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."