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Frithiof's Saga
I-K0..1

TilE

SWEDISH OF

ESAIAS TEGNER
Bishop of Wexio

BY THE

REV.

WILLIAM LEWERY BLACKLEY,

M.A.

First American Editio7i

EDITED BY

BAYARD TAYLOR

NEW YORK
LEYPOLDT &
1867

HOLT

Entered, according to Act of Coiigrcsa, in the year 1867, by

LEYPOLDT & HOLT,

in the Clerk'a Office

f >r

JOHN

tlio

V.

of the District Court of the United States

Southern Diatrict of

TUOW

&

PKlNTHttX. STEREOTYPERS, ^

SO

New

CO.,

ELECT ROTYPBRtt,

OREENE STREET,

W.T.

York.

M^
PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

This volume

is

the second of a uniform series of

foreign poems lately inaugurated by the

of " King Rent's Daughter " from the

publication

Danish of
Henrik Hertz. It is our intention speedily to add
Lessing's " Nathan the Wise," with the splendid introductory essay of Fischer, translated, and edited by

the Rev. O. B, Froth ingham.

If

we

are not disappointed in our hopes of the

we will add others of

we have in contemplation are Goethe's " Hermann and Dorothea " Mo"
lifere's " Tartuffe
" Calderon's " Life is a Dream
"
"
The
Tasso's Aminta," translated by Leigh Hunt
Wooing of the King's Daughter," from the Norwegian of Muench " Boris Godounoff," from the Rus-

public appreciation of these,

equal interest.

Among

those

sian of Pouschkine

" Nala and Damajanti," trans-

lated from the Sanscrit by

Milman

of Bodenstedt's version

of

the

and a translation
Turkish songs of
;

Mirza-Schaffy.

1756020

CONTENTS.

and

Frithiof-Saga,

The English

Author,

its

Translations of the Frithiof-Saga,

Abstract of the Ancient Frithiof-Saga,

I.

II.

Frithiof

and Ingeborg,

Frithiof 's Inheritance,

IV.

Frithiof 's

31

V. King Ring,

VII.

IX.

Frithiof's Joy,

The

Parting,

37

XI.

....
....

Ingeborg's Lamentation,

X. Frithiof

8
i6

Wooing

VI. Frithiof Plays Chess,

VIII.

XX]

xxvi

King Bele and Thorsten Vikingsson

III.

42
45

54
74

at Sea,

77

Frithiof with Angantyr,

87

XII. Frithiof's Return,

XIII.

Balder's Bale-Fire,

XIV.

Frithiof

Goeth

99

into Banishment,

108
113

CONTENTS.

iv

PACK

XV.

Vikingabalk,

124

XVI.

Frithiof

and Bjorn,

XVII.

Frithiof

Cometh

to

XVIII. The Ride over the

XIX.

129

King Ring,

....

Ice,

Frithiof 's Temptation

XX. The Death

XXI.

of

144

King Ring,

.154

Ring's Drapa,

XXII. The King's

158
162

Election,

XXIII.

Frithiof beside his Father's Grave,

XXIV.

Reconciliation,

Notes to the American Edition,

Glossary,

133

142

167
173

189
191

FRITH lOF'S SAGA,

AND ITS AUTHOR.

No

poetical woric of

modern times stands

forth so

prominently and peculiarly a representative of the

ature of a race and language, as the "Frithiof's

of Esaias Tegner.

liter-

Saga"

Swedish poetry, of comparatively

recent growth, attained in this work, for the

first

time,

a development in consonance with the character of the

Swedish people, and with those qualities of the Swedish

tongue which
guages.
its

distinguish

it

from

Purely Scandinavian in

its

cognate lan-

other
spirit,

its

scenery,

legendary element, and only indebted to antique culits rhji;hmical form, it combines the
and freedom of the early Saga with very high

ture for a part of

freshness

artistic finish

and proportion.

national pride,

It

appeals at once to the

and the simple human sentiment of the

farmer or herdsman, and to the taste of the scholar.

Immediately upon the appearance of the poem,

to be placed at the

head of the imaginative

Sweden was recognized.

No

its

claim

literature

of

one attempted to contro(V)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

vi

vert the decision,

AND

ITS AUTHOR.

which has only been strengthened dur-

ing the forty-three years that have since intervened.

In asserting that Swedish poetry

is

of recent growth,

old Eddaic literature, nor to those

I refer neither to the

authors of the seventeenth century whose reputation

still

Few, indeed, outside of

survives in their native land.

Sweden, have ever read or even heard of the hexameters

of Stjemhjelm, or the pious epic of Archbishop Spegel.

With Dalin commenced

new

the

era,

which nearly cor-

responds in time to that of England and Germany, and

of which Bellmann, Franz^n, Wallin and Leopold

names which first carried Swedish poetry to other lands

When Bellwere the most prominent representatives.
mann died, Tegner was a boy of thirteen to Leopold,
whom he knew, he dedicated his poem of " Axel," and
Geijer and Ling belonged to his own generation.
He
:

is

thus the central figure of the period

beautiful

life,

in

which the

fire

calm, earnest,

and enthusiasm of the

poet, the sedate strength of the scholar, the tender

and

solemn humanity of the preacher, and the

and

social

domestic affections of the honest Scandinavian nature,

are blended in equal

though other of the

sionally surpass
ality

of form,

and harmonious measure.

modem

Tegnur

Swedish poets

Al-

may

occa-

in depth of reflection, or origin-

no one has the poetic faculty attained

in

such a free and plastic grace of expression, while retaining that antique

The

symmetry which always suggests

secret of this excellence

history of his

life.

is

repose.

to be found in the

Like Linnaeus and Thorwaldsen, he

sprang directly from the people

from the simple, sturdy,

His grandvigorous level of the Scandinavian race.

father was a " bonde gud " of the Thorsten Vikingssou

stamp

he fought under Charles XII, and after the battle

SAGA, AND

FRITHIOF'S

of Friedrickshall, carried
little

sword and Bible home to

his

His wife's name was Ingeborg

farm.

not she was beautiful,

is

his

whether or

seven or eight sons

plow and sword, and the youngest of

He became

Bible.

whom

vii

She bore fourteen

not stated.

children to her Frithiof, of

inherited

ITS AUTHOR,

all,

the

a preacher, took a poor country con-

gregation, married the daughter of another preacher, and

begat, as his

born

in the

fifth

son, Esaias

Tegnor, the poet, who was

parsonage of Kyrkerud, on the

3th of

No-

vember, 1782.

When

grew

the future poet

ous, golden-haired

boy of

ten,

to be an active, impetu-

and

his

oldest brothers,

Lars and Elof, were about to enter the University, the

died, leaving

father

While

family.

only the

the poor

merest pittance for the

widow sorrowed

in her cottage

behind the birchen avenue of Ingrirud, young Esaias

roamed over the country, digging for relics in the old

This youthful vagabondage,
Scandinavian barrows.
friend of his father,
however, was not to last long.

the Assessor, Jacob Branting, living near Carlstad, in

Wermeland, kindly offered a home to

good hand, and was a
and correct reckoner, he was installed as a sort of

the province of
the boy.

rapid

As

the latter wrote a

clerk to his patron,

whom

he accompanied on

his official

One who has seen the

of Wermeland its green, secluded

journeys through the province.

lovely pastoral scenery
valleys, threaded

down from

by

the clear, cold streams which sweep

the distant Dovrefjeld

its

superb birch-trees,

with their g'ant white boles, and drooping willowy boughs:

its

iron forges

granite
hills

and foundries, dark

forests

of

fir,

rocks of

and porphyry, glens of primeval wildness, and

with sea-like glimpses of the Wetter

has seen these, will easily understand

Lake

whoever

how they must have

FRITHIOF'S SAOA,

viii

AND

ITS

AUTUOR.

stimulated the boy's fancy, and assisted in the develop-

ment of his

Wandering through Werrae-

poetic nature.

land as a passing stranger, I caught pictures which will

never fade from

my

memory.

Even more than on the

Sognefjord of Norway, the locality of the original Saga

of Frithiof, I recognized the scenery of the poem.

When
He

the

lisped in

boy

first

began to rhyme, no one knew.

numbers, and

all

the occurrences of his

life

Wermeland turned themselves into poetry. He became a great devourer of books, often tasking the patience
in

of his kind patron by his complete abstraction and forgetfulness of his duties

He

when he once began

to read.

not only turned history and tradition into rhyme,

but composed an epic

years,

in

Alexandrines, on a heroic

This habit of mind gave to

theme.
its

remarkable

flexibility

his poetry, in later

and grace.

Branting, while sincerely attached to the boy,

he had intended to educate for

perceived that the

in

own

latter's gifts qualified

important sphere of

Lowenhjelm,

his

life.

He

(whom

position,) soon

him

for a

more

wrote at once to Capt,

whose house Lars Tegner was

tutor,

begging that the younger brother might be taken into

the family and allowed to study with the Captain's chil-

His request was granted, and the result showed

wisdom of Branting's course. Esaias learned Latin
with wonderful rapidity, attacked Greek with a zeal remarkable in a boy of fourteen, and secretly acquired some
knowledge of English from a volume of Ossian. When
Lars, a few months afterwards, was offered a more profitable place as teacher, he made it a condition that his
brother should be allowed to accompany him.
In 1797, therefore, the brothers took up their abode
dren.

the

in the

house of the rich iron-master, Myhrmann, in the

AND

FRITHIOF'S SAO A,
mountains, near

ix

Lars was tutor, and Esaias

Filipstad.

company with

studied in

ITS AUTHOR.

the eight sons of the family.

There was a fine library, especially rich in the classics.

Esaias was at once attracted by a folio volume, bound
in parchment
an edition of Homer, printed at Basle, in
With a limited knowledge of the Greek grammar,
1 561.

he undertook to read the old poet, constructing a system

of interpretation as he advanced.

It is stated that in seven

months, so unwearied was his industry, he read the Iliad

Odyssey twice, and Horace, Virgil, and Ovid.

same time, he was endeavoring to acquire German, English and French, not by means of the ordinary
drudgery, but by boldly commencing with the reading of
His progress was so remarkable, that
the best authors.
when Lars gave up his tutorship, he was competent, at

thrice, the

At

the

the age of sixteen, to take

in his stead.

it

year later he entered the

Myhrmann

having

University of

generously agreed

to

He

Branting the expense of his education.

by a devotion

generosity

have wrecked a

to

his

studies

Lund,

share

with

repaid their

which would

frame unsupplied with the vigorous

farmer-blood of Sweden.

He

wrote a Latin essay on

Anacreon, received a prize from a

literary society in

his

brother Lars, and in

1802, wdiS primus of the graduates.

During the summer

Gottenburg
of

for

this year,

parents, to

an Elegy on

he was betrothed, with the consent of her

Anna Myhrmann,
The lives

second patron.

his

the youngest daughter of

of few

men

exhibit such

evidences of trust and help on the one side, and grateful,

ambitious duty on the other.

Having been appointed teacher and

at

him

assistant-librarian

posts which, slenderly paid,

against want he had more

Lund

if

at least secured

leisure for his literary

I*

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

He was

tasks.

silent,

AND

ITS AUTHOR.

A poem

however, for some years.

which he sent to the Swedish

Academy

failed to receive

the prize, and this circumstance seems to have either dis-

gusted or depressed him.

to marry,

In other respects, his

life

was

In 1806 his success as a teacher enabled him

fortunate.

and

in

18 10 he received the rank

Shy and

of professor.

and salary

became

reticent as a student, he

self-possessed, brilliant in conversation, genial as a host,

and unreservedly tender as a husband and father. The

impulse which was to make him the national poet, soon
returned with the happy development of his fortunes.

The poem

of " Svea," sent to the

Academy

in

1811,

not only received the highest prize, but was read and

He was

recited all over the land.

received in Stockholm

with great enthusiasm, and while there, published several

lyrics

which

still

The

further increased his popularity.

King appointed him clergyman of two parishes in the

neighborhood of Lund, and to this new vocation, although
he appears not to have originally desired

he consci-

it,

entiously devoted a great portion of his time, visiting his

parishioners

and

assisting

them with counsel or

active

kindness.

For many

years, Tegner's

calm and fortunate.

life

was uninterruptedly

In the possession of an ample in-

come, burdened only with congenial

his

duties,

domestic and social relations, and with

for the

enjoyment of

happy

full

in

leisure

his literary tastes, the years, as

they

went by, gave instead of taking away. Each of his

poems was caught up gratefully and echoed throughout

on its appearance. In 18 14 he published

" Nore," written after the conclusion of the Treaty of

the nation,

Kiel: in 1820,
(of which

"The

Children of the Lord's Supper,"

Mr. Longfellow has made an admirable

trans-

FRITHIOrS SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

lation,)

and

ters

romance

in the following year, the lyrical

of " Axel." *

About

same time, the

the

last

xi

nine chap-

of Frithiof's Saga were published, in advance of the

complete poem,

in a literary periodical called

" Iduna"

and the reception accorded to them determined the immediate publication of the entire work.

The
terial

incentive

of

which led Tegner to seek for the ma-

his chief poetical essay in the Saga-literature

of

was undoubtedly given by the Danish poet,

Oehlenschlager, whose " Hakon Jarl " appeared as early
as 1807.
To the latter is due the credit of being the
the North,

as the

pioneer in a path leading

of that time considered

authors and scholars

into a rough, stormy wilderness,

The European

peopled with savage and repulsive forms.

and Romantic, assumed an

Denmark and Sweden. In spite

struggle between the Classic

individual character in

of OehIeuschlager''s success, the prevalent opinion was

that the Gothic element

was too stubborn, violent and

barbarous to be subdued

Tegner's

to

tastes as a scholar

the

service

of

Poetry.

might have inclined him to

the Classic view, had they not been

balanced by his

intense national feeling, his early fondness for Northern

tradition,

and

his passionate love for the skies

The

scapes of his home.

" Helge,"

(I believe in the

desire to achieve a

and upheld

The

year 1820,) awoke in him the

permanent triumph

considered a doubtful

and land-

publication of OehlenschUiger's

field.

in

what was

still

His patriotism prompted

his genius.

old Icelandic Saga oi Fridthiofe Fraekna (Frithiof

the Bold), furnished

him with a theme most congenial to

* This poem has been very correctly and beautifully

by Mrs. George P. Marsh.

translated into English

xii

AND

FRITHIOF'S HAGA,

ITS AUTHOR.

Love, combat, sorrow, storm on the

his heroic nature.

blue billows, trysts in the green grove, exile and longing

for the fatherland, guilt

ing peace, were here

and expiation, triumph and crown-

all

making King Ring

are in

The

offered to his hand.

prin-

which he has taken with the original story,

cipal liberties

die

the runes of Odin, self-carved

of the " straw-death," and

by the " spear-death,"

upon his breast instead

of Balder's

in the rebuilding

temple by Frithiof, with the reconciliation-scene which

Both these changes, however, are

follows.

with the

spirit

of the Sagas.

In the

first

in

harmony
Ring

instance

heroically completes the recompense he offers to Frithiof

and

if,

in the

given the

we must

second instance, as some

poem

too

not forget

was guilty of

sacrilege

the

was Balder

Christ-like deity of the Scandinavian

Tegner, himself, says

phens

"

It

critics aver,

in

ivhite, loving,

Mythology.

a letter to Professor

though such
opinion of many simply to

was never

to have

been the

Saga.

The most

he has

modem and sentimental a conclusion,

that the God against whom Frithiof

my

meaning

Ste-

seems

versify the

comparison ought to have

transient

shown, not only that the whole denouement

is

the

Poem and

tos

have a very remote ground in the legend.

different in

the Saga, but also that several of the Can-

My object

was to present a poetical picture of the old

Northern heroic age. It was not Frithiof, as an individit was the epoch of which
ual, whom I meant to paint
It is tnie that I
he was chosen as the representative.
preserved, in this respect, the shell and outline of the tra:

dition, but, at the

same time, I thought myself entitled to

just as was most convenient for my

add or to take away,

plan."

TegnGr was

certainly right in adding to Frithiof, for

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,
instance, a characteristic

Saga, yet which

nature

that

AND

ITS AUTHOR,

which does not appear

xiii

in the

an integral part of the Scandinavian

is

grave, semi-melancholy quality which sets

the songs of the land to the minor key, which softens,

but never clouds, the blue eyes of

people, which even

its

seems to breathe upon you from the shade of

and the dark, forbidding

If,

some

in

he

least

is

loneliness of

respects, Frithiof

is

poem

to the

Thus

the Viking-Code, in Canto

In this respect, the

after bearing the

forests

Whatever has been

has been taken from kindred sources.

the Voluspd, and a

author must have

its

mountain-glens.

slightly modernized, at

of pure Norse blood.

added

its

part of

work

is

resisted

XV,

Canto

is

to be

in the

II

found

in

Hwvamal.

The

consistent throughout.

a strong temptation, when,

outlawed Viking to the islands of the

Grecian Archipelago, he shows the reader, in but a

sin-

gle line, the temples reflected in the tideless wave, and

then turns his face again to the North.

In regard to the metrical treatment of the poem,

Tegner

says

"

The most

method seemed

to

free lyric ballads.

suitable

me, to resolve the epic form into

had the example of Oehlenschltiger,

fore

by

me

me, and have since found that

others.

It

carries with

it

in his
it

Helge,' be-

has been followed

the advantage of enabling

to change the metre in accordance with the contents

Thus, for instance, I doubt

Lament' (Canto IX) could be

of every separate song.

whether

Ingeborg's

given in any language in hexameters, or iambic pentameters, whether

many

rhymed

or not.

am

well aware that

regard this as opposed to the epic unity, which

however, so nearly allied to monotony

but

unity as more than sufficiently compensated

room and

fresher changes gained

by

its

is,

regard such

by the

freer

abandonment.

xiv

FRITHIOF'S SAOA,

AND

ITS AUTHOR.

Just this liberty, however, to be properly employed, re-

much

quires so
taste

more thought, understanding, and

must endeavor to

the

for with every separate piece one

find the exactly suitable

to one's
I

hand

form

a thing

language.

in the

have attempted (with greater or

the

third foot

the

less success) to imitate

metres, especially from the poets of antiquity.

several

Thus

not always ready

It is for this reason that

pentameter iambic, hyper-catalectic in

(Canto II)

Aristophanic

meter (XVI)

all,

the

the

trochaic

tragic senarius

(XXIV)

(XV)

the

iambic (XIV)

six-footed

anapests

and

scarcely, if at

the

tetra-

were
my

heard of in Swedish, previous to

attempts."

Perhaps it would have been better for Tegn6r if he

had followed " Helge " more closely varying the metre,

theme suggested, without insisting

on discovering a separate measure for every canto.
Nothing can be more admirable than some of his adaptations, but in other instances the reader feels that someas the changes of the

thing has been sacrificed to the form.

Where

he has

in-

troduced antique metres, as he mentions above, he has

been guided by a correct judgment.

the Swedish language seem to

The

move very

gracefully through these alien dances.

But

lithe

limbs of

naturally
in

and

Cantos III

and IV one feels the difficulty of reading a narrative

poem by such broken and Irregular steps. It was a
happy thought to introduce the alliterative Saga measure
in " Ring's Drapa."
Here the lines move with a solemn
and stately freedom which it is quite impossible to reproduce

in

a translation.

concluding canto
preface,
it

is

is

The

not, as

iambic hexameter of the

Mr. Blackley

an " uncouth metre."

In the

asserts in his

German language

frequently and successfully employed, and there

is

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,
no reason why

it

AND

ITS AUTHOR,

xv

should not be introduced into English

poetry.

am unable to ascertain the precise time when the

complete edition of " Frithiof's Saga " was pub-

I
first

The

lished.

second edition, which I possess, bears the

imprint of 1825, and Stephens asserts that the

published the same year.

his Life

poem
ner's

first

in

of the poet, says that the popularity which the

acquired was one of the causes which led to

appointment as Bishop of Wexio,

In the same year he was

Thus

the North Star.

in the

made Knight Commander

station,

which he

fulfilled

dignity but with conspicuous success, led

the seductions of Song.

his pro-

Probably the graver

ductive activity as a poet ceased.

new

of

life

this height

Although but forty-two years of age,

duties of his

Teg-

year 1824.

evenly and securely had his

advanced, from step to step of success, and at

rested.

was

Bishop Franz^n, however,

" Axel " was

not only with

him away from

during

written

the idle convalescence which followed a severe illness

" Frithiof 's Saga" was the suggestion of a fortunate

spirit

of emulation

and, although he planned a

new

" Gerda," some fragments of which

were published, he gave little to the world, from this
metrical romance,

time, except an occasional lyric.

It is also possible that

the change from Lund, with

scholastic atmosphere, fresh, joyous student-life

nial,

its

and ge-

stimulating society, to the dead quiet and solitude

of Wexio, operated depressingly upon

his

powers.

He

could not carry with him the plain room, where his dog
Atis,

who

literature,

truders

never neglected one of his lectures on Greek

lay at the threshold and

when

nor could the

warned

off all

in-

there were signs of poetry in his master

latter

take with him the track

worn

in the

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA,

xvi

AND

ITS AUTHOR.

where, hour after hour, he slowly paced out his

floor,

melodious

Perhaps, like Campbell, he grew afraid

lines.

of the shadow which

his

sudden and undisputed fame

cast before him, doubting whether he could surpass his

previous productions, and fearing to

The

last

triumph of

literature.

was

undo

their effect.

in another field than

national Convention of the Clergy was

Wexio

held at

his life

in the year

Bishop Tegn6r pre-

1836.

and produced, no less by his earnest, noble presence, than by his eloquence, the profoundest impression
upon the assembly. In character and influence, at least,

sided,

he

became

acknowledged

the

head of the

Swedish

In his place in the Legislative Assembly of the

Church.

kingdom he seems

The

to have been less successful.

heated political discussions in which he was forced to

take part troubled his cheerful, serene natural mood, and

made him

bitter

and petulant.

Before this time, symptoms of physical disorder had

make

In 1833 he was forced to

manifested themselves.

a journey to the mineral springs of Bohemia, from which

he returned without the expected improvement

His bodily condition operated on

health.
filled

my

him with gloomy forebodings.

reason

insanity in
itself in

but

" he wrote at this time

my

is

who knows whether

severer attack

be

In

family.

poetry, which

justified.

my

in

his

mind, and

" God preserve me

" there is a streak of

case

it

has manifested

a milder form of the disease

I shall

always be exempt from a

"

Unfortunately, his fears were soon to

An

incautious use of the " douche " bath

brought on symptoms of apoplexy,

noticed that his
jected

his

extensive

after

which

mind occasionally wandered.

travels,

the

publication of

it

He

was
pro-

numerous

works, and indulged in other plans of similar character.

AND

FRITIIIOF'S SA OA,
It

was about

ITS

A UTHOR.

xvii

Mr. Longfellow

this time, I believe, that

received a letter from him, announcing that a complete

edition of his

dred volumes

works was shortly to appear, in one hunHe complained that a wheel of fire
!

seemed to be constintly turning within his brain.

Finally, in 1838 or 1839, he was sent, by the advice
of physicians, to the

Asylum

for the Insane, at Schles-

Here he soon recovered, returned home, and resumed the labors of his diocese, which he performed

wig.

He was

until the year 1845.

release

then forced to apply for a

a quiet, phlegmatic condition had supplanted his

former nervous excitement, and he gradually grew weaker,

both in

intellect

and

in body.

approaching end led him to

in the

of

to hide

Then he

his son.

completely prostrated his remaining physical force.

yet his voice regained

sun shone into

his

its

his bed,

and

former strength and

As

and sound again.

chamber, he exclaimed

midnight on the 2d

He

utterly helpless,

hands to the mountains and the dwelling of

At

his

1846, an attack of paralysis

was thenceforth confined to

clear

his

returned

from the world the slow decay of

In September,

mind became

his

church at Kjellstorp, to receive the

Sacrament from the hands of

faculties.

instinct

children and grand-

Lund, and afterwards, kneeling beside

children at
faithful wife

home,

Some

visit his

his

clouded

the

autumn

"

God

lift

of November, while

northern sky glowed with splendid auroral

my

fires, his

the
life

widow kneeling
moment of death.

gradually ceased, and so gently that the

at his bedside could not detect the

The
ful

moonlight, falling upon his face, revealed the peace-

beauty which a pure and happy

spirit leaves

upon

its

forsaken clay.

We

cannot claim for Tegner the place which belongs

xviii

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

AND

to a great creative intellect.

lyrical,

and

it is

ITS AUTHOR.

His genius was

essentially

due to the fortunate circumstances of

his

that he stands forth so prominently as a representa-

life

tive poet.

Probably no other Swedish poet has so devel-

oped and enriched the language ; none other has so combined the opposite qualities of freedom and artistic finish.

and couplets cling to the memory like those of

There are passages, like the parting of Frithiof
and Ingeborg, and Frithiof 's Return, which almost every
educated Swede knows by heart. I have rarely quoted a
line of the poem, while in Sweden, without finding some
His

lines

Byron.

one to continue the quotation.

The

author seems to

have been unconscious of the undefinable melodious

beauty which his poems possess.

He was

surprised at

and on one occasion said " I had

poetry would become so a--vailable."

their great popularity,

no

idea that

The

my

source of his popularity will be found, I think,

in three qualities

melody,
purity
says

which

his

poems

exhibit

and clearness of

Tegndr

" The Swede,"

their language.

"

himself,

like the

their exquisite

and the perfect

their brilliant antithetic passages,

Frenchman,

prefers in

poetry the light, the clear, and the transparent.

The

profound, indeed, he demands and values also, but

must be a depth that

is

pellucid.

He

Whatever

golden sands at the bottom of the wave.

dark and turbid, so that
distinct

at

is

does not present him with any

image, that he cannot endure."

" Epilogue," spoken

"

it

it

desires to see the

Lund

Again,

in his

in 1820, he says

What thou not clearly speak'st, that know'st thou not

Twin-born upon the lips are thought and word
Obscurely spoken is obscurely thought"
:

In his collection of epigrams entitled "

The

Languages,"

AND

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

ITS

AUTHOH.

xix

although he shows an imperfect knowledge of English

by

calling

"

it

the speech of stammerers," he thus cele-

brates the resonant strength of the Swedish tongue

" Language of honor and conquest,

and noble

how manly

thy accents,

Ring'st like the smitten steel, and mov'st like the

march

of the planets."

In his hands the praise

hardly exaggerated.

is

It

would be difficult to find more perfect examples, both of

melody and of imitative harmony, in any modem tongue,
than his poems offer. In the wail of the winds and the
in " Ingeborg's Lament," the
and movement of Ellida's struggle with
the storm, and the bright, joyous pulsations of spring

broken dash of the billows

shifting hurry

which beat

in the

opening of

'

Frithiof 's Temptation,"

we have an admirable marriage of

rhythm.

Tegndr's

highest, were of a very high

illustrate

race,

the thought and the

gifts, therefore,

and

though not of the

rare quality.

They

the finest characteristics of his language and

and cannot perish while

either exists.

Tegndr was a man of medium size, slender in his

youth, but firm and compact of frame later in life. He
had a graceful and symmetrical head, curling blonde
hair, fresh complexion, and clear, beautiful brown eyes.
His nose was straight and strong, the chin small but well
rounded, and a peculiar half-smile played about the corners of his

lips.

It

was a frank, honest, kindly

face,

sometimes abstracted or overcast with the Northern sadness,

but oftener lighted up by the cheerfulness of a

nature which rejoiced in

its

to itself the best fortune of

liant in society,

appointed work and attracted

life.

and many of

his

He was

witty and

bril-

remarks and repartees

XX
are

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,
still

in circulation in

AND

Sweden.

ITS

A UTHOR.

Few

poets, in

any

land, have found the world so kindly disposed towards

them, or have
ant

left

behind them a more serene and pleas-

memory.
B. T.
October, 1866.

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

OF

FRITH lOF'S SAGA.

The

poem, the charm of which deform and subject, must reproduce

Whether this may be
the form as nearly as possible.
best accomplished by a rigid adherence to the rhythms of
translation oF a

pends equally upon

the original, or

its

by such

translation suggests,

must

solve

by

his

Frithiof 's Saga offers

is

variations as the language of the

a question which the translator

own
many

skill,

knowledge, and

taste.

difficulties in this respect,

and

of all the English translations which have been published,

none

will satisfy the

Swedish reader.

Mr. Longfellow has given us some parts of the poem

so admirably in his article on Tegndr,* that it is to be
regretted he did not undertake a complete translation.

poet can only be properly translated by a poet, and

none of the English versions which have appeared

this condition.

fulfil

Although the Swedish language resem-

* North American Review, No. CXVI,

July, 1837.
(xxi)

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

xxii

bles the English in the simplicity of

its

splendid

lyrical

qualities,

it

is

its

structure

richer

and

in

feminine

in

rhymes, and abounds with terse idiomatic forms which

cannot easily be transferred.

more nearly
lations

related,

The

better.

trans-

of Amalie von Imhof, Mohnicke, and, more

recently,

Lobedanz, are

all

tolerably successful reproduc-

tions of the original, which,

completely naturalized

The

Here the Germans, being

have succeeded

through them, has become

Germany.

in

English translation of Frithiof 's Saga was

first

published by the Rev. William Strong, in 1833.

This
was followed, two years afterwards, by an anonymous

work of

attempt, the

seen the
is

latter,

three or four hands.

but the oblivion into which

not indicative of success.

have not

I
it

has passed

In 1838, Mr. R. G. La-

tham, since distinguished by his ethnological works, published a translation,

Even were

its

has taken with the original would preclude

adopted as a

of the

fair representation

only changes the heroine's

bore,

London.

or rather paraphrase, in

execution faultless, the liberties which he

but pays so

little

its

latter.

name from Ingeborg

being

He

not

to Inge-

attention to the Swedish metres

that they can only be found in seven out of the twenty-

He

four cantos.

changes hexameter into heroic verse,

dactylic into iambic, blank verse into rhyme, with

rule save his

no

own whim.

Here and there Mr. Latham has some very spirited

and the whole of " Frithiof at Sea " is faithfully

lines,

and successfully given.

In the

omits a portion, on the plea that

Parting," however, he

it is

"

in

no degree

suit-

poem "
Moreover, his volume is
many faults of rhyme and metre points

ed to the English

marred by so

*'

wherein Tcgner

is

always perfect

that

it

cannot be read

OF FRITHIOF'S SAGA.
with satisfaction even by one

xxiii

unacquainted with the

original.

The translation of Prof, George Stephens (London

and Stockholm, 1839), who was a personal friend of the
The
poet, is a very conscientious and laborious work.
measure has been retained, except

and

last cantos,

and the

translator's

in the first, second,

thorough knowledge

of Swedish has enabled him carefully to express the author's

meaning.

original

lessly stiff

But the

free, plastic

wholly wanting

is

and unmusical.

movement of

the English verse

the

hope-

is

Tegn6r's liquid-flowing

" Liksom en hjelm sin rundel hvcUfver"

can scarcely be recognized in

"

This

As Heaven's

single

thing more

soft breeze its

specimen
is

arched round bends."

will sufficiently

show

requisite than reproduction

that

some-

of an author's

meaning and adherence to his measures, in order to transand character of a poem into another

fer the true spirit

language.

The

translation of

the Rev. William

L. Blackley

(Dublin, 1857) preserves all the original metres, except

that masculine are generally substituted for feminine

rhymes, and

the

("Ring's Drapa")

law of
is

in Canto XXI
Mr. Blackley, while

alliteration

disregarded.

condemning the iambic hexameter of the concluding

Canto, nevertheless does not venture to change

it,

like

Latham and Stephens. Moreover, his verses are

much more fluent than those of either of the latter genMessrs.

tlemen, his chief short-coming being that he too fre-

quently gives us rather tame and commonplace English

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

XXIV

lines for the poetic fire

Thus,

nals.

in

and sparkle of the Swedish

Canto XII, the beautiful

origi-

lines

" Och glddtigt skjuter hans svarta svan

Sin silfverfara pa solblank ban"

become,

in his translation,

And gayly his sable swan doth make

On her glassy course a silvery wake."

"

would give us

closer adherence to the original text

more of the music

"

And

A
ness of

as thus, at a venture

the joyous speed of his black

silver

So, in the

wake

swan gave

to the sun-bright wave."

" Inheritance," the

" Springare

t'va

terse

ganger

iolj,

Homeric picturesquebangstyriga,fjettrade

'vindar" (steeds twice twelve, impatient, fettered winds,)

is

rather

weakly given

in the line

" Twice twelve spirited steeds, like terrible winds in confinement."

This Canto is very well rendered by Mr. Stephens, while

in Mr. Latham's translation it is hardly to be recognized.

As
ballads,

Frithiof 's Saga consists, in reality, of twenty-four

it

might be possible to combine

selections

from

the different translators, and thus obtain a composite ver-

some respects superior to any single attempt. On

examining the translations, however, with special refersion, in

ence to

this plan, I

found the two former so deficient

poetic quality, that their occasional vigor

in

would have

scarcely compensated for the break in the smoother flow

of Mr. Blackley's translation.

The

latter, as

a whole,

is

OF FRITHJOF'8 SAOA.

xxv

greatly the superior, and I prefer, therefore, to present

it

intact,

adding only the few notes which have been sug-

gested

by a

The

close comparison with the original.

notes, explanatory of the old Scandinavian cus-

toms and mythological names, follow the poem.

B. T.

ABSTRACT
ANCIENT FRITHIOF-SAGA.

In Sognefylke, near the holy grove of Balder, dwelt

King Bele

two sons had

he,

Helge and Halfdan, and

moreover a daughter, Ingeborg the

came

to die, Bele

warned

his sons to

Fair.

When

he

keep up friendship

with the mighty Frithiof, a son of his friend Thorsten,

who was
refused

the

But the young kings

wooing for their sister's
he vowed revenge, and that he never

son of Viking.

scornfully

hand, and so

Frithiof's

would come to their assistance.

Soon after, it came to pass that, when King Hring
made war against them, they sent to ask aid from
Frithiof: he was playing chess, and let himself not be
one whit disturbed by their messenger.
Hring conquered, and made the brothers promise
Ingeborg's hand to him.
Meanwhile Frithiof had gone to see Ingeborg in
Balder's temple (vsrhich was a forbidden deed), and there
(xxvi)

THE ANCIENT FRITHIOF-SAGA.

he exchanged rings with her

Ingeborg was

far

for to

xxvii

him the

weightier matter than the

love of

favor of

Balder.

To

punish him for this contempt of the shrine of

upon Frithiof the task of going to

demanding a tribute. So Frithiof, with

Balder, the kings laid

the Faroes, and

his foster-brother, set sail in the ship Ellida, the best in

all

the North

a ship which

the voice of men.

All

all

in the

said could understand

midst of the storm Frith-

At last, when the good ship

was near sinking, he hewed Ingeborg's ring in pieces,
that his men might not want gold when they went down
iof spoke of his Ingeborg.

to Rana's dwelling (she

was goddess of the

when they had overcome

wards,

After-

Sea).

a pair of storm-sprites,

which rode on whales against them, the storm sank

down, and they approached the Faroes, where Yarl Anlet him take the tribute for friendship''s sake, and

gantyr

so he departed.

When
burned

he came back, he heard that the kings had

his dwelling,

midsummer

feast

and that they were

in

went, and found few folk within

there,

warming

rubbing

it

just then at the

the grove of Balder.

;

Thither he

but Helge's queen

the image of the god, anointing

it,

sat

and

with cloths.

money

Frithiof flung the purse with the

face, so that his very teeth

fell

out

in

Helge's

and then he was

going away, when he beheld the ring he had given to

Ingeborg on the arm of Hclge's queen. He dragged it
from her with such might that she fell upon the ground,
Balder's image was thrown into the

temple

set

in

flame.

Frithiof, but his ships

just to

show

fire,

and the whole

King Helge sought

had been made useless.

his strength,

to

pursue
Frithiof,

drew such a stroke with

Elli-

THE ANCIENT FRITHI0F-8AGA.

xxviii

da's oars (which

were twelve

ells

long), that they both

brake asunder.

Now

Frithiof remained an outcast

so he took to the

ocean, and he slew the fierce sea-kings, but

chants fare in peace.

And

so,

let

the mer-

when he had gained

great

glory and wealth, he hied him back again to the North,

and went, disguised as a salt-burner, to the palace of

King Hring. Hring knew him, and, pitying his sad
tale,

commanded

orable seat.

that he should be set in the

Queen Ingeborg spake but

little

most honwith him.

Once, when Hring and Ingeborg were driving over the

Frithiof came with speed
it broke beneath them
and dragged them up again, with sleigh and horse and
all.
Another day Frithiof and the king went out together into a wood, and the king laid him down to
sleep ; then Frithiof drew his sword, and threw it away.
Then the king told him how that he had known from
ice,

the

first

evening

go away

who

Then

he was.

Frithiof wished to

but Hring gave up Ingeborg to him, and

made him, under

the

title

of Earl, the guardian of

his

Soon after Hring died then Frithiof married his

Helge and Halfdan made
bride, and remained king.
war against him ; but Frithiof slew Helge, and Halfdan
had to pay scot to him as his lord.
heir.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

(xxix)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

FRITHIOF AND INGEBORG.

Hilding's home together grew
INTwo
plants beneath his fostering true

Two fairer

never graced the North,

In youth's green spring-time budding forth.

Strong as the oak, and towering high,

Straight as a

tall

Its strugghng,

lance towards the sky.

wind- tost summit blown,

Like helmet-plumes, so grew the one.

The

other,

When

Hke the

fragile rose.

Winter, parting, melts the snows,

And

Spring's sweet breath bids flowers arise,

Jitill

in the

bud unconscious

lies.
(I)

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

When
When
Open

is

seen to brave their force

in the

the red lips of the rose

Frithiof

sky the spring-sun glows

So grew they glad

And
And

speed hoarse,

o'er the earth the storms

The oak

in childhood free,

was the sapling

tree

the sweet valley-rose was there

In Ingeborg, the young and

fair.

Saw'st thou the twain by light of day,

In Freya's halls thou'dst seem to stray,

Where wanders many

a happy pair.

With rosy wings and golden

But saw'st thou them

hair.

in moonlit glade.

Dancing beneath the forest shade,

Thou'dst think

The

fairy

in airy

dance

t'

have seen

king and fairy queen.

How light his heart, how glad his thought,

When the first R^jies to him were taught
So proud no king on earth was

then,

Since he could teach them her again.

O'er the blue deep he loved to guide

His boat, with Ingborg by his side

While

she, as sailed they to

and

fro,

Clapped gleefully her hands of snow.

AND INOEBORG.

FRITHIOF
To

gain for her, no wild bird's nest

Too

high for him was ever placed

Nor even could

the eagle strong

Protect from him her eggs or young.

No
He

stream, however fierce

its flow.

feared to carry Ingborg through

when

Sweetly,

Her

little

white arms held him

fast.

The

first fair

The

first

wild berry, sweet and red,

The

first

ripe ear of golden corn.

Faithful

But

all

And

flower that spring-time bred,

and glad^

to the

Beamed
Young

to her

were borne.

too soon sweet childhood flew,

Frithiof to

While

'neath loud falls they passed,

full

manhood grew

maid matured,

his eye

of love's intensity.

Frithiof often in the field

Pursued the chase,

'gainst

danger steel'd

Proud, without either sword or spear,

Unarmed,

He

wrestled with him, breast to breast.

Nor

He

to slay the grisly bear.

scatheless of his prize possessed,.

carried

home

the shaggy spoil,

While Ingborg's smiles repaid

his

toil.

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.
For woman loves a manly deed,

And

beauty's praise

is

valor's

meed

The ope is suited for the other,

As head and helmet matched together.
Then, as the winter evenings sped,
Beside the hearth he

sat,

and read

Some lay of Odin^s halls of light

Of gods and goddesses so bright.
Then thought he

"

Freya^ golden

Like a ripe corn-field, waves in air

hair.

But Ingborg's tresses seem to hold

Lily

and rose

in net of gold.

" Iduna's bosom,

Beats beneath

full

and

But here, 'neath dearer

Its place

" And,

fairy

bosom

green, and rare

silken folds,
holds.

like the deep, clear, azure sky.

Beams
But

fair.

silk, rich,

lovely Frigga's soft blue eye

know eyes whose

gentle ray

Eclipses spring-time's brightest day.

"

And

shines fair Gerda's cheek alone

Like sparkling snow 'neath northern sun

I

know

of cheeks, whose ruddy glow

A double

dawn appears

to show.

FRITUIOF
"

A loving heart

AND INOEBORO.

know

Like gentle Nanna's, fond and true

Full worthily,

Praise

still,

Balder,

in song,

we

her love for thee

" Gladly in death would

of, too,

be

laid,

Lamented by a loving maid,

As faithful and
Welcome were
King Bele's

as true as she,

Hela's

home

to

me."

%-i^.,\ri^

child of daring deeds

Sate singing, while with busy threads

She wove a tapestry of war,

With

groves, and fields, and waves afar.

Upon the snowy woollen field

Grew glories of a golden shield

Blood-red appeared the lances thrown.

With
Still,

silver all the breastplates shone.

as she

The hero

When

wove

it,

more and more

Frithiof 's likeness bore

from the frame she raised her head.

She blushed with shame, but

still

And Frithiof cut, on birch-tree's

An I, an F, where'er he came
And merrily the letters, too.

was

glad.

stem.

Like their young hearts, together grew.

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

When

riseth

up the morning

fair,

The king of earth, with golden

And busy life begins to move,
Each on the other thinks with

When

night with darkness

Mother of

And

love.

fills

the

air,

earth, with raven hair.

silent stars are all that

move.

Each on the other dreams with

"

hair,

love.

Earth, thou deck'st thyself each year

With

flowers in thy leaf-green hair

Give

me

the sweetest, that

may

shine

In richest wreath for Frithiof mine

"

Sea, thy gloomy halls possess

Bright pearls in thousands numberless

Give

me

the fairest and most clear,

To weave
"

a chain for Ingborg dear."

Peak of Odin's

royal throne,

Eye of the world, thou golden Sun,

Did thy bright disc belong to me,

A shield for
"

O Lamp in

Frithiof

it

should be

Odin's halls of

"
!

bliss.

Pale Moon, with gentle ray of peace,

Thy fairest beams, if thou wert mine,

To deck my Ingeborg should shine
!

t^RITHIOF
But Hilding said

Check

this

Unequal

And
"

AND INOEBORG.
"

My foster-child,

young fondness, vain and wild

lots forbid the

royally

is

Nome,

Ingborg born.

From Odin, in his starry home,

Her ancestors descended come
Thou art but Thorsten's son forbear.
;

Since but the great should greatness share."

"

My

"In

sires lie," Frithiof proudly said,

the dark valley of the dead

But the

With
"

The

falling w^ood-king left to

his

shaggy hide,

me,

his ancestry.

free-born man, ne'er yieldeth he

The world belongeth

to the frcQ.

What chance hath lost, may chance

And Hope a royal crown may wear.

repair,

" Full nobly born descendeth power

From

" For

Thor

the great Thrudvang-dwelling

He heeds not birth, but

And mightily the sword

my young

bride

I'll

can sue.

combat now,

Though thundering Thor should be my

Bloom glad, bloom true, my lily fair
;

He who

would part us

valor true,

ill

shall fare

foe.

II.

KING BELE AND THORSTEN VIKINGSSON.

KI NG 3ELE

sword

in hi^ palace stood, ion his

he leaned,

And by him Thorsten Vikingsson, his old, tried friend

/'f he comrade who for eighty years his wars did share,
monument was

Scarred as a

he,

and white

his hair.

So stand two aged temples, midst mountains

Both with age

tottering, to ruin nigh

Yet words of wisdom

And on
"

My day is
Dim

" So

are

setting fast,"

mead

my glazing

Valhall'

my

on the walls we

see,

the roof pictures of antiquity.

" Tasteless the

But

stUl

high,

King Bele said

I feel

eyes to mortal state.

dawns more near

two sons, with

I feel

my fate.

thine, I've called to

Together they're united, as have been

(8)

the helmet's weight

v/e

me
;

KINO BELE AND VIKINGSSON.

Once more

to

Then

The

all

elder, Helge,
filled

he had willed

And now from

sacrificing

spaemen hoary,

came, his hands

still

gory.

the younger, Halfdan, with flaxen hair

His countenance was noble, but

if in

whose dark brow with gloom was

in temples spent he, with

Then came

I fain,

words be vain."

to the hall they entered in, as

His days

As

am

warn the young birds

Ere from a dead man's tongue

sport, a

and

soft

fair

heavy falchion bearing.

Like a young maid a warrior's armor wearing.

And last, in azure mantle, came Frithiof tall.

By a full head in stature outmeasuring them all
He stood between the brothers as glorious day
Stands between rosy dawning and twilight gray.
"

My

children,"

wane
Rule

quoth

the

king,

"

my

day doth

in fraternal peace, in

union reign

For union, hke the ring upon the spear.

Makes strong what, wanting

it,

were worthless gear.

" Let Vigour be your country's sentinel,

And blooming Peace within securely dwell

To shelter, not to harm, your weapons wield.
And let your subjects' bulwark be your shield.

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.

lo

"

An

unwise ruler devastates his land

All

monarchs' might in

must

strength

people's

stand

Soon

the green splendor of the tree

If from the

naked rock

" Four pillars to uphold

Kingdoms
Danger

it,

Heaven doth own

are based on one

near

is

is fled,

roots be fed.

its

on Law alone.

where

might

sway the

can

Ting;
Right guards the land, and
" Helge

But

in Disarsal the

glorifies the king.

gods do dwell

not, like snails, within a

narrow

shell

Far as the day can shine, or echo sound.

Far as the thought can

flee,

the gods are found.

" Oft err the entrails of the offered

False, though deep-cut,

But

in the

is

hawk
many a Runenbalk
;

Odin hath written Runes that ne'er can

" Helge

be not severe

By bending most
Mercy adorns a

More than
"

open heart and honest eye

all

be firm alone

the truest sword

is

lie.

known

king, as flowers a shield

winter can one spring-day yield.

A friendless man,

however mighty

he,

Fadeth deserted, like a bark-stripped tree

KINO BELE AND VIKINOSSON.

roots refreshed, though fierce the storm-winds

With

strive,

By

friendship's stream thou may'st securely thrive.

" Boast not thy father's fame

A bow thou

canst not bend

'tis

his alone

scarce thine own.

is

What can a buried glory be to thee ?

By its own force the river gains the sea.
" Gladness,

But

folly,

Mix hops

"

Halfdan, doth the wise adorn

most of

all

when thou mead

with honey,

brew

thy sports sterner, and thy weapon too.

None

is

The

lack, too well

know we

Be

learned hath the ear of every guest.

let

thy foeman's house, where'er

ever distant, though thou pass

Thy

confidence to

Full barns

we

Choose one

The

sitteth at the feast

To trusty comrade, or to friend in war.

Be thy way near, although his home be
Yet

too learned, however wise he be.

Despised the witless

"

wilt

Make

That many knowledge

"

in kings, brings scorn

in

world,

know

lock

many shun
;

whom

it

far

it lie,

by.

to give

the empty, open leave

more seek not thou

to trust

Halfdan, knows what

three

men

FRITUIOF'S SAGA.

12

Thus spake he

After the king rose Thorsten.

" Odin alone to seek

fitteth

ill

We've shared each hap,

thee

king, our whole lives

through.

And
" Full

Son

death,

many a warning Time hath whispered me,

Frithiof,

As on

which

Honor

lips of

gladly give to thee

the gods

for every
like

" Honor the king

good and harm

sunshine and like storm

into hearts they see,

A lifelong sorrow for one

Day

age hang wisdom's words.

Cometh from above,

Deep

the tombstones high perch Odin's birds.

So on the
"

we'll share together too.

I trust,

and many mourn

short hour's scorn.

man rule with might

many hath the night

Let one

hath but one eye,

Let not the better grudge against the best

The sword must have a

" High strength

is

hilt to

Heaven's

owner,

gift

hold

it fast.

yet

little

he be not wise

prize

It

brings

bear with twelve men's strength can one

its

if

kill:

As
"

shield 'gainst sword, set law against thy wilL

The proud

And

are feared

insolence,

by

few, hated

Frithiof^ brings a

by

all

fall.

man

KING BELE AND VIKINOSSON.

Men, mighty once,

And

on crutches borne,

I've seen

fortune changeth like storm-blasted corn.

" Praise not the day before the night arrive

Mead

till 'tis

Youth

drunk, or counsel

trusteth soon to

Need proves a

friend, as battle

ice, to

idle

word

And

'neath the

spring-day snow,

all

thing alone on earth

That

is,

like

is right,

dwell."

thou hast must fade

is

deathless

the dead man's glory

Will what

vow

a wheel.

snowy breast doth falsehood

" Thyself must perish,

One

proves a sword.

serpent's slumber, or to maiden's

For heart of woman turneth

thrive

till it

many an

" Trust not to one night's

To

13

and what

So warned the graybeards

is

made

therefore thou
noble, do.

in the royal hall,

As later warned the Skald in Havamal

From mouth to mouth went words of wisdom
round.

Which, whispered

still,

through Northland's

hills re-

sound.

Then both
Of

full

many a

hearty

memory named

their true friendship, in the

How,

faithful

Northland famed

unto death, in joy or need.

Like two clasp'd hands, together they had stayed.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

14

" Sons

back to back our stand we ever made

So ever

And
Oh

to each

Nome

a shield displayed

now, we aged, to Valhalla haste

with our sons

Much

may

their sires' spirits rest

And

if

sons,

who

should the Northland own.

ye hold together, ye mighty three.

Your conqueror the Northland

For might, by
Is

"

Hke the

ne'er shall see

steel

rim round a golden shield.

dear daughter

In tranquil silence bred, as most

Defend her
plant

" Helge

let

upon

on thee

Both man and maid

my

soul,

to

late-born flower.

my

Ingborg

fair

but mildness leads

good and noble deeds.

children, lay us in

Down by

^greet

meet

lay a father's care

Force breaks a noble

Now,

is

the storm-wind ne'er have power

his crest

Guard, Uke a daughter dear,

"

lofty station firmly held.

tender rose-bud

And my

To

Thorsten much of future fame to crown

The Asa
"

spake the king of Frithiof 's valor good,

His hero-might excelling royal blood

And

two

lofty

graves

the sea-shore, near the deep blue waves

Their soimds shall to our souls be music sweet,

Singing our dirge as on the strand they beat

KING BELE AND VIKINOSSOK

"

When

round

the

hills

the

pale

moonlight

thrown,

And

midnight dews

We'll

sit,

And speak
"

And now,

fall

on the Bauta-stone,

Thorsten, in our rounded graves.

together o'er the gentle waves.

ye sons beloved, fare ye well

We go to Allfather,

in peace to dwell.

As weary rivers long to reach the sea.

With you may Frey and Thor and Odin be

15
is

III.

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.

NOW

in their graves

had been

set

King Bele

and Thorsten the aged,

Where

they themselves had desired

side of the deep

Mounds high

uprose on each

bay

arched, Uke breasts that the valley of

death separated.

Helge

and

Halfdan

together,

house of

their sire

by old

traditional

usage.

Ruled

in the

And

as

but Frithiof shared

no one.

his with

an only

son possessed

the

dwelling at

Fraumas.

Three leagues

forth

was

his rule,

on three sides round

wood

and the sea was the

him extended.
Valley and mountain and

fourth of his mearings.

Birch forest crowned the tops of the

they descended
(i6)

hills,

and where

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.

Waved

fields of rye

as

tall

17

as a man, and golden-

eared barley.

Many

fair,

smooth lake held a mirror of

light to the

mountains,
Picturing forth the forests, where elks with towering
antlers

Stalked with the gait of kings, and drank from rivulets countless.

And

in the valleys around, far pastured

abroad o'er

the meadows.

Herds with

glittering hides,

and udders that yearned

for the milking.

Mingled with these, moved slowly about

in

flocks

without number,

Sheep with

fleeces of snow, as float in the beautiful

heavens
Thick, white, feathery clouds at the gentle breathing
of spring-time.

Twice twelve

spirited steeds, like terrible

winds

in

confinement,

Pawed

in the stalls impatient,

of the

Red

silk

meadows

shone

flashinjj

But a house
in

fir-

and champ'd the growth

in their

manes, and their hoofs were

with steel shoes.

for itself

wood

was the banquet

hall,

fashioned

FRITIIIOF'S SAGA.

i8

Not

hundred, though told ten dozen to every

five

hundred,
Filled that

chamber so

vast,

when they gathered

for

Yule-tide carousing.

Through the whole length of the

table of

hall

shone forth the

oak wood,

Brighter than steel, and polished

the pillars twain

of the high seat

Stood on each side thereof; two gods deep carved

out of elm

wood

(Odin with glance of a king, and Frey with the sun

on his forehead).
Lately betwixt them sat on his bear-skin (this was as
coal black.

Scarlet red were the jaws, and the

paws with

silver

beshodden)

Thorsten

still

with his friends. Hospitality sitting with

Gladness.
Oft, while

sped the moon through the sky, the gray-

beard related

Wonders

of far-lying lands, and of

many a Vikinga

voyage

Wide on

the eastern sea, o'er the western waves, and

on Gandvik.

The

glance of the listeners silent hung on the lips of

the speaker

Hung

as a bee from a rose

upon Brage,

the Skald alone thought

FEITniOF'8 INHERITANCE.
How, with
he

Under

his silver beard

19

and tongue rune-written,

sitteth

leafy grove,

the

and

wonders by

relateth

Mimer's

Ever-murmuring

stream

himself

living

rela-

tion.

Now

in the

midst of the rush-strewn hall continual

flaming

Rose the

fire

from the mortared hearth

through the

open chimney.
Heavenly, friend-like stars looked into the banqueting

chamber.

Round on

the wall from hooks of steel were hanging

in order

Breast-plates and helmets together, while here and

there from between

Flashed a sword,

like

them

a meteor seen in the dark nights

of winter.

But more than helmet or sword the shields shone

bright in the chamber.

Clear as the orb of the sun, or the silvery disc of the

pale moon.

Then, when a maiden went round the board and

filled

up the mead-horns.

Downwards she
form

Blushed

cast her eyes,

in the

like the

and blushed, and her

round shields

maiden herself

banqueting comrade.

this

gladdened each

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

20

Rich was the house

there did meet
Cellars

where'er the eye could turn,

it

and chests well

filled,

and granaries heaped

with provisions.

Many

a treasure, too,
fare

contained, the booty of war-

it

Golden, with deep-carved Runes, and silver wondrously fashioned.

Three things there were prized above

the riches

all

the rest of

First of the three

was the mighty sword, an heir-loom

ancestral,
it

named, and brother of Light-

was

forged, as ancient legends re-

Angurvadel, so was
ning

Far

in the east

it

lated.

Tempered by

toil

of dwarfs

who had borne

But Bjorn paid as a
his

Bjom

Blaetand the

first

it.

forfeit at

once both his

life

and

weapon.

Southward

in Groninga-sund,

when he fought with

the powerful VifelL

Vifell

was

father to Viking.

There dwelt then,

feeble

and aged.

At

Ullaroker, a king with an only beautiful daughter.

Lo

there

came

fi-om the

tremendous.

depths of the woods a giaot

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.

2X

Greater in height than stature of man, and hairy and

cruel,

Demanding a champion

to fight, or else

both daughter

and kingdom.

No man

stood forth to strive, nor could find a hard

enough weapon
His skull of iron to wound, and therefore they named

him the lernhos.

Viking alone, who had just

filled fifteen winters,

with-

stood him,

Fighting with trust in his arm and Angurvadel, with

one stroke
Cleft

he the
fair

Viking

terrible foe to the waist,

and rescued the

one.

left it

to Thorsten, his son,

and from Thorsten

descended

Came

it

As by a

When

to Frithiof at last.

hall

he drew

it,

the

was illumined

lightning-flash, or the dazzling

gleam of the

north-lights.

Golden thereof was the

of

it

hilt

with verses the blade

written,

Wonderful, strange to the north, but known at the

threshold of sunshine,

Where

their fathers

had dwelt ere the Asen led them

up northwards.
Dull was the sheen of the Runes as long as was
peace

in the nation.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

22

But when Hildur began her

sport, then glittered they

blood-red

Red

when he

as the crest of a cock

Lost

fighteth.

was the foeman

Who

ever met that flaming sword in the midst of the

battle.

Far was that sword renowned, and of swords the

first

in the Northland.

Next

in

worth to the sword was an arm-ring,

far

and

wide famous,

Forged by the Vulcan of Northern

Valunder

Three marks was

y-fashioned

On

it

story, the halting

it

in weight, of gold

unmingled

the heavens were wrought, and the towers of

the twelve immortals

(Figuring changing months, the Sun's dwellings called

by the minstrels)
Alf heim there might be seen, Frey's tower, and the

sun in new vigor.

As he beginneth

to climb the heights of the

heaven

at Yule-tide.

Soquaback,

too,

was there

in its hall sat

Odin by

Saga,

Quaffing the wine from a golden shell,

that

shell is

the ocean.

Colored with gold from the glow of the

Saga

is

spring-time

mom

and

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.
Writ upon grassy

fields

23

with flowers instead of with

letters.

Balder appeared there too, as the sun of midsummer,

glorious.

Shedding abundance around, and shining, the image

of goodness.

Beaming with
is

Weary

light is

Goodness, but

that

all

is

Evil

gloomy.

the sun groweth, mounting so high, and so

groweth Goodness
Faint on the dizzy height

so, sighing,

sink they to-

to the realms of Hela, the land of

shadows and

gether

Down

darkness.
Glitner was pictured thereon, the palace of peace,

where Forsete,
Holding the scales

in his

hand

impartial, ruleth the

autumn.

Many

such forms, whereby the progress of light was

betokened.

High

in the vault of the sky

and deep

in the spirit of

mortals,

Stood, wrought by master-hand on the ring

and a

cluster of rubies

Crowned

the circlet

fair

as the sun doth the arch of

the heaven.

Heirloom old
ancient

in the race

was the ring

its

origin

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.

24

(Though by the mother's

side) reached

up

to

mighty

Valunder.

Once had the gem been

Sote

stolen

away by plundering

Widely he cruised through the sea of the North, but

suddenly vanished.

Rumor

at last

was borne how on

Britain's coast

he

had buried
Himself, with treasure and ships, in a builded sepul-

chre lofty
Still

there found he no rest, and his grave forever

was

haunting.

rumor heard

Thorsten the

mounted
Cleft

with

King Bele he

his dragon,

through the foaming waves, and steered his

course unto Britain.

Wide

as a temple-dome, or a lordly palace, deep-

bedded

Down

in the

dark green grass and

chre rounded

turf, lay

the sepul-

Light gleamed out therefrom

through a chink in the

ponderous portal

Glanced the comrades

in

pitch-black witliin stood

the vessel

Of

helm and anchor and mast

Sote, with

by

the

Sat there a terrible form

mantle

and high

tiller

he was clad in a

fiery

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.

25

Moodily glaring sat he, and scrubbed his blood-

weapon

spotted

Vainly

the stains remained, and

all

the wealth he

had stolen

Round

in the grave

was heaped

the ring on his

arm he was wearing.

" Come," whispered Bele, "

enter and fight with

let's

this terrible being,

Two men

Half angry swore

against a fiery fiend."

Thorsten
"

One

against one our fathers fought, and alone will

combat."

Long contended
ous

the twain for the right of the peril-

conflict,

Which should essay

till

Bele, taking his

lot,

and soon by the

first

it

helmet,
Shuffled for each within

it

starlight

Thorsten discovered his own

so he smote on the

door with his steel lance.

Open

and bar

flew bolt

he descended.

When

any

one asked him

What he had

seen in the gloomy

pit,

he was

silent,

and shuddered.
Bele

first

heard a song,

sounded

Then

like the spell of witchcraft

it

rose a loud-clashing noise, like the crossing

of

weapons

it

sounded

FRITHJOF'S SAGA.

26

Lastly, a terrible

crj',

which was hushed

then out

darted Thorsten,
Ghastly, bewildered, disturbed; with awful Death

he had batded
Bearing, moreover, the ring.
oft

" Since in

" 'Twas dear-bought,"

he repeated

my Ufe,

was

save the time that

won

it,

ne'er

affrighted."

Far was that jewel renowned, and of jewels the

first

in the Northland.

Ship EUida, the

last of the three, of its

kind was a

jewel

Viking (so say

they), as

once from

homeward he hied him back

battle.

Coasting the shore, espied a

man on a

frail

spar of

drift-wood
Carelessly tossing about
to
Tall,

he seemed with the waves

be sporting.

and of powerful form was the man

his coun-

tenance noble.
Joyous, but changing, like to the ocean playing in
sunshine.

Blue was his mantle, belted with gold, with coral

adorndd
Sea-green his hair, yet hoary his beard as the foam
of the ocean.

Hitherward Viking steered his snake to shelter the

outcast.

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.
Took him

perishing

home

cised kindness

Yet when the host

27

to his liouse,

and exer-

chamber would lead him, the

to a

guest laughed, exclaiming

"

Good

are the winds, and

not to be scorndd

Fivescore leagues

my

vessel, thou seest, is

so

least,

(at

hope), shall

traverse ere morning.

well 'twas intended

Thanks

for thy bidding

I,

in

my

turn, could offer, but

ocean

my

wealth

would

lies in

the

Haply to-morrow from me thou may'st

gift

some kindness

that

find

some

by the sea-side."

Next day Viking stood by the

sea,

and

lo

as an

osprey
quarry-pursuing,

Flieth,

haven

No man

upon

covered

Yet

it

ship

sailed

into

the

be

dis-

steered

appeared

it

no

pilot could

its

winding way through breakers and

quicksands.

Like as

if

spirit-possessed

and when

it

entered the

haven,

Reefed were the

sails

by themselves, untouched by

hand of a mortal

Down

sank the anchor

itself,

fluke to the bottom.

and clung with

its

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

28

Dumb

stood Viking, and gazed

heaving billows

then sang the glad,

" Aegir, protected, forgetteth no debt, and hath sent

thee this dragon."
Kingly, indeed,

was the

gift

the

bended planking

of oak-wood,

Not, as in others, joined, was by one growth banded

together

Far spread her lengthy keel

her crest, like a ser-

pent of ocean,

High

in the

bows she reared

her jaws were flaming

with red gold.

Sprinkled with yellow on

blue was

her

beam

astern, at the rudder.

Flapped she around her powerful

tail,

that glittered

with sUver

Black were her pinions, bordered with red, and

when they were bended,

Vied she

in

speed with the loud-roaring

blast, out-

stripping the eagle.

Saw ye

her

filled

with warriors armed, your eyes

would have fancied

Then

to have seen a fortress at sea, or the tower of

a great king.

Far was that ship renowned, and of ships the

in the Northland.

first

FRITHIOF'8 INHERITANCE.
These

and many more, from

things,

his

29
sire

did

Frithiof inherit

Northern land was there found an

Scarce in the

heritage richer,

Save with the son of a king

is

for the wealth of kings

the greatest.

He was no

son of a king, yet king-like,

in sooth,

was

his spirit

Friendly, noble, and mild, with each day growing in

glory.

Comrades

twelve

were

around

him,

gray-haired,

princes in warfare,

Thorsten's steel-breasted knights, with

on

many a

scar

their foreheads.

Lowest of these on the warriors' bench sate also a

stripling.

Like to a rose in a withering bower

title

Gay

as a child, but brave as a man,

old
Frithiof 's

Bjorn was his

man

and wise as an

comrade from childhood

blood they had

mingled together
(Fosterkin by Northern use), and sworn to continue

Sorrow and joy

to share,

and avenge the death of

each other.

Now,

'midst the crowd of comrades and guests

had come

to the grave-feast,

who

FRITHIOF'8 SAOA.

30
Frithiof, a

sorrowing host, his eyes with tears

o'er-

flowing.

Drank

(as

our ancestors used) his father's memory,

hearing

Songs of Skalds resound

to his praise,

a thundering

Drapa,

Mounted

his father's seat,

now

his,

and

silently sat

him

Down

betwixt Odin and Frey

up

in Valhalla.

that is Thor's place

IV.

FRITHIOF'S WOOING.

LOUD soundeth
The Skalds

the song in Frithiof 's hall

sing the fame of his ancestors

No joy do they bring

To Frithiof, who heeds

all

not the tales they sing.

Again hath the earth donned her raiment of green,

And vessels swim over

To the shadowy grove
Hieth

Frithiof,

Till lately

the billows again

by moonlight,

to

;.

dream of

his love.

he joined in the joys of his home.

For Halfdan the merry he'd bidden

to

And dark Helge, the king.

And with them fair Ingborg persuaded

come.

to bring.

He sat by her side, and her white hand he pressed,

And the pressure returned made him happy and blest
And he hung in a trance
Of unspeakable

love on her favoring glance.

(31)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

32

And

often they spake of each happier day,

When

the morning

their

young

childhood's hours,

To

noble minds a garden of flowers.

They spake
Of

their

Of each

Where

of each valley and forest dark,

names deep-carved

the oaks grew

For Helge

And my

lives lay,

in the birchen-bark,

ancient grave.

"In the court

tall in

the dust of the brave.

of the king no such gladness hath smiled,

is sullen,

and Halfdan

wild,

brothers hear

Nought but
"

"

To whom

flattering

song or covetous prayer.

have no one " (and here she blushed red as the rose)

The
Far
"

dew on

Of

may speak

of

my

sorrow and woes

court of the king

less joy than the valley of Hilding

can bring.

The doves which

together we long ago rear'd,

By the hawks' fierce attacks are all scatter'd and scar'd;
One pair alone

Remains, of that

last pair take

thou one.

" For, doubtless, the bird to his mate will return

They even
'Neath

One

its

for love

and

wing bind

loving

for

for fondness

can yearn

me

word which unnoticed may be."

FRITHIOF'S WOOING.
So whispering

And were
As

sate they the livelong day,

whispering

in spring

But now she

Mounts

gone, and his joyous

is

to his

cheek

And

mood

the youthful blood

sadly he wrote of his grief

But ah

From

mate could no more be persuaded

mourning could not bear

this

"

What makes

So sad and moody

What

his breast

will'st

to go.

our young eagle here

are his pinions bloody

been struck

thou

For here we can

noble food, or of nut-brown

And

to their woe.

his

cried

Hath

by the dove.

joyously sped on his message of love

But Bjorn

Of

trees.

sighs and grieves, silent, unwiUing to speak.

Which

"

the sun passed away,

through the linden

Is fled with her presence

He

when

still

the evening breeze

Whispers

He

33

mead

fear

no need

the Skalds' long train

Cease not the joyous, tuneful

strain.

" His pawing coursers impatient neigh

His falcon wildly screams for prey.

In the clouds alone

Will Frithiof chase, by sorrowing o'erthrown.

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.

34

" EUida hath no rest upon the wave,

Early and
Ellida,

For

At

late at

be thou

strife

anchor doth she chafe.

still

and warfare

dragon free

last sets Frithiof his

The sails swell high,

And speedily brings

Him

And judgment
Loud

sitting

before

all

on Bele's grave,

the people they gave

hill

and vale his voice echoed wide

Fair Ingborg, ye monarchs,

your

sister I

This union,

Was

love as

ask of you now

for

too,

ever King Bele's purpose true.

Hilding's home brought up we were,

As young trees grow together fair
And our fates above
;

Hath Freya woven

No

king,

But long

The fame

in gold threads of love.

no Yarl was
shall his

my

name

sire, I

in

song

own

many a

live on.

of our race

Is witnessed in

burial-place.

my life
my wife

"In

"

Frithiof cried

Round

And

the waves cleaves she

over the sea to the court of the kings.

That day were they

*'

not Frithiof 's wilL"

is

FRITHIOF'8 WOOING.
" 'Twere easy for

But that better

Where

"

with love

to

win kingdom and land,

my

cherish
I'll

native strand

watch o'er

The

court of the king and the hut of the poor.

We

stand on the grave of great Bele

my

Below us
For

"

me
I

35

he hears

word, which adjures you with prayers

boon from you

this

With

Frithiof your buried sire doth sue."

Then

rose King Helge, and cried with scorn

Our

sister

A king's

was ne'er

for a vassal

born

son alone

Shall Valhalla's beautiful daughter own.

"

Go style thyself first in the North in thy pride

Win maids with thy word, and win men with thy might
!

But given to

Our

sister,

thee.

of Odin's blood, never shall be.

" Let the care of the realm be no trouble to thee

I

can guard

A place

it

there

myself, but

my

is still

In our household thou mayest be happy to

"

Thy

serf,"

serf thou may'st be

exclaimed Frithiof, "

I'm a

man

From

thy silver sheath

for myself, as

fill."

never shall be

my father

fly,

Angurvadel, to fright his security."

was,

free,

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

36

Bright flash'd the blue steel 'gainst the sun-lighted

sky,

And

the

Runes blazed blood-red as he waved

it

on

high:

" Angurvadel," quoth he,

" Thou, at least, art of ancient nobility.

"If the peace of the grave did not

Dark

king,

thee

Now

it

to

never again within reach of

So spake

pacify me,

blade would have brought

hear this last word

Come

The

my good

he,

and

cleft

my

sword

with a terrible stroke

gold shield of Helge, which hung on an oak,

In twain at a blow.

And

its

crash on the grave was reechoed below.

" Well stricken, good sword

now lie quiet, and

Upon mightier deeds but at present let sink
Thy Runes' bright glow
O'er the blue waves we must homeward go."
;

think

V.

KING RING.

AND

King Ring from the board

thrust forth

his gold seat

Skalds and warriors rise

To list to their monarch's word of worth,

Famed in the North ;
Good was he as Balder, and as Mimer wise.
Peaceful his land, like groves where gods are found

Never arose

The din of arms within its sheltered bound

And all around
The grass grew green, and sweetly bloom'd the rose.
;

Justice sate merciful, but undismayed,

Upon

And

the judging-stone

peace each year abundant tribute paid

While widely spread

In sunshine bright the golden corn-fields shone.
(37)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

38

O'er ocean the black-breasted dragons hied

On snowy pinions
Thither from

many a

And

and wide

from

far

distant land they plied,

Brought riches more

to his rich dominions.

With peace dwelt freedom

And though

safely there,

the king

All, as the father of the land, held dear,

Still,

without

fear.

Each spoke

his

mind upon the open Ting.

He'd ruled the Northmen,

Full thirty years

in

peace and

right.

None left his presence unsatisfied

And every night
Sped to Odin his name in his

people's prayers.

So King Ring from the board his gold seat thrust forth.

And

all

rose glad

To hear the monarch's word

Famed in the North,

of worth,

But, deeply sighing, thus he spake and said

" In Folkvang sitteth

On

my gentle

purple throned

queen.

But here on her grave the grass grows green.

And

flowers are seen

To bloom by

the brook that flows around.

KING RING.
" Ne'er find

39

a queen so lovely and leal

My crown to

share.

She's fled to Valhalla in joy to dwell

But the common weal

Makes me seek
"

With

for

my children

summer winds

the

King Bele here

often

With
" She

is

we used

left,

and she

shall be,

the morning

dawn on her cheeks so

young, and young maidens love,

To

to see

A lily-sweet daughter he
My choice

a mother's care.

fair.

know,

pluck flowers of spring.

My bloom is

past,

and

chill winter's

snow

Full long ago

Hath whitened the hoary locks of your

" Yet an honest

man

Though white

And

if

to

my

still

her choice

his hair

may

king.

be,

motherless children she

A mother will be,

Then autumn

with spring-time his throne

may

share.

"

Take gold from

my

coffers, take bridal array,

From each oaken

And

chest

follow, ye bards, with

your haips on the way,

For meetly may

He

seek Brage's aid

who a-wooing doth

haste."

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

40

Forth with shouting and glee his

With

And

gifts

and with gold

men

the Skalds they followed, a winding throng,

With harp and with

And

the

song,

home of King

Bale's sons soon they

behold.

Two

days they feasted, they feasted three

When
To

the fourth

was come,

hear what Helge's answer might be

Entreated they,

That back again they might

To

them home.

the grove for sacrifice brought he in haste

Both falcon and steed

Then sought each

What

fate

For

were best

his sister, the beautiful Ingborg, decreed.

Each Vala and

And
Nay

"

" For

though anxiously tried

evil,

priest

Helge, by evil signs

!

Vala, and sought each priest,

But the omens were

"

hie

terrified,

sturdily cried,

men must

yield to the gods'

behest"

But merry King Halfdan laughingly cried

" Oh, wasted feast

Had King Graybeard

himself chosen hither to ride.

Full gladly I'd

Have helped him myself to climb up on his beast."

KTNG RINO.

41

The messengers hied them home angrily

To their master's ear
The tale they told, and loud swore he

" Right speedily

King Graybeard

from his honor shall

this stain

dear."

He

smote on his war-shield, which hung at rest

On
And

a linden tree

his dragons

With blood-red

And

And

to

sped over the sea in haste,

crest

the helmet plumes

merrily.

Helge the rumors of war came near.

In dread quoth he
" King Ring

So

waved

is

we've cause to fear

mighty

in Balder's care,

In the temple, 'twere better

There

my sister should be."

sate the loving one mournfully

In the peaceful shade

She wrought

in silk,

and

in gold

wrought she

Unceasingly

Her

tears

fell,

like dev/

on the

lily

shed.

VI.

FRITHIOF PLAYS CHESS.

FRITH
At

OF

sat with Bjorn the true

the chess-board, fair to view

Squares of

silver

decked the frame,

Interchanged with squares of gold.

Hilding entering, thus he greeted
"

On

the upper bench be seated

Drain the horn

I finish,

Quoth Hilding

until

my game

foster-father bold.

" Hither

come

And

daily sounds

more

speeding,

For King Bele's sons entreating

Danger

near,

the people's hope art thou."

" BjQm," quoth Frithiof, " now beware

111

thy king doth seem to fare

And pawn may

So

free

him from

scruple not to let

(42)

it

go."

his fear,

FRITHIOF PLAYS CUESH.

43

" Court not, Frithiof, kings' displeasure,

Though with Ring they

ill

may measure

Yet eagles' young, have wings of power,

And
"

If,

their force thy strength outvies."

Bjorn, thou wilt

Thus

my

easily thy wile

No

tower beset.

meet

longer canst thou gain

Which back

my

tower,

to place of safety hies."

" Ingeborg, in Balder's keeping,

Passeth

all

her days in weeping

Thine aid

in strife

may

she not claim,

Fearful maiden, azure-eyed."

"

What wouldst thou, Bjorn ? Assail my queen,

Which dear from childhood's days hath been
The noblest piece in all the game ?
Her

"

I'll

defend, whate'er betide."

What Frithiof, wilt thou not reply

And shall thy foster-father hie
!

Unheeded from thy hearth away,

Because thy game

Then

is

long to end

"

stood Frithiof up, and laid

Hilding's hand in his, and said

" Already hast thou heard

What

me

say

answers to their prayers

send.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

44
" Go,

let

the sons of Bele learn

my suit they dared to

No bond between us shall be

That, since

T^eir serf
" Well

follow

111 fits it

me

All to

spurn,
tied

never shall become."

on thy proper path

to chide thy wrath

some good may Odin guide,"

Hilding said, and hied him home.

VI I.

FRITHIOF'S JOY.
**

''

^HOUGH

X
I

From

go not forth

My world,

grove doth

From

thence no backward glance

On

kingly spite or earthly care

United with

As

long as

widely sound,

my battle-ground,

in Balder's

But joys of the immortals

"

may

Bale's sons

vale to vale, the battle-cry,

my

lie.

I'll

taste

Ingborg

fair.

glowmg sunshine hovers

O'er flowers

fair in

purple

light,

Like rosy-tinted veil that covers

The bosom of my Ingborg

So long

By

wander by the

bright,

strand.

longing ceaselessly devoured,

And, sighing, trace upon the sand

Her name

belovdd, with

my

sword.
(45)

cast

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

46
"

How

away

slowly pass the hours

Why, son

Hast thou not marked each

Each

hill

of Delling, lingerest thou

and grove,

isle

full oft

and bay,

ere

now

Doth no belov'd one westward dwell

Who for thy

And

flieth to

Her

coming long doth

thy breast to

grieve,

tell

love at dawn, her love at eve

" But, weary with thy course, at last

Thou

sinkest

Her rosy

To
Of

downwards from the height

carpet eve doth haste

spread for

all

the gods' delight

love waves whisper as they flee

Winds whisper
Mother of gods

welcome

In bridal pearls arrayed,

"

Each

silent star

thee,

Night

ghdes through the sky.

Like lover to his mistress true

Over

love in breathing light

the waves, Ellida, fly

Speed, speed us on, ye billows blue

To home of loving gods we steer.

Where yonder lies the holy grove
And Balder's temple standeth near.
Where dwells the goddess of my love.
;

FRITHIOF'S JOY.
"

How

happy spring

Beloved Earth,

And

you, ye

My path

to the strand

press thee glad

flowers, that stand

little

to

47

gem

with white and red.

Thou Moon, with silvery light that beamest

Round mound, and grove, and temple tall,

How

fair

thou

sittest there,

Like Saga in a bridal

"

Who

taught thee, flowery brook, to

murmur

In

Who

sweet,

my

tell

love exprest

wailings, stolen from

fairies paint in

my

breast

And,

jealous, breathes the

may

her image

Since, fair as
Still,

sunset hues

My Ingeborg on cloud-banks gray

A rival beauty Freya views,

" Yet

gave thee, Northland's nightingale.

Those

The

and dreamest,

hall.

now

form away.

depart.

Hope, here cometh she

as in childhood, true of heart.

She bringeth

Come,

love's

darling, to

my

reward

to

me.

fond caressing.

Cling to this heart, where thou art dear

My

soul's delight,

Come

to

my

my

being's blessing,

arms, and linger there.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA:

48
"

As slender as the lily slight,

As blooming as the opened rose
Thou art as pure as Balder bright,
Yet warm of heart, as Freya glows.
;

Kiss me,

my

Ingborg

let

my love

In joy bring kindred joy to thee

For earth beneath and heaven above

Both vanish when thou kissest me.

no danger cometh near

" Fear not

There standeth Bjorn with trusty blade,

And men enough, if need there were,

To shield us 'gainst the world arrayed.
And I, oh could I but contend
!

For
Glad

to

And

"

Of

thee, as

now embracing me.

ValhaUa should

thou shouldst

my

wend.

Valkyria be.

Balder's wrath what whisperest thou

He, tender god, ne'er loveth

ill

Those fond ones who, with plighted vow,

In loving, his decrees

fulfil.

He who true faith in heart doth bear.

And beaming sunshine on his brow.
Was e'er his love to Nanna dear
More

pure,

more warm, than ours

is

now ?

FRITIIIOF'S JOY.
" There stands his image

How
And

he

is

near

softly gazing from above

will offer to

49
;

him here

A heart that glows with faithful love.

Kneel down with

For Balder

Than

me

there cannot be

fairer sacrifice

faithful hearts,

which lovingly

Unite in truth as firm as

"

To

his.

heaven, more than earth,

Belongs

For

it

And

despise

was born
longeth

in

it,

spurn

my
it

love

not

heaven above,

homeward

to

be brought.

Oh, would we were already sped

Oh, would we could together die

That

My pallid

" Then,

I'd gaze

When

Ingborg to the sky.

when

Through

And

triumphantly might lead

on

sit

to strife the warriors went.

silver portals as they ride,

thee, a trusty friend,

rejoicing

Valhall's

The mead

by thy

side.

maidens passed around

horns, crowned with foam of gold,

To thee alone my pledge should sound,

Thy name alone with love be told.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

so
"

On some

sea-surrounded

fair

I'd build for thee

And

there the time

Midst golden

And when,

isle

a bower of love,

away we'd

while,

shadowy grove.

fruits in

with clear and lovely ray,

Valhalla's sun illumed the plain,

Back

"

And

gods we'd take our way,

to the

But long

I'd

to reach

isle again.

adorn with starlight glance

The golden

And

our

tresses of thy head.

high in Vingolf 's hall should dance

My pallid lily rosy red.

Then from

the dance

my

love I'd bring

To bowers of peace, in fondness

And Brage, silver-bearded, sing
Thy nuptial song, forever new.

How

sings the throstle in the grove

Its

How
It

true,

song

is

from Valhalla's strand

sweetly shines the

moon above

shineth from the spirits' land.

Both song and shining join

Of worlds

Would

in

such worlds that

With thee

to tell

of love unmarred by care

I

might dwell

with thee, my Ingborg

fair

FRITHIOF'S JOY.

weep not

" Nay, weep not

my

Within

veins

oh

51

streams

life still

v/eep no more.

But mortals' love and mortals' dreams

Are ever upward prone

Ah

to soar.

stretch but hitherward thine arms,

Bend but thy

loving eyes on me.

And see how soon thy fondness charms

Thy dreamer back from heaven to thee."
!

" Hist

'tis

tne lark

"

" Nay,

That cooeth fondness

The

lark

is

a dove,

shade

In sheltered nest beside

!

mate.

its

daylight brings
for

dread or fear

morning dawns."

" Nay,

'tis

pair.

the glow

Of watchful beacons eastward shed

Our
"*

love

Nor

we

still

yet the

may whisper

happy night

is

low,

sped.

Belate thee, golden star of day

O
For

morning, slumber, slumber

Frithiof may'st thou sleep

Till

Ragnarok,

if

such thy

wings

lives are free as are the

That skyward waft the gladsome

" See

slumbering 'neath the grove.

Oh happy they, for

To them no cause
Their

'tis

in the

still

away

will.

FHITfflOF'S SAGA.

52

" But ah

in vain the loving

hope

Already morning's breezes blow,

Already eastern roses ope,

As

bright as Ingborg's cheek can glow.

The band

of winged songsters twitters,

All joyous in the bright'ning sky

And earth awakes, and ocean glitters,

Away must gloom and lovers fly.

"

Now mounts the sun in majesty

Forgive, O golden god, my prayer
:

I feel

thy near divinity

How
Oh

noble art thou, and

that

so

my

how

fair

path could tread,

Like thee, in majesty and might

And, proud and

glad,

my

life

Like thine, in victory and

"

Now

here, before thine eyes,

The

fairest

Watch over

maiden

her,

in the

soul

Her eye

And

is

set
;

Balder great
earth.

spotless as thy ray

is

clad.

North

Thine image she on grassy

Her

be

light.

as thy heaven blue

thy bright gold, that decks the day.

Glows

in

her lovely tresses too.

FRITHIOF'8 JOY.

my

" Farewell,

Ingeborg

and now

Another night we must await.

Farewell

one kiss upon thy brow,

And one upon

Now

sleep and

Still

thy lips so sweet.

dream of me, and, waking,

on our love

in

fond thought dwell

Count of the hours, as

Loving, as

do.

do, taking

Fare thee well

53

VIII.

THE PARTING.
INGEBORG.

ALREADY comes the day, but brings not Frithiof,

Though yesterday
At

Bele's grave

the open Ting

was held

was the place

well chosen

Where Bele's daughter's fate should be

How many fond entreaties did it cost,
How many bitter tears, ^by Freya told,

decreedl

To melt the ice of hate round

And wn the promise from his

Frithiof 's heart,

Once more

hand

Ah man

is stern,

haughty

to offer a forgiving

and

for his

Miscalled his honor, he hath

Ay, less than care

own

little

lips.

.''

vain pride.
care

how easily he may

Torture and wound a fondly loving heart.

And

hapless woman, clinging to his breast.

Is like the

Blooming
Its hold

growth of moss, which on the

unmarked upon the sturdy

Drawing

cliff,

in pallor, difficultly keeps

its

nurture from
CS4)

tlie

rock,

dews of

night.

THE PARTING.

55

And yesterday my fate hath been decreed

And over it the evening sun hath set
Yet Frithiof cometh net. The pallid stars
Wane one by one, and vanish and depart,
And with each gleam, that slowly fades away,
Some hope within me sinketh to the grave.
!

Yet, wherefore should

Owe me no

favor,

The mighty

Balder, in

have offended

Is

hope

Valhalla's powers

by myself estranged

for

whose shrine

dwell,

no mortal's love

pure enough for such a god's beholding

And

earthly joys should never dare to

Wherever

they, the holy

come

and sublime

Rulers of heaven, have their dwelling made.

And

yet, wliat

crime

is

mine

The

Could ne'er be angry at a maiden's

Is

it

not pure, as Urda's silver wave

And

innocent, as Gefion's morning

The

lofty

Its

dream

starry Night, the

widow of

Amidst her mourning hears

Can what

Sun hath never turned away

eye of brightness from a loving pair

And

is

the Day,

their

vows with

joy.

holy 'neath the vaulted sky

Become a crime beneath a

temple's

dome

my Frithiof, and have ever loved

Far as my furthest recollections go.
Growth of my growth, that love hath ever
When it began I never knew can tell
I

god

gentle

love.

love

been

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

56

No

hour of

And

that hath not been of love.

life

as the fruit

And, clinging

formed around the core,

is

Beneath the sunbeams,

So have

Around

too

grown

depart

Over bright

Mirror

my

shall

being

is

my love.

See, a faithful heart

brought

with such alone

and speed, with such alone,

Bifrost's bridge

Stand, faithful

There

and ripening glad

up,

shell that holds

Forgive me, Balder

Into thy halls

a ball of gold,

like

this kernel, all

Only the outward

Will

becomes,

there, in Nature's time

with such alone

before Valhalla's gods.

still,

my love,

a child of heaven, like them,

shining shields, and

itself in

fly

On

dove-like pinion through the endless space

Of

azure heaven to AUfader's breast.

From whence

Oh

came.

it

wherefore darkenest

thou.

In the gray dawn, thy gentle brow with frowns

The blood
As

of mighty Odin

well as thine

but oh

Great kinsman, can

Worth more
Yet can

And

cast

Can

cast

Remain

to

me

offer all
it

my

all this

my joy

veins

not e'en to thee.

sacrifice

than

my

fills

of

love.

boundless heaven.

life,

from me, even as a queen

away her

royal robe,

the queen she was.

and

Well

still
!

'tis

decreed

Valhalla's great ones shall not need to blush

THE PABTING.
For

their descendant.

How

wild

how pale

With him approacheth,

Be strong my
late

Our
It

heart

meet

will

As heroes meet with theirs.

57

my

fate

Here cometh

All, all is lost

my

too,

Oh

Frithiof

is lost

Nome.

angry

welcome, though how

fate is sealed

too easily

read

on thy brow.
FRITHIOF.

Stand there also there

No

blood-red Runes, bespeaking scorn and shame,

Insult

and ban

INGEBORG.

Oh

Tell

me

thy tale

Full long ago.

Frithiof,

the worst

For

all

am

my

calm

thyself.

fears foretold

prepared.

FRITHIOF.
I

reached the Ting, where stand our fathers' tombs,

And round its grassy sides, shield crowning shield,

And sword in hand, the Northland's sons arrayed.
One ring within another gathered, stood

Up

to the

summit

on the judging-stone.

Like a dark thunder-cloud. King Helge sate,

The

pallid sacrificer, with forbidding looks

And by

fair,

him, thoughtless, leaning on his sword,

well-fashioned youth.

3*

King Halfdan

sate.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

58

Then stood

I forth,

The foemen's
King Helge,

me

Give

and cried

let

"

War

cometh near

upon our borders

shields

clash.

peril threateneth thy realm.

thy

and

sister,

bring to thee

may

This arm to combat, which

And

service do,

our former quarrel be forgot.

With Ingborg's kindred

love

not to

strive.

Bethink thee, monarch, and together save

Thy golden

crown, thy sister's happiness.

my hand

Here

is

Than

this last time

by Thor
I

A shout filled all the

offer

divine,

it

no more

for peace."

Ting, a thousand swords

Clashed loud approval on a thousand shields.

Far

fled the

sounds into the

Which drank
"

Oh

No

fairer ever in

His

Oh

give

is
!

The aged
Stood

him Ingeborg, the gentle

all

the land.

Our

him Ingeborg."

foster-father,

Hilding, witli the silvery beard.

forth,

and spake,

pithy pleas,

Short,

lily

our valleys bloomed

the bravest sword in

give

lofty skies,

the shouts of freemen for the right

in

words of wisdom deep.

which

rang

like

strokes of

swords.

And

Halfdan, rising from the royal seat,

Himself besought, with many a word and

All

was

in vain,

and bootless every prayer

So beaming sunshine, on the barren

No

fruit enticeth

from

its

rock,

stony heart

sign.

THE PARTING.

59

And Helge's dark, unchanging visage

To all entreaties still a ghastly Nay.
"

A yeoman's

" Might

wed

son," said he, at length, in scorn,

with Ingborg

Becometh

ill

Hast thou

not, Frithiof,

but to Valhall's daughter

a sacrilegious mate.

broken Balder's peace

Hast thou not seen

my

When Day

itself

had hid

sister in his shrine,

before the crime

Nay "
crowd of men

Answer me. Yea,

Amidst the

spake

or

Loud rose a cry

"

Say Nay

say only

Nay,

Thou Thorsten's mighty son, almost a king

Thy word we trust, and we for thee will sue
Only say Nay, and Ingeborg
"

My joy

of

life

said

would not

Then

And

hangs on a single word,"

lie for all

King

Valhalla's bliss.

scarce for earthly joy

saw thy

sister.

spake with her at night-time in the temple

Yet thus
I

thine."

" yet fear not therefore thou,

is

had

never broke the peace of Balder."

to cease.

scream of horrid fear

Spread through the Ting

those

who beside me stood

Fell off as from a plague-besmitten

Where'er

Here

man.

looked, their superstitious fear

Had hushed each tongue, and every face was pale,

Which just before had flushed with joyous hope.
There conquered Helge

then, in ghastly tones,

Hollow and deep (Hke those of Vala dread.

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

6o

In Vegtarasquida, when to Odin singing

Of

Hela's triumph, and the Asen's

Thus spake he gloomy

I

fall),

" Banishment or death

might denounce by our ancestral laws

Against thy sin

As

Balder

is,

but

will

show me mild

whose holiness

thou'st slighted.

In western ocean doth a cluster

Of

islands,

where

Jarl

lie

Angantyr bears sway

A stated yearly tribute paid the Jarl

While Bele

lived,

but never since his death.

Cross thou the sea, and fetch that tribute back.

So may thy
in

They

say,

He

service for thy sin atone."

mean scorn he added

Then

he

is

"

Hard of hand,

and, like the dragon Fafner,

watcheth o'er his gold

but

who can

stand

Against our second Sigurd, Fafher's bane

This shall a worthier adventure prove

Than maidens to beguile in Balder's grove.

Next summer let us see thee homeward wend
With all thy glory, and thy treasure too
:

Else shalt thou be a knave in Northmen's eyes

And

all

thy lifetime peaceless in the land."

Such was

his speech

And now

thy purpose

and so the Ting dispersed.

INGEBORG.
?

FRITHIOF.

Have

aught to choose

THE PARTING.
my

Hangeth

And

must

honor not on
free

it

deniand

his

Angantyr

if

ay,

6i

His wretched gold in Nastrand's waves should hide.

This day shall

depart.

INGEBORG.

And

leavest

me

FRITHIOF.

Nay, nay,

leave thee not

thou, too, shalt come.

INGEBORG.
Impossible

FRITHIOF.

O
Thy

Ingborg, hear

crafty brother

first.

seemeth to forget

That Angantyr hath been

my

As well as Bele's and he

With good will what I ask
;

me

father's friend.

yet
:

may

give

should he refuse,

have a sharp-tongued, mighty advocate

My cause

to plead

The gold he

it

hangeth by

loves to Helge

I will

my

side.

send.

Freeing forever, thus, myself and thee

From service to this crowned hypocrite.

But we ourselves, my Ingborg fair, will spread
EUida's

sails

She'll bear us

And

find

and over seas unknown

bounding to a happier land,

sweet shelter

for

our banished love.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

62

What care have I for Northland ^for a race

Who, when their priests but speak, in fear grow pale,
And rude would tear the flow'r-crowned cup of life
From out the sanctuary of my heart ?
By Freya, nay, they never shall succeed
!

None but a

slave will to his mother-soil

Be chained

unwilling

wander

I will

Gathered from Bele's and

my

Finds place upon our bark

free.

A little clay

Free as the mountain winds.

father's graves

and that

is all

That we of Fatherland can ever need.

O my beloved,
Than our

And we

can find a

Where gentle

And

fairer

snowy

hills

heaven than here,

stars with god-like

in the happy,

Watch

beam glance down,

balmy summer night

in the laurel-groves each loving pair.

Full far

my

Wandered

By

warmer sunshine glows

pale light above the

father,

Thorsten, Viking's son.

in warfare

and

full oft

he told

blazing hearth, through the long winter nights.

Of southern

ocean, with

Green groves

its

islands fair

reflected in the shining waves.

In days of old ruled there a mighty race

And gods tremendous

in their

marble shrines

But now forsaken stand

they.

The mounds

and wild flowers hide

Inscriptions

deserted

Grass grows o'er

which the old world's \visdom show.

Ruins of tapering pillows there grow green.

THE PARTING.

63

Covered with leaves of clinging southern weeds,

And

all

around the lovely earth brings forth

Harvests unsown of

And

golden

fruits

There grapes

Hang

in

that

all

men can

need.

on shadowy branches glow

heavy clusters on the vine

purple-red,

and

ripe as thy sweet lips

There, Ingeborg, we'll found beyond the waves

Another Northland,

And

than here

fairer far

with our faithful love rejoice once more

Deserted shrines and temples, and delight

With mortal fondness

Then

if

the forgotten gods.

some mariner with

flapping sail

(For there no storms engage)

By

drift

past our

isle

rosy sunset, and with joyous gaze

Look from

Then on

the ruddy ocean to the strand,

the temple's threshold shall he see

Thee, a new Freya

methinks, they

(her,

In their tongue Aphrodite)

Thy golden

shall

name

behold

locks light floating in the breeze

Thine eyes more radiant than the southern sky.

And growing round

thee,

A temple-dwelling little
With

flushing cheeks, as

All

its fair

Ah

Each

if

the South had set

roses in the northern snows.

Ingeborg,

how

fair,

how near doth

stand

earthly joy to two fond, loving hearts

If boldly
It

coming by degrees,

Alfen-race

grasped whene'er

follows willingly,

its

and builds

time be come,
for

them

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

64

A Vingolf

even here on earth below.

Come, hasten
Stealeth

All

is

now each word we speak

even

away an

instant from our joy.

prepared, and, eager for her

flight,

Ellida flaps her darkling eagle-wings,

And

the fresh-breathing north wind calls us forth

For ever from

How ?

this superstitious shore.

Lingerest thou

INGEBORG.
Alas

cannot follow thee.

FRITHIOF.

Not

follow

me ?
INGEBORG.

Ah

Frithiof,

thou art happy

Following no man, thou canst forward go.

Like thy swift vessel

Thy

will alone

at the

With steady hand, above

Alas

how

different

My destiny in
Which

rudder stands

and so thou steerest

my lot must be

other hands must

yield not

up

forth.

the angry waves.

!

lie.

their prey, although

and pining

Self-sacrifice,

and

The freedom

of the daughter of a king.

grief,

is

it

bleed.

THE PARTING.

6$

FRITHIOF.

Art thou not free, whene'er thou

Not

in his

grave

wilt

sitteth thy sire

INGEBORG.

Ah
Or
I

cannot wed

No

Helge

standeth in his place

is

my

father,

without his will

and Bele's daughter

happiness, however near

For what were woman, thus

steals

it lie.

self-willed, to

break

Those bonds wherewith the wise Allfader linketh

Ever the weaker being
In the pale water-lily

to the strong

is

her type.

Sinking or rising on the changing waves

Above

And

speeds the

recks not

Such

As

it

is its

how

destiny

sailor's keel

wound

it

and

the tender stem

yet, as

long

clings the root tenacious in the sand,

It sprouteth ever forth

It

away.

hues

its pallid

borroweth from sister-stars above.

Itself a star

upon the azure deep

But, by the roots uptorn,

A faded leaf

and oh

Last night

The

My

drifts

away,

upon the desert wave.

Anxious as watch'd

Thoughts

it

a wretched night

I,

all-terrific,

and thou earnest

it

was

not.

offspring of the night.

raven-locked, passed constantly before

waking eyes, wliich burned, but could not weep,

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

66

Balder himself^ the bloodless god, did seem

To bend upon me glances filled with rage.

And so, last night, I have revolved my fate,
And thus determined I will linger here.
:

Submissive victim to

Yet

it is

my brother's

well that then

will.

had not heard

Thy hope-breathed dreams of cloud-imagined

Where ever glows the heavenly sunset's light

isles,

O'er flow'ry lands of tranquil peace and love.

How
Of

few can

tell

how weak we

are

childhood, long-forgotten, rise

the

dreams

anew

And whisper in my ear with gentle tones

As well remembered as a sister's voice,
As sweet and tender as a lover's tones.
But now I will not hearken, will not heed
Those sweet, persuading, once beloved words

Can I, the Northland's child, there southwards dwell ?

I

am

Too
It

too pale for southern roses'

colorless

my

would be melted 'neath

And

longingly

bloom

thought for Southland's glow.

my weary

Towards the bright

its

burning sun

eye would strain

north-star,

which unchanging

keeps
Its

heavenly watch above our fathers' graves.

My noble

Frithiof shall not fly

away

From the dear fatherland he should defend,

Nor ever cast his wide-spread fame aside
For such a

trifle

as a maiden's love.

THE PARTING.

A life

67

which the sun spins year by year,

in

Each day unvarying from

the day before,

A sameness

beautiful, but everlasting,

May

maidens

suit for

Like thine a tranquil

Thou

but for manly souls

life is

wearisome.

when storms tumultuous

thrivest best

ride

Their foaming battle-steeds across the seas,

And on

a swaying plank, for

Battiest with peril for the

The

untimely for thine unborn deeds

Together with thy

Would
Ne'er

My hero's

Oh

wise,

my

Our joy of
So we must

Frithiof 's

songs, and never will

its

Frithiof

The mighty Nornes,

least our

that shall never be

away my

glory in

name
quench

rosy dawn.

let

us yield before

and, so submitting, save

honor from the wreck of

life

shield, thy free-born soul

gather rust.

will I steal

From Skalden

At

of fame.

lovely desert thou hast painted were

A grave

Be

or death

life

meed

we can no longer

fate

save.

separate.

FRITHIOF.

But wherefore so
Because a sleepless night thy mind disturbs

INGEBORG.
Because thy safety and

my

worth demand.

FRTTHIOF'S SAGA.

68

FRITHIOF.

A woman's worth in manly love is found.

INGEBORG.

He

loves not long

who doth

not honor too.

FRITHIOF.
Inconstant stubbornness no honor wins.

INGEBORG.

A noble

stubbornness

is

love of right

FRITHIOF.

But yesterday

it

strove not with our love.

INGEBORG.

Nor dolh

to-day, but with our flight the more.

FRITHIOF.
It is necessity that calls us.

Come

INGEBORG.
Needful alone

is

what

is

right

and noble.

FRITHIOF.

High mounts

the sun, the time

is

fleeting by.

INGEBORG.

Ah me

it is

gone by

gone by

for ever.

THE PARTING.

69

FRITHIOF.

Bethink thee

well,

is this

thy last resolve

INGEBORG.
I

have bethought

me

well,

and so resolve.

FRITHIOF.

Farewell, then, Helge's sister

fare thee well

INGEBORG.

Frithiof, Frithiof, is

it

thus

we sever

And hast thou, then, no kindly glance for me.

Thy childhood's friend hast thou no hand to
To her unhappy, whom thou once didst love ?
;

Think'st thou

Away

stand on roses here, and cast

with senseless smile

Uprooting from

offer

my

my lifetime's

joy,

heart without a pang.

The hope belov'd which with my growth hath grown ?

Hast thou not been the day-dream of
All that

And

all

ever

that

Forever in

Oh

knew

life

of joy

was

my

heart

hath generous or brave

my mind

shadow not

thy image took.

that

With harshness not

image

the poor

to

me

weak

meet

girl,

who

offers

All that on earth's wide circuit she holds dear,

All that can dearest be in Valhall's halls.
Frithiof, this sacrifice is

A word of

Frithiof

comfort

it

hard enough,

might well deserve.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

70
I

know thou

lovest

me

knew

it

well,

Already when our days began to bloom,

And

surely shall thy Ingborg's love pursue

Thee many a

year, where'er thou

But din of arms

Which,

mayest wend.

at length will dull thy grief.

floating far

upon the stormy waves.

Will find no place beside thee on the bench,

When,

glad with victory, thou drain'st the horn.

Yet now and then, when

peace of night

in the

Thou musterest memories of the bygone

Amongst them may flit by an image pale
Well known

to thee,

days,

and bringing greeting fond

Of thy dear home, and

it

shall bear the

form

Of the pale maid who dwells in Balder's grove.

Thou wilt not drive it from thee, though its glance

May

troubled

seem

ah

One word of friendship to

Of night on faithful wings
One comfort
For

AU

left,

it,

and the winds

will waft it

the only one

have nothing to disperse

that surroundeth

These

Even

whisper but a word,

lofty

me

own

my

recalleth

me

grief

it

temple halls but speak of thee

Balder's image in the

still

moonlight,

Threatening no longer, seems thy form to take.

Seaward
Its

way

to

Landward

look,

me
I

there swam thy

keel,

and clave

awaiting on the strand.

look,

there standeth many a stem

With Ingborg's name deep carved upon the bark

THE PARTING.
The

trees stretch out,

71

and so the name grows

faint,

'Tis but a token, as they say, of death.

I

ask of daylight, when

Of

night

Even

My

saw thee

last ?

still.

the sea, which beareth thee, returneth

questions only with a sigh to shore.

Greetings

I'll

Quenching

send thee in the sunset red.

its fires

Each cloud-ship

A freight
So

it

ask, but she remaineth

amongst thy waves.

afar

that sails through the sky shall bear

of sorrow from the lonely one.

in the maiden's

A dark-clad v/idow,

chamber

will

mourning

Embroidering broken

lilies in

sit,

for her joy

the frame,

Spring a newly-woven carpet spread.

Till

Covered with sweeter

Or, taking up

my

lilies,

my

harp,

o'er

my

endless

grave

woe

Breathe forth in deepest tones of misery.

Or

burst in tears, as now.

FRITHIOF.

Thou

conquerest, child of Bole

Forgive

Which

my

for a

anger

The

ah

anger's garb,

can never carry long.

Ingeborg, thou art

my Noma good

noble best nobility can teach

The wisdom
Never a

weep no more

'twas nought but grief,

moment borrowed

A garb which
Oh

of necessity can have

better advocate than thee,

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

72

Oh

lovely Vala, with the rosy lips.

Yes,

will yield before necessity,

Will part from thee, but never part from hope.

Hope
I'll

I'll

bear

With

bear with
with

it

the

first

me

me

o'er the western waves,

to the gates of death.

spring-day will

me home

hie

Me shall King Helge soon, I trust, behold.

My vow accomplished, and my task fulfilled.
The crime

Then

forgiven of which

shall I

ask thee

nay,

stand accused.

shall claim thy

hand

Upon the open Ting, 'midst naked swords.

From Helge not, but from the Northland race.
That
I

is

thy sponsor true, thou child of kings.

have a word

him who

for

Till then, farewell

And

take, in

be

memory

My arm-ring here,

true,

shall refuse.

remember me

Valunder's beauteous work,

With heavenly wonders graven on

Still

worthier wonder

How well

it

is

the gold

my bride, my

Bide a few moons, and

faithfid heart.

clingeth to thy dazzling

A glow-worm glittering
Farewell,

of our childhood's love.

arm

on a hly-stem.
darling
all

fare thee well

our grief

is

changed.

{He

goes.)

INGEBORG.

How proud, how

The

valiant,

and how strong

point he setteth of his trusty sword

in

hope

THE PARTINO.
breast, and crieth, "

At Noma's
Alas

my

poor Frithiof,

Noma

She goes her way, and laughs

How

knowest thou

little

my

73

Thou must

yield

never yields

at Angurvadel.

sullen brother

Thine open, valiant soul can never fathom

The gloomy depths

That burneth
His

sister's

Far sooner

of his

nor

tell

hand
will

to thee he'll

never give.

he risk his crown, his

And offer me to hoary Odin, or

To agdd Ring, with whom he now
Where'er

am

Yet

So

look,

glad,

keep

will

And, oh

may

it

see no hope for

my
all

sorrow
the

The dreary months

four,

But never

and

life,

contends.

me

liveth in thine heart.

Thine arm-ring here

Two,

the hate

fiercely in his envious breast.

six,

for myself,

good gods follow thee

shall help

off,

in

me

well to

consuming care

tell

then mayest thou return.

find again thine Ingeborg.

IX.

INGEBORG'S LAMENTATION.
" A

UTUMN

x\.
And

here

is

High-heaving Ocean

still,

my

here, far from

its

waves doth rear

home,

Gladly I'd roam.

"

Long did
His

Oh

sail in
!

Ye

view
the west, on

happy,

Over the
"

my

it

flew

blue billows rough.

Shine brightly, ye

To my

He

course as

billow.

Swell not so high

"

its

Frithiof to follow

will

ye speed swiftly enough.

stars, to display

Frithiof his way.

be home

With Spring

No more

but his dear one will come

to his love-breathing call

In valley or

hall.

(74)

INOEBORO'S LAMENTATION.

75

" Ghastly, and cold

To

the

she

voice of his love,

mould

shall

lie

in

the

Or, offered for her brother's need,

Lamenting, bleed.

" Thou, his falcon, art

Mine

shalt thou be,

But by me, thou

"

left

and

v^ring'd

I'll

treasure the gift

hunter of heaven,

Thy

food shall be given.

Thy

place thou shalt claim,

Displayed on his wrist on the 'broidering frame

Thy wings of silver

Thy talons goldei).

folding,

" Freya, in need,

Took

falcon's

wings once, through creation to

speed,

And

her Oedur belovdd sought forth

In south and in north.

" E'en couldest thou share

Thy

pinions with me, scarce

bear
'Tis death,

my

weight could they

and death

Celestial wings.

only, that brings

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

76

" Sky-hunter brave,

Perch on
Alas

my

how

shoulder, and gaze o'er the wave.

long

While Frithiof

"

may we

When I am dead,
He will return to my
;

Welcome and

gaze

delays.

message give heed

comfort, over and over,

My sorrowing lover."

X.

FRITHIOF AT SEA.

NOW,

King Helge stood

In fury on the strand,

And

mood

in embittered

Adjured the Storm-fiend's band.

Gloomy

is

the heaven growing,

Through desert

skies the thunders roar,

In the deep the billows brewing

Cream with foam

the surface o'er.

Lightnings cleave the storm-cloud, seeming

Blood-red gashes in

And

all

its

side

the sea-birds, wildly screaming.

Fly the terrors of the

" Storm
Its

is

tide.

coming, comrades

angry wings

hear

Flapping in the distance,

But

fearless

we may

be.
(77)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

78

Sit tranquil in the grove,

And

fondly think on me,

Lovely in thy sorrow,

Beauteous Ingeborg."

Now

tvvo storm-fiends

came

Against EUida's side

One was wind-cold Ham,

One was snowy Heyd.
Loose

set they the tempest's pinions,

Down

diving in ocean deep,

Billows, from unseen dominions,

To

the god's abode they sweep.

All the powers of frightful death,

Astride upon the rapid wave,

Rise from the foaming depths beneath,

The
*'

bottomless, unfathomed grave.

Fairer was our journey

Beneath the shining moon,

Over the mirrory ocean,

To Balder's
Warmer far

Was

sacred grove.

than here

Ingborg's loving heart

Whiter than the sea-foam

Heaved her

gentle breast."

FRITHIOF AT SEA.

Now

79

Solundar-oe

Ariseth from the foam

Calmer the sea doth grow

As near
But

the port they come.

for safety valiant

Viking

Will not readily delay

At

the helm he stands, delighting

In the tempest's stormy play.

Now

the sheets more close belaying,

Swifter through the surge he cleaves

Westward, further westward

flying

Lightly o'er the rapid waves,

" Yet longer do

To

find

it

sweet

battle with the breeze,

Thunderstorm and Northman meet,

Exulting on the seas.

For shame might Ingborg blush.

If her osprey flew.

Frightened by a storm-stroke,

Heavy-winged

Now

ocean

to land."

fierce battles

The wave-troughs deeper grow,

The

whistling cordage rattles.

The planks creak

loud below.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

8o

But though higher waves appearing

Seem

mountains to engage,

like

Brave EUida, never

Mocks

fearing,

the angry ocean's rage.

Like a meteor, flashing brightness,

Darts she

forth,

with dauntless breast.

Bounding, with a roebuck's lightness,

Over trough and over

crest.

" Sweeter were the kisses

Of Ingborg,

Than here

in the grove.

to taste in

tempest

High-sprinkled, briny foam.

Better the royal daughter

Of Bele

Than

The

to embrace,

here, in anxious labor.

tiller fast to

hold."

Whirling cold and

Snow-wreaths

fast,

fill

the sail

Over deck and mast

Patters heavy

The
So

h^.

very stem they see no more,

thick

is

darkness spread

As gloom and horror hover o'er

The chamber of the dead.

FRITHIOF
Still to

AT

SEA.

8l

sink the sailor dashes

Implacable each angry wave

Gray, as

if

Yawns

bestrewn with ashes,

the endless, awful grave.

" For us, in bed of ocean.

Azure pillows Ran prepares

On

thy pillow, Ingeborg,

Thou

thinkest upon me.

Higher

my

ply,

comrades,

Ellida's sturdy oars

Good

ship, heaven-fashioned.

Bear us on an hour."

O'er the side apace

Now

a sea hath leapt

In an instant's space
Clear the deck

From

his

arm now

To draw

his ring, three

The golden
his

gift

sword

swept.

Frithiof hastens

Like the morning sun

With

is

it

marks

in

glistens.

of Bele great.

in pieces cutting

The famous work

of pigmies'

art.

Shares he quickly, none forgetting,

Unto every man a

4*

part.

weight

FRITHIOP'S SAGA.

82
" Gold

good possession

is

When

one goes a-wooing

Let none go empty-handed

Down

to azure Ran.

Icy are her kisses,

Fickle her embraces

But

we'll

charm the sea-bride

With our ruddy

Fiercer than at

gold."

first,

Again the storm

attacks.

And the sails are burst,

And the rudder cracks.
O'er the ship half buried tearing,

Now the
At

the

waves an entrance gain

pumps

Fail to drive

Frithiof

the crew, despairing.

them

now no

forth again.

longer doubteth

That he Death hath got on board.

Still

above the storm he shouteth,

Dauntless, with

commanding word.

" Bjom, come to the rudder

Hold

it

tight as bear's

Valhall's

No

hug

power sendeth

such storm as

this.

FRITHIOFAT SEA.
Now

at

work

is

magic

83

Coward Helge singeth

Spells above the ocean
I

will

mount

to see."

Like as martins

fly,

Sped he up the mast,

And

thence, seated high,

A glance around he cast.

A whale

before Ellida gliding.

Like a loose island, seeth he.

And two base ocean demons riding,

Upon his back, the stormy sea.
Heyd,

in

snow-garb shining brightly.

In semblance of an icy bear

Ham,

his loud

wings flapping widely,

Like a storm-bird high in

" Now, Ellida,

let

air.

us see

If in truth thou bearest

Valor in thine iron-fastened

Breast of bended oak.

Hearken
If thou

Up

to

my

calling.

be heaven's daughter

and with thy keel of copper

Sting this magic whale."

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.

84

Now heed

Ellida giveth

Unto her

lord's behest

With a bound she

Deep

cleaveth

the monster's breast.

Forth a stream of blood hath bounded,

Spouting upwards to the sky,

Diving down, the brute, deep-wounded,

Sinketh, bellowing, to die.

Together now two darts are

cast,

Flung by Frithiof 's arm so

Through the

One

fierce

ice-bear one hath passed,

the storm-bird's breast doth pierce.

" Well stricken, brave Ellida

Not soon

again, I wager,

Shall Helge's magic vessel

Rise on the gory wave.

Heyd and Ham no

longer

Now bewitch

the ocean

Full bitter

the biting

Of

is

the purple steel."

At once

the storm-wind, leaving

The ocean calm and

Still

wafteth on

The

its

clear.

heaving

ship to islands near.

FRITH10F
And,

all at

AT

life

To
His

85

once, the sun appearing,

Like a monarch in his

New

SEA.

hall.

and new delights seems bearing

ship and wave, to

silent radiance

hill

and vale

crowneth high

The lofty cliff, the forest's bound

And all rejoicingly descry
The grassy shores of Efjesund.

" Pale Ingeborg's entreaties

Have

risen to Valhalla,

Her knees my

lily

bended

Before the golden shrine.

The
The

tears in her eyes so lovely,

sighs of her swan-like bosom.

Have touched

Now

But

let

Ellida's

Hath

the hearts of immortals

us give them thanks."

prow

stricken with such force.

That s;ow she crawleth now,

A-weary of her course.

Weary,

Now

too,

with dangerous sailing

are Frithiof 's comrades bold.

E'en the swords they lean on,

Feeble forms erect to hold.

failing

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

86

On

sturdy shoulders Bjorn doth ferry

Four from Ellida

to the land

But mighty Frithiof eight doth carry

Down

to the fire

upon the

strand.

" Blush not, pale companions,

Waves are
And bitter
With

sturdy Vikings,
'tis

to battle

the ocean maids.

See, the mead-horn cometh.

On

feet of gold

it

circleth

Our limbs benumbed

With

we'll

skoal for Ingeborg."

warm

again

XI.

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR.

NOW

also ye the tale shall hear

How, with

Drank

his vassals

In the

fir-

wood fashioned

In mirth and gladness

The

all,

joyfully Yarl Angantyr,

hall.

sitting,

he

blue waves looked upon.

As down

the sun sank in the sea,

Like to a golden swan.

In the deep

bow

of the

window wide

Old Halvar, keeping ward,

With one eye viewed

With one

his

A habit strange

mead

the spreading tide.

did guard.

the old

man had

He'd ever empty the cup,

And

into the hall, with gesture sad.

For more would hold

it

up.
(S7)

FRITHIOF'S SAO A.

88

But now he

cries,

as the empty horn

Into the hall he throws,

"A

ship upon the sea

is

borne,

Full heavily she goes

Now seemeth she to

Now reacheth she
Two

tarry.

the land

mighty giants carry

The

pale crew to the land."

O'er ocean's wide dominions

The Yarl now

looketh he

" Those are EUida's pinions

That, too, must Frithiof be

By such a proud

appearing

Must Thorsten's son be known

In

all

the North, such bearing

Belongs to him alone."

Forth from the board, in furious mood,

Doth Viking Atle

rise,

Black-bearded Berserk, craving blood.

Rage

flashing from his eyes

" Now, now," he

cries,

"

my hand

shall

If Frithiof, as they say,

A spell o'er steel itself

And

can throw,

ne'er for quarter pray."

show

FRITHIOF WITH ANOANTYR.

With him sprung up twelve comrades
Twelve comrades from the board

They wield
With

there,

the club, they cleave the air

fiercely-brandished sword.

They rush down

Where

And

89

to the level strand.

rests the ship at length,

Frithiof sitteth on the sand,

Bespeaking might and strength.

"

With case my sword should

Doth

" But that the choice

To
Yet

combat, or to

if thou'lt

Then, as a

"

allow

I still

mc

sue for peace from

friend,

I'll

bear).

go with thee

noble Angantyr."

My journey's
Quoth

toil

hath

left

me weak,"

Frithiof, fury-stirred

" Yet, ere a craven peace

I'll

thee now,"

fly.

(Though cruel name

To

fell

boastful Atle cry,

seek,

prove thy mighty sword."

Flashes the steel with lightnings, flung

From

nervous, sunburnt hand

Each Rune on Angurvadel's tongue

In burning flame doth stand.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

go

The

clashing weapons, showering, strike

A hail of death-strokes round

The

shattered shields of both alike

Fall shivering to the ground.

Their comrades brave stand firm and

And none

his place forsakes

Keen Angurvadel

The blade

fast,

bites at last,

of Atle breaks.

" 'Gainst swordless man," bold Frithiof cried,

"

My sword

But

let

never use

us try another

fight.

If other fight thou choose."

Like floods, in autumn meeting,

Each rusheth on

his foe

Breastplate on breastplate beating,

As

They

they wrestle for the throw.

wrestle, like

an angry pair

Of bears upon the snow

Like eagles, struggling high in

Above

Have

the ocean's flow.

tottered from their ancient place

Full

many a massive

And many an
At

air,

far

rock.

oak, of sturdy race,

a slighter shock.

FRITUIOF WITH ANOANTYR.

From heavy brows

the sweat drops down,

Their breath comes cold and hard

They

scatter far each shrub

Around them on

To

and stone

the sward.

see the end, in fear delays

Each troop upon

Wide was

the strand

that fight, in ancient days,

Renown'd throughout the

But Frithiof

land.

felled his foe at last,

And bore him to the earth.

And knelt upon his heaving breast,
And spoke in tones of wrath
" Oh had I but my broadsword true,
;

Black-bearded Berserk,

Should drive

Your

"

Be

point triumphant through

you

entrails as

that but

Was

its

little

lie."

cause for care,"

Atle's firm reply

" Go, fetch thy mighty v/eapon there.

And no

escape

I'll

We both must pass

try

Valhalla's joys to see

And

if I

wander there

To-morrow may

from earth away,

;

to-day,

fetch thee."

91

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

92

Now, noble

The

Frithiof, widely praised,

strife to finish

thought,

Keen Angiirvadel high he

But Atle trembled

This touched his mighty

And

He

laid his

raised,

not.

victor's soul,

anger low

checked the stroke, with glad control,

And

raised his fallen foe.

Then loud

the ag^d Halvar cried,

His white

staff raising forth

" Through this your

But

Long

little

ye have supplied

cause for mirth.

since the silver dishes high

Send

And

strife

forth their

fish

and

flesh

steaming breath.

grow

cold, whilst

Am thirsting unto death."

Now

reconciled, the warriors bold

Pass through the open door.

And much did Frithiof there

He ne'er had seen before.

No

rough-hewn planks here cover

The naked
But

behold

walls so wide

leather, gilded over,

With

flowers and berries bright

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR.

Not on

The

93

the centre pavement glowed

fire,

with merry glare,

But close by every wall there stood

A stove of marble fair.

No smoke
The

Frames

And

All

within the chamber stay'd

walls no
filled

dampness bore

with glass the windows had,

a lock was on the door.

filled

with

light,

Spread out their

No more

the branches fair

silver

boughs

the crackling pine-torch glare

Illumined the carouse.

Cooked whole, a

Adorned
Its

stag, with larded breast,

the table round

horns leaf-decked,

As

if

hoof raised,

about to bound.

There stood a damsel,

To

its gilt

lily-fair.

each rough comrade nigh

As beameth

forth a glittering star

Throughout a stormy sky.

Their tresses brown luxuriant flowed
Bright shone their eyes of blue

Their

little lips

Grown

like roses

ripe in

glowed.

summer's dew.

FRJTHIOF'S SAGA.

94

High

sate

The

upon

his silver throne

Yarl, in splendor bold

Bright as the sun his helmet shone,

His breastplate blazed with gold

With

stars embroider'd, bright did

His mantle, rich and

And

fine

gleam

every purple-glowing seam

Did

spotless ermine line.

Forth from the board three paces

He goes to meet his guest

He takes his hand, and places
Him at his side to rest
**

Since here

full

many

a creaming horn

With Thorsten emptied we.

His son, whose fame so
Shall not

The

sit far

great Angantyr

With wine of

far is borne.

from me."

fills

Sicily

Like flashing flame

it

the cup

sparkles up

All foaming, like the sea.

" Right welcome be thou to

In ancient friendship's

The mighty

my hall

name

Thorsten's skoal

we

all

Shall drink with loud acclaim."

FRITHIOF WITH ANOANTYR.

hoary bard, from Morven's heights,

Accords the tuneful

And

A
But

lyre,

loud, in glowing tones, recites

hero-song of
in the old

fire

Norrana tongue.

The speech of ancient days.

The hero Thorsten's fame was
And all the song did praise.

Then much
Of

And

to hear the Yarl did crave,

his kindred in the

North

i^rudent Frithiof clearly gave

The

And

sung,

wisest answers forth.

everything he truly

tells.

Gives each his proper fame,

Like Saga, goddess bright,

who

dwells

In the shrine of holy Time.

And now

doth Frithiof rehearse

His voyage,

How

lately

By him had been

The

done

magic's power, and Helge's curse,

o'erthrown.

vassals shout in joyous strain.

Loud laughs bold Angantyr,

And

Frithiof greater glory gains

As higher

rose the cheer.

95

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

96

But when of Ingborg, dear and

The

tale

So noble

So

in her grief

and

sighs escape from laboring breast,

On fair cheeks
By every maiden
Her

blushes stand.

fond

faithful lover's

is

pressed

hand.

now, his mission to complete,

Doth

Frithiof bold prepare

Angantyr

stirred not

from his

But gave him hearing

Then answered
I

care,

lovely in her tears,

Deep

And

fair,

doth reach their ears,

and

my

"

seat.

fair.

no homage do

race are free

King Bele's skoal we

drink,

'tis

true,

But he never governed me.

" His heirs, indeed,

If tribute they

Then

let

never

knew

them sue as men should

Insisting

Then on

demand,

sword

the shore

do,

in hand.

my

But Thorsten held

sword

shall shine

dear."

And with his hand he gives a sign

To his daughter sitting near.

FRiTHiOF wrrn anoantyr.

Up

sprung the lovely Flower-charm

Forth from her gilded chair

How slender was her little form,

How round her bust so fair
!

In dimple deep was throned the sprite

Astril, in roguish glee,

As

sits

the butterfly so bright

In the rose delightingly.

To

the

women's chambers

hasting,

She soon, with purse of green.

Returned, on which were rivers

Through woods, embroidered

And

seen.

there displayed, the calm moonlight

Seemed ocean to behold

The clasp was made of rubies
;

The

The maiden

laid the purse so fair

In her great father's hands

Up

to the

brim he

With gold from

" This

gift

To do
But

bright

tassels were" of gold.

filled it

there

foreign lands

of welcome take,

as thou may'st will

for the winter stay

With us

and

in friendsliip

rest

still.

guest,

97

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

98
"

Though

valor never should be scorned,

Yet now the storm rules wide

By now

again to

wager

I'll

may

Ellida

So

life

Ham

and Heyd.

not always leap

luckily again

And whales

are plenty in the deep,

Though one she may have

And

so in merry

mood

slain."

they stay'd

morning's sun did rise

Till

The

returned,

oft-drained golden goblets

Them
With

skoal to Angantyr, at

last,

The horn they loudly drain

So, safely housed,

Did

made

glad, but not unwise.

till

winter passed,

Frithiof remain.

XII.

FRITHIOF'S RETURN.

SPRING

breathes again in ether blue,

In green the earth

Then

is

clad

Frithiof thanketh his host

anew
:

again

He mounteth up on the heaving main

And gayly his sable swan doth make
On her glassy course a silvery wake.

For the western winds, with the voice of Spring,

Like nightingales in his bright

And
His

Oh

flight as
!

The

sails sing

the blue-veiled daughters of QEgir speed

it is

they dance o'er the glittering mead.

sweet when from distant strand

sails swell

Where

the

back to that native land,

smoke from

one's

own

loved hearth ap-

pears,

And thoughts awaken of childhood's years,

Where play-grounds are mirrored in tranquil waves,
Where forefathers lie in their grassy graves
And the faithful maiden, longingly
;

Standing on

lofty rocks,

watcheth the sea.

(99)

FRITHIOF'S SAOA.

loo

Six days he sailed, and the seventh shows

A dark-brown
And

stripe,

With

chffs,

which larger grows,

edge of heaven doth stand,

'gainst the

with

isles,

His home, from ocean

Its forests

He

and

at last with land.

risen, is seen,

wide arrayed in green

hears the foaming surge's shocks

Break on the marble-breasted rocks

He greets the bay and the heights above,

And sails close under the holy grove.
Where

the past summer, so

He had

many

a night,

sat with his Ingborg in fond delight.

" Appeareth she not, and can she not guess

How

near o'er the dark-blue waves

Or doth

Now

press

she, from Balder's temple gone,

dwelling at Helge's court alone.

Sorrow by harp, or by golden woof ?

Lo

his falcon

now

firom the temple roof

Arising, as often before be hath done,

To

Frithiof 's shoulder hath suddenly flown.

Eagerly flapping with snowy wing,

The

bird from his shoulder can

With gilded claw he

He
To
As

nobody

bring.

scratcheth in haste,

giveth no peace, he giveth no rest

Frithiof 's ear he bendeth his beak.
if

some message he sought

to speak,

FRITHIOF'8 RETURN.

loi

Perchance from Ingborg, the bride so dear,

But the

The

tale

he

last point

telleth

can no

man

now doth EUida

hear.

pass,

Bounding, as deer bound over the grass.

The well-known waters her

Glad standeth Frithiof

He
He

keel doth plough,

in the prow.

rubbeth his eyes, and with trembling hand

shadeth his brow, he scanneth the strand

But long though he rub them, and

Framnas no more discovereth

far

he.

Nought but the naked chimney

there

Standeth, like warriors' bones laid bare

Where

And

had been

is

desert land,

ashes whirl round the lonely strand.

In fury

his court-yard

down from

his ship he hasteth

glance on his ruined dwelling casteth,

His

his childhood's home.

father's dwelling

Now

Bran, the wiry-haired, doth come,

His dog, who

often, as true as bold.

For him the wild bears helped

Full high he leapeth with

to hold

many

a spring,

In joy his master welcoming.

The

milk-white steed, with the golden mane,

With

stag-swift hoofs,

though he see,

and with lengthy

rein.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

I02

Which

Frithiof so often hath ridden around,

Speeds through the valley with eager bound,

And, neighing

And
But

gladly, archeth his neck.

bread from his master's hand doth seek.

Frithiof,

poorer than the pair.

Hath nought with the

faithful brutes to share.

Houseless and sad, on his father's ground,

Now

Frithiof standeth, gazing round

Until of Hilding he

His

foster-sire,

" At what

When

see

way

flieth,

his royal

word

For heavenly dread, and human

"
"

the nest they plunder.

that a king should guard

Well holdeth Helge

And

wonder

scarce can

'ware,

with silvery hair

the eagle

Is this the

is

hate,

plundering flames, are his Eriksgate

Yet

this brings rather rage

But

tell

me, where

is

than care

Ingborg

where ?"

The tale I'll tell thee," the old man said ;

Though I fear thou'lt find it but little glad

Scarce v/ast thou gone when Ring drew near

Five shields to one his warriors were.

In Disar's vale by the brook they fought

With blood-red foam were

its

waters fraught.

King Halfdan, unchanging, laughed and played,

Yet wielded,

like

Before the youth

And was proud

a man, his blade

I

held

my

shield,

of his well-fought maiden

field.

FRITHIOF'S RETURN.

103

Yet soon gave way our weakened host

King Helge

The

fled,

and then

all

was

Asen-born, as they swiftly

Passing, in flames thy dwelling

No

lost.

fled,
set.

choice to the vanquished. Ring would leave

Their sister they to him should give

Nought should appease him save her hand

Refused, he'd seize both their crown and land.

Backwards and forwards the messengers hied

And now King Ring

"

O woman woman

"

The

earliest

Was

lie,

In woman's form

With

home

" Frithiof said,

to

false blue eye,

and he sent

man on

it

forth

earth.

and with

Deceiving ever, yet ever dear

faithless tear,
;

With rosy cheeks, and with bosom

Thy

faith like spring-ice,

fair.

thy truth like

Thine heart but echoing with

And

air,

deceit.

treachery set in thy lips so sweet.

O Ingborg, darling of my heart.

How dear thou hast been, and how
Far as
I've

his bride."

thought that Loke had

frame a

to

hath led

back

my

dear thou art

thoughts can guide,

known no joy but by thy

side

In every act and in every thought.

Thou wast

the highest prize

sought.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

I04

As
If

trees from earth together grown,

Thor with

lightning smite the one,

The

other fades

The

other shares

So joy and
I

never

one grows green,

if

leafy sheen

its

Who, with

thou

lofty Var,

thy golden tablets, far

Dost watch each mortal vow

t'

enrol,

bum thy

Cease thy vain labor

scroll

chronicle they serve,

lies to

And

known

myself alone.

felt

Now I am lonely

But

care we've shared and

better fate doth gold deserve.

Of

Balder's Nanna, truth

No

truth can heart of mortal hold

Man's breast

is filled

is told,
;

with falsehood through.

Since Ingborg's voice could prove untrue

That

Or

voice, like

strain

from Brage's harp that showers,

The joyous harp no more

I'll

think no more of

Where

wind caressing flowers.

my

storm- winds sport

Blood shalt thou

quaff,

I'll

hear,

faithless fair.
I'll

make my

pillow

thou ocean-billow

Where'er a sword grave-seeds can sow.

O'er

hill

or dale,

And meet
I'll

laugh to see

But should

Some

my joy

shall

grow

a crown'd king anywhere,

how

find,

his life

I'll

spare.

where shields clash loud.

love-sick youth

amongst the crowd.

FRITHIOF'8 RETURN.

Who

joy in maiden's vows can take,

hew him clown

I'll

And

105

for mercy's

sake

spare him the grief one day to be

Forsaken, disgraced, and betray'd like me."

"

How

blood

fiercely boileth youthful

The aged Hilding

That snows of

Much

said

eld should cool its heat.

wrongest thou the noble maid

My foster-daughter cease

aside,

rage of the Nornes, whose weapons smite

The sons
True

to chide,

But blame what none can turn

The

" 'Twere good

of earth from the stormy height.

Ingborg's sorrowing few

men

Like silent Vidar, she spake no word

But she grieved and pined, as

heard.

in southern

shade

The love-lorn turtle-dove mourns its mate.

With me alone her grief she would share.
To me her measureless woe declare.

As
To

with stricken breast the sea-mew diveth

deepest ocean, and only striveth

To hide her wound from the sight of day.

And deep-laid, bleedeth her life away
:

So

in silence

To me
"
'

'

deep sank her sorrow down

only the grief that she bore

For Bele's kingdom,'

A sacrifice must
S*

full oft

be made

is

known.

she said,

FRITHIOF'S iSAGA.

io6

And

garlands of snowdrops and evergreen

Shall deck the land's peace-offering.

Oh

could die, but 'twere fate too mild

By nought

Balder be reconciled

will

Save a living death of lingering pain,

With a beating

heart,

But

my

none of

to

My fate may be

and a throbbing

sorrow,

hard, yet no pity

King Bele's daughter her doom

Yet greet from his Ingborg

"

On

the

morn of

From my

my

the bridal (ah

runestaff,

oh

brain.

charge thee, speak

seek

will

bear

Frithiof dear.'

sad-fated day.

would

could score

it

av/ay),

To

the temple passed the slow-pacing train

Of white-cladden maidens, and sword-bearing men.

By the sorrowing Skald the troop was led
The bride sate pale on a coal-black steed,
;

Pale as the spirit that sitteth upon

The thunder-rack dark, when the storm rageth

From the saddle I lifted the fair lily down

on.

To

the temple-threshold

By the altar standing, she

Her vow to Lofn, and her

And
And
Of

led her on

uttered there

voice

was

clear

she prayed to Balder fervently,

all

wept

tears,

but no tear wept she.

thy ring which she wore then was Helge 'ware.

And he

tore

it

with force from her arm so

fair

FRITIHOF'S RETURN.

And

107

the image of Balder he decked with the gold.

My fury no longer could I withhold

My trusty sword from my side I drew
;

And King

Helge's

life

was then

But Ingeborg whispered me,

'

little

forth,

worth.

Let things be

Such pang might a brother have spared

But much must be borne ere

Between us Allfader

Quoth

will

judge at the

Is not to-night Baldcr's

I'll

That

fire-raising king,

And my

who

last.'

'tis

utter too

midsummer

find in the temple that

me

sorrows be past

Frithiof: "Allfader judgeth,

But a share of judgment

I'll

life's

to

"

true,

feast

crown-wearing

priest,

his sister could sell,

share of judgment shall please

me

well."

XIII.

BALDER'S BALE-FIRE.

MIDNIGHT

sun on the mountains lay

Blood-red to the sight

The

air

was

filled

with vapor gray

Neither of day nor of night.

And

Balder's pile, of the glowing sun

A symbol true, blazed forth

But soon

its

splendor sinketh

When Hoder
And round

down

rules the earth.

about the priests stood there,

All busied with the brands,

Pale-faced seers, with hoary hair.

And

flint-stone knives in

Serving by the

altar,

crown'd,

King Helge standeth

At midnight, hark

The

clash of
(io8)

horny hands.

near.

through the grove around

arms they

hear.

BALDER'S BALE-FIRE.

109

" Bjorn, the portals guard, and so

We'll captive take them
In or out

let

Sooner cleave his

Pale the king grew

He knew

all

no man go
skull."

all

too well

the voice for doubting

In stalked Frithiof, furious,

fell.

Like autumn tempest shouting

" Here's the tribute
I've fetched

Take

it

For

life

and

it

at thy desire

o'er the sea

battle

by Balder's

fire

and death with me.

" Shields on our backs, arms bare and

Lest tame our

Be

the

first

strife

be reckoned

In cover I've trapped the fox

Think upon Framnas

So

think,

still

more.

Ingborg's golden locks."

valiant Frithiof spake with scorn.

And
The
At

have the second.

" Glance not, craven, at the door

On

stroke, as a king, to thee

Remember,

free.

carelessly did fling

purse, from off his girdle

the forehead of the king.

torfl.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.
Blood from out his

Gloom took

By

lips there oozed,

his sight

away

and

his altar, stunned

The god-descended

bruis'd,

lay.

" Thine own red gold canst thou not bear.

Basest of Northmen,

now

Then, shame for Angurvadel 'twere

To

fell

such dross as thou.

" Avaunt, ye priests, with your altar knives

Pale moonshine princes curst,

Or

little I'll

reck to take your lives

To quench my good
"

swcrd's thirst

Balder bright, forgive the harm

Thine angry glances spare

Yon

ring of gold upon thine

Is

nought but stolen ware.

" Never for thee, be

it

arm

boldly said,

'Twas forged by the great Valunder

'Twas torn by a

Away

thief

witli his graceless

plunder "
!

Boldly dragged he, but arm and ring

Seemed
Till,

to

coming

The god

from a mourning maid

be grown the same,

loose, the force doth fling

into the flame.

BALDER'S DALE-FIRE.
Hark

it

crackles

the golden blaze

Reacheth the roof-tree

fast

Bjorn, pale as death, at the portal stays,

Frlthiof stands aghast.

all men out

cast wide the door
Thy watch no longer heed
Pour water pour
The temple flames
The ocean-tide with speed

Let

Down

from the temple to the strand

They

The

knit a chain of hands

billows flow on from

And

hiss

hand

to hand,

upon the brands.

Like the god of rain doth Frithiof stand

High over beams and

And

water,

calmly gives each loud

command

Midst flaming death's disorder.

In vain

the flames gain the upper hand,

In smoke-wreaths rolled and swelled

The gold drops

The

Now

glowing sand,

plates of silver melt.

all is lost

His

into the

flight

From

the half-burnt hall

a red cock wingeth,

And he percheth high on the gable tall.

And there wing-flapping chngeth.

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.
The morning wind from

the north hath hied,

Far through the heavens blowing

Balder's grove

The

flame

Fiercely

it

is

is

greedy and growing.

speedeth from tree to

A wide possession
Ha

what a

fierce,

tree,

claiming.

wild sight to see

Great Balder's mighty flaming

Down

in each cleft root

High

summer-dried,

it

crackleth

summit gloweth

in each

still,

'Gainst Muspel's ruddy sons, what skill

Of man a

A sea of

barrier

flame

Strandless

fills

its

The sun mounts

knoweth

Balder's ground,

billows stream
up, but fiord

and sound

Mirror forth nought but flame.

In ashes

lies

The grove

the temple's pride,

to ashes burneth,

And, wretched, Frithiof turns aside

Through morning hours he mourneth.

XIV.

FRITHIOF GOETH INTO BANISHMENT.

ON

deck, by light

Of summer

night

Sat Frithiof grieving

Like ocean heaving,

His bosom sad

With awe and dread

Thick smoke

From

To

climbing

the temple's flaming.

Valhall' fly

Through

Ye

still

lofty sky.

smoke-wreaths, seeking

Balder, bespeaking

His rage, just meed

To me

decreed

Dread

tidings giving

To

echoing heaven
(113)

114

FRITEIOF'S SAGA.
Of

bound

the temple

Razed

Of

to the

ground

the image famed,

Which,

faUing, flamed,

And, charred away,

Like fire-wood

Of

lay.

the grove telling

(Religion's dwelling.

Where
In

never sword

strife

was heard)

In ruins buried

By

flames unwearied.

All that hath been,

All thou hast seen.

No

jot forgetting.

Speed thou

Envoy

To

relating,

of cloud.

the cloudy god.

" Mild Helge's glory

Shall live in story.

Not with

his

hand

Forth from the land

Me

doth he banish

I yield, I

vanish

O'er realms more wide

Of

the azure

tide.

FRITHIOF'S BANISHMENT.
Thou must

not tarry,

Far must thou hurry,

Ellida forth

To

the ends of earth

Fed

By

roaming

in thy

ocean's foaming.

My dragon good,
A drop of blood
Can harm thee never
Speed thou on

ever.

Where tempests roam

Thou art my home
The Asen-brothcr
Consumed the other.
;

Far must

From

wend

fatherland

Be thou my North,

My

foster-earth

Be thou my

pride.

Thou dark-robed
False was

my

bride

other

Bride to her lover.

" Free-flowing sea

No
Is

Or

trouble to thee

monarch's grieving.
king's deceiving.

115

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

ii6

He

only can be

King over thee

Who

never feareth,

Though

lofty reareth

Thy foaming

breast,

Its billows tost.

Thine azure furrows

Are

tilled

by heroes

Through them,

The

like plough,

keel doth go.

'Neath oak's wide shadow

Blood dews the meadow.

Sown is death's seed

From bright steel shed.

Who

ocean reapeth.

Thence glory keepeth,

Gold cometh too

To me

be

Thou stormy

And

"

true,

billow

I will follow.

My father's grave
Stands

still

and

safe

Calm waters mirror

His grass-green

pillow.

Blue shall mine be

In the foaming sea

FRITHIOF'S BANISHMENT.
Sturdily floating,

Midst tempests shouting,

Till I sink to sleep

In the boundless deep.

My life art thou, ocean

My home, my possession
And

shalt be

my grave,

Free-flowing wave."

So spake he madly,
.

As

piloting sadly

His

vessel,

he bore

Forth from the shore

And

coasted slowly

The headlands holy,

Which still stand forth.
Guarding the North

But vengeance waketh

With

ten ships seeketh

King Helge wight

To check

his flight.

Then shouted they

"

Now
He

Helge

all,

will fall

offereth strife,

Nor

careth for

life

Here 'neath the moon.

This Valhall's son

117

ii8

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.
Doth long

To

to rise

native skies

And, kin

to the gods,

Seeketh Odin's abode."

Scarce was this said,

When

Helge's

By unseen

fleet,

power.

Sank lower and lower

Still

sinking on.

Till settled

down

Midst Rana's dead.

Swimming,

in dread.

Doth Helge reach

Alone the beach.

Bjorn, loud laughed he,

And quoth merrily

" Thou of Odin's blood.
:

My

craft

When
Thy

was good

none was nigh.

ships bored

Last night with speed,

A worthy deed

May Rana keep

Them in the deep,

FRITHIOF'S BANISHMENT.
As
I

is

her wont

but lament

That from the wave

Thou

On

shouldst be safe."

rocky shore,

His

peril o'er,

King Helge stood

In wrathful

mood

His bow, ere long,

Of

steel,

And

he strung,

scarcely

How

knew

he drew.

far

Till with

a twang

In twairi

it

sprang.

But Frithiof stayed

His lance, and said

"Thy

Enchained

O
If

death-bird here
I

bear

coward king,
freed

Low

its

wing,

shouldst thou

For thy

Yet ease thy fears

My

lie

villainy.
;

lance ne'er cares

119

120

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.
For cowards' blood
She's far too good

For such base uses

And

rather chooses

Her

sign to grave

X)n tombs of the brave,

Than on pillars of shame,

Where is branded thy name.

Thy fame on

sea

Is lost to thee

And

e'en

'Tis

little

on earth
worth.

Rust snapped thy bow,

Not

strength,

trow

At nobler game

Than

thee

aim,

'Twere shame

To

to

me

slauo^hter thee."

Then bent he o'er

The sturdy oak.
Once

pine-tree tall

In Gudbrand's vale.

He grasped its fellow,

And o'er the billow

He

rode with speed

Like bending reed,

FRITIIIOF'S BANISHMENT.

Or broadsword's tongue,

The

stout oars sprung.

Up rose the sun,

On the cliffs he shone
And the breeze, speeding
;

From

shore,

Each wave

seemed bidding

to dance

In morning's glance.
O'er the billow's crest
Ellida pressed

Merrily and glad

But Frithiof said

" Crest of creation,

Thou
I

noble North,

have no place oa

Thy well-loved earth

From thee forever

My sail must swell

Thou nurse
Farewell

of valor,
!

farewell

" Farewell, thou brightest

Valhalla-throne

Thou gloom

that lightest.

Midsummer sun
6

FRITIIIOF'S SAGA.

Thou

sky, unclouded,

Where heroes dwell.

Where bright stars wander,
Farev/ell

"

farewell

Ye mighty cliffs,
Famed evermore,
Rune-written temples

Of

terrible

Thor

Each azure sea

That

Each

I've

isle

known so

well.

and bay.

Farewell

farewell

" Farewell, ye graves

By the ocean's foam.

Where the linden-tree waves

Down

snowy bloom,

its

(But Saga judgeth,

And judgeth well

What earth concealeth,)
Farewell

farewell

" Farewell, each grove,

And each grassy nook,

Where I loved to lie
By the rippling brook.

FRITHIOF'8 BANISHMENT.
Friends of

my

youth,

loved you well

But we part forever

Farewell

farewell

" With fondness spurned,

With honor

stained,

With dwelling burned,

And banishment
From

land

part

O'er ocean's swell

Ah

joy of heart.

Farewell

farewell

"
!

123

XV.

VIKINGABALK.

NOW

wide swept he round on the wilderness deep

he sped

For

his

the prey-seeking hawk,

comrades on board he WTOte counsel and law

wilt

"

far, like

thou hear

Make no

tent

now

his Vikingabalk

upon deck, sleep not under a

within doors a foe

On

may

sxuprise

his shield Viking sleepeth, his

roof,

sword

in

his

hand, and maketh his tent of the skies.

" Short shaft hath the

hammer

a sword but an
'Tis enough, for thy

ell

of conquering

sword can be never too

hast thou heart to thy foe to

"

When

Thor

long hath Frey

come

short,

nigh.

the storms rage with might, hoist the sail to

its

height, then are

waves

(124)

merry the storm-ridden

VIKINOABALK.
Speed along

speed along

for they

strike,

slaves

" Shelter

and sink sooner than

who would

are but

strike

woman on

bark

125

she'd

land

keep her

from your

far

deceive, ay, though Freya she

were

For her dimple so deep

net

"

Wine

is

is

is

pitfall

untrue, and a

her wide-waving hair-

Valfader's drink, and carouse

thou drainest uninjured the can

on

If thou fallcst

"

When

a merchant

weak

Thou

and thy

"

By

sails by,

the die and the lot

they

spare his ship

on thy waves, he a slave

steel is as

fall,

to

good as

all

but

to sleep-giving

a tribute for safety be told

let

art king

allowed,

land, thou may'st -rise

and thou sinkest

here,

is

your

if

fall

Ran.

by the

to his gain,

his gold.

iDrizes

divide

complain never care

Your sea-king himself casteth never a

how

lot,

keepeth

only his fame as his share.

"

Comes

a Vikinga-ship, and

when

we board

it

and

fight,

tho strife waxeth hot 'neath each shield,

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

126

If thou yield but a pace, thou art parted

'tis

**

our law, and so do as thou

Hast thou conquered

a

who

foe,

,^jkt Prayer

he

is

is

Give grace

from us

he's no longer

defenceless for mercy doth pray

Valhalla's child

v yield

who then

worthless

" Scars are gain to a Viking

to its voice

man

they adorn,

if

Let them bleed on unbound until evening be come

So wrote he

like

thou must part from our band."

and his fame day by day to

his law,

was brought

far-lying borders

His

sayeth Nay.

on brow or on bosom they stand

if not,

wilt.

never sped o'er the blue heaving sea, and

his

comrades

But himself by the

full lustily

tiller sat,

fought

gloomy of mien, and

gazed into ocean, and thought

*'

Deep

art

thou

in thy depths, perhaps, peace

be found, but above

"If the White One

blade

But he

still

I'll fall

discover

rage, let

not.

him draw

gladly, if so

sitteth in heaven,

it

'tis

may

forth his

designed

and sendeth down thoughts

that darken forever

my

mind."

VIKINQABALK.
Still,

when

drew

battle

near, like an eagle refreshed

rose his spirit in valorous

And

clear

grew

his brow,

and stood

voice,

127

flight.

and high raised he

forth like the

his

Thunderer

bright.

So from conquest
care, in the

And

so

As

and

islands

he sped, and from

ocean he sought for release,

cliffs

came he

his glance

to conquest

passed he southward, and

into the waters of Greece.

on the groves rising up from the

and the temples, now desolate,

What

he

felt

know

" Here should

Freya knew, and the bard,

and

we have dwelt

grove, here
forth
It

ye, lovers,

the

ye

know

here the

temple

my

sea,

fell.

isle,

sire

must

too,

it full

well.

here the

shadowed

was hither

prayed

my

beloved to come

but

the cruel one stayed in the North.

"

Doth contentment not dwell

and peace round those

in

yon valley of

pillars so

strong

bliss,
?

Like the whispers of love sounds the murmuring

brook, like a bride-hymn the nightingale's

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

128

"

Where

Ingeborg now

is

Hath she

thought

e'er

of me, with her ag^d spouse withered and

gray?
I

ne'er can forget

whole

life

but to see her once more,

my

I'd give gladly away.

" Three years have sped by since

my home

beheld,

great Saga's majestical hall

Stand forth

still

on high
vale

"

On

the

'gainst the

still

my

cliflfs

ancestors'

mound, where
a linden-tree

Who

heaven her bright

growetli green

hath tended

my

father is laid, did I plant

bloometh
since

it

Earth, and thy

it

now ?

Give

dew on

it.

it

nurture,

Sky, sprinkle

thou.

" Yet

why

lie

longer on billows afar, for slaughter

and plundering prize

I

the worthless,

"

have honor enough, and the red-flaming gold,

The

flag

on

my mast

my

streameth back to the North

to the North, to
I'll

soul doth despise.

my

fatherland dear

follow the course of the heavenly winds

again to

my

NorthLind

I'll

steer."

back

XVI.

FRITHIOF AND BJORN.

FRITHIOF.

BJORN,

am weary

of wave and of sea

Boisterous comrades the billows have proved

Far

in the

North the proud headlands beloved

Back, with resistless might, beckon to me.

They

happy from home who have never departed,

are

Ne'er banished

afar' from their ancestors'

graves

Too

long, alas

I've

wandered around on the wide-heaving waves.

all

too long broken-hearted,

BJORN.

Good

is

the ocean, in vain dost thou chide

Freedom and gladness

Little

thrive best

Loving afar on the billows to

ride.
I

grow

cling in

But now

On

they reck of effeminate ease

When
And

on the seas

old,

my

upon land

turn to

in hot battle

ocean,

my

it,

will house,

close as the grass

and joyous carouse,

swift years untroubled shall pass.

6*

(129)

FRITHIOF'S SA^A.

130

FRITHIOF.

Yet now by the

ice

Clasping our keel

Nor

care

we

lie

to wait

are driven to land,

the chilly waves dead

till

long winter be sped,

Imprisoned by rocks on the desolate strand.

Once more

And

in the

Northland

guest to King Ring and

my Yule-tide I'll hold,

my lost bride will be
;

Gaze fondly again on those bright locks of

And

gold,

hear once again that voice dearest to me.

BJORN.

Good

How

is

thy purpose.

By Ring

vengeance of Viking

shall

be seen

like lightning

At midnight the court of the monarch

We'll slaughter the

can gleam

shall flame

Graybeard, we'll bear off the

Queen.

Or

wilt

thou treat him in Vikinga-wisc,

Hold'st thou him worthy of Holm-gang with thee

Then

challenge him forth to contend on the ice

Whatever thou

wiliest, I

ready shall be.

FRITHIOF,

Speak not of slaughter, nor think upon war

In peace to the court of the monarch
Faultless

is he,

of

I'll

wend.

nor did Ingborg offend.

But the vengeance of angry gods

Now leave

my

dear one

Since slight hope for

my

me upon

have to bear.

heart longs to take,

earth can remain

AND

VIUTIIIOF

A farewell
At

eternal

BJORN.

131

when green buds awake

the breathing of spring, thou shalt see

me

again.

CJORN.

Ah Frithiof, thy folly seems strange to my mind

What sorrow and sigh for a false woman's love
In sooth, upon earth tliere are women enough
!

For the one thou hast

lost

thou a thousand may'st

If thou wilt, e'en a lading of that

find.

kind of ware

Shall swiftly from Southland so glowing be brought,

As ruddy

as rosebuds, like lambs

tame and

fair

We'll divide them as brothers, or share them by

lot.

imiTHIOF.
Bjorn, glad and honest as Frey

Thou

art

is

thy thought

prudent in counsel, and fearless in war

Well hast thou learnt

to

But Freya, the heavenly, knowest thou

Shun

to think scorn of the holy

Beware,

lest the

To gods and

When

not.

Queen's power

rage of the goddess thou wake

men, soon or

to

know Odin and Thor,

late,

comes the hour

her mouldering spark into fierce flame must

break.

BJORN.

Yet go not alone.

They may

take thee in thrall.

FRITHIOF.

Alone go

not

my

sword followeth me.

FBITHIOF'S SAGA.

132

BJORN.

Remember how Hagbart was hung on a

tree.

FRITHIOF.

He, who

lets

any take him, deserveth

to

fall.

BJORN.

Oh

brother,

fall'st

thou,

I'll

avenge thee

Over Frithiof 's bones the blood-eagle

I']l

full

well

tear.

FRITHIOF.
It

needeth not, Bjorn.

For

my

Hear a cock crow again when

foeman

shall ne'er

perish.

Farewell

XVII.

FRITHIOF COMETH TO KING RING.

[NG RING

K"
The

high-throned at banquet

quaffing at Yule-tide

fair

there

Autumn

Autumn

seated, they

From head

seemed together

Spring-time green, in him the

came an unknown gray-

in,

to foot enveloped in a wild bear's

shaggy

With weak and weary

gait

upon

his'

heavy

staflf

leant,
Still all

his

drear.

into the hall there

beard

skin

by

In her was seen the

lo

sat silent

Like Spring by

And

mead-

and gentle-visaged queen

side

sat,

the rest surpassing in stature as he went.

(133)

he

FRITIIIOF'S SAGA.

134

He

sat

him on the lowly bench

that stood besic

the door,

That

is

the poor man's place to-day, as 'twas in

days of yore

To mock

with sneer and scornful laugh the under-

lings began,

And

pointed with the finger at the rude, uncouth,

old man.

Forth flashed the ready fury from the stranger's

eyes

in haste.

With

a single hand he snatcheth up a courtier by

And

thoughtfully

tiie

waist.

upon

head he turned

his

the

frightened youth,

Then

the others held their peace

all

as we'd

have

done, in sooth.

"

What means,

below, this uproar

peace to break

Come up

What

to

speak

is

thy

name

what wilt

thy fatherland
the angry

stand.

dares our

me, thou graybeard, and answer when

So spake

who

thou

and Avhere

"

monarch

calm did the old

man

FRITH10 F COMETH TO KING RING.

" Full

much thou
give

The

answer

will

master

still

king, yet

Trouble thyself not

doth

askest me,

135

my

for

name,

its

live

land of sorrow

misery
Last night

is

my home

my

birthright,

lodged with hungry wolves

thence

come, to-day, to thee.

" In days gone by

full

glad

rode on ocean-dragon

free.

And mighty were

sped she

But now she

the wings she had, and merrily

frozen

lieth

up and lame upon the

sand,

While

myself,

grown old and weak, burn

salt

upon the strand.

'

came

to

borne

see thy wisdom, by fame so widely

;

Those yonder mocked me

old for scorn
I

seized

scornfully,

and I'm too

upon a grinning

fool,

and turned him up-

side down.

Yet

all

unharmed he rose again

longer frown."

so,

king,

no

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

136

"Not

words are

And

quoth

ill-beseeming,"

age should

all

down by me
Let's see thee frank

ing

the

king,

"thy bold

to thee,

men honor

come,

sit

thee

and

freely

let

thy thick cover-

fall

Disguise dist\irbs enjojonent, and

wish joy to

all."

Then

straightway from his head the guest

let fall

the rugged hide.

And

in the old man's place they all a noble youth

espied

Down from

his lofty forehead, o'er his broad shoul-

ders' might.

Fell down, like

waves of molten gold,

his locks in

splendor bright.

In azure velvet mantle stood he, gorgeously arrayed,

With

silver belt, a

hand

in width,

and beasts there-

on displayed.
Fiercely their prey pursuing around the hero's
waist.

By some

laborious master in high-wrought beauty

chased.

FRITHIOF COMETH TO KINO JUNG.

Around

137

mighty arm he wore a golden bracelet

his

wide,

Like a flash of bridled lightning hung his war-sword

at his side

A royal,

hall

and guests

stood, like Balder beauteous, brave

and proud

fearless glance

around the

he bore,

And

as mighty Thor.

Swift to the gentle queen's pale cheeks the crimson

color sped

So, 'neath the glow of northern lights, wide plains

of

snow blush red

And, as twin

water-lilies,

by sudden storm op-

Flutter above the billows,

so heaved her gentle

pressed.

breast.

The horn

v/as

blown

votive hour

for

silence,

come was

the

To

Frey's high feast devoted they carry in the

Its

shoulders decked with flowers,

boar

its

mouth an

apple held.

And, with knees beneath

it filled.

it

bended, the silver dish

FRirUIOF'S SAGA.

I3S

Then

slowly agdd Ring raised up his venerable

head,

He

touched the forehead of the boar, and vowing,

thus he said

" Great Frithiof

will

vanquish, v/hom none can

stand before,

So help me, Frey and Odin, and so help me, mighty

Thor

With haughty mien

from his

countenance

Ills

the stranger rose up quickly

seat.

glowing with heroic anger's

all

heat

He

struck his sword upon the board, the hall re-

echoing rang,

And up from

every oaken seat each startled com-

rade sprang.

"

Now

hear thou, too,

king " he cried, " my vow,

!

thus uttered loud.

That Frithiof

is

akin to me, a worthy friend and

good;

And

-Frithiof

will

shelter against

all

the world

arrayed,

So help me

first

my

trusty blade

favoring

Nome, and

then

my

FRITHIOF COMETH TO KING EIKG.

Thou speakest

boldly," smiled the king, " nor only

once to-day

But frank and

139

free

each word shall be where

I,

as

king, bear sway.

Fill,

consort mine, the horn with wine, and

fill

it

of the best

This stranger,
our

let

us hope, will bide the winter as

<ruest."

Then took

the queen the horn that on the board

before her stood,

(Which Ure's forehead once adorned, a treasure

rich

On

and good,)

feet of shining

with

silver,

many a

gold ring

bound,
Rune-written, and with deeds of ancient days be-

decked around.

And

as she ofiered

him the horn,

all

trembling, with

averted head,

The

goblet shook,

some drops ran

her fingers rosy red

And

as

upon the

lily

o'er,

and dyed

leaves the sunset glories

seem

to stand,

So glowed
ore's

the drops of purple wine

V hand.

upon

the fair

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

140

With joy from her

raised

Two men

the stranger took the horn, and

high

it

have drunk

But the mighty

men

(such

it

as live to-day) could scarce

dry

guest, deep-quaffing in honor of the

queen,

Drained the

full

mained

Then

goblet at a draught,

no

drop

re-

within.

the bard

who

his harp

drew

And a beautiful

sat at the

board of royal Ring

forth,

sorrowful song did sing of true love

in the North,

Of Hagbart and

Signe

fair

and

at the

mournful

tale,

The hard

heart melted in each breast beclad in

shining mail.

He

sang of the

halls of Valhalla, the Einherier's

praise sang he.

Of

valiant forebears'

and sea

mighty deeds on continent

Then every hand

its

sword-hilt clutched, and bright

flashed every eye.

And round and roimd

busily.

the oft-filled horn sped ever

FRITHIOF COMETH TO KINO RINO.

Deep drank

141

they, high carousing, at the palace of

the king,

And

reveller

good each proved himself

at Yule-tide

banqueting

Then staggered

forth to slumber,

unmoved by woe

or care.

But Ring, the ag^d monarch, stayed with Ingeborg

the

fair.

XVIII.

THE RIDE OVER THE

KING RING
The

ice

ICE.

to a banquet with Ingeborg hies

on the bay Hke a mirror

lies.

" Sledge not over the ice," the stranger cried

" 'Twill break, and too deep

Quoth Ring
Whoever's

"

How frowneth
He

Not so

afraid,

is

easily kings are

drowned

by the shore may go round."

the stranger in angry heat

bindeth his steel shoes in haste to his

How starteth

the frozen tide."

feet.

the stallion forth with might,

Fierily snorting in fierce delight

" Stride out," Ring

crieth, "

my

charger good

Let's see that thou art of Sleipner's blood."

They speed

The

as storms over ocean speed

queen's prayers
(142)

little

King Ring doth heed.

THE RIDE OVER THE

ICE.

Their steel-shod comrade standeth not

He

flieth

Many

past them as swift as he

Rune on

Fair Ingborg's

So on

A hole

How
The

in

traitress, lurketh below.

her silver roof she hath

reft,

sinketh the sleigh in the yawning

steed

With a

cometh near
field

single tug he setteth

amain
ice again.

" Praise to that stroke," quoth Ring, "

Now

by the mane he hath seized and held

Both steed and sleigh on the

Not

cleft.

pale groweth Ingeborg's cheek with fear

guest, like a whirlwind,

His skate he hath fixed on the icy

The

discovereth she.

their glittering course they go,

But Ran, the

Down

still,

will.

the ice cutteth he

name

143

due

is

Frithiof, the mighty, could better do."

turn they back to the court again

Till spring the stranger

doth there remain.

XIX.

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION.

SPRING-TIME Cometh
grow

leafy,

wild birds twitter, woods

sunshine beams,

Dancing, singing, down to ocean speed the liberated

streams

Out from

its

bud the glowing rose peeps

blush on Freya's cheek

And

joy of

life,

breast of

forth like

and mirth, and hope, within the

man

The agdd monarch

awake.

wills the chase,

the gentle queen

And swarming round

and with him hies

in

proud array

is all

the court

assembled seen

Bows

are twanging, quivers rattle, eager horse-hoofs

paw

the clay

And, with hooded eyes, the falcons scream impatient

for their prey.
(144)

FRITHIOF'a TEMPTATION.
Lo

the chase's empress comcth

145

Hapless

Frithiof,

glance away

Like a star on spring cloud sitteth she upon her

courser gray,

Half

Freya, half like

like

Rota, lovelier than the

heavenly pair

From

her slender hat of purple azure plumes

float

hio:h in air.

Gaze not on her eyes so beauteous, on her golden

locks so bright.

Gaze not on her form so

and white

Shun

to

slender,

Hark not

full

watch the rose and

varying

on her bosom

lily

on her

soft

cheek

to the voice belovdd, breathing like

the

sighs of spring.

Now

the hunter's troop

is

ready.

Hallo

over

hill

and dale

Horns reecho

eager falcons climb aloft to Odin's

hall:

All the forest beasts affrighted seek their distant lairs

in fear

But with lance outstretched before

follows near.
7

her, their Valkyria

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

146

Ring the agdd cannot follow as the chase speeds

swiftly on,

and

Sorrowful

by him

silent

rideth

Frithiof

alone,

Gloomy, mournful recollections

anguish

his soul with

all

tear,

And, wherever he can turn him, hears he echoes

of despair.

" Wherefore fled

from the ocean, to mine own de-

struction blind

Sorrow thrives not on the

billow, far

'tis

blown by

heaven's wind.
If

Viking broodeth, danger comes, and bids him to

the sprightly dance,

And

his

gloomy bodings vanish, blinded by

his

weapon's glance.

" Far otherwise

'tis

here

for grief

unspeakable has

thrown

Her dark wings round my forehead ;

pass

Never can

on

like

a dreamer

Balder's grove, or Ingborg's loving

oath forget,

Sworn

to me.

She

cancelled

it.

never broke

it

gods, in fury,

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION.
" They, the race of

man

147

detesting, jealous view a

fondness blest

My rose-bud sweet they snatched away, and planted

it

By

its

its

While

in

Winter's breast

bloom can Winter

price

profit ?

and

his frosty breathing covers bud,

stem with

lonely dell

leaf,

and

ice."

While thus he sorrowed, they

Dark and

knoweth he

Little

way

their

into a

had made,

hill-surrounded, overspread with birch

and alder shade.

Ring, dismounting, quoth

"How

ant doth the grove appear

Weary am

let

cool

and pleas-

us rest, and for an hour

I'll

slum-

ber here."

"

Here thou may'st not

Up

The ground
lead thee

is

home

And

little

full

soon

I'll

again."

it

man

said, " sleep

cometh

least,

surely to his host

ffrudjie

king, for such a

hard and cold

" Like other gods," the old

when we hope

sleep,

slumber bringeth pain

rest

my
?

"

guest will scarce be-

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

148

Then

Frithiof took his mantle

beneath the

And

off,

and spread

it

out

trees,

trustfully the old

king laid his head upon the

young man's knees,

Slept soundly, as upon his shield a warrior after

war's alarms,

And

softly as

an infant sleeps within

its

mother's

loving arms.

As he

slumbers, hark

there sings a coal-black bird

from off a bough

end thy

" Haste thee, Frithiof, slay the Graybeard

sorrows at a blow

Take the queen

she's

Here no mortal eye beholds thee

Frithiof listens,

hark

bird from off a

now

bough

deep and

silent

see thee
!

sings a snow-white

Though no mortal eye behold

Coward

the grave."

is

"

once to thee

thine, since

betrothal's kiss she gave

thee, Odin's eye can

now

wouldst thou murder sleep

less age

by thee be

Such deed, whate'er

slain

to thee

peace or honor gain."

Shall help-

?
it

bring, can never

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION.
So

149

the birds sang, both in turn, but Frithiof took

his battle-blade,

Shuddering he flung
.

gloomy shade

The black

from him,

it

far

into

the

bird back to Nastrand

flies

but, borne

along on shining wings.

With song

as sweet as tuneful harp, the white one

up to sunshine springs.

Straight the old king, waking, quoth

did

my

short sleep afford

"

Much

'Tis sweet to slumber in the shade, protected

brave man's sword

But where,

stranger, is thy blade

"

It

matters

wont

little

to sepa-

"

little,"

Frithiof said, " for swords are

plenty in the North

Sharp-tongu^d
peace

Within the

the lightning's

hath separated you, so

rate

by a

brother, whither sped

And who

rest

it

the blade,

is

speaketh forth

steel

Niffelhem

doth

king

no word of

evil dwell,

a spirit dark from

Against him sleep no safety hath

but a snare to him."

gray hairs are

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

ISO

my

" Dissembled was

agdd Ring
"

slumber, youth, to prove thee,"

replied

The wise should never trust

sword of man untried.

Thou

when my

art Frithiof ;

knew

himself to

hall

man

or

thou entered'st

thee well

Old Ring hath long been ware of what

his guest

sought to conceal.

my

" Wherefore, thus disguised and nameless, 'neath

roof-tree didst thou glide

Wherefore

steal

Honor,

Was

away

it

from the old man's arms to

his bride

never sitteth nameless at the ban-

Frithiof,

quet gay

Frank and open

and

its

gods and men, to

me

is

its

visage,

shield

is

bright as day.

"

The dread
far

alike of

Shields he cleft

by him

ruin flamed

Soon with
vex

And he

a Frithiof

was famed
insulted, sacred shrines in

fierce array he'll

come,

ever thought, to

my land,

came,

in beggar's raiment,

in his hand.

and a

staff

was

FRITHIOF'H TEMPTATION.
" Yet, wherefore turn away thy gaze
felt

It is the

youth's angry strife

I,

have

too,

time of Berserk-rage in each man's ever-

struggling

life

In clash of arms

peased

Thy

151

course must pass, until ap-

its

its fierce

mood be

fault in pity I forget, since

have proved and

pardoned thee.

"

Thou

seest

am

ag^d grown, and

grave must

to the

soon decline

Then

take to thee

my

realm, and take the queen,

for she is thine.

Meanwhile, remain,

my

palace as before

son,

and dwell within

my

Guard me, thou swordless warrior

our ancient

strife is o'er."

" Never," gloomy Frithiof answered, " came

as a

thief to thee

And had

willed to take thy queen, could

have hindered
I

only longed

me

my bride

any man

to see but once

alas

but

once again.

And, woe
I

is

me

the half-quenched flame rekindled

to fiercer pain.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

152

"Too

long within thy halls

further linger

Full heavily

doth

upon

lie

I 'ye

stayed,

and now no

my head

the rage of angry gods

For Balder, with the radiant

locks,

who

all

man-

kind besides doth see

With

love, detesteth

me

alone,

and me alone

reject-

eth he.

" 'Tis true,

caused his shrine to flame, and Varg-i-

Veum call they me

To hear my name the children
;

ness from the feast doth

Its offspring lost,

my

scream, and glad-

flee

Fatherland with indignation

forth doth cast,

And

"

No

am peaceless in my
my mourning breast.

home, and peaceless in

more, no more for peace in vain

the grassy earth

Ingeborg
she's

Life's

is

lost to

owned

sun for

me

seek upon

my footsteps burns
me the trees give forth

Beneath

My

I'll

the

soil,

no shade to

by ag^d Ring

is

sorrow's dark-

me, alas

is set,

and wide

ness spread around.

FRITHIOF'8 TEMPTATION.
" And, therefore, to

my
Thy

my waves

again.

153

Away, away,

dragon good.

sable breast plunge merrily once

briny flood

more

into the

Spread to the clouds thy pinions bright, the hissing

ocean proudly

And

fly

tear,

as far as stars can lead, as swift as con-

quered waves can bear.

" Let

me

hear the storm tremendous,

fierce thunder's voice

When

let

me

hear

tumultuous din surrounds me, calmly can

my

breast rejoice.

In clang of shields and hail of arrows be

my furious

sea-fights passed.
Till glad

fall,

peased at

and

rise, forgiven, to

last."

the gods ap-

XX.

THE DEATH OF KING

WITH

RING.

golden mane gleaming,

Skinfaxe more nobly

Draweth the sun from the waves than before

Morning's bright beaming

Illumineth doubly

The

hall of the

monarch

Gloomy and

then opens the door.

grieving

Frithiof seeketh

The king

pale he sitteth

Like ocean

The

Words

"

fair

heaving

Ingeborg's breast

stranger he speaketh

of departure, in trembling expressed

The

blue billows chafe

My
My

is

swift-wingdd steed,

sea-courser longeth to bound from the strand

He

doth pine for the wave,

So

forth

must speed,

Forth from dear friends, and away from the land.

(IS4)

THE DEATH OF KINQ RING.

" This ring take

Ingborg

thine own again,

there liveth

Holy remembrance within

Give

it

for thee

it

none again

to

155

Frithiof forgiveth,

But now never more on earth seest thou me.

J

"

Smoke
Ever

ne'er shall

see

rising again

Forth from the North.

To what Nomas

Man

is

decree

only a slave

The wave-tossing main

Henceforth

"

Above

is

my

fatherland, shall be

Thy

bride to the strand,

Ring, shun to take.

all,

when

my grave.

the starlight illumines the sky

For, perchance, on the sand,

By ocean
The

cast back,

course of the wandering Viking

Then quoth

the king

may

lie."

" 'Tis bitter to hear

man

thus lament, like a sorrowing maid

Full long doth Fate sing

Her

What

matters

dirge in
it

.*

my

ear

All that

is

mortal must

fiide.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

IS6

"

Noma's

decreeing,

However

it fall,

Strive we, or grieve we,

we cannot

withstand.

To thee leave I my queen,

And my power, and all.
So thou guard

"

for

To many

my young heir

friends spake

his ancestors' land.

Full oft in the hall.

And

golden peace ever loved truly and well

Yet

often, too,

brake I

Shields in the vale,

Shields on the wave, and

"

Now will

never grew pale.

carve amain

Geirsodd, and, bleeding.

No

straw-death, ill-seeming a king,

Nor

is

I'll

receive

the parting pain

Worth monarch's heeding

It scarce

can be harder to die than to live."

So carveth he

sprightly

Letters for Odin,

Into bosom and arm the deep death-runes are press'd

Shining forth brightly.

Thick blood-drops flowed

on.

Trickling through silver hairs over his breast.

THE DEATH OF KING RING.

" Reach forth the horn

Loud skoal

157

shall arise

Skoal to thy glory, thou beautiful North

Plentiful corn,

And
And

counsellors wise,

labor in peace for thee sought

on

earth.

" Vainly and wildly

In conquest

Sought

for peace,

Now

sought her,
still

further did flee

stands she mildly,

The
At

who

grave's gentle daughter.

the feet of the gods she is waiting for me.

" Hail, ye deities bright

Ye

Valhalla sons

Earth fadeth away

to the heavenly feast

Glad trumpets

invite

Me, and blessedness crowns.

As

fair,

as with gold helm, your hastening guest."

So spake

The hand

he, pressing

of his spouse,

Greeting his sorrowing friend and his son

And

then, his eyes closing.

Ring's spirit arose.

And

sped on a sigh up to Allfather's throne.

XXI.

RING'S DRAPA.
the grave
INRing,
greatest of monarchs
sitteth

Beside him his battle-sword,

Shield on his

arm

His charger, the noble,

Neighing beneath him.

With

The

gilded hoof paweth

wall of his grave.

Richly

now

rideth

Ring over Bifrost

Arched

is

the bridge

Which to meet him descends

Wide spring the portals
Of noble Valhalla,
Gods grasping, rejoicing,
The
(iS8)

chief

by the hand.

EINO'8 DRAPA.
Thor
Far

is

off

159

not present,

he warreth

Valfader beckons,

The beaker is brought

The crown of the monarch
With corn-ears Frey decketh
And flowers among them
Doth Frigga entwine.

Bragd, the aged,

Sweepeth the harp-strings,

Sweeter than ever

The

tones of his song.

Vanadis, listening,
O'er the board leaneth

Glowing, her snowy

Bosom doth

'

High sing

heave.

the clashing

Of sword upon helmet,

Murmuring

billows.

Heaving

blood

And
Of

in

might, the good gift

the happy immortals,

Which, keenly as Berserk,

Biteth the shield.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

l6c

" Therefore,

by us was

Ring well-beloved
His shield ever guarding
Regions of peace.

Whence

the loveliest image

Of might

unoffending,

Before us, like incense,

Forever arose.

"

Words

of deep

wisdom

Valfader speaketh.
Sitting

by Saga,

Soquaback's maid.

So

the words sounded

Of Ring ever

As Mimer's
Deep,

clearly.

bright billows,-

too, as they.

" Peaceful Forsete,

Feud-reconciling,

Ruleth by Urda's

Aye-heaving wave.

So on

the Ting-stone

Sat the wise monarch.

Appeasing the rage of

Avengers of blood.

RING' 8 DRAPA.
" Ne'er was he niggardly

Round him he

i6i

scattered

(From Dragon's bed gathered)

The

daylight of dwarfs.

Gifts sped forth gladly

From hand

And

ever open

comfort for grief

From

his lips ever

fell.

" Welcome, thou wise one,

Heir of Valhalla

Long

in the

Northland

Liveth thy fame.

Bragd, with greeting,

Draineth the mead-horn

To

thee, the

Nome's

Of peace from

the

herald

North

XXII.

THE

TO

the

KING'S ELECTION.
Ting

From home

King Ring

is

the Ting

home

to

Budkafle goes

A king to choose

dead.

The Northmen come.

From

idle wall is ta'en the

Of purple
Each

warrior, with practised hand,

Its

The

brand

steel

little

edge doth

feel.

sons behold with joy

Its glitter bright

Two raise

it

up, for either

boy

Too heavy weight

The daughter

scrubs the helmet clean,

Bright must

6*

it

glare

(162^

THE KINO'S ELECTION.

Then blushes

red, for she has seen

Her image

He

there.

taketh, last of

sun

163

all,

his shield,

in blood.

Hail to thee, freeborn warrior, mailed,

Thou yeoman good

From

thy free breast alone can grow

A nation's pride

In war, thy country's rampart thou

In peace,

its

guide.

Assembled round, with warhke

cry.

In proof arrayed,

Their weapons clash

Their tent

And

is

the heaven high

made.

Frithiof stands tipon the judging-stone,

And

with him there

A little child,

the late king's only son,

With golden

hair.

There passed a murmur ^through the people

"

To

Too young

is

far

he

judge our wrongs, and of our hosts in war

The

chief to be."

FlilTHIOF'S SAGA.

i64

Up

on

his shield set Frithiof bold

The

child,

and cried

" Here, Northmen, stands your king

The

" See how, with Odin's likeness

And

He

Behold

fair

as he

filled.

standeth bold, on slippery shield,

As

"

Northland's pride

fish in sea.

With sword and

steel will

defend

His realm's renown,

And round
The

the child's

young brow

will

bend

father's crown.

" Forsete, son of Balder bright,

Record

And

my

vow.

lay me, ere its

bond

I slight,

In darkness low."

Shield-throndd

sat,

with fearless eye,

Ring's royal son,

As

eagles' young, from eyrie high.

Gaze on the sun.

But Time's course,

Seemed

to the child's

far too

slow

young blood.

THE KING'S ELECTION.

With

royal bound, in courage proud,

He
Loud rose
"

Rule

We

sprung below.

the shout through

Northmen

us, as ruled

yield

Be

the Ting

thy father Ring,

Son of the Shield

"

all

Frithiof regent of thy house

Till

grown

art thou

Yarl Frithiof, Ingborg as thy spouse.

We
"

A king's

give thee now."

election," Frithiof cried,

" Is held to-day,

But not a bridal

Choose

"

To

my

my own

Bakler's grove

now

bride

way.

must speed,

For earnest speech

Prepared,

my

Nornes,

Are wailing

full

long delayed,

each.

" Tidings to those shield-maids by

There must be

Where

they,

me

told,

around Time's

Their dwelling hold.

lofty tree,

165

FRJTHIOF'S SAGA.

i66

"

Still

Balder, golden-haired, doth frow.

In anger sore

He

took

my bride,

Can her

Then with a

kiss saluted

The new

And

and he alone

restore."

he

king's brow,

slowly o'er the heath they see

Him

silent go.

XXIII.

iTHIOF BESIDE HIS FATHER'S GRAVE.

**

"'AIR shines the

sun,

and from

its

rays of glory,

From bough to bough the gentle glitter leaps

From heaven

darts the glance of

Odin hoary.

In dew-drops bright, as over ocean's deeps

Like blood on mighty Balder's altar gory.

In purple

the mountain- tops

all

But soon the earth

steeps.

it

shall disappear in night,

Soon, 'neath the wave, sink down the shield of

" Yet

first

must

light.

behold each spot so dear.

Through which, a joyous

child, so oft I

sped

Round the same spring the self-same flowers appear,

In the same wood the self-same birds are bred.
Still

dash the waves upon the

Oh

The same

happy had
false tale

That lured me,

cliffs

severe

never o'er them

fled.

of glory ever telling

restless,

from

my happy

dwelling.

(167)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

i68

"

know

thee well,

Full often as
Valley,

know

stream

thy ripples bounded

my swimming

form they bore

thee, where, with shade surrounded,

A lasting love, unknown to earth, we swore

Ye

whose bark so

birch-trees bright,

With deep-graved

oft I

runes, ye stand forth as before,

Bearing on silvery stems the forest crown

All

is

" Is

unchanged, except myself alone.

all

unchanged

Where

Oh

my

Marred by the sword,

Of rage

To

where

is

Framnas'

hall ?

Balder's temple on the sacred strand

All the dear beauty of

Ah

wounded

of

disfigured

men and wrath

wanderers

tells

native vale.

by the brand,

of gods, sad tale

the devastated land.

pious wanderer, hither shun to rove.

Where

beasts have

made

their

dens in Balder's grove.

" Ay, a betrayer stalks through

The gloomy Nidhogg from

He

life

untiring,

the gloomy waste

shuns the Asa-light, the proud aspiring.

Written on flashing sword and dauntless

He maketh
Dark

And when

crest.

us to yield to his desiring.

fiend,

he revels

in rage unrepressed,

a temple flames, delightingly

Clappeth his coal-black hands in furious glee.

FRITHIOF AT HIS FATHER'S QRA VE.

" Hath no atonement place in Valhall's hall

169

Can nought, bright Balder, soothe thine angry mood?

Men

can be pacified whose comrades

fall

The lofty gods we reconcile with blood

And thou art called the mildest of them all
;

Speak, and

Thy

Take

"

offer gladly all

my good.

temple's burning Frithiof never willed

Remove

from his once stainless shield.

this disgrace

the weighty burden of

my

woes,

Drive from my soul the ghosts of gloomy thoughts

Let life-long grief and sorrow interpose

To wipe away
I

the guilt a

moment wrought.

should not quail, though Thor were of

And
But

my

foes,

ghastly Hela fearless should be sought

thee, great spirit, shining bright

and

Thee, and the vengeance sent by thee,

" Here rests

my

father

if

a hero sleeps

Thither whence none returneth he

is

clear,
fear.

gone

Mead-quaffing in the starry tent, he keeps

Glad

revel,

joyous in his armor's tone

Guest of the gods

Thine offspring

With spe

How

Is

shall

glance downwards thro' the deep,

calls thee,

Thorsten, Viking's son

of deep enchantment

Balder please

is all

come not

my cr)'.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

I70

" Giveth the grave no answer

For a sword,

Angantyr, long-departed, spake not he

was good, yet

Tirfing

no sword contenteth me

ask for more

Battle can

weapons

Bring thou,

Be thou

No

"

worth such word

little

plentiful afford.

O father, peace from heaven with thee ?

the pleader of

my

sorrowing prayer

noble heart can Balder's anger bear.

No

sound,

In

its

my

father

sweet voice

Hark

oh

the ocean sings,

speak a word to

me

The storm-wind flies, hang thee upon its wings,

And whisper to me as its swift gusts flee
;

The western sky hangs

full

of golden rings.

Let one of thy dear counsel herald be.

What

How

For thy son's despair no

poor,

my

no breath

sign,

father, is the sleep of

"

death

The day sank down, with evening breezes

To man their lullaby so soft and mild

singing

The

sunset, rosy-cheeked, its glories flinging

In purple radiance, girt the heavenly shield

Round

Valhalla's semblance

When

azure heights and verdant valleys clinging,

sudden

the circle

filled

o'er the western billows

came

A lovely vision,

all

weft of gold and flame.

FRITHIOF A T HIS FA TIIER '8 ORA

VE.

171

O'er Balder's bounds the gentle Hagrlng hovers,

(For so we

call

it,

though

in Valhall' bright

More sweetly named,) and floating downwards, covers

Green

and dale

hill

Spreading around, as

in coronet of light,
far as

eye discovers,

Unfancied splendor, wondrous to the sight

And

as at length

A temple,

it

down

to earth descends,

on the temple's

Vision of Breidablick

Towards heaven rearing

Their height, the walls with

The mighty

A single

pillars of

stands.

site, it

silver

seem

to vie

dark steel appearing

jewel forms the altar high

Forth hangs the dome, as

if

by

spirits bearing.

Starry and beauteous, like the winter sky.

And there, in azure garb and golden-crowned.

The gods of Valhall' seem to sit enthroned.

Within the portal stands each noble Nome,

Together bearing Fate's Rune-written shield

Three roses gathered

in a single urn,

Solemn, but wondrous beautiful and mild.

Urd towards

the ruined shrine doth silent turn,

Skuld to the vision of the new revealed

And

scarce

From

is

wond'ring Frithiof conscious grown.

glad amaze, ere

all

again

is

flown.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

172

"

Oh

have comprehended, maidens

My father,
The

happy

Of
Again

thou hast shown a sign of good

ruined temple

again shall rear,

Superb upon the rock where once

Oh

fair

thus,

no longer

it

stood.

to despair.

peaceful deeds atoning insult rude.

in

hope the outcast wretch may

live,

Since Balder bright doth pardon and forgive.

"

hail you, stars, as gently

ye arise

Your silent course again with joy

see.

Hail, northern hghts, around the arching skies

A temple's flames
Grow

fiill

oft ye've

green, dear grave, again

seemed to me

Forth from the waves, thou wondrous melody

Here, slumbering on

Of man

forgiven,

my

shield,

again arise

I'll

dream

and immortal's grace."

in peace.

XXIV.

RECONCILIATION.

COMPLETED now was Balder's temple.

Round

about

Stood

not, as once,

a willow-pale

of iron wrought,

With golden knob on every

rail,

Of Balder's grove, and

a steel-clad armament.

With

like

was

halberts bright and golden

set the fence

helmets, stood

it

forth.

And

sentinelled the sanctuary

now renewed.

Of mighty stones enormous was its circuit built,

With wondrous art together joined, a giant work,
For endless ages

Where

in

Proud stood
Its

raised, like Upsal's lofty shrine,

an earthly form the North Valhalla sees.

it

on the

lofty

cliff,

and mirrored

forth

towering summit in the ocean's shining wave

And

far

around

it,

like

Spread Balder's valley

With

all its

High stood

Two

fair,

with

all its

songs of joyous birds, a

its

a splendid belt of bloom.

rustling groves,

home

of peace

copper-bolted portals, and within

pillars tall

upon

their

mighty shoulder-blades
(173)

SAOA.

FRITfflOF'S

174

Upheld the

Above

lofty

dome, which hung forth beautiful

the temple, like a giant shield of gold.

Farther within, great Balder's altar stood, outhewn

From one huge

A sculptured

block of Northern marble, and around

serpent cast

its coils,

deep-graved with

Runes
In wisest words from Vala and from Havamal.

But

in the wall

With

above a space was found adorned

stars of gold

upon a ground of blue

The
As silver moonshine throned
So seemed

the

temple.

and there

god of Goodness' silver image was, as

fair

u])on the azure sky.

Now

in

there

pairs

en-

tered in

Twelve temple-maidens

With roses blooming on

fair, in silver

their cheeks,

Within their guileless hearts

They danced around

As
As

raiment clad,

and

roses, too,

before the image dread

the altar newly consecrate.

spring-time's breezes dance above the rivulets.

forest elves

While

And

still

dance lightly o'er the tall-grown grass,

the morning

dew

lies glittering

around.

'midst their dancing sang they, too, an holy song,

how beloved was he

how by Hoder's dart he fell

Of

Balder, the all-pious

Of

all

How

creation
earth,

and

sea,

and sky lamented

such

song
It

seemed as

But

like

ne'er from out a mortal

bosom sprung,

a tone from Breidablick, the Bright One's

hall;

REC ONCILIA TION.

75

Like dream of loved one which a lovely maiden

dreams,

When

the peace of silent night deep pipes the

in

quail,

And

moonlight beameth o'er the birch-woods of the

North.
Delighted Frithiof, leaning on his sword, beheld

The dance

and many a scene of childhood's glad-

ness sped

Before his sense, a merry race and innocent.

With eyes of heavenly

With

blue,

and lovely heads, adorned

curling locks of floating gold, they

A loving greeting to

the

comrade of

Then

like

With

all its battles fierce, its

Down

nodded

a bloody shadow sank his Viking's

into darkness,

forth

their youth.
life,

past adventures wild,

and unto himself he seemed

To stand, a flower-decked Bauta-stone, upon its grave.

And ever as the song swelled high, his spirit rose
From lowly vales of earth on high to Valaskjalf
And earthly rage and earthly hate were melted down,
As Winter's

When

icy mail from breast of

shines the sun of spring

Earth dissolves.
a flood of gentle

peace,

Of
It

seemed as

To

bosom

glad delight, his noble

if

overflowed.

the heart of Nature he could feel

throb with his

as

if

with gladness he could clasp

The whole Heimskringla

make

in his

loving arms, and

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

176

In sight of heaven a holy truce with earth.

Then

entered Balder's sacrificing priest the shrine,

Not young and

fair

as Balder, but a towering form.

With heavenly mildness

And downward
Then

in his noble countenance,

to his belt his beard of silver flowed.

new-felt reverence filled

Frithiof's haughty

soul

And

lowly bent the eagle-wings upon his helm

Before the sage,

who

thus in words of friendship

spake

" Son Frithiof, welcome hither

have watched for

thee

For youthful vigor wanders glad round earth and

sea.

Like Berserk pale,

who

biteth furiously the shield.

But wearily and thoughtful wanders home

at last.

Full oft enough to Jotunheim sped mighty

Thor

Yet

spite of

magic

Utgarda-Loke

belt,

and

sitteth ever

on

his throne

To no might Evil, mighty in itself, will

And profitless is piety unmatched with
'Tis like the

spite of gloves of steel,

sunbeam playing over

yield.

power,

^Egir's breast,

changing glow that sinks and swells with every

wave
Without a

settled depth, unstable, insecure.

But power wanting piety devours

itself,

RECONCILIATION.
Like buried battle-blade

Where

it is life's

o'er the beaker's

177

wild carouse,

brim oblivious Haeger

soars,

And when

the drinker wakes, he blushes for his

deed.
All vigor

of earth, from corpse of

is

Forth from

its

Ymer sprung

veins the stormy waste of waters

flows.

And
But

all its

void,

sinews are of brazen metal forged.

and

desolate,

Till Piety, like

Then

and

fruitless, it

must

lie,

heavenly sunlight, shines thereon.

grows green, and spreads a carpet

grass

flower-weft

Then

lift

the trees their crowns, then gleams the

golden

And man and

fruit.

beast draw

life

from mother Nature's

breast

So

is it, too,

Two

with Asker's offspring.

Odin hath

weights within the balance of each mortal

Each counterpoising each when

fairly

life.

stands the

scale.

And

they are named, the Love of Heaven, the

Might of Earth.
Full strong

is

Thor,

youth,

when

close he clasps

around

His mighty

loins the

magic

belt,

and

strikes

amain

And wise is Odin, when on Urda's silver wave

He gazelh down, and round about his ravens fly,
8*

FRITHIOF'S SAGA,

178

And

bring him tidings up from earth to lofty heaven

Yet pale grew both, and half was quenched the gleam
that decked

Their royal crowns, when Balder, pious Balder,

The

clasping link

was he

Then yellow grew

in Valhall's

the splendor of the tree of

And Nidhogg gnawed upon

its

fell

wreath of gods.

Time

then loose were

root

the

Midgard serpent

set

The powers

of agdd

Night

raised

To heaven its coils envenomed, and

From Muspelheim the sword of

Fenris howled

Surtur lightened

forth.

Since then, where'er the eye can turn, the battle

fierce

Throughout creation rageth on

The cock

in Valhall

crows

and the red one crows

gold-crested,

to

war,

On

earth and deep beneath the earth.

Yet erst was

peace.

Not only

in the hall of gods, but here

on earth

In breast of men, as well as breast of lofty gods.

For whatsoever happens here hath happened,

More wondrously above

Is but

an image

Reflected

And

and so the

slight of Valhall

down on

life

of

too,

men

heaven's light

Saga's rune-engraven shield

every heart of

known a time

man

its

Balder hath.

Thou'st

RECONCILIATION.

When

179

peace within thy bosom dwelt, and gladsome

sped

Thy

life,

in

heavenly calm, like dream of sweet-voiced

bird.

When

winds of summer night rock gently to and

His greenwood

nest,

fro

and bend the heads of slumber-

ing flowers.

Then Balder

still

was dwelling

in thy stainless soul,

Thou Asen-born, thou wandering

type of Valhall

pure

For children

still

Her booty back

But

in

doth Balder

live,

as oft as child of

anu Hela yields

man

is

born.

each heart of man, with Balder, groweth up

His brother, Hoder,

blind, the child of

Like young of bears,

ness

is

Night

sightless born,

for

111,

and dark-

is

His covering, while Balder clothes himself in light

But ever-busy Loke tempts unceasingly,

Misleads the blind one's murderous hand, and guides
the spear

Against the heart of Balder, Valhall's best beloved.

Then Hate awakeneth

Like hungry wolf, o'er

hill

for

prey Might springeth up

and

dale, the

greedy sword

Doth prowl, and dragons swim upon the bloody

waves

And shadow-like, of power bereft, doth Piety

By Pallid Hela sit, as dead, amongst the dead
And low in ashes Balder's holy temple lies
;

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

i8o

And

thus the

The

life

life

men

of

Allfather's

of gods above foreshadoweth

below, and both together are

silent

thoughts, which never

know a

change.

What

hath been, what shall be, doth Vala's deep

song

tell,

A song at once the lullaby,

the dirge of Time.

Therewith in unison, Heimskringla's

And

may each man

thence
tory

And Vala

asks of thee

heart's his-

Canst understand thine

?'

"Atonement seekest
what

thou.

Oh

know'st thou

it is ?

mine eyes

in

tale is told,

own

own

Gaze

hear his

oh

Frithiof, gaze,

and turn

not pale

Atonement bears on earth no other name than

Death
All time

is

but a measure of eternity

an emanation from Allfather's throne

hie thee home.
Atonement,thither purified
All

life,

to

The

lofty

gods themselves are

Is their atoning

On

day appointed

fallen.
;

Vigrid's hundred leagues of plain

they

Ragnarok

day of blood
;

there

must

fall.

But never unavenged

since Evil then

must die

RECONCILIATION.
and

Eternally,

From

fallen

Good

arise

i8i

on high,

flames of earth to loftier being purified.

'Tis true, the rayless wreaths of pale-grown stars

Shall

from heaven above, and Earth

fall

sink

in

ocean

But, joyously, another new-born Earth shall raise.

From ocean forth, its

And wandering stars

fairer,

flow'r-adomdd head

renewed, with sweet, benignant

beam,

Above

new

the

Once more

creation take their silent course.

shall Balder, then,

upon the grassy

hills,

Rule god's regenerate and purified mankind.

The Rune-writ golden

In early

On

dawn of

Ida's plains,

Thus, death

And

its

is

tablets, lost so

long ago

time, shall then again be found

by Valhall's reconciled

race.

but an ordeal for fallen good.

atonement, birth into a better Ufe

So, purified,

it

flieth thither,

whence

it

came,
'

Rejoicing guileless, as a child on parent's knees.

Alas

must

that all that noblest is

the

The grave

lie

beyond

grassy gate of heaven

and

all

that

dwells

Beneath the

stars

be base, by

Yet some atonement

still

evil

may

maculate.

here on

earth

be

found,

A partial, gentle prelude

to the perfect

one

Like hand of minstrel straying o'er his harp, before,

With

skilful fingers,

he awake the voice of song

i82

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

By

gentle proof he tries the tuned accord, and then

His bold hand striketh mightily the golden

strings,

From out the grave invoicing memories of yore.

And Valhall's brightness flasheth from his trancdd
eyes.

So earth

shadow seems of heaven above

the

and

like

The entrance

court to Balder's temple in the skies

And

sacrifice to

The

steed

Therein a

Must be

is

gods

is

made

rein

led in golden trappings to their slirines.

figure,

deep of meaning,

the morning-dawn of

But neither type nor

Thy deeds

by purple

all

lies

for

blood

atonement-days.

figure can themselves atone

of evil done can none

make good

for

thee.

Atonement

for the

Atonement

for the living in

dead

is in

Allfather's breast

each living heart

One sacrifice I know, in heaven above more dear

Than smoke of slaughtered oxen 'tis to offier up
Thine own heart's angry rage, thine own revenge.
:

Canst thou not blunt the edge of passion, and

give

Then,

for-

Frithiof,

nought hast thou

to

do

in

Balder's

house

And

vain must be the temple which thou here hast

reared.

With

stones thou canst not please the god

peace alone.

with

REC ONCILIA TION.

On

below,

earth

and

heaven

above,

83

forgiveness

dwells.

Be

reconcildd to thy foe and to thyself,

And
'Tis

so shalt thou be reconciled to Balder bright.

said a Balder southward dwelt,

son

Allfather sent

Of

the Virgin's

him

writings dark

make the purport known

now upon the shield of Fate.

forth to

till

His rallying-cry was Peace, and Love his shining

sword,

And Innocence sat, dove-like, on

He lived the holy life he taught
;

And,

his silver helm.

forgiving, died

away, 'neath spreading palms, his grave

far

is

made.

They

say, his

teaching spreadeth on from vale to

vale.

And

melteth hardened hearts, and layeth hand in

hand.

Erecting strifeless empires on the peaceful earth.

I

know

not well the lore he taught, and yet, me-

thinks.

At

times, in better hours,

its

thoughts have come to

me
At times such thoughts

fill

all

men's hearts as well as

mine.

The day

will

come,

know, when he

shall gently

wave
His snowy, dove-like pinions o'er the northern

hills.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

i84

But, ere that day,

North

the

from us

shall pass

away,

And
Oh
!

murmur over our

oak-trees

forgotten graves.

generations blessed, privileged to quaff

The beaming cup

Rejoice

rejoice

of new-born

when

light, I

shall

it

bid ye

hail.

drive each cloud

away,

That hung

misty veil before the sun of

its

Yet shun to scorn our

life

race, which, ever constant,

sought

With unaverted gaze

Allfather,

"

Thou

its

heavenly beams to view

though but one, hath many messengers.

And

hatest Bele's sons.

wherefore hatest

thou?

Because with

To match

thee,

a yeoman's son, they did not

who

their sister,

is

will

sprung from Seming's

blood.

The son

of Odin, and because their pedigree

Ascendeth up

to

throne

Valhall's

and

they are

proud.

But thou

wilt

answer

'

Birth

is

chance, and not de-

sert.'

No

man, believe me, youth, of his deserts

'Tis but his better fortune

Is, after all,

Of

all

gift

of Heaven.

thy valiant deeds, of

is

and the best of

all

proud

all

Art thou not proud

thy matchless might

RECONCILIA TION.
And was

that might conferred

by thee

85

Did Thor

not knit

The sinews of

thine

arm as

high heart no

Is thine

gift

firm as branching oak

of God's, that boundeth

glad

Within that

citadel, thine

arching breast

That lightning not of heaven that flasheth

And

is

in thine

e)'es ?

The lofty Nornes already by thy cradle sang

Of glorious life to come therein thy merit is
;

No

greater than a king's son's for his royal birth.

Condemn

not others' pride, lest thine, too, be con-

demned.

For now

is

Helge

fallen."

"

How

" cried Frithiof

loud,

" King Helge fallen

Where, and when

"

"

Thou

knowest well

That while thy temple thou wast

building, he

was

gone

To war in Finnish highlands. On a lonely cliff

An ancient shrine he found, of Jumala the seat.
For many a year gone by closed up and desolate
But

still

Above

an agdd, wondrous image of the god

the gate remained, and

But no man dared

Amongst

nodded

to venture near, for

to its
it

fall

was said

the Finns, from sire to son, whoever

first

Within that temple trod should Jumala behold.

This Helge heard, and blindly scaled,

in bitter rage.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

i86

The

lonely steps that led to the detested god,

Desiring to destroy the shrine.

The key was

He

laid his

The

He reached the top

rusted, fast within the portal locked.

hands upon the post

rotten portals

in rage

he shook

once, with frightful crash,

all at

The idol's image fell, and crushed beneath its weight

The heaven-born Helge. Thus he Jumala beheld.

messenger

home
Alone now

this night

hath brought the tidings

sitteth

Halfdan on King Bele's throne.

Give him thine hand

to

heaven thine anger

sacri-

fice;

This

As

off 'ring

Balder doth demand, and

proof that

now thou mockest

I,

his priest,

not the peaceful

god.
If thou refuse, in vain this temple hast thou reared.

And

vainly have

spoken."

Halfdan entered now

Across the copper threshold, and, with doubtful

glance.

He

stood aloof from Frithiof feared, and held his

peace.

Then

Frithiof snatched

tlie

breastplate-hater from

his side.

Against the altar set his golden-orbdd shield,

And
''

all

unarmed, advancing, stood before his

In such a

strife

foe.

as this," he spake in kindly voice.

RECONCILIATION.
"

He

noblest

is

who

offers first

King Halfdan blushed, and

187

a friendly hand."

off his glove of steel

he

drew

Those hands so long apart were joined again

In vig'rous clasp, as firm as rock's deep base.

The graybeard

then the heavy ban revoked that lay

Upon the Varg-i-Veum, excommunicate.

And sudden, while the words he spake, came
borg

In bridal garb,

in

ermine mantle,

Behind her following, as heavenly

With

Ing-

in,

maidens
stars the

tears within her beauteous eyes she

Her brother Halfdan's

breast

fair

Moon,

fell

but, deeply

upon

moved,

he laid

His

sister, well

beloved, on Frithiof 's faithful heart

And Ingborg, over Balder's altar, gave her hand

To him, her childhood's friend, her heart's delight

NOTES TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

Page

i.

" Frithiof and

Ingeborg."

In this Canto,

the last couplet of each stanza, in the original, has invaria-

bly feminine rh)rmesv

Page

line

3,

i6.

stanza seems preferable

more

But childhood's days

There stands a

literal

translation

full fleetly

glide

stripling in his pride,

With haughty eye

that hopeth, pleadeth,

There stands a maid whose bosom buddeth

Page

19, line 6.

of this

" Hans

sjelf

en lefvande saga "

him-

self a living tradition.

Page

31.

" Frithiof's Wooing."

original, the

rhymes of the

Page

" Frithiof's

more

45.

Here, again, in the

last couplet are feminine.

Joy."

" Frithiof's Bliss "

correct translation.

Page

124.

" ViKiNGABALK."

The Viking-Code.
{189)

is

FRITHJOF'S SAGA.

I90

The

Page 158." Ring's Drapa."

measure depends on

its alliteration.

Mr. Blackley has neglected

men

of

its

effect

in his translation.

character, I give the first stanza

Sits in the sepulchre,

Son of the

heroes,

Battle-blade by him.

Buckler on arm

Neigheth

his stallion

Standing within

it,

Stamping with gold-hoof

The

of the Saga-

This necessary feature

gate of the grave.

As

a speci-

ALPHABETICAL GLOSSARY AND NOTES

EXPLANATORY OF NAMES AND TERMS OCCURRING
IN THE FRITHIOF-SAGA.*

Aegir.
Aesir.

The
The

ocean-god.

Daughters of Aegir, the waves.

Odin, Thor,

twelve highest gods, namely,

Njord, Frcy, Tyr, Heimdall, Bragi, Vidar, Vali, Ullur,

Ilaenur,

and Forsete, with

their progeny.

Alfader (All-Father). The highest title of Odin.

Angurvadel (Flood of anguish). The name of Frithiof 's
sword.

AsEN,

The

gods.

a name genwho were supposed

Asa-sons, or Asen-sons

erally given to Scandinavian kings,

to trace descent from the gods themselves.

AsKER, or Ask. The first man.

AsGARD, The city of the gods.
ASTRILD. The god of Love.
* The Translator is indebted for the extracts from the
"Prose Edda" in this Glossary, to Mr. I. A. BlackioeWs
translation of that production, contained in his new edition
of Mallefs '^Northern Antiquities^'' 1847; ^^^'^ ^^^ "^^^
profited largely by remarks in other farts of his work, which
he takes the present opportunity of acknorvledging.
(191)

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

192

Balder.

The god

of Light, typified by the Sun.

The

following account of him is taken from the " Prose

Edda," c. 22 : " The second son of Odin is Balder, and
it

may be

truly said of

man

him

that he

is

the best, and that

So fair and
form and features, that rays of light
seem to issue from him.
Balder is the wisest, the
all

the race of

dazzling

he

is

are loud in his praise.

in

most eloquent of all the Aesir ; yet, such

judgment he has pronounced
cannot be altered. He dwells in the heavenly mansion
called Breidablik, into which nothing unclean can
enter."
Balder, or Day, was, at the instigation of
Loki, god of Mischief, slain by the blind god, Hodur,
mildest, the
is his

nature, that the

or Darkness.

Bale-Fire. a beacon-fire. That referred to in the text.

No. XIII, was the fire kindled on Midsummer's Eve,
in honor of Balder, the god of Light, whose symbol,
the Sun, at that period seemed to reach its highest
power. It may be remarked, in passing, that ignorance
of the history and meaning of the word Bale, or Bal,
has very far diverted

compound,
of

light,

or flame,

malignant.

its

original sense in our use of its

which, properly signifying

baleful,

is

used

in

The heathen custom

Midsummer's Eve

or bonfires on

fiery, full

English in the sense of

of lighting bale-fires
is still

continued in

Germany, Scotland, and Ireland,

though the practice is generally supposed to be intended in honor of the coming festival of St. John the Baptist, which falls on Midsummer Day.
Bauta-Stone, a memorial raised over fallen warriors,
and formed generally of a block of unhewn stone, proparts of Northern

jecting several feet out of the ground.

stone differed
scribed,

the

from the

memorial

Rune-stone

in

The Bautabeing unin-

Rune-stone bearing,

ou the

contrary, an inscription in the form of a serpent, sur-

GLOSSARY AND NOTES.

193

mounted by the sign of a hammer, the emblem of

Thor, god of War.
Berserkir. a class of mythical heroes imbued with an
implacable frenzy for war. Hence a proverbial expression for any warrior of unusually ferocious disposition.
It may be interesting to remark
between the Eddaic account of the

The rainbow.

BiFROST.

the coincidence

rainbow, and Sir David Brewster's theory of three

primitive colors.
The following is from the " Prose
" I must now ask,'
Edda," chap. XIII
which is the path leading from earth
That is a senseless question,' replied
hast thou not been
smile of derision
gods made a bridge from earth to heaven,
Bifrost ?
Thou must surely have seen
'

said Gangler,

heaven

'

to

'

Har, with a

haps, thou callest

and

it

the rainbow.

constructed with

is

more

told that the

and
it

called

it

but, per-

It is of three hites,

than any other

art

work,' " &c.

BjoRN.

Lit.,

Hence

" Bjorn,

Hold
Blcetand.

The name

a bear.

of Frithiof's comrade.

the play on words, page 82

come

it

to the rudder

tight as bear''s hug^^

Angl., blue-toothed.

Blood- EAGLE (to tear the)

A custom of putting to death
an enemy under circumstances of peculiar atrocity.
The ceremony consisted in carving on the back of the
.

prostrate foe the figure of an eagle, and so separating

the ribs from the back-bone.

ises to

In the text, Bjorn promperform such vengeance on Frithiof's slayer,

should his chief

fall.

Brage. The god of Poetry and Song.

Breidablik.
Broad-gleaming, latifulgenL

Balder's pal-

ace in the heavens.

BuDKAFLE.

The

bidding-staff.

wand about

a foot in

FRITHJOF'S SAGA.

194

length, inscribed with certain characters of authority

and which, sent from house to house with great dispatch, formed a summons for the assembly of the
whole nation to deliberate on public matters of moment This custom bears a strong analogy to the
sending round of the fiery cross in the Scotch Highlands on the like occasions. The practice in Scandinavia, as well as in Scotland, is minutely described by
Sir Walter Scott, in the Notes to the " Lady of the
Lake," Canto III, stanza i.

Daylight of Dwarfs.

From

the idea that the Earth

was

supported by four dwarfs, North, South, East, and

West

(see

page

lo, line 6),

came the

belief in the exist-

ence of a subterranean race of dwarfs,

who were

sup-

posed to be lighted by the veins of gold in the bowels

of the earth.

Twilight, dawn.
Son of Delling Dagr, Day.
" Nott (Night) espoused
See " Prose Edda," c lo
Delling, of the Aesir race, and their son was Day, a
child light and beauteous like his father.
Then All

Delling.

and Day, her son, and gave them

two horses and two cars, and set them up in the heavens, that they might drive successively round the
world. Night rides first on her horse, called Hrimfaxi
father took Night,

(Rimy, or frosty-maned), who every morning, as he

ends his course, bedews the earth with the foam which
falls from his bit
The horse made use of by Day is

named
light is

Skinfaxi (shining-maned), from whose mane

shed over the earth and the heavens."

The hall of goddesses.

Dragon's Bed. The dragon Fafner, guardian of the Nibelungen treasure, was fabled to lie upon it
Hence,
gold was said to be gathered from the dragon's bed.
Drapa. a triumphal song in honor of departed heroes.
DiSARSAL.

GLOSSARY AND NOTES.

195

sung, for the most part, at the " grave-feast," which

all

on succeeding to their fathers, were bound to

hold.
When sung by Brage himself, the god of Song
(as in No. XXI), it signifies a hymn of welcome rather
heirs,

than a dirge.

Efjesund. In the Orkneys, of which Angantyr was Yarl.

EiNHERlER. AngL, chosen heroes. All who, dying a viowere admitted to the joys of Valhalla.
progress which the Scandinavian
kings were accustomed to make through their whole

lent death,

Eriksgate.

The solemn

realm after their coronation.

Fafner.

The dragon

ure, but

set to watch over the golden treasconquered by Sigurd, the Siegfried of the Ni-

belungenlied.

Fafner's-bane.

Destroyer of Fafner.

surname given

to Sigurd for the exploit referred to above.

FoLKVANG.

The palace of Freya in the heavens, the supposed habitation of virtuous and beautiful women after
death.

FoRSETE, or FoRSETi. The god of Justice.

" One of the most celebrated of the gods.
Frey.
He
l^resides over rain and sunshine, and all the fruits of
the earth ; and should be invoked in order to obtain
good harvests, and also for peace." Prose Edda, c. 24.
Freva. The goddess of Love. " The most propitious of
the goddesses ; her abode in heaven is called Folkvang.
To whatever field of battle she rides, she
asserts her right to one-half of the slain, leaving the
rest to Odin."

Frigga.

Gandvik.

Prose Edda,

The spouse

24.

of Odin, and mother of the Aesir.

The White

Sea.

196

Geirsodd.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.
In contradistinction to

Angl., spear-death.

straw-death,

;.

e.

death from disease or age.

Suicide,

practised by aged warriors to insure their admission to

Valhalla, where none dying a natural death were admitted.

Gerda.
Glitnir.

The most beautiful of women ; spouse of

The palace of Forsete in the heavens.

Frey.

A well-known, though
phenomenon, said to be occasionally
presented on the Norwegian coast
Ham and Heyd. Two storm-demons, or weather-sprites.
Havamal. Angl., the lay of the sublime. An Eddaic
poem, containing a number of precepts said to have
been given by Odin to mankind. Many of those given
by Bele and Thorsten to their sons in the text are actually adopted by Tegner from the Havamal, as may be
seen by comparing, for instance, page 12, stanzas 5, 6,
with the following extracts from the ancient work
" Praise the fineness of an ended day ; a woman when
she is buried ; a sword when you have tried it ; the
ice when you have crosssd it ; and liquor after it is
drunk." " Trust not the words which a woman utters,
for their hearts have been made like the wheel that
The Fata Morgana.

Hagring.

rarely witnessed

" Trust not

turns."

to ice of

one day's freezing

nei-

ther to the sleeping serpent," &c. &c.

Heimskringla.
Hela, or Hel.
the abode of

The

universe.

Goddess of Death
all

who

ruler of Niffelhem,

died of disease or old age.

Hildur- The goddess of War.

HoDUR. The god of Darkness. See Balder.
HoLMGANG. A single combat So called from being very
firequently decided upon a lonely island (Holm), without witnesses, and, of course,

Iduna.

The spouse

<i

VoiUratue.

of Bragi, god of Song.

She

is

keeper

GLOSSARY AND NOTES.

197

of the apples of immortality, by which the youth of the

gods is continually renewed.

Ida's Plains.
Grig., Ida-vallen.

the valley of con-

Lit.,

The dwelling of the gods

fluence.

after the destruction

of the universe.

Jernhos.
JUMALA.

The

iron-headed.

deity worshipped

by the Finns.

The term has

passed into a name for the Almighty Being, and (as the

Countess von Imhoff remarks) our Lord

Jumala Poyke.

is

named

in

the Finnish,

JoTENHEiM, or JUTENHEIM.

The

giant's

home, or region

of the giants.

LoFN (sometimes Lofna,

but less correctly).

ing deity of Matrimony.

The term

The

presid-

(from which our

word Ime is derived) signifies unchangeable affection.

The god of Evil and Mischief ; descended from the

LoKl.

race of the giants.

Midgard Serpent.

The

great serpent said to encompass

the whole earth.

Midnight Sun. This expression (No. XIII, stanza i)

may sound strange to many readers, unless they bear
in mind that in parts of Sweden and Norway the sun
does not sink below the horizon at

all

at the period

(Midsummer) referred to in the text, but remains visible from high ground through the whole night.
Mimer. The owner of the well of wit and wisdom, at the
root of Yggdrassil (the ash-tree, symbolical, according
to

Finn

Magnusen,

of universal

nature).

Mimer,

always drinking of his well, was imbued with the highest

wisdom.

Morven.

The north of Scotland.

The region of Muspel

MusPEL-HEiM.

the world of flame

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

198

thus described in the " Prose Edda,"

south

is

the world Muspel.

It is

c.

" In the

a world too luminous

and glowing to be entered by any not its natives. He

sitteth on its borders to guard it is called Surtur.
In his hand he beareth a flaming falchion, and at the
end of the world shall issue forth to combat, shall vanquish all the gods, and consume the universe with

who

fire."

Muspel's Sons.

Nanna.

Flames.

The spouse

of Balder,

who

died with grief at her

husband's death.

Nastrand. The strand of the dead.

NiDHoGG. The down-hewer, or down-gnawer.
said continually to gnaw at the root of the

dragon,

Ygg-

ash,

drassil.

NiFFELUEM. The land of shadows.

NoRNES. The Fates, or Destinies, three in number. Their
dwelling was beneath the ash Yggdrassil, by the fountain of Mimer.
See Voluspd, stanza 17: " Thence
come the much-knowing maidens, three, from that
fountain which
(the Past)
third,

tablets

is

beneath the

tree.

One

is

Skuld

(the Future).

called
;

they determine the lives of the sons of

down laws ; they settle destinies,

NORRANA TUNGA. The old Norse language.
they lay

Urd

and the
They engrave the Runic

another, Verdandi (the Present)

men

&c.

Odin. The most mighty of all the gods.

Odin's Birds. " Two ravens sit on Odin's shoulders, and
whisper in his ear the tidings and events they have
heard and witnessed. They are called Hugin (Thought)
and Munin (Memory). He sends them out at dawn of
day to fly over the whole world, and they return at eve,
Hence it is that Odin knows so
tQvyards meal-time.
"

GLOSSARY AND NOTES.

many

things,

^and

called

is

Prose Edda,

god)."

38.

c.

Hrafnagud

Hence

199
(the

raven's

ravens, generally,

are called the birds of Odin.

The spouse

Oedur.

of Freya.

very remote countries.

into

He

"

left his wife, to

travel

Since that time Freya

and her tears are drops of pure

She has a great variety of names ; for, having

continually weeps,
gold.

gone over many countries in search of her husband,

each people gave her a different name." Prose Edda,
c-35-

Pillars of Shame. These were the Niding-posts, or memorials on which the name of any one guilty of cowardice or other disgraceful conduct was inscribed.

RAGNARok.

Lit.,

the twilight of the gods.

tion of the universe, a desolation minutely

in the

No.

" Prose Edda."

XXIV, where

This period

is

The

destruc-

foreshadowed
referred to in

the references sufficiently explain

themselves.

Ran, or Rana. The goddess of the sea.

Rota. One of the Valkyrien, which see.
Runes. The characters of the Scandinavian alphabet,
teen in number.

To

these letters

six-

many marvellous

they were used sometimes

;
charms against misfortune, sometimes against enemies, sometimes to secure victory. They were said to
have been invented by Odin himself, as well for the
properties were assigned
as

common
Runenbalk.
to

purposes of

staff,

have some magic

life

as for magic.

graven with Runes, and supposed

efficacy.

Saga. The goddess of History.

Seming. a son of Odin.

FRTTHIOF'S SAGA.

200

The

Sigurd.

Siegfried of the Nibelungenlied, conqueror

of the dragon Fafher.

Skald. The title of the northern bards.

Skoal. A toast in honor of any person or thing.
Skinfaxe. The horse of Day. See Delling.
Skuld. See Norm.
Sleipner. The steed of Odin, having eight legs, and
celling all horses ever possessed by gods or men.
Solundar-oe. The Hebrides.
Soquaback. The mansion of Saga in the heavens.
SuRTUR. The god of Fire. See Muspel-heim.

Thor.

The god

of

War, wielder of thunder.

He

is

ex-

rep-

resented always afoot, and armed with a short-shafted

hammer.

Thrudvang. The dwelling of Thor.

Ting. The general assembly of the Northmen, which

all

capable of bearing arms were bound to attend on occasions requiring deliberation or action.

The word

is

used, Volks-Thing being applied to the Swedish

still

assembly.

Tirfing.

named Angantyr, which

His daughter Hervor, howdesiring to gain the weapon, caused her dead sire

The sword

was buried with

ever,

of a warrior

its

owner.

to remonstrate against the proceeding,

Utgarda-Loki.
ing,

See Loki.

Thus

called fi-om his dwell-

Utgard, said to ^3e at the utmost limit of the uni-

verse.

Urda.

See Nome.

Vala. a spaewife or prophetess.

Valaskialf. Odin's dwelling in heaven.
Valhall, Valhalla. The paradise of warriors.

GLOSSARY AND NOTES.

201

Valkyria, Valkyrie.
Choosers of the slain. " Prose
Edda," c. 36 " There are, besides, a great many other
goddesses, whose duty it is to serve in Valhalla to
bear in the drink, and take care of the drinking-horns,
They are called Valkyrior. Odin sends them to
&c.
:

every

field

to be slain,

Varg-I-Veum,

9*

of battle, to

and

to

make

sway the

Outlawed.

choice of those

victory," &c.

Under

the Ban.

who

are

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