Hither had they come after the pirate, and here it was that he had
last been heard of; and they searched along the shore and in the
caves, and peered into every hole and cranny, until their eyes grew
strained and heavy, but no viking Soté was to be seen.
They had almost given up hope of finding him, when, looking through a
chink that had hitherto escaped their notice, a fearful sight was seen
by the valiant thane.
Within a mighty vault, forming a still, cold tomb, there lay a vessel
all complete, with masts and spars and anchor; and on the deck there
sat a grim skeleton clad in a robe of flame, and on his skinless arm
glittered the golden arm-ring wrought by Völund. The figure held in
his left hand a blood-stained sword, from which he was trying to scour
away the stains.
"It is my arm-ring," said Thorsten Vikingsson; "it is the spirit of
the viking Soté."
And forthwith he forced his way into the tomb, and, after a deadly
conflict with the specter, regained his treasure.
And the two friends sailed home in triumph.
The third great thing that Frithiof inherited was the dragon-ship
"Ellide," which his forefathers had won in the following manner:
One of them, a rough, rude viking, with a tender heart, was out at
sea, and on a wreck that was fast sinking saw an old man with green
locks sitting disconsolately.
The good-natured viking picked him up, took him home, gave him of the
best of food and of sparkling mead, and would have lodged him in his
house; but the green-haired man said he could not tarry, for he had
many miles to sail that night.
"But when the sun comes up in the east," added the stranger, "look for
a thank-gift on the wild seashore."
And behold, as morning dawned, the viking saw a goodly vessel making
gallant headway. As she drew near the land with streamer flying and
broad sails flapping in the wind, the viking saw that there was no
soul on board of her; and yet, without steersman to guide her, the
vessel avoided the shoals and held her way straight to the spot where
he was standing.
Her prow was a dragon's head, a dragon's tail formed her stern, and
dragon's wings bore her along swifter than an eagle before the storm.
The green-haired stranger was a sea-god, and the dragon-ship "Ellide"
was his thank-gift.
Thus Frithiof, though only the son of a thane, had treasures that
might have been coveted by kings and princes. He sat in his father's
halls, surrounded by his companions; upon his right was seated his
bosom friend Bjorn, and twelve bold champions clad in steel were
ranged around the board. And they drank in silence to the memory of
Thorsten Vikingsson.
But suddenly the harps struck up, and the skalds poured forth their
songs in honor of the dead thane.
And Frithiof's eyes filled with tears as he listened to his father's
praises.
IV
In spite of Frithiof's wealth, Helgi and Halfdan looked with disdain
upon the son of their father's friend; and when Frithiof asked to have
Ingebjorg for his wife, Helgi scornfully answered, "My sister shall
not wed the son of a thane. If you like to be our serf, we will make
room for you among our servants."
Then went Frithiof away in wrath.
There was another suitor for the hand of Ingebjorg, good old King
Ring, who, having lost his wife, thought that the Lily of the North
would make a tender mother for his little son.
And he sent to Helgi and Halfdan to ask for Ingebjorg in marriage,
but the brothers treated him as they had treated Frithiof; and the old
King was roused, and he swore he would revenge himself.
Helgi and Halfdan were afraid when they found that Ring was really
making ready for war. They began to get their army into order, and
placed Ingebjorg for safety in the temple of Baldur, and in their
distress they even sent to Frithiof to ask him to come and help them.
They chose wisely in the messenger they sent to plead for them, for it
was none other than old Hilding, who had been so kind to Frithiof in
his childhood.
Frithiof was playing at chess with Bjorn when Hilding arrived. He
pretended not to hear the message, and went on with his game.
"Shall the pawn save the king?" he asked of Bjorn.
And after a time he added: "There is no other way to save the queen."
Which showed that he had been all the time occupied with Hilding's
errand.
Therefore he returned with the old peasant, and contrived to see
Ingebjorg in the temple of Baldur, and found that she still loved him
as much as he loved her, and did not wish to marry any one else.
And again he asked Helgi and Halfdan if they were willing that
Ingebjorg should be his wife.
And again the brothers said, Nay, with scorn, and told him that he
had profaned the temple of Baldur by speaking to Ingebjorg within its
walls.
"For such a misdeed," said Helgi, "death or banishment is the doom,
and thou art in our power. Nevertheless, we are willing, as we wish
to make thee useful to us, to forego the penalty. Thou shalt therefore
sail forth to the distant Orkney Isles, and compel Jarl Angantyr to
pay the tribute that he owes us."
Frithiof would have refused to go, but Ingebjorg persuaded him to
undertake the mission; for she was afraid of her brothers, and knew
that Frithiof would be safer on the wild seas than in their hands.
At last Frithiof consented, and he took leave of Ingebjorg, and placed
the golden bracelet that Völund had made upon her arm, praying her to
keep it for his sake.
And then he sailed away over the heaving waters, and Ingebjorg mourned
that her lover was gone.
V
Over the sea. It was calm enough when Frithiof started; the
storm-winds were asleep, and the waters heaved gently as though they
would fain help speed the dragon-ship peacefully on her way.
But King Helgi standing on a rock repented that he had suffered the
noble Frithiof to escape his malice; and as he watched the good ship
"Ellide" riding over the sea, he prayed loudly to the ocean-fiends
that they would trouble the waters and raise a fierce tempest to
swallow up Frithiof and the dragon-ship.
All at once, the sparkling sea turned leaden gray, and the billows
began to roll, the skies grew dark, and the howl of the driving wind
was answered by a sullen roar from the depths beneath. Suddenly,
a blinding flash of lightning played around the vessel, and as it
vanished the pealing thunder burst from the clouds. The raging sea
foamed, and seethed, and tossed the vessel like a feather upon its
angry waves, and deeper sounded the thunder, and more fiercely flashed
the lightning round the masts.
Wilder, wilder, wilder grew the storm. Alas, for Frithiof!
"Ho! take the tiller in hand," shouted Frithiof to Bjorn. "and I will
mount to the topmost mast and look out for danger'"
And when he looked out, he saw the storm-fiends riding on a whale. One
was in form like to a great white bear, the other like unto a terrible
eagle.
"Now help me, O gift of the sea-god! Help me, my gallant 'Ellide'!"
cried Frithiof.
And the dragon-ship heard her master's voice, and with her keel
she smote the whale; so he died, and sank to the bottom of the sea,
leaving the storm-fiends tossing upon the waves.
"Ho, spears and lances, help me in my need!" shouted Frithiof, as he
took aim at the monsters.
And he transfixed the shrieking storm-fiends, and left them entangled
in the huge coils of seaweed which the storm had uprooted.
"Ho, ho!" laughed rugged Bjorn, "they are trapped in their own nets."
And so they were; and they were so much taken up with trying to free
themselves from the seaweed and from Frithiof's long darts, that they
were unable to give any heed to the storm, which therefore went down,
and Frithiof and his crew sailed on, and reached the Orkney Isles in
safety.
"Here comes Frithiof," said the viking Atlé. "I know him by his
dragon-ship."
And forthwith the viking rose and went forth; he had heard of the
strength of Frithiof, and wished to match himself against him.
He did not wait to see whether Frithiof came in enmity or friendship.
Fighting was the first thing he thought of, and what he most cared
for.
However, the viking had the worst of it in the battle.
"There is witchcraft in thy sword," said he to Frithiof.
So Frithiof threw his sword aside, and they wrestled together,
unarmed, until Atlé was brought to the ground.
Then spake Frithiof: "And if I had my sword thou wouldst not long be a
living man."
"Fetch it, then," replied Atlé. "I swear by the gods that I will not
move until thou dost return."
So Frithiof fetched his sword, but when he saw the conquered viking
still upon the ground, he could not bring himself to slay so honorable
a man.
"Thou art too true and brave to die," said Frithiof. "Rise, let us be
friends."
And the two combatants went hand in hand to the banquet hall of
Angantyr, Jarl (earl) of the Orkney Islands.
A splendid hall it was, and a rare company of heroes was there; and
all listened eagerly as Frithiof told his story, and wherefore he had
come.
"I never paid tribute to King Belé, though he was an old friend of
mine," said the jarl, as Frithiof ended his speech, "nor will I to his
sons. If they want aught of me, let them come and take it."
"It was by no choice of my own that I came upon such an errand,"
returned Frithiof, "and I shall be well content to carry back your
answer."
"Take also this purse of gold in token of friendship," continued the
jarl, "and remain with us, for I knew thy father."
Thus Frithiof and the jarl became good friends, and Frithiof consented
to stay for a while in the Orkney Islands; but after a time he ordered
out his good ship "Ellide," and set sail for his native land.
VI
But fearful things had come to pass since he had left his home!
Framnäas, the dwelling of his fathers, was a heap of ruins, and the
land was waste and desolate.
And as he stood upon the well-loved spot, striving to find some traces
of the past, his faithful hound bounded forth to greet him, and licked
his master's hand. And then his favorite steed drew near, and thrust
his nose into Frithiof's hand, hoping to find therein a piece of
bread, as in the days of old. His favorite falcon perched upon
his shoulder, and this was Frithiof's welcome to the home of his
ancestors.
There had been a fierce battle, for King Ring with his army had come
against Helgi and Halfdan, and the country had been laid waste, and
many warriors slain.
And when all chance of withstanding him was at an end, the brothers,
rather than lose their kingdom, had consented that Ingebjorg should be
the wife of Ring.
Ingebjorg was married! Frithiof's heart was full of deep sorrow, and
he turned his steps towards the temple of Baldur, hoping that at the
altar of the god he might meet with consolation.
In the temple he found King Helgi, and the sorrow that was weighing
down Frithiof's heart gave place to hatred and revenge.
Caring nothing for the sacred place, he rushed madly forward. "Here,
take thy tribute," said he, and he threw the purse that Jarl Angantyr
had given him with such force against the face of the King that Helgi
fell down senseless on the steps of the altar.
Next, seeing his arm-ring on the arm of the statue, for Helgi had
taken it from Ingebjorg and placed it there, he tried to tear it off,
and, lo! the image tottered and fell upon the fire that was burning
with sweet perfumes before it.
Scarcely had it touched the fire when it was ablaze, and the
flames spreading rapidly on every side, the whole temple was soon a
smoldering heap of ruins.
Then Frithiof sought his ship. He vowed that he would lead a viking's
life, and leave forever a land where he had suffered so much sorrow.
And he put out to sea.
But no sooner were his sails spread than he saw ten vessels in chase
of him, and on the deck of one stood Helgi, who had been rescued from
the burning temple, and had come in chase of him.
Yet Frithiof was rescued from the danger as if by miracle; for one by
one the ships sank down as though some water-giant had stretched out
his strong arm, and dragged them below, and Helgi only saved himself
by swimming ashore.
Loud laughed Bjorn.
"I bored holes in the ships last night," said he; "it is a rare ending
to Helgi's fleet."
"And now," said Frithiof, "I will forever lead a viking's life. I care
not for aught upon the land. The sea shall be my home. And I will seek
climes far away from here."
So he steered the good ship "Ellide" southward, and among the isles of
Greece strove to forget the memories of bygone days.
VII
In and out of the sunny islands that lay like studs of emerald on a
silver shield sailed Frithiof, and on the deck of the dragon-ship
he rested through the summer nights, looking up at the moon, and
wondering what she could tell him of the northern land.
Sometimes he dreamed of his home as it was before the wartime.
Sometimes he dreamed of the days when he and Ingebjorg roamed through
the fields and woods together, or listened to old Hilding's stories by
the blazing hearth; and then he would wake up with a start and stroke
his faithful hound, who was ever near him, saying, "Thou alone knowest
no change; to thee all is alike, so long as thy master is with thee."
One night, however, as Frithiof was musing on the deck of his vessel,
gazing into the cloudless sky, a vision of the past rose up before
him: old familiar faces crowded round him, and in their midst he
marked one, best beloved of all, pale, sad, with sorrowful eyes; and
her lips moved, and he seemed to hear her say, "I am very sad without
thee, Frithiof."
Then a great longing came upon Frithiof to see Ingebjorg once more.
He would go northward, even to the country of King Ring; he must see
Ingebjorg. What did he care for danger? He must go.
To the cold, dark north.
Yet he dared not go openly, for King Ring looked upon him as an enemy,
and would seize him at once, and if he did not kill him would shut him
up in prison, so that either way he would not see the beautiful Queen.
Frithiof. therefore disguised himself as an old man, and wrapped in
bearskins, presented himself at the palace.
The old King sat upon his throne, and at his side was Ingebjorg the
Fair, looking like spring by the side of fading autumn.
As the strangely dressed figure passed along, the courtiers jeered,
and Frithiof, thrown off his guard, angrily seized one of them, and
twirled him round with but little effort.
"Ho!" said the King, "thou art a strong old man, O stranger! Whence
art thou?"
"I was reared in anguish and want," returned Frithiof; "sorrow has
filled a bitter cup for me, and I have almost drunk it to the dregs.
Once I rode upon a dragon, but now it lies dead upon the seashore, and
I am left in my old age to burn salt upon the strand."
"Thou art not old," answered the wise King; "thy voice is clear, and
thy grasp is strong. Throw off thy rude disguise, that we may know our
guest."
Then Frithiof threw aside his bearskin, and appeared clad in a mantle
of blue embroidered velvet, and his hair fell like a golden wave upon
his shoulder.
Ring did not know him, but Ingebjorg did; and when she handed the
goblet for him to drink, her color went and came "like to the northern
light on a field of snow."
And Frithiof stayed at the court, until the year came round again, and
spring once more put forth its early blossoms.
One day a gay hunting train went forth, but old King Ring, not being
strong, as in former years, lay down to rest upon the mossy turf
beneath some arching pines, while the hunters rode on.
Then Frithiof drew near, and in his heart wild thoughts arose. One
blow of his sword, and Ingebjorg was free to be his wife.
But as he looked upon the sleeping King, there came a whisper from a
better voice, "It is cowardly to strike a sleeping foe."
And Frithiof shuddered, for he was too brave a man to commit murder.
"Sleep on, old man," he muttered gently to himself.
But Ring's sleep was over. He started up. "O Frithiof why hast thou
come hither to steal an old man's bride?"
"I came not hither for so dark a purpose," answered Frithiof; "I came
but to look on the face of my loved Ingebjorg once more."
"I know it," replied the King; "I have tried thee, I have proved thee,
and true as tried steel hast thou passed through the furnace. Stay
with us yet a little longer, the old man soon will be gathered to his
fathers, then shall his kingdom and his wife be thine."
But Frithiof replied that he had already remained too long, and that
on the morrow he must depart.
Yet he went not; for death had visited the palace, and old King
Ring was stretched upon his bier, while the bards around sang of his
wisdom.
Then arose a cry among the people, "We must choose a king!"
And Frithiof raised aloft upon his shield the little son of Ring.
"Here is your king," he said, "the son of wise old Ring."
The blue-eyed child laughed and clapped his hands as he beheld the
glittering helmets and glancing spears of the warriors. Then tired of
his high place, he sprang down into the midst of them.
Loud uprose the shout, "The child shall be our king, and the Jarl
Frithiof regent. Hail to the young King of the Northmen!"
VIII
But Frithiof in the hour of his good fortune did not forget that he
had offended the gods. He must make atonement to Baldur for having
caused the ruin of his temple. He must turn his steps once more
homeward.
Home! Home! And on his father's grave he sank down with a softened
heart, and grieved over the passion and revenge that had swayed his
deeds. And as he mourned, the voices of unseen spirits answered him,
and whispered that he was forgiven.
And to his wondering eyes a vision was vouchsafed, and the temple of
Baldur appeared before him, rebuilt in more than its ancient splendor,
and deep peace sank into the soul of Frithiof.
"Rise up, rise up, Frithiof, and journey onward."
The words came clear as a command to Frithiof, and he obeyed them.
He rose up, and journeyed to the place where he had left the temple a
heap of blackened ruins.
And, lo! the vision that had appeared to him was accomplished, for
there stood the beautiful building, stately and fair to look upon. So
beautiful, that, as he gazed, his thoughts were of Valhalla.
He entered, and the white-robed, silver-bearded priest welcomed the
long-absent viking, and told him that Helgi was dead, and Halfdan
reigned alone.
"And know, O Frithiof," said the aged man, "that Baldur is better
pleased when the heart grows soft and injuries are forgiven, than with
the most costly sacrifices. Lay aside forever all thoughts of hatred
and revenge, and stretch out to Halfdan the hand of friendship."
Joy had softened all Frithiofs feelings of anger, and, advancing to
Halfdan, who was standing near the altar, he spoke out manfully.
"Halfdan," he said, "let us forget the years that have gone by. Let
all past evil and injury be buried in the grave. Henceforth let us
be as brothers, and once more I ask thee, give me Ingebjorg to be my
wife."
And Halfdan made answer, "Thou shalt be my brother."
And as he spoke, an inner door flew open, and a sweet chorus of
youthful voices was heard. A band of maidens issued forth, and at
their head walked Ingebjorg, fairer than ever.
Then Halfdan, leading her to Frithiof, placed her hand within that of
the viking.
"Behold thy wife," said Halfdan. "Well hast thou won her. May the gods
attend upon your bridal."
So Ingebjorg became the wife of Frithiof at last.
Thus steps of sorrow had but led them to a height of happiness that
poets love to sing. Paths thick with thorns had blossomed into roses,
and wreaths of everlasting flowers had crowned the winter snows. And
midst the lights and shadows of the old Northland, their lives flowed
on like to two united streams that roll through quiet pastures to the
ocean of eternity.
HAVELOK
ADAPTED BY GEORGE W. COX AND E.H. JONES
There was once a King of England named Athelwold. Earl, baron, thane,
knight, and bondsman, all loved him; for he set on high the wise and
the just man, and put down the spoiler and the robber. At that time a
man might carry gold about with him, as much as fifty pounds, and not
fear loss. Traders and merchants bought and sold at their ease without
danger of plunder. But it was bad for the evil person and for such
as wrought shame, for they had to lurk and hide away from the King's
wrath; yet was it unavailing, for he searched out the evil-doer and
punished him, wherever he might be. The fatherless and the widow found
a sure friend in the King; he turned not away from the complaint of
the helpless, but avenged them against the oppressor, were he never
so strong. Kind was he to the poor, neither at any time thought he the
fine bread upon his own table too good to give to the hungry.
But a death-sickness fell on King Athelwold, and when he knew that his
end was near he was greatly troubled, for he had one little daughter
of tender age, named Goldborough, and he grieved to leave her.
"O my little daughter, heir to all the land, yet so young thou canst
not walk upon it; so helpless that thou canst not tell thy wants and
yet hast need to give commandment like a queen! For myself I would not
care, being old and not afraid to die. But I had hoped to live till
thou shouldst be of age to wield the kingdom; to see thee ride on
horseback through the land, and round about a thousand knights to do
thy bidding. Alas, my little child, what will become of thee when I am
gone?"
Then King Athelwold summoned his earls and barons, from Roxborough to
Dover, to come and take counsel with him as he lay a-dying on his bed
at Winchester. And when they all wept sore at seeing the King so near
his end, he said, "Weep not, good friends, for since I am brought to
death's door your tears can in nowise deliver me; but rather give me
your counsel. My little daughter that after me shall be your queen;
tell me in whose charge I may safely leave both her and England till
she be grown of age to rule?"
And with one accord they answered him, "In the charge of Earl Godrich
of Cornwall, for he is a right wise and a just man, and held in fear
of all the land. Let him be ruler till our queen be grown."
Then the King sent for a fair linen cloth, and thereon having laid the
mass-book and the chalice and the paton, he made Earl Godrich swear
upon the holy bread and wine to be a true and faithful guardian of his
child, without blame or reproach, tenderly to entreat her, and justly
to govern the realm till she should be twenty winters old; then to
seek out the best, the bravest, and the strongest man as husband for
her and deliver up the kingdom to her hand. And when Earl Godrich
had so sworn, the King shrived him clean of all his sins. Then having
received his Saviour he folded his hands, saying, "Domine, in manus
tuas;" and so he died.
There was sorrow and mourning among all the people for the death
of good King Athelwold. Many the mass that was sung for him and the
psalter that was said for his soul's rest. The bells tolled and the
priests sang, and the people wept; and they gave him a kingly burial.
Then Earl Godrich began to govern the kingdom; and all the nobles and
all the churls, both free and thrall, came and did allegiance to him.
He set in all the castles strong knights in whom he could trust, and
appointed justices and sheriffs and peace-sergeants in all the shires.
So he ruled the country with a firm hand, and not a single wight dare
disobey his word, for all England feared him. Thus, as the years went
on, the earl waxed wonderly strong and very rich.
Goldborough, the King's daughter, throve and grew up the fairest woman
in all the land, and she was wise in all manner of wisdom that is good
and to be desired. But when the time drew on that Earl Godrich should
give up the kingdom to her, he began to think within himself--"Shall
I, that have ruled so long, give up the kingdom to a girl, and let her
be queen and lady over me? And to what end? All these strong earls and
barons, governed by a weaker hand than mine, would throw off the yolk
and split up England into little baronies, evermore fighting betwixt
themselves for mastery. There would cease to be a kingdom, and so
there would cease to be a queen. She cannot rule it, and she shall not
have it. Besides, I have a son. Him will I teach to rule and make him
king."
So the earl let his oath go for nothing, and went to Winchester where
the maiden was, and fetched her away and carried her off to Dover to a
castle that is by the seashore. Therein he shut her up and dressed her
in poor clothes, and fed her on scanty fare; neither would he let any
of her friends come near her.