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FRITHIOF'S SAGA

1-RO..I THE SWEDISH OF

E S A I A S . T E G N E R

Bishop cf Wt'xio

BY THE REV. WILLIAM LEWERY BLACKLEY, M.A.

First American Edition

EDITED BY

BAYARD TAYLOR

NEW YORK

L E Y P O L D T & HOLT 1867

£5 665

Entered, according to Act of Congress?, in the year 1867, by

LEYPOLDT A-, HOLT,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States f >r the Southern District of New York.

JOHN F. TROW & CO., I'KIKTEHS, STKIiKUTYPEKS, fy ELEUTR 50 0 R 1C E iX E STREET. N . T .

GIFT

In compliance vs'ith current copyright

law. U.C. Library Bindery produced

this replacement x'olume on paper

that meets the ANSI Standard Z39-48-

1984 to replace the irreparably

deteriorated original.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

THIS volume is the second of a uniform series of foreign poems lately inaugurated by the publication of " King Rent's Daughter " from the Danish of Henrik Hertz. It is our intention speedily to add Lessing's " Nathan the Wise," with the splendid in troductory essay of Fischer, translated, and edited by the Rev. O. B. Frothingham.

If we are not disappointed in our hopes of the public appreciation of these, we will add others of equal interest. Among those we have in contempla tion are Goethe's " Hermann and Dorothea ; " Mo- liere's " Tartuffe ;" Calderon's "Life is a Dream ;" Tasso's " Aminta," translated by Leigh Hunt ; " The Wooing of the King's Daughter," from the Norwe gian of Muench ; " Boris GodounofF," from the Rus sian of Pouschkine ; " Nala and Damajanti," trans lated from the Sanscrit by Milman ; and a translation of Bodenstedt's version of the Turkish songs of Mirza-S chaffy.

M878938

CONTENTS.

Frithiof-Saga, and its Author, v

The English Translations of the Frithiof-Saga, . Abstract of the Ancient Frithiof-Saga, -. . • *xvl

I. Frithiof and Ingeborg,

II. King Bele and Thorsten Vikingsson,

IIL Frithiof's Inheritance, ....

IV. Frithiof's Wooing, 31

V. King Ring,

VI. Frithiof Plays Chess, 42

VII. Frithiof's Joy, 45

VIII. The Parting, 54

IX. Ingeborg's Lamentation, .... 74

X. Frithiof at Sea, 77

XI. Frithiof with Angantyr, ....

XII. Frithiof's Return, 99

XIII. Balder's Bale-File,

XIV. Frithiof Goeth into Banishment, . . . "3

iv CONTENTS.

PAGE

XV. Vikingabalk, 124

XVI. Frithiof and Bjorn, 129

XVII. Frithiof Cometh to King Ring, . . 133

XVIII. The Ride over the Ice, . . . .142

XIX. Frithiof's Temptation, .... 144

XX. The Death of King Ring, . . . .154

XXI. Ring's Drapa, 158

XXII. The King's Election, 162

XXIII. Frithiof beside his Father's Grave, . 167

XXIV. Reconciliation, 173

Notes to the American Edition, . . . . 189 Glossary, : 191

FRITH I O F'S SAGA,

AND ITS AUTHOR.

No poetical work of modern times stands forth so prominently and peculiarly a representative of the liter ature of a race and language, as the "Frithiof's Saga" of Esaias Tegner. 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 distinguish it from other cognate lan guages. Purely Scandinavian in its spirit, its scenery, its legendary element, and only indebted to antique cul ture for a part of its rhythmical form, it combines the freshness and freedom of the early Saga with very higli artistic finish and proportion. It appeals at once to the national pride, and the simple human sentiment of the farmer or herdsman, and to the taste of the scholar. Immediately upon the appearance of the poem, its claim to be placed at the head of the imaginative literature of Sweden was recognized. No one attempted to contro-

(v)

vi FRITHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

vert the decision, which has only been strengthened dur ing the forty-three years that have since intervened.

In asserting that Swedish poetry is of recent growth, I refer neither to the old Eddaic literature, nor to those authors of the seventeenth century whose reputation still survives in their native land. Few, indeed, outside of Sweden, have ever read or even heard of the hexameters of Stjernhjelm, or the pious epic of Archbishop Spegel. With Dalin commenced the new era, which nearly cor responds in time to that of England and Germany, and of which Bellmann, Franzen, Wallin and Leopold — names which first carried Swedish poetry to other lands — were the most prominent representatives. When Bell 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 — a calm, earnest, beautiful life, in which the fire and enthusiasm of the poet, the sedate strength of the scholar, the tender and solemn humanity of the preacher, and the social and domestic affections of the honest Scandinavian nature, are blended in equal and harmonious measure. Al though other of the modern Swedish poets may occa sionally surpass Tegner in depth of reflection, or origin ality of form, in no one has the poetic faculty attained such a free and plastic grace of expression, while retain ing that antique symmetry which always suggests repose.

The secret of this excellence is to be found in the history of his life. Like Linnaeus and Thorwaldsen, he sprang directly from the people — from the simple, sturdy, vigorous level of the Scandinavian race. His grand father was a " bonde gud " of the Thorsten Vikingsson stamp : he fought under Charles XII, and after the battle

FRITHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR, vii

of Friedrickshall, carried his sword and Bible home to his little farm. His wife's name was Ingeborg : whether or not she was beautiful, is not stated. She bore fourteen children to her Frithiof, of whom seven or eight sons inherited plow and sword, and the youngest of all, the Bible. He became a preacher, took a poor country con gregation, married the daughter of another preacher, and begat, as his fifth son, Esaias Tegner, the poet, who was born in the parsonage of Kyrkerud, on the i3th of No vember, 1782.

When the future poet grew to be an active, impetu ous, golden-haired boy of ten, and his oldest brothers, Lars and Elof, were about to enter the University, the father died, leaving only the merest pittance for the family. While the poor widow sorrowed in her cottage behind the birchen avenue of Ingrirud, young Esaias roamed over the country, digging for relics in the old Scandinavian barrows. This youthful vagabondage, however, was not to last long. A friend of his father, the Assessor, Jacob Branting, living near Carlstad, in the province of Wermeland, kindly offered a home to the boy. As the latter wrote a good hand, and was a rapid and correct reckoner, he was installed as a sort of clerk to his patron, whom he accompanied on his official journeys through the province. One who has seen the lovely pastoral scenery of Wermeland: its green, secluded valleys, threaded by ths clear, cold streams which sweep down from the distant Dovrefjeld : its superb birch-trees, with their g'ant white boles, and drooping willowy boughs : its iron forges and foundries, dark forests of fir, rocks of granite and porphyry, glens of primeval wildness, and hills with sea-like glimpses of the Wetter Lake — whoever has seen these, will easily understand how they must have

viii FlUTHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

stimulated the boy's fancy, and assisted in the develop ment of his poetic nature. Wandering through Werme- land as a passing stranger, I caught pictures which will never fade from my memoiy. Even more than on the Sognefjord of Norway, the locality of the original Saga of Frithiof, I recognized the scenery of the poem.

When the boy first began to rhyme, no one knew. He lisped in numbers, and all the occurrences of his life in Wermeland turned themselves into poetry. He be came a great devourer of books, often tasking the patience of his kind patron by his complete abstraction and for- getfulness of his duties when he once began to read. He not only turned history and tradition into rhyme, but composed an epic in Alexandrines, on a heroic theme. This habit of mind gave to his poetry, in later years, its remarkable flexibility and grace.

Branting, while sincerely attached to the boy, (whom he had intended to educate for his own position,) soon perceived that the latter's gifts qualified him for a more important sphere of life. He wrote at once to Capt. Lowenhjelm, in 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 dren. His request was granted, and the result showed the wisdom of Branding's course. Esaias learned Latin with wonderful rapidity, attacked Greek with a zeal re markable 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 profit able place as teacher, he made it a condition that his brother should be allowed to accompany him.

In 17.97, therefore, the brothers took up their abode in the house of the rich iron-master, Myhrmann, in the

FRITH 10 F' S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR. i*

mountains, near Filipstad. Lars was tutor, and Esaias studied in company with 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 1561. With a limited knowledge of the Greek grammar, 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 thrice, the Odyssey twice, and Horace, Virgil, and Ovid. At the same time, he was endeavoring to acquire Ger man, English and French, not by means of the ordinary drudgery, but by boldly commencing with the reading of the best authors. His progress was so remarkable, that when Lars gave up his tutorship, he was competent, at the age of sixteen, to take it in his stead.

A year later he entered the University of Lund, Myhrmann having generously agreed to share with Branting the expense of his education. He repaid their generosity by a devotion to his studies which would have wrecked a frame unsuppiied with the vigorous farmer-blood of Sweden. He wrote a Latin essay on Anacreon, received a prize from a literary society in Gottenburg for an Elegy on his brother Lars, and in 1802, was primus of the graduates. During the summer of this year, he was betrothed, with the consent of her parents, to Anna Myhrmann, the youngest daughter of his second patron. The lives 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 assistant-librarian at Lund — posts which, if slenderly paid, at least secured him against want — he had more leisure for his literary I*

x FRITHIQF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

tasks. He was silent, however, for some years. A poem which he sent to the Swedish Academy failed to receive the prize, and this circumstance seems to have either dis gusted or depressed him. In other respects, his life was fortunate. In 1806 his success as a teacher enabled him to marry, and in 1810 he received the rank and salary of professor. Shy and reticent as a student, he became 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 recited all over the land. He was received in Stockholm with great enthusiasm, and while there, published several lyrics which still further increased his popularity. The 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 it, he consci entiously devoted a great portion of his time, visiting his parishioners and assisting them with counsel or active kindness.

For many years, Tegner's life was uninterruptedly calm and fortunate. In the possession of an ample in come, burdened only with congenial duties, happy in his domestic and social relations, and with full leisure for the enjoyment of 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 the nation, on its appearance. In 1814 he published " Nore," written after the conclusion of the Treaty of Kiel: in iSao, "The Children of the Lord's Supper," (of which Mr. Longfellow has made an admirable trans-

FRITHIOFS SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR. xi

lation,) and in the following year, the lyrical romance of " Axel." * About the same time, the last nine chap ters 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 im mediate publication of the entire work.

The incentive which led Tegner to seek for the ma terial of his chief poetical essay in the Saga-literature of the North, 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 pioneer in a path leading — as the authors and scholars of that time considered — into a rough, stormy wilderness, peopled with savage and repulsive forms. The European struggle between the Classic and Romantic, assumed an individual character in Denmark and Sweden. In spite of Oehleuschliiger's success, the prevalent opinion was that the Gothic element was too stubborn, violent and barbarous to be subdued to the service of Poetry. Tegner's tastes as a scholar 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 and land s-capes of his home. The publication of Oehlenschliiger's " Helge," (I believe in the year 1820,) awoke in him the desire to achieve a permanent triumph in what was still considered a doubtful field. His patriotism prompted and upheld his genius

The old Icelandic Saga of Fridthiofe Fraekna (Frithiof the Bold), furnished him with a theme most congenial to

* This poem has been very correctly and beautifully translated into English by Mrs. George P. Marsh.

xii FRITHIOF' S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

his heroic nature. Love, combat, sorrow, storm on the blue billows, trysts in the green grove, exile and longing for the fatherland, guilt and expiation, triumph and crown ing peace, were here all offered to his hand. The prin cipal liberties which he has taken with the original story, are in making King Ring die by the " spear-death," — the runes of Odin, self-carved upon his breast — instead of the t: straw-death," and in the rebuilding of Balder's temple by Frithiof, with the reconciliation-scene which follows. Both these changes, however, are in harmony with the spirit of the Sagas. In the first instance Ring heroically completes the recompense he offers to Frithiof j and if, in the second instance, as some critics aver, he has given the poem too modern and sentimental a conclusion, we must not forget that the God against whom Frithiof was guilty of sacrilege was Balder — the white, loving, Christ-like deity of the Scandinavian Mythology.

Tegner, himself, says in a letter to Professor Ste phens : " It was never my meaning — though such seems to have been the opinion of many — simply to versify the Saga. The most transient comparison ought to have shown, not only that the whole denouement is different in the Poem and the Saga, but also that several of the Can tos have a very remote ground in the legend. * * * My object was to present a poetical picture of the old Northern heroic age. It was not Frithiof, as an individ ual, whom I meant to paint : it was the epoch of which he was chosen as the representative. It is true that I preserved, in this respect, the shell and outline of the tra dition, but, at the same time, I thought myself entitled to add or to take away, just as was most convenient for my plan."

Tegner was certainly right in adding to Frithiof, for

FRITIIIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR, xiii

instance, a characteristic which does not appear in the Saga, yet which is an integral part of the Scandinavian nature — that grave, semi-melancholy quality which sets the songs of the land to the minor key, which softens, but never clouds, the blue eyes of its people, which even seems to breathe upon you from the shade of its forests and the dark, forbidding loneliness of its mountain-glens. If, in some respects, Frithiof is slightly modernized, at least he is of pure Norse blood. Whatever has been added to the poem has been taken from Jcindred sources. Thus the Viking-Code, in Canto XV, is to be found in the Voluspa,, and a part of Canto II in the Havamal. In this respect, the work is consistent throughout. The author must have resisted a strong temptation, when, after bearing the 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 suitable method seemed to me, to resolve the epic form into free lyric ballads. I had the example of Oehl^nschlager, in his ' Helge,1 be fore me, and have since found that it has been followed by others. It carries with it the advantage of enabling me to change the metre in accordance with the contents of every separate song. Thus, for instance, I doubt whether ' Ingeborg's Lament' (Canto IX) could be given in any language in hexameters, or iambic penta meters, whether rhymed or not. I am well aware that many regard this as opposed to the epic unity, which is, however, so nearly allied to monotony ; but I regard such unity as more than sufficiently compensated by the freer room and fresher changes gained by its abandonment.

xiv FRITHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

Just this liberty, however, to be properly employed, re quires so much the more thought, understanding, and taste ; for with every separate piece one must endeavor to find the exactly suitable form — a thing not always ready to one's hand in the language. It is for this reason that I have attempted (with greater or less success) to imitate several metres, especially from the poets of antiquity. Thus the pentameter iambic, hyper-catalectic in the third foot (Canto II) — the six-footed iambic (XIV) — . the Aristophanic anapests (XV) — the trochaic tetra meter (XVI) — and the tragic senarius (XXIV) — were scarcely, if at all, heard of in Swedish, previous to my attempts."

Perhaps it would have been better for Tegner if he had followed " Helge " more closely — varying the metre, as the changes of the theme suggested, without insisting on discovering a separate measure for every canto. Nothing can be more admirable than some of his adapta tions, but in other instances the reader feels that some 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 lithe limbs of the Swedish language seem to move very naturally and gracefully through these alien dances. But in 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 repro duce in a translation. The iambic hexameter of the concluding canto is not, as Mr. Blackley asserts in his preface, an " uncouth metre." In the German language it is frequently and successfully employed, and there is

FRITHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR, xv

no reason why it should not be introduced into English poetry.

I am unable to ascertain the precise time when the first complete edition of " Frithiofs Saga" was pub lished. The second edition, which I possess, bears the imprint of i8z5, and Stephens asserts that the first was published the same year. Bishop Franz6n, however, in his Life of the poet, says that the popularity which the poem acquired was one of the causes which led to Teg- ncfs appointment as Bishop of Wexio, in the year 1824. In the same year he was made Knight Commander of the North Star. Thus evenly and securely had his life advanced, from step to step of success, and at this height rested. Although but forty-two years of age, his pro ductive activity as a poet ceased. Probably the graver duties of his new station, which he fulfilled not only with dignity but with conspicuous success, led him away from the seductions of Song. " Axel " was written during the idle convalescence which followed a severe illness ; " Frithiofs Saga " was the suggestion of a fortunate spirit of emulation ; and, although he planned a new metrical romance, " Gerda," some fragments of which were published, he gave little to the world, from this time, except an occasional lyric.

It is also possible that the change from Lund, with its scholastic atmosphere, fresh, joyous student-life and ge nial, 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 never aeglected one of his lectures on Greek literature, lay at the threshold and warned off all in truders when there were signs of poetry in his master ; nor could the latter take with him the track worn in the

xvi FRITHIOF'S SAG-A, AND ITS AUTHOR.

floor, where, hour after hour, he slowly paced out his melodious lines. Perhaps, like Campbell, he grew afraid of the shadow which his sudden and undisputed fame cast before him, doubting whether he could surpass his previous productions, and fearing to undo their effect.

The last triumph of his life was in another field than literature. A national Convention of the Clergy was held at Wexio in the year 1836. Bishop Tegner pre sided, and produced, no less by his earnest, noble pres ence, than by his eloquence, the profoundest impression upon the assembly. In character and influence, at least, he became the acknowledged head of the Swedish Church. In his place in the Legislative Assembly cf the kingdom he seems to have been less successful. The 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 manifested themselves. In 1833 he was forced to make a journey to the mineral springs of Bohemia, from which he returned without the expected improvement in his health. His bodily condition operated on his mind, and filled him with gloomy forebodings. " God preserve me my reason ! " he wrote at this time \ " there is a streak of insanity in my family. In my case it has manifested itself in poetry, which is a milder form of the disease 5 but who knows whether I shall always be exempt from u severer attack ? " Unfortunately, his fears were soon to be justified. An incautious use of the "douche" bath brought on symptoms of apoplexy, after which it was noticed that his mind occasionally wandered. He pro jected extensive travels, the publication of numerous works, and indulged in other plans of similar character.

FRITUIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR, xvii

It was about this time, I believe, that Mr. Longfellow received a letter from him, announcing that a complete edition of his works was shortly to appear, in one hun dred volumes ! He complained that a wheel of fire seemed to be constantly 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- wig. Here he soon recovered, returned home, and re sumed the labors of his diocese, which he performed until the year 1845. He was t^ien forced to apply for a release : a quiet, phlegmatic condition had supplanted his former nervous excitement, and he gradually grew weak er, both in intellect and in body. Some instinct of his approaching end led him to visit his children and grand children at Lund, and afterwards, kneeling beside his faithful wife in the church at Kjellstorp, to receive the Sacrament from the hands of his son. Then he returned home, to hide from the world the slow decay of his faculties. In September, 1846, an attack of paralysis completely prostrated his remaining physical force. He was thenceforth confined to his bed, and utterly helpless, yet his voice regained its former strength and his clouded mind became clear and sound again. As the autumn sun shone into his chamber, he exclaimed : " I lift my hands to the mountains and the dwelling of God ! "

At midnight on the id of November, while the northern sky glowed with splendid auroral fires, his life gradually ceased, and so gently that the widow kneeling at his bedside could not detect the moment of death. The moonlight, falling upon his face, revealed the peace ful 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 ITS AUTHOR.

to a great creative intellect. His genius was essentially lyrical, and it is due to the fortunate circumstances of his life that he stands forth so prominently as a representa tive poet. Probably no other Swedish poet lias so devel oped and enriched the language ; none other has so com bined the opposite qualities of freedom and artistic finish. His lines and couplets cling to the memory like those of Byron. 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 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 their great popularity, and on one occasion said : " I had no idea that my poetry would become so available"

The source of his popularity will be found, I think, in three qualities which his poems exhibit : their exquisite melody, their brilliant antithetic passages, and the perfect purity and clearness of their language. " The Swede," says Tegner himself, " like the Frenchman, prefers in poetry the light, the clear, and the transparent. The profound, indeed, he demands and values also, but it must be a depth that is pellucid. He desires to see the' golden sands at the bottom of the wave. Whatever is \ dark and turbid, so that it does not present him with any distinct image, that he cannot endure." Again, in his " Epilogue," spoken at Lund 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,"

FRITHIOF'8 SAGA, AND ITS A U THOU, 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, how manly thy accents,

and noble !

Ring'st like the smitten steel, and mov'st like the march of the planets."

In his hands the praise is hardly exaggerated. It would be difficult to find more perfect examples, both of melody and of imitative harmony, in any modern tongue, than his poems offer. In the wail of the winds and the broken dash of the billows in " Ingeborg's Lament," the shifting hurry and movement of Ellida's struggle with the storm, and the bright, joyous pulsations of spring which beat in the opening of '•" Frithiof 's Temptation," we have an admirable marriage of the thought and the rhythm. Tegner's gifts, therefore, though not of the highest, were of a very high and rare quality. They illustrate the finest characteristics of his language and race, and cannot perish while either exists.

Tegner 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 cor ners of his lips. It was a frank, honest, kindly face, sometimes abstracted or overcast with the Northern sad ness, but oftener lighted up by the cheerfulness of a nature which rejoiced in its appointed work and attracted to itself the best fortune of life. He was witty and bril liant in society, and many of his remarks and repartees

xx FRITHIOF'S SAGA, AND ITS AUTHOR.

are still in circulation in Sweden. Few poets, in any land, have found the world so kindly disposed towards them, or have left behind them a more serene and pleas ant memory.

B. T. October, 1866.

THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

OF

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

THE translation of a poem, the charm of which de pends equally upon its form and subject, must reproduce the form as nearly as possible. Whether this may be best accomplished by a rigid adherence to the rhythms of the original, or by such variations as the language of the translation suggests, is a question which the translator must solve by his own skill, knowledge, and taste. Frithiof 's Saga offers many 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 Tegn6r,* that it is to be regretted he did not undertake a complete translation. A poet can only be properly translated by a poet, and none of the English versions which have appeared fulfil this condition. Although the Swedish language resem-

* North American Review, No. CXVI. July, 1837.

(xxi)

xxii THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

bles the English in the simplicity of its structure and in its splendid lyrical qualities, it is richer in feminine rhymes, and abounds with terse idiomatic forms which cannot easily be transferred. Here the Germans, being more nearly related, have succeeded better. The trans lations of Amalie von Imhof, Mohnicke, and, more recently, Lobedanz, are all tolerably successful reproduc tions of the original, which, through them, has become completely naturalized in Germany.

The first English translation of FrithioPs Saga was published by the Rev. William Strong, in 1833. This was followed, two years afterwards, by an anonymous attempt, the work of three or four hands. I have not seen the latter, but the oblivion into which it has passed is not indicative of success. In 1838, Mr. R. G. La tham, since distinguished by his ethnological works, pub lished a translation, or rather paraphrase, in London. Even were its execution faultless, the liberties which he has taken with the original would preclude its being adopted as a fair representation of the latter. He not only changes the heroine's name from Ingeborg to Inge- bore, but pays so little attention to the Swedish metres that they can only be found in seven out of the twenty- four cantos. He changes hexameter into heroic verse, dactylic into iambic, blank verse into rhyme, with no rule save his own whim.

Here and there Mr. Latham has some very spirited lines, and the whole of " Frithiof at Sea " is faithfully and successfully given. In the " Parting," however, he omits a portion, on the plea that it is " in no degree suit ed to the English poem " ! Moreover, his volume is marred by so many faults of rhyme and metre — points wherein Tegn6r is always perfect — that it cannot be read

OF FRITHIOF'S SAGA. xxiii

with satisfaction even by one unacquainted with the original.

The translation of Prof. George Stephens (London and Stockholm, 1839), w^° was a personal friend of the poet, is a very conscientious and laborious work. The measure has been retained, except in the first, second, and last cantos, and the translator's thorough knowledge of Swedish has enabled him carefully to express the au thor's meaning. But the free, plastic movement of the original is wholly wanting ; the English verse is hope lessly stiff and unmusical. Tegn6r's liquid-flowing

" Liksom en hjdm sin rttndd hvalfver" can scarcely be recognized in

" As Heaven's soft breeze its arched round bends."

This single specimen will sufficiently show that some thing more is requisite than reproduction of an author's meaning and adherence to his measures, in order to trans fer the true spirit and character of a poem into another 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 law of alliteration in Canto XXI ("Ring's Drapa") is disregarded. Mr. Blackley, while condemning the iambic hexameter of the concluding Canto, nevertheless does not venture to change it, like Messrs. Latham and Stephens. Moreover, his verses are much more fluent than those of either of the latter gen tlemen, his chief short-coming being that he too fre quently gives us rather tame and commonplace English

xxiv THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

lines for the poetic fire and sparkle of the Swedish origi nals. Thus, in Canto XII, the beautiful lines :

" Och glddtigt skj liter 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."

A closer adherence to the original text would give us more of the music — as thus, at a venture :

" And the joyous speed of his black swan gave A silver wake to the sun-bright wave."

So, in the " Inheritance/' the terse Homeric picturesque- ness of " Springare t--va ganger tolfy bangstyrigatfjettrade <vindar" (steeds twice twelve, impatient, fettered winds,) is rather weakly given in the line :

" Twice twelve spirited steeds, like terrible winds in con finement."

This Canto is very well rendered by Mr. Stephens, while in Mr. Latham's translation it is hardly to be recognized. As Frithiof 's Saga consists, in reality, of twenty-four ballads, it might be possible to combine selections from the different translators, and thus obtain a composite ver sion, in some respects superior to any single attempt. On examining the translations, however, with special refer ence to this plan, I found the two former so deficient in poetic quality, that their occasional vigor would have scarcely compensated for the break in the smoother flow of Mr. Blackley's translation. The latter, as a whole, is

OF FRITIIIOF'S SAGA. xxv

greatly the superior, and I prefer, therefore, to present it intact, adding only the few notes which have been sug gested by a close comparison with the original.

The notes, explanatory of the old Scandinavian cus toms and mythological names, follow the poem.

B. T.

ABSTRACT

OF THE

ANCIENT FRITHIOF-SAGA.

IN Sognefylke, near the holy grove of Balder, dwelt King Bele 5 two sons had he, Helge and Halfdan, and moreover a daughter, Ingeborg the Fair. When he came to die, Bele warned his sons to keep up friendship with the mighty Frithiof, a son of his friend Thorsten, who was the son of Viking. But the young kings refused scornfully Frithiof's wooing for their sister's hand, and so he vowed revenge, and that he never 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 (which was a forbidden deed), and there

(x.xvi)

THE ANCIENT F1UTHIOF-SA OA . x xvii

he exchanged rings with her j for to him the love of Ingeborg was far weightier matter than the favor of Balder.

To punish him for this contempt of the shrine of Balder, the kings laid upon Frithiof the task of going to the Faroes, and demanding a tribute. So Frithiof, with his foster-brother, set sail in the ship Ellida, the best in all the North ; a ship which all said could understand the voice of men. All in the midst of the storm Frith iof spoke of his Ingeborg. 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 to Rana's dwelling (she was goddess of the Sea). After wards, when they had overcome a pair of storm-sprites, which rode on whales against them, the storm sank down, and they approached the Faroes, where Yarl An- gantyr let him take the tribute for friendship's sake, and so he departed.

When he came back, he heard that the kings had burned his dwelling, and that they were just then at the midsummer feast in the grove of Balder. Thither he went, and found few folk within ; but Helge's queen sat there, warming the image of the god, anointing it, and rubbkig it with cloths.

Frithiof flung the purse with the money in Helge's face, so that his very teeth fell out ; and then he was going away, when he beheld the ring he had given to Ingeborg on the arm of Helge's queen. He dragged it from her with such might that she fell upon the ground, Balder's image was thrown into the fire, and the whole temple set in flame. King Helge sought to pursue Frithiof, but his ships had been made useless. Frithiof, just to show his strength, drew such a stroke with Elh-

xxviii THE ANCIENT FRITHIOF-SAGA.

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 let the mer chants fare in peace. And so, 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 that he should be set in the most hon orable seat. Queen Ingeborg spake but little with him. Once, when Hring and Ingeborg were driving over the ice, it broke beneath them ; Frithiof came with speed and dragged them up again, with sleigh and horse and all. Another day Frithiof and the king went out to gether into a wood, and the king laid him down to sleep 5 then Frithiof drew his sword, and threw it away. Then the king told him how that he had known from the first evening who he was. Then Frithiof wished to go away ; but Hring gave up Ingeborg to him, and made him, under the title of Earl, the guardian of his heir. Soon after Hring died ; then Frithiof married his bride, and remained king. Helge and Halfdan made war against him ; but Frithiof slew Helge, and Halfdan had to pay scot to him as his lord.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA

(xxix)

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

FRITHIOF AND INGEBORG.

IN Hilding's home together grew Two 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 lance towards the sky, Its struggling, wind-tost summit blown, Like helmet-plumes, so grew the one.

The other, like the fragile rose, When Winter, parting, melts the snows, And Spring's sweet breath bids flowers arise, Still in the bud unconscious lies.

(0

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

When o'er the earth the storms speed hoarse, The oak is seen to brave their force ; When in the sky the spring-sun glows Open the red lips of the rose :

So grew they glad in childhood free, And Frithiof was the sapling tree ; And 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 hair.

But saw'st thou them in moonlit glade, Dancing beneath the forest shade, Thou'dst think in airy dance t' have seen The fairy king and fairy queen.

How light his heart, how glad his thought, When the first Runes 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.

FRITH 10 F AND INGEBORG.

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 stream, however fierce its flow, He feared to carry Ingborg through ; Sweetly, when 'neath loud falls they passed, Her little white arms held him fast.

The first fair flower that spring-time bred, The first wild berry, sweet and red, The first ripe ear of golden corn, Faithful and glad, to her were borne.

But all too soon sweet childhood flew, And Frithiof to manhood grew ; While to the maid matured, his eye Beamed full of love's intensity.

-Young Frithiof often in the field Pursued the chase, 'gainst danger steePd ; Proud, without either sword or spear, Unarmed, to slay the grisly bear.

He wrestled with him, breast to breast, Nor scatheless of his prize possessed, He carried home the shaggy spoil, While Ingborg's smiles repnid his toil.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

For woman loves a manly deed, And beauty's praise is valor's meed ; The one 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's golden hair, Like a ripe corn-field, waves in air ; But Ingborg's tresses seem to hold Lily and rose in net of gold.

" Iduna's bosom, full and fair, Beats beneath silk, rich, green, and rare ; But here, 'neath clearer silken folds, Its place a fairy bosom holds.

" And, like the deep, clear, azure sky, Beams lovely Frigga's soft blue eye ; But I know eyes whose gentle ray Eclipses spring-time's brightest day.

" And shines fair Gercla's cheek alone Like sparkling snow 'neath northern sun ? I know of cheeks, whose ruddy glow A double dawn appears to show.

FRITHIOF AND INGEBORG.

" A loving heart I know of, too, Like gentle N anna's, fond and true ; Full worthily, O Balder, \ve Praise still, in song, her love for thee !

" Gladly in death would I be laid, Lamented by a loving maid, As faithful and as true as she, — Welcome were Hela's home to me."

King Bele's 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 silver all the breastplates shone.

Still, as she wove it, more and more - The hero Frithiof 's likeness bore ; When from the frame she raised her head, She blushed with shame, but still was glad.

And Frithiof cut, on birch-tree's stem, An I, an F, where'er he came ; And merrily the letters, too, Like their young hearts, together grew.

FRITHIOF ^S SAGA.

When riseth up the morning fair, The king of earth, with golden hair, And busy life begins to move, Each on the other thinks with love.

When night with darkness fills the air, Mother of earth, with raven hair, And silent stars are all that move, Each on the other dreams with love.

" O 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 ! "

" O Sea, thy gloomy halls possess Bright pearls in thousands numberless ; Give me the fairest and most clear, To weave a chain for Ingborg dear."

" O Peak of Odin's royal throne, Eye of the world, thou golden Sun, Did thy bright disc belong to me, A shield for Frithiof it should be ! "

" O Lamp in 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 ! "

FRITHIOF AND INGEBORQ.

But Hilding said : " My foster-child, Check this young fondness, vain and wild ; Unequal lots forbid the Nome, And royally is 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 sires lie," Frithiof proudly said,

" In the dark valley of the dead ; But the falling wood-king left to me, With his shaggy hide, his ancestry.

" The free-born man, ne'er yieldeth he ; The world belongeth to the free. What chance hath lost, may chance repair, And Hope a royal crown may wear.

"" Full nobly born descendeth power

From the great Thrudvang-dwelling Thor : He heeds not birth, but valor true, And mightily the sword can, sue.

" For my young bride I'll combat now, Though thundering Thor should be my foe. Bloom glad, bloom true, my lily fair ; He who would part us ill shall fare ! "

II.

KING BELE AND THORSTEN VIKINGSSON.

KING BELE in his pahce stood, on his sword he leaned,

And by him Thorsten Vikingsson, his old, tried friend ; The comrade \vho for eighty years his wars did share, Scarred as a monument was he, and white his hair.

So stand two aged temples, midst mountains high, Both with age tottering, to ruin nigh ; Yet words of wisdom still on the walls we see, And on the roof pictures of antiquity.

" My day is setting fast," King Bele said ;

" Tasteless the mead ; I feel the helmet's weight ; Dim are my glazing eyes to mortal state, But Valhall' dawns more near ; I feel my fate.

" So my two sons, with thine, I've called to me ;

Together they're united, as have been we ; (8)

KING VELE AND VIKINGSSON. 9

Once more to warn the young birds am I fain, Ere from a dead man's tongue all words be vain."

Then to the hall they entered in, as he had willed : The elder, Helge, whose dark brow with gloom was

filled ;

His days in temples spent he, with spaemen hoary, And now from sacrificing came, his hands still gory.

Then came the younger, Haliclan, with flaxen hair ; His countenance was noble, but soft and fair ; As if in sport, a 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.

« TV

My children," quoth the king, " my day doth

wane ;

Rule in fraternal peace, in union reign ; For union, like 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.

io FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" An unwise ruler devastates his land ; All monarchs' might in people's strength must

stand ;

Soon the green splendor of the tree is fled, If from the naked rock its roots be fed.

" Four pillars to uphold it, Heaven doth own ; Kingdoms are based on one — on Law alone. Danger is near where might can sway the

Ting; Right guards the land, and glorifies the king.

" Helge ! in Disarsal the gods do dwell ; But 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 hawk ; False, though deep-cut, is many a Runenbalk ; But in the open heart and honest eye Odin hath written Runes that ne'er can lie.

" Helge ! be not severe — be firm alone ; By bending most the truest sword is known ; Mercy adorns a king, as flowers a shield ; More than all winter can one spring-day yield.

" A friendless man, however mighty he, Fadeth deserted, like a bark-stripped tree ;

KING BELE AND VIKING SSON. n

With roots refreshed, though fierce the storm-winds

strive, By friendship's stream thou may'st securely thrive.

" Boast not thy father's fame — 'tis his alone ; A bow thou canst not bend is scarce thine own. What can a buried glory be to thec ? By its own force the river gains the sea.

" Gladness, O Halfdan, doth the wise adorn ; But folly, most of all in kings, brings scorn ! Mix hops with honey, when thou mead wilt brew ; Make thy sports sterner, and thy weapon too.

" None is too learned, however wise he be. That many knowledge lack, too well know we ; Despised the witless sitteth at the feast ; The learned hath the ear of every guest.

" To trusty comrade, or to friend in war, Be thy way near, although his home be far ; Yet let thy foeman's house, where'er it lie, Be ever distant, though thou pass it by.

" Thy confidence to many shun to give ; Full barns we lock ; the empty, open leave ; Choose one in whom to trust — more seek not thou ; The world, O Halfdan, knows what three men know ! "

12 FRITHIOF*S SAGA.

After the king rose Thorsten. Thus spake he : " Odin alone to seek ill fitteth thee ; We've shared each hap, O king, our whole lives

through, And death, I trust, we'll share together too.

" Full many a warning Time hath whispered me, Son Frithiof, which I gladly give to thee ; As on the tombstones high perch Odin's birds, So on the lips of age hang wisdom's Avords.

" Honor the gods ; for every good and harm Cometh from above, like sunshine and like storm ; Deep into hearts they see, and many mourn A lifelong sorrow for one short hour's scorn.

" Honor the king ! Let one man rule with might ; Day hath but one eye, many hath the night. Let not the better grudge against the best ; The sword must have a hilt to hold it fast.

" High strength is Heaven's gift ; yet little prize It brings its owner, if he be not wise ; A bear with twelve men's strength can one man

kill: As shield 'gainst sword, set law against thy will.

" The proud are feared by few, hated by all ; And insolence, O Frithiof, brings a fall.

KING- &ELE AND VIKINGSSON. 13

Men, mighty once, I've seen on crutches borne, And fortune changeth like storm-blasted corn.

" Praise not the day before the night arrive ; Mead till 'tis drunk, or counsel till it thrive ; Youth trusteth soon to many an idle word ; Need proves a friend, as battle proves a sword.

" Trust not to one night's ice, to spring-day snow, To serpent's slumber, or to maiden's vow ; For heart of woman turneth like a wheel, And 'neath the snowy breast doth falsehood dwell"

'; Thyself must perish, all thou hast must fade ; One thing alone on earth is deathless made — That is, the dead man's glory ; therefore thou Will what is right, and what is noble, do.

So warned the graybeards 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 full many a hearty memory named Of their true friendship, in the Northland famed ; How, faithful unto death, in joy or need, Like two clasp'd hands, together they had stayed.

H FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Sons ! back to back our stand we ever made ; So ever to each Nome a shield displayed ; And now, we aged, to Valhalla haste ; Oh ! with our sons may their sires' spirits rest ! "

Much spake the king of Frithiof 's valor good, His hero-might excelling royal blood ; And Thorsten much of future fame to crown The Asa sons, who should the Northland own.

" And if ye hold together, ye mighty three, Your conqueror the Northland ne'er shall see ; For might, by lofty station firmly held, Is like the steel rim round a golden shield.

" And my dear daughter — tender rose-bud ! — greet In tranquil silence bred, as most is meet ; Defend her ; let the storm-wind ne'er have power To plant upon his crest my late-born flower.

" Helge ! on thee I lay a father's care ; Guard, like a daughter dear, my Ingborg fair ; Force breaks a noble soul, but mildness leads Both man and maid to good and noble deeds.

" Now, children, lay us in two lofty graves Down by the sea-shore, near the deep blue waves Their sounds shall to our souls be music sweet, Singing our dirge as on the strand they beat.

KING liELE AND VIKINGSSON. 15

"When round the hills the pale moonlight is

thrown.

And midnight dews fall on the Bauta-stone, We'll sit, O Thorsten, in our rounded graves, And speak together o'er the gentle waves.

" And now, 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 ! "

III.

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE.

NOW in their graves had been set King Belc and Thorstcn the aged, Where they themselves had desired ; uprose on each

side of the deep bay Mounds high arched, like breasts that the valley of

death separated. Helge and Halfdan together, by old traditional

usage, Ruled in the house of their sire ; but Frithiof shared

his with no one, And as an only son possessed the dwelling at

Fraumas. Three leagues forth was his rule, on three sides round

him extended, Valley and mountain and wood ; and the sea was the

fourth of his mearings. Birch forest crowned the tops of the hills, and where

they descended (16)

FRITIIIOF'S INHERITANCE. 17

Waved fields of rye as tall as a man, and golden- eared barley.

Many a 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 rivu lets 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, and champ'd the growth of the meadows ;

Red silk shone in their manes, and their hoofs were flashing with steel shoes.

But a house for itself was the banquet hall, fashioned in fir- wood ;

1 8 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Not five hundred, though told ten dozen to every

hundred, Filled that chamber so vast, when they gathered for

Yule-tide carousing. Through the whole length of the hall shone forth the

table of 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 ; the Skald alone thought

upon Brage,

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE. 19

How, with his silver beard and tongue rune-written,

he sitteth Under the leafy grove, and relateth wonders by

Mimer's

Ever-murmuring stream ; himself a 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 them Flashed a sword, like 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 cast her eyes, and blushed, and her

form in the round shields Blushed like the maiden herself; this gladdened each

banqueting comrade.

20 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

Rich was the house : where'er the eye could turn, there did meet it

Cellars and chests well filled, and granaries heaped with provisions.

Many a treasure, too, it contained, the booty of war fare :

Golden, with deep-carved Runes, and silver \von- drously fashioned.

Three things there were prized above all the rest of the riches :

First of the three was the mighty sword, an heir-loom ancestral, •

Angurvadel, so was it named, and brother of Light ning ;

Far in the east it was forged, as ancient legends re lated,

Tempered by toil of dwarfs : Bjorn Blcetand the first who had borne it.

But Bjorn paid as a forfeit at once both his life and his 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 daugh ter.

Lo ! there came from the depths of the woods a giant tremendous.

FRITIIIOF'S INHERITANCE. 21

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 terrible foe to the waist, and rescued the

fair one. Viking left it to Thorsten, his son, and from Thorsten

descended Came it to Frithiof at last. When he drew it, the

hall was illumined As by a lightning-flash, or the dazzling gleam of the

north-lights. Golden thereof was the hilt ; with verses the blade

of it 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,

22 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

But when Hildur began her sport, then glittered they

blood-red — Red as the crest of a cock when he fighteth. Lost

was the foeman Who ever met that naming 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 story, the halting

Valunder ; Three marks was it in weight, of gold unmingled

y-fashioned ; On it the heavens were wrought, and the towers of

the twelve immortals (Figuring changing months, the Sun's dwellings called

by the minstrels) : Alfheim 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 morn ; and

Saga is spring-time

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE. 23

Writ upon grassy fields 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 light is Goodness, but all that is Evil

is gloomy. Weary the sun groweth, mounting so high, and so

groweth Goodness

Faint on the dizzy height ; so, sighing, sink they to gether Down to the realms of Hela, the land of shadows and

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, fleirloom old in the race was the ring ; its origin

ancient

24 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

(Though by the mother's side) reached up to mighty Valunder.

Once had the gem been stolen away by plundering Sote ;

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.

Thorsten the rumor heard ; with King Bele he mounted his dragon,

Cleft 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 turf, lay the sepul chre rounded ;

Light gleamed out therefrom ; through a chink in the ponderous portal

Glanced the comrades in ; pitch-black within stood the vessel

Of Sote, with helm and anchor and mast ; and high by the tiller

Sat there a terrible form ; he was clad in a fiery mantle ;

FRITHIOF'S INHERITANCE. 25

Moodily glaring sat he, and scrubbed his blood- spotted weapon 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, "let's enter and fight with

this terrible being, Two men against a fiery fiend." Half angry swore

Thorsten — " One against one our fathers fought, and alone will I

combat."

Long contended the twain for the right of the peril ous conflict, Which should essay it first ; till Bele, taking his

helmet, Shuffled for each within it a lot, and soon by the

starlight Thorsten discovered his own ; so he smote on the

door with his steel lance. Open flew bolt and bar ; 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, like the spell of witchcraft it

sounded ; Then rose a loud-clashing noise, like the crossing

of weapons it sounded ;

26 FRITHIOF'S SAO A.

Lastly, a terrible cry, which was hushed ; then out

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

he had battled ; Bearing, moreover, the ring. " 'Twas dear-bought,"

oft he repeated ; " Since in my life, save the time that I won it, I ne'er

was affrighted." Far was that jewel renowned, and of jewels the first

in the Northland. Ship Ellida, the last of the three, of its kind was a

jewel : Viking (so say they), as homeward he hied him back

once from battle, Coasting the shore, espied a man on a frail spar of

drift-wood Carelessly tossing about ; he seemed with the waves

to be sporting.

Tall, 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

adorne'd ; 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. 27

Took him perishing home to his house, and exer cised kindness : Yet when the host to a chamber would lead him, the

guest laughed, exclaiming — Good are the winds, and my vessel, thou seest, is

not to be scorne'd ; Fivescore leagues (at least, so I hope), shall I

traverse ere morning. Thanks for thy bidding — well 'twas intended ; would

that some kindness I, in my turn, could offer, but my wealth lies in the

ocean ; Haply to-morrow from me thou may'st find some

gift by the sea-side." Next day Viking stood by the sea, and lo ! as an

osprey Flieth, quarry-pursuing, a ship sailed into the

haven ;

No man upon it appeared ; no pilot could be dis covered ; Yet it steered 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, and clung with its

fluke to the bottom.

28 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

Dumb stood Viking, and gazed ; then sang the glad,

heaving billows :

" 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 silver ;

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 first in the Northland.

FRITHIOF1 8 INHERITANCE. 29

These things, and many more, from his sire did

Frithiof inherit ; Scarce in the Northern land was there found an

heritage richer, Save with the son of a king ; for the wealth of kings

is 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 many a scar

on their foreheads. Lowest of these on the warriors' bench sate also a

stripling, Like to a rose in a withering bower ; Bjorn was his

title ; Gay as a child, but brave as a man, and wise as an

old man ; Frithiof 's 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 who had come to the grave-feast,

3o FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

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 ; that is Thor's place

up in Valhalla,

IV. FRITHIOF'S WOOING.

LOUD soundeth the song in Frithiof 's hall ; The Skalds sing the fame of his ancestors all ; No joy do they bring To Frithiof, who heeds not the tales they sing.

Again hath the earth donned her raiment of green,

And vessels swim over the billows again ;

To the shadowy grove

Hieth Frithiof, by moonlight, to dream of his love.

Tin1 lately he joined in the joys of his home, For Halfdan the merry he'd bidden to come, And dark Helge, the king, And with them fair Ingborg persuaded 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.

32 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

And often they spake of each happier day, When the morning dew on their young lives lay, — Of childhood's hours, To noble minds a garden of flowers.

They spake of each valley and forest dark,

Of their names deep-carved in the birchen-bark, —

Of each ancient grave,

Where the oaks grew tall in the dust of the brave.

" In the court of the king no such gladness hath smiled, For Helge is sullen, and Halfdan wild, And my brothers hear Nought but flattering song or covetous prayer.

" I have no one " (and here she blushed red as the rose) " To whom I may speak of my sorrow and woes ;

The court of the king

Far 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 for love and for fondness can yearn ; 'Ncath its wing bind for me One loving word which unnoticed may be."

FRITHIOF'S WOOING. 33

So whispering sate they the livelong day,

And were whispering still when the sun passed away,

As the evening breeze

Whispers in spring through the linden trees.

But now she is gone, and his joyous mood Is fled with her presence ; the youthful blood Mounts to his cheek : He sighs and grieves, silent, unwilling to speak.

And sadly he wrote of his grief by the dove, Which joyously sped on his message of love ; But ah ! to their woe, From his mate could no more be persuaded to go.

But Bjorn this mourning could not bear ;

He cried : " What makes our young eagle here

So sad and moody ?

Hath his breast been struck — are his pinions bloody ?

" What will'st thou ? For here we can fear no need Of noble food, or of nut-brown mead ; And 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.

34 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Ellida hath no rest upon the wave, Early and late at anchor doth she chafe. Ellida, be thou still ; For strife and warfare is not Frithiof 's will."

At last sets Frithiof his dragon free ;

The sails swell high, the waves cleaves she ;

And speedily brings

Him over the sea to the court of the kings.

That day were they sitting on Bele's grave, And judgment before all the people they gave ; Loud Frithiof cried — Round hill and vale his voice echoed wide :

" Fair Ingborg, ye monarchs, I love as my life ; And your sister I ask of you now for my wife ; This union, too, Was ever King Bele's purpose true.

" In Hilding's home brought up we were, As young trees grow together fair ; And our fates above Hath Freya woven in gold threads of love.

"No king, no Yarl was my sire, I own ; But long shall his name in song live on. The fame of our race Is witnessed in many a burial-place.

S WOOING. 35

" 'Twere easy for me to win kingdom and land, But that better I cherish my native strand ; Where with love I'll watch o'er The court of the king and the hut of the poor.

" We stand on the grave of great Bele ; he hears Below us my word, which adjures you with prayers ; For this boon from you With Frithiof your buried sire doth sue."

Then rose King Helge, and cried with scorn : " Our sister was ne'er for a vassal born ; A king's 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 thee, Our sister, of Odin's blood, never shall be.

" Let the care of the realm be no trouble to thee ; I can guard it myself, but my serf thou may'st be ; A place there is still In our household thou mayest be happy to fill."

" Thy serf," exclaimed Frithiof, " I never shall be ! I'm a man for myself, as my father was, free, From thy silver sheath fly, Angurvadel, to fright his security."

36 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 pacify me, Dark king, my good blade would have brought it to

thee;

Now hear this last word : Come never again within reach of my sword ! "

So spake he, and cleft with a terrible stroke The 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 think Upon mightier deeds ; but at present let sink Thy Runes' bright glow ; O'er the blue waves we must homeward go." .

V.

KING RING.

ND King Ring from the board his gold seat

thrust forth ; 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 the judging-stone ; And peace each year abundant tribute paid ; While widely spread

In sunshine bright the golden corn-fields shone.

(37)

38 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

O'er ocean the black-breasted dragons hied

On snowy pinions ;

Thither from many a distant land they plied, And from far and wide

Brought riches more to his rich dominions.

With peace dwelt freedom safely there,

And though 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, in peace and right,

Full thirty years ; 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 of worth, Famed in the North,

But, deeply sighing, thus he spake and said :

" In Folkvang sitteth my gentle queen,

On purple throned ;

But here on her grave the grass grows green, And flowers are seen

To bloom by the brook that flows around.

KING RING. 39

" Ne'er find I 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 for my children a mother's care.

" With the summer winds often we used to see

King Bele here :

A lily-sweet daughter he left, and she My choice shall be,

With the morning dawn on her cheeks so fair.

" She is young, and young maidens love, I know,

To pluck flowers of spring. My bloom is past, and chill winter's snow Full long ago

Hath whitened the hoary locks of your king.

" Yet an honest man still her choice may be,

Though white his hair ; , And if to my 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 chest ;

And follow, ye bards, with your harps on the way, For meetly may

He seek Brage's aid who a-wooing doth haste."

40 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Forth with shouting and glee his men

With gifts and with gold ;

And the Skalds they followed, a winding throng, With harp and with song,

And the home of King Bele's sons soon they behold.

Two days they feasted, they feasted three ;

When the fourth was come, To hear what Helge's answer might be Entreated they,

That back again they might hie them home.

To the grove for sacrifice brought he in haste

Both falcon and steed ;

Then sought each Vala, and sought each priest, What fate were best

For his sister, the beautiful Ingborg, decreed.

But the omens were evil, though anxiously tried

Each Vala and priest ; And Helge, by evil signs terrified, " Nay ! " sturdily cried,

" For 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."

KING RING. 4i

The messengers hied them home angrily ;

To their master's ear The tale they told, and loud swore he — " Right speedily

King Graybeard this stain from his honor shall clear."

He smote on his war-shield, which hung at rest

On a linden tree ;

And his dragons sped over the sea in haste, With blood-red crest ;

And the helmet plumes waved merrily.

And to Helge the rumors of war came near.

In dread quoth he :

" King Ring is mighty — we've cause to fear ; So in Balder's care,

In the temple, 'twere better my sister should be."

There sate the loving one mournfully

In the peaceful shade ;

She wrought in silk, and in gold wrought she ; Unceasingly

Her tears fell, like dew on the lily shed.

VI. FRITHIOF PLAYS CHESS.

FRITHIOF sat with Bjorn the true At 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 until my game I finish, foster-father bold.

Quoth Hilding : " Hither come I speeding, For King Bele's sons entreating ; Danger daily sounds more near,

And the people's hope art thou." " Bjorn," quoth Frithiof, " now beware ; 111 thy king doth seem to fare ;

And pawn may free him from his fear, So scruple not to let it go." (42)

FRITHIOF PLAYS CHESS. 43

" Court not, Frithiof, kings' displeasure, Though with Ring they ill may measure ; Yet eagles' young, have wings of power, And their force thy strength outvies." " If, Bjorn, thou wilt my tower beset, Thus easily thy wile I meet ;

No longer canst thou gain my tower, Which back 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 is long to end ? " Then stood Frithiof up, and laid Hilding's hand in his, and said : " Already hast thou heard me say

What answers to their prayers I send.

44 FRITHIOF'8 SAG4.

" Go, let the sons of Bele learn That, since my suit they dared to spurn, No bond between us shall be tied ;

Their serf I never shall become." " Well ! follow on thy proper path ; 111 fits it me to chide thy wrath :

All to some good may Odin guide," HiJding said, and hied him home.

VII.

FRITHIOF'S JOY.

THOUGH Bele's sons may widely sound, From vale to vale, the battle-cry, I go not forth j my battle-ground,

My world, in Balder's grove doth lie. From thence no backward glance I'll cast

On kingly spite or earthly care ; But joys of the immortals taste United with my Ingborg fair.

" As long as glowing sunshine hovers

O'er flowers fair in purple light, Like rosy-tinted veil that covers

The bosom of my Ingborg bright,— So long I wander by the strand,

By longing ceaselessly devoured, And, sighing, trace upon the sand Her name belove'd, with my sword.

(45)

46 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Ho\v slowly pass the hours away !

Why, son of Delling, lingerest thou ? Hast thou not marked each isle and bay,

Each hill and grove, full oft ere now ? Doth no belov'd one westward dwell

Who for thy coming long doth grieve, And flieth to thy breast to tell

Her love at dawn, her love at eve ?

" But, weary with thy course, at last

Thou sinkest downwards from the height ; Her rosy carpet eve doth haste

To spread for all the gods' delight ; Of love waves whisper as they flee ;

Winds whisper love in breathing light ; Mother of gods ! I welcome thee,

In bridal pearls arrayed, O Night !

" Each silent star glides through the sky,

Like lover to his mistress true : Over 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. 47

" How happy spring I to the strand !

Beloved Earth, I press thee glad ! And you, ye little flowers, that stand

My path to gem with white and red. Thou Moon, with silvery light that beamest

Round mound, and grove, and temple tall, How fair thou sittest there, and dreamest,

Like Saga in a bridal hall.

Who taught thee, flowery brook, to tell

In murmur sweet, my love exprest ? Who gave thee, Northland's nightingale,

Those wailings, stolen from my breast ? The fairies paint in sunset hues

My Ingeborg on cloud-banks gray ; A rival beauty Freya views,

And, jealous, breathes the form away.

" Yet may her image-now depart,

Since, fair as Hope, here cometh she ; Still, as in childhood, true of heart,

She bringeth love's reward to me. Come, darling, to my fond caressing,

Cling to this heart, where thou art dear ; My soul's delight, my being's blessing,

Come to my arms, and linger there.

48 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" 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.

" Fear not — no danger cometh near ;

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 thee, as now embracing me, Glad to Valhalla should I wend,

And thou shouldst my Valkyria be.

" Of 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 ?

FRITH IGF'S JOY. 49

" There stands his image ; he is near ;

How softly gazing from above ! And I will offer to him here

A heart that glows with faithful love. Kneel down with me ; there cannot be

For Balder fairer sacrifice Than faithful hearts, which lovingly

Unite in truth as firm as his.

" To heaven, more than earth, my love

Belongs ; despise it, spurn it not ; For it was born in heaven above,

And longeth homeward to be brought. Oh, would we were already sped !

Oh, would we could together die ! That I triumphantly might lead

My pallid Ingborg to the sky.

" Then, when to strife the warriors went,

Through silver portals as they ride, I'd gaze on thee, a trusty friend,

And sit rejoicing by thy side. When Valhall's maidens passed around

The mead horns, crowned with foam of gold, To thee alone my pledge should sound,

Thy name alone with love be told.

50 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" On some fair sea-surrounded isle

I'd build for thee a bower of love, And there the time away we'd while,

Midst golden fruits in shadowy grove. And when, with clear and lovely ray,

Valhalla's sun illumed the plain, Back to the gods we'd take our way,

But long to reach our isle again.

" And I'd adorn with starlight glance

The golden tresses of thy head, And 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 true, And Brage, silver-bearded, sing

Thy nuptial song, forever new.

" How sings the throstle in the grove !

Its song is from Valhalla's strand ; How sweetly shines the moon above !

It shineth from the spirits' land. Both song and shining join to tell

Of worlds of love unmarred by care : Would in such worlds that I might dwell

With thee — with thee, my Ingborg fair !

FRITHIOF'S JOY. 51

" Nay, weep not — weep not ; life still streams

Within my veins : oh ! weep no more. But mortals' love and mortals' dreams

Are ever upward prone to soar. Ah ! 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 thcc."

Hist ! 'tis tne lark ? "— " Nay, 'tis a dove,

That cooeth fondness in the shade ; The lark is slumbering 'neath the grove,

In sheltered nest beside its mate. Oh ! happy they, for daylight brings

To them no cause for dread or fear ; Their lives are free as are the wings

That skyward waft the gladsome pair.

" See ! morning dawns."—" Nay, 'tis the glow

Of watchful beacons eastward shed ; Our love we still may whisper low,

Nor yet the happy night is sped. Belate thee, golden star of day !

O morning, slumber, slumber still ! For Frithiof may'st thou sleep away

Till Ragnarok, if such thy will.

52 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

" 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 winge'd 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 noble art thou, and how fair ! Oh ! that I so my path could tread,

Like thee, in majesty and might ; And, proud and glad, my life be clad,

Like thine, in victory and light.

" Now here, before thine eyes, I set

The fairest maiden in the North ; Watch over her, O Balder great !

Thine image she on grassy earth. Her soul is spotless as thy ray ;

Her eye is as thy heaven blue ; And thy bright gold, that decks the day,

Glows in her lovely tresses too.

FRITHIOF'S JOY. S3

" Farewell, my Ingeborg ! and now

Another night we must await. Farewell ! one kiss upon thy brow,

And one upon thy lips so sweet. Now sleep and dream of me, and, waking,

Still on our love in fond thought dwell ; Count of the hours, as I do, taking ;

Loving, as I do. Fare thee well !

VIII. THE PARTING.

IXGEBORG.

ALREADY comes the day, but brings not Frithiof, Though yesterday the open Ting was held At Bele's grave : well chosen was the place Where Bele's daughter's fate should be decreed. How many fond entreaties did it cost, — How many bitter tears, — by Freya told, To melt the ice of hate round Frithiof 's heart, And win the promise from his haughty lips, Once more to offer a forgiving hand ? Ah ! man is stern, and for his own vain pride, Miscalled his honor, he hath little care — Ay, less than care — how easily he may Torture and wound a fondly loving heart. And hapless woman, clinging to his breast, Is like the growth of moss, which on the cliff, Blooming in pallor,- difficultly keeps Its hold unmarked upon the sturdy rock, Drawing its nurture from the dews of night. (54)

THE PARTING. 5

And yesterday my fate hath been decreed ! And over it the evening sun hath set : Yet Frithiof cometh not. 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 I hope ? Valhalla's powers Owe me no favor, by myself estranged : The mighty Balder, in whose shrine I dwell, I have offended : for no mortal's love Is pure enough for such a god's beholding ; And earthly joys should never dare to come Wherever they, the holy and sublime Rulers of heaven, have their dwelling made. And yet, what crime is mine ? The gentle god Could ne'er be angry at a maiden's love. Is it not pure, as Urda's silver wave — And innocent, as Gefion's morning dream ? The lofty Sun hath never turned away Its eye of brightness from a loving pair ; And starry Night, the widow of the Day, Amidst her mourning hears their vows with joy. Can what is holy 'neath-the vaulted sky Become a crime beneath a temple's dome ? ! love my Frithiof, and have ever loved ; Far as my furthest recollections go, Growth of my growth, that love hath ever been : When it be^an I never knew ; can tell

56 FR1THIOF'8 SAGA.

No hour of life that hath not been of love.

And as the fruit is formed around the core,

And, clinging there, in Nature's time becomes,

Beneath the sunbeams, like a ball of gold,

So have I too grown up, and ripening glad

Around this kernel, all my being is

Only the outward shell that holds my love.

Forgive me, Balder ! See, a faithful heart

Into thy halls I brought — with such alone

Will I depart ; and speed, with such alone,

Over bright Bifrost's bridge ; with such alone

Stand, faithful still, before Valhalla's gods.

There shall my love, a child of heaven, like them,

Mirror itself in shining shields, and fly

On dove-like pinion through the endless space

Of azure heaven to Allfader's breast,

From whence it came. Oh ! wherefore darkenest

thou,

In the gray dawn, thy gentle brow with frowns ? The blood of mighty Odin fills my veins As well as thine : but oh ! not e'en to thee, Great kinsman, can I sacrifice my love, Worth more to me than all this boundless heaven. Yet can I offer all my joy of life, And cast it from me, even as a queen Can cast away her royal robe, and still Remain the queen she was. Well ! 'tis decreed Valhalla's great ones shall not need to blush

THE PARTING. 57

For their descendant. I will meet my fate

As heroes meet with theirs. Here cometh Frithiof ;

How wild — how pale ! All, all is lost — is lost !

With him approacheth, too, my angry Nome.

Be strong my heart ! — Oh ! welcome, though how

late!

Our fate is sealed ; too easily I read It on thy brow.

FRITHIOF.

Stand there also there

No blood-red Runes, bespeaking scorn and shame, Insult and ban ?

INGEBORG.

Oh ! Frithiof, calm thyself. Tell me thy tale : the worst my fears foretold Full long ago. For all am I 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 him, thoughtless, leaning on his sword, A fair, well-fashioned youth, King Halfdan sate. 3*

58 FRITHIOF^S SAGA.

Then stood I forth, and cried : " War cometh near ; The foemen's shields upon our borders clash. King Helge, peril threateneth thy realm. Give me thy sister, and I bring to thee This arm to combat, which may service do, And let our former quarrel be forgot. With Ingborg's kindred love I not to strive. Bethink thee, monarch, and together save Thy golden crown, thy sister's happiness. Here is my hand ; by Thor divine, no more Than this last time I offer it for peace." A shout filled all the Ting, a thousand swords Clashed loud approval on a thousand shields. Far fled the sounds into the lofty skies, Which drank the shouts of freemen for the right : " Oh ! give him Ingeborg, the gentle lily ; No fairer ever in our valleys bloomed : His is the bravest sword in all the land. Oh ! give him Ingeborg." Our foster-father, The aged Hilding, with the silvery beard, Stood forth, and spake, in words of wisdom deep, Short, pithy pleas, which rang like strokes of

swords.

And Halfdan, rising from the royal seat, Himself besought, with many a word and sign. All was in vain, and bootless every prayer So beaming sunshine, on the barren rock, No fruit enticeth from its stony heart ;

THE PARTING. 59

And Helgc's dark, unchanging visage spake To all entreaties still a ghastly Nay. " A yeoman's son/' said he, at length, in scorn, " Might wed with Ingborg ; but to Valhall's daughter Becometh ill a sacrilegious mate. Hast thou not, Frithiof, broken Balder's peace ? Hast thou not seen my sister in his shrine, When Day had hid itself before the crime ? Answer me, Yea, or Nay ! " Loud rose a cry Amidst the crowd of men : " Say Nay — say only

Nay,

Thou Thorsten's mighty son, almost a king ; Thy wrord we trust, and we for thee will sue ; Only say Nay, and Ingeborg is thine." " My joy of life hangs on a single word," I said ; " yet fear not therefore thou, O King ! I would not lie for all Valhalla's bliss, Then scarce for earthly joy : I saw thy sister, And spake with her at night-time in the temple ; Yet thus I never broke the peace of Balder." Here I had to cease. A scream of horrid fear Spread through the Ting ; those who beside me stood Fell off as from a plague-besmitten man. Where'er I 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 (like those of Vala dread,

60 FRITHIOF'S SAO A.

In Vegtamsquida, when to Odin singing

Of Hela's triumph, and the Asen's fall),

Thus spake he gloomy : " Banishment or death

I might denounce by our ancestral laws

Against thy sin ; but I will show me mild

As Balder is, whose holiness thou'st slighted.

In western ocean doth a cluster lie

Of islands, where Jarl 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 service for thy sin atone."

Then in mean scorn he added : " Hard of hand,

They say, he is ; and, like the dragon Fafner,

He watcheth o'er his gold ; but who can stand

Against our second Sigurd, Fafner'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 so the Ting dispersed.

INGEBORG.

And now thy purpose ?

FRITHIOF.

Have I aught to choose ?

THE PARTING. 61

Hangeth my honor not on his demand ?

And I must free it — ay, if Angantyr

His wretched gold in Nastrand's waves should hide.

This day shall I depart.

INGEBORG.

And leavest me ?

FRITHIOF.

Nay, nay, I leave thee not ; thou, too, shalt come.

IXGEBORG.

Impossible !

FRITHIOF.

O Ingborg, hear me first. Thy crafty brother seemeth to forget That Angantyr hath been my father's friend, As well as Bele's ; and he yet may give With good will what I ask : should he refuse, I have a sharp-tongued, mighty advocate My cause to plead ; it hangeth by my side. The gold he loves to Helge I will send, Freeing forever, thus, myself and thee From service to this crowne'd hypocrite. But we ourselves, my Ingborg fair, will spread Ellida's sails ; and over seas unknown She'll bear us bounding to a happier land, And find sweet shelter for our banished love.

62 FIIITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 ; I will wander free,

Free as the mountain winds. A little clay

Gathered from Bele's and my father's graves

Finds place upon our bark ; and that is all

That we of Fatherland can ever need.

O my beloved, warmer sunshine glows

Than our pale light above the snowy hills ;

And we can find a fairer heaven than here,

Where gentle stars with .god-like beam glance down,

And in the happy, balmy summer night

Watch in the laurel-groves each loving pair.

Full far my father, Thorsten, Viking's son,

Wandered in warfare ; and full oft he told

By blazing hearth, through the long winter nights,

Of southern ocean, with its islands fair :

Green groves 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. Grass grows o'er

The mounds deserted ; and wild flowers hide

Inscriptions which the old world's wisdom 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 all that men can need. And golden fruits on shadowy branches glow : There grapes in heavy clusters on the vine Hang purple-red, and ripe as thy sweet lips : — There, Ingeborg, we'll found beyond the waves Another Northland, fairer far than here ; And with our faithful love rejoice once more Deserted shrines and temples, and delight With mortal fondness the forgotten gods. Then if some mariner with flapping sail (For there no storms engage) drift past our isle By rosy sunset, and with joyous gaze Look from the ruddy ocean to the strand, Then on the temple's threshold shall he see Thee, a new Freya (her, methinks, they name In their tongue Aphrodite) — shall behold Thy golden locks light floating in the breeze ; Thine eyes more radiant than the southern sky. And growing round thee, coming by degrees, A temple-dwelling little Alfen-race With flushing cheeks, as if the South had set All its fair roses in the northern snows. Ah ! Ingeborg, how fair, how near doth stand Each earthly joy to two fond, loving hearts ! If boldly grasped whene'er its time be come, It follows willingly, and builds for them

64 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

A Vingolf even here on earth below.

Come, hasten ! even now each word we speak

Stealeth away an instant from our joy.

All is prepared, and, eager for her flight,

Ellida flaps her darkling eagle-wings,

And the fresh-breathing north wind calls us forth

For ever from this superstitious shore.

How ? Lingerest thou ?

INGEBORG.

Alas ! I cannot follow thee.

FRITHIOF.

Not follow me ?

INGEBORG.

Ah ! Frithiof, thou art happy ! Following no man, thou canst forward go, Like thy swift vessel ; at the rudder stands Thy will alone ; and so thou steerest forth, With steady hand, above the angry waves. Alas ! how different my lot must be ! My destiny in other hands must lie, Which yield not up their prey, although it bleed. Self-sacrifice, and grief, and pining is The freedom of the daughter of a king.

THE PARTING. 65

FRITHIOF.

Art thou not free, whene'er thou wilt ? — sitteth thy sire Not in his grave ?

INGEBORG.

Ah ! Helge is my father, Or standeth in his place ; without his will I cannot wed : and Bele's daughter steals No happiness, however near it lie. For what were woman, thus self-willed, to break Those bonds wherewith the wise Allfader linketh Ever the weaker being to the strong ? In the pale water-lily is her type, Ginking or rising on the changing waves ; Above it speeds the sailor's keel away, And recks not how it wound the tender stem : Such is its destiny ; and yet, as long As clings the root tenacious in the sand, It sprouteth ever forth ; its pallid hues It borroweth from sister-stars above, Itself a star upon the azure deep : But, by the roots uptorn, it drifts away, A faded leaf upon the desert wave. Last night — and oh ! a wretched night it was — Anxious as watch'd I, and thou earnest not, Thoughts all-terrific, offspring of the night, The raven-locked, passed constantly before My waking eyes, which burned, but could not weep,

66 FRITIIIOF'S SAGA.

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 my brother's will.

Yet it is well that then I had not heard

Thy hope-breathed dreams of cloud-imagined isles,

Where ever glows the heavenly sunset's light

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

How few can tell how weak we are ; the dreams

Of childhood, long-forgotten, rise 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 heecl

Those sweet, persuading, once beloved words !

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

I am too pale for southern roses' bloom :

Too colorless my thought for Southland's glow.

It would be melted 'neath its burning sun ;

And longingly my weary eye would strain

Towards the bright 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. 67

A life in which the sun spins year by year, Each day unvarying from the day before, A sameness beautiful, but everlasting, May suit for maidens ; but for manly souls Like thine a tranquil life is wearisome. Thou thrivest best when storms tumultuous ride Their foaming battle-steeds across the seas, And on a swaying plank, for life or death Battiest with peril for the meed of fame. The lovely desert thou hast painted were A grave untimely for thine unborn deeds ; Together with thy shield, thy free-born soul Would gather rust. Oh hthat shall never be : Ne'er will I steal away my Frithiof 's name From Skalden songs, and never will I quench My hero's glory in its rosy dawn. Be wise, my Frithiof ; let us yield before The mighty Nornes, and, so submitting, save At least our honor from the wreck of fate ; Our joy of life we can no longer save. So we must separate.

FRITHIOF.

But wherefore so — Because a sleepless night thy mind disturbs ?

INGEBORG.

Because thy safety and my worth demand.

68 FRITH lOF'S SAGA.

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 doth 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.

O 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 offer To her unhappy, whom thou once didst love ? Think'st thou I stand on roses here, and cast Away with senseless smile my lifetime's joy, Uprooting from my heart without a pang, The hope belov'd which with my growth hath grown ? Hast thou not been the day-dream of my heart ? All that I ever knew of joy was Frithiof ; And all that life hath generous or brave Forever in my mind thy image took. Oh ! shadow not that image to me ; meet With harshness not the poor weak girl, who offers All that on earth's wide circuit she holds dear, — All that can dearest be in ValhalPs halls. Frithiof, this sacrifice is hard enough, A word of comfort it mi^ht well deserve.

70 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

I know them lovest me ; I 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 mayest wend. But din of arms at length will dull thy grief, Which, 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 in the peace of night Thou musterest memories of the bygone days, Amongst them may flit by an image pale Well known to thee, 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 ! whisper but a word, One word of friendship to it, and the winds Of night on faithful wings will waft it me ; One comfort left, the only one I own : For I have nothing to disperse my grief ; All that surroundeth me recalleth it : These lofty temple halls but speak of thee ; Even Balder's image in the still moonlight, Threatening no longer, seems thy form to take. Seaward I look, — there swam thy keel, and clave Its way to me awaiting on the strand. Landward I look, — there standeth many a stem With Ingborg's name deep carved upon the bark :

THE PARTING, 71

The trees stretch out, and so the name grows faint,

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

I ask of daylight, when it saw thee last ?

Of night I ask, but she remaineth still.

Even the sea, which beareth thee, returneth

My questions only with a sigh to shore.

Greetings I'll send thee in the sunset red,

Quenching its fires afar amongst thy waves.

Each cloud-ship that sails through the sky shall bear

A freight of sorrow from the lonely one.

So in the maiden's chamber will I sit,

A dark-clad widow, mourning for her joy ;

Embroidering broken lilies in the frame,

Till Spring a newly-woven carpet spread,

Covered with sweeter lilies, o'er my grave ;

Or, taking up my harp, my endless woe

Breathe forth in deepest tones of misery,

Or burst in tears, as now.

FRITHIOF.

Thou conquerest, child of Bele ; weep no more ; Forgive my anger : ah ! 'twas nought but grief, Which for a moment borrowed anger's garb, — A garb which I can never carry long. Oh ! Ingeborg, thou art my Norna good ; The noble best nobility can teach ; The wisdom of necessity can have Never a better advocate than thee,

72 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Oh ! lovely Vala, with the rosy lips. Yes, I will yield before necessity, — Will part from thee, but never part from hope. Hope I'll bear with me o'er the western waves, I'll bear it with me to the gates of death. With the first spring-day will I hie me home ; Me shall King Helge soon, I trust, behold, My vow accomplished, and my task fulfilled, The crime forgiven of which I stand accused. Then shall I ask thee — nay, shall claim thy hand Upon the open Ting, 'midst naked swords, From Helge not, but from the Northland race, That is thy sponsor true, thou child of kings. I have a word for him who shall refuse. Till then, farewell — be true, remember me ; And take, in memory of our childhood's love, My arm-ring here, Valunder's beauteous work, With heavenly wonders graven on the gold ; Still worthier wonder is a faithful heart. How well it clingeth to thy dazzling arm — A glow-worm glittering on a lily-stem. Farewell, my bride, my darling — fare thee well ! Bide a few moons, and all our grief is changed.

(He goes.}

INGEBORG.

How proud, how valiant, and how strong in hope ! The point he setteth of his trusty sword

THE PARTING. 73

At Norna's breast, and crieth, " Thou must yield ! " Alas ! my poor Frithiof, Norna never yields ; She goes her way, and laughs at Angurvadel. How little knowest thou my sullen brother ! Thine open, valiant soul can never fathom The gloomy depths of his ; nor tell the hate That burneth fiercely in his envious breast. His sister's hand to thee he'll never give. Far sooner will he risk his crown, his life, And offer me to hoary Odin, or To agdd Ring, with whom he now contends. Where'er I look, I see no hope for me ; Yet am I glad, it liveth in thine heart. So I will keep my sorrow for myself, And, oh ! may all the good gods follow thee ! Thine arm-ring here shall help me well to tell The dreary months off, in consuming care ; Two, four, and six,— then mayest thou return. But never find again thine Ingeborg. 4

IX. INGEBORG'S LAMENTATION.

u A UTUMN is here ;

L\. High-heaving Ocean its waves doth rear ; And still, here, far from my home, Gladly I'd roam.

" Long did I view

His sail in the west, on its course as it flew ; Oh ! happy, my Frithiof to follow Over the billow.

" Ye blue billows rough. Swell not so high ; ye speed swiftly enough. Shine brightly, ye stars, to display To my Frithiof his way.

11 He will be home

With Spring ; but his dear one will come No more to his love-breathing call In valley or hall. (74)

IXGEBOR&S LAMENTATION. 75

" Ghastly, and cold To the voice of his love, she shall lie in the

mould ;

Or, offered for her brother's need, Lamenting, bleed.

" Thou, his falcon, art left ; Mine shalt thou be, and I'll treasure the gift ; But by me, thou wing'cl 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 folding, Thy talons golden.

" Freya, in need, Took falcon's wings once, through creation to

speed,

And her Oedur belove'd sought forth In south and in north.

" E'en couldest thou share Thy pinions with me, scarce my weight could they

bear :

'Tis death, and death only, that brings Celestial wings.

76 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Sky-hunter brave,

Perch on my shoulder, and gaze o'er the wave. Alas ! how long may we gaze While Frithiof delays.

When I am dead,

He will return ; to my message give heed — Welcome and comfort, over and over, My sorrowing lover."

X. FRITHIOF AT SEA.

NOW, King Helge stood In fury on the strand, And in embittered mood 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 its side ; And all the sea-birds, wildly screaming,

Fly the terrors of the tide.

" Storm is coming, comrades ; Its angry wings I hear Flapping in the distance, But fearless we may be.

(77)

78 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

Sit tranquil in the grove, And fondly think on me, Lovely in thy sorrow, Beauteous Ingeborg."

Now two storm-fiends came Against Ellida'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 sacred grove. Warmer far than here Was Ingborg's loving heart ; Whiter than the sea-foam Heaved her gentle breast."

FRITHIOF AT SEA. 79

Now Solundar-oe

Ariseth from the foam ; Calmer the sea doth grow

As near the port they come.

But 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 I find it sweet To 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 to land."

Now ocean fierce battles ;

The wave-troughs deeper grow, The whistling cordage rattles,

The planks creak loud below.

So FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

But though higher waves appearing

Seem like mountains to engage, Brave Ellida, never fearing,

Mocks 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, in the grove, Than here to taste in tempest High-sprinkled, briny foam. Better the royal daughter Of Bele to embrace, Than here, in anxious labor, The tiller fast to hold."

Whirling cold and fast, Snow-wreaths fill the sail ;

Over deck and mast Patters heavy hail.

The very stem they see no more,

So thick is darkness spread ; As doom and horror hover o'er

O

The chamber of the dead.

FRITHIOF AT SEA. 81

Still to sink the sailor dashes

Implacable each angry wave ; Gray, as if bestrewn with ashes,

Yawns the endless, awful grave.

" For us, in bed of ocean, Azure pillows Ran prepares ; - On thy pillow, Ingeborg, Thou thinkest upon me. Higher ply, my 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 is swept.

From his arm now Frithiof hastens

To draw his ring, three marks in weight ; Like the morning sun it glistens,

The golden gift of Bele great. With his sword in pieces cutting

The famous work of pigmies' art, Shares he quickly, none forgetting,

Unto every man a part. 4'*

82 FRITHIOF^S SAGA.

" Gold is good possession 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 gold."

Fiercer than at first, Again the storm attacks,

And the sails are burst, And the rudder cracks.

O'er the ship half buried tearing,

Now the waves an entrance gain ; At the pumps the crew, despairing,

Fail to drive them forth again. Frithiof now no longer doubteth

That he Death hath got on board, Still above the storm he shouteth,

Dauntless, with commanding word.

" Bjorn, come to the rudder ; Hold it tight as bear's hug ; Valhall's power sendeth No such storm as this.

FRIT HIO F AT SEA. 83

Now at work is magic : 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 air.

" Now, Ellida, let us see If in truth thou bearest Valor in thine iron-fastened Breast of bended oak. Hearken to my calling, If thou be heaven's daughter : Up ! and with thy keel of copper Sting this magic whale."

84 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Now heed Eilida giveth Unto her lord's behest :

With a bound she cleave th Deep 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 fierce ; Through the ice-bear one hath passed,

One the storm-bird's breast doth pierce.

" Well stricken, brave Eilida ! 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 is the biting Of the purple steel."

At once the storm-wind, leaving The ocean calm and clear,

Still wafteth on its heaving The ship to islands near.

FRITHIOF AT SEA. 85

And, all at once, the sun appearing,

Like a monarch in his hall, New life and new delights seems bearing

To ship and wave, to hill and vale ; His silent radiance 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 tears in her eyes so lovely, The sighs of her swan-like bosom, Have touched the hearts of immortals : Now let us give them thanks."

But Ellida's prow

Hath stricken with such force, That slow she crawleth now,

A-weary of her course.

Weary, too, with dangerous sailing Now are Frithiof 's comrades bold,

E'en the swords they lean on, failing Feeble forms erect to hold.

86 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 sturdy Vikings, And bitter 'tis to battle With the ocean maids. See, the mead-horn cometh, On feet of gold it circleth ; Our limbs benumbed we'll warm again With skoal for Ingeborg."

XL FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR.

NOW also ye the tale shall hear How, with his vassals all, Drank joyfully Yarl Angantyr,

In the fir- wood fashioned hall. In mirth and gladness sitting, he

The 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 the spreading tide,

With one his mead did guard. A habit strange the old man had —

He'd ever empty the cup, And into the hall, with gesture sad,

For more would hold it up.

(87)

88 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 tarry,

Now reacheth she the land ; Two mighty giants carry

The pale crew to the land."

O'er ocean's wide dominions

The Yarl now looketh he ; " Those are Ellida'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 show

If Frithiof, as they say, A spell o'er steel itself can throw,

And ne'er for quarter pray."

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR.

With him sprung up twelve comrades there,

Twelve comrades from the board ; They wield the club, they cleave the air

With fiercely-brandished sword. They rush down to the level strand,

Where rests the ship at length, And Frithiof sitteth on the sand,

Bespeaking might and strength.

With ease my sword should fell thee now,"

Doth boastful Atle cry, But that the choice I still allow

To combat, or to fly. Yet if thou'lt sue for peace from me

(Though cruel name I bear), Then, as a friend, I'll go with thee

To noble Angantyr."

" My journey's toil hath left me weak,"

Quoth Frithiof, fury-stirred ; " Yet, ere a craven peace I seek, I'll prove thy mighty sword." Flashes the steel with lightnings, flung

From nervous, sunburnt hand ; Each Rune on AngurvadePs tongue In burning flame doth stand.

90 FRlTHIOF^a SAGA.

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 fast,

And none his place forsakes ; Keen Angurvadel bites at last,

The blade of Atle breaks.

" 'Gainst swordless man," bold Frithiof cried, " My sword I never use ; But let 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 wrestle for the throw.

They wrestle, like an angry pair

Of bears upon the snow ; Like eagles, struggling high in air,

Above the ocean's flow. Have tottered from their ancient place

Full many a massive rock, And many an oak, of sturdy race,

At far a slighter shock.

FR1TUIOF WITH ANGANTYR. 91

From heavy brows the sweat drops down,

Their breath comes cold and hard ; They scatter far each shrub and stone

Around them on the sward. To see the end, in fear delays

Each troop upon the strand ; Wide was that fight, in ancient days,

Renown'd throughout the land.

But Frithiof 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, I Should drive its point triumphant through

Your entrails as you lie."

" Be that but little cause for care,"

Was Atle's firm reply ; " Go, fetch thy mighty weapon there,

And no escape I'll try ; We both must pass from earth away,

Valhalla's joys to see ; And if I wander there to-day, To-morrow may fetch thee."

92 FRITHIOF' 8 SAGA.

Now, noble Frithiof, widely praised,

The strife to finish thought, Keen Angurvadel high he raised,

But Atle trembled not. This touched his mighty victor's soul,

And laid his anger low ; He checked the stroke, with glad control,

And raised his fallen foe.

Then loud the agdd Halvar cried,

His white staff raising forth : " Through this your strife ye have supplied

But little cause for mirth. Long since the silver dishes high

Send forth their steaming breath, And fish and flesh grow cold, whilst I

Am thirsting unto death."

Now reconciled, the warriors bold

Pass through the open door, And much did Frithiof there behold

He ne'er had seen before. No rough-hewn planks here cover

The naked walls so wide ; But leather, gilded over,

With flowers and berries bright.

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR. 93

Not on the centre pavement glowed

The fire, with merry glare, But close by every wall there stood

A stove of marble fair. No smoke within the chamber stay'd ;

The walls no dampness bore ; Frames filled with glass the windows had,

And a lock was on the door.

All filled with light, the branches fair

Spread out their silver boughs ; No more the crackling pine-torch glare

Illumined the carouse. Cooked whole, a stag, with larded breast,

Adorned the table round ; Its horns leaf-decked, its gilt hoof raised,

As if about to bound.

There stood a damsel, lily-fair,

To 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 like roses glowed,

Grown ripe in summer's dew.

94 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

High sate upon his silver throne

The Yarl, in splendor bold ; Bright as the sun his helmet shone,

His breastplate blazed with gold ; With stars embroider'd, bright did gleam

His mantle, rich and fine ; And 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 far is borne,

Shall not sit far from me."

The great Angantyr fills the cup

With wine of Sicily ; Like flashing flame it sparkles up

All foaming, like the sea. " Right welcome be thou to my hall

In ancient friendship's name ; The mighty Thorsten's skoal we all

Shall drink with loud acclaim."

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYR. 95

A hoary bard, from Morven's heights,

Accords the tuneful lyre, And loud, in glowing tones, recites

A hero-song of fire ; But in the old Norrana tongue,.

The speech of ancient days, The hero Thorsten's fame was sung,

And all the song did praise.

Then much to hear the Yarl did crave,

Of his kindred in the North ; And prudent Frithiof clearly gave

The wisest answers forth. And 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, lately done ; How magic's power, and Helge's curse,

By him had been o'erthrown. The vassals shout in joyous strain,

Loud laughs bold Angantyr, And Frithiof greater glory gains

As higher rose the cheer.

96 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

But when of Ingborg, dear and fair,

The tale doth reach their ears, So noble in her grief and care,

So lovely in her tears, Deep sighs escape from laboring breast,

On fair cheeks blushes stand, By every maiden fond is pressed

Her faithful lover's hand.

And now, his mission to complete,

Doth Frithiof bold prepare ; Angantyr stirred not from his seat,

But gave him hearing fair. Then answered : " I no homage do ;

I and my race are free ; King Bele's skoal we drink, 'tis true,

But he never governed me.

His heirs, indeed, I never knew ;

If tribute they demand, Then let them sue as men should do,

Insisting sword in hand. Then on the shore my sword shall shine ;

But Thorsten held I dear." And with his hand he gives a sign

To his daughter sitting near.

FRITHIOF WITH ANGANTYE. 97

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 seen. And there displayed, the calm moonlight

Seemed ocean to behold ; The clasp was made of rubies bright ;

The tassels were of gold.

The maiden laid the purse so fair

In her great father's hands ; Up to the brim he filled it there

With gold from foreign lands : This gift of welcome take, O guest,

To do as thou may'st will ; But for the winter stay and rest

With us in friendship still. 5

98 FRJTHIOF'S SAGA.

" Though valor never should be scorned,

Yet now the storm rules wide ; By now again to life returned,

I'll wager Ham and Heyd. Ellida may not always leap

So luckily again ; And whales are plenty in the deep,

Though one she may have slain."

And so in merry mood they stay'd

Till morning's sun did rise ; The oft-drained golden goblets made

Them glad, but not unwise. With skoal to Angantyr, at last,

The horn they loudly drain ; So, safely housed, till winter passed,

Did Frithiof remain.

XII.

FRITHIOF'S RETURN.

SPRING breathes again in ether blue, In green the earth is clad anew ; Then Frithiof thanketh his host : 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 sails sing ; And the blue-veiled daughters of GEgir speed His flight as they dance o'er the glittering mead. Oh ! it is sweet when from distant strand The sails swell back to that native land, Where the 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)

ioo FRITHIOF1 S ZAGA.

Six days he sailed, and the seventh shows A dark-brown stripe, which larger grows, And 'gainst the edge of heaven doth stand, With cliffs, with isles, and at last with land. His home, from ocean risen, is seen, Its forests wide arrayed in green ; He 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 many a night, He had sat with his Ingborg in fond delight. " Appeareth she not, and can she not guess How near o'er the dark-blue waves I press ? Or doth she, from Balder's temple gone, Now dwelling at Helge's court alone, Sorrow by harp, or by golden woof?"

Lo ! his falcon now from the temple roof

Arising, as often before he hath done,

To Frithiof 's shoulder hath suddenly flown,

Eagerly flapping with snowy wing, —

The bird from his shoulder can nobody bring.

With gilded claw he scratcheth in haste, —

He giveth no peace, he giveth no rest ;

To Frithiof 's ear he bendeth his beak,

As if some message he sought to speak,

FRITHIOF'S RETURN. 101

Perchance from Ingborg, the bride so dear, But the tale he telleth can no man hear.

The last point now doth Ellida pass,

Bounding, as deer bound over the grass,

The well-known waters her keel doth plough,

Glad standeth Frithiof in the prow.

He rubbeth his eyes, and with trembling hand

He shadeth his brow, he scanneth the strand ;

But long though he rub them, and far though he see,

Framnas no more discovereth he.

Nought but the naked chimney there

Standeth, like warriors' bones laid bare ;

Where his court-yard had been is desert land,

And ashes whirl round the lonely strand.

In fury down from his ship he hasteth ;

A glance on his ruined dwelling casteth, —

His father's dwelling — his childhood's home.

Now Bran, the wiry-haired, doth come,

His dog, who often, as true as bold,

For him the wild bears helped to hold ;

Full high he leapeth with many a spring,

In joy his master welcoming.

The milk-white steed, with the golden mane,

With stag-swift hoofs, and with lengthy rein,

102 FRITHIOF1 8 SAGA.

Which Frithiof so often hath ridden around,

Speeds through the valley with eager bound,

And, neighing gladly, archeth his neck,

And bread from his master's hand doth seek.

But 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 is 'ware,

His foster-sire, with silvery hair : " At what I see I scarce can wonder ;

When the eagle flieth, the nest they plunder.

Is this the way that a king should guard ? —

Well hokleth Helge his royal word ;

For heavenly dread, and human hate,

And plundering flames, are his Eriksgate :

Yet this brings rather rage than care ;

But tell me, where is Ingborg ? — where ?" " The tale I'll tell thee," the old man said ; " Though I fear thou'lt find it but little glad :

Scarce wast 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 a man, his blade ;

Before the youth I held my shield,

And was proud of his well-fought maiden field.

FRITIIIOF'8 RETURN. 103

Yet soon gave way our weakened host ;

King Helge fled, and'then all was lost.

The Asen-born, as they swiftly fled,

Passing, in flames thy dwelling set.

No 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 hath led home his bride."

" O woman ! woman ! " Frithiof said, " The earliest thought that Loke had

Was to frame a lie, and he sent it forth . In woman's form to man on earth.

With false blue eye, and with faithless tear,

Deceiving ever, yet ever dear ;

With rosy cheeks, and with bosom fair,

Thy faith like spring-ice, thy truth like air,

Thine heart but echoing with deceit,

And treachery set in thy lips so sweet.

O Ingborg, darling of my heart,

How dear thou hast been, and how dear thou art !

Far as I back my thoughts can guide,

I've known no joy but by thy side ;

In every act and in every thought,

Thou wast the highest prize I sought.

104 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

As trees from earth together grown,

If Thor with lightning smite the one,

The other fades ; if one grows green,

The other shares its leafy sheen :

So joy and care we've shared and known :

I never felt myself alone.

Now I am lonely ; — thou lofty Var,

Who, with thy golden tablets, far

Dost watch each mortal vow t' enrol,

Cease thy vain labor — burn thy scroll ;

But lies to chronicle they serve,

And better fate doth gold deserve.

Of Balder's Nanna truth is told, —

No truth can heart of mortal hold ;

Man's breast is filled with falsehood through,

Since Ingborg's voice could prove untrue ;

That voice, like wind caressing flowers,

Or strain from Brage's harp that showers, —

The joyous harp no more I'll hear, —

Til think no more of my faithless fair.

Where storm-winds sport I'll make my pillow ;

Blood shalt thou quaff, thou ocean-billow !

Where'er a sword grave-seeds can sow,

O'er hill or dale, my joy shall grow ;

And meet I a crown'd king anywhere,

I'll laugh to see how his life I'll spare.

But should I find, where shields clash loud,

Some love-sick youth amongst the crowd,

FRITIIIOF'8 RETURN. 105

Who joy in maiden's vows can take, I'll hew him down for mercy's sake ; And spare him the grief one day to be Forsaken, disgraced, and betray'd like me."

" How fiercely boileth youthful blood ! " The aged Hilding said : " 'Twere good That snows of eld should. cool its heat. — Much wrongest thou the noble maid : My foster-daughter cease to chide, But blame what none can turn aside, — The rage of the Nornes, whose weapons smite The sons of earth from the stormy height. True ! Ingborg's sorrowing few men heard. Like silent Vidar, she spake no word : But she grieved and pined, as 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 with stricken breast the sea-mew diveth To deepest ocean, and only striveth To hide her wound from the sight of day, And deep-laid, bleedeth her life away : So in silence deep sank her sorrow down ; To me only the grief that she bore is known.

" ' For Bele's kingdom,' full oft she said, * A sacrifice must I be made ;

5*

io6 mrrmoF's SAGA.

And garlands of snowdrops and evergreen Shall deck the land's peace-offering. Oh ! I could die, but 'twere fate too mild ; By nought will Balder be reconciled Save a living death of lingering pain, With a beating heart, and a throbbing brain. But to none of my sorrow, I charge thee, speak ; My fate may be hard, yet no pity I seek ; King Bele's daughter her doom will bear — Yet greet from his Ingborg my Frithiof dear.'

" On the morn of the bridal (ah ! sad-fated day, From my runestaff, oh ! would I could score it

away),

To the temple passed the slow-pacing train Of white-cladclen 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 on. From the saddle I lifted the fair lily down ; To the temple-threshold I led her on ; By the altar standing, she uttered there Her vow to Lofn, and her voice was clear ; And she prayed to Balder fervently, And all wept tears, but no tear wept she. Of thy ring which she wore then was Helge 'ware, And he tore it with force from her arm so fair ;

FRITHIOF'S RETURN. 107

And the image of Balder he decked with the gold. My fury no longer could I withhold ; My trusty sword from my side. I drew forth, And King Helge's life was then little worth. But Ingeborg whispered me, ' Let things be ; Such pang might a brother have spared to me ; But much must be borne ere life's sorrows be past ; Between us Allfader will judge at the last.' "

Quoth Frithiof: "Allfader judgeth, 'tis true,

But a share of judgment I'll utter too :

Is not to-night Balder's midsummer feast ?

I'll find in the temple that crown-wearing priest, —

That fire-raising king, who his sister could sell,

And my 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 down

When Hoder rules the earth.

And round about the priests stood there,

All busied with the brands, — Pale-faced seers, with hoary hair,

And flint-stone knives in horny hands.

Serving by the altar, crown'd,

King Helge standeth near. At midnight, hark ! through the grove around

The clash of arms they hear, (i 08)

B ALDER'S BALE-FIRE. 109

Bjorn, the portals guard, and so

We'll captive take them all ; In or out let no man go —

Sooner cleave his skull."

Pale the king grew ; all too well

He knew the voice for doubting : In stalked Frithiof, furious, fell,

Like autumn tempest shouting :

Here's the tribute ; at thy desire

I've fetched it o'er the sea ; Take it ! and battle by Balder's fire

For life and death with me.

Shields on our backs, arms bare and free, Lest tame our strife be reckoned ;

Be the first stroke, as a king, to thee ; Remember, I have the second.

; Glance not, craven, at the door ; In cover I've trapped the fox ; Think upon Framnas — think, still more, On Ingborg's golden locks."

So valiant Frithiof spake with scorn,

And carelessly did fling The purse, from off his girdle torn,

At the forehead of the king.

FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Blood from out his lips there oozed,

Gloom took his sight away ; By his altar, stunned and bruis'd,

The god-descended 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.

" O ! Balder bright, forgive the harm ;

Thine angry glances spare ; Yon ring of gold upon thine arm Is nought but stolen ware.

" Never for thee, be it boldly said,

'Twas forged by the great Valunder : 'Twas torn by a thief from a mourning maid Away with his graceless plunder ! "

Boldly dragged he, but arm and ring Seemed to be grown the same,

Till, coming loose, the force doth fling The god into the flame.

B ALDER'S BALE-FIRE. in

Hark ! it crackles — the golden blaze

Reacheth the roof-tree fast ; Bjorn, pale as death, at the portal stays,

Frithiof stands aghast.

Let all men out— cast wide the door !

Thy watch no longer heed ! The temple flames ! Pour water— pour

The ocean-tide with speed ! "

Down from the temple to the strand

They knit a chain of hands ; The billows flow on from hand to hand,

And hiss upon the brands.

Like the god of rain doth Frithiof stand

High over beams and water, And 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 into the glowing sand, The plates of silver melt.

Now all is lost ! From the half-burnt hall

His flight a red cock wingeth, And he percheth high on the gable tall,

And there wing-flapping clingeth.

H2 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

The morning wind from the north hath hied, Far through the heavens blowing ;

Balder's grove is summer-dried, The flame is greedy and growing.

Fiercely it speedeth from tree to tree,

A wide possession claiming. Ha ! what a fierce, wild sight to see

Great Balder's mighty flaming !

Down in each cleft root it crackleth still, High in each summit gloweth ;

'Gainst Muspel's ruddy sons, what skill Of man a barrier knoweth ?

A sea of flame fills Balder's ground, Strandless its billows stream ;

The sun mounts up, but fiord and sound Mirror forth nought but flame.

In ashes lies the temple's pride,

The grove 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 still climbing From the temple's flaming.

" To ValhalP fly Through lofty sky, Ye smoke-wreaths, seeking Balder, bespeaking His rage, just meed To me decreed ; Dread tidings giving To echoing heaven

(113)

114 FRITHIOF'S SAO A.

Of the temple bound Razed to the ground ; Of the image famed, Which, falling, flamed, And, charred away, Like fire-wood lay. Of the grove telling (Religion's dwelling, Where never sword In strife was heard) In ruins buried By flames unwearied. All that hath been, All thou hast seen, No jot forgetting. Speed thou relating, Envoy of cloud, To 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. 115

Thou must not tarry, Far must thou hurry, Ellida forth To the ends of earth ; Fed in thy roaming By 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-brother Consumed the other. Far must I wend From fatherland ; Be thou my North, My foster-earth ; Be thou my pride, Thou dark-robed bride ; False was my other Bride to her lover.

" Free-flowing sea ! No trouble to thee Is monarch's grieving, Or king's deceiving.

n6 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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, like plough, The 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 true, Thou stormy billow ; And 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. 117

Sturdily floating, Midst tempests shouting, Till I sink to sleep In the boundless deep. My life art thou, ocean — My home, my possession ; And shall 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 all, "Now Helge will fall : He offereth strife, Nor careth for life Here 'neath the moon. This Valhall's son

n8 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Doth long to rise To native skies ; And, kin to the gods, Seeketh Odin's abode."

Scarce was this said, When Helge's fleet, By unseen 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 was good ; When none was nigh, Thy ships bored I Last night with speed,- A worthy deed ! May Rana keep Them in the deep,

FRITHIOF'S BANISHMENT. 119

As is her wont ;

I but lament

That from the wave

Thou shouldst be safe."

On rocky shore, His peril o'er, King Helge stood In wrathful mood ; His bow, ere long, Of steel, he strung, And scarcely knew How far he drew, Till with a twang In twain it sprang.

But Frithiof stayed His lance, and said : : Thy death-bird here Enchained I bear ; O coward king, If I freed its wing, Low shouldst thou lie For thy villainy. Yet ease thy fears ; My lance ne'er cares

120 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

For cowards' blood ;

She's far too good

For such base uses ;

And rather chooses

Her sign to grave

On 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 on earth

'Tis little worth.

Rust snapped thy bow,

Not strength, I trow ;

At nobler game

Than thee I aim, —

'Twere shame to me

To slaughter 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,

FRITHIOF'S BANISHMENT, 121

Or broadsword's tongue, The stout oars sprung.

Up rose the sun,

On the cliffs he shone ;

And the breeze, speeding

From shore, seemed biddin

Each wave to dance

In morning's glance.

O'er the billow's crest

Ellida pressed

Merrily and glad ;

But Frithiof said :

" Crest of creation,

Thou noble North, I have no place on

Thy well-loved earth ; From thee forever

My sail must swell ; Thou nurse of valor,

Farewell ! farewell !

" Farewell, thou brightest

Valhalla-throne ; Thou gloom that lightest, Midsummer sun ! 6

122 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Thou sky, unclouded, Where heroes dwell,

Where bright stars wander, Farewell ! farewell !

" Ye mighty cliffs,

Famed evermore, Rune-written temples

Of terrible Thor : Each azure sea

That I've known so well, Each isle and bay,

Farewell ! farewell !

" Farewell, ye graves

By the ocean's foam, Where the linden-tree waves

Down its snowy bloom, (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.

FRITH 1 '01 "S BANISHMENT. 123

Friends of my youth, I loved you well ;

But we part forever- Farewell ! farewell !

With fondness spurned,

With honor stained, With dwelling burned,

And banishment : From land I part

O'er ocean's swell — Ah ! joy of heart,

Farewell ! farewell ! "

XV. VIKINGABALK.

NOW wide swept he round on the wilderness deep ; he sped far, like the prey-seeking hawk, For his comrades on board he wrote counsel and law ; wilt thou hear now his Vikingabalk ?

" Make no tent upon deck, sleep not under a roof,

within doors a foe may surprise : On his shield Viking sleepeth, his sword in his hand, and maketh his tent of the skies.

" Short shaft hath the hammer of conquering Thor ;

a sword but an ell long hath Frey ; 'Tis enough, for thy sword can be never too short, hast thou heart to thy foe to come nigh.

" When the storms rage with might, hoist the sail to its height, then are merry the storm-ridden waves ; (124)

VIKING ABALK. 125

Speed along ! speed along ! and sink sooner than strike, for they who would strike are but slaves !

" Shelter woman on land ; keep her far from your bark — she'd deceive, ay, though Freya she were :

For her dimple so deep is a pitfall untrue, and a net is her wide-waving hair.

" Wine is Valfader's drink, and carouse is allowed, if

then drainest uninjured the can ; If thou fallest on land, thou may'st rise ; but fall here, and thou sinkest to sleep-giving Ran.

""When a merchant sails by, spare his ship ; by the

weak let a tribute for safety be told ; Thou art king on thy waves, he a slave to his gain, and thy steel is as good as his gold.

" By the die and the lot all your prizes divide ; how

they fall, to complain never care ; Your sea-king himself casteth never a lot, keepeth only his fame as his share.

" Comes a Vikinga-ship, and we board it and fight, when the strife waxeth hot 'neath each shield,

I26 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

If thou yield but a pace, thou -art parted from us ; 'tis our law, and so do as thou wilt.

« Hast thou conquered ? Give grace— he's no longer

a foe, who defenceless for mercy doth pray ; Pale Prayer is Valhalla's child ; yield to its voice ; he is worthless who then sayeth Nay.

" Scars are gain to a Viking ; a man they adorn, if

on brow or on bosom they stand ; Let them bleed on unbound until evening be come ; if not, thou must part from our band."

So wrote he his law, and his fame clay by day to

far-lying borders was brought ; His like never sped o'er the blue heaving sea, and

his comrades full lustily fought.

But himself by the tiller sat, gloomy of mien, and

gazed into ocean, and thought :

" Deep art thou ; in thy depths, perhaps, peace may be found, but above I discover it not.

" If the White One still rage, let him draw forth his

blade ; I'll fall gladly, if so 'tis designed ; But he sitteth in heaven, and sendeth down thoughts that darken forever my mind."

VIKING A BA LK. 1 2 7

Still, when battle drew near, like an eagle refreshed rose his spirit in valorous flight,

And clear grew his brow, and high raised he his voice, and stood forth like the Thunderer bright.

So from conquest to conquest he sped, and from care, in the ocean he sought for release,

And islands and cliffs passed he southward, and so came he into the waters of Greece.

As his glance on the groves rising up from the sea, and the temples, now desolate, fell,

What he felt Freya knew, and the bard, too, must know ; and ye, lovers, ye know it full well.

" Here should we have dwelt ; here the isle, here the grove, here the temple my sire shadowed forth ;

It was hither I prayed my beloved to come ; but the cruel one stayed in the North.

" Doth contentment not dwell in yon valley of bliss,

and peace round those pillars so strong ? Like the whispers of love sounds the murmuring brook, like a bride-hymn the nightingale's song.

128 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Where is Ingeborg now ? Hath she e'er thought of me, with her age'd spouse withered and gray ?

I ne'er can forget ; but to see her once more, my whole life Pd give gladly away.

" Three years have sped by since my home I beheld,

great Saga's majestical hall ;

Stand forth still 'gainst the heaven her bright cliffs on high ? groweth green still my ancestors' vale?

" On the mound, where my father is laid, did I plant

a linden-tree — bloometh it now ? Who hath tended it since ? Give it nurture, O Earth, and thy dew on it, Sky, sprinkle thou.

" Yet why lie I longer on billows afar, for slaughter

and plundering prize ?

I have honor enough, and the red-flaming gold, the worthless, my soul cloth despise.

" The flag on my mast streameth back to the North ;

to the North, to my fatherland dear ; I'll follow the course of the heavenly winds ; back again to my Northland I'll steer."

XVI. FRITHIOF AND BJORN.

FRITHIOF.

BJORN, I 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 are happy from home who have never departed, Ne'er banished afar from their ancestors' graves ! Too long, alas ! all too long broken-hearted, I've wandered around on the wide-heaving waves.

BJORN.

Good is the ocean, in vain dost thou chide ; Freedom and gladness thrive best on the seas ; Little they reck of effeminate ease Loving afar on the billows to ride. When I grow old, upon land I will house, And cling in my turn to it, close as the grass ; But now in hot battle and joyous carouse,

On ocean, my swift years untroubled shall pass. 6* (129)

130 "FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

FRITHIOF.

Yet now by the ice we are driven to land, Clasping our keel lie the chilly waves dead ; Nor care I to wait till long winter be sped, Imprisoned by rocks on the desolate strand. Once more in the Northland my Yule-tide I'll hold, And guest to King Ring and my lost bride will be ; Gaze fondly again on those bright locks of gold, And hear once again that voice dearest to me.

BJORN.

Good is thy purpose. — By Ring shall be seen How vengeance of Viking like lightning can gleam : At midnight the court of the monarch shall flame : We'll slaughter the Graybeard, we'll bear off the

Queen.

Or wilt thou treat him in Vikinga-wise, 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 I'll wend. Faultless is he, nor did Ingborg offend, But the vengeance of angry gods I have to bear. Now leave of my dear one my heart longs to take, Since slight hope for me upon earth can remain ;

FRITHIOF AND BJORN. 131

A farewell eternal ! when green buds awake

At the breathing of spring, them shalt see me again.

BJORX.

Ah ! Frithiof, thy folly seems strange to my mind : What ! sorrow and sigh for a false woman's love ! In sooth, upon earth there are women enough ! For the one them hast lost thou a thousand may'st find. If thou wilt, e'en a lading of that 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.

FRITHIOF.

Bjorn, glad and honest as Frey is thy thought : Thou art prudent in counsel, and fearless in war ; Well hast thou learnt to know Odin and Thor, But Freya, the heavenly, knowest thou not. Shun to think scorn of the holy Queen's power ; Beware, lest the rage of the goddess thou wake ; To gods and to men, soon or late, comes the hour When her mouldering spark into fierce flame must break.

BJORX.

Yet go not alone. They may take thee in thrall.

FRITHIOF.

Alone go I not ; my sword followeth me.

132 FJtITfflOF'S SAGA.

BJORN.

Remember how Hagbart was hung on a tree.

FRITHIOF. He, who lets any take him, deserveth to fall.

BJORN.

Oh ! brother, falPst tliou, I'll avenge thee full well : Over Frithiof 's bones the blood-eagle I'll tear.

FRITHIOF.

It needeth not, Bjorn. For my foeman shall ne'er Hear a cock crow again when I perish. Farewell !

XVII. FRITHIOF COMETH TO KING RING.

KING RING high-throned at banquet sat, mead- quaffing at Yule-tide ; The fair and gentle-visaged queen sat silent by his

side ; "Like Spring by Autumn seated, they seemed together

there :

In her was seen the Spring-time green, in him the Autumn drear.

And lo ! into the hall there came an unknown gray- beard in,

From head to foot enveloped in a wild bear's shaggy skin ;

With weak and weary gait upon his heavy staff he leant,

Still all the rest surpassing in stature as he went.

(133)

I34 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

He sat him on the lowly bench that stood beside 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

the waist, And thoughtfully upon his head he turned the

frightened youth, Then all the others held their peace— as we'd have

done, in sooth.

What means, below, this uproar— who dares our

peace to break ? Come up to me, thou graybeard, and answer when

I speak : What is thy name ?— what wilt thou ?— and where

thy fatherland ?" So spake the angry monarch ; calm did the old man

stand.

FRirUIOF COMETH TO KING RING. 135

Full much thou ar,kest me, O king, yet answer will

I give : Trouble thyself not for my name, its master still

doth live ; The land of sorrow is my home ; my birthright,

misery ; Last night I lodged with hungry wolves ; thence

come, to-day, to thee.

'•' In days gone by full glad I rode on ocean-dragon

free, And mighty were the wings she had, and merrily

sped she ; But now she lieth frozen up and lame upon the

sand, While I myself, grown old and weak, burn salt

upon the strand.

" I came to see thy wisdom, by fame so widely borne ;

Those yonder mocked me scornfully, and I'm too old for scorn ;

I seized upon a grinning fool, and turned him up side down,

Yet all unharmed he rose again ; so, king, no longer frown."

136 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Not ill-beseeming," quoth the king, " thy bold words are to thee,

And age should all men honor ; come, sit thee down by me ;

Let's see thee frank and freely ; let thy thick cover ing fall :

Disguise disturbs enjoyment, and I 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 ar rayed,

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 KING RING. 137

Around his mighty arm he wore a golden bracelet

wide, Like a flash of bridled lightning hung his war-sword

at his side ; A royal, fearless glance around the hall and guests

he bore, And stood, like Balder beauteous, brave and proud

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 pressed,

Flutter above the billows, so heaved her gentle breast.

The horn was blown for silence, come was the

votive hour ; To Frey's high feast devoted they carry in the

boar ; Its shoulders decked with flowers, its mouth an

apple held, And, with knees beneath it bended, the silver dish

it filled.

138 FRITHIOF'B SAGA.

Then slowly aged Ring raised up his venerable

head, He touched the forehead of the boar, and vowing,

thus he said : " Great Frithiof I will vanquish, whom none can

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

Thor ! "

With haughty mien the stranger rose up quickly from his seat,

His countenance all glowing with heroic anger's heat ;

He struck his sworcl upon the board, the hall re echoing rang,

And up from every oaken seat each startled com rade sprang.

" Now hear thou, too, O king !" he cried, "my vow,

thus uttered loud, That Frithiof is akin to me, a worthy friend and

good ; And Frithiof I will shelter against all the world

arrayed, So help me first my favoring Nome, and then my

trusty blade ! "

FRITUIOF COMETH TO KING RING. 139

" Thou speakest boldly," smiled the king, " nor only

once to-day ; But frank and 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, let us hope, will bide the winter as

our guest."

Then took the queen the horn that on the board before her stood,

(Which Ure's forehead once adorned, a treasure rich and good,)

On feet of shining silver, with many a gold ring bound,

Rune-written, and with deeds of ancient days be decked around.

And as she offered him the horn, all trembling, with

averted head, The goblet shook, some drops ran o'er, and dyed

her fingers rosy red ; And as upon the lily leaves the sunset glories seem

to stand, So glowed the drops of purple wine upon the fair

one's snowv hand.

i4o FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

With joy from her the stranger took the horn, and raised it high ;

Two men (such men as live to-day) could scarce have drunk it dry ;

But the mighty guest, deep-quaffing in honor of the queen,

Drained the full goblet at a draught, — no drop re mained within.

Then the bard who sat at the board of royal Ring

his harp drew forth, And a beautiful sorrowful song did sing of true love

in the North, — Of Hagbart and fair Signe : 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' mighty deeds on continent

and sea ; Then every hand its sword-hilt clutched, and bright

flashed every eye, And round and round the oft-filled horn sped ever

busily.

F1UTHIOF COMETH TO KING RING. 141

Deep drank 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.

K

XVIII. THE RIDE OVER THE ICE.

ING RING to a banquet with Ingeborg hies ; The ice on the bay like a mirror lies.

" Sledge not over the ice," the stranger cried ; " 'Twill break, and too deep is the frozen tide."

Quoth Ring : " Not so easily kings are drowned ; Whoever's afraid, by the shore may go round."

How frowneth the stranger in angry heat ! He bindeth his steel shoes in haste to his feet.

How starteth 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 as storms over ocean speed : The queen's prayers little King Ring doth heed. (142)

THE RIDE OVER THE ICE. 143

Their steel-shod comrade standeth not still, He flieth past them as swift as he will.

Many a Rune on the ice cutteth he ; Fair Ingborg's name discovereth she.

So on their glittering course they go, But Ran, the traitress, lurketh below.

A hole in her silver roof she hath reft, Down sinketh the sleigh in the yawning cleft.

How pale groweth Ingeborg's cheek with fear ! The guest, like a whirlwind, cometh near :

His skate he hath fixed on the icy field ;

The steed by the mane he hath seized and held ;

With a single tug he setteth amain Both steed and sleigh on the ice again.

" Praise to that stroke," quoth Ring, " is due ; Not Frithiof, the mighty, could better do."

Now turn they back to the court again ; Till spring the stranger doth there remain.

XIX. FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION.

SPRING-TIME cometh ; wild birds twitter, woods grow leafy, sunshine beams, Dancing, singing, down to ocean speed the liberated

streams ; Out from its bud the glowing rose peeps forth like

blush on Freya's cheek ;

And joy of life, and mirth, and hope, within the breast of man awake.

The ag£d monarch wills the chase, and with him hies

the gentle queen ; And swarming round 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. (i44)

FRITHIOF'8 TEMPTATION. 145

Lo ! the chase's empress cometh ! Hapless Frithiof,

glance away ! Like a star on spring cloud sitteth she • upon her

courser gray, Half like Freya, half like Rota, lovelier than the

heavenly pair ; From her slender hat of purple azure plumes float

high in air.

Gaze not on her eyes so beauteous, on her golden

locks so bright, Gaze not on her form so slender, on her bosom full

and white ; Shun to watch the rose and lily on her soft cheek

varying ; Hark not to the voice beloved, 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 her, their Valkyria

follows near. 7

146 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Ring the ag£d cannot follow as the chase speeds

swiftly on, Sorrowful and silent by him rideth Frithiof

alone, Gloomy, mournful recollections all his soul with

anguish tear, And, wherever he can turn him, hears he echoes

of despair.

" Wherefore fled I 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 ; like a dreamer

pass I on : Never can I Balder's grove, or Ingborg's loving

oath forget, Sworn to me. — SHE never broke it ; gods, in fury,

cancelled it.

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION. 147

" They, the race of man detesting, jealous view a

fondness blest ; My rose-bud sweet they snatched away, and planted

it in Winter's breast : By its bloom can Winter profit ? Little knoweth he

its price ; While his frosty breathing covers bud, and leaf, and

stem with ice."

While thus he sorrowed, they their way into a lonely dell had made, —

Dark and hill-surrounded, overspread with birch and alder shade.

Ring, dismounting, quoth : " How cool and pleas ant doth the grove appear !

Weary am I ; let us rest, and for an hour I'll slum ber here."

" Here thou may'st not sleep, O king, for such a

slumber bringeth pain ; Up ! The ground is hard and cold — full soon I'll

lead thee home again." " Like other gods," the old man said, " sleep cometh

when we hope it least,

And surely to his host my guest will scarce be grudge a little rest ? "

i43 FRITHIOF' S SAGA.

Then Frithiof took his mantle off, and spread it out

beneath the trees, And 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 : " Haste thee, Frithiof, slay the Graybeard— end thy

sorrows at a blow ! Take the queen— she's thine, since once to thee

betrothal's kiss she gave : Here no mortal eye beholds thee ; deep and silent

is the grave."

Frithiof listens,— hark ! now sings a snow-white

bird from off a bough :

" Though no mortal eye behold thee, Odin's eye can see thee now :

Coward ! wouldst thou murder sleep ? Shall help less age by thee be slain ?

Such deed, whate'er to thee it bring, can never peace or honor gain."

FRFTHIOF'S TEMPTATION. 149

So the birds sang, both in turn, but Frithiof took

his battle-blade, Shuddering he flung it from him, far into the

gloomy shade ; The black 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 : " Much rest did my short sleep afford ;

'Tis sweet to slumber in the shade, protected by a brave man's sword :

But where, O stranger, is thy blade — the lightning's brother, whither sped ?

And who hath separated you, so little wont to sepa rate?"

" It matters little," Frithiof said, " for swords are

plenty in the North ; Sharp-tongue'd is the blade, O king ; no word of

peace it speaketh forth : Within the steel doth evil dwell, a spirit dark from

Niffelhem ; Against him sleep no safety hath ; gray hairs are

but a snare to him."

150 FRITHIOF1 S SAGA.

" Dissembled was my slumber, youth, to prove thee,"

agdd Ring replied ; " The wise should never trust himself to man or

sword of man untried. Thou art Frithiof ; when my hall thou entered'st I

knew thee well :

Old Ring hath long been ware of what his guest sought to conceal.

" Wherefore, thus disguised and nameless, 'neath my roof-tree didst thou glide ?

Wherefore ? Was it from the old man's arms to steal away his bride ?

Honor, Frithiof, never sitteth nameless at the ban quet gay ;

Frank and open is its visage, and its shield is bright as day.

" The dread alike of gods and men, to me a Frithiof

far was famed ; Shields he cleft ; by him insulted, sacred shrines in

ruin flamed ; Soon with fierce array he'll come, I ever thought, to

vex my land, And he came, — in beggar's raiment, and a staff was

in his hand.

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION. 151

" Yet, wherefore turn away thy gaze ? I, too, have felt youth's angry strife ;

It is the time of Berserk-rage in each man's ever- struggling life :

In clash of arms its course must pass, until ap peased its fierce mood be :

Thy fault in pity I forget, since I have proved and pardoned thee.

Thou seest I am agdd grown, and to the grave must

soon decline ; Then take to thee my realm, and take the queen,

for she is thine. Meanwhile, remain, my son, and dwell within my

palace as before ; Guard me, thou swordless warrior ; our ancient

strife is o'er."

" Never," gloomy Frithiof answered, " came I as a

thief to thee ; And had I willed to take thy queen, could any man

have hindered me ? I only longed my bride to see but once — alas ! but

once again, And, woe is me ! the half-quenched flame rekindled

I to fiercer pain.

152 FRITUIOF'S SAGA.

" Too long within thy halls I've stayed, and now no further linger I ;

Full heavily upon my head the rage of angry gods doth lie ;

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, I caused his shrine to flame, and Varg-i- Vcum call they me ;

To hear my name the children scream, and glad ness from the feast doth flee ;

Its offspring lost, my Fatherland with indignation forth doth cast,

And I am peaceless in my home, and peaccless in my mourning breast.

No more, no more for peace in vain I'll seek upon the grassy earth ;

Beneath my footsteps burns the soil, no shade to me the trees give forth ;

My Ingeborg is lost to me, alas ! by age'd Ring she's owned ;

Life's sun for me is set, and wide is sorrow's dark ness spread around.

FRITHIOF'S TEMPTATION. 153

" And, therefore, to my waves again. Away, away, my dragon good,

Thy sable breast plunge merrily once more into the briny flood ;

Spread to the clouds thy pinions bright, the hissing ocean proudly tear,

And fly as far as stars can lead, as swift as con quered waves can bear.

" Let me hear the storm tremendous, let me hear flerce thunder's voice ;

When 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 I fall, and rise, forgiven, to the gods ap peased at last."

7*

XX. THE DEATH OF KING RING.

WITH 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 ; then opens the door.

Gloomy and grieving

Frithiof seeketh

The king ; pale he sitteth ; fair Ingeborg's breast Like ocean is heaving ;

The stranger he speaketh Words of departure, in trembling expressed :

" The blue billows chafe

My swift-winge'd steed,

My sea-courser longeth to bound from the strand ; He doth pine for the wave,

So forth I must speed,

Forth from dear friends, and away from the land. (154)

THE DEATH OF KING RING. i$5

" This ring take— thine own again,

Ingborg ; there liveth Holy remembrance within it for thee ; Give it to none again ;

Frithiof forgiveth, But now never more on earth seest thou me.

" Smoke ne'er shall I see

Ever rising again

Forth from the North. Man is only a slave To what Nornas decree ; The wave-tossing main Henceforth is my fatherland, shall be my grave.

" Thy bride to the strand, O Ring, shun to take,

Above all, when the starlight illumines the sky ; For, perchance, on the sand,

By ocean cast back, The course of the wandering Viking may lie."

Then quoth the king : " 'Tis bitter to hear

A man thus lament, like a sorrowing maid ; Full long doth Fate sing Her dirge in my ear ; What matters it ? All that is mortal must fade.

156 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Norna'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 my young heir his ancestors' land.

" To many friends spake I

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 I never grew pale.

" Now will I carve amain

Geirsodd, and, bleeding,

No straw-death, ill-seeming a king, I'll receive ; Nor is 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. 157

" Reach forth the horn ;

Loud skoal shall arise Skoal to thy glory, thou beautiful North ! Plentiful corn,

And counsellors wise, And labor in peace for thee sought I on earth.

" Vainly and wildly

In conquest I sought her, Sought I for peace, who still further did flee ; Now stands she mildly,

The grave's gentle daughter, At 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 he, pressing

The hand 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.

IN the grave sitteth Ring, greatest of monarchs ; Beside him his battle-sword, Shield on his arm ; His charger, the noble, Neighing beneath him, With gilded hoof paweth The 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 chief by the hand.

(158)

DRAPA. 159

Thor is not present, Far off 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 heave.

" High sing the clashing Of sword upon helmet, Murmuring billows, Heaving in blood : And might, the good gift Of the happy immortals, Which, keenly as Berserk, Biteth the shield.

i6c FRITHIOF'-S SAGA.

" 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 clearly, As Mimer's bright billows,- Deep, 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'S DRAPA. 161

" Ne'er was he niggardly : Round him he scattered (From Dragon's bed gathered) The daylight of dwarfs. Gifts sped forth gladly From hand ever open ; And comfort for grief From his lips ever fell.

" Welcome, thou \vise one, Heir of Valhalla ! Long in the Northland Liveth thy fame. Bragd, with greeting, Draineth the mead-horn To thee, the Nome's herald Of peace from the North 1 "

XXII. THE KING'S ELECTION.

TO the Ting ! the Ting ! Budkafle goes From home to home : King Ring is dead. A king to choose The Northmen come.

From idle wall is ta'en the brand

Of purple steel : Each warrior, with practised hand,

Its edge doth feel.

•£»

The little 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 it glare ;

6* '

THE KING'S ELECTION. 163

Then blushes red, for she has seen Her image there.

He taketh, last of all, his shield, —

A sun 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 warlike cry,

In proof arrayed, Their weapons clash ; the heaven high

Their tent is made.

And Frithiof stands upon 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 far :

" Too young is he

To judge our wrongs, and of our hosts in war The chief to be."

[64 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

Up on his shield set Frithiof bold

The child, and cried :

" Here, Northmen, stands your king ! Behold The Northland's pride !

" See how, with Odin's likeness filled,

And fair as he ;

He standeth bold, on slippery shield, As fish in sea.

" With sword and steel will I defend

His realm's renown,

And round the child's young brow will bend The father's crown.

" Forscte, son of Balder bright,

Record my vow,

And lay me, ere its bond I slight, In darkness low."

Shield-throned sat, with fearless eye,

Ring's royal son, As eagles' young, from eyrie high,

Gaze on the sun.

But Time's course, to the child's young blood, Seemed far too slow ;

THE KING'S ELECTION.

With royal bound, in courage proud, He sprung below.

Loud rose the shout through all the Ting :

" We Northmen yield ;

Rule us, as ruled thy father Ring,

Son of the Shield !

" Be Frithiof regent of thy house

Till grown art thou : Yarl Frithiof, Ingborg as thy spouse, We give thee now/'

" A king's election," Frithiof cried,

" Is held to-day, But not a bridal : I my bride Choose my own way.

" To Balder's grove now I must speed,

For earnest speech

Prepared, my Nornes, full long delayed, Are waiting each.

Tidings to those shield-maids by me

There must be told, Where they, around Time's lofty tree.

Their dwelling hold.

1 66 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Still Balder, golden-haired, doth frow

In anger sore ;

He took my bride, and he alone Can her restore."

Then with a kiss saluted he The new king's brow,

And slowly o'er the heath they see Him silent go.

XXIII. .iTHIOF BESIDE HIS FATHER'S GRAVE.

a TT^AIR shines the sun, and from its rays of glory, JL 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 all the mountain-tops it steeps. But soon the earth shall disappear in night, Soon, 'neath the wave, sink down the shield of light.

" Yet first must I 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 cliffs severe ;

Oh ! happy had I never o'er them fled, The same false tale of glory ever telling That lured me, restless, from my happy dwelling.

(167)

1 68 miTHIOf"S SAGA.

" I know thee well, O stream ; thy ripples bounded

Full often as my swimming form they bore ; Valley, I know thee, where, with shade surrounded,

A lasting love, unknown to earth, we swore ; Ye birch-trees bright, whose bark so oft I wounded With deep-graved runes, ye stand forth as before, Bearing on silvery stems the forest crown : All is unchanged, except myself alone.

" Is all unchanged ? Oh ! where is Framnas' hall ?

Where Balder's temple on the sacred strand ? All the dear beauty of my native vale,

Marred by the sword, disfigured by the brand, Of rage of men and wrath of gods, sad tale

To wanderers tells the devastated land. Ah ! pious wanderer, hither shun to rove, Where beasts have made their dens in Balder's grove.

" Ay, a betrayer stalks through life untiring,

The gloomy Nidhogg from the gloomy waste ; He shuns the Asa-light, the proud aspiring,

Written on flashing sword and dauntless crest. He maketh us to yield to his desiring,

Dark fiend, he revels in rage unrepressed, And when a temple flames, delightingly Clappeth his coal-black hands in furious glee.

FRITH 10 F AT HIS FATHER'S GRA VE. 169

" Hath no atonement place in Valhall's hall ?

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 I offer gladly all my good. Thy temple's burning Frithiof never willed ; Take this disgrace from his once stainless shield.

" Remove 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 the guilt a moment wrought. I should not quail, though Thor were of my foes,

And ghastly Hela fearless should be sought ; But thee, great spirit, shining bright and clear, — Thee, and the vengeance sent by thee, I fear.

" Here rests my father — if a hero sleeps ;

Thither whence none returneth he is gone ; Mead-quaffing in the starry tent, he keeps Glad revel, joyous in his armor's tone ; Guest of the gods ! glance downwards thro' the deep, Thine offspring calls thee, Thorsten, Viking's son ; With spe'.ls of deep enchantment come not I ;

How shall I Balder please ? is all my cry. 8

1 70 FRITHIOF*S SAGA.

" Giveth the grave no answer ? For a sword,

Angantyr, long-departed, spake not he ? Tirfing was good, yet little worth such word ;

I ask for more — no sword contenteth me ; Battle can weapons plentiful afford.

Bring thou, O father, peace from heaven with thee ? Be thou the pleader of my sorrowing prayer ; No noble heart can Balder's anger bear.

u No sound, my father ? Hark ! the ocean sings,

In its sweet voice — oh ! 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 ! For thy son's despair no sign, no breath ? How poor, my father, is the sleep of death ! "

The day sank down, with evening breezes singing

To man their lullaby so soft and mild ; The sunset, rosy-cheeked, its glories flinging

In purple radiance, girt the heavenly shield ; Round azure heights and verdant valleys clinging,

Valhalla's semblance all the circle filled : When sudden o'er the western billows came A lovely vision, weft of gold and flame.

FRITHIOF A T HIS FA THER 'S GRA VE. 171

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

(For so we call it, though in Valhall' bright More sweetly named,) and floating downwards, covers

Green hill and dale in coronet of light, Spreading around, as far as eye discovers,

Unfancied splendor, wondrous to the sight ; And as at length it down to earth descends, A temple, on the temple's site, it stands.

Vision of Breidablick ! Towards heaven rearing Their height, the walls with silver seem to vie ; The mighty pillars of dark steel appearing ;

A single 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 is wond'ring Frithiof conscious grown, From glad amaze, ere all again is flown.

1 72 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

" Oh ! I have comprehended, maidens fair !

My father, thou hast shown a sign of good The ruined temple I again shall rear,

Superb upon the rock where once it stood. Oh ! happy thus, no longer to despair,

Of peaceful deeds atoning insult rude. Again in hope the outcast wretch may live, Since Balder bright doth pardon and forgive.

" I hail you, stars, as gently ye arise !

Your silent course again with joy I see. Hail, northern lights, around the arching skies ! A temple's flames full oft ye've seemed to me ; Grow green, dear grave, again ; again arise

Forth from the waves, thou wondrous melody ! Here, slumbering on my shield, I'll dream in peace, Of man forgiven, and immortal's grace."

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, was set the fence Of Balder's grove, and like a steel-clad armament, With halberts bright and golden 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 raised, like Upsal's lofty shrine, — Where in an earthly form the North Valhalla sees. Proud stood it on the lofty cliff, and mirrored forth Its towering summit in the ocean's shining wave ; And far around it, like a splendid belt of bloom, Spread Balder's valley fair, with all its rustling groves, With all its songs of joyous birds, a home of peace : High stood its copper-bolted portals, and within Two pillars tall upon their mighty shoulder-blades

(173)

174 FRIT HI OF' S SAO A.

Upheld the lofty dome, which hung.forth beautiful Above the temple, like a giant shield of gold. Farther within, great Balder's altar stood, outhewn From one huge block of Northern marble, and around A sculptured serpent cast its coils, deep-graved with

Runes

In wisest words from Vala and from Havamal. But in the wall above a space was found adorned With stars of gold upon a ground of blue ; and there The god of Goodness' silver image was, as fair As silver moonshine throned upon the azure sky, So seemed the temple. — Now in pairs there en tered in

Twelve temple-maidens fair, in silver raiment clad, With roses blooming on their cheeks, and roses, too, Within their guileless hearts : before the image dread They danced around the altar newly consecrate, As spring-time's breezes dance above the rivulets, As forest elves dance lightly o'er the tall-grown grass, While still the morning dew lies glittering around. And 'midst their dancing sang they, too, an holy song, Of Balder, the all-pious ; how beloved was he Of all creation : how by Hoder's dart he fell ; How earth, and sea, and sky lamented ; — such a

song

It seemed as ne'er from out a mortal bosom sprung, But like a tone from Breidablick, the Bright One's hall ;

RECONCILIATION. 1 75

Like dream of loved one which a lovely maiden

dreams, When in the peace of silent night deep pipes the

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 blue, and lovely heads, adorned With curling locks of floating gold, they nodded forth A loving greeting to the comrade of their youth. Then like a bloody shadow sank his Viking's life, With all its battles fierce, its past adventures wild, Down into darkness, 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 icy mail from breast of Earth dissolves, When shines the sun of spring ; a flood of gentle

peace,

Of glad delight, his noble bosom overflowed. It seemed as if the heart of Nature he could feel To throb with his ; as if with gladness he could clasp The whole Heimskringla in his loving arms, and make

1 76 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 in his noble countenance, And downward to his belt his beard of silver flowed. Then 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 : I 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 belt, and spite of gloves of steel, Utgarda-Loke sitteth ever on his throne ; To no might Evil, mighty in itself, will yield. And profitless is piety unmatched with power, — 'Tis like the sunbeam playing over yEgir's breast, — A changing glow that sinks and swells with every

wave

Without a settled depth, unstable, insecure. But power wanting piety devours itself,

RECON CILIA TION. 1 7 7

Like buried battle-blade ; it is life's wild carouse, Where o'er the beaker's brim oblivious Haeger

soars, And when the drinker wakes, he blushes for his

deed.

All vigor is of earth, from corpse of Ymer sprung ; Forth from its veins the stormy waste of waters

flows,

And all its sinews are of brazen metal forged. But void, and desolate, and fruitless, it must lie, Till Piety, like heavenly sunlight, shines thereon. Then grass grows green, and spreads a carpet

flower-weft ; Then lift the trees their crowns, then gleams the

golden fruit, And man and beast draw life from mother Nature's

breast ;

So is it, too, with Asker's offspring. Odin hath Two weights within the balance of each mortal life, Each counterpoising each when fairly stands the

scale, And they are named, the Love of Heaven, the

Might of Earth. Full strong is Thor, O youth, when close lie clasps

around

His mighty loins the magic belt, and strikes amain ; And wise is Odin, when on Urda's silver wave He gazeth down, and round about his ravens fly,

178 FRITHIOF'S SAO A.

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, fell ; The clasping link was he in ValhalPs wreath of gods. Then yellow grew the splendor of the tree of Time ; And Nidhogg gnawed upon its root ; then loose were

set The powers of ag£d Night ; the Midgard serpent

raised

To heaven its coils envenomed, and Fenris howled ; From Muspelheim the sword of Surtur lightened

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

fierce

Throughout creation rageth on ; in Valhall crows The cock gold-crested, and the red one crows 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, too, More wondrously above ; and so the life of men Is but an image slight of Valhall ; heaven's light Reflected down on Saga's rune-engraven shield ; And every heart of man its Balder hath, Thou'st

known a time

RECONCILIATION. 179

When 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 fro His greenwood nest, 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 doth Balder live, ana Hela yields Her booty back as oft as child of man is born. But in each heart of man, with Balder, groweth up His brother, Hoder, blind, the child of Night ; for 111, Like young of bears, is sightless born, and dark ness 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, ValhalPs best beloved. Then Hate awakeneth ; for prey Might springeth up ; Like hungry wolf, o'er hill 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 ;

i8o FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

And thus the life of gods above foreshadoweth The life of men below, and both together are Allfather's 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 tale is told, And thence may each man hear his own heart's his tory ;

And Vala asks of thee : ' Canst understand thine own ? '

"Atonement seekest thou. — Oh ! know'st thou

what it is ? Gaze in mine eyes — oh ! Frithiof, gaze, and turn

not pale ; Atonement bears on earth no other name than

Death ;

All time is but a measure of eternity ; All life, — an emanation from Allfather's throne ; Atonement, — thither purified to hie thee home. The lofty gods themselves are fallen. Ragnarok Is their atoning day appointed ; day of blood On Vigrid's hundred leagues of plain ; there must

they fall, But never unavenged ; since Evil then must die

RECONCILIATION. 181

Eternally, and fallen Good arise on high, From flames of earth to loftier being purified. 'Tis true, the rayless wreaths of pale-grown stars Shall fall from heaven above, and Earth in ocean

sink ;

But, joyously, another new-born Earth shall raise, From ocean forth, its fairer, flow'r-adorne'd head ; And wandering stars renewed, with sweet, benignant

beam,

Above the new creation take their silent course. Once more shall Balder, then, upon the grassy hills, Rule god's regenerate and purified mankind. The Rune-writ golden tablets, lost so long ago In early dawn of time, shall then again be found On Ida's plains, by Valhall's reconciled race. Thus, death is but an ordeal for fallen good, And its atonement, birth into a better life ; So, purified, it fiieth thither, whence it came, Rejoicing guileless, as a child on parent's knees. Alas ! that all that noblest is must lie beyond The grave — the grassy gate of heaven ; and all that

dwells

Beneath the stars be base, by evil maculate.

Yet some atonement still may 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 ;

1 82 FRITH lOF'S SAGA.

By gentle proof he tries the tuned accord, and then His bold hand striketh mightily the golden strings, From out the grave invoking memories of yore, And Valhall's brightness flasheth from his trance'd

eyes. So earth the shadow seems of heaven above ; and

like

The entrance court to Balder's temple in the skies ; And sacrifice to gods is made ; by purple rein The steed is led in golden trappings to their shrines. Therein a figure, deep of meaning, lies ; for blood Must be the morning-dawn of all atonement-days. But neither type nor figure can themselves atone ; Thy deeds of evil done can none make good for

thee.

Atonement for the dead is in Allfather's breast ; Atonement for the living in each living heart. One sacrifice I know, in heaven above more dear Than smoke of slaughtered oxen : 'tis to offer up Thine own heart's angry rage, thine own revenge. Canst thou not blunt the edge of passion, and for give ? Then, 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 ; with

peace alone,

RECON CILIA TION. 1 83

On earth below, and heaven above, forgiveness

dwells.

Be reconciled to thy foe and to thyself, And so shalt thou be reconciled to Balder bright. 'Tis said a Balder southward dwelt, the Virgin's

son ;

Allfather sent him forth to make the purport known Of writings dark till now upon the shield of Fate. His rallying-cry was Peace, and Love his shining

sword,

And Innocence sat, dove-like, on his silver helm. He lived the holy life he taught ; forgiving, died ; And, far away, 'neath spreading palms, his grave 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, I know, when he shall gently

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

1 84 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

But, ere that day, the North shall pass from us

away,

And oak-trees murmur over our forgotten graves. Oh ! generations blessed, privileged to quaff The beaming cup of new-born light, I bid ye hail. Rejoice ! rejoice ! when it shall drive each cloud

away,

That hung its misty veil before the sun of life ; Yet shun to scorn our race, which, ever constant,

sought

With unaverted gaze its heavenly beams to view : Allfather, though but one, hath many messengers.

" Thou hatest Bele's sons. And wherefore hatest

thou ?

Because with thee, a yeoman's son, they did not will To match their sister, who is sprung from Seming's

blood,

The son of Odin, and because their pedigree Ascendeth up to Valhall's throne ; and they are

proud.

But thou wilt answer : ' Birth is chance, and not de sert.'

No man, believe me, youth, of his deserts is proud ; 'Tis but his better fortune ; and the best of all Is, after all, a gift of Heaven. Art thou not proud Of all thy valiant deeds, of all thy matchless might ?

RE CONCILIA TION. 1 85

And was that might conferred by thee ? Did Thor

not knit

The sinews of thine arm as firm as branching oak ? Is thine high heart no gift of God's, that boimdeth

glad

Within that citadel, thine arching breast ? And is That lightning not of heaven that flasheth in thine

eyes ?

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, " JKing 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 an agdd, wondrous image of the god Above the gate remained, and nodded to its fall ; But no man dared to venture near, for it was said Amongst the Finns, from sire to son, whoever first Within that temple trod should Jumala behold. This Helge heard, and blindly scaled, in bitter rage,

1 86 FRITHIOF1 8 SAGA.

The lonely steps that led to the detested god, Desiring to destroy the shrine. He reached the top ; The key was rusted, fast within the portal locked. He laid his hands upon the post ; in rage he shook The rotten portals ; all at once, with frightful crash, The idol's image fell, and crushed beneath its weight The heaven-born Helge. — Thus he Jumala beheld. A messenger this night hath brought the tidings

home ;

Alone now sitteth Halfdan on King Bele's throne. Give him thine hand ; to heaven thine anger sacri fice ;

This off'ring Balder doth demand, and I, his priest, As proof that now thou mockcst not the peaceful

god.

If thou refuse, in vain this temple hast thou reared, And vainly have I 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 the breastplate-hater from

his side,

Against the altar set his golden-orbe'd shield, And all unarmed, advancing, stood before his foe. a In such a strife as this," he spake in kindly voice,

REQONCILIA T10N. 1 87

" He noblest is who offers first a friendly hand." King Halfdan blushed, and 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 Ing-

borg in,

In bridal garb, — in ermine mantle, — maidens fair Behind her following, as heavenly stars the Moon. With tears within her beauteous eyes she fell upon Her brother Halfdan's breast : but, deeply 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 rhymes.

Page 3, line 16. — A more literal translation of this stanza seems preferable :

But childhood's days full fleetly glide : There stands a stripling in his pride, With haughty eye that hopeth, pleadeth, — There stands a maid whose bosom buddeth !

Page 19, line 6. — " Ham sjelf en lefvande saga'11 — him self a living tradition.

Page 31. — " FRITHIOF'S WOOING." Here, again, in the original, the rhymes of the last couplet are feminine.

Page 45. — "FRITHIOF'S JOY." " Frithiof's Bliss" is a more correct translation.

Page 124. — " VIKINGABALK." The Viking-Code.

(189)

190 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

Page 158. — " RING'S DRAPA." The effect of the Saga- measure depends on its alliteration. This necessary feature Mr. Blackley has neglected in his translation. As a speci men of its 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 gate of the grave.

ALPHABETICAL GLOSSARY AND NOTES

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

AEGIR. The ocean-god. Daughters of Aegir, the waves.

AESIR. The twelve highest gods, namely, Odin, Thor, Njord, Frey, Tyr, Heimdall, Bragi, Vidar, Vali, Ullur, Haenur, 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. Asa-sons, or Asen-sons ; a name gen erally given to Scandinavian kings, who were supposed 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 Air. I. A. BlackwcU's translation of that production, contained in his new edition of Mallet's "Northern Antiquities" 1847; an(l has also profited largely by remarks in other parts of his work, which he takes the present opportunity of acknowledging'.

192 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

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 him that he is the best, and that all the race of man are loud in his praise. So fair and dazzling is he in form and features, that rays of light seem to issue from him. Balder is the wisest, the mildest, the most eloquent of all the Aesir ; yet, such is his nature, that the 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, 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 its original sense in our use of its compound, baleful, which, properly signifying fiery, full of light, or flame, is used in English in the sense of malignant. The heathen custom of lighting bale-fires or bonfires on Midsummer's Eve is still continued in parts of Northern Germany, Scotland, and Ireland, though the practice is generally supposed to be intend ed in honor of the coming festival of St. John the Bap tist, which falls on Midsummer Day.

BAUTA-STONE. A memorial raised over fallen warriors, and formed generally of a block of unhewn stone, pro jecting several feet out of the ground. The Bauta- stone differed from the Rune-stone in being unin- scribed, the memorial Rune-stone bearing, on 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 expres sion for any warrior of unusually ferocious disposition.

BiFROST. The rainbow. It may be interesting to remark the coincidence between the Ecldaic account of the rainbow, and Sir David Brewster's theory of three primitive colors. The following is from the " Prose Edda," chap. XIII : " 'I must now ask,' said Gangler, ' which is. the path leading from earth to heaven ? ' ' That is a senseless question,' replied Har, with a smile of derision : ' hast thou not been told that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven, and called it Bifrost ? Thou must surely have seen it ; but, per haps, thou callest it the rainbow. // is of three hues, and is constructed with more art than any other work,' " &c.

BJORN. Lif.y a bear. The name of Frithiof's comrade. Hence the play on words, page 82 :

" Bjorn, come to the rudder ; Hold it tight as bear's hug"

BLCETAND. 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. In the text, Bjorn prom ises to perform such vengeance on Frithiof's slayer, should his chief fall.

BRACE. The god of Poetry and Song.

BREIDABLIK. Broad-gleaming, latifulgent Balder's pal ace in the heavens.

BUDKAFLE. The bidding-staff. A wand about a foot in

I94 FRITHIOF'8 SAGA.

length, inscribed with certain characters of authority ; and which, sent from house to house with great dis patch, formed a summons for the assembly of the whole nation to deliberate on public matters of mo ment. This custom bears a strong analogy to the sending round of the fiery cross in the Scotch High lands on the like occasions. The practice in Scandina via, 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 10, 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.

DELLING. Twilight, dawn. Son of Delling — Dagr, Day. See " Prose Edda," c. 10 : " Nott (Night) espoused Delling, of the Aesir race, and their son was Day, a child light and beauteous like his father. Then All father took Night, and Day, her son, and gave them two horses and two cars, and set them up in the heav ens, that they might drive successively round the world. Night rides first on her horse, called Hrimfaxi (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 Skinfaxi (shining-maned), from whose mane light is shed over the earth and the heavens."

DISARSAL. The hall of goddesses.

DRAGON'S BED. The dragon Fafner, guardian of the Ni- belungen 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,

GLOSSARY AND XOTES. 195

sung, for the most part, at the " grave-feast," which all heirs, 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 than a dirge.

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

EINHERIER. AngL, chosen heroes. All who, dying a vio lent death, were admitted to the joys of Valhalla.

ERIKSGATE. The solemn progress which the Scandinavian kings were accustomed to make through their whole realm after their coronation.

FAFNER. The dragon set to watch over the golden treas ure, but conquered by Sigurd, the Siegfried of the Ni- belungenlied.

FAFNER'S-BANE. Destroyer of Fafner. A surname given to Sigurd for the exploit referred to above.

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

FORSETE, or FORSETI. The god of Justice.

FREY. " One of the most celebrated of the gods. He presides 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.

FREYA. The goddess of Love. '• The most propitious of the goddesses ; her abode in heaven is called Folk- vang. To whatever field of battle she rides, she asserts her right to one-half of the slain, leaving the rest to Odin." — Prose Edda, c. 24.

FRIGGA. The spouse of Odin, and mother of the Aesir.

GANDVIK. The White Sea.

196 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

GEIRSODD. Angl., spear-death. In contradistinction to straw-death, i. e. death from disease or age. Suicide, practised by aged warriors to insure their admission to Valhalla, where none dying a natural death were ad mitted.

GERDA. The most beautiful of women ; spouse of Frey.

GLITNIR. The palace of Forscte in the heavens.

HAGRING. The Fata Morgana. A well-known, though rarely witnessed 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 actu ally 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 turns." — " Trust not to ice of one day's freezing ; nei ther to the sleeping serpent," &c. &c.

HEIMSKRINGLA. The universe.

HELA, or HEL. Goddess of Death ; ruler of Niffelhem, the abode of all who 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 frequently decided upon a lonely island (Holm), with out witnesses, and, of course, ti r entrance.

IDUNA. The spouse 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. Lit., the valley of con fluence. The dwelling of the gods after the destruction of the universe.

JERNHOS. The iron-headed.

JUMALA. A deity worshipped by the Finns. The term has

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

Countess von ImhofT remarks) our Lord is named in

the Finnish, Jumala Poyke. JOTENHEIM, or JuTENHEiM. The giant's home, or region

of the giants.

LOFN (sometimes LOFNA, but less correctly). The presid ing deity of Matrimony. The term (from which our word love is derived) signifies unchangeable affection.

LOKI. The god of Evil and Mischief; descended from the 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 visi ble 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 high est wisdom.

MORVEN. The north of Scotland.

MUSPEL-HEIM. The region of Muspcl ; the world of flame ;

198 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

thus described in the " Prose Edda," c. 4 : " In the south is the world Muspel. It is a world too luminous and glowing to be entered by any not its natives. He who 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 van quish all the gods, and consume the universe with fire." MUSPEL'S SONS. Flames.

NANNA. 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. A dragon, said continually to gnaw at the root of the ash, Ygg- clrassil.

NIFFELHEM. The land of shadows.

NORNES. The Fates, or Destinies, three in number. Their dwelling was beneath the ash Yggclrassil, by the foun tain of Mimer. See Voluspa, stanza 17: "Thence come the much-knowing maidens, three, from that fountain which is beneath the tree. One is called Urd (the Past) ; another, Verdandi (the Present) ; and the third, Skuld (the Future). They engrave the Runic tablets ; they determine the lives of the sons of men ; they lay down laws ; they settle destinies, &c.

NORRANA TONGA. The old Norse language.

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), lie sends them out at dawn of day to fly over the whole world, and they return at eve, towards meal-time. Hence it is that Odin knows so

GLOSSARY AND NOTES, 199

many things, and is called Hrafnagud (the raven's god)." — Prose Edda, c. 38. Hence ravens, generally, are called the birds of Odin.

OEDUR. The spouse of Freya. He " left his wife, to travel into very remote countries. Since that time Freya continually weeps, and her tears are drops of pure gold. She has a great variety of names ; for, having 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 me morials on which the name of any one guilty of cow ardice or other disgraceful conduct was inscribed.

RAGNARb'k. Lif., the twilight of the gods. The destruc tion of the universe, a desolation minutely foreshadowed in the " Prose Edda." This period is referred to in No. XXIV, where 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, six teen in number. To these letters many marvellous properties were assigned ; they were used sometimes as charms against misfortune, sometimes against ene mies, sometimes to secure victory. They were said to have been invented by Odin himself, as well for the common purposes of life as for magic.

RUNENBALK. A staff, graven with Runes, and supposed to have some magic efficacy.

SAGA. The goddess of History. SEMING. A son of Odin.

200 FRITHIOF'S SAGA.

SIGURD. The Siegfried of the Nibelungenlied, conqueror of the dragon Fafner.

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 Nome,

SLEIPNER. The steed of Odin, having eight legs, and ex 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-htim.

THOR. The god of War, wielder of thunder. He is 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 occa sions requiring deliberation or action. The word is still used, Volks-Thing being applied to the Swedish assembly.

TIRFING. The sword of a warrior named Angantyr, which was buried with its owner. His daughter Hervor, how ever, desiring to gain the weapon, caused her dead sire to remonstrate against the proceeding.

UTGARDA-LOKI. See Loki. Thus called from his dwell ing, Utgard, said to be 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 Eclda," 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, &c. They are called Valkyrior. Odin sends them to every field of battle, to make choice of those who are to be slain, and to sway the victory," &c.

VARG-I-VEUM. Outlawed. Under the Ban.

9*

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