Balder Forgives
_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Frithiof
the Bold was wedded to Ingeborg the Fair._
Now while Frithiof was absent in the Western Isles there came Ring,
that good old chieftain, northward to the land of the two young
rulers, Helge and Halfdan.
Sorely grieved was Ingeborg when she knew that she must wed the
stranger king, but she knew naught of what had happened to Frithiof,
and was obliged to obey her brothers' will.
And as they sat at the marriage feast, Ring saw the bracelet upon her
arm and knew that it had been Frithiof's; and he bade her take it off
and give it to the wife of Helge that she might give it to the
wanderer on his return.
In the following spring came Frithiof back again to Norway, having
parted from Angantyr with much love and goodwill. But as he neared his
home, one met him whom he knew, who said: "Black have grown the
buildings here, and traces there are none of the hands of friends."
Then Frithiof held counsel with his men and they shaped their course
to the hall of the kings. But upon arrival there he heard that they
were away at Balder's grove offering a sacrifice. So he set off
thither with Björn, leaving the rest with orders to make holes in all
the ships, both large and small, that lay in that harbour. When they
came to the entrance of the temple, Frithiof bade Björn stay outside
and, entering alone, stood silent in the shadows watching where King
Helge stood, crowned, by the altar of fire, whose flickering flames
painted the great wooden image of Balder with a golden glory. Around
the walls were ranged the ancient priests, silver-bearded, some with
burning brands and others with flint knives for the sacrifice.
Up to King Helge then strode Frithiof and, taking from his girdle the
bag of silver which he had received from Angantyr, he flung it in the
face of the king, saying: "Receive thy tribute thus!" And so hard did
he fling the money that it struck out two of Helge's teeth, and he
fell senseless on the floor.
Now there were few but old men in the temple hall, and they were awed
by the sight of Frithiof's gleaming blade.
So for a time he stood unmolested, but as he turned to go the arm-ring
he had given to Ingeborg caught his eye, for it had been placed upon
Balder's arm. "Pardon, O Balder," he said, "but thou wilt no claim a
stolen jewel!" As he spoke he tugged at the ring, but it seemed to
have grown fast to the wooden arm. Frithiof put forth all his
strength, and suddenly the ring came away, but the great figure of the
god fell prone across the altar, whose flames immediately enveloped
it and leapt up as though in triumph to the rafters of the hall.
Then was there great confusion as the flames spread rapidly. Frithiof
stayed to render what aid was possible, but when it was seen that the
temple was doomed to utter destruction he turned grief-stricken away,
and rejoining his companions they put out to sea.
When King Helge came to his senses again his first thought was
vengeance, and he summoned his men to pursue after Frithiof. But his
ships had barely got under way when they began to sink, so that they
had to put back quickly into harbour. Then in his fury did Helge
snatch his bow to shoot an arrow after Frithiof, but so strongly did
he pull it that the string broke and the bow fell useless from his
hand.
Meantime, Frithiof sailed merrily out to sea; and when Björn
questioned him as to what he meant to do next he replied: "Since I may
no longer stay in Norway, I will learn the customs of the sea-chief,
and will rove as a Viking."
So all through the summer they sailed to distant islands and far-off
countries, winning both goods and renown, until he had become
exceeding rich and famous. Wicked and cruel men he slew, but peasants
and merchants and women he let go free, like the good Viking that he
was.
At length, after four years had thus passed away, Frithiof said to
Björn: "Weary am I of these expeditions, and therefore will I sail
away to Uplands and hold discourse with good King Ring."
"It is not good," said Björn, "to trust thyself in a rival's power. If
thou must do this rash thing at least go not alone."
"I am never alone," replied the hero, "while my sword hangs at my
side."
Frithiof now made preparation for his journey, and when he said
farewell to his companions he was clad in a cloak of skin which
completely covered him, and he walked with two staves as one who is
bowed down with years. His face, too, was covered with a great beard.
It was eventide when he entered the king's hall and stood far down by
the door with his cloak drawn over his face.
Then the king said to the queen as she sat by him at table: "There has
just come a man into the hall taller by far than other men."
And she answered without interest that that was no great news.
Then the king sent for the stranger and questioned him as to whence he
came; and because he loved to show hospitality he bade him seat
himself at his side. "But," said he, "let fall that shaggy hide, which
covers, as I think, a proper man."
Then Frithiof showed himself in a dark-blue kirtle, with the ring
gleaming on his arm and his sword girt to a broad silver belt, from
which hung a well-filled purse. And when the queen saw that arm-ring
she knew Frithiof, in spite of the great beard that he had grown; but
she betrayed her recognition only by her changing colour and the
heaving of her breast.
Now the king soon grew to love Frithiof, whom he compelled to stay
with him all the winter through. Little and seldom spoke the queen to
him, but by the king he was ever regarded with a glad and smiling
countenance.
Then it came to pass that one day Frithiof had accompanied them to a
banquet, and their way lay over a lake. And Frithiof warned the king
that the ice on this lake was not safe. Scarcely had the king thanked
him for his care when the ice broke, and the sledge with the royal
pair upon it must have been submerged had not Frithiof dragged it
forth and saved their lives. Then said the king, looking at him very
kindly: "Well done, good friend, Frithiof the Bold could not have done
better had he been here."
The winter passed away, and one day, when the woods were full of green
leaves, the king went forth into them with Frithiof as his only
companion. Presently said the king: "Heavy am I with sleep, and here
must I rest."
But Frithiof said: "Not so; let my lord journey home, for here is
danger to those who sleep in the open air."
"I care not," said the king, and so laid himself down to sleep.
And as he slept Frithiof came and looked on him, and then quickly took
his sword from its scabbard and flung it away.
Then the king opened his eyes and said: "Well hast thou resisted that
temptation, Frithiof; for Frithiof I knew thee to be when first thou
camest into my hall. Now stay with me, for my heart yearns towards
thee and I am far stricken in years, and if thou wilt be my right hand
for the days that are left, thou shalt have my land after my death for
thine own."
But Frithiof shook his head sadly, saying: "not so, O king, for even
now must I journey away from these shores."
Shortly after this Frithiof prepared to depart, and his dragon-ship
lay at her moorings tugging as though eager to breast the waves of
ocean once again. Then came he to Ring and Ingeborg, but the old king
was at the point of death. "Valhalla calls to me," said he, "and my
weary spirit would fain be at rest. Frithiof, take thou my kingdom and
guard the crown." He then placed the hand of his queen in that of
Frithiof, and a moment later his spirit was borne by the Valkyrs into
the Regions of the Blessed.
So they raised a mighty cairn above King Ring, and great was the
mourning and lamentation in the land. Then all men looked to Frithiof
as his successor, but he bade them give their allegiance to the son of
King Ring, who was a right noble boy, and when they looked upon him
they saw that he was worthy to wear his father's crown.
But because the people loved Frithiof, they cried: "Govern thou the
realm while our king is young, and let us celebrate thy marriage with
Ingeborg, as King Ring desired."
But Frithiof answered sadly: "I must fare over the seas to Balder's
sacred grove. The mild god's wrath still burns against me. He took, he
only can restore, my cherished bride."
The farewells have been spoken, the swift ship has cleaved the waves,
and the hero stands in the desolate grove where once stood the temple
of Balder, but where wild animals are now in hiding.
"Mild, blue-eyed Balder," speaks the hero, "will no atonement quit me
of my guilt? Blood-fines take we for kinsmen slain, and the high gods
are not wont to nurse their wrath when altar flames consume the
sacrifice. Some offering ask, all that thou wilt is thine."
"Then sudden, o'er the western waters pendent,
An Image comes, with gold and flames resplendent,
O'er Balder's grove it hovers, night's clouds under,
Like gold crown resting on a bed of green.
At last to a temple settling, firm 'tis grounded--
Where Balder stood, another temple's founded."
Frithiof gazed in wonderment, and his heart went out in praise for the
sign vouchsafed. He would raise a shrine more glorious than the one
which had been destroyed by fire, and thus would he be at rest.
Now, while the timbers were being hewn and the carved pillars were
taking shape, King Helge was absent upon a foray amongst the Finnish
mountains. One day his band passed by a crag where stood the lonely
shrine of some forgotten god, and King Helge scaled the rocky summit
with intent to raze the ruined walls. The lock held fast and, as Helge
tugged fiercely at the mouldered gate, suddenly a sculptured image of
the deity, rudely summoned from his ancient sleep, started from his
niche above.
Rudely he fell upon the head of the intruder, and Helge stretched his
length upon the rocky floor, nor stirred again.
And now Balder's temple is finished, and its noble proportions look
over the firth, in whose clear waters it is reflected. Its vast hall
is filled melody, and the Chief Priest of Balder stands ready to
receive a bride. But who stands frowning upon the threshold? King
Halfdan it is, who approaches, sword in hand.
Frithiof with quick hands unbuckled the sword from his thigh and
leaned it, with his golden shield, against the altar. Then with
outstretched hand he advanced saying:
"Most noble in this strife will he be found
Who first is right hand good
Offers in pledge of peaceful brotherhood."
Halfdan, blushing deeply, hastened to doff his iron gauntlet, and the
two men, severed so long, forgot their enmity and pledged abiding
faith with friendly grasp.
"And as the last deep accents
Of reconcilement sounded,
Lo! Ingeborg sudden enters, rich adorn'd,
And to her brother's heart she trembling sinketh.
He with his sister's fears
Deep-moved, her hand all tenderly in Frithiof's linketh,
His burden soft transferring to the Hero's breast."