{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_2827/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_2827","id":"gutenberg_2827","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2827","summary":null,"tags":["Category: German Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Novels","Category: Romance","German fiction -- Translations into English","Germany -- Social life and customs -- Fiction","Knights and knighthood -- Fiction","Romances","Tales -- Germany"],"text":"Produced by Sandra Laythorpe\n\n\n\n\n\nASLAUGA\u2019S KNIGHT\n\nBy Fredrich de la Motte-Fouque\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n\nMany years ago there lived in the island of Fuhnen a noble knight,\ncalled Froda, the friend of the Skalds, who was so named because he not\nonly offered free hospitality in his fair castle to every renowned and\nnoble bard, but likewise strove with all his might to discover those\nancient songs, and tales, and legends which, in Runic writings or\nelsewhere, were still to be found; he had even made some voyages to\nIceland in search of them, and had fought many a hard battle with the\npirates of those seas--for he was also a right valiant knight, and he\nfollowed his great ancestors not only in their love of song, but also\nin their bold deeds of arms. Although he was still scarcely beyond\nthe prime of youth, yet all the other nobles in the island willingly\nsubmitted themselves to him, whether in council or in war; nay, his\nrenown had even been carried ere now over the sea to the neighbouring\nland of Germany.\n\nOne bright autumn evening this honour-loving knight sat before his\ncastle, as he was often wont to do, that he might look far and wide over\nland and sea, and that he might invite any travellers who were passing\nby, as was his custom, to share in his noble hospitality.\n\nBut on this day he saw little of all that he was accustomed to look\nupon; for on his knees there lay an ancient book with skilfully and\nrichly painted characters, which a learned Icelander had just sent to\nhim across the sea: it was the history of Aslauga, the fair daughter of\nSigurd, who at first, concealing her high birth, kept goats among the\nsimple peasants of the land, clothed in mean attire; then, in the golden\nveil of her flowing hair, won the love of King Ragnar Lodbrog; and at\nlast shone brightly on the Danish throne as his glorious queen, till the\nday of her death.\n\nTo the Knight Froda it seemed as though the gracious Lady Aslauga rose\nin life and birth before him, so that his calm and steadfast heart,\ntrue indeed to ladies\u2019 service, but never yet devoted to one particular\nfemale image, burst forth in a clear flame of love for the fair daughter\nof Sigurd. \u201cWhat matters it,\u201d thought he to himself, \u201cthat it is more\nthan a hundred years since she disappeared from earth? She sees so\nclearly into this heart of mine--and what more can a knight desire?\nwherefore she shall henceforth be my honoured love, and shall inspire\nme in battle and in song.\u201d And therewith he sang a lay on his new love,\nwhich ran in the following manner:\n\n\n        \u201cThey ride over hill and dale apace\n         To seek for their love the fairest face--\n         They search through city and forest-glade\n         To find for their love the gentlest maid--\n         They climb wherever a path may lead\n         To seek the wisest dame for their meed.\n         Ride on, ye knights: but ye never may see\n         What the light of song has shown to me:\n         Loveliest, gentlest, and wisest of all,\n         Bold be the deeds that her name shall recall;\n         What though she ne\u2019er bless my earthly sight?\n         Yet death shall reveal her countenance bright.\n         Fair world, good night!  Good day, sweet love!\n         Who seeks here in faith shall find above.\u201d\n\n\n\u201cSuch purpose may come to good,\u201d said a hollow voice near the knight;\nand when he looked round, he saw the form of a poor peasant woman, so\nclosely wrapped in a grey mantle that he could not discern any part of\nher countenance. She looked over his shoulder on the book, and said,\nwith a deep sigh, \u201cI know that story well; and it fares no better with\nme than with the princess of whom it tells.\u201d Froda looked at her with\nastonishment. \u201cYes, yes,\u201d pursued she, with strange becks and nods; \u201cI\nam the descendant of the mighty Rolf, to whom the fairest castles and\nforests and fields of this island once belonged; your castle and your\ndomains, Froda, amongst others, were his. We are now cast down to\npoverty; and because I am not so fair as Aslauga there is no hope that\nmy possessions will be restored to me; and therefore I am fain to veil\nmy poor face from every eye.\u201d It seemed that she shed warm tears beneath\nher mantle. At this Froda was greatly moved, and begged her, for\nGod\u2019s sake, to let him know how he could help her, for that he was a\ndescendant of the famous northern heroes of the olden time; and perhaps\nyet something more than they--namely, a good Christian. \u201cI almost\nthink,\u201d murmured she from beneath her covering, \u201cthat you are that very\nFroda whom men call the Good, and the friend of the Skalds, and of whose\ngenerosity and mildness such wonderful stories are told. If it be so,\nthere may be help for me. You need only give up to me the half of your\nfields and meadows, and I should be in a condition to live in some\nmeasure such a life as befits the descendant of the mighty Rolf.\u201d Then\nFroda looked thoughtfully on the ground; partly because she had asked\nfor so very much; partly, also, because he was considering whether she\ncould really be descended from the powerful Rolf. But the veiled form\nsaid, after a pause, \u201cI must have been mistaken, and you are not indeed\nthat renowned, gentle-hearted Froda: for how could he have doubted so\nlong about such a trifle? But I will try the utmost means. See now! for\nthe sake of the fair Aslauga, of whom you have both read and sang--for\nthe sake of the honoured daughter of Sigurd, grant my request!\u201d Then\nFroda started up eagerly, and cried, \u201cLet it be as you have said!\u201d and\ngave her his knightly hand to confirm his words. But he could not grasp\nthe hand of the peasant-woman, although her dark form remained close\nbefore him. A secret shudder began to run through his limbs, whilst\nsuddenly a light seemed to shine forth from the apparition--a golden\nlight--in which she became wholly wrapped; so that he felt as though\nAslauga stood before him in the flowing veil of her golden hair, and\nsmiling graciously on him. Transported and dazzled, he sank on his\nknees. When he rose up once more he only saw a cloudy mist of autumn\nspreading over the meadow, fringed at its edges with lingering evening\nlights, and then vanishing far over the waves. The knight scarcely knew\nwhat had happened to him. He returned to his chamber buried in thought,\nand sometimes feeling sure that he had beheld Aslauga, sometimes, again,\nthat some goblin had risen before him with deceitful tricks, mocking in\nspiteful wise the service which he had vowed to his dead mistress.\nBut henceforth, wherever he roved, over valley or forest or heath, or\nwhether he sailed upon the waves of the sea, the like appearances met\nhim. Once he found a lute lying in a wood, and drove a wolf away from\nit, and when sounds burst from the lute without its being touched a fair\nchild rose up from it, as of old Aslauga herself had done. At another\ntime he would see goats clambering among the highest cliffs by the\nsea-shore, and it was a golden form who tended them. Then, again, a\nbright queen, resplendent in a dazzling bark, would seem to glide past\nhim, and salute him graciously,--and if he strove to approach any of\nthose he found nothing but cloud, and mist, and vapour. Of all this many\na lay might be sung. But so much he learnt from them all--that the fair\nLady Aslauga accepted his service, and that he was now indeed and in\ntruth become her knight.\n\nMeanwhile the winter had come and gone. In northern lands this season\nnever fails to bring to those who understand and love it many an image\nfull of beauty and meaning, with which a child of man might well be\nsatisfied, so far as earthly happiness can satisfy, through all his time\non earth. But when the spring came glancing forth with its opening buds\nand flowing waters there came also bright and sunny tidings from the\nland of Germany to Fuhnen.\n\nThere stood on the rich banks of the Maine, where it pours its waters\nthrough the fertile land of Franconia, a castle of almost royal\nmagnificence, whose orphan-mistress was a relation of the German\nemperor. She was named Hildegardis; and was acknowledged far and wide\nas the fairest of maidens. Therefore her imperial uncle wished that she\nshould wed none but the bravest knight who could anywhere be met with.\nAccordingly he followed the example of many a noble lord in such a case,\nand proclaimed a tournament, at which the chief prize should be the hand\nof the peerless Hildegardis, unless the victor already bore in his heart\na lady wedded or betrothed to him; for the lists were not to be closed\nto any brave warrior of equal birth, that the contest of strength and\ncourage might be so much the richer in competitors.\n\nNow the renowned Froda had tidings of this from his German\nbrethren-in-arms; and he prepared himself to appear at the festival.\nBefore all things, he forged for himself a splendid suit of armour; as,\nindeed, he was the most excellent armourer of the north, far-famed as\nit is for skill in that art. He worked the helmet out of pure gold, and\nformed it so that it seemed to be covered with bright flowing locks,\nwhich called to mind Aslauga\u2019s tresses. He also fashioned, on the\nbreastplate of his armour, overlaid with silver, a golden image in half\nrelief, which represented Aslauga in her veil of flowing locks, that he\nmight make known, even at the beginning of the tournament--\u201cThis knight,\nbearing the image of a lady upon his breast, fights not for the hand\nof the beautiful Hildegardis, but only for the joy of battle and for\nknightly fame.\u201d Then he took out of his stables a beautiful Danish\nsteed, embarked it carefully on board a vessel, and sailed prosperously\nto the opposite shore.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n\n\nIn one of those fair beech-woods which abound in the fertile land of\nGermany he fell in with a young and courteous knight of delicate form,\nwho asked the noble northman to share the meal which he had invitingly\nspread out upon the greensward, under the shade of the pleasantest\nboughs. Whilst the two knights sat peacefully together at their repast\nthey felt drawn towards each other and rejoiced when on rising from it,\nthey observed that they were about to follow the same road. They had not\ncome to this good understanding by means of many words; for the young\nknight Edwald was of a silent nature, and would sit for hours with a\nquiet smile upon his lips without opening them to speak. But even in\nthat quiet smile there lay a gentle, winning grace; and when from time\nto time a few simple words of deep meaning sprang to his lips they\nseemed like a gift deserving of thanks. It was the same with the little\nsongs which he sang ever and anon: they were ended almost as soon as\nbegun; but in each short couplet there dwelt a deep and winning spirit,\nwhether it called forth a kindly sigh or a peaceful smile. It seemed\nto the noble Froda as if a younger brother rode beside him, or even a\ntender, blooming son. They travelled thus many days together; and it\nappeared as if their path were marked out for them in inseparable union;\nand much as they rejoiced at this, yet they looked sadly at each other\nwhenever they set out afresh, or where cross-roads met, on finding that\nneither took a different direction: nay, it seemed at times as if a tear\ngathered in Edwald\u2019s downcast eye.\n\nIt happened on a time, that at their hostelry they met an arrogant,\noverbearing knight, of gigantic stature and powerful frame, whose\nspeech and carriage proved him to be not of German but foreign birth. He\nappeared to come from the land of Bohemia. He cast a contemptuous\nsmile on Froda, who, as usual, had opened the ancient book of Aslauga\u2019s\nhistory, and was attentively reading in it. \u201cYou must be a ghostly\nknight?\u201d he said, inquiringly; and it appeared as if a whole train of\nunseemly jests were ready to follow. But Froda answered so firmly and\nseriously with a negative that the Bohemian stopped short suddenly;\nas when the beasts, after venturing to mock their king, the lion, are\nsubdued to quietness by one glance of his eye. But not so easily was\nthe Bohemian knight subdued; rather the more did he begin to mock young\nEdwald for his delicate form and for his silence--all which he bore for\nsome time with great patience; but when at last the stranger used an\nunbecoming phrase, he arose, girded on his sword, and bowing gracefully,\nhe said, \u201cI thank you, Sir Knight, that you have given me this\nopportunity of proving that I am neither a slothful nor unpractised\nknight; for only thus can your behaviour be excused, which otherwise\nmust be deemed most unmannerly. Are you ready?\u201d\n\nWith these words he moved towards the door; the Bohemian knight\nfollowed, smiling scornfully; while Froda was full of care for his young\nand slender companion, although his honour was so dear to him that he\ncould in no way interpose.\n\nBut it soon appeared how needless were the northman\u2019s fears. With equal\nvigour and address did Edwald assault his gigantic adversary, so that to\nlook upon, it was almost like one of those combats between a knight and\nsome monster of the forest, of which ancient legends tell. The issue,\ntoo, was not unlike. While the Bohemian was collecting himself for a\ndecisive stroke Edwald rushed in upon him, and, with the force of a\nwrestler, cast him to the ground. But he spared his conquered foe,\nhelped him courteously to rise, and then turned to mount his own steed.\nSoon after he and Froda left the hostelry, and once more their journey\nled them on the same path as before.\n\n\u201cFrom henceforth this gives me pleasure,\u201d said Froda, pointing with\nsatisfaction to their common road. \u201cI must own to you, Edchen\u201d--he had\naccustomed himself, in loving confidence, to call his young friend\nby that childlike name--\u201cI must own to you that hitherto, when I have\nthought that you might perhaps be journeying with me to the tournament\nheld in honour of the fair Hildegardis, a heaviness came over my heart.\nYour noble knightly spirit I well knew, but I feared lest the strength\nof your slender limbs might not be equal to it. Now I have learned to\nknow you as a warrior who may long seek his match; and God be praised if\nwe still hold on in the same path, and welcome our earliest meeting in\nthe lists!\u201d\n\nBut Edwald looked at him sorrowfully, and said, \u201cWhat can my skill\nand strength avail if they be tried against you, and for the greatest\nearthly prize, which one of us alone can win? Alas! I have long\nforeboded with a heavy heart the sad truth, that you also are journeying\nto the tournament of the fair Hildegardis.\u201d\n\n\u201cEdchen,\u201d answered Froda, with a smile, \u201cmy gentle, loving youth, see\nyou not that I already wear on my breastplate the image of a liege lady?\nI strive but for renown in arms, and not for your fair Hildegardis!\u201d\n\n\u201cMY fair Hildegardis!\u201d answered Edwald, with a sigh. \u201cThat she is not,\nnor ever will be--or should she, ah! Froda, it would pierce your heart.\nI know well the northland faith is deep-rooted as your rocks, and hard\nto dissolve as their summits of snow; but let no man think that he can\nlook unscathed into the eyes of Hildegardis. Has not she, the haughty,\nthe too haughty maiden, so bewitched my tranquil, lowly mind, that I\nforget the gulf which lies between us, and still pursue her; and would\nrather perish than renounce the daring hope to win that eagle spirit for\nmy own?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will help you to it, Edchen,\u201d answered Froda, smiling still. \u201cWould\nthat I knew how this all-conquering lady looks! She must resemble the\nValkyrien of our heathen forefathers, since so many mighty warriors are\novercome by her.\u201d\n\nEdwald solemnly drew forth a picture from beneath his breastplate, and\nheld it before him. Fixed, and as if enchanted, Froda gazed upon it,\nwith glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes; the smile passed away from his\ncountenance, as the sunlight fades away from the meadows before the\ncoming darkness of the storm.\n\n\u201cSee you not now, my noble comrade,\u201d whispered Edwald, \u201cthat for one of\nus two, or perhaps for both, the joy of life is gone?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot yet,\u201d replied Froda, with a powerful effort; \u201cbut hide your magic\npicture, and let us rest beneath this shade. You must be somewhat spent\nwith your late encounter, and a strange weariness oppresses me with\nleaden weight.\u201d They dismounted from their steeds, and stretched\nthemselves upon the ground.\n\nThe noble Froda had no thought of sleep; but he wished to be undisturbed\nwhilst he wrestled strongly with himself, and strove, if it might be, to\ndrive from his mind that image of fearful beauty. It seemed as if this\nnew influence had already become a part of his very life, and at last\na restless dreamy sleep did indeed overshadow the exhausted warrior. He\nfancied himself engaged in combat with many knights, whilst Hildegardis\nlooked on smiling from a richly-adorned balcony; and just as he thought\nhe had gained the victory the bleeding Edwald lay groaning beneath his\nhorse\u2019s feet. Then again it seemed as if Hildegardis stood by his side\nin a church, and they were about to receive the marriage-blessing. He\nknew well that this was not right, and the \u201cyes,\u201d which he was to utter,\nhe pressed back with resolute effort into his heart, and forthwith\nhis eyes were moistened with burning tears. From yet stranger and more\nbewildering visions the voice of Edwald at last awoke him. He raised\nhimself up, and heard his young companion saying courteously, as he\nlooked towards a neighbouring thicket, \u201cOnly return, noble maiden; I\nwill surely help you if I can; and I had no wish to scare you away, but\nthat the slumbers of my brother in arms might not be disturbed by you.\u201d\n A golden gleam shone through the branches as it vanished.\n\n\u201cFor heaven\u2019s sake, my faithful comrade,\u201d cried Froda, \u201cto whom are you\nspeaking, and who has been here by me?\u201d\n\n\u201cI cannot myself rightly understand,\u201d said Edwald. \u201cHardly had you\ndropped asleep when a figure came forth from the forest, closely wrapped\nin a dark mantle. At first I took her for a peasant. She seated herself\nat your head; and though I could see nothing of her countenance, I could\nwell observe that she was sorely troubled, and even shedding tears. I\nmade signs to her to depart, lest she should disturb your sleep; and\nwould have offered her a piece of gold, supposing that poverty must\nbe the cause of her deep distress. But my hand seemed powerless, and\na shudder passed through me, as if I had entertained such a purpose\ntowards a queen. Immediately glittering locks of gold waved here and\nthere between the folds of her close-wrapped mantle, and the thicket\nbegan almost to shine in the light which they shed. \u2018Poor youth,\u2019 said\nshe then, \u2018you love truly, and can well understand how a lofty woman\u2019s\nheart burns in keenest sorrow when a noble knight, who vowed himself to\nbe her own, withdraws his heart, and, like a weak bondman, is led away\nto meaner hopes.\u2019 Hereupon she arose, and, sighing, disappeared in\nyonder thicket. It almost seemed to me, Froda, as though she uttered\nyour name.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, it was me she named,\u201d answered Froda; \u201cand not in vain she named\nme. Aslauga, thy knight comes, and enters the lists, and all for thee\nand thy reward alone! At the same time, my Edchen, we will win for you\nyour haughty bride.\u201d With this he sprang upon his steed, full of the\nproud joy of former times; and when the magic of Hildegardis\u2019 beauty,\ndazzling and bewildering, would rise up before him, he said, smiling,\n\u201cAslauga!\u201d and the sun of his inner life shone forth again cloudless and\nserene.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n\n\nFrom a balcony of her castle on the Maine Hildegardis was wont to\nrefresh herself in the cool of the evening by gazing on the rich\nlandscape below, but gazing more eagerly on the glitter of arms,\nwhich often came in sight from many a distant road; for knights were\napproaching singly, or with a train of followers, all eager to prove\ntheir courage and their strength in striving for the high prize of the\ntournament. She was in truth a proud and high-minded maiden--perhaps\nmore so than became even her dazzling beauty and her princely rank. As\nshe now gazed with a proud smile on the glittering roads a damsel of her\ntrain began the following lay:--\n\n\n        \u201cThe joyous song of birds in spring\n              Upon the wing\n         Doth echo far through wood and dell,\n              And freely tell\n         Their treasures sweet of love and mirth,\n         Too gladsome for this lowly earth.\n\n        \u201cThe gentle breath of flowers in May,\n              O\u2019er meadows gay,\n         Doth fill the pure and balmy air\n              With perfume rare;\n         Still floating round each slender form,\n         Though scorched by sun, or torn by storm.\n\n        \u201cBut every high and glorious aim,\n              And the pure flame\n         That deep abiding in my heart\n              Can ne\u2019er depart,\n         Too lofty for my falt\u2019ring tongue,\n         Must die with me, unknown, unsung.\u201d\n\n\n\u201cWherefore do you sing that song, and at this moment?\u201d said Hildegardis,\nstriving to appear scornful and proud, though a deep and secret sadness\nwas plainly enough seen to overshadow her countenance. \u201cIt came into my\nhead unawares,\u201d replied the damsel, \u201cas I looked upon the road by which\nthe gentle Edwald with his pleasant lays first approached us; for it was\nfrom him I learnt it. But seems it not to you, my gracious lady, and to\nyou too, my companions, as if Edwald himself were again riding that way\ntowards the castle?\u201d \u201cDreamer!\u201d said Hildegardis, scornfully--and yet\ncould not for some space withdraw her eyes from the knight, till at\nlength, with an effort, she turned them on Froda, who rode beside him,\nsaying: \u201cYes, truly, that knight is Edwald; but what can you find\nto notice in the meek-spirited, silent boy? Here, fix your eyes, my\nmaidens, on this majestic figure, if you would behold a knight indeed.\u201d\n She was silent. A voice within her, as though of prophecy, said, \u201cNow\nthe victor of the tournament rides into the courtyard;\u201d and she, who\nhad never feared the presence of any human being, now felt humbled, and\nalmost painfully awed, when she beheld the northern knight.\n\nAt the evening meal the two newly-arrived knights were placed opposite\nto the royal Hildegardis. As Froda, after the northern fashion, remained\nin full armour, the golden image of Aslauga gleamed from his silver\nbreast-plate full before the eyes of the haughty lady. She smiled\nscornfully, as if conscious that it depended on her will to drive that\nimage from the breast and from the heart of the stranger-knight.\nThen suddenly a clear golden light passed through the hall, so that\nHildegardis said, \u201cO, the keen lightning!\u201d and covered her eyes with\nboth her hands. But Froda looked into the dazzling radiance with a\njoyful gaze of welcome. At this Hildegardis feared him yet more, though\nat the same time she thought, \u201cThis loftiest and most mysterious of men\nmust be born for me alone.\u201d Yet could she not forbear, almost against\nher will, to look from time to time in friendly tenderness on the poor\nEdwald, who sat there silent, and with a sweet smile seemed to pity and\nto mock his own suffering and his own vain hopes.\n\nWhen the two knights were alone in their sleeping-chamber Edwald looked\nfor a long time in silence into the dewy, balmy night. Then he sang to\nhis lute:\n\n\n        \u201cA hero wise and brave,\n           A lowly, tender youth,\n         Are wandering through the land\n           In steadfast love and truth.\n\n        \u201cThe hero, by his deeds,\n           Both bliss and fame had won,\n         And still, with heartfelt joy,\n           The faithful child looked on.\u201d\n\n\nBut Froda took the lute from his hands, and said, \u201cNo, Edchen, I will\nteach you another song; listen--!\n\n\n      \u201c\u2018There\u2019s a gleam in the hall, and like morning\u2019s light\n        Hath shone upon all her presence bright.\n        Suitors watch as she passes by--\n        She may gladden their hearts by one glance of her eye:\n        But coldly she gazeth upon the throng,\n        And they that have sought her may seek her long.\n        She turns her away from the richly clad knight,\n        She heeds not the words of the learned wight;\n        The prince is before her in all his pride,\n        But other the visions around her that glide.\n        Then tell me, in all the wide world\u2019s space,\n        Who may e\u2019er win that lady\u2019s grace?\n        In sorrowful love there sits apart\n        The gentle squire who hath her heart;\n        They all are deceived by fancies vain,\n        And he knows it not who the prize shall gain.\u2019\u201d\n\n\nEdwald thrilled. \u201cAs God wills,\u201d said he, softly to himself. \u201cBut I\ncannot understand how such a thing could be.\u201d \u201cAs God wills,\u201d repeated\nFroda. The two friends embraced each other, and soon after fell into a\npeaceful slumber.\n\nSome days afterwards Froda sat in a secluded bower of the castle garden,\nand was reading in the ancient book of his lovely mistress Aslauga. It\nhappened at that very time that Hildegardis passed by. She stood still,\nand said, thoughtfully, \u201cStrange union that you are of knight and sage,\nhow comes it that you bring forth so little out of the deep treasures of\nyour knowledge? And yet I think you must have many a choice history at\nyour command, even such as that which now lies open before you; for I\nsee rich and bright pictures of knights and ladies painted amongst the\nletters.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is, indeed, the most surpassing and enchanting history in all the\nworld,\u201d said Froda; \u201cbut you have neither patience nor thoughtfulness to\nlisten to our wonderful legends of the north.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy think you so?\u201d answered Hildegardis, with that pride which she\nrejoiced to display towards Froda, when she could find courage to do so;\nand, placing herself on a stone seat opposite, she commanded him at once\nto read something to her out of that fair book.\n\nFroda began, and in the very effort which he made to change the old\nheroic speech of Iceland into the German tongue, his heart and mind were\nstirred more fervently and solemnly. As he looked up from time to time,\nhe beheld the countenance of Hildegardis beaming in ever-growing beauty\nwith joy, wonder, and interest; and the thought passed through his mind\nwhether this could indeed be his destined bride, to whom Aslauga herself\nwas guiding him.\n\nThen suddenly the characters became strangely confused; it seemed as\nif the pictures began to move, so that he was obliged to stop. While he\nfixed his eyes with a strong effort upon the book, endeavouring to drive\naway this strange confusion, he heard a well-known sweetly solemn voice,\nwhich said, \u201cLeave a little space for me, fair lady. The history which\nthat knight is reading to you relates to me; and I hear it gladly.\u201d\n\nBefore the eyes of Froda, as he raised them from his book, sat Aslauga\nin all the glory of her flowing golden locks beside Hildegardis, on\nthe seat. With tears of affright in her eyes, the maiden sank back and\nfainted. Solemnly, yet graciously, Aslauga warned her knight with a\nmotion of her fair right hand, and vanished.\n\n\u201cWhat have I done to you?\u201d said Hildegardis when recovered from her\nswoon by his care, \u201cwhat have I done to you, evil-minded knight, that\nyou call up your northern spectres before me, and well-nigh destroy me\nthrough terror of your magic arts?\u201d \u201cLady,\u201d answered Froda, \u201cmay God help\nme, as I have not called hither the wondrous lady who but now appeared\nto us. But now her will is known to me, and I commend you to God\u2019s\nkeeping.\u201d\n\nWith that he walked thoughtfully out of the bower. Hildegardis fled in\nterror from the gloomy shade, and, rushing out on the opposite side,\nreached a fair open grass-plot, where Edwald, in the soft glow of\ntwilight, was gathering flowers, and, meeting her with a courteous\nsmile, offered her a nosegay of narcissus and pansies.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n\n\nAt length the day fixed for the tournament arrived, and a distinguished\nnoble, appointed by the German emperor, arranged all things in the most\nmagnificent and sumptuous guise for the solemn festival. The field of\ncombat opened wide, and fair, and level, thickly strewn with the finest\nsand, so that, both man and horse might find sure footing; and, like a\npure field of snow, it shone forth from the midst of the flowery plain.\nRich hangings of silk from Arabia, curiously embroidered with Indian\ngold, adorned with their various colours the lists enclosing the space,\nand hung from the lofty galleries which had been erected for the ladies\nand the nobles who were to behold the combat. At the upper end, under a\ncanopy of majestic arches richly wrought in gold, was the place of the\nLady Hildegardis. Green wreaths and garlands waved gracefully between\nthe glittering pillars in the soft breezes of July. And with impatient\neyes the multitude, who crowded beyond the lists, gazed upwards,\nexpecting the appearance of the fairest maiden of Germany, and were\nonly at times drawn to another part by the stately approach of the\ncombatants. Oh, how many a bright suit of armour, many a silken\nrichly-embroidered mantle, how many a lofty waving plume was here to be\nseen! The splendid troop of knights moved within the lists, greeting and\nconversing with each other, as a bed of flowers stirred by a breath\nof wind; but the flower-stems had grown to lofty trees, the yellow and\nwhite flower-leaves had changed to gold and silver, and the dew-drops to\npearls and diamonds. For whatever was most fair and costly, most varied\nand full of meaning, had these noble knights collected in honour of\nthis day. Many an eye was turned on Froda, who, without scarf, plume,\nor mantle, with his shining silver breastplate, on which appeared the\ngolden image of Aslauga, and with his well-wrought helmet of golden\nlocks, shone, in the midst of the crowd, like polished brass. Others,\nagain, there were, who took pleasure in looking at the young Edwald; his\nwhole armour was covered by a mantle of white silk, embroidered in azure\nand silver, as his whole helmet was concealed by a waving plume of white\nfeathers. He was arrayed with almost feminine elegance, and yet the\nconscious power with which he controlled his fiery, snow-white steed\nmade known the victorious strength and manliness of the warlike\nstripling.\n\nIn strange contrast appeared the tall and almost gigantic figure of\na knight clothed in a mantle of black glossy bearskin, bordered with\ncostly fur, but without any ornament of shining metal. His very helmet\nwas covered with dark bearskin, and, instead of plumes, a mass of\nblood-red horsehair hung like a flowing mane profusely on every side.\nWell did Froda and Edwald remember that dark knight, for he was the\nuncourteous guest of the hostelry. He also seemed to remark the two\nknights, for he turned his unruly steed suddenly round, forced his\nway through the crowd of warriors, and, after he had spoken over the\nenclosure to a hideous bronze-coloured woman, sprang with a wild leap\nacross the lists, and, with the speed of an arrow, vanished out of\nsight. The old woman looked after him with a friendly nod. The assembled\npeople laughed as at a strange masquing device; but Edwald and Froda\nhad their own almost shuddering thoughts concerning it, which, however,\nneither imparted to the other.\n\nThe kettle-drums rolled, the trumpets sounded, and led by the aged duke,\nHildegardis advanced, richly apparelled, but more dazzling through the\nbrightness of her own beauty. She stepped forward beneath the arches of\nthe golden bower, and bowed to the assembly. The knights bent low, and\nthe feeling rushed into many a heart, \u201cThere is no man on earth who can\ndeserve a bride so queenly.\u201d When Froda bowed his head, it seemed to him\nas if the golden radiance of Aslauga\u2019a tresses floated before his sight;\nand his spirit rose in joy and pride that his lady held him worthy to be\nso often reminded of her.\n\nAnd now the tournament began. At first the knights strove with blunted\nswords and battle-axes; then they ran their course with lances man to\nman; but at last they divided into two equal parties, and a general\nassault began, in which every one was allowed to use at his own\nwill either sword or lance. Froda and Edwald equally surpassed their\nantagonists, as (measuring each his own strength and that of his friend)\nthey had foreseen. And now it must be decided by a single combat with\nlances to whom the highest prize of victory should belong. Before this\ntrial began, they rode slowly together into the middle of the course,\nand consulted where each should take his place. \u201cKeep you your\nguiding-star still before your sight,\u201d said Froda, with a smile; \u201cthe\nlike gracious help will not be wanting to me.\u201d Edwald looked round\nastonished for the lady of whom his friend seemed to speak, but Froda\nwent on, \u201cI have done wrong in hiding aught from you, but after the\ntournament you shall know all. Now lay aside all needless thoughts of\nwonder, dear Edchen, and sit firm in your saddle, for I warn you that\nI shall run this course with all my might. Not my honour alone is at\nstake, but the far higher honour of my lady.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo also do I purpose to demean myself,\u201d said Edwald, with a friendly\nsmile. They shook each other by the hand, and rode to their places.\n\nAmidst the sound of trumpets they met again, running their course with\nlightning speed; the lances shivered with a crash, the horses staggered,\nthe knights, firm in their saddles, pulled them up, and rode back to\ntheir places. But as they prepared for another course, Edwald\u2019s white\nsteed snorted in wild affright, and Froda\u2019s powerful chestnut reared up\nfoaming.\n\nIt was plain that the two noble animals shrunk from a second hard\nencounter, but their riders held them fast with spur and bit, and,\nfirm and obedient, they again dashed forward at the second call of\nthe trumpet. Edwald, who by one deep, ardent gaze on the beauty of his\nmistress had stamped it afresh on his soul, cried aloud at the moment\nof encounter, \u201cHildegardis!\u201d and so mightily did his lance strike\nhis valiant adversary, that Froda sank backwards on his steed, with\ndifficulty keeping his seat in his saddle, or holding firm in his\nstirrups, whilst Edwald flew by unshaken, lowered his spear to salute\nHildegardis as he passed her bower, and then, amidst the loud applause\nof the multitude, rushed to his place, ready for the third course. And,\nah! Hildegardis herself, overcome by surprise, had greeted him with a\nblush and a look of kindness; it seemed to him as if the overwhelming\njoy of victory were already gained. But it was not so, for the valiant\nFroda, burning with noble shame, had again tamed his affrighted\nsteed, and, chastising him sharply with the spur for his share in\nthis mischance, said in a low voice, \u201cBeautiful and beloved lady, show\nthyself to me--the honour of thy name is at stake.\u201d To every other eye\nit seemed as if a golden rosy-tinted summer\u2019s cloud was passing over the\ndeep-blue sky, but Froda beheld the heavenly countenance of his lady,\nfelt the waving of her golden tresses, and cried, \u201cAslauga!\u201d The two\nrushed together, and Edwald was hurled from his saddle far upon the\ndusty plain.\n\nFroda remained for a time motionless, according to the laws of chivalry,\nas though waiting to see whether any one would dispute his victory,\nand appearing on his mailed steed like some lofty statue of brass. All\naround stood the multitude in silent wonderment. When at length they\nburst forth into shouts of triumph, he beckoned earnestly with his hand,\nand all were again silent. He then sprang lightly from his saddle, and\nhastened to the spot where the fallen Edwald was striving to rise. He\npressed him closely to his breast, led his snow-white steed towards\nhim, and would not be denied holding the stirrups of the youth whilst\nhe mounted. Then he bestrode his own steed, and rode by Edwald\u2019s side\ntowards the golden bower of Hildegardis, where, with lowered spear and\nopen vizor, he thus spoke: \u201cFairest of all living ladies, I bring you\nhere Edwald, your knightly bridegroom, before whose lance and sword all\nthe knights of this tournament have fallen away, I only excepted, who\ncan make no claim to the choicest prize of victory, since I, as the\nimage on my breastplate may show, already serve another mistress.\u201d\n\nThe duke was even now advancing towards the two warriors, to lead them\ninto the golden bower, but Hildegardis restrained him with a look of\ndispleasure, saying immediately, while her cheeks glowed with anger,\n\u201cThen you seem, Sir Froda, the Danish knight, to serve your lady ill;\nfor even now you openly styled me the fairest of living ladies.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat did I,\u201d answered Froda, bending courteously, \u201cbecause my fair\nmistress belongs to the dead.\u201d\n\nA slight shudder passed at these words through the assembly, and through\nthe heart of Hildegardis; but soon the anger of the maiden blazed forth\nagain, and the more because the most wonderful and excellent knight she\nknew had scorned her for the sake of a dead mistress.\n\n\u201cI make known to all,\u201d she said, with solemn earnestness, \u201cthat\naccording to the just decree of my imperial uncle, this hand can never\nbelong to a vanquished knight, however noble and honourable he may\notherwise have proved himself. As the conqueror of this tournament,\ntherefore, is bound to another service, this combat concerns me not; and\nI depart hence as I came, a free and unbetrothed maiden.\u201d\n\nThe duke seemed about to reply, but she turned haughtily away, and left\nthe bower. Suddenly a gust of wind shook the green wreaths and garlands,\nand they fell untwined and rustling behind her. In this the people,\ndispleased with the pride of Hildegardis, thought they beheld an omen of\npunishment, and with jeering words noticed it as they departed.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n\n\nThe two knights had returned to their apartments in deep silence. When\nthey arrived there, Edwald caused himself to be disarmed, and laid every\npiece of his fair shining armour together with a kind of tender care,\nalmost as if he were burying the corpse of a beloved friend. Then he\nbeckoned to his squires to leave the chamber, took his lute on his arm,\nand sang the following song to its notes:--\n\n\n        \u201cBury them, bury them out of sight,\n           For hope and fame are fled;\n         And peaceful resting and quiet night\n           Are all now left for the dead.\u201d\n\n\n\u201cYou will stir up my anger against your lute,\u201d said Froda. \u201cYou had\naccustomed it to more joyful songs than this. It is too good for a\npassing-bell, and you too good to toll it. I tell you yet, my young\nhero, all will end gloriously.\u201d\n\nEdwald looked a while with wonder in his face, and he answered kindly:\n\u201cBeloved Froda, if it displeases you, I will surely sing no more.\u201d But\nat the same time he struck a few sad chords, which sounded infinitely\nsweet and tender. Then the northern knight, much moved, clasped him in\nhis arms, and said: \u201cDear Edchen, sing and say and do whatever pleases\nyou; it shall ever rejoice me. But you may well believe me, for I speak\nnot this without a spirit of presage--your sorrow shall change, whether\nto death or life I know not, but great and overpowering joy awaits you.\u201d\n Edwald rose firmly and cheerfully from his seat, seized his companion\u2019s\narm with a strong grasp, and walked forth with him through the blooming\nalleys of the garden into the balmy air.\n\nAt that very hour an aged woman, muffled in many a covering, was led\nsecretly to the apartment of the Lady Hildegardis. The appearance of the\ndark-complexioned stranger was mysterious, and she had gathered round\nher for some time, by many feats of jugglery, a part of the multitude\nreturning home from the tournament, but had dispersed them at last in\nwild affright. Before this happened, the tire-woman of Hildegardis had\nhastened to her mistress, to entertain her with an account of the\nrare and pleasant feats of the bronze-coloured woman. The maidens in\nattendance, seeing their lady deeply moved, and wishing to banish\nher melancholy, bade the tire-woman bring the old stranger hither.\nHildegardis forbade it not, hoping that she should thus divert the\nattention of her maidens, while she gave herself up more deeply and\nearnestly to the varying imaginations which flitted through her mind.\n\nThe messenger found the place already deserted; and the strange old\nwoman alone in the midst, laughing immoderately. When questioned by her,\nshe did not deny that she had all at once taken the form of a monstrous\nowl, announcing to the spectators in a screeching voice that she was the\nDevil--and that every one upon this rushed screaming home.\n\nThe tire-woman trembled at the fearful jest, but durst not return to\nask again the pleasure of Hildegardis, whose discontented mood she had\nalready remarked. She gave strict charge to the old woman, with many a\nthreat and promise, to demean herself discreetly in the castle: after\nwhich she brought her in by the most secret way, that none of those whom\nshe had terrified might see her enter.\n\nThe aged crone now stood before Hildegardis, and winked to her, in the\nmidst of her low and humble salutation, in a strangely familiar\nmanner, as though there were some secret between them. The lady felt an\ninvoluntary shudder, and could not withdraw her gaze from the features\nof that hideous countenance, hateful as it was to her. The curiosity\nwhich had led the rest to desire a sight of the strange woman was by no\nmeans gratified, for she performed none but the most common tricks of\njugglery, and related only well-known tales, so that the tire-woman felt\nwearied and indifferent and, ashamed of having brought the stranger, she\nstole away unnoticed. Several other maidens followed her example, and,\nas these withdrew, the old crone twisted her mouth into a smile,\nand repeated the same hideous confidential wink towards the lady.\nHildegardis could not understand what attracted her in the jests and\ntales of the bronze-coloured woman; but so it was, that in her whole\nlife she had never bestowed such attention on the words of any one.\nStill the old woman went on and on, and already the night looked\ndark without the windows, but the attendants who still remained with\nHildegardis had sunk into a deep sleep, and had lighted none of the wax\ntapers in the apartment.\n\nThen, in the dusky gloom, the dark old crone rose from the low seat on\nwhich she had been sitting, as if she now felt herself well at ease,\nadvanced towards Hildegardis, who sat as if spell-bound with terror,\nplaced herself beside her on the purple couch, and embracing her in her\nlong dry arms with a hateful caress, whispered a few words in her ear.\nIt seemed to the lady as if she uttered the names of Froda and Edwald,\nand from them came the sound of a flute, which, clear and silvery as\nwere its tones, seemed to lull her into a trance. She could indeed\nmove her limbs, but only to follow those sounds, which, like a silver\nnetwork, floated round the hideous form of the old woman. She moved from\nthe chamber, and Hildegardis followed her through all her slumbering\nmaidens, still singing softly as she went, \u201cYe maidens, ye maidens, I\nwander by night.\u201d\n\nWithout the castle, accompanied by squire and groom, stood the gigantic\nBohemian warrior; he laid on the shoulders of the crone a bag of gold so\nheavy that she sank half whimpering, half laughing, on the ground; then\nlifted the entranced Hildegardis on his steed, and galloped with her\nsilently into the ever-deepening gloom of night.\n\n\u201cAll ye noble lords and knights, who yesterday contended gallantly for\nthe prize of victory and the hand of the peerless Hildegardis, arise,\narise! saddle your steeds, and to the rescue! The peerless Hildegardis\nis carried away!\u201d\n\nThus proclaimed many a herald through castle and town in the bright red\ndawn of the following day; and on all sides rose the dust from the tread\nof knights and noble squires along those roads by which so lately,\nin the evening twilight, Hildegardis in proud repose had gazed on her\napproaching suitors.\n\nTwo of them, well known to us, remained inseparably together, but they\nknew as little as the others whether they had taken the right direction,\nfor how and when the adored lady could have disappeared from her\napartments was still to the whole castle a fearful and mysterious\nsecret.\n\nEdwald and Froda rode as long as the sun moved over their heads,\nunwearied as he; and now, when he sank in the waves of the river, they\nthought to win the race from him, and still spurred on their jaded\nsteeds. But the noble animals staggered and panted, and the knights were\nconstrained to grant them some little refreshment in a grassy meadow.\nSecure of bringing them back at their first call, their masters removed\nboth bit and curb, that they might be refreshed with the green pasture,\nand with the deep blue waters of the Maine, while they themselves\nreposed under the shade of a neighbouring thicket of alders. And deep\nin the cool, dark shade, there shone, as it were, a mild but clear\nsparkling light, and checked the speech of Froda, who at that moment\nwas beginning to tell his friend the tale of his knightly service to\nhis sovereign lady, which had been delayed hitherto, first by Edwald\u2019s\nsadness, and then by the haste of their journey. Ah, well did Froda know\nthat lovely golden light! \u201cLet us follow it, Edchen,\u201d said he in a low\ntone, \u201cand leave the horses a while to their pasture.\u201d Edwald in silence\nfollowed his companion\u2019s advice. A secret voice, half sweet, half\nfearful, seemed to tell him that here was the path, the only right path\nto Hildegardis. Once only he said in astonishment, \u201cNever before have I\nseen the evening glow shine on the leaves so brightly.\u201d Froda shook his\nhead with a smile, and they pursued in silence their unknown track.\n\nWhen they came forth on the other side of the alder-thicket upon the\nbank of the Maine, which almost wound round it, Edwald saw well that\nanother glow than that of evening was shining on them, for dark clouds\nof night already covered the heavens, and the guiding light stood fixed\non the shore of the river. It lit up the waves, so that they could see\na high woody island in the midst of the stream, and a boat on the hither\nside of the shore fast bound to a stake. But on approaching, the knights\nsaw much more; a troop of horsemen of strange and foreign appearance\nwere all asleep, and in the midst of them, slumbering on cushions, a\nfemale form in white garments.\n\n\u201cHildegardis!\u201d murmured Edwald to himself, with a smile, and at the\nsame time he drew his sword in readiness for the combat as soon as the\nrobbers should awake, and beckoned to Froda to raise the sleeping lady,\nand convey her to a place of safety. But at this moment something like\nan owl passed whizzing over the dark squadron, and they all started up\nwith clattering arms and hideous outcries. A wild unequal combat arose\nin the darkness of night, for that beaming light had disappeared.\nFreda and Edwald were driven asunder, and only at a distance heard each\nother\u2019s mighty war-cry. Hildegardis, startled from her magic sleep,\nuncertain whether she were waking or dreaming, fled bewildered and\nweeping bitterly into the deep shades of the alder-thicket.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n\n\nFroda felt his arm grow weary, and the warm blood was flowing from two\nwounds in his shoulder; he wished so to lie down in death that he might\nrise up with honour from his bloody grave to the exalted lady whom he\nserved. He cast his shield behind him, grasped his sword-hilt with both\nhands, and rushed wildly, with a loud war-cry, upon the affrighted foe.\nInstantly he heard some voices cry, \u201cIt is the rage of the northern\nheroes which has come upon him.\u201d And the whole troop were scattered in\ndismay, while the exhausted knight remained wounded and alone in the\ndarkness.\n\nThen the golden hair of Aslauga gleamed once more in the alder-shade;\nand Froda said, leaning, through weariness, on his sword, \u201cI think not\nthat I am wounded to death; but whenever that time shall come, O beloved\nlady, wilt thou not indeed appear to me in all thy loveliness and\nbrightness?\u201d A soft \u201cYes\u201d breathed against his cheek, and the golden\nlight vanished.\n\nBut now Hildegardis came forth from the thicket, half fainting with\nterror, and said feebly, \u201cWithin is the fair and frightful spectre of\nthe north--without is the battle. Oh, merciful heaven! whither shall I\ngo?\u201d\n\nThen Froda approached to sooth the affrighted one, to speak some words\nof comfort to her, and to inquire after Edwald; but wild shouts and the\nrattling of armour announced the return of the Bohemian warriors. With\nhaste Froda led the maiden to the boat, pushed off from the shore,\nand rowed her with the last effort of his failing strength towards\nthe island which he had observed in the midst of the stream. But the\npursuers had already kindled torches, and waved them sparkling here and\nthere. By this light they soon discovered the boat; they saw that the\ndreaded Danish knight was bleeding, and gained fresh courage for their\npursuit. Hardly had Froda pushed the boat to the shore of the island,\nbefore he perceived a Bohemian on the other side in another skiff, and\nsoon afterwards the greater number of the enemy embarked to row towards\nthe island. \u201cTo the wood, fair maiden,\u201d he whispered, as soon as he\nhad landed Hildegardis on the shore; \u201cthere conceal yourself, whilst\nI endeavour to prevent the landing of the robbers.\u201d But Hildegardis,\nclinging to his arm, whispered again, \u201cDo I not see that you are pale\nand bleeding? and would you have me expire with terror in the dark and\nlonely clefts of this rock? Ah! and if your northern gold-haired spectre\nwere to appear again and seat herself beside me! Think you that I do not\nsee her there now, shining through the thicket!\u201d\n\n\u201cShe shines!\u201d echoed Froda, and new strength and hope ran through\nevery vein. He climbed the hill, following the gracious gleam; and\nHildegardis, though trembling at the sight, went readily with her\ncompanion, saying only from time to time, in a low voice \u201cAh, Sir\nKnight!--my noble wondrous knight--leave me not here alone; that would\nbe my death.\u201d The knight, soothing her courteously, stepped ever onwards\nthrough the darkness of dell and forest, for already he heard the sound\nof the Bohemians landing on the shore of the island. Suddenly he stood\nbefore a cave thick-covered with underwood, and the gleam disappeared.\n\u201cHere, then,\u201d he whispered, endeavouring to hold the branches asunder.\nFor a moment she paused, and said, \u201cIf you should but let the branches\nclose again behind me, and I were to remain alone with spectres in this\ncave! But, Froda, you will surely follow me--a trembling, hunted child\nas I am? Will you not?\u201d Without more misgivings she passed through the\nbranches; and the knight, who would willingly have remained without as a\nguard, followed her. Earnestly he listened through the stillness of\nthe night, whilst Hildegardis hardly dared to draw her breath. Then was\nheard the tramp of an armed man, coming ever nearer and nearer, and\nnow close to the entrance of the cave. In vain did Froda strive to\nfree himself from the trembling maiden. Already the branches before the\nentrance were cracking and breaking, and Froda sighed deeply. \u201cMust I,\nthen, fall like a lurking fugitive, entangled in a woman\u2019s garments? It\nis a base death to die. But can I cast this half-fainting creature away\nfrom me on the dark, hard earth, perhaps into some deep abyss? Come,\nthen, what will, thou, Lady Aslauga, knowest that I die an honourable\ndeath!\u201d\n\n\u201cFroda! Hildegardis!\u201d breathed a gentle, well-known voice at the\nentrance, and recognising Edwald, Froda bore the lady towards him into\nthe starlight, saying, \u201cShe will die of terror in our sight in this\ndeep cavern. Is the foe near at hand?\u201d \u201cMost of them lie lifeless on the\nshore, or swim bleeding through the waves,\u201d said Edwald. \u201cSet your mind\nat rest, and repose yourself. Are you wounded, beloved Froda?\u201d He gave\nthis short account to his astonished companions--how, in the darkness,\nhe had mixed with the Bohemians and pressed into the skiff, and that it\nhad been easy to him on landing to disperse the robbers entirely, who\nsupposed that they were attacked by one of their own crew, and thought\nthemselves bewitched. \u201cThey began at last to fall on one another\u201d--so\nhe ended his history; \u201cand we have only now to wait for the morning\nto conduct the lady home, for those who are wandering about of that\nowl-squadron will doubtless hide themselves from the eye of day.\u201d While\nspeaking, he had skilfully and carefully arranged a couch of twigs and\nmoss for Hildegardis, and when the wearied one, after uttering some\ngentle words of gratitude, had sunk into a slumber, he began, as well\nas the darkness would allow, to bind up the wounds of his friend. During\nthis anxious task, while the dark boughs of the trees murmured over\ntheir heads, and the rippling of the stream was heard from afar, Froda,\nin a low voice, made known to his brother-in-arms to the service of what\nlady he was bound. Edwald listened with deep attention, but at last he\nsaid tenderly, \u201cTrust me, the noble Princess Aslauga will not resent it,\nif you pledge yourself to this earthly beauty in faithful love. Ah!\neven now doubtless you are sinning in the dreams of Hildegardis,\nrichly-gifted and happy knight! I will not stand in your way with\nmy vain wishes; I see now clearly that she can never, never love me.\nTherefore I will this very day hasten to the war which so many valiant\nknights of Germany are waging in the heathen land of Prussia, and the\nblack cross, which distinguishes them for warriors of the Church, I will\nlay as the best balm on my throbbing heart. Take, then, dear Froda, that\nfair hand which you have won in battle, and live henceforth a life of\nsurpassing happiness and joy.\u201d\n\n\u201cEdwald,\u201d said Froda, gravely, \u201cthis is the first time that I ever heard\none word from your lips which a true knight could not fulfil. Do as\nit pleases you towards the fair and haughty Hildegardis, but Aslauga\nremains my mistress ever, and no other do I desire in life or death.\u201d\n The youth was startled by these stern words, and made no reply. Both,\nwithout saying more to each other, watched through the night in solemn\nthought.\n\nThe next morning, when the rising sun shone brightly over the flowery\nplains around the Castle of Hildegardis, the watchman on the tower blew\na joyful blast from his horn, for his keen eye had distinguished far in\nthe distance his fair lady, who was riding from the forest between her\ntwo deliverers; and from castle, town, and hamlet, came forth many a\nrejoicing train to assure themselves with their own eyes of the happy\nnews.\n\nHildegardis turned to Edwald with eyes sparkling through tears, and\nsaid, \u201cWere it not for you, young knight, they might have sought long\nand vainly before they found the lost maiden or the noble Froda, who\nwould now be lying in that dark cavern a bleeding and lifeless corpse.\u201d\n Edwald bowed lowly in reply, but persevered in his wonted silence.\nIt even seemed as though an unusual grief restrained the smile which\nerewhile answered so readily, in childlike sweetness, to every friendly\nword.\n\nThe noble guardian of Hildegardis had, in the overflowing joy of his\nheart, prepared a sumptuous banquet, and invited all the knights\nand ladies present to attend it. Whilst Froda and Edwald, in all the\nbrightness of their glory, were ascending the steps in the train of\ntheir rescued lady, Edwald said to his friend, \u201cNoble, steadfast knight,\nyou can never love me more!\u201d And as Froda looked in astonishment, he\ncontinued--\u201cThus it is when children presume to counsel heroes, however\nwell they may mean it. Now have I offended grievously against you,\nand yet more against the noble Lady Aslauga.\u201d \u201cBecause you would have\nplucked every flower of your own garden to gladden me with them?\u201d said\nFroda. \u201cNo; you are my gentle brother-in-arms now, as heretofore, dear\nEdchen, and are perhaps become yet dearer to me.\u201d\n\nThen Edwald smiled again in silent contentment, like a flower after the\nmorning showers of May.\n\nThe eyes of Hildegardis glanced mildly and kindly on him, and she\noften conversed graciously with him, while, on the other hand, since\nyesterday, a reverential awe seemed to separate her from Froda. But\nEdwald also was much altered. However he welcomed with modest joy the\nfavour of his lady, it yet seemed as if some barrier were between them\nwhich forbade him to entertain the most distant hope of successful love.\n\nIt chanced that a noble count, from the court of the Emperor, was\nannounced, who being bound on an important embassy, had wished to\npay his respects to the Lady Hildegardis by the way. She received him\ngladly, and as soon as the first salutations were over, he said, looking\nat her and at Edwald, \u201cI know not if my good fortune may not have\nbrought me hither to a very joyful festivity. That would be right\nwelcome news to the Emperor my master.\u201d Hildegardis and Edwald were\nlovely to look upon in their blushes and confusion, but the count,\nperceiving at once that he had been too hasty, inclined himself\nrespectfully towards the young knight, and said, \u201cPardon me, noble Duke\nEdwald, my too great forwardness, but I know the wish of my sovereign,\nand the hope to find it already fulfilled prompted my tongue to speak.\u201d\n All eyes were fixed inquiringly on the young hero, who answered, in\ngraceful confusion, \u201cIt is true; the Emperor, when I was last in his\ncamp, through his undeserved favour, raised me to the rank of a duke.\nIt was my good fortune, that in an encounter, some of the enemy\u2019s horse,\nwho had dared to assault the sacred person of the Emperor, dispersed\nand fled on my approach.\u201d The count then, at the request of Hildegardis,\nrelated every circumstance of the heroic deed; and it appeared that\nEdwald had not only rescued the Emperor from the most imminent peril,\nbut also, with the cool and daring skill of a general, had gained the\nvictory which decided the event of the war.\n\nSurprise at first sealed the lips of all; and even before their\ncongratulations could begin, Hildegardis had turned towards Edwald, and\nsaid in a low voice, which yet, in that silence, was clearly heard by\nall, \u201cThe noble count has made known the wish of my imperial uncle,\nand I conceal it no longer, my own heart\u2019s wish is the same--I am Duke\nEdwald\u2019s bride.\u201d And with that she extended to him her fair right hand,\nand all present waited only till he should take it, before they burst\ninto a shout of congratulation. But Edwald forbore to do so; he only\nsunk on one knee before his lady, saying, \u201cGod forbid that the lofty\nHildegardis should ever recall a word spoken solemnly to noble knights\nand dames. \u2018To no vanquished knight,\u2019 you said, \u2018might the hand of\nthe Emperor\u2019s niece belong\u2019--and behold there Froda, the noble Danish\nknight, my conqueror.\u201d Hildegardis, with a slight blush, turned hastily\naway, hiding her eyes, and as Edwald arose, it seemed as though there\nwere a tear upon his cheek.\n\nIn his clanging armour Froda advanced to the middle of the hall,\nexclaiming, \u201cI declare my late victory over Duke Edwald to have been\nthe chance of fortune, and I challenge the noble knight to meet me again\nto-morrow in the lists.\u201d\n\nAt the same time he threw his iron gauntlet ringing on the pavement.\n\nBut Edwald moved not to take it up. On the contrary, a glow of lofty\nanger was on his cheeks, and his eyes sparkled with indignation, so\nthat his friend would hardly have recognised him; and after a silence he\nspoke--\n\n\u201cNoble Sir Froda, if I have ever offended you, we are now even. How\ndurst you, a warrior gloriously wounded by two sword-strokes, challenge\na man unhurt into the lists to-morrow, if you did not despise him?\u201d\n\n\u201cForgive me, Duke Edwald,\u201d answered Froda, somewhat abashed, but with\ncheerfulness, \u201cI have spoken too boldly. Not till I am completely cured\ndo I call you to the field.\u201d\n\nThen Edwald took up the gauntlet joyfully. He knelt once more before\nHildegardis, who, turning away her face, gave him her fair hand to kiss,\nand walked, with his arm in that of his noble Danish friend, out of the\nhall.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n\n\nWhile Froda\u2019s wounds were healing Edwald would sometimes wander, when\nthe shades of evening fell dark and silent around, on the flowery\nterraces beneath the windows of Hildegardis, and sing pleasant little\nsongs; amongst others the following:--\n\n\n        \u201cHeal fast, heal fast, ye hero-wounds;\n           O knight, be quickly strong;\n             Beloved strife\n             For fame and life,\n           O tarry not too long!\u201d\n\n\nBut that one which the maidens of the castle loved best to learn from\nhim was this, and it was perhaps the longest song that Edwald had ever\nsung in his whole life:--\n\n\n       \u201cWould I on earth were lying,\n          By noble hero slain;\n        So that love\u2019s gentle sighing\n          Breathed me to life again!\n\n       \u201cWould I an emperor were,\n          Of wealth and power!\n        Would I were gathering twigs\n          In woodland bower!\n\n       \u201cWould that in lone seclusion\n          I lived a hermit\u2019s life!\n        Would, amid wild confusion,\n          I led the battle-strife!\n\n       \u201cO would the lot were mine,\n          In bower or field,\n        To which my lady fair\n          Her smile would yield!\u201d\n\n\nAt this time it happened that a man who held himself to be very\nwise, and who filled the office of secretary to the aged guardian of\nHildegardis, came to the two knightly friends to propose a scheme to\nthem. His proposal, in few words, was this, that as Froda could gain no\nadvantage from his victory, he might in the approaching combat suffer\nhimself to be thrown from his steed, and thus secure the lady for his\ncomrade, at the same time fulfilling the wish of the Emperor, which\nmight turn to his advantage hereafter in many ways.\n\nAt this the two friends at first laughed heartily; but then Froda\nadvanced gravely towards the secretary, and said, \u201cThou trifler,\ndoubtless the old duke would drive thee from his service did he know\nof thy folly, and teach thee to talk of the Emperor. Good-night, worthy\nsir, and trust me that when Edwald and I meet each other, it will be\nwith all our heart and strength.\u201d\n\nThe secretary hastened out of the room with all speed, and was seen next\nmorning to look unusually pale.\n\n\nSoon after this Froda recovered from his wounds; the course was again\nprepared as before, but crowded by a still greater number of spectators;\nand in the freshness of a dewy morning the two knights advanced solemnly\ntogether to the combat.\n\n\u201cBeloved Edwald,\u201d said Froda, in a low voice, as they went, \u201ctake good\nheed to yourself, for neither this time can the victory be yours--on\nthat rose-coloured cloud appears Aslauga.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt may be so,\u201d answered Edwald, with a quiet smile; \u201cbut under the\narches of that golden bower shines Hildegardis, and this time she has\nnot been waited for.\u201d\n\nThe knights took their places--the trumpets sounded, the course began,\nand Froda\u2019s prophecy seemed to be near its fulfilment, for Edwald\nstaggered under the stroke of his lance, so that he let go the bridle,\nseized the mane with both hands, and thus hardly recovered his seat,\nwhilst his high-mettled snow-white steed bore him wildly around the\nlists without control. Hildegardis also seemed to shrink at this sight,\nbut the youth at length reined-in his steed, and the second course was\nrun.\n\nFroda shot like lightning along the plain, and it seemed as if the\nsuccess of the young duke were now hopeless; but in the shock of their\nmeeting, the bold Danish steed reared, starting aside as if in fear;\nthe rider staggered, his stroke passed harmless by, and both steed and\nknight fell clanging to the ground before the steadfast spear of Edwald,\nand lay motionless upon the field.\n\nEdwald did now as Froda had done before. In knightly wise he stood still\na while upon the spot, as if waiting to see whether any other adversary\nwere there to dispute his victory; then he sprang from his steed, and\nflew to the assistance of his fallen friend.\n\nHe strove with all his might to release him from the weight of his\nhorse, and presently Froda came to himself, rose on his feet, and\nraised up his charger also. Then he lifted up his vizor, and greeted his\nconqueror with a friendly smile, though his countenance was pale.\nThe victor bowed humbly, almost timidly, and said, \u201cYou, my knight,\noverthrown--and by me! I understand it not.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt was her own will,\u201d answered Froda, smiling. \u201cCome now to your gentle\nbride.\u201d\n\nThe multitude around shouted aloud, each lady and knight bowed low, when\nthe aged duke pointed out to them the lovely pair, and at his bidding,\nthe betrothed, with soft blushes, embraced each other beneath the green\ngarlands of the golden bower.\n\nThat very day were they solemnly united in the chapel of the castle, for\nso had Froda earnestly desired. A journey into a far-distant land, he\nsaid, lay before him, and much he wished to celebrate the marriage of\nhis friend before his departure.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n\n\nThe torches were burning clear in the vaulted halls of the castle,\nHildegardis had just left the arm of her lover to begin a stately dance\nof ceremony with the aged duke, when Edwald beckoned to his companion,\nand they went forth together into the moonlit gardens of the castle.\n\n\u201cAh, Froda, my noble, lofty hero,\u201d exclaimed Edwald, after a silence,\n\u201cwere you as happy as I am! But your eyes rest gravely and thoughtfully\non the ground, or kindle almost impatiently heavenwards. It would\nbe dreadful, indeed, had the secret wish of your heart been to win\nHildegardis--and I, foolish boy, so strangely favoured, had stood in\nyour way.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe at rest, Edchen,\u201d answered, the Danish hero, with a smile. \u201cOn\nthe word of a knight, my thoughts and yearnings concern not your fair\nHildegardis. Far brighter than ever does Aslauga\u2019s radiant image shine\ninto my heart: but now hear what I am going to relate to you.\n\n\u201cAt the very moment when we met together in the course--oh, had I words\nto express it to you!--I was enwrapped, encircled, dazzled, by Aslauga\u2019s\ngolden tresses, which were waving all around me. Even my noble steed\nmust have beheld the apparition, for I felt him start and rear under\nme. I saw you no more--the world no more--I saw only the angel-face of\nAslauga close before me, smiling, blooming like a flower in a sea of\nsunshine which floated round her. My senses failed me. Not till you\nraised me from beneath my horse did my consciousness return, and then I\nknew, with exceeding joy, that her own gracious pleasure had struck me\ndown. But I felt a strange weariness, far greater than my fall alone\ncould have caused, and I felt assured at the same time that my lady was\nabout to send me on a far-distant mission. I hastened to repose myself\nin my chamber, and a deep sleep immediately fell upon me. Then came\nAslauga in a dream to me, more royally adorned than ever; she placed\nherself at the head of my couch, and said, \u2018Haste to array thyself\nin all the splendour of thy silver armour, for thou art not the\nwedding-guest alone, thou art also the--\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd before she could speak the word my dream had melted away, and I\nfelt a longing desire to fulfil her gracious command, and rejoiced in my\nheart. But in the midst of the festival I seemed to myself more lonely\nthan in all my life before, and I cannot cease to ponder what that\nunspoken word of my lady could be intended to announce.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are of a far loftier spirit than I am, Froda,\u201d said Edwald, after\na silence, \u201cand I cannot soar with you into the sphere of your joys. But\ntell me, has it never awakened a deep pang within you that you serve a\nlady so withdrawn from you--alas! a lady who is almost ever invisible?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, Edwald, not so,\u201d answered Froda, his eyes sparkling with happiness.\n\u201cFor well I know that she scorns not my service; she has even deigned\nsometimes to appear to me. Oh, I am in truth a happy knight and\nminstrel!\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd yet your silence to-day--your troubled yearnings?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot troubled, dear Edchen; only so heartfelt, so fervent in the depth\nof my heart--and so strangely mysterious to myself withal. But this,\nwith all belonging to me, springs alike from the words and commands of\nAslauga. How, then, can it be otherwise than something good and fair,\nand tending to a high and noble aim?\u201d\n\nA squire, who had hastened after them, announced that the knightly\nbridegroom was expected for the torch-dance, and as they returned,\nEdwald entreated his friend to take his place in the solemn dance next\nto him and Hildegardis. Froda inclined his head in token of friendly\nassent.\n\n\nThe horns and hautboys had already sounded their solemn invitation;\nEdwald hastened to give his hand to his fair bride; and while he\nadvanced with her to the midst of the stately hall, Froda offered his\nhand for the torch-dance to a noble lady who stood the nearest to him,\nwithout farther observing her, and took with her the next place to the\nwedded pair.\n\nBut how was it when a light began to beam from his companion, before\nwhich the torch in his left hand lost all its brightness? Hardly dared\nhe, in sweet and trembling hope, to raise his eyes to the lady; and when\nat last he ventured, all his boldest wishes and longings were fulfilled.\nAdorned with a radiant bridal crown of emeralds, Aslauga moved in solemn\nloveliness beside him, and beamed on him from amid the sunny light of\nher golden hair, blessing him with her heavenly countenance. The amazed\nspectators could not withdraw their eyes from the mysterious pair--the\nknight in his light silver mail, with the torch raised on high in his\nhand, earnest and joyful, moving with a measured step, as if engaged in\na ceremony of deep and mysterious meaning. His lady beside him, rather\nfloating than dancing, beaming light from her golden hair, so that you\nwould have thought the day was shining into the night; and when a look\ncould reach through all the surrounding splendour to her face, rejoicing\nheart and sense with the unspeakably sweet smile of her eyes and lips.\n\nNear the end of the dance she inclined towards Froda, and whispered to\nhim with an air of tender confidence, and with the last sound of the\nhorns and hautboys she had disappeared.\n\nThe most curious spectator dared not question Froda about his partner.\nHildegardis did not seem to have been conscious of her presence, but\nshortly before the end of the festival Edwald approached his friend, and\nasked in a whisper, \u201cWas it?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, dear youth,\u201d answered Froda; \u201cyour marriage-dance has been\nhonoured by the presence of the most exalted beauty which has been ever\nbeheld in any land. Ah! and if I rightly understood her meaning, you\nwill never more see me stand sighing and gazing upon the ground. But\nhardly dare I hope it. Now good-night, dear Edchen, good-night. As soon\nas I may I will tell you all.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n\n\nThe light and joyous dreams of morning still played round Edwald\u2019s head\nwhen it seemed as though a clear light encompassed him. He remembered\nAslauga, but it was Froda, the golden locks of whose helmet shone now\nwith no less sunny brightness than the flowing hair of his lady. \u201cAh!\u201d\n thought Edwald in his dream, \u201chow beautiful has my brother-in-arms\nbecome!\u201d And Froda said to him, \u201cI will sing something to you, Edchen;\nbut softly, softly, so that it may not awaken Hildegardis. Listen to me.\n\n\n      \u201c\u2018She glided in, bright as the day,\n        There where her knight in slumber lay;\n        And in her lily hand was seen\n        A band that seemed of the moonlight sheen.\n        \u201cWe are one,\u201d she sang, as about his hair\n        She twined it, and over her tresses fair.\n        Beneath them the world lay dark and drear:\n        But he felt the touch of her hand so dear,\n        Uplifting him far above mortals\u2019 sight,\n        While around him were shed her locks of light,\n        Till a garden fair lay about him spread--\n        And this was Paradise, angels said.\u2019\u201d\n\n\n\u201cNever in your life did you sing so sweetly,\u201d said the dreaming Edwald.\n\n\u201cThat may well be, Edchen,\u201d said Froda, with a smile, and vanished.\n\nBut Edwald dreamed on and on, and many other visions passed before him,\nall of a pleasing kind, although he could not recall them when, in the\nfull light of morning, he unclosed his eyes with a smile. Froda alone,\nand his mysterious song, stood clear in his memory. He now knew full\nwell that his friend was dead; but the thought gave him no pain, for he\nfelt sure that the pure spirit of that minstrel-warrior could only find\nits proper joy in the gardens of Paradise, and in blissful solace with\nthe lofty spirits of the ancient times. He glided softly from the side\nof the sleeping Hildegardis to the chamber of the departed. He lay upon\nhis bed of rest, almost as beautiful as he had appeared in the dream,\nand his golden helmet was entwined with a wondrously-shining lock of\nhair. Then Edwald made a fair and shady grave in consecrated ground,\nsummoned the chaplain of the castle, and with his assistance laid his\nbeloved Froda therein.\n\nHe came back just as Hildegardis awoke; she beheld, with wonder and\nhumility, his mien of chastened joy, and asked him whither he had been\nso early, to which he replied, with a smile, \u201cI have just buried the\ncorpse of my dearly-loved Froda, who, this very night, has passed away\nto his golden-haired mistress.\u201d Then he related the whole history of\nAslauga\u2019s Knight, and lived on in subdued, unruffled happiness, though\nfor some time he was even more silent and thoughtful than before. He\nwas often found sitting on the grave of his friend, and singing the\nfollowing song to his lute:--\n\n\n       \u201cListening to celestial lays,\n        Bending thy unclouded gaze\n        On the pure and living light,\n        Thou art blest, Aslauga\u2019a Knight!\n\n       \u201cSend us from thy bower on high\n        Many an angel-melody,\n        Many a vision soft and bright,\n        Aslauga\u2019s dear and faithful Knight!\u201d\n\n\n\n\n\nEnd of Project Gutenberg\u2019s Aslauga\u2019s Knight, by Fredrich de la Motte-Fouque","title":"Aslauga's Knight","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":12895}