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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/20853-8.txt b/20853-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11dc7dc --- /dev/null +++ b/20853-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2825 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northland Heroes, by Florence Holbrook + +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: Northland Heroes + +Author: Florence Holbrook + +Release Date: March 20, 2007 [EBook #20853] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Ingeborg the Fair] + + + + + + +Northland Heroes + + +By + +FLORENCE HOLBROOK + + +Author of + +"The Hiawatha Primer" "A Book of Nature Myths" etc. + + + +LONDON: GEORGE G. HARRAP & CO. LTD. + +2 & 3 Portsmouth St. Kingsway WC + +AND AT CALCUTTA AND SYDNEY + + + + +First published January 1909 + +by GEORGE G. HARRAP & Co. + +2 & 3 Portsmouth Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2 + + +Reprinted: April 1911; May 1913; + +May 1914; October 1919; July 1922 + + + + +PREFACE + +For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting +the heroic deeds of great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have +delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our +own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of +Beowulf and Frithiof. + +The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. +With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and +patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest +and emulation, this little book is offered to our children. + +"The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop +Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof," and the quotations are used by +the kind permission of Mrs Holcomb and the publishers. + +FLORENCE HOLBROOK. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + + IN HILDING'S GARDEN + KING BELE AND THORSTEN + FRAMNESS + KING HELGE AND FRITHIOF + IN THE COUNTRY OF KING RING + FRITHIOF'S ANSWER + IN BALDER'S GROVE + THE PARTING + FRITHIOF AND ANGANTYR + THE RETURN + BALDER'S FUNERAL PILE + ON THE SEA + THE VIKING'S CODE + FRITHIOF'S RETURN + KING RING AND THE STRANGER + THE RIDE ON THE ICE + IN THE FOREST + KING RING'S DEATH + THE NEW KING + PRITHIOF AT HIS FATHER'S GRAVE + THE RECONCILIATION + + +THE STORY OF BEOWULF + + THE COMING OF SHEAF + THE YOUNG BEOWULF + THE HARPER'S STORY + BEOWULF AND HIS MEN + THE WARDER OF THE SHORE + BEOWULF RECEIVED BY HROTHGAR + THE CONTEST WITH GRENDEL + THE FEAST OF JOY + GRENDEL'S MOTHER + THE WAY TO THE POOL + BEOWULF IN THE POOL + BEOWULF'S RETURN + HROTHGAR HONOURS BEOWULF + BEOWULF AND HYGELAC + THE DRAGON OF THE MOUNTAIN + BEOWULF GOES AGAINST THE DRAGON + WIGLAF AIDS HIS KING + THE DEATH OF BEOWULF + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Ingeborg the Fair . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +King Bele and his sons + +Burial mounds + +Viking ship + +Frithiof asking for Ingeborg + +Ingeborg at Balder's temple + +Frithiof's song + +Into the hall came a man unknown to any there + +King Ring's sleigh + +The boy on the shield + +Ingeborg given to Frithiof + +The departure of Beowulf + +The landing of Beowulf in Hrothgar's realm + +Beowulf presenting his gifts to Hygelac + +The dragon + +Pronouncing vocabulary of proper names + + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + + +In Hilding's Garden + + So they grew up in joy and glee, + And Frithiof was the young oak tree; + Unfolding in the vale serenely + The rose was Ingeborg the queenly. + + +In the garden of Hilding, the teacher, were two young children. +Ingeborg was a princess, the daughter of a King of Norway. The boy, +Frithiof, was a viking's son. Their fathers, King Bele and Thorsten, +were good friends, and the children were brought up together in the +home of Hilding, their foster-father and teacher. + +Hilding was very fond of them both. He called the boy Frithiof an oak, +for he was straight and strong. The little Ingeborg he called his +rose, she was so rosy and sweet. + +All day roaming over field and grove the strong lad cared for the +little maid. If they came to a swift-flowing brook he would carry her +over. When the first spring flowers showed their pretty heads Frithiof +gathered them for Ingeborg. For her he found the red berries and the +golden-cheeked apples. + +In the evening they sat at the feet of their kind teacher and together +they learned to read. Often they danced on the sward at twilight, when +they looked like golden-haired elves in a fairy dance. + +When Frithiof had grown into a sturdy youth he often hunted in the +forests. He was so strong that he needed neither spear nor lance. +When he met the wild bear they struggled breast to breast. Both bear +and youth fought bravely, but at last Frithiof won. Home he went +gaily, carrying the great bear-skin, which he gave to Ingeborg. She +praised his bravery and strength, for every woman loves courage. + +While Frithiof roamed the forest for game, Ingeborg, at the loom, wove +beautiful tapestries. Pictures of sea and grove, blue waters and +waving trees, grew under her deft fingers. Then she wove warriors on +horseback, with their shining shields and their bright red lances. +Soon the face of the leader was seen; 'twas the face of her brave +playmate, Frithiof. + +In the long winter evenings around the fire, Ingeborg heard the story +of the gods. The light shining upon her fair face made her lovely as +one of the goddesses. Frithiof thought her hair as golden as Freya's +treasure. + + When darkness held the quiet earth + They gathered round the welcome hearth, + And Hilding told them stories old + Of gods and kings and heroes bold. + + +So Frithiof and the lovely Ingeborg grew to love each other. But when +Hilding saw that the viking's son dared to love the daughter of a king, +he said: "Frithiof, my dear foster-son, in vain are your hopes. +Ingeborg is a king's daughter. Your reason should tell you that you +cannot marry her. Proud is King Bele of his family descended from the +great god Odin. He will have his daughter marry a prince, not a +yeoman. Well do I love you; brave and handsome are you and strong as +any prince, but you must forget your love for Ingeborg." + +Then the brave youth smiled and said: "I am free-born, and never will I +yield. I killed the forest chief, and honour is mine for the deed. +All power is noble--Thor who hurls the thunderbolts is noble, although +Odin is king of the gods. So free-born men shall never yield though +kings are on the throne. In Thor's kingdom, where all strength is, +worth is king, not lineage. The sword always speaks with power; never +will I forget Ingeborg, but will fight all the world for her." + + The free-born man will never yield, + He owns the world's unconquered field; + Where worth and not descent is leader + The sword is e'er a valiant pleader. + + + + +King Bele and Thorsten + +The words by an old man spoken should not be slighted + + +In the great palace stood the old King Bele and his friend, Thorsten +the faithful. Both had lived brave lives and longed for Valhalla, the +home of heroes. + +"The evening of life comes over me," said King Bele, "but as death +draws nearer, the glory of heaven seems brighter. I have called our +sons to the throne room, dear friend, to speak words of warning and +help. To-morrow it may be that I shall sleep in death, and it will be +too late." + +[Illustration: King Bele and his sons] + +Into the throne room came the two princes obedient to their father's +command. Helge, the elder, was dark and gloomy. Halfdan, the younger, +fair and gay, came with untroubled heart, thinking only of games and +hunting. + +After these came Frithiof, son of Thorsten, taller and stronger than +the princes. He stood between the brothers, shining in beauty like the +sun. + +"Sons of my heart," said the king gently, "my life on earth is ending. +Rule the kingdom together. While you are united no power can destroy +you. Let freedom bloom through all the land, and use your power, O +Helge, as a shield for your people. + +"The power the king possesses comes from the people, and foolish is the +ruler who is cruel and hears not their cry. The great and good king is +merciful, and kindness can do more than cruelty. Boast not of the +greatness of your ancestors. Each man uses but one bowstring, and that +is his own. Who cares for the worth that is buried? The good man is +true to his own heart, and thus makes himself great. + +"A joyous spirit is yours, O Halfdan, and it is good. But idle talk is +needless and weakens kings. Hold fast to your friend and choose the +best, but do not give your love and faith to all men. Fools win no +praise though they be kings, but the wise are loved and honoured by all +men, no matter how lowly they may be." + +Then Thorsten spake: "Not alone, O Bele, shall you go to Odin. Always +have we stood together, and death shall not divide us. + +"Hear me, my son, my Frithiof, and slight not the words of the old. + + "First, give the gods high honour, for good or ill, + Storms come as well as sunshine, by Heaven's will. + Great strength is Heaven's dower; but, Frithiof, learn + That power devoid of wisdom, can little earn. + + +"Obey your king. One must be king, and others are happiest when +obeying wise directions. The shields of brave men are the best +protection for a country against the swords of an enemy, and law is the +best defence against treason. Young men should listen to advice and +should test the strength of friendship by use. + + "All men will surely perish, with all they prize, + But one thing know I, Frithiof, which never dies,-- + And that is reputation! therefore, ever + The noble action strive for, the good endeavour." + + +It was pleasant to hear Bele and Thorsten talk of their lives together. +Much they told of the wonderful adventures of their youth, when they +travelled to strange lands in their swift-moving boats. They had been +friends through good fortune and ill, with hands clasped together and +hearts united. In battle they had stood back to back, facing their +enemies. If one was threatened by an enemy, the other was on guard and +defended his friend. + +The king spoke much of the bravery of Frithiof, and said that his +heroic power was better than all royal birth. Thorsten in return +praised the gifts of Helge and Halfdan. Thus did they give an example +of friendship between a king and his man. With the memory of their +long friendship King Bele urged his sons and Frithiof to be friends too. + + "But hold ye fast together, ye children three, + The Northland then your conqueror shall never see; + For royalty and power, when duly ordered, + Are like a bright shield golden, by blue steel bordered." + + +Then again spoke Bele: "These are my last commands. On you, O Helge, +my eldest son, I place a father's care. Guard and love your sister +Ingeborg. Be gentle and guide her with loving words. Noble spirits +fret under harshness, but loving and gentle manners win all to right +and honour. + +"And now, farewell, my children. Together Thorsten and I go to the +All-father gladly. Lay us in mounds close to the waves of the restless +gulf singing the song of the sea." + +[Illustration: Burial mounds] + + + + +Framness + +So the old king and his faithful friend were united in death as they +had been in life, and were buried on the shore of the loud-singing sea. +Together by the wish of the people did his sons, Helge and Halfdan, +rule the kingdom. + +Frithiof, the son of Thorsten, went to his father's hall, the mighty +Framness. For twelve miles in all directions stretched his broad +acres. The hilltops were covered with birch forests. On the sloping +sides grew the golden corn and the tall rye. Many blue lakes gleamed +like mirrors. Streams rippled over the pebbly beds. In the wide +valleys herds of oxen and sheep were quietly grazing, and in the +stables were twenty-four steeds swift as the whirlwind. + +In the great hall built of choicest fir more than five hundred warriors +gathered at Yule-time. A great table of oak, polished and shining, ran +through the middle from end to end. The floor was covered with straw, +and on the hearth in the centre of the hall a warm and cheerful fire +was always burning. + +On the great nails in the hall hung helmets and coats-of-mail. Between +them flashed swords and sparkling shields. Round the table sat the +warriors, and as often as the drinking-horn needed filling fair maidens +came with the joyous mead. + + All this and other vast treasures did Frithiof receive from + his father, + Scarce was there found in the Northland any with richer + possessions, + Save were he heir to a kingdom, for of kings is the wealth + always greatest. + Though from no king he descended, yet was his mind + truly royal, + Courteous, noble, and kind. Daily became he more famous. + +Rich was the house of Framness. Everywhere plenty and beauty, gleaming +jewels, gold and silver, met the eye of the stranger. But three things +in Framness were most prized by Frithiof and his brave men. First of +the three was a sword which had descended from father to son. The +sword was called Angurvadel, grief-wader, and brother of lightning. +Made in the far east, it had finally come into the hands of Viking, the +father of Thorsten. + +When Viking was a youth of fifteen he heard of a monster ferocious and +shaggy, misshapen and higher in stature than man, who came from the +wood to the palace of a weak old king. This king had a lovely +daughter, and the monster boldly demanded her hand and the kingdom, +offering to meet in hand-to-hand combat any who would say him nay. No +one dared to meet him, for no one had a weapon that could pierce his +hard skull. + +Then came Viking gladly to the combat with Ironskull, and with one blow +of his good sword Angurvadel cleft the head of the monster and rescued +the maiden. Viking gave the sword to his son Thorsten, and Thorsten +gave it to Frithiof. The hilt was of hammered gold, covered with +mystic red letters. Whenever he drew the sword light filled the hall, +as when the northern lights gleam or the bright lightning flashes. + + Lost was the warrior + Who met, on the field of encounter, the blade with its red + letters glowing. + Widely renowned was that sword, and of swords was the + chief in the Northland. + + +The second prize in Framness was the wonderful arm-ring forged by +Volund, the lame blacksmith. This ring was made of gold and was very +heavy, and upon it Volund had carved pictures. First he showed the +house of the gods, with twelve high castles. In one was the sun rising +over the ocean. In the second castle were Odin and Saga, drinking +together from a golden shell. That shell is the ocean gilded by the +glow of morning. Balder, the beautiful king of summer, was seen, the +good, kind god. Next was shown the castle of Giltner, the home of +peace. Within was Forseti, god of justice, holding the scales. Many +more pictures were graven on the great ring, showing the conflict +between light and darkness. High in the centre was a cluster of rubies +bright as the sun in the heavens. This circlet was a family heirloom, +for Frithiof's mother was a descendant of Volund, its maker. + +[Illustration: Viking ship] + +The third of the family treasures was _Ellide_, the famous ship, of +which this story is told. When Viking was returning from the wars he +saw a sailor adrift on the billows. Noble and tall he seemed, borne on +the waves as if he were at home on the sea. He wore a mantle of blue +bound by a golden girdle. His hair was sea-green and his beard as +white as the foam of the ocean. + +Viking took him home and cared for him right courteously; but soon he +sailed away in his broken boat, thanking Viking warmly for his +kindness. "If I could only leave thee a gift!" said he. "Perhaps in +the morning the ocean will waft thee a token." + +The next day Viking stood on the shore, when, lo! swiftly over the +billows came a dragon ship. There was no leader, no sailor, no +steersman. The wonderful ship drew near, the sails were furled by +unseen hands and the anchor dropped into the firm sand. + +Viking was speechless with wonder. Then he heard the winds murmur +softly: "Aeger never forgetteth a kindness. He giveth thee this +dragon." + +Kingly the gift and beautiful. Its throat was ablaze with gold, and +bordered with red were its inky black pinions. When they were +unfolded, the boat flew in a race with the whirlwind and left far +behind the swift eagle. Widely renowned was the ship, the chief of all +ships of the Northland. + +Of chieftains Frithiof had many around his hearth. One youth whom he +greatly loved was Bjorn. Frithiof and Bjorn were of the same age and +dear to each other, brothers in joy and grief. In the days of their +boyhood they had mingled their blood, thus becoming brothers in good +Northern fashion, in peace and in war sworn to help and avenge each +other. + + + + +King Helge and Frithiof + +In the spring Frithiof sailed in his dragon ship proudly over the +billows to the palace of King Helge. The kings had met at the mound of +their father to give justice to their people. + +To them came Frithiof and proudly he spoke: "Ye kings, I choose here +from all women your sister, the lovely Ingeborg, to be my bride. The +good king, your father, wished us to marry, and therefore reared us +together in the garden of Hilding. My father was of peasant birth, yet +his memory will live in the songs of the poets, for he and his father +were the bravest of heroes. + +"Full easily could I win a kingdom for myself, but I choose to stay in +my own country and serve ye, my kings. + + "On King Bele's grave we are standing now, + He hears every word in the grave below, + With thee he pleadeth.-- + A dead father's counsel a wise son heedeth." + +[Illustration: Frithiof asking for Ingeborg] + +But King Helge refused Frithiof's words with scorn, saying: "Our sister +was not for a peasant born! Kings should strive to win our Ingeborg. +Boast not of your strength--women are won by words and not by force. +As for my kingdom, I will defend that myself and do not need your help. +If you wish to be my man your place is among my servants." + +"Thy servant! No, never!" cried Frithiof. "My father had no master, +nor shall I. Fly from your silver dwelling to avenge this insult, my +good Angurvadel! You, at least, are royal. Were we not at the grave +of thy father, O King, here would I teach thee not to come where my +sword can reach." + +With these words he struck the gold shield of Helge, and it fell in +halves with a clang to the ground. + +"Well done, my sword! Lie still and dream of great deeds to come! Now +will we go home over the foaming billows." + +So in anger did the noble Frithiof leave the presence of King Helge, +and return to Framness, the house of his fathers. + + + + +In the Country of King Ring + +Far in the north lived the good King Ring. His words were wise and +kind. In his land no war cast its dark shadow and everywhere in his +kingdom blossomed fair flowers. Justice and right clasped hands, and +peace lived with plenty in the golden fields. + +For thirty years King Ring had ruled in the Northland. The people +loved him well and named him in their evening prayers. His good queen +had died, and long had he mourned for her. But the people begged him +to marry again. + +At last the old king said: "King Bele often visited me and spake of his +fair daughter. Her would I choose for my bride. Take gold and jewels +rare from my coffers. Have minstrels go and with their songs win for +me the fair Ingeborg." + +In gay company they went to Helge's court and asked him for his sister +Ingeborg. Here they remained three days, singing and feasting. On the +fourth morning they asked for a reply from King Helge for their king. + +[Illustration: Ingeborg at Balder's Temple] + +In the grove of Balder Helge offered bird and beast and asked the +priest what answer he should give. The priest, frightened by evil +omens, replied that Ingeborg must not be given to King Ring. Then +Helge said nay to the messengers, for men must obey when the gods have +spoken. + +Angry were the messengers, and angry was King Ring when he was told +that Helge would not give the lovely Ingeborg to be his queen. He +struck his bright shield and seized his warlike weapons. + +Over the sea many a dragon ship came hurrying and the plumes of the +warriors waved in the breeze. + +"Let us teach the proud Helge a lesson," they cried. + +When King Helge heard of the ships and the warriors hurrying over the +sea, he said: "Long and bloody will be the strife, for King Ring is a +mighty king. To protect my sister we must place her in the temple of +Balder the holy." + + + + +Frithiof's Answer + +While King Helge gathered his warriors to fight King Ring, the angry +Frithiof was playing chess with his friend Bjorn. Hilding urged him to +forget his anger and go into battle to fight for his king and his +country. "The times are evil, dear foster-son," said the good Hilding, +"and you are all the people's hope." + +Kindly but firmly said the youth: "My resolve is firm. I will not obey +Helge. He and Halfdan may be angry and threaten. They are kings, but +I bid defiance to their power and their threats." + +Then said Hilding sadly: "Is this the reply to my pleading?" + + Frithiof then arises, laying + Hilding's hand in his, and saying: + "My resolve is firm and steady, + And my answer you have heard. + + "Go to Bele's sons and warn them + Peasants love not those who scorn them; + To their power I bid defiance, + Their behests will not obey." + + "In thy chosen way abide thee, + For thy wrath I cannot chide thee; + Odin must be our reliance," + Hilding said, and went his way. + + + + +In Balder's Grove + +While King Bele's sons were preparing for war with King Ring, Frithiof +sought Ingeborg in the grove of Balder. Most beautiful was this temple +of the sun-god, and here the sunshine seemed lovelier than in other +groves. The flowers glowed in the friendly rays and seemed more +beautiful. At night, when evening drew the rosy curtain, the brooks +and breezes whispered softly to one another and the stars gleamed like +pearls upon the dark blue robe of night. + +The wonderful boat, _Ellide_, sped over the waves sparkling in the +moonlight. "Glide on, _Ellide_, over the deep gulf and bear me swiftly +to the grove of Balder. I hail thee, moon, with thy pale light +streaming over grove and dale. Upon the shore I leap with joy and +salute thy brown cheek, smiling earth." + +So spake Frithiof as he landed on the shore. The earth seemed +friendly, the red and white flowers smiled upon him, and he was happy +and free from care. With Ingeborg the brave youth knelt at the shrine +of Balder, the mild, radiant god of the sun whom all gods and men love, +and prayed for happiness and peace. They prayed not for princely +honours, but for a home near the dark blue sea. Then, amid flowers and +under the shade of the leafy trees, their lives would be happy and free +from envy and care. + +But they feared the king, the cold and cruel Helge. He would never +consent to Frithiof's request for the hand of Ingeborg. If he learned +that Frithiof had dared to visit Ingeborg in Balder's grove, his anger +would be greater than ever. But Ingeborg begged Frithiof to go to her +brother and to offer his hand in friendship. She could not leave the +grove of Balder, where Helge had placed her for protection during the +war with King Ring. + +At last Frithiof yielded. He said farewell to Ingeborg with sadness in +his heart. + +"Like Balder are you, Ingeborg! Like him your hair is golden, and your +eyes are blue as his skies, while your soul is as pure as the morning +light!" + + + + +The Parting + +A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They were +to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon the fate +of Ingeborg. + +The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty +king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to +consent, for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in +Balder's grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad +was she, for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be +angry because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great god +Balder without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her +fate, and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried: +"Tell me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for +all." + +Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele's mound I went. There, +gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge's kingdom. +Upon the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near +by was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: 'Thy +kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me +thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will. +Here is my hand.' + +"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand +shields and the freemen cried: 'To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword +and well he deserves our fair lily.' + +"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with +pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:-- + +"'A peasant's son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy +temple seems unfit for Bele's daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not +stolen into Balder's temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak +yes or no.' + +"'Say no!' shouted the brave men; 'we believe thee, son of Thorsten. +Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!' + +"Fear not, O Helge,' I replied; 'I would not lie to gain the joy of +heaven, and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg +in Balder's temple, but the laws I have not broken.' + +"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one +accursed. 'Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,' +said Helge, 'yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou +hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us. +Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every +man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.'" + +"What did you decide, my Frithiof?" + +"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour? +To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves. +But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in _Ellide_ to a friendly land. A +little earth from our fathers' graves we'll place upon our ships, and +that will be our fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful +islands of Greece--fresh groves of green in shining waves. There +golden apples glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough. +There will we build a little North, more beautiful than this. +Happiness stands near to human hearts if they are brave enough to seize +it. Come, let us go! All is ready, and _Ellide_ stretches her shadowy +wings for flight." + +"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like +you. Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not +steal my happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain +obedient to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the +south. With eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright +northern star which stands over our fathers' graves. And you, my +Frithiof, must not desert the land you were born to guard. Let us +yield to the voice of duty. Let us save our honour though our +happiness be lost!" + +"Necessity commands our flight. Come, Ingeborg!" + +"What's right and noble, that's necessity." + +"Consider well. Is that your last resolve?" + +"It is my last. But remember that my thought will follow you wherever +you may go. When evening comes I will send a greeting, and the +fleeting cloud shall bear it unto you." + +"You have conquered, my Ingeborg. A noble mind best teaches what is +noble. To-day I yield and leave you. But in the earliest spring I +shall return and in open council of the sons of the Northland, who +alone can give the hand of a princess, will I demand you. Farewell +till then. For memory wear this arm-ring, the work of Volund, graven +with heaven's wonders. But the best of wonders is a faithful heart." + +So, full of hope, did Frithiof leave, but Ingeborg feared her gloomy +brother, knowing well how he hated the noble Frithiof. To herself she +said: "Never will he give me to thee, dear childhood's friend. Rather +will he wed me to King Ring whom he fights. No hope do I see, yet I am +glad thy heart can hope. May all the good gods follow thee." + + + + +Frithiof and Angantyr + +Over the sea sailed Frithiof with his friends in the good ship _Ellide_ +to the home of the brave earl Angantyr. The old man, joyous and +light-hearted, one day looked over the sea and saw the white-winged +ship bringing the brave heroes. + +"That is _Ellide_ coming, and the hero with firm and steady step is +Frithiof, son of Thorsten. No one in the Northland has so brave a brow +and so bright a smile." + +Then the sturdy Atle sprang up crying: "Now will I go and prove what +truth there is in the report that Frithiof breaks all swords and never +sues for peace." + +When he saw Frithiof he cried: "No one comes here but he either fights +or flies. If you beg for peace, I shall receive you in friendship and +take you to the earl." + +Frithiof replied sharply: "Before I cry for peace our good swords must +be tested." + +Then flashed his sword-blade, the bright Angurvadel. The men fought +long and cleft each other's shields, but finally Atle's sword was +broken and Frithiof's sword was king. + +Then said the victor: "I do not wish to slay a swordless foe. If you +wish, let us strive as yeomen, man to man, without weapons." + +So they wrestled breast to breast as two bears trying their strength, +or as wave breaking against wave. The firm earth trembled, and the +great oaks scarce could endure the shock. + +But Frithiof proved the stronger, and at length brought proud Atle to +the ground. Angrily he said: "If my good sword were at my hand, +through thy body would I plunge it, thou black-beard!" + +"Go bring it! Who'll prevent thee?" cried the brave Atle. "Here will +I lie if that will content thee. All must Valhal see; I, to-day; thou, +perhaps, to-morrow!" + +Then Frithiof fetched the gleaming Angurvadel, but the good sword +harmed not the noble foe. Frithiof struck the sand with the blade, for +he admired the courage of the brave Atle. + +As friends Frithiof and Atle then entered the palace of Angantyr. +Everything seemed new and beautiful to Frithiof. Instead of planks +well matched, leather embroidered in gold covered the walls. No rough +hearthstone littered the centre of the hall, but a marble fireplace was +built up against the side. In the windows were fitted panes of glass, +and a key secured the door. + +Here were no wooden torches as light of the feast, but waxen candles +gleamed brightly in their silver sconces. The roasted stag gracing the +table had gold bands on his hoofs, and flowers wreathed his horns. + +Three steps the earl descended, saying to Frithiof: "Come sit by me, +brave son of Thorsten." + +Then was Thorsten's praise chanted by the singers, and his brave deeds +were sung in the old Norse tongue. + +The earl asked much about his friends of long ago. Frithiof answered +wisely and kindly, and all the warriors cheered him loudly. Soon he +spoke of the errand that brought him from his own land. Angantyr +listened kindly but replied: + +"I never paid tribute to Bele and shall not to his sons. If they wish +to take it, let them meet us on the strand and see who is best. But +Thorsten was my friend," continued the earl, and beckoned to his +daughter, who sat near him. + +The beautiful maid hastened to her room and brought back a green silk +purse all deftly wrought. The tassels were made of gold and the clasps +shone with rubies. + +Angantyr took the treasure and filled it with gold. Giving it to +Frithiof, he said: "This welcome gift is a tribute to you, my friend, +but not to King Helge. And now I beg you, Frithiof, to pass the long +winter hours with us, your friends and the friends of your fathers." + + + + +The Return + +When lovely spring with her blue skies came again, Frithiof left his +kind host Angantyr and sailed over the deep billows. Full of joy is +one who has travelled far when his bark turns homeward. Memory shows +the smoke from his mother's hearth-fire and the fountain where his +childish feet played. + +Six days Frithiof sailed, and on the seventh he saw his loved land. He +saluted the cliffs and the forest dancing in the sunlight, but thought +of Ingeborg. As _Ellide_ rounded the headland, Frithiof stood at the +prow, shading his eyes from the sun and looking for his old home, loved +Framness. + +But he looked in vain! Of the stately hall ashes alone remained. +Sadly did the hero thread the blackened ruins. Then his faithful dog, +Bran, ran up to welcome him. A powerful dog was he, and often had he +been master of wolves. The milk-white steed with swan-like neck and +golden mane came bounding up the valley. Both asked for food of +Frithiof, their master; but he, poorer than they, had nothing to give +them. + +Then came Hilding, the foster-father with silvery hair. "My message," +he said, "I fear will bring you little gladness. Scarce had you sailed +when King Ring came. Five shields had he to our one. Not long did the +battle last. King Helge yielded and fled. In his flight he passed +Framness and fired the lordly dwelling. + +"Ring gave the brothers, Helge and Halfdan, this choice: to give their +sister to him or to lose their throne. The brothers chose, and now +Ingeborg has gone with old King Ring." + +Then Frithiof blamed Ingeborg for her broken vow and declared he would +never believe her again. And yet his heart grieved for her, and he +could never forget the friend of his childhood. + +"You wrong the maid," said old Hilding. "As the sea-fowl, when its +breast is wounded, dives far away from the eyes of daylight, and, with +its life-blood flowing, yet gives no sign of weakness or misery, so +Ingeborg in the darkness bore her suffering and I only saw her anguish. +When the wedding day came, she, pale as death, rode a black steed, +following the white-robed maidens and the steel-clad men. + +"From off the saddle I took the sad maid and went with her to the +altar, where she uttered her vows and prayed long to Balder. When +Helge saw your ring on her arm he tore it off with angry words. Then I +in anger drew my sword, but Ingeborg gently said: 'Let the All-father +judge between him and me.'" + +"The All-father will judge," calmly replied Frithiof, when Hilding had +told his story; "I, too, will judge. Now is the time when the king who +sold his sister sits in the temple of Balder as priest. Him will I +seek." + + + + +Balder's Funeral Pile + +Midnight's sun fell upon the mountain. The beams seemed to threaten +fire and war, so blood-red were they. The heavens glowed; it was night +contending with day. + +On Balder's altar burned a fire--the emblem of the sun--and priests +stood around the wall of the temple, grasping burning brands. Near the +altar stood King Helge, wearing his crown. All at once he heard the +war-cry, and the clash of weapons resounded through the forest. + +"Bjorn, stand fast by yonder door!" + +Helge heard the cry and turned pale. Well he knew the ringing voice of +Frithiof. Fiercely as autumn winds fell the hero's bitter words:-- + + "Here's the ordered tribute; it came + Safe through the tempest's rattle; + Take it; then here by Balder's flame, + For life or death we'll battle. + + "Shields behind us, our bosoms free, + Fair the fight be reckoned; + As the king the first blow belongs to thee, + Mind thou, mine's the second." + + +With these words he threw the purse filled with gold in Helge's face. +The heavy blow stunned the king, and he fainted near the altar. +Frithiof laughed and called in scorn: "Are you then overpowered by a +purse of gold? No one shall blame my sword for felling so cowardly a +foe, for he deserves not to fall by a brave man's sword." + +Then Frithiof put up his sword and turned to the statue of Balder that +stood near the altar. Calm and kind seemed the god. On his arm was +the ring given by Frithiof to Ingeborg but taken from her by Helge. + +"Holy Balder," spake Frithiof, "be not angry with thy servant. Well +dost thou know that the arm-ring which thou wearest was stolen, and +that Volund's work was never meant for thee." With these words he +strove to take the ring, but arm and ring seemed to have grown +together. Then he became angry and with a supreme effort he loosened +the ring; but the image fell into the flames of the altar. + +Up leaped the fierce fire! Bjorn at the door was pale with dread. +Frithiof with equal anxiety called to him: "Open the doors, Bjorn, and +let the people go. The temple is burning; bring water, yea throw on an +oceanful!" + +The warriors quickly formed a chain from the burning grove to the sea +and the water was passed with speed from hand to hand. Frithiof sat +like the god of rain and gave his orders in a calm, clear voice. Long +they strove, but in vain. The flames borne on the wings of the wind +mounted to the sky. The grove was dry with summer heat and the hungry +fire-king revelled midst the quick-burning branches. + + Fiercely leaping from height to height, + Aiming yet still higher; + Oh, what wild and terrific light! + Strong is Balder's pyre! + + Soon in smouldering ashes lay + Grove and temple's adorning; + Sadly then Frithiof turned away-- + Wept in the light of morning. + + + + +On the Sea + +After the burning of Balder's temple and grove Frithiof was very sad at +heart. He felt that the sun-god would never forgive him, although he +had not intended any wrong. His home, the lovely Framness, had been +destroyed by the king. Ingeborg was kept from him, and the people of +his own country shunned him because of his crime against Balder. He +felt that he had no home, no country, no friends. + +One refuge he had--the swift-flying ship _Ellide_. From her deck he +saw the fires still burning in Balder's grove. Grief filled his heart. +"Gone is the temple of the white god. In ashes are the groves once +never neglected! And I am to blame; anger and haste made me forget +time and place, the reverence due in that holy temple!" + +Over the blue sea where wild waves sing, _Ellide_ flew. Frithiof felt +at home in the tempest on the rocking ship--this was his Northland, +these on board were his only friends. The sea knows no king, and +Helge's wrath could not reach him on its waves. + +But lo! from a hiding-place in the high rocks King Helge sends out ten +dragon ships. The warriors with Frithiof rejoice and laugh at the +king, for Bjorn had, unknown to all, leaped into the sea and bored +holes in the boat-keels. Down sank the ships and many men were +drowned, but Helge escaped. + +In wrath the king drew his bow, but it broke. Then Frithiof aimed his +lance. "A death bird have I here, false king! but my lance refuses to +drink thy coward blood. It is too good for food so craven!" + +So speaking Frithiof seized his oars--huge blades of fir, and swiftly +moved away. + + Where foam-crest swimmeth + _Ellide_ skimmeth + On joyous wings; + But Frithiof sings: + + "Thou front of creation, + Exalted North! + I have no station + On thy green earth. + Thy lineage sharing + My pride doth swell, + Thou home of daring! + Farewell, farewell!" + +And that you also may sing Frithiof's song, the last verse is given +with the music. + +[Illustration: Frithiof's Song] + + + + +The Viking's Code + +Over the foaming sea Frithiof sailed, seeking strange lands and +adventures. Like a falcon in search of its prey flew the good boat, +_Ellide_, over the waves. + +To the champions on board Frithiof gave this law of the viking:-- + + Make no tent on thy ship, never sleep in a house, for a foe + within doors you may view; + On his shield sleeps the viking; his sword in his hand, and + his tent is the heavenly blue. + + When the storm rageth fierce, hoist the sail to the top-- + O how merry the storm-king appears; + Let her drive! let her drive! better founder than strike, + for who strikes is a slave to his fears. + + If a merchant sail by, you must shelter his ship, but the + weak will not tribute withhold; + You are king of the waves, he a slave to his gains; and + your steel is as good as his gold. + + Let your goods be divided by lot or by dice, how it falls + you may never complain; + But the sea-king himself takes no part in the lots--he + considers the honour his gain. + + If a viking-ship come, there is grappling and strife, and + the fight 'neath the shields will rejoice; + If you yield but a pace you are parted from us; 'tis the + law, you may act by your choice. + + If you win, be content: he who, praying for peace, yields + his sword, is no longer a foe! + Prayer's a Valhalla-child, hear the suppliant voice; he's + a coward who answereth no. + + Wounds are viking's reward, and the pride of the man + on whose breast or whose forehead they stand; + Let them bleed on unbound till the close of the day, if you + wish to be one of our band. + + + + +Frithiof's Return + +Such was the law of the vikings which Frithiof gave to his men. Day by +day his name became more renowned through foreign lands. No viking was +brave as Frithiof, and none had braver followers. When the conflict +came, his spirit rose like an eagle refreshed for its flight. A smile +was on his face and his voice rang clear above the noise of the battle. + +After many conquests he sailed to Greece. In her beautiful seas he +found many green islands. On the shores were green groves and temples +gleaming with pillars. Here it seemed peace must have its home. The +murmuring fountains and the sweet songs of the birds made music in the +groves. + +But in the midst of all this beauty Frithiof thought of his home in the +north. There was the friend of his youth, the fair Ingeborg. There +were the grave-mounds of his fathers. Around the groves and shrines of +his country gathered the memories of his early years, and no matter how +lovely any other land might be, his heart returned to his home land. + +"Three years have passed since I saw the Northland, the land of heroes. +How I long to see those loved shores once more! The tree that I +planted on the grave-mound of my father--can it be that it lives now? +Why do I linger in distant waves, taking tribute and conquering in war? +My soul despises the glittering gold, and enough have I of renown. + + "There's a flag on the mast and it points to the north, in + the north is the land I hold dear; + I will follow the course of the heavenly winds, and back + to the Northland I'll steer." + + +To his foster-brother Frithiof said: "Bjorn, I am weary of riding the +sea. My heart longs for the firm earth of the Northland, and her lofty +mountains are calling to me. Tired am I of this life on the sea and +too long have I wandered an exile from home." + +"Frithiof, why do you complain?" asked Bjorn. "Freedom and joy +flourish best on the sea. When I am old I too will turn to the +green-growing land with the grass for my pillow. But now I'll fight +with a free hand and enjoy the freedom of the billows." + +So the dragon ship sailed for far northern waters. The ice closed in +around them and Frithiof declared he would not spend the winter on the +desolate shore. He would go as a stranger to the palace of King Ring +and see Ingeborg once more. + +"Good!" exclaimed Bjorn. "Right glad will I be to fight the king and +to let him feel a viking's power. We will fire the palace of the +greybeard and carry his queen away with us; or, if you wish, challenge +him to a fight on the ice." + +"No!" replied Frithiof; "no fight have I with King Ring. His is not +the fault. But peace would I bear to them both and say farewell to +Ingeborg. When spring returns you see Frithiof here." + +"You may be prevented from returning, Frithiof; go not alone!" said +Bjorn. + +But Frithiof had no fear and laughed at the warnings of Bjorn. Alone +he went with his good sword to the country of the old King Ring. + + + + +King Ring and the Stranger + +In the kingdom of the north reigned King Ring. Old was he now and +white-haired, but noble and brave. At the merry Yuletime he held a +great feast in the royal hall. High on the throne of state he sat, and +beside him was his fair young queen, the gentle Ingeborg. + +Into the spacious hall came a man unknown to any there. A bear-skin +covered him from head to foot. He leaned heavily upon a staff, but +even then he was taller than any warrior in the hall. He chose for +rest a seat upon the bench beside the door. This is now the poor man's +place and has always been. Some of the young men laughed at the beggar +dressed in the skin of the wild bear and pointed the finger at him. + +[Illustration: INTO THE HALL CAME A MAN UNKNOWN TO ANY THERE] + +The stranger's eyes flashed and all felt his anger. Quickly he seized +one of the young men by the belt and shook him so that all were +suddenly silent in the hall. + +"What causes such commotion?" cried the angry monarch. "Who dares +disturb our peace? Old man, come here and answer. What is your name, +your place, your errand?" + +The old man replied: "Many questions you ask, O King, but every one +will I answer. My name belongs to me alone and I'll not give it. My +birth-place was misfortune and all I possess is want. I have come +hither from the wolf so fierce and gaunt. In youth I bestrode a dragon +on the blue waters, but now I am old and feeble and must live upon the +land. As to my errand, I came to see your wisdom, renowned far and +near. When your men met me rudely I seized one of them by the girdle +and hurled him to the ground. For that forgive me, though the man is +safe and sound." + +"Your words are wisely chosen," said King Ring. "The aged should be +honoured; come, sit here by me. You are no beggar, I know. Throw off +your disguise and appear in your true form. Disguise is a foe to +pleasure, and pleasure should rule at Yule-tide." + +Then the guest dropped the bear-skin. Instead of an old man bent with +care, there stood a handsome youth with long golden locks. His mantle +was of azure velvet and his girdle was of silver finely worked. Around +his arm clung a heavy golden circlet and at his side gleamed the great +battle-sword. + +When the queen looked at the guest she knew him as Frithiof, but +mentioned not his name. It was the right of a guest to claim +hospitality without giving his name, and Frithiof had claimed this +guest-right. The horn sounded a shrill blast in the hall and all was +still. The hour for vows was coming and the boar was now brought in. +His four knees were bent beneath him on the great silver dish; in his +mouth was an apple, and there were wreaths about his neck. + + King Ring, his grey locks flowing, arose and straightway now + The boar's head gently touching, he thus declared his vow: + "I swear to conquer Frithiof, the champion in war, + So help me, Frey and Odin, and likewise mighty Thor." + + Then with a smile defiant uprose the stranger tall + A look of wrath heroic spread o'er his features all-- + He smote with sword the table till through the hall it rang + And up from oaken benches the steel-clad warriors sprang. + + "And now, Sir King, please listen while I my vow shall tell-- + Young Frithiof is my kinsman, and so I know him well; + 'Gainst all the world I'll shield him, I give you here in word, + So help me now my norn, and likewise my good sword!" + + +The king laughed at this bold defiance. "Right daring, methinks your +speech," he said, "but in the Northland palace all fair words are +free." Then turning to the queen he bade her fill a horn of wine, the +very best. "I hope that he'll remain our guest through the winter," he +concluded. + +The queen then took the great goblet and filled it with wine. With +trembling hand she gave it to the guest. He accepted the horn with a +bow of reverence and drank the wine at a draught in honour of the fair +queen who gave it. + +Then the skald, the singer of the royal court, touched the strings of +his harp and sang a song of love and glory. As he sang he moved the +warriors' hearts to pity or roused them to anger and revenge at his +will. Such is the wonderful power of music and poetry. He sang of the +home in Valhal, where brave heroes go after death, and all hearts were +filled with a desire to be brave and noble that they might deserve a +place in heaven when their work on earth was finished. + +So with mirth and song, with stories of the great heroes of their race, +King Ring and his court kept the merry Yule-tide in his castle. + + + + +The Ride on the Ice + +King Ring had set forth a banquet for his queen in a palace far over +the lake. The ice on the lake was glistening in the sun, and the king +ordered his sleigh and his swiftest horse. + +"Do not go on the ice," urged the stranger; "it may break, and the +water below is deep and cold." Then the old king laughed. "A king," +said he, "is not easily drowned. If any one is afraid let him go +round!" + +The scornful laugh of the king angered the bold stranger, and he +frowned. Soon, however, he bound his good skates to his feet. The +servants meantime had brought out the sleigh-horse, strong and free, +and his nostrils flamed as he breathed the bright, cold air. + +"On," cried the king; "on, my brave steed and show if you are of famed +Sleipner's brood!" + +[Illustration: King Ring's Sleigh] + +As swift was his speed as a storm at sea. The queen grew fearful as +the mighty steed flew on, but the king had no fear and paid no heed to +the queen's cries. + +The stranger skated, now fast, now slow, passing Ingeborg and the king +whenever he wished. He made letters and figures on the sparkling ice, +writing often the name of the queen. Onward swiftly they glided across +the lake, but the treacherous ice-maidens were hiding below. Suddenly +they made a hole in the silvery ice and caught the sleigh of the king +with its precious load. The queen turned pale and called for help. +Like a whirlwind came the skater, strong and brave. + +He buried his skate in the ice and clasped the flowing mane of the +steed with a grasp of iron. With one strong swing of his arm he +brought horse and sleigh to the firm ice. + +"Well done!" said King Ring; "that was a noble stroke. Not Frithiof, +the strong, could have done better!" + +Then they all returned to the palace, rejoicing in the safety of the +good king and queen. + + + + +In the Forest + +Through the long winter the stranger remained at the court of the king. +The time passed merrily in skating, sleighing, and in other manly +sports. In the evening all gathered in the great hall and listened to +the songs of the skalds or related the deeds of heroes. + +The coming of spring rejoiced all hearts. The songs of the birds, the +new leaves on the trees, the warmer rays of the sun, all gave joy to +those who had passed through the long cold winter. The ice-bound +rivulets melted and ran merrily to the ocean; the buds began to unfold, +and the earth seemed born anew, filled with love and hope and courage. + +The king had planned a great hunt for the court. Men and women, +courtiers and servants, awaited the signal to start. The steeds +impatiently pawed the ground; the clanging of bows and the rattling of +quivers were heard on every side. The hooded falcons, eager to escape, +uttered wild shrieks that echoed on the hills. At last the queen +appeared, like a star in the spring's clear sky, and the hunting troop +was ready. + +Hark! through hills and valleys sounds the horn! The falcon, loosened, +flies straight up into the heaven's blue, and the wild animals of the +forest fly in terror to their cavern homes. Off rush the hunters on +their eager steeds. The aged king rides no more on the wild hunt, +though in years gone by he was one of the best to follow wild game. +Frithiof is with the king, for he, too, does not wish to join the +hunters. Sad thoughts trouble him, and he wishes he had never left his +beloved boat. On the sea he had no time for brooding over his sad +fate, but here, with the king and Ingeborg, he is always remembering +happier days. + +As the two entered the forest they came upon a lonely place, dark and +restful. Here the king halted and said: "See how lovely, fresh, and +deep is this forest. Here will I rest me, for I desire to sleep." But +Frithiof urged him not to sleep in the dark, damp forest. "Hard and +chilly is the ground, O King! Let me take you back to the palace." + +"Like the other gods, Sleep cometh unexpected," said the king; "and +here will I sleep." + +When Frithiof saw that the king was determined, he took off his mantle +and spread it beneath a tree. The king in trusting friendship leaned +his head against the stranger's knee. Soon he slept as the hero sleeps +after the battle, or as the infant sleeps cradled in its mother's arms. + +As he slumbered, hark! from the branch of a tree a coal-black bird +sings: "Frithiof, now thou mayest slay thine enemy, the old king. +Human eyes do not behold thee!" But a snow-white bird sings: "Though +no human eye behold thee, Odin sees and hears each word. Wouldst thou +be a coward and slay an old man now defenceless and sleeping! The +hero-crown is not won by such a deed." + +So sang the birds. Frithiof, snatching up his battle-blade, flung it +far from him into the gloomy glade. The black bird flew away into the +dark underworld. The snow-white bird, singing sweetly as a harp tone, +mounted towards the sun. + +Suddenly the old man awoke: "Sleep is sweet beneath a tree, guarded by +a brave man's weapon. But where is your sword? What has parted you +who have never before been parted?" + +"It is not hard to find a sword," replied Frithiof. "Sharp is its +tongue, O King, and it never speaks for peace. I think it is haunted +by an evil spirit." + +"I have not slept, O youth, but have been proving you. Man or sword a +wise man testeth ere in them he can confide. You are Frithiof. I have +known it since first you entered my hall," said the old king. "Why did +you enter my home in disguise? Honour, Frithiof, sits not nameless, +the rude guest of hospitality. We had heard of a Frithiof whom both +men and gods revere. Soon, I thought, will he come against my home +with his famous sword, bold and brave. But you came clad in tatters, a +beggar's staff in your hand. + +"But cast not down your eyelids. I have proved you and forgiven. I +have pitied and forgotten. All life is a struggle, hardest in youth. +You are young and I am old. Soon shall I rest in the grave. +Therefore, O youth, take my kingdom and my queen. Be my son and let us +forget our quarrel." + +"I came not as a thief," said Frithiof sadly, "but only to see Ingeborg +for the last time. Too long have I stayed as your guest. The gods +will not forgive me. Balder the Good loves all mankind but me. +Northland has cast me out, and no more shall I seek for peace on the +earth so green and sweet. To ocean's billows will I go, out upon my +good ship far as the stars can guide me and far as the stormy billows +can bear me. + + "Let me hear the rolling thunder, let me hear the lightning's voice; + When it thunders all around me, Frithiof's heart will then rejoice + Clang of shields and rain of arrows! let the sea the battle fill; + Purified, I'll then fall gladly, reconciled to heaven's will." + + + + +King Ring's Death + +On a lovely day in spring when the rays of the sun seemed more golden +than usual, Frithiof entered the hall of King Ring to take leave of his +host. The king and Ingeborg his queen sat upon their chairs of state, +both pale and sad. Frithiof listened to a song of parting recited by +the king's harper. Then he said: "O king! the billows now bathe my +ship, the flying steed, the sea-horse that is longing to leave the +shore. Gladly will they follow him who is fleeing from his +well-beloved land." + +To the queen Frithiof said: "Again I give you this arm-ring, O +Ingeborg! Receive it in memory of our youth, and never let it leave +you. I go, and never will you see me again. No more shall I behold +the smoke rising upward from Northland. For the ocean is my fatherland +and shall be my grave." + +"Well know I that death is nigh," now said King Ring. "All men must +die, and I shall not moan like a coward. No one can by complaining +change what the fates have decreed. But if you will stay, my sorrow +you will lighten. Take my queen, reign over the land and guard the +crown. Long have I reigned in the Northland, loved and respected. +Though I longed for peace, yet have I broken shields in war both by sea +and land without turning pale. Vainly have I sought for peace amid +slaughter. Now the mild daughter of heaven beckons me hence to Valhal. + + "Bring for my drinking + The horn with wine flowing; + Skoal to thy honour, thou land of my birth! + Minds deeply thinking, + Harvest fields growing-- + Peaceful exploits have I loved on the earth." + + +Speaking thus bravely, the king pressed the hand of his queen and of +his son. Frithiof's also he clasped with love. Then, closing his +eyelids gently, the royal spirit of King Ring sank with a sigh to +All-father's breast. + + + + +The New King + +King Ring sits in his barrow, buckler on arm and battle-sword by his +side. His war-horse stands at the cairn pawing the earth and chafing +as though impatient to start on the long journey. + +Thus sang the harper of the departed hero: "Great King Ring has gone on +his last journey. He rides over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that leads +to Valhal. The bridge bends with his weight. Wide open the doors of +Valhal to welcome him, and hands reach out to lead him within the doors. + +"'Odin himself, king of the gods, calls for the beaker to be brought. +Frey wreathes the king's head with garlands of grain ears, and Frigg +places therein the bluest of her blossoms. Broge, the singer of the +gods, tunes his golden harp and sings a song of welcome. Silent is +Valhal as he sings:-- + +"'Dear to us is this hero king, for he held his shield as a shelter for +peace. Always did Forseti, goddess of justice and peace, have an +honoured place in his kingdom. Generous, too, was the king, always +strewing beauty and blessing far and near. To heroes he gave gifts +without measure; sadness he comforted and suffering he relieved. + +"'Welcome, thou wise winner of Valhal! Long will you be loved and +honoured in the Northland. You are loved by the gods, a friend from +the earth.'" + +So sang the harper in the palace of the king whom he loved. + +When the news spread over the country that King Ring was dead, the +peasants and warriors from hill and dale, from meadow and farm, cried: +"We must choose a king to fill his place." + +The peasant took from the wall his steel sword and tried its edge with +his practised finger to prove its sharpness. His boys admired their +father's blade and tried to lift it, but it was too heavy for one, and +two struggled to lift it from the floor. + +The peasant's daughter scoured the helmet to make it clean and bright, +and laughed to see her face shining from the silvery sheen of its +polished surface. + +When the peasant had bound his good sword to his side and put on his +shining helmet, he took his round shield and started with his friends +to the gathering-place. + + Hail! iron man, so strong and sound, + Thou peasant good! + Renown and powers which nations wield + From thee they draw. + In war thou art thy country's shield, + In peace its law. + +With sounding of arms and shields the peasants met under heaven's blue +sky in the fair, pleasant fields. Upon the great stone in the centre +of the assembly stood the noble Frithiof. With him was the little +prince, son of King Ring, a slender, noble lad with long golden hair. +When the men saw the two, there rose the cry on every hand, "Too small +is the king's son to rule our land and to lead our wars. Frithiof +shall be our king!" + +But Frithiof raised up the little boy on his shield and cried: "Ye +Northmen, behold your hope, your king, your joy! From Odin is he +descended, and he is brave at heart, as much at home 'mid shield and +spear as fish are in the sea. + + "I swear my lance and sword to set + Round land and throne, + And with the father's coronet + To crown the son." + +[Illustration: The Boy on the Shield] + +While Frithiof was urging the Northmen to choose the son of Ring for +their King, the boy sat on the high shield as if it were a throne. No +fear had he, but he faced them all as the eaglet faces the sun. At +last he grew impatient and leaped to the ground; fearless and proud he +stood, like the royal prince he was. + +Then all rejoiced at his courage: "We of the north, we choose thee, +thou shield-borne youth, to be our king. Be like thy father, brave and +good. For Frithiof, thy loyal friend, he shall be thy guardian and +guide thy youth. You, Frithiof, shall marry the queen. We give her to +you for your bride." + +But Frithiof frowned and said: "To-day you are here to make choice of +your king,--not of my bride. To the temple of Balder I must go to +repair the wrong I have done, if perchance I can do this. + + "Against me Balder's anger sore + Doth still abide; + He took, he only can restore + My cherished bride." + + +Then Frithiof kissed the youthful monarch on the brow in farewell, and, +turning from the assembly, he silently and slowly passed from view. + + + + +Frithiof at his Father's Grave + +From the home of King Ring Frithiof fared to seek his father's grave in +his own loved land. As he neared the shore, he looked upon it with +joy. How brightly the sun shone, smiling like a friend as its soft +rays touched the branches of the forest! The dewdrops reflected the +light as perfectly as the great ocean. The mountains were aglow with +crimson light as the sun slowly sank in the west. + +On every side Frithiof saw the well-known places he loved as a child. +The same sweet beauty graced the valleys, the same birds were filling +the woods with song. He visited the stream in which he strove as a +swimmer bold, and he found the birch trees with their white bark, on +which he had carved his name so long ago. + +All seemed unchanged. But when he looked for Framness, that royal home +of his father, he found it not. And Balder's shrine was gone; both +destroyed by fire and sword. No more the pious pilgrim came to +Balder's grove, for wild beasts roamed where once the sacred temple +stood. Although Frithiof had suffered so long, his grief was even +stronger than before, when he saw the ruined temple. He repaired next +day to the grave of his father, the brave Thorsten, where he prayed to +the gods:-- + +"Is there no way by which I may obtain pardon for my offence? Will the +blue-eyed god, kind Balder, refuse forgiveness when man pardons man who +asks for pardon? Command any sacrifice and I will perform it. No evil +will had I in the burning of thy shrine. Tis the only stain upon my +shield. I pray thee, remove it and make my shield spotless. Cannot an +upright life repair a moment's fault? + +"Here is my father's grave. He has gone where there are no tears, and +he rejoices in the company of noble heroes. O father, hear my prayer! +Not for renown in war I pray, but for forgiveness. Take my plea to +heaven. No rest have noble minds if unforgiven. Will you not send me +some message, some token, some sign that you hear and answer my prayer? +The waves are resounding on the shore; can you not speak through them? +The storm flies by, bounding on swift pinions; will you not whisper to +me in the storm?--No answer?" + +As Frithiof prayed, the storm passed by. The sun sank in golden +splendour. Over hill and dale the glowing clouds floated in many +lovely circles. Then came a wondrous vision to his longing eyes. In +the clouds appeared a temple of gold surrounded by groves of emerald +trees. The gold and marble gleamed with divine lustre never seen by +man. Slowly it sank to earth but did not disappear. It stood in +beauty where before the temple of Balder had stood. Its broad walls +were of silver, and each pillar seemed cut of deep blue steel. The +altar was carved of a single precious stone. The ceiling seemed like +the blue sky with twinkling golden stars, and there sat the gods of +Valhal in all their splendour. + +Frithiof gazed in wonder and in praise. "Now I know your answer, my +father. I will build a new shrine to Balder the Good, more glorious +than the one destroyed by fire. How glad I am to atone for my warlike +act by peaceful deeds! The gods will pardon those who sue meekly for +forgiveness. Now with joy can I look at the stars and welcome the +Northern Lights. To-night I shall sleep upon my shield and dream how +heaven forgets the faults its mercy hath forgiven." + + + + +The Reconciliation + +After seeing this vision of the lovely temple, Frithiof, greatly +cheered, worked long to build one as beautiful as his vision. At last +it was finished, a noble work. It stood high up on the mountain cliff, +and its image was mirrored in the ocean beneath. About this glorious +temple stretched a grove of noble trees, their branches green against +the sky. Here could be heard the songs of birds, but no sound of +discord. All was harmony. + +As Frithiof stood admiring the temple, he saw twelve virgins clad in +silver gauze, with roses in their hair, enter the temple and approach +the altar of Balder. About the altar they danced lightly as breezes +about a fountain, or elves amid the waving grass while dewdrops glisten +there. As Frithiof looked, all hate and vengeance faded from his heart +as ice melts from the cliff before the sun of springtime. All was +quiet,--peace and joy seemed to possess his soul. He felt love for all +nature and longed to be at peace with all God's creatures. + +Then came into the temple the most high priest of Balder. Kind was his +face, and Frithiof reverenced the noble man of peace. "Son Frithiof, +welcome to this grove and temple. I have long expected thee. Weary +with travel and longing for home, the strong man at last returns from +his wanderings. + +"Dost thou remember when thy heart was joyous as the birds are when +summer night winds gently rock the fragrant blossoms? Then Balder was +growing in thy pure soul. But always with the good Balder there grows +up in every human soul his brother Hoder, the evil one, the child of +night. + +"No one can suffer for thy sins,--no one can atone for the living but +themselves. One offering canst thou give, more dear to the gods than +the smoke of victims. This is the sacrifice of thine own vengeance, +the hate in thy untamed heart. + +"Canst thou not forgive, O youth? Be reconciled with thyself and thy +foes, and then will Balder be reconciled with thee. + +"Thou hatest Bele's sons because pride of birth was theirs and they +would not give thee Ingeborg, their sister. Strange it is but true, +that no one is proud of his own merit, but only of his fortune. Art +thou not proud of thy heroic deeds, of thy great strength? But who +gave thee this strength? Is it thy merit or Odin's gift? Censure not +another's pride, lest thine own be condemned. King Helge now is +fallen." + +"Fallen!" exclaimed Frithiof; "King Helge is fallen?" + +"Yes, my Frithiof. Thou must know that while thou wert building this +temple, Helge was far away, marching among the Finnish mountains. On a +lonely crag of the mountains was an ancient shrine. He wished to +enter, but the gate was closed and the key fast in the lock. Helge was +angry, and, grasping the doorposts, he shook them with all his might. +All at once with horrid crash the rotten pillars gave way, and a great +image standing on the doorposts fell upon him, and crushed him to +earth. Thus he died. + +"Now Halfdan sits alone upon the throne of his father. To him offer +thy hand. The god Balder demands this offering. If thou refuse, in +vain has this temple been built, and vain are thy prayers for +forgiveness." + +[Illustration: INGEBORG GIVEN TO FRITHIOF] + +As the noble priest thus advised, King Halfdan entered the temple, but +stood apart in silence. Frithiof at once loosed his breast-plate and +placed the bright shield against the altar. To Halfdan he offered his +hand, saying, "In such a strife the noblest first offers his hand for +peace." King Halfdan met his friend half-way, and their hands, long +separated, met in a strong clasp. + +Then the priest in solemn voice proclaimed Frithiof forgiven for his +crime against Balder, the loving god, and purified from his guilt. + +Scarce had the words been spoken when Ingeborg entered, attired in +bridal robes and mantle of ermine. She walked among her maids as the +moon glides in the heavenly azure attended by the radiant stars. With +tears in her lovely eyes she turned to her brother; but Halfdan clasped +her hand in Frithiof's, and thus gave his sister, the fair Ingeborg, to +the friend of their childhood, her best beloved, the noble Frithiof. + + + + +THE STORY OF BEOWULF + + +The Coming of Sheaf + +Once upon a time, many, many years ago, a boat came sailing over the +sea to Denmark. In it were shields and rings of gold, banners of +bright colours, bracelets, drinking-cups, and helmets. With sails +gaily spread the breezes bore the boat gently over the deep blue sea. +No sailor was seen at the oars. + +"What can it be?" cried the people as they came to the shore, +wondering; "is it a ship of earth, or have the gods sent it?" They +asked one another many questions, but knew not what to think. + +Nearer and nearer came the beautiful boat; bright shone the coloured +sails and golden armour. Many were the treasures borne therein, but +loveliest and most precious was--a little baby boy! He smiled at the +man who found him, and lifted up his tiny hands as if asking to be +taken. + +"A prince!" cried the people; "we have found our prince! The gods have +sent us a king to rule over us and to conquer our enemies." For at +that time the Danes had no king, and were glad to see the beautiful +child who so strangely came to their shores. + +The ship with all its treasures was carefully guarded, and the boy, who +was called Sheaf, was brought up as a prince. In due time he became +king and fought many battles and won many victories over the robbers on +land and sea. Over many noble thanes did Sheaf, the king, rule; all +obeyed him and paid tribute to him. + +Nor did God withhold from him a son to comfort the people. The boy was +strong and handsome and gave great joy to the heart of his father. +Over many lands shone the glory of the young prince. So shall a young +hero act that when he is old all his friends shall praise him. He +shall fight for his people and by praiseworthy deeds shall he flourish. + +Now when the time came for Sheaf to die, he asked his companions to +bear him to the shore. There stood the brave ship with gleaming prow +and widespread sails, eager to go. Sad and yet glad at heart were the +heroes who bore the king to the death-boat--glad to honour a brave +king, and sad that he must leave them. + +On the king's bosom they placed treasures of gold and silver; rings, +shining stones, cloth of gold, shields, and drinking-cups. Indeed, he +took away treasures as many as he brought with him when, years before, +he had come, a tiny child, to the country of the Danes. Out into the +mist sailed the proud ship with its precious load never to return. No +man saw it again, and whither it went none can tell. + + + + +The Young Beowulf + +The sons and grandsons of the great Sheaf ruled the country of the +Danes until the time of Hrothgar. Hrothgar was king of the Danes when +Beowulf, the hero of our story, was a prince in the country of the +Goths. + +The young Beowulf grew up in the court of his uncle, Hygelac, king of +the Goths. Fond of all games and manly sports was he, and he learned +to throw the heavy hammer, to shoot, to row, to swim, and to ride. +Running, wrestling, and hunting were daily exercises of the young men, +and Beowulf could excel them all in every trial of skill. Soon the men +at court called Beowulf their leader, and they loved and honoured him. + +Although Beowulf had won many victories at home, and his people knew +him to be brave and strong, yet he longed to do some great deed which +should make his name known over other lands. The time came when he had +his wish and when all his strength and courage were tested. For a +harper from the land of the Danes came to the court of Hygelac and told +a sad story. + + + + +The Harper's Story + +"In the land of the Danes lives Hrothgar, a great and wise king; but +sadness clouds his brow and tears dim his eyes. Years ago all was joy +and glory. Hrothgar had conquered all his foes and made them friends. +Much wealth had he added to his country's treasures, and many warriors +gathered round him, glad to hail him leader and king. + +"Hrothgar loved peace more than war and was glad when the earls were +his friends, and he said: 'I will build a great hall, a house of joy +for all my friends. This shall be larger than any hall earth has seen. +Here I will bring all my war treasures. The walls shall be hung with +banners of bright colours and decked with shields and swords. Tables +shall be spread and guests shall always be welcomed.' + +"The great king spoke, and many workmen gathered to build the hall. +Large and strong it rose, a wonder for all the people. The king named +the hall Heorot, and here was every one made welcome. The mead-cup was +passed, the king gave presents of shining rings, and joy and laughter +filled the hall. + +"Gleemen sang of the goodness of the king, the beauty and grace of the +queen, and the bravery of the Danes. One singer told of the beginning +of all things; how the All-Father wrought the earth, the beautiful +plain, which the water embraces. He sang of how God placed the sun and +moon in the heavens for light to dwellers on the land; how he adorned +the earth with grass and leaves and made all creatures that go quickly +to and fro. + +"But alas! now all this joy is changed to sorrow. No longer does the +gleeman strike the harp and fill the hall with music. No merry laugh +is heard, but all is dark and still. King Hrothgar sits upon his +kingly seat, silent and sad. + +"You marvel what can bring grief to the great king and his merry +thanes? In all the broad lands there is but one who does not wish long +life and joy to the king. This is Grendel. No man is he, but a +monster whose heart is filled with wickedness. Laughter and happiness +are strangers to him, and he hates all beauty and goodness. + +"Far in a lake, dark, poisonous, and surrounded by a marsh, does +Grendel live. When he heard the songs and sounds of joy in the great +hall, he smiled grimly to think how he would turn their joy to gloom, +their songs to groans. So, in the darkness, from his horrid home the +monster crept up to the wondrous hall. There slept the warriors, +little dreaming of evil. A score and ten the monster slew, then strode +away, howling defiance to the king. + +"When the sleeping thanes awoke and found their comrades slain, sad +were they all at heart. Night after night the monster came and slew, +and fear seized every heart. In all homes were cries of grief for the +dead, and men knew not where to go for safety. + +"This is the woe of the Danes, for none can battle with a monster of +the deep. No one has ever seen this ugly shape, for he comes always in +the darkness and when no one looks for him. Everywhere has the great +king sought help, but none can be found. Hrothgar sits weeping for his +brave comrades in the hall he built for their comfort and joy." + + + + +Beowulf and his Men + +When the harper had ceased, the hall was still. All voices were hushed +for they grieved at the sorrow of the good Hrothgar. Then the brave +Beowulf cried out: "Give me leave, O king! Let me go to Hrothgar and +free his land from this monster so wicked and fearsome." The other +thanes applauded his words and cried: "Take us with you!" + +But Hygelac, the great king, said wisely: "Brave men go to war with +care and after deep thought. Not easy is the way over the sea; not +easy is the contest with the evil Grendel. But to fight for a good +cause and to nobly win or nobly die is the best a man can do. Proud is +my heart when I see so many brave men ready to overcome the evil +monster or to die fighting, but all may not venture. Go, my cousin and +my thane," he said to Beowulf, "and make thy name famous in all places +where honour is loved." + +[Illustration: THE DEPARTURE OF BEOWULF] + +Beowulf thanked his king and chose fourteen of his bravest warriors to +go with him. They prepared the strong ship and found a pilot who knew +the road the swans take, and who could safely guide the boat. The +warriors made their weapons bright and carried them to the ship. The +men shoved the boat from the shore. The sails were raised, and, driven +by the wind, the boat flew over the foamy waves. + +On the second day the voyagers saw the shining ocean-shore. The +sea-farer was at the end of the watery way. Quickly the men stepped +out upon the plain. They tied the sea-wood, shook their shirts of +mail, and thanked God that to them the wave paths had been easy. + + + + +The Warder of the Shore + +A warder of Hrothgar, guarding the seashore, saw these warlike men and +wondered why they came. Shaking his spear, he cried: "Who are you? +Why come you over the seas in a giant ship, bearing arms into our land? +Haste to make known whence is your coming!" + +Then Beowulf answered: "We are of the Goths; Hygelac is our king. My +father was a noble chief. All wise men through the earth remember him. +We have come in kindness to your lord and to defend him. For we have +heard that a foul fiend spreads terror through your land and in the +darkness slays your thanes. We would overcome this foe to joy." + +[Illustration: THE LANDING OF BEOWULF IN HROTHGAR'S REALM] + +Then the warder spake: "A warrior wise should know the difference +between words and works. But I perceive that you are a friendly band. +I will bid my fellows guard your ship against every foe, and then I +will direct you." So with their guide the warlike men hastened until +they saw the shining roof of the great hall. Their ringed armour rang +as they walked. + +At last the warriors came to the entrance of the hall. Here, on a +bench, they sat until some one should bid them welcome. + +Soon came the warder of the hall, a princely chief. "Whence bear you +the stout spears and war-shields? Great men and proud you seem, and +methinks you plan great deeds." + +Then the proud lord, the leader, spoke: "Beowulf is my name. I will +relate my errand to your prince if he will grant that we may greet him." + +Replied the Dane: "I will seek the king and tell him of your coming." +Quickly he came to Hrothgar, sitting with his wise men, and told him of +the strangers, praising the hardy warriors. Kindly spoke the king: +"Glad am I that Beowulf and his brave Goths have come thus to our +shores. For I have heard he has the strength of thirty in his +hand-grip. Him God in his great mercy has sent to us. Hasten, bid +them come in! Tell them that they are welcome guests to the Danes." + + + + +Beowulf received by Hrothgar + +When the king's message had been told, Beowulf and all his men entered +the hall. Proud and warlike he stood before the king. "Hrothgar, +hail! Kinsman to Hygelac am I and daring deeds have I done. Now I +have heard that this brave hall of yours stands empty and silent when +night shuts out the day, because of Grendel's warfare. So I have come +with my good friends to help you. Deny me not one prayer: that I alone +with my brave thanes fight with Grendel. This monster fights not with +weapons, I have heard. Then I also will bear neither sword nor shield, +but with my strong hands will I seize him. If Grendel conquers me in +the battle, he will carry me off; so no care need you take of my body, +but send to Hygelac my armour." + +At the brave, strong words of the young Beowulf the heart of the old +king rejoiced. "I welcome you to my home. Come, now, let us sit at +the feast and listen to the songs of brave deeds," said the king. Then +the mead-cup was passed, the gleeman sang, and there was joy in the +hall. + +One man in the hall did not rejoice; there was envy in his heart, for +he did not wish any other man on earth to have more glory than himself. +So he said: "Are you the Beowulf who strove with Breca in the wide sea +in swimming? For seven nights you strove, but he had more strength and +overcame you in the race. Surely if you dare to fight with Grendel, +worse things will befall you." + +Then spoke Beowulf: "Much do you speak of Breca. Now I speak the +truth. More strength on the sea have I than any other man. Five days +were we together. Then the cold winds and waves drove us apart. Many +a water monster tried to kill me, but sank to the bottom of the sea +with a blow from my powerful hands. Nine of these water nixies I +killed. I have never heard of a harder fight, yet from all these +dangers I escaped. I have never been told that you have gone through +such terrible fights. Although your wit be good, I must say in truth +that never had so many princes of Hrothgar's court fallen under +Grendel's stroke, if your courage were as fierce as your tongue. +Grendel fears not the Danes, but kills for pleasure. Now a Goth shall +offer him toil and battle. Afterwards, all who wish may go to the +mead-hall and rejoice." + +All the Danes applauded Beowulf's bold words, for they did not like the +jealous prince who had taunted him. The queen, lovely and gracious, +bore the mead-cup to the king, and then to their guest. In kind words +she greeted him: "Glad am I and grateful to God that I may trust in you +for comfort against our sorrow." + +Then replied Beowulf, for battle eager: "I alone shall work your +people's safety or bow in death. I shall perform deeds of noble valour +or my last day in this mead-hall await." + +These words pleased both Goths and Danes, and applause filled the hall. +When darkness came on, the company arose and greeted one another. +Hrothgar to Beowulf said: "Never before, since I could raise hand to +shield, have I given to any man the Dane's festive hall to guard save +now to thee. Have now and hold the best of houses; keep watch against +our foe. All things shall be yours if you escape with life from the +battle of this night." + + + + +The Contest with Grendel + +Hrothgar then departed with all his warriors. And Beowulf spoke to his +men: "I do not think myself less in warlike strength than Grendel; so I +will not use the sword or shield, but we two shall fight to-night +without weapons, and God shall give the glory to whom glory belongs." + +Around him lay the warriors, sadly thinking they would never see their +homes across the sea again, for so many before that night had been +slain by the cruel Grendel. At last they slept, all but one. The +mighty Beowulf in angry mood awaited the battle. + +Now truly it is shown that mighty God rules the race of men. Over the +moor came the shadow-walker stalking. He strode under the clouds until +he saw the golden hall of men. This was not the first time he had come +to the hall of Hrothgar. On the door he rushed. He opened the wide +mouth and trod on the floor. When he saw the men sleeping on the +benches he laughed, thinking how he would take life from the body of +every one there. + +The shadowy form came nearer and nearer. At last he stretched out his +great hand to take Beowulf, but with all his strength the brave warrior +seized the arm of the monster. Then did the heart of Grendel fill with +fear. Fearful was his mind, but not for that could he escape the +sooner. + +Then stood Beowulf upright and firmly grasped Grendel. Very angry were +both. The wonder was that the great hall did not fall to the ground. +But it was made fast within and without with iron bands, and naught but +fire could destroy it. Then the noise grew greater. The Danes who had +heard it were terrified; never had such horrid noise filled the air, +for Beowulf, the strongest of men, held Grendel fast. Not for anything +would he let the dreadful one escape that day. + +The warriors sought to help their leader, but he would not use any +weapon. With his hands, with his bare hands, he held fast the fearful +foe. On the shoulder of Grendel was a horrid wound, and Beowulf tore +the arm from the body. Well knew the monster then that his life's end +had come. + +Glad was Beowulf that his strength had aided the Danes, had freed the +great hall, and had healed the deep sorrow which had been theirs for so +many years. + + + + +The Feast of Joy + +There was in the morning many a warrior in the gift hall. From far and +near over distant ways they came to behold the wonder, the arm of +Grendel the joy-killer. Away to the dark water, his home, had he gone +with his death-wound. + +All the warriors rode in gladness to the great hall. There was told +the bravery of Beowulf. No other was so great, so worthy of honour, as +he. Hrothgar, also, they praised as a good king and famous in war. + +All the Danes and the Goths were happy that the terror of the land had +been destroyed. Care was removed from their hearts. They were filled +with joy and turned to games and sports. Some let their beautiful +horses run in contest over the fair roads. Some who knew the famous +stories of heroes told them to eager listeners. Laughter, song, and +merry voices were heard once more in the hall. Soon one of the singers +began a song in honour of this new deed, the victory of Beowulf. + +Then over the meadow came the great king with many knights famed for +their brave deeds. With them also walked the fair queen and a company +of maidens. + +When Hrothgar entered the gold-crowned hall and saw the great hand and +arm of Grendel, he said: "Now let us give to the All-Father thanks! +Wonder after wonder can God work. This one brave warrior has, through +God's might, performed a deed which the Danes could not. Happy is the +mother of such a son! Now, Beowulf, as a dear son will I hold you in +my heart. Nothing shall you want which I have power to give you. You +have done a deed which will make your glory live through every age." + +Then replied Beowulf; "With great good-will we fought the fight. I +seized the enemy quickly with hard hands and hoped to lay him on his +death-bed. But I have his hand and arm, and he will surely die, for +pain has him in its deadly grip." + +Hrothgar now gave the order that the hall should be adorned for the +feast of joy. Men and women worked to make all clean and whole. +Beautiful banners, a wonder to all who beheld them, decked the walls. + +When all was ready, the king himself came to the feast in honour of +Beowulf. Never had a larger or a nobler company sat in the gift hall. +Merry at heart were they all, and they had a merry feast. + +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf a golden banner in reward of victory; a +sword, a cup, and a helmet he gave, four beautiful and wonderful gifts. +These were most precious gifts, of which Beowulf need not be ashamed. + +Then Hrothgar, the shield of warriors, eight warlike steeds brought +into the hall as gifts to Beowulf. On one of the horses was the +war-seat the king himself used when going to battle. So with steeds +and treasures did the king of the Danes reward the brave prince. + +To every man with the hero did the king give a precious gift. Then the +song of praise was heard. "The wise God rules all, therefore is +understanding everywhere best; wise forethought is best." + +When the song was ended, the queen took the mead-cup to the king, +saying: "Accept this cup, my beloved lord; be thou happy, good friend +of men, and to the Goths speak with kind words as one should do. Be +cheerful to thy guests and mindful of gifts. The bright hall is made +safe; be happy with thy sons and friends." + +Then the gracious queen said to Beowulf: "Receive as a gift this +collar, dear prince. Thou hast done that which men will praise +throughout all time. Be noble and happy! Be brave and gentle in +deeds. Here in this hall is every man to each other true and to his +lord faithful. The thanes unite to praise thee!" + +Then the queen went to her seat, and all the court united in praise of +Beowulf, who had driven Grendel from the great hall. + +After the merry feast, all left the hall except a few warriors who +slept rejoicing, thinking all their warfare was over. + + + + +Grendel's Mother + +But Grendel's mother did not close her eyes in sleep. When her son +came home with his death-blow, great was the sorrow and anger in her +heart. She would punish the Danes and the Goths for her son's death. +In the middle of the night she crept to the hall where the Danes were +sleeping, free from all fear. One she seized,--a brave man and dear to +the king. Then rose a great cry in the hall when Grendel's mother saw +her son's well-known hand and arm. She seized it and bore it away to +the dark lake, together with the body of the warrior. + +Soon Hrothgar was told of the fresh calamity, and he grieved at the +death of his friend, the brave warrior whom Grendel's mother had taken +away. + +When Beowulf came to the hall, Hrothgar cried out: "Speak not to me of +rest or joy! Sorrow has come again. My best friend in war and peace +is dead! The dread monster has killed him. Two shadows on the moor +have my men seen; one, Grendel, is the figure of a man, and the other +is like a woman. They dwell in the secret land where the wolf howls +and the winds sweep; where the flood flows under the earth. About a +mile away is this lake over which the dark trees bend. Every night can +fire be seen over this waste of water. No one knows how deep the lake +is. The noisy winds raise the black waves until the air grows gloomy +and the heavens shed tears. You know not this dreadful place. If you +dare seek it and come back from the strife, I will give you money and +treasures of gold." + + + + +The Way to the Pool + +Then the brave Beowulf replied: "Better is it for every one to avenge +his friend than that he greatly mourn. Each of us must await the end +of his life. Let them who can, work high deeds of honour. Let us go +quickly to seek Grendel's mother. I promise you she shall not escape; +neither in the sea nor in the bosom of the earth, in the mountain wood +nor in the ocean's ground." + +Then was the heart of the old king glad to hear these brave words. +Horses were brought out and troops of men set forth towards the home of +the dreadful shadows. The road was narrow and dark, an unknown way. +Soon they saw the mountain-trees leaning over the rock, a joyous wood. +The water below was dark and gloomy. Many strange creatures could be +seen moving in the deep pool. + +Now Beowulf clad himself in his war-gear. The coat of rings was about +his breast so that no grip could injure his life. On his head he wore +a bright helmet wrought with strength so that no battle-axe could break +it. Then a prince of Hrothgar gave him a famous sword named Hrunting. +This was one of the old treasures. Never in battle had it failed those +who dared to go in ways of terror. This was not the first time that it +had done brave deeds. + +Then said Beowulf: "Now, O king, I am ready for my journey. Bear in +mind what you have said--if I for your need should lose my life, that +you would be to me as a father. If, then, war takes me off, be a +friend to my comrades. Send to Hygelac the treasures you have given to +me, so that he may know that I found a good king in you. Now with the +good sword Hrunting will I seek out the foe." + +With these words Beowulf leaped into the lake. + + + + +Beowulf in the Pool + +All that day he sank into the water before he beheld the ground-bed of +the pool. Then he saw the fierce creature who for a hundred years had +held the floods. Eagerly she seized him and bore him to her dwelling. +Many a sea-monster broke through his warlike coat. At last the warrior +found himself in a great room where the waters did not enter. Then a +fierce light shone brightly upon him, and by its gleam he saw the +sea-wolf. With a loud cry he struck her with his good broad sword, but +it would not bite or injure her. This was the first time its power had +failed. Beowulf remembered his former deeds of bravery and threw down +his useless sword to use the strength of his hands alone. He seized +the sea-creature and made her bow to the earth, but fiercely she +grasped the brave warrior and overthrew him so that he was like to +perish. + +Him she would have slain, but his good coat withstood her sword. The +Ruler of the Skies was his friend, for on the wall was a great sword so +heavy that other men could not use it. This sword Beowulf seized +gladly. Angrily he struck the sea-wolf, and the sword passed through +her neck. Down on the ground she sank. The warrior rejoiced in his +work. He looked through the great dwelling and saw Grendel lying +lifeless. With a strong blow Beowulf cut off the head of the monster, +but the hot blood melted the sword and nothing was left but the hilt. +The blade melted away as ice melts when the Father, who has power over +the seasons, unbinds the bands of the frost-king. + +The men at the shore, watching, saw the water all coloured with blood, +and feared their great leader was dead. The king and noble Danes spoke +of the brave hero with praise and sorrow. When noon came, they went +back to the great hall sadly, thinking Beowulf the daring had been +slain by the fearful monster. + + + + +Beowulf's Return + +But the Goths stayed by the shore, though little hoping to see their +dear lord again. But soon the water cleared and they saw their brave +leader swimming toward them with the head of Grendel and the hilt of +the great sword. Then they went to him, thanking God. The stout band +of thanes rejoiced that their lord had returned. Forth they went on +the narrow road, rejoicing. Four of the strong men bore the heavy head +of Grendel. Beowulf proudly led his brave men. The prince of the +thanes entered the great hall, with glory crowned, to greet Hrothgar. +The warriors bore the great head of Grendel into the hall before the +king and his men. + +"Behold, O king!" said Beowulf, "the head of the sea-monster! I hardly +with life came from the battle under the water. Had not God helped me, +I had not conquered. The good sword Hrunting could not harm my foe, +but the Ruler of men guided me to see on the wall an old strong sword, +and with it I slew her. Then I cut off the head of the monster +Grendel. In his hot blood was the good sword melted, and I brought +only the hilt away. I now promise thee that in Heorot all may sleep +safe from harm, for I have slain thy foes, Grendel and his mother, and +have given peace to thy land and people." + +Then did Beowulf give the sword-hilt to Hrothgar. The good king said: +"Thy glory is exalted, friend Beowulf, over every nation. Long shall +thou be a comfort to thy people and a help to the warriors. Now is the +flower of thy might. Long may it be before thy strength departs in +fire's clutch, or rage of flood, or arrow's flight, or age or blindness +takes thee. Go now to thy seat at the feast as a guest of honour." + + + + +Hrothgar honours Beowulf + +Then Beowulf went to the seat of honour in great joy, and all were +merry. The helm of night grew dark; the warriors left their seats. +They greeted Beowulf and wished him well to rest. In the gold-roofed +hall well slept the prince until the black raven saw the coming of the +bright sun. At the first light the Goths hastened to the good ship, +eager to be gone to their homes. + +When all were ready, Beowulf said: "O king, we seafarers wish to seek +our homes. Here have we been kindly treated. If there is more that I +can do, O lord of men, I shall always be ready. If when far away I +hear that foes surround thee, I shall come to help thee with many +warriors. Well I know that my king, Hygelac, will send me to thy aid." + +Then Hrothgar spoke: "Into thy mind has the wise God sent these kind +words. Never have I heard wiser words from one so young. Thou art +strong and wise, and I think that if death should take Hygelac, the +people would wish thee for their king. So well hast thou borne thyself +that there shall be peace between the Danes and Goths, and many a gift +I shall send to thee over the great sea." + +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf rich gifts and bade him seek his home in +safety. The good king wept when he said good-bye, for he loved the +noble youth and was sad to have him go away over the deep sea. + +Beowulf was glad and proud of the king's praise. He set sail from the +land of Hrothgar, and often he and his men admired the rich gifts of +the great and good king. + + + + +Beowulf and Hygelac + +Over ocean-stream went the brave youths and soon saw the shores of the +Goths, their homeland. Beowulf and his men brought the ship high up on +the shore lest the billow's force might wreck it. Then Beowulf ordered +them to carry the noble gifts of Hrothgar. Near the sea-wall was the +home of Hygelac. The bright sun, the candle of the world, was shining +when the brave Beowulf and his men went to greet their king. Hygelac +was glad to see their safe returning, and said: "Tell me, friend +Beowulf, how the Danes treated you. Long have I feared for you, +knowing you would meet Grendel, the deadly foe of men." + +Beowulf answered: "Right well did Hrothgar greet me and gave me a seat +in his hall next his own son. All the people were gay, and never have +I seen a grander hall or greater cheer. Oft the sweet queen left her +seat and spoke to the young warriors, giving one and another a wreath. +Oft their young daughter bore the mead-cup to her father's friends. + +"So all the day we spent in song and story. At night the beast Grendel +came. First he seized and slew one of my kindred, and then sought me. +But I seized his right hand and would not let go my hold. Long we +fought, and at last he fled, in the night, to his home in the black +waters. But his hand and arm were torn from him, and from this wound +he died. + +"Much praise and many gifts I had from the old king, when he learned +that the cruel Grendel must die. But the next night Grendel's mother +crept up to the hall and seized one of the king's good friends. Sad +were we all when morning came. The king with tears begged me to hunt +out the wicked creature, and I plunged into the dark waters. Fierce +was the fight, but at last I won, and never will Hrothgar's hall be sad +again at the loss of brave warriors. + +"Then Hrothgar gave me rich gifts which I bring to you, my king. With +gladness I bring them, for because of you are my pleasures long." + +As Beowulf spoke, his men brought in the banner, the shield, the +battle-sword, and the helmet. They also brought four fiery steeds with +rich trappings, fit for a king. All these did Beowulf give to his +friend, the king Hygelac. To the queen he gave the lovely collar +Hrothgar's queen had given to him, beautiful and rare with jewels. He +also gave her three black horses with saddles bright. + +[Illustration: BEOWULF PRESENTING HIS GIFTS TO HYGELAC] + +The king and queen rejoiced in the precious gifts and in the love of +this brave warrior. To Beowulf the king gave a sword of wonder, the +best treasure he had, adorned with gold. Also he gave him many, many +rings of gold and a beautiful palace. + +So there was love between the king and the brave hero. + + + + +The Dragon of the Mountain + +After many years, when the king and his son had perished in the wars, +the Goths chose Beowulf for their king. No better king could they +have, and for many years he ruled over them. He was a wise king and +brave. The people loved him much. + +Then a strange story came to his ears: that far away in a dark cave +lived a terrible dragon. The way to his lair was rough and steep. In +this cave was much treasure, and the dragon was guarding it. + +Many men had gathered the treasures in this cave. Swords, helmets, and +shields, and rings were hidden there in time of war, so that the enemy +could not find them. For many years these treasures were collecting +there. At last a dragon came, a fierce creature, and for three hundred +winters he had kept watch with his fiery eyes. + +At last a man found the cave filled with the treasures. The dragon was +asleep, so the man took a golden cup and bore it home to his lord. +Thus the secret of the hoard became known. + +When the fearful dragon awoke and found that one of his treasures had +been taken, he was very angry. Fire came from his nostrils and from +his wicked mouth. He would find the man who had done this thing. + +Then the dragon began to burn all the houses round. Nothing living was +left. Ruin and death were in his path. Then he darted back to the +dark cave. He trusted in its darkness, but in vain. + + + + +Beowulf goes against the Dragon + +When Beowulf heard that his men were driven from their burning homes, +his heart was hot with anger. He ordered a war-board of iron made, for +well he knew that forest-wood could not help him against fire. All the +foes of the kingdom Beowulf had turned to friends, and for many years +had ruled the Goths in peace and joy. But now he must go against the +fearful dragon who was guarding the hoard of treasures. + +The man who had taken the cup showed them the path, for he alone knew +the way. When they came to the mound near the great sea-waves, Beowulf +said farewell to his warriors. For him alone was the fight with the +enemy of his people, the fire-breathing dragon. + +[Illustration: THE DRAGON] + +Sad was the hero at heart, for he knew this was his last fight. "I +have dared many battles in my youth, and I will now, as safe guardian +of my people, seek out this wicked creature in his earth-hall." + +Beowulf then greeted each of his men, saying: "I would not bear a +weapon against this dragon, but would fight him as I did Grendel, only +I must expect hot fire. Await me near this mound. This is a battle +for me, not for you or for any other man. I shall obtain the gold, or +war shall conquer me, your lord." + +Then the bold king, trusting in his good sword, went forth to battle, +with his helmet and his shield. When he came to the mound by the sea +he saw an arch of stone, and a stream flowing from the mound. The +water was boiling hot and he could not get near the hoard unburned. +Then the brave war-lord shouted to the dragon. First came forth from +the mountain the hot breath of the dreadful monster. The earth shook +and flames burst forth. The good king drew his sword and waited. When +the dragon came, Beowulf strode at it with his sword, and fierce was +the conflict. The hero knew that he would fall in the battle, but he +would kill the dragon first. It is a brave man who enters such a +deadly contest. + +Beowulf's men had sought safety, but one of them felt that he must help +his lord in this hour of deadly battle. He said: "Now Beowulf, our +great lord, has need of us. Although he is the greatest of warriors +and wishes to do this brave deed alone, yet he has need of our swords! +Let us help our warlike leader. For me, I well know that Beowulf shall +not fall alone." + + + + +Wiglaf aids his King + +Then the noble Wiglaf went to his lord and said: "Dear Beowulf, once +did you say that never would your greatness sink. But in this great +deed I shall help." + +After these words the dragon came forth in great anger. The fiery +flames burned the broad wooden shield of Wiglaf. Then the young, brave +hero fought from behind the great iron shield of his leader, Beowulf. +Now this warlike king called to mind the glorious deeds of his youth. +With all his strength he struck with his sword, but it broke in his +hand. Then rushed out for the third time the deadly dragon and wound +himself about his kingly foe. + +To help the king in his great need did Wiglaf strike the dreadful foe. +The king drew his deadly knife and together they destroyed the fiery +creature. Then both rejoiced. + +But now the wound in the breast of Beowulf began to burn. Wiglaf +brought water to help the king. Then Beowulf spoke: "My joy in earth +has gone. I have ruled this people fifty winters. All kings are my +friends. Never have I spoken falsely, and for this I have joy to-day. +Go quickly, dear Wiglaf, and find the treasures guarded by the great +dragon, that I may behold all the jewels, the precious gems for which +we fought." + +Many wonders did Wiglaf find and bring to the eyes of his dying king: +jewels, helmets, rings, shields, swords rich with gold and jewels. +Most beautiful was a banner of cloth of gold so bright that it made the +dark cave light. + + + + +The Death of Beowulf + +When Beowulf saw these things of wonderful beauty, he said: "I thank +the Father of the gods, for all; because I have been able to kill the +great dragon and give my life for my people. No longer may I stay +here. Tell my brave warriors to make a mound near the sea, so high +that sailors may see it from afar and call it Beowulf's mound." + +Then from his neck the bold-hearted prince took a golden ring and gave +it to the young warrior. To him also he gave his helmet and shield and +bade him use them well. "Thou art the last of our race. All my +kinsmen fate has swept away. I shall follow them." These were the +last words from the heart of the hero. + +When the thanes came to where Wiglaf sat by his dead lord, the young +warrior said: "The great prince who gave you rings, and shields, and +homes, could not boast of you when need came. He alone conquered the +beast. I could help him little, but yet I did what I could to help the +good king. Death is better for every one than a life of reproach." + +Then he told them of the wish of Beowulf and bade them prepare the +mound by the shore of the noisy sea. Many, many warriors came to see +the great king. Much they loved him and admired his great strength. +Much they mourned for him and tears fell. All day they sat by the sea +and spoke no word. They looked with dread at their great foe. Fifty +feet long it stretched on the ground. At last the warriors threw the +great dragon into the sea, never again to be seen by men. + +Then Wiglaf took the warriors into the dark cave to see the treasures +hoarded there. For a thousand years had gold and gems and jewelled +armour been gathered there. Now there were more treasures than man +could count. The Goths were amazed to see such treasures, but they +wished not to take them for their own. They heaped high the +mountain-pines for a funeral pile. To this they carried the precious +treasures of the cave. Here they placed the king, so dearly loved. +Then the greatest of the warriors kindled the pine trees high. The +roaring flames arose; sounds of weeping were heard. Sad they waited +until all was destroyed by the flames. Then they began the mound in +honour of their lord. Ten days they worked, and built the mound so +high that sea-farers far away could see it and say, "There is the mound +of the good Beowulf, the king of the Goths." + +And his people said: "Our Beowulf was of all kings the mildest, the +noblest of men, the gentlest to his people and most worthy of praise." + + +[Illustration: PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF PROPER NAMES] + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northland Heroes, by Florence Holbrook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 20853-8.txt or 20853-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/8/5/20853/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Northland Heroes + +Author: Florence Holbrook + +Release Date: March 20, 2007 [EBook #20853] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Ingeborg the Fair" BORDER="2" WIDTH="413" HEIGHT="612"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 413px"> +Ingeborg the Fair +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +Northland Heroes +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +FLORENCE HOLBROOK +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Author of +<BR> +"The Hiawatha Primer" "A Book of Nature Myths" etc. +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +LONDON: GEORGE G. HARRAP & CO. LTD. +<BR> +2 & 3 Portsmouth St. Kingsway WC +<BR> +AND AT CALCUTTA AND SYDNEY +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +First published January 1909 +<BR> +by GEORGE G. HARRAP & Co. +<BR> +2 & 3 Portsmouth Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2 +<BR><BR> +Reprinted: April 1911; May 1913; +<BR> +May 1914; October 1919; July 1922 +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE +</H3> + +<P> +For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting +the heroic deeds of great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have +delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our +own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of +Beowulf and Frithiof. +</P> + +<P> +The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. +With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and +patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest +and emulation, this little book is offered to our children. +</P> + +<P> +"The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop +Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof," and the quotations are used by +the kind permission of Mrs Holcomb and the publishers. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +FLORENCE HOLBROOK. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + <A HREF="#chap01">IN HILDING'S GARDEN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap02">KING BELE AND THORSTEN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap03">FRAMNESS</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap04">KING HELGE AND FRITHIOF</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap05">IN THE COUNTRY OF KING RING</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap06">FRITHIOF'S ANSWER</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap07">IN BALDER'S GROVE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap08">THE PARTING</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap09">FRITHIOF AND ANGANTYR</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap10">THE RETURN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap11">BALDER'S FUNERAL PILE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap12">ON THE SEA</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap13">THE VIKING'S CODE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap14">FRITHIOF'S RETURN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap15">KING RING AND THE STRANGER</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap16">THE RIDE ON THE ICE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap17">IN THE FOREST</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap18">KING RING'S DEATH</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap19">THE NEW KING</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap20">PRITHIOF AT HIS FATHER'S GRAVE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap21">THE RECONCILIATION</A><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3> +THE STORY OF BEOWULF +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + <A HREF="#chap22">THE COMING OF SHEAF</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap23">THE YOUNG BEOWULF</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap24">THE HARPER'S STORY</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap25">BEOWULF AND HIS MEN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap26">THE WARDER OF THE SHORE</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap27">BEOWULF RECEIVED BY HROTHGAR</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap28">THE CONTEST WITH GRENDEL</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap29">THE FEAST OF JOY</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap30">GRENDEL'S MOTHER</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap31">THE WAY TO THE POOL</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap32">BEOWULF IN THE POOL</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap33">BEOWULF'S RETURN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap34">HROTHGAR HONOURS BEOWULF</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap35">BEOWULF AND HYGELAC</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap36">THE DRAGON OF THE MOUNTAIN</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap37">BEOWULF GOES AGAINST THE DRAGON</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap38">WIGLAF AIDS HIS KING</A><BR> + <A HREF="#chap39">THE DEATH OF BEOWULF</A><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +Ingeborg the Fair . . . . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-016"> +King Bele and his sons +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-020"> +Burial mounds +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-024"> +Viking ship +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-028"> +Frithiof asking for Ingeborg +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-031"> +Ingeborg at Balder's temple +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-050"> +Frithiof's song +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-057"> +Into the hall came a man unknown to any there +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-062"> +King Ring's sleigh +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-072"> +The boy on the shield +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-080"> +Ingeborg given to Frithiof +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-092"> +The departure of Beowulf +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-094"> +The landing of Beowulf in Hrothgar's realm +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-114"> +Beowulf presenting his gifts to Hygelac +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-118"> +The dragon +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-125"> +Pronouncing vocabulary of proper names +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In Hilding's Garden +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +So they grew up in joy and glee,<BR> +And Frithiof was the young oak tree;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Unfolding in the vale serenely</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The rose was Ingeborg the queenly.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In the garden of Hilding, the teacher, were two young children. +Ingeborg was a princess, the daughter of a King of Norway. The boy, +Frithiof, was a viking's son. Their fathers, King Bele and Thorsten, +were good friends, and the children were brought up together in the +home of Hilding, their foster-father and teacher. +</P> + +<P> +Hilding was very fond of them both. He called the boy Frithiof an oak, +for he was straight and strong. The little Ingeborg he called his +rose, she was so rosy and sweet. +</P> + +<P> +All day roaming over field and grove the strong lad cared for the +little maid. If they came to a swift-flowing brook he would carry her +over. When the first spring flowers showed their pretty heads Frithiof +gathered them for Ingeborg. For her he found the red berries and the +golden-cheeked apples. +</P> + +<P> +In the evening they sat at the feet of their kind teacher and together +they learned to read. Often they danced on the sward at twilight, when +they looked like golden-haired elves in a fairy dance. +</P> + +<P> +When Frithiof had grown into a sturdy youth he often hunted in the +forests. He was so strong that he needed neither spear nor lance. +When he met the wild bear they struggled breast to breast. Both bear +and youth fought bravely, but at last Frithiof won. Home he went +gaily, carrying the great bear-skin, which he gave to Ingeborg. She +praised his bravery and strength, for every woman loves courage. +</P> + +<P> +While Frithiof roamed the forest for game, Ingeborg, at the loom, wove +beautiful tapestries. Pictures of sea and grove, blue waters and +waving trees, grew under her deft fingers. Then she wove warriors on +horseback, with their shining shields and their bright red lances. +Soon the face of the leader was seen; 'twas the face of her brave +playmate, Frithiof. +</P> + +<P> +In the long winter evenings around the fire, Ingeborg heard the story +of the gods. The light shining upon her fair face made her lovely as +one of the goddesses. Frithiof thought her hair as golden as Freya's +treasure. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +When darkness held the quiet earth<BR> +They gathered round the welcome hearth,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And Hilding told them stories old</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Of gods and kings and heroes bold.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +So Frithiof and the lovely Ingeborg grew to love each other. But when +Hilding saw that the viking's son dared to love the daughter of a king, +he said: "Frithiof, my dear foster-son, in vain are your hopes. +Ingeborg is a king's daughter. Your reason should tell you that you +cannot marry her. Proud is King Bele of his family descended from the +great god Odin. He will have his daughter marry a prince, not a +yeoman. Well do I love you; brave and handsome are you and strong as +any prince, but you must forget your love for Ingeborg." +</P> + +<P> +Then the brave youth smiled and said: "I am free-born, and never will I +yield. I killed the forest chief, and honour is mine for the deed. +All power is noble—Thor who hurls the thunderbolts is noble, although +Odin is king of the gods. So free-born men shall never yield though +kings are on the throne. In Thor's kingdom, where all strength is, +worth is king, not lineage. The sword always speaks with power; never +will I forget Ingeborg, but will fight all the world for her." +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +The free-born man will never yield,<BR> +He owns the world's unconquered field;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Where worth and not descent is leader</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The sword is e'er a valiant pleader.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +King Bele and Thorsten +</H3> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +The words by an old man spoken should not be slighted +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In the great palace stood the old King Bele and his friend, Thorsten +the faithful. Both had lived brave lives and longed for Valhalla, the +home of heroes. +</P> + +<P> +"The evening of life comes over me," said King Bele, "but as death +draws nearer, the glory of heaven seems brighter. I have called our +sons to the throne room, dear friend, to speak words of warning and +help. To-morrow it may be that I shall sleep in death, and it will be +too late." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-016"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-016.jpg" ALT="King Bele and his sons" BORDER="2" WIDTH="400" HEIGHT="561"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 400px"> +King Bele and his sons +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Into the throne room came the two princes obedient to their father's +command. Helge, the elder, was dark and gloomy. Halfdan, the younger, +fair and gay, came with untroubled heart, thinking only of games and +hunting. +</P> + +<P> +After these came Frithiof, son of Thorsten, taller and stronger than +the princes. He stood between the brothers, shining in beauty like the +sun. +</P> + +<P> +"Sons of my heart," said the king gently, "my life on earth is ending. +Rule the kingdom together. While you are united no power can destroy +you. Let freedom bloom through all the land, and use your power, O +Helge, as a shield for your people. +</P> + +<P> +"The power the king possesses comes from the people, and foolish is the +ruler who is cruel and hears not their cry. The great and good king is +merciful, and kindness can do more than cruelty. Boast not of the +greatness of your ancestors. Each man uses but one bowstring, and that +is his own. Who cares for the worth that is buried? The good man is +true to his own heart, and thus makes himself great. +</P> + +<P> +"A joyous spirit is yours, O Halfdan, and it is good. But idle talk is +needless and weakens kings. Hold fast to your friend and choose the +best, but do not give your love and faith to all men. Fools win no +praise though they be kings, but the wise are loved and honoured by all +men, no matter how lowly they may be." +</P> + +<P> +Then Thorsten spake: "Not alone, O Bele, shall you go to Odin. Always +have we stood together, and death shall not divide us. +</P> + +<P> +"Hear me, my son, my Frithiof, and slight not the words of the old. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"First, give the gods high honour, for good or ill,<BR> +Storms come as well as sunshine, by Heaven's will.<BR> +Great strength is Heaven's dower; but, Frithiof, learn<BR> +That power devoid of wisdom, can little earn.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Obey your king. One must be king, and others are happiest when +obeying wise directions. The shields of brave men are the best +protection for a country against the swords of an enemy, and law is the +best defence against treason. Young men should listen to advice and +should test the strength of friendship by use. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"All men will surely perish, with all they prize,<BR> +But one thing know I, Frithiof, which never dies,—<BR> +And that is reputation! therefore, ever<BR> +The noble action strive for, the good endeavour."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +It was pleasant to hear Bele and Thorsten talk of their lives together. +Much they told of the wonderful adventures of their youth, when they +travelled to strange lands in their swift-moving boats. They had been +friends through good fortune and ill, with hands clasped together and +hearts united. In battle they had stood back to back, facing their +enemies. If one was threatened by an enemy, the other was on guard and +defended his friend. +</P> + +<P> +The king spoke much of the bravery of Frithiof, and said that his +heroic power was better than all royal birth. Thorsten in return +praised the gifts of Helge and Halfdan. Thus did they give an example +of friendship between a king and his man. With the memory of their +long friendship King Bele urged his sons and Frithiof to be friends too. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"But hold ye fast together, ye children three,<BR> +The Northland then your conqueror shall never see;<BR> +For royalty and power, when duly ordered,<BR> +Are like a bright shield golden, by blue steel bordered."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then again spoke Bele: "These are my last commands. On you, O Helge, +my eldest son, I place a father's care. Guard and love your sister +Ingeborg. Be gentle and guide her with loving words. Noble spirits +fret under harshness, but loving and gentle manners win all to right +and honour. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, farewell, my children. Together Thorsten and I go to the +All-father gladly. Lay us in mounds close to the waves of the restless +gulf singing the song of the sea." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-020"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-020.jpg" ALT="Burial mounds" BORDER="2" WIDTH="348" HEIGHT="193"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 348px"> +Burial mounds +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Framness +</H3> + +<P> +So the old king and his faithful friend were united in death as they +had been in life, and were buried on the shore of the loud-singing sea. +Together by the wish of the people did his sons, Helge and Halfdan, +rule the kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +Frithiof, the son of Thorsten, went to his father's hall, the mighty +Framness. For twelve miles in all directions stretched his broad +acres. The hilltops were covered with birch forests. On the sloping +sides grew the golden corn and the tall rye. Many blue lakes gleamed +like mirrors. Streams rippled over the pebbly beds. In the wide +valleys herds of oxen and sheep were quietly grazing, and in the +stables were twenty-four steeds swift as the whirlwind. +</P> + +<P> +In the great hall built of choicest fir more than five hundred warriors +gathered at Yule-time. A great table of oak, polished and shining, ran +through the middle from end to end. The floor was covered with straw, +and on the hearth in the centre of the hall a warm and cheerful fire +was always burning. +</P> + +<P> +On the great nails in the hall hung helmets and coats-of-mail. Between +them flashed swords and sparkling shields. Round the table sat the +warriors, and as often as the drinking-horn needed filling fair maidens +came with the joyous mead. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +All this and other vast treasures did Frithiof receive from<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">his father,</SPAN><BR> +Scarce was there found in the Northland any with richer<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">possessions,</SPAN><BR> +Save were he heir to a kingdom, for of kings is the wealth<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">always greatest.</SPAN><BR> +Though from no king he descended, yet was his mind<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">truly royal,</SPAN><BR> +Courteous, noble, and kind. Daily became he more famous.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +Rich was the house of Framness. Everywhere plenty and beauty, gleaming +jewels, gold and silver, met the eye of the stranger. But three things +in Framness were most prized by Frithiof and his brave men. First of +the three was a sword which had descended from father to son. The +sword was called Angurvadel, grief-wader, and brother of lightning. +Made in the far east, it had finally come into the hands of Viking, the +father of Thorsten. +</P> + +<P> +When Viking was a youth of fifteen he heard of a monster ferocious and +shaggy, misshapen and higher in stature than man, who came from the +wood to the palace of a weak old king. This king had a lovely +daughter, and the monster boldly demanded her hand and the kingdom, +offering to meet in hand-to-hand combat any who would say him nay. No +one dared to meet him, for no one had a weapon that could pierce his +hard skull. +</P> + +<P> +Then came Viking gladly to the combat with Ironskull, and with one blow +of his good sword Angurvadel cleft the head of the monster and rescued +the maiden. Viking gave the sword to his son Thorsten, and Thorsten +gave it to Frithiof. The hilt was of hammered gold, covered with +mystic red letters. Whenever he drew the sword light filled the hall, +as when the northern lights gleam or the bright lightning flashes. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 5em">Lost was the warrior</SPAN><BR> +Who met, on the field of encounter, the blade with its red<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">letters glowing.</SPAN><BR> +Widely renowned was that sword, and of swords was the<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">chief in the Northland.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The second prize in Framness was the wonderful arm-ring forged by +Volund, the lame blacksmith. This ring was made of gold and was very +heavy, and upon it Volund had carved pictures. First he showed the +house of the gods, with twelve high castles. In one was the sun rising +over the ocean. In the second castle were Odin and Saga, drinking +together from a golden shell. That shell is the ocean gilded by the +glow of morning. Balder, the beautiful king of summer, was seen, the +good, kind god. Next was shown the castle of Giltner, the home of +peace. Within was Forseti, god of justice, holding the scales. Many +more pictures were graven on the great ring, showing the conflict +between light and darkness. High in the centre was a cluster of rubies +bright as the sun in the heavens. This circlet was a family heirloom, +for Frithiof's mother was a descendant of Volund, its maker. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-024"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-024.jpg" ALT="Viking ship" BORDER="2" WIDTH="358" HEIGHT="282"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 358px"> +Viking ship +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The third of the family treasures was <I>Ellide</I>, the famous ship, of +which this story is told. When Viking was returning from the wars he +saw a sailor adrift on the billows. Noble and tall he seemed, borne on +the waves as if he were at home on the sea. He wore a mantle of blue +bound by a golden girdle. His hair was sea-green and his beard as +white as the foam of the ocean. +</P> + +<P> +Viking took him home and cared for him right courteously; but soon he +sailed away in his broken boat, thanking Viking warmly for his +kindness. "If I could only leave thee a gift!" said he. "Perhaps in +the morning the ocean will waft thee a token." +</P> + +<P> +The next day Viking stood on the shore, when, lo! swiftly over the +billows came a dragon ship. There was no leader, no sailor, no +steersman. The wonderful ship drew near, the sails were furled by +unseen hands and the anchor dropped into the firm sand. +</P> + +<P> +Viking was speechless with wonder. Then he heard the winds murmur +softly: "Aeger never forgetteth a kindness. He giveth thee this +dragon." +</P> + +<P> +Kingly the gift and beautiful. Its throat was ablaze with gold, and +bordered with red were its inky black pinions. When they were +unfolded, the boat flew in a race with the whirlwind and left far +behind the swift eagle. Widely renowned was the ship, the chief of all +ships of the Northland. +</P> + +<P> +Of chieftains Frithiof had many around his hearth. One youth whom he +greatly loved was Bjorn. Frithiof and Bjorn were of the same age and +dear to each other, brothers in joy and grief. In the days of their +boyhood they had mingled their blood, thus becoming brothers in good +Northern fashion, in peace and in war sworn to help and avenge each +other. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +King Helge and Frithiof +</H3> + +<P> +In the spring Frithiof sailed in his dragon ship proudly over the +billows to the palace of King Helge. The kings had met at the mound of +their father to give justice to their people. +</P> + +<P> +To them came Frithiof and proudly he spoke: "Ye kings, I choose here +from all women your sister, the lovely Ingeborg, to be my bride. The +good king, your father, wished us to marry, and therefore reared us +together in the garden of Hilding. My father was of peasant birth, yet +his memory will live in the songs of the poets, for he and his father +were the bravest of heroes. +</P> + +<P> +"Full easily could I win a kingdom for myself, but I choose to stay in +my own country and serve ye, my kings. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"On King Bele's grave we are standing now,<BR> +He hears every word in the grave below,<BR> +With thee he pleadeth.—<BR> +A dead father's counsel a wise son heedeth."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="img-028"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-028.jpg" ALT="Frithiof asking for Ingeborg" BORDER="2" WIDTH="368" HEIGHT="321"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 368px"> +Frithiof asking for Ingeborg +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +But King Helge refused Frithiof's words with scorn, saying: "Our sister +was not for a peasant born! Kings should strive to win our Ingeborg. +Boast not of your strength—women are won by words and not by force. +As for my kingdom, I will defend that myself and do not need your help. +If you wish to be my man your place is among my servants." +</P> + +<P> +"Thy servant! No, never!" cried Frithiof. "My father had no master, +nor shall I. Fly from your silver dwelling to avenge this insult, my +good Angurvadel! You, at least, are royal. Were we not at the grave +of thy father, O King, here would I teach thee not to come where my +sword can reach." +</P> + +<P> +With these words he struck the gold shield of Helge, and it fell in +halves with a clang to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Well done, my sword! Lie still and dream of great deeds to come! Now +will we go home over the foaming billows." +</P> + +<P> +So in anger did the noble Frithiof leave the presence of King Helge, +and return to Framness, the house of his fathers. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In the Country of King Ring +</H3> + +<P> +Far in the north lived the good King Ring. His words were wise and +kind. In his land no war cast its dark shadow and everywhere in his +kingdom blossomed fair flowers. Justice and right clasped hands, and +peace lived with plenty in the golden fields. +</P> + +<P> +For thirty years King Ring had ruled in the Northland. The people +loved him well and named him in their evening prayers. His good queen +had died, and long had he mourned for her. But the people begged him +to marry again. +</P> + +<P> +At last the old king said: "King Bele often visited me and spake of his +fair daughter. Her would I choose for my bride. Take gold and jewels +rare from my coffers. Have minstrels go and with their songs win for +me the fair Ingeborg." +</P> + +<P> +In gay company they went to Helge's court and asked him for his sister +Ingeborg. Here they remained three days, singing and feasting. On the +fourth morning they asked for a reply from King Helge for their king. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-031"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-031.jpg" ALT="Ingeborg at Balder's Temple" BORDER="2" WIDTH="221" HEIGHT="593"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 221px"> +Ingeborg at Balder's Temple +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +In the grove of Balder Helge offered bird and beast and asked the +priest what answer he should give. The priest, frightened by evil +omens, replied that Ingeborg must not be given to King Ring. Then +Helge said nay to the messengers, for men must obey when the gods have +spoken. +</P> + +<P> +Angry were the messengers, and angry was King Ring when he was told +that Helge would not give the lovely Ingeborg to be his queen. He +struck his bright shield and seized his warlike weapons. +</P> + +<P> +Over the sea many a dragon ship came hurrying and the plumes of the +warriors waved in the breeze. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us teach the proud Helge a lesson," they cried. +</P> + +<P> +When King Helge heard of the ships and the warriors hurrying over the +sea, he said: "Long and bloody will be the strife, for King Ring is a +mighty king. To protect my sister we must place her in the temple of +Balder the holy." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Frithiof's Answer +</H3> + +<P> +While King Helge gathered his warriors to fight King Ring, the angry +Frithiof was playing chess with his friend Bjorn. Hilding urged him to +forget his anger and go into battle to fight for his king and his +country. "The times are evil, dear foster-son," said the good Hilding, +"and you are all the people's hope." +</P> + +<P> +Kindly but firmly said the youth: "My resolve is firm. I will not obey +Helge. He and Halfdan may be angry and threaten. They are kings, but +I bid defiance to their power and their threats." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Hilding sadly: "Is this the reply to my pleading?" +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Frithiof then arises, laying<BR> +Hilding's hand in his, and saying:<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">"My resolve is firm and steady,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And my answer you have heard.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Go to Bele's sons and warn them<BR> +Peasants love not those who scorn them;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To their power I bid defiance,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Their behests will not obey."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"In thy chosen way abide thee,<BR> +For thy wrath I cannot chide thee;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Odin must be our reliance,"</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Hilding said, and went his way.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In Balder's Grove +</H3> + +<P> +While King Bele's sons were preparing for war with King Ring, Frithiof +sought Ingeborg in the grove of Balder. Most beautiful was this temple +of the sun-god, and here the sunshine seemed lovelier than in other +groves. The flowers glowed in the friendly rays and seemed more +beautiful. At night, when evening drew the rosy curtain, the brooks +and breezes whispered softly to one another and the stars gleamed like +pearls upon the dark blue robe of night. +</P> + +<P> +The wonderful boat, <I>Ellide</I>, sped over the waves sparkling in the +moonlight. "Glide on, <I>Ellide</I>, over the deep gulf and bear me swiftly +to the grove of Balder. I hail thee, moon, with thy pale light +streaming over grove and dale. Upon the shore I leap with joy and +salute thy brown cheek, smiling earth." +</P> + +<P> +So spake Frithiof as he landed on the shore. The earth seemed +friendly, the red and white flowers smiled upon him, and he was happy +and free from care. With Ingeborg the brave youth knelt at the shrine +of Balder, the mild, radiant god of the sun whom all gods and men love, +and prayed for happiness and peace. They prayed not for princely +honours, but for a home near the dark blue sea. Then, amid flowers and +under the shade of the leafy trees, their lives would be happy and free +from envy and care. +</P> + +<P> +But they feared the king, the cold and cruel Helge. He would never +consent to Frithiof's request for the hand of Ingeborg. If he learned +that Frithiof had dared to visit Ingeborg in Balder's grove, his anger +would be greater than ever. But Ingeborg begged Frithiof to go to her +brother and to offer his hand in friendship. She could not leave the +grove of Balder, where Helge had placed her for protection during the +war with King Ring. +</P> + +<P> +At last Frithiof yielded. He said farewell to Ingeborg with sadness in +his heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Like Balder are you, Ingeborg! Like him your hair is golden, and your +eyes are blue as his skies, while your soul is as pure as the morning +light!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Parting +</H3> + +<P> +A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They were +to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon the fate +of Ingeborg. +</P> + +<P> +The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty +king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to +consent, for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in +Balder's grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad +was she, for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be +angry because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great god +Balder without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her +fate, and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried: +"Tell me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for +all." +</P> + +<P> +Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele's mound I went. There, +gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge's kingdom. +Upon the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near +by was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: 'Thy +kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me +thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will. +Here is my hand.' +</P> + +<P> +"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand +shields and the freemen cried: 'To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword +and well he deserves our fair lily.' +</P> + +<P> +"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with +pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:— +</P> + +<P> +"'A peasant's son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy +temple seems unfit for Bele's daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not +stolen into Balder's temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak +yes or no.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Say no!' shouted the brave men; 'we believe thee, son of Thorsten. +Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!' +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not, O Helge,' I replied; 'I would not lie to gain the joy of +heaven, and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg +in Balder's temple, but the laws I have not broken.' +</P> + +<P> +"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one +accursed. 'Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,' +said Helge, 'yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou +hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us. +Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every +man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.'" +</P> + +<P> +"What did you decide, my Frithiof?" +</P> + +<P> +"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour? +To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves. +But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in <I>Ellide</I> to a friendly land. A +little earth from our fathers' graves we'll place upon our ships, and +that will be our fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful +islands of Greece—fresh groves of green in shining waves. There +golden apples glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough. +There will we build a little North, more beautiful than this. +Happiness stands near to human hearts if they are brave enough to seize +it. Come, let us go! All is ready, and <I>Ellide</I> stretches her shadowy +wings for flight." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like +you. Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not +steal my happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain +obedient to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the +south. With eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright +northern star which stands over our fathers' graves. And you, my +Frithiof, must not desert the land you were born to guard. Let us +yield to the voice of duty. Let us save our honour though our +happiness be lost!" +</P> + +<P> +"Necessity commands our flight. Come, Ingeborg!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's right and noble, that's necessity." +</P> + +<P> +"Consider well. Is that your last resolve?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is my last. But remember that my thought will follow you wherever +you may go. When evening comes I will send a greeting, and the +fleeting cloud shall bear it unto you." +</P> + +<P> +"You have conquered, my Ingeborg. A noble mind best teaches what is +noble. To-day I yield and leave you. But in the earliest spring I +shall return and in open council of the sons of the Northland, who +alone can give the hand of a princess, will I demand you. Farewell +till then. For memory wear this arm-ring, the work of Volund, graven +with heaven's wonders. But the best of wonders is a faithful heart." +</P> + +<P> +So, full of hope, did Frithiof leave, but Ingeborg feared her gloomy +brother, knowing well how he hated the noble Frithiof. To herself she +said: "Never will he give me to thee, dear childhood's friend. Rather +will he wed me to King Ring whom he fights. No hope do I see, yet I am +glad thy heart can hope. May all the good gods follow thee." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Frithiof and Angantyr +</H3> + +<P> +Over the sea sailed Frithiof with his friends in the good ship <I>Ellide</I> +to the home of the brave earl Angantyr. The old man, joyous and +light-hearted, one day looked over the sea and saw the white-winged +ship bringing the brave heroes. +</P> + +<P> +"That is <I>Ellide</I> coming, and the hero with firm and steady step is +Frithiof, son of Thorsten. No one in the Northland has so brave a brow +and so bright a smile." +</P> + +<P> +Then the sturdy Atle sprang up crying: "Now will I go and prove what +truth there is in the report that Frithiof breaks all swords and never +sues for peace." +</P> + +<P> +When he saw Frithiof he cried: "No one comes here but he either fights +or flies. If you beg for peace, I shall receive you in friendship and +take you to the earl." +</P> + +<P> +Frithiof replied sharply: "Before I cry for peace our good swords must +be tested." +</P> + +<P> +Then flashed his sword-blade, the bright Angurvadel. The men fought +long and cleft each other's shields, but finally Atle's sword was +broken and Frithiof's sword was king. +</P> + +<P> +Then said the victor: "I do not wish to slay a swordless foe. If you +wish, let us strive as yeomen, man to man, without weapons." +</P> + +<P> +So they wrestled breast to breast as two bears trying their strength, +or as wave breaking against wave. The firm earth trembled, and the +great oaks scarce could endure the shock. +</P> + +<P> +But Frithiof proved the stronger, and at length brought proud Atle to +the ground. Angrily he said: "If my good sword were at my hand, +through thy body would I plunge it, thou black-beard!" +</P> + +<P> +"Go bring it! Who'll prevent thee?" cried the brave Atle. "Here will +I lie if that will content thee. All must Valhal see; I, to-day; thou, +perhaps, to-morrow!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Frithiof fetched the gleaming Angurvadel, but the good sword +harmed not the noble foe. Frithiof struck the sand with the blade, for +he admired the courage of the brave Atle. +</P> + +<P> +As friends Frithiof and Atle then entered the palace of Angantyr. +Everything seemed new and beautiful to Frithiof. Instead of planks +well matched, leather embroidered in gold covered the walls. No rough +hearthstone littered the centre of the hall, but a marble fireplace was +built up against the side. In the windows were fitted panes of glass, +and a key secured the door. +</P> + +<P> +Here were no wooden torches as light of the feast, but waxen candles +gleamed brightly in their silver sconces. The roasted stag gracing the +table had gold bands on his hoofs, and flowers wreathed his horns. +</P> + +<P> +Three steps the earl descended, saying to Frithiof: "Come sit by me, +brave son of Thorsten." +</P> + +<P> +Then was Thorsten's praise chanted by the singers, and his brave deeds +were sung in the old Norse tongue. +</P> + +<P> +The earl asked much about his friends of long ago. Frithiof answered +wisely and kindly, and all the warriors cheered him loudly. Soon he +spoke of the errand that brought him from his own land. Angantyr +listened kindly but replied: +</P> + +<P> +"I never paid tribute to Bele and shall not to his sons. If they wish +to take it, let them meet us on the strand and see who is best. But +Thorsten was my friend," continued the earl, and beckoned to his +daughter, who sat near him. +</P> + +<P> +The beautiful maid hastened to her room and brought back a green silk +purse all deftly wrought. The tassels were made of gold and the clasps +shone with rubies. +</P> + +<P> +Angantyr took the treasure and filled it with gold. Giving it to +Frithiof, he said: "This welcome gift is a tribute to you, my friend, +but not to King Helge. And now I beg you, Frithiof, to pass the long +winter hours with us, your friends and the friends of your fathers." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Return +</H3> + +<P> +When lovely spring with her blue skies came again, Frithiof left his +kind host Angantyr and sailed over the deep billows. Full of joy is +one who has travelled far when his bark turns homeward. Memory shows +the smoke from his mother's hearth-fire and the fountain where his +childish feet played. +</P> + +<P> +Six days Frithiof sailed, and on the seventh he saw his loved land. He +saluted the cliffs and the forest dancing in the sunlight, but thought +of Ingeborg. As <I>Ellide</I> rounded the headland, Frithiof stood at the +prow, shading his eyes from the sun and looking for his old home, loved +Framness. +</P> + +<P> +But he looked in vain! Of the stately hall ashes alone remained. +Sadly did the hero thread the blackened ruins. Then his faithful dog, +Bran, ran up to welcome him. A powerful dog was he, and often had he +been master of wolves. The milk-white steed with swan-like neck and +golden mane came bounding up the valley. Both asked for food of +Frithiof, their master; but he, poorer than they, had nothing to give +them. +</P> + +<P> +Then came Hilding, the foster-father with silvery hair. "My message," +he said, "I fear will bring you little gladness. Scarce had you sailed +when King Ring came. Five shields had he to our one. Not long did the +battle last. King Helge yielded and fled. In his flight he passed +Framness and fired the lordly dwelling. +</P> + +<P> +"Ring gave the brothers, Helge and Halfdan, this choice: to give their +sister to him or to lose their throne. The brothers chose, and now +Ingeborg has gone with old King Ring." +</P> + +<P> +Then Frithiof blamed Ingeborg for her broken vow and declared he would +never believe her again. And yet his heart grieved for her, and he +could never forget the friend of his childhood. +</P> + +<P> +"You wrong the maid," said old Hilding. "As the sea-fowl, when its +breast is wounded, dives far away from the eyes of daylight, and, with +its life-blood flowing, yet gives no sign of weakness or misery, so +Ingeborg in the darkness bore her suffering and I only saw her anguish. +When the wedding day came, she, pale as death, rode a black steed, +following the white-robed maidens and the steel-clad men. +</P> + +<P> +"From off the saddle I took the sad maid and went with her to the +altar, where she uttered her vows and prayed long to Balder. When +Helge saw your ring on her arm he tore it off with angry words. Then I +in anger drew my sword, but Ingeborg gently said: 'Let the All-father +judge between him and me.'" +</P> + +<P> +"The All-father will judge," calmly replied Frithiof, when Hilding had +told his story; "I, too, will judge. Now is the time when the king who +sold his sister sits in the temple of Balder as priest. Him will I +seek." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Balder's Funeral Pile +</H3> + +<P> +Midnight's sun fell upon the mountain. The beams seemed to threaten +fire and war, so blood-red were they. The heavens glowed; it was night +contending with day. +</P> + +<P> +On Balder's altar burned a fire—the emblem of the sun—and priests +stood around the wall of the temple, grasping burning brands. Near the +altar stood King Helge, wearing his crown. All at once he heard the +war-cry, and the clash of weapons resounded through the forest. +</P> + +<P> +"Bjorn, stand fast by yonder door!" +</P> + +<P> +Helge heard the cry and turned pale. Well he knew the ringing voice of +Frithiof. Fiercely as autumn winds fell the hero's bitter words:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Here's the ordered tribute; it came<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Safe through the tempest's rattle;</SPAN><BR> +Take it; then here by Balder's flame,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">For life or death we'll battle.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Shields behind us, our bosoms free,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Fair the fight be reckoned;</SPAN><BR> +As the king the first blow belongs to thee,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Mind thou, mine's the second."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +With these words he threw the purse filled with gold in Helge's face. +The heavy blow stunned the king, and he fainted near the altar. +Frithiof laughed and called in scorn: "Are you then overpowered by a +purse of gold? No one shall blame my sword for felling so cowardly a +foe, for he deserves not to fall by a brave man's sword." +</P> + +<P> +Then Frithiof put up his sword and turned to the statue of Balder that +stood near the altar. Calm and kind seemed the god. On his arm was +the ring given by Frithiof to Ingeborg but taken from her by Helge. +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Balder," spake Frithiof, "be not angry with thy servant. Well +dost thou know that the arm-ring which thou wearest was stolen, and +that Volund's work was never meant for thee." With these words he +strove to take the ring, but arm and ring seemed to have grown +together. Then he became angry and with a supreme effort he loosened +the ring; but the image fell into the flames of the altar. +</P> + +<P> +Up leaped the fierce fire! Bjorn at the door was pale with dread. +Frithiof with equal anxiety called to him: "Open the doors, Bjorn, and +let the people go. The temple is burning; bring water, yea throw on an +oceanful!" +</P> + +<P> +The warriors quickly formed a chain from the burning grove to the sea +and the water was passed with speed from hand to hand. Frithiof sat +like the god of rain and gave his orders in a calm, clear voice. Long +they strove, but in vain. The flames borne on the wings of the wind +mounted to the sky. The grove was dry with summer heat and the hungry +fire-king revelled midst the quick-burning branches. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Fiercely leaping from height to height,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Aiming yet still higher;</SPAN><BR> +Oh, what wild and terrific light!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Strong is Balder's pyre!</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Soon in smouldering ashes lay<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Grove and temple's adorning;</SPAN><BR> +Sadly then Frithiof turned away—<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Wept in the light of morning.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +On the Sea +</H3> + +<P> +After the burning of Balder's temple and grove Frithiof was very sad at +heart. He felt that the sun-god would never forgive him, although he +had not intended any wrong. His home, the lovely Framness, had been +destroyed by the king. Ingeborg was kept from him, and the people of +his own country shunned him because of his crime against Balder. He +felt that he had no home, no country, no friends. +</P> + +<P> +One refuge he had—the swift-flying ship <I>Ellide</I>. From her deck he +saw the fires still burning in Balder's grove. Grief filled his heart. +"Gone is the temple of the white god. In ashes are the groves once +never neglected! And I am to blame; anger and haste made me forget +time and place, the reverence due in that holy temple!" +</P> + +<P> +Over the blue sea where wild waves sing, <I>Ellide</I> flew. Frithiof felt +at home in the tempest on the rocking ship—this was his Northland, +these on board were his only friends. The sea knows no king, and +Helge's wrath could not reach him on its waves. +</P> + +<P> +But lo! from a hiding-place in the high rocks King Helge sends out ten +dragon ships. The warriors with Frithiof rejoice and laugh at the +king, for Bjorn had, unknown to all, leaped into the sea and bored +holes in the boat-keels. Down sank the ships and many men were +drowned, but Helge escaped. +</P> + +<P> +In wrath the king drew his bow, but it broke. Then Frithiof aimed his +lance. "A death bird have I here, false king! but my lance refuses to +drink thy coward blood. It is too good for food so craven!" +</P> + +<P> +So speaking Frithiof seized his oars—huge blades of fir, and swiftly +moved away. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Where foam-crest swimmeth<BR> +<I>Ellide</I> skimmeth<BR> +On joyous wings;<BR> +But Frithiof sings:<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Thou front of creation,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Exalted North!</SPAN><BR> +I have no station<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">On thy green earth.</SPAN><BR> +Thy lineage sharing<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My pride doth swell,</SPAN><BR> +Thou home of daring!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Farewell, farewell!"</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +And that you also may sing Frithiof's song, the last verse is given +with the music. +</P> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="img-050"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-050.jpg" ALT="Frithiof's Song" BORDER="2" WIDTH="379" HEIGHT="622"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 379px"> +Frithiof's Song +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Viking's Code +</H3> + +<P> +Over the foaming sea Frithiof sailed, seeking strange lands and +adventures. Like a falcon in search of its prey flew the good boat, +<I>Ellide</I>, over the waves. +</P> + +<P> +To the champions on board Frithiof gave this law of the viking:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Make no tent on thy ship, never sleep in a house, for a foe<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">within doors you may view;</SPAN><BR> +On his shield sleeps the viking; his sword in his hand, and<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">his tent is the heavenly blue.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +When the storm rageth fierce, hoist the sail to the top—<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">O how merry the storm-king appears;</SPAN><BR> +Let her drive! let her drive! better founder than strike,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">for who strikes is a slave to his fears.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +If a merchant sail by, you must shelter his ship, but the<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">weak will not tribute withhold;</SPAN><BR> +You are king of the waves, he a slave to his gains; and<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">your steel is as good as his gold.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Let your goods be divided by lot or by dice, how it falls<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">you may never complain;</SPAN><BR> +But the sea-king himself takes no part in the lots—he<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">considers the honour his gain.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +If a viking-ship come, there is grappling and strife, and<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">the fight 'neath the shields will rejoice;</SPAN><BR> +If you yield but a pace you are parted from us; 'tis the<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">law, you may act by your choice.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +If you win, be content: he who, praying for peace, yields<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">his sword, is no longer a foe!</SPAN><BR> +Prayer's a Valhalla-child, hear the suppliant voice; he's<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">a coward who answereth no.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Wounds are viking's reward, and the pride of the man<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">on whose breast or whose forehead they stand;</SPAN><BR> +Let them bleed on unbound till the close of the day, if you<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">wish to be one of our band.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Frithiof's Return +</H3> + +<P> +Such was the law of the vikings which Frithiof gave to his men. Day by +day his name became more renowned through foreign lands. No viking was +brave as Frithiof, and none had braver followers. When the conflict +came, his spirit rose like an eagle refreshed for its flight. A smile +was on his face and his voice rang clear above the noise of the battle. +</P> + +<P> +After many conquests he sailed to Greece. In her beautiful seas he +found many green islands. On the shores were green groves and temples +gleaming with pillars. Here it seemed peace must have its home. The +murmuring fountains and the sweet songs of the birds made music in the +groves. +</P> + +<P> +But in the midst of all this beauty Frithiof thought of his home in the +north. There was the friend of his youth, the fair Ingeborg. There +were the grave-mounds of his fathers. Around the groves and shrines of +his country gathered the memories of his early years, and no matter how +lovely any other land might be, his heart returned to his home land. +</P> + +<P> +"Three years have passed since I saw the Northland, the land of heroes. +How I long to see those loved shores once more! The tree that I +planted on the grave-mound of my father—can it be that it lives now? +Why do I linger in distant waves, taking tribute and conquering in war? +My soul despises the glittering gold, and enough have I of renown. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"There's a flag on the mast and it points to the north, in<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">the north is the land I hold dear;</SPAN><BR> +I will follow the course of the heavenly winds, and back<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">to the Northland I'll steer."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +To his foster-brother Frithiof said: "Bjorn, I am weary of riding the +sea. My heart longs for the firm earth of the Northland, and her lofty +mountains are calling to me. Tired am I of this life on the sea and +too long have I wandered an exile from home." +</P> + +<P> +"Frithiof, why do you complain?" asked Bjorn. "Freedom and joy +flourish best on the sea. When I am old I too will turn to the +green-growing land with the grass for my pillow. But now I'll fight +with a free hand and enjoy the freedom of the billows." +</P> + +<P> +So the dragon ship sailed for far northern waters. The ice closed in +around them and Frithiof declared he would not spend the winter on the +desolate shore. He would go as a stranger to the palace of King Ring +and see Ingeborg once more. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed Bjorn. "Right glad will I be to fight the king and +to let him feel a viking's power. We will fire the palace of the +greybeard and carry his queen away with us; or, if you wish, challenge +him to a fight on the ice." +</P> + +<P> +"No!" replied Frithiof; "no fight have I with King Ring. His is not +the fault. But peace would I bear to them both and say farewell to +Ingeborg. When spring returns you see Frithiof here." +</P> + +<P> +"You may be prevented from returning, Frithiof; go not alone!" said +Bjorn. +</P> + +<P> +But Frithiof had no fear and laughed at the warnings of Bjorn. Alone +he went with his good sword to the country of the old King Ring. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +King Ring and the Stranger +</H3> + +<P> +In the kingdom of the north reigned King Ring. Old was he now and +white-haired, but noble and brave. At the merry Yuletime he held a +great feast in the royal hall. High on the throne of state he sat, and +beside him was his fair young queen, the gentle Ingeborg. +</P> + +<P> +Into the spacious hall came a man unknown to any there. A bear-skin +covered him from head to foot. He leaned heavily upon a staff, but +even then he was taller than any warrior in the hall. He chose for +rest a seat upon the bench beside the door. This is now the poor man's +place and has always been. Some of the young men laughed at the beggar +dressed in the skin of the wild bear and pointed the finger at him. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-057"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-057.jpg" ALT="INTO THE HALL CAME A MAN UNKNOWN TO ANY THERE" BORDER="2" WIDTH="406" HEIGHT="595"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 406px"> +INTO THE HALL CAME A MAN UNKNOWN TO ANY THERE +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The stranger's eyes flashed and all felt his anger. Quickly he seized +one of the young men by the belt and shook him so that all were +suddenly silent in the hall. +</P> + +<P> +"What causes such commotion?" cried the angry monarch. "Who dares +disturb our peace? Old man, come here and answer. What is your name, +your place, your errand?" +</P> + +<P> +The old man replied: "Many questions you ask, O King, but every one +will I answer. My name belongs to me alone and I'll not give it. My +birth-place was misfortune and all I possess is want. I have come +hither from the wolf so fierce and gaunt. In youth I bestrode a dragon +on the blue waters, but now I am old and feeble and must live upon the +land. As to my errand, I came to see your wisdom, renowned far and +near. When your men met me rudely I seized one of them by the girdle +and hurled him to the ground. For that forgive me, though the man is +safe and sound." +</P> + +<P> +"Your words are wisely chosen," said King Ring. "The aged should be +honoured; come, sit here by me. You are no beggar, I know. Throw off +your disguise and appear in your true form. Disguise is a foe to +pleasure, and pleasure should rule at Yule-tide." +</P> + +<P> +Then the guest dropped the bear-skin. Instead of an old man bent with +care, there stood a handsome youth with long golden locks. His mantle +was of azure velvet and his girdle was of silver finely worked. Around +his arm clung a heavy golden circlet and at his side gleamed the great +battle-sword. +</P> + +<P> +When the queen looked at the guest she knew him as Frithiof, but +mentioned not his name. It was the right of a guest to claim +hospitality without giving his name, and Frithiof had claimed this +guest-right. The horn sounded a shrill blast in the hall and all was +still. The hour for vows was coming and the boar was now brought in. +His four knees were bent beneath him on the great silver dish; in his +mouth was an apple, and there were wreaths about his neck. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +King Ring, his grey locks flowing, arose and straightway now<BR> +The boar's head gently touching, he thus declared his vow:<BR> +"I swear to conquer Frithiof, the champion in war,<BR> +So help me, Frey and Odin, and likewise mighty Thor."<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Then with a smile defiant uprose the stranger tall<BR> +A look of wrath heroic spread o'er his features all—<BR> +He smote with sword the table till through the hall it rang<BR> +And up from oaken benches the steel-clad warriors sprang.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"And now, Sir King, please listen while I my vow shall tell—<BR> +Young Frithiof is my kinsman, and so I know him well;<BR> +'Gainst all the world I'll shield him, I give you here in word,<BR> +So help me now my norn, and likewise my good sword!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The king laughed at this bold defiance. "Right daring, methinks your +speech," he said, "but in the Northland palace all fair words are +free." Then turning to the queen he bade her fill a horn of wine, the +very best. "I hope that he'll remain our guest through the winter," he +concluded. +</P> + +<P> +The queen then took the great goblet and filled it with wine. With +trembling hand she gave it to the guest. He accepted the horn with a +bow of reverence and drank the wine at a draught in honour of the fair +queen who gave it. +</P> + +<P> +Then the skald, the singer of the royal court, touched the strings of +his harp and sang a song of love and glory. As he sang he moved the +warriors' hearts to pity or roused them to anger and revenge at his +will. Such is the wonderful power of music and poetry. He sang of the +home in Valhal, where brave heroes go after death, and all hearts were +filled with a desire to be brave and noble that they might deserve a +place in heaven when their work on earth was finished. +</P> + +<P> +So with mirth and song, with stories of the great heroes of their race, +King Ring and his court kept the merry Yule-tide in his castle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Ride on the Ice +</H3> + +<P> +King Ring had set forth a banquet for his queen in a palace far over +the lake. The ice on the lake was glistening in the sun, and the king +ordered his sleigh and his swiftest horse. +</P> + +<P> +"Do not go on the ice," urged the stranger; "it may break, and the +water below is deep and cold." Then the old king laughed. "A king," +said he, "is not easily drowned. If any one is afraid let him go +round!" +</P> + +<P> +The scornful laugh of the king angered the bold stranger, and he +frowned. Soon, however, he bound his good skates to his feet. The +servants meantime had brought out the sleigh-horse, strong and free, +and his nostrils flamed as he breathed the bright, cold air. +</P> + +<P> +"On," cried the king; "on, my brave steed and show if you are of famed +Sleipner's brood!" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-062"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-062.jpg" ALT="King Ring's Sleigh" BORDER="2" WIDTH="551" HEIGHT="380"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 551px"> +King Ring's Sleigh +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +As swift was his speed as a storm at sea. The queen grew fearful as +the mighty steed flew on, but the king had no fear and paid no heed to +the queen's cries. +</P> + +<P> +The stranger skated, now fast, now slow, passing Ingeborg and the king +whenever he wished. He made letters and figures on the sparkling ice, +writing often the name of the queen. Onward swiftly they glided across +the lake, but the treacherous ice-maidens were hiding below. Suddenly +they made a hole in the silvery ice and caught the sleigh of the king +with its precious load. The queen turned pale and called for help. +Like a whirlwind came the skater, strong and brave. +</P> + +<P> +He buried his skate in the ice and clasped the flowing mane of the +steed with a grasp of iron. With one strong swing of his arm he +brought horse and sleigh to the firm ice. +</P> + +<P> +"Well done!" said King Ring; "that was a noble stroke. Not Frithiof, +the strong, could have done better!" +</P> + +<P> +Then they all returned to the palace, rejoicing in the safety of the +good king and queen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In the Forest +</H3> + +<P> +Through the long winter the stranger remained at the court of the king. +The time passed merrily in skating, sleighing, and in other manly +sports. In the evening all gathered in the great hall and listened to +the songs of the skalds or related the deeds of heroes. +</P> + +<P> +The coming of spring rejoiced all hearts. The songs of the birds, the +new leaves on the trees, the warmer rays of the sun, all gave joy to +those who had passed through the long cold winter. The ice-bound +rivulets melted and ran merrily to the ocean; the buds began to unfold, +and the earth seemed born anew, filled with love and hope and courage. +</P> + +<P> +The king had planned a great hunt for the court. Men and women, +courtiers and servants, awaited the signal to start. The steeds +impatiently pawed the ground; the clanging of bows and the rattling of +quivers were heard on every side. The hooded falcons, eager to escape, +uttered wild shrieks that echoed on the hills. At last the queen +appeared, like a star in the spring's clear sky, and the hunting troop +was ready. +</P> + +<P> +Hark! through hills and valleys sounds the horn! The falcon, loosened, +flies straight up into the heaven's blue, and the wild animals of the +forest fly in terror to their cavern homes. Off rush the hunters on +their eager steeds. The aged king rides no more on the wild hunt, +though in years gone by he was one of the best to follow wild game. +Frithiof is with the king, for he, too, does not wish to join the +hunters. Sad thoughts trouble him, and he wishes he had never left his +beloved boat. On the sea he had no time for brooding over his sad +fate, but here, with the king and Ingeborg, he is always remembering +happier days. +</P> + +<P> +As the two entered the forest they came upon a lonely place, dark and +restful. Here the king halted and said: "See how lovely, fresh, and +deep is this forest. Here will I rest me, for I desire to sleep." But +Frithiof urged him not to sleep in the dark, damp forest. "Hard and +chilly is the ground, O King! Let me take you back to the palace." +</P> + +<P> +"Like the other gods, Sleep cometh unexpected," said the king; "and +here will I sleep." +</P> + +<P> +When Frithiof saw that the king was determined, he took off his mantle +and spread it beneath a tree. The king in trusting friendship leaned +his head against the stranger's knee. Soon he slept as the hero sleeps +after the battle, or as the infant sleeps cradled in its mother's arms. +</P> + +<P> +As he slumbered, hark! from the branch of a tree a coal-black bird +sings: "Frithiof, now thou mayest slay thine enemy, the old king. +Human eyes do not behold thee!" But a snow-white bird sings: "Though +no human eye behold thee, Odin sees and hears each word. Wouldst thou +be a coward and slay an old man now defenceless and sleeping! The +hero-crown is not won by such a deed." +</P> + +<P> +So sang the birds. Frithiof, snatching up his battle-blade, flung it +far from him into the gloomy glade. The black bird flew away into the +dark underworld. The snow-white bird, singing sweetly as a harp tone, +mounted towards the sun. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the old man awoke: "Sleep is sweet beneath a tree, guarded by +a brave man's weapon. But where is your sword? What has parted you +who have never before been parted?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is not hard to find a sword," replied Frithiof. "Sharp is its +tongue, O King, and it never speaks for peace. I think it is haunted +by an evil spirit." +</P> + +<P> +"I have not slept, O youth, but have been proving you. Man or sword a +wise man testeth ere in them he can confide. You are Frithiof. I have +known it since first you entered my hall," said the old king. "Why did +you enter my home in disguise? Honour, Frithiof, sits not nameless, +the rude guest of hospitality. We had heard of a Frithiof whom both +men and gods revere. Soon, I thought, will he come against my home +with his famous sword, bold and brave. But you came clad in tatters, a +beggar's staff in your hand. +</P> + +<P> +"But cast not down your eyelids. I have proved you and forgiven. I +have pitied and forgotten. All life is a struggle, hardest in youth. +You are young and I am old. Soon shall I rest in the grave. +Therefore, O youth, take my kingdom and my queen. Be my son and let us +forget our quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +"I came not as a thief," said Frithiof sadly, "but only to see Ingeborg +for the last time. Too long have I stayed as your guest. The gods +will not forgive me. Balder the Good loves all mankind but me. +Northland has cast me out, and no more shall I seek for peace on the +earth so green and sweet. To ocean's billows will I go, out upon my +good ship far as the stars can guide me and far as the stormy billows +can bear me. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Let me hear the rolling thunder, let me hear the lightning's voice;<BR> +When it thunders all around me, Frithiof's heart will then rejoice<BR> +Clang of shields and rain of arrows! let the sea the battle fill;<BR> +Purified, I'll then fall gladly, reconciled to heaven's will."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +King Ring's Death +</H3> + +<P> +On a lovely day in spring when the rays of the sun seemed more golden +than usual, Frithiof entered the hall of King Ring to take leave of his +host. The king and Ingeborg his queen sat upon their chairs of state, +both pale and sad. Frithiof listened to a song of parting recited by +the king's harper. Then he said: "O king! the billows now bathe my +ship, the flying steed, the sea-horse that is longing to leave the +shore. Gladly will they follow him who is fleeing from his +well-beloved land." +</P> + +<P> +To the queen Frithiof said: "Again I give you this arm-ring, O +Ingeborg! Receive it in memory of our youth, and never let it leave +you. I go, and never will you see me again. No more shall I behold +the smoke rising upward from Northland. For the ocean is my fatherland +and shall be my grave." +</P> + +<P> +"Well know I that death is nigh," now said King Ring. "All men must +die, and I shall not moan like a coward. No one can by complaining +change what the fates have decreed. But if you will stay, my sorrow +you will lighten. Take my queen, reign over the land and guard the +crown. Long have I reigned in the Northland, loved and respected. +Though I longed for peace, yet have I broken shields in war both by sea +and land without turning pale. Vainly have I sought for peace amid +slaughter. Now the mild daughter of heaven beckons me hence to Valhal. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Bring for my drinking<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The horn with wine flowing;</SPAN><BR> +Skoal to thy honour, thou land of my birth!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Minds deeply thinking,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Harvest fields growing—</SPAN><BR> +Peaceful exploits have I loved on the earth."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Speaking thus bravely, the king pressed the hand of his queen and of +his son. Frithiof's also he clasped with love. Then, closing his +eyelids gently, the royal spirit of King Ring sank with a sigh to +All-father's breast. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The New King +</H3> + +<P> +King Ring sits in his barrow, buckler on arm and battle-sword by his +side. His war-horse stands at the cairn pawing the earth and chafing +as though impatient to start on the long journey. +</P> + +<P> +Thus sang the harper of the departed hero: "Great King Ring has gone on +his last journey. He rides over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that leads +to Valhal. The bridge bends with his weight. Wide open the doors of +Valhal to welcome him, and hands reach out to lead him within the doors. +</P> + +<P> +"'Odin himself, king of the gods, calls for the beaker to be brought. +Frey wreathes the king's head with garlands of grain ears, and Frigg +places therein the bluest of her blossoms. Broge, the singer of the +gods, tunes his golden harp and sings a song of welcome. Silent is +Valhal as he sings:— +</P> + +<P> +"'Dear to us is this hero king, for he held his shield as a shelter for +peace. Always did Forseti, goddess of justice and peace, have an +honoured place in his kingdom. Generous, too, was the king, always +strewing beauty and blessing far and near. To heroes he gave gifts +without measure; sadness he comforted and suffering he relieved. +</P> + +<P> +"'Welcome, thou wise winner of Valhal! Long will you be loved and +honoured in the Northland. You are loved by the gods, a friend from +the earth.'" +</P> + +<P> +So sang the harper in the palace of the king whom he loved. +</P> + +<P> +When the news spread over the country that King Ring was dead, the +peasants and warriors from hill and dale, from meadow and farm, cried: +"We must choose a king to fill his place." +</P> + +<P> +The peasant took from the wall his steel sword and tried its edge with +his practised finger to prove its sharpness. His boys admired their +father's blade and tried to lift it, but it was too heavy for one, and +two struggled to lift it from the floor. +</P> + +<P> +The peasant's daughter scoured the helmet to make it clean and bright, +and laughed to see her face shining from the silvery sheen of its +polished surface. +</P> + +<P> +When the peasant had bound his good sword to his side and put on his +shining helmet, he took his round shield and started with his friends +to the gathering-place. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Hail! iron man, so strong and sound,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Thou peasant good!</SPAN><BR> +Renown and powers which nations wield<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">From thee they draw.</SPAN><BR> +In war thou art thy country's shield,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">In peace its law.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +With sounding of arms and shields the peasants met under heaven's blue +sky in the fair, pleasant fields. Upon the great stone in the centre +of the assembly stood the noble Frithiof. With him was the little +prince, son of King Ring, a slender, noble lad with long golden hair. +When the men saw the two, there rose the cry on every hand, "Too small +is the king's son to rule our land and to lead our wars. Frithiof +shall be our king!" +</P> + +<P> +But Frithiof raised up the little boy on his shield and cried: "Ye +Northmen, behold your hope, your king, your joy! From Odin is he +descended, and he is brave at heart, as much at home 'mid shield and +spear as fish are in the sea. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"I swear my lance and sword to set<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Round land and throne,</SPAN><BR> +And with the father's coronet<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To crown the son."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="img-072"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-072.jpg" ALT="The Boy on the Shield" BORDER="2" WIDTH="377" HEIGHT="542"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 377px"> +The Boy on the Shield +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +While Frithiof was urging the Northmen to choose the son of Ring for +their King, the boy sat on the high shield as if it were a throne. No +fear had he, but he faced them all as the eaglet faces the sun. At +last he grew impatient and leaped to the ground; fearless and proud he +stood, like the royal prince he was. +</P> + +<P> +Then all rejoiced at his courage: "We of the north, we choose thee, +thou shield-borne youth, to be our king. Be like thy father, brave and +good. For Frithiof, thy loyal friend, he shall be thy guardian and +guide thy youth. You, Frithiof, shall marry the queen. We give her to +you for your bride." +</P> + +<P> +But Frithiof frowned and said: "To-day you are here to make choice of +your king,—not of my bride. To the temple of Balder I must go to +repair the wrong I have done, if perchance I can do this. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Against me Balder's anger sore<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Doth still abide;</SPAN><BR> +He took, he only can restore<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">My cherished bride."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then Frithiof kissed the youthful monarch on the brow in farewell, and, +turning from the assembly, he silently and slowly passed from view. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Frithiof at his Father's Grave +</H3> + +<P> +From the home of King Ring Frithiof fared to seek his father's grave in +his own loved land. As he neared the shore, he looked upon it with +joy. How brightly the sun shone, smiling like a friend as its soft +rays touched the branches of the forest! The dewdrops reflected the +light as perfectly as the great ocean. The mountains were aglow with +crimson light as the sun slowly sank in the west. +</P> + +<P> +On every side Frithiof saw the well-known places he loved as a child. +The same sweet beauty graced the valleys, the same birds were filling +the woods with song. He visited the stream in which he strove as a +swimmer bold, and he found the birch trees with their white bark, on +which he had carved his name so long ago. +</P> + +<P> +All seemed unchanged. But when he looked for Framness, that royal home +of his father, he found it not. And Balder's shrine was gone; both +destroyed by fire and sword. No more the pious pilgrim came to +Balder's grove, for wild beasts roamed where once the sacred temple +stood. Although Frithiof had suffered so long, his grief was even +stronger than before, when he saw the ruined temple. He repaired next +day to the grave of his father, the brave Thorsten, where he prayed to +the gods:— +</P> + +<P> +"Is there no way by which I may obtain pardon for my offence? Will the +blue-eyed god, kind Balder, refuse forgiveness when man pardons man who +asks for pardon? Command any sacrifice and I will perform it. No evil +will had I in the burning of thy shrine. Tis the only stain upon my +shield. I pray thee, remove it and make my shield spotless. Cannot an +upright life repair a moment's fault? +</P> + +<P> +"Here is my father's grave. He has gone where there are no tears, and +he rejoices in the company of noble heroes. O father, hear my prayer! +Not for renown in war I pray, but for forgiveness. Take my plea to +heaven. No rest have noble minds if unforgiven. Will you not send me +some message, some token, some sign that you hear and answer my prayer? +The waves are resounding on the shore; can you not speak through them? +The storm flies by, bounding on swift pinions; will you not whisper to +me in the storm?—No answer?" +</P> + +<P> +As Frithiof prayed, the storm passed by. The sun sank in golden +splendour. Over hill and dale the glowing clouds floated in many +lovely circles. Then came a wondrous vision to his longing eyes. In +the clouds appeared a temple of gold surrounded by groves of emerald +trees. The gold and marble gleamed with divine lustre never seen by +man. Slowly it sank to earth but did not disappear. It stood in +beauty where before the temple of Balder had stood. Its broad walls +were of silver, and each pillar seemed cut of deep blue steel. The +altar was carved of a single precious stone. The ceiling seemed like +the blue sky with twinkling golden stars, and there sat the gods of +Valhal in all their splendour. +</P> + +<P> +Frithiof gazed in wonder and in praise. "Now I know your answer, my +father. I will build a new shrine to Balder the Good, more glorious +than the one destroyed by fire. How glad I am to atone for my warlike +act by peaceful deeds! The gods will pardon those who sue meekly for +forgiveness. Now with joy can I look at the stars and welcome the +Northern Lights. To-night I shall sleep upon my shield and dream how +heaven forgets the faults its mercy hath forgiven." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Reconciliation +</H3> + +<P> +After seeing this vision of the lovely temple, Frithiof, greatly +cheered, worked long to build one as beautiful as his vision. At last +it was finished, a noble work. It stood high up on the mountain cliff, +and its image was mirrored in the ocean beneath. About this glorious +temple stretched a grove of noble trees, their branches green against +the sky. Here could be heard the songs of birds, but no sound of +discord. All was harmony. +</P> + +<P> +As Frithiof stood admiring the temple, he saw twelve virgins clad in +silver gauze, with roses in their hair, enter the temple and approach +the altar of Balder. About the altar they danced lightly as breezes +about a fountain, or elves amid the waving grass while dewdrops glisten +there. As Frithiof looked, all hate and vengeance faded from his heart +as ice melts from the cliff before the sun of springtime. All was +quiet,—peace and joy seemed to possess his soul. He felt love for all +nature and longed to be at peace with all God's creatures. +</P> + +<P> +Then came into the temple the most high priest of Balder. Kind was his +face, and Frithiof reverenced the noble man of peace. "Son Frithiof, +welcome to this grove and temple. I have long expected thee. Weary +with travel and longing for home, the strong man at last returns from +his wanderings. +</P> + +<P> +"Dost thou remember when thy heart was joyous as the birds are when +summer night winds gently rock the fragrant blossoms? Then Balder was +growing in thy pure soul. But always with the good Balder there grows +up in every human soul his brother Hoder, the evil one, the child of +night. +</P> + +<P> +"No one can suffer for thy sins,—no one can atone for the living but +themselves. One offering canst thou give, more dear to the gods than +the smoke of victims. This is the sacrifice of thine own vengeance, +the hate in thy untamed heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Canst thou not forgive, O youth? Be reconciled with thyself and thy +foes, and then will Balder be reconciled with thee. +</P> + +<P> +"Thou hatest Bele's sons because pride of birth was theirs and they +would not give thee Ingeborg, their sister. Strange it is but true, +that no one is proud of his own merit, but only of his fortune. Art +thou not proud of thy heroic deeds, of thy great strength? But who +gave thee this strength? Is it thy merit or Odin's gift? Censure not +another's pride, lest thine own be condemned. King Helge now is +fallen." +</P> + +<P> +"Fallen!" exclaimed Frithiof; "King Helge is fallen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my Frithiof. Thou must know that while thou wert building this +temple, Helge was far away, marching among the Finnish mountains. On a +lonely crag of the mountains was an ancient shrine. He wished to +enter, but the gate was closed and the key fast in the lock. Helge was +angry, and, grasping the doorposts, he shook them with all his might. +All at once with horrid crash the rotten pillars gave way, and a great +image standing on the doorposts fell upon him, and crushed him to +earth. Thus he died. +</P> + +<P> +"Now Halfdan sits alone upon the throne of his father. To him offer +thy hand. The god Balder demands this offering. If thou refuse, in +vain has this temple been built, and vain are thy prayers for +forgiveness." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-080"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-080.jpg" ALT="INGEBORG GIVEN TO FRITHIOF" BORDER="2" WIDTH="390" HEIGHT="543"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 390px"> +INGEBORG GIVEN TO FRITHIOF +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +As the noble priest thus advised, King Halfdan entered the temple, but +stood apart in silence. Frithiof at once loosed his breast-plate and +placed the bright shield against the altar. To Halfdan he offered his +hand, saying, "In such a strife the noblest first offers his hand for +peace." King Halfdan met his friend half-way, and their hands, long +separated, met in a strong clasp. +</P> + +<P> +Then the priest in solemn voice proclaimed Frithiof forgiven for his +crime against Balder, the loving god, and purified from his guilt. +</P> + +<P> +Scarce had the words been spoken when Ingeborg entered, attired in +bridal robes and mantle of ermine. She walked among her maids as the +moon glides in the heavenly azure attended by the radiant stars. With +tears in her lovely eyes she turned to her brother; but Halfdan clasped +her hand in Frithiof's, and thus gave his sister, the fair Ingeborg, to +the friend of their childhood, her best beloved, the noble Frithiof. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE STORY OF BEOWULF +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Coming of Sheaf +</H3> + +<P> +Once upon a time, many, many years ago, a boat came sailing over the +sea to Denmark. In it were shields and rings of gold, banners of +bright colours, bracelets, drinking-cups, and helmets. With sails +gaily spread the breezes bore the boat gently over the deep blue sea. +No sailor was seen at the oars. +</P> + +<P> +"What can it be?" cried the people as they came to the shore, +wondering; "is it a ship of earth, or have the gods sent it?" They +asked one another many questions, but knew not what to think. +</P> + +<P> +Nearer and nearer came the beautiful boat; bright shone the coloured +sails and golden armour. Many were the treasures borne therein, but +loveliest and most precious was—a little baby boy! He smiled at the +man who found him, and lifted up his tiny hands as if asking to be +taken. +</P> + +<P> +"A prince!" cried the people; "we have found our prince! The gods have +sent us a king to rule over us and to conquer our enemies." For at +that time the Danes had no king, and were glad to see the beautiful +child who so strangely came to their shores. +</P> + +<P> +The ship with all its treasures was carefully guarded, and the boy, who +was called Sheaf, was brought up as a prince. In due time he became +king and fought many battles and won many victories over the robbers on +land and sea. Over many noble thanes did Sheaf, the king, rule; all +obeyed him and paid tribute to him. +</P> + +<P> +Nor did God withhold from him a son to comfort the people. The boy was +strong and handsome and gave great joy to the heart of his father. +Over many lands shone the glory of the young prince. So shall a young +hero act that when he is old all his friends shall praise him. He +shall fight for his people and by praiseworthy deeds shall he flourish. +</P> + +<P> +Now when the time came for Sheaf to die, he asked his companions to +bear him to the shore. There stood the brave ship with gleaming prow +and widespread sails, eager to go. Sad and yet glad at heart were the +heroes who bore the king to the death-boat—glad to honour a brave +king, and sad that he must leave them. +</P> + +<P> +On the king's bosom they placed treasures of gold and silver; rings, +shining stones, cloth of gold, shields, and drinking-cups. Indeed, he +took away treasures as many as he brought with him when, years before, +he had come, a tiny child, to the country of the Danes. Out into the +mist sailed the proud ship with its precious load never to return. No +man saw it again, and whither it went none can tell. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Young Beowulf +</H3> + +<P> +The sons and grandsons of the great Sheaf ruled the country of the +Danes until the time of Hrothgar. Hrothgar was king of the Danes when +Beowulf, the hero of our story, was a prince in the country of the +Goths. +</P> + +<P> +The young Beowulf grew up in the court of his uncle, Hygelac, king of +the Goths. Fond of all games and manly sports was he, and he learned +to throw the heavy hammer, to shoot, to row, to swim, and to ride. +Running, wrestling, and hunting were daily exercises of the young men, +and Beowulf could excel them all in every trial of skill. Soon the men +at court called Beowulf their leader, and they loved and honoured him. +</P> + +<P> +Although Beowulf had won many victories at home, and his people knew +him to be brave and strong, yet he longed to do some great deed which +should make his name known over other lands. The time came when he had +his wish and when all his strength and courage were tested. For a +harper from the land of the Danes came to the court of Hygelac and told +a sad story. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Harper's Story +</H3> + +<P> +"In the land of the Danes lives Hrothgar, a great and wise king; but +sadness clouds his brow and tears dim his eyes. Years ago all was joy +and glory. Hrothgar had conquered all his foes and made them friends. +Much wealth had he added to his country's treasures, and many warriors +gathered round him, glad to hail him leader and king. +</P> + +<P> +"Hrothgar loved peace more than war and was glad when the earls were +his friends, and he said: 'I will build a great hall, a house of joy +for all my friends. This shall be larger than any hall earth has seen. +Here I will bring all my war treasures. The walls shall be hung with +banners of bright colours and decked with shields and swords. Tables +shall be spread and guests shall always be welcomed.' +</P> + +<P> +"The great king spoke, and many workmen gathered to build the hall. +Large and strong it rose, a wonder for all the people. The king named +the hall Heorot, and here was every one made welcome. The mead-cup was +passed, the king gave presents of shining rings, and joy and laughter +filled the hall. +</P> + +<P> +"Gleemen sang of the goodness of the king, the beauty and grace of the +queen, and the bravery of the Danes. One singer told of the beginning +of all things; how the All-Father wrought the earth, the beautiful +plain, which the water embraces. He sang of how God placed the sun and +moon in the heavens for light to dwellers on the land; how he adorned +the earth with grass and leaves and made all creatures that go quickly +to and fro. +</P> + +<P> +"But alas! now all this joy is changed to sorrow. No longer does the +gleeman strike the harp and fill the hall with music. No merry laugh +is heard, but all is dark and still. King Hrothgar sits upon his +kingly seat, silent and sad. +</P> + +<P> +"You marvel what can bring grief to the great king and his merry +thanes? In all the broad lands there is but one who does not wish long +life and joy to the king. This is Grendel. No man is he, but a +monster whose heart is filled with wickedness. Laughter and happiness +are strangers to him, and he hates all beauty and goodness. +</P> + +<P> +"Far in a lake, dark, poisonous, and surrounded by a marsh, does +Grendel live. When he heard the songs and sounds of joy in the great +hall, he smiled grimly to think how he would turn their joy to gloom, +their songs to groans. So, in the darkness, from his horrid home the +monster crept up to the wondrous hall. There slept the warriors, +little dreaming of evil. A score and ten the monster slew, then strode +away, howling defiance to the king. +</P> + +<P> +"When the sleeping thanes awoke and found their comrades slain, sad +were they all at heart. Night after night the monster came and slew, +and fear seized every heart. In all homes were cries of grief for the +dead, and men knew not where to go for safety. +</P> + +<P> +"This is the woe of the Danes, for none can battle with a monster of +the deep. No one has ever seen this ugly shape, for he comes always in +the darkness and when no one looks for him. Everywhere has the great +king sought help, but none can be found. Hrothgar sits weeping for his +brave comrades in the hall he built for their comfort and joy." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf and his Men +</H3> + +<P> +When the harper had ceased, the hall was still. All voices were hushed +for they grieved at the sorrow of the good Hrothgar. Then the brave +Beowulf cried out: "Give me leave, O king! Let me go to Hrothgar and +free his land from this monster so wicked and fearsome." The other +thanes applauded his words and cried: "Take us with you!" +</P> + +<P> +But Hygelac, the great king, said wisely: "Brave men go to war with +care and after deep thought. Not easy is the way over the sea; not +easy is the contest with the evil Grendel. But to fight for a good +cause and to nobly win or nobly die is the best a man can do. Proud is +my heart when I see so many brave men ready to overcome the evil +monster or to die fighting, but all may not venture. Go, my cousin and +my thane," he said to Beowulf, "and make thy name famous in all places +where honour is loved." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-092"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-092.jpg" ALT="THE DEPARTURE OF BEOWULF" BORDER="2" WIDTH="369" HEIGHT="312"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 369px"> +THE DEPARTURE OF BEOWULF +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Beowulf thanked his king and chose fourteen of his bravest warriors to +go with him. They prepared the strong ship and found a pilot who knew +the road the swans take, and who could safely guide the boat. The +warriors made their weapons bright and carried them to the ship. The +men shoved the boat from the shore. The sails were raised, and, driven +by the wind, the boat flew over the foamy waves. +</P> + +<P> +On the second day the voyagers saw the shining ocean-shore. The +sea-farer was at the end of the watery way. Quickly the men stepped +out upon the plain. They tied the sea-wood, shook their shirts of +mail, and thanked God that to them the wave paths had been easy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Warder of the Shore +</H3> + +<P> +A warder of Hrothgar, guarding the seashore, saw these warlike men and +wondered why they came. Shaking his spear, he cried: "Who are you? +Why come you over the seas in a giant ship, bearing arms into our land? +Haste to make known whence is your coming!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Beowulf answered: "We are of the Goths; Hygelac is our king. My +father was a noble chief. All wise men through the earth remember him. +We have come in kindness to your lord and to defend him. For we have +heard that a foul fiend spreads terror through your land and in the +darkness slays your thanes. We would overcome this foe to joy." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-094"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-094.jpg" ALT="THE LANDING OF BEOWULF IN HROTHGAR'S REALM" BORDER="2" WIDTH="393" HEIGHT="581"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 393px"> +THE LANDING OF BEOWULF IN HROTHGAR'S REALM +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Then the warder spake: "A warrior wise should know the difference +between words and works. But I perceive that you are a friendly band. +I will bid my fellows guard your ship against every foe, and then I +will direct you." So with their guide the warlike men hastened until +they saw the shining roof of the great hall. Their ringed armour rang +as they walked. +</P> + +<P> +At last the warriors came to the entrance of the hall. Here, on a +bench, they sat until some one should bid them welcome. +</P> + +<P> +Soon came the warder of the hall, a princely chief. "Whence bear you +the stout spears and war-shields? Great men and proud you seem, and +methinks you plan great deeds." +</P> + +<P> +Then the proud lord, the leader, spoke: "Beowulf is my name. I will +relate my errand to your prince if he will grant that we may greet him." +</P> + +<P> +Replied the Dane: "I will seek the king and tell him of your coming." +Quickly he came to Hrothgar, sitting with his wise men, and told him of +the strangers, praising the hardy warriors. Kindly spoke the king: +"Glad am I that Beowulf and his brave Goths have come thus to our +shores. For I have heard he has the strength of thirty in his +hand-grip. Him God in his great mercy has sent to us. Hasten, bid +them come in! Tell them that they are welcome guests to the Danes." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf received by Hrothgar +</H3> + +<P> +When the king's message had been told, Beowulf and all his men entered +the hall. Proud and warlike he stood before the king. "Hrothgar, +hail! Kinsman to Hygelac am I and daring deeds have I done. Now I +have heard that this brave hall of yours stands empty and silent when +night shuts out the day, because of Grendel's warfare. So I have come +with my good friends to help you. Deny me not one prayer: that I alone +with my brave thanes fight with Grendel. This monster fights not with +weapons, I have heard. Then I also will bear neither sword nor shield, +but with my strong hands will I seize him. If Grendel conquers me in +the battle, he will carry me off; so no care need you take of my body, +but send to Hygelac my armour." +</P> + +<P> +At the brave, strong words of the young Beowulf the heart of the old +king rejoiced. "I welcome you to my home. Come, now, let us sit at +the feast and listen to the songs of brave deeds," said the king. Then +the mead-cup was passed, the gleeman sang, and there was joy in the +hall. +</P> + +<P> +One man in the hall did not rejoice; there was envy in his heart, for +he did not wish any other man on earth to have more glory than himself. +So he said: "Are you the Beowulf who strove with Breca in the wide sea +in swimming? For seven nights you strove, but he had more strength and +overcame you in the race. Surely if you dare to fight with Grendel, +worse things will befall you." +</P> + +<P> +Then spoke Beowulf: "Much do you speak of Breca. Now I speak the +truth. More strength on the sea have I than any other man. Five days +were we together. Then the cold winds and waves drove us apart. Many +a water monster tried to kill me, but sank to the bottom of the sea +with a blow from my powerful hands. Nine of these water nixies I +killed. I have never heard of a harder fight, yet from all these +dangers I escaped. I have never been told that you have gone through +such terrible fights. Although your wit be good, I must say in truth +that never had so many princes of Hrothgar's court fallen under +Grendel's stroke, if your courage were as fierce as your tongue. +Grendel fears not the Danes, but kills for pleasure. Now a Goth shall +offer him toil and battle. Afterwards, all who wish may go to the +mead-hall and rejoice." +</P> + +<P> +All the Danes applauded Beowulf's bold words, for they did not like the +jealous prince who had taunted him. The queen, lovely and gracious, +bore the mead-cup to the king, and then to their guest. In kind words +she greeted him: "Glad am I and grateful to God that I may trust in you +for comfort against our sorrow." +</P> + +<P> +Then replied Beowulf, for battle eager: "I alone shall work your +people's safety or bow in death. I shall perform deeds of noble valour +or my last day in this mead-hall await." +</P> + +<P> +These words pleased both Goths and Danes, and applause filled the hall. +When darkness came on, the company arose and greeted one another. +Hrothgar to Beowulf said: "Never before, since I could raise hand to +shield, have I given to any man the Dane's festive hall to guard save +now to thee. Have now and hold the best of houses; keep watch against +our foe. All things shall be yours if you escape with life from the +battle of this night." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Contest with Grendel +</H3> + +<P> +Hrothgar then departed with all his warriors. And Beowulf spoke to his +men: "I do not think myself less in warlike strength than Grendel; so I +will not use the sword or shield, but we two shall fight to-night +without weapons, and God shall give the glory to whom glory belongs." +</P> + +<P> +Around him lay the warriors, sadly thinking they would never see their +homes across the sea again, for so many before that night had been +slain by the cruel Grendel. At last they slept, all but one. The +mighty Beowulf in angry mood awaited the battle. +</P> + +<P> +Now truly it is shown that mighty God rules the race of men. Over the +moor came the shadow-walker stalking. He strode under the clouds until +he saw the golden hall of men. This was not the first time he had come +to the hall of Hrothgar. On the door he rushed. He opened the wide +mouth and trod on the floor. When he saw the men sleeping on the +benches he laughed, thinking how he would take life from the body of +every one there. +</P> + +<P> +The shadowy form came nearer and nearer. At last he stretched out his +great hand to take Beowulf, but with all his strength the brave warrior +seized the arm of the monster. Then did the heart of Grendel fill with +fear. Fearful was his mind, but not for that could he escape the +sooner. +</P> + +<P> +Then stood Beowulf upright and firmly grasped Grendel. Very angry were +both. The wonder was that the great hall did not fall to the ground. +But it was made fast within and without with iron bands, and naught but +fire could destroy it. Then the noise grew greater. The Danes who had +heard it were terrified; never had such horrid noise filled the air, +for Beowulf, the strongest of men, held Grendel fast. Not for anything +would he let the dreadful one escape that day. +</P> + +<P> +The warriors sought to help their leader, but he would not use any +weapon. With his hands, with his bare hands, he held fast the fearful +foe. On the shoulder of Grendel was a horrid wound, and Beowulf tore +the arm from the body. Well knew the monster then that his life's end +had come. +</P> + +<P> +Glad was Beowulf that his strength had aided the Danes, had freed the +great hall, and had healed the deep sorrow which had been theirs for so +many years. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Feast of Joy +</H3> + +<P> +There was in the morning many a warrior in the gift hall. From far and +near over distant ways they came to behold the wonder, the arm of +Grendel the joy-killer. Away to the dark water, his home, had he gone +with his death-wound. +</P> + +<P> +All the warriors rode in gladness to the great hall. There was told +the bravery of Beowulf. No other was so great, so worthy of honour, as +he. Hrothgar, also, they praised as a good king and famous in war. +</P> + +<P> +All the Danes and the Goths were happy that the terror of the land had +been destroyed. Care was removed from their hearts. They were filled +with joy and turned to games and sports. Some let their beautiful +horses run in contest over the fair roads. Some who knew the famous +stories of heroes told them to eager listeners. Laughter, song, and +merry voices were heard once more in the hall. Soon one of the singers +began a song in honour of this new deed, the victory of Beowulf. +</P> + +<P> +Then over the meadow came the great king with many knights famed for +their brave deeds. With them also walked the fair queen and a company +of maidens. +</P> + +<P> +When Hrothgar entered the gold-crowned hall and saw the great hand and +arm of Grendel, he said: "Now let us give to the All-Father thanks! +Wonder after wonder can God work. This one brave warrior has, through +God's might, performed a deed which the Danes could not. Happy is the +mother of such a son! Now, Beowulf, as a dear son will I hold you in +my heart. Nothing shall you want which I have power to give you. You +have done a deed which will make your glory live through every age." +</P> + +<P> +Then replied Beowulf; "With great good-will we fought the fight. I +seized the enemy quickly with hard hands and hoped to lay him on his +death-bed. But I have his hand and arm, and he will surely die, for +pain has him in its deadly grip." +</P> + +<P> +Hrothgar now gave the order that the hall should be adorned for the +feast of joy. Men and women worked to make all clean and whole. +Beautiful banners, a wonder to all who beheld them, decked the walls. +</P> + +<P> +When all was ready, the king himself came to the feast in honour of +Beowulf. Never had a larger or a nobler company sat in the gift hall. +Merry at heart were they all, and they had a merry feast. +</P> + +<P> +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf a golden banner in reward of victory; a +sword, a cup, and a helmet he gave, four beautiful and wonderful gifts. +These were most precious gifts, of which Beowulf need not be ashamed. +</P> + +<P> +Then Hrothgar, the shield of warriors, eight warlike steeds brought +into the hall as gifts to Beowulf. On one of the horses was the +war-seat the king himself used when going to battle. So with steeds +and treasures did the king of the Danes reward the brave prince. +</P> + +<P> +To every man with the hero did the king give a precious gift. Then the +song of praise was heard. "The wise God rules all, therefore is +understanding everywhere best; wise forethought is best." +</P> + +<P> +When the song was ended, the queen took the mead-cup to the king, +saying: "Accept this cup, my beloved lord; be thou happy, good friend +of men, and to the Goths speak with kind words as one should do. Be +cheerful to thy guests and mindful of gifts. The bright hall is made +safe; be happy with thy sons and friends." +</P> + +<P> +Then the gracious queen said to Beowulf: "Receive as a gift this +collar, dear prince. Thou hast done that which men will praise +throughout all time. Be noble and happy! Be brave and gentle in +deeds. Here in this hall is every man to each other true and to his +lord faithful. The thanes unite to praise thee!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the queen went to her seat, and all the court united in praise of +Beowulf, who had driven Grendel from the great hall. +</P> + +<P> +After the merry feast, all left the hall except a few warriors who +slept rejoicing, thinking all their warfare was over. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Grendel's Mother +</H3> + +<P> +But Grendel's mother did not close her eyes in sleep. When her son +came home with his death-blow, great was the sorrow and anger in her +heart. She would punish the Danes and the Goths for her son's death. +In the middle of the night she crept to the hall where the Danes were +sleeping, free from all fear. One she seized,—a brave man and dear to +the king. Then rose a great cry in the hall when Grendel's mother saw +her son's well-known hand and arm. She seized it and bore it away to +the dark lake, together with the body of the warrior. +</P> + +<P> +Soon Hrothgar was told of the fresh calamity, and he grieved at the +death of his friend, the brave warrior whom Grendel's mother had taken +away. +</P> + +<P> +When Beowulf came to the hall, Hrothgar cried out: "Speak not to me of +rest or joy! Sorrow has come again. My best friend in war and peace +is dead! The dread monster has killed him. Two shadows on the moor +have my men seen; one, Grendel, is the figure of a man, and the other +is like a woman. They dwell in the secret land where the wolf howls +and the winds sweep; where the flood flows under the earth. About a +mile away is this lake over which the dark trees bend. Every night can +fire be seen over this waste of water. No one knows how deep the lake +is. The noisy winds raise the black waves until the air grows gloomy +and the heavens shed tears. You know not this dreadful place. If you +dare seek it and come back from the strife, I will give you money and +treasures of gold." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Way to the Pool +</H3> + +<P> +Then the brave Beowulf replied: "Better is it for every one to avenge +his friend than that he greatly mourn. Each of us must await the end +of his life. Let them who can, work high deeds of honour. Let us go +quickly to seek Grendel's mother. I promise you she shall not escape; +neither in the sea nor in the bosom of the earth, in the mountain wood +nor in the ocean's ground." +</P> + +<P> +Then was the heart of the old king glad to hear these brave words. +Horses were brought out and troops of men set forth towards the home of +the dreadful shadows. The road was narrow and dark, an unknown way. +Soon they saw the mountain-trees leaning over the rock, a joyous wood. +The water below was dark and gloomy. Many strange creatures could be +seen moving in the deep pool. +</P> + +<P> +Now Beowulf clad himself in his war-gear. The coat of rings was about +his breast so that no grip could injure his life. On his head he wore +a bright helmet wrought with strength so that no battle-axe could break +it. Then a prince of Hrothgar gave him a famous sword named Hrunting. +This was one of the old treasures. Never in battle had it failed those +who dared to go in ways of terror. This was not the first time that it +had done brave deeds. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Beowulf: "Now, O king, I am ready for my journey. Bear in +mind what you have said—if I for your need should lose my life, that +you would be to me as a father. If, then, war takes me off, be a +friend to my comrades. Send to Hygelac the treasures you have given to +me, so that he may know that I found a good king in you. Now with the +good sword Hrunting will I seek out the foe." +</P> + +<P> +With these words Beowulf leaped into the lake. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap32"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf in the Pool +</H3> + +<P> +All that day he sank into the water before he beheld the ground-bed of +the pool. Then he saw the fierce creature who for a hundred years had +held the floods. Eagerly she seized him and bore him to her dwelling. +Many a sea-monster broke through his warlike coat. At last the warrior +found himself in a great room where the waters did not enter. Then a +fierce light shone brightly upon him, and by its gleam he saw the +sea-wolf. With a loud cry he struck her with his good broad sword, but +it would not bite or injure her. This was the first time its power had +failed. Beowulf remembered his former deeds of bravery and threw down +his useless sword to use the strength of his hands alone. He seized +the sea-creature and made her bow to the earth, but fiercely she +grasped the brave warrior and overthrew him so that he was like to +perish. +</P> + +<P> +Him she would have slain, but his good coat withstood her sword. The +Ruler of the Skies was his friend, for on the wall was a great sword so +heavy that other men could not use it. This sword Beowulf seized +gladly. Angrily he struck the sea-wolf, and the sword passed through +her neck. Down on the ground she sank. The warrior rejoiced in his +work. He looked through the great dwelling and saw Grendel lying +lifeless. With a strong blow Beowulf cut off the head of the monster, +but the hot blood melted the sword and nothing was left but the hilt. +The blade melted away as ice melts when the Father, who has power over +the seasons, unbinds the bands of the frost-king. +</P> + +<P> +The men at the shore, watching, saw the water all coloured with blood, +and feared their great leader was dead. The king and noble Danes spoke +of the brave hero with praise and sorrow. When noon came, they went +back to the great hall sadly, thinking Beowulf the daring had been +slain by the fearful monster. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap33"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf's Return +</H3> + +<P> +But the Goths stayed by the shore, though little hoping to see their +dear lord again. But soon the water cleared and they saw their brave +leader swimming toward them with the head of Grendel and the hilt of +the great sword. Then they went to him, thanking God. The stout band +of thanes rejoiced that their lord had returned. Forth they went on +the narrow road, rejoicing. Four of the strong men bore the heavy head +of Grendel. Beowulf proudly led his brave men. The prince of the +thanes entered the great hall, with glory crowned, to greet Hrothgar. +The warriors bore the great head of Grendel into the hall before the +king and his men. +</P> + +<P> +"Behold, O king!" said Beowulf, "the head of the sea-monster! I hardly +with life came from the battle under the water. Had not God helped me, +I had not conquered. The good sword Hrunting could not harm my foe, +but the Ruler of men guided me to see on the wall an old strong sword, +and with it I slew her. Then I cut off the head of the monster +Grendel. In his hot blood was the good sword melted, and I brought +only the hilt away. I now promise thee that in Heorot all may sleep +safe from harm, for I have slain thy foes, Grendel and his mother, and +have given peace to thy land and people." +</P> + +<P> +Then did Beowulf give the sword-hilt to Hrothgar. The good king said: +"Thy glory is exalted, friend Beowulf, over every nation. Long shall +thou be a comfort to thy people and a help to the warriors. Now is the +flower of thy might. Long may it be before thy strength departs in +fire's clutch, or rage of flood, or arrow's flight, or age or blindness +takes thee. Go now to thy seat at the feast as a guest of honour." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap34"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Hrothgar honours Beowulf +</H3> + +<P> +Then Beowulf went to the seat of honour in great joy, and all were +merry. The helm of night grew dark; the warriors left their seats. +They greeted Beowulf and wished him well to rest. In the gold-roofed +hall well slept the prince until the black raven saw the coming of the +bright sun. At the first light the Goths hastened to the good ship, +eager to be gone to their homes. +</P> + +<P> +When all were ready, Beowulf said: "O king, we seafarers wish to seek +our homes. Here have we been kindly treated. If there is more that I +can do, O lord of men, I shall always be ready. If when far away I +hear that foes surround thee, I shall come to help thee with many +warriors. Well I know that my king, Hygelac, will send me to thy aid." +</P> + +<P> +Then Hrothgar spoke: "Into thy mind has the wise God sent these kind +words. Never have I heard wiser words from one so young. Thou art +strong and wise, and I think that if death should take Hygelac, the +people would wish thee for their king. So well hast thou borne thyself +that there shall be peace between the Danes and Goths, and many a gift +I shall send to thee over the great sea." +</P> + +<P> +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf rich gifts and bade him seek his home in +safety. The good king wept when he said good-bye, for he loved the +noble youth and was sad to have him go away over the deep sea. +</P> + +<P> +Beowulf was glad and proud of the king's praise. He set sail from the +land of Hrothgar, and often he and his men admired the rich gifts of +the great and good king. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap35"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf and Hygelac +</H3> + +<P> +Over ocean-stream went the brave youths and soon saw the shores of the +Goths, their homeland. Beowulf and his men brought the ship high up on +the shore lest the billow's force might wreck it. Then Beowulf ordered +them to carry the noble gifts of Hrothgar. Near the sea-wall was the +home of Hygelac. The bright sun, the candle of the world, was shining +when the brave Beowulf and his men went to greet their king. Hygelac +was glad to see their safe returning, and said: "Tell me, friend +Beowulf, how the Danes treated you. Long have I feared for you, +knowing you would meet Grendel, the deadly foe of men." +</P> + +<P> +Beowulf answered: "Right well did Hrothgar greet me and gave me a seat +in his hall next his own son. All the people were gay, and never have +I seen a grander hall or greater cheer. Oft the sweet queen left her +seat and spoke to the young warriors, giving one and another a wreath. +Oft their young daughter bore the mead-cup to her father's friends. +</P> + +<P> +"So all the day we spent in song and story. At night the beast Grendel +came. First he seized and slew one of my kindred, and then sought me. +But I seized his right hand and would not let go my hold. Long we +fought, and at last he fled, in the night, to his home in the black +waters. But his hand and arm were torn from him, and from this wound +he died. +</P> + +<P> +"Much praise and many gifts I had from the old king, when he learned +that the cruel Grendel must die. But the next night Grendel's mother +crept up to the hall and seized one of the king's good friends. Sad +were we all when morning came. The king with tears begged me to hunt +out the wicked creature, and I plunged into the dark waters. Fierce +was the fight, but at last I won, and never will Hrothgar's hall be sad +again at the loss of brave warriors. +</P> + +<P> +"Then Hrothgar gave me rich gifts which I bring to you, my king. With +gladness I bring them, for because of you are my pleasures long." +</P> + +<P> +As Beowulf spoke, his men brought in the banner, the shield, the +battle-sword, and the helmet. They also brought four fiery steeds with +rich trappings, fit for a king. All these did Beowulf give to his +friend, the king Hygelac. To the queen he gave the lovely collar +Hrothgar's queen had given to him, beautiful and rare with jewels. He +also gave her three black horses with saddles bright. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-114"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-114.jpg" ALT="BEOWULF PRESENTING HIS GIFTS TO HYGELAC" BORDER="2" WIDTH="399" HEIGHT="576"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 450px"> +BEOWULF PRESENTING HIS GIFTS TO HYGELAC +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The king and queen rejoiced in the precious gifts and in the love of +this brave warrior. To Beowulf the king gave a sword of wonder, the +best treasure he had, adorned with gold. Also he gave him many, many +rings of gold and a beautiful palace. +</P> + +<P> +So there was love between the king and the brave hero. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap36"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Dragon of the Mountain +</H3> + +<P> +After many years, when the king and his son had perished in the wars, +the Goths chose Beowulf for their king. No better king could they +have, and for many years he ruled over them. He was a wise king and +brave. The people loved him much. +</P> + +<P> +Then a strange story came to his ears: that far away in a dark cave +lived a terrible dragon. The way to his lair was rough and steep. In +this cave was much treasure, and the dragon was guarding it. +</P> + +<P> +Many men had gathered the treasures in this cave. Swords, helmets, and +shields, and rings were hidden there in time of war, so that the enemy +could not find them. For many years these treasures were collecting +there. At last a dragon came, a fierce creature, and for three hundred +winters he had kept watch with his fiery eyes. +</P> + +<P> +At last a man found the cave filled with the treasures. The dragon was +asleep, so the man took a golden cup and bore it home to his lord. +Thus the secret of the hoard became known. +</P> + +<P> +When the fearful dragon awoke and found that one of his treasures had +been taken, he was very angry. Fire came from his nostrils and from +his wicked mouth. He would find the man who had done this thing. +</P> + +<P> +Then the dragon began to burn all the houses round. Nothing living was +left. Ruin and death were in his path. Then he darted back to the +dark cave. He trusted in its darkness, but in vain. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap37"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Beowulf goes against the Dragon +</H3> + +<P> +When Beowulf heard that his men were driven from their burning homes, +his heart was hot with anger. He ordered a war-board of iron made, for +well he knew that forest-wood could not help him against fire. All the +foes of the kingdom Beowulf had turned to friends, and for many years +had ruled the Goths in peace and joy. But now he must go against the +fearful dragon who was guarding the hoard of treasures. +</P> + +<P> +The man who had taken the cup showed them the path, for he alone knew +the way. When they came to the mound near the great sea-waves, Beowulf +said farewell to his warriors. For him alone was the fight with the +enemy of his people, the fire-breathing dragon. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-118"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-118.jpg" ALT="THE DRAGON" BORDER="2" WIDTH="375" HEIGHT="287"> +<H3 CLASS="h3center" STYLE="width: 375px"> +THE DRAGON +</H3> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Sad was the hero at heart, for he knew this was his last fight. "I +have dared many battles in my youth, and I will now, as safe guardian +of my people, seek out this wicked creature in his earth-hall." +</P> + +<P> +Beowulf then greeted each of his men, saying: "I would not bear a +weapon against this dragon, but would fight him as I did Grendel, only +I must expect hot fire. Await me near this mound. This is a battle +for me, not for you or for any other man. I shall obtain the gold, or +war shall conquer me, your lord." +</P> + +<P> +Then the bold king, trusting in his good sword, went forth to battle, +with his helmet and his shield. When he came to the mound by the sea +he saw an arch of stone, and a stream flowing from the mound. The +water was boiling hot and he could not get near the hoard unburned. +Then the brave war-lord shouted to the dragon. First came forth from +the mountain the hot breath of the dreadful monster. The earth shook +and flames burst forth. The good king drew his sword and waited. When +the dragon came, Beowulf strode at it with his sword, and fierce was +the conflict. The hero knew that he would fall in the battle, but he +would kill the dragon first. It is a brave man who enters such a +deadly contest. +</P> + +<P> +Beowulf's men had sought safety, but one of them felt that he must help +his lord in this hour of deadly battle. He said: "Now Beowulf, our +great lord, has need of us. Although he is the greatest of warriors +and wishes to do this brave deed alone, yet he has need of our swords! +Let us help our warlike leader. For me, I well know that Beowulf shall +not fall alone." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap38"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Wiglaf aids his King +</H3> + +<P> +Then the noble Wiglaf went to his lord and said: "Dear Beowulf, once +did you say that never would your greatness sink. But in this great +deed I shall help." +</P> + +<P> +After these words the dragon came forth in great anger. The fiery +flames burned the broad wooden shield of Wiglaf. Then the young, brave +hero fought from behind the great iron shield of his leader, Beowulf. +Now this warlike king called to mind the glorious deeds of his youth. +With all his strength he struck with his sword, but it broke in his +hand. Then rushed out for the third time the deadly dragon and wound +himself about his kingly foe. +</P> + +<P> +To help the king in his great need did Wiglaf strike the dreadful foe. +The king drew his deadly knife and together they destroyed the fiery +creature. Then both rejoiced. +</P> + +<P> +But now the wound in the breast of Beowulf began to burn. Wiglaf +brought water to help the king. Then Beowulf spoke: "My joy in earth +has gone. I have ruled this people fifty winters. All kings are my +friends. Never have I spoken falsely, and for this I have joy to-day. +Go quickly, dear Wiglaf, and find the treasures guarded by the great +dragon, that I may behold all the jewels, the precious gems for which +we fought." +</P> + +<P> +Many wonders did Wiglaf find and bring to the eyes of his dying king: +jewels, helmets, rings, shields, swords rich with gold and jewels. +Most beautiful was a banner of cloth of gold so bright that it made the +dark cave light. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap39"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Death of Beowulf +</H3> + +<P> +When Beowulf saw these things of wonderful beauty, he said: "I thank +the Father of the gods, for all; because I have been able to kill the +great dragon and give my life for my people. No longer may I stay +here. Tell my brave warriors to make a mound near the sea, so high +that sailors may see it from afar and call it Beowulf's mound." +</P> + +<P> +Then from his neck the bold-hearted prince took a golden ring and gave +it to the young warrior. To him also he gave his helmet and shield and +bade him use them well. "Thou art the last of our race. All my +kinsmen fate has swept away. I shall follow them." These were the +last words from the heart of the hero. +</P> + +<P> +When the thanes came to where Wiglaf sat by his dead lord, the young +warrior said: "The great prince who gave you rings, and shields, and +homes, could not boast of you when need came. He alone conquered the +beast. I could help him little, but yet I did what I could to help the +good king. Death is better for every one than a life of reproach." +</P> + +<P> +Then he told them of the wish of Beowulf and bade them prepare the +mound by the shore of the noisy sea. Many, many warriors came to see +the great king. Much they loved him and admired his great strength. +Much they mourned for him and tears fell. All day they sat by the sea +and spoke no word. They looked with dread at their great foe. Fifty +feet long it stretched on the ground. At last the warriors threw the +great dragon into the sea, never again to be seen by men. +</P> + +<P> +Then Wiglaf took the warriors into the dark cave to see the treasures +hoarded there. For a thousand years had gold and gems and jewelled +armour been gathered there. Now there were more treasures than man +could count. The Goths were amazed to see such treasures, but they +wished not to take them for their own. They heaped high the +mountain-pines for a funeral pile. To this they carried the precious +treasures of the cave. Here they placed the king, so dearly loved. +Then the greatest of the warriors kindled the pine trees high. The +roaring flames arose; sounds of weeping were heard. Sad they waited +until all was destroyed by the flames. Then they began the mound in +honour of their lord. Ten days they worked, and built the mound so +high that sea-farers far away could see it and say, "There is the mound +of the good Beowulf, the king of the Goths." +</P> + +<P> +And his people said: "Our Beowulf was of all kings the mildest, the +noblest of men, the gentlest to his people and most worthy of praise." +</P> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="img-125"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-125.jpg" ALT="PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF PROPER NAMES" BORDER="2" WIDTH="380" HEIGHT="497"> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northland Heroes, by Florence Holbrook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 20853-h.htm or 20853-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/8/5/20853/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Northland Heroes + +Author: Florence Holbrook + +Release Date: March 20, 2007 [EBook #20853] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Ingeborg the Fair] + + + + + + +Northland Heroes + + +By + +FLORENCE HOLBROOK + + +Author of + +"The Hiawatha Primer" "A Book of Nature Myths" etc. + + + +LONDON: GEORGE G. HARRAP & CO. LTD. + +2 & 3 Portsmouth St. Kingsway WC + +AND AT CALCUTTA AND SYDNEY + + + + +First published January 1909 + +by GEORGE G. HARRAP & Co. + +2 & 3 Portsmouth Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2 + + +Reprinted: April 1911; May 1913; + +May 1914; October 1919; July 1922 + + + + +PREFACE + +For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting +the heroic deeds of great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have +delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our +own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of +Beowulf and Frithiof. + +The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. +With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and +patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest +and emulation, this little book is offered to our children. + +"The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop +Tegner's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof," and the quotations are used by +the kind permission of Mrs Holcomb and the publishers. + +FLORENCE HOLBROOK. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + + IN HILDING'S GARDEN + KING BELE AND THORSTEN + FRAMNESS + KING HELGE AND FRITHIOF + IN THE COUNTRY OF KING RING + FRITHIOF'S ANSWER + IN BALDER'S GROVE + THE PARTING + FRITHIOF AND ANGANTYR + THE RETURN + BALDER'S FUNERAL PILE + ON THE SEA + THE VIKING'S CODE + FRITHIOF'S RETURN + KING RING AND THE STRANGER + THE RIDE ON THE ICE + IN THE FOREST + KING RING'S DEATH + THE NEW KING + PRITHIOF AT HIS FATHER'S GRAVE + THE RECONCILIATION + + +THE STORY OF BEOWULF + + THE COMING OF SHEAF + THE YOUNG BEOWULF + THE HARPER'S STORY + BEOWULF AND HIS MEN + THE WARDER OF THE SHORE + BEOWULF RECEIVED BY HROTHGAR + THE CONTEST WITH GRENDEL + THE FEAST OF JOY + GRENDEL'S MOTHER + THE WAY TO THE POOL + BEOWULF IN THE POOL + BEOWULF'S RETURN + HROTHGAR HONOURS BEOWULF + BEOWULF AND HYGELAC + THE DRAGON OF THE MOUNTAIN + BEOWULF GOES AGAINST THE DRAGON + WIGLAF AIDS HIS KING + THE DEATH OF BEOWULF + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Ingeborg the Fair . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +King Bele and his sons + +Burial mounds + +Viking ship + +Frithiof asking for Ingeborg + +Ingeborg at Balder's temple + +Frithiof's song + +Into the hall came a man unknown to any there + +King Ring's sleigh + +The boy on the shield + +Ingeborg given to Frithiof + +The departure of Beowulf + +The landing of Beowulf in Hrothgar's realm + +Beowulf presenting his gifts to Hygelac + +The dragon + +Pronouncing vocabulary of proper names + + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + + +In Hilding's Garden + + So they grew up in joy and glee, + And Frithiof was the young oak tree; + Unfolding in the vale serenely + The rose was Ingeborg the queenly. + + +In the garden of Hilding, the teacher, were two young children. +Ingeborg was a princess, the daughter of a King of Norway. The boy, +Frithiof, was a viking's son. Their fathers, King Bele and Thorsten, +were good friends, and the children were brought up together in the +home of Hilding, their foster-father and teacher. + +Hilding was very fond of them both. He called the boy Frithiof an oak, +for he was straight and strong. The little Ingeborg he called his +rose, she was so rosy and sweet. + +All day roaming over field and grove the strong lad cared for the +little maid. If they came to a swift-flowing brook he would carry her +over. When the first spring flowers showed their pretty heads Frithiof +gathered them for Ingeborg. For her he found the red berries and the +golden-cheeked apples. + +In the evening they sat at the feet of their kind teacher and together +they learned to read. Often they danced on the sward at twilight, when +they looked like golden-haired elves in a fairy dance. + +When Frithiof had grown into a sturdy youth he often hunted in the +forests. He was so strong that he needed neither spear nor lance. +When he met the wild bear they struggled breast to breast. Both bear +and youth fought bravely, but at last Frithiof won. Home he went +gaily, carrying the great bear-skin, which he gave to Ingeborg. She +praised his bravery and strength, for every woman loves courage. + +While Frithiof roamed the forest for game, Ingeborg, at the loom, wove +beautiful tapestries. Pictures of sea and grove, blue waters and +waving trees, grew under her deft fingers. Then she wove warriors on +horseback, with their shining shields and their bright red lances. +Soon the face of the leader was seen; 'twas the face of her brave +playmate, Frithiof. + +In the long winter evenings around the fire, Ingeborg heard the story +of the gods. The light shining upon her fair face made her lovely as +one of the goddesses. Frithiof thought her hair as golden as Freya's +treasure. + + When darkness held the quiet earth + They gathered round the welcome hearth, + And Hilding told them stories old + Of gods and kings and heroes bold. + + +So Frithiof and the lovely Ingeborg grew to love each other. But when +Hilding saw that the viking's son dared to love the daughter of a king, +he said: "Frithiof, my dear foster-son, in vain are your hopes. +Ingeborg is a king's daughter. Your reason should tell you that you +cannot marry her. Proud is King Bele of his family descended from the +great god Odin. He will have his daughter marry a prince, not a +yeoman. Well do I love you; brave and handsome are you and strong as +any prince, but you must forget your love for Ingeborg." + +Then the brave youth smiled and said: "I am free-born, and never will I +yield. I killed the forest chief, and honour is mine for the deed. +All power is noble--Thor who hurls the thunderbolts is noble, although +Odin is king of the gods. So free-born men shall never yield though +kings are on the throne. In Thor's kingdom, where all strength is, +worth is king, not lineage. The sword always speaks with power; never +will I forget Ingeborg, but will fight all the world for her." + + The free-born man will never yield, + He owns the world's unconquered field; + Where worth and not descent is leader + The sword is e'er a valiant pleader. + + + + +King Bele and Thorsten + +The words by an old man spoken should not be slighted + + +In the great palace stood the old King Bele and his friend, Thorsten +the faithful. Both had lived brave lives and longed for Valhalla, the +home of heroes. + +"The evening of life comes over me," said King Bele, "but as death +draws nearer, the glory of heaven seems brighter. I have called our +sons to the throne room, dear friend, to speak words of warning and +help. To-morrow it may be that I shall sleep in death, and it will be +too late." + +[Illustration: King Bele and his sons] + +Into the throne room came the two princes obedient to their father's +command. Helge, the elder, was dark and gloomy. Halfdan, the younger, +fair and gay, came with untroubled heart, thinking only of games and +hunting. + +After these came Frithiof, son of Thorsten, taller and stronger than +the princes. He stood between the brothers, shining in beauty like the +sun. + +"Sons of my heart," said the king gently, "my life on earth is ending. +Rule the kingdom together. While you are united no power can destroy +you. Let freedom bloom through all the land, and use your power, O +Helge, as a shield for your people. + +"The power the king possesses comes from the people, and foolish is the +ruler who is cruel and hears not their cry. The great and good king is +merciful, and kindness can do more than cruelty. Boast not of the +greatness of your ancestors. Each man uses but one bowstring, and that +is his own. Who cares for the worth that is buried? The good man is +true to his own heart, and thus makes himself great. + +"A joyous spirit is yours, O Halfdan, and it is good. But idle talk is +needless and weakens kings. Hold fast to your friend and choose the +best, but do not give your love and faith to all men. Fools win no +praise though they be kings, but the wise are loved and honoured by all +men, no matter how lowly they may be." + +Then Thorsten spake: "Not alone, O Bele, shall you go to Odin. Always +have we stood together, and death shall not divide us. + +"Hear me, my son, my Frithiof, and slight not the words of the old. + + "First, give the gods high honour, for good or ill, + Storms come as well as sunshine, by Heaven's will. + Great strength is Heaven's dower; but, Frithiof, learn + That power devoid of wisdom, can little earn. + + +"Obey your king. One must be king, and others are happiest when +obeying wise directions. The shields of brave men are the best +protection for a country against the swords of an enemy, and law is the +best defence against treason. Young men should listen to advice and +should test the strength of friendship by use. + + "All men will surely perish, with all they prize, + But one thing know I, Frithiof, which never dies,-- + And that is reputation! therefore, ever + The noble action strive for, the good endeavour." + + +It was pleasant to hear Bele and Thorsten talk of their lives together. +Much they told of the wonderful adventures of their youth, when they +travelled to strange lands in their swift-moving boats. They had been +friends through good fortune and ill, with hands clasped together and +hearts united. In battle they had stood back to back, facing their +enemies. If one was threatened by an enemy, the other was on guard and +defended his friend. + +The king spoke much of the bravery of Frithiof, and said that his +heroic power was better than all royal birth. Thorsten in return +praised the gifts of Helge and Halfdan. Thus did they give an example +of friendship between a king and his man. With the memory of their +long friendship King Bele urged his sons and Frithiof to be friends too. + + "But hold ye fast together, ye children three, + The Northland then your conqueror shall never see; + For royalty and power, when duly ordered, + Are like a bright shield golden, by blue steel bordered." + + +Then again spoke Bele: "These are my last commands. On you, O Helge, +my eldest son, I place a father's care. Guard and love your sister +Ingeborg. Be gentle and guide her with loving words. Noble spirits +fret under harshness, but loving and gentle manners win all to right +and honour. + +"And now, farewell, my children. Together Thorsten and I go to the +All-father gladly. Lay us in mounds close to the waves of the restless +gulf singing the song of the sea." + +[Illustration: Burial mounds] + + + + +Framness + +So the old king and his faithful friend were united in death as they +had been in life, and were buried on the shore of the loud-singing sea. +Together by the wish of the people did his sons, Helge and Halfdan, +rule the kingdom. + +Frithiof, the son of Thorsten, went to his father's hall, the mighty +Framness. For twelve miles in all directions stretched his broad +acres. The hilltops were covered with birch forests. On the sloping +sides grew the golden corn and the tall rye. Many blue lakes gleamed +like mirrors. Streams rippled over the pebbly beds. In the wide +valleys herds of oxen and sheep were quietly grazing, and in the +stables were twenty-four steeds swift as the whirlwind. + +In the great hall built of choicest fir more than five hundred warriors +gathered at Yule-time. A great table of oak, polished and shining, ran +through the middle from end to end. The floor was covered with straw, +and on the hearth in the centre of the hall a warm and cheerful fire +was always burning. + +On the great nails in the hall hung helmets and coats-of-mail. Between +them flashed swords and sparkling shields. Round the table sat the +warriors, and as often as the drinking-horn needed filling fair maidens +came with the joyous mead. + + All this and other vast treasures did Frithiof receive from + his father, + Scarce was there found in the Northland any with richer + possessions, + Save were he heir to a kingdom, for of kings is the wealth + always greatest. + Though from no king he descended, yet was his mind + truly royal, + Courteous, noble, and kind. Daily became he more famous. + +Rich was the house of Framness. Everywhere plenty and beauty, gleaming +jewels, gold and silver, met the eye of the stranger. But three things +in Framness were most prized by Frithiof and his brave men. First of +the three was a sword which had descended from father to son. The +sword was called Angurvadel, grief-wader, and brother of lightning. +Made in the far east, it had finally come into the hands of Viking, the +father of Thorsten. + +When Viking was a youth of fifteen he heard of a monster ferocious and +shaggy, misshapen and higher in stature than man, who came from the +wood to the palace of a weak old king. This king had a lovely +daughter, and the monster boldly demanded her hand and the kingdom, +offering to meet in hand-to-hand combat any who would say him nay. No +one dared to meet him, for no one had a weapon that could pierce his +hard skull. + +Then came Viking gladly to the combat with Ironskull, and with one blow +of his good sword Angurvadel cleft the head of the monster and rescued +the maiden. Viking gave the sword to his son Thorsten, and Thorsten +gave it to Frithiof. The hilt was of hammered gold, covered with +mystic red letters. Whenever he drew the sword light filled the hall, +as when the northern lights gleam or the bright lightning flashes. + + Lost was the warrior + Who met, on the field of encounter, the blade with its red + letters glowing. + Widely renowned was that sword, and of swords was the + chief in the Northland. + + +The second prize in Framness was the wonderful arm-ring forged by +Volund, the lame blacksmith. This ring was made of gold and was very +heavy, and upon it Volund had carved pictures. First he showed the +house of the gods, with twelve high castles. In one was the sun rising +over the ocean. In the second castle were Odin and Saga, drinking +together from a golden shell. That shell is the ocean gilded by the +glow of morning. Balder, the beautiful king of summer, was seen, the +good, kind god. Next was shown the castle of Giltner, the home of +peace. Within was Forseti, god of justice, holding the scales. Many +more pictures were graven on the great ring, showing the conflict +between light and darkness. High in the centre was a cluster of rubies +bright as the sun in the heavens. This circlet was a family heirloom, +for Frithiof's mother was a descendant of Volund, its maker. + +[Illustration: Viking ship] + +The third of the family treasures was _Ellide_, the famous ship, of +which this story is told. When Viking was returning from the wars he +saw a sailor adrift on the billows. Noble and tall he seemed, borne on +the waves as if he were at home on the sea. He wore a mantle of blue +bound by a golden girdle. His hair was sea-green and his beard as +white as the foam of the ocean. + +Viking took him home and cared for him right courteously; but soon he +sailed away in his broken boat, thanking Viking warmly for his +kindness. "If I could only leave thee a gift!" said he. "Perhaps in +the morning the ocean will waft thee a token." + +The next day Viking stood on the shore, when, lo! swiftly over the +billows came a dragon ship. There was no leader, no sailor, no +steersman. The wonderful ship drew near, the sails were furled by +unseen hands and the anchor dropped into the firm sand. + +Viking was speechless with wonder. Then he heard the winds murmur +softly: "Aeger never forgetteth a kindness. He giveth thee this +dragon." + +Kingly the gift and beautiful. Its throat was ablaze with gold, and +bordered with red were its inky black pinions. When they were +unfolded, the boat flew in a race with the whirlwind and left far +behind the swift eagle. Widely renowned was the ship, the chief of all +ships of the Northland. + +Of chieftains Frithiof had many around his hearth. One youth whom he +greatly loved was Bjorn. Frithiof and Bjorn were of the same age and +dear to each other, brothers in joy and grief. In the days of their +boyhood they had mingled their blood, thus becoming brothers in good +Northern fashion, in peace and in war sworn to help and avenge each +other. + + + + +King Helge and Frithiof + +In the spring Frithiof sailed in his dragon ship proudly over the +billows to the palace of King Helge. The kings had met at the mound of +their father to give justice to their people. + +To them came Frithiof and proudly he spoke: "Ye kings, I choose here +from all women your sister, the lovely Ingeborg, to be my bride. The +good king, your father, wished us to marry, and therefore reared us +together in the garden of Hilding. My father was of peasant birth, yet +his memory will live in the songs of the poets, for he and his father +were the bravest of heroes. + +"Full easily could I win a kingdom for myself, but I choose to stay in +my own country and serve ye, my kings. + + "On King Bele's grave we are standing now, + He hears every word in the grave below, + With thee he pleadeth.-- + A dead father's counsel a wise son heedeth." + +[Illustration: Frithiof asking for Ingeborg] + +But King Helge refused Frithiof's words with scorn, saying: "Our sister +was not for a peasant born! Kings should strive to win our Ingeborg. +Boast not of your strength--women are won by words and not by force. +As for my kingdom, I will defend that myself and do not need your help. +If you wish to be my man your place is among my servants." + +"Thy servant! No, never!" cried Frithiof. "My father had no master, +nor shall I. Fly from your silver dwelling to avenge this insult, my +good Angurvadel! You, at least, are royal. Were we not at the grave +of thy father, O King, here would I teach thee not to come where my +sword can reach." + +With these words he struck the gold shield of Helge, and it fell in +halves with a clang to the ground. + +"Well done, my sword! Lie still and dream of great deeds to come! Now +will we go home over the foaming billows." + +So in anger did the noble Frithiof leave the presence of King Helge, +and return to Framness, the house of his fathers. + + + + +In the Country of King Ring + +Far in the north lived the good King Ring. His words were wise and +kind. In his land no war cast its dark shadow and everywhere in his +kingdom blossomed fair flowers. Justice and right clasped hands, and +peace lived with plenty in the golden fields. + +For thirty years King Ring had ruled in the Northland. The people +loved him well and named him in their evening prayers. His good queen +had died, and long had he mourned for her. But the people begged him +to marry again. + +At last the old king said: "King Bele often visited me and spake of his +fair daughter. Her would I choose for my bride. Take gold and jewels +rare from my coffers. Have minstrels go and with their songs win for +me the fair Ingeborg." + +In gay company they went to Helge's court and asked him for his sister +Ingeborg. Here they remained three days, singing and feasting. On the +fourth morning they asked for a reply from King Helge for their king. + +[Illustration: Ingeborg at Balder's Temple] + +In the grove of Balder Helge offered bird and beast and asked the +priest what answer he should give. The priest, frightened by evil +omens, replied that Ingeborg must not be given to King Ring. Then +Helge said nay to the messengers, for men must obey when the gods have +spoken. + +Angry were the messengers, and angry was King Ring when he was told +that Helge would not give the lovely Ingeborg to be his queen. He +struck his bright shield and seized his warlike weapons. + +Over the sea many a dragon ship came hurrying and the plumes of the +warriors waved in the breeze. + +"Let us teach the proud Helge a lesson," they cried. + +When King Helge heard of the ships and the warriors hurrying over the +sea, he said: "Long and bloody will be the strife, for King Ring is a +mighty king. To protect my sister we must place her in the temple of +Balder the holy." + + + + +Frithiof's Answer + +While King Helge gathered his warriors to fight King Ring, the angry +Frithiof was playing chess with his friend Bjorn. Hilding urged him to +forget his anger and go into battle to fight for his king and his +country. "The times are evil, dear foster-son," said the good Hilding, +"and you are all the people's hope." + +Kindly but firmly said the youth: "My resolve is firm. I will not obey +Helge. He and Halfdan may be angry and threaten. They are kings, but +I bid defiance to their power and their threats." + +Then said Hilding sadly: "Is this the reply to my pleading?" + + Frithiof then arises, laying + Hilding's hand in his, and saying: + "My resolve is firm and steady, + And my answer you have heard. + + "Go to Bele's sons and warn them + Peasants love not those who scorn them; + To their power I bid defiance, + Their behests will not obey." + + "In thy chosen way abide thee, + For thy wrath I cannot chide thee; + Odin must be our reliance," + Hilding said, and went his way. + + + + +In Balder's Grove + +While King Bele's sons were preparing for war with King Ring, Frithiof +sought Ingeborg in the grove of Balder. Most beautiful was this temple +of the sun-god, and here the sunshine seemed lovelier than in other +groves. The flowers glowed in the friendly rays and seemed more +beautiful. At night, when evening drew the rosy curtain, the brooks +and breezes whispered softly to one another and the stars gleamed like +pearls upon the dark blue robe of night. + +The wonderful boat, _Ellide_, sped over the waves sparkling in the +moonlight. "Glide on, _Ellide_, over the deep gulf and bear me swiftly +to the grove of Balder. I hail thee, moon, with thy pale light +streaming over grove and dale. Upon the shore I leap with joy and +salute thy brown cheek, smiling earth." + +So spake Frithiof as he landed on the shore. The earth seemed +friendly, the red and white flowers smiled upon him, and he was happy +and free from care. With Ingeborg the brave youth knelt at the shrine +of Balder, the mild, radiant god of the sun whom all gods and men love, +and prayed for happiness and peace. They prayed not for princely +honours, but for a home near the dark blue sea. Then, amid flowers and +under the shade of the leafy trees, their lives would be happy and free +from envy and care. + +But they feared the king, the cold and cruel Helge. He would never +consent to Frithiof's request for the hand of Ingeborg. If he learned +that Frithiof had dared to visit Ingeborg in Balder's grove, his anger +would be greater than ever. But Ingeborg begged Frithiof to go to her +brother and to offer his hand in friendship. She could not leave the +grove of Balder, where Helge had placed her for protection during the +war with King Ring. + +At last Frithiof yielded. He said farewell to Ingeborg with sadness in +his heart. + +"Like Balder are you, Ingeborg! Like him your hair is golden, and your +eyes are blue as his skies, while your soul is as pure as the morning +light!" + + + + +The Parting + +A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They were +to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon the fate +of Ingeborg. + +The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty +king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to +consent, for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in +Balder's grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad +was she, for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be +angry because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great god +Balder without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her +fate, and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried: +"Tell me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for +all." + +Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele's mound I went. There, +gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge's kingdom. +Upon the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near +by was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: 'Thy +kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me +thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will. +Here is my hand.' + +"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand +shields and the freemen cried: 'To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword +and well he deserves our fair lily.' + +"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with +pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:-- + +"'A peasant's son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy +temple seems unfit for Bele's daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not +stolen into Balder's temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak +yes or no.' + +"'Say no!' shouted the brave men; 'we believe thee, son of Thorsten. +Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!' + +"Fear not, O Helge,' I replied; 'I would not lie to gain the joy of +heaven, and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg +in Balder's temple, but the laws I have not broken.' + +"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one +accursed. 'Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,' +said Helge, 'yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou +hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us. +Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every +man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.'" + +"What did you decide, my Frithiof?" + +"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour? +To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves. +But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in _Ellide_ to a friendly land. A +little earth from our fathers' graves we'll place upon our ships, and +that will be our fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful +islands of Greece--fresh groves of green in shining waves. There +golden apples glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough. +There will we build a little North, more beautiful than this. +Happiness stands near to human hearts if they are brave enough to seize +it. Come, let us go! All is ready, and _Ellide_ stretches her shadowy +wings for flight." + +"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like +you. Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not +steal my happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain +obedient to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the +south. With eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright +northern star which stands over our fathers' graves. And you, my +Frithiof, must not desert the land you were born to guard. Let us +yield to the voice of duty. Let us save our honour though our +happiness be lost!" + +"Necessity commands our flight. Come, Ingeborg!" + +"What's right and noble, that's necessity." + +"Consider well. Is that your last resolve?" + +"It is my last. But remember that my thought will follow you wherever +you may go. When evening comes I will send a greeting, and the +fleeting cloud shall bear it unto you." + +"You have conquered, my Ingeborg. A noble mind best teaches what is +noble. To-day I yield and leave you. But in the earliest spring I +shall return and in open council of the sons of the Northland, who +alone can give the hand of a princess, will I demand you. Farewell +till then. For memory wear this arm-ring, the work of Volund, graven +with heaven's wonders. But the best of wonders is a faithful heart." + +So, full of hope, did Frithiof leave, but Ingeborg feared her gloomy +brother, knowing well how he hated the noble Frithiof. To herself she +said: "Never will he give me to thee, dear childhood's friend. Rather +will he wed me to King Ring whom he fights. No hope do I see, yet I am +glad thy heart can hope. May all the good gods follow thee." + + + + +Frithiof and Angantyr + +Over the sea sailed Frithiof with his friends in the good ship _Ellide_ +to the home of the brave earl Angantyr. The old man, joyous and +light-hearted, one day looked over the sea and saw the white-winged +ship bringing the brave heroes. + +"That is _Ellide_ coming, and the hero with firm and steady step is +Frithiof, son of Thorsten. No one in the Northland has so brave a brow +and so bright a smile." + +Then the sturdy Atle sprang up crying: "Now will I go and prove what +truth there is in the report that Frithiof breaks all swords and never +sues for peace." + +When he saw Frithiof he cried: "No one comes here but he either fights +or flies. If you beg for peace, I shall receive you in friendship and +take you to the earl." + +Frithiof replied sharply: "Before I cry for peace our good swords must +be tested." + +Then flashed his sword-blade, the bright Angurvadel. The men fought +long and cleft each other's shields, but finally Atle's sword was +broken and Frithiof's sword was king. + +Then said the victor: "I do not wish to slay a swordless foe. If you +wish, let us strive as yeomen, man to man, without weapons." + +So they wrestled breast to breast as two bears trying their strength, +or as wave breaking against wave. The firm earth trembled, and the +great oaks scarce could endure the shock. + +But Frithiof proved the stronger, and at length brought proud Atle to +the ground. Angrily he said: "If my good sword were at my hand, +through thy body would I plunge it, thou black-beard!" + +"Go bring it! Who'll prevent thee?" cried the brave Atle. "Here will +I lie if that will content thee. All must Valhal see; I, to-day; thou, +perhaps, to-morrow!" + +Then Frithiof fetched the gleaming Angurvadel, but the good sword +harmed not the noble foe. Frithiof struck the sand with the blade, for +he admired the courage of the brave Atle. + +As friends Frithiof and Atle then entered the palace of Angantyr. +Everything seemed new and beautiful to Frithiof. Instead of planks +well matched, leather embroidered in gold covered the walls. No rough +hearthstone littered the centre of the hall, but a marble fireplace was +built up against the side. In the windows were fitted panes of glass, +and a key secured the door. + +Here were no wooden torches as light of the feast, but waxen candles +gleamed brightly in their silver sconces. The roasted stag gracing the +table had gold bands on his hoofs, and flowers wreathed his horns. + +Three steps the earl descended, saying to Frithiof: "Come sit by me, +brave son of Thorsten." + +Then was Thorsten's praise chanted by the singers, and his brave deeds +were sung in the old Norse tongue. + +The earl asked much about his friends of long ago. Frithiof answered +wisely and kindly, and all the warriors cheered him loudly. Soon he +spoke of the errand that brought him from his own land. Angantyr +listened kindly but replied: + +"I never paid tribute to Bele and shall not to his sons. If they wish +to take it, let them meet us on the strand and see who is best. But +Thorsten was my friend," continued the earl, and beckoned to his +daughter, who sat near him. + +The beautiful maid hastened to her room and brought back a green silk +purse all deftly wrought. The tassels were made of gold and the clasps +shone with rubies. + +Angantyr took the treasure and filled it with gold. Giving it to +Frithiof, he said: "This welcome gift is a tribute to you, my friend, +but not to King Helge. And now I beg you, Frithiof, to pass the long +winter hours with us, your friends and the friends of your fathers." + + + + +The Return + +When lovely spring with her blue skies came again, Frithiof left his +kind host Angantyr and sailed over the deep billows. Full of joy is +one who has travelled far when his bark turns homeward. Memory shows +the smoke from his mother's hearth-fire and the fountain where his +childish feet played. + +Six days Frithiof sailed, and on the seventh he saw his loved land. He +saluted the cliffs and the forest dancing in the sunlight, but thought +of Ingeborg. As _Ellide_ rounded the headland, Frithiof stood at the +prow, shading his eyes from the sun and looking for his old home, loved +Framness. + +But he looked in vain! Of the stately hall ashes alone remained. +Sadly did the hero thread the blackened ruins. Then his faithful dog, +Bran, ran up to welcome him. A powerful dog was he, and often had he +been master of wolves. The milk-white steed with swan-like neck and +golden mane came bounding up the valley. Both asked for food of +Frithiof, their master; but he, poorer than they, had nothing to give +them. + +Then came Hilding, the foster-father with silvery hair. "My message," +he said, "I fear will bring you little gladness. Scarce had you sailed +when King Ring came. Five shields had he to our one. Not long did the +battle last. King Helge yielded and fled. In his flight he passed +Framness and fired the lordly dwelling. + +"Ring gave the brothers, Helge and Halfdan, this choice: to give their +sister to him or to lose their throne. The brothers chose, and now +Ingeborg has gone with old King Ring." + +Then Frithiof blamed Ingeborg for her broken vow and declared he would +never believe her again. And yet his heart grieved for her, and he +could never forget the friend of his childhood. + +"You wrong the maid," said old Hilding. "As the sea-fowl, when its +breast is wounded, dives far away from the eyes of daylight, and, with +its life-blood flowing, yet gives no sign of weakness or misery, so +Ingeborg in the darkness bore her suffering and I only saw her anguish. +When the wedding day came, she, pale as death, rode a black steed, +following the white-robed maidens and the steel-clad men. + +"From off the saddle I took the sad maid and went with her to the +altar, where she uttered her vows and prayed long to Balder. When +Helge saw your ring on her arm he tore it off with angry words. Then I +in anger drew my sword, but Ingeborg gently said: 'Let the All-father +judge between him and me.'" + +"The All-father will judge," calmly replied Frithiof, when Hilding had +told his story; "I, too, will judge. Now is the time when the king who +sold his sister sits in the temple of Balder as priest. Him will I +seek." + + + + +Balder's Funeral Pile + +Midnight's sun fell upon the mountain. The beams seemed to threaten +fire and war, so blood-red were they. The heavens glowed; it was night +contending with day. + +On Balder's altar burned a fire--the emblem of the sun--and priests +stood around the wall of the temple, grasping burning brands. Near the +altar stood King Helge, wearing his crown. All at once he heard the +war-cry, and the clash of weapons resounded through the forest. + +"Bjorn, stand fast by yonder door!" + +Helge heard the cry and turned pale. Well he knew the ringing voice of +Frithiof. Fiercely as autumn winds fell the hero's bitter words:-- + + "Here's the ordered tribute; it came + Safe through the tempest's rattle; + Take it; then here by Balder's flame, + For life or death we'll battle. + + "Shields behind us, our bosoms free, + Fair the fight be reckoned; + As the king the first blow belongs to thee, + Mind thou, mine's the second." + + +With these words he threw the purse filled with gold in Helge's face. +The heavy blow stunned the king, and he fainted near the altar. +Frithiof laughed and called in scorn: "Are you then overpowered by a +purse of gold? No one shall blame my sword for felling so cowardly a +foe, for he deserves not to fall by a brave man's sword." + +Then Frithiof put up his sword and turned to the statue of Balder that +stood near the altar. Calm and kind seemed the god. On his arm was +the ring given by Frithiof to Ingeborg but taken from her by Helge. + +"Holy Balder," spake Frithiof, "be not angry with thy servant. Well +dost thou know that the arm-ring which thou wearest was stolen, and +that Volund's work was never meant for thee." With these words he +strove to take the ring, but arm and ring seemed to have grown +together. Then he became angry and with a supreme effort he loosened +the ring; but the image fell into the flames of the altar. + +Up leaped the fierce fire! Bjorn at the door was pale with dread. +Frithiof with equal anxiety called to him: "Open the doors, Bjorn, and +let the people go. The temple is burning; bring water, yea throw on an +oceanful!" + +The warriors quickly formed a chain from the burning grove to the sea +and the water was passed with speed from hand to hand. Frithiof sat +like the god of rain and gave his orders in a calm, clear voice. Long +they strove, but in vain. The flames borne on the wings of the wind +mounted to the sky. The grove was dry with summer heat and the hungry +fire-king revelled midst the quick-burning branches. + + Fiercely leaping from height to height, + Aiming yet still higher; + Oh, what wild and terrific light! + Strong is Balder's pyre! + + Soon in smouldering ashes lay + Grove and temple's adorning; + Sadly then Frithiof turned away-- + Wept in the light of morning. + + + + +On the Sea + +After the burning of Balder's temple and grove Frithiof was very sad at +heart. He felt that the sun-god would never forgive him, although he +had not intended any wrong. His home, the lovely Framness, had been +destroyed by the king. Ingeborg was kept from him, and the people of +his own country shunned him because of his crime against Balder. He +felt that he had no home, no country, no friends. + +One refuge he had--the swift-flying ship _Ellide_. From her deck he +saw the fires still burning in Balder's grove. Grief filled his heart. +"Gone is the temple of the white god. In ashes are the groves once +never neglected! And I am to blame; anger and haste made me forget +time and place, the reverence due in that holy temple!" + +Over the blue sea where wild waves sing, _Ellide_ flew. Frithiof felt +at home in the tempest on the rocking ship--this was his Northland, +these on board were his only friends. The sea knows no king, and +Helge's wrath could not reach him on its waves. + +But lo! from a hiding-place in the high rocks King Helge sends out ten +dragon ships. The warriors with Frithiof rejoice and laugh at the +king, for Bjorn had, unknown to all, leaped into the sea and bored +holes in the boat-keels. Down sank the ships and many men were +drowned, but Helge escaped. + +In wrath the king drew his bow, but it broke. Then Frithiof aimed his +lance. "A death bird have I here, false king! but my lance refuses to +drink thy coward blood. It is too good for food so craven!" + +So speaking Frithiof seized his oars--huge blades of fir, and swiftly +moved away. + + Where foam-crest swimmeth + _Ellide_ skimmeth + On joyous wings; + But Frithiof sings: + + "Thou front of creation, + Exalted North! + I have no station + On thy green earth. + Thy lineage sharing + My pride doth swell, + Thou home of daring! + Farewell, farewell!" + +And that you also may sing Frithiof's song, the last verse is given +with the music. + +[Illustration: Frithiof's Song] + + + + +The Viking's Code + +Over the foaming sea Frithiof sailed, seeking strange lands and +adventures. Like a falcon in search of its prey flew the good boat, +_Ellide_, over the waves. + +To the champions on board Frithiof gave this law of the viking:-- + + Make no tent on thy ship, never sleep in a house, for a foe + within doors you may view; + On his shield sleeps the viking; his sword in his hand, and + his tent is the heavenly blue. + + When the storm rageth fierce, hoist the sail to the top-- + O how merry the storm-king appears; + Let her drive! let her drive! better founder than strike, + for who strikes is a slave to his fears. + + If a merchant sail by, you must shelter his ship, but the + weak will not tribute withhold; + You are king of the waves, he a slave to his gains; and + your steel is as good as his gold. + + Let your goods be divided by lot or by dice, how it falls + you may never complain; + But the sea-king himself takes no part in the lots--he + considers the honour his gain. + + If a viking-ship come, there is grappling and strife, and + the fight 'neath the shields will rejoice; + If you yield but a pace you are parted from us; 'tis the + law, you may act by your choice. + + If you win, be content: he who, praying for peace, yields + his sword, is no longer a foe! + Prayer's a Valhalla-child, hear the suppliant voice; he's + a coward who answereth no. + + Wounds are viking's reward, and the pride of the man + on whose breast or whose forehead they stand; + Let them bleed on unbound till the close of the day, if you + wish to be one of our band. + + + + +Frithiof's Return + +Such was the law of the vikings which Frithiof gave to his men. Day by +day his name became more renowned through foreign lands. No viking was +brave as Frithiof, and none had braver followers. When the conflict +came, his spirit rose like an eagle refreshed for its flight. A smile +was on his face and his voice rang clear above the noise of the battle. + +After many conquests he sailed to Greece. In her beautiful seas he +found many green islands. On the shores were green groves and temples +gleaming with pillars. Here it seemed peace must have its home. The +murmuring fountains and the sweet songs of the birds made music in the +groves. + +But in the midst of all this beauty Frithiof thought of his home in the +north. There was the friend of his youth, the fair Ingeborg. There +were the grave-mounds of his fathers. Around the groves and shrines of +his country gathered the memories of his early years, and no matter how +lovely any other land might be, his heart returned to his home land. + +"Three years have passed since I saw the Northland, the land of heroes. +How I long to see those loved shores once more! The tree that I +planted on the grave-mound of my father--can it be that it lives now? +Why do I linger in distant waves, taking tribute and conquering in war? +My soul despises the glittering gold, and enough have I of renown. + + "There's a flag on the mast and it points to the north, in + the north is the land I hold dear; + I will follow the course of the heavenly winds, and back + to the Northland I'll steer." + + +To his foster-brother Frithiof said: "Bjorn, I am weary of riding the +sea. My heart longs for the firm earth of the Northland, and her lofty +mountains are calling to me. Tired am I of this life on the sea and +too long have I wandered an exile from home." + +"Frithiof, why do you complain?" asked Bjorn. "Freedom and joy +flourish best on the sea. When I am old I too will turn to the +green-growing land with the grass for my pillow. But now I'll fight +with a free hand and enjoy the freedom of the billows." + +So the dragon ship sailed for far northern waters. The ice closed in +around them and Frithiof declared he would not spend the winter on the +desolate shore. He would go as a stranger to the palace of King Ring +and see Ingeborg once more. + +"Good!" exclaimed Bjorn. "Right glad will I be to fight the king and +to let him feel a viking's power. We will fire the palace of the +greybeard and carry his queen away with us; or, if you wish, challenge +him to a fight on the ice." + +"No!" replied Frithiof; "no fight have I with King Ring. His is not +the fault. But peace would I bear to them both and say farewell to +Ingeborg. When spring returns you see Frithiof here." + +"You may be prevented from returning, Frithiof; go not alone!" said +Bjorn. + +But Frithiof had no fear and laughed at the warnings of Bjorn. Alone +he went with his good sword to the country of the old King Ring. + + + + +King Ring and the Stranger + +In the kingdom of the north reigned King Ring. Old was he now and +white-haired, but noble and brave. At the merry Yuletime he held a +great feast in the royal hall. High on the throne of state he sat, and +beside him was his fair young queen, the gentle Ingeborg. + +Into the spacious hall came a man unknown to any there. A bear-skin +covered him from head to foot. He leaned heavily upon a staff, but +even then he was taller than any warrior in the hall. He chose for +rest a seat upon the bench beside the door. This is now the poor man's +place and has always been. Some of the young men laughed at the beggar +dressed in the skin of the wild bear and pointed the finger at him. + +[Illustration: INTO THE HALL CAME A MAN UNKNOWN TO ANY THERE] + +The stranger's eyes flashed and all felt his anger. Quickly he seized +one of the young men by the belt and shook him so that all were +suddenly silent in the hall. + +"What causes such commotion?" cried the angry monarch. "Who dares +disturb our peace? Old man, come here and answer. What is your name, +your place, your errand?" + +The old man replied: "Many questions you ask, O King, but every one +will I answer. My name belongs to me alone and I'll not give it. My +birth-place was misfortune and all I possess is want. I have come +hither from the wolf so fierce and gaunt. In youth I bestrode a dragon +on the blue waters, but now I am old and feeble and must live upon the +land. As to my errand, I came to see your wisdom, renowned far and +near. When your men met me rudely I seized one of them by the girdle +and hurled him to the ground. For that forgive me, though the man is +safe and sound." + +"Your words are wisely chosen," said King Ring. "The aged should be +honoured; come, sit here by me. You are no beggar, I know. Throw off +your disguise and appear in your true form. Disguise is a foe to +pleasure, and pleasure should rule at Yule-tide." + +Then the guest dropped the bear-skin. Instead of an old man bent with +care, there stood a handsome youth with long golden locks. His mantle +was of azure velvet and his girdle was of silver finely worked. Around +his arm clung a heavy golden circlet and at his side gleamed the great +battle-sword. + +When the queen looked at the guest she knew him as Frithiof, but +mentioned not his name. It was the right of a guest to claim +hospitality without giving his name, and Frithiof had claimed this +guest-right. The horn sounded a shrill blast in the hall and all was +still. The hour for vows was coming and the boar was now brought in. +His four knees were bent beneath him on the great silver dish; in his +mouth was an apple, and there were wreaths about his neck. + + King Ring, his grey locks flowing, arose and straightway now + The boar's head gently touching, he thus declared his vow: + "I swear to conquer Frithiof, the champion in war, + So help me, Frey and Odin, and likewise mighty Thor." + + Then with a smile defiant uprose the stranger tall + A look of wrath heroic spread o'er his features all-- + He smote with sword the table till through the hall it rang + And up from oaken benches the steel-clad warriors sprang. + + "And now, Sir King, please listen while I my vow shall tell-- + Young Frithiof is my kinsman, and so I know him well; + 'Gainst all the world I'll shield him, I give you here in word, + So help me now my norn, and likewise my good sword!" + + +The king laughed at this bold defiance. "Right daring, methinks your +speech," he said, "but in the Northland palace all fair words are +free." Then turning to the queen he bade her fill a horn of wine, the +very best. "I hope that he'll remain our guest through the winter," he +concluded. + +The queen then took the great goblet and filled it with wine. With +trembling hand she gave it to the guest. He accepted the horn with a +bow of reverence and drank the wine at a draught in honour of the fair +queen who gave it. + +Then the skald, the singer of the royal court, touched the strings of +his harp and sang a song of love and glory. As he sang he moved the +warriors' hearts to pity or roused them to anger and revenge at his +will. Such is the wonderful power of music and poetry. He sang of the +home in Valhal, where brave heroes go after death, and all hearts were +filled with a desire to be brave and noble that they might deserve a +place in heaven when their work on earth was finished. + +So with mirth and song, with stories of the great heroes of their race, +King Ring and his court kept the merry Yule-tide in his castle. + + + + +The Ride on the Ice + +King Ring had set forth a banquet for his queen in a palace far over +the lake. The ice on the lake was glistening in the sun, and the king +ordered his sleigh and his swiftest horse. + +"Do not go on the ice," urged the stranger; "it may break, and the +water below is deep and cold." Then the old king laughed. "A king," +said he, "is not easily drowned. If any one is afraid let him go +round!" + +The scornful laugh of the king angered the bold stranger, and he +frowned. Soon, however, he bound his good skates to his feet. The +servants meantime had brought out the sleigh-horse, strong and free, +and his nostrils flamed as he breathed the bright, cold air. + +"On," cried the king; "on, my brave steed and show if you are of famed +Sleipner's brood!" + +[Illustration: King Ring's Sleigh] + +As swift was his speed as a storm at sea. The queen grew fearful as +the mighty steed flew on, but the king had no fear and paid no heed to +the queen's cries. + +The stranger skated, now fast, now slow, passing Ingeborg and the king +whenever he wished. He made letters and figures on the sparkling ice, +writing often the name of the queen. Onward swiftly they glided across +the lake, but the treacherous ice-maidens were hiding below. Suddenly +they made a hole in the silvery ice and caught the sleigh of the king +with its precious load. The queen turned pale and called for help. +Like a whirlwind came the skater, strong and brave. + +He buried his skate in the ice and clasped the flowing mane of the +steed with a grasp of iron. With one strong swing of his arm he +brought horse and sleigh to the firm ice. + +"Well done!" said King Ring; "that was a noble stroke. Not Frithiof, +the strong, could have done better!" + +Then they all returned to the palace, rejoicing in the safety of the +good king and queen. + + + + +In the Forest + +Through the long winter the stranger remained at the court of the king. +The time passed merrily in skating, sleighing, and in other manly +sports. In the evening all gathered in the great hall and listened to +the songs of the skalds or related the deeds of heroes. + +The coming of spring rejoiced all hearts. The songs of the birds, the +new leaves on the trees, the warmer rays of the sun, all gave joy to +those who had passed through the long cold winter. The ice-bound +rivulets melted and ran merrily to the ocean; the buds began to unfold, +and the earth seemed born anew, filled with love and hope and courage. + +The king had planned a great hunt for the court. Men and women, +courtiers and servants, awaited the signal to start. The steeds +impatiently pawed the ground; the clanging of bows and the rattling of +quivers were heard on every side. The hooded falcons, eager to escape, +uttered wild shrieks that echoed on the hills. At last the queen +appeared, like a star in the spring's clear sky, and the hunting troop +was ready. + +Hark! through hills and valleys sounds the horn! The falcon, loosened, +flies straight up into the heaven's blue, and the wild animals of the +forest fly in terror to their cavern homes. Off rush the hunters on +their eager steeds. The aged king rides no more on the wild hunt, +though in years gone by he was one of the best to follow wild game. +Frithiof is with the king, for he, too, does not wish to join the +hunters. Sad thoughts trouble him, and he wishes he had never left his +beloved boat. On the sea he had no time for brooding over his sad +fate, but here, with the king and Ingeborg, he is always remembering +happier days. + +As the two entered the forest they came upon a lonely place, dark and +restful. Here the king halted and said: "See how lovely, fresh, and +deep is this forest. Here will I rest me, for I desire to sleep." But +Frithiof urged him not to sleep in the dark, damp forest. "Hard and +chilly is the ground, O King! Let me take you back to the palace." + +"Like the other gods, Sleep cometh unexpected," said the king; "and +here will I sleep." + +When Frithiof saw that the king was determined, he took off his mantle +and spread it beneath a tree. The king in trusting friendship leaned +his head against the stranger's knee. Soon he slept as the hero sleeps +after the battle, or as the infant sleeps cradled in its mother's arms. + +As he slumbered, hark! from the branch of a tree a coal-black bird +sings: "Frithiof, now thou mayest slay thine enemy, the old king. +Human eyes do not behold thee!" But a snow-white bird sings: "Though +no human eye behold thee, Odin sees and hears each word. Wouldst thou +be a coward and slay an old man now defenceless and sleeping! The +hero-crown is not won by such a deed." + +So sang the birds. Frithiof, snatching up his battle-blade, flung it +far from him into the gloomy glade. The black bird flew away into the +dark underworld. The snow-white bird, singing sweetly as a harp tone, +mounted towards the sun. + +Suddenly the old man awoke: "Sleep is sweet beneath a tree, guarded by +a brave man's weapon. But where is your sword? What has parted you +who have never before been parted?" + +"It is not hard to find a sword," replied Frithiof. "Sharp is its +tongue, O King, and it never speaks for peace. I think it is haunted +by an evil spirit." + +"I have not slept, O youth, but have been proving you. Man or sword a +wise man testeth ere in them he can confide. You are Frithiof. I have +known it since first you entered my hall," said the old king. "Why did +you enter my home in disguise? Honour, Frithiof, sits not nameless, +the rude guest of hospitality. We had heard of a Frithiof whom both +men and gods revere. Soon, I thought, will he come against my home +with his famous sword, bold and brave. But you came clad in tatters, a +beggar's staff in your hand. + +"But cast not down your eyelids. I have proved you and forgiven. I +have pitied and forgotten. All life is a struggle, hardest in youth. +You are young and I am old. Soon shall I rest in the grave. +Therefore, O youth, take my kingdom and my queen. Be my son and let us +forget our quarrel." + +"I came not as a thief," said Frithiof sadly, "but only to see Ingeborg +for the last time. Too long have I stayed as your guest. The gods +will not forgive me. Balder the Good loves all mankind but me. +Northland has cast me out, and no more shall I seek for peace on the +earth so green and sweet. To ocean's billows will I go, out upon my +good ship far as the stars can guide me and far as the stormy billows +can bear me. + + "Let me hear the rolling thunder, let me hear the lightning's voice; + When it thunders all around me, Frithiof's heart will then rejoice + Clang of shields and rain of arrows! let the sea the battle fill; + Purified, I'll then fall gladly, reconciled to heaven's will." + + + + +King Ring's Death + +On a lovely day in spring when the rays of the sun seemed more golden +than usual, Frithiof entered the hall of King Ring to take leave of his +host. The king and Ingeborg his queen sat upon their chairs of state, +both pale and sad. Frithiof listened to a song of parting recited by +the king's harper. Then he said: "O king! the billows now bathe my +ship, the flying steed, the sea-horse that is longing to leave the +shore. Gladly will they follow him who is fleeing from his +well-beloved land." + +To the queen Frithiof said: "Again I give you this arm-ring, O +Ingeborg! Receive it in memory of our youth, and never let it leave +you. I go, and never will you see me again. No more shall I behold +the smoke rising upward from Northland. For the ocean is my fatherland +and shall be my grave." + +"Well know I that death is nigh," now said King Ring. "All men must +die, and I shall not moan like a coward. No one can by complaining +change what the fates have decreed. But if you will stay, my sorrow +you will lighten. Take my queen, reign over the land and guard the +crown. Long have I reigned in the Northland, loved and respected. +Though I longed for peace, yet have I broken shields in war both by sea +and land without turning pale. Vainly have I sought for peace amid +slaughter. Now the mild daughter of heaven beckons me hence to Valhal. + + "Bring for my drinking + The horn with wine flowing; + Skoal to thy honour, thou land of my birth! + Minds deeply thinking, + Harvest fields growing-- + Peaceful exploits have I loved on the earth." + + +Speaking thus bravely, the king pressed the hand of his queen and of +his son. Frithiof's also he clasped with love. Then, closing his +eyelids gently, the royal spirit of King Ring sank with a sigh to +All-father's breast. + + + + +The New King + +King Ring sits in his barrow, buckler on arm and battle-sword by his +side. His war-horse stands at the cairn pawing the earth and chafing +as though impatient to start on the long journey. + +Thus sang the harper of the departed hero: "Great King Ring has gone on +his last journey. He rides over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that leads +to Valhal. The bridge bends with his weight. Wide open the doors of +Valhal to welcome him, and hands reach out to lead him within the doors. + +"'Odin himself, king of the gods, calls for the beaker to be brought. +Frey wreathes the king's head with garlands of grain ears, and Frigg +places therein the bluest of her blossoms. Broge, the singer of the +gods, tunes his golden harp and sings a song of welcome. Silent is +Valhal as he sings:-- + +"'Dear to us is this hero king, for he held his shield as a shelter for +peace. Always did Forseti, goddess of justice and peace, have an +honoured place in his kingdom. Generous, too, was the king, always +strewing beauty and blessing far and near. To heroes he gave gifts +without measure; sadness he comforted and suffering he relieved. + +"'Welcome, thou wise winner of Valhal! Long will you be loved and +honoured in the Northland. You are loved by the gods, a friend from +the earth.'" + +So sang the harper in the palace of the king whom he loved. + +When the news spread over the country that King Ring was dead, the +peasants and warriors from hill and dale, from meadow and farm, cried: +"We must choose a king to fill his place." + +The peasant took from the wall his steel sword and tried its edge with +his practised finger to prove its sharpness. His boys admired their +father's blade and tried to lift it, but it was too heavy for one, and +two struggled to lift it from the floor. + +The peasant's daughter scoured the helmet to make it clean and bright, +and laughed to see her face shining from the silvery sheen of its +polished surface. + +When the peasant had bound his good sword to his side and put on his +shining helmet, he took his round shield and started with his friends +to the gathering-place. + + Hail! iron man, so strong and sound, + Thou peasant good! + Renown and powers which nations wield + From thee they draw. + In war thou art thy country's shield, + In peace its law. + +With sounding of arms and shields the peasants met under heaven's blue +sky in the fair, pleasant fields. Upon the great stone in the centre +of the assembly stood the noble Frithiof. With him was the little +prince, son of King Ring, a slender, noble lad with long golden hair. +When the men saw the two, there rose the cry on every hand, "Too small +is the king's son to rule our land and to lead our wars. Frithiof +shall be our king!" + +But Frithiof raised up the little boy on his shield and cried: "Ye +Northmen, behold your hope, your king, your joy! From Odin is he +descended, and he is brave at heart, as much at home 'mid shield and +spear as fish are in the sea. + + "I swear my lance and sword to set + Round land and throne, + And with the father's coronet + To crown the son." + +[Illustration: The Boy on the Shield] + +While Frithiof was urging the Northmen to choose the son of Ring for +their King, the boy sat on the high shield as if it were a throne. No +fear had he, but he faced them all as the eaglet faces the sun. At +last he grew impatient and leaped to the ground; fearless and proud he +stood, like the royal prince he was. + +Then all rejoiced at his courage: "We of the north, we choose thee, +thou shield-borne youth, to be our king. Be like thy father, brave and +good. For Frithiof, thy loyal friend, he shall be thy guardian and +guide thy youth. You, Frithiof, shall marry the queen. We give her to +you for your bride." + +But Frithiof frowned and said: "To-day you are here to make choice of +your king,--not of my bride. To the temple of Balder I must go to +repair the wrong I have done, if perchance I can do this. + + "Against me Balder's anger sore + Doth still abide; + He took, he only can restore + My cherished bride." + + +Then Frithiof kissed the youthful monarch on the brow in farewell, and, +turning from the assembly, he silently and slowly passed from view. + + + + +Frithiof at his Father's Grave + +From the home of King Ring Frithiof fared to seek his father's grave in +his own loved land. As he neared the shore, he looked upon it with +joy. How brightly the sun shone, smiling like a friend as its soft +rays touched the branches of the forest! The dewdrops reflected the +light as perfectly as the great ocean. The mountains were aglow with +crimson light as the sun slowly sank in the west. + +On every side Frithiof saw the well-known places he loved as a child. +The same sweet beauty graced the valleys, the same birds were filling +the woods with song. He visited the stream in which he strove as a +swimmer bold, and he found the birch trees with their white bark, on +which he had carved his name so long ago. + +All seemed unchanged. But when he looked for Framness, that royal home +of his father, he found it not. And Balder's shrine was gone; both +destroyed by fire and sword. No more the pious pilgrim came to +Balder's grove, for wild beasts roamed where once the sacred temple +stood. Although Frithiof had suffered so long, his grief was even +stronger than before, when he saw the ruined temple. He repaired next +day to the grave of his father, the brave Thorsten, where he prayed to +the gods:-- + +"Is there no way by which I may obtain pardon for my offence? Will the +blue-eyed god, kind Balder, refuse forgiveness when man pardons man who +asks for pardon? Command any sacrifice and I will perform it. No evil +will had I in the burning of thy shrine. Tis the only stain upon my +shield. I pray thee, remove it and make my shield spotless. Cannot an +upright life repair a moment's fault? + +"Here is my father's grave. He has gone where there are no tears, and +he rejoices in the company of noble heroes. O father, hear my prayer! +Not for renown in war I pray, but for forgiveness. Take my plea to +heaven. No rest have noble minds if unforgiven. Will you not send me +some message, some token, some sign that you hear and answer my prayer? +The waves are resounding on the shore; can you not speak through them? +The storm flies by, bounding on swift pinions; will you not whisper to +me in the storm?--No answer?" + +As Frithiof prayed, the storm passed by. The sun sank in golden +splendour. Over hill and dale the glowing clouds floated in many +lovely circles. Then came a wondrous vision to his longing eyes. In +the clouds appeared a temple of gold surrounded by groves of emerald +trees. The gold and marble gleamed with divine lustre never seen by +man. Slowly it sank to earth but did not disappear. It stood in +beauty where before the temple of Balder had stood. Its broad walls +were of silver, and each pillar seemed cut of deep blue steel. The +altar was carved of a single precious stone. The ceiling seemed like +the blue sky with twinkling golden stars, and there sat the gods of +Valhal in all their splendour. + +Frithiof gazed in wonder and in praise. "Now I know your answer, my +father. I will build a new shrine to Balder the Good, more glorious +than the one destroyed by fire. How glad I am to atone for my warlike +act by peaceful deeds! The gods will pardon those who sue meekly for +forgiveness. Now with joy can I look at the stars and welcome the +Northern Lights. To-night I shall sleep upon my shield and dream how +heaven forgets the faults its mercy hath forgiven." + + + + +The Reconciliation + +After seeing this vision of the lovely temple, Frithiof, greatly +cheered, worked long to build one as beautiful as his vision. At last +it was finished, a noble work. It stood high up on the mountain cliff, +and its image was mirrored in the ocean beneath. About this glorious +temple stretched a grove of noble trees, their branches green against +the sky. Here could be heard the songs of birds, but no sound of +discord. All was harmony. + +As Frithiof stood admiring the temple, he saw twelve virgins clad in +silver gauze, with roses in their hair, enter the temple and approach +the altar of Balder. About the altar they danced lightly as breezes +about a fountain, or elves amid the waving grass while dewdrops glisten +there. As Frithiof looked, all hate and vengeance faded from his heart +as ice melts from the cliff before the sun of springtime. All was +quiet,--peace and joy seemed to possess his soul. He felt love for all +nature and longed to be at peace with all God's creatures. + +Then came into the temple the most high priest of Balder. Kind was his +face, and Frithiof reverenced the noble man of peace. "Son Frithiof, +welcome to this grove and temple. I have long expected thee. Weary +with travel and longing for home, the strong man at last returns from +his wanderings. + +"Dost thou remember when thy heart was joyous as the birds are when +summer night winds gently rock the fragrant blossoms? Then Balder was +growing in thy pure soul. But always with the good Balder there grows +up in every human soul his brother Hoder, the evil one, the child of +night. + +"No one can suffer for thy sins,--no one can atone for the living but +themselves. One offering canst thou give, more dear to the gods than +the smoke of victims. This is the sacrifice of thine own vengeance, +the hate in thy untamed heart. + +"Canst thou not forgive, O youth? Be reconciled with thyself and thy +foes, and then will Balder be reconciled with thee. + +"Thou hatest Bele's sons because pride of birth was theirs and they +would not give thee Ingeborg, their sister. Strange it is but true, +that no one is proud of his own merit, but only of his fortune. Art +thou not proud of thy heroic deeds, of thy great strength? But who +gave thee this strength? Is it thy merit or Odin's gift? Censure not +another's pride, lest thine own be condemned. King Helge now is +fallen." + +"Fallen!" exclaimed Frithiof; "King Helge is fallen?" + +"Yes, my Frithiof. Thou must know that while thou wert building this +temple, Helge was far away, marching among the Finnish mountains. On a +lonely crag of the mountains was an ancient shrine. He wished to +enter, but the gate was closed and the key fast in the lock. Helge was +angry, and, grasping the doorposts, he shook them with all his might. +All at once with horrid crash the rotten pillars gave way, and a great +image standing on the doorposts fell upon him, and crushed him to +earth. Thus he died. + +"Now Halfdan sits alone upon the throne of his father. To him offer +thy hand. The god Balder demands this offering. If thou refuse, in +vain has this temple been built, and vain are thy prayers for +forgiveness." + +[Illustration: INGEBORG GIVEN TO FRITHIOF] + +As the noble priest thus advised, King Halfdan entered the temple, but +stood apart in silence. Frithiof at once loosed his breast-plate and +placed the bright shield against the altar. To Halfdan he offered his +hand, saying, "In such a strife the noblest first offers his hand for +peace." King Halfdan met his friend half-way, and their hands, long +separated, met in a strong clasp. + +Then the priest in solemn voice proclaimed Frithiof forgiven for his +crime against Balder, the loving god, and purified from his guilt. + +Scarce had the words been spoken when Ingeborg entered, attired in +bridal robes and mantle of ermine. She walked among her maids as the +moon glides in the heavenly azure attended by the radiant stars. With +tears in her lovely eyes she turned to her brother; but Halfdan clasped +her hand in Frithiof's, and thus gave his sister, the fair Ingeborg, to +the friend of their childhood, her best beloved, the noble Frithiof. + + + + +THE STORY OF BEOWULF + + +The Coming of Sheaf + +Once upon a time, many, many years ago, a boat came sailing over the +sea to Denmark. In it were shields and rings of gold, banners of +bright colours, bracelets, drinking-cups, and helmets. With sails +gaily spread the breezes bore the boat gently over the deep blue sea. +No sailor was seen at the oars. + +"What can it be?" cried the people as they came to the shore, +wondering; "is it a ship of earth, or have the gods sent it?" They +asked one another many questions, but knew not what to think. + +Nearer and nearer came the beautiful boat; bright shone the coloured +sails and golden armour. Many were the treasures borne therein, but +loveliest and most precious was--a little baby boy! He smiled at the +man who found him, and lifted up his tiny hands as if asking to be +taken. + +"A prince!" cried the people; "we have found our prince! The gods have +sent us a king to rule over us and to conquer our enemies." For at +that time the Danes had no king, and were glad to see the beautiful +child who so strangely came to their shores. + +The ship with all its treasures was carefully guarded, and the boy, who +was called Sheaf, was brought up as a prince. In due time he became +king and fought many battles and won many victories over the robbers on +land and sea. Over many noble thanes did Sheaf, the king, rule; all +obeyed him and paid tribute to him. + +Nor did God withhold from him a son to comfort the people. The boy was +strong and handsome and gave great joy to the heart of his father. +Over many lands shone the glory of the young prince. So shall a young +hero act that when he is old all his friends shall praise him. He +shall fight for his people and by praiseworthy deeds shall he flourish. + +Now when the time came for Sheaf to die, he asked his companions to +bear him to the shore. There stood the brave ship with gleaming prow +and widespread sails, eager to go. Sad and yet glad at heart were the +heroes who bore the king to the death-boat--glad to honour a brave +king, and sad that he must leave them. + +On the king's bosom they placed treasures of gold and silver; rings, +shining stones, cloth of gold, shields, and drinking-cups. Indeed, he +took away treasures as many as he brought with him when, years before, +he had come, a tiny child, to the country of the Danes. Out into the +mist sailed the proud ship with its precious load never to return. No +man saw it again, and whither it went none can tell. + + + + +The Young Beowulf + +The sons and grandsons of the great Sheaf ruled the country of the +Danes until the time of Hrothgar. Hrothgar was king of the Danes when +Beowulf, the hero of our story, was a prince in the country of the +Goths. + +The young Beowulf grew up in the court of his uncle, Hygelac, king of +the Goths. Fond of all games and manly sports was he, and he learned +to throw the heavy hammer, to shoot, to row, to swim, and to ride. +Running, wrestling, and hunting were daily exercises of the young men, +and Beowulf could excel them all in every trial of skill. Soon the men +at court called Beowulf their leader, and they loved and honoured him. + +Although Beowulf had won many victories at home, and his people knew +him to be brave and strong, yet he longed to do some great deed which +should make his name known over other lands. The time came when he had +his wish and when all his strength and courage were tested. For a +harper from the land of the Danes came to the court of Hygelac and told +a sad story. + + + + +The Harper's Story + +"In the land of the Danes lives Hrothgar, a great and wise king; but +sadness clouds his brow and tears dim his eyes. Years ago all was joy +and glory. Hrothgar had conquered all his foes and made them friends. +Much wealth had he added to his country's treasures, and many warriors +gathered round him, glad to hail him leader and king. + +"Hrothgar loved peace more than war and was glad when the earls were +his friends, and he said: 'I will build a great hall, a house of joy +for all my friends. This shall be larger than any hall earth has seen. +Here I will bring all my war treasures. The walls shall be hung with +banners of bright colours and decked with shields and swords. Tables +shall be spread and guests shall always be welcomed.' + +"The great king spoke, and many workmen gathered to build the hall. +Large and strong it rose, a wonder for all the people. The king named +the hall Heorot, and here was every one made welcome. The mead-cup was +passed, the king gave presents of shining rings, and joy and laughter +filled the hall. + +"Gleemen sang of the goodness of the king, the beauty and grace of the +queen, and the bravery of the Danes. One singer told of the beginning +of all things; how the All-Father wrought the earth, the beautiful +plain, which the water embraces. He sang of how God placed the sun and +moon in the heavens for light to dwellers on the land; how he adorned +the earth with grass and leaves and made all creatures that go quickly +to and fro. + +"But alas! now all this joy is changed to sorrow. No longer does the +gleeman strike the harp and fill the hall with music. No merry laugh +is heard, but all is dark and still. King Hrothgar sits upon his +kingly seat, silent and sad. + +"You marvel what can bring grief to the great king and his merry +thanes? In all the broad lands there is but one who does not wish long +life and joy to the king. This is Grendel. No man is he, but a +monster whose heart is filled with wickedness. Laughter and happiness +are strangers to him, and he hates all beauty and goodness. + +"Far in a lake, dark, poisonous, and surrounded by a marsh, does +Grendel live. When he heard the songs and sounds of joy in the great +hall, he smiled grimly to think how he would turn their joy to gloom, +their songs to groans. So, in the darkness, from his horrid home the +monster crept up to the wondrous hall. There slept the warriors, +little dreaming of evil. A score and ten the monster slew, then strode +away, howling defiance to the king. + +"When the sleeping thanes awoke and found their comrades slain, sad +were they all at heart. Night after night the monster came and slew, +and fear seized every heart. In all homes were cries of grief for the +dead, and men knew not where to go for safety. + +"This is the woe of the Danes, for none can battle with a monster of +the deep. No one has ever seen this ugly shape, for he comes always in +the darkness and when no one looks for him. Everywhere has the great +king sought help, but none can be found. Hrothgar sits weeping for his +brave comrades in the hall he built for their comfort and joy." + + + + +Beowulf and his Men + +When the harper had ceased, the hall was still. All voices were hushed +for they grieved at the sorrow of the good Hrothgar. Then the brave +Beowulf cried out: "Give me leave, O king! Let me go to Hrothgar and +free his land from this monster so wicked and fearsome." The other +thanes applauded his words and cried: "Take us with you!" + +But Hygelac, the great king, said wisely: "Brave men go to war with +care and after deep thought. Not easy is the way over the sea; not +easy is the contest with the evil Grendel. But to fight for a good +cause and to nobly win or nobly die is the best a man can do. Proud is +my heart when I see so many brave men ready to overcome the evil +monster or to die fighting, but all may not venture. Go, my cousin and +my thane," he said to Beowulf, "and make thy name famous in all places +where honour is loved." + +[Illustration: THE DEPARTURE OF BEOWULF] + +Beowulf thanked his king and chose fourteen of his bravest warriors to +go with him. They prepared the strong ship and found a pilot who knew +the road the swans take, and who could safely guide the boat. The +warriors made their weapons bright and carried them to the ship. The +men shoved the boat from the shore. The sails were raised, and, driven +by the wind, the boat flew over the foamy waves. + +On the second day the voyagers saw the shining ocean-shore. The +sea-farer was at the end of the watery way. Quickly the men stepped +out upon the plain. They tied the sea-wood, shook their shirts of +mail, and thanked God that to them the wave paths had been easy. + + + + +The Warder of the Shore + +A warder of Hrothgar, guarding the seashore, saw these warlike men and +wondered why they came. Shaking his spear, he cried: "Who are you? +Why come you over the seas in a giant ship, bearing arms into our land? +Haste to make known whence is your coming!" + +Then Beowulf answered: "We are of the Goths; Hygelac is our king. My +father was a noble chief. All wise men through the earth remember him. +We have come in kindness to your lord and to defend him. For we have +heard that a foul fiend spreads terror through your land and in the +darkness slays your thanes. We would overcome this foe to joy." + +[Illustration: THE LANDING OF BEOWULF IN HROTHGAR'S REALM] + +Then the warder spake: "A warrior wise should know the difference +between words and works. But I perceive that you are a friendly band. +I will bid my fellows guard your ship against every foe, and then I +will direct you." So with their guide the warlike men hastened until +they saw the shining roof of the great hall. Their ringed armour rang +as they walked. + +At last the warriors came to the entrance of the hall. Here, on a +bench, they sat until some one should bid them welcome. + +Soon came the warder of the hall, a princely chief. "Whence bear you +the stout spears and war-shields? Great men and proud you seem, and +methinks you plan great deeds." + +Then the proud lord, the leader, spoke: "Beowulf is my name. I will +relate my errand to your prince if he will grant that we may greet him." + +Replied the Dane: "I will seek the king and tell him of your coming." +Quickly he came to Hrothgar, sitting with his wise men, and told him of +the strangers, praising the hardy warriors. Kindly spoke the king: +"Glad am I that Beowulf and his brave Goths have come thus to our +shores. For I have heard he has the strength of thirty in his +hand-grip. Him God in his great mercy has sent to us. Hasten, bid +them come in! Tell them that they are welcome guests to the Danes." + + + + +Beowulf received by Hrothgar + +When the king's message had been told, Beowulf and all his men entered +the hall. Proud and warlike he stood before the king. "Hrothgar, +hail! Kinsman to Hygelac am I and daring deeds have I done. Now I +have heard that this brave hall of yours stands empty and silent when +night shuts out the day, because of Grendel's warfare. So I have come +with my good friends to help you. Deny me not one prayer: that I alone +with my brave thanes fight with Grendel. This monster fights not with +weapons, I have heard. Then I also will bear neither sword nor shield, +but with my strong hands will I seize him. If Grendel conquers me in +the battle, he will carry me off; so no care need you take of my body, +but send to Hygelac my armour." + +At the brave, strong words of the young Beowulf the heart of the old +king rejoiced. "I welcome you to my home. Come, now, let us sit at +the feast and listen to the songs of brave deeds," said the king. Then +the mead-cup was passed, the gleeman sang, and there was joy in the +hall. + +One man in the hall did not rejoice; there was envy in his heart, for +he did not wish any other man on earth to have more glory than himself. +So he said: "Are you the Beowulf who strove with Breca in the wide sea +in swimming? For seven nights you strove, but he had more strength and +overcame you in the race. Surely if you dare to fight with Grendel, +worse things will befall you." + +Then spoke Beowulf: "Much do you speak of Breca. Now I speak the +truth. More strength on the sea have I than any other man. Five days +were we together. Then the cold winds and waves drove us apart. Many +a water monster tried to kill me, but sank to the bottom of the sea +with a blow from my powerful hands. Nine of these water nixies I +killed. I have never heard of a harder fight, yet from all these +dangers I escaped. I have never been told that you have gone through +such terrible fights. Although your wit be good, I must say in truth +that never had so many princes of Hrothgar's court fallen under +Grendel's stroke, if your courage were as fierce as your tongue. +Grendel fears not the Danes, but kills for pleasure. Now a Goth shall +offer him toil and battle. Afterwards, all who wish may go to the +mead-hall and rejoice." + +All the Danes applauded Beowulf's bold words, for they did not like the +jealous prince who had taunted him. The queen, lovely and gracious, +bore the mead-cup to the king, and then to their guest. In kind words +she greeted him: "Glad am I and grateful to God that I may trust in you +for comfort against our sorrow." + +Then replied Beowulf, for battle eager: "I alone shall work your +people's safety or bow in death. I shall perform deeds of noble valour +or my last day in this mead-hall await." + +These words pleased both Goths and Danes, and applause filled the hall. +When darkness came on, the company arose and greeted one another. +Hrothgar to Beowulf said: "Never before, since I could raise hand to +shield, have I given to any man the Dane's festive hall to guard save +now to thee. Have now and hold the best of houses; keep watch against +our foe. All things shall be yours if you escape with life from the +battle of this night." + + + + +The Contest with Grendel + +Hrothgar then departed with all his warriors. And Beowulf spoke to his +men: "I do not think myself less in warlike strength than Grendel; so I +will not use the sword or shield, but we two shall fight to-night +without weapons, and God shall give the glory to whom glory belongs." + +Around him lay the warriors, sadly thinking they would never see their +homes across the sea again, for so many before that night had been +slain by the cruel Grendel. At last they slept, all but one. The +mighty Beowulf in angry mood awaited the battle. + +Now truly it is shown that mighty God rules the race of men. Over the +moor came the shadow-walker stalking. He strode under the clouds until +he saw the golden hall of men. This was not the first time he had come +to the hall of Hrothgar. On the door he rushed. He opened the wide +mouth and trod on the floor. When he saw the men sleeping on the +benches he laughed, thinking how he would take life from the body of +every one there. + +The shadowy form came nearer and nearer. At last he stretched out his +great hand to take Beowulf, but with all his strength the brave warrior +seized the arm of the monster. Then did the heart of Grendel fill with +fear. Fearful was his mind, but not for that could he escape the +sooner. + +Then stood Beowulf upright and firmly grasped Grendel. Very angry were +both. The wonder was that the great hall did not fall to the ground. +But it was made fast within and without with iron bands, and naught but +fire could destroy it. Then the noise grew greater. The Danes who had +heard it were terrified; never had such horrid noise filled the air, +for Beowulf, the strongest of men, held Grendel fast. Not for anything +would he let the dreadful one escape that day. + +The warriors sought to help their leader, but he would not use any +weapon. With his hands, with his bare hands, he held fast the fearful +foe. On the shoulder of Grendel was a horrid wound, and Beowulf tore +the arm from the body. Well knew the monster then that his life's end +had come. + +Glad was Beowulf that his strength had aided the Danes, had freed the +great hall, and had healed the deep sorrow which had been theirs for so +many years. + + + + +The Feast of Joy + +There was in the morning many a warrior in the gift hall. From far and +near over distant ways they came to behold the wonder, the arm of +Grendel the joy-killer. Away to the dark water, his home, had he gone +with his death-wound. + +All the warriors rode in gladness to the great hall. There was told +the bravery of Beowulf. No other was so great, so worthy of honour, as +he. Hrothgar, also, they praised as a good king and famous in war. + +All the Danes and the Goths were happy that the terror of the land had +been destroyed. Care was removed from their hearts. They were filled +with joy and turned to games and sports. Some let their beautiful +horses run in contest over the fair roads. Some who knew the famous +stories of heroes told them to eager listeners. Laughter, song, and +merry voices were heard once more in the hall. Soon one of the singers +began a song in honour of this new deed, the victory of Beowulf. + +Then over the meadow came the great king with many knights famed for +their brave deeds. With them also walked the fair queen and a company +of maidens. + +When Hrothgar entered the gold-crowned hall and saw the great hand and +arm of Grendel, he said: "Now let us give to the All-Father thanks! +Wonder after wonder can God work. This one brave warrior has, through +God's might, performed a deed which the Danes could not. Happy is the +mother of such a son! Now, Beowulf, as a dear son will I hold you in +my heart. Nothing shall you want which I have power to give you. You +have done a deed which will make your glory live through every age." + +Then replied Beowulf; "With great good-will we fought the fight. I +seized the enemy quickly with hard hands and hoped to lay him on his +death-bed. But I have his hand and arm, and he will surely die, for +pain has him in its deadly grip." + +Hrothgar now gave the order that the hall should be adorned for the +feast of joy. Men and women worked to make all clean and whole. +Beautiful banners, a wonder to all who beheld them, decked the walls. + +When all was ready, the king himself came to the feast in honour of +Beowulf. Never had a larger or a nobler company sat in the gift hall. +Merry at heart were they all, and they had a merry feast. + +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf a golden banner in reward of victory; a +sword, a cup, and a helmet he gave, four beautiful and wonderful gifts. +These were most precious gifts, of which Beowulf need not be ashamed. + +Then Hrothgar, the shield of warriors, eight warlike steeds brought +into the hall as gifts to Beowulf. On one of the horses was the +war-seat the king himself used when going to battle. So with steeds +and treasures did the king of the Danes reward the brave prince. + +To every man with the hero did the king give a precious gift. Then the +song of praise was heard. "The wise God rules all, therefore is +understanding everywhere best; wise forethought is best." + +When the song was ended, the queen took the mead-cup to the king, +saying: "Accept this cup, my beloved lord; be thou happy, good friend +of men, and to the Goths speak with kind words as one should do. Be +cheerful to thy guests and mindful of gifts. The bright hall is made +safe; be happy with thy sons and friends." + +Then the gracious queen said to Beowulf: "Receive as a gift this +collar, dear prince. Thou hast done that which men will praise +throughout all time. Be noble and happy! Be brave and gentle in +deeds. Here in this hall is every man to each other true and to his +lord faithful. The thanes unite to praise thee!" + +Then the queen went to her seat, and all the court united in praise of +Beowulf, who had driven Grendel from the great hall. + +After the merry feast, all left the hall except a few warriors who +slept rejoicing, thinking all their warfare was over. + + + + +Grendel's Mother + +But Grendel's mother did not close her eyes in sleep. When her son +came home with his death-blow, great was the sorrow and anger in her +heart. She would punish the Danes and the Goths for her son's death. +In the middle of the night she crept to the hall where the Danes were +sleeping, free from all fear. One she seized,--a brave man and dear to +the king. Then rose a great cry in the hall when Grendel's mother saw +her son's well-known hand and arm. She seized it and bore it away to +the dark lake, together with the body of the warrior. + +Soon Hrothgar was told of the fresh calamity, and he grieved at the +death of his friend, the brave warrior whom Grendel's mother had taken +away. + +When Beowulf came to the hall, Hrothgar cried out: "Speak not to me of +rest or joy! Sorrow has come again. My best friend in war and peace +is dead! The dread monster has killed him. Two shadows on the moor +have my men seen; one, Grendel, is the figure of a man, and the other +is like a woman. They dwell in the secret land where the wolf howls +and the winds sweep; where the flood flows under the earth. About a +mile away is this lake over which the dark trees bend. Every night can +fire be seen over this waste of water. No one knows how deep the lake +is. The noisy winds raise the black waves until the air grows gloomy +and the heavens shed tears. You know not this dreadful place. If you +dare seek it and come back from the strife, I will give you money and +treasures of gold." + + + + +The Way to the Pool + +Then the brave Beowulf replied: "Better is it for every one to avenge +his friend than that he greatly mourn. Each of us must await the end +of his life. Let them who can, work high deeds of honour. Let us go +quickly to seek Grendel's mother. I promise you she shall not escape; +neither in the sea nor in the bosom of the earth, in the mountain wood +nor in the ocean's ground." + +Then was the heart of the old king glad to hear these brave words. +Horses were brought out and troops of men set forth towards the home of +the dreadful shadows. The road was narrow and dark, an unknown way. +Soon they saw the mountain-trees leaning over the rock, a joyous wood. +The water below was dark and gloomy. Many strange creatures could be +seen moving in the deep pool. + +Now Beowulf clad himself in his war-gear. The coat of rings was about +his breast so that no grip could injure his life. On his head he wore +a bright helmet wrought with strength so that no battle-axe could break +it. Then a prince of Hrothgar gave him a famous sword named Hrunting. +This was one of the old treasures. Never in battle had it failed those +who dared to go in ways of terror. This was not the first time that it +had done brave deeds. + +Then said Beowulf: "Now, O king, I am ready for my journey. Bear in +mind what you have said--if I for your need should lose my life, that +you would be to me as a father. If, then, war takes me off, be a +friend to my comrades. Send to Hygelac the treasures you have given to +me, so that he may know that I found a good king in you. Now with the +good sword Hrunting will I seek out the foe." + +With these words Beowulf leaped into the lake. + + + + +Beowulf in the Pool + +All that day he sank into the water before he beheld the ground-bed of +the pool. Then he saw the fierce creature who for a hundred years had +held the floods. Eagerly she seized him and bore him to her dwelling. +Many a sea-monster broke through his warlike coat. At last the warrior +found himself in a great room where the waters did not enter. Then a +fierce light shone brightly upon him, and by its gleam he saw the +sea-wolf. With a loud cry he struck her with his good broad sword, but +it would not bite or injure her. This was the first time its power had +failed. Beowulf remembered his former deeds of bravery and threw down +his useless sword to use the strength of his hands alone. He seized +the sea-creature and made her bow to the earth, but fiercely she +grasped the brave warrior and overthrew him so that he was like to +perish. + +Him she would have slain, but his good coat withstood her sword. The +Ruler of the Skies was his friend, for on the wall was a great sword so +heavy that other men could not use it. This sword Beowulf seized +gladly. Angrily he struck the sea-wolf, and the sword passed through +her neck. Down on the ground she sank. The warrior rejoiced in his +work. He looked through the great dwelling and saw Grendel lying +lifeless. With a strong blow Beowulf cut off the head of the monster, +but the hot blood melted the sword and nothing was left but the hilt. +The blade melted away as ice melts when the Father, who has power over +the seasons, unbinds the bands of the frost-king. + +The men at the shore, watching, saw the water all coloured with blood, +and feared their great leader was dead. The king and noble Danes spoke +of the brave hero with praise and sorrow. When noon came, they went +back to the great hall sadly, thinking Beowulf the daring had been +slain by the fearful monster. + + + + +Beowulf's Return + +But the Goths stayed by the shore, though little hoping to see their +dear lord again. But soon the water cleared and they saw their brave +leader swimming toward them with the head of Grendel and the hilt of +the great sword. Then they went to him, thanking God. The stout band +of thanes rejoiced that their lord had returned. Forth they went on +the narrow road, rejoicing. Four of the strong men bore the heavy head +of Grendel. Beowulf proudly led his brave men. The prince of the +thanes entered the great hall, with glory crowned, to greet Hrothgar. +The warriors bore the great head of Grendel into the hall before the +king and his men. + +"Behold, O king!" said Beowulf, "the head of the sea-monster! I hardly +with life came from the battle under the water. Had not God helped me, +I had not conquered. The good sword Hrunting could not harm my foe, +but the Ruler of men guided me to see on the wall an old strong sword, +and with it I slew her. Then I cut off the head of the monster +Grendel. In his hot blood was the good sword melted, and I brought +only the hilt away. I now promise thee that in Heorot all may sleep +safe from harm, for I have slain thy foes, Grendel and his mother, and +have given peace to thy land and people." + +Then did Beowulf give the sword-hilt to Hrothgar. The good king said: +"Thy glory is exalted, friend Beowulf, over every nation. Long shall +thou be a comfort to thy people and a help to the warriors. Now is the +flower of thy might. Long may it be before thy strength departs in +fire's clutch, or rage of flood, or arrow's flight, or age or blindness +takes thee. Go now to thy seat at the feast as a guest of honour." + + + + +Hrothgar honours Beowulf + +Then Beowulf went to the seat of honour in great joy, and all were +merry. The helm of night grew dark; the warriors left their seats. +They greeted Beowulf and wished him well to rest. In the gold-roofed +hall well slept the prince until the black raven saw the coming of the +bright sun. At the first light the Goths hastened to the good ship, +eager to be gone to their homes. + +When all were ready, Beowulf said: "O king, we seafarers wish to seek +our homes. Here have we been kindly treated. If there is more that I +can do, O lord of men, I shall always be ready. If when far away I +hear that foes surround thee, I shall come to help thee with many +warriors. Well I know that my king, Hygelac, will send me to thy aid." + +Then Hrothgar spoke: "Into thy mind has the wise God sent these kind +words. Never have I heard wiser words from one so young. Thou art +strong and wise, and I think that if death should take Hygelac, the +people would wish thee for their king. So well hast thou borne thyself +that there shall be peace between the Danes and Goths, and many a gift +I shall send to thee over the great sea." + +Then Hrothgar gave to Beowulf rich gifts and bade him seek his home in +safety. The good king wept when he said good-bye, for he loved the +noble youth and was sad to have him go away over the deep sea. + +Beowulf was glad and proud of the king's praise. He set sail from the +land of Hrothgar, and often he and his men admired the rich gifts of +the great and good king. + + + + +Beowulf and Hygelac + +Over ocean-stream went the brave youths and soon saw the shores of the +Goths, their homeland. Beowulf and his men brought the ship high up on +the shore lest the billow's force might wreck it. Then Beowulf ordered +them to carry the noble gifts of Hrothgar. Near the sea-wall was the +home of Hygelac. The bright sun, the candle of the world, was shining +when the brave Beowulf and his men went to greet their king. Hygelac +was glad to see their safe returning, and said: "Tell me, friend +Beowulf, how the Danes treated you. Long have I feared for you, +knowing you would meet Grendel, the deadly foe of men." + +Beowulf answered: "Right well did Hrothgar greet me and gave me a seat +in his hall next his own son. All the people were gay, and never have +I seen a grander hall or greater cheer. Oft the sweet queen left her +seat and spoke to the young warriors, giving one and another a wreath. +Oft their young daughter bore the mead-cup to her father's friends. + +"So all the day we spent in song and story. At night the beast Grendel +came. First he seized and slew one of my kindred, and then sought me. +But I seized his right hand and would not let go my hold. Long we +fought, and at last he fled, in the night, to his home in the black +waters. But his hand and arm were torn from him, and from this wound +he died. + +"Much praise and many gifts I had from the old king, when he learned +that the cruel Grendel must die. But the next night Grendel's mother +crept up to the hall and seized one of the king's good friends. Sad +were we all when morning came. The king with tears begged me to hunt +out the wicked creature, and I plunged into the dark waters. Fierce +was the fight, but at last I won, and never will Hrothgar's hall be sad +again at the loss of brave warriors. + +"Then Hrothgar gave me rich gifts which I bring to you, my king. With +gladness I bring them, for because of you are my pleasures long." + +As Beowulf spoke, his men brought in the banner, the shield, the +battle-sword, and the helmet. They also brought four fiery steeds with +rich trappings, fit for a king. All these did Beowulf give to his +friend, the king Hygelac. To the queen he gave the lovely collar +Hrothgar's queen had given to him, beautiful and rare with jewels. He +also gave her three black horses with saddles bright. + +[Illustration: BEOWULF PRESENTING HIS GIFTS TO HYGELAC] + +The king and queen rejoiced in the precious gifts and in the love of +this brave warrior. To Beowulf the king gave a sword of wonder, the +best treasure he had, adorned with gold. Also he gave him many, many +rings of gold and a beautiful palace. + +So there was love between the king and the brave hero. + + + + +The Dragon of the Mountain + +After many years, when the king and his son had perished in the wars, +the Goths chose Beowulf for their king. No better king could they +have, and for many years he ruled over them. He was a wise king and +brave. The people loved him much. + +Then a strange story came to his ears: that far away in a dark cave +lived a terrible dragon. The way to his lair was rough and steep. In +this cave was much treasure, and the dragon was guarding it. + +Many men had gathered the treasures in this cave. Swords, helmets, and +shields, and rings were hidden there in time of war, so that the enemy +could not find them. For many years these treasures were collecting +there. At last a dragon came, a fierce creature, and for three hundred +winters he had kept watch with his fiery eyes. + +At last a man found the cave filled with the treasures. The dragon was +asleep, so the man took a golden cup and bore it home to his lord. +Thus the secret of the hoard became known. + +When the fearful dragon awoke and found that one of his treasures had +been taken, he was very angry. Fire came from his nostrils and from +his wicked mouth. He would find the man who had done this thing. + +Then the dragon began to burn all the houses round. Nothing living was +left. Ruin and death were in his path. Then he darted back to the +dark cave. He trusted in its darkness, but in vain. + + + + +Beowulf goes against the Dragon + +When Beowulf heard that his men were driven from their burning homes, +his heart was hot with anger. He ordered a war-board of iron made, for +well he knew that forest-wood could not help him against fire. All the +foes of the kingdom Beowulf had turned to friends, and for many years +had ruled the Goths in peace and joy. But now he must go against the +fearful dragon who was guarding the hoard of treasures. + +The man who had taken the cup showed them the path, for he alone knew +the way. When they came to the mound near the great sea-waves, Beowulf +said farewell to his warriors. For him alone was the fight with the +enemy of his people, the fire-breathing dragon. + +[Illustration: THE DRAGON] + +Sad was the hero at heart, for he knew this was his last fight. "I +have dared many battles in my youth, and I will now, as safe guardian +of my people, seek out this wicked creature in his earth-hall." + +Beowulf then greeted each of his men, saying: "I would not bear a +weapon against this dragon, but would fight him as I did Grendel, only +I must expect hot fire. Await me near this mound. This is a battle +for me, not for you or for any other man. I shall obtain the gold, or +war shall conquer me, your lord." + +Then the bold king, trusting in his good sword, went forth to battle, +with his helmet and his shield. When he came to the mound by the sea +he saw an arch of stone, and a stream flowing from the mound. The +water was boiling hot and he could not get near the hoard unburned. +Then the brave war-lord shouted to the dragon. First came forth from +the mountain the hot breath of the dreadful monster. The earth shook +and flames burst forth. The good king drew his sword and waited. When +the dragon came, Beowulf strode at it with his sword, and fierce was +the conflict. The hero knew that he would fall in the battle, but he +would kill the dragon first. It is a brave man who enters such a +deadly contest. + +Beowulf's men had sought safety, but one of them felt that he must help +his lord in this hour of deadly battle. He said: "Now Beowulf, our +great lord, has need of us. Although he is the greatest of warriors +and wishes to do this brave deed alone, yet he has need of our swords! +Let us help our warlike leader. For me, I well know that Beowulf shall +not fall alone." + + + + +Wiglaf aids his King + +Then the noble Wiglaf went to his lord and said: "Dear Beowulf, once +did you say that never would your greatness sink. But in this great +deed I shall help." + +After these words the dragon came forth in great anger. The fiery +flames burned the broad wooden shield of Wiglaf. Then the young, brave +hero fought from behind the great iron shield of his leader, Beowulf. +Now this warlike king called to mind the glorious deeds of his youth. +With all his strength he struck with his sword, but it broke in his +hand. Then rushed out for the third time the deadly dragon and wound +himself about his kingly foe. + +To help the king in his great need did Wiglaf strike the dreadful foe. +The king drew his deadly knife and together they destroyed the fiery +creature. Then both rejoiced. + +But now the wound in the breast of Beowulf began to burn. Wiglaf +brought water to help the king. Then Beowulf spoke: "My joy in earth +has gone. I have ruled this people fifty winters. All kings are my +friends. Never have I spoken falsely, and for this I have joy to-day. +Go quickly, dear Wiglaf, and find the treasures guarded by the great +dragon, that I may behold all the jewels, the precious gems for which +we fought." + +Many wonders did Wiglaf find and bring to the eyes of his dying king: +jewels, helmets, rings, shields, swords rich with gold and jewels. +Most beautiful was a banner of cloth of gold so bright that it made the +dark cave light. + + + + +The Death of Beowulf + +When Beowulf saw these things of wonderful beauty, he said: "I thank +the Father of the gods, for all; because I have been able to kill the +great dragon and give my life for my people. No longer may I stay +here. Tell my brave warriors to make a mound near the sea, so high +that sailors may see it from afar and call it Beowulf's mound." + +Then from his neck the bold-hearted prince took a golden ring and gave +it to the young warrior. To him also he gave his helmet and shield and +bade him use them well. "Thou art the last of our race. All my +kinsmen fate has swept away. I shall follow them." These were the +last words from the heart of the hero. + +When the thanes came to where Wiglaf sat by his dead lord, the young +warrior said: "The great prince who gave you rings, and shields, and +homes, could not boast of you when need came. He alone conquered the +beast. I could help him little, but yet I did what I could to help the +good king. Death is better for every one than a life of reproach." + +Then he told them of the wish of Beowulf and bade them prepare the +mound by the shore of the noisy sea. Many, many warriors came to see +the great king. Much they loved him and admired his great strength. +Much they mourned for him and tears fell. All day they sat by the sea +and spoke no word. They looked with dread at their great foe. Fifty +feet long it stretched on the ground. At last the warriors threw the +great dragon into the sea, never again to be seen by men. + +Then Wiglaf took the warriors into the dark cave to see the treasures +hoarded there. For a thousand years had gold and gems and jewelled +armour been gathered there. Now there were more treasures than man +could count. The Goths were amazed to see such treasures, but they +wished not to take them for their own. They heaped high the +mountain-pines for a funeral pile. To this they carried the precious +treasures of the cave. Here they placed the king, so dearly loved. +Then the greatest of the warriors kindled the pine trees high. The +roaring flames arose; sounds of weeping were heard. Sad they waited +until all was destroyed by the flames. Then they began the mound in +honour of their lord. Ten days they worked, and built the mound so +high that sea-farers far away could see it and say, "There is the mound +of the good Beowulf, the king of the Goths." + +And his people said: "Our Beowulf was of all kings the mildest, the +noblest of men, the gentlest to his people and most worthy of praise." + + +[Illustration: PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY OF PROPER NAMES] + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Northland Heroes, by Florence Holbrook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHLAND HEROES *** + +***** This file should be named 20853.txt or 20853.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/8/5/20853/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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