In one of those fair beech-woods which abound in the fertile land of
Germany he fell in with a young and courteous knight of delicate form,
who asked the noble northman to share the meal which he had invitingly
spread out upon the greensward, under the shade of the pleasantest
boughs. Whilst the two knights sat peacefully together at their repast
they felt drawn towards each other and rejoiced when on rising from it,
they observed that they were about to follow the same road. They had not
come to this good understanding by means of many words; for the young
knight Edwald was of a silent nature, and would sit for hours with a
quiet smile upon his lips without opening them to speak. But even in
that quiet smile there lay a gentle, winning grace; and when from time
to time a few simple words of deep meaning sprang to his lips they
seemed like a gift deserving of thanks. It was the same with the little
songs which he sang ever and anon: they were ended almost as soon as
begun; but in each short couplet there dwelt a deep and winning spirit,
whether it called forth a kindly sigh or a peaceful smile. It seemed
to the noble Froda as if a younger brother rode beside him, or even a
tender, blooming son. They travelled thus many days together; and it
appeared as if their path were marked out for them in inseparable union;
and much as they rejoiced at this, yet they looked sadly at each other
whenever they set out afresh, or where cross-roads met, on finding that
neither took a different direction: nay, it seemed at times as if a tear
gathered in Edwald’s downcast eye.
It happened on a time, that at their hostelry they met an arrogant,
overbearing knight, of gigantic stature and powerful frame, whose
speech and carriage proved him to be not of German but foreign birth. He
appeared to come from the land of Bohemia. He cast a contemptuous
smile on Froda, who, as usual, had opened the ancient book of Aslauga’s
history, and was attentively reading in it. “You must be a ghostly
knight?” he said, inquiringly; and it appeared as if a whole train of
unseemly jests were ready to follow. But Froda answered so firmly and
seriously with a negative that the Bohemian stopped short suddenly;
as when the beasts, after venturing to mock their king, the lion, are
subdued to quietness by one glance of his eye. But not so easily was
the Bohemian knight subdued; rather the more did he begin to mock young
Edwald for his delicate form and for his silence--all which he bore for
some time with great patience; but when at last the stranger used an
unbecoming phrase, he arose, girded on his sword, and bowing gracefully,
he said, “I thank you, Sir Knight, that you have given me this
opportunity of proving that I am neither a slothful nor unpractised
knight; for only thus can your behaviour be excused, which otherwise
must be deemed most unmannerly. Are you ready?”
With these words he moved towards the door; the Bohemian knight
followed, smiling scornfully; while Froda was full of care for his young
and slender companion, although his honour was so dear to him that he
could in no way interpose.
But it soon appeared how needless were the northman’s fears. With equal
vigour and address did Edwald assault his gigantic adversary, so that to
look upon, it was almost like one of those combats between a knight and
some monster of the forest, of which ancient legends tell. The issue,
too, was not unlike. While the Bohemian was collecting himself for a
decisive stroke Edwald rushed in upon him, and, with the force of a
wrestler, cast him to the ground. But he spared his conquered foe,
helped him courteously to rise, and then turned to mount his own steed.
Soon after he and Froda left the hostelry, and once more their journey
led them on the same path as before.
“From henceforth this gives me pleasure,” said Froda, pointing with
satisfaction to their common road. “I must own to you, Edchen”--he had
accustomed himself, in loving confidence, to call his young friend
by that childlike name--“I must own to you that hitherto, when I have
thought that you might perhaps be journeying with me to the tournament
held in honour of the fair Hildegardis, a heaviness came over my heart.
Your noble knightly spirit I well knew, but I feared lest the strength
of your slender limbs might not be equal to it. Now I have learned to
know you as a warrior who may long seek his match; and God be praised if
we still hold on in the same path, and welcome our earliest meeting in
the lists!”
But Edwald looked at him sorrowfully, and said, “What can my skill
and strength avail if they be tried against you, and for the greatest
earthly prize, which one of us alone can win? Alas! I have long
foreboded with a heavy heart the sad truth, that you also are journeying
to the tournament of the fair Hildegardis.”
“Edchen,” answered Froda, with a smile, “my gentle, loving youth, see
you not that I already wear on my breastplate the image of a liege lady?
I strive but for renown in arms, and not for your fair Hildegardis!”
“MY fair Hildegardis!” answered Edwald, with a sigh. “That she is not,
nor ever will be--or should she, ah! Froda, it would pierce your heart.
I know well the northland faith is deep-rooted as your rocks, and hard
to dissolve as their summits of snow; but let no man think that he can
look unscathed into the eyes of Hildegardis. Has not she, the haughty,
the too haughty maiden, so bewitched my tranquil, lowly mind, that I
forget the gulf which lies between us, and still pursue her; and would
rather perish than renounce the daring hope to win that eagle spirit for
my own?”
“I will help you to it, Edchen,” answered Froda, smiling still. “Would
that I knew how this all-conquering lady looks! She must resemble the
Valkyrien of our heathen forefathers, since so many mighty warriors are
overcome by her.”
Edwald solemnly drew forth a picture from beneath his breastplate, and
held it before him. Fixed, and as if enchanted, Froda gazed upon it,
with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes; the smile passed away from his
countenance, as the sunlight fades away from the meadows before the
coming darkness of the storm.
“See you not now, my noble comrade,” whispered Edwald, “that for one of
us two, or perhaps for both, the joy of life is gone?”
“Not yet,” replied Froda, with a powerful effort; “but hide your magic
picture, and let us rest beneath this shade. You must be somewhat spent
with your late encounter, and a strange weariness oppresses me with
leaden weight.” They dismounted from their steeds, and stretched
themselves upon the ground.
The noble Froda had no thought of sleep; but he wished to be undisturbed
whilst he wrestled strongly with himself, and strove, if it might be, to
drive from his mind that image of fearful beauty. It seemed as if this
new influence had already become a part of his very life, and at last
a restless dreamy sleep did indeed overshadow the exhausted warrior. He
fancied himself engaged in combat with many knights, whilst Hildegardis
looked on smiling from a richly-adorned balcony; and just as he thought
he had gained the victory the bleeding Edwald lay groaning beneath his
horse’s feet. Then again it seemed as if Hildegardis stood by his side
in a church, and they were about to receive the marriage-blessing. He
knew well that this was not right, and the “yes,” which he was to utter,
he pressed back with resolute effort into his heart, and forthwith
his eyes were moistened with burning tears. From yet stranger and more
bewildering visions the voice of Edwald at last awoke him. He raised
himself up, and heard his young companion saying courteously, as he
looked towards a neighbouring thicket, “Only return, noble maiden; I
will surely help you if I can; and I had no wish to scare you away, but
that the slumbers of my brother in arms might not be disturbed by you.”
A golden gleam shone through the branches as it vanished.
“For heaven’s sake, my faithful comrade,” cried Froda, “to whom are you
speaking, and who has been here by me?”
“I cannot myself rightly understand,” said Edwald. “Hardly had you
dropped asleep when a figure came forth from the forest, closely wrapped
in a dark mantle. At first I took her for a peasant. She seated herself
at your head; and though I could see nothing of her countenance, I could
well observe that she was sorely troubled, and even shedding tears. I
made signs to her to depart, lest she should disturb your sleep; and
would have offered her a piece of gold, supposing that poverty must
be the cause of her deep distress. But my hand seemed powerless, and
a shudder passed through me, as if I had entertained such a purpose
towards a queen. Immediately glittering locks of gold waved here and
there between the folds of her close-wrapped mantle, and the thicket
began almost to shine in the light which they shed. ‘Poor youth,’ said
she then, ‘you love truly, and can well understand how a lofty woman’s
heart burns in keenest sorrow when a noble knight, who vowed himself to
be her own, withdraws his heart, and, like a weak bondman, is led away
to meaner hopes.’ Hereupon she arose, and, sighing, disappeared in
yonder thicket. It almost seemed to me, Froda, as though she uttered
your name.”
“Yes, it was me she named,” answered Froda; “and not in vain she named
me. Aslauga, thy knight comes, and enters the lists, and all for thee
and thy reward alone! At the same time, my Edchen, we will win for you
your haughty bride.” With this he sprang upon his steed, full of the
proud joy of former times; and when the magic of Hildegardis’ beauty,
dazzling and bewildering, would rise up before him, he said, smiling,
“Aslauga!” and the sun of his inner life shone forth again cloudless and
serene.