Viking Tales of the North
Fridthjof's Saga
Page 1
Fridthjof Cometh to King Ring.
I.
His queen was sat beside him, all rosy-red and white;
Like spring and autumn seemed they, each other near, to be;
The fresh spring Ing’brog liken’d — the chilly autumn he.
From head to foot all darkly his thick fur-garments fall;
A staff he feebly holdeth, and bent they see him go, —
That old man yet was taller than all the rest, I trow.
For that the poor man’s station is now, and was before;
The courtiers eye each other, and basely him deride,
And many a finger pointeth to that grim bear’s rough hide.
While one hand graspeth quickly a lordling-youth too rash;
Right warily the courtier he twirleth round about.
Then silent grew the others — as we had done no doubt.
Come up to me, old fellow! your words to me address!
You name, your will, whence come ye?” thus the angry king demands
Of the aged man, half hidden by the corner where he stands.
My name I give not, that sure can matter none but me.
In Penitence I’m foster’d, and Want was all I heir’d,
The wolf from came I hither, for last his bed I shar’d.
With wings so strong, he gladly and safe o’er ocean rode:
Now lies he lam’d and frozen, full close along the land,
Myself, too, am grown old and burn salt upon the strand.
And was not made for th’ insults thy people here have shown;
By the breast a fool I lifted, and round about did swing,
Yet stood he up uninjur’d, — forgive me that, O king!”
And the ag’d one ought to honor; come, at my board here sit.
But your disguise let fall now, and like thyself appear;
Disguis’d thrives gladness never, and I’ll have gladness here!”
And, ‘stead of him so ancient, a stripling all see well;
His lofty temples shading, bright ringlets flow’d unbound,
Like some gold wave encircling his full broad shoulders round.
With hand-broad silver girdle where beasts green woods range through;
With cunning skill had th’ artist emboss’d them out to-day,
And round the hero’s middle each other hunted they.
Like standing heav’n-snatch’d lightning, his shining war-sword hung;
His hero-glance slow wander’d all calm o’er guest, and ha’;
He stood there fair as Balder, and tall as Asa-Thor.
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