When King Helge heard of the ships and the warriors hurrying over the sea, he said: "Long and b.l.o.o.d.y will be the strife, for King Ring is a mighty king. To protect my sister we must place her in the temple of Balder the holy."
Frithiof"s Answer
While King Helge gathered his warriors to fight King Ring, the angry Frithiof was playing chess with his friend Bjorn. Hilding urged him to forget his anger and go into battle to fight for his king and his country. "The times are evil, dear foster-son," said the good Hilding, "and you are all the people"s hope."
Kindly but firmly said the youth: "My resolve is firm. I will not obey Helge. He and Halfdan may be angry and threaten. They are kings, but I bid defiance to their power and their threats."
Then said Hilding sadly: "Is this the reply to my pleading?"
Frithiof then arises, laying Hilding"s hand in his, and saying: "My resolve is firm and steady, And my answer you have heard.
"Go to Bele"s sons and warn them Peasants love not those who scorn them; To their power I bid defiance, Their behests will not obey."
"In thy chosen way abide thee, For thy wrath I cannot chide thee; Odin must be our reliance,"
Hilding said, and went his way.
In Balder"s Grove
While King Bele"s sons were preparing for war with King Ring, Frithiof sought Ingeborg in the grove of Balder. Most beautiful was this temple of the sun-G.o.d, and here the sunshine seemed lovelier than in other groves. The flowers glowed in the friendly rays and seemed more beautiful. At night, when evening drew the rosy curtain, the brooks and breezes whispered softly to one another and the stars gleamed like pearls upon the dark blue robe of night.
The wonderful boat, _Ellide_, sped over the waves sparkling in the moonlight. "Glide on, _Ellide_, over the deep gulf and bear me swiftly to the grove of Balder. I hail thee, moon, with thy pale light streaming over grove and dale. Upon the sh.o.r.e I leap with joy and salute thy brown cheek, smiling earth."
So spake Frithiof as he landed on the sh.o.r.e. The earth seemed friendly, the red and white flowers smiled upon him, and he was happy and free from care. With Ingeborg the brave youth knelt at the shrine of Balder, the mild, radiant G.o.d of the sun whom all G.o.ds and men love, and prayed for happiness and peace. They prayed not for princely honours, but for a home near the dark blue sea. Then, amid flowers and under the shade of the leafy trees, their lives would be happy and free from envy and care.
But they feared the king, the cold and cruel Helge. He would never consent to Frithiof"s request for the hand of Ingeborg. If he learned that Frithiof had dared to visit Ingeborg in Balder"s grove, his anger would be greater than ever. But Ingeborg begged Frithiof to go to her brother and to offer his hand in friendship. She could not leave the grove of Balder, where Helge had placed her for protection during the war with King Ring.
At last Frithiof yielded. He said farewell to Ingeborg with sadness in his heart.
"Like Balder are you, Ingeborg! Like him your hair is golden, and your eyes are blue as his skies, while your soul is as pure as the morning light!"
The Parting
A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They were to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon the fate of Ingeborg.
The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to consent, for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in Balder"s grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad was she, for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be angry because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great G.o.d Balder without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her fate, and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried: "Tell me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for all."
Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele"s mound I went. There, gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge"s kingdom.
Upon the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near by was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: "Thy kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will.
Here is my hand."
"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand shields and the freemen cried: "To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword and well he deserves our fair lily."
"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:--
""A peasant"s son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy temple seems unfit for Bele"s daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not stolen into Balder"s temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak yes or no."
""Say no!" shouted the brave men; "we believe thee, son of Thorsten.
Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!"
"Fear not, O Helge," I replied; "I would not lie to gain the joy of heaven, and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg in Balder"s temple, but the laws I have not broken."
"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one accursed. "Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,"
said Helge, "yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us.
Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.""
"What did you decide, my Frithiof?"
"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour?
To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves.
But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in _Ellide_ to a friendly land. A little earth from our fathers" graves we"ll place upon our ships, and that will be our fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful islands of Greece--fresh groves of green in shining waves. There golden apples glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough.
There will we build a little North, more beautiful than this.
Happiness stands near to human hearts if they are brave enough to seize it. Come, let us go! All is ready, and _Ellide_ stretches her shadowy wings for flight."
"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like you. Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not steal my happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain obedient to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the south. With eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright northern star which stands over our fathers" graves. And you, my Frithiof, must not desert the land you were born to guard. Let us yield to the voice of duty. Let us save our honour though our happiness be lost!"
"Necessity commands our flight. Come, Ingeborg!"
"What"s right and n.o.ble, that"s necessity."
"Consider well. Is that your last resolve?"
"It is my last. But remember that my thought will follow you wherever you may go. When evening comes I will send a greeting, and the fleeting cloud shall bear it unto you."
"You have conquered, my Ingeborg. A n.o.ble mind best teaches what is n.o.ble. To-day I yield and leave you. But in the earliest spring I shall return and in open council of the sons of the Northland, who alone can give the hand of a princess, will I demand you. Farewell till then. For memory wear this arm-ring, the work of Volund, graven with heaven"s wonders. But the best of wonders is a faithful heart."
So, full of hope, did Frithiof leave, but Ingeborg feared her gloomy brother, knowing well how he hated the n.o.ble Frithiof. To herself she said: "Never will he give me to thee, dear childhood"s friend. Rather will he wed me to King Ring whom he fights. No hope do I see, yet I am glad thy heart can hope. May all the good G.o.ds follow thee."
Frithiof and Angantyr
Over the sea sailed Frithiof with his friends in the good ship _Ellide_ to the home of the brave earl Angantyr. The old man, joyous and light-hearted, one day looked over the sea and saw the white-winged ship bringing the brave heroes.
"That is _Ellide_ coming, and the hero with firm and steady step is Frithiof, son of Thorsten. No one in the Northland has so brave a brow and so bright a smile."
Then the st.u.r.dy Atle sprang up crying: "Now will I go and prove what truth there is in the report that Frithiof breaks all swords and never sues for peace."
When he saw Frithiof he cried: "No one comes here but he either fights or flies. If you beg for peace, I shall receive you in friendship and take you to the earl."