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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15186-8.txt b/15186-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e24de05 --- /dev/null +++ b/15186-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5389 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Folk-Lore and Legends; Scandinavian, by +Various, Edited by C. J. T., Translated by C. J. T. + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Folk-Lore and Legends; Scandinavian + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 26, 2005 [eBook #15186] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; +SCANDINAVIAN*** + + +E-text prepared by Wallace McLean, Graeme Mackreth, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS SCANDINAVIAN + +W. W. Gibbings +18 Bury St., London, W.C. + +1890 + + + + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE. + + +Thanks to Thiele, to Hylten-Cavallius and Stephens, and to Asbjörnsen +and Moe, Scandinavian Folklore is well to the front. Its treasures are +many, and of much value. One may be almost sorry to find among them the +originals of many of our English tales. Are we indebted to the folk of +other nations for all our folk-tales? It would almost seem so. + +I have introduced into the present volume only one or two stories from +the Prose Edda. Space would not allow me to give so much of the Edda as +I could have wished. + +In selecting and translating the matter for this volume, I have +endeavoured to make the book such as would afford its readers a fair +general view of the main features of the Folklore of the North. C.J.T. + + + + +CONTENTS + + The Wonderful Plough (Isle of Rugen) + + How a Lad stole the Giant's Treasure (Sweden) + + Tales of Cats (Denmark) + + The Magician's Daughter (Sweden) + + The Hill-man invited to the Christening (Denmark) + + The Meal of Frothi (Norway) + + The Lost Bell (Isle of Rugen) + + Maiden Swanwhite and Maiden Foxtail (Sweden) + + Tales of Treasure (Denmark) + + Holger Danske (Denmark) + + Tales from the Prose Edda-- + + The Gods and the Wolf + + The Strange Builder + + Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants + + How Thor Went a-Fishing + + The Death of Baldur + + The Punishment of Loki + + The Origin of Tiis Lake (Denmark) + + There are such Women (Norway) + + Tales of the Nisses (Denmark) + + The Dwarfs' Banquet (Norway) + + The Icelandic Sorceresses (Eyrbiggia Saga) + + The Three Dogs (Sweden) + + The Legend of Thorguima (Eyrbiggia Saga) + + The Little Glass Shoe (Isle of Rugen) + + How Loki Wagered his Head (Edda Resenii) + + The Adventures of John Dietrich (Isle of Rugen) + + How Thorston Became Rich (Thorston's Saga) + + Gudbrand of the Hillside (Norway) + + The Dwarf-Sword Tirfing (Hervarar Saga) + + + + + +THE WONDERFUL PLOUGH. + +There was once a farmer who was master of one of the little black dwarfs +that are the blacksmiths and armourers, and he got him in a very curious +way. On the road leading to this farmer's ground there stood a stone +cross, and every morning as he went to his work he used to stop and +kneel down before this cross, and pray for some minutes. + +On one of these occasions he noticed on the cross a pretty, bright +insect, of such a brilliant hue that he could not recollect having ever +before seen the like in an insect. He wondered greatly at this, but +still he did not disturb it. The insect did not remain long quiet, but +ran without ceasing backwards and forwards upon the cross, as if it was +in pain and wanted to get away. + +Next morning the farmer again saw the very same insect, and again it was +running to and fro in the same state of uneasiness. The farmer began now +to have some suspicions about it, and thought to himself-- + +"Would this now be one of the little black enchanters? It runs about +just like one that has an evil conscience, as one that would, but +cannot, get away." + +A variety of thoughts and conjectures passed through his mind, and he +remembered what he had often heard from his father and other old people, +that when any of the underground people chance to touch anything holy +they are held fast and cannot quit the spot, and so they are extremely +careful to avoid all such things. + +"But," thought he, "you may even be something else, and I should, +perhaps, be committing a sin in taking the little insect away." + +So he let it stay where it was. + +When, however, he twice again found it in the same place, and still +running about with the same signs of uneasiness, he said-- + +"No, it is not all right with it, so now, in the name of God." + +He made a grasp at the insect, which resisted and clung fast to the +stone; but he held it tight, and tore it away by main force, and lo! +then he found he had, by the top of the head, a little ugly black chap, +about six inches long, screeching and kicking at a furious rate. + +The farmer was greatly astounded at this sudden transformation. Still he +held his prize fast, and kept calling to him, while he administered to +him a few smart slaps-- + +"Be quiet, be quiet, my little man! If crying was to do the business, we +might look for heroes in swaddling-clothes. We'll just take you with us +a bit, and see what you are good for." + +The little fellow trembled and shook in every limb, and then began to +whimper most piteously, and begged of the farmer to let him go. + +"No, my lad," replied the farmer, "I will not let you go till you tell +me who you are, and how you came here, and what trade you know that +enables you to earn your bread in the world." + +At this the little man grinned and shook his head, but said not a word +in reply, only begging and praying the more to get loose. The farmer +thought he must now entreat him if he would coax any information out of +him. But it was all to no purpose. He then adopted the contrary method, +and whipped and slashed him, but just to as little effect. The little +black thing remained as dumb as the grave, for this species is the most +malicious and obstinate of all the underground folk. + +The farmer now got angry, and said-- + +"Do but be quiet, my child. I should be a fool to put myself into a +passion with such a little brat. Never fear, I shall soon make you tame +enough." + +So saying, he ran home with him, and clapped him into a black sooty iron +pot, and put the iron lid upon it, and laid on the top of the lid a +great heavy stone. Then he set the pot in a dark, cold room, and as he +was going out, said to him-- + +"Stay there, now, and freeze till you are black! I'll engage that at +last you will answer me civilly." + +Twice a week the farmer went regularly into the room and asked his +little black captive if he would answer him now, but the little one +still obstinately persisted in his silence. The farmer had, without +success, pursued this course for six weeks, at the end of which time his +prisoner at last gave up. One day, as the farmer was opening the room +door, of his own accord he asked him to come and take him out of his +dirty, gloomy dungeon, promising that he would now cheerfully do all +that was wanted of him. + +The farmer first ordered him to tell him his history. The black one +replied-- + +"My dear friend, you know it just as well as I do, or else you never +would have had me here. You see I happened by chance to come too near +the cross, a thing we little people may not do, and then I was held +fast, and obliged instantly to let my body become visible. In order that +people might not recognise me, I turned myself into an insect. But you +found me out. When we get fastened to holy or consecrated things we can +never get away from them unless a man takes us off. That, however, does +not happen without plague and annoyance to us; though, indeed, to say +the truth, the staying fastened there is not over pleasant. So I +struggled against you too, for we have a natural aversion to let +ourselves be taken in a man's hand." + +"Ho, ho! is that the tune with you?" cried the farmer. "You have a +natural aversion have you? Believe me, my sooty friend, I have just the +same for you, and so you shall be away without a moment's delay, and we +will lose no time in making our bargain with each other. But you must +first make me some present." + +"What you will you have only to ask," said the little one, "silver and +gold, and precious stones, and costly furniture--all shall be thine in +less than an instant." + +"Silver and gold, and precious stones, and all such glittering fine +things, will I none," said the farmer. "They have turned the heart and +broken the neck of many a one before now, and few are they whose lives +they make happy. I know that you are handy smiths, and have many a +strange thing with you that other smiths know nothing about. So, come +now, swear to me that you will make me an iron plough, such that the +smallest foal may be able to draw it without being tired, and then run +off with you as fast as your legs will carry you." So the black swore, +and then the farmer cried out-- + +"Now, in the name of God. There you are at liberty," and the little one +vanished like lightning. + +Next morning, before the sun was up, there stood in the farmer's yard a +new iron plough, and he yoked his dog, Water, to it; and though it was +of the size of an ordinary plough, Water drew it with ease through the +heaviest clayland, and it tore up prodigious furrows. The farmer used +this plough for many years, and the smallest foal or the leanest little +horse could draw it through the ground, to the amazement of every one +who beheld it, without turning a single hair. + +This plough made a rich man of the farmer, for it cost him no +horse-flesh, and he led a cheerful and contented life by means of it. + +Hereby we may see that moderation holds out the longest, and that it is +not good to covet too much. + + + + +HOW A LAD STOLE THE GIANT'S TREASURE. + +Once upon a time there lived a peasant who had three sons. The two elder +ones used to go with him to the field and to the forest, and helped him +in his work, but the youngest remained at home with his mother, to help +her in the house. His brothers despised him for doing this, and whenever +they had a chance they used him badly. + +At length the father and mother died, and the sons divided the property +among them. As might have been looked for, the elder brothers took all +that was of any value for themselves, leaving nothing to the youngest +but an old cracked kneading-trough, which neither of them thought worth +the having. + +"The old trough," said one of the brothers, "will do very well for our +young brother, for he is always baking and scrubbing." + +The boy thought this, as was only natural, a poor thing to inherit, but +he could do nothing, and he now recognised that it would be no use his +remaining at home, so he wished his brothers good-bye, and went off to +seek his fortune. On coming to the side of a lake he made his trough +water-tight with oakum, and converted it into a little boat. Then he +found two sticks, and using these as oars rowed away. + +When he had crossed the water, he saw a large palace, and entering it, +he asked to speak with the king. The king questioned him respecting his +family and the purpose of his visit. + +"I," said the boy, "am the son of a poor peasant, and all I have in the +world is an old kneading-trough. I have come here to seek work." + +The king laughed when he heard this. + +"Indeed," said he, "you have not inherited much, but fortune works many +a change." + +He took the lad to be one of his servants, and he became a favourite for +his courage and honesty. + +Now the king who owned this palace had an only daughter, who was so +beautiful and so clever that she was talked of all through the kingdom, +and many came from the east and from the west to ask her hand in +marriage. The princess, however, rejected them all, saying that none +should have her for his wife unless he brought her for a wedding-present +four valuable things belonging to a giant who lived on the other side of +the lake. These four treasures were a gold sword, three gold hens, a +gold lantern, and a gold harp. + +Many king's sons and many good warriors tried to win these treasures, +but none of them came back, for the giant caught them all and eat them. +The king was very sorrowful, for he feared that at this rate his +daughter would never get a husband, and so he would not have a +son-in-law to whom to leave his kingdom. + +The boy when he heard of this thought that it might be well worth his +while to try to win the king's beautiful daughter. So he went to the +king one day, and told him what he meant to do. When the king heard him, +he got angry, and said-- + +"Do you think that you, who are only a servant, can do what great +warriors have failed in?" + +The boy, however, was not to be dissuaded, and begged him so to let him +go that at last the king grew calmer and gave him his permission. "But," +said he, "you will lose your life, and I shall be sorry to miss you." + +With that they parted. + +The boy went down to the shore of the lake, and, having found his +trough, he looked it over very closely. Then he got into it and rowed +across the lake, and coming to the giant's dwelling he hid himself, and +stayed the night there. + +Very early in the morning, before it was light, the giant went to his +barn, and began to thrash, making such a noise that the mountains all +around echoed again. When the boy heard this he collected some stones +and put them in his pouch. Then he climbed up on to the roof of the barn +and made a little hole so that he could look in. Now the giant had by +his side his golden sword, which had the strange property that it +clanked whenever the giant was angry. While the giant was busy thrashing +at full speed, the boy threw a little stone which hit the sword, and +caused it to clank. + +"Why do you clank?" said the giant. "I am not angry." + +He went on thrashing, but the next moment the sword clanked again. Once +more the giant pursued his work, and the sword clanked a third time. +Then the giant got so angry that he undid the belt, and threw the sword +out of the barn door. + +"Lie there," said he, "till I have done my thrashing." + +The lad waited no longer, but slipping down from the roof seized on the +sword, ran to his boat, and rowed across the water. On reaching the +other side he hid his treasure, and was full of glee at the success of +his adventure. + +The next day he filled his pouch with corn, put a bundle of bast-twine +in his boat, and once more set off to the giant's dwelling. He lay +hiding for a time, and then he saw the giant's three golden hens walking +about on the shore, and spreading their feathers, which sparkled +beautifully in the bright sunshine. He was soon near them, and began to +softly lead them on, scattering corn for them out of his pouch. While +they were picking the boy gradually led them to the water, till at last +he got them into his little boat. Then he jumped in himself, secured the +fowl with his twine, pushed out from the shore, and rowed as quickly as +he could to the other side of the water. + +The third day he put some lumps of salt into his pouch, and again rowed +across the lake. As night came on he noticed how the smoke rose from +the giant's dwelling, and concluded that the giant's wife was busy +getting ready his food. He crept up on to the roof, and, looking down +through the hole by which the smoke escaped, saw a large caldron boiling +on the fire. Then he took the lumps of salt out of his pouch, and threw +them one by one into the pot. Having done this, he crept down from the +roof, and waited to see what would follow. + +Soon after the giant's wife took the caldron off the fire, poured out +the porridge into a bowl, and put it on the table. The giant was hungry, +and he fell to at once, but scarcely had he tasted the porridge when he +found it too salt. He got very angry, and started from his seat. The old +woman made what excuse she could, and said that the porridge must be +good; but the giant declared he would eat no more of the stuff, and told +her to taste it for herself. She did so, and pulled a terrible face, for +she had never in her life tasted such abominable stuff. + +There was nothing for it but she must make some new porridge. So she +seized a can, took the gold lantern down from the wall, and went as fast +as she could to the well to draw some water. She put the lantern down by +the side of the well, and was stooping down to get the water, when the +boy ran to her, and, laying hold of her by the feet, threw her head over +heels into the well. He seized hold of the golden lantern, ran away as +fast as he could to his boat, and rowed across the water in safety. + +The giant sat for a long time wondering why his wife was away so long. +At last he went to look for her, but nothing could he see of her. Then +he heard a splashing in the well, and finding she was in the water, he, +with a lot of work, got her out. + +"Where is my gold lantern?" was the first thing he asked, as the old +woman came round a little. + +"I don't know," answered she. "Somebody came, caught me by the feet, and +threw me into the well." + +The giant was very angry at this. + +"Three of my treasures," said he, "have gone, and I have now only my +golden harp left. But, whoever the thief may be, he shall not have that; +I will keep that safe under twelve locks." + +While these things occurred at the giant's dwelling, the boy sat on the +other side of the water, rejoicing that he had got on so well. + +The most difficult task, however, had yet to be done, and for a long +time he thought over how he could get the golden harp. At length he +determined to row over to the giant's place and see if fortune would +favour him. + +No sooner said than done. He rowed over and went to a hiding-place. The +giant had, however, been on the watch, and had seen him. So he rushed +forward in a terrible rage and seized the boy, saying-- + +"So I have caught you at last, you young rascal. You it was who stole my +sword, my three gold hens, and my gold lantern." + +The boy was terribly afraid, for he thought his last hour was come. + +"Spare my life, father," said he humbly, "and I will never come here +again." + +"No," replied the giant, "I will do the same with you as with the +others. No one slips alive out of my hands." + +He then shut the boy up in a sty, and fed him with nuts and sweet milk, +so as to get him nice and fat preparatory to killing and eating him. + +The lad was a prisoner, but he ate and drank and made himself as easy as +he could. After some time the giant wanted to find out if he were fat +enough to be killed. So he went to the sty, made a little hole in the +wall, and told the boy to put his finger through it. The lad knew what +he wanted; so instead of putting out his finger he poked out a little +peeled alder twig. The giant cut the twig, and the red sap ran out. Then +he thought the boy must be yet very lean since his flesh was so hard, so +he caused a greater supply of milk and nuts to be given to him. + +Some time after, the giant again visited the sty, and ordered the boy to +put his finger through the hole in the wall. The lad now poked out a +cabbage-stalk, and the giant, having cut it with his knife, concluded +that the lad must be fat enough, his flesh seemed so soft. + +The next morning the giant said to his wife-- + +"The boy seems to be fat enough now, mother; take him then to-day, and +bake him in the oven, while I go and ask our kinsfolk to the feast." + +The old woman promised to do what her husband told her. So, having +heated the oven, she dragged out the boy to bake him. + +"Sit on the shovel," said she. + +The boy did so, but when the old woman raised the shovel the boy always +fell off. So they went on many times. At last the giantess got angry, +and scolded the boy for being so awkward; the lad excused himself, +saying that he did not know the way to sit on the shovel. + +"Look at me," said the woman, "I will show you." + +So she sat herself down on the shovel, bending her back and drawing up +her knees. No sooner was she seated than the boy, seizing hold of the +handle, pushed her into the oven and slammed the door to. Then he took +the woman's fur cloak, stuffed it out with straw, and laid it on the +bed. Seizing the giant's bunch of keys, he opened the twelve locks, +snatched up the golden harp, and ran down to his boat, which he had +hidden among the flags on the shore. + +The giant soon afterwards came home. + +"Where can my wife be?" said he. "No doubt she has lain down to sleep a +bit. Ah! I thought so." + +The old woman, however, slept a long while, and the giant could not wake +her, though he was now expecting his friends to arrive. + +"Wake up, mother," cried he, but no one replied. He called again, but +there was no response. He got angry, and, going to the bed, he gave the +fur cloak a good shake. Then he found that it was not his wife, but +only a bundle of straw put in her clothes. At this the giant grew +alarmed, and he ran off to look after his golden harp. He found his keys +gone, the twelve locks undone, and the harp missing. He went to the oven +and opened the door to see how the meat for the feast was going on. +Behold! there sat his wife, baked, and grinning at him. + +Then the giant was almost mad with grief and rage, and he rushed out to +seek the lad who had done him all this mischief. He came down to the +edge of the water and found him sitting in his boat, playing on the +harp. The music came over the water, and the gold strings shone +wonderfully in the sunshine. The giant jumped into the water after the +boy; but finding that it was too deep, he laid himself down, and began +to drink the water in order to make the lake shallower. He drank with +all his might, and by this means set up a current which drew the boat +nearer and nearer to the shore. Just when he was going to lay hold of it +he burst, for he had drunk too much; and there was an end of him. + +The giant lay dead on the shore, and the boy moved away across the lake, +full of joy and happiness. When he came to land, he combed his golden +hair, put on fine clothes, fastened the giant's gold sword by his side, +and, taking the gold harp in one hand and the gold lantern in the other, +he led the gold fowl after him, and went to the king, who was sitting in +the great hall of the palace surrounded by his courtiers. When the king +saw the boy he was heartily glad. The lad went to the king's beautiful +daughter, saluted her courteously, and laid the giant's treasures before +her. Then there was great joy in the palace, that the princess had after +all got the giant's treasures and so bold and handsome a bridegroom. The +wedding was celebrated soon after with very much splendour and +rejoicing; and when the king died the lad succeeded him, ruling over all +the land both long and happily. + +I know no more respecting them. + + + + +TALES OF CATS. + + +The house of Katholm (Cat-isle) near Grenaac, in Jutland, got its name +from the following circumstance. + +There was a man in Jutland who had made a good deal of money by improper +means. When he died he left his property equally among his three sons. +The youngest, when he got his share, thought to himself-- + +"What comes with sin goes with sorrow," and he resolved to submit his +money to the water-ordeal, thinking that the ill-got money would sink to +the bottom, and what was honestly acquired swim on the top. He +accordingly cast all his money into the water, and only one solitary +farthing swam. With this he bought a cat, and he went to sea and visited +foreign parts. At length he chanced to come to a place where the people +were sadly plagued by an enormous number of rats and mice, and as his +cat had had kittens by this time, he acquired great wealth by selling +them. So he came home to Jutland, and built himself a house, which he +called Katholm. + +There was one time a poor sailor out of Ribe, who came to a foreign +island whose inhabitants were grievously plagued with mice. By good +luck he had a cat of his own on board, and the people of the island gave +him so much gold for it that he went home as fast as he could to fetch +more cats, and by this traffic he in a short time grew so rich that he +had no need of any more. Some time after, when he was on his deathbed, +he bequeathed a large sum of money for the building of Ribe Cathedral, +and a proof of this is still to be seen in a carving over the east door +of the church, representing a cat and four mice. The door is called +Cat-head Door (Kathoved Dor). + + + + +THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER + + +Just on the Finland frontiers there is situated a high mountain, which, +on the Swedish side, is covered with beautiful copsewood, and on the +other with dark pine-trees, so closely ranked together, and so luxuriant +in shade, that one might almost say the smallest bird could not find its +way through the thickets. Below the copsewood there stands a chapel with +the image of St. George, as guardian of the land and as a defence +against dragons, if there be such, and other monsters of paganism, +while, on the other side, on the borders of the dark firwood, are +certain cottages inhabited by wicked sorcerers, who have, moreover, a +cave cut so deep into the mountain that it joins with the bottomless +abyss, whence come all the demons that assist them. The Swedish +Christians who dwelt in the neighbourhood of this mountain thought it +would be necessary, besides the chapel and statue of St. George, to +choose some living protector, and therefore selected an ancient warrior, +highly renowned for his prowess in the battle-field, who had, in his old +age, become a monk. When this man went to take up his abode upon the +mountains, his only son (for he had formerly lived as a married man in +the world) would on no account leave him, but lived there also, +assisting his father in his duties as watcher, and in the exercises of +prayer and penitence, fully equalling the example that was now afforded +him as he had formerly done his example as a soldier. + +The life led by those two valiant champions is said to have been most +admirable and pious. + +Once on a time it happened that the young hero went out to cut wood in +the forest. He bore a sharp axe on his shoulders, and was besides girded +with a great sword; for as the woods were not only full of wild beasts, +but also haunted by wicked men, the pious hermits took the precaution of +always going armed. While the good youth was forcing his way through the +thickest of the copsewood, and already beheld over it the pointed tops +of the fir-trees (for he was close on the Finland frontier), there +rushed out against him a great white wolf, so that he had only just time +enough to leap to one side, and not being able immediately to draw his +sword, he flung his axe at his assailant. The blow was so well aimed +that it struck one of the wolf's fore-legs, and the animal, being sorely +wounded, limped back, with a yell of anguish, into the wood. The young +hermit warrior, however, thought to himself-- + +"It is not enough that I am rescued, but I must take such measures that +no one else may in future be injured, or even terrified by this wild +beast." + +So he rushed in as fast as possible among the fir-trees, and inflicted +such a vehement blow with his sword on the wolf's head, that the animal, +groaning piteously, fell to the ground. Hereupon there came over the +young man all at once a strange mood of regret and compassion for his +poor victim. Instead of putting it immediately to death, he bound up the +wounds as well as he could with moss and twigs of trees, placed it on a +sort of canvas sling on which he was in the habit of carrying great +fagots, and with much labour brought it home, in hopes that he might be +able at last to cure and tame his fallen adversary. He did not find his +father in the cottage, and it was not without some fear and anxiety that +he laid the wolf on his own bed, which was made of moss and rushes, and +over which he had nailed St. George and the Dragon. He then turned to +the fire-place of the small hut, in order to prepare a healing salve for +the wounds. While he was thus occupied, how much was he astonished to +hear the moanings and lamentations of a human voice from the bed on +which he had just before deposited the wolf. On returning thither his +wonder was inexpressible on perceiving, instead of the frightful wild +beast, a most beautiful damsel, on whose head the wound which he had +inflicted was bleeding through her fine golden hair, and whose right +arm, in all its grace and snow-white luxuriance, was stretched out +motionless, for it had been broken by the blow from his axe. + +"Pray," said she, "have pity, and do not kill me outright. The little +life that I have still left is, indeed, painful enough, and may not +last long; yet, sad as my condition is, it is yet tenfold better than +death." + +The young man then sat down weeping beside her, and she explained to him +that she was the daughter of a magician, on the other side of the +mountain, who had sent her out in the shape of a wolf to collect plants +from places which, in her own proper form, she could not have reached. +It was but in terror she had made that violent spring which the youth +had mistaken for an attack on him, when her only wish had been to pass +by him. + +"But you directly broke my right arm," said she, "though I had no evil +design against you." + +How she had now regained her proper shape she could not imagine, but to +the youth it was quite clear that the picture of St. George and the +Dragon had broken the spell by which the poor girl had been transformed. + +While the son was thus occupied, the old man returned home, and soon +heard all that had occurred, perceiving, at the same time, that if the +young pagan wanderer had been released from the spells by which she had +been bound, the youth was, in his turn, enchanted and spellbound by her +beauty and amiable behaviour. + +From that moment he exerted himself to the utmost for the welfare of her +soul, endeavouring to convert her to Christianity, while his son +attended to the cure of her wounds; and, as their endeavours were on +both sides successful, it was resolved that the lovers should be united +in marriage, for the youth had not restricted himself by any monastic +vows. + +The magician's daughter was now restored to perfect health. A day had +been appointed for her baptism and marriage. It happened that one +evening the bride and bridegroom went to take a pleasure walk through +the woods. The sun was yet high in the west, and shone so fervently +through the beech-trees on the green turf that they could never resolve +on turning home, but went still deeper and deeper into the forest. Then +the bride told him stories of her early life, and sang old songs which +she had learned when a child, and which sounded beautifully amid the +woodland solitude. Though the words were such that they could not be +agreeable to the youth's ears (for she had learned them among her pagan +and wicked relations), yet he could not interrupt her, first, because he +loved her so dearly, and, secondly, because she sang in a voice so clear +and sweet that the whole forest seemed to rejoice in her music. At last, +however, the pointed heads of the pine-trees again became visible, and +the youth wished to turn back, in order that he might not come again too +near the hated Finnish frontier. His bride, however, said to him-- + +"Dearest Conrad, why should we not walk on a little further? I would +gladly see the very place where you so cruelly wounded me on the head +and arm, and made me prisoner, all which has, in the end contributed to +my happiness. Methinks we are now very near the spot." + +Accordingly they sought about here and there until at last the twilight +fell dim and heavy on the dense woods. The sun had long since set. The +moon, however, had risen, and, as a light broke forth, the lovers stood +on the Finland frontier, or rather they must have gone already some +distance beyond it, for the bridegroom was exceedingly terrified when he +found his cap lifted from his head, as if by human hand, though he saw +only the branch of a fir-tree. Immediately thereafter the whole air +around them was filled with strange and supernatural beings--witches, +devils, dwarfs, horned-owls, fire-eyed cats, and a thousand other +wretches that could not be named and described, whirled around them as +if dancing to rapid music. When the bride had looked on for a while, she +broke out into loud laughter, and at last began to dance furiously along +with them. The poor bridegroom might shout and pray as much and as +earnestly as he would, for she never attended to him, but at last +transformed herself in a manner so extraordinary that he could not +distinguish her from the other dancers. He thought, however, that he had +kept his eyes upon her, and seized on one of the dancers; but alas! it +was only a horrible spectre which held him fast, and threw its wide +waving shroud around him, so that he could not make his escape, while, +at the same time, some of the subterraneous black demons pulled at his +legs, and wanted to bear him down along with them into their bottomless +caves. + +Fortunately he happened at that moment to cross himself and call on the +name of the Saviour, upon which the whole of this vile assembly fell +into confusion. They howled aloud and ran off in all directions, while +Conrad in the meantime saved himself by recrossing the frontier, and +getting under the protection of the Swedish copsewood. His beautiful +bride, however, was completely lost; and by no endeavours could he ever +obtain her again, though he often came to the Finland border, called out +her name aloud, wept and prayed, but all in vain. Many times, it is +true, he saw her floating about through the pine-trees, as if in chase, +but she was always accompanied by a train of frightful creatures, and +she herself also looked wild and disfigured. For the most part she never +noticed Conrad, but if she could not help fixing her eyes upon him, she +laughed so immoderately, and in a mood of merriment so strange and +unnatural, that he was terrified and made the sign of the cross, +whereupon she always fled away, howling, into one of the thickets. + +Conrad fell more and more into melancholy abstraction, hardly ever +spoke, and though he had given over his vain walks into the forest, yet +if one asked him a question, the only answer he returned was-- + +"Ay, she is gone away beyond the mountains," so little did he know or +remember of any other object in the world but the lost beauty. + +At last he died of grief; and according to a request which he had once +made, his father prepared a grave for him on the place where the bride +was found and lost, though during the fulfilment of this duty he had +enough to do--one while in contending with his crucifix against evil +spirits, and at another, with his sword against wild beasts, which were +no doubt sent thither by the magicians to attack and annoy him. At +length, however, he brought his task to an end, and thereafter it seemed +as if the bride mourned for the youth's untimely death, for there was +heard often a sound of howling and lamentation at the grave. For the +most part, indeed, this voice is like the voices of wolves, yet, at the +same time, human accents are to be distinguished, and I myself have +often listened thereto on dark winter nights. + +Alas! that the poor maiden should have ventured again so near the +accursed paths she had once renounced. A few steps in the backward +course, and all is lost! + + + + +THE HILL-MAN INVITED TO THE CHRISTENING. + + +The hill-people are excessively frightened during thunder. When, +therefore, they see bad weather coming on, they lose no time in getting +to the shelter of their hills. This terror is also the cause of their +not being able to endure the beating of a drum. They take it to be the +rolling of thunder. It is, therefore, a good recipe for banishing them +to beat a drum every day in the neighbourhood of their hills, for they +immediately pack up, and depart to some quieter residence. + +A farmer lived once in great friendship and concord with a hill-man, +whose hill was in his lands. One time when his wife was about to have a +child, it gave him great perplexity to think that he could not well +avoid inviting the hill-man to the christening, which might, not +improbably, bring him into ill repute with the priest and the other +people of the village. He was going about pondering deeply, but in vain, +how he might get out of this dilemma, when it came into his head to ask +the advice of the boy that kept his pigs, who had a great head-piece, +and had often helped him before. The pig-boy instantly undertook to +arrange the matter with the hill-man in such a manner that he should not +only stay away without being offended, but, moreover, give a good +christening present. + +Accordingly, when it was night, he took a sack on his shoulder, went to +the hill-man's hill, knocked, and was admitted. He delivered his +message, gave his master's compliments, and requested the honour of his +company at the christening. The hill-man thanked him, and said-- + +"I think it is but right I should give you a christening present." + +With these words he opened his money-chests, bidding the boy hold up his +sack while he poured money into it. + +"Is there enough now?" said he, when he had put a good quantity into it. + +"Many give more, few give less," replied the boy. + +The hill-man once more fell to filling the sack, and again asked-- + +"Is there enough now?" + +The boy lifted the sack a little off the ground to see if he was able to +carry any more, and then answered-- + +"It is about what most people give." + +Upon this the hill-man emptied the whole chest into the bag, and once +more asked-- + +"Is there enough now?" + +The guardian of the pigs now saw that there was as much in the sack as +he would be able to carry, so he answered-- + +"No one gives more, most people give less." + +"Come now," said the hill-man, "let us hear who else is to be at the +christening." + +"Ah," said the boy, "we are to have a great many strangers and great +people. First and foremost, we are to have three priests and a bishop." + +"Hem!" muttered the hill-man; "however, those gentlemen usually look +only after the eating and drinking; they will never take any notice of +me. Well, who else?" + +"Then we have asked St. Peter and St. Paul." + +"Hem! hem! However, there will be a bye-place for me behind the stove. +Well, and what then?" + +"Then Our Lady herself is coming." + +"Hem! hem! hem! However, guests of such high rank come late and go away +early. But tell me, my lad, what sort of music is it you are to have?" + +"Music," said the boy, "why, we are to have drums." + +"Drums!" repeated the troll, quite terrified. "No, no! Thank you. I +shall stay at home in that case. Give my best respects to your master, +and I thank him for the invitation, but I cannot come. I did but once go +out to take a little walk, and some people began to beat a drum. I +hurried home, and was but just got to my door when they flung the +drum-stick after me, and broke one of my shins. I have been lame of that +leg ever since, and I shall take good care in future to avoid that sort +of music." + +So saying he helped the boy to put the sack on his back, once more +charging him to present his best respects to his master. + + + + +THE MEAL OF FROTHI. + + +Gold is called by the poets the meal of Frothi, and the origin of the +term is found in this story. + +Odin had a son named Skioldr who settled and reigned in the land which +is now called Denmark, but was then called Gotland. Skioldr had a son +named Frithleif, who reigned after him. Frithleif's son was called +Frothi, and succeeded him on the throne. At the time that the Emperor +Augustus made peace over the whole world, Christ was born, but as Frothi +was the most powerful of all the monarchs of the north, that peace, +wherever the Danish language was spoken, was imputed to him, and the +Northmen called it Frothi's peace. + +At that time no man hurt another, even if he found the murderer of his +father or brother, loose or bound. Theft and robbery were then unknown, +insomuch that a gold armlet lay for a long time untouched in +Jalangursheath. + +Frothi chanced to go on a friendly visit to a certain king in Sweden, +named Fiolnir, and there purchased two female slaves, called Fenia and +Menia, equally distinguished for their stature and strength. In those +days there were found in Denmark two quern-stones of such a size, that +no one was able to move them, and these mill-stones were endued with +such virtue, that the quern in grinding produced whatever the grinder +wished for. The quern was called Grotti. He who presented this quern to +Frothi was called Hengikioptr (hanging-chops). King Frothi caused these +slaves to be brought to the quern, and ordered them to grind gold, +peace, and prosperity for Frothi. The king allowed them no longer rest +or sleep than while the cuckoo was silent or a verse could be recited. +Then they are said to have sung the lay called Grotta-Savngr, and before +they ended their song to have ground a hostile army against Frothi, +insomuch, that a certain sea-king, called Mysingr, arriving the same +night, slew Frothi, taking great spoil. And so ended Frothi's peace. + +Mysingr took with him the quern, Grotti, with Fenia and Menia, and +ordered them to grind salt. About midnight they asked Mysingr whether he +had salt enough. On his ordering them to go on grinding, they went on a +little longer till the ship sank under the weight of the salt. A +whirlpool was produced, where the waves are sucked up by the mill-eye, +and the waters of the sea have been salt ever since. + + + + +THE LOST BELL. + + +A shepherd's boy, belonging to Patzig, about half a mile from Bergen, +where there are great numbers of underground people in the hills, found +one morning a little silver bell on the green heath among the giants' +graves, and fastened it on him. It happened to be the bell belonging to +the cap of one of the little brown ones, who had lost it while he was +dancing, and did not immediately miss it or observe that it was no +longer tinkling in his cap. He had gone down into the hill without his +bell, and, having discovered his loss, was filled with melancholy, for +the worst thing that can befall the underground people is to lose their +cap, or their shoes; but even to lose the bell from their caps, or the +buckle from their belts, is no trifle to them. Whoever loses his bell +must pass some sleepless nights, for not a wink of sleep can he get till +he has recovered it. + +The little fellow was in the greatest trouble, and looked and searched +about everywhere. But how could he learn who had the bell? for only on a +very few days in the year may they come up to daylight, nor can they +then appear in their true form. He had turned himself into every form of +birds, beasts, and men, and he had sung and groaned and lamented about +his bell, but not the slightest tidings or trace of tidings had he been +able to get. Most unfortunately for him, the shepherd's boy had left +Patzig the very day he found the little bell, and he was now keeping +sheep at Unrich, near Gingst, so that it was not till many a day after, +and then by mere chance, that the little underground fellow recovered +his bell, and with it his peace of mind. + +He had thought it not unlikely that a raven, or a crow, or a jackdaw, or +a magpie, had found his bell, and from its thievish disposition, which +attracts it to anything bright and shining, had carried it into its +nest. With this thought he turned himself into a beautiful little bird, +and searched all the nests in the island, and he'd sang before all kinds +of birds to see if they had found what he had lost, and could restore to +him his sleep. He had, however, been able to learn nothing from the +birds. As he now, one evening, was flying over the waters of Ralov and +the fields of Unrich, the shepherd's boy, whose name was John +Schlagenteufel (Smite-devil), happened to be keeping his sheep there at +the very time. Several of the sheep had bells about their necks, and +they tinkled merrily when the boy's dog set them trotting. The little +bird who was flying over them thought of his bell, and sang in a +melancholy tone---- + + "Little bell, little bell, + Little ram as well, + You, too, little sheep, + If you've my tingle too, + No sheep's so rich as you, + My rest you keep." + +The boy looked up and listened to this strange song which came out of +the sky, and saw the pretty bird, which seemed to him still more +strange. + +"If one," said he to himself, "had but that bird that's singing up +there, so plain that one of us could hardly match him! What can he mean +by that wonderful song? The whole of it is, it must be a feathered +witch. My rams have only pinchbeck bells, he calls them rich cattle; but +I have a silver bell, and he sings nothing about me." + +With these words he began to fumble in his pocket, took out his bell, +and rang it. + +The bird in the air instantly saw what it was, and rejoiced beyond +measure. He vanished in a second, flew behind the nearest bush, +alighted, and drew off his speckled feather dress, and turned himself +into an old woman dressed in tattered clothes. The old dame, well +supplied with sighs and groans, tottered across the field to the +shepherd-boy, who was still ringing his bell and wondering what was +become of the beautiful bird. She cleared her throat, and coughing, bid +him a kind good evening, and asked him which was the way to Bergen. +Pretending then that she had just seen the little bell, she exclaimed-- + +"Well now, what a charming pretty little bell! Well, in all my life, I +never beheld anything more beautiful. Hark ye, my son, will you sell me +that bell? What may be the price of it? I have a little grandson at +home, and such a nice plaything as it would make for him!" + +"No," replied the boy, quite short; "the bell is not for sale. It is a +bell that there is not such another bell in the whole world. I have only +to give it a little tinkle, and my sheep run of themselves wherever I +would have them go. And what a delightful sound it has! Only listen, +mother," said he, ringing it; "is there any weariness in the world that +can hold out against this bell? I can ring with it away the longest +time, so that it will be gone in a second." + +The old woman thought to herself-- + +"We will see if he can hold out against bright shining money," and she +took out no less than three silver dollars and offered them to him, but +he still replied-- + +"No, I will not sell the bell." + +She then offered him five dollars. + +"The bell is still mine," said he. + +She stretched out her hand full of ducats. He replied this third time-- + +"Gold is dirt, and does not ring." + +The old dame then shifted her ground, and turned the discourse another +way. She grew mysterious, and began to entice him by talking of secret +arts and of charms by which his cattle might be made to thrive +prodigiously, relating to him all kinds of wonders of them. It was then +the young shepherd began to long, and he lent a willing ear to her +tales. + +The end of the matter was, that she said to him-- + +"Hark ye, my child, give me your bell; and see, here is a white stick +for you," said she, taking out a little white stick which had Adam and +Eve very ingeniously cut upon it as they were feeding their flocks in +the Garden, with the fattest sheep and lambs dancing before them. There, +too, was the shepherd David, as he stood up with his sling against the +giant Goliath. "I will give you," said the woman, "this stick for the +bell, and as long as you drive the cattle with it they will be sure to +thrive. With this you will become a rich shepherd. Your wethers will be +always fat a month sooner than the wethers of other shepherds, and every +one of your sheep will have two pounds of wool more than others, and yet +no one will ever be able to see it on them." + +The old woman handed him the stick. So mysterious was her gesture, and +so strange and bewitching her smile, that the lad was at once in her +power. He grasped eagerly at the stick, gave her his hand, and cried-- + +"Done! strike hands! The bell for the stick!" + +Cheerfully the old woman took the bell for the stick, and departed like +a light breeze over the field and the heath. He saw her vanish, and she +seemed to float away before his eyes like a mist, and to go off with a +slight whiz and whistle that made the shepherd's hair stand on end. + +The underground one, however, who, in the shape of an old woman, had +wheedled him out of his bell, had not deceived him. For the underground +people dare not lie, but must ever keep their word--a breach of it +being followed by their sudden change into the shape of toads, snakes, +dunghill beetles, wolves, and apes, forms in which they wander about, +objects of fear and aversion, for a long course of years before they are +freed. They have, therefore, naturally a great dread of lying. John +Schlagenteufel gave close attention and made trial of his new shepherd's +staff, and he soon found that the old woman had told him the truth, for +his flocks and his work, and all the labour of his hands, prospered with +him, and he had wonderful luck, so that there was not a sheep-owner or +head shepherd but was desirous of having him in his employment. + +It was not long, however, that he remained an underling. Before he was +eighteen years of age he had got his own flocks, and in the course of a +few years was the richest sheep-master in the whole island of Bergen. At +last he was able to buy a knight's estate for himself, and that estate +was Grabitz, close by Rambin, which now belongs to the Lords of Sunde. +My father knew him there, and how from a shepherd's boy he became a +nobleman. He always conducted himself like a prudent, honest, and pious +man, who had a good word for every one. He brought up his sons like +gentlemen, and his daughters like ladies, some of whom are still alive, +and accounted people of great consequence. + +Well may people who hear such stories wish that they had met with such +an adventure, and had found a little silver bell which the underground +people had lost! + + + + +MAIDEN SWANWHITE AND MAIDEN FOXTAIL. + + +There was once upon a time a wicked woman who had a daughter and a +step-daughter. The daughter was ugly and of an evil disposition, but the +step-daughter was most beautiful and good, and all who knew her wished +her well. When the girl's step-mother and step-sister saw this they +hated the poor girl. + +One day it chanced that she was sent by her step-mother to the well to +draw water. When the girl came there she saw a little hand held out of +the water, and a voice said-- + +"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your golden apple, and in return +for it I will thrice wish you well." + +The girl thought that one who spoke so fairly to her would not do her an +ill turn, so she put the apple into the little hand. Then she bent down +over the spring, and, taking care not to muddy the water, filled her +bucket. As she went home the guardian of the well wished that the girl +would become thrice as beautiful as she was, that whenever she laughed a +gold ring might fall from her mouth, and that red roses might spring up +wherever she trod. The same hour all that he wished came to pass. From +that day the girl was called the Maiden Swanwhite, and the fame of her +loveliness spread all through the land. + +When the wicked step-mother perceived this, she was filled with rage, +and she thought how her own daughter might become as beautiful as +Swanwhite. With this object she set herself to learn all that had +happened, and then she sent her own daughter to fetch water. When the +wicked girl had come to the well, she saw a little hand rise up out of +the water, and heard a voice which said-- + +"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your gold apple and I will thrice +wish thee well." + +But the hag's daughter was both wicked and avaricious, and it was not +her way to make presents. She therefore made a dash at the little hand, +wished the guardian of the well evil, and said pettishly-- + +"You need not think you'll get a gold apple from me." + +Then she filled her bucket, muddying the water, and away she went in a +rage. The guardian of the well was enraged, so he wished her three evil +wishes, as a punishment for her wickedness. He wished that she should +become three times as ugly as she was, that a dead rat should fall from +her mouth whenever she laughed, and that the fox-tail grass might spring +up in the footsteps wherever she trod. So it was. From that day the +wicked girl was called Maiden Foxtail, and very much talk was there +among the folk of her strange looks and her ill-nature. The hag could +not bear her step-daughter should be more beautiful than her own +daughter, and poor Swanwhite had to put up with all the ill-usage and +suffering that a step-child can meet with. + +Swanwhite had a brother whom she loved very much, and he also loved her +with all his heart. He had long ago left home, and he was now the +servant of a king, far, far off in a strange land. The other servants of +the king bore him no good-will because he was liked by his master, and +they wished to ruin him if they could find anything against him. + +They watched him closely, and one day, coming to the king, said-- + +"Lord king, we know well that you do not like evil or vice in your +servants. Thence we think it is only right to tell you that the young +foreigner, who is in your service, every morning and evening bows the +knee to an idol." + +When the king heard that he set it down to envy and ill-will, and did +not think there was any truth in it, but the courtiers said that he +could easily discover for himself whether what they said was true or +not. They led the king to the young man's rooms, and told him to look +through the key-hole. When the king looked in he saw the young man on +his knees before a fine picture, and so he could not help believing that +what the courtiers had told him was true. + +The king was much enraged, and ordered the young man to come before +him, when he condemned him to die for his great wickedness. + +"My lord king," said he, "do not imagine that I worship any idol. That +is my sister's picture, whom I commend to the care of God every morning +and evening, asking Him to protect her, for she remains in a wicked +step-mother's power." + +The king then wished to see the picture, and he never tired of looking +on its beauty. + +"If it is true," said he, "what you tell me, that that is your sister's +picture, she shall be my queen, and you yourself shall go and fetch her; +but if you lie, this shall be your punishment,--you shall be cast into +the lions' den." + +The king then commanded that a ship should be fitted out in grand style, +having wine and treasure in it. Then he sent away the young man in great +state to fetch his beautiful sister to the court. + +The young man sailed away over the ocean, and came at length to his +land. Here he delivered his master's message, as became him, and made +preparations to return. Then the step-mother and step-sister begged that +they might go with him and his sister. The young man had no liking for +them, so he said no, and refused their request, but Swanwhite begged for +them, and got them what they wanted. + +When they had put to sea and were on the wide ocean, a great storm arose +so that the sailors expected the vessel and all on her to go to the +bottom. The young man was, however, in good spirits, and went up the +mast in order to see if he could discover land anywhere. When he had +looked out from the mast, he called to Swanwhite, who stood on the +deck-- + +"Dear sister, I see land now." + +It was, however, blowing so hard that the maiden could not hear a word. +She asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother said. + +"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you throw your gold casket into the sea." + +When Swanwhite heard that, she did what the hag told her, and cast the +gold casket into the deep sea. + +A while after her brother once more called to his sister, who stood on +the deck-- + +"Swanwhite, go and deck yourself as a bride, for we shall soon be +there." + +But the maiden could not hear a word for the raging of the sea. She +asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother had said. + +"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you cast yourself into the sea." + +While Swanwhite thought of this, the wicked step-mother sprang to her, +and thrust her on a sudden overboard. The young girl was carried away by +the blue waves, and came to the mermaid who rules over all those who are +drowned in the sea. + +When the young man came down the mast, and asked whether his sister was +attired, the step-mother told him many falsehoods about Swanwhite having +fallen into the sea. When the young man heard this he and all the +ship-folk were afraid, for they well knew what punishment awaited them +for having so ill looked after the king's bride. The false hag then +thought of another deception. She said they had better dress her own +daughter as the bride, and then no one need know that Swanwhite had +perished. The young man would not agree to this, but the sailors, being +in fear of their lives, made him do as the step-mother had suggested. +Maiden Foxtail was dressed out in the finest manner with red rings and a +gold girdle, but the young man was ill at ease, and could not forget +what had happened to his sister. + +In the midst of this the vessel came to shore, where was the king with +all his court with much splendour awaiting their arrival. Carpets were +spread upon the ground, and the king's bride left the ship in great +state. When the king beheld Maiden Foxtail, and was told that that was +his bride, he suspected some cheat, and was very angry, and he ordered +that the young man should be thrown into the lions' den. He would not, +however, break his kingly word, so he took the ugly maiden for his wife, +and she became queen in the place of her step-sister. + +Now Maiden Swanwhite had a little dog of which she was very fond, and +she called it Snow-white. Now that its mistress was lost, there was no +one who cared for it, so it came into the king's palace and took refuge +in the kitchen, where it lay down in front of the fire. When it was +night and all had gone to bed, the master-cook saw the kitchen door open +of itself and a beautiful little duck, fastened to a chain, came into +the kitchen. Wherever the little bird trod the most beautiful roses +sprang up. The duck went up to the dog upon the hearth, and said-- + +"Poor little Snow-white! Once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on the grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den! Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms." + +"Alas, poor me!" continued the duck, "I shall come here only on two more +nights. After that I shall see you no more." + +Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. +After a little while the door opened of itself and the little bird went +its way. + +The next morning, when it was daylight, the master-cook took the +beautiful roses that lay strewn on the floor and with them decorated the +dishes for the king's table. The king so much admired the flowers that +he ordered the master-cook to be called to him, and asked him where he +had found such magnificent roses. The cook told him all that had +happened, and what the duck had said to the little dog. When the king +heard it he was much perplexed, and he told the cook to let him know as +soon as the bird showed itself again. + +The next night the little duck again came to the kitchen, and spoke to +the dog as before. The cook sent word to the king, and he came just as +the bird went out at the door. However he saw the beautiful roses lying +all over the kitchen floor, and from them came such a delightful scent +that the like had never been known. + +The king made up his mind that if the duck came again he would see it, +so he lay in wait for it. He waited a long while, when, at midnight, the +little bird, as before, came walking up to the dog which lay on the +hearth, and said-- + +"Poor little Snow-white! once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den. Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms." + +Then it went on-- + +"Alas! poor me! I shall see thee no more." + +Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. As +the bird was about to go away, the king sprang out and caught it by the +foot. Then the bird changed its form and became a horrible dragon, but +the king held it fast. It changed itself again, and took the forms of +snakes, wolves, and other fierce animals, but the king did not lose his +hold. Then the mermaid pulled hard at the chain, but the king held so +fast that the chain broke in two with a great snap and rattling. That +moment there stood there a beautiful maiden much more beautiful than +that in the fine picture. She thanked the king for having saved her +from the power of the mermaid. The king was very glad, and took the +beautiful maiden in his arms, kissed her, and said-- + +"I will have no one else in the world for my queen, and now I well see +that your brother was guiltless." + +Then he sent off at once to the lions' den to learn if the young man was +yet alive. There the young man was safe and sound among the wild beasts, +which had done him no injury. Then the king was in a happy mood, and +rejoiced that everything had chanced so well. The brother and sister +told him all that the step-mother had done. + +When it was daylight the king ordered a great feast to be got ready, and +asked the foremost people in the country to the palace. As they all sat +at table and were very merry, the king told a story of a brother and +sister who had been treacherously dealt with by a step-mother, and he +related all that had happened from beginning to end. When the tale was +ended the king's folk looked at one another, and all agreed that the +conduct of the step-mother in the tale was a piece of unexampled +wickedness. + +The king turned to his mother-in-law, and said-- + +"Some one should reward my tale. I should like to know what punishment +the taking of such an innocent life deserves." + +The false hag did not know that her own treachery was aimed at, so she +said boldly-- + +"For my part, I certainly think she should be put into boiling lead." + +The king then turned himself to Foxtail, and said-- + +"I should like to have your opinion; what punishment is merited by one +who takes so innocent a life?" + +The wicked woman answered at once-- + +"For my part, I think she deserves to be put into boiling tar." + +Then the king started up from the table in a great rage, and said-- + +"You have pronounced doom on yourselves. Such punishment shall you +suffer!" + +He ordered the two women to be taken out to die as they themselves had +said, and no one save Swanwhite begged him to have mercy on them. + +After that the king was married to the beautiful maiden, and all folk +agreed that nowhere could be found a finer queen. The king gave his own +sister to the brave young man, and there was great joy in all the king's +palace. + +There they live prosperous and happy unto this day, for all I know. + + + + +TALES OF TREASURE. + + +There are still to be seen near Flensborg the ruins of a very ancient +building. Two soldiers once stood on guard there together, but when one +of them was gone to the town, it chanced that a tall white woman came to +the other, and spoke to him, and said-- + +"I am an unhappy spirit, who has wandered here these many hundred years, +but never shall I find rest in the grave." + +She then informed him that under the walls of the castle a great +treasure was concealed, which only three men in the whole world could +take up, and that he was one of the three. The man, who now saw that his +fortune was made, promised to follow her directions in every particular, +whereupon she desired him to come to the same place at twelve o'clock +the following night. + +The other soldier meanwhile had come back from the town just as the +appointment was made with his comrade. He said nothing about what, +unseen, he had seen and heard, but went early the next evening and +concealed himself amongst some bushes. When his fellow-soldier came with +his spade and shovel he found the white woman at the appointed place, +but when she perceived they were watched she put off the appointed +business until the next evening. The man who had lain on the watch to no +purpose went home, and suddenly fell ill; and as he thought he should +die of that sickness, he sent for his comrade, and told him how he knew +all, and conjured him not to have anything to do with witches or with +spirits, but rather to seek counsel of the priest, who was a prudent +man. The other thought it would be the wisest plan to follow the advice +of his comrade, so he went and discovered the whole affair to the +priest, who, however, desired him to do as the spirit had bidden him, +only he was to make her lay the first hand to the work herself. + +The appointed time was now arrived, and the man was at the place. When +the white woman had pointed out to him the spot, and they were just +beginning the work, she said to him that when the treasure was taken up +one-half of it should be his, but that he must divide the other half +equally between the church and the poor. Then the devil entered into the +man, and awakened his covetousness, so that he cried out-- + +"What! shall I not have the whole?" + +Scarcely had he spoken when the figure, with a most mournful wail, +passed in a blue flame over the moat of the castle, and the man fell +sick, and died within three days. + +The story soon spread through the country, and a poor scholar who heard +it thought he had now an opportunity of making his fortune. He therefore +went at midnight to the place, and there he met with the wandering white +woman, and he told her why he was come, and offered his services to +raise the treasure. She, however, answered that he was not one of the +three, one of whom alone could free her, and that the wall in which was +the money would still remain so firm that no human being should be able +to break it. She also told him that at some future time he should be +rewarded for his good inclination; and, it is said, when a long time +after he passed by that place, and thought with compassion on the +sufferings of the unblest woman, he fell on his face over a great heap +of money, which soon put him again on his feet. The wall still remains +undisturbed, and as often as any one has attempted to throw it down, +whatever is thrown down in the day is replaced again in the night. + + * * * * * + +Three men went once in the night-time to Klumhöi to try their luck, for +a dragon watches there over a great treasure. They dug into the ground, +giving each other a strict charge not to utter a word whatever might +happen, otherwise all their labour would be in vain. When they had dug +pretty deep, their spades struck against a copper chest. They then made +signs to one another, and all, with both hands, laid hold of a great +copper ring that was on the top of the chest, and pulled up the +treasure. When they had just got it into their possession, one of them +forgot the necessity of silence, and shouted out-- + +"One pull more, and we have it!" + +That very instant the chest flew away out of their hands to the lake +Stöierup, but as they all held hard on the ring it remained in their +grasp. They went and fastened the ring on the door of St. Olaf's church, +and there it remains to this very day. + + * * * * * + +Near Dangstrup there is a hill which is called Dangbjerg Dons. Of this +hill it is related that it is at all times covered with a blue mist, and +that under it there lies a large copper kettle full of money. One night +two men went there to dig after this treasure, and they had got so far +as to lay hold of the handle of the kettle. All sorts of wonderful +things began then to appear to disturb them at their work. One time a +coach, drawn by four black horses, drove by them. Then they saw a black +dog with a fiery tongue. Then there came a cock drawing a load of hay. +Still the men persisted in not letting themselves speak, and still dug +on without stopping. At last a fellow came limping up to them and said-- + +"See, Dangstrup is on fire!" + +When the men looked towards the town, it appeared exactly as if the +whole place were in a bright flame. Then at length one of the men forgot +to keep silence, and the moment he uttered an exclamation the treasure +sank deeper and deeper, and as often since as any attempt has been made +to get it up, the trolls have, by their spells and artifices, prevented +its success. + + + + +HOLGER DANSKE. + + +The Danish peasantry of the present day relate many wonderful things of +an ancient hero whom they name Holger Danske, _i.e_. Danish Holger, +and to whom they ascribe wonderful strength and dimensions. + +Holger Danske came one time to a town named Bagsvoer, in the isle of +Zealand, where, being in want of a new suit of clothes, he sent for +twelve tailors to make them. He was so tall that they were obliged to +set ladders to his back and shoulders to take his measure. They measured +and measured away, but unluckily a man, who was on the top of one of the +ladders, happened, as he was cutting a mark in the measure, to give +Holger's ear a clip with the scissors. Holger, forgetting what was going +on, thinking that he was being bitten by a flea, put up his hand and +crushed the unlucky tailor to death between his fingers. + +It is also said that a witch one time gave him a pair of spectacles +which would enable him to see through the ground. He lay down at a place +not far from Copenhagen to make a trial of their powers, and as he put +his face close to the ground, he left in it the mark of his spectacles, +which mark is to be seen at this very day, and the size of it proves +what a goodly pair they must have been. + +Tradition does not say at what time it was that this mighty hero +honoured the isles of the Baltic with his actual presence, but, in +return, it informs us that Holger, like so many other heroes of renown, +"is not dead, but sleepeth." The clang of arms, we are told, was +frequently heard under the castle of Cronberg, but in all Denmark no one +could be found hardy enough to penetrate the subterranean recesses and +ascertain the cause. At length a slave, who had been condemned to death, +was offered his life and a pardon if he would go down, proceed through +the subterranean passage as far as it went, and bring an account of what +he should meet there. He accordingly descended, and went along till he +came to a great iron door, which opened of itself the instant he knocked +at it, and he beheld before him a deep vault. From the roof in the +centre hung a lamp whose flame was nearly extinct, and beneath was a +huge great stone table, around which sat steel-clad warriors, bowed down +over it, each with his head on his crossed arms. He who was seated at +the head of the board then raised himself up. This was Holger Danske. +When he had lifted his head up from off his arms, the stone table split +throughout, for his beard was grown into it. + +"Give me thy hand," said he to the intruder. + +The slave feared to trust his hand in the grasp of the ancient warrior, +and he reached him the end of an iron bar which he had brought with him. +Holger squeezed it so hard, that the mark of his hand remained in it. He +let it go at last, saying-- + +"Well! I am glad to find there are still men in Denmark." + + + + +TALES FROM THE PROSE EDDA + +THE GODS AND THE WOLF. + + +Among the Æsir, or gods, is reckoned one named Loki or Loptur. By many +he is called the reviler of the gods, the author of all fraud and +mischief, and the shame of gods and men alike. He is the son of the +giant Farbauti, his mother being Laufey or Nal, and his brothers Byleist +and Helblindi. He is of a goodly appearance and elegant form, but his +mood is changeable, and he is inclined to all wickedness. In cunning and +perfidy he excels every one, and many a time has he placed the gods in +great danger, and often has he saved them again by his cunning. He has a +wife named Siguna, and their son is called Nari. + +Loki had three children by Angurbodi, a giantess of Jotunheim (the +giants' home). The first of these was Fenris, the wolf; the second was +Jörmungand, the Midgard serpent; and the third was Hela, death. Very +soon did the gods become aware of this evil progeny which was being +reared in Jotunheim, and by divination they discovered that they must +receive great injury from them. That they had such a mother spoke bad +for them, but their coming of such a sire was a still worse presage. +All-father therefore despatched certain of the gods to bring the +children to him, and when they were brought before him he cast the +serpent down into the ocean which surrounds the world. There the monster +waxed so large that he wound himself round the whole globe, and that +with such ease that he can with his mouth lay hold of his tail. Hela +All-father cast into Niflheim, where she rules over nine worlds. Into +these she distributes all those who are sent to her,--that is to say, +all who die through sickness or old age. She has there an abode with +very thick walls, and fenced with strong gates. Her hall is Elvidnir; +her table is Hunger; her knife, Starvation; her man-servant, Delay; her +maid-servant, Sloth; her threshold, Precipice; her bed, Care; and her +curtains, Anguish of Soul. The one half of her body is livid, the other +half is flesh-colour. She has a terrible look, so that she can be easily +known. + +As to the wolf, Fenris, the gods let him grow up among themselves, Tyr +being the only one of them who dare give him his food. When, however, +they perceived how he every day increased prodigiously in size, and that +the oracles warned them that he would one day prove fatal to them, they +determined to make very strong iron fetters for him which they called +Loeding. These they presented to the wolf, and desired him to put them +on to show his strength by endeavouring to break them. The wolf saw that +it would not be difficult for him to burst them, so he let the gods put +the fetters on him, then violently stretching himself he broke the +fetters asunder, and set himself free. + +Having seen this, the gods went to work, and prepared a second set of +fetters, called Dromi, half as strong again as the former, and these +they persuaded the wolf to put on, assuring him that if he broke them he +would then furnish them with an undeniable proof of his power. The wolf +saw well enough that it would not be easy to break this set, but he +considered that he had himself increased in strength since he broke the +others, and he knew that without running some risk he could never become +celebrated. He therefore allowed the gods to place the fetters on him. +Then Fenris shook himself, stretched his limbs, rolled on the ground, +and at length burst the fetters, which he made fly in all directions. +Thus did he free himself the second time from his chains, and from this +has arisen the saying, "To get free from Loeding, or to burst from +Dromi," meaning to perform something by strong exertion. + +The gods now despaired of ever being able to secure the wolf with any +chain of their own making. All-father, however, sent Skirnir, the +messenger of the god Frey, into the country of the Black Elves, to the +dwarfs, to ask them to make a chain to bind Fenris with. This chain was +composed of six things--the noise made by the fall of a cat's foot, the +hair of a woman's beard, the roots of stones, the nerves of bears, the +breath of fish, and the spittle of birds. + +The fetters were as smooth and as soft as silk, and yet, as you will +presently see, of great strength. The gods were very thankful for them +when they were brought to them, and returned many thanks to him who +brought them. Then they took the wolf with them on to the island Lyngvi, +which is in the lake Amsvartnir, and there they showed him the chain, +desiring him to try his strength in breaking it. At the same time they +told him that it was a good deal stronger than it looked. They took it +in their own hands and pulled at it, attempting in vain to break it, and +then they said to Fenris-- + +"No one else but you, Fenris, can break it." + +"I don't see," replied the wolf, "that I shall gain any glory by +breaking such a slight string, but if any artifice has been employed in +the making of it, you may be sure, though it looks so fragile, it shall +never touch foot of mine." + +The gods told him he would easily break so slight a bandage, since he +had already broken asunder shackles of iron of the most solid make. + +"But," said they, "if you should not be able to break the chain, you are +too feeble to cause us any anxiety, and we shall not hesitate to loose +you again." + +"I very much fear," replied the wolf, "that if you once tie me up so +fast that I cannot release myself, you will be in no haste to unloose +me. I am, therefore, unwilling to have this cord wound around me; but to +show you I am no coward, I will agree to it, but one of you must put his +hand in my mouth, as a pledge that you intend me no deceit." + +The gods looked on one another wistfully, for they found themselves in +an embarrassing position. + +Then Tyr stepped forward and bravely put his right hand in the monster's +mouth. The gods then tied up the wolf, who forcibly stretched himself, +as he had formerly done, and exerted all his powers to disengage +himself; but the more efforts he made the tighter he drew the chain +about him, and then all the gods, except Tyr, who lost his hand, burst +out into laughter at the sight. Seeing that he was so fast tied that he +would never be able to get loose again, they took one end of the chain, +which was called Gelgja, and having drilled a hole for it, drew it +through the middle of a large broad rock, which they sank very deep in +the earth. Afterwards, to make all still more secure, they tied the end +of the chain, which came through the rock to a great stone called +Keviti, which they sank still deeper. The wolf used his utmost power to +free himself, and, opening his mouth, tried to bite them. When the gods +saw that they took a sword and thrust it into his mouth, so that it +entered his under jaw right up to the hilt, and the point reached his +palate. He howled in the most terrible manner, and since then the foam +has poured from his mouth in such abundance that it forms the river +called Von. So the wolf must remain until Ragnarök. + +Such a wicked race has Loki begot. The gods would not put the wolf to +death because they respected the sanctity of the place, which forbade +blood being shed there. + + + + +THE STRANGE BUILDER. + + +Once upon a time, when the gods were building their abodes, a certain +builder came and offered to erect them, in the space of three +half-years, a city so well fortified that they should be quite safe in +it from the incursions of the forest-giants and the giants of the +mountains, even although these foes should have already penetrated +within the enclosure Midgard. He asked, however, for his reward, the +goddess Freyja, together with the sun and moon. The gods thought over +the matter a long while, and at length agreed to his terms, on the +understanding that he would finish the whole work himself without any +one's assistance, and that all was to be finished within the space of +one single winter. If anything remained to be done when the first day of +summer came, the builder was to entirely forfeit the reward agreed on. +When the builder was told this he asked that he might be allowed the use +of his horse, Svadilfari, and to this the gods, by the advice of Loki, +agreed. + +On the first day of winter the builder set to work, and during the night +he caused his horse to draw stones for the building. The gods beheld +with astonishment the extraordinary size of these, and marked with +wonder that the horse did much more work than his master. The contract +between them and the giant had, however, been confirmed with many oaths +and in the presence of many witnesses, for without such a precaution a +giant would not have trusted himself among the gods, especially at a +time when Thor was returning from an expedition he had made into the +east against the giants. + +The winter was far advanced, and towards its end the city had been built +so strongly and so lofty as to be almost secure. The time was nearly +expired, only three days remaining, and nothing was wanted to complete +the work save the gates, which were not yet put up. The gods then began +to deliberate, and to ask one another who it was that had advised that +Freyja should be given to one who dwelt in Jotunheim, and that they +should plunge the heavens in darkness by allowing one to carry away with +him the sun and moon. They all agreed that only Loki could have given +such bad counsel, and that it would be only just to either make him +contrive some way or other to prevent the builder accomplishing his work +and having a right to claim his reward, or to put him to death. They at +once laid hands on Loki, who, in his fright, promised upon oath to do +what they desired, let it cost him what it might. + +That very night, while the builder was employing his horse to convey +stones, a mare suddenly ran out of a neighbouring forest and commenced +to neigh. The horse broke loose and ran after the mare into the forest, +and the builder ran after his horse. + +Between one thing and another the whole night was lost, so that when day +broke the work was not completed. + +The builder, recognising that he could by no means finish his task, +took again his giant form; and the gods, seeing that it was a +mountain-giant with whom they had to deal, feeling that their oath did +not bind them, called on Thor. He at once ran to them, and paid the +builder his fee with a blow of his hammer which shattered his skull to +pieces and threw him down headlong into Niflhel. + +The horse Sleipner comes of the horse Svadilfari, and it excels all +others possessed by gods or men. + + + + +THOR'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF GIANTS. + + +One day the god Thor set out with Loki in his chariot drawn by two +he-goats. Night coming on they were obliged to put up at a peasant's +cottage, when Thor slew his goats, and having skinned them, had them put +into the pot. When this had been done he sat down to supper and invited +the peasant and his children to take part in the feast. The peasant had +a son named Thjalfi, and a daughter, Röska. Thor told them to throw the +bones into the goatskins, which were spread out near the hearth, but +young Thjalfi, in order to get at the marrow, broke one of the shank +bones with his knife. Having passed the night in this place, Thor rose +early in the morning, and having dressed himself, held up his hammer, +Mjolnir, and thus consecrating the goatskins; he had no sooner done it +than the two goats took again their usual form, only one of them was now +lame in one of its hind-legs. When Thor saw this he at once knew that +the peasant or one of his family had handled the bones of the goat too +roughly, for one was broken. They were terribly afraid when Thor knit +his brows, rolled his eyes, seized his hammer, and grasped it with such +force that the very joints of his fingers were white again. The peasant, +trembling, and fearful that he would be struck down by the looks of the +god, begged with his family for pardon, offering whatever they possessed +to repair the damage they might have done. Thor allowed them to appease +him, and contented himself with taking with him Thjalfi and Röska, who +became his servants, and have since followed him. + +Leaving his goats at that place, Thor set out to the east, to the +country of the giants. At length they came to the shore of a wide and +deep sea which Thor, with Loki, Thjalfi, and Röska passed over. Then +they came to a strange country, and entered an immense forest in which +they journeyed all day. Thjalfi was unexcelled by any man as a runner, +and he carried Thor's bag, but in the forest they could find nothing +eatable to put in it. As night came on they searched on all sides for a +place where they might sleep, and at last they came to what appeared to +be a large hall, the gate of which was so large that it took up the +whole of one side of the building. Here they lay down to sleep, but +about the middle of the night they were alarmed by what seemed to be an +earthquake which shook the whole of the building. Thor, rising, called +his companions to seek with him some safer place. Leaving the apartment +they were in, they found on their right hand an adjoining chamber into +which they entered, but while the others, trembling with fear, crept to +the farthest corner of their retreat, Thor, armed with his mace, +remained at the entrance ready to defend himself, happen what might. +Throughout the night they heard a terrible groaning, and when the +morning came, Thor, going out, observed a man of enormous size, lying +near, asleep and snoring heavily. Then Thor knew that this was the noise +he had heard during the night. He immediately girded on his belt of +prowess which had the virtue of increasing his strength. The giant awoke +and stood up, and it is said that for once Thor was too frightened to +use his hammer, and he therefore contented himself with inquiring the +giant's name. + +"My name," replied the giant, "is Skrymir. As for you it is not +necessary I should ask your name. You are the god Thor. Tell me, what +have you done with my glove?" + +Then Skrymir stretched out his hand and took it up, and Thor saw that +what he and his companions had taken for a hall in which they had passed +the night, was the giant's glove, the chamber into which they had +retreated being only the thumb. + +Skrymir asked whether they might not be friends, and Thor agreeing, the +giant opened his bag and took out something to eat. Thor and his +companions also made their morning meal, but eat in another place. Then +Skrymir, proposing that they should put their provisions together, and +Thor assenting to it, put all into one bag, and laying it on his +shoulder marched before them, with huge strides, during the whole day. +At night he found a place where Thor and his companions might rest under +an oak. There, he said, he would lie down and sleep. + +"You take the bag," said he, "and make your supper." + +He was soon asleep, and, strange as it may seem, when Thor tried to open +the bag he could not untie a single knot nor loose the string. Enraged +at this he seized his hammer, swayed it in both his hands, took a step +forward, and hurled it at the giant's head. This awoke the giant, who +asked him if a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had +finished their supper. Thor said they were just about to lie down to +sleep, and went to lie under another oak-tree. About midnight, observing +that Skrymir was snoring so loudly that the forest re-echoed the din, +Thor grasped his hammer and hurled it with such force at him that it +sank up to the handle in his head. + +"What is the matter?" asked he, awakening. "Did an acorn fall on my +head? How are you going on, Thor?" + +Thor departed at once, saying that it was only midnight and that he +hoped to get some more sleep yet. He resolved, however, to have a third +blow at the giant, hoping that with this he might settle everything. +Seizing his hammer, he, with all his force, threw it at the giant's +cheek, into which it buried itself up to the handle. Skrymir, awaking, +put his hand to his cheek, and said-- + +"Are there any birds perched on this tree? I thought some moss fell upon +me. How! art thou awake, Thor? It is time, is it not, for us to get up +and dress ourselves? You have not far, however, to go before you arrive +at the city Utgard. I have heard you whispering together that I am a +very tall fellow, but there you will see many larger than me. Let me +advise you then when you get there not to take too much upon yourselves, +for the men of Utgard-Loki will not bear much from such little folk as +you. I believe your best way would even be to turn back again, but if +you are determined to proceed take the road that goes towards the east, +as for me mine now lies to the north." + +After he had said this, he put his bag upon his shoulder and turned away +into a forest; and I could never hear that Thor wished him a good +journey. + +Proceeding on his way with his companions, Thor saw towards noon a city +situated in the middle of a vast plain. The wall of the city was so +lofty that one could not look up to the top of it without throwing one's +head quite back upon the shoulder. On coming to the wall, they found the +gate-way closed with bars, which Thor never could have opened, but he +and his companions crept in between them, and thus entered the place. +Before them was a large palace, and as the door of it was open, they +entered and found a number of men of enormous size, seated on benches. +Going on they came into the presence of the king, Utgard-Loki, whom they +saluted with great respect, but he, looking upon them for a time, at +length cast a scornful glance at them, and burst into laughter. + +"It would take up too much time," said he, "to ask you concerning the +long journey you have made, but if I am not mistaken that little man +there is Aku-Thor. You may," said he to Thor, "be bigger than you seem +to be. What are you and your companions skilled in that we may see what +they can do, for no one may remain here unless he understands some art +and excels in it all other men?" + +"I," said Loki, "can eat quicker than any one else, and of that I am +ready to give proof if there is here any one who will compete with me." + +"It must, indeed, be owned," replied the king, "that you are not wanting +in dexterity, if you are able to do what you say. Come, let us test it." + +Then he ordered one of his followers who was sitting at the further end +of the bench, and whose name was Logi (Flame) to come forward, and try +his skill with Loki. A great tub or trough full of flesh meat was placed +in the hall, and Loki having placed himself at one end of the trough, +and Logi having set himself at the other end, the two commenced to eat. +Presently they met in the middle of the trough, but Loki had only +devoured the flesh of his portion, whereas the other had devoured both +flesh and bones. All the company therefore decided that Loki was +beaten. + +Then Utgard-Loki asked what the young man could do who accompanied Thor. +Thjalfi said that in running he would compete with any one. The king +admitted that skill in running was something very good, but he thought +Thjalfi must exert himself to the utmost to win in the contest. He rose +and, accompanied by all the company, went to a plain where there was a +good place for the match, and then calling a young man named Hugi +(Spirit or Thought), he ordered him to run with Thjalfi. In the first +race Hugi ran so fast away from Thjalfi that on his returning to the +starting-place he met him not far from it. Then said the king-- + +"If you are to win, Thjalfi, you must run faster, though I must own no +man has ever come here who was swifter of foot." + +In the second trial, Thjalfi was a full bow-shot from the boundary when +Hugi arrived at it. + +"Very well do you run, Thjalfi," said Utgard-Loki; "but I do not think +you will gain the prize. However, the third trial will decide." + +They ran a third time, but Hugi had already reached the goal before +Thjalfi had got half-way. Then all present cried out that there had been +a sufficient trial of skill in that exercise. + +Then Utgard-Loki asked Thor in what manner he would choose to give them +a proof of the dexterity for which he was so famous. Thor replied that +he would contest the prize for drinking with any one in the court. +Utgard-Loki consented to the match, and going into the palace, ordered +his cup-bearer to bring the large horn out of which his followers were +obliged to drink when they had trespassed in any way against the customs +of the court. The cup-bearer presented this to Thor, and Utgard-Loki +said-- + +"Whoever is a good drinker will empty that horn at a draught. Some men +make two draughts of it, but the most puny drinker of all can empty it +in three." + +Thor looked at the horn, which seemed very long, but was otherwise of no +extraordinary size. He put it to his mouth, and, without drawing breath, +pulled as long and as deeply as he could, that he might not be obliged +to make a second draught of it. When, however, he set the horn down and +looked in it he could scarcely perceive that any of the liquor was gone. + +"You have drunk well," said Utgard-Loki; "but you need not boast. Had it +been told me that Asu-Thor could only drink so little, I should not have +credited it. No doubt you will do better at the second pull." + +Without a word, Thor again set the horn to his lips and exerted himself +to the utmost. When he looked in it seemed to him that he had not drunk +quite so much as before, but the horn could now be carried without +danger of spilling the liquor. Then Utgard-Loki said-- + +"Well, Thor, you should not spare yourself more than befits you in such +drinking. If now you mean to drink off the horn the third time it seems +to me you must drink more than you have done. You will never be reckoned +so great a man amongst us as the Æsir make you out to be if you cannot +do better in other games than it appears to me you will do in this." + +Thor, angry, put the horn to his mouth and drank the best he could and +as long as he was able, but when he looked into the horn the liquor was +only a little lower. Then he gave the horn to the cup-bearer, and would +drink no more. + +Then said Utgard-Loki-- + +"It is plain that you are not so mighty as we imagined. Will you try +another game? It seems to me there is little chance of your taking a +prize hence." + +"I will try more contests yet," answered Thor. "Such draughts as I have +drunk would not have seemed small to the Æsir. But what new game have +you?" + +Utgard-Loki answered-- + +"The lads here do a thing which is not much. They lift my cat up from +the ground. I should not have thought of proposing such a feat to +Asu-Thor, had I not first seen that he is less by far than we took him +to be." + +As he spoke there sprang upon the hall floor a very large grey cat. Thor +went up to it and put his hand under its middle and tried to lift it +from the floor. The cat bent its back as Thor raised his hands, and when +Thor had exerted himself to the utmost the cat had only one foot off the +floor. Then Thor would make no further trial. + +"I thought this game would go so," said Utgard-Loki. "The cat is large +and Thor is little when compared with our men." + +"Little as you call me," answered Thor, "let any one come here and +wrestle with me, for now I am angry." + +Utgard-Loki looked along the benches, and said-- + +"I see no man here who would not think it absurd to wrestle with you, +but let some one call here the old woman, my nurse, Elli, and let Thor +wrestle with her, if he will. She has cast to the ground many a man who +seemed to me to be as strong as Thor." + +Then came into the hall a toothless old woman, and Utgard-Loki told her +to wrestle with Asu-Thor. The story is not a long one. The harder Thor +tightened his hold, the firmer the old woman stood. Then she began to +exert herself, Thor tottered, and at last, after a violent tussle, he +fell on one knee. On this Utgard-Loki told them to stop, adding that +Thor could not desire any one else to wrestle with him in the hall, and +the night had closed in. He showed Thor and his companions to seats, and +they passed the night, faring well. + +At daybreak the next morning, Thor and his companions rose, dressed +themselves, and prepared to leave at once. Then Utgard-Loki came to them +and ordered a table to be set for them having on it plenty of meat and +drink. Afterwards he led them out of the city, and on parting asked Thor +how he thought his journey had prospered, and whether he had met with +any stronger than himself. Thor said he must own he had been much +shamed. + +"And," said he, "I know you will call me a man of little might, and I +can badly bear that." + +"Shall I tell you the truth?" said Utgard-Loki. "We are now out of the +city, and while I live and have my own way, you will never again enter +it. By my word you had never come in had I known before you had been so +strong and would bring us so near to great misfortune. I have deluded +thee with vain shows; first in the forest, where I met you, and where +you were unable to untie the wallet because I had bound it with +iron-thread so that you could not discover where the knot could be +loosened. After that you gave me three blows with your hammer. The first +blow, though the lightest, would have killed me had it fallen on me, but +I put a rock in my place which you did not see. In that rocky mountain +you will find three dales, one of which is very deep, those are the +dints made by your hammer. In the other games, I have deceived you with +illusions. The first one was the match with Loki. He was hungry and eat +fast, but Logi was Flame, and he consumed not only the flesh but the +trough with it. When Thjalfi contended with Hugi in running, Hugi was my +thought, and it was not possible for Thjalfi to excel that in swiftness. +When you drank of the horn and the liquor seemed to get lower so slowly, +you did, indeed, so well that had I not seen it, I should never have +believed it. You did not see that one end of the horn was in the sea, +but when you come to the shore you will see how much the sea has shrunk +in consequence of your draughts, which have caused what is called the +ebb. Nor did you do a less wondrous thing when you lifted up the cat, +and I can assure you all were afraid when you raised one of its paws off +the ground. The cat was the great Midgard serpent which lies stretched +round the whole earth, and when you raised it so high then did its +length barely suffice to enclose the earth between its head and tail. +Your wrestling match with Elli was, too, a great feat, for no one has +there been yet, and no one shall there be whom old age does not come and +trip up, if he but await her coming. Now we must part, and let me say +that it will be better for both of us if you never more come to seek me, +for I shall always defend my city with tricks, so that you will never +overcome me." + +When Thor heard that he grasped his mace in a rage, and raised it to +hurl it at Utgard-Loki, but he had disappeared. Then Thor wanted to +return to the city, but he could see nothing but a wide fair plain. So +he turned, and went on his way till he came to Thrudvang, resolving if +he had an opportunity to attack the Midgard serpent. + + +HOW THOR WENT A-FISHING. + +Thor had not been long at home before he left it so hastily that he did +not take his car, his goats, or any follower with him. He left Midgard +disguised as a young man, and when night was coming on, arrived at the +house of a giant, called Hymir. Thor stayed there as a guest for the +night, and when he saw in the morning that the giant rose, dressed +himself, and prepared to go out to sea-fishing in his boat, he begged +him to let him go also. Hymir said he was too little and young to be of +much use. + +"And besides," added he, "you will die of cold, if I go so far out and +sit so long as I am accustomed." + +Thor said he would row as far out as ever Hymir wanted, and he thought +he might not be the first to want to row back. While he said this he was +in such a rage that he had much to do to keep himself from throwing the +hammer at once at the giant's head, but he calmed himself thinking that +he might soon try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what bait he +should use, but Hymir told him to look out for himself. Then Thor went +up to a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir, and capturing the largest bull, +called Himinbrjot, he wrung off its head, and went with it to the +sea-shore. Hymir launched the skiff, and Thor, sitting down in the +after-part, rowed with two oars so that Hymir, who rowed in the +fore-part, wondered to see how fast the boat went on. At length he said +they had arrived at the place where he was accustomed to fish for flat +fish, but Thor told him they had better go on further. So they rowed +till Hymir cried out that if they proceeded further they might be in +danger from the Midgard serpent. In spite of this, Thor said he would +row further, and so he rowed on, disregarding Hymir's words. When he +laid down his oars, he took out a very strong fishing line to which was +a no less strong hook. On this he fixed the bull's head and cast it over +into the sea. The bait soon reached the ground, and then truly Thor +deceived the Midgard serpent no less than Utgard-Loki deceived Thor when +he gave him the serpent to lift in his hand. The Midgard serpent gaped +wide at the bait, and the hook stuck fast in his mouth. When the worm +felt this he tugged at the hook so that Thor's hands were dashed against +the side of the boat. Then Thor got angry, and, collecting to himself +all his divine strength, he pulled so hard that his feet went through +the bottom of the boat and down to the sea's bottom. Then he drew the +serpent up on board. No one can be said to have seen an ugly sight who +did not see that. Thor threw wrathful looks on the serpent, and the +monster staring at him from below cast out venom at him. The giant +Hymir, it is said, turned pale when he saw the serpent, quaked, and, +seeing that the sea ran in and out of the skiff, just as Thor raised +aloft his mace, took out his knife and cut the line so that the serpent +at once sank under the water. Thor cast his mace at the serpent, and +some say it cut off its head at the bottom, but it is more true that the +Midgard serpent is yet alive lying at the bottom of the ocean. With his +fist Thor struck Hymir such a blow over the ear that the giant tumbled +headlong into the water, and Thor then waded to land. + + + + +THE DEATH OF BALDUR. + + +Baldur the Good had dreams which forewarned him that his life was in +danger, and he told the gods of them. The gods took counsel together +what should be done, and it was agreed that they should conjure away all +danger that might threaten him. Frigga took an oath of fire, water, +iron, and all other metals, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses, beasts, +birds, poisons, and worms, that these would none of them hurt Baldur. +When this had been done the gods used to divert themselves, Baldur +standing up in the assembly, and all the others throwing at him, hewing +at him, and smiting him with stones, for, do all they would, he received +no hurt, and in this sport all enjoyed themselves. + +Loki, however, looked on with envy when he saw that Baldur was not hurt. +So he assumed the form of a woman, and set out to Fensalir to Frigga. +Frigga asked if the stranger knew what the gods did when they met. He +answered that they all shot at Baldur and he was not hurt. + +"No weapon, nor tree may hurt Baldur," answers Frigga, "I have taken an +oath of them all not to do so." + +"What," said the pretended woman, "have all things then sworn to spare +Baldur?" + +"There is only one little twig which grows to the east of Valhalla, +which is called the mistletoe. Of that I took no oath, for it seemed to +me too young and feeble to do any hurt." + +Then the strange woman departed, and Loki having found the mistletoe, +cut it off, and went to the assembly. There he found Hodur standing +apart by himself, for he was blind. Then said Loki to him-- + +"Why do you not throw at Baldur?" + +"Because," said he, "I am blind and cannot see him, and besides I have +nothing to throw." + +"Do as the others," said Loki, "and honour Baldur as the rest do. I will +direct your aim. Throw this shaft at him." + +Hodur took the mistletoe and, Loki directing him, aimed at Baldur. The +aim was good. The shaft pierced him through, and Baldur fell dead upon +the earth. Surely never was there a greater misfortune either among gods +or men. + +When the gods saw that Baldur was dead then they were silent, aghast, +and stood motionless. They looked on one another, and were all agreed as +to what he deserved who had done the deed, but out of respect to the +place none dared avenge Baldur's death. They broke the silence at length +with wailing, words failing them with which to express their sorrow. +Odin, as was right, was more sorrowful than any of the others, for he +best knew what a loss the gods had sustained. + +At last when the gods had recovered themselves, Frigga asked-- + +"Who is there among the gods who will win my love and good-will? That +shall he have if he will ride to Hel, and seek Baldur, and offer Hela a +reward if she will let Baldur come home to Asgard." + +Hermod the nimble, Odin's lad, said he would make the journey. So he +mounted Odin's horse, Sleipner, and went his way. + +The gods took Baldur's body down to the sea-shore, where stood +Hringhorn, Baldur's vessel, the biggest in the world. When the gods +tried to launch it into the water, in order to make on it a funeral fire +for Baldur, the ship would not stir. Then they despatched one to +Jotunheim for the sorceress called Hyrrokin, who came riding on a wolf +with twisted serpents by way of reins. Odin called for four Berserkir to +hold the horse, but they could not secure it till they had thrown it to +the ground. Then Hyrrokin went to the stem of the ship, and set it +afloat with a single touch, the vessel going so fast that fire sprang +from the rollers, and the earth trembled. Then Thor was so angry that he +took his hammer and wanted to cast it at the woman's head, but the gods +pleaded for her and appeased him. The body of Baldur being placed on the +ship, Nanna, the daughter of Nep, Baldur's wife, seeing it, died of a +broken heart, so she was borne to the pile and thrown into the fire. + +Thor stood up and consecrated the pile with Mjolnir. A little dwarf, +called Litur, ran before his feet, and Thor gave him a push, and threw +him into the fire, and he was burnt. Many kinds of people came to this +ceremony. With Odin came Frigga and the Valkyrjor with his ravens. Frey +drove in a car drawn by the boar, Gullinbursti or Slidrugtanni. Heimdall +rode the horse Gulltopp, and Freyja drove her cats. There were also many +of the forest-giants and mountain-giants there. On the pile Odin laid +the gold ring called Draupnir, giving it the property that every ninth +night it produces eight rings of equal weight. In the same pile was also +consumed Baldur's horse. + +For nine nights and days Hermod rode through deep valleys, so dark that +he could see nothing. Then he came to the river Gjöll which he crossed +by the bridge which is covered with shining gold. The maid who keeps the +bridge is called Modgudur. She asked Hermod his name and family, and +told him that on the former day there had ridden over the bridge five +bands of dead men. + +"They did not make my bridge ring as you do, and you have not the hue of +the dead. Why ride you thus on the way to Hel?" + +He said-- + +"I ride to Hel to find Baldur. Have you seen him on his way to that +place?" + +"Baldur," answered she, "has passed over the bridge, but the way to Hel +is below to the north." + +Hermod rode on till he came to the entrance of Hel, which was guarded by +a grate. He dismounted, looked to the girths of his saddle, mounted, and +clapping his spurs into the horse, cleared the grate easily. Then he +rode on to the hall and, dismounting, entered it. There he saw his +brother, Baldur, seated in the first place, and there Hermod stopped +the night. + +In the morning he saw Hela, and begged her to let Baldur ride home with +him, telling her how much the gods had sorrowed over his death. Hela +told him she would test whether it were true that Baldur was so much +loved. + +"If," said she, "all things weep for him, then he shall return to the +gods, but if any speak against him or refuse to weep, then he shall +remain in Hel." + +Then Hermod rose to go, and Baldur, leading him out of the hall, gave +him the ring, Draupnir, which he wished Odin to have as a keepsake. +Nanna also sent Frigga a present, and a ring to Fulla. + +Hermod rode back, and coming to Asgard related all he had seen and +heard. Then the gods sent messengers over all the world seeking to get +Baldur brought back again by weeping. All wept, men and living things, +earth, stones, trees, and metals, all weeping as they do when they are +subjected to heat after frost. Then the messengers came back again, +thinking they had done their errand well. On their way they came to a +cave wherein sat a hag named Thaukt. The messengers prayed her to assist +in weeping Baldur out of Hel. + +"I will weep dry tears," answered she, "over Baldur's pyre. What gain I +by the son of man, be he live or dead? Let Hela hold what she has." + +It was thought that this must have been Loki, Laufey's son, he who has +ever wrought such harm to the gods. + + + + +THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI. + + +The gods were so angry with Loki that he had to run away and hide +himself in the mountains, and there he built a house which had four +doors, so that he could see around him on every side. He would often in +the day-time change himself into a salmon and hide in the water called +Franangursfors, and he thought over what trick the gods might devise to +capture him there. One day while he sat in his house, he took flax and +yarn, and with it made meshes like those of a net, a fire burning in +front of him. Then he became aware that the gods were near at hand, for +Odin had seen out of Hlidskjalf where he was. Loki sprang up, threw his +work into the fire, and went to the river. When the gods came to the +house, the first that entered was Kvasir, who was the most acute of them +all. In the hot embers he saw the ashes of a net, such as is used in +fishing, and he told the gods of it, and they made a net like that which +they saw in the ashes. When it was ready they went to the river and cast +the net in, Thor holding one end and the rest of the gods the other, and +so they drew it. Loki travelled in front of it and lay down between two +stones so that the net went over him, but the gods felt that something +living had been against the net. Then they cast the net a second time, +binding up in it a weight so that nothing could pass under it. Loki +travelled before it till he saw the sea in front of him. Then he leapt +over the top of the net and again made his way up the stream. The gods +saw this, so they once more dragged the stream, while Thor waded in the +middle of it. So they went to the sea. + +Then Loki saw in what a dangerous situation he was. He must risk his +life if he swam out to sea. The only other alternative was to leap over +the net. That he did, jumping as quickly as he could over the top cord. + +Thor snatched at him, and tried to hold him, but he slipped through his +hand, and would have escaped, but for his tail, and this is the reason +why salmon have their tails so thin. + +Loki being captured, they took him to a certain cavern, and they took +three rocks, through each of which they bored a hole. Then they took +Loki's sons Vali and Nari, and having changed Vali into a wolf, he tore +his brother Nari into pieces. Then the gods took his intestines and +bound Loki with them to the three stones, and they changed the cord into +bands of iron. Skadi then took a serpent and suspended it over Loki's +head so that the venom drops from it on to his face. Siguna, Loki's +wife, stands near him, and holds a dish receiving the venom as it falls, +and when the dish is full she goes out and pours its contents away. +While she is doing this, however, the venom falls on Loki, and causes +him such intense pain that he writhes so that the earth is shaken as if +by an earthquake. + +There he lies till Ragnarök (the twilight of the gods). + + + + +ORIGIN OF TIIS LAKE. + + +A troll had once taken up his abode near the village of Kund, in the +high bank on which the church now stands, but when the people about +there had become pious, and went constantly to church, the troll was +dreadfully annoyed by their almost incessant ringing of bells in the +steeple of the church. He was at last obliged, in consequence of it, to +take his departure, for nothing has more contributed to the emigration +of the troll-folk out of the country, than the increasing piety of the +people, and their taking to bell-ringing. The troll of Kund accordingly +quitted the country, and went over to Funen, where he lived for some +time in peace and quiet. Now it chanced that a man who had lately +settled in the town of Kund, coming to Funen on business, met this same +troll on the road. + +"Where do you live?" asked the troll. + +Now there was nothing whatever about the troll unlike a man, so he +answered him, as was the truth-- + +"I am from the town of Kund." + +"So?" said the troll, "I don't know you then. And yet I think I know +every man in Kund. Will you, however," said he, "be so kind as to take a +letter for me back with you to Kund?" + +The man, of course, said he had no objection. + +The troll put a letter into his pocket and charged him strictly not to +take it out until he came to Kund church. Then he was to throw it over +the churchyard wall, and the person for whom it was intended would get +it. + +The troll then went away in great haste, and with him the letter went +entirely out of the man's mind. But when he was come back to Zealand he +sat down by the meadow where Tiis lake now is, and suddenly recollected +the troll's letter. He felt a great desire to look at it at least, so he +took it out of his pocket and sat a while with it in his hands, when +suddenly there began to dribble a little water out of the seal. The +letter now unfolded itself and the water came out faster and faster, and +it was with the utmost difficulty the poor man was able to save his +life, for the malicious troll had enclosed a whole lake in the letter. + +The troll, it is plain, had thought to avenge himself on Kund church by +destroying it in this manner, but God ordered it so that the lake +chanced to run out in the great meadow where it now stands. + + + + +THERE ARE SUCH WOMEN. + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they wanted to sow +their fields, but they had neither seed nor money to buy it with. +However, they had one cow, and so they decided that the man should drive +it to the town and sell it, so that they might buy seed with the money. +When the time came, however, the woman was afraid to let her husband +take the cow, fearing he would spend the money in drink. So she set off +herself with the cow, and took a hen with her also. + +When she was near the town she met a butcher, who said-- + +"Do you want to sell the cow, mother?" + +"Yes," answered she, "I do." + +"How much do you want for it?" + +"I want a mark for the cow, and you shall have the hen for sixty marks." + +"Well," said he, "I have no need of the hen. You can get rid of that +when you come to the town, but I will give you a mark for the cow." + +She sold him the cow and got the mark for it, but when she came to the +town she could find no one who would give her sixty marks for a tough +lean hen. So she went back to the butcher and said-- + +"I cannot get this hen off, master, so you had better take it also with +the cow." + +"We will see about it," said the butcher. So he gave her something to +eat, and gave her so much brandy that she became tipsy and lost her +senses, and fell asleep. + +When he saw that, the butcher dipped her in a barrel of tar, and then +laid her on a heap of feathers. + +When she awoke she found herself feathered all over, and wondered at +herself. + +"Is it me or some one else?" said she. "No, it cannot be me. It must be +a strange bird. How shall I find out whether it is me or not? Oh, I +know. When I get home, if the calves lick me, and the dog does not bark +at me, then it is me myself." + +The dog had no sooner seen her than he began to bark, as if there were +thieves and robbers in the yard. + +"Now," said she, "I see it is not me." + +She went to the cow-house but the calves would not lick her, for they +smelt the strong tar. + +"No," said she, "I see it cannot be me. It must be some strange bird." + +So she crept up to the top of the barn, and began to flap her arms as if +they had been wings, and tried to fly. Her husband saw her, so he came +out with his gun and took aim. + +"Don't shoot, don't shoot," called his wife. "It is me." + +"Is it you?" said the man. "Then don't stand there like a goat. Come +down and tell me what account you can give of yourself." + +She crept down again; but she had not a shilling, for she had lost the +mark the butcher had given her while she was drunk. + +When the man heard that he was very angry, and declared he would leave +her, and never come back again until he had found three women as big +fools as his wife. + +So he set off, and when he had gone a little way he saw a woman who ran +in and out of a newly built wood hut with an empty sieve. Every time she +ran in she threw her apron over the sieve, as if she had something in +it. + +"Why do you do that, mother?" asked he. + +"Why, I am only carrying in a little sun," said she, "but I don't +understand how it is, when I am outside I get the sunshine in the sieve, +but when I get in I have somehow lost it. When I was in my old hut I had +plenty of sunshine, though I never carried it in. I wish I knew some one +who would give me sunshine. I would give him three hundred dollars." + +"Have you an axe?" asked the man. "If so I will get you sunshine." + +She gave him an axe and he cut some windows in the hut, for the +carpenter had forgotten them. Then the sun shone in, and the woman gave +him three hundred dollars. + +"That's one," said the man, and he set out once more. + +Some time after he came to a house in which he heard a terrible noise +and bellowing. He went in and saw a woman who was beating her husband +across the head with a stick with all her might. Over the man's head +there was a shirt in which there was no hole for his head to go through. + +"Mother," said he, "will you kill your husband?" + +"No," said she, "I only want a hole for his head in the shirt." + +The man called out and, struggling, cried-- + +"Heaven preserve and comfort all such as have new shirts! If any one +would only teach my wife some new way to make a head-hole in them I +would gladly give him three hundred dollars." + +"That shall soon be done. Give me a pair of scissors," said the other. + +The woman gave him the scissors, and he cut a hole in the shirt for the +man's head to go through, and took the three hundred dollars. + +"That is number two," said he to himself. + +After some time he came to a farm-house, where he thought he would rest +a while. When he went in the woman said-- + +"Where do you come from, father?" + +"I am from Ringerige (Paradise)," said he. + +"Ah! dear, dear! Are you from Himmerige (Heaven)?" said she. "Then you +will know my second husband, Peter; happy may he be!" + +The woman had had three husbands. The first and third had been bad and +had used her ill, but the second had used her well, so she counted him +as safe. + +"Yes," said the man, "I know him well." + +"How does he get on there?" asked the woman. + +"Only pretty well," said the man. "He goes about begging from one house +to another, and has but little food, or clothes on his back. As to money +he has nothing." + +"Heaven have mercy on him!" cried the woman. "He ought not to go about +in such a miserable state when he left so much behind. There is a +cupboard full of clothes which belonged to him, and there is a big box +full of money, too. If you will take the things with you, you can have a +horse and cart to carry them. He can keep the horse, and he can sit in +the cart as he goes from house to house, for so he ought to go." + +The man from Ringerige got a whole cart-load of clothes and a box full +of bright silver money, with meat and drink, as much as he wanted. When +he had got all he wished, he got into the cart, and once more set out. + +"That is the third," said he to himself. + +Now the woman's third husband was ploughing in a field, and when he saw +a man he did not know come out of his yard with his horse and cart, he +went home and asked his wife, who it was that was going off with the +black horse. + +"Oh," said the woman, "that is a man from Himmerige (Heaven). He told me +that things went so miserably with my second Peter, my poor husband, +that he had to go begging from house to house and had no money or +clothes. I have therefore sent him the old clothes he left behind, and +the old money box with the money in it." + +The man saw how matters were, so he saddled a horse and went out of the +yard at full speed. It was not long before he came up to the man who sat +and drove the cart. When the other saw him he drove the horse and cart +into a wood, pulled a handful of hair out of the horse's tail, and ran +up a little hill, where he tied the hair fast to a birch-tree. Then he +lay down under the tree and began to look and stare at the sky. + +"Well, well," said he, as if talking to himself, when Peter the third +came near. "Well! never before have I seen anything to match it." + +Peter stood still for a time and looked at him, and wondered what was +come to him. At last he said-- + +"Why do you lie there and stare so?" + +"I never saw anything like it," said the other. "A man has gone up to +heaven on a black horse. Here in the birch-tree is some of the horse's +tail hanging, and there in the sky you may see the black horse." + +Peter stared first at the man and then at the sky, and said-- + +"For my part, I see nothing but some hair out of a horse's tail in the +birch-tree." + +"Yes," said the other, "you cannot see it where you stand, but come here +and lie down, and look up, and take care not to take your eyes off the +sky." + +Peter the third lay down and stared up at the sky till the tears ran +from his eyes. The man from Ringerige took his horse, mounted it, and +galloped away with it and the horse and cart. When he heard the noise +on the road, Peter the third sprang up, but when he found the man had +gone off with his horse he was so astonished that he did not think of +going after him till it was too late. + +He was very down-faced when he went home to his wife, and when she asked +him what he had done with the horse, he said-- + +"I gave it to Peter the second, for I didn't think it was right he +should sit in a cart and jolt about from house to house in Himmerige. +Now then he can sell the cart, and buy himself a coach, and drive +about." + +"Heaven bless you for that," said the woman. "I never thought you were +so kind-hearted a man." + +When the Ringerige man reached home with his six hundred dollars, his +cart-load of clothes, and the money, he saw that all his fields were +ploughed and sown. The first question he put to his wife was how she had +got the seed. + +"Well," said she, "I always heard that what a man sowed he reaped, so I +sowed the salt the North-people left here, and if we only have rain I +don't doubt but that it will come up nicely." + +"You are silly," said the man, "and silly you must remain, but that does +not much matter, for the others are as silly as yourself." + + + + +TALES OF THE NISSES. + + +The Nis is the same being that is called Kobold in Germany, and Brownie +in Scotland. He is in Denmark and Norway also called Nisse god Dreng +(Nissè good lad), and in Sweden, Tomtegubbe (the old man of the house). + +He is of the dwarf family, and resembles them in appearance, and, like +them, has the command of money, and the same dislike to noise and +tumult. + +His usual dress is grey, with a pointed red cap, but on Michaelmas-day +he wears a round hat like those of the peasants. + +No farm-house goes on well without there is a Nis in it, and well is it +for the maids and the men when they are in favour with him. They may go +to their beds and give themselves no trouble about their work, and yet +in the morning the maids will find the kitchen swept up, and water +brought in; and the men will find the horses in the stable well cleaned +and curried, and perhaps a supply of corn cribbed for them from the +neighbours' barns. + +There was a Nis in a house in Jutland. He every evening got his groute +at the regular time, and he, in return, used to help both the men and +the maids, and looked to the interest of the master of the house in +every respect. + +There came one time a mischievous boy to live at service in this house, +and his great delight was, whenever he got an opportunity, to give the +Nis all the annoyance in his power. + +Late one evening, when everything was quiet in the house, the Nis took +his little wooden dish, and was just going to eat his supper, when he +perceived that the boy had put the butter at the bottom and had +concealed it, in hopes that he might eat the groute first, and then find +the butter when all the groute was gone. He accordingly set about +thinking how he might repay the boy in kind. After pondering a little he +went up into the loft where a man and the boy were lying asleep in the +same bed. The Nis whisked off the bed clothes, and when he saw the +little boy by the tall man, he said-- + +"Short and long don't match," and with this word he took the boy by the +legs and dragged him down to the man's feet. He then went up to the head +of the bed, and-- + +"Short and long don't match," said he again, and then he dragged the boy +up to the man's head. Do what he would he could not succeed in making +the boy as long as the man, but persisted in dragging him up and down in +the bed, and continued at this work the whole night long till it was +broad daylight. + +By this time he was well tired, so he crept up on the window stool, and +sat with his legs dangling down into the yard. The house-dog--for all +dogs have a great enmity to the Nis--as soon as he saw him began to bark +at him, which afforded him much amusement, as the dog could not get up +to him. So he put down first one leg and then the other, and teased the +dog, saying-- + +"Look at my little leg. Look at my little leg!" + +In the meantime the boy had awoke, and had stolen up behind him, and, +while the Nis was least thinking of it, and was going on with his, "Look +at my little leg," the boy tumbled him down into the yard to the dog, +crying out at the same time-- + +"Look at the whole of him now!" + + * * * * * + +There lived a man in Thyrsting, in Jutland, who had a Nis in his barn. +This Nis used to attend to his cattle, and at night he would steal +fodder for them from the neighbours, so that this farmer had the best +fed and most thriving cattle in the country. + +One time the boy went along with the Nis to Fugleriis to steal corn. The +Nis took as much as he thought he could well carry, but the boy was more +covetous, and said-- + +"Oh! take more. Sure, we can rest now and then!" + +"Rest!" said the Nis. "Rest! and what is rest?" + +"Do what I tell you," replied the boy. "Take more, and we shall find +rest when we get out of this." + +The Nis took more, and they went away with it, but when they came to the +lands of Thyrsting, the Nis grew tired, and then the boy said to him-- + +"Here now is rest!" and they both sat down on the side of a little +hill. + +"If I had known," said the Nis, as they sat. "If I had known that rest +was so good, I'd have carried off all that was in the barn." + +It happened, some time after, that the boy and the Nis were no longer +friends, and as the Nis was sitting one day in the granary-window with +his legs hanging out into the yard, the boy ran at him and tumbled him +back into the granary. The Nis was revenged on him that very night, for +when the boy was gone to bed he stole down to where he was lying and +carried him as he was into the yard. Then he laid two pieces of wood +across the well and put him lying on them, expecting that when he awoke +he would fall, from the fright, into the well and be drowned. He was, +however, disappointed, for the boy came off without injury. + + * * * * * + +There was a man who lived in the town of Tirup who had a very handsome +white mare. This mare had for many years belonged to the same family, +and there was a Nis attached to her who brought luck to the place. + +This Nis was so fond of the mare that he could hardly endure to let them +put her to any kind of work, and he used to come himself every night and +feed her of the best; and as for this purpose he usually brought a +superfluity of corn, both thrashed and in the straw, from the +neighbours' barns, all the rest of the cattle enjoyed the advantage, +and they were all kept in exceedingly good condition. + +It happened at last that the farm-house passed into the hands of a new +owner, who refused to put any faith in what they told him about the +mare, so the luck speedily left the place, and went after the mare to a +poor neighbour who had bought her. Within five days after his purchase, +the poor farmer began to find his circumstances gradually improving, +while the income of the other, day after day, fell away and diminished +at such a rate that he was hard set to make both ends meet. + +If now the man who had got the mare had only known how to be quiet and +enjoy the good times that were come upon him, he and his children and +his children's children after him would have been in flourishing +circumstances till this very day. But when he saw the quantity of corn +that came every night to his barn, he could not resist his desire to get +a sight of the Nis. So he concealed himself one evening at nightfall in +the stable, and as soon as it was midnight he saw how the Nis came from +his neighbour's barn and brought a sack full of corn with him. It was +now unavoidable that the Nis should get a sight of the man who was +watching, so he, with evident marks of grief, gave the mare her food for +the last time, cleaned and dressed her to the best of his ability, and +when he had done, turned round to where the man was lying, and bid him +farewell. + +From that day forward the circumstances of both the neighbours were on +an equality, for each now kept his own. + + + + +THE DWARFS' BANQUET. + + +There lived in Norway, not far from the city of Drontheim, a powerful +man who was blessed with all the goods of fortune. A part of the +surrounding country was his property, numerous herds fed on his +pastures, and a great retinue and a crowd of servants adorned his +mansion. He had an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose beauty +spread far and wide. The greatest men of the country sought her, but all +were alike unsuccessful in their suit, and he who had come full of +confidence and joy, rode away home silent and melancholy. Her father, +who thought his daughter delayed her choice only to select, forbore to +interfere, and exulted in her prudence, but when at length the richest +and noblest tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he +grew angry and called his daughter, and said to her-- + +"Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but since I see that you +reject all without any distinction, and the very best of your suitors +seems not good enough for you, I will keep measures no longer with you. +What! shall my family become extinct, and my inheritance pass away into +the hands of strangers? I will break your stubborn spirit. I give you +now till the festival of the great winter-night. Make your choice by +that time, or prepare to accept him whom I shall fix on." + +Aslog loved a youth named Orm, handsome as he was brave and noble. She +loved him with her whole soul, and she would sooner die than bestow her +hand on another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled him to serve in +the mansion of her father. Aslog's partiality for him was kept a secret, +for her father's pride of power and wealth was such that he would never +have given his consent to a union with so humble a man. + +When Aslog saw the darkness of his countenance, and heard his angry +words, she turned pale as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted +not that he would put his threats into execution. Without uttering a +word in reply, she retired to her chamber, and thought deeply but in +vain how to avert the dark storm that hung over her. The great festival +approached nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every day. + +At last the lovers resolved on flight. + +"I know," said Orm, "a secure place where we may remain undiscovered +until we find an opportunity of quitting the country." + +At night, when all were asleep, Orm led the trembling Aslog over the +snow and ice-fields away to the mountains. The moon and the stars, +sparkling still brighter in the cold winter's night, lighted them on +their way. They had under their arms a few articles of dress and some +skins of animals, which were all they could carry. They ascended the +mountains the whole night long till they reached a lonely spot enclosed +with lofty rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a cave, the +low and narrow entrance to which was hardly perceptible, but it soon +enlarged to a great hall, reaching deep into the mountain. He kindled a +fire, and they now, reposing on their skins, sat in the deepest solitude +far away from all the world. + +Orm was the first who had discovered this cave, which is shown to this +very day, and as no one knew anything of it, they were safe from the +pursuit of Aslog's father. They passed the whole winter in this +retirement. Orm used to go a-hunting, and Aslog stayed at home in the +cave, minded the fire, and prepared the necessary food. Frequently did +she mount the points of the rocks, but her eyes wandered as far as they +could reach only over glittering snow-fields. + +The spring now came on: the woods were green, the meadows pat on their +various colours, and Aslog could but rarely, and with circumspection, +venture to leave the cave. One evening Orm came in with the intelligence +that he had recognised her father's servants in the distance, and that +he could hardly have been unobserved by them whose eyes were as good as +his own. + +"They will surround this place," continued he, "and never rest till they +have found us. We must quit our retreat then without a minute's delay." + +They accordingly descended on the other side of the mountain, and +reached the strand, where they fortunately found a boat. Orm shoved off, +and the boat drove into the open sea. They had escaped their pursuers, +but they were now exposed to dangers of another kind. Whither should +they turn themselves? They could not venture to land, for Aslog's father +was lord of the whole coast, and they would infallibly fall into his +hands. Nothing then remained for them but to commit their bark to the +wind and waves. They drove along the entire night. At break of day the +coast had disappeared, and they saw nothing but the sky above, the sea +beneath, and the waves that rose and fell. They had not brought one +morsel of food with them, and thirst and hunger began now to torment +them. Three days did they toss about in this state of misery, and Aslog, +faint and exhausted, saw nothing but certain death before her. + +At length, on the evening of the third day, they discovered an island of +tolerable magnitude, and surrounded by a number of smaller ones. Orm +immediately steered for it, but just as he came near to it there +suddenly arose a violent wind, and the sea rolled higher and higher +against him. He turned about with a view of approaching it on another +side, but with no better success. His vessel, as often as he approached +the island, was driven back as if by an invisible power. + +"Lord God!" cried he, and blessed himself and looked on poor Aslog, who +seemed to be dying of weakness before his eyes. + +Scarcely had the exclamation passed his lips when the storm ceased, the +waves subsided, and the vessel came to the shore without encountering +any hindrance. Orm jumped out on the beach. Some mussels that he found +upon the strand strengthened and revived the exhausted Aslog so that she +was soon able to leave the boat. + +The island was overgrown with low dwarf shrubs, and seemed to be +uninhabited; but when they had got about the middle of it, they +discovered a house reaching but a little above the ground, and appearing +to be half under the surface of the earth. In the hope of meeting human +beings and assistance, the wanderers approached it. They listened if +they could hear any noise, but the most perfect silence reigned there. +Orm at length opened the door, and with his companion walked in; but +what was their surprise to find everything regulated and arranged as if +for inhabitants, yet not a single living creature visible. The fire was +burning on the hearth in the middle of the room, and a kettle with fish +hung on it, apparently only waiting for some one to take it off and eat. +The beds were made and ready to receive their weary tenants. Orm and +Aslog stood for some time dubious, and looked on with a certain degree +of awe, but at last, overcome with hunger, they took up the food and +ate. When they had satisfied their appetites, and still in the last +beams of the setting sun, which now streamed over the island far and +wide, discovered no human being, they gave way to weariness, and laid +themselves in the beds to which they had been so long strangers. + +They had expected to be awakened in the night by the owners of the house +on their return home, but their expectation was not fulfilled. They +slept undisturbed till the morning sun shone in upon them. No one +appeared on any of the following days, and it seemed as if some +invisible power had made ready the house for their reception. They spent +the whole summer in perfect happiness. They were, to be sure, solitary, +yet they did not miss mankind. The wild birds' eggs and the fish they +caught yielded them provisions in abundance. + +When autumn came, Aslog presented Orm with a son. In the midst of their +joy at his appearance they were surprised by a wonderful apparition. The +door opened on a sudden, and an old woman stepped in. She had on her a +handsome blue dress. There was something proud, but at the same time +strange and surprising in her appearance. + +"Do not be afraid," said she, "at my unexpected appearance. I am the +owner of this house, and I thank you for the clean and neat state in +which you have kept it, and for the good order in which I find +everything with you. I would willingly have come sooner, but I had no +power to do so, till this little heathen (pointing to the new-born babe) +was come to the light. Now I have free access. Only, fetch no priest +from the mainland to christen it, or I must depart again. If you will in +this matter comply with my wishes, you may not only continue to live +here, but all the good that ever you can wish for I will cause you. +Whatever you take in hand shall prosper. Good luck shall follow you +wherever you go; but break this condition, and depend upon it that +misfortune after misfortune will come on you, and even on this child +will I avenge myself. If you want anything, or are in danger, you have +only to pronounce my name three times, and I will appear and lend you +assistance. I am of the race of the old giants, and my name is Guru. But +beware of uttering in my presence the name of him whom no giant may hear +of, and never venture to make the sign of the cross, or to cut it on +beam or on board of the house. You may dwell in this house the whole +year long, only be so good as to give it up to me on Yule evening, when +the sun is at the lowest, as then we celebrate our great festival, and +then only are we permitted to be merry. At least, if you should not be +willing to go out of the house, keep yourselves up in the loft as quiet +as possible the whole day long, and, as you value your lives, do not +look down into the room until midnight is past. After that you may take +possession of everything again." + +When the old woman had thus spoken she vanished, and Aslog and Orm, now +at ease respecting their situation, lived, without any disturbance, +content and happy. Orm never made a cast of his net without getting a +plentiful draught. He never shot an arrow from his bow that missed its +aim. In short, whatever they took in hand, were it ever so trifling, +evidently prospered. + +When Christmas came, they cleaned up the house in the best manner, set +everything in order, kindled a fire on the hearth, and, as the twilight +approached, they went up to the loft, where they remained quiet and +still. At length it grew dark. They thought they heard a sound of flying +and labouring in the air, such as the swans make in the winter-time. +There was a hole in the roof over the fire-place which might be opened +or shut either to let in the light from above or to afford a free +passage for the smoke. Orm lifted up the lid, which was covered with a +skin, and put out his head, but what a wonderful sight then presented +itself to his eyes! The little islands around were all lit up with +countless blue lights, which moved about without ceasing, jumped up and +down, then skipped down to the shore, assembled together, and now came +nearer and nearer to the large island where Orm and Aslog lived. At last +they reached it and arranged themselves in a circle around a large stone +not far from the shore, and which Orm well knew. What was his surprise +when he saw that the stone had now completely assumed the form of a man, +though of a monstrous and gigantic one! He could clearly perceive that +the little blue lights were borne by dwarfs, whose pale clay-coloured +faces, with their huge noses and red eyes, disfigured, too, by birds' +bills and owls' eyes, were supported by misshapen bodies. They tottered +and wobbled about here and there, so that they seemed to be, at the same +time, merry and in pain. Suddenly the circle opened, the little ones +retired on each side, and Guru, who was now much enlarged and of as +immense a size as the stone, advanced with gigantic steps. She threw +both her arms about the stone image, which immediately began to receive +life and motion. As soon as the first sign of motion showed itself the +little ones began, with wonderful capers and grimaces, a song, or, to +speak more properly, a howl, with which the whole island resounded and +seemed to tremble. Orm, quite terrified, drew in his head, and he and +Aslog remained in the dark, so still that they hardly ventured to draw +their breath. + +The procession moved on towards the house, as might be clearly perceived +by the nearer approach of the shouting and crying. They were now all +come in, and, light and active, the dwarfs jumped about on the benches, +and heavy and loud sounded, at intervals, the steps of the giants. Orm +and his wife heard them covering the table, and the clattering of the +plates, and the shouts of joy with which they celebrated their banquet. +When it was over, and it drew near to midnight, they began to dance to +that ravishing fairy air which charms the mind into such sweet +confusion, and which some have heard in the rocky glens, and learned by +listening to the underground musicians. As soon as Aslog caught the +sound of the air she felt an irresistible longing to see the dance, nor +was Orm able to keep her back. + +"Let me look," said she, "or my heart will burst." + +She took her child and placed herself at the extreme end of the loft +whence, without being observed, she could see all that passed. Long did +she gaze, without taking off her eyes for an instant, on the dance, on +the bold and wonderful springs of the little creatures who seemed to +float in the air and not so much as to touch the ground, while the +ravishing melody of the elves filled her whole soul. The child, +meanwhile, which lay in her arms, grew sleepy and drew its breath +heavily, and without ever thinking of the promise she had given to the +old woman, she made, as is usual, the sign of the cross over the mouth +of the child, and said-- + +"Christ bless you, my babe!" + +The instant she had spoken the word there was raised a horrible, +piercing cry. The spirits tumbled head over heels out at the door, with +terrible crushing and crowding, their lights went out, and in a few +minutes the whole house was clear of them and left desolate. Orm and +Aslog, frightened to death, hid themselves in the most retired nook in +the house. They did not venture to stir till daybreak, and not till the +sun shone through the hole in the roof down on the fire-place did they +feel courage enough to descend from the loft. + +The table remained still covered as the underground people had left it. +All their vessels, which were of silver, and manufactured in the most +beautiful manner, were upon it. In the middle of the room there stood +upon the ground a huge copper kettle half-full of sweet mead, and, by +the side of it, a drinking-horn of pure gold. In the corner lay against +the wall a stringed instrument not unlike a dulcimer, which, as people +believe, the giantesses used to play on. They gazed on what was before +them full of admiration, but without venturing to lay their hands on +anything; but great and fearful was their amazement when, on turning +about, they saw sitting at the table an immense figure, which Orm +instantly recognised as the giant whom Guru had animated by her embrace. +He was now a cold and hard stone. While they were standing gazing on it, +Guru herself entered the room in her giant form. She wept so bitterly +that the tears trickled down on the ground. It was long ere her sobbing +permitted her to utter a single word. At length she spoke-- + +"Great affliction have you brought on me, and henceforth must I weep +while I live. I know you have not done this with evil intentions, and +therefore I forgive you, though it were a trifle for me to crush the +whole house like an egg-shell over your heads." + +"Alas!" cried she, "my husband, whom I love more than myself, there he +sits petrified for ever. Never again will he open his eyes! Three +hundred years lived I with my father on the island of Kunnan, happy in +the innocence of youth, as the fairest among the giant maidens. Mighty +heroes sued for my hand. The sea around that island is still filled with +the rocky fragments which they hurled against each other in their +combats. Andfind won the victory, and I plighted myself to him; but ere +I was married came the detestable Odin into the country, who overcame +my father, and drove us all from the island. My father and sisters fled +to the mountains, and since that time my eyes have beheld them no more. +Andfind and I saved ourselves on this island, where we for a long time +lived in peace and quiet, and thought it would never be interrupted. +Destiny, which no one escapes, had determined it otherwise. Oluf came +from Britain. They called him the Holy, and Andfind instantly found that +his voyage would be inauspicious to the giants. When he heard how Oluf's +ship rushed through the waves, he went down to the strand and blew the +sea against him with all his strength. The waves swelled up like +mountains, but Oluf was still more mighty than he. His ship flew +unchecked through the billows like an arrow from a bow. He steered +direct for our island. When the ship was so near that Andfind thought he +could reach it with his hands, he grasped at the fore-part with his +right hand, and was about to drag it down to the bottom, as he had often +done with other ships. Then Oluf, the terrible Oluf, stepped forward, +and, crossing his hands over each other, he cried with a loud voice--" + +"'Stand there as a stone till the last day!' and in the same instant my +unhappy husband became a mass of rock. The ship went on unimpeded, and +ran direct against the mountain, which it cut through, separating from +it the little island which lies yonder." + +"Ever since my happiness has been annihilated, and lonely and +melancholy have I passed my life. On Yule eve alone can petrified giants +receive back their life, for the space of seven hours, if one of their +race embraces them, and is, at the same time, willing to sacrifice a +hundred years of his own life. Seldom does a giant do that. I loved my +husband too well not to bring him back cheerfully to life, every time +that I could do it, even at the highest price, and never would I reckon +how often I had done it that I might not know when the time came when I +myself should share his fate, and, at the moment I threw my arms around +him, become the same as he. Alas! now even this comfort is taken from +me. I can never more by any embrace awake him, since he has heard the +name which I dare not utter, and never again will he see the light till +the dawn of the last day shall bring it." + +"Now I go hence! You will never again behold me! All that is here in the +house I give you! My dulcimer alone will I keep. Let no one venture to +fix his habitation on the little islands which lie around here. There +dwell the little underground ones whom you saw at the festival, and I +will protect them as long as I live." + +With these words Guru vanished. The next spring Orm took the golden horn +and the silver ware to Drontheim where no one knew him. The value of the +things was so great that he was able to purchase everything a wealthy +man desires. He loaded his ship with his purchases, and returned to the +island, where he spent many years in unalloyed happiness, and Aslog's +father was soon reconciled to his wealthy son-in-law. + +The stone image remained sitting in the house. No human power was able +to move it. So hard was the stone that hammer and axe flew in pieces +without making the slightest impression upon it. The giant sat there +till a holy man came to the island, who, with one single word, removed +him back to his former station, where he stands to this hour. The copper +kettle, which the underground people left behind them, was preserved as +a memorial upon the island, which bears the name of House Island to the +present day. + + + + +THE ICELANDIC SORCERESSES. + + +"Tell me," said Katla, a handsome and lively widow, to Gunlaugar, an +accomplished and gallant young warrior, "tell me why thou goest so oft +to Mahfahlida? Is it to caress an old woman?" + +"Thine own age, Katla," answered the youth inconsiderately, "might +prevent thy making that of Geirrida a subject of reproach." + +"I little deemed," replied the offended matron, "that we were on an +equality in that particular--but thou, who supposest that Geirrida is +the sole source of knowledge, mayst find that there are others who equal +her in science." + +It happened in the course of the following winter that Gunlaugar, in +company with Oddo, the son of Katla, had renewed one of those visits to +Geirrida with which Katla had upbraided him. + +"Thou shalt not depart to-night," said the sage matron; "evil spirits +are abroad, and thy bad destiny predominates." + +"We are two in company," answered Gunlaugar, "and have therefore nothing +to fear." + +"Oddo," replied Geirrida, "will be of no aid to thee; but go, since +thou wilt go, and pay the penalty of thy own rashness." + +In their way they visited the rival matron, and Gunlaugar was invited to +remain in her house that night. This he declined, and, passing forward +alone, was next morning found lying before the gate of his father +Thorbiorn, severely wounded and deprived of his judgment. Various causes +were assigned for this disaster; but Oddo, asserting that they had +parted in anger that evening from Geirrida, insisted that his companion +must have sustained the injury through her sorcery. Geirrida was +accordingly cited to the popular assembly and accused of witchcraft. But +twelve witnesses, or compurgators, having asserted upon their oath the +innocence of the accused party, Geirrida was honourably freed from the +accusation brought against her. Her acquittal did not terminate the +rivalry between the two sorceresses, for, Geirrida belonging to the +family of Kiliakan, and Katla to that of the pontiff Snorro, the +animosity which still subsisted between these septs became awakened by +the quarrel. + +It chanced that Thorbiorn, called Digri (or the corpulent), one of the +family of Snorro, had some horses which fed in the mountain pastures, +near to those of Thorarin, called the Black, the son of the enchantress +Geirrida. But when autumn arrived, and the horses were to be withdrawn +from the mountains and housed for the winter, those of Thorbiorn could +nowhere be found, and Oddo, the son of Katla, being sent to consult a +wizard, brought back a dubious answer, which seemed to indicate that +they had been stolen by Thorarin. Thorbiorn, with Oddo and a party of +armed followers, immediately set forth for Mahfahlida, the dwelling of +Geirrida and her son Thorarin. Arrived before the gate, they demanded +permission to search for the horses which were missing. This Thorarin +refused, alleging that neither was the search demanded duly authorised +by law, nor were the proper witnesses cited to be present, nor did +Thorbiorn offer any sufficient pledge of security when claiming the +exercise of so hazardous a privilege. Thorbiorn replied, that as +Thorarin declined to permit a search, he must be held as admitting his +guilt; and constituting for that purpose a temporary court of justice, +by choosing out six judges, he formally accused Thorarin of theft before +the gate of his own house. At this the patience of Geirrida forsook her. + +"Well," said she to her son Thorarin, "is it said of thee that thou art +more a woman than a man, or thou wouldst not bear these intolerable +affronts." + +Thorarin, fired at the reproach, rushed forth with his servants and +guests; a skirmish soon disturbed the legal process which had been +instituted, and one or two of both parties were wounded and slain before +the wife of Thorarin and the female attendants could separate the fray +by flinging their mantles over the weapons of the combatants. + +Thorbiorn and his party retreating, Thorarin proceeded to examine the +field of battle. Alas! among the reliques of the fight was a bloody +hand too slight and fair to belong to any of the combatants. It was that +of his wife Ada, who had met this misfortune in her attempts to separate +the foes. Incensed to the uttermost, Thorarin threw aside his +constitutional moderation, and, mounting on horseback, with his allies +and followers, pursued the hostile party, and overtook them in a +hay-field, where they had halted to repose their horses, and to exult +over the damage they had done to Thorarin. At this moment he assailed +them with such fury that he slew Thorbiorn upon the spot, and killed +several of his attendants, although Oddo, the son of Katla, escaped free +from wounds, having been dressed by his mother in an invulnerable +garment. After this action, more blood being shed than usual in an +Icelandic engagement, Thorarin returned to Mahfahlida, and, being +questioned by his mother concerning the events of the skirmish, he +answered in the improvisatory and enigmatical poetry of his age and +country-- + + "From me the foul reproach be far, + With which a female waked the war, + From me, who shunned not in the fray + Through foemen fierce to hew my way + (Since meet it is the eagle's brood + On the fresh corpse should find their food); + Then spared I not, in fighting field, + With stalwart hand my sword to wield; + And well may claim at Odin's shrine + The praise that waits this deed of mine." + +To which effusion Geirrida answered-- + +"Do these verses imply the death of Thorbiorn?" + +And Thorarin, alluding to the legal process which Thorbiorn had +instituted against him, resumed his song-- + + "Sharp bit the sword beneath the hood + Of him whose zeal the cause pursued, + And ruddy flowed the stream of death, + Ere the grim brand resumed the sheath; + Now on the buckler of the slain + The raven sits, his draught to drain, + For gore-drenched is his visage bold, + That hither came his courts to hold." + +As the consequence of this slaughter was likely to be a prosecution at +the instance of the pontiff Snorro, Thorarin had now recourse to his +allies and kindred, of whom the most powerful were Arnkill, his maternal +uncle, and Verimond, who readily premised their aid both in the field +and in the Comitia, or popular meeting, in spring, before which it was +to be presumed Snorro would indict Thorarin for the slaughter of his +kinsman. Arnkill could not, however, forbear asking his nephew how he +had so far lost his usual command of temper. He replied in verse-- + + "Till then, the master of my mood, + Men called me gentle, mild, and good; + But yon fierce dame's sharp tongue might wake + In wintry den the frozen snake." + +While Thorarin spent the winter with his uncle Arnkill, he received +information from his mother Geirrida that Oddo, son of her old rival +Katla, was the person who had cut off the hand of his wife Ada, and +that he gloried in the fact. Thorarin and Arnkill determined on instant +vengeance, and, travelling rapidly, surprised the house of Katla. The +undismayed sorceress, on hearing them approach, commanded her son to sit +close beside her, and when the assailants entered they only beheld +Katla, spinning coarse yarn from what seemed a large distaff, with her +female domestics seated around her. + +"My son," she said, "is absent on a journey;" and Thorarin and Arnkill, +having searched the house in vain, were obliged to depart with this +answer. They had not, however, gone far before the well-known skill of +Katla, in optical delusion occurred to them, and they resolved on a +second and stricter search. Upon their return they found Katla in the +outer apartment, who seemed to be shearing the hair of a tame kid, but +was in reality cutting the locks of her son Oddo. Entering the inner +room, they found the large distaff flung carelessly upon a bench. They +returned yet a third time, and a third delusion was prepared for them; +for Katla had given her son the appearance of a hog, which seemed to +grovel upon the heap of ashes. Arnkill now seized and split the distaff, +which he had at first suspected, upon which Kalta tauntingly observed, +that if their visits had been frequent that evening, they could not be +said to be altogether ineffectual, since they had destroyed a distaff. +They were accordingly returning completely baffled, when Geirrida met +them, and upbraided them with carelessness in searching for their enemy. + +"Return yet again," she said, "and I will accompany you." + +Katla's maidens, still upon the watch, announced to her the return of +the hostile party, their number augmented by one who wore a blue mantle. + +"Alas!" cried Katla, "it is the sorceress Geirrida, against whom spells +will be of no avail." + +Immediately rising from the raised and boarded seat which she occupied, +she concealed Oddo beneath it, and covered it with cushions as before, +on which she stretched herself complaining of indisposition. Upon the +entrance of the hostile party, Geirrida, without speaking a word, flung +aside her mantle, took out a piece of sealskin, in which she wrapped up +Katla's head, and commanded that she should be held by some of the +attendants, while the others broke open the boarded space, beneath which +Oddo lay concealed, seized upon him, bound him, and led him away captive +with his mother. Next morning Oddo was hanged, and Katla stoned to +death; but not until she had confessed that, through her sorcery, she +had occasioned the disaster of Gunlaugar, which first led the way to +these feuds. + + + + +THE THREE DOGS. + + +Once upon a time there was a king who travelled to a strange country, +where he married a queen. When they had been married some time the queen +had a daughter, which gave rise to much joy through the whole land, for +all people liked the king, he was so kind and just. As the child was +born there came an old woman into the room. She was of a strange +appearance, and nobody could guess where she came from, or to what place +she was going. This old woman declared that the royal child must not be +taken out under the sky until it was fifteen years old. If she was she +would be in danger of being carried away by the giants of the mountains. + +The king, when he was told what the woman had said, heeded her words, +and set a guard to see that the princess did not come out into the open +air. + +In a short time the queen bore another daughter, and there was again +much joy in the land. The old woman once more made her appearance, and +she said that the king must not let the young princess go out under the +sky before she was fifteen. + +The queen had a third daughter, and the third time the old woman came, +warning the king respecting this child as she had done regarding the two +former. The king was much distressed, for he loved his children more +than anything else in the world. So he gave strict orders that the three +princesses should be always kept indoors, and he commanded that every +one should respect his edict. + +A considerable time passed by, and the princesses grew up to be the most +beautiful girls that could be seen far or near. Then a war began, and +the king had to leave his home. + +One day, while he was away at the seat of war, the three princesses sat +at a window looking at how the sun shone on the flowers in the garden. +They felt that they would like very much to go and play among the +flowers, and they begged the guards to let them out for a little while +to walk in the garden. The guards refused, for they were afraid of the +king, but the girls begged of them so prettily and so earnestly that +they could not long refuse them, so they let them do as they wished. The +princesses were delighted, and ran out into the garden, but their +pleasure was short-lived. Scarcely had they got into the open air when a +cloud came down and carried them off, and no one could find them again, +though they searched the wide world over. + +The whole of the people mourned, and the king, as you may imagine, was +very much grieved when, on his return home, he learned what had +happened. However, there is an old saying, "What's done cannot be +undone," so the king had to let matters remain as they were. As no one +could advise him how to recover his daughters, the king caused +proclamation to be made throughout the land that whoever should bring +them back to him from the power of the mountain-giants should have one +of them for his wife, and half the kingdom as a wedding present. As soon +as this proclamation was made in the neighbouring countries many young +warriors went out, with servants and horses, to look for the three +princesses. There were at the king's court at that time two foreign +princes and they started off too, to see how fortunate they might be. +They put on fine armour, and took costly weapons, and they boasted of +what they would do, and how they would never come back until they had +accomplished their purpose. + +We will leave these two princes to wander here and there in their +search, and look at what was passing in another place. Deep down in the +heart of a wild wood there dwelt at that time an old woman who had an +only son, who used daily to attend to his mother's three hogs. As the +lad roamed through the forest, he one day cut a little pipe to play on. +He found much pleasure in the music, and he played so well that the +notes charmed all who heard him. The boy was well built, of an honest +heart, and feared nothing. + +One day it chanced that, as he was sitting in the wood playing on his +pipe, while his three hogs grubbed among the roots of the pine-trees, a +very old man came along. He had a beard so long that it reached to his +waist, and a large dog accompanied him. When the lad saw the dog he said +to himself-- + +"I wish I had a dog like that as a companion here in the wood. Then +there would be no danger." + +The old man knew what the boy thought, and he said-- + +"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs." + +The lad was ready to close the bargain, and gave a gray hog in exchange +for the big dog. As he was going the old man said-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. His name is Hold-fast, and if you tell him to hold, hold he +will whatever it may be, were it even the fiercest giant." + +Then he departed, and the lad thought that for once, at all events, +fortune had been kind to him. + +When evening had come, the lad called his dog, and drove the hogs to his +home in the forest. When the old woman learnt how her son had given away +the gray hog for a dog, she flew into a great rage, and gave him a good +beating. The lad begged her to be quiet, but it was of no use, for she +only seemed to get the more angry. When the boy saw that it was no good +pleading, he called to the dog-- + +"Hold fast." + +The dog at once rushed forward, and, seizing the old woman, held her so +firmly that she could not move; but he did her no harm. The old woman +now had to promise that she would agree to what her son had done; but +she could not help thinking that she had suffered a great misfortune in +losing her fat gray hog. + +The next day the boy went once more to the forest with his dog and the +two hogs. When he arrived there he sat down and played upon his pipe as +usual, and the dog danced to the music in such a wonderful manner that +it was quite amazing. While he thus sat, the old man with the gray beard +came up to him out of the forest. He was accompanied by a dog as large +as the former one. When the boy saw the fine animal, he said to +himself-- + +"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger." + +The old man knew what he thought, and said-- + +"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs." + +The boy did not hesitate long, but agreed to the bargain. He got the big +dog, and the man took the hog in exchange. As he went, the old man +said-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Tear, and if you tell him to tear, tear he will +in pieces whatever it be, even the fiercest mountain giant." + +Then he departed, and the boy was glad at heart, thinking he had made a +good bargain, though he well knew his old mother would not be much +pleased at it. + +Towards evening he went home, and his mother was not a bit less angry +than she had been on the previous day. She dared not beat her son, +however, for his big dogs made her afraid. It usually happens that when +women have scolded enough they at last give in. So it was now. The boy +and his mother became friends once more; but the old woman thought she +had sustained such a loss as could never again be made good. + +The boy went to the forest again with the hog and the two dogs. He was +very happy, and, sitting down on the trunk of a tree he played, as +usual, on his pipe; and the dogs danced in such fine fashion that it was +a treat to look at them. While the boy thus sat amusing himself, the old +man with the gray beard again appeared out of the forest. He had with +him a third dog as large as either of the others. When the boy saw it, +he said to himself-- + +"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger." + +The old man said-- + +"I came because I wished you to see my dog, for I well know you would +like to have him." + +The lad was ready enough, and the bargain was made. So he got the big +dog, giving his last hog for it. The old man then departed, saying-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Quick-ear, and so quick does he hear, that he +knows all that takes place, be it ever so many miles away. Why, he hears +even the trees and the grass growing in the fields!" + +Then the old man went off, and the lad felt very happy, for he thought +he had nothing now to be afraid of. + +As evening came on the boy went home, and his mother was sorely grieved +when she found her son had parted with her all; but he told her to bid +farewell to sorrow, saying that he would see she had no loss. The lad +spoke so well that the old woman was quite pleased. At daybreak the lad +went out a-hunting with his two dogs, and in the evening he came back +with as much game as he could carry. He hunted till his mother's larder +was well stocked, then he bade her farewell, telling her he was going to +travel to see what fortune had in store for him, and called his dogs to +him. + +He travelled on over hills, and along gloomy roads, till he got deep in +a dark forest. There the old man with the gray beard met him. The lad +was very glad to fall in with him again, and said to him-- + +"Good-day, father. I thank you for our last meeting." + +"Good-day," answered the old man. "Where are you going?" + +"I am going into the world," said the boy, "to see what fortune I shall +have." + +"Go on," said the old man, "and you will come to a royal palace; there +you will have a change of fortune." + +With that they parted; but the lad paid good heed to the old man's +words, and kept on his way. When he came to a house, he played on his +pipe while his dogs danced, and so he got food and shelter, and whatever +he wanted. + +Having travelled for some days, he at last entered a large city, +through the streets of which great crowds of people were passing. The +lad wondered what was the cause of all this. At last he came to where +proclamation was being made, that whoever should rescue the three +princesses from the hands of the mountain giants should have one of them +for his wife and half the kingdom with her. Then the lad remembered what +the old man had told him, and understood what he meant. He called his +dogs to him, and went on till he came to the palace. There, from the +time that the princesses disappeared, the place had been filled with +sorrow and mourning, and the king and the queen grieved more than all +the others. The boy entered the palace, and begged to be allowed to play +to the king and show him his dogs. The people of the palace were much +pleased at this, for they thought it might do something to make the king +forget his grief. So they let him go in and show what he could do. When +the king heard how he played, and saw how wonderfully his dogs danced, +he was so merry that no one had seen him so during the seven long years +that had passed since he lost his daughters. When the dancing was +finished, the king asked the boy what he should give him as a return for +the amusement he had given them. + +"My lord king," said the boy, "I am not come here for silver, goods, or +gold! I ask one thing of you, that you will give me leave to go and seek +the three princesses who are now in the hands of the mountain giants." +When the king heard this he knit his brow--"So you think," said he, +"that you can restore my daughters. The task is a dangerous one, and men +who were better than you have suffered in it. If, however, any one save +the princesses I will never break my word." + +The lad thought these words kingly and honest. He bade farewell to the +king and set out, determined that he would not rest till he had found +what he wanted. + +He travelled through many great countries without any extraordinary +adventure, and wherever he went his dogs went with him. Quick-ear ran +and heard what there was to hear in the place; Hold-fast carried the +bag; and on Tear, who was the strongest of the three, the lad rode when +he was tired. One day Quick-ear came running fast to his master to tell +him that he had been near a high mountain, and had heard one of the +princesses spinning within it. The giant, Quick-ear said, was not at +home. At this the boy felt very glad, and he made haste to the mountain +with his dogs. When they were come to it, Quick-ear said-- + +"We have no time to lose. The giant is only ten miles away, and I can +hear his horse's golden shoes beating on the stones." + +The lad at once ordered his dogs to break in the door of the mountain, +which they did. He entered, and saw a beautiful maiden who sat spinning +gold thread on a spindle of gold. He stepped forward and spoke to her. +She was much astonished, and said--"Who are you, that dare to come into +the giant's hall? For seven long years have I lived here, and never +during that time have I looked on a human being. Run away, for Heaven's +sake, before the giant comes, or you will lose your life." + +The boy told her his errand, and said he would await the troll's coming. +While they were talking, the giant came, riding on his gold-shod horse, +and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw that the door was open he +was very angry, and called out, in such a voice that the whole mountain +shook to its base, "Who has broken open my door?" The boy boldly +answered-- + +"I did it, and now I will break you too. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear +and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!" + +Hardly had he spoken the words when the three dogs rushed forward, threw +themselves on the giant, and tore him into numberless pieces. The +princess was very glad, and said-- + +"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free." She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. The lad would not stop in the place, so he saddled the +giant's horses, put on them all the goods and gold he found, and set off +with the beautiful young princess. They travelled together for a long +time, the lad waiting on the maiden with that respect and attention that +such a noble lady deserved. + +It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who had gone before to obtain news, +came running fast to his master and informed him that he had been to a +high mountain, and had heard another of the king's daughters sitting +within it spinning gold thread. The giant, he said, was not at home. The +lad was well pleased to hear this, and hastened to the mountain with his +three dogs. When they arrived there, Quick-ear said-- + +"We have no time to waste. The giant is but eight miles off. I can hear +the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the stones!" + +The lad ordered the dogs to break in the door, and when they had done so +he entered and found a beautiful maiden sitting in the hall, winding +gold thread. The lad stepped forward and spoke to her. She was much +surprised, and said-- + +"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's dwelling? Seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. Run away, for Heaven's sake, before the giant comes, or you +will lose your life." + +The lad told her why he had come, and said he would wait for the giant's +return home. + +In the midst of their talk the giant came, riding on his gold-shod +horse, and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw the door was open +he was in a great rage, and called out with such a voice that the +mountain shook to its base. + +"Who," said he, "has broken open my door?" The lad answered boldly-- + +"I did it, and now I will break you. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear and +Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!" The dogs straightway sprang +forward and threw themselves on the giant, and tore him into pieces as +numberless as are the leaves which fall in the autumn. Then the princess +was very glad, and said-- + +"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free!" She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. He led her to her sister, and one can well imagine how +glad they were to meet. The lad took all the treasures that the giant's +dwelling contained, put them on the gold-shod horses, and set out with +the two princesses. + +They again travelled a great distance, and the youth waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved. + +It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who went before to get news, came +running fast to his master, and told him he had been near a high +mountain, and had heard the third princess sitting within, spinning +cloth of gold. The giant himself was not in. The youth was well pleased +to hear this, and he hurried to the mountain accompanied by his dogs. +When they came there, Quick-ear said-- + +"There is no time to be lost. The giant is not more than five miles off. +I well know it. I hear the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the +stones." + +The lad told his dogs to break in the door, and they did so. When he +entered the mountain he saw there a maiden, sitting and weaving cloth of +gold. She was so beautiful that the lad thought another such could not +be found in the world. He advanced and spoke to her. The young princess +was much astonished, and said-- + +"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's hall? For seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. For Heaven's sake," added she, "run away before the giant +comes, or he will kill you!" + +The lad, however, was brave, and said that he would lay down his life +for the beautiful princess. + +In the middle of their talk home came the giant, riding on his horse +with the golden shoes, and stopped at the mountain. When he came in and +saw what unwelcome visitors were there he was very much afraid, for he +knew what had happened to his brethren. He thought it best to be careful +and cunning, for he dared not act openly. He began therefore with fine +words, and was very smooth and amiable. He told the princess to dress +meat, so that he might entertain the guest, and behaved in such a +friendly manner that the lad was perfectly deceived, and forgot to be on +his guard. He sat down at the table with the giant. The princess wept in +secret, and the dogs were very uneasy, but no one noticed it. + +When the giant and his guest had finished the meal, the youth said-- + +"I am no longer hungry. Give me something to drink." + +"There is," said the giant, "a spring up in the mountain which runs with +sparkling wine, but I have no one to fetch of it." + +"If that is all," said the lad, "one of my dogs can go up there." + +The giant laughed in his false heart when he heard that, for what he +wanted was that the lad should send away his dogs. The lad told +Hold-fast to go for the wine, and the giant gave him a large jug. The +dog went, but one might see that he did so very unwillingly. + +Time went on and on, but the dog did not come back. After some time the +giant said-- + +"I wonder why the dog is so long away. It might, perhaps, be as well to +let another dog go to help him. He has to go a long distance, and the +jug is a heavy one to carry." + +The lad, suspecting no trickery, fell in with the giant's suggestion, +and told Tear to go and see why Hold-fast did not come. The dog wagged +his tail and did not want to leave his master, but he noticed it, and +drove him off to the spring. The giant laughed to himself, and the +princess wept, but the lad did not mark it, being very merry, jested +with his entertainer, and did not dream of any danger. + +A long time passed, but neither the wine nor the dogs appeared. + +"I can well see," said the giant, "that your dogs do not do what you +tell them, or we should not sit here thirsty. It seems to me it would be +best to send Quick-ear to ascertain why they don't come back." + +The lad was nettled at that, and ordered his third dog to go in haste to +the spring. Quick-ear did not want to go, but whined and crept to his +master's feet. Then the lad became angry, and drove him away. The dog +had to obey, so away he set in great haste to the top of the mountain. +When he reached it, it happened to him as it had to the others. There +arose a high wall around him, and he was made a prisoner by the giant's +sorcery. + +When all the three dogs were gone, the giant stood up, put on a +different look, and gripped his bright sword which hung upon the wall. + +"Now will I avenge my brethren," said he, "and you shall die this +instant, for you are in my hands." + +The lad was frightened, and repented that he had parted with his dogs. + +"I will not ask my life," said he, "for I must die some day. I only ask +one thing, that I may say my _Paternoster_ and play a psalm on my +pipe. That is the custom in my country." + +The giant granted him his wish, but said he would not wait long. The lad +knelt down, and devoutly said his _Paternoster_, and began to play +upon his pipe so that it was heard over hill and dale. That instant the +magic lost its power, and the dogs were once more set free. They came +down like a blast of wind, and rushed into the mountain. Then the lad +sprang up and cried-- + +"Hold-fast, hold him; Tear and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand +pieces." + +The dogs flew on the giant, and tore him into countless shreds. Then the +lad took all the treasures in the mountain, harnessed the giant's +horses to a golden chariot, and made haste to be gone. + +As may well be imagined, the young princesses were very glad at being +thus saved, and they thanked the lad for having delivered them from the +power of mountain giants. He himself fell deep in love with the youngest +princess, and they vowed to be true and faithful. So they travelled, +with mirth and jest and great gladness, and the lad waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved. As they went on, the +princesses played with the lad's hair, and each one hung her finger-ring +in his long locks as a keepsake. + +One day as they were journeying, they came up with two wanderers who +were going the same way. They had on tattered clothes, their feet were +sore, and altogether one would have thought they had come a long +distance. The lad stopped his chariot and asked them who they were and +where they came from. The strangers said they were two princes who had +gone out to look for the three maidens who had been carried off to the +mountains. They had, however, searched in vain, so they had now to go +home more like beggars than princes. + +When the lad heard that, he had pity on the two wanderers, and he asked +them to go with him in the beautiful chariot. The princes gave him many +thanks for the favour. So they travelled on together till they came to +the land over which the father of the princesses ruled. + +Now when the princes heard how the poor lad had rescued the princesses, +they were filled with envy, thinking how they themselves had wandered to +no purpose. They considered how they could get rid of him, and obtain +the honour and rewards for themselves. So one day they suddenly set on +him, seized him by the throat, and nearly strangled him. Then they +threatened to kill the princesses unless they took an oath not to reveal +what they had done, and they, being in the princes' power, did not dare +to refuse. However, they were very sorry for the youth who had risked +his life for them, and the youngest princess mourned him with all her +heart, and would not be comforted. + +After having done this, the princes went on to the king's demesnes, and +one can well imagine how glad the king was to once more see his three +daughters. + +Meanwhile the poor lad lay in the forest as if he were dead. He was not, +however, forsaken, for the three dogs lay down by him, kept him warm, +and licked his wounds. They attended to him till he got his breath +again, and came once more to life. When he had regained life and +strength, he began his journey, and came, after having endured many +hardships, to the king's demesnes, where the princesses lived. + +When he went into the palace, he marked that the whole place was filled +with mirth and joy, and in the royal hall he heard dancing and the sound +of harps. The lad was much astonished, and asked what it all meant. + +"You have surely come from a distance," said the servant, "not to know +that the king has got back his daughters from the mountain giants. The +two elder princesses are married to-day." + +The lad asked about the youngest princess, whether she was to be +married. The servant said she would have no one, but wept continually, +and no one could find out the reason for her sorrow. Then the lad was +glad, for he well knew that his love was faithful and true to him. + +He went up into the guard-room, and sent a message to the king that a +guest had come who prayed that he might add to the wedding mirth by +exhibiting his dogs. The king was pleased, and ordered that the stranger +should be well received. When the lad came into the hall, the wedding +guests much admired his smartness and his manly form, and they all +thought they had never before seen so brave a young man. When the three +princesses saw him they knew him at once, rose from the table, and ran +into his arms. Then the princes thought they had better not stay there, +for the princesses told how the lad had saved them, and how all had +befallen. As a proof of the truth of what they said, they showed their +rings in the lad's hair. + +When the king knew how the two foreign princes had acted so +treacherously and basely he was much enraged, and ordered that they +should be driven off his demesnes with disgrace. + +The brave youth was welcomed with great honour, as, indeed, he deserved, +and he was, the same day, married to the youngest princess. When the +king died, the youth was chosen ruler over the land, and made a brave +king. There he yet lives with his beautiful queen, and there he governs +prosperously to this day. + +I know no more about him. + + + + +THE LEGEND OF THORGUNNA. + + +A ship from Iceland chanced to winter in a haven near Helgafels. Among +the passengers was a woman named Thorgunna, a native of the Hebrides, +who was reported by the sailors to possess garments and household +furniture of a fashion far surpassing those used in Iceland. Thurida, +sister of the pontiff Snorro, and wife of Thorodd, a woman of a vain and +covetous disposition, attracted by these reports, made a visit to the +stranger, but could not prevail upon her to display her treasures. +Persisting, however, in her inquiries, she pressed Thorgunna to take up +her abode at the house of Thorodd. The Hebridean reluctantly assented, +but added, that as she could labour at every usual kind of domestic +industry, she trusted in that manner to discharge the obligation she +might lie under to the family, without giving any part of her property +in recompense of her lodging. As Thurida continued to urge her request, +Thorgunna accompanied her to Froda, the house of Thorodd, where the +seamen deposited a huge chest and cabinet, containing the property of +her new guest, which Thurida viewed with curious and covetous eyes. So +soon as they had pointed out to Thorgunna the place assigned for her +bed, she opened the chest, and took forth such an embroidered bed +coverlid, and such a splendid and complete set of tapestry hangings, and +bed furniture of English linen, interwoven with silk, as had never been +seen in Iceland. + +"Sell to me," said the covetous matron, "this fair bed furniture." + +"Believe me," answered Thorgunna, "I will not lie upon straw in order to +feed thy pomp and vanity;" an answer which so greatly displeased Thurida +that she never again repeated her request. Thorgunna, to whose character +subsequent events added something of a mystical solemnity, is described +as being a woman of a tall and stately appearance, of a dark complexion, +and having a profusion of black hair. She was advanced in age; assiduous +in the labours of the field and of the loom; a faithful attendant upon +divine worship; grave, silent, and solemn in domestic society. She had +little intercourse with the household of Thorodd, and showed particular +dislike to two of its inmates. These were Thorer, who, having lost a leg +in the skirmish between Thorbiorn and Thorarin the Black, was called +Thorer-Widlegr (wooden-leg), from the substitute he had adopted; and his +wife, Thorgrima, called Galldra-Kinna (wicked sorceress), from her +supposed skill in enchantments. Kiartan, the son of Thurida, a boy of +excellent promise, was the only person of the household to whom +Thorgunna showed much affection; and she was much vexed at times when +the childish petulance of the boy made an indifferent return to her +kindness. + +After this mysterious stranger had dwelt at Froda for some time, and +while she was labouring in the hay-field with other members of the +family, a sudden cloud from the northern mountain led Thorodd to +anticipate a heavy shower. He instantly commanded the hay-workers to +pile up in ricks the quantity which each had been engaged in turning to +the wind. It was afterwards remembered that Thorgunna did not pile up +her portion, but left it spread on the field. The cloud approached with +great celerity, and sank so heavily around the farm, that it was scarce +possible to see beyond the limits of the field. A heavy shower next +descended, and so soon as the clouds broke away and the sun shone forth +it was observed that it had rained blood. That which fell upon the ricks +of the other labourers soon dried up, but what Thorgunna had wrought +upon remained wet with gore. The unfortunate Hebridean, appalled at the +omen, betook herself to her bed, and was seized with a mortal illness. +On the approach of death she summoned Thorodd, her landlord, and +intrusted to him the disposition of her property and effects. + +"Let my body," said she, "be transported to Skalholt, for my mind +presages that in that place shall be founded the most distinguished +church in this island. Let my golden ring be given to the priests who +shall celebrate my obsequies, and do thou indemnify thyself for the +funeral charges out of my remaining effects. To thy wife I bequeath my +purple mantle, in order that, by this sacrifice to her avarice, I may +secure the right of disposing of the rest of my effects at my own +pleasure. But for my bed, with its coverings, hangings, and furniture, I +entreat they may be all consigned to the flames. I do not desire this +because I envy any one the possession of these things after my death, +but because I wish those evils to be avoided which I plainly foresee +will happen if my will be altered in the slightest particular." + +Thorodd promised faithfully to execute this extraordinary testament in +the most exact manner. Accordingly, so soon as Thorgunna was dead, her +faithful executor prepared a pile for burning her splendid bed. Thurida +entered, and learned with anger and astonishment the purpose of these +preparations. To the remonstrances of her husband she answered that the +menaces of future danger were only caused by Thorgunna's selfish envy, +who did not wish any one should enjoy her treasures after her decease. +Then, finding Thorodd inaccessible to argument, she had recourse to +caresses and blandishments, and at length extorted permission to +separate from the rest of the bed-furniture the tapestried curtains and +coverlid; the rest was consigned to the flames, in obedience to the will +of the testator. The body of Thorgunna, being wrapped in new linen and +placed in a coffin, was next to be transported through the precipices +and morasses of Iceland to the distant district she had assigned for her +place of sepulture. A remarkable incident occurred on the way. The +transporters of the body arrived at evening, late, weary, and drenched +with rain, in a house called Nether-Ness, where the niggard hospitality +of the proprietor only afforded them house-room, without any supply of +food or fuel. But, so soon as they entered, an unwonted noise was heard +in the kitchen of the mansion, and the figure of a woman, soon +recognised to be the deceased Thorgunna, was seen busily employed in +preparing victuals. Their inhospitable landlord, being made acquainted +with this frightful circumstance, readily agreed to supply every +refreshment which was necessary, on which the vision instantly +disappeared. The apparition having become public, they had no reason to +ask twice for hospitality as they proceeded on their journey, and they +came to Skalholt, where Thorgunna, with all due ceremonies of religion, +was deposited quietly in the grave. But the consequences of the breach +of her testament were felt severely at Froda. + +The dwelling at Froda was a simple and patriarchal structure, built +according to the fashion used by the wealthy among the Icelanders. The +apartments were very large, and a part boarded off contained the beds of +the family. On either side was a sort of store-room, one of which +contained meal, the other dried fish. Every evening large fires were +lighted in this apartment for dressing the victuals; and the domestics +of the family usually sat around them for a considerable time, until +supper was prepared. On the night when the conductors of Thorgunna's +funeral returned to Froda, there appeared, visible to all who were +present, a meteor, or spectral appearance, resembling a half-moon, which +glided around the boarded walls of the mansion in an opposite direction +to the course of the sun, and continued to perform its revolutions until +the domestics retired to rest. This apparition was renewed every night +during a whole week, and was pronounced by Thorer with the wooden leg to +presage pestilence or mortality. Shortly after a herdsman showed signs +of mental alienation, and gave various indications of having sustained +the persecution of evil demons. This man was found dead in his bed one +morning, and then commenced a scene of ghost-seeing unheard of in the +annals of superstition. The first victim was Thorer, who had presaged +the calamity. Going out of doors one evening, he was grappled by the +spectre of the deceased shepherd as he attempted to re-enter the house. +His wooden leg stood him in poor stead in such an encounter; he was +hurled to the earth, and so fearfully beaten, that he died in +consequence of the bruises. Thorer was no sooner dead than his ghost +associated itself to that of the herdsman, and joined him in pursuing +and assaulting the inhabitants of Froda. Meantime an infectious disorder +spread fast among them, and several of the bondsmen died one after the +other. Strange portents were seen within-doors, the meal was displaced +and mingled, and the dried fish flung about in a most alarming manner, +without any visible agent. At length, while the servants were forming +their evening circle round the fire, a spectre, resembling the head of a +seal-fish, was seen to emerge out of the pavement of the room, bending +its round black eyes full on the tapestried bed-curtains of Thorgunna. +Some of the domestics ventured to strike at this figure, but, far from +giving way, it rather erected itself further from the floor, until +Kiartan, who seemed to have a natural predominance over these +supernatural prodigies, seizing a huge forge-hammer, struck the seal +repeatedly on the head, and compelled it to disappear, forcing it down +into the floor, as if he had driven a stake into the earth. This prodigy +was found to intimate a new calamity. Thorodd, the master of the family, +had some time before set forth on a voyage to bring home a cargo of +dried fish; but in crossing the river Enna the skiff was lost and he +perished with the servants who attended him. A solemn funeral feast was +held at Froda, in memory of the deceased, when, to the astonishment of +the guests, the apparition of Thorodd and his followers seemed to enter +the apartment dripping with water. Yet this vision excited less horror +than might have been expected, for the Icelanders, though nominally +Christians, retained, among other pagan superstitions, a belief that the +spectres of such drowned persons as had been favourably received by the +goddess Rana were wont to show themselves at their funeral feast. They +saw, therefore, with some composure, Thorodd and his dripping attendants +plant themselves by the fire, from which all mortal guests retreated to +make room for them. It was supposed this apparition would not be +renewed after the conclusion of the festival. But so far were their +hopes disappointed, that, so soon as the mourning guests had departed, +the fires being lighted, Thorodd and his comrades marched in on one +side, drenched as before with water; on the other entered Thorer, +heading all those who had died in the pestilence, and who appeared +covered with dust. Both parties seized the seats by the fire, while the +half-frozen and terrified domestics spent the night without either light +or warmth. The same phenomenon took place the next night, though the +fires had been lighted in a separate house, and at length Kiartan was +obliged to compound matters with the spectres by kindling a large fire +for them in the principal apartment, and one for the family and +domestics in a separate hut. This prodigy continued during the whole +feast of Jol. Other portents also happened to appal this devoted family: +the contagious disease again broke forth, and when any one fell a +sacrifice to it his spectre was sure to join the troop of persecutors, +who had now almost full possession of the mansion of Froda. Thorgrima +Galldrakinna, wife of Thorer, was one of these victims, and, in short, +of thirty servants belonging to the household, eighteen died, and five +fled for fear of the apparitions, so that only seven remained in the +service of Kiartan. + +Kiartan had now recourse to the advice of his maternal uncle Snorro, in +consequence of whose counsel, which will perhaps appear surprising to +the reader, judicial measures were instituted against the spectres. A +Christian priest was, however, associated with Thordo Kausa, son of +Snorro, and with Kiartan, to superintend and sanctify the proceedings. +The inhabitants were regularly summoned to attend upon the inquest, as +in a cause between man and man, and the assembly was constituted before +the gate of the mansion, just as the spectres had assumed their wonted +station by the fire. Kiartan boldly ventured to approach them, and, +snatching a brand from the fire, he commanded the tapestry belonging to +Thorgunna to be carried out of doors, set fire to it, and reduced it to +ashes with all the other ornaments of her bed, which had been so +inconsiderately preserved at the request of Thurida. A tribunal being +then constituted with the usual legal solemnities, a charge was +preferred by Kiartan against Thorer with the wooden leg, by Thordo Kausa +against Thorodd, and by others chosen as accusers against the individual +spectres present, accusing them of molesting the mansion, and +introducing death and disease among its inhabitants. All the solemn +rites of judicial procedure were observed on this singular occasion; +evidence was adduced, charges given, and the cause formally decided. It +does not appear that the ghosts put themselves on their defence, so that +sentence of ejectment was pronounced against them individually in due +and legal form. When Thorer heard the judgment, he arose, and saying-- + +"I have sat while it was lawful for me to do so," left the apartment by +the door opposite to that at which the judicial assembly was +constituted. Each of the spectres, as it heard its individual sentence, +left the place, saying something which indicated its unwillingness to +depart, until Thorodd himself was solemnly called on to leave. + +"We have here no longer," said he, "a peaceful dwelling, therefore will +we remove." + +Kiartan then entered the hall with his followers, and the priest, with +holy water, and celebration of a solemn mass, completed the conquest +over the goblins, which had been commenced by the power and authority of +the Icelandic law. + + + + +THE LITTLE GLASS SHOE. + + +A peasant, named John Wilde, who lived in Rodenkirchen, found, one time, +a little glass shoe on one of the hills, where the little people used to +dance. He clapped it instantly in his pocket, and ran away with it, +keeping his hand as close on his pocket as if he had a dove in it, for +he knew he had found a treasure which the underground people must redeem +at any price. + +Others say that John Wilde lay in ambush one night for the underground +people, and snatched an opportunity to pull off one of their shoes by +stretching himself there with a brandy bottle beside him, and acting +like one that was dead drunk, for he was a very cunning man, not over +scrupulous in his morals, and had taken in many a one by his craftiness, +and, on this account, his name was in no good repute among his +neighbours, who, to say the truth, were willing to have as little to do +with him as possible. Many hold, too, that he was acquainted with +forbidden acts, and used to carry on an intercourse with the fiends and +old women that raised storms, and such like. + +However, be this as it may, when John had got the shoe he lost no time +in letting the folk that dwell under the ground know that he had it. At +midnight he went to the Nine-hills, and cried with all his might-- + +"John Wilde of Rodenkirchen has got a beautiful glass shoe. Who will buy +it? who will buy it?" for he knew that the little one who had lost the +shoe must go barefoot till he got it again; and that is no trifle, for +the little people have generally to walk upon very hard and stony +ground. + +John's advertisement was speedily attended to. The little fellow who had +lost the shoe made no delay in setting about redeeming it. The first +free day he got that he might come out in the daylight, he came as a +respectable merchant, knocked at John Wilde's door, and asked if John +had not got a glass shoe to sell: + +"For," says he, "they are an article now in great demand, and are sought +for in every market." + +John replied that it was true that he had a very pretty little glass +shoe; but it was so small that even a dwarf's foot would be squeezed in +it, and that a person must be made on purpose to suit it before it could +be of use. For all that, it was an extraordinary shoe, a valuable shoe, +and a dear shoe, and it was not every merchant that could afford to pay +for it. + +The merchant asked to see it, and when he had examined it-- + +"Glass shoes," said he, "are not by any means such rare articles, my +good friend, as you think here in Rodenkirchen, because you do not +happen to go much into the world. However," said he, after humming a +little, "I will give you a good price for it, because I happen to have +the very fellow of it." + +He bid the countryman a thousand dollars for it. + +"A thousand dollars are money, my father used to say when he drove fat +oxen to market," replied John Wilde, in a mocking tone; "but it will not +leave my hands for that shabby price, and, for my own part, it may +ornament the foot of my daughter's doll! Hark ye, my friend, I have +heard a sort of little song sung about the glass shoe, and it is not for +a parcel of dirt it will go out of my hands. Tell me now, my good +fellow, should you happen to know the knack of it, how in every furrow I +make when I am ploughing I may find a ducat? If not, the shoe is still +mine; and you may inquire for glass shoes at those other markets." + +The merchant made still a great many attempts, and twisted and turned in +every direction to get the shoe; but when he found the farmer +inflexible, he agreed to what John desired, and swore to the performance +of it. Cunning John believed him, and gave him up the glass shoe, for he +knew right well with whom he had to do. So, the business being ended, +away went the merchant with his glass shoe. + +Without a moment's delay John repaired to his stable, got ready his +horses and his plough, and went out to the field. He selected a piece of +ground where he would have the shortest turns possible, and began to +plough. Hardly had the plough turned up the first sod when up sprang a +ducat out of the ground, and it was the same with every fresh furrow he +made. There was now no end of his ploughing, and John Wilde soon bought +eight new horses, and put them into the stable to the eight he already +had, and their mangers were never without plenty of oats in them, that +he might be able every two hours to yoke two fresh horses, and so be +enabled to drive them the faster. + +John was now insatiable in ploughing. Every morning he was out before +sunrise, and many a time he ploughed on till after midnight. Summer and +winter it was plough, plough with him ever-more, except when the ground +was frozen as hard as a stone. He always ploughed by himself, and never +suffered any one to go out with him, or to come to him when he was at +work, for John understood too well the nature of his crop to let people +see for what it was he ploughed so constantly. + +However, it fared far worse with him than with his horses, who ate good +oats, and were regularly changed and relieved, for he grew pale and +meagre by reason of his continual working and toiling. His wife and +children had no longer any comfort for him. He never went to the +ale-house or to the club. He withdrew himself from every one, and +scarcely ever spoke a single word, but went about silent and wrapped up +in his own thoughts. All the day long he toiled for his ducats, and at +night he had to count them, and to plan and meditate how he might find +out a still swifter kind of plough. + +His wife and the neighbours lamented over his strange conduct, his +dulness and melancholy, and began to think he was grown foolish. +Everybody pitied his wife and children, for they imagined the numerous +horses that he kept in his stable, and the preposterous mode of +agriculture he pursued, with his unnecessary and superfluous ploughing, +must soon leave him without house or land. + +Their anticipations, however, were not fulfilled. True it is, the poor +man never enjoyed a happy or contented hour since he began to plough the +ducats up out of the ground. The old saying held good in his case, that +he who gives himself up to the pursuit of gold is half-way in the claws +of the evil one. Flesh and blood cannot bear perpetual labour, and John +Wilde did not long hold out against his running through the furrows day +and night. He got through the first spring; but one day in the second he +dropped down at the tail of the plough like an exhausted November fly. +Out of the pure thirst for gold he was wasted away and dried up to +nothing, whereas he had been a very strong and hearty man the day the +shoe of the little underground man fell into his hands. + +His wife, however, found he had left a great treasure--two great +nailed-up chests full of good new ducats; and his sons purchased large +estates for themselves, and became lords and noblemen. + +But what good did all that to poor John Wilde? + + + + +HOW LOKI WAGERED HIS HEAD. + + +Loki, the son of Laufey, out of mischief cut off all the hair of Sif. +When Thor discovered this he seized Loki, and would have broken every +bone in his body, only he swore that he would get the black dwarfs to +make hair of gold for Sif, which should grow like any other hair. + +Loki then went to the dwarfs that are called the sons of Ivallda. They +first made the hair, which, as soon as it was put on the head, grew like +natural hair. Then they made the ship Skidbladnir, which always had the +wind with it wherever it would sail. Lastly, they made the spear Gugner, +which always hit its mark in battle. + +Then Loki wagered his head against the dwarf Brock, that his brother, +Eitri, could not forge three such valuable things as these. They went to +the forge. Eitri set the bellows to the fire, and bid his brother, +Brock, blow. While he was blowing there came a fly that settled on his +hand and bit him, but he blew without stopping till the smith took the +work out of the fire, and it was a boar, and its bristles were of gold. + +Eitri then put gold into the fire, and bid his brother not stop blowing +till he came back. He went away, and the fly came and settled on Brock's +neck, and bit him more severely than before, but he blew on till the +smith came back, and took out of the fire the gold ring which is called +Draupnir. + +Then he put iron into the fire, and bid Brock blow, and said that if he +stopped blowing all the work would be lost. The fly settled between +Brock's eyes, and bit so hard that the blood ran down so that he could +not see. So, when the bellows were down, he caught at the fly in all +haste, and tore off its wings. When the smith came he said that all that +was in the fire was nearly spoiled. Then he took out of it the hammer, +Mjolnir. He then gave all the things to his brother Brock, and bade him +go with them to Asgard, and settle the wager. + +Loki produced his articles, and Odin, Thor, and Frey were the judges. +Then Loki gave to Odin the spear Gugner, and to Thor the hair that Sif +was to have, and to Frey Skidbladnir, and told them what virtues those +things possessed. Brock took out his articles, and gave to Odin the +ring, and told him that every ninth night there would drop from it eight +other rings as valuable as itself. To Frey he gave the boar, and said +that it would run through air and water, by night and by day, better +than any horse, and that never was there night so dark that the way by +which he went would not be light from his hide. The hammer he gave to +Thor, and said that it would never fail to hit a troll, and that at +whatever he threw it, it would never miss the mark, and that Thor could +never throw it so far that it would not return to his hand. It would +also, when Thor chose, become so small that he could put it in his +pocket. The only fault of the hammer was that its handle was a little +too short. + +Their judgment was that the hammer was the best of all the things before +them, and that the dwarf had won his wager. Then Loki prayed hard not to +lose his head, but the dwarf said that could not be. + +"Catch me, then!" said Loki, and when the dwarf sought to catch him he +was far away, for Loki had shoes with which he could run through air and +water. Then the dwarf prayed Thor to catch him, and he did so. The dwarf +now proceeded to cut off his head, but Loki objected that he was to have +the head only, and not the neck. As he would not be quiet, the dwarf +took a knife and a thong, and began to sew his mouth up; but the knife +was bad, so the dwarf wished that he had his brother's awl, and as soon +as he wished it, it was there. So he sewed Loki's lips together. + + + + +THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. + + +There once lived in Rambin an honest, industrious man, named James +Dietrich. He had several children, all of a good disposition, especially +the youngest, whose name was John. John Dietrich was a handsome, smart +boy, diligent at school, and obedient at home. His great passion was for +hearing stories, and whenever he met any one who was well stored he +never let him go till he had heard them all. + +When John was about eight years old he was sent to spend a summer with +his uncle, a farmer, in Rodenkirchen. Here John had to keep cows with +other boys, and they used to drive them to graze about the Nine-hills. +There was an old cowherd, one Klas Starkwolt who used frequently to join +the boys, and then they would sit down together and tell stories. Klas +abounded in these, and he became John Dietrich's dearest friend. In +particular, he knew a number of stories of the Nine-hills, and the +underground people in the old times, when the giants disappeared from +the country and the little ones came into the hills. These tales John +swallowed so eagerly that he thought of nothing else, and was for ever +talking of golden cups, and crowns, and glass shoes, and pockets full of +ducats, and gold rings, and diamond coronets, and snow-white brides, and +such like. Old Klas used often to shake his head at him, and say-- + +"John! John! what are you about? The spade and scythe will be your +sceptre and crown, and your bride will wear a garland of rosemary, and a +gown of striped drill." + +Still John almost longed to get into the Nine-hills, for Klas told him +that every one who by luck or cunning should get a cap of the little +ones might go down with safety, and instead of their making a servant of +him, he would be their master. The person whose cap he got would be his +servant, and obey all his commands. + +St. John's day, when the days were longest and the nights shortest, was +now come. Old and young kept the holiday, had all sorts of plays, and +told all kinds of stories. John could now no longer contain himself, but +the day after the festival he slipt away to the Nine-hills, and when it +grew dark laid himself down on the top of the highest of them, where +Klas had told him the underground people had their principal +dancing-place. John lay quite still from ten till twelve at night. At +last it struck twelve. Immediately there was a ringing and a singing in +the hills, and then a whispering and a lisping, and a whiz and a buzz +all about him, for the little people were now, some whirling round and +round in the dance, and others sporting and tumbling about in the +moonshine, and playing a thousand merry pranks and tricks. He felt a +secret dread come over him at this whispering and buzzing, for he could +see nothing of them, as the caps they wore made them invisible, but he +lay quite still with his face in the grass, and his eyes fast shut, +snoring a little, just as if he were asleep. Now and then he ventured to +open his eyes a little and peep out, but not the slightest trace of them +could he see, though it was bright moonlight. + +It was not long before three of the underground people came jumping up +to where he was lying, but they took no heed of him, and flung their +brown caps up into the air, and caught them from one another. At length +one snatched the cap out of the hand of another and flung it away. It +flew direct, and fell upon John's head. The moment he felt it he caught +hold of it, and, standing up, bid farewell to sleep. He flung his cap +about for joy and made the little silver bell of it jingle, then set it +upon his head, and--oh wonderful! that instant he saw the countless and +merry swarm of the little people. + +The three little men came slily up to him, and thought by their +nimbleness to get back the cap, but he held his prize fast, and they saw +clearly that nothing was to be done in this way with him, for in size +and strength John was a giant in comparison with these little fellows, +who hardly came up to his knee. The owner of the cap now came up very +humbly to the finder, and begged, in as supplicating a tone as if his +life depended upon it, that he would give him back his cap. + +"No," said John, "you sly little rogue, you will get the cap no more. +That's not the sort of thing one gives away for buttered cake. I should +be in a nice way with you if I had not something of yours, but now you +have no power over me, but must do what I please. I will go down with +you and see how you live down below, and you shall be my servant. Nay, +no grumbling. You know you must. I know that just as well as you do, for +Klas Starkwolt told it to me often and often!" + +The little man made as if he had not heard or understood one word of all +this. He began his crying and whining over again, and wept and screamed +and howled most piteously for his little cap. John, however, cut the +matter short by saying-- + +"Have done. You are my servant, and I intend to make a trip with you." + +So he gave up, especially as the others told him there was no remedy. + +John now flung away his old hat, and put on the cap, and set it firm on +his head lest it should slip off or fly away, for all his power lay in +the cap. He lost no time in trying its virtues, and commanded his new +servant to fetch him food and drink. The servant ran away like the wind, +and in a second was there again with bottles of wine, and bread, and +rich fruits. So John ate and drank, and looked at the sports and dancing +of the little ones, and it pleased him right well, and he behaved +himself stoutly and wisely, as if he had been a born master. + +When the cock had now crowed for the third time, and the little larks +had made their first twirl in the sky, and the infant light appeared in +solitary white streaks in the east, then it went hush, hush, hush, +through the bushes and flowers and stalks, and the hills rent again, and +opened up, and the little men went down. John gave close attention to +everything, and found that it was exactly as he had been told, and, +behold! on the top of the hill, where they had just been dancing, and +where all was full of grass and flowers, as people see it by day, there +rose of a sudden, when the retreat was sounded, a bright glass point. +Whoever wanted to go in stepped upon this. It opened, and he glided +gently in, the grass closing again after him; and when they had all +entered it vanished, and there was no further trace of it to be seen. +Those who descended through the glass point sank quite gently into a +wide silver tun, which held them all, and could have easily harboured a +thousand such little people. John and his man went down into such a one +along with several others, all of whom screamed out, and prayed him not +to tread on them, for if his weight came on them they were dead men. He +was, however, careful, and acted in a very friendly way towards them. +Several tuns of this kind went up and down after each other, until all +were in. They hung by long silver chains, which were drawn and hung +without. + +In his descent John was amazed at the brilliancy of the walls between +which the tun glided down. They were all, as it were, beset with pearls +and diamonds, glittering and sparkling brightly, and below him he heard +the most beautiful music tinkling at a distance, so that he did not know +what was become of him, and from excess of pleasure he fell fast asleep. + +He slept a long time, and when he awoke he found himself in the most +beautiful bed that could be, such as he had never seen the like of in +his father's house, and it was in the prettiest chamber in the world, +and his servant was beside him with a fan to keep away the flies and +gnats. He had hardly opened his eyes when his little servant brought him +a basin and towel, and held him the nicest new clothes of brown silk to +put on, most beautifully made. With these was a pair of new black shoes +with red ribbons, such as John had never beheld in Rambin or in +Rodinkirchen either. There were also there several pairs of beautiful +shining glass shoes, such as are only used on great occasions. John was, +as we may well suppose, delighted to have such clothes to wear, and he +put them upon him joyfully. His servant then flew like lightning, and +returned with a breakfast of wine and milk, and beautiful white bread +and fruits, and such other things as boys are fond of. He now perceived +every moment more and more, that Klas Starkwolt, the old cowherd, knew +what he was talking about, for the splendour and magnificence he saw +here surpassed anything he had ever dreamt of. His servant, too, was the +most obedient one possible, a nod or a sign was enough for him, for he +was as wise as a bee, as all these little people are by nature John's +bedchamber was all covered with emeralds and other precious stones, and +in the ceiling was a diamond as big as a nine-pin bowl, that gave light +to the whole chamber. In this place they have neither sun nor moon nor +stars to give them light, neither do they use lamps or candlesticks of +any kind, but they live in the midst of precious stones, and have the +purest of gold and silver in abundance, and the skill to make it light +both by day and night, though indeed, properly speaking, as there is no +sun there, there is no distinction between day and night, and they +reckon only by weeks. They set the brightest and clearest precious +stones in their dwellings, and in the ways and passages leading +underground, and in the places where they had their large halls, and +their dances and their feasts, where they sparkled so as to make it +eternal day. + +When John had finished breakfast, his servant opened a little door in +the wall, where was a closet with the most beautiful silver and gold +cups and dishes and other vessels and baskets filled with ducats and +boxes of jewels and precious stones. There were also charming pictures, +and the most delightful books he had seen in the whole course of his +life. + +John spent the morning looking at these things, and when it was midday a +bell rang, and his servant said-- + +"Will you dine alone, sir, or with the large company?" + +"With the large company, to be sure," replied John. So his servant led +him out. John, however, saw nothing but solitary halls lighted up with +precious stones, and here and there little men and women, who appeared +to him to glide in and out of the clefts and fissures of the rocks. +Wondering what it was the bells rang for, he said to his servant-- + +"But where is the company?" + +Scarcely had he spoken when the hall they were in opened out to a great +extent, and a canopy set with diamonds and precious stones was drawn +over it. At the same moment he saw an immense throng of nicely dressed +little men and women pouring in through several open doors. The floor +opened in several places, and tables, covered with the most beautiful +ware, and the most luscious meats and fruits and wines, placed +themselves beside each other, and the chairs arranged themselves along +the tables, and then the men and women took their seats. + +The principal persons now came forward and bowed to John, and led him to +their table, where they placed him among their most beautiful maidens, a +distinction which pleased John well. The party, too, was very merry, for +the underground people are extremely lively and cheerful, and can never +stay long quiet. Then the most charming music sounded over their heads, +and beautiful birds, flying about, sang most sweetly, and these were not +real birds but artificial ones which the little men make so ingeniously +that they can fly about and sing like natural ones. + +The servants of both sexes who waited at table and handed about the +golden cups, and the silver and crystal baskets with fruit, were +children belonging to this world, whom some casualty or other had thrown +among the underground people, and who, having come down without securing +any pledge, were fallen into the power of the little ones. These were +differently clad. The boys and girls were dressed in short white coats +and jackets, and wore glass shoes so fine that their step could never be +heard, with blue caps on their heads, and silver belts round their +waists. + +John at first pitied them, seeing how they were forced to run about and +wait on the little people, but as they looked cheerful and happy, and +were handsomely dressed, and had such rosy cheeks, he said to +himself--"After all, they are not so badly off, and I was myself much +worse when I had to be running after the cows and bullocks. To be sure I +am now a master here, and they are servants, but there is no help for +it. Why were they so foolish as to let themselves be taken and not get +some pledge beforehand? At any rate the time must come when they will be +set at liberty, and they will certainly not be longer than fifty years +here." + +With these thoughts he consoled himself, and sported and played away +with his little play-fellows, and ate, and drank, and made his servant +tell him stories, for he would know everything exactly. + +They sat at table about two hours. The principal person then rang a +bell, and the tables and chairs all vanished in a whiff, leaving all the +company on their feet. The birds now struck up a most lively air, and +the little people danced their rounds most merrily. When they were done, +the joyous sets jumped and leaped, and whirled themselves round and +round, as if the world was grown dizzy. The pretty girls who sat next +John caught hold of him and whirled him about, and, without making any +resistance, he danced round and round with them for two good hours. +Every afternoon while he remained there he used to dance thus merrily +with them, and, to the last hour of his life, he used to speak of it +with the greatest glee. His language was--that the joys of heaven and +the songs and music of the angels, which the righteous hope to enjoy +there, might be excessively beautiful, but that he could conceive +nothing to surpass the music and the dancing under the earth, the +beautiful and lively little men, the wonderful birds in the branches, +and the tinkling silver bells in their caps. + +"No one," said he, "who has not seen and heard it, can form any idea +whatever of it." + +When the music and dancing were over it might be about four o'clock. The +little people then disappeared, and went each about his own business or +pleasure. After supper they sported and danced in the same way, and at +midnight, especially on star-light nights, they slipped out of their +hills to dance in the open air. John used then to say his prayers, a +duty he never neglected either in the evening or in the morning, and go +to sleep. + +For the first week John was in the glass hill, he only went from his +chamber to the great hall and back again. After the first week, however, +he began to walk about, making his servant show and explain everything +to him. He found that there were in that place the most beautiful walks +in which he might ramble about for miles, in all directions, without +ever finding an end to them, so immensely large was the hill in which +the little people lived, and yet outwardly it seemed but a little place, +with a few bushes and trees growing on it. + +It was extraordinary that, between the meads and fields, which were +thick sown with hills and lakes and islands, and ornamented with trees +and flowers in great variety, there ran, as it were, small lanes, +through which, as through crystal rocks, one was obliged to pass to come +to any new place; and the single meads and fields were often a mile +long, and the flowers were so brilliant and so fragrant, and the songs +of the numerous birds so sweet, that John had never seen anything on +earth like it. There was a breeze, and yet one did not feel the wind. It +was quite clear and bright, and yet there was no heat. The waves were +dashing, still there was no danger, and the most beautiful little barks +and canoes came, like white swans, when one wanted to cross the water, +and went backwards and forwards of themselves. Whence all this came no +one knew, nor could John's servant tell anything about it, but one thing +John saw plainly, which was, that the large carbuncles and diamonds that +were set in the roof and walls gave light instead of the sun, moon, and +stars. + +These lovely meads and plains were, for the most part, all lonesome. Few +of the underground people were to be seen upon them, and those that were +just glided across them as if in the greatest hurry. It very rarely +happened that any of them danced out there in the open air. Sometimes +about three of them did so, or, at the most, half a dozen. John never +saw a greater number together. The meads were never cheerful except when +the servants, of whom there might be some hundreds, were let out to +walk. This, however, happened but twice a week, for they were mostly +kept employed in the great hall and adjoining apartments or at school. + +For John soon found they had schools there also. He had been there about +ten months when one day he saw something snow-white gliding into a rock +and disappearing. + +"What!" said he to his servant, "are there some of you that wear white +like the servants?" + +He was informed that there were, but they were few in number, and never +appeared at the large tables or the dances, except once a year, on the +birthday of the great Hill-king, who dwelt many thousand miles below in +the great deep. These were the oldest among them, some of them many +thousand years old, who knew all things and could tell of the beginning +of the world, and were called the Wise. They lived all alone, and only +left their chambers to instruct the underground children and the +attendants of both sexes, for whom there was a great school. + +John was much pleased with this intelligence, and he determined to take +advantage of it; so next morning he made his servant conduct him to the +school, and was so well pleased with it that he never missed a day going +there. They were there taught reading, writing, and accounts, to compose +and relate histories, stories, and many elegant kinds of work, so that +many came out of the hills, both men and women, very prudent and knowing +people in consequence of what they were taught there. The biggest, and +those of best capacity, received instruction in natural science and +astronomy, and in poetry and in riddle-making, arts highly esteemed +among the little people. John was very diligent, and soon became a most +clever painter and drawer. He wrought, too, most ingeniously in gold and +silver and stones, and in verse and riddle-making he had no fellow. + +John had spent many a happy year here without ever thinking of the upper +world, or of those he had left behind, so pleasantly passed the time--so +many agreeable companions had he. + +Of all of them there was none of whom he was so fond as of a fair-haired +girl named Elizabeth Krabbe. She was from his own village, and was the +daughter of Frederick Krabbe, the minister of Rambin. She was but four +years old when she was taken away, and John had often heard tell of her. +She was not, however, stolen by the little people, but had come into +their power in this manner. One day in summer she and other children ran +out into the fields. In their rambles they went to the Nine-hills, where +little Elizabeth fell asleep, and was forgotten by the rest. At night +when she awoke, she found herself under the ground among the little +people. It was not merely because she was from his own village that John +was so fond of Elizabeth, but she was very beautiful, with clear blue +eyes and ringlets of fair hair, and a most angelic smile. Time flew away +unperceived. John was now eighteen, and Elizabeth sixteen. Their +childish fondness was now become love, and the little people were +pleased to see it, thinking that by means of her they might get John to +renounce his power, and become their servant, for they were fond of him, +and would willingly have had him to wait upon them, for the love of +dominion is their vice. They were, however, mistaken. John had learned +too much from his servant to be caught in that way. + +John's chief delight was walking about with Elizabeth, for he now knew +every place so well that he could dispense with the attendance of his +servant. In these rambles he was always gay and lively, but his +companion was frequently sad and melancholy, thinking on the land above, +where men live, and where the sun, moon, and stars shine. Now it +happened in one of their walks, as they talked of their love, and it was +after midnight, they passed under the place where the tops of the glass +hills used to open and let the underground people in and out. As they +went along, they heard of a sudden the crowing of several cocks above. +At this sound, which she had not heard for several years, Elizabeth felt +her heart so affected that she could contain herself no longer, but +throwing her arms about John's neck, she bathed his cheek with her +tears. At length she said-- + +"Dearest John, everything down here is very beautiful, and the little +people are kind and do nothing to injure me, but still I have been +always uneasy, nor ever felt any pleasure till I began to love you; and +yet that is not pure pleasure, for this is not a right way of living, +such as is fit for human beings. Every night I dream of my father and +mother, and of our churchyard where the people stand so pious at the +church door waiting for my father, and I could weep tears of blood that +I cannot go into the church with them and worship God as a human being +should, for this is no Christian life we lead down here, but a delusive +half-heathen one. And only think, dear John, that we can never marry, as +there is no priest to join us. Do, then, plan some way for us to leave +this place, for I cannot tell you how I long to get once more to my +father, and among pious Christians." + +John, too, had not been unaffected by the crowing of the cocks, and he +felt what he had never felt there before, a longing after the land where +the sun shines. + +"Dear Elizabeth," said he, "all you say is true, and I now feel it is a +sin for Christians to stay here, and it seems to me as if our Lord said +to us in that cry of the cocks, 'Come up, ye Christian children, out of +those abodes of illusion and magic. Come to the light of the stars, and +act as children of the light.' I now feel that it was a great sin for me +to come down here, but I trust I shall be forgiven on account of my +youth, for I was only a boy, and knew not what I did. But now I will not +stay a day longer. They cannot keep _me_ here." + +At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she recollected that she +was a servant, and must serve her fifty years. + +"And what will it avail me," cried she, "that I shall continue young, +and be but as of twenty years when I go out, for my father and mother +will be dead, and all my companions old and grey; and you, dearest John, +will be old and grey also," cried she, throwing herself on his bosom. + +John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never before occurred to him. +He, however, comforted her as well as he could, and declared he would +never leave the place without her. He spent the whole night in forming +various plans. At last he fixed on one, and in the morning he despatched +his servant to summon to his apartment six of the principal of the +little people. When they came, John thus mildly addressed them-- + +"My friends, you know how I came here, not as a prisoner or servant, but +as a lord and master over one of you, and of consequence over all. You +have now for the ten years I have been with you treated me with respect +and attention, and for that I am your debtor. But you are still more my +debtors, for I might have given you every sort of vexation and +annoyance, and you must have submitted to it. I have, however, not done +so, but have behaved as your equal, and have sported and played with you +rather than ruled over you. I have now one request to make. There is a +girl among your servants whom I love, Elizabeth Krabbe, of Rambin, where +I was born. Give her to me and let us depart, for I will return to where +the sun shines and the plough goes through the land. I ask to take +nothing with me but her and the ornaments and furniture of my chamber." + +He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated and cast their eyes +upon the ground. At last the oldest of them replied-- + +"Sir, you ask what we cannot grant. It is a fixed law that no servant +can leave this place before the appointed time. Were we to break through +this law our whole subterranean empire would fall. Anything else you +desire, for we love and respect you, but we cannot give up Elizabeth." + +"You can, and you shall, give her up!" cried John in a rage. "Go, think +of it till to-morrow. Return then at this hour. I will show you whether +or not I can triumph over your hypocritical and cunning stratagems." + +The six retired. Next morning, on their return, John addressed them in +the kindest manner, but to no purpose. They persisted in their refusal. +He gave them till the next day, threatening them severely in case they +still proved refractory. + +Next day, when the six little people appeared before him, John looked at +them sternly, and made no return to their salutations, but said to them +shortly-- + +"Yes, or No?" + +They answered, with one voice, "No." He then ordered his servant to +summon twenty-four more of the principal persons, with their wives and +children. When they came they were in all five hundred men, women, and +children. John ordered them forthwith to go and fetch pick-axes, spades, +and bars, which they did in a second. + +He now led them out to a rock in one of the fields, and ordered them to +fall to work at blasting, hewing, and dragging stones. They toiled +patiently, and made as if it were only sport to them. + +From morning till night their task-master made them labour without +ceasing, standing over them constantly to prevent them resting. Still +their obstinacy was inflexible, and at the end of some weeks his pity +for them was so great that he was obliged to give over. + +He now thought of a new species of punishment for them. He ordered them +to appear before him next morning, each provided with a new whip. They +obeyed, and John commanded them to lash one another, and he stood +looking on while they did it, as grim and cruel as an Eastern tyrant. +Still the little people cut and slashed themselves and mocked at John, +and refused to comply with his wishes. This he did for three or four +days. + +Several other courses did he try, but all in vain. His temper was too +gentle to struggle with their obstinacy, and he commenced to despair of +ever accomplishing his dearest wish. He began now to hate the little +people of whom he had before been so fond. He kept away from their +banquets and dances, and associated with none but Elizabeth, and ate and +drank quite solitary in his chamber. In short, he became almost a +hermit, and sank into moodiness and melancholy. + +While in this temper, as he was taking a solitary walk in the evening, +and, to divert his melancholy, was flinging the stones that lay in his +path against each other, he happened to break a tolerably large one, and +out of it jumped a toad. The moment John saw the ugly animal he caught +him up in ecstasy, and put him in his pocket and ran home, crying-- + +"Now I have her! I have my Elizabeth! Now you shall get it, you little +mischievous rascals!" + +On getting home he put the toad into a costly silver casket, as if it +was the greatest treasure. + +To account for John's joy, you must know that Klas Starkwolt had often +told him that the underground people could not endure any ill smell, and +that the sight, or even the smell, of a toad made them faint, and suffer +the most dreadful tortures, and that by means of one of those odious +animals one could compel them to do anything. Hence there are no bad +smells to be found in the whole glass empire, and a toad is a thing +unheard of there. This toad must certainly have been enclosed in the +stone from the creation, as it were, for the sake of John and Elizabeth. + +Resolved to try the effect of his toad, John took the casket under his +arm and went out, and on the way he met two of the little people in a +lonesome place. The moment he approached they fell to the ground, and +whimpered and howled most lamentably as long as he was near them. + +Satisfied now of his power, he, the next morning, summoned the fifty +principal persons, with their wives and children, to his apartment. When +they came he addressed them, reminding them once again of his kindness +and gentleness towards them, and of the good terms on which they had +hitherto lived. He reproached them with their ingratitude in refusing +him the only favour he had ever asked of them, but firmly declared that +he would not give way to their obstinacy. + +"Therefore," said he, "for the last time, think for a minute, and if you +then say 'No,' you shall feel that pain which is to you and your +children the most terrible of all pains." + +They did not take long to deliberate, but unanimously replied "No"; and +they thought to themselves, "What new scheme has the youth hit on with +which he thinks to frighten wise ones like us?" and they smiled as they +said "No." Their smiling enraged John above all, and he ran back a few +hundred paces to where he had laid the casket with the toad under a +bush. + +He was hardly come within a few hundred paces of them when they all fell +to the ground as if struck with a thunderbolt, and began to howl and +whimper, and to writhe, as if suffering the most excruciating pain. They +stretched out their hands, and cried-- + +"Have mercy, have mercy! We feel you have a toad, and there is no escape +for us. Take the odious beast away, and we will do all you require." + +He let them kick a few seconds longer, and then took the toad away. They +then stood up and felt no more pain. John let all depart but the six +chief persons, to whom he said-- + +"This night, between twelve and one, Elizabeth and I will depart. Load +then for me three waggons with gold and silver and precious stones. I +might, you know, take all that is in the hill, and you deserve it; but I +will be merciful. Further, you must put all the furniture of my chamber +in two waggons, and get ready for me the handsomest travelling carriage +that is in the hill, with six black horses. Moreover, you must set at +liberty all the servants who have been so long here that on earth they +would be twenty years old and upwards; and you must give them as much +silver and gold as will make them rich for life, and make a law that no +one shall be detained here longer than his twentieth year." + +The six took the oath, and went away quite melancholy; and John buried +his toad deep in the ground. The little people laboured hard, and +prepared everything. At midnight everything was out of the hill; and +John and Elizabeth got into the silver tun, and were drawn up. + +It was then one o'clock, and it was midsummer, the very time that, +twelve years before, John had gone down into the hill. Music sounded +around them, and they saw the glass hill open, and the rays of the light +of heaven shine on them after so many years. And when they got out, they +saw the first streaks of dawn already in the east. Crowds of the +underground people were around them, busied about the waggons. John bid +them a last farewell, waved his brown cap three times in the air, and +then flung it among them. At the same moment he ceased to see them. He +beheld nothing but a green hill, and the well-known bushes and fields, +and heard the town-clock of Rambin strike two. When all was still, save +a few larks, who were tuning their morning songs, they all fell on their +knees and worshipped God, resolving henceforth to live a pious and a +Christian life. + +When the sun rose, John arranged the procession, and they set out for +Rambin. Every well-known object that they saw awoke pleasing +recollections in the bosom of John and his bride; and as they passed by +Rodenkirchen, John recognised, among the people that gazed at and +followed them, his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd, and his dog +Speed. It was about four in the morning when they entered Rambin, and +they halted in the middle of the village, about twenty paces from the +house where John was born. The whole village poured out to gaze on these +Asiatic princes, for such the old sexton, who had in his youth been at +Constantinople and at Moscow, said they were. There John saw his father +and mother, and his brother Andrew, and his sister Trine. The old +minister Krabbe stood there too, in his black slippers and white +nightcap, gaping and staring with the rest. + +John discovered himself to his parents, and Elizabeth to hers; and the +wedding-day was soon fixed. And such a wedding was never seen before or +since in the island of Rügen, for John sent to Stralsund and Greifswald +for whole boat-loads of wine and sugar and coffee; and whole herds of +oxen, sheep, and pigs were driven to the feast. The quantity of harts +and roes and hares that were shot upon the occasion it were vain to +attempt to tell, or to count the fish that was caught. There was not a +musician in Rügen or in Pomerania that was not engaged, for John was +immensely rich, and he wished to display his wealth. + +John did not neglect his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd. He gave +him enough to make him comfortable for the rest of his days, and +insisted on his coming and staying with him as often and as long as he +wished. + +After his marriage John made a progress through the country with his +wife; and he purchased towns and villages and lands until he became +master of nearly half Rügen and a very considerable Count in the +country. His father, old James Dietrich, was made a nobleman, and his +brothers and sisters gentlemen and ladies--for what cannot money do? +John and his wife spent their days in doing acts of piety and charity. +They built several churches, and had the blessing of every one that knew +them, and died universally lamented. It was Count John Dietrich that +built and richly endowed the present church of Rambin. He built it on +the site of his father's house, and presented to it several of the cups +and plates made by the underground people, and his own and Elizabeth's +glass-shoes, in memory of what had befallen them in their youth. But +they were taken away in the time of the great Charles the Twelfth of +Sweden, when the Russians came on the island and the Cossacks plundered +even the churches, and took away everything. + + + + +HOW THORSTON BECAME RICH. + + +When spring came Thorston made ready his ship and put twenty-four men on +board of her. When they came to Finland they ran her into a harbour, and +every day he went on shore to amuse himself. + +He came one day to an open part of the wood, where he saw a great rock, +and a little way out from it was a horribly ugly dwarf. He was looking +over his head, with his mouth wide open, and it appeared to Thorston +that it stretched from ear to ear, and that the lower jaw came down to +his knees. + +Thorston asked him why he acted so foolishly. + +"Do not be surprised, my good lad," answered the dwarf, "do you not see +that great dragon that is flying up there? He has taken off my son, and +I believe that it is Odin himself that has sent the monster to do it. I +shall burst and die if I lose my son." + +Then Thorston shot at the dragon, and hit him under one of the wings, so +that he fell dead to the earth; but Thorston caught the dwarf's child in +the air, and brought him to his father. + +The dwarf was very glad, more rejoiced than any one can tell, and he +said-- + +"I have to reward you for a great service, you who are the deliverer of +my son. Now choose your reward in silver or gold." + +"Take your son," said Thorston; "but I am not used to accept rewards for +my services." + +"It would not be becoming," said the dwarf, "if I did not reward you. I +will give you my vest of sheep's wool. Do not think it is a contemptible +gift, for you will never be tired when swimming, or wounded, if you wear +it next your skin." + +Thorston took it and put it on, and it fitted him well, though it had +appeared too small for the dwarf. + +The dwarf next took a gold ring out of his purse and gave it to +Thorston, and bade him take good care of it, telling him he should never +want money while he had the ring. + +Next he gave him a black stone, and said-- + +"If you hide this stone in the palm of your hand no one will see you. I +have not many more things to offer you, or that would be of any value to +you. I will, however, give you a firestone for your amusement." + +He took the stone out of his purse, and with it a steel point. The stone +was triangular, white on one side and red on the other, and a yellow +border ran round it. The dwarf said-- + +"If you prick the stone with the point in the white side there will come +on such a hailstorm that no one will be able to look at it. If you want +to stop the shower you have only to prick on the yellow part, and there +will come so much sunshine that the hail will melt away. If you prick +the red side then there will come out of it such fire, with sparks and +crackling, that no one will be able to look at it. You may also get +whatever you will by means of this point and stone, and they will come +of themselves back to your hand when you call them. I can give you no +more of such gifts." + +Thorston then thanked the dwarf for his presents, and returned to his +men; and it was better for him to have made that voyage than to have +stayed at home. + + + + +GUDBRAND. + + +There was once upon a time a man who was called Gudbrand. He had a farm +which lay far away on a hill, and he was therefore known as Gudbrand of +the Hillside. He and his wife lived so happily together, and were so +well matched, that do what the man would his wife was well pleased, +thinking nothing in the world could be better. Whatever he did she was +satisfied. The farm was their own, and they had a hundred dollars which +lay in a box, and in the stall they had two cows. + +One day the woman said to Gudbrand. + +"I think it would be well to take one of the cows to town and sell it, +and so we shall have some money at hand. We are such fine folk that we +ought to have a little ready money, as other people have. As for the +hundred dollars which lie in the chest, we must not make a hole in them, +but I do not see why we should keep more than one cow. We shall, too, +gain something, for I shall then have only to look after one cow, +instead of having to litter and feed two." + +This Gudbrand thought was right and reasonable, so he took the cow, and +set off to town to sell it. When he arrived there he could find no one +who would buy the beast. + +"Well, well," said he, "I can go home again with the cow. I have stall +and litter for her, and the road home is no longer than the road here." + +So he began to go homewards again. + +When he had gone a little distance he met a man who had a horse he +wanted to sell. So Gudbrand thought it was better to have a horse than a +cow, and exchanged with him. He went on a bit further, and met a man +walking along driving a fat pig before him, and he thought it would be +better to have a fat pig than a horse. So he exchanged with the man. He +went on a bit further, and met a man with a goat. A goat, he thought, +was better than a pig. So he exchanged with him. He went on a good bit +further till he met a man who had a sheep, and he exchanged with him, +for he thought a sheep was always better than a goat. He went on again, +and met a man with a goose. So he exchanged the sheep for the goose. +Then he went a long, long way, and met a man with a cock. So he gave the +goose for the cock, for he thought to himself-- + +"It is better to have a cock than a goose." + +He walked on till late in the day, and then as he was getting hungry he +sold the cock for twelve shillings, and bought something to eat, for, +thought Gudbrand of the Hillside-- + +"It is better to save one's life than have a cock." + +Then he walked on homeward till he came to the house of his nearest +neighbour, and there he looked in. + +"Well, how did you get on at the town?" asked the neighbour. + +"Only so and so," said the man. "I cannot say I have had good or bad +luck," and then he began and told them all that had happened. + +"Well," said the neighbour, "you will catch it when you get home to your +wife. Heaven help you! I would not stand in your shoes." + +"I think things might have been much worse," said Gudbrand of the +Hillside; "but whether things have gone well or badly, I have such a +gentle wife that she never says anything, do what I will." + +"Ah," said the neighbour, "I hear what you say, but I don't believe it." + +"Shall we make a bet?" said Gudbrand. "I have a hundred dollars lying at +home in a chest, will you lay as much?" + +The neighbour was willing, so the bet was made. They waited till +evening, and then set out for Gudbrand's house. The neighbour stood +outside the door, while Gudbrand went inside to his wife. + +"Good evening," said Gudbrand, when he was inside. + +"Good evening," said his wife. "Heaven be praised. Is it you?" + +Yes, it was he. His wife then asked him how things went at the town. + +"Oh, but so-so," said Gudbrand, "not much to boast of. When I came to +the town I could find no one to buy the cow, so I exchanged it for a +horse." + +"Thanks for that!" said the wife; "we are such fine folk that we can +ride to church the same as other people, and as we can keep a horse we +might as well have one. Go and put the horse up, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the horse. After I had gone a bit +further I exchanged it for a pig." + +"Well, well," said his wife, "that was good. I should have done the +same. Thanks for that! now I shall have meat in the house to put before +folk when they come to see me. What could we do with a horse? People +would only have said that we had got too proud to walk to church. Go +along, children, and put the pig in the sty." + +"But I have not got the pig either," said Gudbrand. "When I had gone on +a bit further I exchanged it for a milch goat." + +"Bless me," said the wife, "you do everything well! When I think of it, +what could we have done with a pig? Folk would only have said we eat up +all we had. Now we have a goat we shall have milk and cheese, and we +shall have the goat too. Run, children, and put up the goat." + +"But I have not got the goat," said Gudbrand. "I went on a bit, and +exchanged it for a fine sheep." + +"Well," said the wife, "you have done just what I should have +wished--just as if I had done it myself. What did we want a goat for? I +should have had to go over hill and dale after it. Now we have a sheep +I shall have wool and clothes in the house, and food as well. Go, +children, and put up the sheep." + +"But I have not got the sheep either," said Gudbrand. "I went on a +while, and then I exchanged it for a goose." + +"You shall have thanks for that," said the wife, "many thanks! What +would we have done with a sheep? I have no spinning-wheel nor distaff, +and I should not care to bother about making clothes. We can buy +clothes, as we have always done. Now we shall have roast goose, which I +have so often wished for, and I shall be able to stuff my little pillow +with the down. Go and bring in the goose, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the goose either. When I had gone +a bit further I gave it in exchange for a cock." + +"Heaven knows," said his wife, "how you thought all this out so well! It +is just what I should have done myself. A cock! why it is just the same +as if you had bought an eight-day clock, for the cock crows at four +o'clock every morning, so we shall be able to get up in good time. What +could we have done with a goose? I don't know how to cook it, and I can +stuff my pillow with moss. Run and fetch the cock in, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the cock either. When I had gone a +bit further I got hungry, and so I sold the cock for twelve shillings so +that I might live." + +"Thank God you did so," said his wife; "whatever you do you do it just +as I should have wished. What could we have done with a cock? We are our +own masters, and can lie in bed in the morning as late as we please. +Thank Heaven you have come back again safe. You do everything so well +that we can well spare the cock, the goose, the pig, and the cow." + +Then Gudbrand opened the door. + +"Have I won the hundred dollars?" said he, and the neighbour was obliged +to own that he had. + + + + +THE DWARF-SWORD TIRFING. + + +Suaforlami, the second in descent from Odin, was king over Gardarike +(Russia). One day he rode a-hunting, and sought long after a hart, but +could not find one the whole day. When the sun was setting, he found +himself plunged so deep in the forest that he knew not where he was. On +his right hand he saw a hill, and before it he saw two dwarfs. He drew +his sword against them, and cut off their retreat by getting between +them and the rock. They offered him ransom for their lives, and he asked +them their names, and they said that one of them was called Dyren and +the other Dualin. Then he knew that they were the most ingenious and the +most expert of all the dwarfs, and he therefore demanded that they +should make for him a sword, the best that they could form. Its hilt was +to be of gold, and its belt of the same metal. He moreover commanded +that the sword should never miss a blow, should never rust, that it +should cut through iron and stone as through a garment, and that it +should always be victorious in war and in single combat. On these +conditions he granted the dwarfs their lives. + +At the time appointed he came, and the dwarfs appearing, they gave him +the sword. When Dualin stood at the door, he said-- + +"This sword shall be the bane of a man every time it is drawn, and with +it shall be perpetrated three of the greatest atrocities, and it will +also prove thy bane." + +Suaforlami, when he heard that, struck at the dwarf, so that the blade +of the sword penetrated the solid rock. Thus Suaforlami became possessed +of this sword, and he called it Tirfing. He bore it in war and in single +combat, and with it he slew the giant Thiasse, whose daughter Fridur he +took. + +Suaforlami was soon after slain by the Berserker Andgrim, who then +became master of the sword. When the twelve sons of Andgrim were to +fight with Hialmar and Oddur for Ingaborg, the beautiful daughter of +King Inges, Angantyr bore the dangerous Tirfing, but all the brethren +were slain in the combat, and were buried with their arms. + +Angantyr left an only daughter, Hervor, who, when she grew up, dressed +herself in man's attire, and took the name of Hervardar, and joined a +party of Vikinger, or pirates. Knowing that Tirfing lay buried with her +father, she determined to awaken the dead, and obtain the charmed blade. +She landed alone, in the evening, on the Island of Sams, where her +father and uncles lay in their sepulchral mounds, and ascending by night +to their tombs, that were enveloped in flame, she, by the force of +entreaty, obtained from the reluctant Angantyr the formidable Tirfing. + +Hervor proceeded to the court of King Gudmund, and there one day, as she +was playing at tables with the king, one of the servants chanced to take +up and draw Tirfing, which shone like a sunbeam. But Tirfing was never +to see the light but for the bane of men, and Hervor, by a sudden +impulse, sprang from her seat, snatched the sword, and struck off the +head of the unfortunate man. + +After this she returned to the house of her grandfather, Jarl Biartmar, +where she resumed her female attire, and was married to Haufud, the son +of King Gudmund. She bore him two sons, Angantyr and Heidreker; the +former of a mild and gentle disposition, the latter violent and fierce. +Haufud would not permit Heidreker to remain at his court, and as he was +departing, his mother, among other gifts, presented him with Tirfing. + +His brother accompanied him out of the castle. Before they parted, +Heidreker drew out his sword to look at and admire it, but scarcely did +the rays of light fall on the magic blade, when the Berserker rage came +on its owner, and he slew his gentle brother. + +After this he joined a body of Vikinger, and became so distinguished +that King Harold, for the aid he lent him, gave him his daughter Helga +in marriage. But it was the destiny of Tirfing to commit crime, and +Harold fell by the sword of his son-in-law. Heidreker was afterwards in +Russia, and the son of the king was his foster-son. One day as they were +out hunting, Heidreker and his foster-son happened to be separated from +the rest of the party, when a wild boar appeared before them. + +Heidreker ran at him with his spear, but the beast caught it in his +mouth and broke it across. Then he alighted and drew Tirfing, and killed +the boar. On looking round him, he saw no one but his foster-son, and +Tirfing could only be appeased with warm human blood, so Heidreker slew +the poor youth. + +In the end Heidreker was murdered in his bed by his Scottish slaves, who +carried off Tirfing. His son Angantyr, who succeeded him, discovered the +thieves and put them to death, and recovered the magic blade. He made +great slaughter in battle against the Huns, but among the slain was +discovered his own brother, Landur. + +So ends the history of the Dwarf-Sword Tirfing. + + + * * * * * + +Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty, at the +Edinburgh University Press. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; +SCANDINAVIAN*** + + +******* This file should be named 15186-8.txt or 15186-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/8/15186 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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J. T., Translated by C. J. T.</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Folk-Lore and Legends; Scandinavian</p> +<p>Author: Various</p> +<p>Release Date: February 26, 2005 [eBook #15186]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; SCANDINAVIAN***</p> +<br><br><h3>E-text prepared by Wallace McLean, Graeme Mackreth,<br> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>FOLK-LORE + +AND + +LEGENDS +<br> + +SCANDINAVIAN</h1> +<br> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h6>W. W. Gibbings<br> +18 Bury St., London, W.C.</h6> + +<h4>1890</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="PREFATORY_NOTE"></a><h2>PREFATORY NOTE.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Thanks to Thiele, to Hylten-Cavallius and Stephens, and to Asbjörnsen +and Moe, Scandinavian Folklore is well to the front. Its treasures are +many, and of much value. One may be almost sorry to find among them the +originals of many of our English tales. Are we indebted to the folk of +other nations for all our folk-tales? It would almost seem so.</p> + +<p>I have introduced into the present volume only one or two stories from +the Prose Edda. Space would not allow me to give so much of the Edda as +I could have wished.</p> + +<p>In selecting and translating the matter for this volume, I have +endeavoured to make the book such as would afford its readers a fair +general view of the main features of the Folklore of the North. C.J.T.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CONTENTS"></a><h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<a href="#PREFATORY_NOTE"><b>PREFATORY NOTE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CONTENTS"><b>CONTENTS</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_WONDERFUL_PLOUGH"><b>THE WONDERFUL PLOUGH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#HOW_A_LAD_STOLE_THE_GIANT'S_TREASURE"><b>HOW A LAD STOLE THE GIANT'S TREASURE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#TALES_OF_CATS"><b>TALES OF CATS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_MAGICIAN'S_DAUGHTER"><b>THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_HILL-MAN_INVITED_TO_THE_CHRISTENING"><b>THE HILL-MAN INVITED TO THE CHRISTENING.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_MEAL_OF_FROTHI"><b>THE MEAL OF FROTHI.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_LOST_BELL"><b>THE LOST BELL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#MAIDEN_SWANWHITE_AND_MAIDEN_FOXTAIL"><b>MAIDEN SWANWHITE AND MAIDEN FOXTAIL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#TALES_OF_TREASURE"><b>TALES OF TREASURE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#HOLGER_DANSKE"><b>HOLGER DANSKE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#TALES_FROM_THE_PROSE_EDDA"><b>TALES FROM THE PROSE EDDA</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_STRANGE_BUILDER"><b>THE STRANGE BUILDER.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THOR'S_JOURNEY_TO_THE_LAND_OF_GIANTS"><b>THOR'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF GIANTS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_DEATH_OF_BALDUR"><b>THE DEATH OF BALDUR.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_PUNISHMENT_OF_LOKI"><b>THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.</b></a><br> + <a href="#ORIGIN_OF_TIIS_LAKE"><b>ORIGIN OF TIIS LAKE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THERE_ARE_SUCH_WOMEN"><b>THERE ARE SUCH WOMEN.</b></a><br> + <a href="#TALES_OF_THE_NISSES"><b>TALES OF THE NISSES.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_DWARFS_BANQUET"><b>THE DWARFS' BANQUET.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_ICELANDIC_SORCERESSES"><b>THE ICELANDIC SORCERESSES.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_THREE_DOGS"><b>THE THREE DOGS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_LEGEND_OF_THORGUNNA"><b>THE LEGEND OF THORGUNNA.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_LITTLE_GLASS_SHOE"><b>THE LITTLE GLASS SHOE.</b></a><br> + <a href="#HOW_LOKI_WAGERED_HIS_HEAD"><b>HOW LOKI WAGERED HIS HEAD.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_ADVENTURES_OF_JOHN_DIETRICH"><b>THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#HOW_THORSTON_BECAME_RICH"><b>HOW THORSTON BECAME RICH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#GUDBRAND"><b>GUDBRAND.</b></a><br> + <a href="#THE_DWARF-SWORD_TIRFING"><b>THE DWARF-SWORD TIRFING.</b></a><br> + +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_WONDERFUL_PLOUGH"></a><h2>THE WONDERFUL PLOUGH.</h2> + +<p>There was once a farmer who was master of one of the little black dwarfs +that are the blacksmiths and armourers, and he got him in a very curious +way. On the road leading to this farmer's ground there stood a stone +cross, and every morning as he went to his work he used to stop and +kneel down before this cross, and pray for some minutes.</p> + +<p>On one of these occasions he noticed on the cross a pretty, bright +insect, of such a brilliant hue that he could not recollect having ever +before seen the like in an insect. He wondered greatly at this, but +still he did not disturb it. The insect did not remain long quiet, but +ran without ceasing backwards and forwards upon the cross, as if it was +in pain and wanted to get away.</p> + +<p>Next morning the farmer again saw the very same insect, and again it was +running to and fro in the same state of uneasiness. The farmer began now +to have some suspicions about it, and thought to himself—</p> + +<p>"Would this now be one of the little black enchanters? It runs about +just like one that has an evil conscience, as one that would, but +cannot, get away."</p> + +<p>A variety of thoughts and conjectures passed through his mind, and he +remembered what he had often heard from his father and other old people, +that when any of the underground people chance to touch anything holy +they are held fast and cannot quit the spot, and so they are extremely +careful to avoid all such things.</p> + +<p>"But," thought he, "you may even be something else, and I should, +perhaps, be committing a sin in taking the little insect away."</p> + +<p>So he let it stay where it was.</p> + +<p>When, however, he twice again found it in the same place, and still +running about with the same signs of uneasiness, he said—</p> + +<p>"No, it is not all right with it, so now, in the name of God."</p> + +<p>He made a grasp at the insect, which resisted and clung fast to the +stone; but he held it tight, and tore it away by main force, and lo! +then he found he had, by the top of the head, a little ugly black chap, +about six inches long, screeching and kicking at a furious rate.</p> + +<p>The farmer was greatly astounded at this sudden transformation. Still he +held his prize fast, and kept calling to him, while he administered to +him a few smart slaps—</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, be quiet, my little man! If crying was to do the business, we +might look for heroes in swaddling-clothes. We'll just take you with us +a bit, and see what you are good for."</p> + +<p>The little fellow trembled and shook in every limb, and then began to +whimper most piteously, and begged of the farmer to let him go.</p> + +<p>"No, my lad," replied the farmer, "I will not let you go till you tell +me who you are, and how you came here, and what trade you know that +enables you to earn your bread in the world."</p> + +<p>At this the little man grinned and shook his head, but said not a word +in reply, only begging and praying the more to get loose. The farmer +thought he must now entreat him if he would coax any information out of +him. But it was all to no purpose. He then adopted the contrary method, +and whipped and slashed him, but just to as little effect. The little +black thing remained as dumb as the grave, for this species is the most +malicious and obstinate of all the underground folk.</p> + +<p>The farmer now got angry, and said—</p> + +<p>"Do but be quiet, my child. I should be a fool to put myself into a +passion with such a little brat. Never fear, I shall soon make you tame +enough."</p> + +<p>So saying, he ran home with him, and clapped him into a black sooty iron +pot, and put the iron lid upon it, and laid on the top of the lid a +great heavy stone. Then he set the pot in a dark, cold room, and as he +was going out, said to him—</p> + +<p>"Stay there, now, and freeze till you are black! I'll engage that at +last you will answer me civilly."</p> + +<p>Twice a week the farmer went regularly into the room and asked his +little black captive if he would answer him now, but the little one +still obstinately persisted in his silence. The farmer had, without +success, pursued this course for six weeks, at the end of which time his +prisoner at last gave up. One day, as the farmer was opening the room +door, of his own accord he asked him to come and take him out of his +dirty, gloomy dungeon, promising that he would now cheerfully do all +that was wanted of him.</p> + +<p>The farmer first ordered him to tell him his history. The black one +replied—</p> + +<p>"My dear friend, you know it just as well as I do, or else you never +would have had me here. You see I happened by chance to come too near +the cross, a thing we little people may not do, and then I was held +fast, and obliged instantly to let my body become visible. In order that +people might not recognise me, I turned myself into an insect. But you +found me out. When we get fastened to holy or consecrated things we can +never get away from them unless a man takes us off. That, however, does +not happen without plague and annoyance to us; though, indeed, to say +the truth, the staying fastened there is not over pleasant. So I +struggled against you too, for we have a natural aversion to let +ourselves be taken in a man's hand."</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! is that the tune with you?" cried the farmer. "You have a +natural aversion have you? Believe me, my sooty friend, I have just the +same for you, and so you shall be away without a moment's delay, and we +will lose no time in making our bargain with each other. But you must +first make me some present."</p> + +<p>"What you will you have only to ask," said the little one, "silver and +gold, and precious stones, and costly furniture—all shall be thine in +less than an instant."</p> + +<p>"Silver and gold, and precious stones, and all such glittering fine +things, will I none," said the farmer. "They have turned the heart and +broken the neck of many a one before now, and few are they whose lives +they make happy. I know that you are handy smiths, and have many a +strange thing with you that other smiths know nothing about. So, come +now, swear to me that you will make me an iron plough, such that the +smallest foal may be able to draw it without being tired, and then run +off with you as fast as your legs will carry you." So the black swore, +and then the farmer cried out—</p> + +<p>"Now, in the name of God. There you are at liberty," and the little one +vanished like lightning.</p> + +<p>Next morning, before the sun was up, there stood in the farmer's yard a +new iron plough, and he yoked his dog, Water, to it; and though it was +of the size of an ordinary plough, Water drew it with ease through the +heaviest clayland, and it tore up prodigious furrows. The farmer used +this plough for many years, and the smallest foal or the leanest little +horse could draw it through the ground, to the amazement of every one +who beheld it, without turning a single hair.</p> + +<p>This plough made a rich man of the farmer, for it cost him no +horse-flesh, and he led a cheerful and contented life by means of it.</p> + +<p>Hereby we may see that moderation holds out the longest, and that it is +not good to covet too much.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="HOW_A_LAD_STOLE_THE_GIANT'S_TREASURE"></a><h2>HOW A LAD STOLE THE GIANT'S TREASURE.</h2> + +<p>Once upon a time there lived a peasant who had three sons. The two elder +ones used to go with him to the field and to the forest, and helped him +in his work, but the youngest remained at home with his mother, to help +her in the house. His brothers despised him for doing this, and whenever +they had a chance they used him badly.</p> + +<p>At length the father and mother died, and the sons divided the property +among them. As might have been looked for, the elder brothers took all +that was of any value for themselves, leaving nothing to the youngest +but an old cracked kneading-trough, which neither of them thought worth +the having.</p> + +<p>"The old trough," said one of the brothers, "will do very well for our +young brother, for he is always baking and scrubbing."</p> + +<p>The boy thought this, as was only natural, a poor thing to inherit, but +he could do nothing, and he now recognised that it would be no use his +remaining at home, so he wished his brothers good-bye, and went off to +seek his fortune. On coming to the side of a lake he made his trough +water-tight with oakum, and converted it into a little boat. Then he +found two sticks, and using these as oars rowed away.</p> + +<p>When he had crossed the water, he saw a large palace, and entering it, +he asked to speak with the king. The king questioned him respecting his +family and the purpose of his visit.</p> + +<p>"I," said the boy, "am the son of a poor peasant, and all I have in the +world is an old kneading-trough. I have come here to seek work."</p> + +<p>The king laughed when he heard this.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said he, "you have not inherited much, but fortune works many +a change."</p> + +<p>He took the lad to be one of his servants, and he became a favourite for +his courage and honesty.</p> + +<p>Now the king who owned this palace had an only daughter, who was so +beautiful and so clever that she was talked of all through the kingdom, +and many came from the east and from the west to ask her hand in +marriage. The princess, however, rejected them all, saying that none +should have her for his wife unless he brought her for a wedding-present +four valuable things belonging to a giant who lived on the other side of +the lake. These four treasures were a gold sword, three gold hens, a +gold lantern, and a gold harp.</p> + +<p>Many king's sons and many good warriors tried to win these treasures, +but none of them came back, for the giant caught them all and eat them. +The king was very sorrowful, for he feared that at this rate his +daughter would never get a husband, and so he would not have a +son-in-law to whom to leave his kingdom.</p> + +<p>The boy when he heard of this thought that it might be well worth his +while to try to win the king's beautiful daughter. So he went to the +king one day, and told him what he meant to do. When the king heard him, +he got angry, and said—</p> + +<p>"Do you think that you, who are only a servant, can do what great +warriors have failed in?"</p> + +<p>The boy, however, was not to be dissuaded, and begged him so to let him +go that at last the king grew calmer and gave him his permission. "But," +said he, "you will lose your life, and I shall be sorry to miss you."</p> + +<p>With that they parted.</p> + +<p>The boy went down to the shore of the lake, and, having found his +trough, he looked it over very closely. Then he got into it and rowed +across the lake, and coming to the giant's dwelling he hid himself, and +stayed the night there.</p> + +<p>Very early in the morning, before it was light, the giant went to his +barn, and began to thrash, making such a noise that the mountains all +around echoed again. When the boy heard this he collected some stones +and put them in his pouch. Then he climbed up on to the roof of the barn +and made a little hole so that he could look in. Now the giant had by +his side his golden sword, which had the strange property that it +clanked whenever the giant was angry. While the giant was busy thrashing +at full speed, the boy threw a little stone which hit the sword, and +caused it to clank.</p> + +<p>"Why do you clank?" said the giant. "I am not angry."</p> + +<p>He went on thrashing, but the next moment the sword clanked again. Once +more the giant pursued his work, and the sword clanked a third time. +Then the giant got so angry that he undid the belt, and threw the sword +out of the barn door.</p> + +<p>"Lie there," said he, "till I have done my thrashing."</p> + +<p>The lad waited no longer, but slipping down from the roof seized on the +sword, ran to his boat, and rowed across the water. On reaching the +other side he hid his treasure, and was full of glee at the success of +his adventure.</p> + +<p>The next day he filled his pouch with corn, put a bundle of bast-twine +in his boat, and once more set off to the giant's dwelling. He lay +hiding for a time, and then he saw the giant's three golden hens walking +about on the shore, and spreading their feathers, which sparkled +beautifully in the bright sunshine. He was soon near them, and began to +softly lead them on, scattering corn for them out of his pouch. While +they were picking the boy gradually led them to the water, till at last +he got them into his little boat. Then he jumped in himself, secured the +fowl with his twine, pushed out from the shore, and rowed as quickly as +he could to the other side of the water.</p> + +<p>The third day he put some lumps of salt into his pouch, and again rowed +across the lake. As night came on he noticed how the smoke rose from +the giant's dwelling, and concluded that the giant's wife was busy +getting ready his food. He crept up on to the roof, and, looking down +through the hole by which the smoke escaped, saw a large caldron boiling +on the fire. Then he took the lumps of salt out of his pouch, and threw +them one by one into the pot. Having done this, he crept down from the +roof, and waited to see what would follow.</p> + +<p>Soon after the giant's wife took the caldron off the fire, poured out +the porridge into a bowl, and put it on the table. The giant was hungry, +and he fell to at once, but scarcely had he tasted the porridge when he +found it too salt. He got very angry, and started from his seat. The old +woman made what excuse she could, and said that the porridge must be +good; but the giant declared he would eat no more of the stuff, and told +her to taste it for herself. She did so, and pulled a terrible face, for +she had never in her life tasted such abominable stuff.</p> + +<p>There was nothing for it but she must make some new porridge. So she +seized a can, took the gold lantern down from the wall, and went as fast +as she could to the well to draw some water. She put the lantern down by +the side of the well, and was stooping down to get the water, when the +boy ran to her, and, laying hold of her by the feet, threw her head over +heels into the well. He seized hold of the golden lantern, ran away as +fast as he could to his boat, and rowed across the water in safety.</p> + +<p>The giant sat for a long time wondering why his wife was away so long. +At last he went to look for her, but nothing could he see of her. Then +he heard a splashing in the well, and finding she was in the water, he, +with a lot of work, got her out.</p> + +<p>"Where is my gold lantern?" was the first thing he asked, as the old +woman came round a little.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered she. "Somebody came, caught me by the feet, and +threw me into the well."</p> + +<p>The giant was very angry at this.</p> + +<p>"Three of my treasures," said he, "have gone, and I have now only my +golden harp left. But, whoever the thief may be, he shall not have that; +I will keep that safe under twelve locks."</p> + +<p>While these things occurred at the giant's dwelling, the boy sat on the +other side of the water, rejoicing that he had got on so well.</p> + +<p>The most difficult task, however, had yet to be done, and for a long +time he thought over how he could get the golden harp. At length he +determined to row over to the giant's place and see if fortune would +favour him.</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done. He rowed over and went to a hiding-place. The +giant had, however, been on the watch, and had seen him. So he rushed +forward in a terrible rage and seized the boy, saying—</p> + +<p>"So I have caught you at last, you young rascal. You it was who stole my +sword, my three gold hens, and my gold lantern."</p> + +<p>The boy was terribly afraid, for he thought his last hour was come.</p> + +<p>"Spare my life, father," said he humbly, "and I will never come here +again."</p> + +<p>"No," replied the giant, "I will do the same with you as with the +others. No one slips alive out of my hands."</p> + +<p>He then shut the boy up in a sty, and fed him with nuts and sweet milk, +so as to get him nice and fat preparatory to killing and eating him.</p> + +<p>The lad was a prisoner, but he ate and drank and made himself as easy as +he could. After some time the giant wanted to find out if he were fat +enough to be killed. So he went to the sty, made a little hole in the +wall, and told the boy to put his finger through it. The lad knew what +he wanted; so instead of putting out his finger he poked out a little +peeled alder twig. The giant cut the twig, and the red sap ran out. Then +he thought the boy must be yet very lean since his flesh was so hard, so +he caused a greater supply of milk and nuts to be given to him.</p> + +<p>Some time after, the giant again visited the sty, and ordered the boy to +put his finger through the hole in the wall. The lad now poked out a +cabbage-stalk, and the giant, having cut it with his knife, concluded +that the lad must be fat enough, his flesh seemed so soft.</p> + +<p>The next morning the giant said to his wife—</p> + +<p>"The boy seems to be fat enough now, mother; take him then to-day, and +bake him in the oven, while I go and ask our kinsfolk to the feast."</p> + +<p>The old woman promised to do what her husband told her. So, having +heated the oven, she dragged out the boy to bake him.</p> + +<p>"Sit on the shovel," said she.</p> + +<p>The boy did so, but when the old woman raised the shovel the boy always +fell off. So they went on many times. At last the giantess got angry, +and scolded the boy for being so awkward; the lad excused himself, +saying that he did not know the way to sit on the shovel.</p> + +<p>"Look at me," said the woman, "I will show you."</p> + +<p>So she sat herself down on the shovel, bending her back and drawing up +her knees. No sooner was she seated than the boy, seizing hold of the +handle, pushed her into the oven and slammed the door to. Then he took +the woman's fur cloak, stuffed it out with straw, and laid it on the +bed. Seizing the giant's bunch of keys, he opened the twelve locks, +snatched up the golden harp, and ran down to his boat, which he had +hidden among the flags on the shore.</p> + +<p>The giant soon afterwards came home.</p> + +<p>"Where can my wife be?" said he. "No doubt she has lain down to sleep a +bit. Ah! I thought so."</p> + +<p>The old woman, however, slept a long while, and the giant could not wake +her, though he was now expecting his friends to arrive.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, mother," cried he, but no one replied. He called again, but +there was no response. He got angry, and, going to the bed, he gave the +fur cloak a good shake. Then he found that it was not his wife, but +only a bundle of straw put in her clothes. At this the giant grew +alarmed, and he ran off to look after his golden harp. He found his keys +gone, the twelve locks undone, and the harp missing. He went to the oven +and opened the door to see how the meat for the feast was going on. +Behold! there sat his wife, baked, and grinning at him.</p> + +<p>Then the giant was almost mad with grief and rage, and he rushed out to +seek the lad who had done him all this mischief. He came down to the +edge of the water and found him sitting in his boat, playing on the +harp. The music came over the water, and the gold strings shone +wonderfully in the sunshine. The giant jumped into the water after the +boy; but finding that it was too deep, he laid himself down, and began +to drink the water in order to make the lake shallower. He drank with +all his might, and by this means set up a current which drew the boat +nearer and nearer to the shore. Just when he was going to lay hold of it +he burst, for he had drunk too much; and there was an end of him.</p> + +<p>The giant lay dead on the shore, and the boy moved away across the lake, +full of joy and happiness. When he came to land, he combed his golden +hair, put on fine clothes, fastened the giant's gold sword by his side, +and, taking the gold harp in one hand and the gold lantern in the other, +he led the gold fowl after him, and went to the king, who was sitting in +the great hall of the palace surrounded by his courtiers. When the king +saw the boy he was heartily glad. The lad went to the king's beautiful +daughter, saluted her courteously, and laid the giant's treasures before +her. Then there was great joy in the palace, that the princess had after +all got the giant's treasures and so bold and handsome a bridegroom. The +wedding was celebrated soon after with very much splendour and +rejoicing; and when the king died the lad succeeded him, ruling over all +the land both long and happily.</p> + +<p>I know no more respecting them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="TALES_OF_CATS"></a><h2>TALES OF CATS.</h2> +<br> + +<p>The house of Katholm (Cat-isle) near Grenaac, in Jutland, got its name +from the following circumstance.</p> + +<p>There was a man in Jutland who had made a good deal of money by improper +means. When he died he left his property equally among his three sons. +The youngest, when he got his share, thought to himself—</p> + +<p>"What comes with sin goes with sorrow," and he resolved to submit his +money to the water-ordeal, thinking that the ill-got money would sink to +the bottom, and what was honestly acquired swim on the top. He +accordingly cast all his money into the water, and only one solitary +farthing swam. With this he bought a cat, and he went to sea and visited +foreign parts. At length he chanced to come to a place where the people +were sadly plagued by an enormous number of rats and mice, and as his +cat had had kittens by this time, he acquired great wealth by selling +them. So he came home to Jutland, and built himself a house, which he +called Katholm.</p> + +<p>There was one time a poor sailor out of Ribe, who came to a foreign +island whose inhabitants were grievously plagued with mice. By good +luck he had a cat of his own on board, and the people of the island gave +him so much gold for it that he went home as fast as he could to fetch +more cats, and by this traffic he in a short time grew so rich that he +had no need of any more. Some time after, when he was on his deathbed, +he bequeathed a large sum of money for the building of Ribe Cathedral, +and a proof of this is still to be seen in a carving over the east door +of the church, representing a cat and four mice. The door is called +Cat-head Door (Kathoved Dor).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_MAGICIAN'S_DAUGHTER"></a><h2>THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER</h2> +<br> + +<p>Just on the Finland frontiers there is situated a high mountain, which, +on the Swedish side, is covered with beautiful copsewood, and on the +other with dark pine-trees, so closely ranked together, and so luxuriant +in shade, that one might almost say the smallest bird could not find its +way through the thickets. Below the copsewood there stands a chapel with +the image of St. George, as guardian of the land and as a defence +against dragons, if there be such, and other monsters of paganism, +while, on the other side, on the borders of the dark firwood, are +certain cottages inhabited by wicked sorcerers, who have, moreover, a +cave cut so deep into the mountain that it joins with the bottomless +abyss, whence come all the demons that assist them. The Swedish +Christians who dwelt in the neighbourhood of this mountain thought it +would be necessary, besides the chapel and statue of St. George, to +choose some living protector, and therefore selected an ancient warrior, +highly renowned for his prowess in the battle-field, who had, in his old +age, become a monk. When this man went to take up his abode upon the +mountains, his only son (for he had formerly lived as a married man in +the world) would on no account leave him, but lived there also, +assisting his father in his duties as watcher, and in the exercises of +prayer and penitence, fully equalling the example that was now afforded +him as he had formerly done his example as a soldier.</p> + +<p>The life led by those two valiant champions is said to have been most +admirable and pious.</p> + +<p>Once on a time it happened that the young hero went out to cut wood in +the forest. He bore a sharp axe on his shoulders, and was besides girded +with a great sword; for as the woods were not only full of wild beasts, +but also haunted by wicked men, the pious hermits took the precaution of +always going armed. While the good youth was forcing his way through the +thickest of the copsewood, and already beheld over it the pointed tops +of the fir-trees (for he was close on the Finland frontier), there +rushed out against him a great white wolf, so that he had only just time +enough to leap to one side, and not being able immediately to draw his +sword, he flung his axe at his assailant. The blow was so well aimed +that it struck one of the wolf's fore-legs, and the animal, being sorely +wounded, limped back, with a yell of anguish, into the wood. The young +hermit warrior, however, thought to himself—</p> + +<p>"It is not enough that I am rescued, but I must take such measures that +no one else may in future be injured, or even terrified by this wild +beast."</p> + +<p>So he rushed in as fast as possible among the fir-trees, and inflicted +such a vehement blow with his sword on the wolf's head, that the animal, +groaning piteously, fell to the ground. Hereupon there came over the +young man all at once a strange mood of regret and compassion for his +poor victim. Instead of putting it immediately to death, he bound up the +wounds as well as he could with moss and twigs of trees, placed it on a +sort of canvas sling on which he was in the habit of carrying great +fagots, and with much labour brought it home, in hopes that he might be +able at last to cure and tame his fallen adversary. He did not find his +father in the cottage, and it was not without some fear and anxiety that +he laid the wolf on his own bed, which was made of moss and rushes, and +over which he had nailed St. George and the Dragon. He then turned to +the fire-place of the small hut, in order to prepare a healing salve for +the wounds. While he was thus occupied, how much was he astonished to +hear the moanings and lamentations of a human voice from the bed on +which he had just before deposited the wolf. On returning thither his +wonder was inexpressible on perceiving, instead of the frightful wild +beast, a most beautiful damsel, on whose head the wound which he had +inflicted was bleeding through her fine golden hair, and whose right +arm, in all its grace and snow-white luxuriance, was stretched out +motionless, for it had been broken by the blow from his axe.</p> + +<p>"Pray," said she, "have pity, and do not kill me outright. The little +life that I have still left is, indeed, painful enough, and may not +last long; yet, sad as my condition is, it is yet tenfold better than +death."</p> + +<p>The young man then sat down weeping beside her, and she explained to him +that she was the daughter of a magician, on the other side of the +mountain, who had sent her out in the shape of a wolf to collect plants +from places which, in her own proper form, she could not have reached. +It was but in terror she had made that violent spring which the youth +had mistaken for an attack on him, when her only wish had been to pass +by him.</p> + +<p>"But you directly broke my right arm," said she, "though I had no evil +design against you."</p> + +<p>How she had now regained her proper shape she could not imagine, but to +the youth it was quite clear that the picture of St. George and the +Dragon had broken the spell by which the poor girl had been transformed.</p> + +<p>While the son was thus occupied, the old man returned home, and soon +heard all that had occurred, perceiving, at the same time, that if the +young pagan wanderer had been released from the spells by which she had +been bound, the youth was, in his turn, enchanted and spellbound by her +beauty and amiable behaviour.</p> + +<p>From that moment he exerted himself to the utmost for the welfare of her +soul, endeavouring to convert her to Christianity, while his son +attended to the cure of her wounds; and, as their endeavours were on +both sides successful, it was resolved that the lovers should be united +in marriage, for the youth had not restricted himself by any monastic +vows.</p> + +<p>The magician's daughter was now restored to perfect health. A day had +been appointed for her baptism and marriage. It happened that one +evening the bride and bridegroom went to take a pleasure walk through +the woods. The sun was yet high in the west, and shone so fervently +through the beech-trees on the green turf that they could never resolve +on turning home, but went still deeper and deeper into the forest. Then +the bride told him stories of her early life, and sang old songs which +she had learned when a child, and which sounded beautifully amid the +woodland solitude. Though the words were such that they could not be +agreeable to the youth's ears (for she had learned them among her pagan +and wicked relations), yet he could not interrupt her, first, because he +loved her so dearly, and, secondly, because she sang in a voice so clear +and sweet that the whole forest seemed to rejoice in her music. At last, +however, the pointed heads of the pine-trees again became visible, and +the youth wished to turn back, in order that he might not come again too +near the hated Finnish frontier. His bride, however, said to him—</p> + +<p>"Dearest Conrad, why should we not walk on a little further? I would +gladly see the very place where you so cruelly wounded me on the head +and arm, and made me prisoner, all which has, in the end contributed to +my happiness. Methinks we are now very near the spot."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they sought about here and there until at last the twilight +fell dim and heavy on the dense woods. The sun had long since set. The +moon, however, had risen, and, as a light broke forth, the lovers stood +on the Finland frontier, or rather they must have gone already some +distance beyond it, for the bridegroom was exceedingly terrified when he +found his cap lifted from his head, as if by human hand, though he saw +only the branch of a fir-tree. Immediately thereafter the whole air +around them was filled with strange and supernatural beings—witches, +devils, dwarfs, horned-owls, fire-eyed cats, and a thousand other +wretches that could not be named and described, whirled around them as +if dancing to rapid music. When the bride had looked on for a while, she +broke out into loud laughter, and at last began to dance furiously along +with them. The poor bridegroom might shout and pray as much and as +earnestly as he would, for she never attended to him, but at last +transformed herself in a manner so extraordinary that he could not +distinguish her from the other dancers. He thought, however, that he had +kept his eyes upon her, and seized on one of the dancers; but alas! it +was only a horrible spectre which held him fast, and threw its wide +waving shroud around him, so that he could not make his escape, while, +at the same time, some of the subterraneous black demons pulled at his +legs, and wanted to bear him down along with them into their bottomless +caves.</p> + +<p>Fortunately he happened at that moment to cross himself and call on the +name of the Saviour, upon which the whole of this vile assembly fell +into confusion. They howled aloud and ran off in all directions, while +Conrad in the meantime saved himself by recrossing the frontier, and +getting under the protection of the Swedish copsewood. His beautiful +bride, however, was completely lost; and by no endeavours could he ever +obtain her again, though he often came to the Finland border, called out +her name aloud, wept and prayed, but all in vain. Many times, it is +true, he saw her floating about through the pine-trees, as if in chase, +but she was always accompanied by a train of frightful creatures, and +she herself also looked wild and disfigured. For the most part she never +noticed Conrad, but if she could not help fixing her eyes upon him, she +laughed so immoderately, and in a mood of merriment so strange and +unnatural, that he was terrified and made the sign of the cross, +whereupon she always fled away, howling, into one of the thickets.</p> + +<p>Conrad fell more and more into melancholy abstraction, hardly ever +spoke, and though he had given over his vain walks into the forest, yet +if one asked him a question, the only answer he returned was—</p> + +<p>"Ay, she is gone away beyond the mountains," so little did he know or +remember of any other object in the world but the lost beauty.</p> + +<p>At last he died of grief; and according to a request which he had once +made, his father prepared a grave for him on the place where the bride +was found and lost, though during the fulfilment of this duty he had +enough to do—one while in contending with his crucifix against evil +spirits, and at another, with his sword against wild beasts, which were +no doubt sent thither by the magicians to attack and annoy him. At +length, however, he brought his task to an end, and thereafter it seemed +as if the bride mourned for the youth's untimely death, for there was +heard often a sound of howling and lamentation at the grave. For the +most part, indeed, this voice is like the voices of wolves, yet, at the +same time, human accents are to be distinguished, and I myself have +often listened thereto on dark winter nights.</p> + +<p>Alas! that the poor maiden should have ventured again so near the +accursed paths she had once renounced. A few steps in the backward +course, and all is lost!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_HILL-MAN_INVITED_TO_THE_CHRISTENING"></a><h2>THE HILL-MAN INVITED TO THE CHRISTENING.</h2> +<br> + +<p>The hill-people are excessively frightened during thunder. When, +therefore, they see bad weather coming on, they lose no time in getting +to the shelter of their hills. This terror is also the cause of their +not being able to endure the beating of a drum. They take it to be the +rolling of thunder. It is, therefore, a good recipe for banishing them +to beat a drum every day in the neighbourhood of their hills, for they +immediately pack up, and depart to some quieter residence.</p> + +<p>A farmer lived once in great friendship and concord with a hill-man, +whose hill was in his lands. One time when his wife was about to have a +child, it gave him great perplexity to think that he could not well +avoid inviting the hill-man to the christening, which might, not +improbably, bring him into ill repute with the priest and the other +people of the village. He was going about pondering deeply, but in vain, +how he might get out of this dilemma, when it came into his head to ask +the advice of the boy that kept his pigs, who had a great head-piece, +and had often helped him before. The pig-boy instantly undertook to +arrange the matter with the hill-man in such a manner that he should not +only stay away without being offended, but, moreover, give a good +christening present.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, when it was night, he took a sack on his shoulder, went to +the hill-man's hill, knocked, and was admitted. He delivered his +message, gave his master's compliments, and requested the honour of his +company at the christening. The hill-man thanked him, and said—</p> + +<p>"I think it is but right I should give you a christening present."</p> + +<p>With these words he opened his money-chests, bidding the boy hold up his +sack while he poured money into it.</p> + +<p>"Is there enough now?" said he, when he had put a good quantity into it.</p> + +<p>"Many give more, few give less," replied the boy.</p> + +<p>The hill-man once more fell to filling the sack, and again asked—</p> + +<p>"Is there enough now?"</p> + +<p>The boy lifted the sack a little off the ground to see if he was able to +carry any more, and then answered—</p> + +<p>"It is about what most people give."</p> + +<p>Upon this the hill-man emptied the whole chest into the bag, and once +more asked—</p> + +<p>"Is there enough now?"</p> + +<p>The guardian of the pigs now saw that there was as much in the sack as +he would be able to carry, so he answered—</p> + +<p>"No one gives more, most people give less."</p> + +<p>"Come now," said the hill-man, "let us hear who else is to be at the +christening."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the boy, "we are to have a great many strangers and great +people. First and foremost, we are to have three priests and a bishop."</p> + +<p>"Hem!" muttered the hill-man; "however, those gentlemen usually look +only after the eating and drinking; they will never take any notice of +me. Well, who else?"</p> + +<p>"Then we have asked St. Peter and St. Paul."</p> + +<p>"Hem! hem! However, there will be a bye-place for me behind the stove. +Well, and what then?"</p> + +<p>"Then Our Lady herself is coming."</p> + +<p>"Hem! hem! hem! However, guests of such high rank come late and go away +early. But tell me, my lad, what sort of music is it you are to have?"</p> + +<p>"Music," said the boy, "why, we are to have drums."</p> + +<p>"Drums!" repeated the troll, quite terrified. "No, no! Thank you. I +shall stay at home in that case. Give my best respects to your master, +and I thank him for the invitation, but I cannot come. I did but once go +out to take a little walk, and some people began to beat a drum. I +hurried home, and was but just got to my door when they flung the +drum-stick after me, and broke one of my shins. I have been lame of that +leg ever since, and I shall take good care in future to avoid that sort +of music."</p> + +<p>So saying he helped the boy to put the sack on his back, once more +charging him to present his best respects to his master.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_MEAL_OF_FROTHI"></a><h2>THE MEAL OF FROTHI.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Gold is called by the poets the meal of Frothi, and the origin of the +term is found in this story.</p> + +<p>Odin had a son named Skioldr who settled and reigned in the land which +is now called Denmark, but was then called Gotland. Skioldr had a son +named Frithleif, who reigned after him. Frithleif's son was called +Frothi, and succeeded him on the throne. At the time that the Emperor +Augustus made peace over the whole world, Christ was born, but as Frothi +was the most powerful of all the monarchs of the north, that peace, +wherever the Danish language was spoken, was imputed to him, and the +Northmen called it Frothi's peace.</p> + +<p>At that time no man hurt another, even if he found the murderer of his +father or brother, loose or bound. Theft and robbery were then unknown, +insomuch that a gold armlet lay for a long time untouched in +Jalangursheath.</p> + +<p>Frothi chanced to go on a friendly visit to a certain king in Sweden, +named Fiolnir, and there purchased two female slaves, called Fenia and +Menia, equally distinguished for their stature and strength. In those +days there were found in Denmark two quern-stones of such a size, that +no one was able to move them, and these mill-stones were endued with +such virtue, that the quern in grinding produced whatever the grinder +wished for. The quern was called Grotti. He who presented this quern to +Frothi was called Hengikioptr (hanging-chops). King Frothi caused these +slaves to be brought to the quern, and ordered them to grind gold, +peace, and prosperity for Frothi. The king allowed them no longer rest +or sleep than while the cuckoo was silent or a verse could be recited. +Then they are said to have sung the lay called Grotta-Savngr, and before +they ended their song to have ground a hostile army against Frothi, +insomuch, that a certain sea-king, called Mysingr, arriving the same +night, slew Frothi, taking great spoil. And so ended Frothi's peace.</p> + +<p>Mysingr took with him the quern, Grotti, with Fenia and Menia, and +ordered them to grind salt. About midnight they asked Mysingr whether he +had salt enough. On his ordering them to go on grinding, they went on a +little longer till the ship sank under the weight of the salt. A +whirlpool was produced, where the waves are sucked up by the mill-eye, +and the waters of the sea have been salt ever since.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_LOST_BELL"></a><h2>THE LOST BELL.</h2> +<br> + +<p>A shepherd's boy, belonging to Patzig, about half a mile from Bergen, +where there are great numbers of underground people in the hills, found +one morning a little silver bell on the green heath among the giants' +graves, and fastened it on him. It happened to be the bell belonging to +the cap of one of the little brown ones, who had lost it while he was +dancing, and did not immediately miss it or observe that it was no +longer tinkling in his cap. He had gone down into the hill without his +bell, and, having discovered his loss, was filled with melancholy, for +the worst thing that can befall the underground people is to lose their +cap, or their shoes; but even to lose the bell from their caps, or the +buckle from their belts, is no trifle to them. Whoever loses his bell +must pass some sleepless nights, for not a wink of sleep can he get till +he has recovered it.</p> + +<p>The little fellow was in the greatest trouble, and looked and searched +about everywhere. But how could he learn who had the bell? for only on a +very few days in the year may they come up to daylight, nor can they +then appear in their true form. He had turned himself into every form of +birds, beasts, and men, and he had sung and groaned and lamented about +his bell, but not the slightest tidings or trace of tidings had he been +able to get. Most unfortunately for him, the shepherd's boy had left +Patzig the very day he found the little bell, and he was now keeping +sheep at Unrich, near Gingst, so that it was not till many a day after, +and then by mere chance, that the little underground fellow recovered +his bell, and with it his peace of mind.</p> + +<p>He had thought it not unlikely that a raven, or a crow, or a jackdaw, or +a magpie, had found his bell, and from its thievish disposition, which +attracts it to anything bright and shining, had carried it into its +nest. With this thought he turned himself into a beautiful little bird, +and searched all the nests in the island, and he'd sang before all kinds +of birds to see if they had found what he had lost, and could restore to +him his sleep. He had, however, been able to learn nothing from the +birds. As he now, one evening, was flying over the waters of Ralov and +the fields of Unrich, the shepherd's boy, whose name was John +Schlagenteufel (Smite-devil), happened to be keeping his sheep there at +the very time. Several of the sheep had bells about their necks, and +they tinkled merrily when the boy's dog set them trotting. The little +bird who was flying over them thought of his bell, and sang in a +melancholy tone----</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">"Little bell, little bell,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Little ram as well,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">You, too, little sheep,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">If you've my tingle too,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">No sheep's so rich as you,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">My rest you keep."</span><br> + +<p>The boy looked up and listened to this strange song which came out of +the sky, and saw the pretty bird, which seemed to him still more +strange.</p> + +<p>"If one," said he to himself, "had but that bird that's singing up +there, so plain that one of us could hardly match him! What can he mean +by that wonderful song? The whole of it is, it must be a feathered +witch. My rams have only pinchbeck bells, he calls them rich cattle; but +I have a silver bell, and he sings nothing about me."</p> + +<p>With these words he began to fumble in his pocket, took out his bell, +and rang it.</p> + +<p>The bird in the air instantly saw what it was, and rejoiced beyond +measure. He vanished in a second, flew behind the nearest bush, +alighted, and drew off his speckled feather dress, and turned himself +into an old woman dressed in tattered clothes. The old dame, well +supplied with sighs and groans, tottered across the field to the +shepherd-boy, who was still ringing his bell and wondering what was +become of the beautiful bird. She cleared her throat, and coughing, bid +him a kind good evening, and asked him which was the way to Bergen. +Pretending then that she had just seen the little bell, she exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Well now, what a charming pretty little bell! Well, in all my life, I +never beheld anything more beautiful. Hark ye, my son, will you sell me +that bell? What may be the price of it? I have a little grandson at +home, and such a nice plaything as it would make for him!"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the boy, quite short; "the bell is not for sale. It is a +bell that there is not such another bell in the whole world. I have only +to give it a little tinkle, and my sheep run of themselves wherever I +would have them go. And what a delightful sound it has! Only listen, +mother," said he, ringing it; "is there any weariness in the world that +can hold out against this bell? I can ring with it away the longest +time, so that it will be gone in a second."</p> + +<p>The old woman thought to herself—</p> + +<p>"We will see if he can hold out against bright shining money," and she +took out no less than three silver dollars and offered them to him, but +he still replied—</p> + +<p>"No, I will not sell the bell."</p> + +<p>She then offered him five dollars.</p> + +<p>"The bell is still mine," said he.</p> + +<p>She stretched out her hand full of ducats. He replied this third time—</p> + +<p>"Gold is dirt, and does not ring."</p> + +<p>The old dame then shifted her ground, and turned the discourse another +way. She grew mysterious, and began to entice him by talking of secret +arts and of charms by which his cattle might be made to thrive +prodigiously, relating to him all kinds of wonders of them. It was then +the young shepherd began to long, and he lent a willing ear to her +tales.</p> + +<p>The end of the matter was, that she said to him—</p> + +<p>"Hark ye, my child, give me your bell; and see, here is a white stick +for you," said she, taking out a little white stick which had Adam and +Eve very ingeniously cut upon it as they were feeding their flocks in +the Garden, with the fattest sheep and lambs dancing before them. There, +too, was the shepherd David, as he stood up with his sling against the +giant Goliath. "I will give you," said the woman, "this stick for the +bell, and as long as you drive the cattle with it they will be sure to +thrive. With this you will become a rich shepherd. Your wethers will be +always fat a month sooner than the wethers of other shepherds, and every +one of your sheep will have two pounds of wool more than others, and yet +no one will ever be able to see it on them."</p> + +<p>The old woman handed him the stick. So mysterious was her gesture, and +so strange and bewitching her smile, that the lad was at once in her +power. He grasped eagerly at the stick, gave her his hand, and cried—</p> + +<p>"Done! strike hands! The bell for the stick!"</p> + +<p>Cheerfully the old woman took the bell for the stick, and departed like +a light breeze over the field and the heath. He saw her vanish, and she +seemed to float away before his eyes like a mist, and to go off with a +slight whiz and whistle that made the shepherd's hair stand on end.</p> + +<p>The underground one, however, who, in the shape of an old woman, had +wheedled him out of his bell, had not deceived him. For the underground +people dare not lie, but must ever keep their word—a breach of it +being followed by their sudden change into the shape of toads, snakes, +dunghill beetles, wolves, and apes, forms in which they wander about, +objects of fear and aversion, for a long course of years before they are +freed. They have, therefore, naturally a great dread of lying. John +Schlagenteufel gave close attention and made trial of his new shepherd's +staff, and he soon found that the old woman had told him the truth, for +his flocks and his work, and all the labour of his hands, prospered with +him, and he had wonderful luck, so that there was not a sheep-owner or +head shepherd but was desirous of having him in his employment.</p> + +<p>It was not long, however, that he remained an underling. Before he was +eighteen years of age he had got his own flocks, and in the course of a +few years was the richest sheep-master in the whole island of Bergen. At +last he was able to buy a knight's estate for himself, and that estate +was Grabitz, close by Rambin, which now belongs to the Lords of Sunde. +My father knew him there, and how from a shepherd's boy he became a +nobleman. He always conducted himself like a prudent, honest, and pious +man, who had a good word for every one. He brought up his sons like +gentlemen, and his daughters like ladies, some of whom are still alive, +and accounted people of great consequence.</p> + +<p>Well may people who hear such stories wish that they had met with such +an adventure, and had found a little silver bell which the underground +people had lost!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="MAIDEN_SWANWHITE_AND_MAIDEN_FOXTAIL"></a><h2>MAIDEN SWANWHITE AND MAIDEN FOXTAIL.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There was once upon a time a wicked woman who had a daughter and a +step-daughter. The daughter was ugly and of an evil disposition, but the +step-daughter was most beautiful and good, and all who knew her wished +her well. When the girl's step-mother and step-sister saw this they +hated the poor girl.</p> + +<p>One day it chanced that she was sent by her step-mother to the well to +draw water. When the girl came there she saw a little hand held out of +the water, and a voice said—</p> + +<p>"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your golden apple, and in return +for it I will thrice wish you well."</p> + +<p>The girl thought that one who spoke so fairly to her would not do her an +ill turn, so she put the apple into the little hand. Then she bent down +over the spring, and, taking care not to muddy the water, filled her +bucket. As she went home the guardian of the well wished that the girl +would become thrice as beautiful as she was, that whenever she laughed a +gold ring might fall from her mouth, and that red roses might spring up +wherever she trod. The same hour all that he wished came to pass. From +that day the girl was called the Maiden Swanwhite, and the fame of her +loveliness spread all through the land.</p> + +<p>When the wicked step-mother perceived this, she was filled with rage, +and she thought how her own daughter might become as beautiful as +Swanwhite. With this object she set herself to learn all that had +happened, and then she sent her own daughter to fetch water. When the +wicked girl had come to the well, she saw a little hand rise up out of +the water, and heard a voice which said—</p> + +<p>"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your gold apple and I will thrice +wish thee well."</p> + +<p>But the hag's daughter was both wicked and avaricious, and it was not +her way to make presents. She therefore made a dash at the little hand, +wished the guardian of the well evil, and said pettishly—</p> + +<p>"You need not think you'll get a gold apple from me."</p> + +<p>Then she filled her bucket, muddying the water, and away she went in a +rage. The guardian of the well was enraged, so he wished her three evil +wishes, as a punishment for her wickedness. He wished that she should +become three times as ugly as she was, that a dead rat should fall from +her mouth whenever she laughed, and that the fox-tail grass might spring +up in the footsteps wherever she trod. So it was. From that day the +wicked girl was called Maiden Foxtail, and very much talk was there +among the folk of her strange looks and her ill-nature. The hag could +not bear her step-daughter should be more beautiful than her own +daughter, and poor Swanwhite had to put up with all the ill-usage and +suffering that a step-child can meet with.</p> + +<p>Swanwhite had a brother whom she loved very much, and he also loved her +with all his heart. He had long ago left home, and he was now the +servant of a king, far, far off in a strange land. The other servants of +the king bore him no good-will because he was liked by his master, and +they wished to ruin him if they could find anything against him.</p> + +<p>They watched him closely, and one day, coming to the king, said—</p> + +<p>"Lord king, we know well that you do not like evil or vice in your +servants. Thence we think it is only right to tell you that the young +foreigner, who is in your service, every morning and evening bows the +knee to an idol."</p> + +<p>When the king heard that he set it down to envy and ill-will, and did +not think there was any truth in it, but the courtiers said that he +could easily discover for himself whether what they said was true or +not. They led the king to the young man's rooms, and told him to look +through the key-hole. When the king looked in he saw the young man on +his knees before a fine picture, and so he could not help believing that +what the courtiers had told him was true.</p> + +<p>The king was much enraged, and ordered the young man to come before +him, when he condemned him to die for his great wickedness.</p> + +<p>"My lord king," said he, "do not imagine that I worship any idol. That +is my sister's picture, whom I commend to the care of God every morning +and evening, asking Him to protect her, for she remains in a wicked +step-mother's power."</p> + +<p>The king then wished to see the picture, and he never tired of looking +on its beauty.</p> + +<p>"If it is true," said he, "what you tell me, that that is your sister's +picture, she shall be my queen, and you yourself shall go and fetch her; +but if you lie, this shall be your punishment,—you shall be cast into +the lions' den."</p> + +<p>The king then commanded that a ship should be fitted out in grand style, +having wine and treasure in it. Then he sent away the young man in great +state to fetch his beautiful sister to the court.</p> + +<p>The young man sailed away over the ocean, and came at length to his +land. Here he delivered his master's message, as became him, and made +preparations to return. Then the step-mother and step-sister begged that +they might go with him and his sister. The young man had no liking for +them, so he said no, and refused their request, but Swanwhite begged for +them, and got them what they wanted.</p> + +<p>When they had put to sea and were on the wide ocean, a great storm arose +so that the sailors expected the vessel and all on her to go to the +bottom. The young man was, however, in good spirits, and went up the +mast in order to see if he could discover land anywhere. When he had +looked out from the mast, he called to Swanwhite, who stood on the +deck—</p> + +<p>"Dear sister, I see land now."</p> + +<p>It was, however, blowing so hard that the maiden could not hear a word. +She asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you throw your gold casket into the sea."</p> + +<p>When Swanwhite heard that, she did what the hag told her, and cast the +gold casket into the deep sea.</p> + +<p>A while after her brother once more called to his sister, who stood on +the deck—</p> + +<p>"Swanwhite, go and deck yourself as a bride, for we shall soon be +there."</p> + +<p>But the maiden could not hear a word for the raging of the sea. She +asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother had said.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you cast yourself into the sea."</p> + +<p>While Swanwhite thought of this, the wicked step-mother sprang to her, +and thrust her on a sudden overboard. The young girl was carried away by +the blue waves, and came to the mermaid who rules over all those who are +drowned in the sea.</p> + +<p>When the young man came down the mast, and asked whether his sister was +attired, the step-mother told him many falsehoods about Swanwhite having +fallen into the sea. When the young man heard this he and all the +ship-folk were afraid, for they well knew what punishment awaited them +for having so ill looked after the king's bride. The false hag then +thought of another deception. She said they had better dress her own +daughter as the bride, and then no one need know that Swanwhite had +perished. The young man would not agree to this, but the sailors, being +in fear of their lives, made him do as the step-mother had suggested. +Maiden Foxtail was dressed out in the finest manner with red rings and a +gold girdle, but the young man was ill at ease, and could not forget +what had happened to his sister.</p> + +<p>In the midst of this the vessel came to shore, where was the king with +all his court with much splendour awaiting their arrival. Carpets were +spread upon the ground, and the king's bride left the ship in great +state. When the king beheld Maiden Foxtail, and was told that that was +his bride, he suspected some cheat, and was very angry, and he ordered +that the young man should be thrown into the lions' den. He would not, +however, break his kingly word, so he took the ugly maiden for his wife, +and she became queen in the place of her step-sister.</p> + +<p>Now Maiden Swanwhite had a little dog of which she was very fond, and +she called it Snow-white. Now that its mistress was lost, there was no +one who cared for it, so it came into the king's palace and took refuge +in the kitchen, where it lay down in front of the fire. When it was +night and all had gone to bed, the master-cook saw the kitchen door open +of itself and a beautiful little duck, fastened to a chain, came into +the kitchen. Wherever the little bird trod the most beautiful roses +sprang up. The duck went up to the dog upon the hearth, and said—</p> + +<p>"Poor little Snow-white! Once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on the grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den! Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms."</p> + +<p>"Alas, poor me!" continued the duck, "I shall come here only on two more +nights. After that I shall see you no more."</p> + +<p>Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. +After a little while the door opened of itself and the little bird went +its way.</p> + +<p>The next morning, when it was daylight, the master-cook took the +beautiful roses that lay strewn on the floor and with them decorated the +dishes for the king's table. The king so much admired the flowers that +he ordered the master-cook to be called to him, and asked him where he +had found such magnificent roses. The cook told him all that had +happened, and what the duck had said to the little dog. When the king +heard it he was much perplexed, and he told the cook to let him know as +soon as the bird showed itself again.</p> + +<p>The next night the little duck again came to the kitchen, and spoke to +the dog as before. The cook sent word to the king, and he came just as +the bird went out at the door. However he saw the beautiful roses lying +all over the kitchen floor, and from them came such a delightful scent +that the like had never been known.</p> + +<p>The king made up his mind that if the duck came again he would see it, +so he lay in wait for it. He waited a long while, when, at midnight, the +little bird, as before, came walking up to the dog which lay on the +hearth, and said—</p> + +<p>"Poor little Snow-white! once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den. Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms."</p> + +<p>Then it went on—</p> + +<p>"Alas! poor me! I shall see thee no more."</p> + +<p>Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. As +the bird was about to go away, the king sprang out and caught it by the +foot. Then the bird changed its form and became a horrible dragon, but +the king held it fast. It changed itself again, and took the forms of +snakes, wolves, and other fierce animals, but the king did not lose his +hold. Then the mermaid pulled hard at the chain, but the king held so +fast that the chain broke in two with a great snap and rattling. That +moment there stood there a beautiful maiden much more beautiful than +that in the fine picture. She thanked the king for having saved her +from the power of the mermaid. The king was very glad, and took the +beautiful maiden in his arms, kissed her, and said—</p> + +<p>"I will have no one else in the world for my queen, and now I well see +that your brother was guiltless."</p> + +<p>Then he sent off at once to the lions' den to learn if the young man was +yet alive. There the young man was safe and sound among the wild beasts, +which had done him no injury. Then the king was in a happy mood, and +rejoiced that everything had chanced so well. The brother and sister +told him all that the step-mother had done.</p> + +<p>When it was daylight the king ordered a great feast to be got ready, and +asked the foremost people in the country to the palace. As they all sat +at table and were very merry, the king told a story of a brother and +sister who had been treacherously dealt with by a step-mother, and he +related all that had happened from beginning to end. When the tale was +ended the king's folk looked at one another, and all agreed that the +conduct of the step-mother in the tale was a piece of unexampled +wickedness.</p> + +<p>The king turned to his mother-in-law, and said—</p> + +<p>"Some one should reward my tale. I should like to know what punishment +the taking of such an innocent life deserves."</p> + +<p>The false hag did not know that her own treachery was aimed at, so she +said boldly—</p> + +<p>"For my part, I certainly think she should be put into boiling lead."</p> + +<p>The king then turned himself to Foxtail, and said—</p> + +<p>"I should like to have your opinion; what punishment is merited by one +who takes so innocent a life?"</p> + +<p>The wicked woman answered at once—</p> + +<p>"For my part, I think she deserves to be put into boiling tar."</p> + +<p>Then the king started up from the table in a great rage, and said—</p> + +<p>"You have pronounced doom on yourselves. Such punishment shall you +suffer!"</p> + +<p>He ordered the two women to be taken out to die as they themselves had +said, and no one save Swanwhite begged him to have mercy on them.</p> + +<p>After that the king was married to the beautiful maiden, and all folk +agreed that nowhere could be found a finer queen. The king gave his own +sister to the brave young man, and there was great joy in all the king's +palace.</p> + +<p>There they live prosperous and happy unto this day, for all I know.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="TALES_OF_TREASURE"></a><h2>TALES OF TREASURE.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There are still to be seen near Flensborg the ruins of a very ancient +building. Two soldiers once stood on guard there together, but when one +of them was gone to the town, it chanced that a tall white woman came to +the other, and spoke to him, and said—</p> + +<p>"I am an unhappy spirit, who has wandered here these many hundred years, +but never shall I find rest in the grave."</p> + +<p>She then informed him that under the walls of the castle a great +treasure was concealed, which only three men in the whole world could +take up, and that he was one of the three. The man, who now saw that his +fortune was made, promised to follow her directions in every particular, +whereupon she desired him to come to the same place at twelve o'clock +the following night.</p> + +<p>The other soldier meanwhile had come back from the town just as the +appointment was made with his comrade. He said nothing about what, +unseen, he had seen and heard, but went early the next evening and +concealed himself amongst some bushes. When his fellow-soldier came with +his spade and shovel he found the white woman at the appointed place, +but when she perceived they were watched she put off the appointed +business until the next evening. The man who had lain on the watch to no +purpose went home, and suddenly fell ill; and as he thought he should +die of that sickness, he sent for his comrade, and told him how he knew +all, and conjured him not to have anything to do with witches or with +spirits, but rather to seek counsel of the priest, who was a prudent +man. The other thought it would be the wisest plan to follow the advice +of his comrade, so he went and discovered the whole affair to the +priest, who, however, desired him to do as the spirit had bidden him, +only he was to make her lay the first hand to the work herself.</p> + +<p>The appointed time was now arrived, and the man was at the place. When +the white woman had pointed out to him the spot, and they were just +beginning the work, she said to him that when the treasure was taken up +one-half of it should be his, but that he must divide the other half +equally between the church and the poor. Then the devil entered into the +man, and awakened his covetousness, so that he cried out—</p> + +<p>"What! shall I not have the whole?"</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he spoken when the figure, with a most mournful wail, +passed in a blue flame over the moat of the castle, and the man fell +sick, and died within three days.</p> + +<p>The story soon spread through the country, and a poor scholar who heard +it thought he had now an opportunity of making his fortune. He therefore +went at midnight to the place, and there he met with the wandering white +woman, and he told her why he was come, and offered his services to +raise the treasure. She, however, answered that he was not one of the +three, one of whom alone could free her, and that the wall in which was +the money would still remain so firm that no human being should be able +to break it. She also told him that at some future time he should be +rewarded for his good inclination; and, it is said, when a long time +after he passed by that place, and thought with compassion on the +sufferings of the unblest woman, he fell on his face over a great heap +of money, which soon put him again on his feet. The wall still remains +undisturbed, and as often as any one has attempted to throw it down, +whatever is thrown down in the day is replaced again in the night.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>Three men went once in the night-time to Klumhöi to try their luck, for +a dragon watches there over a great treasure. They dug into the ground, +giving each other a strict charge not to utter a word whatever might +happen, otherwise all their labour would be in vain. When they had dug +pretty deep, their spades struck against a copper chest. They then made +signs to one another, and all, with both hands, laid hold of a great +copper ring that was on the top of the chest, and pulled up the +treasure. When they had just got it into their possession, one of them +forgot the necessity of silence, and shouted out—</p> + +<p>"One pull more, and we have it!"</p> + +<p>That very instant the chest flew away out of their hands to the lake +Stöierup, but as they all held hard on the ring it remained in their +grasp. They went and fastened the ring on the door of St. Olaf's church, +and there it remains to this very day.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>Near Dangstrup there is a hill which is called Dangbjerg Dons. Of this +hill it is related that it is at all times covered with a blue mist, and +that under it there lies a large copper kettle full of money. One night +two men went there to dig after this treasure, and they had got so far +as to lay hold of the handle of the kettle. All sorts of wonderful +things began then to appear to disturb them at their work. One time a +coach, drawn by four black horses, drove by them. Then they saw a black +dog with a fiery tongue. Then there came a cock drawing a load of hay. +Still the men persisted in not letting themselves speak, and still dug +on without stopping. At last a fellow came limping up to them and said—</p> + +<p>"See, Dangstrup is on fire!"</p> + +<p>When the men looked towards the town, it appeared exactly as if the +whole place were in a bright flame. Then at length one of the men forgot +to keep silence, and the moment he uttered an exclamation the treasure +sank deeper and deeper, and as often since as any attempt has been made +to get it up, the trolls have, by their spells and artifices, prevented +its success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="HOLGER_DANSKE"></a><h2>HOLGER DANSKE.</h2> +<br> + +<p>The Danish peasantry of the present day relate many wonderful things of +an ancient hero whom they name Holger Danske, <i>i.e</i>. Danish Holger, +and to whom they ascribe wonderful strength and dimensions.</p> + +<p>Holger Danske came one time to a town named Bagsvoer, in the isle of +Zealand, where, being in want of a new suit of clothes, he sent for +twelve tailors to make them. He was so tall that they were obliged to +set ladders to his back and shoulders to take his measure. They measured +and measured away, but unluckily a man, who was on the top of one of the +ladders, happened, as he was cutting a mark in the measure, to give +Holger's ear a clip with the scissors. Holger, forgetting what was going +on, thinking that he was being bitten by a flea, put up his hand and +crushed the unlucky tailor to death between his fingers.</p> + +<p>It is also said that a witch one time gave him a pair of spectacles +which would enable him to see through the ground. He lay down at a place +not far from Copenhagen to make a trial of their powers, and as he put +his face close to the ground, he left in it the mark of his spectacles, +which mark is to be seen at this very day, and the size of it proves +what a goodly pair they must have been.</p> + +<p>Tradition does not say at what time it was that this mighty hero +honoured the isles of the Baltic with his actual presence, but, in +return, it informs us that Holger, like so many other heroes of renown, +"is not dead, but sleepeth." The clang of arms, we are told, was +frequently heard under the castle of Cronberg, but in all Denmark no one +could be found hardy enough to penetrate the subterranean recesses and +ascertain the cause. At length a slave, who had been condemned to death, +was offered his life and a pardon if he would go down, proceed through +the subterranean passage as far as it went, and bring an account of what +he should meet there. He accordingly descended, and went along till he +came to a great iron door, which opened of itself the instant he knocked +at it, and he beheld before him a deep vault. From the roof in the +centre hung a lamp whose flame was nearly extinct, and beneath was a +huge great stone table, around which sat steel-clad warriors, bowed down +over it, each with his head on his crossed arms. He who was seated at +the head of the board then raised himself up. This was Holger Danske. +When he had lifted his head up from off his arms, the stone table split +throughout, for his beard was grown into it.</p> + +<p>"Give me thy hand," said he to the intruder.</p> + +<p>The slave feared to trust his hand in the grasp of the ancient warrior, +and he reached him the end of an iron bar which he had brought with him. +Holger squeezed it so hard, that the mark of his hand remained in it. He +let it go at last, saying—</p> + +<p>"Well! I am glad to find there are still men in Denmark."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="TALES_FROM_THE_PROSE_EDDA"></a><h2>TALES FROM THE PROSE EDDA</h2> + +<p>THE GODS AND THE WOLF.</p> +<br> + +<p>Among the Æsir, or gods, is reckoned one named Loki or Loptur. By many +he is called the reviler of the gods, the author of all fraud and +mischief, and the shame of gods and men alike. He is the son of the +giant Farbauti, his mother being Laufey or Nal, and his brothers Byleist +and Helblindi. He is of a goodly appearance and elegant form, but his +mood is changeable, and he is inclined to all wickedness. In cunning and +perfidy he excels every one, and many a time has he placed the gods in +great danger, and often has he saved them again by his cunning. He has a +wife named Siguna, and their son is called Nari.</p> + +<p>Loki had three children by Angurbodi, a giantess of Jotunheim (the +giants' home). The first of these was Fenris, the wolf; the second was +Jörmungand, the Midgard serpent; and the third was Hela, death. Very +soon did the gods become aware of this evil progeny which was being +reared in Jotunheim, and by divination they discovered that they must +receive great injury from them. That they had such a mother spoke bad +for them, but their coming of such a sire was a still worse presage. +All-father therefore despatched certain of the gods to bring the +children to him, and when they were brought before him he cast the +serpent down into the ocean which surrounds the world. There the monster +waxed so large that he wound himself round the whole globe, and that +with such ease that he can with his mouth lay hold of his tail. Hela +All-father cast into Niflheim, where she rules over nine worlds. Into +these she distributes all those who are sent to her,—that is to say, +all who die through sickness or old age. She has there an abode with +very thick walls, and fenced with strong gates. Her hall is Elvidnir; +her table is Hunger; her knife, Starvation; her man-servant, Delay; her +maid-servant, Sloth; her threshold, Precipice; her bed, Care; and her +curtains, Anguish of Soul. The one half of her body is livid, the other +half is flesh-colour. She has a terrible look, so that she can be easily +known.</p> + +<p>As to the wolf, Fenris, the gods let him grow up among themselves, Tyr +being the only one of them who dare give him his food. When, however, +they perceived how he every day increased prodigiously in size, and that +the oracles warned them that he would one day prove fatal to them, they +determined to make very strong iron fetters for him which they called +Loeding. These they presented to the wolf, and desired him to put them +on to show his strength by endeavouring to break them. The wolf saw that +it would not be difficult for him to burst them, so he let the gods put +the fetters on him, then violently stretching himself he broke the +fetters asunder, and set himself free.</p> + +<p>Having seen this, the gods went to work, and prepared a second set of +fetters, called Dromi, half as strong again as the former, and these +they persuaded the wolf to put on, assuring him that if he broke them he +would then furnish them with an undeniable proof of his power. The wolf +saw well enough that it would not be easy to break this set, but he +considered that he had himself increased in strength since he broke the +others, and he knew that without running some risk he could never become +celebrated. He therefore allowed the gods to place the fetters on him. +Then Fenris shook himself, stretched his limbs, rolled on the ground, +and at length burst the fetters, which he made fly in all directions. +Thus did he free himself the second time from his chains, and from this +has arisen the saying, "To get free from Loeding, or to burst from +Dromi," meaning to perform something by strong exertion.</p> + +<p>The gods now despaired of ever being able to secure the wolf with any +chain of their own making. All-father, however, sent Skirnir, the +messenger of the god Frey, into the country of the Black Elves, to the +dwarfs, to ask them to make a chain to bind Fenris with. This chain was +composed of six things—the noise made by the fall of a cat's foot, the +hair of a woman's beard, the roots of stones, the nerves of bears, the +breath of fish, and the spittle of birds.</p> + +<p>The fetters were as smooth and as soft as silk, and yet, as you will +presently see, of great strength. The gods were very thankful for them +when they were brought to them, and returned many thanks to him who +brought them. Then they took the wolf with them on to the island Lyngvi, +which is in the lake Amsvartnir, and there they showed him the chain, +desiring him to try his strength in breaking it. At the same time they +told him that it was a good deal stronger than it looked. They took it +in their own hands and pulled at it, attempting in vain to break it, and +then they said to Fenris—</p> + +<p>"No one else but you, Fenris, can break it."</p> + +<p>"I don't see," replied the wolf, "that I shall gain any glory by +breaking such a slight string, but if any artifice has been employed in +the making of it, you may be sure, though it looks so fragile, it shall +never touch foot of mine."</p> + +<p>The gods told him he would easily break so slight a bandage, since he +had already broken asunder shackles of iron of the most solid make.</p> + +<p>"But," said they, "if you should not be able to break the chain, you are +too feeble to cause us any anxiety, and we shall not hesitate to loose +you again."</p> + +<p>"I very much fear," replied the wolf, "that if you once tie me up so +fast that I cannot release myself, you will be in no haste to unloose +me. I am, therefore, unwilling to have this cord wound around me; but to +show you I am no coward, I will agree to it, but one of you must put his +hand in my mouth, as a pledge that you intend me no deceit."</p> + +<p>The gods looked on one another wistfully, for they found themselves in +an embarrassing position.</p> + +<p>Then Tyr stepped forward and bravely put his right hand in the monster's +mouth. The gods then tied up the wolf, who forcibly stretched himself, +as he had formerly done, and exerted all his powers to disengage +himself; but the more efforts he made the tighter he drew the chain +about him, and then all the gods, except Tyr, who lost his hand, burst +out into laughter at the sight. Seeing that he was so fast tied that he +would never be able to get loose again, they took one end of the chain, +which was called Gelgja, and having drilled a hole for it, drew it +through the middle of a large broad rock, which they sank very deep in +the earth. Afterwards, to make all still more secure, they tied the end +of the chain, which came through the rock to a great stone called +Keviti, which they sank still deeper. The wolf used his utmost power to +free himself, and, opening his mouth, tried to bite them. When the gods +saw that they took a sword and thrust it into his mouth, so that it +entered his under jaw right up to the hilt, and the point reached his +palate. He howled in the most terrible manner, and since then the foam +has poured from his mouth in such abundance that it forms the river +called Von. So the wolf must remain until Ragnarök.</p> + +<p>Such a wicked race has Loki begot. The gods would not put the wolf to +death because they respected the sanctity of the place, which forbade +blood being shed there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_STRANGE_BUILDER"></a><h2>THE STRANGE BUILDER.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Once upon a time, when the gods were building their abodes, a certain +builder came and offered to erect them, in the space of three +half-years, a city so well fortified that they should be quite safe in +it from the incursions of the forest-giants and the giants of the +mountains, even although these foes should have already penetrated +within the enclosure Midgard. He asked, however, for his reward, the +goddess Freyja, together with the sun and moon. The gods thought over +the matter a long while, and at length agreed to his terms, on the +understanding that he would finish the whole work himself without any +one's assistance, and that all was to be finished within the space of +one single winter. If anything remained to be done when the first day of +summer came, the builder was to entirely forfeit the reward agreed on. +When the builder was told this he asked that he might be allowed the use +of his horse, Svadilfari, and to this the gods, by the advice of Loki, +agreed.</p> + +<p>On the first day of winter the builder set to work, and during the night +he caused his horse to draw stones for the building. The gods beheld +with astonishment the extraordinary size of these, and marked with +wonder that the horse did much more work than his master. The contract +between them and the giant had, however, been confirmed with many oaths +and in the presence of many witnesses, for without such a precaution a +giant would not have trusted himself among the gods, especially at a +time when Thor was returning from an expedition he had made into the +east against the giants.</p> + +<p>The winter was far advanced, and towards its end the city had been built +so strongly and so lofty as to be almost secure. The time was nearly +expired, only three days remaining, and nothing was wanted to complete +the work save the gates, which were not yet put up. The gods then began +to deliberate, and to ask one another who it was that had advised that +Freyja should be given to one who dwelt in Jotunheim, and that they +should plunge the heavens in darkness by allowing one to carry away with +him the sun and moon. They all agreed that only Loki could have given +such bad counsel, and that it would be only just to either make him +contrive some way or other to prevent the builder accomplishing his work +and having a right to claim his reward, or to put him to death. They at +once laid hands on Loki, who, in his fright, promised upon oath to do +what they desired, let it cost him what it might.</p> + +<p>That very night, while the builder was employing his horse to convey +stones, a mare suddenly ran out of a neighbouring forest and commenced +to neigh. The horse broke loose and ran after the mare into the forest, +and the builder ran after his horse.</p> + +<p>Between one thing and another the whole night was lost, so that when day +broke the work was not completed.</p> + +<p>The builder, recognising that he could by no means finish his task, +took again his giant form; and the gods, seeing that it was a +mountain-giant with whom they had to deal, feeling that their oath did +not bind them, called on Thor. He at once ran to them, and paid the +builder his fee with a blow of his hammer which shattered his skull to +pieces and threw him down headlong into Niflhel.</p> + +<p>The horse Sleipner comes of the horse Svadilfari, and it excels all +others possessed by gods or men.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THOR'S_JOURNEY_TO_THE_LAND_OF_GIANTS"></a><h2>THOR'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF GIANTS.</h2> +<br> + +<p>One day the god Thor set out with Loki in his chariot drawn by two +he-goats. Night coming on they were obliged to put up at a peasant's +cottage, when Thor slew his goats, and having skinned them, had them put +into the pot. When this had been done he sat down to supper and invited +the peasant and his children to take part in the feast. The peasant had +a son named Thjalfi, and a daughter, Röska. Thor told them to throw the +bones into the goatskins, which were spread out near the hearth, but +young Thjalfi, in order to get at the marrow, broke one of the shank +bones with his knife. Having passed the night in this place, Thor rose +early in the morning, and having dressed himself, held up his hammer, +Mjolnir, and thus consecrating the goatskins; he had no sooner done it +than the two goats took again their usual form, only one of them was now +lame in one of its hind-legs. When Thor saw this he at once knew that +the peasant or one of his family had handled the bones of the goat too +roughly, for one was broken. They were terribly afraid when Thor knit +his brows, rolled his eyes, seized his hammer, and grasped it with such +force that the very joints of his fingers were white again. The peasant, +trembling, and fearful that he would be struck down by the looks of the +god, begged with his family for pardon, offering whatever they possessed +to repair the damage they might have done. Thor allowed them to appease +him, and contented himself with taking with him Thjalfi and Röska, who +became his servants, and have since followed him.</p> + +<p>Leaving his goats at that place, Thor set out to the east, to the +country of the giants. At length they came to the shore of a wide and +deep sea which Thor, with Loki, Thjalfi, and Röska passed over. Then +they came to a strange country, and entered an immense forest in which +they journeyed all day. Thjalfi was unexcelled by any man as a runner, +and he carried Thor's bag, but in the forest they could find nothing +eatable to put in it. As night came on they searched on all sides for a +place where they might sleep, and at last they came to what appeared to +be a large hall, the gate of which was so large that it took up the +whole of one side of the building. Here they lay down to sleep, but +about the middle of the night they were alarmed by what seemed to be an +earthquake which shook the whole of the building. Thor, rising, called +his companions to seek with him some safer place. Leaving the apartment +they were in, they found on their right hand an adjoining chamber into +which they entered, but while the others, trembling with fear, crept to +the farthest corner of their retreat, Thor, armed with his mace, +remained at the entrance ready to defend himself, happen what might. +Throughout the night they heard a terrible groaning, and when the +morning came, Thor, going out, observed a man of enormous size, lying +near, asleep and snoring heavily. Then Thor knew that this was the noise +he had heard during the night. He immediately girded on his belt of +prowess which had the virtue of increasing his strength. The giant awoke +and stood up, and it is said that for once Thor was too frightened to +use his hammer, and he therefore contented himself with inquiring the +giant's name.</p> + +<p>"My name," replied the giant, "is Skrymir. As for you it is not +necessary I should ask your name. You are the god Thor. Tell me, what +have you done with my glove?"</p> + +<p>Then Skrymir stretched out his hand and took it up, and Thor saw that +what he and his companions had taken for a hall in which they had passed +the night, was the giant's glove, the chamber into which they had +retreated being only the thumb.</p> + +<p>Skrymir asked whether they might not be friends, and Thor agreeing, the +giant opened his bag and took out something to eat. Thor and his +companions also made their morning meal, but eat in another place. Then +Skrymir, proposing that they should put their provisions together, and +Thor assenting to it, put all into one bag, and laying it on his +shoulder marched before them, with huge strides, during the whole day. +At night he found a place where Thor and his companions might rest under +an oak. There, he said, he would lie down and sleep.</p> + +<p>"You take the bag," said he, "and make your supper."</p> + +<p>He was soon asleep, and, strange as it may seem, when Thor tried to open +the bag he could not untie a single knot nor loose the string. Enraged +at this he seized his hammer, swayed it in both his hands, took a step +forward, and hurled it at the giant's head. This awoke the giant, who +asked him if a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had +finished their supper. Thor said they were just about to lie down to +sleep, and went to lie under another oak-tree. About midnight, observing +that Skrymir was snoring so loudly that the forest re-echoed the din, +Thor grasped his hammer and hurled it with such force at him that it +sank up to the handle in his head.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked he, awakening. "Did an acorn fall on my +head? How are you going on, Thor?"</p> + +<p>Thor departed at once, saying that it was only midnight and that he +hoped to get some more sleep yet. He resolved, however, to have a third +blow at the giant, hoping that with this he might settle everything. +Seizing his hammer, he, with all his force, threw it at the giant's +cheek, into which it buried itself up to the handle. Skrymir, awaking, +put his hand to his cheek, and said—</p> + +<p>"Are there any birds perched on this tree? I thought some moss fell upon +me. How! art thou awake, Thor? It is time, is it not, for us to get up +and dress ourselves? You have not far, however, to go before you arrive +at the city Utgard. I have heard you whispering together that I am a +very tall fellow, but there you will see many larger than me. Let me +advise you then when you get there not to take too much upon yourselves, +for the men of Utgard-Loki will not bear much from such little folk as +you. I believe your best way would even be to turn back again, but if +you are determined to proceed take the road that goes towards the east, +as for me mine now lies to the north."</p> + +<p>After he had said this, he put his bag upon his shoulder and turned away +into a forest; and I could never hear that Thor wished him a good +journey.</p> + +<p>Proceeding on his way with his companions, Thor saw towards noon a city +situated in the middle of a vast plain. The wall of the city was so +lofty that one could not look up to the top of it without throwing one's +head quite back upon the shoulder. On coming to the wall, they found the +gate-way closed with bars, which Thor never could have opened, but he +and his companions crept in between them, and thus entered the place. +Before them was a large palace, and as the door of it was open, they +entered and found a number of men of enormous size, seated on benches. +Going on they came into the presence of the king, Utgard-Loki, whom they +saluted with great respect, but he, looking upon them for a time, at +length cast a scornful glance at them, and burst into laughter.</p> + +<p>"It would take up too much time," said he, "to ask you concerning the +long journey you have made, but if I am not mistaken that little man +there is Aku-Thor. You may," said he to Thor, "be bigger than you seem +to be. What are you and your companions skilled in that we may see what +they can do, for no one may remain here unless he understands some art +and excels in it all other men?"</p> + +<p>"I," said Loki, "can eat quicker than any one else, and of that I am +ready to give proof if there is here any one who will compete with me."</p> + +<p>"It must, indeed, be owned," replied the king, "that you are not wanting +in dexterity, if you are able to do what you say. Come, let us test it."</p> + +<p>Then he ordered one of his followers who was sitting at the further end +of the bench, and whose name was Logi (Flame) to come forward, and try +his skill with Loki. A great tub or trough full of flesh meat was placed +in the hall, and Loki having placed himself at one end of the trough, +and Logi having set himself at the other end, the two commenced to eat. +Presently they met in the middle of the trough, but Loki had only +devoured the flesh of his portion, whereas the other had devoured both +flesh and bones. All the company therefore decided that Loki was +beaten.</p> + +<p>Then Utgard-Loki asked what the young man could do who accompanied Thor. +Thjalfi said that in running he would compete with any one. The king +admitted that skill in running was something very good, but he thought +Thjalfi must exert himself to the utmost to win in the contest. He rose +and, accompanied by all the company, went to a plain where there was a +good place for the match, and then calling a young man named Hugi +(Spirit or Thought), he ordered him to run with Thjalfi. In the first +race Hugi ran so fast away from Thjalfi that on his returning to the +starting-place he met him not far from it. Then said the king—</p> + +<p>"If you are to win, Thjalfi, you must run faster, though I must own no +man has ever come here who was swifter of foot."</p> + +<p>In the second trial, Thjalfi was a full bow-shot from the boundary when +Hugi arrived at it.</p> + +<p>"Very well do you run, Thjalfi," said Utgard-Loki; "but I do not think +you will gain the prize. However, the third trial will decide."</p> + +<p>They ran a third time, but Hugi had already reached the goal before +Thjalfi had got half-way. Then all present cried out that there had been +a sufficient trial of skill in that exercise.</p> + +<p>Then Utgard-Loki asked Thor in what manner he would choose to give them +a proof of the dexterity for which he was so famous. Thor replied that +he would contest the prize for drinking with any one in the court. +Utgard-Loki consented to the match, and going into the palace, ordered +his cup-bearer to bring the large horn out of which his followers were +obliged to drink when they had trespassed in any way against the customs +of the court. The cup-bearer presented this to Thor, and Utgard-Loki +said—</p> + +<p>"Whoever is a good drinker will empty that horn at a draught. Some men +make two draughts of it, but the most puny drinker of all can empty it +in three."</p> + +<p>Thor looked at the horn, which seemed very long, but was otherwise of no +extraordinary size. He put it to his mouth, and, without drawing breath, +pulled as long and as deeply as he could, that he might not be obliged +to make a second draught of it. When, however, he set the horn down and +looked in it he could scarcely perceive that any of the liquor was gone.</p> + +<p>"You have drunk well," said Utgard-Loki; "but you need not boast. Had it +been told me that Asu-Thor could only drink so little, I should not have +credited it. No doubt you will do better at the second pull."</p> + +<p>Without a word, Thor again set the horn to his lips and exerted himself +to the utmost. When he looked in it seemed to him that he had not drunk +quite so much as before, but the horn could now be carried without +danger of spilling the liquor. Then Utgard-Loki said—</p> + +<p>"Well, Thor, you should not spare yourself more than befits you in such +drinking. If now you mean to drink off the horn the third time it seems +to me you must drink more than you have done. You will never be reckoned +so great a man amongst us as the Æsir make you out to be if you cannot +do better in other games than it appears to me you will do in this."</p> + +<p>Thor, angry, put the horn to his mouth and drank the best he could and +as long as he was able, but when he looked into the horn the liquor was +only a little lower. Then he gave the horn to the cup-bearer, and would +drink no more.</p> + +<p>Then said Utgard-Loki—</p> + +<p>"It is plain that you are not so mighty as we imagined. Will you try +another game? It seems to me there is little chance of your taking a +prize hence."</p> + +<p>"I will try more contests yet," answered Thor. "Such draughts as I have +drunk would not have seemed small to the Æsir. But what new game have +you?"</p> + +<p>Utgard-Loki answered—</p> + +<p>"The lads here do a thing which is not much. They lift my cat up from +the ground. I should not have thought of proposing such a feat to +Asu-Thor, had I not first seen that he is less by far than we took him +to be."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there sprang upon the hall floor a very large grey cat. Thor +went up to it and put his hand under its middle and tried to lift it +from the floor. The cat bent its back as Thor raised his hands, and when +Thor had exerted himself to the utmost the cat had only one foot off the +floor. Then Thor would make no further trial.</p> + +<p>"I thought this game would go so," said Utgard-Loki. "The cat is large +and Thor is little when compared with our men."</p> + +<p>"Little as you call me," answered Thor, "let any one come here and +wrestle with me, for now I am angry."</p> + +<p>Utgard-Loki looked along the benches, and said—</p> + +<p>"I see no man here who would not think it absurd to wrestle with you, +but let some one call here the old woman, my nurse, Elli, and let Thor +wrestle with her, if he will. She has cast to the ground many a man who +seemed to me to be as strong as Thor."</p> + +<p>Then came into the hall a toothless old woman, and Utgard-Loki told her +to wrestle with Asu-Thor. The story is not a long one. The harder Thor +tightened his hold, the firmer the old woman stood. Then she began to +exert herself, Thor tottered, and at last, after a violent tussle, he +fell on one knee. On this Utgard-Loki told them to stop, adding that +Thor could not desire any one else to wrestle with him in the hall, and +the night had closed in. He showed Thor and his companions to seats, and +they passed the night, faring well.</p> + +<p>At daybreak the next morning, Thor and his companions rose, dressed +themselves, and prepared to leave at once. Then Utgard-Loki came to them +and ordered a table to be set for them having on it plenty of meat and +drink. Afterwards he led them out of the city, and on parting asked Thor +how he thought his journey had prospered, and whether he had met with +any stronger than himself. Thor said he must own he had been much +shamed.</p> + +<p>"And," said he, "I know you will call me a man of little might, and I +can badly bear that."</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you the truth?" said Utgard-Loki. "We are now out of the +city, and while I live and have my own way, you will never again enter +it. By my word you had never come in had I known before you had been so +strong and would bring us so near to great misfortune. I have deluded +thee with vain shows; first in the forest, where I met you, and where +you were unable to untie the wallet because I had bound it with +iron-thread so that you could not discover where the knot could be +loosened. After that you gave me three blows with your hammer. The first +blow, though the lightest, would have killed me had it fallen on me, but +I put a rock in my place which you did not see. In that rocky mountain +you will find three dales, one of which is very deep, those are the +dints made by your hammer. In the other games, I have deceived you with +illusions. The first one was the match with Loki. He was hungry and eat +fast, but Logi was Flame, and he consumed not only the flesh but the +trough with it. When Thjalfi contended with Hugi in running, Hugi was my +thought, and it was not possible for Thjalfi to excel that in swiftness. +When you drank of the horn and the liquor seemed to get lower so slowly, +you did, indeed, so well that had I not seen it, I should never have +believed it. You did not see that one end of the horn was in the sea, +but when you come to the shore you will see how much the sea has shrunk +in consequence of your draughts, which have caused what is called the +ebb. Nor did you do a less wondrous thing when you lifted up the cat, +and I can assure you all were afraid when you raised one of its paws off +the ground. The cat was the great Midgard serpent which lies stretched +round the whole earth, and when you raised it so high then did its +length barely suffice to enclose the earth between its head and tail. +Your wrestling match with Elli was, too, a great feat, for no one has +there been yet, and no one shall there be whom old age does not come and +trip up, if he but await her coming. Now we must part, and let me say +that it will be better for both of us if you never more come to seek me, +for I shall always defend my city with tricks, so that you will never +overcome me."</p> + +<p>When Thor heard that he grasped his mace in a rage, and raised it to +hurl it at Utgard-Loki, but he had disappeared. Then Thor wanted to +return to the city, but he could see nothing but a wide fair plain. So +he turned, and went on his way till he came to Thrudvang, resolving if +he had an opportunity to attack the Midgard serpent.</p> +<br> + +<p>HOW THOR WENT A-FISHING.</p> + +<p>Thor had not been long at home before he left it so hastily that he did +not take his car, his goats, or any follower with him. He left Midgard +disguised as a young man, and when night was coming on, arrived at the +house of a giant, called Hymir. Thor stayed there as a guest for the +night, and when he saw in the morning that the giant rose, dressed +himself, and prepared to go out to sea-fishing in his boat, he begged +him to let him go also. Hymir said he was too little and young to be of +much use.</p> + +<p>"And besides," added he, "you will die of cold, if I go so far out and +sit so long as I am accustomed."</p> + +<p>Thor said he would row as far out as ever Hymir wanted, and he thought +he might not be the first to want to row back. While he said this he was +in such a rage that he had much to do to keep himself from throwing the +hammer at once at the giant's head, but he calmed himself thinking that +he might soon try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what bait he +should use, but Hymir told him to look out for himself. Then Thor went +up to a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir, and capturing the largest bull, +called Himinbrjot, he wrung off its head, and went with it to the +sea-shore. Hymir launched the skiff, and Thor, sitting down in the +after-part, rowed with two oars so that Hymir, who rowed in the +fore-part, wondered to see how fast the boat went on. At length he said +they had arrived at the place where he was accustomed to fish for flat +fish, but Thor told him they had better go on further. So they rowed +till Hymir cried out that if they proceeded further they might be in +danger from the Midgard serpent. In spite of this, Thor said he would +row further, and so he rowed on, disregarding Hymir's words. When he +laid down his oars, he took out a very strong fishing line to which was +a no less strong hook. On this he fixed the bull's head and cast it over +into the sea. The bait soon reached the ground, and then truly Thor +deceived the Midgard serpent no less than Utgard-Loki deceived Thor when +he gave him the serpent to lift in his hand. The Midgard serpent gaped +wide at the bait, and the hook stuck fast in his mouth. When the worm +felt this he tugged at the hook so that Thor's hands were dashed against +the side of the boat. Then Thor got angry, and, collecting to himself +all his divine strength, he pulled so hard that his feet went through +the bottom of the boat and down to the sea's bottom. Then he drew the +serpent up on board. No one can be said to have seen an ugly sight who +did not see that. Thor threw wrathful looks on the serpent, and the +monster staring at him from below cast out venom at him. The giant +Hymir, it is said, turned pale when he saw the serpent, quaked, and, +seeing that the sea ran in and out of the skiff, just as Thor raised +aloft his mace, took out his knife and cut the line so that the serpent +at once sank under the water. Thor cast his mace at the serpent, and +some say it cut off its head at the bottom, but it is more true that the +Midgard serpent is yet alive lying at the bottom of the ocean. With his +fist Thor struck Hymir such a blow over the ear that the giant tumbled +headlong into the water, and Thor then waded to land.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_DEATH_OF_BALDUR"></a><h2>THE DEATH OF BALDUR.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Baldur the Good had dreams which forewarned him that his life was in +danger, and he told the gods of them. The gods took counsel together +what should be done, and it was agreed that they should conjure away all +danger that might threaten him. Frigga took an oath of fire, water, +iron, and all other metals, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses, beasts, +birds, poisons, and worms, that these would none of them hurt Baldur. +When this had been done the gods used to divert themselves, Baldur +standing up in the assembly, and all the others throwing at him, hewing +at him, and smiting him with stones, for, do all they would, he received +no hurt, and in this sport all enjoyed themselves.</p> + +<p>Loki, however, looked on with envy when he saw that Baldur was not hurt. +So he assumed the form of a woman, and set out to Fensalir to Frigga. +Frigga asked if the stranger knew what the gods did when they met. He +answered that they all shot at Baldur and he was not hurt.</p> + +<p>"No weapon, nor tree may hurt Baldur," answers Frigga, "I have taken an +oath of them all not to do so."</p> + +<p>"What," said the pretended woman, "have all things then sworn to spare +Baldur?"</p> + +<p>"There is only one little twig which grows to the east of Valhalla, +which is called the mistletoe. Of that I took no oath, for it seemed to +me too young and feeble to do any hurt."</p> + +<p>Then the strange woman departed, and Loki having found the mistletoe, +cut it off, and went to the assembly. There he found Hodur standing +apart by himself, for he was blind. Then said Loki to him—</p> + +<p>"Why do you not throw at Baldur?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said he, "I am blind and cannot see him, and besides I have +nothing to throw."</p> + +<p>"Do as the others," said Loki, "and honour Baldur as the rest do. I will +direct your aim. Throw this shaft at him."</p> + +<p>Hodur took the mistletoe and, Loki directing him, aimed at Baldur. The +aim was good. The shaft pierced him through, and Baldur fell dead upon +the earth. Surely never was there a greater misfortune either among gods +or men.</p> + +<p>When the gods saw that Baldur was dead then they were silent, aghast, +and stood motionless. They looked on one another, and were all agreed as +to what he deserved who had done the deed, but out of respect to the +place none dared avenge Baldur's death. They broke the silence at length +with wailing, words failing them with which to express their sorrow. +Odin, as was right, was more sorrowful than any of the others, for he +best knew what a loss the gods had sustained.</p> + +<p>At last when the gods had recovered themselves, Frigga asked—</p> + +<p>"Who is there among the gods who will win my love and good-will? That +shall he have if he will ride to Hel, and seek Baldur, and offer Hela a +reward if she will let Baldur come home to Asgard."</p> + +<p>Hermod the nimble, Odin's lad, said he would make the journey. So he +mounted Odin's horse, Sleipner, and went his way.</p> + +<p>The gods took Baldur's body down to the sea-shore, where stood +Hringhorn, Baldur's vessel, the biggest in the world. When the gods +tried to launch it into the water, in order to make on it a funeral fire +for Baldur, the ship would not stir. Then they despatched one to +Jotunheim for the sorceress called Hyrrokin, who came riding on a wolf +with twisted serpents by way of reins. Odin called for four Berserkir to +hold the horse, but they could not secure it till they had thrown it to +the ground. Then Hyrrokin went to the stem of the ship, and set it +afloat with a single touch, the vessel going so fast that fire sprang +from the rollers, and the earth trembled. Then Thor was so angry that he +took his hammer and wanted to cast it at the woman's head, but the gods +pleaded for her and appeased him. The body of Baldur being placed on the +ship, Nanna, the daughter of Nep, Baldur's wife, seeing it, died of a +broken heart, so she was borne to the pile and thrown into the fire.</p> + +<p>Thor stood up and consecrated the pile with Mjolnir. A little dwarf, +called Litur, ran before his feet, and Thor gave him a push, and threw +him into the fire, and he was burnt. Many kinds of people came to this +ceremony. With Odin came Frigga and the Valkyrjor with his ravens. Frey +drove in a car drawn by the boar, Gullinbursti or Slidrugtanni. Heimdall +rode the horse Gulltopp, and Freyja drove her cats. There were also many +of the forest-giants and mountain-giants there. On the pile Odin laid +the gold ring called Draupnir, giving it the property that every ninth +night it produces eight rings of equal weight. In the same pile was also +consumed Baldur's horse.</p> + +<p>For nine nights and days Hermod rode through deep valleys, so dark that +he could see nothing. Then he came to the river Gjöll which he crossed +by the bridge which is covered with shining gold. The maid who keeps the +bridge is called Modgudur. She asked Hermod his name and family, and +told him that on the former day there had ridden over the bridge five +bands of dead men.</p> + +<p>"They did not make my bridge ring as you do, and you have not the hue of +the dead. Why ride you thus on the way to Hel?"</p> + +<p>He said—</p> + +<p>"I ride to Hel to find Baldur. Have you seen him on his way to that +place?"</p> + +<p>"Baldur," answered she, "has passed over the bridge, but the way to Hel +is below to the north."</p> + +<p>Hermod rode on till he came to the entrance of Hel, which was guarded by +a grate. He dismounted, looked to the girths of his saddle, mounted, and +clapping his spurs into the horse, cleared the grate easily. Then he +rode on to the hall and, dismounting, entered it. There he saw his +brother, Baldur, seated in the first place, and there Hermod stopped +the night.</p> + +<p>In the morning he saw Hela, and begged her to let Baldur ride home with +him, telling her how much the gods had sorrowed over his death. Hela +told him she would test whether it were true that Baldur was so much +loved.</p> + +<p>"If," said she, "all things weep for him, then he shall return to the +gods, but if any speak against him or refuse to weep, then he shall +remain in Hel."</p> + +<p>Then Hermod rose to go, and Baldur, leading him out of the hall, gave +him the ring, Draupnir, which he wished Odin to have as a keepsake. +Nanna also sent Frigga a present, and a ring to Fulla.</p> + +<p>Hermod rode back, and coming to Asgard related all he had seen and +heard. Then the gods sent messengers over all the world seeking to get +Baldur brought back again by weeping. All wept, men and living things, +earth, stones, trees, and metals, all weeping as they do when they are +subjected to heat after frost. Then the messengers came back again, +thinking they had done their errand well. On their way they came to a +cave wherein sat a hag named Thaukt. The messengers prayed her to assist +in weeping Baldur out of Hel.</p> + +<p>"I will weep dry tears," answered she, "over Baldur's pyre. What gain I +by the son of man, be he live or dead? Let Hela hold what she has."</p> + +<p>It was thought that this must have been Loki, Laufey's son, he who has +ever wrought such harm to the gods.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_PUNISHMENT_OF_LOKI"></a><h2>THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.</h2> +<br> + +<p>The gods were so angry with Loki that he had to run away and hide +himself in the mountains, and there he built a house which had four +doors, so that he could see around him on every side. He would often in +the day-time change himself into a salmon and hide in the water called +Franangursfors, and he thought over what trick the gods might devise to +capture him there. One day while he sat in his house, he took flax and +yarn, and with it made meshes like those of a net, a fire burning in +front of him. Then he became aware that the gods were near at hand, for +Odin had seen out of Hlidskjalf where he was. Loki sprang up, threw his +work into the fire, and went to the river. When the gods came to the +house, the first that entered was Kvasir, who was the most acute of them +all. In the hot embers he saw the ashes of a net, such as is used in +fishing, and he told the gods of it, and they made a net like that which +they saw in the ashes. When it was ready they went to the river and cast +the net in, Thor holding one end and the rest of the gods the other, and +so they drew it. Loki travelled in front of it and lay down between two +stones so that the net went over him, but the gods felt that something +living had been against the net. Then they cast the net a second time, +binding up in it a weight so that nothing could pass under it. Loki +travelled before it till he saw the sea in front of him. Then he leapt +over the top of the net and again made his way up the stream. The gods +saw this, so they once more dragged the stream, while Thor waded in the +middle of it. So they went to the sea.</p> + +<p>Then Loki saw in what a dangerous situation he was. He must risk his +life if he swam out to sea. The only other alternative was to leap over +the net. That he did, jumping as quickly as he could over the top cord.</p> + +<p>Thor snatched at him, and tried to hold him, but he slipped through his +hand, and would have escaped, but for his tail, and this is the reason +why salmon have their tails so thin.</p> + +<p>Loki being captured, they took him to a certain cavern, and they took +three rocks, through each of which they bored a hole. Then they took +Loki's sons Vali and Nari, and having changed Vali into a wolf, he tore +his brother Nari into pieces. Then the gods took his intestines and +bound Loki with them to the three stones, and they changed the cord into +bands of iron. Skadi then took a serpent and suspended it over Loki's +head so that the venom drops from it on to his face. Siguna, Loki's +wife, stands near him, and holds a dish receiving the venom as it falls, +and when the dish is full she goes out and pours its contents away. +While she is doing this, however, the venom falls on Loki, and causes +him such intense pain that he writhes so that the earth is shaken as if +by an earthquake.</p> + +<p>There he lies till Ragnarök (the twilight of the gods).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="ORIGIN_OF_TIIS_LAKE"></a><h2>ORIGIN OF TIIS LAKE.</h2> +<br> + +<p>A troll had once taken up his abode near the village of Kund, in the +high bank on which the church now stands, but when the people about +there had become pious, and went constantly to church, the troll was +dreadfully annoyed by their almost incessant ringing of bells in the +steeple of the church. He was at last obliged, in consequence of it, to +take his departure, for nothing has more contributed to the emigration +of the troll-folk out of the country, than the increasing piety of the +people, and their taking to bell-ringing. The troll of Kund accordingly +quitted the country, and went over to Funen, where he lived for some +time in peace and quiet. Now it chanced that a man who had lately +settled in the town of Kund, coming to Funen on business, met this same +troll on the road.</p> + +<p>"Where do you live?" asked the troll.</p> + +<p>Now there was nothing whatever about the troll unlike a man, so he +answered him, as was the truth—</p> + +<p>"I am from the town of Kund."</p> + +<p>"So?" said the troll, "I don't know you then. And yet I think I know +every man in Kund. Will you, however," said he, "be so kind as to take a +letter for me back with you to Kund?"</p> + +<p>The man, of course, said he had no objection.</p> + +<p>The troll put a letter into his pocket and charged him strictly not to +take it out until he came to Kund church. Then he was to throw it over +the churchyard wall, and the person for whom it was intended would get +it.</p> + +<p>The troll then went away in great haste, and with him the letter went +entirely out of the man's mind. But when he was come back to Zealand he +sat down by the meadow where Tiis lake now is, and suddenly recollected +the troll's letter. He felt a great desire to look at it at least, so he +took it out of his pocket and sat a while with it in his hands, when +suddenly there began to dribble a little water out of the seal. The +letter now unfolded itself and the water came out faster and faster, and +it was with the utmost difficulty the poor man was able to save his +life, for the malicious troll had enclosed a whole lake in the letter.</p> + +<p>The troll, it is plain, had thought to avenge himself on Kund church by +destroying it in this manner, but God ordered it so that the lake +chanced to run out in the great meadow where it now stands.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THERE_ARE_SUCH_WOMEN"></a><h2>THERE ARE SUCH WOMEN.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they wanted to sow +their fields, but they had neither seed nor money to buy it with. +However, they had one cow, and so they decided that the man should drive +it to the town and sell it, so that they might buy seed with the money. +When the time came, however, the woman was afraid to let her husband +take the cow, fearing he would spend the money in drink. So she set off +herself with the cow, and took a hen with her also.</p> + +<p>When she was near the town she met a butcher, who said—</p> + +<p>"Do you want to sell the cow, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered she, "I do."</p> + +<p>"How much do you want for it?"</p> + +<p>"I want a mark for the cow, and you shall have the hen for sixty marks."</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I have no need of the hen. You can get rid of that +when you come to the town, but I will give you a mark for the cow."</p> + +<p>She sold him the cow and got the mark for it, but when she came to the +town she could find no one who would give her sixty marks for a tough +lean hen. So she went back to the butcher and said—</p> + +<p>"I cannot get this hen off, master, so you had better take it also with +the cow."</p> + +<p>"We will see about it," said the butcher. So he gave her something to +eat, and gave her so much brandy that she became tipsy and lost her +senses, and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>When he saw that, the butcher dipped her in a barrel of tar, and then +laid her on a heap of feathers.</p> + +<p>When she awoke she found herself feathered all over, and wondered at +herself.</p> + +<p>"Is it me or some one else?" said she. "No, it cannot be me. It must be +a strange bird. How shall I find out whether it is me or not? Oh, I +know. When I get home, if the calves lick me, and the dog does not bark +at me, then it is me myself."</p> + +<p>The dog had no sooner seen her than he began to bark, as if there were +thieves and robbers in the yard.</p> + +<p>"Now," said she, "I see it is not me."</p> + +<p>She went to the cow-house but the calves would not lick her, for they +smelt the strong tar.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, "I see it cannot be me. It must be some strange bird."</p> + +<p>So she crept up to the top of the barn, and began to flap her arms as if +they had been wings, and tried to fly. Her husband saw her, so he came +out with his gun and took aim.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot, don't shoot," called his wife. "It is me."</p> + +<p>"Is it you?" said the man. "Then don't stand there like a goat. Come +down and tell me what account you can give of yourself."</p> + +<p>She crept down again; but she had not a shilling, for she had lost the +mark the butcher had given her while she was drunk.</p> + +<p>When the man heard that he was very angry, and declared he would leave +her, and never come back again until he had found three women as big +fools as his wife.</p> + +<p>So he set off, and when he had gone a little way he saw a woman who ran +in and out of a newly built wood hut with an empty sieve. Every time she +ran in she threw her apron over the sieve, as if she had something in +it.</p> + +<p>"Why do you do that, mother?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Why, I am only carrying in a little sun," said she, "but I don't +understand how it is, when I am outside I get the sunshine in the sieve, +but when I get in I have somehow lost it. When I was in my old hut I had +plenty of sunshine, though I never carried it in. I wish I knew some one +who would give me sunshine. I would give him three hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"Have you an axe?" asked the man. "If so I will get you sunshine."</p> + +<p>She gave him an axe and he cut some windows in the hut, for the +carpenter had forgotten them. Then the sun shone in, and the woman gave +him three hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>"That's one," said the man, and he set out once more.</p> + +<p>Some time after he came to a house in which he heard a terrible noise +and bellowing. He went in and saw a woman who was beating her husband +across the head with a stick with all her might. Over the man's head +there was a shirt in which there was no hole for his head to go through.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said he, "will you kill your husband?"</p> + +<p>"No," said she, "I only want a hole for his head in the shirt."</p> + +<p>The man called out and, struggling, cried—</p> + +<p>"Heaven preserve and comfort all such as have new shirts! If any one +would only teach my wife some new way to make a head-hole in them I +would gladly give him three hundred dollars."</p> + +<p>"That shall soon be done. Give me a pair of scissors," said the other.</p> + +<p>The woman gave him the scissors, and he cut a hole in the shirt for the +man's head to go through, and took the three hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>"That is number two," said he to himself.</p> + +<p>After some time he came to a farm-house, where he thought he would rest +a while. When he went in the woman said—</p> + +<p>"Where do you come from, father?"</p> + +<p>"I am from Ringerige (Paradise)," said he.</p> + +<p>"Ah! dear, dear! Are you from Himmerige (Heaven)?" said she. "Then you +will know my second husband, Peter; happy may he be!"</p> + +<p>The woman had had three husbands. The first and third had been bad and +had used her ill, but the second had used her well, so she counted him +as safe.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the man, "I know him well."</p> + +<p>"How does he get on there?" asked the woman.</p> + +<p>"Only pretty well," said the man. "He goes about begging from one house +to another, and has but little food, or clothes on his back. As to money +he has nothing."</p> + +<p>"Heaven have mercy on him!" cried the woman. "He ought not to go about +in such a miserable state when he left so much behind. There is a +cupboard full of clothes which belonged to him, and there is a big box +full of money, too. If you will take the things with you, you can have a +horse and cart to carry them. He can keep the horse, and he can sit in +the cart as he goes from house to house, for so he ought to go."</p> + +<p>The man from Ringerige got a whole cart-load of clothes and a box full +of bright silver money, with meat and drink, as much as he wanted. When +he had got all he wished, he got into the cart, and once more set out.</p> + +<p>"That is the third," said he to himself.</p> + +<p>Now the woman's third husband was ploughing in a field, and when he saw +a man he did not know come out of his yard with his horse and cart, he +went home and asked his wife, who it was that was going off with the +black horse.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the woman, "that is a man from Himmerige (Heaven). He told me +that things went so miserably with my second Peter, my poor husband, +that he had to go begging from house to house and had no money or +clothes. I have therefore sent him the old clothes he left behind, and +the old money box with the money in it."</p> + +<p>The man saw how matters were, so he saddled a horse and went out of the +yard at full speed. It was not long before he came up to the man who sat +and drove the cart. When the other saw him he drove the horse and cart +into a wood, pulled a handful of hair out of the horse's tail, and ran +up a little hill, where he tied the hair fast to a birch-tree. Then he +lay down under the tree and began to look and stare at the sky.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said he, as if talking to himself, when Peter the third +came near. "Well! never before have I seen anything to match it."</p> + +<p>Peter stood still for a time and looked at him, and wondered what was +come to him. At last he said—</p> + +<p>"Why do you lie there and stare so?"</p> + +<p>"I never saw anything like it," said the other. "A man has gone up to +heaven on a black horse. Here in the birch-tree is some of the horse's +tail hanging, and there in the sky you may see the black horse."</p> + +<p>Peter stared first at the man and then at the sky, and said—</p> + +<p>"For my part, I see nothing but some hair out of a horse's tail in the +birch-tree."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the other, "you cannot see it where you stand, but come here +and lie down, and look up, and take care not to take your eyes off the +sky."</p> + +<p>Peter the third lay down and stared up at the sky till the tears ran +from his eyes. The man from Ringerige took his horse, mounted it, and +galloped away with it and the horse and cart. When he heard the noise +on the road, Peter the third sprang up, but when he found the man had +gone off with his horse he was so astonished that he did not think of +going after him till it was too late.</p> + +<p>He was very down-faced when he went home to his wife, and when she asked +him what he had done with the horse, he said—</p> + +<p>"I gave it to Peter the second, for I didn't think it was right he +should sit in a cart and jolt about from house to house in Himmerige. +Now then he can sell the cart, and buy himself a coach, and drive +about."</p> + +<p>"Heaven bless you for that," said the woman. "I never thought you were +so kind-hearted a man."</p> + +<p>When the Ringerige man reached home with his six hundred dollars, his +cart-load of clothes, and the money, he saw that all his fields were +ploughed and sown. The first question he put to his wife was how she had +got the seed.</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "I always heard that what a man sowed he reaped, so I +sowed the salt the North-people left here, and if we only have rain I +don't doubt but that it will come up nicely."</p> + +<p>"You are silly," said the man, "and silly you must remain, but that does +not much matter, for the others are as silly as yourself."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="TALES_OF_THE_NISSES"></a><h2>TALES OF THE NISSES.</h2> +<br> + +<p>The Nis is the same being that is called Kobold in Germany, and Brownie +in Scotland. He is in Denmark and Norway also called Nisse god Dreng +(Nissè good lad), and in Sweden, Tomtegubbe (the old man of the house).</p> + +<p>He is of the dwarf family, and resembles them in appearance, and, like +them, has the command of money, and the same dislike to noise and +tumult.</p> + +<p>His usual dress is grey, with a pointed red cap, but on Michaelmas-day +he wears a round hat like those of the peasants.</p> + +<p>No farm-house goes on well without there is a Nis in it, and well is it +for the maids and the men when they are in favour with him. They may go +to their beds and give themselves no trouble about their work, and yet +in the morning the maids will find the kitchen swept up, and water +brought in; and the men will find the horses in the stable well cleaned +and curried, and perhaps a supply of corn cribbed for them from the +neighbours' barns.</p> + +<p>There was a Nis in a house in Jutland. He every evening got his groute +at the regular time, and he, in return, used to help both the men and +the maids, and looked to the interest of the master of the house in +every respect.</p> + +<p>There came one time a mischievous boy to live at service in this house, +and his great delight was, whenever he got an opportunity, to give the +Nis all the annoyance in his power.</p> + +<p>Late one evening, when everything was quiet in the house, the Nis took +his little wooden dish, and was just going to eat his supper, when he +perceived that the boy had put the butter at the bottom and had +concealed it, in hopes that he might eat the groute first, and then find +the butter when all the groute was gone. He accordingly set about +thinking how he might repay the boy in kind. After pondering a little he +went up into the loft where a man and the boy were lying asleep in the +same bed. The Nis whisked off the bed clothes, and when he saw the +little boy by the tall man, he said—</p> + +<p>"Short and long don't match," and with this word he took the boy by the +legs and dragged him down to the man's feet. He then went up to the head +of the bed, and—</p> + +<p>"Short and long don't match," said he again, and then he dragged the boy +up to the man's head. Do what he would he could not succeed in making +the boy as long as the man, but persisted in dragging him up and down in +the bed, and continued at this work the whole night long till it was +broad daylight.</p> + +<p>By this time he was well tired, so he crept up on the window stool, and +sat with his legs dangling down into the yard. The house-dog—for all +dogs have a great enmity to the Nis—as soon as he saw him began to bark +at him, which afforded him much amusement, as the dog could not get up +to him. So he put down first one leg and then the other, and teased the +dog, saying—</p> + +<p>"Look at my little leg. Look at my little leg!"</p> + +<p>In the meantime the boy had awoke, and had stolen up behind him, and, +while the Nis was least thinking of it, and was going on with his, "Look +at my little leg," the boy tumbled him down into the yard to the dog, +crying out at the same time—</p> + +<p>"Look at the whole of him now!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>There lived a man in Thyrsting, in Jutland, who had a Nis in his barn. +This Nis used to attend to his cattle, and at night he would steal +fodder for them from the neighbours, so that this farmer had the best +fed and most thriving cattle in the country.</p> + +<p>One time the boy went along with the Nis to Fugleriis to steal corn. The +Nis took as much as he thought he could well carry, but the boy was more +covetous, and said—</p> + +<p>"Oh! take more. Sure, we can rest now and then!"</p> + +<p>"Rest!" said the Nis. "Rest! and what is rest?"</p> + +<p>"Do what I tell you," replied the boy. "Take more, and we shall find +rest when we get out of this."</p> + +<p>The Nis took more, and they went away with it, but when they came to the +lands of Thyrsting, the Nis grew tired, and then the boy said to him—</p> + +<p>"Here now is rest!" and they both sat down on the side of a little +hill.</p> + +<p>"If I had known," said the Nis, as they sat. "If I had known that rest +was so good, I'd have carried off all that was in the barn."</p> + +<p>It happened, some time after, that the boy and the Nis were no longer +friends, and as the Nis was sitting one day in the granary-window with +his legs hanging out into the yard, the boy ran at him and tumbled him +back into the granary. The Nis was revenged on him that very night, for +when the boy was gone to bed he stole down to where he was lying and +carried him as he was into the yard. Then he laid two pieces of wood +across the well and put him lying on them, expecting that when he awoke +he would fall, from the fright, into the well and be drowned. He was, +however, disappointed, for the boy came off without injury.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>There was a man who lived in the town of Tirup who had a very handsome +white mare. This mare had for many years belonged to the same family, +and there was a Nis attached to her who brought luck to the place.</p> + +<p>This Nis was so fond of the mare that he could hardly endure to let them +put her to any kind of work, and he used to come himself every night and +feed her of the best; and as for this purpose he usually brought a +superfluity of corn, both thrashed and in the straw, from the +neighbours' barns, all the rest of the cattle enjoyed the advantage, +and they were all kept in exceedingly good condition.</p> + +<p>It happened at last that the farm-house passed into the hands of a new +owner, who refused to put any faith in what they told him about the +mare, so the luck speedily left the place, and went after the mare to a +poor neighbour who had bought her. Within five days after his purchase, +the poor farmer began to find his circumstances gradually improving, +while the income of the other, day after day, fell away and diminished +at such a rate that he was hard set to make both ends meet.</p> + +<p>If now the man who had got the mare had only known how to be quiet and +enjoy the good times that were come upon him, he and his children and +his children's children after him would have been in flourishing +circumstances till this very day. But when he saw the quantity of corn +that came every night to his barn, he could not resist his desire to get +a sight of the Nis. So he concealed himself one evening at nightfall in +the stable, and as soon as it was midnight he saw how the Nis came from +his neighbour's barn and brought a sack full of corn with him. It was +now unavoidable that the Nis should get a sight of the man who was +watching, so he, with evident marks of grief, gave the mare her food for +the last time, cleaned and dressed her to the best of his ability, and +when he had done, turned round to where the man was lying, and bid him +farewell.</p> + +<p>From that day forward the circumstances of both the neighbours were on +an equality, for each now kept his own.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_DWARFS_BANQUET"></a><h2>THE DWARFS' BANQUET.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There lived in Norway, not far from the city of Drontheim, a powerful +man who was blessed with all the goods of fortune. A part of the +surrounding country was his property, numerous herds fed on his +pastures, and a great retinue and a crowd of servants adorned his +mansion. He had an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose beauty +spread far and wide. The greatest men of the country sought her, but all +were alike unsuccessful in their suit, and he who had come full of +confidence and joy, rode away home silent and melancholy. Her father, +who thought his daughter delayed her choice only to select, forbore to +interfere, and exulted in her prudence, but when at length the richest +and noblest tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he +grew angry and called his daughter, and said to her—</p> + +<p>"Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but since I see that you +reject all without any distinction, and the very best of your suitors +seems not good enough for you, I will keep measures no longer with you. +What! shall my family become extinct, and my inheritance pass away into +the hands of strangers? I will break your stubborn spirit. I give you +now till the festival of the great winter-night. Make your choice by +that time, or prepare to accept him whom I shall fix on."</p> + +<p>Aslog loved a youth named Orm, handsome as he was brave and noble. She +loved him with her whole soul, and she would sooner die than bestow her +hand on another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled him to serve in +the mansion of her father. Aslog's partiality for him was kept a secret, +for her father's pride of power and wealth was such that he would never +have given his consent to a union with so humble a man.</p> + +<p>When Aslog saw the darkness of his countenance, and heard his angry +words, she turned pale as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted +not that he would put his threats into execution. Without uttering a +word in reply, she retired to her chamber, and thought deeply but in +vain how to avert the dark storm that hung over her. The great festival +approached nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every day.</p> + +<p>At last the lovers resolved on flight.</p> + +<p>"I know," said Orm, "a secure place where we may remain undiscovered +until we find an opportunity of quitting the country."</p> + +<p>At night, when all were asleep, Orm led the trembling Aslog over the +snow and ice-fields away to the mountains. The moon and the stars, +sparkling still brighter in the cold winter's night, lighted them on +their way. They had under their arms a few articles of dress and some +skins of animals, which were all they could carry. They ascended the +mountains the whole night long till they reached a lonely spot enclosed +with lofty rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a cave, the +low and narrow entrance to which was hardly perceptible, but it soon +enlarged to a great hall, reaching deep into the mountain. He kindled a +fire, and they now, reposing on their skins, sat in the deepest solitude +far away from all the world.</p> + +<p>Orm was the first who had discovered this cave, which is shown to this +very day, and as no one knew anything of it, they were safe from the +pursuit of Aslog's father. They passed the whole winter in this +retirement. Orm used to go a-hunting, and Aslog stayed at home in the +cave, minded the fire, and prepared the necessary food. Frequently did +she mount the points of the rocks, but her eyes wandered as far as they +could reach only over glittering snow-fields.</p> + +<p>The spring now came on: the woods were green, the meadows pat on their +various colours, and Aslog could but rarely, and with circumspection, +venture to leave the cave. One evening Orm came in with the intelligence +that he had recognised her father's servants in the distance, and that +he could hardly have been unobserved by them whose eyes were as good as +his own.</p> + +<p>"They will surround this place," continued he, "and never rest till they +have found us. We must quit our retreat then without a minute's delay."</p> + +<p>They accordingly descended on the other side of the mountain, and +reached the strand, where they fortunately found a boat. Orm shoved off, +and the boat drove into the open sea. They had escaped their pursuers, +but they were now exposed to dangers of another kind. Whither should +they turn themselves? They could not venture to land, for Aslog's father +was lord of the whole coast, and they would infallibly fall into his +hands. Nothing then remained for them but to commit their bark to the +wind and waves. They drove along the entire night. At break of day the +coast had disappeared, and they saw nothing but the sky above, the sea +beneath, and the waves that rose and fell. They had not brought one +morsel of food with them, and thirst and hunger began now to torment +them. Three days did they toss about in this state of misery, and Aslog, +faint and exhausted, saw nothing but certain death before her.</p> + +<p>At length, on the evening of the third day, they discovered an island of +tolerable magnitude, and surrounded by a number of smaller ones. Orm +immediately steered for it, but just as he came near to it there +suddenly arose a violent wind, and the sea rolled higher and higher +against him. He turned about with a view of approaching it on another +side, but with no better success. His vessel, as often as he approached +the island, was driven back as if by an invisible power.</p> + +<p>"Lord God!" cried he, and blessed himself and looked on poor Aslog, who +seemed to be dying of weakness before his eyes.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the exclamation passed his lips when the storm ceased, the +waves subsided, and the vessel came to the shore without encountering +any hindrance. Orm jumped out on the beach. Some mussels that he found +upon the strand strengthened and revived the exhausted Aslog so that she +was soon able to leave the boat.</p> + +<p>The island was overgrown with low dwarf shrubs, and seemed to be +uninhabited; but when they had got about the middle of it, they +discovered a house reaching but a little above the ground, and appearing +to be half under the surface of the earth. In the hope of meeting human +beings and assistance, the wanderers approached it. They listened if +they could hear any noise, but the most perfect silence reigned there. +Orm at length opened the door, and with his companion walked in; but +what was their surprise to find everything regulated and arranged as if +for inhabitants, yet not a single living creature visible. The fire was +burning on the hearth in the middle of the room, and a kettle with fish +hung on it, apparently only waiting for some one to take it off and eat. +The beds were made and ready to receive their weary tenants. Orm and +Aslog stood for some time dubious, and looked on with a certain degree +of awe, but at last, overcome with hunger, they took up the food and +ate. When they had satisfied their appetites, and still in the last +beams of the setting sun, which now streamed over the island far and +wide, discovered no human being, they gave way to weariness, and laid +themselves in the beds to which they had been so long strangers.</p> + +<p>They had expected to be awakened in the night by the owners of the house +on their return home, but their expectation was not fulfilled. They +slept undisturbed till the morning sun shone in upon them. No one +appeared on any of the following days, and it seemed as if some +invisible power had made ready the house for their reception. They spent +the whole summer in perfect happiness. They were, to be sure, solitary, +yet they did not miss mankind. The wild birds' eggs and the fish they +caught yielded them provisions in abundance.</p> + +<p>When autumn came, Aslog presented Orm with a son. In the midst of their +joy at his appearance they were surprised by a wonderful apparition. The +door opened on a sudden, and an old woman stepped in. She had on her a +handsome blue dress. There was something proud, but at the same time +strange and surprising in her appearance.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid," said she, "at my unexpected appearance. I am the +owner of this house, and I thank you for the clean and neat state in +which you have kept it, and for the good order in which I find +everything with you. I would willingly have come sooner, but I had no +power to do so, till this little heathen (pointing to the new-born babe) +was come to the light. Now I have free access. Only, fetch no priest +from the mainland to christen it, or I must depart again. If you will in +this matter comply with my wishes, you may not only continue to live +here, but all the good that ever you can wish for I will cause you. +Whatever you take in hand shall prosper. Good luck shall follow you +wherever you go; but break this condition, and depend upon it that +misfortune after misfortune will come on you, and even on this child +will I avenge myself. If you want anything, or are in danger, you have +only to pronounce my name three times, and I will appear and lend you +assistance. I am of the race of the old giants, and my name is Guru. But +beware of uttering in my presence the name of him whom no giant may hear +of, and never venture to make the sign of the cross, or to cut it on +beam or on board of the house. You may dwell in this house the whole +year long, only be so good as to give it up to me on Yule evening, when +the sun is at the lowest, as then we celebrate our great festival, and +then only are we permitted to be merry. At least, if you should not be +willing to go out of the house, keep yourselves up in the loft as quiet +as possible the whole day long, and, as you value your lives, do not +look down into the room until midnight is past. After that you may take +possession of everything again."</p> + +<p>When the old woman had thus spoken she vanished, and Aslog and Orm, now +at ease respecting their situation, lived, without any disturbance, +content and happy. Orm never made a cast of his net without getting a +plentiful draught. He never shot an arrow from his bow that missed its +aim. In short, whatever they took in hand, were it ever so trifling, +evidently prospered.</p> + +<p>When Christmas came, they cleaned up the house in the best manner, set +everything in order, kindled a fire on the hearth, and, as the twilight +approached, they went up to the loft, where they remained quiet and +still. At length it grew dark. They thought they heard a sound of flying +and labouring in the air, such as the swans make in the winter-time. +There was a hole in the roof over the fire-place which might be opened +or shut either to let in the light from above or to afford a free +passage for the smoke. Orm lifted up the lid, which was covered with a +skin, and put out his head, but what a wonderful sight then presented +itself to his eyes! The little islands around were all lit up with +countless blue lights, which moved about without ceasing, jumped up and +down, then skipped down to the shore, assembled together, and now came +nearer and nearer to the large island where Orm and Aslog lived. At last +they reached it and arranged themselves in a circle around a large stone +not far from the shore, and which Orm well knew. What was his surprise +when he saw that the stone had now completely assumed the form of a man, +though of a monstrous and gigantic one! He could clearly perceive that +the little blue lights were borne by dwarfs, whose pale clay-coloured +faces, with their huge noses and red eyes, disfigured, too, by birds' +bills and owls' eyes, were supported by misshapen bodies. They tottered +and wobbled about here and there, so that they seemed to be, at the same +time, merry and in pain. Suddenly the circle opened, the little ones +retired on each side, and Guru, who was now much enlarged and of as +immense a size as the stone, advanced with gigantic steps. She threw +both her arms about the stone image, which immediately began to receive +life and motion. As soon as the first sign of motion showed itself the +little ones began, with wonderful capers and grimaces, a song, or, to +speak more properly, a howl, with which the whole island resounded and +seemed to tremble. Orm, quite terrified, drew in his head, and he and +Aslog remained in the dark, so still that they hardly ventured to draw +their breath.</p> + +<p>The procession moved on towards the house, as might be clearly perceived +by the nearer approach of the shouting and crying. They were now all +come in, and, light and active, the dwarfs jumped about on the benches, +and heavy and loud sounded, at intervals, the steps of the giants. Orm +and his wife heard them covering the table, and the clattering of the +plates, and the shouts of joy with which they celebrated their banquet. +When it was over, and it drew near to midnight, they began to dance to +that ravishing fairy air which charms the mind into such sweet +confusion, and which some have heard in the rocky glens, and learned by +listening to the underground musicians. As soon as Aslog caught the +sound of the air she felt an irresistible longing to see the dance, nor +was Orm able to keep her back.</p> + +<p>"Let me look," said she, "or my heart will burst."</p> + +<p>She took her child and placed herself at the extreme end of the loft +whence, without being observed, she could see all that passed. Long did +she gaze, without taking off her eyes for an instant, on the dance, on +the bold and wonderful springs of the little creatures who seemed to +float in the air and not so much as to touch the ground, while the +ravishing melody of the elves filled her whole soul. The child, +meanwhile, which lay in her arms, grew sleepy and drew its breath +heavily, and without ever thinking of the promise she had given to the +old woman, she made, as is usual, the sign of the cross over the mouth +of the child, and said—</p> + +<p>"Christ bless you, my babe!"</p> + +<p>The instant she had spoken the word there was raised a horrible, +piercing cry. The spirits tumbled head over heels out at the door, with +terrible crushing and crowding, their lights went out, and in a few +minutes the whole house was clear of them and left desolate. Orm and +Aslog, frightened to death, hid themselves in the most retired nook in +the house. They did not venture to stir till daybreak, and not till the +sun shone through the hole in the roof down on the fire-place did they +feel courage enough to descend from the loft.</p> + +<p>The table remained still covered as the underground people had left it. +All their vessels, which were of silver, and manufactured in the most +beautiful manner, were upon it. In the middle of the room there stood +upon the ground a huge copper kettle half-full of sweet mead, and, by +the side of it, a drinking-horn of pure gold. In the corner lay against +the wall a stringed instrument not unlike a dulcimer, which, as people +believe, the giantesses used to play on. They gazed on what was before +them full of admiration, but without venturing to lay their hands on +anything; but great and fearful was their amazement when, on turning +about, they saw sitting at the table an immense figure, which Orm +instantly recognised as the giant whom Guru had animated by her embrace. +He was now a cold and hard stone. While they were standing gazing on it, +Guru herself entered the room in her giant form. She wept so bitterly +that the tears trickled down on the ground. It was long ere her sobbing +permitted her to utter a single word. At length she spoke—</p> + +<p>"Great affliction have you brought on me, and henceforth must I weep +while I live. I know you have not done this with evil intentions, and +therefore I forgive you, though it were a trifle for me to crush the +whole house like an egg-shell over your heads."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried she, "my husband, whom I love more than myself, there he +sits petrified for ever. Never again will he open his eyes! Three +hundred years lived I with my father on the island of Kunnan, happy in +the innocence of youth, as the fairest among the giant maidens. Mighty +heroes sued for my hand. The sea around that island is still filled with +the rocky fragments which they hurled against each other in their +combats. Andfind won the victory, and I plighted myself to him; but ere +I was married came the detestable Odin into the country, who overcame +my father, and drove us all from the island. My father and sisters fled +to the mountains, and since that time my eyes have beheld them no more. +Andfind and I saved ourselves on this island, where we for a long time +lived in peace and quiet, and thought it would never be interrupted. +Destiny, which no one escapes, had determined it otherwise. Oluf came +from Britain. They called him the Holy, and Andfind instantly found that +his voyage would be inauspicious to the giants. When he heard how Oluf's +ship rushed through the waves, he went down to the strand and blew the +sea against him with all his strength. The waves swelled up like +mountains, but Oluf was still more mighty than he. His ship flew +unchecked through the billows like an arrow from a bow. He steered +direct for our island. When the ship was so near that Andfind thought he +could reach it with his hands, he grasped at the fore-part with his +right hand, and was about to drag it down to the bottom, as he had often +done with other ships. Then Oluf, the terrible Oluf, stepped forward, +and, crossing his hands over each other, he cried with a loud voice—"</p> + +<p>"'Stand there as a stone till the last day!' and in the same instant my +unhappy husband became a mass of rock. The ship went on unimpeded, and +ran direct against the mountain, which it cut through, separating from +it the little island which lies yonder."</p> + +<p>"Ever since my happiness has been annihilated, and lonely and +melancholy have I passed my life. On Yule eve alone can petrified giants +receive back their life, for the space of seven hours, if one of their +race embraces them, and is, at the same time, willing to sacrifice a +hundred years of his own life. Seldom does a giant do that. I loved my +husband too well not to bring him back cheerfully to life, every time +that I could do it, even at the highest price, and never would I reckon +how often I had done it that I might not know when the time came when I +myself should share his fate, and, at the moment I threw my arms around +him, become the same as he. Alas! now even this comfort is taken from +me. I can never more by any embrace awake him, since he has heard the +name which I dare not utter, and never again will he see the light till +the dawn of the last day shall bring it."</p> + +<p>"Now I go hence! You will never again behold me! All that is here in the +house I give you! My dulcimer alone will I keep. Let no one venture to +fix his habitation on the little islands which lie around here. There +dwell the little underground ones whom you saw at the festival, and I +will protect them as long as I live."</p> + +<p>With these words Guru vanished. The next spring Orm took the golden horn +and the silver ware to Drontheim where no one knew him. The value of the +things was so great that he was able to purchase everything a wealthy +man desires. He loaded his ship with his purchases, and returned to the +island, where he spent many years in unalloyed happiness, and Aslog's +father was soon reconciled to his wealthy son-in-law.</p> + +<p>The stone image remained sitting in the house. No human power was able +to move it. So hard was the stone that hammer and axe flew in pieces +without making the slightest impression upon it. The giant sat there +till a holy man came to the island, who, with one single word, removed +him back to his former station, where he stands to this hour. The copper +kettle, which the underground people left behind them, was preserved as +a memorial upon the island, which bears the name of House Island to the +present day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_ICELANDIC_SORCERESSES"></a><h2>THE ICELANDIC SORCERESSES.</h2> +<br> + +<p>"Tell me," said Katla, a handsome and lively widow, to Gunlaugar, an +accomplished and gallant young warrior, "tell me why thou goest so oft +to Mahfahlida? Is it to caress an old woman?"</p> + +<p>"Thine own age, Katla," answered the youth inconsiderately, "might +prevent thy making that of Geirrida a subject of reproach."</p> + +<p>"I little deemed," replied the offended matron, "that we were on an +equality in that particular—but thou, who supposest that Geirrida is +the sole source of knowledge, mayst find that there are others who equal +her in science."</p> + +<p>It happened in the course of the following winter that Gunlaugar, in +company with Oddo, the son of Katla, had renewed one of those visits to +Geirrida with which Katla had upbraided him.</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt not depart to-night," said the sage matron; "evil spirits +are abroad, and thy bad destiny predominates."</p> + +<p>"We are two in company," answered Gunlaugar, "and have therefore nothing +to fear."</p> + +<p>"Oddo," replied Geirrida, "will be of no aid to thee; but go, since +thou wilt go, and pay the penalty of thy own rashness."</p> + +<p>In their way they visited the rival matron, and Gunlaugar was invited to +remain in her house that night. This he declined, and, passing forward +alone, was next morning found lying before the gate of his father +Thorbiorn, severely wounded and deprived of his judgment. Various causes +were assigned for this disaster; but Oddo, asserting that they had +parted in anger that evening from Geirrida, insisted that his companion +must have sustained the injury through her sorcery. Geirrida was +accordingly cited to the popular assembly and accused of witchcraft. But +twelve witnesses, or compurgators, having asserted upon their oath the +innocence of the accused party, Geirrida was honourably freed from the +accusation brought against her. Her acquittal did not terminate the +rivalry between the two sorceresses, for, Geirrida belonging to the +family of Kiliakan, and Katla to that of the pontiff Snorro, the +animosity which still subsisted between these septs became awakened by +the quarrel.</p> + +<p>It chanced that Thorbiorn, called Digri (or the corpulent), one of the +family of Snorro, had some horses which fed in the mountain pastures, +near to those of Thorarin, called the Black, the son of the enchantress +Geirrida. But when autumn arrived, and the horses were to be withdrawn +from the mountains and housed for the winter, those of Thorbiorn could +nowhere be found, and Oddo, the son of Katla, being sent to consult a +wizard, brought back a dubious answer, which seemed to indicate that +they had been stolen by Thorarin. Thorbiorn, with Oddo and a party of +armed followers, immediately set forth for Mahfahlida, the dwelling of +Geirrida and her son Thorarin. Arrived before the gate, they demanded +permission to search for the horses which were missing. This Thorarin +refused, alleging that neither was the search demanded duly authorised +by law, nor were the proper witnesses cited to be present, nor did +Thorbiorn offer any sufficient pledge of security when claiming the +exercise of so hazardous a privilege. Thorbiorn replied, that as +Thorarin declined to permit a search, he must be held as admitting his +guilt; and constituting for that purpose a temporary court of justice, +by choosing out six judges, he formally accused Thorarin of theft before +the gate of his own house. At this the patience of Geirrida forsook her.</p> + +<p>"Well," said she to her son Thorarin, "is it said of thee that thou art +more a woman than a man, or thou wouldst not bear these intolerable +affronts."</p> + +<p>Thorarin, fired at the reproach, rushed forth with his servants and +guests; a skirmish soon disturbed the legal process which had been +instituted, and one or two of both parties were wounded and slain before +the wife of Thorarin and the female attendants could separate the fray +by flinging their mantles over the weapons of the combatants.</p> + +<p>Thorbiorn and his party retreating, Thorarin proceeded to examine the +field of battle. Alas! among the reliques of the fight was a bloody +hand too slight and fair to belong to any of the combatants. It was that +of his wife Ada, who had met this misfortune in her attempts to separate +the foes. Incensed to the uttermost, Thorarin threw aside his +constitutional moderation, and, mounting on horseback, with his allies +and followers, pursued the hostile party, and overtook them in a +hay-field, where they had halted to repose their horses, and to exult +over the damage they had done to Thorarin. At this moment he assailed +them with such fury that he slew Thorbiorn upon the spot, and killed +several of his attendants, although Oddo, the son of Katla, escaped free +from wounds, having been dressed by his mother in an invulnerable +garment. After this action, more blood being shed than usual in an +Icelandic engagement, Thorarin returned to Mahfahlida, and, being +questioned by his mother concerning the events of the skirmish, he +answered in the improvisatory and enigmatical poetry of his age and +country—</p> + + + +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"From me the foul reproach be far,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">With which a female waked the war,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">From me, who shunned not in the fray</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Through foemen fierce to hew my way</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Since meet it is the eagle's brood</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">On the fresh corpse should find their food);</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Then spared I not, in fighting field,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">With stalwart hand my sword to wield;</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And well may claim at Odin's shrine</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The praise that waits this deed of mine."</span><br> + +<p>To which effusion Geirrida answered—</p> + +<p>"Do these verses imply the death of Thorbiorn?"</p> + +<p>And Thorarin, alluding to the legal process which Thorbiorn had +instituted against him, resumed his song—</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Sharp bit the sword beneath the hood</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Of him whose zeal the cause pursued,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And ruddy flowed the stream of death,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ere the grim brand resumed the sheath;</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Now on the buckler of the slain</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The raven sits, his draught to drain,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">For gore-drenched is his visage bold,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">That hither came his courts to hold."</span><br> + +<p>As the consequence of this slaughter was likely to be a prosecution at +the instance of the pontiff Snorro, Thorarin had now recourse to his +allies and kindred, of whom the most powerful were Arnkill, his maternal +uncle, and Verimond, who readily premised their aid both in the field +and in the Comitia, or popular meeting, in spring, before which it was +to be presumed Snorro would indict Thorarin for the slaughter of his +kinsman. Arnkill could not, however, forbear asking his nephew how he +had so far lost his usual command of temper. He replied in verse—</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Till then, the master of my mood,</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Men called me gentle, mild, and good;</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">But yon fierce dame's sharp tongue might wake</span><br> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In wintry den the frozen snake."</span><br> + +<p>While Thorarin spent the winter with his uncle Arnkill, he received +information from his mother Geirrida that Oddo, son of her old rival +Katla, was the person who had cut off the hand of his wife Ada, and +that he gloried in the fact. Thorarin and Arnkill determined on instant +vengeance, and, travelling rapidly, surprised the house of Katla. The +undismayed sorceress, on hearing them approach, commanded her son to sit +close beside her, and when the assailants entered they only beheld +Katla, spinning coarse yarn from what seemed a large distaff, with her +female domestics seated around her.</p> + +<p>"My son," she said, "is absent on a journey;" and Thorarin and Arnkill, +having searched the house in vain, were obliged to depart with this +answer. They had not, however, gone far before the well-known skill of +Katla, in optical delusion occurred to them, and they resolved on a +second and stricter search. Upon their return they found Katla in the +outer apartment, who seemed to be shearing the hair of a tame kid, but +was in reality cutting the locks of her son Oddo. Entering the inner +room, they found the large distaff flung carelessly upon a bench. They +returned yet a third time, and a third delusion was prepared for them; +for Katla had given her son the appearance of a hog, which seemed to +grovel upon the heap of ashes. Arnkill now seized and split the distaff, +which he had at first suspected, upon which Kalta tauntingly observed, +that if their visits had been frequent that evening, they could not be +said to be altogether ineffectual, since they had destroyed a distaff. +They were accordingly returning completely baffled, when Geirrida met +them, and upbraided them with carelessness in searching for their enemy.</p> + +<p>"Return yet again," she said, "and I will accompany you."</p> + +<p>Katla's maidens, still upon the watch, announced to her the return of +the hostile party, their number augmented by one who wore a blue mantle.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" cried Katla, "it is the sorceress Geirrida, against whom spells +will be of no avail."</p> + +<p>Immediately rising from the raised and boarded seat which she occupied, +she concealed Oddo beneath it, and covered it with cushions as before, +on which she stretched herself complaining of indisposition. Upon the +entrance of the hostile party, Geirrida, without speaking a word, flung +aside her mantle, took out a piece of sealskin, in which she wrapped up +Katla's head, and commanded that she should be held by some of the +attendants, while the others broke open the boarded space, beneath which +Oddo lay concealed, seized upon him, bound him, and led him away captive +with his mother. Next morning Oddo was hanged, and Katla stoned to +death; but not until she had confessed that, through her sorcery, she +had occasioned the disaster of Gunlaugar, which first led the way to +these feuds.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_THREE_DOGS"></a><h2>THE THREE DOGS.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Once upon a time there was a king who travelled to a strange country, +where he married a queen. When they had been married some time the queen +had a daughter, which gave rise to much joy through the whole land, for +all people liked the king, he was so kind and just. As the child was +born there came an old woman into the room. She was of a strange +appearance, and nobody could guess where she came from, or to what place +she was going. This old woman declared that the royal child must not be +taken out under the sky until it was fifteen years old. If she was she +would be in danger of being carried away by the giants of the mountains.</p> + +<p>The king, when he was told what the woman had said, heeded her words, +and set a guard to see that the princess did not come out into the open +air.</p> + +<p>In a short time the queen bore another daughter, and there was again +much joy in the land. The old woman once more made her appearance, and +she said that the king must not let the young princess go out under the +sky before she was fifteen.</p> + +<p>The queen had a third daughter, and the third time the old woman came, +warning the king respecting this child as she had done regarding the two +former. The king was much distressed, for he loved his children more +than anything else in the world. So he gave strict orders that the three +princesses should be always kept indoors, and he commanded that every +one should respect his edict.</p> + +<p>A considerable time passed by, and the princesses grew up to be the most +beautiful girls that could be seen far or near. Then a war began, and +the king had to leave his home.</p> + +<p>One day, while he was away at the seat of war, the three princesses sat +at a window looking at how the sun shone on the flowers in the garden. +They felt that they would like very much to go and play among the +flowers, and they begged the guards to let them out for a little while +to walk in the garden. The guards refused, for they were afraid of the +king, but the girls begged of them so prettily and so earnestly that +they could not long refuse them, so they let them do as they wished. The +princesses were delighted, and ran out into the garden, but their +pleasure was short-lived. Scarcely had they got into the open air when a +cloud came down and carried them off, and no one could find them again, +though they searched the wide world over.</p> + +<p>The whole of the people mourned, and the king, as you may imagine, was +very much grieved when, on his return home, he learned what had +happened. However, there is an old saying, "What's done cannot be +undone," so the king had to let matters remain as they were. As no one +could advise him how to recover his daughters, the king caused +proclamation to be made throughout the land that whoever should bring +them back to him from the power of the mountain-giants should have one +of them for his wife, and half the kingdom as a wedding present. As soon +as this proclamation was made in the neighbouring countries many young +warriors went out, with servants and horses, to look for the three +princesses. There were at the king's court at that time two foreign +princes and they started off too, to see how fortunate they might be. +They put on fine armour, and took costly weapons, and they boasted of +what they would do, and how they would never come back until they had +accomplished their purpose.</p> + +<p>We will leave these two princes to wander here and there in their +search, and look at what was passing in another place. Deep down in the +heart of a wild wood there dwelt at that time an old woman who had an +only son, who used daily to attend to his mother's three hogs. As the +lad roamed through the forest, he one day cut a little pipe to play on. +He found much pleasure in the music, and he played so well that the +notes charmed all who heard him. The boy was well built, of an honest +heart, and feared nothing.</p> + +<p>One day it chanced that, as he was sitting in the wood playing on his +pipe, while his three hogs grubbed among the roots of the pine-trees, a +very old man came along. He had a beard so long that it reached to his +waist, and a large dog accompanied him. When the lad saw the dog he said +to himself—</p> + +<p>"I wish I had a dog like that as a companion here in the wood. Then +there would be no danger."</p> + +<p>The old man knew what the boy thought, and he said—</p> + +<p>"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs."</p> + +<p>The lad was ready to close the bargain, and gave a gray hog in exchange +for the big dog. As he was going the old man said—</p> + +<p>"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. His name is Hold-fast, and if you tell him to hold, hold he +will whatever it may be, were it even the fiercest giant."</p> + +<p>Then he departed, and the lad thought that for once, at all events, +fortune had been kind to him.</p> + +<p>When evening had come, the lad called his dog, and drove the hogs to his +home in the forest. When the old woman learnt how her son had given away +the gray hog for a dog, she flew into a great rage, and gave him a good +beating. The lad begged her to be quiet, but it was of no use, for she +only seemed to get the more angry. When the boy saw that it was no good +pleading, he called to the dog—</p> + +<p>"Hold fast."</p> + +<p>The dog at once rushed forward, and, seizing the old woman, held her so +firmly that she could not move; but he did her no harm. The old woman +now had to promise that she would agree to what her son had done; but +she could not help thinking that she had suffered a great misfortune in +losing her fat gray hog.</p> + +<p>The next day the boy went once more to the forest with his dog and the +two hogs. When he arrived there he sat down and played upon his pipe as +usual, and the dog danced to the music in such a wonderful manner that +it was quite amazing. While he thus sat, the old man with the gray beard +came up to him out of the forest. He was accompanied by a dog as large +as the former one. When the boy saw the fine animal, he said to +himself—</p> + +<p>"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger."</p> + +<p>The old man knew what he thought, and said—</p> + +<p>"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs."</p> + +<p>The boy did not hesitate long, but agreed to the bargain. He got the big +dog, and the man took the hog in exchange. As he went, the old man +said—</p> + +<p>"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Tear, and if you tell him to tear, tear he will +in pieces whatever it be, even the fiercest mountain giant."</p> + +<p>Then he departed, and the boy was glad at heart, thinking he had made a +good bargain, though he well knew his old mother would not be much +pleased at it.</p> + +<p>Towards evening he went home, and his mother was not a bit less angry +than she had been on the previous day. She dared not beat her son, +however, for his big dogs made her afraid. It usually happens that when +women have scolded enough they at last give in. So it was now. The boy +and his mother became friends once more; but the old woman thought she +had sustained such a loss as could never again be made good.</p> + +<p>The boy went to the forest again with the hog and the two dogs. He was +very happy, and, sitting down on the trunk of a tree he played, as +usual, on his pipe; and the dogs danced in such fine fashion that it was +a treat to look at them. While the boy thus sat amusing himself, the old +man with the gray beard again appeared out of the forest. He had with +him a third dog as large as either of the others. When the boy saw it, +he said to himself—</p> + +<p>"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger."</p> + +<p>The old man said—</p> + +<p>"I came because I wished you to see my dog, for I well know you would +like to have him."</p> + +<p>The lad was ready enough, and the bargain was made. So he got the big +dog, giving his last hog for it. The old man then departed, saying—</p> + +<p>"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Quick-ear, and so quick does he hear, that he +knows all that takes place, be it ever so many miles away. Why, he hears +even the trees and the grass growing in the fields!"</p> + +<p>Then the old man went off, and the lad felt very happy, for he thought +he had nothing now to be afraid of.</p> + +<p>As evening came on the boy went home, and his mother was sorely grieved +when she found her son had parted with her all; but he told her to bid +farewell to sorrow, saying that he would see she had no loss. The lad +spoke so well that the old woman was quite pleased. At daybreak the lad +went out a-hunting with his two dogs, and in the evening he came back +with as much game as he could carry. He hunted till his mother's larder +was well stocked, then he bade her farewell, telling her he was going to +travel to see what fortune had in store for him, and called his dogs to +him.</p> + +<p>He travelled on over hills, and along gloomy roads, till he got deep in +a dark forest. There the old man with the gray beard met him. The lad +was very glad to fall in with him again, and said to him—</p> + +<p>"Good-day, father. I thank you for our last meeting."</p> + +<p>"Good-day," answered the old man. "Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"I am going into the world," said the boy, "to see what fortune I shall +have."</p> + +<p>"Go on," said the old man, "and you will come to a royal palace; there +you will have a change of fortune."</p> + +<p>With that they parted; but the lad paid good heed to the old man's +words, and kept on his way. When he came to a house, he played on his +pipe while his dogs danced, and so he got food and shelter, and whatever +he wanted.</p> + +<p>Having travelled for some days, he at last entered a large city, +through the streets of which great crowds of people were passing. The +lad wondered what was the cause of all this. At last he came to where +proclamation was being made, that whoever should rescue the three +princesses from the hands of the mountain giants should have one of them +for his wife and half the kingdom with her. Then the lad remembered what +the old man had told him, and understood what he meant. He called his +dogs to him, and went on till he came to the palace. There, from the +time that the princesses disappeared, the place had been filled with +sorrow and mourning, and the king and the queen grieved more than all +the others. The boy entered the palace, and begged to be allowed to play +to the king and show him his dogs. The people of the palace were much +pleased at this, for they thought it might do something to make the king +forget his grief. So they let him go in and show what he could do. When +the king heard how he played, and saw how wonderfully his dogs danced, +he was so merry that no one had seen him so during the seven long years +that had passed since he lost his daughters. When the dancing was +finished, the king asked the boy what he should give him as a return for +the amusement he had given them.</p> + +<p>"My lord king," said the boy, "I am not come here for silver, goods, or +gold! I ask one thing of you, that you will give me leave to go and seek +the three princesses who are now in the hands of the mountain giants." +When the king heard this he knit his brow—"So you think," said he, +"that you can restore my daughters. The task is a dangerous one, and men +who were better than you have suffered in it. If, however, any one save +the princesses I will never break my word."</p> + +<p>The lad thought these words kingly and honest. He bade farewell to the +king and set out, determined that he would not rest till he had found +what he wanted.</p> + +<p>He travelled through many great countries without any extraordinary +adventure, and wherever he went his dogs went with him. Quick-ear ran +and heard what there was to hear in the place; Hold-fast carried the +bag; and on Tear, who was the strongest of the three, the lad rode when +he was tired. One day Quick-ear came running fast to his master to tell +him that he had been near a high mountain, and had heard one of the +princesses spinning within it. The giant, Quick-ear said, was not at +home. At this the boy felt very glad, and he made haste to the mountain +with his dogs. When they were come to it, Quick-ear said—</p> + +<p>"We have no time to lose. The giant is only ten miles away, and I can +hear his horse's golden shoes beating on the stones."</p> + +<p>The lad at once ordered his dogs to break in the door of the mountain, +which they did. He entered, and saw a beautiful maiden who sat spinning +gold thread on a spindle of gold. He stepped forward and spoke to her. +She was much astonished, and said—"Who are you, that dare to come into +the giant's hall? For seven long years have I lived here, and never +during that time have I looked on a human being. Run away, for Heaven's +sake, before the giant comes, or you will lose your life."</p> + +<p>The boy told her his errand, and said he would await the troll's coming. +While they were talking, the giant came, riding on his gold-shod horse, +and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw that the door was open he +was very angry, and called out, in such a voice that the whole mountain +shook to its base, "Who has broken open my door?" The boy boldly +answered—</p> + +<p>"I did it, and now I will break you too. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear +and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!"</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken the words when the three dogs rushed forward, threw +themselves on the giant, and tore him into numberless pieces. The +princess was very glad, and said—</p> + +<p>"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free." She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. The lad would not stop in the place, so he saddled the +giant's horses, put on them all the goods and gold he found, and set off +with the beautiful young princess. They travelled together for a long +time, the lad waiting on the maiden with that respect and attention that +such a noble lady deserved.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who had gone before to obtain news, +came running fast to his master and informed him that he had been to a +high mountain, and had heard another of the king's daughters sitting +within it spinning gold thread. The giant, he said, was not at home. The +lad was well pleased to hear this, and hastened to the mountain with his +three dogs. When they arrived there, Quick-ear said—</p> + +<p>"We have no time to waste. The giant is but eight miles off. I can hear +the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the stones!"</p> + +<p>The lad ordered the dogs to break in the door, and when they had done so +he entered and found a beautiful maiden sitting in the hall, winding +gold thread. The lad stepped forward and spoke to her. She was much +surprised, and said—</p> + +<p>"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's dwelling? Seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. Run away, for Heaven's sake, before the giant comes, or you +will lose your life."</p> + +<p>The lad told her why he had come, and said he would wait for the giant's +return home.</p> + +<p>In the midst of their talk the giant came, riding on his gold-shod +horse, and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw the door was open +he was in a great rage, and called out with such a voice that the +mountain shook to its base.</p> + +<p>"Who," said he, "has broken open my door?" The lad answered boldly—</p> + +<p>"I did it, and now I will break you. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear and +Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!" The dogs straightway sprang +forward and threw themselves on the giant, and tore him into pieces as +numberless as are the leaves which fall in the autumn. Then the princess +was very glad, and said—</p> + +<p>"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free!" She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. He led her to her sister, and one can well imagine how +glad they were to meet. The lad took all the treasures that the giant's +dwelling contained, put them on the gold-shod horses, and set out with +the two princesses.</p> + +<p>They again travelled a great distance, and the youth waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who went before to get news, came +running fast to his master, and told him he had been near a high +mountain, and had heard the third princess sitting within, spinning +cloth of gold. The giant himself was not in. The youth was well pleased +to hear this, and he hurried to the mountain accompanied by his dogs. +When they came there, Quick-ear said—</p> + +<p>"There is no time to be lost. The giant is not more than five miles off. +I well know it. I hear the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the +stones."</p> + +<p>The lad told his dogs to break in the door, and they did so. When he +entered the mountain he saw there a maiden, sitting and weaving cloth of +gold. She was so beautiful that the lad thought another such could not +be found in the world. He advanced and spoke to her. The young princess +was much astonished, and said—</p> + +<p>"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's hall? For seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. For Heaven's sake," added she, "run away before the giant +comes, or he will kill you!"</p> + +<p>The lad, however, was brave, and said that he would lay down his life +for the beautiful princess.</p> + +<p>In the middle of their talk home came the giant, riding on his horse +with the golden shoes, and stopped at the mountain. When he came in and +saw what unwelcome visitors were there he was very much afraid, for he +knew what had happened to his brethren. He thought it best to be careful +and cunning, for he dared not act openly. He began therefore with fine +words, and was very smooth and amiable. He told the princess to dress +meat, so that he might entertain the guest, and behaved in such a +friendly manner that the lad was perfectly deceived, and forgot to be on +his guard. He sat down at the table with the giant. The princess wept in +secret, and the dogs were very uneasy, but no one noticed it.</p> + +<p>When the giant and his guest had finished the meal, the youth said—</p> + +<p>"I am no longer hungry. Give me something to drink."</p> + +<p>"There is," said the giant, "a spring up in the mountain which runs with +sparkling wine, but I have no one to fetch of it."</p> + +<p>"If that is all," said the lad, "one of my dogs can go up there."</p> + +<p>The giant laughed in his false heart when he heard that, for what he +wanted was that the lad should send away his dogs. The lad told +Hold-fast to go for the wine, and the giant gave him a large jug. The +dog went, but one might see that he did so very unwillingly.</p> + +<p>Time went on and on, but the dog did not come back. After some time the +giant said—</p> + +<p>"I wonder why the dog is so long away. It might, perhaps, be as well to +let another dog go to help him. He has to go a long distance, and the +jug is a heavy one to carry."</p> + +<p>The lad, suspecting no trickery, fell in with the giant's suggestion, +and told Tear to go and see why Hold-fast did not come. The dog wagged +his tail and did not want to leave his master, but he noticed it, and +drove him off to the spring. The giant laughed to himself, and the +princess wept, but the lad did not mark it, being very merry, jested +with his entertainer, and did not dream of any danger.</p> + +<p>A long time passed, but neither the wine nor the dogs appeared.</p> + +<p>"I can well see," said the giant, "that your dogs do not do what you +tell them, or we should not sit here thirsty. It seems to me it would be +best to send Quick-ear to ascertain why they don't come back."</p> + +<p>The lad was nettled at that, and ordered his third dog to go in haste to +the spring. Quick-ear did not want to go, but whined and crept to his +master's feet. Then the lad became angry, and drove him away. The dog +had to obey, so away he set in great haste to the top of the mountain. +When he reached it, it happened to him as it had to the others. There +arose a high wall around him, and he was made a prisoner by the giant's +sorcery.</p> + +<p>When all the three dogs were gone, the giant stood up, put on a +different look, and gripped his bright sword which hung upon the wall.</p> + +<p>"Now will I avenge my brethren," said he, "and you shall die this +instant, for you are in my hands."</p> + +<p>The lad was frightened, and repented that he had parted with his dogs.</p> + +<p>"I will not ask my life," said he, "for I must die some day. I only ask +one thing, that I may say my <i>Paternoster</i> and play a psalm on my +pipe. That is the custom in my country."</p> + +<p>The giant granted him his wish, but said he would not wait long. The lad +knelt down, and devoutly said his <i>Paternoster</i>, and began to play +upon his pipe so that it was heard over hill and dale. That instant the +magic lost its power, and the dogs were once more set free. They came +down like a blast of wind, and rushed into the mountain. Then the lad +sprang up and cried—</p> + +<p>"Hold-fast, hold him; Tear and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand +pieces."</p> + +<p>The dogs flew on the giant, and tore him into countless shreds. Then the +lad took all the treasures in the mountain, harnessed the giant's +horses to a golden chariot, and made haste to be gone.</p> + +<p>As may well be imagined, the young princesses were very glad at being +thus saved, and they thanked the lad for having delivered them from the +power of mountain giants. He himself fell deep in love with the youngest +princess, and they vowed to be true and faithful. So they travelled, +with mirth and jest and great gladness, and the lad waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved. As they went on, the +princesses played with the lad's hair, and each one hung her finger-ring +in his long locks as a keepsake.</p> + +<p>One day as they were journeying, they came up with two wanderers who +were going the same way. They had on tattered clothes, their feet were +sore, and altogether one would have thought they had come a long +distance. The lad stopped his chariot and asked them who they were and +where they came from. The strangers said they were two princes who had +gone out to look for the three maidens who had been carried off to the +mountains. They had, however, searched in vain, so they had now to go +home more like beggars than princes.</p> + +<p>When the lad heard that, he had pity on the two wanderers, and he asked +them to go with him in the beautiful chariot. The princes gave him many +thanks for the favour. So they travelled on together till they came to +the land over which the father of the princesses ruled.</p> + +<p>Now when the princes heard how the poor lad had rescued the princesses, +they were filled with envy, thinking how they themselves had wandered to +no purpose. They considered how they could get rid of him, and obtain +the honour and rewards for themselves. So one day they suddenly set on +him, seized him by the throat, and nearly strangled him. Then they +threatened to kill the princesses unless they took an oath not to reveal +what they had done, and they, being in the princes' power, did not dare +to refuse. However, they were very sorry for the youth who had risked +his life for them, and the youngest princess mourned him with all her +heart, and would not be comforted.</p> + +<p>After having done this, the princes went on to the king's demesnes, and +one can well imagine how glad the king was to once more see his three +daughters.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the poor lad lay in the forest as if he were dead. He was not, +however, forsaken, for the three dogs lay down by him, kept him warm, +and licked his wounds. They attended to him till he got his breath +again, and came once more to life. When he had regained life and +strength, he began his journey, and came, after having endured many +hardships, to the king's demesnes, where the princesses lived.</p> + +<p>When he went into the palace, he marked that the whole place was filled +with mirth and joy, and in the royal hall he heard dancing and the sound +of harps. The lad was much astonished, and asked what it all meant.</p> + +<p>"You have surely come from a distance," said the servant, "not to know +that the king has got back his daughters from the mountain giants. The +two elder princesses are married to-day."</p> + +<p>The lad asked about the youngest princess, whether she was to be +married. The servant said she would have no one, but wept continually, +and no one could find out the reason for her sorrow. Then the lad was +glad, for he well knew that his love was faithful and true to him.</p> + +<p>He went up into the guard-room, and sent a message to the king that a +guest had come who prayed that he might add to the wedding mirth by +exhibiting his dogs. The king was pleased, and ordered that the stranger +should be well received. When the lad came into the hall, the wedding +guests much admired his smartness and his manly form, and they all +thought they had never before seen so brave a young man. When the three +princesses saw him they knew him at once, rose from the table, and ran +into his arms. Then the princes thought they had better not stay there, +for the princesses told how the lad had saved them, and how all had +befallen. As a proof of the truth of what they said, they showed their +rings in the lad's hair.</p> + +<p>When the king knew how the two foreign princes had acted so +treacherously and basely he was much enraged, and ordered that they +should be driven off his demesnes with disgrace.</p> + +<p>The brave youth was welcomed with great honour, as, indeed, he deserved, +and he was, the same day, married to the youngest princess. When the +king died, the youth was chosen ruler over the land, and made a brave +king. There he yet lives with his beautiful queen, and there he governs +prosperously to this day.</p> + +<p>I know no more about him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_LEGEND_OF_THORGUNNA"></a><h2>THE LEGEND OF THORGUNNA.</h2> +<br> + +<p>A ship from Iceland chanced to winter in a haven near Helgafels. Among +the passengers was a woman named Thorgunna, a native of the Hebrides, +who was reported by the sailors to possess garments and household +furniture of a fashion far surpassing those used in Iceland. Thurida, +sister of the pontiff Snorro, and wife of Thorodd, a woman of a vain and +covetous disposition, attracted by these reports, made a visit to the +stranger, but could not prevail upon her to display her treasures. +Persisting, however, in her inquiries, she pressed Thorgunna to take up +her abode at the house of Thorodd. The Hebridean reluctantly assented, +but added, that as she could labour at every usual kind of domestic +industry, she trusted in that manner to discharge the obligation she +might lie under to the family, without giving any part of her property +in recompense of her lodging. As Thurida continued to urge her request, +Thorgunna accompanied her to Froda, the house of Thorodd, where the +seamen deposited a huge chest and cabinet, containing the property of +her new guest, which Thurida viewed with curious and covetous eyes. So +soon as they had pointed out to Thorgunna the place assigned for her +bed, she opened the chest, and took forth such an embroidered bed +coverlid, and such a splendid and complete set of tapestry hangings, and +bed furniture of English linen, interwoven with silk, as had never been +seen in Iceland.</p> + +<p>"Sell to me," said the covetous matron, "this fair bed furniture."</p> + +<p>"Believe me," answered Thorgunna, "I will not lie upon straw in order to +feed thy pomp and vanity;" an answer which so greatly displeased Thurida +that she never again repeated her request. Thorgunna, to whose character +subsequent events added something of a mystical solemnity, is described +as being a woman of a tall and stately appearance, of a dark complexion, +and having a profusion of black hair. She was advanced in age; assiduous +in the labours of the field and of the loom; a faithful attendant upon +divine worship; grave, silent, and solemn in domestic society. She had +little intercourse with the household of Thorodd, and showed particular +dislike to two of its inmates. These were Thorer, who, having lost a leg +in the skirmish between Thorbiorn and Thorarin the Black, was called +Thorer-Widlegr (wooden-leg), from the substitute he had adopted; and his +wife, Thorgrima, called Galldra-Kinna (wicked sorceress), from her +supposed skill in enchantments. Kiartan, the son of Thurida, a boy of +excellent promise, was the only person of the household to whom +Thorgunna showed much affection; and she was much vexed at times when +the childish petulance of the boy made an indifferent return to her +kindness.</p> + +<p>After this mysterious stranger had dwelt at Froda for some time, and +while she was labouring in the hay-field with other members of the +family, a sudden cloud from the northern mountain led Thorodd to +anticipate a heavy shower. He instantly commanded the hay-workers to +pile up in ricks the quantity which each had been engaged in turning to +the wind. It was afterwards remembered that Thorgunna did not pile up +her portion, but left it spread on the field. The cloud approached with +great celerity, and sank so heavily around the farm, that it was scarce +possible to see beyond the limits of the field. A heavy shower next +descended, and so soon as the clouds broke away and the sun shone forth +it was observed that it had rained blood. That which fell upon the ricks +of the other labourers soon dried up, but what Thorgunna had wrought +upon remained wet with gore. The unfortunate Hebridean, appalled at the +omen, betook herself to her bed, and was seized with a mortal illness. +On the approach of death she summoned Thorodd, her landlord, and +intrusted to him the disposition of her property and effects.</p> + +<p>"Let my body," said she, "be transported to Skalholt, for my mind +presages that in that place shall be founded the most distinguished +church in this island. Let my golden ring be given to the priests who +shall celebrate my obsequies, and do thou indemnify thyself for the +funeral charges out of my remaining effects. To thy wife I bequeath my +purple mantle, in order that, by this sacrifice to her avarice, I may +secure the right of disposing of the rest of my effects at my own +pleasure. But for my bed, with its coverings, hangings, and furniture, I +entreat they may be all consigned to the flames. I do not desire this +because I envy any one the possession of these things after my death, +but because I wish those evils to be avoided which I plainly foresee +will happen if my will be altered in the slightest particular."</p> + +<p>Thorodd promised faithfully to execute this extraordinary testament in +the most exact manner. Accordingly, so soon as Thorgunna was dead, her +faithful executor prepared a pile for burning her splendid bed. Thurida +entered, and learned with anger and astonishment the purpose of these +preparations. To the remonstrances of her husband she answered that the +menaces of future danger were only caused by Thorgunna's selfish envy, +who did not wish any one should enjoy her treasures after her decease. +Then, finding Thorodd inaccessible to argument, she had recourse to +caresses and blandishments, and at length extorted permission to +separate from the rest of the bed-furniture the tapestried curtains and +coverlid; the rest was consigned to the flames, in obedience to the will +of the testator. The body of Thorgunna, being wrapped in new linen and +placed in a coffin, was next to be transported through the precipices +and morasses of Iceland to the distant district she had assigned for her +place of sepulture. A remarkable incident occurred on the way. The +transporters of the body arrived at evening, late, weary, and drenched +with rain, in a house called Nether-Ness, where the niggard hospitality +of the proprietor only afforded them house-room, without any supply of +food or fuel. But, so soon as they entered, an unwonted noise was heard +in the kitchen of the mansion, and the figure of a woman, soon +recognised to be the deceased Thorgunna, was seen busily employed in +preparing victuals. Their inhospitable landlord, being made acquainted +with this frightful circumstance, readily agreed to supply every +refreshment which was necessary, on which the vision instantly +disappeared. The apparition having become public, they had no reason to +ask twice for hospitality as they proceeded on their journey, and they +came to Skalholt, where Thorgunna, with all due ceremonies of religion, +was deposited quietly in the grave. But the consequences of the breach +of her testament were felt severely at Froda.</p> + +<p>The dwelling at Froda was a simple and patriarchal structure, built +according to the fashion used by the wealthy among the Icelanders. The +apartments were very large, and a part boarded off contained the beds of +the family. On either side was a sort of store-room, one of which +contained meal, the other dried fish. Every evening large fires were +lighted in this apartment for dressing the victuals; and the domestics +of the family usually sat around them for a considerable time, until +supper was prepared. On the night when the conductors of Thorgunna's +funeral returned to Froda, there appeared, visible to all who were +present, a meteor, or spectral appearance, resembling a half-moon, which +glided around the boarded walls of the mansion in an opposite direction +to the course of the sun, and continued to perform its revolutions until +the domestics retired to rest. This apparition was renewed every night +during a whole week, and was pronounced by Thorer with the wooden leg to +presage pestilence or mortality. Shortly after a herdsman showed signs +of mental alienation, and gave various indications of having sustained +the persecution of evil demons. This man was found dead in his bed one +morning, and then commenced a scene of ghost-seeing unheard of in the +annals of superstition. The first victim was Thorer, who had presaged +the calamity. Going out of doors one evening, he was grappled by the +spectre of the deceased shepherd as he attempted to re-enter the house. +His wooden leg stood him in poor stead in such an encounter; he was +hurled to the earth, and so fearfully beaten, that he died in +consequence of the bruises. Thorer was no sooner dead than his ghost +associated itself to that of the herdsman, and joined him in pursuing +and assaulting the inhabitants of Froda. Meantime an infectious disorder +spread fast among them, and several of the bondsmen died one after the +other. Strange portents were seen within-doors, the meal was displaced +and mingled, and the dried fish flung about in a most alarming manner, +without any visible agent. At length, while the servants were forming +their evening circle round the fire, a spectre, resembling the head of a +seal-fish, was seen to emerge out of the pavement of the room, bending +its round black eyes full on the tapestried bed-curtains of Thorgunna. +Some of the domestics ventured to strike at this figure, but, far from +giving way, it rather erected itself further from the floor, until +Kiartan, who seemed to have a natural predominance over these +supernatural prodigies, seizing a huge forge-hammer, struck the seal +repeatedly on the head, and compelled it to disappear, forcing it down +into the floor, as if he had driven a stake into the earth. This prodigy +was found to intimate a new calamity. Thorodd, the master of the family, +had some time before set forth on a voyage to bring home a cargo of +dried fish; but in crossing the river Enna the skiff was lost and he +perished with the servants who attended him. A solemn funeral feast was +held at Froda, in memory of the deceased, when, to the astonishment of +the guests, the apparition of Thorodd and his followers seemed to enter +the apartment dripping with water. Yet this vision excited less horror +than might have been expected, for the Icelanders, though nominally +Christians, retained, among other pagan superstitions, a belief that the +spectres of such drowned persons as had been favourably received by the +goddess Rana were wont to show themselves at their funeral feast. They +saw, therefore, with some composure, Thorodd and his dripping attendants +plant themselves by the fire, from which all mortal guests retreated to +make room for them. It was supposed this apparition would not be +renewed after the conclusion of the festival. But so far were their +hopes disappointed, that, so soon as the mourning guests had departed, +the fires being lighted, Thorodd and his comrades marched in on one +side, drenched as before with water; on the other entered Thorer, +heading all those who had died in the pestilence, and who appeared +covered with dust. Both parties seized the seats by the fire, while the +half-frozen and terrified domestics spent the night without either light +or warmth. The same phenomenon took place the next night, though the +fires had been lighted in a separate house, and at length Kiartan was +obliged to compound matters with the spectres by kindling a large fire +for them in the principal apartment, and one for the family and +domestics in a separate hut. This prodigy continued during the whole +feast of Jol. Other portents also happened to appal this devoted family: +the contagious disease again broke forth, and when any one fell a +sacrifice to it his spectre was sure to join the troop of persecutors, +who had now almost full possession of the mansion of Froda. Thorgrima +Galldrakinna, wife of Thorer, was one of these victims, and, in short, +of thirty servants belonging to the household, eighteen died, and five +fled for fear of the apparitions, so that only seven remained in the +service of Kiartan.</p> + +<p>Kiartan had now recourse to the advice of his maternal uncle Snorro, in +consequence of whose counsel, which will perhaps appear surprising to +the reader, judicial measures were instituted against the spectres. A +Christian priest was, however, associated with Thordo Kausa, son of +Snorro, and with Kiartan, to superintend and sanctify the proceedings. +The inhabitants were regularly summoned to attend upon the inquest, as +in a cause between man and man, and the assembly was constituted before +the gate of the mansion, just as the spectres had assumed their wonted +station by the fire. Kiartan boldly ventured to approach them, and, +snatching a brand from the fire, he commanded the tapestry belonging to +Thorgunna to be carried out of doors, set fire to it, and reduced it to +ashes with all the other ornaments of her bed, which had been so +inconsiderately preserved at the request of Thurida. A tribunal being +then constituted with the usual legal solemnities, a charge was +preferred by Kiartan against Thorer with the wooden leg, by Thordo Kausa +against Thorodd, and by others chosen as accusers against the individual +spectres present, accusing them of molesting the mansion, and +introducing death and disease among its inhabitants. All the solemn +rites of judicial procedure were observed on this singular occasion; +evidence was adduced, charges given, and the cause formally decided. It +does not appear that the ghosts put themselves on their defence, so that +sentence of ejectment was pronounced against them individually in due +and legal form. When Thorer heard the judgment, he arose, and saying—</p> + +<p>"I have sat while it was lawful for me to do so," left the apartment by +the door opposite to that at which the judicial assembly was +constituted. Each of the spectres, as it heard its individual sentence, +left the place, saying something which indicated its unwillingness to +depart, until Thorodd himself was solemnly called on to leave.</p> + +<p>"We have here no longer," said he, "a peaceful dwelling, therefore will +we remove."</p> + +<p>Kiartan then entered the hall with his followers, and the priest, with +holy water, and celebration of a solemn mass, completed the conquest +over the goblins, which had been commenced by the power and authority of +the Icelandic law.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_LITTLE_GLASS_SHOE"></a><h2>THE LITTLE GLASS SHOE.</h2> +<br> + +<p>A peasant, named John Wilde, who lived in Rodenkirchen, found, one time, +a little glass shoe on one of the hills, where the little people used to +dance. He clapped it instantly in his pocket, and ran away with it, +keeping his hand as close on his pocket as if he had a dove in it, for +he knew he had found a treasure which the underground people must redeem +at any price.</p> + +<p>Others say that John Wilde lay in ambush one night for the underground +people, and snatched an opportunity to pull off one of their shoes by +stretching himself there with a brandy bottle beside him, and acting +like one that was dead drunk, for he was a very cunning man, not over +scrupulous in his morals, and had taken in many a one by his craftiness, +and, on this account, his name was in no good repute among his +neighbours, who, to say the truth, were willing to have as little to do +with him as possible. Many hold, too, that he was acquainted with +forbidden acts, and used to carry on an intercourse with the fiends and +old women that raised storms, and such like.</p> + +<p>However, be this as it may, when John had got the shoe he lost no time +in letting the folk that dwell under the ground know that he had it. At +midnight he went to the Nine-hills, and cried with all his might—</p> + +<p>"John Wilde of Rodenkirchen has got a beautiful glass shoe. Who will buy +it? who will buy it?" for he knew that the little one who had lost the +shoe must go barefoot till he got it again; and that is no trifle, for +the little people have generally to walk upon very hard and stony +ground.</p> + +<p>John's advertisement was speedily attended to. The little fellow who had +lost the shoe made no delay in setting about redeeming it. The first +free day he got that he might come out in the daylight, he came as a +respectable merchant, knocked at John Wilde's door, and asked if John +had not got a glass shoe to sell:</p> + +<p>"For," says he, "they are an article now in great demand, and are sought +for in every market."</p> + +<p>John replied that it was true that he had a very pretty little glass +shoe; but it was so small that even a dwarf's foot would be squeezed in +it, and that a person must be made on purpose to suit it before it could +be of use. For all that, it was an extraordinary shoe, a valuable shoe, +and a dear shoe, and it was not every merchant that could afford to pay +for it.</p> + +<p>The merchant asked to see it, and when he had examined it—</p> + +<p>"Glass shoes," said he, "are not by any means such rare articles, my +good friend, as you think here in Rodenkirchen, because you do not +happen to go much into the world. However," said he, after humming a +little, "I will give you a good price for it, because I happen to have +the very fellow of it."</p> + +<p>He bid the countryman a thousand dollars for it.</p> + +<p>"A thousand dollars are money, my father used to say when he drove fat +oxen to market," replied John Wilde, in a mocking tone; "but it will not +leave my hands for that shabby price, and, for my own part, it may +ornament the foot of my daughter's doll! Hark ye, my friend, I have +heard a sort of little song sung about the glass shoe, and it is not for +a parcel of dirt it will go out of my hands. Tell me now, my good +fellow, should you happen to know the knack of it, how in every furrow I +make when I am ploughing I may find a ducat? If not, the shoe is still +mine; and you may inquire for glass shoes at those other markets."</p> + +<p>The merchant made still a great many attempts, and twisted and turned in +every direction to get the shoe; but when he found the farmer +inflexible, he agreed to what John desired, and swore to the performance +of it. Cunning John believed him, and gave him up the glass shoe, for he +knew right well with whom he had to do. So, the business being ended, +away went the merchant with his glass shoe.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's delay John repaired to his stable, got ready his +horses and his plough, and went out to the field. He selected a piece of +ground where he would have the shortest turns possible, and began to +plough. Hardly had the plough turned up the first sod when up sprang a +ducat out of the ground, and it was the same with every fresh furrow he +made. There was now no end of his ploughing, and John Wilde soon bought +eight new horses, and put them into the stable to the eight he already +had, and their mangers were never without plenty of oats in them, that +he might be able every two hours to yoke two fresh horses, and so be +enabled to drive them the faster.</p> + +<p>John was now insatiable in ploughing. Every morning he was out before +sunrise, and many a time he ploughed on till after midnight. Summer and +winter it was plough, plough with him ever-more, except when the ground +was frozen as hard as a stone. He always ploughed by himself, and never +suffered any one to go out with him, or to come to him when he was at +work, for John understood too well the nature of his crop to let people +see for what it was he ploughed so constantly.</p> + +<p>However, it fared far worse with him than with his horses, who ate good +oats, and were regularly changed and relieved, for he grew pale and +meagre by reason of his continual working and toiling. His wife and +children had no longer any comfort for him. He never went to the +ale-house or to the club. He withdrew himself from every one, and +scarcely ever spoke a single word, but went about silent and wrapped up +in his own thoughts. All the day long he toiled for his ducats, and at +night he had to count them, and to plan and meditate how he might find +out a still swifter kind of plough.</p> + +<p>His wife and the neighbours lamented over his strange conduct, his +dulness and melancholy, and began to think he was grown foolish. +Everybody pitied his wife and children, for they imagined the numerous +horses that he kept in his stable, and the preposterous mode of +agriculture he pursued, with his unnecessary and superfluous ploughing, +must soon leave him without house or land.</p> + +<p>Their anticipations, however, were not fulfilled. True it is, the poor +man never enjoyed a happy or contented hour since he began to plough the +ducats up out of the ground. The old saying held good in his case, that +he who gives himself up to the pursuit of gold is half-way in the claws +of the evil one. Flesh and blood cannot bear perpetual labour, and John +Wilde did not long hold out against his running through the furrows day +and night. He got through the first spring; but one day in the second he +dropped down at the tail of the plough like an exhausted November fly. +Out of the pure thirst for gold he was wasted away and dried up to +nothing, whereas he had been a very strong and hearty man the day the +shoe of the little underground man fell into his hands.</p> + +<p>His wife, however, found he had left a great treasure—two great +nailed-up chests full of good new ducats; and his sons purchased large +estates for themselves, and became lords and noblemen.</p> + +<p>But what good did all that to poor John Wilde?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="HOW_LOKI_WAGERED_HIS_HEAD"></a><h2>HOW LOKI WAGERED HIS HEAD.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Loki, the son of Laufey, out of mischief cut off all the hair of Sif. +When Thor discovered this he seized Loki, and would have broken every +bone in his body, only he swore that he would get the black dwarfs to +make hair of gold for Sif, which should grow like any other hair.</p> + +<p>Loki then went to the dwarfs that are called the sons of Ivallda. They +first made the hair, which, as soon as it was put on the head, grew like +natural hair. Then they made the ship Skidbladnir, which always had the +wind with it wherever it would sail. Lastly, they made the spear Gugner, +which always hit its mark in battle.</p> + +<p>Then Loki wagered his head against the dwarf Brock, that his brother, +Eitri, could not forge three such valuable things as these. They went to +the forge. Eitri set the bellows to the fire, and bid his brother, +Brock, blow. While he was blowing there came a fly that settled on his +hand and bit him, but he blew without stopping till the smith took the +work out of the fire, and it was a boar, and its bristles were of gold.</p> + +<p>Eitri then put gold into the fire, and bid his brother not stop blowing +till he came back. He went away, and the fly came and settled on Brock's +neck, and bit him more severely than before, but he blew on till the +smith came back, and took out of the fire the gold ring which is called +Draupnir.</p> + +<p>Then he put iron into the fire, and bid Brock blow, and said that if he +stopped blowing all the work would be lost. The fly settled between +Brock's eyes, and bit so hard that the blood ran down so that he could +not see. So, when the bellows were down, he caught at the fly in all +haste, and tore off its wings. When the smith came he said that all that +was in the fire was nearly spoiled. Then he took out of it the hammer, +Mjolnir. He then gave all the things to his brother Brock, and bade him +go with them to Asgard, and settle the wager.</p> + +<p>Loki produced his articles, and Odin, Thor, and Frey were the judges. +Then Loki gave to Odin the spear Gugner, and to Thor the hair that Sif +was to have, and to Frey Skidbladnir, and told them what virtues those +things possessed. Brock took out his articles, and gave to Odin the +ring, and told him that every ninth night there would drop from it eight +other rings as valuable as itself. To Frey he gave the boar, and said +that it would run through air and water, by night and by day, better +than any horse, and that never was there night so dark that the way by +which he went would not be light from his hide. The hammer he gave to +Thor, and said that it would never fail to hit a troll, and that at +whatever he threw it, it would never miss the mark, and that Thor could +never throw it so far that it would not return to his hand. It would +also, when Thor chose, become so small that he could put it in his +pocket. The only fault of the hammer was that its handle was a little +too short.</p> + +<p>Their judgment was that the hammer was the best of all the things before +them, and that the dwarf had won his wager. Then Loki prayed hard not to +lose his head, but the dwarf said that could not be.</p> + +<p>"Catch me, then!" said Loki, and when the dwarf sought to catch him he +was far away, for Loki had shoes with which he could run through air and +water. Then the dwarf prayed Thor to catch him, and he did so. The dwarf +now proceeded to cut off his head, but Loki objected that he was to have +the head only, and not the neck. As he would not be quiet, the dwarf +took a knife and a thong, and began to sew his mouth up; but the knife +was bad, so the dwarf wished that he had his brother's awl, and as soon +as he wished it, it was there. So he sewed Loki's lips together.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_ADVENTURES_OF_JOHN_DIETRICH"></a><h2>THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There once lived in Rambin an honest, industrious man, named James +Dietrich. He had several children, all of a good disposition, especially +the youngest, whose name was John. John Dietrich was a handsome, smart +boy, diligent at school, and obedient at home. His great passion was for +hearing stories, and whenever he met any one who was well stored he +never let him go till he had heard them all.</p> + +<p>When John was about eight years old he was sent to spend a summer with +his uncle, a farmer, in Rodenkirchen. Here John had to keep cows with +other boys, and they used to drive them to graze about the Nine-hills. +There was an old cowherd, one Klas Starkwolt who used frequently to join +the boys, and then they would sit down together and tell stories. Klas +abounded in these, and he became John Dietrich's dearest friend. In +particular, he knew a number of stories of the Nine-hills, and the +underground people in the old times, when the giants disappeared from +the country and the little ones came into the hills. These tales John +swallowed so eagerly that he thought of nothing else, and was for ever +talking of golden cups, and crowns, and glass shoes, and pockets full of +ducats, and gold rings, and diamond coronets, and snow-white brides, and +such like. Old Klas used often to shake his head at him, and say—</p> + +<p>"John! John! what are you about? The spade and scythe will be your +sceptre and crown, and your bride will wear a garland of rosemary, and a +gown of striped drill."</p> + +<p>Still John almost longed to get into the Nine-hills, for Klas told him +that every one who by luck or cunning should get a cap of the little +ones might go down with safety, and instead of their making a servant of +him, he would be their master. The person whose cap he got would be his +servant, and obey all his commands.</p> + +<p>St. John's day, when the days were longest and the nights shortest, was +now come. Old and young kept the holiday, had all sorts of plays, and +told all kinds of stories. John could now no longer contain himself, but +the day after the festival he slipt away to the Nine-hills, and when it +grew dark laid himself down on the top of the highest of them, where +Klas had told him the underground people had their principal +dancing-place. John lay quite still from ten till twelve at night. At +last it struck twelve. Immediately there was a ringing and a singing in +the hills, and then a whispering and a lisping, and a whiz and a buzz +all about him, for the little people were now, some whirling round and +round in the dance, and others sporting and tumbling about in the +moonshine, and playing a thousand merry pranks and tricks. He felt a +secret dread come over him at this whispering and buzzing, for he could +see nothing of them, as the caps they wore made them invisible, but he +lay quite still with his face in the grass, and his eyes fast shut, +snoring a little, just as if he were asleep. Now and then he ventured to +open his eyes a little and peep out, but not the slightest trace of them +could he see, though it was bright moonlight.</p> + +<p>It was not long before three of the underground people came jumping up +to where he was lying, but they took no heed of him, and flung their +brown caps up into the air, and caught them from one another. At length +one snatched the cap out of the hand of another and flung it away. It +flew direct, and fell upon John's head. The moment he felt it he caught +hold of it, and, standing up, bid farewell to sleep. He flung his cap +about for joy and made the little silver bell of it jingle, then set it +upon his head, and—oh wonderful! that instant he saw the countless and +merry swarm of the little people.</p> + +<p>The three little men came slily up to him, and thought by their +nimbleness to get back the cap, but he held his prize fast, and they saw +clearly that nothing was to be done in this way with him, for in size +and strength John was a giant in comparison with these little fellows, +who hardly came up to his knee. The owner of the cap now came up very +humbly to the finder, and begged, in as supplicating a tone as if his +life depended upon it, that he would give him back his cap.</p> + +<p>"No," said John, "you sly little rogue, you will get the cap no more. +That's not the sort of thing one gives away for buttered cake. I should +be in a nice way with you if I had not something of yours, but now you +have no power over me, but must do what I please. I will go down with +you and see how you live down below, and you shall be my servant. Nay, +no grumbling. You know you must. I know that just as well as you do, for +Klas Starkwolt told it to me often and often!"</p> + +<p>The little man made as if he had not heard or understood one word of all +this. He began his crying and whining over again, and wept and screamed +and howled most piteously for his little cap. John, however, cut the +matter short by saying—</p> + +<p>"Have done. You are my servant, and I intend to make a trip with you."</p> + +<p>So he gave up, especially as the others told him there was no remedy.</p> + +<p>John now flung away his old hat, and put on the cap, and set it firm on +his head lest it should slip off or fly away, for all his power lay in +the cap. He lost no time in trying its virtues, and commanded his new +servant to fetch him food and drink. The servant ran away like the wind, +and in a second was there again with bottles of wine, and bread, and +rich fruits. So John ate and drank, and looked at the sports and dancing +of the little ones, and it pleased him right well, and he behaved +himself stoutly and wisely, as if he had been a born master.</p> + +<p>When the cock had now crowed for the third time, and the little larks +had made their first twirl in the sky, and the infant light appeared in +solitary white streaks in the east, then it went hush, hush, hush, +through the bushes and flowers and stalks, and the hills rent again, and +opened up, and the little men went down. John gave close attention to +everything, and found that it was exactly as he had been told, and, +behold! on the top of the hill, where they had just been dancing, and +where all was full of grass and flowers, as people see it by day, there +rose of a sudden, when the retreat was sounded, a bright glass point. +Whoever wanted to go in stepped upon this. It opened, and he glided +gently in, the grass closing again after him; and when they had all +entered it vanished, and there was no further trace of it to be seen. +Those who descended through the glass point sank quite gently into a +wide silver tun, which held them all, and could have easily harboured a +thousand such little people. John and his man went down into such a one +along with several others, all of whom screamed out, and prayed him not +to tread on them, for if his weight came on them they were dead men. He +was, however, careful, and acted in a very friendly way towards them. +Several tuns of this kind went up and down after each other, until all +were in. They hung by long silver chains, which were drawn and hung +without.</p> + +<p>In his descent John was amazed at the brilliancy of the walls between +which the tun glided down. They were all, as it were, beset with pearls +and diamonds, glittering and sparkling brightly, and below him he heard +the most beautiful music tinkling at a distance, so that he did not know +what was become of him, and from excess of pleasure he fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>He slept a long time, and when he awoke he found himself in the most +beautiful bed that could be, such as he had never seen the like of in +his father's house, and it was in the prettiest chamber in the world, +and his servant was beside him with a fan to keep away the flies and +gnats. He had hardly opened his eyes when his little servant brought him +a basin and towel, and held him the nicest new clothes of brown silk to +put on, most beautifully made. With these was a pair of new black shoes +with red ribbons, such as John had never beheld in Rambin or in +Rodinkirchen either. There were also there several pairs of beautiful +shining glass shoes, such as are only used on great occasions. John was, +as we may well suppose, delighted to have such clothes to wear, and he +put them upon him joyfully. His servant then flew like lightning, and +returned with a breakfast of wine and milk, and beautiful white bread +and fruits, and such other things as boys are fond of. He now perceived +every moment more and more, that Klas Starkwolt, the old cowherd, knew +what he was talking about, for the splendour and magnificence he saw +here surpassed anything he had ever dreamt of. His servant, too, was the +most obedient one possible, a nod or a sign was enough for him, for he +was as wise as a bee, as all these little people are by nature John's +bedchamber was all covered with emeralds and other precious stones, and +in the ceiling was a diamond as big as a nine-pin bowl, that gave light +to the whole chamber. In this place they have neither sun nor moon nor +stars to give them light, neither do they use lamps or candlesticks of +any kind, but they live in the midst of precious stones, and have the +purest of gold and silver in abundance, and the skill to make it light +both by day and night, though indeed, properly speaking, as there is no +sun there, there is no distinction between day and night, and they +reckon only by weeks. They set the brightest and clearest precious +stones in their dwellings, and in the ways and passages leading +underground, and in the places where they had their large halls, and +their dances and their feasts, where they sparkled so as to make it +eternal day.</p> + +<p>When John had finished breakfast, his servant opened a little door in +the wall, where was a closet with the most beautiful silver and gold +cups and dishes and other vessels and baskets filled with ducats and +boxes of jewels and precious stones. There were also charming pictures, +and the most delightful books he had seen in the whole course of his +life.</p> + +<p>John spent the morning looking at these things, and when it was midday a +bell rang, and his servant said—</p> + +<p>"Will you dine alone, sir, or with the large company?"</p> + +<p>"With the large company, to be sure," replied John. So his servant led +him out. John, however, saw nothing but solitary halls lighted up with +precious stones, and here and there little men and women, who appeared +to him to glide in and out of the clefts and fissures of the rocks. +Wondering what it was the bells rang for, he said to his servant—</p> + +<p>"But where is the company?"</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he spoken when the hall they were in opened out to a great +extent, and a canopy set with diamonds and precious stones was drawn +over it. At the same moment he saw an immense throng of nicely dressed +little men and women pouring in through several open doors. The floor +opened in several places, and tables, covered with the most beautiful +ware, and the most luscious meats and fruits and wines, placed +themselves beside each other, and the chairs arranged themselves along +the tables, and then the men and women took their seats.</p> + +<p>The principal persons now came forward and bowed to John, and led him to +their table, where they placed him among their most beautiful maidens, a +distinction which pleased John well. The party, too, was very merry, for +the underground people are extremely lively and cheerful, and can never +stay long quiet. Then the most charming music sounded over their heads, +and beautiful birds, flying about, sang most sweetly, and these were not +real birds but artificial ones which the little men make so ingeniously +that they can fly about and sing like natural ones.</p> + +<p>The servants of both sexes who waited at table and handed about the +golden cups, and the silver and crystal baskets with fruit, were +children belonging to this world, whom some casualty or other had thrown +among the underground people, and who, having come down without securing +any pledge, were fallen into the power of the little ones. These were +differently clad. The boys and girls were dressed in short white coats +and jackets, and wore glass shoes so fine that their step could never be +heard, with blue caps on their heads, and silver belts round their +waists.</p> + +<p>John at first pitied them, seeing how they were forced to run about and +wait on the little people, but as they looked cheerful and happy, and +were handsomely dressed, and had such rosy cheeks, he said to +himself—"After all, they are not so badly off, and I was myself much +worse when I had to be running after the cows and bullocks. To be sure I +am now a master here, and they are servants, but there is no help for +it. Why were they so foolish as to let themselves be taken and not get +some pledge beforehand? At any rate the time must come when they will be +set at liberty, and they will certainly not be longer than fifty years +here."</p> + +<p>With these thoughts he consoled himself, and sported and played away +with his little play-fellows, and ate, and drank, and made his servant +tell him stories, for he would know everything exactly.</p> + +<p>They sat at table about two hours. The principal person then rang a +bell, and the tables and chairs all vanished in a whiff, leaving all the +company on their feet. The birds now struck up a most lively air, and +the little people danced their rounds most merrily. When they were done, +the joyous sets jumped and leaped, and whirled themselves round and +round, as if the world was grown dizzy. The pretty girls who sat next +John caught hold of him and whirled him about, and, without making any +resistance, he danced round and round with them for two good hours. +Every afternoon while he remained there he used to dance thus merrily +with them, and, to the last hour of his life, he used to speak of it +with the greatest glee. His language was—that the joys of heaven and +the songs and music of the angels, which the righteous hope to enjoy +there, might be excessively beautiful, but that he could conceive +nothing to surpass the music and the dancing under the earth, the +beautiful and lively little men, the wonderful birds in the branches, +and the tinkling silver bells in their caps.</p> + +<p>"No one," said he, "who has not seen and heard it, can form any idea +whatever of it."</p> + +<p>When the music and dancing were over it might be about four o'clock. The +little people then disappeared, and went each about his own business or +pleasure. After supper they sported and danced in the same way, and at +midnight, especially on star-light nights, they slipped out of their +hills to dance in the open air. John used then to say his prayers, a +duty he never neglected either in the evening or in the morning, and go +to sleep.</p> + +<p>For the first week John was in the glass hill, he only went from his +chamber to the great hall and back again. After the first week, however, +he began to walk about, making his servant show and explain everything +to him. He found that there were in that place the most beautiful walks +in which he might ramble about for miles, in all directions, without +ever finding an end to them, so immensely large was the hill in which +the little people lived, and yet outwardly it seemed but a little place, +with a few bushes and trees growing on it.</p> + +<p>It was extraordinary that, between the meads and fields, which were +thick sown with hills and lakes and islands, and ornamented with trees +and flowers in great variety, there ran, as it were, small lanes, +through which, as through crystal rocks, one was obliged to pass to come +to any new place; and the single meads and fields were often a mile +long, and the flowers were so brilliant and so fragrant, and the songs +of the numerous birds so sweet, that John had never seen anything on +earth like it. There was a breeze, and yet one did not feel the wind. It +was quite clear and bright, and yet there was no heat. The waves were +dashing, still there was no danger, and the most beautiful little barks +and canoes came, like white swans, when one wanted to cross the water, +and went backwards and forwards of themselves. Whence all this came no +one knew, nor could John's servant tell anything about it, but one thing +John saw plainly, which was, that the large carbuncles and diamonds that +were set in the roof and walls gave light instead of the sun, moon, and +stars.</p> + +<p>These lovely meads and plains were, for the most part, all lonesome. Few +of the underground people were to be seen upon them, and those that were +just glided across them as if in the greatest hurry. It very rarely +happened that any of them danced out there in the open air. Sometimes +about three of them did so, or, at the most, half a dozen. John never +saw a greater number together. The meads were never cheerful except when +the servants, of whom there might be some hundreds, were let out to +walk. This, however, happened but twice a week, for they were mostly +kept employed in the great hall and adjoining apartments or at school.</p> + +<p>For John soon found they had schools there also. He had been there about +ten months when one day he saw something snow-white gliding into a rock +and disappearing.</p> + +<p>"What!" said he to his servant, "are there some of you that wear white +like the servants?"</p> + +<p>He was informed that there were, but they were few in number, and never +appeared at the large tables or the dances, except once a year, on the +birthday of the great Hill-king, who dwelt many thousand miles below in +the great deep. These were the oldest among them, some of them many +thousand years old, who knew all things and could tell of the beginning +of the world, and were called the Wise. They lived all alone, and only +left their chambers to instruct the underground children and the +attendants of both sexes, for whom there was a great school.</p> + +<p>John was much pleased with this intelligence, and he determined to take +advantage of it; so next morning he made his servant conduct him to the +school, and was so well pleased with it that he never missed a day going +there. They were there taught reading, writing, and accounts, to compose +and relate histories, stories, and many elegant kinds of work, so that +many came out of the hills, both men and women, very prudent and knowing +people in consequence of what they were taught there. The biggest, and +those of best capacity, received instruction in natural science and +astronomy, and in poetry and in riddle-making, arts highly esteemed +among the little people. John was very diligent, and soon became a most +clever painter and drawer. He wrought, too, most ingeniously in gold and +silver and stones, and in verse and riddle-making he had no fellow.</p> + +<p>John had spent many a happy year here without ever thinking of the upper +world, or of those he had left behind, so pleasantly passed the time—so +many agreeable companions had he.</p> + +<p>Of all of them there was none of whom he was so fond as of a fair-haired +girl named Elizabeth Krabbe. She was from his own village, and was the +daughter of Frederick Krabbe, the minister of Rambin. She was but four +years old when she was taken away, and John had often heard tell of her. +She was not, however, stolen by the little people, but had come into +their power in this manner. One day in summer she and other children ran +out into the fields. In their rambles they went to the Nine-hills, where +little Elizabeth fell asleep, and was forgotten by the rest. At night +when she awoke, she found herself under the ground among the little +people. It was not merely because she was from his own village that John +was so fond of Elizabeth, but she was very beautiful, with clear blue +eyes and ringlets of fair hair, and a most angelic smile. Time flew away +unperceived. John was now eighteen, and Elizabeth sixteen. Their +childish fondness was now become love, and the little people were +pleased to see it, thinking that by means of her they might get John to +renounce his power, and become their servant, for they were fond of him, +and would willingly have had him to wait upon them, for the love of +dominion is their vice. They were, however, mistaken. John had learned +too much from his servant to be caught in that way.</p> + +<p>John's chief delight was walking about with Elizabeth, for he now knew +every place so well that he could dispense with the attendance of his +servant. In these rambles he was always gay and lively, but his +companion was frequently sad and melancholy, thinking on the land above, +where men live, and where the sun, moon, and stars shine. Now it +happened in one of their walks, as they talked of their love, and it was +after midnight, they passed under the place where the tops of the glass +hills used to open and let the underground people in and out. As they +went along, they heard of a sudden the crowing of several cocks above. +At this sound, which she had not heard for several years, Elizabeth felt +her heart so affected that she could contain herself no longer, but +throwing her arms about John's neck, she bathed his cheek with her +tears. At length she said—</p> + +<p>"Dearest John, everything down here is very beautiful, and the little +people are kind and do nothing to injure me, but still I have been +always uneasy, nor ever felt any pleasure till I began to love you; and +yet that is not pure pleasure, for this is not a right way of living, +such as is fit for human beings. Every night I dream of my father and +mother, and of our churchyard where the people stand so pious at the +church door waiting for my father, and I could weep tears of blood that +I cannot go into the church with them and worship God as a human being +should, for this is no Christian life we lead down here, but a delusive +half-heathen one. And only think, dear John, that we can never marry, as +there is no priest to join us. Do, then, plan some way for us to leave +this place, for I cannot tell you how I long to get once more to my +father, and among pious Christians."</p> + +<p>John, too, had not been unaffected by the crowing of the cocks, and he +felt what he had never felt there before, a longing after the land where +the sun shines.</p> + +<p>"Dear Elizabeth," said he, "all you say is true, and I now feel it is a +sin for Christians to stay here, and it seems to me as if our Lord said +to us in that cry of the cocks, 'Come up, ye Christian children, out of +those abodes of illusion and magic. Come to the light of the stars, and +act as children of the light.' I now feel that it was a great sin for me +to come down here, but I trust I shall be forgiven on account of my +youth, for I was only a boy, and knew not what I did. But now I will not +stay a day longer. They cannot keep <i>me</i> here."</p> + +<p>At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she recollected that she +was a servant, and must serve her fifty years.</p> + +<p>"And what will it avail me," cried she, "that I shall continue young, +and be but as of twenty years when I go out, for my father and mother +will be dead, and all my companions old and grey; and you, dearest John, +will be old and grey also," cried she, throwing herself on his bosom.</p> + +<p>John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never before occurred to him. +He, however, comforted her as well as he could, and declared he would +never leave the place without her. He spent the whole night in forming +various plans. At last he fixed on one, and in the morning he despatched +his servant to summon to his apartment six of the principal of the +little people. When they came, John thus mildly addressed them—</p> + +<p>"My friends, you know how I came here, not as a prisoner or servant, but +as a lord and master over one of you, and of consequence over all. You +have now for the ten years I have been with you treated me with respect +and attention, and for that I am your debtor. But you are still more my +debtors, for I might have given you every sort of vexation and +annoyance, and you must have submitted to it. I have, however, not done +so, but have behaved as your equal, and have sported and played with you +rather than ruled over you. I have now one request to make. There is a +girl among your servants whom I love, Elizabeth Krabbe, of Rambin, where +I was born. Give her to me and let us depart, for I will return to where +the sun shines and the plough goes through the land. I ask to take +nothing with me but her and the ornaments and furniture of my chamber."</p> + +<p>He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated and cast their eyes +upon the ground. At last the oldest of them replied—</p> + +<p>"Sir, you ask what we cannot grant. It is a fixed law that no servant +can leave this place before the appointed time. Were we to break through +this law our whole subterranean empire would fall. Anything else you +desire, for we love and respect you, but we cannot give up Elizabeth."</p> + +<p>"You can, and you shall, give her up!" cried John in a rage. "Go, think +of it till to-morrow. Return then at this hour. I will show you whether +or not I can triumph over your hypocritical and cunning stratagems."</p> + +<p>The six retired. Next morning, on their return, John addressed them in +the kindest manner, but to no purpose. They persisted in their refusal. +He gave them till the next day, threatening them severely in case they +still proved refractory.</p> + +<p>Next day, when the six little people appeared before him, John looked at +them sternly, and made no return to their salutations, but said to them +shortly—</p> + +<p>"Yes, or No?"</p> + +<p>They answered, with one voice, "No." He then ordered his servant to +summon twenty-four more of the principal persons, with their wives and +children. When they came they were in all five hundred men, women, and +children. John ordered them forthwith to go and fetch pick-axes, spades, +and bars, which they did in a second.</p> + +<p>He now led them out to a rock in one of the fields, and ordered them to +fall to work at blasting, hewing, and dragging stones. They toiled +patiently, and made as if it were only sport to them.</p> + +<p>From morning till night their task-master made them labour without +ceasing, standing over them constantly to prevent them resting. Still +their obstinacy was inflexible, and at the end of some weeks his pity +for them was so great that he was obliged to give over.</p> + +<p>He now thought of a new species of punishment for them. He ordered them +to appear before him next morning, each provided with a new whip. They +obeyed, and John commanded them to lash one another, and he stood +looking on while they did it, as grim and cruel as an Eastern tyrant. +Still the little people cut and slashed themselves and mocked at John, +and refused to comply with his wishes. This he did for three or four +days.</p> + +<p>Several other courses did he try, but all in vain. His temper was too +gentle to struggle with their obstinacy, and he commenced to despair of +ever accomplishing his dearest wish. He began now to hate the little +people of whom he had before been so fond. He kept away from their +banquets and dances, and associated with none but Elizabeth, and ate and +drank quite solitary in his chamber. In short, he became almost a +hermit, and sank into moodiness and melancholy.</p> + +<p>While in this temper, as he was taking a solitary walk in the evening, +and, to divert his melancholy, was flinging the stones that lay in his +path against each other, he happened to break a tolerably large one, and +out of it jumped a toad. The moment John saw the ugly animal he caught +him up in ecstasy, and put him in his pocket and ran home, crying—</p> + +<p>"Now I have her! I have my Elizabeth! Now you shall get it, you little +mischievous rascals!"</p> + +<p>On getting home he put the toad into a costly silver casket, as if it +was the greatest treasure.</p> + +<p>To account for John's joy, you must know that Klas Starkwolt had often +told him that the underground people could not endure any ill smell, and +that the sight, or even the smell, of a toad made them faint, and suffer +the most dreadful tortures, and that by means of one of those odious +animals one could compel them to do anything. Hence there are no bad +smells to be found in the whole glass empire, and a toad is a thing +unheard of there. This toad must certainly have been enclosed in the +stone from the creation, as it were, for the sake of John and Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>Resolved to try the effect of his toad, John took the casket under his +arm and went out, and on the way he met two of the little people in a +lonesome place. The moment he approached they fell to the ground, and +whimpered and howled most lamentably as long as he was near them.</p> + +<p>Satisfied now of his power, he, the next morning, summoned the fifty +principal persons, with their wives and children, to his apartment. When +they came he addressed them, reminding them once again of his kindness +and gentleness towards them, and of the good terms on which they had +hitherto lived. He reproached them with their ingratitude in refusing +him the only favour he had ever asked of them, but firmly declared that +he would not give way to their obstinacy.</p> + +<p>"Therefore," said he, "for the last time, think for a minute, and if you +then say 'No,' you shall feel that pain which is to you and your +children the most terrible of all pains."</p> + +<p>They did not take long to deliberate, but unanimously replied "No"; and +they thought to themselves, "What new scheme has the youth hit on with +which he thinks to frighten wise ones like us?" and they smiled as they +said "No." Their smiling enraged John above all, and he ran back a few +hundred paces to where he had laid the casket with the toad under a +bush.</p> + +<p>He was hardly come within a few hundred paces of them when they all fell +to the ground as if struck with a thunderbolt, and began to howl and +whimper, and to writhe, as if suffering the most excruciating pain. They +stretched out their hands, and cried—</p> + +<p>"Have mercy, have mercy! We feel you have a toad, and there is no escape +for us. Take the odious beast away, and we will do all you require."</p> + +<p>He let them kick a few seconds longer, and then took the toad away. They +then stood up and felt no more pain. John let all depart but the six +chief persons, to whom he said—</p> + +<p>"This night, between twelve and one, Elizabeth and I will depart. Load +then for me three waggons with gold and silver and precious stones. I +might, you know, take all that is in the hill, and you deserve it; but I +will be merciful. Further, you must put all the furniture of my chamber +in two waggons, and get ready for me the handsomest travelling carriage +that is in the hill, with six black horses. Moreover, you must set at +liberty all the servants who have been so long here that on earth they +would be twenty years old and upwards; and you must give them as much +silver and gold as will make them rich for life, and make a law that no +one shall be detained here longer than his twentieth year."</p> + +<p>The six took the oath, and went away quite melancholy; and John buried +his toad deep in the ground. The little people laboured hard, and +prepared everything. At midnight everything was out of the hill; and +John and Elizabeth got into the silver tun, and were drawn up.</p> + +<p>It was then one o'clock, and it was midsummer, the very time that, +twelve years before, John had gone down into the hill. Music sounded +around them, and they saw the glass hill open, and the rays of the light +of heaven shine on them after so many years. And when they got out, they +saw the first streaks of dawn already in the east. Crowds of the +underground people were around them, busied about the waggons. John bid +them a last farewell, waved his brown cap three times in the air, and +then flung it among them. At the same moment he ceased to see them. He +beheld nothing but a green hill, and the well-known bushes and fields, +and heard the town-clock of Rambin strike two. When all was still, save +a few larks, who were tuning their morning songs, they all fell on their +knees and worshipped God, resolving henceforth to live a pious and a +Christian life.</p> + +<p>When the sun rose, John arranged the procession, and they set out for +Rambin. Every well-known object that they saw awoke pleasing +recollections in the bosom of John and his bride; and as they passed by +Rodenkirchen, John recognised, among the people that gazed at and +followed them, his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd, and his dog +Speed. It was about four in the morning when they entered Rambin, and +they halted in the middle of the village, about twenty paces from the +house where John was born. The whole village poured out to gaze on these +Asiatic princes, for such the old sexton, who had in his youth been at +Constantinople and at Moscow, said they were. There John saw his father +and mother, and his brother Andrew, and his sister Trine. The old +minister Krabbe stood there too, in his black slippers and white +nightcap, gaping and staring with the rest.</p> + +<p>John discovered himself to his parents, and Elizabeth to hers; and the +wedding-day was soon fixed. And such a wedding was never seen before or +since in the island of Rügen, for John sent to Stralsund and Greifswald +for whole boat-loads of wine and sugar and coffee; and whole herds of +oxen, sheep, and pigs were driven to the feast. The quantity of harts +and roes and hares that were shot upon the occasion it were vain to +attempt to tell, or to count the fish that was caught. There was not a +musician in Rügen or in Pomerania that was not engaged, for John was +immensely rich, and he wished to display his wealth.</p> + +<p>John did not neglect his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd. He gave +him enough to make him comfortable for the rest of his days, and +insisted on his coming and staying with him as often and as long as he +wished.</p> + +<p>After his marriage John made a progress through the country with his +wife; and he purchased towns and villages and lands until he became +master of nearly half Rügen and a very considerable Count in the +country. His father, old James Dietrich, was made a nobleman, and his +brothers and sisters gentlemen and ladies—for what cannot money do? +John and his wife spent their days in doing acts of piety and charity. +They built several churches, and had the blessing of every one that knew +them, and died universally lamented. It was Count John Dietrich that +built and richly endowed the present church of Rambin. He built it on +the site of his father's house, and presented to it several of the cups +and plates made by the underground people, and his own and Elizabeth's +glass-shoes, in memory of what had befallen them in their youth. But +they were taken away in the time of the great Charles the Twelfth of +Sweden, when the Russians came on the island and the Cossacks plundered +even the churches, and took away everything.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="HOW_THORSTON_BECAME_RICH"></a><h2>HOW THORSTON BECAME RICH.</h2> +<br> + +<p>When spring came Thorston made ready his ship and put twenty-four men on +board of her. When they came to Finland they ran her into a harbour, and +every day he went on shore to amuse himself.</p> + +<p>He came one day to an open part of the wood, where he saw a great rock, +and a little way out from it was a horribly ugly dwarf. He was looking +over his head, with his mouth wide open, and it appeared to Thorston +that it stretched from ear to ear, and that the lower jaw came down to +his knees.</p> + +<p>Thorston asked him why he acted so foolishly.</p> + +<p>"Do not be surprised, my good lad," answered the dwarf, "do you not see +that great dragon that is flying up there? He has taken off my son, and +I believe that it is Odin himself that has sent the monster to do it. I +shall burst and die if I lose my son."</p> + +<p>Then Thorston shot at the dragon, and hit him under one of the wings, so +that he fell dead to the earth; but Thorston caught the dwarf's child in +the air, and brought him to his father.</p> + +<p>The dwarf was very glad, more rejoiced than any one can tell, and he +said—</p> + +<p>"I have to reward you for a great service, you who are the deliverer of +my son. Now choose your reward in silver or gold."</p> + +<p>"Take your son," said Thorston; "but I am not used to accept rewards for +my services."</p> + +<p>"It would not be becoming," said the dwarf, "if I did not reward you. I +will give you my vest of sheep's wool. Do not think it is a contemptible +gift, for you will never be tired when swimming, or wounded, if you wear +it next your skin."</p> + +<p>Thorston took it and put it on, and it fitted him well, though it had +appeared too small for the dwarf.</p> + +<p>The dwarf next took a gold ring out of his purse and gave it to +Thorston, and bade him take good care of it, telling him he should never +want money while he had the ring.</p> + +<p>Next he gave him a black stone, and said—</p> + +<p>"If you hide this stone in the palm of your hand no one will see you. I +have not many more things to offer you, or that would be of any value to +you. I will, however, give you a firestone for your amusement."</p> + +<p>He took the stone out of his purse, and with it a steel point. The stone +was triangular, white on one side and red on the other, and a yellow +border ran round it. The dwarf said—</p> + +<p>"If you prick the stone with the point in the white side there will come +on such a hailstorm that no one will be able to look at it. If you want +to stop the shower you have only to prick on the yellow part, and there +will come so much sunshine that the hail will melt away. If you prick +the red side then there will come out of it such fire, with sparks and +crackling, that no one will be able to look at it. You may also get +whatever you will by means of this point and stone, and they will come +of themselves back to your hand when you call them. I can give you no +more of such gifts."</p> + +<p>Thorston then thanked the dwarf for his presents, and returned to his +men; and it was better for him to have made that voyage than to have +stayed at home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="GUDBRAND"></a><h2>GUDBRAND.</h2> +<br> + +<p>There was once upon a time a man who was called Gudbrand. He had a farm +which lay far away on a hill, and he was therefore known as Gudbrand of +the Hillside. He and his wife lived so happily together, and were so +well matched, that do what the man would his wife was well pleased, +thinking nothing in the world could be better. Whatever he did she was +satisfied. The farm was their own, and they had a hundred dollars which +lay in a box, and in the stall they had two cows.</p> + +<p>One day the woman said to Gudbrand.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be well to take one of the cows to town and sell it, +and so we shall have some money at hand. We are such fine folk that we +ought to have a little ready money, as other people have. As for the +hundred dollars which lie in the chest, we must not make a hole in them, +but I do not see why we should keep more than one cow. We shall, too, +gain something, for I shall then have only to look after one cow, +instead of having to litter and feed two."</p> + +<p>This Gudbrand thought was right and reasonable, so he took the cow, and +set off to town to sell it. When he arrived there he could find no one +who would buy the beast.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said he, "I can go home again with the cow. I have stall +and litter for her, and the road home is no longer than the road here."</p> + +<p>So he began to go homewards again.</p> + +<p>When he had gone a little distance he met a man who had a horse he +wanted to sell. So Gudbrand thought it was better to have a horse than a +cow, and exchanged with him. He went on a bit further, and met a man +walking along driving a fat pig before him, and he thought it would be +better to have a fat pig than a horse. So he exchanged with the man. He +went on a bit further, and met a man with a goat. A goat, he thought, +was better than a pig. So he exchanged with him. He went on a good bit +further till he met a man who had a sheep, and he exchanged with him, +for he thought a sheep was always better than a goat. He went on again, +and met a man with a goose. So he exchanged the sheep for the goose. +Then he went a long, long way, and met a man with a cock. So he gave the +goose for the cock, for he thought to himself—</p> + +<p>"It is better to have a cock than a goose."</p> + +<p>He walked on till late in the day, and then as he was getting hungry he +sold the cock for twelve shillings, and bought something to eat, for, +thought Gudbrand of the Hillside—</p> + +<p>"It is better to save one's life than have a cock."</p> + +<p>Then he walked on homeward till he came to the house of his nearest +neighbour, and there he looked in.</p> + +<p>"Well, how did you get on at the town?" asked the neighbour.</p> + +<p>"Only so and so," said the man. "I cannot say I have had good or bad +luck," and then he began and told them all that had happened.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the neighbour, "you will catch it when you get home to your +wife. Heaven help you! I would not stand in your shoes."</p> + +<p>"I think things might have been much worse," said Gudbrand of the +Hillside; "but whether things have gone well or badly, I have such a +gentle wife that she never says anything, do what I will."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the neighbour, "I hear what you say, but I don't believe it."</p> + +<p>"Shall we make a bet?" said Gudbrand. "I have a hundred dollars lying at +home in a chest, will you lay as much?"</p> + +<p>The neighbour was willing, so the bet was made. They waited till +evening, and then set out for Gudbrand's house. The neighbour stood +outside the door, while Gudbrand went inside to his wife.</p> + +<p>"Good evening," said Gudbrand, when he was inside.</p> + +<p>"Good evening," said his wife. "Heaven be praised. Is it you?"</p> + +<p>Yes, it was he. His wife then asked him how things went at the town.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but so-so," said Gudbrand, "not much to boast of. When I came to +the town I could find no one to buy the cow, so I exchanged it for a +horse."</p> + +<p>"Thanks for that!" said the wife; "we are such fine folk that we can +ride to church the same as other people, and as we can keep a horse we +might as well have one. Go and put the horse up, children."</p> + +<p>"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the horse. After I had gone a bit +further I exchanged it for a pig."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said his wife, "that was good. I should have done the +same. Thanks for that! now I shall have meat in the house to put before +folk when they come to see me. What could we do with a horse? People +would only have said that we had got too proud to walk to church. Go +along, children, and put the pig in the sty."</p> + +<p>"But I have not got the pig either," said Gudbrand. "When I had gone on +a bit further I exchanged it for a milch goat."</p> + +<p>"Bless me," said the wife, "you do everything well! When I think of it, +what could we have done with a pig? Folk would only have said we eat up +all we had. Now we have a goat we shall have milk and cheese, and we +shall have the goat too. Run, children, and put up the goat."</p> + +<p>"But I have not got the goat," said Gudbrand. "I went on a bit, and +exchanged it for a fine sheep."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the wife, "you have done just what I should have +wished—just as if I had done it myself. What did we want a goat for? I +should have had to go over hill and dale after it. Now we have a sheep +I shall have wool and clothes in the house, and food as well. Go, +children, and put up the sheep."</p> + +<p>"But I have not got the sheep either," said Gudbrand. "I went on a +while, and then I exchanged it for a goose."</p> + +<p>"You shall have thanks for that," said the wife, "many thanks! What +would we have done with a sheep? I have no spinning-wheel nor distaff, +and I should not care to bother about making clothes. We can buy +clothes, as we have always done. Now we shall have roast goose, which I +have so often wished for, and I shall be able to stuff my little pillow +with the down. Go and bring in the goose, children."</p> + +<p>"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the goose either. When I had gone +a bit further I gave it in exchange for a cock."</p> + +<p>"Heaven knows," said his wife, "how you thought all this out so well! It +is just what I should have done myself. A cock! why it is just the same +as if you had bought an eight-day clock, for the cock crows at four +o'clock every morning, so we shall be able to get up in good time. What +could we have done with a goose? I don't know how to cook it, and I can +stuff my pillow with moss. Run and fetch the cock in, children."</p> + +<p>"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the cock either. When I had gone a +bit further I got hungry, and so I sold the cock for twelve shillings so +that I might live."</p> + +<p>"Thank God you did so," said his wife; "whatever you do you do it just +as I should have wished. What could we have done with a cock? We are our +own masters, and can lie in bed in the morning as late as we please. +Thank Heaven you have come back again safe. You do everything so well +that we can well spare the cock, the goose, the pig, and the cow."</p> + +<p>Then Gudbrand opened the door.</p> + +<p>"Have I won the hundred dollars?" said he, and the neighbour was obliged +to own that he had.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="THE_DWARF-SWORD_TIRFING"></a><h2>THE DWARF-SWORD TIRFING.</h2> +<br> + +<p>Suaforlami, the second in descent from Odin, was king over Gardarike +(Russia). One day he rode a-hunting, and sought long after a hart, but +could not find one the whole day. When the sun was setting, he found +himself plunged so deep in the forest that he knew not where he was. On +his right hand he saw a hill, and before it he saw two dwarfs. He drew +his sword against them, and cut off their retreat by getting between +them and the rock. They offered him ransom for their lives, and he asked +them their names, and they said that one of them was called Dyren and +the other Dualin. Then he knew that they were the most ingenious and the +most expert of all the dwarfs, and he therefore demanded that they +should make for him a sword, the best that they could form. Its hilt was +to be of gold, and its belt of the same metal. He moreover commanded +that the sword should never miss a blow, should never rust, that it +should cut through iron and stone as through a garment, and that it +should always be victorious in war and in single combat. On these +conditions he granted the dwarfs their lives.</p> + +<p>At the time appointed he came, and the dwarfs appearing, they gave him +the sword. When Dualin stood at the door, he said—</p> + +<p>"This sword shall be the bane of a man every time it is drawn, and with +it shall be perpetrated three of the greatest atrocities, and it will +also prove thy bane."</p> + +<p>Suaforlami, when he heard that, struck at the dwarf, so that the blade +of the sword penetrated the solid rock. Thus Suaforlami became possessed +of this sword, and he called it Tirfing. He bore it in war and in single +combat, and with it he slew the giant Thiasse, whose daughter Fridur he +took.</p> + +<p>Suaforlami was soon after slain by the Berserker Andgrim, who then +became master of the sword. When the twelve sons of Andgrim were to +fight with Hialmar and Oddur for Ingaborg, the beautiful daughter of +King Inges, Angantyr bore the dangerous Tirfing, but all the brethren +were slain in the combat, and were buried with their arms.</p> + +<p>Angantyr left an only daughter, Hervor, who, when she grew up, dressed +herself in man's attire, and took the name of Hervardar, and joined a +party of Vikinger, or pirates. Knowing that Tirfing lay buried with her +father, she determined to awaken the dead, and obtain the charmed blade. +She landed alone, in the evening, on the Island of Sams, where her +father and uncles lay in their sepulchral mounds, and ascending by night +to their tombs, that were enveloped in flame, she, by the force of +entreaty, obtained from the reluctant Angantyr the formidable Tirfing.</p> + +<p>Hervor proceeded to the court of King Gudmund, and there one day, as she +was playing at tables with the king, one of the servants chanced to take +up and draw Tirfing, which shone like a sunbeam. But Tirfing was never +to see the light but for the bane of men, and Hervor, by a sudden +impulse, sprang from her seat, snatched the sword, and struck off the +head of the unfortunate man.</p> + +<p>After this she returned to the house of her grandfather, Jarl Biartmar, +where she resumed her female attire, and was married to Haufud, the son +of King Gudmund. She bore him two sons, Angantyr and Heidreker; the +former of a mild and gentle disposition, the latter violent and fierce. +Haufud would not permit Heidreker to remain at his court, and as he was +departing, his mother, among other gifts, presented him with Tirfing.</p> + +<p>His brother accompanied him out of the castle. Before they parted, +Heidreker drew out his sword to look at and admire it, but scarcely did +the rays of light fall on the magic blade, when the Berserker rage came +on its owner, and he slew his gentle brother.</p> + +<p>After this he joined a body of Vikinger, and became so distinguished +that King Harold, for the aid he lent him, gave him his daughter Helga +in marriage. But it was the destiny of Tirfing to commit crime, and +Harold fell by the sword of his son-in-law. Heidreker was afterwards in +Russia, and the son of the king was his foster-son. One day as they were +out hunting, Heidreker and his foster-son happened to be separated from +the rest of the party, when a wild boar appeared before them.</p> + +<p>Heidreker ran at him with his spear, but the beast caught it in his +mouth and broke it across. Then he alighted and drew Tirfing, and killed +the boar. On looking round him, he saw no one but his foster-son, and +Tirfing could only be appeased with warm human blood, so Heidreker slew +the poor youth.</p> + +<p>In the end Heidreker was murdered in his bed by his Scottish slaves, who +carried off Tirfing. His son Angantyr, who succeeded him, discovered the +thieves and put them to death, and recovered the magic blade. He made +great slaughter in battle against the Huns, but among the slain was +discovered his own brother, Landur.</p> + +<p>So ends the history of the Dwarf-Sword Tirfing.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;"> + +<p>Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty, at the +Edinburgh University Press.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; SCANDINAVIAN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 15186-h.txt or 15186-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/8/15186">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/8/15186</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Folk-Lore and Legends; Scandinavian + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 26, 2005 [eBook #15186] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; +SCANDINAVIAN*** + + +E-text prepared by Wallace McLean, Graeme Mackreth, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS SCANDINAVIAN + +W. W. Gibbings +18 Bury St., London, W.C. + +1890 + + + + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE. + + +Thanks to Thiele, to Hylten-Cavallius and Stephens, and to Asbjoernsen +and Moe, Scandinavian Folklore is well to the front. Its treasures are +many, and of much value. One may be almost sorry to find among them the +originals of many of our English tales. Are we indebted to the folk of +other nations for all our folk-tales? It would almost seem so. + +I have introduced into the present volume only one or two stories from +the Prose Edda. Space would not allow me to give so much of the Edda as +I could have wished. + +In selecting and translating the matter for this volume, I have +endeavoured to make the book such as would afford its readers a fair +general view of the main features of the Folklore of the North. C.J.T. + + + + +CONTENTS + + The Wonderful Plough (Isle of Rugen) + + How a Lad stole the Giant's Treasure (Sweden) + + Tales of Cats (Denmark) + + The Magician's Daughter (Sweden) + + The Hill-man invited to the Christening (Denmark) + + The Meal of Frothi (Norway) + + The Lost Bell (Isle of Rugen) + + Maiden Swanwhite and Maiden Foxtail (Sweden) + + Tales of Treasure (Denmark) + + Holger Danske (Denmark) + + Tales from the Prose Edda-- + + The Gods and the Wolf + + The Strange Builder + + Thor's Journey to the Land of Giants + + How Thor Went a-Fishing + + The Death of Baldur + + The Punishment of Loki + + The Origin of Tiis Lake (Denmark) + + There are such Women (Norway) + + Tales of the Nisses (Denmark) + + The Dwarfs' Banquet (Norway) + + The Icelandic Sorceresses (Eyrbiggia Saga) + + The Three Dogs (Sweden) + + The Legend of Thorguima (Eyrbiggia Saga) + + The Little Glass Shoe (Isle of Rugen) + + How Loki Wagered his Head (Edda Resenii) + + The Adventures of John Dietrich (Isle of Rugen) + + How Thorston Became Rich (Thorston's Saga) + + Gudbrand of the Hillside (Norway) + + The Dwarf-Sword Tirfing (Hervarar Saga) + + + + + +THE WONDERFUL PLOUGH. + +There was once a farmer who was master of one of the little black dwarfs +that are the blacksmiths and armourers, and he got him in a very curious +way. On the road leading to this farmer's ground there stood a stone +cross, and every morning as he went to his work he used to stop and +kneel down before this cross, and pray for some minutes. + +On one of these occasions he noticed on the cross a pretty, bright +insect, of such a brilliant hue that he could not recollect having ever +before seen the like in an insect. He wondered greatly at this, but +still he did not disturb it. The insect did not remain long quiet, but +ran without ceasing backwards and forwards upon the cross, as if it was +in pain and wanted to get away. + +Next morning the farmer again saw the very same insect, and again it was +running to and fro in the same state of uneasiness. The farmer began now +to have some suspicions about it, and thought to himself-- + +"Would this now be one of the little black enchanters? It runs about +just like one that has an evil conscience, as one that would, but +cannot, get away." + +A variety of thoughts and conjectures passed through his mind, and he +remembered what he had often heard from his father and other old people, +that when any of the underground people chance to touch anything holy +they are held fast and cannot quit the spot, and so they are extremely +careful to avoid all such things. + +"But," thought he, "you may even be something else, and I should, +perhaps, be committing a sin in taking the little insect away." + +So he let it stay where it was. + +When, however, he twice again found it in the same place, and still +running about with the same signs of uneasiness, he said-- + +"No, it is not all right with it, so now, in the name of God." + +He made a grasp at the insect, which resisted and clung fast to the +stone; but he held it tight, and tore it away by main force, and lo! +then he found he had, by the top of the head, a little ugly black chap, +about six inches long, screeching and kicking at a furious rate. + +The farmer was greatly astounded at this sudden transformation. Still he +held his prize fast, and kept calling to him, while he administered to +him a few smart slaps-- + +"Be quiet, be quiet, my little man! If crying was to do the business, we +might look for heroes in swaddling-clothes. We'll just take you with us +a bit, and see what you are good for." + +The little fellow trembled and shook in every limb, and then began to +whimper most piteously, and begged of the farmer to let him go. + +"No, my lad," replied the farmer, "I will not let you go till you tell +me who you are, and how you came here, and what trade you know that +enables you to earn your bread in the world." + +At this the little man grinned and shook his head, but said not a word +in reply, only begging and praying the more to get loose. The farmer +thought he must now entreat him if he would coax any information out of +him. But it was all to no purpose. He then adopted the contrary method, +and whipped and slashed him, but just to as little effect. The little +black thing remained as dumb as the grave, for this species is the most +malicious and obstinate of all the underground folk. + +The farmer now got angry, and said-- + +"Do but be quiet, my child. I should be a fool to put myself into a +passion with such a little brat. Never fear, I shall soon make you tame +enough." + +So saying, he ran home with him, and clapped him into a black sooty iron +pot, and put the iron lid upon it, and laid on the top of the lid a +great heavy stone. Then he set the pot in a dark, cold room, and as he +was going out, said to him-- + +"Stay there, now, and freeze till you are black! I'll engage that at +last you will answer me civilly." + +Twice a week the farmer went regularly into the room and asked his +little black captive if he would answer him now, but the little one +still obstinately persisted in his silence. The farmer had, without +success, pursued this course for six weeks, at the end of which time his +prisoner at last gave up. One day, as the farmer was opening the room +door, of his own accord he asked him to come and take him out of his +dirty, gloomy dungeon, promising that he would now cheerfully do all +that was wanted of him. + +The farmer first ordered him to tell him his history. The black one +replied-- + +"My dear friend, you know it just as well as I do, or else you never +would have had me here. You see I happened by chance to come too near +the cross, a thing we little people may not do, and then I was held +fast, and obliged instantly to let my body become visible. In order that +people might not recognise me, I turned myself into an insect. But you +found me out. When we get fastened to holy or consecrated things we can +never get away from them unless a man takes us off. That, however, does +not happen without plague and annoyance to us; though, indeed, to say +the truth, the staying fastened there is not over pleasant. So I +struggled against you too, for we have a natural aversion to let +ourselves be taken in a man's hand." + +"Ho, ho! is that the tune with you?" cried the farmer. "You have a +natural aversion have you? Believe me, my sooty friend, I have just the +same for you, and so you shall be away without a moment's delay, and we +will lose no time in making our bargain with each other. But you must +first make me some present." + +"What you will you have only to ask," said the little one, "silver and +gold, and precious stones, and costly furniture--all shall be thine in +less than an instant." + +"Silver and gold, and precious stones, and all such glittering fine +things, will I none," said the farmer. "They have turned the heart and +broken the neck of many a one before now, and few are they whose lives +they make happy. I know that you are handy smiths, and have many a +strange thing with you that other smiths know nothing about. So, come +now, swear to me that you will make me an iron plough, such that the +smallest foal may be able to draw it without being tired, and then run +off with you as fast as your legs will carry you." So the black swore, +and then the farmer cried out-- + +"Now, in the name of God. There you are at liberty," and the little one +vanished like lightning. + +Next morning, before the sun was up, there stood in the farmer's yard a +new iron plough, and he yoked his dog, Water, to it; and though it was +of the size of an ordinary plough, Water drew it with ease through the +heaviest clayland, and it tore up prodigious furrows. The farmer used +this plough for many years, and the smallest foal or the leanest little +horse could draw it through the ground, to the amazement of every one +who beheld it, without turning a single hair. + +This plough made a rich man of the farmer, for it cost him no +horse-flesh, and he led a cheerful and contented life by means of it. + +Hereby we may see that moderation holds out the longest, and that it is +not good to covet too much. + + + + +HOW A LAD STOLE THE GIANT'S TREASURE. + +Once upon a time there lived a peasant who had three sons. The two elder +ones used to go with him to the field and to the forest, and helped him +in his work, but the youngest remained at home with his mother, to help +her in the house. His brothers despised him for doing this, and whenever +they had a chance they used him badly. + +At length the father and mother died, and the sons divided the property +among them. As might have been looked for, the elder brothers took all +that was of any value for themselves, leaving nothing to the youngest +but an old cracked kneading-trough, which neither of them thought worth +the having. + +"The old trough," said one of the brothers, "will do very well for our +young brother, for he is always baking and scrubbing." + +The boy thought this, as was only natural, a poor thing to inherit, but +he could do nothing, and he now recognised that it would be no use his +remaining at home, so he wished his brothers good-bye, and went off to +seek his fortune. On coming to the side of a lake he made his trough +water-tight with oakum, and converted it into a little boat. Then he +found two sticks, and using these as oars rowed away. + +When he had crossed the water, he saw a large palace, and entering it, +he asked to speak with the king. The king questioned him respecting his +family and the purpose of his visit. + +"I," said the boy, "am the son of a poor peasant, and all I have in the +world is an old kneading-trough. I have come here to seek work." + +The king laughed when he heard this. + +"Indeed," said he, "you have not inherited much, but fortune works many +a change." + +He took the lad to be one of his servants, and he became a favourite for +his courage and honesty. + +Now the king who owned this palace had an only daughter, who was so +beautiful and so clever that she was talked of all through the kingdom, +and many came from the east and from the west to ask her hand in +marriage. The princess, however, rejected them all, saying that none +should have her for his wife unless he brought her for a wedding-present +four valuable things belonging to a giant who lived on the other side of +the lake. These four treasures were a gold sword, three gold hens, a +gold lantern, and a gold harp. + +Many king's sons and many good warriors tried to win these treasures, +but none of them came back, for the giant caught them all and eat them. +The king was very sorrowful, for he feared that at this rate his +daughter would never get a husband, and so he would not have a +son-in-law to whom to leave his kingdom. + +The boy when he heard of this thought that it might be well worth his +while to try to win the king's beautiful daughter. So he went to the +king one day, and told him what he meant to do. When the king heard him, +he got angry, and said-- + +"Do you think that you, who are only a servant, can do what great +warriors have failed in?" + +The boy, however, was not to be dissuaded, and begged him so to let him +go that at last the king grew calmer and gave him his permission. "But," +said he, "you will lose your life, and I shall be sorry to miss you." + +With that they parted. + +The boy went down to the shore of the lake, and, having found his +trough, he looked it over very closely. Then he got into it and rowed +across the lake, and coming to the giant's dwelling he hid himself, and +stayed the night there. + +Very early in the morning, before it was light, the giant went to his +barn, and began to thrash, making such a noise that the mountains all +around echoed again. When the boy heard this he collected some stones +and put them in his pouch. Then he climbed up on to the roof of the barn +and made a little hole so that he could look in. Now the giant had by +his side his golden sword, which had the strange property that it +clanked whenever the giant was angry. While the giant was busy thrashing +at full speed, the boy threw a little stone which hit the sword, and +caused it to clank. + +"Why do you clank?" said the giant. "I am not angry." + +He went on thrashing, but the next moment the sword clanked again. Once +more the giant pursued his work, and the sword clanked a third time. +Then the giant got so angry that he undid the belt, and threw the sword +out of the barn door. + +"Lie there," said he, "till I have done my thrashing." + +The lad waited no longer, but slipping down from the roof seized on the +sword, ran to his boat, and rowed across the water. On reaching the +other side he hid his treasure, and was full of glee at the success of +his adventure. + +The next day he filled his pouch with corn, put a bundle of bast-twine +in his boat, and once more set off to the giant's dwelling. He lay +hiding for a time, and then he saw the giant's three golden hens walking +about on the shore, and spreading their feathers, which sparkled +beautifully in the bright sunshine. He was soon near them, and began to +softly lead them on, scattering corn for them out of his pouch. While +they were picking the boy gradually led them to the water, till at last +he got them into his little boat. Then he jumped in himself, secured the +fowl with his twine, pushed out from the shore, and rowed as quickly as +he could to the other side of the water. + +The third day he put some lumps of salt into his pouch, and again rowed +across the lake. As night came on he noticed how the smoke rose from +the giant's dwelling, and concluded that the giant's wife was busy +getting ready his food. He crept up on to the roof, and, looking down +through the hole by which the smoke escaped, saw a large caldron boiling +on the fire. Then he took the lumps of salt out of his pouch, and threw +them one by one into the pot. Having done this, he crept down from the +roof, and waited to see what would follow. + +Soon after the giant's wife took the caldron off the fire, poured out +the porridge into a bowl, and put it on the table. The giant was hungry, +and he fell to at once, but scarcely had he tasted the porridge when he +found it too salt. He got very angry, and started from his seat. The old +woman made what excuse she could, and said that the porridge must be +good; but the giant declared he would eat no more of the stuff, and told +her to taste it for herself. She did so, and pulled a terrible face, for +she had never in her life tasted such abominable stuff. + +There was nothing for it but she must make some new porridge. So she +seized a can, took the gold lantern down from the wall, and went as fast +as she could to the well to draw some water. She put the lantern down by +the side of the well, and was stooping down to get the water, when the +boy ran to her, and, laying hold of her by the feet, threw her head over +heels into the well. He seized hold of the golden lantern, ran away as +fast as he could to his boat, and rowed across the water in safety. + +The giant sat for a long time wondering why his wife was away so long. +At last he went to look for her, but nothing could he see of her. Then +he heard a splashing in the well, and finding she was in the water, he, +with a lot of work, got her out. + +"Where is my gold lantern?" was the first thing he asked, as the old +woman came round a little. + +"I don't know," answered she. "Somebody came, caught me by the feet, and +threw me into the well." + +The giant was very angry at this. + +"Three of my treasures," said he, "have gone, and I have now only my +golden harp left. But, whoever the thief may be, he shall not have that; +I will keep that safe under twelve locks." + +While these things occurred at the giant's dwelling, the boy sat on the +other side of the water, rejoicing that he had got on so well. + +The most difficult task, however, had yet to be done, and for a long +time he thought over how he could get the golden harp. At length he +determined to row over to the giant's place and see if fortune would +favour him. + +No sooner said than done. He rowed over and went to a hiding-place. The +giant had, however, been on the watch, and had seen him. So he rushed +forward in a terrible rage and seized the boy, saying-- + +"So I have caught you at last, you young rascal. You it was who stole my +sword, my three gold hens, and my gold lantern." + +The boy was terribly afraid, for he thought his last hour was come. + +"Spare my life, father," said he humbly, "and I will never come here +again." + +"No," replied the giant, "I will do the same with you as with the +others. No one slips alive out of my hands." + +He then shut the boy up in a sty, and fed him with nuts and sweet milk, +so as to get him nice and fat preparatory to killing and eating him. + +The lad was a prisoner, but he ate and drank and made himself as easy as +he could. After some time the giant wanted to find out if he were fat +enough to be killed. So he went to the sty, made a little hole in the +wall, and told the boy to put his finger through it. The lad knew what +he wanted; so instead of putting out his finger he poked out a little +peeled alder twig. The giant cut the twig, and the red sap ran out. Then +he thought the boy must be yet very lean since his flesh was so hard, so +he caused a greater supply of milk and nuts to be given to him. + +Some time after, the giant again visited the sty, and ordered the boy to +put his finger through the hole in the wall. The lad now poked out a +cabbage-stalk, and the giant, having cut it with his knife, concluded +that the lad must be fat enough, his flesh seemed so soft. + +The next morning the giant said to his wife-- + +"The boy seems to be fat enough now, mother; take him then to-day, and +bake him in the oven, while I go and ask our kinsfolk to the feast." + +The old woman promised to do what her husband told her. So, having +heated the oven, she dragged out the boy to bake him. + +"Sit on the shovel," said she. + +The boy did so, but when the old woman raised the shovel the boy always +fell off. So they went on many times. At last the giantess got angry, +and scolded the boy for being so awkward; the lad excused himself, +saying that he did not know the way to sit on the shovel. + +"Look at me," said the woman, "I will show you." + +So she sat herself down on the shovel, bending her back and drawing up +her knees. No sooner was she seated than the boy, seizing hold of the +handle, pushed her into the oven and slammed the door to. Then he took +the woman's fur cloak, stuffed it out with straw, and laid it on the +bed. Seizing the giant's bunch of keys, he opened the twelve locks, +snatched up the golden harp, and ran down to his boat, which he had +hidden among the flags on the shore. + +The giant soon afterwards came home. + +"Where can my wife be?" said he. "No doubt she has lain down to sleep a +bit. Ah! I thought so." + +The old woman, however, slept a long while, and the giant could not wake +her, though he was now expecting his friends to arrive. + +"Wake up, mother," cried he, but no one replied. He called again, but +there was no response. He got angry, and, going to the bed, he gave the +fur cloak a good shake. Then he found that it was not his wife, but +only a bundle of straw put in her clothes. At this the giant grew +alarmed, and he ran off to look after his golden harp. He found his keys +gone, the twelve locks undone, and the harp missing. He went to the oven +and opened the door to see how the meat for the feast was going on. +Behold! there sat his wife, baked, and grinning at him. + +Then the giant was almost mad with grief and rage, and he rushed out to +seek the lad who had done him all this mischief. He came down to the +edge of the water and found him sitting in his boat, playing on the +harp. The music came over the water, and the gold strings shone +wonderfully in the sunshine. The giant jumped into the water after the +boy; but finding that it was too deep, he laid himself down, and began +to drink the water in order to make the lake shallower. He drank with +all his might, and by this means set up a current which drew the boat +nearer and nearer to the shore. Just when he was going to lay hold of it +he burst, for he had drunk too much; and there was an end of him. + +The giant lay dead on the shore, and the boy moved away across the lake, +full of joy and happiness. When he came to land, he combed his golden +hair, put on fine clothes, fastened the giant's gold sword by his side, +and, taking the gold harp in one hand and the gold lantern in the other, +he led the gold fowl after him, and went to the king, who was sitting in +the great hall of the palace surrounded by his courtiers. When the king +saw the boy he was heartily glad. The lad went to the king's beautiful +daughter, saluted her courteously, and laid the giant's treasures before +her. Then there was great joy in the palace, that the princess had after +all got the giant's treasures and so bold and handsome a bridegroom. The +wedding was celebrated soon after with very much splendour and +rejoicing; and when the king died the lad succeeded him, ruling over all +the land both long and happily. + +I know no more respecting them. + + + + +TALES OF CATS. + + +The house of Katholm (Cat-isle) near Grenaac, in Jutland, got its name +from the following circumstance. + +There was a man in Jutland who had made a good deal of money by improper +means. When he died he left his property equally among his three sons. +The youngest, when he got his share, thought to himself-- + +"What comes with sin goes with sorrow," and he resolved to submit his +money to the water-ordeal, thinking that the ill-got money would sink to +the bottom, and what was honestly acquired swim on the top. He +accordingly cast all his money into the water, and only one solitary +farthing swam. With this he bought a cat, and he went to sea and visited +foreign parts. At length he chanced to come to a place where the people +were sadly plagued by an enormous number of rats and mice, and as his +cat had had kittens by this time, he acquired great wealth by selling +them. So he came home to Jutland, and built himself a house, which he +called Katholm. + +There was one time a poor sailor out of Ribe, who came to a foreign +island whose inhabitants were grievously plagued with mice. By good +luck he had a cat of his own on board, and the people of the island gave +him so much gold for it that he went home as fast as he could to fetch +more cats, and by this traffic he in a short time grew so rich that he +had no need of any more. Some time after, when he was on his deathbed, +he bequeathed a large sum of money for the building of Ribe Cathedral, +and a proof of this is still to be seen in a carving over the east door +of the church, representing a cat and four mice. The door is called +Cat-head Door (Kathoved Dor). + + + + +THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER + + +Just on the Finland frontiers there is situated a high mountain, which, +on the Swedish side, is covered with beautiful copsewood, and on the +other with dark pine-trees, so closely ranked together, and so luxuriant +in shade, that one might almost say the smallest bird could not find its +way through the thickets. Below the copsewood there stands a chapel with +the image of St. George, as guardian of the land and as a defence +against dragons, if there be such, and other monsters of paganism, +while, on the other side, on the borders of the dark firwood, are +certain cottages inhabited by wicked sorcerers, who have, moreover, a +cave cut so deep into the mountain that it joins with the bottomless +abyss, whence come all the demons that assist them. The Swedish +Christians who dwelt in the neighbourhood of this mountain thought it +would be necessary, besides the chapel and statue of St. George, to +choose some living protector, and therefore selected an ancient warrior, +highly renowned for his prowess in the battle-field, who had, in his old +age, become a monk. When this man went to take up his abode upon the +mountains, his only son (for he had formerly lived as a married man in +the world) would on no account leave him, but lived there also, +assisting his father in his duties as watcher, and in the exercises of +prayer and penitence, fully equalling the example that was now afforded +him as he had formerly done his example as a soldier. + +The life led by those two valiant champions is said to have been most +admirable and pious. + +Once on a time it happened that the young hero went out to cut wood in +the forest. He bore a sharp axe on his shoulders, and was besides girded +with a great sword; for as the woods were not only full of wild beasts, +but also haunted by wicked men, the pious hermits took the precaution of +always going armed. While the good youth was forcing his way through the +thickest of the copsewood, and already beheld over it the pointed tops +of the fir-trees (for he was close on the Finland frontier), there +rushed out against him a great white wolf, so that he had only just time +enough to leap to one side, and not being able immediately to draw his +sword, he flung his axe at his assailant. The blow was so well aimed +that it struck one of the wolf's fore-legs, and the animal, being sorely +wounded, limped back, with a yell of anguish, into the wood. The young +hermit warrior, however, thought to himself-- + +"It is not enough that I am rescued, but I must take such measures that +no one else may in future be injured, or even terrified by this wild +beast." + +So he rushed in as fast as possible among the fir-trees, and inflicted +such a vehement blow with his sword on the wolf's head, that the animal, +groaning piteously, fell to the ground. Hereupon there came over the +young man all at once a strange mood of regret and compassion for his +poor victim. Instead of putting it immediately to death, he bound up the +wounds as well as he could with moss and twigs of trees, placed it on a +sort of canvas sling on which he was in the habit of carrying great +fagots, and with much labour brought it home, in hopes that he might be +able at last to cure and tame his fallen adversary. He did not find his +father in the cottage, and it was not without some fear and anxiety that +he laid the wolf on his own bed, which was made of moss and rushes, and +over which he had nailed St. George and the Dragon. He then turned to +the fire-place of the small hut, in order to prepare a healing salve for +the wounds. While he was thus occupied, how much was he astonished to +hear the moanings and lamentations of a human voice from the bed on +which he had just before deposited the wolf. On returning thither his +wonder was inexpressible on perceiving, instead of the frightful wild +beast, a most beautiful damsel, on whose head the wound which he had +inflicted was bleeding through her fine golden hair, and whose right +arm, in all its grace and snow-white luxuriance, was stretched out +motionless, for it had been broken by the blow from his axe. + +"Pray," said she, "have pity, and do not kill me outright. The little +life that I have still left is, indeed, painful enough, and may not +last long; yet, sad as my condition is, it is yet tenfold better than +death." + +The young man then sat down weeping beside her, and she explained to him +that she was the daughter of a magician, on the other side of the +mountain, who had sent her out in the shape of a wolf to collect plants +from places which, in her own proper form, she could not have reached. +It was but in terror she had made that violent spring which the youth +had mistaken for an attack on him, when her only wish had been to pass +by him. + +"But you directly broke my right arm," said she, "though I had no evil +design against you." + +How she had now regained her proper shape she could not imagine, but to +the youth it was quite clear that the picture of St. George and the +Dragon had broken the spell by which the poor girl had been transformed. + +While the son was thus occupied, the old man returned home, and soon +heard all that had occurred, perceiving, at the same time, that if the +young pagan wanderer had been released from the spells by which she had +been bound, the youth was, in his turn, enchanted and spellbound by her +beauty and amiable behaviour. + +From that moment he exerted himself to the utmost for the welfare of her +soul, endeavouring to convert her to Christianity, while his son +attended to the cure of her wounds; and, as their endeavours were on +both sides successful, it was resolved that the lovers should be united +in marriage, for the youth had not restricted himself by any monastic +vows. + +The magician's daughter was now restored to perfect health. A day had +been appointed for her baptism and marriage. It happened that one +evening the bride and bridegroom went to take a pleasure walk through +the woods. The sun was yet high in the west, and shone so fervently +through the beech-trees on the green turf that they could never resolve +on turning home, but went still deeper and deeper into the forest. Then +the bride told him stories of her early life, and sang old songs which +she had learned when a child, and which sounded beautifully amid the +woodland solitude. Though the words were such that they could not be +agreeable to the youth's ears (for she had learned them among her pagan +and wicked relations), yet he could not interrupt her, first, because he +loved her so dearly, and, secondly, because she sang in a voice so clear +and sweet that the whole forest seemed to rejoice in her music. At last, +however, the pointed heads of the pine-trees again became visible, and +the youth wished to turn back, in order that he might not come again too +near the hated Finnish frontier. His bride, however, said to him-- + +"Dearest Conrad, why should we not walk on a little further? I would +gladly see the very place where you so cruelly wounded me on the head +and arm, and made me prisoner, all which has, in the end contributed to +my happiness. Methinks we are now very near the spot." + +Accordingly they sought about here and there until at last the twilight +fell dim and heavy on the dense woods. The sun had long since set. The +moon, however, had risen, and, as a light broke forth, the lovers stood +on the Finland frontier, or rather they must have gone already some +distance beyond it, for the bridegroom was exceedingly terrified when he +found his cap lifted from his head, as if by human hand, though he saw +only the branch of a fir-tree. Immediately thereafter the whole air +around them was filled with strange and supernatural beings--witches, +devils, dwarfs, horned-owls, fire-eyed cats, and a thousand other +wretches that could not be named and described, whirled around them as +if dancing to rapid music. When the bride had looked on for a while, she +broke out into loud laughter, and at last began to dance furiously along +with them. The poor bridegroom might shout and pray as much and as +earnestly as he would, for she never attended to him, but at last +transformed herself in a manner so extraordinary that he could not +distinguish her from the other dancers. He thought, however, that he had +kept his eyes upon her, and seized on one of the dancers; but alas! it +was only a horrible spectre which held him fast, and threw its wide +waving shroud around him, so that he could not make his escape, while, +at the same time, some of the subterraneous black demons pulled at his +legs, and wanted to bear him down along with them into their bottomless +caves. + +Fortunately he happened at that moment to cross himself and call on the +name of the Saviour, upon which the whole of this vile assembly fell +into confusion. They howled aloud and ran off in all directions, while +Conrad in the meantime saved himself by recrossing the frontier, and +getting under the protection of the Swedish copsewood. His beautiful +bride, however, was completely lost; and by no endeavours could he ever +obtain her again, though he often came to the Finland border, called out +her name aloud, wept and prayed, but all in vain. Many times, it is +true, he saw her floating about through the pine-trees, as if in chase, +but she was always accompanied by a train of frightful creatures, and +she herself also looked wild and disfigured. For the most part she never +noticed Conrad, but if she could not help fixing her eyes upon him, she +laughed so immoderately, and in a mood of merriment so strange and +unnatural, that he was terrified and made the sign of the cross, +whereupon she always fled away, howling, into one of the thickets. + +Conrad fell more and more into melancholy abstraction, hardly ever +spoke, and though he had given over his vain walks into the forest, yet +if one asked him a question, the only answer he returned was-- + +"Ay, she is gone away beyond the mountains," so little did he know or +remember of any other object in the world but the lost beauty. + +At last he died of grief; and according to a request which he had once +made, his father prepared a grave for him on the place where the bride +was found and lost, though during the fulfilment of this duty he had +enough to do--one while in contending with his crucifix against evil +spirits, and at another, with his sword against wild beasts, which were +no doubt sent thither by the magicians to attack and annoy him. At +length, however, he brought his task to an end, and thereafter it seemed +as if the bride mourned for the youth's untimely death, for there was +heard often a sound of howling and lamentation at the grave. For the +most part, indeed, this voice is like the voices of wolves, yet, at the +same time, human accents are to be distinguished, and I myself have +often listened thereto on dark winter nights. + +Alas! that the poor maiden should have ventured again so near the +accursed paths she had once renounced. A few steps in the backward +course, and all is lost! + + + + +THE HILL-MAN INVITED TO THE CHRISTENING. + + +The hill-people are excessively frightened during thunder. When, +therefore, they see bad weather coming on, they lose no time in getting +to the shelter of their hills. This terror is also the cause of their +not being able to endure the beating of a drum. They take it to be the +rolling of thunder. It is, therefore, a good recipe for banishing them +to beat a drum every day in the neighbourhood of their hills, for they +immediately pack up, and depart to some quieter residence. + +A farmer lived once in great friendship and concord with a hill-man, +whose hill was in his lands. One time when his wife was about to have a +child, it gave him great perplexity to think that he could not well +avoid inviting the hill-man to the christening, which might, not +improbably, bring him into ill repute with the priest and the other +people of the village. He was going about pondering deeply, but in vain, +how he might get out of this dilemma, when it came into his head to ask +the advice of the boy that kept his pigs, who had a great head-piece, +and had often helped him before. The pig-boy instantly undertook to +arrange the matter with the hill-man in such a manner that he should not +only stay away without being offended, but, moreover, give a good +christening present. + +Accordingly, when it was night, he took a sack on his shoulder, went to +the hill-man's hill, knocked, and was admitted. He delivered his +message, gave his master's compliments, and requested the honour of his +company at the christening. The hill-man thanked him, and said-- + +"I think it is but right I should give you a christening present." + +With these words he opened his money-chests, bidding the boy hold up his +sack while he poured money into it. + +"Is there enough now?" said he, when he had put a good quantity into it. + +"Many give more, few give less," replied the boy. + +The hill-man once more fell to filling the sack, and again asked-- + +"Is there enough now?" + +The boy lifted the sack a little off the ground to see if he was able to +carry any more, and then answered-- + +"It is about what most people give." + +Upon this the hill-man emptied the whole chest into the bag, and once +more asked-- + +"Is there enough now?" + +The guardian of the pigs now saw that there was as much in the sack as +he would be able to carry, so he answered-- + +"No one gives more, most people give less." + +"Come now," said the hill-man, "let us hear who else is to be at the +christening." + +"Ah," said the boy, "we are to have a great many strangers and great +people. First and foremost, we are to have three priests and a bishop." + +"Hem!" muttered the hill-man; "however, those gentlemen usually look +only after the eating and drinking; they will never take any notice of +me. Well, who else?" + +"Then we have asked St. Peter and St. Paul." + +"Hem! hem! However, there will be a bye-place for me behind the stove. +Well, and what then?" + +"Then Our Lady herself is coming." + +"Hem! hem! hem! However, guests of such high rank come late and go away +early. But tell me, my lad, what sort of music is it you are to have?" + +"Music," said the boy, "why, we are to have drums." + +"Drums!" repeated the troll, quite terrified. "No, no! Thank you. I +shall stay at home in that case. Give my best respects to your master, +and I thank him for the invitation, but I cannot come. I did but once go +out to take a little walk, and some people began to beat a drum. I +hurried home, and was but just got to my door when they flung the +drum-stick after me, and broke one of my shins. I have been lame of that +leg ever since, and I shall take good care in future to avoid that sort +of music." + +So saying he helped the boy to put the sack on his back, once more +charging him to present his best respects to his master. + + + + +THE MEAL OF FROTHI. + + +Gold is called by the poets the meal of Frothi, and the origin of the +term is found in this story. + +Odin had a son named Skioldr who settled and reigned in the land which +is now called Denmark, but was then called Gotland. Skioldr had a son +named Frithleif, who reigned after him. Frithleif's son was called +Frothi, and succeeded him on the throne. At the time that the Emperor +Augustus made peace over the whole world, Christ was born, but as Frothi +was the most powerful of all the monarchs of the north, that peace, +wherever the Danish language was spoken, was imputed to him, and the +Northmen called it Frothi's peace. + +At that time no man hurt another, even if he found the murderer of his +father or brother, loose or bound. Theft and robbery were then unknown, +insomuch that a gold armlet lay for a long time untouched in +Jalangursheath. + +Frothi chanced to go on a friendly visit to a certain king in Sweden, +named Fiolnir, and there purchased two female slaves, called Fenia and +Menia, equally distinguished for their stature and strength. In those +days there were found in Denmark two quern-stones of such a size, that +no one was able to move them, and these mill-stones were endued with +such virtue, that the quern in grinding produced whatever the grinder +wished for. The quern was called Grotti. He who presented this quern to +Frothi was called Hengikioptr (hanging-chops). King Frothi caused these +slaves to be brought to the quern, and ordered them to grind gold, +peace, and prosperity for Frothi. The king allowed them no longer rest +or sleep than while the cuckoo was silent or a verse could be recited. +Then they are said to have sung the lay called Grotta-Savngr, and before +they ended their song to have ground a hostile army against Frothi, +insomuch, that a certain sea-king, called Mysingr, arriving the same +night, slew Frothi, taking great spoil. And so ended Frothi's peace. + +Mysingr took with him the quern, Grotti, with Fenia and Menia, and +ordered them to grind salt. About midnight they asked Mysingr whether he +had salt enough. On his ordering them to go on grinding, they went on a +little longer till the ship sank under the weight of the salt. A +whirlpool was produced, where the waves are sucked up by the mill-eye, +and the waters of the sea have been salt ever since. + + + + +THE LOST BELL. + + +A shepherd's boy, belonging to Patzig, about half a mile from Bergen, +where there are great numbers of underground people in the hills, found +one morning a little silver bell on the green heath among the giants' +graves, and fastened it on him. It happened to be the bell belonging to +the cap of one of the little brown ones, who had lost it while he was +dancing, and did not immediately miss it or observe that it was no +longer tinkling in his cap. He had gone down into the hill without his +bell, and, having discovered his loss, was filled with melancholy, for +the worst thing that can befall the underground people is to lose their +cap, or their shoes; but even to lose the bell from their caps, or the +buckle from their belts, is no trifle to them. Whoever loses his bell +must pass some sleepless nights, for not a wink of sleep can he get till +he has recovered it. + +The little fellow was in the greatest trouble, and looked and searched +about everywhere. But how could he learn who had the bell? for only on a +very few days in the year may they come up to daylight, nor can they +then appear in their true form. He had turned himself into every form of +birds, beasts, and men, and he had sung and groaned and lamented about +his bell, but not the slightest tidings or trace of tidings had he been +able to get. Most unfortunately for him, the shepherd's boy had left +Patzig the very day he found the little bell, and he was now keeping +sheep at Unrich, near Gingst, so that it was not till many a day after, +and then by mere chance, that the little underground fellow recovered +his bell, and with it his peace of mind. + +He had thought it not unlikely that a raven, or a crow, or a jackdaw, or +a magpie, had found his bell, and from its thievish disposition, which +attracts it to anything bright and shining, had carried it into its +nest. With this thought he turned himself into a beautiful little bird, +and searched all the nests in the island, and he'd sang before all kinds +of birds to see if they had found what he had lost, and could restore to +him his sleep. He had, however, been able to learn nothing from the +birds. As he now, one evening, was flying over the waters of Ralov and +the fields of Unrich, the shepherd's boy, whose name was John +Schlagenteufel (Smite-devil), happened to be keeping his sheep there at +the very time. Several of the sheep had bells about their necks, and +they tinkled merrily when the boy's dog set them trotting. The little +bird who was flying over them thought of his bell, and sang in a +melancholy tone---- + + "Little bell, little bell, + Little ram as well, + You, too, little sheep, + If you've my tingle too, + No sheep's so rich as you, + My rest you keep." + +The boy looked up and listened to this strange song which came out of +the sky, and saw the pretty bird, which seemed to him still more +strange. + +"If one," said he to himself, "had but that bird that's singing up +there, so plain that one of us could hardly match him! What can he mean +by that wonderful song? The whole of it is, it must be a feathered +witch. My rams have only pinchbeck bells, he calls them rich cattle; but +I have a silver bell, and he sings nothing about me." + +With these words he began to fumble in his pocket, took out his bell, +and rang it. + +The bird in the air instantly saw what it was, and rejoiced beyond +measure. He vanished in a second, flew behind the nearest bush, +alighted, and drew off his speckled feather dress, and turned himself +into an old woman dressed in tattered clothes. The old dame, well +supplied with sighs and groans, tottered across the field to the +shepherd-boy, who was still ringing his bell and wondering what was +become of the beautiful bird. She cleared her throat, and coughing, bid +him a kind good evening, and asked him which was the way to Bergen. +Pretending then that she had just seen the little bell, she exclaimed-- + +"Well now, what a charming pretty little bell! Well, in all my life, I +never beheld anything more beautiful. Hark ye, my son, will you sell me +that bell? What may be the price of it? I have a little grandson at +home, and such a nice plaything as it would make for him!" + +"No," replied the boy, quite short; "the bell is not for sale. It is a +bell that there is not such another bell in the whole world. I have only +to give it a little tinkle, and my sheep run of themselves wherever I +would have them go. And what a delightful sound it has! Only listen, +mother," said he, ringing it; "is there any weariness in the world that +can hold out against this bell? I can ring with it away the longest +time, so that it will be gone in a second." + +The old woman thought to herself-- + +"We will see if he can hold out against bright shining money," and she +took out no less than three silver dollars and offered them to him, but +he still replied-- + +"No, I will not sell the bell." + +She then offered him five dollars. + +"The bell is still mine," said he. + +She stretched out her hand full of ducats. He replied this third time-- + +"Gold is dirt, and does not ring." + +The old dame then shifted her ground, and turned the discourse another +way. She grew mysterious, and began to entice him by talking of secret +arts and of charms by which his cattle might be made to thrive +prodigiously, relating to him all kinds of wonders of them. It was then +the young shepherd began to long, and he lent a willing ear to her +tales. + +The end of the matter was, that she said to him-- + +"Hark ye, my child, give me your bell; and see, here is a white stick +for you," said she, taking out a little white stick which had Adam and +Eve very ingeniously cut upon it as they were feeding their flocks in +the Garden, with the fattest sheep and lambs dancing before them. There, +too, was the shepherd David, as he stood up with his sling against the +giant Goliath. "I will give you," said the woman, "this stick for the +bell, and as long as you drive the cattle with it they will be sure to +thrive. With this you will become a rich shepherd. Your wethers will be +always fat a month sooner than the wethers of other shepherds, and every +one of your sheep will have two pounds of wool more than others, and yet +no one will ever be able to see it on them." + +The old woman handed him the stick. So mysterious was her gesture, and +so strange and bewitching her smile, that the lad was at once in her +power. He grasped eagerly at the stick, gave her his hand, and cried-- + +"Done! strike hands! The bell for the stick!" + +Cheerfully the old woman took the bell for the stick, and departed like +a light breeze over the field and the heath. He saw her vanish, and she +seemed to float away before his eyes like a mist, and to go off with a +slight whiz and whistle that made the shepherd's hair stand on end. + +The underground one, however, who, in the shape of an old woman, had +wheedled him out of his bell, had not deceived him. For the underground +people dare not lie, but must ever keep their word--a breach of it +being followed by their sudden change into the shape of toads, snakes, +dunghill beetles, wolves, and apes, forms in which they wander about, +objects of fear and aversion, for a long course of years before they are +freed. They have, therefore, naturally a great dread of lying. John +Schlagenteufel gave close attention and made trial of his new shepherd's +staff, and he soon found that the old woman had told him the truth, for +his flocks and his work, and all the labour of his hands, prospered with +him, and he had wonderful luck, so that there was not a sheep-owner or +head shepherd but was desirous of having him in his employment. + +It was not long, however, that he remained an underling. Before he was +eighteen years of age he had got his own flocks, and in the course of a +few years was the richest sheep-master in the whole island of Bergen. At +last he was able to buy a knight's estate for himself, and that estate +was Grabitz, close by Rambin, which now belongs to the Lords of Sunde. +My father knew him there, and how from a shepherd's boy he became a +nobleman. He always conducted himself like a prudent, honest, and pious +man, who had a good word for every one. He brought up his sons like +gentlemen, and his daughters like ladies, some of whom are still alive, +and accounted people of great consequence. + +Well may people who hear such stories wish that they had met with such +an adventure, and had found a little silver bell which the underground +people had lost! + + + + +MAIDEN SWANWHITE AND MAIDEN FOXTAIL. + + +There was once upon a time a wicked woman who had a daughter and a +step-daughter. The daughter was ugly and of an evil disposition, but the +step-daughter was most beautiful and good, and all who knew her wished +her well. When the girl's step-mother and step-sister saw this they +hated the poor girl. + +One day it chanced that she was sent by her step-mother to the well to +draw water. When the girl came there she saw a little hand held out of +the water, and a voice said-- + +"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your golden apple, and in return +for it I will thrice wish you well." + +The girl thought that one who spoke so fairly to her would not do her an +ill turn, so she put the apple into the little hand. Then she bent down +over the spring, and, taking care not to muddy the water, filled her +bucket. As she went home the guardian of the well wished that the girl +would become thrice as beautiful as she was, that whenever she laughed a +gold ring might fall from her mouth, and that red roses might spring up +wherever she trod. The same hour all that he wished came to pass. From +that day the girl was called the Maiden Swanwhite, and the fame of her +loveliness spread all through the land. + +When the wicked step-mother perceived this, she was filled with rage, +and she thought how her own daughter might become as beautiful as +Swanwhite. With this object she set herself to learn all that had +happened, and then she sent her own daughter to fetch water. When the +wicked girl had come to the well, she saw a little hand rise up out of +the water, and heard a voice which said-- + +"Maiden, beautiful and good, give me your gold apple and I will thrice +wish thee well." + +But the hag's daughter was both wicked and avaricious, and it was not +her way to make presents. She therefore made a dash at the little hand, +wished the guardian of the well evil, and said pettishly-- + +"You need not think you'll get a gold apple from me." + +Then she filled her bucket, muddying the water, and away she went in a +rage. The guardian of the well was enraged, so he wished her three evil +wishes, as a punishment for her wickedness. He wished that she should +become three times as ugly as she was, that a dead rat should fall from +her mouth whenever she laughed, and that the fox-tail grass might spring +up in the footsteps wherever she trod. So it was. From that day the +wicked girl was called Maiden Foxtail, and very much talk was there +among the folk of her strange looks and her ill-nature. The hag could +not bear her step-daughter should be more beautiful than her own +daughter, and poor Swanwhite had to put up with all the ill-usage and +suffering that a step-child can meet with. + +Swanwhite had a brother whom she loved very much, and he also loved her +with all his heart. He had long ago left home, and he was now the +servant of a king, far, far off in a strange land. The other servants of +the king bore him no good-will because he was liked by his master, and +they wished to ruin him if they could find anything against him. + +They watched him closely, and one day, coming to the king, said-- + +"Lord king, we know well that you do not like evil or vice in your +servants. Thence we think it is only right to tell you that the young +foreigner, who is in your service, every morning and evening bows the +knee to an idol." + +When the king heard that he set it down to envy and ill-will, and did +not think there was any truth in it, but the courtiers said that he +could easily discover for himself whether what they said was true or +not. They led the king to the young man's rooms, and told him to look +through the key-hole. When the king looked in he saw the young man on +his knees before a fine picture, and so he could not help believing that +what the courtiers had told him was true. + +The king was much enraged, and ordered the young man to come before +him, when he condemned him to die for his great wickedness. + +"My lord king," said he, "do not imagine that I worship any idol. That +is my sister's picture, whom I commend to the care of God every morning +and evening, asking Him to protect her, for she remains in a wicked +step-mother's power." + +The king then wished to see the picture, and he never tired of looking +on its beauty. + +"If it is true," said he, "what you tell me, that that is your sister's +picture, she shall be my queen, and you yourself shall go and fetch her; +but if you lie, this shall be your punishment,--you shall be cast into +the lions' den." + +The king then commanded that a ship should be fitted out in grand style, +having wine and treasure in it. Then he sent away the young man in great +state to fetch his beautiful sister to the court. + +The young man sailed away over the ocean, and came at length to his +land. Here he delivered his master's message, as became him, and made +preparations to return. Then the step-mother and step-sister begged that +they might go with him and his sister. The young man had no liking for +them, so he said no, and refused their request, but Swanwhite begged for +them, and got them what they wanted. + +When they had put to sea and were on the wide ocean, a great storm arose +so that the sailors expected the vessel and all on her to go to the +bottom. The young man was, however, in good spirits, and went up the +mast in order to see if he could discover land anywhere. When he had +looked out from the mast, he called to Swanwhite, who stood on the +deck-- + +"Dear sister, I see land now." + +It was, however, blowing so hard that the maiden could not hear a word. +She asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother said. + +"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you throw your gold casket into the sea." + +When Swanwhite heard that, she did what the hag told her, and cast the +gold casket into the deep sea. + +A while after her brother once more called to his sister, who stood on +the deck-- + +"Swanwhite, go and deck yourself as a bride, for we shall soon be +there." + +But the maiden could not hear a word for the raging of the sea. She +asked her step-mother if she knew what her brother had said. + +"Yes," said the false hag; "he says we shall never come to God's land +unless you cast yourself into the sea." + +While Swanwhite thought of this, the wicked step-mother sprang to her, +and thrust her on a sudden overboard. The young girl was carried away by +the blue waves, and came to the mermaid who rules over all those who are +drowned in the sea. + +When the young man came down the mast, and asked whether his sister was +attired, the step-mother told him many falsehoods about Swanwhite having +fallen into the sea. When the young man heard this he and all the +ship-folk were afraid, for they well knew what punishment awaited them +for having so ill looked after the king's bride. The false hag then +thought of another deception. She said they had better dress her own +daughter as the bride, and then no one need know that Swanwhite had +perished. The young man would not agree to this, but the sailors, being +in fear of their lives, made him do as the step-mother had suggested. +Maiden Foxtail was dressed out in the finest manner with red rings and a +gold girdle, but the young man was ill at ease, and could not forget +what had happened to his sister. + +In the midst of this the vessel came to shore, where was the king with +all his court with much splendour awaiting their arrival. Carpets were +spread upon the ground, and the king's bride left the ship in great +state. When the king beheld Maiden Foxtail, and was told that that was +his bride, he suspected some cheat, and was very angry, and he ordered +that the young man should be thrown into the lions' den. He would not, +however, break his kingly word, so he took the ugly maiden for his wife, +and she became queen in the place of her step-sister. + +Now Maiden Swanwhite had a little dog of which she was very fond, and +she called it Snow-white. Now that its mistress was lost, there was no +one who cared for it, so it came into the king's palace and took refuge +in the kitchen, where it lay down in front of the fire. When it was +night and all had gone to bed, the master-cook saw the kitchen door open +of itself and a beautiful little duck, fastened to a chain, came into +the kitchen. Wherever the little bird trod the most beautiful roses +sprang up. The duck went up to the dog upon the hearth, and said-- + +"Poor little Snow-white! Once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on the grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den! Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms." + +"Alas, poor me!" continued the duck, "I shall come here only on two more +nights. After that I shall see you no more." + +Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. +After a little while the door opened of itself and the little bird went +its way. + +The next morning, when it was daylight, the master-cook took the +beautiful roses that lay strewn on the floor and with them decorated the +dishes for the king's table. The king so much admired the flowers that +he ordered the master-cook to be called to him, and asked him where he +had found such magnificent roses. The cook told him all that had +happened, and what the duck had said to the little dog. When the king +heard it he was much perplexed, and he told the cook to let him know as +soon as the bird showed itself again. + +The next night the little duck again came to the kitchen, and spoke to +the dog as before. The cook sent word to the king, and he came just as +the bird went out at the door. However he saw the beautiful roses lying +all over the kitchen floor, and from them came such a delightful scent +that the like had never been known. + +The king made up his mind that if the duck came again he would see it, +so he lay in wait for it. He waited a long while, when, at midnight, the +little bird, as before, came walking up to the dog which lay on the +hearth, and said-- + +"Poor little Snow-white! once on a time you lay on blue silk cushions. +Now you must lie on grey ashes. Ah! my poor brother, who is in the +lions' den. Shame on Maiden Foxtail! she sleeps in my lord's arms." + +Then it went on-- + +"Alas! poor me! I shall see thee no more." + +Then it caressed the little dog, and the dog returned its caresses. As +the bird was about to go away, the king sprang out and caught it by the +foot. Then the bird changed its form and became a horrible dragon, but +the king held it fast. It changed itself again, and took the forms of +snakes, wolves, and other fierce animals, but the king did not lose his +hold. Then the mermaid pulled hard at the chain, but the king held so +fast that the chain broke in two with a great snap and rattling. That +moment there stood there a beautiful maiden much more beautiful than +that in the fine picture. She thanked the king for having saved her +from the power of the mermaid. The king was very glad, and took the +beautiful maiden in his arms, kissed her, and said-- + +"I will have no one else in the world for my queen, and now I well see +that your brother was guiltless." + +Then he sent off at once to the lions' den to learn if the young man was +yet alive. There the young man was safe and sound among the wild beasts, +which had done him no injury. Then the king was in a happy mood, and +rejoiced that everything had chanced so well. The brother and sister +told him all that the step-mother had done. + +When it was daylight the king ordered a great feast to be got ready, and +asked the foremost people in the country to the palace. As they all sat +at table and were very merry, the king told a story of a brother and +sister who had been treacherously dealt with by a step-mother, and he +related all that had happened from beginning to end. When the tale was +ended the king's folk looked at one another, and all agreed that the +conduct of the step-mother in the tale was a piece of unexampled +wickedness. + +The king turned to his mother-in-law, and said-- + +"Some one should reward my tale. I should like to know what punishment +the taking of such an innocent life deserves." + +The false hag did not know that her own treachery was aimed at, so she +said boldly-- + +"For my part, I certainly think she should be put into boiling lead." + +The king then turned himself to Foxtail, and said-- + +"I should like to have your opinion; what punishment is merited by one +who takes so innocent a life?" + +The wicked woman answered at once-- + +"For my part, I think she deserves to be put into boiling tar." + +Then the king started up from the table in a great rage, and said-- + +"You have pronounced doom on yourselves. Such punishment shall you +suffer!" + +He ordered the two women to be taken out to die as they themselves had +said, and no one save Swanwhite begged him to have mercy on them. + +After that the king was married to the beautiful maiden, and all folk +agreed that nowhere could be found a finer queen. The king gave his own +sister to the brave young man, and there was great joy in all the king's +palace. + +There they live prosperous and happy unto this day, for all I know. + + + + +TALES OF TREASURE. + + +There are still to be seen near Flensborg the ruins of a very ancient +building. Two soldiers once stood on guard there together, but when one +of them was gone to the town, it chanced that a tall white woman came to +the other, and spoke to him, and said-- + +"I am an unhappy spirit, who has wandered here these many hundred years, +but never shall I find rest in the grave." + +She then informed him that under the walls of the castle a great +treasure was concealed, which only three men in the whole world could +take up, and that he was one of the three. The man, who now saw that his +fortune was made, promised to follow her directions in every particular, +whereupon she desired him to come to the same place at twelve o'clock +the following night. + +The other soldier meanwhile had come back from the town just as the +appointment was made with his comrade. He said nothing about what, +unseen, he had seen and heard, but went early the next evening and +concealed himself amongst some bushes. When his fellow-soldier came with +his spade and shovel he found the white woman at the appointed place, +but when she perceived they were watched she put off the appointed +business until the next evening. The man who had lain on the watch to no +purpose went home, and suddenly fell ill; and as he thought he should +die of that sickness, he sent for his comrade, and told him how he knew +all, and conjured him not to have anything to do with witches or with +spirits, but rather to seek counsel of the priest, who was a prudent +man. The other thought it would be the wisest plan to follow the advice +of his comrade, so he went and discovered the whole affair to the +priest, who, however, desired him to do as the spirit had bidden him, +only he was to make her lay the first hand to the work herself. + +The appointed time was now arrived, and the man was at the place. When +the white woman had pointed out to him the spot, and they were just +beginning the work, she said to him that when the treasure was taken up +one-half of it should be his, but that he must divide the other half +equally between the church and the poor. Then the devil entered into the +man, and awakened his covetousness, so that he cried out-- + +"What! shall I not have the whole?" + +Scarcely had he spoken when the figure, with a most mournful wail, +passed in a blue flame over the moat of the castle, and the man fell +sick, and died within three days. + +The story soon spread through the country, and a poor scholar who heard +it thought he had now an opportunity of making his fortune. He therefore +went at midnight to the place, and there he met with the wandering white +woman, and he told her why he was come, and offered his services to +raise the treasure. She, however, answered that he was not one of the +three, one of whom alone could free her, and that the wall in which was +the money would still remain so firm that no human being should be able +to break it. She also told him that at some future time he should be +rewarded for his good inclination; and, it is said, when a long time +after he passed by that place, and thought with compassion on the +sufferings of the unblest woman, he fell on his face over a great heap +of money, which soon put him again on his feet. The wall still remains +undisturbed, and as often as any one has attempted to throw it down, +whatever is thrown down in the day is replaced again in the night. + + * * * * * + +Three men went once in the night-time to Klumhoei to try their luck, for +a dragon watches there over a great treasure. They dug into the ground, +giving each other a strict charge not to utter a word whatever might +happen, otherwise all their labour would be in vain. When they had dug +pretty deep, their spades struck against a copper chest. They then made +signs to one another, and all, with both hands, laid hold of a great +copper ring that was on the top of the chest, and pulled up the +treasure. When they had just got it into their possession, one of them +forgot the necessity of silence, and shouted out-- + +"One pull more, and we have it!" + +That very instant the chest flew away out of their hands to the lake +Stoeierup, but as they all held hard on the ring it remained in their +grasp. They went and fastened the ring on the door of St. Olaf's church, +and there it remains to this very day. + + * * * * * + +Near Dangstrup there is a hill which is called Dangbjerg Dons. Of this +hill it is related that it is at all times covered with a blue mist, and +that under it there lies a large copper kettle full of money. One night +two men went there to dig after this treasure, and they had got so far +as to lay hold of the handle of the kettle. All sorts of wonderful +things began then to appear to disturb them at their work. One time a +coach, drawn by four black horses, drove by them. Then they saw a black +dog with a fiery tongue. Then there came a cock drawing a load of hay. +Still the men persisted in not letting themselves speak, and still dug +on without stopping. At last a fellow came limping up to them and said-- + +"See, Dangstrup is on fire!" + +When the men looked towards the town, it appeared exactly as if the +whole place were in a bright flame. Then at length one of the men forgot +to keep silence, and the moment he uttered an exclamation the treasure +sank deeper and deeper, and as often since as any attempt has been made +to get it up, the trolls have, by their spells and artifices, prevented +its success. + + + + +HOLGER DANSKE. + + +The Danish peasantry of the present day relate many wonderful things of +an ancient hero whom they name Holger Danske, _i.e_. Danish Holger, +and to whom they ascribe wonderful strength and dimensions. + +Holger Danske came one time to a town named Bagsvoer, in the isle of +Zealand, where, being in want of a new suit of clothes, he sent for +twelve tailors to make them. He was so tall that they were obliged to +set ladders to his back and shoulders to take his measure. They measured +and measured away, but unluckily a man, who was on the top of one of the +ladders, happened, as he was cutting a mark in the measure, to give +Holger's ear a clip with the scissors. Holger, forgetting what was going +on, thinking that he was being bitten by a flea, put up his hand and +crushed the unlucky tailor to death between his fingers. + +It is also said that a witch one time gave him a pair of spectacles +which would enable him to see through the ground. He lay down at a place +not far from Copenhagen to make a trial of their powers, and as he put +his face close to the ground, he left in it the mark of his spectacles, +which mark is to be seen at this very day, and the size of it proves +what a goodly pair they must have been. + +Tradition does not say at what time it was that this mighty hero +honoured the isles of the Baltic with his actual presence, but, in +return, it informs us that Holger, like so many other heroes of renown, +"is not dead, but sleepeth." The clang of arms, we are told, was +frequently heard under the castle of Cronberg, but in all Denmark no one +could be found hardy enough to penetrate the subterranean recesses and +ascertain the cause. At length a slave, who had been condemned to death, +was offered his life and a pardon if he would go down, proceed through +the subterranean passage as far as it went, and bring an account of what +he should meet there. He accordingly descended, and went along till he +came to a great iron door, which opened of itself the instant he knocked +at it, and he beheld before him a deep vault. From the roof in the +centre hung a lamp whose flame was nearly extinct, and beneath was a +huge great stone table, around which sat steel-clad warriors, bowed down +over it, each with his head on his crossed arms. He who was seated at +the head of the board then raised himself up. This was Holger Danske. +When he had lifted his head up from off his arms, the stone table split +throughout, for his beard was grown into it. + +"Give me thy hand," said he to the intruder. + +The slave feared to trust his hand in the grasp of the ancient warrior, +and he reached him the end of an iron bar which he had brought with him. +Holger squeezed it so hard, that the mark of his hand remained in it. He +let it go at last, saying-- + +"Well! I am glad to find there are still men in Denmark." + + + + +TALES FROM THE PROSE EDDA + +THE GODS AND THE WOLF. + + +Among the AEsir, or gods, is reckoned one named Loki or Loptur. By many +he is called the reviler of the gods, the author of all fraud and +mischief, and the shame of gods and men alike. He is the son of the +giant Farbauti, his mother being Laufey or Nal, and his brothers Byleist +and Helblindi. He is of a goodly appearance and elegant form, but his +mood is changeable, and he is inclined to all wickedness. In cunning and +perfidy he excels every one, and many a time has he placed the gods in +great danger, and often has he saved them again by his cunning. He has a +wife named Siguna, and their son is called Nari. + +Loki had three children by Angurbodi, a giantess of Jotunheim (the +giants' home). The first of these was Fenris, the wolf; the second was +Joermungand, the Midgard serpent; and the third was Hela, death. Very +soon did the gods become aware of this evil progeny which was being +reared in Jotunheim, and by divination they discovered that they must +receive great injury from them. That they had such a mother spoke bad +for them, but their coming of such a sire was a still worse presage. +All-father therefore despatched certain of the gods to bring the +children to him, and when they were brought before him he cast the +serpent down into the ocean which surrounds the world. There the monster +waxed so large that he wound himself round the whole globe, and that +with such ease that he can with his mouth lay hold of his tail. Hela +All-father cast into Niflheim, where she rules over nine worlds. Into +these she distributes all those who are sent to her,--that is to say, +all who die through sickness or old age. She has there an abode with +very thick walls, and fenced with strong gates. Her hall is Elvidnir; +her table is Hunger; her knife, Starvation; her man-servant, Delay; her +maid-servant, Sloth; her threshold, Precipice; her bed, Care; and her +curtains, Anguish of Soul. The one half of her body is livid, the other +half is flesh-colour. She has a terrible look, so that she can be easily +known. + +As to the wolf, Fenris, the gods let him grow up among themselves, Tyr +being the only one of them who dare give him his food. When, however, +they perceived how he every day increased prodigiously in size, and that +the oracles warned them that he would one day prove fatal to them, they +determined to make very strong iron fetters for him which they called +Loeding. These they presented to the wolf, and desired him to put them +on to show his strength by endeavouring to break them. The wolf saw that +it would not be difficult for him to burst them, so he let the gods put +the fetters on him, then violently stretching himself he broke the +fetters asunder, and set himself free. + +Having seen this, the gods went to work, and prepared a second set of +fetters, called Dromi, half as strong again as the former, and these +they persuaded the wolf to put on, assuring him that if he broke them he +would then furnish them with an undeniable proof of his power. The wolf +saw well enough that it would not be easy to break this set, but he +considered that he had himself increased in strength since he broke the +others, and he knew that without running some risk he could never become +celebrated. He therefore allowed the gods to place the fetters on him. +Then Fenris shook himself, stretched his limbs, rolled on the ground, +and at length burst the fetters, which he made fly in all directions. +Thus did he free himself the second time from his chains, and from this +has arisen the saying, "To get free from Loeding, or to burst from +Dromi," meaning to perform something by strong exertion. + +The gods now despaired of ever being able to secure the wolf with any +chain of their own making. All-father, however, sent Skirnir, the +messenger of the god Frey, into the country of the Black Elves, to the +dwarfs, to ask them to make a chain to bind Fenris with. This chain was +composed of six things--the noise made by the fall of a cat's foot, the +hair of a woman's beard, the roots of stones, the nerves of bears, the +breath of fish, and the spittle of birds. + +The fetters were as smooth and as soft as silk, and yet, as you will +presently see, of great strength. The gods were very thankful for them +when they were brought to them, and returned many thanks to him who +brought them. Then they took the wolf with them on to the island Lyngvi, +which is in the lake Amsvartnir, and there they showed him the chain, +desiring him to try his strength in breaking it. At the same time they +told him that it was a good deal stronger than it looked. They took it +in their own hands and pulled at it, attempting in vain to break it, and +then they said to Fenris-- + +"No one else but you, Fenris, can break it." + +"I don't see," replied the wolf, "that I shall gain any glory by +breaking such a slight string, but if any artifice has been employed in +the making of it, you may be sure, though it looks so fragile, it shall +never touch foot of mine." + +The gods told him he would easily break so slight a bandage, since he +had already broken asunder shackles of iron of the most solid make. + +"But," said they, "if you should not be able to break the chain, you are +too feeble to cause us any anxiety, and we shall not hesitate to loose +you again." + +"I very much fear," replied the wolf, "that if you once tie me up so +fast that I cannot release myself, you will be in no haste to unloose +me. I am, therefore, unwilling to have this cord wound around me; but to +show you I am no coward, I will agree to it, but one of you must put his +hand in my mouth, as a pledge that you intend me no deceit." + +The gods looked on one another wistfully, for they found themselves in +an embarrassing position. + +Then Tyr stepped forward and bravely put his right hand in the monster's +mouth. The gods then tied up the wolf, who forcibly stretched himself, +as he had formerly done, and exerted all his powers to disengage +himself; but the more efforts he made the tighter he drew the chain +about him, and then all the gods, except Tyr, who lost his hand, burst +out into laughter at the sight. Seeing that he was so fast tied that he +would never be able to get loose again, they took one end of the chain, +which was called Gelgja, and having drilled a hole for it, drew it +through the middle of a large broad rock, which they sank very deep in +the earth. Afterwards, to make all still more secure, they tied the end +of the chain, which came through the rock to a great stone called +Keviti, which they sank still deeper. The wolf used his utmost power to +free himself, and, opening his mouth, tried to bite them. When the gods +saw that they took a sword and thrust it into his mouth, so that it +entered his under jaw right up to the hilt, and the point reached his +palate. He howled in the most terrible manner, and since then the foam +has poured from his mouth in such abundance that it forms the river +called Von. So the wolf must remain until Ragnaroek. + +Such a wicked race has Loki begot. The gods would not put the wolf to +death because they respected the sanctity of the place, which forbade +blood being shed there. + + + + +THE STRANGE BUILDER. + + +Once upon a time, when the gods were building their abodes, a certain +builder came and offered to erect them, in the space of three +half-years, a city so well fortified that they should be quite safe in +it from the incursions of the forest-giants and the giants of the +mountains, even although these foes should have already penetrated +within the enclosure Midgard. He asked, however, for his reward, the +goddess Freyja, together with the sun and moon. The gods thought over +the matter a long while, and at length agreed to his terms, on the +understanding that he would finish the whole work himself without any +one's assistance, and that all was to be finished within the space of +one single winter. If anything remained to be done when the first day of +summer came, the builder was to entirely forfeit the reward agreed on. +When the builder was told this he asked that he might be allowed the use +of his horse, Svadilfari, and to this the gods, by the advice of Loki, +agreed. + +On the first day of winter the builder set to work, and during the night +he caused his horse to draw stones for the building. The gods beheld +with astonishment the extraordinary size of these, and marked with +wonder that the horse did much more work than his master. The contract +between them and the giant had, however, been confirmed with many oaths +and in the presence of many witnesses, for without such a precaution a +giant would not have trusted himself among the gods, especially at a +time when Thor was returning from an expedition he had made into the +east against the giants. + +The winter was far advanced, and towards its end the city had been built +so strongly and so lofty as to be almost secure. The time was nearly +expired, only three days remaining, and nothing was wanted to complete +the work save the gates, which were not yet put up. The gods then began +to deliberate, and to ask one another who it was that had advised that +Freyja should be given to one who dwelt in Jotunheim, and that they +should plunge the heavens in darkness by allowing one to carry away with +him the sun and moon. They all agreed that only Loki could have given +such bad counsel, and that it would be only just to either make him +contrive some way or other to prevent the builder accomplishing his work +and having a right to claim his reward, or to put him to death. They at +once laid hands on Loki, who, in his fright, promised upon oath to do +what they desired, let it cost him what it might. + +That very night, while the builder was employing his horse to convey +stones, a mare suddenly ran out of a neighbouring forest and commenced +to neigh. The horse broke loose and ran after the mare into the forest, +and the builder ran after his horse. + +Between one thing and another the whole night was lost, so that when day +broke the work was not completed. + +The builder, recognising that he could by no means finish his task, +took again his giant form; and the gods, seeing that it was a +mountain-giant with whom they had to deal, feeling that their oath did +not bind them, called on Thor. He at once ran to them, and paid the +builder his fee with a blow of his hammer which shattered his skull to +pieces and threw him down headlong into Niflhel. + +The horse Sleipner comes of the horse Svadilfari, and it excels all +others possessed by gods or men. + + + + +THOR'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF GIANTS. + + +One day the god Thor set out with Loki in his chariot drawn by two +he-goats. Night coming on they were obliged to put up at a peasant's +cottage, when Thor slew his goats, and having skinned them, had them put +into the pot. When this had been done he sat down to supper and invited +the peasant and his children to take part in the feast. The peasant had +a son named Thjalfi, and a daughter, Roeska. Thor told them to throw the +bones into the goatskins, which were spread out near the hearth, but +young Thjalfi, in order to get at the marrow, broke one of the shank +bones with his knife. Having passed the night in this place, Thor rose +early in the morning, and having dressed himself, held up his hammer, +Mjolnir, and thus consecrating the goatskins; he had no sooner done it +than the two goats took again their usual form, only one of them was now +lame in one of its hind-legs. When Thor saw this he at once knew that +the peasant or one of his family had handled the bones of the goat too +roughly, for one was broken. They were terribly afraid when Thor knit +his brows, rolled his eyes, seized his hammer, and grasped it with such +force that the very joints of his fingers were white again. The peasant, +trembling, and fearful that he would be struck down by the looks of the +god, begged with his family for pardon, offering whatever they possessed +to repair the damage they might have done. Thor allowed them to appease +him, and contented himself with taking with him Thjalfi and Roeska, who +became his servants, and have since followed him. + +Leaving his goats at that place, Thor set out to the east, to the +country of the giants. At length they came to the shore of a wide and +deep sea which Thor, with Loki, Thjalfi, and Roeska passed over. Then +they came to a strange country, and entered an immense forest in which +they journeyed all day. Thjalfi was unexcelled by any man as a runner, +and he carried Thor's bag, but in the forest they could find nothing +eatable to put in it. As night came on they searched on all sides for a +place where they might sleep, and at last they came to what appeared to +be a large hall, the gate of which was so large that it took up the +whole of one side of the building. Here they lay down to sleep, but +about the middle of the night they were alarmed by what seemed to be an +earthquake which shook the whole of the building. Thor, rising, called +his companions to seek with him some safer place. Leaving the apartment +they were in, they found on their right hand an adjoining chamber into +which they entered, but while the others, trembling with fear, crept to +the farthest corner of their retreat, Thor, armed with his mace, +remained at the entrance ready to defend himself, happen what might. +Throughout the night they heard a terrible groaning, and when the +morning came, Thor, going out, observed a man of enormous size, lying +near, asleep and snoring heavily. Then Thor knew that this was the noise +he had heard during the night. He immediately girded on his belt of +prowess which had the virtue of increasing his strength. The giant awoke +and stood up, and it is said that for once Thor was too frightened to +use his hammer, and he therefore contented himself with inquiring the +giant's name. + +"My name," replied the giant, "is Skrymir. As for you it is not +necessary I should ask your name. You are the god Thor. Tell me, what +have you done with my glove?" + +Then Skrymir stretched out his hand and took it up, and Thor saw that +what he and his companions had taken for a hall in which they had passed +the night, was the giant's glove, the chamber into which they had +retreated being only the thumb. + +Skrymir asked whether they might not be friends, and Thor agreeing, the +giant opened his bag and took out something to eat. Thor and his +companions also made their morning meal, but eat in another place. Then +Skrymir, proposing that they should put their provisions together, and +Thor assenting to it, put all into one bag, and laying it on his +shoulder marched before them, with huge strides, during the whole day. +At night he found a place where Thor and his companions might rest under +an oak. There, he said, he would lie down and sleep. + +"You take the bag," said he, "and make your supper." + +He was soon asleep, and, strange as it may seem, when Thor tried to open +the bag he could not untie a single knot nor loose the string. Enraged +at this he seized his hammer, swayed it in both his hands, took a step +forward, and hurled it at the giant's head. This awoke the giant, who +asked him if a leaf had not fallen on his head, and whether they had +finished their supper. Thor said they were just about to lie down to +sleep, and went to lie under another oak-tree. About midnight, observing +that Skrymir was snoring so loudly that the forest re-echoed the din, +Thor grasped his hammer and hurled it with such force at him that it +sank up to the handle in his head. + +"What is the matter?" asked he, awakening. "Did an acorn fall on my +head? How are you going on, Thor?" + +Thor departed at once, saying that it was only midnight and that he +hoped to get some more sleep yet. He resolved, however, to have a third +blow at the giant, hoping that with this he might settle everything. +Seizing his hammer, he, with all his force, threw it at the giant's +cheek, into which it buried itself up to the handle. Skrymir, awaking, +put his hand to his cheek, and said-- + +"Are there any birds perched on this tree? I thought some moss fell upon +me. How! art thou awake, Thor? It is time, is it not, for us to get up +and dress ourselves? You have not far, however, to go before you arrive +at the city Utgard. I have heard you whispering together that I am a +very tall fellow, but there you will see many larger than me. Let me +advise you then when you get there not to take too much upon yourselves, +for the men of Utgard-Loki will not bear much from such little folk as +you. I believe your best way would even be to turn back again, but if +you are determined to proceed take the road that goes towards the east, +as for me mine now lies to the north." + +After he had said this, he put his bag upon his shoulder and turned away +into a forest; and I could never hear that Thor wished him a good +journey. + +Proceeding on his way with his companions, Thor saw towards noon a city +situated in the middle of a vast plain. The wall of the city was so +lofty that one could not look up to the top of it without throwing one's +head quite back upon the shoulder. On coming to the wall, they found the +gate-way closed with bars, which Thor never could have opened, but he +and his companions crept in between them, and thus entered the place. +Before them was a large palace, and as the door of it was open, they +entered and found a number of men of enormous size, seated on benches. +Going on they came into the presence of the king, Utgard-Loki, whom they +saluted with great respect, but he, looking upon them for a time, at +length cast a scornful glance at them, and burst into laughter. + +"It would take up too much time," said he, "to ask you concerning the +long journey you have made, but if I am not mistaken that little man +there is Aku-Thor. You may," said he to Thor, "be bigger than you seem +to be. What are you and your companions skilled in that we may see what +they can do, for no one may remain here unless he understands some art +and excels in it all other men?" + +"I," said Loki, "can eat quicker than any one else, and of that I am +ready to give proof if there is here any one who will compete with me." + +"It must, indeed, be owned," replied the king, "that you are not wanting +in dexterity, if you are able to do what you say. Come, let us test it." + +Then he ordered one of his followers who was sitting at the further end +of the bench, and whose name was Logi (Flame) to come forward, and try +his skill with Loki. A great tub or trough full of flesh meat was placed +in the hall, and Loki having placed himself at one end of the trough, +and Logi having set himself at the other end, the two commenced to eat. +Presently they met in the middle of the trough, but Loki had only +devoured the flesh of his portion, whereas the other had devoured both +flesh and bones. All the company therefore decided that Loki was +beaten. + +Then Utgard-Loki asked what the young man could do who accompanied Thor. +Thjalfi said that in running he would compete with any one. The king +admitted that skill in running was something very good, but he thought +Thjalfi must exert himself to the utmost to win in the contest. He rose +and, accompanied by all the company, went to a plain where there was a +good place for the match, and then calling a young man named Hugi +(Spirit or Thought), he ordered him to run with Thjalfi. In the first +race Hugi ran so fast away from Thjalfi that on his returning to the +starting-place he met him not far from it. Then said the king-- + +"If you are to win, Thjalfi, you must run faster, though I must own no +man has ever come here who was swifter of foot." + +In the second trial, Thjalfi was a full bow-shot from the boundary when +Hugi arrived at it. + +"Very well do you run, Thjalfi," said Utgard-Loki; "but I do not think +you will gain the prize. However, the third trial will decide." + +They ran a third time, but Hugi had already reached the goal before +Thjalfi had got half-way. Then all present cried out that there had been +a sufficient trial of skill in that exercise. + +Then Utgard-Loki asked Thor in what manner he would choose to give them +a proof of the dexterity for which he was so famous. Thor replied that +he would contest the prize for drinking with any one in the court. +Utgard-Loki consented to the match, and going into the palace, ordered +his cup-bearer to bring the large horn out of which his followers were +obliged to drink when they had trespassed in any way against the customs +of the court. The cup-bearer presented this to Thor, and Utgard-Loki +said-- + +"Whoever is a good drinker will empty that horn at a draught. Some men +make two draughts of it, but the most puny drinker of all can empty it +in three." + +Thor looked at the horn, which seemed very long, but was otherwise of no +extraordinary size. He put it to his mouth, and, without drawing breath, +pulled as long and as deeply as he could, that he might not be obliged +to make a second draught of it. When, however, he set the horn down and +looked in it he could scarcely perceive that any of the liquor was gone. + +"You have drunk well," said Utgard-Loki; "but you need not boast. Had it +been told me that Asu-Thor could only drink so little, I should not have +credited it. No doubt you will do better at the second pull." + +Without a word, Thor again set the horn to his lips and exerted himself +to the utmost. When he looked in it seemed to him that he had not drunk +quite so much as before, but the horn could now be carried without +danger of spilling the liquor. Then Utgard-Loki said-- + +"Well, Thor, you should not spare yourself more than befits you in such +drinking. If now you mean to drink off the horn the third time it seems +to me you must drink more than you have done. You will never be reckoned +so great a man amongst us as the AEsir make you out to be if you cannot +do better in other games than it appears to me you will do in this." + +Thor, angry, put the horn to his mouth and drank the best he could and +as long as he was able, but when he looked into the horn the liquor was +only a little lower. Then he gave the horn to the cup-bearer, and would +drink no more. + +Then said Utgard-Loki-- + +"It is plain that you are not so mighty as we imagined. Will you try +another game? It seems to me there is little chance of your taking a +prize hence." + +"I will try more contests yet," answered Thor. "Such draughts as I have +drunk would not have seemed small to the AEsir. But what new game have +you?" + +Utgard-Loki answered-- + +"The lads here do a thing which is not much. They lift my cat up from +the ground. I should not have thought of proposing such a feat to +Asu-Thor, had I not first seen that he is less by far than we took him +to be." + +As he spoke there sprang upon the hall floor a very large grey cat. Thor +went up to it and put his hand under its middle and tried to lift it +from the floor. The cat bent its back as Thor raised his hands, and when +Thor had exerted himself to the utmost the cat had only one foot off the +floor. Then Thor would make no further trial. + +"I thought this game would go so," said Utgard-Loki. "The cat is large +and Thor is little when compared with our men." + +"Little as you call me," answered Thor, "let any one come here and +wrestle with me, for now I am angry." + +Utgard-Loki looked along the benches, and said-- + +"I see no man here who would not think it absurd to wrestle with you, +but let some one call here the old woman, my nurse, Elli, and let Thor +wrestle with her, if he will. She has cast to the ground many a man who +seemed to me to be as strong as Thor." + +Then came into the hall a toothless old woman, and Utgard-Loki told her +to wrestle with Asu-Thor. The story is not a long one. The harder Thor +tightened his hold, the firmer the old woman stood. Then she began to +exert herself, Thor tottered, and at last, after a violent tussle, he +fell on one knee. On this Utgard-Loki told them to stop, adding that +Thor could not desire any one else to wrestle with him in the hall, and +the night had closed in. He showed Thor and his companions to seats, and +they passed the night, faring well. + +At daybreak the next morning, Thor and his companions rose, dressed +themselves, and prepared to leave at once. Then Utgard-Loki came to them +and ordered a table to be set for them having on it plenty of meat and +drink. Afterwards he led them out of the city, and on parting asked Thor +how he thought his journey had prospered, and whether he had met with +any stronger than himself. Thor said he must own he had been much +shamed. + +"And," said he, "I know you will call me a man of little might, and I +can badly bear that." + +"Shall I tell you the truth?" said Utgard-Loki. "We are now out of the +city, and while I live and have my own way, you will never again enter +it. By my word you had never come in had I known before you had been so +strong and would bring us so near to great misfortune. I have deluded +thee with vain shows; first in the forest, where I met you, and where +you were unable to untie the wallet because I had bound it with +iron-thread so that you could not discover where the knot could be +loosened. After that you gave me three blows with your hammer. The first +blow, though the lightest, would have killed me had it fallen on me, but +I put a rock in my place which you did not see. In that rocky mountain +you will find three dales, one of which is very deep, those are the +dints made by your hammer. In the other games, I have deceived you with +illusions. The first one was the match with Loki. He was hungry and eat +fast, but Logi was Flame, and he consumed not only the flesh but the +trough with it. When Thjalfi contended with Hugi in running, Hugi was my +thought, and it was not possible for Thjalfi to excel that in swiftness. +When you drank of the horn and the liquor seemed to get lower so slowly, +you did, indeed, so well that had I not seen it, I should never have +believed it. You did not see that one end of the horn was in the sea, +but when you come to the shore you will see how much the sea has shrunk +in consequence of your draughts, which have caused what is called the +ebb. Nor did you do a less wondrous thing when you lifted up the cat, +and I can assure you all were afraid when you raised one of its paws off +the ground. The cat was the great Midgard serpent which lies stretched +round the whole earth, and when you raised it so high then did its +length barely suffice to enclose the earth between its head and tail. +Your wrestling match with Elli was, too, a great feat, for no one has +there been yet, and no one shall there be whom old age does not come and +trip up, if he but await her coming. Now we must part, and let me say +that it will be better for both of us if you never more come to seek me, +for I shall always defend my city with tricks, so that you will never +overcome me." + +When Thor heard that he grasped his mace in a rage, and raised it to +hurl it at Utgard-Loki, but he had disappeared. Then Thor wanted to +return to the city, but he could see nothing but a wide fair plain. So +he turned, and went on his way till he came to Thrudvang, resolving if +he had an opportunity to attack the Midgard serpent. + + +HOW THOR WENT A-FISHING. + +Thor had not been long at home before he left it so hastily that he did +not take his car, his goats, or any follower with him. He left Midgard +disguised as a young man, and when night was coming on, arrived at the +house of a giant, called Hymir. Thor stayed there as a guest for the +night, and when he saw in the morning that the giant rose, dressed +himself, and prepared to go out to sea-fishing in his boat, he begged +him to let him go also. Hymir said he was too little and young to be of +much use. + +"And besides," added he, "you will die of cold, if I go so far out and +sit so long as I am accustomed." + +Thor said he would row as far out as ever Hymir wanted, and he thought +he might not be the first to want to row back. While he said this he was +in such a rage that he had much to do to keep himself from throwing the +hammer at once at the giant's head, but he calmed himself thinking that +he might soon try his strength elsewhere. He asked Hymir what bait he +should use, but Hymir told him to look out for himself. Then Thor went +up to a herd of oxen belonging to Hymir, and capturing the largest bull, +called Himinbrjot, he wrung off its head, and went with it to the +sea-shore. Hymir launched the skiff, and Thor, sitting down in the +after-part, rowed with two oars so that Hymir, who rowed in the +fore-part, wondered to see how fast the boat went on. At length he said +they had arrived at the place where he was accustomed to fish for flat +fish, but Thor told him they had better go on further. So they rowed +till Hymir cried out that if they proceeded further they might be in +danger from the Midgard serpent. In spite of this, Thor said he would +row further, and so he rowed on, disregarding Hymir's words. When he +laid down his oars, he took out a very strong fishing line to which was +a no less strong hook. On this he fixed the bull's head and cast it over +into the sea. The bait soon reached the ground, and then truly Thor +deceived the Midgard serpent no less than Utgard-Loki deceived Thor when +he gave him the serpent to lift in his hand. The Midgard serpent gaped +wide at the bait, and the hook stuck fast in his mouth. When the worm +felt this he tugged at the hook so that Thor's hands were dashed against +the side of the boat. Then Thor got angry, and, collecting to himself +all his divine strength, he pulled so hard that his feet went through +the bottom of the boat and down to the sea's bottom. Then he drew the +serpent up on board. No one can be said to have seen an ugly sight who +did not see that. Thor threw wrathful looks on the serpent, and the +monster staring at him from below cast out venom at him. The giant +Hymir, it is said, turned pale when he saw the serpent, quaked, and, +seeing that the sea ran in and out of the skiff, just as Thor raised +aloft his mace, took out his knife and cut the line so that the serpent +at once sank under the water. Thor cast his mace at the serpent, and +some say it cut off its head at the bottom, but it is more true that the +Midgard serpent is yet alive lying at the bottom of the ocean. With his +fist Thor struck Hymir such a blow over the ear that the giant tumbled +headlong into the water, and Thor then waded to land. + + + + +THE DEATH OF BALDUR. + + +Baldur the Good had dreams which forewarned him that his life was in +danger, and he told the gods of them. The gods took counsel together +what should be done, and it was agreed that they should conjure away all +danger that might threaten him. Frigga took an oath of fire, water, +iron, and all other metals, stones, earth, trees, sicknesses, beasts, +birds, poisons, and worms, that these would none of them hurt Baldur. +When this had been done the gods used to divert themselves, Baldur +standing up in the assembly, and all the others throwing at him, hewing +at him, and smiting him with stones, for, do all they would, he received +no hurt, and in this sport all enjoyed themselves. + +Loki, however, looked on with envy when he saw that Baldur was not hurt. +So he assumed the form of a woman, and set out to Fensalir to Frigga. +Frigga asked if the stranger knew what the gods did when they met. He +answered that they all shot at Baldur and he was not hurt. + +"No weapon, nor tree may hurt Baldur," answers Frigga, "I have taken an +oath of them all not to do so." + +"What," said the pretended woman, "have all things then sworn to spare +Baldur?" + +"There is only one little twig which grows to the east of Valhalla, +which is called the mistletoe. Of that I took no oath, for it seemed to +me too young and feeble to do any hurt." + +Then the strange woman departed, and Loki having found the mistletoe, +cut it off, and went to the assembly. There he found Hodur standing +apart by himself, for he was blind. Then said Loki to him-- + +"Why do you not throw at Baldur?" + +"Because," said he, "I am blind and cannot see him, and besides I have +nothing to throw." + +"Do as the others," said Loki, "and honour Baldur as the rest do. I will +direct your aim. Throw this shaft at him." + +Hodur took the mistletoe and, Loki directing him, aimed at Baldur. The +aim was good. The shaft pierced him through, and Baldur fell dead upon +the earth. Surely never was there a greater misfortune either among gods +or men. + +When the gods saw that Baldur was dead then they were silent, aghast, +and stood motionless. They looked on one another, and were all agreed as +to what he deserved who had done the deed, but out of respect to the +place none dared avenge Baldur's death. They broke the silence at length +with wailing, words failing them with which to express their sorrow. +Odin, as was right, was more sorrowful than any of the others, for he +best knew what a loss the gods had sustained. + +At last when the gods had recovered themselves, Frigga asked-- + +"Who is there among the gods who will win my love and good-will? That +shall he have if he will ride to Hel, and seek Baldur, and offer Hela a +reward if she will let Baldur come home to Asgard." + +Hermod the nimble, Odin's lad, said he would make the journey. So he +mounted Odin's horse, Sleipner, and went his way. + +The gods took Baldur's body down to the sea-shore, where stood +Hringhorn, Baldur's vessel, the biggest in the world. When the gods +tried to launch it into the water, in order to make on it a funeral fire +for Baldur, the ship would not stir. Then they despatched one to +Jotunheim for the sorceress called Hyrrokin, who came riding on a wolf +with twisted serpents by way of reins. Odin called for four Berserkir to +hold the horse, but they could not secure it till they had thrown it to +the ground. Then Hyrrokin went to the stem of the ship, and set it +afloat with a single touch, the vessel going so fast that fire sprang +from the rollers, and the earth trembled. Then Thor was so angry that he +took his hammer and wanted to cast it at the woman's head, but the gods +pleaded for her and appeased him. The body of Baldur being placed on the +ship, Nanna, the daughter of Nep, Baldur's wife, seeing it, died of a +broken heart, so she was borne to the pile and thrown into the fire. + +Thor stood up and consecrated the pile with Mjolnir. A little dwarf, +called Litur, ran before his feet, and Thor gave him a push, and threw +him into the fire, and he was burnt. Many kinds of people came to this +ceremony. With Odin came Frigga and the Valkyrjor with his ravens. Frey +drove in a car drawn by the boar, Gullinbursti or Slidrugtanni. Heimdall +rode the horse Gulltopp, and Freyja drove her cats. There were also many +of the forest-giants and mountain-giants there. On the pile Odin laid +the gold ring called Draupnir, giving it the property that every ninth +night it produces eight rings of equal weight. In the same pile was also +consumed Baldur's horse. + +For nine nights and days Hermod rode through deep valleys, so dark that +he could see nothing. Then he came to the river Gjoell which he crossed +by the bridge which is covered with shining gold. The maid who keeps the +bridge is called Modgudur. She asked Hermod his name and family, and +told him that on the former day there had ridden over the bridge five +bands of dead men. + +"They did not make my bridge ring as you do, and you have not the hue of +the dead. Why ride you thus on the way to Hel?" + +He said-- + +"I ride to Hel to find Baldur. Have you seen him on his way to that +place?" + +"Baldur," answered she, "has passed over the bridge, but the way to Hel +is below to the north." + +Hermod rode on till he came to the entrance of Hel, which was guarded by +a grate. He dismounted, looked to the girths of his saddle, mounted, and +clapping his spurs into the horse, cleared the grate easily. Then he +rode on to the hall and, dismounting, entered it. There he saw his +brother, Baldur, seated in the first place, and there Hermod stopped +the night. + +In the morning he saw Hela, and begged her to let Baldur ride home with +him, telling her how much the gods had sorrowed over his death. Hela +told him she would test whether it were true that Baldur was so much +loved. + +"If," said she, "all things weep for him, then he shall return to the +gods, but if any speak against him or refuse to weep, then he shall +remain in Hel." + +Then Hermod rose to go, and Baldur, leading him out of the hall, gave +him the ring, Draupnir, which he wished Odin to have as a keepsake. +Nanna also sent Frigga a present, and a ring to Fulla. + +Hermod rode back, and coming to Asgard related all he had seen and +heard. Then the gods sent messengers over all the world seeking to get +Baldur brought back again by weeping. All wept, men and living things, +earth, stones, trees, and metals, all weeping as they do when they are +subjected to heat after frost. Then the messengers came back again, +thinking they had done their errand well. On their way they came to a +cave wherein sat a hag named Thaukt. The messengers prayed her to assist +in weeping Baldur out of Hel. + +"I will weep dry tears," answered she, "over Baldur's pyre. What gain I +by the son of man, be he live or dead? Let Hela hold what she has." + +It was thought that this must have been Loki, Laufey's son, he who has +ever wrought such harm to the gods. + + + + +THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI. + + +The gods were so angry with Loki that he had to run away and hide +himself in the mountains, and there he built a house which had four +doors, so that he could see around him on every side. He would often in +the day-time change himself into a salmon and hide in the water called +Franangursfors, and he thought over what trick the gods might devise to +capture him there. One day while he sat in his house, he took flax and +yarn, and with it made meshes like those of a net, a fire burning in +front of him. Then he became aware that the gods were near at hand, for +Odin had seen out of Hlidskjalf where he was. Loki sprang up, threw his +work into the fire, and went to the river. When the gods came to the +house, the first that entered was Kvasir, who was the most acute of them +all. In the hot embers he saw the ashes of a net, such as is used in +fishing, and he told the gods of it, and they made a net like that which +they saw in the ashes. When it was ready they went to the river and cast +the net in, Thor holding one end and the rest of the gods the other, and +so they drew it. Loki travelled in front of it and lay down between two +stones so that the net went over him, but the gods felt that something +living had been against the net. Then they cast the net a second time, +binding up in it a weight so that nothing could pass under it. Loki +travelled before it till he saw the sea in front of him. Then he leapt +over the top of the net and again made his way up the stream. The gods +saw this, so they once more dragged the stream, while Thor waded in the +middle of it. So they went to the sea. + +Then Loki saw in what a dangerous situation he was. He must risk his +life if he swam out to sea. The only other alternative was to leap over +the net. That he did, jumping as quickly as he could over the top cord. + +Thor snatched at him, and tried to hold him, but he slipped through his +hand, and would have escaped, but for his tail, and this is the reason +why salmon have their tails so thin. + +Loki being captured, they took him to a certain cavern, and they took +three rocks, through each of which they bored a hole. Then they took +Loki's sons Vali and Nari, and having changed Vali into a wolf, he tore +his brother Nari into pieces. Then the gods took his intestines and +bound Loki with them to the three stones, and they changed the cord into +bands of iron. Skadi then took a serpent and suspended it over Loki's +head so that the venom drops from it on to his face. Siguna, Loki's +wife, stands near him, and holds a dish receiving the venom as it falls, +and when the dish is full she goes out and pours its contents away. +While she is doing this, however, the venom falls on Loki, and causes +him such intense pain that he writhes so that the earth is shaken as if +by an earthquake. + +There he lies till Ragnaroek (the twilight of the gods). + + + + +ORIGIN OF TIIS LAKE. + + +A troll had once taken up his abode near the village of Kund, in the +high bank on which the church now stands, but when the people about +there had become pious, and went constantly to church, the troll was +dreadfully annoyed by their almost incessant ringing of bells in the +steeple of the church. He was at last obliged, in consequence of it, to +take his departure, for nothing has more contributed to the emigration +of the troll-folk out of the country, than the increasing piety of the +people, and their taking to bell-ringing. The troll of Kund accordingly +quitted the country, and went over to Funen, where he lived for some +time in peace and quiet. Now it chanced that a man who had lately +settled in the town of Kund, coming to Funen on business, met this same +troll on the road. + +"Where do you live?" asked the troll. + +Now there was nothing whatever about the troll unlike a man, so he +answered him, as was the truth-- + +"I am from the town of Kund." + +"So?" said the troll, "I don't know you then. And yet I think I know +every man in Kund. Will you, however," said he, "be so kind as to take a +letter for me back with you to Kund?" + +The man, of course, said he had no objection. + +The troll put a letter into his pocket and charged him strictly not to +take it out until he came to Kund church. Then he was to throw it over +the churchyard wall, and the person for whom it was intended would get +it. + +The troll then went away in great haste, and with him the letter went +entirely out of the man's mind. But when he was come back to Zealand he +sat down by the meadow where Tiis lake now is, and suddenly recollected +the troll's letter. He felt a great desire to look at it at least, so he +took it out of his pocket and sat a while with it in his hands, when +suddenly there began to dribble a little water out of the seal. The +letter now unfolded itself and the water came out faster and faster, and +it was with the utmost difficulty the poor man was able to save his +life, for the malicious troll had enclosed a whole lake in the letter. + +The troll, it is plain, had thought to avenge himself on Kund church by +destroying it in this manner, but God ordered it so that the lake +chanced to run out in the great meadow where it now stands. + + + + +THERE ARE SUCH WOMEN. + + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they wanted to sow +their fields, but they had neither seed nor money to buy it with. +However, they had one cow, and so they decided that the man should drive +it to the town and sell it, so that they might buy seed with the money. +When the time came, however, the woman was afraid to let her husband +take the cow, fearing he would spend the money in drink. So she set off +herself with the cow, and took a hen with her also. + +When she was near the town she met a butcher, who said-- + +"Do you want to sell the cow, mother?" + +"Yes," answered she, "I do." + +"How much do you want for it?" + +"I want a mark for the cow, and you shall have the hen for sixty marks." + +"Well," said he, "I have no need of the hen. You can get rid of that +when you come to the town, but I will give you a mark for the cow." + +She sold him the cow and got the mark for it, but when she came to the +town she could find no one who would give her sixty marks for a tough +lean hen. So she went back to the butcher and said-- + +"I cannot get this hen off, master, so you had better take it also with +the cow." + +"We will see about it," said the butcher. So he gave her something to +eat, and gave her so much brandy that she became tipsy and lost her +senses, and fell asleep. + +When he saw that, the butcher dipped her in a barrel of tar, and then +laid her on a heap of feathers. + +When she awoke she found herself feathered all over, and wondered at +herself. + +"Is it me or some one else?" said she. "No, it cannot be me. It must be +a strange bird. How shall I find out whether it is me or not? Oh, I +know. When I get home, if the calves lick me, and the dog does not bark +at me, then it is me myself." + +The dog had no sooner seen her than he began to bark, as if there were +thieves and robbers in the yard. + +"Now," said she, "I see it is not me." + +She went to the cow-house but the calves would not lick her, for they +smelt the strong tar. + +"No," said she, "I see it cannot be me. It must be some strange bird." + +So she crept up to the top of the barn, and began to flap her arms as if +they had been wings, and tried to fly. Her husband saw her, so he came +out with his gun and took aim. + +"Don't shoot, don't shoot," called his wife. "It is me." + +"Is it you?" said the man. "Then don't stand there like a goat. Come +down and tell me what account you can give of yourself." + +She crept down again; but she had not a shilling, for she had lost the +mark the butcher had given her while she was drunk. + +When the man heard that he was very angry, and declared he would leave +her, and never come back again until he had found three women as big +fools as his wife. + +So he set off, and when he had gone a little way he saw a woman who ran +in and out of a newly built wood hut with an empty sieve. Every time she +ran in she threw her apron over the sieve, as if she had something in +it. + +"Why do you do that, mother?" asked he. + +"Why, I am only carrying in a little sun," said she, "but I don't +understand how it is, when I am outside I get the sunshine in the sieve, +but when I get in I have somehow lost it. When I was in my old hut I had +plenty of sunshine, though I never carried it in. I wish I knew some one +who would give me sunshine. I would give him three hundred dollars." + +"Have you an axe?" asked the man. "If so I will get you sunshine." + +She gave him an axe and he cut some windows in the hut, for the +carpenter had forgotten them. Then the sun shone in, and the woman gave +him three hundred dollars. + +"That's one," said the man, and he set out once more. + +Some time after he came to a house in which he heard a terrible noise +and bellowing. He went in and saw a woman who was beating her husband +across the head with a stick with all her might. Over the man's head +there was a shirt in which there was no hole for his head to go through. + +"Mother," said he, "will you kill your husband?" + +"No," said she, "I only want a hole for his head in the shirt." + +The man called out and, struggling, cried-- + +"Heaven preserve and comfort all such as have new shirts! If any one +would only teach my wife some new way to make a head-hole in them I +would gladly give him three hundred dollars." + +"That shall soon be done. Give me a pair of scissors," said the other. + +The woman gave him the scissors, and he cut a hole in the shirt for the +man's head to go through, and took the three hundred dollars. + +"That is number two," said he to himself. + +After some time he came to a farm-house, where he thought he would rest +a while. When he went in the woman said-- + +"Where do you come from, father?" + +"I am from Ringerige (Paradise)," said he. + +"Ah! dear, dear! Are you from Himmerige (Heaven)?" said she. "Then you +will know my second husband, Peter; happy may he be!" + +The woman had had three husbands. The first and third had been bad and +had used her ill, but the second had used her well, so she counted him +as safe. + +"Yes," said the man, "I know him well." + +"How does he get on there?" asked the woman. + +"Only pretty well," said the man. "He goes about begging from one house +to another, and has but little food, or clothes on his back. As to money +he has nothing." + +"Heaven have mercy on him!" cried the woman. "He ought not to go about +in such a miserable state when he left so much behind. There is a +cupboard full of clothes which belonged to him, and there is a big box +full of money, too. If you will take the things with you, you can have a +horse and cart to carry them. He can keep the horse, and he can sit in +the cart as he goes from house to house, for so he ought to go." + +The man from Ringerige got a whole cart-load of clothes and a box full +of bright silver money, with meat and drink, as much as he wanted. When +he had got all he wished, he got into the cart, and once more set out. + +"That is the third," said he to himself. + +Now the woman's third husband was ploughing in a field, and when he saw +a man he did not know come out of his yard with his horse and cart, he +went home and asked his wife, who it was that was going off with the +black horse. + +"Oh," said the woman, "that is a man from Himmerige (Heaven). He told me +that things went so miserably with my second Peter, my poor husband, +that he had to go begging from house to house and had no money or +clothes. I have therefore sent him the old clothes he left behind, and +the old money box with the money in it." + +The man saw how matters were, so he saddled a horse and went out of the +yard at full speed. It was not long before he came up to the man who sat +and drove the cart. When the other saw him he drove the horse and cart +into a wood, pulled a handful of hair out of the horse's tail, and ran +up a little hill, where he tied the hair fast to a birch-tree. Then he +lay down under the tree and began to look and stare at the sky. + +"Well, well," said he, as if talking to himself, when Peter the third +came near. "Well! never before have I seen anything to match it." + +Peter stood still for a time and looked at him, and wondered what was +come to him. At last he said-- + +"Why do you lie there and stare so?" + +"I never saw anything like it," said the other. "A man has gone up to +heaven on a black horse. Here in the birch-tree is some of the horse's +tail hanging, and there in the sky you may see the black horse." + +Peter stared first at the man and then at the sky, and said-- + +"For my part, I see nothing but some hair out of a horse's tail in the +birch-tree." + +"Yes," said the other, "you cannot see it where you stand, but come here +and lie down, and look up, and take care not to take your eyes off the +sky." + +Peter the third lay down and stared up at the sky till the tears ran +from his eyes. The man from Ringerige took his horse, mounted it, and +galloped away with it and the horse and cart. When he heard the noise +on the road, Peter the third sprang up, but when he found the man had +gone off with his horse he was so astonished that he did not think of +going after him till it was too late. + +He was very down-faced when he went home to his wife, and when she asked +him what he had done with the horse, he said-- + +"I gave it to Peter the second, for I didn't think it was right he +should sit in a cart and jolt about from house to house in Himmerige. +Now then he can sell the cart, and buy himself a coach, and drive +about." + +"Heaven bless you for that," said the woman. "I never thought you were +so kind-hearted a man." + +When the Ringerige man reached home with his six hundred dollars, his +cart-load of clothes, and the money, he saw that all his fields were +ploughed and sown. The first question he put to his wife was how she had +got the seed. + +"Well," said she, "I always heard that what a man sowed he reaped, so I +sowed the salt the North-people left here, and if we only have rain I +don't doubt but that it will come up nicely." + +"You are silly," said the man, "and silly you must remain, but that does +not much matter, for the others are as silly as yourself." + + + + +TALES OF THE NISSES. + + +The Nis is the same being that is called Kobold in Germany, and Brownie +in Scotland. He is in Denmark and Norway also called Nisse god Dreng +(Nisse good lad), and in Sweden, Tomtegubbe (the old man of the house). + +He is of the dwarf family, and resembles them in appearance, and, like +them, has the command of money, and the same dislike to noise and +tumult. + +His usual dress is grey, with a pointed red cap, but on Michaelmas-day +he wears a round hat like those of the peasants. + +No farm-house goes on well without there is a Nis in it, and well is it +for the maids and the men when they are in favour with him. They may go +to their beds and give themselves no trouble about their work, and yet +in the morning the maids will find the kitchen swept up, and water +brought in; and the men will find the horses in the stable well cleaned +and curried, and perhaps a supply of corn cribbed for them from the +neighbours' barns. + +There was a Nis in a house in Jutland. He every evening got his groute +at the regular time, and he, in return, used to help both the men and +the maids, and looked to the interest of the master of the house in +every respect. + +There came one time a mischievous boy to live at service in this house, +and his great delight was, whenever he got an opportunity, to give the +Nis all the annoyance in his power. + +Late one evening, when everything was quiet in the house, the Nis took +his little wooden dish, and was just going to eat his supper, when he +perceived that the boy had put the butter at the bottom and had +concealed it, in hopes that he might eat the groute first, and then find +the butter when all the groute was gone. He accordingly set about +thinking how he might repay the boy in kind. After pondering a little he +went up into the loft where a man and the boy were lying asleep in the +same bed. The Nis whisked off the bed clothes, and when he saw the +little boy by the tall man, he said-- + +"Short and long don't match," and with this word he took the boy by the +legs and dragged him down to the man's feet. He then went up to the head +of the bed, and-- + +"Short and long don't match," said he again, and then he dragged the boy +up to the man's head. Do what he would he could not succeed in making +the boy as long as the man, but persisted in dragging him up and down in +the bed, and continued at this work the whole night long till it was +broad daylight. + +By this time he was well tired, so he crept up on the window stool, and +sat with his legs dangling down into the yard. The house-dog--for all +dogs have a great enmity to the Nis--as soon as he saw him began to bark +at him, which afforded him much amusement, as the dog could not get up +to him. So he put down first one leg and then the other, and teased the +dog, saying-- + +"Look at my little leg. Look at my little leg!" + +In the meantime the boy had awoke, and had stolen up behind him, and, +while the Nis was least thinking of it, and was going on with his, "Look +at my little leg," the boy tumbled him down into the yard to the dog, +crying out at the same time-- + +"Look at the whole of him now!" + + * * * * * + +There lived a man in Thyrsting, in Jutland, who had a Nis in his barn. +This Nis used to attend to his cattle, and at night he would steal +fodder for them from the neighbours, so that this farmer had the best +fed and most thriving cattle in the country. + +One time the boy went along with the Nis to Fugleriis to steal corn. The +Nis took as much as he thought he could well carry, but the boy was more +covetous, and said-- + +"Oh! take more. Sure, we can rest now and then!" + +"Rest!" said the Nis. "Rest! and what is rest?" + +"Do what I tell you," replied the boy. "Take more, and we shall find +rest when we get out of this." + +The Nis took more, and they went away with it, but when they came to the +lands of Thyrsting, the Nis grew tired, and then the boy said to him-- + +"Here now is rest!" and they both sat down on the side of a little +hill. + +"If I had known," said the Nis, as they sat. "If I had known that rest +was so good, I'd have carried off all that was in the barn." + +It happened, some time after, that the boy and the Nis were no longer +friends, and as the Nis was sitting one day in the granary-window with +his legs hanging out into the yard, the boy ran at him and tumbled him +back into the granary. The Nis was revenged on him that very night, for +when the boy was gone to bed he stole down to where he was lying and +carried him as he was into the yard. Then he laid two pieces of wood +across the well and put him lying on them, expecting that when he awoke +he would fall, from the fright, into the well and be drowned. He was, +however, disappointed, for the boy came off without injury. + + * * * * * + +There was a man who lived in the town of Tirup who had a very handsome +white mare. This mare had for many years belonged to the same family, +and there was a Nis attached to her who brought luck to the place. + +This Nis was so fond of the mare that he could hardly endure to let them +put her to any kind of work, and he used to come himself every night and +feed her of the best; and as for this purpose he usually brought a +superfluity of corn, both thrashed and in the straw, from the +neighbours' barns, all the rest of the cattle enjoyed the advantage, +and they were all kept in exceedingly good condition. + +It happened at last that the farm-house passed into the hands of a new +owner, who refused to put any faith in what they told him about the +mare, so the luck speedily left the place, and went after the mare to a +poor neighbour who had bought her. Within five days after his purchase, +the poor farmer began to find his circumstances gradually improving, +while the income of the other, day after day, fell away and diminished +at such a rate that he was hard set to make both ends meet. + +If now the man who had got the mare had only known how to be quiet and +enjoy the good times that were come upon him, he and his children and +his children's children after him would have been in flourishing +circumstances till this very day. But when he saw the quantity of corn +that came every night to his barn, he could not resist his desire to get +a sight of the Nis. So he concealed himself one evening at nightfall in +the stable, and as soon as it was midnight he saw how the Nis came from +his neighbour's barn and brought a sack full of corn with him. It was +now unavoidable that the Nis should get a sight of the man who was +watching, so he, with evident marks of grief, gave the mare her food for +the last time, cleaned and dressed her to the best of his ability, and +when he had done, turned round to where the man was lying, and bid him +farewell. + +From that day forward the circumstances of both the neighbours were on +an equality, for each now kept his own. + + + + +THE DWARFS' BANQUET. + + +There lived in Norway, not far from the city of Drontheim, a powerful +man who was blessed with all the goods of fortune. A part of the +surrounding country was his property, numerous herds fed on his +pastures, and a great retinue and a crowd of servants adorned his +mansion. He had an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose beauty +spread far and wide. The greatest men of the country sought her, but all +were alike unsuccessful in their suit, and he who had come full of +confidence and joy, rode away home silent and melancholy. Her father, +who thought his daughter delayed her choice only to select, forbore to +interfere, and exulted in her prudence, but when at length the richest +and noblest tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he +grew angry and called his daughter, and said to her-- + +"Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but since I see that you +reject all without any distinction, and the very best of your suitors +seems not good enough for you, I will keep measures no longer with you. +What! shall my family become extinct, and my inheritance pass away into +the hands of strangers? I will break your stubborn spirit. I give you +now till the festival of the great winter-night. Make your choice by +that time, or prepare to accept him whom I shall fix on." + +Aslog loved a youth named Orm, handsome as he was brave and noble. She +loved him with her whole soul, and she would sooner die than bestow her +hand on another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled him to serve in +the mansion of her father. Aslog's partiality for him was kept a secret, +for her father's pride of power and wealth was such that he would never +have given his consent to a union with so humble a man. + +When Aslog saw the darkness of his countenance, and heard his angry +words, she turned pale as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted +not that he would put his threats into execution. Without uttering a +word in reply, she retired to her chamber, and thought deeply but in +vain how to avert the dark storm that hung over her. The great festival +approached nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every day. + +At last the lovers resolved on flight. + +"I know," said Orm, "a secure place where we may remain undiscovered +until we find an opportunity of quitting the country." + +At night, when all were asleep, Orm led the trembling Aslog over the +snow and ice-fields away to the mountains. The moon and the stars, +sparkling still brighter in the cold winter's night, lighted them on +their way. They had under their arms a few articles of dress and some +skins of animals, which were all they could carry. They ascended the +mountains the whole night long till they reached a lonely spot enclosed +with lofty rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a cave, the +low and narrow entrance to which was hardly perceptible, but it soon +enlarged to a great hall, reaching deep into the mountain. He kindled a +fire, and they now, reposing on their skins, sat in the deepest solitude +far away from all the world. + +Orm was the first who had discovered this cave, which is shown to this +very day, and as no one knew anything of it, they were safe from the +pursuit of Aslog's father. They passed the whole winter in this +retirement. Orm used to go a-hunting, and Aslog stayed at home in the +cave, minded the fire, and prepared the necessary food. Frequently did +she mount the points of the rocks, but her eyes wandered as far as they +could reach only over glittering snow-fields. + +The spring now came on: the woods were green, the meadows pat on their +various colours, and Aslog could but rarely, and with circumspection, +venture to leave the cave. One evening Orm came in with the intelligence +that he had recognised her father's servants in the distance, and that +he could hardly have been unobserved by them whose eyes were as good as +his own. + +"They will surround this place," continued he, "and never rest till they +have found us. We must quit our retreat then without a minute's delay." + +They accordingly descended on the other side of the mountain, and +reached the strand, where they fortunately found a boat. Orm shoved off, +and the boat drove into the open sea. They had escaped their pursuers, +but they were now exposed to dangers of another kind. Whither should +they turn themselves? They could not venture to land, for Aslog's father +was lord of the whole coast, and they would infallibly fall into his +hands. Nothing then remained for them but to commit their bark to the +wind and waves. They drove along the entire night. At break of day the +coast had disappeared, and they saw nothing but the sky above, the sea +beneath, and the waves that rose and fell. They had not brought one +morsel of food with them, and thirst and hunger began now to torment +them. Three days did they toss about in this state of misery, and Aslog, +faint and exhausted, saw nothing but certain death before her. + +At length, on the evening of the third day, they discovered an island of +tolerable magnitude, and surrounded by a number of smaller ones. Orm +immediately steered for it, but just as he came near to it there +suddenly arose a violent wind, and the sea rolled higher and higher +against him. He turned about with a view of approaching it on another +side, but with no better success. His vessel, as often as he approached +the island, was driven back as if by an invisible power. + +"Lord God!" cried he, and blessed himself and looked on poor Aslog, who +seemed to be dying of weakness before his eyes. + +Scarcely had the exclamation passed his lips when the storm ceased, the +waves subsided, and the vessel came to the shore without encountering +any hindrance. Orm jumped out on the beach. Some mussels that he found +upon the strand strengthened and revived the exhausted Aslog so that she +was soon able to leave the boat. + +The island was overgrown with low dwarf shrubs, and seemed to be +uninhabited; but when they had got about the middle of it, they +discovered a house reaching but a little above the ground, and appearing +to be half under the surface of the earth. In the hope of meeting human +beings and assistance, the wanderers approached it. They listened if +they could hear any noise, but the most perfect silence reigned there. +Orm at length opened the door, and with his companion walked in; but +what was their surprise to find everything regulated and arranged as if +for inhabitants, yet not a single living creature visible. The fire was +burning on the hearth in the middle of the room, and a kettle with fish +hung on it, apparently only waiting for some one to take it off and eat. +The beds were made and ready to receive their weary tenants. Orm and +Aslog stood for some time dubious, and looked on with a certain degree +of awe, but at last, overcome with hunger, they took up the food and +ate. When they had satisfied their appetites, and still in the last +beams of the setting sun, which now streamed over the island far and +wide, discovered no human being, they gave way to weariness, and laid +themselves in the beds to which they had been so long strangers. + +They had expected to be awakened in the night by the owners of the house +on their return home, but their expectation was not fulfilled. They +slept undisturbed till the morning sun shone in upon them. No one +appeared on any of the following days, and it seemed as if some +invisible power had made ready the house for their reception. They spent +the whole summer in perfect happiness. They were, to be sure, solitary, +yet they did not miss mankind. The wild birds' eggs and the fish they +caught yielded them provisions in abundance. + +When autumn came, Aslog presented Orm with a son. In the midst of their +joy at his appearance they were surprised by a wonderful apparition. The +door opened on a sudden, and an old woman stepped in. She had on her a +handsome blue dress. There was something proud, but at the same time +strange and surprising in her appearance. + +"Do not be afraid," said she, "at my unexpected appearance. I am the +owner of this house, and I thank you for the clean and neat state in +which you have kept it, and for the good order in which I find +everything with you. I would willingly have come sooner, but I had no +power to do so, till this little heathen (pointing to the new-born babe) +was come to the light. Now I have free access. Only, fetch no priest +from the mainland to christen it, or I must depart again. If you will in +this matter comply with my wishes, you may not only continue to live +here, but all the good that ever you can wish for I will cause you. +Whatever you take in hand shall prosper. Good luck shall follow you +wherever you go; but break this condition, and depend upon it that +misfortune after misfortune will come on you, and even on this child +will I avenge myself. If you want anything, or are in danger, you have +only to pronounce my name three times, and I will appear and lend you +assistance. I am of the race of the old giants, and my name is Guru. But +beware of uttering in my presence the name of him whom no giant may hear +of, and never venture to make the sign of the cross, or to cut it on +beam or on board of the house. You may dwell in this house the whole +year long, only be so good as to give it up to me on Yule evening, when +the sun is at the lowest, as then we celebrate our great festival, and +then only are we permitted to be merry. At least, if you should not be +willing to go out of the house, keep yourselves up in the loft as quiet +as possible the whole day long, and, as you value your lives, do not +look down into the room until midnight is past. After that you may take +possession of everything again." + +When the old woman had thus spoken she vanished, and Aslog and Orm, now +at ease respecting their situation, lived, without any disturbance, +content and happy. Orm never made a cast of his net without getting a +plentiful draught. He never shot an arrow from his bow that missed its +aim. In short, whatever they took in hand, were it ever so trifling, +evidently prospered. + +When Christmas came, they cleaned up the house in the best manner, set +everything in order, kindled a fire on the hearth, and, as the twilight +approached, they went up to the loft, where they remained quiet and +still. At length it grew dark. They thought they heard a sound of flying +and labouring in the air, such as the swans make in the winter-time. +There was a hole in the roof over the fire-place which might be opened +or shut either to let in the light from above or to afford a free +passage for the smoke. Orm lifted up the lid, which was covered with a +skin, and put out his head, but what a wonderful sight then presented +itself to his eyes! The little islands around were all lit up with +countless blue lights, which moved about without ceasing, jumped up and +down, then skipped down to the shore, assembled together, and now came +nearer and nearer to the large island where Orm and Aslog lived. At last +they reached it and arranged themselves in a circle around a large stone +not far from the shore, and which Orm well knew. What was his surprise +when he saw that the stone had now completely assumed the form of a man, +though of a monstrous and gigantic one! He could clearly perceive that +the little blue lights were borne by dwarfs, whose pale clay-coloured +faces, with their huge noses and red eyes, disfigured, too, by birds' +bills and owls' eyes, were supported by misshapen bodies. They tottered +and wobbled about here and there, so that they seemed to be, at the same +time, merry and in pain. Suddenly the circle opened, the little ones +retired on each side, and Guru, who was now much enlarged and of as +immense a size as the stone, advanced with gigantic steps. She threw +both her arms about the stone image, which immediately began to receive +life and motion. As soon as the first sign of motion showed itself the +little ones began, with wonderful capers and grimaces, a song, or, to +speak more properly, a howl, with which the whole island resounded and +seemed to tremble. Orm, quite terrified, drew in his head, and he and +Aslog remained in the dark, so still that they hardly ventured to draw +their breath. + +The procession moved on towards the house, as might be clearly perceived +by the nearer approach of the shouting and crying. They were now all +come in, and, light and active, the dwarfs jumped about on the benches, +and heavy and loud sounded, at intervals, the steps of the giants. Orm +and his wife heard them covering the table, and the clattering of the +plates, and the shouts of joy with which they celebrated their banquet. +When it was over, and it drew near to midnight, they began to dance to +that ravishing fairy air which charms the mind into such sweet +confusion, and which some have heard in the rocky glens, and learned by +listening to the underground musicians. As soon as Aslog caught the +sound of the air she felt an irresistible longing to see the dance, nor +was Orm able to keep her back. + +"Let me look," said she, "or my heart will burst." + +She took her child and placed herself at the extreme end of the loft +whence, without being observed, she could see all that passed. Long did +she gaze, without taking off her eyes for an instant, on the dance, on +the bold and wonderful springs of the little creatures who seemed to +float in the air and not so much as to touch the ground, while the +ravishing melody of the elves filled her whole soul. The child, +meanwhile, which lay in her arms, grew sleepy and drew its breath +heavily, and without ever thinking of the promise she had given to the +old woman, she made, as is usual, the sign of the cross over the mouth +of the child, and said-- + +"Christ bless you, my babe!" + +The instant she had spoken the word there was raised a horrible, +piercing cry. The spirits tumbled head over heels out at the door, with +terrible crushing and crowding, their lights went out, and in a few +minutes the whole house was clear of them and left desolate. Orm and +Aslog, frightened to death, hid themselves in the most retired nook in +the house. They did not venture to stir till daybreak, and not till the +sun shone through the hole in the roof down on the fire-place did they +feel courage enough to descend from the loft. + +The table remained still covered as the underground people had left it. +All their vessels, which were of silver, and manufactured in the most +beautiful manner, were upon it. In the middle of the room there stood +upon the ground a huge copper kettle half-full of sweet mead, and, by +the side of it, a drinking-horn of pure gold. In the corner lay against +the wall a stringed instrument not unlike a dulcimer, which, as people +believe, the giantesses used to play on. They gazed on what was before +them full of admiration, but without venturing to lay their hands on +anything; but great and fearful was their amazement when, on turning +about, they saw sitting at the table an immense figure, which Orm +instantly recognised as the giant whom Guru had animated by her embrace. +He was now a cold and hard stone. While they were standing gazing on it, +Guru herself entered the room in her giant form. She wept so bitterly +that the tears trickled down on the ground. It was long ere her sobbing +permitted her to utter a single word. At length she spoke-- + +"Great affliction have you brought on me, and henceforth must I weep +while I live. I know you have not done this with evil intentions, and +therefore I forgive you, though it were a trifle for me to crush the +whole house like an egg-shell over your heads." + +"Alas!" cried she, "my husband, whom I love more than myself, there he +sits petrified for ever. Never again will he open his eyes! Three +hundred years lived I with my father on the island of Kunnan, happy in +the innocence of youth, as the fairest among the giant maidens. Mighty +heroes sued for my hand. The sea around that island is still filled with +the rocky fragments which they hurled against each other in their +combats. Andfind won the victory, and I plighted myself to him; but ere +I was married came the detestable Odin into the country, who overcame +my father, and drove us all from the island. My father and sisters fled +to the mountains, and since that time my eyes have beheld them no more. +Andfind and I saved ourselves on this island, where we for a long time +lived in peace and quiet, and thought it would never be interrupted. +Destiny, which no one escapes, had determined it otherwise. Oluf came +from Britain. They called him the Holy, and Andfind instantly found that +his voyage would be inauspicious to the giants. When he heard how Oluf's +ship rushed through the waves, he went down to the strand and blew the +sea against him with all his strength. The waves swelled up like +mountains, but Oluf was still more mighty than he. His ship flew +unchecked through the billows like an arrow from a bow. He steered +direct for our island. When the ship was so near that Andfind thought he +could reach it with his hands, he grasped at the fore-part with his +right hand, and was about to drag it down to the bottom, as he had often +done with other ships. Then Oluf, the terrible Oluf, stepped forward, +and, crossing his hands over each other, he cried with a loud voice--" + +"'Stand there as a stone till the last day!' and in the same instant my +unhappy husband became a mass of rock. The ship went on unimpeded, and +ran direct against the mountain, which it cut through, separating from +it the little island which lies yonder." + +"Ever since my happiness has been annihilated, and lonely and +melancholy have I passed my life. On Yule eve alone can petrified giants +receive back their life, for the space of seven hours, if one of their +race embraces them, and is, at the same time, willing to sacrifice a +hundred years of his own life. Seldom does a giant do that. I loved my +husband too well not to bring him back cheerfully to life, every time +that I could do it, even at the highest price, and never would I reckon +how often I had done it that I might not know when the time came when I +myself should share his fate, and, at the moment I threw my arms around +him, become the same as he. Alas! now even this comfort is taken from +me. I can never more by any embrace awake him, since he has heard the +name which I dare not utter, and never again will he see the light till +the dawn of the last day shall bring it." + +"Now I go hence! You will never again behold me! All that is here in the +house I give you! My dulcimer alone will I keep. Let no one venture to +fix his habitation on the little islands which lie around here. There +dwell the little underground ones whom you saw at the festival, and I +will protect them as long as I live." + +With these words Guru vanished. The next spring Orm took the golden horn +and the silver ware to Drontheim where no one knew him. The value of the +things was so great that he was able to purchase everything a wealthy +man desires. He loaded his ship with his purchases, and returned to the +island, where he spent many years in unalloyed happiness, and Aslog's +father was soon reconciled to his wealthy son-in-law. + +The stone image remained sitting in the house. No human power was able +to move it. So hard was the stone that hammer and axe flew in pieces +without making the slightest impression upon it. The giant sat there +till a holy man came to the island, who, with one single word, removed +him back to his former station, where he stands to this hour. The copper +kettle, which the underground people left behind them, was preserved as +a memorial upon the island, which bears the name of House Island to the +present day. + + + + +THE ICELANDIC SORCERESSES. + + +"Tell me," said Katla, a handsome and lively widow, to Gunlaugar, an +accomplished and gallant young warrior, "tell me why thou goest so oft +to Mahfahlida? Is it to caress an old woman?" + +"Thine own age, Katla," answered the youth inconsiderately, "might +prevent thy making that of Geirrida a subject of reproach." + +"I little deemed," replied the offended matron, "that we were on an +equality in that particular--but thou, who supposest that Geirrida is +the sole source of knowledge, mayst find that there are others who equal +her in science." + +It happened in the course of the following winter that Gunlaugar, in +company with Oddo, the son of Katla, had renewed one of those visits to +Geirrida with which Katla had upbraided him. + +"Thou shalt not depart to-night," said the sage matron; "evil spirits +are abroad, and thy bad destiny predominates." + +"We are two in company," answered Gunlaugar, "and have therefore nothing +to fear." + +"Oddo," replied Geirrida, "will be of no aid to thee; but go, since +thou wilt go, and pay the penalty of thy own rashness." + +In their way they visited the rival matron, and Gunlaugar was invited to +remain in her house that night. This he declined, and, passing forward +alone, was next morning found lying before the gate of his father +Thorbiorn, severely wounded and deprived of his judgment. Various causes +were assigned for this disaster; but Oddo, asserting that they had +parted in anger that evening from Geirrida, insisted that his companion +must have sustained the injury through her sorcery. Geirrida was +accordingly cited to the popular assembly and accused of witchcraft. But +twelve witnesses, or compurgators, having asserted upon their oath the +innocence of the accused party, Geirrida was honourably freed from the +accusation brought against her. Her acquittal did not terminate the +rivalry between the two sorceresses, for, Geirrida belonging to the +family of Kiliakan, and Katla to that of the pontiff Snorro, the +animosity which still subsisted between these septs became awakened by +the quarrel. + +It chanced that Thorbiorn, called Digri (or the corpulent), one of the +family of Snorro, had some horses which fed in the mountain pastures, +near to those of Thorarin, called the Black, the son of the enchantress +Geirrida. But when autumn arrived, and the horses were to be withdrawn +from the mountains and housed for the winter, those of Thorbiorn could +nowhere be found, and Oddo, the son of Katla, being sent to consult a +wizard, brought back a dubious answer, which seemed to indicate that +they had been stolen by Thorarin. Thorbiorn, with Oddo and a party of +armed followers, immediately set forth for Mahfahlida, the dwelling of +Geirrida and her son Thorarin. Arrived before the gate, they demanded +permission to search for the horses which were missing. This Thorarin +refused, alleging that neither was the search demanded duly authorised +by law, nor were the proper witnesses cited to be present, nor did +Thorbiorn offer any sufficient pledge of security when claiming the +exercise of so hazardous a privilege. Thorbiorn replied, that as +Thorarin declined to permit a search, he must be held as admitting his +guilt; and constituting for that purpose a temporary court of justice, +by choosing out six judges, he formally accused Thorarin of theft before +the gate of his own house. At this the patience of Geirrida forsook her. + +"Well," said she to her son Thorarin, "is it said of thee that thou art +more a woman than a man, or thou wouldst not bear these intolerable +affronts." + +Thorarin, fired at the reproach, rushed forth with his servants and +guests; a skirmish soon disturbed the legal process which had been +instituted, and one or two of both parties were wounded and slain before +the wife of Thorarin and the female attendants could separate the fray +by flinging their mantles over the weapons of the combatants. + +Thorbiorn and his party retreating, Thorarin proceeded to examine the +field of battle. Alas! among the reliques of the fight was a bloody +hand too slight and fair to belong to any of the combatants. It was that +of his wife Ada, who had met this misfortune in her attempts to separate +the foes. Incensed to the uttermost, Thorarin threw aside his +constitutional moderation, and, mounting on horseback, with his allies +and followers, pursued the hostile party, and overtook them in a +hay-field, where they had halted to repose their horses, and to exult +over the damage they had done to Thorarin. At this moment he assailed +them with such fury that he slew Thorbiorn upon the spot, and killed +several of his attendants, although Oddo, the son of Katla, escaped free +from wounds, having been dressed by his mother in an invulnerable +garment. After this action, more blood being shed than usual in an +Icelandic engagement, Thorarin returned to Mahfahlida, and, being +questioned by his mother concerning the events of the skirmish, he +answered in the improvisatory and enigmatical poetry of his age and +country-- + + "From me the foul reproach be far, + With which a female waked the war, + From me, who shunned not in the fray + Through foemen fierce to hew my way + (Since meet it is the eagle's brood + On the fresh corpse should find their food); + Then spared I not, in fighting field, + With stalwart hand my sword to wield; + And well may claim at Odin's shrine + The praise that waits this deed of mine." + +To which effusion Geirrida answered-- + +"Do these verses imply the death of Thorbiorn?" + +And Thorarin, alluding to the legal process which Thorbiorn had +instituted against him, resumed his song-- + + "Sharp bit the sword beneath the hood + Of him whose zeal the cause pursued, + And ruddy flowed the stream of death, + Ere the grim brand resumed the sheath; + Now on the buckler of the slain + The raven sits, his draught to drain, + For gore-drenched is his visage bold, + That hither came his courts to hold." + +As the consequence of this slaughter was likely to be a prosecution at +the instance of the pontiff Snorro, Thorarin had now recourse to his +allies and kindred, of whom the most powerful were Arnkill, his maternal +uncle, and Verimond, who readily premised their aid both in the field +and in the Comitia, or popular meeting, in spring, before which it was +to be presumed Snorro would indict Thorarin for the slaughter of his +kinsman. Arnkill could not, however, forbear asking his nephew how he +had so far lost his usual command of temper. He replied in verse-- + + "Till then, the master of my mood, + Men called me gentle, mild, and good; + But yon fierce dame's sharp tongue might wake + In wintry den the frozen snake." + +While Thorarin spent the winter with his uncle Arnkill, he received +information from his mother Geirrida that Oddo, son of her old rival +Katla, was the person who had cut off the hand of his wife Ada, and +that he gloried in the fact. Thorarin and Arnkill determined on instant +vengeance, and, travelling rapidly, surprised the house of Katla. The +undismayed sorceress, on hearing them approach, commanded her son to sit +close beside her, and when the assailants entered they only beheld +Katla, spinning coarse yarn from what seemed a large distaff, with her +female domestics seated around her. + +"My son," she said, "is absent on a journey;" and Thorarin and Arnkill, +having searched the house in vain, were obliged to depart with this +answer. They had not, however, gone far before the well-known skill of +Katla, in optical delusion occurred to them, and they resolved on a +second and stricter search. Upon their return they found Katla in the +outer apartment, who seemed to be shearing the hair of a tame kid, but +was in reality cutting the locks of her son Oddo. Entering the inner +room, they found the large distaff flung carelessly upon a bench. They +returned yet a third time, and a third delusion was prepared for them; +for Katla had given her son the appearance of a hog, which seemed to +grovel upon the heap of ashes. Arnkill now seized and split the distaff, +which he had at first suspected, upon which Kalta tauntingly observed, +that if their visits had been frequent that evening, they could not be +said to be altogether ineffectual, since they had destroyed a distaff. +They were accordingly returning completely baffled, when Geirrida met +them, and upbraided them with carelessness in searching for their enemy. + +"Return yet again," she said, "and I will accompany you." + +Katla's maidens, still upon the watch, announced to her the return of +the hostile party, their number augmented by one who wore a blue mantle. + +"Alas!" cried Katla, "it is the sorceress Geirrida, against whom spells +will be of no avail." + +Immediately rising from the raised and boarded seat which she occupied, +she concealed Oddo beneath it, and covered it with cushions as before, +on which she stretched herself complaining of indisposition. Upon the +entrance of the hostile party, Geirrida, without speaking a word, flung +aside her mantle, took out a piece of sealskin, in which she wrapped up +Katla's head, and commanded that she should be held by some of the +attendants, while the others broke open the boarded space, beneath which +Oddo lay concealed, seized upon him, bound him, and led him away captive +with his mother. Next morning Oddo was hanged, and Katla stoned to +death; but not until she had confessed that, through her sorcery, she +had occasioned the disaster of Gunlaugar, which first led the way to +these feuds. + + + + +THE THREE DOGS. + + +Once upon a time there was a king who travelled to a strange country, +where he married a queen. When they had been married some time the queen +had a daughter, which gave rise to much joy through the whole land, for +all people liked the king, he was so kind and just. As the child was +born there came an old woman into the room. She was of a strange +appearance, and nobody could guess where she came from, or to what place +she was going. This old woman declared that the royal child must not be +taken out under the sky until it was fifteen years old. If she was she +would be in danger of being carried away by the giants of the mountains. + +The king, when he was told what the woman had said, heeded her words, +and set a guard to see that the princess did not come out into the open +air. + +In a short time the queen bore another daughter, and there was again +much joy in the land. The old woman once more made her appearance, and +she said that the king must not let the young princess go out under the +sky before she was fifteen. + +The queen had a third daughter, and the third time the old woman came, +warning the king respecting this child as she had done regarding the two +former. The king was much distressed, for he loved his children more +than anything else in the world. So he gave strict orders that the three +princesses should be always kept indoors, and he commanded that every +one should respect his edict. + +A considerable time passed by, and the princesses grew up to be the most +beautiful girls that could be seen far or near. Then a war began, and +the king had to leave his home. + +One day, while he was away at the seat of war, the three princesses sat +at a window looking at how the sun shone on the flowers in the garden. +They felt that they would like very much to go and play among the +flowers, and they begged the guards to let them out for a little while +to walk in the garden. The guards refused, for they were afraid of the +king, but the girls begged of them so prettily and so earnestly that +they could not long refuse them, so they let them do as they wished. The +princesses were delighted, and ran out into the garden, but their +pleasure was short-lived. Scarcely had they got into the open air when a +cloud came down and carried them off, and no one could find them again, +though they searched the wide world over. + +The whole of the people mourned, and the king, as you may imagine, was +very much grieved when, on his return home, he learned what had +happened. However, there is an old saying, "What's done cannot be +undone," so the king had to let matters remain as they were. As no one +could advise him how to recover his daughters, the king caused +proclamation to be made throughout the land that whoever should bring +them back to him from the power of the mountain-giants should have one +of them for his wife, and half the kingdom as a wedding present. As soon +as this proclamation was made in the neighbouring countries many young +warriors went out, with servants and horses, to look for the three +princesses. There were at the king's court at that time two foreign +princes and they started off too, to see how fortunate they might be. +They put on fine armour, and took costly weapons, and they boasted of +what they would do, and how they would never come back until they had +accomplished their purpose. + +We will leave these two princes to wander here and there in their +search, and look at what was passing in another place. Deep down in the +heart of a wild wood there dwelt at that time an old woman who had an +only son, who used daily to attend to his mother's three hogs. As the +lad roamed through the forest, he one day cut a little pipe to play on. +He found much pleasure in the music, and he played so well that the +notes charmed all who heard him. The boy was well built, of an honest +heart, and feared nothing. + +One day it chanced that, as he was sitting in the wood playing on his +pipe, while his three hogs grubbed among the roots of the pine-trees, a +very old man came along. He had a beard so long that it reached to his +waist, and a large dog accompanied him. When the lad saw the dog he said +to himself-- + +"I wish I had a dog like that as a companion here in the wood. Then +there would be no danger." + +The old man knew what the boy thought, and he said-- + +"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs." + +The lad was ready to close the bargain, and gave a gray hog in exchange +for the big dog. As he was going the old man said-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. His name is Hold-fast, and if you tell him to hold, hold he +will whatever it may be, were it even the fiercest giant." + +Then he departed, and the lad thought that for once, at all events, +fortune had been kind to him. + +When evening had come, the lad called his dog, and drove the hogs to his +home in the forest. When the old woman learnt how her son had given away +the gray hog for a dog, she flew into a great rage, and gave him a good +beating. The lad begged her to be quiet, but it was of no use, for she +only seemed to get the more angry. When the boy saw that it was no good +pleading, he called to the dog-- + +"Hold fast." + +The dog at once rushed forward, and, seizing the old woman, held her so +firmly that she could not move; but he did her no harm. The old woman +now had to promise that she would agree to what her son had done; but +she could not help thinking that she had suffered a great misfortune in +losing her fat gray hog. + +The next day the boy went once more to the forest with his dog and the +two hogs. When he arrived there he sat down and played upon his pipe as +usual, and the dog danced to the music in such a wonderful manner that +it was quite amazing. While he thus sat, the old man with the gray beard +came up to him out of the forest. He was accompanied by a dog as large +as the former one. When the boy saw the fine animal, he said to +himself-- + +"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger." + +The old man knew what he thought, and said-- + +"I have come to ask you to let me give you my dog for one of your hogs." + +The boy did not hesitate long, but agreed to the bargain. He got the big +dog, and the man took the hog in exchange. As he went, the old man +said-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Tear, and if you tell him to tear, tear he will +in pieces whatever it be, even the fiercest mountain giant." + +Then he departed, and the boy was glad at heart, thinking he had made a +good bargain, though he well knew his old mother would not be much +pleased at it. + +Towards evening he went home, and his mother was not a bit less angry +than she had been on the previous day. She dared not beat her son, +however, for his big dogs made her afraid. It usually happens that when +women have scolded enough they at last give in. So it was now. The boy +and his mother became friends once more; but the old woman thought she +had sustained such a loss as could never again be made good. + +The boy went to the forest again with the hog and the two dogs. He was +very happy, and, sitting down on the trunk of a tree he played, as +usual, on his pipe; and the dogs danced in such fine fashion that it was +a treat to look at them. While the boy thus sat amusing himself, the old +man with the gray beard again appeared out of the forest. He had with +him a third dog as large as either of the others. When the boy saw it, +he said to himself-- + +"I wish I had that dog as a companion in this wood. Then there would be +no danger." + +The old man said-- + +"I came because I wished you to see my dog, for I well know you would +like to have him." + +The lad was ready enough, and the bargain was made. So he got the big +dog, giving his last hog for it. The old man then departed, saying-- + +"I think you will be satisfied with your bargain. The dog is not like +other dogs. He is called Quick-ear, and so quick does he hear, that he +knows all that takes place, be it ever so many miles away. Why, he hears +even the trees and the grass growing in the fields!" + +Then the old man went off, and the lad felt very happy, for he thought +he had nothing now to be afraid of. + +As evening came on the boy went home, and his mother was sorely grieved +when she found her son had parted with her all; but he told her to bid +farewell to sorrow, saying that he would see she had no loss. The lad +spoke so well that the old woman was quite pleased. At daybreak the lad +went out a-hunting with his two dogs, and in the evening he came back +with as much game as he could carry. He hunted till his mother's larder +was well stocked, then he bade her farewell, telling her he was going to +travel to see what fortune had in store for him, and called his dogs to +him. + +He travelled on over hills, and along gloomy roads, till he got deep in +a dark forest. There the old man with the gray beard met him. The lad +was very glad to fall in with him again, and said to him-- + +"Good-day, father. I thank you for our last meeting." + +"Good-day," answered the old man. "Where are you going?" + +"I am going into the world," said the boy, "to see what fortune I shall +have." + +"Go on," said the old man, "and you will come to a royal palace; there +you will have a change of fortune." + +With that they parted; but the lad paid good heed to the old man's +words, and kept on his way. When he came to a house, he played on his +pipe while his dogs danced, and so he got food and shelter, and whatever +he wanted. + +Having travelled for some days, he at last entered a large city, +through the streets of which great crowds of people were passing. The +lad wondered what was the cause of all this. At last he came to where +proclamation was being made, that whoever should rescue the three +princesses from the hands of the mountain giants should have one of them +for his wife and half the kingdom with her. Then the lad remembered what +the old man had told him, and understood what he meant. He called his +dogs to him, and went on till he came to the palace. There, from the +time that the princesses disappeared, the place had been filled with +sorrow and mourning, and the king and the queen grieved more than all +the others. The boy entered the palace, and begged to be allowed to play +to the king and show him his dogs. The people of the palace were much +pleased at this, for they thought it might do something to make the king +forget his grief. So they let him go in and show what he could do. When +the king heard how he played, and saw how wonderfully his dogs danced, +he was so merry that no one had seen him so during the seven long years +that had passed since he lost his daughters. When the dancing was +finished, the king asked the boy what he should give him as a return for +the amusement he had given them. + +"My lord king," said the boy, "I am not come here for silver, goods, or +gold! I ask one thing of you, that you will give me leave to go and seek +the three princesses who are now in the hands of the mountain giants." +When the king heard this he knit his brow--"So you think," said he, +"that you can restore my daughters. The task is a dangerous one, and men +who were better than you have suffered in it. If, however, any one save +the princesses I will never break my word." + +The lad thought these words kingly and honest. He bade farewell to the +king and set out, determined that he would not rest till he had found +what he wanted. + +He travelled through many great countries without any extraordinary +adventure, and wherever he went his dogs went with him. Quick-ear ran +and heard what there was to hear in the place; Hold-fast carried the +bag; and on Tear, who was the strongest of the three, the lad rode when +he was tired. One day Quick-ear came running fast to his master to tell +him that he had been near a high mountain, and had heard one of the +princesses spinning within it. The giant, Quick-ear said, was not at +home. At this the boy felt very glad, and he made haste to the mountain +with his dogs. When they were come to it, Quick-ear said-- + +"We have no time to lose. The giant is only ten miles away, and I can +hear his horse's golden shoes beating on the stones." + +The lad at once ordered his dogs to break in the door of the mountain, +which they did. He entered, and saw a beautiful maiden who sat spinning +gold thread on a spindle of gold. He stepped forward and spoke to her. +She was much astonished, and said--"Who are you, that dare to come into +the giant's hall? For seven long years have I lived here, and never +during that time have I looked on a human being. Run away, for Heaven's +sake, before the giant comes, or you will lose your life." + +The boy told her his errand, and said he would await the troll's coming. +While they were talking, the giant came, riding on his gold-shod horse, +and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw that the door was open he +was very angry, and called out, in such a voice that the whole mountain +shook to its base, "Who has broken open my door?" The boy boldly +answered-- + +"I did it, and now I will break you too. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear +and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!" + +Hardly had he spoken the words when the three dogs rushed forward, threw +themselves on the giant, and tore him into numberless pieces. The +princess was very glad, and said-- + +"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free." She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. The lad would not stop in the place, so he saddled the +giant's horses, put on them all the goods and gold he found, and set off +with the beautiful young princess. They travelled together for a long +time, the lad waiting on the maiden with that respect and attention that +such a noble lady deserved. + +It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who had gone before to obtain news, +came running fast to his master and informed him that he had been to a +high mountain, and had heard another of the king's daughters sitting +within it spinning gold thread. The giant, he said, was not at home. The +lad was well pleased to hear this, and hastened to the mountain with his +three dogs. When they arrived there, Quick-ear said-- + +"We have no time to waste. The giant is but eight miles off. I can hear +the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the stones!" + +The lad ordered the dogs to break in the door, and when they had done so +he entered and found a beautiful maiden sitting in the hall, winding +gold thread. The lad stepped forward and spoke to her. She was much +surprised, and said-- + +"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's dwelling? Seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. Run away, for Heaven's sake, before the giant comes, or you +will lose your life." + +The lad told her why he had come, and said he would wait for the giant's +return home. + +In the midst of their talk the giant came, riding on his gold-shod +horse, and stopped outside the mountain. When he saw the door was open +he was in a great rage, and called out with such a voice that the +mountain shook to its base. + +"Who," said he, "has broken open my door?" The lad answered boldly-- + +"I did it, and now I will break you. Hold-fast, hold him fast; Tear and +Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand pieces!" The dogs straightway sprang +forward and threw themselves on the giant, and tore him into pieces as +numberless as are the leaves which fall in the autumn. Then the princess +was very glad, and said-- + +"Heaven be thanked! Now I am free!" She threw herself on the lad's neck +and kissed him. He led her to her sister, and one can well imagine how +glad they were to meet. The lad took all the treasures that the giant's +dwelling contained, put them on the gold-shod horses, and set out with +the two princesses. + +They again travelled a great distance, and the youth waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved. + +It chanced one day that Quick-ear, who went before to get news, came +running fast to his master, and told him he had been near a high +mountain, and had heard the third princess sitting within, spinning +cloth of gold. The giant himself was not in. The youth was well pleased +to hear this, and he hurried to the mountain accompanied by his dogs. +When they came there, Quick-ear said-- + +"There is no time to be lost. The giant is not more than five miles off. +I well know it. I hear the sound of his horse's gold shoes on the +stones." + +The lad told his dogs to break in the door, and they did so. When he +entered the mountain he saw there a maiden, sitting and weaving cloth of +gold. She was so beautiful that the lad thought another such could not +be found in the world. He advanced and spoke to her. The young princess +was much astonished, and said-- + +"Who are you, who dare to come into the giant's hall? For seven long +years have I lived here, and never during that time have I looked on a +human being. For Heaven's sake," added she, "run away before the giant +comes, or he will kill you!" + +The lad, however, was brave, and said that he would lay down his life +for the beautiful princess. + +In the middle of their talk home came the giant, riding on his horse +with the golden shoes, and stopped at the mountain. When he came in and +saw what unwelcome visitors were there he was very much afraid, for he +knew what had happened to his brethren. He thought it best to be careful +and cunning, for he dared not act openly. He began therefore with fine +words, and was very smooth and amiable. He told the princess to dress +meat, so that he might entertain the guest, and behaved in such a +friendly manner that the lad was perfectly deceived, and forgot to be on +his guard. He sat down at the table with the giant. The princess wept in +secret, and the dogs were very uneasy, but no one noticed it. + +When the giant and his guest had finished the meal, the youth said-- + +"I am no longer hungry. Give me something to drink." + +"There is," said the giant, "a spring up in the mountain which runs with +sparkling wine, but I have no one to fetch of it." + +"If that is all," said the lad, "one of my dogs can go up there." + +The giant laughed in his false heart when he heard that, for what he +wanted was that the lad should send away his dogs. The lad told +Hold-fast to go for the wine, and the giant gave him a large jug. The +dog went, but one might see that he did so very unwillingly. + +Time went on and on, but the dog did not come back. After some time the +giant said-- + +"I wonder why the dog is so long away. It might, perhaps, be as well to +let another dog go to help him. He has to go a long distance, and the +jug is a heavy one to carry." + +The lad, suspecting no trickery, fell in with the giant's suggestion, +and told Tear to go and see why Hold-fast did not come. The dog wagged +his tail and did not want to leave his master, but he noticed it, and +drove him off to the spring. The giant laughed to himself, and the +princess wept, but the lad did not mark it, being very merry, jested +with his entertainer, and did not dream of any danger. + +A long time passed, but neither the wine nor the dogs appeared. + +"I can well see," said the giant, "that your dogs do not do what you +tell them, or we should not sit here thirsty. It seems to me it would be +best to send Quick-ear to ascertain why they don't come back." + +The lad was nettled at that, and ordered his third dog to go in haste to +the spring. Quick-ear did not want to go, but whined and crept to his +master's feet. Then the lad became angry, and drove him away. The dog +had to obey, so away he set in great haste to the top of the mountain. +When he reached it, it happened to him as it had to the others. There +arose a high wall around him, and he was made a prisoner by the giant's +sorcery. + +When all the three dogs were gone, the giant stood up, put on a +different look, and gripped his bright sword which hung upon the wall. + +"Now will I avenge my brethren," said he, "and you shall die this +instant, for you are in my hands." + +The lad was frightened, and repented that he had parted with his dogs. + +"I will not ask my life," said he, "for I must die some day. I only ask +one thing, that I may say my _Paternoster_ and play a psalm on my +pipe. That is the custom in my country." + +The giant granted him his wish, but said he would not wait long. The lad +knelt down, and devoutly said his _Paternoster_, and began to play +upon his pipe so that it was heard over hill and dale. That instant the +magic lost its power, and the dogs were once more set free. They came +down like a blast of wind, and rushed into the mountain. Then the lad +sprang up and cried-- + +"Hold-fast, hold him; Tear and Quick-ear, tear him into a thousand +pieces." + +The dogs flew on the giant, and tore him into countless shreds. Then the +lad took all the treasures in the mountain, harnessed the giant's +horses to a golden chariot, and made haste to be gone. + +As may well be imagined, the young princesses were very glad at being +thus saved, and they thanked the lad for having delivered them from the +power of mountain giants. He himself fell deep in love with the youngest +princess, and they vowed to be true and faithful. So they travelled, +with mirth and jest and great gladness, and the lad waited on the +princesses with the respect and care they deserved. As they went on, the +princesses played with the lad's hair, and each one hung her finger-ring +in his long locks as a keepsake. + +One day as they were journeying, they came up with two wanderers who +were going the same way. They had on tattered clothes, their feet were +sore, and altogether one would have thought they had come a long +distance. The lad stopped his chariot and asked them who they were and +where they came from. The strangers said they were two princes who had +gone out to look for the three maidens who had been carried off to the +mountains. They had, however, searched in vain, so they had now to go +home more like beggars than princes. + +When the lad heard that, he had pity on the two wanderers, and he asked +them to go with him in the beautiful chariot. The princes gave him many +thanks for the favour. So they travelled on together till they came to +the land over which the father of the princesses ruled. + +Now when the princes heard how the poor lad had rescued the princesses, +they were filled with envy, thinking how they themselves had wandered to +no purpose. They considered how they could get rid of him, and obtain +the honour and rewards for themselves. So one day they suddenly set on +him, seized him by the throat, and nearly strangled him. Then they +threatened to kill the princesses unless they took an oath not to reveal +what they had done, and they, being in the princes' power, did not dare +to refuse. However, they were very sorry for the youth who had risked +his life for them, and the youngest princess mourned him with all her +heart, and would not be comforted. + +After having done this, the princes went on to the king's demesnes, and +one can well imagine how glad the king was to once more see his three +daughters. + +Meanwhile the poor lad lay in the forest as if he were dead. He was not, +however, forsaken, for the three dogs lay down by him, kept him warm, +and licked his wounds. They attended to him till he got his breath +again, and came once more to life. When he had regained life and +strength, he began his journey, and came, after having endured many +hardships, to the king's demesnes, where the princesses lived. + +When he went into the palace, he marked that the whole place was filled +with mirth and joy, and in the royal hall he heard dancing and the sound +of harps. The lad was much astonished, and asked what it all meant. + +"You have surely come from a distance," said the servant, "not to know +that the king has got back his daughters from the mountain giants. The +two elder princesses are married to-day." + +The lad asked about the youngest princess, whether she was to be +married. The servant said she would have no one, but wept continually, +and no one could find out the reason for her sorrow. Then the lad was +glad, for he well knew that his love was faithful and true to him. + +He went up into the guard-room, and sent a message to the king that a +guest had come who prayed that he might add to the wedding mirth by +exhibiting his dogs. The king was pleased, and ordered that the stranger +should be well received. When the lad came into the hall, the wedding +guests much admired his smartness and his manly form, and they all +thought they had never before seen so brave a young man. When the three +princesses saw him they knew him at once, rose from the table, and ran +into his arms. Then the princes thought they had better not stay there, +for the princesses told how the lad had saved them, and how all had +befallen. As a proof of the truth of what they said, they showed their +rings in the lad's hair. + +When the king knew how the two foreign princes had acted so +treacherously and basely he was much enraged, and ordered that they +should be driven off his demesnes with disgrace. + +The brave youth was welcomed with great honour, as, indeed, he deserved, +and he was, the same day, married to the youngest princess. When the +king died, the youth was chosen ruler over the land, and made a brave +king. There he yet lives with his beautiful queen, and there he governs +prosperously to this day. + +I know no more about him. + + + + +THE LEGEND OF THORGUNNA. + + +A ship from Iceland chanced to winter in a haven near Helgafels. Among +the passengers was a woman named Thorgunna, a native of the Hebrides, +who was reported by the sailors to possess garments and household +furniture of a fashion far surpassing those used in Iceland. Thurida, +sister of the pontiff Snorro, and wife of Thorodd, a woman of a vain and +covetous disposition, attracted by these reports, made a visit to the +stranger, but could not prevail upon her to display her treasures. +Persisting, however, in her inquiries, she pressed Thorgunna to take up +her abode at the house of Thorodd. The Hebridean reluctantly assented, +but added, that as she could labour at every usual kind of domestic +industry, she trusted in that manner to discharge the obligation she +might lie under to the family, without giving any part of her property +in recompense of her lodging. As Thurida continued to urge her request, +Thorgunna accompanied her to Froda, the house of Thorodd, where the +seamen deposited a huge chest and cabinet, containing the property of +her new guest, which Thurida viewed with curious and covetous eyes. So +soon as they had pointed out to Thorgunna the place assigned for her +bed, she opened the chest, and took forth such an embroidered bed +coverlid, and such a splendid and complete set of tapestry hangings, and +bed furniture of English linen, interwoven with silk, as had never been +seen in Iceland. + +"Sell to me," said the covetous matron, "this fair bed furniture." + +"Believe me," answered Thorgunna, "I will not lie upon straw in order to +feed thy pomp and vanity;" an answer which so greatly displeased Thurida +that she never again repeated her request. Thorgunna, to whose character +subsequent events added something of a mystical solemnity, is described +as being a woman of a tall and stately appearance, of a dark complexion, +and having a profusion of black hair. She was advanced in age; assiduous +in the labours of the field and of the loom; a faithful attendant upon +divine worship; grave, silent, and solemn in domestic society. She had +little intercourse with the household of Thorodd, and showed particular +dislike to two of its inmates. These were Thorer, who, having lost a leg +in the skirmish between Thorbiorn and Thorarin the Black, was called +Thorer-Widlegr (wooden-leg), from the substitute he had adopted; and his +wife, Thorgrima, called Galldra-Kinna (wicked sorceress), from her +supposed skill in enchantments. Kiartan, the son of Thurida, a boy of +excellent promise, was the only person of the household to whom +Thorgunna showed much affection; and she was much vexed at times when +the childish petulance of the boy made an indifferent return to her +kindness. + +After this mysterious stranger had dwelt at Froda for some time, and +while she was labouring in the hay-field with other members of the +family, a sudden cloud from the northern mountain led Thorodd to +anticipate a heavy shower. He instantly commanded the hay-workers to +pile up in ricks the quantity which each had been engaged in turning to +the wind. It was afterwards remembered that Thorgunna did not pile up +her portion, but left it spread on the field. The cloud approached with +great celerity, and sank so heavily around the farm, that it was scarce +possible to see beyond the limits of the field. A heavy shower next +descended, and so soon as the clouds broke away and the sun shone forth +it was observed that it had rained blood. That which fell upon the ricks +of the other labourers soon dried up, but what Thorgunna had wrought +upon remained wet with gore. The unfortunate Hebridean, appalled at the +omen, betook herself to her bed, and was seized with a mortal illness. +On the approach of death she summoned Thorodd, her landlord, and +intrusted to him the disposition of her property and effects. + +"Let my body," said she, "be transported to Skalholt, for my mind +presages that in that place shall be founded the most distinguished +church in this island. Let my golden ring be given to the priests who +shall celebrate my obsequies, and do thou indemnify thyself for the +funeral charges out of my remaining effects. To thy wife I bequeath my +purple mantle, in order that, by this sacrifice to her avarice, I may +secure the right of disposing of the rest of my effects at my own +pleasure. But for my bed, with its coverings, hangings, and furniture, I +entreat they may be all consigned to the flames. I do not desire this +because I envy any one the possession of these things after my death, +but because I wish those evils to be avoided which I plainly foresee +will happen if my will be altered in the slightest particular." + +Thorodd promised faithfully to execute this extraordinary testament in +the most exact manner. Accordingly, so soon as Thorgunna was dead, her +faithful executor prepared a pile for burning her splendid bed. Thurida +entered, and learned with anger and astonishment the purpose of these +preparations. To the remonstrances of her husband she answered that the +menaces of future danger were only caused by Thorgunna's selfish envy, +who did not wish any one should enjoy her treasures after her decease. +Then, finding Thorodd inaccessible to argument, she had recourse to +caresses and blandishments, and at length extorted permission to +separate from the rest of the bed-furniture the tapestried curtains and +coverlid; the rest was consigned to the flames, in obedience to the will +of the testator. The body of Thorgunna, being wrapped in new linen and +placed in a coffin, was next to be transported through the precipices +and morasses of Iceland to the distant district she had assigned for her +place of sepulture. A remarkable incident occurred on the way. The +transporters of the body arrived at evening, late, weary, and drenched +with rain, in a house called Nether-Ness, where the niggard hospitality +of the proprietor only afforded them house-room, without any supply of +food or fuel. But, so soon as they entered, an unwonted noise was heard +in the kitchen of the mansion, and the figure of a woman, soon +recognised to be the deceased Thorgunna, was seen busily employed in +preparing victuals. Their inhospitable landlord, being made acquainted +with this frightful circumstance, readily agreed to supply every +refreshment which was necessary, on which the vision instantly +disappeared. The apparition having become public, they had no reason to +ask twice for hospitality as they proceeded on their journey, and they +came to Skalholt, where Thorgunna, with all due ceremonies of religion, +was deposited quietly in the grave. But the consequences of the breach +of her testament were felt severely at Froda. + +The dwelling at Froda was a simple and patriarchal structure, built +according to the fashion used by the wealthy among the Icelanders. The +apartments were very large, and a part boarded off contained the beds of +the family. On either side was a sort of store-room, one of which +contained meal, the other dried fish. Every evening large fires were +lighted in this apartment for dressing the victuals; and the domestics +of the family usually sat around them for a considerable time, until +supper was prepared. On the night when the conductors of Thorgunna's +funeral returned to Froda, there appeared, visible to all who were +present, a meteor, or spectral appearance, resembling a half-moon, which +glided around the boarded walls of the mansion in an opposite direction +to the course of the sun, and continued to perform its revolutions until +the domestics retired to rest. This apparition was renewed every night +during a whole week, and was pronounced by Thorer with the wooden leg to +presage pestilence or mortality. Shortly after a herdsman showed signs +of mental alienation, and gave various indications of having sustained +the persecution of evil demons. This man was found dead in his bed one +morning, and then commenced a scene of ghost-seeing unheard of in the +annals of superstition. The first victim was Thorer, who had presaged +the calamity. Going out of doors one evening, he was grappled by the +spectre of the deceased shepherd as he attempted to re-enter the house. +His wooden leg stood him in poor stead in such an encounter; he was +hurled to the earth, and so fearfully beaten, that he died in +consequence of the bruises. Thorer was no sooner dead than his ghost +associated itself to that of the herdsman, and joined him in pursuing +and assaulting the inhabitants of Froda. Meantime an infectious disorder +spread fast among them, and several of the bondsmen died one after the +other. Strange portents were seen within-doors, the meal was displaced +and mingled, and the dried fish flung about in a most alarming manner, +without any visible agent. At length, while the servants were forming +their evening circle round the fire, a spectre, resembling the head of a +seal-fish, was seen to emerge out of the pavement of the room, bending +its round black eyes full on the tapestried bed-curtains of Thorgunna. +Some of the domestics ventured to strike at this figure, but, far from +giving way, it rather erected itself further from the floor, until +Kiartan, who seemed to have a natural predominance over these +supernatural prodigies, seizing a huge forge-hammer, struck the seal +repeatedly on the head, and compelled it to disappear, forcing it down +into the floor, as if he had driven a stake into the earth. This prodigy +was found to intimate a new calamity. Thorodd, the master of the family, +had some time before set forth on a voyage to bring home a cargo of +dried fish; but in crossing the river Enna the skiff was lost and he +perished with the servants who attended him. A solemn funeral feast was +held at Froda, in memory of the deceased, when, to the astonishment of +the guests, the apparition of Thorodd and his followers seemed to enter +the apartment dripping with water. Yet this vision excited less horror +than might have been expected, for the Icelanders, though nominally +Christians, retained, among other pagan superstitions, a belief that the +spectres of such drowned persons as had been favourably received by the +goddess Rana were wont to show themselves at their funeral feast. They +saw, therefore, with some composure, Thorodd and his dripping attendants +plant themselves by the fire, from which all mortal guests retreated to +make room for them. It was supposed this apparition would not be +renewed after the conclusion of the festival. But so far were their +hopes disappointed, that, so soon as the mourning guests had departed, +the fires being lighted, Thorodd and his comrades marched in on one +side, drenched as before with water; on the other entered Thorer, +heading all those who had died in the pestilence, and who appeared +covered with dust. Both parties seized the seats by the fire, while the +half-frozen and terrified domestics spent the night without either light +or warmth. The same phenomenon took place the next night, though the +fires had been lighted in a separate house, and at length Kiartan was +obliged to compound matters with the spectres by kindling a large fire +for them in the principal apartment, and one for the family and +domestics in a separate hut. This prodigy continued during the whole +feast of Jol. Other portents also happened to appal this devoted family: +the contagious disease again broke forth, and when any one fell a +sacrifice to it his spectre was sure to join the troop of persecutors, +who had now almost full possession of the mansion of Froda. Thorgrima +Galldrakinna, wife of Thorer, was one of these victims, and, in short, +of thirty servants belonging to the household, eighteen died, and five +fled for fear of the apparitions, so that only seven remained in the +service of Kiartan. + +Kiartan had now recourse to the advice of his maternal uncle Snorro, in +consequence of whose counsel, which will perhaps appear surprising to +the reader, judicial measures were instituted against the spectres. A +Christian priest was, however, associated with Thordo Kausa, son of +Snorro, and with Kiartan, to superintend and sanctify the proceedings. +The inhabitants were regularly summoned to attend upon the inquest, as +in a cause between man and man, and the assembly was constituted before +the gate of the mansion, just as the spectres had assumed their wonted +station by the fire. Kiartan boldly ventured to approach them, and, +snatching a brand from the fire, he commanded the tapestry belonging to +Thorgunna to be carried out of doors, set fire to it, and reduced it to +ashes with all the other ornaments of her bed, which had been so +inconsiderately preserved at the request of Thurida. A tribunal being +then constituted with the usual legal solemnities, a charge was +preferred by Kiartan against Thorer with the wooden leg, by Thordo Kausa +against Thorodd, and by others chosen as accusers against the individual +spectres present, accusing them of molesting the mansion, and +introducing death and disease among its inhabitants. All the solemn +rites of judicial procedure were observed on this singular occasion; +evidence was adduced, charges given, and the cause formally decided. It +does not appear that the ghosts put themselves on their defence, so that +sentence of ejectment was pronounced against them individually in due +and legal form. When Thorer heard the judgment, he arose, and saying-- + +"I have sat while it was lawful for me to do so," left the apartment by +the door opposite to that at which the judicial assembly was +constituted. Each of the spectres, as it heard its individual sentence, +left the place, saying something which indicated its unwillingness to +depart, until Thorodd himself was solemnly called on to leave. + +"We have here no longer," said he, "a peaceful dwelling, therefore will +we remove." + +Kiartan then entered the hall with his followers, and the priest, with +holy water, and celebration of a solemn mass, completed the conquest +over the goblins, which had been commenced by the power and authority of +the Icelandic law. + + + + +THE LITTLE GLASS SHOE. + + +A peasant, named John Wilde, who lived in Rodenkirchen, found, one time, +a little glass shoe on one of the hills, where the little people used to +dance. He clapped it instantly in his pocket, and ran away with it, +keeping his hand as close on his pocket as if he had a dove in it, for +he knew he had found a treasure which the underground people must redeem +at any price. + +Others say that John Wilde lay in ambush one night for the underground +people, and snatched an opportunity to pull off one of their shoes by +stretching himself there with a brandy bottle beside him, and acting +like one that was dead drunk, for he was a very cunning man, not over +scrupulous in his morals, and had taken in many a one by his craftiness, +and, on this account, his name was in no good repute among his +neighbours, who, to say the truth, were willing to have as little to do +with him as possible. Many hold, too, that he was acquainted with +forbidden acts, and used to carry on an intercourse with the fiends and +old women that raised storms, and such like. + +However, be this as it may, when John had got the shoe he lost no time +in letting the folk that dwell under the ground know that he had it. At +midnight he went to the Nine-hills, and cried with all his might-- + +"John Wilde of Rodenkirchen has got a beautiful glass shoe. Who will buy +it? who will buy it?" for he knew that the little one who had lost the +shoe must go barefoot till he got it again; and that is no trifle, for +the little people have generally to walk upon very hard and stony +ground. + +John's advertisement was speedily attended to. The little fellow who had +lost the shoe made no delay in setting about redeeming it. The first +free day he got that he might come out in the daylight, he came as a +respectable merchant, knocked at John Wilde's door, and asked if John +had not got a glass shoe to sell: + +"For," says he, "they are an article now in great demand, and are sought +for in every market." + +John replied that it was true that he had a very pretty little glass +shoe; but it was so small that even a dwarf's foot would be squeezed in +it, and that a person must be made on purpose to suit it before it could +be of use. For all that, it was an extraordinary shoe, a valuable shoe, +and a dear shoe, and it was not every merchant that could afford to pay +for it. + +The merchant asked to see it, and when he had examined it-- + +"Glass shoes," said he, "are not by any means such rare articles, my +good friend, as you think here in Rodenkirchen, because you do not +happen to go much into the world. However," said he, after humming a +little, "I will give you a good price for it, because I happen to have +the very fellow of it." + +He bid the countryman a thousand dollars for it. + +"A thousand dollars are money, my father used to say when he drove fat +oxen to market," replied John Wilde, in a mocking tone; "but it will not +leave my hands for that shabby price, and, for my own part, it may +ornament the foot of my daughter's doll! Hark ye, my friend, I have +heard a sort of little song sung about the glass shoe, and it is not for +a parcel of dirt it will go out of my hands. Tell me now, my good +fellow, should you happen to know the knack of it, how in every furrow I +make when I am ploughing I may find a ducat? If not, the shoe is still +mine; and you may inquire for glass shoes at those other markets." + +The merchant made still a great many attempts, and twisted and turned in +every direction to get the shoe; but when he found the farmer +inflexible, he agreed to what John desired, and swore to the performance +of it. Cunning John believed him, and gave him up the glass shoe, for he +knew right well with whom he had to do. So, the business being ended, +away went the merchant with his glass shoe. + +Without a moment's delay John repaired to his stable, got ready his +horses and his plough, and went out to the field. He selected a piece of +ground where he would have the shortest turns possible, and began to +plough. Hardly had the plough turned up the first sod when up sprang a +ducat out of the ground, and it was the same with every fresh furrow he +made. There was now no end of his ploughing, and John Wilde soon bought +eight new horses, and put them into the stable to the eight he already +had, and their mangers were never without plenty of oats in them, that +he might be able every two hours to yoke two fresh horses, and so be +enabled to drive them the faster. + +John was now insatiable in ploughing. Every morning he was out before +sunrise, and many a time he ploughed on till after midnight. Summer and +winter it was plough, plough with him ever-more, except when the ground +was frozen as hard as a stone. He always ploughed by himself, and never +suffered any one to go out with him, or to come to him when he was at +work, for John understood too well the nature of his crop to let people +see for what it was he ploughed so constantly. + +However, it fared far worse with him than with his horses, who ate good +oats, and were regularly changed and relieved, for he grew pale and +meagre by reason of his continual working and toiling. His wife and +children had no longer any comfort for him. He never went to the +ale-house or to the club. He withdrew himself from every one, and +scarcely ever spoke a single word, but went about silent and wrapped up +in his own thoughts. All the day long he toiled for his ducats, and at +night he had to count them, and to plan and meditate how he might find +out a still swifter kind of plough. + +His wife and the neighbours lamented over his strange conduct, his +dulness and melancholy, and began to think he was grown foolish. +Everybody pitied his wife and children, for they imagined the numerous +horses that he kept in his stable, and the preposterous mode of +agriculture he pursued, with his unnecessary and superfluous ploughing, +must soon leave him without house or land. + +Their anticipations, however, were not fulfilled. True it is, the poor +man never enjoyed a happy or contented hour since he began to plough the +ducats up out of the ground. The old saying held good in his case, that +he who gives himself up to the pursuit of gold is half-way in the claws +of the evil one. Flesh and blood cannot bear perpetual labour, and John +Wilde did not long hold out against his running through the furrows day +and night. He got through the first spring; but one day in the second he +dropped down at the tail of the plough like an exhausted November fly. +Out of the pure thirst for gold he was wasted away and dried up to +nothing, whereas he had been a very strong and hearty man the day the +shoe of the little underground man fell into his hands. + +His wife, however, found he had left a great treasure--two great +nailed-up chests full of good new ducats; and his sons purchased large +estates for themselves, and became lords and noblemen. + +But what good did all that to poor John Wilde? + + + + +HOW LOKI WAGERED HIS HEAD. + + +Loki, the son of Laufey, out of mischief cut off all the hair of Sif. +When Thor discovered this he seized Loki, and would have broken every +bone in his body, only he swore that he would get the black dwarfs to +make hair of gold for Sif, which should grow like any other hair. + +Loki then went to the dwarfs that are called the sons of Ivallda. They +first made the hair, which, as soon as it was put on the head, grew like +natural hair. Then they made the ship Skidbladnir, which always had the +wind with it wherever it would sail. Lastly, they made the spear Gugner, +which always hit its mark in battle. + +Then Loki wagered his head against the dwarf Brock, that his brother, +Eitri, could not forge three such valuable things as these. They went to +the forge. Eitri set the bellows to the fire, and bid his brother, +Brock, blow. While he was blowing there came a fly that settled on his +hand and bit him, but he blew without stopping till the smith took the +work out of the fire, and it was a boar, and its bristles were of gold. + +Eitri then put gold into the fire, and bid his brother not stop blowing +till he came back. He went away, and the fly came and settled on Brock's +neck, and bit him more severely than before, but he blew on till the +smith came back, and took out of the fire the gold ring which is called +Draupnir. + +Then he put iron into the fire, and bid Brock blow, and said that if he +stopped blowing all the work would be lost. The fly settled between +Brock's eyes, and bit so hard that the blood ran down so that he could +not see. So, when the bellows were down, he caught at the fly in all +haste, and tore off its wings. When the smith came he said that all that +was in the fire was nearly spoiled. Then he took out of it the hammer, +Mjolnir. He then gave all the things to his brother Brock, and bade him +go with them to Asgard, and settle the wager. + +Loki produced his articles, and Odin, Thor, and Frey were the judges. +Then Loki gave to Odin the spear Gugner, and to Thor the hair that Sif +was to have, and to Frey Skidbladnir, and told them what virtues those +things possessed. Brock took out his articles, and gave to Odin the +ring, and told him that every ninth night there would drop from it eight +other rings as valuable as itself. To Frey he gave the boar, and said +that it would run through air and water, by night and by day, better +than any horse, and that never was there night so dark that the way by +which he went would not be light from his hide. The hammer he gave to +Thor, and said that it would never fail to hit a troll, and that at +whatever he threw it, it would never miss the mark, and that Thor could +never throw it so far that it would not return to his hand. It would +also, when Thor chose, become so small that he could put it in his +pocket. The only fault of the hammer was that its handle was a little +too short. + +Their judgment was that the hammer was the best of all the things before +them, and that the dwarf had won his wager. Then Loki prayed hard not to +lose his head, but the dwarf said that could not be. + +"Catch me, then!" said Loki, and when the dwarf sought to catch him he +was far away, for Loki had shoes with which he could run through air and +water. Then the dwarf prayed Thor to catch him, and he did so. The dwarf +now proceeded to cut off his head, but Loki objected that he was to have +the head only, and not the neck. As he would not be quiet, the dwarf +took a knife and a thong, and began to sew his mouth up; but the knife +was bad, so the dwarf wished that he had his brother's awl, and as soon +as he wished it, it was there. So he sewed Loki's lips together. + + + + +THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. + + +There once lived in Rambin an honest, industrious man, named James +Dietrich. He had several children, all of a good disposition, especially +the youngest, whose name was John. John Dietrich was a handsome, smart +boy, diligent at school, and obedient at home. His great passion was for +hearing stories, and whenever he met any one who was well stored he +never let him go till he had heard them all. + +When John was about eight years old he was sent to spend a summer with +his uncle, a farmer, in Rodenkirchen. Here John had to keep cows with +other boys, and they used to drive them to graze about the Nine-hills. +There was an old cowherd, one Klas Starkwolt who used frequently to join +the boys, and then they would sit down together and tell stories. Klas +abounded in these, and he became John Dietrich's dearest friend. In +particular, he knew a number of stories of the Nine-hills, and the +underground people in the old times, when the giants disappeared from +the country and the little ones came into the hills. These tales John +swallowed so eagerly that he thought of nothing else, and was for ever +talking of golden cups, and crowns, and glass shoes, and pockets full of +ducats, and gold rings, and diamond coronets, and snow-white brides, and +such like. Old Klas used often to shake his head at him, and say-- + +"John! John! what are you about? The spade and scythe will be your +sceptre and crown, and your bride will wear a garland of rosemary, and a +gown of striped drill." + +Still John almost longed to get into the Nine-hills, for Klas told him +that every one who by luck or cunning should get a cap of the little +ones might go down with safety, and instead of their making a servant of +him, he would be their master. The person whose cap he got would be his +servant, and obey all his commands. + +St. John's day, when the days were longest and the nights shortest, was +now come. Old and young kept the holiday, had all sorts of plays, and +told all kinds of stories. John could now no longer contain himself, but +the day after the festival he slipt away to the Nine-hills, and when it +grew dark laid himself down on the top of the highest of them, where +Klas had told him the underground people had their principal +dancing-place. John lay quite still from ten till twelve at night. At +last it struck twelve. Immediately there was a ringing and a singing in +the hills, and then a whispering and a lisping, and a whiz and a buzz +all about him, for the little people were now, some whirling round and +round in the dance, and others sporting and tumbling about in the +moonshine, and playing a thousand merry pranks and tricks. He felt a +secret dread come over him at this whispering and buzzing, for he could +see nothing of them, as the caps they wore made them invisible, but he +lay quite still with his face in the grass, and his eyes fast shut, +snoring a little, just as if he were asleep. Now and then he ventured to +open his eyes a little and peep out, but not the slightest trace of them +could he see, though it was bright moonlight. + +It was not long before three of the underground people came jumping up +to where he was lying, but they took no heed of him, and flung their +brown caps up into the air, and caught them from one another. At length +one snatched the cap out of the hand of another and flung it away. It +flew direct, and fell upon John's head. The moment he felt it he caught +hold of it, and, standing up, bid farewell to sleep. He flung his cap +about for joy and made the little silver bell of it jingle, then set it +upon his head, and--oh wonderful! that instant he saw the countless and +merry swarm of the little people. + +The three little men came slily up to him, and thought by their +nimbleness to get back the cap, but he held his prize fast, and they saw +clearly that nothing was to be done in this way with him, for in size +and strength John was a giant in comparison with these little fellows, +who hardly came up to his knee. The owner of the cap now came up very +humbly to the finder, and begged, in as supplicating a tone as if his +life depended upon it, that he would give him back his cap. + +"No," said John, "you sly little rogue, you will get the cap no more. +That's not the sort of thing one gives away for buttered cake. I should +be in a nice way with you if I had not something of yours, but now you +have no power over me, but must do what I please. I will go down with +you and see how you live down below, and you shall be my servant. Nay, +no grumbling. You know you must. I know that just as well as you do, for +Klas Starkwolt told it to me often and often!" + +The little man made as if he had not heard or understood one word of all +this. He began his crying and whining over again, and wept and screamed +and howled most piteously for his little cap. John, however, cut the +matter short by saying-- + +"Have done. You are my servant, and I intend to make a trip with you." + +So he gave up, especially as the others told him there was no remedy. + +John now flung away his old hat, and put on the cap, and set it firm on +his head lest it should slip off or fly away, for all his power lay in +the cap. He lost no time in trying its virtues, and commanded his new +servant to fetch him food and drink. The servant ran away like the wind, +and in a second was there again with bottles of wine, and bread, and +rich fruits. So John ate and drank, and looked at the sports and dancing +of the little ones, and it pleased him right well, and he behaved +himself stoutly and wisely, as if he had been a born master. + +When the cock had now crowed for the third time, and the little larks +had made their first twirl in the sky, and the infant light appeared in +solitary white streaks in the east, then it went hush, hush, hush, +through the bushes and flowers and stalks, and the hills rent again, and +opened up, and the little men went down. John gave close attention to +everything, and found that it was exactly as he had been told, and, +behold! on the top of the hill, where they had just been dancing, and +where all was full of grass and flowers, as people see it by day, there +rose of a sudden, when the retreat was sounded, a bright glass point. +Whoever wanted to go in stepped upon this. It opened, and he glided +gently in, the grass closing again after him; and when they had all +entered it vanished, and there was no further trace of it to be seen. +Those who descended through the glass point sank quite gently into a +wide silver tun, which held them all, and could have easily harboured a +thousand such little people. John and his man went down into such a one +along with several others, all of whom screamed out, and prayed him not +to tread on them, for if his weight came on them they were dead men. He +was, however, careful, and acted in a very friendly way towards them. +Several tuns of this kind went up and down after each other, until all +were in. They hung by long silver chains, which were drawn and hung +without. + +In his descent John was amazed at the brilliancy of the walls between +which the tun glided down. They were all, as it were, beset with pearls +and diamonds, glittering and sparkling brightly, and below him he heard +the most beautiful music tinkling at a distance, so that he did not know +what was become of him, and from excess of pleasure he fell fast asleep. + +He slept a long time, and when he awoke he found himself in the most +beautiful bed that could be, such as he had never seen the like of in +his father's house, and it was in the prettiest chamber in the world, +and his servant was beside him with a fan to keep away the flies and +gnats. He had hardly opened his eyes when his little servant brought him +a basin and towel, and held him the nicest new clothes of brown silk to +put on, most beautifully made. With these was a pair of new black shoes +with red ribbons, such as John had never beheld in Rambin or in +Rodinkirchen either. There were also there several pairs of beautiful +shining glass shoes, such as are only used on great occasions. John was, +as we may well suppose, delighted to have such clothes to wear, and he +put them upon him joyfully. His servant then flew like lightning, and +returned with a breakfast of wine and milk, and beautiful white bread +and fruits, and such other things as boys are fond of. He now perceived +every moment more and more, that Klas Starkwolt, the old cowherd, knew +what he was talking about, for the splendour and magnificence he saw +here surpassed anything he had ever dreamt of. His servant, too, was the +most obedient one possible, a nod or a sign was enough for him, for he +was as wise as a bee, as all these little people are by nature John's +bedchamber was all covered with emeralds and other precious stones, and +in the ceiling was a diamond as big as a nine-pin bowl, that gave light +to the whole chamber. In this place they have neither sun nor moon nor +stars to give them light, neither do they use lamps or candlesticks of +any kind, but they live in the midst of precious stones, and have the +purest of gold and silver in abundance, and the skill to make it light +both by day and night, though indeed, properly speaking, as there is no +sun there, there is no distinction between day and night, and they +reckon only by weeks. They set the brightest and clearest precious +stones in their dwellings, and in the ways and passages leading +underground, and in the places where they had their large halls, and +their dances and their feasts, where they sparkled so as to make it +eternal day. + +When John had finished breakfast, his servant opened a little door in +the wall, where was a closet with the most beautiful silver and gold +cups and dishes and other vessels and baskets filled with ducats and +boxes of jewels and precious stones. There were also charming pictures, +and the most delightful books he had seen in the whole course of his +life. + +John spent the morning looking at these things, and when it was midday a +bell rang, and his servant said-- + +"Will you dine alone, sir, or with the large company?" + +"With the large company, to be sure," replied John. So his servant led +him out. John, however, saw nothing but solitary halls lighted up with +precious stones, and here and there little men and women, who appeared +to him to glide in and out of the clefts and fissures of the rocks. +Wondering what it was the bells rang for, he said to his servant-- + +"But where is the company?" + +Scarcely had he spoken when the hall they were in opened out to a great +extent, and a canopy set with diamonds and precious stones was drawn +over it. At the same moment he saw an immense throng of nicely dressed +little men and women pouring in through several open doors. The floor +opened in several places, and tables, covered with the most beautiful +ware, and the most luscious meats and fruits and wines, placed +themselves beside each other, and the chairs arranged themselves along +the tables, and then the men and women took their seats. + +The principal persons now came forward and bowed to John, and led him to +their table, where they placed him among their most beautiful maidens, a +distinction which pleased John well. The party, too, was very merry, for +the underground people are extremely lively and cheerful, and can never +stay long quiet. Then the most charming music sounded over their heads, +and beautiful birds, flying about, sang most sweetly, and these were not +real birds but artificial ones which the little men make so ingeniously +that they can fly about and sing like natural ones. + +The servants of both sexes who waited at table and handed about the +golden cups, and the silver and crystal baskets with fruit, were +children belonging to this world, whom some casualty or other had thrown +among the underground people, and who, having come down without securing +any pledge, were fallen into the power of the little ones. These were +differently clad. The boys and girls were dressed in short white coats +and jackets, and wore glass shoes so fine that their step could never be +heard, with blue caps on their heads, and silver belts round their +waists. + +John at first pitied them, seeing how they were forced to run about and +wait on the little people, but as they looked cheerful and happy, and +were handsomely dressed, and had such rosy cheeks, he said to +himself--"After all, they are not so badly off, and I was myself much +worse when I had to be running after the cows and bullocks. To be sure I +am now a master here, and they are servants, but there is no help for +it. Why were they so foolish as to let themselves be taken and not get +some pledge beforehand? At any rate the time must come when they will be +set at liberty, and they will certainly not be longer than fifty years +here." + +With these thoughts he consoled himself, and sported and played away +with his little play-fellows, and ate, and drank, and made his servant +tell him stories, for he would know everything exactly. + +They sat at table about two hours. The principal person then rang a +bell, and the tables and chairs all vanished in a whiff, leaving all the +company on their feet. The birds now struck up a most lively air, and +the little people danced their rounds most merrily. When they were done, +the joyous sets jumped and leaped, and whirled themselves round and +round, as if the world was grown dizzy. The pretty girls who sat next +John caught hold of him and whirled him about, and, without making any +resistance, he danced round and round with them for two good hours. +Every afternoon while he remained there he used to dance thus merrily +with them, and, to the last hour of his life, he used to speak of it +with the greatest glee. His language was--that the joys of heaven and +the songs and music of the angels, which the righteous hope to enjoy +there, might be excessively beautiful, but that he could conceive +nothing to surpass the music and the dancing under the earth, the +beautiful and lively little men, the wonderful birds in the branches, +and the tinkling silver bells in their caps. + +"No one," said he, "who has not seen and heard it, can form any idea +whatever of it." + +When the music and dancing were over it might be about four o'clock. The +little people then disappeared, and went each about his own business or +pleasure. After supper they sported and danced in the same way, and at +midnight, especially on star-light nights, they slipped out of their +hills to dance in the open air. John used then to say his prayers, a +duty he never neglected either in the evening or in the morning, and go +to sleep. + +For the first week John was in the glass hill, he only went from his +chamber to the great hall and back again. After the first week, however, +he began to walk about, making his servant show and explain everything +to him. He found that there were in that place the most beautiful walks +in which he might ramble about for miles, in all directions, without +ever finding an end to them, so immensely large was the hill in which +the little people lived, and yet outwardly it seemed but a little place, +with a few bushes and trees growing on it. + +It was extraordinary that, between the meads and fields, which were +thick sown with hills and lakes and islands, and ornamented with trees +and flowers in great variety, there ran, as it were, small lanes, +through which, as through crystal rocks, one was obliged to pass to come +to any new place; and the single meads and fields were often a mile +long, and the flowers were so brilliant and so fragrant, and the songs +of the numerous birds so sweet, that John had never seen anything on +earth like it. There was a breeze, and yet one did not feel the wind. It +was quite clear and bright, and yet there was no heat. The waves were +dashing, still there was no danger, and the most beautiful little barks +and canoes came, like white swans, when one wanted to cross the water, +and went backwards and forwards of themselves. Whence all this came no +one knew, nor could John's servant tell anything about it, but one thing +John saw plainly, which was, that the large carbuncles and diamonds that +were set in the roof and walls gave light instead of the sun, moon, and +stars. + +These lovely meads and plains were, for the most part, all lonesome. Few +of the underground people were to be seen upon them, and those that were +just glided across them as if in the greatest hurry. It very rarely +happened that any of them danced out there in the open air. Sometimes +about three of them did so, or, at the most, half a dozen. John never +saw a greater number together. The meads were never cheerful except when +the servants, of whom there might be some hundreds, were let out to +walk. This, however, happened but twice a week, for they were mostly +kept employed in the great hall and adjoining apartments or at school. + +For John soon found they had schools there also. He had been there about +ten months when one day he saw something snow-white gliding into a rock +and disappearing. + +"What!" said he to his servant, "are there some of you that wear white +like the servants?" + +He was informed that there were, but they were few in number, and never +appeared at the large tables or the dances, except once a year, on the +birthday of the great Hill-king, who dwelt many thousand miles below in +the great deep. These were the oldest among them, some of them many +thousand years old, who knew all things and could tell of the beginning +of the world, and were called the Wise. They lived all alone, and only +left their chambers to instruct the underground children and the +attendants of both sexes, for whom there was a great school. + +John was much pleased with this intelligence, and he determined to take +advantage of it; so next morning he made his servant conduct him to the +school, and was so well pleased with it that he never missed a day going +there. They were there taught reading, writing, and accounts, to compose +and relate histories, stories, and many elegant kinds of work, so that +many came out of the hills, both men and women, very prudent and knowing +people in consequence of what they were taught there. The biggest, and +those of best capacity, received instruction in natural science and +astronomy, and in poetry and in riddle-making, arts highly esteemed +among the little people. John was very diligent, and soon became a most +clever painter and drawer. He wrought, too, most ingeniously in gold and +silver and stones, and in verse and riddle-making he had no fellow. + +John had spent many a happy year here without ever thinking of the upper +world, or of those he had left behind, so pleasantly passed the time--so +many agreeable companions had he. + +Of all of them there was none of whom he was so fond as of a fair-haired +girl named Elizabeth Krabbe. She was from his own village, and was the +daughter of Frederick Krabbe, the minister of Rambin. She was but four +years old when she was taken away, and John had often heard tell of her. +She was not, however, stolen by the little people, but had come into +their power in this manner. One day in summer she and other children ran +out into the fields. In their rambles they went to the Nine-hills, where +little Elizabeth fell asleep, and was forgotten by the rest. At night +when she awoke, she found herself under the ground among the little +people. It was not merely because she was from his own village that John +was so fond of Elizabeth, but she was very beautiful, with clear blue +eyes and ringlets of fair hair, and a most angelic smile. Time flew away +unperceived. John was now eighteen, and Elizabeth sixteen. Their +childish fondness was now become love, and the little people were +pleased to see it, thinking that by means of her they might get John to +renounce his power, and become their servant, for they were fond of him, +and would willingly have had him to wait upon them, for the love of +dominion is their vice. They were, however, mistaken. John had learned +too much from his servant to be caught in that way. + +John's chief delight was walking about with Elizabeth, for he now knew +every place so well that he could dispense with the attendance of his +servant. In these rambles he was always gay and lively, but his +companion was frequently sad and melancholy, thinking on the land above, +where men live, and where the sun, moon, and stars shine. Now it +happened in one of their walks, as they talked of their love, and it was +after midnight, they passed under the place where the tops of the glass +hills used to open and let the underground people in and out. As they +went along, they heard of a sudden the crowing of several cocks above. +At this sound, which she had not heard for several years, Elizabeth felt +her heart so affected that she could contain herself no longer, but +throwing her arms about John's neck, she bathed his cheek with her +tears. At length she said-- + +"Dearest John, everything down here is very beautiful, and the little +people are kind and do nothing to injure me, but still I have been +always uneasy, nor ever felt any pleasure till I began to love you; and +yet that is not pure pleasure, for this is not a right way of living, +such as is fit for human beings. Every night I dream of my father and +mother, and of our churchyard where the people stand so pious at the +church door waiting for my father, and I could weep tears of blood that +I cannot go into the church with them and worship God as a human being +should, for this is no Christian life we lead down here, but a delusive +half-heathen one. And only think, dear John, that we can never marry, as +there is no priest to join us. Do, then, plan some way for us to leave +this place, for I cannot tell you how I long to get once more to my +father, and among pious Christians." + +John, too, had not been unaffected by the crowing of the cocks, and he +felt what he had never felt there before, a longing after the land where +the sun shines. + +"Dear Elizabeth," said he, "all you say is true, and I now feel it is a +sin for Christians to stay here, and it seems to me as if our Lord said +to us in that cry of the cocks, 'Come up, ye Christian children, out of +those abodes of illusion and magic. Come to the light of the stars, and +act as children of the light.' I now feel that it was a great sin for me +to come down here, but I trust I shall be forgiven on account of my +youth, for I was only a boy, and knew not what I did. But now I will not +stay a day longer. They cannot keep _me_ here." + +At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she recollected that she +was a servant, and must serve her fifty years. + +"And what will it avail me," cried she, "that I shall continue young, +and be but as of twenty years when I go out, for my father and mother +will be dead, and all my companions old and grey; and you, dearest John, +will be old and grey also," cried she, throwing herself on his bosom. + +John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never before occurred to him. +He, however, comforted her as well as he could, and declared he would +never leave the place without her. He spent the whole night in forming +various plans. At last he fixed on one, and in the morning he despatched +his servant to summon to his apartment six of the principal of the +little people. When they came, John thus mildly addressed them-- + +"My friends, you know how I came here, not as a prisoner or servant, but +as a lord and master over one of you, and of consequence over all. You +have now for the ten years I have been with you treated me with respect +and attention, and for that I am your debtor. But you are still more my +debtors, for I might have given you every sort of vexation and +annoyance, and you must have submitted to it. I have, however, not done +so, but have behaved as your equal, and have sported and played with you +rather than ruled over you. I have now one request to make. There is a +girl among your servants whom I love, Elizabeth Krabbe, of Rambin, where +I was born. Give her to me and let us depart, for I will return to where +the sun shines and the plough goes through the land. I ask to take +nothing with me but her and the ornaments and furniture of my chamber." + +He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated and cast their eyes +upon the ground. At last the oldest of them replied-- + +"Sir, you ask what we cannot grant. It is a fixed law that no servant +can leave this place before the appointed time. Were we to break through +this law our whole subterranean empire would fall. Anything else you +desire, for we love and respect you, but we cannot give up Elizabeth." + +"You can, and you shall, give her up!" cried John in a rage. "Go, think +of it till to-morrow. Return then at this hour. I will show you whether +or not I can triumph over your hypocritical and cunning stratagems." + +The six retired. Next morning, on their return, John addressed them in +the kindest manner, but to no purpose. They persisted in their refusal. +He gave them till the next day, threatening them severely in case they +still proved refractory. + +Next day, when the six little people appeared before him, John looked at +them sternly, and made no return to their salutations, but said to them +shortly-- + +"Yes, or No?" + +They answered, with one voice, "No." He then ordered his servant to +summon twenty-four more of the principal persons, with their wives and +children. When they came they were in all five hundred men, women, and +children. John ordered them forthwith to go and fetch pick-axes, spades, +and bars, which they did in a second. + +He now led them out to a rock in one of the fields, and ordered them to +fall to work at blasting, hewing, and dragging stones. They toiled +patiently, and made as if it were only sport to them. + +From morning till night their task-master made them labour without +ceasing, standing over them constantly to prevent them resting. Still +their obstinacy was inflexible, and at the end of some weeks his pity +for them was so great that he was obliged to give over. + +He now thought of a new species of punishment for them. He ordered them +to appear before him next morning, each provided with a new whip. They +obeyed, and John commanded them to lash one another, and he stood +looking on while they did it, as grim and cruel as an Eastern tyrant. +Still the little people cut and slashed themselves and mocked at John, +and refused to comply with his wishes. This he did for three or four +days. + +Several other courses did he try, but all in vain. His temper was too +gentle to struggle with their obstinacy, and he commenced to despair of +ever accomplishing his dearest wish. He began now to hate the little +people of whom he had before been so fond. He kept away from their +banquets and dances, and associated with none but Elizabeth, and ate and +drank quite solitary in his chamber. In short, he became almost a +hermit, and sank into moodiness and melancholy. + +While in this temper, as he was taking a solitary walk in the evening, +and, to divert his melancholy, was flinging the stones that lay in his +path against each other, he happened to break a tolerably large one, and +out of it jumped a toad. The moment John saw the ugly animal he caught +him up in ecstasy, and put him in his pocket and ran home, crying-- + +"Now I have her! I have my Elizabeth! Now you shall get it, you little +mischievous rascals!" + +On getting home he put the toad into a costly silver casket, as if it +was the greatest treasure. + +To account for John's joy, you must know that Klas Starkwolt had often +told him that the underground people could not endure any ill smell, and +that the sight, or even the smell, of a toad made them faint, and suffer +the most dreadful tortures, and that by means of one of those odious +animals one could compel them to do anything. Hence there are no bad +smells to be found in the whole glass empire, and a toad is a thing +unheard of there. This toad must certainly have been enclosed in the +stone from the creation, as it were, for the sake of John and Elizabeth. + +Resolved to try the effect of his toad, John took the casket under his +arm and went out, and on the way he met two of the little people in a +lonesome place. The moment he approached they fell to the ground, and +whimpered and howled most lamentably as long as he was near them. + +Satisfied now of his power, he, the next morning, summoned the fifty +principal persons, with their wives and children, to his apartment. When +they came he addressed them, reminding them once again of his kindness +and gentleness towards them, and of the good terms on which they had +hitherto lived. He reproached them with their ingratitude in refusing +him the only favour he had ever asked of them, but firmly declared that +he would not give way to their obstinacy. + +"Therefore," said he, "for the last time, think for a minute, and if you +then say 'No,' you shall feel that pain which is to you and your +children the most terrible of all pains." + +They did not take long to deliberate, but unanimously replied "No"; and +they thought to themselves, "What new scheme has the youth hit on with +which he thinks to frighten wise ones like us?" and they smiled as they +said "No." Their smiling enraged John above all, and he ran back a few +hundred paces to where he had laid the casket with the toad under a +bush. + +He was hardly come within a few hundred paces of them when they all fell +to the ground as if struck with a thunderbolt, and began to howl and +whimper, and to writhe, as if suffering the most excruciating pain. They +stretched out their hands, and cried-- + +"Have mercy, have mercy! We feel you have a toad, and there is no escape +for us. Take the odious beast away, and we will do all you require." + +He let them kick a few seconds longer, and then took the toad away. They +then stood up and felt no more pain. John let all depart but the six +chief persons, to whom he said-- + +"This night, between twelve and one, Elizabeth and I will depart. Load +then for me three waggons with gold and silver and precious stones. I +might, you know, take all that is in the hill, and you deserve it; but I +will be merciful. Further, you must put all the furniture of my chamber +in two waggons, and get ready for me the handsomest travelling carriage +that is in the hill, with six black horses. Moreover, you must set at +liberty all the servants who have been so long here that on earth they +would be twenty years old and upwards; and you must give them as much +silver and gold as will make them rich for life, and make a law that no +one shall be detained here longer than his twentieth year." + +The six took the oath, and went away quite melancholy; and John buried +his toad deep in the ground. The little people laboured hard, and +prepared everything. At midnight everything was out of the hill; and +John and Elizabeth got into the silver tun, and were drawn up. + +It was then one o'clock, and it was midsummer, the very time that, +twelve years before, John had gone down into the hill. Music sounded +around them, and they saw the glass hill open, and the rays of the light +of heaven shine on them after so many years. And when they got out, they +saw the first streaks of dawn already in the east. Crowds of the +underground people were around them, busied about the waggons. John bid +them a last farewell, waved his brown cap three times in the air, and +then flung it among them. At the same moment he ceased to see them. He +beheld nothing but a green hill, and the well-known bushes and fields, +and heard the town-clock of Rambin strike two. When all was still, save +a few larks, who were tuning their morning songs, they all fell on their +knees and worshipped God, resolving henceforth to live a pious and a +Christian life. + +When the sun rose, John arranged the procession, and they set out for +Rambin. Every well-known object that they saw awoke pleasing +recollections in the bosom of John and his bride; and as they passed by +Rodenkirchen, John recognised, among the people that gazed at and +followed them, his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd, and his dog +Speed. It was about four in the morning when they entered Rambin, and +they halted in the middle of the village, about twenty paces from the +house where John was born. The whole village poured out to gaze on these +Asiatic princes, for such the old sexton, who had in his youth been at +Constantinople and at Moscow, said they were. There John saw his father +and mother, and his brother Andrew, and his sister Trine. The old +minister Krabbe stood there too, in his black slippers and white +nightcap, gaping and staring with the rest. + +John discovered himself to his parents, and Elizabeth to hers; and the +wedding-day was soon fixed. And such a wedding was never seen before or +since in the island of Ruegen, for John sent to Stralsund and Greifswald +for whole boat-loads of wine and sugar and coffee; and whole herds of +oxen, sheep, and pigs were driven to the feast. The quantity of harts +and roes and hares that were shot upon the occasion it were vain to +attempt to tell, or to count the fish that was caught. There was not a +musician in Ruegen or in Pomerania that was not engaged, for John was +immensely rich, and he wished to display his wealth. + +John did not neglect his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cowherd. He gave +him enough to make him comfortable for the rest of his days, and +insisted on his coming and staying with him as often and as long as he +wished. + +After his marriage John made a progress through the country with his +wife; and he purchased towns and villages and lands until he became +master of nearly half Ruegen and a very considerable Count in the +country. His father, old James Dietrich, was made a nobleman, and his +brothers and sisters gentlemen and ladies--for what cannot money do? +John and his wife spent their days in doing acts of piety and charity. +They built several churches, and had the blessing of every one that knew +them, and died universally lamented. It was Count John Dietrich that +built and richly endowed the present church of Rambin. He built it on +the site of his father's house, and presented to it several of the cups +and plates made by the underground people, and his own and Elizabeth's +glass-shoes, in memory of what had befallen them in their youth. But +they were taken away in the time of the great Charles the Twelfth of +Sweden, when the Russians came on the island and the Cossacks plundered +even the churches, and took away everything. + + + + +HOW THORSTON BECAME RICH. + + +When spring came Thorston made ready his ship and put twenty-four men on +board of her. When they came to Finland they ran her into a harbour, and +every day he went on shore to amuse himself. + +He came one day to an open part of the wood, where he saw a great rock, +and a little way out from it was a horribly ugly dwarf. He was looking +over his head, with his mouth wide open, and it appeared to Thorston +that it stretched from ear to ear, and that the lower jaw came down to +his knees. + +Thorston asked him why he acted so foolishly. + +"Do not be surprised, my good lad," answered the dwarf, "do you not see +that great dragon that is flying up there? He has taken off my son, and +I believe that it is Odin himself that has sent the monster to do it. I +shall burst and die if I lose my son." + +Then Thorston shot at the dragon, and hit him under one of the wings, so +that he fell dead to the earth; but Thorston caught the dwarf's child in +the air, and brought him to his father. + +The dwarf was very glad, more rejoiced than any one can tell, and he +said-- + +"I have to reward you for a great service, you who are the deliverer of +my son. Now choose your reward in silver or gold." + +"Take your son," said Thorston; "but I am not used to accept rewards for +my services." + +"It would not be becoming," said the dwarf, "if I did not reward you. I +will give you my vest of sheep's wool. Do not think it is a contemptible +gift, for you will never be tired when swimming, or wounded, if you wear +it next your skin." + +Thorston took it and put it on, and it fitted him well, though it had +appeared too small for the dwarf. + +The dwarf next took a gold ring out of his purse and gave it to +Thorston, and bade him take good care of it, telling him he should never +want money while he had the ring. + +Next he gave him a black stone, and said-- + +"If you hide this stone in the palm of your hand no one will see you. I +have not many more things to offer you, or that would be of any value to +you. I will, however, give you a firestone for your amusement." + +He took the stone out of his purse, and with it a steel point. The stone +was triangular, white on one side and red on the other, and a yellow +border ran round it. The dwarf said-- + +"If you prick the stone with the point in the white side there will come +on such a hailstorm that no one will be able to look at it. If you want +to stop the shower you have only to prick on the yellow part, and there +will come so much sunshine that the hail will melt away. If you prick +the red side then there will come out of it such fire, with sparks and +crackling, that no one will be able to look at it. You may also get +whatever you will by means of this point and stone, and they will come +of themselves back to your hand when you call them. I can give you no +more of such gifts." + +Thorston then thanked the dwarf for his presents, and returned to his +men; and it was better for him to have made that voyage than to have +stayed at home. + + + + +GUDBRAND. + + +There was once upon a time a man who was called Gudbrand. He had a farm +which lay far away on a hill, and he was therefore known as Gudbrand of +the Hillside. He and his wife lived so happily together, and were so +well matched, that do what the man would his wife was well pleased, +thinking nothing in the world could be better. Whatever he did she was +satisfied. The farm was their own, and they had a hundred dollars which +lay in a box, and in the stall they had two cows. + +One day the woman said to Gudbrand. + +"I think it would be well to take one of the cows to town and sell it, +and so we shall have some money at hand. We are such fine folk that we +ought to have a little ready money, as other people have. As for the +hundred dollars which lie in the chest, we must not make a hole in them, +but I do not see why we should keep more than one cow. We shall, too, +gain something, for I shall then have only to look after one cow, +instead of having to litter and feed two." + +This Gudbrand thought was right and reasonable, so he took the cow, and +set off to town to sell it. When he arrived there he could find no one +who would buy the beast. + +"Well, well," said he, "I can go home again with the cow. I have stall +and litter for her, and the road home is no longer than the road here." + +So he began to go homewards again. + +When he had gone a little distance he met a man who had a horse he +wanted to sell. So Gudbrand thought it was better to have a horse than a +cow, and exchanged with him. He went on a bit further, and met a man +walking along driving a fat pig before him, and he thought it would be +better to have a fat pig than a horse. So he exchanged with the man. He +went on a bit further, and met a man with a goat. A goat, he thought, +was better than a pig. So he exchanged with him. He went on a good bit +further till he met a man who had a sheep, and he exchanged with him, +for he thought a sheep was always better than a goat. He went on again, +and met a man with a goose. So he exchanged the sheep for the goose. +Then he went a long, long way, and met a man with a cock. So he gave the +goose for the cock, for he thought to himself-- + +"It is better to have a cock than a goose." + +He walked on till late in the day, and then as he was getting hungry he +sold the cock for twelve shillings, and bought something to eat, for, +thought Gudbrand of the Hillside-- + +"It is better to save one's life than have a cock." + +Then he walked on homeward till he came to the house of his nearest +neighbour, and there he looked in. + +"Well, how did you get on at the town?" asked the neighbour. + +"Only so and so," said the man. "I cannot say I have had good or bad +luck," and then he began and told them all that had happened. + +"Well," said the neighbour, "you will catch it when you get home to your +wife. Heaven help you! I would not stand in your shoes." + +"I think things might have been much worse," said Gudbrand of the +Hillside; "but whether things have gone well or badly, I have such a +gentle wife that she never says anything, do what I will." + +"Ah," said the neighbour, "I hear what you say, but I don't believe it." + +"Shall we make a bet?" said Gudbrand. "I have a hundred dollars lying at +home in a chest, will you lay as much?" + +The neighbour was willing, so the bet was made. They waited till +evening, and then set out for Gudbrand's house. The neighbour stood +outside the door, while Gudbrand went inside to his wife. + +"Good evening," said Gudbrand, when he was inside. + +"Good evening," said his wife. "Heaven be praised. Is it you?" + +Yes, it was he. His wife then asked him how things went at the town. + +"Oh, but so-so," said Gudbrand, "not much to boast of. When I came to +the town I could find no one to buy the cow, so I exchanged it for a +horse." + +"Thanks for that!" said the wife; "we are such fine folk that we can +ride to church the same as other people, and as we can keep a horse we +might as well have one. Go and put the horse up, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the horse. After I had gone a bit +further I exchanged it for a pig." + +"Well, well," said his wife, "that was good. I should have done the +same. Thanks for that! now I shall have meat in the house to put before +folk when they come to see me. What could we do with a horse? People +would only have said that we had got too proud to walk to church. Go +along, children, and put the pig in the sty." + +"But I have not got the pig either," said Gudbrand. "When I had gone on +a bit further I exchanged it for a milch goat." + +"Bless me," said the wife, "you do everything well! When I think of it, +what could we have done with a pig? Folk would only have said we eat up +all we had. Now we have a goat we shall have milk and cheese, and we +shall have the goat too. Run, children, and put up the goat." + +"But I have not got the goat," said Gudbrand. "I went on a bit, and +exchanged it for a fine sheep." + +"Well," said the wife, "you have done just what I should have +wished--just as if I had done it myself. What did we want a goat for? I +should have had to go over hill and dale after it. Now we have a sheep +I shall have wool and clothes in the house, and food as well. Go, +children, and put up the sheep." + +"But I have not got the sheep either," said Gudbrand. "I went on a +while, and then I exchanged it for a goose." + +"You shall have thanks for that," said the wife, "many thanks! What +would we have done with a sheep? I have no spinning-wheel nor distaff, +and I should not care to bother about making clothes. We can buy +clothes, as we have always done. Now we shall have roast goose, which I +have so often wished for, and I shall be able to stuff my little pillow +with the down. Go and bring in the goose, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the goose either. When I had gone +a bit further I gave it in exchange for a cock." + +"Heaven knows," said his wife, "how you thought all this out so well! It +is just what I should have done myself. A cock! why it is just the same +as if you had bought an eight-day clock, for the cock crows at four +o'clock every morning, so we shall be able to get up in good time. What +could we have done with a goose? I don't know how to cook it, and I can +stuff my pillow with moss. Run and fetch the cock in, children." + +"But," said Gudbrand, "I have not got the cock either. When I had gone a +bit further I got hungry, and so I sold the cock for twelve shillings so +that I might live." + +"Thank God you did so," said his wife; "whatever you do you do it just +as I should have wished. What could we have done with a cock? We are our +own masters, and can lie in bed in the morning as late as we please. +Thank Heaven you have come back again safe. You do everything so well +that we can well spare the cock, the goose, the pig, and the cow." + +Then Gudbrand opened the door. + +"Have I won the hundred dollars?" said he, and the neighbour was obliged +to own that he had. + + + + +THE DWARF-SWORD TIRFING. + + +Suaforlami, the second in descent from Odin, was king over Gardarike +(Russia). One day he rode a-hunting, and sought long after a hart, but +could not find one the whole day. When the sun was setting, he found +himself plunged so deep in the forest that he knew not where he was. On +his right hand he saw a hill, and before it he saw two dwarfs. He drew +his sword against them, and cut off their retreat by getting between +them and the rock. They offered him ransom for their lives, and he asked +them their names, and they said that one of them was called Dyren and +the other Dualin. Then he knew that they were the most ingenious and the +most expert of all the dwarfs, and he therefore demanded that they +should make for him a sword, the best that they could form. Its hilt was +to be of gold, and its belt of the same metal. He moreover commanded +that the sword should never miss a blow, should never rust, that it +should cut through iron and stone as through a garment, and that it +should always be victorious in war and in single combat. On these +conditions he granted the dwarfs their lives. + +At the time appointed he came, and the dwarfs appearing, they gave him +the sword. When Dualin stood at the door, he said-- + +"This sword shall be the bane of a man every time it is drawn, and with +it shall be perpetrated three of the greatest atrocities, and it will +also prove thy bane." + +Suaforlami, when he heard that, struck at the dwarf, so that the blade +of the sword penetrated the solid rock. Thus Suaforlami became possessed +of this sword, and he called it Tirfing. He bore it in war and in single +combat, and with it he slew the giant Thiasse, whose daughter Fridur he +took. + +Suaforlami was soon after slain by the Berserker Andgrim, who then +became master of the sword. When the twelve sons of Andgrim were to +fight with Hialmar and Oddur for Ingaborg, the beautiful daughter of +King Inges, Angantyr bore the dangerous Tirfing, but all the brethren +were slain in the combat, and were buried with their arms. + +Angantyr left an only daughter, Hervor, who, when she grew up, dressed +herself in man's attire, and took the name of Hervardar, and joined a +party of Vikinger, or pirates. Knowing that Tirfing lay buried with her +father, she determined to awaken the dead, and obtain the charmed blade. +She landed alone, in the evening, on the Island of Sams, where her +father and uncles lay in their sepulchral mounds, and ascending by night +to their tombs, that were enveloped in flame, she, by the force of +entreaty, obtained from the reluctant Angantyr the formidable Tirfing. + +Hervor proceeded to the court of King Gudmund, and there one day, as she +was playing at tables with the king, one of the servants chanced to take +up and draw Tirfing, which shone like a sunbeam. But Tirfing was never +to see the light but for the bane of men, and Hervor, by a sudden +impulse, sprang from her seat, snatched the sword, and struck off the +head of the unfortunate man. + +After this she returned to the house of her grandfather, Jarl Biartmar, +where she resumed her female attire, and was married to Haufud, the son +of King Gudmund. She bore him two sons, Angantyr and Heidreker; the +former of a mild and gentle disposition, the latter violent and fierce. +Haufud would not permit Heidreker to remain at his court, and as he was +departing, his mother, among other gifts, presented him with Tirfing. + +His brother accompanied him out of the castle. Before they parted, +Heidreker drew out his sword to look at and admire it, but scarcely did +the rays of light fall on the magic blade, when the Berserker rage came +on its owner, and he slew his gentle brother. + +After this he joined a body of Vikinger, and became so distinguished +that King Harold, for the aid he lent him, gave him his daughter Helga +in marriage. But it was the destiny of Tirfing to commit crime, and +Harold fell by the sword of his son-in-law. Heidreker was afterwards in +Russia, and the son of the king was his foster-son. One day as they were +out hunting, Heidreker and his foster-son happened to be separated from +the rest of the party, when a wild boar appeared before them. + +Heidreker ran at him with his spear, but the beast caught it in his +mouth and broke it across. Then he alighted and drew Tirfing, and killed +the boar. On looking round him, he saw no one but his foster-son, and +Tirfing could only be appeased with warm human blood, so Heidreker slew +the poor youth. + +In the end Heidreker was murdered in his bed by his Scottish slaves, who +carried off Tirfing. His son Angantyr, who succeeded him, discovered the +thieves and put them to death, and recovered the magic blade. He made +great slaughter in battle against the Huns, but among the slain was +discovered his own brother, Landur. + +So ends the history of the Dwarf-Sword Tirfing. + + + * * * * * + +Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty, at the +Edinburgh University Press. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE AND LEGENDS; +SCANDINAVIAN*** + + +******* This file should be named 15186.txt or 15186.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/8/15186 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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