From a Swedish Homestead

ven been to the house where the serfs dwelt to ascertain if they were well looked after. When he went back to the King's Hall, he saw a woman with a black kerchief over her head

ages, stand still, and look down into the water. She stretched out her arms towards heaven, and,

ht him. Twice the woman lifted her foot to make the spring, but she hesitated. Before

d. 'Thou wouldest do that

er dress, the shape of her head, the golden rings on her arms had already told him that it was the Queen. The first moment Astrid h

woman who hath gone down to the river to see how she

composed and playful.

ll into the river,' Astrid said. 'Didst thou

ng ans

to believe; God w

ghed and k

who is as happy as I am? Doth

er. 'God will enlighten me. He will tell me if it be through

erred her from showing him the full tenderness of her love. Now she threw her arms passionately ar

ow truly my heart cli

n on an overturned boat.

Then I would prepare thy food, make thy bed, and watch over thy house whilst thou slept. None other should have leave to serve thee, except I. When thou returnest from the chase in the evening, I would go to meet thee, and kneel bef

s sword out of its sheath. She laid the hilt in the King

, 'as if we were alone in the forest, and I

s God's,' s

laughed

voice, and the same moment King Olaf felt that sh

rm. And he sprang up. For the first time in his life he trembled from fear. The Queen would die at his hand, and she had not b

' he thought. 'She has a

down ove

manner thou hast

on the rough planks of the br

he honourable daughter of the King have brought such a heavy burden upon her?'

how thou hast sinne

her golden arm and finger rings, and handed them to the King with averted face. The Ki

erd that lies sobbing a

d seized Astrid

d, shaking her arm. 'I see that thou

g the answer he asked for, she let down her long hair, twisted a lock of it round her arms,

belongs to those who wear chains. Sh

ck the King; he now

ghter who is the child of a

r, but he heard Astrid shudder as if from co

ouldest allow thyself to be used as a means of spoiling a man's honour? Is thy

he suffered under the insult that had been offered

life,'

ation came up

aid within him. 'Show the Svea-King what it

derision by the Bards, and his enemies would no longer fear him. He had but one wish: to slay Astrid, to take her life. His anger was so violent that it craved for blood. If a fool had dared to put his fool's cap upon his head, would he not hav

acemakers,' 'Blessed are the meek,' 'Blessed are the merciful.' And every time he, in this hour of anguish, grasped his sword firmly in order to

,' he had said, 'so that the words may burn in my hand every

word now burnt in his hand. Ki

of many lusts; now thou hast b

to and fro on the bridge. Astrid remained lying in the same position. Ki

he said; but his voice s

ice what her real name was, and that she was able to answer him. He looked at this woman whom he had so highly treasured, and who now lay

so pure and holy that she endued with peace all who came near her. They told me of her gentleness, that he who saw her felt as safe as a helpless child does with its mother, and when the beautiful woman who now lies here came to me, I thought that she was Ingegerd, and sh

ow dear Astrid had been to him and how

ake her in my arms; but I dare not, for my soul would still be homeless. Ah, thou fair wo

oaning himself, but

me,' she said; 'I will rather d

s, to be waited upon like a Queen, to sail on the sea. But she had intended to confess who she was as soon as she came to Kungah?lla. There she expected to find Hjalte and the other g

ing to become thine, and I thought I would gladly suffer

af answ

t was to come and say to a man: "I am she whom thou most fervently desirest; I am that high-born maiden

e first moment I heard thy

d his hand in an

would have clung to her as the soul of the dead clings to the angel bearing him upwa

longed for the power of the holy ones of God, but th

turn I see sinners, wherever I go I meet those who would entice me to sin. Why didst Thou not send me the King's daughter, who had not a single evil

ss and the weariness of despa

y longer. Have I not asked God,' he exclaimed, 'what place I shall have before His face? To what hast Thou chosen me, Thou Lord of souls? Is it appointed unto me to become the equal of apostles and

consolable despair; then

as begun to fear thee. I have felt that it was worse than death to appear before thee with a lie upon my lips. Never have I been so terrified,' Astrid continued, 'as when I understood that thou wast a Saint. When I saw thee burn the chips in th

him; she saw that his eyes were turned towards

ery day and every hour since I came hither. I

sson was st

river so that thou shouldst not live with a lying woman at thy side. The more I saw of thy holiness the

Astrid raised her eyes to his face;

f, thy fa

heaven leave their appointed places, and fly like swarming bees about the uni

'God hath spoken to me. It is true what t

the night. But when Astrid saw the light that surrounde

thy side. But think gently of me. Without joy or happiness have I lived all my life. In rags

ver the bridge, Olaf Haraldsson awoke f

o?' he said. 'Wh

hen thou art a Saint?' she

ut now all the glory of Heaven has been given to me. Art thou weak? I am the Lord's knight. Dost thou fall? I can lift thee up. God hath chosen me, Astrid. Thou canst not harm

lovingly supporting her, who was still sobbing and who could har

a S

est