Frithiof the bold.
From Myths and Legends of all
nations
by Logan Marshall.
Start of Story
Frithiof was a Norwegian hero, grandson of Viking, who
was the largest and strongest man of his time. Viking had
sailed the sea in a dragon ship, meeting with many
adventures, and Thorsten, Frithiof's father, had likewise
sailed abroad, capturing many priceless treasures and
making a great name for himself. Frithiof was entrusted
to the care of Hilding, his foster father, and in his care,
also, were Halfdan and Helgé, King Bélé's sons, and,
some years later, their little sister, Ingeborg. Frithiof and
Ingeborg became firm friends, and as the lad increased in
bravery and strength, the girl increased in beauty and
loveliness of soul. Hilding, noticing how each day they
became fonder of each other, called Frithiof to him and
bade him remember that he was only a humble subject
and could never hope to wed Ingeborg, the king's only
daughter, descended from the great god Odin. The
warning, however, came too late, for Frithiof already
loved the fair maiden, and vowed that he would have her
for his bride at any cost. Soon after this the king died,
leaving his kingdom to his two sons and giving
instructions that his funeral mound should be erected in
sight of that of his dear friend Thorsten, so that their
spirits might not be separated even in death. Then
Ingeborg went to live with her brothers, the Kings of
Sogn, while Frithiof retired to his own home at Framnas,
closed in by the mountains and the sea.
Frithiof was now one of the wealthiest and most envied of
land-owners. His treasures were richer by far than those
of any king. In the spring he held a great celebration,
which the kings of Sogn and their sister Ingeborg, among
many other guests, attended. Frithiof and Ingeborg were
much together, and Frithiof was very happy to learn that
Ingeborg returned his affection. Great was his grief when
the time came for her to sail away. Not long had she been
gone, however, when he vowed to Björn, his chief
companion, that he would follow after her and ask for her
hand. His ship was prepared and soon he touched the
shore near the temple of the god Balder. His request was
not granted and Helgé dismissed him contemptuously. In
a rage at the insult Frithiof lifted his sword; but
remembering that he stood on consecrated ground near
Bélé's tomb, he spared the king, only cutting his heavy
shield in two to show the strength of his blade. Soon after
his departure another suitor, the aged King Ring of
Norway sought the hand of Ingeborg in marriage, and
being refused, collected an army and prepared to make
war on Helgé and Halfdan. Then the two brothers were
glad to send a messenger after Frithiof, asking his aid.
The hero, still angry, refused; but he hastened at once to
Ingeborg. He found her in tears at the shrine of Balder,
and although it was considered a sin for a man and
woman to exchange words in the sacred temple, he
spoke to her, again making known his love.
The kings, her brothers, were away at war, but Frithiof
stayed near Ingeborg, and when they returned, promised
to free them from the oppression of Sigurd Ring if in
return they would promise him the hand of their sister.
But the kings had heard of how Frithiof had spoken to
Ingeborg in the temple, and although they feared Sigurd
they would not grant the request. Instead he was
condemned in punishment to sail away to the Orkney
Islands to claim tribute from the king Angantyr. Frithiof
departed in his ship Ellida, and Ingeborg stayed behind,
weeping bitterly. And as soon as the vessel was out of
sight the brothers sent for two witches--Heid and Ham-bidding them stir up such a tempest on the sea that even
the god-given ship Ellida could not withstand its fury. But
no tempest could frighten the brave Frithiof. Singing a
cheery song he stood at the helm, caring nothing for the
waves that raged about the ship. He comforted his crew,
and then climbed the mast to keep a sharp lookout for
danger. From there he spied a huge whale, upon which
the two witches were seated, delighted at the tempest
they had stirred up. Speaking to his good ship, which
could both hear and obey, he bade it run down the whale
and the witches.
This Ellida did. Whale and witches sank; the sea grew red
with their blood; the waves were calmed. Again the sun
smiled over the hardy sailors. But many of the crew were
worn out by the battle with the elements and had to be
carried ashore by Frithiof and Björn when they reached
the Orkney Islands. Now the watchman at Angantyr's
castle had reported the ship and the gale, and Angantyr
had declared that only Frithiof and Ellida could weather
such a storm. One of his vassals, Atlé, caught up his
weapons and hurried forth to challenge the great hero.
Frithiof had no weapons, but with a turn of his wrist he
threw his opponent. "Go and get your weapons," Atlé
said, when he saw that Frithiof would have killed him.
Knowing that Atlé was a true soldier and would not run
away, Frithiof left him in search of his sword; but when
he returned and found his opponent calmly awaiting
death, he was generous, and bade him rise and live.
Angantyr vowed that he owed no tribute to Helgé, and
would pay him none, but to Frithiof he gave a vast
treasure, telling him that he might dispose of it as he
would.
So Frithiof sailed back to the kings of Sogn, confident
that he could win Ingeborg. What was his dismay,
therefore, to learn that Helgé and Halfdan had already
given their sister in marriage to Sigurd Ring. In a rage he
bade his men destroy all the vessels in the harbor, while
he strode toward the temple of Balder where Helgé and
his wife were. He flung Angantyr's purse of gold in
Helgé's face, and seeing the ring he had given to
Ingeborg on the hand of Helgé's wife snatched it roughly
from her. In trying to get it back she dropped the image of
the god, which she had just been anointing, into the fire.
It was quickly consumed, while the rising flames set fire
to the temple. Horror-stricken, Frithiof tried to stop the
blaze, and when he could not, hurried away to his ship.
So Frithiof became an exile, and a wanderer on the face
of the earth. For many years he lived the life of a pirate or
viking, exacting tribute from other ships or sacking them
if they would not pay tribute; for this occupation in the
days of Frithiof was considered wholly respectable. It
was followed again and again by the brave men of the
North. But Frithiof was often homesick, and longed to
enter a harbor, and lead again a life of peace. At last he
decided to visit the court of Sigurd Ring and find out
whether Ingeborg was really happy. Landing, he wrapped
himself in an old cloak and approached the court. He
found a seat on a bench near the door, as beggars
usually did; but when one insulting courtier mocked him
he lifted the offender in his mighty hand and swung him
high over his head.
At this Sigurd Ring invited the old man to remove his
mantle and take a seat near him. With surprise Sigurd
and his courtiers saw step from the tattered mantle a
handsome warrior, richly clad; but only Ingeborg knew
who he was. "Who are you who comes to us thus?"
asked Sigurd Ring. "I am Thiolf, a thief," was the answer,
"and I have grown to manhood in the Land of Sorrow."
Sigurd invited him to remain, and he soon became the
almost constant companion of the king and queen. One
spring day Sigurd and Frithiof had ridden away on a
hunting expedition, and the old king being tired from the
chase lay down on the ground to rest, feigning sleep. The
birds and beasts of the forest drew near and whispered to
Frithiof that he should slay the king and have Ingeborg
for his own wife. But Frithiof was too fine and loyal to
listen to such suggestions. Awaking, Sigurd Ring called
Frithiof to him. "You are Frithiof the Bold," he said, "and
from the first I knew you. Be patient now a little longer
and you shall have Ingeborg, for my end is near." Soon
after this Sigurd died, commending his wife to the young
hero's loving care. And at his own request the funeral
feast was closed by the public betrothal of Ingeborg and
Frithiof. The people, admiring his bravery, wanted to
make Frithiof king, but he would not listen to their
pleadings. Instead he lifted the little son of Sigurd upon
his shield. "Behold your king," he cried, "and until he is
grown to manhood I will stand beside him." So Frithiof
married his beloved Ingeborg, and later, so the story
runs, he returned to his own country and built again the
temple of Balder, more beautiful by far than any before.