[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
wounded so sorely that Iseult of Brittany could not cure him. His faithful steward Kurvenal, hoping yet to
save him, sailed for Cornwall to bring the other Iseult to the rescue; and as he left he promised his master to
change the black sails of the vessel for white in case his quest were successful.
Tristan now watched impatiently for the returning sail, but just as it came into view he breathed his last. Some
ill-advised writers have ventured to state that Iseult of Brittany, whose jealousy had been aroused, was guilty
of Tristan's death by falsely averring, in answer to his feverish inquiry, that the long-expected vessel was
wafted along by black sails; but, according to other authorities, she remained gentle and lovable to the end.
[Sidenote: Miracle of the plants.] Iseult of Cornwall, speeding to the rescue of her lover, whom nothing could
make her forget, and finding him dead, breathed her last upon his corpse. Both bodies were then carried to
Cornwall, where they were interred in separate graves by order of King Mark. But from the tomb of the dead
minstrel there soon sprang a creeper, which, finding its way along the walls, descended into Iseult's grave.
Thrice cut down by Mark's orders, the plant persisted in growing, thus emphasizing by a miracle the
passionate love which made this couple proverbial in the middle ages. There are in subsequent literature many
parallels of the miracle of the plant which sprang from Tristan's tomb, as is seen by the Ballad of Lord
Thomas and Fair Annet, and of Lord Lovel, where, as in later versions of the Tristan legend, a rose and a vine
grew out of the respective graves and twined tenderly around each other.
"And out of her breast there grew a red rose, And out of his breast a brier." Ballad of Lord Lovel.
CHAPTER XV.
THE STORY OF FRITHIOF.
[Sidenote: Northern sagas.] Norse, Danish, and Swedish writers have frequently called public attention to the
vast literary treasures which are contained in the old sagas or tales of their forefathers. The work of northern
scalds whose names in most cases are unknown to us, these stories relate the lives and adventures of the gods
and heroes of the North. Many of these old sagas have been translated into various other European languages;
but Tegnr, a Swedish writer of this century, has done most to revive a taste for them by making one of them
the basis of a poem which is generally considered a masterpiece.
Tegnr's "Frithiof Saga" has been translated once at least into every European tongue, and more than eighteen
times into English and German. Goethe spoke of the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and the tale, which
gives a matchless picture of the life of our heathen ancestors in the North, has been the source of inspiration
for important works of art.
Although Tegnr has chosen for his theme the Frithiof saga only, we find that that tale is the sequel to the
older but less interesting Thorsten saga, of which we give here a very brief outline, merely to enable the
reader to understand clearly every allusion in the more modern poem.
As is so frequently the case with these ancient tales, the story begins with Haloge (Loki), who came north
with Odin, and began to reign over north Norway, which from him was called Halogaland. According to
northern mythology, this god had two lovely daughters. They were carried off by bold suitors, who, banished
from the mainland by Haloge's curses and magic spells, took refuge with their newly won wives upon
neighboring islands.
CHAPTER XV. 116
[Sidenote: Birth of Viking.] Thus it happened that Haloge's grandson, Viking, was born upon the island of
Bornholm, in the Balitic Sea, where he dwelt until he was fifteen, and where he became the largest and
strongest man of his time. Rumors of his valor finally reached Hunvor, a Swedish princess; and, as she was
oppressed by the attentions of a gigantic suitor whom none dared drive away, she quickly sent for Viking to
deliver her.
Thus summoned, the youth departed, after having received from his father a magic sword named Angurvadel,
whose blows would prove fatal even to the giant suitor of Hunvor. A "holmgang," the northern name for a
duel, ensued, and Viking, having slain his antagonist, could have married the princess had it not been
considered disgraceful for a Northman to marry before he was twenty.
To beguile the time of waiting, Viking set out in a well-manned dragon ship; and, cruising about the northern
and southern seas, he met with countless adventures. During this time he was particularly persecuted by the
slain giant's kin, who were adepts in magic, and caused him to encounter innumerable perils by land and by
sea.
Aided and abetted by his bosom friend, Halfdan, Viking escaped every danger, slew many of his foes, and,
after recovering his promised bride, Hunvor, whom the enemy had carried off to India, he settled down in
Sweden. His friend, faithful in peace as well as in war, settled near him, and married also, choosing for his
wife Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant.
The saga now describes the long, peaceful winters, when the warriors feasted and listened to the tales of the
scalds, rousing themselves to energetic efforts only when returning spring again permitted them to launch
their dragon ships and set out once more upon their favorite piratical expeditions. In the olden story the bards
relate with great gusto every phase of attack and defense during cruise and raid, describe every blow given
and received, and spare us none of carnage, or lurid flames which envelop both enemies and ships in common
ruin. A fierce fight is often an earnest of future friendship, however, for we are told that Halfdan and Viking,
having failed to conquer Njorfe, even after a most obstinate struggle, sheathed their swords and accepted him
as a third in their close bond of friendship.
On returning home after one of these customary raids, Viking lost his beloved wife; and, after intrusting her
child, Ring, to the care of a foster father, and undergoing a short period of mourning, the brave warrior
married again. This time his marital bliss was more lasting, for the saga reports that his second wife bore him
nine stalwart sons.
Njorfe, King of Uplands, in Norway, had, in the mean while, followed Viking's example, and he too rejoiced
in a large family, numbering also nine brave sons. Now, although their fathers were united in bonds of the
closest friendship, having sworn blood brotherhood according to the true northern rites, the young men were
jealous of one another, and greatly inclined to quarrel. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
wounded so sorely that Iseult of Brittany could not cure him. His faithful steward Kurvenal, hoping yet to
save him, sailed for Cornwall to bring the other Iseult to the rescue; and as he left he promised his master to
change the black sails of the vessel for white in case his quest were successful.
Tristan now watched impatiently for the returning sail, but just as it came into view he breathed his last. Some
ill-advised writers have ventured to state that Iseult of Brittany, whose jealousy had been aroused, was guilty
of Tristan's death by falsely averring, in answer to his feverish inquiry, that the long-expected vessel was
wafted along by black sails; but, according to other authorities, she remained gentle and lovable to the end.
[Sidenote: Miracle of the plants.] Iseult of Cornwall, speeding to the rescue of her lover, whom nothing could
make her forget, and finding him dead, breathed her last upon his corpse. Both bodies were then carried to
Cornwall, where they were interred in separate graves by order of King Mark. But from the tomb of the dead
minstrel there soon sprang a creeper, which, finding its way along the walls, descended into Iseult's grave.
Thrice cut down by Mark's orders, the plant persisted in growing, thus emphasizing by a miracle the
passionate love which made this couple proverbial in the middle ages. There are in subsequent literature many
parallels of the miracle of the plant which sprang from Tristan's tomb, as is seen by the Ballad of Lord
Thomas and Fair Annet, and of Lord Lovel, where, as in later versions of the Tristan legend, a rose and a vine
grew out of the respective graves and twined tenderly around each other.
"And out of her breast there grew a red rose, And out of his breast a brier." Ballad of Lord Lovel.
CHAPTER XV.
THE STORY OF FRITHIOF.
[Sidenote: Northern sagas.] Norse, Danish, and Swedish writers have frequently called public attention to the
vast literary treasures which are contained in the old sagas or tales of their forefathers. The work of northern
scalds whose names in most cases are unknown to us, these stories relate the lives and adventures of the gods
and heroes of the North. Many of these old sagas have been translated into various other European languages;
but Tegnr, a Swedish writer of this century, has done most to revive a taste for them by making one of them
the basis of a poem which is generally considered a masterpiece.
Tegnr's "Frithiof Saga" has been translated once at least into every European tongue, and more than eighteen
times into English and German. Goethe spoke of the work with the greatest enthusiasm, and the tale, which
gives a matchless picture of the life of our heathen ancestors in the North, has been the source of inspiration
for important works of art.
Although Tegnr has chosen for his theme the Frithiof saga only, we find that that tale is the sequel to the
older but less interesting Thorsten saga, of which we give here a very brief outline, merely to enable the
reader to understand clearly every allusion in the more modern poem.
As is so frequently the case with these ancient tales, the story begins with Haloge (Loki), who came north
with Odin, and began to reign over north Norway, which from him was called Halogaland. According to
northern mythology, this god had two lovely daughters. They were carried off by bold suitors, who, banished
from the mainland by Haloge's curses and magic spells, took refuge with their newly won wives upon
neighboring islands.
CHAPTER XV. 116
[Sidenote: Birth of Viking.] Thus it happened that Haloge's grandson, Viking, was born upon the island of
Bornholm, in the Balitic Sea, where he dwelt until he was fifteen, and where he became the largest and
strongest man of his time. Rumors of his valor finally reached Hunvor, a Swedish princess; and, as she was
oppressed by the attentions of a gigantic suitor whom none dared drive away, she quickly sent for Viking to
deliver her.
Thus summoned, the youth departed, after having received from his father a magic sword named Angurvadel,
whose blows would prove fatal even to the giant suitor of Hunvor. A "holmgang," the northern name for a
duel, ensued, and Viking, having slain his antagonist, could have married the princess had it not been
considered disgraceful for a Northman to marry before he was twenty.
To beguile the time of waiting, Viking set out in a well-manned dragon ship; and, cruising about the northern
and southern seas, he met with countless adventures. During this time he was particularly persecuted by the
slain giant's kin, who were adepts in magic, and caused him to encounter innumerable perils by land and by
sea.
Aided and abetted by his bosom friend, Halfdan, Viking escaped every danger, slew many of his foes, and,
after recovering his promised bride, Hunvor, whom the enemy had carried off to India, he settled down in
Sweden. His friend, faithful in peace as well as in war, settled near him, and married also, choosing for his
wife Ingeborg, Hunvor's attendant.
The saga now describes the long, peaceful winters, when the warriors feasted and listened to the tales of the
scalds, rousing themselves to energetic efforts only when returning spring again permitted them to launch
their dragon ships and set out once more upon their favorite piratical expeditions. In the olden story the bards
relate with great gusto every phase of attack and defense during cruise and raid, describe every blow given
and received, and spare us none of carnage, or lurid flames which envelop both enemies and ships in common
ruin. A fierce fight is often an earnest of future friendship, however, for we are told that Halfdan and Viking,
having failed to conquer Njorfe, even after a most obstinate struggle, sheathed their swords and accepted him
as a third in their close bond of friendship.
On returning home after one of these customary raids, Viking lost his beloved wife; and, after intrusting her
child, Ring, to the care of a foster father, and undergoing a short period of mourning, the brave warrior
married again. This time his marital bliss was more lasting, for the saga reports that his second wife bore him
nine stalwart sons.
Njorfe, King of Uplands, in Norway, had, in the mean while, followed Viking's example, and he too rejoiced
in a large family, numbering also nine brave sons. Now, although their fathers were united in bonds of the
closest friendship, having sworn blood brotherhood according to the true northern rites, the young men were
jealous of one another, and greatly inclined to quarrel. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]