From a Swedish Homestead

was surrounded by green ramparts. Huge stones stood as sentinels outside the gates, and in t

They were so old that grass grew on the ridges of the roofs. The beams in th

stle everything necessary for the celebration of his marriage. For several weeks peasants came crowdi

ere great men and women on side-saddles, with a numerous retinue of servants and serfs. Then came hosts of players and singers

d filled the town with noise and bustle they

the King's Landing-Stage, and from there, headed by drum and fife, and followed by merry swains an

looked at King Olaf to see if he were uneasy.

g said, 'that I shall possess this

King still waited when the flax was pulled up, and the hops ripened on the poles. He was still waiting, w

one awaited the arrival of the Princess more eagerly than he did. He assure

ble to see the last of their husbands and sons, when they sailed for distant lands. Here they were also in the habit of gathering during the summer, to watch for the vesse

d. No one looked more eagerly at every approaching sail. Sometimes Hjalte stole away to the Marie Church. He never prayed for an

s his greatest happiness to sit and tell him of every word that had fall

t ancient heathendom which hides like an owl in the darkness of the forest, and in the mountain-clefts.

e master in the land? But in that he would never succeed. He would never succeed until he had won the crown which Hjal

the wilfulness of his own heart if he did not win a shield which Hjalte had seen in the Ladies' Bower at the King's Castle at Upsa

gah?lla for the marriage festivities were obliged to depart. The last to take his leave was old Hjalte the Bard. It

his men to stop rowing. At the first glance he recognised the dragon-headed ship belonging to Princess Ingegerd. Without hesitation Hjalte tol

,' the Bard said. 'It gladdens my heart that her gentle fa

if they were his comrades, and he handed a golden ring to the maiden, who, with much deference, conducted him to the women's tent in the stern of the s

se,' he said. 'Never have I longed so

His face expressed the utmost confusion. He saw a tall, beautiful woman. She

King's daughter. Only the daughter of a King could look at him with such a proud glance, and greet him with such dignity. And she wore

art t

m the King's daughter, to whom thou

daughter about Olaf Haraldsso

is also

rt not the Princess. What is the meaning of a

ceive him. He sends him his

ady on the hilt, but he bethought himself it was not befitting a warrior to take the life

th gentle voice

t thou intend to go to Kungah?lla

,' answered Hjalte, w

lte? Why dost thou not remain with

ned round and

e that my whole mind is set upon this marriage. Let me hear the

ess gave over

I will tell thee all that thou wouldest know. I

an to tell h

rong feathers in their cloven tails and firmness in their rounded wings; they had already be

a shining blue-black blackcock, a tough old fellow, with red eyebrows, as well as four of his half-grown young ones, which on account of their youth were s

he was therefore treated as a bondmaiden. And this young maiden stood and showed her sister how the swallows gathered in the fields and chose the leaders for their long journey. She reminded her that the summer was soon over-the summer that should have witnessed the

ing saw the Princess

e. In one morning I have killed five blackcocks. Who dost thou think can bo

ness should come so proudly and praise his own good luck. And to make an en

now of a King who in one morning captured five other Kings, and that w

orse in great fury, and advanced tow

sked. "What herb hath poisoned thee? Ho

he drew back, frightened. T

whom I cannot endure? I should like my best wishes to go with thee on thy journey. I should like to sit as guest i

nfused that she could find no other words

hee; it was the w

slave, who could not dispose of his own offspring, or if there we

to hear himself called a break

vea-King la

y dost thou question about this, thou who art a woman? There

rds his henchmen who had b

omise," he said to them. "How

en answered a word; no on

became very wrath; h

again and again to his men. "I will b

how to answer him, the maiden Astrid stepped forwa

because she found it so amusing that she could not help saying it

aid. "I am also thy daughter. Why dost

ard Astrid say these

o thy way, thou tattler, thou deceitful, wicked th

he contrary! He stretched out his arms and drew her to his breast

e King of Norway into marrying her. And afterwards when the rumour gets abroad that she is born of a

d went up to the

King Olaf is dear at heart to me. Surely th

royal father, and give up all thought of marriage with Olaf

ers. He turned to Astrid and caressed her, just

, and thy retinue, can all be collected in great haste. The Norwegian King will not think of such thin

placed her in her own seat of honour, whilst she herself sat down on a low stool at her feet. And she said to Astrid that from henceforth she must sit there, i

she gave everything to her sister, so that Astrid should not come to Norway's King as a poor bondwoman. She had also sett

e many good men at the oars. For it is my will that thou shalt come well

she did understand-that the King's daughter wished to give Astrid all the good thoughts that dwelt in her own heart, in order that King Olaf might not be so disappointed as her father wished. And then Astrid, who was not so bad as people thought

he time she was out at sea she had forgotten all her sorrow and fear. She travelled as a Princes

r a moment, and looked at him. Hjalte had sat immovable whilst she was speaki

Kungah?lla. How shall I fare there? Will the King slay me? Will he brand

wing it. Astrid heard him murmur that at Kungah?lla no one knew Ing

had she not, that she could have said 'No' to this journey. When she came to Kungah?lla, the

but then she began to beg Hjalte to go with her to Kungah?lla and tell the King the truth

e said. 'How can I know that? I have heard all

lost in thought. She heard him mutter to himself tha

same tell her what a

nd spoke to her wit

ory, Astrid, about King Olaf, wh

me faithful warriors, but none of his forefathers' land. It was at the time when he fought with honour

onger time than it takes the dawn to extinguish a star before they came to a steep and rocky shore, cut up by narrow fjords and bordered with milk-white breakers. But when they rea

e angel's words, "shalt pos

l had said this th

once understand that the dream foretold him of superhuman honour. The King had not understood that it was the will of God that he from a heavenly throne shoul

s-that he and his seed should forever rule over the land the angel had shown him. And inasmuch as he thought he recognised in this

till in doubt, and thinks that he is only called to be an earthly King. He does not yet stretch forth his hand for the cro

whilst the light of the seer sh

n from his side when he fully understands the words of the angel, that he shall be Norway's K

ed to Astrid and aske

e whether thou wilt speak

ore afraid. She

that I do not know myself what I shall do? If it were my intention to deceive the King, could I not promise thee all

s before she saw Hjalte's f

to escape the fate tha

as she was, belonged to Ingegerd. Even a hardened warrior like Hjalte must groan with pain when he thought of how Ingegerd had suffered. But Astrid had felt nothi

e heavy and dull; it sounded to Astrid

he Lord punisheth the tempter who brought sin into His world, I will punish thee. But do not ask me,' he continued, 'to protect thee against thine own self. I remember the Princess, and how she must suffer through the trick thou playest on King Olaf. For her sake thou shalt be punished, just as much as for mine. I will not go with thee to betray

his he turned away fro

e over her face. He forgot, did old Hjalte, that she had suffered many trials, that

Bard's ship. She thought that far, far away she could see Iceland, sh