Death of King Ring
Pale on his throne sat the aged monarch, for he felt his end
approaching. Ingeborg, trembling, stood beside him, and a circle of
silent warriors stood about the royal pair. Sorrowfully Frithiof entered
to say farewell.
"This day for the last time do ye behold me," he said; "for the last
time my foot doth tread the soil of earth. Henceforth, till the Norns
shall send their summons the ocean's boundless wastes shall be my home.
Take back the ring round which such memories cluster, Ingeborg; let it
be a parting token from me. And thou, O King, go not with thy Queen by
moonlight to the strand, nor when the pale stars shine, for at your feet
the waves might chance to toss my bleaching bones."
"Nay, Frithiof," replied the King, "such mournful plaints become not
men; in maids they may be pardoned. For me the death song soundeth, not
for thee. 'Tis I must hence, not thou! Take thou my realm and guard it
well. Take Ingeborg as thy wife, and be a father to my infant son. Ever
through life hath peace been dearest to me; well have I loved to sit
with friends about the board; yet with a strong hand have I guarded
throne and honor, and cloven many a shield on sea and land; nor ever
hath man seen my cheek turn pale. Victory hath been mine, and glory. One
boon only have the gods denied me--to mount to Valhalla from the
battle-field. Death by the sword is the death of heroes; to linger
on,--the straw death,--never such will Ring live to endure!" And
therewith he plunged his sword into his breast. As the life-blood gushed
forth he had his horn brought to him, and raising it aloft, with glowing
face he cried:
"To thy glory I drain this, my country, thou Northland! Ye gods of
Valhalla, all hail, all hail!"
[Illustration: _KING RING'S Death_]
Silence reigned within the hall; none gave way to grief lest the dying
man's last moments should be saddened. Sinking back on his cushions, the
King clasped Ingeborg's hand for the last time--greeted his friend and
son with a parting glance, and sighing, his soul ascended to the
All-Father. Great was the mourning for him throughout the kingdom; amid
universal lamentations the good King's mound was heaped above him, while
scalds with sounding dirges glorified his memory.