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.