthur or of Cassivellaunus. The tale seems to +have already been known in the sixth century, and was soon seized upon by +the bards, who found it a rich theme for their metrical romances. It is +quite unknown whether it was first turned into Latin, French, or Welsh +verse; but an established fact is that it has been translated into every +European language, and was listened to with as much interest by the +inhabitants of Iceland as by those of the sunny plains of Greece. + +We know that there are metrical versions, or remains of metrical versions, +attributed to Thomas of Ercildoune (the Rhymer), to Raoul de Beauvais, +Chrestien de Troyes, Rusticien de Pise, Luces de Cast, Robert and Hélie de +Borron, and Gottfried von Strassburg, and that in our day it has been +retold by Matthew Arnold and Swinburne, and made the subject of an opera by +Wagner. These old metrical versions, recited with manifold variations by +the minstrels, were finally collected into a prose romance, like most of +the mediaeval poems of this kind. + +The outline of the story, collected from many different sources, is as +follows: + +Meliadus (Rivalin, or Roland Rise) was Lord of Lyonesse (Ermonie, or +Parmenia), and after warring for some time against Morgan, he entered into +a seven-years' truce. This time of respite was employed by Meliadus in +visiting Mark, King of Cornwall, who dwelt at Tintagel, where he was +holding a great tournament. Many knights of tried valor hurried thither to +win laurels, but none were able to unhorse Meliadus, who obtained every +prize. + +His courage was such that he even won the heart of Blanchefleur, the sister +of the king. As the monarch refused to consent to their union, the young +people were secretly married, or eloped, if we are to believe another +version of the story. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Tristan.] According to the first account, Blanchefleur +remained at court, where, hearing that her husband had died, she breathed +her last in giving birth to a son, whom she called Tristan (Tristrem), +because he had come into the world under such sad circumstances. The second +version relates that Blanchefleur died as Morgan entered the castle over +her husband's dead body, and that her faithful retainer, Kurvenal (Rohand, +Rual), in order to save her son, claimed him as his own. + +The child Tristan grew up without knowing his real parentage, learned all +that a knight was expected to know, and became especially expert as a +hunter and as a harp player. One day he strolled on board of a Norwegian +vessel which had anchored in the harbor near his ancestral home, and +accepted the challenge of the Norsemen to play a game of chess for a +certain wager. + +As Tristan played at chess as well as upon the harp, he soon won the game; +but the Northmen, rather than pay their forfeited wager, suddenly raised +the anchor and sailed away, intending to sell the kidnaped youth as a +slave. + + "Ther com a ship of Norway, + To Sir Rohandes hold, + With haukes white and grey, + And panes fair y-fold: + Tristrem herd it say, + On his playing he wold + Tventi schilling to lay, + Sir Rohand him told, + And taught; + For hauke silver he gold; + The fairest men him raught." + SCOTT, _Sir Tristrem_. + +They had not gone far, however, before a terrible tempest arose, which +threatened to sink the vessel and drown all on board. The mariners, +supposing in their terror that this peril had come upon them because they +had acted dishonorably, made a solemn vow to liberate the youth if they +escaped. + +The vow having been made, the wind ceased to blow; and anchoring in the +nearest bay, the Norsemen bade Tristan land, and paid him the sum he had +won at chess. + +[Sidenote: Tristan in Cornwall.] Thus forsaken on an unknown shore, with +nothing but his harp and bow, Tristan wandered through an extensive forest, +where, coming across a party of huntsmen who had just slain a deer, he gave +them valuable and lengthy instructions in matters pertaining to the chase, +and taught them how to flay and divide their quarry according to the most +approved mediaeval style. Then, accompanying them to the court of their +master, King Mark, he charmed every one with his minstrelsy, and was +invited to tarry there as long as he pleased. His foster father, Kurvenal, +in the mean while, had set out to seek him; and in the course of his +wanderings he too came to Mark's court, where he was overjoyed to find +Tristan, whose parentage he revealed to the king. + +Tristan now for the first time heard the story of his father's death, and +refused to rest until he had avenged him. He immediately set out, slew +Morgan, and recovered his father's estate of Lyonesse, which he intrusted +to Kurvenal's care, while he himself went back to Cornwall. On arriving at +Tintagel he was surprised to find all the court plunged in sorrow. Upon +inquiring the cause he was informed that Morold, brother of the King of +Ireland, had come to claim the usual tribute of three hundred pounds of +silver and tin and three hundred promising youths to be sold into slavery. + +Indignant at this claim, which had been enforced ever since Mark had been +defeated in battle by the Irish king, Tristan boldly strode up to the +emissary, tore the treaty in two, flung the pieces in his face, and +challenged him to single combat. Morold, confident in his strength,--for he +was a giant,--and relying particularly upon his poisoned sword, immediately +accepted the challenge. When the usual preliminaries had been settled, the +battle began. + + "Sir Morold rode upon his steed, + And flew against Tristan with speed + Still greater than is falcons' flight; + But warlike too was Tristan's might." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Terrible blows were given and received, and at last Tristan sank to the +ground on one knee, for his opponent's poisoned weapon had pierced his +side. + +Morold then called upon him to acknowledge himself beaten, promising to +obtain a balsam from his sister Iseult (Isolde, Ysolde), who knew a remedy +for such a dangerous wound. But Tristan, remembering that, if he +surrendered, three hundred innocent children would be sold as slaves, made +a last despairing effort, and slew Morold. Such was the force of the blow +he dealt that he cut through the helmet and pierced Morold's skull, which +was so hard that a fragment of his sword remained imbedded within the +wound. + +The people of Cornwall were, of course, delighted; and while the Irish +heralds returned empty-handed to Dublin with Morold's remains, the King of +Cornwall loudly proclaimed that as he had no son, Tristan should be his +heir. + +[Sidenote: Tristan's wound.] Tristan, however, was far from happy, for the +wound in his side refused to heal, and gradually became so offensive that +no one could bear his presence. As none of the court doctors could relieve +him, he remembered Morold's words, and resolved to go to Ireland, in hopes +that Iseult would cure him. Conscious, however, that she would never +consent to help him if she suspected his identity, he embarked alone, or +with Kurvenal, in a small vessel, taking only his harp, and drifted toward +Ireland, where he arrived at the end of fifteen days. When he appeared at +court, Tristan declared that he was a wandering minstrel called Tantris, +and bespoke the kind offices of the queen, Iseult. Charmed by his music, +she hastened to cure him of the grievous wound from which he had suffered +so much. + +Tristan, still unknown, remained at the Irish court for some time, spending +many hours with Iseult, the daughter and namesake of the queen, whom he +instructed daily in the art of music. After some months passed thus in +pleasant intercourse, Tristan returned to Cornwall, where he related to +Mark the story of his cure, and so extolled the beauty of young Iseult that +the king finally expressed a desire to marry her. By the advice of the +courtiers, who were jealous of Tristan, and who hoped that this mission +would cost him his life, the young hero was sent to Ireland with an +imposing retinue, to sue for the maiden's hand and to escort her safely to +Cornwall. + +On landing in Dublin, Tristan immediately became aware that the people were +laboring under an unusual excitement. Upon questioning them he learned that +a terrible dragon had taken up its station near the city, that it was +devastating the country, and that the king had promised the hand of Iseult +to the man who would slay the monster. Tristan immediately concluded that +by killing the dragon he would have the best chance of successfully +carrying out his uncle's wishes, so he sallied forth alone to attack it. + + "This dragon had two furious wings, + Each one upon each shoulder; + With a sting in his tayl as long as a flayl, + Which made him bolder and bolder. + + "He had long claws, and in his jaws + Four and forty teeth of iron; + With a hide as tough as any buff + Which did him round environ." + _Dragon of Wantly_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Tristan and the dragon.] In spite of the fearful appearance of +this dragon, and of the volumes of fire and venom which it belched forth, +Tristan encountered it bravely, and finally slew it. Then, cutting out the +monster's tongue, he thrust it into his pocket, intending to produce it at +the right moment. He had gone only a few steps, however, when, exhausted by +his prolonged conflict, stunned by the poisonous fumes which he had +inhaled, and overcome by the close contact with the dragon's tongue, he +sank fainting to the ground. A few moments later the butler of the Irish +king rode up. He saw the dragon dead, with his conqueror lifeless beside +him, and quickly resolved to take advantage of this fortunate chance to +secure the hand of the fair princess. He therefore cut off the dragon's +head, and, going to court, boasted of having slain the monster just as it +had killed a strange knight. Iseult and her mother, well aware that the man +was a coward, refused to believe his story, and hastened off to the scene +of the conflict, where they found the fainting Tristan with the dragon's +tongue in his pocket. + +To remove the poisonous substance, (which they, however, preserved,) convey +the knight to the palace, and restore him by tender care, was the next +impulse of these brave women. Then, while Iseult the younger sat beside her +patient, watching his slumbers, she idly drew his sword from the scabbard. +Suddenly her eye was caught by a dint in the blade, which she soon +discovered was of exactly the same shape and size as the fragment of steel +which she had found in her uncle's skull. + + "Then all at once her heart grew cold + In thinking of that deed of old. + Her color changed through grief and ire + From deadly pale to glowing fire. + With sorrow she exclaimed: 'Alas! + Oh, woe! what has now come to pass? + Who carried here this weapon dread, + By which mine uncle was struck dead? + And he who slew him, Tristan hight. + Who gave it to this minstrel knight?'" + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Morold's murderer lay helpless before her, and Iseult, animated by the +spirit of vengeance, which was considered a sacred duty among the people of +the time, was about to slay Tristan, when he opened his eyes and disarmed +her by a glance. Her mother further hindered her carrying out her hostile +intentions by telling her that Tristan had atoned for his crime by +delivering the people from the power of the dragon. + +As soon as Tristan had quite recovered, he appeared at court, where he +offered to prove at the point of his sword that the butler had no claim to +the princess's hand. A duel was arranged, and the butler, disarmed by +Tristan, confessed his lie. Tristan then produced the dragon's tongue and +told his adventures; but, to the general surprise, instead of suing for +Iseult's hand for himself, he now asked it in the name of his uncle, King +Mark of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: The love potion.] The young princess was none too well pleased +at this unexpected turn of affairs; but, as princesses never had much to +say about the choice of a husband, she obediently prepared to accompany the +embassy to Tintagel. Her mother, wishing to preserve her from a loveless +marriage, now sought out all manner of herbs wherewith to brew one of those +magic love potions which were popularly supposed to have unlimited powers. + + "Bethought her with her secret soul alone + To work some charm for marriage unison, + And strike the heart of Iseult to her lord + With power compulsive more than stroke of sword." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +This magic potion was put in a golden cup and intrusted to Brangwaine, the +attendant of Iseult, with strict injunctions to guard the secret well, and +to give the draught to her mistress and Mark to quaff together on their +wedding day. + + "Therefore with marvelous herbs and spells she wrought + To win the very wonder of her thought, + And brewed it with her secret hands, and blest + And drew and gave out of her secret breast + To one her chosen and Iseult's handmaiden, + Brangwain, and bade her hide from sight of men + This marvel covered in a golden cup, + So covering in her heart the counsel up + As in the gold the wondrous wine lay close." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +Brangwaine carefully carried this potion on board the ship, and placed it +in a cupboard, whence she intended to produce it when the suitable moment +came. Iseult embarked with the escort sent from Cornwall, and Tristan, in +order to beguile the long, weary hours of the journey, entertained her with +all the songs and stories that he knew. One day, after singing for some +time, he asked his fair young mistress for a drink; and she, going to the +cupboard, drew out the magic potion, little guessing its power. + +As was customary in those days in offering wine to an honored guest, she +first put it to her own lips and then handed it to the thirsty minstrel, +who drained it greedily. They had no sooner drunk, however, than the +draught, working with subtle power, suddenly kindled in their hearts a +passionate love, destined to last as long as they both lived. + + "Now that the maiden and the man, + Fair Iseult and Tristan, + Both drank the drink, upon them pressed + What gives the world such sore unrest,-- + Love, skilled in sly and prowling arts,-- + And swiftly crept in both their hearts; + So, ere of him they were aware, + Stood his victorious banners there. + He drew them both into his power; + One and single were they that hour + That two and twofold were before." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +After the first few hours of rapture had passed, the young people, who +honorably intended to keep their word and conquer the fatal passion which +had overwhelmed them, remained apart, and when Iseult landed in Cornwall +her marriage was celebrated with Mark. Brangwaine, who knew all that had +passed, tried to shield her mistress in every way, and blind the king, who +is depicted as a very unheroic monarch, but little fitted to secure the +affections of the proud young Iseult. + +[Sidenote: Tristan and Iseult.] This story of a love potion whose magic +power none could resist, and of the undying love which it kindled in the +unsuspecting hearts of Tristan and Iseult, has been treated in many ways by +the different poets and prose writers who have handled it. In many of the +older versions we have lengthy descriptions of stolen interviews, +hairbreadth escapes, and tests of love, truth, and fidelity without number. + +In many respects the story is a parallel of that of Lancelot and Guinevere, +although it contains some incidents which are duplicated in the +"Nibelungenlied" only. But throughout, the writers all aver that, owing to +the magic draught, the lovers, however good their intentions, could not +long exist without seeing each other. + +By means of this boundless love Tristan is said to have had an intuitive +knowledge of Iseult's peril, for he hastened to rescue her from danger +whenever events took a turn which might prove fatal to her. There are in +some of these old romances pretty descriptions of scenery and of the +signals used by the lovers to communicate with each other when forced by +adverse circumstances to remain apart. One of the poems, for instance, says +that Tristan's love messages were written on chips of wood, which he +floated down the little stream which flowed past his sylvan lodge and +crossed the garden of the queen. + +[Sidenote: Meliadus.] The inevitable villain of the tale is one of Mark's +squires, the spy Meliadus, also a very unheroic character, who told the +king of Tristan's love for Iseult. Mark, who all through the story seems +strangely indifferent to his beautiful wife, was not aware of the magic +draught and its powerful effect, but Meliadus roused him temporarily from +his apathy. + +[Illustration: ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN.--Pixis.] + +As the queen had been publicly accused, he compelled her to prove her +innocence by undergoing the ordeal of fire, or by taking a public oath that +she had shown favor to none but him. On her way to the place where this +ceremony was to take place, Iseult was carried across a stream by Tristan +disguised as a beggar, and, at his request, kissed him in reward for this +service. + +When called upon to take her oath before the judges and assembled court, +Iseult could truthfully swear that, with the exception of the beggar whom +she had just publicly kissed, no other man than the king could ever boast +of having received any special mark of her favor. + +Thus made aware of their danger, the lovers again decided to part, and +Tristan, deprived for a time of the sight of Iseult, went mad, and +performed many extraordinary feats; for mediaeval poets generally drove +their heroes into a frenzy when they did not know what else to do with +them. Having recovered, and hoping to forget the fatal passion which had +already caused him so much sorrow, Tristan now wandered off to Arthur's +court, where he performed many deeds of valor. Thence he went on to various +strange lands, distinguishing himself greatly everywhere, until he received +from a poisoned arrow a wound which no doctor could heal. + +[Sidenote: Iseult of Brittany.] Afraid to expose himself again to the +fascinations of Iseult of Cornwall, Tristan went to Brittany, where another +Iseult,--with the White Hands,--equally well skilled in medicine, tenderly +nursed him back to health. This maiden, as good and gentle as she was +beautiful, soon fell in love with the handsome knight, and hearing him sing +a passionate lay in honor of Iseult, she fancied that her affections were +returned, and that it was intended for her ear. + + "I know her by her mildness rare, + Her snow-white hands, her golden hair; + I know her by her rich silk dress, + And her fragile loveliness,-- + The sweetest Christian soul alive, + Iseult of Brittany." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +The brother of this fair Iseult saw her love for Tristan, and offered him +her hand, which he accepted more out of gratitude than love, and in the +hope that he might at last overcome the effects of the fatal draught. But, +in spite of all his good resolutions, he could not forget Iseult of +Cornwall, and treated his wife with such polite coolness that her brother's +suspicions were finally roused. + +Tristan, having conquered a neighboring giant and magician by the name of +Beliagog, had granted him his life only upon condition that he would build +a marvelous palace in the forest, and adorn it with paintings and +sculptures, true to life, and representing all the different stages of his +passion for Iseult of Cornwall. When his brother-in-law, therefore, asked +why he seemed to find no pleasure in the society of his young wife, Tristan +led him to the palace, showed him the works of art, and told him all. +Ganhardin, the brother-in-law, must evidently have considered the excuse a +good one, for he not only forgave Tristan, but implored him to take him to +Cornwall, for he had fallen in love with the picture of Brangwaine, and +hoped to win her for wife. On the way thither the young knights met with +sundry adventures, delivered Arthur from the power of the Lady of the Lake, +and carried off Iseult, whom the cowardly Mark was ill treating, to +Lancelot's castle of Joyeuse Garde. There she became acquainted with +Guinevere, and remained with her until Arthur brought about a general +reconciliation. + +Then Tristan once more returned to Brittany, resumed his wonted knightly +existence, and fought until he was wounded so sorely that Iseult of +Brittany could not cure him. His faithful steward Kurvenal, hoping yet to +save him, sailed for Cornwall to bring the other Iseult to the rescue; and +as he left he promised his master to change the black sails of the vessel +for white in case his quest were successful. + +Tristan now watched impatiently for the returning sail, but just as it came +into view he breathed his last. Some ill-advised writers have ventured to +state that Iseult of Brittany, whose jealousy had been aroused, was guilty +of Tristan's death by falsely averring, in answer to his feverish inquiry, +that the long-expected vessel was wafted along by black sails; but, +according to other authorities, she remained gentle and lovable to the end. + +[Sidenote: Miracle of the plants.] Iseult of Cornwall, speeding to the +rescue of her lover, whom nothing could make her forget, and finding him +dead, breathed her last upon his corpse. Both bodies were then carried to +Cornwall, where they were interred in separate graves by order of King +Mark. But from the tomb of the dead minstrel there soon sprang a creeper, +which, finding its way along the walls, descended into Iseult's grave. +Thrice cut down by Mark's orders, the plant persisted in growing, thus +emphasizing by a miracle the passionate love which made this couple +proverbial in the middle ages. There are in subsequent literature many +parallels of the miracle of the plant which sprang from Tristan's tomb, as +is seen by the Ballad of Lord Thomas and Fair Annet, and of Lord Lovel, +where, as in later versions of the Tristan legend, a rose and a vine grew +out of the respective graves and twined tenderly around each other. + + "And out of her breast there grew a red rose, + And out of his breast a brier." + _Ballad of Lord Lovel_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF. + + +[Sidenote: Northern sagas.] Norse, Danish, and Swedish writers have +frequently called public attention to the vast literary treasures which are +contained in the old sagas or tales of their forefathers. The work of +northern scalds whose names in most cases are unknown to us, these stories +relate the lives and adventures of the gods and heroes of the North. Many +of these old sagas have been translated into various other European +languages; but Tegnér, a Swedish writer of this century, has done most to +revive a taste for them by making one of them the basis of a poem which is +generally considered a masterpiece. + +Tegnér's "Frithiof Saga" has been translated once at least into every +European tongue, and more than eighteen times into English and German. +Goethe spoke of the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and the tale, which +gives a matchless picture of the life of our heathen ancestors in the +North, has been the source of inspiration for important works of art. + +Although Tegnér has chosen for his theme the Frithiof saga only, we find +that that tale is the sequel to the older but less interesting Thorsten +saga, of which we give here a very brief outline, merely to enable the +reader to understand clearly every allusion in the more modern poem. + +As is so frequently the case with these ancient tales, the story begins +with Haloge (Loki), who came north with Odin, and began to reign over north +Norway, which from him was called Halogaland. According to northern +mythology, this god had two lovely daughters. They were carried off by bold +suitors, who, banished from the mainland by Haloge's curses and magic +spells, took refuge with their newly won wives upon neighboring islands. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Viking.] Thus it happened that Haloge's grandson, +Viking, was born upon the island of Bornholm, in the Balitic Sea, where he +dwelt until he was fifteen, and where he became the largest and strongest +man of his time. Rumors of his valor finally reached Hunvor, a Swedish +princess; and, as she was oppressed by the attentions of a gigantic suitor +whom none dared drive away, she quickly sent for Viking to deliver her. + +Thus summoned, the youth departed, after having received from his father a +magic sword named Angurvadel, whose blows would prove fatal even to the +giant suitor of Hunvor. A "holmgang," the northern name for a duel, +ensued, and Viking, having slain his antagonist, could have married the +princess had it not been considered disgraceful for a Northman to marry +before he was twenty. + +To beguile the time of waiting, Viking set out in a well-manned dragon +ship; and, cruising about the northern and southern seas, he met with +countless adventures. During this time he was particularly persecuted by +the slain giant's kin, who were adepts in magic, and caused him to +encounter innumerable perils by land and by sea. + +Aided and abetted by his bosom friend, Halfdan, Viking escaped every +danger, slew many of his foes, and, after recovering his promised bride, +Hunvor, whom the enemy had carried off to India, he settled down in Sweden. +His friend, faithful in peace as well as in war, settled near him, and +married also, choosing for his wife Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant. + +The saga now describes the long, peaceful winters, when the warriors +feasted and listened to the tales of the scalds, rousing themselves to +energetic efforts only when returning spring again permitted them to launch +their dragon ships and set out once more upon their favorite piratical +expeditions. In the olden story the bards relate with great gusto every +phase of attack and defense during cruise and raid, describe every blow +given and received, and spare us none of carnage, or lurid flames which +envelop both enemies and ships in common ruin. A fierce fight is often an +earnest of future friendship, however, for we are told that Halfdan and +Viking, having failed to conquer Njorfe, even after a most obstinate +struggle, sheathed their swords and accepted him as a third in their close +bond of friendship. + +On returning home after one of these customary raids, Viking lost his +beloved wife; and, after intrusting her child, Ring, to the care of a +foster father, and undergoing a short period of mourning, the brave warrior +married again. This time his marital bliss was more lasting, for the saga +reports that his second wife bore him nine stalwart sons. + +Njorfe, King of Uplands, in Norway, had, in the mean while, followed +Viking's example, and he too rejoiced in a large family, numbering also +nine brave sons. Now, although their fathers were united in bonds of the +closest friendship, having sworn blood brotherhood according to the true +northern rites, the young men were jealous of one another, and greatly +inclined to quarrel. + +[Sidenote: Early ball games.] Notwithstanding this smoldering animosity, +these youths often met; and the saga relates that they used to play ball +together, and gives a description of the earliest ball game on record in +the northern annals. Viking's sons, as tall and strong as he, were inclined +to be rather reckless of their opponents' welfare, and, judging from the +following account, translated from the old saga, the players were often +left in as sorry a condition as after a modern game. + +"The next morning the brothers went to the games, and generally had the +ball during the day; they pushed men and let them fall roughly, and beat +others. At night three men had their arms broken, and many were bruised or +maimed." + +The game between Njorfe's and Viking's sons culminated in a disagreement, +and one of the former nine struck one of the latter a dangerous and +treacherous blow. Prevented from taking his revenge then and there by the +interference of the spectators, the injured man made a trivial excuse to +return to the ball ground alone; and, meeting his assailant there, he +killed him. + +When Viking heard that one of his sons had slain one of his friend's +children, he was very indignant, and, mindful of his oath to avenge all +Njorfe's wrongs, he banished the young murderer. The other brothers, on +hearing this sentence, all vowed that they would accompany the exile, and +so Viking sorrowfully bade them farewell, giving his sword Angurvadel to +Thorsten, the eldest, and cautioning him to remain quietly on an island in +Lake Wener until all danger of retaliation on the part of Njorfe's +remaining sons was over. + +The young men obeyed; but Njorfe's sons, who had no boats to take them +across the lake, soon made use of a conjuror's art to bring about a great +frost, and, accompanied by many armed men, stole noiselessly over the ice +to attack Thorsten and his brothers. A terrible carnage ensued, and only +two of the attacking party managed to escape, leaving, as they fancied, all +their foes among the dead. + +But when Viking came to bury his sons, he found that two of them, Thorsten +and Thorer, were still alive, and he secretly conveyed them to a cellar +beneath his dwelling, where they recovered from their wounds. + +By magic arts Njorfe's two sons discovered that their opponents were not +dead, and soon made a second desperate but vain attempt to kill them. +Viking saw that the quarrel would be incessantly renewed if his sons +remained at home; so he now sent them to Halfdan, whose court they reached +after a series of adventures which in many points resemble those of Theseus +on his way to Athens. + +When spring came Thorsten embarked on a piratical excursion, and +encountered Jokul, Njorfe's eldest son, who, in the mean while, had taken +forcible possession of the kingdom of Sogn, after killing the king, +banishing his heir, Belé, and changing his beautiful daughter, Ingeborg, +into the form of an old witch. + +Throughout the story Jokul is represented as somewhat of a coward, for he +resorted by preference to magic when he wished to injure Viking's sons. +Thus he stirred up great tempests, and Thorsten, after twice suffering +shipwreck, was saved from the waves by the witch Ingeborg, whom he promised +to marry in gratitude for her good services. + +Thorsten, advised by her, went in search of Belé, replaced him on his +hereditary throne, swore eternal friendship with him, and, the baleful +spell being removed, married the beautiful Ingeborg, who dwelt with him at +Framnäs. + +[Sidenote: Thorsten and Belé.] Every spring Thorsten and Belé now set out +together in their ships; and, joining forces with Angantyr, a foe whose +mettle they had duly tested, they proceeded to recover possession of a +priceless treasure, a magic dragon ship named Ellida, which Aegir, god of +the sea, had once given to Viking in reward for hospitable treatment, and +which had been stolen from him. + + "A royal gift to behold, for the swelling planks of its framework + Were not fastened with nails, as is wont, but _grown_ in together. + Its shape was that of a dragon when swimming, but forward + Its head rose proudly on high, the throat with yellow gold flaming; + Its belly was spotted with red and yellow, but back by the rudder + Coiled out its mighty tail in circles, all scaly with silver; + Black wings with edges of red; when all were expanded + Ellida raced with the whistling storm, but outstript the eagle. + When filled to the edge with warriors, it sailed o'er the waters, + You'd deem it a floating fortress, or warlike abode of a monarch. + The ship was famed far and wide, and of ships was first in the North." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The next season, Thorsten, Belé, and Angantyr conquered the Orkney Islands, +which were given as kingdom to the latter, he voluntarily pledging himself +to pay a yearly tribute to Belé. Next Thorsten and Belé went in quest of a +magic ring, or armlet, once forged by Völund, the smith, and stolen by +Soté, a famous pirate. + +This bold robber was so afraid lest some one should gain possession of the +magic ring, that he had buried himself alive with it in a mound in +Bretland. Here his ghost was said to keep constant watch over it, and when +Thorsten entered his tomb, Belé heard the frightful blows given and +received, and saw lurid gleams of supernatural fire. + +When Thorsten finally staggered out of the mound, pale and bloody, but +triumphant, he refused to speak of the horrors he had encountered to win +the coveted treasure, nor would he ever vouchsafe further information than +this: + + "'Dearly bought is the prize,' said he often, + 'For I trembled but once in my life, and 'twas when I seized it!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Birth of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] Thus owner of the three +greatest treasures in the North, Thorsten returned home to Framnäs, where +Ingeborg bore him a fine boy, Frithiof, the playmate of Halfdan and Helgé, +Belé's sons. The three youths were already well grown when Ingeborg, Belé's +little daughter, was born, and as she was intrusted to the care of Hilding, +Frithiof's foster father, the children grew up in perfect amity. + + "Jocund they grew, in guileless glee; + Young Frithiof was the sapling tree; + In budding beauty by his side, + Sweet Ingeborg, the garden's pride." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Frithiof soon became hardy and fearless under his foster father's training, +and Ingeborg rapidly developed all the sweetest traits of female +loveliness. Both, however, were happiest when together; and as they grew +older their childish affection daily became deeper and more intense, until +Hilding, perceiving this state of affairs, bade the youth remember that he +was only a subject, and therefore no mate for the king's only daughter. + + "But Hilding said, 'O foster son, + Set not thy heart her love upon, + For Destiny thy wish gainsaid; + King Belé's daughter is the maid! + + "'From Odin's self, in starry sky, + Descends her ancestry so high; + But thou art Thorsten's son, so yield, + And leave to mightier names the field.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's love for Ingeborg.] These wise admonitions came too +late, however, and Frithiof vehemently declared that he would win the fair +Ingeborg for his bride in spite of all obstacles and his comparatively +humble origin. + +Shortly after this Belé and Thorsten met for the last time, near the +magnificent shrine of Balder, where the king, feeling that his end was +near, had convened a solemn assembly, or Thing, of all his principal +subjects, in order to present his sons Helgé and Halfdan to the people as +his chosen successors. The young heirs were very coldly received on this +occasion, for Helgé was of a somber and taciturn disposition, and inclined +to the life of a priest, and Halfdan was of a weak, effeminate nature, and +noted for his cowardice. Frithiof, who was present, and stood beside them, +cast them both in the shade, and won many admiring glances from the throng. + + "But after them came Frithiof, in mantle blue-- + He by a head was taller than th' other two. + He stood between the brethren, as day should light + Between the rosy morning and darksome night." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +After giving his last instructions to his sons, and speaking kindly to +Frithiof, who was his favorite, the old king turned to his lifelong +companion, Thorsten, to take leave of him, but the old warrior declared +that they would not long be parted. Belé then spoke again to his sons, and +bade them erect his howe, or funeral mound, within sight of that of +Thorsten, that their spirits might commune, and not be sundered even in +death. + + "'But lay us gently, children, where the blue wave, + Beating harmonious cadence, the shore doth lave; + Its murmuring song is pleasant unto the soul, + And like a lamentation its ceaseless roll. + + "'And when the moon's pale luster around us streams, + And midnight dim grows radiant with silver beams, + There will we sit, O Thorsten, upon our graves, + And talk of bygone battles by the dark waves. + + "'And now, farewell, my children! Come here no more; + Our road lies to Allfather's far-distant shore, + E'en as the troubled river sweeps to the sea: + By Frey and Thor and Odin blessed may ye be.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Helgé and Halfdan.] These instructions were all piously obeyed +when the aged companions had breathed their last. Then the brothers, Helgé +and Halfdan, began to rule their kingdom, while Frithiof, their former +playmate, withdrew to his own place at Framnäs, a very fertile homestead, +lying in a snug valley closed in by the towering mountains and the +ever-changing ocean. + + "Three miles extended around the fields of the homestead; on + three sides + Valleys and mountains and hills, but on the fourth side was the + ocean. + Birch-woods crowned the summits, but over the down-sloping + hillsides + Flourished the golden corn, and man-high was waving the rye- + field." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But although surrounded by faithful retainers, and blessed with much wealth +and the possession of the famous sword Angurvadel, the Völund ring, and the +matchless dragon ship Ellida, Frithiof was unhappy, because he could no +longer see the fair Ingeborg daily. With the returning spring, however, all +his former spirits returned, for both kings came to visit him, accompanied +by their fair sister, with whom he lived over the happy childish years, and +spent long hours in cheerful companionship. As they were thus constantly +thrown together, Frithiof soon made known to Ingeborg his deep affection, +and received in return an avowal of her love. + + "He sat by her side, and he pressed her soft hand, + And he felt a soft pressure responsive and bland; + Whilst his love-beaming gaze + Was returned as the sun's in the moon's placid rays." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's suit.] When the visit was over and the guests had +departed, Frithiof informed his confidant and chief companion, Björn, of +his determination to follow them and openly ask for Ingeborg's hand. His +ship was prepared, and after a swift sail touched the shore near Balder's +shrine. Discerning the royal brothers seated in state on Belé's tomb to +listen to the petitions of their subjects, Frithiof immediately presented +himself before them, and manfully made his request, adding that the old +king had always loved him and would surely have granted his prayer. + + "They were seated on Belè's tomb, and o'er + The common folk administered law. + But Frithiof speaks, + And his voice re-echoes round valleys and peaks. + + "'Ye kings, my love is Ingborg fair; + To ask her in marriage I here repair; + And what I require + I here maintain was King Belè's desire. + + "'He let us grow in Hilding's care, + Like two young saplings, year by year; + And therefore, kings, + Unite the full-grown trees with golden rings.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +But although he promised lifelong fealty and the service of his strong +right arm in exchange for the boon he craved, Helgé contemptuously +dismissed him. Enraged at the insult thus publicly received, Frithiof +raised his invincible sword; but, remembering that he stood on a +consecrated spot, he spared the king, only cutting the royal shield in two +to show the strength of his blade, and striding back to his ship, he +embarked and sailed away in sullen silence. + + "And lo! cloven in twain at a stroke + Fell King Helgé's gold shield from its pillar of oak: + At the clang of the blow, + The live started above, the dead started below." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sigurd Ring a suitor.] Just after his departure came messengers +from Sigurd Ring, the aged King of Ringric, in Norway, who, having lost his +wife, sent to Helgé and Halfdan to ask Ingeborg's hand in marriage. Before +answering this royal suitor, Helgé consulted the Vala, or prophetess, and +the priests, and as they all declared that the omens were not in favor of +this marriage, he gave an insolent refusal to the messengers. This +impolitic conduct so offended the would-be suitor that he immediately +collected an army and prepared to march against the Kings of Sogn to avenge +the insult with his sword. When the rumor of his approach reached the +cowardly brothers they were terrified, and fearing to encounter the foe +alone, they sent Hilding to Frithiof to implore his aid. + +Hilding gladly undertook the mission, although he had not much hope of its +success. He found Frithiof playing chess with a friend, Björn, and +immediately made known his errand. + + "'From Belé's high heirs + I come with courteous words and prayers: + Disastrous tidings rouse the brave; + On thee a nation's hope relies. + + * * * * * + + In Balder's fane, grief's loveliest prey, + Sweet Ing'borg weeps the livelong day: + Say, can her tears unheeded fall, + Nor call her champion to her side?'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But Frithiof was so deeply offended that even this appeal in the name of +his beloved could not move him. Quietly he continued his game of chess, +and, when it was ended, told Hilding that he had no answer to give. Rightly +concluding that Frithiof would lend the kings no aid, Hilding returned to +Helgé and Halfdan, who, forced to fight without their bravest leader, +preferred to make a treaty with Sigurd Ring, promising to give him not only +their sister Ingeborg, but also a yearly tribute. + +[Sidenote: At Balder's shrine.] While they were thus engaged at Sogn Sound, +Frithiof hastened to Balder's temple, where, as Hilding had declared, he +found Ingeborg a prey to grief. Now although it was considered a sacrilege +for man and woman to exchange a word in the sacred building, Frithiof could +not see his beloved in tears without attempting to console her; and, +forgetting all else, he spoke to her and comforted her. He repeated how +dearly he loved her, quieted all her apprehensions of the gods' anger by +assuring her that Balder, the good, must view their innocent passion with +approving eyes, said that love as pure as theirs could defile no sanctuary, +and plighted his troth to her before the shrine. + +[Illustration: THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE.--Kepler.] + + "'What whisper you of Balder's ire? + The pious god--he is not wrath. + He loves himself, and doth inspire + Our love--the purest he calls forth. + The god with true and steadfast heart, + The sun upon his glittering form, + Is not his love for Nanna part + Of his own nature, pure and warm? + + "'There is his image; he is near. + How mild he looks on me--how kind! + A sacrifice to him I'll bear, + The offer of a loving mind. + Kneel down with me; no better gift, + No fairer sure for Balder is, + Than two young hearts, whose love doth lift + Above the world almost like his.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Reassured by this reasoning, Ingeborg no longer refused to see and converse +with Frithiof; and during the kings' absence the young lovers met every +day, and plighted their troth with Volund's ring, which Ingeborg solemnly +promised to send back to her lover should she break her promise to live for +him alone. Frithiof lingered there until the kings' return, when, for love +of Ingeborg the fair, he again appeared before them, and pledged himself to +free them from their thraldom to Sigurd Ring if they would only reconsider +their decision and promise him their sister's hand. + + "'War is abroad, + And strikes his echoing shield within our borders; + Thy crown and land, King Helgé, are in danger; + Give me thy sister's hand, and I will use + Henceforth my warlike force in thy defense. + Let then the wrath between us be forgotten, + Unwillingly I strive 'gainst Ingborg's brother. + Secure, O king, by one fraternal act + Thy golden crown and save thy sister's heart. + Here is my hand. By Thor, I ne'er again + Present it here for reconciliation.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof in disgrace.] But although this offer was hailed with +rapture by the assembled warriors, it was again scornfully rejected by +Helgé, who declared that he would have granted it had not Frithiof proved +himself unworthy of all confidence by defiling the temple of the gods. +Frithiof tried to defend himself; but as he had to plead guilty to the +accusation of having conversed with Ingeborg at Balder's shrine, he was +convicted of having broken the law, and, in punishment therefor, condemned +to sail off to the Orkney Islands to claim tribute from the king, Angantyr. + +Before he sailed, however, he once more sought Ingeborg, and vainly tried +to induce her to elope with him by promising her a home in the sunny south, +where her happiness should be his law, and where she should rule over his +subjects as his honored wife. Ingeborg sorrowfully refused to accompany +him, saying that, since her father was no more, she was in duty bound to +obey her brothers implicitly, and could not marry without their consent. + + "'But Helgé is my father, + Stands in my father's place; on his consent + Depends my hand, and Belé's daughter steals not + Her earthly happiness, how near it be.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After a heartrending parting scene, Frithiof embarked upon Ellida, and +sorrowfully sailed out of the harbor, while Ingeborg wept at his departure. +When the vessel was barely out of sight, Helgé sent for two witches named +Heid and Ham, bidding them begin their incantations, and stir up such a +tempest at sea that it would be impossible for even the god-given vessel +Ellida to withstand its fury, and all on board would perish. The witches +immediately complied; and with Helgé's aid they soon stirred up a storm +unparalleled in history. + + "Helgé on the strand + Chants his wizard-spell, + Potent to command + Fiends of earth or hell. + Gathering darkness shrouds the sky; + Hark, the thunder's distant roll! + Lurid lightnings, as they fly, + Streak with blood the sable pole. + Ocean, boiling to its base, + Scatters wide its wave of foam; + Screaming, as in fleetest chase, + Sea-birds seek their island home." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The tempest.] In spite of tossing waves and whistling blasts, +Frithiof sang a cheery song to reassure his frightened crew; but when the +peril grew so great that his exhausted men gave themselves up for lost, he +bade Björn hold the rudder, and himself climbed up to the mast top to view +the horizon. While perched up there he descried a whale, upon which the two +witches were riding at ease. Speaking to his good ship, which was gifted +with the power of understanding and obeying his words, he now ran down both +witches and whale, and the sea was reddened with their blood. No sooner had +they sunk than the wind fell, the waves ceased to heave and toss as before, +and soon fair weather again smiled over the seas. + + "Now the storm has flown, + The sea is calm awhile; + A gentle swell is blown + Against the neighboring isle. + + "Then at once the sun arose, + Like a king who mounts his throne, + Vivifies the world and throws + His light on billow, field, and stone. + His new-born beams adorn awhile + A dark green grove on rocky top, + All recognize a sea-girt isle, + Amongst the distant Orkney's group." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Exhausted by their previous superhuman efforts and by the bailing of their +water-logged vessel, the men were too weak to land when they at last +reached the Orkney Islands, and had to be carried ashore by Björn and +Frithiof, who gently laid them down on the sand, bidding them rest and +refresh themselves after all the hardships they had endured. + + "Tired indeed are all on board, + All the crew of Frithiofs men, + Scarce supported by a sword, + Can they raise themselves again. + Björn takes four of them ashore, + On his mighty shoulders wide, + Frithiof singly takes twice four, + Places them the fire beside. + 'Blush not, ye pale ones, + The sea's a valiant viking; + 'Tis hard indeed to fight + Against the rough sea waves. + Lo! there comes the mead horn + On golden feet descending, + To warm our frozen limbs. + Hail to Ingeborg!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The arrival of Frithiof and his men had been seen by the watchman of +Angantyr's castle, who immediately informed his master of all he had seen. +The jarl exclaimed that the ship which had weathered such a gale could be +none but Ellida, and that its captain was doubtless Frithiof, Thorsten's +gallant son. At these words one of his Berserkers, Atlé, caught up his +weapons and strode out of the hall, vowing that he would challenge +Frithiof, and thus satisfy himself concerning the veracity of the tales he +had heard of the young hero's courage. + +[Sidenote: Atlé's challenge.] Although still greatly exhausted, Frithiof +immediately accepted Atlé's challenge, and, after a sharp encounter, threw +his antagonist, whom he would have slain then and there had his sword been +within reach. Atlé saw his intention, and bade him go in search of a +weapon, promising to remain motionless during his absence. Frithiof, +knowing that such a warrior's promise was inviolable, immediately obeyed; +but when he returned with his sword, and found his antagonist calmly +awaiting death, he relented, and bade Atlé rise and live. + + "With patience long not gifted, + Frithiof the foe would kill, + And Angurvadel lifted, + But Atlé yet lay still. + This touched the hero's soul; + He stayed the sweeping brand + Before it reached its goal, + And took the fall'n one's hand." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_(Spalding's tr.). + +Together these doughty warriors then wended their way to Angantyr's halls, +where they found a festal board awaiting them, and there they ate and +drank, sang songs, and recounted stories of thrilling adventure by land and +by sea. + +At last, however, Frithiof made known his errand. Angantyr said that he +owed no tribute to Helgé, and would pay him none; but that he would give +the required sum as a free gift to his old friend Thorsten's son, leaving +him at liberty to dispose of it as he pleased. Then, since the season was +unpropitious, and storms continually swept over the sea, the king invited +Frithiof to tarry with him; and it was only when the gentle spring breezes +were blowing once more that he at last allowed him to depart. + +After sailing over summer seas, wafted along by favorable winds for six +days, Frithiof came in sight of his home, Framnäs, which had been reduced +to a shapeless heap of ashes by Helgé's orders. Sadly steering past the +ruins, he arrived at Baldershage, where Hilding met him and informed him +that Ingeborg was now the wife of Sigurd Ring. When Frithiof heard these +tidings he flew into a Berserker rage, and bade his men destroy all the +vessels in the harbor, while he strode up to the temple alone in search of +Helgé. He found him there before the god's image, roughly flung Angantyr's +heavy purse of gold in his face, and when, as he was about to leave the +temple, he saw the ring he had given Ingeborg on the arm of Helgé's wife, +he snatched it away from her. In trying to recover it she dropped the god's +image, which she had just been anointing, into the fire, where it was +rapidly consumed, and the rising flames soon set the temple roof in a +blaze. + +Frithiof, horror-stricken at the sacrilege which he had involuntarily +occasioned, after vainly trying to extinguish the flames and save the +costly sanctuary, escaped to his ship and waiting companions, to begin the +weary life of an outcast and exile. + + "The temple soon in ashes lay, + Ashes the temple's bower; + Wofully Frithiof goes his way, + Weeps in the morning hour." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof an exile.] Helgé's men started in pursuit, hoping to +overtake and punish him; but when they reached the harbor they could not +find a single seaworthy craft, and were forced to stand on the shore in +helpless inactivity while Ellida's great sails slowly sank beneath the +horizon. It was thus that Frithiof sadly saw his native land vanish from +sight; and as it disappeared he breathed a tender farewell to the beloved +country which he never expected to see again. + + "'World-circle's brow, + Thou mighty North! + I may not go + Upon thine earth; + But in no other + I love to dwell; + Now, hero-mother, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, thou high + And heavenly one, + Night's sleeping eye, + Midsummer sun. + Thou clear blue sky, + Like hero's soul, + Ye stars on high, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye mounts + Where Honour thrives, + And Thor recounts + Good warriors' lives. + Ye azure lakes, + I know so well, + Ye woods and brakes, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye tombs, + By billows blue, + The lime tree blooms + Its snow on you. + The Saga sets + In judgment-veil + What earth forgets; + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell the heath, + The forest hoar + I played beneath, + By streamlet's roar. + To childhood's friends + Who loved me well, + Remembrance sends + A fond farewell! + + "'My love is foiled, + My rooftree rent, + Mine honour soiled, + In exile sent! + We turn from earth, + On ocean dwell, + But, joy and mirth, + Farewell, farewell!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After thus parting from his native land, Frithiof took up the life of a +pirate, rover, or viking, whose code was never to settle anywhere, to sleep +on his shield, to fight and neither give nor take quarter, to protect the +ships which paid him tribute and sack the others, and to distribute all the +booty to his men, reserving for himself nothing but the glory of the +enterprise. Sailing and fighting thus, Frithiof visited many lands, and +came to the sunny isles of Greece, whither he would fain have carried +Ingeborg as his bride; but wherever he went and whatever he did, he was +always haunted by the recollection of his beloved and of his native land. + +[Sidenote: At the court of Sigurd Ring.] Overcome at last by homesickness, +Frithiof returned northward, determined to visit Sigurd Ring's court and +ascertain whether Ingeborg was really well and happy. Steering his vessel +up the Vik (the main part of the Christiania-Fiord), he intrusted it to +Björn's care, and alone, on foot, and enveloped in a tattered mantle, which +he used as disguise, he went to the court of Sigurd Ring, arriving there +just as the Yuletide festivities were being held. As if in reality nothing +more than the aged beggar he appeared, Frithiof sat down upon the bench +near the door, where he became the butt of the courtiers' rough jokes; but +when one of his tormentors approached too closely he caught him in his +powerful grasp and swung him high above his head. + +Terrified by this proof of great strength, the courtiers silently withdrew, +while Sigurd Ring invited the old man to remove his mantle, take a seat +beside him, and share his good cheer. Frithiof accepted the invitation thus +cordially given, and when he had laid aside his squalid outward apparel all +started with surprise to see a handsome warrior, richly clad, and adorned +with a beautiful ring. + + "Now from the old man's stooping head is loosed the sable hood, + When lo! a young man smiling stands, where erst the old one stood. + See! From his lofty forehead, round shoulders broad and strong, + The golden locks flow glistening, like sunlight waves along. + + "He stood before them glorious in velvet mantle blue, + His baldrics broad, with silver worked, the artist's skill did shew; + For round about the hero's breast and round about his waist, + The beasts and birds of forest wild, embossed, each other chased. + + "The armlet's yellow luster shone rich upon his arm; + His war sword by his side--in strife a thunderbolt alarm. + Serene the hero cast his glance around the men of war; + Bright stood he there as Balder, as tall as Asa Thor." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Illustration: FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING.--Kepler.] + +But although his appearance was so unusual, none of the people present +recognized him save Ingeborg only; and when the king asked him who he was +he evasively replied that he was Thiolf (a thief), that he came from Ulf's +(the wolf's), and had been brought up in Anger (sorrow or grief). +Notwithstanding this unenticing account of himself, Sigurd Ring invited him +to remain; and Frithiof, accepting the proffered hospitality, became the +constant companion of the king and queen, whom he accompanied wherever they +went. + +One day, when the royal couple were seated in a sleigh and skimming along a +frozen stream, Frithiof sped on his skates before them, performing graceful +evolutions, and cutting Ingeborg's name deep in the ice. All at once the +ice broke and the sleigh disappeared; but Frithiof, springing forward, +caught the horse by the bridle, and by main force dragged them all out of +their perilous position. + +When spring came, Sigurd Ring invited Frithiof to accompany him on a +hunting expedition. The king became separated from all the rest of his +suite, and saying that he was too weary to continue the chase, he lay down +to rest upon the cloak which Frithiof spread out for him, resting his head +upon his young guest's knee. + + "Then threw Frithiof down his mantle, and upon the greensward + spread, + And the ancient king so trustful laid on Frithiof's knee his head; + Slept, as calmly as the hero sleepeth after war's alarms + On his shield, calm as an infant sleepeth in its mother's arms." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's loyalty.]While the aged king was thus reposing, the +birds and beasts of the forest softly drew near, bidding Frithiof take +advantage of his host's unconsciousness to slay him and recover the bride +of whom he had been unfairly deprived. But although Frithiof understood +the language of birds and beasts, and his hot young heart clamored for his +beloved, he utterly refused to listen to them; and, fearing lest he should +involuntarily harm his trusting host, he impulsively flung his sword far +from him into a neighboring thicket. + +A few moments later Sigurd Ring awoke from his feigned sleep, and after +telling Frithiof that he had recognized him from the first, had tested him +in many ways, and had always found his honor fully equal to his vaunted +courage, he bade him be patient a little longer, for his end was very near, +and said that he would die happy if he could leave Ingeborg, his infant +heir, and his kingdom in such good hands. Then, taking the astonished +Frithiof's arm, Sigurd Ring returned home, where, feeling death draw near, +he dedicated himself anew to Odin by carving the Geirs-odd, or sacrificial +runes, deeply in his aged chest. + + "Bravely he slashes + Odin's red letters, + Blood-runes of heroes, on arm and on breast. + Brightly the splashes + Of life's flowing fetters + Drip from the silver of hair-covered chest." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +When this ceremony was finished, Sigurd Ring laid Ingeborg's hand in +Frithiof's, and, once more commending her to the young hero's loving care, +closed his eyes and breathed his last. + +[Sidenote: Betrothal of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] All the nation assembled to +raise a mound for Sigurd Ring; and by his own request the funeral feast was +closed by a banquet to celebrate the betrothal of Ingeborg and Frithiof. +The latter had won the people's enthusiastic admiration; but when they +would fain have elected him king, Frithiof raised Sigurd Ring's little son +up on his shield and presented him to the assembled nobles as their future +king, publicly swearing to uphold him until he was of age to defend +himself. The child, weary of his cramped position on the shield, boldly +sprang to the ground as soon as Frithiof's speech was ended, and alighted +upon his feet. This act of daring in so small a child was enough to win the +affection and admiration of all his rude subjects. + +According to some accounts, Frithiof now made war against Ingeborg's +brothers, and after conquering them, allowed them to retain their kingdom +only upon condition of their paying him a yearly tribute. Then he and +Ingeborg remained in Ringric until the young king was able to assume the +government, when they repaired to Hordaland, a kingdom Frithiof had +obtained by conquest, and which he left to his sons Gungthiof and Hunthiof. + +[Sidenote: Frithiofs vision.] But according to Tegnér's poem, Frithiof, +soon after his second betrothal to Ingeborg, made a pious pilgrimage to his +father's resting place, and while seated on the latter's funeral mound, +plunged in melancholy and remorse at the sight of the desolation about him, +he was favored by a vision of a new temple, more beautiful than the first, +within whose portals he beheld the three Norns. + + "And lo! reclining on their runic shields + The mighty Nornas now the portal fill; + Three rosebuds fair which the same garden yields, + With aspect serious, but charming still. + Whilst Urda points upon the blackened fields, + The fairy temple Skulda doth reveal. + When Frithiof first his dazzled senses cleared, + Rejoiced, admired, the vision disappeared." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The hero immediately understood that the gods had thus pointed out to him a +means of atonement, and spared neither wealth nor pains to restore Balder's +temple and grove, which soon rose out of the ashes in more than their +former splendor. + +When the temple was all finished, and duly consecrated to Balder's service, +Frithiof received Ingeborg at the altar from her brothers' hands, and ever +after lived on amicable terms with them. + + "Now stepped Halfdan in + Over the brazen threshold, and with wistful look + Stood silent, at a distance from the dreaded one. + Then Frithiof loosed the Harness-hater from his thigh, + Against the altar placed the golden buckler round, + And forward came unarmed to meet his enemy: + 'In such a strife,' thus he commenced, with friendly voice, + 'The noblest he who first extends the hand of peace.' + Then blushed King Halfdan deep, and drew his gauntlet off, + And long-divided hands now firmly clasped each other, + A mighty pressure, steadfast as the mountain's base. + The old man then absolved him from the curse which lay + Upon the Varg i Veum,[1] on the outlawed man. + And as he spake the words, fair Ingeborg came in, + Arrayed in bridal dress, and followed by fair maids, + E'en as the stars escort the moon in heaven's vault. + Whilst tears suffused her soft and lovely eyes, she fell + Into her brother's arms, but deeply moved he led + His cherished sister unto Frithiof's faithful breast, + And o'er the altar of the god she gave her hand + Unto her childhood's friend, the darling of her heart." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Footnote 1: Wolf in the sanctuaries.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +RAGNAR LODBROK. + + + "Last from among the Heroes one came near, + No God, but of the hero troop the chief-- + Regner, who swept the northern sea with fleets, + And ruled o'er Denmark and the heathy isles, + Living; but Ella captured him and slew;-- + A king whose fame then fill'd the vast of Heaven, + Now time obscures it, and men's later deeds." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Balder Dead_. + +[Sidenote: Ragnar Lodbrok saga.] Ragnar Lodbrok, who figures in history as +the contemporary of Charlemagne, is one of the great northern heroes, to +whom many mythical deeds of valor are ascribed. His story has given rise +not only to the celebrated Ragnar Lodbrok saga, so popular in the +thirteenth century, but also to many poems and songs by ancient scalds and +modern poets. The material of the Ragnar Lodbrok saga was probably largely +borrowed from the Volsunga saga and from the saga of Dietrich von Bern, the +chief aim of the ancient composers being to connect the Danish dynasty of +kings with the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and thereby to +prove that their ancestor was no less a person than Odin. + +The hero of this saga was Ragnar, the son of Sigurd Ring and his first +wife, Alfild. According to one version of the story, as we have seen, +Sigurd Ring married Ingeborg, and died, leaving Frithiof to protect his +young son. According to another, Sigurd Ring appointed Ragnar as his +successor, and had him recognized as future ruler by the Thing before he +set out upon his last military expedition. + +This was a quest for a new wife named Alfsol, a princess of Jutland, with +whom, in spite of his advanced years, he had fallen passionately in love. +Her family, however, rudely refused Sigurd Ring's request. When he came to +win his bride by the force of arms, and they saw themselves defeated, they +poisoned Alfsol rather than have her fall alive into the viking's hands. + +Sigurd Ring, finding a corpse where he had hoped to clasp a living and +loving woman, was so overcome with grief that he now resolved to die too. +By his orders Alfsol's body was laid in state on a funeral pyre on his best +ship. Then, when the fire had been kindled, and the ship cut adrift from +its moorings, Sigurd Ring sprang on board, and, stabbing himself, was +burned with the fair maiden he loved. + +Ragnar was but fifteen years old when he found himself called upon to +reign; but just as he outshone all his companions in beauty and +intelligence, so he could match the bravest heroes in courage and daring, +and generally escaped uninjured from every battle, owing to a magic shirt +which his mother had woven for him. + + "'I give thee the long shirt, + Nowhere sewn, + Woven with a loving mind, + Of hair----[obscure word]. + Wounds will not bleed + Nor will edges bite thee + In the holy garment; + It was consecrated to the gods.'" + _Ragnar Lodbrok Saga_. + +Of course the young hero led out his men every summer upon some exciting +viking expedition, to test their courage and supply them with plunder; for +all the northern heroes proudly boasted that the sword was their god and +gold was their goddess. + +[Sidenote: Lodgerda.] On one occasion Ragnar landed in a remote part of +Norway, and having climbed one of the neighboring mountains, he looked down +upon a fruitful valley inhabited by Lodgerda, a warrior maiden who +delighted in the chase and all athletic exercises, and ruled over all that +part of the country. Ragnar immediately resolved to visit this fair maiden; +and, seeing her manifold attractions, he soon fell in love with her and +married her. She joined him in all his active pursuits; but in spite of all +his entreaties, she would not consent to leave her native land and +accompany him home. + +After spending three years in Norway with Lodgerda, the young viking became +restless and unhappy; and learning that his kingdom had been raided during +his prolonged absence, he parted from his wife in hot haste. He pursued his +enemies to Whitaby and to Lym-Fiord, winning a signal victory over them in +both places, and then reentered his capital of Hledra in triumph, amid the +acclamations of his joyful people. + +He had not been resting long upon his newly won laurels when a northern +seer came to his court, and showed him in a magic mirror the image of +Thora, the beautiful daughter of Jarl Herrand in East Gothland. Ragnar, who +evidently considered himself freed from all matrimonial bonds by his wife's +refusal to accompany him home, eagerly questioned the seer concerning the +radiant vision. + +This man then revealed to him that Thora, having at her father's request +carefully brought up a dragon from an egg hatched by a swan, had at last +seen it assume such colossal proportions that it coiled itself all around +the house where she dwelt. Here it watched over her with jealous care, +allowing none to approach except the servant who brought the princess her +meals and who provided an ox daily for the monster's sustenance. Jarl +Herrand had offered Thora's hand in marriage, and immense sums of gold, to +any hero brave enough to slay this dragon; but none dared venture within +reach of its powerful jaws, whence came fire, venom, and noxious vapors. + +Ragnar, who as usual thirsted for adventure, immediately made up his mind +to go and fight this dragon; and, after donning a peculiar leather and +woolen garment, all smeared over with pitch, he attacked and successfully +slew the monster. + + "'Nor long before + In arms I reached the Gothic shore, + To work the loathly serpent's death. + I slew the reptile of the heath.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Origin of name Lodbrok.] In commemoration of this victory, +Ragnar ever after bore also the name of Lodbrok (Leather Hose), although +he laid aside this garment as soon as possible, and appeared in royal +garb, to receive his prize, the beautiful maiden Thora, whom he had +delivered, and whom he now took to be his wife. + + "'My prize was Thora; from that fight, + 'Mongst warriors am I Lodbrock hight. + I pierced the monster's scaly side + With steel, the soldier's wealth and pride.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Thora gladly accompanied Ragnar back to Hledra, lived happily with him for +several years, and bore him two sturdy sons, Agnar and Erik, who soon gave +proof of uncommon courage. Such was Ragnar's devotion to his new wife that +he even forbore to take part in the usual viking expeditions, to linger by +her side. All his love could not long avail to keep her with him, however, +for she soon sickened and died, leaving him an inconsolable widower. + +To divert him from his great sorrow, his subjects finally proposed that he +should resume his former adventurous career, and prevailed upon him to +launch his dragon ship once more and to set sail for foreign shores. Some +time during the cruise their bread supply failed, and Ragnar steered his +vessel into the port of Spangarhede, where he bade his men carry their +flour ashore and ask the people in a hut which he descried there to help +them knead and bake their bread. The sailors obeyed; but when they entered +the lowly hut and saw the filthy old woman who appeared to be its sole +occupant, they hesitated to bespeak her aid. + +While they were deliberating what they should do, a beautiful girl, poorly +clad, but immaculately clean, entered the hut; and the old woman, +addressing her as Krake (Crow), bade her see what the strangers wanted. +They told her, and admiringly watched her as she deftly fashioned the dough +into loaves and slipped them into the hot oven. She bade the sailors watch +them closely, lest they should burn; but these men forgot all about their +loaves to gaze upon her as she flitted about the house, and the result was +that their bread was badly burned. + +When they returned to the vessel, Ragnar Lodbrok reproved them severely for +their carelessness, until the men, to justify themselves, began describing +the maiden Krake in such glowing terms that the chief finally expressed a +desire to see her. With the view of testing her wit and intelligence, as +well as her beauty, Ragnar sent a message bidding her appear before him +neither naked nor clad, neither alone nor unaccompanied, neither fasting +nor yet having partaken of any food. + +This singular message was punctually delivered, and Krake, who was as +clever as beautiful, soon presented herself, with a fish net wound several +times around her graceful form, her sheep dog beside her, and the odor of +the leek she had bitten into still hovering over her ruby lips. + +Ragnar, charmed by her ingenuity no less than by her extreme beauty, then +and there proposed to marry her. But Krake, who was not to be so lightly +won, declared that he must first prove the depth of his affection by +remaining constant to her for one whole year, at the end of which time she +would marry him if he still cared to claim her hand. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Ragnar and Krake.] The year passed by; Ragnar +returned to renew his suit, and Krake, satisfied that she had inspired no +momentary passion, forsook the aged couple and accompanied the great viking +to Hledra, where she became queen of Denmark. She bore Ragnar four +sons--Ivar, Björn, Hvitserk, and Rogenwald,--who from earliest infancy +longed to emulate the prowess of their father, Ragnar, and of their +step-brothers, Erik and Agnar, who even in their youth were already great +vikings. + +The Danes, however, had never fully approved of Ragnar's last marriage, and +murmured frequently because they were obliged to obey a lowborn queen, and +one who bore the vulgar name of Krake. Little by little these murmurs grew +louder, and finally they came to Ragnar's ears while he was visiting +Eystein, King of Svithiod (Sweden). Craftily his courtiers went to work, +and finally prevailed upon him to sue for the princess's hand. He did so, +and left Sweden promising to divorce Krake when he reached home, and to +return as soon as possible to claim his bride. + +As Ragnar entered the palace at Hledra, Krake came, as usual, to meet him. +His conscience smote him, and he answered all her tender inquiries so +roughly that she suddenly turned and asked him why he had made arrangements +to divorce her and take a new wife. Surprised at her knowledge, for he +fancied the matter still a secret, Ragnar Lodbrok asked who had told her. +Thereupon Krake explained that, feeling anxious about him, she had sent her +pet magpies after him, and that the birds had come home and revealed all. + +[Sidenote: Aslaug.] This answer, which perhaps gave rise to the common +expression, "A little bird told me," greatly astonished Ragnar. He was +about to try to excuse himself when Krake, drawing herself up proudly, +declared that while she was perfectly ready to depart, it was but just that +he should now learn that her extraction was far less humble than he +thought. She then proceeded to tell him that her real name was Aslaug, and +that she was the daughter of Sigurd Fafnisbane (the slayer of Fafnir) and +the beautiful Valkyr Brunhild. Her grandfather, or her foster father, +Heimir, to protect her from the foes who would fain have taken her life, +had hidden her in his hollow harp when she was but a babe. He had tenderly +cared for her until he was treacherously murdered by peasants, who had +found her in the hollow harp instead of the treasure they sought there. + + "Let be--as ancient stories tell-- + Full knowledge upon Ragnar fell + In lapse of time, that this was she + Begot in the felicity + Swift-fleeting of the wondrous twain, + Who afterwards through change and pain + Must live apart to meet in death." + WILLIAM MORRIS, _The Fostering of Aslaug_. + +In proof of her assertion, Aslaug then produced a ring and a letter which +had belonged to her illustrious mother, and foretold that her next child, a +son, would bear the image of a dragon in his right eye, as a sign that he +was a grandson of the Dragon Slayer, whose memory was honored by all. + +Convinced of the truth of these statements, Ragnar no longer showed any +desire to repudiate his wife; but, on the contrary, he besought her to +remain with him, and bade his subjects call her Aslaug. + +[Sidenote: Sigurd the Snake-eyed.] Shortly after this reconciliation the +queen gave birth to a fifth son, who, as she had predicted, came into the +world with a peculiar birthmark, to which he owed his name--Sigurd the +Snake-eyed. As it was customary for kings to intrust their sons to some +noted warrior to foster, this child was given to the celebrated Norman +pirate, Hastings, who, as soon as his charge had attained a suitable age, +taught him the art of viking warfare, and took him, with his four elder +brothers, to raid the coasts of all the southern countries. + +Ivar, the eldest of Ragnar and Aslaug's sons, although crippled from birth, +and unable to walk a step, was always ready to join in the fray, into the +midst of which he was borne on a shield. From this point of vantage he shot +arrow after arrow, with fatal accuracy of aim. As he had employed much of +his leisure time in learning runes[1] and all kinds of magic arts, he was +often of great assistance to his brothers, who generally chose him leader +of their expeditions. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, +p. 39.] + +While Ragnar's five sons were engaged in fighting the English at Whitaby to +punish them for plundering and setting fire to some Danish ships, Rogenwald +fell to rise no more. + +[Sidenote: The enchanted cow.] Eystein, the Swedish king, now assembled a +large army and declared war against the Danes, because their monarch had +failed to return at the appointed time and claim the bride for whom he had +sued. Ragnar would fain have gone forth to meet the enemy in person, but +Agnar and Erik, his two eldest sons, craved permission to go in his stead. +They met the Swedish king, but in spite of their valor they soon succumbed +to an attack made by an enchanted cow. + + "'We smote with swords; at dawn of day + Hundred spearmen gasping lay, + Bent beneath the arrowy strife. + Egill reft my son of life; + Too soon my Agnar's youth was spent, + The scabbard thorn his bosom rent.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Ragnar was about to sally forth to avenge them, when Hastings and the other +sons returned. Then Aslaug prevailed upon her husband to linger by her side +and delegate the duty of revenge to his sons. In this battle Ivar made use +of his magic to slay Eystein's cow, which could make more havoc than an +army of warriors. His brothers, having slain Eystein and raided the +country, then sailed off to renew their depredations elsewhere. + +This band of vikings visited the coasts of England, Ireland, France, Italy, +Greece, and the Greek isles, plundering, murdering, and burning wherever +they went. Assisted by Hastings, the brothers took Wiflisburg (probably the +Roman Aventicum), and even besieged Luna in Etruria. + +[Illustration: STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller.] + +As this city was too strongly fortified and too well garrisoned to yield to +an assault, the Normans (as all the northern pirates were indiscriminately +called in the South) resolved to secure it by stratagem. They therefore +pretended that Hastings, their leader, was desperately ill, and induced a +bishop to come out of the town to baptize him, so that he might die in the +Christian faith. Three days later they again sent a herald to say that +Hastings had died, and that his last wish had been to be buried in a +Christian church. They therefore asked permission to enter the city +unarmed, and bear their leader to his last resting place, promising not +only to receive baptism, but also to endow with great wealth the church +where Hastings was buried. + +[Sidenote: Hastings's stratagem.] The inhabitants of Luna, won by these +specious promises, immediately opened their gates, and the funeral +procession filed solemnly into the city. But, in the midst of the mass, the +coffin lid flew open, and Hastings sprang out, sword in hand, and killed +the officiating bishop and priests. This example was followed by his +soldiers, who produced the weapons they had concealed upon their persons, +and slew all the inhabitants of the town. + +These lawless invaders were about to proceed to Romaburg (Rome), and sack +that city also, but were deterred by a pilgrim whom they met. He told them +that the city was so far away that he had worn out two pairs of iron-soled +shoes in coming from thence. The Normans, believing this tale, which was +only a stratagem devised by the quick-witted pilgrim, spared the Eternal +City, and, reembarking in their vessels, sailed home. + +Ragnar Lodbrok, in the mean while, had not been inactive, but had continued +his adventurous career, winning numerous battles, and bringing home much +plunder to enrich his kingdom and subjects. + + "'I have fought battles + Fifty and one + Which were famous; + I have wounded many men.'" + _Ragnar's Sons' Saga_. + +The hero's last expedition was against Ella, King of Northumberland. From +the very outset the gods seemed to have decided that Ragnar should not +prove as successful as usual. The poets tell us that they even sent the +Valkyrs (battle maidens of northern mythology) to warn him of his coming +defeat, and to tell him of the bliss awaiting him in Valhalla. + + "'Regner! tell thy fair-hair'd bride + She must slumber at thy side! + Tell the brother of thy breast + Even for him thy grave hath rest! + Tell the raven steed which bore thee + When the wild wolf fled before thee, + He too with his lord must fall,-- + There is room in Odin's Hall!'" + MRS. HEMANS, _Valkyriur Song_. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ragnar Lodbrok.] In spite of this warning, Ragnar went +on. Owing to the magic shirt he wore, he stood unharmed in the midst of the +slain long after all his brave followers had perished; and it was only +after a whole day's fighting that the enemy finally succeeded in making him +a prisoner. Then the followers of Ella vainly besought Ragnar to speak and +tell his name. As he remained obstinately silent they finally flung him +into a den of snakes, where the reptiles crawled all over him, vainly +trying to pierce the magic shirt with their venomous fangs. Ella perceived +at last that it was this garment which preserved his captive from death, +and had it forcibly removed. Ragnar was then thrust back amid the writhing, +hissing snakes, which bit him many times. Now that death was near, the +hero's tongue was loosened, not to give vent to weak complaints, but to +chant a triumphant death song, in which he recounted his manifold battles, +and foretold that his brave sons would avenge his cruel death. + + "'Grim stings the adder's forked dart; + The vipers nestle in my heart. + But soon, I wot, shall Vider's wand, + Fixed in Ella's bosom stand. + My youthful sons with rage will swell, + Listening how their father fell; + Those gallant boys in peace unbroken + Will never rest, till I be wroken [avenged].'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +This heroic strain has been immortalized by ancient scalds and modern +poets. They have all felt the same admiration for the dauntless old viking, +who, even amid the pangs of death, gloried in his past achievements, and +looked ardently forward to his sojourn in Valhalla. There, he fancied, he +would still be able to indulge in warfare, his favorite pastime, and would +lead the einheriar (spirits of dead warriors) to their daily battles. + + "'Cease, my strain! I hear a voice + From realms where martial souls rejoice; + I hear the maids of slaughter call, + Who bid me hence to Odin's hall: + High seated in their blest abodes + I soon shall quaff the drink of gods. + The hours of life have glided by; + I fall, but smiling shall I die.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Founding of London.] Ragnar Lodbrok's sons had reached home, and +were peacefully occupied in playing chess, when a messenger came to +announce their father's sad end. In their impatience to avenge him they +started out without waiting to collect a large force, and in spite of many +inauspicious omens. Ella, who expected them, met them with a great host, +composed not only of all his own subjects but also of many allies, among +whom was King Alfred. In spite of their valor the Normans were completely +defeated by the superior forces of the enemy, and only a few of them +survived. Ivar and his remaining followers consented to surrender at last, +provided that Ella would atone for their losses by giving them as much land +as an oxhide would inclose. This seemingly trifling request was granted +without demur, nor could the king retract his promise when he saw that the +oxhide, cut into tiny strips, inclosed a vast space of land, upon which the +Normans now proceeded to construct an almost impregnable fortress, called +Lunduna Burg (London). + +Here Ivar took up his permanent abode, while his brothers returned to +Hledra. Little by little he alienated the affections of Ella's subjects, +and won them over to him by rich gifts and artful flattery. When sure of +their allegiance, he incited them to revolt against the king; and as he had +solemnly sworn never to bear arms against Ella, he kept the letter of his +promise by sending for his brothers to act as their leaders. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ella.] As a result of this revolution Ella was made +prisoner. Then the fierce vikings stretched him out upon one of those rude +stone altars which can still be seen in England, and ruthlessly avenged +their father's cruel death by cutting the bloody eagle upon him.[1] After +Ella's death, Ivar became even more powerful than before, while his younger +brothers continued their viking expeditions, took an active part in all the +piratical incursions of the time, and even, we are told, besieged Paris in +the reign of Louis the Fat. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern +Lands, p. 85.] + +Other Danish and Scandinavian vikings were equally venturesome and +successful, and many eventually settled in the lands which they had +conquered. Among these was the famous Rollo (Rolf Ganger), who, too +gigantic in stature to ride horseback, always went on foot. He settled with +his followers in a fertile province in northern France, which owes to them +its name of Normandy. + +The rude independence of the Northmen is well illustrated by their behavior +when called to court to do homage for this new fief. Rollo was directed to +place both his hands between those of the king, and take his vow of +allegiance; so he submitted with indifferent grace. But when he was told +that he must conclude the ceremony by kissing the monarch's foot, he +obstinately refused to do so. A proxy was finally suggested, and Rollo, +calling one of his Berserkers, bade him take his place. The stalwart giant +strode forward, but instead of kneeling, he grasped the king's foot and +raised it to his lips. As the king did not expect such a jerk, he lost his +balance and fell heavily backward. All the Frenchmen present were, of +course, scandalized; but the barbarian refused to make any apology, and +strode haughtily out of the place, vowing he would never come to court +again. + +All the northern pirates were, as we have seen, called Normans. They did +not all settle in the North, however, for many of them found their way into +Italy, and even to Constantinople. There they formed the celebrated +Varangian Guard, and faithfully watched over the safety of the emperor. It +was probably one of these soldiers who traced the runes upon the stone lion +which was subsequently transferred to Venice, where it now adorns the +Piazza of St. Mark's. + + "Rose the Norseman chief Hardrada, like a lion from his lair; + His the fearless soul to conquer, his the willing soul to dare. + Gathered Skald and wild Varingar, where the raven banner shone, + And the dread steeds of the ocean, left the Northland's frozen zone." + VAIL, _Marri's Vision_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +THE CID. + + +[Sidenote: Ballads of the Cid.] The ballads of the Cid, which number about +two hundred, and some of which are of undoubted antiquity, were not +committed to writing until the twelfth century, when a poem of about three +thousand lines was composed. This poem, descriptive of a national hero's +exploits, was probably written about half a century after his death. The +earliest manuscript of it now extant bears the date either 1245 or 1345. +The Cid was a real personage, named Rodrigo Diaz, or Ruy Diaz. He was born +in Burgos, in the eleventh century, and won the name of "Cid" (Conqueror) +by defeating five Moorish kings, when Spain had been in the hands of the +Arabs for more than three centuries. + + "Mighty victor, never vanquish'd, + Bulwark of our native land, + Shield of Spain, her boast and glory, + Knight of the far-dreaded brand, + Venging scourge of Moors and traitors, + Mighty thunderbolt of war, + Mirror bright of chivalry, + Ruy, my Cid Campeador!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Rodrigo was still a young and untried warrior when his aged father, Diego +Laynez, was grossly and publicly insulted by Don Gomez, who gave him a blow +in the face. Diego was far too feeble to seek the usual redress, arms in +hand; but the insult rankled deep in his heart, preventing him from either +sleeping or eating, and imbittering every moment of his life. + + "Sleep was banish'd from his eyelids; + Not a mouthful could he taste; + There he sat with downcast visage,-- + Direly had he been disgrac'd. + + "Never stirr'd he from his chamber; + With no friends would he converse, + Lest the breath of his dishonor + Should pollute them with its curse." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Don Gomez slain by Rodrigo.] At last, however, Diego confessed +his shame to his son Rodrigo, who impetuously vowed to avenge him. Armed +with his father's cross-hilted sword, and encouraged by his solemn +blessing, Rodrigo marched into the hall of Don Gomez, and challenged him to +fight. In spite of his youth, Rodrigo conducted himself so bravely in this +his first encounter that he slew his opponent, and by shedding his blood +washed out the stain upon his father's honor, according to the chivalric +creed of the time. Then, to convince Diego that he had been duly avenged, +the young hero cut off the head of Don Gomez, and triumphantly laid it +before him. + + "'Ne'er again thy foe can harm thee; + All his pride is now laid low; + Vain his hand is now to smite thee, + And this tongue is silent now.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Defeat of the Moors.] Happy once more, old Diego again left +home, and went to King Ferdinand's court, where he bade Rodrigo do homage +to the king. The proud youth obeyed this command with indifferent grace, +and his bearing was so defiant that the frightened monarch banished him +from his presence. Rodrigo therefore departed with three hundred kindred +spirits. He soon encountered the Moors, who were invading Castile, defeated +them in battle, took five of their kings prisoners, and released them only +after they had promised to pay tribute and to refrain from further warfare. +They were so grateful for their liberty that they pledged themselves to do +his will, and departed, calling him "Cid," the name by which he was +thenceforth known. + +As Rodrigo had delivered the land from a great danger, King Ferdinand now +restored him to favor and gave him an honorable place among his courtiers, +who, however, were all somewhat inclined to be jealous of the fame the +young man had won. Shortly after his triumphant return, Doña Ximena, +daughter of Don Gomez, also appeared in Burgos, and, falling at the king's +feet, demanded justice. Then, seeing the Cid among the courtiers, she +vehemently denounced him for having slain her father, and bade him take her +life also, as she had no wish to survive a parent whom she adored. + + "'Thou hast slain the best and bravest + That e'er set a lance in rest; + Of our holy faith the bulwark,-- + Terror of each Paynim breast. + + "'Traitorous murderer, slay me also! + Though a woman, slaughter me! + Spare not--I'm Ximena Gomez, + Thine eternal enemy! + + "'Here's my throat--smite, I beseech thee! + Smite, and fatal be thy blow! + Death is all I ask, thou caitiff,-- + Grant this boon unto thy foe.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +As this denunciation and appeal remained without effect (for the king had +been too well served by the Cid to listen to any accusation against him), +the distressed damsel departed, only to return to court three times upon +the same fruitless errand. During this time the valor and services of the +Cid had been so frequently discussed in her presence that on her fifth +visit to Ferdinand she consented to forego all further thoughts of +vengeance, if the king would but order the young hero to marry her instead. + + "'I am daughter of Don Gomez, + Count of Gormaz was he hight, + Him Rodrigo by his valor + Did o'erthrow in mortal fight. + + "'King, I come to crave a favor-- + This the boon for which I pray, + That thou give me this Rodrigo + For my wedded lord this day.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Marriage of the Cid.] The king, who had suspected for some time +past that the Cid had fallen in love with his fair foe, immediately sent +for him. Rodrigo entered the city with his suite of three hundred men, +proposed marriage to Ximena, and was accepted on the spot. His men then +proceeded to array him richly for his wedding, and bound on him his famous +sword Tizona, which he had won from the Moors. The marriage was celebrated +with much pomp and rejoicing, the king giving Rodrigo the cities of +Valduerna, Soldañia, Belforado, and San Pedro de Cardeña as a marriage +portion. When the marriage ceremony was finished, Rodrigo, wishing to show +his wife all honor, declared that he would not rest until he had won five +battles, and would only then really consider himself entitled, to claim her +love. + + "'A man I slew--a man I give thee-- + Here I stand thy will to bide! + Thou, in place of a dead father, + Hast a husband at thy side.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's piety.] Before beginning this war, however, the Cid +remembered a vow he had made; and, accompanied by twenty brave young +hidalgos, he set out for a pious pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the +shrine of the patron saint of Spain. On his way thither he frequently +distributed alms, paused to recite a prayer at every church and wayside +shrine, and, meeting a leper, ate, drank, and even slept with him in a +village inn. When Rodrigo awoke in the middle of the night, he found his +bedfellow gone, but was favored by a vision of St. Lazarus, who praised his +charity, and promised him great temporal prosperity and eternal life. + + "'Life shall bring thee no dishonor-- + Thou shalt ever conqueror be; + Death shall find thee still victorious, + For God's blessing rests on thee.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +When his pilgrimage was ended, Rodrigo further showed his piety by setting +aside a large sum of money for the establishment of a leper house, which, +in honor of the saint who visited him, was called "St. Lazarus." He then +hastened off to Calahorra, a frontier town of Castile and Aragon, which was +a bone of contention between two monarchs. + +Just before the Cid's arrival, Don Ramiro of Aragon had arranged with +Ferdinand of Castile that their quarrel should be decided by a duel between +two knights. Don Ramiro therefore selected as his champion Martin Gonzalez, +while Ferdinand intrusted his cause to the Cid. The duel took place; and +when the two champions found themselves face to face, Martin Gonzalez began +to taunt Rodrigo, telling him that he would never again be able to mount +his favorite steed Babieça, or see his wife, as he was doomed to die. + + "'Sore, Rodrigo, must thou tremble + Now to meet me in the fight, + Since thy head will soon be sever'd + For a trophy of my might. + + "'Never more to thine own castle + Wilt thou turn Babieça's rein; + Never will thy lov'd Ximena + See thee at her side again.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This boasting did not in the least dismay the Cid, who fought so bravely +that he defeated Martin Gonzalez, and won such plaudits that the jealousy +of the Castilian knights was further excited. In their envy they even +plotted with the Moors to slay Rodrigo by treachery. This plan did not +succeed, however, because the Moorish kings whom he had captured and +released gave him a timely warning of the threatening danger. + +The king, angry at this treachery, banished the jealous courtiers, and, +aided by Rodrigo, defeated the hostile Moors in Estremadura. There the +Christian army besieged Coimbra in vain for seven whole months, and were +about to give up in despair of securing the city, when St. James appeared +to a pilgrim, promising his help on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Battle cry of the Spaniards.] When the battle began, the +Christian knights were fired by the example of a radiant warrior, mounted +on a snow-white steed, who led them into the thickest of the fray and +helped them win a signal victory. This knight, whom no one recognized as +one of their own warriors, was immediately hailed as St. James, and it was +his name which the Spaniards then and there adopted as their favorite +battle cry. + +The city of Coimbra having been taken, Don Rodrigo was duly knighted by the +king; while the queen and princesses vied with one another in helping him +don the different pieces of his armor, for they too were anxious to show +how highly they valued his services. + +After a few more victories over his country's enemies, the triumphant Cid +returned to Zamora, where Ximena, his wife, was waiting for him, and where +the five Moorish kings sent not only the promised tribute, but rich gifts +to their generous conqueror. Although the Cid rejoiced in these tokens, he +gave all the tribute and the main part of the spoil to Ferdinand, his liege +lord, for he considered the glory of success a sufficient reward for +himself. + +While the Cid was thus resting upon his laurels, a great council had been +held at Florence, where the Emperor (Henry III.) of Germany complained to +the Pope that King Ferdinand had not done him homage for his crown, and +that he refused to acknowledge his superiority. The Pope immediately sent a +message to King Ferdinand asking for homage and tribute, and threatening a +crusade in case of disobedience. This unwelcome message greatly displeased +the Spanish ruler, and roused the indignation of the Cid, who declared that +his king was the vassal of no monarch, and offered to fight any one who +dared maintain a contrary opinion. + + "'Never yet have we done homage-- + Shall we to a stranger bow? + Great the honor God hath given us-- + Shall we lose that honor now? + + "'Send then to the Holy Father, + Proudly thus to him reply-- + Thou, the king, and I, Rodrigo, + Him and all his power defy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This challenge was sent to the Pope, who, not averse to having the question +settled by the judgment of God, bade the emperor send a champion to meet +Rodrigo. This imperial champion was of course defeated, and all King +Ferdinand's enemies were so grievously routed by the ever-victorious Cid +that no further demands of homage or tribute were ever made. + +Old age had now come on, and King Ferdinand, after receiving divine warning +of his speedy demise, died. He left Castile to his eldest son, Don Sancho, +Leon to Don Alfonso, Galicia to Don Garcia, and gave his daughters, Doña +Urraca and Doña Elvira, the wealthy cities of Zamora and Toro. Of course +this disposal of property did not prove satisfactory to all his heirs, and +Don Sancho was especially displeased, because he coveted the whole realm. +He, however, had the Cid to serve him, and selected this doughty champion +to accompany him on a visit to Rome, knowing that he would brook no insult +to his lord. These previsions were fully justified, for the Cid, on +noticing that a less exalted seat had been prepared for Don Sancho than for +the King of France, became so violent that the Pope excommunicated him. But +when the seats had been made of even height, the Cid, who was a good +Catholic, humbled himself before the Pope, and the latter, knowing the +hero's value as a bulwark against the heathen Moors, immediately granted +him full absolution. + + "'I absolve thee, Don Ruy Diaz, + I absolve thee cheerfully, + If, while at my court, thou showest + Due respect and courtesy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid Campeador.] On his return to Castile, Don Sancho found +himself threatened by his namesake, the King of Navarre, and by Don Ramiro +of Aragon. They both invaded Castile, but were ignominously repulsed by the +Cid. As some of the Moors had helped the invaders, the Cid next proceeded +to punish them, and gave up the siege of Saragossa only when the +inhabitants made terms with him. This campaign won for the Cid the title of +"Campeador" (Champion), which he well deserved, as he was always ready to +do battle for his king. + +While Don Sancho and his invaluable ally were thus engaged, Don Garcia, +King of Galicia, who was also anxious to increase his kingdom, deprived his +sister Doña Urraca of her city of Zamora. In her distress the infanta came +to Don Sancho and made her lament, thereby affording him the long-sought +pretext to wage war against his brother, and rob him of his kingdom. + +This war, in which the Cid reluctantly joined, threatened at one time to +have serious consequences for Sancho. He even once found himself a prisoner +of Garcia's army, shortly after Garcia had been captured by his. The Cid, +occupied in another part of the field, no sooner heard of this occurrence +than he hastened to the Galician nobles to offer an exchange of prisoners; +but, as they rejected his offer with contempt, he soon left them in anger. + + "'Hie thee hence, Rodrigo Diaz, + An thou love thy liberty; + Lest, with this thy king, we take thee + Into dire captivity.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The wrath which the Cid Campeador experienced at this discourteous +treatment so increased his usual strength that he soon put the enemy to +flight, recovered possession of his king, and not only made Don Garcia a +prisoner, but also secured Don Alfonso who had joined in the revolt. Don +Garcia was sent in chains to the castle of Luna, where he eventually died, +entreating that he might be buried, with his fetters, in the city of Leon. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso at Toledo.] As for Don Alfonso, Doña Urraca pleaded his +cause so successfully that he was allowed to retire into a monastery, +whence he soon effected his escape and joined the Moors at Toledo. There he +became the companion and ally of Alimaymon, learned all his secrets, and +once, during a pretended nap, overheard the Moor state that even Toledo +could be taken by the Christians, provided they had the patience to begin a +seven-years' siege, and to destroy all the harvests so as to reduce the +people to starvation. The information thus accidentally obtained proved +invaluable to Alfonso, as will be seen, and enabled him subsequently to +drive the Moors out of the city Toledo. + +In the mean while Sancho, not satisfied with his triple kingdom, robbed +Doña Elvira of Toro, and began to besiege Doña Urraca in Zamora, which he +hoped to take also in spite of it almost impregnable position. + + "'See! where on yon cliff Zamora + Lifteth up her haughty brow; + Walls of strength on high begird her, + Duero swift and deep below.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, utterly regardless of the Cid's openly expressed opinion that it +was unworthy of a knight to attempt to deprive a woman of her inheritance, +now bade him carry a message to Doña Urraca, summoning her to surrender at +once. The hero went reluctantly, but only to be bitterly reproached by +Urraca. She dismissed him after consulting her assembled people, who vowed +to die ere they would surrender. + + "Then did swear all her brave vassals + In Zamora's walls to die, + Ere unto the king they'd yield it, + And disgrace their chivalry." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siege of Zamora.] This message so enraged Don Sancho that he +banished the Cid. The latter departed for Toledo, whence he was soon +recalled, however, for his monarch could do nothing without him. Thus +restored to favor, the Cid began the siege of Zamora, which lasted so long +that the inhabitants began to suffer all the pangs of famine. + +At last a Zamoran by the name of Vellido (Bellido) Dolfos came out of the +town in secret, and, under pretense of betraying the city into Don Sancho's +hands, obtained a private interview with him. Dolfos availed himself of +this opportunity to murder the king, and rushed back to the city before the +crime was discovered. He entered the gates just in time to escape from the +Cid, who had mounted hastily, without spurs, and thus could not urge +Babieça on to his utmost speed and overtake the murderer. + + "'Cursed be the wretch! and cursed + He who mounteth without spur! + Had I arm'd my heels with rowels, + I had slain the treacherous cur.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The grief in the camp at the violent death of the king was very great. Don +Diego Ordoñez immediately sent a challenge to Don Arìas Gonzalo, who, while +accepting the combat for his son, swore that none of the Zamorans knew of +the dastardly deed, which Dolfos alone had planned. + + "'Fire consume us, Count Gonzalo, + If in this we guilty be! + None of us within Zamora + Of this deed had privity. + + "'Dolfos only is the traitor; + None but he the king did slay. + Thou canst safely go to battle, + God will be thy shield and stay.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This oath was confirmed by the outcome of the duel, and none of the +besiegers ever again ventured to doubt the honor of the Zamorans. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso king.] As Don Sancho had left no children to inherit his +kingdom, it came by right of inheritance to Don Alfonso, who was still at +Toledo, a nominal guest, but in reality a prisoner. Doña Urraca, who was +deeply attached to her brother, now managed to convey to him secret +information of Don Sancho's death, and Don Alfonso cleverly effected his +escape, turning his pursuers off his track by reversing his horse's shoes. +When he arrived at Zamora, all were ready to do him homage except the Cid, +who proudly held aloof until Don Alfonso had publicly sworn that he had not +bribed Dolfos to commit the dastardly crime which had called him to the +throne. + + "'Wherefore, if thou be but guiltless, + Straight I pray of thee to swear,-- + Thou and twelve of these thy liegemen, + Who with thee in exile were,-- + That in thy late brother's death + Thou hadst neither part nor share + That none of ye to his murder + Privy or consenting were.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, angry at being thus called upon to answer for his conduct to a +mere subject, viewed the Cid with great dislike, and only awaited a +suitable occasion to take his revenge. During a war with the Moors he made +use of a trifling pretext to banish him, allowing him only nine days to +prepare for departure. The Cid accepted this cruel decree with dignity, +hoping that the time would never come when the king would regret his +absence, and his country need his right arm. + + "'I obey, O King Alfonso, + Guilty though in naught I be, + For it doth behoove a vassal + To obey his lord's decree; + Prompter far am I to serve thee + Than thou art to guerdon me. + + "'I do pray our Holy Lady + Her protection to afford, + That thou never mayst in battle + Need the Cid's right arm and sword.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Amid the weeping people of Burgos, who dared not offer him help and shelter +lest they should incur the king's wrath, lose all their property, and even +forfeit their eyesight, the Cid slowly rode away, and camped without the +city to make his final arrangements. Here a devoted follower supplied him +with the necessary food, remarking that he cared "not a fig" for Alfonso's +prohibitions, which is probably the first written record of the use of this +now popular expression. + +[Sidenote: The Cid in exile.] To obtain the necessary money the Cid pledged +two locked coffers full of sand to the Jews. They, thinking that the boxes +contained vast treasures, or relying upon the Cid's promise to release them +for a stipulated sum, advanced him six hundred marks of gold. The Cid then +took leave of his beloved wife Ximena, and of his two infant daughters, +whom he intrusted to the care of a worthy ecclesiastic, and, followed by +three hundred men, he rode slowly away from his native land, vowing that he +would yet return, covered with glory, and bringing great spoil. + + "'Comrades, should it please high Heaven + That we see Castile once more,-- + Though we now go forth as outcasts, + Sad, dishonor'd, homeless, poor,-- + We'll return with glory laden + And the spellings of the Moor.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Such success attended the little band of exiles that within the next three +weeks they won two strongholds from the Moors, and much spoil, among which +was the sword Colada, which was second only to Tizona. From the spoil the +Cid selected a truly regal present, which he sent to Alfonso, who in return +granted a general pardon to the Cid's followers, and published an edict +allowing all who wished to fight against the Moors to join him. A few more +victories and another present so entirely dispelled Alfonso's displeasure +that he restored the Cid to favor, and, moreover, promised that thereafter +thirty days should be allowed to every exile to prepare for his departure. + +When Alimaymon, King of Toledo, died, leaving Toledo in the hands of his +grandson Yahia, who was generally disliked, Alfonso thought the time +propitious for carrying out his long-cherished scheme of taking the city. +Thanks to the valor of the Cid and the destruction of all the crops, the +siege of the city progressed favorably, and it finally fell into the hands +of the Christian king. + +A second misunderstanding, occasioned principally by the jealous courtiers, +caused Alfonso to insult the Cid, who in anger left the army and made a +sudden raid in Castile. During his absence, the Moors resumed courage, and +became masters of Valencia. Hearing of this disaster, the Cid promptly +returned, recaptured the city, and, establishing his headquarters there, +asked Alfonso to send him his wife and daughters. At the same time he sent +more than the promised sum of money to the Jews to redeem the chests which, +as they now first learned, were filled with nothing but sand. + + "'Say, albeit within the coffers + Naught but sand they can espy, + That the pure gold of my truth + Deep beneath that sand doth lie."' + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Counts of Carrion.] As the Cid was now master of Valencia +and of untold wealth, his daughters were soon sought in marriage by many +suitors. Among them were the Counts of Carrion, whose proposals were warmly +encouraged by Alfonso. To please his royal master, the Cid consented to an +alliance with them, and the marriage of both his daughters was celebrated +with much pomp. In the "Chronicle of the Cid," compiled from all the +ancient ballads, these festivities are recorded thus: "Who can tell the +great nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding! the feasts and the +bullfights, and the throwing at the target, and the throwing canes, and how +many joculars were there, and all the sports which are proper at such +weddings!" + +Pleased with their sumptuous entertainment, the Infantes of Carrion +lingered at Valencia two years, during which time the Cid had ample +opportunity to convince himself that they were not the brave and upright +husbands he would fain have secured for his daughters. In fact, all soon +became aware of the young men's cowardice, for when a lion broke loose from +the Cid's private menagerie and entered the hall where he was sleeping, +while his guests were playing chess, the princes fled, one falling into an +empty vat in his haste, and the other taking refuge behind the Cid's couch. +Awakened by the noise, the Cid seized his sword, twisted his cloak around +his arm, and, grasping the lion by its mane, thrust it back into its cage, +and calmly returned to his place. + + "Till the good Cid awoke; he rose without alarm; + He went to meet the lion, with his mantle on his arm. + The lion was abash'd the noble Cid to meet, + He bow'd his mane to earth, his muzzle at his feet. + The Cid by the neck and mane drew him to his den, + He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again; + He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men. + He ask'd for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there." + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +This cowardly conduct of the Infantes of Carrion could not fail to call +forth some gibes from the Cid's followers. The young men, however, +concealed their anger, biding their time to take their revenge. During the +siege of Valencia, which took place shortly after this adventure, the +Infantes did not manage to show much courage either; and it was only +through the kindness of Felez Muñoz, a nephew of the Cid, that one of them +could exhibit a war horse which he falsely claimed to have taken from the +enemy. + +Thanks to the valor of the Cid, the Moors were driven away from Valencia +with great loss, and peace was restored. The Infantes of Carrion then asked +permission to return home with their brides, and the spoil and presents the +Cid had given them, among which were the swords Colada and Tizona. The Cid +escorted them part way on their journey, bade farewell to his daughters +with much sorrow, and returned alone to Valencia, which appeared deserted +without the presence of the children he loved. + + "The Cid he parted from his daughters, + Naught could he his grief disguise; + As he clasped them to his bosom, + Tears did stream from out his eyes." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Cruelty of Infantes of Carrion.] After journeying on for some +time with their brides and Felez Muñoz, who was acting as escort, the +Infantes of Carrion camped near the Douro. Early the next day they sent all +their suite ahead, and, being left alone with their wives, stripped them of +their garments, lashed them with thorns, kicked them with their spurs, and +finally left them for dead on the blood-stained ground, and rode on to join +their escort. Suspecting foul play, and fearing the worst, Felez Muñoz +cleverly managed to separate himself from the party, and, riding swiftly +back to the banks of the Douro, found his unhappy cousins in a sorry +plight. He tenderly cared for their wounds, placed them upon his horse, and +took them to the house of a poor man, whose wife and daughters undertook to +nurse them, while Felez Muñoz hastened back to Valencia to tell the Cid +what had occurred. The Cid Campeador then swore that he would be avenged; +and as Alfonso was responsible for the marriage, he applied to him for +redress. + + "'Lo! my daughters have been outrag'd! + For thine own, thy kingdom's sake, + Look, Alfonso, to mine honor! + Vengeance thou or I must take.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, who had by this time learned to value the Cid's services, was +very angry when he heard how the Infantes of Carrion had insulted their +wives, and immediately summoned them to appear before the Cortes, the +Spanish assembly, at Toledo, and justify themselves, if it were possible. +The Cid was also summoned to the same assembly, where he began by claiming +the two precious blades Tizona and Colada, and the large dowry he had given +with his daughters. Then he challenged the young cowards to fight. When +questioned, they tried to excuse themselves by declaring that the Cid's +daughters, being of inferior birth, were not fit to mate with them. + +[Sidenote: Embassy from Navarre.] The falseness of this excuse was shown, +however, by an embassy from Navarre, asking the hands of the Cid's +daughters for the Infantes of that kingdom, who were far superior in rank +to the Infantes of Carrion. The Cid consented to this new alliance, and +after a combat had been appointed between three champions of his selection +and the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle, he prepared to return home. + +As proof of his loyalty, however, he offered to give to Alfonso his +favorite steed Babieça, an offer which the king wisely refused, telling him +that the best of warriors alone deserved that peerless war horse. + + "''Tis the noble Babieça that is fam'd for speed and force, + Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one, + My Sovereign, Lord, and Sire, he is fit for you alone; + Give orders to your people, and take him for your own.' + The King replied, 'It cannot be; Cid, you shall keep your horse; + He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse; + Our kingdom has been honor'd by you and by your steed-- + The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed. + A courser such as he is fit for such a knight, + To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight.'" + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +Shortly after, in the presence of the king, the Cid, and the assembled +Cortes, the appointed battle took place. The Infantes of Carrion and their +uncle were defeated and banished, and the Cid returned in triumph to +Valencia. Here his daughters' second marriage took place, and here he +received an embassy bringing him rich gifts from the Sultan of Persia, who +had heard of his fame. + +Five years later the Moors returned, under the leadership of Bucar, King of +Morocco, to besiege Valencia. The Cid was about to prepare to do battle +against this overwhelming force when he was favored by a vision of St. +Peter. The saint predicted his death within thirty days, but assured him +that, even though he were dead, he would still triumph over the enemy whom +he had fought against for so many years. + + "'Dear art thou to God, Rodrigo, + And this grace he granteth thee: + When thy soul hath fled, thy body + Still shall cause the Moors to flee; + And, by aid of Santiago, + Gain a glorious victory.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The pious and simple-hearted warrior immediately began to prepare for the +other world. He appointed a successor, gave instructions that none should +bewail his death lest the news should encourage the Moors, and directed +that his embalmed body should be set upon Babieça, and that, with Tizona in +his hand, he should be led against the enemy on a certain day, when he +promised a signal victory. + +[Illustration: THE CID'S LAST VICTORY.--Rochegrosse.] + + "'Saddle next my Babieça, + Arm him well as for the fight; + On his back then tie my body, + In my well-known armor dight. + + "'In my right hand place Tizona; + Lead me forth unto the war; + Bear my standard fast behind me, + As it was my wont of yore.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's last battle.] When these instructions had all been +given, the hero died at the appointed time, and his successor and the brave +Ximena strove to carry out his every wish. A sortie was planned, and the +Cid, fastened upon his war horse, rode in the van. Such was the terror +which his mere presence inspired that the Moors fled before him. Most of +them were slain, and Bucar beat a hasty retreat, thinking that seventy +thousand Christians were about to fall upon him, led by the patron saint of +Spain. + + "Seventy thousand Christian warriors, + All in snowy garments dight, + Led by one of giant stature, + Mounted on a charger white; + + "On his breast a cross of crimson, + In his hand a sword of fire, + With it hew'd he down the Paynims, + As they fled, with slaughter dire." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The Christians, having routed the enemy, yet knowing, as the Cid had told +them, that they would never be able to hold Valencia when he was gone, now +marched on into Castile, the dead hero still riding Babieça in their midst. +Then Ximena sent word to her daughters of their father's demise, and they +came to meet him, but could scarcely believe that he was dead when they saw +him so unchanged. + +By Alfonso's order the Cid's body was placed in the Church of San Pedro de +Cardeña, where for ten years it remained seated in a chair of state, and in +plain view of all. Such was the respect which the dead hero inspired that +none dared lay a finger upon him, except a sacrilegious Jew, who, +remembering the Cid's proud boast that no man had ever dared lay a hand +upon his beard, once attempted to do so. Before he could touch it, however, +the hero's lifeless hand clasped the sword hilt and drew Tizona a few +inches out of its scabbard. + + "Ere the beard his fingers touched, + Lo! the silent man of death + Grasp'd the hilt, and drew Tizona + Full a span from out the sheath!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Of course, in the face of such a miracle, the Jew desisted, and the Cid +Campeador was reverently laid in the grave only when his body began to show +signs of decay. His steed Babieça continued to be held in great honor, but +no one was ever again allowed to bestride him. + +[Sidenote: Evacuation of Valencia.] As for the Moors, they rallied around +Valencia. After hovering near for several days, wondering at the strange +silence, they entered the open gates of the city, which they had not dared +to cross for fear of an ambuscade, and penetrated into the court of the +palace. Here they found a notice, left by the order of the Cid, announcing +his death and the complete evacuation of the city by the Christian army. +The Cid's sword Tizona became an heirloom in the family of the Marquis of +Falies, and is said to bear the following inscriptions, one on either side +of the blade: "I am Tizona, made in era 1040," and "Hail Maria, full of +grace." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE. + + +[Sidenote: Cycles of romance.] In the preceding chapters we have given an +outline of the principal epics which formed the staple of romance +literature in the middle ages. As has been seen, this style of composition +was used to extol the merits and describe the great deeds of certain famous +heroes, and by being gradually extended it was made to include the prowess +of the friends and contemporaries of these more or less fabulous +personages. All these writings, clustering thus about some great character, +eventually formed the so-called "cycles of romance." + +There were current in those days not only classical romances, but stories +of love, adventure, and chivalry, all bearing a marked resemblance to one +another, and prevailing in all the European states during the four +centuries when knighthood flourished everywhere. Some of these tales, such +as those of the Holy Grail, were intended, besides, to glorify the most +celebrated orders of knighthood,--the Templars and Knights of St. John. + +Other styles of imaginative writing were known at the same time also, yet +the main feature of the literature of the age is first the metrical, and +later the prose, romance, the direct outcome of the great national epics. + +We have outlined very briefly, as a work of this character requires, the +principal features of the Arthurian, Carolingian, and Teutonic cycles. We +have also touched somewhat upon the Anglo-Danish and Scandinavian +contributions to our literature. + +Of the extensive Spanish cycle we have given only a short sketch of the +romance, or rather the chronicle, of the Cid, leaving out entirely the vast +and deservedly popular cycles of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins. This +omission has been intentional, however, because these romances have left +but few traces in our literature. As they are seldom even alluded to, they +are not of so great importance to the English student of letters as the +Franco-German, Celto-Briton, and Scandinavian tales. + +The stories of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins are, moreover, very +evident imitations of the principal romances of chivalry which we have +already considered. They are formed of an intricate series of adventures +and enchantments, are, if anything, more extravagant than the other +mediaeval romances, and are further distinguished by a tinge of Oriental +mysticism and imagery, the result of the Crusades. + +The Italian cycle, which we have not treated separately because it relates +principally to Charlemagne and Roland, is particularly noted for its +felicity of expression and richness of description. Like the Spanish +writers, the Italians love to revel in magic, as is best seen in the +greatest gems of that age, the poems of "Orlando Innamorato" and "Orlando +Furioso," by Boiardo and Ariosto. + +Mediaeval literature includes also a very large and so-called "unaffiliated +cycle" of romances. This is composed of many stories, the precursors of the +novel and "short story" of the present age. We are indebted to this cycle +for several well-known works of fiction, such as the tale of patient +Griseldis, the gentle and meek-spirited heroine who has become the +personification of long-suffering and charity. After the mediaeval writers +had made much use of this tale, it was taken up in turn by Boccaccio and +Chaucer, who have made it immortal. + +The Norman tale of King Robert of Sicily, so beautifully rendered in verse +by Longfellow in his "Tales of a Wayside Inn," also belongs to this cycle, +and some authorities claim that it includes the famous animal epic "Reynard +the Fox," of which we have given an outline. The story of Reynard the Fox +is one of the most important mediaeval contributions to the literature of +the world, and is the source from which many subsequent writers have drawn +the themes for their fables. + +[Sidenote: Classical cycle.] A very large class of romances, common to all +European nations during the middle ages, has also been purposely omitted +from the foregoing pages. This is the so-called "classical cycle," or the +romances based on the Greek and Latin epics, which were very popular during +the age of chivalry. They occupy so prominent a place in mediaeval +literature, however, that we must bespeak a few moments' attention to their +subjects. + +In these classical romances the heroes of antiquity have lost many of their +native characteristics, and are generally represented as knight-errants, +and made to talk and act as such knights would. Christianity and mythology +are jumbled up together in a most peculiar way, and history, chronology, +and geography are set at defiance and treated with the same scorn of +probabilities. + +The classical romances forming this great general cycle are subdivided into +several classes or cycles. The interest of the first is mainly centered +upon the heroes of Homer and Hesiod. The best-known and most popular of +these mediaeval works was the "Roman de Troie," relating the siege and +downfall of Troy. + +Based upon post-classical Greek and Latin writings rather than upon the +great Homeric epic itself, the story, which had already undergone many +changes to suit the ever-varying public taste, was further transformed by +the Anglo-Norman trouvère, Benoît de Sainte-More, about 1184. He composed a +poem of thirty thousand lines, in which he related not only the siege and +downfall of Troy, but also the Argonautic expedition, the wanderings of +Ulysses, the story of Aeneas, and many other mythological tales. + +This poet, following the custom of the age, naïvely reproduced the manners, +customs, and, in general, the beliefs of the twelfth century. There is +plenty of local color in his work, only the color belongs to his own +locality, and not to that of the heroes whose adventures he purports to +relate. In his work the old classical heroes are transformed into typical +mediaeval knights, and heroines such as Helen and Medea, for instance, are +portrayed as damsels in distress. + +This prevalent custom of viewing the ancients solely from the mediaeval +point of view gave rise not only to grotesque pen pictures, but also to a +number of paintings, such as Gozzoli's kidnapping of Helen. In this +composition, Paris, in trunk hose, is carrying off the fair Helen +pickaback, notwithstanding the evident clamor raised by the assembled court +ladies, who are attired in very full skirts and mediaeval headdresses. + +On account of these peculiarities, and because the customs, dress, +festivities, weapons, manners, landscapes, etc., of the middle ages are so +minutely described, these romances have, with much justice, been considered +as really original works. + +[Sidenote: The Roman de Troie.] The "Roman de Troie" was quite as popular +in mediaeval Europe as the "Iliad" had been in Hellenic countries during +the palmy days of Greece, and was translated into every dialect. There are +still extant many versions of the romance in every European tongue, for it +penetrated even into the frozen regions of Scandinavia and Iceland. It was +therefore recited in every castle and town by the wandering minstrels, +trouvères, troubadours, minnesingers, and scalds, who thus individually and +collectively continued the work begun so many years before by the Greek +rhapsodists. Thus for more than two thousand years the story which still +delights us has been familiar among high and low, and has served to beguile +the hours for old and young. + +This cycle further includes a revised and much-transformed edition of the +adventures of Aeneas and of the early history of Rome. But although all +these tales were first embodied in metrical romances, these soon gave way +to prose versions of equally interminable length, which each relator varied +and embellished according to his taste and skill. + +The extreme popularity of Benoît de Sainte-More's work induced many +imitations, and the numerous _chansons de gestes_, constructed on the same +general plan, soon became current everywhere. Sundry episodes of these +tales, having been particularly liked, were worked over, added to, and +elaborated, until they assumed the proportions of romances in themselves. +Such was, for example, the case with the story of Troilus and Cressida, +which was treated by countless mediaeval poets, and finally given the form +in which we know it best, first by Chaucer in his "Canterbury Tales," and +lastly by Shakespeare in his well-known play. + +[Sidenote: Alexandre le Grant.] Another great romance of the classical +cycle is the one known as "Alexandre le Grant." First written in verse by +Lambert le Cort, in a meter which is now exclusively known as Alexandrine, +because it was first used to set forth the charms and describe the deeds of +this hero, it was recast by many poets, and finally turned into a prose +romance also. + +The first poetical version was probably composed in the eleventh century, +and is said to have been twenty-two thousand six hundred lines long. Drawn +from many sources,--for the Greek and Latin writers had been all more or +less occupied with describing the career of the youthful conqueror and the +marvels he discovered in the far East,--the mediaeval writers still further +added to this heterogeneous material. + +The romance of "Alexandre le Grant," therefore, purports to relate the life +and adventures of the King of Macedon; but as Lambert le Cort and his +numerous predecessors and successors were rather inclined to draw on +imagination, the result is a very extravagant tale. + +In the romance, as we know it, Alexander is described as a mediaeval rather +than an ancient hero. After giving the early history of Macedon, the poet +tells of the birth of Alexander,--which is ascribed to divine +intervention,--and dwells eloquently upon the hero's youthful prowess. +Philip's death and the consequent reign of Alexander next claim our +attention. The conquest of the world is, in this romance, introduced by the +siege and submission of Rome, after which the young monarch starts upon his +expedition into Asia Minor, and the conquest of Persia. The war with Porus +and the fighting in India are dwelt upon at great length, as are the riches +and magnificence of the East. Alexander visits Amazons and cannibals, views +all the possible and impossible wonders, and in his fabulous history we +find the first mention, in European literature, of the marvelous "Fountain +of Youth," the object of Ponce de Leon's search in Florida many years +later. + +When, in the course of this lengthy romance, Alexander has triumphantly +reached the ends of the earth, he sighs for new worlds to conquer, and even +aspires to the dominion of the realm of the air. To wish is to obtain. A +magic glass cage, rapidly borne aloft by eight griffins, conveys the +conqueror through the aërial kingdom, where all the birds in turn do homage +to him, and where he is enabled to understand their language, thanks to the +kind intervention of a magician. + +But Alexander's ambition is still insatiable; and, earth and air having +both submitted to his sway, and all the living creatures therein having +recognized him as master and promised their allegiance, he next proposes to +annex the empire of the sea. Magic is again employed to gratify this wish, +and Alexander sinks to the bottom of the sea in a peculiarly fashioned +diving bell. Here all the finny tribe press around to do him homage; and +after receiving their oaths of fealty, and viewing all the marvels of the +deep, as conceived by the mediaeval writer's fancy, Alexander returns to +Babylon. + +Earth, air, and sea having all been subdued, the writer, unable to follow +the course of Alexander's conquests any further, now minutely describes a +grand coronation scene at Babylon, where, with the usual disregard for +chronology which characterizes all the productions of this age, he makes +the hero participate in a solemn mass! + +The story ends with a highly sensational description of the death of +Alexander by poisoning, and an elaborate enumeration of the pomps of his +obsequies. + +[Sidenote: Rome la Grant.] A third order of romances, also belonging to +this cycle, includes a lengthy poem known as "Rome la Grant." Here Virgil +appears as a common enchanter. With the exception of a few well-known +names, all trace of antiquity is lost. The heroes are now exposed to +hairbreadth escapes; wonderful adventures succeed one another without any +pause; and there is a constant series of enchantments, such as the Italian +poets loved to revel in, as is shown in the works by Boiardo and Ariosto +already mentioned. + +These tales, and those on the same theme which had preceded them, gave rise +to a generally accepted theory of European colonization subsequent to the +Trojan war; and every man of note and royal family claimed to descend from +the line of Priam. + +[Sidenote: Story of Brutus.] As the Romans insisted that their city owed +its existence to the descendants of Aeneas, so the French kings Dagobert +and Charles the Bald claimed to belong to the illustrious Trojan race. The +same tradition appeared in England about the third century, and from Gildas +and Nennius was adopted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It is from this historian +that Wace drew the materials for the metrical tale of Brutus (Brute), the +supposed founder of the British race and kingdom. This poem is twenty +thousand lines long, and relates the adventures and life of Brutus, the +great-grandson of Aeneas. + +At the time of Brutus' birth his parents were frightened by an oracle +predicting that he would be the cause of the death of both parents, and +only after long wanderings would attain the highest pitch of glory. This +prophecy was duly fulfilled. Brutus' mother, a niece of Lavinia, died at +his birth. Fifteen years later, while hunting, he accidentally slew his +father; and, expelled from Italy on account of this involuntary crime, he +began his wanderings. + +In the course of time Brutus went to Greece, where he found the descendants +of Helenus, one of Priam's sons, languishing in captivity. Brutus headed +the revolted Trojans, and after helping them to defeat Pandrasus, King of +Greece, obtained their freedom, and invited them to accompany him to some +distant land, where they could found a new kingdom. + +Led by Brutus, who in the mean while had married the daughter of Pandrasus, +the Trojans sailed away, and, landing on the deserted island of Leogecia, +visited the temple of Diana, and questioned her statue, which gave the +following oracle: + + "'Brutus! there lies beyond the Gallic bounds + An island which the western sea surrounds, + By giants once possessed; now few remain + To bar thy entrance, or obstruct thy reign. + To reach that happy shore thy sails employ; + There fate decrees to raise a second Troy, + And found an empire in thy royal line, + Which time shall ne'er destroy, nor bounds confine.'" + GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH (Giles's tr.). + +Thus directed by miracle, Brutus sailed on, meeting with many adventures, +and landed twice on the coast of Africa. The Pillars of Hercules once +passed, the travelers beheld the sirens, and, landing once more, were +joined by Corineus, who proposed to accompany them. + +Brutus then coasted along the shores of the kingdom of Aquitaine and up the +Loire, where his men quarreled with the inhabitants. He found himself +involved in a fierce conflict, in which, owing to his personal valor and to +the marvelous strength of Corineus, he came off victor in spite of the odds +against him. + +In this battle Brutus' nephew, Turonus, fell, and was buried on the spot +where the city of Tours was subsequently built and named after the dead +hero. After having subdued his foes, Brutus embarked again and landed on an +island called Albion. Here he forced the giants to make way for him, and in +the encounters with them Corineus again covered himself with glory. + +We are told that the first germ of the nursery tale of Jack the Giant +Killer is found in this poem, for Corineus, having chosen Corinea +(Cornwall) as his own province, defeated there the giant Goëmagot, who was +twelve cubits high and pulled up an oak as if it were but a weed. Corineus, +after a famous wrestling bout, flung this Goëmagot into the sea, at a place +long known as Lam Goëmagot, but now called Plymouth. + +[Sidenote: The founding of London.] Brutus pursued his way, and finally +came to the Thames, on whose banks he founded New Troy, a city whose name +was changed in honor of Lud, one of his descendants, to London. Brutus +called the newly won kingdom Britain, and his eldest sons, Locrine and +Camber, gave their names to the provinces of Locria and Cambria when they +became joint rulers of their father's kingdom, while Albanact, his third +son, took possession of the northern part, which he called Albania +(Scotland). + +Albanact was not allowed to reign in peace, however, but was soon called +upon to war against Humber, King of the Huns. The latter was defeated, and +drowned in the stream which still bears his name. Locrine's daughter, +Sabrina, also met with a watery death, and gave her name to the Severn. + +[Sidenote: King Leir.] The posterity of Brutus now underwent many other +vicissitudes. There was fighting at home and abroad; and after attributing +the founding of all the principal cities to some ruler of this line, the +historian relates the story of King Leir, the founder of Leicester. As this +monarch's life has been used by Shakespeare for one of his dramas,--the +tragedy of "King Lear,"--and is familiar to all students of English +literature, there is no need to outline Geoffrey of Monmouth's version of +the tale. + +The chronicler then resumes the account of Brutus' illustrious descendants, +enumerating them all, and relating their adventures, till we come to the +reign of Cassivellaunus and the invasion of Britain by the Romans. Shortly +after, under the reign of Cymbelinus, he mentions the birth of Christ, and +then resumes the thread of his fabulous history, and brings it down to the +reign of Uther Pendragon, where it has been taken up in the Arthurian +cycle. + +This chronicle, which gave rise to many romances, was still considered +reliable even in Shakespeare's time, and many poets have drawn freely from +it. The mediaeval poets long used it as a mental quarry, and it has been +further utilized by some more recent poets, among whom we must count +Drayton, who makes frequent mention of these ancient names in his poem +"Polyolbion," and Spenser, who immortalizes many of the old legends in his +"Faerie Queene." + +There are, of course, many other mediaeval tales and romances; but our aim +has been to enable the reader to gain some general idea of the principal +examples, leaving him to pursue the study in its many branches if he wishes +a more complete idea of the literature of the past and of the influence it +has exerted and still exerts upon the writers of our own day. + + + + +INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS. + + +Ariosto, 141, 211. +Arnold, Matthew, 212, 243, 269. +Beowulf, (translations by Conybeare, Keary, Longfellow, Metcalfe), 9, 10, + 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Buchanan, 145, 146. +Bulwer Lytton, 219. +Burney, Dr. (translation), 141. +Byron, 150. +Chanson de Roland (translations by Rabillon), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Conybeare (translations), 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Cursor Mundi, 4. +Death Song of Regner Lodbrock (translations by Herbert), 272, 276, 279. +Dippold, G. T., (translations, Great Epics of Mediaeval Germany, Roberts + Bros., Boston,), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 188, 190, + 195, 237, 239. +Dragon of Wantley, 238. +Drayton, 208, 210, 217, 218. +Ellis, 207, 208, 209, 210, 227. +Ettin Langshanks, The, 115, 116. +Geoffrey of Monmouth, 308. +Giles (translation), 308. +Goethe, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49 50, 52. +Gottfried von Strassburg, 237, 239, 241. +Gudrun, (translations by Dippold, Great Epics of mediaeval Germany, + Roberts Bros., Boston), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34. +Hartmann von Aue, 223. +Head, Sir Edmund, (Ticknor's Spanish Literature, Messrs. Harper Bros., New + York), 150. +Heldenbuch (translations by Weber), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, + 121. +Hemans, Mrs., 278. +Herbert (translations), 272, 276, 279. +Hildebrand, Song of, (translation by Bayard Taylor, Studies in German + Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 127. +Ingemann, 136. +Jamieson (translations), 115, 116. +Jones, J.C., 17. +Keary (translation), 11. +King Arthur's Death, 230. +Lady Alda's Dream (translation by Head), 149. +Layamon, 232. +Legend of King Arthur, 218. +Lettsom (translations), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, + 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85. +Lockhart, (Ancient Spanish Ballads, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 282, + 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, + 298, 299, 300. +Longfellow, (Poets and Poetry of Europe, and Poetical Works, Houghton, + Mifflin & Co., Boston), 12, 13, 95, 137, 251, 253, 254, 256, 258, 265. +Lord Lovel, Ballad of, 245. +McDowall (translation), 200. +Metcalfe (translations), 16, 21. +Morris, William, 275. +Nibelungenlied (translations by Lettsom), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, + 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, + 83, 84, 85. +Niendorf, 34. +Rabillon (translations), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Ragnar Lodbrok Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 270. +Ragnar's Sons' Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 277. +Robert of Gloucester, 209. +Rogers (translations), 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, + 52. +Roland and Ferragus, 141, 142, 143. +Rose (translation), 211. +Scott, Sir Walter, 235. +Sir Lancelot du Lake, 220. +Sir Otuel, 148. +Sotheby (translations), 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, + 175, 176, 177, 178, 179. +Southey, 132, 133, 295, 298. +Spalding (translations), 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, + 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 266, 267, 268. +Spenser, 211. +Swinburne, 206, 240, 241. +Taylor, Bayard, (Studies in German Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New + York,), 127, 190, 193, 223, 241. +Tegnér, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, + 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268. +Tennyson, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 228, 229, + 231, 232. +Vail, 281. +Weber (translations), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, 121. +Wieland, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, + 179. +Wolfram von Eschenbach, 188, 190, 193, 195, 200. + + + + +GLOSSARY AND INDEX. + + +AA'CHEN. See _Aix-la-Chapelle_. +AB-RA-CA-DAB'RA. Malagigi's charm, 158. +A'CRE. Ogier besieges, 138. +ADENET (ä-de-na') Author of an epic on Ogier, 138. +AE'GIR. Northern god of the sea, 250. +AE-NE'AS. In mediaeval literature, 303; + adventures of, 304; + Romans claim, 307. +AES'CHE-RE. Seized by Grendel's mother, 15; + Beowulf offers to avenge, 16. +AF'RI-CA. Brutus lands in, 308. +AG'NAR. Son of Ragnar and Thora, 272; + a great viking, 274; + fights Eystein, 276. +AG'RA-VAINE. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +AI-GO-LAN'DUS. Revolts against Charlemagne, 141. +AIX-LA-CHA-PELLE'. Founding of, 133; + Ganelon executed at, 148; + Renaud's body to be taken to, 162. +A'LARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + Renaud's affection for, 155; + plays chess with Chariot, 155; + prisoner of Charlemagne, 157; + freed by Malagigi, 158. +AL'BA-NACT. Son of Brutus, 309; + wars against Humber, 309. +AL-BA'NI-A. Name for Scotland, 309. +AL'BER-ICH. Dwarf guardian of treasure, 61; + delivers hoard, 70; + meets Ortnit under tree, 96; + the father of Ortnit, 97; + helps Ortnit, 97; + warns Ortnit against dragons, 98; + receives magic ring, 98; + Wolfdietrich warned by, 107; + meets Dietrich, 111. + See _Laurin_ and _Elbegast_. +AL'BI-ON. Brutus lands in, 308. +AL'BOIN. Sent in quest of armor, 86; + and Rosamund, 87; + cruelty of, 87; + death of, 88. +AL'DRI-AN. I. Father of Hagen, 75. +AL'DRI-AN. II. Son of Hagen, 127; + betrays Etzel, 127. +AL'E-BRAND. See _Hadubrand_. +AL-EX-AN'DER. Hero of metrical romance, 305; + conquests of, 306; + death of, 307. +AL-EX-AN'DRE LE GRANT. Synopsis of, 305. +AL-EX-AN'DRINE METER. Origin of, 305. +A-LEX'IS. Angela restored to, 170. +AL'FER-ICH. See _Alberich_. +AL'FILD. First wife of Sigurd Ring, 269. +AL-FON'SO, DON. King of Leon, 288; + made prisoner, 290; + escapes to Toledo, 290; + hears of Don Sancho's death, 292; + escapes from Toledo, 292; + king of Castile, 292; + banishes Cid, 293; + restores Cid to favor, 294; + makes edict in favor of exiles, 294; + takes Toledo, 294; + defeated by Cid, 294; + encourages suit of Counts of Carrion, 295; + responsible for marriage of Cid's daughters, 297; + Cid seeks redress from, 297; + refuses Babieça, 297; + gives orders for burial of Cid, 300. +AL'FRED. An ally of Ella, 279. +ALF'SOL. Sigurd Ring wooes, 270; + death of, 270. +AL-I-MAY'MON. Reveals how Toledo can be taken, 290; + death of, 294. +ALMES'BUR-Y. Guinevere at, 232; + Lancelot visits, 233; + Guinevere dies at, 233. +AL'PRIS. See _Alberich_. +AL'TE-CLER. Sword of Oliver, 139. +AM'A-DIS OF GAUL. Cycle of, 302. +AM'A-LING LAND. Italy called, 121; + Dietrich king of, 121; + invaded by imperial army, 123; + Dietrich returns to, 125. +AM'A-LUNG. Son of Hornbogi, 121. +A-MAN'DA. Rezia called, 175; + marriage of, 175; + in Titania's valley, 175; + mother of Huonet, 176; + loses her child, and is captured by pirates, 176; + shipwreck of, 177; + slave of the Sultan, 178; + visits fairyland, 179; + journeys to Paris, 179. +AM'A-ZONS. Alexander visits, 306. +AM-BRO'SI-US AU-RE-LI-A'NUS. British chief, 205. +AM'E-LINGS. The, 100-109. +AM'EL-RICH. Ferryman's signal, 76. +AM-FOR'TAS. Son of Frimontel, 188; + king of Montsalvatch, 189; + wound of, 189; + agony of, 193; + brother of, 199; + cured, 200; + death of, 200; + armor of, 201. +AN-GAN'TYR. Helps to recover ship Ellida, 250; + ruler of Orkney Islands, 250; + Frithiof sent to claim tribute from, 258; + Frithiof's landing seen by watchman of, 260; + Frithiof's visit to, 261; + purse of, 261. +ANGEL. Visits Charlemagne, 130; + visits Ogier, 137; + visits Oliver, 139. +AN'GE-LA. Huon advised by, 170; + Huon delivers, 170. +AN-GLO-SAX'ONS. "Beowulf" probably composed by, 9. +AN-GOU-LAF'FRE. Castle of, 169; + Huon's encounter with, 169; + ring of, 173. +AN-GUR-VA'DEL. Magic sword, 247; + Thorsten receives, 249; + Frithiof inherits, 253. +AN'TON. See _Hector_. +ANT'WERP. Marriage of Else and Lohengrin at, 203. +AN'ZI-US. Emperor of Constantinople, 100. +A-POL'LO. Marsile worships, 144. +A-PU'LI-A. Part of Rother's kingdom, 89. +A-QUI-TAINE'. Walther son of duke of, 124; + Brutus coasts along, 308. +AR'ABS. Huon defeats a band of, 166; + Spain under the, 282. +AR'A-GON. Calahorra cause of quarrel in, 286; + Don Ramiro of, 286. +ARDENNES (är-den'). Quest for robber knight of the, 134; + Aymon's sons take refuge in, 160. +AR-GO-NAU'TIC EXPEDITION. In mediaeval literature, 303. +A'RI-AS GON-ZA'LO, DON. Receives challenge, 291. +A-RIB'A-DALE. Bearer of Holy Grail, 201. +A-RI-OS'TO. Version of Roland by, 130; + Merlin's fountain mentioned by, 211; + works of, 302, 307. +AR'NOLD, MATTHEW. Treats of Arthurian legend, 204; + version of Tristan and Iseult, 234. +AR'THUR. Dietrich wooes daughter of, 123; + Ogier joins, 138; + in Avalon, 139; + Parzival sets out for court of, 189; + at Nantes, 191; + Parzival's request to, 192; + Parzival sends conquered knights to, 196; + knights Parzival, 196; + Gawain a knight of, 196; + hears of Gawain's prowess, 198; + Parzival visits, 200; + vain quest for Holy Grail, 201; + legend of King, 204, 214-233; + Merlin serves, 205, 210; + birth of, 210; + Merlin makes palace and armor for, 211; + adventures of, 214; + brought up by Sir Hector, 214; + comes to London, 215; + adventure with sword, 215; + overcomes Gawain, 216; + secures sword Excalibur, 217; + victories of, 217; + marriage of with Guinevere, 217; + receives Round Table, 217; + welcomes Lancelot, 220; + repudiates and reinstates Guinevere, 220; + questions knights, 225; + cannot defend Guinevere in judicial duel, 226; + yearly tournaments of, 226; + and Elaine, 229; + quarrels with Lancelot, 229; + leaves Guinevere with Mordred, 230; + wars against Mordred. 230; + mortal wound of. 231; + disposes of Excalibur, 231; + departs in barge. 232; + Philip II.'s oath in favor of. 232; + buried at Glastonbury. 232; + Lancelot buried at feet of. 233; + Tristan a contemporary of, 234; + Tristan goes to court of. 243; + Tristan delivers, 244; + reconciles Mark and Iseult, 244. +AS'CA-LON. Huon at, 174. +A'SI-A. Monarch of, 179; + Alexander sets out for, 306. +ASK'HER. See _Aeschere_. +AS'LAUG. Same as Krake; + story of birth and childhood of, 274; + prediction of, 275; + sons of, 275; + begs that her sons may avenge Agnar and Erik, 276. +AS'PRI-AN. King of northern giants, 90; + and the lion, 90; + carries off Imelot, 92. +AS'TO-LAT. Lancelot at, 227; + Lancelot comes to, 227; + Elaine the lily-maid of, 228; + Gawain comes to, 228. +AT'LÉ. Challenges Frithiof, 260. +AT'LI. Same as Etzel, 53. +AT'TI-LA. Same as Etzel, 94, 118; + Theodoric born after death of, 128. +AUCH-IN-LECK' MANUSCRIPT. Sir Otuel in the, 143. +AUDE. (od) Beloved by Roland, 149. +AU'DOIN. King of Langobards, 86. +AU-RE'LI-US AM-BRO'SI-US. Son of Constans, 205. +AV'A-LON. Ogier to dwell in, 135; + Morgana takes Ogier to, 138; + Arthur in, 232. +A'VARS. Aymon wars against the, 152. +A-VEN'TI-CUM. See _Wiflisburg_. +A'YA. Aymon marries, 154; + Aymon sends for, 154; + goes to find her husband, 155; + intercedes for her sons, 160; + and Renaud, 161. +AY'MON. _Chansons de gestes_ relating to, 152; + a peer of Charlemagne, 152; + wages war against Charlemagne, 152; + helped by Bayard and Malagigi, 153; + besieged by Charlemagne, 153; + flight and victories of, 154; + Charlemagne makes peace with, 154; + marriage of, 154; + adventures of, 154; + distributes his property, 155; + recovery of, 155; + flees from court, 156; + a captive, 156; + Turpin's promise to, 156; + oath of, 156; + tries to seize his sons, 157; + Malagigi frees sons of, 158; + adventures of sons of, 158-161. + +BAR'I-CAN. King of Hyrcania, 171; + Rezia dreams of, 171. +BA-BIE'ÇA. Steed of the Cid, 286; + Cid's ride to Zamora on, 291; + offered to Alfonso, 297; + Cid's last ride on, 298, 299; + end of, 300. +BAB'Y-LON. Ogier besieges, 138; + same as Bagdad in mediaeval literature, 164; + Alexander crowned at, 306. +BAG-DAD'. Huon to go to, 163, 163; + same as Babylon, 164; + Sherasmin indicates road to, 165; + Huon resumes journey to, 169; + Huon's adventures in, 171. +BAL'DER. Shrine of, 254, 256, 257; + temple of, 267. +BA'LI-AN. Seaport in Hagen's kingdom, 26. +BAL'TIC SEA. Bornholm, island in the, 247. +BAN. Father of Lancelot, 219. +BA'RI. Capital of Rother, 89; + arrival of magician's vessel at, 93. +BAU'TA. A memorial stone for Beowulf, 21. +BA-VA'RI-A. Rüdiger rides through, 71. +BAY'ARD. Aymon's marvelous steed, 153; + Satan steals, 153; + Malagigi recovers, 153; + Aymon saved by, 154; + given to Renaud, 155; + Renaud and his brothers escape on, 156; + Renaud's adventures in Paris with, 157; + Renaud's escape on, 158; + timely kick of, 159; + Charlemagne demands death of, 161. +BECH-LAR'EN. Rüdiger of, 71, 120; + Kriemhild at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76. +BED'I-VERE, SIR. Finds Arthur dying, 231; + bids Arthur farewell, 232. +BEE HUNTER. See _Beowulf_. +BELÉ (be-la'). Heir of Sogn, 249; + replaced on throne, 250; + conquers Orkney Islands, 250; + helps Thorsten secure Völund ring, 251; + sons of, 251; + last instructions of, 252; + kings seated on tomb of, 254. +BEL-FO-RA'DO. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +BEL-I-A'GOG. Tristan conquers, 244. +BEL'LI-GAN. City of, 106. +BEL-LIS-SAN'DE. Wife of Ogier, 136. +BEL'LYN. Escort of Reynard, 46; + death of, 47; + deceived by Reynard, 48; + accused of treachery, 49. +BEL'RI-PAR. Capital of Conduiramour, 192; + Kardeiss king of, 201. +BE-NOÃŽT' DE SAINTE-MORE. Poem of, 303; + popularity of work of, 305. +BE'O-WULF, 9-21; + epic of, 9; + resolves to visit Denmark, 11; + honors won by, 12; + arrival in Denmark, 13; + guards Heorot and wounds Grendel, 13, 14; + receives Brisingamen, 15; + hears of Aeschere's death, 15; + and Grendel's mother, 16, 17; + regency of, 18; + reign of, 19; + adventure with dragon, 19, 20; + death and burial of, 21. +BERCH'THER OF ME'RAN. Adviser of Rother, 89; + sons of, 89; + accompanies Rother, 90; + guardian of Hugdietrich, 100; + journey to Thessalonica, 101; + finds Wolfdietrich. 102; + foster father of Wolfdietrich, 103; + warns Wolfdietrich against Rauch-Else, 104; + Wolfdietrich remembers, 106; + sons of delivered from captivity, 108; + rewards given to sons of, 109. +BERCH'TUNG. See _Berchther of Meran_. +BE-RIL'LUS. Goes to Rome, 185. +BERN. Same as Verona, 77, 110; + hero of, 115, 116, 126; + Heime in, 115; + Wittich in, 116; + Dietrich returns to, 117, 121; + Wildeber comes to. 117; + Laurin a prisoner in, 120; + Wittich's return to, 122; + Dietrich surrenders, 124; + Dietrich's triumphant entry into, 126. +BER'NERS, LORD. Translates "Huon of Bordeaux," 163. +BER'SERK-ER. Rage, 24, 261; + Atlé a, 260. +BER-TAN'GA LAND. Same as Britain, 123. +BER'THA. I. Mother of Charlemagne, 129. +BER'THA. II. Sister of Charlemagne and mother of Roland, 133. +BERTHE'LOT. Same as Charlot, 155. +BER'WICK. See _Joyeuse Garde_. +BI'BUNG. Dwarf protector of Virginal, 133. +BJÖRN. I. Confidant of Frithiof, 254; + plays chess with Frithiof, 255; + steers Ellida, 259; + carries men ashore, 259; + takes charge of Ellida, 264. +BJÖRN. II. Son of Ragnar, 274. +BLAISE. A holy man who baptizes Merlin, 206. +BLAIVE. Roland buried at, 147; + Lady Aude buried at, 149. +BLANCHE'FLEUR. Wife of Meliadus and mother of Tristan, 235. +BLÖ'DE-LIN. Kriemhild bribes, 80. +BOC-CAC'CIO. Makes use of story of Griseldis, 302. +BO'GEN. Son of Hildburg. 103. +BO'HORT. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +BO-IAR'DO. Writer of a version of the adventures of Roland, 130, 302; + love of the marvelous shown in works of, 307. +BOl-FRI-AN'A. Captivity of, 116; + Dietrich rescues, 117; + Wittich marries, 122. +BOOK OF HEROES. Same as "Heldenbuch," 86; + Dietrich principal character in, 110. +BOR-DEAUX'. Huon in captivity in, 180. +BORN'HOLM. Viking born in, 247. +BOUILLON (boo-yon'). Godfrey of, 139. +BRA-BANT'. Else, Duchess of, 202. +BRANG'WAINE. Attendant of Iseult, 240; + confidante of Iseult, 242; + Ganhardin falls in love with image of, 244. +BREI'SACH. Harlungs dwell at, 123. +BRE'KA. Enters into swimming match with Beowulf, 12. +BRET'LAND. Soté buried in, 251. +BRI-SIN'GA-MEN. Necklace given to Beowulf, 15. +BRIT'AIN. Same as Bertanga land, 123; + Uther and Pendragon's wars in, 208; + Holy Grail vanishes from, 208; + named by Brutus, 309; + invaded by Romans, 309. +BRITISH MUSEUM. Manuscripts in, 9. +BRIT'ONS. War of, 208. +BRIT'TA-NY. Soltane, forest in, 188; + Broceliande in, 212; + Arthur's campaign in, 217; + Ban king of, 219; + Lancelot retires to, 230; + Arthur's second campaign in, 230; + Tristan goes to, 243; + Tristan returns to, 244. +BRO-CE-LI-AN'DE. Forest in Brittany, 212. +BRONS. Brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +BROWN. Sent to summon Reynard, 39; + arrives at Malepartus, 39; + caught in tree trunk, 40; + returns to court, 41; + injuries of, 43; + imprisonment of, 46; + release of, 47. +BRUN'HILD. Gunther wishes to marry, 58; + test of strength of, 60; + defeat of, 60; + leaves her own country, 62; + objects to Kriemhild's marriage, 62; + binds Gunther, 63; + is conquered by Siegfried, and loses fabulous strength, 63; + invites Siegfried and Kriemhild to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Kriemhild, 64; + in care of Rumolt, 75; + son of made king of Burgundy, 85; + Aslaug daughter of, 274. +BRU'TE. See _Brutus_. +BRU'TUS. Metrical romance of, 307; + descendant of Aeneas, 307; + adventures of, 307-309; + descendants of, 309. +BU'CAR. Besieges Valencia, 298; + retreat of, 299. +BUCH-AN'AN. Poem of on Roland, 130. +BUR'GOS. Cid born at, 282; + Ximena at, 284; + inhabitants weep at Cid's departure from, 293. +BUR-GUN'DI-ANS. Siegfried challenges, 56; + Nibelungs support king of, 61; + Nibelungs angry with, 69; + nobles escort Kriemhild, 73; + often called Nibelungs, 75; + warnings conveyed to, 77; + see hostility of Huns, 79; + kindly treated by Etzel, 79; + murder of squires of, 80; + bloody fight of, 81; + bravery of, 82; + slaughter of, 83; + name Gunther's son king, 85; + Hagen a hostage for, 124. +BUR'GUN-DY. King and queen of, 53; + Siegfried goes to, 55; + threatened invasion of, 56; + Brunhild receives king of, 59; + Kriemhild remains in, 69; + Kriemhild wishes to leave, 71; + Kriemhild's brothers return to, 73; + chaplain returns to, 76; + Etzel promises to send his son to, 80; + Etzel makes peace with, 124; + Hagen returns to, 124; + Gunther, king of, 124. +CA-LA-HOR'RA. On frontier between Castile and Aragon, 286. +CAM'BER. Son of Brutus, names Cambria, 309. +CAM'BRI-A. Named after Camber, 309. +CAM'E-LOT. Palace at, 211, 218; + feast at, 217; + twelve kings buried at, 218; + Lancelot at, 220, 221; + knights assemble at, 224; + appearance of Holy Grail at, 225; + knights return to, 226; + Guinevere's feast at, 226; + funeral barge arrives at, 228; + Lancelot leaves and returns to, 229. +CAM-PE-A-DOR'. Title given to Cid, 289, 290. +CAN'TER-BUR-Y TALES. Troilus and Cressida in, 305. +CA-PE'TIAN KINGS. Ogier reaches France during reign of one of, 138; + origin of race of, 181. +CAP-PA-DO'CIA. Berillus from, 185. +CAR'DU-EL. Same as Carlisle, 208; + knights assemble at, 209. +CAR-LISLE'. See _Carduel_. +CA-RO-LIN'GIAN LEGENDS, 129-181; + Naismes the Nestor of, 144. +CAR'RI-ON, COUNTS or INFANTES OF. Marry Cid's daughters, 295; + cowardice of, 295; + Cid's followers gibe at, 296; + illtreat their wives, 296; + Alfonso's anger with, 297; + before the Cortes, 297; + challenged, 297; + defeat of, 298. +CAS-SI-VEL-LAU'NUS. Tristan may be a contemporary of, 234; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. +CAS-TILE'. Invasion of, 283, 289; + Calahorra near, 286; + Don Sancho king of, 288; + Cid and Don Sancho return to, 289; + Cid's raid in, 294. +CHAMP DE MARS. The Frank assembly, 36. +CHAN'SON DE RO'LAND. Sung at Hastings, 130; + most famous version of Roland's death, 147. +CHAR'LE-MAGNE. Conquers Lombardy, 88, 129, 137; + and his paladins, 129-151; + favorite hero of mediaeval literature, 129; + champion of Christianity, 129; + fabulous adventures of, 129; + Einhard son-in-law of, 130; + _chansons de gestes_ referring to, 130; + receives angel's visit, 130; + conspirators punished by, 131; + and Frastrada, 131; + affection of for Turpin, 132; + founds Aix-la-Chapelle, 133; + and the boy Roland, 134; + asks for jewel of knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knights Roland, 135; + makes war against Denmark, 135; + releases Ogier, 136; + insulted by Ogier, 136; + appearance of, 136, 137, 141; + and Ogier, 137; + quarrels with Duke of Genoa, 139; + Roland champion of, 139; + vow and pilgrimage of, 139; + peers of, 139; + vision of, 140; + besieges Pamplona, 140; + pilgrimage of to Compostela, 140; + Aigolandus revolts against, 141; + challenged by Ferracute, 141; + sends Ogier to fight Ferracute, 142; + dove alights on, 143; + wars in Spain, 143; + sends embassy to Marsiglio, 144; + retreat of, 144; + hears Roland's horn, 145; + Turpin celebrates mass before, 147; + returns to Roncesvalles, 147; + orders trial of Ganelon, 148; + Aymon a peer of, 152; + character of, 152; + wars against Aymon, 153; + treats with Aymon, 154; + coronation of at Rome, 155; + hostility toward sons of Aymon, 156; + captures sons of Aymon, 157; + bribes Iwo, 158; + Richard carried captive to, 159; + besieges Montauban, 159; + and Malagigi, 160; + Aya intercedes with, 161; + and Bayard, 161; + Huon does homage to, 163; + gives orders to Huon, 163, 172; + tournament of 179; + pardons Huon, 181; + contemporary of Ragnar Lodbrok, 269; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +CHARLES THE BALD. Struggles of, 152; + claims descent from Trojan race, 307. +CHARLES MAR-TEL'. Deeds of attributed to Charlemagne, 129. +CHAR'LOT. Kills Ogier's son, 136; + Ogier demands death of, 137; + Renaud defeats, 155; + quarrels with Alard, 155; + death of, 163. +CHAU'CER. Uses tale of Griseldis, 302; + uses Troilus and Cressida, 305. +CHRESTIEN DE TROYES (kr[=a]-t[=e]-an' deh trwä'). Poems of, 182, 204, 219, + 234. +CHRIST. Jews angry against Joseph for burying, 183; + Vespasian hears story of, 183; + born during reign of Cymbelinus, 309. +CHRISTIAN. Faith taught to Rezia 175; + legends, 184; + Fierefiss becomes a, 200; + faith, 277; + army besieges Coimbra, 287; + king takes Toledo, 294; + army evacuates Valencia, 300. +CHRIS-TI-A'NI-A-FIORD. Frithiof in the, 264. +CHRISTIANITY. Charlemagne champion of, 129; + Roland argues about, 142; + sadly mixed with mythology, 303. +CHRISTIANS. Triumph in Spain, 143; + massacre of, 145; + enmity between Moors and, 154; + can take Toledo, 290; + Bucar retreats before, 299; + Moors routed by, 299. +CHRONICLE OF TURPIN, 140. +CID, THE, 282-300; + birth of, 282; + Ximena accuses, 284; + Ximena marries, 285; + pilgrimage of to Santiago de Compostela, 285; + adventure with leper, 286; + duel of with Martin Gonzalez, 286; + saved by Moorish kings, 287; + at Zamora with Ximena, 287; + defeats champion of Henry III., 288; + vassal of Don Sancho, 288; + victories of, 289; + conducts siege of Zamora, 291; + banished by Alfonso, 293; + at Valencia, 294; + cowardly sons-in-law of, 295; + daughters of illtreated, 296; + at the Cortes, 297; + offers Babieça to Alfonso, 297; + returns to Valencia, 298; + warned of coming death, 298; + last instructions of, 298; + death of, 299: + last victory of, 299; + body of in state, 300; + sword of, 300; + chronicle of, 302. +CI-SAIRE', PASS OF. Roland's ghost at, 145. +CLARETIE (kla-re-tee'). Ancestress of Capetian race, 181. +CLAR'ICE. Ogier marries, 138. +CLA-RIS'SA. Wife of Renaud, 156; + treachery of father of, 158; + intercedes for her father, 159; + death of, 161. +CLEVES. Henry the Fowler at, 202. +CO-IM'BRA. Siege of, 287. +CO-LA'DA. Sword won by Cid, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovery of, 297. +CO-LOGNE'. Death and burial of Renaud at, 162. +CON-DUIR'A-MOUR. Parzival rescues and marries, 192; + Parzival reminded of, 195; + at Montsalvatch, 200; + children of, 201. +CON'STANS. King of England, 205; + sons of, 205, 208. +CON'STAN-TINE. I. Father of Oda, 89; + and Rother, 90-93; + II. Son of Constans, 205. +CON-STAN-TI-NO'PLE. Embassy arrives at, 89; + Rother's visit to, 89-93, 100; + Anzius emperor of, 100; + Hildburg goes to, 102; + Wolfdietrich king of, 103, 108; + the Normans in, 281. +CO-RI-NE'A. Same as Cornwall, 309. +CO-RI-NE'US. Companion of Brutus, 308; + the original Jack the Giant Killer, 308; + kills Goëmagot. 309; +CORN'WALL. Tintagel in, 209; + Gorlois duke of, 209; + Mark king of, 235, 240; + Tristan in, 236, 237, 238; + Iseult embarks for, 241; + Iseult lands in, 242; + Tristan's passion for Iseult of, 243, 244; + Kurvenal's journey to, 244; + arrival in Brittany of Iseult of, 245; + Tristan and Iseult buried in, 243, 244; + Corineus settles in, 309. +COR'TES. Infantes of Carrion at the, 297, 298. +CRU-SADES'. Influence of on literature, 302. +CYM-BE-LI'NUS. Christ born during reign of, 309. + +DAG'O-BERT. Claims descent from Trojan, race, 307. +DANE. Hawart the, 81; + Dietlieb the, 117; + Ogier the, 129, 135. +DANES. Beowulf escorted by, 16; + gratitude of, 18; + disapprove of Ragnar's marriage, 274; + Eystein declares war against, 276. +DAN'ISH. Writers, 246; + dynasty connected with Sigurd, 269; + ships burned by English, 276; + kings make raids, 280; + settlements, 280. +DANK'RAT. King of Burgundy, 53. +DANK'WART. Under Siegfried's orders, 56; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + suspicion of, 59, 61; + goes to Hungary, 75; + helps Hagen, 76; + warns Hagen, 80. +DAN'UBE. Journey of Kriemhild down the, 73; + Burgundians reach the, 75. +DEN'MARK. Hrothgar king of, 9; + Beowulf sails for, 12; + Wealtheow queen of, 15; + Ludegast king of, 56; + Charlemagne defeats king of, 135; + Ogier king of, 136; + Krake queen of, 274. +DES'ERT BAB-Y-LO'NI-A. Kingdom of Imelot, 91; + Constantine takes possession of, 92. +DES-I-DE'RI-US. See _Didier_. +DI-A'NA. Brutus in temple of, 308. +DID'I-ER. Ogier flees to, 136. +DIEGO LAYNEZ (dee-ay'go ly'nez). Insulted by Don Gomez, 282; + avenged by Rodrigo, 283; + takes Rodrigo to court, 283. +DI-E'GO OR-DO'ÑEZ, DON. Sends challenge to Don Arias Gonzalo, 291. +DIE-TE-LIN'DE. Daughter of Rüdiger, 73; + Giselher betrothed to, 77. +DIE'THER. Brought up by Hildebrand, 112; + Helche cares for, 124; + death of, 126. +DIET'LIEB. Merry-making and athletic feats of, 117; + lord of Steiermark, 118; + and Laurin, 119, 120; + victory and reward of, 120. +DIET'MAR. Grandson of Wolfdietrich, 109; + ruler of Bern, 110; + death of, 121. +DIE'TRICH VON BERN. Warns Burgundians, 77; + defies Kriemhild, 78; + abstains from tournament, 79; + Kriemhild tries to bribe, 80; + a safe-conduct for, 81; + saves Etzel and Kriemhild, 81; + hears of Rüdiger's death, 83; + fights and captures Gunther and Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + ancestors of, 109; + story of, 110-128; + birth of, 110; + fiery breath of, 110, 119; + Hildebrand friend and teacher of, 110; + adventure of with Hilde and Grim, 111; + wins sword Nagelring, 111; + fights with Sigenot, 112; + sees and rescues Virginal, 114; + marries Virginal, 114; + gains possession of Heime and Falke, 115; + Wittich's adventure with, 116; + adventures of with Ecke and Fasolt, 116; + delivers Sintram, 117; + visits Rome, 117; + and Laurin, 118-120; + visits Etzel, 121; + becomes king of Amaling land, 121; + victories in Wilkina land, 121; + wars against Rimstein, 122; + Eckhardt joins, 123; + Ermenrich wars against, 123; + wooes Hilde, 123; + exile of in Hungary, 124; + victories and wounds of, 125; + returns to Bern, 125; + fights against Ermenrich, 126; + marriage of, 126; + kills Sibich, 127; + made emperor of West, 127; + old age of, 128; + Wild Hunt led by, 128; + Ragnar saga like saga of, 269. +DOL'FOS, VEL'LI-DO or BEL'LI-DO. Murders Don Sancho, 291. +DOR-DOGNE'. Aymon of, 152; + Lord Hug of, 152. +DORT'MUND. Renaud's body at, 162. +DOU'RO. River in Spain, 296. +DO'VER. Arthur encounters Mordred near, 230. +DRA'CHEN-FELS. Dietrich saves lady of, 116; + Wittich marries lady of, 122; + Roland wooes maid of, 150; + Roland's return to, 151. +DRAGON SLAYER. Surname of Siegfried, 275. +DRAGONS. See _Beowulf, Siegfried, Ortnit, Wolfdietrich, Tristan, Ragnar._ +DRAY'TON. Author of "Polyolbion," 310. +DRU'SI-AN. Kidnaps Sigeminne, 105; + Wolfdietrich captive of, 105; + death of, 106. +DUB'LIN. Morold's corpse carried to, 237; + Tristan's visit to, 238. +DU'O-LIN DE MAY'ENCE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +DU-RAN-DA'NA. Sword of Roland, 139; + powerless upon Ferracute, 142; + Roland disposes of, 146. + +EAD'GILS. Son of Othere, 19. +EAST. Ogier goes to the, 138; + Holy Grail in the far, 201; + Alexander's journey to the, 305; + wealth of the, 306. +EAST GOTH'LAND. Thora dwells in, 271. +ECK'E. Giant killed by Falke, 116; + Dietrich takes sword of, 117. +ECK'EN-LIED. Story of Ecke, 116. +ECK'E-SAX. Sword of Ecke, 117. +ECK'E-WART I. Escorts Kriemhild, 64; + remains with Kriemhild, 70; + accompanies Kriemhild to Hungary, 72; + warns Burgundians, 76. +ECK'E-WART II. See _Eckhardt_. +ECK'HARDT. Fidelity of, 109, 123; + flees to Dietrich, 123. +EC'TOR DE MA'RIS, SIR. Lancelot eulogized by, 233. +ED'DA. Hilde in the, 22; + Hedin in the, 25. +EIN'HARD. Son-in-law of Charlemagne, 130. +EIN-HE'RI-AR. Ragnar leader of the, 279. +E-LAINE'. Story of, 227-229. +EL'BE-GAST. Same as Alberich, 111; + Charlemagne's adventure with, 130, 131. +E'LI-AS. See _Ylyas_. +EL-KI'NAR. Isegrim bound to bell at, 42. +EL'LA. King of Northumberland, + captures and kills Ragnar, 278; + defeats Ragnar's sons, 279; + gives land to Normans, 279; + Ivar kills, 280. +EL-LI'DA. The dragon ship given to Viking by Aegir, 250; + belongs to Frithiof, 253; + in the storm, 258; + arrives at Orkney Islands, 259; + Frithiof sails in, 262. +EL'SE. Story of Lohengrin and, 201-3. +EL-SI-NORE'. Ogier sleeping in, 136. +EL-VI'RA, DOÑA. Receives Toro, 288; + robbed of Toro, 290. +EM'ER-ALD ISLE, 23. +ENG'LAND. Invasion of, 9; + rhyme introduced in, 9; + Clarice, princess of, 138; + Ogier leaves, 138; + Hengist driven from, 205; + Merlin brings stones to, 208; + Merlin's predictions concerning future of, 210; + Arthur's name in, 214; + dissensions in, 229; + firm belief in concerning Arthur's return, 232; + vikings' raids in, 276; + stone altars in, 280; + tradition of Trojan descent in, 307. +ENG'LISH. Version of Roland, 130; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246; + fight Ragnar's sons at Whitaby, 276. +E'NID THE FAIR. Story of, 222-224. +ENIGÉE (ay' nee-zhay). Sister of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +E'REC. Name for Geraint in French and German poems, 223. +E'RIK. Son of Ragnar, 272; + a great viking, 274; + attacked by enchanted cow, 276. +ER'ME-LYN. Wife of Reynard, 45, 46, 47. +ER'MEN-RICH. Treasure of, 45; + emperor of the West, 110; + Dietrich's visit to, 117; + Dietlieb rewarded by, 118; + Dietrich helps, 122; + and Sibich, 122, 123; + wars against Dietrich, 126; + death of, 126. +ER'MO-NIE. Meliadus lord of, 234. +ERP. Son of Helche, 125; + death of, 126. +ES-CLAR-MON'DE. Same as Rezia, 171, 175; + early version of story of, 180. +ES-TRE-MA-DU'RA. Moors defeated in, 287. +E-TRU'RI-A. Luna in, 276. +ET'ZEL. Same as Atli, 53; + wooes Kriemhild, 71; + Kriemhild sets out for court of, 72; + Kriemhild wife of, 73; + invites Burgundians to Hungary, 74; + welcomes Burgundians, 78; + banquet of, 79; + promises to send son to Burgundy, 80; + saved from massacre, 81; + Burgundians wish to treat with, 82; + cannot save Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + Helche marries, 94; + Dietlieb serves, 118; + Dietrich visits, 121, 124; + Walther escapes from, 124; + gold stolen from, 124; + cowardice of, 125; + helps Dietrich, 125; + marries Kriemhild, 126; + killed by Aldrian, 127; + same as Attila, 128. +EU'ROPE. "Beowulf" oldest relic of spoken language in, 9; + "Reynard the Fox" popular in, 35; + to be infested by dragons, 98; + Charlemagne conquers nearly all, 140; + introduction of legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + popularity of Arthurian legends in, 214; + popularity of "Roman de Troie" in, 304. +EU-RO-PE'AN. Versions of legends, 205; + versions of Tristan, 234; + languages, sagas translated into, 246; + states, romances current in, 301; + nations, classical romances in, 303; + versions of Iliad, 304; + literature, mention of Fountain of Youth in, 306; + colonization, 307. +EX-CAL'I-BUR. Arthur's sword, 217; + Arthur disposes of, 231. +EY'STEIN. Ragnar visits, 274; + wars against Danes, 276; + magic cow of, 276. + +FA'E-RIE QUEENE. Merlin's fountain mentioned in, 211; + contains mediaeval legends, 310. +FAF'NIR. Sigurd slayer of, 269, 274. +FAF'NIS-BANE. Surname of Sigurd, 274. +FAIR AN'NET. Loved by Lord Thomas, 245. +FA'LIES, MARQUIS OF. Sword Tizona in family of, 300. +FAL'KE. Horse of Dietrich, 115; + kills Ecke, 116. +FAL'STER WOOD. Heime in the, 117. +FA'SOLT. Dietrich defeats, 117. +FA'TA MOR-GA'NA. Mirage called, 95. +FAT'I-MA. Attendant of Rezia, 173; + in Tunis, 177; + finds Amanda, 178; + taken to fairyland, 179; + rescued by Huon and Sherasmin, 180. +FE'LEZ MU-ÑOZ.' Nephew of Cid, 296; + rescues his cousins, 296. +FER'DI-NAND. Rodrigo's first visit to, 283; + recalls Rodrigo, 284; + Ximena before, 284; + receives gifts from Cid, 287; + Henry III. complains of to Pope, 287; + threatened by Pope, 288; + Cid's victories for, 288; + death and legacies of, 288. +FER'RA-CUTE. Challenges Charlemagne, 141; + defeats Ogier and Renaud, 142; + fights and argues with Roland, 142, 143; + Otuel, nephew of, 143. +FER'RA-GUS. See _Ferracute_. +FIEREFISS (fyâr-e-f[=e]s'). Encounters Parzival, 199; + conversion and marriage of, 200; + father of founder of Knights Templars, 200. +FIRE'DRAKE. Ravages of the, 19; + slain by Beowulf, 20. +FLAM'BERGE. Sword of Aymon, 154; + Renaud, owner of, 158; + Renaud breaks, 161. +FLAN'DERS. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35. +FLOR'ENCE. Council at, 287. +FLOR'I-DA. Ponce de Leon in, 306. +FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, 306. +FRAM'NÄS. Home of Thorsten and Frithiof, 250, 251, 253; + ruins of, 261. +FRANCE. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + Charlemagne principal hero of, 129; + Ogier in, 135, 138; + Charlemagne in, 140, 141, 144, 148; + Huon embarks for, 174; + Capetian kings of, 181; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Merlin brings armies from, 210; + viking raids in, 276; + king of, 289. +FRANKS. And "Reynard the Fox," 35; + assembly of, 36; + hostage from, 124; + at feud with Lombardy, 136. +FRAS-TRAD'A. Wife of Charlemagne, 131. +FRED'ER-ICK BAR-BAR-OS'SA. Ogier like, 136. +FRED'ER-ICK OF TEL'RA-MUND. Guardian and oppressor of Else, 202; + defeated by Lohengrin, 203. +FRENCH. Version of Roland, 130; + army betrayed by Ganelon, 144; + version of Tristan, 234; + kings descended from Priam, 307. +FRIE'SIAN. Invasion, 18; + sea, Charlemagne's vision of, 140. +FRIES'LAND. Invasion of, 18. +FRI-MOU-TEL'. Anointed king, 188; + death of, 189. +FRITHIOF (frit'yof). Story of, 246-268; + saga put into verse by Tegnér, 246; + birth of, 251; + loves Ingeborg, 251, 252; + home of, 253; + sues for hand of Ingeborg, 254; + suit of rejected, 255; + Ingeborg's brothers ask aid of, 255; + meets Ingeborg in temple, 256; + tries to make terms with kings, 257; + journey to Orkney Islands, 258; + in tempest, 259; + fights Atlé, 260; + visits Angantyr, 261; + returns to Framnäs, 261; + goes into exile, 262; + becomes a pirate, 263; + visits Sigurd Ring, 264; + Ingeborg recognizes, 265; + loyalty of, 265; + guardian of infant king, 266; + rebuilds temple, 267; + marries Ingeborg, 267. +FRUTE. Follower of Hettel, 25; + in quest of Hilde, 26. + +GA'HER-IS. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +GA-LA'FRE. Huon and Sherasmin at court of, 180. +GALA-HAD, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 224; + occupies "Siege Perilous," 224; + sees Holy Grail, 226. +GA-LI'CIA. Charlemagne called to, 140; + Don Garcia king of, 288, 289. +GA-LI'CIAN. Nobles refuse to exchange prisoners, 289. +GAL'Y-EN. Son of Oliver, and king of Jerusalem, 140. +GAL'Y-EN RHET-OR-E'. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +GA'MU-RET. Marries Herzeloide, 188. +GA'NE-LON. Treachery of, 144, 145; + accused and sentenced, 148; + advises Charlot, 155. +GANHARDIN (gan-har-dan'). Wishes to marry Brangwaine, 244. +GARADIE (ga-ra-d[=e]'), COUNT. Hagen in the hands of, 24. +GAR-CI'A, DON. King of Galicia, 288; + seizes Zamora, 289; + dies in captivity, 290. +GAR'DEN. Wolfdietrich at, 107; + Herbrand receives, 109; + Hildebrand inherits, 109; + Ermenrich takes, 123; + Dietrich master of, 126; + Hildebrand's return to, 126. +GA'RETH, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 221; + adventures with Lynette, 222; + Geraint brother of, 222. +GA'RY. Messenger sent by Gunther to Siegfried, 64; + goes to Hungary, 75. +GA'WAIN. Rides after Parzival, 196; + and Duchess Orgueilleuse, 197; + adventures with Gramoflaus and Klingsor, 197, 198; + marriage of, 198; + one of Arthur's knights, 209; + doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216; + strength of, 216; + comes to Astolat, 228. +GEATES. Minstrel flees to the, 11; + Beowulf escorted by the, 16; + wait for Beowulf, 17; + return with Hygelac's body, 18. +GEIRS'-ODD. Sacrificial runes called, 266. +GEL'FRAT. Fights Hagen, 76. +GEN'O-A, DUKE OF. Charlemagne's quarrel with, 139. +GEOF'FREY DE LIGNY (leen'yee). Author of a Lancelot romance, 219. +GEOF'FREY OF MON'MOUTH. Writings of, 204, 307, 309. +GEP'I-DAE. Settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel with Lombards, 87. +GE-RAINT'. Brother of Gareth, 222; + story of Enid and, 222-224. +GE-RAS'MES. See _Sherasmin_. +GER'HART. Claims Liebgart's hand, 108. +GER'IMS-BURG. Siege of, 122. +GER-LIN'DA. Cruelty of, 30-32; + death of, 33. +GER'MAN. Manuscript of "Gudrun," 22, 23; + Von Otterdingen a, 53; + literature, 53; + language, Eckewart's fidelity proverbial in, 70; + version of Roland legend, 130; + Wagner a, 182; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246. +GER'MA-NY. Maximilian emperor of, 22; + Hettel king of, 25; + "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + the greatest epic of, 53; + in Charlemagne's vision, 140; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Henry the Fowler emperor of, 202; + Henry III. emperor of, 287. +GER'NOT. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + advice of, 57; + Hagen tries to rouse anger of, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + anger of, 66; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + sword of, 77; + death of, 83. +GIER'E-MUND. Reynard insults, 36; + wooed by Reynard, 38. +GIL'DAS. 307. +GI-RARD'. I. Brother of Huon, killed by Charlot, 163. +GI-RARD' II. A knight, steals Huon's casket, 180; + punished by Oberon, 181. +GIS'EL-HER. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + reproves Hagen, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + angry with Hagen, 71; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + betrothal of, 77. +GLAS'TON-BUR-Y. Holy Grail at, 185; + Arthur buried at, 232; + Guinevere and Lancelot buried at, 233. +GOD'FREY OF BOUIL'LON. Ancestor of, 139; + king of Jerusalem, 161. +GOËMAGOT (go-ee-ma-got'). Corineus kills, 309. +GOETHE (go'teh) "Reineke Fuchs" of, 36; + admiration of for Tegnér, 246. +GO'MEZ, DON. Insults Don Diego Laynez, 282; + challenged and killed by Rodrigo, 283; + Ximena daughter of, 284. +GOR'LO-IS. Lord of Tintagel, wars against Uther Pendragon, 209; + death of, 210; + Arthur not a son of, 210. +GO-TE-LIN'DE. Wife of Rüdiger, 73. +GOTH'LAND, EAST. 271. +GOTHS. See _Geates_. +GOTT'FRIED VON STRASS'BURG. Treats of Holy Grail; 182, 204; + version of "Tristan" of, 234. +GOZZOLI (got'so-lee). Painting of, 304 +GRAIL. See _Holy Grail_. +GRAM'O-FLAUS. Encounter of with Gawain 197; + Parzival champion of, 198; + marries Itonie, 198. +GRAN. Capital of Etzel, 73; + minstrels return tom 75. +GRA'VAIN. One of Arthur's knights, 209 +GREECE. Hertnit earl of, 121; + Tristan known in, 234; + isles of, 264; + viking raid in, 276; + popularity of Iliad in, 304; + Brutus goes to, 307; + Pandrasus king of, 308. +GREEK. Islands invaded by vikings, 276; + epics, 303; + post-classical writings, 303; + rhapsodists' work continued, 304; + writers busy with Alexander, 305. +GREN'DEL. Heorot visited by, 10; + warriors slain by, 11; + Beowulf and, 12-14; + mother of, 15; + Beowulf visits retreat of, 16, 17. +GRIF'FIN. Hagen carried off by a, 23. +GRIM. Depredations of, 111; + killed by Dietrich, 111; + Sigenot vows to avenge, 112. +GRIM'BART. Cousin of Reynard, 36; + pleads for Reynard, 38; + carries message to Reynard, 42; + absolves Reynard, 42; + reproves Reynard, 43; + warns Reynard, 47; + takes Reynard to court, 48. +GRIM'HILD. See _Kriemhild_. +GRI-SEL'DIS. Tale of, 302. +GUAR'DA. See _Garden_. +GU'DRUN I. The poem, 22. +GU'DRUN II. Daughter of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + suitors of, 28; + kidnaped by Hartmut, 29; + slavery of, 30; + swan maiden visits, 31; + rebellion of, 32; + rescue of 33; + marries Herwig, 34. +GU'DRUN III. Same as Kriemhild, 53. +GUÉR'IN DE MONT'GLAVE. _A chanson de geste_, 139. +GUI-ENNE'. Huon and Girard on the way from, 163; + Huon's patrimony of, 179; + Huon's journey to, 180. +GUILD'FORD. See _Astolat_. +GUIN'E-VERE. Marries Arthur, 217; + and Lancelot, 220, 221; + favors of, 227; + hears of Lancelot and Elaine, 228; + saved by Lancelot, 229; + and Mordred, 230; + at Almesbury, 232; + death of, 233; + Iseult like, 242; + Iseult meets, 244. +GUIS'CARD. Son of Aymon and Aya, 154. +GUNG'THIOF. Son of Frithiof, 267. +GUN'NAR. Same as Gunther, 53. +GUN'THER. Same as Gunnar, 53; + Siegfried at court of, 55, 56; + goes to Issland to woo Brunhild, 59; + contest of with Brunhild, 60; + marriage of, 61; + gives Kriemhild to Siegfried, 62; + bound by Brunhild, 63; + invites Siegfried to Worms, 64; + influenced by Hagen, 66; + race of, 67; + protector of Kriemhild, 68; + reconciled to Kriemhild, 70; + plans to secure hoard, 71; + receives Hun embassy, 72; + goes to Hungary, 75; + entertained by Rüdiger, 77; + entertained by Etzel, 80; + grants safe-conduct to Dietrich, 81; + refuses to surrender to Hagen, 82; + imprisonment and death of, 84; + son of, 85; + encounter with Walther, 124; + wounds of, 125. +GUR'NE-MANZ. Educates Parzival, 192, 196. +GU'TRUN. See _Kriemhild_. + +HA'CHE. Receives Rhine land, 109. +HAD'BURG. Prophesy of, 75. +HAD'U-BRAND. Son of Hildebrand, 126; + makes himself known to his father, 127. +HA'GEN I. Son of Sigeband, carried off by a griffin, 23; + adventures and marriage of, 24; + daughter of, 25; + fights Hettel, 27; +HA'GEN II. Same as Högni, 53; + describes Siegfried's prowess, 55; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + promises to avenge Brunhild, 65; + deceives Kriemhild, 66; + kills Siegfried, 67; + glories in his treachery, 68; + the touch of, 69; + hatred of Kriemhild for, 70; + seizes hoard, 71; + welcomes Rüdiger, 71; + warns Burgundians, 72, 74; + Kriemhild plans to have revenge upon, 73; + swan maidens and, 75; + adventure at the ferry, 76; + receives shield from Rüdiger, 77; + Etzel welcomes, 78; + alliance with Volker, 78; + frightens Huns, 79; + kills Ortlieb, 80; + Kriemhild offers reward for death of, 81; + Kriemhild asks surrender of, 82; + Dietrich asks surrender of, 83; + captivity and death of, 84; + a hostage of Etzel, 124; + loses an eye, 125; + Aldrian son of, 127. +HALF'DAN. I. Friend of Viking, 247; + makes friends with Njorfe, 248; + Viking's sons visit, 249. +HALF'DAN II. Son of Belé, 251; + character of, 252; + king of Sogn, 253; + guardian of Ingeborg, 255; + Sigurd Ring wars against, 256; + Frithiof wars against, 267. +HAL'O-GA-LAND. North Norway called, 246. +HAL'O-GE. Same as Loki, rules Halogaland, 246; + Viking the grandson of, 247. +HAM. Witch summoned by Helgé, 258. +HAR'DRED. Son of Hygelac, reign of, 18. +HAR'LUNGS. Sibich betrays the, 123. +HART'MANN VON AUE, 204. +HART'MUT. Prince of Normandy, 28; + kidnaps Gudrun, 29; + Gudrun refuses to marry, 29; + rescues Gudrun from drowning, 30; + prepares to marry Gudrun, 32; + rescues Gudrun, 33; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + a captive, 34; + marries Hergart, and is released, 34. +HAS'SAN. Name assumed by Huon in Tunis, 177. +HAST'INGS I. Battle of, 130. +HAST'INGS II. Foster father of Sigurd the Snake-eyed, 275; + and Ragnar's sons, 276; + strategy of, 277. +HA'WART. Death of, 81. +HEC'TOR, SIR. Arthur fostered by, 210, 214; + visit of to London, 215; +HED'IN. Lover of Hilde, 22; + same as Hettel, 25. +HE'GE-LING LEGEND, 23. +HE'GE-LINGS. Family of the, 23; + Hettel king of the, 25; + Hilde flees with the, 27; + at the Wülpensand, 29; + come to Normandy, 32; + return home, 34. +HEID. Witch summoned by Helgé, 258. +HEI'ME. Challenges Dietrich, 115; + becomes a brigand, 117; + steals Mimung, 121; + forced to restore Mimung, 122. +HEI'MIR. Protector of Aslaug, 274. +HEIN'RICH VON OF'TER-DING-EN, 86. +HELCHE. Wife of Etzel, 71, 124; + daughter of Rother and Oda, 94. +HEL'DEN-BUCH. The "Book of Heroes," 86, 128. +HEL'EN I. Mother of Lancelot, 219. +HEL'EN II. In mediaeval literature, kidnaping of, 304. +HEL'E-NUS. Descendants of in Greece, 307. +HEL'GÉ. Son of Belé, 251; + refuses to give Ingeborg to Frithiof, 255; + rejects Sigurd Ring, 255; + makes treaty with Sigurd Ring, 256; + accuses Frithiof of sacrilege, 257; + stirs up tempest against Frithiof, 258; + Angantyr refuses to pay tribute to, 261; + Frithiof snatches ring from wife of, 261; + pursues Frithiof, 262. +HE'LIE DE BOR'RON, 234. +HEL'I-GO-LAND. Rumor of Dietrich's valor reaches, 115. +HEL'KAP-PE. See _Tarnkappe_. +HEL'MI-GIS. Rosamund and, 88. +HEN'GIST. Driven from England, 205; + Saxons led by, 208. +HEN'NING. Complaint of against Reynard, 38. +HENRY I., THE FOWLER. Hears accusation against Else, 202. +HENRY III. Emperor of Germany, 287. +HENRY VIII. Lord Berners translates "Huon of Bordeaux" for, 163. +HE'O-ROT. Hrothgar builds, 10; + Beowulf's experiences in, 13; + Grendel's limb a trophy in, 15; + Beowulf's triumphant return to, 18. +HE'RAND. See _Herrat_. +HER'BART. Nephew of Dietrich, elopes with Hilde, 123. +HER'BRAND. Son of Berchther, 109; + father of Hildebrand, 110; + the wide-traveled, 121. +HER'CU-LES, PILLARS of. Brutus passes, 308. +HER'KA. See _Helche_. +HER'LIND. Maid of Oda, 90; + brings gifts to Oda, 91. +HER'RAT. Wife of Dietrich, 126; + death of. 127. +HERT'NIT. Wittich a prisoner of, 121; + Wildeber visits, 121; + death of, 122. +HER'WIG. King of Zealand, fights with Hettel, 28; + betrothed to Gudrun, 28; + wars of, 29; + comes to Normandy to rescue Gudrun, 31; + saves Gudrun, 33; + marries Gudrun, 34. +HER-ZE-LOI'DE. Sigune brought up by, 188; + wife of Gamuret and mother of Parzival, 188; + parts from Parzival, 191; + Parzival goes in search of, 192; + Parzival hears of death of, 199. +HE'SI-OD. Heroes of in mediaeval literature, 303. +HESSE. Burgundian army passes through, 57. +HET'TEL. Wooes Hilde, 25, 26; + marries Hilde, 27; + dismisses Gudrun's suitors, 28; + death of, 29. +HILD'BURG I. Hagen finds, 23. +HILD'BURG II. Companion of Gudrun, 30; + meets Ortwine, 31; + wooed by Ortwine, 32; + marries Ortwine, 34. +HILD'BURG III. Hugdietrich wooes, 100; + secret marriage of, 101; + the son of, 101, 102; + banished by Sabene, 103. +HIL'DE I. In the Edda, 22; + an Indian princess, 23; + Hagen marries, 24; + daughter of, 25. +HIL'DE II. Suitors of, 25; + educates Gudrun, 28; + welcomes Gudrun home, 34. +HIL'DE III. A giantess, Dietrich's encounter with, 111. +HIL'DE IV. Daughter of Arthur, elopes with Herbart, 123. +HIL'DE-BRAND I. Claims body of Rüdiger and fights Burgundians, 83; + kills Kriemhild, 84; + lament of, 85. +HIL'DE-BRAND II. Inherits Garden, 109; + tutor of Dietrich, 110; + fights Grim and Hilde, 111; + marriage of, 112; + adventure of with Sigenot, 112, 113; + adventure of with magicians, 114; + Wittich meets, 115; + steals Wittich's sword, 116; + Ilsan brother of, 117; + Dietlieb pawns steed of, 117; + first Rose Garden adventure of, 118; + second Rose Garden adventure of, 120; + campaign of in Wilkina land, 121; + ransom of, 124; + returns to Garden, 126; + rejoins his wife, 127. +HIL'DE-GARDE. Story of Roland and, 150, 151. +HIL'DE-GRIM. Giant's helmet, 111. +HIL-DE-GUN'DE. Adventures of, 124, 125. +HIL'DING. Foster father of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 251; + asks Frithiof's aid for kings of Sogn, 255; + failure of mission of, 256; + announces Ingeborg's marriage to Frithiof, 261. +HINTZE. Complains of Reynard, 37; + accused of theft, 38; + adventures of at Malepartus, 41; + imprisonment of, 46. +HLE'DRA. Capital of Denmark, 271; + Thora arrives at, 272; + Krake at, 274; + Ivar's brothers return to, 280. +HÖG'NI I. Pursues Hilde, 22. +HÖG'NI II. Same as Hagen, 53. +HOL'GER DAN'SKE. See _Ogier_. +HOL'LAND. Ireland in, 23. +HOLM'GANG. Northern duel, 247. +HOLY GRAIL, 182-203; + origin of legend of, 182; + a sacred dish or cup, 183; + Joseph of Arimathea supported in prison by, 183; + at Marseilles, 184; + at Glastonbury, 185; + Titurel appointed guardian of, 185; + temple of, 186; + descent of, 187; + commands that Frimoutel be king, 188; + commands that Amfortas be king, 189; + promise of, 189; + Parzival sees, 193; + Parzival's quest for, 195-200; + Kundrie a messenger of, 196; + Gawain's quest for, 196; + Trevrezent renounces, 199; + Parzival finds, 199; + Parzival uncovers, 200; + Arthur's knights' quest for, 201, 225; + Lohengrin servant of, 201, 203; + legend of, 204; + place at the Round Table for, 208, 218; + Lancelot cured by, 221; + appearance of, 225; + Parzival, Lancelot, and Galahad saw, 226; + tales of, 301. +HOLY LAND. Renaud goes to, 161; + knight returns from, 183. +HO'MER. Heroes of, 303. +HO'RANT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + his skill as minstrel, 26, 34. +HOR'DA-LAND. Frithiof in, 267. +HORN'BO-GI. Wittich meets, 115; + father of Amalung, 121. +HORSES. See _Rispa_, _Falke_, _Veillantif_, + _Bayard_, and _Babieça_. +HROTH'GAR. Descent of, 9; + hall of, 10; + reward offered by, 11; + Beowulf at court of, 13; + feast of, 15; + grief of, 15; + Beowulf takes leave of, 16. +HROUD'LAN-DUS. Same as Roland, 130. +HUG. Lord of Dordogne, slain by Charlemagne, 152; + avenged by Aymon, 154. +HUG-DIE'TRICH I. Son of Anzius, 100; + wooes and marries Hildburg, 101; + intrusts wife and child to care of Sabene, 102; + suspicions of, 103; + death and will of, 103. +HUG-DIE'TRICH II. Son of Wolfdietrich, 109; + father of Dietmar, 110. +HUGUES. King of Jerusalem, 139; + Oliver marries daughter of, 140. +HUM'BER. King of the Huns, 309. +HUN'GA-RY. Etzel king of, 71; + Gunther starts out for, 75; + Kriemhild's purpose in coming to, 82; + fatal ride to, 85; + part of Pannonia, 86; + Wildeber in, 121; + Aymon's wars in, 152. +HUNS. King of, 72, 94, 118, 121; + Kriemhild queen of, 72; + power of, 72; + Burgundians crowded by, 79; + Kriemhild brings misery upon, 84; + gratitude of Helche, queen of the, 125; + Dietrich's sojourn with the, 126; + Humber king of the, 309. +HUN'THIOF. Son of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 267. +HUN'VOR. Swedish princess, 247. +HU'ON OF BOR-DEAUX', 163-181; + hero of poem, 163; + Charlemagne's orders to, 163; + visits Pope, 164; + meets Sherasmin, 165; + in enchanted forest, 166; + Oberon's gifts to, 168; + at Tourmont, 169; + adventures with Angoulaffre, 169, 170; + adventure with Saracen, 170; + reaches Bagdad, 171; + adventures at Bagdad, 171-174; + Oberon's orders to, 174; + disobedience of, 175; + on desert island, 175, 176; + in Tunis, 177; + carried to fairyland by Oberon, 179, 181; + at the tournament, 179; + returns to Guienne, 180; + other versions of story of, 180; + ancestor of Capetian race, 181. +HU'O-NET. Birth and disappearance of, 176; + restoration of, 179. +HVIT'SERK. Son of Ragnar, 274. +HYGD. Wife of Hygelac, 18. +HY'GE-LAC. King of the Geates, 11; + gives Nägeling to Beowulf, 12; + wars and death of, 18. +HYR-CA'NI-A. Babican king of, 171. + +ICE'LAND. Story of Tristan popular in, 234; + the Iliad in, 304. +IL'I-AD. Popularity of the, 304. +IL'SAN. Brother of Hildebrand, 117, 120; + rudeness and cruelty of, 120, 121. +IM'E-LOT. King of Desert Babylonia, 91; + a captive, 92; + Rother hears of escape of, 93. +IN'DI-A. Hunvor carried off to, 247; + Alexander's adventures in, 306. +IN-FAN'TES. Of Carrion, 295-298; + of Navarre, 297. +IN'GE-BORG I. Attendant of Hunvor, 247. +IN'GE-BORG II. Transformed into a witch, 249; + Thorsten saved by, 250; + mother of Frithiof, 251. +IN'GE-BORG III. Daughter of Belé, and playmate of Frithiof, 251; + Frithiof vows to marry, 252; + Frithiof sues for, 254; + Sigurd Ring sues for, 255; + meets Frithiof in temple, 256, 257; + Frithiof parts with, 258; + married to Sigurd Ring, 261, 269; + Frithiof's longing for, 264; + Frithiof visits, 265; + given to Frithiof by Sigurd Ring, 266; + Frithiof wars against brothers of, 267; + marriage of Frithiof and, 267. +ING'EL-HEIM. Palace at, 131. +IRE'LAND I. In Holland, 23. +IRE'LAND II. Merlin brings stones from, 208; + Ryance king of, 217; + Morold comes from, 236; + Tristan goes to, 237; + Tristan's visits to, 238; + viking raids in, 276. +I'RING. Killed by Hagen, 81. +I'RISH. King defeats Mark, 237; + attendants carry Morold's remains to Ireland, 237; + Tristan at court of the, 238; + king, butler of, 239. +IR'MIN-SUL. Charlemagne destroys the, 129. +IRN'FRIED. Attacks the Burgundians, 81. +IS'E-GRIM. Complaint of against Reynard, 36; + and the fish, 37; + a victim of Reynard's jokes, 42; + accused by Reynard, 44; + imprisonment of, 46; + robbed by Reynard, 48; + disloyalty of, 51; + duel with Reynard, 51; + death of, 52. +I'SEN-LAND. Hagen finds princess of, 23. +I-SEULT'. I. Sister of Morold, cures of, 237; + Tristan healed by, 238. + II. Daughter of Iseult I., Tristan teaches, 238; + hand of promised to dragon slayer, 238; + finds and restores Tristan, 239; + tries to kill Tristan, 240; + journey of to Cornwall, 241; + marries Mark, 242; + love of for Tristan, 242; + oath of, 243; + Tristan cannot forget, 244; + carried to Joyeuse Garde, 244; + death and burial of, 245. + III. With the White Hands, 243; + marries Tristan, 244; + jealousy of, 245. +I-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +ISS'LAND. Brunhild princess of, 58; + Gunther's arrival in, 59; + Nibelungs accompany Siegfried to, 61. +I'SUNG. Follows Dietlieb, 118; + bear of, 121; + delivers Wittich, 122. +I-TAL'IAN. Version of Roland, 130; + cycle of romances, 302; + love of the marvelous, 302, 307. +IT'A-LY. Alboin conquers, 87; + Ortnit master of, 94; + Amaling land same as, 121; + viking raids in, 276; + settlements in, 281; + Brutus expelled from, 307. +I-TO'NIE. Sister of Gawain, 198. +I'VAR. Son of Ragnar, 274; + a cripple, 275; + kills Eystein's magic cow, 276; + surrenders to Ella, 279; + takes up abode in Lunduna Burg, 280; + power of, 280. +I-WA-NET'. Arthur's squire, helps Parzival, 191. +I'WO. Prince of Tarasconia, 156; + Renaud marries daughter of, 156; + treachery of, 158; + Renaud saves, 159. + +JACK THE GIANT KILLER. Origin of tale of, 308. +JAM'HAS. Son of Ortgis, 114. +JAMES, ST. Explains vision to Charlemagne, 140; + promises help to Christian army, 287. +JARL HER'RAND. Father of Thora, 271. +JER'AS-PUNT. Virginal's castle of, 114. +JER'I-CHO. Walls of Pamplona like those of, 140. +JE-RU'SA-LEM. Ogier besieges, 138; + Godfrey of Bouillon king of, 139; + Hugues king of, 139; + Charlemagne's pilgrimage to, 139; + Galyen returns to, 140; + Renaud offered crown of, 161; + Vespasian's commission to, 183. +JEW. The sacrilegious, 300. +JEWS. Persecute Joseph of Arimathea, 183; + lend money to Cid, 293, 294. +JOHN. Son of Fierefiss, and founder of Knights Templars, 200; + Prester, 201. +JO'KUL. Njorfe's eldest son, takes Sogn, 249; + magic arts of, 250. +JO'SEPH OF AR-I-MA-THE'A. And the Holy Grail, 183; + institutes the Round Table, 184; + carries Holy Grail to Glastonbury, 185; + Merlin's Round Table like that of, 208. +JO'SI-ANE. Daughter of Frimoutel, and mother of Sigune, 188. +JOYEUSE (zhwaa-y[=e]z'). Sword of Charlemagne, 137. +JOYEUSE GARDE. Guinevere at, 220, 229; + Lancelot buried at, 233; + Iseult at, 244. +JU'DAS. Sin of, 184. +JUDGMENT OF GOD. Reynard appeals to the, 51; + in favor of Thiedric, 148; + Cid appeals to the, 288. +JU'LI-US CAE'SAR. Father of Oberon, 166, 210. +JUTES. See _Geates_. +JUT'LAND. Alfsol princess of, 270. + +KAN'TART. Son of Henning, 38. +KAR'DEISS. Son of Parzival, and king of Belripar, 201. +KAY, SIR. Foster brother of Arthur, 210; + sends Arthur for a sword, 215. +KLING'SOR. Castle of, 197; + captives of, 197; + Gawain's adventures with, 198. +KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, 301. +KRA'KE. Beauty and wit of, 273; + wooed by Ragnar, 273; + becomes queen of Denmark, 274; + Danes disapprove of, 274; + story of, 274. +KRIEM'HILD. Same as Gudrun, 53; + dream of, 54; + Siegfried goes to woo, 55; + sees strength of Siegfried, 56; + meets Siegfried after victory, 57; + wooing of, 58; + marriage of, 62; + goes to the Nibelungen land, 64; + goes to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Brunhild, 65; + anxiety of, 66; + parts from Siegfried, 67; + grief of, 68; + mourning of, 69; + goes to Lorch, 71; + wooed by Etzel, 71; + Rüdiger's promise to, 72, 83; + journey of to Gran, 73; + lures Burgundians into Hungary, 74; + quarrels with Hagen, 77; + Dietrich defies, 78; + bribes Blödelin, 80; + urges Huns to slay Hagen, 81; + sets fire to hall, 82; + Gunther and Hagen captives of, 84; + kills Gunther and Hagen, 84; + death of, 84; + Rose Garden of, 120; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Etzel marries, 126. +KRY'ANT. Son of Henning, 38. +KUN'DRIE. Curses Parzival, 196; + death of, 200. +KUN'HILD. Sister of Dietlieb, kidnaped by Laurin, 118; + rescued by Dietrich, 119; + delivers Dietrich and knights, 119; + marriage and realm of, 120. +KÃœR'EN-BERG, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53. +KUR'VE-NAL. Retainer of Blancheflem, 235; + joins Tristan in Cornwall, 236; + accompanies Tristan to Ireland, 238; + goes to Brittany for Iseult, 244. + +LADY OF THE LAKE. Vivian the, 211; + lays spell upon Merlin, 212; + brings sword to Arthur, 216; + Lancelot fostered by, 219; + Arthur a prisoner of, 244. +LAM'BERT LE CORT. Author of "Alexandre le Grant," 305. +LAM GO-Ë-MA-GOT'. Same as Plymouth, 309. +LAM'PE. Illtreated by Reynard, 37; + psalm-singing of, 38; + slain at Malepartus, 46; + head of, 47; + Reynard confesses murder of, 48; + Reynard's excuses for murder of, 49. +LAN'CE-LOT DU LAC, SIR. Ogier joins, 138; + legend of, 204; + hero of several poems, 219; + youth of, 219; + love and insanity of, 220; + rescues Guinevere, 221, 226, 229; + sees Holy Grail, 221, 226; + knights Sir Gareth, 221; + and Sir Galahad, 224; + vow of, 225; + and Elaine, 227-229; + Arthur's anger against, 230; + visits Guinevere, 233; + death and burial of, 233; + Tristan like, 242; + Iseult at castle of, 244. +LAN-GO-BAR'DI-AN. Cycle of romances, 86-99; + nobles reject Helmigis, 88; + scepter given to Rother, 88; + queen, Oda becomes, 93. +LAN'GO-BARDS. Same as Langobardians, settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel between Gepidae and, 87. +LAST SUPPER. Holy Grail used for the, 183. +LATIN. Version of Reynard, 35; + poem of Walther von Wasgenstein, 124; + chronicle attributed to Turpin, 129; + version of Roland, 130; + version of Tristan, 234; + epics, 303; + writers and Alexander, 305. +LAU'RIN. Adventures of with Dietrich and knights, 118-120. +LA-VIN'I-A. Niece of, mother of Brutus, 307. +LA'WAINE, SIR. Brother of Elaine, 227. +LAZ'A-RUS, ST. Rodrigo's vision of, 286. +LEAR, KING. Shakespeare's tragedy of, 309. +LEICESTER (l[)e]s't[e(]r). Founded by King Leir, 309. +LEIR, KING. Founder of Leicester, 309. +LE-O'DE-GRAUNCE. King of Scotland, Arthur and, 217. +LE-O-GE'CI-A. Brutus hears oracle at, 308. +LEON (l[=a]-[=o]n'). Don Alfonso king of, 288; + Don Garcia buried in, 290. +LE-PAN'TO. Huon and Rezia stop at, 174; + Sherasmin parts from Huon at, 177. +LIEB'GART. Same as Sidrat, 97; + magic eggs of, 98; + waits for return of Ortnit, 99; + suitors of, 99; + Wolfdietrich's compassion for, 107; + Wolfdietrich saves and marries, 108; + mother of Hugdietrich, 109; + Dietrich marries, 127. +LIL-IEN-POR'TE. Siege of, 103. +LOCH'HEIM. Nibelungen hoard buried at, 71. +LO'CRI-A. Named by Locrine, 309. +LO-CRINE'. Son of Brutus, 309. +LOD'BROK. See _Ragnar_. +LODE'STONE ROCK. Ogier wrecked on the, 138. +LOD-GER'DA. Ragnar marries and forsakes, 271. +LO'HEN-GRIN. Story of Else and, 201-203. +LO'KI. See _Haloge_. +LOM'BARDS. Same as Langobards, 87; + Rother complains of king of, 90; + Ortnit king of, 94; + Wolfdietrich rules, 108; + Charlemagne subdues, 129, 137. +LOM'BAR-DY. Oda returns to, 94; + Sidrat goes to, 97; + Liebgart to select king of, 99; + Ortnit's ancestors in, 100; + Wolfdietrich starts for, 104; + Wolfdietrich returns to, 109; + Didier king of, 136. +LON'DON. St. Stephen's Church in, 215; + Arthur comes to with Sir Hector, 215; + Guinevere's journey to, 230; + founding of, 280, 309. +LONG'FEL-LOW. "Tales of a Wayside Inn" of, 136, 202. +LON-GI'NUS. Rosamund seeks, 88. +LORCH. Kriemhild's sojourn at, 71. +LOUIS THE FAT, 280. +LOV'EL, LORD. Story of, 245. +LUCES DE GAST. Version of Tristan by, 234. +LU'CI-FER. Fall of, 182. +LUD. Descendant of Brutus, 309. +LU'DE-GAST. King of Denmark, threatens to invade Burgundy, 56. +LU'DE-GER. King of Saxons, Gunther's wars with, 56, 66. +LUD'WIG. King of Normandy, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + kills Hettel, 29; + tries to drown Gudrun, 30; + killed by Herwig, 33. +LU'NA. Vikings besiege, 276; + Norman's stratagem to enter into, 277; + Don Garcia a prisoner in, 290. +LUN-DU'NA BURG. Same as London, 280. +LYM-FIORD. Ragnar's victory at, 271. +LYN-ETTE'. Story of Gareth and, 222. +LY'O-NEL. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +LY-O-NESSE'. Arthur's boyhood spent in, 226; + Meliadus lord of, 234; + Tristan recovers, 236. + +MA-BRI-AN'. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAC'E-DON. Alexander king of, 305; + early history of, 305. +MA-CHO-RELI,'. Father of Sidrat, 95; + Alberich carries challenge to, 97; + sends dragon eggs to Liebgart, 98. +MALAGIGI (m[)a]l-a-j[=e]'j[=e]). The necromancer, same as Malagis, 152; + and Bayard, 153; + rescues Aymon, 154; + joins Renaud, 157; + warns Renaud of Richard's peril, 159; + strategem and escape of, 160. +MAL'A-GIS. See _Malagigi_. +MAL'E-BRON. Servant of Oberon, 170, 180. +MA-LE-PAR'TUS. Brown the bear + reaches, 39; + Hintze at, 41; + Bellyn and Lampe accompany Reynard to, 46; + Grimbart at, 47. +MAL'O-RY. Old legends used by, 204, 219. +MAN'TU-A. Ermenrich takes, 123. +MAP, WALTER. Works of, 182, 204, 219. +MARK. King of Cornwall, Meliadus visits, 235; + Tristan and Kurvenal visit, 236; + Tristan praises Iseult to, 238; + Tristan emissary of, 240; + Iseult marries, 242; + indifference of, 242; + illtreats Iseult, 244; + gives orders for burial of Tristan and Iseult, 245. +MAR-SEILLES'. Joseph of Arimathea at, 184. +MARSIGLIO (mar-s[=e]l'y[=o]). Saracen king, 144; + killed by Roland, 145. +MAR-SIL'I-US. See _Marsiglio_. +MAR'TIN. I. Parson's son, 41. + II. Ape met by Reynard, 49. +MAR'TIN GON-ZA'LEZ. Cid's fight with, 286. +MA'RY. Queen of England, marries Philip of Spain, 232. +MAT'E-LAN. Hilde goes to with Hettel, 27; + Herwig comes to, 28; + Hartmut comes to, 29. +MAU'GIS. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAX-I-MIL'I-AN I. Emperor of Germany, 22. +MAYENCE (mä-yens'). Charlemagne's wife buried at, 131. +ME-DE'A. In mediaeval literature, 304. +ME-LE'A-GANS. Guinevere a captive of, 221. +ME-LI'A-DUS. I. Lord of Lyonesse, wars against Morgan, 234; + marries Blanchefleur, 235. + II. Squire of Mark, 242. +MERAN (m[=a]'ran). Berchther duke of, 89; + Wolfdietrich educated at, 103; + Hildburg at, 103. +MER'KI-NAU. Accuses Reynard, 47. +MER'LIN. Round Table to be constructed by, 184; + legend of, 204; + real and mythical, 205; + birth and infancy of, 206; + the prophecies of, 206, 207, 208, 210, 231; + builds Stonehenge and castle at Carduel, 208; + changes Uther into form of Gorlois, 209; + Arthur when an infant confided to, 210, 214; + magic arts of, 211; + and Vivian, 211-213; + reveals Arthur's parentage, 215; + adviser of Arthur, 216, 217; + frames laws for knights of Round Table, 218. +MER-O-VIN GI-AN. Rulers of the Franks, 36. +MEUR'VIN. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, 163. +MIL'AN. Invested by imperial army, 123. +MIL'DN. Father of Roland, 133, 141; + quest of for jewel, 134, 135. +MIM'UNG. Sword of Wittich, 115; + Wittich loses, and Hildebrand restores, 116; + Heime steals, 121; + Wittich recovers, 122. +MO-HAM'MED. Ferracute calls upon, 143. +MON-TAU-BAN'. Renaud builds fortress at, 156; + siege of, 156; + Renaud escapes to, 157; + Charlemagne again besieges, 159; + Charlemagne a captive in, 160; + Aymon's sons escape from, 160; + Renaud returns to, 161. +MONTFAUCON (mon-f[=o]-ko[n=]'). Adventure of Renaud and Bayard at, 159. +MONT'GLAVE, GUÉR'IN DE. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MONT-SAL'VATCH. Holy Grail on, 185; + Frimoutel weary of life on, 189; + Parzival's first visit to, 193; + Gawain on the way to, 197; + Parzival's second visit to, 199; + Parzival king on, 200; + Lohengrin's return to, 201; + Else goes to, 203. +MOOR. Fierefiss a, 200. +MOOR'ISH. Kings defeated by Cid, 282; + kings send tribute to Cid, 287; + kings warn Cid of danger, 287. +MOOR'LAND. Kingdom of Siegfried, 28. +MOORS. Enmity between Christians and, 154; + Saforet king of, 156; + and Holy Grail, 182; + Rodrigo meets the, 283, 285, 287, 289, 294, 296; + Tizona won from the, 285; + Don Alfonso joins, 290; + Don Alfonso wars against, 293; + at Valencia, 294, 296, 298, 300; + flee at sight of Cid, 299. +MOR'DRED. Related to Arthur, 230; + treachery of, 230; + death of, 231. +MOR'GAN. I. Meliadus wars against 234; + kills Meliadus, 235; + killed by Tristan, 236. + II. Same as Fata Morgana, 95. +MOR-GA'NA. Predictions of, 135; + Ogier meets, 138; + mother of Meurvin, 139; + mother of Oberon, 166; + steals Arthur's scabbard, 231; + conveys Arthur to Avalon, 232. +MO-ROC'CO. Bucar king of, 298. +MO'ROLD. Comes to Cornwall to claim tribute, 236; + challenged and slain by Tristan, 237; + Iseult discovers murderer of, 240. +MORTE D'ARTHUR. By Malory, 219. +MOSES. A hypocrite, 184. +MUN-TA-BURE'. In mirage, 95; + Ortnit besieges, 97. + +NÄ'GE-LING. Sword of Beowulf, 12. +NA'GEL-RING. Sword of Dietrich, 111, 112, 117. +NAISMES DE BAVIÈRE (n[=a]m de bave-er'). "Nestor of the Carolingian + legends," 144. +NANTES. Arthur's court at, 191. +NA-VARRE'. Charlemagne's wars in, 141, 143; + Don Sancho king of, 289; + Infantes of, 297. +NEN'NI-US. Writes romances, 204, 307. +NES'TOR. Naismes de Bavière like, 144. +NETH'ER-LANDS. Reynard in the, 35; + kingdom of the, 54. +NEW TROY. Same as London, 309. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN. Hoard, 55, 63, 70, 77, 127; + land, 55, 61, 64. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN-LIED, 53-85; + Gudrun alluded to in, 22; + Germany's greatest epic, 53; + end of, 85; + incidents in, 126, 242. +NI'BE-LUNGS. Treasure of, 53; + followers of Siegfried, 61; + Brunhild escorted by, 62; + guard Siegfried's son, 64; + mourning and wrath of, 69; + Burgundians called, 75; + fall of, 126. +NIC-O-DE'MUS. Slain by Jews, 183. +NJOR'FE. King of Uplands, friend of Viking and Halfdan, 248; + sons of attack Viking's sons, 249. +NO'BEL. King of the animals, 36; + anger of against Reynard, 37; + Brown returns to, 41; + Reynard before, 43; + hears of treasure, 45; + pardons Reynard, 46; + discovers Lampe's murder, 47. +NON'NEN-WORTH. Hildegarde retires to convent of, 150; + Roland lingers near, 151. +NOR'MAN-DY. Ludwig king of, 28; + Gudrun taken to, 29; + Ortwine comes to, 32; + Rollo settles in, 280. +NOR'MANS. Conquer England, 9; + pursued by Hegelings, 29; + and Hegelings, 32; + invade Paris, 138; + strategy of, 277; + defeated by Ella, 279; + found Lunduna Burg, 280. +NORNS. Frithiof's vision of, 267. +NORSE. Origin of Gudrun, 22; + literary treasures, 246. +NORSE'MEN. Tristan and the, 235, 236. +NORTH. Literary treasures of, 246; + gods and heroes of, 246; + Thorsten owner of great treasures of, 251. +NORTH CAPE. Discovered by Othere, 18. +NORTH-GAL'LIS. Queen of, 232. +NORTH'MEN. Kidnap Tristan, 235. +NOR-THUM'BER-LAND. Ella king of, 278. +NOR'WAY. Wilkina land is, 121; + ships from, 235; + Halogaland in, 246; + Uplands in, 248; + Ringrie in, 255; + Ragnar's sojourn in, 271. +NU'DUNG. Son of Rüdiger, death of, 126. + +O'BE-RON. I. Poem by Wieland, and opera by Weber, 163. + II. King of fairies, 163; + Huon sees, 166; + magic horn of, 167; + gives horn and goblet to Huon, 168; + ring of, 169; + shelters Huon, and sends Malebron to his aid, 170; + Rezia's vision of, 171; + promises aid to Huon and Rezia, 172; + comes to Huon's aid, 173; + warns Oberon, 174; + Huon disobeys, 175; + Titania and, 175, 176, 179; + Huon rescued by, 178, 181; + brings Huon to fairyland, 179, 181; + Julius Caesar father of, 210. +O'DA. Daughter of Constantine, 89; + Rother wooes and wins, 89-93; + kidnaped by magician, 93; + Rother rescues, 94; + Helche daughter of, 94. +O'DEN-WALD. Death of Siegfried in the, 67, 71. +O-DI'LI-A. Wife of Dietmar, 110. +O'DIN. Hrothgar a descendant of, 9; + Skeaf sent by, 10; + Loki comes north with, 246; + Sigurd Ring dedicates himself to, 266; + ancestor of Danish kings, 269. +OF'TER-DING-EN, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53; + "Heldenbuch" partly compiled from, 86. +O'GIER LE DAN'OIS. A _chanson de geste_, 135. +O'GIER THE DANE. A paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + a hostage, 135; + marries Bellissande, 136; + admiration of Danes for, 136; + quarrels with Charlemagne, 136; + terror and escape of, 137; + made king of England, 138; + shipwreck of, 138; + magic crown and ring of, 138; + son of, 139; + boast of, 140; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + death of, 148. +OLD TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne return to, 106. +OL'GER. See _Ogier_. +OL'I-VANT. Horn of Roland, 139; + blasts on, 145, 146. +OL'I-VER. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + champion of Duke of Genoa, 139; + fights with Roland, 139, 149; + boast of, 140; + son of, 140; + advises Roland to blow his horn, 145; + death of, 147, 148; + sister of, 149; + and Malagigi, 160. +OR-GUEIL-LEUSE', DUCHESS. Adventure of Gawain and, 197; + Gawain marries, 198. +OR'I-LUS, LORD. Parzival's adventure with wife of, 191; + Parzival defeats, 196. +ORK'NEY ISLANDS. Conquest of, 250; + Frithiof sent to, 258; + Frithiof and Björn in, 259. +OR-LAN'DO FU-RI-O'SO, 211, 302. +OR-LAN'DO IN-NA-MO-RA'TO, 302. +ORT'GIS. A magician, holds Virginal a captive, 113; + Jambas son of, 114. +ORT'LIEB. Son of Kriemhild, 73; + killed by Hagen, 80. +ORT'NIT. I. Poem of the ninth century, 86. + II. Lombardian king, vision of, 94; + vow of, 95; + adventures of with Alberich, 96; + adventures and marriage of, 97; + goes to kill dragons, 98; + death of, 99; + ancestors rule over Lombardy, 100; + Wolfdietrich wants aid of, 104; + Wolfdietrich vows to avenge, 107; + ring of, 108; + widow of. 127. +OR'TRUNE. Sister of Hartmut. 30; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + marries Siegfied. 34. +ORT'WINE. I. Son of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + comes to rescue Gudrun, 31; + wooes Hildburg, 32; + marries Hildburg, 34. + II. Vassal of Gunther, 56; + goes to Hungary, 75. + III. Son of Helche, 125. +O-SAN'TRIX. Etzel wars against, 121; + Hertnit brother of, 121. +OS'BORN. See _Asprian_. +OS'TRO-GOTHS. Defeated by Alboin, 87. +O'THERE. Discoverer of North Cape, sons of, 18. +OT'NIT. See _Ortnit_. +OT'U-EL, SIR. Story of, 143. +OX'FORD. Walter Map, Archdeacon of, 182. + +PAD'AUWE. Same as Padua, Dietrich takes, 126. +PAD'U-A. See _Padauwe_. +PAL'MER-INS. Cycle of. 302. +PAM-PLO'NA. Siege of, 140, 141. +PAN-DRA'SUS. King of Greece, defeated by Brutus, 308. +PAN-NO'NI-A. Gepidae and Lombards in, 86. +PAPILLON (p[)a]-p[=e]-yo[n=]'). The magic horse, 138. +PAR'IS. I. Judgment of, 51; + picture of in act of kidnaping Helen, 304. +PAR'IS. II. Invasion of, 138; + news of Roland's death brought to, 149; + Renaud's journey to, 157; + Malagigi in, 158; + Renaud's body to be brought to, 162; + Huon in, 163, 179; + siege of, 180. +PAR-ME'NI-A. Meliadus lord of, 234. +PAR'ZI-VAL. I. Poem of, 182. +PAR'ZI-VAL. II. Birth of, 188; + youth of, 189; + starts out into the world, 190; + adventures of on the way to Nantes, 191; + wins armor, 192; + visits Gurnemanz and Belripar, and marries Conduiramour, 192; + visits Montsalvatch, 193, 199; + seeks Holy Grail, 195; + knighted by Arthur, 196; + Gawain seeks, 196; + fights Gawain, 198; + at the hermit's, 199; + meets Fierefiss, 199; + made king of Holy Grail, 200; + children of, 201; + Lohengrin son of, 203; + sees Holy Grail, 73. +PAS'SAU. Kriemhild's arrival at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76; + funeral mass at, 85. +PEL'LI-NORE, SIR. Arthur and, 216. +PEN-DRAG'ON. Son of Constans, 205; + war of Britons under, 208. +PEN'TE-COST. Arthur's feast at, 217, 224. +PEP'IN. Charlemagne son of, 129. +PER-I-DE'US. A giant, kills Alboin, 88. +PER'SI-A. Sultan of. 298; + Alexander's conquest of, 306. +PE'TER, ST. Cid's vision of, 298. +PHIL'IP. I. Of Spain, oath of in favor of Arthur, 232. +PHIL'IP. II. Of Macedon, death of, 305. +PI-AZ'ZA OF ST. MARK'S. Stone lion on the, 281. +PIER-LE-PONT'. Castle of Aymon, 154; + Aymon's sons leave, 156; + Charlemagne comes to, 157. +PIL'GRIM. Bishop of Passau, welcomes Kriemhild, 73; + Burgundians visit, 76; + mass for the dead by, 85. +PIN'A-BEL. Champion of Ganelon, 148. +PLYM'OUTH. Same as Lam Goëmagot, 309. +PO'LAND, 125. +POL-Y-OL'BI-ON. By Drayton, 310. +PON'CE DE LE-ON'. Quest of, 306. +POPE. Asks aid of Charlemagne, 129; + Huon and the, 164, 174, 175, 180; + reconciles Arthur and Lancelot, 229; + emperor of Germany complains to, 287; + and Ferdinand, 288; + and Cid, 288, 289. +POR'TU-GAL. Hildburg a princess of, 23. +PO'RUS. Alexander's fight with, 306. +PRES'TER JOHN. Holy Grail intrusted to, 201. +PRI'AM. Descendants of, 307. +PYR'E-NEES. Defeat in the, 130, 144; + Aymon in the, 154. + +RA'BEN. Same as Ravenna, taken by imperial army, 123; + battle of, 126. +RAG'NAR LOD'BROK. 269-281; + saga of, 269; + successor of Sigurd Ring when only fifteen, 270; + marries Lodgerda, 270; + marries Thora, 272; + sons of, 272, 274, 275, 276, 279; + and Krake, 273-275; + battles of, 277; + and Ella, 278; + death of, 278. +RA-MI'RO, DON. Quarrel of with Ferdinand, 286; + wars against Don Sancho, 289. +RAND'WER. Son of Ermenrich, death of, 123. +RA-OUL' DE BEAU-VAIS'. Metrical version of story of Tristan + attributed to, 234. +RAUCH-EL'SE. The witch, Wolfdierich meets, 104; + transformation of, 105. +RA-VEN'NA. Longinus intrenched in, 88; + same as Raben, 123. +RE-DEEM'ER. Blood of the, 183. +RED KNIGHT. Parzival and the, 191, 192. +RED SEA. Huon at the, 165, 170. +REI'NE-KE FUCHS. Epic of, 35; + Goethe's poem of, 36. +REI'NOLD. See _Renaud_. +RE-NAUD' DE MON-TAU-BAN'. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + body of, 148; + son of Aymon, 154; + receives Bayard and Flamberge, 155; + prowess of, 155; + avenges Alard and flees, 156; + marries Clarissa, and builds Montauban, 156; + goes to rescue his brothers, 157; + loses and recovers Bayard, 157; + betrayed by Iwo, 158; + saves Iwo, 159; + and Roland, 159; + on Montfaucon, 159; + sacrifices Bayard, 161; + sets out for Holy Land, 161; + death of, 162. +RE-PANSE' DE JOIE. Daughter of Frimoutel, 188; + jeweled garment sent by, 193; + bears Holy Grail, 193, 199; + marriage of, 200, 201. +REUSSEN (rois'sen). Vlyas prince of the, 94; + Waldemar king of, 125. +REY'NARD THE FOX, 35-52; + epic of, 302; + importance of story of, 303. +RE'ZI-A. Princess, dream of, 171; + bridal array of, 172; + escapes with Huon, 173; + embarks at Ascalon, 174; + conversion and marriage of, 175; + Amanda same as, 175. +RHINE. Franks cross, 35; + Xanten on, 54, 64; + Siegfried rides down along, 55; + Gunther's journey on, 59, 61; + Nibelungen hoard in, 71, 77; + Worms on, 120; + Charlemagne dwells near, 129, 130; + Roland's name connected with, 150; + Nonnenwörth in, 151; + Renaud's body cast in, 162. +RHON, VON DER. Edited "Heldenbuch," 86. +RHYM'ER. Thomas of Ercildoune the, 234. +RICH'ARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + prisoner of Roland, 159. +RI-CHOU'DE. I. Wife of Titurel, 188. + II. Daughter of Titurel, 188. +RIM'STEIN. Revolt and defeat of, 122. +RI-NAL'DO DE TREB-I-ZON'DE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +RING. Son of Viking, 248. +RING'RIC. Sigurd Ring king of, 255; + Frithiof in, 267. +RIS'PA. Horse of Helme, 115. +RI-VA-LIN'. See _Meliadus_. +ROB'ERT DE BOR'RON. Works of, 182, 204, 205, 219, 234. +ROB'ERT OF SIC'I-LY, KING. In Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn," 302. +ROD-RI'GO DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RO'GEN-WALD. Son of Ragnar, 274; + death of, 276. +ROG'ER. See _Hrothgar_. +ROG'ERS. Translator of "Reineke Fuchs," 36. +ROHAND (r[=o]'an). See _Kurvenal_. +RO'LAND. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + birth and childhood of, 133; + fights knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knighted, 135; + duel with Oliver, 139; + horn of, 139, 145, 146; + character of, 141; + combat with Ferracute, 142; + combat with Otuel, 143; + at battle of Roncesvalles, 144; + kills Veillantif, 145; + breaks Durandana, 146; + death of, 147; + squire of, 148; + betrothed to Aude, 149; + bethrothed to Hildegarde, 150; + death and burial of, 151; + treats with Aymon, 154; + and Renaud, 159; + Renaud intrusts his family to, 161; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +RO'LAND, CHAN'SON DE, 130. +RO'LAND RISE. See _Meliadus_. +RO'LANDS-ECK. Retreat of Roland, 151. +ROLF GANG'ER. Same as Rollo, 280. +ROL'LO. Famous giant, independence of, 280. +ROM'A-BURG. Wolfdietrich goes to, 109; + Dietrich visits, 117; + Dietrich crowned at, 127; + threatened invasion of, 277. +RO-MANCE' LITERATURE. General survey of, 301-310. +ROMAN DE TROIE (r[=o]-m[)o]n' de trwa). Popularity of, 304. +RO'MANS. And Jews, 183; + claim Aeneas, 307; + Britain invaded by, 309. +ROME. Martin the ape on his way to, 49; + same as Romaburg, 109, 117, 127, 277; + Charlemagne crowned at, 155; + Huon at, 164, 174, 180; + Sherasmin at, 177; + Merlin goes to, 210; + Don Sancho visits, 288; + early history of, 304; + Alexander conquers, 306. +RONCESVALLES (r[=o]n-ces-väl'yes). Battle of, 129, 140, 144-147, 150. +ROS'A-MUND. Wife of Alboin, 87; + rebellion and death of, 88. +ROSE GARDEN. I. Laurin's, 118. + II. Kriemhild's, 120. +RO'SEN. Sword of Ortnit, 96, 98; + Wolfdietrich finds, 108. +ROT'HER. King of Lombardy, 88; + wooing of, 89-91; + captures Imelot, 92; + kidnaps Oda. 92; + second journey to Constantinople, 93; + secures his wife, 94; + accompanied by Berchther, 100. +ROU-ME'LI-A. Wolfdietrich's ride through, 104. +ROUND TABLE. Knights tell Parzival of, 190; + Parzival admitted to the, 196, 198; + knights of, 200, 224, 225; + legend of, 204; + Merlin establishes, 208; + Arthur receives, 217; + at Camelot, 218; + Lancelot the principal knight of, 219, 220; + Gareth admitted to, 222; + Geraint one of knights of, 222; + feast at, 225; + Sir Bedivere a knight of, 231. +RU'AL. See _Kurvenal_. +RÃœCK'E-NAU, FRAU, 50, 51. +RÃœ'DI-GER. Sues for Kriemhild, 71, 72; + oath of, 82, 82; + castle of, 73; + warns Burgundians, 76; + entertains Burgundians, 77; + refrains from tournament, 79; + safe-conduct granted to. 81; + forced to fight, 83; + death of, 83; + at Rose Garden on Rhine, 120; + saves Dietrich, 125; + son of, 126. +RU'MOLT. Squire of Gunther, 75. +RUNES. Magic letters of the North, 276. +RU-OT'ZE. Giantess who hatches magic eggs, 98. +RUS'SIA. A part of Reussen. 125. +RUS-TI'CI-EN DE PISE. 234. +RUY DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RY'ANCE. King of Ireland, last battle and death of, 217. + +SA-BENE'. Guardian of Hildburg, 102; + machinations of, 103; + besieges Lilienporte, 104; + defeated and slain, 108. +SA-BRI'NA. Drowned in Severn. 309. +SA-FO-RET'. Aymon's sons serve and kill, 156. +SAINT O-MER'. Ogier a prisoner at, 136. +SAINTS'BUR-Y, 204. +SALISBURY (s[a:]wlz'b[)e]r-[)i]). Fortress on, 205, 207. +SAM'SON. Father of Dietmar, 110. +SAN'CHO, DON. King of Castile, Cid serves, 288; + a prisoner, 289; + freed by Cid. 288; + robs his sisters, 290; + banishes and recalls Cid, 291; + death of, 291. +SAN'GRE-AL. Same as Holy Grail, 201. +SAN PE'DRO DE CAR-DEÑ'A. Given to Cid, 285; + Cid buried at, 300. +SAN-TI-A'GO DE COM-POS-TE'LA, 140, 285. +SAR'A-CEN. Huon's encounters with, 172. +SAR'A-CENS. Charlemagne defeats, 129, 140, 141, 144, 147, 148; + device of, 143; + Roland and, 145; + Sherasmin escapes from, 165; + Titurel wars against, 185. +SAR-A-GOS'SA. Marsiglio in, 144; + Cid besieges, 289. +SAV'IOR. Dish used by, 183. +SAX'ONS. Lüdeger king of, 56; + led by Hengist, 208; + Arthur wars against, 217. +SAX'O-NY. Burgundian army enters, 57. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-A. Iliad in. 304. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-AN. Raids and settlements, 280; + cycle, 301, 302. +SCOT'LAND. Arthur's name in, 214; + Leodegraunce king of, 217; + same as Albania, 309. +SCRATCH-FOOT. Death and epitaph of, 39. +SEINE. Bayard drowned in, 161; + Renaud casts Flamberge in, 161. +SEN'LIS, COUNTESS OF, 138. +SEV'ERN. Named after Sabrina, 309. +SHAKES'PEARE, 163, 305, 309, 310. +SHAR-FE-NEB'BE. Killed by Reynard, 47. +SHER-AS-MIN'. Same as Gerasmes, Huon finds, 165; + accompanies Huon into forest, 166; + Oberon displeased with, 167; + forgiven by Oberon, 168; + journeys to Bagdad, 171; + helps Huon to elope with Rezia, 173; + journeys to France, 174; + quest of, 177; + in fairyland, 179; + duel of, 180; + casket stolen from, 180. +SI'BICH. Wife of, 122; + kills Ermenrich, 126; + death of, 127. +SIC'-ILY. Part of Ortnit's realm, 94. +SID'RAT. Vision of, 95; + elopes with Ornit, 97. +SIE'GE-LIND. I. Mother of Siegfried, 54; + death of, 64. + II. A swan maiden who prophesies to Hagen, 75. +SIEGE PER'IL-OUS. Vacant place at Round Table called, 184; + Parzival in the, 196; + Merlin in the, 213; + the empty, 218; + Galahad in the, 224. +SIEG'FRIED. I. King of Moorland, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + invades Zealand, 28; + joins Hettel and Herwig, 29; + marriage of, 34. +SIEG'FRIED. II. Same as Sigurd, 53; + parentage and birth of, 54; + goes to Worms, 55; + prowess of, 56, 57; + wooes Kriemhild, 58; + with Gunther in Issland, 58-61; + Nibelung warriors of, 61; + marriage of, 62; + conquers Brunhild, 63; + in Xanten, 64; + invited to Worms, 64; + punishes Kriemhild, 65; + Hagen plots against, 66; + betrayal and death of, 67; + burial of, 69; + mourning for, 70; + body of removed to Lorch, 71; + Kriemhild mourns for, 73; + Hagen confesses murder of, 78; + sword of, 84; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Kriemhild widow of, 126. +SIEG'MUND. Father of Siegfried, 54; + welcomes Kriemhild, 64; + visits Worms, 64; + hears news of Siegfried's death, 69. +SI'GE-BANT. Father of Hagen, 23; + death of, 24. +SI-GE-MIN'NE. Same as Rauch-Else, transformation of, 105; + marriage and kidnaping of, 105; + rescued by Wolfdietrich, 106; + Liebgart resembles, 107; + magic shirt given by, 108. +SI-GE-NOT'. Dietrich's adventure with, 112; + Hildebrand's encounter with, 113. +SI'GUNE. Daughter of Josiane, 188; + Parzival finds, 191, 195. +SI'GURD. Same as Siegfried, 53; + Danish dynasty traces origin to, 269; + Fafnisbane, 274. +SI'GURD RING. Sues for Ingeborg's hand, 255; + kings of Sogn make treaty with, 256; + Frithiof offers to conquer, 257; + marries Ingeborg, 261, 269; + Frithiof visits, 264; + hunting expedition of, 265; + death of, 266, 270; + son of, 266; + marries Alfild, 269; + wooes Alfsol, 270. +SI'GURD THE SNAKE-EYED. Son of Ragnar, 275. +SI-MIL'DE. See _Kunhild_. +SI-MILT'. See _Kunhild_. +SIN'DOLT. Helps Siegfried, 56. +SIN'TRAM. Dietrich delivers, 117. +SKEAF. Son of Odin, 9; + career of, 10. +SKIOLD. Same as Skeaf, 9, 10. +SKIOL'DUNGS. Dynasty of, 9. +SOD'OM. Huon and Amanda deluded by apples of, 175. +SOGN. Kingdom of taken by Jokul, 249; + kings of, Sigurd Rings threaten war against, 255. +SOL-DA[=N]'A. City given to Cid. 285. +SOL-TA'NE. Forest where Parzival was brought up, 188. +SOL'WAY FIRTH. Battle of, 205. +SONS OF AY'MON, 152-162. +SO'TE. A pirate, stole Völund ring, 251. +SPAIN. Charlemagne in, 129, 140, 143, 144; + Roland in, 149, 150; + Aymon in, 154; + Montsalvatch in, 185; + Arabs in, 282; + patron of, 285. +SPAN-GAR-HE'DE. Ragnar at, 273. +SFAN'IARDS. Legend of Holy Grail christianized by, 182; + Richoude belongs to, 188; + battle cry of, 287. +SPAN'ISH. Cortes, 297; + cycle, 302. +SPEN'SER. "Faerie Queene" of. 211, 310. +STEI'ER-MARK. Province of given to Dietlieb, 118; + Dietlieb of, 120. +STE'PHEN, ST. Church of, 215. +STONE'HENGE. Work of Merlin, 208, 211. +STU'DAS. Father of Heime, 115. +STYR'I-A. See _Steiermark_. +SU'DERS. Ortnit sets sail for, 97. +SUL'TAN. Daughter of, 164; + Amanda to be sold as slave to, 176; + gardens of, 177; + Amanda refuses to marry, 178; + sends embassy to Cid, 298. +SU'SAT. Dietrich goes to, 124; + Waldemar's son a captive in, 125; + Dietrich's mournful return to, 126. +SVITH'I-OD. Eystein king of, 274. +SWAN'HILD. Daughter of Siegfried and Kriemhild, death of, 123; + brothers of, 126. +SWAN KNIGHT. Lohengrin the, 203. +SWE'DEN. Eadgils king of, 19; + part of Wilkina land, 121; + Viking in, 247; + Svithiod same as, 274. +SWEDES. Beowulf conquers, 12. +SWE'DISH. Writers, 246; + princess, Hunvor a, 247; + king, Eystein the, 276. +SWEM'MEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74. +SWIN'BURNE, 204, 234. +SWORDS. See _Nägeling_, _Nagelring_, _Mimung_, + _Eckesax_, _Joyeuse_, _Durandana_, + _Altecler_, _Flamberge_, _Excalibur_, + _Angurvadel_, _Tizona_, _Colada_. +SYR'I-A. Ortnit's journey to, 95. + +TAN'TRIS. Same as Tristan, 238. +TA-RAS-CO'NI-A. Iwo prince of, 156. +TARN'KAP-PE. Siegfried and, 55, 60; + Laurin and, 119. +TCHIO-NA-TU-LAN'DER. And Sigune, 188; + Parzival to avenge, 191; + shrine of, 195. +TEG-NÉR'. Writings of, 246, 267. +TEM'PLARS Guardians of Holy Grail called, 186; + divine guidance of, 187; + anticipation of, 189; + disappointment of, 199; + customs of, 202; + renown of, 301. +TEN'NY-SON, 204. +TEU-TON'IC. Cycle, 301. +THAMES. Brutus visits the, 309. +THE-OD'O-RIC. Of Verona, same as Dietrich of Bern, no, 127; + tomb of, 128. +THE-OD-O-RI'CUS. And Roland at Roncesvalles, 146, 147. +THE'SEUS. Adventures of, 249. +THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Walgundof, 100; + Hugdietrich at, IOO; + Berchther at, 101. +THIE'DRIC. Roland's squire, 148. +THING. Convoked by Hygd, 18; + Beowulf elected by, 19; + Belé convokes, 252; + Ragnar recognized by, 270. +THOM'AS, LORD, 245. +THOM'AS OF ER'CIL-DOUNE, 234. +THO'RA. Daughter of Jarl Herrand, 271; + Ragnar rescues and marries, 272; + sons and death of, 272. +THO'RER. Son of Viking, 249. +THOR'STEN. I. Saga, 246. + II. Son of Viking, receives Angurvadel, 249; + shipwrecks of, 250; + marriage and conquests of, 250; + at Framnäs, 251; + father of Frithiof, 251, 260, 261; + last interview with Belé, 252; + death and burial of, 252. +THU'RI-SIND. King of Gepidæ, 86: + granddaughter of, 87. +TIN-TA'GEL. In Cornwall, Gorlois lord of, 209; + Uther's secret visit to, 209; + Mark at, 235; + Tristan at, 236; + Iseult to go to, 240. +TI-TA'NI-A. Queen of the fairies, 175; + carries off Huonet, 176; + restored to Oberon's favor, 179. +TIT'U-REL. And the Holy Grail, 182-203; + Von Eschenbach's poem of, 182; + birth of, 185; + vision of, 185; + sees Holy Grail, 186; + builds temple, 186; + guardian of Holy Grail, 187; + children of, 188; + intercedes for Amfortas, 189; + crowns Parzival, 200; + disappearance of, 200. +TI-TU'RI-SONE. Pilgrimage of, 185. +TI'TUS. Disease of, 183; + miraculous cure of, 184. +TI-ZO'NA. Sword of Cid, won from Moors, 285, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovered by Cid, 297; + dead Cid draws, 300; + inscription on, 300. +TO-LE'DO. School of magic at, 153; + Don Alfonso at, 290; + Cid at, 291; + Don Alfonso a prisoner at, 292; + Yahia ruler of, 294; + Cortes at, 297. +TO'RO. City given to Doña Elvira, 288; + taken by Don Sancho, 290. +TOUR'MONT. Huon at, 169. +TOURS. Origin of name, 308. +TRAN-SYL-VA'NI-A. Herrat princess of, 126. +TREV'RE-ZENT. Son of Frimoutel, 188; + Parzival visits, 199. +TRI-ENT'. Dwelling place of dragons, 98. +TRIS'TAN. Ogier and, 138; + legend of, 204; + story of, 234-245. +TRIS'TREM. See _Tristan_. +TRO'I-LUS. And Cressida, story of, 305. +TRON'JE. Hagen of, 124. +TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + downfall of, 303. +TU'NIS. Huon, Amanda, Fatima, and Sherasmin in, 177; + Galafre king of, 180. +TU-ROL'DUS. Probable author of "Chanson de Roland," 130. +TU-RO'NUS. Nephew of Brutus, 308. +TUR'PIN. Latin chronicle attributed to, 129, 140; + adviser of Charlemagne, 131, 132, 147, 156. +TYRE. See _Suders_. +TY-RO'LE-AN, 113, 118. + +UL'FIN. Councilor of Uther, 209. +U-LYS'SES. In mediaeval literature, 303. +UOTE (w[=o]'te). See _Ute II_. +UP'LANDS. Njorfe king of, 248. +UR-RA'CA, DOÑA. Receives Zamora, 288; + loses Zamora, 289; + pleads for Alfonso, 290; + besieged by Don Sancho, 290; + reviles Cid, 291; + warns Alfonso of Sancho's death, 292. +U'TA. See _Ute II_. +U'TE. I. Queen of Burgundy, 53; + interprets Krieinhild's dream, 54; + at tournament, 57; + Pilgrim, brother of, 73; + disapproves of journey to Hungary, 74. +U'TE. II. Marries Hildebrand, 112; + rejoined by Hildebrand, 127. +U'THER. Son of Constans, 205; + fights with Vortigern and Hengist, 208; + Merlin builds palace for, 208; + changed into form of Gorlois, 209; + marries Yguerne, 210; + death of, 210; + father of Arthur, 214, 215; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. + +VAL-DUER'NA. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +VALE OF THORNS. See _Roncesvalles_. +VA-LEN'CI-A. Taken by Moors, 294, 300; + recovered by Cid, 294; + Cid master of, 295; + Moors besiege, 296, 298; + Cid's return to, 296, 296; + Christians cannot hold, 299; + evacuation of, 300. +VAL-HAL'LA. Ragnar summoned to, 278. +VAL'KYRS. Brunhild one of the, 274; + Ragnar warned by, 278. +VA-RAN'GI-AN GUARD. The, 281. +VEILLANTIF (v[=a]-[:a]n-t[=e]f). Roland kills, 145. +VEN'ICE. Lion of, 281. +VER'GEN. Place on Danube, 73. +VE-RO'NA. Same as Bern, 77, 110; + Theodoric of, 110; + tomb of Theodoric near, 128. +VE-RON'I-CA, ST. Story of, 183. +VES-PA'SI-AN. Sends commission to Jerusalem, 183; + at Jerusalem, 184; + at Rome, 185. +VI-A'NE. Renaud meets Aude at siege of, 149. +VI-EN'NA. Library at, 22; + wedding at, 73. +VIK. Frithiof enters the, 264. +VI'KING. Grandson of Haloge, 247; + early adventures and marriage of, 247; + second marriage of, 248; + adventures of sons of, 248; + Aegir gives Ellida to, 250. +VIR'GIL. In "Rome la Grant," 307. +VIR'GIN-AL. Dietrich's adventure with, 113, 114; + Dietrich forsaken by, 123. +VIV'I-AN. And Merlin, 211-213; + Lancelot stolen by, 219. +VOL'KER. Follower of Gunther, receives gifts, 77; + ally of Hagen, 78; + kills Hun, 80; + might of, 81. +VOL'SUNG. The race, 110. +VOL'SUNG-A SA'GA, 53, 269. +VÖ'LUND. The smith, 115, 250; + ring of, 253, 257. +VOR'TI-GERN. Made king and builds fortress, 205; + messengers of, 206; + death of, 208; + advised by Merlin, 210. +VOS'GES. See _Wasgenstein_. +VUL-CA'NUS, MOUNT. Malagigi's adventure at, 153. + +WACE. Writer of metrical tale of Brutus, 307. +WA-CHIL'DE. And Wittich,115, 126. +WACK'ER-LOS. Complaint of, 36, 38. +WAG'NER. Used mediaeval legends, 182, 204, 234. +WAL'DE-MAR. King of Reussen, Dietrich wars against, 125. +WA-LEIS'. Battle at, 27. +WALES. Arthur's name in, 214. +WAL'GUND OF THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Hugdietrich's visit to, 100; + finds grandson with wolf, 102. +WAL'THER VON WAS'GEN-STEIN. Champion of Ermenrich, 118; + at Gerimsburg, 122; + a hostage in Hungary, 124; + elopes with Hildegunde, 124; + marries Hildegunde, 125. +WAS'GEN-STEIN. Walther and Hildegunde flee to, 124. +WAT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + athletic skill of, 26; + wounds Hagen, 27; + fosters Ortwine, 27; + to be Gudrun's deliverer, 31; + challenges Normans, 32; + kills Gerlinda, 33. +WAX'MUTH. Son of Hildburg, 103; + and Hugdietrich, 103. +WAY'LAND. See _Wieland_. +WEAL'THEOW. Wife of Hrothgar, 15. +WE'BER. "Oberon" of, 163. +WELSH. Poetry, 204; + version of Tristan, 234. +WE'NER, LAKE. Battle of, 249. +WER'BEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74; + Hagen strikes off hand of, 80. +WE'SER. See _Wisara_. +WES'TER-LANDS. Queen of, 232. +WEST-PHA'LI-A. Dortmund in, 162. +WHIT'A-BY. Ragnar at, 271; + second battle at, 276. +WIE'LAND. I. The smith, weapons of, 115, 154. + II. "Oberon" of, 163. +WIF'LIS-BURG. Hastings at, 276. +WIG'LAF. Avenges Hardred, 19; + accompanies Beowulf, 19; + saves Beowulf's life, 20. +WIL-DE'BER. Joins Dietrich, 117; + in Hungary, 121; + escape of, 122. +WIL-KI'NA LAND. Dietrich invades, 121. +WIN'CHES-TER, See _Camelot_. +WI-SA'RA. Falster wood on banks of, 117. +WIT'IG. See _Wittich_. +WIT'TICH. Son of Wieland, starts for Bern, 115; + conquers Dietrich, 116; + goes to Rose Garden, 118; + made prisoner, 121; + released, 122; + pursued by Dietrich and saved by Wachilde, 126. +WOLF-DIE'TRICH. Rescue of, 102; + at Meran, 103; + besieges Constantinople, 103, 108; + adventures with Rauch-Else, 104; + marries Sigeminne, 105; + kills Drusian, 106; + adventure with Belligan, 106; + kills dragon and marries Liebgart, 108; + descendants of, 109. +WOLF'HART. Nephew of Hildebrand, 112; + in Rose Garden, 118, 120. +WOL'FRAM VON ESCH'EN-BACH, 86, 182, 204. +WORMS. Capital of Burgundy, 53; + Siegfried at, 55, 57, 58; + Kriemhild at, 64; + Siegfried carried to, 68; + mourning at, 69; + Rüdiger at, 71, 82; + minstrels at, 74; + chaplain returns to, 75; + tidings carried to, 85; + Rose Garden at, 120; + Gunther and Hagen do not return to, 124. +WÃœL'PEN-SAND. Battle of, 29. + +XAN'TEN. Tournament at, 54; + Siegfried and Kriemhild at, 64. +XI-ME'NA, DOÑA. Seeks to avenge her father, 284; + marries Cid, 285; + at Zamora, 287; + Cid parts from, 293; + executes last wishes of Cid, 299. + +YA'HI-A. Grandson of Alimaymon, 294. +Y-GUERNE'. Wife of Gorlois, 209; + marries Uther, 210; + mother of Arthur, 215. +Y-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +Y'VOIR-IN OF MONT'BRAND. Uncle of Esclarmonde, 180. +Y'WAIN. Grandson of Yguerne, 209. + +ZA-MO'RA. Cid returns to, 287; + Doña Urraca at, 288, 290; + Don Sancho takes, 289; + siege of, 290, 291; + Don Alfonso's arrival at, 292. +ZEA'LAND. Herwig's kingdom, 28. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS + + +NEW MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HISTORY + + +From Charlemagne to the Present Day + + +By SAMUEL BANNISTER HARDING, Ph.D., Professor of European History, Indiana +University. + + +Based upon the author's "Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern History," +prepared in consultation with ALBERT BUSHNELL HART, LL.D., Professor of +History, Harvard University. + + +While based on the author's previous Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern +History, in the present volume the plan has been so reorganized, the scope +so extended, and the matter so largely rewritten, that the result is +practically a new book. The present volume reflects the suggestions of many +teachers who have used the previous work in their classes. 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Guerber + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12455 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c216c84 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12455 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12455) diff --git a/old/12455-8.txt b/old/12455-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..912d2b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12455-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14597 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Legends of the Middle Ages, by H.A. Guerber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Legends of the Middle Ages + Narrated with Special Reference to Literature and Art + +Author: H.A. Guerber + +Release Date: May 27, 2004 [EBook #12455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Robert Morse and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE.--Levy.] + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES + + +NARRATED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART + +BY H.A. GUERBER + + "Saddle the Hippogriffs, ye Muses nine, + And straight we'll ride to the land of old Romance" + WIELAND + +1896 + + +DEDICATED TO MY SISTER ADELE E. GUERBER + + "Men lykyn jestis for to here, + And romans rede in diuers manere + + "Of Brute that baron bold of hond, + The first conqueroure of Englond; + Of kyng Artour that was so riche, + Was non in his tyme him liche. + + "How kyng Charlis and Rowlond fawght + With sarzyns nold they be cawght; + Of Tristrem and of Ysoude the swete, + How they with love first gan mete; + + "Stories of diuerce thynggis, + Of pryncis, prelatis, and of kynggis; + Many songgis of diuers ryme, + As english, frensh, and latyne." + _Curser Mundi_. + + +PREFACE. + + + + +The object of this work is to familiarize young students with the legends +which form the staple of mediaeval literature. + +While they may owe more than is apparent at first sight to the classical +writings of the palmy days of Greece and Rome, these legends are very +characteristic of the people who told them, and they are the best exponents +of the customs, manners, and beliefs of the time to which they belong. They +have been repeated in poetry and prose with endless variations, and some of +our greatest modern writers have deemed them worthy of a new dress, as is +seen in Tennyson's "Idyls of the King," Goethe's "Reineke Fuchs," Tegnér's +"Frithiof Saga," Wieland's "Oberon," Morris's "Story of Sigurd," and many +shorter works by these and less noted writers. + +These mediaeval legends form a sort of literary quarry, from which, +consciously or unconsciously, each writer takes some stones wherewith to +build his own edifice. Many allusions in the literature of our own day lose +much of their force simply because these legends are not available to the +general reader. + +It is the aim of this volume to bring them within reach of all, and to +condense them so that they may readily be understood. Of course in so +limited a space only an outline of each legend can be given, with a few +short quotations from ancient and modern writings to illustrate the style +of the poem in which they are embodied, or to lend additional force to some +point in the story. + +This book is, therefore, not a manual of mediaeval literature, or a series +of critical essays, but rather a synopsis of some of the epics and romances +which formed the main part of the culture of those days. Very little +prominence has been given to the obscure early versions, all disquisitions +have been carefully avoided, and explanations have been given only where +they seemed essential. + +The wealth and variety of imagination displayed in these legends will, I +hope, prove that the epoch to which they belong has been greatly maligned +by the term "dark ages," often applied to it. Such was the favor which the +legendary style of composition enjoyed with our ancestors that several of +the poems analyzed in this volume were among the first books printed for +general circulation in Europe. + +Previous to the invention of printing, however, they were familiar to rich +and poor, thanks to the scalds, bards, trouvères, troubadours, minstrels, +and minnesingers, who, like the rhapsodists of Greece, spent their lives in +wandering from place to place, relating or reciting these tales to all they +met in castle, cottage, and inn. + +A chapter on the Romance literature of the period in the different +countries of Europe, and a complete index, will, it is hoped, fit this +volume for handy reference in schools and libraries, where the author +trusts it may soon find its own place and win a warm welcome. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I. BEOWULF + +II. GUDRUN + +III. REYNARD THE FOX + +IV. THE NIBELUNGENLIED + +V. LANGODARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS + +VI. THE AMBLINGS + +VII. DIETRICH VON BERN + +VIII. CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS + +IX THE SONS OF AYMON + +X. HUON OF BORDEAUX + +XI. TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL + +XII. MERLIN + +XIII. THE ROUND TABLE + +XIV. TRISTAN AND ISEULT + +XV. THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + +XVI. RAGNAR LODBROK + +XVII. THE CID + +XVIII. GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE--Lévy + +FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF--Cormon + +GUDRUN AND THE SWAN--Kepler + +BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG--Wagner + +REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE--Kaulbach + +GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE--Keller + +SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN--Pixis + +ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION--Keller + +FALKE KILLS THE GIANT--Keller + +THE VICTORIOUS HUNS--Checa + +THE TOMB OF THEODORIC + +THE DEATH OF ROLAND--Keller + +HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max + +HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD--Gabriel Max + +PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL--Pixis + +ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN--Pixis + +THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN--Burne-Jones + +SIR LANCELOT DU LAC--Sir John Gilbert + +ELAINE--Rosenthal + +ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN--Pixis + +THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE--Kepler + +FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING--Kepler + +STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller + +THE CID'S LAST VICTORY--Rochegrosse + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +BEOWULF. + + "List! we have learnt a tale of other years, + Of kings and warrior Danes, a wondrous tale, + How aethelings bore them in the brunt of war." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The most ancient relic of literature of the spoken languages of modern +Europe is undoubtedly the epic poem "Beowulf," which is supposed to have +been composed by the Anglo-Saxons previous to their invasion of England. +Although the poem probably belongs to the fifth century, the only existing +manuscript is said to date from the ninth or tenth century. + +This curious work, in rude alliterative verse (for rhyme was introduced in +England only after the Norman Conquest), is the most valuable old English +manuscript in the British Museum. Although much damaged by fire, it has +been carefully studied by learned men. They have patiently restored the +poem, the story of which is as follows: + +[Sidenote: Origin of the Skioldungs.] Hrothgar (the modern Roger), King of +Denmark, was a descendant of Odin, being the third monarch of the +celebrated dynasty of the Skioldungs. They proudly traced their ancestry to +Skeaf, or Skiold, Odin's son, who mysteriously drifted to their shores. He +was then but an infant, and lay in the middle of a boat, on a sheaf of ripe +wheat, surrounded by priceless weapons and jewels. As the people were +seeking for a ruler, they immediately recognized the hand of Odin in this +mysterious advent, proclaimed the child king, and obeyed him loyally as +long as he lived. When he felt death draw near, Skeaf, or Skiold, ordered a +vessel to be prepared, lay down in the midst on a sheaf of grain or on a +funeral pyre, and drifted out into the wide ocean, disappearing as +mysteriously as he had come. + +[Sidenote: Construction of Heorot.] Such being his lineage, it is no wonder +that Hrothgar became a mighty chief; and as he had amassed much wealth in +the course of a long life of warfare, he resolved to devote part of it to +the construction of a magnificent hall, called Heorot, where he might feast +his retainers and listen to the heroic lays of the scalds during the long +winter evenings. + + "A hall of mead, such as for space and state + The elder time ne'er boasted; there with free + And princely hand he might dispense to all + (Save the rude crowd and men of evil minds) + The good he held from Heaven. That gallant work, + Full well I wot, through many a land was known + Of festal halls the brightest and the best." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). +The inauguration of this hall was celebrated by a sumptuous entertainment; +and when all the guests had retired, the king's bodyguard, composed of +thirty-two dauntless warriors, lay down in the hall to rest. When morning +dawned, and the servants appeared to remove the couches, they beheld with +horror the floor and walls all stained with blood, the only trace of the +knights who had gone to rest there in full armor. + +[Sidenote: The monster Grendel.] Gigantic, blood-stained footsteps, leading +directly from the festive hall to the sluggish waters of a deep mountain +lake, or fiord, furnished the only clew to their disappearance. Hrothgar, +the king, beholding these, declared that they had been made by Grendel, a +descendant of the giants, whom a magician had driven out of the country, +but who had evidently returned to renew his former depredations. + + "A haunter of marshes, a holder of moors. + . . . . . Secret + The land he inhabits; dark, wolf-haunted ways + Of the windy hillside, by the treacherous tarn; + Or where, covered up in its mist, the hill stream + Downward flows." + _Beowulf_ (Keary's tr.). + +As Hrothgar was now too old to wield a sword with his former skill, his +first impulse was, of course, to offer a princely reward to any man brave +enough to free the country of this terrible scourge. As soon as this was +known ten of his doughtiest knights volunteered to camp in the hall on the +following night, and attack the monster Grendel should he venture to +reappear. + +But in spite of the valor of these experienced warriors, and of the +efficacy of their oft-tried weapons, they too succumbed. A minstrel, hiding +in a dark corner of the hall, was the only one who escaped Grendel's fury, +and after shudderingly describing the massacre he had witnessed, he fled in +terror to the kingdom of the Geates (Jutes or Goths). There he sang his +lays in the presence of Hygelac, the king, and of his nephew Beowulf (the +Bee Hunter), and roused their deepest interest by describing the visit of +Grendel and the vain but heroic defense of the brave knights. Beowulf, +having listened intently, eagerly questioned the scald, and, learning from +him that the monster still haunted those regions, impetuously declared his +intention to visit Hrothgar's kingdom, and show his valor by fighting and, +if possible, slaying Grendel. + + "He was of mankind + In might the strongest, + At that day + Of this life, + Noble and stalwart. + He bade him a sea ship, + A goodly one, prepare. + Quoth he, the war king, + Over the swan's road, + Seek he would + The mighty monarch, + Since he wanted men." + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Breka.] Although very young, Beowulf was quite +distinguished, and had already won great honors in a battle against the +Swedes. He had also proved his endurance by entering into a swimming match +with Breka, one of the lords at his uncle's court. The two champions had +started out, sword in hand and fully armed, and, after swimming in concert +for five whole days, they were parted by a great tempest. + + "Then were we twain there on the sea + Space of five nights, till the floods severed us, + The welling waves. Coldest of weathers, + Shadowy night, and the north wind + Battelous shocked on us; wild were the waters, + And were the mere-fishes stirred up in mind." + _Beowulf_. + +Breka was driven ashore, but the current bore Beowulf toward some jagged +cliffs, where he desperately clung, trying to resist the fury of the waves, +and using his sword to ward off the attacks of hostile mermaids, nicors +(nixies), and other sea monsters. The gashed bodies of these slain foes +soon drifted ashore, to Hygelac's amazement; but when Beowulf suddenly +reappeared and explained that they had fallen by his hand, his joy knew no +bounds. As Breka had returned first, he received the prize for swimming; +but the king gave Beowulf his treasured sword, Nägeling, and praised him +publicly for his valor. + +Beowulf had successfully encountered these monsters of the deep in the +roaring tide, so he now expressed a hope that he might prevail against +Grendel also; and embarking with fourteen chosen men, he sailed to Denmark, +where he was challenged by the coast guard and warmly welcomed as soon as +he had made his purpose known. + + "'What men are ye, + War gear wearing, + Host in harness, + Who thus the brown keel + Over the water street + Leading, come + Hither over the sea?'" + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Hrothgar received Beowulf most hospitably, but vainly tried to dissuade him +from his perilous undertaking. Then, after a sumptuous banquet, where the +mead flowed with true northern lavishness, Hrothgar and his suite sadly +left the hall Heorot in charge of the brave band of strangers, whom they +never expected to see again. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel.] As soon as the king had departed, Beowulf +bade his companions lie down and sleep in peace, promising to watch over +them, yet laying aside both armor and sword; for he knew that weapons were +of no avail against the monster, whom he intended to grapple with hand to +hand should it really appear. + + "'I have heard + That that foul miscreant's dark and stubborn flesh + Recks not the force of arms:--such I forswear, + Nor sword nor burnish'd shield of ample round + Ask for the war; all weaponless, hand to hand + (So may great Higelac's smile repay my toil) + Beowulf will grapple with the mighty foe.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The warriors had no sooner stretched themselves out upon the benches in the +hall than, overcome by the oppressive air as well as by mead, they sank +into a profound sleep. Beowulf alone remained awake, watching for Grendel's +coming. In the early morning, when all was very still, the giant appeared, +tore asunder the iron bolts and bars which secured the door, and striding +into the hall, enveloped in a long, damp mantle of clammy mist, he pounced +upon one of the sleepers. He tore him limb from limb, greedily drank his +blood, and devoured his flesh, leaving naught but the head, hands, and feet +of his unhappy victim. This ghastly repast only whetted the fiend's +ravenous appetite, however, so he eagerly stretched out his hands in the +darkness to seize and devour another warrior. Imagine his surprise and +dismay when he suddenly found his hand caught in so powerful a grasp that +all his efforts could not wrench it free! + +Grendel and Beowulf struggled in the darkness, overturning tables and +couches, shaking the great hall to its very foundations, and causing the +walls to creak and groan under the violence of their furious blows. But in +spite of Grendel's gigantic stature, Beowulf clung so fast to the hand and +arm he had grasped that Grendel, making a desperate effort to free himself +by a jerk, tore the whole limb out of its socket! Bleeding and mortally +wounded, he then beat a hasty retreat to his marshy den, leaving a long, +bloody trail behind him. + + "Soon the dark wanderer's ample shoulder bore + A gaping wound, each starting sinew crack'd, + And from its socket loosed the strong-knit joint.-- + The victory was with Beowulf, and the foe, + Howling and sick at heart, fled as he might, + To seek beneath the mountain shroud of mist + His joyless home; for well he knew the day + Of death was on him, and his doom was seal'd." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +As for Beowulf, exhausted but triumphant, he stood in the middle of the +hall, where his companions crowded around him, gazing in speechless awe at +the mighty hand and limb, and the clawlike fingers, far harder than steel, +which no power had hitherto been able to resist. + +At dawn Hrothgar and his subjects also appeared. They heard with wonder a +graphic account of the night's adventures, and gazed their fill upon the +monster's limb, which hung like a trophy from the ceiling of Heorot. After +the king had warmly congratulated Beowulf, and bestowed upon him many rich +gifts, he gave orders to cleanse the hall, to hang it with tapestry, and to +prepare a banquet in honor of the conquering hero. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf honored by the queen.] While the men were feasting, +listening to the lays of the scalds, and carrying the usual toasts, +Wealtheow, Hrothgar's beautiful wife, the Queen of Denmark, appeared. She +pledged Beowulf in a cup of wine, which he gallantly drained after she had +touched it to her lips. Then she bestowed upon him a costly necklace (the +famous Brisinga-men, according to some authorities)[1] and a ring of the +finest gold. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, p. 127.] + + "'Wear these,' she cried, 'since thou hast in the fight + So borne thyself, that wide as ocean rolls + Round our wind-beaten cliffs his brimming waves, + All gallant souls shall speak thy eulogy.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +When the banquet was ended, Hrothgar escorted his guests to more pleasant +sleeping apartments than they had occupied the night before, leaving his +own men to guard the hall, where Grendel would never again appear. The +warriors, fearing no danger, slept in peace; but in the dead of night the +mother of the giant, as grewsome and uncanny a monster as he, glided into +the hall, secured the bloody trophy still hanging from the ceiling, and +carried it away, together with Aeschere (Askher), the king's bosom friend. + +When Hrothgar learned this new loss at early dawn he was overcome with +grief; and when Beowulf, attracted by the sound of weeping, appeared at his +side, he mournfully told him of his irretrievable loss. + + "'Ask not after happiness; + Sorrow is renewed + To the Danes' people. + Aeschere is dead, + Yrmenlaf's + Elder brother, + The partaker of my secrets + And my counselor, + Who stood at my elbow + When we in battle + Our mail hoods defended, + When troops rushed together + And boar crests crashed.'" + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel's mother.] The young hero immediately +volunteered to finish his work and avenge Aeschere by seeking and attacking +Grendel's mother in her own retreat; but as he knew the perils of this +expedition, Beowulf first gave explicit directions for the disposal of his +personal property in case he never returned. Then, escorted by the Danes +and Geates, he followed the bloody track until he came to a cliff +overhanging the waters of the mountain pool. There the bloody traces +ceased, but Aeschere's gory head was placed aloft as a trophy. + + "Now paused they sudden where the pine grove clad + The hoar rock's brow, a dark and joyless shade. + Troublous and blood-stain'd roll'd the stream below. + Sorrow and dread were on the Scylding's host, + In each man's breast deep working; for they saw + On that rude cliff young Aeschere's mangled head." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +Beowulf gazed down into the deep waters, saw that they also were darkly +dyed with the monster's blood, and, after taking leave of Hrothgar, bade +his men await his return for two whole days and nights ere they definitely +gave him up for lost. He then plunged bravely into the bloody waters, swam +about seeking for the monster's retreat, and dived deep. At last, descrying +a phosphorescent gleam in the depths, he quickly made his way thither, +shrewdly conjecturing that it must be Grendel's hiding place. But on his +way thither he was repeatedly obliged to have recourse to his sword to +defend himself against the clutches of countless hideous sea monsters which +came rushing toward him on all sides. + + "While thro' crystal gulfs were gleaming + Ocean depths, with wonders teeming; + Shapes of terror, huge, unsightly, + Loom'd thro' vaulted roof translucent." + J.C. JONES, _Valhalla_. + +A strong current seized Beowulf, and swept him irresistibly along into the +slimy retreat of Grendel's mother. She clutched him fast, wrestled with +him, deprived him of his sword, flung him down, and finally tried to pierce +his armor with her trenchant knife. Fortunately, however, the hero's armor +was weapon-proof, and his muscles were so strong that before she could do +him any harm he had freed himself from her grasp. Seizing a large sword +hanging upon a projection of rock near by, he dealt her a mighty blow, +severing her head from the trunk at a single stroke. The blood pouring out +of the cave mingled with the waters without, and turned them to such a +lurid hue that Hrothgar and his men sorrowfully departed, leaving the +Geates alone to watch for the return of the hero, whom they feared they +would never see again. + +Beowulf, in the mean while, had rushed to the rear of the cave, where, +finding Grendel in the last throes, he cut off his head also. He seized +this ghastly trophy and rapidly made his way up through the tainted waters, +which the fiery blood of the two monsters had so overheated that his sword +melted in its scabbard and naught but the hilt remained. + + "That stout sword of proof, + Its warrior task fulfill'd, dropp'd to the ground + (So work'd the venom of the felon's blood) + A molten mass." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The Geates were about to depart in sorrow, notwithstanding the orders they +had received, when they suddenly beheld their beloved chief safe and sound, +and bearing the evidences of his success. Then their cries of joy echoed +and reechoed from the neighboring hills, and Beowulf was escorted back to +Heorot, where he was almost overwhelmed with gifts by the grateful Danes. A +few days later Beowulf and his companions returned home, where the story of +their adventures, and an exhibition of all the treasures they had won, +formed the principal topics of conversation. + +[Sidenote: Death of Hygelac.] Several years of comparative peace ensued, +ere the land was invaded by the Friesians, who raided the coast, burning +and plundering all in their way, and retreated into their ships before +Hygelac or Beowulf could overtake and punish them. The immediate result of +this invasion was a counter-movement on Hygelac's part. But although he +successfully harried Friesland, he fell into an ambush just as he was about +to leave the country, and was cruelly slain, his nephew Beowulf barely +escaping a similar untoward fate. + +When the little army of the Geates reached home once more, they either +buried or consumed Hygelac's remains, with his weapons and battle steed, as +was customary in the North. This ceremony ended, Queen Hygd, overwhelmed +with grief, and fearing the almost inevitable dissensions arising during +the long minority of an infant king, convened the popular assembly known as +the Thing, and bade the people set her own child's claims aside in favor of +Beowulf. This proposal was hailed with enthusiasm; but Beowulf refused to +usurp his kinsman's throne, and raising Hardred, Hygelac's infant son, upon +his shield, he declared that he would protect and uphold him as long as he +lived. The people, following his example, swore fealty to the new king, and +faithfully kept this oath until he died. + +Hardred, having attained his majority, ruled wisely and well; but his +career was cut short by the sons of Othere, the discoverer of the North +Cape. These youths had rebelled against their father's authority and taken +refuge at Hardred's court; but when the latter advised a reconciliation, +the eldest youth angrily drew his sword and slew him. + +[Illustration: FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF.--Cormon.] + +[Sidenote: Beowulf made king.] This crime was avenged, with true northern +promptitude, by Wiglaf, one of the king's followers; and while the second +youth effected an escape, Beowulf was summoned by the Thing to accept the +now vacant throne. As there were none to dispute his claims, the hero no +longer refused to rule, and he bravely defended his kingdom against +Eadgils, Othere's second son. Eadgils was now king of Sweden, and came with +an armed host to avenge his brother's death; but he only succeeded in +losing his own life. + +A reign of forty years of comparative peace brought Beowulf to extreme old +age. He had naturally lost much of his former vigor, and was therefore +somewhat dismayed when a terrible, fire-breathing dragon took up its abode +in the mountains near by, where it gloated over a hoard of glittering gold. + + "The ranger of the darksome night, + The Firedrake, came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.) + +[Sidenote: The Firedrake.] A fugitive slave, having made his way unseen +into the monster's den during one of its temporary absences, bore away a +small portion of this gold. On its return the Firedrake discovered the +theft, and became so furious that its howling and writhing shook the +mountain like an earthquake. When night came on its rage was still +unappeased, and it flew all over the land, vomiting venom and flames, +setting houses and crops afire, and causing so much damage that the people +were almost beside themselves with terror. Seeing that all their attempts +to appease the dragon were utterly fruitless, and being afraid to attack it +in its lair, they finally implored Beowulf to deliver them as he had +delivered the Danes, and to slay this oppressor, which was even worse than +the terrible Grendel. + +Such an appeal could not be disregarded, and in spite of his advanced years +Beowulf donned his armor once more. Accompanied by Wiglaf and eleven of his +bravest men, he then went out to seek the monster in its lair. At the +entrance of the mountain gorge Beowulf bade his followers pause, and +advancing alone to the monster's den, he boldly challenged it to come forth +and begin the fray. A moment later the mountain shook as the monster rushed +out breathing fire and flame, and Beowulf felt the first gust of its hot +breath, even through his massive shield. + + "First from his lair + Shaking firm earth, and vomiting as he strode + A foul and fiery blast, the monster came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +A desperate struggle followed, in the course of which Beowulf's sword and +strength both failed him. The Firedrake coiled its long, scaly folds about +the aged hero, and was about to crush him to death when the faithful +Wiglaf, perceiving his master's imminent danger, sprang forward and +attacked the monster so fiercely as to cause a diversion and make it drop +Beowulf to concentrate its attention upon him. + +Beowulf, recovering, then drew his dagger and soon put an end to the +dragon's life; but even as it breathed its last the hero sank fainting to +the ground. Feeling that his end was near, he warmly thanked Wiglaf for his +timely aid, rejoiced in the death of the monster, and bade his faithful +follower bring out the concealed treasure and lay it at his feet, that he +might feast his eyes upon the glittering gold he had won for his people's +use. + + "Saw then the bold thane + Treasure jewels many, + Glittering gold + Heavy on the ground, + Wonders in the mound + And the worm's den, + The old twilight flier's, + Bowls standing; + Vessels of men of yore, + With the mountings fall'n off. + There was many a helm + Old and rusty, + Armlets many + Cunningly fastened. + He also saw hang heavily + An ensign all golden + High o'er the hoard, + Of hand wonders greatest, + Wrought by spells of song, + From which shot a light + So that he the ground surface + Might perceive, + The wonders overscan." + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Beowulf.] The mighty treasure was all brought forth to +the light of day, and the followers, seeing that all danger was over, +crowded round their dying chief. He addressed them affectionately, and, +after recapitulating the main events his career, expressed a desire to be +buried in a mighty mound on a projecting headland, which could be seen far +out at sea, and would be called by his name. + + "'And now, + Short while I tarry here--when I am gone, + Bid them upon yon headland's summit rear + A lofty mound, by Rona's seagirt cliff; + So shall my people hold to after times + Their chieftain's memory, and the mariners + That drive afar to sea, oft as they pass, + Shall point to Beowulf's tomb.'" + _Beowulf_(Conybeare's tr.). + +These directions were all piously carried out by a mourning people, who +decked his mound with the gold he had won, and erected above it a Bauta, or +memorial stone, to show how dearly they had loved their brave king Beowulf, +who had died to save them from the fury of the dragon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +GUDRUN. + + +Maximilian I., Emperor of Germany, rendered a great service to posterity by +ordering that copies of many of the ancient national manuscripts should be +made. These copies were placed in the imperial library at Vienna, where, +after several centuries of almost complete neglect, they were discovered by +lovers of early literature, in a very satisfactory state of preservation. +These manuscripts then excited the interest of learned men, who not only +found therein a record of the past, but gems of literature which are only +now beginning to receive the appreciation they deserve. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of poem of Gudrun.] Among these manuscripts is the poem +"Gudrun," belonging to the twelfth or thirteenth century. It is evidently +compiled from two or more much older lays which are now lost, which are +alluded to in the Nibelungenlied. The original poem was probably Norse, and +not German like the only existing manuscript, for there is an undoubted +parallel to the story of the kidnaping of Hilde in the Edda. In the Edda, +Hilde, the daughter of Högni, escapes from home with her lover Hedin, and +is pursued by her irate father. He overtakes the fugitives on an island, +where a bloody conflict takes place, in which many of the bravest warriors +die. Every night, however, a sorceress recalls the dead to life to renew +the strife, and to exterminate one another afresh. + +The poem "Gudrun," which is probably as old as the Nibelungenlied, and +almost rivals it in interest, is one of the most valuable remains of +ancient German literature. It consists of thirty-two songs, in which are +related the adventures of three generations of the heroic family of the +Hegelings. Hence it is often termed the "Hegeling Legend." + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Hagen.] The poem opens by telling us that Hagen was +the son of Sigeband, King of Ireland, which was evidently a place in +Holland, and not the well-known Emerald Isle. During a great feast, when +countless guests were assembled around his father's hospitable board, this +prince, who was then but seven years of age, was seized by a griffin and +rapidly borne away. + + "Young Hagen, loudly crying, was filled with dire dismay; + The bird with mighty pinions soared high with him away." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The cries of the child, and the arrows of Sigeband's men at arms, were +equally ineffectual in checking the griffin, which flew over land and sea, +and finally deposited its prey in its nest on the top of a great cliff on a +desert island. One of the little griffins, wishing to reserve this delicate +morsel for its own delectation, caught the boy up in its talons and flew +away to a neighboring tree. The branch upon which it perched was too weak +to support a double load, however, and as it broke the frightened griffin +dropped Hagen into a thicket. Undismayed by the sharp thorns, Hagen quickly +crept out of the griffin's reach and took refuge in a cave, where he found +three little girls who had escaped from the griffins in the same way. + +[Sidenote: The three maidens.] One of these children was Hilde, an Indian +princess; the second, Hildburg, daughter of the King of Portugal; and the +third belonged to the royal family of Isenland. Hagen immediately became +the protector of these little maidens, spending several years in the cave +with them. He ventured out only when the griffins were away, to seek +berries or shoot small game with a bow which he had made in imitation of +those he had seen in his father's hall. + +Years passed by before Hagen found the corpse of an armed warrior, which +had been washed ashore during a storm. To appropriate the armor and weapons +for which he had so long and vainly sighed was the youth's first impulse; +his second was to go forth and slay the griffins which had terrorized him +and his little companions for so many years. The griffins being disposed +of, the young people roamed about the island at will, keeping a sharp +lookout for any passing vessel which might convey them home. At last a sail +came in sight! Hagen, the first to see it, climbed up on a rock and shouted +with all his young strength to attract the crew's attention. + + "With might young Hagen shouted, and did not cease to shout, + Howe'er the roaring tempest the wild waves tossed about." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The sailors reluctantly drew near, gazing fearfully upon the three maidens, +who, clad in furs and moss, resembled mermaids or wood nymphs. But when +they heard their story they gladly took them on board. It was only when the +island was out of sight, and when they were in mid-ocean, that Hagen +discovered that he had fallen into the hands of Count Garadie, his father's +inveterate enemy, who now proposed to use his power to treat the young +prince as a slave. But Hagen's rude fare, and the constant exposure of the +past few years, had so developed his strength and courage that he now flew +into a Berserker rage,[1] flung thirty men one after another into the sea, +and so terrified his would-be master that he promised to bear him and the +three maidens in safety to his father's court. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's +Myths of Northern Lands, p. 29.] + +[Sidenote: Hagen made king.] As Sigeband had died without leaving any other +heir, Hagen was warmly welcomed home, and ascending the vacant throne, he +took to wife Hilde, the fair maiden with whom he had shared his game and +berries for so many years. The royal couple were very happy, and Hagen +ruled so wisely that he became a terror to his enemies and a blessing to +his own subjects. Even when engaged in warfare he proved himself an upright +and generous man, never attacking the poor and weak. + + "On warlike enterprises into his enemies' land + He spared the poor from ravage of fire with powerful hand; + Whenever he encountered a warrior overbearing, + He broke his burgs and slew him with dire revenge unsparing." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Hilde's suitors.] Hagen and Hilde eventually became the parents +of an only daughter, who was called by her mother's name, and grew up so +beautiful that many suitors soon came to Ireland to ask for her hand. +Hagen, who loved his daughter dearly and was in no haste to part from her, +first replied that she was far too young to think of marriage; but when +this plea was disputed he declared that Hilde should only marry a man who +would defeat her father in single fight. + +As Hagen was unusually tall and strong, as well as uncommonly brave, he was +considered well-nigh invincible. The suitors, dismayed at this declaration, +reluctantly withdrew, even though they were all valiant men. In those days +Hettel (who corresponds to Hedin in the Edda story) was king of northern +Germany and of the Hegelings. He too heard marvelous accounts of Hilde's +beauty, and, as he was still unmarried, longed to secure her as wife. But +knowing that Hagen, in his anger, was likely to slay any ambassador who +came to his court with a proposal of marriage, Hettel vowed that he would +rather forego the alliance than run the risk of losing any of his tried +friends and faithful servants. + + "Then said the royal Hetel: 'The people all relate + That whosoe'er will woo her incurs her father's hate, + And for the maid has perished full many a noble knight; + My friends shall never suffer for me such woeful plight.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Strategy of Hettel's followers.] His faithful followers, Wat, +Horant, and Frute, perceiving that his heart was set upon the maiden, +finally volunteered to go and get her, saying that they could easily bear +her away by stratagem, although they did not dare to ask for her openly. So +they loaded their vessel with merchandise, hid their weapons, so that they +should be taken for the traders they professed to be, and sailed boldly +into Hagen's port, where, spreading out their wares, they invited all the +people to buy. + +Attracted by the extraordinary bargains they offered, the people came in +crowds, and soon all the inhabitants of Balian were busy talking about the +strange peddlers and praising their wares. These stories soon came to the +ears of both queen and princess, who, summoning the merchants into their +presence, asked who they were and whence they came. + +All three replied that they were warriors, and that, being banished from +Hettel's court, they had been forced to take up their present occupation to +make a living. To prove the truth of their assertions, Wat exhibited his +skill in athletic sports, while Horant delighted all the ladies by his +proficiency in the art of minstrelsy. + + "When now the night was ended and there drew near the dawn, + Horant began his singing, so that in grove and lawn + The birds became all silent, because he sang so sweetly; + The people who were sleeping sprang from their couches fleetly. + + "The cattle in the forests forsook their pasture ground; + The creeping creatures playing among the grass around, + The fishes in the water,--all in their sports were ceasing. + The minstrel might most truly rejoice in art so pleasing. + + "Whate'er he might be singing, to no one seemed it long; + Forgotten in the minster were priest and choral song, + Church bells no longer sounded so sweetly as before, + And every one who heard him longed for the minstrel sore." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +These soft strains so pleased the younger Hilde that she soon sent for the +minstrel again, and Horant, finding her alone, made use of this opportunity +to tell her of Hettel's love and longing. She was so touched by this +declaration of love that he easily won from her a promise to flee with him +and his companions as soon as a suitable opportunity occurred. + +The pretended merchants, having now achieved the real object of their +journey, disposed of their remaining wares. They then invited the king and +his family to visit their ship, and cleverly managing to separate the +willing princess from her parents and train, they sailed rapidly away, +leaving the angry father to hurl equally ineffectual spears, curses, and +threats after them. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hettel and Hilde.] The Hegelings sailed with their +prize direct to Waleis, in Holland (near the river Waal), where the +impatient Hettel came to meet them, and tenderly embraced his beautiful +young bride. There their hasty nuptials were celebrated; but, as they were +about to sail away on the morrow, Hettel became aware of the rapid approach +of a large fleet. Of course the foremost vessel was commanded by Hagen, who +had immediately started out in pursuit of his kidnaped daughter. Landing, +with all his forces, he challenged his new-made son-in-law to fight. + + "King Hagen, full of anger, leaped forward in the sea. + Unto the shore he waded; no braver knight than he! + Full many pointed arrows against him were seen flying, + Like flakes of snow, from warriors of Hetel's host defying." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The result of this battle was that Hettel was wounded by Hagen, who, in his +turn, was injured by Wat, and that the distracted Hilde suddenly flung +herself between the contending parties, and by her tears and prayers soon +brought about a reconciliation. Hagen, who had tested the courage of his +new son-in-law and had not found it wanting, now permitted his daughter to +accompany her husband home to Matelan, where she became the mother of a +son, Ortwine, and of a daughter, Gudrun, who was even fairer than herself. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's suitors.] Ortwine was fostered by Wat, the dauntless +hero, who taught him to fight with consummate skill; while Hilde herself +presided over the education of Gudrun, and made her so charming that many +suitors soon came, hoping to find favor in her eyes. These were Siegfried, +King of Moorland, a pagan of dark complexion; Hartmut, son of Ludwig, King +of Normandy; and, lastly, Herwig of Zealand. Although the latter fancied +that he had won some favor in the fair Gudrun's sight, Hettel dismissed him +as well as the others, with the answer that his daughter was yet too young +to leave the parental roof. + +Herwig, who was not ready to give the maiden up, then remembered that +Hettel had won his own bride only after he had measured his strength with +her father's; so he collected an army, invaded Matelan, and proved his +courage by encountering Hettel himself in the fray. Gudrun, who stood +watching the battle from the palace window, seeing them face to face, +loudly implored them to spare each other, an entreaty to which they both +lent a willing ear. + + "Fair Gudrun saw the combat, and heard the martial sound. + Like to a ball is fortune, and ever turns around. + + "Then from the castle chamber the royal maid cried out: + 'King Hetel, noble father, the blood flows all about + Athwart the mighty hauberks. With gore from warlike labor + The walls are sprinkled. Herwig is a most dreadful neighbor.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Herwig had in this encounter proved himself no despicable foe; so Hettel, +preferring to have him as a friend, no longer opposed his betrothal, but +even promised that the wedding festivities should be celebrated within a +year. Herwig tarried in Matelan with his betrothed until he heard that +Siegfried, King of Moorland, jealous of his successful wooing of Gudrun, +had invaded his kingdom and was raiding his unprotected lands. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun kidnaped by Hartmut.] These tidings caused the brave +young warrior to bid Gudrun a hasty farewell and sail home as quickly as +possible, Hettel promising to follow him soon and help him repel the +invaders, who were far superior in number to his small but oft-tried host. +While Herwig and Hettel were thus occupied in warring against one of the +disappointed suitors, Hartmut, the other, hearing that they were both away, +invaded Matelan and carried off Gudrun and all her attendants to Normandy. +He paused only once on his way thither to rest for a short time on an +island called Wülpensand, at the mouth of the Scheldt. + +The bereaved Hilde, who had seen her beloved daughter thus carried away, +promptly sent messengers to warn Hettel and Herwig of Gudrun's capture. +These tidings put an immediate stop to their warfare with Siegfried, who, +joining forces with them, sailed in pursuit of the Normans in the vessels +of a party of pilgrims, for they had none of their own ready for instant +departure. + +[Sidenote: The Wülpensand battle.] Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried reached +Wülpensand before the Normans had left it, and there took place a frightful +conflict, in the course of which King Ludwig slew the aged Hettel. The +conflict raged until nightfall, and although there were now but few +Hegelings left, they were all ready to renew the struggle on the morrow. +What was not their chagrin, therefore, on discovering that the Normans had +sailed away with their captives during the night, and were already out of +sight! + +It was useless to pursue them with so small an army; so the Hegelings +sorrowfully returned home, bearing Hettel's lifeless body back to the +disconsolate Hilde. Then they took counsel, and discovered that so many +able fighting men had perished during the last war that they would be +obliged to wait until the rising generation was able to bear arms before +they could invade Normandy with any hope of success. + + "Then spoke old Wat, the hero: 'It never can befall + Before this country's children have grown to manhood all.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Gudrun, in the mean while, had arrived in Normandy, where she persisted in +refusing to marry Hartmut. On her way thither the haughty princess had even +ventured to remind King Ludwig that he had once been her father's vassal, +and so roused his anger that he threw her overboard. But Hartmut +immediately plunged into the water after her, rescued her from drowning, +and when he had again seen her safe in the boat, angrily reproved his +father for his hasty conduct. + + "He said: 'Why would you drown her who is to be my wife, + The fair and charming Gudrun? I love her as my life. + Another than my father, if he had shown such daring, + Would lose his life and honor from wrath of mine unsparing.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun a captive.] After this declaration on the part of the +young heir, none dared at first treat Gudrun with any disrespect; and +Gerlinda and Ortrun, the mother and sister of Hartmut, welcomed her as she +landed on their shores. Gerlinda's friendliness was a mere pretense, +however, for she hated the proud maiden who scorned her son's proffered +love. She therefore soon persuaded her son to give the gentle captive +entirely into her charge, saying that she would make her consent to become +his bride. Hartmut, who was about to depart for the war, and who little +suspected his mother's cruel intentions, bade her do as she pleased; and he +was no sooner out of sight than poor Gudrun was degraded to the rank of a +servant, and treated with much harshness and often with actual violence. + +During three whole years Gudrun endured this cruelty in silence; but when +Hartmut returned she was restored to her former state, although she still +persisted in refusing his passionate suit. Discouraged by her obstinacy, +the young man weakly consented to abandon her again to Gerlinda's tender +mercies. The princess was now made to labor harder than ever, and she and +Hildburg, her favorite companion and fellow captive, were daily sent down +to the shore to wash the royal linen. + +[Illustration: GUDRUN AND THE SWAN.--Kepler.] + +It was winter, the snow lay thick on the ground, and Gudrun and her +companion, barefooted and miserably clad, suffered untold agonies from the +cold. Besides, they were nearly exhausted, and the hope of rescue, which +had sustained them during the past twelve years, had almost forsaken them. +Their deliverance was near, however, and while Gudrun was washing on the +shore, a mermaid, in the guise of a swan, came gently near her and bade her +be of good cheer, for her sufferings would soon be at an end. + + "'Rejoice in hope,' then answered the messenger divine; + 'Thou poor and homeless maiden, great joy shall yet be thine. + If thou wilt ask for tidings from thy dear native land, + To comfort thee, great Heaven has sent me to this strand.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The swan maiden then informed her that her brother Ortwine had grown up, +and that he would soon come with brave old Wat and the longing Herwig to +deliver her. + +The next day, in spite of the increased cold, Gerlinda again roughly bade +the maidens go down to the shore and wash, refusing to allow them any +covering except one rough linen garment. + + "They then took up the garments and went upon their way. + 'May God let me,' said Gudrun, 'remind you of this day.' + With naked feet they waded there through the ice and snow: + The noble maids, all homeless, were filled with pain and woe." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's deliverance.] Gudrun and Hildburg had barely begun +their usual task, however, ere a small boat drew near, in which they +recognized Herwig and Ortwine. All unconscious of their identity at first, +the young men inquired about Gudrun. She herself, to test their affection, +replied that the princess was dead, and did not allow them to catch a +glimpse of her face until she beheld Herwig's emotion at these tidings, and +heard him protest that he would be faithful to her unto death. + + "There spoke the royal Herwig: 'As long as lasts my life, + I'll mourn for her; the maiden was to become my wife.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The lovers, who had been equally true, now fell into each other's arms. +Ortwine was overjoyed at finding his sister and her companion, having long +secretly loved the latter, so he poured out an avowal of his passion, and +won from Hildburg a promise to be his wife. The first moments of joyful +reunion over, Herwig would fain have carried Gudrun and Hildburg back to +camp with him; but Ortwine proudly declared that he had come to claim them +openly, and would bear them away from Normandy honorably, in the guise of +princesses, rather than by stealth. + +Promising to rescue them on the morrow, the young men took leave of the +maidens. Hildburg conscientiously finished her task, but Gudrun proudly +flung the linen into the sea and returned to the palace empty-handed, +saying that it did not become her to do any more menial labor, since she +had been kissed by two kings. Gerlinda, hearing her confess that she had +flung the linen into the sea, ordered her to be scourged; but when Gudrun +turned upon her and proudly announced that she would take her revenge on +the morrow, when she would preside over the banquet hall as queen, Gerlinda +concluded that she had decided to accept Hartmut. + +The mother, therefore, flew to him to impart the joyful tidings. In his +delight he would fain have embraced Gudrun, who, however, haughtily bade +him refrain from saluting a mere washerwoman. Becoming aware only then of +her sorry plight, the prince withdrew, sternly ordering that her maidens +should again be restored to her, that her every command should be fulfilled +as if she were already queen, and that all should treat her with the utmost +respect. These orders were executed without delay, and while Hartmut was +preparing for his wedding on the morrow, Gudrun, again clad in royal +attire, with her maidens around her, whispered the tidings of their coming +deliverance. Morning had barely dawned when Hildburg, gazing out of the +window, saw the castle entirely surrounded by the Hegelings' forces; and at +cockcrow old Wat's horn pealed forth a loud defiance, rousing the Normans +from pleasant dreams, and calling them to battle instead of to the +anticipated wedding. + + "The morning star had risen upon the heavens high, + When to the castle window a beauteous maid drew nigh, + In order to espy there and watch the break of day, + Whereby from royal Gudrun she would obtain rich pay. + + "There looked the noble maiden and saw the morning glow. + Reflected in the water, as it might well be so, + Were seen the shining helmets and many bucklers beaming. + The castle was surrounded; with arms the fields were gleaming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The battle was very fierce, and the poem enumerates many of the cuts and +thrusts given and received. Clashing swords and streams of gore now +monopolize the reader's attention. In the fray Herwig slew King Ludwig. +Gudrun was rescued by Hartmut from the hands of Gerlinda, who had just +bidden her servants put her to death, so that her friends should not take +her alive. Next the Norman prince met his rival and fought bravely. He was +about to succumb, however, when his sister Ortrun, who throughout had been +gentle and loving to Gudrun, implored her to save her brother's life. +Gudrun, touched by this request, called out of the casement to Herwig, who, +at a word from her, sheathed his sword, and contented himself with taking +Hartmut prisoner. + +[Sidenote: Death of Gerlinda.] The castle was duly plundered, the whole +town sacked, and Wat, bursting into the palace, began to slay all he met. +The women, in terror, then crowded around Gudrun, imploring her protection. +Among these were Ortrun and Gerlinda; but while Gudrun would have protected +the former at the cost of her life, she allowed Wat to kill the latter, who +had deserved such a death in punishment for all her cruelty. + +When the massacre was over, the victors celebrated their triumph by a grand +banquet, at which Gudrun, fulfilling her boast, actually presided as queen. + + "Now from the bitter contest the warriors rested all. + There came the royal Herwig into King Ludwig's hall, + Together with his champions, their gear with blood yet streaming. + Dame Gudrun well received him; her heart with love was teeming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +When the banquet was over, the Hegelings set sail, taking with them the +recovered maidens, all the spoil they had won, and their captives, Hartmut +and Ortrun; and on reaching Matelan they were warmly welcomed by Hilde, who +was especially rejoiced to see her daughter once more. + + "The queen drew near to Gudrun. Could any one outweigh + The joy they felt together, with any wealth or treasure? + When they had kissed each other their grief was changed to pleasure." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: A fourfold wedding.] Shortly after their return home a fourfold +wedding took place. Gudrun married her faithful Herwig, Ortwine espoused +Hildburg, Siegfried consoled himself for Gudrun's loss by taking the fair +Ortrun to wife, and Hartmut received with the hand of Hergart, Herwig's +sister, the restitution not only of his freedom but also of his kingdom. + +At the wedding banquet Horant, who, in spite of his advanced years, had +lost none of his musical skill, played the wedding march with such success +that the queens simultaneously flung their crowns at his feet,--an offering +which he smilingly refused, telling them that crowns were perishable, but +that the poet's song was immortal. + + "The aged minstrel drew his harp still closer to his breast, + Gazed at the jeweled coronets as this thought he expressed: + 'Fair queens, I bid you wear them until your locks turn gray; + Those crowns, alas! are fleeting, but song will live alway.'" + NIENDORF (H.A.G.'s tr.). + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +REYNARD THE FOX. + + +Among primitive races, as with children, animal stories are much enjoyed, +and form one of the first stages in literature. The oldest of these tales +current in the middle ages is the epic of Reineke Fuchs, or Reynard the +Fox. This poem was carried by the ancient Franks across the Rhine, became +fully acclimated in France, and then returned to Germany by way of +Flanders, where it was localized. + +After circulating from mouth to mouth almost all over Europe, during many +centuries, it was first committed to writing in the Netherlands, where the +earliest manuscript, dating from the eleventh or twelfth century, gives a +Latin version of the tale. + +[Sidenote: Origin of animal epics.] "The root of this saga lies in the +harmless natural simplicity of a primeval people. We see described the +delight which the rude child of nature takes in all animals,--in their slim +forms, their gleaming eyes, their fierceness, their nimbleness and cunning. +Such sagas would naturally have their origin in an age when the ideas of +shepherd and hunter occupied a great portion of the intellectual horizon of +the people; when the herdman saw in the ravenous bear one who was his +equal, and more than his equal, in force and adroitness, the champion of +the woods and wilds; when the hunter, in his lonely ramble through the +depths of the forest, beheld in the hoary wolf and red fox, as they stole +along,--hunters like himself,--mates, so to say, and companions, and whom +he therefore addressed as such.... So that originally this kind of poetry +was the exponent of a peculiar sort of feeling prevailing among the people, +and had nothing whatever to do with the didactic or satiric, although at a +later period satiric allusions began to be interwoven with it." + +The story has been rewritten by many poets and prose writers. It has been +translated into almost every European language, and was remodeled from one +of the old mediaeval poems by Goethe, who has given it the form in which it +will doubtless henceforth be known. His poem "Reineke Fuchs" has been +commented upon by Carlyle and translated by Rogers, from whose version all +the following quotations have been extracted. + +[Sidenote: The animals' assembly.] As was the custom among the Franks under +their old Merovingian rulers, the animals all assembled at Whitsuntide +around their king, Nobel the lion, who ruled over all the forest. This +assembly, like the Champ de Mars, its prototype, was convened not only for +the purpose of deciding upon the undertakings for the following year, but +also as a special tribunal, where all accusations were made, all complaints +heard, and justice meted out to all. The animals were all present, all +except Reynard the fox, who, it soon became apparent, was accused of many a +dark deed. Every beast present testified to some crime committed by him, +and all accused him loudly except his nephew, Grimbart the badger. + + "And yet there was one who was absent, + Reineke Fox, the rascal! who, deeply given to mischief, + Held aloof from half the Court. As shuns a bad conscience + Light and day, so the fox fought shy of the nobles assembled. + One and all had complaints to make, he had all of them injured; + Grimbart the badger, his brother's son, alone was excepted." + +[Sidenote: Complaints against Reynard.] The complaint was voiced by Isegrim +the wolf, who told with much feeling how cruelly Reynard had blinded three +of his beloved children, and how shamefully he had insulted his wife, the +fair lady Gieremund. This accusation had no sooner been formulated than +Wackerlos the dog came forward, and, speaking French, pathetically +described the finding of a little sausage in a thicket, and its purloining +by Reynard, who seemed to have no regard whatever for his famished +condition. + +The tomcat Hintze, who at the mere mention of a sausage had listened more +attentively, now angrily cried out that the sausage which Wackerlos had +lost belonged by right to him, as he had concealed it in the thicket after +stealing it from the miller's wife. He added that he too had had much to +suffer from Reynard, and was supported by the panther, who described how he +had once found the miscreant cruelly beating poor Lampe the hare. + + "Lampe he held by the collar, + Yes, and had certainly taken his life, if I by good fortune + Had not happened to pass by the road. There standing you see him. + Look and see the wounds of the gentle creature, whom no one + Ever would think of ill treating." + +[Sidenote: Vindication of Reynard.] The king, Nobel, was beginning to look +very stern as one after another rose to accuse the absent Reynard, when +Grimbart the badger courageously began to defend him, and artfully turned +the tables upon the accusers. Taking up their complaints one by one, he +described how Reynard, his uncle, once entered into partnership with +Isegrim. To obtain some fish which a carter was conveying to market, the +fox had lain as if dead in the middle of the road. He had been picked up by +the man for the sake of his fur, and tossed up on top of the load of fish. +But no sooner had the carter's back been turned than the fox sprang up, +threw all the fish down into the road to the expectant wolf, and only +sprang down himself when the cart was empty. The wolf, ravenous as ever, +devoured the fish as fast as they were thrown down, and when the fox +claimed his share of the booty he had secured, Isegrim gave him only the +bones.[1] [Footnote 1: For Russian version see Guerber's Contes et +Légendes, vol. i., p. 93.] + +Not content with cheating his ally once, the wolf had induced the fox to +steal a suckling pig from the larder of a sleeping peasant. With much +exertion the cunning Reynard had thrown the prize out of the window to the +waiting wolf; but when he asked for a portion of the meat as reward, he was +dismissed with nothing but the piece of wood upon which it had been hung. + +The badger further proceeded to relate that Reynard had wooed Gieremund +seven years before, when she was still unmated, and that if Isegrim chose +to consider that an insult, it was only on a par with the rest of his +accusations, for the king could readily see that Reynard was sorely injured +instead of being guilty. + +Then, encouraged by the favorable impression he had produced, Grimbart +airily disposed of the cases of Wackerlos and Hintze by proving that they +had both stolen the disputed sausage, after which he went on to say that +Reynard had undertaken to instruct Lampe the hare in psalmody, and that the +ill treatment which the panther had described was only a little wholesome +castigation inflicted by the teacher upon a lazy and refractory pupil. + + "Should not the master his pupil + Sometimes chastise when he will not observe, and is stubborn in evil? + If boys were never punished, were thoughtlessness always passed over, + Were bad behavior allowed, how would our juveniles grow up?" + +These plausible explanations were not without their effect, and when +Grimbart went on to declare that, ever since Nobel proclaimed a general +truce and amnesty among all the animals of the forest, Reynard had turned +hermit and spent all his time in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, the +complaint was about to be dismissed. + +[Sidenote: Story of Henning and the Cock.] Suddenly, however, Henning the +cock appeared, followed by his two sons, Kryant and Kantart, bearing the +mangled remains of a hen upon a bier. In broken accents the bereaved father +related how happily he had dwelt in a convent henyard, with the ten sons +and fourteen daughters which his excellent consort had hatched and brought +up in a single summer. His only anxiety had been caused by the constant +prowling of Reynard, who, however, had been successfully at a distance by +the watchdogs. But when the general truce had been proclaimed, the dogs +were dismissed. Reynard, in the garb of a monk, had made his way into the +henyard to show Henning the royal proclamation with the attached seal, and +to assure him of his altered mode of living. + +Thus reassured, Henning had led his family out into the forest, where, +alas! Reynard was lurking, and where he killed all but five of Henning's +promising brood. They had not only been killed, but devoured, with the +exception of Scratch-foot, whose mangled remains were laid at the monarch's +feet in proof of the crime, as was customary in the mediaeval courts of +justice. + +The king, angry that his truce should thus have been broken, and sorry for +the evident grief of the father, ordered a sumptuous funeral for the +deceased, and commanded that a stone should be placed upon her grave, +bearing the epitaph: + + "'Scratch-foot, daughter of Henning, the cock, the best of the hen + tribe. + Many an egg did she lay in her nest, and was skillful in scratching. + Here she lies, lost, alas! to her friends, by Reineke murdered. + All the world should know of his false and cruel behavior, + As for the dead they lament.' Thus ran the words that were + written." + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the Bear.] Then the king, having taken advice with +his council, solemnly bade Brown the bear proceed immediately to +Malepartus, Reynard's home, and summon him to appear at Reynard and court +forthwith, to answer the grave charges which had been made against him. But +he warned his messenger to behave circumspectly and to beware of the wiles +of the crafty fox. The bear rather resented these well-meant +recommendations, and, confidently asserting his ability to take care of +himself, set out for Reynard's abode. + +On his way to the mountains he was obliged to pass through an arid, sandy +waste, and reached Malepartus weary and overheated. Standing before the +fortress, which rejoiced in many labyrinthine passages, he loudly made +known his errand; and when Reynard, peeping cautiously out, had ascertained +that Brown was alone, he hastened out to welcome him. + +With great volubility the fox commiserated his long journey, and excused +the delay in admitting him under plea of an indisposition caused by eating +too much honey, a diet which he abhorred. + +At the mere mention of honey the bear forgot all his fatigue, and when his +host lamented the fact that he had nothing else to offer him, he joyfully +declared no food could suit him better, and that he could never get enough +of it. + + "'If that is so,' continued the Red one, 'I really can serve you, + For the peasant Rüsteviel lives at the foot of the mountain. + Honey he has, indeed, such that you and all of your kindred + Never so much together have seen.'" + +Oblivious of everything else at the thought of such a treat, Brown the bear +immediately set out in Reynard's company, and they soon came to the +peasant's yard, where a half-split tree trunk lay in full view. Reynard +then bade his companion thrust his nose well down into the hollow and eat +his fill of honey. As soon as he saw that the bear had thrust not only his +nose, but both fore paws, into the crack, Reynard cleverly removed the +wedges, the tree clapped together, and he left the bear a prisoner and +howling with pain. + +These sounds soon attracted the peasant's attention, and he and his +companions all fell upon the captive bear with every imaginable weapon, and +proceeded to give him a sound beating. Frantic with pain and terror, the +unfortunate bear finally succeeded in wrenching himself free, at the cost +of the skin on his nose and fore paws, and, after tumbling the fat cook +into the water, swam down the stream and landed in a thicket to bewail his +misfortunes. Here he was found by the fox, who added insult to injury by +making fun of him, and reproved him for his gluttony, until the bear again +plunged into the stream and swam away. + +[Illustration: BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG.--Wagner.] + +Then, painfully making his way back to Nobel, Brown presented himself at +court all bleeding and travel-stained, and poured forth a doleful account +of his mission. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the cat.] The king, after consulting with his +principal courtiers, declared it the right of any man to be thrice +summoned, and, conceding that the bear's manners were not of a conciliatory +nature, selected Hintze the cat to bear his message to Malepartus. The cat, +disheartened by unfavorable omens, was nevertheless compelled to go on this +unwelcome journey. + +Reynard welcomed him cordially, promised to accompany him to court on the +morrow, and then asked what kind of refreshment he could offer. When Hintze +had confessed his preference for mice, the fox replied that it was very +fortunate, as there were plenty of them in the parson's barn. Hintze +immediately asked to be led thither, that he might eat his fill. + + "'Pray do me the kindness + Hence to lead and show me the mice, for far above wild game + Give me a mouse for delicate flavor.'" + +Reynard then conducted Hintze to the parson's barn, and pointed out a +little opening through which he had passed to steal chickens, and where he +knew that Martin, the parson's son, had laid a trap to catch any intruder. +Hintze at first demurred, but, urged by Reynard, crept in and found himself +caught in a noose. Reynard, pretending to take the cat's moans for cries of +joy, banteringly inquired whether that was the way they sang at court, as +the caterwauling grew louder. + +These sounds finally reached the ears of little Martin, who, accompanied by +his father, came into the barn to catch the intruder. Poor Hintze, +frightened at the sight of the bludgeon the parson carried, flew at his +legs, scratching and biting him, until the saintly man fainted. Then, +taking advantage of the confusion, Hintze managed to slip out of the noose +and effect his escape. He returned to court minus one eye, and there poured +out the story of his wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the badger.] The wrath of the king was now terrible +to behold, and assembling his council, he bade them decide how he should +punish the wretch who had twice ill treated his messengers. Grimbart the +badger, seeing that public opinion was decidedly against his relative, now +begged that a third summons should be sent, and offered to carry the +message himself. He furthermore declared that, even according to their own +showing, the cat and bear had come to grief through their greediness; and +then he promptly departed. + +Grimbart found Reynard in the bosom of his family, delivered his message, +and frankly advised the fox to obey the king's summons and appear at court, +where, perchance, he might yet manage to save himself; while if he remained +at home the king would besiege his fortress and slay him and all his +family. Reynard listened favorably to this advice, and, after bidding his +wife a tender farewell, and committing his beloved children to her care, he +set out with Grimbart to go to court. + +On the way the recollection of his many transgressions began to lie very +heavily upon his heart. The fear of death quickened his conscience, and, +longing to make his peace with Heaven, he expressed a great wish to confess +his sins and receive absolution. As no priest was near at hand, he begged +Grimbart the badger to listen to him, and penitently confessed all the +misdeeds we have already recounted. He also added that he once bound +Isegrim to the rope of the convent bell at Elkinar, where his frantic +tugging rang the bell, until the monks, crowding around him, cudgeled him +severely. Reynard related, too, how he once induced Isegrim to enter the +priests' house through a window and crawl along some beams in search of ham +and bacon. As the wolf was carefully feeling his way, however, the +mischievous fox pushed him and made him fall on the sleeping people below, +who, awakening with a start, fell upon him and beat him. These and sundry +other sins having duly been confessed, the badger bade the fox chastise +himself with a switch plucked from the hedge, lay it down in the road, jump +over it thrice, and then meekly kiss that rod in token of obedience. Then +he pronounced Reynard absolved from his former sins, and admonished him to +lead an altered life in future. + + "'My uncle, take care that your future amendment + In good works be visible. Psalms you should read, and should visit + Churches with diligence; fast at the seasons duly appointed; + Him who asks you point out the way to; give to the needy + Willingly; swear to forsake all evil habits of living, + All kinds of theft and robbing, deceit and evil behavior. + Thus can you make quite sure that you will attain unto mercy!'" + +The fox solemnly promised amendment, and with sanctimonious mien continued +his journey. But as he and the badger passed a convent, and some plump hens +crossed their path, Reynard forgot all his promises and began to chase the +chickens. Sharply recalled to a sense of duty by Grimbart, Reynard +reluctantly gave up the chase, and the two proceeded without further +drawback to the court, where Reynard's arrival created a great sensation. + + "When at the Court it was known that Reineke really was coming, + Ev'ry one thronged out of doors to see him, the great and the little. + Few with friendly intent; for almost all were complaining. + This, however, in Reineke's mind was of little importance; + Thus he pretended, at least, as he with Grimbart the badger, + Boldly enough and with elegant mien now walked up the high street. + Jauntily swung he along at his ease, as if he were truly + Son of the king, and free and quit of ev'ry transgression. + Thus he came before Nobel the king, and stood in the palace + In the midst of the lords; he knew how to pose as unruffled." + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] With consummate skill and unparalleled +eloquence and impudence, Reynard addressed the king, lauding himself as a +faithful servant, and commiserating the fact that so many envious and +backbiting people were ready to accuse him. Nobel the king, in whose mind +the recollection of the treatment inflicted upon Brown the bear and Hintze +the cat was still very vivid, answered him sternly, and told him that it +would be difficult for him to acquit himself of those two charges, to say +nothing of the many others brought against him. Reynard, still undismayed, +demanded with well-feigned indignation whether he was to be held +responsible for the sins of those messengers whose misfortunes were +attributable to their gluttonous and thievish propensities only. + +[Sidenote: Reynard condemned to death.] But in spite of this specious +pleading, all the other animals came crowding around with so many grievous +charges that matters began to look very dark indeed for the fox. In spite +of all Reynard's eloquence, and of the fluent excuses ever on his tongue, +the council pronounced him guilty, and condemned him to die an ignominious +death. Reynard's enemies rejoiced at this sentence, and dragged him off +with cheerful alacrity to the gallows, where all the animals assembled to +witness his execution. + +On the way to the place of punishment Reynard tried to think of some plan +by means of which he could save himself even at the eleventh hour; and +knowing that some scheme would occur to him if he could only gain a little +time, he humbly implored permission to make a public confession of his +manifold sins ere he paid the penalty of his crimes. Anxious to hear all he +might have to say, the king granted him permission to speak; and the fox +began to relate at length the story of his early and innocent childhood, +his meeting and alliance with Isegrim the wolf, and his gradual induction +by him into crooked paths and evil ways. He told, too, how the cruel wolf, +presuming on his strength, had ever made use of it to deprive him, the fox, +of his rightful share of plunder; and concluded by saying that he would +often have suffered from hunger had it not been for the possession of a +great treasure of gold, which had sufficed for all his wants. + + "Thanks be to God, however, I never suffered from hunger; + Secretly have I fed well by means of that excellent treasure, + All of silver and gold in a secret place that securely + Hidden I keep; with this I've enough. And, I say it in earnest, + Not a wagon could carry it off, though sevenfold loaded." + +At the word "treasure" Nobel pricked up his ears and bade Reynard relate +how this hoard was obtained and where it was concealed. The artful fox, +seeing the king's evident interest, rapidly prepared more lies, and, +speaking to the king and queen, declared that ere he died it would be +better for him to reveal the carefully guarded secret of a conspiracy which +would have resulted in the king's death had it not been for his devotion. + +The queen, shuddering at the mere thought of the danger her royal consort +had run, now begged that Reynard might step down from the scaffold and +speak privately to her and to Nobel. In this interview Reynard, still +pretending to prepare for immediate death, told how he discovered a +conspiracy formed by his father, Isegrim the wolf, Brown the bear, and many +others, to slay the king and seize the scepter. He described the various +secret conferences, the measures taken, and his father's promise to defray +all the expenses of the enterprise and to subsidize mercenary troops by +means of the hoard of King Ermenrich, which he had discovered and concealed +for his own use. + +Reynard then continued to describe his loyal fears for his beloved +sovereign, his resolve to outwit the conspirators, and his efforts to +deprive them of the sinews of war by discovering and abstracting the +treasure. Thanks to his ceaseless vigilance, he saw his father steal forth +one night, uncover his hoard, gloat over the gold, and then efface the +traces of his search with the utmost skill. + + "'Nor could one, + Not having seen, have possibly known. And ere he went onwards + Well he understood at the place where his feet had been planted, + Cleverly backwards and forwards to draw his tail, and to smooth it, + And to efface the trace with the aid of his mouth.'" + +Reynard then told the king how diligently he and his wife, Ermelyn, labored +to remove the gold and conceal it elsewhere, and how the conspiracy came to +naught when no gold was found to pay the troops. He mournfully added that +his loyalty further deprived him of a loving father, for the latter had +hung himself in despair when he found his treasure gone and all his plans +frustrated. With hypocritical tears he then bewailed his own fate, saying +that, although ready to risk all for another, there was no one near him to +speak a good word for him in his time of bitterest need. + +[Sidenote: Reynard Pardoned.] The queen's soft heart was so touched by +this display of feeling that she soon pleaded for and obtained Reynard's +pardon from Nobel, who freely granted it when the fox promised to give him +his treasure. Most accurately now he described its place of concealment, +but said that he could not remain at court, as his presence there was an +insult to royalty, seeing that he was under the Pope's ban and must make a +pilgrimage ere it could be removed. + +The king, after imprisoning Isegrim, Brown, and Hintze (the chief +conspirators according to Reynard's tale), and ascertaining that the place +the fox so accurately described really existed, bade Reynard depart, and at +his request procured for him a fragment of Brown's hide to make a wallet, +and a pair of socks from Isegrim and his wife, who were very loath to part +with their foot covering. The king, queen, and court then accompanied +Reynard a short way on the first stage of his journey, and turned back, +leaving Bellyn the ram and Lampe the hare to escort him a little farther. +These innocent companions accompanied Reynard to Malepartus, and while +Bellyn waited patiently without, Lampe entered the house with Reynard. Lady +Ermelyn and her two young sons greeted Reynard with joy, listened +breathlessly to the account of his adventures, and then helped him to slay +and eat Lampe, who, he declared, had brought all these evils upon him. + +Reynard and his family feasted upon the body of poor Lampe the hare, whose +head was then securely fastened in the wallet made of Brown's skin. This +the fox carefully carried out and placed upon Bellyn's back, assuring him +volubly the while that it contained important dispatches, and that in order +to insure him a suitable reward for his good offices he had told Nobel the +king that the ram had given him valuable assistance in preparing the +contents of the wallet. + + "'Yet, as soon as you see the king, and to still better favor + Wish to attain with him, 'twere well to bring to his notice + That you have sagely given advice in composing the letters, + Yea, and the writer have help'd.'" + +Thus instructed, and reassured concerning the absence of Lampe, whom +Reynard described as enjoying a chat with Ermelyn, Bellyn bounded off to +court, where he did not fail to vaunt that he had helped Reynard prepare +the contents of the wallet. Nobel publicly opened it, and when he drew out +Lampe's bleeding head his anger knew no bounds. Following the advice of his +courtiers, Bellyn, in spite of all his protestations, was given in +atonement to the bear and the wolf, who the king now feared had been +unjustly treated. They were then released from imprisonment and reinstated +to royal favor, and twelve days of festivity ensued. + +[Sidenote: Reynard again in disgrace.] In the midst of the dance and +revelry a bloody rabbit appeared to accuse Reynard of tearing off one of +his ears, while the garrulous crow, Merkinau, related how the same +unscrupulous wretch had pretended death merely to befool Sharfenebbe, his +wife, and induce her to come near enough for him to bite off her head. +Nobel the king, upon hearing these complaints, immediately swore that +within six days he would besiege Reynard in his castle, would take him +prisoner, and would make him suffer the penalty of his crimes. + +Isegrim the wolf and Brown the bear rejoiced at these tidings, while +Grimbart the badger, seeing the peril his uncle had incurred, hastened off +secretly to Malepartus to warn him of his danger and support him by his +advice. He found Reynard sitting complacently in front of his house, +contemplating two young doves which he had just secured as they were making +their first attempt to fly. Grimbart breathlessly related the arrival of +Bellyn, the royal indignation at the sight of Lampe's head, and the plan +for surrounding and capturing Reynard in his safe retreat. + +[Sidenote: Grimbart's advice.] In spite of this disquieting news Reynard's +composure did not desert him; but after vowing that he could easily acquit +himself of these crimes if he could only win the king's ear for a moment, +he invited his kinsman to share his meal and taste the delicate morsels he +had secured. Grimbart the badger, seeing that the fox was not inclined to +flee, now advised him not to await the king's coming and expose his wife +and children to the horrors of a siege, but boldly to return to court. + + "'Go with assurance before the lords, and put the best face on + Your affairs. They will give you a hearing. Lupardus was also + Willing you should not be punish'd before you had fully + Made your defense, and the queen herself was not otherwise minded. + Mark this fact, and try to make use of it.'" + +Once more Reynard bade a tender farewell to his wife and sons, resisting +all the former's entreaties to seek safety in flight, and, relying upon his +cunning, set out with Grimbart to visit the court. On his way he again +pretended repentance for his former sins, and resuming his confession at +the point where he had broken off, he told how maliciously he had secured a +piece of the bear's hide for a wallet, and socks from Isegrim and his wife. +He then went on to relate just how he had murdered Lampe, charged the +innocent Bellyn with the ambiguous message which had cost him his life, +torn off one of the rabbit's ears, and eaten the crow's wife. Lastly, he +confessed how he had gone out in company with the wolf, who, being hungry +and seeing a mare with a little foal, had bidden Reynard inquire at what +price she would sell it. The mare retorted that the price was written on +her hoof. The sly fox, understanding her meaning, yet longing to get his +companion into trouble, pretended not to know how to read, and sent the +wolf to ascertain the price. The result was, of course, disastrous, for the +mare kicked so hard that the wolf lay almost dead for several hours after. + + "So he went and asked the lady, 'What price is the filly? + Make it cheap.' Whereupon she replied, 'You've only to read it; + There you will find the sum inscribed on one of my hind feet.' + 'Let me look,' continued the wolf; and she answered, 'With + pleasure.' + + "Then she lifted upwards her foot from the grass; it was studded + With six nails. She struck straight out, and not by a hair's + breadth + Missed she her mark. She struck on his head, and straightway he + fell down, + Lying as dumb as the dead." + +Waxing more and more eloquent as they drew nearer court and his fears +increased, Reynard began to moralize. He excused himself for Lampe's murder +on the plea of the latter's aggravating behavior, said that the king +himself was nothing but a robber living by rapine, and proceeded to show +how even the priests were guilty of manifold sins, which he enumerated with +much gusto. + +They had scarcely finished this edifying conversation when they came across +Martin the ape, on his way to Rome; and Reynard hastened to implore him to +secure his release from the Pope's ban, through the intercession of the +ape's uncle, the cardinal, whose interest it was to serve him. Martin the +ape not only promised his good offices at the papal court, but bade Reynard +not hesitate to consult his wife should he find himself in any predicament +at court. + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] Thus supported, Reynard again made his +appearance at court, to the utter amazement and surprise of all; and +although, he was well aware that his situation was more dangerous than +ever, his assurance did not seem at all impaired. Kneeling with pretended +humility before the king, he artfully began his address by lamenting the +fact that there were so many unscrupulous people ever ready to accuse the +innocent; and when the king angrily interrupted him to accuse him of +maiming the rabbit and devouring the crow, he began his defense. + +First Reynard explained that since Martin the ape had undertaken to free +him from his ban, his journey to Rome was of course unnecessary. Then he +related how the rabbit, dining at his house, had insulted and quarreled +with his children, from whose clutches he had had much trouble to save him. +The crow's death was caused by a fish bone she had swallowed. Bellyn, the +traitor, had slain Lampe himself, and evidently put his head in the wallet +instead of some treasures which Reynard had intrusted to their care for the +king and queen. + +[Sidenote: The ape's intercession.] The king, who had listened impatiently +to all this discourse, angrily retired, refusing to believe a word, while +Reynard sought the ape's wife, Frau Rückenau, and bade her intercede for +him. She entered the royal tent, reminded the king of her former services, +and seeing his mood somewhat softened, ventured to mention how cleverly +Reynard once helped him to judge between the rival claims of a shepherd and +a serpent. The latter, caught in a noose and about to die, had implored a +passing shepherd to set it free. The peasant had done so after exacting a +solemn oath from the serpent to do him no harm. But the serpent, once +released, and suffering from the pangs of hunger, threatened to devour the +peasant. The latter called the raven, wolf, and bear, whom he met by the +way, to his aid; but as they all hoped to get a share of him, they all +decided in favor of the serpent's claim to eat him. + +The case by this time had become so intricate that it was laid before the +king, who, unable to judge wisely, called Reynard to his aid. The fox +declared that he could only settle so difficult a matter when plaintiff and +defendant had assumed the relative positions which they occupied at the +time of dispute. Then when the snake was safely in the noose once more, +Reynard decided that, knowing the serpent's treachery, the peasant might +again set him loose, but need not do so unless he chose. + + "'Here now is each of the parties + Once again in his former state, nor has either the contest + Won or lost. The right, I think, of itself is apparent. + For if it pleases the man, he again can deliver the serpent + Out of the noose; if not, he may let her remain and be hang'd there. + Free he may go on his way with honor and see to his business, + Since she has proved herself false, when she had accepted his kindness; + Fairly the man has the choice. This seems to me to be justice, + True to the spirit. Let him who understands better declare it.'" + +[Illustration: REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE.--Kaulbach.] + +The king, remembering this celebrated judgment, and skillfully reminded by +Frau Rückenau of the bear's and the wolf's rapacity, consented at last to +give Reynard a second hearing. The fox now minutely described the treasures +he sent to court,--a magic ring for the king, and a comb and mirror for the +queen. Not only was the fable of the judgment of Paris engraved on the +latter, but also that of the jealous donkey, who, imitating his master's +lapdog, and trying to climb into his lap, received nothing but blows. There +was also the story of the cat and the fox, of the wolf and the crane, and, +lastly, the account of the miraculous way in which his father, a noted +leech, had saved Nobel's sire by making him eat the flesh of a wolf just +seven years old. + +The pleader then reminded the king of a noted hunting party, where Isegrim, +having secured a boar, gave the king one quarter, the queen another, +reserved a half for himself, and gave the fox nothing but the head. This +division was of course very disloyal, and the fox showed that he thought so +by dividing a calf more equitably; i.e., giving the queen one half, the +king the other, the heart and liver to the princes, the head to the wolf, +and reserving only the feet for himself. + +[Sidenote: Duel between the fox and the wolf.] Reynard prided himself upon +these tokens of loyalty, and then, seeing that he had made a favorable +impression, he volunteered, in spite of his small size, to meet the wolf in +battle and leave the vindication of his claims to the judgment of God. This +magnanimous behavior filled the king with admiration, and the trial was +appointed for the following day, the intervening hours being granted to +both combatants for preparation. Reynard, still advised by Frau Rückenau, +was shaved smooth, rubbed with butter until he was as slippery as could be, +and instructed to feign fear and run fleetly in front of the wolf, kicking +up as much sand as possible, and using his brush to dash it into his +opponent's eyes and thus blind him. + +The combat took place. The wolf, blinded by the sand in his eyes, was so +infuriated that he finally pounced upon the fox, who, however, managed yet +to get the upper hand and come off victor, generously granting life to his +foe, whom he had nearly torn and scratched to pieces. Reynard, having thus +won the victory, enjoyed the plaudits of the crowd, while the wolf, being +vanquished, was publicly derided, and borne off by his few remaining +friends to be nursed back to health, if possible. + + "Such is ever the way of the world. They say to the lucky, + 'Long may you live in good health,' and friends he finds in abundance. + When, however, ill fortune befalls him, alone he must bear it. + Even so was it here; each one of them wish'd to the victor + Nearest to be, to show himself off." + +[Sidenote: Reynard's acquittal.] The king pronounced Reynard guiltless of +all charges, and made him one of his privy councilors. But the fox, after +thanking the king for his favors, humbly besought permission to return +home, where his wife was awaiting him, and departed, escorted by a +deputation of his friends. + +According to some versions of the tale, Reynard contented himself with +blinding the wolf and maiming him for life; according to others, he bided +his time, and when the king was ill, told him that nothing could save him +short of the heart of a wolf just seven years old. Of course no wolf of the +exact age could be found but Isegrim, so he was sacrificed to save the +king, who recovered. As for Reynard, he enjoyed great honor as long as he +lived, and his adventures have long been the delight of the people, whom +his tricks never failed to amuse. + + "Highly honor'd is Reineke now! To wisdom let all men + Quickly apply them, and flee what is evil, and reverence virtue! + This is the end and aim of the song, and in it the poet + Fable and truth hath mixed, whereby the good from the evil + Ye may discern, and wisdom esteem; and thereby the buyers + Of this book in the ways of the world may be daily instructed. + For it was so created of old, and will ever remain so. + Thus is our poem of Reineke's deeds and character ended. + May God bring us all to eternal happiness. Amen!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +THE NIBELUNGENLIED. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of Poem.] Germany's greatest epic is, without doubt, the +ancient poem entitled "Nibelungenlied," or the "Lay," "Fall," or "Calamity +of the Nibelungs." Although nothing certain is known concerning the real +authorship of this beautiful work, it is supposed to have been put into its +present form either by the Austrian minstrel von Kürenberg or by the German +poet von Ofterdingen, some time previous to the year 1210, the date +inscribed on the oldest manuscript of that poem now extant. + +According to the best authorities on ancient German literature, the +"Nibelungenlied" is compiled from preëxisting songs and rhapsodies, forming +five distinct cycles of myths, but all referring in some way to the great +treasure of the Nibelungs. One of these cycles is the northern Volsunga +Saga,[1] where Sigurd, Gudrun, Gunnar, Högni, and Atli, the principal +characters, correspond to Siegfried, Kriemhild, Gunther, Hagen, and Etzel +of the "Nibelungenlied." The story of the German poem, which can be given +only in outline, is as follows: [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of +Northern Lands, p. 225.] + +Dankrat and Ute, King and Queen of Burgundy, were the fortunate parents of +four children: three sons, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher; and one beautiful +daughter, Kriemhild. When the king died, his eldest son, Gunther, succeeded +him, and reigned wisely and well, residing at Worms on the Rhine, his +capital and favorite city. + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's dream.] As was customary in those days, Kriemhild +lived a peaceful and secluded life, rarely leaving her mother's palace and +protection. But one night her slumbers, which were usually very peaceful, +were disturbed by a tormenting dream, which, upon awaking, she hastened to +confide to her mother, thinking that, as Ute was skilled in magic and +dreams, she might give a favorable interpretation and thus rid her of her +haunting fears. + + "A dream was dreamt by Kriemhild, the virtuous and the gay, + How a wild young falcon she train'd for many a day, + Till two fierce eagles tore it." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Ute declared that the falcon her daughter had seen in her dream must be +some noble prince, whom she would love and marry; while the two eagles were +base murderers, who would eventually slay her beloved. Instead of +reassuring Kriemhild, this interpretation only saddened her the more, and +made her loudly protest that she would rather forego all the joys of +married estate than have to mourn for a beloved husband. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's home.] In those days there flourished farther down +the Rhine the kingdom of the Netherlands, governed by Siegmund and +Siegelind. They were very proud of their only son and heir, young +Siegfried, who had already reached man's estate. To celebrate his +knighthood a great tournament was held at Xanten on the Rhine, and in the +jousting the young prince won all the laurels, although great and tried +warriors matched their skill against his in the lists. + +The festivities continued for seven whole days, and when the guests +departed they were all heavily laden with the costly gifts which the king +and queen had lavished upon them. + + "The gorgeous feast it lasted till the seventh day was o'er. + Siegelind, the wealthy, did as they did of yore; + She won for valiant Siegfried the hearts of young and old, + When for his sake among them she shower'd the ruddy gold. + + "You scarce could find one needy in all the minstrel band; + Horses and robes were scatter'd with ever-open hand. + They gave as though they had not another day to live; + None were to take so ready as they inclin'd to give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +After the departure of all these guests, young Siegfried sought his +parents' presence, told them that he had heard rumors of the beauty and +attractions of Kriemhild of Burgundy, and declared his wish to journey +thither to secure her as his wife. + +In vain the fond parents tried to prevail upon him to remain quietly at +home; the young hero insisted so strongly that he finally won their consent +to his immediate departure. With eleven companions, all decked out in the +richest garments that the queen's chests could furnish, the young prince +rode down the Rhine, and reached Worms on the seventh day. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's arrival in Burgundy.] The arrival of the gallant +little troop was soon noted by Gunther's subjects, who hastened out to meet +the strangers and help them dismount. Siegfried immediately requested to be +brought into the presence of their king, who, in the mean while, had +inquired of his uncle, Hagen, the names and standing of the newcomers. +Glancing down from the great hall window, Hagen said that the leader must +be Siegfried, the knight who had slain the owners of the Nibelungen hoard +and appropriated it for his own use, as well as the magic cloud-cloak, or +Tarnkappe, which rendered its wearer invisible to mortal eyes.[1] He added +that this same Siegfried was ruler of the Nibelungen land, and the slayer +of a terrible dragon, whose blood had made him invulnerable, and he +concluded by advising Gunther to receive him most courteously. [Footnote 1: +For various legends of this cycle see Guerber's Legends of the Rhine, +article Xanten.] + + "Yet more I know of Siegfried, that well your ear may hold: + A poison-spitting dragon he slew with courage bold, + And in the blood then bath'd him; thus turn'd to horn his skin, + And now no weapons harm him, as often proved has been. + + "Receive then this young hero with all becoming state; + 'Twere ill advis'd to merit so fierce a champion's hate. + So lovely is his presence, at once all hearts are won, + And then his strength and courage such wondrous deeds have done." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to this advice, Gunther went to meet Siegfried and politely +inquired the cause of his visit. Imagine his dismay, therefore, when +Siegfried replied that he had come to test the Burgundian's vaunted +strength, and to propose a single combat, in which the victor might claim +the lands and allegiance of the vanquished. Gunther recoiled from such a +proposal, and as none of his warriors seemed inclined to accept the +challenge, he and his brother hastened to disarm Siegfried's haughty mood +by their proffers of unbounded hospitality. + +Siegfried sojourned for nearly a year at Gunther's court, displaying his +skill in all martial exercises; and although he never caught a glimpse of +the fair maiden Kriemhild, she often admired his strength and manly beauty +from behind the palace lattice. + +[Sidenote: War with the Saxons and Danes.] One day the games were +interrupted by the arrival of a herald announcing that Ludeger, King of the +Saxons, and Ludegast, King of Denmark, were about to invade Burgundy. These +tidings filled Gunther's heart with terror, for the enemy were very +numerous and their valor was beyond all question. But when Hagen hinted +that perhaps Siegfried would lend them a helping hand, the King of Burgundy +seized the suggestion with joy. + +As soon as Siegfried was made aware of the threatened invasion he declared +that if Gunther would only give him one thousand brave men he would repel +the foe. This offer was too good to refuse; so Gunther hastily assembled a +chosen corps, in which were his brothers Gernot and Giselher, Hagen and his +brother Dankwart, Ortwine, Sindolt, and Volker,--all men of remarkable +valor. + + "'Sir king,' said noble Siegfried, 'here sit at home and play, + While I and your vassals are fighting far away; + Here frolic with the ladies and many a merry mate, + And trust to me for guarding your honor and estate.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +This little force, only one thousand strong, then marched bravely out of +Worms, passed through Hesse, and entered Saxony, where it encountered the +enemy numbering no less than twenty thousand valiant fighting men. The +battle was immediately begun; and while all fought bravely, none did such +wonders as Siegfried, who made both kings prisoners, routed their host, and +returned triumphant to Worms, with much spoil and many captives. + +A messenger had preceded him thither to announce the success of the +expedition, and he was secretly summoned and questioned by Kriemhild, who, +in her joy at hearing that Siegfried was unharmed and victorious, gave the +messenger a large reward. + + "Then spake she midst her blushes, 'Well hast thou earn'd thy meed, + Well hast thou told thy story, so take thee costliest weed, + And straight I'll bid be brought thee ten marks of ruddy gold.' + No wonder, to rich ladies glad news are gladly told." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Celebration of Siegfried's victory.] Kriemhild then hastened to +her window, from whence she witnessed her hero's triumphant entrance, and +heard the people's acclamations of joy. The wounded were cared for, the +captive kings hospitably entertained and duly released, and great +festivities were held to celebrate the glorious victory. Among other +entertainments the knights tilted in the tournaments, and, by Gernot's +advice, Ute, Kriemhild, and all the court ladies were invited to view the +prowess of the men at arms. It was thus that Siegfried first beheld +Kriemhild, and as soon as he saw her he gladly acknowledged that she was +fairer than he could ever have supposed. + + "As the moon arising outglitters every star + That through the clouds so purely glimmers from afar, + E'en so love-breathing Kriemhild dimm'd every beauty nigh. + Well might at such a vision many a bold heart beat high." + _Nibelungenlied_ {Lettsom's tr.}. + +Siegfried's happiness was complete, however, when he was appointed the +escort of this peerless maiden; and on the way to and from the tournament +and mass he made good use of his opportunity to whisper pretty speeches to +Kriemhild, who timidly expressed her gratitude for the service he had +rendered her brother, and begged that he would continue to befriend him. +These words made Siegfried blush with pride, and then and there he +registered a solemn vow to fulfill her request. + + "'Ever,' said he, 'your brethren I'll serve as best I may, + Nor once, while I have being, will head on pillow lay + Till I have done to please them whate'er they bid me do; + And this, my Lady Kriemhild, is all for love of you.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The festivities being ended, Gunther bestowed many gifts on the departing +guests; but when Siegfried would also have departed he entreated him to +remain at Worms. This the young hero was not at all loath to do, as he had +fallen deeply in love with the fair Kriemhild, whom he was now privileged +to see every day. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild.] The excitement consequent on the festivities had not +entirely subsided in Worms when King Gunther declared his desire to win for +his wife Brunhild, a princess of Issland, who had vowed to marry none but +the man who could surpass her in casting a spear, in throwing a stone, and +in jumping. + + "Then spake the lord of Rhineland: 'Straight will I hence to sea, + And seek the fiery Brunhild, howe'er it go with me. + For love of the stern maiden I'll frankly risk my life; + Ready am I to lose it, if I win her not to wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In vain Siegfried, who knew all about Brunhild, tried to dissuade him; +Gunther insisted upon departing, but proposed to Siegfried to accompany +him, promising him as reward for his assistance Kriemhild's hand as soon as +the princess of Issland was won. Such an offer was not to be refused, and +Siegfried immediately accepted it, advising Gunther to take only Hagen and +Dankwart as his attendants. + +[Sidenote: The expedition to Issland.] After seeking the aid of Kriemhild +for a supply of rich clothing suitable for a prince going a-wooing, Gunther +and the three knights embarked on a small vessel, whose sails soon filled, +and which rapidly bore them flown the Rhine and over the sea to Issland. +When within sight of its shores, Siegfried bade his companions all +carefully agree in representing him to the strangers as Gunther's vassal +only. Their arrival was seen by some inquisitive damsels peering out of the +windows of the castle, and reported to Brunhild, who immediately and +joyfully concluded that Siegfried had come to seek her hand in marriage. +But when she heard that he held another man's stirrup to enable him to +mount, she angrily frowned, wondering why he came as a menial instead of as +a king. When the strangers entered her hall she would have greeted +Siegfried first had he not modestly drawn aside, declaring that the honor +was due to his master, Gunther, King of Burgundy, who had come to Issland +to woo her. + +Brunhild then haughtily bade her warriors make all the necessary +preparations for the coming contest; and Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart +apprehensively watched the movements of four warriors staggering beneath +the weight of Brunhild's ponderous shield. Then they saw three others +equally overpowered by her spear; and twelve sturdy servants could scarcely +roll the stone she was wont to cast. + +Hagen and Dankwart, fearing for their master,--who was doomed to die in +case of failure,--began to mutter that some treachery was afoot, and openly +regretted that they had consented to lay aside their weapons upon entering +the castle. These remarks, overheard by Brunhild, called forth her scorn, +and she contemptuously bade her servants bring the strangers' arms, since +they were afraid. + + "Well heard the noble maiden the warrior's words the while, + And looking o'er her shoulder, said with a scornful smile, + 'As he thinks himself so mighty, I'll not deny a guest; + Take they their arms and armor, and do as seems them best. + + "'Be they naked and defenseless, or sheath'd in armor sheen, + To me it nothing matters,' said the haughty queen. + 'Fear'd yet I never mortal, and, spite of yon stern brow + And all the strength of Gunther, I fear as little now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siegfried and the Tarnkappe.] While these preliminaries were +being settled, Siegfried had gone down to the ship riding at anchor, and +all unseen had donned his magic cloud-cloak and returned to the scene of +the coming contest, where he now bade Gunther rely upon his aid. + + "'I am Siegfried, thy trusty friend and true; + Be not in fear a moment for all the queen can do.' + + "Said he, 'Off with the buckler, and give it me to bear; + Now what I shall advise thee, mark with thy closest care. + Be it thine to make the gestures, and mine the work to do.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to these directions, Gunther merely made the motions, +depending upon the invisible Siegfried to parry and make all the attacks. +Brunhild first poised and flung her spear with such force that both heroes +staggered and almost fell; but before she could cry out victory, Siegfried +had caught the spear, turned it butt end foremost, and flung it back with +such violence that the princess fell and was obliged to acknowledge herself +outdone. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild's defeat.] Nothing daunted, however, by this first +defeat, she caught up the massive stone, flung it far from her, and leaping +after it, alighted beside it. But even while she was inwardly +congratulating herself, and confidently cherishing the belief that the +stranger could not surpass her, Siegfried caught up the stone, flung it +farther still, and grasping Gunther by his broad girdle, bounded through +the air with him and landed far beyond it. Brunhild was outdone in all +three feats, and, according to her own promise, belonged to the victor, +Gunther, to whom she now bade her people show all due respect and homage. + + "Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band, + Seeing in the ring at distance unharm'd her wooer stand: + 'Hither, my men and kinsmen, low to my better bow. + I am no more your mistress; you're Gunther's liegemen now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Illustration: GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE.--Keller.] + +The warriors all hastened to do her bidding, and escorted their new lord to +the castle, whither, under pretext of fitly celebrating her marriage, +Brunhild summoned all her retainers from far and near. This rally roused +the secret terror of Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart, for they suspected some +act of treachery on the part of the dark-browed queen. These fears were +also, in a measure, shared by Siegfried; so he stole away, promising to +return before long with a force sufficient to overawe Brunhild and quell +all attempt at foul play. + +Siegfried, having hastily embarked upon the little vessel, swiftly sailed +away to the Nibelungen land, where he arrived in an incredibly short space +of time, presented himself at the gates of his castle, and forced an +entrance by conquering the giant porter, and Alberich, the dwarf guardian +of his treasure. Then making himself known to his followers, the Nibelungs, +he chose one thousand of them to accompany him back to Issland to support +the Burgundian king. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Gunther and Brunhild.] The arrival of this +unexpected force greatly surprised Brunhild. She questioned Gunther, and +upon receiving the careless reply that they were only a few of his +followers, who had come to make merry at his wedding, she gave up all hope +of resistance. When the usual festivities had taken place, and the wonted +largesses had been distributed, Gunther bade his bride prepare to follow +him back to the Rhine with her personal female attendants, who numbered no +less than one hundred and sixty-eight. + +Brunhild regretfully left her own country, escorted by the thousand +Nibelung warriors; and when they had journeyed nine days, Gunther bade +Siegfried spur ahead and announce his safe return to his family and +subjects. Offended by the tone of command Gunther had assumed, Siegfried at +first proudly refused to obey; but when the king begged it as a favor, and +mentioned Kriemhild's name, he immediately relented and set out. + + "Said he, 'Nay, gentle Siegfried, do but this journey take, + Not for my sake only, but for my sister's sake; + You'll oblige fair Kriemhild in this as well as me.' + When so implored was Siegfried, ready at once was he. + + "'Whate'er you will, command me; let naught be left unsaid; + I will gladly do it for the lovely maid. + How can I refuse her who my heart has won? + For her, whate'er your pleasure, tell it, and it is done.'" + _Nibelunglied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Kriemhild received this messenger most graciously, and gave immediate +orders for a magnificent reception of the new queen, going down to the +river to meet and greet her in the most cordial and affectionate manner. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Siegfried and Kriemhild.] A tournament and banquet +ensued; but as they were about to sit down to the latter, the impatient +Siegfried ventured to remind Gunther of his promise, and claim the hand of +Kriemhild. In spite of a low-spoken remonstrance on Brunhild's part, who +said that he would surely never consent to give his only sister in marriage +to a menial, Gunther sent for Kriemhild, who blushingly expressed her +readiness to marry Siegfried if her brother wished. The marriage was +immediately celebrated, and the two bridal couples sat side by side. But +while Kriemhild's fair face was radiant with joy, Brunhild's dark brows +were drawn close together in an unmistakable and ominous frown. + +[Sidenote: Gunther's humiliation.] The banquet over, the newly married +couples retired; but when Gunther, for the first time alone with his wife, +would fain have embraced her, she seized him, and, in spite of his vigorous +resistance, bound him fast with her long girdle, suspended him from a nail +in the corner of her apartment, and, notwithstanding his piteous +entreaties, let him remain there all night long, releasing him only a few +moments before the attendants entered the nuptial chamber in the morning. +Of course all seemed greatly surprised to see Gunther's lowering +countenance, which contrasted oddly with Siegfried's radiant mien; for the +latter had won a loving wife, and, to show his appreciation of her, had +given her as wedding gift the great Nibelungen hoard. + +In the course of the day Gunther managed to draw Siegfried aside, and +secretly confided to him the shameful treatment he had received at his +wife's hands. When Siegfried heard this he offered to don his cloud-cloak +once more, enter the royal chamber unperceived, and force Brunhild to +recognize her husband as her master, and never again make use of her +strength against him. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild subdued by Siegfried.] In pursuance of this promise +Siegfried suddenly left Kriemhild's side at nightfall, stole unseen into +the queen's room, and when she and Gunther had closed the door, he blew out +the lights and wrestled with Brunhild until she begged for mercy, promising +never to bind him again; for as Siegfried had remained invisible throughout +the struggle, she thought it was Gunther who had conquered her. + + "Said she, 'Right noble ruler, vouchsafe my life to spare; + Whatever I've offended, my duty shall repair. + I'll meet thy noble passion; my love with thine shall vie. + That thou canst tame a woman, none better knows than I.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Still unperceived, Siegfried now took her girdle and ring, and stole out of +the apartment, leaving Gunther alone with his wife; but, true to her +promise, Brunhild ever after treated her husband with due respect, and +having once for all been conquered, she entirely lost the fabulous strength +which had been her proudest boast, and was no more powerful than any other +member of her sex. + +After fourteen days of rejoicing, Siegfried and Kriemhild (the latter +escorted by her faithful steward Eckewart) journeyed off to Xanten on the +Rhine, where Siegmund and Siegelind received them joyfully, and even +abdicated in their favor. + +Ten years passed away very rapidly indeed. Siegfried became the father of a +son, whom he named Gunther, in honor of his brother-in-law, who had called +his heir Siegfried; and when Siegelind had seen her little grandson she +departed from this world. Siegfried, with Kriemhild, his father, and his +son, then went to the Nibelungen land, where they tarried two years. + +In the mean while Brunhild, still imagining that Siegfried was only her +husband's vassal, secretly wondered why he never came to court to do homage +for his lands, and finally suggested to Gunther that it would be well to +invite his sister and her husband to visit them at Worms. Gunther seized +this suggestion gladly, and immediately sent one of his followers, Gary, to +deliver the invitation, which Siegfried accepted for himself and his wife, +and also for Siegmund, his father. + +As they were bidden for midsummer, and as the journey was very long, +Kriemhild speedily began her preparations; and when she left home she +cheerfully intrusted her little son to the care of the stalwart Nibelung +knights, little suspecting that she would never see him again. + +On Kriemhild's arrival at Worms, Brunhild greeted her with as much pomp and +ceremony as had been used for her own reception; but in spite of the amity +which seemed to exist between the two queens, Brunhild was secretly angry +at what she deemed Kriemhild's unwarrantable arrogance. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild and Kreimhild.] One day, when the two queens were +sitting together, Brunhild, weary of hearing Kriemhild's constant praise of +her husband, who she declared was without a peer in the world, cuttingly +remarked that since he was Gunther's vassal he must necessarily be his +inferior. This remark called forth a retort from Kriemhild, and a dispute +was soon raging, in the course of which Kriemhild vowed that she would +publicly assert her rank by taking the precedence of Brunhild in entering +the church. The queens parted in hot anger, but both immediately proceeded +to attire themselves with the utmost magnificence, and, escorted by all +their maids, met at the church door. Brunhild there bade Kriemhild stand +aside and make way for her superior; but this order so angered the +Nibelungen queen that the dispute was resumed in public with increased +vehemence and bitterness. + +In her indignation Kriemhild finally insulted Brunhild grossly by declaring +that she was not a faithful wife; and in proof of her assertion she +produced the ring and girdle which Siegfried had won in his memorable +encounter with her, and which he had imprudently given to his wife, to whom +he had also confided the secret of Brunhild's wooing. + +Brunhild indignantly summoned Gunther to defend her, and he, in anger, sent +for Siegfried, who publicly swore that his wife had not told the truth, and +that Gunther's queen had in no way forfeited her good name. Further to +propitiate his host, Siegfried declared the quarrel to be disgraceful, and +promised to teach his wife better manners for the future, advising Gunther +to do the same with his consort. + + "'Women must be instructed,' said Siegfried the good knight, + 'To leave off idle talking and rule their tongues aright. + Keep thy fair wife in order. I'll do by mine the same. + Such overweening folly puts me indeed to shame.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To carry out this good resolution he led Kriemhild home, where, sooth to +say, he beat her black and blue,--an heroic measure which Gunther did not +dare to imitate. + +Brunhild, smarting from the public insult received, continued to weep aloud +and complain, until Hagen, inquiring the cause of her extravagant grief, +and receiving a highly colored version of the affair, declared that he +would see that she was duly avenged. + + "He ask'd her what had happen'd--wherefore he saw her weep; + She told him all the story; he vow'd to her full deep + That reap should Kriemhild's husband as he had dar'd to sow, + Or that himself thereafter content should never know." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To keep this promise, Hagen next tried to stir up the anger of Gunther, +Gernot, and Ortwine, and to prevail upon them to murder Siegfried; but +Giselher reproved him for these base designs, and openly took Siegfried's +part, declaring: + + "'Sure 'tis but a trifle to stir an angry wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although he succeeded in quelling the attempt for the time being, he +was no match for the artful Hagen, who continually reminded Gunther of the +insult his wife had received, setting it in the worst possible light, and +finally so worked upon the king's feelings that he consented to a +treacherous assault. + +[Sidenote: Hagen's treachery.] Under pretext that his former enemy, +Ludeger, was about to attack him again, Gunther asked Siegfried's +assistance, and began to prepare as if for war. When Kriemhild heard that +her beloved husband was about to rush into danger she was greatly troubled. +Hagen artfully pretended to share her alarm, and so won her confidence that +she revealed to him that Siegfried was invulnerable except in one spot, +between his shoulders, where a lime leaf had rested and the dragon's blood +had not touched him. + + "'So now I'll tell the secret, dear friend, alone to thee + (For thou, I doubt not, cousin, wilt keep thy faith with me), + Where sword may pierce my darling, and death sit on the thrust. + See, in thy truth and honor how full, how firm, my trust! + + "'As from the dragon's death-wounds gush'd out the crimson gore, + With the smoking torrent the warrior wash'd him o'er, + A leaf then 'twixt his shoulders fell from the linden bough. + There only steel can harm him; for that I tremble now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Pretending a sympathy he was far from feeling, and disguising his unholy +joy, Hagen bade Kriemhild sew a tiny cross on Siegfried's doublet over the +vulnerable spot, that he might the better protect him in case of danger, +and, after receiving her profuse thanks, returned to report the success of +his ruse to the king. When Siegfried joined them on the morrow, wearing the +fatal marked doublet, he was surprised to hear that the rebellion had been +quelled without a blow; and when invited to join in a hunt in the Odenwald +instead of the fray, he gladly signified his consent. After bidding +farewell to Kriemhild, whose heart was sorely oppressed by dark +forebodings, he joined the hunting party. He scoured the forest, slew +several boars, caught a bear alive, and playfully let him loose in camp to +furnish sport for the guests while the noonday meal was being prepared. +Then he gaily sat down, clamoring for a drink. His exertions had made him +very thirsty indeed, and he was sorely disappointed when told that, owing +to a mistake, the wine had been carried to another part of the forest. But +when Hagen pointed out a fresh spring at a short distance, all his wonted +good humor returned, and he merrily proposed a race thither, offering to +run in full armor, while the others might lay aside their cumbersome +weapons. This challenge was accepted by Hagen and Gunther. Although heavily +handicapped, Siegfried reached the spring first; but, wishing to show +courtesy to his host, he bade him drink while he disarmed. When Gunther's +thirst was quenched, Siegfried took his turn, and while he bent over the +water Hagen treacherously removed all his weapons except his shield, and +gliding behind him, drove his spear through his body in the exact spot +where Kriemhild had embroidered the fatal mark. + +[Sidenote: Death of Siegfried.] Mortally wounded, Siegfried made a +desperate effort to avenge himself; but finding nothing but his shield +within reach, he flung it with such force at his murderer that it knocked +him down. This last effort exhausted the remainder of his strength, and the +hero fell back upon the grass, cursing the treachery of those whom he had +trusted as friends. + + "Thus spake the deadly wounded: 'Ay, cowards false as hell! + To you I still was faithful; I serv'd you long and well;-- + But what boots all?--for guerdon treason and death I've won. + By your friends, vile traitors! foully have you done. + + "'Whoever shall hereafter from your loins be born, + Shall take from such vile fathers a heritage of scorn. + On me you have wreak'd malice where gratitude was due; + With shame shall you be banish'd by all good knights and true.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +But even in death Siegfried could not forget his beloved wife; and laying +aside all his anger, he pathetically recommended her to Gunther's care, +bidding him guard her well. Siegfried expired as soon as these words were +uttered; and the hunters silently gathered around his corpse, regretfully +contemplating the fallen hero, while they took counsel together how they +might keep the secret of Hagen's treachery. They finally agreed to carry +the body back to Worms and to say that they had found Siegfried dead in the +forest, where he had presumably been slain by highwaymen. + + "Then many said, repenting, 'This deed will prove our bale; + Still let us shroud the secret, and all keep in one tale,-- + That the good lord of Kriemhild to hunt alone preferr'd, + And so was slain by robbers as through the wood he spurr'd.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although his companions were anxious to shield him, Hagen gloried in +his dastardly deed, and secretly bade the bearers deposit Siegfried's +corpse at Kriemhild's door after nightfall, so that she should be the first +to see it there when on her way to early mass. As he fully expected, +Kriemhild immediately recognized her husband, and fell senseless upon him; +but when she had recovered consciousness she declared, while loudly +bewailing her loss, that Siegfried was the victim of an assassination. + + "'Woe's me, woe's me forever! sure no fair foeman's sword + Shiver'd thy failing buckler; 'twas murder stopp'd thy breath. + Oh that I knew who did it! death I'd requite with death!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +By her orders a messenger was sent to break the mournful tidings to the +still sleeping Siegmund and the Nibelungs. They hastily armed and rallied +about her, and would have fallen upon the Burgundians, to avenge their +master's death, had she not restrained them, bidding them await a suitable +occasion, and promising them her support when the right time came. + +[Sidenote: Detection of Siegfried's murderer.] The preparations for a +sumptuous funeral were immediately begun, and all lent a willing hand, for +Siegfried was greatly beloved at Worms. His body was therefore laid in +state in the cathedral, where all came to view it and condole with +Kriemhild; but when Gunther drew near to express his sorrow, she refused to +listen to him until he promised that all those present at the hunt should +touch the body, which at the murderer's contact would bleed afresh. All +stood the test and were honorably acquitted save Hagen, at whose touch +Siegfried's blood began to flow. + + "It is a mighty marvel, which oft e'en now we spy, + That when the blood-stain'd murderer comes to the murder'd nigh, + The wounds break out a-bleeding; then too the same befell, + And thus could each beholder the guilt of Hagen tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Once more Kriemhild restrained the angry Nibelung warriors from taking +immediate revenge, and, upheld by Gernot and Giselher, who really +sympathized with her grief, she went through the remainder of the funeral +ceremonies and saw her hero duly laid at rest. + +Kriemhild's mourning had only begun. All her days and nights were now spent +in bitter weeping. This sorrow was fully shared by Siegmund, who, however, +finally roused himself and proposed a return home. Kriemhild was about to +accompany him, when her relatives persuaded her to remain in Burgundy. Then +the little band which had come in festal array rode silently away in +mourning robes, the grim Nibelung knights muttering dark threats against +those who had dealt so basely with their beloved master. + + "'Into this same country we well may come again + To seek and find the traitor who laid our master low. + Among the kin of Siegfried they have many a mortal foe.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Nibelungen hoard.] Eckewart the steward alone remained with +Kriemhild, with a faithfulness which has become proverbial in the German +language, and prepared for his mistress a dwelling close by the cathedral, +so that she might constantly visit her husband's tomb. Here Kriemhild spent +three years in complete seclusion, refusing to see Gunther, or the detested +Hagen; but they, remembering that the immense Nibelungen hoard was hers by +right, continually wondered how she could be induced to send for it. Owing +to Hagen's advice, Gunther, helped by his brothers, finally obtained an +interview with, and was reconciled to, his mourning sister, and shortly +after persuaded her to send twelve men to claim from Alberich, the dwarf, +the fabulous wealth her husband had bestowed upon her as a wedding gift. + + "It was made up of nothing but precious stones and gold; + Were all the world bought from it, and down the value told, + Not a mark the less thereafter were left than erst was scor'd. + Good reason sure had Hagen to covet such a hoard. + + "And thereamong was lying the wishing rod of gold, + Which whoso could discover, might in subjection hold + All this wide world as master, with all that dwelt therein. + There came to Worms with Gernot full many of Albric's kin." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although this wealth is said to have filled nearly one hundred and +fifty wagons, Kriemhild would gladly have given it all away could she but +have seen her husband by her side once more. Not knowing what else to do +with it, she gave away her gold right and left, bidding all the recipients +of her bounty pray for Siegfried's soul. Her largesses were so extensive +that Hagen, who alone did not profit by her generosity, and who feared the +treasure might be exhausted before he could obtain a share, sought out +Gunther and told him that Kriemhild was secretly winning to her side many +adherents, whom she would some day urge to avenge her husband's murder by +slaying her kindred. + +[Illustration: SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN.--Pixis.] + +While Gunther was trying to devise some plan to obtain possession of the +hoard, Hagen boldly seized the keys of the tower where it was kept, +secretly removed all the gold, and, to prevent its falling into any hands +but his own, sank it in the Rhine near Lochheim. + + "Ere back the king came thither, impatient of delay, + Hagen seized the treasure, and bore it thence away. + Into the Rhine at Lochheim the whole at once threw he! + Henceforth he thought t'enjoy it, but that was ne'er to be. + + "He nevermore could get it for all his vain desire; + So fortune oft the traitor cheats of his treason's hire. + Alone he hop'd to use it as long as he should live, + But neither himself could profit, nor to another give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +When Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher heard what Hagen had done, they were so +angry that he deemed it advisable to withdraw from court for a while. +Kriemhild would fain have left Burgundy forever at this fresh wrong, but +with much difficulty was prevailed upon to remain and take up her abode at +Lorch, whither Siegfried's remains were removed by her order. + +[Sidenote: King of Hungary a suitor for Kriemhild.] Thirteen years had +passed by since Siegfried's death in the Odenwald when Etzel, King of +Hungary, who had lost his beautiful and beloved wife, Helche, bade one of +his knights, Rüdiger of Bechlaren, ride to Worms and sue for the hand of +Kriemhild in his master's name. + +Rüdiger immediately gathered together a suitable train and departed, +stopping on the way to visit his wife and daughter at Bechlaren. Passing +all through Bavaria, he arrived at last at Worms, where he was warmly +welcomed, by Hagen especially, who had formerly known him well. + +In reply to Gunther's courteous inquiry concerning the welfare of the King +and Queen of the Huns, Rüdiger announced the death of the latter, and +declared that he had come to sue for Kriemhild's hand. + + "Thereon the highborn envoy his message freely told: + 'King, since you have permitted, I'll to your ears unfold + Wherefore my royal master me to your court has sent, + Plung'd as he is in sorrow and doleful dreariment. + + "'It has been told my master, Sir Siegfried now is dead, + And Kriemhild left a widow. If thus they both have sped, + Would you but permit her, she the crown shall wear + Before the knights of Etzel; this bids me my good lord declare.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Gunther gladly received this message, promised to do all in his power to +win Kriemhild's consent, and said that he would give the envoy a definite +answer in three days' time. He then consulted his brothers and nobles as to +the advisability of the proposed alliance, and found that all were greatly +in favor of it save Hagen, who warned them that if Kriemhild were ever +Queen of the Huns she would use her power to avenge her wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Rüdiger's promise.] This warning was, however, not heeded by the +royal brothers, who, seeking Kriemhild's presence, vainly tried to make her +accept the Hun's proposal. All she would grant was an audience to Rüdiger, +who laid before her his master's proposal, described the power of the Huns, +and swore to obey her in all things would she but consent to become his +queen. + + "In vain they her entreated, in vain to her they pray'd, + Till to the queen the margrave this secret promise made,-- + He'd 'full amends procure her for past or future ill.' + Those words her storm-tost bosom had power in part to still." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The journey to Hungary.] After receiving this promise, Kriemhild +signified her consent, and immediately prepared to accompany Rüdiger to +King Etzel's court. Eckewart and all her maidens accompanied her, with five +hundred men as a bodyguard; and Gernot and Giselher, with many Burgundian +nobles, escorted her to Vergen on the Danube, where they took an +affectionate leave of her, and went back to their home in Burgundy. + +From Vergen, Kriemhild and her escort journeyed on to Passau, where they +were warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by good Bishop Pilgrim, +brother of Queen Ute. He would gladly have detained them, had not Rüdiger +declared that his master impatiently awaited the coming of his bride, which +had duly been announced to him. + +A second pause was made at Bechlaren, Rüdiger's castle, where Kriemhild was +entertained by his wife and daughter, Gotelinde and Dietelinde, and where +the usual lavish distribution of gifts took place. Then the procession +swept on again across the country and down the Danube, until they met King +Etzel, whom Kriemhild graciously kissed, and who obtained a similar favor +for his brother and a few of his principal nobles. + +[Sidenote: The marriage at Vienna.] After witnessing some tilting and other +martial games, the king and queen proceeded to Vienna, where a triumphal +reception awaited them, and where their marriage was celebrated with all +becoming solemnity and great pomp. The wedding festivities lasted seventeen +days; but although all vied in their attempts to please Kriemhild, she +remained sad and pensive, for she could not forget her beloved Siegfried +and the happy years she had spent with him. + +The royal couple next journeyed on to Gran, Etzel's capital, where +Kriemhild found innumerable handmaidens ready to do her will, and where +Etzel was very happy with his new consort. His joy was complete, however, +only when she bore him a son, who was baptized in the Christian faith, and +called Ortlieb. + +Although thirteen years had now elapsed since Kriemhild had left her native +land, the recollection of her wrongs was as vivid as ever, her melancholy +just as profound, and her thoughts were ever busy planning how best to lure +Hagen into her kingdom so as to work her revenge. + + "One long and dreary yearning she foster'd hour by hour; + She thought, 'I am so wealthy and hold such boundless power, + That I with ease a mischief can bring on all my foes, + But most on him of Trony, the deadliest far of those. + + "'Full oft for its beloved my heart is mourning still; + Them could I but meet with, who wrought me so much ill, + Revenge should strike at murder, and life atone for life; + Wait can I no longer.' So murmur'd Etzel's wife." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's plot.] Kriemhild finally decided to persuade Etzel +to invite all her kinsmen for a midsummer visit, which the king, not +dreaming of her evil purpose, immediately hastened to do. Two minstrels, +Werbel and Swemmel, were sent with the most cordial invitation. Before they +departed Kriemhild instructed them to be sure and tell all her kinsmen that +she was blithe and happy, and not melancholy as of yore, and to use every +effort to bring not only the kings, but also Hagen, who, having been at +Etzel's court as hostage in his youth, could best act as their guide. + +The minstrels were warmly received at Worms, where their invitation created +great excitement. All were in favor of accepting it except Hagen, who +objected that Kriemhild had cause for anger and would surely seek revenge +when they were entirely in her power. + + "'Trust not, Sir King,' said Hagen, 'how smooth soe'er they be, + These messengers from Hungary; if Kriemhild you will see, + You put upon the venture your honor and your life. + A nurse of ling'ring vengeance is Etzel's moody wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But all his objections were set aside with the remark that he alone had a +guilty conscience; and the kings bade the minstrels return to announce +their coming, although Ute also tried to keep them at home. Hagen, who was +no coward, seeing them determined to go, grimly prepared to accompany them, +and prevailed upon them to don their strongest armor for the journey. + +Gunther was accompanied by both his brothers, by Hagen, Dankwart, Volker +(his minstrel), Gary, and Ortwine, and by one thousand picked men as +escort. Before leaving he intrusted his wife, Brunhild, and his son to the +care of Rumolt, his squire, and bidding farewell to his people, set out for +Hungary, whence he was never to return. + +In the mean while the Hungarian minstrels had hastened back to Gran to +announce the guests' coming, and, upon being closely questioned by +Kriemhild, described Hagen's grim behavior, and repeated his half-muttered +prophecy: "This jaunt's a jaunt to death." + +The Burgundians, who in this part of the poem are frequently called +Nibelungs (because they now held the great hoard), reached the Danube on +the twelfth day. As they found neither ford nor ferry, Hagen, after again +prophesying all manner of evil, volunteered to go in search of a boat or +raft to cross the rapid stream. + +[Sidenote: Prophecy of the swan maidens.] He had not gone very far before +he heard the sound of voices, and, peeping through the bushes, saw some +swan maidens, or "wise women," bathing in a neighboring fountain. Stealing +up unperceived, he secured their plumage, which he consented to restore +only after they had predicted the result of his journey. To obtain her +garments, one of the women, Hadburg, prophesied great good fortune; but +when the pilfered robes were restored, another, called Siegelind, foretold +much woe. + + "'I will warn thee, Hagen, thou son of Aldrian; + My aunt has lied unto thee her raiment back to get; + If once thou com'st to Hungary, thou'rt taken in the net. + + "'Turn while there's time for safety, turn, warriors most and least; + For this, and for this only, you're bidden to the feast, + That you perforce may perish in Etzel's bloody land. + Whoever rideth thither, Death has he close at hand.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After adding that the chaplain alone would return alive to Worms, she told +Hagen that he would find a ferryman on the opposite side of the river, +farther down, but that he would not obey his call unless he declared his +name to be Amelrich. + +Hagen, after leaving the wise women, soon saw the ferryman's boat anchored +to the opposite shore, and failing to make him come over for a promised +reward, he cried out that his name was Amelrich. The ferryman immediately +crossed, but when Hagen sprang into his boat he detected the fraud and +began to fight. Although gigantic in size, this ferryman was no match for +Hagen, who, after slaying him, took possession of the boat and skillfully +ferried his masters and companions across the river. + +In hope of giving the lie to the swan maidens, Hagen paused once in the +middle of the stream to fling the chaplain overboard, thinking he would +surely drown; but to his surprise and dismay the man struggled back to the +shore, where he stood alone and unharmed, and whence he slowly wended his +way back to Burgundy. Hagen now knew that the swan maidens' prophecy was +destined to be fulfilled. Nevertheless he landed on the opposite shore, +where he bade the main part of the troop ride on ahead, leaving him and +Dankwart to bring up the rear, for he fully expected that Gelfrat, master +of the murdered ferryman, would pursue them to avenge the latter's death. +These previsions were soon verified, and in the bloody encounter which +ensued, Hagen came off victor, with the loss of but four men, while the +enemy left more than one hundred dead upon the field. + +[Sidenote: The first warning.] Hagen joined the main body of the army once +more, passed on with it to Passau, where Bishop Pilgrim was as glad to see +his nephews as he had been to welcome his niece, and from thence went on to +the frontiers of Bechlaren. There they found Eckewart, who had been sent by +Rüdiger to warn them not to advance any farther, as he suspected that some +treachery was afoot. + + "Sir Eckewart replied: + 'Yet much, I own, it grieves me that to the Huns you ride. + You took the life of Siegfried; all hate you deadly here; + As your true friend I warn you; watch well, and wisely fear.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +As the Burgundians would have deemed themselves forever disgraced were they +to withdraw from their purpose, they refused to listen to this warning, +and, entering Rüdiger's castle, were warmly received by him and his family. +Giselher, seeing the beauty of the maiden Dietelinde, fell deeply in love +with her, and prevailed upon the margrave to consent to their immediate +marriage, promising, however, to claim and bear away his bride only upon +his homeward journey. Once more gifts were lavished with mediaeval +profusion, Gunther receiving a coat of mail, Gernot a sword, Hagen a +shield, and the minstrel Volker many rings of red gold. + +[Sidenote: The second warning.] Rüdiger then escorted the Burgundians until +they met the brave Dietrich von Bern (Verona), who also warned them that +their visit was fraught with danger, for Kriemhild had by no means +forgotten the murder of the husband of her youth. + +His evil prognostications were also of no avail, and he sadly accompanied +them until they met Kriemhild, who embraced Giselher only. Then, turning +suddenly upon Hagen, she inquired aloud, in the presence of all the people, +whether he had brought her back her own, the Nibelung hoard. Nothing +daunted by this sudden query, Hagen haughtily answered that the treasure +still lay deep in the Rhine, where he fancied it would rest until the +judgment day. + + "'I' faith, my Lady Kriemhild, 'tis now full many a day + Since in my power the treasure of the Nibelungers lay. + In the Rhine my lords bade sink it; I did their bidding fain, + And in the Rhine, I warrant, till doomsday 'twill remain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The queen turned her back contemptuously upon him, and invited her other +guests to lay aside their weapons, for none might enter the great hall +armed. This Hagen refused to allow them to do, saying that he feared +treachery; and the queen, pretending great grief, inquired who could have +filled her kinsmen's hearts with such unjust suspicions. Sir Dietrich then +boldly stepped forward, defied Kriemhild, and declared that it was he who +had bidden the Burgundians be thus on their guard. + + "''Twas I that the warning to the noble princes gave, + And to their liegeman Hagen, to whom such hate thou bear'st. + Now up, she-fiend! be doing, and harm me if thou dar'st!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Alliance between Hagen and Volker.] Although the thirst for +revenge now made her a "she-fiend," as he termed her, Kriemhild did not +dare openly to attack Dietrich, whom all men justly feared; and she quickly +concealed her anger, while Etzel advanced in his turn to welcome his +guests; and especially singled out Hagen, his friend's son. While many of +the Burgundians accompanied the king into the hall, Hagen drew Volker +aside, and, sitting down on a stone seat near Kriemhild's door, entered +into a life-and-death alliance with him. Kriemhild, looking out of her +window, saw him there and bade her followers go out and slay him; but +although they numbered four hundred, they hung back, until the queen, +thinking that they doubted her assertions, volunteered to descend alone and +wring from Hagen a confession of his crimes, while they lingered within +earshot inside the building. Volker, seeing the queen approach, proposed to +Hagen to rise and show her the customary respect; but the latter, declaring +that she would ascribe this token of decorum to fear alone, grimly bade him +remain seated, and, when she addressed him, boldly acknowledged that he +alone had slain Siegfried. + + "Said he, 'Why question further? that were a waste of breath. + In a word, I am e'en Hagen, who Siegfried did to death. + + * * * * * + + "'What I have done, proud princess, I never will deny. + The cause of all the mischief, the wrong, the loss, am I. + So now, or man or woman, revenge it whoso will; + I scorn to speak a falsehood,--I've done you grievous ill.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although the warriors had heard every word he said, and the queen again +urged them on to attack her foe, they one and all withdrew after meeting +one of Hagen's threatening glances. This episode, however, was enough to +show the Burgundians very plainly what they could expect, and Hagen and +Volker soon joined their companions, keeping ever side by side, according +to their agreement. + + "Howe'er the rest were coupled, as mov'd to court the train, + Folker and Hagen parted ne'er again, + Save in one mortal struggle, e'en to their dying hour." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After banqueting with Etzel the guests were led to their appointed +quarters, far remote from those of their squires; and when the Huns began +to crowd them, Hagen again frightened them off with one of his black looks. +When the hall where they were to sleep was finally reached, the knights all +lay down to rest except Hagen and Volker, who mounted guard, the latter +beguiling the hours by playing on his fiddle. + +Once, in the middle of the night, these self-appointed sentinels saw an +armed troop draw near; but when they loudly challenged the foremost men, +they beat a hasty retreat. At dawn of day the knights arose to go to mass, +wearing their arms by Hagen's advice, keeping well together, and presenting +such a threatening aspect that Kriemhild's men dared not attack them. + +In spite of all these signs, Etzel remained entirely ignorant of his wife's +evil designs, and continued to treat the Burgundians like friends and +kinsmen. + + "How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin, + Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, + He had at once prevented what afterwards befell. + Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs + to tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beginning of hostilities.] After mass a tournament was held, +Dietrich and Rüdiger virtuously abstaining from taking part in it, lest +some mishap should occur through their bravery, and fan into flames the +smoldering fire of discord. In spite of all these precautions, however, the +threatened disruption nearly occurred when Volker accidentally slew a Hun; +and it was avoided only by King Etzel's prompt interference. + +Kriemhild, hearing of this accident, vainly tried to use it as an excuse to +bribe Dietrich, or his man Hildebrand, to slay her foe. She finally won +over Blödelin, the king's brother, by promising him a fair bride. To earn +this reward the prince went with an armed host to the hall where all the +Burgundian squires were feasting under Dankwart's care, and there +treacherously slew them all, Dankwart alone escaping to the king's hall to +join his brother Hagen. + +In the mean while Etzel was entertaining his mailed guests, and had sent +for his little son, whom he placed in Gunther's lap, telling him that he +would soon send the boy to Burgundy to be educated among his mother's kin. + +All admired the graceful child except Hagen, who gruffly remarked that the +child appeared more likely to die early than to live to grow up. He had +just finished this rude speech, which filled Etzel's heart with dismay, +when Dankwart burst into the room, exclaiming that all his companions had +been slain, and calling to Hagen for aid. + + "'Be stirring, brother Hagen; you're sitting all too long. + To you and God in heaven our deadly strait I plain: + Yeomen and knights together lie in their quarters slain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Ortlieb slain.] The moment Hagen heard these tidings he sprang +to his feet, drew his sword, and bade Dankwart guard the door and prevent +the ingress or egress of a single Hungarian. Then he struck off the head of +the child Ortlieb, which bounded into Kriemhild's lap, cut off the minstrel +Werbel's hand, and began hewing right and left among the Hungarians, aided +by all his companions, who manfully followed his example. + +Dismayed at this sudden turn of affairs, the aged King Etzel "sat in mortal +anguish," helplessly watching the massacre, while Kriemhild shrieked aloud +to Dietrich to protect her from her foes. Moved to pity by her evident +terror, Dietrich blew a resounding blast on his horn, and Gunther paused in +his work of destruction to inquire how he might serve the man who had ever +shown himself a friend. Dietrich answered by asking for a safe-conduct out +of the hall for himself and his followers, which was immediately granted. + + "'Let me with your safe-conduct this hall of Etzel's leave, + And quit this bloody banquet with those who follow me; + And for this grace forever I'll at your service be.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: The massacre.] Dietrich von Bern then passed out of the hall +unmolested, leading the king by one hand and the queen by the other, and +closely followed by all his retainers. This same privilege was granted to +Rüdiger and his five hundred men; but when these had all passed out, the +Burgundians renewed the bloody fight, nor paused until all the Huns in the +hall were slain, and everything was reeking with blood. + +Then the Burgundians gathered up the corpses, which they flung down the +staircase, at the foot of which Etzel stood, helplessly wringing his hands, +and vainly trying to discover some means of stopping the fight. + +Kriemhild, in the mean while, was actively employed in gathering men, +promising large rewards to any one who would attack and slay Hagen. Urged +on by her, Iring attempted to force an entrance, but was soon driven back; +and when he would have made a second assault, Hagen ruthlessly slew him. + +Irnfried the Thuringian, and Hawart the Dane, seeing him fall, rushed +impetuously upon the Burgundians to avenge him; but both fell under Hagen's +and Volker's mighty blows, while their numerous followers were all slain by +the other Burgundians. + + "A thousand and four together had come into the hall; + You might see the broadswords flashing rise and fall; + Soon the bold intruders all dead together lay; + Of those renown'd Burgundians strange marvels one might say." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Etzel and the Huns were mourning over their dead; so the weary Burgundians +removed their helmets and rested, while Kriemhild continued to muster new +troops to attack her kinsmen, who were still strongly intrenched in the +great hall. + + "'Twas e'en on a midsummer befell that murderous fight, + When on her nearest kinsmen and many a noble knight + Dame Kriemhild wreak'd the anguish that long in heart she bore, + Whence inly griev'd King Etzel, nor joy knew evermore. + + "Yet on such sweeping slaughter at first she had not thought; + She only had for vengeance on one transgressor sought. + She wish'd that but on Hagen the stroke of death might fall; + 'Twas the foul fiend's contriving that they should perish all." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +An attempt was now made by the Burgundians to treat with Etzel for a +safe-conduct. Obdurate at first, he would have yielded had not Kriemhild +advised him to pursue the feud to the bitter end, unless her brothers +consented to surrender Hagen to her tender mercies. This, of course, +Gunther absolutely refused to do; so Kriemhild gave secret orders that the +hall in which the Burgundians were intrenched should be set on fire. +Surrounded by bitter foes, blinded by smoke, and overcome by the heat, the +Burgundians still held their own, slaking their burning thirst by drinking +the blood of the slain, and taking refuge from the flames under the stone +arches which supported the ceiling of the hall. + +[Sidenote: Rüdiger's oath.] Thus they managed to survive that terrible +night; but when morning dawned and the queen heard that they were still +alive, she bade Rüdiger go forth and fight them. He refused until she +reminded him or the solemn oath he had sworn to her in Worms before she +would consent to accompany him to Hungary. + + "'Now think upon the homage that once to me you swore, + When to the Rhine, good warrior, King Etzel's suit you bore, + That you would serve me ever to either's dying day. + Ne'er can I need so deeply that you that vow should pay.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Torn by conflicting feelings and urged by opposite oaths,--for he had also +sworn to befriend the Burgundians,--Rüdiger now vainly tried to purchase +his release by the sacrifice of all his possessions. At last, goaded to +madness, he yielded to the king's and queen's entreaties, armed his +warriors, and drew near the hall where his former guests were intrenched. +At first they could not believe that Rüdiger had any hostile intentions; +but when he pathetically informed them that he must fight, and recommended +his wife and daughter to their care in case he fell, they silently allowed +him and his followers to enter the hall, and grimly renewed the bloody +conflict. + +[Sidenote: Death of Rüdiger.] Rüdiger, after slaying many foes, encountered +Gernot wielding the sword he had given him; and these two doughty champions +finally slew each other. All the followers of Rüdiger also fell; and when +Kriemhild, who was anxiously awaiting the result of this new attack in the +court below, saw his corpse among the slain, she began to weep and bemoan +her loss. The mournful tidings of Rüdiger's death soon spread all over the +town, and came finally to the ears of Dietrich von Bern, who bade his man +Hildebrand go and claim the corpse from his Burgundian friends. + +Hildebrand went thither with an armed force, but some of his men +unfortunately began to bandy words with the Burgundians, and this soon +brought about an impetuous fight. In the ensuing battle all the Burgundians +fell except Gunther and Hagen, while Hildebrand escaped sore wounded to his +master, Dietrich von Bern. When this hero heard that his nephew and vassals +were all slain, he quickly armed himself, and, after vainly imploring +Gunther and Hagen to surrender, fell upon them with an armed force. The two +sole remaining Burgundians were now so exhausted that Dietrich soon managed +to take them captive. He led them bound to Kriemhild, and implored her to +have pity upon them and spare their lives. + + "'Fair and noble Kriemhild,' thus Sir Dietrich spake, + Spare this captive warrior, who full amends will make + For all his past transgressions; him here in bonds you see; + Revenge not on the fetter'd th' offenses of the free.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's cruelty.] By the queen's orders, Gunther and Hagen +were confined in separate cells. There she soon sought the latter, +promising him his liberty if he would but reveal the place where her +treasure was concealed. But Hagen, mistrusting her, declared that he had +solemnly sworn never to reveal the secret as long as one of his masters +breathed. Kriemhild, whose cruelty had long passed all bounds, left him +only to have her brother Gunther beheaded, and soon returned carrying his +head, which she showed to Hagen, commanding him to speak. But he still +refused to gratify her, and replied that since he was now the sole +depositary of the secret, it would perish with him. + + "'So now, where lies the treasure none knows save God and me, + And told it shall be never, be sure, she-fiend, to thee!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild slain.] This defiant answer so exasperated Kriemhild +that she seized the sword hanging by his side,--which she recognized as +Siegfried's favorite weapon,--and with her own hands cut off his head +before Etzel or any of his courtiers could interfere. Hildebrand, seeing +this act of treachery, sprang impetuously forward, and, drawing his sword, +slew her who had brought untold misery into the land of the Huns. + + "The mighty and the noble there lay together dead; + For this had all the people dole and drearihead. + The feast of royal Etzel was thus shut up in woe, + Pain in the steps of Pleasure treads ever here below. + + "'Tis more than I can tell you what afterwards befell, + Save that there was weeping for friends belov'd so well; + Knights and squires, dames and damsels, were seen lamenting all. + So end I here my story. This is the Nibelungers' Fall." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Although the "Nibelungenlied" proper ends here, an appendix, probably by +another hand, called the "Lament," continues the story, and relates how +Etzel, Dietrich, and Hildebrand, in turn, extolled the high deeds and +bewailed the untimely end of each hero. Then this poem, which is as +mournful as monotonous throughout, describes the departure of the +messengers sent to bear the evil tidings and the weapons of the slain to +Worms, and their arrival at Passau, where more tears were shed and where +Bishop Pilgrim celebrated a solemn mass for the rest of the heroes' souls. + +From thence the funeral procession slowly traveled on to Worms, where the +sad news was imparted to the remaining Burgundians, who named the son of +Gunther and Brunhild as their king, and who never forgot the fatal ride to +Hungary. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +LANGOBARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS. + + +Although the following tales of mythical heroes have some slight historical +basis, they have been so adorned by the fancy of mediaeval bards, and so +frequently remodeled with utter disregard of all chronological sequence, +that the kernel of truth is very hard to find, and the stories must rather +be considered as depicting customs and times than as describing actual +events. They are recorded in the "Heldenbuch," or "Book of Heroes," edited +in the fifteenth century by Kaspar von der Rhön from materials which had +been touched up by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Heinrich von Ofterdingen in +the twelfth century. The poem of "Ortnit," for instance, is known to have +existed as early as the ninth century. + +[Sidenote: The Langobards and Gepidae.] According to the poets of the +middle ages, the Gepidae and the Langobards settled in Pannonia (Hungary +and the neighboring provinces), where they were respectively governed by +Thurisind and Audoin. The sons of these two kings, having quarreled for a +trifle, met in duel soon after, and the Langobardian prince, having slain +his companion, took possession of his arms, with which he proudly returned +home. + +But when, flushed with victory, he would fain have taken his seat at his +father's board with the men at arms, Audoin gravely informed him that it +was not customary for a youth to claim a place beside tried warriors until +some foreign king had distinguished him by the present of a complete suit +of armor. Angry at being thus publicly repulsed, Alboin, the prince, strode +out of his father's hall, resolved to march into Thurisind's palace and +demand of him the required weapons. + +When the King of the Gepidae saw his son's murderer boldly enter his +palace, his first impulse was to put him to death; but, respecting the +rights of hospitality, he forbore to take immediate vengeance, and even +bestowed upon him the customary gift of arms as he departed on the morrow, +but warned him never to return, lest he should lose his life at the +warriors' hands. On leaving the palace, however, Alboin bore away the image +of little Rosamund, Thurisind's fair granddaughter, whom he solemnly swore +he would claim as wife as soon as she was of marriageable age. + +Alboin having thus received his arms from a stranger, the Langobards no +longer refused to recognize him as a full-fledged warrior, and gladly +hailed him as king when his father died. + +[Sidenote: Alboin's cruelty.] Shortly after Alboin's accession to the +throne, a quarrel arose between the Gepidae and the Langobards, or +Lombards, as they were eventually called; and war having been declared, a +decisive battle was fought, in which Thurisind and his son perished, and +all their lands fell into the conqueror's hands. With true heathen cruelty, +the Lombard king had the skulls of the Gepidae mounted as drinking vessels, +which he delighted in using on all state and festive occasions. Then, +pushing onwards, Alboin took forcible possession of his new realm and of +the tearful young Rosamund, whom he forced to become his wife, although she +shrank in horror from the murderer of all her kin and the oppressor of her +people. + +She followed him home, concealing her fears, and although she never seemed +blithe and happy, she obeyed her husband so implicitly that he fancied her +a devoted wife. He was so accustomed to Rosamund's ready compliance with +his every wish that one day, after winning a great victory over the +Ostrogoths, and conquering a province in northern Italy (where he took up +his abode, and which bears the name of his race), he bade her fill her +father's skull with wine and pledge him by drinking first out of this +repulsive cup. + +[Sidenote: Rosamund's revolt.] The queen hesitated, but, impelled by +Alboin's threatening glances and his mailed hand raised to strike her, she +tremblingly filled the cup and raised it to her lips. But then, instead of +humbly presenting it to her lord, she haughtily dashed it at his feet, and +left the hall, saying that though she had obeyed him, she would never again +live with him as his wife,--a declaration which the warriors present +secretly applauded, for they all thought that their king had been wantonly +cruel toward his beautiful wife. + +While Alboin was pondering how he might conciliate her without owning +himself in the wrong, Rosamund summoned Helmigis, the king's shield-bearer, +and finding that he would not execute her orders and murder his master in +his sleep, she secured the services of the giant Perideus. Before the +murder of the king became generally known, Rosamund and her adherents--for +she had many--secured and concealed the treasures of the Crown; and when +the nobles bade her marry a man to succeed their king, who had left no +heirs, she declared that she preferred Helmigis. + +[Sidenote: Death of Rosamund.] The Langobardian nobles indignantly refused +to recognize an armor-bearer as their king, and Rosamund, fearing their +resentment, fled by night with her treasures, and took refuge with +Longinus, viceroy of the Eastern emperor, who was intrenched in Ravenna. +Captivated by the fugitive queen's exquisite beauty, no less than by her +numerous treasures, Longinus proposed that she should poison Helmigis, and +marry him. Rosamund obediently handed the deadly cup to her faithful +adorer; but he drank only half its contents, and then, perceiving that he +was poisoned, forced her, at the point of his sword, to drink the +remainder, thus making sure that she would not long survive him. + +Longinus, thus deprived of a beautiful bride, managed to console himself +for her loss by appropriating her treasures, while the Langobardian +scepter, after having been wielded by different kings, fell at last into +the hands of Rother, the last influential monarch of a kingdom which +Charlemagne conquered in 774. + +[Sidenote: Rother.] Rother established his capital at Bari, a great seaport +in Apulia; but although his wealth was unbounded and his kingdom extensive, +he was far from happy, for he had neither wife nor child to share his home. +Seeing his loneliness, one of his courtiers, Duke Berchther (Berchtung) of +Meran, the father of twelve stalwart sons, advised him to seek a wife; and +when Rother declared that he knew of no princess pretty enough to please +his fastidious taste, the courtier produced the portrait of Oda, daughter +of Constantine, Emperor of the East. Rother fell desperately in love with +this princess at first sight. In vain Berchther warned him that the emperor +had the unpleasant habit of beheading all his daughter's would-be suitors; +Rother declared that he must make an attempt to secure this peerless bride, +and was only with great difficulty persuaded to resign the idea of wooing +in person. + +When Berchther had prevailed upon him to send an imposing embassy of twelve +noblemen, richly appareled, and attended by a large suite, Rother asked who +would undertake the mission. All the warriors maintained a neutral silence, +until seven of Berchther's sons volunteered their services, and then five +other noblemen signified their readiness to accompany them. + +To speed them on their way, Rother escorted them to the port, and, standing +on the pier, composed and sang a marvelous song. He bade them remember the +tune, and promised them that whenever they heard it they might be sure +their king was very near. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] Arrived at Constantinople, the +ambassadors made known their errand, but were immediately cast into prison, +in spite of the empress's intercession in their behalf. Here the noblemen +languished month after month, in a foul dungeon, while Rother impatiently +watched for their return. When a whole year had elapsed without his having +heard any tidings, he finally resolved to go in disguise to Constantinople, +to ascertain the fate of his men and win the lovely princess Oda for his +bride. + +Berchther, hearing this decision, vowed that he would accompany him; but +although all the noblemen were anxious to escort their beloved king, he +took only a few of them with him, among whom was Asprian (Osborn), king of +the northern giants, with eleven of his tallest men. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Constantine.] Rother embarked with this little train, +and sailed for Constantinople over the summer seas; and as he sat on deck, +playing on his harp, the mermaids rose from the deep to sport around his +ship. According to a prearranged plan, Rother presented himself before +Constantine as a fugitive and outlaw, complaining bitterly of the King of +the Lombards, who, he declared, had banished him and his companions. +Pleased with the appearance of the strangers, Constantine gladly accepted +their proffered services, and invited them to a banquet, in the course of +which he facetiously described how he had received Rother's ambassadors, +who were still languishing in his dampest dungeons. This boastful talk +gradually roused the anger of the giant Asprian, who was but little +accustomed to hide his feelings; and when the emperor's pet lioness came +into the hall and playfully snatched a choice morsel out of his hand, he +impetuously sprang to his feet, caught her in his powerful grasp, and +hurled her against the wall, thus slaying her with a single blow. + +[Illustration: ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION.--Keller.] + +Constantine was somewhat dismayed when he saw the strength, and especially +the violence, of the new servants he had secured; but he wisely took no +notice of the affair, and, when the banquet was ended, dismissed Rother and +his followers to the apartments assigned them. The Lombard king now freely +distributed the immense treasures he had brought with him, and thus secured +many adherents at court. They sang his praises so loudly that at last the +princess Oda became very anxious to see this noted outlaw. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Oda.] Bribing Herlind, one of her handmaidens, to +serve her secretly, Oda sent her to Rother to invite him to visit her. The +maiden acquitted herself adroitly of this commission; but the Langobardian +monarch, pretending exaggerated respect, declared that he would never dare +present himself before her beautiful mistress, to whom, however, he sent +many rich gifts, among which were a gold and a silver shoe. Herlind +returned to her mistress with the gifts; but when Oda would fain have put +on the shoes, she discovered that they were both for the same foot. She +then feigned a resentment she was far from feeling, and bade the handmaiden +order her father's new servant to appear before her without delay, bringing +a shoe for her other foot, unless he wished to incur her lasting +displeasure. Overjoyed at this result of his ruse, which he had foreseen, +Rother entered the princess's apartments unnoticed, proffered his most +humble apologies, fitted a pair of golden shoes on her tiny feet, and, +taking advantage of his position as he bent on one knee before her, +declared his love and rank, and won from Oda a solemn promise that she +would be his wife. + +The lovers spent some very happy hours together in intimate conversation, +and ere Rother left the apartment he prevailed upon the princess to use her +influence in behalf of his imprisoned subjects. She therefore told her +father that her peaceful rest had been disturbed by dreams, in which +heavenly voices announced that she should suffer all manner of evil unless +Rother's ambassadors were taken from prison and hospitably entertained. Oda +then wrung from Constantine a promise that the men should be temporarily +released, and feasted at his own board that selfsame evening. This promise +was duly redeemed, and the twelve ambassadors, freed from their chains, and +refreshed by warm baths and clean garments, were sumptuously entertained at +the emperor's table. While they sat there feasting, Rother entered the +hall, and, hiding behind the tapestry hangings near the door, played the +tune they had heard on the day of their departure. The hearts of the +captives bounded for joy when they heard these strains, for they knew that +their king was near and would soon effect their release. + +[Sidenote: War with Imelot.] A few days later, when the young ambassadors +had fully recovered their health and strength, Constantine was dismayed to +learn that Imelot, King of Desert Babylonia, was about to make war against +him, and wondered how he could successfully encounter such a universally +dreaded opponent. Rother, seeing his perplexity, immediately volunteered +his services, adding that if Constantine liberated the ambassadors, who +were mighty men of valor, and allowed them to fight, there would be no +doubt of his coming off conqueror in the war. The Eastern emperor gladly +followed this advice, and soon set out with Rother and all his companions. +The two armies met one evening and encamped opposite each other, intending +to begin the fight at sunrise on the morrow. During the night, however, +Rother and his companions stole into the enemy's camp, slew Imelot's +guards, and having bound and gagged him, Asprian carried him bodily out of +his tent and camp, while his companions routed all the mighty Babylonian +host. + +A few hours later they returned to the camp of Constantine, where they lay +down to rest. The emperor, entering their tent on the morrow to chide them +for their laziness, saw the captive Imelot, and heard the story of the +night's work. He was so delighted with the prowess of his allies that he +gladly consented to their return to Constantinople to announce the victory, +while he and his army remained to take possession of Desert Babylonia and +of all of Imelot's vast treasures. + +Rother and his companions returned in haste to Constantinople and rushed +into the palace; but instead of announcing a victory they told the empress +and Oda that Constantine had been defeated, that Imelot was on the way to +seize the city, and that the emperor had sent them on ahead to convey his +wife and daughter to a place of safety, with their most valuable treasures. + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Oda.] The empress and Oda, crediting every word of +this tale, made immediate preparations for departure, and soon joined +Rother on the pier, where his fast sailing vessel was ready to start. All +the Langobardians had already embarked, and Rother escorted the princess on +board, bidding the empress wait on the quay until he returned for her. But +as soon as he and his fair charge set foot upon deck, the vessel was pushed +off, and Rother called out to the distressed empress that he had deceived +her in order to carry away her daughter, who was now to become the +Langobardian queen. + +Constantine, on his return, was of course very angry at having been so +cleverly duped, and vainly tried to devise some plan for recovering the +daughter whom he loved so well. When a magician came, therefore, and +promised to execute his wishes, he gladly provided him with vessel and crew +to sail to Bari. The magician, disguised as a peaceful merchant, spread out +his wares as soon as he was anchored in port, and by a series of artful +questions soon ascertained that Rother was absent, and that Oda was at +home, carefully guarded by the principal nobles of the realm. When he also +learned that one of these noblemen had a crippled child, the magician +informed the people who visited his vessel to inspect his wares, that the +most precious treasure in his possession was a magic stone, which, in a +queen's hands, had the power of restoring cripples. + +The rumor of this miraculous stone reached the court, and the nobleman +persuaded the kind-hearted queen to go down to the vessel to try the +efficacy of the stone. As soon as Oda was on board, the vessel set sail, +bearing her away from her husband and back to her father's home, where she +was welcomed with great demonstrations of joy. + +Rother, coming back from the war shortly after her disappearance, +immediately prepared a vessel to go in pursuit of her, selecting his giants +and bravest noblemen to accompany him. Once more they landed at a short +distance from Constantinople, and Rother bade his men hide in a thicket, +while he went into the city, disguised as a pilgrim, and carrying under his +robe a hunting horn, which he promised to sound should he at any time find +himself in danger. + +He no sooner entered the city than he noticed with surprise that all the +inhabitants seemed greatly depressed. He questioned them concerning their +evident sadness, and learned that Imelot, having effected his escape from +captivity, had invaded the kingdom, and vowed that he would not retreat +unless Oda married his ugly and hunchbacked son that very day. + +[Sidenote: Imelot again defeated.] These tidings made Rother press on to +the palace, where, thanks to his disguise, he effected an easy entrance. +Slipping unnoticed to his wife's side, he dropped into the cup beside her a +ring upon which his name was engraved. Quick as a flash Oda recognized and +tried to hide it; but her hunchbacked suitor, sitting beside her, also +caught sight of it. He pointed out the intruder, cried that he was Rother +in disguise, and bade his guards seize him and hang him. Rother, seeing +that he was discovered, boldly stepped forward, declared that he had come +to claim his wife, and challenged the cowardly hunchback, who, however, +merely repeated his orders, and accompanied his guards to a grove outside +the city to see his captive executed. Just as they were about to fasten the +fatal noose around his neck, Rother blew a resounding blast upon his horn, +in answer to which call his followers sprang out of their ambush, slew +guards, Imelot, and hunchback, routed the imperial forces, recovered +possession of Oda, and sailed home in triumph to Lombardy. Here Oda bore +her husband a lovely little daughter called Helche (Herka), who eventually +married Etzel (Attila), King of the Huns. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Ortnit.] Another renowned Lombardian king is Ortnit (Otnit), +whose realm included not only all Italy, from the Alps to the sea, but also +the island of Sicily. He had won this province by his fabulous strength, +which, we are told, was equivalent to that of twelve vigorous men. + +In spite of all outward prosperity, Ortnit was lonely and unhappy. One day, +while he was strolling along the seashore at sunset, he saw a misty castle +rise slowly out of the waves. On its topmost tower he beheld a fair maiden, +with whom he fell deeply in love at first sight. As he was gazing +spellbound at the lady's beauty, castle and maiden suddenly vanished; and +when Ortnit asked his uncle, Ylyas (Elias), Prince of the Reussen, what +this fantastic vision might mean, he learned that the castle was the exact +reproduction of the stronghold of Muntabure, and the maiden a phantom of +Princess Sidrat, daughter of the ruler of Syria, which the Fata Morgana, or +Morgana the fay, had permitted him to behold. + + "As the weary traveler sees, + In desert or prairie vast, + Blue lakes, overhung with trees, + That a pleasant shadow cast; + + "Fair towns with turrets high, + And shining roofs of gold, + That vanish as he draws nigh, + Like mists together rolled." + LONGFELLOW, _Fata Morgana_. + +Of course Ortnit vowed that he would go and ask the maiden's hand in +marriage; and although his uncle warned him that Machorell, the girl's +father, beheaded all his daughter's suitors, to use their heads as +decorations for his fortifications, the young king persisted in this +resolve. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and the magic ring.] Forced to go by sea in order to +reach Syria, Ortnit had to delay his departure until suitable preparations +had been made. During that time his mother vainly tried to dissuade him +from the undertaking. Finally, seeing that nothing could deter him from +going in search of the lovely maiden he had seen, she slipped a ring on his +hand, and bade him ride out of town in a certain direction, and dismount +under a lime tree, where he would see something marvelous. + + "'If thou wilt seek the adventure, don thy armor strong; + Far to the left thou ride the towering rocks along. + But bide thee, champion, and await, where grows a linden tree; + There, flowing from the rock, a well thine eyes will see. + + "'Far around the meadow spread the branches green; + Five hundred armed knights may stand beneath the shade, I ween. + Below the linden tree await, and thou wilt meet full soon + The marvelous adventure; there must the deed be done.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +Ortnit obeyed these instructions, dismounted in a spot which seemed +strangely familiar, and, gazing inquisitively around him, became aware of +the presence of a lovely sleeping infant. But when he attempted to take it +in his arms he found himself sprawling on the ground, knocked over by a +single blow from the child's tiny fist. Furious at his overthrow, Ortnit +began wrestling with his small assailant; but in spite of his vaunted +strength he succeeded in pinioning him only after a long struggle. + +[Sidenote: Alberich.] Unable to free himself from Ortnit's powerful grasp, +the child now confessed that he was Alberich, king of the dwarfs, and +promised Ortnit a marvelous suit of armor and the sword Rosen--which had +been tempered in dragons' blood, and was therefore considered +invulnerable--if he would only let him go. + + "'Save me, noble Otnit, for thy chivalry! + A hauberk will I give thee, strong, and of wondrous might; + Better armor never bore champion in the fight. + + "'Not eighty thousand marks would buy the hauberk bright. + A sword of mound I'll give thee, Otnit, thou royal knight; + Through armor, both of gold and steel, cuts the weapon keen; + The helmet could its edge withstand ne'er in this world was seen.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +The king consented, but the moment he set the dwarf free he felt him snatch +the ring his mother had given him off his hand, and saw him mysteriously +and suddenly disappear, his voice sounding tauntingly now on one side, now +on the other. Some parley ensued before the dwarf would restore the ring, +which was no sooner replaced on the hero's hand than he once more found +himself able to see his antagonist. + +Alberich now gravely informed Ortnit that in spite of his infantile stature +he was very old indeed, having lived more than five hundred years. He then +went on to tell him that the king, whom Ortnit had until then considered +his father, had no claim to the title of parent, for he had secretly +divorced his wife, and given her in marriage to Alberich. Thus the dwarf +was Ortnit's true father, and declared himself ready now to acknowledge +their relationship and to protect his son. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit in Tyre.] After giving Ortnit the promised armor and +sword, and directing him to turn the magic ring if ever he needed a +father's aid, Alberich vanished. Ortnit, returning to town, informed his +mother that he had seen his father; and as soon as the weather permitted he +set sail for Suders (Tyre). Ortnit entered the harbor as a merchant, and +exhibited his wares to the curious people, while Alberich, at his request, +bore a challenge to Machorell, threatening to take Tyre and the castle of +Muntabure unless he were willing to accept Ortnit as son-in-law. + +The dwarf acquitted himself nobly of his task, and when Machorell +scornfully dismissed him, he hastened back to Tyre, bidding Ortnit lose no +time in surprising and taking possession of the city. This advice was so +well carried out that Ortnit soon found himself master of the city, and +marching on to Muntabure, he laid siege to the castle, restoring all his +men as soon as they were wounded by a mere touch of his magic ring. +Alberich, whom none but he could see, was allowed to lead the van and bear +the banner, which seemed to flutter aloft in a fantastic way. The dwarf +took advantage of this invisibility to scale the walls of the fortress +unseen, and hurled down the ponderous machines used to throw stones, +arrows, boiling pitch, and oil. Thus he greatly helped Ortnit, who, in the +mean while, was performing unheard-of deeds of valor, which excited the +admiration of Princess Sidrat, watching him from her tower. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and Liebgart.] Alberich next glided to this maiden's +side, and bade her hasten to the postern gate early on the morrow, if she +would see the king. As Ortnit had been told that he would find her there, +he went thither in the early dawn, and pleaded his cause so eloquently that +Sidrat eloped with him to Lombardy. There she became his beloved queen, was +baptized in the Christian faith, and received the name of Liebgart, by +which she was ever afterward known. + +[Sidenote: The magic eggs.] The happiness of Ortnit and Liebgart was very +great, but the young queen did not feel that it was quite complete until a +giant and his wife came from her father's court bringing conciliatory +messages, and a promise that Machorell would visit his daughter in the +early spring. They also brought countless valuable presents, among which +were two huge eggs, which the giants said were priceless, as from them +could be hatched magic toads with lodestones in their foreheads. Of course +Liebgart's curiosity was greatly excited by this gift, and learning that +the giant couple would see to the hatching of the eggs and the bringing up +of the toads if a suitable place were only provided for them, she sent them +into a mountain gorge near Trient, where the climate was hot and damp +enough for the proper hatching of the toads. + +Time passed by, and the giantess Ruotze hatched dragons or lind-worms from +the huge eggs. These animals grew with alarming rapidity, and soon the +governor of the province sent word to the king that he could no longer +provide food enough for the monsters, which had become the terror of the +whole countryside. They finally proved too much even for the giants, who +were obliged to flee. When Ortnit learned that ordinary weapons had no +effect upon these dragons, he donned his magic armor and seized his sword +Rosen. He then bade Liebgart a tender farewell, telling her that if he did +not return she must marry none but the man who wore his ring, and sallied +forth to deliver his people from the ravenous monsters whom he had +thoughtlessly allowed to be bred in their midst. + +Ortnit soon dispatched the giant and giantess, who would fain have hindered +his entrance into the fatal gorge. Then he encountered the dwarf Alberich, +and was warned that he would fall victim to the pestilent dragons, which +had bred a number of young ones, destined, in time, to infest all Europe. + +In spite of these warnings, Ortnit declared that he must do his best for +the sake of his people; and having given the magic ring back to Alberich, +he continued on his way. All day long he vainly sought the monsters in the +trackless forest, until, sinking down exhausted at the foot of a tree, he +soon fell asleep. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ortnit.] This slumber was so profound that it was like +a lethargy, and the wild barking of his dog failed to waken him so that he +could prepare for the stealthy approach of the great dragon. The monster +caught the sleeping knight in his powerful claws, and dashed him against +the rocks until every bone in his body was broken into bits, although the +magic armor remained quite whole. + +Then the dragon conveyed the corpse to his den, where the little dragons +vainly tried to get at the knight to eat his flesh, being daunted by the +impenetrable armor, which would not give way. + +In the mean while Liebgart was anxiously awaiting the return of her beloved +husband; but when she saw his dog steal into the palace in evident grief, +she knew that Ortnit was dead, and mourned for him with many a tear. As he +had left no heir to succeed him, the nobles soon crowded around Liebgart, +imploring her to marry one of them and make him king of Lombardy; but she +constantly refused to listen to their wooing. + +[Sidenote: Liebgart dethroned.] Angry at her resistance, the noblemen then +took possession of treasure, palace, and kingdom, and left poor Liebgart so +utterly destitute that she was forced to support herself by spinning and +weaving. She carried on these occupations for a long time, while patiently +waiting for the coming of a knight who would avenge Ortnit's death, wear +his ring, claim her hand in marriage, and restore her to her former exalted +position as queen of Lombardy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +THE AMBLINGS. + + +[Sidenote: Hugdietrich.] While Ortnit's ancestors were ruling over +Lombardy, Anzius was Emperor of Constantinople. When about to die, this +monarch confided his infant son, Hugdietrich, to the care of Berchther of +Meran, the same who had accompanied Rother on his journey to +Constantinople. + +When Hugdietrich attained marriageable age, his tutor felt it incumbent +upon him to select a suitable wife for him. One princess only, Hildburg, +daughter of Walgund of Thessalonica, seemed to unite all the required +advantages of birth, beauty, and wealth; but unfortunately this princess's +father was averse to her marrying, and, to prevent her from having any +lovers, had locked her up in an isolated tower, where none but women were +ever admitted. + +Berchther having informed his ward of his plan, and of the difficulties +concerning its fulfillment, Hugdietrich immediately made up his mind to +bring it about, even if he had to resort to stratagem in order to win his +bride. After much cogitation he let his hair grow, learned all about +woman's work and ways, donned female garments, and journeyed off to +Thessalonica, where he presented himself before the king as a princess in +distress, and claimed his chivalrous protection. Walgund welcomed the +pretended princess warmly, and accepted her gifts of gold and embroidery. +As soon as he had shown the latter to his wife and daughter, they expressed +a lively desire to see the stranger and have her teach them to embroider +also. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hugdietrich and Hildburg.] Hugdietrich, having thus +effected an entrance into the princess's tower as embroidery teacher, soon +managed to quiet Hildburg's alarm when she discovered that the pretended +princess was a suitor in disguise, and wooed her so successfully that she +not only allowed him to take up his abode in the tower, but also consented +to a secret union. All went on very well for some time, but finally +Hugdietrich felt it his duty to return to his kingdom; and parting from his +young wife, he solemnly promised to return ere long to claim her openly. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Wolfdietrich.] On reaching home, however, he found +himself unexpectedly detained by a war which had just broken out; and while +he was fighting, Hildburg anxiously watched for his return. Month after +month passed by without any news of him, till Hildburg, in her lonely +tower, gave birth to a little son, whose advent was kept secret by the +ingenuity and devotion of the princess's nurse. + +When the queen presented herself at the door unexpectedly one day, this +servant hastily carried the child out of the building, and set him down on +the grass in the moat, intending to come and get him in a few moments. She +could not do so, however, as the queen kept her constantly beside her, and +prolonged her visit to the next day. + + "In the moat the new-born babe meanwhile in silence lay, + Sleeping on the verdant grass, gently, all the day. + From the swathing and the bath the child had stinted weeping; + No one saw, or heard its voice, in the meadow sleeping." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +When the faithful nurse, released at last, rushed out to find her charge, +who could creep about, she could discover no trace of him; and not daring +to confide the truth to Hildburg, she informed her that she had sent the +child out to nurse. + +A few days later, Berchther of Meran arrived at Thessalonica, saying that +Hugdietrich had fallen in love with Hildburg on hearing a description of +her charms from the exiled princess, his sister, and openly suing in his +name for her hand. Instead of giving an immediate answer to this proposal, +Walgund invited the ambassador to hunt with him in a neighboring forest on +the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of Wolfdietrich.] Accidentally separated from their +respective suites, Walgund and Berchther came to a thicket near the +princess's tower, and peering through the underbrush to discover the +meaning of some strange sounds, they saw a beautiful little boy sitting on +the grass, playfully handling some young wolf cubs, whose struggles he +seemed not to mind in the least. While the two men were gazing spellbound +at this strange sight, they saw the mother wolf draw near, ready to spring +upon the innocent child and tear him limb from limb. As Berchther +skillfully flung his spear past the child and slew the wolf, Walgund sprang +forward and caught the babe in his arms, exclaiming that if he were only +sure his grandchildren would be as handsome and fearless as this little +boy, he would soon consent to his daughter's marriage. + +As the child was so small that it still required a woman's tender care, +Walgund next proposed to carry it to the tower, where his daughter and her +attendants could watch over it until it was claimed; and as Berchther +indorsed this proposal, it was immediately carried out. Hildburg received +the charge with joy, revealed by her emotion that the child was her very +own, and told her father all about her secret marriage with Hugdietrich, +whom Walgund now graciously accepted as son-in-law. + +In memory of this adventure the baby rescued from the beast of prey was +called Wolfdietrich, and he and his mother, accompanied by a nobleman named +Sabene, were escorted in state to Constantinople, where Hugdietrich +welcomed them with joy. Here they dwelt in peace for several years, at the +end of which, a war having again broken out, Hugdietrich departed, +confiding his wife and son to the care of Sabene, who now cast aside all +his pretended virtue. After insulting the queen most grossly, he began to +spread lying reports about the birth of the young heir, until the people, +doubting whether he might not be considered a mere foundling, showed some +unwillingness to recognize him as their future prince. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich in Meran.] Hugdietrich, returning home and hearing +these remarks, also began to cherish some suspicions, and, instead of +keeping Wolfdietrich at court, sent him to Meran, where Berchther brought +him up with his twelve stalwart sons, every one of whom the young prince +outshone in beauty, courage, and skill in all manly exercises. + +In the mean while Hildburg had borne two other sons, Bogen and Waxmuth, to +Hugdietrich; but seeing that Sabene was still trying to poison people's +minds against the absent Wolfdietrich, and deprive him of his rights, she +finally sought her husband, revealed the baseness of Sabene's conduct, and +had him exiled. Hugdietrich's life was unfortunately cut short a few months +after this, and when he felt that he was about to die, he disposed of all +his property, leaving the sovereignty of Constantinople to Wolfdietrich, +and making his younger sons kings of lands which he had conquered in the +south. + +[Sidenote: Hildburg banished by Sabene.] As soon as he had breathed his +last, however, the nobles of the land, who had all been won over by +Sabene's artful insinuations, declared that they would never recognize +Wolfdietrich as their ruler, but would recall Sabene watch over the two +younger kings, and exercise the royal power in their name. These measures +having been carried out, Sabene avenged himself by banishing Hildburg, who, +turned out of the imperial palace at night, was forced to make her way +alone and on foot to Meran, where her son Wolfdietrich received her gladly +and promised to protect her with his strong right arm. + +At the head of a small troop composed of Berchther and his sons, +Wolfdietrich marched to Constantinople to oust Sabene; but, in spite of all +his valor, he soon found himself defeated, and forced to retreat to the +castle of Lilienporte. Here he intrenched himself, rejoicing at the sight +of the strong battlements, and especially at the provisions stored within +its inclosure, which would suffice for all the wants of the garrison for +more than seven years. + +[Sidenote: Siege of Lilienporte.] In vain Sabene besieged this castle; in +vain he constructed huge engines of war; the fortress held out month after +month. At the end of the third year, Wolfdietrich, seeing that their +provisions would not hold out forever, resolved to make his escape alone, +and go in search of allies to save his trusty friends. He soon obtained the +consent of Berchther and of his mother for the execution of this scheme. + +While a skirmish was going on one day, Wolfdietrich escaped through the +postern gate, and, riding into the forest, rapidly disappeared in the +direction of Lombardy, where he intended to ask the aid of Ortnit. Riding +through the deserts of Roumelia, where his guardian had bidden him beware +of the enchantments of the witch Rauch-Else, he shared his last piece of +bread with his faithful steed, and, faint with hunger and almost perishing +with thirst, plodded painfully on. + +[Sidenote: Rauch-Else.] Finally horse and rider could go no farther, and as +the latter lay in a half swoon upon the barren soil, he was suddenly roused +by the appearance of a hideous, bearlike female, who gruffly inquired how +he dared venture upon her territory. The unhappy Wolfdietrich recognized +Rauch-Else by the description his guardian, Berchther, had given of her, +and would have fled, had strength remained him to do so; but, fainting with +hunger, he could only implore her to give him something to eat. + +At this appeal Rauch-Else immediately produced a peculiar-looking root, of +which he had no sooner tasted than he felt as strong and rested as ever +before. By the witch's advice he gave the remainder of the root to his +horse, upon whom it produced the same magic effect; but when he would fain +have expressed his gratitude and ridden away, Rauch-Else told him that he +belonged to her by decree of fate, and asked him to marry her. + +Not daring to refuse this proposal, which, however, was very distasteful +indeed, Wolfdietrich reluctantly assented, expressing a wish that she were +not quite so repulsive. No sooner were the words fairly out of his mouth +than he saw her suddenly transformed into a beautiful woman, and heard her +declare that his "yes" had released her from an evil spell, and allowed her +to resume her wonted form and name, which was Sigeminne, Queen of Old Troy. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne.] Slowly proceeding to the seashore, +the young couple embarked in a waiting galley and sailed directly to +Sigeminne's kingdom, where they lived happily together, Wolfdietrich having +entirely forgotten his mother, tutor, and companions, who were vainly +awaiting his return with an army to deliver them. + + "By the hand she led Wolfdietrich unto the forest's end; + To the sea she guided him; a ship lay on the strand. + To a spacious realm she brought him, hight the land of Troy." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Wolfdietrich's happiness, however, was not to endure long; for while he was +pursuing a stag which his wife bade him secure for her, a magician named +Drusian suddenly presented himself before Sigeminne and spirited her away. + +Wolfdietrich, finding his wife gone, resolved to go in search of her, and +not to rest until he had found her. Then, knowing that nothing but cunning +could prevail against the magician's art, he donned a magic silken vest +which his wife had woven for him, which could not be penetrated by weapon +or dragon, and covering it with a pilgrim's garb, he traveled on until he +came within sight of the castle of Drusian. + +Worn out by his long journey, he sat down for a moment to rest ere he began +the ascent of the steep mountain upon which the castle stood; and having +fallen asleep, he was roughly awakened by a giant, who bore him off +prisoner to the fortress, where he saw Sigeminne. + + "He led the weary pilgrim into the castle hall, + Where brightly burned the fire, and many a taper tall. + On a seat he sat him down, and made him right good cheer. + His eyes around the hall cast the hero without fear." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Sigeminne.] Wolfdietrich concealed his face in the +depths of his cowl, and remained quietly seated by the fire until evening +came. Then the giant turned to the mourning queen, declaring that he had +been patient long enough, and that she must now consent to marry him and +forget her husband. Hardly had these words been spoken when Wolfdietrich, +the pretended pilgrim, fell upon him, and refused to let him go until he +had accepted his challenge for a fair fight and had produced suitable arms. +The young hero selected an iron armor, in preference to the gold and silver +mail offered him, and boldly attacked the giant, who finally succumbed +beneath his mighty blows. Sigeminne, thus restored to her husband's arms, +then returned with him to Old Troy, where they ruled happily together until +she died of a mortal illness. + +When she breathed her last, Wolfdietrich, delivered from the spell she had +cast upon him by making him partake of the magic root, suddenly remembered +his mother, Berchther, and his faithful companions, and, filled with +compunction, hastened off to help them. On his way he passed through many +lands, and finally came to a fortified town, whose walls were adorned with +human heads set up on spikes. He asked a passer-by what this singular +decoration might mean, and learned that the city belonged to a heathen +king, Belligan, who made it a practice to slay every Christian who entered +his precincts. + +[Sidenote: Belligan slain by Wolfdietrich.] Wolfdietrich immediately +resolved to rid the earth of this monster, and riding boldly into the city, +he cried that he was ready to meet the king in his favorite game of dagger +throwing. This challenge was promptly accepted, the preparations all made, +and although the heathen king was protected by his daughter's magic spells, +he could not withstand the Christian knight, who pierced him through and +through, and left him dead. + + "Speedily Wolfdietrich the third knife heaved on high. + Trembling stood Sir Belligan, for he felt his death was nigh. + The pagan's heart asunder with cunning skill he cleft; + Down upon the grass he fell, of life bereft." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +But as Wolfdietrich attempted to leave the castle, waves suddenly +surrounded him on all sides, threatening to drown him, until, suspecting +that this phenomenon was produced by the princess's magic arts, he seized +her and held her head under water until she died. Then the waves +immediately subsided and permitted him to escape unharmed. + +Wolfdietrich next came to some mountains, where he encountered a giantess, +who told him the story of Ortnit's death, and so roused his compassion for +the unfortunate Liebgart that he vowed to slay the dragon and avenge all +her wrongs. To enable him to reach his destination sooner the giantess bore +him and his horse over the mountains, fifty miles in one day, and set him +down near Garden (Guarda), where he saw Liebgart and her sole remaining +attendant sadly walking up and down. + +Struck by Liebgart's resemblance to the dead Sigeminne, Wolfdietrich stood +quietly in the shade long enough to overhear her sigh and say that she +wished the brave Wolfdietrich would come along that way and avenge her +husband's death. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Liebgart.] In answer to these words the hero +presented himself impetuously before her, swore he would do all in his +power to fulfill her wishes, and having received from her fair hand a ring, +which she declared would bring the wearer good luck, he hastened off to the +mountain gorge to encounter the dragons. On the way thither, Wolfdietrich +met Alberich, who cautioned him not to yield to the desire for slumber if +he would overcome the foe; so pressing on in spite of almost overpowering +lassitude, he met the dragon. + +Notwithstanding all his efforts Wolfdietrich soon found himself carried off +to the monster's cave, where he was flung down to serve as pasture for the +young lind-worms. They would surely have devoured him had he not been +protected by Sigeminne's magic shirt, which they could not pierce. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit's sword and ring.] Looking about him for some weapon to +defend himself with, Wolfdietrich suddenly saw Ortnit's ring and his sword +Rosen, which he seized, and wielded the latter to such good purpose that he +soon slew all the dragons. He then cut out their tongues, which he packed +in a bag the dwarfs brought him, and triumphantly rode off to find Liebgart +and tell her of his success. But, as he lost his way in the forest, it was +several days before he reached the town where she dwelt, and as he rode +through the gates he was indignant to hear that Liebgart was about to marry +a knight by the name of Gerhart, who had slain the dragon, brought home its +head, and claimed the fulfillment of an old promise she had made to marry +her husband's avenger. Wolfdietrich spurred onward, entered the castle, +denounced the impostor Gerhart, and proved the truth of his assertions by +producing the dragons' tongues. Then, turning to the queen, Wolfdietrich +stretched out his hand to her, humbly asking whether she would marry him. +At that moment Liebgart saw Ortnit's ring glittering on his finger, and, +remembering her husband's last words, immediately signified her consent. + +The happy couple spent a whole year together in restoring order, peace, and +prosperity to the Lombards, before Wolfdietrich left his wife to go and +succor the companions whom he had neglected so long. Landing with his army +near Constantinople, Wolfdietrich, disguised as a peasant, made his way +into the city, and learned that Berchther and his sons had been put in +prison. There the former had died, but the latter were still languishing in +captivity. Wolfdietrich bribed the jailer to bear them a cheering message +and strengthening food, and led his army against Sabene, whom he utterly +routed. + +After recovering possession of Constantinople, granting full forgiveness to +his erring brothers, executing Sabene, and liberating his companions, to +whom he intrusted the sovereignty of the empire, Wolfdietrich returned to +Lombardy, and from thence proceeded with Liebgart to Romaburg (Rome), where +he was duly crowned emperor. + +To reward Herbrand, Berchther's eldest son, for his faithfulness, +Wolfdietrich gave him the city of Garden and all its territories, a realm +which subsequently was inherited by his son Hildebrand, a hero whom we +shall have further occasion to describe. + +Hache, another of Berchther's sons, received as his share all the Rhine +land, which he left to his son, the trusty Eckhardt (Eckewart) who ever and +anon appears in northern literature to win mortals back to virtue and point +out the road to honor. Wolfdietrich and Liebgart were the happy parents of +a son called Hugdietrich, like his grandfather; and this king's second son, +Dietmar, was the father of the famous Dietrich von Bern, the hero of the +next chapter of this volume. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +DIETRICH VON BERN. + + +DIETRICH VON BERN, whose name is spelled in eighty-five different ways in +the various ballads and chronicles written about him, has been identified +with the historical Theodoric of Verona, whose "name was chosen by the +poets of the early middle ages as the string upon which the pearls of their +fantastic imagination were to be strung." + +This hero is one of the principal characters in the ancient German "Book of +Heroes," and his adventures, which are recorded in many ancient +manuscripts, and more especially in the Wilkina saga, are about as follows: + +[Sidenote: Parentage of Deitrich.] Dietmar, the second son of Hugdietrich, +or of Samson according to other authorities, became the independent ruler +of Bern (Verona), and refused to recognize his elder brother, Ermenrich, +Emperor of the West, as his liege lord. The young prince had married +Odilia, the heiress of the conquered Duke of Verona, who bore him a son +called Dietrich. Gentle and generous when all went according to his wishes, +this child was uncontrollable when his anger was roused, and his breath +then came from his lips in a fiery torrent, scorching his opponent, and +consuming all inflammable articles. + +When Dietrich was but five years of age his training was intrusted to +Hildebrand, son of Herbrand, one of the Volsung race; and so well did the +tutor acquit himself of this task that he soon made his pupil as +accomplished a warrior as himself. Their tastes were, moreover, so similar +that they soon became inseparable friends, and their attachment has become +as proverbial among northern nations as that of David and Jonathan, Damon +and Pythias, or Orestes and Pylades. + +Hearing that a giant, Grim, and a giantess, Hilde, were committing great +depredations in a remote part of his father's territories, and that no one +had been able to rout or slay them, young Dietrich set out with Master +Hildebrand to attack them. They had not ridden long in the forest before +they became aware of the presence of a tiny dwarf, Alberich (Alferich, +Alpris, or Elbegast), and pouncing upon him, they held him fast, vowing +that he should recover his liberty only upon condition of pointing out the +giants' lurking place. + +[Sidenote: The sword Nagelring.] The dwarf not only promised the desired +information, but gave Dietrich the magic sword Nagelring, which alone could +pierce the giants' skin. Then he led both heroes to the cave, where Grim +and Hilde were gloating over a magic helmet they had made and called +Hildegrim. Peering through a fissure of the rock, Hildebrand was the first +to gaze upon them, and in his eagerness to get at them he braced his +shoulder against the huge mass of stone, forced it apart, and thus made a +passage for himself and for his impetuous young pupil. + +As Nagelring, the magic sword, had been stolen from him, Grim attacked +Dietrich with a blazing brand snatched from the fire, while Hildebrand and +Hilde wrestled together. The encounter was short and fierce between the +young hero and his gigantic opponent, who soon succumbed beneath +Nagelring's sharp blows. Then Dietrich, turning, came just in time to save +his master from Hilde's treacherous blade. But, although one stroke of +Nagelring cut her in two, the heroes were dismayed to see the severed parts +of her body knit together in a trice, and permit Hilde, whole once more, to +renew the attack. + +To prevent a repetition of this magical performance, Dietrich, after again +cutting her in two, placed his sword between the severed parts, and, +knowing that steel annuls magic, left it there until all power to unite was +gone and Hilde was really dead. The two heroes then returned home in +triumph with Nagelring and Hildegrim, the two famous trophies, which +Dietrich took as his share of the spoil, leaving to Hildebrand an immense +treasure of gold which made him the richest man of his day. This wealth +enabled Hildebrand to marry the noble Ute (Uote or Uta), who helped him to +bring up Dietrich's young brother, then but a babe. + +Although the young prince of Bern imagined that he had exterminated all the +giants in his land, he was soon undeceived; for Sigenot, Grim's brother, +coming down from the Alps to visit him, and finding him slain, vowed to +avenge his death. The brave young prince, hearing that Sigenot was +terrorizing all the neighborhood, immediately set out to attack him, +followed at a distance by Hildebrand and the latter's nephew, Wolfhart, who +was always ready to undertake any journey, provided there was some prospect +of a fight at the end. + +Dietrich soon came to a forest, where, feeling hungry, he slew an elk and +proceeded to roast some of its flesh upon a spit. While he was thus engaged +he heard shrill cries, and looking up, he saw a giant holding a dwarf and +about to devour him. Ever ready to succor the feeble and oppressed, +Dietrich caught up his sword and attacked the giant, who made a brave but +fruitless defense. The dwarf, seeing his tormentor dead, then advised +Dietrich to fly in haste, lest Sigenot, the most terrible of all the +mountain giants, should come to avenge his companion's murder. But, instead +of following this advice, Dietrich persuaded the dwarf to show him the way +to the giant's retreat. + +[Sidenote: Capture of Dietrich by giant Sigenot.] Following his tiny guide, +Dietrich climbed up the snow-clad mountains, where, in the midst of the +icebergs, the ice queen, Virginal, suddenly appeared to him, advising him +to retreat, as his venture was perilous in the extreme. Equally undeterred +by this second warning, Dietrich pressed on; but when he came at last to +the giant's abode he was so exhausted by the ascent that, in spite of all +his courage, he was defeated, put in chains, and dragged into the giant's +den. + +[Illustration: FALKE KILLS THE GIANT.--Keller.] + +Hildebrand, in the mean while, following his pupil, awaited his return at +the foot of the mountains for eight days, and then, seeing that he did not +appear, he strode up the mountain side. The giant encountered him, stunned +him with a great blow, and dragged him into the den, where, thinking him +senseless, he leisurely began to select chains with which to bind him fast. +Hildebrand, however, sprang noiselessly to his feet, seized a weapon lying +near, and stealing behind a pillar, which served him as a shield, he +attacked Sigenot, and stretched him lifeless at his feet. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich rescued by Hildebrand.] A moment later he heard +Dietrich calling him from the depths of the cave. To spring forward and +free his pupil from his chains was the work of a moment, and then, +following the dwarf, who openly rejoiced at the death of his foe, the two +heroes visited the underground kingdom. There they were hospitably +entertained, their wounds were healed, and the king of the dwarfs gave them +the finest weapons that they had ever seen. + +While hunting in the Tyrolean mountains shortly after this encounter, +Dietrich confided to Hildebrand that he had fallen in love with the ice +fairy, Virginal, and longed to see her again. This confidence was suddenly +interrupted by the appearance of a dwarf, who presented himself as Bibung, +the unconquerable protector of Queen Virginal, but who in the same breath +confessed that she had fallen into the hands of the magician Ortgis. The +latter kept her imprisoned in one of her own castles, and at every new moon +he forced her to surrender one of the snow maidens, her lovely attendants, +whom he intended, to devour as soon as they were properly fattened. + +Dietrich's eyes flashed with anger when he heard of his lady-love's +distress, and bidding the dwarf show him the way, he forthwith set out to +rescue her. They had not gone very far before they beheld the ice queen's +palace glittering far above their heads; and as they eagerly climbed upward +to reach it, they heard cries of terror, and saw a beautiful girl rush down +the pathway, closely pursued by the magician and his mounted train. + +[Sidenote: Magician Ortgis slain.] Dietrich allowed the maiden to pass +him, and then stepped boldly into the middle of the path, where he and +Hildebrand soon succeeded in slaying the magician and all his men. Jambas, +the son of Ortgis, alone effected his escape; but Dietrich and his master +closely pursued him, took forcible possession of his castle, set the +captive snow maidens free, and fearlessly slew all the monsters which +Jambas conjured up to destroy them. Then, resuming their interrupted +journey, Dietrich and Hildebrand soon came face to face with the +self-styled unconquerable guardian of the ice queen. He had been hiding +during the fray, and now implored them to hasten forward, as his mistress +was besieged by Jambas. The magician's son was anxious to secure Virginal +and all her maidens, but his principal aim was to appropriate the great +carbuncle shining in the queen's crown, as it gave the possessor full power +over the elements, the mountains, and all who ventured within reach of +them. + +Thus urged to greater speed, the heroes toiled upward faster and faster, +and soon came near the glittering castle of Jeraspunt, and the besiegers. +The latter were on the point of overpowering the garrison and gaining +possession of the queen. When Dietrich saw her on the battlement, wringing +her hands in despair, he rushed impetuously forward, crying that he had +come to save her. He struck right and left, and did such good execution +with his sword that the mountains shook, the icebergs cracked, and great +avalanches, rolling down into the abysses, carried with them the bodies of +the slain which he hurled down from the drawbridge. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of the ice queen.] In a very short time the enemy was +completely routed, and Dietrich was joyfully welcomed by Virginal, who, +touched by his devotion, consented to forsake her glittering castle, +relinquish her sway over the mountains, and to follow him down into the +green valley. Their wedding was celebrated in Jeraspunt, which was all hung +in bridal white; and the ice queen and her maidens wore misty veils and +crowns of glittering diamonds, which sparkled and flashed and lit up the +whole scene with fairylike splendor. Some versions of the story tell, +however, that the queen soon grew homesick down in the green valley, and, +deserting her hero husband, returned to her palace on the mountain top, +where she still rules supreme. + +Dietrich's numerous adventures soon became the theme of the wandering bards +and minstrels, and thus the rumor of his courage came to the ears of Heime, +the son of the northern stud keeper Studas. After distinguishing himself at +home by slaying a dragon, this youth obtained from his father the steed +Rispa and the sword Blutgang, with which he set out to test Dietrich's +courage, vowing that he would serve him forever if conquered by him. + + "King Tidrick sits intill Bern; + He rooses [boasts] him of his might; + Sae mony has he in battle cow'd, + Baith kemp [rough] and doughty knight." + _The Ettin Langshanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Heime soon reached Bern, boldly challenged Dietrich, and when defeated +entered his service, after procuring for his master's exclusive use the +matchless steed Falke, which could carry even such a gigantic man as +Dietrich without showing any signs of fatigue, and which served him +faithfully for many a year. + +[Sidenote: Wittich.] The rumor of Dietrich's courage also came to +Heligoland, where Wieland (Wayland, or Völund), the smith, dwelt with his +son Wittich (Witig). The latter, determined to cross swords with the hero +of Bern, persuaded his father to give him the celebrated sword Mimung, by +the help of which he hoped to overcome every foe. Wieland also fashioned a +complete suit of armor for his son, gave him much good advice, and parted +from him, bidding him to prove himself worthy of his ancestors, and to call +upon his grandmother, the mermaid Wachilde, if he were ever in great +distress. + +Thus instructed Wittich departed, and on the way to Bern fell in with +Hildebrand, Heime, and Hornbogi, another of Dietrich's noted warriors. They +concealed their names, encouraged the stranger to talk, and soon learned +where he was going and on what errand. Master Hildebrand, hearing of the +magic sword, and anxious to preserve his pupil from its blows, allowed +Wittich to fight single-handed against twelve robbers in a mountain pass. +As the youth disposed of them all without receiving a scratch, Hildebrand +substituted his own sword blade for that which Wittich bore, one night +while the latter was peacefully sleeping at an inn. This exchange remained +unnoticed until Wittich arrived in Bern. There, while fighting with +Dietrich, the blade suddenly snapped in two. + +Loudly reproaching his father, Wieland, for having provided him with such +an unreliable weapon, Wittich was about to announce himself conquered, when +Hildebrand, realizing that he had not acted honorably, gave him back his +own blade. Dietrich, to his surprise and dismay, found himself conquered in +this second encounter, and was forced to acknowledge that he owed his life +only to Wittich's magnanimity. But the northern hero soon confessed in his +turn that had it not been for his magic sword he would have been obliged to +yield to Dietrich, and voluntarily offered his services to him, thus +becoming one of his train. + + "Sae gladly rode they back to Bern; + But Tidrick maist was glad; + And Vidrich o' his menyie a' + The foremost place aye had." + _The Ettin Langskanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Dietrich's next adventure, which is recorded in the "Eckenlied," was with +the giant Ecke, who held Bolfriana, the widowed Lady of Drachenfels, and +her nine daughters, in his power. The hero of Bern encountered the giant by +night, and, in spite of his aversion to fighting at such a time, was +compelled to defend himself against the giant's blows. He was about to +succumb when his steed Falke, scenting his danger, broke loose from the +tree to which it had been tied, and stamped Ecke to death. + +Dietrich now rode on to Drachenfels, where he encountered Fasolt, Ecke's +brother, and, after defeating him also, and delivering the captive ladies, +went back to Bern, where Fasolt joined his chosen warriors. Dietrich, +moreover, delivered the knight Sintram from the jaws of a dragon, and made +him one of his followers. Then, having appropriated Ecke's sword, the great +Eckesax, Dietrich was about to give Nagelring to Heime; but hearing that +the latter had stood idly by while Wittich fought single-handed against +twelve robbers, he banished him from his presence, bidding him never return +until he had atoned for his dishonorable conduct by some generous deed. + +Heime, incensed at this dismissal, sulkily withdrew to the Falster wood on +the banks of the Wisara (Weser), where he became chief of a body of +brigands, ruthlessly spoiled travelers, and daily increased the hoard he +was piling up in one of his strongholds. + +But, although Dietrich thus lost one of his bravest warriors, his band was +soon reënforced by Hildebrand's brother Ilsan, who, although a monk, was +totally unfitted for a religious life, and greatly preferred fighting to +praying. There also came to Bern Wildeber (Wild Boar), a man noted for his +great strength. He owed this strength to a golden bracelet given him by a +mermaid in order to recover her swan plumage, which he had secured. + +[Sidenote: Dietlieb the Dane.] As Dietrich was once on his way to Romaburg +(Rome), whither his uncle Ermenrich had invited him, he accepted the +proffered service and escort of Dietlieb the Dane. This warrior, seeing +that the emperor had forgotten to provide for the entertainment of +Dietrich's suite, pledged not only his own steed and weapons, but also his +master's and Hildebrand's, leading a jolly life upon the proceeds. + +When the time of departure came, and Dietrich called for his steed, +Dietlieb was forced to confess what he had done. The story came to +Ermenrich's ears, and he felt called upon to pay the required sum to +release his guest's weapons and steeds, but contemptuously inquired whether +Dietlieb were good at anything besides eating and drinking, wherein he +evidently excelled. Enraged by this taunt, Dietlieb challenged Ermenrich's +champion warrior, Walther von Wasgenstein (Vosges), and beat him at spear +and stone throwing. He next performed feats hitherto unheard of, and won +such applause that Ermenrich not only paid all his debts, but also gave him +a large sum of money, which this promising young spendthrift immediately +expended in feasting all the men at arms. + +Dietlieb's jests and jollity so amused Isung, the imperial minstrel, that +he left court to follow him to the land of the Huns, where the fickle youth +next offered his services to Etzel (Attila). The King of the Huns, afraid +to keep such a mercurial person near him, gave him the province of +Steiermark (Styria), bidding him work off all surplus energy by defending +it against the numerous enemies always trying to enter his realm. + +[Sidenote: The dwarf Laurin.] Some time after this, Dietlieb returned to +his old master in sorrow, for his only sister, Kunhild (Similde, or +Similt), had been carried away by Laurin (Alberich), king of the dwarfs, +and was now detained prisoner in the Tyrolean mountains, not far from the +vaunted Rose Garden. This place was surrounded by a silken thread, and +guarded most jealously by Laurin himself, who exacted the left foot and +right hand of any knight venturing to enter his garden or break off a +single flower from its stem. + +As soon as Dietrich heard this, he promised to set out and rescue the fair +Kunhild. He was accompanied by Dietlieb, Hildebrand, Wittich, and Wolfhart; +and as they came to the Rose Garden, all the heroes except Dietrich and +Hildebrand began to trample the dainty blossoms, and tried to break the +silken cord. + + "Wittich, the mighty champion, trod the roses to the ground, + Broke down the gates, and ravaged the garden far renowned; + Gone was the portals' splendor, by the heroes bold destroyed; + The fragrance of the flowers was past, and all the garden's pride." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +While they were thus employed, the dwarf Laurin donned his glittering +girdle of power, which gave him the strength of twelve men, brandished a +sword which had been tempered in dragons' blood and could therefore cut +through iron and stone, and put on his ring of victory and the magic cap of +darkness, Tarnkappe (Helkappe). + +Dietrich, carefully instructed by Hildebrand, struck off this cap, and +appropriated it, as well as the girdles of strength and the ring of +victory. He was so angry against Laurin for resisting him that the dwarf +king soon fled to Dietlieb for protection, promising to restore Kunhild, +unless she preferred to remain with him as his wife. + +This amicable agreement having been made, Laurin led the knights down into +his subterranean palace, which was illuminated by carbuncles, diamonds, and +other precious stones. Here Kunhild and her attendant maidens, attired with +the utmost magnificence, welcomed them hospitably and presided at the +banquet. + + "Similt into the palace came, with her little maidens all; + Garments they wore which glittered brightly in the hall, + Of fur and costly ciclatoun, and brooches of the gold; + No richer guise in royal courts might mortal man behold." + _Heldentuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +The wines, however, were drugged, so the brave knights soon sank into a +stupor; and Laurin, taking a base advantage of their helplessness, deprived +them of their weapons, bound them fast, and had them conveyed into a large +prison. Dietlieb was placed in a chamber apart, where, as soon as he +recovered his senses, Laurin told him that he and his companions were +doomed to die on the morrow. + +At midnight Dietrich awoke. Feeling himself bound, his wrath burned hot +within him, and his breath grew so fiery that it consumed the ropes with +which he was pinioned. He then released his captive companions, and, while +they were bewailing their lack of weapons, Kunhild stealthily opened the +door. Noiselessly she conducted them into the great hall, bade them resume +possession of their arms, and gave each a golden ring, of dwarf +manufacture, to enable them to see their tiny foes, who were else invisible +to all of mortal birth. + +Joined by Dietlieb, who had also been liberated by Kunhild, the knights now +roused Laurin and his host of giants and dwarfs, and, after an encounter +such as mediaeval poets love to describe at great length, routed them +completely. Laurin was made prisoner and carried in chains to Bern, where +Kunhild, now full of compassion for him, prevailed upon Dietrich to set him +free, provided he would forswear all his malicious propensities and spend +the remainder of his life in doing good. + +When this promise had been given, Laurin was set free; and after marrying +Kunhild, he went to live with her in the beautiful Rose Garden and the +underground palace, which peasants and simple-hearted Alpine hunters have +often seen, but which the worldly wise and skeptical have always sought in +vain. + +[Sidenote: Rose Garden at Worms.] The mere fact of his having come off +victor in one Rose Garden affair made Dietrich hail with joy the tidings +brought by a wandering minstrel, that at Worms, on the Rhine, Kriemhild +(Grimhild, Gutrun, etc.), the Burgundian princess, had a similar garden. +This was guarded by twelve brave knights, ever ready to try their skill +against an equal number of warriors, the prize of the victor being a rose +garland and kisses from the owner of this charming retreat. + +Eager to accept this challenge, Dietrich selected Hildebrand, Wittich, +Wolfhart, and five other brave men; but as he could think of no others +worthy to share in the adventure, Hildebrand suggested that Rüdiger of +Bechlaren, Dietlieb of Steiermark, and his own brother, the monk Ilsan, +would be only too glad to help them. This little band soon rode into Worms, +where Dietrich and his men covered themselves with glory by defeating all +Kriemhild's champions, and winning the rose garlands as well as the kisses. + +The knights, if we are to believe the ancient poem, appreciated the latter +reward highly, with the exception of the rude monk Ilsan, who, we are told, +scrubbed the princess's delicate cheek with his rough beard until the blood +flowed. + +[Illustration: THE VICTORIOUS HUNS.--Checa.] + + "And when Chrimhild, the queen, gave him kisses fifty-two, + With his rough and grisly beard full sore he made her rue, + That from her lovely cheek 'gan flow the rosy blood: + The queen was full of sorrow, but the monk it thought him good." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Then Ilsan carried his garlands back to the monastery, where he jammed them +down upon the monks' bald pates, laughing aloud when he saw them wince as +the sharp thorns pierced them. + +On his way home Dietrich visited Etzel, King of the Huns, and further +increased his train by accepting the services of Amalung, Hornbogi's son, +and of Herbrand the wide-traveled. On his arrival at Bern, he found that +his father, Dietmar, was dead, and thus Dietrich became King of the Amaling +land (Italy). + +[Sidenote: Campaign against the Wilkina land.] Shortly after his accession +to the throne, he went to help Etzel, who was warring against Osantrix, +King of the Wilkina land (Norway and Sweden). With none but his own +followers, Dietrich invaded the Wilkina land, and throughout that glorious +campaign old Hildebrand rode ever ahead, bearing aloft his master's +standard, and dealing many memorable blows. + +In one encounter, Wittich was thrown from his horse and stunned. Heime, who +had joined the army, seeing him apparently lifeless, snatched the sword +Mimung out of his nerveless grasp and bore it triumphantly away. Wittich, +however, was not dead, but was soon after made prisoner by Hertnit, Earl of +Greece, Osantrix's brother, who carried him back to the capital, where he +put him in prison. + +When the campaign against the Wilkina men was ended, Dietrich and his army +returned to Bern, leaving Wildeber in Hungary to ascertain whether Wittich +were really dead, or whether he still required his companions' aid. + +Wishing to penetrate unrecognized into the enemy's camp, Wildeber slew and +flayed a bear, donned its skin over his armor, and, imitating the uncouth +antics of the animal he personated, bade the minstrel Isung lead him thus +disguised to Hertnit's court. + +[Sidenote: Wittich rescued by Wildeber.] This plan was carried out, and +the minstrel and dancing bear were hailed with joy. But Isung was greatly +dismayed when Hertnit insisted upon baiting his hunting hounds against the +bear; who, however, strangled them all, one after another, without seeming +to feel their sharp teeth. Hertnit was furious at the loss of all his pack, +and sprang down into the pit with drawn sword; but all his blows glanced +aside on the armor concealed beneath the rough pelt. Suddenly the pretended +bear stood up, caught the weapon which the king had dropped, and struck off +his head. Then, joining Isung, he rushed through the palace and delivered +the captive Wittich; whereupon, seizing swords and steeds on their way, +they all three rode out of the city before they could be stopped. + +When they arrived in Bern they were warmly welcomed by Dietrich, who forced +Heime to give the stolen Mimung back to its rightful owner. The brave +warriors were not long allowed to remain inactive, however, for they were +soon asked to help Ermenrich against his revolted vassal, Rimstein. They +besieged the recalcitrant knight in his stronghold of Gerimsburg, which was +given to Walther von Wasgenstein, while Wittich was rewarded for his +services by the hand of Bolfriana, the Lady of Drachenfels, and thus became +the vassal of Ermenrich. + +[Sidenote: Sibich.] The estates of Ermenrich were so extensive and so +difficult to govern that he was very glad indeed to secure as prime +minister a capable nobleman by the name of Sibich. Unfortunately, this +Sibich had a remarkably beautiful wife, whom the emperor once insulted +during her husband's absence. As soon as Sibich returned from his journey +his wife told him all that had occurred, and the emperor's conduct so +enraged the minister that he vowed that he would take a terrible revenge. + +The better to accomplish his purpose, Sibich concealed his resentment, and +so artfully poisoned Ermenrich's mind that the latter ordered his eldest +son to be slain. To get rid of the second prince, Sibich induced him to +enter a leaky vessel, which sank as soon as he was out at sea. Then, when +the prime minister saw the third son, Randwer, paying innocent attentions +to his fair young stepmother, Swanhild, daughter of Siegfried and +Kriemhild, he so maliciously distorted the affair that Ermenrich ordered +this son to be hung, and his young wife to be trampled to death under the +hoofs of wild horses. + +Sibich, the traitor, having thus deprived the emperor of wife and children, +next resolved to rob him of all his kin, so that he might eventually murder +him and take undisputed possession of the empire. With this purpose in +view, he forged letters which incited the emperor to war against his +nephews, the Harlungs. These two young men, who were orphans, dwelt at +Breisach, under the guardianship of their tutor, the faithful Eckhardt. +They were both cruelly slain, and the disconsolate tutor fled to the court +of Dietrich, little thinking that Ermenrich would soon turn upon this his +last male relative, also. + +[Sidenote: Herbart and Hilde.] Dietrich, forsaken by Virginal, and anxious +to marry again, had, in the mean while, sent his nephew Herbart to Arthur's +court in the Bertanga land (Britain), to sue for the hand of Hilde, his +fair young daughter. But Arthur, averse to sending his child so far away, +would not at first permit the young ambassador to catch a glimpse of her +face, and sent her to church guarded by ten warriors, ten monks, and ten +duennas. + +In spite of all these safeguards, Herbart succeeded in seeing the princess, +and after ascertaining that she was very beautiful, he secured a private +interview, and told her of his master's wish to call her wife. Hilde, +wishing to know what kind of a man her suitor was, begged Herbart to draw +his portrait; but finding him unprepossessing, she encouraged Herbart to +declare his own love, and soon eloped with him. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich in exile.] Dietrich had no time to mourn for the loss +of this expected bride, however, for the imperial army suddenly marched +into the Amaling land, and invested the cities of Garden, Milan, Raben +(Ravenna), and Mantua. Of course these successes were owing to treachery, +and not to valor, and Dietrich, to obtain the release of Hildebrand and a +few other faithful followers, who had fallen into the enemy's hands, was +forced to surrender Bern and go off into exile. + +As he had thus sacrificed his kingdom to obtain their freedom, it is no +wonder that these men proudly accompanied him into banishment. They went to +Susat, where they were warmly welcomed by Etzel and Helche (Herka), his +wife, who promised to care for Diether, Dietrich's brother, and have him +brought up with her own sons. + +There were in those days many foreigners at Etzel's court, for he had +secured as hostages Hagen of Tronje, from the Burgundians; the Princess +Hildegunde, from the Franks; and Walther von Wasgenstein from the Duke of +Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: Walther of Aquitaine and Hildegunde.] During the twenty years +which Dietrich now spent in the land of the Huns fighting for Etzel, peace +was concluded with Burgundy and Hagen was allowed to return home. Walther +of Aquitaine (or von Wasgenstein), whose adventures are related in a Latin +poem of the eighth or ninth century, had fallen in love with Hildegunde. +Seeing that Etzel, in spite of his promises to set them both free, had no +real intention of doing so, he and his ladylove cleverly effected their +escape, and fled to the Wasgenstein (Vosges), where they paused in a cave +to recruit their exhausted strength. Gunther, King of Burgundy, and Hagen +of Tronje, his ally, hearing that Walther and Hildegunde were in the +neighborhood, and desirous of obtaining the large sum of gold which they +had carried away from Etzel's court, set out to attack them, with a force +of twelve picked men. But Hildegunde was watching while Walther slept, and, +seeing them draw near, warned her lover. He, inspired by her presence, slew +all except Gunther and Hagen, who beat a hasty retreat. + +They did not return to Worms, however, but lay in ambush beside the road, +and when Walther and Hildegunde passed by they attacked the former with +great fury. In spite of the odds against him, the poem relates that Walther +triumphantly defeated them both, putting out one of Hagen's eyes and +cutting off one of Gunther's hands and one of his feet. + +The conflict ended, Hildegunde bound up the wounds of all three of the +combatants, who then sat down to share a meal together, indulged in much +jocularity about their wounds, and, parting amicably, sought their +respective homes. Walther and Hildegunde were next joyously welcomed by +their relatives, duly married, and reigned together over Aquitaine for many +a long year. + +In the mean while Dietrich had been engaged in warring against Waldemar, +King of Reussen (Russia and Poland), in behalf of Etzel, who, however, +forsook him in a cowardly way, and left him in a besieged fortress, in the +midst of the enemy's land, with only a handful of men. In spite of all his +courage, Dietrich would have been forced to surrender had not Rüdiger of +Bechlaren come to his rescue. By their combined efforts, Waldemar was +slain, and his son was brought captive to Susat. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and Queen Helche.] Dietrich and his noble prisoner were +both seriously wounded; but while Queen Helche herself tenderly cared for +the young prince of Reussen, who was her kinsman, Dietrich lay neglected +and alone in a remote part of the palace. The young prince was no sooner +cured, however, than he took advantage of Etzel's absence to escape, +although Helche implored him not to do so, and assured him that she would +have to pay for his absence with her life. + +In her distress Helche now thought of Dietrich, who, weak and wounded, rose +from his couch, pursued the fugitive, overtook and slew him, and brought +his head back to her. The Queen of the Huns never forgot that she owed her +life to Dietrich, and ever after showed herself his faithful friend. + +Twenty years had passed since Dietrich left his native land ere he asked to +return. Helche promised him the aid of her sons, Erp and Ortwine, whom she +armed herself, and furnished one thousand men. Etzel, seeing this, also +offered his aid, and Dietrich marched back to the Amaling land with all his +companions, and with an army commanded by the two Hun princes and Rüdiger's +only son, Nudung. + +The van of the army took Garden and Padauwe (Padua), and with Dietrich at +its head made a triumphant entrance into Bern. But, hearing that Ermenrich +was coming against him, Dietrich now went to meet him, and fought a +terrible battle near Raben in 493. The hero of Bern distinguished himself, +as usual, in this fray, until, hearing that Nudung, the two Hun princes, +and his young brother, Diether, had all been slain, he became almost insane +with grief. + +In his fury he wildly pursued Wittich, his former servant and Diether's +murderer, and would have slain him had the latter not saved himself by +plunging into the sea. Here his ancestress, the swan maiden Wachilde, took +charge of him, and conveyed him to a place of safety. Then, although +victorious, Dietrich discovered that he had no longer enough men left to +maintain himself in his reconquered kingdom, and mournfully returned to +Susat with the bodies of the slain. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Dietrich and Herrat.] It was during his second +sojourn at the court of the Huns that Dietrich married Herrat (Herand), +Princess of Transylvania, a relative of Helche. The latter died soon after +their union. Three years later Etzel married Kriemhild, Siegfried's widow; +and now occurred the fall of the brave Nibelung knights, recorded in the +"Nibelungenlied." Dietrich, as we have seen, took an active part in the +closing act of this tragedy, and joined in the final lament over the bodies +of the slain. + +Ten years after the terrible battle of Raben, Dietrich again resolved to +make an attempt to recover his kingdom, and set out with only a very few +followers. As Ermenrich had succumbed, either under the swords of +Swanhild's brothers, as already related, or by the poison secretly +administered by the traitor Sibich, the crown was now offered to Dietrich, +who was glad to accept it. + +All the lost cities were gradually recovered, and Hildebrand, coming to +Garden, encountered his son Hadubrand (Alebrand), who, having grown up +during his absence, did not recognize him, and challenged him to fight. +Mighty blows were exchanged between father and son, each of whom, in the +pauses of the combat, anxiously besought the other to reveal his name. It +was only when their strength was exhausted that Hadubrand revealed who he +was, and father and son, dropping their bloody swords, embraced with tears. + + "So spake Hadubrand, + Son of Hildebrand: + 'Said unto me + Some of our people, + Shrewd and old, + Gone hence already, + That Hildebrand was my father called,-- + I am called Hadubrand. + Erewhile he eastward went, + Escaping from Odoaker, + Thither with Theodoric + And his many men of battle, + Here he left in the land, + Lorn and lonely, + Bride in bower, + Bairn ungrown, + Having no heritage.'" + _Song of Hildebrand_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +Hildebrand then rejoined his wife, Ute, and Dietrich, having slain the +traitor Sibich, who had made an attempt to usurp the throne, marched on to +Romaburg (Rome), where he was crowned Emperor of the West, under the name +of Theodoric. Some time after his accession, Dietrich lost his good wife +Herrat, whom, according to some accounts, he mourned as long as he lived. +According to others he married again, taking as wife Liebgart, widow of +Ortnit. + +Etzel, according to this version, having been lured by Aldrian, Hagen's +son, into the cave where the Nibelungen hoard was kept, was locked up +there, and died of hunger while contemplating the gold he coveted. His +estates then became the property of Dietrich, who thus became undisputed +ruler of nearly all the southern part of Europe. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and the coal-black steed.] In his old age Dietrich, +weary of life and imbittered by its many trials, ceased to take pleasure in +anything except the chase. One day, while he was bathing in a limpid +stream, his servant came to tell him that there was a fine stag in sight. +Dietrich immediately called for his horse, and as it was not instantly +forthcoming, he sprang upon a coal-black steed standing near, and was borne +rapidly away. + +The servant rode after as fast as possible, but could never overtake +Dietrich, who, the peasants aver, was spirited away, and now leads the Wild +Hunt upon the same sable steed, which he is doomed to ride until the +judgment day. + +In spite of this fabulous account, however, the tomb of Theodoric is still +to be seen near Verona, but history demonstrates the impossibility of the +story of Dietrich von Bern, by proving that Theodoric was not born until +after the death of Attila, the unmistakeable original of the Etzel in the +"Heldenbuch." + +[Illustration: THE TOMB OF THEODORIC.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS. + + +One of the favorite heroes of early mediaeval literature is Charlemagne, +whose name is connected with countless romantic legends of more or less +antique origin. The son of Pepin and Bertha the "large footed," this +monarch took up his abode near the Rhine to repress the invasions of the +northern barbarians, awe them into submission, and gradually induce them to +accept the teachings of the missionaries he sent to convert them. + +[Sidenote: The champion of Christianity.] As Charlemagne destroyed the +Irminsul, razed heathen temples and groves, abolished the Odinic and +Druidic forms of worship, conquered the Lombards at the request of the +Pope, and defeated the Saracens in Spain, he naturally became the champion +of Christianity in the chronicles of his day. All the heroic actions of his +predecessors (such as Charles Martel) were soon attributed to him, and when +these legends were turned into popular epics, in the tenth and eleventh +centuries, he became the principal hero of France. The great deeds of his +paladins, Roland, Oliver, Ogier the Dane, Renaud de Montauban, and others, +also became the favorite theme of the poets, and were soon translated into +every European tongue. + +The Latin chronicle, falsely attributed to Bishop Turpin, Charlemagne's +prime minister, but dating from 1095, is one of the oldest versions of +Charlemagne's fabulous adventures now extant. It contains the mythical +account of the battle of Roncesvalles (Vale of Thorns), told with infinite +repetition and detail so as to give it an appearance of reality. + + +[Sidenote: Chanson de Roland.] Einhard, the son-in-law and historian of +Charlemagne, records a partial defeat in the Pyrenees in 777-778, and adds +that Hroudlandus was slain. From this bald statement arose the mediaeval +"Chanson de Roland," which was still sung at the battle of Hastings. The +probable author of the French metrical version is Turoldus; but the poem, +numbering originally four thousand lines, has gradually been lengthened, +until now it includes more than forty thousand. There are early French, +Latin, German, Italian, English, and Icelandic versions of the adventures +of Roland, which in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were turned into +prose, and formed the basis of the "Romans de Chevalerie," which were +popular for so many years. Numerous variations can, of course, be noted in +these tales, which have been worked over again by the Italian poets Ariosto +and Boiardo, and even treated by Buchanan in our day. + +It would be impossible to give in this work a complete synopsis of all the +_chansons de gestes_ referring to Charlemagne and his paladins, so we will +content ourselves with giving an abstract of the most noted ones and +telling the legends which are found in them, which have gradually been +woven around those famous names and connected with certain localities. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the heavenly message.] We are told that +Charlemagne, having built a beautiful new palace for his use, overlooking +the Rhine, was roused from his sleep during the first night he spent there +by the touch of an angelic hand, and, to his utter surprise, thrice heard +the heavenly messenger bid him go forth and steal. Not daring to disobey, +Charlemagne stole unnoticed out of the palace, saddled his steed, and, +armed cap-a-pie, started out to fulfill the angelic command. + +He had not gone far when he met an unknown knight, evidently bound on the +same errand. To challenge, lay his lance in rest, charge, and unhorse his +opponent, was an easy matter for Charlemagne. When he learned that he had +disarmed Elbegast (Alberich), the notorious highwayman, he promised to let +him go free if he would only help him steal something that night. + +Guided by Elbegast, Charlemagne, still incognito, went to the castle of one +of his ministers, and, thanks to Elbegast's cunning, penetrated unseen into +his bedroom. There, crouching in the dark, Charlemagne overheard him +confide to his wife a plot to murder the emperor on the morrow. Patiently +biding his time until they were sound asleep, Charlemagne picked up a +worthless trifle, and noiselessly made his way out, returning home unseen. +On the morrow, profiting by the knowledge thus obtained, he cleverly +outwitted the conspirators, whom he restored to favor only after they had +solemnly sworn future loyalty. As for Elbegast, he so admired the only man +who had ever succeeded in conquering him that he renounced his dishonest +profession to enter the emperor's service. + +In gratitude for the heavenly vision vouchsafed him, the emperor named his +new palace Ingelheim (Home of the Angel), a name which the place has borne +ever since. This thieving episode is often alluded to in the later romances +of chivalry, where knights, called upon to justify their unlawful +appropriation of another's goods, disrespectfully remind the emperor that +he too once went about as a thief. + +[Sidenote: Frastrada's magic ring.] When Charlemagne's third wife died, he +married a beautiful Eastern princess by the name of Frastrada, who, aided +by a magic ring, soon won his most devoted affection. The new queen, +however, did not long enjoy her power, for a dangerous illness overtook +her. When at the point of death, fearful lest her ring should be worn by +another while she was buried and forgotten, Frastrada slipped the magic +circlet into her mouth just before she breathed her last. + +Solemn preparations were made to bury her in the cathedral of Mayence +(where a stone bearing her name could still be seen a few years ago), but +the emperor refused to part with the beloved body. Neglectful of all +matters of state, he remained in the mortuary chamber day after day. His +trusty adviser, Turpin, suspecting the presence of some mysterious +talisman, slipped into the room while the emperor, exhausted with fasting +and weeping, was wrapped in sleep. After carefully searching for the magic +jewel, Turpin discovered it, at last, in the dead queen's mouth. + + "He searches with care, though with tremulous haste, + For the spell that bewitches the king; + And under her tongue, for security placed, + Its margin with mystical characters traced, + At length he discovers a ring." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +[Sidenote: Turpin and the magic ring.] To secure this ring and slip it on +his finger was but the affair of a moment; but just as Turpin was about to +leave the room the emperor awoke. With a shuddering glance at the dead +queen, Charlemagne flung himself passionately upon the neck of his prime +minister, declaring that he would never be quite inconsolable as long as he +was near. + +Taking advantage of the power thus secured by the possession of the magic +ring, Turpin led Charlemagne away, forced him to eat and drink, and after +the funeral induced him to resume the reins of the government. But he soon +wearied of his master's constant protestations of undying affection, and +ardently longed to get rid of the ring, which, however, he dared neither to +hide nor to give away, for fear it should fall into unscrupulous hands. + +Although advanced in years, Turpin was now forced to accompany Charlemagne +everywhere, even on his hunting expeditions, and to share his tent. One +moonlight night the unhappy minister stole noiselessly out of the imperial +tent, and wandered alone in the woods, cogitating how to dispose of the +unlucky ring. As he walked thus he came to a glade in the forest, and saw a +deep pool, on whose mirrorlike surface the moonbeams softly played. +Suddenly the thought struck him that the waters would soon close over and +conceal the magic ring forever in their depths; and, drawing it from his +finger, he threw it into the pond. Turpin then retraced his steps, and soon +fell asleep. On the morrow he was delighted to perceive that the spell was +broken, and that Charlemagne had returned to the old undemonstrative +friendship which had bound them for many a year. + + "Overjoy'd, the good prelate remember'd the spell, + And far in the lake flung the ring; + The waters closed round it; and, wondrous to tell, + Released from the cursed enchantment of hell, + His reason return'd to the king." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +Charlemagne, however, seemed unusually restless, and soon went out to hunt. +In the course of the day, having lost sight of his suite in the pursuit of +game, he came to the little glade, where, dismounting, he threw himself on +the grass beside the pool, declaring that he would fain linger there +forever. The spot was so charming that he even gave orders, ere he left it +that night, that a palace should be erected there for his use; and this +building was the nucleus of his favorite capital, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen). + + "But he built him a palace there close by the bay, + And there did he love to remain; + And the traveler who will, may behold at this day + A monument still in the ruins at Aix + Of the spell that possess'd Charlemain." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +According to tradition, Charlemagne had a sister by the name of Bertha, +who, against his will, married the brave young knight Milon. Rejected by +the emperor, and therefore scorned by all, the young couple lived in +obscurity and poverty. They were very happy, however, for they loved each +other dearly, and rejoiced in the beauty of their infant son Roland, who +even in babyhood showed signs of uncommon courage and vigor. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the boy Roland.] One version of the story +relates, however, that Milon perished in a flood, and that Bertha was +almost dying of hunger while her brother, a short distance away, was +entertaining all his courtiers at his board. Little Roland, touched by his +mother's condition, walked fearlessly into the banquet hall, boldly +advanced to the table, and carried away a dishful of meat. As the emperor +seemed amused at the little lad's fearlessness, the servants did not dare +to interfere, and Roland bore off the dish in triumph. + +A few minutes later he reentered the hall, and with equal coolness laid +hands upon the emperor's cup, full of rich wine. Challenged by Charlemagne, +the child then boldly declared that he wanted the meat and wine for his +mother, a lady of high degree. In answer to the emperor's bantering +questions, he declared that he was his mother's cupbearer, her page, and +her gallant knight, which answers so amused Charlemagne that he sent for +her. He then remorsefully recognized her, treated her with kindness as long +as she lived, and took her son into his own service. + +Another legend relates that Charlemagne, hearing that the robber knight of +the Ardennes had a priceless jewel set in his shield, called all his +bravest noblemen together, and bade them sally forth separately, with only +a page as escort, in quest of the knight. Once found, they were to +challenge him in true knightly fashion, and at the point of the lance win +the jewel he wore. A day was appointed when, successful or not, the +courtiers were to return, and, beginning with the lowest in rank, were to +give a truthful account of their adventures while on the quest. + +All the knights departed and scoured the forest of the Ardennes, each +hoping to meet the robber knight and win the jewel. Among them was Milon, +accompanied by his son Roland, a lad of fifteen, whom he had taken as page +and armor-bearer. Milon had spent many days in vain search for the knight, +when, exhausted by his long ride, he dismounted, removed his heavy armor, +and lay down under a tree to sleep, bidding Roland keep close watch during +his slumbers. + +[Sidenote: Roland and the jewel.] Roland watched faithfully for a while; +then, fired by a desire to distinguish himself, he donned his father's +armor, sprang on his steed, and rode into the forest in search of +adventures. He had not gone very far when he saw a gigantic horseman coming +to meet him, and, by the dazzling glitter of a large stone set in his +shield, he recognized in him the invincible knight of the Ardennes. Afraid +of nothing, however, the lad laid his lance in rest when challenged to +fight, and charged so bravely that he unhorsed the knight. A fearful battle +on foot ensued, where many gallant blows were given and received; yet the +victory finally remained with Roland. He slew his adversary, and wrenching +the jewel from his shield, hid it in his breast. Then, riding rapidly back +to his sleeping father, Roland laid aside the armor, and removed all traces +of a bloody encounter. When Milon awoke he resumed the quest, and soon came +upon the body of the dead knight. When he saw that another had won the +jewel, he was disappointed indeed, and sadly rode back to court, to be +present on the appointed day. + +Charlemagne, seated on his throne, bade the knights appear before him, and +relate their adventures. One after another strode up the hall, followed by +an armor-bearer holding his shield, and all told of finding the knight +slain and the jewel gone, and produced head, hands, feet, or some part of +his armor, in token of the truth of their story. Last of all came Milon, +with lowering brows, although Roland walked close behind him, proudly +holding his shield, in the center of which the jewel shone radiant. Milon +related his search, and reported that he too had found the giant knight +slain and the jewel gone. A shout of incredulity made him turn his head. +But when he saw the jewel blazing on his shield he appeared so amazed that +Charlemagne questioned Roland, and soon learned how it had been obtained. +In reward for his bravery in this encounter, Roland was knighted and +allowed to take his place among his uncle's paladins, of which he soon +became the most renowned. + +Charlemagne, according to the old _chanson de geste_ entitled "Ogier le +Danois," made war against the King of Denmark, defeated him, and received +his son Ogier (Olger or Holger Danske) as hostage. The young Danish prince +was favored by the fairies from the time of his birth, six of them having +appeared to bring him gifts while he was in his cradle. The first five +promised him every earthly bliss; while the sixth, Morgana, foretold that +he would never die, but would dwell with her in Avalon. + +[Sidenote: Ogier king of Denmark.] Ogier the Dane, owing to a violation of +the treaty on his father's part, was soon confined in the prison of St. +Omer. There he beguiled the weariness of captivity by falling in love with, +and secretly marrying, the governor's daughter Bellissande. Charlemagne, +being about to depart for war, and wishing for the hero's help, released +him from captivity; and when Ogier returned again to France he heard that +Bellissande had borne him a son, and that, his father having died, he was +now the lawful king of Denmark. + +Ogier the Dane then obtained permission to return to his native land, where +he spent several years, reigning so wisely that he was adored by all his +subjects. Such is the admiration of the Danes for this hero that the common +people still declare that he is either in Avalon, or sleeping in the vaults +of Elsinore, and that he will awaken, like Frederick Barbarossa, to save +his country in the time of its direst need. + + "'Thou know'st it, peasant! I am not dead; + I come back to thee in my glory. + I am thy faithful helper in need, + As in Denmark's ancient story.'" + INGEMANN, _Holder Danske_. + +After some years spent in Denmark, Ogier returned to France, where his son, +now grown up, had a dispute with Prince Chariot [Ogier and Charlemagne.] +over a game of chess. The dispute became so bitter that the prince used the +chessboard as weapon, and killed his antagonist with it. Ogier, indignant +at the murder, and unable to find redress at the hands of Charlemagne, +insulted him grossly, and fled to Didier (Desiderius), King of Lombardy, +with whom the Franks were then at feud. + +Several ancient poems represent Didier on his tower, anxiously watching the +approach of the enemy, and questioning his guest as to the personal +appearance of Charlemagne. These poems have been imitated by Longfellow in +one of his "Tales of a Wayside Inn." + + "Olger the Dane, and Desiderio, + King of the Lombards, on a lofty tower + Stood gazing northward o'er the rolling plains, + League after league of harvests, to the foot + Of the snow-crested Alps, and saw approach + A mighty army, thronging all the roads + That led into the city. And the King + Said unto Olger, who had passed his youth + As hostage at the court of France, and knew + The Emperor's form and face, 'Is Charlemagne + Among that host?' And Olger answered, 'No.'" + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +This poet, who has made this part of the legend familiar to all English +readers, then describes the vanguard of the army, the paladins, the clergy, +all in full panoply, and the gradually increasing terror of the Lombard +king, who, long before the emperor's approach, would fain have hidden +himself underground. Finally Charlemagne appears in iron mail, brandishing +aloft his invincible sword "Joyeuse," and escorted by the main body of his +army, grim fighting men, at the mere sight of whom even Ogier the Dane is +struck with fear. + + "This at a single glance Olger the Dane + Saw from the tower; and, turning to the King, + Exclaimed in haste: 'Behold! this is the man + You looked for with such eagerness!' and then + Fell as one dead at Desiderio's feet." + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +Charlemagne soon overpowered the Lombard king, and assumed the iron crown, +while Ogier escaped from the castle in which he was besieged. Shortly +after, however, when asleep near a fountain, the Danish hero was surprised +by Turpin. When led before Charlemagne, he obstinately refused all proffers +of reconciliation, and insisted upon Charlot's death, until an angel from +heaven forbade his asking the life of Charlemagne's son. Then, foregoing +his revenge and fully reinstated in the royal good graces, Ogier, according +to a thirteenth-century epic by Adenet, successfully encountered a +Saracenic giant, and in reward for his services received the hand of +Clarice, Princess of England, and became king of that realm. + +[Sidenote: Ogier in the East.] Weary of a peaceful existence, Ogier finally +left England, and journeyed to the East, where he successfully besieged +Acre, Babylon and Jerusalem. On his way back to France, the ship was +attracted by the famous lodestone rock which appears in many mediaeval +romances, and, all his companions having perished, Ogier wandered alone +ashore. There he came to an adamantine castle, invisible by day, but +radiant at night, where he was received by the famous horse Papillon, and +sumptuously entertained. On the morrow, while wandering across a flowery +meadow, Ogier encountered Morgana the fay, who gave him a magic ring. +Although Ogier was then a hundred years old, he no sooner put it on than he +became young once more. Then, having donned the golden crown of oblivion, +he forgot his home, and joined Arthur, Oberon, Tristan, and Lancelot, with +whom he spent two hundred years in unchanged youth, enjoying constant +jousting and fighting. + +At the end of that time, his crown having accidentally dropped off, Ogier +remembered the past, and returned to France, riding on Papillon. He reached +the court during the reign of one of the Capetian kings. He was, of course, +greatly amazed at the changes which had taken place, but bravely helped to +defend Paris against an invasion from the Normans. + +[Sidenote: Ogier carried to Avalon.] Shortly after this, his magic ring was +playfully drawn from his finger and put upon her own by the Countess of +Senlis, who, seeing that it restored her vanished youth, would fain have +kept it always. She therefore sent thirty champions to wrest it from Ogier, +who, however, defeated them all, and triumphantly retained his ring. The +king having died, Ogier next married the widowed queen, and would thus have +become King of France had not Morgana the fay, jealous of his affections, +spirited him away in the midst of the marriage ceremony and borne him off +to the Isle of Avalon, whence he, like Arthur, will return only when his +country needs him. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Oliver.] Another _chanson de geste_, a sort of +continuation of "Ogier le Danois," is called "Meurvin," and purports to +give a faithful account of the adventures of a son of Ogier and Morgana, an +ancestor of Godfrey of Bouillon, King of Jerusalem. In "Guerin de +Montglave," we find that Charlemagne, having quarreled with the Duke of +Genoa, proposed that each should send a champion to fight in his name. +Charlemagne selected Roland, while the Duke of Genoa chose Oliver as his +defender. The battle, if we are to believe some versions of the legend, +took place on an island in the Rhone, and Durandana, Roland's sword, struck +many a spark from Altecler (Hautecler), the blade of Oliver. The two +champions were so well matched, and the blows were dealt with such equal +strength and courage, that "giving a Roland for an Oliver" has become a +proverbial expression. + +After fighting all day, with intermissions to interchange boasts and +taunts, and to indulge in sundry discussions, neither had gained any +advantage. They would probably have continued the struggle indefinitely, +however, had not an angel of the Lord interfered, and bidden them embrace +and become fast friends. It was on this occasion, we are told, that +Charlemagne, fearing for Roland when he saw the strength of Oliver, vowed a +pilgrimage to Jerusalem should his nephew escape alive. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne's pilgrimage to Jerusalem.] The fulfillment of this +vow is described in "Galyen Rhetoré." Charlemagne and his peers reached +Jerusalem safely in disguise, but their anxiety to secure relics soon +betrayed their identity. The King of Jerusalem, Hugues, entertained them +sumptuously, and, hoping to hear many praises of his hospitality, concealed +himself in their apartment at night. The eavesdropper, however, only heard +the vain talk of Charlemagne's peers, who, unable to sleep, beguiled the +hours in making extraordinary boasts. Roland declared that he could blow +his horn Olivant loud enough to bring down the palace; Ogier, that he could +crumble the principal pillar to dust in his grasp; and Oliver, that he +could marry the princess in spite of her father. + +The king, angry at hearing no praises of his wealth and hospitality, +insisted upon his guests fulfilling their boasts on the morrow, under +penalty of death. He was satisfied, however, by the success of Oliver's +undertaking, and the peers returned to France. Galyen, Oliver's son by +Hugues's daughter, followed them thither when he reached manhood, and +joined his father in the valley of Roncesvalles, just in time to receive +his blessing ere he died. Then, having helped Charlemagne to avenge his +peers, Galyen returned to Jerusalem, where he found his grandfather dead +and his mother a captive. His first act was, of course, to free his mother, +after which he became king of Jerusalem, and his adventures came to an end. + +The "Chronicle" of Turpin, whence the materials for many of the poems about +Roland were taken, declares that Charlemagne, having conquered nearly the +whole of Europe, retired to his palace to seek repose. But one evening, +while gazing at the stars, he saw a bright cluster move from the "Friesian +sea, by way of Germany and France, into Galicia." This prodigy, twice +repeated, greatly excited Charlemagne's wonder, and was explained to him by +St. James in a vision. The latter declared that the progress of the stars +was emblematic of the advance of the Christian army towards Spain, and +twice bade the emperor deliver his land from the hands of the Saracens. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne in Spain.] Thus admonished, Charlemagne set out for +Spain with a large army, and invested the city of Pamplona, which showed no +signs of surrender at the end of a two months' siege. Recourse to prayer on +the Christians' part, however, produced a great miracle, for the walls +tottered and fell like those of Jericho. All the Saracens who embraced +Christianity were spared, but the remainder were slain before the emperor +journeyed to the shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela to pay his +devotions. + +A triumphant march through the country then ensued, and Charlemagne +returned to France, thinking the Saracens subdued. He had scarcely crossed +the border, however, when Aigolandus, one of the pagan monarchs, revolted, +and soon recovered nearly all the territory his people had lost. When +Charlemagne heard these tidings, he sent back an army, commanded by Milon, +Roland's father, who perished gloriously in this campaign. The emperor +speedily followed his brother-in-law with great forces, and again besieged +Aigolandus in Pamplona. During the course of the siege the two rulers had +an interview, which is described at length, and indulged in sundry +religious discussions, which, however, culminated in a resumption of +hostilities. Several combats now took place, in which the various heroes +greatly distinguished themselves, the preference being generally given to +Roland, who, if we are to believe the Italian poet, was as terrible in +battle as he was gentle in time of peace. + + "On stubborn foes he vengeance wreak'd, + And laid about him like a Tartar; + But if for mercy once they squeak'd, + He was the first to grant them quarter. + The battle won, of Roland's soul + Each milder virtue took possession; + To vanquished foes he o'er a bowl + His heart surrender'd at discretion." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Dr. Burney's tr.). + +Aigolandus being slain, and the feud against him thus successfully ended, +Charlemagne carried the war into Navarre, where he was challenged by the +giant Ferracute (Ferragus) to meet him in single combat. Although the +metrical "Romances" describe Charlemagne as twenty feet in height, and +declare that he slept in a hall, his bed surrounded by one hundred lighted +tapers and one hundred knights with drawn swords, the emperor felt himself +no match for the giant, whose personal appearance was as follows:-- + + "So hard he was to-fond [proved], + That no dint of brond + No grieved him, I plight. + He had twenty men's strength; + And forty feet of length + Thilke [each] paynim had; + And four feet in the face + Y-meten [measured] on the place; + And fifteen in brede [breadth]. + His nose was a foot and more; + His brow as bristles wore; + (He that saw it said) + He looked lothliche [loathly], + And was swart [black] as pitch; + Of him men might adrede!" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Ferracute.] After convincing himself of the danger of +meeting this adversary, Charlemagne sent Ogier the Dane to fight him, and +with dismay saw his champion not only unhorsed, but borne away like a +parcel under the giant's arm, fuming and kicking with impotent rage. Renaud +de Montauban met Ferracute on the next day, with the same fate, as did +several other champions. Finally Roland took the field, and although the +giant pulled him down from his horse, he continued the battle all day. +Seeing that his sword Durandana had no effect upon Ferracute, Roland armed +himself with a club on the morrow. + +In the pauses of the battle the combatants talked together, and Ferracute, +relying upon his adversary's keen sense of honor, even laid his head upon +Roland's knee during their noonday rest. While resting thus, he revealed +that he was vulnerable in only one point of his body. When called upon by +Roland to believe in Christianity, he declared that the doctrine of the +Trinity was more than he could accept. Roland, in answer, demonstrated that +an almond is but one fruit, although composed of rind, shell, and kernel; +that a harp is but one instrument, although it consists of wood, strings, +and harmony. He also urged the threefold nature of the sun,--i.e., heat, +light, and splendor; and these arguments having satisfied Ferracute +concerning the Trinity, he removed his doubts concerning the incarnation by +equally forcible reasoning. The giant, however, utterly refused to believe +in the resurrection, although Roland, in support of his creed, quoted the +mediaeval belief that a lion's cubs are born into the world dead, but come +to life on the third day at the sound of their father's roar, or under the +warm breath of their mother. As Ferracute would not accept this doctrine, +but sprang to his feet proposing a continuation of the fight, the struggle +was renewed. + + "Quath Ferragus: 'Now ich wot + Your Christian law every grot; + Now we will fight; + Whether law better be, + Soon we shall y-see, + Long ere it be night.'" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +Roland, weary with his previous efforts, almost succumbed beneath the +giant's blows, and in his distress had recourse to prayer. He was +immediately strengthened and comforted by an angelic vision and a promise +of victory. Thus encouraged, he dealt Ferracute a deadly blow in the +vulnerable spot. The giant fell, calling upon Mohammed, while Roland +laughed and the Christians triumphed. + +The poem of Sir Otuel, in the Auchinleck manuscript, describes how Otuel, a +nephew of Ferracute, his equal in size and strength, came to avenge his +death, and, after a long battle with Roland, yielded to his theological +arguments, and was converted at the sight of a snowy dove alighting on +Charlemagne's helmet in answer to prayer. He then became a devoted adherent +of Charlemagne, and served him much in war. + +Charlemagne, having won Navarre, carried the war to the south of Spain, +where the Saracens frightened the horses of his host by beating drums and +waving banners. Having suffered a partial defeat on account of this device, +Charlemagne had the horses' ears stopped with wax, and their eyes +blindfolded, before he resumed the battle. Thanks to this precaution, he +succeeded in conquering the Saracen army. The whole country had now been +again subdued, and Charlemagne was preparing to return to France, when he +remembered that Marsiglio (Marsilius), a Saracen king, was still intrenched +at Saragossa. + + "Carle, our most noble Emperor and King, + Hath tarried now full seven years in Spain, + Conqu'ring the highland regions to the sea; + No fortress stands before him unsubdued, + Nor wall, nor city left, to be destroyed, + Save Sarraguce, high on a mountain set. + There rules the King Marsile, who loves not God, + Apollo worships, and Mohammed serves; + Nor can he from his evil doom escape." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Battle of Roncesvalles.] The emperor wished to send an embassy +to him to arrange the terms of peace, but discarded Roland's offer of +service because of his impetuosity. Then, following the advice of Naismes +de Bavière, "the Nestor of the Carolingian legends," he selected Ganelon, +Roland's stepfather, as ambassador. This man was a traitor, and accepted a +bribe from the Saracen king to betray Roland and the rear guard of the +French army into his power. Advised by Ganelon, Charlemagne departed from +Spain at the head of his army, leaving Roland to bring up the rear. The +main part of the army passed through the Pyrenees unmolested, but the rear +guard of twenty thousand men, under Roland, was attacked by a superior +force of Saracens in ambush, as it was passing through the denies of +Roncesvalles. A terrible encounter took place here. + + "The Count Rollànd rides through the battlefield + And makes, with Durendal's keen blade in hand, + A mighty carnage of the Saracens. + Ah! had you then beheld the valiant Knight + Heap corse on corse; blood drenching all the ground; + His own arms, hauberk, all besmeared with gore, + And his good steed from neck to shoulder bleed!" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ROLAND.--Keller.] + +All the Christians were slain except Roland and a few knights, who +succeeded in repulsing the first onslaught of the painims. Roland then +bound a Saracen captive to a tree, wrung from him a confession of the +dastardly plot, and, discovering where Marsiglio was to be found, rushed +into the very midst of the Saracen army and slew him. The Saracens, +terrified at the apparition of the hero, beat a hasty retreat, little +suspecting that their foe had received a mortal wound, and would shortly +breathe his last. + +During the first part of the battle, Roland, yielding to Oliver's entreaty, +sounded a blast on his horn Olivant, which came even to Charlemagne's ear. +Fearing lest his nephew was calling for aid, Charlemagne would fain have +gone back had he not been deterred by Ganelon, who assured him that Roland +was merely pursuing a stag. + + "Rolland raised to his lips the olifant, + Drew a deep breath, and blew with all his force. + High are the mountains, and from peak to peak + The sound reëchoes; thirty leagues away + 'Twas heard by Carle and all his brave compeers. + Cried the king: 'Our men make battle!' Ganelon + Retorts in haste: 'If thus another dared + To speak, we should denounce it as a lie.' + Aoi" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Steed Veillantif slain.] Wounded and faint, Roland now slowly +dragged himself to the entrance of the pass of Cisaire,--where the Basque +peasants aver they have often seen his ghost, and heard the sound of his +horn,--and took leave of his faithful steed Veillantif, which he slew with +his own hand, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. + + "'Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we to battle ride! + Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we sweet comrades be! + And Veillintif, had I the heart to die forgetting thee? + To leave thy mighty heart to break, in slavery to the foe? + I had not rested in the grave, if it had ended so. + Ah, never shall we conquering ride, with banners bright unfurl'd, + A shining light 'mong lesser lights, a wonder to the world.'" + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +[Sidenote: Sword Durandana destroyed.] Then the hero gazed upon his sword +Durandana, which had served him faithfully for so many years, and to +prevent its falling into the hands of the pagans, he tried to dispose of it +also. According to varying accounts, he either sank it deep into a poisoned +stream, where it is still supposed to lie, or, striking it against the +mighty rocks, cleft them in two, without even dinting its bright blade. + + "And Roland thought: 'I surely die; but, ere I end, + Let me be sure that thou art ended too, my friend! + For should a heathen hand grasp thee when I am clay, + My ghost would grieve full sore until the judgment day!' + Then to the marble steps, under the tall, bare trees, + Trailing the mighty sword, he crawl'd on hands and knees, + And on the slimy stone he struck the blade with might-- + The bright hilt, sounding, shook, the blade flash'd sparks of light; + Wildly again he struck, and his sick head went round, + Again there sparkled fire, again rang hollow sound; + Ten times he struck, and threw strange echoes down the glade, + Yet still unbroken, sparkling fire, glitter'd the peerless blade." + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +Finally, despairing of disposing of it in any other way, the hero, strong +in death, broke Durandana in his powerful hands and threw the shards away. + +Horse and sword were now disposed of, and the dying hero, summoning his +last strength, again put his marvelous horn Olivant to his lips, and blew +such a resounding blast that the sound was heard far and near. The effort, +however, was such that his temples burst, as he again sank fainting to the +ground. + +One version of the story (Turpin's) relates that the blast brought, not +Charlemagne, but the sole surviving knight, Theodoricus, who, as Roland had +been shriven before the battle, merely heard his last prayer and reverently +closed his eyes. Then Turpin, while celebrating mass before Charlemagne, +was suddenly favored by a vision, in which he beheld a shrieking crew of +demons bearing Marsiglio's soul to hell, while an angelic host conveyed +Roland's to heaven. + +Turpin immediately imparted these revelations to Charlemagne, who, knowing +now that his fears were not without foundation, hastened back to +Roncesvalles. Here the scriptural miracle was repeated, for the sun stayed +its course until the emperor had routed the Saracens and found the body of +his nephew. He pronounced a learned funeral discourse or lament over the +hero's remains, which were then embalmed and conveyed to Blaive for +interment. + +Another version relates that Bishop Turpin himself remained with Roland in +the rear, and, after hearing a general confession and granting full +absolution to all the heroes, fought beside them to the end. It was he who +heard the last blast of Roland's horn instead of Theodoricus, and came to +close his eyes before he too expired. + +The most celebrated of all the poems, however, the French epic "Chanson de +Roland," gives a different version and relates that, in stumbling over the +battlefield, Roland came across the body of his friend Oliver, over which +he uttered a touching lament. + + "'Alas for all thy valor, comrade dear! + Year after year, day after day, a life + Of love we led; ne'er didst thou wrong to me, + Nor I to thee. If death takes thee away, + My life is but a pain.'" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Roland.] Slowly and painfully now--for his death was +near--Roland climbed up a slope, laid himself down under a pine tree, and +placed his sword and horn beneath him. Then, when he had breathed a last +prayer, to commit his soul to God, he held up his glove in token of his +surrender. + + "His right hand glove he offered up to God; + Saint Gabriel took the glove.--With head reclined + Upon his arm, with hands devoutly joined, + He breathed his last. God sent his Cherubim, + Saint Raphael, _Saint Michiel del Peril._ + The soul of Count Rolland to Paradise. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +It was here, under the pine, that Charlemagne found his nephew ere he +started out to punish the Saracens, as already related. Not far off lay the +bodies of Ogier, Oliver, and Renaud, who, according to this version, were +all among the slain. + + "Here endeth Otuel, Roland, and Olyvere, + And of the twelve dussypere, + That dieden in the batayle of Runcyvale: + Jesu lord, heaven king, + To his bliss hem and us both bring, + To liven withouten bale!" + _Sir Otuel_. + +On his return to France Charlemagne suspected Ganelon of treachery, and had +him tried by twelve peers, who, unable to decide the question, bade him +prove his innocence in single combat with Roland's squire, Thiedric. +Ganelon, taking advantage of the usual privilege to have his cause defended +by a champion, selected Pinabel, the most famous swordsman of the time. In +spite of all his valor, however, this champion was defeated, and the +"judgment of God"--the term generally applied to those judicial +combats--was in favor of Thiedric. Ganelon, thus convicted of treason, was +sentenced to be drawn and quartered, and was executed at Aix-la-Chapelle, +in punishment for his sins. + + "Ere long for this he lost + Both limb and life, judged and condemned at Aix, + There to be hanged with thirty of his race + Who were not spared the punishment of death. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Roland and Aude.] Roland, having seen Aude, Oliver's sister, at +the siege of Viane, where she even fought against him, if the old epics are +to be believed, had been so smitten with her charms that he declared that +he would marry none but her. When the siege was over, and lifelong +friendship had been sworn between Roland and Oliver after their memorable +duel on an island in the Rhone, Roland was publicly betrothed to the +charming Aude. Before their nuptials could take place, however, he was +forced to leave for Spain, where, as we have seen, he died an heroic death. +The sad news of his demise was brought to Paris, where the Lady Aude was +awaiting him. When she heard that he would never return, she died of grief, +and was buried at his side in the chapel of Blaive. + + "In Paris Lady Alda sits, Sir Roland's destined bride. + With her three hundred maidens, to tend her, at her side; + Alike their robes and sandals all, and the braid that binds their + hair, + And alike the meal, in their Lady's hall, the whole three hundred + share. + Around her, in her chair of state, they all their places hold; + A hundred weave the web of silk, and a hundred spin the gold, + And a hundred touch their gentle lutes to sooth that Lady's pain, + As she thinks on him that's far away with the host of Charlemagne. + Lulled by the sound, she sleeps, but soon she wakens with a + scream; + And, as her maidens gather round, she thus recounts her dream: + 'I sat upon a desert shore, and from the mountain nigh, + Right toward me, I seemed to see a gentle falcon fly; + But close behind an eagle swooped, and struck that falcon down, + And with talons and beak he rent the bird, as he cowered beneath + my gown.' + The chief of her maidens smiled, and said; 'To me it doth not + seem + That the Lady Alda reads aright the boding of her dream. + Thou art the falcon, and thy knight is the eagle in his pride, + As he comes in triumph from the war, and pounces on his bride.' + The maiden laughed, but Alda sighed, and gravely shook her head. + 'Full rich,' quoth she, 'shall thy guerdon be, if thou the truth hast + said.' + 'Tis morn; her letters, stained with blood, the truth too plainly tell, + How, in the chase of Ronceval, Sir Roland fought and fell." + _Lady Alda's Dreams_ (Sir Edmund Head's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Legend of Roland and Hildegarde.] A later legend, which has +given rise to sundry poems, connects the name of Roland with one of the +most beautiful places on the Rhine. Popular tradition avers that he sought +shelter one evening in the castle of Drachenfels, where he fell in love +with Hildegarde, the beautiful daughter of the Lord of Drachenfels. The +sudden outbreak of the war in Spain forced him to bid farewell to his +betrothed, but he promised to return as soon as possible to celebrate their +wedding. During the campaign, many stories of his courage came to +Hildegarde's ears, and finally, after a long silence, she heard that Roland +had perished at Roncesvalles. + +Broken-hearted, the fair young mourner spent her days in tears, and at last +prevailed upon her father to allow her to enter the convent on the island +of Nonnenworth, in the middle of the river, and within view of the gigantic +crag where the castle ruins can still be seen. + + "The castled crag of Drachenfels + Frowns o'er the wide and winding Rhine, + Whose breast of water broadly swells + Between the banks which bear the vine, + And hills all rich with blossomed trees, + And fields which promise corn and wine, + And scattered cities crowning these, + Whose fair white walls along them shine." + BYRON, _Childe Harold_. + +With pallid cheeks and tear-dimmed eyes, Hildegarde now spent her life +either in her tiny cell or in the convent chapel, praying for the soul of +her beloved, and longing that death might soon come to set her free to join +him. The legend relates, however, that Roland was not dead, as she +supposed, but had merely been sorely wounded at Roncesvalles. + +When sufficiently recovered to travel, Roland painfully made his way back +to Drachenfels, where he presented himself late one evening, eagerly +calling for Hildegarde. A few moments later the joyful light left his eyes +forever, for he learned that his beloved had taken irrevocable vows, and +was now the bride of Heaven. + +That selfsame day Roland left the castle of Drachenfels, and riding to an +eminence overlooking the island of Nonnenwörth, he gazed long and tearfully +at a little light twinkling in one of the convent windows. As he could not +but suppose that it illumined Hildegarde's cell and lonely vigils, he +watched it all night, and when morning came he recognized his beloved's +form in the long procession of nuns on their way to the chapel. + +[Sidenote: Rolandseck.] This view of the lady he loved seemed a slight +consolation to the hero, who built a retreat on this rock, which is known +as Rolandseck. Here he spent his days in penance and prayer, gazing +constantly at the island at his feet, and the swift stream which parted him +from Hildegarde. + +One wintry day, many years after he had taken up his abode on the rocky +height, Roland missed the graceful form he loved, and heard, instead of the +usual psalm, a dirge for the dead. Then he noticed that six of the nuns +were carrying a coffin, which they lowered into an open tomb. + +Roland's nameless fears were confirmed in the evening, when the convent +priest visited him, and gently announced that Hildegarde was at rest. +Calmly Roland listened to these tidings, begged the priest to hear his +confession as usual, and, when he had received absolution, expressed a +desire to be buried with his face turned toward the convent where +Hildegarde had lived and died. + +The priest readily promised to observe this request, and departed. When he +came on the morrow, he found Roland dead. They buried him reverently on the +very spot which bears his name, with his face turned toward Nonnenwörth, +where Hildegarde lay at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +THE SONS OF AYMON. + + +The different _chansons de gestes_ relating to Aymon and the necromancer +Malagigi (Malagis), probably arose from popular ballads commemorating the +struggles of Charles the Bald and his feudatories. These ballads are of +course as old as the events which they were intended to record, but the +_chansons de gestes_ based upon them, and entitled "Duolin de Mayence," +"Aymon, Son of Duolin de Mayence," "Maugis," "Rinaldo de Trebizonde," "The +Four Sons of Aymon," and "Mabrian," are of much later date, and were +particularly admired during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. + +One of the most famous of Charlemagne's peers was doubtless the noble Aymon +of Dordogne; and when the war against the Avars in Hungary had been +successfully closed, owing to his bravery, his adherents besought the king +to bestow upon this knight some reward. Charlemagne, whom many of these +later _chansons de gestes_ describe as mean and avaricious, refused to +grant any reward, declaring that were he to add still further to his +vassal's already extensive territories, Aymon would soon be come more +powerful than his sovereign. + +[Sidenote: War between Aymon and Charlemagne.] This unjust refusal +displeased Lord Hug of Dordogne, who had pleaded for his kinsman, so that +he ventured a retort, which so incensed the king that he slew him then and +there. Aymon, learning of the death of Lord Hug, and aware of the failure +of his last embassy, haughtily withdrew to his own estates, whence he now +began to wage war against Charlemagne. + +Instead of open battle, however, a sort of guerrilla warfare was carried +on, in which, thanks to his marvelous steed Bayard, which his cousin +Malagigi, the necromancer, had brought him from hell, Aymon always won the +advantage. At the end of several years, however, Charlemagne collected a +large host, and came to lay siege to the castle where Aymon had intrenched +himself with all his adherents. + +[Sidenote: Loss of the horse Bayard.] During that siege, Aymon awoke one +morning to find that his beloved steed had vanished. Malagigi, hearing him +bewail his loss, bade him be of good cheer, promising to restore Bayard ere +long, although he would be obliged to go to Mount Vulcanus, the mouth of +hell, to get him. Thus comforted, Aymon ceased to mourn, while Malagigi set +to work to fulfill his promise. As a brisk wind was blowing from the castle +towards the camp, he flung upon the breeze some powdered hellebore, which +caused a violent sneezing throughout the army. Then, while his foes were +wiping their streaming eyes, the necromancer, who had learned his black art +in the famous school of Toledo, slipped through their ranks unseen, and +journeyed on to Mount Vulcanus, where he encountered his Satanic Majesty. + +His first act was to offer his services to Satan, who accepted them gladly, +bidding him watch the steed Bayard, which he had stolen because he +preferred riding a horse to sitting astride a storm cloud as usual. The +necromancer artfully pretended great anxiety to serve his new master, but +having discovered just where Bayard was to be found, he made use of a +sedative powder to lull Satan to sleep. Then, hastening to the angry steed, +Malagigi made him tractable by whispering his master's name in his ear; +and, springing on his back, rode swiftly away. + +Satan was awakened by the joyful whinny of the flying steed, and +immediately mounted upon a storm cloud and started in pursuit, hurling a +red-hot thunderbolt at Malagigi to check his advance. But the necromancer +muttered a magic spell and held up his crucifix, and the bolt fell short; +while the devil, losing his balance, fell to the earth, and thus lamed +himself permanently. + +[Sidenote: Bayard restored by Malagigi.] Count Aymon, in the mean while, +had been obliged to flee from his besieged castle, mounted upon a sorry +steed instead of his fleet-footed horse. When the enemy detected his +flight, they set out in pursuit, tracking him by means of bloodhounds, and +were about to overtake and slay him when Malagigi suddenly appeared with +Bayard. To bound on the horse's back, draw his famous sword Flamberge, +which had been made by the smith Wieland, and charge into the midst of his +foes, was the work of a few seconds. The result was that most of Aymon's +foes bit the dust, while he rode away unharmed, and gathering many +followers, he proceeded to win back all the castles and fortresses he had +lost. + +Frightened by Aymon's successes, Charlemagne finally sent Roland, his +nephew and favorite, bidding him offer a rich ransom to atone for the +murder of Lord Hug, and instructing him to secure peace at any price. Aymon +at first refused these overtures, but consented at last to cease the feud +upon receipt of six times Lord Hug's weight in gold, and the hand of the +king's sister, Aya, whom he had long loved. + +These demands were granted, peace was concluded, and Aymon, having married +Aya, led her to the castle of Pierlepont, where they dwelt most happily +together, and became the parents of four brave sons, Renaud, Alard, +Guiscard, and Richard. Inactivity, however, was not enjoyable to an +inveterate fighter like Aymon, so he soon left home to journey into Spain, +where the bitter enmity between the Christians and the Moors would afford +him opportunity to fight to his heart's content. + +Years now passed by, during which Aymon covered himself with glory; for, +mounted on Bayard, he was the foremost in every battle, and always struck +terror into the hearts of his foes by the mere flash of his blade +Flamberge. Thus he fought until his sons attained manhood, and Aya had long +thought him dead, when a messenger came to Pierlepont, telling them that +Aymon lay ill in the Pyrenees, and wished to see his wife and his children +once more. + +In answer to these summons Aya hastened southward, and found her husband +old and worn, yet not so changed that she could not recognize him. Aymon, +sick as he was, rejoiced at the sight of his manly sons. He gave the three +eldest the spoil he had won during those many years' warfare, and promised +Renaud (Reinold) his horse and sword, if he could successfully mount and +ride the former. + +[Sidenote: Bayard won by Renaud.] Renaud, who was a skillful horseman, +fancied the task very easy, and was somewhat surprised when his father's +steed caught him by the garments with his teeth, and tumbled him into the +manger. Undismayed by one failure, however, Renaud sprang boldly upon +Bayard; and, in spite of all the horse's efforts, kept his seat so well +that his father formally gave him the promised mount and sword. + +When restored to health by the tender nursing of his loving wife, Aymon +returned home with his family. Then, hearing that Charlemagne had returned +from his coronation journey to Rome, and was about to celebrate the +majority of his heir, Aymon went to court with his four sons. + +During the tournament, held as usual on such festive occasions, Renaud +unhorsed every opponent, and even defeated the prince. This roused the +anger of Charlot, or Berthelot as he is called by some authorities, and +made him vow revenge. He soon discovered that Renaud was particularly +attached to his brother Alard, so he resolved first to harm the latter. +Advised by the traitor Ganelon, Chariot challenged Alard to a game of +chess, and insisted that the stakes should be the players' heads. + +This proposal was very distasteful to Alard, for he knew that he would +never dare lay any claim to the prince's head even if he won the game, and +feared to lose his own if he failed to win. Compelled to accept the +challenge, however, Alard began the game, and played so well that he won +five times in succession. Then Charlot, angry at being so completely +checkmated, suddenly seized the board and struck his antagonist such a +cruel blow that the blood began to flow. Alard, curbing his wrath, simply +withdrew; and it was only when Renaud questioned him very closely that he +told how the quarrel had occurred. + +Renaud was indignant at the insult offered his brother, and went to the +emperor with his complaint. The umpires reluctantly testified that the +prince had forfeited his head, so Renaud cut it off in the emperor's +presence, and effected his escape with his father and brothers before any +one could lay hands upon them. Closely pursued by the imperial troops, +Aymon and his sons were soon brought to bay, and fought so bravely that +they slew many of their assailants. At last, seeing that all their horses +except the incomparable Bayard had been slain, Renaud bade his brothers +mount behind him, and they dashed away. The aged Aymon had already fallen +into the hands of the emperor's adviser, Turpin, who solemnly promised that +no harm should befall him. But in spite of this oath, and of the +remonstrances of all his peers, Charlemagne prepared to have Aymon publicly +hanged, and consented to release him only upon condition that Aymon would +promise to deliver his sons into the emperor's hands, were it ever in his +power to do so. + +The four young men, knowing their father safe, and unwilling to expose +their mother to the unpleasant experiences of the siege which would have +followed had they remained at Pierlepont, now journeyed southward, and +entered the service of Saforet, King of the Moors. With him they won many +victories; but, seeing at the end of three years that this monarch had no +intention of giving them the promised reward, they slew him, and offered +their swords to Iwo, Prince of Tarasconia. + +[Sidenote: Fortress of Montauban.] Afraid of these warriors, yet wishing to +bind them to him by indissoluble ties, Iwo gave Renaud his daughter +Clarissa in marriage, and helped him build an impregnable fortress at +Montauban. This stronghold was scarcely finished when Charlemagne came up +with a great army to besiege it; but at the end of a year of fruitless +attempts, the emperor reluctantly withdrew, leaving Montauban still in the +hands of his enemies. + +Seven years had now elapsed since the four young men had seen their mother; +and, anxious to embrace her once more, they went in pilgrims' robes to the +castle of Pierlepont. Here the chamberlain recognized them and betrayed +their presence to Aymon, who, compelled by his oath, prepared to bind his +four sons fast and take them captive to his sovereign. The young men, +however, defended themselves bravely, secured their father instead, and +sent him in chains to Charlemagne. Unfortunately the monarch was much +nearer Pierlepont at the time than the young men supposed. Hastening +onward, he entered the castle before they had even become aware of his +approach, and secured three of them. The fourth, Renaud, aided by his +mother, escaped in pilgrim's garb, and returned to Montauban. Here he found +Bayard, and without pausing to rest, he rode straight to Paris to deliver +his brothers from the emperor's hands. + +Overcome by fatigue after this hasty journey, Renaud dismounted shortly +before reaching Paris, and fell asleep. When he awoke he found that his +steed had vanished, and he reluctantly continued his journey on foot, +begging his way. He was joined on the way by his cousin Malagigi, who also +wore a pilgrim's garb, and who promised to aid Renaud, not only in freeing +his brothers, but also in recovering Bayard. + +[Sidenote: Malagigi's stratagem.] Unnoticed, the beggars threaded their way +through the city of Paris and came to the palace. There a great tournament +was to be held, and the emperor had promised to the victor of the day the +famous steed Bayard. To stimulate the knights to greater efforts by a view +of the promised prize, the emperor bade a groom lead forth the renowned +steed. The horse seemed restive, but suddenly paused beside two beggars, +with a whinny of joy. The groom, little suspecting that the horse's real +master was hidden under the travel-stained pilgrim's robe, laughingly +commented upon Bayard's bad taste. Then Malagigi, the second beggar, +suddenly cried aloud that his poor companion had been told that he would +recover from his lameness were he only once allowed to bestride the famous +steed. Anxious to witness a miracle, the emperor gave orders that the +beggar should be placed upon Bayard; and Renaud, after feigning to fall off +through awkwardness, suddenly sat firmly upon his saddle, and dashed away +before any one could stop him. + +As for Malagigi, having wandered among the throng unheeded, he remained in +Paris until evening. Then, making his way into the prison by means of the +necromantic charm "Abracadabra," which he continually repeated, he +delivered the other sons of Aymon from their chains. He next entered the +palace of the sleeping emperor, spoke to him in his sleep, and forced him, +under hypnotic influence, to give up the scepter and crown, which he +triumphantly bore away. + +[Treachery of Iwo.] When Charlemagne awoke on the morrow, found his +prisoners gone, and realized that what had seemed a dream was only too +true, and that the insignia of royalty were gone, he was very angry indeed. +More than ever before he now longed to secure the sons of Aymon; so he +bribed Iwo, with whom the brothers had taken refuge, to send them to him. +Clarissa suspected her father's treachery, and implored Renaud not to +believe him; but the brave young hero, relying upon Iwo's promise, set out +without arms to seek the emperor's pardon. On the way, however, the four +sons of Aymon fell into an ambuscade, whence they would scarcely have +escaped alive had not one of the brothers drawn from under his robe the +weapons Clarissa had given him. + +The emperor's warriors, afraid of the valor of these doughty brethren now +that they were armed, soon withdrew to a safe distance, whence they could +watch the young men and prevent their escape. Suddenly, however, Malagigi +came dashing up on Bayard, for Clarissa had warned him of his kinsmen's +danger, and implored him to go to their rescue. Renaud immediately mounted +his favorite steed, and brandishing Flamberge, which his uncle had brought +him, he charged so gallantly into the very midst of the imperial troops +that he soon put them to flight. + +[Sidenote: Renaud and Roland.] The emperor, baffled and angry, suspected +that Iwo had warned his son-in-law of the danger and provided him with +weapons. In his wrath he had Iwo seized, and sentenced him to be hanged. +But Renaud, seeing Clarissa's tears, vowed that he would save his +father-in-law from such an ignominious death. With his usual bravery he +charged into the very midst of the executioners, and unhorsed the valiant +champion, Roland. During this encounter, Iwo effected his escape, and +Renaud followed him, while Roland slowly picked himself up and prepared to +follow his antagonist and once more try his strength against him. + +On the way to Montauban, Roland met Richard, one of the four brothers, whom +he carried captive to Charlemagne. The emperor immediately ordered the +young knight to be hanged, and bade some of his most noble followers to see +the sentence executed. They one and all refused, however, declaring death +on the gallows too ignominious a punishment for a knight. + +The discussions which ensued delayed the execution and enabled Malagigi to +warn Renaud of his brother's imminent peril. Mounted upon Bayard, Renaud +rode straight to Montfaucon, accompanied by his two other brothers and a +few faithful men. There they camped under the gallows, to be at hand when +the guard came to hang the prisoner on the morrow. But Renaud and his +companions slept so soundly that they would have been surprised had not the +intelligent Bayard awakened his master by a very opportune kick. Springing +to his feet, Renaud roused his companions, vaulted upon his steed, and +charged the guard. He soon delivered his captive brother and carried him +off in triumph, after hanging the knight who had volunteered to act as +executioner. + +[Sidenote: Montauban besieged by Charlemagne.] Charlemagne, still anxious +to seize and punish these refractory subjects, now collected an army and +began again to besiege the stronghold of Montauban. Occasional sallies and +a few bloody encounters were the only variations in the monotony of a +several-years' siege. But finally the provisions of the besieged became +very scanty. Malagigi, who knew that a number of provision wagons were +expected, advised Renaud to make a bold sally and carry them off, while he, +the necromancer, dulled the senses of the imperial army by scattering one +of his magic sleeping powders in the air. He had just begun his spell when +Oliver perceived him and, pouncing upon him, carried him off to the +emperor's tent. Oliver, on the way thither, never once relinquished his +grasp, although the magician tried to make him do so by throwing a pinch of +hellebore in his face. + +While sneezing loudly the paladin told how he had caught the magician, and +the emperor vowed that the rascal should be hanged on the very next day. +When he heard this decree, Malagigi implored the emperor to give him a good +meal, since this was to be his last night on earth, pledging his word not +to leave the camp without the emperor. This promise so reassured +Charlemagne that he ordered a sumptuous repast, charging a few knights to +watch Malagigi, lest, after all, he should effect his escape. The meal +over, the necromancer again had recourse to his magic art to plunge the +whole camp into a deep sleep. Then, proceeding unmolested to the imperial +tent, he bore off the sleeping emperor to the gates of Montauban, which +flew open at his well-known voice. + +Charlemagne, on awaking, was as surprised as dismayed to find himself in +the hands of his foes, who, however, when they saw his uneasiness, +gallantly gave him his freedom without exacting any pledge or ransom in +return. But when Malagigi heard of this foolhardy act of generosity, he +burned up his papers, boxes, and bags, and, when asked why he acted thus, +replied that he was about to leave his mad young kinsmen to their own +devices, and take refuge in a hermitage, where he intended to spend the +remainder of his life in repenting of his sins. Soon after this he +disappeared, and Aymon's sons, escaping secretly from Montauban just before +it was forced to surrender, took refuge in a castle they owned in the +Ardennes. + +Here the emperor pursued them, and kept up the siege until Aya sought him, +imploring him to forgive her sons and to cease persecuting them. +Charlemagne yielded at last to her entreaties, and promised to grant the +sons of Aymon full forgiveness provided the demoniacal steed Bayard were +given over to him to be put to death. Aya hastened to Renaud to tell him +this joyful news, but when he declared that nothing would ever induce him +to give up his faithful steed, she besought him not to sacrifice his +brothers, wife, and sons, out of love for his horse. + +[Sidenote: Death of Bayard.] Thus adjured, Renaud, with breaking heart, +finally consented. The treaty was signed, and Bayard, with feet heavily +weighted, was led to the middle of a bridge over the Seine, where the +emperor had decreed that he should be drowned. At a given signal from +Charlemagne the noble horse was pushed into the water; but, in spite of the +weights on his feet, he rose to the surface twice, casting an agonized +glance upon his master, who had been forced to come and witness his death. +Aya, seeing her son's grief, drew his head down upon her motherly bosom, +and when Bayard rose once more and missed his beloved master's face among +the crowd, he sank beneath the waves with a groan of despair, and never +rose again. + +Renaud, maddened by the needless cruelty of this act, now tore up the +treaty and flung it at the emperor's feet. He then broke his sword +Flamberge and cast it into the Seine, declaring that he would never wield +such a weapon again, and returned to Montauban alone and on foot. There he +bade his wife and children farewell, after committing them to the loyal +protection of Roland. He then set out for the Holy Land, where he fought +against the infidels, using a club as weapon, so as not to break his vow. +This evidently proved no less effective in his hands than the noted +Flamberge, for he was offered the crown of Jerusalem in reward for his +services. As he had vowed to renounce all the pomps and vanities of the +world, Renaud passed the crown on to Godfrey of Bouillon. Then, returning +home, he found that Clarissa had died, after having been persecuted for +years by the unwelcome attentions of many suitors, who would fain have +persuaded her that her husband was dead. + +[Sidenote: Death of Renaud.] According to one version of the story, Renaud +died in a hermitage, in the odor of sanctity; but if we are to believe +another, he journeyed on to Cologne, where the cathedral was being built, +and labored at it night and day. Exasperated by his constant activity, +which put them all to shame, his fellow-laborers slew him and flung his +body into the Rhine. Strange to relate, however, his body was not carried +away by the strong current, but lingered near the city, until it was +brought to land and interred by some pious people. + +Many miracles having taken place near the spot where he was buried, the +emperor gave orders that his remains should be conveyed either to +Aix-la-Chapelle or to Paris. The body was therefore laid upon a cart, which +moved of its own accord to Dortmund, in Westphalia, where it stopped, and +where a church was erected in honor of Renaud in 811. Here the saintly +warrior's remains were duly laid to rest, and the church in Dortmund still +bears his name. A chapel in Cologne is also dedicated to him, and is +supposed to stand on the very spot where he was so treacherously slain +after his long and brilliant career. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +HUON OF BORDEAUX. + + +It is supposed that this _chanson de geste_ was first composed in the +thirteenth century; but the version which has come down to us must have +been written shortly before the discovery of printing. Although this poem +was deservedly a favorite composition during the middle ages, no manuscript +copy of it now exists. Such was the admiration that it excited that Lord +Berners translated it into English under Henry VIII. In modern times it has +been the theme of Wieland's finest poem, and of one of Weber's operas, both +of which works are known by the title of "Oberon." It is from this work +that Shakespeare undoubtedly drew some of the principal characters for his +"Midsummer-Night's Dream," where Oberon, king of the fairies, plays no +unimportant part. + +[Sidenote: Charlot slain by Huon.] The hero of this poem, Huon of Bordeaux, +and his brother Girard, were on their way from Guienne to Paris to do +homage to Charlemagne for their estates. Charlot, the monarch's eldest son, +who bears a very unenviable reputation in all the mediaeval poems, +treacherously waylaid the brothers, intending to put them both to death. He +attacked them separately; but, after slaying Girard, was himself slain by +Huon, who, quite unconscious of the illustrious birth of his assailant, +calmly proceeded on his way. + +The rumor of the prince's death soon followed Huon to court, and +Charlemagne, incensed, vowed that he would never pardon him until he had +proved his loyalty and repentance by journeying to Bagdad, where he was to +cut off the head of the great bashaw, to kiss the Sultan's daughter, and +whence he was to bring back a lock of that mighty potentate's gray beard +and four of his best teeth. + + "'Yet hear the terms; hear what no earthly power + Shall ever change!' He spoke, and wav'd below + His scepter, bent in anger o'er my brow.-- + 'Yes, thou may'st live;--but, instant, from this hour, + Away! in exile rove far nations o'er; + Thy foot accurs'd shall tread this soil no more, + Till thou, in due obedience to my will + Shalt, point by point, the word I speak fulfill; + Thou diest, if this unwrought thou touch thy native shore. + + "'Go hence to Bagdad; in high festal day + At his round table, when the caliph, plac'd + In stately pomp, with splendid emirs grac'd, + Enjoys the banquet rang'd in proud array, + Slay him who lies the monarch's left beside, + Dash from his headless trunk the purple tide. + Then to the right draw near; with courtly grace + The beauteous heiress of his throne embrace; + And thrice with public kiss salute her as thy bride. + + "'And while the caliph, at the monstrous scene, + Such as before ne'er shock'd a caliph's eyes, + Stares at thy confidence in mute surprise, + Then, as the Easterns wont, with lowly mien + Fall on the earth before his golden throne, + And gain (a trifle, proof of love alone) + That it may please him, gift of friend to friend, + Four of his grinders at my bidding send, + And of his beard a lock with silver hair o'ergrown." + WIELAND. _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Illustration: HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max.] + +[Sidenote: Huon's quest.] Huon regretfully, left his native land to begin +this apparently hopeless quest; and, after visiting his uncle, the Pope, in +Rome, he tried to secure heavenly assistance by a pilgrimage to the holy +sepulcher. Then he set out for Babylon, or Bagdad, for, with the visual +mediaeval scorn for geography, evinced in all the _chansons de gestes_, +these are considered interchangeable names for the same town. As the hero +was journeying towards his goal by way of the Red Sea, it will not greatly +surprise the modern reader to hear that he lost his way and came to a +pathless forest. Darkness soon overtook him, and Huon was blindly stumbling +forward, leading his weary steed by the bridle, when he perceived a light, +toward which he directed his way. + + "Not long his step the winding way pursued, + When on his wistful gaze, to him beseems, + The light of distant fire delightful gleams. + His cheek flash'd crimson as the flame he view'd. + Half wild with hope and fear, he rushed to find + In these lone woods some glimpse of human kind, + And, ever and anon, at once the ray + Flash'd on his sight, then sunk at once away, + While rose and fell the path as hill and valley wind." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin.] Huon at last reached a cave, and found a gigantic +old man all covered with hair, which was his sole garment. After a few +moments' fruitless attempt at conversation in the language of the country, +Huon impetuously spoke a few words in his mother tongue. Imagine his +surprise when the uncouth inhabitant of the woods answered him fluently, +and when he discovered, after a few rapid questions, that the man was +Sherasmin (Gerasmes), an old servant of his father's! This old man had +escaped from the hands of his Saracen captors, and had taken refuge in +these woods, where he had already dwelt many years. After relating his +adventures, Huon entreated Sherasmin to point out the nearest way to +Bagdad, and learned with surprise that there were two roads, one very long +and comparatively safe, even for an inexperienced traveler, and the other +far shorter, but leading through an enchanted forest, where countless +dangers awaited the venturesome traveler. + +The young knight of course decided to travel along the most perilous way; +and, accompanied by Sherasmin, who offered his services as guide, he set +out early upon the morrow to continue his quest. On the fourth day of their +journey they saw a Saracen struggling single-handed against a band of +Arabs, whom Huon soon put to flight with a few well directed strokes from +his mighty sword. + +After resting a few moments, Huon bade Sherasmin lead the way into the +neighboring forest, although his guide and mentor again strove to dissuade +him from crossing it by explaining that the forest was haunted by a goblin +who could change men into beasts. The hero, who was on his way to insult +the proudest ruler on earth, was not to be deterred by a goblin; and as +Sherasmin still refused to enter first, Huon plunged boldly into the +enchanted forest. Sherasmin followed him reluctantly, finding cause for +alarm in the very silence of the dense shade, and timorously glancing from +side to side in the gloomy recesses, where strange forms seemed to glide +noiselessly about. + + + "Meanwhile the wand'ring travelers onward go + Unawares within the circuit of a wood, + Whose mazy windings at each step renew'd, + In many a serpent-fold, twin'd to and fro, + So that our pair to lose themselves were fain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Meeting with Oberon.] The travelers lost their way entirely as +they penetrated farther into the forest, and they came at last to a little +glade, where, resting under the spreading branches of a mighty oak, they +were favored with the vision of a castle. Its golden portals opened wide to +permit of the egress of Oberon, king of the fairies, the son of Julius +Caesar and Morgana the fay. He came to them in the radiant guise of the god +of love, sitting in a chariot of silver, drawn by leopards. + +Sherasmin, terrified at the appearance of this radiant creature, and under +the influence of wild, unreasoning fear, seized the bridle of his master's +steed and dragged him into the midst of the forest, in spite of all his +remonstrances. At last he paused, out of breath, and thought himself safe +from further pursuit; but he was soon made aware of the goblin's wrath by +the sudden outbreak of a frightful storm. + + + "A tempest, wing'd with lightning, storm, and rain, + O'ertakes our pair: around them midnight throws + Darkness that hides the world: it peels, cracks, blows, + As if the uprooted globe would split in twain; + The elements in wild confusion flung, + Each warr'd with each, as fierce from chaos sprung. + Yet heard from time to time amid the storm, + The gentle whisper of th' aërial form + Breath'd forth a lovely tone that died the gales among." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +All Sherasmin's efforts to escape from the spirit of the forest had been in +vain. Oberon's magic horn had called forth the raging tempest, and his +power suddenly stayed its fury as Huon and his companion overtook a company +of monks and nuns. These holy people had been celebrating a festival by a +picnic, and were now hastening home, drenched, bedraggled, and in a sorry +plight. They had scarcely reached the convent yard, however, where +Sherasmin fancied all would be quite safe from further enchantment, when +Oberon suddenly appeared in their midst like a brilliant meteor. + + "At once the storm is fled; serenely mild + Heav'n smiles around, bright rays the sky adorn, + While beauteous as an angel newly born + Beams in the roseate dayspring, glow'd the child. + A lily stalk his graceful limbs sustain'd, + Round his smooth neck an ivory horn was chain'd; + Yet lovely as he was, on all around + Strange horror stole, for stern the fairy frown'd, + And o'er each sadden'd charm a sullen anger reign'd." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's aid promised.] The displeasure of the king of the +fairies had been roused by Huon and Sherasmin's discourteous flight, but he +merely vented his anger and showed his power by breathing a soft strain on +his magic horn. At the same moment, monks, nuns, and Sherasmin, forgetting +their age and calling, began to dance in the wildest abandon. Huon alone +remained uninfluenced by the music, for he had had no wish to avoid an +encounter with Oberon. + +The king of the fairies now revealed to Huon that as his life had been pure +and his soul true, he would help him in his quest. Then, at a wave from the +lily wand the magic music ceased, and the charm was broken. Sherasmin was +graciously forgiven by Oberon, who, seeing the old man well-nigh exhausted, +offered him a golden beaker of wine, bidding him drink without fear. But +Sherasmin was of a suspicious nature, and it was only when he found that +the draught had greatly refreshed him that he completely dismissed his +fears. + +[Sidenote: The magic horn.] After informing Huon that he was fully aware of +the peculiar nature of his quest, Oberon gave him the golden beaker, +assuring him that it would always be full of the richest wine for the +virtuous, but would burn the evil doer with a devouring fire. He also +bestowed his magic horn upon him, telling him that a gentle blast would +cause all the hearers to dance, while a loud one would bring to his aid the +king of the fairies himself. + + "Does but its snail-like spiral hollow sing, + A lovely note soft swell'd with gentle breath, + Though thousand warriors threaten instant death, + And with advancing weapons round enring; + Then, as thou late hast seen, in restless dance + All, all must spin, and every sword and lance + Fall with th' exhausted warriors to the ground. + But if thou peal it with impatient sound, + I at thy call appear, more swift than lightning glance." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Another wave of his lily wand, and Oberon disappeared, leaving a subtle +fragrance behind him; and had it not been for the golden beaker and the +ivory horn which he still held, Huon might have been tempted to consider +the whole occurrence a dream. + +The journey to Bagdad was now resumed in a more hopeful spirit; and when +the travelers reached Tourmont they found that it was governed by one of +Huon's uncles, who, captured in his youth by the Saracens, had turned +Mussulman, and had gradually risen to the highest dignity. Seeing Huon +refresh some of the Christians of his household with a draught of wine from +the magic cup, he asked to be allowed to drink from it too. He had no +sooner taken hold of it, however, than he was unmercifully burned, for he +was a renegade, and the magic cup refreshed only the true believers. + +Incensed at what he fancied a deliberate insult, the governor of Tourmont +planned to slay Huon at a great banquet. But the young hero defended +himself bravely, and, after slaying sundry assailants, disposed of the +remainder by breathing a soft note upon his magic horn, and setting them +all to dancing wildly, until they sank breathless and exhausted upon their +divans. + +[Sidenote: The giant Angoulaffre.] As Huon had taken advantage of the spell +to depart and continue his journey, he soon reached the castle of the giant +Angoulaffre. The latter had stolen from Oberon a magic ring which made the +wearer invulnerable, and thus suffered him to commit countless crimes with +impunity. When Huon came near the castle he met an unfortunate knight who +imformed him that the giant detained his promised bride captive, together +with several other helpless damsels. + +Like a true knight errant, Huon vowed to deliver these helpless ladies, +and, in spite of the armed guards at every doorway, he passed unmolested +into Angoulaffre's chamber. There he found the giant plunged in a lethargy, +but was rapturously welcomed by the knight's fair betrothed, who had long +sighed for a deliverer. In a few hurried sentences she told him that her +captor constantly forced his unwelcome attentions upon her; but that, owing +to the protection of the Virgin, a trance overtook him and made him +helpless whenever he tried to force her inclinations and take her to wife. + + "'As oft the hateful battle he renews, + As oft the miracle his force subdues; + The ring no virtue boasts whene'er that sleep assails.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Prompted by this fair princess, whose name was Angela, Huon secured the +ring, and donned a magic hauberk hanging near. But, as he scorned to take +any further advantage of a sleeping foe, he patiently awaited the giant's +awakening to engage in one of those combats which the mediaeval poets loved +to describe. + +[Sidenote: Angela and Alexis.] Of course Huon was victorious, and after +slaying Angoulaffre, he restored the fair Angela to her lover, Alexis, and +gave a great banquet, which was attended by the fifty rescued damsels, and +by fifty knights who had come to help Alexis. Although this gay company +would fain have had him remain with them, Huon traveled on. When too +exhausted to continue his way, he again rested under a tree, where Oberon +caused a tent to be raised by invisible hands. Here Huon had a wonderful +dream, in which he beheld his future ladylove, and was warned of some of +the perils which still awaited him before he could claim her as his own. + +The journey was then resumed, and when they reached the banks of the Red +Sea, Oberon sent one of his spirits, Malebron, to carry them safely over. +They traveled through burning wastes of sand, refreshed and strengthened by +occasional draughts from the magic goblet, and came at last to a forest, +where they saw a Saracen about to succumb beneath the attack of a monstrous +lion. Huon immediately flew to his rescue, slew the lion, and, having drunk +deeply from his magic cup, handed it to the Saracen, on whose lips the +refreshing wine turned to liquid flame. + + "With evil eye, from Huon's courteous hand, + Filled to the brim, the heathen takes the bowl-- + Back from his lip th' indignant bubbles roll! + The spring is dried, and hot as fiery brand, + Proof of internal guilt, the metal glows. + Far from his grasp the wretch the goblet throws, + Raves, roars, and stamps." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +With a blasphemous exclamation the Saracen flung aside the cup, and seeing +that his own steed had been slain by the lion, he sprang unceremoniously +upon Huon's horse, and rode rapidly away. + +[Sidenote: Princess Rezia.] As there was but one mount left for them both, +Huon and Sherasmin were now obliged to proceed more slowly to Bagdad, where +they found every hostelry full, as the people were all coming thither to +witness the approaching nuptials of the princess, Rezia (Esclamonde), and +Babican, King of Hyrcania. Huon and Sherasmin, after a long search, finally +found entertainment in a little hut, where an old woman, the mother of the +princess's attendant, entertained them by relating that the princess was +very reluctant to marry. She also told them that Rezia had lately been +troubled by a dream, in which she had seen herself in the guise of a hind +and pursued through a pathless forest by Babican. In this dream she was +saved and restored to her former shape by a radiant little creature, who +rode in a glistening silver car, drawn by leopards. He was accompanied by a +fair-haired knight, whom he presented to her as her future bridegroom. + + "The shadow flies; but from her heart again + He never fades--the youth with golden hair; + Eternally his image hovers there, + Exhaustless source of sweetly pensive pain, + In nightly visions, and in daydreams shown." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Huon listened in breathless rapture, for he now felt assured that the +princess Rezia was the radiant creature he had seen in his dream, and that +Oberon intended them for each other. He therefore assured the old woman +that the princess should never marry the detested Babican. Then, although +Sherasmin pointed out to him that the way to a lady's favor seldom consists +in cutting off the head of her intended bridegroom, depriving her father of +four teeth and a lock of his beard, and kissing her without the usual +preliminary of "by your leave," the young hero persisted in his resolution +to visit the palace on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Oberon again to the rescue.] That selfsame night, Huon and Rezia +were again visited by sweet dreams, in which Oberon, their guardian spirit, +promised them his aid. While the princess was arraying herself for her +nuptials on the morrow, the old woman rushed into her apartment and +announced that a fair-haired knight, evidently the promised deliverer, had +slept in her humble dwelling the night before. Comforted by these tidings, +Rezia made a triumphant entrance into the palace hall, where her father, +the bridegroom, and all the principal dignitaries of the court, awaited her +appearance. + + "Emirs and viziers, all the courtly crowd + Meantime attendant at the sultan's call, + With festal splendor grace the nuptial hall. + The banquet waits, the cymbals clang aloud. + The gray-beard caliph from his golden door + Stalks mid the slaves that fall his path before; + Behind, of stately gesture, proud to view, + The Druse prince, though somewhat pale of hue, + Comes as a bridegroom deck'd with jewels blazing o'er." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +In the mean while Huon, awaking at early dawn, found a complete suit of +Saracenic apparel at his bedside. He donned it joyfully, entered the palace +unchallenged, and passed into the banquet hall, where he perceived the +gray-bearded caliph, and recognized in the bridegroom at his left the +Saracen whom he had delivered from the lion, and who had so discourteously +stolen his horse. + +[Sidenote: Huon's success.] One stride forward, a flash of his curved +scimitar, and the first part of Charlemagne's order was fulfilled, for the +Saracen's head rolled to the ground. The sudden movement caused Huon's +turban to fall off, however, and the princess, seated at the caliph's +right, gazed spellbound upon the knight, whose golden locks fell in rich +curls about his shoulders. + +There are several widely different versions of this part of the story. The +most popular, however, states that Huon, taking advantage of the first +moments of surprise, kissed Rezia thrice, slipping on her finger, in sign +of betrothal, the magic ring which he had taken from Angoulaffre. Then, +seeing the caliph's guards about to fall upon him, he gently breathed soft +music on his magic horn, and set caliph and court a-dancing. + + "The whole divan, one swimming circle glides + Swift without stop: the old bashaws click time, + As if on polish'd ice; in trance sublime + The iman hoar with some spruce courtier slides. + Nor rank nor age from capering refrain; + Nor can the king his royal foot restrain! + He too must reel amid the frolic row, + Grasp the grand vizier by his beard of snow, + And teach the aged man once more to bound amain!" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Flight of Rezia.] While they were thus occupied, Huon conducted +the willing Rezia to the door, where Sherasmin was waiting for them with +fleet steeds, and with Fatima, the princess's favorite attendant. While +Sherasmin helped the ladies to mount, Huon hastened back to the palace +hall, and found that the exhausted caliph had sunk upon a divan. With the +prescribed ceremonies, our hero politely craved a lock of his beard and +four of his teeth as a present for Charlemagne. This impudent request so +incensed the caliph that he vociferated orders to his guards to slay the +stranger. Huon was now forced to defend himself with a curtain pole and a +golden bowl, until, needing aid, he suddenly blew a resounding peal upon +his magic horn. The earth shook, the palace rocked, Oberon appeared in the +midst of rolling thunder and flashing lightning, and with a wave of his +lily wand plunged caliph and people into a deep sleep. Then he placed his +silver car at Huon's disposal, to bear him and his bride and attendants to +Ascalon, where a ship was waiting to take them back to France. + + "'So haste, thou matchless pair! + On wings of love, my car, that cuts the air, + Shall waft you high above terrestrial sight, + And place, ere morning melt the shades of night, + On Askalon's far shore, beneath my guardian care.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's warning.] When Huon and Rezia were about to embark at +Ascalon, Oberon appeared. He claimed his chariot, which had brought them +thither, and gave the knight a golden and jeweled casket, which contained +the teeth of the caliph and a lock of his beard. One last test of Huon's +loyalty was required, however; for Oberon, at parting, warned him to make +no attempt to claim Rezia as his wife until their union had been blessed at +Rome by the Pope. + + "'And deep, O Huon! grave it in your brain! + Till good Sylvester, pious father, sheds + Heaven's holy consecration on your heads, + As brother and as sister chaste remain! + Oh, may ye not, with inauspicious haste, + The fruit forbidden prematurely taste! + Know, if ye rashly venture ere the time, + That Oberon, in vengeance of your crime, + Leaves you, without a friend, on life's deserted waste!'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The first part of the journey was safely accomplished; but when they +stopped at Lepanto, on the way, Huon insisted upon his mentor, Sherasmin, +taking passage on another vessel, which sailed direct to France, that he +might hasten ahead, lay the golden casket at Charlemagne's feet, and +announce Huon's coming with his Oriental bride. + +[Illustration: HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD.--Gabriel Max.] + +When Sherasmin had reluctantly departed, and they were again on the high +seas, Huon expounded the Christian faith to Rezia, who not only was +converted, but was also baptized by a priest on board. He gave her the +Christian name of Amanda, in exchange for her pagan name of Rezia or +Esclarmonde. This same priest also consecrated their marriage; and while +Huon intended to await the Pope's blessing ere he claimed Amanda as his +wife, his good resolutions were soon forgotten, and the last injunction of +Oberon disregarded. + +[Sidenote: Disobedience and punishment.] This disobedience was immediately +punished, for a frightful tempest suddenly arose, threatening to destroy +the vessel and all on board. The sailors, full of superstitious fears, cast +lots to discover who should be sacrificed to allay the fury of the storm. +When the choice fell upon Huon, Amanda flung herself with him into the +tumultuous waves. As the lovers vanished overboard the storm was suddenly +appeased, and, instead of drowning together, Huon and Amanda, by the magic +of the ring she wore, drifted to a volcanic island, where they almost +perished from hunger and thirst. + +Much search among the rocks was finally rewarded by the discovery of some +dates, which were particularly welcome, as the lovers had been bitterly +deluded by the sight of some apples of Sodom. The fruit, however, was soon +exhausted, and, after untold exertions, Huon made his way over the +mountains to a fertile valley, the retreat of Titania, queen of the +fairies, who had quarreled with Oberon, and who was waiting here until +recalled to fairyland. + +The only visible inhabitant of the valley, however, was a hermit, who +welcomed Huon, and showed him a short and convenient way to bring Amanda +thither. After listening attentively to the story of Huon's adventures, the +hermit bade him endeavor to recover the favor of Oberon by voluntarily +living apart from his wife, and leading a life of toil and abstinence. + + "'Blest,' says the hermit, 'blest the man whom fate + Guides with strict hand, but not unfriendly aim! + How blest! whose slightest fault is doom'd to shame! + Him, trained to virtue, purest joys await,-- + Earth's purest joys reward each trying pain! + Think not the fairy will for aye remain + Inexorable foe to hearts like thine: + Still o'er you hangs his viewless hand divine; + Do but deserve his grace, and ye his grace obtain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon's penance.] Huon was ready and willing to undergo any +penance which would enable him to deliver his beloved Amanda from the isle, +and after building her a little hut, within call of the cell he occupied +with the hermit, he spent all his time in tilling the soil for their +sustenance, and in listening to the teachings of the holy man. + +Time passed on. One day Amanda restlessly wandered a little way up the +mountain, and fell asleep in a lovely grotto, which she now for the first +time discovered. When she awoke from a blissful dream she found herself +clasping her new-born babe, who, during her slumbers, had been cared for by +the fairies. This child, Huonet, was, of course, a great comfort to Amanda, +who was devoted to him. + +When the babe was a little more than a year old the aged monk died. Huon +and Amanda, despairing of release from the desert island, were weary of +living apart; and Titania, who foresaw that Oberon would send new +misfortunes upon them to punish them in case they did not stand the second +test, carried little Huonet off to fairyland, lest he should suffer for his +parents' sins. + +[Sidenote: Amanda and the pirates.] Huon and Amanda, in the mean time, +searched frantically for the missing babe, fancying it had wandered off +into the woods. During their search they became separated, and Amanda, +while walking along the seashore, was seized by pirates. They intended to +carry her away and sell her as a slave to the Sultan. Huon heard her cries +of distress, and rushed to her rescue; but in spite of his utmost efforts +to join her he saw her borne away to the waiting vessel, while he was bound +to a tree in the woods, and left there to die. + + "Deep in the wood, at distance from the shore, + They drag their victim, that his loudest word + Pour'd on the desert air may pass unheard. + Then bind the wretch, and fasten o'er and o'er + Arm, leg, and neck, and shoulders, to a tree. + To heaven he looks in speechless agony, + O'ercome by woe's unutterable weigfit. + Thus he--the while, with jocund shout elate + The crew bear off their prey, and bound along the sea." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Oberon, however, had pity at last upon the unfortunate knight, and sent one +of his invisible servants, who not only unbound him, but transported him, +with miraculous rapidity, over land and sea, and deposited him at the door +of a gardener's house in Tunis. + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin's search.] After parting from his master at Lepanto, +Sherasmin traveled on until he came to the gates of the palace with his +precious casket. Then only did he realize that Charlemagne would never +credit his tale unless Huon were there with his bride to vouch for its +truth. Instead of entering the royal abode he therefore hastened back to +Rome, where for two months he awaited the arrival of the young couple. +Then, sure that some misfortune had overtaken them, the faithful Sherasmin +wandered in pilgrim guise from place to place seeking them, until he +finally came to Tunis, where Fatima, Amanda's maid, had been sold into +slavery, and where he sorrowfully learned of his master's death. + +To be near Fatima, Sherasmin took a gardener's position in the Sultan's +palace, and when he opened the door of his humble dwelling one morning he +was overjoyed to find Huon, who had been brought there by the messenger of +Oberon. An explanation ensued, and Huon, under the assumed name of Hassan, +became Sherasmin's assistant in the Sultan's gardens. + +The pirates, in the mean while, hoping to sell Amanda to the Sultan +himself, had treated her with the utmost deference; but as they neared the +shore of Tunis their vessel suffered shipwreck, and all on board perished +miserably, except Amanda. She was washed ashore at the Sultan's feet. +Charmed by her beauty, the Sultan conveyed her to his palace, where he +would immediately have married her had she not told him that she had made a +vow of chastity which she was bound to keep for two years. + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda reunited.] Huon, unconscious of Amanda's +presence, worked in the garden, where the Sultan's daughter saw him and +fell in love with him. As she failed to win him, she became very jealous. +Soon after this Fatima discovered Amanda's presence in the palace, and +informed Huon, who made a desperate effort to reach her. This was +discovered by the jealous princess, and since Huon would not love her, she +was determined that he should not love another. She therefore artfully laid +her plans, and accused him of a heinous crime, for which the Sultan, +finding appearances against him, condemned him to death. Amanda, who was +warned by Fatima of Huon's danger, rushed into the Sultan's presence to +plead for her husband's life; but when she discovered that she could obtain +it only at the price of renouncing him forever and marrying the Sultan, she +declared that she preferred to die, and elected to be burned with her +beloved. The flames were already rising around them both, when Oberon, +touched by their sufferings and their constancy, suddenly appeared, and +again hung his horn about Huon's neck. + +The knight hailed this sign of recovered favor with rapture, and, putting +the magic horn to his lips, showed his magnanimity by blowing only a soft +note and making all the pagans dance. + + "No sooner had the grateful knight beheld, + With joyful ardor seen, the ivory horn, + Sweet pledge of fairy grace, his neck adorn, + Than with melodious whisper gently swell'd, + His lip entices forth the sweetest tone + That ever breath'd through magic ivory blown: + He scorns to doom a coward race to death. + 'Dance! till ye weary gasp, depriv'd of breath-- + Huon permits himself this slight revenge alone'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda in fairyland.] While all were dancing, much +against their will, Huon and Amanda, Sherasmin and Fatima, promptly stepped +into the silvery car which Oberon placed at their disposal, and were +rapidly transported to fairyland. There they found little Huonet in perfect +health. Great happiness now reigned, for Titania, having secured the ring +which Amanda had lost in her struggle with the pirates on the sandy shore, +had given it back to Oberon. He was propitiated by the gift, and as the +sight of Huon and Amanda's fidelity had convinced him that wives could be +true, he took Titania back into favor, and reinstated her as queen of his +realm. + +When Huon and Amanda had sojourned as long as they wished in fairyland, +they were wafted in Oberon's car to the gates of Paris. There Huon arrived +just in time to win, at the point of his lance, his patrimony of Guienne, +which Charlemagne had offered as prize at a tournament. Bending low before +his monarch, the young hero then revealed his name, presented his wife, +gave him the golden casket containing the lock of hair and the four teeth, +and said that he had accomplished his quest. + + "Our hero lifts the helmet from his head; + And boldly ent'ring, like the god of day, + His golden ringlets down his armor play. + All, wond'ring, greet the youth long mourn'd as dead, + Before the king his spirit seems to stand! + Sir Huon with Amanda, hand in hand, + Salutes the emperor with respectful bow-- + 'Behold, obedient to his plighted vow, + Thy vassal, sovereign liege, returning to thy land! + + "'For by the help of Heaven this arm has done + What thou enjoin'dst--and lo! before thine eye + The beard and teeth of Asia's monarch lie, + At hazard of my life, to please thee, won; + And in this fair, by every peril tried, + The heiress of his throne, my love, my bride!' + He spoke; and lo! at once her knight to grace, + Off falls the veil that hid Amanda's face, + And a new radiance gilds the hall from side to side." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The young couple, entirely restored to favor, sojourned a short time at +court and then traveled southward to Guienne, where their subjects received +them with every demonstration of extravagant joy. Here they spent the +remainder of their lives together in happiness and comparative peace. + +[Sidenote: An earlier version of the story.] According to an earlier +version of the story, Esclarmonde, whom the pirates intended to convey to +the court of her uncle, Yvoirin of Montbrand, was wrecked near the palace +of Galafre, King of Tunis, who respected her vow of chastity but +obstinately refused to give her up to her uncle when he claimed her. Huon, +delivered from his fetters on the island, was borne by Malebron, Oberon's +servant, to Yvoirin's court, where he immediately offered himself as +champion to defy Galafre and win back his beloved wife at the point of the +sword. No sooner did Huon appear in martial array at Tunis than Galafre +selected Sherasmin (who had also been shipwrecked off his coast, and had +thus become his slave) as his champion. Huon and Sherasmin met, but, +recognizing each other after a few moments' struggle, they suddenly +embraced, and, joining forces, slew the pagans and carried off Esclarmonde +and Fatima. They embarked upon a swift sailing vessel, and soon arrived at +Rome, where Huon related his adventures to the Pope, who gave him his +blessing. + +As they were on their way to Charlemagne's court, Girard, a knight who had +taken possession of Huon's estates, stole the golden casket from Sherasmin, +and sent Huon and Esclarmonde in chains to Bordeaux. Then, going to court, +he informed Charlemagne that although Huon had failed in his quest, he had +dared to return to France. Charlemagne, whose anger had not yet cooled, +proceeded to Bordeaux, tried Huon, and condemned him to death. But just as +the knight was about to perish, Oberon appeared, bound the emperor and +Girard fast, and only consented to restore them to freedom when Charlemagne +promised to reinstate Huon. + +Oberon then produced the missing casket, revealed Girard's treachery, and, +after seeing him punished, bore Huon and Esclarmonde off to fairyland. Huon +eventually became ruler of this realm in Oberon's stead; and his daughter, +Claretie, whose equally marvelous adventures are told at great length in +another, but far less celebrated, _chanson de geste_, is represented as the +ancestress of all the Capetian kings of France. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the legend.] The most mystical and spiritual of all +the romances of chivalry is doubtless the legend of the Holy Grail. Rooted +in the mythology of all primitive races is the belief in a land of peace +and happiness, a sort of earthly paradise, once possessed by man, but now +lost, and only to be attained again by the virtuous. The legend of the Holy +Grail, which some authorities declare was first known in Europe by the +Moors, and christianized by the Spaniards, was soon introduced into France, +where Robert de Borron and Chrestien de Troyes wrote lengthy poems about +it. Other writers took up the same theme, among them Walter Map, Archdeacon +of Oxford, who connected it with the Arthurian legends. It soon became +known in Germany, where, in the hands of Gottfried von Strassburg, and +especially of Wolfram von Eschenbach, it assumed its most perfect and +popular form. The "Parzival" of Eschenbach also forms the basis of a recent +work, the much-discussed last opera of the great German composer, +Wagner.[1] [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Stories of the Wagner Opera.] + +The story of the Grail is somewhat confused, owing to the many changes made +by the different authors. The account here given, while mentioning the most +striking incidents of other versions, is in general an outline of the +"Titurel" and "Parzival" of Von Eschenbach. + +[Sidenote: The Holy Grail.] When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, one stone +of great beauty as detached from the marvelous crown which sixty thousand +angels had tendered him. This stone fell upon earth, and from it was carved +a vessel of great beauty, which came, after many ages, into the hands of +Joseph of Arimathea. He offered it to the Savior, who made use of it in the +Last Supper. When the blood flowed from the Redeemer's side, Joseph of +Arimathea caught a few drops of it in this wonderful vessel; and, owing to +this circumstance, it was thought to be endowed with marvelous powers. +"Wherever it was there were good things in abundance. Whoever looked upon +it, even though he were sick unto death, could not die that week; whoever +looked at it continually, his cheeks never grew pale, nor his hair gray." + +Once a year, on the anniversary of the Savior's death, a white dove brought +a fresh host down from heaven, and placed it on the vessel, which was borne +by a host of angels, or by spotless virgins. The care of it was at times +intrusted to mortals, who, however, had to prove themselves worthy of this +exalted honor by leading immaculate lives. This vessel, called the "Holy +Grail," remained, after the crucifixion, in the hands of Joseph of +Arimathea. The Jews, angry because Joseph had helped to bury Christ, cast +him into a dungeon, and left him there for a whole year without food or +drink. Their purpose in doing so was to slay Joseph, as they had already +slain Nicodemus, so that should the Romans ever ask them to produce +Christ's body, they might declare that it had been stolen by Joseph of +Arimathea. + +The Jews little suspected, however, that Joseph, having the Holy Grail with +him, could suffer no lack. When Vespasian, the Roman emperor, heard the +story of Christ's passion, as related by a knight who had just returned +from the Holy Land, he sent a commission to Jerusalem to investigate the +matter and bring back some holy relic to cure his son Titus of leprosy. + +In due time the ambassadors returned, giving Pilate's version of the story, +and bringing with them an old woman (known after her death as St. +Veronica). She produced the cloth with which she had wiped the Lord's face, +and upon which his likeness had been stamped by miracle. The mere sight of +this holy relic sufficed to restore Titus, who now proceeded with Vespasian +to Jerusalem. There they vainly tried to compel the Jews to produce the +body of Christ, until one of them revealed, under pressure of torture, the +place where Joseph was imprisoned. Vespasian proceeded in person to the +dungeon, and was hailed by name by the perfectly healthy prisoner. Joseph +was set free, but, fearing further persecution from the Jews, soon departed +with his sister, Enigée, and her husband, Brons, for a distant land. The +pilgrims found a place of refuge near Marseilles, where the Holy Grail +supplied all their needs, until one of them committed a sin. Then divine +displeasure became manifest by a terrible famine. + +As none knew who had sinned, Joseph was instructed in a vision to discover +the culprit by the same means with which the Lord had revealed the guilt of +Judas. Still following divine commands, Joseph made a table, and directed +Brons to catch a fish. The Grail was placed before Joseph's seat at table, +where all who implicitly believed were invited to take a seat. Eleven seats +were soon occupied, and only Judas's place remained empty. Moses, a +hypocrite and sinner, attempted to sit there, but the earth opened wide +beneath him and ingulfed him. + +In another vision Joseph was now informed that the vacancy would only be +filled on the day of doom. He was also told that a similar table would be +constructed by Merlin. Here the grandson of Brons would honorably occupy +the vacant place, which is designated in the legend as the "Siege +Perilous," because it proved fatal to all for whom it was not intended. + +In the "Great St. Grail," one of the longest poems on this theme, there are +countless adventures and journeys, "transformations of fair females into +foul fiends, conversions wholesale and individual, allegorical visions, +miracles, and portents. Eastern splendor and northern weirdness, angelry +and deviltry, together with abundant fighting and quite a phenomenal amount +of swooning, which seem to reflect a strange medley of Celtic, pagan, and +mythological traditions, and Christian legends and mysticism, alternate in +a kaleidoscopic maze that defies the symmetry which modern aesthetic canons +associate with every artistic production." + +The Holy Grail was, we are further told, transported by Joseph of Arimathea +to Glastonbury, where it long remained visible, and whence it vanished only +when men became too sinful to be permitted to retain it in their midst. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Titurel.] Another legend relates that a rich man from +Cappadocia, Berillus, followed Vespasian to Rome, where he won great +estates. He was a very virtuous man, and his good qualities were inherited +by all his descendants. One of them, called Titurisone, greatly regretted +having no son to continue his race. When advised by a soothsayer to make a +pilgrimage to the holy sepulcher, and there to lay a crucifix of pure gold +upon the altar, the pious Titurisone hastened to do so. On his return he +was rewarded for his pilgrimage by the birth of a son, called Titurel. + +This child, when he had attained manhood, spent all his time in warring +against the Saracens, as all pagans are called in these metrical romances. +The booty he won he gave either to the church or to the poor, and his +courage and virtue were only equaled by his piety and extreme humility. + +One day, when Titurel was walking alone in the woods, he was favored by the +vision of an angel. The celestial messenger sailed down to earth out of the +blue, and announced in musical tones that the Lord had chosen him to be the +guardian of the Holy Grail on Montsalvatch (which some authors believe to +have been in Spain), and that it behooved him to set his house in order and +obey the voice of God. + +When the angel had floated upward and out of sight, Titurel returned home. +After disposing of all his property, reserving nothing but his armor and +trusty sword, he again returned to the spot where he had been favored with +the divine message. There he saw a mysterious white cloud, which seemed to +beckon him onward. Titurel followed it, passed through vast solitudes and +almost impenetrable woods, and eventually began to climb a steep mountain, +whose ascent at first seemed impossible. Clinging to the rocks, and gazing +ever ahead at the guiding cloud, Titurel came at last to the top of the +mountain, where, in a beam of refulgent light, he beheld the Holy Grail, +borne in the air by invisible hands. He raised his heart in passionate +prayer that he might be found worthy to guard the emerald-colored wonder +which was thus intrusted to his care, and in his rapture hardly heeded the +welcoming cries of a number of knights in shining armor, who hailed him as +their king. + +The vision of the Holy Grail was as evanescent as beautiful, and soon +disappeared; but Titurel, knowing that the spot was holy, guarded it with +all his might against the infidels, who would fain have climbed the +mountain. + +After several years had passed without the Holy Grail's coming down to +earth, Titurel conceived the plan of building a temple suitable for its +reception. The knights who helped to build and afterward guarded this +temple were called "Templars." Their first effort was to clear the mountain +top, which they found was one single onyx of enormous size. This they +leveled and polished until it shone like a mirror, and upon this foundation +they prepared to build their temple. + +[Sidenote: Temple of the Holy Grail.] As Titurel was hesitating what plan +to adopt for the building, he prayed for guidance, and when he arose on the +morrow he found the ground plan all traced out and the building materials +ready for use. The knights labored piously from morning till night, and +when they ceased, invisible hands continued to work all night. Thus pushed +onward, the work was soon completed, and the temple rose on the mountain +top in all its splendor. "The temple itself was one hundred fathoms in +diameter. Around it were seventy-two chapels of an octagonal shape. To +every pair of chapels there was a tower six stories high, approachable by a +winding stair on the outside. In the center stood a tower twice as big as +the others, which rested on arches. The vaulting was of blue sapphire, and +in the center was a plate of emerald, with the lamb and the banner of the +cross in enamel. All the altar stones were of sapphire, as symbols of the +propitiation of sins. Upon the inside of the cupola surmounting the temple, +the sun and moon were represented in diamonds and topazes, and shed a light +as of day even in the darkness of the night. The windows were of crystal, +beryl, and other transparent stones. The floor was of translucent crystal, +under which all the fishes of the sea were carved out of onyx, just like +life. The towers were of precious stones inlaid with gold; their roofs of +gold and blue enamel. Upon every tower there was a crystal cross, and upon +it a golden eagle with expanded wings, which, at a distance, appeared to be +flying. At the summit of the main tower was an immense carbuncle, which +served, like a star, to guide the Templars thither at night. In the center +of the building, under the dome, was a miniature representation, of the +whole, and in this the holy vessel was kept." + +[Sidenote: Descent of the Holy Grail.] When all the work was finished, the +temple was solemnly consecrated, and as the priests chanted the psalms a +sweet perfume filled the air, and the holy vessel was seen to glide down on +a beam of light. While it hovered just above the altar the wondering +assembly heard the choir of the angels singing the praises of the Most +High. The Holy Grail, which had thus come down upon earth, was faithfully +guarded by Titurel and his knights, who were fed and sustained by its +marvelous power, and whose wounds were healed as soon as they gazed upon +it. From time to time it also delivered a divine message, which appeared in +letters of fire inscribed about its rim, and which none of the Templars +ever ventured to disregard. + +By virtue of the miraculous preservative influence of the Holy Grail, +Titurel seemed but forty when he was in reality more than four hundred +years old. His every thought had been so engrossed by the care of the +precious vessel that he was somewhat surprised when he read upon its rim a +luminous command to marry, so that his race might not become extinct. When +the knights of the temple had been summoned, and had all perused the divine +command, they began to consider where a suitable helpmate could be found +for their beloved king. They soon advised him to woe Richoude, the daughter +of a Spaniard. An imposing embassy was sent to the maiden, who, being +piously inclined, immediately consented to the marriage. + +Richoude was a faithful wife for twenty years, and when she died she left +two children,--a son, Frimoutel, and a daughter, Richoude,--to comfort the +sorrowing Titurel for her loss. These children both married in their turn, +and Frimoutel had two sons, Amfortas and Trevrezent, and three daughters, +Herzeloide, Josiane, and Repanse de Joie. As these children grew up, +Titurel became too old to bear the weight of his armor, and spent all his +days in the temple, where he finally read on the Holy Grail a command to +anoint Frimoutel king. Joyfully the old man obeyed, for he had long felt +that the defense of the Holy Grail should be intrusted to a younger man +than he. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Parzival.] Although he renounced the throne in favor of +his son, Titurel lived on, witnessed the marriage of Josiane, and mourned +for her when she died in giving birth to a little daughter, called Sigune. +This child, being thus deprived of a mother's care, was intrusted to +Herzeloide, who brought her up with Tchionatulander, the orphaned son of a +friend. Herzeloide married a prince named Gamuret, and became the happy +mother of Parzival, who, however, soon lost his father in a terrible +battle. + +Fearful lest her son, when grown up, should want to follow his father's +example, and make war against even the most formidable foes, Herzeloide +carried him off into the forest of Soltane (which some authors locate in +Brittany), and there brought him up in complete solitude and ignorance. + + "The child her falling tears bedew; + No wife was ever found more true. + She teemed with joy and uttered sighs; + And tears midst laughter filled her eyes + Her heart delighted in his birth; + In sorrow deep was drowned her mirth." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Illustration: PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL.--Pixis.] + +[Sidenote: Amfortas's wound.] While she was living there, Frimoutel, weary +of the dull life on Montsalvatch, went out into the world, and died of a +lance wound when far away from home. Amfortas, his son, who was now crowned +in obedience to the command of the Holy Grail, proved equally restless, and +went out also in search of adventures. Like his father, he too was wounded +by a poisoned lance; but, instead of dying, he lived to return to the Holy +Grail. But since his wound had not been received in defense of the holy +vessel, it never healed, and caused him untold suffering. + +Titurel, seeing this suffering, prayed ardently for his grandson's release +from the pain which imbittered every moment of his life, and was finally +informed by the glowing letters on the rim of the Holy Grail that a chosen +hero would climb the mountain and inquire the cause of Amfortas's pain. At +this question the evil spell would be broken, Amfortas healed, and the +newcomer appointed king and guardian of the Holy Grail. + +This promise of ultimate cure saved Amfortas from utter despair, and all +the Templars lived in constant anticipation of the coming hero, and of the +question which would put an end to the torment which they daily witnessed. + +[Sidenote: Parzival's early life.] Parzival, in the mean while, was growing +up in the forest, where he amused himself with a bow and arrow of his own +manufacture. But when for the first time he killed a tiny bird, and saw it +lying limp and helpless in his hand, he brought it tearfully to his mother +and inquired what it meant. In answering him she, for the first time also, +mentioned the name of God; and when he eagerly questioned her about the +Creator, she said to him: "Brighter is God than e'en the brightest day; yet +once he took the form and face of man." + +Thus brought up in complete ignorance, it is no wonder that when young +Parzival encountered some knights in brilliant armor in the forest, he fell +down and offered to worship them. Amused at the lad's simplicity, the +knights told him all about the gay world of chivalry beyond the forest, and +advised him to ride to Arthur's court, where, if worthy, he would receive +the order of knighthood, and perchance be admitted to the Round Table. +Beside himself with joy at hearing all these marvelous things, and eager to +set out immediately, Parzival returned to his mother to relate what he had +seen, and to implore her to give him a horse, that he might ride after the +knights. + + "'I saw four men, dear mother mine; + Not brighter is the Lord divine. + They spoke to me of chivalry; + Through Arthur's power of royalty, + In knightly honor well arrayed, + I shall receive the accolade.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The mother, finding herself unable to detain him any longer, reluctantly +consented to his departure, and, hoping that ridicule and lack of success +would soon drive him back to her, prepared for him the motley garb of a +fool and gave him a very sorry nag to ride. + + "The boy, silly yet brave indeed, + Oft from his mother begged a steed. + That in her heart she did lament; + She thought: 'Him must I make content, + Yet must the thing an evil be.' + Thereafter further pondered she: + 'The folk are prone to ridicule. + My child the garments of a fool + Shall on his shining body wear. + If he be scoffed and beaten there, + Perchance he'll come to me again.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Parzival's journey into the world.] Thus equipped, his mind well +stored with all manner of unpractical advice given by his mother in further +hopes of making a worldly career impossible for him, the young hero set +out. As he rode away from home, his heart was filled with regret at leaving +and with an ardent desire to seek adventures abroad,--conflicting emotions +which he experienced for the first time in his life. Herzeloide accompanied +her son part way, kissed him good-by, and, as his beloved form disappeared +from view in the forest paths, her heart broke and she breathed her last! + +Parzival rode onward and soon came to a meadow, in which some tents were +pitched. He saw a beautiful lady asleep in one of these tents, and, +dismounting, he wakened her with a kiss, thus obeying one of his mother's +injunctions--to kiss every fair lady he met. To his surprise, however, the +lady seemed indignant; so he tried to pacify her by telling her that he had +often thus saluted his mother. Then, slipping the bracelet from off her +arm, and carrying it away as a proof that she was not angry, he rode on. +Lord Orilus, the lady's husband, hearing from her that a youth had kissed +her, flew into a towering rage, and rode speedily away, hoping to overtake +the impudent varlet and punish him. + +Parzival, in the mean while, had journeyed on, and, passing through the +forest, had seen a maiden weeping over the body of her slain lover. In +answer to his inquiries she told him that she was his cousin, Sigune, and +that the dead man, Tchionatulander, had been killed in trying to fulfill a +trifling request--to recover her pet dog, which had been stolen. Parzival +promised to avenge Tchionatulander as soon as possible, and to remember +that the name of the murderer was Orilus. + +Next he came to a river, where he was ferried across, and repaid the +boatman by giving him the bracelet he had taken from Orilus's wife. Then, +hearing that Arthur was holding his court at Nantes, he proceeded thither +without further delay. + +On entering the city, Parzival encountered the Red Knight, who mockingly +asked him where he was going. The unabashed youth immediately retorted, "To +Arthur's court to ask him for your arms and steed!" + +[Sidenote: Parzival at Arthur's court.] A little farther on the youth's +motley garb attracted much attention, and the town boys made fun of him +until Iwanet, one of the king's squires, came to inquire the cause of the +tumult. He took Parzival under his protection, and conducted him to the +great hall, where, if we are to believe some accounts, Parzival boldly +presented himself on horseback. The sight of the gay company so dazzled the +inexperienced youth that he wonderingly inquired why there were so many +Arthurs. When Iwanet told him that the wearer of the crown was the sole +king, Parzival boldly stepped up to him and asked for the arms and steed of +the Red Knight. + +Arthur wonderingly gazed at the youth, and then replied that he could have +them provided he could win them. This was enough. Parzival sped after the +knight, overtook him, and loudly bade him surrender weapons and steed. The +Red Knight, thus challenged, began to fight; but Parzival, notwithstanding +his inexperience, wielded his spear so successfully that he soon slew his +opponent. To secure the steed was an easy matter, but how to remove the +armor the youth did not know. By good fortune, however, Iwanet soon came up +and helped Parzival to don the armor. He put it on over his motley garb, +which he would not set aside because his mother had made it for him. + +Some time after, Parzival came to the castle of Gurnemanz, a noble knight, +with whom he remained for some time. Here he received valuable instructions +in all a knight need know. When Parzival left this place, about a year +later, he was an accomplished knight, clad as beseemed his calling, and +ready to fulfill all the duties which chivalry imposed upon its votaries. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and Conduiramour.] He soon heard that Queen +Conduiramour was hard pressed, in her capital of Belripar, by an unwelcome +suitor. As he had pledged his word to defend all ladies in distress, +Parzival immediately set out to rescue this queen. A series of brilliant +single fights disposed of the besiegers, and the citizens of Belripar, to +show their gratitude to their deliverer, offered him the hand of their +queen, Conduiramour, which he gladly accepted. But Parzival, even in this +new home, could not forget his sorrowing mother, and he soon left his wife +to go in search of Herzeloide, hoping to comfort her. He promised his wife +that he would return soon, however, and would bring his mother to Belripar +to share their joy. In the course of this journey homeward Parzival came to +a lake, where a richly dressed fisherman, in answer to his inquiry, +directed him to a neighboring castle where he might find shelter. + +[Sidenote: Castle of the Holy Grail.] Although Parzival did not know it, he +had come to the temple and castle on Montsalvatch. The drawbridge was +immediately lowered at his call, and richly clad servants bade him welcome +with joyful mien. They told him that he had long been expected, and after +arraying him in a jeweled garment, sent by Queen Repanse de Joie, they +conducted him into a large, brilliantly illumined hall. There four hundred +knights were seated on soft cushions, before small tables each laid for +four guests; and as they saw him enter a flash of joy passed over their +grave and melancholy faces. The high seat was occupied by a man wrapped in +furs, who was evidently suffering from some painful disease. He made a sign +to Parzival to draw near, gave him a seat beside him, and presented him +with a sword of exquisite workmanship. To Parzival's surprise this man bade +him welcome also, and repeated that he had long been expected. The young +knight, amazed by all he heard and saw, remained silent, for he did not +wish to seem inquisitive,--a failing unworthy of a knight. Suddenly the +great doors opened, and a servant appeared bearing the bloody head of a +lance, with which he silently walked around the hall, while all gazed upon +it and groaned aloud. + +The servant had scarcely vanished when the doors again opened, and +beautiful virgins came marching in, two by two. They bore an embroidered +cushion, an ebony stand, and sundry other articles, which they laid before +the fur-clad king. Last of all came the beautiful maiden, Repanse de Joie, +bearing a glowing vessel; and as she entered and laid it before the king, +Parzival heard the assembled knights whisper that this was the Holy Grail. + + "Now after them advanced the Queen, + With countenance of so bright a sheen, + They all imagined day would dawn. + One saw the maiden was clothed on + With muslin stuffs of Araby. + On a green silk cushion she + The pearl of Paradise did bear. + + * * * * * + + The blameless Queen, proud, pure, and calm, + Before the host put down the Grail; + And Percival, so runs the tale, + To gaze upon her did not fail, + Who thither bore the Holy Grail." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_(Bayard Taylor's + tr.). + +The maidens then slowly retired, the knights and squires drew near, and now +from the shining vessel streamed forth a supply of the daintiest dishes and +richest wines, each guest being served with the viands which he liked best. +All ate sadly and in silence, while Parzival wondered what it might all +mean, yet remained mute. The meal ended, the sufferer rose from his seat, +gazed reproachfully at the visitor, who, by asking a question, could have +saved him such pain, and slowly left the room, uttering a deep sigh. + +With angry glances the knights also left the hall, and sad-faced servants +conducted Parzival past a sleeping room, where they showed him an old +white-haired man who lay in a troubled sleep. Parzival wondered still more, +but did not venture to ask who it might be. Next the servants took him to +an apartment where he could spend the night. The tapestry hangings of this +room were all embroidered with gorgeous pictures. Among them the young hero +noticed one in particular, because it represented his host borne down to +the ground by a spear thrust into his bleeding side. Parzival's curiosity +was even greater than before; but, scorning to ask a servant what he had +not ventured to demand of the master, he went quietly to bed, thinking that +he would try to secure an explanation on the morrow. + +When he awoke he found himself alone. No servant answered his call. All the +doors were fastened except those which led outside, where he found his +steed awaiting him. When he had passed the drawbridge it rose up slowly +behind him, and a voice called out from the tower, "Thou art accursed; for +thou hadst been chosen to do a great work, which thou hast left undone!" +Then looking upward, Parzival saw a horrible face gazing after him with a +fiendish grin, and making a gesture as of malediction. + +[Sidenote: Sigune.] At the end of that day's journey, Parzival came to a +lonely cell in the desert, where he found Sigune weeping over a shrine in +which lay Tchionatulander's embalmed remains. She too received him with +curses, and revealed to him that by one sympathetic question only he might +have ended Amfortas's prolonged pain, broken an evil spell, and won for +himself a glorious crown. + +Horrified, now that he knew what harm he had done, Parzival rode away, +feeling as if he were indeed accursed. His greatest wish was to return to +the mysterious castle and atone for his remissness by asking the question +which would release the king from further pain. But alas! the castle had +vanished; and our hero was forced to journey from place to place, seeking +diligently, and meeting with many adventures on the way. + +At times the longing to give up the quest and return home to his young wife +was almost unendurable. His thoughts were ever with her, and the poem +relates that even a drop of blood fallen on the snow reminded, him most +vividly of the dazzling complexion of Conduiramour, and of her sorrow when +he departed. + + "'Conduiramour, thine image is + Here in the snow now dyed with red + And in the blood on snowy bed. + Conduiramour, to them compare + Thy forms of grace and beauty rare.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Although exposed to countless temptations, Parzival remained true to his +wife as he rode from place to place, constantly seeking the Holy Grail. His +oft-reiterated questions concerning it caused him to be considered a madman +or a fool by all he met. + +In the course of his journeys, he encountered a lady in chains, led by a +knight who seemed to take pleasure in torturing her. Taught by Gurnemanz to +rescue all ladies in distress, Parzival challenged and defeated this +knight. Then only did he discover that it was Sir Orilus, who had led his +wife about in chains to punish her for accepting a kiss from a strange +youth. Of course Parzival now hastened to give an explanation of the whole +affair, and the defeated knight, at his request, promised to treat his wife +with all kindness in future. + +As Parzival had ordered all the knights whom he had defeated to journey +immediately to Arthur's court and tender him their services, the king had +won many brave warriors. He was so pleased by these constant arrivals, and +so delighted at the repeated accounts of Parzival's valor, that he became +very anxious to see him once more. + +[Sidenote: Parzival knighted.] To gratify this wish several knights were +sent in search of the wanderer, and when they finally found him they bade +him come to court. Parzival obeyed, was knighted by Arthur's own hand, and, +according to some accounts, occupied the "Siege Perilous" at the Round +Table. Other versions state, however, that just as he was about to take +this seat the witch Kundrie, a messenger of the Holy Grail, appeared in the +hall. She vehemently denounced him, related how sorely he had failed in his +duty, and cursed him, as the gate keeper had done, for his lack of +sympathy. Thus reminded of his dereliction, Parzival immediately left the +hall, to renew the quest which had already lasted for many months. He was +closely followed by Gawain, one of Arthur's knights, who thought that +Parzival had been too harshly dealt with. + +[Sidenote: Gawain's quest.] Four years now elapsed,--four years of penance +and suffering for Parzival, and of brilliant fighting and thrilling +adventures for Gawain. Seeking Parzival, meeting many whom he had helped or +defeated, Gawain journeyed from land to land, until at last he decided that +his quest would end sooner if he too sought the Holy Grail, the goal of all +his friend's hopes. + +On the way to Montsalvatch Gawain met a beautiful woman, to whom he made a +declaration of love; but she merely answered that those who loved her must +serve her, and bade him fetch her palfrey from a neighboring garden. The +gardener told him that this lady was the Duchess Orgueilleuse; that her +beauty had fired many a knight; that many had died for her sake; and that +Amfortas, King of the Holy Grail, had braved the poisoned spear which +wounded him, only to win her favor. Gawain, undeterred by this warning, +brought out the lady's palfrey, helped her to mount, and followed her +submissively through many lands. Everywhere they went the proud lady +stirred up some quarrel, and always called upon Gawain to fight the enemies +whom she had thus wantonly made. After much wandering, Gawain and his +ladylove reached the top of a hill, whence they could look across a valley +to a gigantic castle, perched on a rock, near which was a pine tree. +Orgueilleuse now informed Gawain that the castle belonged to her mortal +enemy, Gramoflaus. She bade him bring her a twig of the tree, and conquer +the owner of the castle, who would challenge him as soon as he touched it, +and promised that if he obeyed her exactly she would be his faithful wife. + +[Sidenote: Klingsor's castle.] Gawain, emboldened by this promise, dashed +down into the valley, swam across the moat, plucked a branch from the tree, +and accepted the challenge which Gramoflaus promptly offered. The meeting +was appointed for eight days later, in front of Klingsor's castle, whither +Gawain immediately proceeded with the Lady Orgueilleuse. On the way she +told him that this castle, which faced her father's, was occupied by a +magician who kept many noble ladies in close confinement, and had even +cruelly laden them with heavy chains. + +Gawain, on hearing this, vowed that he would punish the magician; and, +having seen Orgueilleuse safely enter her ancestral home, he crossed the +river and rode toward Klingsor's castle. As night drew on the windows were +brilliantly illumined, and at each one he beheld the pallid, tear-stained +faces of some of the captives, whose years ranged from early childhood to +withered old age. + +Calling for admittance at this castle, Gawain was allowed to enter, but, to +his surprise, found hall and court deserted. He wandered from room to room, +meeting no one; and, weary of his vain search, prepared at last to occupy a +comfortable couch in one of the chambers. To his utter amazement, however, +the bed retreated as he advanced, until, impatient at this trickery, he +sprang boldly upon it. A moment later a rain of sharp spears and daggers +fell upon his couch, but did him no harm, for he had not removed his heavy +armor. When the rain of weapons was over, a gigantic peasant, armed with a +huge club, stalked into the room, closely followed by a fierce lion. When +the peasant perceived that the knight was not dead, as he expected, he beat +a hasty retreat, leaving the lion to attack him alone. + +In spite of the size and fury of the lion, Gawain defended himself so +bravely that he finally slew the beast, which was Klingsor in disguise. As +the monster expired the spell was broken, the captives were released, and +the exhausted Gawain was tenderly cared for by his mother and sister +Itonie, who were among those whom his courage had set free. The news of +this victory was immediately sent to Arthur, who now came to witness the +battle between Gawain and a champion who was to appear for Gramoflaus. + +Gawain's strength and courage were about to give way before the stranger's +terrible onslaught, when Itonie implored the latter to spare Gawain, whose +name and valor were so well known. At the sound of this name the knight +sheathed his sword, and, raising his visor, revealed the sad but beautiful +countenance of Parzival. + +The joy of reunion over, Parzival remained there long enough to witness the +marriage of Gawain and Orgueilleuse, and of Itonie and Gramoflaus, and to +be solemnly admitted to the Round Table. Still, the general rejoicing could +not dispel his sadness or the recollection of Amfortas and his grievous +wound; and as soon as possible Parzival again departed, humbly praying that +he might at last find the Holy Grail, and right the wrong he had +unconsciously done. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and the hermit.] Some months later, exhausted by +constant journeys, Parzival painfully dragged himself to a hermit's hut. +There he learned that the lonely penitent was Trevrezent, the brother of +Amfortas, who, having also preferred worldly pleasures to the service of +the Holy Grail, had accompanied him on his fatal excursion. When Trevrezent +saw his brother sorely wounded, he repented of his sins, and, retiring into +the woods, spent his days and nights in penance and prayer. He told +Parzival of the expected stranger, whose question would break the evil +spell, and related how grievously he and all the Templars had been +disappointed when such a man had actually come and gone, but without +fulfilling their hopes. Parzival then penitently confessed that it was he +who had thus disappointed them, related his sorrow and ceaseless quest, and +told the story of his early youth and adventures. Trevrezent, on hearing +his guest's name, exclaimed that they must be uncle and nephew, as his +sister's name was Herzeloide. He then informed Parzival of his mother's +death, and, after blessing him and giving him some hope that sincere +repentance would sometime bring its own reward, allowed him to continue his +search for the Holy Grail. + +[Sidenote: Fierefiss.] Soon after this meeting Parzival encountered a +knight, who, laying lance in rest, challenged him to fight. In one of the +pauses of the battle he learned that his brave opponent was his +stepbrother, Fierefiss, whom he joyfully embraced, and who now followed him +on his almost endless quest. At last they came to a mountain, painfully +climbed its steep side, and, after much exertion, found themselves in front +of a castle, which seemed strangely familiar to Parzival. + +The doors opened, willing squires waited upon both brothers, and led them +into the great hall, where the pageant already described was repeated. When +Queen Repanse de Joie entered bearing the Holy Grail, Parzival, mindful of +his former failure to do the right thing, humbly prayed aloud for divine +guidance to bring about the promised redemption. An angel voice now seemed +to answer, "Ask!" Then Parzival bent kindly over the wounded king, and +gently inquired what ailed him. At those words the spell was broken, and a +long cry of joy arose as Amfortas, strong and well, sprang to his feet. + +A very aged man, Parzival's great-grandfather, Titurel, now drew near, +bearing the crown, which he placed on the young hero's head, as he hailed +him as guardian and defender of the Holy Grail. This cry was taken up by +all present, and even echoed by the angelic choir. + + "'Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail! + Seemingly lost forever, + Now thou art blessed forever. + Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail!'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH (McDowall's tr.). + +The doors now opened wide once more to admit Conduiramour and her twin +sons, summoned thither by the power of the Holy Grail, that Parzival's +happiness might be complete. All the witnesses of this happy reunion were +flooded with the light of the Holy Grail, except Fierefiss, who, being a +Moor and a pagan, still remained in outer darkness. These miracles, +however, converted him to the Christian faith, and made him beg for +immediate baptism. The christening was no sooner performed than he too +beheld and was illumined by the holy vase. Fierefiss, now a true believer, +married Repanse de Joie, and they were the parents of a son named John, who +became a noted warrior, and was the founder of the historic order of the +Knights Templars. + +Titurel, having lived to see the recovery of his son, blessed all his +descendants, told them that Sigune had joined her lover's spirit in the +heavenly abode, and, passing out of the great hall, was never seen again; +and the witch Kundrie died of joy. + +Another version of the legend of the Holy Grail relates that Parzival, +having cured his uncle, went to Arthur's court. There he remained until +Amfortas died, when he was called back to Montsalvatch to inherit his +possessions, among which was the Holy Grail. Arthur and all the knights of +the Round Table were present at his coronation, and paid him a yearly +visit. When he died, "the Sangreal, the sacred lance, and the silver +trencher or paten which covered the Grail, were carried up to the holy +heavens in presence of the attendants, and since that time have never +anywhere been seen on earth." + +Other versions relate that Arthur and his knights sought the Holy Grail in +vain, for their hearts were not pure enough to behold it. Still others +declare that the sacred vessel was conveyed to the far East, and committed +to the care of Prester John. + +The legend of Lohengrin, which is connected with the Holy Grail, is in +outline as follows: + +[Sidenote: Lohengrin.] Parzival and Conduiramour dwelt in the castle of the +Holy Grail. When their sons had grown to man's estate, Kardeiss, the elder, +became ruler of his mother's kingdom of Belripar, while Lohengrin, the +younger, remained in the service of the Holy Grail, which was now borne +into the hall by his young sister, Aribadale, Repanse de Joie having +married. + +Whenever a danger threatened, or when the services of one of the knights +were required, a silver bell rang loudly, and the letters of flame around +the rim of the holy vessel revealed the nature of the deed to be performed. +One day the sound of the silvery bell was heard pealing ever louder and +louder, and when the knights entered the hall, they read on the vase that +Lohengrin had been chosen to defend the rights of an innocent person, and +would be conveyed to his destination by a swan. As the knights of the Grail +never disputed its commands, the young man immediately donned the armor of +silver which Amfortas had worn, and, bidding farewell to his mother and +sister, left the temple. Parzival, his father, accompanied him to the foot +of the mountain, where, swimming gracefully over the smooth waters of the +lake, they saw a snowy swan drawing a little boat after her. + +Lohengrin received a horn from his father, who bade him sound it thrice on +arriving at his destination, and an equal number of times when he wished to +return to Montsalvatch. Then he also reminded him that a servant of the +Grail must reveal neither his name nor his origin unless asked to do so, +and that, having once made himself known, he was bound to return without +delay to the holy mountain. + +Thus reminded of the custom of all the Templars, Lohengrin sprang into the +boat, and was rapidly borne away, to the sound of mysterious music. + +[Sidenote: Else of Brabant.] While Lohengrin was swiftly wafted over the +waters, Else, Duchess of Brabant, spent her days in tears. She was an +orphan, and, as she possessed great wealth and extensive lands, many were +anxious to secure her hand. Among these suitors her guardian, Frederick of +Telramund, was the most importunate; and when he saw that she would never +consent to marry him, he resolved to obtain her inheritance in a different +way. + +One day, while Else was wandering alone in the forest, she rested for a +moment under a tree, where she dreamed that a radiant knight came to greet +her, and offered her a little bell, saying that she need but ring it +whenever she required a champion. The maiden awoke, and as she opened her +eyes a falcon came gently sailing down from the sky and perched upon her +shoulder. Seeing that he wore a tiny bell like the one she had noticed in +her dream, Else unfastened it; and as the falcon flew away, she hung it on +her rosary. + +A few days later Else was in prison, for Frederick of Telramund had accused +her of a great crime. He said that she had received the attentions of a man +beneath her, or, according to another version, that she had been guilty of +the murder of her brother. Henry the Fowler, Emperor of Germany, hearing of +this accusation, came to Cleves, where, as the witnesses could not agree, +he ordered that the matter should be settled by a judicial duel. + +[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN.--Pixis.] + +Frederick of Telramund, proud of his strength, challenged any man to prove +him mistaken at the point of the sword. But no champion appeared to fight +for Else, who, kneeling in her cell, beat her breast with her rosary, until +the little silver bell attached to it rang loudly as she fervently prayed, +"O Lord, send me a champion." The faint tinkling of the bell floated out of +the window, and was wafted away to Montsalvatch. It grew louder and louder +the farther it traveled, and its sound called the knights into the temple, +where Lohengrin received his orders from the Holy Grail. + +The day appointed for the duel dawned, and just as the heralds sounded the +last call for Else's champion to appear, the swan boat glided up the Rhine, +and Lohengrin sprang into the lists, after thrice blowing his magic horn. + +[Sidenote: Else rescued by Lohengrin.] With a God-sent champion opposed to +a liar, the issue of the combat could not long remain doubtful. Soon +Frederick of Telramund lay in the dust and confessed his guilt, while the +people hailed the Swan Knight as victor. Else, touched by his prompt +response to her appeal, and won by his passionate wooing, then consented to +become his wife, without even knowing his name. Their nuptials were +celebrated at Antwerp, whither the emperor went with them and witnessed +their marriage. + +Lohengrin had cautioned Else that she must never ask his name; but she +wished to show that he was above the people who, envying his lot, sought to +injure him by circulating malicious rumors, so she finally asked the fatal +question. Regretfully Lohengrin led her into the great hall, where, in the +presence of the assembled knights, he told her that he was Lohengrin, son +of Parzival, the guardian of the Holy Grail. Then, embracing her tenderly, +he told her that "love cannot live without faith," and that he must now +leave her and return to the holy mountain. When he had thrice blown his +magic horn, the sound of faint music again heralded the approach of the +swan; Lohengrin sprang into the boat, and soon vanished, leaving Else +alone. + +Some versions of the story relate that she did not long survive his +departure, but that her released spirit followed him to Montsalvatch, where +they dwelt happy forever. Other accounts, however, aver that when Lohengrin +vanished Else's brother returned to champion her cause and prevent her ever +being molested again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +MERLIN. + + +As Saintsbury so ably expressed it, "The origin of the legends of King +Arthur, of the Round Table, of the Holy Grail, and of all the adventures +and traditions connected with these centers, is one of the most intricate +questions in the history of mediaeval literature." Owing to the loss of +many ancient manuscripts, the real origin of all these tales may never be +discovered; and whether the legends owe their birth to Celtic, Breton, or +Welsh poetry we may never know, as the authorities fail to agree. These +tales, apparently almost unknown before the twelfth century, soon became so +popular that in the course of the next two centuries they had given birth +to more than a dozen poems and prose romances, whence Malory drew the +materials for his version of the story of King Arthur. Nennius, Geoffrey of +Monmouth, Walter Map, Chrestien de Troyes, Robert de Borron, Gottfried von +Strassburg, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Hartmann von Aue, Tennyson, Matthew +Arnold, Swinburne, and Wagner have all written of these legends in turn, +and to these writers we owe the most noted versions of the tales forming +the Arthurian cycle. They include, besides the story of Arthur himself, an +account of Merlin, of Lancelot, of Parzival, of the love of Tristan and +Iseult, and of the quest of the Holy Grail. + +The majority of these works were written in French, which was the court +language of England in the mediaeval ages; but the story was "Englished" by +Malory in the fourteenth century. In every European language there are +versions of these stories, which interested all hearers alike, and which +exerted a softening influence upon the rude customs of the age, +"communicated a romantic spirit to literature," and taught all men +courtesy. + +[The Real Merlin] The first of these romances is that of Merlin the +enchanter, in very old French, ascribed to Robert de Borron. The following +outline of the story is modified and supplemented from other sources. The +real Merlin is said to have been a bard of the fifth century, and is +supposed to have served the British chief Ambrosius Aurelianus, and then +King Arthur. This Merlin lost his reason after the battle of Solway Firth, +broke his sword, and retired into the forest, where he was soon after found +dead by a river bank. + +The mythical Merlin had a more exciting and interesting career, however. +King Constans, who drove Hengist from England, was the father of three +sons,--Constantine, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon. When dying he +left the throne to his eldest son, Constantine, who chose Vortigern as his +prime minister. Shortly after Constantine's accession, Hengist again +invaded England, and Constantine, deserted by his minister, was +treacherously slain. In reward for his defection at this critical moment, +Vortigern was offered the crown, which he accepted, and which he hoped to +retain, although Constans's two other sons, who, according to another +version of the story, were called Uther and Pendragon, were still in +existence. + +To defend himself against any army which might try to deprive him of the +throne, Vortigern resolved to build a great fortress on the Salisbury +plains. But, although the masons worked diligently by day, and built walls +wide and thick, they always found them overturned in the morning. The +astrologers, when consulted in reference to this strange occurrence, +declared that the walls would not stand until the ground had been watered +with the blood of a child who could claim no human father. + +Five years previous to this prediction, the demons, seeing that so many +souls escaped them owing to the redemption procured by a child of divine +origin, thought that they could regain lost ground by engendering a demon +child upon a human virgin. A beautiful, pious maiden was chosen for this +purpose; and as she daily went to confess her every deed and thought to a +holy man, Blaise, he soon discovered the plot of the demons, and resolved +to frustrate it. + +[Sidenote: Birth of the mythical Merlin.] By his advice the girl, instead +of being immediately put to death, as the law required, was locked up in a +tower, where she gave birth to her son. Blaise, the priest, more watchful +than the demons, no sooner heard of the child's birth than he hastened to +baptize him, giving him the name of Merlin. The holy rite annulled the evil +purpose of the demons, but, owing to his uncanny origin, the child was +gifted with all manner of strange powers, of which he made use on sundry +occasions. + + "To him + Great light from God gave sight of all things dim, + And wisdom of all wondrous things, to say + What root should bear what fruit of night or day; + And sovereign speech and counsel above man: + Wherefore his youth like age was wise and wan, + And his age sorrowful and fain to sleep." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +The child thus baptized soon gave the first proof of his marvelous power; +for, when his mother embraced him and declared that she must soon die, he +comforted her by speaking aloud and promising to prove her innocent of all +crime. The trial took place soon after this occurrence, and although Merlin +was but a few days old, he sat up boldly in his mother's lap and spoke so +forcibly to the judges that he soon secured her acquittal. Once when he was +five years old, while playing in the street, he saw the messengers of +Vortigern. Warned by his prophetic instinct that they were seeking him, he +ran to meet them, and offered to accompany them to the king. On the way +thither he saw a youth buying shoes, and laughed aloud. When questioned +concerning the cause of his mirth, he predicted that the youth would die +within a few hours. + + "Then said Merlin, 'See ye nought + That young man, that hath shoon bought, + And strong leather to do hem clout [patch], + And grease to smear hem all about? + He weeneth to live hem to wear: + But, by my soul, I dare well swear, + His wretched life he shall for-let [lose], + Ere he come to his own gate.'" + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin as a prophet.] A few more predictions of an equally +uncanny and unpleasant nature firmly established his reputation as a +prophet even before he reached court. There he boldly told the king that +the astrologers, wishing to destroy the demon's offspring, who was wiser +than they, had demanded his blood under pretext that the walls of Salisbury +would stand were it only shed. When asked why the walls continually fell +during the night, Merlin attributed it to the nightly conflict of a red and +a white dragon concealed underground. In obedience to his instructions, +search was made for these monsters, and the assembled court soon saw a +frightful struggle between them. This battle finally resulted in the death +of the red dragon and the triumph of the white. + + "With long tailis, fele [many] fold, + And found right as Merlin told. + That one dragon was red as fire, + With eyen bright, as basin clear; + His tail was great and nothing small; + His body was a rood withal. + His shaft may no man tell; + He looked as a fiend from hell. + The white dragon lay him by, + Stern of look, and griesly. + His mouth and throat yawned wide; + The fire brast [burst] out on ilka [each] side. + His tail was ragged as a fiend, + And, upon his tail's end, + There was y-shaped a griesly head, + To fight with the dragon red." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +The white dragon soon disappeared also, and the work of the castle now +proceeded without further hindrance. Vortigern, however, was very uneasy, +because Merlin had not only said that the struggle of the red and the white +dragon represented his coming conflict with Constans's sons, but further +added that he would suffer defeat. This prediction was soon fulfilled. +Uther and his brother Pendragon landed in Britain with the army they had +assembled, and Vortigern was burned in the castle he had just completed. + +Shortly after this victory a war arose between the Britons under Uther and +Pendragon, and the Saxons under Hengist. Merlin, who had by this time +become the prime minister and chief adviser of the British kings, predicted +that they would win the victory, but that one would be slain. This +prediction was soon verified, and Uther, adding his brother's name to his +own, remained sole king. His first care was to bury his brother, and he +implored Merlin to erect a suitable monument to his memory; so the +enchanter conveyed great stones from Ireland to England in the course of a +single night, and set them up at Stonehenge, where they can still be seen. + + "How Merlin by his skill, and magic's wondrous might, + From Ireland hither brought the Stonendge in a night." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Round Table established by Merlin.] Proceeding now to Carduel +(Carlisle), Merlin, who is represented as a great architect and +wonder-worker, built Uther Pendragon a beautiful castle, and established +the Round Table, in imitation of the one which Joseph of Arimathea had once +instituted. There were places for a large number of knights around this +board (the number varying greatly with different writers), and a special +place was reserved for the Holy Grail, which, having vanished from Britain +because of the sinfulness of the people, the knights still hoped to have +restored when they became sufficiently pure. + + "This table gan [began] Uther the wight; + Ac [but] it to ende had he no might. + For, theygh [though] alle the kinges under our lord + Hadde y-sitten [sat] at that bord, + Knight by knight, ich you telle, + The table might nought fulfille, + Till they were born that should do all + Fulfill the mervaile of the Greal." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +A great festival was announced for the institution of the Round Table, and +all the knights came to Carduel, accompanied by their wives. Among the +latter the fairest was Yguerne, wife of Gorlois, Lord of Tintagel in +Cornwall, and with her Uther fell desperately in love. + + "This fest was noble ynow, and nobliche y-do [done]; + For mony was the faire ledy, that y-come was thereto. + Yguerne, Gorloys wyf, was fairest of echon [each one], + That was contasse of Cornewail, for so fair was there non." + ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER. + +Yguerne had already three or four daughters, famous in the Arthurian +legends as mothers of the knights Gawain, Gravain, Ywain, and others. One +of the king's councilors, Ulfin, revealed the king's passion to Yguerne, +and she told her husband. Indignant at the insult offered him, Gorlois +promptly left court, locked his wife up in the impregnable fortress of +Tintagel, and, gathering together an army, began to fight against Uther +Pendragon. + +The day before the battle, Merlin changed Uther into the form of Gorlois, +and himself and Ulfin into those of the squires of the Duke of Cornwall. +Thus disguised, the three went to Tintagel, where Yguerne threw the gates +open at their call and received Uther as her husband, without suspecting +the deception practiced upon her. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Arthur.] On the morrow the battle took place. Gorlois +was slain. Shortly after, Uther married Yguerne, who never suspected that +the child which was soon born, and which Uther immediately confided to +Merlin, was not a son of Gorlois. Arthur, the child who had thus come into +the world, was intrusted to the care of Sir Hector, who brought him up with +his own son, Sir Kay, little suspecting his royal descent. This child grew +up rapidly, and when but fifteen years of age was handsome, accomplished, +and dearly loved by all around him. + + "He was fair, and well agré [agreeable], + And was a thild [child] of gret noblay. + He was curteys, faire and gent, + And wight [brave], and hardi, veramen [truly]. + Curteyslich [courteously] and fair he spac [spake]. + With him was none evil lack [fault]." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +When Uther died without leaving any heir, there was an interregnum, for +Merlin had promised that the true king should be revealed by a miracle. +This prophecy was duly fulfilled, as will be shown hereafter. Merlin became +the royal adviser as soon as Arthur ascended the throne, helped him win +signal victories over twelve kings, and in the course of a single night +conveyed armies over from France to help him. + +As Merlin could assume any shape he pleased, Arthur often used him as +messenger; and one of the romances relates that the magician, in the guise +of a stag, once went to Rome to bear the king's challenge to Julius Caesar +(not the conqueror of Gaul but the mythical father of Oberon) to single +combat. Merlin was also renowned for the good advice which he gave, not +only to Vortigern and Uther Pendragon, but also to Arthur, and for his +numerous predictions concerning the glorious future of England, all of +which, if we are to believe tradition, have been fulfilled. + + "O goodly River! near unto thy sacred spring + Prophetic Merlin sate, when to the British King + The changes long to come, auspiciously he told." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Palace at Camelot.] Merlin also won great renown as a builder +and architect. Besides the construction of Stonehenge, and of the castle +for Uther Pendragon, he is said to have built Arthur's beautiful palace at +Camelot. He also devised sundry magic fountains, which are mentioned in +other mediaeval romances. One of these is referred to by Spenser in the +"Faerie Queene," and another by Ariosto in his "Orlando Furioso." + + "This Spring was one of those four fountains rare, + Of those in France produced by Merlin's sleight, + Encompassed round about with marble fair, + Shining and polished, and than milk more white. + There in the stones choice figures chiseled were, + By that magician's god-like labour dight; + Some voice was wanting, these you might have thought + Were living, and with nerve and spirit fraught." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Rose's tr.). + +Merlin was also supposed to have made all kinds of magic objects, among +which the poets often mention a cup. This would, reveal whether the drinker +had led a pure life, for it always overflowed when touched by polluted +lips. He was also the artificer of Arthur's armor, which no weapon could +pierce, and of a magic mirror in which one could see whatever one wished. + + "It Merlin was, which whylome did excel + All living wightes in might of magicke spell: + Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wrought + For this young Prince, when first to armes he fell." + SPENSER, _Faerie Queene_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin and Vivian.] Merlin, in spite of all his knowledge and +skill, yielded often to the entreaties of his fair mistress, Vivian, the +Lady of the Lake. She followed him wherever he went, and made countless +efforts to learn all his arts and to discover all his magic spells. In +order to beguile the aged Merlin into telling her all she wished to know, +Vivian pretended great devotion, which is admirably related in Tennyson's +"Idylls of the King," one of which treats exclusively of Merlin and Vivian. + +This enchantress even went with him to the fairy-haunted forest of +Broceliande, in Brittany, where she finally beguiled him into revealing a +magic spell whereby a human being could be inclosed in a hawthorn tree, +where he must dwell forever. + + "And then she follow'd Merlin all the way, + E'en to the wild woods of Broceliande. + For Merlin once had told her of a charm, + The which if any wrought on any one + With woven paces and with waving arms, + The man so wrought on ever seem'd to lie + Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower, + From which was no escape for evermore; + And none could find that man for evermore, + Nor could he see but him who wrought the charm + Coming and going; and he lay as dead + And lost to life and use and name and fame." + TENNYSON, _Merlin and Vivien_. + +This charm having been duly revealed, the Lady of the Lake, weary of her +aged lover, and wishing to rid herself of him forever now that she had +learned all he could teach her, lured him into the depths of the forest. +There, by aid of the spell, she imprisoned him in a thorn bush, whence, if +the tales of the Breton peasants can be believed, his voice can be heard to +issue from time to time. + + "They sate them down together, and a sleep + Fell upon Merlin, more like death, so deep. + Her finger on her lips, then Vivian rose, + And from her brown-lock'd head the wimple throws, + And takes it in her hand, and waves it over + The blossom'd thorn tree and her sleeping lover. + Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round, + And made a little plot of magic ground. + And in that daised circle, as men say, + Is Merlin prisoner till the judgment day; + But she herself whither she will can rove-- + For she was passing weary of his love." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +[Illustration: THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN.--Burne-Jones.] + +According to another version of the tale, Merlin, having grown very old +indeed, once sat down on the "Siege Perilous," forgetting that none but a +sinless man could occupy it with impunity. He was immediately swallowed up +by the earth, which yawned wide beneath his feet, and he never visited the +earth again. + +A third version says that Vivian through love imprisoned Merlin in an +underground palace, where she alone could visit him. There he dwells, +unchanged by the flight of time, and daily increasing the store of +knowledge for which he was noted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +THE ROUND TABLE. + + +Fortunately "the question of the actual existence and acts of Arthur has +very little to do with the question of the origin of the Arthurian cycle." +But although some authorities entirely deny his existence, it is probable +that he was a Briton, for many places in Wales, Scotland, and England are +connected with his name. + +On the very slightest basis, many of the mediaeval writers constructed long +and fabulous tales about this hero. Such was the popularity of the +Arthurian legends all over Europe that prose romances concerning him were +among the first works printed, and were thus brought into general +circulation. An outline of the principal adventures of Arthur and of his +knights is given here. It has been taken from many works, whose authors +will often be mentioned as we proceed. + +King Uther Pendragon, as we have already seen, intrusted his new-born son, +Arthur, to the care of the enchanter Merlin, who carried him to the castle +of Sir Hector (Anton), where the young prince was brought up as a child of +the house. + + "Wherefore Merlin took the child, + And gave him to Sir Anton, an old knight + And ancient friend of Uther; and his wife + Nursed the young prince, and rear'd him with her own; + And no man knew." + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: The magic sword.] Two years later King Uther Pendragon died, and +the noblemen, not knowing whom to choose as his successor, consulted +Merlin, promising to abide by his decision. By his advice they all +assembled in St. Stephen's Church, in London, on Christmas Day. When mass +was over they beheld a large stone which had mysteriously appeared in the +churchyard. This stone was surmounted by a ponderous anvil, in which the +blade of a sword was deeply sunk. Drawing near to examine the wonder, they +read an inscription upon the jeweled hilt, to the effect that none but the +man who could draw out the sword should dare to take possession of the +throne. Of course all present immediately tried to accomplish this feat, +but all failed. + +Several years passed by ere Sir Hector came to London with his son, Sir +Kay, and his foster son, young Arthur. Sir Kay, who, for the first time in +his life, was to take part in a tournament, was greatly chagrined, on +arriving there, to discover that he had forgotten his sword; so Arthur +volunteered to ride back and get it. He found the house closed; yet, being +determined to secure a sword for his foster brother, he strode hastily into +the churchyard, and easily drew from the anvil the weapon which all had +vainly tried to secure. + +[Sidenote: Arthur made king.] This mysterious sword was handed to Sir Kay, +and Sir Hector, perceiving it, and knowing whence it came, immediately +inquired how Arthur had secured it. He even refused at first to believe the +evidence of his own eyes; but when he and all the principal nobles of the +realm had seen Arthur replace and draw out the sword, after all had again +vainly tried their strength, they gladly hailed the young man king. + +As Merlin was an enchanter, it was popularly rumored that Arthur was not, +as he now declared, the son of Uther Pendragon and Yguerne, but a babe +mysteriously brought up from the depths of the sea, on the crest of the +ninth wave, and cast ashore at the wizard's feet. Hence many people +distrusted the young king, and at first refused to obey him. + + "Watch'd the great sea fall, + Wave after wave, each mightier than the last, + Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep, + And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged + Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame: + And down the wave and in the flame was borne + A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet, + Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried 'The King! + Here is an heir for Uther!'" + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +Among the unbelievers were some of the king's own kindred, and notably his +four nephews, Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gareth. Arthur was therefore +obliged to make war against them; but although Gawain's strength increased +in a truly marvelous fashion from nine to twelve in the morning, and from +three to six in the afternoon, the king succeeded in defeating him by +following Merlin's advice and taking advantage of his comparatively weak +moments. + +[Sidenote: Sir Pellinore.] Arthur, aided by Merlin, ruled over the land +wisely and well, redressed many wrongs, reëstablished order and security, +which a long interregnum had destroyed, and brandished his sword in many a +fight, in which he invariably proved victor. But one day, having drawn his +blade upon Sir Pellinore, who did not deserve to be thus attacked, it +suddenly failed him and broke. Left thus without any means of defense, the +king would surely have perished had not Merlin used his magic arts to put +Sir Pellinore to sleep and to bear his charge to a place of safety. + +Arthur, thus deprived of his magic sword, bewailed its loss; but while he +stood by a lake, wondering how he should procure another, he beheld a +white-draped hand and arm rise out of the water, holding aloft a jeweled +sword which the Lady of the Lake, who appeared beside him, told him was +intended for his use. + + "'Thou rememberest how + In those old days, one summer noon, an arm + Rose up from out the bosom of the lake, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + Holding the sword--and how I row'd across + And took it, and have worn it, like a king; + And, wheresoever I am sung or told + In aftertime, this also shall be known.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Excalibur.] Arthur rowed out into the middle of the lake and +secured the sword which is known by the name Excalibur. He was then told by +the Lady of the Lake that it was gifted with magic powers, and that as long +as the scabbard remained in his possession he would suffer neither wound +nor defeat. + +Thus armed, Arthur went back to his palace, where, hearing that the Saxons +had again invaded the country, he went to wage war against them, and won +many victories. Shortly after this Arthur heard that Leodegraunce, King of +Scotland, was threatened by his brother Ryance, King of Ireland, who was +determined to complete a mantle furred with the beards of kings, and wanted +to secure one more at any price. Arthur hastened to this monarch's +assistance, and delivered him from the clutches of Ryance. He not only +killed this savage monarch, but appropriated his mantle and carried it away +in triumph as a trophy of the war. + + "And for a trophy brought the Giant's coat away + Made of the beards of Kings." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur's marriage with Guinevere.] After these martial exploits +Arthur returned to the court of Leodegraunce, where he fell in love with +the latter's fair daughter, Guinevere. The king sued successfully for her +hand, but Merlin would not allow him to marry this princess until he had +distinguished himself by a campaign in Brittany. The wedding was then +celebrated with true mediaeval pomp; and Arthur, having received, besides +the princess, the Round Table once made for his father, conveyed his bride +and wedding gift to Camelot (Winchester), where he bade all his court be +present for a great feast at Pentecost. + + "The nearest neighboring flood to Arthur's ancient seat, + Which made the Britons' name through all the world so great. + Like Camelot, what place was ever yet renown'd? + Where, as at Carlion, oft, he kept the Table-Round, + Most famous for the sports at Pentecost so long, + From whence all knightly deeds, and brave achievements sprong." + DRAYTON,--_Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Knights of the Round Table.] Arthur had already warred +successfully against twelve revolted kings, whose remains were interred at +Camelot by his order. There Merlin erected a marvelous castle, containing a +special hall for the reception of the Round Table. This hall was adorned +with the lifelike statues of all the conquered kings, each holding a +burning taper which the magician declared would burn brightly until the +Holy Grail should appear. Hoping to bring that desirable event to pass, +Arthur bade Merlin frame laws for the knights of the Round Table. As +distinctive mark, each of the noblemen admitted to a seat at this marvelous +table adopted some heraldic device. The number of these knights varies from +twelve to several hundred, according to the different poets or romancers. + + "The fellowshipp of the Table Round, + Soe famous in those dayes; + Whereatt a hundred noble knights + And thirty sat alwayes; + Who for their deeds and martiall feates, + As bookes done yett record, + Amongst all other nations + Wer feared through the world." + _Legend of King Arthur_ (Old Ballad). + +Merlin, by virtue of his magic powers, easily selected the knights worthy +to belong to this noble institution, and the Archbishop of Canterbury duly +blessed them and the board around which they sat. All the places were soon +filled except two; and as the knights arose from their seats after the +first meal they noticed that their names were inscribed in letters of gold +in the places they had occupied. But one of the empty seats was marked +"Siege Perilous," and could only be occupied by a peerless knight. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot du Lac.] + +Among all the knights of the Round Table, Sir Lancelot du Lac, who is the +hero of several lengthy poems and romances bearing his name, was the most +popular. Chrestien de Troyes, Geoffrey de Ligny, Robert de Borron, and Map +have all written about him, and he was so well known that his name was +given to one of the knaves on the playing cards invented at about this +time. Malory, in his prose version of the "Morte d'Arthur," has drawn +principally from the poems treating of Lancelot, whose early life was +somewhat extraordinary, too. + +Some accounts relate that Lancelot was the son of King Ban and Helen. When +he was but a babe, his parents were obliged to flee from their besieged +castle in Brittany. Before they had gone far, the aged Ban, seeing his home +in flames, sank dying to the ground. Helen, eager to minister to her +husband, laid her baby boy down on the grass near a lake, and when she +again turned around, she saw him in the arms of Vivian, the Lady of the +Lake, who plunged with him into the waters. + + "In the wife's woe, the mother was forgot. + At last (for I was all earth held of him + Who had been all to her, and now was not) + She rose, and looked with tearless eyes, but dim, + In the babe's face the father still to see; + And lo! the babe was on another's knee! + + "Another's lips had kissed it into sleep, + And o'er the sleep another watchful smiled; + The Fairy sate beside the lake's still deep, + And hush'd with chaunted charms the orphan child! + Scared at the mother's cry, as fleets a dream, + Both Child and Fairy melt into the stream." + BULWER LYTTON, _King Arthur_. + +The bereaved wife and mother now sorrowfully withdrew into a convent, while +Lancelot was brought up in the palace of the Lady of the Lake, with his two +cousins, Lyonel and Bohort. Here he remained until he was eighteen, when +the fairy herself brought him to court and presented him to the king. +Arthur then and there made him his friend and confidant, and gave him an +honored place at the Round Table. He was warmly welcomed by all the other +knights also, whom he far excelled in beauty and courage. + + "But one Sir Lancelot du Lake, + Who was approved well, + He for his deeds and feats of armes + All others did excell." + _Sir Lancelot du Lake_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Guinevere.] Lancelot, however, was doomed to much +sorrow, for he had no sooner beheld Queen Guinevere than he fell deeply in +love with her. The queen fully returned his affection, granted him many +marks of her favor, and encouraged him to betray his friend and king on +sundry occasions, which form the themes of various episodes in the romances +of the time. Lancelot, urged in one direction by passion, in another by +loyalty, led a very unhappy life, which made him relapse into occasional +fits of insanity, during which he roamed aimlessly about for many years. +When restored to his senses, he always returned to court, where he +accomplished unheard-of deeds of valor, delivered many maidens in distress, +righted the wrong wherever he found it, won all the honors at the +tournaments, and ever remained faithful in his devotion to the queen, +although many fair ladies tried to make him forget her. + +Some of the poems, anxious to vindicate the queen, declare that there were +two Guineveres, one pure, lovely, and worthy of all admiration, who +suffered for the sins of the other, an unprincipled woman. When Arthur +discovered his wife's intrigue with Lancelot, he sent her away, and +Guinevere took refuge with her lover in Joyeuse Garde (Berwick), a castle +he had won at the point of his lance to please her. But the king, having +ascertained some time after that the real Guinevere had been wrongfully +accused, reinstated her in his favor, and Lancelot again returned to court, +where he continued to love and serve the queen. + +[Illustration: SIR LANCELOT DU LAC.--Sir John Gilbert.] + +On one occasion, hearing that she had been made captive by Meleagans, +Lancelot rushed after Guinevere to rescue her, tracing her by a comb and +ringlet she had dropped on the way. His horse was taken from him by +enchantment, so Lancelot, in order sooner to overtake the queen, rode on in +a cart. This was considered a disgraceful mode of progress for a knight, as +a nobleman in those days was condemned to ride in a cart in punishment for +crimes for which common people were sentenced to the pillory. + +Lancelot succeeded in reaching the castle of Guinevere's kidnaper, whom he +challenged and defeated. The queen, instead of showing herself grateful for +this devotion, soon became needlessly jealous, and in a fit of anger +taunted her lover about his journey in the cart. This remark sufficed to +unsettle the hero's evidently very tottering reason, and he roamed wildly +about until the queen recognized her error, and sent twenty-three knights +in search of him. They journeyed far and wide for two whole years without +finding him. + + "'Then Sir Bors had ridden on + Softly, and sorrowing for our Lancelot, + Because his former madness, once the talk + And scandal of our table, had return'd; + For Lancelot's kith and kin so worship him + That ill to him is ill to them.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +Finally a fair and pious damsel took pity upon the frenzied knight, and +seeing that he had atoned by suffering for all his sins, she had him borne +into the chamber where the Holy Grail was kept; "and then there came a holy +man, who uncovered the vessel, and so by miracle, and by virtue of that +holy vessel, Sir Lancelot was all healed and recovered." + +[Sidenote: Gareth and Lynette.] Sane once more, Lancelot now returned to +Camelot, where the king, queen, and all the knights of the Round Table +rejoiced to see him. Here Lancelot knighted Sir Gareth, who, to please his +mother, had concealed his true name, and had acted as kitchen vassal for a +whole year. The new-made knight immediately started out with a fair maiden +called Lynette, to deliver her captive sister. Thinking him nothing but the +kitchen vassal he seemed, the damsel insulted Gareth in every possible way. +He bravely endured her taunts, courageously defeated all her adversaries, +and finally won her admiration and respect to such a degree that she bade +him ride beside her, and humbly asked his pardon for having so grievously +misjudged him. + + "'Sir,--and, good faith, I fain had added Knight, + But that I heard thee call thyself a knave,-- + Shamed am I that I so rebuked, reviled, + Missaid thee; noble I am; and thought the King + Scorn'd me and mine; and now thy pardon, friend, + For thou hast ever answer'd courteously, + And wholly bold thou art, and meek withal + As any of Arthur's best, but, being knave, + Hast mazed my wit: I marvel what thou art.'" + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +Granting her full forgiveness, Gareth now rode beside her, fought more +bravely still, and, after defeating many knights, delivered her sister from +captivity, and secured Lynette's promise to become his wife as soon as he +had been admitted to the Round Table. When he returned to Arthur's court +this honor was immediately awarded him, for his prowess had won the +admiration of all, and he was duly married on St. Michaelmas Day. + + "And he that told the tale in older times + Says that Sir Gareth wedded Lyoners, + But he that told it later, says Lynette." + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +[Sidenote: Geraint and Enid.] Gareth's brother, Geraint, was also an +honored member of the Round Table. After distinguishing himself by many +deeds of valor he married Enid the Fair, the only daughter of an old and +impoverished knight whom he delivered from the tyranny of his oppressor and +restored to all his former state. Taking his fair wife away with him to his +lonely manor, Geraint surrounded her with every comfort, and, forgetting +his former high aspirations, spent all his time at home, hoping thereby to +please her. + + "He compass'd her with sweet observances + And worship, never leaving her, and grew + Forgetful of his promise to the King. + Forgetful of the falcon and the hunt, + Forgetful of the tilt and tournament, + Forgetful of his glory and his name, + Forgetful of his princedom and its cares. + And this forgetfulness was hateful to her." + TENNYSON, _Geraint and Enid_. + +Enid, however, soon perceived that her husband was forgetting both honor +and duty to linger by her side. One day, while he lay asleep before her, +she, in an outburst of wifely love, poured out her heart, and ended her +confession by declaring that since Geraint neglected everything for her +sake only, she must be an unworthy wife. + +Geraint awoke too late to overhear the first part of her speech; but, +seeing her tears, and catching the words "unworthy wife," he immediately +imagined that she had ceased to love him, and that she received the +attentions of another. In his anger Geraint (whom the French and German +poems call Erec) rose from his couch, and sternly bade his wife don her +meanest apparel and silently follow him through the world. + + "The page he bade with speed + Prepare his own strong steed, + Dame Enid's palfrey there beside; + He said that he would ride + For pastime far away: + So forward hastened they." + HARTMANN VON AVE, _Erek and Enid_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.) + +Patiently Enid did her husband's bidding, watched him fight the knights by +the way, and bound up his wounds. She suffered intensely from his +incomprehensible coldness and displeasure; but she stood all his tests so +nobly that he finally recognized how greatly he had misjudged her. He then +restored her to her rightful place, and loved her more dearly than ever +before. + + "Nor did he doubt her more, + But rested in her fealty, till he crown'd + A happy life with a fair death, and fell + Against the heathen of the Northern Sea + In battle, fighting for the blameless King." + TENNYSON,--_Geraint and Enid_. + +[Sidenote: Sir Galahad.] One Pentecost Day, when all the knights were +assembled, as usual, around the table at Camelot, a distressed damsel +suddenly entered the hall and implored Lancelot to accompany her to the +neighboring forest, where a young warrior was hoping to receive knighthood +at his hands. This youth was Sir Galahad, the peerless knight, whom some +authorities call Lancelot's son, while others declare that he was not of +mortal birth. + +On reëntering the hall after performing this ceremony, Lancelot heard that +a miracle had occurred, and rushed with the king and his companions down to +the riverside. There the rumor was verified, for they all saw a heavy stone +floating down the stream, and perceived that a costly weapon was sunk deep +in the stone. On this weapon was an inscription, declaring that none but a +peerless knight should attempt to draw it out, upon penalty of a grievous +punishment. As all the knights of the Round Table felt guilty of some sin, +they modestly refused to touch it. + +When they returned into the hall an aged man came in, accompanied by +Galahad, and the latter, fearless by right of innocence, sat down in the +"Siege Perilous." As his name then appeared upon it, all knew that he was +the rightful occupant, and hailed his advent with joy. Then, noticing that +he wore an empty scabbard, and hearing him state that he had been promised +a marvelous sword, they one and all escorted him down to the river, where +he easily drew the sword out of the stone. This fitted exactly in his empty +sheath, and all vowed that it was evidently meant for him. + +That selfsame night, after evensong, when all the knights were seated about +the Round Table at Camelot, they heard a long roll of thunder, and felt the +palace shake. The brilliant lights held by the statues of the twelve +conquered kings grew strangely dim, and then, gliding down upon a beam of +refulgent celestial light, they all beheld a dazzling vision of the Holy +Grail. Covered by white samite, and borne by invisible hands, the sacred +vessel was slowly carried all around the great hall, while a delicious +perfume was wafted throughout the huge edifice. All the knights of the +Round Table gazed in silent awe at this resplendent vision, and when it +vanished as suddenly and as mysteriously as it had come, each saw before +him the food which he liked best. + +Speechless at first, and motionless until the wonted light again illumined +the hall, the knights gave fervent thanks for the mercy which had been +vouchsafed them, and then Lancelot, springing impetuously to his feet, +vowed that he would ride forth in search of the Holy Grail and would know +no rest until he had beheld it unveiled. This vow was echoed by all the +knights of the Round Table; and when Arthur now questioned them closely, he +discovered that none had seen the vessel unveiled. Still he could not +prevent his knights from setting out in quest of it, because they had +solemnly vowed to do so. + + "'Nay, lord, I heard the sound, I saw the light, + But since I did not see the Holy Thing, + I sware a vow to follow it till I saw.' + + "Then when he ask'd us, knight by knight, if any + Had seen it, all their answers were as one: + 'Nay, lord, and therefore have we sworn our vows.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +[Sidenote: Quest of the Holy Grail.] During this quest the knights traveled +separately or in pairs all through the world, encountered many dangers, and +in true mediaeval fashion defended damsels in distress, challenged knights, +and covered themselves with scars and glory. Some of the legends declare +that Parzival alone saw the Holy Grail, while others aver that Lancelot saw +it through a veil faintly. The pure Galahad, having never sinned at all, +and having spent years in prayer and fasting, finally beheld it just as his +immaculate soul was borne to heaven by the angels. + +The rest of the knights, realizing after many years' fruitless search that +they were unworthy of the boon, finally returned to Camelot, where they +were duly entertained by the queen. While they were feasting at her table, +one of their number, having partaken of a poisonous draught, fell lifeless +to the ground. As the incident had happened at the queen's side, some of +her detractors accused her of the crime, and bade her confess, or prove her +innocence by a judicial duel. Being her husband, Arthur was debarred by law +of the privilege of fighting for her in the lists of Camelot, and the poor +queen would have been condemned to be burned alive for lack of a champion +had not Lancelot appeared incognito, and forced her accuser to retract his +words. + +Throughout his reign Arthur had been wont to encourage his knights by +yearly tournaments, the victor's prize being each time a precious jewel. It +seems that these jewels had come into his possession in a peculiar way. +While wandering as a lad in Lyonesse, Arthur found the moldering bones of +two kings. Tradition related that these monarchs had slain each other, and, +as they were brothers, the murder seemed so heinous that none dared touch +their remains. There among the rusty armor lay a kingly crown studded with +diamonds, which Arthur picked up and carelessly set upon his own head. At +that very moment a prophetic voice was heard declaring to him that he +should rule. Arthur kept the crown, and made each jewel set in it the +object of a brilliant pageant when the prophecy had been fulfilled. + + "And Arthur came, and laboring up the pass, + All in a misty moonshine, unawares + Had trodden that crown'd skeleton, and the skull + Brake from the nape, and from the skull the crown + Roll'd into light, and turning on its rims + Fled like a glittering rivulet to the tarn. + And down the shingly scaur he plunged, and caught, + And set it on his head, and in his heart + Heard murmurs,--'Lo! thou likewise shalt be King.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot's prowess.] Lancelot had been present at every one of +these knightly games, and had easily borne away the prize, for his very +name was almost enough to secure him the victory. When the time for the +last tournament came, he pretended to take no interest in it; but, riding +off to Astolat (Guildford), he asked Elaine, the fair maiden who dwelt +there, to guard his blazoned shield and give him another in exchange. + +This fair lady, who had fallen in love with Lancelot at first sight, +immediately complied with his request, and even timidly suggested that he +should wear her colors in the coming fray. Lancelot had never worn any +favors except Guinevere's, but thinking that it would help to conceal his +identity, he accepted the crimson, pearl-embroidered sleeve she offered, +and fastened it to his helmet in the usual way. + + "'Lady, thy sleeve thou shalt off-shear, + I wol it take for the love of thee; + So did I never no lady's ere [before] + But one, that most hath loved me.'" + ELLIS, _Lancelot du Lac_. + +Thus effectually disguised, and accompanied by Sir Lawaine, Elaine's +brother, Lancelot rode on to the tournament, where, still unknown, he +unhorsed every knight and won the prize. His last encounter, however, +nearly proved fatal, for in it he received a grievous wound. As he felt +faint, and was afraid to be recognized, Lancelot did not wait to claim the +prize, but rode immediately out of the town. He soon fainted, but was +conveyed to the cell of a neighboring hermit. Here his wound was dressed, +and he was carefully nursed by Elaine, who had heard that he was wounded, +and had immediately set out in search of him. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Elaine.] When Lancelot, entirely recovered, was +about to leave Elaine after claiming his own shield, she timidly confessed +her love, hoping that it was returned. Gently and sorrowfully Lancelot +repulsed her, and, by her father's advice, was even so discourteous as to +leave her without a special farewell. Unrequited love soon proved too much +for the "lily maid of Astolat," who pined away very rapidly. Feeling that +her end was near, she dictated a farewell letter to Lancelot, which she +made her father promise to put in her dead hand. She also directed that her +body should be laid in state on a barge, and sent in charge of a mute +boatman to Camelot, where she was sure she would receive a suitable burial +from the hands of Lancelot. + +In the meanwhile the hero of the tournament had been sought everywhere by +Gawain, who was the bearer of the diamond won at such a cost. Coming to +Astolat before Lancelot was cured, Gawain had learned the name of the +victor, which he immediately proclaimed to Guinevere. The queen, however, +hearing a vague rumor that Lancelot had worn the colors of the maiden of +Astolat, and was about to marry her, grew so jealous that when Lancelot +reappeared at court she received him very coldly, and carelessly flung his +present (a necklace studded with the diamonds he had won at various +tournaments) into the river flowing beneath the castle walls. + + "She seized, + And, thro' the casement standing wide for heat, + Flung them, and down they flash'd, and smote the stream. + Then from the smitten surface flash'd, as it were, + Diamonds to meet them, and they passed away." + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Illustration: ELAINE--Rosenthal.] + +[Sidenote: The funeral barge.] As he leaned out of the window to trace them +in their fall, Lancelot saw a barge slowly drifting down the stream. Its +peculiar appearance attracted his attention, and as it passed close by him +he saw that it bore a corpse. A moment later he had recognized the features +of the dead Elaine. The mute boatman paused at the castle steps, and Arthur +had the corpse borne into his presence. The letter was found and read aloud +in the midst of the awestruck court. Arthur, touched by the girl's love, +bade Lancelot fulfill her last request and lay her to rest. Lancelot then +related the brief story of the maiden, whose love he could not return, but +whose death he sincerely mourned. + + "'My lord liege Arthur, and all ye that hear, + Know that for this most gentle maiden's death + Right heavy am I; for good she was and true, + But loved me with a love beyond all love + In women, whomsoever I have known. + Yet to be loved makes not to love again; + Not at my years, however it hold in youth. + I swear by truth and knighthood that I gave + No cause, not willingly, for such a love: + To this I call my friends in testimony, + Her brethren, and her father, who himself + Besought me to be plain and blunt, and use, + To break her passion, some discourtesy + Against my nature: what I could, I did. + I left her and I bade her no farewell; + Tho', had I dreamt the damsel would have died, + I might have put my wits to some rough use, + And help'd her from herself.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +Haunted by remorse for this involuntary crime, Lancelot again wandered away +from Camelot, but returned in time to save Guinevere, who had again been +falsely accused. In his indignation at the treatment to which she had been +exposed, Lancelot bore her off to Joyeuse Garde, where he swore he would +defend her even against the king. Arthur, whose mind, in the mean while, +had been poisoned by officious courtiers, besieged his recreant wife and +knight; but although repeatedly challenged, the loyal Lancelot ever refused +to bear arms directly against his king. + +When the Pope heard of the dissension in England he finally interfered; and +Lancelot, assured that Guinevere would henceforth be treated with all due +respect, surrendered her to the king and retreated to his paternal estate +in Brittany. As Arthur's resentment against Lancelot had not yet cooled, he +left Guinevere under the care and protection of Mordred, his nephew,--some +versions say his son,--and then, at the head of a large force, departed for +Brittany. + +[Sidenote: Treachery of Mordred.] Mordred the traitor immediately took +advantage of his uncle's absence to lay claim to the throne; and loudly +declaring that Arthur had been slain, he tried to force Guinevere to marry +him. As she demurred, he kept her a close prisoner, and set her free only +when she pretended to agree with his wishes, and asked permission to go to +London to buy wedding finery. + +When Guinevere arrived in that city she intrenched herself in the Tower, +and sent word to her husband of her perilous position. Without any delay +Arthur abandoned the siege of Lancelot's stronghold, and, crossing the +channel, encountered Mordred's army near Dover. + +Negotiations now took place, and it was finally agreed that Arthur and a +certain number of knights should meet Mordred with an equal number, and +discuss the terms of peace. It had been strictly enjoined on both parties +that no weapon should be drawn, and all would have gone well had not an +adder been lurking in the grass. One of the knights drew his sword to kill +it, and this unexpected movement proved the signal for one of the bloodiest +battles described in mediaeval poetry. + + "An addere crept forth of a bushe, + Stunge one o' th' king's knightes on the knee. + Alacke! it was a woefulle chance, + As ever was in Christientie; + When the knighte founde him wounded sore, + And sawe the wild worme hanginge there, + His sworde he from the scabbarde drewe; + A piteous case, as ye shall heare; + For when the two hostes saw the sworde, + They joyned in battayle instantlye; + Till of so manye noble knightes, + On one side there was left but three." + _King Arthur's Death_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur wounded.] On both sides the knights fought with the +utmost courage, and when nearly all were slain, Arthur encountered the +traitor Mordred. Summoning all his strength, the exhausted king finally +slew the usurper, who, in dying, dealt Arthur a mortal blow. This would +never have occurred, however, had not Morgana the fay, Arthur's sister, +purloined his magic scabbard and substituted another. All the enemy's host +had perished, and of Arthur's noble army only one man remained alive, Sir +Bedivere, a knight of the Round Table. He hastened to the side of his +fallen master, who in faltering accents now bade him take the brand +Excalibur, cast it far from him into the waters of the lake, and return to +report what he should see. The knight, thinking it a pity to throw away so +valuable a sword, concealed it twice; but the dying monarch detected the +fraud, and finally prevailed upon Bedivere to fulfill his wishes. As the +magic blade touched the waters Sir Bedivere saw a hand and arm rise up from +the depths to seize it, brandish it thrice, and disappear. + + "'Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems + Should blind my purpose; for I never saw, + Nor shall see, here or elsewhere, till I die, + Not tho' I live three lives of mortal men, + So great a miracle as yonder hilt. + Then with both hands I flung him, wheeling him; + But when I look'd again, behold an arm, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him + Three times, and drew him under in the mere.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +Arthur gave a sigh of relief when he heard this report; and after telling +his faithful squire that Merlin had declared that he should not die, he +bade the knight lay him in a barge, all hung with black, wherein he would +find Morgana the fay, the Queen of Northgallis, and the Queen of the +Westerlands. + +Sir Bedivere obeyed all these orders exactly; and then, seeing his beloved +king about to leave him, he implored permission to accompany him. This, +however, Arthur could not grant, for it had been decreed that he should go +alone to the island of Avalon, where he hoped to be cured of his grievous +wound, and some day to return to his sorrowing people. + + "'But now farewell. I am going a long way + With these thou seest--if indeed I go + (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)-- + To the island-valley of Avilion; + Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, + Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies + Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard lawns + And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea, + Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur in Avalon.] It was because Arthur thus disappeared and +was never seen again, according to one version of the myth, and because +none knew whether he were living or dead, that he was popularly supposed to +be enjoying perpetual youth and bliss in the fabled island of Avalon, +whence they averred he would return when his people needed him. This belief +was so deeply rooted in England that Philip of Spain, upon marrying Mary, +was compelled to take a solemn oath whereby he bound himself to relinquish +the crown in favor of Arthur should he appear to claim it. + + "Still look the Britons for the day + Of Arthur's coming o'er the sea." + LAYAMON, _Brut_. + +Other romances and poems relate that Arthur was borne in the sable-hung +barge to Glastonbury, where his remains were laid in the tomb, while +Guinevere retired into the nunnery at Almesbury. There she was once more +visited by the sorrowing Lancelot, who, in spite of all his haste, had come +upon the scene too late to save or be reconciled to the king, to whom he +was still devotedly attached. In his sorrow and remorse the knight withdrew +into a hermitage, where he spent six years in constant penance and prayer. +At last he was warned in a vision that Guinevere was no more. He hastened +to Almesbury, and found her really dead. After burying her by Arthur's +side, in the chapel of Glastonbury, Lancelot again withdrew to his cell. +Six weeks later, worn to a shadow by abstinence and night watches, he +peacefully passed away, and a priest watching near him said that he had +seen the angels receive and bear his ransomed spirit straight up to heaven. + +Lancelot was buried either at Arthur's feet or at Joyeuse Garde. He was +deeply mourned by all his friends, and especially by his heir, Sir Ector de +Maris, who eulogized him in the following touching terms: "'Ah, Sir +Lancelot,' he said, 'thou were head of all Christian knights; and now I +dare say,' said Sir Ector, 'that, Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, thou were +never matched of none earthly knight's hands; and thou were the courtliest +knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend to thy lover +that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man +that ever loved woman; and thou were the kindest man that ever struck with +sword; and thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of +knights; and thou were the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in +hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that +ever put spear in rest.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +TRISTAN AND ISEULT. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the story.] The story of Tristan, which seems to have +been current from earliest times, refers, perhaps, to the adventures of a +knight, the contemporary of Arthur or of Cassivellaunus. The tale seems to +have already been known in the sixth century, and was soon seized upon by +the bards, who found it a rich theme for their metrical romances. It is +quite unknown whether it was first turned into Latin, French, or Welsh +verse; but an established fact is that it has been translated into every +European language, and was listened to with as much interest by the +inhabitants of Iceland as by those of the sunny plains of Greece. + +We know that there are metrical versions, or remains of metrical versions, +attributed to Thomas of Ercildoune (the Rhymer), to Raoul de Beauvais, +Chrestien de Troyes, Rusticien de Pise, Luces de Cast, Robert and Hélie de +Borron, and Gottfried von Strassburg, and that in our day it has been +retold by Matthew Arnold and Swinburne, and made the subject of an opera by +Wagner. These old metrical versions, recited with manifold variations by +the minstrels, were finally collected into a prose romance, like most of +the mediaeval poems of this kind. + +The outline of the story, collected from many different sources, is as +follows: + +Meliadus (Rivalin, or Roland Rise) was Lord of Lyonesse (Ermonie, or +Parmenia), and after warring for some time against Morgan, he entered into +a seven-years' truce. This time of respite was employed by Meliadus in +visiting Mark, King of Cornwall, who dwelt at Tintagel, where he was +holding a great tournament. Many knights of tried valor hurried thither to +win laurels, but none were able to unhorse Meliadus, who obtained every +prize. + +His courage was such that he even won the heart of Blanchefleur, the sister +of the king. As the monarch refused to consent to their union, the young +people were secretly married, or eloped, if we are to believe another +version of the story. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Tristan.] According to the first account, Blanchefleur +remained at court, where, hearing that her husband had died, she breathed +her last in giving birth to a son, whom she called Tristan (Tristrem), +because he had come into the world under such sad circumstances. The second +version relates that Blanchefleur died as Morgan entered the castle over +her husband's dead body, and that her faithful retainer, Kurvenal (Rohand, +Rual), in order to save her son, claimed him as his own. + +The child Tristan grew up without knowing his real parentage, learned all +that a knight was expected to know, and became especially expert as a +hunter and as a harp player. One day he strolled on board of a Norwegian +vessel which had anchored in the harbor near his ancestral home, and +accepted the challenge of the Norsemen to play a game of chess for a +certain wager. + +As Tristan played at chess as well as upon the harp, he soon won the game; +but the Northmen, rather than pay their forfeited wager, suddenly raised +the anchor and sailed away, intending to sell the kidnaped youth as a +slave. + + "Ther com a ship of Norway, + To Sir Rohandes hold, + With haukes white and grey, + And panes fair y-fold: + Tristrem herd it say, + On his playing he wold + Tventi schilling to lay, + Sir Rohand him told, + And taught; + For hauke silver he gold; + The fairest men him raught." + SCOTT, _Sir Tristrem_. + +They had not gone far, however, before a terrible tempest arose, which +threatened to sink the vessel and drown all on board. The mariners, +supposing in their terror that this peril had come upon them because they +had acted dishonorably, made a solemn vow to liberate the youth if they +escaped. + +The vow having been made, the wind ceased to blow; and anchoring in the +nearest bay, the Norsemen bade Tristan land, and paid him the sum he had +won at chess. + +[Sidenote: Tristan in Cornwall.] Thus forsaken on an unknown shore, with +nothing but his harp and bow, Tristan wandered through an extensive forest, +where, coming across a party of huntsmen who had just slain a deer, he gave +them valuable and lengthy instructions in matters pertaining to the chase, +and taught them how to flay and divide their quarry according to the most +approved mediaeval style. Then, accompanying them to the court of their +master, King Mark, he charmed every one with his minstrelsy, and was +invited to tarry there as long as he pleased. His foster father, Kurvenal, +in the mean while, had set out to seek him; and in the course of his +wanderings he too came to Mark's court, where he was overjoyed to find +Tristan, whose parentage he revealed to the king. + +Tristan now for the first time heard the story of his father's death, and +refused to rest until he had avenged him. He immediately set out, slew +Morgan, and recovered his father's estate of Lyonesse, which he intrusted +to Kurvenal's care, while he himself went back to Cornwall. On arriving at +Tintagel he was surprised to find all the court plunged in sorrow. Upon +inquiring the cause he was informed that Morold, brother of the King of +Ireland, had come to claim the usual tribute of three hundred pounds of +silver and tin and three hundred promising youths to be sold into slavery. + +Indignant at this claim, which had been enforced ever since Mark had been +defeated in battle by the Irish king, Tristan boldly strode up to the +emissary, tore the treaty in two, flung the pieces in his face, and +challenged him to single combat. Morold, confident in his strength,--for he +was a giant,--and relying particularly upon his poisoned sword, immediately +accepted the challenge. When the usual preliminaries had been settled, the +battle began. + + "Sir Morold rode upon his steed, + And flew against Tristan with speed + Still greater than is falcons' flight; + But warlike too was Tristan's might." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Terrible blows were given and received, and at last Tristan sank to the +ground on one knee, for his opponent's poisoned weapon had pierced his +side. + +Morold then called upon him to acknowledge himself beaten, promising to +obtain a balsam from his sister Iseult (Isolde, Ysolde), who knew a remedy +for such a dangerous wound. But Tristan, remembering that, if he +surrendered, three hundred innocent children would be sold as slaves, made +a last despairing effort, and slew Morold. Such was the force of the blow +he dealt that he cut through the helmet and pierced Morold's skull, which +was so hard that a fragment of his sword remained imbedded within the +wound. + +The people of Cornwall were, of course, delighted; and while the Irish +heralds returned empty-handed to Dublin with Morold's remains, the King of +Cornwall loudly proclaimed that as he had no son, Tristan should be his +heir. + +[Sidenote: Tristan's wound.] Tristan, however, was far from happy, for the +wound in his side refused to heal, and gradually became so offensive that +no one could bear his presence. As none of the court doctors could relieve +him, he remembered Morold's words, and resolved to go to Ireland, in hopes +that Iseult would cure him. Conscious, however, that she would never +consent to help him if she suspected his identity, he embarked alone, or +with Kurvenal, in a small vessel, taking only his harp, and drifted toward +Ireland, where he arrived at the end of fifteen days. When he appeared at +court, Tristan declared that he was a wandering minstrel called Tantris, +and bespoke the kind offices of the queen, Iseult. Charmed by his music, +she hastened to cure him of the grievous wound from which he had suffered +so much. + +Tristan, still unknown, remained at the Irish court for some time, spending +many hours with Iseult, the daughter and namesake of the queen, whom he +instructed daily in the art of music. After some months passed thus in +pleasant intercourse, Tristan returned to Cornwall, where he related to +Mark the story of his cure, and so extolled the beauty of young Iseult that +the king finally expressed a desire to marry her. By the advice of the +courtiers, who were jealous of Tristan, and who hoped that this mission +would cost him his life, the young hero was sent to Ireland with an +imposing retinue, to sue for the maiden's hand and to escort her safely to +Cornwall. + +On landing in Dublin, Tristan immediately became aware that the people were +laboring under an unusual excitement. Upon questioning them he learned that +a terrible dragon had taken up its station near the city, that it was +devastating the country, and that the king had promised the hand of Iseult +to the man who would slay the monster. Tristan immediately concluded that +by killing the dragon he would have the best chance of successfully +carrying out his uncle's wishes, so he sallied forth alone to attack it. + + "This dragon had two furious wings, + Each one upon each shoulder; + With a sting in his tayl as long as a flayl, + Which made him bolder and bolder. + + "He had long claws, and in his jaws + Four and forty teeth of iron; + With a hide as tough as any buff + Which did him round environ." + _Dragon of Wantly_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Tristan and the dragon.] In spite of the fearful appearance of +this dragon, and of the volumes of fire and venom which it belched forth, +Tristan encountered it bravely, and finally slew it. Then, cutting out the +monster's tongue, he thrust it into his pocket, intending to produce it at +the right moment. He had gone only a few steps, however, when, exhausted by +his prolonged conflict, stunned by the poisonous fumes which he had +inhaled, and overcome by the close contact with the dragon's tongue, he +sank fainting to the ground. A few moments later the butler of the Irish +king rode up. He saw the dragon dead, with his conqueror lifeless beside +him, and quickly resolved to take advantage of this fortunate chance to +secure the hand of the fair princess. He therefore cut off the dragon's +head, and, going to court, boasted of having slain the monster just as it +had killed a strange knight. Iseult and her mother, well aware that the man +was a coward, refused to believe his story, and hastened off to the scene +of the conflict, where they found the fainting Tristan with the dragon's +tongue in his pocket. + +To remove the poisonous substance, (which they, however, preserved,) convey +the knight to the palace, and restore him by tender care, was the next +impulse of these brave women. Then, while Iseult the younger sat beside her +patient, watching his slumbers, she idly drew his sword from the scabbard. +Suddenly her eye was caught by a dint in the blade, which she soon +discovered was of exactly the same shape and size as the fragment of steel +which she had found in her uncle's skull. + + "Then all at once her heart grew cold + In thinking of that deed of old. + Her color changed through grief and ire + From deadly pale to glowing fire. + With sorrow she exclaimed: 'Alas! + Oh, woe! what has now come to pass? + Who carried here this weapon dread, + By which mine uncle was struck dead? + And he who slew him, Tristan hight. + Who gave it to this minstrel knight?'" + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Morold's murderer lay helpless before her, and Iseult, animated by the +spirit of vengeance, which was considered a sacred duty among the people of +the time, was about to slay Tristan, when he opened his eyes and disarmed +her by a glance. Her mother further hindered her carrying out her hostile +intentions by telling her that Tristan had atoned for his crime by +delivering the people from the power of the dragon. + +As soon as Tristan had quite recovered, he appeared at court, where he +offered to prove at the point of his sword that the butler had no claim to +the princess's hand. A duel was arranged, and the butler, disarmed by +Tristan, confessed his lie. Tristan then produced the dragon's tongue and +told his adventures; but, to the general surprise, instead of suing for +Iseult's hand for himself, he now asked it in the name of his uncle, King +Mark of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: The love potion.] The young princess was none too well pleased +at this unexpected turn of affairs; but, as princesses never had much to +say about the choice of a husband, she obediently prepared to accompany the +embassy to Tintagel. Her mother, wishing to preserve her from a loveless +marriage, now sought out all manner of herbs wherewith to brew one of those +magic love potions which were popularly supposed to have unlimited powers. + + "Bethought her with her secret soul alone + To work some charm for marriage unison, + And strike the heart of Iseult to her lord + With power compulsive more than stroke of sword." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +This magic potion was put in a golden cup and intrusted to Brangwaine, the +attendant of Iseult, with strict injunctions to guard the secret well, and +to give the draught to her mistress and Mark to quaff together on their +wedding day. + + "Therefore with marvelous herbs and spells she wrought + To win the very wonder of her thought, + And brewed it with her secret hands, and blest + And drew and gave out of her secret breast + To one her chosen and Iseult's handmaiden, + Brangwain, and bade her hide from sight of men + This marvel covered in a golden cup, + So covering in her heart the counsel up + As in the gold the wondrous wine lay close." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +Brangwaine carefully carried this potion on board the ship, and placed it +in a cupboard, whence she intended to produce it when the suitable moment +came. Iseult embarked with the escort sent from Cornwall, and Tristan, in +order to beguile the long, weary hours of the journey, entertained her with +all the songs and stories that he knew. One day, after singing for some +time, he asked his fair young mistress for a drink; and she, going to the +cupboard, drew out the magic potion, little guessing its power. + +As was customary in those days in offering wine to an honored guest, she +first put it to her own lips and then handed it to the thirsty minstrel, +who drained it greedily. They had no sooner drunk, however, than the +draught, working with subtle power, suddenly kindled in their hearts a +passionate love, destined to last as long as they both lived. + + "Now that the maiden and the man, + Fair Iseult and Tristan, + Both drank the drink, upon them pressed + What gives the world such sore unrest,-- + Love, skilled in sly and prowling arts,-- + And swiftly crept in both their hearts; + So, ere of him they were aware, + Stood his victorious banners there. + He drew them both into his power; + One and single were they that hour + That two and twofold were before." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +After the first few hours of rapture had passed, the young people, who +honorably intended to keep their word and conquer the fatal passion which +had overwhelmed them, remained apart, and when Iseult landed in Cornwall +her marriage was celebrated with Mark. Brangwaine, who knew all that had +passed, tried to shield her mistress in every way, and blind the king, who +is depicted as a very unheroic monarch, but little fitted to secure the +affections of the proud young Iseult. + +[Sidenote: Tristan and Iseult.] This story of a love potion whose magic +power none could resist, and of the undying love which it kindled in the +unsuspecting hearts of Tristan and Iseult, has been treated in many ways by +the different poets and prose writers who have handled it. In many of the +older versions we have lengthy descriptions of stolen interviews, +hairbreadth escapes, and tests of love, truth, and fidelity without number. + +In many respects the story is a parallel of that of Lancelot and Guinevere, +although it contains some incidents which are duplicated in the +"Nibelungenlied" only. But throughout, the writers all aver that, owing to +the magic draught, the lovers, however good their intentions, could not +long exist without seeing each other. + +By means of this boundless love Tristan is said to have had an intuitive +knowledge of Iseult's peril, for he hastened to rescue her from danger +whenever events took a turn which might prove fatal to her. There are in +some of these old romances pretty descriptions of scenery and of the +signals used by the lovers to communicate with each other when forced by +adverse circumstances to remain apart. One of the poems, for instance, says +that Tristan's love messages were written on chips of wood, which he +floated down the little stream which flowed past his sylvan lodge and +crossed the garden of the queen. + +[Sidenote: Meliadus.] The inevitable villain of the tale is one of Mark's +squires, the spy Meliadus, also a very unheroic character, who told the +king of Tristan's love for Iseult. Mark, who all through the story seems +strangely indifferent to his beautiful wife, was not aware of the magic +draught and its powerful effect, but Meliadus roused him temporarily from +his apathy. + +[Illustration: ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN.--Pixis.] + +As the queen had been publicly accused, he compelled her to prove her +innocence by undergoing the ordeal of fire, or by taking a public oath that +she had shown favor to none but him. On her way to the place where this +ceremony was to take place, Iseult was carried across a stream by Tristan +disguised as a beggar, and, at his request, kissed him in reward for this +service. + +When called upon to take her oath before the judges and assembled court, +Iseult could truthfully swear that, with the exception of the beggar whom +she had just publicly kissed, no other man than the king could ever boast +of having received any special mark of her favor. + +Thus made aware of their danger, the lovers again decided to part, and +Tristan, deprived for a time of the sight of Iseult, went mad, and +performed many extraordinary feats; for mediaeval poets generally drove +their heroes into a frenzy when they did not know what else to do with +them. Having recovered, and hoping to forget the fatal passion which had +already caused him so much sorrow, Tristan now wandered off to Arthur's +court, where he performed many deeds of valor. Thence he went on to various +strange lands, distinguishing himself greatly everywhere, until he received +from a poisoned arrow a wound which no doctor could heal. + +[Sidenote: Iseult of Brittany.] Afraid to expose himself again to the +fascinations of Iseult of Cornwall, Tristan went to Brittany, where another +Iseult,--with the White Hands,--equally well skilled in medicine, tenderly +nursed him back to health. This maiden, as good and gentle as she was +beautiful, soon fell in love with the handsome knight, and hearing him sing +a passionate lay in honor of Iseult, she fancied that her affections were +returned, and that it was intended for her ear. + + "I know her by her mildness rare, + Her snow-white hands, her golden hair; + I know her by her rich silk dress, + And her fragile loveliness,-- + The sweetest Christian soul alive, + Iseult of Brittany." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +The brother of this fair Iseult saw her love for Tristan, and offered him +her hand, which he accepted more out of gratitude than love, and in the +hope that he might at last overcome the effects of the fatal draught. But, +in spite of all his good resolutions, he could not forget Iseult of +Cornwall, and treated his wife with such polite coolness that her brother's +suspicions were finally roused. + +Tristan, having conquered a neighboring giant and magician by the name of +Beliagog, had granted him his life only upon condition that he would build +a marvelous palace in the forest, and adorn it with paintings and +sculptures, true to life, and representing all the different stages of his +passion for Iseult of Cornwall. When his brother-in-law, therefore, asked +why he seemed to find no pleasure in the society of his young wife, Tristan +led him to the palace, showed him the works of art, and told him all. +Ganhardin, the brother-in-law, must evidently have considered the excuse a +good one, for he not only forgave Tristan, but implored him to take him to +Cornwall, for he had fallen in love with the picture of Brangwaine, and +hoped to win her for wife. On the way thither the young knights met with +sundry adventures, delivered Arthur from the power of the Lady of the Lake, +and carried off Iseult, whom the cowardly Mark was ill treating, to +Lancelot's castle of Joyeuse Garde. There she became acquainted with +Guinevere, and remained with her until Arthur brought about a general +reconciliation. + +Then Tristan once more returned to Brittany, resumed his wonted knightly +existence, and fought until he was wounded so sorely that Iseult of +Brittany could not cure him. His faithful steward Kurvenal, hoping yet to +save him, sailed for Cornwall to bring the other Iseult to the rescue; and +as he left he promised his master to change the black sails of the vessel +for white in case his quest were successful. + +Tristan now watched impatiently for the returning sail, but just as it came +into view he breathed his last. Some ill-advised writers have ventured to +state that Iseult of Brittany, whose jealousy had been aroused, was guilty +of Tristan's death by falsely averring, in answer to his feverish inquiry, +that the long-expected vessel was wafted along by black sails; but, +according to other authorities, she remained gentle and lovable to the end. + +[Sidenote: Miracle of the plants.] Iseult of Cornwall, speeding to the +rescue of her lover, whom nothing could make her forget, and finding him +dead, breathed her last upon his corpse. Both bodies were then carried to +Cornwall, where they were interred in separate graves by order of King +Mark. But from the tomb of the dead minstrel there soon sprang a creeper, +which, finding its way along the walls, descended into Iseult's grave. +Thrice cut down by Mark's orders, the plant persisted in growing, thus +emphasizing by a miracle the passionate love which made this couple +proverbial in the middle ages. There are in subsequent literature many +parallels of the miracle of the plant which sprang from Tristan's tomb, as +is seen by the Ballad of Lord Thomas and Fair Annet, and of Lord Lovel, +where, as in later versions of the Tristan legend, a rose and a vine grew +out of the respective graves and twined tenderly around each other. + + "And out of her breast there grew a red rose, + And out of his breast a brier." + _Ballad of Lord Lovel_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF. + + +[Sidenote: Northern sagas.] Norse, Danish, and Swedish writers have +frequently called public attention to the vast literary treasures which are +contained in the old sagas or tales of their forefathers. The work of +northern scalds whose names in most cases are unknown to us, these stories +relate the lives and adventures of the gods and heroes of the North. Many +of these old sagas have been translated into various other European +languages; but Tegnér, a Swedish writer of this century, has done most to +revive a taste for them by making one of them the basis of a poem which is +generally considered a masterpiece. + +Tegnér's "Frithiof Saga" has been translated once at least into every +European tongue, and more than eighteen times into English and German. +Goethe spoke of the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and the tale, which +gives a matchless picture of the life of our heathen ancestors in the +North, has been the source of inspiration for important works of art. + +Although Tegnér has chosen for his theme the Frithiof saga only, we find +that that tale is the sequel to the older but less interesting Thorsten +saga, of which we give here a very brief outline, merely to enable the +reader to understand clearly every allusion in the more modern poem. + +As is so frequently the case with these ancient tales, the story begins +with Haloge (Loki), who came north with Odin, and began to reign over north +Norway, which from him was called Halogaland. According to northern +mythology, this god had two lovely daughters. They were carried off by bold +suitors, who, banished from the mainland by Haloge's curses and magic +spells, took refuge with their newly won wives upon neighboring islands. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Viking.] Thus it happened that Haloge's grandson, +Viking, was born upon the island of Bornholm, in the Balitic Sea, where he +dwelt until he was fifteen, and where he became the largest and strongest +man of his time. Rumors of his valor finally reached Hunvor, a Swedish +princess; and, as she was oppressed by the attentions of a gigantic suitor +whom none dared drive away, she quickly sent for Viking to deliver her. + +Thus summoned, the youth departed, after having received from his father a +magic sword named Angurvadel, whose blows would prove fatal even to the +giant suitor of Hunvor. A "holmgang," the northern name for a duel, +ensued, and Viking, having slain his antagonist, could have married the +princess had it not been considered disgraceful for a Northman to marry +before he was twenty. + +To beguile the time of waiting, Viking set out in a well-manned dragon +ship; and, cruising about the northern and southern seas, he met with +countless adventures. During this time he was particularly persecuted by +the slain giant's kin, who were adepts in magic, and caused him to +encounter innumerable perils by land and by sea. + +Aided and abetted by his bosom friend, Halfdan, Viking escaped every +danger, slew many of his foes, and, after recovering his promised bride, +Hunvor, whom the enemy had carried off to India, he settled down in Sweden. +His friend, faithful in peace as well as in war, settled near him, and +married also, choosing for his wife Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant. + +The saga now describes the long, peaceful winters, when the warriors +feasted and listened to the tales of the scalds, rousing themselves to +energetic efforts only when returning spring again permitted them to launch +their dragon ships and set out once more upon their favorite piratical +expeditions. In the olden story the bards relate with great gusto every +phase of attack and defense during cruise and raid, describe every blow +given and received, and spare us none of carnage, or lurid flames which +envelop both enemies and ships in common ruin. A fierce fight is often an +earnest of future friendship, however, for we are told that Halfdan and +Viking, having failed to conquer Njorfe, even after a most obstinate +struggle, sheathed their swords and accepted him as a third in their close +bond of friendship. + +On returning home after one of these customary raids, Viking lost his +beloved wife; and, after intrusting her child, Ring, to the care of a +foster father, and undergoing a short period of mourning, the brave warrior +married again. This time his marital bliss was more lasting, for the saga +reports that his second wife bore him nine stalwart sons. + +Njorfe, King of Uplands, in Norway, had, in the mean while, followed +Viking's example, and he too rejoiced in a large family, numbering also +nine brave sons. Now, although their fathers were united in bonds of the +closest friendship, having sworn blood brotherhood according to the true +northern rites, the young men were jealous of one another, and greatly +inclined to quarrel. + +[Sidenote: Early ball games.] Notwithstanding this smoldering animosity, +these youths often met; and the saga relates that they used to play ball +together, and gives a description of the earliest ball game on record in +the northern annals. Viking's sons, as tall and strong as he, were inclined +to be rather reckless of their opponents' welfare, and, judging from the +following account, translated from the old saga, the players were often +left in as sorry a condition as after a modern game. + +"The next morning the brothers went to the games, and generally had the +ball during the day; they pushed men and let them fall roughly, and beat +others. At night three men had their arms broken, and many were bruised or +maimed." + +The game between Njorfe's and Viking's sons culminated in a disagreement, +and one of the former nine struck one of the latter a dangerous and +treacherous blow. Prevented from taking his revenge then and there by the +interference of the spectators, the injured man made a trivial excuse to +return to the ball ground alone; and, meeting his assailant there, he +killed him. + +When Viking heard that one of his sons had slain one of his friend's +children, he was very indignant, and, mindful of his oath to avenge all +Njorfe's wrongs, he banished the young murderer. The other brothers, on +hearing this sentence, all vowed that they would accompany the exile, and +so Viking sorrowfully bade them farewell, giving his sword Angurvadel to +Thorsten, the eldest, and cautioning him to remain quietly on an island in +Lake Wener until all danger of retaliation on the part of Njorfe's +remaining sons was over. + +The young men obeyed; but Njorfe's sons, who had no boats to take them +across the lake, soon made use of a conjuror's art to bring about a great +frost, and, accompanied by many armed men, stole noiselessly over the ice +to attack Thorsten and his brothers. A terrible carnage ensued, and only +two of the attacking party managed to escape, leaving, as they fancied, all +their foes among the dead. + +But when Viking came to bury his sons, he found that two of them, Thorsten +and Thorer, were still alive, and he secretly conveyed them to a cellar +beneath his dwelling, where they recovered from their wounds. + +By magic arts Njorfe's two sons discovered that their opponents were not +dead, and soon made a second desperate but vain attempt to kill them. +Viking saw that the quarrel would be incessantly renewed if his sons +remained at home; so he now sent them to Halfdan, whose court they reached +after a series of adventures which in many points resemble those of Theseus +on his way to Athens. + +When spring came Thorsten embarked on a piratical excursion, and +encountered Jokul, Njorfe's eldest son, who, in the mean while, had taken +forcible possession of the kingdom of Sogn, after killing the king, +banishing his heir, Belé, and changing his beautiful daughter, Ingeborg, +into the form of an old witch. + +Throughout the story Jokul is represented as somewhat of a coward, for he +resorted by preference to magic when he wished to injure Viking's sons. +Thus he stirred up great tempests, and Thorsten, after twice suffering +shipwreck, was saved from the waves by the witch Ingeborg, whom he promised +to marry in gratitude for her good services. + +Thorsten, advised by her, went in search of Belé, replaced him on his +hereditary throne, swore eternal friendship with him, and, the baleful +spell being removed, married the beautiful Ingeborg, who dwelt with him at +Framnäs. + +[Sidenote: Thorsten and Belé.] Every spring Thorsten and Belé now set out +together in their ships; and, joining forces with Angantyr, a foe whose +mettle they had duly tested, they proceeded to recover possession of a +priceless treasure, a magic dragon ship named Ellida, which Aegir, god of +the sea, had once given to Viking in reward for hospitable treatment, and +which had been stolen from him. + + "A royal gift to behold, for the swelling planks of its framework + Were not fastened with nails, as is wont, but _grown_ in together. + Its shape was that of a dragon when swimming, but forward + Its head rose proudly on high, the throat with yellow gold flaming; + Its belly was spotted with red and yellow, but back by the rudder + Coiled out its mighty tail in circles, all scaly with silver; + Black wings with edges of red; when all were expanded + Ellida raced with the whistling storm, but outstript the eagle. + When filled to the edge with warriors, it sailed o'er the waters, + You'd deem it a floating fortress, or warlike abode of a monarch. + The ship was famed far and wide, and of ships was first in the North." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The next season, Thorsten, Belé, and Angantyr conquered the Orkney Islands, +which were given as kingdom to the latter, he voluntarily pledging himself +to pay a yearly tribute to Belé. Next Thorsten and Belé went in quest of a +magic ring, or armlet, once forged by Völund, the smith, and stolen by +Soté, a famous pirate. + +This bold robber was so afraid lest some one should gain possession of the +magic ring, that he had buried himself alive with it in a mound in +Bretland. Here his ghost was said to keep constant watch over it, and when +Thorsten entered his tomb, Belé heard the frightful blows given and +received, and saw lurid gleams of supernatural fire. + +When Thorsten finally staggered out of the mound, pale and bloody, but +triumphant, he refused to speak of the horrors he had encountered to win +the coveted treasure, nor would he ever vouchsafe further information than +this: + + "'Dearly bought is the prize,' said he often, + 'For I trembled but once in my life, and 'twas when I seized it!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Birth of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] Thus owner of the three +greatest treasures in the North, Thorsten returned home to Framnäs, where +Ingeborg bore him a fine boy, Frithiof, the playmate of Halfdan and Helgé, +Belé's sons. The three youths were already well grown when Ingeborg, Belé's +little daughter, was born, and as she was intrusted to the care of Hilding, +Frithiof's foster father, the children grew up in perfect amity. + + "Jocund they grew, in guileless glee; + Young Frithiof was the sapling tree; + In budding beauty by his side, + Sweet Ingeborg, the garden's pride." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Frithiof soon became hardy and fearless under his foster father's training, +and Ingeborg rapidly developed all the sweetest traits of female +loveliness. Both, however, were happiest when together; and as they grew +older their childish affection daily became deeper and more intense, until +Hilding, perceiving this state of affairs, bade the youth remember that he +was only a subject, and therefore no mate for the king's only daughter. + + "But Hilding said, 'O foster son, + Set not thy heart her love upon, + For Destiny thy wish gainsaid; + King Belé's daughter is the maid! + + "'From Odin's self, in starry sky, + Descends her ancestry so high; + But thou art Thorsten's son, so yield, + And leave to mightier names the field.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's love for Ingeborg.] These wise admonitions came too +late, however, and Frithiof vehemently declared that he would win the fair +Ingeborg for his bride in spite of all obstacles and his comparatively +humble origin. + +Shortly after this Belé and Thorsten met for the last time, near the +magnificent shrine of Balder, where the king, feeling that his end was +near, had convened a solemn assembly, or Thing, of all his principal +subjects, in order to present his sons Helgé and Halfdan to the people as +his chosen successors. The young heirs were very coldly received on this +occasion, for Helgé was of a somber and taciturn disposition, and inclined +to the life of a priest, and Halfdan was of a weak, effeminate nature, and +noted for his cowardice. Frithiof, who was present, and stood beside them, +cast them both in the shade, and won many admiring glances from the throng. + + "But after them came Frithiof, in mantle blue-- + He by a head was taller than th' other two. + He stood between the brethren, as day should light + Between the rosy morning and darksome night." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +After giving his last instructions to his sons, and speaking kindly to +Frithiof, who was his favorite, the old king turned to his lifelong +companion, Thorsten, to take leave of him, but the old warrior declared +that they would not long be parted. Belé then spoke again to his sons, and +bade them erect his howe, or funeral mound, within sight of that of +Thorsten, that their spirits might commune, and not be sundered even in +death. + + "'But lay us gently, children, where the blue wave, + Beating harmonious cadence, the shore doth lave; + Its murmuring song is pleasant unto the soul, + And like a lamentation its ceaseless roll. + + "'And when the moon's pale luster around us streams, + And midnight dim grows radiant with silver beams, + There will we sit, O Thorsten, upon our graves, + And talk of bygone battles by the dark waves. + + "'And now, farewell, my children! Come here no more; + Our road lies to Allfather's far-distant shore, + E'en as the troubled river sweeps to the sea: + By Frey and Thor and Odin blessed may ye be.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Helgé and Halfdan.] These instructions were all piously obeyed +when the aged companions had breathed their last. Then the brothers, Helgé +and Halfdan, began to rule their kingdom, while Frithiof, their former +playmate, withdrew to his own place at Framnäs, a very fertile homestead, +lying in a snug valley closed in by the towering mountains and the +ever-changing ocean. + + "Three miles extended around the fields of the homestead; on + three sides + Valleys and mountains and hills, but on the fourth side was the + ocean. + Birch-woods crowned the summits, but over the down-sloping + hillsides + Flourished the golden corn, and man-high was waving the rye- + field." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But although surrounded by faithful retainers, and blessed with much wealth +and the possession of the famous sword Angurvadel, the Völund ring, and the +matchless dragon ship Ellida, Frithiof was unhappy, because he could no +longer see the fair Ingeborg daily. With the returning spring, however, all +his former spirits returned, for both kings came to visit him, accompanied +by their fair sister, with whom he lived over the happy childish years, and +spent long hours in cheerful companionship. As they were thus constantly +thrown together, Frithiof soon made known to Ingeborg his deep affection, +and received in return an avowal of her love. + + "He sat by her side, and he pressed her soft hand, + And he felt a soft pressure responsive and bland; + Whilst his love-beaming gaze + Was returned as the sun's in the moon's placid rays." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's suit.] When the visit was over and the guests had +departed, Frithiof informed his confidant and chief companion, Björn, of +his determination to follow them and openly ask for Ingeborg's hand. His +ship was prepared, and after a swift sail touched the shore near Balder's +shrine. Discerning the royal brothers seated in state on Belé's tomb to +listen to the petitions of their subjects, Frithiof immediately presented +himself before them, and manfully made his request, adding that the old +king had always loved him and would surely have granted his prayer. + + "They were seated on Belè's tomb, and o'er + The common folk administered law. + But Frithiof speaks, + And his voice re-echoes round valleys and peaks. + + "'Ye kings, my love is Ingborg fair; + To ask her in marriage I here repair; + And what I require + I here maintain was King Belè's desire. + + "'He let us grow in Hilding's care, + Like two young saplings, year by year; + And therefore, kings, + Unite the full-grown trees with golden rings.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +But although he promised lifelong fealty and the service of his strong +right arm in exchange for the boon he craved, Helgé contemptuously +dismissed him. Enraged at the insult thus publicly received, Frithiof +raised his invincible sword; but, remembering that he stood on a +consecrated spot, he spared the king, only cutting the royal shield in two +to show the strength of his blade, and striding back to his ship, he +embarked and sailed away in sullen silence. + + "And lo! cloven in twain at a stroke + Fell King Helgé's gold shield from its pillar of oak: + At the clang of the blow, + The live started above, the dead started below." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sigurd Ring a suitor.] Just after his departure came messengers +from Sigurd Ring, the aged King of Ringric, in Norway, who, having lost his +wife, sent to Helgé and Halfdan to ask Ingeborg's hand in marriage. Before +answering this royal suitor, Helgé consulted the Vala, or prophetess, and +the priests, and as they all declared that the omens were not in favor of +this marriage, he gave an insolent refusal to the messengers. This +impolitic conduct so offended the would-be suitor that he immediately +collected an army and prepared to march against the Kings of Sogn to avenge +the insult with his sword. When the rumor of his approach reached the +cowardly brothers they were terrified, and fearing to encounter the foe +alone, they sent Hilding to Frithiof to implore his aid. + +Hilding gladly undertook the mission, although he had not much hope of its +success. He found Frithiof playing chess with a friend, Björn, and +immediately made known his errand. + + "'From Belé's high heirs + I come with courteous words and prayers: + Disastrous tidings rouse the brave; + On thee a nation's hope relies. + + * * * * * + + In Balder's fane, grief's loveliest prey, + Sweet Ing'borg weeps the livelong day: + Say, can her tears unheeded fall, + Nor call her champion to her side?'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But Frithiof was so deeply offended that even this appeal in the name of +his beloved could not move him. Quietly he continued his game of chess, +and, when it was ended, told Hilding that he had no answer to give. Rightly +concluding that Frithiof would lend the kings no aid, Hilding returned to +Helgé and Halfdan, who, forced to fight without their bravest leader, +preferred to make a treaty with Sigurd Ring, promising to give him not only +their sister Ingeborg, but also a yearly tribute. + +[Sidenote: At Balder's shrine.] While they were thus engaged at Sogn Sound, +Frithiof hastened to Balder's temple, where, as Hilding had declared, he +found Ingeborg a prey to grief. Now although it was considered a sacrilege +for man and woman to exchange a word in the sacred building, Frithiof could +not see his beloved in tears without attempting to console her; and, +forgetting all else, he spoke to her and comforted her. He repeated how +dearly he loved her, quieted all her apprehensions of the gods' anger by +assuring her that Balder, the good, must view their innocent passion with +approving eyes, said that love as pure as theirs could defile no sanctuary, +and plighted his troth to her before the shrine. + +[Illustration: THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE.--Kepler.] + + "'What whisper you of Balder's ire? + The pious god--he is not wrath. + He loves himself, and doth inspire + Our love--the purest he calls forth. + The god with true and steadfast heart, + The sun upon his glittering form, + Is not his love for Nanna part + Of his own nature, pure and warm? + + "'There is his image; he is near. + How mild he looks on me--how kind! + A sacrifice to him I'll bear, + The offer of a loving mind. + Kneel down with me; no better gift, + No fairer sure for Balder is, + Than two young hearts, whose love doth lift + Above the world almost like his.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Reassured by this reasoning, Ingeborg no longer refused to see and converse +with Frithiof; and during the kings' absence the young lovers met every +day, and plighted their troth with Volund's ring, which Ingeborg solemnly +promised to send back to her lover should she break her promise to live for +him alone. Frithiof lingered there until the kings' return, when, for love +of Ingeborg the fair, he again appeared before them, and pledged himself to +free them from their thraldom to Sigurd Ring if they would only reconsider +their decision and promise him their sister's hand. + + "'War is abroad, + And strikes his echoing shield within our borders; + Thy crown and land, King Helgé, are in danger; + Give me thy sister's hand, and I will use + Henceforth my warlike force in thy defense. + Let then the wrath between us be forgotten, + Unwillingly I strive 'gainst Ingborg's brother. + Secure, O king, by one fraternal act + Thy golden crown and save thy sister's heart. + Here is my hand. By Thor, I ne'er again + Present it here for reconciliation.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof in disgrace.] But although this offer was hailed with +rapture by the assembled warriors, it was again scornfully rejected by +Helgé, who declared that he would have granted it had not Frithiof proved +himself unworthy of all confidence by defiling the temple of the gods. +Frithiof tried to defend himself; but as he had to plead guilty to the +accusation of having conversed with Ingeborg at Balder's shrine, he was +convicted of having broken the law, and, in punishment therefor, condemned +to sail off to the Orkney Islands to claim tribute from the king, Angantyr. + +Before he sailed, however, he once more sought Ingeborg, and vainly tried +to induce her to elope with him by promising her a home in the sunny south, +where her happiness should be his law, and where she should rule over his +subjects as his honored wife. Ingeborg sorrowfully refused to accompany +him, saying that, since her father was no more, she was in duty bound to +obey her brothers implicitly, and could not marry without their consent. + + "'But Helgé is my father, + Stands in my father's place; on his consent + Depends my hand, and Belé's daughter steals not + Her earthly happiness, how near it be.'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After a heartrending parting scene, Frithiof embarked upon Ellida, and +sorrowfully sailed out of the harbor, while Ingeborg wept at his departure. +When the vessel was barely out of sight, Helgé sent for two witches named +Heid and Ham, bidding them begin their incantations, and stir up such a +tempest at sea that it would be impossible for even the god-given vessel +Ellida to withstand its fury, and all on board would perish. The witches +immediately complied; and with Helgé's aid they soon stirred up a storm +unparalleled in history. + + "Helgé on the strand + Chants his wizard-spell, + Potent to command + Fiends of earth or hell. + Gathering darkness shrouds the sky; + Hark, the thunder's distant roll! + Lurid lightnings, as they fly, + Streak with blood the sable pole. + Ocean, boiling to its base, + Scatters wide its wave of foam; + Screaming, as in fleetest chase, + Sea-birds seek their island home." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The tempest.] In spite of tossing waves and whistling blasts, +Frithiof sang a cheery song to reassure his frightened crew; but when the +peril grew so great that his exhausted men gave themselves up for lost, he +bade Björn hold the rudder, and himself climbed up to the mast top to view +the horizon. While perched up there he descried a whale, upon which the two +witches were riding at ease. Speaking to his good ship, which was gifted +with the power of understanding and obeying his words, he now ran down both +witches and whale, and the sea was reddened with their blood. No sooner had +they sunk than the wind fell, the waves ceased to heave and toss as before, +and soon fair weather again smiled over the seas. + + "Now the storm has flown, + The sea is calm awhile; + A gentle swell is blown + Against the neighboring isle. + + "Then at once the sun arose, + Like a king who mounts his throne, + Vivifies the world and throws + His light on billow, field, and stone. + His new-born beams adorn awhile + A dark green grove on rocky top, + All recognize a sea-girt isle, + Amongst the distant Orkney's group." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Exhausted by their previous superhuman efforts and by the bailing of their +water-logged vessel, the men were too weak to land when they at last +reached the Orkney Islands, and had to be carried ashore by Björn and +Frithiof, who gently laid them down on the sand, bidding them rest and +refresh themselves after all the hardships they had endured. + + "Tired indeed are all on board, + All the crew of Frithiofs men, + Scarce supported by a sword, + Can they raise themselves again. + Björn takes four of them ashore, + On his mighty shoulders wide, + Frithiof singly takes twice four, + Places them the fire beside. + 'Blush not, ye pale ones, + The sea's a valiant viking; + 'Tis hard indeed to fight + Against the rough sea waves. + Lo! there comes the mead horn + On golden feet descending, + To warm our frozen limbs. + Hail to Ingeborg!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The arrival of Frithiof and his men had been seen by the watchman of +Angantyr's castle, who immediately informed his master of all he had seen. +The jarl exclaimed that the ship which had weathered such a gale could be +none but Ellida, and that its captain was doubtless Frithiof, Thorsten's +gallant son. At these words one of his Berserkers, Atlé, caught up his +weapons and strode out of the hall, vowing that he would challenge +Frithiof, and thus satisfy himself concerning the veracity of the tales he +had heard of the young hero's courage. + +[Sidenote: Atlé's challenge.] Although still greatly exhausted, Frithiof +immediately accepted Atlé's challenge, and, after a sharp encounter, threw +his antagonist, whom he would have slain then and there had his sword been +within reach. Atlé saw his intention, and bade him go in search of a +weapon, promising to remain motionless during his absence. Frithiof, +knowing that such a warrior's promise was inviolable, immediately obeyed; +but when he returned with his sword, and found his antagonist calmly +awaiting death, he relented, and bade Atlé rise and live. + + "With patience long not gifted, + Frithiof the foe would kill, + And Angurvadel lifted, + But Atlé yet lay still. + This touched the hero's soul; + He stayed the sweeping brand + Before it reached its goal, + And took the fall'n one's hand." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_(Spalding's tr.). + +Together these doughty warriors then wended their way to Angantyr's halls, +where they found a festal board awaiting them, and there they ate and +drank, sang songs, and recounted stories of thrilling adventure by land and +by sea. + +At last, however, Frithiof made known his errand. Angantyr said that he +owed no tribute to Helgé, and would pay him none; but that he would give +the required sum as a free gift to his old friend Thorsten's son, leaving +him at liberty to dispose of it as he pleased. Then, since the season was +unpropitious, and storms continually swept over the sea, the king invited +Frithiof to tarry with him; and it was only when the gentle spring breezes +were blowing once more that he at last allowed him to depart. + +After sailing over summer seas, wafted along by favorable winds for six +days, Frithiof came in sight of his home, Framnäs, which had been reduced +to a shapeless heap of ashes by Helgé's orders. Sadly steering past the +ruins, he arrived at Baldershage, where Hilding met him and informed him +that Ingeborg was now the wife of Sigurd Ring. When Frithiof heard these +tidings he flew into a Berserker rage, and bade his men destroy all the +vessels in the harbor, while he strode up to the temple alone in search of +Helgé. He found him there before the god's image, roughly flung Angantyr's +heavy purse of gold in his face, and when, as he was about to leave the +temple, he saw the ring he had given Ingeborg on the arm of Helgé's wife, +he snatched it away from her. In trying to recover it she dropped the god's +image, which she had just been anointing, into the fire, where it was +rapidly consumed, and the rising flames soon set the temple roof in a +blaze. + +Frithiof, horror-stricken at the sacrilege which he had involuntarily +occasioned, after vainly trying to extinguish the flames and save the +costly sanctuary, escaped to his ship and waiting companions, to begin the +weary life of an outcast and exile. + + "The temple soon in ashes lay, + Ashes the temple's bower; + Wofully Frithiof goes his way, + Weeps in the morning hour." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof an exile.] Helgé's men started in pursuit, hoping to +overtake and punish him; but when they reached the harbor they could not +find a single seaworthy craft, and were forced to stand on the shore in +helpless inactivity while Ellida's great sails slowly sank beneath the +horizon. It was thus that Frithiof sadly saw his native land vanish from +sight; and as it disappeared he breathed a tender farewell to the beloved +country which he never expected to see again. + + "'World-circle's brow, + Thou mighty North! + I may not go + Upon thine earth; + But in no other + I love to dwell; + Now, hero-mother, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, thou high + And heavenly one, + Night's sleeping eye, + Midsummer sun. + Thou clear blue sky, + Like hero's soul, + Ye stars on high, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye mounts + Where Honour thrives, + And Thor recounts + Good warriors' lives. + Ye azure lakes, + I know so well, + Ye woods and brakes, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye tombs, + By billows blue, + The lime tree blooms + Its snow on you. + The Saga sets + In judgment-veil + What earth forgets; + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell the heath, + The forest hoar + I played beneath, + By streamlet's roar. + To childhood's friends + Who loved me well, + Remembrance sends + A fond farewell! + + "'My love is foiled, + My rooftree rent, + Mine honour soiled, + In exile sent! + We turn from earth, + On ocean dwell, + But, joy and mirth, + Farewell, farewell!'" + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After thus parting from his native land, Frithiof took up the life of a +pirate, rover, or viking, whose code was never to settle anywhere, to sleep +on his shield, to fight and neither give nor take quarter, to protect the +ships which paid him tribute and sack the others, and to distribute all the +booty to his men, reserving for himself nothing but the glory of the +enterprise. Sailing and fighting thus, Frithiof visited many lands, and +came to the sunny isles of Greece, whither he would fain have carried +Ingeborg as his bride; but wherever he went and whatever he did, he was +always haunted by the recollection of his beloved and of his native land. + +[Sidenote: At the court of Sigurd Ring.] Overcome at last by homesickness, +Frithiof returned northward, determined to visit Sigurd Ring's court and +ascertain whether Ingeborg was really well and happy. Steering his vessel +up the Vik (the main part of the Christiania-Fiord), he intrusted it to +Björn's care, and alone, on foot, and enveloped in a tattered mantle, which +he used as disguise, he went to the court of Sigurd Ring, arriving there +just as the Yuletide festivities were being held. As if in reality nothing +more than the aged beggar he appeared, Frithiof sat down upon the bench +near the door, where he became the butt of the courtiers' rough jokes; but +when one of his tormentors approached too closely he caught him in his +powerful grasp and swung him high above his head. + +Terrified by this proof of great strength, the courtiers silently withdrew, +while Sigurd Ring invited the old man to remove his mantle, take a seat +beside him, and share his good cheer. Frithiof accepted the invitation thus +cordially given, and when he had laid aside his squalid outward apparel all +started with surprise to see a handsome warrior, richly clad, and adorned +with a beautiful ring. + + "Now from the old man's stooping head is loosed the sable hood, + When lo! a young man smiling stands, where erst the old one stood. + See! From his lofty forehead, round shoulders broad and strong, + The golden locks flow glistening, like sunlight waves along. + + "He stood before them glorious in velvet mantle blue, + His baldrics broad, with silver worked, the artist's skill did shew; + For round about the hero's breast and round about his waist, + The beasts and birds of forest wild, embossed, each other chased. + + "The armlet's yellow luster shone rich upon his arm; + His war sword by his side--in strife a thunderbolt alarm. + Serene the hero cast his glance around the men of war; + Bright stood he there as Balder, as tall as Asa Thor." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Illustration: FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING.--Kepler.] + +But although his appearance was so unusual, none of the people present +recognized him save Ingeborg only; and when the king asked him who he was +he evasively replied that he was Thiolf (a thief), that he came from Ulf's +(the wolf's), and had been brought up in Anger (sorrow or grief). +Notwithstanding this unenticing account of himself, Sigurd Ring invited him +to remain; and Frithiof, accepting the proffered hospitality, became the +constant companion of the king and queen, whom he accompanied wherever they +went. + +One day, when the royal couple were seated in a sleigh and skimming along a +frozen stream, Frithiof sped on his skates before them, performing graceful +evolutions, and cutting Ingeborg's name deep in the ice. All at once the +ice broke and the sleigh disappeared; but Frithiof, springing forward, +caught the horse by the bridle, and by main force dragged them all out of +their perilous position. + +When spring came, Sigurd Ring invited Frithiof to accompany him on a +hunting expedition. The king became separated from all the rest of his +suite, and saying that he was too weary to continue the chase, he lay down +to rest upon the cloak which Frithiof spread out for him, resting his head +upon his young guest's knee. + + "Then threw Frithiof down his mantle, and upon the greensward + spread, + And the ancient king so trustful laid on Frithiof's knee his head; + Slept, as calmly as the hero sleepeth after war's alarms + On his shield, calm as an infant sleepeth in its mother's arms." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's loyalty.]While the aged king was thus reposing, the +birds and beasts of the forest softly drew near, bidding Frithiof take +advantage of his host's unconsciousness to slay him and recover the bride +of whom he had been unfairly deprived. But although Frithiof understood +the language of birds and beasts, and his hot young heart clamored for his +beloved, he utterly refused to listen to them; and, fearing lest he should +involuntarily harm his trusting host, he impulsively flung his sword far +from him into a neighboring thicket. + +A few moments later Sigurd Ring awoke from his feigned sleep, and after +telling Frithiof that he had recognized him from the first, had tested him +in many ways, and had always found his honor fully equal to his vaunted +courage, he bade him be patient a little longer, for his end was very near, +and said that he would die happy if he could leave Ingeborg, his infant +heir, and his kingdom in such good hands. Then, taking the astonished +Frithiof's arm, Sigurd Ring returned home, where, feeling death draw near, +he dedicated himself anew to Odin by carving the Geirs-odd, or sacrificial +runes, deeply in his aged chest. + + "Bravely he slashes + Odin's red letters, + Blood-runes of heroes, on arm and on breast. + Brightly the splashes + Of life's flowing fetters + Drip from the silver of hair-covered chest." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +When this ceremony was finished, Sigurd Ring laid Ingeborg's hand in +Frithiof's, and, once more commending her to the young hero's loving care, +closed his eyes and breathed his last. + +[Sidenote: Betrothal of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] All the nation assembled to +raise a mound for Sigurd Ring; and by his own request the funeral feast was +closed by a banquet to celebrate the betrothal of Ingeborg and Frithiof. +The latter had won the people's enthusiastic admiration; but when they +would fain have elected him king, Frithiof raised Sigurd Ring's little son +up on his shield and presented him to the assembled nobles as their future +king, publicly swearing to uphold him until he was of age to defend +himself. The child, weary of his cramped position on the shield, boldly +sprang to the ground as soon as Frithiof's speech was ended, and alighted +upon his feet. This act of daring in so small a child was enough to win the +affection and admiration of all his rude subjects. + +According to some accounts, Frithiof now made war against Ingeborg's +brothers, and after conquering them, allowed them to retain their kingdom +only upon condition of their paying him a yearly tribute. Then he and +Ingeborg remained in Ringric until the young king was able to assume the +government, when they repaired to Hordaland, a kingdom Frithiof had +obtained by conquest, and which he left to his sons Gungthiof and Hunthiof. + +[Sidenote: Frithiofs vision.] But according to Tegnér's poem, Frithiof, +soon after his second betrothal to Ingeborg, made a pious pilgrimage to his +father's resting place, and while seated on the latter's funeral mound, +plunged in melancholy and remorse at the sight of the desolation about him, +he was favored by a vision of a new temple, more beautiful than the first, +within whose portals he beheld the three Norns. + + "And lo! reclining on their runic shields + The mighty Nornas now the portal fill; + Three rosebuds fair which the same garden yields, + With aspect serious, but charming still. + Whilst Urda points upon the blackened fields, + The fairy temple Skulda doth reveal. + When Frithiof first his dazzled senses cleared, + Rejoiced, admired, the vision disappeared." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The hero immediately understood that the gods had thus pointed out to him a +means of atonement, and spared neither wealth nor pains to restore Balder's +temple and grove, which soon rose out of the ashes in more than their +former splendor. + +When the temple was all finished, and duly consecrated to Balder's service, +Frithiof received Ingeborg at the altar from her brothers' hands, and ever +after lived on amicable terms with them. + + "Now stepped Halfdan in + Over the brazen threshold, and with wistful look + Stood silent, at a distance from the dreaded one. + Then Frithiof loosed the Harness-hater from his thigh, + Against the altar placed the golden buckler round, + And forward came unarmed to meet his enemy: + 'In such a strife,' thus he commenced, with friendly voice, + 'The noblest he who first extends the hand of peace.' + Then blushed King Halfdan deep, and drew his gauntlet off, + And long-divided hands now firmly clasped each other, + A mighty pressure, steadfast as the mountain's base. + The old man then absolved him from the curse which lay + Upon the Varg i Veum,[1] on the outlawed man. + And as he spake the words, fair Ingeborg came in, + Arrayed in bridal dress, and followed by fair maids, + E'en as the stars escort the moon in heaven's vault. + Whilst tears suffused her soft and lovely eyes, she fell + Into her brother's arms, but deeply moved he led + His cherished sister unto Frithiof's faithful breast, + And o'er the altar of the god she gave her hand + Unto her childhood's friend, the darling of her heart." + TEGNÉR, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Footnote 1: Wolf in the sanctuaries.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +RAGNAR LODBROK. + + + "Last from among the Heroes one came near, + No God, but of the hero troop the chief-- + Regner, who swept the northern sea with fleets, + And ruled o'er Denmark and the heathy isles, + Living; but Ella captured him and slew;-- + A king whose fame then fill'd the vast of Heaven, + Now time obscures it, and men's later deeds." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Balder Dead_. + +[Sidenote: Ragnar Lodbrok saga.] Ragnar Lodbrok, who figures in history as +the contemporary of Charlemagne, is one of the great northern heroes, to +whom many mythical deeds of valor are ascribed. His story has given rise +not only to the celebrated Ragnar Lodbrok saga, so popular in the +thirteenth century, but also to many poems and songs by ancient scalds and +modern poets. The material of the Ragnar Lodbrok saga was probably largely +borrowed from the Volsunga saga and from the saga of Dietrich von Bern, the +chief aim of the ancient composers being to connect the Danish dynasty of +kings with the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and thereby to +prove that their ancestor was no less a person than Odin. + +The hero of this saga was Ragnar, the son of Sigurd Ring and his first +wife, Alfild. According to one version of the story, as we have seen, +Sigurd Ring married Ingeborg, and died, leaving Frithiof to protect his +young son. According to another, Sigurd Ring appointed Ragnar as his +successor, and had him recognized as future ruler by the Thing before he +set out upon his last military expedition. + +This was a quest for a new wife named Alfsol, a princess of Jutland, with +whom, in spite of his advanced years, he had fallen passionately in love. +Her family, however, rudely refused Sigurd Ring's request. When he came to +win his bride by the force of arms, and they saw themselves defeated, they +poisoned Alfsol rather than have her fall alive into the viking's hands. + +Sigurd Ring, finding a corpse where he had hoped to clasp a living and +loving woman, was so overcome with grief that he now resolved to die too. +By his orders Alfsol's body was laid in state on a funeral pyre on his best +ship. Then, when the fire had been kindled, and the ship cut adrift from +its moorings, Sigurd Ring sprang on board, and, stabbing himself, was +burned with the fair maiden he loved. + +Ragnar was but fifteen years old when he found himself called upon to +reign; but just as he outshone all his companions in beauty and +intelligence, so he could match the bravest heroes in courage and daring, +and generally escaped uninjured from every battle, owing to a magic shirt +which his mother had woven for him. + + "'I give thee the long shirt, + Nowhere sewn, + Woven with a loving mind, + Of hair----[obscure word]. + Wounds will not bleed + Nor will edges bite thee + In the holy garment; + It was consecrated to the gods.'" + _Ragnar Lodbrok Saga_. + +Of course the young hero led out his men every summer upon some exciting +viking expedition, to test their courage and supply them with plunder; for +all the northern heroes proudly boasted that the sword was their god and +gold was their goddess. + +[Sidenote: Lodgerda.] On one occasion Ragnar landed in a remote part of +Norway, and having climbed one of the neighboring mountains, he looked down +upon a fruitful valley inhabited by Lodgerda, a warrior maiden who +delighted in the chase and all athletic exercises, and ruled over all that +part of the country. Ragnar immediately resolved to visit this fair maiden; +and, seeing her manifold attractions, he soon fell in love with her and +married her. She joined him in all his active pursuits; but in spite of all +his entreaties, she would not consent to leave her native land and +accompany him home. + +After spending three years in Norway with Lodgerda, the young viking became +restless and unhappy; and learning that his kingdom had been raided during +his prolonged absence, he parted from his wife in hot haste. He pursued his +enemies to Whitaby and to Lym-Fiord, winning a signal victory over them in +both places, and then reentered his capital of Hledra in triumph, amid the +acclamations of his joyful people. + +He had not been resting long upon his newly won laurels when a northern +seer came to his court, and showed him in a magic mirror the image of +Thora, the beautiful daughter of Jarl Herrand in East Gothland. Ragnar, who +evidently considered himself freed from all matrimonial bonds by his wife's +refusal to accompany him home, eagerly questioned the seer concerning the +radiant vision. + +This man then revealed to him that Thora, having at her father's request +carefully brought up a dragon from an egg hatched by a swan, had at last +seen it assume such colossal proportions that it coiled itself all around +the house where she dwelt. Here it watched over her with jealous care, +allowing none to approach except the servant who brought the princess her +meals and who provided an ox daily for the monster's sustenance. Jarl +Herrand had offered Thora's hand in marriage, and immense sums of gold, to +any hero brave enough to slay this dragon; but none dared venture within +reach of its powerful jaws, whence came fire, venom, and noxious vapors. + +Ragnar, who as usual thirsted for adventure, immediately made up his mind +to go and fight this dragon; and, after donning a peculiar leather and +woolen garment, all smeared over with pitch, he attacked and successfully +slew the monster. + + "'Nor long before + In arms I reached the Gothic shore, + To work the loathly serpent's death. + I slew the reptile of the heath.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Origin of name Lodbrok.] In commemoration of this victory, +Ragnar ever after bore also the name of Lodbrok (Leather Hose), although +he laid aside this garment as soon as possible, and appeared in royal +garb, to receive his prize, the beautiful maiden Thora, whom he had +delivered, and whom he now took to be his wife. + + "'My prize was Thora; from that fight, + 'Mongst warriors am I Lodbrock hight. + I pierced the monster's scaly side + With steel, the soldier's wealth and pride.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Thora gladly accompanied Ragnar back to Hledra, lived happily with him for +several years, and bore him two sturdy sons, Agnar and Erik, who soon gave +proof of uncommon courage. Such was Ragnar's devotion to his new wife that +he even forbore to take part in the usual viking expeditions, to linger by +her side. All his love could not long avail to keep her with him, however, +for she soon sickened and died, leaving him an inconsolable widower. + +To divert him from his great sorrow, his subjects finally proposed that he +should resume his former adventurous career, and prevailed upon him to +launch his dragon ship once more and to set sail for foreign shores. Some +time during the cruise their bread supply failed, and Ragnar steered his +vessel into the port of Spangarhede, where he bade his men carry their +flour ashore and ask the people in a hut which he descried there to help +them knead and bake their bread. The sailors obeyed; but when they entered +the lowly hut and saw the filthy old woman who appeared to be its sole +occupant, they hesitated to bespeak her aid. + +While they were deliberating what they should do, a beautiful girl, poorly +clad, but immaculately clean, entered the hut; and the old woman, +addressing her as Krake (Crow), bade her see what the strangers wanted. +They told her, and admiringly watched her as she deftly fashioned the dough +into loaves and slipped them into the hot oven. She bade the sailors watch +them closely, lest they should burn; but these men forgot all about their +loaves to gaze upon her as she flitted about the house, and the result was +that their bread was badly burned. + +When they returned to the vessel, Ragnar Lodbrok reproved them severely for +their carelessness, until the men, to justify themselves, began describing +the maiden Krake in such glowing terms that the chief finally expressed a +desire to see her. With the view of testing her wit and intelligence, as +well as her beauty, Ragnar sent a message bidding her appear before him +neither naked nor clad, neither alone nor unaccompanied, neither fasting +nor yet having partaken of any food. + +This singular message was punctually delivered, and Krake, who was as +clever as beautiful, soon presented herself, with a fish net wound several +times around her graceful form, her sheep dog beside her, and the odor of +the leek she had bitten into still hovering over her ruby lips. + +Ragnar, charmed by her ingenuity no less than by her extreme beauty, then +and there proposed to marry her. But Krake, who was not to be so lightly +won, declared that he must first prove the depth of his affection by +remaining constant to her for one whole year, at the end of which time she +would marry him if he still cared to claim her hand. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Ragnar and Krake.] The year passed by; Ragnar +returned to renew his suit, and Krake, satisfied that she had inspired no +momentary passion, forsook the aged couple and accompanied the great viking +to Hledra, where she became queen of Denmark. She bore Ragnar four +sons--Ivar, Björn, Hvitserk, and Rogenwald,--who from earliest infancy +longed to emulate the prowess of their father, Ragnar, and of their +step-brothers, Erik and Agnar, who even in their youth were already great +vikings. + +The Danes, however, had never fully approved of Ragnar's last marriage, and +murmured frequently because they were obliged to obey a lowborn queen, and +one who bore the vulgar name of Krake. Little by little these murmurs grew +louder, and finally they came to Ragnar's ears while he was visiting +Eystein, King of Svithiod (Sweden). Craftily his courtiers went to work, +and finally prevailed upon him to sue for the princess's hand. He did so, +and left Sweden promising to divorce Krake when he reached home, and to +return as soon as possible to claim his bride. + +As Ragnar entered the palace at Hledra, Krake came, as usual, to meet him. +His conscience smote him, and he answered all her tender inquiries so +roughly that she suddenly turned and asked him why he had made arrangements +to divorce her and take a new wife. Surprised at her knowledge, for he +fancied the matter still a secret, Ragnar Lodbrok asked who had told her. +Thereupon Krake explained that, feeling anxious about him, she had sent her +pet magpies after him, and that the birds had come home and revealed all. + +[Sidenote: Aslaug.] This answer, which perhaps gave rise to the common +expression, "A little bird told me," greatly astonished Ragnar. He was +about to try to excuse himself when Krake, drawing herself up proudly, +declared that while she was perfectly ready to depart, it was but just that +he should now learn that her extraction was far less humble than he +thought. She then proceeded to tell him that her real name was Aslaug, and +that she was the daughter of Sigurd Fafnisbane (the slayer of Fafnir) and +the beautiful Valkyr Brunhild. Her grandfather, or her foster father, +Heimir, to protect her from the foes who would fain have taken her life, +had hidden her in his hollow harp when she was but a babe. He had tenderly +cared for her until he was treacherously murdered by peasants, who had +found her in the hollow harp instead of the treasure they sought there. + + "Let be--as ancient stories tell-- + Full knowledge upon Ragnar fell + In lapse of time, that this was she + Begot in the felicity + Swift-fleeting of the wondrous twain, + Who afterwards through change and pain + Must live apart to meet in death." + WILLIAM MORRIS, _The Fostering of Aslaug_. + +In proof of her assertion, Aslaug then produced a ring and a letter which +had belonged to her illustrious mother, and foretold that her next child, a +son, would bear the image of a dragon in his right eye, as a sign that he +was a grandson of the Dragon Slayer, whose memory was honored by all. + +Convinced of the truth of these statements, Ragnar no longer showed any +desire to repudiate his wife; but, on the contrary, he besought her to +remain with him, and bade his subjects call her Aslaug. + +[Sidenote: Sigurd the Snake-eyed.] Shortly after this reconciliation the +queen gave birth to a fifth son, who, as she had predicted, came into the +world with a peculiar birthmark, to which he owed his name--Sigurd the +Snake-eyed. As it was customary for kings to intrust their sons to some +noted warrior to foster, this child was given to the celebrated Norman +pirate, Hastings, who, as soon as his charge had attained a suitable age, +taught him the art of viking warfare, and took him, with his four elder +brothers, to raid the coasts of all the southern countries. + +Ivar, the eldest of Ragnar and Aslaug's sons, although crippled from birth, +and unable to walk a step, was always ready to join in the fray, into the +midst of which he was borne on a shield. From this point of vantage he shot +arrow after arrow, with fatal accuracy of aim. As he had employed much of +his leisure time in learning runes[1] and all kinds of magic arts, he was +often of great assistance to his brothers, who generally chose him leader +of their expeditions. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, +p. 39.] + +While Ragnar's five sons were engaged in fighting the English at Whitaby to +punish them for plundering and setting fire to some Danish ships, Rogenwald +fell to rise no more. + +[Sidenote: The enchanted cow.] Eystein, the Swedish king, now assembled a +large army and declared war against the Danes, because their monarch had +failed to return at the appointed time and claim the bride for whom he had +sued. Ragnar would fain have gone forth to meet the enemy in person, but +Agnar and Erik, his two eldest sons, craved permission to go in his stead. +They met the Swedish king, but in spite of their valor they soon succumbed +to an attack made by an enchanted cow. + + "'We smote with swords; at dawn of day + Hundred spearmen gasping lay, + Bent beneath the arrowy strife. + Egill reft my son of life; + Too soon my Agnar's youth was spent, + The scabbard thorn his bosom rent.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Ragnar was about to sally forth to avenge them, when Hastings and the other +sons returned. Then Aslaug prevailed upon her husband to linger by her side +and delegate the duty of revenge to his sons. In this battle Ivar made use +of his magic to slay Eystein's cow, which could make more havoc than an +army of warriors. His brothers, having slain Eystein and raided the +country, then sailed off to renew their depredations elsewhere. + +This band of vikings visited the coasts of England, Ireland, France, Italy, +Greece, and the Greek isles, plundering, murdering, and burning wherever +they went. Assisted by Hastings, the brothers took Wiflisburg (probably the +Roman Aventicum), and even besieged Luna in Etruria. + +[Illustration: STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller.] + +As this city was too strongly fortified and too well garrisoned to yield to +an assault, the Normans (as all the northern pirates were indiscriminately +called in the South) resolved to secure it by stratagem. They therefore +pretended that Hastings, their leader, was desperately ill, and induced a +bishop to come out of the town to baptize him, so that he might die in the +Christian faith. Three days later they again sent a herald to say that +Hastings had died, and that his last wish had been to be buried in a +Christian church. They therefore asked permission to enter the city +unarmed, and bear their leader to his last resting place, promising not +only to receive baptism, but also to endow with great wealth the church +where Hastings was buried. + +[Sidenote: Hastings's stratagem.] The inhabitants of Luna, won by these +specious promises, immediately opened their gates, and the funeral +procession filed solemnly into the city. But, in the midst of the mass, the +coffin lid flew open, and Hastings sprang out, sword in hand, and killed +the officiating bishop and priests. This example was followed by his +soldiers, who produced the weapons they had concealed upon their persons, +and slew all the inhabitants of the town. + +These lawless invaders were about to proceed to Romaburg (Rome), and sack +that city also, but were deterred by a pilgrim whom they met. He told them +that the city was so far away that he had worn out two pairs of iron-soled +shoes in coming from thence. The Normans, believing this tale, which was +only a stratagem devised by the quick-witted pilgrim, spared the Eternal +City, and, reembarking in their vessels, sailed home. + +Ragnar Lodbrok, in the mean while, had not been inactive, but had continued +his adventurous career, winning numerous battles, and bringing home much +plunder to enrich his kingdom and subjects. + + "'I have fought battles + Fifty and one + Which were famous; + I have wounded many men.'" + _Ragnar's Sons' Saga_. + +The hero's last expedition was against Ella, King of Northumberland. From +the very outset the gods seemed to have decided that Ragnar should not +prove as successful as usual. The poets tell us that they even sent the +Valkyrs (battle maidens of northern mythology) to warn him of his coming +defeat, and to tell him of the bliss awaiting him in Valhalla. + + "'Regner! tell thy fair-hair'd bride + She must slumber at thy side! + Tell the brother of thy breast + Even for him thy grave hath rest! + Tell the raven steed which bore thee + When the wild wolf fled before thee, + He too with his lord must fall,-- + There is room in Odin's Hall!'" + MRS. HEMANS, _Valkyriur Song_. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ragnar Lodbrok.] In spite of this warning, Ragnar went +on. Owing to the magic shirt he wore, he stood unharmed in the midst of the +slain long after all his brave followers had perished; and it was only +after a whole day's fighting that the enemy finally succeeded in making him +a prisoner. Then the followers of Ella vainly besought Ragnar to speak and +tell his name. As he remained obstinately silent they finally flung him +into a den of snakes, where the reptiles crawled all over him, vainly +trying to pierce the magic shirt with their venomous fangs. Ella perceived +at last that it was this garment which preserved his captive from death, +and had it forcibly removed. Ragnar was then thrust back amid the writhing, +hissing snakes, which bit him many times. Now that death was near, the +hero's tongue was loosened, not to give vent to weak complaints, but to +chant a triumphant death song, in which he recounted his manifold battles, +and foretold that his brave sons would avenge his cruel death. + + "'Grim stings the adder's forked dart; + The vipers nestle in my heart. + But soon, I wot, shall Vider's wand, + Fixed in Ella's bosom stand. + My youthful sons with rage will swell, + Listening how their father fell; + Those gallant boys in peace unbroken + Will never rest, till I be wroken [avenged].'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +This heroic strain has been immortalized by ancient scalds and modern +poets. They have all felt the same admiration for the dauntless old viking, +who, even amid the pangs of death, gloried in his past achievements, and +looked ardently forward to his sojourn in Valhalla. There, he fancied, he +would still be able to indulge in warfare, his favorite pastime, and would +lead the einheriar (spirits of dead warriors) to their daily battles. + + "'Cease, my strain! I hear a voice + From realms where martial souls rejoice; + I hear the maids of slaughter call, + Who bid me hence to Odin's hall: + High seated in their blest abodes + I soon shall quaff the drink of gods. + The hours of life have glided by; + I fall, but smiling shall I die.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Founding of London.] Ragnar Lodbrok's sons had reached home, and +were peacefully occupied in playing chess, when a messenger came to +announce their father's sad end. In their impatience to avenge him they +started out without waiting to collect a large force, and in spite of many +inauspicious omens. Ella, who expected them, met them with a great host, +composed not only of all his own subjects but also of many allies, among +whom was King Alfred. In spite of their valor the Normans were completely +defeated by the superior forces of the enemy, and only a few of them +survived. Ivar and his remaining followers consented to surrender at last, +provided that Ella would atone for their losses by giving them as much land +as an oxhide would inclose. This seemingly trifling request was granted +without demur, nor could the king retract his promise when he saw that the +oxhide, cut into tiny strips, inclosed a vast space of land, upon which the +Normans now proceeded to construct an almost impregnable fortress, called +Lunduna Burg (London). + +Here Ivar took up his permanent abode, while his brothers returned to +Hledra. Little by little he alienated the affections of Ella's subjects, +and won them over to him by rich gifts and artful flattery. When sure of +their allegiance, he incited them to revolt against the king; and as he had +solemnly sworn never to bear arms against Ella, he kept the letter of his +promise by sending for his brothers to act as their leaders. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ella.] As a result of this revolution Ella was made +prisoner. Then the fierce vikings stretched him out upon one of those rude +stone altars which can still be seen in England, and ruthlessly avenged +their father's cruel death by cutting the bloody eagle upon him.[1] After +Ella's death, Ivar became even more powerful than before, while his younger +brothers continued their viking expeditions, took an active part in all the +piratical incursions of the time, and even, we are told, besieged Paris in +the reign of Louis the Fat. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern +Lands, p. 85.] + +Other Danish and Scandinavian vikings were equally venturesome and +successful, and many eventually settled in the lands which they had +conquered. Among these was the famous Rollo (Rolf Ganger), who, too +gigantic in stature to ride horseback, always went on foot. He settled with +his followers in a fertile province in northern France, which owes to them +its name of Normandy. + +The rude independence of the Northmen is well illustrated by their behavior +when called to court to do homage for this new fief. Rollo was directed to +place both his hands between those of the king, and take his vow of +allegiance; so he submitted with indifferent grace. But when he was told +that he must conclude the ceremony by kissing the monarch's foot, he +obstinately refused to do so. A proxy was finally suggested, and Rollo, +calling one of his Berserkers, bade him take his place. The stalwart giant +strode forward, but instead of kneeling, he grasped the king's foot and +raised it to his lips. As the king did not expect such a jerk, he lost his +balance and fell heavily backward. All the Frenchmen present were, of +course, scandalized; but the barbarian refused to make any apology, and +strode haughtily out of the place, vowing he would never come to court +again. + +All the northern pirates were, as we have seen, called Normans. They did +not all settle in the North, however, for many of them found their way into +Italy, and even to Constantinople. There they formed the celebrated +Varangian Guard, and faithfully watched over the safety of the emperor. It +was probably one of these soldiers who traced the runes upon the stone lion +which was subsequently transferred to Venice, where it now adorns the +Piazza of St. Mark's. + + "Rose the Norseman chief Hardrada, like a lion from his lair; + His the fearless soul to conquer, his the willing soul to dare. + Gathered Skald and wild Varingar, where the raven banner shone, + And the dread steeds of the ocean, left the Northland's frozen zone." + VAIL, _Marri's Vision_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +THE CID. + + +[Sidenote: Ballads of the Cid.] The ballads of the Cid, which number about +two hundred, and some of which are of undoubted antiquity, were not +committed to writing until the twelfth century, when a poem of about three +thousand lines was composed. This poem, descriptive of a national hero's +exploits, was probably written about half a century after his death. The +earliest manuscript of it now extant bears the date either 1245 or 1345. +The Cid was a real personage, named Rodrigo Diaz, or Ruy Diaz. He was born +in Burgos, in the eleventh century, and won the name of "Cid" (Conqueror) +by defeating five Moorish kings, when Spain had been in the hands of the +Arabs for more than three centuries. + + "Mighty victor, never vanquish'd, + Bulwark of our native land, + Shield of Spain, her boast and glory, + Knight of the far-dreaded brand, + Venging scourge of Moors and traitors, + Mighty thunderbolt of war, + Mirror bright of chivalry, + Ruy, my Cid Campeador!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Rodrigo was still a young and untried warrior when his aged father, Diego +Laynez, was grossly and publicly insulted by Don Gomez, who gave him a blow +in the face. Diego was far too feeble to seek the usual redress, arms in +hand; but the insult rankled deep in his heart, preventing him from either +sleeping or eating, and imbittering every moment of his life. + + "Sleep was banish'd from his eyelids; + Not a mouthful could he taste; + There he sat with downcast visage,-- + Direly had he been disgrac'd. + + "Never stirr'd he from his chamber; + With no friends would he converse, + Lest the breath of his dishonor + Should pollute them with its curse." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Don Gomez slain by Rodrigo.] At last, however, Diego confessed +his shame to his son Rodrigo, who impetuously vowed to avenge him. Armed +with his father's cross-hilted sword, and encouraged by his solemn +blessing, Rodrigo marched into the hall of Don Gomez, and challenged him to +fight. In spite of his youth, Rodrigo conducted himself so bravely in this +his first encounter that he slew his opponent, and by shedding his blood +washed out the stain upon his father's honor, according to the chivalric +creed of the time. Then, to convince Diego that he had been duly avenged, +the young hero cut off the head of Don Gomez, and triumphantly laid it +before him. + + "'Ne'er again thy foe can harm thee; + All his pride is now laid low; + Vain his hand is now to smite thee, + And this tongue is silent now.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Defeat of the Moors.] Happy once more, old Diego again left +home, and went to King Ferdinand's court, where he bade Rodrigo do homage +to the king. The proud youth obeyed this command with indifferent grace, +and his bearing was so defiant that the frightened monarch banished him +from his presence. Rodrigo therefore departed with three hundred kindred +spirits. He soon encountered the Moors, who were invading Castile, defeated +them in battle, took five of their kings prisoners, and released them only +after they had promised to pay tribute and to refrain from further warfare. +They were so grateful for their liberty that they pledged themselves to do +his will, and departed, calling him "Cid," the name by which he was +thenceforth known. + +As Rodrigo had delivered the land from a great danger, King Ferdinand now +restored him to favor and gave him an honorable place among his courtiers, +who, however, were all somewhat inclined to be jealous of the fame the +young man had won. Shortly after his triumphant return, Doña Ximena, +daughter of Don Gomez, also appeared in Burgos, and, falling at the king's +feet, demanded justice. Then, seeing the Cid among the courtiers, she +vehemently denounced him for having slain her father, and bade him take her +life also, as she had no wish to survive a parent whom she adored. + + "'Thou hast slain the best and bravest + That e'er set a lance in rest; + Of our holy faith the bulwark,-- + Terror of each Paynim breast. + + "'Traitorous murderer, slay me also! + Though a woman, slaughter me! + Spare not--I'm Ximena Gomez, + Thine eternal enemy! + + "'Here's my throat--smite, I beseech thee! + Smite, and fatal be thy blow! + Death is all I ask, thou caitiff,-- + Grant this boon unto thy foe.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +As this denunciation and appeal remained without effect (for the king had +been too well served by the Cid to listen to any accusation against him), +the distressed damsel departed, only to return to court three times upon +the same fruitless errand. During this time the valor and services of the +Cid had been so frequently discussed in her presence that on her fifth +visit to Ferdinand she consented to forego all further thoughts of +vengeance, if the king would but order the young hero to marry her instead. + + "'I am daughter of Don Gomez, + Count of Gormaz was he hight, + Him Rodrigo by his valor + Did o'erthrow in mortal fight. + + "'King, I come to crave a favor-- + This the boon for which I pray, + That thou give me this Rodrigo + For my wedded lord this day.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Marriage of the Cid.] The king, who had suspected for some time +past that the Cid had fallen in love with his fair foe, immediately sent +for him. Rodrigo entered the city with his suite of three hundred men, +proposed marriage to Ximena, and was accepted on the spot. His men then +proceeded to array him richly for his wedding, and bound on him his famous +sword Tizona, which he had won from the Moors. The marriage was celebrated +with much pomp and rejoicing, the king giving Rodrigo the cities of +Valduerna, Soldañia, Belforado, and San Pedro de Cardeña as a marriage +portion. When the marriage ceremony was finished, Rodrigo, wishing to show +his wife all honor, declared that he would not rest until he had won five +battles, and would only then really consider himself entitled, to claim her +love. + + "'A man I slew--a man I give thee-- + Here I stand thy will to bide! + Thou, in place of a dead father, + Hast a husband at thy side.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's piety.] Before beginning this war, however, the Cid +remembered a vow he had made; and, accompanied by twenty brave young +hidalgos, he set out for a pious pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the +shrine of the patron saint of Spain. On his way thither he frequently +distributed alms, paused to recite a prayer at every church and wayside +shrine, and, meeting a leper, ate, drank, and even slept with him in a +village inn. When Rodrigo awoke in the middle of the night, he found his +bedfellow gone, but was favored by a vision of St. Lazarus, who praised his +charity, and promised him great temporal prosperity and eternal life. + + "'Life shall bring thee no dishonor-- + Thou shalt ever conqueror be; + Death shall find thee still victorious, + For God's blessing rests on thee.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +When his pilgrimage was ended, Rodrigo further showed his piety by setting +aside a large sum of money for the establishment of a leper house, which, +in honor of the saint who visited him, was called "St. Lazarus." He then +hastened off to Calahorra, a frontier town of Castile and Aragon, which was +a bone of contention between two monarchs. + +Just before the Cid's arrival, Don Ramiro of Aragon had arranged with +Ferdinand of Castile that their quarrel should be decided by a duel between +two knights. Don Ramiro therefore selected as his champion Martin Gonzalez, +while Ferdinand intrusted his cause to the Cid. The duel took place; and +when the two champions found themselves face to face, Martin Gonzalez began +to taunt Rodrigo, telling him that he would never again be able to mount +his favorite steed Babieça, or see his wife, as he was doomed to die. + + "'Sore, Rodrigo, must thou tremble + Now to meet me in the fight, + Since thy head will soon be sever'd + For a trophy of my might. + + "'Never more to thine own castle + Wilt thou turn Babieça's rein; + Never will thy lov'd Ximena + See thee at her side again.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This boasting did not in the least dismay the Cid, who fought so bravely +that he defeated Martin Gonzalez, and won such plaudits that the jealousy +of the Castilian knights was further excited. In their envy they even +plotted with the Moors to slay Rodrigo by treachery. This plan did not +succeed, however, because the Moorish kings whom he had captured and +released gave him a timely warning of the threatening danger. + +The king, angry at this treachery, banished the jealous courtiers, and, +aided by Rodrigo, defeated the hostile Moors in Estremadura. There the +Christian army besieged Coimbra in vain for seven whole months, and were +about to give up in despair of securing the city, when St. James appeared +to a pilgrim, promising his help on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Battle cry of the Spaniards.] When the battle began, the +Christian knights were fired by the example of a radiant warrior, mounted +on a snow-white steed, who led them into the thickest of the fray and +helped them win a signal victory. This knight, whom no one recognized as +one of their own warriors, was immediately hailed as St. James, and it was +his name which the Spaniards then and there adopted as their favorite +battle cry. + +The city of Coimbra having been taken, Don Rodrigo was duly knighted by the +king; while the queen and princesses vied with one another in helping him +don the different pieces of his armor, for they too were anxious to show +how highly they valued his services. + +After a few more victories over his country's enemies, the triumphant Cid +returned to Zamora, where Ximena, his wife, was waiting for him, and where +the five Moorish kings sent not only the promised tribute, but rich gifts +to their generous conqueror. Although the Cid rejoiced in these tokens, he +gave all the tribute and the main part of the spoil to Ferdinand, his liege +lord, for he considered the glory of success a sufficient reward for +himself. + +While the Cid was thus resting upon his laurels, a great council had been +held at Florence, where the Emperor (Henry III.) of Germany complained to +the Pope that King Ferdinand had not done him homage for his crown, and +that he refused to acknowledge his superiority. The Pope immediately sent a +message to King Ferdinand asking for homage and tribute, and threatening a +crusade in case of disobedience. This unwelcome message greatly displeased +the Spanish ruler, and roused the indignation of the Cid, who declared that +his king was the vassal of no monarch, and offered to fight any one who +dared maintain a contrary opinion. + + "'Never yet have we done homage-- + Shall we to a stranger bow? + Great the honor God hath given us-- + Shall we lose that honor now? + + "'Send then to the Holy Father, + Proudly thus to him reply-- + Thou, the king, and I, Rodrigo, + Him and all his power defy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This challenge was sent to the Pope, who, not averse to having the question +settled by the judgment of God, bade the emperor send a champion to meet +Rodrigo. This imperial champion was of course defeated, and all King +Ferdinand's enemies were so grievously routed by the ever-victorious Cid +that no further demands of homage or tribute were ever made. + +Old age had now come on, and King Ferdinand, after receiving divine warning +of his speedy demise, died. He left Castile to his eldest son, Don Sancho, +Leon to Don Alfonso, Galicia to Don Garcia, and gave his daughters, Doña +Urraca and Doña Elvira, the wealthy cities of Zamora and Toro. Of course +this disposal of property did not prove satisfactory to all his heirs, and +Don Sancho was especially displeased, because he coveted the whole realm. +He, however, had the Cid to serve him, and selected this doughty champion +to accompany him on a visit to Rome, knowing that he would brook no insult +to his lord. These previsions were fully justified, for the Cid, on +noticing that a less exalted seat had been prepared for Don Sancho than for +the King of France, became so violent that the Pope excommunicated him. But +when the seats had been made of even height, the Cid, who was a good +Catholic, humbled himself before the Pope, and the latter, knowing the +hero's value as a bulwark against the heathen Moors, immediately granted +him full absolution. + + "'I absolve thee, Don Ruy Diaz, + I absolve thee cheerfully, + If, while at my court, thou showest + Due respect and courtesy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid Campeador.] On his return to Castile, Don Sancho found +himself threatened by his namesake, the King of Navarre, and by Don Ramiro +of Aragon. They both invaded Castile, but were ignominously repulsed by the +Cid. As some of the Moors had helped the invaders, the Cid next proceeded +to punish them, and gave up the siege of Saragossa only when the +inhabitants made terms with him. This campaign won for the Cid the title of +"Campeador" (Champion), which he well deserved, as he was always ready to +do battle for his king. + +While Don Sancho and his invaluable ally were thus engaged, Don Garcia, +King of Galicia, who was also anxious to increase his kingdom, deprived his +sister Doña Urraca of her city of Zamora. In her distress the infanta came +to Don Sancho and made her lament, thereby affording him the long-sought +pretext to wage war against his brother, and rob him of his kingdom. + +This war, in which the Cid reluctantly joined, threatened at one time to +have serious consequences for Sancho. He even once found himself a prisoner +of Garcia's army, shortly after Garcia had been captured by his. The Cid, +occupied in another part of the field, no sooner heard of this occurrence +than he hastened to the Galician nobles to offer an exchange of prisoners; +but, as they rejected his offer with contempt, he soon left them in anger. + + "'Hie thee hence, Rodrigo Diaz, + An thou love thy liberty; + Lest, with this thy king, we take thee + Into dire captivity.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The wrath which the Cid Campeador experienced at this discourteous +treatment so increased his usual strength that he soon put the enemy to +flight, recovered possession of his king, and not only made Don Garcia a +prisoner, but also secured Don Alfonso who had joined in the revolt. Don +Garcia was sent in chains to the castle of Luna, where he eventually died, +entreating that he might be buried, with his fetters, in the city of Leon. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso at Toledo.] As for Don Alfonso, Doña Urraca pleaded his +cause so successfully that he was allowed to retire into a monastery, +whence he soon effected his escape and joined the Moors at Toledo. There he +became the companion and ally of Alimaymon, learned all his secrets, and +once, during a pretended nap, overheard the Moor state that even Toledo +could be taken by the Christians, provided they had the patience to begin a +seven-years' siege, and to destroy all the harvests so as to reduce the +people to starvation. The information thus accidentally obtained proved +invaluable to Alfonso, as will be seen, and enabled him subsequently to +drive the Moors out of the city Toledo. + +In the mean while Sancho, not satisfied with his triple kingdom, robbed +Doña Elvira of Toro, and began to besiege Doña Urraca in Zamora, which he +hoped to take also in spite of it almost impregnable position. + + "'See! where on yon cliff Zamora + Lifteth up her haughty brow; + Walls of strength on high begird her, + Duero swift and deep below.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, utterly regardless of the Cid's openly expressed opinion that it +was unworthy of a knight to attempt to deprive a woman of her inheritance, +now bade him carry a message to Doña Urraca, summoning her to surrender at +once. The hero went reluctantly, but only to be bitterly reproached by +Urraca. She dismissed him after consulting her assembled people, who vowed +to die ere they would surrender. + + "Then did swear all her brave vassals + In Zamora's walls to die, + Ere unto the king they'd yield it, + And disgrace their chivalry." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siege of Zamora.] This message so enraged Don Sancho that he +banished the Cid. The latter departed for Toledo, whence he was soon +recalled, however, for his monarch could do nothing without him. Thus +restored to favor, the Cid began the siege of Zamora, which lasted so long +that the inhabitants began to suffer all the pangs of famine. + +At last a Zamoran by the name of Vellido (Bellido) Dolfos came out of the +town in secret, and, under pretense of betraying the city into Don Sancho's +hands, obtained a private interview with him. Dolfos availed himself of +this opportunity to murder the king, and rushed back to the city before the +crime was discovered. He entered the gates just in time to escape from the +Cid, who had mounted hastily, without spurs, and thus could not urge +Babieça on to his utmost speed and overtake the murderer. + + "'Cursed be the wretch! and cursed + He who mounteth without spur! + Had I arm'd my heels with rowels, + I had slain the treacherous cur.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The grief in the camp at the violent death of the king was very great. Don +Diego Ordoñez immediately sent a challenge to Don Arìas Gonzalo, who, while +accepting the combat for his son, swore that none of the Zamorans knew of +the dastardly deed, which Dolfos alone had planned. + + "'Fire consume us, Count Gonzalo, + If in this we guilty be! + None of us within Zamora + Of this deed had privity. + + "'Dolfos only is the traitor; + None but he the king did slay. + Thou canst safely go to battle, + God will be thy shield and stay.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This oath was confirmed by the outcome of the duel, and none of the +besiegers ever again ventured to doubt the honor of the Zamorans. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso king.] As Don Sancho had left no children to inherit his +kingdom, it came by right of inheritance to Don Alfonso, who was still at +Toledo, a nominal guest, but in reality a prisoner. Doña Urraca, who was +deeply attached to her brother, now managed to convey to him secret +information of Don Sancho's death, and Don Alfonso cleverly effected his +escape, turning his pursuers off his track by reversing his horse's shoes. +When he arrived at Zamora, all were ready to do him homage except the Cid, +who proudly held aloof until Don Alfonso had publicly sworn that he had not +bribed Dolfos to commit the dastardly crime which had called him to the +throne. + + "'Wherefore, if thou be but guiltless, + Straight I pray of thee to swear,-- + Thou and twelve of these thy liegemen, + Who with thee in exile were,-- + That in thy late brother's death + Thou hadst neither part nor share + That none of ye to his murder + Privy or consenting were.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, angry at being thus called upon to answer for his conduct to a +mere subject, viewed the Cid with great dislike, and only awaited a +suitable occasion to take his revenge. During a war with the Moors he made +use of a trifling pretext to banish him, allowing him only nine days to +prepare for departure. The Cid accepted this cruel decree with dignity, +hoping that the time would never come when the king would regret his +absence, and his country need his right arm. + + "'I obey, O King Alfonso, + Guilty though in naught I be, + For it doth behoove a vassal + To obey his lord's decree; + Prompter far am I to serve thee + Than thou art to guerdon me. + + "'I do pray our Holy Lady + Her protection to afford, + That thou never mayst in battle + Need the Cid's right arm and sword.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Amid the weeping people of Burgos, who dared not offer him help and shelter +lest they should incur the king's wrath, lose all their property, and even +forfeit their eyesight, the Cid slowly rode away, and camped without the +city to make his final arrangements. Here a devoted follower supplied him +with the necessary food, remarking that he cared "not a fig" for Alfonso's +prohibitions, which is probably the first written record of the use of this +now popular expression. + +[Sidenote: The Cid in exile.] To obtain the necessary money the Cid pledged +two locked coffers full of sand to the Jews. They, thinking that the boxes +contained vast treasures, or relying upon the Cid's promise to release them +for a stipulated sum, advanced him six hundred marks of gold. The Cid then +took leave of his beloved wife Ximena, and of his two infant daughters, +whom he intrusted to the care of a worthy ecclesiastic, and, followed by +three hundred men, he rode slowly away from his native land, vowing that he +would yet return, covered with glory, and bringing great spoil. + + "'Comrades, should it please high Heaven + That we see Castile once more,-- + Though we now go forth as outcasts, + Sad, dishonor'd, homeless, poor,-- + We'll return with glory laden + And the spellings of the Moor.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Such success attended the little band of exiles that within the next three +weeks they won two strongholds from the Moors, and much spoil, among which +was the sword Colada, which was second only to Tizona. From the spoil the +Cid selected a truly regal present, which he sent to Alfonso, who in return +granted a general pardon to the Cid's followers, and published an edict +allowing all who wished to fight against the Moors to join him. A few more +victories and another present so entirely dispelled Alfonso's displeasure +that he restored the Cid to favor, and, moreover, promised that thereafter +thirty days should be allowed to every exile to prepare for his departure. + +When Alimaymon, King of Toledo, died, leaving Toledo in the hands of his +grandson Yahia, who was generally disliked, Alfonso thought the time +propitious for carrying out his long-cherished scheme of taking the city. +Thanks to the valor of the Cid and the destruction of all the crops, the +siege of the city progressed favorably, and it finally fell into the hands +of the Christian king. + +A second misunderstanding, occasioned principally by the jealous courtiers, +caused Alfonso to insult the Cid, who in anger left the army and made a +sudden raid in Castile. During his absence, the Moors resumed courage, and +became masters of Valencia. Hearing of this disaster, the Cid promptly +returned, recaptured the city, and, establishing his headquarters there, +asked Alfonso to send him his wife and daughters. At the same time he sent +more than the promised sum of money to the Jews to redeem the chests which, +as they now first learned, were filled with nothing but sand. + + "'Say, albeit within the coffers + Naught but sand they can espy, + That the pure gold of my truth + Deep beneath that sand doth lie."' + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Counts of Carrion.] As the Cid was now master of Valencia +and of untold wealth, his daughters were soon sought in marriage by many +suitors. Among them were the Counts of Carrion, whose proposals were warmly +encouraged by Alfonso. To please his royal master, the Cid consented to an +alliance with them, and the marriage of both his daughters was celebrated +with much pomp. In the "Chronicle of the Cid," compiled from all the +ancient ballads, these festivities are recorded thus: "Who can tell the +great nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding! the feasts and the +bullfights, and the throwing at the target, and the throwing canes, and how +many joculars were there, and all the sports which are proper at such +weddings!" + +Pleased with their sumptuous entertainment, the Infantes of Carrion +lingered at Valencia two years, during which time the Cid had ample +opportunity to convince himself that they were not the brave and upright +husbands he would fain have secured for his daughters. In fact, all soon +became aware of the young men's cowardice, for when a lion broke loose from +the Cid's private menagerie and entered the hall where he was sleeping, +while his guests were playing chess, the princes fled, one falling into an +empty vat in his haste, and the other taking refuge behind the Cid's couch. +Awakened by the noise, the Cid seized his sword, twisted his cloak around +his arm, and, grasping the lion by its mane, thrust it back into its cage, +and calmly returned to his place. + + "Till the good Cid awoke; he rose without alarm; + He went to meet the lion, with his mantle on his arm. + The lion was abash'd the noble Cid to meet, + He bow'd his mane to earth, his muzzle at his feet. + The Cid by the neck and mane drew him to his den, + He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again; + He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men. + He ask'd for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there." + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +This cowardly conduct of the Infantes of Carrion could not fail to call +forth some gibes from the Cid's followers. The young men, however, +concealed their anger, biding their time to take their revenge. During the +siege of Valencia, which took place shortly after this adventure, the +Infantes did not manage to show much courage either; and it was only +through the kindness of Felez Muñoz, a nephew of the Cid, that one of them +could exhibit a war horse which he falsely claimed to have taken from the +enemy. + +Thanks to the valor of the Cid, the Moors were driven away from Valencia +with great loss, and peace was restored. The Infantes of Carrion then asked +permission to return home with their brides, and the spoil and presents the +Cid had given them, among which were the swords Colada and Tizona. The Cid +escorted them part way on their journey, bade farewell to his daughters +with much sorrow, and returned alone to Valencia, which appeared deserted +without the presence of the children he loved. + + "The Cid he parted from his daughters, + Naught could he his grief disguise; + As he clasped them to his bosom, + Tears did stream from out his eyes." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Cruelty of Infantes of Carrion.] After journeying on for some +time with their brides and Felez Muñoz, who was acting as escort, the +Infantes of Carrion camped near the Douro. Early the next day they sent all +their suite ahead, and, being left alone with their wives, stripped them of +their garments, lashed them with thorns, kicked them with their spurs, and +finally left them for dead on the blood-stained ground, and rode on to join +their escort. Suspecting foul play, and fearing the worst, Felez Muñoz +cleverly managed to separate himself from the party, and, riding swiftly +back to the banks of the Douro, found his unhappy cousins in a sorry +plight. He tenderly cared for their wounds, placed them upon his horse, and +took them to the house of a poor man, whose wife and daughters undertook to +nurse them, while Felez Muñoz hastened back to Valencia to tell the Cid +what had occurred. The Cid Campeador then swore that he would be avenged; +and as Alfonso was responsible for the marriage, he applied to him for +redress. + + "'Lo! my daughters have been outrag'd! + For thine own, thy kingdom's sake, + Look, Alfonso, to mine honor! + Vengeance thou or I must take.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, who had by this time learned to value the Cid's services, was +very angry when he heard how the Infantes of Carrion had insulted their +wives, and immediately summoned them to appear before the Cortes, the +Spanish assembly, at Toledo, and justify themselves, if it were possible. +The Cid was also summoned to the same assembly, where he began by claiming +the two precious blades Tizona and Colada, and the large dowry he had given +with his daughters. Then he challenged the young cowards to fight. When +questioned, they tried to excuse themselves by declaring that the Cid's +daughters, being of inferior birth, were not fit to mate with them. + +[Sidenote: Embassy from Navarre.] The falseness of this excuse was shown, +however, by an embassy from Navarre, asking the hands of the Cid's +daughters for the Infantes of that kingdom, who were far superior in rank +to the Infantes of Carrion. The Cid consented to this new alliance, and +after a combat had been appointed between three champions of his selection +and the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle, he prepared to return home. + +As proof of his loyalty, however, he offered to give to Alfonso his +favorite steed Babieça, an offer which the king wisely refused, telling him +that the best of warriors alone deserved that peerless war horse. + + "''Tis the noble Babieça that is fam'd for speed and force, + Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one, + My Sovereign, Lord, and Sire, he is fit for you alone; + Give orders to your people, and take him for your own.' + The King replied, 'It cannot be; Cid, you shall keep your horse; + He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse; + Our kingdom has been honor'd by you and by your steed-- + The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed. + A courser such as he is fit for such a knight, + To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight.'" + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +Shortly after, in the presence of the king, the Cid, and the assembled +Cortes, the appointed battle took place. The Infantes of Carrion and their +uncle were defeated and banished, and the Cid returned in triumph to +Valencia. Here his daughters' second marriage took place, and here he +received an embassy bringing him rich gifts from the Sultan of Persia, who +had heard of his fame. + +Five years later the Moors returned, under the leadership of Bucar, King of +Morocco, to besiege Valencia. The Cid was about to prepare to do battle +against this overwhelming force when he was favored by a vision of St. +Peter. The saint predicted his death within thirty days, but assured him +that, even though he were dead, he would still triumph over the enemy whom +he had fought against for so many years. + + "'Dear art thou to God, Rodrigo, + And this grace he granteth thee: + When thy soul hath fled, thy body + Still shall cause the Moors to flee; + And, by aid of Santiago, + Gain a glorious victory.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The pious and simple-hearted warrior immediately began to prepare for the +other world. He appointed a successor, gave instructions that none should +bewail his death lest the news should encourage the Moors, and directed +that his embalmed body should be set upon Babieça, and that, with Tizona in +his hand, he should be led against the enemy on a certain day, when he +promised a signal victory. + +[Illustration: THE CID'S LAST VICTORY.--Rochegrosse.] + + "'Saddle next my Babieça, + Arm him well as for the fight; + On his back then tie my body, + In my well-known armor dight. + + "'In my right hand place Tizona; + Lead me forth unto the war; + Bear my standard fast behind me, + As it was my wont of yore.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's last battle.] When these instructions had all been +given, the hero died at the appointed time, and his successor and the brave +Ximena strove to carry out his every wish. A sortie was planned, and the +Cid, fastened upon his war horse, rode in the van. Such was the terror +which his mere presence inspired that the Moors fled before him. Most of +them were slain, and Bucar beat a hasty retreat, thinking that seventy +thousand Christians were about to fall upon him, led by the patron saint of +Spain. + + "Seventy thousand Christian warriors, + All in snowy garments dight, + Led by one of giant stature, + Mounted on a charger white; + + "On his breast a cross of crimson, + In his hand a sword of fire, + With it hew'd he down the Paynims, + As they fled, with slaughter dire." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The Christians, having routed the enemy, yet knowing, as the Cid had told +them, that they would never be able to hold Valencia when he was gone, now +marched on into Castile, the dead hero still riding Babieça in their midst. +Then Ximena sent word to her daughters of their father's demise, and they +came to meet him, but could scarcely believe that he was dead when they saw +him so unchanged. + +By Alfonso's order the Cid's body was placed in the Church of San Pedro de +Cardeña, where for ten years it remained seated in a chair of state, and in +plain view of all. Such was the respect which the dead hero inspired that +none dared lay a finger upon him, except a sacrilegious Jew, who, +remembering the Cid's proud boast that no man had ever dared lay a hand +upon his beard, once attempted to do so. Before he could touch it, however, +the hero's lifeless hand clasped the sword hilt and drew Tizona a few +inches out of its scabbard. + + "Ere the beard his fingers touched, + Lo! the silent man of death + Grasp'd the hilt, and drew Tizona + Full a span from out the sheath!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Of course, in the face of such a miracle, the Jew desisted, and the Cid +Campeador was reverently laid in the grave only when his body began to show +signs of decay. His steed Babieça continued to be held in great honor, but +no one was ever again allowed to bestride him. + +[Sidenote: Evacuation of Valencia.] As for the Moors, they rallied around +Valencia. After hovering near for several days, wondering at the strange +silence, they entered the open gates of the city, which they had not dared +to cross for fear of an ambuscade, and penetrated into the court of the +palace. Here they found a notice, left by the order of the Cid, announcing +his death and the complete evacuation of the city by the Christian army. +The Cid's sword Tizona became an heirloom in the family of the Marquis of +Falies, and is said to bear the following inscriptions, one on either side +of the blade: "I am Tizona, made in era 1040," and "Hail Maria, full of +grace." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE. + + +[Sidenote: Cycles of romance.] In the preceding chapters we have given an +outline of the principal epics which formed the staple of romance +literature in the middle ages. As has been seen, this style of composition +was used to extol the merits and describe the great deeds of certain famous +heroes, and by being gradually extended it was made to include the prowess +of the friends and contemporaries of these more or less fabulous +personages. All these writings, clustering thus about some great character, +eventually formed the so-called "cycles of romance." + +There were current in those days not only classical romances, but stories +of love, adventure, and chivalry, all bearing a marked resemblance to one +another, and prevailing in all the European states during the four +centuries when knighthood flourished everywhere. Some of these tales, such +as those of the Holy Grail, were intended, besides, to glorify the most +celebrated orders of knighthood,--the Templars and Knights of St. John. + +Other styles of imaginative writing were known at the same time also, yet +the main feature of the literature of the age is first the metrical, and +later the prose, romance, the direct outcome of the great national epics. + +We have outlined very briefly, as a work of this character requires, the +principal features of the Arthurian, Carolingian, and Teutonic cycles. We +have also touched somewhat upon the Anglo-Danish and Scandinavian +contributions to our literature. + +Of the extensive Spanish cycle we have given only a short sketch of the +romance, or rather the chronicle, of the Cid, leaving out entirely the vast +and deservedly popular cycles of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins. This +omission has been intentional, however, because these romances have left +but few traces in our literature. As they are seldom even alluded to, they +are not of so great importance to the English student of letters as the +Franco-German, Celto-Briton, and Scandinavian tales. + +The stories of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins are, moreover, very +evident imitations of the principal romances of chivalry which we have +already considered. They are formed of an intricate series of adventures +and enchantments, are, if anything, more extravagant than the other +mediaeval romances, and are further distinguished by a tinge of Oriental +mysticism and imagery, the result of the Crusades. + +The Italian cycle, which we have not treated separately because it relates +principally to Charlemagne and Roland, is particularly noted for its +felicity of expression and richness of description. Like the Spanish +writers, the Italians love to revel in magic, as is best seen in the +greatest gems of that age, the poems of "Orlando Innamorato" and "Orlando +Furioso," by Boiardo and Ariosto. + +Mediaeval literature includes also a very large and so-called "unaffiliated +cycle" of romances. This is composed of many stories, the precursors of the +novel and "short story" of the present age. We are indebted to this cycle +for several well-known works of fiction, such as the tale of patient +Griseldis, the gentle and meek-spirited heroine who has become the +personification of long-suffering and charity. After the mediaeval writers +had made much use of this tale, it was taken up in turn by Boccaccio and +Chaucer, who have made it immortal. + +The Norman tale of King Robert of Sicily, so beautifully rendered in verse +by Longfellow in his "Tales of a Wayside Inn," also belongs to this cycle, +and some authorities claim that it includes the famous animal epic "Reynard +the Fox," of which we have given an outline. The story of Reynard the Fox +is one of the most important mediaeval contributions to the literature of +the world, and is the source from which many subsequent writers have drawn +the themes for their fables. + +[Sidenote: Classical cycle.] A very large class of romances, common to all +European nations during the middle ages, has also been purposely omitted +from the foregoing pages. This is the so-called "classical cycle," or the +romances based on the Greek and Latin epics, which were very popular during +the age of chivalry. They occupy so prominent a place in mediaeval +literature, however, that we must bespeak a few moments' attention to their +subjects. + +In these classical romances the heroes of antiquity have lost many of their +native characteristics, and are generally represented as knight-errants, +and made to talk and act as such knights would. Christianity and mythology +are jumbled up together in a most peculiar way, and history, chronology, +and geography are set at defiance and treated with the same scorn of +probabilities. + +The classical romances forming this great general cycle are subdivided into +several classes or cycles. The interest of the first is mainly centered +upon the heroes of Homer and Hesiod. The best-known and most popular of +these mediaeval works was the "Roman de Troie," relating the siege and +downfall of Troy. + +Based upon post-classical Greek and Latin writings rather than upon the +great Homeric epic itself, the story, which had already undergone many +changes to suit the ever-varying public taste, was further transformed by +the Anglo-Norman trouvère, Benoît de Sainte-More, about 1184. He composed a +poem of thirty thousand lines, in which he related not only the siege and +downfall of Troy, but also the Argonautic expedition, the wanderings of +Ulysses, the story of Aeneas, and many other mythological tales. + +This poet, following the custom of the age, naïvely reproduced the manners, +customs, and, in general, the beliefs of the twelfth century. There is +plenty of local color in his work, only the color belongs to his own +locality, and not to that of the heroes whose adventures he purports to +relate. In his work the old classical heroes are transformed into typical +mediaeval knights, and heroines such as Helen and Medea, for instance, are +portrayed as damsels in distress. + +This prevalent custom of viewing the ancients solely from the mediaeval +point of view gave rise not only to grotesque pen pictures, but also to a +number of paintings, such as Gozzoli's kidnapping of Helen. In this +composition, Paris, in trunk hose, is carrying off the fair Helen +pickaback, notwithstanding the evident clamor raised by the assembled court +ladies, who are attired in very full skirts and mediaeval headdresses. + +On account of these peculiarities, and because the customs, dress, +festivities, weapons, manners, landscapes, etc., of the middle ages are so +minutely described, these romances have, with much justice, been considered +as really original works. + +[Sidenote: The Roman de Troie.] The "Roman de Troie" was quite as popular +in mediaeval Europe as the "Iliad" had been in Hellenic countries during +the palmy days of Greece, and was translated into every dialect. There are +still extant many versions of the romance in every European tongue, for it +penetrated even into the frozen regions of Scandinavia and Iceland. It was +therefore recited in every castle and town by the wandering minstrels, +trouvères, troubadours, minnesingers, and scalds, who thus individually and +collectively continued the work begun so many years before by the Greek +rhapsodists. Thus for more than two thousand years the story which still +delights us has been familiar among high and low, and has served to beguile +the hours for old and young. + +This cycle further includes a revised and much-transformed edition of the +adventures of Aeneas and of the early history of Rome. But although all +these tales were first embodied in metrical romances, these soon gave way +to prose versions of equally interminable length, which each relator varied +and embellished according to his taste and skill. + +The extreme popularity of Benoît de Sainte-More's work induced many +imitations, and the numerous _chansons de gestes_, constructed on the same +general plan, soon became current everywhere. Sundry episodes of these +tales, having been particularly liked, were worked over, added to, and +elaborated, until they assumed the proportions of romances in themselves. +Such was, for example, the case with the story of Troilus and Cressida, +which was treated by countless mediaeval poets, and finally given the form +in which we know it best, first by Chaucer in his "Canterbury Tales," and +lastly by Shakespeare in his well-known play. + +[Sidenote: Alexandre le Grant.] Another great romance of the classical +cycle is the one known as "Alexandre le Grant." First written in verse by +Lambert le Cort, in a meter which is now exclusively known as Alexandrine, +because it was first used to set forth the charms and describe the deeds of +this hero, it was recast by many poets, and finally turned into a prose +romance also. + +The first poetical version was probably composed in the eleventh century, +and is said to have been twenty-two thousand six hundred lines long. Drawn +from many sources,--for the Greek and Latin writers had been all more or +less occupied with describing the career of the youthful conqueror and the +marvels he discovered in the far East,--the mediaeval writers still further +added to this heterogeneous material. + +The romance of "Alexandre le Grant," therefore, purports to relate the life +and adventures of the King of Macedon; but as Lambert le Cort and his +numerous predecessors and successors were rather inclined to draw on +imagination, the result is a very extravagant tale. + +In the romance, as we know it, Alexander is described as a mediaeval rather +than an ancient hero. After giving the early history of Macedon, the poet +tells of the birth of Alexander,--which is ascribed to divine +intervention,--and dwells eloquently upon the hero's youthful prowess. +Philip's death and the consequent reign of Alexander next claim our +attention. The conquest of the world is, in this romance, introduced by the +siege and submission of Rome, after which the young monarch starts upon his +expedition into Asia Minor, and the conquest of Persia. The war with Porus +and the fighting in India are dwelt upon at great length, as are the riches +and magnificence of the East. Alexander visits Amazons and cannibals, views +all the possible and impossible wonders, and in his fabulous history we +find the first mention, in European literature, of the marvelous "Fountain +of Youth," the object of Ponce de Leon's search in Florida many years +later. + +When, in the course of this lengthy romance, Alexander has triumphantly +reached the ends of the earth, he sighs for new worlds to conquer, and even +aspires to the dominion of the realm of the air. To wish is to obtain. A +magic glass cage, rapidly borne aloft by eight griffins, conveys the +conqueror through the aërial kingdom, where all the birds in turn do homage +to him, and where he is enabled to understand their language, thanks to the +kind intervention of a magician. + +But Alexander's ambition is still insatiable; and, earth and air having +both submitted to his sway, and all the living creatures therein having +recognized him as master and promised their allegiance, he next proposes to +annex the empire of the sea. Magic is again employed to gratify this wish, +and Alexander sinks to the bottom of the sea in a peculiarly fashioned +diving bell. Here all the finny tribe press around to do him homage; and +after receiving their oaths of fealty, and viewing all the marvels of the +deep, as conceived by the mediaeval writer's fancy, Alexander returns to +Babylon. + +Earth, air, and sea having all been subdued, the writer, unable to follow +the course of Alexander's conquests any further, now minutely describes a +grand coronation scene at Babylon, where, with the usual disregard for +chronology which characterizes all the productions of this age, he makes +the hero participate in a solemn mass! + +The story ends with a highly sensational description of the death of +Alexander by poisoning, and an elaborate enumeration of the pomps of his +obsequies. + +[Sidenote: Rome la Grant.] A third order of romances, also belonging to +this cycle, includes a lengthy poem known as "Rome la Grant." Here Virgil +appears as a common enchanter. With the exception of a few well-known +names, all trace of antiquity is lost. The heroes are now exposed to +hairbreadth escapes; wonderful adventures succeed one another without any +pause; and there is a constant series of enchantments, such as the Italian +poets loved to revel in, as is shown in the works by Boiardo and Ariosto +already mentioned. + +These tales, and those on the same theme which had preceded them, gave rise +to a generally accepted theory of European colonization subsequent to the +Trojan war; and every man of note and royal family claimed to descend from +the line of Priam. + +[Sidenote: Story of Brutus.] As the Romans insisted that their city owed +its existence to the descendants of Aeneas, so the French kings Dagobert +and Charles the Bald claimed to belong to the illustrious Trojan race. The +same tradition appeared in England about the third century, and from Gildas +and Nennius was adopted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It is from this historian +that Wace drew the materials for the metrical tale of Brutus (Brute), the +supposed founder of the British race and kingdom. This poem is twenty +thousand lines long, and relates the adventures and life of Brutus, the +great-grandson of Aeneas. + +At the time of Brutus' birth his parents were frightened by an oracle +predicting that he would be the cause of the death of both parents, and +only after long wanderings would attain the highest pitch of glory. This +prophecy was duly fulfilled. Brutus' mother, a niece of Lavinia, died at +his birth. Fifteen years later, while hunting, he accidentally slew his +father; and, expelled from Italy on account of this involuntary crime, he +began his wanderings. + +In the course of time Brutus went to Greece, where he found the descendants +of Helenus, one of Priam's sons, languishing in captivity. Brutus headed +the revolted Trojans, and after helping them to defeat Pandrasus, King of +Greece, obtained their freedom, and invited them to accompany him to some +distant land, where they could found a new kingdom. + +Led by Brutus, who in the mean while had married the daughter of Pandrasus, +the Trojans sailed away, and, landing on the deserted island of Leogecia, +visited the temple of Diana, and questioned her statue, which gave the +following oracle: + + "'Brutus! there lies beyond the Gallic bounds + An island which the western sea surrounds, + By giants once possessed; now few remain + To bar thy entrance, or obstruct thy reign. + To reach that happy shore thy sails employ; + There fate decrees to raise a second Troy, + And found an empire in thy royal line, + Which time shall ne'er destroy, nor bounds confine.'" + GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH (Giles's tr.). + +Thus directed by miracle, Brutus sailed on, meeting with many adventures, +and landed twice on the coast of Africa. The Pillars of Hercules once +passed, the travelers beheld the sirens, and, landing once more, were +joined by Corineus, who proposed to accompany them. + +Brutus then coasted along the shores of the kingdom of Aquitaine and up the +Loire, where his men quarreled with the inhabitants. He found himself +involved in a fierce conflict, in which, owing to his personal valor and to +the marvelous strength of Corineus, he came off victor in spite of the odds +against him. + +In this battle Brutus' nephew, Turonus, fell, and was buried on the spot +where the city of Tours was subsequently built and named after the dead +hero. After having subdued his foes, Brutus embarked again and landed on an +island called Albion. Here he forced the giants to make way for him, and in +the encounters with them Corineus again covered himself with glory. + +We are told that the first germ of the nursery tale of Jack the Giant +Killer is found in this poem, for Corineus, having chosen Corinea +(Cornwall) as his own province, defeated there the giant Goëmagot, who was +twelve cubits high and pulled up an oak as if it were but a weed. Corineus, +after a famous wrestling bout, flung this Goëmagot into the sea, at a place +long known as Lam Goëmagot, but now called Plymouth. + +[Sidenote: The founding of London.] Brutus pursued his way, and finally +came to the Thames, on whose banks he founded New Troy, a city whose name +was changed in honor of Lud, one of his descendants, to London. Brutus +called the newly won kingdom Britain, and his eldest sons, Locrine and +Camber, gave their names to the provinces of Locria and Cambria when they +became joint rulers of their father's kingdom, while Albanact, his third +son, took possession of the northern part, which he called Albania +(Scotland). + +Albanact was not allowed to reign in peace, however, but was soon called +upon to war against Humber, King of the Huns. The latter was defeated, and +drowned in the stream which still bears his name. Locrine's daughter, +Sabrina, also met with a watery death, and gave her name to the Severn. + +[Sidenote: King Leir.] The posterity of Brutus now underwent many other +vicissitudes. There was fighting at home and abroad; and after attributing +the founding of all the principal cities to some ruler of this line, the +historian relates the story of King Leir, the founder of Leicester. As this +monarch's life has been used by Shakespeare for one of his dramas,--the +tragedy of "King Lear,"--and is familiar to all students of English +literature, there is no need to outline Geoffrey of Monmouth's version of +the tale. + +The chronicler then resumes the account of Brutus' illustrious descendants, +enumerating them all, and relating their adventures, till we come to the +reign of Cassivellaunus and the invasion of Britain by the Romans. Shortly +after, under the reign of Cymbelinus, he mentions the birth of Christ, and +then resumes the thread of his fabulous history, and brings it down to the +reign of Uther Pendragon, where it has been taken up in the Arthurian +cycle. + +This chronicle, which gave rise to many romances, was still considered +reliable even in Shakespeare's time, and many poets have drawn freely from +it. The mediaeval poets long used it as a mental quarry, and it has been +further utilized by some more recent poets, among whom we must count +Drayton, who makes frequent mention of these ancient names in his poem +"Polyolbion," and Spenser, who immortalizes many of the old legends in his +"Faerie Queene." + +There are, of course, many other mediaeval tales and romances; but our aim +has been to enable the reader to gain some general idea of the principal +examples, leaving him to pursue the study in its many branches if he wishes +a more complete idea of the literature of the past and of the influence it +has exerted and still exerts upon the writers of our own day. + + + + +INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS. + + +Ariosto, 141, 211. +Arnold, Matthew, 212, 243, 269. +Beowulf, (translations by Conybeare, Keary, Longfellow, Metcalfe), 9, 10, + 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Buchanan, 145, 146. +Bulwer Lytton, 219. +Burney, Dr. (translation), 141. +Byron, 150. +Chanson de Roland (translations by Rabillon), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Conybeare (translations), 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Cursor Mundi, 4. +Death Song of Regner Lodbrock (translations by Herbert), 272, 276, 279. +Dippold, G. T., (translations, Great Epics of Mediaeval Germany, Roberts + Bros., Boston,), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 188, 190, + 195, 237, 239. +Dragon of Wantley, 238. +Drayton, 208, 210, 217, 218. +Ellis, 207, 208, 209, 210, 227. +Ettin Langshanks, The, 115, 116. +Geoffrey of Monmouth, 308. +Giles (translation), 308. +Goethe, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49 50, 52. +Gottfried von Strassburg, 237, 239, 241. +Gudrun, (translations by Dippold, Great Epics of mediaeval Germany, + Roberts Bros., Boston), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34. +Hartmann von Aue, 223. +Head, Sir Edmund, (Ticknor's Spanish Literature, Messrs. Harper Bros., New + York), 150. +Heldenbuch (translations by Weber), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, + 121. +Hemans, Mrs., 278. +Herbert (translations), 272, 276, 279. +Hildebrand, Song of, (translation by Bayard Taylor, Studies in German + Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 127. +Ingemann, 136. +Jamieson (translations), 115, 116. +Jones, J.C., 17. +Keary (translation), 11. +King Arthur's Death, 230. +Lady Alda's Dream (translation by Head), 149. +Layamon, 232. +Legend of King Arthur, 218. +Lettsom (translations), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, + 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85. +Lockhart, (Ancient Spanish Ballads, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 282, + 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, + 298, 299, 300. +Longfellow, (Poets and Poetry of Europe, and Poetical Works, Houghton, + Mifflin & Co., Boston), 12, 13, 95, 137, 251, 253, 254, 256, 258, 265. +Lord Lovel, Ballad of, 245. +McDowall (translation), 200. +Metcalfe (translations), 16, 21. +Morris, William, 275. +Nibelungenlied (translations by Lettsom), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, + 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, + 83, 84, 85. +Niendorf, 34. +Rabillon (translations), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Ragnar Lodbrok Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 270. +Ragnar's Sons' Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 277. +Robert of Gloucester, 209. +Rogers (translations), 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, + 52. +Roland and Ferragus, 141, 142, 143. +Rose (translation), 211. +Scott, Sir Walter, 235. +Sir Lancelot du Lake, 220. +Sir Otuel, 148. +Sotheby (translations), 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, + 175, 176, 177, 178, 179. +Southey, 132, 133, 295, 298. +Spalding (translations), 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, + 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 266, 267, 268. +Spenser, 211. +Swinburne, 206, 240, 241. +Taylor, Bayard, (Studies in German Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New + York,), 127, 190, 193, 223, 241. +Tegnér, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, + 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268. +Tennyson, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 228, 229, + 231, 232. +Vail, 281. +Weber (translations), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, 121. +Wieland, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, + 179. +Wolfram von Eschenbach, 188, 190, 193, 195, 200. + + + + +GLOSSARY AND INDEX. + + +AA'CHEN. See _Aix-la-Chapelle_. +AB-RA-CA-DAB'RA. Malagigi's charm, 158. +A'CRE. Ogier besieges, 138. +ADENET (ä-de-na') Author of an epic on Ogier, 138. +AE'GIR. Northern god of the sea, 250. +AE-NE'AS. In mediaeval literature, 303; + adventures of, 304; + Romans claim, 307. +AES'CHE-RE. Seized by Grendel's mother, 15; + Beowulf offers to avenge, 16. +AF'RI-CA. Brutus lands in, 308. +AG'NAR. Son of Ragnar and Thora, 272; + a great viking, 274; + fights Eystein, 276. +AG'RA-VAINE. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +AI-GO-LAN'DUS. Revolts against Charlemagne, 141. +AIX-LA-CHA-PELLE'. Founding of, 133; + Ganelon executed at, 148; + Renaud's body to be taken to, 162. +A'LARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + Renaud's affection for, 155; + plays chess with Chariot, 155; + prisoner of Charlemagne, 157; + freed by Malagigi, 158. +AL'BA-NACT. Son of Brutus, 309; + wars against Humber, 309. +AL-BA'NI-A. Name for Scotland, 309. +AL'BER-ICH. Dwarf guardian of treasure, 61; + delivers hoard, 70; + meets Ortnit under tree, 96; + the father of Ortnit, 97; + helps Ortnit, 97; + warns Ortnit against dragons, 98; + receives magic ring, 98; + Wolfdietrich warned by, 107; + meets Dietrich, 111. + See _Laurin_ and _Elbegast_. +AL'BI-ON. Brutus lands in, 308. +AL'BOIN. Sent in quest of armor, 86; + and Rosamund, 87; + cruelty of, 87; + death of, 88. +AL'DRI-AN. I. Father of Hagen, 75. +AL'DRI-AN. II. Son of Hagen, 127; + betrays Etzel, 127. +AL'E-BRAND. See _Hadubrand_. +AL-EX-AN'DER. Hero of metrical romance, 305; + conquests of, 306; + death of, 307. +AL-EX-AN'DRE LE GRANT. Synopsis of, 305. +AL-EX-AN'DRINE METER. Origin of, 305. +A-LEX'IS. Angela restored to, 170. +AL'FER-ICH. See _Alberich_. +AL'FILD. First wife of Sigurd Ring, 269. +AL-FON'SO, DON. King of Leon, 288; + made prisoner, 290; + escapes to Toledo, 290; + hears of Don Sancho's death, 292; + escapes from Toledo, 292; + king of Castile, 292; + banishes Cid, 293; + restores Cid to favor, 294; + makes edict in favor of exiles, 294; + takes Toledo, 294; + defeated by Cid, 294; + encourages suit of Counts of Carrion, 295; + responsible for marriage of Cid's daughters, 297; + Cid seeks redress from, 297; + refuses Babieça, 297; + gives orders for burial of Cid, 300. +AL'FRED. An ally of Ella, 279. +ALF'SOL. Sigurd Ring wooes, 270; + death of, 270. +AL-I-MAY'MON. Reveals how Toledo can be taken, 290; + death of, 294. +ALMES'BUR-Y. Guinevere at, 232; + Lancelot visits, 233; + Guinevere dies at, 233. +AL'PRIS. See _Alberich_. +AL'TE-CLER. Sword of Oliver, 139. +AM'A-DIS OF GAUL. Cycle of, 302. +AM'A-LING LAND. Italy called, 121; + Dietrich king of, 121; + invaded by imperial army, 123; + Dietrich returns to, 125. +AM'A-LUNG. Son of Hornbogi, 121. +A-MAN'DA. Rezia called, 175; + marriage of, 175; + in Titania's valley, 175; + mother of Huonet, 176; + loses her child, and is captured by pirates, 176; + shipwreck of, 177; + slave of the Sultan, 178; + visits fairyland, 179; + journeys to Paris, 179. +AM'A-ZONS. Alexander visits, 306. +AM-BRO'SI-US AU-RE-LI-A'NUS. British chief, 205. +AM'E-LINGS. The, 100-109. +AM'EL-RICH. Ferryman's signal, 76. +AM-FOR'TAS. Son of Frimontel, 188; + king of Montsalvatch, 189; + wound of, 189; + agony of, 193; + brother of, 199; + cured, 200; + death of, 200; + armor of, 201. +AN-GAN'TYR. Helps to recover ship Ellida, 250; + ruler of Orkney Islands, 250; + Frithiof sent to claim tribute from, 258; + Frithiof's landing seen by watchman of, 260; + Frithiof's visit to, 261; + purse of, 261. +ANGEL. Visits Charlemagne, 130; + visits Ogier, 137; + visits Oliver, 139. +AN'GE-LA. Huon advised by, 170; + Huon delivers, 170. +AN-GLO-SAX'ONS. "Beowulf" probably composed by, 9. +AN-GOU-LAF'FRE. Castle of, 169; + Huon's encounter with, 169; + ring of, 173. +AN-GUR-VA'DEL. Magic sword, 247; + Thorsten receives, 249; + Frithiof inherits, 253. +AN'TON. See _Hector_. +ANT'WERP. Marriage of Else and Lohengrin at, 203. +AN'ZI-US. Emperor of Constantinople, 100. +A-POL'LO. Marsile worships, 144. +A-PU'LI-A. Part of Rother's kingdom, 89. +A-QUI-TAINE'. Walther son of duke of, 124; + Brutus coasts along, 308. +AR'ABS. Huon defeats a band of, 166; + Spain under the, 282. +AR'A-GON. Calahorra cause of quarrel in, 286; + Don Ramiro of, 286. +ARDENNES (är-den'). Quest for robber knight of the, 134; + Aymon's sons take refuge in, 160. +AR-GO-NAU'TIC EXPEDITION. In mediaeval literature, 303. +A'RI-AS GON-ZA'LO, DON. Receives challenge, 291. +A-RIB'A-DALE. Bearer of Holy Grail, 201. +A-RI-OS'TO. Version of Roland by, 130; + Merlin's fountain mentioned by, 211; + works of, 302, 307. +AR'NOLD, MATTHEW. Treats of Arthurian legend, 204; + version of Tristan and Iseult, 234. +AR'THUR. Dietrich wooes daughter of, 123; + Ogier joins, 138; + in Avalon, 139; + Parzival sets out for court of, 189; + at Nantes, 191; + Parzival's request to, 192; + Parzival sends conquered knights to, 196; + knights Parzival, 196; + Gawain a knight of, 196; + hears of Gawain's prowess, 198; + Parzival visits, 200; + vain quest for Holy Grail, 201; + legend of King, 204, 214-233; + Merlin serves, 205, 210; + birth of, 210; + Merlin makes palace and armor for, 211; + adventures of, 214; + brought up by Sir Hector, 214; + comes to London, 215; + adventure with sword, 215; + overcomes Gawain, 216; + secures sword Excalibur, 217; + victories of, 217; + marriage of with Guinevere, 217; + receives Round Table, 217; + welcomes Lancelot, 220; + repudiates and reinstates Guinevere, 220; + questions knights, 225; + cannot defend Guinevere in judicial duel, 226; + yearly tournaments of, 226; + and Elaine, 229; + quarrels with Lancelot, 229; + leaves Guinevere with Mordred, 230; + wars against Mordred. 230; + mortal wound of. 231; + disposes of Excalibur, 231; + departs in barge. 232; + Philip II.'s oath in favor of. 232; + buried at Glastonbury. 232; + Lancelot buried at feet of. 233; + Tristan a contemporary of, 234; + Tristan goes to court of. 243; + Tristan delivers, 244; + reconciles Mark and Iseult, 244. +AS'CA-LON. Huon at, 174. +A'SI-A. Monarch of, 179; + Alexander sets out for, 306. +ASK'HER. See _Aeschere_. +AS'LAUG. Same as Krake; + story of birth and childhood of, 274; + prediction of, 275; + sons of, 275; + begs that her sons may avenge Agnar and Erik, 276. +AS'PRI-AN. King of northern giants, 90; + and the lion, 90; + carries off Imelot, 92. +AS'TO-LAT. Lancelot at, 227; + Lancelot comes to, 227; + Elaine the lily-maid of, 228; + Gawain comes to, 228. +AT'LÉ. Challenges Frithiof, 260. +AT'LI. Same as Etzel, 53. +AT'TI-LA. Same as Etzel, 94, 118; + Theodoric born after death of, 128. +AUCH-IN-LECK' MANUSCRIPT. Sir Otuel in the, 143. +AUDE. (od) Beloved by Roland, 149. +AU'DOIN. King of Langobards, 86. +AU-RE'LI-US AM-BRO'SI-US. Son of Constans, 205. +AV'A-LON. Ogier to dwell in, 135; + Morgana takes Ogier to, 138; + Arthur in, 232. +A'VARS. Aymon wars against the, 152. +A-VEN'TI-CUM. See _Wiflisburg_. +A'YA. Aymon marries, 154; + Aymon sends for, 154; + goes to find her husband, 155; + intercedes for her sons, 160; + and Renaud, 161. +AY'MON. _Chansons de gestes_ relating to, 152; + a peer of Charlemagne, 152; + wages war against Charlemagne, 152; + helped by Bayard and Malagigi, 153; + besieged by Charlemagne, 153; + flight and victories of, 154; + Charlemagne makes peace with, 154; + marriage of, 154; + adventures of, 154; + distributes his property, 155; + recovery of, 155; + flees from court, 156; + a captive, 156; + Turpin's promise to, 156; + oath of, 156; + tries to seize his sons, 157; + Malagigi frees sons of, 158; + adventures of sons of, 158-161. + +BAR'I-CAN. King of Hyrcania, 171; + Rezia dreams of, 171. +BA-BIE'ÇA. Steed of the Cid, 286; + Cid's ride to Zamora on, 291; + offered to Alfonso, 297; + Cid's last ride on, 298, 299; + end of, 300. +BAB'Y-LON. Ogier besieges, 138; + same as Bagdad in mediaeval literature, 164; + Alexander crowned at, 306. +BAG-DAD'. Huon to go to, 163, 163; + same as Babylon, 164; + Sherasmin indicates road to, 165; + Huon resumes journey to, 169; + Huon's adventures in, 171. +BAL'DER. Shrine of, 254, 256, 257; + temple of, 267. +BA'LI-AN. Seaport in Hagen's kingdom, 26. +BAL'TIC SEA. Bornholm, island in the, 247. +BAN. Father of Lancelot, 219. +BA'RI. Capital of Rother, 89; + arrival of magician's vessel at, 93. +BAU'TA. A memorial stone for Beowulf, 21. +BA-VA'RI-A. Rüdiger rides through, 71. +BAY'ARD. Aymon's marvelous steed, 153; + Satan steals, 153; + Malagigi recovers, 153; + Aymon saved by, 154; + given to Renaud, 155; + Renaud and his brothers escape on, 156; + Renaud's adventures in Paris with, 157; + Renaud's escape on, 158; + timely kick of, 159; + Charlemagne demands death of, 161. +BECH-LAR'EN. Rüdiger of, 71, 120; + Kriemhild at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76. +BED'I-VERE, SIR. Finds Arthur dying, 231; + bids Arthur farewell, 232. +BEE HUNTER. See _Beowulf_. +BELÉ (be-la'). Heir of Sogn, 249; + replaced on throne, 250; + conquers Orkney Islands, 250; + helps Thorsten secure Völund ring, 251; + sons of, 251; + last instructions of, 252; + kings seated on tomb of, 254. +BEL-FO-RA'DO. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +BEL-I-A'GOG. Tristan conquers, 244. +BEL'LI-GAN. City of, 106. +BEL-LIS-SAN'DE. Wife of Ogier, 136. +BEL'LYN. Escort of Reynard, 46; + death of, 47; + deceived by Reynard, 48; + accused of treachery, 49. +BEL'RI-PAR. Capital of Conduiramour, 192; + Kardeiss king of, 201. +BE-NOÎT' DE SAINTE-MORE. Poem of, 303; + popularity of work of, 305. +BE'O-WULF, 9-21; + epic of, 9; + resolves to visit Denmark, 11; + honors won by, 12; + arrival in Denmark, 13; + guards Heorot and wounds Grendel, 13, 14; + receives Brisingamen, 15; + hears of Aeschere's death, 15; + and Grendel's mother, 16, 17; + regency of, 18; + reign of, 19; + adventure with dragon, 19, 20; + death and burial of, 21. +BERCH'THER OF ME'RAN. Adviser of Rother, 89; + sons of, 89; + accompanies Rother, 90; + guardian of Hugdietrich, 100; + journey to Thessalonica, 101; + finds Wolfdietrich. 102; + foster father of Wolfdietrich, 103; + warns Wolfdietrich against Rauch-Else, 104; + Wolfdietrich remembers, 106; + sons of delivered from captivity, 108; + rewards given to sons of, 109. +BERCH'TUNG. See _Berchther of Meran_. +BE-RIL'LUS. Goes to Rome, 185. +BERN. Same as Verona, 77, 110; + hero of, 115, 116, 126; + Heime in, 115; + Wittich in, 116; + Dietrich returns to, 117, 121; + Wildeber comes to. 117; + Laurin a prisoner in, 120; + Wittich's return to, 122; + Dietrich surrenders, 124; + Dietrich's triumphant entry into, 126. +BER'NERS, LORD. Translates "Huon of Bordeaux," 163. +BER'SERK-ER. Rage, 24, 261; + Atlé a, 260. +BER-TAN'GA LAND. Same as Britain, 123. +BER'THA. I. Mother of Charlemagne, 129. +BER'THA. II. Sister of Charlemagne and mother of Roland, 133. +BERTHE'LOT. Same as Charlot, 155. +BER'WICK. See _Joyeuse Garde_. +BI'BUNG. Dwarf protector of Virginal, 133. +BJÖRN. I. Confidant of Frithiof, 254; + plays chess with Frithiof, 255; + steers Ellida, 259; + carries men ashore, 259; + takes charge of Ellida, 264. +BJÖRN. II. Son of Ragnar, 274. +BLAISE. A holy man who baptizes Merlin, 206. +BLAIVE. Roland buried at, 147; + Lady Aude buried at, 149. +BLANCHE'FLEUR. Wife of Meliadus and mother of Tristan, 235. +BLÖ'DE-LIN. Kriemhild bribes, 80. +BOC-CAC'CIO. Makes use of story of Griseldis, 302. +BO'GEN. Son of Hildburg. 103. +BO'HORT. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +BO-IAR'DO. Writer of a version of the adventures of Roland, 130, 302; + love of the marvelous shown in works of, 307. +BOl-FRI-AN'A. Captivity of, 116; + Dietrich rescues, 117; + Wittich marries, 122. +BOOK OF HEROES. Same as "Heldenbuch," 86; + Dietrich principal character in, 110. +BOR-DEAUX'. Huon in captivity in, 180. +BORN'HOLM. Viking born in, 247. +BOUILLON (boo-yon'). Godfrey of, 139. +BRA-BANT'. Else, Duchess of, 202. +BRANG'WAINE. Attendant of Iseult, 240; + confidante of Iseult, 242; + Ganhardin falls in love with image of, 244. +BREI'SACH. Harlungs dwell at, 123. +BRE'KA. Enters into swimming match with Beowulf, 12. +BRET'LAND. Soté buried in, 251. +BRI-SIN'GA-MEN. Necklace given to Beowulf, 15. +BRIT'AIN. Same as Bertanga land, 123; + Uther and Pendragon's wars in, 208; + Holy Grail vanishes from, 208; + named by Brutus, 309; + invaded by Romans, 309. +BRITISH MUSEUM. Manuscripts in, 9. +BRIT'ONS. War of, 208. +BRIT'TA-NY. Soltane, forest in, 188; + Broceliande in, 212; + Arthur's campaign in, 217; + Ban king of, 219; + Lancelot retires to, 230; + Arthur's second campaign in, 230; + Tristan goes to, 243; + Tristan returns to, 244. +BRO-CE-LI-AN'DE. Forest in Brittany, 212. +BRONS. Brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +BROWN. Sent to summon Reynard, 39; + arrives at Malepartus, 39; + caught in tree trunk, 40; + returns to court, 41; + injuries of, 43; + imprisonment of, 46; + release of, 47. +BRUN'HILD. Gunther wishes to marry, 58; + test of strength of, 60; + defeat of, 60; + leaves her own country, 62; + objects to Kriemhild's marriage, 62; + binds Gunther, 63; + is conquered by Siegfried, and loses fabulous strength, 63; + invites Siegfried and Kriemhild to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Kriemhild, 64; + in care of Rumolt, 75; + son of made king of Burgundy, 85; + Aslaug daughter of, 274. +BRU'TE. See _Brutus_. +BRU'TUS. Metrical romance of, 307; + descendant of Aeneas, 307; + adventures of, 307-309; + descendants of, 309. +BU'CAR. Besieges Valencia, 298; + retreat of, 299. +BUCH-AN'AN. Poem of on Roland, 130. +BUR'GOS. Cid born at, 282; + Ximena at, 284; + inhabitants weep at Cid's departure from, 293. +BUR-GUN'DI-ANS. Siegfried challenges, 56; + Nibelungs support king of, 61; + Nibelungs angry with, 69; + nobles escort Kriemhild, 73; + often called Nibelungs, 75; + warnings conveyed to, 77; + see hostility of Huns, 79; + kindly treated by Etzel, 79; + murder of squires of, 80; + bloody fight of, 81; + bravery of, 82; + slaughter of, 83; + name Gunther's son king, 85; + Hagen a hostage for, 124. +BUR'GUN-DY. King and queen of, 53; + Siegfried goes to, 55; + threatened invasion of, 56; + Brunhild receives king of, 59; + Kriemhild remains in, 69; + Kriemhild wishes to leave, 71; + Kriemhild's brothers return to, 73; + chaplain returns to, 76; + Etzel promises to send his son to, 80; + Etzel makes peace with, 124; + Hagen returns to, 124; + Gunther, king of, 124. +CA-LA-HOR'RA. On frontier between Castile and Aragon, 286. +CAM'BER. Son of Brutus, names Cambria, 309. +CAM'BRI-A. Named after Camber, 309. +CAM'E-LOT. Palace at, 211, 218; + feast at, 217; + twelve kings buried at, 218; + Lancelot at, 220, 221; + knights assemble at, 224; + appearance of Holy Grail at, 225; + knights return to, 226; + Guinevere's feast at, 226; + funeral barge arrives at, 228; + Lancelot leaves and returns to, 229. +CAM-PE-A-DOR'. Title given to Cid, 289, 290. +CAN'TER-BUR-Y TALES. Troilus and Cressida in, 305. +CA-PE'TIAN KINGS. Ogier reaches France during reign of one of, 138; + origin of race of, 181. +CAP-PA-DO'CIA. Berillus from, 185. +CAR'DU-EL. Same as Carlisle, 208; + knights assemble at, 209. +CAR-LISLE'. See _Carduel_. +CA-RO-LIN'GIAN LEGENDS, 129-181; + Naismes the Nestor of, 144. +CAR'RI-ON, COUNTS or INFANTES OF. Marry Cid's daughters, 295; + cowardice of, 295; + Cid's followers gibe at, 296; + illtreat their wives, 296; + Alfonso's anger with, 297; + before the Cortes, 297; + challenged, 297; + defeat of, 298. +CAS-SI-VEL-LAU'NUS. Tristan may be a contemporary of, 234; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. +CAS-TILE'. Invasion of, 283, 289; + Calahorra near, 286; + Don Sancho king of, 288; + Cid and Don Sancho return to, 289; + Cid's raid in, 294. +CHAMP DE MARS. The Frank assembly, 36. +CHAN'SON DE RO'LAND. Sung at Hastings, 130; + most famous version of Roland's death, 147. +CHAR'LE-MAGNE. Conquers Lombardy, 88, 129, 137; + and his paladins, 129-151; + favorite hero of mediaeval literature, 129; + champion of Christianity, 129; + fabulous adventures of, 129; + Einhard son-in-law of, 130; + _chansons de gestes_ referring to, 130; + receives angel's visit, 130; + conspirators punished by, 131; + and Frastrada, 131; + affection of for Turpin, 132; + founds Aix-la-Chapelle, 133; + and the boy Roland, 134; + asks for jewel of knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knights Roland, 135; + makes war against Denmark, 135; + releases Ogier, 136; + insulted by Ogier, 136; + appearance of, 136, 137, 141; + and Ogier, 137; + quarrels with Duke of Genoa, 139; + Roland champion of, 139; + vow and pilgrimage of, 139; + peers of, 139; + vision of, 140; + besieges Pamplona, 140; + pilgrimage of to Compostela, 140; + Aigolandus revolts against, 141; + challenged by Ferracute, 141; + sends Ogier to fight Ferracute, 142; + dove alights on, 143; + wars in Spain, 143; + sends embassy to Marsiglio, 144; + retreat of, 144; + hears Roland's horn, 145; + Turpin celebrates mass before, 147; + returns to Roncesvalles, 147; + orders trial of Ganelon, 148; + Aymon a peer of, 152; + character of, 152; + wars against Aymon, 153; + treats with Aymon, 154; + coronation of at Rome, 155; + hostility toward sons of Aymon, 156; + captures sons of Aymon, 157; + bribes Iwo, 158; + Richard carried captive to, 159; + besieges Montauban, 159; + and Malagigi, 160; + Aya intercedes with, 161; + and Bayard, 161; + Huon does homage to, 163; + gives orders to Huon, 163, 172; + tournament of 179; + pardons Huon, 181; + contemporary of Ragnar Lodbrok, 269; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +CHARLES THE BALD. Struggles of, 152; + claims descent from Trojan race, 307. +CHARLES MAR-TEL'. Deeds of attributed to Charlemagne, 129. +CHAR'LOT. Kills Ogier's son, 136; + Ogier demands death of, 137; + Renaud defeats, 155; + quarrels with Alard, 155; + death of, 163. +CHAU'CER. Uses tale of Griseldis, 302; + uses Troilus and Cressida, 305. +CHRESTIEN DE TROYES (kr[=a]-t[=e]-an' deh trwä'). Poems of, 182, 204, 219, + 234. +CHRIST. Jews angry against Joseph for burying, 183; + Vespasian hears story of, 183; + born during reign of Cymbelinus, 309. +CHRISTIAN. Faith taught to Rezia 175; + legends, 184; + Fierefiss becomes a, 200; + faith, 277; + army besieges Coimbra, 287; + king takes Toledo, 294; + army evacuates Valencia, 300. +CHRIS-TI-A'NI-A-FIORD. Frithiof in the, 264. +CHRISTIANITY. Charlemagne champion of, 129; + Roland argues about, 142; + sadly mixed with mythology, 303. +CHRISTIANS. Triumph in Spain, 143; + massacre of, 145; + enmity between Moors and, 154; + can take Toledo, 290; + Bucar retreats before, 299; + Moors routed by, 299. +CHRONICLE OF TURPIN, 140. +CID, THE, 282-300; + birth of, 282; + Ximena accuses, 284; + Ximena marries, 285; + pilgrimage of to Santiago de Compostela, 285; + adventure with leper, 286; + duel of with Martin Gonzalez, 286; + saved by Moorish kings, 287; + at Zamora with Ximena, 287; + defeats champion of Henry III., 288; + vassal of Don Sancho, 288; + victories of, 289; + conducts siege of Zamora, 291; + banished by Alfonso, 293; + at Valencia, 294; + cowardly sons-in-law of, 295; + daughters of illtreated, 296; + at the Cortes, 297; + offers Babieça to Alfonso, 297; + returns to Valencia, 298; + warned of coming death, 298; + last instructions of, 298; + death of, 299: + last victory of, 299; + body of in state, 300; + sword of, 300; + chronicle of, 302. +CI-SAIRE', PASS OF. Roland's ghost at, 145. +CLARETIE (kla-re-tee'). Ancestress of Capetian race, 181. +CLAR'ICE. Ogier marries, 138. +CLA-RIS'SA. Wife of Renaud, 156; + treachery of father of, 158; + intercedes for her father, 159; + death of, 161. +CLEVES. Henry the Fowler at, 202. +CO-IM'BRA. Siege of, 287. +CO-LA'DA. Sword won by Cid, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovery of, 297. +CO-LOGNE'. Death and burial of Renaud at, 162. +CON-DUIR'A-MOUR. Parzival rescues and marries, 192; + Parzival reminded of, 195; + at Montsalvatch, 200; + children of, 201. +CON'STANS. King of England, 205; + sons of, 205, 208. +CON'STAN-TINE. I. Father of Oda, 89; + and Rother, 90-93; + II. Son of Constans, 205. +CON-STAN-TI-NO'PLE. Embassy arrives at, 89; + Rother's visit to, 89-93, 100; + Anzius emperor of, 100; + Hildburg goes to, 102; + Wolfdietrich king of, 103, 108; + the Normans in, 281. +CO-RI-NE'A. Same as Cornwall, 309. +CO-RI-NE'US. Companion of Brutus, 308; + the original Jack the Giant Killer, 308; + kills Goëmagot. 309; +CORN'WALL. Tintagel in, 209; + Gorlois duke of, 209; + Mark king of, 235, 240; + Tristan in, 236, 237, 238; + Iseult embarks for, 241; + Iseult lands in, 242; + Tristan's passion for Iseult of, 243, 244; + Kurvenal's journey to, 244; + arrival in Brittany of Iseult of, 245; + Tristan and Iseult buried in, 243, 244; + Corineus settles in, 309. +COR'TES. Infantes of Carrion at the, 297, 298. +CRU-SADES'. Influence of on literature, 302. +CYM-BE-LI'NUS. Christ born during reign of, 309. + +DAG'O-BERT. Claims descent from Trojan, race, 307. +DANE. Hawart the, 81; + Dietlieb the, 117; + Ogier the, 129, 135. +DANES. Beowulf escorted by, 16; + gratitude of, 18; + disapprove of Ragnar's marriage, 274; + Eystein declares war against, 276. +DAN'ISH. Writers, 246; + dynasty connected with Sigurd, 269; + ships burned by English, 276; + kings make raids, 280; + settlements, 280. +DANK'RAT. King of Burgundy, 53. +DANK'WART. Under Siegfried's orders, 56; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + suspicion of, 59, 61; + goes to Hungary, 75; + helps Hagen, 76; + warns Hagen, 80. +DAN'UBE. Journey of Kriemhild down the, 73; + Burgundians reach the, 75. +DEN'MARK. Hrothgar king of, 9; + Beowulf sails for, 12; + Wealtheow queen of, 15; + Ludegast king of, 56; + Charlemagne defeats king of, 135; + Ogier king of, 136; + Krake queen of, 274. +DES'ERT BAB-Y-LO'NI-A. Kingdom of Imelot, 91; + Constantine takes possession of, 92. +DES-I-DE'RI-US. See _Didier_. +DI-A'NA. Brutus in temple of, 308. +DID'I-ER. Ogier flees to, 136. +DIEGO LAYNEZ (dee-ay'go ly'nez). Insulted by Don Gomez, 282; + avenged by Rodrigo, 283; + takes Rodrigo to court, 283. +DI-E'GO OR-DO'ÑEZ, DON. Sends challenge to Don Arias Gonzalo, 291. +DIE-TE-LIN'DE. Daughter of Rüdiger, 73; + Giselher betrothed to, 77. +DIE'THER. Brought up by Hildebrand, 112; + Helche cares for, 124; + death of, 126. +DIET'LIEB. Merry-making and athletic feats of, 117; + lord of Steiermark, 118; + and Laurin, 119, 120; + victory and reward of, 120. +DIET'MAR. Grandson of Wolfdietrich, 109; + ruler of Bern, 110; + death of, 121. +DIE'TRICH VON BERN. Warns Burgundians, 77; + defies Kriemhild, 78; + abstains from tournament, 79; + Kriemhild tries to bribe, 80; + a safe-conduct for, 81; + saves Etzel and Kriemhild, 81; + hears of Rüdiger's death, 83; + fights and captures Gunther and Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + ancestors of, 109; + story of, 110-128; + birth of, 110; + fiery breath of, 110, 119; + Hildebrand friend and teacher of, 110; + adventure of with Hilde and Grim, 111; + wins sword Nagelring, 111; + fights with Sigenot, 112; + sees and rescues Virginal, 114; + marries Virginal, 114; + gains possession of Heime and Falke, 115; + Wittich's adventure with, 116; + adventures of with Ecke and Fasolt, 116; + delivers Sintram, 117; + visits Rome, 117; + and Laurin, 118-120; + visits Etzel, 121; + becomes king of Amaling land, 121; + victories in Wilkina land, 121; + wars against Rimstein, 122; + Eckhardt joins, 123; + Ermenrich wars against, 123; + wooes Hilde, 123; + exile of in Hungary, 124; + victories and wounds of, 125; + returns to Bern, 125; + fights against Ermenrich, 126; + marriage of, 126; + kills Sibich, 127; + made emperor of West, 127; + old age of, 128; + Wild Hunt led by, 128; + Ragnar saga like saga of, 269. +DOL'FOS, VEL'LI-DO or BEL'LI-DO. Murders Don Sancho, 291. +DOR-DOGNE'. Aymon of, 152; + Lord Hug of, 152. +DORT'MUND. Renaud's body at, 162. +DOU'RO. River in Spain, 296. +DO'VER. Arthur encounters Mordred near, 230. +DRA'CHEN-FELS. Dietrich saves lady of, 116; + Wittich marries lady of, 122; + Roland wooes maid of, 150; + Roland's return to, 151. +DRAGON SLAYER. Surname of Siegfried, 275. +DRAGONS. See _Beowulf, Siegfried, Ortnit, Wolfdietrich, Tristan, Ragnar._ +DRAY'TON. Author of "Polyolbion," 310. +DRU'SI-AN. Kidnaps Sigeminne, 105; + Wolfdietrich captive of, 105; + death of, 106. +DUB'LIN. Morold's corpse carried to, 237; + Tristan's visit to, 238. +DU'O-LIN DE MAY'ENCE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +DU-RAN-DA'NA. Sword of Roland, 139; + powerless upon Ferracute, 142; + Roland disposes of, 146. + +EAD'GILS. Son of Othere, 19. +EAST. Ogier goes to the, 138; + Holy Grail in the far, 201; + Alexander's journey to the, 305; + wealth of the, 306. +EAST GOTH'LAND. Thora dwells in, 271. +ECK'E. Giant killed by Falke, 116; + Dietrich takes sword of, 117. +ECK'EN-LIED. Story of Ecke, 116. +ECK'E-SAX. Sword of Ecke, 117. +ECK'E-WART I. Escorts Kriemhild, 64; + remains with Kriemhild, 70; + accompanies Kriemhild to Hungary, 72; + warns Burgundians, 76. +ECK'E-WART II. See _Eckhardt_. +ECK'HARDT. Fidelity of, 109, 123; + flees to Dietrich, 123. +EC'TOR DE MA'RIS, SIR. Lancelot eulogized by, 233. +ED'DA. Hilde in the, 22; + Hedin in the, 25. +EIN'HARD. Son-in-law of Charlemagne, 130. +EIN-HE'RI-AR. Ragnar leader of the, 279. +E-LAINE'. Story of, 227-229. +EL'BE-GAST. Same as Alberich, 111; + Charlemagne's adventure with, 130, 131. +E'LI-AS. See _Ylyas_. +EL-KI'NAR. Isegrim bound to bell at, 42. +EL'LA. King of Northumberland, + captures and kills Ragnar, 278; + defeats Ragnar's sons, 279; + gives land to Normans, 279; + Ivar kills, 280. +EL-LI'DA. The dragon ship given to Viking by Aegir, 250; + belongs to Frithiof, 253; + in the storm, 258; + arrives at Orkney Islands, 259; + Frithiof sails in, 262. +EL'SE. Story of Lohengrin and, 201-3. +EL-SI-NORE'. Ogier sleeping in, 136. +EL-VI'RA, DOÑA. Receives Toro, 288; + robbed of Toro, 290. +EM'ER-ALD ISLE, 23. +ENG'LAND. Invasion of, 9; + rhyme introduced in, 9; + Clarice, princess of, 138; + Ogier leaves, 138; + Hengist driven from, 205; + Merlin brings stones to, 208; + Merlin's predictions concerning future of, 210; + Arthur's name in, 214; + dissensions in, 229; + firm belief in concerning Arthur's return, 232; + vikings' raids in, 276; + stone altars in, 280; + tradition of Trojan descent in, 307. +ENG'LISH. Version of Roland, 130; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246; + fight Ragnar's sons at Whitaby, 276. +E'NID THE FAIR. Story of, 222-224. +ENIGÉE (ay' nee-zhay). Sister of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +E'REC. Name for Geraint in French and German poems, 223. +E'RIK. Son of Ragnar, 272; + a great viking, 274; + attacked by enchanted cow, 276. +ER'ME-LYN. Wife of Reynard, 45, 46, 47. +ER'MEN-RICH. Treasure of, 45; + emperor of the West, 110; + Dietrich's visit to, 117; + Dietlieb rewarded by, 118; + Dietrich helps, 122; + and Sibich, 122, 123; + wars against Dietrich, 126; + death of, 126. +ER'MO-NIE. Meliadus lord of, 234. +ERP. Son of Helche, 125; + death of, 126. +ES-CLAR-MON'DE. Same as Rezia, 171, 175; + early version of story of, 180. +ES-TRE-MA-DU'RA. Moors defeated in, 287. +E-TRU'RI-A. Luna in, 276. +ET'ZEL. Same as Atli, 53; + wooes Kriemhild, 71; + Kriemhild sets out for court of, 72; + Kriemhild wife of, 73; + invites Burgundians to Hungary, 74; + welcomes Burgundians, 78; + banquet of, 79; + promises to send son to Burgundy, 80; + saved from massacre, 81; + Burgundians wish to treat with, 82; + cannot save Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + Helche marries, 94; + Dietlieb serves, 118; + Dietrich visits, 121, 124; + Walther escapes from, 124; + gold stolen from, 124; + cowardice of, 125; + helps Dietrich, 125; + marries Kriemhild, 126; + killed by Aldrian, 127; + same as Attila, 128. +EU'ROPE. "Beowulf" oldest relic of spoken language in, 9; + "Reynard the Fox" popular in, 35; + to be infested by dragons, 98; + Charlemagne conquers nearly all, 140; + introduction of legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + popularity of Arthurian legends in, 214; + popularity of "Roman de Troie" in, 304. +EU-RO-PE'AN. Versions of legends, 205; + versions of Tristan, 234; + languages, sagas translated into, 246; + states, romances current in, 301; + nations, classical romances in, 303; + versions of Iliad, 304; + literature, mention of Fountain of Youth in, 306; + colonization, 307. +EX-CAL'I-BUR. Arthur's sword, 217; + Arthur disposes of, 231. +EY'STEIN. Ragnar visits, 274; + wars against Danes, 276; + magic cow of, 276. + +FA'E-RIE QUEENE. Merlin's fountain mentioned in, 211; + contains mediaeval legends, 310. +FAF'NIR. Sigurd slayer of, 269, 274. +FAF'NIS-BANE. Surname of Sigurd, 274. +FAIR AN'NET. Loved by Lord Thomas, 245. +FA'LIES, MARQUIS OF. Sword Tizona in family of, 300. +FAL'KE. Horse of Dietrich, 115; + kills Ecke, 116. +FAL'STER WOOD. Heime in the, 117. +FA'SOLT. Dietrich defeats, 117. +FA'TA MOR-GA'NA. Mirage called, 95. +FAT'I-MA. Attendant of Rezia, 173; + in Tunis, 177; + finds Amanda, 178; + taken to fairyland, 179; + rescued by Huon and Sherasmin, 180. +FE'LEZ MU-ÑOZ.' Nephew of Cid, 296; + rescues his cousins, 296. +FER'DI-NAND. Rodrigo's first visit to, 283; + recalls Rodrigo, 284; + Ximena before, 284; + receives gifts from Cid, 287; + Henry III. complains of to Pope, 287; + threatened by Pope, 288; + Cid's victories for, 288; + death and legacies of, 288. +FER'RA-CUTE. Challenges Charlemagne, 141; + defeats Ogier and Renaud, 142; + fights and argues with Roland, 142, 143; + Otuel, nephew of, 143. +FER'RA-GUS. See _Ferracute_. +FIEREFISS (fyâr-e-f[=e]s'). Encounters Parzival, 199; + conversion and marriage of, 200; + father of founder of Knights Templars, 200. +FIRE'DRAKE. Ravages of the, 19; + slain by Beowulf, 20. +FLAM'BERGE. Sword of Aymon, 154; + Renaud, owner of, 158; + Renaud breaks, 161. +FLAN'DERS. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35. +FLOR'ENCE. Council at, 287. +FLOR'I-DA. Ponce de Leon in, 306. +FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, 306. +FRAM'NÄS. Home of Thorsten and Frithiof, 250, 251, 253; + ruins of, 261. +FRANCE. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + Charlemagne principal hero of, 129; + Ogier in, 135, 138; + Charlemagne in, 140, 141, 144, 148; + Huon embarks for, 174; + Capetian kings of, 181; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Merlin brings armies from, 210; + viking raids in, 276; + king of, 289. +FRANKS. And "Reynard the Fox," 35; + assembly of, 36; + hostage from, 124; + at feud with Lombardy, 136. +FRAS-TRAD'A. Wife of Charlemagne, 131. +FRED'ER-ICK BAR-BAR-OS'SA. Ogier like, 136. +FRED'ER-ICK OF TEL'RA-MUND. Guardian and oppressor of Else, 202; + defeated by Lohengrin, 203. +FRENCH. Version of Roland, 130; + army betrayed by Ganelon, 144; + version of Tristan, 234; + kings descended from Priam, 307. +FRIE'SIAN. Invasion, 18; + sea, Charlemagne's vision of, 140. +FRIES'LAND. Invasion of, 18. +FRI-MOU-TEL'. Anointed king, 188; + death of, 189. +FRITHIOF (frit'yof). Story of, 246-268; + saga put into verse by Tegnér, 246; + birth of, 251; + loves Ingeborg, 251, 252; + home of, 253; + sues for hand of Ingeborg, 254; + suit of rejected, 255; + Ingeborg's brothers ask aid of, 255; + meets Ingeborg in temple, 256; + tries to make terms with kings, 257; + journey to Orkney Islands, 258; + in tempest, 259; + fights Atlé, 260; + visits Angantyr, 261; + returns to Framnäs, 261; + goes into exile, 262; + becomes a pirate, 263; + visits Sigurd Ring, 264; + Ingeborg recognizes, 265; + loyalty of, 265; + guardian of infant king, 266; + rebuilds temple, 267; + marries Ingeborg, 267. +FRUTE. Follower of Hettel, 25; + in quest of Hilde, 26. + +GA'HER-IS. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +GA-LA'FRE. Huon and Sherasmin at court of, 180. +GALA-HAD, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 224; + occupies "Siege Perilous," 224; + sees Holy Grail, 226. +GA-LI'CIA. Charlemagne called to, 140; + Don Garcia king of, 288, 289. +GA-LI'CIAN. Nobles refuse to exchange prisoners, 289. +GAL'Y-EN. Son of Oliver, and king of Jerusalem, 140. +GAL'Y-EN RHET-OR-E'. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +GA'MU-RET. Marries Herzeloide, 188. +GA'NE-LON. Treachery of, 144, 145; + accused and sentenced, 148; + advises Charlot, 155. +GANHARDIN (gan-har-dan'). Wishes to marry Brangwaine, 244. +GARADIE (ga-ra-d[=e]'), COUNT. Hagen in the hands of, 24. +GAR-CI'A, DON. King of Galicia, 288; + seizes Zamora, 289; + dies in captivity, 290. +GAR'DEN. Wolfdietrich at, 107; + Herbrand receives, 109; + Hildebrand inherits, 109; + Ermenrich takes, 123; + Dietrich master of, 126; + Hildebrand's return to, 126. +GA'RETH, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 221; + adventures with Lynette, 222; + Geraint brother of, 222. +GA'RY. Messenger sent by Gunther to Siegfried, 64; + goes to Hungary, 75. +GA'WAIN. Rides after Parzival, 196; + and Duchess Orgueilleuse, 197; + adventures with Gramoflaus and Klingsor, 197, 198; + marriage of, 198; + one of Arthur's knights, 209; + doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216; + strength of, 216; + comes to Astolat, 228. +GEATES. Minstrel flees to the, 11; + Beowulf escorted by the, 16; + wait for Beowulf, 17; + return with Hygelac's body, 18. +GEIRS'-ODD. Sacrificial runes called, 266. +GEL'FRAT. Fights Hagen, 76. +GEN'O-A, DUKE OF. Charlemagne's quarrel with, 139. +GEOF'FREY DE LIGNY (leen'yee). Author of a Lancelot romance, 219. +GEOF'FREY OF MON'MOUTH. Writings of, 204, 307, 309. +GEP'I-DAE. Settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel with Lombards, 87. +GE-RAINT'. Brother of Gareth, 222; + story of Enid and, 222-224. +GE-RAS'MES. See _Sherasmin_. +GER'HART. Claims Liebgart's hand, 108. +GER'IMS-BURG. Siege of, 122. +GER-LIN'DA. Cruelty of, 30-32; + death of, 33. +GER'MAN. Manuscript of "Gudrun," 22, 23; + Von Otterdingen a, 53; + literature, 53; + language, Eckewart's fidelity proverbial in, 70; + version of Roland legend, 130; + Wagner a, 182; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246. +GER'MA-NY. Maximilian emperor of, 22; + Hettel king of, 25; + "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + the greatest epic of, 53; + in Charlemagne's vision, 140; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Henry the Fowler emperor of, 202; + Henry III. emperor of, 287. +GER'NOT. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + advice of, 57; + Hagen tries to rouse anger of, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + anger of, 66; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + sword of, 77; + death of, 83. +GIER'E-MUND. Reynard insults, 36; + wooed by Reynard, 38. +GIL'DAS. 307. +GI-RARD'. I. Brother of Huon, killed by Charlot, 163. +GI-RARD' II. A knight, steals Huon's casket, 180; + punished by Oberon, 181. +GIS'EL-HER. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + reproves Hagen, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + angry with Hagen, 71; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + betrothal of, 77. +GLAS'TON-BUR-Y. Holy Grail at, 185; + Arthur buried at, 232; + Guinevere and Lancelot buried at, 233. +GOD'FREY OF BOUIL'LON. Ancestor of, 139; + king of Jerusalem, 161. +GOËMAGOT (go-ee-ma-got'). Corineus kills, 309. +GOETHE (go'teh) "Reineke Fuchs" of, 36; + admiration of for Tegnér, 246. +GO'MEZ, DON. Insults Don Diego Laynez, 282; + challenged and killed by Rodrigo, 283; + Ximena daughter of, 284. +GOR'LO-IS. Lord of Tintagel, wars against Uther Pendragon, 209; + death of, 210; + Arthur not a son of, 210. +GO-TE-LIN'DE. Wife of Rüdiger, 73. +GOTH'LAND, EAST. 271. +GOTHS. See _Geates_. +GOTT'FRIED VON STRASS'BURG. Treats of Holy Grail; 182, 204; + version of "Tristan" of, 234. +GOZZOLI (got'so-lee). Painting of, 304 +GRAIL. See _Holy Grail_. +GRAM'O-FLAUS. Encounter of with Gawain 197; + Parzival champion of, 198; + marries Itonie, 198. +GRAN. Capital of Etzel, 73; + minstrels return tom 75. +GRA'VAIN. One of Arthur's knights, 209 +GREECE. Hertnit earl of, 121; + Tristan known in, 234; + isles of, 264; + viking raid in, 276; + popularity of Iliad in, 304; + Brutus goes to, 307; + Pandrasus king of, 308. +GREEK. Islands invaded by vikings, 276; + epics, 303; + post-classical writings, 303; + rhapsodists' work continued, 304; + writers busy with Alexander, 305. +GREN'DEL. Heorot visited by, 10; + warriors slain by, 11; + Beowulf and, 12-14; + mother of, 15; + Beowulf visits retreat of, 16, 17. +GRIF'FIN. Hagen carried off by a, 23. +GRIM. Depredations of, 111; + killed by Dietrich, 111; + Sigenot vows to avenge, 112. +GRIM'BART. Cousin of Reynard, 36; + pleads for Reynard, 38; + carries message to Reynard, 42; + absolves Reynard, 42; + reproves Reynard, 43; + warns Reynard, 47; + takes Reynard to court, 48. +GRIM'HILD. See _Kriemhild_. +GRI-SEL'DIS. Tale of, 302. +GUAR'DA. See _Garden_. +GU'DRUN I. The poem, 22. +GU'DRUN II. Daughter of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + suitors of, 28; + kidnaped by Hartmut, 29; + slavery of, 30; + swan maiden visits, 31; + rebellion of, 32; + rescue of 33; + marries Herwig, 34. +GU'DRUN III. Same as Kriemhild, 53. +GUÉR'IN DE MONT'GLAVE. _A chanson de geste_, 139. +GUI-ENNE'. Huon and Girard on the way from, 163; + Huon's patrimony of, 179; + Huon's journey to, 180. +GUILD'FORD. See _Astolat_. +GUIN'E-VERE. Marries Arthur, 217; + and Lancelot, 220, 221; + favors of, 227; + hears of Lancelot and Elaine, 228; + saved by Lancelot, 229; + and Mordred, 230; + at Almesbury, 232; + death of, 233; + Iseult like, 242; + Iseult meets, 244. +GUIS'CARD. Son of Aymon and Aya, 154. +GUNG'THIOF. Son of Frithiof, 267. +GUN'NAR. Same as Gunther, 53. +GUN'THER. Same as Gunnar, 53; + Siegfried at court of, 55, 56; + goes to Issland to woo Brunhild, 59; + contest of with Brunhild, 60; + marriage of, 61; + gives Kriemhild to Siegfried, 62; + bound by Brunhild, 63; + invites Siegfried to Worms, 64; + influenced by Hagen, 66; + race of, 67; + protector of Kriemhild, 68; + reconciled to Kriemhild, 70; + plans to secure hoard, 71; + receives Hun embassy, 72; + goes to Hungary, 75; + entertained by Rüdiger, 77; + entertained by Etzel, 80; + grants safe-conduct to Dietrich, 81; + refuses to surrender to Hagen, 82; + imprisonment and death of, 84; + son of, 85; + encounter with Walther, 124; + wounds of, 125. +GUR'NE-MANZ. Educates Parzival, 192, 196. +GU'TRUN. See _Kriemhild_. + +HA'CHE. Receives Rhine land, 109. +HAD'BURG. Prophesy of, 75. +HAD'U-BRAND. Son of Hildebrand, 126; + makes himself known to his father, 127. +HA'GEN I. Son of Sigeband, carried off by a griffin, 23; + adventures and marriage of, 24; + daughter of, 25; + fights Hettel, 27; +HA'GEN II. Same as Högni, 53; + describes Siegfried's prowess, 55; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + promises to avenge Brunhild, 65; + deceives Kriemhild, 66; + kills Siegfried, 67; + glories in his treachery, 68; + the touch of, 69; + hatred of Kriemhild for, 70; + seizes hoard, 71; + welcomes Rüdiger, 71; + warns Burgundians, 72, 74; + Kriemhild plans to have revenge upon, 73; + swan maidens and, 75; + adventure at the ferry, 76; + receives shield from Rüdiger, 77; + Etzel welcomes, 78; + alliance with Volker, 78; + frightens Huns, 79; + kills Ortlieb, 80; + Kriemhild offers reward for death of, 81; + Kriemhild asks surrender of, 82; + Dietrich asks surrender of, 83; + captivity and death of, 84; + a hostage of Etzel, 124; + loses an eye, 125; + Aldrian son of, 127. +HALF'DAN. I. Friend of Viking, 247; + makes friends with Njorfe, 248; + Viking's sons visit, 249. +HALF'DAN II. Son of Belé, 251; + character of, 252; + king of Sogn, 253; + guardian of Ingeborg, 255; + Sigurd Ring wars against, 256; + Frithiof wars against, 267. +HAL'O-GA-LAND. North Norway called, 246. +HAL'O-GE. Same as Loki, rules Halogaland, 246; + Viking the grandson of, 247. +HAM. Witch summoned by Helgé, 258. +HAR'DRED. Son of Hygelac, reign of, 18. +HAR'LUNGS. Sibich betrays the, 123. +HART'MANN VON AUE, 204. +HART'MUT. Prince of Normandy, 28; + kidnaps Gudrun, 29; + Gudrun refuses to marry, 29; + rescues Gudrun from drowning, 30; + prepares to marry Gudrun, 32; + rescues Gudrun, 33; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + a captive, 34; + marries Hergart, and is released, 34. +HAS'SAN. Name assumed by Huon in Tunis, 177. +HAST'INGS I. Battle of, 130. +HAST'INGS II. Foster father of Sigurd the Snake-eyed, 275; + and Ragnar's sons, 276; + strategy of, 277. +HA'WART. Death of, 81. +HEC'TOR, SIR. Arthur fostered by, 210, 214; + visit of to London, 215; +HED'IN. Lover of Hilde, 22; + same as Hettel, 25. +HE'GE-LING LEGEND, 23. +HE'GE-LINGS. Family of the, 23; + Hettel king of the, 25; + Hilde flees with the, 27; + at the Wülpensand, 29; + come to Normandy, 32; + return home, 34. +HEID. Witch summoned by Helgé, 258. +HEI'ME. Challenges Dietrich, 115; + becomes a brigand, 117; + steals Mimung, 121; + forced to restore Mimung, 122. +HEI'MIR. Protector of Aslaug, 274. +HEIN'RICH VON OF'TER-DING-EN, 86. +HELCHE. Wife of Etzel, 71, 124; + daughter of Rother and Oda, 94. +HEL'DEN-BUCH. The "Book of Heroes," 86, 128. +HEL'EN I. Mother of Lancelot, 219. +HEL'EN II. In mediaeval literature, kidnaping of, 304. +HEL'E-NUS. Descendants of in Greece, 307. +HEL'GÉ. Son of Belé, 251; + refuses to give Ingeborg to Frithiof, 255; + rejects Sigurd Ring, 255; + makes treaty with Sigurd Ring, 256; + accuses Frithiof of sacrilege, 257; + stirs up tempest against Frithiof, 258; + Angantyr refuses to pay tribute to, 261; + Frithiof snatches ring from wife of, 261; + pursues Frithiof, 262. +HE'LIE DE BOR'RON, 234. +HEL'I-GO-LAND. Rumor of Dietrich's valor reaches, 115. +HEL'KAP-PE. See _Tarnkappe_. +HEL'MI-GIS. Rosamund and, 88. +HEN'GIST. Driven from England, 205; + Saxons led by, 208. +HEN'NING. Complaint of against Reynard, 38. +HENRY I., THE FOWLER. Hears accusation against Else, 202. +HENRY III. Emperor of Germany, 287. +HENRY VIII. Lord Berners translates "Huon of Bordeaux" for, 163. +HE'O-ROT. Hrothgar builds, 10; + Beowulf's experiences in, 13; + Grendel's limb a trophy in, 15; + Beowulf's triumphant return to, 18. +HE'RAND. See _Herrat_. +HER'BART. Nephew of Dietrich, elopes with Hilde, 123. +HER'BRAND. Son of Berchther, 109; + father of Hildebrand, 110; + the wide-traveled, 121. +HER'CU-LES, PILLARS of. Brutus passes, 308. +HER'KA. See _Helche_. +HER'LIND. Maid of Oda, 90; + brings gifts to Oda, 91. +HER'RAT. Wife of Dietrich, 126; + death of. 127. +HERT'NIT. Wittich a prisoner of, 121; + Wildeber visits, 121; + death of, 122. +HER'WIG. King of Zealand, fights with Hettel, 28; + betrothed to Gudrun, 28; + wars of, 29; + comes to Normandy to rescue Gudrun, 31; + saves Gudrun, 33; + marries Gudrun, 34. +HER-ZE-LOI'DE. Sigune brought up by, 188; + wife of Gamuret and mother of Parzival, 188; + parts from Parzival, 191; + Parzival goes in search of, 192; + Parzival hears of death of, 199. +HE'SI-OD. Heroes of in mediaeval literature, 303. +HESSE. Burgundian army passes through, 57. +HET'TEL. Wooes Hilde, 25, 26; + marries Hilde, 27; + dismisses Gudrun's suitors, 28; + death of, 29. +HILD'BURG I. Hagen finds, 23. +HILD'BURG II. Companion of Gudrun, 30; + meets Ortwine, 31; + wooed by Ortwine, 32; + marries Ortwine, 34. +HILD'BURG III. Hugdietrich wooes, 100; + secret marriage of, 101; + the son of, 101, 102; + banished by Sabene, 103. +HIL'DE I. In the Edda, 22; + an Indian princess, 23; + Hagen marries, 24; + daughter of, 25. +HIL'DE II. Suitors of, 25; + educates Gudrun, 28; + welcomes Gudrun home, 34. +HIL'DE III. A giantess, Dietrich's encounter with, 111. +HIL'DE IV. Daughter of Arthur, elopes with Herbart, 123. +HIL'DE-BRAND I. Claims body of Rüdiger and fights Burgundians, 83; + kills Kriemhild, 84; + lament of, 85. +HIL'DE-BRAND II. Inherits Garden, 109; + tutor of Dietrich, 110; + fights Grim and Hilde, 111; + marriage of, 112; + adventure of with Sigenot, 112, 113; + adventure of with magicians, 114; + Wittich meets, 115; + steals Wittich's sword, 116; + Ilsan brother of, 117; + Dietlieb pawns steed of, 117; + first Rose Garden adventure of, 118; + second Rose Garden adventure of, 120; + campaign of in Wilkina land, 121; + ransom of, 124; + returns to Garden, 126; + rejoins his wife, 127. +HIL'DE-GARDE. Story of Roland and, 150, 151. +HIL'DE-GRIM. Giant's helmet, 111. +HIL-DE-GUN'DE. Adventures of, 124, 125. +HIL'DING. Foster father of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 251; + asks Frithiof's aid for kings of Sogn, 255; + failure of mission of, 256; + announces Ingeborg's marriage to Frithiof, 261. +HINTZE. Complains of Reynard, 37; + accused of theft, 38; + adventures of at Malepartus, 41; + imprisonment of, 46. +HLE'DRA. Capital of Denmark, 271; + Thora arrives at, 272; + Krake at, 274; + Ivar's brothers return to, 280. +HÖG'NI I. Pursues Hilde, 22. +HÖG'NI II. Same as Hagen, 53. +HOL'GER DAN'SKE. See _Ogier_. +HOL'LAND. Ireland in, 23. +HOLM'GANG. Northern duel, 247. +HOLY GRAIL, 182-203; + origin of legend of, 182; + a sacred dish or cup, 183; + Joseph of Arimathea supported in prison by, 183; + at Marseilles, 184; + at Glastonbury, 185; + Titurel appointed guardian of, 185; + temple of, 186; + descent of, 187; + commands that Frimoutel be king, 188; + commands that Amfortas be king, 189; + promise of, 189; + Parzival sees, 193; + Parzival's quest for, 195-200; + Kundrie a messenger of, 196; + Gawain's quest for, 196; + Trevrezent renounces, 199; + Parzival finds, 199; + Parzival uncovers, 200; + Arthur's knights' quest for, 201, 225; + Lohengrin servant of, 201, 203; + legend of, 204; + place at the Round Table for, 208, 218; + Lancelot cured by, 221; + appearance of, 225; + Parzival, Lancelot, and Galahad saw, 226; + tales of, 301. +HOLY LAND. Renaud goes to, 161; + knight returns from, 183. +HO'MER. Heroes of, 303. +HO'RANT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + his skill as minstrel, 26, 34. +HOR'DA-LAND. Frithiof in, 267. +HORN'BO-GI. Wittich meets, 115; + father of Amalung, 121. +HORSES. See _Rispa_, _Falke_, _Veillantif_, + _Bayard_, and _Babieça_. +HROTH'GAR. Descent of, 9; + hall of, 10; + reward offered by, 11; + Beowulf at court of, 13; + feast of, 15; + grief of, 15; + Beowulf takes leave of, 16. +HROUD'LAN-DUS. Same as Roland, 130. +HUG. Lord of Dordogne, slain by Charlemagne, 152; + avenged by Aymon, 154. +HUG-DIE'TRICH I. Son of Anzius, 100; + wooes and marries Hildburg, 101; + intrusts wife and child to care of Sabene, 102; + suspicions of, 103; + death and will of, 103. +HUG-DIE'TRICH II. Son of Wolfdietrich, 109; + father of Dietmar, 110. +HUGUES. King of Jerusalem, 139; + Oliver marries daughter of, 140. +HUM'BER. King of the Huns, 309. +HUN'GA-RY. Etzel king of, 71; + Gunther starts out for, 75; + Kriemhild's purpose in coming to, 82; + fatal ride to, 85; + part of Pannonia, 86; + Wildeber in, 121; + Aymon's wars in, 152. +HUNS. King of, 72, 94, 118, 121; + Kriemhild queen of, 72; + power of, 72; + Burgundians crowded by, 79; + Kriemhild brings misery upon, 84; + gratitude of Helche, queen of the, 125; + Dietrich's sojourn with the, 126; + Humber king of the, 309. +HUN'THIOF. Son of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 267. +HUN'VOR. Swedish princess, 247. +HU'ON OF BOR-DEAUX', 163-181; + hero of poem, 163; + Charlemagne's orders to, 163; + visits Pope, 164; + meets Sherasmin, 165; + in enchanted forest, 166; + Oberon's gifts to, 168; + at Tourmont, 169; + adventures with Angoulaffre, 169, 170; + adventure with Saracen, 170; + reaches Bagdad, 171; + adventures at Bagdad, 171-174; + Oberon's orders to, 174; + disobedience of, 175; + on desert island, 175, 176; + in Tunis, 177; + carried to fairyland by Oberon, 179, 181; + at the tournament, 179; + returns to Guienne, 180; + other versions of story of, 180; + ancestor of Capetian race, 181. +HU'O-NET. Birth and disappearance of, 176; + restoration of, 179. +HVIT'SERK. Son of Ragnar, 274. +HYGD. Wife of Hygelac, 18. +HY'GE-LAC. King of the Geates, 11; + gives Nägeling to Beowulf, 12; + wars and death of, 18. +HYR-CA'NI-A. Babican king of, 171. + +ICE'LAND. Story of Tristan popular in, 234; + the Iliad in, 304. +IL'I-AD. Popularity of the, 304. +IL'SAN. Brother of Hildebrand, 117, 120; + rudeness and cruelty of, 120, 121. +IM'E-LOT. King of Desert Babylonia, 91; + a captive, 92; + Rother hears of escape of, 93. +IN'DI-A. Hunvor carried off to, 247; + Alexander's adventures in, 306. +IN-FAN'TES. Of Carrion, 295-298; + of Navarre, 297. +IN'GE-BORG I. Attendant of Hunvor, 247. +IN'GE-BORG II. Transformed into a witch, 249; + Thorsten saved by, 250; + mother of Frithiof, 251. +IN'GE-BORG III. Daughter of Belé, and playmate of Frithiof, 251; + Frithiof vows to marry, 252; + Frithiof sues for, 254; + Sigurd Ring sues for, 255; + meets Frithiof in temple, 256, 257; + Frithiof parts with, 258; + married to Sigurd Ring, 261, 269; + Frithiof's longing for, 264; + Frithiof visits, 265; + given to Frithiof by Sigurd Ring, 266; + Frithiof wars against brothers of, 267; + marriage of Frithiof and, 267. +ING'EL-HEIM. Palace at, 131. +IRE'LAND I. In Holland, 23. +IRE'LAND II. Merlin brings stones from, 208; + Ryance king of, 217; + Morold comes from, 236; + Tristan goes to, 237; + Tristan's visits to, 238; + viking raids in, 276. +I'RING. Killed by Hagen, 81. +I'RISH. King defeats Mark, 237; + attendants carry Morold's remains to Ireland, 237; + Tristan at court of the, 238; + king, butler of, 239. +IR'MIN-SUL. Charlemagne destroys the, 129. +IRN'FRIED. Attacks the Burgundians, 81. +IS'E-GRIM. Complaint of against Reynard, 36; + and the fish, 37; + a victim of Reynard's jokes, 42; + accused by Reynard, 44; + imprisonment of, 46; + robbed by Reynard, 48; + disloyalty of, 51; + duel with Reynard, 51; + death of, 52. +I'SEN-LAND. Hagen finds princess of, 23. +I-SEULT'. I. Sister of Morold, cures of, 237; + Tristan healed by, 238. + II. Daughter of Iseult I., Tristan teaches, 238; + hand of promised to dragon slayer, 238; + finds and restores Tristan, 239; + tries to kill Tristan, 240; + journey of to Cornwall, 241; + marries Mark, 242; + love of for Tristan, 242; + oath of, 243; + Tristan cannot forget, 244; + carried to Joyeuse Garde, 244; + death and burial of, 245. + III. With the White Hands, 243; + marries Tristan, 244; + jealousy of, 245. +I-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +ISS'LAND. Brunhild princess of, 58; + Gunther's arrival in, 59; + Nibelungs accompany Siegfried to, 61. +I'SUNG. Follows Dietlieb, 118; + bear of, 121; + delivers Wittich, 122. +I-TAL'IAN. Version of Roland, 130; + cycle of romances, 302; + love of the marvelous, 302, 307. +IT'A-LY. Alboin conquers, 87; + Ortnit master of, 94; + Amaling land same as, 121; + viking raids in, 276; + settlements in, 281; + Brutus expelled from, 307. +I-TO'NIE. Sister of Gawain, 198. +I'VAR. Son of Ragnar, 274; + a cripple, 275; + kills Eystein's magic cow, 276; + surrenders to Ella, 279; + takes up abode in Lunduna Burg, 280; + power of, 280. +I-WA-NET'. Arthur's squire, helps Parzival, 191. +I'WO. Prince of Tarasconia, 156; + Renaud marries daughter of, 156; + treachery of, 158; + Renaud saves, 159. + +JACK THE GIANT KILLER. Origin of tale of, 308. +JAM'HAS. Son of Ortgis, 114. +JAMES, ST. Explains vision to Charlemagne, 140; + promises help to Christian army, 287. +JARL HER'RAND. Father of Thora, 271. +JER'AS-PUNT. Virginal's castle of, 114. +JER'I-CHO. Walls of Pamplona like those of, 140. +JE-RU'SA-LEM. Ogier besieges, 138; + Godfrey of Bouillon king of, 139; + Hugues king of, 139; + Charlemagne's pilgrimage to, 139; + Galyen returns to, 140; + Renaud offered crown of, 161; + Vespasian's commission to, 183. +JEW. The sacrilegious, 300. +JEWS. Persecute Joseph of Arimathea, 183; + lend money to Cid, 293, 294. +JOHN. Son of Fierefiss, and founder of Knights Templars, 200; + Prester, 201. +JO'KUL. Njorfe's eldest son, takes Sogn, 249; + magic arts of, 250. +JO'SEPH OF AR-I-MA-THE'A. And the Holy Grail, 183; + institutes the Round Table, 184; + carries Holy Grail to Glastonbury, 185; + Merlin's Round Table like that of, 208. +JO'SI-ANE. Daughter of Frimoutel, and mother of Sigune, 188. +JOYEUSE (zhwaa-y[=e]z'). Sword of Charlemagne, 137. +JOYEUSE GARDE. Guinevere at, 220, 229; + Lancelot buried at, 233; + Iseult at, 244. +JU'DAS. Sin of, 184. +JUDGMENT OF GOD. Reynard appeals to the, 51; + in favor of Thiedric, 148; + Cid appeals to the, 288. +JU'LI-US CAE'SAR. Father of Oberon, 166, 210. +JUTES. See _Geates_. +JUT'LAND. Alfsol princess of, 270. + +KAN'TART. Son of Henning, 38. +KAR'DEISS. Son of Parzival, and king of Belripar, 201. +KAY, SIR. Foster brother of Arthur, 210; + sends Arthur for a sword, 215. +KLING'SOR. Castle of, 197; + captives of, 197; + Gawain's adventures with, 198. +KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, 301. +KRA'KE. Beauty and wit of, 273; + wooed by Ragnar, 273; + becomes queen of Denmark, 274; + Danes disapprove of, 274; + story of, 274. +KRIEM'HILD. Same as Gudrun, 53; + dream of, 54; + Siegfried goes to woo, 55; + sees strength of Siegfried, 56; + meets Siegfried after victory, 57; + wooing of, 58; + marriage of, 62; + goes to the Nibelungen land, 64; + goes to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Brunhild, 65; + anxiety of, 66; + parts from Siegfried, 67; + grief of, 68; + mourning of, 69; + goes to Lorch, 71; + wooed by Etzel, 71; + Rüdiger's promise to, 72, 83; + journey of to Gran, 73; + lures Burgundians into Hungary, 74; + quarrels with Hagen, 77; + Dietrich defies, 78; + bribes Blödelin, 80; + urges Huns to slay Hagen, 81; + sets fire to hall, 82; + Gunther and Hagen captives of, 84; + kills Gunther and Hagen, 84; + death of, 84; + Rose Garden of, 120; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Etzel marries, 126. +KRY'ANT. Son of Henning, 38. +KUN'DRIE. Curses Parzival, 196; + death of, 200. +KUN'HILD. Sister of Dietlieb, kidnaped by Laurin, 118; + rescued by Dietrich, 119; + delivers Dietrich and knights, 119; + marriage and realm of, 120. +KÜR'EN-BERG, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53. +KUR'VE-NAL. Retainer of Blancheflem, 235; + joins Tristan in Cornwall, 236; + accompanies Tristan to Ireland, 238; + goes to Brittany for Iseult, 244. + +LADY OF THE LAKE. Vivian the, 211; + lays spell upon Merlin, 212; + brings sword to Arthur, 216; + Lancelot fostered by, 219; + Arthur a prisoner of, 244. +LAM'BERT LE CORT. Author of "Alexandre le Grant," 305. +LAM GO-Ë-MA-GOT'. Same as Plymouth, 309. +LAM'PE. Illtreated by Reynard, 37; + psalm-singing of, 38; + slain at Malepartus, 46; + head of, 47; + Reynard confesses murder of, 48; + Reynard's excuses for murder of, 49. +LAN'CE-LOT DU LAC, SIR. Ogier joins, 138; + legend of, 204; + hero of several poems, 219; + youth of, 219; + love and insanity of, 220; + rescues Guinevere, 221, 226, 229; + sees Holy Grail, 221, 226; + knights Sir Gareth, 221; + and Sir Galahad, 224; + vow of, 225; + and Elaine, 227-229; + Arthur's anger against, 230; + visits Guinevere, 233; + death and burial of, 233; + Tristan like, 242; + Iseult at castle of, 244. +LAN-GO-BAR'DI-AN. Cycle of romances, 86-99; + nobles reject Helmigis, 88; + scepter given to Rother, 88; + queen, Oda becomes, 93. +LAN'GO-BARDS. Same as Langobardians, settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel between Gepidae and, 87. +LAST SUPPER. Holy Grail used for the, 183. +LATIN. Version of Reynard, 35; + poem of Walther von Wasgenstein, 124; + chronicle attributed to Turpin, 129; + version of Roland, 130; + version of Tristan, 234; + epics, 303; + writers and Alexander, 305. +LAU'RIN. Adventures of with Dietrich and knights, 118-120. +LA-VIN'I-A. Niece of, mother of Brutus, 307. +LA'WAINE, SIR. Brother of Elaine, 227. +LAZ'A-RUS, ST. Rodrigo's vision of, 286. +LEAR, KING. Shakespeare's tragedy of, 309. +LEICESTER (l[)e]s't[e(]r). Founded by King Leir, 309. +LEIR, KING. Founder of Leicester, 309. +LE-O'DE-GRAUNCE. King of Scotland, Arthur and, 217. +LE-O-GE'CI-A. Brutus hears oracle at, 308. +LEON (l[=a]-[=o]n'). Don Alfonso king of, 288; + Don Garcia buried in, 290. +LE-PAN'TO. Huon and Rezia stop at, 174; + Sherasmin parts from Huon at, 177. +LIEB'GART. Same as Sidrat, 97; + magic eggs of, 98; + waits for return of Ortnit, 99; + suitors of, 99; + Wolfdietrich's compassion for, 107; + Wolfdietrich saves and marries, 108; + mother of Hugdietrich, 109; + Dietrich marries, 127. +LIL-IEN-POR'TE. Siege of, 103. +LOCH'HEIM. Nibelungen hoard buried at, 71. +LO'CRI-A. Named by Locrine, 309. +LO-CRINE'. Son of Brutus, 309. +LOD'BROK. See _Ragnar_. +LODE'STONE ROCK. Ogier wrecked on the, 138. +LOD-GER'DA. Ragnar marries and forsakes, 271. +LO'HEN-GRIN. Story of Else and, 201-203. +LO'KI. See _Haloge_. +LOM'BARDS. Same as Langobards, 87; + Rother complains of king of, 90; + Ortnit king of, 94; + Wolfdietrich rules, 108; + Charlemagne subdues, 129, 137. +LOM'BAR-DY. Oda returns to, 94; + Sidrat goes to, 97; + Liebgart to select king of, 99; + Ortnit's ancestors in, 100; + Wolfdietrich starts for, 104; + Wolfdietrich returns to, 109; + Didier king of, 136. +LON'DON. St. Stephen's Church in, 215; + Arthur comes to with Sir Hector, 215; + Guinevere's journey to, 230; + founding of, 280, 309. +LONG'FEL-LOW. "Tales of a Wayside Inn" of, 136, 202. +LON-GI'NUS. Rosamund seeks, 88. +LORCH. Kriemhild's sojourn at, 71. +LOUIS THE FAT, 280. +LOV'EL, LORD. Story of, 245. +LUCES DE GAST. Version of Tristan by, 234. +LU'CI-FER. Fall of, 182. +LUD. Descendant of Brutus, 309. +LU'DE-GAST. King of Denmark, threatens to invade Burgundy, 56. +LU'DE-GER. King of Saxons, Gunther's wars with, 56, 66. +LUD'WIG. King of Normandy, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + kills Hettel, 29; + tries to drown Gudrun, 30; + killed by Herwig, 33. +LU'NA. Vikings besiege, 276; + Norman's stratagem to enter into, 277; + Don Garcia a prisoner in, 290. +LUN-DU'NA BURG. Same as London, 280. +LYM-FIORD. Ragnar's victory at, 271. +LYN-ETTE'. Story of Gareth and, 222. +LY'O-NEL. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +LY-O-NESSE'. Arthur's boyhood spent in, 226; + Meliadus lord of, 234; + Tristan recovers, 236. + +MA-BRI-AN'. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAC'E-DON. Alexander king of, 305; + early history of, 305. +MA-CHO-RELI,'. Father of Sidrat, 95; + Alberich carries challenge to, 97; + sends dragon eggs to Liebgart, 98. +MALAGIGI (m[)a]l-a-j[=e]'j[=e]). The necromancer, same as Malagis, 152; + and Bayard, 153; + rescues Aymon, 154; + joins Renaud, 157; + warns Renaud of Richard's peril, 159; + strategem and escape of, 160. +MAL'A-GIS. See _Malagigi_. +MAL'E-BRON. Servant of Oberon, 170, 180. +MA-LE-PAR'TUS. Brown the bear + reaches, 39; + Hintze at, 41; + Bellyn and Lampe accompany Reynard to, 46; + Grimbart at, 47. +MAL'O-RY. Old legends used by, 204, 219. +MAN'TU-A. Ermenrich takes, 123. +MAP, WALTER. Works of, 182, 204, 219. +MARK. King of Cornwall, Meliadus visits, 235; + Tristan and Kurvenal visit, 236; + Tristan praises Iseult to, 238; + Tristan emissary of, 240; + Iseult marries, 242; + indifference of, 242; + illtreats Iseult, 244; + gives orders for burial of Tristan and Iseult, 245. +MAR-SEILLES'. Joseph of Arimathea at, 184. +MARSIGLIO (mar-s[=e]l'y[=o]). Saracen king, 144; + killed by Roland, 145. +MAR-SIL'I-US. See _Marsiglio_. +MAR'TIN. I. Parson's son, 41. + II. Ape met by Reynard, 49. +MAR'TIN GON-ZA'LEZ. Cid's fight with, 286. +MA'RY. Queen of England, marries Philip of Spain, 232. +MAT'E-LAN. Hilde goes to with Hettel, 27; + Herwig comes to, 28; + Hartmut comes to, 29. +MAU'GIS. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAX-I-MIL'I-AN I. Emperor of Germany, 22. +MAYENCE (mä-yens'). Charlemagne's wife buried at, 131. +ME-DE'A. In mediaeval literature, 304. +ME-LE'A-GANS. Guinevere a captive of, 221. +ME-LI'A-DUS. I. Lord of Lyonesse, wars against Morgan, 234; + marries Blanchefleur, 235. + II. Squire of Mark, 242. +MERAN (m[=a]'ran). Berchther duke of, 89; + Wolfdietrich educated at, 103; + Hildburg at, 103. +MER'KI-NAU. Accuses Reynard, 47. +MER'LIN. Round Table to be constructed by, 184; + legend of, 204; + real and mythical, 205; + birth and infancy of, 206; + the prophecies of, 206, 207, 208, 210, 231; + builds Stonehenge and castle at Carduel, 208; + changes Uther into form of Gorlois, 209; + Arthur when an infant confided to, 210, 214; + magic arts of, 211; + and Vivian, 211-213; + reveals Arthur's parentage, 215; + adviser of Arthur, 216, 217; + frames laws for knights of Round Table, 218. +MER-O-VIN GI-AN. Rulers of the Franks, 36. +MEUR'VIN. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, 163. +MIL'AN. Invested by imperial army, 123. +MIL'DN. Father of Roland, 133, 141; + quest of for jewel, 134, 135. +MIM'UNG. Sword of Wittich, 115; + Wittich loses, and Hildebrand restores, 116; + Heime steals, 121; + Wittich recovers, 122. +MO-HAM'MED. Ferracute calls upon, 143. +MON-TAU-BAN'. Renaud builds fortress at, 156; + siege of, 156; + Renaud escapes to, 157; + Charlemagne again besieges, 159; + Charlemagne a captive in, 160; + Aymon's sons escape from, 160; + Renaud returns to, 161. +MONTFAUCON (mon-f[=o]-ko[n=]'). Adventure of Renaud and Bayard at, 159. +MONT'GLAVE, GUÉR'IN DE. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MONT-SAL'VATCH. Holy Grail on, 185; + Frimoutel weary of life on, 189; + Parzival's first visit to, 193; + Gawain on the way to, 197; + Parzival's second visit to, 199; + Parzival king on, 200; + Lohengrin's return to, 201; + Else goes to, 203. +MOOR. Fierefiss a, 200. +MOOR'ISH. Kings defeated by Cid, 282; + kings send tribute to Cid, 287; + kings warn Cid of danger, 287. +MOOR'LAND. Kingdom of Siegfried, 28. +MOORS. Enmity between Christians and, 154; + Saforet king of, 156; + and Holy Grail, 182; + Rodrigo meets the, 283, 285, 287, 289, 294, 296; + Tizona won from the, 285; + Don Alfonso joins, 290; + Don Alfonso wars against, 293; + at Valencia, 294, 296, 298, 300; + flee at sight of Cid, 299. +MOR'DRED. Related to Arthur, 230; + treachery of, 230; + death of, 231. +MOR'GAN. I. Meliadus wars against 234; + kills Meliadus, 235; + killed by Tristan, 236. + II. Same as Fata Morgana, 95. +MOR-GA'NA. Predictions of, 135; + Ogier meets, 138; + mother of Meurvin, 139; + mother of Oberon, 166; + steals Arthur's scabbard, 231; + conveys Arthur to Avalon, 232. +MO-ROC'CO. Bucar king of, 298. +MO'ROLD. Comes to Cornwall to claim tribute, 236; + challenged and slain by Tristan, 237; + Iseult discovers murderer of, 240. +MORTE D'ARTHUR. By Malory, 219. +MOSES. A hypocrite, 184. +MUN-TA-BURE'. In mirage, 95; + Ortnit besieges, 97. + +NÄ'GE-LING. Sword of Beowulf, 12. +NA'GEL-RING. Sword of Dietrich, 111, 112, 117. +NAISMES DE BAVIÈRE (n[=a]m de bave-er'). "Nestor of the Carolingian + legends," 144. +NANTES. Arthur's court at, 191. +NA-VARRE'. Charlemagne's wars in, 141, 143; + Don Sancho king of, 289; + Infantes of, 297. +NEN'NI-US. Writes romances, 204, 307. +NES'TOR. Naismes de Bavière like, 144. +NETH'ER-LANDS. Reynard in the, 35; + kingdom of the, 54. +NEW TROY. Same as London, 309. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN. Hoard, 55, 63, 70, 77, 127; + land, 55, 61, 64. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN-LIED, 53-85; + Gudrun alluded to in, 22; + Germany's greatest epic, 53; + end of, 85; + incidents in, 126, 242. +NI'BE-LUNGS. Treasure of, 53; + followers of Siegfried, 61; + Brunhild escorted by, 62; + guard Siegfried's son, 64; + mourning and wrath of, 69; + Burgundians called, 75; + fall of, 126. +NIC-O-DE'MUS. Slain by Jews, 183. +NJOR'FE. King of Uplands, friend of Viking and Halfdan, 248; + sons of attack Viking's sons, 249. +NO'BEL. King of the animals, 36; + anger of against Reynard, 37; + Brown returns to, 41; + Reynard before, 43; + hears of treasure, 45; + pardons Reynard, 46; + discovers Lampe's murder, 47. +NON'NEN-WORTH. Hildegarde retires to convent of, 150; + Roland lingers near, 151. +NOR'MAN-DY. Ludwig king of, 28; + Gudrun taken to, 29; + Ortwine comes to, 32; + Rollo settles in, 280. +NOR'MANS. Conquer England, 9; + pursued by Hegelings, 29; + and Hegelings, 32; + invade Paris, 138; + strategy of, 277; + defeated by Ella, 279; + found Lunduna Burg, 280. +NORNS. Frithiof's vision of, 267. +NORSE. Origin of Gudrun, 22; + literary treasures, 246. +NORSE'MEN. Tristan and the, 235, 236. +NORTH. Literary treasures of, 246; + gods and heroes of, 246; + Thorsten owner of great treasures of, 251. +NORTH CAPE. Discovered by Othere, 18. +NORTH-GAL'LIS. Queen of, 232. +NORTH'MEN. Kidnap Tristan, 235. +NOR-THUM'BER-LAND. Ella king of, 278. +NOR'WAY. Wilkina land is, 121; + ships from, 235; + Halogaland in, 246; + Uplands in, 248; + Ringrie in, 255; + Ragnar's sojourn in, 271. +NU'DUNG. Son of Rüdiger, death of, 126. + +O'BE-RON. I. Poem by Wieland, and opera by Weber, 163. + II. King of fairies, 163; + Huon sees, 166; + magic horn of, 167; + gives horn and goblet to Huon, 168; + ring of, 169; + shelters Huon, and sends Malebron to his aid, 170; + Rezia's vision of, 171; + promises aid to Huon and Rezia, 172; + comes to Huon's aid, 173; + warns Oberon, 174; + Huon disobeys, 175; + Titania and, 175, 176, 179; + Huon rescued by, 178, 181; + brings Huon to fairyland, 179, 181; + Julius Caesar father of, 210. +O'DA. Daughter of Constantine, 89; + Rother wooes and wins, 89-93; + kidnaped by magician, 93; + Rother rescues, 94; + Helche daughter of, 94. +O'DEN-WALD. Death of Siegfried in the, 67, 71. +O-DI'LI-A. Wife of Dietmar, 110. +O'DIN. Hrothgar a descendant of, 9; + Skeaf sent by, 10; + Loki comes north with, 246; + Sigurd Ring dedicates himself to, 266; + ancestor of Danish kings, 269. +OF'TER-DING-EN, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53; + "Heldenbuch" partly compiled from, 86. +O'GIER LE DAN'OIS. A _chanson de geste_, 135. +O'GIER THE DANE. A paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + a hostage, 135; + marries Bellissande, 136; + admiration of Danes for, 136; + quarrels with Charlemagne, 136; + terror and escape of, 137; + made king of England, 138; + shipwreck of, 138; + magic crown and ring of, 138; + son of, 139; + boast of, 140; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + death of, 148. +OLD TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne return to, 106. +OL'GER. See _Ogier_. +OL'I-VANT. Horn of Roland, 139; + blasts on, 145, 146. +OL'I-VER. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + champion of Duke of Genoa, 139; + fights with Roland, 139, 149; + boast of, 140; + son of, 140; + advises Roland to blow his horn, 145; + death of, 147, 148; + sister of, 149; + and Malagigi, 160. +OR-GUEIL-LEUSE', DUCHESS. Adventure of Gawain and, 197; + Gawain marries, 198. +OR'I-LUS, LORD. Parzival's adventure with wife of, 191; + Parzival defeats, 196. +ORK'NEY ISLANDS. Conquest of, 250; + Frithiof sent to, 258; + Frithiof and Björn in, 259. +OR-LAN'DO FU-RI-O'SO, 211, 302. +OR-LAN'DO IN-NA-MO-RA'TO, 302. +ORT'GIS. A magician, holds Virginal a captive, 113; + Jambas son of, 114. +ORT'LIEB. Son of Kriemhild, 73; + killed by Hagen, 80. +ORT'NIT. I. Poem of the ninth century, 86. + II. Lombardian king, vision of, 94; + vow of, 95; + adventures of with Alberich, 96; + adventures and marriage of, 97; + goes to kill dragons, 98; + death of, 99; + ancestors rule over Lombardy, 100; + Wolfdietrich wants aid of, 104; + Wolfdietrich vows to avenge, 107; + ring of, 108; + widow of. 127. +OR'TRUNE. Sister of Hartmut. 30; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + marries Siegfied. 34. +ORT'WINE. I. Son of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + comes to rescue Gudrun, 31; + wooes Hildburg, 32; + marries Hildburg, 34. + II. Vassal of Gunther, 56; + goes to Hungary, 75. + III. Son of Helche, 125. +O-SAN'TRIX. Etzel wars against, 121; + Hertnit brother of, 121. +OS'BORN. See _Asprian_. +OS'TRO-GOTHS. Defeated by Alboin, 87. +O'THERE. Discoverer of North Cape, sons of, 18. +OT'NIT. See _Ortnit_. +OT'U-EL, SIR. Story of, 143. +OX'FORD. Walter Map, Archdeacon of, 182. + +PAD'AUWE. Same as Padua, Dietrich takes, 126. +PAD'U-A. See _Padauwe_. +PAL'MER-INS. Cycle of. 302. +PAM-PLO'NA. Siege of, 140, 141. +PAN-DRA'SUS. King of Greece, defeated by Brutus, 308. +PAN-NO'NI-A. Gepidae and Lombards in, 86. +PAPILLON (p[)a]-p[=e]-yo[n=]'). The magic horse, 138. +PAR'IS. I. Judgment of, 51; + picture of in act of kidnaping Helen, 304. +PAR'IS. II. Invasion of, 138; + news of Roland's death brought to, 149; + Renaud's journey to, 157; + Malagigi in, 158; + Renaud's body to be brought to, 162; + Huon in, 163, 179; + siege of, 180. +PAR-ME'NI-A. Meliadus lord of, 234. +PAR'ZI-VAL. I. Poem of, 182. +PAR'ZI-VAL. II. Birth of, 188; + youth of, 189; + starts out into the world, 190; + adventures of on the way to Nantes, 191; + wins armor, 192; + visits Gurnemanz and Belripar, and marries Conduiramour, 192; + visits Montsalvatch, 193, 199; + seeks Holy Grail, 195; + knighted by Arthur, 196; + Gawain seeks, 196; + fights Gawain, 198; + at the hermit's, 199; + meets Fierefiss, 199; + made king of Holy Grail, 200; + children of, 201; + Lohengrin son of, 203; + sees Holy Grail, 73. +PAS'SAU. Kriemhild's arrival at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76; + funeral mass at, 85. +PEL'LI-NORE, SIR. Arthur and, 216. +PEN-DRAG'ON. Son of Constans, 205; + war of Britons under, 208. +PEN'TE-COST. Arthur's feast at, 217, 224. +PEP'IN. Charlemagne son of, 129. +PER-I-DE'US. A giant, kills Alboin, 88. +PER'SI-A. Sultan of. 298; + Alexander's conquest of, 306. +PE'TER, ST. Cid's vision of, 298. +PHIL'IP. I. Of Spain, oath of in favor of Arthur, 232. +PHIL'IP. II. Of Macedon, death of, 305. +PI-AZ'ZA OF ST. MARK'S. Stone lion on the, 281. +PIER-LE-PONT'. Castle of Aymon, 154; + Aymon's sons leave, 156; + Charlemagne comes to, 157. +PIL'GRIM. Bishop of Passau, welcomes Kriemhild, 73; + Burgundians visit, 76; + mass for the dead by, 85. +PIN'A-BEL. Champion of Ganelon, 148. +PLYM'OUTH. Same as Lam Goëmagot, 309. +PO'LAND, 125. +POL-Y-OL'BI-ON. By Drayton, 310. +PON'CE DE LE-ON'. Quest of, 306. +POPE. Asks aid of Charlemagne, 129; + Huon and the, 164, 174, 175, 180; + reconciles Arthur and Lancelot, 229; + emperor of Germany complains to, 287; + and Ferdinand, 288; + and Cid, 288, 289. +POR'TU-GAL. Hildburg a princess of, 23. +PO'RUS. Alexander's fight with, 306. +PRES'TER JOHN. Holy Grail intrusted to, 201. +PRI'AM. Descendants of, 307. +PYR'E-NEES. Defeat in the, 130, 144; + Aymon in the, 154. + +RA'BEN. Same as Ravenna, taken by imperial army, 123; + battle of, 126. +RAG'NAR LOD'BROK. 269-281; + saga of, 269; + successor of Sigurd Ring when only fifteen, 270; + marries Lodgerda, 270; + marries Thora, 272; + sons of, 272, 274, 275, 276, 279; + and Krake, 273-275; + battles of, 277; + and Ella, 278; + death of, 278. +RA-MI'RO, DON. Quarrel of with Ferdinand, 286; + wars against Don Sancho, 289. +RAND'WER. Son of Ermenrich, death of, 123. +RA-OUL' DE BEAU-VAIS'. Metrical version of story of Tristan + attributed to, 234. +RAUCH-EL'SE. The witch, Wolfdierich meets, 104; + transformation of, 105. +RA-VEN'NA. Longinus intrenched in, 88; + same as Raben, 123. +RE-DEEM'ER. Blood of the, 183. +RED KNIGHT. Parzival and the, 191, 192. +RED SEA. Huon at the, 165, 170. +REI'NE-KE FUCHS. Epic of, 35; + Goethe's poem of, 36. +REI'NOLD. See _Renaud_. +RE-NAUD' DE MON-TAU-BAN'. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + body of, 148; + son of Aymon, 154; + receives Bayard and Flamberge, 155; + prowess of, 155; + avenges Alard and flees, 156; + marries Clarissa, and builds Montauban, 156; + goes to rescue his brothers, 157; + loses and recovers Bayard, 157; + betrayed by Iwo, 158; + saves Iwo, 159; + and Roland, 159; + on Montfaucon, 159; + sacrifices Bayard, 161; + sets out for Holy Land, 161; + death of, 162. +RE-PANSE' DE JOIE. Daughter of Frimoutel, 188; + jeweled garment sent by, 193; + bears Holy Grail, 193, 199; + marriage of, 200, 201. +REUSSEN (rois'sen). Vlyas prince of the, 94; + Waldemar king of, 125. +REY'NARD THE FOX, 35-52; + epic of, 302; + importance of story of, 303. +RE'ZI-A. Princess, dream of, 171; + bridal array of, 172; + escapes with Huon, 173; + embarks at Ascalon, 174; + conversion and marriage of, 175; + Amanda same as, 175. +RHINE. Franks cross, 35; + Xanten on, 54, 64; + Siegfried rides down along, 55; + Gunther's journey on, 59, 61; + Nibelungen hoard in, 71, 77; + Worms on, 120; + Charlemagne dwells near, 129, 130; + Roland's name connected with, 150; + Nonnenwörth in, 151; + Renaud's body cast in, 162. +RHON, VON DER. Edited "Heldenbuch," 86. +RHYM'ER. Thomas of Ercildoune the, 234. +RICH'ARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + prisoner of Roland, 159. +RI-CHOU'DE. I. Wife of Titurel, 188. + II. Daughter of Titurel, 188. +RIM'STEIN. Revolt and defeat of, 122. +RI-NAL'DO DE TREB-I-ZON'DE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +RING. Son of Viking, 248. +RING'RIC. Sigurd Ring king of, 255; + Frithiof in, 267. +RIS'PA. Horse of Helme, 115. +RI-VA-LIN'. See _Meliadus_. +ROB'ERT DE BOR'RON. Works of, 182, 204, 205, 219, 234. +ROB'ERT OF SIC'I-LY, KING. In Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn," 302. +ROD-RI'GO DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RO'GEN-WALD. Son of Ragnar, 274; + death of, 276. +ROG'ER. See _Hrothgar_. +ROG'ERS. Translator of "Reineke Fuchs," 36. +ROHAND (r[=o]'an). See _Kurvenal_. +RO'LAND. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + birth and childhood of, 133; + fights knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knighted, 135; + duel with Oliver, 139; + horn of, 139, 145, 146; + character of, 141; + combat with Ferracute, 142; + combat with Otuel, 143; + at battle of Roncesvalles, 144; + kills Veillantif, 145; + breaks Durandana, 146; + death of, 147; + squire of, 148; + betrothed to Aude, 149; + bethrothed to Hildegarde, 150; + death and burial of, 151; + treats with Aymon, 154; + and Renaud, 159; + Renaud intrusts his family to, 161; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +RO'LAND, CHAN'SON DE, 130. +RO'LAND RISE. See _Meliadus_. +RO'LANDS-ECK. Retreat of Roland, 151. +ROLF GANG'ER. Same as Rollo, 280. +ROL'LO. Famous giant, independence of, 280. +ROM'A-BURG. Wolfdietrich goes to, 109; + Dietrich visits, 117; + Dietrich crowned at, 127; + threatened invasion of, 277. +RO-MANCE' LITERATURE. General survey of, 301-310. +ROMAN DE TROIE (r[=o]-m[)o]n' de trwa). Popularity of, 304. +RO'MANS. And Jews, 183; + claim Aeneas, 307; + Britain invaded by, 309. +ROME. Martin the ape on his way to, 49; + same as Romaburg, 109, 117, 127, 277; + Charlemagne crowned at, 155; + Huon at, 164, 174, 180; + Sherasmin at, 177; + Merlin goes to, 210; + Don Sancho visits, 288; + early history of, 304; + Alexander conquers, 306. +RONCESVALLES (r[=o]n-ces-väl'yes). Battle of, 129, 140, 144-147, 150. +ROS'A-MUND. Wife of Alboin, 87; + rebellion and death of, 88. +ROSE GARDEN. I. Laurin's, 118. + II. Kriemhild's, 120. +RO'SEN. Sword of Ortnit, 96, 98; + Wolfdietrich finds, 108. +ROT'HER. King of Lombardy, 88; + wooing of, 89-91; + captures Imelot, 92; + kidnaps Oda. 92; + second journey to Constantinople, 93; + secures his wife, 94; + accompanied by Berchther, 100. +ROU-ME'LI-A. Wolfdietrich's ride through, 104. +ROUND TABLE. Knights tell Parzival of, 190; + Parzival admitted to the, 196, 198; + knights of, 200, 224, 225; + legend of, 204; + Merlin establishes, 208; + Arthur receives, 217; + at Camelot, 218; + Lancelot the principal knight of, 219, 220; + Gareth admitted to, 222; + Geraint one of knights of, 222; + feast at, 225; + Sir Bedivere a knight of, 231. +RU'AL. See _Kurvenal_. +RÜCK'E-NAU, FRAU, 50, 51. +RÜ'DI-GER. Sues for Kriemhild, 71, 72; + oath of, 82, 82; + castle of, 73; + warns Burgundians, 76; + entertains Burgundians, 77; + refrains from tournament, 79; + safe-conduct granted to. 81; + forced to fight, 83; + death of, 83; + at Rose Garden on Rhine, 120; + saves Dietrich, 125; + son of, 126. +RU'MOLT. Squire of Gunther, 75. +RUNES. Magic letters of the North, 276. +RU-OT'ZE. Giantess who hatches magic eggs, 98. +RUS'SIA. A part of Reussen. 125. +RUS-TI'CI-EN DE PISE. 234. +RUY DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RY'ANCE. King of Ireland, last battle and death of, 217. + +SA-BENE'. Guardian of Hildburg, 102; + machinations of, 103; + besieges Lilienporte, 104; + defeated and slain, 108. +SA-BRI'NA. Drowned in Severn. 309. +SA-FO-RET'. Aymon's sons serve and kill, 156. +SAINT O-MER'. Ogier a prisoner at, 136. +SAINTS'BUR-Y, 204. +SALISBURY (s[a:]wlz'b[)e]r-[)i]). Fortress on, 205, 207. +SAM'SON. Father of Dietmar, 110. +SAN'CHO, DON. King of Castile, Cid serves, 288; + a prisoner, 289; + freed by Cid. 288; + robs his sisters, 290; + banishes and recalls Cid, 291; + death of, 291. +SAN'GRE-AL. Same as Holy Grail, 201. +SAN PE'DRO DE CAR-DEÑ'A. Given to Cid, 285; + Cid buried at, 300. +SAN-TI-A'GO DE COM-POS-TE'LA, 140, 285. +SAR'A-CEN. Huon's encounters with, 172. +SAR'A-CENS. Charlemagne defeats, 129, 140, 141, 144, 147, 148; + device of, 143; + Roland and, 145; + Sherasmin escapes from, 165; + Titurel wars against, 185. +SAR-A-GOS'SA. Marsiglio in, 144; + Cid besieges, 289. +SAV'IOR. Dish used by, 183. +SAX'ONS. Lüdeger king of, 56; + led by Hengist, 208; + Arthur wars against, 217. +SAX'O-NY. Burgundian army enters, 57. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-A. Iliad in. 304. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-AN. Raids and settlements, 280; + cycle, 301, 302. +SCOT'LAND. Arthur's name in, 214; + Leodegraunce king of, 217; + same as Albania, 309. +SCRATCH-FOOT. Death and epitaph of, 39. +SEINE. Bayard drowned in, 161; + Renaud casts Flamberge in, 161. +SEN'LIS, COUNTESS OF, 138. +SEV'ERN. Named after Sabrina, 309. +SHAKES'PEARE, 163, 305, 309, 310. +SHAR-FE-NEB'BE. Killed by Reynard, 47. +SHER-AS-MIN'. Same as Gerasmes, Huon finds, 165; + accompanies Huon into forest, 166; + Oberon displeased with, 167; + forgiven by Oberon, 168; + journeys to Bagdad, 171; + helps Huon to elope with Rezia, 173; + journeys to France, 174; + quest of, 177; + in fairyland, 179; + duel of, 180; + casket stolen from, 180. +SI'BICH. Wife of, 122; + kills Ermenrich, 126; + death of, 127. +SIC'-ILY. Part of Ortnit's realm, 94. +SID'RAT. Vision of, 95; + elopes with Ornit, 97. +SIE'GE-LIND. I. Mother of Siegfried, 54; + death of, 64. + II. A swan maiden who prophesies to Hagen, 75. +SIEGE PER'IL-OUS. Vacant place at Round Table called, 184; + Parzival in the, 196; + Merlin in the, 213; + the empty, 218; + Galahad in the, 224. +SIEG'FRIED. I. King of Moorland, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + invades Zealand, 28; + joins Hettel and Herwig, 29; + marriage of, 34. +SIEG'FRIED. II. Same as Sigurd, 53; + parentage and birth of, 54; + goes to Worms, 55; + prowess of, 56, 57; + wooes Kriemhild, 58; + with Gunther in Issland, 58-61; + Nibelung warriors of, 61; + marriage of, 62; + conquers Brunhild, 63; + in Xanten, 64; + invited to Worms, 64; + punishes Kriemhild, 65; + Hagen plots against, 66; + betrayal and death of, 67; + burial of, 69; + mourning for, 70; + body of removed to Lorch, 71; + Kriemhild mourns for, 73; + Hagen confesses murder of, 78; + sword of, 84; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Kriemhild widow of, 126. +SIEG'MUND. Father of Siegfried, 54; + welcomes Kriemhild, 64; + visits Worms, 64; + hears news of Siegfried's death, 69. +SI'GE-BANT. Father of Hagen, 23; + death of, 24. +SI-GE-MIN'NE. Same as Rauch-Else, transformation of, 105; + marriage and kidnaping of, 105; + rescued by Wolfdietrich, 106; + Liebgart resembles, 107; + magic shirt given by, 108. +SI-GE-NOT'. Dietrich's adventure with, 112; + Hildebrand's encounter with, 113. +SI'GUNE. Daughter of Josiane, 188; + Parzival finds, 191, 195. +SI'GURD. Same as Siegfried, 53; + Danish dynasty traces origin to, 269; + Fafnisbane, 274. +SI'GURD RING. Sues for Ingeborg's hand, 255; + kings of Sogn make treaty with, 256; + Frithiof offers to conquer, 257; + marries Ingeborg, 261, 269; + Frithiof visits, 264; + hunting expedition of, 265; + death of, 266, 270; + son of, 266; + marries Alfild, 269; + wooes Alfsol, 270. +SI'GURD THE SNAKE-EYED. Son of Ragnar, 275. +SI-MIL'DE. See _Kunhild_. +SI-MILT'. See _Kunhild_. +SIN'DOLT. Helps Siegfried, 56. +SIN'TRAM. Dietrich delivers, 117. +SKEAF. Son of Odin, 9; + career of, 10. +SKIOLD. Same as Skeaf, 9, 10. +SKIOL'DUNGS. Dynasty of, 9. +SOD'OM. Huon and Amanda deluded by apples of, 175. +SOGN. Kingdom of taken by Jokul, 249; + kings of, Sigurd Rings threaten war against, 255. +SOL-DA[=N]'A. City given to Cid. 285. +SOL-TA'NE. Forest where Parzival was brought up, 188. +SOL'WAY FIRTH. Battle of, 205. +SONS OF AY'MON, 152-162. +SO'TE. A pirate, stole Völund ring, 251. +SPAIN. Charlemagne in, 129, 140, 143, 144; + Roland in, 149, 150; + Aymon in, 154; + Montsalvatch in, 185; + Arabs in, 282; + patron of, 285. +SPAN-GAR-HE'DE. Ragnar at, 273. +SFAN'IARDS. Legend of Holy Grail christianized by, 182; + Richoude belongs to, 188; + battle cry of, 287. +SPAN'ISH. Cortes, 297; + cycle, 302. +SPEN'SER. "Faerie Queene" of. 211, 310. +STEI'ER-MARK. Province of given to Dietlieb, 118; + Dietlieb of, 120. +STE'PHEN, ST. Church of, 215. +STONE'HENGE. Work of Merlin, 208, 211. +STU'DAS. Father of Heime, 115. +STYR'I-A. See _Steiermark_. +SU'DERS. Ortnit sets sail for, 97. +SUL'TAN. Daughter of, 164; + Amanda to be sold as slave to, 176; + gardens of, 177; + Amanda refuses to marry, 178; + sends embassy to Cid, 298. +SU'SAT. Dietrich goes to, 124; + Waldemar's son a captive in, 125; + Dietrich's mournful return to, 126. +SVITH'I-OD. Eystein king of, 274. +SWAN'HILD. Daughter of Siegfried and Kriemhild, death of, 123; + brothers of, 126. +SWAN KNIGHT. Lohengrin the, 203. +SWE'DEN. Eadgils king of, 19; + part of Wilkina land, 121; + Viking in, 247; + Svithiod same as, 274. +SWEDES. Beowulf conquers, 12. +SWE'DISH. Writers, 246; + princess, Hunvor a, 247; + king, Eystein the, 276. +SWEM'MEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74. +SWIN'BURNE, 204, 234. +SWORDS. See _Nägeling_, _Nagelring_, _Mimung_, + _Eckesax_, _Joyeuse_, _Durandana_, + _Altecler_, _Flamberge_, _Excalibur_, + _Angurvadel_, _Tizona_, _Colada_. +SYR'I-A. Ortnit's journey to, 95. + +TAN'TRIS. Same as Tristan, 238. +TA-RAS-CO'NI-A. Iwo prince of, 156. +TARN'KAP-PE. Siegfried and, 55, 60; + Laurin and, 119. +TCHIO-NA-TU-LAN'DER. And Sigune, 188; + Parzival to avenge, 191; + shrine of, 195. +TEG-NÉR'. Writings of, 246, 267. +TEM'PLARS Guardians of Holy Grail called, 186; + divine guidance of, 187; + anticipation of, 189; + disappointment of, 199; + customs of, 202; + renown of, 301. +TEN'NY-SON, 204. +TEU-TON'IC. Cycle, 301. +THAMES. Brutus visits the, 309. +THE-OD'O-RIC. Of Verona, same as Dietrich of Bern, no, 127; + tomb of, 128. +THE-OD-O-RI'CUS. And Roland at Roncesvalles, 146, 147. +THE'SEUS. Adventures of, 249. +THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Walgundof, 100; + Hugdietrich at, IOO; + Berchther at, 101. +THIE'DRIC. Roland's squire, 148. +THING. Convoked by Hygd, 18; + Beowulf elected by, 19; + Belé convokes, 252; + Ragnar recognized by, 270. +THOM'AS, LORD, 245. +THOM'AS OF ER'CIL-DOUNE, 234. +THO'RA. Daughter of Jarl Herrand, 271; + Ragnar rescues and marries, 272; + sons and death of, 272. +THO'RER. Son of Viking, 249. +THOR'STEN. I. Saga, 246. + II. Son of Viking, receives Angurvadel, 249; + shipwrecks of, 250; + marriage and conquests of, 250; + at Framnäs, 251; + father of Frithiof, 251, 260, 261; + last interview with Belé, 252; + death and burial of, 252. +THU'RI-SIND. King of Gepidæ, 86: + granddaughter of, 87. +TIN-TA'GEL. In Cornwall, Gorlois lord of, 209; + Uther's secret visit to, 209; + Mark at, 235; + Tristan at, 236; + Iseult to go to, 240. +TI-TA'NI-A. Queen of the fairies, 175; + carries off Huonet, 176; + restored to Oberon's favor, 179. +TIT'U-REL. And the Holy Grail, 182-203; + Von Eschenbach's poem of, 182; + birth of, 185; + vision of, 185; + sees Holy Grail, 186; + builds temple, 186; + guardian of Holy Grail, 187; + children of, 188; + intercedes for Amfortas, 189; + crowns Parzival, 200; + disappearance of, 200. +TI-TU'RI-SONE. Pilgrimage of, 185. +TI'TUS. Disease of, 183; + miraculous cure of, 184. +TI-ZO'NA. Sword of Cid, won from Moors, 285, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovered by Cid, 297; + dead Cid draws, 300; + inscription on, 300. +TO-LE'DO. School of magic at, 153; + Don Alfonso at, 290; + Cid at, 291; + Don Alfonso a prisoner at, 292; + Yahia ruler of, 294; + Cortes at, 297. +TO'RO. City given to Doña Elvira, 288; + taken by Don Sancho, 290. +TOUR'MONT. Huon at, 169. +TOURS. Origin of name, 308. +TRAN-SYL-VA'NI-A. Herrat princess of, 126. +TREV'RE-ZENT. Son of Frimoutel, 188; + Parzival visits, 199. +TRI-ENT'. Dwelling place of dragons, 98. +TRIS'TAN. Ogier and, 138; + legend of, 204; + story of, 234-245. +TRIS'TREM. See _Tristan_. +TRO'I-LUS. And Cressida, story of, 305. +TRON'JE. Hagen of, 124. +TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + downfall of, 303. +TU'NIS. Huon, Amanda, Fatima, and Sherasmin in, 177; + Galafre king of, 180. +TU-ROL'DUS. Probable author of "Chanson de Roland," 130. +TU-RO'NUS. Nephew of Brutus, 308. +TUR'PIN. Latin chronicle attributed to, 129, 140; + adviser of Charlemagne, 131, 132, 147, 156. +TYRE. See _Suders_. +TY-RO'LE-AN, 113, 118. + +UL'FIN. Councilor of Uther, 209. +U-LYS'SES. In mediaeval literature, 303. +UOTE (w[=o]'te). See _Ute II_. +UP'LANDS. Njorfe king of, 248. +UR-RA'CA, DOÑA. Receives Zamora, 288; + loses Zamora, 289; + pleads for Alfonso, 290; + besieged by Don Sancho, 290; + reviles Cid, 291; + warns Alfonso of Sancho's death, 292. +U'TA. See _Ute II_. +U'TE. I. Queen of Burgundy, 53; + interprets Krieinhild's dream, 54; + at tournament, 57; + Pilgrim, brother of, 73; + disapproves of journey to Hungary, 74. +U'TE. II. Marries Hildebrand, 112; + rejoined by Hildebrand, 127. +U'THER. Son of Constans, 205; + fights with Vortigern and Hengist, 208; + Merlin builds palace for, 208; + changed into form of Gorlois, 209; + marries Yguerne, 210; + death of, 210; + father of Arthur, 214, 215; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. + +VAL-DUER'NA. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +VALE OF THORNS. See _Roncesvalles_. +VA-LEN'CI-A. Taken by Moors, 294, 300; + recovered by Cid, 294; + Cid master of, 295; + Moors besiege, 296, 298; + Cid's return to, 296, 296; + Christians cannot hold, 299; + evacuation of, 300. +VAL-HAL'LA. Ragnar summoned to, 278. +VAL'KYRS. Brunhild one of the, 274; + Ragnar warned by, 278. +VA-RAN'GI-AN GUARD. The, 281. +VEILLANTIF (v[=a]-[:a]n-t[=e]f). Roland kills, 145. +VEN'ICE. Lion of, 281. +VER'GEN. Place on Danube, 73. +VE-RO'NA. Same as Bern, 77, 110; + Theodoric of, 110; + tomb of Theodoric near, 128. +VE-RON'I-CA, ST. Story of, 183. +VES-PA'SI-AN. Sends commission to Jerusalem, 183; + at Jerusalem, 184; + at Rome, 185. +VI-A'NE. Renaud meets Aude at siege of, 149. +VI-EN'NA. Library at, 22; + wedding at, 73. +VIK. Frithiof enters the, 264. +VI'KING. Grandson of Haloge, 247; + early adventures and marriage of, 247; + second marriage of, 248; + adventures of sons of, 248; + Aegir gives Ellida to, 250. +VIR'GIL. In "Rome la Grant," 307. +VIR'GIN-AL. Dietrich's adventure with, 113, 114; + Dietrich forsaken by, 123. +VIV'I-AN. And Merlin, 211-213; + Lancelot stolen by, 219. +VOL'KER. Follower of Gunther, receives gifts, 77; + ally of Hagen, 78; + kills Hun, 80; + might of, 81. +VOL'SUNG. The race, 110. +VOL'SUNG-A SA'GA, 53, 269. +VÖ'LUND. The smith, 115, 250; + ring of, 253, 257. +VOR'TI-GERN. Made king and builds fortress, 205; + messengers of, 206; + death of, 208; + advised by Merlin, 210. +VOS'GES. See _Wasgenstein_. +VUL-CA'NUS, MOUNT. Malagigi's adventure at, 153. + +WACE. Writer of metrical tale of Brutus, 307. +WA-CHIL'DE. And Wittich,115, 126. +WACK'ER-LOS. Complaint of, 36, 38. +WAG'NER. Used mediaeval legends, 182, 204, 234. +WAL'DE-MAR. King of Reussen, Dietrich wars against, 125. +WA-LEIS'. Battle at, 27. +WALES. Arthur's name in, 214. +WAL'GUND OF THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Hugdietrich's visit to, 100; + finds grandson with wolf, 102. +WAL'THER VON WAS'GEN-STEIN. Champion of Ermenrich, 118; + at Gerimsburg, 122; + a hostage in Hungary, 124; + elopes with Hildegunde, 124; + marries Hildegunde, 125. +WAS'GEN-STEIN. Walther and Hildegunde flee to, 124. +WAT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + athletic skill of, 26; + wounds Hagen, 27; + fosters Ortwine, 27; + to be Gudrun's deliverer, 31; + challenges Normans, 32; + kills Gerlinda, 33. +WAX'MUTH. Son of Hildburg, 103; + and Hugdietrich, 103. +WAY'LAND. See _Wieland_. +WEAL'THEOW. Wife of Hrothgar, 15. +WE'BER. "Oberon" of, 163. +WELSH. Poetry, 204; + version of Tristan, 234. +WE'NER, LAKE. Battle of, 249. +WER'BEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74; + Hagen strikes off hand of, 80. +WE'SER. See _Wisara_. +WES'TER-LANDS. Queen of, 232. +WEST-PHA'LI-A. Dortmund in, 162. +WHIT'A-BY. Ragnar at, 271; + second battle at, 276. +WIE'LAND. I. The smith, weapons of, 115, 154. + II. "Oberon" of, 163. +WIF'LIS-BURG. Hastings at, 276. +WIG'LAF. Avenges Hardred, 19; + accompanies Beowulf, 19; + saves Beowulf's life, 20. +WIL-DE'BER. Joins Dietrich, 117; + in Hungary, 121; + escape of, 122. +WIL-KI'NA LAND. Dietrich invades, 121. +WIN'CHES-TER, See _Camelot_. +WI-SA'RA. Falster wood on banks of, 117. +WIT'IG. See _Wittich_. +WIT'TICH. Son of Wieland, starts for Bern, 115; + conquers Dietrich, 116; + goes to Rose Garden, 118; + made prisoner, 121; + released, 122; + pursued by Dietrich and saved by Wachilde, 126. +WOLF-DIE'TRICH. Rescue of, 102; + at Meran, 103; + besieges Constantinople, 103, 108; + adventures with Rauch-Else, 104; + marries Sigeminne, 105; + kills Drusian, 106; + adventure with Belligan, 106; + kills dragon and marries Liebgart, 108; + descendants of, 109. +WOLF'HART. Nephew of Hildebrand, 112; + in Rose Garden, 118, 120. +WOL'FRAM VON ESCH'EN-BACH, 86, 182, 204. +WORMS. Capital of Burgundy, 53; + Siegfried at, 55, 57, 58; + Kriemhild at, 64; + Siegfried carried to, 68; + mourning at, 69; + Rüdiger at, 71, 82; + minstrels at, 74; + chaplain returns to, 75; + tidings carried to, 85; + Rose Garden at, 120; + Gunther and Hagen do not return to, 124. +WÜL'PEN-SAND. Battle of, 29. + +XAN'TEN. Tournament at, 54; + Siegfried and Kriemhild at, 64. +XI-ME'NA, DOÑA. Seeks to avenge her father, 284; + marries Cid, 285; + at Zamora, 287; + Cid parts from, 293; + executes last wishes of Cid, 299. + +YA'HI-A. Grandson of Alimaymon, 294. +Y-GUERNE'. Wife of Gorlois, 209; + marries Uther, 210; + mother of Arthur, 215. +Y-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +Y'VOIR-IN OF MONT'BRAND. Uncle of Esclarmonde, 180. +Y'WAIN. Grandson of Yguerne, 209. + +ZA-MO'RA. Cid returns to, 287; + Doña Urraca at, 288, 290; + Don Sancho takes, 289; + siege of, 290, 291; + Don Alfonso's arrival at, 292. +ZEA'LAND. Herwig's kingdom, 28. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS + + +NEW MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HISTORY + + +From Charlemagne to the Present Day + + +By SAMUEL BANNISTER HARDING, Ph.D., Professor of European History, Indiana +University. + + +Based upon the author's "Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern History," +prepared in consultation with ALBERT BUSHNELL HART, LL.D., Professor of +History, Harvard University. + + +While based on the author's previous Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern +History, in the present volume the plan has been so reorganized, the scope +so extended, and the matter so largely rewritten, that the result is +practically a new book. The present volume reflects the suggestions of many +teachers who have used the previous work in their classes. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/12455-8.zip b/old/12455-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9832196 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12455-8.zip diff --git a/old/12455.txt b/old/12455.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6009d03 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12455.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14597 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Legends of the Middle Ages, by H.A. Guerber + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Legends of the Middle Ages + Narrated with Special Reference to Literature and Art + +Author: H.A. Guerber + +Release Date: May 27, 2004 [EBook #12455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Robert Morse and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +[Illustration: CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE.--Levy.] + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES + + +NARRATED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART + +BY H.A. GUERBER + + "Saddle the Hippogriffs, ye Muses nine, + And straight we'll ride to the land of old Romance" + WIELAND + +1896 + + +DEDICATED TO MY SISTER ADELE E. GUERBER + + "Men lykyn jestis for to here, + And romans rede in diuers manere + + "Of Brute that baron bold of hond, + The first conqueroure of Englond; + Of kyng Artour that was so riche, + Was non in his tyme him liche. + + "How kyng Charlis and Rowlond fawght + With sarzyns nold they be cawght; + Of Tristrem and of Ysoude the swete, + How they with love first gan mete; + + "Stories of diuerce thynggis, + Of pryncis, prelatis, and of kynggis; + Many songgis of diuers ryme, + As english, frensh, and latyne." + _Curser Mundi_. + + +PREFACE. + + + + +The object of this work is to familiarize young students with the legends +which form the staple of mediaeval literature. + +While they may owe more than is apparent at first sight to the classical +writings of the palmy days of Greece and Rome, these legends are very +characteristic of the people who told them, and they are the best exponents +of the customs, manners, and beliefs of the time to which they belong. They +have been repeated in poetry and prose with endless variations, and some of +our greatest modern writers have deemed them worthy of a new dress, as is +seen in Tennyson's "Idyls of the King," Goethe's "Reineke Fuchs," Tegner's +"Frithiof Saga," Wieland's "Oberon," Morris's "Story of Sigurd," and many +shorter works by these and less noted writers. + +These mediaeval legends form a sort of literary quarry, from which, +consciously or unconsciously, each writer takes some stones wherewith to +build his own edifice. Many allusions in the literature of our own day lose +much of their force simply because these legends are not available to the +general reader. + +It is the aim of this volume to bring them within reach of all, and to +condense them so that they may readily be understood. Of course in so +limited a space only an outline of each legend can be given, with a few +short quotations from ancient and modern writings to illustrate the style +of the poem in which they are embodied, or to lend additional force to some +point in the story. + +This book is, therefore, not a manual of mediaeval literature, or a series +of critical essays, but rather a synopsis of some of the epics and romances +which formed the main part of the culture of those days. Very little +prominence has been given to the obscure early versions, all disquisitions +have been carefully avoided, and explanations have been given only where +they seemed essential. + +The wealth and variety of imagination displayed in these legends will, I +hope, prove that the epoch to which they belong has been greatly maligned +by the term "dark ages," often applied to it. Such was the favor which the +legendary style of composition enjoyed with our ancestors that several of +the poems analyzed in this volume were among the first books printed for +general circulation in Europe. + +Previous to the invention of printing, however, they were familiar to rich +and poor, thanks to the scalds, bards, trouveres, troubadours, minstrels, +and minnesingers, who, like the rhapsodists of Greece, spent their lives in +wandering from place to place, relating or reciting these tales to all they +met in castle, cottage, and inn. + +A chapter on the Romance literature of the period in the different +countries of Europe, and a complete index, will, it is hoped, fit this +volume for handy reference in schools and libraries, where the author +trusts it may soon find its own place and win a warm welcome. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I. BEOWULF + +II. GUDRUN + +III. REYNARD THE FOX + +IV. THE NIBELUNGENLIED + +V. LANGODARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS + +VI. THE AMBLINGS + +VII. DIETRICH VON BERN + +VIII. CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS + +IX THE SONS OF AYMON + +X. HUON OF BORDEAUX + +XI. TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL + +XII. MERLIN + +XIII. THE ROUND TABLE + +XIV. TRISTAN AND ISEULT + +XV. THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + +XVI. RAGNAR LODBROK + +XVII. THE CID + +XVIII. GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +CORONATION OF CHARLEMAGNE--Levy + +FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF--Cormon + +GUDRUN AND THE SWAN--Kepler + +BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG--Wagner + +REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE--Kaulbach + +GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE--Keller + +SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN--Pixis + +ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION--Keller + +FALKE KILLS THE GIANT--Keller + +THE VICTORIOUS HUNS--Checa + +THE TOMB OF THEODORIC + +THE DEATH OF ROLAND--Keller + +HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max + +HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD--Gabriel Max + +PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL--Pixis + +ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN--Pixis + +THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN--Burne-Jones + +SIR LANCELOT DU LAC--Sir John Gilbert + +ELAINE--Rosenthal + +ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN--Pixis + +THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE--Kepler + +FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING--Kepler + +STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller + +THE CID'S LAST VICTORY--Rochegrosse + + + + +LEGENDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +BEOWULF. + + "List! we have learnt a tale of other years, + Of kings and warrior Danes, a wondrous tale, + How aethelings bore them in the brunt of war." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The most ancient relic of literature of the spoken languages of modern +Europe is undoubtedly the epic poem "Beowulf," which is supposed to have +been composed by the Anglo-Saxons previous to their invasion of England. +Although the poem probably belongs to the fifth century, the only existing +manuscript is said to date from the ninth or tenth century. + +This curious work, in rude alliterative verse (for rhyme was introduced in +England only after the Norman Conquest), is the most valuable old English +manuscript in the British Museum. Although much damaged by fire, it has +been carefully studied by learned men. They have patiently restored the +poem, the story of which is as follows: + +[Sidenote: Origin of the Skioldungs.] Hrothgar (the modern Roger), King of +Denmark, was a descendant of Odin, being the third monarch of the +celebrated dynasty of the Skioldungs. They proudly traced their ancestry to +Skeaf, or Skiold, Odin's son, who mysteriously drifted to their shores. He +was then but an infant, and lay in the middle of a boat, on a sheaf of ripe +wheat, surrounded by priceless weapons and jewels. As the people were +seeking for a ruler, they immediately recognized the hand of Odin in this +mysterious advent, proclaimed the child king, and obeyed him loyally as +long as he lived. When he felt death draw near, Skeaf, or Skiold, ordered a +vessel to be prepared, lay down in the midst on a sheaf of grain or on a +funeral pyre, and drifted out into the wide ocean, disappearing as +mysteriously as he had come. + +[Sidenote: Construction of Heorot.] Such being his lineage, it is no wonder +that Hrothgar became a mighty chief; and as he had amassed much wealth in +the course of a long life of warfare, he resolved to devote part of it to +the construction of a magnificent hall, called Heorot, where he might feast +his retainers and listen to the heroic lays of the scalds during the long +winter evenings. + + "A hall of mead, such as for space and state + The elder time ne'er boasted; there with free + And princely hand he might dispense to all + (Save the rude crowd and men of evil minds) + The good he held from Heaven. That gallant work, + Full well I wot, through many a land was known + Of festal halls the brightest and the best." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). +The inauguration of this hall was celebrated by a sumptuous entertainment; +and when all the guests had retired, the king's bodyguard, composed of +thirty-two dauntless warriors, lay down in the hall to rest. When morning +dawned, and the servants appeared to remove the couches, they beheld with +horror the floor and walls all stained with blood, the only trace of the +knights who had gone to rest there in full armor. + +[Sidenote: The monster Grendel.] Gigantic, blood-stained footsteps, leading +directly from the festive hall to the sluggish waters of a deep mountain +lake, or fiord, furnished the only clew to their disappearance. Hrothgar, +the king, beholding these, declared that they had been made by Grendel, a +descendant of the giants, whom a magician had driven out of the country, +but who had evidently returned to renew his former depredations. + + "A haunter of marshes, a holder of moors. + . . . . . Secret + The land he inhabits; dark, wolf-haunted ways + Of the windy hillside, by the treacherous tarn; + Or where, covered up in its mist, the hill stream + Downward flows." + _Beowulf_ (Keary's tr.). + +As Hrothgar was now too old to wield a sword with his former skill, his +first impulse was, of course, to offer a princely reward to any man brave +enough to free the country of this terrible scourge. As soon as this was +known ten of his doughtiest knights volunteered to camp in the hall on the +following night, and attack the monster Grendel should he venture to +reappear. + +But in spite of the valor of these experienced warriors, and of the +efficacy of their oft-tried weapons, they too succumbed. A minstrel, hiding +in a dark corner of the hall, was the only one who escaped Grendel's fury, +and after shudderingly describing the massacre he had witnessed, he fled in +terror to the kingdom of the Geates (Jutes or Goths). There he sang his +lays in the presence of Hygelac, the king, and of his nephew Beowulf (the +Bee Hunter), and roused their deepest interest by describing the visit of +Grendel and the vain but heroic defense of the brave knights. Beowulf, +having listened intently, eagerly questioned the scald, and, learning from +him that the monster still haunted those regions, impetuously declared his +intention to visit Hrothgar's kingdom, and show his valor by fighting and, +if possible, slaying Grendel. + + "He was of mankind + In might the strongest, + At that day + Of this life, + Noble and stalwart. + He bade him a sea ship, + A goodly one, prepare. + Quoth he, the war king, + Over the swan's road, + Seek he would + The mighty monarch, + Since he wanted men." + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Breka.] Although very young, Beowulf was quite +distinguished, and had already won great honors in a battle against the +Swedes. He had also proved his endurance by entering into a swimming match +with Breka, one of the lords at his uncle's court. The two champions had +started out, sword in hand and fully armed, and, after swimming in concert +for five whole days, they were parted by a great tempest. + + "Then were we twain there on the sea + Space of five nights, till the floods severed us, + The welling waves. Coldest of weathers, + Shadowy night, and the north wind + Battelous shocked on us; wild were the waters, + And were the mere-fishes stirred up in mind." + _Beowulf_. + +Breka was driven ashore, but the current bore Beowulf toward some jagged +cliffs, where he desperately clung, trying to resist the fury of the waves, +and using his sword to ward off the attacks of hostile mermaids, nicors +(nixies), and other sea monsters. The gashed bodies of these slain foes +soon drifted ashore, to Hygelac's amazement; but when Beowulf suddenly +reappeared and explained that they had fallen by his hand, his joy knew no +bounds. As Breka had returned first, he received the prize for swimming; +but the king gave Beowulf his treasured sword, Naegeling, and praised him +publicly for his valor. + +Beowulf had successfully encountered these monsters of the deep in the +roaring tide, so he now expressed a hope that he might prevail against +Grendel also; and embarking with fourteen chosen men, he sailed to Denmark, +where he was challenged by the coast guard and warmly welcomed as soon as +he had made his purpose known. + + "'What men are ye, + War gear wearing, + Host in harness, + Who thus the brown keel + Over the water street + Leading, come + Hither over the sea?'" + _Beowulf_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Hrothgar received Beowulf most hospitably, but vainly tried to dissuade him +from his perilous undertaking. Then, after a sumptuous banquet, where the +mead flowed with true northern lavishness, Hrothgar and his suite sadly +left the hall Heorot in charge of the brave band of strangers, whom they +never expected to see again. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel.] As soon as the king had departed, Beowulf +bade his companions lie down and sleep in peace, promising to watch over +them, yet laying aside both armor and sword; for he knew that weapons were +of no avail against the monster, whom he intended to grapple with hand to +hand should it really appear. + + "'I have heard + That that foul miscreant's dark and stubborn flesh + Recks not the force of arms:--such I forswear, + Nor sword nor burnish'd shield of ample round + Ask for the war; all weaponless, hand to hand + (So may great Higelac's smile repay my toil) + Beowulf will grapple with the mighty foe.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The warriors had no sooner stretched themselves out upon the benches in the +hall than, overcome by the oppressive air as well as by mead, they sank +into a profound sleep. Beowulf alone remained awake, watching for Grendel's +coming. In the early morning, when all was very still, the giant appeared, +tore asunder the iron bolts and bars which secured the door, and striding +into the hall, enveloped in a long, damp mantle of clammy mist, he pounced +upon one of the sleepers. He tore him limb from limb, greedily drank his +blood, and devoured his flesh, leaving naught but the head, hands, and feet +of his unhappy victim. This ghastly repast only whetted the fiend's +ravenous appetite, however, so he eagerly stretched out his hands in the +darkness to seize and devour another warrior. Imagine his surprise and +dismay when he suddenly found his hand caught in so powerful a grasp that +all his efforts could not wrench it free! + +Grendel and Beowulf struggled in the darkness, overturning tables and +couches, shaking the great hall to its very foundations, and causing the +walls to creak and groan under the violence of their furious blows. But in +spite of Grendel's gigantic stature, Beowulf clung so fast to the hand and +arm he had grasped that Grendel, making a desperate effort to free himself +by a jerk, tore the whole limb out of its socket! Bleeding and mortally +wounded, he then beat a hasty retreat to his marshy den, leaving a long, +bloody trail behind him. + + "Soon the dark wanderer's ample shoulder bore + A gaping wound, each starting sinew crack'd, + And from its socket loosed the strong-knit joint.-- + The victory was with Beowulf, and the foe, + Howling and sick at heart, fled as he might, + To seek beneath the mountain shroud of mist + His joyless home; for well he knew the day + Of death was on him, and his doom was seal'd." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +As for Beowulf, exhausted but triumphant, he stood in the middle of the +hall, where his companions crowded around him, gazing in speechless awe at +the mighty hand and limb, and the clawlike fingers, far harder than steel, +which no power had hitherto been able to resist. + +At dawn Hrothgar and his subjects also appeared. They heard with wonder a +graphic account of the night's adventures, and gazed their fill upon the +monster's limb, which hung like a trophy from the ceiling of Heorot. After +the king had warmly congratulated Beowulf, and bestowed upon him many rich +gifts, he gave orders to cleanse the hall, to hang it with tapestry, and to +prepare a banquet in honor of the conquering hero. + +[Sidenote: Beowulf honored by the queen.] While the men were feasting, +listening to the lays of the scalds, and carrying the usual toasts, +Wealtheow, Hrothgar's beautiful wife, the Queen of Denmark, appeared. She +pledged Beowulf in a cup of wine, which he gallantly drained after she had +touched it to her lips. Then she bestowed upon him a costly necklace (the +famous Brisinga-men, according to some authorities)[1] and a ring of the +finest gold. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, p. 127.] + + "'Wear these,' she cried, 'since thou hast in the fight + So borne thyself, that wide as ocean rolls + Round our wind-beaten cliffs his brimming waves, + All gallant souls shall speak thy eulogy.'" + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +When the banquet was ended, Hrothgar escorted his guests to more pleasant +sleeping apartments than they had occupied the night before, leaving his +own men to guard the hall, where Grendel would never again appear. The +warriors, fearing no danger, slept in peace; but in the dead of night the +mother of the giant, as grewsome and uncanny a monster as he, glided into +the hall, secured the bloody trophy still hanging from the ceiling, and +carried it away, together with Aeschere (Askher), the king's bosom friend. + +When Hrothgar learned this new loss at early dawn he was overcome with +grief; and when Beowulf, attracted by the sound of weeping, appeared at his +side, he mournfully told him of his irretrievable loss. + + "'Ask not after happiness; + Sorrow is renewed + To the Danes' people. + Aeschere is dead, + Yrmenlaf's + Elder brother, + The partaker of my secrets + And my counselor, + Who stood at my elbow + When we in battle + Our mail hoods defended, + When troops rushed together + And boar crests crashed.'" + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beowulf and Grendel's mother.] The young hero immediately +volunteered to finish his work and avenge Aeschere by seeking and attacking +Grendel's mother in her own retreat; but as he knew the perils of this +expedition, Beowulf first gave explicit directions for the disposal of his +personal property in case he never returned. Then, escorted by the Danes +and Geates, he followed the bloody track until he came to a cliff +overhanging the waters of the mountain pool. There the bloody traces +ceased, but Aeschere's gory head was placed aloft as a trophy. + + "Now paused they sudden where the pine grove clad + The hoar rock's brow, a dark and joyless shade. + Troublous and blood-stain'd roll'd the stream below. + Sorrow and dread were on the Scylding's host, + In each man's breast deep working; for they saw + On that rude cliff young Aeschere's mangled head." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +Beowulf gazed down into the deep waters, saw that they also were darkly +dyed with the monster's blood, and, after taking leave of Hrothgar, bade +his men await his return for two whole days and nights ere they definitely +gave him up for lost. He then plunged bravely into the bloody waters, swam +about seeking for the monster's retreat, and dived deep. At last, descrying +a phosphorescent gleam in the depths, he quickly made his way thither, +shrewdly conjecturing that it must be Grendel's hiding place. But on his +way thither he was repeatedly obliged to have recourse to his sword to +defend himself against the clutches of countless hideous sea monsters which +came rushing toward him on all sides. + + "While thro' crystal gulfs were gleaming + Ocean depths, with wonders teeming; + Shapes of terror, huge, unsightly, + Loom'd thro' vaulted roof translucent." + J.C. JONES, _Valhalla_. + +A strong current seized Beowulf, and swept him irresistibly along into the +slimy retreat of Grendel's mother. She clutched him fast, wrestled with +him, deprived him of his sword, flung him down, and finally tried to pierce +his armor with her trenchant knife. Fortunately, however, the hero's armor +was weapon-proof, and his muscles were so strong that before she could do +him any harm he had freed himself from her grasp. Seizing a large sword +hanging upon a projection of rock near by, he dealt her a mighty blow, +severing her head from the trunk at a single stroke. The blood pouring out +of the cave mingled with the waters without, and turned them to such a +lurid hue that Hrothgar and his men sorrowfully departed, leaving the +Geates alone to watch for the return of the hero, whom they feared they +would never see again. + +Beowulf, in the mean while, had rushed to the rear of the cave, where, +finding Grendel in the last throes, he cut off his head also. He seized +this ghastly trophy and rapidly made his way up through the tainted waters, +which the fiery blood of the two monsters had so overheated that his sword +melted in its scabbard and naught but the hilt remained. + + "That stout sword of proof, + Its warrior task fulfill'd, dropp'd to the ground + (So work'd the venom of the felon's blood) + A molten mass." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +The Geates were about to depart in sorrow, notwithstanding the orders they +had received, when they suddenly beheld their beloved chief safe and sound, +and bearing the evidences of his success. Then their cries of joy echoed +and reechoed from the neighboring hills, and Beowulf was escorted back to +Heorot, where he was almost overwhelmed with gifts by the grateful Danes. A +few days later Beowulf and his companions returned home, where the story of +their adventures, and an exhibition of all the treasures they had won, +formed the principal topics of conversation. + +[Sidenote: Death of Hygelac.] Several years of comparative peace ensued, +ere the land was invaded by the Friesians, who raided the coast, burning +and plundering all in their way, and retreated into their ships before +Hygelac or Beowulf could overtake and punish them. The immediate result of +this invasion was a counter-movement on Hygelac's part. But although he +successfully harried Friesland, he fell into an ambush just as he was about +to leave the country, and was cruelly slain, his nephew Beowulf barely +escaping a similar untoward fate. + +When the little army of the Geates reached home once more, they either +buried or consumed Hygelac's remains, with his weapons and battle steed, as +was customary in the North. This ceremony ended, Queen Hygd, overwhelmed +with grief, and fearing the almost inevitable dissensions arising during +the long minority of an infant king, convened the popular assembly known as +the Thing, and bade the people set her own child's claims aside in favor of +Beowulf. This proposal was hailed with enthusiasm; but Beowulf refused to +usurp his kinsman's throne, and raising Hardred, Hygelac's infant son, upon +his shield, he declared that he would protect and uphold him as long as he +lived. The people, following his example, swore fealty to the new king, and +faithfully kept this oath until he died. + +Hardred, having attained his majority, ruled wisely and well; but his +career was cut short by the sons of Othere, the discoverer of the North +Cape. These youths had rebelled against their father's authority and taken +refuge at Hardred's court; but when the latter advised a reconciliation, +the eldest youth angrily drew his sword and slew him. + +[Illustration: FUNERAL OF A NORTHERN CHIEF.--Cormon.] + +[Sidenote: Beowulf made king.] This crime was avenged, with true northern +promptitude, by Wiglaf, one of the king's followers; and while the second +youth effected an escape, Beowulf was summoned by the Thing to accept the +now vacant throne. As there were none to dispute his claims, the hero no +longer refused to rule, and he bravely defended his kingdom against +Eadgils, Othere's second son. Eadgils was now king of Sweden, and came with +an armed host to avenge his brother's death; but he only succeeded in +losing his own life. + +A reign of forty years of comparative peace brought Beowulf to extreme old +age. He had naturally lost much of his former vigor, and was therefore +somewhat dismayed when a terrible, fire-breathing dragon took up its abode +in the mountains near by, where it gloated over a hoard of glittering gold. + + "The ranger of the darksome night, + The Firedrake, came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.) + +[Sidenote: The Firedrake.] A fugitive slave, having made his way unseen +into the monster's den during one of its temporary absences, bore away a +small portion of this gold. On its return the Firedrake discovered the +theft, and became so furious that its howling and writhing shook the +mountain like an earthquake. When night came on its rage was still +unappeased, and it flew all over the land, vomiting venom and flames, +setting houses and crops afire, and causing so much damage that the people +were almost beside themselves with terror. Seeing that all their attempts +to appease the dragon were utterly fruitless, and being afraid to attack it +in its lair, they finally implored Beowulf to deliver them as he had +delivered the Danes, and to slay this oppressor, which was even worse than +the terrible Grendel. + +Such an appeal could not be disregarded, and in spite of his advanced years +Beowulf donned his armor once more. Accompanied by Wiglaf and eleven of his +bravest men, he then went out to seek the monster in its lair. At the +entrance of the mountain gorge Beowulf bade his followers pause, and +advancing alone to the monster's den, he boldly challenged it to come forth +and begin the fray. A moment later the mountain shook as the monster rushed +out breathing fire and flame, and Beowulf felt the first gust of its hot +breath, even through his massive shield. + + "First from his lair + Shaking firm earth, and vomiting as he strode + A foul and fiery blast, the monster came." + _Beowulf_ (Conybeare's tr.). + +A desperate struggle followed, in the course of which Beowulf's sword and +strength both failed him. The Firedrake coiled its long, scaly folds about +the aged hero, and was about to crush him to death when the faithful +Wiglaf, perceiving his master's imminent danger, sprang forward and +attacked the monster so fiercely as to cause a diversion and make it drop +Beowulf to concentrate its attention upon him. + +Beowulf, recovering, then drew his dagger and soon put an end to the +dragon's life; but even as it breathed its last the hero sank fainting to +the ground. Feeling that his end was near, he warmly thanked Wiglaf for his +timely aid, rejoiced in the death of the monster, and bade his faithful +follower bring out the concealed treasure and lay it at his feet, that he +might feast his eyes upon the glittering gold he had won for his people's +use. + + "Saw then the bold thane + Treasure jewels many, + Glittering gold + Heavy on the ground, + Wonders in the mound + And the worm's den, + The old twilight flier's, + Bowls standing; + Vessels of men of yore, + With the mountings fall'n off. + There was many a helm + Old and rusty, + Armlets many + Cunningly fastened. + He also saw hang heavily + An ensign all golden + High o'er the hoard, + Of hand wonders greatest, + Wrought by spells of song, + From which shot a light + So that he the ground surface + Might perceive, + The wonders overscan." + _Beowulf_ (Metcalfe's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Beowulf.] The mighty treasure was all brought forth to +the light of day, and the followers, seeing that all danger was over, +crowded round their dying chief. He addressed them affectionately, and, +after recapitulating the main events his career, expressed a desire to be +buried in a mighty mound on a projecting headland, which could be seen far +out at sea, and would be called by his name. + + "'And now, + Short while I tarry here--when I am gone, + Bid them upon yon headland's summit rear + A lofty mound, by Rona's seagirt cliff; + So shall my people hold to after times + Their chieftain's memory, and the mariners + That drive afar to sea, oft as they pass, + Shall point to Beowulf's tomb.'" + _Beowulf_(Conybeare's tr.). + +These directions were all piously carried out by a mourning people, who +decked his mound with the gold he had won, and erected above it a Bauta, or +memorial stone, to show how dearly they had loved their brave king Beowulf, +who had died to save them from the fury of the dragon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +GUDRUN. + + +Maximilian I., Emperor of Germany, rendered a great service to posterity by +ordering that copies of many of the ancient national manuscripts should be +made. These copies were placed in the imperial library at Vienna, where, +after several centuries of almost complete neglect, they were discovered by +lovers of early literature, in a very satisfactory state of preservation. +These manuscripts then excited the interest of learned men, who not only +found therein a record of the past, but gems of literature which are only +now beginning to receive the appreciation they deserve. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of poem of Gudrun.] Among these manuscripts is the poem +"Gudrun," belonging to the twelfth or thirteenth century. It is evidently +compiled from two or more much older lays which are now lost, which are +alluded to in the Nibelungenlied. The original poem was probably Norse, and +not German like the only existing manuscript, for there is an undoubted +parallel to the story of the kidnaping of Hilde in the Edda. In the Edda, +Hilde, the daughter of Hoegni, escapes from home with her lover Hedin, and +is pursued by her irate father. He overtakes the fugitives on an island, +where a bloody conflict takes place, in which many of the bravest warriors +die. Every night, however, a sorceress recalls the dead to life to renew +the strife, and to exterminate one another afresh. + +The poem "Gudrun," which is probably as old as the Nibelungenlied, and +almost rivals it in interest, is one of the most valuable remains of +ancient German literature. It consists of thirty-two songs, in which are +related the adventures of three generations of the heroic family of the +Hegelings. Hence it is often termed the "Hegeling Legend." + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Hagen.] The poem opens by telling us that Hagen was +the son of Sigeband, King of Ireland, which was evidently a place in +Holland, and not the well-known Emerald Isle. During a great feast, when +countless guests were assembled around his father's hospitable board, this +prince, who was then but seven years of age, was seized by a griffin and +rapidly borne away. + + "Young Hagen, loudly crying, was filled with dire dismay; + The bird with mighty pinions soared high with him away." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The cries of the child, and the arrows of Sigeband's men at arms, were +equally ineffectual in checking the griffin, which flew over land and sea, +and finally deposited its prey in its nest on the top of a great cliff on a +desert island. One of the little griffins, wishing to reserve this delicate +morsel for its own delectation, caught the boy up in its talons and flew +away to a neighboring tree. The branch upon which it perched was too weak +to support a double load, however, and as it broke the frightened griffin +dropped Hagen into a thicket. Undismayed by the sharp thorns, Hagen quickly +crept out of the griffin's reach and took refuge in a cave, where he found +three little girls who had escaped from the griffins in the same way. + +[Sidenote: The three maidens.] One of these children was Hilde, an Indian +princess; the second, Hildburg, daughter of the King of Portugal; and the +third belonged to the royal family of Isenland. Hagen immediately became +the protector of these little maidens, spending several years in the cave +with them. He ventured out only when the griffins were away, to seek +berries or shoot small game with a bow which he had made in imitation of +those he had seen in his father's hall. + +Years passed by before Hagen found the corpse of an armed warrior, which +had been washed ashore during a storm. To appropriate the armor and weapons +for which he had so long and vainly sighed was the youth's first impulse; +his second was to go forth and slay the griffins which had terrorized him +and his little companions for so many years. The griffins being disposed +of, the young people roamed about the island at will, keeping a sharp +lookout for any passing vessel which might convey them home. At last a sail +came in sight! Hagen, the first to see it, climbed up on a rock and shouted +with all his young strength to attract the crew's attention. + + "With might young Hagen shouted, and did not cease to shout, + Howe'er the roaring tempest the wild waves tossed about." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The sailors reluctantly drew near, gazing fearfully upon the three maidens, +who, clad in furs and moss, resembled mermaids or wood nymphs. But when +they heard their story they gladly took them on board. It was only when the +island was out of sight, and when they were in mid-ocean, that Hagen +discovered that he had fallen into the hands of Count Garadie, his father's +inveterate enemy, who now proposed to use his power to treat the young +prince as a slave. But Hagen's rude fare, and the constant exposure of the +past few years, had so developed his strength and courage that he now flew +into a Berserker rage,[1] flung thirty men one after another into the sea, +and so terrified his would-be master that he promised to bear him and the +three maidens in safety to his father's court. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's +Myths of Northern Lands, p. 29.] + +[Sidenote: Hagen made king.] As Sigeband had died without leaving any other +heir, Hagen was warmly welcomed home, and ascending the vacant throne, he +took to wife Hilde, the fair maiden with whom he had shared his game and +berries for so many years. The royal couple were very happy, and Hagen +ruled so wisely that he became a terror to his enemies and a blessing to +his own subjects. Even when engaged in warfare he proved himself an upright +and generous man, never attacking the poor and weak. + + "On warlike enterprises into his enemies' land + He spared the poor from ravage of fire with powerful hand; + Whenever he encountered a warrior overbearing, + He broke his burgs and slew him with dire revenge unsparing." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Hilde's suitors.] Hagen and Hilde eventually became the parents +of an only daughter, who was called by her mother's name, and grew up so +beautiful that many suitors soon came to Ireland to ask for her hand. +Hagen, who loved his daughter dearly and was in no haste to part from her, +first replied that she was far too young to think of marriage; but when +this plea was disputed he declared that Hilde should only marry a man who +would defeat her father in single fight. + +As Hagen was unusually tall and strong, as well as uncommonly brave, he was +considered well-nigh invincible. The suitors, dismayed at this declaration, +reluctantly withdrew, even though they were all valiant men. In those days +Hettel (who corresponds to Hedin in the Edda story) was king of northern +Germany and of the Hegelings. He too heard marvelous accounts of Hilde's +beauty, and, as he was still unmarried, longed to secure her as wife. But +knowing that Hagen, in his anger, was likely to slay any ambassador who +came to his court with a proposal of marriage, Hettel vowed that he would +rather forego the alliance than run the risk of losing any of his tried +friends and faithful servants. + + "Then said the royal Hetel: 'The people all relate + That whosoe'er will woo her incurs her father's hate, + And for the maid has perished full many a noble knight; + My friends shall never suffer for me such woeful plight.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Strategy of Hettel's followers.] His faithful followers, Wat, +Horant, and Frute, perceiving that his heart was set upon the maiden, +finally volunteered to go and get her, saying that they could easily bear +her away by stratagem, although they did not dare to ask for her openly. So +they loaded their vessel with merchandise, hid their weapons, so that they +should be taken for the traders they professed to be, and sailed boldly +into Hagen's port, where, spreading out their wares, they invited all the +people to buy. + +Attracted by the extraordinary bargains they offered, the people came in +crowds, and soon all the inhabitants of Balian were busy talking about the +strange peddlers and praising their wares. These stories soon came to the +ears of both queen and princess, who, summoning the merchants into their +presence, asked who they were and whence they came. + +All three replied that they were warriors, and that, being banished from +Hettel's court, they had been forced to take up their present occupation to +make a living. To prove the truth of their assertions, Wat exhibited his +skill in athletic sports, while Horant delighted all the ladies by his +proficiency in the art of minstrelsy. + + "When now the night was ended and there drew near the dawn, + Horant began his singing, so that in grove and lawn + The birds became all silent, because he sang so sweetly; + The people who were sleeping sprang from their couches fleetly. + + "The cattle in the forests forsook their pasture ground; + The creeping creatures playing among the grass around, + The fishes in the water,--all in their sports were ceasing. + The minstrel might most truly rejoice in art so pleasing. + + "Whate'er he might be singing, to no one seemed it long; + Forgotten in the minster were priest and choral song, + Church bells no longer sounded so sweetly as before, + And every one who heard him longed for the minstrel sore." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +These soft strains so pleased the younger Hilde that she soon sent for the +minstrel again, and Horant, finding her alone, made use of this opportunity +to tell her of Hettel's love and longing. She was so touched by this +declaration of love that he easily won from her a promise to flee with him +and his companions as soon as a suitable opportunity occurred. + +The pretended merchants, having now achieved the real object of their +journey, disposed of their remaining wares. They then invited the king and +his family to visit their ship, and cleverly managing to separate the +willing princess from her parents and train, they sailed rapidly away, +leaving the angry father to hurl equally ineffectual spears, curses, and +threats after them. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hettel and Hilde.] The Hegelings sailed with their +prize direct to Waleis, in Holland (near the river Waal), where the +impatient Hettel came to meet them, and tenderly embraced his beautiful +young bride. There their hasty nuptials were celebrated; but, as they were +about to sail away on the morrow, Hettel became aware of the rapid approach +of a large fleet. Of course the foremost vessel was commanded by Hagen, who +had immediately started out in pursuit of his kidnaped daughter. Landing, +with all his forces, he challenged his new-made son-in-law to fight. + + "King Hagen, full of anger, leaped forward in the sea. + Unto the shore he waded; no braver knight than he! + Full many pointed arrows against him were seen flying, + Like flakes of snow, from warriors of Hetel's host defying." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The result of this battle was that Hettel was wounded by Hagen, who, in his +turn, was injured by Wat, and that the distracted Hilde suddenly flung +herself between the contending parties, and by her tears and prayers soon +brought about a reconciliation. Hagen, who had tested the courage of his +new son-in-law and had not found it wanting, now permitted his daughter to +accompany her husband home to Matelan, where she became the mother of a +son, Ortwine, and of a daughter, Gudrun, who was even fairer than herself. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's suitors.] Ortwine was fostered by Wat, the dauntless +hero, who taught him to fight with consummate skill; while Hilde herself +presided over the education of Gudrun, and made her so charming that many +suitors soon came, hoping to find favor in her eyes. These were Siegfried, +King of Moorland, a pagan of dark complexion; Hartmut, son of Ludwig, King +of Normandy; and, lastly, Herwig of Zealand. Although the latter fancied +that he had won some favor in the fair Gudrun's sight, Hettel dismissed him +as well as the others, with the answer that his daughter was yet too young +to leave the parental roof. + +Herwig, who was not ready to give the maiden up, then remembered that +Hettel had won his own bride only after he had measured his strength with +her father's; so he collected an army, invaded Matelan, and proved his +courage by encountering Hettel himself in the fray. Gudrun, who stood +watching the battle from the palace window, seeing them face to face, +loudly implored them to spare each other, an entreaty to which they both +lent a willing ear. + + "Fair Gudrun saw the combat, and heard the martial sound. + Like to a ball is fortune, and ever turns around. + + "Then from the castle chamber the royal maid cried out: + 'King Hetel, noble father, the blood flows all about + Athwart the mighty hauberks. With gore from warlike labor + The walls are sprinkled. Herwig is a most dreadful neighbor.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Herwig had in this encounter proved himself no despicable foe; so Hettel, +preferring to have him as a friend, no longer opposed his betrothal, but +even promised that the wedding festivities should be celebrated within a +year. Herwig tarried in Matelan with his betrothed until he heard that +Siegfried, King of Moorland, jealous of his successful wooing of Gudrun, +had invaded his kingdom and was raiding his unprotected lands. + +[Sidenote: Gudrun kidnaped by Hartmut.] These tidings caused the brave +young warrior to bid Gudrun a hasty farewell and sail home as quickly as +possible, Hettel promising to follow him soon and help him repel the +invaders, who were far superior in number to his small but oft-tried host. +While Herwig and Hettel were thus occupied in warring against one of the +disappointed suitors, Hartmut, the other, hearing that they were both away, +invaded Matelan and carried off Gudrun and all her attendants to Normandy. +He paused only once on his way thither to rest for a short time on an +island called Wuelpensand, at the mouth of the Scheldt. + +The bereaved Hilde, who had seen her beloved daughter thus carried away, +promptly sent messengers to warn Hettel and Herwig of Gudrun's capture. +These tidings put an immediate stop to their warfare with Siegfried, who, +joining forces with them, sailed in pursuit of the Normans in the vessels +of a party of pilgrims, for they had none of their own ready for instant +departure. + +[Sidenote: The Wuelpensand battle.] Hettel, Herwig, and Siegfried reached +Wuelpensand before the Normans had left it, and there took place a frightful +conflict, in the course of which King Ludwig slew the aged Hettel. The +conflict raged until nightfall, and although there were now but few +Hegelings left, they were all ready to renew the struggle on the morrow. +What was not their chagrin, therefore, on discovering that the Normans had +sailed away with their captives during the night, and were already out of +sight! + +It was useless to pursue them with so small an army; so the Hegelings +sorrowfully returned home, bearing Hettel's lifeless body back to the +disconsolate Hilde. Then they took counsel, and discovered that so many +able fighting men had perished during the last war that they would be +obliged to wait until the rising generation was able to bear arms before +they could invade Normandy with any hope of success. + + "Then spoke old Wat, the hero: 'It never can befall + Before this country's children have grown to manhood all.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Gudrun, in the mean while, had arrived in Normandy, where she persisted in +refusing to marry Hartmut. On her way thither the haughty princess had even +ventured to remind King Ludwig that he had once been her father's vassal, +and so roused his anger that he threw her overboard. But Hartmut +immediately plunged into the water after her, rescued her from drowning, +and when he had again seen her safe in the boat, angrily reproved his +father for his hasty conduct. + + "He said: 'Why would you drown her who is to be my wife, + The fair and charming Gudrun? I love her as my life. + Another than my father, if he had shown such daring, + Would lose his life and honor from wrath of mine unsparing.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun a captive.] After this declaration on the part of the +young heir, none dared at first treat Gudrun with any disrespect; and +Gerlinda and Ortrun, the mother and sister of Hartmut, welcomed her as she +landed on their shores. Gerlinda's friendliness was a mere pretense, +however, for she hated the proud maiden who scorned her son's proffered +love. She therefore soon persuaded her son to give the gentle captive +entirely into her charge, saying that she would make her consent to become +his bride. Hartmut, who was about to depart for the war, and who little +suspected his mother's cruel intentions, bade her do as she pleased; and he +was no sooner out of sight than poor Gudrun was degraded to the rank of a +servant, and treated with much harshness and often with actual violence. + +During three whole years Gudrun endured this cruelty in silence; but when +Hartmut returned she was restored to her former state, although she still +persisted in refusing his passionate suit. Discouraged by her obstinacy, +the young man weakly consented to abandon her again to Gerlinda's tender +mercies. The princess was now made to labor harder than ever, and she and +Hildburg, her favorite companion and fellow captive, were daily sent down +to the shore to wash the royal linen. + +[Illustration: GUDRUN AND THE SWAN.--Kepler.] + +It was winter, the snow lay thick on the ground, and Gudrun and her +companion, barefooted and miserably clad, suffered untold agonies from the +cold. Besides, they were nearly exhausted, and the hope of rescue, which +had sustained them during the past twelve years, had almost forsaken them. +Their deliverance was near, however, and while Gudrun was washing on the +shore, a mermaid, in the guise of a swan, came gently near her and bade her +be of good cheer, for her sufferings would soon be at an end. + + "'Rejoice in hope,' then answered the messenger divine; + 'Thou poor and homeless maiden, great joy shall yet be thine. + If thou wilt ask for tidings from thy dear native land, + To comfort thee, great Heaven has sent me to this strand.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The swan maiden then informed her that her brother Ortwine had grown up, +and that he would soon come with brave old Wat and the longing Herwig to +deliver her. + +The next day, in spite of the increased cold, Gerlinda again roughly bade +the maidens go down to the shore and wash, refusing to allow them any +covering except one rough linen garment. + + "They then took up the garments and went upon their way. + 'May God let me,' said Gudrun, 'remind you of this day.' + With naked feet they waded there through the ice and snow: + The noble maids, all homeless, were filled with pain and woe." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Gudrun's deliverance.] Gudrun and Hildburg had barely begun +their usual task, however, ere a small boat drew near, in which they +recognized Herwig and Ortwine. All unconscious of their identity at first, +the young men inquired about Gudrun. She herself, to test their affection, +replied that the princess was dead, and did not allow them to catch a +glimpse of her face until she beheld Herwig's emotion at these tidings, and +heard him protest that he would be faithful to her unto death. + + "There spoke the royal Herwig: 'As long as lasts my life, + I'll mourn for her; the maiden was to become my wife.'" + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The lovers, who had been equally true, now fell into each other's arms. +Ortwine was overjoyed at finding his sister and her companion, having long +secretly loved the latter, so he poured out an avowal of his passion, and +won from Hildburg a promise to be his wife. The first moments of joyful +reunion over, Herwig would fain have carried Gudrun and Hildburg back to +camp with him; but Ortwine proudly declared that he had come to claim them +openly, and would bear them away from Normandy honorably, in the guise of +princesses, rather than by stealth. + +Promising to rescue them on the morrow, the young men took leave of the +maidens. Hildburg conscientiously finished her task, but Gudrun proudly +flung the linen into the sea and returned to the palace empty-handed, +saying that it did not become her to do any more menial labor, since she +had been kissed by two kings. Gerlinda, hearing her confess that she had +flung the linen into the sea, ordered her to be scourged; but when Gudrun +turned upon her and proudly announced that she would take her revenge on +the morrow, when she would preside over the banquet hall as queen, Gerlinda +concluded that she had decided to accept Hartmut. + +The mother, therefore, flew to him to impart the joyful tidings. In his +delight he would fain have embraced Gudrun, who, however, haughtily bade +him refrain from saluting a mere washerwoman. Becoming aware only then of +her sorry plight, the prince withdrew, sternly ordering that her maidens +should again be restored to her, that her every command should be fulfilled +as if she were already queen, and that all should treat her with the utmost +respect. These orders were executed without delay, and while Hartmut was +preparing for his wedding on the morrow, Gudrun, again clad in royal +attire, with her maidens around her, whispered the tidings of their coming +deliverance. Morning had barely dawned when Hildburg, gazing out of the +window, saw the castle entirely surrounded by the Hegelings' forces; and at +cockcrow old Wat's horn pealed forth a loud defiance, rousing the Normans +from pleasant dreams, and calling them to battle instead of to the +anticipated wedding. + + "The morning star had risen upon the heavens high, + When to the castle window a beauteous maid drew nigh, + In order to espy there and watch the break of day, + Whereby from royal Gudrun she would obtain rich pay. + + "There looked the noble maiden and saw the morning glow. + Reflected in the water, as it might well be so, + Were seen the shining helmets and many bucklers beaming. + The castle was surrounded; with arms the fields were gleaming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The battle was very fierce, and the poem enumerates many of the cuts and +thrusts given and received. Clashing swords and streams of gore now +monopolize the reader's attention. In the fray Herwig slew King Ludwig. +Gudrun was rescued by Hartmut from the hands of Gerlinda, who had just +bidden her servants put her to death, so that her friends should not take +her alive. Next the Norman prince met his rival and fought bravely. He was +about to succumb, however, when his sister Ortrun, who throughout had been +gentle and loving to Gudrun, implored her to save her brother's life. +Gudrun, touched by this request, called out of the casement to Herwig, who, +at a word from her, sheathed his sword, and contented himself with taking +Hartmut prisoner. + +[Sidenote: Death of Gerlinda.] The castle was duly plundered, the whole +town sacked, and Wat, bursting into the palace, began to slay all he met. +The women, in terror, then crowded around Gudrun, imploring her protection. +Among these were Ortrun and Gerlinda; but while Gudrun would have protected +the former at the cost of her life, she allowed Wat to kill the latter, who +had deserved such a death in punishment for all her cruelty. + +When the massacre was over, the victors celebrated their triumph by a grand +banquet, at which Gudrun, fulfilling her boast, actually presided as queen. + + "Now from the bitter contest the warriors rested all. + There came the royal Herwig into King Ludwig's hall, + Together with his champions, their gear with blood yet streaming. + Dame Gudrun well received him; her heart with love was teeming." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's tr.). + +When the banquet was over, the Hegelings set sail, taking with them the +recovered maidens, all the spoil they had won, and their captives, Hartmut +and Ortrun; and on reaching Matelan they were warmly welcomed by Hilde, who +was especially rejoiced to see her daughter once more. + + "The queen drew near to Gudrun. Could any one outweigh + The joy they felt together, with any wealth or treasure? + When they had kissed each other their grief was changed to pleasure." + _Gudrun_ (Dippold's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: A fourfold wedding.] Shortly after their return home a fourfold +wedding took place. Gudrun married her faithful Herwig, Ortwine espoused +Hildburg, Siegfried consoled himself for Gudrun's loss by taking the fair +Ortrun to wife, and Hartmut received with the hand of Hergart, Herwig's +sister, the restitution not only of his freedom but also of his kingdom. + +At the wedding banquet Horant, who, in spite of his advanced years, had +lost none of his musical skill, played the wedding march with such success +that the queens simultaneously flung their crowns at his feet,--an offering +which he smilingly refused, telling them that crowns were perishable, but +that the poet's song was immortal. + + "The aged minstrel drew his harp still closer to his breast, + Gazed at the jeweled coronets as this thought he expressed: + 'Fair queens, I bid you wear them until your locks turn gray; + Those crowns, alas! are fleeting, but song will live alway.'" + NIENDORF (H.A.G.'s tr.). + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +REYNARD THE FOX. + + +Among primitive races, as with children, animal stories are much enjoyed, +and form one of the first stages in literature. The oldest of these tales +current in the middle ages is the epic of Reineke Fuchs, or Reynard the +Fox. This poem was carried by the ancient Franks across the Rhine, became +fully acclimated in France, and then returned to Germany by way of +Flanders, where it was localized. + +After circulating from mouth to mouth almost all over Europe, during many +centuries, it was first committed to writing in the Netherlands, where the +earliest manuscript, dating from the eleventh or twelfth century, gives a +Latin version of the tale. + +[Sidenote: Origin of animal epics.] "The root of this saga lies in the +harmless natural simplicity of a primeval people. We see described the +delight which the rude child of nature takes in all animals,--in their slim +forms, their gleaming eyes, their fierceness, their nimbleness and cunning. +Such sagas would naturally have their origin in an age when the ideas of +shepherd and hunter occupied a great portion of the intellectual horizon of +the people; when the herdman saw in the ravenous bear one who was his +equal, and more than his equal, in force and adroitness, the champion of +the woods and wilds; when the hunter, in his lonely ramble through the +depths of the forest, beheld in the hoary wolf and red fox, as they stole +along,--hunters like himself,--mates, so to say, and companions, and whom +he therefore addressed as such.... So that originally this kind of poetry +was the exponent of a peculiar sort of feeling prevailing among the people, +and had nothing whatever to do with the didactic or satiric, although at a +later period satiric allusions began to be interwoven with it." + +The story has been rewritten by many poets and prose writers. It has been +translated into almost every European language, and was remodeled from one +of the old mediaeval poems by Goethe, who has given it the form in which it +will doubtless henceforth be known. His poem "Reineke Fuchs" has been +commented upon by Carlyle and translated by Rogers, from whose version all +the following quotations have been extracted. + +[Sidenote: The animals' assembly.] As was the custom among the Franks under +their old Merovingian rulers, the animals all assembled at Whitsuntide +around their king, Nobel the lion, who ruled over all the forest. This +assembly, like the Champ de Mars, its prototype, was convened not only for +the purpose of deciding upon the undertakings for the following year, but +also as a special tribunal, where all accusations were made, all complaints +heard, and justice meted out to all. The animals were all present, all +except Reynard the fox, who, it soon became apparent, was accused of many a +dark deed. Every beast present testified to some crime committed by him, +and all accused him loudly except his nephew, Grimbart the badger. + + "And yet there was one who was absent, + Reineke Fox, the rascal! who, deeply given to mischief, + Held aloof from half the Court. As shuns a bad conscience + Light and day, so the fox fought shy of the nobles assembled. + One and all had complaints to make, he had all of them injured; + Grimbart the badger, his brother's son, alone was excepted." + +[Sidenote: Complaints against Reynard.] The complaint was voiced by Isegrim +the wolf, who told with much feeling how cruelly Reynard had blinded three +of his beloved children, and how shamefully he had insulted his wife, the +fair lady Gieremund. This accusation had no sooner been formulated than +Wackerlos the dog came forward, and, speaking French, pathetically +described the finding of a little sausage in a thicket, and its purloining +by Reynard, who seemed to have no regard whatever for his famished +condition. + +The tomcat Hintze, who at the mere mention of a sausage had listened more +attentively, now angrily cried out that the sausage which Wackerlos had +lost belonged by right to him, as he had concealed it in the thicket after +stealing it from the miller's wife. He added that he too had had much to +suffer from Reynard, and was supported by the panther, who described how he +had once found the miscreant cruelly beating poor Lampe the hare. + + "Lampe he held by the collar, + Yes, and had certainly taken his life, if I by good fortune + Had not happened to pass by the road. There standing you see him. + Look and see the wounds of the gentle creature, whom no one + Ever would think of ill treating." + +[Sidenote: Vindication of Reynard.] The king, Nobel, was beginning to look +very stern as one after another rose to accuse the absent Reynard, when +Grimbart the badger courageously began to defend him, and artfully turned +the tables upon the accusers. Taking up their complaints one by one, he +described how Reynard, his uncle, once entered into partnership with +Isegrim. To obtain some fish which a carter was conveying to market, the +fox had lain as if dead in the middle of the road. He had been picked up by +the man for the sake of his fur, and tossed up on top of the load of fish. +But no sooner had the carter's back been turned than the fox sprang up, +threw all the fish down into the road to the expectant wolf, and only +sprang down himself when the cart was empty. The wolf, ravenous as ever, +devoured the fish as fast as they were thrown down, and when the fox +claimed his share of the booty he had secured, Isegrim gave him only the +bones.[1] [Footnote 1: For Russian version see Guerber's Contes et +Legendes, vol. i., p. 93.] + +Not content with cheating his ally once, the wolf had induced the fox to +steal a suckling pig from the larder of a sleeping peasant. With much +exertion the cunning Reynard had thrown the prize out of the window to the +waiting wolf; but when he asked for a portion of the meat as reward, he was +dismissed with nothing but the piece of wood upon which it had been hung. + +The badger further proceeded to relate that Reynard had wooed Gieremund +seven years before, when she was still unmated, and that if Isegrim chose +to consider that an insult, it was only on a par with the rest of his +accusations, for the king could readily see that Reynard was sorely injured +instead of being guilty. + +Then, encouraged by the favorable impression he had produced, Grimbart +airily disposed of the cases of Wackerlos and Hintze by proving that they +had both stolen the disputed sausage, after which he went on to say that +Reynard had undertaken to instruct Lampe the hare in psalmody, and that the +ill treatment which the panther had described was only a little wholesome +castigation inflicted by the teacher upon a lazy and refractory pupil. + + "Should not the master his pupil + Sometimes chastise when he will not observe, and is stubborn in evil? + If boys were never punished, were thoughtlessness always passed over, + Were bad behavior allowed, how would our juveniles grow up?" + +These plausible explanations were not without their effect, and when +Grimbart went on to declare that, ever since Nobel proclaimed a general +truce and amnesty among all the animals of the forest, Reynard had turned +hermit and spent all his time in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, the +complaint was about to be dismissed. + +[Sidenote: Story of Henning and the Cock.] Suddenly, however, Henning the +cock appeared, followed by his two sons, Kryant and Kantart, bearing the +mangled remains of a hen upon a bier. In broken accents the bereaved father +related how happily he had dwelt in a convent henyard, with the ten sons +and fourteen daughters which his excellent consort had hatched and brought +up in a single summer. His only anxiety had been caused by the constant +prowling of Reynard, who, however, had been successfully at a distance by +the watchdogs. But when the general truce had been proclaimed, the dogs +were dismissed. Reynard, in the garb of a monk, had made his way into the +henyard to show Henning the royal proclamation with the attached seal, and +to assure him of his altered mode of living. + +Thus reassured, Henning had led his family out into the forest, where, +alas! Reynard was lurking, and where he killed all but five of Henning's +promising brood. They had not only been killed, but devoured, with the +exception of Scratch-foot, whose mangled remains were laid at the monarch's +feet in proof of the crime, as was customary in the mediaeval courts of +justice. + +The king, angry that his truce should thus have been broken, and sorry for +the evident grief of the father, ordered a sumptuous funeral for the +deceased, and commanded that a stone should be placed upon her grave, +bearing the epitaph: + + "'Scratch-foot, daughter of Henning, the cock, the best of the hen + tribe. + Many an egg did she lay in her nest, and was skillful in scratching. + Here she lies, lost, alas! to her friends, by Reineke murdered. + All the world should know of his false and cruel behavior, + As for the dead they lament.' Thus ran the words that were + written." + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the Bear.] Then the king, having taken advice with +his council, solemnly bade Brown the bear proceed immediately to +Malepartus, Reynard's home, and summon him to appear at Reynard and court +forthwith, to answer the grave charges which had been made against him. But +he warned his messenger to behave circumspectly and to beware of the wiles +of the crafty fox. The bear rather resented these well-meant +recommendations, and, confidently asserting his ability to take care of +himself, set out for Reynard's abode. + +On his way to the mountains he was obliged to pass through an arid, sandy +waste, and reached Malepartus weary and overheated. Standing before the +fortress, which rejoiced in many labyrinthine passages, he loudly made +known his errand; and when Reynard, peeping cautiously out, had ascertained +that Brown was alone, he hastened out to welcome him. + +With great volubility the fox commiserated his long journey, and excused +the delay in admitting him under plea of an indisposition caused by eating +too much honey, a diet which he abhorred. + +At the mere mention of honey the bear forgot all his fatigue, and when his +host lamented the fact that he had nothing else to offer him, he joyfully +declared no food could suit him better, and that he could never get enough +of it. + + "'If that is so,' continued the Red one, 'I really can serve you, + For the peasant Ruesteviel lives at the foot of the mountain. + Honey he has, indeed, such that you and all of your kindred + Never so much together have seen.'" + +Oblivious of everything else at the thought of such a treat, Brown the bear +immediately set out in Reynard's company, and they soon came to the +peasant's yard, where a half-split tree trunk lay in full view. Reynard +then bade his companion thrust his nose well down into the hollow and eat +his fill of honey. As soon as he saw that the bear had thrust not only his +nose, but both fore paws, into the crack, Reynard cleverly removed the +wedges, the tree clapped together, and he left the bear a prisoner and +howling with pain. + +These sounds soon attracted the peasant's attention, and he and his +companions all fell upon the captive bear with every imaginable weapon, and +proceeded to give him a sound beating. Frantic with pain and terror, the +unfortunate bear finally succeeded in wrenching himself free, at the cost +of the skin on his nose and fore paws, and, after tumbling the fat cook +into the water, swam down the stream and landed in a thicket to bewail his +misfortunes. Here he was found by the fox, who added insult to injury by +making fun of him, and reproved him for his gluttony, until the bear again +plunged into the stream and swam away. + +[Illustration: BROWN THE BEAR CAUGHT IN THE LOG.--Wagner.] + +Then, painfully making his way back to Nobel, Brown presented himself at +court all bleeding and travel-stained, and poured forth a doleful account +of his mission. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the cat.] The king, after consulting with his +principal courtiers, declared it the right of any man to be thrice +summoned, and, conceding that the bear's manners were not of a conciliatory +nature, selected Hintze the cat to bear his message to Malepartus. The cat, +disheartened by unfavorable omens, was nevertheless compelled to go on this +unwelcome journey. + +Reynard welcomed him cordially, promised to accompany him to court on the +morrow, and then asked what kind of refreshment he could offer. When Hintze +had confessed his preference for mice, the fox replied that it was very +fortunate, as there were plenty of them in the parson's barn. Hintze +immediately asked to be led thither, that he might eat his fill. + + "'Pray do me the kindness + Hence to lead and show me the mice, for far above wild game + Give me a mouse for delicate flavor.'" + +Reynard then conducted Hintze to the parson's barn, and pointed out a +little opening through which he had passed to steal chickens, and where he +knew that Martin, the parson's son, had laid a trap to catch any intruder. +Hintze at first demurred, but, urged by Reynard, crept in and found himself +caught in a noose. Reynard, pretending to take the cat's moans for cries of +joy, banteringly inquired whether that was the way they sang at court, as +the caterwauling grew louder. + +These sounds finally reached the ears of little Martin, who, accompanied by +his father, came into the barn to catch the intruder. Poor Hintze, +frightened at the sight of the bludgeon the parson carried, flew at his +legs, scratching and biting him, until the saintly man fainted. Then, +taking advantage of the confusion, Hintze managed to slip out of the noose +and effect his escape. He returned to court minus one eye, and there poured +out the story of his wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Reynard and the badger.] The wrath of the king was now terrible +to behold, and assembling his council, he bade them decide how he should +punish the wretch who had twice ill treated his messengers. Grimbart the +badger, seeing that public opinion was decidedly against his relative, now +begged that a third summons should be sent, and offered to carry the +message himself. He furthermore declared that, even according to their own +showing, the cat and bear had come to grief through their greediness; and +then he promptly departed. + +Grimbart found Reynard in the bosom of his family, delivered his message, +and frankly advised the fox to obey the king's summons and appear at court, +where, perchance, he might yet manage to save himself; while if he remained +at home the king would besiege his fortress and slay him and all his +family. Reynard listened favorably to this advice, and, after bidding his +wife a tender farewell, and committing his beloved children to her care, he +set out with Grimbart to go to court. + +On the way the recollection of his many transgressions began to lie very +heavily upon his heart. The fear of death quickened his conscience, and, +longing to make his peace with Heaven, he expressed a great wish to confess +his sins and receive absolution. As no priest was near at hand, he begged +Grimbart the badger to listen to him, and penitently confessed all the +misdeeds we have already recounted. He also added that he once bound +Isegrim to the rope of the convent bell at Elkinar, where his frantic +tugging rang the bell, until the monks, crowding around him, cudgeled him +severely. Reynard related, too, how he once induced Isegrim to enter the +priests' house through a window and crawl along some beams in search of ham +and bacon. As the wolf was carefully feeling his way, however, the +mischievous fox pushed him and made him fall on the sleeping people below, +who, awakening with a start, fell upon him and beat him. These and sundry +other sins having duly been confessed, the badger bade the fox chastise +himself with a switch plucked from the hedge, lay it down in the road, jump +over it thrice, and then meekly kiss that rod in token of obedience. Then +he pronounced Reynard absolved from his former sins, and admonished him to +lead an altered life in future. + + "'My uncle, take care that your future amendment + In good works be visible. Psalms you should read, and should visit + Churches with diligence; fast at the seasons duly appointed; + Him who asks you point out the way to; give to the needy + Willingly; swear to forsake all evil habits of living, + All kinds of theft and robbing, deceit and evil behavior. + Thus can you make quite sure that you will attain unto mercy!'" + +The fox solemnly promised amendment, and with sanctimonious mien continued +his journey. But as he and the badger passed a convent, and some plump hens +crossed their path, Reynard forgot all his promises and began to chase the +chickens. Sharply recalled to a sense of duty by Grimbart, Reynard +reluctantly gave up the chase, and the two proceeded without further +drawback to the court, where Reynard's arrival created a great sensation. + + "When at the Court it was known that Reineke really was coming, + Ev'ry one thronged out of doors to see him, the great and the little. + Few with friendly intent; for almost all were complaining. + This, however, in Reineke's mind was of little importance; + Thus he pretended, at least, as he with Grimbart the badger, + Boldly enough and with elegant mien now walked up the high street. + Jauntily swung he along at his ease, as if he were truly + Son of the king, and free and quit of ev'ry transgression. + Thus he came before Nobel the king, and stood in the palace + In the midst of the lords; he knew how to pose as unruffled." + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] With consummate skill and unparalleled +eloquence and impudence, Reynard addressed the king, lauding himself as a +faithful servant, and commiserating the fact that so many envious and +backbiting people were ready to accuse him. Nobel the king, in whose mind +the recollection of the treatment inflicted upon Brown the bear and Hintze +the cat was still very vivid, answered him sternly, and told him that it +would be difficult for him to acquit himself of those two charges, to say +nothing of the many others brought against him. Reynard, still undismayed, +demanded with well-feigned indignation whether he was to be held +responsible for the sins of those messengers whose misfortunes were +attributable to their gluttonous and thievish propensities only. + +[Sidenote: Reynard condemned to death.] But in spite of this specious +pleading, all the other animals came crowding around with so many grievous +charges that matters began to look very dark indeed for the fox. In spite +of all Reynard's eloquence, and of the fluent excuses ever on his tongue, +the council pronounced him guilty, and condemned him to die an ignominious +death. Reynard's enemies rejoiced at this sentence, and dragged him off +with cheerful alacrity to the gallows, where all the animals assembled to +witness his execution. + +On the way to the place of punishment Reynard tried to think of some plan +by means of which he could save himself even at the eleventh hour; and +knowing that some scheme would occur to him if he could only gain a little +time, he humbly implored permission to make a public confession of his +manifold sins ere he paid the penalty of his crimes. Anxious to hear all he +might have to say, the king granted him permission to speak; and the fox +began to relate at length the story of his early and innocent childhood, +his meeting and alliance with Isegrim the wolf, and his gradual induction +by him into crooked paths and evil ways. He told, too, how the cruel wolf, +presuming on his strength, had ever made use of it to deprive him, the fox, +of his rightful share of plunder; and concluded by saying that he would +often have suffered from hunger had it not been for the possession of a +great treasure of gold, which had sufficed for all his wants. + + "Thanks be to God, however, I never suffered from hunger; + Secretly have I fed well by means of that excellent treasure, + All of silver and gold in a secret place that securely + Hidden I keep; with this I've enough. And, I say it in earnest, + Not a wagon could carry it off, though sevenfold loaded." + +At the word "treasure" Nobel pricked up his ears and bade Reynard relate +how this hoard was obtained and where it was concealed. The artful fox, +seeing the king's evident interest, rapidly prepared more lies, and, +speaking to the king and queen, declared that ere he died it would be +better for him to reveal the carefully guarded secret of a conspiracy which +would have resulted in the king's death had it not been for his devotion. + +The queen, shuddering at the mere thought of the danger her royal consort +had run, now begged that Reynard might step down from the scaffold and +speak privately to her and to Nobel. In this interview Reynard, still +pretending to prepare for immediate death, told how he discovered a +conspiracy formed by his father, Isegrim the wolf, Brown the bear, and many +others, to slay the king and seize the scepter. He described the various +secret conferences, the measures taken, and his father's promise to defray +all the expenses of the enterprise and to subsidize mercenary troops by +means of the hoard of King Ermenrich, which he had discovered and concealed +for his own use. + +Reynard then continued to describe his loyal fears for his beloved +sovereign, his resolve to outwit the conspirators, and his efforts to +deprive them of the sinews of war by discovering and abstracting the +treasure. Thanks to his ceaseless vigilance, he saw his father steal forth +one night, uncover his hoard, gloat over the gold, and then efface the +traces of his search with the utmost skill. + + "'Nor could one, + Not having seen, have possibly known. And ere he went onwards + Well he understood at the place where his feet had been planted, + Cleverly backwards and forwards to draw his tail, and to smooth it, + And to efface the trace with the aid of his mouth.'" + +Reynard then told the king how diligently he and his wife, Ermelyn, labored +to remove the gold and conceal it elsewhere, and how the conspiracy came to +naught when no gold was found to pay the troops. He mournfully added that +his loyalty further deprived him of a loving father, for the latter had +hung himself in despair when he found his treasure gone and all his plans +frustrated. With hypocritical tears he then bewailed his own fate, saying +that, although ready to risk all for another, there was no one near him to +speak a good word for him in his time of bitterest need. + +[Sidenote: Reynard Pardoned.] The queen's soft heart was so touched by +this display of feeling that she soon pleaded for and obtained Reynard's +pardon from Nobel, who freely granted it when the fox promised to give him +his treasure. Most accurately now he described its place of concealment, +but said that he could not remain at court, as his presence there was an +insult to royalty, seeing that he was under the Pope's ban and must make a +pilgrimage ere it could be removed. + +The king, after imprisoning Isegrim, Brown, and Hintze (the chief +conspirators according to Reynard's tale), and ascertaining that the place +the fox so accurately described really existed, bade Reynard depart, and at +his request procured for him a fragment of Brown's hide to make a wallet, +and a pair of socks from Isegrim and his wife, who were very loath to part +with their foot covering. The king, queen, and court then accompanied +Reynard a short way on the first stage of his journey, and turned back, +leaving Bellyn the ram and Lampe the hare to escort him a little farther. +These innocent companions accompanied Reynard to Malepartus, and while +Bellyn waited patiently without, Lampe entered the house with Reynard. Lady +Ermelyn and her two young sons greeted Reynard with joy, listened +breathlessly to the account of his adventures, and then helped him to slay +and eat Lampe, who, he declared, had brought all these evils upon him. + +Reynard and his family feasted upon the body of poor Lampe the hare, whose +head was then securely fastened in the wallet made of Brown's skin. This +the fox carefully carried out and placed upon Bellyn's back, assuring him +volubly the while that it contained important dispatches, and that in order +to insure him a suitable reward for his good offices he had told Nobel the +king that the ram had given him valuable assistance in preparing the +contents of the wallet. + + "'Yet, as soon as you see the king, and to still better favor + Wish to attain with him, 'twere well to bring to his notice + That you have sagely given advice in composing the letters, + Yea, and the writer have help'd.'" + +Thus instructed, and reassured concerning the absence of Lampe, whom +Reynard described as enjoying a chat with Ermelyn, Bellyn bounded off to +court, where he did not fail to vaunt that he had helped Reynard prepare +the contents of the wallet. Nobel publicly opened it, and when he drew out +Lampe's bleeding head his anger knew no bounds. Following the advice of his +courtiers, Bellyn, in spite of all his protestations, was given in +atonement to the bear and the wolf, who the king now feared had been +unjustly treated. They were then released from imprisonment and reinstated +to royal favor, and twelve days of festivity ensued. + +[Sidenote: Reynard again in disgrace.] In the midst of the dance and +revelry a bloody rabbit appeared to accuse Reynard of tearing off one of +his ears, while the garrulous crow, Merkinau, related how the same +unscrupulous wretch had pretended death merely to befool Sharfenebbe, his +wife, and induce her to come near enough for him to bite off her head. +Nobel the king, upon hearing these complaints, immediately swore that +within six days he would besiege Reynard in his castle, would take him +prisoner, and would make him suffer the penalty of his crimes. + +Isegrim the wolf and Brown the bear rejoiced at these tidings, while +Grimbart the badger, seeing the peril his uncle had incurred, hastened off +secretly to Malepartus to warn him of his danger and support him by his +advice. He found Reynard sitting complacently in front of his house, +contemplating two young doves which he had just secured as they were making +their first attempt to fly. Grimbart breathlessly related the arrival of +Bellyn, the royal indignation at the sight of Lampe's head, and the plan +for surrounding and capturing Reynard in his safe retreat. + +[Sidenote: Grimbart's advice.] In spite of this disquieting news Reynard's +composure did not desert him; but after vowing that he could easily acquit +himself of these crimes if he could only win the king's ear for a moment, +he invited his kinsman to share his meal and taste the delicate morsels he +had secured. Grimbart the badger, seeing that the fox was not inclined to +flee, now advised him not to await the king's coming and expose his wife +and children to the horrors of a siege, but boldly to return to court. + + "'Go with assurance before the lords, and put the best face on + Your affairs. They will give you a hearing. Lupardus was also + Willing you should not be punish'd before you had fully + Made your defense, and the queen herself was not otherwise minded. + Mark this fact, and try to make use of it.'" + +Once more Reynard bade a tender farewell to his wife and sons, resisting +all the former's entreaties to seek safety in flight, and, relying upon his +cunning, set out with Grimbart to visit the court. On his way he again +pretended repentance for his former sins, and resuming his confession at +the point where he had broken off, he told how maliciously he had secured a +piece of the bear's hide for a wallet, and socks from Isegrim and his wife. +He then went on to relate just how he had murdered Lampe, charged the +innocent Bellyn with the ambiguous message which had cost him his life, +torn off one of the rabbit's ears, and eaten the crow's wife. Lastly, he +confessed how he had gone out in company with the wolf, who, being hungry +and seeing a mare with a little foal, had bidden Reynard inquire at what +price she would sell it. The mare retorted that the price was written on +her hoof. The sly fox, understanding her meaning, yet longing to get his +companion into trouble, pretended not to know how to read, and sent the +wolf to ascertain the price. The result was, of course, disastrous, for the +mare kicked so hard that the wolf lay almost dead for several hours after. + + "So he went and asked the lady, 'What price is the filly? + Make it cheap.' Whereupon she replied, 'You've only to read it; + There you will find the sum inscribed on one of my hind feet.' + 'Let me look,' continued the wolf; and she answered, 'With + pleasure.' + + "Then she lifted upwards her foot from the grass; it was studded + With six nails. She struck straight out, and not by a hair's + breadth + Missed she her mark. She struck on his head, and straightway he + fell down, + Lying as dumb as the dead." + +Waxing more and more eloquent as they drew nearer court and his fears +increased, Reynard began to moralize. He excused himself for Lampe's murder +on the plea of the latter's aggravating behavior, said that the king +himself was nothing but a robber living by rapine, and proceeded to show +how even the priests were guilty of manifold sins, which he enumerated with +much gusto. + +They had scarcely finished this edifying conversation when they came across +Martin the ape, on his way to Rome; and Reynard hastened to implore him to +secure his release from the Pope's ban, through the intercession of the +ape's uncle, the cardinal, whose interest it was to serve him. Martin the +ape not only promised his good offices at the papal court, but bade Reynard +not hesitate to consult his wife should he find himself in any predicament +at court. + +[Sidenote: Reynard at court.] Thus supported, Reynard again made his +appearance at court, to the utter amazement and surprise of all; and +although, he was well aware that his situation was more dangerous than +ever, his assurance did not seem at all impaired. Kneeling with pretended +humility before the king, he artfully began his address by lamenting the +fact that there were so many unscrupulous people ever ready to accuse the +innocent; and when the king angrily interrupted him to accuse him of +maiming the rabbit and devouring the crow, he began his defense. + +First Reynard explained that since Martin the ape had undertaken to free +him from his ban, his journey to Rome was of course unnecessary. Then he +related how the rabbit, dining at his house, had insulted and quarreled +with his children, from whose clutches he had had much trouble to save him. +The crow's death was caused by a fish bone she had swallowed. Bellyn, the +traitor, had slain Lampe himself, and evidently put his head in the wallet +instead of some treasures which Reynard had intrusted to their care for the +king and queen. + +[Sidenote: The ape's intercession.] The king, who had listened impatiently +to all this discourse, angrily retired, refusing to believe a word, while +Reynard sought the ape's wife, Frau Rueckenau, and bade her intercede for +him. She entered the royal tent, reminded the king of her former services, +and seeing his mood somewhat softened, ventured to mention how cleverly +Reynard once helped him to judge between the rival claims of a shepherd and +a serpent. The latter, caught in a noose and about to die, had implored a +passing shepherd to set it free. The peasant had done so after exacting a +solemn oath from the serpent to do him no harm. But the serpent, once +released, and suffering from the pangs of hunger, threatened to devour the +peasant. The latter called the raven, wolf, and bear, whom he met by the +way, to his aid; but as they all hoped to get a share of him, they all +decided in favor of the serpent's claim to eat him. + +The case by this time had become so intricate that it was laid before the +king, who, unable to judge wisely, called Reynard to his aid. The fox +declared that he could only settle so difficult a matter when plaintiff and +defendant had assumed the relative positions which they occupied at the +time of dispute. Then when the snake was safely in the noose once more, +Reynard decided that, knowing the serpent's treachery, the peasant might +again set him loose, but need not do so unless he chose. + + "'Here now is each of the parties + Once again in his former state, nor has either the contest + Won or lost. The right, I think, of itself is apparent. + For if it pleases the man, he again can deliver the serpent + Out of the noose; if not, he may let her remain and be hang'd there. + Free he may go on his way with honor and see to his business, + Since she has proved herself false, when she had accepted his kindness; + Fairly the man has the choice. This seems to me to be justice, + True to the spirit. Let him who understands better declare it.'" + +[Illustration: REYNARD PREPARING FOR BATTLE.--Kaulbach.] + +The king, remembering this celebrated judgment, and skillfully reminded by +Frau Rueckenau of the bear's and the wolf's rapacity, consented at last to +give Reynard a second hearing. The fox now minutely described the treasures +he sent to court,--a magic ring for the king, and a comb and mirror for the +queen. Not only was the fable of the judgment of Paris engraved on the +latter, but also that of the jealous donkey, who, imitating his master's +lapdog, and trying to climb into his lap, received nothing but blows. There +was also the story of the cat and the fox, of the wolf and the crane, and, +lastly, the account of the miraculous way in which his father, a noted +leech, had saved Nobel's sire by making him eat the flesh of a wolf just +seven years old. + +The pleader then reminded the king of a noted hunting party, where Isegrim, +having secured a boar, gave the king one quarter, the queen another, +reserved a half for himself, and gave the fox nothing but the head. This +division was of course very disloyal, and the fox showed that he thought so +by dividing a calf more equitably; i.e., giving the queen one half, the +king the other, the heart and liver to the princes, the head to the wolf, +and reserving only the feet for himself. + +[Sidenote: Duel between the fox and the wolf.] Reynard prided himself upon +these tokens of loyalty, and then, seeing that he had made a favorable +impression, he volunteered, in spite of his small size, to meet the wolf in +battle and leave the vindication of his claims to the judgment of God. This +magnanimous behavior filled the king with admiration, and the trial was +appointed for the following day, the intervening hours being granted to +both combatants for preparation. Reynard, still advised by Frau Rueckenau, +was shaved smooth, rubbed with butter until he was as slippery as could be, +and instructed to feign fear and run fleetly in front of the wolf, kicking +up as much sand as possible, and using his brush to dash it into his +opponent's eyes and thus blind him. + +The combat took place. The wolf, blinded by the sand in his eyes, was so +infuriated that he finally pounced upon the fox, who, however, managed yet +to get the upper hand and come off victor, generously granting life to his +foe, whom he had nearly torn and scratched to pieces. Reynard, having thus +won the victory, enjoyed the plaudits of the crowd, while the wolf, being +vanquished, was publicly derided, and borne off by his few remaining +friends to be nursed back to health, if possible. + + "Such is ever the way of the world. They say to the lucky, + 'Long may you live in good health,' and friends he finds in abundance. + When, however, ill fortune befalls him, alone he must bear it. + Even so was it here; each one of them wish'd to the victor + Nearest to be, to show himself off." + +[Sidenote: Reynard's acquittal.] The king pronounced Reynard guiltless of +all charges, and made him one of his privy councilors. But the fox, after +thanking the king for his favors, humbly besought permission to return +home, where his wife was awaiting him, and departed, escorted by a +deputation of his friends. + +According to some versions of the tale, Reynard contented himself with +blinding the wolf and maiming him for life; according to others, he bided +his time, and when the king was ill, told him that nothing could save him +short of the heart of a wolf just seven years old. Of course no wolf of the +exact age could be found but Isegrim, so he was sacrificed to save the +king, who recovered. As for Reynard, he enjoyed great honor as long as he +lived, and his adventures have long been the delight of the people, whom +his tricks never failed to amuse. + + "Highly honor'd is Reineke now! To wisdom let all men + Quickly apply them, and flee what is evil, and reverence virtue! + This is the end and aim of the song, and in it the poet + Fable and truth hath mixed, whereby the good from the evil + Ye may discern, and wisdom esteem; and thereby the buyers + Of this book in the ways of the world may be daily instructed. + For it was so created of old, and will ever remain so. + Thus is our poem of Reineke's deeds and character ended. + May God bring us all to eternal happiness. Amen!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +THE NIBELUNGENLIED. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of Poem.] Germany's greatest epic is, without doubt, the +ancient poem entitled "Nibelungenlied," or the "Lay," "Fall," or "Calamity +of the Nibelungs." Although nothing certain is known concerning the real +authorship of this beautiful work, it is supposed to have been put into its +present form either by the Austrian minstrel von Kuerenberg or by the German +poet von Ofterdingen, some time previous to the year 1210, the date +inscribed on the oldest manuscript of that poem now extant. + +According to the best authorities on ancient German literature, the +"Nibelungenlied" is compiled from preexisting songs and rhapsodies, forming +five distinct cycles of myths, but all referring in some way to the great +treasure of the Nibelungs. One of these cycles is the northern Volsunga +Saga,[1] where Sigurd, Gudrun, Gunnar, Hoegni, and Atli, the principal +characters, correspond to Siegfried, Kriemhild, Gunther, Hagen, and Etzel +of the "Nibelungenlied." The story of the German poem, which can be given +only in outline, is as follows: [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of +Northern Lands, p. 225.] + +Dankrat and Ute, King and Queen of Burgundy, were the fortunate parents of +four children: three sons, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher; and one beautiful +daughter, Kriemhild. When the king died, his eldest son, Gunther, succeeded +him, and reigned wisely and well, residing at Worms on the Rhine, his +capital and favorite city. + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's dream.] As was customary in those days, Kriemhild +lived a peaceful and secluded life, rarely leaving her mother's palace and +protection. But one night her slumbers, which were usually very peaceful, +were disturbed by a tormenting dream, which, upon awaking, she hastened to +confide to her mother, thinking that, as Ute was skilled in magic and +dreams, she might give a favorable interpretation and thus rid her of her +haunting fears. + + "A dream was dreamt by Kriemhild, the virtuous and the gay, + How a wild young falcon she train'd for many a day, + Till two fierce eagles tore it." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Ute declared that the falcon her daughter had seen in her dream must be +some noble prince, whom she would love and marry; while the two eagles were +base murderers, who would eventually slay her beloved. Instead of +reassuring Kriemhild, this interpretation only saddened her the more, and +made her loudly protest that she would rather forego all the joys of +married estate than have to mourn for a beloved husband. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's home.] In those days there flourished farther down +the Rhine the kingdom of the Netherlands, governed by Siegmund and +Siegelind. They were very proud of their only son and heir, young +Siegfried, who had already reached man's estate. To celebrate his +knighthood a great tournament was held at Xanten on the Rhine, and in the +jousting the young prince won all the laurels, although great and tried +warriors matched their skill against his in the lists. + +The festivities continued for seven whole days, and when the guests +departed they were all heavily laden with the costly gifts which the king +and queen had lavished upon them. + + "The gorgeous feast it lasted till the seventh day was o'er. + Siegelind, the wealthy, did as they did of yore; + She won for valiant Siegfried the hearts of young and old, + When for his sake among them she shower'd the ruddy gold. + + "You scarce could find one needy in all the minstrel band; + Horses and robes were scatter'd with ever-open hand. + They gave as though they had not another day to live; + None were to take so ready as they inclin'd to give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +After the departure of all these guests, young Siegfried sought his +parents' presence, told them that he had heard rumors of the beauty and +attractions of Kriemhild of Burgundy, and declared his wish to journey +thither to secure her as his wife. + +In vain the fond parents tried to prevail upon him to remain quietly at +home; the young hero insisted so strongly that he finally won their consent +to his immediate departure. With eleven companions, all decked out in the +richest garments that the queen's chests could furnish, the young prince +rode down the Rhine, and reached Worms on the seventh day. + +[Sidenote: Siegfried's arrival in Burgundy.] The arrival of the gallant +little troop was soon noted by Gunther's subjects, who hastened out to meet +the strangers and help them dismount. Siegfried immediately requested to be +brought into the presence of their king, who, in the mean while, had +inquired of his uncle, Hagen, the names and standing of the newcomers. +Glancing down from the great hall window, Hagen said that the leader must +be Siegfried, the knight who had slain the owners of the Nibelungen hoard +and appropriated it for his own use, as well as the magic cloud-cloak, or +Tarnkappe, which rendered its wearer invisible to mortal eyes.[1] He added +that this same Siegfried was ruler of the Nibelungen land, and the slayer +of a terrible dragon, whose blood had made him invulnerable, and he +concluded by advising Gunther to receive him most courteously. [Footnote 1: +For various legends of this cycle see Guerber's Legends of the Rhine, +article Xanten.] + + "Yet more I know of Siegfried, that well your ear may hold: + A poison-spitting dragon he slew with courage bold, + And in the blood then bath'd him; thus turn'd to horn his skin, + And now no weapons harm him, as often proved has been. + + "Receive then this young hero with all becoming state; + 'Twere ill advis'd to merit so fierce a champion's hate. + So lovely is his presence, at once all hearts are won, + And then his strength and courage such wondrous deeds have done." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to this advice, Gunther went to meet Siegfried and politely +inquired the cause of his visit. Imagine his dismay, therefore, when +Siegfried replied that he had come to test the Burgundian's vaunted +strength, and to propose a single combat, in which the victor might claim +the lands and allegiance of the vanquished. Gunther recoiled from such a +proposal, and as none of his warriors seemed inclined to accept the +challenge, he and his brother hastened to disarm Siegfried's haughty mood +by their proffers of unbounded hospitality. + +Siegfried sojourned for nearly a year at Gunther's court, displaying his +skill in all martial exercises; and although he never caught a glimpse of +the fair maiden Kriemhild, she often admired his strength and manly beauty +from behind the palace lattice. + +[Sidenote: War with the Saxons and Danes.] One day the games were +interrupted by the arrival of a herald announcing that Ludeger, King of the +Saxons, and Ludegast, King of Denmark, were about to invade Burgundy. These +tidings filled Gunther's heart with terror, for the enemy were very +numerous and their valor was beyond all question. But when Hagen hinted +that perhaps Siegfried would lend them a helping hand, the King of Burgundy +seized the suggestion with joy. + +As soon as Siegfried was made aware of the threatened invasion he declared +that if Gunther would only give him one thousand brave men he would repel +the foe. This offer was too good to refuse; so Gunther hastily assembled a +chosen corps, in which were his brothers Gernot and Giselher, Hagen and his +brother Dankwart, Ortwine, Sindolt, and Volker,--all men of remarkable +valor. + + "'Sir king,' said noble Siegfried, 'here sit at home and play, + While I and your vassals are fighting far away; + Here frolic with the ladies and many a merry mate, + And trust to me for guarding your honor and estate.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +This little force, only one thousand strong, then marched bravely out of +Worms, passed through Hesse, and entered Saxony, where it encountered the +enemy numbering no less than twenty thousand valiant fighting men. The +battle was immediately begun; and while all fought bravely, none did such +wonders as Siegfried, who made both kings prisoners, routed their host, and +returned triumphant to Worms, with much spoil and many captives. + +A messenger had preceded him thither to announce the success of the +expedition, and he was secretly summoned and questioned by Kriemhild, who, +in her joy at hearing that Siegfried was unharmed and victorious, gave the +messenger a large reward. + + "Then spake she midst her blushes, 'Well hast thou earn'd thy meed, + Well hast thou told thy story, so take thee costliest weed, + And straight I'll bid be brought thee ten marks of ruddy gold.' + No wonder, to rich ladies glad news are gladly told." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Celebration of Siegfried's victory.] Kriemhild then hastened to +her window, from whence she witnessed her hero's triumphant entrance, and +heard the people's acclamations of joy. The wounded were cared for, the +captive kings hospitably entertained and duly released, and great +festivities were held to celebrate the glorious victory. Among other +entertainments the knights tilted in the tournaments, and, by Gernot's +advice, Ute, Kriemhild, and all the court ladies were invited to view the +prowess of the men at arms. It was thus that Siegfried first beheld +Kriemhild, and as soon as he saw her he gladly acknowledged that she was +fairer than he could ever have supposed. + + "As the moon arising outglitters every star + That through the clouds so purely glimmers from afar, + E'en so love-breathing Kriemhild dimm'd every beauty nigh. + Well might at such a vision many a bold heart beat high." + _Nibelungenlied_ {Lettsom's tr.}. + +Siegfried's happiness was complete, however, when he was appointed the +escort of this peerless maiden; and on the way to and from the tournament +and mass he made good use of his opportunity to whisper pretty speeches to +Kriemhild, who timidly expressed her gratitude for the service he had +rendered her brother, and begged that he would continue to befriend him. +These words made Siegfried blush with pride, and then and there he +registered a solemn vow to fulfill her request. + + "'Ever,' said he, 'your brethren I'll serve as best I may, + Nor once, while I have being, will head on pillow lay + Till I have done to please them whate'er they bid me do; + And this, my Lady Kriemhild, is all for love of you.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The festivities being ended, Gunther bestowed many gifts on the departing +guests; but when Siegfried would also have departed he entreated him to +remain at Worms. This the young hero was not at all loath to do, as he had +fallen deeply in love with the fair Kriemhild, whom he was now privileged +to see every day. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild.] The excitement consequent on the festivities had not +entirely subsided in Worms when King Gunther declared his desire to win for +his wife Brunhild, a princess of Issland, who had vowed to marry none but +the man who could surpass her in casting a spear, in throwing a stone, and +in jumping. + + "Then spake the lord of Rhineland: 'Straight will I hence to sea, + And seek the fiery Brunhild, howe'er it go with me. + For love of the stern maiden I'll frankly risk my life; + Ready am I to lose it, if I win her not to wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In vain Siegfried, who knew all about Brunhild, tried to dissuade him; +Gunther insisted upon departing, but proposed to Siegfried to accompany +him, promising him as reward for his assistance Kriemhild's hand as soon as +the princess of Issland was won. Such an offer was not to be refused, and +Siegfried immediately accepted it, advising Gunther to take only Hagen and +Dankwart as his attendants. + +[Sidenote: The expedition to Issland.] After seeking the aid of Kriemhild +for a supply of rich clothing suitable for a prince going a-wooing, Gunther +and the three knights embarked on a small vessel, whose sails soon filled, +and which rapidly bore them flown the Rhine and over the sea to Issland. +When within sight of its shores, Siegfried bade his companions all +carefully agree in representing him to the strangers as Gunther's vassal +only. Their arrival was seen by some inquisitive damsels peering out of the +windows of the castle, and reported to Brunhild, who immediately and +joyfully concluded that Siegfried had come to seek her hand in marriage. +But when she heard that he held another man's stirrup to enable him to +mount, she angrily frowned, wondering why he came as a menial instead of as +a king. When the strangers entered her hall she would have greeted +Siegfried first had he not modestly drawn aside, declaring that the honor +was due to his master, Gunther, King of Burgundy, who had come to Issland +to woo her. + +Brunhild then haughtily bade her warriors make all the necessary +preparations for the coming contest; and Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart +apprehensively watched the movements of four warriors staggering beneath +the weight of Brunhild's ponderous shield. Then they saw three others +equally overpowered by her spear; and twelve sturdy servants could scarcely +roll the stone she was wont to cast. + +Hagen and Dankwart, fearing for their master,--who was doomed to die in +case of failure,--began to mutter that some treachery was afoot, and openly +regretted that they had consented to lay aside their weapons upon entering +the castle. These remarks, overheard by Brunhild, called forth her scorn, +and she contemptuously bade her servants bring the strangers' arms, since +they were afraid. + + "Well heard the noble maiden the warrior's words the while, + And looking o'er her shoulder, said with a scornful smile, + 'As he thinks himself so mighty, I'll not deny a guest; + Take they their arms and armor, and do as seems them best. + + "'Be they naked and defenseless, or sheath'd in armor sheen, + To me it nothing matters,' said the haughty queen. + 'Fear'd yet I never mortal, and, spite of yon stern brow + And all the strength of Gunther, I fear as little now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siegfried and the Tarnkappe.] While these preliminaries were +being settled, Siegfried had gone down to the ship riding at anchor, and +all unseen had donned his magic cloud-cloak and returned to the scene of +the coming contest, where he now bade Gunther rely upon his aid. + + "'I am Siegfried, thy trusty friend and true; + Be not in fear a moment for all the queen can do.' + + "Said he, 'Off with the buckler, and give it me to bear; + Now what I shall advise thee, mark with thy closest care. + Be it thine to make the gestures, and mine the work to do.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +In obedience to these directions, Gunther merely made the motions, +depending upon the invisible Siegfried to parry and make all the attacks. +Brunhild first poised and flung her spear with such force that both heroes +staggered and almost fell; but before she could cry out victory, Siegfried +had caught the spear, turned it butt end foremost, and flung it back with +such violence that the princess fell and was obliged to acknowledge herself +outdone. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild's defeat.] Nothing daunted, however, by this first +defeat, she caught up the massive stone, flung it far from her, and leaping +after it, alighted beside it. But even while she was inwardly +congratulating herself, and confidently cherishing the belief that the +stranger could not surpass her, Siegfried caught up the stone, flung it +farther still, and grasping Gunther by his broad girdle, bounded through +the air with him and landed far beyond it. Brunhild was outdone in all +three feats, and, according to her own promise, belonged to the victor, +Gunther, to whom she now bade her people show all due respect and homage. + + "Then all aloud fair Brunhild bespake her courtier band, + Seeing in the ring at distance unharm'd her wooer stand: + 'Hither, my men and kinsmen, low to my better bow. + I am no more your mistress; you're Gunther's liegemen now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Illustration: GUNTHER WINNING HIS BRIDE.--Keller.] + +The warriors all hastened to do her bidding, and escorted their new lord to +the castle, whither, under pretext of fitly celebrating her marriage, +Brunhild summoned all her retainers from far and near. This rally roused +the secret terror of Gunther, Hagen, and Dankwart, for they suspected some +act of treachery on the part of the dark-browed queen. These fears were +also, in a measure, shared by Siegfried; so he stole away, promising to +return before long with a force sufficient to overawe Brunhild and quell +all attempt at foul play. + +Siegfried, having hastily embarked upon the little vessel, swiftly sailed +away to the Nibelungen land, where he arrived in an incredibly short space +of time, presented himself at the gates of his castle, and forced an +entrance by conquering the giant porter, and Alberich, the dwarf guardian +of his treasure. Then making himself known to his followers, the Nibelungs, +he chose one thousand of them to accompany him back to Issland to support +the Burgundian king. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Gunther and Brunhild.] The arrival of this +unexpected force greatly surprised Brunhild. She questioned Gunther, and +upon receiving the careless reply that they were only a few of his +followers, who had come to make merry at his wedding, she gave up all hope +of resistance. When the usual festivities had taken place, and the wonted +largesses had been distributed, Gunther bade his bride prepare to follow +him back to the Rhine with her personal female attendants, who numbered no +less than one hundred and sixty-eight. + +Brunhild regretfully left her own country, escorted by the thousand +Nibelung warriors; and when they had journeyed nine days, Gunther bade +Siegfried spur ahead and announce his safe return to his family and +subjects. Offended by the tone of command Gunther had assumed, Siegfried at +first proudly refused to obey; but when the king begged it as a favor, and +mentioned Kriemhild's name, he immediately relented and set out. + + "Said he, 'Nay, gentle Siegfried, do but this journey take, + Not for my sake only, but for my sister's sake; + You'll oblige fair Kriemhild in this as well as me.' + When so implored was Siegfried, ready at once was he. + + "'Whate'er you will, command me; let naught be left unsaid; + I will gladly do it for the lovely maid. + How can I refuse her who my heart has won? + For her, whate'er your pleasure, tell it, and it is done.'" + _Nibelunglied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Kriemhild received this messenger most graciously, and gave immediate +orders for a magnificent reception of the new queen, going down to the +river to meet and greet her in the most cordial and affectionate manner. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Siegfried and Kriemhild.] A tournament and banquet +ensued; but as they were about to sit down to the latter, the impatient +Siegfried ventured to remind Gunther of his promise, and claim the hand of +Kriemhild. In spite of a low-spoken remonstrance on Brunhild's part, who +said that he would surely never consent to give his only sister in marriage +to a menial, Gunther sent for Kriemhild, who blushingly expressed her +readiness to marry Siegfried if her brother wished. The marriage was +immediately celebrated, and the two bridal couples sat side by side. But +while Kriemhild's fair face was radiant with joy, Brunhild's dark brows +were drawn close together in an unmistakable and ominous frown. + +[Sidenote: Gunther's humiliation.] The banquet over, the newly married +couples retired; but when Gunther, for the first time alone with his wife, +would fain have embraced her, she seized him, and, in spite of his vigorous +resistance, bound him fast with her long girdle, suspended him from a nail +in the corner of her apartment, and, notwithstanding his piteous +entreaties, let him remain there all night long, releasing him only a few +moments before the attendants entered the nuptial chamber in the morning. +Of course all seemed greatly surprised to see Gunther's lowering +countenance, which contrasted oddly with Siegfried's radiant mien; for the +latter had won a loving wife, and, to show his appreciation of her, had +given her as wedding gift the great Nibelungen hoard. + +In the course of the day Gunther managed to draw Siegfried aside, and +secretly confided to him the shameful treatment he had received at his +wife's hands. When Siegfried heard this he offered to don his cloud-cloak +once more, enter the royal chamber unperceived, and force Brunhild to +recognize her husband as her master, and never again make use of her +strength against him. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild subdued by Siegfried.] In pursuance of this promise +Siegfried suddenly left Kriemhild's side at nightfall, stole unseen into +the queen's room, and when she and Gunther had closed the door, he blew out +the lights and wrestled with Brunhild until she begged for mercy, promising +never to bind him again; for as Siegfried had remained invisible throughout +the struggle, she thought it was Gunther who had conquered her. + + "Said she, 'Right noble ruler, vouchsafe my life to spare; + Whatever I've offended, my duty shall repair. + I'll meet thy noble passion; my love with thine shall vie. + That thou canst tame a woman, none better knows than I.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +Still unperceived, Siegfried now took her girdle and ring, and stole out of +the apartment, leaving Gunther alone with his wife; but, true to her +promise, Brunhild ever after treated her husband with due respect, and +having once for all been conquered, she entirely lost the fabulous strength +which had been her proudest boast, and was no more powerful than any other +member of her sex. + +After fourteen days of rejoicing, Siegfried and Kriemhild (the latter +escorted by her faithful steward Eckewart) journeyed off to Xanten on the +Rhine, where Siegmund and Siegelind received them joyfully, and even +abdicated in their favor. + +Ten years passed away very rapidly indeed. Siegfried became the father of a +son, whom he named Gunther, in honor of his brother-in-law, who had called +his heir Siegfried; and when Siegelind had seen her little grandson she +departed from this world. Siegfried, with Kriemhild, his father, and his +son, then went to the Nibelungen land, where they tarried two years. + +In the mean while Brunhild, still imagining that Siegfried was only her +husband's vassal, secretly wondered why he never came to court to do homage +for his lands, and finally suggested to Gunther that it would be well to +invite his sister and her husband to visit them at Worms. Gunther seized +this suggestion gladly, and immediately sent one of his followers, Gary, to +deliver the invitation, which Siegfried accepted for himself and his wife, +and also for Siegmund, his father. + +As they were bidden for midsummer, and as the journey was very long, +Kriemhild speedily began her preparations; and when she left home she +cheerfully intrusted her little son to the care of the stalwart Nibelung +knights, little suspecting that she would never see him again. + +On Kriemhild's arrival at Worms, Brunhild greeted her with as much pomp and +ceremony as had been used for her own reception; but in spite of the amity +which seemed to exist between the two queens, Brunhild was secretly angry +at what she deemed Kriemhild's unwarrantable arrogance. + +[Sidenote: Brunhild and Kreimhild.] One day, when the two queens were +sitting together, Brunhild, weary of hearing Kriemhild's constant praise of +her husband, who she declared was without a peer in the world, cuttingly +remarked that since he was Gunther's vassal he must necessarily be his +inferior. This remark called forth a retort from Kriemhild, and a dispute +was soon raging, in the course of which Kriemhild vowed that she would +publicly assert her rank by taking the precedence of Brunhild in entering +the church. The queens parted in hot anger, but both immediately proceeded +to attire themselves with the utmost magnificence, and, escorted by all +their maids, met at the church door. Brunhild there bade Kriemhild stand +aside and make way for her superior; but this order so angered the +Nibelungen queen that the dispute was resumed in public with increased +vehemence and bitterness. + +In her indignation Kriemhild finally insulted Brunhild grossly by declaring +that she was not a faithful wife; and in proof of her assertion she +produced the ring and girdle which Siegfried had won in his memorable +encounter with her, and which he had imprudently given to his wife, to whom +he had also confided the secret of Brunhild's wooing. + +Brunhild indignantly summoned Gunther to defend her, and he, in anger, sent +for Siegfried, who publicly swore that his wife had not told the truth, and +that Gunther's queen had in no way forfeited her good name. Further to +propitiate his host, Siegfried declared the quarrel to be disgraceful, and +promised to teach his wife better manners for the future, advising Gunther +to do the same with his consort. + + "'Women must be instructed,' said Siegfried the good knight, + 'To leave off idle talking and rule their tongues aright. + Keep thy fair wife in order. I'll do by mine the same. + Such overweening folly puts me indeed to shame.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To carry out this good resolution he led Kriemhild home, where, sooth to +say, he beat her black and blue,--an heroic measure which Gunther did not +dare to imitate. + +Brunhild, smarting from the public insult received, continued to weep aloud +and complain, until Hagen, inquiring the cause of her extravagant grief, +and receiving a highly colored version of the affair, declared that he +would see that she was duly avenged. + + "He ask'd her what had happen'd--wherefore he saw her weep; + She told him all the story; he vow'd to her full deep + That reap should Kriemhild's husband as he had dar'd to sow, + Or that himself thereafter content should never know." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +To keep this promise, Hagen next tried to stir up the anger of Gunther, +Gernot, and Ortwine, and to prevail upon them to murder Siegfried; but +Giselher reproved him for these base designs, and openly took Siegfried's +part, declaring: + + "'Sure 'tis but a trifle to stir an angry wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although he succeeded in quelling the attempt for the time being, he +was no match for the artful Hagen, who continually reminded Gunther of the +insult his wife had received, setting it in the worst possible light, and +finally so worked upon the king's feelings that he consented to a +treacherous assault. + +[Sidenote: Hagen's treachery.] Under pretext that his former enemy, +Ludeger, was about to attack him again, Gunther asked Siegfried's +assistance, and began to prepare as if for war. When Kriemhild heard that +her beloved husband was about to rush into danger she was greatly troubled. +Hagen artfully pretended to share her alarm, and so won her confidence that +she revealed to him that Siegfried was invulnerable except in one spot, +between his shoulders, where a lime leaf had rested and the dragon's blood +had not touched him. + + "'So now I'll tell the secret, dear friend, alone to thee + (For thou, I doubt not, cousin, wilt keep thy faith with me), + Where sword may pierce my darling, and death sit on the thrust. + See, in thy truth and honor how full, how firm, my trust! + + "'As from the dragon's death-wounds gush'd out the crimson gore, + With the smoking torrent the warrior wash'd him o'er, + A leaf then 'twixt his shoulders fell from the linden bough. + There only steel can harm him; for that I tremble now.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Pretending a sympathy he was far from feeling, and disguising his unholy +joy, Hagen bade Kriemhild sew a tiny cross on Siegfried's doublet over the +vulnerable spot, that he might the better protect him in case of danger, +and, after receiving her profuse thanks, returned to report the success of +his ruse to the king. When Siegfried joined them on the morrow, wearing the +fatal marked doublet, he was surprised to hear that the rebellion had been +quelled without a blow; and when invited to join in a hunt in the Odenwald +instead of the fray, he gladly signified his consent. After bidding +farewell to Kriemhild, whose heart was sorely oppressed by dark +forebodings, he joined the hunting party. He scoured the forest, slew +several boars, caught a bear alive, and playfully let him loose in camp to +furnish sport for the guests while the noonday meal was being prepared. +Then he gaily sat down, clamoring for a drink. His exertions had made him +very thirsty indeed, and he was sorely disappointed when told that, owing +to a mistake, the wine had been carried to another part of the forest. But +when Hagen pointed out a fresh spring at a short distance, all his wonted +good humor returned, and he merrily proposed a race thither, offering to +run in full armor, while the others might lay aside their cumbersome +weapons. This challenge was accepted by Hagen and Gunther. Although heavily +handicapped, Siegfried reached the spring first; but, wishing to show +courtesy to his host, he bade him drink while he disarmed. When Gunther's +thirst was quenched, Siegfried took his turn, and while he bent over the +water Hagen treacherously removed all his weapons except his shield, and +gliding behind him, drove his spear through his body in the exact spot +where Kriemhild had embroidered the fatal mark. + +[Sidenote: Death of Siegfried.] Mortally wounded, Siegfried made a +desperate effort to avenge himself; but finding nothing but his shield +within reach, he flung it with such force at his murderer that it knocked +him down. This last effort exhausted the remainder of his strength, and the +hero fell back upon the grass, cursing the treachery of those whom he had +trusted as friends. + + "Thus spake the deadly wounded: 'Ay, cowards false as hell! + To you I still was faithful; I serv'd you long and well;-- + But what boots all?--for guerdon treason and death I've won. + By your friends, vile traitors! foully have you done. + + "'Whoever shall hereafter from your loins be born, + Shall take from such vile fathers a heritage of scorn. + On me you have wreak'd malice where gratitude was due; + With shame shall you be banish'd by all good knights and true.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +But even in death Siegfried could not forget his beloved wife; and laying +aside all his anger, he pathetically recommended her to Gunther's care, +bidding him guard her well. Siegfried expired as soon as these words were +uttered; and the hunters silently gathered around his corpse, regretfully +contemplating the fallen hero, while they took counsel together how they +might keep the secret of Hagen's treachery. They finally agreed to carry +the body back to Worms and to say that they had found Siegfried dead in the +forest, where he had presumably been slain by highwaymen. + + "Then many said, repenting, 'This deed will prove our bale; + Still let us shroud the secret, and all keep in one tale,-- + That the good lord of Kriemhild to hunt alone preferr'd, + And so was slain by robbers as through the wood he spurr'd.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although his companions were anxious to shield him, Hagen gloried in +his dastardly deed, and secretly bade the bearers deposit Siegfried's +corpse at Kriemhild's door after nightfall, so that she should be the first +to see it there when on her way to early mass. As he fully expected, +Kriemhild immediately recognized her husband, and fell senseless upon him; +but when she had recovered consciousness she declared, while loudly +bewailing her loss, that Siegfried was the victim of an assassination. + + "'Woe's me, woe's me forever! sure no fair foeman's sword + Shiver'd thy failing buckler; 'twas murder stopp'd thy breath. + Oh that I knew who did it! death I'd requite with death!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +By her orders a messenger was sent to break the mournful tidings to the +still sleeping Siegmund and the Nibelungs. They hastily armed and rallied +about her, and would have fallen upon the Burgundians, to avenge their +master's death, had she not restrained them, bidding them await a suitable +occasion, and promising them her support when the right time came. + +[Sidenote: Detection of Siegfried's murderer.] The preparations for a +sumptuous funeral were immediately begun, and all lent a willing hand, for +Siegfried was greatly beloved at Worms. His body was therefore laid in +state in the cathedral, where all came to view it and condole with +Kriemhild; but when Gunther drew near to express his sorrow, she refused to +listen to him until he promised that all those present at the hunt should +touch the body, which at the murderer's contact would bleed afresh. All +stood the test and were honorably acquitted save Hagen, at whose touch +Siegfried's blood began to flow. + + "It is a mighty marvel, which oft e'en now we spy, + That when the blood-stain'd murderer comes to the murder'd nigh, + The wounds break out a-bleeding; then too the same befell, + And thus could each beholder the guilt of Hagen tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Once more Kriemhild restrained the angry Nibelung warriors from taking +immediate revenge, and, upheld by Gernot and Giselher, who really +sympathized with her grief, she went through the remainder of the funeral +ceremonies and saw her hero duly laid at rest. + +Kriemhild's mourning had only begun. All her days and nights were now spent +in bitter weeping. This sorrow was fully shared by Siegmund, who, however, +finally roused himself and proposed a return home. Kriemhild was about to +accompany him, when her relatives persuaded her to remain in Burgundy. Then +the little band which had come in festal array rode silently away in +mourning robes, the grim Nibelung knights muttering dark threats against +those who had dealt so basely with their beloved master. + + "'Into this same country we well may come again + To seek and find the traitor who laid our master low. + Among the kin of Siegfried they have many a mortal foe.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Nibelungen hoard.] Eckewart the steward alone remained with +Kriemhild, with a faithfulness which has become proverbial in the German +language, and prepared for his mistress a dwelling close by the cathedral, +so that she might constantly visit her husband's tomb. Here Kriemhild spent +three years in complete seclusion, refusing to see Gunther, or the detested +Hagen; but they, remembering that the immense Nibelungen hoard was hers by +right, continually wondered how she could be induced to send for it. Owing +to Hagen's advice, Gunther, helped by his brothers, finally obtained an +interview with, and was reconciled to, his mourning sister, and shortly +after persuaded her to send twelve men to claim from Alberich, the dwarf, +the fabulous wealth her husband had bestowed upon her as a wedding gift. + + "It was made up of nothing but precious stones and gold; + Were all the world bought from it, and down the value told, + Not a mark the less thereafter were left than erst was scor'd. + Good reason sure had Hagen to covet such a hoard. + + "And thereamong was lying the wishing rod of gold, + Which whoso could discover, might in subjection hold + All this wide world as master, with all that dwelt therein. + There came to Worms with Gernot full many of Albric's kin." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although this wealth is said to have filled nearly one hundred and +fifty wagons, Kriemhild would gladly have given it all away could she but +have seen her husband by her side once more. Not knowing what else to do +with it, she gave away her gold right and left, bidding all the recipients +of her bounty pray for Siegfried's soul. Her largesses were so extensive +that Hagen, who alone did not profit by her generosity, and who feared the +treasure might be exhausted before he could obtain a share, sought out +Gunther and told him that Kriemhild was secretly winning to her side many +adherents, whom she would some day urge to avenge her husband's murder by +slaying her kindred. + +[Illustration: SIEGFRIED'S BODY BORNE HOME BY THE HUNTSMEN.--Pixis.] + +While Gunther was trying to devise some plan to obtain possession of the +hoard, Hagen boldly seized the keys of the tower where it was kept, +secretly removed all the gold, and, to prevent its falling into any hands +but his own, sank it in the Rhine near Lochheim. + + "Ere back the king came thither, impatient of delay, + Hagen seized the treasure, and bore it thence away. + Into the Rhine at Lochheim the whole at once threw he! + Henceforth he thought t'enjoy it, but that was ne'er to be. + + "He nevermore could get it for all his vain desire; + So fortune oft the traitor cheats of his treason's hire. + Alone he hop'd to use it as long as he should live, + But neither himself could profit, nor to another give." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +When Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher heard what Hagen had done, they were so +angry that he deemed it advisable to withdraw from court for a while. +Kriemhild would fain have left Burgundy forever at this fresh wrong, but +with much difficulty was prevailed upon to remain and take up her abode at +Lorch, whither Siegfried's remains were removed by her order. + +[Sidenote: King of Hungary a suitor for Kriemhild.] Thirteen years had +passed by since Siegfried's death in the Odenwald when Etzel, King of +Hungary, who had lost his beautiful and beloved wife, Helche, bade one of +his knights, Ruediger of Bechlaren, ride to Worms and sue for the hand of +Kriemhild in his master's name. + +Ruediger immediately gathered together a suitable train and departed, +stopping on the way to visit his wife and daughter at Bechlaren. Passing +all through Bavaria, he arrived at last at Worms, where he was warmly +welcomed, by Hagen especially, who had formerly known him well. + +In reply to Gunther's courteous inquiry concerning the welfare of the King +and Queen of the Huns, Ruediger announced the death of the latter, and +declared that he had come to sue for Kriemhild's hand. + + "Thereon the highborn envoy his message freely told: + 'King, since you have permitted, I'll to your ears unfold + Wherefore my royal master me to your court has sent, + Plung'd as he is in sorrow and doleful dreariment. + + "'It has been told my master, Sir Siegfried now is dead, + And Kriemhild left a widow. If thus they both have sped, + Would you but permit her, she the crown shall wear + Before the knights of Etzel; this bids me my good lord declare.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Gunther gladly received this message, promised to do all in his power to +win Kriemhild's consent, and said that he would give the envoy a definite +answer in three days' time. He then consulted his brothers and nobles as to +the advisability of the proposed alliance, and found that all were greatly +in favor of it save Hagen, who warned them that if Kriemhild were ever +Queen of the Huns she would use her power to avenge her wrongs. + +[Sidenote: Ruediger's promise.] This warning was, however, not heeded by the +royal brothers, who, seeking Kriemhild's presence, vainly tried to make her +accept the Hun's proposal. All she would grant was an audience to Ruediger, +who laid before her his master's proposal, described the power of the Huns, +and swore to obey her in all things would she but consent to become his +queen. + + "In vain they her entreated, in vain to her they pray'd, + Till to the queen the margrave this secret promise made,-- + He'd 'full amends procure her for past or future ill.' + Those words her storm-tost bosom had power in part to still." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The journey to Hungary.] After receiving this promise, Kriemhild +signified her consent, and immediately prepared to accompany Ruediger to +King Etzel's court. Eckewart and all her maidens accompanied her, with five +hundred men as a bodyguard; and Gernot and Giselher, with many Burgundian +nobles, escorted her to Vergen on the Danube, where they took an +affectionate leave of her, and went back to their home in Burgundy. + +From Vergen, Kriemhild and her escort journeyed on to Passau, where they +were warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by good Bishop Pilgrim, +brother of Queen Ute. He would gladly have detained them, had not Ruediger +declared that his master impatiently awaited the coming of his bride, which +had duly been announced to him. + +A second pause was made at Bechlaren, Ruediger's castle, where Kriemhild was +entertained by his wife and daughter, Gotelinde and Dietelinde, and where +the usual lavish distribution of gifts took place. Then the procession +swept on again across the country and down the Danube, until they met King +Etzel, whom Kriemhild graciously kissed, and who obtained a similar favor +for his brother and a few of his principal nobles. + +[Sidenote: The marriage at Vienna.] After witnessing some tilting and other +martial games, the king and queen proceeded to Vienna, where a triumphal +reception awaited them, and where their marriage was celebrated with all +becoming solemnity and great pomp. The wedding festivities lasted seventeen +days; but although all vied in their attempts to please Kriemhild, she +remained sad and pensive, for she could not forget her beloved Siegfried +and the happy years she had spent with him. + +The royal couple next journeyed on to Gran, Etzel's capital, where +Kriemhild found innumerable handmaidens ready to do her will, and where +Etzel was very happy with his new consort. His joy was complete, however, +only when she bore him a son, who was baptized in the Christian faith, and +called Ortlieb. + +Although thirteen years had now elapsed since Kriemhild had left her native +land, the recollection of her wrongs was as vivid as ever, her melancholy +just as profound, and her thoughts were ever busy planning how best to lure +Hagen into her kingdom so as to work her revenge. + + "One long and dreary yearning she foster'd hour by hour; + She thought, 'I am so wealthy and hold such boundless power, + That I with ease a mischief can bring on all my foes, + But most on him of Trony, the deadliest far of those. + + "'Full oft for its beloved my heart is mourning still; + Them could I but meet with, who wrought me so much ill, + Revenge should strike at murder, and life atone for life; + Wait can I no longer.' So murmur'd Etzel's wife." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's plot.] Kriemhild finally decided to persuade Etzel +to invite all her kinsmen for a midsummer visit, which the king, not +dreaming of her evil purpose, immediately hastened to do. Two minstrels, +Werbel and Swemmel, were sent with the most cordial invitation. Before they +departed Kriemhild instructed them to be sure and tell all her kinsmen that +she was blithe and happy, and not melancholy as of yore, and to use every +effort to bring not only the kings, but also Hagen, who, having been at +Etzel's court as hostage in his youth, could best act as their guide. + +The minstrels were warmly received at Worms, where their invitation created +great excitement. All were in favor of accepting it except Hagen, who +objected that Kriemhild had cause for anger and would surely seek revenge +when they were entirely in her power. + + "'Trust not, Sir King,' said Hagen, 'how smooth soe'er they be, + These messengers from Hungary; if Kriemhild you will see, + You put upon the venture your honor and your life. + A nurse of ling'ring vengeance is Etzel's moody wife.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But all his objections were set aside with the remark that he alone had a +guilty conscience; and the kings bade the minstrels return to announce +their coming, although Ute also tried to keep them at home. Hagen, who was +no coward, seeing them determined to go, grimly prepared to accompany them, +and prevailed upon them to don their strongest armor for the journey. + +Gunther was accompanied by both his brothers, by Hagen, Dankwart, Volker +(his minstrel), Gary, and Ortwine, and by one thousand picked men as +escort. Before leaving he intrusted his wife, Brunhild, and his son to the +care of Rumolt, his squire, and bidding farewell to his people, set out for +Hungary, whence he was never to return. + +In the mean while the Hungarian minstrels had hastened back to Gran to +announce the guests' coming, and, upon being closely questioned by +Kriemhild, described Hagen's grim behavior, and repeated his half-muttered +prophecy: "This jaunt's a jaunt to death." + +The Burgundians, who in this part of the poem are frequently called +Nibelungs (because they now held the great hoard), reached the Danube on +the twelfth day. As they found neither ford nor ferry, Hagen, after again +prophesying all manner of evil, volunteered to go in search of a boat or +raft to cross the rapid stream. + +[Sidenote: Prophecy of the swan maidens.] He had not gone very far before +he heard the sound of voices, and, peeping through the bushes, saw some +swan maidens, or "wise women," bathing in a neighboring fountain. Stealing +up unperceived, he secured their plumage, which he consented to restore +only after they had predicted the result of his journey. To obtain her +garments, one of the women, Hadburg, prophesied great good fortune; but +when the pilfered robes were restored, another, called Siegelind, foretold +much woe. + + "'I will warn thee, Hagen, thou son of Aldrian; + My aunt has lied unto thee her raiment back to get; + If once thou com'st to Hungary, thou'rt taken in the net. + + "'Turn while there's time for safety, turn, warriors most and least; + For this, and for this only, you're bidden to the feast, + That you perforce may perish in Etzel's bloody land. + Whoever rideth thither, Death has he close at hand.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After adding that the chaplain alone would return alive to Worms, she told +Hagen that he would find a ferryman on the opposite side of the river, +farther down, but that he would not obey his call unless he declared his +name to be Amelrich. + +Hagen, after leaving the wise women, soon saw the ferryman's boat anchored +to the opposite shore, and failing to make him come over for a promised +reward, he cried out that his name was Amelrich. The ferryman immediately +crossed, but when Hagen sprang into his boat he detected the fraud and +began to fight. Although gigantic in size, this ferryman was no match for +Hagen, who, after slaying him, took possession of the boat and skillfully +ferried his masters and companions across the river. + +In hope of giving the lie to the swan maidens, Hagen paused once in the +middle of the stream to fling the chaplain overboard, thinking he would +surely drown; but to his surprise and dismay the man struggled back to the +shore, where he stood alone and unharmed, and whence he slowly wended his +way back to Burgundy. Hagen now knew that the swan maidens' prophecy was +destined to be fulfilled. Nevertheless he landed on the opposite shore, +where he bade the main part of the troop ride on ahead, leaving him and +Dankwart to bring up the rear, for he fully expected that Gelfrat, master +of the murdered ferryman, would pursue them to avenge the latter's death. +These previsions were soon verified, and in the bloody encounter which +ensued, Hagen came off victor, with the loss of but four men, while the +enemy left more than one hundred dead upon the field. + +[Sidenote: The first warning.] Hagen joined the main body of the army once +more, passed on with it to Passau, where Bishop Pilgrim was as glad to see +his nephews as he had been to welcome his niece, and from thence went on to +the frontiers of Bechlaren. There they found Eckewart, who had been sent by +Ruediger to warn them not to advance any farther, as he suspected that some +treachery was afoot. + + "Sir Eckewart replied: + 'Yet much, I own, it grieves me that to the Huns you ride. + You took the life of Siegfried; all hate you deadly here; + As your true friend I warn you; watch well, and wisely fear.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +As the Burgundians would have deemed themselves forever disgraced were they +to withdraw from their purpose, they refused to listen to this warning, +and, entering Ruediger's castle, were warmly received by him and his family. +Giselher, seeing the beauty of the maiden Dietelinde, fell deeply in love +with her, and prevailed upon the margrave to consent to their immediate +marriage, promising, however, to claim and bear away his bride only upon +his homeward journey. Once more gifts were lavished with mediaeval +profusion, Gunther receiving a coat of mail, Gernot a sword, Hagen a +shield, and the minstrel Volker many rings of red gold. + +[Sidenote: The second warning.] Ruediger then escorted the Burgundians until +they met the brave Dietrich von Bern (Verona), who also warned them that +their visit was fraught with danger, for Kriemhild had by no means +forgotten the murder of the husband of her youth. + +His evil prognostications were also of no avail, and he sadly accompanied +them until they met Kriemhild, who embraced Giselher only. Then, turning +suddenly upon Hagen, she inquired aloud, in the presence of all the people, +whether he had brought her back her own, the Nibelung hoard. Nothing +daunted by this sudden query, Hagen haughtily answered that the treasure +still lay deep in the Rhine, where he fancied it would rest until the +judgment day. + + "'I' faith, my Lady Kriemhild, 'tis now full many a day + Since in my power the treasure of the Nibelungers lay. + In the Rhine my lords bade sink it; I did their bidding fain, + And in the Rhine, I warrant, till doomsday 'twill remain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +The queen turned her back contemptuously upon him, and invited her other +guests to lay aside their weapons, for none might enter the great hall +armed. This Hagen refused to allow them to do, saying that he feared +treachery; and the queen, pretending great grief, inquired who could have +filled her kinsmen's hearts with such unjust suspicions. Sir Dietrich then +boldly stepped forward, defied Kriemhild, and declared that it was he who +had bidden the Burgundians be thus on their guard. + + "''Twas I that the warning to the noble princes gave, + And to their liegeman Hagen, to whom such hate thou bear'st. + Now up, she-fiend! be doing, and harm me if thou dar'st!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Alliance between Hagen and Volker.] Although the thirst for +revenge now made her a "she-fiend," as he termed her, Kriemhild did not +dare openly to attack Dietrich, whom all men justly feared; and she quickly +concealed her anger, while Etzel advanced in his turn to welcome his +guests; and especially singled out Hagen, his friend's son. While many of +the Burgundians accompanied the king into the hall, Hagen drew Volker +aside, and, sitting down on a stone seat near Kriemhild's door, entered +into a life-and-death alliance with him. Kriemhild, looking out of her +window, saw him there and bade her followers go out and slay him; but +although they numbered four hundred, they hung back, until the queen, +thinking that they doubted her assertions, volunteered to descend alone and +wring from Hagen a confession of his crimes, while they lingered within +earshot inside the building. Volker, seeing the queen approach, proposed to +Hagen to rise and show her the customary respect; but the latter, declaring +that she would ascribe this token of decorum to fear alone, grimly bade him +remain seated, and, when she addressed him, boldly acknowledged that he +alone had slain Siegfried. + + "Said he, 'Why question further? that were a waste of breath. + In a word, I am e'en Hagen, who Siegfried did to death. + + * * * * * + + "'What I have done, proud princess, I never will deny. + The cause of all the mischief, the wrong, the loss, am I. + So now, or man or woman, revenge it whoso will; + I scorn to speak a falsehood,--I've done you grievous ill.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +But although the warriors had heard every word he said, and the queen again +urged them on to attack her foe, they one and all withdrew after meeting +one of Hagen's threatening glances. This episode, however, was enough to +show the Burgundians very plainly what they could expect, and Hagen and +Volker soon joined their companions, keeping ever side by side, according +to their agreement. + + "Howe'er the rest were coupled, as mov'd to court the train, + Folker and Hagen parted ne'er again, + Save in one mortal struggle, e'en to their dying hour." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +After banqueting with Etzel the guests were led to their appointed +quarters, far remote from those of their squires; and when the Huns began +to crowd them, Hagen again frightened them off with one of his black looks. +When the hall where they were to sleep was finally reached, the knights all +lay down to rest except Hagen and Volker, who mounted guard, the latter +beguiling the hours by playing on his fiddle. + +Once, in the middle of the night, these self-appointed sentinels saw an +armed troop draw near; but when they loudly challenged the foremost men, +they beat a hasty retreat. At dawn of day the knights arose to go to mass, +wearing their arms by Hagen's advice, keeping well together, and presenting +such a threatening aspect that Kriemhild's men dared not attack them. + +In spite of all these signs, Etzel remained entirely ignorant of his wife's +evil designs, and continued to treat the Burgundians like friends and +kinsmen. + + "How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin, + Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, + He had at once prevented what afterwards befell. + Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs + to tell." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Beginning of hostilities.] After mass a tournament was held, +Dietrich and Ruediger virtuously abstaining from taking part in it, lest +some mishap should occur through their bravery, and fan into flames the +smoldering fire of discord. In spite of all these precautions, however, the +threatened disruption nearly occurred when Volker accidentally slew a Hun; +and it was avoided only by King Etzel's prompt interference. + +Kriemhild, hearing of this accident, vainly tried to use it as an excuse to +bribe Dietrich, or his man Hildebrand, to slay her foe. She finally won +over Bloedelin, the king's brother, by promising him a fair bride. To earn +this reward the prince went with an armed host to the hall where all the +Burgundian squires were feasting under Dankwart's care, and there +treacherously slew them all, Dankwart alone escaping to the king's hall to +join his brother Hagen. + +In the mean while Etzel was entertaining his mailed guests, and had sent +for his little son, whom he placed in Gunther's lap, telling him that he +would soon send the boy to Burgundy to be educated among his mother's kin. + +All admired the graceful child except Hagen, who gruffly remarked that the +child appeared more likely to die early than to live to grow up. He had +just finished this rude speech, which filled Etzel's heart with dismay, +when Dankwart burst into the room, exclaiming that all his companions had +been slain, and calling to Hagen for aid. + + "'Be stirring, brother Hagen; you're sitting all too long. + To you and God in heaven our deadly strait I plain: + Yeomen and knights together lie in their quarters slain.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Ortlieb slain.] The moment Hagen heard these tidings he sprang +to his feet, drew his sword, and bade Dankwart guard the door and prevent +the ingress or egress of a single Hungarian. Then he struck off the head of +the child Ortlieb, which bounded into Kriemhild's lap, cut off the minstrel +Werbel's hand, and began hewing right and left among the Hungarians, aided +by all his companions, who manfully followed his example. + +Dismayed at this sudden turn of affairs, the aged King Etzel "sat in mortal +anguish," helplessly watching the massacre, while Kriemhild shrieked aloud +to Dietrich to protect her from her foes. Moved to pity by her evident +terror, Dietrich blew a resounding blast on his horn, and Gunther paused in +his work of destruction to inquire how he might serve the man who had ever +shown himself a friend. Dietrich answered by asking for a safe-conduct out +of the hall for himself and his followers, which was immediately granted. + + "'Let me with your safe-conduct this hall of Etzel's leave, + And quit this bloody banquet with those who follow me; + And for this grace forever I'll at your service be.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: The massacre.] Dietrich von Bern then passed out of the hall +unmolested, leading the king by one hand and the queen by the other, and +closely followed by all his retainers. This same privilege was granted to +Ruediger and his five hundred men; but when these had all passed out, the +Burgundians renewed the bloody fight, nor paused until all the Huns in the +hall were slain, and everything was reeking with blood. + +Then the Burgundians gathered up the corpses, which they flung down the +staircase, at the foot of which Etzel stood, helplessly wringing his hands, +and vainly trying to discover some means of stopping the fight. + +Kriemhild, in the mean while, was actively employed in gathering men, +promising large rewards to any one who would attack and slay Hagen. Urged +on by her, Iring attempted to force an entrance, but was soon driven back; +and when he would have made a second assault, Hagen ruthlessly slew him. + +Irnfried the Thuringian, and Hawart the Dane, seeing him fall, rushed +impetuously upon the Burgundians to avenge him; but both fell under Hagen's +and Volker's mighty blows, while their numerous followers were all slain by +the other Burgundians. + + "A thousand and four together had come into the hall; + You might see the broadswords flashing rise and fall; + Soon the bold intruders all dead together lay; + Of those renown'd Burgundians strange marvels one might say." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Etzel and the Huns were mourning over their dead; so the weary Burgundians +removed their helmets and rested, while Kriemhild continued to muster new +troops to attack her kinsmen, who were still strongly intrenched in the +great hall. + + "'Twas e'en on a midsummer befell that murderous fight, + When on her nearest kinsmen and many a noble knight + Dame Kriemhild wreak'd the anguish that long in heart she bore, + Whence inly griev'd King Etzel, nor joy knew evermore. + + "Yet on such sweeping slaughter at first she had not thought; + She only had for vengeance on one transgressor sought. + She wish'd that but on Hagen the stroke of death might fall; + 'Twas the foul fiend's contriving that they should perish all." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +An attempt was now made by the Burgundians to treat with Etzel for a +safe-conduct. Obdurate at first, he would have yielded had not Kriemhild +advised him to pursue the feud to the bitter end, unless her brothers +consented to surrender Hagen to her tender mercies. This, of course, +Gunther absolutely refused to do; so Kriemhild gave secret orders that the +hall in which the Burgundians were intrenched should be set on fire. +Surrounded by bitter foes, blinded by smoke, and overcome by the heat, the +Burgundians still held their own, slaking their burning thirst by drinking +the blood of the slain, and taking refuge from the flames under the stone +arches which supported the ceiling of the hall. + +[Sidenote: Ruediger's oath.] Thus they managed to survive that terrible +night; but when morning dawned and the queen heard that they were still +alive, she bade Ruediger go forth and fight them. He refused until she +reminded him or the solemn oath he had sworn to her in Worms before she +would consent to accompany him to Hungary. + + "'Now think upon the homage that once to me you swore, + When to the Rhine, good warrior, King Etzel's suit you bore, + That you would serve me ever to either's dying day. + Ne'er can I need so deeply that you that vow should pay.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Torn by conflicting feelings and urged by opposite oaths,--for he had also +sworn to befriend the Burgundians,--Ruediger now vainly tried to purchase +his release by the sacrifice of all his possessions. At last, goaded to +madness, he yielded to the king's and queen's entreaties, armed his +warriors, and drew near the hall where his former guests were intrenched. +At first they could not believe that Ruediger had any hostile intentions; +but when he pathetically informed them that he must fight, and recommended +his wife and daughter to their care in case he fell, they silently allowed +him and his followers to enter the hall, and grimly renewed the bloody +conflict. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ruediger.] Ruediger, after slaying many foes, encountered +Gernot wielding the sword he had given him; and these two doughty champions +finally slew each other. All the followers of Ruediger also fell; and when +Kriemhild, who was anxiously awaiting the result of this new attack in the +court below, saw his corpse among the slain, she began to weep and bemoan +her loss. The mournful tidings of Ruediger's death soon spread all over the +town, and came finally to the ears of Dietrich von Bern, who bade his man +Hildebrand go and claim the corpse from his Burgundian friends. + +Hildebrand went thither with an armed force, but some of his men +unfortunately began to bandy words with the Burgundians, and this soon +brought about an impetuous fight. In the ensuing battle all the Burgundians +fell except Gunther and Hagen, while Hildebrand escaped sore wounded to his +master, Dietrich von Bern. When this hero heard that his nephew and vassals +were all slain, he quickly armed himself, and, after vainly imploring +Gunther and Hagen to surrender, fell upon them with an armed force. The two +sole remaining Burgundians were now so exhausted that Dietrich soon managed +to take them captive. He led them bound to Kriemhild, and implored her to +have pity upon them and spare their lives. + + "'Fair and noble Kriemhild,' thus Sir Dietrich spake, + Spare this captive warrior, who full amends will make + For all his past transgressions; him here in bonds you see; + Revenge not on the fetter'd th' offenses of the free.'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild's cruelty.] By the queen's orders, Gunther and Hagen +were confined in separate cells. There she soon sought the latter, +promising him his liberty if he would but reveal the place where her +treasure was concealed. But Hagen, mistrusting her, declared that he had +solemnly sworn never to reveal the secret as long as one of his masters +breathed. Kriemhild, whose cruelty had long passed all bounds, left him +only to have her brother Gunther beheaded, and soon returned carrying his +head, which she showed to Hagen, commanding him to speak. But he still +refused to gratify her, and replied that since he was now the sole +depositary of the secret, it would perish with him. + + "'So now, where lies the treasure none knows save God and me, + And told it shall be never, be sure, she-fiend, to thee!'" + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +[Sidenote: Kriemhild slain.] This defiant answer so exasperated Kriemhild +that she seized the sword hanging by his side,--which she recognized as +Siegfried's favorite weapon,--and with her own hands cut off his head +before Etzel or any of his courtiers could interfere. Hildebrand, seeing +this act of treachery, sprang impetuously forward, and, drawing his sword, +slew her who had brought untold misery into the land of the Huns. + + "The mighty and the noble there lay together dead; + For this had all the people dole and drearihead. + The feast of royal Etzel was thus shut up in woe, + Pain in the steps of Pleasure treads ever here below. + + "'Tis more than I can tell you what afterwards befell, + Save that there was weeping for friends belov'd so well; + Knights and squires, dames and damsels, were seen lamenting all. + So end I here my story. This is the Nibelungers' Fall." + _Nibelungenlied_ (Lettsom's + tr.). + +Although the "Nibelungenlied" proper ends here, an appendix, probably by +another hand, called the "Lament," continues the story, and relates how +Etzel, Dietrich, and Hildebrand, in turn, extolled the high deeds and +bewailed the untimely end of each hero. Then this poem, which is as +mournful as monotonous throughout, describes the departure of the +messengers sent to bear the evil tidings and the weapons of the slain to +Worms, and their arrival at Passau, where more tears were shed and where +Bishop Pilgrim celebrated a solemn mass for the rest of the heroes' souls. + +From thence the funeral procession slowly traveled on to Worms, where the +sad news was imparted to the remaining Burgundians, who named the son of +Gunther and Brunhild as their king, and who never forgot the fatal ride to +Hungary. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +LANGOBARDIAN CYCLE OF MYTHS. + + +Although the following tales of mythical heroes have some slight historical +basis, they have been so adorned by the fancy of mediaeval bards, and so +frequently remodeled with utter disregard of all chronological sequence, +that the kernel of truth is very hard to find, and the stories must rather +be considered as depicting customs and times than as describing actual +events. They are recorded in the "Heldenbuch," or "Book of Heroes," edited +in the fifteenth century by Kaspar von der Rhoen from materials which had +been touched up by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Heinrich von Ofterdingen in +the twelfth century. The poem of "Ortnit," for instance, is known to have +existed as early as the ninth century. + +[Sidenote: The Langobards and Gepidae.] According to the poets of the +middle ages, the Gepidae and the Langobards settled in Pannonia (Hungary +and the neighboring provinces), where they were respectively governed by +Thurisind and Audoin. The sons of these two kings, having quarreled for a +trifle, met in duel soon after, and the Langobardian prince, having slain +his companion, took possession of his arms, with which he proudly returned +home. + +But when, flushed with victory, he would fain have taken his seat at his +father's board with the men at arms, Audoin gravely informed him that it +was not customary for a youth to claim a place beside tried warriors until +some foreign king had distinguished him by the present of a complete suit +of armor. Angry at being thus publicly repulsed, Alboin, the prince, strode +out of his father's hall, resolved to march into Thurisind's palace and +demand of him the required weapons. + +When the King of the Gepidae saw his son's murderer boldly enter his +palace, his first impulse was to put him to death; but, respecting the +rights of hospitality, he forbore to take immediate vengeance, and even +bestowed upon him the customary gift of arms as he departed on the morrow, +but warned him never to return, lest he should lose his life at the +warriors' hands. On leaving the palace, however, Alboin bore away the image +of little Rosamund, Thurisind's fair granddaughter, whom he solemnly swore +he would claim as wife as soon as she was of marriageable age. + +Alboin having thus received his arms from a stranger, the Langobards no +longer refused to recognize him as a full-fledged warrior, and gladly +hailed him as king when his father died. + +[Sidenote: Alboin's cruelty.] Shortly after Alboin's accession to the +throne, a quarrel arose between the Gepidae and the Langobards, or +Lombards, as they were eventually called; and war having been declared, a +decisive battle was fought, in which Thurisind and his son perished, and +all their lands fell into the conqueror's hands. With true heathen cruelty, +the Lombard king had the skulls of the Gepidae mounted as drinking vessels, +which he delighted in using on all state and festive occasions. Then, +pushing onwards, Alboin took forcible possession of his new realm and of +the tearful young Rosamund, whom he forced to become his wife, although she +shrank in horror from the murderer of all her kin and the oppressor of her +people. + +She followed him home, concealing her fears, and although she never seemed +blithe and happy, she obeyed her husband so implicitly that he fancied her +a devoted wife. He was so accustomed to Rosamund's ready compliance with +his every wish that one day, after winning a great victory over the +Ostrogoths, and conquering a province in northern Italy (where he took up +his abode, and which bears the name of his race), he bade her fill her +father's skull with wine and pledge him by drinking first out of this +repulsive cup. + +[Sidenote: Rosamund's revolt.] The queen hesitated, but, impelled by +Alboin's threatening glances and his mailed hand raised to strike her, she +tremblingly filled the cup and raised it to her lips. But then, instead of +humbly presenting it to her lord, she haughtily dashed it at his feet, and +left the hall, saying that though she had obeyed him, she would never again +live with him as his wife,--a declaration which the warriors present +secretly applauded, for they all thought that their king had been wantonly +cruel toward his beautiful wife. + +While Alboin was pondering how he might conciliate her without owning +himself in the wrong, Rosamund summoned Helmigis, the king's shield-bearer, +and finding that he would not execute her orders and murder his master in +his sleep, she secured the services of the giant Perideus. Before the +murder of the king became generally known, Rosamund and her adherents--for +she had many--secured and concealed the treasures of the Crown; and when +the nobles bade her marry a man to succeed their king, who had left no +heirs, she declared that she preferred Helmigis. + +[Sidenote: Death of Rosamund.] The Langobardian nobles indignantly refused +to recognize an armor-bearer as their king, and Rosamund, fearing their +resentment, fled by night with her treasures, and took refuge with +Longinus, viceroy of the Eastern emperor, who was intrenched in Ravenna. +Captivated by the fugitive queen's exquisite beauty, no less than by her +numerous treasures, Longinus proposed that she should poison Helmigis, and +marry him. Rosamund obediently handed the deadly cup to her faithful +adorer; but he drank only half its contents, and then, perceiving that he +was poisoned, forced her, at the point of his sword, to drink the +remainder, thus making sure that she would not long survive him. + +Longinus, thus deprived of a beautiful bride, managed to console himself +for her loss by appropriating her treasures, while the Langobardian +scepter, after having been wielded by different kings, fell at last into +the hands of Rother, the last influential monarch of a kingdom which +Charlemagne conquered in 774. + +[Sidenote: Rother.] Rother established his capital at Bari, a great seaport +in Apulia; but although his wealth was unbounded and his kingdom extensive, +he was far from happy, for he had neither wife nor child to share his home. +Seeing his loneliness, one of his courtiers, Duke Berchther (Berchtung) of +Meran, the father of twelve stalwart sons, advised him to seek a wife; and +when Rother declared that he knew of no princess pretty enough to please +his fastidious taste, the courtier produced the portrait of Oda, daughter +of Constantine, Emperor of the East. Rother fell desperately in love with +this princess at first sight. In vain Berchther warned him that the emperor +had the unpleasant habit of beheading all his daughter's would-be suitors; +Rother declared that he must make an attempt to secure this peerless bride, +and was only with great difficulty persuaded to resign the idea of wooing +in person. + +When Berchther had prevailed upon him to send an imposing embassy of twelve +noblemen, richly appareled, and attended by a large suite, Rother asked who +would undertake the mission. All the warriors maintained a neutral silence, +until seven of Berchther's sons volunteered their services, and then five +other noblemen signified their readiness to accompany them. + +To speed them on their way, Rother escorted them to the port, and, standing +on the pier, composed and sang a marvelous song. He bade them remember the +tune, and promised them that whenever they heard it they might be sure +their king was very near. + +[Sidenote: Embassy to Constantinople.] Arrived at Constantinople, the +ambassadors made known their errand, but were immediately cast into prison, +in spite of the empress's intercession in their behalf. Here the noblemen +languished month after month, in a foul dungeon, while Rother impatiently +watched for their return. When a whole year had elapsed without his having +heard any tidings, he finally resolved to go in disguise to Constantinople, +to ascertain the fate of his men and win the lovely princess Oda for his +bride. + +Berchther, hearing this decision, vowed that he would accompany him; but +although all the noblemen were anxious to escort their beloved king, he +took only a few of them with him, among whom was Asprian (Osborn), king of +the northern giants, with eleven of his tallest men. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Constantine.] Rother embarked with this little train, +and sailed for Constantinople over the summer seas; and as he sat on deck, +playing on his harp, the mermaids rose from the deep to sport around his +ship. According to a prearranged plan, Rother presented himself before +Constantine as a fugitive and outlaw, complaining bitterly of the King of +the Lombards, who, he declared, had banished him and his companions. +Pleased with the appearance of the strangers, Constantine gladly accepted +their proffered services, and invited them to a banquet, in the course of +which he facetiously described how he had received Rother's ambassadors, +who were still languishing in his dampest dungeons. This boastful talk +gradually roused the anger of the giant Asprian, who was but little +accustomed to hide his feelings; and when the emperor's pet lioness came +into the hall and playfully snatched a choice morsel out of his hand, he +impetuously sprang to his feet, caught her in his powerful grasp, and +hurled her against the wall, thus slaying her with a single blow. + +[Illustration: ASPRIAN SLAYING THE LION.--Keller.] + +Constantine was somewhat dismayed when he saw the strength, and especially +the violence, of the new servants he had secured; but he wisely took no +notice of the affair, and, when the banquet was ended, dismissed Rother and +his followers to the apartments assigned them. The Lombard king now freely +distributed the immense treasures he had brought with him, and thus secured +many adherents at court. They sang his praises so loudly that at last the +princess Oda became very anxious to see this noted outlaw. + +[Sidenote: Rother and Oda.] Bribing Herlind, one of her handmaidens, to +serve her secretly, Oda sent her to Rother to invite him to visit her. The +maiden acquitted herself adroitly of this commission; but the Langobardian +monarch, pretending exaggerated respect, declared that he would never dare +present himself before her beautiful mistress, to whom, however, he sent +many rich gifts, among which were a gold and a silver shoe. Herlind +returned to her mistress with the gifts; but when Oda would fain have put +on the shoes, she discovered that they were both for the same foot. She +then feigned a resentment she was far from feeling, and bade the handmaiden +order her father's new servant to appear before her without delay, bringing +a shoe for her other foot, unless he wished to incur her lasting +displeasure. Overjoyed at this result of his ruse, which he had foreseen, +Rother entered the princess's apartments unnoticed, proffered his most +humble apologies, fitted a pair of golden shoes on her tiny feet, and, +taking advantage of his position as he bent on one knee before her, +declared his love and rank, and won from Oda a solemn promise that she +would be his wife. + +The lovers spent some very happy hours together in intimate conversation, +and ere Rother left the apartment he prevailed upon the princess to use her +influence in behalf of his imprisoned subjects. She therefore told her +father that her peaceful rest had been disturbed by dreams, in which +heavenly voices announced that she should suffer all manner of evil unless +Rother's ambassadors were taken from prison and hospitably entertained. Oda +then wrung from Constantine a promise that the men should be temporarily +released, and feasted at his own board that selfsame evening. This promise +was duly redeemed, and the twelve ambassadors, freed from their chains, and +refreshed by warm baths and clean garments, were sumptuously entertained at +the emperor's table. While they sat there feasting, Rother entered the +hall, and, hiding behind the tapestry hangings near the door, played the +tune they had heard on the day of their departure. The hearts of the +captives bounded for joy when they heard these strains, for they knew that +their king was near and would soon effect their release. + +[Sidenote: War with Imelot.] A few days later, when the young ambassadors +had fully recovered their health and strength, Constantine was dismayed to +learn that Imelot, King of Desert Babylonia, was about to make war against +him, and wondered how he could successfully encounter such a universally +dreaded opponent. Rother, seeing his perplexity, immediately volunteered +his services, adding that if Constantine liberated the ambassadors, who +were mighty men of valor, and allowed them to fight, there would be no +doubt of his coming off conqueror in the war. The Eastern emperor gladly +followed this advice, and soon set out with Rother and all his companions. +The two armies met one evening and encamped opposite each other, intending +to begin the fight at sunrise on the morrow. During the night, however, +Rother and his companions stole into the enemy's camp, slew Imelot's +guards, and having bound and gagged him, Asprian carried him bodily out of +his tent and camp, while his companions routed all the mighty Babylonian +host. + +A few hours later they returned to the camp of Constantine, where they lay +down to rest. The emperor, entering their tent on the morrow to chide them +for their laziness, saw the captive Imelot, and heard the story of the +night's work. He was so delighted with the prowess of his allies that he +gladly consented to their return to Constantinople to announce the victory, +while he and his army remained to take possession of Desert Babylonia and +of all of Imelot's vast treasures. + +Rother and his companions returned in haste to Constantinople and rushed +into the palace; but instead of announcing a victory they told the empress +and Oda that Constantine had been defeated, that Imelot was on the way to +seize the city, and that the emperor had sent them on ahead to convey his +wife and daughter to a place of safety, with their most valuable treasures. + +[Sidenote: Kidnaping of Oda.] The empress and Oda, crediting every word of +this tale, made immediate preparations for departure, and soon joined +Rother on the pier, where his fast sailing vessel was ready to start. All +the Langobardians had already embarked, and Rother escorted the princess on +board, bidding the empress wait on the quay until he returned for her. But +as soon as he and his fair charge set foot upon deck, the vessel was pushed +off, and Rother called out to the distressed empress that he had deceived +her in order to carry away her daughter, who was now to become the +Langobardian queen. + +Constantine, on his return, was of course very angry at having been so +cleverly duped, and vainly tried to devise some plan for recovering the +daughter whom he loved so well. When a magician came, therefore, and +promised to execute his wishes, he gladly provided him with vessel and crew +to sail to Bari. The magician, disguised as a peaceful merchant, spread out +his wares as soon as he was anchored in port, and by a series of artful +questions soon ascertained that Rother was absent, and that Oda was at +home, carefully guarded by the principal nobles of the realm. When he also +learned that one of these noblemen had a crippled child, the magician +informed the people who visited his vessel to inspect his wares, that the +most precious treasure in his possession was a magic stone, which, in a +queen's hands, had the power of restoring cripples. + +The rumor of this miraculous stone reached the court, and the nobleman +persuaded the kind-hearted queen to go down to the vessel to try the +efficacy of the stone. As soon as Oda was on board, the vessel set sail, +bearing her away from her husband and back to her father's home, where she +was welcomed with great demonstrations of joy. + +Rother, coming back from the war shortly after her disappearance, +immediately prepared a vessel to go in pursuit of her, selecting his giants +and bravest noblemen to accompany him. Once more they landed at a short +distance from Constantinople, and Rother bade his men hide in a thicket, +while he went into the city, disguised as a pilgrim, and carrying under his +robe a hunting horn, which he promised to sound should he at any time find +himself in danger. + +He no sooner entered the city than he noticed with surprise that all the +inhabitants seemed greatly depressed. He questioned them concerning their +evident sadness, and learned that Imelot, having effected his escape from +captivity, had invaded the kingdom, and vowed that he would not retreat +unless Oda married his ugly and hunchbacked son that very day. + +[Sidenote: Imelot again defeated.] These tidings made Rother press on to +the palace, where, thanks to his disguise, he effected an easy entrance. +Slipping unnoticed to his wife's side, he dropped into the cup beside her a +ring upon which his name was engraved. Quick as a flash Oda recognized and +tried to hide it; but her hunchbacked suitor, sitting beside her, also +caught sight of it. He pointed out the intruder, cried that he was Rother +in disguise, and bade his guards seize him and hang him. Rother, seeing +that he was discovered, boldly stepped forward, declared that he had come +to claim his wife, and challenged the cowardly hunchback, who, however, +merely repeated his orders, and accompanied his guards to a grove outside +the city to see his captive executed. Just as they were about to fasten the +fatal noose around his neck, Rother blew a resounding blast upon his horn, +in answer to which call his followers sprang out of their ambush, slew +guards, Imelot, and hunchback, routed the imperial forces, recovered +possession of Oda, and sailed home in triumph to Lombardy. Here Oda bore +her husband a lovely little daughter called Helche (Herka), who eventually +married Etzel (Attila), King of the Huns. + + * * * * * + +[Sidenote: Ortnit.] Another renowned Lombardian king is Ortnit (Otnit), +whose realm included not only all Italy, from the Alps to the sea, but also +the island of Sicily. He had won this province by his fabulous strength, +which, we are told, was equivalent to that of twelve vigorous men. + +In spite of all outward prosperity, Ortnit was lonely and unhappy. One day, +while he was strolling along the seashore at sunset, he saw a misty castle +rise slowly out of the waves. On its topmost tower he beheld a fair maiden, +with whom he fell deeply in love at first sight. As he was gazing +spellbound at the lady's beauty, castle and maiden suddenly vanished; and +when Ortnit asked his uncle, Ylyas (Elias), Prince of the Reussen, what +this fantastic vision might mean, he learned that the castle was the exact +reproduction of the stronghold of Muntabure, and the maiden a phantom of +Princess Sidrat, daughter of the ruler of Syria, which the Fata Morgana, or +Morgana the fay, had permitted him to behold. + + "As the weary traveler sees, + In desert or prairie vast, + Blue lakes, overhung with trees, + That a pleasant shadow cast; + + "Fair towns with turrets high, + And shining roofs of gold, + That vanish as he draws nigh, + Like mists together rolled." + LONGFELLOW, _Fata Morgana_. + +Of course Ortnit vowed that he would go and ask the maiden's hand in +marriage; and although his uncle warned him that Machorell, the girl's +father, beheaded all his daughter's suitors, to use their heads as +decorations for his fortifications, the young king persisted in this +resolve. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and the magic ring.] Forced to go by sea in order to +reach Syria, Ortnit had to delay his departure until suitable preparations +had been made. During that time his mother vainly tried to dissuade him +from the undertaking. Finally, seeing that nothing could deter him from +going in search of the lovely maiden he had seen, she slipped a ring on his +hand, and bade him ride out of town in a certain direction, and dismount +under a lime tree, where he would see something marvelous. + + "'If thou wilt seek the adventure, don thy armor strong; + Far to the left thou ride the towering rocks along. + But bide thee, champion, and await, where grows a linden tree; + There, flowing from the rock, a well thine eyes will see. + + "'Far around the meadow spread the branches green; + Five hundred armed knights may stand beneath the shade, I ween. + Below the linden tree await, and thou wilt meet full soon + The marvelous adventure; there must the deed be done.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +Ortnit obeyed these instructions, dismounted in a spot which seemed +strangely familiar, and, gazing inquisitively around him, became aware of +the presence of a lovely sleeping infant. But when he attempted to take it +in his arms he found himself sprawling on the ground, knocked over by a +single blow from the child's tiny fist. Furious at his overthrow, Ortnit +began wrestling with his small assailant; but in spite of his vaunted +strength he succeeded in pinioning him only after a long struggle. + +[Sidenote: Alberich.] Unable to free himself from Ortnit's powerful grasp, +the child now confessed that he was Alberich, king of the dwarfs, and +promised Ortnit a marvelous suit of armor and the sword Rosen--which had +been tempered in dragons' blood, and was therefore considered +invulnerable--if he would only let him go. + + "'Save me, noble Otnit, for thy chivalry! + A hauberk will I give thee, strong, and of wondrous might; + Better armor never bore champion in the fight. + + "'Not eighty thousand marks would buy the hauberk bright. + A sword of mound I'll give thee, Otnit, thou royal knight; + Through armor, both of gold and steel, cuts the weapon keen; + The helmet could its edge withstand ne'er in this world was seen.'" + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +The king consented, but the moment he set the dwarf free he felt him snatch +the ring his mother had given him off his hand, and saw him mysteriously +and suddenly disappear, his voice sounding tauntingly now on one side, now +on the other. Some parley ensued before the dwarf would restore the ring, +which was no sooner replaced on the hero's hand than he once more found +himself able to see his antagonist. + +Alberich now gravely informed Ortnit that in spite of his infantile stature +he was very old indeed, having lived more than five hundred years. He then +went on to tell him that the king, whom Ortnit had until then considered +his father, had no claim to the title of parent, for he had secretly +divorced his wife, and given her in marriage to Alberich. Thus the dwarf +was Ortnit's true father, and declared himself ready now to acknowledge +their relationship and to protect his son. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit in Tyre.] After giving Ortnit the promised armor and +sword, and directing him to turn the magic ring if ever he needed a +father's aid, Alberich vanished. Ortnit, returning to town, informed his +mother that he had seen his father; and as soon as the weather permitted he +set sail for Suders (Tyre). Ortnit entered the harbor as a merchant, and +exhibited his wares to the curious people, while Alberich, at his request, +bore a challenge to Machorell, threatening to take Tyre and the castle of +Muntabure unless he were willing to accept Ortnit as son-in-law. + +The dwarf acquitted himself nobly of his task, and when Machorell +scornfully dismissed him, he hastened back to Tyre, bidding Ortnit lose no +time in surprising and taking possession of the city. This advice was so +well carried out that Ortnit soon found himself master of the city, and +marching on to Muntabure, he laid siege to the castle, restoring all his +men as soon as they were wounded by a mere touch of his magic ring. +Alberich, whom none but he could see, was allowed to lead the van and bear +the banner, which seemed to flutter aloft in a fantastic way. The dwarf +took advantage of this invisibility to scale the walls of the fortress +unseen, and hurled down the ponderous machines used to throw stones, +arrows, boiling pitch, and oil. Thus he greatly helped Ortnit, who, in the +mean while, was performing unheard-of deeds of valor, which excited the +admiration of Princess Sidrat, watching him from her tower. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit and Liebgart.] Alberich next glided to this maiden's +side, and bade her hasten to the postern gate early on the morrow, if she +would see the king. As Ortnit had been told that he would find her there, +he went thither in the early dawn, and pleaded his cause so eloquently that +Sidrat eloped with him to Lombardy. There she became his beloved queen, was +baptized in the Christian faith, and received the name of Liebgart, by +which she was ever afterward known. + +[Sidenote: The magic eggs.] The happiness of Ortnit and Liebgart was very +great, but the young queen did not feel that it was quite complete until a +giant and his wife came from her father's court bringing conciliatory +messages, and a promise that Machorell would visit his daughter in the +early spring. They also brought countless valuable presents, among which +were two huge eggs, which the giants said were priceless, as from them +could be hatched magic toads with lodestones in their foreheads. Of course +Liebgart's curiosity was greatly excited by this gift, and learning that +the giant couple would see to the hatching of the eggs and the bringing up +of the toads if a suitable place were only provided for them, she sent them +into a mountain gorge near Trient, where the climate was hot and damp +enough for the proper hatching of the toads. + +Time passed by, and the giantess Ruotze hatched dragons or lind-worms from +the huge eggs. These animals grew with alarming rapidity, and soon the +governor of the province sent word to the king that he could no longer +provide food enough for the monsters, which had become the terror of the +whole countryside. They finally proved too much even for the giants, who +were obliged to flee. When Ortnit learned that ordinary weapons had no +effect upon these dragons, he donned his magic armor and seized his sword +Rosen. He then bade Liebgart a tender farewell, telling her that if he did +not return she must marry none but the man who wore his ring, and sallied +forth to deliver his people from the ravenous monsters whom he had +thoughtlessly allowed to be bred in their midst. + +Ortnit soon dispatched the giant and giantess, who would fain have hindered +his entrance into the fatal gorge. Then he encountered the dwarf Alberich, +and was warned that he would fall victim to the pestilent dragons, which +had bred a number of young ones, destined, in time, to infest all Europe. + +In spite of these warnings, Ortnit declared that he must do his best for +the sake of his people; and having given the magic ring back to Alberich, +he continued on his way. All day long he vainly sought the monsters in the +trackless forest, until, sinking down exhausted at the foot of a tree, he +soon fell asleep. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ortnit.] This slumber was so profound that it was like +a lethargy, and the wild barking of his dog failed to waken him so that he +could prepare for the stealthy approach of the great dragon. The monster +caught the sleeping knight in his powerful claws, and dashed him against +the rocks until every bone in his body was broken into bits, although the +magic armor remained quite whole. + +Then the dragon conveyed the corpse to his den, where the little dragons +vainly tried to get at the knight to eat his flesh, being daunted by the +impenetrable armor, which would not give way. + +In the mean while Liebgart was anxiously awaiting the return of her beloved +husband; but when she saw his dog steal into the palace in evident grief, +she knew that Ortnit was dead, and mourned for him with many a tear. As he +had left no heir to succeed him, the nobles soon crowded around Liebgart, +imploring her to marry one of them and make him king of Lombardy; but she +constantly refused to listen to their wooing. + +[Sidenote: Liebgart dethroned.] Angry at her resistance, the noblemen then +took possession of treasure, palace, and kingdom, and left poor Liebgart so +utterly destitute that she was forced to support herself by spinning and +weaving. She carried on these occupations for a long time, while patiently +waiting for the coming of a knight who would avenge Ortnit's death, wear +his ring, claim her hand in marriage, and restore her to her former exalted +position as queen of Lombardy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +THE AMBLINGS. + + +[Sidenote: Hugdietrich.] While Ortnit's ancestors were ruling over +Lombardy, Anzius was Emperor of Constantinople. When about to die, this +monarch confided his infant son, Hugdietrich, to the care of Berchther of +Meran, the same who had accompanied Rother on his journey to +Constantinople. + +When Hugdietrich attained marriageable age, his tutor felt it incumbent +upon him to select a suitable wife for him. One princess only, Hildburg, +daughter of Walgund of Thessalonica, seemed to unite all the required +advantages of birth, beauty, and wealth; but unfortunately this princess's +father was averse to her marrying, and, to prevent her from having any +lovers, had locked her up in an isolated tower, where none but women were +ever admitted. + +Berchther having informed his ward of his plan, and of the difficulties +concerning its fulfillment, Hugdietrich immediately made up his mind to +bring it about, even if he had to resort to stratagem in order to win his +bride. After much cogitation he let his hair grow, learned all about +woman's work and ways, donned female garments, and journeyed off to +Thessalonica, where he presented himself before the king as a princess in +distress, and claimed his chivalrous protection. Walgund welcomed the +pretended princess warmly, and accepted her gifts of gold and embroidery. +As soon as he had shown the latter to his wife and daughter, they expressed +a lively desire to see the stranger and have her teach them to embroider +also. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Hugdietrich and Hildburg.] Hugdietrich, having thus +effected an entrance into the princess's tower as embroidery teacher, soon +managed to quiet Hildburg's alarm when she discovered that the pretended +princess was a suitor in disguise, and wooed her so successfully that she +not only allowed him to take up his abode in the tower, but also consented +to a secret union. All went on very well for some time, but finally +Hugdietrich felt it his duty to return to his kingdom; and parting from his +young wife, he solemnly promised to return ere long to claim her openly. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Wolfdietrich.] On reaching home, however, he found +himself unexpectedly detained by a war which had just broken out; and while +he was fighting, Hildburg anxiously watched for his return. Month after +month passed by without any news of him, till Hildburg, in her lonely +tower, gave birth to a little son, whose advent was kept secret by the +ingenuity and devotion of the princess's nurse. + +When the queen presented herself at the door unexpectedly one day, this +servant hastily carried the child out of the building, and set him down on +the grass in the moat, intending to come and get him in a few moments. She +could not do so, however, as the queen kept her constantly beside her, and +prolonged her visit to the next day. + + "In the moat the new-born babe meanwhile in silence lay, + Sleeping on the verdant grass, gently, all the day. + From the swathing and the bath the child had stinted weeping; + No one saw, or heard its voice, in the meadow sleeping." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +When the faithful nurse, released at last, rushed out to find her charge, +who could creep about, she could discover no trace of him; and not daring +to confide the truth to Hildburg, she informed her that she had sent the +child out to nurse. + +A few days later, Berchther of Meran arrived at Thessalonica, saying that +Hugdietrich had fallen in love with Hildburg on hearing a description of +her charms from the exiled princess, his sister, and openly suing in his +name for her hand. Instead of giving an immediate answer to this proposal, +Walgund invited the ambassador to hunt with him in a neighboring forest on +the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of Wolfdietrich.] Accidentally separated from their +respective suites, Walgund and Berchther came to a thicket near the +princess's tower, and peering through the underbrush to discover the +meaning of some strange sounds, they saw a beautiful little boy sitting on +the grass, playfully handling some young wolf cubs, whose struggles he +seemed not to mind in the least. While the two men were gazing spellbound +at this strange sight, they saw the mother wolf draw near, ready to spring +upon the innocent child and tear him limb from limb. As Berchther +skillfully flung his spear past the child and slew the wolf, Walgund sprang +forward and caught the babe in his arms, exclaiming that if he were only +sure his grandchildren would be as handsome and fearless as this little +boy, he would soon consent to his daughter's marriage. + +As the child was so small that it still required a woman's tender care, +Walgund next proposed to carry it to the tower, where his daughter and her +attendants could watch over it until it was claimed; and as Berchther +indorsed this proposal, it was immediately carried out. Hildburg received +the charge with joy, revealed by her emotion that the child was her very +own, and told her father all about her secret marriage with Hugdietrich, +whom Walgund now graciously accepted as son-in-law. + +In memory of this adventure the baby rescued from the beast of prey was +called Wolfdietrich, and he and his mother, accompanied by a nobleman named +Sabene, were escorted in state to Constantinople, where Hugdietrich +welcomed them with joy. Here they dwelt in peace for several years, at the +end of which, a war having again broken out, Hugdietrich departed, +confiding his wife and son to the care of Sabene, who now cast aside all +his pretended virtue. After insulting the queen most grossly, he began to +spread lying reports about the birth of the young heir, until the people, +doubting whether he might not be considered a mere foundling, showed some +unwillingness to recognize him as their future prince. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich in Meran.] Hugdietrich, returning home and hearing +these remarks, also began to cherish some suspicions, and, instead of +keeping Wolfdietrich at court, sent him to Meran, where Berchther brought +him up with his twelve stalwart sons, every one of whom the young prince +outshone in beauty, courage, and skill in all manly exercises. + +In the mean while Hildburg had borne two other sons, Bogen and Waxmuth, to +Hugdietrich; but seeing that Sabene was still trying to poison people's +minds against the absent Wolfdietrich, and deprive him of his rights, she +finally sought her husband, revealed the baseness of Sabene's conduct, and +had him exiled. Hugdietrich's life was unfortunately cut short a few months +after this, and when he felt that he was about to die, he disposed of all +his property, leaving the sovereignty of Constantinople to Wolfdietrich, +and making his younger sons kings of lands which he had conquered in the +south. + +[Sidenote: Hildburg banished by Sabene.] As soon as he had breathed his +last, however, the nobles of the land, who had all been won over by +Sabene's artful insinuations, declared that they would never recognize +Wolfdietrich as their ruler, but would recall Sabene watch over the two +younger kings, and exercise the royal power in their name. These measures +having been carried out, Sabene avenged himself by banishing Hildburg, who, +turned out of the imperial palace at night, was forced to make her way +alone and on foot to Meran, where her son Wolfdietrich received her gladly +and promised to protect her with his strong right arm. + +At the head of a small troop composed of Berchther and his sons, +Wolfdietrich marched to Constantinople to oust Sabene; but, in spite of all +his valor, he soon found himself defeated, and forced to retreat to the +castle of Lilienporte. Here he intrenched himself, rejoicing at the sight +of the strong battlements, and especially at the provisions stored within +its inclosure, which would suffice for all the wants of the garrison for +more than seven years. + +[Sidenote: Siege of Lilienporte.] In vain Sabene besieged this castle; in +vain he constructed huge engines of war; the fortress held out month after +month. At the end of the third year, Wolfdietrich, seeing that their +provisions would not hold out forever, resolved to make his escape alone, +and go in search of allies to save his trusty friends. He soon obtained the +consent of Berchther and of his mother for the execution of this scheme. + +While a skirmish was going on one day, Wolfdietrich escaped through the +postern gate, and, riding into the forest, rapidly disappeared in the +direction of Lombardy, where he intended to ask the aid of Ortnit. Riding +through the deserts of Roumelia, where his guardian had bidden him beware +of the enchantments of the witch Rauch-Else, he shared his last piece of +bread with his faithful steed, and, faint with hunger and almost perishing +with thirst, plodded painfully on. + +[Sidenote: Rauch-Else.] Finally horse and rider could go no farther, and as +the latter lay in a half swoon upon the barren soil, he was suddenly roused +by the appearance of a hideous, bearlike female, who gruffly inquired how +he dared venture upon her territory. The unhappy Wolfdietrich recognized +Rauch-Else by the description his guardian, Berchther, had given of her, +and would have fled, had strength remained him to do so; but, fainting with +hunger, he could only implore her to give him something to eat. + +At this appeal Rauch-Else immediately produced a peculiar-looking root, of +which he had no sooner tasted than he felt as strong and rested as ever +before. By the witch's advice he gave the remainder of the root to his +horse, upon whom it produced the same magic effect; but when he would fain +have expressed his gratitude and ridden away, Rauch-Else told him that he +belonged to her by decree of fate, and asked him to marry her. + +Not daring to refuse this proposal, which, however, was very distasteful +indeed, Wolfdietrich reluctantly assented, expressing a wish that she were +not quite so repulsive. No sooner were the words fairly out of his mouth +than he saw her suddenly transformed into a beautiful woman, and heard her +declare that his "yes" had released her from an evil spell, and allowed her +to resume her wonted form and name, which was Sigeminne, Queen of Old Troy. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne.] Slowly proceeding to the seashore, +the young couple embarked in a waiting galley and sailed directly to +Sigeminne's kingdom, where they lived happily together, Wolfdietrich having +entirely forgotten his mother, tutor, and companions, who were vainly +awaiting his return with an army to deliver them. + + "By the hand she led Wolfdietrich unto the forest's end; + To the sea she guided him; a ship lay on the strand. + To a spacious realm she brought him, hight the land of Troy." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Wolfdietrich's happiness, however, was not to endure long; for while he was +pursuing a stag which his wife bade him secure for her, a magician named +Drusian suddenly presented himself before Sigeminne and spirited her away. + +Wolfdietrich, finding his wife gone, resolved to go in search of her, and +not to rest until he had found her. Then, knowing that nothing but cunning +could prevail against the magician's art, he donned a magic silken vest +which his wife had woven for him, which could not be penetrated by weapon +or dragon, and covering it with a pilgrim's garb, he traveled on until he +came within sight of the castle of Drusian. + +Worn out by his long journey, he sat down for a moment to rest ere he began +the ascent of the steep mountain upon which the castle stood; and having +fallen asleep, he was roughly awakened by a giant, who bore him off +prisoner to the fortress, where he saw Sigeminne. + + "He led the weary pilgrim into the castle hall, + Where brightly burned the fire, and many a taper tall. + On a seat he sat him down, and made him right good cheer. + His eyes around the hall cast the hero without fear." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Sigeminne.] Wolfdietrich concealed his face in the +depths of his cowl, and remained quietly seated by the fire until evening +came. Then the giant turned to the mourning queen, declaring that he had +been patient long enough, and that she must now consent to marry him and +forget her husband. Hardly had these words been spoken when Wolfdietrich, +the pretended pilgrim, fell upon him, and refused to let him go until he +had accepted his challenge for a fair fight and had produced suitable arms. +The young hero selected an iron armor, in preference to the gold and silver +mail offered him, and boldly attacked the giant, who finally succumbed +beneath his mighty blows. Sigeminne, thus restored to her husband's arms, +then returned with him to Old Troy, where they ruled happily together until +she died of a mortal illness. + +When she breathed her last, Wolfdietrich, delivered from the spell she had +cast upon him by making him partake of the magic root, suddenly remembered +his mother, Berchther, and his faithful companions, and, filled with +compunction, hastened off to help them. On his way he passed through many +lands, and finally came to a fortified town, whose walls were adorned with +human heads set up on spikes. He asked a passer-by what this singular +decoration might mean, and learned that the city belonged to a heathen +king, Belligan, who made it a practice to slay every Christian who entered +his precincts. + +[Sidenote: Belligan slain by Wolfdietrich.] Wolfdietrich immediately +resolved to rid the earth of this monster, and riding boldly into the city, +he cried that he was ready to meet the king in his favorite game of dagger +throwing. This challenge was promptly accepted, the preparations all made, +and although the heathen king was protected by his daughter's magic spells, +he could not withstand the Christian knight, who pierced him through and +through, and left him dead. + + "Speedily Wolfdietrich the third knife heaved on high. + Trembling stood Sir Belligan, for he felt his death was nigh. + The pagan's heart asunder with cunning skill he cleft; + Down upon the grass he fell, of life bereft." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +But as Wolfdietrich attempted to leave the castle, waves suddenly +surrounded him on all sides, threatening to drown him, until, suspecting +that this phenomenon was produced by the princess's magic arts, he seized +her and held her head under water until she died. Then the waves +immediately subsided and permitted him to escape unharmed. + +Wolfdietrich next came to some mountains, where he encountered a giantess, +who told him the story of Ortnit's death, and so roused his compassion for +the unfortunate Liebgart that he vowed to slay the dragon and avenge all +her wrongs. To enable him to reach his destination sooner the giantess bore +him and his horse over the mountains, fifty miles in one day, and set him +down near Garden (Guarda), where he saw Liebgart and her sole remaining +attendant sadly walking up and down. + +Struck by Liebgart's resemblance to the dead Sigeminne, Wolfdietrich stood +quietly in the shade long enough to overhear her sigh and say that she +wished the brave Wolfdietrich would come along that way and avenge her +husband's death. + +[Sidenote: Wolfdietrich and Liebgart.] In answer to these words the hero +presented himself impetuously before her, swore he would do all in his +power to fulfill her wishes, and having received from her fair hand a ring, +which she declared would bring the wearer good luck, he hastened off to the +mountain gorge to encounter the dragons. On the way thither, Wolfdietrich +met Alberich, who cautioned him not to yield to the desire for slumber if +he would overcome the foe; so pressing on in spite of almost overpowering +lassitude, he met the dragon. + +Notwithstanding all his efforts Wolfdietrich soon found himself carried off +to the monster's cave, where he was flung down to serve as pasture for the +young lind-worms. They would surely have devoured him had he not been +protected by Sigeminne's magic shirt, which they could not pierce. + +[Sidenote: Ortnit's sword and ring.] Looking about him for some weapon to +defend himself with, Wolfdietrich suddenly saw Ortnit's ring and his sword +Rosen, which he seized, and wielded the latter to such good purpose that he +soon slew all the dragons. He then cut out their tongues, which he packed +in a bag the dwarfs brought him, and triumphantly rode off to find Liebgart +and tell her of his success. But, as he lost his way in the forest, it was +several days before he reached the town where she dwelt, and as he rode +through the gates he was indignant to hear that Liebgart was about to marry +a knight by the name of Gerhart, who had slain the dragon, brought home its +head, and claimed the fulfillment of an old promise she had made to marry +her husband's avenger. Wolfdietrich spurred onward, entered the castle, +denounced the impostor Gerhart, and proved the truth of his assertions by +producing the dragons' tongues. Then, turning to the queen, Wolfdietrich +stretched out his hand to her, humbly asking whether she would marry him. +At that moment Liebgart saw Ortnit's ring glittering on his finger, and, +remembering her husband's last words, immediately signified her consent. + +The happy couple spent a whole year together in restoring order, peace, and +prosperity to the Lombards, before Wolfdietrich left his wife to go and +succor the companions whom he had neglected so long. Landing with his army +near Constantinople, Wolfdietrich, disguised as a peasant, made his way +into the city, and learned that Berchther and his sons had been put in +prison. There the former had died, but the latter were still languishing in +captivity. Wolfdietrich bribed the jailer to bear them a cheering message +and strengthening food, and led his army against Sabene, whom he utterly +routed. + +After recovering possession of Constantinople, granting full forgiveness to +his erring brothers, executing Sabene, and liberating his companions, to +whom he intrusted the sovereignty of the empire, Wolfdietrich returned to +Lombardy, and from thence proceeded with Liebgart to Romaburg (Rome), where +he was duly crowned emperor. + +To reward Herbrand, Berchther's eldest son, for his faithfulness, +Wolfdietrich gave him the city of Garden and all its territories, a realm +which subsequently was inherited by his son Hildebrand, a hero whom we +shall have further occasion to describe. + +Hache, another of Berchther's sons, received as his share all the Rhine +land, which he left to his son, the trusty Eckhardt (Eckewart) who ever and +anon appears in northern literature to win mortals back to virtue and point +out the road to honor. Wolfdietrich and Liebgart were the happy parents of +a son called Hugdietrich, like his grandfather; and this king's second son, +Dietmar, was the father of the famous Dietrich von Bern, the hero of the +next chapter of this volume. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +DIETRICH VON BERN. + + +DIETRICH VON BERN, whose name is spelled in eighty-five different ways in +the various ballads and chronicles written about him, has been identified +with the historical Theodoric of Verona, whose "name was chosen by the +poets of the early middle ages as the string upon which the pearls of their +fantastic imagination were to be strung." + +This hero is one of the principal characters in the ancient German "Book of +Heroes," and his adventures, which are recorded in many ancient +manuscripts, and more especially in the Wilkina saga, are about as follows: + +[Sidenote: Parentage of Deitrich.] Dietmar, the second son of Hugdietrich, +or of Samson according to other authorities, became the independent ruler +of Bern (Verona), and refused to recognize his elder brother, Ermenrich, +Emperor of the West, as his liege lord. The young prince had married +Odilia, the heiress of the conquered Duke of Verona, who bore him a son +called Dietrich. Gentle and generous when all went according to his wishes, +this child was uncontrollable when his anger was roused, and his breath +then came from his lips in a fiery torrent, scorching his opponent, and +consuming all inflammable articles. + +When Dietrich was but five years of age his training was intrusted to +Hildebrand, son of Herbrand, one of the Volsung race; and so well did the +tutor acquit himself of this task that he soon made his pupil as +accomplished a warrior as himself. Their tastes were, moreover, so similar +that they soon became inseparable friends, and their attachment has become +as proverbial among northern nations as that of David and Jonathan, Damon +and Pythias, or Orestes and Pylades. + +Hearing that a giant, Grim, and a giantess, Hilde, were committing great +depredations in a remote part of his father's territories, and that no one +had been able to rout or slay them, young Dietrich set out with Master +Hildebrand to attack them. They had not ridden long in the forest before +they became aware of the presence of a tiny dwarf, Alberich (Alferich, +Alpris, or Elbegast), and pouncing upon him, they held him fast, vowing +that he should recover his liberty only upon condition of pointing out the +giants' lurking place. + +[Sidenote: The sword Nagelring.] The dwarf not only promised the desired +information, but gave Dietrich the magic sword Nagelring, which alone could +pierce the giants' skin. Then he led both heroes to the cave, where Grim +and Hilde were gloating over a magic helmet they had made and called +Hildegrim. Peering through a fissure of the rock, Hildebrand was the first +to gaze upon them, and in his eagerness to get at them he braced his +shoulder against the huge mass of stone, forced it apart, and thus made a +passage for himself and for his impetuous young pupil. + +As Nagelring, the magic sword, had been stolen from him, Grim attacked +Dietrich with a blazing brand snatched from the fire, while Hildebrand and +Hilde wrestled together. The encounter was short and fierce between the +young hero and his gigantic opponent, who soon succumbed beneath +Nagelring's sharp blows. Then Dietrich, turning, came just in time to save +his master from Hilde's treacherous blade. But, although one stroke of +Nagelring cut her in two, the heroes were dismayed to see the severed parts +of her body knit together in a trice, and permit Hilde, whole once more, to +renew the attack. + +To prevent a repetition of this magical performance, Dietrich, after again +cutting her in two, placed his sword between the severed parts, and, +knowing that steel annuls magic, left it there until all power to unite was +gone and Hilde was really dead. The two heroes then returned home in +triumph with Nagelring and Hildegrim, the two famous trophies, which +Dietrich took as his share of the spoil, leaving to Hildebrand an immense +treasure of gold which made him the richest man of his day. This wealth +enabled Hildebrand to marry the noble Ute (Uote or Uta), who helped him to +bring up Dietrich's young brother, then but a babe. + +Although the young prince of Bern imagined that he had exterminated all the +giants in his land, he was soon undeceived; for Sigenot, Grim's brother, +coming down from the Alps to visit him, and finding him slain, vowed to +avenge his death. The brave young prince, hearing that Sigenot was +terrorizing all the neighborhood, immediately set out to attack him, +followed at a distance by Hildebrand and the latter's nephew, Wolfhart, who +was always ready to undertake any journey, provided there was some prospect +of a fight at the end. + +Dietrich soon came to a forest, where, feeling hungry, he slew an elk and +proceeded to roast some of its flesh upon a spit. While he was thus engaged +he heard shrill cries, and looking up, he saw a giant holding a dwarf and +about to devour him. Ever ready to succor the feeble and oppressed, +Dietrich caught up his sword and attacked the giant, who made a brave but +fruitless defense. The dwarf, seeing his tormentor dead, then advised +Dietrich to fly in haste, lest Sigenot, the most terrible of all the +mountain giants, should come to avenge his companion's murder. But, instead +of following this advice, Dietrich persuaded the dwarf to show him the way +to the giant's retreat. + +[Sidenote: Capture of Dietrich by giant Sigenot.] Following his tiny guide, +Dietrich climbed up the snow-clad mountains, where, in the midst of the +icebergs, the ice queen, Virginal, suddenly appeared to him, advising him +to retreat, as his venture was perilous in the extreme. Equally undeterred +by this second warning, Dietrich pressed on; but when he came at last to +the giant's abode he was so exhausted by the ascent that, in spite of all +his courage, he was defeated, put in chains, and dragged into the giant's +den. + +[Illustration: FALKE KILLS THE GIANT.--Keller.] + +Hildebrand, in the mean while, following his pupil, awaited his return at +the foot of the mountains for eight days, and then, seeing that he did not +appear, he strode up the mountain side. The giant encountered him, stunned +him with a great blow, and dragged him into the den, where, thinking him +senseless, he leisurely began to select chains with which to bind him fast. +Hildebrand, however, sprang noiselessly to his feet, seized a weapon lying +near, and stealing behind a pillar, which served him as a shield, he +attacked Sigenot, and stretched him lifeless at his feet. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich rescued by Hildebrand.] A moment later he heard +Dietrich calling him from the depths of the cave. To spring forward and +free his pupil from his chains was the work of a moment, and then, +following the dwarf, who openly rejoiced at the death of his foe, the two +heroes visited the underground kingdom. There they were hospitably +entertained, their wounds were healed, and the king of the dwarfs gave them +the finest weapons that they had ever seen. + +While hunting in the Tyrolean mountains shortly after this encounter, +Dietrich confided to Hildebrand that he had fallen in love with the ice +fairy, Virginal, and longed to see her again. This confidence was suddenly +interrupted by the appearance of a dwarf, who presented himself as Bibung, +the unconquerable protector of Queen Virginal, but who in the same breath +confessed that she had fallen into the hands of the magician Ortgis. The +latter kept her imprisoned in one of her own castles, and at every new moon +he forced her to surrender one of the snow maidens, her lovely attendants, +whom he intended, to devour as soon as they were properly fattened. + +Dietrich's eyes flashed with anger when he heard of his lady-love's +distress, and bidding the dwarf show him the way, he forthwith set out to +rescue her. They had not gone very far before they beheld the ice queen's +palace glittering far above their heads; and as they eagerly climbed upward +to reach it, they heard cries of terror, and saw a beautiful girl rush down +the pathway, closely pursued by the magician and his mounted train. + +[Sidenote: Magician Ortgis slain.] Dietrich allowed the maiden to pass +him, and then stepped boldly into the middle of the path, where he and +Hildebrand soon succeeded in slaying the magician and all his men. Jambas, +the son of Ortgis, alone effected his escape; but Dietrich and his master +closely pursued him, took forcible possession of his castle, set the +captive snow maidens free, and fearlessly slew all the monsters which +Jambas conjured up to destroy them. Then, resuming their interrupted +journey, Dietrich and Hildebrand soon came face to face with the +self-styled unconquerable guardian of the ice queen. He had been hiding +during the fray, and now implored them to hasten forward, as his mistress +was besieged by Jambas. The magician's son was anxious to secure Virginal +and all her maidens, but his principal aim was to appropriate the great +carbuncle shining in the queen's crown, as it gave the possessor full power +over the elements, the mountains, and all who ventured within reach of +them. + +Thus urged to greater speed, the heroes toiled upward faster and faster, +and soon came near the glittering castle of Jeraspunt, and the besiegers. +The latter were on the point of overpowering the garrison and gaining +possession of the queen. When Dietrich saw her on the battlement, wringing +her hands in despair, he rushed impetuously forward, crying that he had +come to save her. He struck right and left, and did such good execution +with his sword that the mountains shook, the icebergs cracked, and great +avalanches, rolling down into the abysses, carried with them the bodies of +the slain which he hurled down from the drawbridge. + +[Sidenote: Rescue of the ice queen.] In a very short time the enemy was +completely routed, and Dietrich was joyfully welcomed by Virginal, who, +touched by his devotion, consented to forsake her glittering castle, +relinquish her sway over the mountains, and to follow him down into the +green valley. Their wedding was celebrated in Jeraspunt, which was all hung +in bridal white; and the ice queen and her maidens wore misty veils and +crowns of glittering diamonds, which sparkled and flashed and lit up the +whole scene with fairylike splendor. Some versions of the story tell, +however, that the queen soon grew homesick down in the green valley, and, +deserting her hero husband, returned to her palace on the mountain top, +where she still rules supreme. + +Dietrich's numerous adventures soon became the theme of the wandering bards +and minstrels, and thus the rumor of his courage came to the ears of Heime, +the son of the northern stud keeper Studas. After distinguishing himself at +home by slaying a dragon, this youth obtained from his father the steed +Rispa and the sword Blutgang, with which he set out to test Dietrich's +courage, vowing that he would serve him forever if conquered by him. + + "King Tidrick sits intill Bern; + He rooses [boasts] him of his might; + Sae mony has he in battle cow'd, + Baith kemp [rough] and doughty knight." + _The Ettin Langshanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Heime soon reached Bern, boldly challenged Dietrich, and when defeated +entered his service, after procuring for his master's exclusive use the +matchless steed Falke, which could carry even such a gigantic man as +Dietrich without showing any signs of fatigue, and which served him +faithfully for many a year. + +[Sidenote: Wittich.] The rumor of Dietrich's courage also came to +Heligoland, where Wieland (Wayland, or Voelund), the smith, dwelt with his +son Wittich (Witig). The latter, determined to cross swords with the hero +of Bern, persuaded his father to give him the celebrated sword Mimung, by +the help of which he hoped to overcome every foe. Wieland also fashioned a +complete suit of armor for his son, gave him much good advice, and parted +from him, bidding him to prove himself worthy of his ancestors, and to call +upon his grandmother, the mermaid Wachilde, if he were ever in great +distress. + +Thus instructed Wittich departed, and on the way to Bern fell in with +Hildebrand, Heime, and Hornbogi, another of Dietrich's noted warriors. They +concealed their names, encouraged the stranger to talk, and soon learned +where he was going and on what errand. Master Hildebrand, hearing of the +magic sword, and anxious to preserve his pupil from its blows, allowed +Wittich to fight single-handed against twelve robbers in a mountain pass. +As the youth disposed of them all without receiving a scratch, Hildebrand +substituted his own sword blade for that which Wittich bore, one night +while the latter was peacefully sleeping at an inn. This exchange remained +unnoticed until Wittich arrived in Bern. There, while fighting with +Dietrich, the blade suddenly snapped in two. + +Loudly reproaching his father, Wieland, for having provided him with such +an unreliable weapon, Wittich was about to announce himself conquered, when +Hildebrand, realizing that he had not acted honorably, gave him back his +own blade. Dietrich, to his surprise and dismay, found himself conquered in +this second encounter, and was forced to acknowledge that he owed his life +only to Wittich's magnanimity. But the northern hero soon confessed in his +turn that had it not been for his magic sword he would have been obliged to +yield to Dietrich, and voluntarily offered his services to him, thus +becoming one of his train. + + "Sae gladly rode they back to Bern; + But Tidrick maist was glad; + And Vidrich o' his menyie a' + The foremost place aye had." + _The Ettin Langskanks_ (Jamieson's tr.). + +Dietrich's next adventure, which is recorded in the "Eckenlied," was with +the giant Ecke, who held Bolfriana, the widowed Lady of Drachenfels, and +her nine daughters, in his power. The hero of Bern encountered the giant by +night, and, in spite of his aversion to fighting at such a time, was +compelled to defend himself against the giant's blows. He was about to +succumb when his steed Falke, scenting his danger, broke loose from the +tree to which it had been tied, and stamped Ecke to death. + +Dietrich now rode on to Drachenfels, where he encountered Fasolt, Ecke's +brother, and, after defeating him also, and delivering the captive ladies, +went back to Bern, where Fasolt joined his chosen warriors. Dietrich, +moreover, delivered the knight Sintram from the jaws of a dragon, and made +him one of his followers. Then, having appropriated Ecke's sword, the great +Eckesax, Dietrich was about to give Nagelring to Heime; but hearing that +the latter had stood idly by while Wittich fought single-handed against +twelve robbers, he banished him from his presence, bidding him never return +until he had atoned for his dishonorable conduct by some generous deed. + +Heime, incensed at this dismissal, sulkily withdrew to the Falster wood on +the banks of the Wisara (Weser), where he became chief of a body of +brigands, ruthlessly spoiled travelers, and daily increased the hoard he +was piling up in one of his strongholds. + +But, although Dietrich thus lost one of his bravest warriors, his band was +soon reenforced by Hildebrand's brother Ilsan, who, although a monk, was +totally unfitted for a religious life, and greatly preferred fighting to +praying. There also came to Bern Wildeber (Wild Boar), a man noted for his +great strength. He owed this strength to a golden bracelet given him by a +mermaid in order to recover her swan plumage, which he had secured. + +[Sidenote: Dietlieb the Dane.] As Dietrich was once on his way to Romaburg +(Rome), whither his uncle Ermenrich had invited him, he accepted the +proffered service and escort of Dietlieb the Dane. This warrior, seeing +that the emperor had forgotten to provide for the entertainment of +Dietrich's suite, pledged not only his own steed and weapons, but also his +master's and Hildebrand's, leading a jolly life upon the proceeds. + +When the time of departure came, and Dietrich called for his steed, +Dietlieb was forced to confess what he had done. The story came to +Ermenrich's ears, and he felt called upon to pay the required sum to +release his guest's weapons and steeds, but contemptuously inquired whether +Dietlieb were good at anything besides eating and drinking, wherein he +evidently excelled. Enraged by this taunt, Dietlieb challenged Ermenrich's +champion warrior, Walther von Wasgenstein (Vosges), and beat him at spear +and stone throwing. He next performed feats hitherto unheard of, and won +such applause that Ermenrich not only paid all his debts, but also gave him +a large sum of money, which this promising young spendthrift immediately +expended in feasting all the men at arms. + +Dietlieb's jests and jollity so amused Isung, the imperial minstrel, that +he left court to follow him to the land of the Huns, where the fickle youth +next offered his services to Etzel (Attila). The King of the Huns, afraid +to keep such a mercurial person near him, gave him the province of +Steiermark (Styria), bidding him work off all surplus energy by defending +it against the numerous enemies always trying to enter his realm. + +[Sidenote: The dwarf Laurin.] Some time after this, Dietlieb returned to +his old master in sorrow, for his only sister, Kunhild (Similde, or +Similt), had been carried away by Laurin (Alberich), king of the dwarfs, +and was now detained prisoner in the Tyrolean mountains, not far from the +vaunted Rose Garden. This place was surrounded by a silken thread, and +guarded most jealously by Laurin himself, who exacted the left foot and +right hand of any knight venturing to enter his garden or break off a +single flower from its stem. + +As soon as Dietrich heard this, he promised to set out and rescue the fair +Kunhild. He was accompanied by Dietlieb, Hildebrand, Wittich, and Wolfhart; +and as they came to the Rose Garden, all the heroes except Dietrich and +Hildebrand began to trample the dainty blossoms, and tried to break the +silken cord. + + "Wittich, the mighty champion, trod the roses to the ground, + Broke down the gates, and ravaged the garden far renowned; + Gone was the portals' splendor, by the heroes bold destroyed; + The fragrance of the flowers was past, and all the garden's pride." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's + tr.). + +While they were thus employed, the dwarf Laurin donned his glittering +girdle of power, which gave him the strength of twelve men, brandished a +sword which had been tempered in dragons' blood and could therefore cut +through iron and stone, and put on his ring of victory and the magic cap of +darkness, Tarnkappe (Helkappe). + +Dietrich, carefully instructed by Hildebrand, struck off this cap, and +appropriated it, as well as the girdles of strength and the ring of +victory. He was so angry against Laurin for resisting him that the dwarf +king soon fled to Dietlieb for protection, promising to restore Kunhild, +unless she preferred to remain with him as his wife. + +This amicable agreement having been made, Laurin led the knights down into +his subterranean palace, which was illuminated by carbuncles, diamonds, and +other precious stones. Here Kunhild and her attendant maidens, attired with +the utmost magnificence, welcomed them hospitably and presided at the +banquet. + + "Similt into the palace came, with her little maidens all; + Garments they wore which glittered brightly in the hall, + Of fur and costly ciclatoun, and brooches of the gold; + No richer guise in royal courts might mortal man behold." + _Heldentuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +The wines, however, were drugged, so the brave knights soon sank into a +stupor; and Laurin, taking a base advantage of their helplessness, deprived +them of their weapons, bound them fast, and had them conveyed into a large +prison. Dietlieb was placed in a chamber apart, where, as soon as he +recovered his senses, Laurin told him that he and his companions were +doomed to die on the morrow. + +At midnight Dietrich awoke. Feeling himself bound, his wrath burned hot +within him, and his breath grew so fiery that it consumed the ropes with +which he was pinioned. He then released his captive companions, and, while +they were bewailing their lack of weapons, Kunhild stealthily opened the +door. Noiselessly she conducted them into the great hall, bade them resume +possession of their arms, and gave each a golden ring, of dwarf +manufacture, to enable them to see their tiny foes, who were else invisible +to all of mortal birth. + +Joined by Dietlieb, who had also been liberated by Kunhild, the knights now +roused Laurin and his host of giants and dwarfs, and, after an encounter +such as mediaeval poets love to describe at great length, routed them +completely. Laurin was made prisoner and carried in chains to Bern, where +Kunhild, now full of compassion for him, prevailed upon Dietrich to set him +free, provided he would forswear all his malicious propensities and spend +the remainder of his life in doing good. + +When this promise had been given, Laurin was set free; and after marrying +Kunhild, he went to live with her in the beautiful Rose Garden and the +underground palace, which peasants and simple-hearted Alpine hunters have +often seen, but which the worldly wise and skeptical have always sought in +vain. + +[Sidenote: Rose Garden at Worms.] The mere fact of his having come off +victor in one Rose Garden affair made Dietrich hail with joy the tidings +brought by a wandering minstrel, that at Worms, on the Rhine, Kriemhild +(Grimhild, Gutrun, etc.), the Burgundian princess, had a similar garden. +This was guarded by twelve brave knights, ever ready to try their skill +against an equal number of warriors, the prize of the victor being a rose +garland and kisses from the owner of this charming retreat. + +Eager to accept this challenge, Dietrich selected Hildebrand, Wittich, +Wolfhart, and five other brave men; but as he could think of no others +worthy to share in the adventure, Hildebrand suggested that Ruediger of +Bechlaren, Dietlieb of Steiermark, and his own brother, the monk Ilsan, +would be only too glad to help them. This little band soon rode into Worms, +where Dietrich and his men covered themselves with glory by defeating all +Kriemhild's champions, and winning the rose garlands as well as the kisses. + +The knights, if we are to believe the ancient poem, appreciated the latter +reward highly, with the exception of the rude monk Ilsan, who, we are told, +scrubbed the princess's delicate cheek with his rough beard until the blood +flowed. + +[Illustration: THE VICTORIOUS HUNS.--Checa.] + + "And when Chrimhild, the queen, gave him kisses fifty-two, + With his rough and grisly beard full sore he made her rue, + That from her lovely cheek 'gan flow the rosy blood: + The queen was full of sorrow, but the monk it thought him good." + _Heldenbuch_ (Weber's tr.). + +Then Ilsan carried his garlands back to the monastery, where he jammed them +down upon the monks' bald pates, laughing aloud when he saw them wince as +the sharp thorns pierced them. + +On his way home Dietrich visited Etzel, King of the Huns, and further +increased his train by accepting the services of Amalung, Hornbogi's son, +and of Herbrand the wide-traveled. On his arrival at Bern, he found that +his father, Dietmar, was dead, and thus Dietrich became King of the Amaling +land (Italy). + +[Sidenote: Campaign against the Wilkina land.] Shortly after his accession +to the throne, he went to help Etzel, who was warring against Osantrix, +King of the Wilkina land (Norway and Sweden). With none but his own +followers, Dietrich invaded the Wilkina land, and throughout that glorious +campaign old Hildebrand rode ever ahead, bearing aloft his master's +standard, and dealing many memorable blows. + +In one encounter, Wittich was thrown from his horse and stunned. Heime, who +had joined the army, seeing him apparently lifeless, snatched the sword +Mimung out of his nerveless grasp and bore it triumphantly away. Wittich, +however, was not dead, but was soon after made prisoner by Hertnit, Earl of +Greece, Osantrix's brother, who carried him back to the capital, where he +put him in prison. + +When the campaign against the Wilkina men was ended, Dietrich and his army +returned to Bern, leaving Wildeber in Hungary to ascertain whether Wittich +were really dead, or whether he still required his companions' aid. + +Wishing to penetrate unrecognized into the enemy's camp, Wildeber slew and +flayed a bear, donned its skin over his armor, and, imitating the uncouth +antics of the animal he personated, bade the minstrel Isung lead him thus +disguised to Hertnit's court. + +[Sidenote: Wittich rescued by Wildeber.] This plan was carried out, and +the minstrel and dancing bear were hailed with joy. But Isung was greatly +dismayed when Hertnit insisted upon baiting his hunting hounds against the +bear; who, however, strangled them all, one after another, without seeming +to feel their sharp teeth. Hertnit was furious at the loss of all his pack, +and sprang down into the pit with drawn sword; but all his blows glanced +aside on the armor concealed beneath the rough pelt. Suddenly the pretended +bear stood up, caught the weapon which the king had dropped, and struck off +his head. Then, joining Isung, he rushed through the palace and delivered +the captive Wittich; whereupon, seizing swords and steeds on their way, +they all three rode out of the city before they could be stopped. + +When they arrived in Bern they were warmly welcomed by Dietrich, who forced +Heime to give the stolen Mimung back to its rightful owner. The brave +warriors were not long allowed to remain inactive, however, for they were +soon asked to help Ermenrich against his revolted vassal, Rimstein. They +besieged the recalcitrant knight in his stronghold of Gerimsburg, which was +given to Walther von Wasgenstein, while Wittich was rewarded for his +services by the hand of Bolfriana, the Lady of Drachenfels, and thus became +the vassal of Ermenrich. + +[Sidenote: Sibich.] The estates of Ermenrich were so extensive and so +difficult to govern that he was very glad indeed to secure as prime +minister a capable nobleman by the name of Sibich. Unfortunately, this +Sibich had a remarkably beautiful wife, whom the emperor once insulted +during her husband's absence. As soon as Sibich returned from his journey +his wife told him all that had occurred, and the emperor's conduct so +enraged the minister that he vowed that he would take a terrible revenge. + +The better to accomplish his purpose, Sibich concealed his resentment, and +so artfully poisoned Ermenrich's mind that the latter ordered his eldest +son to be slain. To get rid of the second prince, Sibich induced him to +enter a leaky vessel, which sank as soon as he was out at sea. Then, when +the prime minister saw the third son, Randwer, paying innocent attentions +to his fair young stepmother, Swanhild, daughter of Siegfried and +Kriemhild, he so maliciously distorted the affair that Ermenrich ordered +this son to be hung, and his young wife to be trampled to death under the +hoofs of wild horses. + +Sibich, the traitor, having thus deprived the emperor of wife and children, +next resolved to rob him of all his kin, so that he might eventually murder +him and take undisputed possession of the empire. With this purpose in +view, he forged letters which incited the emperor to war against his +nephews, the Harlungs. These two young men, who were orphans, dwelt at +Breisach, under the guardianship of their tutor, the faithful Eckhardt. +They were both cruelly slain, and the disconsolate tutor fled to the court +of Dietrich, little thinking that Ermenrich would soon turn upon this his +last male relative, also. + +[Sidenote: Herbart and Hilde.] Dietrich, forsaken by Virginal, and anxious +to marry again, had, in the mean while, sent his nephew Herbart to Arthur's +court in the Bertanga land (Britain), to sue for the hand of Hilde, his +fair young daughter. But Arthur, averse to sending his child so far away, +would not at first permit the young ambassador to catch a glimpse of her +face, and sent her to church guarded by ten warriors, ten monks, and ten +duennas. + +In spite of all these safeguards, Herbart succeeded in seeing the princess, +and after ascertaining that she was very beautiful, he secured a private +interview, and told her of his master's wish to call her wife. Hilde, +wishing to know what kind of a man her suitor was, begged Herbart to draw +his portrait; but finding him unprepossessing, she encouraged Herbart to +declare his own love, and soon eloped with him. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich in exile.] Dietrich had no time to mourn for the loss +of this expected bride, however, for the imperial army suddenly marched +into the Amaling land, and invested the cities of Garden, Milan, Raben +(Ravenna), and Mantua. Of course these successes were owing to treachery, +and not to valor, and Dietrich, to obtain the release of Hildebrand and a +few other faithful followers, who had fallen into the enemy's hands, was +forced to surrender Bern and go off into exile. + +As he had thus sacrificed his kingdom to obtain their freedom, it is no +wonder that these men proudly accompanied him into banishment. They went to +Susat, where they were warmly welcomed by Etzel and Helche (Herka), his +wife, who promised to care for Diether, Dietrich's brother, and have him +brought up with her own sons. + +There were in those days many foreigners at Etzel's court, for he had +secured as hostages Hagen of Tronje, from the Burgundians; the Princess +Hildegunde, from the Franks; and Walther von Wasgenstein from the Duke of +Aquitaine. + +[Sidenote: Walther of Aquitaine and Hildegunde.] During the twenty years +which Dietrich now spent in the land of the Huns fighting for Etzel, peace +was concluded with Burgundy and Hagen was allowed to return home. Walther +of Aquitaine (or von Wasgenstein), whose adventures are related in a Latin +poem of the eighth or ninth century, had fallen in love with Hildegunde. +Seeing that Etzel, in spite of his promises to set them both free, had no +real intention of doing so, he and his ladylove cleverly effected their +escape, and fled to the Wasgenstein (Vosges), where they paused in a cave +to recruit their exhausted strength. Gunther, King of Burgundy, and Hagen +of Tronje, his ally, hearing that Walther and Hildegunde were in the +neighborhood, and desirous of obtaining the large sum of gold which they +had carried away from Etzel's court, set out to attack them, with a force +of twelve picked men. But Hildegunde was watching while Walther slept, and, +seeing them draw near, warned her lover. He, inspired by her presence, slew +all except Gunther and Hagen, who beat a hasty retreat. + +They did not return to Worms, however, but lay in ambush beside the road, +and when Walther and Hildegunde passed by they attacked the former with +great fury. In spite of the odds against him, the poem relates that Walther +triumphantly defeated them both, putting out one of Hagen's eyes and +cutting off one of Gunther's hands and one of his feet. + +The conflict ended, Hildegunde bound up the wounds of all three of the +combatants, who then sat down to share a meal together, indulged in much +jocularity about their wounds, and, parting amicably, sought their +respective homes. Walther and Hildegunde were next joyously welcomed by +their relatives, duly married, and reigned together over Aquitaine for many +a long year. + +In the mean while Dietrich had been engaged in warring against Waldemar, +King of Reussen (Russia and Poland), in behalf of Etzel, who, however, +forsook him in a cowardly way, and left him in a besieged fortress, in the +midst of the enemy's land, with only a handful of men. In spite of all his +courage, Dietrich would have been forced to surrender had not Ruediger of +Bechlaren come to his rescue. By their combined efforts, Waldemar was +slain, and his son was brought captive to Susat. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and Queen Helche.] Dietrich and his noble prisoner were +both seriously wounded; but while Queen Helche herself tenderly cared for +the young prince of Reussen, who was her kinsman, Dietrich lay neglected +and alone in a remote part of the palace. The young prince was no sooner +cured, however, than he took advantage of Etzel's absence to escape, +although Helche implored him not to do so, and assured him that she would +have to pay for his absence with her life. + +In her distress Helche now thought of Dietrich, who, weak and wounded, rose +from his couch, pursued the fugitive, overtook and slew him, and brought +his head back to her. The Queen of the Huns never forgot that she owed her +life to Dietrich, and ever after showed herself his faithful friend. + +Twenty years had passed since Dietrich left his native land ere he asked to +return. Helche promised him the aid of her sons, Erp and Ortwine, whom she +armed herself, and furnished one thousand men. Etzel, seeing this, also +offered his aid, and Dietrich marched back to the Amaling land with all his +companions, and with an army commanded by the two Hun princes and Ruediger's +only son, Nudung. + +The van of the army took Garden and Padauwe (Padua), and with Dietrich at +its head made a triumphant entrance into Bern. But, hearing that Ermenrich +was coming against him, Dietrich now went to meet him, and fought a +terrible battle near Raben in 493. The hero of Bern distinguished himself, +as usual, in this fray, until, hearing that Nudung, the two Hun princes, +and his young brother, Diether, had all been slain, he became almost insane +with grief. + +In his fury he wildly pursued Wittich, his former servant and Diether's +murderer, and would have slain him had the latter not saved himself by +plunging into the sea. Here his ancestress, the swan maiden Wachilde, took +charge of him, and conveyed him to a place of safety. Then, although +victorious, Dietrich discovered that he had no longer enough men left to +maintain himself in his reconquered kingdom, and mournfully returned to +Susat with the bodies of the slain. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Dietrich and Herrat.] It was during his second +sojourn at the court of the Huns that Dietrich married Herrat (Herand), +Princess of Transylvania, a relative of Helche. The latter died soon after +their union. Three years later Etzel married Kriemhild, Siegfried's widow; +and now occurred the fall of the brave Nibelung knights, recorded in the +"Nibelungenlied." Dietrich, as we have seen, took an active part in the +closing act of this tragedy, and joined in the final lament over the bodies +of the slain. + +Ten years after the terrible battle of Raben, Dietrich again resolved to +make an attempt to recover his kingdom, and set out with only a very few +followers. As Ermenrich had succumbed, either under the swords of +Swanhild's brothers, as already related, or by the poison secretly +administered by the traitor Sibich, the crown was now offered to Dietrich, +who was glad to accept it. + +All the lost cities were gradually recovered, and Hildebrand, coming to +Garden, encountered his son Hadubrand (Alebrand), who, having grown up +during his absence, did not recognize him, and challenged him to fight. +Mighty blows were exchanged between father and son, each of whom, in the +pauses of the combat, anxiously besought the other to reveal his name. It +was only when their strength was exhausted that Hadubrand revealed who he +was, and father and son, dropping their bloody swords, embraced with tears. + + "So spake Hadubrand, + Son of Hildebrand: + 'Said unto me + Some of our people, + Shrewd and old, + Gone hence already, + That Hildebrand was my father called,-- + I am called Hadubrand. + Erewhile he eastward went, + Escaping from Odoaker, + Thither with Theodoric + And his many men of battle, + Here he left in the land, + Lorn and lonely, + Bride in bower, + Bairn ungrown, + Having no heritage.'" + _Song of Hildebrand_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +Hildebrand then rejoined his wife, Ute, and Dietrich, having slain the +traitor Sibich, who had made an attempt to usurp the throne, marched on to +Romaburg (Rome), where he was crowned Emperor of the West, under the name +of Theodoric. Some time after his accession, Dietrich lost his good wife +Herrat, whom, according to some accounts, he mourned as long as he lived. +According to others he married again, taking as wife Liebgart, widow of +Ortnit. + +Etzel, according to this version, having been lured by Aldrian, Hagen's +son, into the cave where the Nibelungen hoard was kept, was locked up +there, and died of hunger while contemplating the gold he coveted. His +estates then became the property of Dietrich, who thus became undisputed +ruler of nearly all the southern part of Europe. + +[Sidenote: Dietrich and the coal-black steed.] In his old age Dietrich, +weary of life and imbittered by its many trials, ceased to take pleasure in +anything except the chase. One day, while he was bathing in a limpid +stream, his servant came to tell him that there was a fine stag in sight. +Dietrich immediately called for his horse, and as it was not instantly +forthcoming, he sprang upon a coal-black steed standing near, and was borne +rapidly away. + +The servant rode after as fast as possible, but could never overtake +Dietrich, who, the peasants aver, was spirited away, and now leads the Wild +Hunt upon the same sable steed, which he is doomed to ride until the +judgment day. + +In spite of this fabulous account, however, the tomb of Theodoric is still +to be seen near Verona, but history demonstrates the impossibility of the +story of Dietrich von Bern, by proving that Theodoric was not born until +after the death of Attila, the unmistakeable original of the Etzel in the +"Heldenbuch." + +[Illustration: THE TOMB OF THEODORIC.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +CHARLEMAGNE AND HIS PALADINS. + + +One of the favorite heroes of early mediaeval literature is Charlemagne, +whose name is connected with countless romantic legends of more or less +antique origin. The son of Pepin and Bertha the "large footed," this +monarch took up his abode near the Rhine to repress the invasions of the +northern barbarians, awe them into submission, and gradually induce them to +accept the teachings of the missionaries he sent to convert them. + +[Sidenote: The champion of Christianity.] As Charlemagne destroyed the +Irminsul, razed heathen temples and groves, abolished the Odinic and +Druidic forms of worship, conquered the Lombards at the request of the +Pope, and defeated the Saracens in Spain, he naturally became the champion +of Christianity in the chronicles of his day. All the heroic actions of his +predecessors (such as Charles Martel) were soon attributed to him, and when +these legends were turned into popular epics, in the tenth and eleventh +centuries, he became the principal hero of France. The great deeds of his +paladins, Roland, Oliver, Ogier the Dane, Renaud de Montauban, and others, +also became the favorite theme of the poets, and were soon translated into +every European tongue. + +The Latin chronicle, falsely attributed to Bishop Turpin, Charlemagne's +prime minister, but dating from 1095, is one of the oldest versions of +Charlemagne's fabulous adventures now extant. It contains the mythical +account of the battle of Roncesvalles (Vale of Thorns), told with infinite +repetition and detail so as to give it an appearance of reality. + + +[Sidenote: Chanson de Roland.] Einhard, the son-in-law and historian of +Charlemagne, records a partial defeat in the Pyrenees in 777-778, and adds +that Hroudlandus was slain. From this bald statement arose the mediaeval +"Chanson de Roland," which was still sung at the battle of Hastings. The +probable author of the French metrical version is Turoldus; but the poem, +numbering originally four thousand lines, has gradually been lengthened, +until now it includes more than forty thousand. There are early French, +Latin, German, Italian, English, and Icelandic versions of the adventures +of Roland, which in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were turned into +prose, and formed the basis of the "Romans de Chevalerie," which were +popular for so many years. Numerous variations can, of course, be noted in +these tales, which have been worked over again by the Italian poets Ariosto +and Boiardo, and even treated by Buchanan in our day. + +It would be impossible to give in this work a complete synopsis of all the +_chansons de gestes_ referring to Charlemagne and his paladins, so we will +content ourselves with giving an abstract of the most noted ones and +telling the legends which are found in them, which have gradually been +woven around those famous names and connected with certain localities. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the heavenly message.] We are told that +Charlemagne, having built a beautiful new palace for his use, overlooking +the Rhine, was roused from his sleep during the first night he spent there +by the touch of an angelic hand, and, to his utter surprise, thrice heard +the heavenly messenger bid him go forth and steal. Not daring to disobey, +Charlemagne stole unnoticed out of the palace, saddled his steed, and, +armed cap-a-pie, started out to fulfill the angelic command. + +He had not gone far when he met an unknown knight, evidently bound on the +same errand. To challenge, lay his lance in rest, charge, and unhorse his +opponent, was an easy matter for Charlemagne. When he learned that he had +disarmed Elbegast (Alberich), the notorious highwayman, he promised to let +him go free if he would only help him steal something that night. + +Guided by Elbegast, Charlemagne, still incognito, went to the castle of one +of his ministers, and, thanks to Elbegast's cunning, penetrated unseen into +his bedroom. There, crouching in the dark, Charlemagne overheard him +confide to his wife a plot to murder the emperor on the morrow. Patiently +biding his time until they were sound asleep, Charlemagne picked up a +worthless trifle, and noiselessly made his way out, returning home unseen. +On the morrow, profiting by the knowledge thus obtained, he cleverly +outwitted the conspirators, whom he restored to favor only after they had +solemnly sworn future loyalty. As for Elbegast, he so admired the only man +who had ever succeeded in conquering him that he renounced his dishonest +profession to enter the emperor's service. + +In gratitude for the heavenly vision vouchsafed him, the emperor named his +new palace Ingelheim (Home of the Angel), a name which the place has borne +ever since. This thieving episode is often alluded to in the later romances +of chivalry, where knights, called upon to justify their unlawful +appropriation of another's goods, disrespectfully remind the emperor that +he too once went about as a thief. + +[Sidenote: Frastrada's magic ring.] When Charlemagne's third wife died, he +married a beautiful Eastern princess by the name of Frastrada, who, aided +by a magic ring, soon won his most devoted affection. The new queen, +however, did not long enjoy her power, for a dangerous illness overtook +her. When at the point of death, fearful lest her ring should be worn by +another while she was buried and forgotten, Frastrada slipped the magic +circlet into her mouth just before she breathed her last. + +Solemn preparations were made to bury her in the cathedral of Mayence +(where a stone bearing her name could still be seen a few years ago), but +the emperor refused to part with the beloved body. Neglectful of all +matters of state, he remained in the mortuary chamber day after day. His +trusty adviser, Turpin, suspecting the presence of some mysterious +talisman, slipped into the room while the emperor, exhausted with fasting +and weeping, was wrapped in sleep. After carefully searching for the magic +jewel, Turpin discovered it, at last, in the dead queen's mouth. + + "He searches with care, though with tremulous haste, + For the spell that bewitches the king; + And under her tongue, for security placed, + Its margin with mystical characters traced, + At length he discovers a ring." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +[Sidenote: Turpin and the magic ring.] To secure this ring and slip it on +his finger was but the affair of a moment; but just as Turpin was about to +leave the room the emperor awoke. With a shuddering glance at the dead +queen, Charlemagne flung himself passionately upon the neck of his prime +minister, declaring that he would never be quite inconsolable as long as he +was near. + +Taking advantage of the power thus secured by the possession of the magic +ring, Turpin led Charlemagne away, forced him to eat and drink, and after +the funeral induced him to resume the reins of the government. But he soon +wearied of his master's constant protestations of undying affection, and +ardently longed to get rid of the ring, which, however, he dared neither to +hide nor to give away, for fear it should fall into unscrupulous hands. + +Although advanced in years, Turpin was now forced to accompany Charlemagne +everywhere, even on his hunting expeditions, and to share his tent. One +moonlight night the unhappy minister stole noiselessly out of the imperial +tent, and wandered alone in the woods, cogitating how to dispose of the +unlucky ring. As he walked thus he came to a glade in the forest, and saw a +deep pool, on whose mirrorlike surface the moonbeams softly played. +Suddenly the thought struck him that the waters would soon close over and +conceal the magic ring forever in their depths; and, drawing it from his +finger, he threw it into the pond. Turpin then retraced his steps, and soon +fell asleep. On the morrow he was delighted to perceive that the spell was +broken, and that Charlemagne had returned to the old undemonstrative +friendship which had bound them for many a year. + + "Overjoy'd, the good prelate remember'd the spell, + And far in the lake flung the ring; + The waters closed round it; and, wondrous to tell, + Released from the cursed enchantment of hell, + His reason return'd to the king." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +Charlemagne, however, seemed unusually restless, and soon went out to hunt. +In the course of the day, having lost sight of his suite in the pursuit of +game, he came to the little glade, where, dismounting, he threw himself on +the grass beside the pool, declaring that he would fain linger there +forever. The spot was so charming that he even gave orders, ere he left it +that night, that a palace should be erected there for his use; and this +building was the nucleus of his favorite capital, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen). + + "But he built him a palace there close by the bay, + And there did he love to remain; + And the traveler who will, may behold at this day + A monument still in the ruins at Aix + Of the spell that possess'd Charlemain." + SOUTHEY, _King Charlemain_. + +According to tradition, Charlemagne had a sister by the name of Bertha, +who, against his will, married the brave young knight Milon. Rejected by +the emperor, and therefore scorned by all, the young couple lived in +obscurity and poverty. They were very happy, however, for they loved each +other dearly, and rejoiced in the beauty of their infant son Roland, who +even in babyhood showed signs of uncommon courage and vigor. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne and the boy Roland.] One version of the story +relates, however, that Milon perished in a flood, and that Bertha was +almost dying of hunger while her brother, a short distance away, was +entertaining all his courtiers at his board. Little Roland, touched by his +mother's condition, walked fearlessly into the banquet hall, boldly +advanced to the table, and carried away a dishful of meat. As the emperor +seemed amused at the little lad's fearlessness, the servants did not dare +to interfere, and Roland bore off the dish in triumph. + +A few minutes later he reentered the hall, and with equal coolness laid +hands upon the emperor's cup, full of rich wine. Challenged by Charlemagne, +the child then boldly declared that he wanted the meat and wine for his +mother, a lady of high degree. In answer to the emperor's bantering +questions, he declared that he was his mother's cupbearer, her page, and +her gallant knight, which answers so amused Charlemagne that he sent for +her. He then remorsefully recognized her, treated her with kindness as long +as she lived, and took her son into his own service. + +Another legend relates that Charlemagne, hearing that the robber knight of +the Ardennes had a priceless jewel set in his shield, called all his +bravest noblemen together, and bade them sally forth separately, with only +a page as escort, in quest of the knight. Once found, they were to +challenge him in true knightly fashion, and at the point of the lance win +the jewel he wore. A day was appointed when, successful or not, the +courtiers were to return, and, beginning with the lowest in rank, were to +give a truthful account of their adventures while on the quest. + +All the knights departed and scoured the forest of the Ardennes, each +hoping to meet the robber knight and win the jewel. Among them was Milon, +accompanied by his son Roland, a lad of fifteen, whom he had taken as page +and armor-bearer. Milon had spent many days in vain search for the knight, +when, exhausted by his long ride, he dismounted, removed his heavy armor, +and lay down under a tree to sleep, bidding Roland keep close watch during +his slumbers. + +[Sidenote: Roland and the jewel.] Roland watched faithfully for a while; +then, fired by a desire to distinguish himself, he donned his father's +armor, sprang on his steed, and rode into the forest in search of +adventures. He had not gone very far when he saw a gigantic horseman coming +to meet him, and, by the dazzling glitter of a large stone set in his +shield, he recognized in him the invincible knight of the Ardennes. Afraid +of nothing, however, the lad laid his lance in rest when challenged to +fight, and charged so bravely that he unhorsed the knight. A fearful battle +on foot ensued, where many gallant blows were given and received; yet the +victory finally remained with Roland. He slew his adversary, and wrenching +the jewel from his shield, hid it in his breast. Then, riding rapidly back +to his sleeping father, Roland laid aside the armor, and removed all traces +of a bloody encounter. When Milon awoke he resumed the quest, and soon came +upon the body of the dead knight. When he saw that another had won the +jewel, he was disappointed indeed, and sadly rode back to court, to be +present on the appointed day. + +Charlemagne, seated on his throne, bade the knights appear before him, and +relate their adventures. One after another strode up the hall, followed by +an armor-bearer holding his shield, and all told of finding the knight +slain and the jewel gone, and produced head, hands, feet, or some part of +his armor, in token of the truth of their story. Last of all came Milon, +with lowering brows, although Roland walked close behind him, proudly +holding his shield, in the center of which the jewel shone radiant. Milon +related his search, and reported that he too had found the giant knight +slain and the jewel gone. A shout of incredulity made him turn his head. +But when he saw the jewel blazing on his shield he appeared so amazed that +Charlemagne questioned Roland, and soon learned how it had been obtained. +In reward for his bravery in this encounter, Roland was knighted and +allowed to take his place among his uncle's paladins, of which he soon +became the most renowned. + +Charlemagne, according to the old _chanson de geste_ entitled "Ogier le +Danois," made war against the King of Denmark, defeated him, and received +his son Ogier (Olger or Holger Danske) as hostage. The young Danish prince +was favored by the fairies from the time of his birth, six of them having +appeared to bring him gifts while he was in his cradle. The first five +promised him every earthly bliss; while the sixth, Morgana, foretold that +he would never die, but would dwell with her in Avalon. + +[Sidenote: Ogier king of Denmark.] Ogier the Dane, owing to a violation of +the treaty on his father's part, was soon confined in the prison of St. +Omer. There he beguiled the weariness of captivity by falling in love with, +and secretly marrying, the governor's daughter Bellissande. Charlemagne, +being about to depart for war, and wishing for the hero's help, released +him from captivity; and when Ogier returned again to France he heard that +Bellissande had borne him a son, and that, his father having died, he was +now the lawful king of Denmark. + +Ogier the Dane then obtained permission to return to his native land, where +he spent several years, reigning so wisely that he was adored by all his +subjects. Such is the admiration of the Danes for this hero that the common +people still declare that he is either in Avalon, or sleeping in the vaults +of Elsinore, and that he will awaken, like Frederick Barbarossa, to save +his country in the time of its direst need. + + "'Thou know'st it, peasant! I am not dead; + I come back to thee in my glory. + I am thy faithful helper in need, + As in Denmark's ancient story.'" + INGEMANN, _Holder Danske_. + +After some years spent in Denmark, Ogier returned to France, where his son, +now grown up, had a dispute with Prince Chariot [Ogier and Charlemagne.] +over a game of chess. The dispute became so bitter that the prince used the +chessboard as weapon, and killed his antagonist with it. Ogier, indignant +at the murder, and unable to find redress at the hands of Charlemagne, +insulted him grossly, and fled to Didier (Desiderius), King of Lombardy, +with whom the Franks were then at feud. + +Several ancient poems represent Didier on his tower, anxiously watching the +approach of the enemy, and questioning his guest as to the personal +appearance of Charlemagne. These poems have been imitated by Longfellow in +one of his "Tales of a Wayside Inn." + + "Olger the Dane, and Desiderio, + King of the Lombards, on a lofty tower + Stood gazing northward o'er the rolling plains, + League after league of harvests, to the foot + Of the snow-crested Alps, and saw approach + A mighty army, thronging all the roads + That led into the city. And the King + Said unto Olger, who had passed his youth + As hostage at the court of France, and knew + The Emperor's form and face, 'Is Charlemagne + Among that host?' And Olger answered, 'No.'" + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +This poet, who has made this part of the legend familiar to all English +readers, then describes the vanguard of the army, the paladins, the clergy, +all in full panoply, and the gradually increasing terror of the Lombard +king, who, long before the emperor's approach, would fain have hidden +himself underground. Finally Charlemagne appears in iron mail, brandishing +aloft his invincible sword "Joyeuse," and escorted by the main body of his +army, grim fighting men, at the mere sight of whom even Ogier the Dane is +struck with fear. + + "This at a single glance Olger the Dane + Saw from the tower; and, turning to the King, + Exclaimed in haste: 'Behold! this is the man + You looked for with such eagerness!' and then + Fell as one dead at Desiderio's feet." + LONGFELLOW, _Tales of a Wayside Inn_. + +Charlemagne soon overpowered the Lombard king, and assumed the iron crown, +while Ogier escaped from the castle in which he was besieged. Shortly +after, however, when asleep near a fountain, the Danish hero was surprised +by Turpin. When led before Charlemagne, he obstinately refused all proffers +of reconciliation, and insisted upon Charlot's death, until an angel from +heaven forbade his asking the life of Charlemagne's son. Then, foregoing +his revenge and fully reinstated in the royal good graces, Ogier, according +to a thirteenth-century epic by Adenet, successfully encountered a +Saracenic giant, and in reward for his services received the hand of +Clarice, Princess of England, and became king of that realm. + +[Sidenote: Ogier in the East.] Weary of a peaceful existence, Ogier finally +left England, and journeyed to the East, where he successfully besieged +Acre, Babylon and Jerusalem. On his way back to France, the ship was +attracted by the famous lodestone rock which appears in many mediaeval +romances, and, all his companions having perished, Ogier wandered alone +ashore. There he came to an adamantine castle, invisible by day, but +radiant at night, where he was received by the famous horse Papillon, and +sumptuously entertained. On the morrow, while wandering across a flowery +meadow, Ogier encountered Morgana the fay, who gave him a magic ring. +Although Ogier was then a hundred years old, he no sooner put it on than he +became young once more. Then, having donned the golden crown of oblivion, +he forgot his home, and joined Arthur, Oberon, Tristan, and Lancelot, with +whom he spent two hundred years in unchanged youth, enjoying constant +jousting and fighting. + +At the end of that time, his crown having accidentally dropped off, Ogier +remembered the past, and returned to France, riding on Papillon. He reached +the court during the reign of one of the Capetian kings. He was, of course, +greatly amazed at the changes which had taken place, but bravely helped to +defend Paris against an invasion from the Normans. + +[Sidenote: Ogier carried to Avalon.] Shortly after this, his magic ring was +playfully drawn from his finger and put upon her own by the Countess of +Senlis, who, seeing that it restored her vanished youth, would fain have +kept it always. She therefore sent thirty champions to wrest it from Ogier, +who, however, defeated them all, and triumphantly retained his ring. The +king having died, Ogier next married the widowed queen, and would thus have +become King of France had not Morgana the fay, jealous of his affections, +spirited him away in the midst of the marriage ceremony and borne him off +to the Isle of Avalon, whence he, like Arthur, will return only when his +country needs him. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Oliver.] Another _chanson de geste_, a sort of +continuation of "Ogier le Danois," is called "Meurvin," and purports to +give a faithful account of the adventures of a son of Ogier and Morgana, an +ancestor of Godfrey of Bouillon, King of Jerusalem. In "Guerin de +Montglave," we find that Charlemagne, having quarreled with the Duke of +Genoa, proposed that each should send a champion to fight in his name. +Charlemagne selected Roland, while the Duke of Genoa chose Oliver as his +defender. The battle, if we are to believe some versions of the legend, +took place on an island in the Rhone, and Durandana, Roland's sword, struck +many a spark from Altecler (Hautecler), the blade of Oliver. The two +champions were so well matched, and the blows were dealt with such equal +strength and courage, that "giving a Roland for an Oliver" has become a +proverbial expression. + +After fighting all day, with intermissions to interchange boasts and +taunts, and to indulge in sundry discussions, neither had gained any +advantage. They would probably have continued the struggle indefinitely, +however, had not an angel of the Lord interfered, and bidden them embrace +and become fast friends. It was on this occasion, we are told, that +Charlemagne, fearing for Roland when he saw the strength of Oliver, vowed a +pilgrimage to Jerusalem should his nephew escape alive. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne's pilgrimage to Jerusalem.] The fulfillment of this +vow is described in "Galyen Rhetore." Charlemagne and his peers reached +Jerusalem safely in disguise, but their anxiety to secure relics soon +betrayed their identity. The King of Jerusalem, Hugues, entertained them +sumptuously, and, hoping to hear many praises of his hospitality, concealed +himself in their apartment at night. The eavesdropper, however, only heard +the vain talk of Charlemagne's peers, who, unable to sleep, beguiled the +hours in making extraordinary boasts. Roland declared that he could blow +his horn Olivant loud enough to bring down the palace; Ogier, that he could +crumble the principal pillar to dust in his grasp; and Oliver, that he +could marry the princess in spite of her father. + +The king, angry at hearing no praises of his wealth and hospitality, +insisted upon his guests fulfilling their boasts on the morrow, under +penalty of death. He was satisfied, however, by the success of Oliver's +undertaking, and the peers returned to France. Galyen, Oliver's son by +Hugues's daughter, followed them thither when he reached manhood, and +joined his father in the valley of Roncesvalles, just in time to receive +his blessing ere he died. Then, having helped Charlemagne to avenge his +peers, Galyen returned to Jerusalem, where he found his grandfather dead +and his mother a captive. His first act was, of course, to free his mother, +after which he became king of Jerusalem, and his adventures came to an end. + +The "Chronicle" of Turpin, whence the materials for many of the poems about +Roland were taken, declares that Charlemagne, having conquered nearly the +whole of Europe, retired to his palace to seek repose. But one evening, +while gazing at the stars, he saw a bright cluster move from the "Friesian +sea, by way of Germany and France, into Galicia." This prodigy, twice +repeated, greatly excited Charlemagne's wonder, and was explained to him by +St. James in a vision. The latter declared that the progress of the stars +was emblematic of the advance of the Christian army towards Spain, and +twice bade the emperor deliver his land from the hands of the Saracens. + +[Sidenote: Charlemagne in Spain.] Thus admonished, Charlemagne set out for +Spain with a large army, and invested the city of Pamplona, which showed no +signs of surrender at the end of a two months' siege. Recourse to prayer on +the Christians' part, however, produced a great miracle, for the walls +tottered and fell like those of Jericho. All the Saracens who embraced +Christianity were spared, but the remainder were slain before the emperor +journeyed to the shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela to pay his +devotions. + +A triumphant march through the country then ensued, and Charlemagne +returned to France, thinking the Saracens subdued. He had scarcely crossed +the border, however, when Aigolandus, one of the pagan monarchs, revolted, +and soon recovered nearly all the territory his people had lost. When +Charlemagne heard these tidings, he sent back an army, commanded by Milon, +Roland's father, who perished gloriously in this campaign. The emperor +speedily followed his brother-in-law with great forces, and again besieged +Aigolandus in Pamplona. During the course of the siege the two rulers had +an interview, which is described at length, and indulged in sundry +religious discussions, which, however, culminated in a resumption of +hostilities. Several combats now took place, in which the various heroes +greatly distinguished themselves, the preference being generally given to +Roland, who, if we are to believe the Italian poet, was as terrible in +battle as he was gentle in time of peace. + + "On stubborn foes he vengeance wreak'd, + And laid about him like a Tartar; + But if for mercy once they squeak'd, + He was the first to grant them quarter. + The battle won, of Roland's soul + Each milder virtue took possession; + To vanquished foes he o'er a bowl + His heart surrender'd at discretion." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Dr. Burney's tr.). + +Aigolandus being slain, and the feud against him thus successfully ended, +Charlemagne carried the war into Navarre, where he was challenged by the +giant Ferracute (Ferragus) to meet him in single combat. Although the +metrical "Romances" describe Charlemagne as twenty feet in height, and +declare that he slept in a hall, his bed surrounded by one hundred lighted +tapers and one hundred knights with drawn swords, the emperor felt himself +no match for the giant, whose personal appearance was as follows:-- + + "So hard he was to-fond [proved], + That no dint of brond + No grieved him, I plight. + He had twenty men's strength; + And forty feet of length + Thilke [each] paynim had; + And four feet in the face + Y-meten [measured] on the place; + And fifteen in brede [breadth]. + His nose was a foot and more; + His brow as bristles wore; + (He that saw it said) + He looked lothliche [loathly], + And was swart [black] as pitch; + Of him men might adrede!" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +[Sidenote: Roland and Ferracute.] After convincing himself of the danger of +meeting this adversary, Charlemagne sent Ogier the Dane to fight him, and +with dismay saw his champion not only unhorsed, but borne away like a +parcel under the giant's arm, fuming and kicking with impotent rage. Renaud +de Montauban met Ferracute on the next day, with the same fate, as did +several other champions. Finally Roland took the field, and although the +giant pulled him down from his horse, he continued the battle all day. +Seeing that his sword Durandana had no effect upon Ferracute, Roland armed +himself with a club on the morrow. + +In the pauses of the battle the combatants talked together, and Ferracute, +relying upon his adversary's keen sense of honor, even laid his head upon +Roland's knee during their noonday rest. While resting thus, he revealed +that he was vulnerable in only one point of his body. When called upon by +Roland to believe in Christianity, he declared that the doctrine of the +Trinity was more than he could accept. Roland, in answer, demonstrated that +an almond is but one fruit, although composed of rind, shell, and kernel; +that a harp is but one instrument, although it consists of wood, strings, +and harmony. He also urged the threefold nature of the sun,--i.e., heat, +light, and splendor; and these arguments having satisfied Ferracute +concerning the Trinity, he removed his doubts concerning the incarnation by +equally forcible reasoning. The giant, however, utterly refused to believe +in the resurrection, although Roland, in support of his creed, quoted the +mediaeval belief that a lion's cubs are born into the world dead, but come +to life on the third day at the sound of their father's roar, or under the +warm breath of their mother. As Ferracute would not accept this doctrine, +but sprang to his feet proposing a continuation of the fight, the struggle +was renewed. + + "Quath Ferragus: 'Now ich wot + Your Christian law every grot; + Now we will fight; + Whether law better be, + Soon we shall y-see, + Long ere it be night.'" + _Roland and Ferragus_. + +Roland, weary with his previous efforts, almost succumbed beneath the +giant's blows, and in his distress had recourse to prayer. He was +immediately strengthened and comforted by an angelic vision and a promise +of victory. Thus encouraged, he dealt Ferracute a deadly blow in the +vulnerable spot. The giant fell, calling upon Mohammed, while Roland +laughed and the Christians triumphed. + +The poem of Sir Otuel, in the Auchinleck manuscript, describes how Otuel, a +nephew of Ferracute, his equal in size and strength, came to avenge his +death, and, after a long battle with Roland, yielded to his theological +arguments, and was converted at the sight of a snowy dove alighting on +Charlemagne's helmet in answer to prayer. He then became a devoted adherent +of Charlemagne, and served him much in war. + +Charlemagne, having won Navarre, carried the war to the south of Spain, +where the Saracens frightened the horses of his host by beating drums and +waving banners. Having suffered a partial defeat on account of this device, +Charlemagne had the horses' ears stopped with wax, and their eyes +blindfolded, before he resumed the battle. Thanks to this precaution, he +succeeded in conquering the Saracen army. The whole country had now been +again subdued, and Charlemagne was preparing to return to France, when he +remembered that Marsiglio (Marsilius), a Saracen king, was still intrenched +at Saragossa. + + "Carle, our most noble Emperor and King, + Hath tarried now full seven years in Spain, + Conqu'ring the highland regions to the sea; + No fortress stands before him unsubdued, + Nor wall, nor city left, to be destroyed, + Save Sarraguce, high on a mountain set. + There rules the King Marsile, who loves not God, + Apollo worships, and Mohammed serves; + Nor can he from his evil doom escape." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Battle of Roncesvalles.] The emperor wished to send an embassy +to him to arrange the terms of peace, but discarded Roland's offer of +service because of his impetuosity. Then, following the advice of Naismes +de Baviere, "the Nestor of the Carolingian legends," he selected Ganelon, +Roland's stepfather, as ambassador. This man was a traitor, and accepted a +bribe from the Saracen king to betray Roland and the rear guard of the +French army into his power. Advised by Ganelon, Charlemagne departed from +Spain at the head of his army, leaving Roland to bring up the rear. The +main part of the army passed through the Pyrenees unmolested, but the rear +guard of twenty thousand men, under Roland, was attacked by a superior +force of Saracens in ambush, as it was passing through the denies of +Roncesvalles. A terrible encounter took place here. + + "The Count Rolland rides through the battlefield + And makes, with Durendal's keen blade in hand, + A mighty carnage of the Saracens. + Ah! had you then beheld the valiant Knight + Heap corse on corse; blood drenching all the ground; + His own arms, hauberk, all besmeared with gore, + And his good steed from neck to shoulder bleed!" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ROLAND.--Keller.] + +All the Christians were slain except Roland and a few knights, who +succeeded in repulsing the first onslaught of the painims. Roland then +bound a Saracen captive to a tree, wrung from him a confession of the +dastardly plot, and, discovering where Marsiglio was to be found, rushed +into the very midst of the Saracen army and slew him. The Saracens, +terrified at the apparition of the hero, beat a hasty retreat, little +suspecting that their foe had received a mortal wound, and would shortly +breathe his last. + +During the first part of the battle, Roland, yielding to Oliver's entreaty, +sounded a blast on his horn Olivant, which came even to Charlemagne's ear. +Fearing lest his nephew was calling for aid, Charlemagne would fain have +gone back had he not been deterred by Ganelon, who assured him that Roland +was merely pursuing a stag. + + "Rolland raised to his lips the olifant, + Drew a deep breath, and blew with all his force. + High are the mountains, and from peak to peak + The sound reechoes; thirty leagues away + 'Twas heard by Carle and all his brave compeers. + Cried the king: 'Our men make battle!' Ganelon + Retorts in haste: 'If thus another dared + To speak, we should denounce it as a lie.' + Aoi" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Steed Veillantif slain.] Wounded and faint, Roland now slowly +dragged himself to the entrance of the pass of Cisaire,--where the Basque +peasants aver they have often seen his ghost, and heard the sound of his +horn,--and took leave of his faithful steed Veillantif, which he slew with +his own hand, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. + + "'Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we to battle ride! + Ah, nevermore, and nevermore, shall we sweet comrades be! + And Veillintif, had I the heart to die forgetting thee? + To leave thy mighty heart to break, in slavery to the foe? + I had not rested in the grave, if it had ended so. + Ah, never shall we conquering ride, with banners bright unfurl'd, + A shining light 'mong lesser lights, a wonder to the world.'" + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +[Sidenote: Sword Durandana destroyed.] Then the hero gazed upon his sword +Durandana, which had served him faithfully for so many years, and to +prevent its falling into the hands of the pagans, he tried to dispose of it +also. According to varying accounts, he either sank it deep into a poisoned +stream, where it is still supposed to lie, or, striking it against the +mighty rocks, cleft them in two, without even dinting its bright blade. + + "And Roland thought: 'I surely die; but, ere I end, + Let me be sure that thou art ended too, my friend! + For should a heathen hand grasp thee when I am clay, + My ghost would grieve full sore until the judgment day!' + Then to the marble steps, under the tall, bare trees, + Trailing the mighty sword, he crawl'd on hands and knees, + And on the slimy stone he struck the blade with might-- + The bright hilt, sounding, shook, the blade flash'd sparks of light; + Wildly again he struck, and his sick head went round, + Again there sparkled fire, again rang hollow sound; + Ten times he struck, and threw strange echoes down the glade, + Yet still unbroken, sparkling fire, glitter'd the peerless blade." + BUCHANAN, _Death of Roland_. + +Finally, despairing of disposing of it in any other way, the hero, strong +in death, broke Durandana in his powerful hands and threw the shards away. + +Horse and sword were now disposed of, and the dying hero, summoning his +last strength, again put his marvelous horn Olivant to his lips, and blew +such a resounding blast that the sound was heard far and near. The effort, +however, was such that his temples burst, as he again sank fainting to the +ground. + +One version of the story (Turpin's) relates that the blast brought, not +Charlemagne, but the sole surviving knight, Theodoricus, who, as Roland had +been shriven before the battle, merely heard his last prayer and reverently +closed his eyes. Then Turpin, while celebrating mass before Charlemagne, +was suddenly favored by a vision, in which he beheld a shrieking crew of +demons bearing Marsiglio's soul to hell, while an angelic host conveyed +Roland's to heaven. + +Turpin immediately imparted these revelations to Charlemagne, who, knowing +now that his fears were not without foundation, hastened back to +Roncesvalles. Here the scriptural miracle was repeated, for the sun stayed +its course until the emperor had routed the Saracens and found the body of +his nephew. He pronounced a learned funeral discourse or lament over the +hero's remains, which were then embalmed and conveyed to Blaive for +interment. + +Another version relates that Bishop Turpin himself remained with Roland in +the rear, and, after hearing a general confession and granting full +absolution to all the heroes, fought beside them to the end. It was he who +heard the last blast of Roland's horn instead of Theodoricus, and came to +close his eyes before he too expired. + +The most celebrated of all the poems, however, the French epic "Chanson de +Roland," gives a different version and relates that, in stumbling over the +battlefield, Roland came across the body of his friend Oliver, over which +he uttered a touching lament. + + "'Alas for all thy valor, comrade dear! + Year after year, day after day, a life + Of love we led; ne'er didst thou wrong to me, + Nor I to thee. If death takes thee away, + My life is but a pain.'" + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Death of Roland.] Slowly and painfully now--for his death was +near--Roland climbed up a slope, laid himself down under a pine tree, and +placed his sword and horn beneath him. Then, when he had breathed a last +prayer, to commit his soul to God, he held up his glove in token of his +surrender. + + "His right hand glove he offered up to God; + Saint Gabriel took the glove.--With head reclined + Upon his arm, with hands devoutly joined, + He breathed his last. God sent his Cherubim, + Saint Raphael, _Saint Michiel del Peril._ + The soul of Count Rolland to Paradise. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +It was here, under the pine, that Charlemagne found his nephew ere he +started out to punish the Saracens, as already related. Not far off lay the +bodies of Ogier, Oliver, and Renaud, who, according to this version, were +all among the slain. + + "Here endeth Otuel, Roland, and Olyvere, + And of the twelve dussypere, + That dieden in the batayle of Runcyvale: + Jesu lord, heaven king, + To his bliss hem and us both bring, + To liven withouten bale!" + _Sir Otuel_. + +On his return to France Charlemagne suspected Ganelon of treachery, and had +him tried by twelve peers, who, unable to decide the question, bade him +prove his innocence in single combat with Roland's squire, Thiedric. +Ganelon, taking advantage of the usual privilege to have his cause defended +by a champion, selected Pinabel, the most famous swordsman of the time. In +spite of all his valor, however, this champion was defeated, and the +"judgment of God"--the term generally applied to those judicial +combats--was in favor of Thiedric. Ganelon, thus convicted of treason, was +sentenced to be drawn and quartered, and was executed at Aix-la-Chapelle, +in punishment for his sins. + + "Ere long for this he lost + Both limb and life, judged and condemned at Aix, + There to be hanged with thirty of his race + Who were not spared the punishment of death. + Aoi." + _Chanson de Roland_ (Rabillon's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Roland and Aude.] Roland, having seen Aude, Oliver's sister, at +the siege of Viane, where she even fought against him, if the old epics are +to be believed, had been so smitten with her charms that he declared that +he would marry none but her. When the siege was over, and lifelong +friendship had been sworn between Roland and Oliver after their memorable +duel on an island in the Rhone, Roland was publicly betrothed to the +charming Aude. Before their nuptials could take place, however, he was +forced to leave for Spain, where, as we have seen, he died an heroic death. +The sad news of his demise was brought to Paris, where the Lady Aude was +awaiting him. When she heard that he would never return, she died of grief, +and was buried at his side in the chapel of Blaive. + + "In Paris Lady Alda sits, Sir Roland's destined bride. + With her three hundred maidens, to tend her, at her side; + Alike their robes and sandals all, and the braid that binds their + hair, + And alike the meal, in their Lady's hall, the whole three hundred + share. + Around her, in her chair of state, they all their places hold; + A hundred weave the web of silk, and a hundred spin the gold, + And a hundred touch their gentle lutes to sooth that Lady's pain, + As she thinks on him that's far away with the host of Charlemagne. + Lulled by the sound, she sleeps, but soon she wakens with a + scream; + And, as her maidens gather round, she thus recounts her dream: + 'I sat upon a desert shore, and from the mountain nigh, + Right toward me, I seemed to see a gentle falcon fly; + But close behind an eagle swooped, and struck that falcon down, + And with talons and beak he rent the bird, as he cowered beneath + my gown.' + The chief of her maidens smiled, and said; 'To me it doth not + seem + That the Lady Alda reads aright the boding of her dream. + Thou art the falcon, and thy knight is the eagle in his pride, + As he comes in triumph from the war, and pounces on his bride.' + The maiden laughed, but Alda sighed, and gravely shook her head. + 'Full rich,' quoth she, 'shall thy guerdon be, if thou the truth hast + said.' + 'Tis morn; her letters, stained with blood, the truth too plainly tell, + How, in the chase of Ronceval, Sir Roland fought and fell." + _Lady Alda's Dreams_ (Sir Edmund Head's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Legend of Roland and Hildegarde.] A later legend, which has +given rise to sundry poems, connects the name of Roland with one of the +most beautiful places on the Rhine. Popular tradition avers that he sought +shelter one evening in the castle of Drachenfels, where he fell in love +with Hildegarde, the beautiful daughter of the Lord of Drachenfels. The +sudden outbreak of the war in Spain forced him to bid farewell to his +betrothed, but he promised to return as soon as possible to celebrate their +wedding. During the campaign, many stories of his courage came to +Hildegarde's ears, and finally, after a long silence, she heard that Roland +had perished at Roncesvalles. + +Broken-hearted, the fair young mourner spent her days in tears, and at last +prevailed upon her father to allow her to enter the convent on the island +of Nonnenworth, in the middle of the river, and within view of the gigantic +crag where the castle ruins can still be seen. + + "The castled crag of Drachenfels + Frowns o'er the wide and winding Rhine, + Whose breast of water broadly swells + Between the banks which bear the vine, + And hills all rich with blossomed trees, + And fields which promise corn and wine, + And scattered cities crowning these, + Whose fair white walls along them shine." + BYRON, _Childe Harold_. + +With pallid cheeks and tear-dimmed eyes, Hildegarde now spent her life +either in her tiny cell or in the convent chapel, praying for the soul of +her beloved, and longing that death might soon come to set her free to join +him. The legend relates, however, that Roland was not dead, as she +supposed, but had merely been sorely wounded at Roncesvalles. + +When sufficiently recovered to travel, Roland painfully made his way back +to Drachenfels, where he presented himself late one evening, eagerly +calling for Hildegarde. A few moments later the joyful light left his eyes +forever, for he learned that his beloved had taken irrevocable vows, and +was now the bride of Heaven. + +That selfsame day Roland left the castle of Drachenfels, and riding to an +eminence overlooking the island of Nonnenwoerth, he gazed long and tearfully +at a little light twinkling in one of the convent windows. As he could not +but suppose that it illumined Hildegarde's cell and lonely vigils, he +watched it all night, and when morning came he recognized his beloved's +form in the long procession of nuns on their way to the chapel. + +[Sidenote: Rolandseck.] This view of the lady he loved seemed a slight +consolation to the hero, who built a retreat on this rock, which is known +as Rolandseck. Here he spent his days in penance and prayer, gazing +constantly at the island at his feet, and the swift stream which parted him +from Hildegarde. + +One wintry day, many years after he had taken up his abode on the rocky +height, Roland missed the graceful form he loved, and heard, instead of the +usual psalm, a dirge for the dead. Then he noticed that six of the nuns +were carrying a coffin, which they lowered into an open tomb. + +Roland's nameless fears were confirmed in the evening, when the convent +priest visited him, and gently announced that Hildegarde was at rest. +Calmly Roland listened to these tidings, begged the priest to hear his +confession as usual, and, when he had received absolution, expressed a +desire to be buried with his face turned toward the convent where +Hildegarde had lived and died. + +The priest readily promised to observe this request, and departed. When he +came on the morrow, he found Roland dead. They buried him reverently on the +very spot which bears his name, with his face turned toward Nonnenwoerth, +where Hildegarde lay at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +THE SONS OF AYMON. + + +The different _chansons de gestes_ relating to Aymon and the necromancer +Malagigi (Malagis), probably arose from popular ballads commemorating the +struggles of Charles the Bald and his feudatories. These ballads are of +course as old as the events which they were intended to record, but the +_chansons de gestes_ based upon them, and entitled "Duolin de Mayence," +"Aymon, Son of Duolin de Mayence," "Maugis," "Rinaldo de Trebizonde," "The +Four Sons of Aymon," and "Mabrian," are of much later date, and were +particularly admired during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. + +One of the most famous of Charlemagne's peers was doubtless the noble Aymon +of Dordogne; and when the war against the Avars in Hungary had been +successfully closed, owing to his bravery, his adherents besought the king +to bestow upon this knight some reward. Charlemagne, whom many of these +later _chansons de gestes_ describe as mean and avaricious, refused to +grant any reward, declaring that were he to add still further to his +vassal's already extensive territories, Aymon would soon be come more +powerful than his sovereign. + +[Sidenote: War between Aymon and Charlemagne.] This unjust refusal +displeased Lord Hug of Dordogne, who had pleaded for his kinsman, so that +he ventured a retort, which so incensed the king that he slew him then and +there. Aymon, learning of the death of Lord Hug, and aware of the failure +of his last embassy, haughtily withdrew to his own estates, whence he now +began to wage war against Charlemagne. + +Instead of open battle, however, a sort of guerrilla warfare was carried +on, in which, thanks to his marvelous steed Bayard, which his cousin +Malagigi, the necromancer, had brought him from hell, Aymon always won the +advantage. At the end of several years, however, Charlemagne collected a +large host, and came to lay siege to the castle where Aymon had intrenched +himself with all his adherents. + +[Sidenote: Loss of the horse Bayard.] During that siege, Aymon awoke one +morning to find that his beloved steed had vanished. Malagigi, hearing him +bewail his loss, bade him be of good cheer, promising to restore Bayard ere +long, although he would be obliged to go to Mount Vulcanus, the mouth of +hell, to get him. Thus comforted, Aymon ceased to mourn, while Malagigi set +to work to fulfill his promise. As a brisk wind was blowing from the castle +towards the camp, he flung upon the breeze some powdered hellebore, which +caused a violent sneezing throughout the army. Then, while his foes were +wiping their streaming eyes, the necromancer, who had learned his black art +in the famous school of Toledo, slipped through their ranks unseen, and +journeyed on to Mount Vulcanus, where he encountered his Satanic Majesty. + +His first act was to offer his services to Satan, who accepted them gladly, +bidding him watch the steed Bayard, which he had stolen because he +preferred riding a horse to sitting astride a storm cloud as usual. The +necromancer artfully pretended great anxiety to serve his new master, but +having discovered just where Bayard was to be found, he made use of a +sedative powder to lull Satan to sleep. Then, hastening to the angry steed, +Malagigi made him tractable by whispering his master's name in his ear; +and, springing on his back, rode swiftly away. + +Satan was awakened by the joyful whinny of the flying steed, and +immediately mounted upon a storm cloud and started in pursuit, hurling a +red-hot thunderbolt at Malagigi to check his advance. But the necromancer +muttered a magic spell and held up his crucifix, and the bolt fell short; +while the devil, losing his balance, fell to the earth, and thus lamed +himself permanently. + +[Sidenote: Bayard restored by Malagigi.] Count Aymon, in the mean while, +had been obliged to flee from his besieged castle, mounted upon a sorry +steed instead of his fleet-footed horse. When the enemy detected his +flight, they set out in pursuit, tracking him by means of bloodhounds, and +were about to overtake and slay him when Malagigi suddenly appeared with +Bayard. To bound on the horse's back, draw his famous sword Flamberge, +which had been made by the smith Wieland, and charge into the midst of his +foes, was the work of a few seconds. The result was that most of Aymon's +foes bit the dust, while he rode away unharmed, and gathering many +followers, he proceeded to win back all the castles and fortresses he had +lost. + +Frightened by Aymon's successes, Charlemagne finally sent Roland, his +nephew and favorite, bidding him offer a rich ransom to atone for the +murder of Lord Hug, and instructing him to secure peace at any price. Aymon +at first refused these overtures, but consented at last to cease the feud +upon receipt of six times Lord Hug's weight in gold, and the hand of the +king's sister, Aya, whom he had long loved. + +These demands were granted, peace was concluded, and Aymon, having married +Aya, led her to the castle of Pierlepont, where they dwelt most happily +together, and became the parents of four brave sons, Renaud, Alard, +Guiscard, and Richard. Inactivity, however, was not enjoyable to an +inveterate fighter like Aymon, so he soon left home to journey into Spain, +where the bitter enmity between the Christians and the Moors would afford +him opportunity to fight to his heart's content. + +Years now passed by, during which Aymon covered himself with glory; for, +mounted on Bayard, he was the foremost in every battle, and always struck +terror into the hearts of his foes by the mere flash of his blade +Flamberge. Thus he fought until his sons attained manhood, and Aya had long +thought him dead, when a messenger came to Pierlepont, telling them that +Aymon lay ill in the Pyrenees, and wished to see his wife and his children +once more. + +In answer to these summons Aya hastened southward, and found her husband +old and worn, yet not so changed that she could not recognize him. Aymon, +sick as he was, rejoiced at the sight of his manly sons. He gave the three +eldest the spoil he had won during those many years' warfare, and promised +Renaud (Reinold) his horse and sword, if he could successfully mount and +ride the former. + +[Sidenote: Bayard won by Renaud.] Renaud, who was a skillful horseman, +fancied the task very easy, and was somewhat surprised when his father's +steed caught him by the garments with his teeth, and tumbled him into the +manger. Undismayed by one failure, however, Renaud sprang boldly upon +Bayard; and, in spite of all the horse's efforts, kept his seat so well +that his father formally gave him the promised mount and sword. + +When restored to health by the tender nursing of his loving wife, Aymon +returned home with his family. Then, hearing that Charlemagne had returned +from his coronation journey to Rome, and was about to celebrate the +majority of his heir, Aymon went to court with his four sons. + +During the tournament, held as usual on such festive occasions, Renaud +unhorsed every opponent, and even defeated the prince. This roused the +anger of Charlot, or Berthelot as he is called by some authorities, and +made him vow revenge. He soon discovered that Renaud was particularly +attached to his brother Alard, so he resolved first to harm the latter. +Advised by the traitor Ganelon, Chariot challenged Alard to a game of +chess, and insisted that the stakes should be the players' heads. + +This proposal was very distasteful to Alard, for he knew that he would +never dare lay any claim to the prince's head even if he won the game, and +feared to lose his own if he failed to win. Compelled to accept the +challenge, however, Alard began the game, and played so well that he won +five times in succession. Then Charlot, angry at being so completely +checkmated, suddenly seized the board and struck his antagonist such a +cruel blow that the blood began to flow. Alard, curbing his wrath, simply +withdrew; and it was only when Renaud questioned him very closely that he +told how the quarrel had occurred. + +Renaud was indignant at the insult offered his brother, and went to the +emperor with his complaint. The umpires reluctantly testified that the +prince had forfeited his head, so Renaud cut it off in the emperor's +presence, and effected his escape with his father and brothers before any +one could lay hands upon them. Closely pursued by the imperial troops, +Aymon and his sons were soon brought to bay, and fought so bravely that +they slew many of their assailants. At last, seeing that all their horses +except the incomparable Bayard had been slain, Renaud bade his brothers +mount behind him, and they dashed away. The aged Aymon had already fallen +into the hands of the emperor's adviser, Turpin, who solemnly promised that +no harm should befall him. But in spite of this oath, and of the +remonstrances of all his peers, Charlemagne prepared to have Aymon publicly +hanged, and consented to release him only upon condition that Aymon would +promise to deliver his sons into the emperor's hands, were it ever in his +power to do so. + +The four young men, knowing their father safe, and unwilling to expose +their mother to the unpleasant experiences of the siege which would have +followed had they remained at Pierlepont, now journeyed southward, and +entered the service of Saforet, King of the Moors. With him they won many +victories; but, seeing at the end of three years that this monarch had no +intention of giving them the promised reward, they slew him, and offered +their swords to Iwo, Prince of Tarasconia. + +[Sidenote: Fortress of Montauban.] Afraid of these warriors, yet wishing to +bind them to him by indissoluble ties, Iwo gave Renaud his daughter +Clarissa in marriage, and helped him build an impregnable fortress at +Montauban. This stronghold was scarcely finished when Charlemagne came up +with a great army to besiege it; but at the end of a year of fruitless +attempts, the emperor reluctantly withdrew, leaving Montauban still in the +hands of his enemies. + +Seven years had now elapsed since the four young men had seen their mother; +and, anxious to embrace her once more, they went in pilgrims' robes to the +castle of Pierlepont. Here the chamberlain recognized them and betrayed +their presence to Aymon, who, compelled by his oath, prepared to bind his +four sons fast and take them captive to his sovereign. The young men, +however, defended themselves bravely, secured their father instead, and +sent him in chains to Charlemagne. Unfortunately the monarch was much +nearer Pierlepont at the time than the young men supposed. Hastening +onward, he entered the castle before they had even become aware of his +approach, and secured three of them. The fourth, Renaud, aided by his +mother, escaped in pilgrim's garb, and returned to Montauban. Here he found +Bayard, and without pausing to rest, he rode straight to Paris to deliver +his brothers from the emperor's hands. + +Overcome by fatigue after this hasty journey, Renaud dismounted shortly +before reaching Paris, and fell asleep. When he awoke he found that his +steed had vanished, and he reluctantly continued his journey on foot, +begging his way. He was joined on the way by his cousin Malagigi, who also +wore a pilgrim's garb, and who promised to aid Renaud, not only in freeing +his brothers, but also in recovering Bayard. + +[Sidenote: Malagigi's stratagem.] Unnoticed, the beggars threaded their way +through the city of Paris and came to the palace. There a great tournament +was to be held, and the emperor had promised to the victor of the day the +famous steed Bayard. To stimulate the knights to greater efforts by a view +of the promised prize, the emperor bade a groom lead forth the renowned +steed. The horse seemed restive, but suddenly paused beside two beggars, +with a whinny of joy. The groom, little suspecting that the horse's real +master was hidden under the travel-stained pilgrim's robe, laughingly +commented upon Bayard's bad taste. Then Malagigi, the second beggar, +suddenly cried aloud that his poor companion had been told that he would +recover from his lameness were he only once allowed to bestride the famous +steed. Anxious to witness a miracle, the emperor gave orders that the +beggar should be placed upon Bayard; and Renaud, after feigning to fall off +through awkwardness, suddenly sat firmly upon his saddle, and dashed away +before any one could stop him. + +As for Malagigi, having wandered among the throng unheeded, he remained in +Paris until evening. Then, making his way into the prison by means of the +necromantic charm "Abracadabra," which he continually repeated, he +delivered the other sons of Aymon from their chains. He next entered the +palace of the sleeping emperor, spoke to him in his sleep, and forced him, +under hypnotic influence, to give up the scepter and crown, which he +triumphantly bore away. + +[Treachery of Iwo.] When Charlemagne awoke on the morrow, found his +prisoners gone, and realized that what had seemed a dream was only too +true, and that the insignia of royalty were gone, he was very angry indeed. +More than ever before he now longed to secure the sons of Aymon; so he +bribed Iwo, with whom the brothers had taken refuge, to send them to him. +Clarissa suspected her father's treachery, and implored Renaud not to +believe him; but the brave young hero, relying upon Iwo's promise, set out +without arms to seek the emperor's pardon. On the way, however, the four +sons of Aymon fell into an ambuscade, whence they would scarcely have +escaped alive had not one of the brothers drawn from under his robe the +weapons Clarissa had given him. + +The emperor's warriors, afraid of the valor of these doughty brethren now +that they were armed, soon withdrew to a safe distance, whence they could +watch the young men and prevent their escape. Suddenly, however, Malagigi +came dashing up on Bayard, for Clarissa had warned him of his kinsmen's +danger, and implored him to go to their rescue. Renaud immediately mounted +his favorite steed, and brandishing Flamberge, which his uncle had brought +him, he charged so gallantly into the very midst of the imperial troops +that he soon put them to flight. + +[Sidenote: Renaud and Roland.] The emperor, baffled and angry, suspected +that Iwo had warned his son-in-law of the danger and provided him with +weapons. In his wrath he had Iwo seized, and sentenced him to be hanged. +But Renaud, seeing Clarissa's tears, vowed that he would save his +father-in-law from such an ignominious death. With his usual bravery he +charged into the very midst of the executioners, and unhorsed the valiant +champion, Roland. During this encounter, Iwo effected his escape, and +Renaud followed him, while Roland slowly picked himself up and prepared to +follow his antagonist and once more try his strength against him. + +On the way to Montauban, Roland met Richard, one of the four brothers, whom +he carried captive to Charlemagne. The emperor immediately ordered the +young knight to be hanged, and bade some of his most noble followers to see +the sentence executed. They one and all refused, however, declaring death +on the gallows too ignominious a punishment for a knight. + +The discussions which ensued delayed the execution and enabled Malagigi to +warn Renaud of his brother's imminent peril. Mounted upon Bayard, Renaud +rode straight to Montfaucon, accompanied by his two other brothers and a +few faithful men. There they camped under the gallows, to be at hand when +the guard came to hang the prisoner on the morrow. But Renaud and his +companions slept so soundly that they would have been surprised had not the +intelligent Bayard awakened his master by a very opportune kick. Springing +to his feet, Renaud roused his companions, vaulted upon his steed, and +charged the guard. He soon delivered his captive brother and carried him +off in triumph, after hanging the knight who had volunteered to act as +executioner. + +[Sidenote: Montauban besieged by Charlemagne.] Charlemagne, still anxious +to seize and punish these refractory subjects, now collected an army and +began again to besiege the stronghold of Montauban. Occasional sallies and +a few bloody encounters were the only variations in the monotony of a +several-years' siege. But finally the provisions of the besieged became +very scanty. Malagigi, who knew that a number of provision wagons were +expected, advised Renaud to make a bold sally and carry them off, while he, +the necromancer, dulled the senses of the imperial army by scattering one +of his magic sleeping powders in the air. He had just begun his spell when +Oliver perceived him and, pouncing upon him, carried him off to the +emperor's tent. Oliver, on the way thither, never once relinquished his +grasp, although the magician tried to make him do so by throwing a pinch of +hellebore in his face. + +While sneezing loudly the paladin told how he had caught the magician, and +the emperor vowed that the rascal should be hanged on the very next day. +When he heard this decree, Malagigi implored the emperor to give him a good +meal, since this was to be his last night on earth, pledging his word not +to leave the camp without the emperor. This promise so reassured +Charlemagne that he ordered a sumptuous repast, charging a few knights to +watch Malagigi, lest, after all, he should effect his escape. The meal +over, the necromancer again had recourse to his magic art to plunge the +whole camp into a deep sleep. Then, proceeding unmolested to the imperial +tent, he bore off the sleeping emperor to the gates of Montauban, which +flew open at his well-known voice. + +Charlemagne, on awaking, was as surprised as dismayed to find himself in +the hands of his foes, who, however, when they saw his uneasiness, +gallantly gave him his freedom without exacting any pledge or ransom in +return. But when Malagigi heard of this foolhardy act of generosity, he +burned up his papers, boxes, and bags, and, when asked why he acted thus, +replied that he was about to leave his mad young kinsmen to their own +devices, and take refuge in a hermitage, where he intended to spend the +remainder of his life in repenting of his sins. Soon after this he +disappeared, and Aymon's sons, escaping secretly from Montauban just before +it was forced to surrender, took refuge in a castle they owned in the +Ardennes. + +Here the emperor pursued them, and kept up the siege until Aya sought him, +imploring him to forgive her sons and to cease persecuting them. +Charlemagne yielded at last to her entreaties, and promised to grant the +sons of Aymon full forgiveness provided the demoniacal steed Bayard were +given over to him to be put to death. Aya hastened to Renaud to tell him +this joyful news, but when he declared that nothing would ever induce him +to give up his faithful steed, she besought him not to sacrifice his +brothers, wife, and sons, out of love for his horse. + +[Sidenote: Death of Bayard.] Thus adjured, Renaud, with breaking heart, +finally consented. The treaty was signed, and Bayard, with feet heavily +weighted, was led to the middle of a bridge over the Seine, where the +emperor had decreed that he should be drowned. At a given signal from +Charlemagne the noble horse was pushed into the water; but, in spite of the +weights on his feet, he rose to the surface twice, casting an agonized +glance upon his master, who had been forced to come and witness his death. +Aya, seeing her son's grief, drew his head down upon her motherly bosom, +and when Bayard rose once more and missed his beloved master's face among +the crowd, he sank beneath the waves with a groan of despair, and never +rose again. + +Renaud, maddened by the needless cruelty of this act, now tore up the +treaty and flung it at the emperor's feet. He then broke his sword +Flamberge and cast it into the Seine, declaring that he would never wield +such a weapon again, and returned to Montauban alone and on foot. There he +bade his wife and children farewell, after committing them to the loyal +protection of Roland. He then set out for the Holy Land, where he fought +against the infidels, using a club as weapon, so as not to break his vow. +This evidently proved no less effective in his hands than the noted +Flamberge, for he was offered the crown of Jerusalem in reward for his +services. As he had vowed to renounce all the pomps and vanities of the +world, Renaud passed the crown on to Godfrey of Bouillon. Then, returning +home, he found that Clarissa had died, after having been persecuted for +years by the unwelcome attentions of many suitors, who would fain have +persuaded her that her husband was dead. + +[Sidenote: Death of Renaud.] According to one version of the story, Renaud +died in a hermitage, in the odor of sanctity; but if we are to believe +another, he journeyed on to Cologne, where the cathedral was being built, +and labored at it night and day. Exasperated by his constant activity, +which put them all to shame, his fellow-laborers slew him and flung his +body into the Rhine. Strange to relate, however, his body was not carried +away by the strong current, but lingered near the city, until it was +brought to land and interred by some pious people. + +Many miracles having taken place near the spot where he was buried, the +emperor gave orders that his remains should be conveyed either to +Aix-la-Chapelle or to Paris. The body was therefore laid upon a cart, which +moved of its own accord to Dortmund, in Westphalia, where it stopped, and +where a church was erected in honor of Renaud in 811. Here the saintly +warrior's remains were duly laid to rest, and the church in Dortmund still +bears his name. A chapel in Cologne is also dedicated to him, and is +supposed to stand on the very spot where he was so treacherously slain +after his long and brilliant career. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +HUON OF BORDEAUX. + + +It is supposed that this _chanson de geste_ was first composed in the +thirteenth century; but the version which has come down to us must have +been written shortly before the discovery of printing. Although this poem +was deservedly a favorite composition during the middle ages, no manuscript +copy of it now exists. Such was the admiration that it excited that Lord +Berners translated it into English under Henry VIII. In modern times it has +been the theme of Wieland's finest poem, and of one of Weber's operas, both +of which works are known by the title of "Oberon." It is from this work +that Shakespeare undoubtedly drew some of the principal characters for his +"Midsummer-Night's Dream," where Oberon, king of the fairies, plays no +unimportant part. + +[Sidenote: Charlot slain by Huon.] The hero of this poem, Huon of Bordeaux, +and his brother Girard, were on their way from Guienne to Paris to do +homage to Charlemagne for their estates. Charlot, the monarch's eldest son, +who bears a very unenviable reputation in all the mediaeval poems, +treacherously waylaid the brothers, intending to put them both to death. He +attacked them separately; but, after slaying Girard, was himself slain by +Huon, who, quite unconscious of the illustrious birth of his assailant, +calmly proceeded on his way. + +The rumor of the prince's death soon followed Huon to court, and +Charlemagne, incensed, vowed that he would never pardon him until he had +proved his loyalty and repentance by journeying to Bagdad, where he was to +cut off the head of the great bashaw, to kiss the Sultan's daughter, and +whence he was to bring back a lock of that mighty potentate's gray beard +and four of his best teeth. + + "'Yet hear the terms; hear what no earthly power + Shall ever change!' He spoke, and wav'd below + His scepter, bent in anger o'er my brow.-- + 'Yes, thou may'st live;--but, instant, from this hour, + Away! in exile rove far nations o'er; + Thy foot accurs'd shall tread this soil no more, + Till thou, in due obedience to my will + Shalt, point by point, the word I speak fulfill; + Thou diest, if this unwrought thou touch thy native shore. + + "'Go hence to Bagdad; in high festal day + At his round table, when the caliph, plac'd + In stately pomp, with splendid emirs grac'd, + Enjoys the banquet rang'd in proud array, + Slay him who lies the monarch's left beside, + Dash from his headless trunk the purple tide. + Then to the right draw near; with courtly grace + The beauteous heiress of his throne embrace; + And thrice with public kiss salute her as thy bride. + + "'And while the caliph, at the monstrous scene, + Such as before ne'er shock'd a caliph's eyes, + Stares at thy confidence in mute surprise, + Then, as the Easterns wont, with lowly mien + Fall on the earth before his golden throne, + And gain (a trifle, proof of love alone) + That it may please him, gift of friend to friend, + Four of his grinders at my bidding send, + And of his beard a lock with silver hair o'ergrown." + WIELAND. _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Illustration: HUON BEFORE THE POPE--Gabriel Max.] + +[Sidenote: Huon's quest.] Huon regretfully, left his native land to begin +this apparently hopeless quest; and, after visiting his uncle, the Pope, in +Rome, he tried to secure heavenly assistance by a pilgrimage to the holy +sepulcher. Then he set out for Babylon, or Bagdad, for, with the visual +mediaeval scorn for geography, evinced in all the _chansons de gestes_, +these are considered interchangeable names for the same town. As the hero +was journeying towards his goal by way of the Red Sea, it will not greatly +surprise the modern reader to hear that he lost his way and came to a +pathless forest. Darkness soon overtook him, and Huon was blindly stumbling +forward, leading his weary steed by the bridle, when he perceived a light, +toward which he directed his way. + + "Not long his step the winding way pursued, + When on his wistful gaze, to him beseems, + The light of distant fire delightful gleams. + His cheek flash'd crimson as the flame he view'd. + Half wild with hope and fear, he rushed to find + In these lone woods some glimpse of human kind, + And, ever and anon, at once the ray + Flash'd on his sight, then sunk at once away, + While rose and fell the path as hill and valley wind." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin.] Huon at last reached a cave, and found a gigantic +old man all covered with hair, which was his sole garment. After a few +moments' fruitless attempt at conversation in the language of the country, +Huon impetuously spoke a few words in his mother tongue. Imagine his +surprise when the uncouth inhabitant of the woods answered him fluently, +and when he discovered, after a few rapid questions, that the man was +Sherasmin (Gerasmes), an old servant of his father's! This old man had +escaped from the hands of his Saracen captors, and had taken refuge in +these woods, where he had already dwelt many years. After relating his +adventures, Huon entreated Sherasmin to point out the nearest way to +Bagdad, and learned with surprise that there were two roads, one very long +and comparatively safe, even for an inexperienced traveler, and the other +far shorter, but leading through an enchanted forest, where countless +dangers awaited the venturesome traveler. + +The young knight of course decided to travel along the most perilous way; +and, accompanied by Sherasmin, who offered his services as guide, he set +out early upon the morrow to continue his quest. On the fourth day of their +journey they saw a Saracen struggling single-handed against a band of +Arabs, whom Huon soon put to flight with a few well directed strokes from +his mighty sword. + +After resting a few moments, Huon bade Sherasmin lead the way into the +neighboring forest, although his guide and mentor again strove to dissuade +him from crossing it by explaining that the forest was haunted by a goblin +who could change men into beasts. The hero, who was on his way to insult +the proudest ruler on earth, was not to be deterred by a goblin; and as +Sherasmin still refused to enter first, Huon plunged boldly into the +enchanted forest. Sherasmin followed him reluctantly, finding cause for +alarm in the very silence of the dense shade, and timorously glancing from +side to side in the gloomy recesses, where strange forms seemed to glide +noiselessly about. + + + "Meanwhile the wand'ring travelers onward go + Unawares within the circuit of a wood, + Whose mazy windings at each step renew'd, + In many a serpent-fold, twin'd to and fro, + So that our pair to lose themselves were fain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Meeting with Oberon.] The travelers lost their way entirely as +they penetrated farther into the forest, and they came at last to a little +glade, where, resting under the spreading branches of a mighty oak, they +were favored with the vision of a castle. Its golden portals opened wide to +permit of the egress of Oberon, king of the fairies, the son of Julius +Caesar and Morgana the fay. He came to them in the radiant guise of the god +of love, sitting in a chariot of silver, drawn by leopards. + +Sherasmin, terrified at the appearance of this radiant creature, and under +the influence of wild, unreasoning fear, seized the bridle of his master's +steed and dragged him into the midst of the forest, in spite of all his +remonstrances. At last he paused, out of breath, and thought himself safe +from further pursuit; but he was soon made aware of the goblin's wrath by +the sudden outbreak of a frightful storm. + + + "A tempest, wing'd with lightning, storm, and rain, + O'ertakes our pair: around them midnight throws + Darkness that hides the world: it peels, cracks, blows, + As if the uprooted globe would split in twain; + The elements in wild confusion flung, + Each warr'd with each, as fierce from chaos sprung. + Yet heard from time to time amid the storm, + The gentle whisper of th' aerial form + Breath'd forth a lovely tone that died the gales among." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +All Sherasmin's efforts to escape from the spirit of the forest had been in +vain. Oberon's magic horn had called forth the raging tempest, and his +power suddenly stayed its fury as Huon and his companion overtook a company +of monks and nuns. These holy people had been celebrating a festival by a +picnic, and were now hastening home, drenched, bedraggled, and in a sorry +plight. They had scarcely reached the convent yard, however, where +Sherasmin fancied all would be quite safe from further enchantment, when +Oberon suddenly appeared in their midst like a brilliant meteor. + + "At once the storm is fled; serenely mild + Heav'n smiles around, bright rays the sky adorn, + While beauteous as an angel newly born + Beams in the roseate dayspring, glow'd the child. + A lily stalk his graceful limbs sustain'd, + Round his smooth neck an ivory horn was chain'd; + Yet lovely as he was, on all around + Strange horror stole, for stern the fairy frown'd, + And o'er each sadden'd charm a sullen anger reign'd." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's aid promised.] The displeasure of the king of the +fairies had been roused by Huon and Sherasmin's discourteous flight, but he +merely vented his anger and showed his power by breathing a soft strain on +his magic horn. At the same moment, monks, nuns, and Sherasmin, forgetting +their age and calling, began to dance in the wildest abandon. Huon alone +remained uninfluenced by the music, for he had had no wish to avoid an +encounter with Oberon. + +The king of the fairies now revealed to Huon that as his life had been pure +and his soul true, he would help him in his quest. Then, at a wave from the +lily wand the magic music ceased, and the charm was broken. Sherasmin was +graciously forgiven by Oberon, who, seeing the old man well-nigh exhausted, +offered him a golden beaker of wine, bidding him drink without fear. But +Sherasmin was of a suspicious nature, and it was only when he found that +the draught had greatly refreshed him that he completely dismissed his +fears. + +[Sidenote: The magic horn.] After informing Huon that he was fully aware of +the peculiar nature of his quest, Oberon gave him the golden beaker, +assuring him that it would always be full of the richest wine for the +virtuous, but would burn the evil doer with a devouring fire. He also +bestowed his magic horn upon him, telling him that a gentle blast would +cause all the hearers to dance, while a loud one would bring to his aid the +king of the fairies himself. + + "Does but its snail-like spiral hollow sing, + A lovely note soft swell'd with gentle breath, + Though thousand warriors threaten instant death, + And with advancing weapons round enring; + Then, as thou late hast seen, in restless dance + All, all must spin, and every sword and lance + Fall with th' exhausted warriors to the ground. + But if thou peal it with impatient sound, + I at thy call appear, more swift than lightning glance." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Another wave of his lily wand, and Oberon disappeared, leaving a subtle +fragrance behind him; and had it not been for the golden beaker and the +ivory horn which he still held, Huon might have been tempted to consider +the whole occurrence a dream. + +The journey to Bagdad was now resumed in a more hopeful spirit; and when +the travelers reached Tourmont they found that it was governed by one of +Huon's uncles, who, captured in his youth by the Saracens, had turned +Mussulman, and had gradually risen to the highest dignity. Seeing Huon +refresh some of the Christians of his household with a draught of wine from +the magic cup, he asked to be allowed to drink from it too. He had no +sooner taken hold of it, however, than he was unmercifully burned, for he +was a renegade, and the magic cup refreshed only the true believers. + +Incensed at what he fancied a deliberate insult, the governor of Tourmont +planned to slay Huon at a great banquet. But the young hero defended +himself bravely, and, after slaying sundry assailants, disposed of the +remainder by breathing a soft note upon his magic horn, and setting them +all to dancing wildly, until they sank breathless and exhausted upon their +divans. + +[Sidenote: The giant Angoulaffre.] As Huon had taken advantage of the spell +to depart and continue his journey, he soon reached the castle of the giant +Angoulaffre. The latter had stolen from Oberon a magic ring which made the +wearer invulnerable, and thus suffered him to commit countless crimes with +impunity. When Huon came near the castle he met an unfortunate knight who +imformed him that the giant detained his promised bride captive, together +with several other helpless damsels. + +Like a true knight errant, Huon vowed to deliver these helpless ladies, +and, in spite of the armed guards at every doorway, he passed unmolested +into Angoulaffre's chamber. There he found the giant plunged in a lethargy, +but was rapturously welcomed by the knight's fair betrothed, who had long +sighed for a deliverer. In a few hurried sentences she told him that her +captor constantly forced his unwelcome attentions upon her; but that, owing +to the protection of the Virgin, a trance overtook him and made him +helpless whenever he tried to force her inclinations and take her to wife. + + "'As oft the hateful battle he renews, + As oft the miracle his force subdues; + The ring no virtue boasts whene'er that sleep assails.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Prompted by this fair princess, whose name was Angela, Huon secured the +ring, and donned a magic hauberk hanging near. But, as he scorned to take +any further advantage of a sleeping foe, he patiently awaited the giant's +awakening to engage in one of those combats which the mediaeval poets loved +to describe. + +[Sidenote: Angela and Alexis.] Of course Huon was victorious, and after +slaying Angoulaffre, he restored the fair Angela to her lover, Alexis, and +gave a great banquet, which was attended by the fifty rescued damsels, and +by fifty knights who had come to help Alexis. Although this gay company +would fain have had him remain with them, Huon traveled on. When too +exhausted to continue his way, he again rested under a tree, where Oberon +caused a tent to be raised by invisible hands. Here Huon had a wonderful +dream, in which he beheld his future ladylove, and was warned of some of +the perils which still awaited him before he could claim her as his own. + +The journey was then resumed, and when they reached the banks of the Red +Sea, Oberon sent one of his spirits, Malebron, to carry them safely over. +They traveled through burning wastes of sand, refreshed and strengthened by +occasional draughts from the magic goblet, and came at last to a forest, +where they saw a Saracen about to succumb beneath the attack of a monstrous +lion. Huon immediately flew to his rescue, slew the lion, and, having drunk +deeply from his magic cup, handed it to the Saracen, on whose lips the +refreshing wine turned to liquid flame. + + "With evil eye, from Huon's courteous hand, + Filled to the brim, the heathen takes the bowl-- + Back from his lip th' indignant bubbles roll! + The spring is dried, and hot as fiery brand, + Proof of internal guilt, the metal glows. + Far from his grasp the wretch the goblet throws, + Raves, roars, and stamps." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +With a blasphemous exclamation the Saracen flung aside the cup, and seeing +that his own steed had been slain by the lion, he sprang unceremoniously +upon Huon's horse, and rode rapidly away. + +[Sidenote: Princess Rezia.] As there was but one mount left for them both, +Huon and Sherasmin were now obliged to proceed more slowly to Bagdad, where +they found every hostelry full, as the people were all coming thither to +witness the approaching nuptials of the princess, Rezia (Esclamonde), and +Babican, King of Hyrcania. Huon and Sherasmin, after a long search, finally +found entertainment in a little hut, where an old woman, the mother of the +princess's attendant, entertained them by relating that the princess was +very reluctant to marry. She also told them that Rezia had lately been +troubled by a dream, in which she had seen herself in the guise of a hind +and pursued through a pathless forest by Babican. In this dream she was +saved and restored to her former shape by a radiant little creature, who +rode in a glistening silver car, drawn by leopards. He was accompanied by a +fair-haired knight, whom he presented to her as her future bridegroom. + + "The shadow flies; but from her heart again + He never fades--the youth with golden hair; + Eternally his image hovers there, + Exhaustless source of sweetly pensive pain, + In nightly visions, and in daydreams shown." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Huon listened in breathless rapture, for he now felt assured that the +princess Rezia was the radiant creature he had seen in his dream, and that +Oberon intended them for each other. He therefore assured the old woman +that the princess should never marry the detested Babican. Then, although +Sherasmin pointed out to him that the way to a lady's favor seldom consists +in cutting off the head of her intended bridegroom, depriving her father of +four teeth and a lock of his beard, and kissing her without the usual +preliminary of "by your leave," the young hero persisted in his resolution +to visit the palace on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Oberon again to the rescue.] That selfsame night, Huon and Rezia +were again visited by sweet dreams, in which Oberon, their guardian spirit, +promised them his aid. While the princess was arraying herself for her +nuptials on the morrow, the old woman rushed into her apartment and +announced that a fair-haired knight, evidently the promised deliverer, had +slept in her humble dwelling the night before. Comforted by these tidings, +Rezia made a triumphant entrance into the palace hall, where her father, +the bridegroom, and all the principal dignitaries of the court, awaited her +appearance. + + "Emirs and viziers, all the courtly crowd + Meantime attendant at the sultan's call, + With festal splendor grace the nuptial hall. + The banquet waits, the cymbals clang aloud. + The gray-beard caliph from his golden door + Stalks mid the slaves that fall his path before; + Behind, of stately gesture, proud to view, + The Druse prince, though somewhat pale of hue, + Comes as a bridegroom deck'd with jewels blazing o'er." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +In the mean while Huon, awaking at early dawn, found a complete suit of +Saracenic apparel at his bedside. He donned it joyfully, entered the palace +unchallenged, and passed into the banquet hall, where he perceived the +gray-bearded caliph, and recognized in the bridegroom at his left the +Saracen whom he had delivered from the lion, and who had so discourteously +stolen his horse. + +[Sidenote: Huon's success.] One stride forward, a flash of his curved +scimitar, and the first part of Charlemagne's order was fulfilled, for the +Saracen's head rolled to the ground. The sudden movement caused Huon's +turban to fall off, however, and the princess, seated at the caliph's +right, gazed spellbound upon the knight, whose golden locks fell in rich +curls about his shoulders. + +There are several widely different versions of this part of the story. The +most popular, however, states that Huon, taking advantage of the first +moments of surprise, kissed Rezia thrice, slipping on her finger, in sign +of betrothal, the magic ring which he had taken from Angoulaffre. Then, +seeing the caliph's guards about to fall upon him, he gently breathed soft +music on his magic horn, and set caliph and court a-dancing. + + "The whole divan, one swimming circle glides + Swift without stop: the old bashaws click time, + As if on polish'd ice; in trance sublime + The iman hoar with some spruce courtier slides. + Nor rank nor age from capering refrain; + Nor can the king his royal foot restrain! + He too must reel amid the frolic row, + Grasp the grand vizier by his beard of snow, + And teach the aged man once more to bound amain!" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Flight of Rezia.] While they were thus occupied, Huon conducted +the willing Rezia to the door, where Sherasmin was waiting for them with +fleet steeds, and with Fatima, the princess's favorite attendant. While +Sherasmin helped the ladies to mount, Huon hastened back to the palace +hall, and found that the exhausted caliph had sunk upon a divan. With the +prescribed ceremonies, our hero politely craved a lock of his beard and +four of his teeth as a present for Charlemagne. This impudent request so +incensed the caliph that he vociferated orders to his guards to slay the +stranger. Huon was now forced to defend himself with a curtain pole and a +golden bowl, until, needing aid, he suddenly blew a resounding peal upon +his magic horn. The earth shook, the palace rocked, Oberon appeared in the +midst of rolling thunder and flashing lightning, and with a wave of his +lily wand plunged caliph and people into a deep sleep. Then he placed his +silver car at Huon's disposal, to bear him and his bride and attendants to +Ascalon, where a ship was waiting to take them back to France. + + "'So haste, thou matchless pair! + On wings of love, my car, that cuts the air, + Shall waft you high above terrestrial sight, + And place, ere morning melt the shades of night, + On Askalon's far shore, beneath my guardian care.'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Oberon's warning.] When Huon and Rezia were about to embark at +Ascalon, Oberon appeared. He claimed his chariot, which had brought them +thither, and gave the knight a golden and jeweled casket, which contained +the teeth of the caliph and a lock of his beard. One last test of Huon's +loyalty was required, however; for Oberon, at parting, warned him to make +no attempt to claim Rezia as his wife until their union had been blessed at +Rome by the Pope. + + "'And deep, O Huon! grave it in your brain! + Till good Sylvester, pious father, sheds + Heaven's holy consecration on your heads, + As brother and as sister chaste remain! + Oh, may ye not, with inauspicious haste, + The fruit forbidden prematurely taste! + Know, if ye rashly venture ere the time, + That Oberon, in vengeance of your crime, + Leaves you, without a friend, on life's deserted waste!'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The first part of the journey was safely accomplished; but when they +stopped at Lepanto, on the way, Huon insisted upon his mentor, Sherasmin, +taking passage on another vessel, which sailed direct to France, that he +might hasten ahead, lay the golden casket at Charlemagne's feet, and +announce Huon's coming with his Oriental bride. + +[Illustration: HUON AND AMANDA LEAP OVERBOARD.--Gabriel Max.] + +When Sherasmin had reluctantly departed, and they were again on the high +seas, Huon expounded the Christian faith to Rezia, who not only was +converted, but was also baptized by a priest on board. He gave her the +Christian name of Amanda, in exchange for her pagan name of Rezia or +Esclarmonde. This same priest also consecrated their marriage; and while +Huon intended to await the Pope's blessing ere he claimed Amanda as his +wife, his good resolutions were soon forgotten, and the last injunction of +Oberon disregarded. + +[Sidenote: Disobedience and punishment.] This disobedience was immediately +punished, for a frightful tempest suddenly arose, threatening to destroy +the vessel and all on board. The sailors, full of superstitious fears, cast +lots to discover who should be sacrificed to allay the fury of the storm. +When the choice fell upon Huon, Amanda flung herself with him into the +tumultuous waves. As the lovers vanished overboard the storm was suddenly +appeased, and, instead of drowning together, Huon and Amanda, by the magic +of the ring she wore, drifted to a volcanic island, where they almost +perished from hunger and thirst. + +Much search among the rocks was finally rewarded by the discovery of some +dates, which were particularly welcome, as the lovers had been bitterly +deluded by the sight of some apples of Sodom. The fruit, however, was soon +exhausted, and, after untold exertions, Huon made his way over the +mountains to a fertile valley, the retreat of Titania, queen of the +fairies, who had quarreled with Oberon, and who was waiting here until +recalled to fairyland. + +The only visible inhabitant of the valley, however, was a hermit, who +welcomed Huon, and showed him a short and convenient way to bring Amanda +thither. After listening attentively to the story of Huon's adventures, the +hermit bade him endeavor to recover the favor of Oberon by voluntarily +living apart from his wife, and leading a life of toil and abstinence. + + "'Blest,' says the hermit, 'blest the man whom fate + Guides with strict hand, but not unfriendly aim! + How blest! whose slightest fault is doom'd to shame! + Him, trained to virtue, purest joys await,-- + Earth's purest joys reward each trying pain! + Think not the fairy will for aye remain + Inexorable foe to hearts like thine: + Still o'er you hangs his viewless hand divine; + Do but deserve his grace, and ye his grace obtain." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon's penance.] Huon was ready and willing to undergo any +penance which would enable him to deliver his beloved Amanda from the isle, +and after building her a little hut, within call of the cell he occupied +with the hermit, he spent all his time in tilling the soil for their +sustenance, and in listening to the teachings of the holy man. + +Time passed on. One day Amanda restlessly wandered a little way up the +mountain, and fell asleep in a lovely grotto, which she now for the first +time discovered. When she awoke from a blissful dream she found herself +clasping her new-born babe, who, during her slumbers, had been cared for by +the fairies. This child, Huonet, was, of course, a great comfort to Amanda, +who was devoted to him. + +When the babe was a little more than a year old the aged monk died. Huon +and Amanda, despairing of release from the desert island, were weary of +living apart; and Titania, who foresaw that Oberon would send new +misfortunes upon them to punish them in case they did not stand the second +test, carried little Huonet off to fairyland, lest he should suffer for his +parents' sins. + +[Sidenote: Amanda and the pirates.] Huon and Amanda, in the mean time, +searched frantically for the missing babe, fancying it had wandered off +into the woods. During their search they became separated, and Amanda, +while walking along the seashore, was seized by pirates. They intended to +carry her away and sell her as a slave to the Sultan. Huon heard her cries +of distress, and rushed to her rescue; but in spite of his utmost efforts +to join her he saw her borne away to the waiting vessel, while he was bound +to a tree in the woods, and left there to die. + + "Deep in the wood, at distance from the shore, + They drag their victim, that his loudest word + Pour'd on the desert air may pass unheard. + Then bind the wretch, and fasten o'er and o'er + Arm, leg, and neck, and shoulders, to a tree. + To heaven he looks in speechless agony, + O'ercome by woe's unutterable weigfit. + Thus he--the while, with jocund shout elate + The crew bear off their prey, and bound along the sea." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +Oberon, however, had pity at last upon the unfortunate knight, and sent one +of his invisible servants, who not only unbound him, but transported him, +with miraculous rapidity, over land and sea, and deposited him at the door +of a gardener's house in Tunis. + +[Sidenote: Sherasmin's search.] After parting from his master at Lepanto, +Sherasmin traveled on until he came to the gates of the palace with his +precious casket. Then only did he realize that Charlemagne would never +credit his tale unless Huon were there with his bride to vouch for its +truth. Instead of entering the royal abode he therefore hastened back to +Rome, where for two months he awaited the arrival of the young couple. +Then, sure that some misfortune had overtaken them, the faithful Sherasmin +wandered in pilgrim guise from place to place seeking them, until he +finally came to Tunis, where Fatima, Amanda's maid, had been sold into +slavery, and where he sorrowfully learned of his master's death. + +To be near Fatima, Sherasmin took a gardener's position in the Sultan's +palace, and when he opened the door of his humble dwelling one morning he +was overjoyed to find Huon, who had been brought there by the messenger of +Oberon. An explanation ensued, and Huon, under the assumed name of Hassan, +became Sherasmin's assistant in the Sultan's gardens. + +The pirates, in the mean while, hoping to sell Amanda to the Sultan +himself, had treated her with the utmost deference; but as they neared the +shore of Tunis their vessel suffered shipwreck, and all on board perished +miserably, except Amanda. She was washed ashore at the Sultan's feet. +Charmed by her beauty, the Sultan conveyed her to his palace, where he +would immediately have married her had she not told him that she had made a +vow of chastity which she was bound to keep for two years. + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda reunited.] Huon, unconscious of Amanda's +presence, worked in the garden, where the Sultan's daughter saw him and +fell in love with him. As she failed to win him, she became very jealous. +Soon after this Fatima discovered Amanda's presence in the palace, and +informed Huon, who made a desperate effort to reach her. This was +discovered by the jealous princess, and since Huon would not love her, she +was determined that he should not love another. She therefore artfully laid +her plans, and accused him of a heinous crime, for which the Sultan, +finding appearances against him, condemned him to death. Amanda, who was +warned by Fatima of Huon's danger, rushed into the Sultan's presence to +plead for her husband's life; but when she discovered that she could obtain +it only at the price of renouncing him forever and marrying the Sultan, she +declared that she preferred to die, and elected to be burned with her +beloved. The flames were already rising around them both, when Oberon, +touched by their sufferings and their constancy, suddenly appeared, and +again hung his horn about Huon's neck. + +The knight hailed this sign of recovered favor with rapture, and, putting +the magic horn to his lips, showed his magnanimity by blowing only a soft +note and making all the pagans dance. + + "No sooner had the grateful knight beheld, + With joyful ardor seen, the ivory horn, + Sweet pledge of fairy grace, his neck adorn, + Than with melodious whisper gently swell'd, + His lip entices forth the sweetest tone + That ever breath'd through magic ivory blown: + He scorns to doom a coward race to death. + 'Dance! till ye weary gasp, depriv'd of breath-- + Huon permits himself this slight revenge alone'" + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Huon and Amanda in fairyland.] While all were dancing, much +against their will, Huon and Amanda, Sherasmin and Fatima, promptly stepped +into the silvery car which Oberon placed at their disposal, and were +rapidly transported to fairyland. There they found little Huonet in perfect +health. Great happiness now reigned, for Titania, having secured the ring +which Amanda had lost in her struggle with the pirates on the sandy shore, +had given it back to Oberon. He was propitiated by the gift, and as the +sight of Huon and Amanda's fidelity had convinced him that wives could be +true, he took Titania back into favor, and reinstated her as queen of his +realm. + +When Huon and Amanda had sojourned as long as they wished in fairyland, +they were wafted in Oberon's car to the gates of Paris. There Huon arrived +just in time to win, at the point of his lance, his patrimony of Guienne, +which Charlemagne had offered as prize at a tournament. Bending low before +his monarch, the young hero then revealed his name, presented his wife, +gave him the golden casket containing the lock of hair and the four teeth, +and said that he had accomplished his quest. + + "Our hero lifts the helmet from his head; + And boldly ent'ring, like the god of day, + His golden ringlets down his armor play. + All, wond'ring, greet the youth long mourn'd as dead, + Before the king his spirit seems to stand! + Sir Huon with Amanda, hand in hand, + Salutes the emperor with respectful bow-- + 'Behold, obedient to his plighted vow, + Thy vassal, sovereign liege, returning to thy land! + + "'For by the help of Heaven this arm has done + What thou enjoin'dst--and lo! before thine eye + The beard and teeth of Asia's monarch lie, + At hazard of my life, to please thee, won; + And in this fair, by every peril tried, + The heiress of his throne, my love, my bride!' + He spoke; and lo! at once her knight to grace, + Off falls the veil that hid Amanda's face, + And a new radiance gilds the hall from side to side." + WIELAND, _Oberon_ (Sotheby's tr.). + +The young couple, entirely restored to favor, sojourned a short time at +court and then traveled southward to Guienne, where their subjects received +them with every demonstration of extravagant joy. Here they spent the +remainder of their lives together in happiness and comparative peace. + +[Sidenote: An earlier version of the story.] According to an earlier +version of the story, Esclarmonde, whom the pirates intended to convey to +the court of her uncle, Yvoirin of Montbrand, was wrecked near the palace +of Galafre, King of Tunis, who respected her vow of chastity but +obstinately refused to give her up to her uncle when he claimed her. Huon, +delivered from his fetters on the island, was borne by Malebron, Oberon's +servant, to Yvoirin's court, where he immediately offered himself as +champion to defy Galafre and win back his beloved wife at the point of the +sword. No sooner did Huon appear in martial array at Tunis than Galafre +selected Sherasmin (who had also been shipwrecked off his coast, and had +thus become his slave) as his champion. Huon and Sherasmin met, but, +recognizing each other after a few moments' struggle, they suddenly +embraced, and, joining forces, slew the pagans and carried off Esclarmonde +and Fatima. They embarked upon a swift sailing vessel, and soon arrived at +Rome, where Huon related his adventures to the Pope, who gave him his +blessing. + +As they were on their way to Charlemagne's court, Girard, a knight who had +taken possession of Huon's estates, stole the golden casket from Sherasmin, +and sent Huon and Esclarmonde in chains to Bordeaux. Then, going to court, +he informed Charlemagne that although Huon had failed in his quest, he had +dared to return to France. Charlemagne, whose anger had not yet cooled, +proceeded to Bordeaux, tried Huon, and condemned him to death. But just as +the knight was about to perish, Oberon appeared, bound the emperor and +Girard fast, and only consented to restore them to freedom when Charlemagne +promised to reinstate Huon. + +Oberon then produced the missing casket, revealed Girard's treachery, and, +after seeing him punished, bore Huon and Esclarmonde off to fairyland. Huon +eventually became ruler of this realm in Oberon's stead; and his daughter, +Claretie, whose equally marvelous adventures are told at great length in +another, but far less celebrated, _chanson de geste_, is represented as the +ancestress of all the Capetian kings of France. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +TITUREL AND THE HOLY GRAIL. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the legend.] The most mystical and spiritual of all +the romances of chivalry is doubtless the legend of the Holy Grail. Rooted +in the mythology of all primitive races is the belief in a land of peace +and happiness, a sort of earthly paradise, once possessed by man, but now +lost, and only to be attained again by the virtuous. The legend of the Holy +Grail, which some authorities declare was first known in Europe by the +Moors, and christianized by the Spaniards, was soon introduced into France, +where Robert de Borron and Chrestien de Troyes wrote lengthy poems about +it. Other writers took up the same theme, among them Walter Map, Archdeacon +of Oxford, who connected it with the Arthurian legends. It soon became +known in Germany, where, in the hands of Gottfried von Strassburg, and +especially of Wolfram von Eschenbach, it assumed its most perfect and +popular form. The "Parzival" of Eschenbach also forms the basis of a recent +work, the much-discussed last opera of the great German composer, +Wagner.[1] [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Stories of the Wagner Opera.] + +The story of the Grail is somewhat confused, owing to the many changes made +by the different authors. The account here given, while mentioning the most +striking incidents of other versions, is in general an outline of the +"Titurel" and "Parzival" of Von Eschenbach. + +[Sidenote: The Holy Grail.] When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, one stone +of great beauty as detached from the marvelous crown which sixty thousand +angels had tendered him. This stone fell upon earth, and from it was carved +a vessel of great beauty, which came, after many ages, into the hands of +Joseph of Arimathea. He offered it to the Savior, who made use of it in the +Last Supper. When the blood flowed from the Redeemer's side, Joseph of +Arimathea caught a few drops of it in this wonderful vessel; and, owing to +this circumstance, it was thought to be endowed with marvelous powers. +"Wherever it was there were good things in abundance. Whoever looked upon +it, even though he were sick unto death, could not die that week; whoever +looked at it continually, his cheeks never grew pale, nor his hair gray." + +Once a year, on the anniversary of the Savior's death, a white dove brought +a fresh host down from heaven, and placed it on the vessel, which was borne +by a host of angels, or by spotless virgins. The care of it was at times +intrusted to mortals, who, however, had to prove themselves worthy of this +exalted honor by leading immaculate lives. This vessel, called the "Holy +Grail," remained, after the crucifixion, in the hands of Joseph of +Arimathea. The Jews, angry because Joseph had helped to bury Christ, cast +him into a dungeon, and left him there for a whole year without food or +drink. Their purpose in doing so was to slay Joseph, as they had already +slain Nicodemus, so that should the Romans ever ask them to produce +Christ's body, they might declare that it had been stolen by Joseph of +Arimathea. + +The Jews little suspected, however, that Joseph, having the Holy Grail with +him, could suffer no lack. When Vespasian, the Roman emperor, heard the +story of Christ's passion, as related by a knight who had just returned +from the Holy Land, he sent a commission to Jerusalem to investigate the +matter and bring back some holy relic to cure his son Titus of leprosy. + +In due time the ambassadors returned, giving Pilate's version of the story, +and bringing with them an old woman (known after her death as St. +Veronica). She produced the cloth with which she had wiped the Lord's face, +and upon which his likeness had been stamped by miracle. The mere sight of +this holy relic sufficed to restore Titus, who now proceeded with Vespasian +to Jerusalem. There they vainly tried to compel the Jews to produce the +body of Christ, until one of them revealed, under pressure of torture, the +place where Joseph was imprisoned. Vespasian proceeded in person to the +dungeon, and was hailed by name by the perfectly healthy prisoner. Joseph +was set free, but, fearing further persecution from the Jews, soon departed +with his sister, Enigee, and her husband, Brons, for a distant land. The +pilgrims found a place of refuge near Marseilles, where the Holy Grail +supplied all their needs, until one of them committed a sin. Then divine +displeasure became manifest by a terrible famine. + +As none knew who had sinned, Joseph was instructed in a vision to discover +the culprit by the same means with which the Lord had revealed the guilt of +Judas. Still following divine commands, Joseph made a table, and directed +Brons to catch a fish. The Grail was placed before Joseph's seat at table, +where all who implicitly believed were invited to take a seat. Eleven seats +were soon occupied, and only Judas's place remained empty. Moses, a +hypocrite and sinner, attempted to sit there, but the earth opened wide +beneath him and ingulfed him. + +In another vision Joseph was now informed that the vacancy would only be +filled on the day of doom. He was also told that a similar table would be +constructed by Merlin. Here the grandson of Brons would honorably occupy +the vacant place, which is designated in the legend as the "Siege +Perilous," because it proved fatal to all for whom it was not intended. + +In the "Great St. Grail," one of the longest poems on this theme, there are +countless adventures and journeys, "transformations of fair females into +foul fiends, conversions wholesale and individual, allegorical visions, +miracles, and portents. Eastern splendor and northern weirdness, angelry +and deviltry, together with abundant fighting and quite a phenomenal amount +of swooning, which seem to reflect a strange medley of Celtic, pagan, and +mythological traditions, and Christian legends and mysticism, alternate in +a kaleidoscopic maze that defies the symmetry which modern aesthetic canons +associate with every artistic production." + +The Holy Grail was, we are further told, transported by Joseph of Arimathea +to Glastonbury, where it long remained visible, and whence it vanished only +when men became too sinful to be permitted to retain it in their midst. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Titurel.] Another legend relates that a rich man from +Cappadocia, Berillus, followed Vespasian to Rome, where he won great +estates. He was a very virtuous man, and his good qualities were inherited +by all his descendants. One of them, called Titurisone, greatly regretted +having no son to continue his race. When advised by a soothsayer to make a +pilgrimage to the holy sepulcher, and there to lay a crucifix of pure gold +upon the altar, the pious Titurisone hastened to do so. On his return he +was rewarded for his pilgrimage by the birth of a son, called Titurel. + +This child, when he had attained manhood, spent all his time in warring +against the Saracens, as all pagans are called in these metrical romances. +The booty he won he gave either to the church or to the poor, and his +courage and virtue were only equaled by his piety and extreme humility. + +One day, when Titurel was walking alone in the woods, he was favored by the +vision of an angel. The celestial messenger sailed down to earth out of the +blue, and announced in musical tones that the Lord had chosen him to be the +guardian of the Holy Grail on Montsalvatch (which some authors believe to +have been in Spain), and that it behooved him to set his house in order and +obey the voice of God. + +When the angel had floated upward and out of sight, Titurel returned home. +After disposing of all his property, reserving nothing but his armor and +trusty sword, he again returned to the spot where he had been favored with +the divine message. There he saw a mysterious white cloud, which seemed to +beckon him onward. Titurel followed it, passed through vast solitudes and +almost impenetrable woods, and eventually began to climb a steep mountain, +whose ascent at first seemed impossible. Clinging to the rocks, and gazing +ever ahead at the guiding cloud, Titurel came at last to the top of the +mountain, where, in a beam of refulgent light, he beheld the Holy Grail, +borne in the air by invisible hands. He raised his heart in passionate +prayer that he might be found worthy to guard the emerald-colored wonder +which was thus intrusted to his care, and in his rapture hardly heeded the +welcoming cries of a number of knights in shining armor, who hailed him as +their king. + +The vision of the Holy Grail was as evanescent as beautiful, and soon +disappeared; but Titurel, knowing that the spot was holy, guarded it with +all his might against the infidels, who would fain have climbed the +mountain. + +After several years had passed without the Holy Grail's coming down to +earth, Titurel conceived the plan of building a temple suitable for its +reception. The knights who helped to build and afterward guarded this +temple were called "Templars." Their first effort was to clear the mountain +top, which they found was one single onyx of enormous size. This they +leveled and polished until it shone like a mirror, and upon this foundation +they prepared to build their temple. + +[Sidenote: Temple of the Holy Grail.] As Titurel was hesitating what plan +to adopt for the building, he prayed for guidance, and when he arose on the +morrow he found the ground plan all traced out and the building materials +ready for use. The knights labored piously from morning till night, and +when they ceased, invisible hands continued to work all night. Thus pushed +onward, the work was soon completed, and the temple rose on the mountain +top in all its splendor. "The temple itself was one hundred fathoms in +diameter. Around it were seventy-two chapels of an octagonal shape. To +every pair of chapels there was a tower six stories high, approachable by a +winding stair on the outside. In the center stood a tower twice as big as +the others, which rested on arches. The vaulting was of blue sapphire, and +in the center was a plate of emerald, with the lamb and the banner of the +cross in enamel. All the altar stones were of sapphire, as symbols of the +propitiation of sins. Upon the inside of the cupola surmounting the temple, +the sun and moon were represented in diamonds and topazes, and shed a light +as of day even in the darkness of the night. The windows were of crystal, +beryl, and other transparent stones. The floor was of translucent crystal, +under which all the fishes of the sea were carved out of onyx, just like +life. The towers were of precious stones inlaid with gold; their roofs of +gold and blue enamel. Upon every tower there was a crystal cross, and upon +it a golden eagle with expanded wings, which, at a distance, appeared to be +flying. At the summit of the main tower was an immense carbuncle, which +served, like a star, to guide the Templars thither at night. In the center +of the building, under the dome, was a miniature representation, of the +whole, and in this the holy vessel was kept." + +[Sidenote: Descent of the Holy Grail.] When all the work was finished, the +temple was solemnly consecrated, and as the priests chanted the psalms a +sweet perfume filled the air, and the holy vessel was seen to glide down on +a beam of light. While it hovered just above the altar the wondering +assembly heard the choir of the angels singing the praises of the Most +High. The Holy Grail, which had thus come down upon earth, was faithfully +guarded by Titurel and his knights, who were fed and sustained by its +marvelous power, and whose wounds were healed as soon as they gazed upon +it. From time to time it also delivered a divine message, which appeared in +letters of fire inscribed about its rim, and which none of the Templars +ever ventured to disregard. + +By virtue of the miraculous preservative influence of the Holy Grail, +Titurel seemed but forty when he was in reality more than four hundred +years old. His every thought had been so engrossed by the care of the +precious vessel that he was somewhat surprised when he read upon its rim a +luminous command to marry, so that his race might not become extinct. When +the knights of the temple had been summoned, and had all perused the divine +command, they began to consider where a suitable helpmate could be found +for their beloved king. They soon advised him to woe Richoude, the daughter +of a Spaniard. An imposing embassy was sent to the maiden, who, being +piously inclined, immediately consented to the marriage. + +Richoude was a faithful wife for twenty years, and when she died she left +two children,--a son, Frimoutel, and a daughter, Richoude,--to comfort the +sorrowing Titurel for her loss. These children both married in their turn, +and Frimoutel had two sons, Amfortas and Trevrezent, and three daughters, +Herzeloide, Josiane, and Repanse de Joie. As these children grew up, +Titurel became too old to bear the weight of his armor, and spent all his +days in the temple, where he finally read on the Holy Grail a command to +anoint Frimoutel king. Joyfully the old man obeyed, for he had long felt +that the defense of the Holy Grail should be intrusted to a younger man +than he. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Parzival.] Although he renounced the throne in favor of +his son, Titurel lived on, witnessed the marriage of Josiane, and mourned +for her when she died in giving birth to a little daughter, called Sigune. +This child, being thus deprived of a mother's care, was intrusted to +Herzeloide, who brought her up with Tchionatulander, the orphaned son of a +friend. Herzeloide married a prince named Gamuret, and became the happy +mother of Parzival, who, however, soon lost his father in a terrible +battle. + +Fearful lest her son, when grown up, should want to follow his father's +example, and make war against even the most formidable foes, Herzeloide +carried him off into the forest of Soltane (which some authors locate in +Brittany), and there brought him up in complete solitude and ignorance. + + "The child her falling tears bedew; + No wife was ever found more true. + She teemed with joy and uttered sighs; + And tears midst laughter filled her eyes + Her heart delighted in his birth; + In sorrow deep was drowned her mirth." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +[Illustration: PARZIVAL UNCOVERING THE HOLY GRAIL.--Pixis.] + +[Sidenote: Amfortas's wound.] While she was living there, Frimoutel, weary +of the dull life on Montsalvatch, went out into the world, and died of a +lance wound when far away from home. Amfortas, his son, who was now crowned +in obedience to the command of the Holy Grail, proved equally restless, and +went out also in search of adventures. Like his father, he too was wounded +by a poisoned lance; but, instead of dying, he lived to return to the Holy +Grail. But since his wound had not been received in defense of the holy +vessel, it never healed, and caused him untold suffering. + +Titurel, seeing this suffering, prayed ardently for his grandson's release +from the pain which imbittered every moment of his life, and was finally +informed by the glowing letters on the rim of the Holy Grail that a chosen +hero would climb the mountain and inquire the cause of Amfortas's pain. At +this question the evil spell would be broken, Amfortas healed, and the +newcomer appointed king and guardian of the Holy Grail. + +This promise of ultimate cure saved Amfortas from utter despair, and all +the Templars lived in constant anticipation of the coming hero, and of the +question which would put an end to the torment which they daily witnessed. + +[Sidenote: Parzival's early life.] Parzival, in the mean while, was growing +up in the forest, where he amused himself with a bow and arrow of his own +manufacture. But when for the first time he killed a tiny bird, and saw it +lying limp and helpless in his hand, he brought it tearfully to his mother +and inquired what it meant. In answering him she, for the first time also, +mentioned the name of God; and when he eagerly questioned her about the +Creator, she said to him: "Brighter is God than e'en the brightest day; yet +once he took the form and face of man." + +Thus brought up in complete ignorance, it is no wonder that when young +Parzival encountered some knights in brilliant armor in the forest, he fell +down and offered to worship them. Amused at the lad's simplicity, the +knights told him all about the gay world of chivalry beyond the forest, and +advised him to ride to Arthur's court, where, if worthy, he would receive +the order of knighthood, and perchance be admitted to the Round Table. +Beside himself with joy at hearing all these marvelous things, and eager to +set out immediately, Parzival returned to his mother to relate what he had +seen, and to implore her to give him a horse, that he might ride after the +knights. + + "'I saw four men, dear mother mine; + Not brighter is the Lord divine. + They spoke to me of chivalry; + Through Arthur's power of royalty, + In knightly honor well arrayed, + I shall receive the accolade.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +The mother, finding herself unable to detain him any longer, reluctantly +consented to his departure, and, hoping that ridicule and lack of success +would soon drive him back to her, prepared for him the motley garb of a +fool and gave him a very sorry nag to ride. + + "The boy, silly yet brave indeed, + Oft from his mother begged a steed. + That in her heart she did lament; + She thought: 'Him must I make content, + Yet must the thing an evil be.' + Thereafter further pondered she: + 'The folk are prone to ridicule. + My child the garments of a fool + Shall on his shining body wear. + If he be scoffed and beaten there, + Perchance he'll come to me again.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Parzival's journey into the world.] Thus equipped, his mind well +stored with all manner of unpractical advice given by his mother in further +hopes of making a worldly career impossible for him, the young hero set +out. As he rode away from home, his heart was filled with regret at leaving +and with an ardent desire to seek adventures abroad,--conflicting emotions +which he experienced for the first time in his life. Herzeloide accompanied +her son part way, kissed him good-by, and, as his beloved form disappeared +from view in the forest paths, her heart broke and she breathed her last! + +Parzival rode onward and soon came to a meadow, in which some tents were +pitched. He saw a beautiful lady asleep in one of these tents, and, +dismounting, he wakened her with a kiss, thus obeying one of his mother's +injunctions--to kiss every fair lady he met. To his surprise, however, the +lady seemed indignant; so he tried to pacify her by telling her that he had +often thus saluted his mother. Then, slipping the bracelet from off her +arm, and carrying it away as a proof that she was not angry, he rode on. +Lord Orilus, the lady's husband, hearing from her that a youth had kissed +her, flew into a towering rage, and rode speedily away, hoping to overtake +the impudent varlet and punish him. + +Parzival, in the mean while, had journeyed on, and, passing through the +forest, had seen a maiden weeping over the body of her slain lover. In +answer to his inquiries she told him that she was his cousin, Sigune, and +that the dead man, Tchionatulander, had been killed in trying to fulfill a +trifling request--to recover her pet dog, which had been stolen. Parzival +promised to avenge Tchionatulander as soon as possible, and to remember +that the name of the murderer was Orilus. + +Next he came to a river, where he was ferried across, and repaid the +boatman by giving him the bracelet he had taken from Orilus's wife. Then, +hearing that Arthur was holding his court at Nantes, he proceeded thither +without further delay. + +On entering the city, Parzival encountered the Red Knight, who mockingly +asked him where he was going. The unabashed youth immediately retorted, "To +Arthur's court to ask him for your arms and steed!" + +[Sidenote: Parzival at Arthur's court.] A little farther on the youth's +motley garb attracted much attention, and the town boys made fun of him +until Iwanet, one of the king's squires, came to inquire the cause of the +tumult. He took Parzival under his protection, and conducted him to the +great hall, where, if we are to believe some accounts, Parzival boldly +presented himself on horseback. The sight of the gay company so dazzled the +inexperienced youth that he wonderingly inquired why there were so many +Arthurs. When Iwanet told him that the wearer of the crown was the sole +king, Parzival boldly stepped up to him and asked for the arms and steed of +the Red Knight. + +Arthur wonderingly gazed at the youth, and then replied that he could have +them provided he could win them. This was enough. Parzival sped after the +knight, overtook him, and loudly bade him surrender weapons and steed. The +Red Knight, thus challenged, began to fight; but Parzival, notwithstanding +his inexperience, wielded his spear so successfully that he soon slew his +opponent. To secure the steed was an easy matter, but how to remove the +armor the youth did not know. By good fortune, however, Iwanet soon came up +and helped Parzival to don the armor. He put it on over his motley garb, +which he would not set aside because his mother had made it for him. + +Some time after, Parzival came to the castle of Gurnemanz, a noble knight, +with whom he remained for some time. Here he received valuable instructions +in all a knight need know. When Parzival left this place, about a year +later, he was an accomplished knight, clad as beseemed his calling, and +ready to fulfill all the duties which chivalry imposed upon its votaries. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and Conduiramour.] He soon heard that Queen +Conduiramour was hard pressed, in her capital of Belripar, by an unwelcome +suitor. As he had pledged his word to defend all ladies in distress, +Parzival immediately set out to rescue this queen. A series of brilliant +single fights disposed of the besiegers, and the citizens of Belripar, to +show their gratitude to their deliverer, offered him the hand of their +queen, Conduiramour, which he gladly accepted. But Parzival, even in this +new home, could not forget his sorrowing mother, and he soon left his wife +to go in search of Herzeloide, hoping to comfort her. He promised his wife +that he would return soon, however, and would bring his mother to Belripar +to share their joy. In the course of this journey homeward Parzival came to +a lake, where a richly dressed fisherman, in answer to his inquiry, +directed him to a neighboring castle where he might find shelter. + +[Sidenote: Castle of the Holy Grail.] Although Parzival did not know it, he +had come to the temple and castle on Montsalvatch. The drawbridge was +immediately lowered at his call, and richly clad servants bade him welcome +with joyful mien. They told him that he had long been expected, and after +arraying him in a jeweled garment, sent by Queen Repanse de Joie, they +conducted him into a large, brilliantly illumined hall. There four hundred +knights were seated on soft cushions, before small tables each laid for +four guests; and as they saw him enter a flash of joy passed over their +grave and melancholy faces. The high seat was occupied by a man wrapped in +furs, who was evidently suffering from some painful disease. He made a sign +to Parzival to draw near, gave him a seat beside him, and presented him +with a sword of exquisite workmanship. To Parzival's surprise this man bade +him welcome also, and repeated that he had long been expected. The young +knight, amazed by all he heard and saw, remained silent, for he did not +wish to seem inquisitive,--a failing unworthy of a knight. Suddenly the +great doors opened, and a servant appeared bearing the bloody head of a +lance, with which he silently walked around the hall, while all gazed upon +it and groaned aloud. + +The servant had scarcely vanished when the doors again opened, and +beautiful virgins came marching in, two by two. They bore an embroidered +cushion, an ebony stand, and sundry other articles, which they laid before +the fur-clad king. Last of all came the beautiful maiden, Repanse de Joie, +bearing a glowing vessel; and as she entered and laid it before the king, +Parzival heard the assembled knights whisper that this was the Holy Grail. + + "Now after them advanced the Queen, + With countenance of so bright a sheen, + They all imagined day would dawn. + One saw the maiden was clothed on + With muslin stuffs of Araby. + On a green silk cushion she + The pearl of Paradise did bear. + + * * * * * + + The blameless Queen, proud, pure, and calm, + Before the host put down the Grail; + And Percival, so runs the tale, + To gaze upon her did not fail, + Who thither bore the Holy Grail." + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_(Bayard Taylor's + tr.). + +The maidens then slowly retired, the knights and squires drew near, and now +from the shining vessel streamed forth a supply of the daintiest dishes and +richest wines, each guest being served with the viands which he liked best. +All ate sadly and in silence, while Parzival wondered what it might all +mean, yet remained mute. The meal ended, the sufferer rose from his seat, +gazed reproachfully at the visitor, who, by asking a question, could have +saved him such pain, and slowly left the room, uttering a deep sigh. + +With angry glances the knights also left the hall, and sad-faced servants +conducted Parzival past a sleeping room, where they showed him an old +white-haired man who lay in a troubled sleep. Parzival wondered still more, +but did not venture to ask who it might be. Next the servants took him to +an apartment where he could spend the night. The tapestry hangings of this +room were all embroidered with gorgeous pictures. Among them the young hero +noticed one in particular, because it represented his host borne down to +the ground by a spear thrust into his bleeding side. Parzival's curiosity +was even greater than before; but, scorning to ask a servant what he had +not ventured to demand of the master, he went quietly to bed, thinking that +he would try to secure an explanation on the morrow. + +When he awoke he found himself alone. No servant answered his call. All the +doors were fastened except those which led outside, where he found his +steed awaiting him. When he had passed the drawbridge it rose up slowly +behind him, and a voice called out from the tower, "Thou art accursed; for +thou hadst been chosen to do a great work, which thou hast left undone!" +Then looking upward, Parzival saw a horrible face gazing after him with a +fiendish grin, and making a gesture as of malediction. + +[Sidenote: Sigune.] At the end of that day's journey, Parzival came to a +lonely cell in the desert, where he found Sigune weeping over a shrine in +which lay Tchionatulander's embalmed remains. She too received him with +curses, and revealed to him that by one sympathetic question only he might +have ended Amfortas's prolonged pain, broken an evil spell, and won for +himself a glorious crown. + +Horrified, now that he knew what harm he had done, Parzival rode away, +feeling as if he were indeed accursed. His greatest wish was to return to +the mysterious castle and atone for his remissness by asking the question +which would release the king from further pain. But alas! the castle had +vanished; and our hero was forced to journey from place to place, seeking +diligently, and meeting with many adventures on the way. + +At times the longing to give up the quest and return home to his young wife +was almost unendurable. His thoughts were ever with her, and the poem +relates that even a drop of blood fallen on the snow reminded, him most +vividly of the dazzling complexion of Conduiramour, and of her sorrow when +he departed. + + "'Conduiramour, thine image is + Here in the snow now dyed with red + And in the blood on snowy bed. + Conduiramour, to them compare + Thy forms of grace and beauty rare.'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH, _Parzival_ (Dippold's tr.). + +Although exposed to countless temptations, Parzival remained true to his +wife as he rode from place to place, constantly seeking the Holy Grail. His +oft-reiterated questions concerning it caused him to be considered a madman +or a fool by all he met. + +In the course of his journeys, he encountered a lady in chains, led by a +knight who seemed to take pleasure in torturing her. Taught by Gurnemanz to +rescue all ladies in distress, Parzival challenged and defeated this +knight. Then only did he discover that it was Sir Orilus, who had led his +wife about in chains to punish her for accepting a kiss from a strange +youth. Of course Parzival now hastened to give an explanation of the whole +affair, and the defeated knight, at his request, promised to treat his wife +with all kindness in future. + +As Parzival had ordered all the knights whom he had defeated to journey +immediately to Arthur's court and tender him their services, the king had +won many brave warriors. He was so pleased by these constant arrivals, and +so delighted at the repeated accounts of Parzival's valor, that he became +very anxious to see him once more. + +[Sidenote: Parzival knighted.] To gratify this wish several knights were +sent in search of the wanderer, and when they finally found him they bade +him come to court. Parzival obeyed, was knighted by Arthur's own hand, and, +according to some accounts, occupied the "Siege Perilous" at the Round +Table. Other versions state, however, that just as he was about to take +this seat the witch Kundrie, a messenger of the Holy Grail, appeared in the +hall. She vehemently denounced him, related how sorely he had failed in his +duty, and cursed him, as the gate keeper had done, for his lack of +sympathy. Thus reminded of his dereliction, Parzival immediately left the +hall, to renew the quest which had already lasted for many months. He was +closely followed by Gawain, one of Arthur's knights, who thought that +Parzival had been too harshly dealt with. + +[Sidenote: Gawain's quest.] Four years now elapsed,--four years of penance +and suffering for Parzival, and of brilliant fighting and thrilling +adventures for Gawain. Seeking Parzival, meeting many whom he had helped or +defeated, Gawain journeyed from land to land, until at last he decided that +his quest would end sooner if he too sought the Holy Grail, the goal of all +his friend's hopes. + +On the way to Montsalvatch Gawain met a beautiful woman, to whom he made a +declaration of love; but she merely answered that those who loved her must +serve her, and bade him fetch her palfrey from a neighboring garden. The +gardener told him that this lady was the Duchess Orgueilleuse; that her +beauty had fired many a knight; that many had died for her sake; and that +Amfortas, King of the Holy Grail, had braved the poisoned spear which +wounded him, only to win her favor. Gawain, undeterred by this warning, +brought out the lady's palfrey, helped her to mount, and followed her +submissively through many lands. Everywhere they went the proud lady +stirred up some quarrel, and always called upon Gawain to fight the enemies +whom she had thus wantonly made. After much wandering, Gawain and his +ladylove reached the top of a hill, whence they could look across a valley +to a gigantic castle, perched on a rock, near which was a pine tree. +Orgueilleuse now informed Gawain that the castle belonged to her mortal +enemy, Gramoflaus. She bade him bring her a twig of the tree, and conquer +the owner of the castle, who would challenge him as soon as he touched it, +and promised that if he obeyed her exactly she would be his faithful wife. + +[Sidenote: Klingsor's castle.] Gawain, emboldened by this promise, dashed +down into the valley, swam across the moat, plucked a branch from the tree, +and accepted the challenge which Gramoflaus promptly offered. The meeting +was appointed for eight days later, in front of Klingsor's castle, whither +Gawain immediately proceeded with the Lady Orgueilleuse. On the way she +told him that this castle, which faced her father's, was occupied by a +magician who kept many noble ladies in close confinement, and had even +cruelly laden them with heavy chains. + +Gawain, on hearing this, vowed that he would punish the magician; and, +having seen Orgueilleuse safely enter her ancestral home, he crossed the +river and rode toward Klingsor's castle. As night drew on the windows were +brilliantly illumined, and at each one he beheld the pallid, tear-stained +faces of some of the captives, whose years ranged from early childhood to +withered old age. + +Calling for admittance at this castle, Gawain was allowed to enter, but, to +his surprise, found hall and court deserted. He wandered from room to room, +meeting no one; and, weary of his vain search, prepared at last to occupy a +comfortable couch in one of the chambers. To his utter amazement, however, +the bed retreated as he advanced, until, impatient at this trickery, he +sprang boldly upon it. A moment later a rain of sharp spears and daggers +fell upon his couch, but did him no harm, for he had not removed his heavy +armor. When the rain of weapons was over, a gigantic peasant, armed with a +huge club, stalked into the room, closely followed by a fierce lion. When +the peasant perceived that the knight was not dead, as he expected, he beat +a hasty retreat, leaving the lion to attack him alone. + +In spite of the size and fury of the lion, Gawain defended himself so +bravely that he finally slew the beast, which was Klingsor in disguise. As +the monster expired the spell was broken, the captives were released, and +the exhausted Gawain was tenderly cared for by his mother and sister +Itonie, who were among those whom his courage had set free. The news of +this victory was immediately sent to Arthur, who now came to witness the +battle between Gawain and a champion who was to appear for Gramoflaus. + +Gawain's strength and courage were about to give way before the stranger's +terrible onslaught, when Itonie implored the latter to spare Gawain, whose +name and valor were so well known. At the sound of this name the knight +sheathed his sword, and, raising his visor, revealed the sad but beautiful +countenance of Parzival. + +The joy of reunion over, Parzival remained there long enough to witness the +marriage of Gawain and Orgueilleuse, and of Itonie and Gramoflaus, and to +be solemnly admitted to the Round Table. Still, the general rejoicing could +not dispel his sadness or the recollection of Amfortas and his grievous +wound; and as soon as possible Parzival again departed, humbly praying that +he might at last find the Holy Grail, and right the wrong he had +unconsciously done. + +[Sidenote: Parzival and the hermit.] Some months later, exhausted by +constant journeys, Parzival painfully dragged himself to a hermit's hut. +There he learned that the lonely penitent was Trevrezent, the brother of +Amfortas, who, having also preferred worldly pleasures to the service of +the Holy Grail, had accompanied him on his fatal excursion. When Trevrezent +saw his brother sorely wounded, he repented of his sins, and, retiring into +the woods, spent his days and nights in penance and prayer. He told +Parzival of the expected stranger, whose question would break the evil +spell, and related how grievously he and all the Templars had been +disappointed when such a man had actually come and gone, but without +fulfilling their hopes. Parzival then penitently confessed that it was he +who had thus disappointed them, related his sorrow and ceaseless quest, and +told the story of his early youth and adventures. Trevrezent, on hearing +his guest's name, exclaimed that they must be uncle and nephew, as his +sister's name was Herzeloide. He then informed Parzival of his mother's +death, and, after blessing him and giving him some hope that sincere +repentance would sometime bring its own reward, allowed him to continue his +search for the Holy Grail. + +[Sidenote: Fierefiss.] Soon after this meeting Parzival encountered a +knight, who, laying lance in rest, challenged him to fight. In one of the +pauses of the battle he learned that his brave opponent was his +stepbrother, Fierefiss, whom he joyfully embraced, and who now followed him +on his almost endless quest. At last they came to a mountain, painfully +climbed its steep side, and, after much exertion, found themselves in front +of a castle, which seemed strangely familiar to Parzival. + +The doors opened, willing squires waited upon both brothers, and led them +into the great hall, where the pageant already described was repeated. When +Queen Repanse de Joie entered bearing the Holy Grail, Parzival, mindful of +his former failure to do the right thing, humbly prayed aloud for divine +guidance to bring about the promised redemption. An angel voice now seemed +to answer, "Ask!" Then Parzival bent kindly over the wounded king, and +gently inquired what ailed him. At those words the spell was broken, and a +long cry of joy arose as Amfortas, strong and well, sprang to his feet. + +A very aged man, Parzival's great-grandfather, Titurel, now drew near, +bearing the crown, which he placed on the young hero's head, as he hailed +him as guardian and defender of the Holy Grail. This cry was taken up by +all present, and even echoed by the angelic choir. + + "'Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail! + Seemingly lost forever, + Now thou art blessed forever. + Hail to thee, Percival, king of the Grail!'" + WOLFRAM VON ESCHENBACH (McDowall's tr.). + +The doors now opened wide once more to admit Conduiramour and her twin +sons, summoned thither by the power of the Holy Grail, that Parzival's +happiness might be complete. All the witnesses of this happy reunion were +flooded with the light of the Holy Grail, except Fierefiss, who, being a +Moor and a pagan, still remained in outer darkness. These miracles, +however, converted him to the Christian faith, and made him beg for +immediate baptism. The christening was no sooner performed than he too +beheld and was illumined by the holy vase. Fierefiss, now a true believer, +married Repanse de Joie, and they were the parents of a son named John, who +became a noted warrior, and was the founder of the historic order of the +Knights Templars. + +Titurel, having lived to see the recovery of his son, blessed all his +descendants, told them that Sigune had joined her lover's spirit in the +heavenly abode, and, passing out of the great hall, was never seen again; +and the witch Kundrie died of joy. + +Another version of the legend of the Holy Grail relates that Parzival, +having cured his uncle, went to Arthur's court. There he remained until +Amfortas died, when he was called back to Montsalvatch to inherit his +possessions, among which was the Holy Grail. Arthur and all the knights of +the Round Table were present at his coronation, and paid him a yearly +visit. When he died, "the Sangreal, the sacred lance, and the silver +trencher or paten which covered the Grail, were carried up to the holy +heavens in presence of the attendants, and since that time have never +anywhere been seen on earth." + +Other versions relate that Arthur and his knights sought the Holy Grail in +vain, for their hearts were not pure enough to behold it. Still others +declare that the sacred vessel was conveyed to the far East, and committed +to the care of Prester John. + +The legend of Lohengrin, which is connected with the Holy Grail, is in +outline as follows: + +[Sidenote: Lohengrin.] Parzival and Conduiramour dwelt in the castle of the +Holy Grail. When their sons had grown to man's estate, Kardeiss, the elder, +became ruler of his mother's kingdom of Belripar, while Lohengrin, the +younger, remained in the service of the Holy Grail, which was now borne +into the hall by his young sister, Aribadale, Repanse de Joie having +married. + +Whenever a danger threatened, or when the services of one of the knights +were required, a silver bell rang loudly, and the letters of flame around +the rim of the holy vessel revealed the nature of the deed to be performed. +One day the sound of the silvery bell was heard pealing ever louder and +louder, and when the knights entered the hall, they read on the vase that +Lohengrin had been chosen to defend the rights of an innocent person, and +would be conveyed to his destination by a swan. As the knights of the Grail +never disputed its commands, the young man immediately donned the armor of +silver which Amfortas had worn, and, bidding farewell to his mother and +sister, left the temple. Parzival, his father, accompanied him to the foot +of the mountain, where, swimming gracefully over the smooth waters of the +lake, they saw a snowy swan drawing a little boat after her. + +Lohengrin received a horn from his father, who bade him sound it thrice on +arriving at his destination, and an equal number of times when he wished to +return to Montsalvatch. Then he also reminded him that a servant of the +Grail must reveal neither his name nor his origin unless asked to do so, +and that, having once made himself known, he was bound to return without +delay to the holy mountain. + +Thus reminded of the custom of all the Templars, Lohengrin sprang into the +boat, and was rapidly borne away, to the sound of mysterious music. + +[Sidenote: Else of Brabant.] While Lohengrin was swiftly wafted over the +waters, Else, Duchess of Brabant, spent her days in tears. She was an +orphan, and, as she possessed great wealth and extensive lands, many were +anxious to secure her hand. Among these suitors her guardian, Frederick of +Telramund, was the most importunate; and when he saw that she would never +consent to marry him, he resolved to obtain her inheritance in a different +way. + +One day, while Else was wandering alone in the forest, she rested for a +moment under a tree, where she dreamed that a radiant knight came to greet +her, and offered her a little bell, saying that she need but ring it +whenever she required a champion. The maiden awoke, and as she opened her +eyes a falcon came gently sailing down from the sky and perched upon her +shoulder. Seeing that he wore a tiny bell like the one she had noticed in +her dream, Else unfastened it; and as the falcon flew away, she hung it on +her rosary. + +A few days later Else was in prison, for Frederick of Telramund had accused +her of a great crime. He said that she had received the attentions of a man +beneath her, or, according to another version, that she had been guilty of +the murder of her brother. Henry the Fowler, Emperor of Germany, hearing of +this accusation, came to Cleves, where, as the witnesses could not agree, +he ordered that the matter should be settled by a judicial duel. + +[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN.--Pixis.] + +Frederick of Telramund, proud of his strength, challenged any man to prove +him mistaken at the point of the sword. But no champion appeared to fight +for Else, who, kneeling in her cell, beat her breast with her rosary, until +the little silver bell attached to it rang loudly as she fervently prayed, +"O Lord, send me a champion." The faint tinkling of the bell floated out of +the window, and was wafted away to Montsalvatch. It grew louder and louder +the farther it traveled, and its sound called the knights into the temple, +where Lohengrin received his orders from the Holy Grail. + +The day appointed for the duel dawned, and just as the heralds sounded the +last call for Else's champion to appear, the swan boat glided up the Rhine, +and Lohengrin sprang into the lists, after thrice blowing his magic horn. + +[Sidenote: Else rescued by Lohengrin.] With a God-sent champion opposed to +a liar, the issue of the combat could not long remain doubtful. Soon +Frederick of Telramund lay in the dust and confessed his guilt, while the +people hailed the Swan Knight as victor. Else, touched by his prompt +response to her appeal, and won by his passionate wooing, then consented to +become his wife, without even knowing his name. Their nuptials were +celebrated at Antwerp, whither the emperor went with them and witnessed +their marriage. + +Lohengrin had cautioned Else that she must never ask his name; but she +wished to show that he was above the people who, envying his lot, sought to +injure him by circulating malicious rumors, so she finally asked the fatal +question. Regretfully Lohengrin led her into the great hall, where, in the +presence of the assembled knights, he told her that he was Lohengrin, son +of Parzival, the guardian of the Holy Grail. Then, embracing her tenderly, +he told her that "love cannot live without faith," and that he must now +leave her and return to the holy mountain. When he had thrice blown his +magic horn, the sound of faint music again heralded the approach of the +swan; Lohengrin sprang into the boat, and soon vanished, leaving Else +alone. + +Some versions of the story relate that she did not long survive his +departure, but that her released spirit followed him to Montsalvatch, where +they dwelt happy forever. Other accounts, however, aver that when Lohengrin +vanished Else's brother returned to champion her cause and prevent her ever +being molested again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +MERLIN. + + +As Saintsbury so ably expressed it, "The origin of the legends of King +Arthur, of the Round Table, of the Holy Grail, and of all the adventures +and traditions connected with these centers, is one of the most intricate +questions in the history of mediaeval literature." Owing to the loss of +many ancient manuscripts, the real origin of all these tales may never be +discovered; and whether the legends owe their birth to Celtic, Breton, or +Welsh poetry we may never know, as the authorities fail to agree. These +tales, apparently almost unknown before the twelfth century, soon became so +popular that in the course of the next two centuries they had given birth +to more than a dozen poems and prose romances, whence Malory drew the +materials for his version of the story of King Arthur. Nennius, Geoffrey of +Monmouth, Walter Map, Chrestien de Troyes, Robert de Borron, Gottfried von +Strassburg, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Hartmann von Aue, Tennyson, Matthew +Arnold, Swinburne, and Wagner have all written of these legends in turn, +and to these writers we owe the most noted versions of the tales forming +the Arthurian cycle. They include, besides the story of Arthur himself, an +account of Merlin, of Lancelot, of Parzival, of the love of Tristan and +Iseult, and of the quest of the Holy Grail. + +The majority of these works were written in French, which was the court +language of England in the mediaeval ages; but the story was "Englished" by +Malory in the fourteenth century. In every European language there are +versions of these stories, which interested all hearers alike, and which +exerted a softening influence upon the rude customs of the age, +"communicated a romantic spirit to literature," and taught all men +courtesy. + +[The Real Merlin] The first of these romances is that of Merlin the +enchanter, in very old French, ascribed to Robert de Borron. The following +outline of the story is modified and supplemented from other sources. The +real Merlin is said to have been a bard of the fifth century, and is +supposed to have served the British chief Ambrosius Aurelianus, and then +King Arthur. This Merlin lost his reason after the battle of Solway Firth, +broke his sword, and retired into the forest, where he was soon after found +dead by a river bank. + +The mythical Merlin had a more exciting and interesting career, however. +King Constans, who drove Hengist from England, was the father of three +sons,--Constantine, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Uther Pendragon. When dying he +left the throne to his eldest son, Constantine, who chose Vortigern as his +prime minister. Shortly after Constantine's accession, Hengist again +invaded England, and Constantine, deserted by his minister, was +treacherously slain. In reward for his defection at this critical moment, +Vortigern was offered the crown, which he accepted, and which he hoped to +retain, although Constans's two other sons, who, according to another +version of the story, were called Uther and Pendragon, were still in +existence. + +To defend himself against any army which might try to deprive him of the +throne, Vortigern resolved to build a great fortress on the Salisbury +plains. But, although the masons worked diligently by day, and built walls +wide and thick, they always found them overturned in the morning. The +astrologers, when consulted in reference to this strange occurrence, +declared that the walls would not stand until the ground had been watered +with the blood of a child who could claim no human father. + +Five years previous to this prediction, the demons, seeing that so many +souls escaped them owing to the redemption procured by a child of divine +origin, thought that they could regain lost ground by engendering a demon +child upon a human virgin. A beautiful, pious maiden was chosen for this +purpose; and as she daily went to confess her every deed and thought to a +holy man, Blaise, he soon discovered the plot of the demons, and resolved +to frustrate it. + +[Sidenote: Birth of the mythical Merlin.] By his advice the girl, instead +of being immediately put to death, as the law required, was locked up in a +tower, where she gave birth to her son. Blaise, the priest, more watchful +than the demons, no sooner heard of the child's birth than he hastened to +baptize him, giving him the name of Merlin. The holy rite annulled the evil +purpose of the demons, but, owing to his uncanny origin, the child was +gifted with all manner of strange powers, of which he made use on sundry +occasions. + + "To him + Great light from God gave sight of all things dim, + And wisdom of all wondrous things, to say + What root should bear what fruit of night or day; + And sovereign speech and counsel above man: + Wherefore his youth like age was wise and wan, + And his age sorrowful and fain to sleep." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +The child thus baptized soon gave the first proof of his marvelous power; +for, when his mother embraced him and declared that she must soon die, he +comforted her by speaking aloud and promising to prove her innocent of all +crime. The trial took place soon after this occurrence, and although Merlin +was but a few days old, he sat up boldly in his mother's lap and spoke so +forcibly to the judges that he soon secured her acquittal. Once when he was +five years old, while playing in the street, he saw the messengers of +Vortigern. Warned by his prophetic instinct that they were seeking him, he +ran to meet them, and offered to accompany them to the king. On the way +thither he saw a youth buying shoes, and laughed aloud. When questioned +concerning the cause of his mirth, he predicted that the youth would die +within a few hours. + + "Then said Merlin, 'See ye nought + That young man, that hath shoon bought, + And strong leather to do hem clout [patch], + And grease to smear hem all about? + He weeneth to live hem to wear: + But, by my soul, I dare well swear, + His wretched life he shall for-let [lose], + Ere he come to his own gate.'" + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin as a prophet.] A few more predictions of an equally +uncanny and unpleasant nature firmly established his reputation as a +prophet even before he reached court. There he boldly told the king that +the astrologers, wishing to destroy the demon's offspring, who was wiser +than they, had demanded his blood under pretext that the walls of Salisbury +would stand were it only shed. When asked why the walls continually fell +during the night, Merlin attributed it to the nightly conflict of a red and +a white dragon concealed underground. In obedience to his instructions, +search was made for these monsters, and the assembled court soon saw a +frightful struggle between them. This battle finally resulted in the death +of the red dragon and the triumph of the white. + + "With long tailis, fele [many] fold, + And found right as Merlin told. + That one dragon was red as fire, + With eyen bright, as basin clear; + His tail was great and nothing small; + His body was a rood withal. + His shaft may no man tell; + He looked as a fiend from hell. + The white dragon lay him by, + Stern of look, and griesly. + His mouth and throat yawned wide; + The fire brast [burst] out on ilka [each] side. + His tail was ragged as a fiend, + And, upon his tail's end, + There was y-shaped a griesly head, + To fight with the dragon red." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +The white dragon soon disappeared also, and the work of the castle now +proceeded without further hindrance. Vortigern, however, was very uneasy, +because Merlin had not only said that the struggle of the red and the white +dragon represented his coming conflict with Constans's sons, but further +added that he would suffer defeat. This prediction was soon fulfilled. +Uther and his brother Pendragon landed in Britain with the army they had +assembled, and Vortigern was burned in the castle he had just completed. + +Shortly after this victory a war arose between the Britons under Uther and +Pendragon, and the Saxons under Hengist. Merlin, who had by this time +become the prime minister and chief adviser of the British kings, predicted +that they would win the victory, but that one would be slain. This +prediction was soon verified, and Uther, adding his brother's name to his +own, remained sole king. His first care was to bury his brother, and he +implored Merlin to erect a suitable monument to his memory; so the +enchanter conveyed great stones from Ireland to England in the course of a +single night, and set them up at Stonehenge, where they can still be seen. + + "How Merlin by his skill, and magic's wondrous might, + From Ireland hither brought the Stonendge in a night." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Round Table established by Merlin.] Proceeding now to Carduel +(Carlisle), Merlin, who is represented as a great architect and +wonder-worker, built Uther Pendragon a beautiful castle, and established +the Round Table, in imitation of the one which Joseph of Arimathea had once +instituted. There were places for a large number of knights around this +board (the number varying greatly with different writers), and a special +place was reserved for the Holy Grail, which, having vanished from Britain +because of the sinfulness of the people, the knights still hoped to have +restored when they became sufficiently pure. + + "This table gan [began] Uther the wight; + Ac [but] it to ende had he no might. + For, theygh [though] alle the kinges under our lord + Hadde y-sitten [sat] at that bord, + Knight by knight, ich you telle, + The table might nought fulfille, + Till they were born that should do all + Fulfill the mervaile of the Greal." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +A great festival was announced for the institution of the Round Table, and +all the knights came to Carduel, accompanied by their wives. Among the +latter the fairest was Yguerne, wife of Gorlois, Lord of Tintagel in +Cornwall, and with her Uther fell desperately in love. + + "This fest was noble ynow, and nobliche y-do [done]; + For mony was the faire ledy, that y-come was thereto. + Yguerne, Gorloys wyf, was fairest of echon [each one], + That was contasse of Cornewail, for so fair was there non." + ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER. + +Yguerne had already three or four daughters, famous in the Arthurian +legends as mothers of the knights Gawain, Gravain, Ywain, and others. One +of the king's councilors, Ulfin, revealed the king's passion to Yguerne, +and she told her husband. Indignant at the insult offered him, Gorlois +promptly left court, locked his wife up in the impregnable fortress of +Tintagel, and, gathering together an army, began to fight against Uther +Pendragon. + +The day before the battle, Merlin changed Uther into the form of Gorlois, +and himself and Ulfin into those of the squires of the Duke of Cornwall. +Thus disguised, the three went to Tintagel, where Yguerne threw the gates +open at their call and received Uther as her husband, without suspecting +the deception practiced upon her. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Arthur.] On the morrow the battle took place. Gorlois +was slain. Shortly after, Uther married Yguerne, who never suspected that +the child which was soon born, and which Uther immediately confided to +Merlin, was not a son of Gorlois. Arthur, the child who had thus come into +the world, was intrusted to the care of Sir Hector, who brought him up with +his own son, Sir Kay, little suspecting his royal descent. This child grew +up rapidly, and when but fifteen years of age was handsome, accomplished, +and dearly loved by all around him. + + "He was fair, and well agre [agreeable], + And was a thild [child] of gret noblay. + He was curteys, faire and gent, + And wight [brave], and hardi, veramen [truly]. + Curteyslich [courteously] and fair he spac [spake]. + With him was none evil lack [fault]." + ELLIS, _Merlin_. + +When Uther died without leaving any heir, there was an interregnum, for +Merlin had promised that the true king should be revealed by a miracle. +This prophecy was duly fulfilled, as will be shown hereafter. Merlin became +the royal adviser as soon as Arthur ascended the throne, helped him win +signal victories over twelve kings, and in the course of a single night +conveyed armies over from France to help him. + +As Merlin could assume any shape he pleased, Arthur often used him as +messenger; and one of the romances relates that the magician, in the guise +of a stag, once went to Rome to bear the king's challenge to Julius Caesar +(not the conqueror of Gaul but the mythical father of Oberon) to single +combat. Merlin was also renowned for the good advice which he gave, not +only to Vortigern and Uther Pendragon, but also to Arthur, and for his +numerous predictions concerning the glorious future of England, all of +which, if we are to believe tradition, have been fulfilled. + + "O goodly River! near unto thy sacred spring + Prophetic Merlin sate, when to the British King + The changes long to come, auspiciously he told." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Palace at Camelot.] Merlin also won great renown as a builder +and architect. Besides the construction of Stonehenge, and of the castle +for Uther Pendragon, he is said to have built Arthur's beautiful palace at +Camelot. He also devised sundry magic fountains, which are mentioned in +other mediaeval romances. One of these is referred to by Spenser in the +"Faerie Queene," and another by Ariosto in his "Orlando Furioso." + + "This Spring was one of those four fountains rare, + Of those in France produced by Merlin's sleight, + Encompassed round about with marble fair, + Shining and polished, and than milk more white. + There in the stones choice figures chiseled were, + By that magician's god-like labour dight; + Some voice was wanting, these you might have thought + Were living, and with nerve and spirit fraught." + ARIOSTO, _Orlando Furioso_ (Rose's tr.). + +Merlin was also supposed to have made all kinds of magic objects, among +which the poets often mention a cup. This would, reveal whether the drinker +had led a pure life, for it always overflowed when touched by polluted +lips. He was also the artificer of Arthur's armor, which no weapon could +pierce, and of a magic mirror in which one could see whatever one wished. + + "It Merlin was, which whylome did excel + All living wightes in might of magicke spell: + Both shield, and sword, and armour all he wrought + For this young Prince, when first to armes he fell." + SPENSER, _Faerie Queene_. + +[Sidenote: Merlin and Vivian.] Merlin, in spite of all his knowledge and +skill, yielded often to the entreaties of his fair mistress, Vivian, the +Lady of the Lake. She followed him wherever he went, and made countless +efforts to learn all his arts and to discover all his magic spells. In +order to beguile the aged Merlin into telling her all she wished to know, +Vivian pretended great devotion, which is admirably related in Tennyson's +"Idylls of the King," one of which treats exclusively of Merlin and Vivian. + +This enchantress even went with him to the fairy-haunted forest of +Broceliande, in Brittany, where she finally beguiled him into revealing a +magic spell whereby a human being could be inclosed in a hawthorn tree, +where he must dwell forever. + + "And then she follow'd Merlin all the way, + E'en to the wild woods of Broceliande. + For Merlin once had told her of a charm, + The which if any wrought on any one + With woven paces and with waving arms, + The man so wrought on ever seem'd to lie + Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower, + From which was no escape for evermore; + And none could find that man for evermore, + Nor could he see but him who wrought the charm + Coming and going; and he lay as dead + And lost to life and use and name and fame." + TENNYSON, _Merlin and Vivien_. + +This charm having been duly revealed, the Lady of the Lake, weary of her +aged lover, and wishing to rid herself of him forever now that she had +learned all he could teach her, lured him into the depths of the forest. +There, by aid of the spell, she imprisoned him in a thorn bush, whence, if +the tales of the Breton peasants can be believed, his voice can be heard to +issue from time to time. + + "They sate them down together, and a sleep + Fell upon Merlin, more like death, so deep. + Her finger on her lips, then Vivian rose, + And from her brown-lock'd head the wimple throws, + And takes it in her hand, and waves it over + The blossom'd thorn tree and her sleeping lover. + Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round, + And made a little plot of magic ground. + And in that daised circle, as men say, + Is Merlin prisoner till the judgment day; + But she herself whither she will can rove-- + For she was passing weary of his love." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +[Illustration: THE BEGUILING OF MERLIN.--Burne-Jones.] + +According to another version of the tale, Merlin, having grown very old +indeed, once sat down on the "Siege Perilous," forgetting that none but a +sinless man could occupy it with impunity. He was immediately swallowed up +by the earth, which yawned wide beneath his feet, and he never visited the +earth again. + +A third version says that Vivian through love imprisoned Merlin in an +underground palace, where she alone could visit him. There he dwells, +unchanged by the flight of time, and daily increasing the store of +knowledge for which he was noted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +THE ROUND TABLE. + + +Fortunately "the question of the actual existence and acts of Arthur has +very little to do with the question of the origin of the Arthurian cycle." +But although some authorities entirely deny his existence, it is probable +that he was a Briton, for many places in Wales, Scotland, and England are +connected with his name. + +On the very slightest basis, many of the mediaeval writers constructed long +and fabulous tales about this hero. Such was the popularity of the +Arthurian legends all over Europe that prose romances concerning him were +among the first works printed, and were thus brought into general +circulation. An outline of the principal adventures of Arthur and of his +knights is given here. It has been taken from many works, whose authors +will often be mentioned as we proceed. + +King Uther Pendragon, as we have already seen, intrusted his new-born son, +Arthur, to the care of the enchanter Merlin, who carried him to the castle +of Sir Hector (Anton), where the young prince was brought up as a child of +the house. + + "Wherefore Merlin took the child, + And gave him to Sir Anton, an old knight + And ancient friend of Uther; and his wife + Nursed the young prince, and rear'd him with her own; + And no man knew." + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: The magic sword.] Two years later King Uther Pendragon died, and +the noblemen, not knowing whom to choose as his successor, consulted +Merlin, promising to abide by his decision. By his advice they all +assembled in St. Stephen's Church, in London, on Christmas Day. When mass +was over they beheld a large stone which had mysteriously appeared in the +churchyard. This stone was surmounted by a ponderous anvil, in which the +blade of a sword was deeply sunk. Drawing near to examine the wonder, they +read an inscription upon the jeweled hilt, to the effect that none but the +man who could draw out the sword should dare to take possession of the +throne. Of course all present immediately tried to accomplish this feat, +but all failed. + +Several years passed by ere Sir Hector came to London with his son, Sir +Kay, and his foster son, young Arthur. Sir Kay, who, for the first time in +his life, was to take part in a tournament, was greatly chagrined, on +arriving there, to discover that he had forgotten his sword; so Arthur +volunteered to ride back and get it. He found the house closed; yet, being +determined to secure a sword for his foster brother, he strode hastily into +the churchyard, and easily drew from the anvil the weapon which all had +vainly tried to secure. + +[Sidenote: Arthur made king.] This mysterious sword was handed to Sir Kay, +and Sir Hector, perceiving it, and knowing whence it came, immediately +inquired how Arthur had secured it. He even refused at first to believe the +evidence of his own eyes; but when he and all the principal nobles of the +realm had seen Arthur replace and draw out the sword, after all had again +vainly tried their strength, they gladly hailed the young man king. + +As Merlin was an enchanter, it was popularly rumored that Arthur was not, +as he now declared, the son of Uther Pendragon and Yguerne, but a babe +mysteriously brought up from the depths of the sea, on the crest of the +ninth wave, and cast ashore at the wizard's feet. Hence many people +distrusted the young king, and at first refused to obey him. + + "Watch'd the great sea fall, + Wave after wave, each mightier than the last, + Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep, + And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged + Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame: + And down the wave and in the flame was borne + A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet, + Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried 'The King! + Here is an heir for Uther!'" + TENNYSON, _The Coming of Arthur_. + +Among the unbelievers were some of the king's own kindred, and notably his +four nephews, Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gareth. Arthur was therefore +obliged to make war against them; but although Gawain's strength increased +in a truly marvelous fashion from nine to twelve in the morning, and from +three to six in the afternoon, the king succeeded in defeating him by +following Merlin's advice and taking advantage of his comparatively weak +moments. + +[Sidenote: Sir Pellinore.] Arthur, aided by Merlin, ruled over the land +wisely and well, redressed many wrongs, reestablished order and security, +which a long interregnum had destroyed, and brandished his sword in many a +fight, in which he invariably proved victor. But one day, having drawn his +blade upon Sir Pellinore, who did not deserve to be thus attacked, it +suddenly failed him and broke. Left thus without any means of defense, the +king would surely have perished had not Merlin used his magic arts to put +Sir Pellinore to sleep and to bear his charge to a place of safety. + +Arthur, thus deprived of his magic sword, bewailed its loss; but while he +stood by a lake, wondering how he should procure another, he beheld a +white-draped hand and arm rise out of the water, holding aloft a jeweled +sword which the Lady of the Lake, who appeared beside him, told him was +intended for his use. + + "'Thou rememberest how + In those old days, one summer noon, an arm + Rose up from out the bosom of the lake, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + Holding the sword--and how I row'd across + And took it, and have worn it, like a king; + And, wheresoever I am sung or told + In aftertime, this also shall be known.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Excalibur.] Arthur rowed out into the middle of the lake and +secured the sword which is known by the name Excalibur. He was then told by +the Lady of the Lake that it was gifted with magic powers, and that as long +as the scabbard remained in his possession he would suffer neither wound +nor defeat. + +Thus armed, Arthur went back to his palace, where, hearing that the Saxons +had again invaded the country, he went to wage war against them, and won +many victories. Shortly after this Arthur heard that Leodegraunce, King of +Scotland, was threatened by his brother Ryance, King of Ireland, who was +determined to complete a mantle furred with the beards of kings, and wanted +to secure one more at any price. Arthur hastened to this monarch's +assistance, and delivered him from the clutches of Ryance. He not only +killed this savage monarch, but appropriated his mantle and carried it away +in triumph as a trophy of the war. + + "And for a trophy brought the Giant's coat away + Made of the beards of Kings." + DRAYTON, _Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur's marriage with Guinevere.] After these martial exploits +Arthur returned to the court of Leodegraunce, where he fell in love with +the latter's fair daughter, Guinevere. The king sued successfully for her +hand, but Merlin would not allow him to marry this princess until he had +distinguished himself by a campaign in Brittany. The wedding was then +celebrated with true mediaeval pomp; and Arthur, having received, besides +the princess, the Round Table once made for his father, conveyed his bride +and wedding gift to Camelot (Winchester), where he bade all his court be +present for a great feast at Pentecost. + + "The nearest neighboring flood to Arthur's ancient seat, + Which made the Britons' name through all the world so great. + Like Camelot, what place was ever yet renown'd? + Where, as at Carlion, oft, he kept the Table-Round, + Most famous for the sports at Pentecost so long, + From whence all knightly deeds, and brave achievements sprong." + DRAYTON,--_Polyolbion_. + +[Sidenote: Knights of the Round Table.] Arthur had already warred +successfully against twelve revolted kings, whose remains were interred at +Camelot by his order. There Merlin erected a marvelous castle, containing a +special hall for the reception of the Round Table. This hall was adorned +with the lifelike statues of all the conquered kings, each holding a +burning taper which the magician declared would burn brightly until the +Holy Grail should appear. Hoping to bring that desirable event to pass, +Arthur bade Merlin frame laws for the knights of the Round Table. As +distinctive mark, each of the noblemen admitted to a seat at this marvelous +table adopted some heraldic device. The number of these knights varies from +twelve to several hundred, according to the different poets or romancers. + + "The fellowshipp of the Table Round, + Soe famous in those dayes; + Whereatt a hundred noble knights + And thirty sat alwayes; + Who for their deeds and martiall feates, + As bookes done yett record, + Amongst all other nations + Wer feared through the world." + _Legend of King Arthur_ (Old Ballad). + +Merlin, by virtue of his magic powers, easily selected the knights worthy +to belong to this noble institution, and the Archbishop of Canterbury duly +blessed them and the board around which they sat. All the places were soon +filled except two; and as the knights arose from their seats after the +first meal they noticed that their names were inscribed in letters of gold +in the places they had occupied. But one of the empty seats was marked +"Siege Perilous," and could only be occupied by a peerless knight. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot du Lac.] + +Among all the knights of the Round Table, Sir Lancelot du Lac, who is the +hero of several lengthy poems and romances bearing his name, was the most +popular. Chrestien de Troyes, Geoffrey de Ligny, Robert de Borron, and Map +have all written about him, and he was so well known that his name was +given to one of the knaves on the playing cards invented at about this +time. Malory, in his prose version of the "Morte d'Arthur," has drawn +principally from the poems treating of Lancelot, whose early life was +somewhat extraordinary, too. + +Some accounts relate that Lancelot was the son of King Ban and Helen. When +he was but a babe, his parents were obliged to flee from their besieged +castle in Brittany. Before they had gone far, the aged Ban, seeing his home +in flames, sank dying to the ground. Helen, eager to minister to her +husband, laid her baby boy down on the grass near a lake, and when she +again turned around, she saw him in the arms of Vivian, the Lady of the +Lake, who plunged with him into the waters. + + "In the wife's woe, the mother was forgot. + At last (for I was all earth held of him + Who had been all to her, and now was not) + She rose, and looked with tearless eyes, but dim, + In the babe's face the father still to see; + And lo! the babe was on another's knee! + + "Another's lips had kissed it into sleep, + And o'er the sleep another watchful smiled; + The Fairy sate beside the lake's still deep, + And hush'd with chaunted charms the orphan child! + Scared at the mother's cry, as fleets a dream, + Both Child and Fairy melt into the stream." + BULWER LYTTON, _King Arthur_. + +The bereaved wife and mother now sorrowfully withdrew into a convent, while +Lancelot was brought up in the palace of the Lady of the Lake, with his two +cousins, Lyonel and Bohort. Here he remained until he was eighteen, when +the fairy herself brought him to court and presented him to the king. +Arthur then and there made him his friend and confidant, and gave him an +honored place at the Round Table. He was warmly welcomed by all the other +knights also, whom he far excelled in beauty and courage. + + "But one Sir Lancelot du Lake, + Who was approved well, + He for his deeds and feats of armes + All others did excell." + _Sir Lancelot du Lake_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Guinevere.] Lancelot, however, was doomed to much +sorrow, for he had no sooner beheld Queen Guinevere than he fell deeply in +love with her. The queen fully returned his affection, granted him many +marks of her favor, and encouraged him to betray his friend and king on +sundry occasions, which form the themes of various episodes in the romances +of the time. Lancelot, urged in one direction by passion, in another by +loyalty, led a very unhappy life, which made him relapse into occasional +fits of insanity, during which he roamed aimlessly about for many years. +When restored to his senses, he always returned to court, where he +accomplished unheard-of deeds of valor, delivered many maidens in distress, +righted the wrong wherever he found it, won all the honors at the +tournaments, and ever remained faithful in his devotion to the queen, +although many fair ladies tried to make him forget her. + +Some of the poems, anxious to vindicate the queen, declare that there were +two Guineveres, one pure, lovely, and worthy of all admiration, who +suffered for the sins of the other, an unprincipled woman. When Arthur +discovered his wife's intrigue with Lancelot, he sent her away, and +Guinevere took refuge with her lover in Joyeuse Garde (Berwick), a castle +he had won at the point of his lance to please her. But the king, having +ascertained some time after that the real Guinevere had been wrongfully +accused, reinstated her in his favor, and Lancelot again returned to court, +where he continued to love and serve the queen. + +[Illustration: SIR LANCELOT DU LAC.--Sir John Gilbert.] + +On one occasion, hearing that she had been made captive by Meleagans, +Lancelot rushed after Guinevere to rescue her, tracing her by a comb and +ringlet she had dropped on the way. His horse was taken from him by +enchantment, so Lancelot, in order sooner to overtake the queen, rode on in +a cart. This was considered a disgraceful mode of progress for a knight, as +a nobleman in those days was condemned to ride in a cart in punishment for +crimes for which common people were sentenced to the pillory. + +Lancelot succeeded in reaching the castle of Guinevere's kidnaper, whom he +challenged and defeated. The queen, instead of showing herself grateful for +this devotion, soon became needlessly jealous, and in a fit of anger +taunted her lover about his journey in the cart. This remark sufficed to +unsettle the hero's evidently very tottering reason, and he roamed wildly +about until the queen recognized her error, and sent twenty-three knights +in search of him. They journeyed far and wide for two whole years without +finding him. + + "'Then Sir Bors had ridden on + Softly, and sorrowing for our Lancelot, + Because his former madness, once the talk + And scandal of our table, had return'd; + For Lancelot's kith and kin so worship him + That ill to him is ill to them.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +Finally a fair and pious damsel took pity upon the frenzied knight, and +seeing that he had atoned by suffering for all his sins, she had him borne +into the chamber where the Holy Grail was kept; "and then there came a holy +man, who uncovered the vessel, and so by miracle, and by virtue of that +holy vessel, Sir Lancelot was all healed and recovered." + +[Sidenote: Gareth and Lynette.] Sane once more, Lancelot now returned to +Camelot, where the king, queen, and all the knights of the Round Table +rejoiced to see him. Here Lancelot knighted Sir Gareth, who, to please his +mother, had concealed his true name, and had acted as kitchen vassal for a +whole year. The new-made knight immediately started out with a fair maiden +called Lynette, to deliver her captive sister. Thinking him nothing but the +kitchen vassal he seemed, the damsel insulted Gareth in every possible way. +He bravely endured her taunts, courageously defeated all her adversaries, +and finally won her admiration and respect to such a degree that she bade +him ride beside her, and humbly asked his pardon for having so grievously +misjudged him. + + "'Sir,--and, good faith, I fain had added Knight, + But that I heard thee call thyself a knave,-- + Shamed am I that I so rebuked, reviled, + Missaid thee; noble I am; and thought the King + Scorn'd me and mine; and now thy pardon, friend, + For thou hast ever answer'd courteously, + And wholly bold thou art, and meek withal + As any of Arthur's best, but, being knave, + Hast mazed my wit: I marvel what thou art.'" + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +Granting her full forgiveness, Gareth now rode beside her, fought more +bravely still, and, after defeating many knights, delivered her sister from +captivity, and secured Lynette's promise to become his wife as soon as he +had been admitted to the Round Table. When he returned to Arthur's court +this honor was immediately awarded him, for his prowess had won the +admiration of all, and he was duly married on St. Michaelmas Day. + + "And he that told the tale in older times + Says that Sir Gareth wedded Lyoners, + But he that told it later, says Lynette." + TENNYSON, _Gareth and Lynette_. + +[Sidenote: Geraint and Enid.] Gareth's brother, Geraint, was also an +honored member of the Round Table. After distinguishing himself by many +deeds of valor he married Enid the Fair, the only daughter of an old and +impoverished knight whom he delivered from the tyranny of his oppressor and +restored to all his former state. Taking his fair wife away with him to his +lonely manor, Geraint surrounded her with every comfort, and, forgetting +his former high aspirations, spent all his time at home, hoping thereby to +please her. + + "He compass'd her with sweet observances + And worship, never leaving her, and grew + Forgetful of his promise to the King. + Forgetful of the falcon and the hunt, + Forgetful of the tilt and tournament, + Forgetful of his glory and his name, + Forgetful of his princedom and its cares. + And this forgetfulness was hateful to her." + TENNYSON, _Geraint and Enid_. + +Enid, however, soon perceived that her husband was forgetting both honor +and duty to linger by her side. One day, while he lay asleep before her, +she, in an outburst of wifely love, poured out her heart, and ended her +confession by declaring that since Geraint neglected everything for her +sake only, she must be an unworthy wife. + +Geraint awoke too late to overhear the first part of her speech; but, +seeing her tears, and catching the words "unworthy wife," he immediately +imagined that she had ceased to love him, and that she received the +attentions of another. In his anger Geraint (whom the French and German +poems call Erec) rose from his couch, and sternly bade his wife don her +meanest apparel and silently follow him through the world. + + "The page he bade with speed + Prepare his own strong steed, + Dame Enid's palfrey there beside; + He said that he would ride + For pastime far away: + So forward hastened they." + HARTMANN VON AVE, _Erek and Enid_ (Bayard Taylor's tr.) + +Patiently Enid did her husband's bidding, watched him fight the knights by +the way, and bound up his wounds. She suffered intensely from his +incomprehensible coldness and displeasure; but she stood all his tests so +nobly that he finally recognized how greatly he had misjudged her. He then +restored her to her rightful place, and loved her more dearly than ever +before. + + "Nor did he doubt her more, + But rested in her fealty, till he crown'd + A happy life with a fair death, and fell + Against the heathen of the Northern Sea + In battle, fighting for the blameless King." + TENNYSON,--_Geraint and Enid_. + +[Sidenote: Sir Galahad.] One Pentecost Day, when all the knights were +assembled, as usual, around the table at Camelot, a distressed damsel +suddenly entered the hall and implored Lancelot to accompany her to the +neighboring forest, where a young warrior was hoping to receive knighthood +at his hands. This youth was Sir Galahad, the peerless knight, whom some +authorities call Lancelot's son, while others declare that he was not of +mortal birth. + +On reentering the hall after performing this ceremony, Lancelot heard that +a miracle had occurred, and rushed with the king and his companions down to +the riverside. There the rumor was verified, for they all saw a heavy stone +floating down the stream, and perceived that a costly weapon was sunk deep +in the stone. On this weapon was an inscription, declaring that none but a +peerless knight should attempt to draw it out, upon penalty of a grievous +punishment. As all the knights of the Round Table felt guilty of some sin, +they modestly refused to touch it. + +When they returned into the hall an aged man came in, accompanied by +Galahad, and the latter, fearless by right of innocence, sat down in the +"Siege Perilous." As his name then appeared upon it, all knew that he was +the rightful occupant, and hailed his advent with joy. Then, noticing that +he wore an empty scabbard, and hearing him state that he had been promised +a marvelous sword, they one and all escorted him down to the river, where +he easily drew the sword out of the stone. This fitted exactly in his empty +sheath, and all vowed that it was evidently meant for him. + +That selfsame night, after evensong, when all the knights were seated about +the Round Table at Camelot, they heard a long roll of thunder, and felt the +palace shake. The brilliant lights held by the statues of the twelve +conquered kings grew strangely dim, and then, gliding down upon a beam of +refulgent celestial light, they all beheld a dazzling vision of the Holy +Grail. Covered by white samite, and borne by invisible hands, the sacred +vessel was slowly carried all around the great hall, while a delicious +perfume was wafted throughout the huge edifice. All the knights of the +Round Table gazed in silent awe at this resplendent vision, and when it +vanished as suddenly and as mysteriously as it had come, each saw before +him the food which he liked best. + +Speechless at first, and motionless until the wonted light again illumined +the hall, the knights gave fervent thanks for the mercy which had been +vouchsafed them, and then Lancelot, springing impetuously to his feet, +vowed that he would ride forth in search of the Holy Grail and would know +no rest until he had beheld it unveiled. This vow was echoed by all the +knights of the Round Table; and when Arthur now questioned them closely, he +discovered that none had seen the vessel unveiled. Still he could not +prevent his knights from setting out in quest of it, because they had +solemnly vowed to do so. + + "'Nay, lord, I heard the sound, I saw the light, + But since I did not see the Holy Thing, + I sware a vow to follow it till I saw.' + + "Then when he ask'd us, knight by knight, if any + Had seen it, all their answers were as one: + 'Nay, lord, and therefore have we sworn our vows.'" + TENNYSON, _The Holy Grail_. + +[Sidenote: Quest of the Holy Grail.] During this quest the knights traveled +separately or in pairs all through the world, encountered many dangers, and +in true mediaeval fashion defended damsels in distress, challenged knights, +and covered themselves with scars and glory. Some of the legends declare +that Parzival alone saw the Holy Grail, while others aver that Lancelot saw +it through a veil faintly. The pure Galahad, having never sinned at all, +and having spent years in prayer and fasting, finally beheld it just as his +immaculate soul was borne to heaven by the angels. + +The rest of the knights, realizing after many years' fruitless search that +they were unworthy of the boon, finally returned to Camelot, where they +were duly entertained by the queen. While they were feasting at her table, +one of their number, having partaken of a poisonous draught, fell lifeless +to the ground. As the incident had happened at the queen's side, some of +her detractors accused her of the crime, and bade her confess, or prove her +innocence by a judicial duel. Being her husband, Arthur was debarred by law +of the privilege of fighting for her in the lists of Camelot, and the poor +queen would have been condemned to be burned alive for lack of a champion +had not Lancelot appeared incognito, and forced her accuser to retract his +words. + +Throughout his reign Arthur had been wont to encourage his knights by +yearly tournaments, the victor's prize being each time a precious jewel. It +seems that these jewels had come into his possession in a peculiar way. +While wandering as a lad in Lyonesse, Arthur found the moldering bones of +two kings. Tradition related that these monarchs had slain each other, and, +as they were brothers, the murder seemed so heinous that none dared touch +their remains. There among the rusty armor lay a kingly crown studded with +diamonds, which Arthur picked up and carelessly set upon his own head. At +that very moment a prophetic voice was heard declaring to him that he +should rule. Arthur kept the crown, and made each jewel set in it the +object of a brilliant pageant when the prophecy had been fulfilled. + + "And Arthur came, and laboring up the pass, + All in a misty moonshine, unawares + Had trodden that crown'd skeleton, and the skull + Brake from the nape, and from the skull the crown + Roll'd into light, and turning on its rims + Fled like a glittering rivulet to the tarn. + And down the shingly scaur he plunged, and caught, + And set it on his head, and in his heart + Heard murmurs,--'Lo! thou likewise shalt be King.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot's prowess.] Lancelot had been present at every one of +these knightly games, and had easily borne away the prize, for his very +name was almost enough to secure him the victory. When the time for the +last tournament came, he pretended to take no interest in it; but, riding +off to Astolat (Guildford), he asked Elaine, the fair maiden who dwelt +there, to guard his blazoned shield and give him another in exchange. + +This fair lady, who had fallen in love with Lancelot at first sight, +immediately complied with his request, and even timidly suggested that he +should wear her colors in the coming fray. Lancelot had never worn any +favors except Guinevere's, but thinking that it would help to conceal his +identity, he accepted the crimson, pearl-embroidered sleeve she offered, +and fastened it to his helmet in the usual way. + + "'Lady, thy sleeve thou shalt off-shear, + I wol it take for the love of thee; + So did I never no lady's ere [before] + But one, that most hath loved me.'" + ELLIS, _Lancelot du Lac_. + +Thus effectually disguised, and accompanied by Sir Lawaine, Elaine's +brother, Lancelot rode on to the tournament, where, still unknown, he +unhorsed every knight and won the prize. His last encounter, however, +nearly proved fatal, for in it he received a grievous wound. As he felt +faint, and was afraid to be recognized, Lancelot did not wait to claim the +prize, but rode immediately out of the town. He soon fainted, but was +conveyed to the cell of a neighboring hermit. Here his wound was dressed, +and he was carefully nursed by Elaine, who had heard that he was wounded, +and had immediately set out in search of him. + +[Sidenote: Lancelot and Elaine.] When Lancelot, entirely recovered, was +about to leave Elaine after claiming his own shield, she timidly confessed +her love, hoping that it was returned. Gently and sorrowfully Lancelot +repulsed her, and, by her father's advice, was even so discourteous as to +leave her without a special farewell. Unrequited love soon proved too much +for the "lily maid of Astolat," who pined away very rapidly. Feeling that +her end was near, she dictated a farewell letter to Lancelot, which she +made her father promise to put in her dead hand. She also directed that her +body should be laid in state on a barge, and sent in charge of a mute +boatman to Camelot, where she was sure she would receive a suitable burial +from the hands of Lancelot. + +In the meanwhile the hero of the tournament had been sought everywhere by +Gawain, who was the bearer of the diamond won at such a cost. Coming to +Astolat before Lancelot was cured, Gawain had learned the name of the +victor, which he immediately proclaimed to Guinevere. The queen, however, +hearing a vague rumor that Lancelot had worn the colors of the maiden of +Astolat, and was about to marry her, grew so jealous that when Lancelot +reappeared at court she received him very coldly, and carelessly flung his +present (a necklace studded with the diamonds he had won at various +tournaments) into the river flowing beneath the castle walls. + + "She seized, + And, thro' the casement standing wide for heat, + Flung them, and down they flash'd, and smote the stream. + Then from the smitten surface flash'd, as it were, + Diamonds to meet them, and they passed away." + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +[Illustration: ELAINE--Rosenthal.] + +[Sidenote: The funeral barge.] As he leaned out of the window to trace them +in their fall, Lancelot saw a barge slowly drifting down the stream. Its +peculiar appearance attracted his attention, and as it passed close by him +he saw that it bore a corpse. A moment later he had recognized the features +of the dead Elaine. The mute boatman paused at the castle steps, and Arthur +had the corpse borne into his presence. The letter was found and read aloud +in the midst of the awestruck court. Arthur, touched by the girl's love, +bade Lancelot fulfill her last request and lay her to rest. Lancelot then +related the brief story of the maiden, whose love he could not return, but +whose death he sincerely mourned. + + "'My lord liege Arthur, and all ye that hear, + Know that for this most gentle maiden's death + Right heavy am I; for good she was and true, + But loved me with a love beyond all love + In women, whomsoever I have known. + Yet to be loved makes not to love again; + Not at my years, however it hold in youth. + I swear by truth and knighthood that I gave + No cause, not willingly, for such a love: + To this I call my friends in testimony, + Her brethren, and her father, who himself + Besought me to be plain and blunt, and use, + To break her passion, some discourtesy + Against my nature: what I could, I did. + I left her and I bade her no farewell; + Tho', had I dreamt the damsel would have died, + I might have put my wits to some rough use, + And help'd her from herself.'" + TENNYSON, _Lancelot and Elaine_. + +Haunted by remorse for this involuntary crime, Lancelot again wandered away +from Camelot, but returned in time to save Guinevere, who had again been +falsely accused. In his indignation at the treatment to which she had been +exposed, Lancelot bore her off to Joyeuse Garde, where he swore he would +defend her even against the king. Arthur, whose mind, in the mean while, +had been poisoned by officious courtiers, besieged his recreant wife and +knight; but although repeatedly challenged, the loyal Lancelot ever refused +to bear arms directly against his king. + +When the Pope heard of the dissension in England he finally interfered; and +Lancelot, assured that Guinevere would henceforth be treated with all due +respect, surrendered her to the king and retreated to his paternal estate +in Brittany. As Arthur's resentment against Lancelot had not yet cooled, he +left Guinevere under the care and protection of Mordred, his nephew,--some +versions say his son,--and then, at the head of a large force, departed for +Brittany. + +[Sidenote: Treachery of Mordred.] Mordred the traitor immediately took +advantage of his uncle's absence to lay claim to the throne; and loudly +declaring that Arthur had been slain, he tried to force Guinevere to marry +him. As she demurred, he kept her a close prisoner, and set her free only +when she pretended to agree with his wishes, and asked permission to go to +London to buy wedding finery. + +When Guinevere arrived in that city she intrenched herself in the Tower, +and sent word to her husband of her perilous position. Without any delay +Arthur abandoned the siege of Lancelot's stronghold, and, crossing the +channel, encountered Mordred's army near Dover. + +Negotiations now took place, and it was finally agreed that Arthur and a +certain number of knights should meet Mordred with an equal number, and +discuss the terms of peace. It had been strictly enjoined on both parties +that no weapon should be drawn, and all would have gone well had not an +adder been lurking in the grass. One of the knights drew his sword to kill +it, and this unexpected movement proved the signal for one of the bloodiest +battles described in mediaeval poetry. + + "An addere crept forth of a bushe, + Stunge one o' th' king's knightes on the knee. + Alacke! it was a woefulle chance, + As ever was in Christientie; + When the knighte founde him wounded sore, + And sawe the wild worme hanginge there, + His sworde he from the scabbarde drewe; + A piteous case, as ye shall heare; + For when the two hostes saw the sworde, + They joyned in battayle instantlye; + Till of so manye noble knightes, + On one side there was left but three." + _King Arthur's Death_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur wounded.] On both sides the knights fought with the +utmost courage, and when nearly all were slain, Arthur encountered the +traitor Mordred. Summoning all his strength, the exhausted king finally +slew the usurper, who, in dying, dealt Arthur a mortal blow. This would +never have occurred, however, had not Morgana the fay, Arthur's sister, +purloined his magic scabbard and substituted another. All the enemy's host +had perished, and of Arthur's noble army only one man remained alive, Sir +Bedivere, a knight of the Round Table. He hastened to the side of his +fallen master, who in faltering accents now bade him take the brand +Excalibur, cast it far from him into the waters of the lake, and return to +report what he should see. The knight, thinking it a pity to throw away so +valuable a sword, concealed it twice; but the dying monarch detected the +fraud, and finally prevailed upon Bedivere to fulfill his wishes. As the +magic blade touched the waters Sir Bedivere saw a hand and arm rise up from +the depths to seize it, brandish it thrice, and disappear. + + "'Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems + Should blind my purpose; for I never saw, + Nor shall see, here or elsewhere, till I die, + Not tho' I live three lives of mortal men, + So great a miracle as yonder hilt. + Then with both hands I flung him, wheeling him; + But when I look'd again, behold an arm, + Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, + That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him + Three times, and drew him under in the mere.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +Arthur gave a sigh of relief when he heard this report; and after telling +his faithful squire that Merlin had declared that he should not die, he +bade the knight lay him in a barge, all hung with black, wherein he would +find Morgana the fay, the Queen of Northgallis, and the Queen of the +Westerlands. + +Sir Bedivere obeyed all these orders exactly; and then, seeing his beloved +king about to leave him, he implored permission to accompany him. This, +however, Arthur could not grant, for it had been decreed that he should go +alone to the island of Avalon, where he hoped to be cured of his grievous +wound, and some day to return to his sorrowing people. + + "'But now farewell. I am going a long way + With these thou seest--if indeed I go + (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt)-- + To the island-valley of Avilion; + Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, + Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies + Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard lawns + And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea, + Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.'" + TENNYSON, _The Passing of Arthur_. + +[Sidenote: Arthur in Avalon.] It was because Arthur thus disappeared and +was never seen again, according to one version of the myth, and because +none knew whether he were living or dead, that he was popularly supposed to +be enjoying perpetual youth and bliss in the fabled island of Avalon, +whence they averred he would return when his people needed him. This belief +was so deeply rooted in England that Philip of Spain, upon marrying Mary, +was compelled to take a solemn oath whereby he bound himself to relinquish +the crown in favor of Arthur should he appear to claim it. + + "Still look the Britons for the day + Of Arthur's coming o'er the sea." + LAYAMON, _Brut_. + +Other romances and poems relate that Arthur was borne in the sable-hung +barge to Glastonbury, where his remains were laid in the tomb, while +Guinevere retired into the nunnery at Almesbury. There she was once more +visited by the sorrowing Lancelot, who, in spite of all his haste, had come +upon the scene too late to save or be reconciled to the king, to whom he +was still devotedly attached. In his sorrow and remorse the knight withdrew +into a hermitage, where he spent six years in constant penance and prayer. +At last he was warned in a vision that Guinevere was no more. He hastened +to Almesbury, and found her really dead. After burying her by Arthur's +side, in the chapel of Glastonbury, Lancelot again withdrew to his cell. +Six weeks later, worn to a shadow by abstinence and night watches, he +peacefully passed away, and a priest watching near him said that he had +seen the angels receive and bear his ransomed spirit straight up to heaven. + +Lancelot was buried either at Arthur's feet or at Joyeuse Garde. He was +deeply mourned by all his friends, and especially by his heir, Sir Ector de +Maris, who eulogized him in the following touching terms: "'Ah, Sir +Lancelot,' he said, 'thou were head of all Christian knights; and now I +dare say,' said Sir Ector, 'that, Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, thou were +never matched of none earthly knight's hands; and thou were the courtliest +knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend to thy lover +that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man +that ever loved woman; and thou were the kindest man that ever struck with +sword; and thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of +knights; and thou were the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in +hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that +ever put spear in rest.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +TRISTAN AND ISEULT. + + +[Sidenote: Origin of the story.] The story of Tristan, which seems to have +been current from earliest times, refers, perhaps, to the adventures of a +knight, the contemporary of Arthur or of Cassivellaunus. The tale seems to +have already been known in the sixth century, and was soon seized upon by +the bards, who found it a rich theme for their metrical romances. It is +quite unknown whether it was first turned into Latin, French, or Welsh +verse; but an established fact is that it has been translated into every +European language, and was listened to with as much interest by the +inhabitants of Iceland as by those of the sunny plains of Greece. + +We know that there are metrical versions, or remains of metrical versions, +attributed to Thomas of Ercildoune (the Rhymer), to Raoul de Beauvais, +Chrestien de Troyes, Rusticien de Pise, Luces de Cast, Robert and Helie de +Borron, and Gottfried von Strassburg, and that in our day it has been +retold by Matthew Arnold and Swinburne, and made the subject of an opera by +Wagner. These old metrical versions, recited with manifold variations by +the minstrels, were finally collected into a prose romance, like most of +the mediaeval poems of this kind. + +The outline of the story, collected from many different sources, is as +follows: + +Meliadus (Rivalin, or Roland Rise) was Lord of Lyonesse (Ermonie, or +Parmenia), and after warring for some time against Morgan, he entered into +a seven-years' truce. This time of respite was employed by Meliadus in +visiting Mark, King of Cornwall, who dwelt at Tintagel, where he was +holding a great tournament. Many knights of tried valor hurried thither to +win laurels, but none were able to unhorse Meliadus, who obtained every +prize. + +His courage was such that he even won the heart of Blanchefleur, the sister +of the king. As the monarch refused to consent to their union, the young +people were secretly married, or eloped, if we are to believe another +version of the story. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Tristan.] According to the first account, Blanchefleur +remained at court, where, hearing that her husband had died, she breathed +her last in giving birth to a son, whom she called Tristan (Tristrem), +because he had come into the world under such sad circumstances. The second +version relates that Blanchefleur died as Morgan entered the castle over +her husband's dead body, and that her faithful retainer, Kurvenal (Rohand, +Rual), in order to save her son, claimed him as his own. + +The child Tristan grew up without knowing his real parentage, learned all +that a knight was expected to know, and became especially expert as a +hunter and as a harp player. One day he strolled on board of a Norwegian +vessel which had anchored in the harbor near his ancestral home, and +accepted the challenge of the Norsemen to play a game of chess for a +certain wager. + +As Tristan played at chess as well as upon the harp, he soon won the game; +but the Northmen, rather than pay their forfeited wager, suddenly raised +the anchor and sailed away, intending to sell the kidnaped youth as a +slave. + + "Ther com a ship of Norway, + To Sir Rohandes hold, + With haukes white and grey, + And panes fair y-fold: + Tristrem herd it say, + On his playing he wold + Tventi schilling to lay, + Sir Rohand him told, + And taught; + For hauke silver he gold; + The fairest men him raught." + SCOTT, _Sir Tristrem_. + +They had not gone far, however, before a terrible tempest arose, which +threatened to sink the vessel and drown all on board. The mariners, +supposing in their terror that this peril had come upon them because they +had acted dishonorably, made a solemn vow to liberate the youth if they +escaped. + +The vow having been made, the wind ceased to blow; and anchoring in the +nearest bay, the Norsemen bade Tristan land, and paid him the sum he had +won at chess. + +[Sidenote: Tristan in Cornwall.] Thus forsaken on an unknown shore, with +nothing but his harp and bow, Tristan wandered through an extensive forest, +where, coming across a party of huntsmen who had just slain a deer, he gave +them valuable and lengthy instructions in matters pertaining to the chase, +and taught them how to flay and divide their quarry according to the most +approved mediaeval style. Then, accompanying them to the court of their +master, King Mark, he charmed every one with his minstrelsy, and was +invited to tarry there as long as he pleased. His foster father, Kurvenal, +in the mean while, had set out to seek him; and in the course of his +wanderings he too came to Mark's court, where he was overjoyed to find +Tristan, whose parentage he revealed to the king. + +Tristan now for the first time heard the story of his father's death, and +refused to rest until he had avenged him. He immediately set out, slew +Morgan, and recovered his father's estate of Lyonesse, which he intrusted +to Kurvenal's care, while he himself went back to Cornwall. On arriving at +Tintagel he was surprised to find all the court plunged in sorrow. Upon +inquiring the cause he was informed that Morold, brother of the King of +Ireland, had come to claim the usual tribute of three hundred pounds of +silver and tin and three hundred promising youths to be sold into slavery. + +Indignant at this claim, which had been enforced ever since Mark had been +defeated in battle by the Irish king, Tristan boldly strode up to the +emissary, tore the treaty in two, flung the pieces in his face, and +challenged him to single combat. Morold, confident in his strength,--for he +was a giant,--and relying particularly upon his poisoned sword, immediately +accepted the challenge. When the usual preliminaries had been settled, the +battle began. + + "Sir Morold rode upon his steed, + And flew against Tristan with speed + Still greater than is falcons' flight; + But warlike too was Tristan's might." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Terrible blows were given and received, and at last Tristan sank to the +ground on one knee, for his opponent's poisoned weapon had pierced his +side. + +Morold then called upon him to acknowledge himself beaten, promising to +obtain a balsam from his sister Iseult (Isolde, Ysolde), who knew a remedy +for such a dangerous wound. But Tristan, remembering that, if he +surrendered, three hundred innocent children would be sold as slaves, made +a last despairing effort, and slew Morold. Such was the force of the blow +he dealt that he cut through the helmet and pierced Morold's skull, which +was so hard that a fragment of his sword remained imbedded within the +wound. + +The people of Cornwall were, of course, delighted; and while the Irish +heralds returned empty-handed to Dublin with Morold's remains, the King of +Cornwall loudly proclaimed that as he had no son, Tristan should be his +heir. + +[Sidenote: Tristan's wound.] Tristan, however, was far from happy, for the +wound in his side refused to heal, and gradually became so offensive that +no one could bear his presence. As none of the court doctors could relieve +him, he remembered Morold's words, and resolved to go to Ireland, in hopes +that Iseult would cure him. Conscious, however, that she would never +consent to help him if she suspected his identity, he embarked alone, or +with Kurvenal, in a small vessel, taking only his harp, and drifted toward +Ireland, where he arrived at the end of fifteen days. When he appeared at +court, Tristan declared that he was a wandering minstrel called Tantris, +and bespoke the kind offices of the queen, Iseult. Charmed by his music, +she hastened to cure him of the grievous wound from which he had suffered +so much. + +Tristan, still unknown, remained at the Irish court for some time, spending +many hours with Iseult, the daughter and namesake of the queen, whom he +instructed daily in the art of music. After some months passed thus in +pleasant intercourse, Tristan returned to Cornwall, where he related to +Mark the story of his cure, and so extolled the beauty of young Iseult that +the king finally expressed a desire to marry her. By the advice of the +courtiers, who were jealous of Tristan, and who hoped that this mission +would cost him his life, the young hero was sent to Ireland with an +imposing retinue, to sue for the maiden's hand and to escort her safely to +Cornwall. + +On landing in Dublin, Tristan immediately became aware that the people were +laboring under an unusual excitement. Upon questioning them he learned that +a terrible dragon had taken up its station near the city, that it was +devastating the country, and that the king had promised the hand of Iseult +to the man who would slay the monster. Tristan immediately concluded that +by killing the dragon he would have the best chance of successfully +carrying out his uncle's wishes, so he sallied forth alone to attack it. + + "This dragon had two furious wings, + Each one upon each shoulder; + With a sting in his tayl as long as a flayl, + Which made him bolder and bolder. + + "He had long claws, and in his jaws + Four and forty teeth of iron; + With a hide as tough as any buff + Which did him round environ." + _Dragon of Wantly_ (Old Ballad). + +[Sidenote: Tristan and the dragon.] In spite of the fearful appearance of +this dragon, and of the volumes of fire and venom which it belched forth, +Tristan encountered it bravely, and finally slew it. Then, cutting out the +monster's tongue, he thrust it into his pocket, intending to produce it at +the right moment. He had gone only a few steps, however, when, exhausted by +his prolonged conflict, stunned by the poisonous fumes which he had +inhaled, and overcome by the close contact with the dragon's tongue, he +sank fainting to the ground. A few moments later the butler of the Irish +king rode up. He saw the dragon dead, with his conqueror lifeless beside +him, and quickly resolved to take advantage of this fortunate chance to +secure the hand of the fair princess. He therefore cut off the dragon's +head, and, going to court, boasted of having slain the monster just as it +had killed a strange knight. Iseult and her mother, well aware that the man +was a coward, refused to believe his story, and hastened off to the scene +of the conflict, where they found the fainting Tristan with the dragon's +tongue in his pocket. + +To remove the poisonous substance, (which they, however, preserved,) convey +the knight to the palace, and restore him by tender care, was the next +impulse of these brave women. Then, while Iseult the younger sat beside her +patient, watching his slumbers, she idly drew his sword from the scabbard. +Suddenly her eye was caught by a dint in the blade, which she soon +discovered was of exactly the same shape and size as the fragment of steel +which she had found in her uncle's skull. + + "Then all at once her heart grew cold + In thinking of that deed of old. + Her color changed through grief and ire + From deadly pale to glowing fire. + With sorrow she exclaimed: 'Alas! + Oh, woe! what has now come to pass? + Who carried here this weapon dread, + By which mine uncle was struck dead? + And he who slew him, Tristan hight. + Who gave it to this minstrel knight?'" + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Dippold's tr.). + +Morold's murderer lay helpless before her, and Iseult, animated by the +spirit of vengeance, which was considered a sacred duty among the people of +the time, was about to slay Tristan, when he opened his eyes and disarmed +her by a glance. Her mother further hindered her carrying out her hostile +intentions by telling her that Tristan had atoned for his crime by +delivering the people from the power of the dragon. + +As soon as Tristan had quite recovered, he appeared at court, where he +offered to prove at the point of his sword that the butler had no claim to +the princess's hand. A duel was arranged, and the butler, disarmed by +Tristan, confessed his lie. Tristan then produced the dragon's tongue and +told his adventures; but, to the general surprise, instead of suing for +Iseult's hand for himself, he now asked it in the name of his uncle, King +Mark of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: The love potion.] The young princess was none too well pleased +at this unexpected turn of affairs; but, as princesses never had much to +say about the choice of a husband, she obediently prepared to accompany the +embassy to Tintagel. Her mother, wishing to preserve her from a loveless +marriage, now sought out all manner of herbs wherewith to brew one of those +magic love potions which were popularly supposed to have unlimited powers. + + "Bethought her with her secret soul alone + To work some charm for marriage unison, + And strike the heart of Iseult to her lord + With power compulsive more than stroke of sword." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +This magic potion was put in a golden cup and intrusted to Brangwaine, the +attendant of Iseult, with strict injunctions to guard the secret well, and +to give the draught to her mistress and Mark to quaff together on their +wedding day. + + "Therefore with marvelous herbs and spells she wrought + To win the very wonder of her thought, + And brewed it with her secret hands, and blest + And drew and gave out of her secret breast + To one her chosen and Iseult's handmaiden, + Brangwain, and bade her hide from sight of men + This marvel covered in a golden cup, + So covering in her heart the counsel up + As in the gold the wondrous wine lay close." + SWINBURNE, _Tristram of Lyonesse_. + +Brangwaine carefully carried this potion on board the ship, and placed it +in a cupboard, whence she intended to produce it when the suitable moment +came. Iseult embarked with the escort sent from Cornwall, and Tristan, in +order to beguile the long, weary hours of the journey, entertained her with +all the songs and stories that he knew. One day, after singing for some +time, he asked his fair young mistress for a drink; and she, going to the +cupboard, drew out the magic potion, little guessing its power. + +As was customary in those days in offering wine to an honored guest, she +first put it to her own lips and then handed it to the thirsty minstrel, +who drained it greedily. They had no sooner drunk, however, than the +draught, working with subtle power, suddenly kindled in their hearts a +passionate love, destined to last as long as they both lived. + + "Now that the maiden and the man, + Fair Iseult and Tristan, + Both drank the drink, upon them pressed + What gives the world such sore unrest,-- + Love, skilled in sly and prowling arts,-- + And swiftly crept in both their hearts; + So, ere of him they were aware, + Stood his victorious banners there. + He drew them both into his power; + One and single were they that hour + That two and twofold were before." + GOTTFRIED VON STRASSBURG (Bayard Taylor's tr.). + +After the first few hours of rapture had passed, the young people, who +honorably intended to keep their word and conquer the fatal passion which +had overwhelmed them, remained apart, and when Iseult landed in Cornwall +her marriage was celebrated with Mark. Brangwaine, who knew all that had +passed, tried to shield her mistress in every way, and blind the king, who +is depicted as a very unheroic monarch, but little fitted to secure the +affections of the proud young Iseult. + +[Sidenote: Tristan and Iseult.] This story of a love potion whose magic +power none could resist, and of the undying love which it kindled in the +unsuspecting hearts of Tristan and Iseult, has been treated in many ways by +the different poets and prose writers who have handled it. In many of the +older versions we have lengthy descriptions of stolen interviews, +hairbreadth escapes, and tests of love, truth, and fidelity without number. + +In many respects the story is a parallel of that of Lancelot and Guinevere, +although it contains some incidents which are duplicated in the +"Nibelungenlied" only. But throughout, the writers all aver that, owing to +the magic draught, the lovers, however good their intentions, could not +long exist without seeing each other. + +By means of this boundless love Tristan is said to have had an intuitive +knowledge of Iseult's peril, for he hastened to rescue her from danger +whenever events took a turn which might prove fatal to her. There are in +some of these old romances pretty descriptions of scenery and of the +signals used by the lovers to communicate with each other when forced by +adverse circumstances to remain apart. One of the poems, for instance, says +that Tristan's love messages were written on chips of wood, which he +floated down the little stream which flowed past his sylvan lodge and +crossed the garden of the queen. + +[Sidenote: Meliadus.] The inevitable villain of the tale is one of Mark's +squires, the spy Meliadus, also a very unheroic character, who told the +king of Tristan's love for Iseult. Mark, who all through the story seems +strangely indifferent to his beautiful wife, was not aware of the magic +draught and its powerful effect, but Meliadus roused him temporarily from +his apathy. + +[Illustration: ISEULT SIGNALS TRISTAN.--Pixis.] + +As the queen had been publicly accused, he compelled her to prove her +innocence by undergoing the ordeal of fire, or by taking a public oath that +she had shown favor to none but him. On her way to the place where this +ceremony was to take place, Iseult was carried across a stream by Tristan +disguised as a beggar, and, at his request, kissed him in reward for this +service. + +When called upon to take her oath before the judges and assembled court, +Iseult could truthfully swear that, with the exception of the beggar whom +she had just publicly kissed, no other man than the king could ever boast +of having received any special mark of her favor. + +Thus made aware of their danger, the lovers again decided to part, and +Tristan, deprived for a time of the sight of Iseult, went mad, and +performed many extraordinary feats; for mediaeval poets generally drove +their heroes into a frenzy when they did not know what else to do with +them. Having recovered, and hoping to forget the fatal passion which had +already caused him so much sorrow, Tristan now wandered off to Arthur's +court, where he performed many deeds of valor. Thence he went on to various +strange lands, distinguishing himself greatly everywhere, until he received +from a poisoned arrow a wound which no doctor could heal. + +[Sidenote: Iseult of Brittany.] Afraid to expose himself again to the +fascinations of Iseult of Cornwall, Tristan went to Brittany, where another +Iseult,--with the White Hands,--equally well skilled in medicine, tenderly +nursed him back to health. This maiden, as good and gentle as she was +beautiful, soon fell in love with the handsome knight, and hearing him sing +a passionate lay in honor of Iseult, she fancied that her affections were +returned, and that it was intended for her ear. + + "I know her by her mildness rare, + Her snow-white hands, her golden hair; + I know her by her rich silk dress, + And her fragile loveliness,-- + The sweetest Christian soul alive, + Iseult of Brittany." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Tristram and Iseult_. + +The brother of this fair Iseult saw her love for Tristan, and offered him +her hand, which he accepted more out of gratitude than love, and in the +hope that he might at last overcome the effects of the fatal draught. But, +in spite of all his good resolutions, he could not forget Iseult of +Cornwall, and treated his wife with such polite coolness that her brother's +suspicions were finally roused. + +Tristan, having conquered a neighboring giant and magician by the name of +Beliagog, had granted him his life only upon condition that he would build +a marvelous palace in the forest, and adorn it with paintings and +sculptures, true to life, and representing all the different stages of his +passion for Iseult of Cornwall. When his brother-in-law, therefore, asked +why he seemed to find no pleasure in the society of his young wife, Tristan +led him to the palace, showed him the works of art, and told him all. +Ganhardin, the brother-in-law, must evidently have considered the excuse a +good one, for he not only forgave Tristan, but implored him to take him to +Cornwall, for he had fallen in love with the picture of Brangwaine, and +hoped to win her for wife. On the way thither the young knights met with +sundry adventures, delivered Arthur from the power of the Lady of the Lake, +and carried off Iseult, whom the cowardly Mark was ill treating, to +Lancelot's castle of Joyeuse Garde. There she became acquainted with +Guinevere, and remained with her until Arthur brought about a general +reconciliation. + +Then Tristan once more returned to Brittany, resumed his wonted knightly +existence, and fought until he was wounded so sorely that Iseult of +Brittany could not cure him. His faithful steward Kurvenal, hoping yet to +save him, sailed for Cornwall to bring the other Iseult to the rescue; and +as he left he promised his master to change the black sails of the vessel +for white in case his quest were successful. + +Tristan now watched impatiently for the returning sail, but just as it came +into view he breathed his last. Some ill-advised writers have ventured to +state that Iseult of Brittany, whose jealousy had been aroused, was guilty +of Tristan's death by falsely averring, in answer to his feverish inquiry, +that the long-expected vessel was wafted along by black sails; but, +according to other authorities, she remained gentle and lovable to the end. + +[Sidenote: Miracle of the plants.] Iseult of Cornwall, speeding to the +rescue of her lover, whom nothing could make her forget, and finding him +dead, breathed her last upon his corpse. Both bodies were then carried to +Cornwall, where they were interred in separate graves by order of King +Mark. But from the tomb of the dead minstrel there soon sprang a creeper, +which, finding its way along the walls, descended into Iseult's grave. +Thrice cut down by Mark's orders, the plant persisted in growing, thus +emphasizing by a miracle the passionate love which made this couple +proverbial in the middle ages. There are in subsequent literature many +parallels of the miracle of the plant which sprang from Tristan's tomb, as +is seen by the Ballad of Lord Thomas and Fair Annet, and of Lord Lovel, +where, as in later versions of the Tristan legend, a rose and a vine grew +out of the respective graves and twined tenderly around each other. + + "And out of her breast there grew a red rose, + And out of his breast a brier." + _Ballad of Lord Lovel_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF. + + +[Sidenote: Northern sagas.] Norse, Danish, and Swedish writers have +frequently called public attention to the vast literary treasures which are +contained in the old sagas or tales of their forefathers. The work of +northern scalds whose names in most cases are unknown to us, these stories +relate the lives and adventures of the gods and heroes of the North. Many +of these old sagas have been translated into various other European +languages; but Tegner, a Swedish writer of this century, has done most to +revive a taste for them by making one of them the basis of a poem which is +generally considered a masterpiece. + +Tegner's "Frithiof Saga" has been translated once at least into every +European tongue, and more than eighteen times into English and German. +Goethe spoke of the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and the tale, which +gives a matchless picture of the life of our heathen ancestors in the +North, has been the source of inspiration for important works of art. + +Although Tegner has chosen for his theme the Frithiof saga only, we find +that that tale is the sequel to the older but less interesting Thorsten +saga, of which we give here a very brief outline, merely to enable the +reader to understand clearly every allusion in the more modern poem. + +As is so frequently the case with these ancient tales, the story begins +with Haloge (Loki), who came north with Odin, and began to reign over north +Norway, which from him was called Halogaland. According to northern +mythology, this god had two lovely daughters. They were carried off by bold +suitors, who, banished from the mainland by Haloge's curses and magic +spells, took refuge with their newly won wives upon neighboring islands. + +[Sidenote: Birth of Viking.] Thus it happened that Haloge's grandson, +Viking, was born upon the island of Bornholm, in the Balitic Sea, where he +dwelt until he was fifteen, and where he became the largest and strongest +man of his time. Rumors of his valor finally reached Hunvor, a Swedish +princess; and, as she was oppressed by the attentions of a gigantic suitor +whom none dared drive away, she quickly sent for Viking to deliver her. + +Thus summoned, the youth departed, after having received from his father a +magic sword named Angurvadel, whose blows would prove fatal even to the +giant suitor of Hunvor. A "holmgang," the northern name for a duel, +ensued, and Viking, having slain his antagonist, could have married the +princess had it not been considered disgraceful for a Northman to marry +before he was twenty. + +To beguile the time of waiting, Viking set out in a well-manned dragon +ship; and, cruising about the northern and southern seas, he met with +countless adventures. During this time he was particularly persecuted by +the slain giant's kin, who were adepts in magic, and caused him to +encounter innumerable perils by land and by sea. + +Aided and abetted by his bosom friend, Halfdan, Viking escaped every +danger, slew many of his foes, and, after recovering his promised bride, +Hunvor, whom the enemy had carried off to India, he settled down in Sweden. +His friend, faithful in peace as well as in war, settled near him, and +married also, choosing for his wife Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant. + +The saga now describes the long, peaceful winters, when the warriors +feasted and listened to the tales of the scalds, rousing themselves to +energetic efforts only when returning spring again permitted them to launch +their dragon ships and set out once more upon their favorite piratical +expeditions. In the olden story the bards relate with great gusto every +phase of attack and defense during cruise and raid, describe every blow +given and received, and spare us none of carnage, or lurid flames which +envelop both enemies and ships in common ruin. A fierce fight is often an +earnest of future friendship, however, for we are told that Halfdan and +Viking, having failed to conquer Njorfe, even after a most obstinate +struggle, sheathed their swords and accepted him as a third in their close +bond of friendship. + +On returning home after one of these customary raids, Viking lost his +beloved wife; and, after intrusting her child, Ring, to the care of a +foster father, and undergoing a short period of mourning, the brave warrior +married again. This time his marital bliss was more lasting, for the saga +reports that his second wife bore him nine stalwart sons. + +Njorfe, King of Uplands, in Norway, had, in the mean while, followed +Viking's example, and he too rejoiced in a large family, numbering also +nine brave sons. Now, although their fathers were united in bonds of the +closest friendship, having sworn blood brotherhood according to the true +northern rites, the young men were jealous of one another, and greatly +inclined to quarrel. + +[Sidenote: Early ball games.] Notwithstanding this smoldering animosity, +these youths often met; and the saga relates that they used to play ball +together, and gives a description of the earliest ball game on record in +the northern annals. Viking's sons, as tall and strong as he, were inclined +to be rather reckless of their opponents' welfare, and, judging from the +following account, translated from the old saga, the players were often +left in as sorry a condition as after a modern game. + +"The next morning the brothers went to the games, and generally had the +ball during the day; they pushed men and let them fall roughly, and beat +others. At night three men had their arms broken, and many were bruised or +maimed." + +The game between Njorfe's and Viking's sons culminated in a disagreement, +and one of the former nine struck one of the latter a dangerous and +treacherous blow. Prevented from taking his revenge then and there by the +interference of the spectators, the injured man made a trivial excuse to +return to the ball ground alone; and, meeting his assailant there, he +killed him. + +When Viking heard that one of his sons had slain one of his friend's +children, he was very indignant, and, mindful of his oath to avenge all +Njorfe's wrongs, he banished the young murderer. The other brothers, on +hearing this sentence, all vowed that they would accompany the exile, and +so Viking sorrowfully bade them farewell, giving his sword Angurvadel to +Thorsten, the eldest, and cautioning him to remain quietly on an island in +Lake Wener until all danger of retaliation on the part of Njorfe's +remaining sons was over. + +The young men obeyed; but Njorfe's sons, who had no boats to take them +across the lake, soon made use of a conjuror's art to bring about a great +frost, and, accompanied by many armed men, stole noiselessly over the ice +to attack Thorsten and his brothers. A terrible carnage ensued, and only +two of the attacking party managed to escape, leaving, as they fancied, all +their foes among the dead. + +But when Viking came to bury his sons, he found that two of them, Thorsten +and Thorer, were still alive, and he secretly conveyed them to a cellar +beneath his dwelling, where they recovered from their wounds. + +By magic arts Njorfe's two sons discovered that their opponents were not +dead, and soon made a second desperate but vain attempt to kill them. +Viking saw that the quarrel would be incessantly renewed if his sons +remained at home; so he now sent them to Halfdan, whose court they reached +after a series of adventures which in many points resemble those of Theseus +on his way to Athens. + +When spring came Thorsten embarked on a piratical excursion, and +encountered Jokul, Njorfe's eldest son, who, in the mean while, had taken +forcible possession of the kingdom of Sogn, after killing the king, +banishing his heir, Bele, and changing his beautiful daughter, Ingeborg, +into the form of an old witch. + +Throughout the story Jokul is represented as somewhat of a coward, for he +resorted by preference to magic when he wished to injure Viking's sons. +Thus he stirred up great tempests, and Thorsten, after twice suffering +shipwreck, was saved from the waves by the witch Ingeborg, whom he promised +to marry in gratitude for her good services. + +Thorsten, advised by her, went in search of Bele, replaced him on his +hereditary throne, swore eternal friendship with him, and, the baleful +spell being removed, married the beautiful Ingeborg, who dwelt with him at +Framnaes. + +[Sidenote: Thorsten and Bele.] Every spring Thorsten and Bele now set out +together in their ships; and, joining forces with Angantyr, a foe whose +mettle they had duly tested, they proceeded to recover possession of a +priceless treasure, a magic dragon ship named Ellida, which Aegir, god of +the sea, had once given to Viking in reward for hospitable treatment, and +which had been stolen from him. + + "A royal gift to behold, for the swelling planks of its framework + Were not fastened with nails, as is wont, but _grown_ in together. + Its shape was that of a dragon when swimming, but forward + Its head rose proudly on high, the throat with yellow gold flaming; + Its belly was spotted with red and yellow, but back by the rudder + Coiled out its mighty tail in circles, all scaly with silver; + Black wings with edges of red; when all were expanded + Ellida raced with the whistling storm, but outstript the eagle. + When filled to the edge with warriors, it sailed o'er the waters, + You'd deem it a floating fortress, or warlike abode of a monarch. + The ship was famed far and wide, and of ships was first in the North." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The next season, Thorsten, Bele, and Angantyr conquered the Orkney Islands, +which were given as kingdom to the latter, he voluntarily pledging himself +to pay a yearly tribute to Bele. Next Thorsten and Bele went in quest of a +magic ring, or armlet, once forged by Voelund, the smith, and stolen by +Sote, a famous pirate. + +This bold robber was so afraid lest some one should gain possession of the +magic ring, that he had buried himself alive with it in a mound in +Bretland. Here his ghost was said to keep constant watch over it, and when +Thorsten entered his tomb, Bele heard the frightful blows given and +received, and saw lurid gleams of supernatural fire. + +When Thorsten finally staggered out of the mound, pale and bloody, but +triumphant, he refused to speak of the horrors he had encountered to win +the coveted treasure, nor would he ever vouchsafe further information than +this: + + "'Dearly bought is the prize,' said he often, + 'For I trembled but once in my life, and 'twas when I seized it!'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Birth of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] Thus owner of the three +greatest treasures in the North, Thorsten returned home to Framnaes, where +Ingeborg bore him a fine boy, Frithiof, the playmate of Halfdan and Helge, +Bele's sons. The three youths were already well grown when Ingeborg, Bele's +little daughter, was born, and as she was intrusted to the care of Hilding, +Frithiof's foster father, the children grew up in perfect amity. + + "Jocund they grew, in guileless glee; + Young Frithiof was the sapling tree; + In budding beauty by his side, + Sweet Ingeborg, the garden's pride." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +Frithiof soon became hardy and fearless under his foster father's training, +and Ingeborg rapidly developed all the sweetest traits of female +loveliness. Both, however, were happiest when together; and as they grew +older their childish affection daily became deeper and more intense, until +Hilding, perceiving this state of affairs, bade the youth remember that he +was only a subject, and therefore no mate for the king's only daughter. + + "But Hilding said, 'O foster son, + Set not thy heart her love upon, + For Destiny thy wish gainsaid; + King Bele's daughter is the maid! + + "'From Odin's self, in starry sky, + Descends her ancestry so high; + But thou art Thorsten's son, so yield, + And leave to mightier names the field.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's love for Ingeborg.] These wise admonitions came too +late, however, and Frithiof vehemently declared that he would win the fair +Ingeborg for his bride in spite of all obstacles and his comparatively +humble origin. + +Shortly after this Bele and Thorsten met for the last time, near the +magnificent shrine of Balder, where the king, feeling that his end was +near, had convened a solemn assembly, or Thing, of all his principal +subjects, in order to present his sons Helge and Halfdan to the people as +his chosen successors. The young heirs were very coldly received on this +occasion, for Helge was of a somber and taciturn disposition, and inclined +to the life of a priest, and Halfdan was of a weak, effeminate nature, and +noted for his cowardice. Frithiof, who was present, and stood beside them, +cast them both in the shade, and won many admiring glances from the throng. + + "But after them came Frithiof, in mantle blue-- + He by a head was taller than th' other two. + He stood between the brethren, as day should light + Between the rosy morning and darksome night." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.) + +After giving his last instructions to his sons, and speaking kindly to +Frithiof, who was his favorite, the old king turned to his lifelong +companion, Thorsten, to take leave of him, but the old warrior declared +that they would not long be parted. Bele then spoke again to his sons, and +bade them erect his howe, or funeral mound, within sight of that of +Thorsten, that their spirits might commune, and not be sundered even in +death. + + "'But lay us gently, children, where the blue wave, + Beating harmonious cadence, the shore doth lave; + Its murmuring song is pleasant unto the soul, + And like a lamentation its ceaseless roll. + + "'And when the moon's pale luster around us streams, + And midnight dim grows radiant with silver beams, + There will we sit, O Thorsten, upon our graves, + And talk of bygone battles by the dark waves. + + "'And now, farewell, my children! Come here no more; + Our road lies to Allfather's far-distant shore, + E'en as the troubled river sweeps to the sea: + By Frey and Thor and Odin blessed may ye be.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Helge and Halfdan.] These instructions were all piously obeyed +when the aged companions had breathed their last. Then the brothers, Helge +and Halfdan, began to rule their kingdom, while Frithiof, their former +playmate, withdrew to his own place at Framnaes, a very fertile homestead, +lying in a snug valley closed in by the towering mountains and the +ever-changing ocean. + + "Three miles extended around the fields of the homestead; on + three sides + Valleys and mountains and hills, but on the fourth side was the + ocean. + Birch-woods crowned the summits, but over the down-sloping + hillsides + Flourished the golden corn, and man-high was waving the rye- + field." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But although surrounded by faithful retainers, and blessed with much wealth +and the possession of the famous sword Angurvadel, the Voelund ring, and the +matchless dragon ship Ellida, Frithiof was unhappy, because he could no +longer see the fair Ingeborg daily. With the returning spring, however, all +his former spirits returned, for both kings came to visit him, accompanied +by their fair sister, with whom he lived over the happy childish years, and +spent long hours in cheerful companionship. As they were thus constantly +thrown together, Frithiof soon made known to Ingeborg his deep affection, +and received in return an avowal of her love. + + "He sat by her side, and he pressed her soft hand, + And he felt a soft pressure responsive and bland; + Whilst his love-beaming gaze + Was returned as the sun's in the moon's placid rays." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's suit.] When the visit was over and the guests had +departed, Frithiof informed his confidant and chief companion, Bjoern, of +his determination to follow them and openly ask for Ingeborg's hand. His +ship was prepared, and after a swift sail touched the shore near Balder's +shrine. Discerning the royal brothers seated in state on Bele's tomb to +listen to the petitions of their subjects, Frithiof immediately presented +himself before them, and manfully made his request, adding that the old +king had always loved him and would surely have granted his prayer. + + "They were seated on Bele's tomb, and o'er + The common folk administered law. + But Frithiof speaks, + And his voice re-echoes round valleys and peaks. + + "'Ye kings, my love is Ingborg fair; + To ask her in marriage I here repair; + And what I require + I here maintain was King Bele's desire. + + "'He let us grow in Hilding's care, + Like two young saplings, year by year; + And therefore, kings, + Unite the full-grown trees with golden rings.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +But although he promised lifelong fealty and the service of his strong +right arm in exchange for the boon he craved, Helge contemptuously +dismissed him. Enraged at the insult thus publicly received, Frithiof +raised his invincible sword; but, remembering that he stood on a +consecrated spot, he spared the king, only cutting the royal shield in two +to show the strength of his blade, and striding back to his ship, he +embarked and sailed away in sullen silence. + + "And lo! cloven in twain at a stroke + Fell King Helge's gold shield from its pillar of oak: + At the clang of the blow, + The live started above, the dead started below." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Sigurd Ring a suitor.] Just after his departure came messengers +from Sigurd Ring, the aged King of Ringric, in Norway, who, having lost his +wife, sent to Helge and Halfdan to ask Ingeborg's hand in marriage. Before +answering this royal suitor, Helge consulted the Vala, or prophetess, and +the priests, and as they all declared that the omens were not in favor of +this marriage, he gave an insolent refusal to the messengers. This +impolitic conduct so offended the would-be suitor that he immediately +collected an army and prepared to march against the Kings of Sogn to avenge +the insult with his sword. When the rumor of his approach reached the +cowardly brothers they were terrified, and fearing to encounter the foe +alone, they sent Hilding to Frithiof to implore his aid. + +Hilding gladly undertook the mission, although he had not much hope of its +success. He found Frithiof playing chess with a friend, Bjoern, and +immediately made known his errand. + + "'From Bele's high heirs + I come with courteous words and prayers: + Disastrous tidings rouse the brave; + On thee a nation's hope relies. + + * * * * * + + In Balder's fane, grief's loveliest prey, + Sweet Ing'borg weeps the livelong day: + Say, can her tears unheeded fall, + Nor call her champion to her side?'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +But Frithiof was so deeply offended that even this appeal in the name of +his beloved could not move him. Quietly he continued his game of chess, +and, when it was ended, told Hilding that he had no answer to give. Rightly +concluding that Frithiof would lend the kings no aid, Hilding returned to +Helge and Halfdan, who, forced to fight without their bravest leader, +preferred to make a treaty with Sigurd Ring, promising to give him not only +their sister Ingeborg, but also a yearly tribute. + +[Sidenote: At Balder's shrine.] While they were thus engaged at Sogn Sound, +Frithiof hastened to Balder's temple, where, as Hilding had declared, he +found Ingeborg a prey to grief. Now although it was considered a sacrilege +for man and woman to exchange a word in the sacred building, Frithiof could +not see his beloved in tears without attempting to console her; and, +forgetting all else, he spoke to her and comforted her. He repeated how +dearly he loved her, quieted all her apprehensions of the gods' anger by +assuring her that Balder, the good, must view their innocent passion with +approving eyes, said that love as pure as theirs could defile no sanctuary, +and plighted his troth to her before the shrine. + +[Illustration: THE LOVERS AT BALDER'S SHRINE.--Kepler.] + + "'What whisper you of Balder's ire? + The pious god--he is not wrath. + He loves himself, and doth inspire + Our love--the purest he calls forth. + The god with true and steadfast heart, + The sun upon his glittering form, + Is not his love for Nanna part + Of his own nature, pure and warm? + + "'There is his image; he is near. + How mild he looks on me--how kind! + A sacrifice to him I'll bear, + The offer of a loving mind. + Kneel down with me; no better gift, + No fairer sure for Balder is, + Than two young hearts, whose love doth lift + Above the world almost like his.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Reassured by this reasoning, Ingeborg no longer refused to see and converse +with Frithiof; and during the kings' absence the young lovers met every +day, and plighted their troth with Volund's ring, which Ingeborg solemnly +promised to send back to her lover should she break her promise to live for +him alone. Frithiof lingered there until the kings' return, when, for love +of Ingeborg the fair, he again appeared before them, and pledged himself to +free them from their thraldom to Sigurd Ring if they would only reconsider +their decision and promise him their sister's hand. + + "'War is abroad, + And strikes his echoing shield within our borders; + Thy crown and land, King Helge, are in danger; + Give me thy sister's hand, and I will use + Henceforth my warlike force in thy defense. + Let then the wrath between us be forgotten, + Unwillingly I strive 'gainst Ingborg's brother. + Secure, O king, by one fraternal act + Thy golden crown and save thy sister's heart. + Here is my hand. By Thor, I ne'er again + Present it here for reconciliation.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof in disgrace.] But although this offer was hailed with +rapture by the assembled warriors, it was again scornfully rejected by +Helge, who declared that he would have granted it had not Frithiof proved +himself unworthy of all confidence by defiling the temple of the gods. +Frithiof tried to defend himself; but as he had to plead guilty to the +accusation of having conversed with Ingeborg at Balder's shrine, he was +convicted of having broken the law, and, in punishment therefor, condemned +to sail off to the Orkney Islands to claim tribute from the king, Angantyr. + +Before he sailed, however, he once more sought Ingeborg, and vainly tried +to induce her to elope with him by promising her a home in the sunny south, +where her happiness should be his law, and where she should rule over his +subjects as his honored wife. Ingeborg sorrowfully refused to accompany +him, saying that, since her father was no more, she was in duty bound to +obey her brothers implicitly, and could not marry without their consent. + + "'But Helge is my father, + Stands in my father's place; on his consent + Depends my hand, and Bele's daughter steals not + Her earthly happiness, how near it be.'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After a heartrending parting scene, Frithiof embarked upon Ellida, and +sorrowfully sailed out of the harbor, while Ingeborg wept at his departure. +When the vessel was barely out of sight, Helge sent for two witches named +Heid and Ham, bidding them begin their incantations, and stir up such a +tempest at sea that it would be impossible for even the god-given vessel +Ellida to withstand its fury, and all on board would perish. The witches +immediately complied; and with Helge's aid they soon stirred up a storm +unparalleled in history. + + "Helge on the strand + Chants his wizard-spell, + Potent to command + Fiends of earth or hell. + Gathering darkness shrouds the sky; + Hark, the thunder's distant roll! + Lurid lightnings, as they fly, + Streak with blood the sable pole. + Ocean, boiling to its base, + Scatters wide its wave of foam; + Screaming, as in fleetest chase, + Sea-birds seek their island home." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The tempest.] In spite of tossing waves and whistling blasts, +Frithiof sang a cheery song to reassure his frightened crew; but when the +peril grew so great that his exhausted men gave themselves up for lost, he +bade Bjoern hold the rudder, and himself climbed up to the mast top to view +the horizon. While perched up there he descried a whale, upon which the two +witches were riding at ease. Speaking to his good ship, which was gifted +with the power of understanding and obeying his words, he now ran down both +witches and whale, and the sea was reddened with their blood. No sooner had +they sunk than the wind fell, the waves ceased to heave and toss as before, +and soon fair weather again smiled over the seas. + + "Now the storm has flown, + The sea is calm awhile; + A gentle swell is blown + Against the neighboring isle. + + "Then at once the sun arose, + Like a king who mounts his throne, + Vivifies the world and throws + His light on billow, field, and stone. + His new-born beams adorn awhile + A dark green grove on rocky top, + All recognize a sea-girt isle, + Amongst the distant Orkney's group." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +Exhausted by their previous superhuman efforts and by the bailing of their +water-logged vessel, the men were too weak to land when they at last +reached the Orkney Islands, and had to be carried ashore by Bjoern and +Frithiof, who gently laid them down on the sand, bidding them rest and +refresh themselves after all the hardships they had endured. + + "Tired indeed are all on board, + All the crew of Frithiofs men, + Scarce supported by a sword, + Can they raise themselves again. + Bjoern takes four of them ashore, + On his mighty shoulders wide, + Frithiof singly takes twice four, + Places them the fire beside. + 'Blush not, ye pale ones, + The sea's a valiant viking; + 'Tis hard indeed to fight + Against the rough sea waves. + Lo! there comes the mead horn + On golden feet descending, + To warm our frozen limbs. + Hail to Ingeborg!'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The arrival of Frithiof and his men had been seen by the watchman of +Angantyr's castle, who immediately informed his master of all he had seen. +The jarl exclaimed that the ship which had weathered such a gale could be +none but Ellida, and that its captain was doubtless Frithiof, Thorsten's +gallant son. At these words one of his Berserkers, Atle, caught up his +weapons and strode out of the hall, vowing that he would challenge +Frithiof, and thus satisfy himself concerning the veracity of the tales he +had heard of the young hero's courage. + +[Sidenote: Atle's challenge.] Although still greatly exhausted, Frithiof +immediately accepted Atle's challenge, and, after a sharp encounter, threw +his antagonist, whom he would have slain then and there had his sword been +within reach. Atle saw his intention, and bade him go in search of a +weapon, promising to remain motionless during his absence. Frithiof, +knowing that such a warrior's promise was inviolable, immediately obeyed; +but when he returned with his sword, and found his antagonist calmly +awaiting death, he relented, and bade Atle rise and live. + + "With patience long not gifted, + Frithiof the foe would kill, + And Angurvadel lifted, + But Atle yet lay still. + This touched the hero's soul; + He stayed the sweeping brand + Before it reached its goal, + And took the fall'n one's hand." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_(Spalding's tr.). + +Together these doughty warriors then wended their way to Angantyr's halls, +where they found a festal board awaiting them, and there they ate and +drank, sang songs, and recounted stories of thrilling adventure by land and +by sea. + +At last, however, Frithiof made known his errand. Angantyr said that he +owed no tribute to Helge, and would pay him none; but that he would give +the required sum as a free gift to his old friend Thorsten's son, leaving +him at liberty to dispose of it as he pleased. Then, since the season was +unpropitious, and storms continually swept over the sea, the king invited +Frithiof to tarry with him; and it was only when the gentle spring breezes +were blowing once more that he at last allowed him to depart. + +After sailing over summer seas, wafted along by favorable winds for six +days, Frithiof came in sight of his home, Framnaes, which had been reduced +to a shapeless heap of ashes by Helge's orders. Sadly steering past the +ruins, he arrived at Baldershage, where Hilding met him and informed him +that Ingeborg was now the wife of Sigurd Ring. When Frithiof heard these +tidings he flew into a Berserker rage, and bade his men destroy all the +vessels in the harbor, while he strode up to the temple alone in search of +Helge. He found him there before the god's image, roughly flung Angantyr's +heavy purse of gold in his face, and when, as he was about to leave the +temple, he saw the ring he had given Ingeborg on the arm of Helge's wife, +he snatched it away from her. In trying to recover it she dropped the god's +image, which she had just been anointing, into the fire, where it was +rapidly consumed, and the rising flames soon set the temple roof in a +blaze. + +Frithiof, horror-stricken at the sacrilege which he had involuntarily +occasioned, after vainly trying to extinguish the flames and save the +costly sanctuary, escaped to his ship and waiting companions, to begin the +weary life of an outcast and exile. + + "The temple soon in ashes lay, + Ashes the temple's bower; + Wofully Frithiof goes his way, + Weeps in the morning hour." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof an exile.] Helge's men started in pursuit, hoping to +overtake and punish him; but when they reached the harbor they could not +find a single seaworthy craft, and were forced to stand on the shore in +helpless inactivity while Ellida's great sails slowly sank beneath the +horizon. It was thus that Frithiof sadly saw his native land vanish from +sight; and as it disappeared he breathed a tender farewell to the beloved +country which he never expected to see again. + + "'World-circle's brow, + Thou mighty North! + I may not go + Upon thine earth; + But in no other + I love to dwell; + Now, hero-mother, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, thou high + And heavenly one, + Night's sleeping eye, + Midsummer sun. + Thou clear blue sky, + Like hero's soul, + Ye stars on high, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye mounts + Where Honour thrives, + And Thor recounts + Good warriors' lives. + Ye azure lakes, + I know so well, + Ye woods and brakes, + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell, ye tombs, + By billows blue, + The lime tree blooms + Its snow on you. + The Saga sets + In judgment-veil + What earth forgets; + Farewell, farewell! + + "'Farewell the heath, + The forest hoar + I played beneath, + By streamlet's roar. + To childhood's friends + Who loved me well, + Remembrance sends + A fond farewell! + + "'My love is foiled, + My rooftree rent, + Mine honour soiled, + In exile sent! + We turn from earth, + On ocean dwell, + But, joy and mirth, + Farewell, farewell!'" + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +After thus parting from his native land, Frithiof took up the life of a +pirate, rover, or viking, whose code was never to settle anywhere, to sleep +on his shield, to fight and neither give nor take quarter, to protect the +ships which paid him tribute and sack the others, and to distribute all the +booty to his men, reserving for himself nothing but the glory of the +enterprise. Sailing and fighting thus, Frithiof visited many lands, and +came to the sunny isles of Greece, whither he would fain have carried +Ingeborg as his bride; but wherever he went and whatever he did, he was +always haunted by the recollection of his beloved and of his native land. + +[Sidenote: At the court of Sigurd Ring.] Overcome at last by homesickness, +Frithiof returned northward, determined to visit Sigurd Ring's court and +ascertain whether Ingeborg was really well and happy. Steering his vessel +up the Vik (the main part of the Christiania-Fiord), he intrusted it to +Bjoern's care, and alone, on foot, and enveloped in a tattered mantle, which +he used as disguise, he went to the court of Sigurd Ring, arriving there +just as the Yuletide festivities were being held. As if in reality nothing +more than the aged beggar he appeared, Frithiof sat down upon the bench +near the door, where he became the butt of the courtiers' rough jokes; but +when one of his tormentors approached too closely he caught him in his +powerful grasp and swung him high above his head. + +Terrified by this proof of great strength, the courtiers silently withdrew, +while Sigurd Ring invited the old man to remove his mantle, take a seat +beside him, and share his good cheer. Frithiof accepted the invitation thus +cordially given, and when he had laid aside his squalid outward apparel all +started with surprise to see a handsome warrior, richly clad, and adorned +with a beautiful ring. + + "Now from the old man's stooping head is loosed the sable hood, + When lo! a young man smiling stands, where erst the old one stood. + See! From his lofty forehead, round shoulders broad and strong, + The golden locks flow glistening, like sunlight waves along. + + "He stood before them glorious in velvet mantle blue, + His baldrics broad, with silver worked, the artist's skill did shew; + For round about the hero's breast and round about his waist, + The beasts and birds of forest wild, embossed, each other chased. + + "The armlet's yellow luster shone rich upon his arm; + His war sword by his side--in strife a thunderbolt alarm. + Serene the hero cast his glance around the men of war; + Bright stood he there as Balder, as tall as Asa Thor." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Illustration: FRITHIOF AT THE COURT OF KING RING.--Kepler.] + +But although his appearance was so unusual, none of the people present +recognized him save Ingeborg only; and when the king asked him who he was +he evasively replied that he was Thiolf (a thief), that he came from Ulf's +(the wolf's), and had been brought up in Anger (sorrow or grief). +Notwithstanding this unenticing account of himself, Sigurd Ring invited him +to remain; and Frithiof, accepting the proffered hospitality, became the +constant companion of the king and queen, whom he accompanied wherever they +went. + +One day, when the royal couple were seated in a sleigh and skimming along a +frozen stream, Frithiof sped on his skates before them, performing graceful +evolutions, and cutting Ingeborg's name deep in the ice. All at once the +ice broke and the sleigh disappeared; but Frithiof, springing forward, +caught the horse by the bridle, and by main force dragged them all out of +their perilous position. + +When spring came, Sigurd Ring invited Frithiof to accompany him on a +hunting expedition. The king became separated from all the rest of his +suite, and saying that he was too weary to continue the chase, he lay down +to rest upon the cloak which Frithiof spread out for him, resting his head +upon his young guest's knee. + + "Then threw Frithiof down his mantle, and upon the greensward + spread, + And the ancient king so trustful laid on Frithiof's knee his head; + Slept, as calmly as the hero sleepeth after war's alarms + On his shield, calm as an infant sleepeth in its mother's arms." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Longfellow's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Frithiof's loyalty.]While the aged king was thus reposing, the +birds and beasts of the forest softly drew near, bidding Frithiof take +advantage of his host's unconsciousness to slay him and recover the bride +of whom he had been unfairly deprived. But although Frithiof understood +the language of birds and beasts, and his hot young heart clamored for his +beloved, he utterly refused to listen to them; and, fearing lest he should +involuntarily harm his trusting host, he impulsively flung his sword far +from him into a neighboring thicket. + +A few moments later Sigurd Ring awoke from his feigned sleep, and after +telling Frithiof that he had recognized him from the first, had tested him +in many ways, and had always found his honor fully equal to his vaunted +courage, he bade him be patient a little longer, for his end was very near, +and said that he would die happy if he could leave Ingeborg, his infant +heir, and his kingdom in such good hands. Then, taking the astonished +Frithiof's arm, Sigurd Ring returned home, where, feeling death draw near, +he dedicated himself anew to Odin by carving the Geirs-odd, or sacrificial +runes, deeply in his aged chest. + + "Bravely he slashes + Odin's red letters, + Blood-runes of heroes, on arm and on breast. + Brightly the splashes + Of life's flowing fetters + Drip from the silver of hair-covered chest." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +When this ceremony was finished, Sigurd Ring laid Ingeborg's hand in +Frithiof's, and, once more commending her to the young hero's loving care, +closed his eyes and breathed his last. + +[Sidenote: Betrothal of Frithiof and Ingeborg.] All the nation assembled to +raise a mound for Sigurd Ring; and by his own request the funeral feast was +closed by a banquet to celebrate the betrothal of Ingeborg and Frithiof. +The latter had won the people's enthusiastic admiration; but when they +would fain have elected him king, Frithiof raised Sigurd Ring's little son +up on his shield and presented him to the assembled nobles as their future +king, publicly swearing to uphold him until he was of age to defend +himself. The child, weary of his cramped position on the shield, boldly +sprang to the ground as soon as Frithiof's speech was ended, and alighted +upon his feet. This act of daring in so small a child was enough to win the +affection and admiration of all his rude subjects. + +According to some accounts, Frithiof now made war against Ingeborg's +brothers, and after conquering them, allowed them to retain their kingdom +only upon condition of their paying him a yearly tribute. Then he and +Ingeborg remained in Ringric until the young king was able to assume the +government, when they repaired to Hordaland, a kingdom Frithiof had +obtained by conquest, and which he left to his sons Gungthiof and Hunthiof. + +[Sidenote: Frithiofs vision.] But according to Tegner's poem, Frithiof, +soon after his second betrothal to Ingeborg, made a pious pilgrimage to his +father's resting place, and while seated on the latter's funeral mound, +plunged in melancholy and remorse at the sight of the desolation about him, +he was favored by a vision of a new temple, more beautiful than the first, +within whose portals he beheld the three Norns. + + "And lo! reclining on their runic shields + The mighty Nornas now the portal fill; + Three rosebuds fair which the same garden yields, + With aspect serious, but charming still. + Whilst Urda points upon the blackened fields, + The fairy temple Skulda doth reveal. + When Frithiof first his dazzled senses cleared, + Rejoiced, admired, the vision disappeared." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +The hero immediately understood that the gods had thus pointed out to him a +means of atonement, and spared neither wealth nor pains to restore Balder's +temple and grove, which soon rose out of the ashes in more than their +former splendor. + +When the temple was all finished, and duly consecrated to Balder's service, +Frithiof received Ingeborg at the altar from her brothers' hands, and ever +after lived on amicable terms with them. + + "Now stepped Halfdan in + Over the brazen threshold, and with wistful look + Stood silent, at a distance from the dreaded one. + Then Frithiof loosed the Harness-hater from his thigh, + Against the altar placed the golden buckler round, + And forward came unarmed to meet his enemy: + 'In such a strife,' thus he commenced, with friendly voice, + 'The noblest he who first extends the hand of peace.' + Then blushed King Halfdan deep, and drew his gauntlet off, + And long-divided hands now firmly clasped each other, + A mighty pressure, steadfast as the mountain's base. + The old man then absolved him from the curse which lay + Upon the Varg i Veum,[1] on the outlawed man. + And as he spake the words, fair Ingeborg came in, + Arrayed in bridal dress, and followed by fair maids, + E'en as the stars escort the moon in heaven's vault. + Whilst tears suffused her soft and lovely eyes, she fell + Into her brother's arms, but deeply moved he led + His cherished sister unto Frithiof's faithful breast, + And o'er the altar of the god she gave her hand + Unto her childhood's friend, the darling of her heart." + TEGNER, _Frithiof Saga_ (Spalding's tr.). + +[Footnote 1: Wolf in the sanctuaries.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + + +RAGNAR LODBROK. + + + "Last from among the Heroes one came near, + No God, but of the hero troop the chief-- + Regner, who swept the northern sea with fleets, + And ruled o'er Denmark and the heathy isles, + Living; but Ella captured him and slew;-- + A king whose fame then fill'd the vast of Heaven, + Now time obscures it, and men's later deeds." + MATTHEW ARNOLD, _Balder Dead_. + +[Sidenote: Ragnar Lodbrok saga.] Ragnar Lodbrok, who figures in history as +the contemporary of Charlemagne, is one of the great northern heroes, to +whom many mythical deeds of valor are ascribed. His story has given rise +not only to the celebrated Ragnar Lodbrok saga, so popular in the +thirteenth century, but also to many poems and songs by ancient scalds and +modern poets. The material of the Ragnar Lodbrok saga was probably largely +borrowed from the Volsunga saga and from the saga of Dietrich von Bern, the +chief aim of the ancient composers being to connect the Danish dynasty of +kings with the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and thereby to +prove that their ancestor was no less a person than Odin. + +The hero of this saga was Ragnar, the son of Sigurd Ring and his first +wife, Alfild. According to one version of the story, as we have seen, +Sigurd Ring married Ingeborg, and died, leaving Frithiof to protect his +young son. According to another, Sigurd Ring appointed Ragnar as his +successor, and had him recognized as future ruler by the Thing before he +set out upon his last military expedition. + +This was a quest for a new wife named Alfsol, a princess of Jutland, with +whom, in spite of his advanced years, he had fallen passionately in love. +Her family, however, rudely refused Sigurd Ring's request. When he came to +win his bride by the force of arms, and they saw themselves defeated, they +poisoned Alfsol rather than have her fall alive into the viking's hands. + +Sigurd Ring, finding a corpse where he had hoped to clasp a living and +loving woman, was so overcome with grief that he now resolved to die too. +By his orders Alfsol's body was laid in state on a funeral pyre on his best +ship. Then, when the fire had been kindled, and the ship cut adrift from +its moorings, Sigurd Ring sprang on board, and, stabbing himself, was +burned with the fair maiden he loved. + +Ragnar was but fifteen years old when he found himself called upon to +reign; but just as he outshone all his companions in beauty and +intelligence, so he could match the bravest heroes in courage and daring, +and generally escaped uninjured from every battle, owing to a magic shirt +which his mother had woven for him. + + "'I give thee the long shirt, + Nowhere sewn, + Woven with a loving mind, + Of hair----[obscure word]. + Wounds will not bleed + Nor will edges bite thee + In the holy garment; + It was consecrated to the gods.'" + _Ragnar Lodbrok Saga_. + +Of course the young hero led out his men every summer upon some exciting +viking expedition, to test their courage and supply them with plunder; for +all the northern heroes proudly boasted that the sword was their god and +gold was their goddess. + +[Sidenote: Lodgerda.] On one occasion Ragnar landed in a remote part of +Norway, and having climbed one of the neighboring mountains, he looked down +upon a fruitful valley inhabited by Lodgerda, a warrior maiden who +delighted in the chase and all athletic exercises, and ruled over all that +part of the country. Ragnar immediately resolved to visit this fair maiden; +and, seeing her manifold attractions, he soon fell in love with her and +married her. She joined him in all his active pursuits; but in spite of all +his entreaties, she would not consent to leave her native land and +accompany him home. + +After spending three years in Norway with Lodgerda, the young viking became +restless and unhappy; and learning that his kingdom had been raided during +his prolonged absence, he parted from his wife in hot haste. He pursued his +enemies to Whitaby and to Lym-Fiord, winning a signal victory over them in +both places, and then reentered his capital of Hledra in triumph, amid the +acclamations of his joyful people. + +He had not been resting long upon his newly won laurels when a northern +seer came to his court, and showed him in a magic mirror the image of +Thora, the beautiful daughter of Jarl Herrand in East Gothland. Ragnar, who +evidently considered himself freed from all matrimonial bonds by his wife's +refusal to accompany him home, eagerly questioned the seer concerning the +radiant vision. + +This man then revealed to him that Thora, having at her father's request +carefully brought up a dragon from an egg hatched by a swan, had at last +seen it assume such colossal proportions that it coiled itself all around +the house where she dwelt. Here it watched over her with jealous care, +allowing none to approach except the servant who brought the princess her +meals and who provided an ox daily for the monster's sustenance. Jarl +Herrand had offered Thora's hand in marriage, and immense sums of gold, to +any hero brave enough to slay this dragon; but none dared venture within +reach of its powerful jaws, whence came fire, venom, and noxious vapors. + +Ragnar, who as usual thirsted for adventure, immediately made up his mind +to go and fight this dragon; and, after donning a peculiar leather and +woolen garment, all smeared over with pitch, he attacked and successfully +slew the monster. + + "'Nor long before + In arms I reached the Gothic shore, + To work the loathly serpent's death. + I slew the reptile of the heath.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Origin of name Lodbrok.] In commemoration of this victory, +Ragnar ever after bore also the name of Lodbrok (Leather Hose), although +he laid aside this garment as soon as possible, and appeared in royal +garb, to receive his prize, the beautiful maiden Thora, whom he had +delivered, and whom he now took to be his wife. + + "'My prize was Thora; from that fight, + 'Mongst warriors am I Lodbrock hight. + I pierced the monster's scaly side + With steel, the soldier's wealth and pride.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Thora gladly accompanied Ragnar back to Hledra, lived happily with him for +several years, and bore him two sturdy sons, Agnar and Erik, who soon gave +proof of uncommon courage. Such was Ragnar's devotion to his new wife that +he even forbore to take part in the usual viking expeditions, to linger by +her side. All his love could not long avail to keep her with him, however, +for she soon sickened and died, leaving him an inconsolable widower. + +To divert him from his great sorrow, his subjects finally proposed that he +should resume his former adventurous career, and prevailed upon him to +launch his dragon ship once more and to set sail for foreign shores. Some +time during the cruise their bread supply failed, and Ragnar steered his +vessel into the port of Spangarhede, where he bade his men carry their +flour ashore and ask the people in a hut which he descried there to help +them knead and bake their bread. The sailors obeyed; but when they entered +the lowly hut and saw the filthy old woman who appeared to be its sole +occupant, they hesitated to bespeak her aid. + +While they were deliberating what they should do, a beautiful girl, poorly +clad, but immaculately clean, entered the hut; and the old woman, +addressing her as Krake (Crow), bade her see what the strangers wanted. +They told her, and admiringly watched her as she deftly fashioned the dough +into loaves and slipped them into the hot oven. She bade the sailors watch +them closely, lest they should burn; but these men forgot all about their +loaves to gaze upon her as she flitted about the house, and the result was +that their bread was badly burned. + +When they returned to the vessel, Ragnar Lodbrok reproved them severely for +their carelessness, until the men, to justify themselves, began describing +the maiden Krake in such glowing terms that the chief finally expressed a +desire to see her. With the view of testing her wit and intelligence, as +well as her beauty, Ragnar sent a message bidding her appear before him +neither naked nor clad, neither alone nor unaccompanied, neither fasting +nor yet having partaken of any food. + +This singular message was punctually delivered, and Krake, who was as +clever as beautiful, soon presented herself, with a fish net wound several +times around her graceful form, her sheep dog beside her, and the odor of +the leek she had bitten into still hovering over her ruby lips. + +Ragnar, charmed by her ingenuity no less than by her extreme beauty, then +and there proposed to marry her. But Krake, who was not to be so lightly +won, declared that he must first prove the depth of his affection by +remaining constant to her for one whole year, at the end of which time she +would marry him if he still cared to claim her hand. + +[Sidenote: Marriage of Ragnar and Krake.] The year passed by; Ragnar +returned to renew his suit, and Krake, satisfied that she had inspired no +momentary passion, forsook the aged couple and accompanied the great viking +to Hledra, where she became queen of Denmark. She bore Ragnar four +sons--Ivar, Bjoern, Hvitserk, and Rogenwald,--who from earliest infancy +longed to emulate the prowess of their father, Ragnar, and of their +step-brothers, Erik and Agnar, who even in their youth were already great +vikings. + +The Danes, however, had never fully approved of Ragnar's last marriage, and +murmured frequently because they were obliged to obey a lowborn queen, and +one who bore the vulgar name of Krake. Little by little these murmurs grew +louder, and finally they came to Ragnar's ears while he was visiting +Eystein, King of Svithiod (Sweden). Craftily his courtiers went to work, +and finally prevailed upon him to sue for the princess's hand. He did so, +and left Sweden promising to divorce Krake when he reached home, and to +return as soon as possible to claim his bride. + +As Ragnar entered the palace at Hledra, Krake came, as usual, to meet him. +His conscience smote him, and he answered all her tender inquiries so +roughly that she suddenly turned and asked him why he had made arrangements +to divorce her and take a new wife. Surprised at her knowledge, for he +fancied the matter still a secret, Ragnar Lodbrok asked who had told her. +Thereupon Krake explained that, feeling anxious about him, she had sent her +pet magpies after him, and that the birds had come home and revealed all. + +[Sidenote: Aslaug.] This answer, which perhaps gave rise to the common +expression, "A little bird told me," greatly astonished Ragnar. He was +about to try to excuse himself when Krake, drawing herself up proudly, +declared that while she was perfectly ready to depart, it was but just that +he should now learn that her extraction was far less humble than he +thought. She then proceeded to tell him that her real name was Aslaug, and +that she was the daughter of Sigurd Fafnisbane (the slayer of Fafnir) and +the beautiful Valkyr Brunhild. Her grandfather, or her foster father, +Heimir, to protect her from the foes who would fain have taken her life, +had hidden her in his hollow harp when she was but a babe. He had tenderly +cared for her until he was treacherously murdered by peasants, who had +found her in the hollow harp instead of the treasure they sought there. + + "Let be--as ancient stories tell-- + Full knowledge upon Ragnar fell + In lapse of time, that this was she + Begot in the felicity + Swift-fleeting of the wondrous twain, + Who afterwards through change and pain + Must live apart to meet in death." + WILLIAM MORRIS, _The Fostering of Aslaug_. + +In proof of her assertion, Aslaug then produced a ring and a letter which +had belonged to her illustrious mother, and foretold that her next child, a +son, would bear the image of a dragon in his right eye, as a sign that he +was a grandson of the Dragon Slayer, whose memory was honored by all. + +Convinced of the truth of these statements, Ragnar no longer showed any +desire to repudiate his wife; but, on the contrary, he besought her to +remain with him, and bade his subjects call her Aslaug. + +[Sidenote: Sigurd the Snake-eyed.] Shortly after this reconciliation the +queen gave birth to a fifth son, who, as she had predicted, came into the +world with a peculiar birthmark, to which he owed his name--Sigurd the +Snake-eyed. As it was customary for kings to intrust their sons to some +noted warrior to foster, this child was given to the celebrated Norman +pirate, Hastings, who, as soon as his charge had attained a suitable age, +taught him the art of viking warfare, and took him, with his four elder +brothers, to raid the coasts of all the southern countries. + +Ivar, the eldest of Ragnar and Aslaug's sons, although crippled from birth, +and unable to walk a step, was always ready to join in the fray, into the +midst of which he was borne on a shield. From this point of vantage he shot +arrow after arrow, with fatal accuracy of aim. As he had employed much of +his leisure time in learning runes[1] and all kinds of magic arts, he was +often of great assistance to his brothers, who generally chose him leader +of their expeditions. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, +p. 39.] + +While Ragnar's five sons were engaged in fighting the English at Whitaby to +punish them for plundering and setting fire to some Danish ships, Rogenwald +fell to rise no more. + +[Sidenote: The enchanted cow.] Eystein, the Swedish king, now assembled a +large army and declared war against the Danes, because their monarch had +failed to return at the appointed time and claim the bride for whom he had +sued. Ragnar would fain have gone forth to meet the enemy in person, but +Agnar and Erik, his two eldest sons, craved permission to go in his stead. +They met the Swedish king, but in spite of their valor they soon succumbed +to an attack made by an enchanted cow. + + "'We smote with swords; at dawn of day + Hundred spearmen gasping lay, + Bent beneath the arrowy strife. + Egill reft my son of life; + Too soon my Agnar's youth was spent, + The scabbard thorn his bosom rent.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +Ragnar was about to sally forth to avenge them, when Hastings and the other +sons returned. Then Aslaug prevailed upon her husband to linger by her side +and delegate the duty of revenge to his sons. In this battle Ivar made use +of his magic to slay Eystein's cow, which could make more havoc than an +army of warriors. His brothers, having slain Eystein and raided the +country, then sailed off to renew their depredations elsewhere. + +This band of vikings visited the coasts of England, Ireland, France, Italy, +Greece, and the Greek isles, plundering, murdering, and burning wherever +they went. Assisted by Hastings, the brothers took Wiflisburg (probably the +Roman Aventicum), and even besieged Luna in Etruria. + +[Illustration: STRATEGY OF HASTINGS--Keller.] + +As this city was too strongly fortified and too well garrisoned to yield to +an assault, the Normans (as all the northern pirates were indiscriminately +called in the South) resolved to secure it by stratagem. They therefore +pretended that Hastings, their leader, was desperately ill, and induced a +bishop to come out of the town to baptize him, so that he might die in the +Christian faith. Three days later they again sent a herald to say that +Hastings had died, and that his last wish had been to be buried in a +Christian church. They therefore asked permission to enter the city +unarmed, and bear their leader to his last resting place, promising not +only to receive baptism, but also to endow with great wealth the church +where Hastings was buried. + +[Sidenote: Hastings's stratagem.] The inhabitants of Luna, won by these +specious promises, immediately opened their gates, and the funeral +procession filed solemnly into the city. But, in the midst of the mass, the +coffin lid flew open, and Hastings sprang out, sword in hand, and killed +the officiating bishop and priests. This example was followed by his +soldiers, who produced the weapons they had concealed upon their persons, +and slew all the inhabitants of the town. + +These lawless invaders were about to proceed to Romaburg (Rome), and sack +that city also, but were deterred by a pilgrim whom they met. He told them +that the city was so far away that he had worn out two pairs of iron-soled +shoes in coming from thence. The Normans, believing this tale, which was +only a stratagem devised by the quick-witted pilgrim, spared the Eternal +City, and, reembarking in their vessels, sailed home. + +Ragnar Lodbrok, in the mean while, had not been inactive, but had continued +his adventurous career, winning numerous battles, and bringing home much +plunder to enrich his kingdom and subjects. + + "'I have fought battles + Fifty and one + Which were famous; + I have wounded many men.'" + _Ragnar's Sons' Saga_. + +The hero's last expedition was against Ella, King of Northumberland. From +the very outset the gods seemed to have decided that Ragnar should not +prove as successful as usual. The poets tell us that they even sent the +Valkyrs (battle maidens of northern mythology) to warn him of his coming +defeat, and to tell him of the bliss awaiting him in Valhalla. + + "'Regner! tell thy fair-hair'd bride + She must slumber at thy side! + Tell the brother of thy breast + Even for him thy grave hath rest! + Tell the raven steed which bore thee + When the wild wolf fled before thee, + He too with his lord must fall,-- + There is room in Odin's Hall!'" + MRS. HEMANS, _Valkyriur Song_. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ragnar Lodbrok.] In spite of this warning, Ragnar went +on. Owing to the magic shirt he wore, he stood unharmed in the midst of the +slain long after all his brave followers had perished; and it was only +after a whole day's fighting that the enemy finally succeeded in making him +a prisoner. Then the followers of Ella vainly besought Ragnar to speak and +tell his name. As he remained obstinately silent they finally flung him +into a den of snakes, where the reptiles crawled all over him, vainly +trying to pierce the magic shirt with their venomous fangs. Ella perceived +at last that it was this garment which preserved his captive from death, +and had it forcibly removed. Ragnar was then thrust back amid the writhing, +hissing snakes, which bit him many times. Now that death was near, the +hero's tongue was loosened, not to give vent to weak complaints, but to +chant a triumphant death song, in which he recounted his manifold battles, +and foretold that his brave sons would avenge his cruel death. + + "'Grim stings the adder's forked dart; + The vipers nestle in my heart. + But soon, I wot, shall Vider's wand, + Fixed in Ella's bosom stand. + My youthful sons with rage will swell, + Listening how their father fell; + Those gallant boys in peace unbroken + Will never rest, till I be wroken [avenged].'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +This heroic strain has been immortalized by ancient scalds and modern +poets. They have all felt the same admiration for the dauntless old viking, +who, even amid the pangs of death, gloried in his past achievements, and +looked ardently forward to his sojourn in Valhalla. There, he fancied, he +would still be able to indulge in warfare, his favorite pastime, and would +lead the einheriar (spirits of dead warriors) to their daily battles. + + "'Cease, my strain! I hear a voice + From realms where martial souls rejoice; + I hear the maids of slaughter call, + Who bid me hence to Odin's hall: + High seated in their blest abodes + I soon shall quaff the drink of gods. + The hours of life have glided by; + I fall, but smiling shall I die.'" + _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Founding of London.] Ragnar Lodbrok's sons had reached home, and +were peacefully occupied in playing chess, when a messenger came to +announce their father's sad end. In their impatience to avenge him they +started out without waiting to collect a large force, and in spite of many +inauspicious omens. Ella, who expected them, met them with a great host, +composed not only of all his own subjects but also of many allies, among +whom was King Alfred. In spite of their valor the Normans were completely +defeated by the superior forces of the enemy, and only a few of them +survived. Ivar and his remaining followers consented to surrender at last, +provided that Ella would atone for their losses by giving them as much land +as an oxhide would inclose. This seemingly trifling request was granted +without demur, nor could the king retract his promise when he saw that the +oxhide, cut into tiny strips, inclosed a vast space of land, upon which the +Normans now proceeded to construct an almost impregnable fortress, called +Lunduna Burg (London). + +Here Ivar took up his permanent abode, while his brothers returned to +Hledra. Little by little he alienated the affections of Ella's subjects, +and won them over to him by rich gifts and artful flattery. When sure of +their allegiance, he incited them to revolt against the king; and as he had +solemnly sworn never to bear arms against Ella, he kept the letter of his +promise by sending for his brothers to act as their leaders. + +[Sidenote: Death of Ella.] As a result of this revolution Ella was made +prisoner. Then the fierce vikings stretched him out upon one of those rude +stone altars which can still be seen in England, and ruthlessly avenged +their father's cruel death by cutting the bloody eagle upon him.[1] After +Ella's death, Ivar became even more powerful than before, while his younger +brothers continued their viking expeditions, took an active part in all the +piratical incursions of the time, and even, we are told, besieged Paris in +the reign of Louis the Fat. [Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern +Lands, p. 85.] + +Other Danish and Scandinavian vikings were equally venturesome and +successful, and many eventually settled in the lands which they had +conquered. Among these was the famous Rollo (Rolf Ganger), who, too +gigantic in stature to ride horseback, always went on foot. He settled with +his followers in a fertile province in northern France, which owes to them +its name of Normandy. + +The rude independence of the Northmen is well illustrated by their behavior +when called to court to do homage for this new fief. Rollo was directed to +place both his hands between those of the king, and take his vow of +allegiance; so he submitted with indifferent grace. But when he was told +that he must conclude the ceremony by kissing the monarch's foot, he +obstinately refused to do so. A proxy was finally suggested, and Rollo, +calling one of his Berserkers, bade him take his place. The stalwart giant +strode forward, but instead of kneeling, he grasped the king's foot and +raised it to his lips. As the king did not expect such a jerk, he lost his +balance and fell heavily backward. All the Frenchmen present were, of +course, scandalized; but the barbarian refused to make any apology, and +strode haughtily out of the place, vowing he would never come to court +again. + +All the northern pirates were, as we have seen, called Normans. They did +not all settle in the North, however, for many of them found their way into +Italy, and even to Constantinople. There they formed the celebrated +Varangian Guard, and faithfully watched over the safety of the emperor. It +was probably one of these soldiers who traced the runes upon the stone lion +which was subsequently transferred to Venice, where it now adorns the +Piazza of St. Mark's. + + "Rose the Norseman chief Hardrada, like a lion from his lair; + His the fearless soul to conquer, his the willing soul to dare. + Gathered Skald and wild Varingar, where the raven banner shone, + And the dread steeds of the ocean, left the Northland's frozen zone." + VAIL, _Marri's Vision_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + + +THE CID. + + +[Sidenote: Ballads of the Cid.] The ballads of the Cid, which number about +two hundred, and some of which are of undoubted antiquity, were not +committed to writing until the twelfth century, when a poem of about three +thousand lines was composed. This poem, descriptive of a national hero's +exploits, was probably written about half a century after his death. The +earliest manuscript of it now extant bears the date either 1245 or 1345. +The Cid was a real personage, named Rodrigo Diaz, or Ruy Diaz. He was born +in Burgos, in the eleventh century, and won the name of "Cid" (Conqueror) +by defeating five Moorish kings, when Spain had been in the hands of the +Arabs for more than three centuries. + + "Mighty victor, never vanquish'd, + Bulwark of our native land, + Shield of Spain, her boast and glory, + Knight of the far-dreaded brand, + Venging scourge of Moors and traitors, + Mighty thunderbolt of war, + Mirror bright of chivalry, + Ruy, my Cid Campeador!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Rodrigo was still a young and untried warrior when his aged father, Diego +Laynez, was grossly and publicly insulted by Don Gomez, who gave him a blow +in the face. Diego was far too feeble to seek the usual redress, arms in +hand; but the insult rankled deep in his heart, preventing him from either +sleeping or eating, and imbittering every moment of his life. + + "Sleep was banish'd from his eyelids; + Not a mouthful could he taste; + There he sat with downcast visage,-- + Direly had he been disgrac'd. + + "Never stirr'd he from his chamber; + With no friends would he converse, + Lest the breath of his dishonor + Should pollute them with its curse." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Don Gomez slain by Rodrigo.] At last, however, Diego confessed +his shame to his son Rodrigo, who impetuously vowed to avenge him. Armed +with his father's cross-hilted sword, and encouraged by his solemn +blessing, Rodrigo marched into the hall of Don Gomez, and challenged him to +fight. In spite of his youth, Rodrigo conducted himself so bravely in this +his first encounter that he slew his opponent, and by shedding his blood +washed out the stain upon his father's honor, according to the chivalric +creed of the time. Then, to convince Diego that he had been duly avenged, +the young hero cut off the head of Don Gomez, and triumphantly laid it +before him. + + "'Ne'er again thy foe can harm thee; + All his pride is now laid low; + Vain his hand is now to smite thee, + And this tongue is silent now.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Defeat of the Moors.] Happy once more, old Diego again left +home, and went to King Ferdinand's court, where he bade Rodrigo do homage +to the king. The proud youth obeyed this command with indifferent grace, +and his bearing was so defiant that the frightened monarch banished him +from his presence. Rodrigo therefore departed with three hundred kindred +spirits. He soon encountered the Moors, who were invading Castile, defeated +them in battle, took five of their kings prisoners, and released them only +after they had promised to pay tribute and to refrain from further warfare. +They were so grateful for their liberty that they pledged themselves to do +his will, and departed, calling him "Cid," the name by which he was +thenceforth known. + +As Rodrigo had delivered the land from a great danger, King Ferdinand now +restored him to favor and gave him an honorable place among his courtiers, +who, however, were all somewhat inclined to be jealous of the fame the +young man had won. Shortly after his triumphant return, Dona Ximena, +daughter of Don Gomez, also appeared in Burgos, and, falling at the king's +feet, demanded justice. Then, seeing the Cid among the courtiers, she +vehemently denounced him for having slain her father, and bade him take her +life also, as she had no wish to survive a parent whom she adored. + + "'Thou hast slain the best and bravest + That e'er set a lance in rest; + Of our holy faith the bulwark,-- + Terror of each Paynim breast. + + "'Traitorous murderer, slay me also! + Though a woman, slaughter me! + Spare not--I'm Ximena Gomez, + Thine eternal enemy! + + "'Here's my throat--smite, I beseech thee! + Smite, and fatal be thy blow! + Death is all I ask, thou caitiff,-- + Grant this boon unto thy foe.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +As this denunciation and appeal remained without effect (for the king had +been too well served by the Cid to listen to any accusation against him), +the distressed damsel departed, only to return to court three times upon +the same fruitless errand. During this time the valor and services of the +Cid had been so frequently discussed in her presence that on her fifth +visit to Ferdinand she consented to forego all further thoughts of +vengeance, if the king would but order the young hero to marry her instead. + + "'I am daughter of Don Gomez, + Count of Gormaz was he hight, + Him Rodrigo by his valor + Did o'erthrow in mortal fight. + + "'King, I come to crave a favor-- + This the boon for which I pray, + That thou give me this Rodrigo + For my wedded lord this day.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Marriage of the Cid.] The king, who had suspected for some time +past that the Cid had fallen in love with his fair foe, immediately sent +for him. Rodrigo entered the city with his suite of three hundred men, +proposed marriage to Ximena, and was accepted on the spot. His men then +proceeded to array him richly for his wedding, and bound on him his famous +sword Tizona, which he had won from the Moors. The marriage was celebrated +with much pomp and rejoicing, the king giving Rodrigo the cities of +Valduerna, Soldania, Belforado, and San Pedro de Cardena as a marriage +portion. When the marriage ceremony was finished, Rodrigo, wishing to show +his wife all honor, declared that he would not rest until he had won five +battles, and would only then really consider himself entitled, to claim her +love. + + "'A man I slew--a man I give thee-- + Here I stand thy will to bide! + Thou, in place of a dead father, + Hast a husband at thy side.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's piety.] Before beginning this war, however, the Cid +remembered a vow he had made; and, accompanied by twenty brave young +hidalgos, he set out for a pious pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the +shrine of the patron saint of Spain. On his way thither he frequently +distributed alms, paused to recite a prayer at every church and wayside +shrine, and, meeting a leper, ate, drank, and even slept with him in a +village inn. When Rodrigo awoke in the middle of the night, he found his +bedfellow gone, but was favored by a vision of St. Lazarus, who praised his +charity, and promised him great temporal prosperity and eternal life. + + "'Life shall bring thee no dishonor-- + Thou shalt ever conqueror be; + Death shall find thee still victorious, + For God's blessing rests on thee.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +When his pilgrimage was ended, Rodrigo further showed his piety by setting +aside a large sum of money for the establishment of a leper house, which, +in honor of the saint who visited him, was called "St. Lazarus." He then +hastened off to Calahorra, a frontier town of Castile and Aragon, which was +a bone of contention between two monarchs. + +Just before the Cid's arrival, Don Ramiro of Aragon had arranged with +Ferdinand of Castile that their quarrel should be decided by a duel between +two knights. Don Ramiro therefore selected as his champion Martin Gonzalez, +while Ferdinand intrusted his cause to the Cid. The duel took place; and +when the two champions found themselves face to face, Martin Gonzalez began +to taunt Rodrigo, telling him that he would never again be able to mount +his favorite steed Babieca, or see his wife, as he was doomed to die. + + "'Sore, Rodrigo, must thou tremble + Now to meet me in the fight, + Since thy head will soon be sever'd + For a trophy of my might. + + "'Never more to thine own castle + Wilt thou turn Babieca's rein; + Never will thy lov'd Ximena + See thee at her side again.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This boasting did not in the least dismay the Cid, who fought so bravely +that he defeated Martin Gonzalez, and won such plaudits that the jealousy +of the Castilian knights was further excited. In their envy they even +plotted with the Moors to slay Rodrigo by treachery. This plan did not +succeed, however, because the Moorish kings whom he had captured and +released gave him a timely warning of the threatening danger. + +The king, angry at this treachery, banished the jealous courtiers, and, +aided by Rodrigo, defeated the hostile Moors in Estremadura. There the +Christian army besieged Coimbra in vain for seven whole months, and were +about to give up in despair of securing the city, when St. James appeared +to a pilgrim, promising his help on the morrow. + +[Sidenote: Battle cry of the Spaniards.] When the battle began, the +Christian knights were fired by the example of a radiant warrior, mounted +on a snow-white steed, who led them into the thickest of the fray and +helped them win a signal victory. This knight, whom no one recognized as +one of their own warriors, was immediately hailed as St. James, and it was +his name which the Spaniards then and there adopted as their favorite +battle cry. + +The city of Coimbra having been taken, Don Rodrigo was duly knighted by the +king; while the queen and princesses vied with one another in helping him +don the different pieces of his armor, for they too were anxious to show +how highly they valued his services. + +After a few more victories over his country's enemies, the triumphant Cid +returned to Zamora, where Ximena, his wife, was waiting for him, and where +the five Moorish kings sent not only the promised tribute, but rich gifts +to their generous conqueror. Although the Cid rejoiced in these tokens, he +gave all the tribute and the main part of the spoil to Ferdinand, his liege +lord, for he considered the glory of success a sufficient reward for +himself. + +While the Cid was thus resting upon his laurels, a great council had been +held at Florence, where the Emperor (Henry III.) of Germany complained to +the Pope that King Ferdinand had not done him homage for his crown, and +that he refused to acknowledge his superiority. The Pope immediately sent a +message to King Ferdinand asking for homage and tribute, and threatening a +crusade in case of disobedience. This unwelcome message greatly displeased +the Spanish ruler, and roused the indignation of the Cid, who declared that +his king was the vassal of no monarch, and offered to fight any one who +dared maintain a contrary opinion. + + "'Never yet have we done homage-- + Shall we to a stranger bow? + Great the honor God hath given us-- + Shall we lose that honor now? + + "'Send then to the Holy Father, + Proudly thus to him reply-- + Thou, the king, and I, Rodrigo, + Him and all his power defy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This challenge was sent to the Pope, who, not averse to having the question +settled by the judgment of God, bade the emperor send a champion to meet +Rodrigo. This imperial champion was of course defeated, and all King +Ferdinand's enemies were so grievously routed by the ever-victorious Cid +that no further demands of homage or tribute were ever made. + +Old age had now come on, and King Ferdinand, after receiving divine warning +of his speedy demise, died. He left Castile to his eldest son, Don Sancho, +Leon to Don Alfonso, Galicia to Don Garcia, and gave his daughters, Dona +Urraca and Dona Elvira, the wealthy cities of Zamora and Toro. Of course +this disposal of property did not prove satisfactory to all his heirs, and +Don Sancho was especially displeased, because he coveted the whole realm. +He, however, had the Cid to serve him, and selected this doughty champion +to accompany him on a visit to Rome, knowing that he would brook no insult +to his lord. These previsions were fully justified, for the Cid, on +noticing that a less exalted seat had been prepared for Don Sancho than for +the King of France, became so violent that the Pope excommunicated him. But +when the seats had been made of even height, the Cid, who was a good +Catholic, humbled himself before the Pope, and the latter, knowing the +hero's value as a bulwark against the heathen Moors, immediately granted +him full absolution. + + "'I absolve thee, Don Ruy Diaz, + I absolve thee cheerfully, + If, while at my court, thou showest + Due respect and courtesy.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid Campeador.] On his return to Castile, Don Sancho found +himself threatened by his namesake, the King of Navarre, and by Don Ramiro +of Aragon. They both invaded Castile, but were ignominously repulsed by the +Cid. As some of the Moors had helped the invaders, the Cid next proceeded +to punish them, and gave up the siege of Saragossa only when the +inhabitants made terms with him. This campaign won for the Cid the title of +"Campeador" (Champion), which he well deserved, as he was always ready to +do battle for his king. + +While Don Sancho and his invaluable ally were thus engaged, Don Garcia, +King of Galicia, who was also anxious to increase his kingdom, deprived his +sister Dona Urraca of her city of Zamora. In her distress the infanta came +to Don Sancho and made her lament, thereby affording him the long-sought +pretext to wage war against his brother, and rob him of his kingdom. + +This war, in which the Cid reluctantly joined, threatened at one time to +have serious consequences for Sancho. He even once found himself a prisoner +of Garcia's army, shortly after Garcia had been captured by his. The Cid, +occupied in another part of the field, no sooner heard of this occurrence +than he hastened to the Galician nobles to offer an exchange of prisoners; +but, as they rejected his offer with contempt, he soon left them in anger. + + "'Hie thee hence, Rodrigo Diaz, + An thou love thy liberty; + Lest, with this thy king, we take thee + Into dire captivity.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The wrath which the Cid Campeador experienced at this discourteous +treatment so increased his usual strength that he soon put the enemy to +flight, recovered possession of his king, and not only made Don Garcia a +prisoner, but also secured Don Alfonso who had joined in the revolt. Don +Garcia was sent in chains to the castle of Luna, where he eventually died, +entreating that he might be buried, with his fetters, in the city of Leon. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso at Toledo.] As for Don Alfonso, Dona Urraca pleaded his +cause so successfully that he was allowed to retire into a monastery, +whence he soon effected his escape and joined the Moors at Toledo. There he +became the companion and ally of Alimaymon, learned all his secrets, and +once, during a pretended nap, overheard the Moor state that even Toledo +could be taken by the Christians, provided they had the patience to begin a +seven-years' siege, and to destroy all the harvests so as to reduce the +people to starvation. The information thus accidentally obtained proved +invaluable to Alfonso, as will be seen, and enabled him subsequently to +drive the Moors out of the city Toledo. + +In the mean while Sancho, not satisfied with his triple kingdom, robbed +Dona Elvira of Toro, and began to besiege Dona Urraca in Zamora, which he +hoped to take also in spite of it almost impregnable position. + + "'See! where on yon cliff Zamora + Lifteth up her haughty brow; + Walls of strength on high begird her, + Duero swift and deep below.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, utterly regardless of the Cid's openly expressed opinion that it +was unworthy of a knight to attempt to deprive a woman of her inheritance, +now bade him carry a message to Dona Urraca, summoning her to surrender at +once. The hero went reluctantly, but only to be bitterly reproached by +Urraca. She dismissed him after consulting her assembled people, who vowed +to die ere they would surrender. + + "Then did swear all her brave vassals + In Zamora's walls to die, + Ere unto the king they'd yield it, + And disgrace their chivalry." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Siege of Zamora.] This message so enraged Don Sancho that he +banished the Cid. The latter departed for Toledo, whence he was soon +recalled, however, for his monarch could do nothing without him. Thus +restored to favor, the Cid began the siege of Zamora, which lasted so long +that the inhabitants began to suffer all the pangs of famine. + +At last a Zamoran by the name of Vellido (Bellido) Dolfos came out of the +town in secret, and, under pretense of betraying the city into Don Sancho's +hands, obtained a private interview with him. Dolfos availed himself of +this opportunity to murder the king, and rushed back to the city before the +crime was discovered. He entered the gates just in time to escape from the +Cid, who had mounted hastily, without spurs, and thus could not urge +Babieca on to his utmost speed and overtake the murderer. + + "'Cursed be the wretch! and cursed + He who mounteth without spur! + Had I arm'd my heels with rowels, + I had slain the treacherous cur.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The grief in the camp at the violent death of the king was very great. Don +Diego Ordonez immediately sent a challenge to Don Arias Gonzalo, who, while +accepting the combat for his son, swore that none of the Zamorans knew of +the dastardly deed, which Dolfos alone had planned. + + "'Fire consume us, Count Gonzalo, + If in this we guilty be! + None of us within Zamora + Of this deed had privity. + + "'Dolfos only is the traitor; + None but he the king did slay. + Thou canst safely go to battle, + God will be thy shield and stay.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +This oath was confirmed by the outcome of the duel, and none of the +besiegers ever again ventured to doubt the honor of the Zamorans. + +[Sidenote: Alfonso king.] As Don Sancho had left no children to inherit his +kingdom, it came by right of inheritance to Don Alfonso, who was still at +Toledo, a nominal guest, but in reality a prisoner. Dona Urraca, who was +deeply attached to her brother, now managed to convey to him secret +information of Don Sancho's death, and Don Alfonso cleverly effected his +escape, turning his pursuers off his track by reversing his horse's shoes. +When he arrived at Zamora, all were ready to do him homage except the Cid, +who proudly held aloof until Don Alfonso had publicly sworn that he had not +bribed Dolfos to commit the dastardly crime which had called him to the +throne. + + "'Wherefore, if thou be but guiltless, + Straight I pray of thee to swear,-- + Thou and twelve of these thy liegemen, + Who with thee in exile were,-- + That in thy late brother's death + Thou hadst neither part nor share + That none of ye to his murder + Privy or consenting were.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, angry at being thus called upon to answer for his conduct to a +mere subject, viewed the Cid with great dislike, and only awaited a +suitable occasion to take his revenge. During a war with the Moors he made +use of a trifling pretext to banish him, allowing him only nine days to +prepare for departure. The Cid accepted this cruel decree with dignity, +hoping that the time would never come when the king would regret his +absence, and his country need his right arm. + + "'I obey, O King Alfonso, + Guilty though in naught I be, + For it doth behoove a vassal + To obey his lord's decree; + Prompter far am I to serve thee + Than thou art to guerdon me. + + "'I do pray our Holy Lady + Her protection to afford, + That thou never mayst in battle + Need the Cid's right arm and sword.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Amid the weeping people of Burgos, who dared not offer him help and shelter +lest they should incur the king's wrath, lose all their property, and even +forfeit their eyesight, the Cid slowly rode away, and camped without the +city to make his final arrangements. Here a devoted follower supplied him +with the necessary food, remarking that he cared "not a fig" for Alfonso's +prohibitions, which is probably the first written record of the use of this +now popular expression. + +[Sidenote: The Cid in exile.] To obtain the necessary money the Cid pledged +two locked coffers full of sand to the Jews. They, thinking that the boxes +contained vast treasures, or relying upon the Cid's promise to release them +for a stipulated sum, advanced him six hundred marks of gold. The Cid then +took leave of his beloved wife Ximena, and of his two infant daughters, +whom he intrusted to the care of a worthy ecclesiastic, and, followed by +three hundred men, he rode slowly away from his native land, vowing that he +would yet return, covered with glory, and bringing great spoil. + + "'Comrades, should it please high Heaven + That we see Castile once more,-- + Though we now go forth as outcasts, + Sad, dishonor'd, homeless, poor,-- + We'll return with glory laden + And the spellings of the Moor.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Such success attended the little band of exiles that within the next three +weeks they won two strongholds from the Moors, and much spoil, among which +was the sword Colada, which was second only to Tizona. From the spoil the +Cid selected a truly regal present, which he sent to Alfonso, who in return +granted a general pardon to the Cid's followers, and published an edict +allowing all who wished to fight against the Moors to join him. A few more +victories and another present so entirely dispelled Alfonso's displeasure +that he restored the Cid to favor, and, moreover, promised that thereafter +thirty days should be allowed to every exile to prepare for his departure. + +When Alimaymon, King of Toledo, died, leaving Toledo in the hands of his +grandson Yahia, who was generally disliked, Alfonso thought the time +propitious for carrying out his long-cherished scheme of taking the city. +Thanks to the valor of the Cid and the destruction of all the crops, the +siege of the city progressed favorably, and it finally fell into the hands +of the Christian king. + +A second misunderstanding, occasioned principally by the jealous courtiers, +caused Alfonso to insult the Cid, who in anger left the army and made a +sudden raid in Castile. During his absence, the Moors resumed courage, and +became masters of Valencia. Hearing of this disaster, the Cid promptly +returned, recaptured the city, and, establishing his headquarters there, +asked Alfonso to send him his wife and daughters. At the same time he sent +more than the promised sum of money to the Jews to redeem the chests which, +as they now first learned, were filled with nothing but sand. + + "'Say, albeit within the coffers + Naught but sand they can espy, + That the pure gold of my truth + Deep beneath that sand doth lie."' + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Counts of Carrion.] As the Cid was now master of Valencia +and of untold wealth, his daughters were soon sought in marriage by many +suitors. Among them were the Counts of Carrion, whose proposals were warmly +encouraged by Alfonso. To please his royal master, the Cid consented to an +alliance with them, and the marriage of both his daughters was celebrated +with much pomp. In the "Chronicle of the Cid," compiled from all the +ancient ballads, these festivities are recorded thus: "Who can tell the +great nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding! the feasts and the +bullfights, and the throwing at the target, and the throwing canes, and how +many joculars were there, and all the sports which are proper at such +weddings!" + +Pleased with their sumptuous entertainment, the Infantes of Carrion +lingered at Valencia two years, during which time the Cid had ample +opportunity to convince himself that they were not the brave and upright +husbands he would fain have secured for his daughters. In fact, all soon +became aware of the young men's cowardice, for when a lion broke loose from +the Cid's private menagerie and entered the hall where he was sleeping, +while his guests were playing chess, the princes fled, one falling into an +empty vat in his haste, and the other taking refuge behind the Cid's couch. +Awakened by the noise, the Cid seized his sword, twisted his cloak around +his arm, and, grasping the lion by its mane, thrust it back into its cage, +and calmly returned to his place. + + "Till the good Cid awoke; he rose without alarm; + He went to meet the lion, with his mantle on his arm. + The lion was abash'd the noble Cid to meet, + He bow'd his mane to earth, his muzzle at his feet. + The Cid by the neck and mane drew him to his den, + He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again; + He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men. + He ask'd for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there." + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +This cowardly conduct of the Infantes of Carrion could not fail to call +forth some gibes from the Cid's followers. The young men, however, +concealed their anger, biding their time to take their revenge. During the +siege of Valencia, which took place shortly after this adventure, the +Infantes did not manage to show much courage either; and it was only +through the kindness of Felez Munoz, a nephew of the Cid, that one of them +could exhibit a war horse which he falsely claimed to have taken from the +enemy. + +Thanks to the valor of the Cid, the Moors were driven away from Valencia +with great loss, and peace was restored. The Infantes of Carrion then asked +permission to return home with their brides, and the spoil and presents the +Cid had given them, among which were the swords Colada and Tizona. The Cid +escorted them part way on their journey, bade farewell to his daughters +with much sorrow, and returned alone to Valencia, which appeared deserted +without the presence of the children he loved. + + "The Cid he parted from his daughters, + Naught could he his grief disguise; + As he clasped them to his bosom, + Tears did stream from out his eyes." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: Cruelty of Infantes of Carrion.] After journeying on for some +time with their brides and Felez Munoz, who was acting as escort, the +Infantes of Carrion camped near the Douro. Early the next day they sent all +their suite ahead, and, being left alone with their wives, stripped them of +their garments, lashed them with thorns, kicked them with their spurs, and +finally left them for dead on the blood-stained ground, and rode on to join +their escort. Suspecting foul play, and fearing the worst, Felez Munoz +cleverly managed to separate himself from the party, and, riding swiftly +back to the banks of the Douro, found his unhappy cousins in a sorry +plight. He tenderly cared for their wounds, placed them upon his horse, and +took them to the house of a poor man, whose wife and daughters undertook to +nurse them, while Felez Munoz hastened back to Valencia to tell the Cid +what had occurred. The Cid Campeador then swore that he would be avenged; +and as Alfonso was responsible for the marriage, he applied to him for +redress. + + "'Lo! my daughters have been outrag'd! + For thine own, thy kingdom's sake, + Look, Alfonso, to mine honor! + Vengeance thou or I must take.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The king, who had by this time learned to value the Cid's services, was +very angry when he heard how the Infantes of Carrion had insulted their +wives, and immediately summoned them to appear before the Cortes, the +Spanish assembly, at Toledo, and justify themselves, if it were possible. +The Cid was also summoned to the same assembly, where he began by claiming +the two precious blades Tizona and Colada, and the large dowry he had given +with his daughters. Then he challenged the young cowards to fight. When +questioned, they tried to excuse themselves by declaring that the Cid's +daughters, being of inferior birth, were not fit to mate with them. + +[Sidenote: Embassy from Navarre.] The falseness of this excuse was shown, +however, by an embassy from Navarre, asking the hands of the Cid's +daughters for the Infantes of that kingdom, who were far superior in rank +to the Infantes of Carrion. The Cid consented to this new alliance, and +after a combat had been appointed between three champions of his selection +and the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle, he prepared to return home. + +As proof of his loyalty, however, he offered to give to Alfonso his +favorite steed Babieca, an offer which the king wisely refused, telling him +that the best of warriors alone deserved that peerless war horse. + + "''Tis the noble Babieca that is fam'd for speed and force, + Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one, + My Sovereign, Lord, and Sire, he is fit for you alone; + Give orders to your people, and take him for your own.' + The King replied, 'It cannot be; Cid, you shall keep your horse; + He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse; + Our kingdom has been honor'd by you and by your steed-- + The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed. + A courser such as he is fit for such a knight, + To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight.'" + _Chronicles of the Cid_ (Southey's tr.). + +Shortly after, in the presence of the king, the Cid, and the assembled +Cortes, the appointed battle took place. The Infantes of Carrion and their +uncle were defeated and banished, and the Cid returned in triumph to +Valencia. Here his daughters' second marriage took place, and here he +received an embassy bringing him rich gifts from the Sultan of Persia, who +had heard of his fame. + +Five years later the Moors returned, under the leadership of Bucar, King of +Morocco, to besiege Valencia. The Cid was about to prepare to do battle +against this overwhelming force when he was favored by a vision of St. +Peter. The saint predicted his death within thirty days, but assured him +that, even though he were dead, he would still triumph over the enemy whom +he had fought against for so many years. + + "'Dear art thou to God, Rodrigo, + And this grace he granteth thee: + When thy soul hath fled, thy body + Still shall cause the Moors to flee; + And, by aid of Santiago, + Gain a glorious victory.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The pious and simple-hearted warrior immediately began to prepare for the +other world. He appointed a successor, gave instructions that none should +bewail his death lest the news should encourage the Moors, and directed +that his embalmed body should be set upon Babieca, and that, with Tizona in +his hand, he should be led against the enemy on a certain day, when he +promised a signal victory. + +[Illustration: THE CID'S LAST VICTORY.--Rochegrosse.] + + "'Saddle next my Babieca, + Arm him well as for the fight; + On his back then tie my body, + In my well-known armor dight. + + "'In my right hand place Tizona; + Lead me forth unto the war; + Bear my standard fast behind me, + As it was my wont of yore.'" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +[Sidenote: The Cid's last battle.] When these instructions had all been +given, the hero died at the appointed time, and his successor and the brave +Ximena strove to carry out his every wish. A sortie was planned, and the +Cid, fastened upon his war horse, rode in the van. Such was the terror +which his mere presence inspired that the Moors fled before him. Most of +them were slain, and Bucar beat a hasty retreat, thinking that seventy +thousand Christians were about to fall upon him, led by the patron saint of +Spain. + + "Seventy thousand Christian warriors, + All in snowy garments dight, + Led by one of giant stature, + Mounted on a charger white; + + "On his breast a cross of crimson, + In his hand a sword of fire, + With it hew'd he down the Paynims, + As they fled, with slaughter dire." + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +The Christians, having routed the enemy, yet knowing, as the Cid had told +them, that they would never be able to hold Valencia when he was gone, now +marched on into Castile, the dead hero still riding Babieca in their midst. +Then Ximena sent word to her daughters of their father's demise, and they +came to meet him, but could scarcely believe that he was dead when they saw +him so unchanged. + +By Alfonso's order the Cid's body was placed in the Church of San Pedro de +Cardena, where for ten years it remained seated in a chair of state, and in +plain view of all. Such was the respect which the dead hero inspired that +none dared lay a finger upon him, except a sacrilegious Jew, who, +remembering the Cid's proud boast that no man had ever dared lay a hand +upon his beard, once attempted to do so. Before he could touch it, however, +the hero's lifeless hand clasped the sword hilt and drew Tizona a few +inches out of its scabbard. + + "Ere the beard his fingers touched, + Lo! the silent man of death + Grasp'd the hilt, and drew Tizona + Full a span from out the sheath!" + _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.). + +Of course, in the face of such a miracle, the Jew desisted, and the Cid +Campeador was reverently laid in the grave only when his body began to show +signs of decay. His steed Babieca continued to be held in great honor, but +no one was ever again allowed to bestride him. + +[Sidenote: Evacuation of Valencia.] As for the Moors, they rallied around +Valencia. After hovering near for several days, wondering at the strange +silence, they entered the open gates of the city, which they had not dared +to cross for fear of an ambuscade, and penetrated into the court of the +palace. Here they found a notice, left by the order of the Cid, announcing +his death and the complete evacuation of the city by the Christian army. +The Cid's sword Tizona became an heirloom in the family of the Marquis of +Falies, and is said to bear the following inscriptions, one on either side +of the blade: "I am Tizona, made in era 1040," and "Hail Maria, full of +grace." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +GENERAL SURVEY OF ROMANCE LITERATURE. + + +[Sidenote: Cycles of romance.] In the preceding chapters we have given an +outline of the principal epics which formed the staple of romance +literature in the middle ages. As has been seen, this style of composition +was used to extol the merits and describe the great deeds of certain famous +heroes, and by being gradually extended it was made to include the prowess +of the friends and contemporaries of these more or less fabulous +personages. All these writings, clustering thus about some great character, +eventually formed the so-called "cycles of romance." + +There were current in those days not only classical romances, but stories +of love, adventure, and chivalry, all bearing a marked resemblance to one +another, and prevailing in all the European states during the four +centuries when knighthood flourished everywhere. Some of these tales, such +as those of the Holy Grail, were intended, besides, to glorify the most +celebrated orders of knighthood,--the Templars and Knights of St. John. + +Other styles of imaginative writing were known at the same time also, yet +the main feature of the literature of the age is first the metrical, and +later the prose, romance, the direct outcome of the great national epics. + +We have outlined very briefly, as a work of this character requires, the +principal features of the Arthurian, Carolingian, and Teutonic cycles. We +have also touched somewhat upon the Anglo-Danish and Scandinavian +contributions to our literature. + +Of the extensive Spanish cycle we have given only a short sketch of the +romance, or rather the chronicle, of the Cid, leaving out entirely the vast +and deservedly popular cycles of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins. This +omission has been intentional, however, because these romances have left +but few traces in our literature. As they are seldom even alluded to, they +are not of so great importance to the English student of letters as the +Franco-German, Celto-Briton, and Scandinavian tales. + +The stories of Amadis of Gaul and of the Palmerins are, moreover, very +evident imitations of the principal romances of chivalry which we have +already considered. They are formed of an intricate series of adventures +and enchantments, are, if anything, more extravagant than the other +mediaeval romances, and are further distinguished by a tinge of Oriental +mysticism and imagery, the result of the Crusades. + +The Italian cycle, which we have not treated separately because it relates +principally to Charlemagne and Roland, is particularly noted for its +felicity of expression and richness of description. Like the Spanish +writers, the Italians love to revel in magic, as is best seen in the +greatest gems of that age, the poems of "Orlando Innamorato" and "Orlando +Furioso," by Boiardo and Ariosto. + +Mediaeval literature includes also a very large and so-called "unaffiliated +cycle" of romances. This is composed of many stories, the precursors of the +novel and "short story" of the present age. We are indebted to this cycle +for several well-known works of fiction, such as the tale of patient +Griseldis, the gentle and meek-spirited heroine who has become the +personification of long-suffering and charity. After the mediaeval writers +had made much use of this tale, it was taken up in turn by Boccaccio and +Chaucer, who have made it immortal. + +The Norman tale of King Robert of Sicily, so beautifully rendered in verse +by Longfellow in his "Tales of a Wayside Inn," also belongs to this cycle, +and some authorities claim that it includes the famous animal epic "Reynard +the Fox," of which we have given an outline. The story of Reynard the Fox +is one of the most important mediaeval contributions to the literature of +the world, and is the source from which many subsequent writers have drawn +the themes for their fables. + +[Sidenote: Classical cycle.] A very large class of romances, common to all +European nations during the middle ages, has also been purposely omitted +from the foregoing pages. This is the so-called "classical cycle," or the +romances based on the Greek and Latin epics, which were very popular during +the age of chivalry. They occupy so prominent a place in mediaeval +literature, however, that we must bespeak a few moments' attention to their +subjects. + +In these classical romances the heroes of antiquity have lost many of their +native characteristics, and are generally represented as knight-errants, +and made to talk and act as such knights would. Christianity and mythology +are jumbled up together in a most peculiar way, and history, chronology, +and geography are set at defiance and treated with the same scorn of +probabilities. + +The classical romances forming this great general cycle are subdivided into +several classes or cycles. The interest of the first is mainly centered +upon the heroes of Homer and Hesiod. The best-known and most popular of +these mediaeval works was the "Roman de Troie," relating the siege and +downfall of Troy. + +Based upon post-classical Greek and Latin writings rather than upon the +great Homeric epic itself, the story, which had already undergone many +changes to suit the ever-varying public taste, was further transformed by +the Anglo-Norman trouvere, Benoit de Sainte-More, about 1184. He composed a +poem of thirty thousand lines, in which he related not only the siege and +downfall of Troy, but also the Argonautic expedition, the wanderings of +Ulysses, the story of Aeneas, and many other mythological tales. + +This poet, following the custom of the age, naively reproduced the manners, +customs, and, in general, the beliefs of the twelfth century. There is +plenty of local color in his work, only the color belongs to his own +locality, and not to that of the heroes whose adventures he purports to +relate. In his work the old classical heroes are transformed into typical +mediaeval knights, and heroines such as Helen and Medea, for instance, are +portrayed as damsels in distress. + +This prevalent custom of viewing the ancients solely from the mediaeval +point of view gave rise not only to grotesque pen pictures, but also to a +number of paintings, such as Gozzoli's kidnapping of Helen. In this +composition, Paris, in trunk hose, is carrying off the fair Helen +pickaback, notwithstanding the evident clamor raised by the assembled court +ladies, who are attired in very full skirts and mediaeval headdresses. + +On account of these peculiarities, and because the customs, dress, +festivities, weapons, manners, landscapes, etc., of the middle ages are so +minutely described, these romances have, with much justice, been considered +as really original works. + +[Sidenote: The Roman de Troie.] The "Roman de Troie" was quite as popular +in mediaeval Europe as the "Iliad" had been in Hellenic countries during +the palmy days of Greece, and was translated into every dialect. There are +still extant many versions of the romance in every European tongue, for it +penetrated even into the frozen regions of Scandinavia and Iceland. It was +therefore recited in every castle and town by the wandering minstrels, +trouveres, troubadours, minnesingers, and scalds, who thus individually and +collectively continued the work begun so many years before by the Greek +rhapsodists. Thus for more than two thousand years the story which still +delights us has been familiar among high and low, and has served to beguile +the hours for old and young. + +This cycle further includes a revised and much-transformed edition of the +adventures of Aeneas and of the early history of Rome. But although all +these tales were first embodied in metrical romances, these soon gave way +to prose versions of equally interminable length, which each relator varied +and embellished according to his taste and skill. + +The extreme popularity of Benoit de Sainte-More's work induced many +imitations, and the numerous _chansons de gestes_, constructed on the same +general plan, soon became current everywhere. Sundry episodes of these +tales, having been particularly liked, were worked over, added to, and +elaborated, until they assumed the proportions of romances in themselves. +Such was, for example, the case with the story of Troilus and Cressida, +which was treated by countless mediaeval poets, and finally given the form +in which we know it best, first by Chaucer in his "Canterbury Tales," and +lastly by Shakespeare in his well-known play. + +[Sidenote: Alexandre le Grant.] Another great romance of the classical +cycle is the one known as "Alexandre le Grant." First written in verse by +Lambert le Cort, in a meter which is now exclusively known as Alexandrine, +because it was first used to set forth the charms and describe the deeds of +this hero, it was recast by many poets, and finally turned into a prose +romance also. + +The first poetical version was probably composed in the eleventh century, +and is said to have been twenty-two thousand six hundred lines long. Drawn +from many sources,--for the Greek and Latin writers had been all more or +less occupied with describing the career of the youthful conqueror and the +marvels he discovered in the far East,--the mediaeval writers still further +added to this heterogeneous material. + +The romance of "Alexandre le Grant," therefore, purports to relate the life +and adventures of the King of Macedon; but as Lambert le Cort and his +numerous predecessors and successors were rather inclined to draw on +imagination, the result is a very extravagant tale. + +In the romance, as we know it, Alexander is described as a mediaeval rather +than an ancient hero. After giving the early history of Macedon, the poet +tells of the birth of Alexander,--which is ascribed to divine +intervention,--and dwells eloquently upon the hero's youthful prowess. +Philip's death and the consequent reign of Alexander next claim our +attention. The conquest of the world is, in this romance, introduced by the +siege and submission of Rome, after which the young monarch starts upon his +expedition into Asia Minor, and the conquest of Persia. The war with Porus +and the fighting in India are dwelt upon at great length, as are the riches +and magnificence of the East. Alexander visits Amazons and cannibals, views +all the possible and impossible wonders, and in his fabulous history we +find the first mention, in European literature, of the marvelous "Fountain +of Youth," the object of Ponce de Leon's search in Florida many years +later. + +When, in the course of this lengthy romance, Alexander has triumphantly +reached the ends of the earth, he sighs for new worlds to conquer, and even +aspires to the dominion of the realm of the air. To wish is to obtain. A +magic glass cage, rapidly borne aloft by eight griffins, conveys the +conqueror through the aerial kingdom, where all the birds in turn do homage +to him, and where he is enabled to understand their language, thanks to the +kind intervention of a magician. + +But Alexander's ambition is still insatiable; and, earth and air having +both submitted to his sway, and all the living creatures therein having +recognized him as master and promised their allegiance, he next proposes to +annex the empire of the sea. Magic is again employed to gratify this wish, +and Alexander sinks to the bottom of the sea in a peculiarly fashioned +diving bell. Here all the finny tribe press around to do him homage; and +after receiving their oaths of fealty, and viewing all the marvels of the +deep, as conceived by the mediaeval writer's fancy, Alexander returns to +Babylon. + +Earth, air, and sea having all been subdued, the writer, unable to follow +the course of Alexander's conquests any further, now minutely describes a +grand coronation scene at Babylon, where, with the usual disregard for +chronology which characterizes all the productions of this age, he makes +the hero participate in a solemn mass! + +The story ends with a highly sensational description of the death of +Alexander by poisoning, and an elaborate enumeration of the pomps of his +obsequies. + +[Sidenote: Rome la Grant.] A third order of romances, also belonging to +this cycle, includes a lengthy poem known as "Rome la Grant." Here Virgil +appears as a common enchanter. With the exception of a few well-known +names, all trace of antiquity is lost. The heroes are now exposed to +hairbreadth escapes; wonderful adventures succeed one another without any +pause; and there is a constant series of enchantments, such as the Italian +poets loved to revel in, as is shown in the works by Boiardo and Ariosto +already mentioned. + +These tales, and those on the same theme which had preceded them, gave rise +to a generally accepted theory of European colonization subsequent to the +Trojan war; and every man of note and royal family claimed to descend from +the line of Priam. + +[Sidenote: Story of Brutus.] As the Romans insisted that their city owed +its existence to the descendants of Aeneas, so the French kings Dagobert +and Charles the Bald claimed to belong to the illustrious Trojan race. The +same tradition appeared in England about the third century, and from Gildas +and Nennius was adopted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It is from this historian +that Wace drew the materials for the metrical tale of Brutus (Brute), the +supposed founder of the British race and kingdom. This poem is twenty +thousand lines long, and relates the adventures and life of Brutus, the +great-grandson of Aeneas. + +At the time of Brutus' birth his parents were frightened by an oracle +predicting that he would be the cause of the death of both parents, and +only after long wanderings would attain the highest pitch of glory. This +prophecy was duly fulfilled. Brutus' mother, a niece of Lavinia, died at +his birth. Fifteen years later, while hunting, he accidentally slew his +father; and, expelled from Italy on account of this involuntary crime, he +began his wanderings. + +In the course of time Brutus went to Greece, where he found the descendants +of Helenus, one of Priam's sons, languishing in captivity. Brutus headed +the revolted Trojans, and after helping them to defeat Pandrasus, King of +Greece, obtained their freedom, and invited them to accompany him to some +distant land, where they could found a new kingdom. + +Led by Brutus, who in the mean while had married the daughter of Pandrasus, +the Trojans sailed away, and, landing on the deserted island of Leogecia, +visited the temple of Diana, and questioned her statue, which gave the +following oracle: + + "'Brutus! there lies beyond the Gallic bounds + An island which the western sea surrounds, + By giants once possessed; now few remain + To bar thy entrance, or obstruct thy reign. + To reach that happy shore thy sails employ; + There fate decrees to raise a second Troy, + And found an empire in thy royal line, + Which time shall ne'er destroy, nor bounds confine.'" + GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH (Giles's tr.). + +Thus directed by miracle, Brutus sailed on, meeting with many adventures, +and landed twice on the coast of Africa. The Pillars of Hercules once +passed, the travelers beheld the sirens, and, landing once more, were +joined by Corineus, who proposed to accompany them. + +Brutus then coasted along the shores of the kingdom of Aquitaine and up the +Loire, where his men quarreled with the inhabitants. He found himself +involved in a fierce conflict, in which, owing to his personal valor and to +the marvelous strength of Corineus, he came off victor in spite of the odds +against him. + +In this battle Brutus' nephew, Turonus, fell, and was buried on the spot +where the city of Tours was subsequently built and named after the dead +hero. After having subdued his foes, Brutus embarked again and landed on an +island called Albion. Here he forced the giants to make way for him, and in +the encounters with them Corineus again covered himself with glory. + +We are told that the first germ of the nursery tale of Jack the Giant +Killer is found in this poem, for Corineus, having chosen Corinea +(Cornwall) as his own province, defeated there the giant Goemagot, who was +twelve cubits high and pulled up an oak as if it were but a weed. Corineus, +after a famous wrestling bout, flung this Goemagot into the sea, at a place +long known as Lam Goemagot, but now called Plymouth. + +[Sidenote: The founding of London.] Brutus pursued his way, and finally +came to the Thames, on whose banks he founded New Troy, a city whose name +was changed in honor of Lud, one of his descendants, to London. Brutus +called the newly won kingdom Britain, and his eldest sons, Locrine and +Camber, gave their names to the provinces of Locria and Cambria when they +became joint rulers of their father's kingdom, while Albanact, his third +son, took possession of the northern part, which he called Albania +(Scotland). + +Albanact was not allowed to reign in peace, however, but was soon called +upon to war against Humber, King of the Huns. The latter was defeated, and +drowned in the stream which still bears his name. Locrine's daughter, +Sabrina, also met with a watery death, and gave her name to the Severn. + +[Sidenote: King Leir.] The posterity of Brutus now underwent many other +vicissitudes. There was fighting at home and abroad; and after attributing +the founding of all the principal cities to some ruler of this line, the +historian relates the story of King Leir, the founder of Leicester. As this +monarch's life has been used by Shakespeare for one of his dramas,--the +tragedy of "King Lear,"--and is familiar to all students of English +literature, there is no need to outline Geoffrey of Monmouth's version of +the tale. + +The chronicler then resumes the account of Brutus' illustrious descendants, +enumerating them all, and relating their adventures, till we come to the +reign of Cassivellaunus and the invasion of Britain by the Romans. Shortly +after, under the reign of Cymbelinus, he mentions the birth of Christ, and +then resumes the thread of his fabulous history, and brings it down to the +reign of Uther Pendragon, where it has been taken up in the Arthurian +cycle. + +This chronicle, which gave rise to many romances, was still considered +reliable even in Shakespeare's time, and many poets have drawn freely from +it. The mediaeval poets long used it as a mental quarry, and it has been +further utilized by some more recent poets, among whom we must count +Drayton, who makes frequent mention of these ancient names in his poem +"Polyolbion," and Spenser, who immortalizes many of the old legends in his +"Faerie Queene." + +There are, of course, many other mediaeval tales and romances; but our aim +has been to enable the reader to gain some general idea of the principal +examples, leaving him to pursue the study in its many branches if he wishes +a more complete idea of the literature of the past and of the influence it +has exerted and still exerts upon the writers of our own day. + + + + +INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS. + + +Ariosto, 141, 211. +Arnold, Matthew, 212, 243, 269. +Beowulf, (translations by Conybeare, Keary, Longfellow, Metcalfe), 9, 10, + 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Buchanan, 145, 146. +Bulwer Lytton, 219. +Burney, Dr. (translation), 141. +Byron, 150. +Chanson de Roland (translations by Rabillon), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Conybeare (translations), 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21. +Cursor Mundi, 4. +Death Song of Regner Lodbrock (translations by Herbert), 272, 276, 279. +Dippold, G. T., (translations, Great Epics of Mediaeval Germany, Roberts + Bros., Boston,), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 188, 190, + 195, 237, 239. +Dragon of Wantley, 238. +Drayton, 208, 210, 217, 218. +Ellis, 207, 208, 209, 210, 227. +Ettin Langshanks, The, 115, 116. +Geoffrey of Monmouth, 308. +Giles (translation), 308. +Goethe, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49 50, 52. +Gottfried von Strassburg, 237, 239, 241. +Gudrun, (translations by Dippold, Great Epics of mediaeval Germany, + Roberts Bros., Boston), 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34. +Hartmann von Aue, 223. +Head, Sir Edmund, (Ticknor's Spanish Literature, Messrs. Harper Bros., New + York), 150. +Heldenbuch (translations by Weber), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, + 121. +Hemans, Mrs., 278. +Herbert (translations), 272, 276, 279. +Hildebrand, Song of, (translation by Bayard Taylor, Studies in German + Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 127. +Ingemann, 136. +Jamieson (translations), 115, 116. +Jones, J.C., 17. +Keary (translation), 11. +King Arthur's Death, 230. +Lady Alda's Dream (translation by Head), 149. +Layamon, 232. +Legend of King Arthur, 218. +Lettsom (translations), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, + 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85. +Lockhart, (Ancient Spanish Ballads, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York), 282, + 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, + 298, 299, 300. +Longfellow, (Poets and Poetry of Europe, and Poetical Works, Houghton, + Mifflin & Co., Boston), 12, 13, 95, 137, 251, 253, 254, 256, 258, 265. +Lord Lovel, Ballad of, 245. +McDowall (translation), 200. +Metcalfe (translations), 16, 21. +Morris, William, 275. +Nibelungenlied (translations by Lettsom), 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, + 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, + 83, 84, 85. +Niendorf, 34. +Rabillon (translations), 144, 145, 147, 148. +Ragnar Lodbrok Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 270. +Ragnar's Sons' Saga, (The Viking Age, by Paul du Chaillu, Charles + Scribner's Sons, New York), 277. +Robert of Gloucester, 209. +Rogers (translations), 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, + 52. +Roland and Ferragus, 141, 142, 143. +Rose (translation), 211. +Scott, Sir Walter, 235. +Sir Lancelot du Lake, 220. +Sir Otuel, 148. +Sotheby (translations), 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, + 175, 176, 177, 178, 179. +Southey, 132, 133, 295, 298. +Spalding (translations), 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, + 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 266, 267, 268. +Spenser, 211. +Swinburne, 206, 240, 241. +Taylor, Bayard, (Studies in German Literature, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New + York,), 127, 190, 193, 223, 241. +Tegner, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, + 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268. +Tennyson, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 228, 229, + 231, 232. +Vail, 281. +Weber (translations), 95, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 118, 119, 121. +Wieland, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, + 179. +Wolfram von Eschenbach, 188, 190, 193, 195, 200. + + + + +GLOSSARY AND INDEX. + + +AA'CHEN. See _Aix-la-Chapelle_. +AB-RA-CA-DAB'RA. Malagigi's charm, 158. +A'CRE. Ogier besieges, 138. +ADENET (ae-de-na') Author of an epic on Ogier, 138. +AE'GIR. Northern god of the sea, 250. +AE-NE'AS. In mediaeval literature, 303; + adventures of, 304; + Romans claim, 307. +AES'CHE-RE. Seized by Grendel's mother, 15; + Beowulf offers to avenge, 16. +AF'RI-CA. Brutus lands in, 308. +AG'NAR. Son of Ragnar and Thora, 272; + a great viking, 274; + fights Eystein, 276. +AG'RA-VAINE. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +AI-GO-LAN'DUS. Revolts against Charlemagne, 141. +AIX-LA-CHA-PELLE'. Founding of, 133; + Ganelon executed at, 148; + Renaud's body to be taken to, 162. +A'LARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + Renaud's affection for, 155; + plays chess with Chariot, 155; + prisoner of Charlemagne, 157; + freed by Malagigi, 158. +AL'BA-NACT. Son of Brutus, 309; + wars against Humber, 309. +AL-BA'NI-A. Name for Scotland, 309. +AL'BER-ICH. Dwarf guardian of treasure, 61; + delivers hoard, 70; + meets Ortnit under tree, 96; + the father of Ortnit, 97; + helps Ortnit, 97; + warns Ortnit against dragons, 98; + receives magic ring, 98; + Wolfdietrich warned by, 107; + meets Dietrich, 111. + See _Laurin_ and _Elbegast_. +AL'BI-ON. Brutus lands in, 308. +AL'BOIN. Sent in quest of armor, 86; + and Rosamund, 87; + cruelty of, 87; + death of, 88. +AL'DRI-AN. I. Father of Hagen, 75. +AL'DRI-AN. II. Son of Hagen, 127; + betrays Etzel, 127. +AL'E-BRAND. See _Hadubrand_. +AL-EX-AN'DER. Hero of metrical romance, 305; + conquests of, 306; + death of, 307. +AL-EX-AN'DRE LE GRANT. Synopsis of, 305. +AL-EX-AN'DRINE METER. Origin of, 305. +A-LEX'IS. Angela restored to, 170. +AL'FER-ICH. See _Alberich_. +AL'FILD. First wife of Sigurd Ring, 269. +AL-FON'SO, DON. King of Leon, 288; + made prisoner, 290; + escapes to Toledo, 290; + hears of Don Sancho's death, 292; + escapes from Toledo, 292; + king of Castile, 292; + banishes Cid, 293; + restores Cid to favor, 294; + makes edict in favor of exiles, 294; + takes Toledo, 294; + defeated by Cid, 294; + encourages suit of Counts of Carrion, 295; + responsible for marriage of Cid's daughters, 297; + Cid seeks redress from, 297; + refuses Babieca, 297; + gives orders for burial of Cid, 300. +AL'FRED. An ally of Ella, 279. +ALF'SOL. Sigurd Ring wooes, 270; + death of, 270. +AL-I-MAY'MON. Reveals how Toledo can be taken, 290; + death of, 294. +ALMES'BUR-Y. Guinevere at, 232; + Lancelot visits, 233; + Guinevere dies at, 233. +AL'PRIS. See _Alberich_. +AL'TE-CLER. Sword of Oliver, 139. +AM'A-DIS OF GAUL. Cycle of, 302. +AM'A-LING LAND. Italy called, 121; + Dietrich king of, 121; + invaded by imperial army, 123; + Dietrich returns to, 125. +AM'A-LUNG. Son of Hornbogi, 121. +A-MAN'DA. Rezia called, 175; + marriage of, 175; + in Titania's valley, 175; + mother of Huonet, 176; + loses her child, and is captured by pirates, 176; + shipwreck of, 177; + slave of the Sultan, 178; + visits fairyland, 179; + journeys to Paris, 179. +AM'A-ZONS. Alexander visits, 306. +AM-BRO'SI-US AU-RE-LI-A'NUS. British chief, 205. +AM'E-LINGS. The, 100-109. +AM'EL-RICH. Ferryman's signal, 76. +AM-FOR'TAS. Son of Frimontel, 188; + king of Montsalvatch, 189; + wound of, 189; + agony of, 193; + brother of, 199; + cured, 200; + death of, 200; + armor of, 201. +AN-GAN'TYR. Helps to recover ship Ellida, 250; + ruler of Orkney Islands, 250; + Frithiof sent to claim tribute from, 258; + Frithiof's landing seen by watchman of, 260; + Frithiof's visit to, 261; + purse of, 261. +ANGEL. Visits Charlemagne, 130; + visits Ogier, 137; + visits Oliver, 139. +AN'GE-LA. Huon advised by, 170; + Huon delivers, 170. +AN-GLO-SAX'ONS. "Beowulf" probably composed by, 9. +AN-GOU-LAF'FRE. Castle of, 169; + Huon's encounter with, 169; + ring of, 173. +AN-GUR-VA'DEL. Magic sword, 247; + Thorsten receives, 249; + Frithiof inherits, 253. +AN'TON. See _Hector_. +ANT'WERP. Marriage of Else and Lohengrin at, 203. +AN'ZI-US. Emperor of Constantinople, 100. +A-POL'LO. Marsile worships, 144. +A-PU'LI-A. Part of Rother's kingdom, 89. +A-QUI-TAINE'. Walther son of duke of, 124; + Brutus coasts along, 308. +AR'ABS. Huon defeats a band of, 166; + Spain under the, 282. +AR'A-GON. Calahorra cause of quarrel in, 286; + Don Ramiro of, 286. +ARDENNES (aer-den'). Quest for robber knight of the, 134; + Aymon's sons take refuge in, 160. +AR-GO-NAU'TIC EXPEDITION. In mediaeval literature, 303. +A'RI-AS GON-ZA'LO, DON. Receives challenge, 291. +A-RIB'A-DALE. Bearer of Holy Grail, 201. +A-RI-OS'TO. Version of Roland by, 130; + Merlin's fountain mentioned by, 211; + works of, 302, 307. +AR'NOLD, MATTHEW. Treats of Arthurian legend, 204; + version of Tristan and Iseult, 234. +AR'THUR. Dietrich wooes daughter of, 123; + Ogier joins, 138; + in Avalon, 139; + Parzival sets out for court of, 189; + at Nantes, 191; + Parzival's request to, 192; + Parzival sends conquered knights to, 196; + knights Parzival, 196; + Gawain a knight of, 196; + hears of Gawain's prowess, 198; + Parzival visits, 200; + vain quest for Holy Grail, 201; + legend of King, 204, 214-233; + Merlin serves, 205, 210; + birth of, 210; + Merlin makes palace and armor for, 211; + adventures of, 214; + brought up by Sir Hector, 214; + comes to London, 215; + adventure with sword, 215; + overcomes Gawain, 216; + secures sword Excalibur, 217; + victories of, 217; + marriage of with Guinevere, 217; + receives Round Table, 217; + welcomes Lancelot, 220; + repudiates and reinstates Guinevere, 220; + questions knights, 225; + cannot defend Guinevere in judicial duel, 226; + yearly tournaments of, 226; + and Elaine, 229; + quarrels with Lancelot, 229; + leaves Guinevere with Mordred, 230; + wars against Mordred. 230; + mortal wound of. 231; + disposes of Excalibur, 231; + departs in barge. 232; + Philip II.'s oath in favor of. 232; + buried at Glastonbury. 232; + Lancelot buried at feet of. 233; + Tristan a contemporary of, 234; + Tristan goes to court of. 243; + Tristan delivers, 244; + reconciles Mark and Iseult, 244. +AS'CA-LON. Huon at, 174. +A'SI-A. Monarch of, 179; + Alexander sets out for, 306. +ASK'HER. See _Aeschere_. +AS'LAUG. Same as Krake; + story of birth and childhood of, 274; + prediction of, 275; + sons of, 275; + begs that her sons may avenge Agnar and Erik, 276. +AS'PRI-AN. King of northern giants, 90; + and the lion, 90; + carries off Imelot, 92. +AS'TO-LAT. Lancelot at, 227; + Lancelot comes to, 227; + Elaine the lily-maid of, 228; + Gawain comes to, 228. +AT'LE. Challenges Frithiof, 260. +AT'LI. Same as Etzel, 53. +AT'TI-LA. Same as Etzel, 94, 118; + Theodoric born after death of, 128. +AUCH-IN-LECK' MANUSCRIPT. Sir Otuel in the, 143. +AUDE. (od) Beloved by Roland, 149. +AU'DOIN. King of Langobards, 86. +AU-RE'LI-US AM-BRO'SI-US. Son of Constans, 205. +AV'A-LON. Ogier to dwell in, 135; + Morgana takes Ogier to, 138; + Arthur in, 232. +A'VARS. Aymon wars against the, 152. +A-VEN'TI-CUM. See _Wiflisburg_. +A'YA. Aymon marries, 154; + Aymon sends for, 154; + goes to find her husband, 155; + intercedes for her sons, 160; + and Renaud, 161. +AY'MON. _Chansons de gestes_ relating to, 152; + a peer of Charlemagne, 152; + wages war against Charlemagne, 152; + helped by Bayard and Malagigi, 153; + besieged by Charlemagne, 153; + flight and victories of, 154; + Charlemagne makes peace with, 154; + marriage of, 154; + adventures of, 154; + distributes his property, 155; + recovery of, 155; + flees from court, 156; + a captive, 156; + Turpin's promise to, 156; + oath of, 156; + tries to seize his sons, 157; + Malagigi frees sons of, 158; + adventures of sons of, 158-161. + +BAR'I-CAN. King of Hyrcania, 171; + Rezia dreams of, 171. +BA-BIE'CA. Steed of the Cid, 286; + Cid's ride to Zamora on, 291; + offered to Alfonso, 297; + Cid's last ride on, 298, 299; + end of, 300. +BAB'Y-LON. Ogier besieges, 138; + same as Bagdad in mediaeval literature, 164; + Alexander crowned at, 306. +BAG-DAD'. Huon to go to, 163, 163; + same as Babylon, 164; + Sherasmin indicates road to, 165; + Huon resumes journey to, 169; + Huon's adventures in, 171. +BAL'DER. Shrine of, 254, 256, 257; + temple of, 267. +BA'LI-AN. Seaport in Hagen's kingdom, 26. +BAL'TIC SEA. Bornholm, island in the, 247. +BAN. Father of Lancelot, 219. +BA'RI. Capital of Rother, 89; + arrival of magician's vessel at, 93. +BAU'TA. A memorial stone for Beowulf, 21. +BA-VA'RI-A. Ruediger rides through, 71. +BAY'ARD. Aymon's marvelous steed, 153; + Satan steals, 153; + Malagigi recovers, 153; + Aymon saved by, 154; + given to Renaud, 155; + Renaud and his brothers escape on, 156; + Renaud's adventures in Paris with, 157; + Renaud's escape on, 158; + timely kick of, 159; + Charlemagne demands death of, 161. +BECH-LAR'EN. Ruediger of, 71, 120; + Kriemhild at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76. +BED'I-VERE, SIR. Finds Arthur dying, 231; + bids Arthur farewell, 232. +BEE HUNTER. See _Beowulf_. +BELE (be-la'). Heir of Sogn, 249; + replaced on throne, 250; + conquers Orkney Islands, 250; + helps Thorsten secure Voelund ring, 251; + sons of, 251; + last instructions of, 252; + kings seated on tomb of, 254. +BEL-FO-RA'DO. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +BEL-I-A'GOG. Tristan conquers, 244. +BEL'LI-GAN. City of, 106. +BEL-LIS-SAN'DE. Wife of Ogier, 136. +BEL'LYN. Escort of Reynard, 46; + death of, 47; + deceived by Reynard, 48; + accused of treachery, 49. +BEL'RI-PAR. Capital of Conduiramour, 192; + Kardeiss king of, 201. +BE-NOIT' DE SAINTE-MORE. Poem of, 303; + popularity of work of, 305. +BE'O-WULF, 9-21; + epic of, 9; + resolves to visit Denmark, 11; + honors won by, 12; + arrival in Denmark, 13; + guards Heorot and wounds Grendel, 13, 14; + receives Brisingamen, 15; + hears of Aeschere's death, 15; + and Grendel's mother, 16, 17; + regency of, 18; + reign of, 19; + adventure with dragon, 19, 20; + death and burial of, 21. +BERCH'THER OF ME'RAN. Adviser of Rother, 89; + sons of, 89; + accompanies Rother, 90; + guardian of Hugdietrich, 100; + journey to Thessalonica, 101; + finds Wolfdietrich. 102; + foster father of Wolfdietrich, 103; + warns Wolfdietrich against Rauch-Else, 104; + Wolfdietrich remembers, 106; + sons of delivered from captivity, 108; + rewards given to sons of, 109. +BERCH'TUNG. See _Berchther of Meran_. +BE-RIL'LUS. Goes to Rome, 185. +BERN. Same as Verona, 77, 110; + hero of, 115, 116, 126; + Heime in, 115; + Wittich in, 116; + Dietrich returns to, 117, 121; + Wildeber comes to. 117; + Laurin a prisoner in, 120; + Wittich's return to, 122; + Dietrich surrenders, 124; + Dietrich's triumphant entry into, 126. +BER'NERS, LORD. Translates "Huon of Bordeaux," 163. +BER'SERK-ER. Rage, 24, 261; + Atle a, 260. +BER-TAN'GA LAND. Same as Britain, 123. +BER'THA. I. Mother of Charlemagne, 129. +BER'THA. II. Sister of Charlemagne and mother of Roland, 133. +BERTHE'LOT. Same as Charlot, 155. +BER'WICK. See _Joyeuse Garde_. +BI'BUNG. Dwarf protector of Virginal, 133. +BJOeRN. I. Confidant of Frithiof, 254; + plays chess with Frithiof, 255; + steers Ellida, 259; + carries men ashore, 259; + takes charge of Ellida, 264. +BJOeRN. II. Son of Ragnar, 274. +BLAISE. A holy man who baptizes Merlin, 206. +BLAIVE. Roland buried at, 147; + Lady Aude buried at, 149. +BLANCHE'FLEUR. Wife of Meliadus and mother of Tristan, 235. +BLOe'DE-LIN. Kriemhild bribes, 80. +BOC-CAC'CIO. Makes use of story of Griseldis, 302. +BO'GEN. Son of Hildburg. 103. +BO'HORT. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +BO-IAR'DO. Writer of a version of the adventures of Roland, 130, 302; + love of the marvelous shown in works of, 307. +BOl-FRI-AN'A. Captivity of, 116; + Dietrich rescues, 117; + Wittich marries, 122. +BOOK OF HEROES. Same as "Heldenbuch," 86; + Dietrich principal character in, 110. +BOR-DEAUX'. Huon in captivity in, 180. +BORN'HOLM. Viking born in, 247. +BOUILLON (boo-yon'). Godfrey of, 139. +BRA-BANT'. Else, Duchess of, 202. +BRANG'WAINE. Attendant of Iseult, 240; + confidante of Iseult, 242; + Ganhardin falls in love with image of, 244. +BREI'SACH. Harlungs dwell at, 123. +BRE'KA. Enters into swimming match with Beowulf, 12. +BRET'LAND. Sote buried in, 251. +BRI-SIN'GA-MEN. Necklace given to Beowulf, 15. +BRIT'AIN. Same as Bertanga land, 123; + Uther and Pendragon's wars in, 208; + Holy Grail vanishes from, 208; + named by Brutus, 309; + invaded by Romans, 309. +BRITISH MUSEUM. Manuscripts in, 9. +BRIT'ONS. War of, 208. +BRIT'TA-NY. Soltane, forest in, 188; + Broceliande in, 212; + Arthur's campaign in, 217; + Ban king of, 219; + Lancelot retires to, 230; + Arthur's second campaign in, 230; + Tristan goes to, 243; + Tristan returns to, 244. +BRO-CE-LI-AN'DE. Forest in Brittany, 212. +BRONS. Brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +BROWN. Sent to summon Reynard, 39; + arrives at Malepartus, 39; + caught in tree trunk, 40; + returns to court, 41; + injuries of, 43; + imprisonment of, 46; + release of, 47. +BRUN'HILD. Gunther wishes to marry, 58; + test of strength of, 60; + defeat of, 60; + leaves her own country, 62; + objects to Kriemhild's marriage, 62; + binds Gunther, 63; + is conquered by Siegfried, and loses fabulous strength, 63; + invites Siegfried and Kriemhild to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Kriemhild, 64; + in care of Rumolt, 75; + son of made king of Burgundy, 85; + Aslaug daughter of, 274. +BRU'TE. See _Brutus_. +BRU'TUS. Metrical romance of, 307; + descendant of Aeneas, 307; + adventures of, 307-309; + descendants of, 309. +BU'CAR. Besieges Valencia, 298; + retreat of, 299. +BUCH-AN'AN. Poem of on Roland, 130. +BUR'GOS. Cid born at, 282; + Ximena at, 284; + inhabitants weep at Cid's departure from, 293. +BUR-GUN'DI-ANS. Siegfried challenges, 56; + Nibelungs support king of, 61; + Nibelungs angry with, 69; + nobles escort Kriemhild, 73; + often called Nibelungs, 75; + warnings conveyed to, 77; + see hostility of Huns, 79; + kindly treated by Etzel, 79; + murder of squires of, 80; + bloody fight of, 81; + bravery of, 82; + slaughter of, 83; + name Gunther's son king, 85; + Hagen a hostage for, 124. +BUR'GUN-DY. King and queen of, 53; + Siegfried goes to, 55; + threatened invasion of, 56; + Brunhild receives king of, 59; + Kriemhild remains in, 69; + Kriemhild wishes to leave, 71; + Kriemhild's brothers return to, 73; + chaplain returns to, 76; + Etzel promises to send his son to, 80; + Etzel makes peace with, 124; + Hagen returns to, 124; + Gunther, king of, 124. +CA-LA-HOR'RA. On frontier between Castile and Aragon, 286. +CAM'BER. Son of Brutus, names Cambria, 309. +CAM'BRI-A. Named after Camber, 309. +CAM'E-LOT. Palace at, 211, 218; + feast at, 217; + twelve kings buried at, 218; + Lancelot at, 220, 221; + knights assemble at, 224; + appearance of Holy Grail at, 225; + knights return to, 226; + Guinevere's feast at, 226; + funeral barge arrives at, 228; + Lancelot leaves and returns to, 229. +CAM-PE-A-DOR'. Title given to Cid, 289, 290. +CAN'TER-BUR-Y TALES. Troilus and Cressida in, 305. +CA-PE'TIAN KINGS. Ogier reaches France during reign of one of, 138; + origin of race of, 181. +CAP-PA-DO'CIA. Berillus from, 185. +CAR'DU-EL. Same as Carlisle, 208; + knights assemble at, 209. +CAR-LISLE'. See _Carduel_. +CA-RO-LIN'GIAN LEGENDS, 129-181; + Naismes the Nestor of, 144. +CAR'RI-ON, COUNTS or INFANTES OF. Marry Cid's daughters, 295; + cowardice of, 295; + Cid's followers gibe at, 296; + illtreat their wives, 296; + Alfonso's anger with, 297; + before the Cortes, 297; + challenged, 297; + defeat of, 298. +CAS-SI-VEL-LAU'NUS. Tristan may be a contemporary of, 234; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. +CAS-TILE'. Invasion of, 283, 289; + Calahorra near, 286; + Don Sancho king of, 288; + Cid and Don Sancho return to, 289; + Cid's raid in, 294. +CHAMP DE MARS. The Frank assembly, 36. +CHAN'SON DE RO'LAND. Sung at Hastings, 130; + most famous version of Roland's death, 147. +CHAR'LE-MAGNE. Conquers Lombardy, 88, 129, 137; + and his paladins, 129-151; + favorite hero of mediaeval literature, 129; + champion of Christianity, 129; + fabulous adventures of, 129; + Einhard son-in-law of, 130; + _chansons de gestes_ referring to, 130; + receives angel's visit, 130; + conspirators punished by, 131; + and Frastrada, 131; + affection of for Turpin, 132; + founds Aix-la-Chapelle, 133; + and the boy Roland, 134; + asks for jewel of knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knights Roland, 135; + makes war against Denmark, 135; + releases Ogier, 136; + insulted by Ogier, 136; + appearance of, 136, 137, 141; + and Ogier, 137; + quarrels with Duke of Genoa, 139; + Roland champion of, 139; + vow and pilgrimage of, 139; + peers of, 139; + vision of, 140; + besieges Pamplona, 140; + pilgrimage of to Compostela, 140; + Aigolandus revolts against, 141; + challenged by Ferracute, 141; + sends Ogier to fight Ferracute, 142; + dove alights on, 143; + wars in Spain, 143; + sends embassy to Marsiglio, 144; + retreat of, 144; + hears Roland's horn, 145; + Turpin celebrates mass before, 147; + returns to Roncesvalles, 147; + orders trial of Ganelon, 148; + Aymon a peer of, 152; + character of, 152; + wars against Aymon, 153; + treats with Aymon, 154; + coronation of at Rome, 155; + hostility toward sons of Aymon, 156; + captures sons of Aymon, 157; + bribes Iwo, 158; + Richard carried captive to, 159; + besieges Montauban, 159; + and Malagigi, 160; + Aya intercedes with, 161; + and Bayard, 161; + Huon does homage to, 163; + gives orders to Huon, 163, 172; + tournament of 179; + pardons Huon, 181; + contemporary of Ragnar Lodbrok, 269; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +CHARLES THE BALD. Struggles of, 152; + claims descent from Trojan race, 307. +CHARLES MAR-TEL'. Deeds of attributed to Charlemagne, 129. +CHAR'LOT. Kills Ogier's son, 136; + Ogier demands death of, 137; + Renaud defeats, 155; + quarrels with Alard, 155; + death of, 163. +CHAU'CER. Uses tale of Griseldis, 302; + uses Troilus and Cressida, 305. +CHRESTIEN DE TROYES (kr[=a]-t[=e]-an' deh trwae'). Poems of, 182, 204, 219, + 234. +CHRIST. Jews angry against Joseph for burying, 183; + Vespasian hears story of, 183; + born during reign of Cymbelinus, 309. +CHRISTIAN. Faith taught to Rezia 175; + legends, 184; + Fierefiss becomes a, 200; + faith, 277; + army besieges Coimbra, 287; + king takes Toledo, 294; + army evacuates Valencia, 300. +CHRIS-TI-A'NI-A-FIORD. Frithiof in the, 264. +CHRISTIANITY. Charlemagne champion of, 129; + Roland argues about, 142; + sadly mixed with mythology, 303. +CHRISTIANS. Triumph in Spain, 143; + massacre of, 145; + enmity between Moors and, 154; + can take Toledo, 290; + Bucar retreats before, 299; + Moors routed by, 299. +CHRONICLE OF TURPIN, 140. +CID, THE, 282-300; + birth of, 282; + Ximena accuses, 284; + Ximena marries, 285; + pilgrimage of to Santiago de Compostela, 285; + adventure with leper, 286; + duel of with Martin Gonzalez, 286; + saved by Moorish kings, 287; + at Zamora with Ximena, 287; + defeats champion of Henry III., 288; + vassal of Don Sancho, 288; + victories of, 289; + conducts siege of Zamora, 291; + banished by Alfonso, 293; + at Valencia, 294; + cowardly sons-in-law of, 295; + daughters of illtreated, 296; + at the Cortes, 297; + offers Babieca to Alfonso, 297; + returns to Valencia, 298; + warned of coming death, 298; + last instructions of, 298; + death of, 299: + last victory of, 299; + body of in state, 300; + sword of, 300; + chronicle of, 302. +CI-SAIRE', PASS OF. Roland's ghost at, 145. +CLARETIE (kla-re-tee'). Ancestress of Capetian race, 181. +CLAR'ICE. Ogier marries, 138. +CLA-RIS'SA. Wife of Renaud, 156; + treachery of father of, 158; + intercedes for her father, 159; + death of, 161. +CLEVES. Henry the Fowler at, 202. +CO-IM'BRA. Siege of, 287. +CO-LA'DA. Sword won by Cid, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovery of, 297. +CO-LOGNE'. Death and burial of Renaud at, 162. +CON-DUIR'A-MOUR. Parzival rescues and marries, 192; + Parzival reminded of, 195; + at Montsalvatch, 200; + children of, 201. +CON'STANS. King of England, 205; + sons of, 205, 208. +CON'STAN-TINE. I. Father of Oda, 89; + and Rother, 90-93; + II. Son of Constans, 205. +CON-STAN-TI-NO'PLE. Embassy arrives at, 89; + Rother's visit to, 89-93, 100; + Anzius emperor of, 100; + Hildburg goes to, 102; + Wolfdietrich king of, 103, 108; + the Normans in, 281. +CO-RI-NE'A. Same as Cornwall, 309. +CO-RI-NE'US. Companion of Brutus, 308; + the original Jack the Giant Killer, 308; + kills Goemagot. 309; +CORN'WALL. Tintagel in, 209; + Gorlois duke of, 209; + Mark king of, 235, 240; + Tristan in, 236, 237, 238; + Iseult embarks for, 241; + Iseult lands in, 242; + Tristan's passion for Iseult of, 243, 244; + Kurvenal's journey to, 244; + arrival in Brittany of Iseult of, 245; + Tristan and Iseult buried in, 243, 244; + Corineus settles in, 309. +COR'TES. Infantes of Carrion at the, 297, 298. +CRU-SADES'. Influence of on literature, 302. +CYM-BE-LI'NUS. Christ born during reign of, 309. + +DAG'O-BERT. Claims descent from Trojan, race, 307. +DANE. Hawart the, 81; + Dietlieb the, 117; + Ogier the, 129, 135. +DANES. Beowulf escorted by, 16; + gratitude of, 18; + disapprove of Ragnar's marriage, 274; + Eystein declares war against, 276. +DAN'ISH. Writers, 246; + dynasty connected with Sigurd, 269; + ships burned by English, 276; + kings make raids, 280; + settlements, 280. +DANK'RAT. King of Burgundy, 53. +DANK'WART. Under Siegfried's orders, 56; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + suspicion of, 59, 61; + goes to Hungary, 75; + helps Hagen, 76; + warns Hagen, 80. +DAN'UBE. Journey of Kriemhild down the, 73; + Burgundians reach the, 75. +DEN'MARK. Hrothgar king of, 9; + Beowulf sails for, 12; + Wealtheow queen of, 15; + Ludegast king of, 56; + Charlemagne defeats king of, 135; + Ogier king of, 136; + Krake queen of, 274. +DES'ERT BAB-Y-LO'NI-A. Kingdom of Imelot, 91; + Constantine takes possession of, 92. +DES-I-DE'RI-US. See _Didier_. +DI-A'NA. Brutus in temple of, 308. +DID'I-ER. Ogier flees to, 136. +DIEGO LAYNEZ (dee-ay'go ly'nez). Insulted by Don Gomez, 282; + avenged by Rodrigo, 283; + takes Rodrigo to court, 283. +DI-E'GO OR-DO'NEZ, DON. Sends challenge to Don Arias Gonzalo, 291. +DIE-TE-LIN'DE. Daughter of Ruediger, 73; + Giselher betrothed to, 77. +DIE'THER. Brought up by Hildebrand, 112; + Helche cares for, 124; + death of, 126. +DIET'LIEB. Merry-making and athletic feats of, 117; + lord of Steiermark, 118; + and Laurin, 119, 120; + victory and reward of, 120. +DIET'MAR. Grandson of Wolfdietrich, 109; + ruler of Bern, 110; + death of, 121. +DIE'TRICH VON BERN. Warns Burgundians, 77; + defies Kriemhild, 78; + abstains from tournament, 79; + Kriemhild tries to bribe, 80; + a safe-conduct for, 81; + saves Etzel and Kriemhild, 81; + hears of Ruediger's death, 83; + fights and captures Gunther and Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + ancestors of, 109; + story of, 110-128; + birth of, 110; + fiery breath of, 110, 119; + Hildebrand friend and teacher of, 110; + adventure of with Hilde and Grim, 111; + wins sword Nagelring, 111; + fights with Sigenot, 112; + sees and rescues Virginal, 114; + marries Virginal, 114; + gains possession of Heime and Falke, 115; + Wittich's adventure with, 116; + adventures of with Ecke and Fasolt, 116; + delivers Sintram, 117; + visits Rome, 117; + and Laurin, 118-120; + visits Etzel, 121; + becomes king of Amaling land, 121; + victories in Wilkina land, 121; + wars against Rimstein, 122; + Eckhardt joins, 123; + Ermenrich wars against, 123; + wooes Hilde, 123; + exile of in Hungary, 124; + victories and wounds of, 125; + returns to Bern, 125; + fights against Ermenrich, 126; + marriage of, 126; + kills Sibich, 127; + made emperor of West, 127; + old age of, 128; + Wild Hunt led by, 128; + Ragnar saga like saga of, 269. +DOL'FOS, VEL'LI-DO or BEL'LI-DO. Murders Don Sancho, 291. +DOR-DOGNE'. Aymon of, 152; + Lord Hug of, 152. +DORT'MUND. Renaud's body at, 162. +DOU'RO. River in Spain, 296. +DO'VER. Arthur encounters Mordred near, 230. +DRA'CHEN-FELS. Dietrich saves lady of, 116; + Wittich marries lady of, 122; + Roland wooes maid of, 150; + Roland's return to, 151. +DRAGON SLAYER. Surname of Siegfried, 275. +DRAGONS. See _Beowulf, Siegfried, Ortnit, Wolfdietrich, Tristan, Ragnar._ +DRAY'TON. Author of "Polyolbion," 310. +DRU'SI-AN. Kidnaps Sigeminne, 105; + Wolfdietrich captive of, 105; + death of, 106. +DUB'LIN. Morold's corpse carried to, 237; + Tristan's visit to, 238. +DU'O-LIN DE MAY'ENCE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +DU-RAN-DA'NA. Sword of Roland, 139; + powerless upon Ferracute, 142; + Roland disposes of, 146. + +EAD'GILS. Son of Othere, 19. +EAST. Ogier goes to the, 138; + Holy Grail in the far, 201; + Alexander's journey to the, 305; + wealth of the, 306. +EAST GOTH'LAND. Thora dwells in, 271. +ECK'E. Giant killed by Falke, 116; + Dietrich takes sword of, 117. +ECK'EN-LIED. Story of Ecke, 116. +ECK'E-SAX. Sword of Ecke, 117. +ECK'E-WART I. Escorts Kriemhild, 64; + remains with Kriemhild, 70; + accompanies Kriemhild to Hungary, 72; + warns Burgundians, 76. +ECK'E-WART II. See _Eckhardt_. +ECK'HARDT. Fidelity of, 109, 123; + flees to Dietrich, 123. +EC'TOR DE MA'RIS, SIR. Lancelot eulogized by, 233. +ED'DA. Hilde in the, 22; + Hedin in the, 25. +EIN'HARD. Son-in-law of Charlemagne, 130. +EIN-HE'RI-AR. Ragnar leader of the, 279. +E-LAINE'. Story of, 227-229. +EL'BE-GAST. Same as Alberich, 111; + Charlemagne's adventure with, 130, 131. +E'LI-AS. See _Ylyas_. +EL-KI'NAR. Isegrim bound to bell at, 42. +EL'LA. King of Northumberland, + captures and kills Ragnar, 278; + defeats Ragnar's sons, 279; + gives land to Normans, 279; + Ivar kills, 280. +EL-LI'DA. The dragon ship given to Viking by Aegir, 250; + belongs to Frithiof, 253; + in the storm, 258; + arrives at Orkney Islands, 259; + Frithiof sails in, 262. +EL'SE. Story of Lohengrin and, 201-3. +EL-SI-NORE'. Ogier sleeping in, 136. +EL-VI'RA, DONA. Receives Toro, 288; + robbed of Toro, 290. +EM'ER-ALD ISLE, 23. +ENG'LAND. Invasion of, 9; + rhyme introduced in, 9; + Clarice, princess of, 138; + Ogier leaves, 138; + Hengist driven from, 205; + Merlin brings stones to, 208; + Merlin's predictions concerning future of, 210; + Arthur's name in, 214; + dissensions in, 229; + firm belief in concerning Arthur's return, 232; + vikings' raids in, 276; + stone altars in, 280; + tradition of Trojan descent in, 307. +ENG'LISH. Version of Roland, 130; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246; + fight Ragnar's sons at Whitaby, 276. +E'NID THE FAIR. Story of, 222-224. +ENIGEE (ay' nee-zhay). Sister of Joseph of Arimathea, 184. +E'REC. Name for Geraint in French and German poems, 223. +E'RIK. Son of Ragnar, 272; + a great viking, 274; + attacked by enchanted cow, 276. +ER'ME-LYN. Wife of Reynard, 45, 46, 47. +ER'MEN-RICH. Treasure of, 45; + emperor of the West, 110; + Dietrich's visit to, 117; + Dietlieb rewarded by, 118; + Dietrich helps, 122; + and Sibich, 122, 123; + wars against Dietrich, 126; + death of, 126. +ER'MO-NIE. Meliadus lord of, 234. +ERP. Son of Helche, 125; + death of, 126. +ES-CLAR-MON'DE. Same as Rezia, 171, 175; + early version of story of, 180. +ES-TRE-MA-DU'RA. Moors defeated in, 287. +E-TRU'RI-A. Luna in, 276. +ET'ZEL. Same as Atli, 53; + wooes Kriemhild, 71; + Kriemhild sets out for court of, 72; + Kriemhild wife of, 73; + invites Burgundians to Hungary, 74; + welcomes Burgundians, 78; + banquet of, 79; + promises to send son to Burgundy, 80; + saved from massacre, 81; + Burgundians wish to treat with, 82; + cannot save Hagen, 84; + lament of, 85; + Helche marries, 94; + Dietlieb serves, 118; + Dietrich visits, 121, 124; + Walther escapes from, 124; + gold stolen from, 124; + cowardice of, 125; + helps Dietrich, 125; + marries Kriemhild, 126; + killed by Aldrian, 127; + same as Attila, 128. +EU'ROPE. "Beowulf" oldest relic of spoken language in, 9; + "Reynard the Fox" popular in, 35; + to be infested by dragons, 98; + Charlemagne conquers nearly all, 140; + introduction of legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + popularity of Arthurian legends in, 214; + popularity of "Roman de Troie" in, 304. +EU-RO-PE'AN. Versions of legends, 205; + versions of Tristan, 234; + languages, sagas translated into, 246; + states, romances current in, 301; + nations, classical romances in, 303; + versions of Iliad, 304; + literature, mention of Fountain of Youth in, 306; + colonization, 307. +EX-CAL'I-BUR. Arthur's sword, 217; + Arthur disposes of, 231. +EY'STEIN. Ragnar visits, 274; + wars against Danes, 276; + magic cow of, 276. + +FA'E-RIE QUEENE. Merlin's fountain mentioned in, 211; + contains mediaeval legends, 310. +FAF'NIR. Sigurd slayer of, 269, 274. +FAF'NIS-BANE. Surname of Sigurd, 274. +FAIR AN'NET. Loved by Lord Thomas, 245. +FA'LIES, MARQUIS OF. Sword Tizona in family of, 300. +FAL'KE. Horse of Dietrich, 115; + kills Ecke, 116. +FAL'STER WOOD. Heime in the, 117. +FA'SOLT. Dietrich defeats, 117. +FA'TA MOR-GA'NA. Mirage called, 95. +FAT'I-MA. Attendant of Rezia, 173; + in Tunis, 177; + finds Amanda, 178; + taken to fairyland, 179; + rescued by Huon and Sherasmin, 180. +FE'LEZ MU-NOZ.' Nephew of Cid, 296; + rescues his cousins, 296. +FER'DI-NAND. Rodrigo's first visit to, 283; + recalls Rodrigo, 284; + Ximena before, 284; + receives gifts from Cid, 287; + Henry III. complains of to Pope, 287; + threatened by Pope, 288; + Cid's victories for, 288; + death and legacies of, 288. +FER'RA-CUTE. Challenges Charlemagne, 141; + defeats Ogier and Renaud, 142; + fights and argues with Roland, 142, 143; + Otuel, nephew of, 143. +FER'RA-GUS. See _Ferracute_. +FIEREFISS (fyar-e-f[=e]s'). Encounters Parzival, 199; + conversion and marriage of, 200; + father of founder of Knights Templars, 200. +FIRE'DRAKE. Ravages of the, 19; + slain by Beowulf, 20. +FLAM'BERGE. Sword of Aymon, 154; + Renaud, owner of, 158; + Renaud breaks, 161. +FLAN'DERS. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35. +FLOR'ENCE. Council at, 287. +FLOR'I-DA. Ponce de Leon in, 306. +FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, 306. +FRAM'NAeS. Home of Thorsten and Frithiof, 250, 251, 253; + ruins of, 261. +FRANCE. "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + Charlemagne principal hero of, 129; + Ogier in, 135, 138; + Charlemagne in, 140, 141, 144, 148; + Huon embarks for, 174; + Capetian kings of, 181; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Merlin brings armies from, 210; + viking raids in, 276; + king of, 289. +FRANKS. And "Reynard the Fox," 35; + assembly of, 36; + hostage from, 124; + at feud with Lombardy, 136. +FRAS-TRAD'A. Wife of Charlemagne, 131. +FRED'ER-ICK BAR-BAR-OS'SA. Ogier like, 136. +FRED'ER-ICK OF TEL'RA-MUND. Guardian and oppressor of Else, 202; + defeated by Lohengrin, 203. +FRENCH. Version of Roland, 130; + army betrayed by Ganelon, 144; + version of Tristan, 234; + kings descended from Priam, 307. +FRIE'SIAN. Invasion, 18; + sea, Charlemagne's vision of, 140. +FRIES'LAND. Invasion of, 18. +FRI-MOU-TEL'. Anointed king, 188; + death of, 189. +FRITHIOF (frit'yof). Story of, 246-268; + saga put into verse by Tegner, 246; + birth of, 251; + loves Ingeborg, 251, 252; + home of, 253; + sues for hand of Ingeborg, 254; + suit of rejected, 255; + Ingeborg's brothers ask aid of, 255; + meets Ingeborg in temple, 256; + tries to make terms with kings, 257; + journey to Orkney Islands, 258; + in tempest, 259; + fights Atle, 260; + visits Angantyr, 261; + returns to Framnaes, 261; + goes into exile, 262; + becomes a pirate, 263; + visits Sigurd Ring, 264; + Ingeborg recognizes, 265; + loyalty of, 265; + guardian of infant king, 266; + rebuilds temple, 267; + marries Ingeborg, 267. +FRUTE. Follower of Hettel, 25; + in quest of Hilde, 26. + +GA'HER-IS. Doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216. +GA-LA'FRE. Huon and Sherasmin at court of, 180. +GALA-HAD, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 224; + occupies "Siege Perilous," 224; + sees Holy Grail, 226. +GA-LI'CIA. Charlemagne called to, 140; + Don Garcia king of, 288, 289. +GA-LI'CIAN. Nobles refuse to exchange prisoners, 289. +GAL'Y-EN. Son of Oliver, and king of Jerusalem, 140. +GAL'Y-EN RHET-OR-E'. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +GA'MU-RET. Marries Herzeloide, 188. +GA'NE-LON. Treachery of, 144, 145; + accused and sentenced, 148; + advises Charlot, 155. +GANHARDIN (gan-har-dan'). Wishes to marry Brangwaine, 244. +GARADIE (ga-ra-d[=e]'), COUNT. Hagen in the hands of, 24. +GAR-CI'A, DON. King of Galicia, 288; + seizes Zamora, 289; + dies in captivity, 290. +GAR'DEN. Wolfdietrich at, 107; + Herbrand receives, 109; + Hildebrand inherits, 109; + Ermenrich takes, 123; + Dietrich master of, 126; + Hildebrand's return to, 126. +GA'RETH, SIR. Knighted by Lancelot, 221; + adventures with Lynette, 222; + Geraint brother of, 222. +GA'RY. Messenger sent by Gunther to Siegfried, 64; + goes to Hungary, 75. +GA'WAIN. Rides after Parzival, 196; + and Duchess Orgueilleuse, 197; + adventures with Gramoflaus and Klingsor, 197, 198; + marriage of, 198; + one of Arthur's knights, 209; + doubts Arthur's title to throne, 216; + strength of, 216; + comes to Astolat, 228. +GEATES. Minstrel flees to the, 11; + Beowulf escorted by the, 16; + wait for Beowulf, 17; + return with Hygelac's body, 18. +GEIRS'-ODD. Sacrificial runes called, 266. +GEL'FRAT. Fights Hagen, 76. +GEN'O-A, DUKE OF. Charlemagne's quarrel with, 139. +GEOF'FREY DE LIGNY (leen'yee). Author of a Lancelot romance, 219. +GEOF'FREY OF MON'MOUTH. Writings of, 204, 307, 309. +GEP'I-DAE. Settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel with Lombards, 87. +GE-RAINT'. Brother of Gareth, 222; + story of Enid and, 222-224. +GE-RAS'MES. See _Sherasmin_. +GER'HART. Claims Liebgart's hand, 108. +GER'IMS-BURG. Siege of, 122. +GER-LIN'DA. Cruelty of, 30-32; + death of, 33. +GER'MAN. Manuscript of "Gudrun," 22, 23; + Von Otterdingen a, 53; + literature, 53; + language, Eckewart's fidelity proverbial in, 70; + version of Roland legend, 130; + Wagner a, 182; + more than eighteen versions of Frithiof saga in, 246. +GER'MA-NY. Maximilian emperor of, 22; + Hettel king of, 25; + "Reynard the Fox" in, 35; + the greatest epic of, 53; + in Charlemagne's vision, 140; + legend of Holy Grail in, 182; + Henry the Fowler emperor of, 202; + Henry III. emperor of, 287. +GER'NOT. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + advice of, 57; + Hagen tries to rouse anger of, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + anger of, 66; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + sword of, 77; + death of, 83. +GIER'E-MUND. Reynard insults, 36; + wooed by Reynard, 38. +GIL'DAS. 307. +GI-RARD'. I. Brother of Huon, killed by Charlot, 163. +GI-RARD' II. A knight, steals Huon's casket, 180; + punished by Oberon, 181. +GIS'EL-HER. Son of Dankrat and Ute, 53; + under Siegfried's orders, 56; + reproves Hagen, 66; + sympathy of, 69; + angry with Hagen, 71; + escorts Kriemhild to Vergen, 73; + betrothal of, 77. +GLAS'TON-BUR-Y. Holy Grail at, 185; + Arthur buried at, 232; + Guinevere and Lancelot buried at, 233. +GOD'FREY OF BOUIL'LON. Ancestor of, 139; + king of Jerusalem, 161. +GOEMAGOT (go-ee-ma-got'). Corineus kills, 309. +GOETHE (go'teh) "Reineke Fuchs" of, 36; + admiration of for Tegner, 246. +GO'MEZ, DON. Insults Don Diego Laynez, 282; + challenged and killed by Rodrigo, 283; + Ximena daughter of, 284. +GOR'LO-IS. Lord of Tintagel, wars against Uther Pendragon, 209; + death of, 210; + Arthur not a son of, 210. +GO-TE-LIN'DE. Wife of Ruediger, 73. +GOTH'LAND, EAST. 271. +GOTHS. See _Geates_. +GOTT'FRIED VON STRASS'BURG. Treats of Holy Grail; 182, 204; + version of "Tristan" of, 234. +GOZZOLI (got'so-lee). Painting of, 304 +GRAIL. See _Holy Grail_. +GRAM'O-FLAUS. Encounter of with Gawain 197; + Parzival champion of, 198; + marries Itonie, 198. +GRAN. Capital of Etzel, 73; + minstrels return tom 75. +GRA'VAIN. One of Arthur's knights, 209 +GREECE. Hertnit earl of, 121; + Tristan known in, 234; + isles of, 264; + viking raid in, 276; + popularity of Iliad in, 304; + Brutus goes to, 307; + Pandrasus king of, 308. +GREEK. Islands invaded by vikings, 276; + epics, 303; + post-classical writings, 303; + rhapsodists' work continued, 304; + writers busy with Alexander, 305. +GREN'DEL. Heorot visited by, 10; + warriors slain by, 11; + Beowulf and, 12-14; + mother of, 15; + Beowulf visits retreat of, 16, 17. +GRIF'FIN. Hagen carried off by a, 23. +GRIM. Depredations of, 111; + killed by Dietrich, 111; + Sigenot vows to avenge, 112. +GRIM'BART. Cousin of Reynard, 36; + pleads for Reynard, 38; + carries message to Reynard, 42; + absolves Reynard, 42; + reproves Reynard, 43; + warns Reynard, 47; + takes Reynard to court, 48. +GRIM'HILD. See _Kriemhild_. +GRI-SEL'DIS. Tale of, 302. +GUAR'DA. See _Garden_. +GU'DRUN I. The poem, 22. +GU'DRUN II. Daughter of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + suitors of, 28; + kidnaped by Hartmut, 29; + slavery of, 30; + swan maiden visits, 31; + rebellion of, 32; + rescue of 33; + marries Herwig, 34. +GU'DRUN III. Same as Kriemhild, 53. +GUER'IN DE MONT'GLAVE. _A chanson de geste_, 139. +GUI-ENNE'. Huon and Girard on the way from, 163; + Huon's patrimony of, 179; + Huon's journey to, 180. +GUILD'FORD. See _Astolat_. +GUIN'E-VERE. Marries Arthur, 217; + and Lancelot, 220, 221; + favors of, 227; + hears of Lancelot and Elaine, 228; + saved by Lancelot, 229; + and Mordred, 230; + at Almesbury, 232; + death of, 233; + Iseult like, 242; + Iseult meets, 244. +GUIS'CARD. Son of Aymon and Aya, 154. +GUNG'THIOF. Son of Frithiof, 267. +GUN'NAR. Same as Gunther, 53. +GUN'THER. Same as Gunnar, 53; + Siegfried at court of, 55, 56; + goes to Issland to woo Brunhild, 59; + contest of with Brunhild, 60; + marriage of, 61; + gives Kriemhild to Siegfried, 62; + bound by Brunhild, 63; + invites Siegfried to Worms, 64; + influenced by Hagen, 66; + race of, 67; + protector of Kriemhild, 68; + reconciled to Kriemhild, 70; + plans to secure hoard, 71; + receives Hun embassy, 72; + goes to Hungary, 75; + entertained by Ruediger, 77; + entertained by Etzel, 80; + grants safe-conduct to Dietrich, 81; + refuses to surrender to Hagen, 82; + imprisonment and death of, 84; + son of, 85; + encounter with Walther, 124; + wounds of, 125. +GUR'NE-MANZ. Educates Parzival, 192, 196. +GU'TRUN. See _Kriemhild_. + +HA'CHE. Receives Rhine land, 109. +HAD'BURG. Prophesy of, 75. +HAD'U-BRAND. Son of Hildebrand, 126; + makes himself known to his father, 127. +HA'GEN I. Son of Sigeband, carried off by a griffin, 23; + adventures and marriage of, 24; + daughter of, 25; + fights Hettel, 27; +HA'GEN II. Same as Hoegni, 53; + describes Siegfried's prowess, 55; + accompanies Gunther to Issland, 59; + promises to avenge Brunhild, 65; + deceives Kriemhild, 66; + kills Siegfried, 67; + glories in his treachery, 68; + the touch of, 69; + hatred of Kriemhild for, 70; + seizes hoard, 71; + welcomes Ruediger, 71; + warns Burgundians, 72, 74; + Kriemhild plans to have revenge upon, 73; + swan maidens and, 75; + adventure at the ferry, 76; + receives shield from Ruediger, 77; + Etzel welcomes, 78; + alliance with Volker, 78; + frightens Huns, 79; + kills Ortlieb, 80; + Kriemhild offers reward for death of, 81; + Kriemhild asks surrender of, 82; + Dietrich asks surrender of, 83; + captivity and death of, 84; + a hostage of Etzel, 124; + loses an eye, 125; + Aldrian son of, 127. +HALF'DAN. I. Friend of Viking, 247; + makes friends with Njorfe, 248; + Viking's sons visit, 249. +HALF'DAN II. Son of Bele, 251; + character of, 252; + king of Sogn, 253; + guardian of Ingeborg, 255; + Sigurd Ring wars against, 256; + Frithiof wars against, 267. +HAL'O-GA-LAND. North Norway called, 246. +HAL'O-GE. Same as Loki, rules Halogaland, 246; + Viking the grandson of, 247. +HAM. Witch summoned by Helge, 258. +HAR'DRED. Son of Hygelac, reign of, 18. +HAR'LUNGS. Sibich betrays the, 123. +HART'MANN VON AUE, 204. +HART'MUT. Prince of Normandy, 28; + kidnaps Gudrun, 29; + Gudrun refuses to marry, 29; + rescues Gudrun from drowning, 30; + prepares to marry Gudrun, 32; + rescues Gudrun, 33; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + a captive, 34; + marries Hergart, and is released, 34. +HAS'SAN. Name assumed by Huon in Tunis, 177. +HAST'INGS I. Battle of, 130. +HAST'INGS II. Foster father of Sigurd the Snake-eyed, 275; + and Ragnar's sons, 276; + strategy of, 277. +HA'WART. Death of, 81. +HEC'TOR, SIR. Arthur fostered by, 210, 214; + visit of to London, 215; +HED'IN. Lover of Hilde, 22; + same as Hettel, 25. +HE'GE-LING LEGEND, 23. +HE'GE-LINGS. Family of the, 23; + Hettel king of the, 25; + Hilde flees with the, 27; + at the Wuelpensand, 29; + come to Normandy, 32; + return home, 34. +HEID. Witch summoned by Helge, 258. +HEI'ME. Challenges Dietrich, 115; + becomes a brigand, 117; + steals Mimung, 121; + forced to restore Mimung, 122. +HEI'MIR. Protector of Aslaug, 274. +HEIN'RICH VON OF'TER-DING-EN, 86. +HELCHE. Wife of Etzel, 71, 124; + daughter of Rother and Oda, 94. +HEL'DEN-BUCH. The "Book of Heroes," 86, 128. +HEL'EN I. Mother of Lancelot, 219. +HEL'EN II. In mediaeval literature, kidnaping of, 304. +HEL'E-NUS. Descendants of in Greece, 307. +HEL'GE. Son of Bele, 251; + refuses to give Ingeborg to Frithiof, 255; + rejects Sigurd Ring, 255; + makes treaty with Sigurd Ring, 256; + accuses Frithiof of sacrilege, 257; + stirs up tempest against Frithiof, 258; + Angantyr refuses to pay tribute to, 261; + Frithiof snatches ring from wife of, 261; + pursues Frithiof, 262. +HE'LIE DE BOR'RON, 234. +HEL'I-GO-LAND. Rumor of Dietrich's valor reaches, 115. +HEL'KAP-PE. See _Tarnkappe_. +HEL'MI-GIS. Rosamund and, 88. +HEN'GIST. Driven from England, 205; + Saxons led by, 208. +HEN'NING. Complaint of against Reynard, 38. +HENRY I., THE FOWLER. Hears accusation against Else, 202. +HENRY III. Emperor of Germany, 287. +HENRY VIII. Lord Berners translates "Huon of Bordeaux" for, 163. +HE'O-ROT. Hrothgar builds, 10; + Beowulf's experiences in, 13; + Grendel's limb a trophy in, 15; + Beowulf's triumphant return to, 18. +HE'RAND. See _Herrat_. +HER'BART. Nephew of Dietrich, elopes with Hilde, 123. +HER'BRAND. Son of Berchther, 109; + father of Hildebrand, 110; + the wide-traveled, 121. +HER'CU-LES, PILLARS of. Brutus passes, 308. +HER'KA. See _Helche_. +HER'LIND. Maid of Oda, 90; + brings gifts to Oda, 91. +HER'RAT. Wife of Dietrich, 126; + death of. 127. +HERT'NIT. Wittich a prisoner of, 121; + Wildeber visits, 121; + death of, 122. +HER'WIG. King of Zealand, fights with Hettel, 28; + betrothed to Gudrun, 28; + wars of, 29; + comes to Normandy to rescue Gudrun, 31; + saves Gudrun, 33; + marries Gudrun, 34. +HER-ZE-LOI'DE. Sigune brought up by, 188; + wife of Gamuret and mother of Parzival, 188; + parts from Parzival, 191; + Parzival goes in search of, 192; + Parzival hears of death of, 199. +HE'SI-OD. Heroes of in mediaeval literature, 303. +HESSE. Burgundian army passes through, 57. +HET'TEL. Wooes Hilde, 25, 26; + marries Hilde, 27; + dismisses Gudrun's suitors, 28; + death of, 29. +HILD'BURG I. Hagen finds, 23. +HILD'BURG II. Companion of Gudrun, 30; + meets Ortwine, 31; + wooed by Ortwine, 32; + marries Ortwine, 34. +HILD'BURG III. Hugdietrich wooes, 100; + secret marriage of, 101; + the son of, 101, 102; + banished by Sabene, 103. +HIL'DE I. In the Edda, 22; + an Indian princess, 23; + Hagen marries, 24; + daughter of, 25. +HIL'DE II. Suitors of, 25; + educates Gudrun, 28; + welcomes Gudrun home, 34. +HIL'DE III. A giantess, Dietrich's encounter with, 111. +HIL'DE IV. Daughter of Arthur, elopes with Herbart, 123. +HIL'DE-BRAND I. Claims body of Ruediger and fights Burgundians, 83; + kills Kriemhild, 84; + lament of, 85. +HIL'DE-BRAND II. Inherits Garden, 109; + tutor of Dietrich, 110; + fights Grim and Hilde, 111; + marriage of, 112; + adventure of with Sigenot, 112, 113; + adventure of with magicians, 114; + Wittich meets, 115; + steals Wittich's sword, 116; + Ilsan brother of, 117; + Dietlieb pawns steed of, 117; + first Rose Garden adventure of, 118; + second Rose Garden adventure of, 120; + campaign of in Wilkina land, 121; + ransom of, 124; + returns to Garden, 126; + rejoins his wife, 127. +HIL'DE-GARDE. Story of Roland and, 150, 151. +HIL'DE-GRIM. Giant's helmet, 111. +HIL-DE-GUN'DE. Adventures of, 124, 125. +HIL'DING. Foster father of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 251; + asks Frithiof's aid for kings of Sogn, 255; + failure of mission of, 256; + announces Ingeborg's marriage to Frithiof, 261. +HINTZE. Complains of Reynard, 37; + accused of theft, 38; + adventures of at Malepartus, 41; + imprisonment of, 46. +HLE'DRA. Capital of Denmark, 271; + Thora arrives at, 272; + Krake at, 274; + Ivar's brothers return to, 280. +HOeG'NI I. Pursues Hilde, 22. +HOeG'NI II. Same as Hagen, 53. +HOL'GER DAN'SKE. See _Ogier_. +HOL'LAND. Ireland in, 23. +HOLM'GANG. Northern duel, 247. +HOLY GRAIL, 182-203; + origin of legend of, 182; + a sacred dish or cup, 183; + Joseph of Arimathea supported in prison by, 183; + at Marseilles, 184; + at Glastonbury, 185; + Titurel appointed guardian of, 185; + temple of, 186; + descent of, 187; + commands that Frimoutel be king, 188; + commands that Amfortas be king, 189; + promise of, 189; + Parzival sees, 193; + Parzival's quest for, 195-200; + Kundrie a messenger of, 196; + Gawain's quest for, 196; + Trevrezent renounces, 199; + Parzival finds, 199; + Parzival uncovers, 200; + Arthur's knights' quest for, 201, 225; + Lohengrin servant of, 201, 203; + legend of, 204; + place at the Round Table for, 208, 218; + Lancelot cured by, 221; + appearance of, 225; + Parzival, Lancelot, and Galahad saw, 226; + tales of, 301. +HOLY LAND. Renaud goes to, 161; + knight returns from, 183. +HO'MER. Heroes of, 303. +HO'RANT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + his skill as minstrel, 26, 34. +HOR'DA-LAND. Frithiof in, 267. +HORN'BO-GI. Wittich meets, 115; + father of Amalung, 121. +HORSES. See _Rispa_, _Falke_, _Veillantif_, + _Bayard_, and _Babieca_. +HROTH'GAR. Descent of, 9; + hall of, 10; + reward offered by, 11; + Beowulf at court of, 13; + feast of, 15; + grief of, 15; + Beowulf takes leave of, 16. +HROUD'LAN-DUS. Same as Roland, 130. +HUG. Lord of Dordogne, slain by Charlemagne, 152; + avenged by Aymon, 154. +HUG-DIE'TRICH I. Son of Anzius, 100; + wooes and marries Hildburg, 101; + intrusts wife and child to care of Sabene, 102; + suspicions of, 103; + death and will of, 103. +HUG-DIE'TRICH II. Son of Wolfdietrich, 109; + father of Dietmar, 110. +HUGUES. King of Jerusalem, 139; + Oliver marries daughter of, 140. +HUM'BER. King of the Huns, 309. +HUN'GA-RY. Etzel king of, 71; + Gunther starts out for, 75; + Kriemhild's purpose in coming to, 82; + fatal ride to, 85; + part of Pannonia, 86; + Wildeber in, 121; + Aymon's wars in, 152. +HUNS. King of, 72, 94, 118, 121; + Kriemhild queen of, 72; + power of, 72; + Burgundians crowded by, 79; + Kriemhild brings misery upon, 84; + gratitude of Helche, queen of the, 125; + Dietrich's sojourn with the, 126; + Humber king of the, 309. +HUN'THIOF. Son of Frithiof and Ingeborg, 267. +HUN'VOR. Swedish princess, 247. +HU'ON OF BOR-DEAUX', 163-181; + hero of poem, 163; + Charlemagne's orders to, 163; + visits Pope, 164; + meets Sherasmin, 165; + in enchanted forest, 166; + Oberon's gifts to, 168; + at Tourmont, 169; + adventures with Angoulaffre, 169, 170; + adventure with Saracen, 170; + reaches Bagdad, 171; + adventures at Bagdad, 171-174; + Oberon's orders to, 174; + disobedience of, 175; + on desert island, 175, 176; + in Tunis, 177; + carried to fairyland by Oberon, 179, 181; + at the tournament, 179; + returns to Guienne, 180; + other versions of story of, 180; + ancestor of Capetian race, 181. +HU'O-NET. Birth and disappearance of, 176; + restoration of, 179. +HVIT'SERK. Son of Ragnar, 274. +HYGD. Wife of Hygelac, 18. +HY'GE-LAC. King of the Geates, 11; + gives Naegeling to Beowulf, 12; + wars and death of, 18. +HYR-CA'NI-A. Babican king of, 171. + +ICE'LAND. Story of Tristan popular in, 234; + the Iliad in, 304. +IL'I-AD. Popularity of the, 304. +IL'SAN. Brother of Hildebrand, 117, 120; + rudeness and cruelty of, 120, 121. +IM'E-LOT. King of Desert Babylonia, 91; + a captive, 92; + Rother hears of escape of, 93. +IN'DI-A. Hunvor carried off to, 247; + Alexander's adventures in, 306. +IN-FAN'TES. Of Carrion, 295-298; + of Navarre, 297. +IN'GE-BORG I. Attendant of Hunvor, 247. +IN'GE-BORG II. Transformed into a witch, 249; + Thorsten saved by, 250; + mother of Frithiof, 251. +IN'GE-BORG III. Daughter of Bele, and playmate of Frithiof, 251; + Frithiof vows to marry, 252; + Frithiof sues for, 254; + Sigurd Ring sues for, 255; + meets Frithiof in temple, 256, 257; + Frithiof parts with, 258; + married to Sigurd Ring, 261, 269; + Frithiof's longing for, 264; + Frithiof visits, 265; + given to Frithiof by Sigurd Ring, 266; + Frithiof wars against brothers of, 267; + marriage of Frithiof and, 267. +ING'EL-HEIM. Palace at, 131. +IRE'LAND I. In Holland, 23. +IRE'LAND II. Merlin brings stones from, 208; + Ryance king of, 217; + Morold comes from, 236; + Tristan goes to, 237; + Tristan's visits to, 238; + viking raids in, 276. +I'RING. Killed by Hagen, 81. +I'RISH. King defeats Mark, 237; + attendants carry Morold's remains to Ireland, 237; + Tristan at court of the, 238; + king, butler of, 239. +IR'MIN-SUL. Charlemagne destroys the, 129. +IRN'FRIED. Attacks the Burgundians, 81. +IS'E-GRIM. Complaint of against Reynard, 36; + and the fish, 37; + a victim of Reynard's jokes, 42; + accused by Reynard, 44; + imprisonment of, 46; + robbed by Reynard, 48; + disloyalty of, 51; + duel with Reynard, 51; + death of, 52. +I'SEN-LAND. Hagen finds princess of, 23. +I-SEULT'. I. Sister of Morold, cures of, 237; + Tristan healed by, 238. + II. Daughter of Iseult I., Tristan teaches, 238; + hand of promised to dragon slayer, 238; + finds and restores Tristan, 239; + tries to kill Tristan, 240; + journey of to Cornwall, 241; + marries Mark, 242; + love of for Tristan, 242; + oath of, 243; + Tristan cannot forget, 244; + carried to Joyeuse Garde, 244; + death and burial of, 245. + III. With the White Hands, 243; + marries Tristan, 244; + jealousy of, 245. +I-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +ISS'LAND. Brunhild princess of, 58; + Gunther's arrival in, 59; + Nibelungs accompany Siegfried to, 61. +I'SUNG. Follows Dietlieb, 118; + bear of, 121; + delivers Wittich, 122. +I-TAL'IAN. Version of Roland, 130; + cycle of romances, 302; + love of the marvelous, 302, 307. +IT'A-LY. Alboin conquers, 87; + Ortnit master of, 94; + Amaling land same as, 121; + viking raids in, 276; + settlements in, 281; + Brutus expelled from, 307. +I-TO'NIE. Sister of Gawain, 198. +I'VAR. Son of Ragnar, 274; + a cripple, 275; + kills Eystein's magic cow, 276; + surrenders to Ella, 279; + takes up abode in Lunduna Burg, 280; + power of, 280. +I-WA-NET'. Arthur's squire, helps Parzival, 191. +I'WO. Prince of Tarasconia, 156; + Renaud marries daughter of, 156; + treachery of, 158; + Renaud saves, 159. + +JACK THE GIANT KILLER. Origin of tale of, 308. +JAM'HAS. Son of Ortgis, 114. +JAMES, ST. Explains vision to Charlemagne, 140; + promises help to Christian army, 287. +JARL HER'RAND. Father of Thora, 271. +JER'AS-PUNT. Virginal's castle of, 114. +JER'I-CHO. Walls of Pamplona like those of, 140. +JE-RU'SA-LEM. Ogier besieges, 138; + Godfrey of Bouillon king of, 139; + Hugues king of, 139; + Charlemagne's pilgrimage to, 139; + Galyen returns to, 140; + Renaud offered crown of, 161; + Vespasian's commission to, 183. +JEW. The sacrilegious, 300. +JEWS. Persecute Joseph of Arimathea, 183; + lend money to Cid, 293, 294. +JOHN. Son of Fierefiss, and founder of Knights Templars, 200; + Prester, 201. +JO'KUL. Njorfe's eldest son, takes Sogn, 249; + magic arts of, 250. +JO'SEPH OF AR-I-MA-THE'A. And the Holy Grail, 183; + institutes the Round Table, 184; + carries Holy Grail to Glastonbury, 185; + Merlin's Round Table like that of, 208. +JO'SI-ANE. Daughter of Frimoutel, and mother of Sigune, 188. +JOYEUSE (zhwaa-y[=e]z'). Sword of Charlemagne, 137. +JOYEUSE GARDE. Guinevere at, 220, 229; + Lancelot buried at, 233; + Iseult at, 244. +JU'DAS. Sin of, 184. +JUDGMENT OF GOD. Reynard appeals to the, 51; + in favor of Thiedric, 148; + Cid appeals to the, 288. +JU'LI-US CAE'SAR. Father of Oberon, 166, 210. +JUTES. See _Geates_. +JUT'LAND. Alfsol princess of, 270. + +KAN'TART. Son of Henning, 38. +KAR'DEISS. Son of Parzival, and king of Belripar, 201. +KAY, SIR. Foster brother of Arthur, 210; + sends Arthur for a sword, 215. +KLING'SOR. Castle of, 197; + captives of, 197; + Gawain's adventures with, 198. +KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, 301. +KRA'KE. Beauty and wit of, 273; + wooed by Ragnar, 273; + becomes queen of Denmark, 274; + Danes disapprove of, 274; + story of, 274. +KRIEM'HILD. Same as Gudrun, 53; + dream of, 54; + Siegfried goes to woo, 55; + sees strength of Siegfried, 56; + meets Siegfried after victory, 57; + wooing of, 58; + marriage of, 62; + goes to the Nibelungen land, 64; + goes to Worms, 64; + quarrels with Brunhild, 65; + anxiety of, 66; + parts from Siegfried, 67; + grief of, 68; + mourning of, 69; + goes to Lorch, 71; + wooed by Etzel, 71; + Ruediger's promise to, 72, 83; + journey of to Gran, 73; + lures Burgundians into Hungary, 74; + quarrels with Hagen, 77; + Dietrich defies, 78; + bribes Bloedelin, 80; + urges Huns to slay Hagen, 81; + sets fire to hall, 82; + Gunther and Hagen captives of, 84; + kills Gunther and Hagen, 84; + death of, 84; + Rose Garden of, 120; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Etzel marries, 126. +KRY'ANT. Son of Henning, 38. +KUN'DRIE. Curses Parzival, 196; + death of, 200. +KUN'HILD. Sister of Dietlieb, kidnaped by Laurin, 118; + rescued by Dietrich, 119; + delivers Dietrich and knights, 119; + marriage and realm of, 120. +KUeR'EN-BERG, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53. +KUR'VE-NAL. Retainer of Blancheflem, 235; + joins Tristan in Cornwall, 236; + accompanies Tristan to Ireland, 238; + goes to Brittany for Iseult, 244. + +LADY OF THE LAKE. Vivian the, 211; + lays spell upon Merlin, 212; + brings sword to Arthur, 216; + Lancelot fostered by, 219; + Arthur a prisoner of, 244. +LAM'BERT LE CORT. Author of "Alexandre le Grant," 305. +LAM GO-E-MA-GOT'. Same as Plymouth, 309. +LAM'PE. Illtreated by Reynard, 37; + psalm-singing of, 38; + slain at Malepartus, 46; + head of, 47; + Reynard confesses murder of, 48; + Reynard's excuses for murder of, 49. +LAN'CE-LOT DU LAC, SIR. Ogier joins, 138; + legend of, 204; + hero of several poems, 219; + youth of, 219; + love and insanity of, 220; + rescues Guinevere, 221, 226, 229; + sees Holy Grail, 221, 226; + knights Sir Gareth, 221; + and Sir Galahad, 224; + vow of, 225; + and Elaine, 227-229; + Arthur's anger against, 230; + visits Guinevere, 233; + death and burial of, 233; + Tristan like, 242; + Iseult at castle of, 244. +LAN-GO-BAR'DI-AN. Cycle of romances, 86-99; + nobles reject Helmigis, 88; + scepter given to Rother, 88; + queen, Oda becomes, 93. +LAN'GO-BARDS. Same as Langobardians, settle in Pannonia, 86; + quarrel between Gepidae and, 87. +LAST SUPPER. Holy Grail used for the, 183. +LATIN. Version of Reynard, 35; + poem of Walther von Wasgenstein, 124; + chronicle attributed to Turpin, 129; + version of Roland, 130; + version of Tristan, 234; + epics, 303; + writers and Alexander, 305. +LAU'RIN. Adventures of with Dietrich and knights, 118-120. +LA-VIN'I-A. Niece of, mother of Brutus, 307. +LA'WAINE, SIR. Brother of Elaine, 227. +LAZ'A-RUS, ST. Rodrigo's vision of, 286. +LEAR, KING. Shakespeare's tragedy of, 309. +LEICESTER (l[)e]s't[e(]r). Founded by King Leir, 309. +LEIR, KING. Founder of Leicester, 309. +LE-O'DE-GRAUNCE. King of Scotland, Arthur and, 217. +LE-O-GE'CI-A. Brutus hears oracle at, 308. +LEON (l[=a]-[=o]n'). Don Alfonso king of, 288; + Don Garcia buried in, 290. +LE-PAN'TO. Huon and Rezia stop at, 174; + Sherasmin parts from Huon at, 177. +LIEB'GART. Same as Sidrat, 97; + magic eggs of, 98; + waits for return of Ortnit, 99; + suitors of, 99; + Wolfdietrich's compassion for, 107; + Wolfdietrich saves and marries, 108; + mother of Hugdietrich, 109; + Dietrich marries, 127. +LIL-IEN-POR'TE. Siege of, 103. +LOCH'HEIM. Nibelungen hoard buried at, 71. +LO'CRI-A. Named by Locrine, 309. +LO-CRINE'. Son of Brutus, 309. +LOD'BROK. See _Ragnar_. +LODE'STONE ROCK. Ogier wrecked on the, 138. +LOD-GER'DA. Ragnar marries and forsakes, 271. +LO'HEN-GRIN. Story of Else and, 201-203. +LO'KI. See _Haloge_. +LOM'BARDS. Same as Langobards, 87; + Rother complains of king of, 90; + Ortnit king of, 94; + Wolfdietrich rules, 108; + Charlemagne subdues, 129, 137. +LOM'BAR-DY. Oda returns to, 94; + Sidrat goes to, 97; + Liebgart to select king of, 99; + Ortnit's ancestors in, 100; + Wolfdietrich starts for, 104; + Wolfdietrich returns to, 109; + Didier king of, 136. +LON'DON. St. Stephen's Church in, 215; + Arthur comes to with Sir Hector, 215; + Guinevere's journey to, 230; + founding of, 280, 309. +LONG'FEL-LOW. "Tales of a Wayside Inn" of, 136, 202. +LON-GI'NUS. Rosamund seeks, 88. +LORCH. Kriemhild's sojourn at, 71. +LOUIS THE FAT, 280. +LOV'EL, LORD. Story of, 245. +LUCES DE GAST. Version of Tristan by, 234. +LU'CI-FER. Fall of, 182. +LUD. Descendant of Brutus, 309. +LU'DE-GAST. King of Denmark, threatens to invade Burgundy, 56. +LU'DE-GER. King of Saxons, Gunther's wars with, 56, 66. +LUD'WIG. King of Normandy, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + kills Hettel, 29; + tries to drown Gudrun, 30; + killed by Herwig, 33. +LU'NA. Vikings besiege, 276; + Norman's stratagem to enter into, 277; + Don Garcia a prisoner in, 290. +LUN-DU'NA BURG. Same as London, 280. +LYM-FIORD. Ragnar's victory at, 271. +LYN-ETTE'. Story of Gareth and, 222. +LY'O-NEL. Cousin of Lancelot, 219. +LY-O-NESSE'. Arthur's boyhood spent in, 226; + Meliadus lord of, 234; + Tristan recovers, 236. + +MA-BRI-AN'. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAC'E-DON. Alexander king of, 305; + early history of, 305. +MA-CHO-RELI,'. Father of Sidrat, 95; + Alberich carries challenge to, 97; + sends dragon eggs to Liebgart, 98. +MALAGIGI (m[)a]l-a-j[=e]'j[=e]). The necromancer, same as Malagis, 152; + and Bayard, 153; + rescues Aymon, 154; + joins Renaud, 157; + warns Renaud of Richard's peril, 159; + strategem and escape of, 160. +MAL'A-GIS. See _Malagigi_. +MAL'E-BRON. Servant of Oberon, 170, 180. +MA-LE-PAR'TUS. Brown the bear + reaches, 39; + Hintze at, 41; + Bellyn and Lampe accompany Reynard to, 46; + Grimbart at, 47. +MAL'O-RY. Old legends used by, 204, 219. +MAN'TU-A. Ermenrich takes, 123. +MAP, WALTER. Works of, 182, 204, 219. +MARK. King of Cornwall, Meliadus visits, 235; + Tristan and Kurvenal visit, 236; + Tristan praises Iseult to, 238; + Tristan emissary of, 240; + Iseult marries, 242; + indifference of, 242; + illtreats Iseult, 244; + gives orders for burial of Tristan and Iseult, 245. +MAR-SEILLES'. Joseph of Arimathea at, 184. +MARSIGLIO (mar-s[=e]l'y[=o]). Saracen king, 144; + killed by Roland, 145. +MAR-SIL'I-US. See _Marsiglio_. +MAR'TIN. I. Parson's son, 41. + II. Ape met by Reynard, 49. +MAR'TIN GON-ZA'LEZ. Cid's fight with, 286. +MA'RY. Queen of England, marries Philip of Spain, 232. +MAT'E-LAN. Hilde goes to with Hettel, 27; + Herwig comes to, 28; + Hartmut comes to, 29. +MAU'GIS. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +MAX-I-MIL'I-AN I. Emperor of Germany, 22. +MAYENCE (mae-yens'). Charlemagne's wife buried at, 131. +ME-DE'A. In mediaeval literature, 304. +ME-LE'A-GANS. Guinevere a captive of, 221. +ME-LI'A-DUS. I. Lord of Lyonesse, wars against Morgan, 234; + marries Blanchefleur, 235. + II. Squire of Mark, 242. +MERAN (m[=a]'ran). Berchther duke of, 89; + Wolfdietrich educated at, 103; + Hildburg at, 103. +MER'KI-NAU. Accuses Reynard, 47. +MER'LIN. Round Table to be constructed by, 184; + legend of, 204; + real and mythical, 205; + birth and infancy of, 206; + the prophecies of, 206, 207, 208, 210, 231; + builds Stonehenge and castle at Carduel, 208; + changes Uther into form of Gorlois, 209; + Arthur when an infant confided to, 210, 214; + magic arts of, 211; + and Vivian, 211-213; + reveals Arthur's parentage, 215; + adviser of Arthur, 216, 217; + frames laws for knights of Round Table, 218. +MER-O-VIN GI-AN. Rulers of the Franks, 36. +MEUR'VIN. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM, 163. +MIL'AN. Invested by imperial army, 123. +MIL'DN. Father of Roland, 133, 141; + quest of for jewel, 134, 135. +MIM'UNG. Sword of Wittich, 115; + Wittich loses, and Hildebrand restores, 116; + Heime steals, 121; + Wittich recovers, 122. +MO-HAM'MED. Ferracute calls upon, 143. +MON-TAU-BAN'. Renaud builds fortress at, 156; + siege of, 156; + Renaud escapes to, 157; + Charlemagne again besieges, 159; + Charlemagne a captive in, 160; + Aymon's sons escape from, 160; + Renaud returns to, 161. +MONTFAUCON (mon-f[=o]-ko[n=]'). Adventure of Renaud and Bayard at, 159. +MONT'GLAVE, GUER'IN DE. A _chanson de geste_, 139. +MONT-SAL'VATCH. Holy Grail on, 185; + Frimoutel weary of life on, 189; + Parzival's first visit to, 193; + Gawain on the way to, 197; + Parzival's second visit to, 199; + Parzival king on, 200; + Lohengrin's return to, 201; + Else goes to, 203. +MOOR. Fierefiss a, 200. +MOOR'ISH. Kings defeated by Cid, 282; + kings send tribute to Cid, 287; + kings warn Cid of danger, 287. +MOOR'LAND. Kingdom of Siegfried, 28. +MOORS. Enmity between Christians and, 154; + Saforet king of, 156; + and Holy Grail, 182; + Rodrigo meets the, 283, 285, 287, 289, 294, 296; + Tizona won from the, 285; + Don Alfonso joins, 290; + Don Alfonso wars against, 293; + at Valencia, 294, 296, 298, 300; + flee at sight of Cid, 299. +MOR'DRED. Related to Arthur, 230; + treachery of, 230; + death of, 231. +MOR'GAN. I. Meliadus wars against 234; + kills Meliadus, 235; + killed by Tristan, 236. + II. Same as Fata Morgana, 95. +MOR-GA'NA. Predictions of, 135; + Ogier meets, 138; + mother of Meurvin, 139; + mother of Oberon, 166; + steals Arthur's scabbard, 231; + conveys Arthur to Avalon, 232. +MO-ROC'CO. Bucar king of, 298. +MO'ROLD. Comes to Cornwall to claim tribute, 236; + challenged and slain by Tristan, 237; + Iseult discovers murderer of, 240. +MORTE D'ARTHUR. By Malory, 219. +MOSES. A hypocrite, 184. +MUN-TA-BURE'. In mirage, 95; + Ortnit besieges, 97. + +NAe'GE-LING. Sword of Beowulf, 12. +NA'GEL-RING. Sword of Dietrich, 111, 112, 117. +NAISMES DE BAVIERE (n[=a]m de bave-er'). "Nestor of the Carolingian + legends," 144. +NANTES. Arthur's court at, 191. +NA-VARRE'. Charlemagne's wars in, 141, 143; + Don Sancho king of, 289; + Infantes of, 297. +NEN'NI-US. Writes romances, 204, 307. +NES'TOR. Naismes de Baviere like, 144. +NETH'ER-LANDS. Reynard in the, 35; + kingdom of the, 54. +NEW TROY. Same as London, 309. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN. Hoard, 55, 63, 70, 77, 127; + land, 55, 61, 64. +NI'BE-LUNG-EN-LIED, 53-85; + Gudrun alluded to in, 22; + Germany's greatest epic, 53; + end of, 85; + incidents in, 126, 242. +NI'BE-LUNGS. Treasure of, 53; + followers of Siegfried, 61; + Brunhild escorted by, 62; + guard Siegfried's son, 64; + mourning and wrath of, 69; + Burgundians called, 75; + fall of, 126. +NIC-O-DE'MUS. Slain by Jews, 183. +NJOR'FE. King of Uplands, friend of Viking and Halfdan, 248; + sons of attack Viking's sons, 249. +NO'BEL. King of the animals, 36; + anger of against Reynard, 37; + Brown returns to, 41; + Reynard before, 43; + hears of treasure, 45; + pardons Reynard, 46; + discovers Lampe's murder, 47. +NON'NEN-WORTH. Hildegarde retires to convent of, 150; + Roland lingers near, 151. +NOR'MAN-DY. Ludwig king of, 28; + Gudrun taken to, 29; + Ortwine comes to, 32; + Rollo settles in, 280. +NOR'MANS. Conquer England, 9; + pursued by Hegelings, 29; + and Hegelings, 32; + invade Paris, 138; + strategy of, 277; + defeated by Ella, 279; + found Lunduna Burg, 280. +NORNS. Frithiof's vision of, 267. +NORSE. Origin of Gudrun, 22; + literary treasures, 246. +NORSE'MEN. Tristan and the, 235, 236. +NORTH. Literary treasures of, 246; + gods and heroes of, 246; + Thorsten owner of great treasures of, 251. +NORTH CAPE. Discovered by Othere, 18. +NORTH-GAL'LIS. Queen of, 232. +NORTH'MEN. Kidnap Tristan, 235. +NOR-THUM'BER-LAND. Ella king of, 278. +NOR'WAY. Wilkina land is, 121; + ships from, 235; + Halogaland in, 246; + Uplands in, 248; + Ringrie in, 255; + Ragnar's sojourn in, 271. +NU'DUNG. Son of Ruediger, death of, 126. + +O'BE-RON. I. Poem by Wieland, and opera by Weber, 163. + II. King of fairies, 163; + Huon sees, 166; + magic horn of, 167; + gives horn and goblet to Huon, 168; + ring of, 169; + shelters Huon, and sends Malebron to his aid, 170; + Rezia's vision of, 171; + promises aid to Huon and Rezia, 172; + comes to Huon's aid, 173; + warns Oberon, 174; + Huon disobeys, 175; + Titania and, 175, 176, 179; + Huon rescued by, 178, 181; + brings Huon to fairyland, 179, 181; + Julius Caesar father of, 210. +O'DA. Daughter of Constantine, 89; + Rother wooes and wins, 89-93; + kidnaped by magician, 93; + Rother rescues, 94; + Helche daughter of, 94. +O'DEN-WALD. Death of Siegfried in the, 67, 71. +O-DI'LI-A. Wife of Dietmar, 110. +O'DIN. Hrothgar a descendant of, 9; + Skeaf sent by, 10; + Loki comes north with, 246; + Sigurd Ring dedicates himself to, 266; + ancestor of Danish kings, 269. +OF'TER-DING-EN, VON. Supposed author of "Nibelungenlied," 53; + "Heldenbuch" partly compiled from, 86. +O'GIER LE DAN'OIS. A _chanson de geste_, 135. +O'GIER THE DANE. A paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + a hostage, 135; + marries Bellissande, 136; + admiration of Danes for, 136; + quarrels with Charlemagne, 136; + terror and escape of, 137; + made king of England, 138; + shipwreck of, 138; + magic crown and ring of, 138; + son of, 139; + boast of, 140; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + death of, 148. +OLD TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + Wolfdietrich and Sigeminne return to, 106. +OL'GER. See _Ogier_. +OL'I-VANT. Horn of Roland, 139; + blasts on, 145, 146. +OL'I-VER. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + champion of Duke of Genoa, 139; + fights with Roland, 139, 149; + boast of, 140; + son of, 140; + advises Roland to blow his horn, 145; + death of, 147, 148; + sister of, 149; + and Malagigi, 160. +OR-GUEIL-LEUSE', DUCHESS. Adventure of Gawain and, 197; + Gawain marries, 198. +OR'I-LUS, LORD. Parzival's adventure with wife of, 191; + Parzival defeats, 196. +ORK'NEY ISLANDS. Conquest of, 250; + Frithiof sent to, 258; + Frithiof and Bjoern in, 259. +OR-LAN'DO FU-RI-O'SO, 211, 302. +OR-LAN'DO IN-NA-MO-RA'TO, 302. +ORT'GIS. A magician, holds Virginal a captive, 113; + Jambas son of, 114. +ORT'LIEB. Son of Kriemhild, 73; + killed by Hagen, 80. +ORT'NIT. I. Poem of the ninth century, 86. + II. Lombardian king, vision of, 94; + vow of, 95; + adventures of with Alberich, 96; + adventures and marriage of, 97; + goes to kill dragons, 98; + death of, 99; + ancestors rule over Lombardy, 100; + Wolfdietrich wants aid of, 104; + Wolfdietrich vows to avenge, 107; + ring of, 108; + widow of. 127. +OR'TRUNE. Sister of Hartmut. 30; + saved by Gudrun, 33; + marries Siegfied. 34. +ORT'WINE. I. Son of Hettel and Hilde, 27; + comes to rescue Gudrun, 31; + wooes Hildburg, 32; + marries Hildburg, 34. + II. Vassal of Gunther, 56; + goes to Hungary, 75. + III. Son of Helche, 125. +O-SAN'TRIX. Etzel wars against, 121; + Hertnit brother of, 121. +OS'BORN. See _Asprian_. +OS'TRO-GOTHS. Defeated by Alboin, 87. +O'THERE. Discoverer of North Cape, sons of, 18. +OT'NIT. See _Ortnit_. +OT'U-EL, SIR. Story of, 143. +OX'FORD. Walter Map, Archdeacon of, 182. + +PAD'AUWE. Same as Padua, Dietrich takes, 126. +PAD'U-A. See _Padauwe_. +PAL'MER-INS. Cycle of. 302. +PAM-PLO'NA. Siege of, 140, 141. +PAN-DRA'SUS. King of Greece, defeated by Brutus, 308. +PAN-NO'NI-A. Gepidae and Lombards in, 86. +PAPILLON (p[)a]-p[=e]-yo[n=]'). The magic horse, 138. +PAR'IS. I. Judgment of, 51; + picture of in act of kidnaping Helen, 304. +PAR'IS. II. Invasion of, 138; + news of Roland's death brought to, 149; + Renaud's journey to, 157; + Malagigi in, 158; + Renaud's body to be brought to, 162; + Huon in, 163, 179; + siege of, 180. +PAR-ME'NI-A. Meliadus lord of, 234. +PAR'ZI-VAL. I. Poem of, 182. +PAR'ZI-VAL. II. Birth of, 188; + youth of, 189; + starts out into the world, 190; + adventures of on the way to Nantes, 191; + wins armor, 192; + visits Gurnemanz and Belripar, and marries Conduiramour, 192; + visits Montsalvatch, 193, 199; + seeks Holy Grail, 195; + knighted by Arthur, 196; + Gawain seeks, 196; + fights Gawain, 198; + at the hermit's, 199; + meets Fierefiss, 199; + made king of Holy Grail, 200; + children of, 201; + Lohengrin son of, 203; + sees Holy Grail, 73. +PAS'SAU. Kriemhild's arrival at, 73; + Burgundians at, 76; + funeral mass at, 85. +PEL'LI-NORE, SIR. Arthur and, 216. +PEN-DRAG'ON. Son of Constans, 205; + war of Britons under, 208. +PEN'TE-COST. Arthur's feast at, 217, 224. +PEP'IN. Charlemagne son of, 129. +PER-I-DE'US. A giant, kills Alboin, 88. +PER'SI-A. Sultan of. 298; + Alexander's conquest of, 306. +PE'TER, ST. Cid's vision of, 298. +PHIL'IP. I. Of Spain, oath of in favor of Arthur, 232. +PHIL'IP. II. Of Macedon, death of, 305. +PI-AZ'ZA OF ST. MARK'S. Stone lion on the, 281. +PIER-LE-PONT'. Castle of Aymon, 154; + Aymon's sons leave, 156; + Charlemagne comes to, 157. +PIL'GRIM. Bishop of Passau, welcomes Kriemhild, 73; + Burgundians visit, 76; + mass for the dead by, 85. +PIN'A-BEL. Champion of Ganelon, 148. +PLYM'OUTH. Same as Lam Goemagot, 309. +PO'LAND, 125. +POL-Y-OL'BI-ON. By Drayton, 310. +PON'CE DE LE-ON'. Quest of, 306. +POPE. Asks aid of Charlemagne, 129; + Huon and the, 164, 174, 175, 180; + reconciles Arthur and Lancelot, 229; + emperor of Germany complains to, 287; + and Ferdinand, 288; + and Cid, 288, 289. +POR'TU-GAL. Hildburg a princess of, 23. +PO'RUS. Alexander's fight with, 306. +PRES'TER JOHN. Holy Grail intrusted to, 201. +PRI'AM. Descendants of, 307. +PYR'E-NEES. Defeat in the, 130, 144; + Aymon in the, 154. + +RA'BEN. Same as Ravenna, taken by imperial army, 123; + battle of, 126. +RAG'NAR LOD'BROK. 269-281; + saga of, 269; + successor of Sigurd Ring when only fifteen, 270; + marries Lodgerda, 270; + marries Thora, 272; + sons of, 272, 274, 275, 276, 279; + and Krake, 273-275; + battles of, 277; + and Ella, 278; + death of, 278. +RA-MI'RO, DON. Quarrel of with Ferdinand, 286; + wars against Don Sancho, 289. +RAND'WER. Son of Ermenrich, death of, 123. +RA-OUL' DE BEAU-VAIS'. Metrical version of story of Tristan + attributed to, 234. +RAUCH-EL'SE. The witch, Wolfdierich meets, 104; + transformation of, 105. +RA-VEN'NA. Longinus intrenched in, 88; + same as Raben, 123. +RE-DEEM'ER. Blood of the, 183. +RED KNIGHT. Parzival and the, 191, 192. +RED SEA. Huon at the, 165, 170. +REI'NE-KE FUCHS. Epic of, 35; + Goethe's poem of, 36. +REI'NOLD. See _Renaud_. +RE-NAUD' DE MON-TAU-BAN'. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + defeated by Ferracute, 142; + body of, 148; + son of Aymon, 154; + receives Bayard and Flamberge, 155; + prowess of, 155; + avenges Alard and flees, 156; + marries Clarissa, and builds Montauban, 156; + goes to rescue his brothers, 157; + loses and recovers Bayard, 157; + betrayed by Iwo, 158; + saves Iwo, 159; + and Roland, 159; + on Montfaucon, 159; + sacrifices Bayard, 161; + sets out for Holy Land, 161; + death of, 162. +RE-PANSE' DE JOIE. Daughter of Frimoutel, 188; + jeweled garment sent by, 193; + bears Holy Grail, 193, 199; + marriage of, 200, 201. +REUSSEN (rois'sen). Vlyas prince of the, 94; + Waldemar king of, 125. +REY'NARD THE FOX, 35-52; + epic of, 302; + importance of story of, 303. +RE'ZI-A. Princess, dream of, 171; + bridal array of, 172; + escapes with Huon, 173; + embarks at Ascalon, 174; + conversion and marriage of, 175; + Amanda same as, 175. +RHINE. Franks cross, 35; + Xanten on, 54, 64; + Siegfried rides down along, 55; + Gunther's journey on, 59, 61; + Nibelungen hoard in, 71, 77; + Worms on, 120; + Charlemagne dwells near, 129, 130; + Roland's name connected with, 150; + Nonnenwoerth in, 151; + Renaud's body cast in, 162. +RHON, VON DER. Edited "Heldenbuch," 86. +RHYM'ER. Thomas of Ercildoune the, 234. +RICH'ARD. Son of Aymon, 154; + prisoner of Roland, 159. +RI-CHOU'DE. I. Wife of Titurel, 188. + II. Daughter of Titurel, 188. +RIM'STEIN. Revolt and defeat of, 122. +RI-NAL'DO DE TREB-I-ZON'DE. A _chanson de geste_, 152. +RING. Son of Viking, 248. +RING'RIC. Sigurd Ring king of, 255; + Frithiof in, 267. +RIS'PA. Horse of Helme, 115. +RI-VA-LIN'. See _Meliadus_. +ROB'ERT DE BOR'RON. Works of, 182, 204, 205, 219, 234. +ROB'ERT OF SIC'I-LY, KING. In Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn," 302. +ROD-RI'GO DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RO'GEN-WALD. Son of Ragnar, 274; + death of, 276. +ROG'ER. See _Hrothgar_. +ROG'ERS. Translator of "Reineke Fuchs," 36. +ROHAND (r[=o]'an). See _Kurvenal_. +RO'LAND. Paladin of Charlemagne, 129; + birth and childhood of, 133; + fights knight of the Ardennes, 134; + knighted, 135; + duel with Oliver, 139; + horn of, 139, 145, 146; + character of, 141; + combat with Ferracute, 142; + combat with Otuel, 143; + at battle of Roncesvalles, 144; + kills Veillantif, 145; + breaks Durandana, 146; + death of, 147; + squire of, 148; + betrothed to Aude, 149; + bethrothed to Hildegarde, 150; + death and burial of, 151; + treats with Aymon, 154; + and Renaud, 159; + Renaud intrusts his family to, 161; + Italian cycle treats of, 302. +RO'LAND, CHAN'SON DE, 130. +RO'LAND RISE. See _Meliadus_. +RO'LANDS-ECK. Retreat of Roland, 151. +ROLF GANG'ER. Same as Rollo, 280. +ROL'LO. Famous giant, independence of, 280. +ROM'A-BURG. Wolfdietrich goes to, 109; + Dietrich visits, 117; + Dietrich crowned at, 127; + threatened invasion of, 277. +RO-MANCE' LITERATURE. General survey of, 301-310. +ROMAN DE TROIE (r[=o]-m[)o]n' de trwa). Popularity of, 304. +RO'MANS. And Jews, 183; + claim Aeneas, 307; + Britain invaded by, 309. +ROME. Martin the ape on his way to, 49; + same as Romaburg, 109, 117, 127, 277; + Charlemagne crowned at, 155; + Huon at, 164, 174, 180; + Sherasmin at, 177; + Merlin goes to, 210; + Don Sancho visits, 288; + early history of, 304; + Alexander conquers, 306. +RONCESVALLES (r[=o]n-ces-vael'yes). Battle of, 129, 140, 144-147, 150. +ROS'A-MUND. Wife of Alboin, 87; + rebellion and death of, 88. +ROSE GARDEN. I. Laurin's, 118. + II. Kriemhild's, 120. +RO'SEN. Sword of Ortnit, 96, 98; + Wolfdietrich finds, 108. +ROT'HER. King of Lombardy, 88; + wooing of, 89-91; + captures Imelot, 92; + kidnaps Oda. 92; + second journey to Constantinople, 93; + secures his wife, 94; + accompanied by Berchther, 100. +ROU-ME'LI-A. Wolfdietrich's ride through, 104. +ROUND TABLE. Knights tell Parzival of, 190; + Parzival admitted to the, 196, 198; + knights of, 200, 224, 225; + legend of, 204; + Merlin establishes, 208; + Arthur receives, 217; + at Camelot, 218; + Lancelot the principal knight of, 219, 220; + Gareth admitted to, 222; + Geraint one of knights of, 222; + feast at, 225; + Sir Bedivere a knight of, 231. +RU'AL. See _Kurvenal_. +RUeCK'E-NAU, FRAU, 50, 51. +RUe'DI-GER. Sues for Kriemhild, 71, 72; + oath of, 82, 82; + castle of, 73; + warns Burgundians, 76; + entertains Burgundians, 77; + refrains from tournament, 79; + safe-conduct granted to. 81; + forced to fight, 83; + death of, 83; + at Rose Garden on Rhine, 120; + saves Dietrich, 125; + son of, 126. +RU'MOLT. Squire of Gunther, 75. +RUNES. Magic letters of the North, 276. +RU-OT'ZE. Giantess who hatches magic eggs, 98. +RUS'SIA. A part of Reussen. 125. +RUS-TI'CI-EN DE PISE. 234. +RUY DI'AZ. See _Cid_. +RY'ANCE. King of Ireland, last battle and death of, 217. + +SA-BENE'. Guardian of Hildburg, 102; + machinations of, 103; + besieges Lilienporte, 104; + defeated and slain, 108. +SA-BRI'NA. Drowned in Severn. 309. +SA-FO-RET'. Aymon's sons serve and kill, 156. +SAINT O-MER'. Ogier a prisoner at, 136. +SAINTS'BUR-Y, 204. +SALISBURY (s[a:]wlz'b[)e]r-[)i]). Fortress on, 205, 207. +SAM'SON. Father of Dietmar, 110. +SAN'CHO, DON. King of Castile, Cid serves, 288; + a prisoner, 289; + freed by Cid. 288; + robs his sisters, 290; + banishes and recalls Cid, 291; + death of, 291. +SAN'GRE-AL. Same as Holy Grail, 201. +SAN PE'DRO DE CAR-DEN'A. Given to Cid, 285; + Cid buried at, 300. +SAN-TI-A'GO DE COM-POS-TE'LA, 140, 285. +SAR'A-CEN. Huon's encounters with, 172. +SAR'A-CENS. Charlemagne defeats, 129, 140, 141, 144, 147, 148; + device of, 143; + Roland and, 145; + Sherasmin escapes from, 165; + Titurel wars against, 185. +SAR-A-GOS'SA. Marsiglio in, 144; + Cid besieges, 289. +SAV'IOR. Dish used by, 183. +SAX'ONS. Luedeger king of, 56; + led by Hengist, 208; + Arthur wars against, 217. +SAX'O-NY. Burgundian army enters, 57. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-A. Iliad in. 304. +SCAN-DI-NA'VI-AN. Raids and settlements, 280; + cycle, 301, 302. +SCOT'LAND. Arthur's name in, 214; + Leodegraunce king of, 217; + same as Albania, 309. +SCRATCH-FOOT. Death and epitaph of, 39. +SEINE. Bayard drowned in, 161; + Renaud casts Flamberge in, 161. +SEN'LIS, COUNTESS OF, 138. +SEV'ERN. Named after Sabrina, 309. +SHAKES'PEARE, 163, 305, 309, 310. +SHAR-FE-NEB'BE. Killed by Reynard, 47. +SHER-AS-MIN'. Same as Gerasmes, Huon finds, 165; + accompanies Huon into forest, 166; + Oberon displeased with, 167; + forgiven by Oberon, 168; + journeys to Bagdad, 171; + helps Huon to elope with Rezia, 173; + journeys to France, 174; + quest of, 177; + in fairyland, 179; + duel of, 180; + casket stolen from, 180. +SI'BICH. Wife of, 122; + kills Ermenrich, 126; + death of, 127. +SIC'-ILY. Part of Ortnit's realm, 94. +SID'RAT. Vision of, 95; + elopes with Ornit, 97. +SIE'GE-LIND. I. Mother of Siegfried, 54; + death of, 64. + II. A swan maiden who prophesies to Hagen, 75. +SIEGE PER'IL-OUS. Vacant place at Round Table called, 184; + Parzival in the, 196; + Merlin in the, 213; + the empty, 218; + Galahad in the, 224. +SIEG'FRIED. I. King of Moorland, suitor of Gudrun, 28; + invades Zealand, 28; + joins Hettel and Herwig, 29; + marriage of, 34. +SIEG'FRIED. II. Same as Sigurd, 53; + parentage and birth of, 54; + goes to Worms, 55; + prowess of, 56, 57; + wooes Kriemhild, 58; + with Gunther in Issland, 58-61; + Nibelung warriors of, 61; + marriage of, 62; + conquers Brunhild, 63; + in Xanten, 64; + invited to Worms, 64; + punishes Kriemhild, 65; + Hagen plots against, 66; + betrayal and death of, 67; + burial of, 69; + mourning for, 70; + body of removed to Lorch, 71; + Kriemhild mourns for, 73; + Hagen confesses murder of, 78; + sword of, 84; + Swanhild daughter of, 123; + Kriemhild widow of, 126. +SIEG'MUND. Father of Siegfried, 54; + welcomes Kriemhild, 64; + visits Worms, 64; + hears news of Siegfried's death, 69. +SI'GE-BANT. Father of Hagen, 23; + death of, 24. +SI-GE-MIN'NE. Same as Rauch-Else, transformation of, 105; + marriage and kidnaping of, 105; + rescued by Wolfdietrich, 106; + Liebgart resembles, 107; + magic shirt given by, 108. +SI-GE-NOT'. Dietrich's adventure with, 112; + Hildebrand's encounter with, 113. +SI'GUNE. Daughter of Josiane, 188; + Parzival finds, 191, 195. +SI'GURD. Same as Siegfried, 53; + Danish dynasty traces origin to, 269; + Fafnisbane, 274. +SI'GURD RING. Sues for Ingeborg's hand, 255; + kings of Sogn make treaty with, 256; + Frithiof offers to conquer, 257; + marries Ingeborg, 261, 269; + Frithiof visits, 264; + hunting expedition of, 265; + death of, 266, 270; + son of, 266; + marries Alfild, 269; + wooes Alfsol, 270. +SI'GURD THE SNAKE-EYED. Son of Ragnar, 275. +SI-MIL'DE. See _Kunhild_. +SI-MILT'. See _Kunhild_. +SIN'DOLT. Helps Siegfried, 56. +SIN'TRAM. Dietrich delivers, 117. +SKEAF. Son of Odin, 9; + career of, 10. +SKIOLD. Same as Skeaf, 9, 10. +SKIOL'DUNGS. Dynasty of, 9. +SOD'OM. Huon and Amanda deluded by apples of, 175. +SOGN. Kingdom of taken by Jokul, 249; + kings of, Sigurd Rings threaten war against, 255. +SOL-DA[=N]'A. City given to Cid. 285. +SOL-TA'NE. Forest where Parzival was brought up, 188. +SOL'WAY FIRTH. Battle of, 205. +SONS OF AY'MON, 152-162. +SO'TE. A pirate, stole Voelund ring, 251. +SPAIN. Charlemagne in, 129, 140, 143, 144; + Roland in, 149, 150; + Aymon in, 154; + Montsalvatch in, 185; + Arabs in, 282; + patron of, 285. +SPAN-GAR-HE'DE. Ragnar at, 273. +SFAN'IARDS. Legend of Holy Grail christianized by, 182; + Richoude belongs to, 188; + battle cry of, 287. +SPAN'ISH. Cortes, 297; + cycle, 302. +SPEN'SER. "Faerie Queene" of. 211, 310. +STEI'ER-MARK. Province of given to Dietlieb, 118; + Dietlieb of, 120. +STE'PHEN, ST. Church of, 215. +STONE'HENGE. Work of Merlin, 208, 211. +STU'DAS. Father of Heime, 115. +STYR'I-A. See _Steiermark_. +SU'DERS. Ortnit sets sail for, 97. +SUL'TAN. Daughter of, 164; + Amanda to be sold as slave to, 176; + gardens of, 177; + Amanda refuses to marry, 178; + sends embassy to Cid, 298. +SU'SAT. Dietrich goes to, 124; + Waldemar's son a captive in, 125; + Dietrich's mournful return to, 126. +SVITH'I-OD. Eystein king of, 274. +SWAN'HILD. Daughter of Siegfried and Kriemhild, death of, 123; + brothers of, 126. +SWAN KNIGHT. Lohengrin the, 203. +SWE'DEN. Eadgils king of, 19; + part of Wilkina land, 121; + Viking in, 247; + Svithiod same as, 274. +SWEDES. Beowulf conquers, 12. +SWE'DISH. Writers, 246; + princess, Hunvor a, 247; + king, Eystein the, 276. +SWEM'MEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74. +SWIN'BURNE, 204, 234. +SWORDS. See _Naegeling_, _Nagelring_, _Mimung_, + _Eckesax_, _Joyeuse_, _Durandana_, + _Altecler_, _Flamberge_, _Excalibur_, + _Angurvadel_, _Tizona_, _Colada_. +SYR'I-A. Ortnit's journey to, 95. + +TAN'TRIS. Same as Tristan, 238. +TA-RAS-CO'NI-A. Iwo prince of, 156. +TARN'KAP-PE. Siegfried and, 55, 60; + Laurin and, 119. +TCHIO-NA-TU-LAN'DER. And Sigune, 188; + Parzival to avenge, 191; + shrine of, 195. +TEG-NER'. Writings of, 246, 267. +TEM'PLARS Guardians of Holy Grail called, 186; + divine guidance of, 187; + anticipation of, 189; + disappointment of, 199; + customs of, 202; + renown of, 301. +TEN'NY-SON, 204. +TEU-TON'IC. Cycle, 301. +THAMES. Brutus visits the, 309. +THE-OD'O-RIC. Of Verona, same as Dietrich of Bern, no, 127; + tomb of, 128. +THE-OD-O-RI'CUS. And Roland at Roncesvalles, 146, 147. +THE'SEUS. Adventures of, 249. +THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Walgundof, 100; + Hugdietrich at, IOO; + Berchther at, 101. +THIE'DRIC. Roland's squire, 148. +THING. Convoked by Hygd, 18; + Beowulf elected by, 19; + Bele convokes, 252; + Ragnar recognized by, 270. +THOM'AS, LORD, 245. +THOM'AS OF ER'CIL-DOUNE, 234. +THO'RA. Daughter of Jarl Herrand, 271; + Ragnar rescues and marries, 272; + sons and death of, 272. +THO'RER. Son of Viking, 249. +THOR'STEN. I. Saga, 246. + II. Son of Viking, receives Angurvadel, 249; + shipwrecks of, 250; + marriage and conquests of, 250; + at Framnaes, 251; + father of Frithiof, 251, 260, 261; + last interview with Bele, 252; + death and burial of, 252. +THU'RI-SIND. King of Gepidae, 86: + granddaughter of, 87. +TIN-TA'GEL. In Cornwall, Gorlois lord of, 209; + Uther's secret visit to, 209; + Mark at, 235; + Tristan at, 236; + Iseult to go to, 240. +TI-TA'NI-A. Queen of the fairies, 175; + carries off Huonet, 176; + restored to Oberon's favor, 179. +TIT'U-REL. And the Holy Grail, 182-203; + Von Eschenbach's poem of, 182; + birth of, 185; + vision of, 185; + sees Holy Grail, 186; + builds temple, 186; + guardian of Holy Grail, 187; + children of, 188; + intercedes for Amfortas, 189; + crowns Parzival, 200; + disappearance of, 200. +TI-TU'RI-SONE. Pilgrimage of, 185. +TI'TUS. Disease of, 183; + miraculous cure of, 184. +TI-ZO'NA. Sword of Cid, won from Moors, 285, 294; + given to Infante of Carrion, 296; + recovered by Cid, 297; + dead Cid draws, 300; + inscription on, 300. +TO-LE'DO. School of magic at, 153; + Don Alfonso at, 290; + Cid at, 291; + Don Alfonso a prisoner at, 292; + Yahia ruler of, 294; + Cortes at, 297. +TO'RO. City given to Dona Elvira, 288; + taken by Don Sancho, 290. +TOUR'MONT. Huon at, 169. +TOURS. Origin of name, 308. +TRAN-SYL-VA'NI-A. Herrat princess of, 126. +TREV'RE-ZENT. Son of Frimoutel, 188; + Parzival visits, 199. +TRI-ENT'. Dwelling place of dragons, 98. +TRIS'TAN. Ogier and, 138; + legend of, 204; + story of, 234-245. +TRIS'TREM. See _Tristan_. +TRO'I-LUS. And Cressida, story of, 305. +TRON'JE. Hagen of, 124. +TROY. Sigeminne queen of, 105; + downfall of, 303. +TU'NIS. Huon, Amanda, Fatima, and Sherasmin in, 177; + Galafre king of, 180. +TU-ROL'DUS. Probable author of "Chanson de Roland," 130. +TU-RO'NUS. Nephew of Brutus, 308. +TUR'PIN. Latin chronicle attributed to, 129, 140; + adviser of Charlemagne, 131, 132, 147, 156. +TYRE. See _Suders_. +TY-RO'LE-AN, 113, 118. + +UL'FIN. Councilor of Uther, 209. +U-LYS'SES. In mediaeval literature, 303. +UOTE (w[=o]'te). See _Ute II_. +UP'LANDS. Njorfe king of, 248. +UR-RA'CA, DONA. Receives Zamora, 288; + loses Zamora, 289; + pleads for Alfonso, 290; + besieged by Don Sancho, 290; + reviles Cid, 291; + warns Alfonso of Sancho's death, 292. +U'TA. See _Ute II_. +U'TE. I. Queen of Burgundy, 53; + interprets Krieinhild's dream, 54; + at tournament, 57; + Pilgrim, brother of, 73; + disapproves of journey to Hungary, 74. +U'TE. II. Marries Hildebrand, 112; + rejoined by Hildebrand, 127. +U'THER. Son of Constans, 205; + fights with Vortigern and Hengist, 208; + Merlin builds palace for, 208; + changed into form of Gorlois, 209; + marries Yguerne, 210; + death of, 210; + father of Arthur, 214, 215; + a descendant of Brutus, 309. + +VAL-DUER'NA. Given to Rodrigo, 285. +VALE OF THORNS. See _Roncesvalles_. +VA-LEN'CI-A. Taken by Moors, 294, 300; + recovered by Cid, 294; + Cid master of, 295; + Moors besiege, 296, 298; + Cid's return to, 296, 296; + Christians cannot hold, 299; + evacuation of, 300. +VAL-HAL'LA. Ragnar summoned to, 278. +VAL'KYRS. Brunhild one of the, 274; + Ragnar warned by, 278. +VA-RAN'GI-AN GUARD. The, 281. +VEILLANTIF (v[=a]-[:a]n-t[=e]f). Roland kills, 145. +VEN'ICE. Lion of, 281. +VER'GEN. Place on Danube, 73. +VE-RO'NA. Same as Bern, 77, 110; + Theodoric of, 110; + tomb of Theodoric near, 128. +VE-RON'I-CA, ST. Story of, 183. +VES-PA'SI-AN. Sends commission to Jerusalem, 183; + at Jerusalem, 184; + at Rome, 185. +VI-A'NE. Renaud meets Aude at siege of, 149. +VI-EN'NA. Library at, 22; + wedding at, 73. +VIK. Frithiof enters the, 264. +VI'KING. Grandson of Haloge, 247; + early adventures and marriage of, 247; + second marriage of, 248; + adventures of sons of, 248; + Aegir gives Ellida to, 250. +VIR'GIL. In "Rome la Grant," 307. +VIR'GIN-AL. Dietrich's adventure with, 113, 114; + Dietrich forsaken by, 123. +VIV'I-AN. And Merlin, 211-213; + Lancelot stolen by, 219. +VOL'KER. Follower of Gunther, receives gifts, 77; + ally of Hagen, 78; + kills Hun, 80; + might of, 81. +VOL'SUNG. The race, 110. +VOL'SUNG-A SA'GA, 53, 269. +VOe'LUND. The smith, 115, 250; + ring of, 253, 257. +VOR'TI-GERN. Made king and builds fortress, 205; + messengers of, 206; + death of, 208; + advised by Merlin, 210. +VOS'GES. See _Wasgenstein_. +VUL-CA'NUS, MOUNT. Malagigi's adventure at, 153. + +WACE. Writer of metrical tale of Brutus, 307. +WA-CHIL'DE. And Wittich,115, 126. +WACK'ER-LOS. Complaint of, 36, 38. +WAG'NER. Used mediaeval legends, 182, 204, 234. +WAL'DE-MAR. King of Reussen, Dietrich wars against, 125. +WA-LEIS'. Battle at, 27. +WALES. Arthur's name in, 214. +WAL'GUND OF THES-SA-LO-NI'CA. Hugdietrich's visit to, 100; + finds grandson with wolf, 102. +WAL'THER VON WAS'GEN-STEIN. Champion of Ermenrich, 118; + at Gerimsburg, 122; + a hostage in Hungary, 124; + elopes with Hildegunde, 124; + marries Hildegunde, 125. +WAS'GEN-STEIN. Walther and Hildegunde flee to, 124. +WAT. Follower of Hettel, 25; + athletic skill of, 26; + wounds Hagen, 27; + fosters Ortwine, 27; + to be Gudrun's deliverer, 31; + challenges Normans, 32; + kills Gerlinda, 33. +WAX'MUTH. Son of Hildburg, 103; + and Hugdietrich, 103. +WAY'LAND. See _Wieland_. +WEAL'THEOW. Wife of Hrothgar, 15. +WE'BER. "Oberon" of, 163. +WELSH. Poetry, 204; + version of Tristan, 234. +WE'NER, LAKE. Battle of, 249. +WER'BEL. Hungarian minstrel, 74; + Hagen strikes off hand of, 80. +WE'SER. See _Wisara_. +WES'TER-LANDS. Queen of, 232. +WEST-PHA'LI-A. Dortmund in, 162. +WHIT'A-BY. Ragnar at, 271; + second battle at, 276. +WIE'LAND. I. The smith, weapons of, 115, 154. + II. "Oberon" of, 163. +WIF'LIS-BURG. Hastings at, 276. +WIG'LAF. Avenges Hardred, 19; + accompanies Beowulf, 19; + saves Beowulf's life, 20. +WIL-DE'BER. Joins Dietrich, 117; + in Hungary, 121; + escape of, 122. +WIL-KI'NA LAND. Dietrich invades, 121. +WIN'CHES-TER, See _Camelot_. +WI-SA'RA. Falster wood on banks of, 117. +WIT'IG. See _Wittich_. +WIT'TICH. Son of Wieland, starts for Bern, 115; + conquers Dietrich, 116; + goes to Rose Garden, 118; + made prisoner, 121; + released, 122; + pursued by Dietrich and saved by Wachilde, 126. +WOLF-DIE'TRICH. Rescue of, 102; + at Meran, 103; + besieges Constantinople, 103, 108; + adventures with Rauch-Else, 104; + marries Sigeminne, 105; + kills Drusian, 106; + adventure with Belligan, 106; + kills dragon and marries Liebgart, 108; + descendants of, 109. +WOLF'HART. Nephew of Hildebrand, 112; + in Rose Garden, 118, 120. +WOL'FRAM VON ESCH'EN-BACH, 86, 182, 204. +WORMS. Capital of Burgundy, 53; + Siegfried at, 55, 57, 58; + Kriemhild at, 64; + Siegfried carried to, 68; + mourning at, 69; + Ruediger at, 71, 82; + minstrels at, 74; + chaplain returns to, 75; + tidings carried to, 85; + Rose Garden at, 120; + Gunther and Hagen do not return to, 124. +WUeL'PEN-SAND. Battle of, 29. + +XAN'TEN. Tournament at, 54; + Siegfried and Kriemhild at, 64. +XI-ME'NA, DONA. Seeks to avenge her father, 284; + marries Cid, 285; + at Zamora, 287; + Cid parts from, 293; + executes last wishes of Cid, 299. + +YA'HI-A. Grandson of Alimaymon, 294. +Y-GUERNE'. Wife of Gorlois, 209; + marries Uther, 210; + mother of Arthur, 215. +Y-SOLDE'. See _Iseult_. +Y'VOIR-IN OF MONT'BRAND. Uncle of Esclarmonde, 180. +Y'WAIN. Grandson of Yguerne, 209. + +ZA-MO'RA. Cid returns to, 287; + Dona Urraca at, 288, 290; + Don Sancho takes, 289; + siege of, 290, 291; + Don Alfonso's arrival at, 292. +ZEA'LAND. Herwig's kingdom, 28. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS + + +NEW MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HISTORY + + +From Charlemagne to the Present Day + + +By SAMUEL BANNISTER HARDING, Ph.D., Professor of European History, Indiana +University. + + +Based upon the author's "Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern History," +prepared in consultation with ALBERT BUSHNELL HART, LL.D., Professor of +History, Harvard University. + + +While based on the author's previous Essentials in Mediaeval and Modern +History, in the present volume the plan has been so reorganized, the scope +so extended, and the matter so largely rewritten, that the result is +practically a new book. The present volume reflects the suggestions of many +teachers who have used the previous work in their classes. 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