The Parting
Oft the next day did Ingeborg turn her footsteps toward the sea, and at
last as she neared the wooded shore once more, the sails of the swiftly
approaching dragon glimmered through the branches of the trees. It
stopped, and Frithiof leaped lightly ashore.
"Welcome indeed art thou, Frithiof!" said Ingeborg; "but woe is me! I
read my fate upon thy brow."
"Seest thou not also blood-red runes thereon, bespeaking insult, shame,
and banishment?"
"Nay, calm thyself, and tell me quickly what has passed."
"Learn, then, my Ingeborg, the disgrace that I am forced to bear! I
sought the assembly of the people gathered at thy father's grave-mound,
where, close circling, stood the Northland's warriors, sword in hand and
shield to shield. Within their ranks upon the Judgment seat, sat that
pale blood-man Helge, his gloomy gaze fast fixed upon the ground, while
beside him Halfdan, like some overgrown child, toyed idly with a slender
sword.
"Then I stepped forth and spoke: 'The clouds of war, O Helge, overhang
thy boundaries. Thy kingdom is in jeopardy; but give me thy sister, and
I'll lend my arm, whose strength shall stand thee well in time of need.
Forgotten be our grudge, for loath am I to cherish hate against the
brother of my Ingeborg. Be just, O King! and save at once thy country
and thy sister's heart! As proof of faith I offer thee my hand in peace;
but by the mighty Thor I swear that never again shall it be stretched to
thee in reconcilement!'
"Loud plaudits rang from all about us; the clang of a thousand shields
rose up to heaven. 'Yea, give him Ingeborg!' they shouted, 'the fairest
lily in our vales! Remember, King, that Frithiof is our stoutest
swordsman. Give him thy sister!'
"Thereat our noble foster-father, Hilding, stepped from out the throng
and spoke for me. From his lips fell many a weighty speech and biting
proverb, while even Halfdan, too, did urge consent. But vain were my
words, vain the shouts of the warriors, vain the intercession of Hilding
and Halfdan! As little might the Spring sun coax a blade of grass from
out the naked rock as our united prayers awake one kindly thought in
Helge's breast. Unchanged his lowering glance as scornfully he spoke:
"'The peasant's son might claim, perchance, our sister: but never shall
the defiler of a temple win her hand. Speak, Frithiof! Hast thou not
broken Balder's peace? Hast thou not forced thy way into his holy
temple, despite the law which so forbids? Answer yea or nay!'
"'My life's happiness,' I answered, 'hangs upon a word. Yet fear not,
Helge; neither for Valhalla's joys nor all this earth's delights would I
forswear myself. Yea; in Balder's temple I have seen thy sister, but in
no wise did I offend the pure and gentle god. Our prayers to him did
waken holy thoughts within our hearts and led me here to offer peace to
thee.'
"More I could not speak, for a murmur of horror ran through the circle;
the warriors, paled by superstition, drew back from me as I were smitten
with the plague; thy brother's was the victory.
"At last he spoke: 'By the laws of our fathers, mine is the right to
sentence thee to banishment or death: but rather will I emulate in
mildness that god whose sanctuary thou hast violated. Hearken then to my
decree. Far to the westward lies a group of islands ruled by Augantyr.
King Bele long ago did lay him under tribute, and this he faithfully
remitted so long as our royal father was alive. Since Bele's death he
has refused it. Go thou and collect this tribute, as atonement for thy
crime!'
"Then he added sneeringly: ''Tis said this Augantyr is hard-handed and
sits brooding o'er his gold like Fafner, the famed dragon slain by
Sigurd. But who could withstand our second Sigurd's prowess? Truly this
is far other work than seeking maids in Balder's holy grove! Here till
the Summer comes again we'll wait for thy return, bringing fresh glory
and--above all else--the tribute! But shouldst thou fail in this--thou
shalt be doomed as coward, branded and banished forever from thy native
land!'
"So ended his words; the assembly was dissolved, and the warriors
dispersed in silence."
"But what is now thy purpose, Frithiof?"
"Have I a choice? This very day I depart to redeem my honor."
"And leave me here?"
"Nay, come with me, my Ingeborg!"
"Alas! that may not be."
"Yet hear me, beloved, ere thou dost fix thy firm resolve. Thy brother
in his wisdom forgets that Augantyr was once my father's friend as well
as Bele's. Perchance he'll yield with good-will what I ask; but should
he not, this friend I carry at my side shall prove a sharp and powerful
persuader. Then will I send to King Helge the gold he so desireth and
free us both forever from the sacrificial knife of that crowned
hypocrite; then we, my Ingeborg, will seek some distant happier land,
and bid farewell to shores so hostile to our happiness. Look, my
'Ellida' doth already spread her eagle's wings to bear us swiftly o'er
the waves! Come, beloved, haste thee!"
"Alas! alas! I cannot follow."
"What hinders thee, my Ingeborg? Were thy good father but alive, and did
he--"
"Forget not, Frithiof, that Helge holds my father's place with me. The
gods have blessed and woven these bonds, and a woman dare not break them
to steal her happiness, however near it lies."
"Once more consider. Is this word thy last?"
"Alas! dear Frithiof, I cannot, dare not do else, if I would maintain my
honor and thy own."
"Then fare thee well, King Helge's sister--fare thee well!"
"O Frithiof, Frithiof, is it thus thou wouldst depart--without a glance,
without a hand-clasp for thy childhood's friend? Methinks one who is
forced to sacrifice as much as I, doth well deserve at least a word of
comfort. The stir of life and clash of arms will ease thy grief, but
what remains for me? To whom, alas! may I impart my woe? Within my bower
I'll sit, thinking of thee and weaving broken lilies in my web, till
Spring herself with fairer lilies shall adorn my grave."
"Cease! cease!" cried Frithiof with deep emotion, as he clasped the
maiden's hand. "Forgive me that my sorrow did assume the garb of anger.
Thou art right. I see it now, my better angel. 'Tis true that only noble
minds can teach us what is noble, and thy pure heart was quicker far to
see the right than mine. Alone I'll go, and part from thee--but never
from my hope, whate'er betide! Next Spring shall Helge see me here
again, the crime with which he charges me atoned. Then in full circle of
the warriors, 'mid glittering steel will I demand thee from thy brother
as my wife. Till then farewell, and keep me ever in thy thoughts. In
memory of our childhood's love take thou this arm-ring, a treasured
heirloom of my father's house: all the wonders of the heavens are carved
upon it--but the world's best wonder is a faithful heart. See! how it
gleams on thy white arm like a glow-worm upon a lily's stem!"
Thus they parted, and "Ellida" bore the hero swiftly away, while
Ingeborg, sad and hopeless, betook her to her bower.