Aslaugas Knight | Page 4

great ancestors not only in their love of song, but also in
their bold deeds of arms. Although he was still scarcely beyond the
prime of youth, yet all the other nobles in the island willingly submitted
themselves to him, whether in council or in war; nay, his renown had
even been carried ere now over the sea to the neighbouring land of
Germany.
One bright autumn evening this honour-loving knight sat before his
castle, as he was often wont to do, that he might look far and wide over
land and sea, and that he might invite any travellers who were passing
by, as was his custom, to share in his noble hospitality.
But on this day he saw little of all that he was accustomed to look upon;
for on his knees there lay an ancient book with skilfully and richly
painted characters, which a learned Icelander had just sent to him
across the sea: it was the history of Aslauga, the fair daughter of Sigurd,
who at first, concealing her high birth, kept goats among the simple
peasants of the land, clothed in mean attire; then, in the golden veil of
her flowing hair, won the love of King Ragnar Lodbrog; and at last

shone brightly on the Danish throne as his glorious queen, till the day
of her death.
To the Knight Froda it seemed as though the gracious Lady Aslauga
rose in life and birth before him, so that his calm and steadfast heart,
true indeed to ladies' service, but never yet devoted to one particular
female image, burst forth in a clear flame of love for the fair daughter
of Sigurd. "What matters it," thought he to himself, "that it is more than
a hundred years since she disappeared from earth? She sees so clearly
into this heart of mine--and what more can a knight desire? wherefore
she shall henceforth be my honoured love, and shall inspire me in battle
and in song." And therewith he sang a lay on his new love, which ran in
the following manner:
"They ride over hill and dale apace To seek for their love the fairest
face-- They search through city and forest-glade To find for their love
the gentlest maid-- They climb wherever a path may lead To seek the
wisest dame for their meed. Ride on, ye knights: but ye never may see
What the light of song has shown to me: Loveliest, gentlest, and wisest
of all, Bold be the deeds that her name shall recall; What though she
ne'er bless my earthly sight? Yet death shall reveal her countenance
bright. Fair world, good night! Good day, sweet love! Who seeks here
in faith shall find above."
"Such purpose may come to good," said a hollow voice near the knight;
and when he looked round, he saw the form of a poor peasant woman,
so closely wrapped in a grey mantle that he could not discern any part
of her countenance. She looked over his shoulder on the book, and said,
with a deep sigh, "I know that story well; and it fares no better with me
than with the princess of whom it tells." Froda looked at her with
astonishment. "Yes, yes," pursued she, with strange becks and nods; "I
am the descendant of the mighty Rolf, to whom the fairest castles and
forests and fields of this island once belonged; your castle and your
domains, Froda, amongst others, were his. We are now cast down to
poverty; and because I am not so fair as Aslauga there is no hope that
my possessions will be restored to me; and therefore I am fain to veil
my poor face from every eye." It seemed that she shed warm tears

beneath her mantle. At this Froda was greatly moved, and begged her,
for God's sake, to let him know how he could help her, for that he was a
descendant of the famous northern heroes of the olden time; and
perhaps yet something more than they--namely, a good Christian. "I
almost think," murmured she from beneath her covering, "that you are
that very Froda whom men call the Good, and the friend of the Skalds,
and of whose generosity and mildness such wonderful stories are told.
If it be so, there may be help for me. You need only give up to me the
half of your fields and meadows, and I should be in a condition to live
in some measure such a life as befits the descendant of the mighty
Rolf." Then Froda looked thoughtfully on the ground; partly because
she had asked for so very much; partly, also, because he was
considering whether she could really be descended from the powerful
Rolf. But the veiled form said, after a pause, "I must have