Aslaugas Knight | Page 5

been
mistaken, and you are not indeed that renowned, gentle-hearted Froda:
for how could be have doubted so long about such a trifle? But I will
try the utmost means. See now! for the sake of the fair Aslauga, of
whom you have both read and sang--for the sake of the honoured
daughter of Sigurd, grant my request!" Then Froda started up eagerly,
and cried, "Let it be as you have said!" and gave her his knightly hand
to confirm his words. But he could not grasp the hand of the
peasant-woman, although her dark form remained close before him. A
secret shudder began to run through his limbs, whilst suddenly a light
seemed to shine forth from the apparition--a golden light--in which she
became wholly wrapped; so that he felt as though Aslauga stood before
him in the flowing veil of her golden hair, and smiling graciously on
him. Transported and dazzled, he sank on his knees. When he rose up
once more he only saw a cloudy mist of autumn spreading over the
meadow, fringed at its edges with lingering evening lights, and then
vanishing far over the waves. The knight scarcely knew what had
happened to him. He returned to his chamber buried in thought, and
sometimes feeling sure that he had beheld Aslauga, sometimes, again,
that some goblin had risen before him with deceitful tricks, mocking in
spiteful wise the service which he had vowed to his dead mistress. But
henceforth, wherever he roved, over valley or forest or heath, or
whether he sailed upon the waves of the sea, the like appearances met
him. Once he found a lute lying in a wood, and drove a wolf away from

it, and when sounds burst from the lute without its being touched a fair
child rose up from it, as of old Aslauga herself had done. At another
time he would see goats clambering among the highest cliffs by the
sea- shore, and it was a golden form who tended them. Then, again, a
bright queen, resplendent in a dazzling bark, would seem to glide past
him, and salute him graciously,--and if he strove to approach any of
those he found nothing but cloud, and mist, and vapour. Of all this
many a lay might be sung. But so much he learnt from them all--that
the fair Lady Aslauga accepted his service, and that he was now indeed
and in truth become her knight.
Meanwhile the winter had come and gone. In northern lands this season
never fails to bring to those who understand and love it many an image
full of beauty and meaning, with which a child of man might well be
satisfied, so far as earthly happiness can satisfy, through all his time on
earth. But when the spring came glancing forth with its opening buds
and flowing waters there came also bright and sunny tidings from the
land of Germany to Fuhnen.
There stood on the rich banks of the Maine, where it pours its waters
through the fertile land of Franconia, a castle of almost royal
magnificence, whose orphan-mistress was a relation of the German
emperor. She was named Hildegardis; and was acknowledged far and
wide as the fairest of maidens. Therefore her imperial uncle wished that
she should wed none but the bravest knight who could anywhere be
met with. Accordingly he followed the example of many a noble lord in
such a case, and proclaimed a tournament, at which the chief prize
should be the hand of the peerless Hildegardis, unless the victor already
bore in his heart a lady wedded or betrothed to him; for the lists were
not to be closed to any brave warrior of equal birth, that the contest of
strength and courage might be so much the richer in competitors.
Now the renowned Froda had tidings of this from his German
brethren-in-arms; and he prepared himself to appear at the festival.
Before all things, he forged for himself a splendid suit of armour; as,
indeed, he was the most excellent armourer of the north, far-famed as it
is for skill in that art. He worked the helmet out of pure gold, and

formed it so that it seemed to be covered with bright flowing locks,
which called to mind Aslauga's tresses. He also fashioned, on the
breastplate of his armour, overlaid with silver, a golden image in half
relief, which represented Aslauga in her veil of flowing locks, that he
might make known, even at the beginning of the tournament--"This
knight, bearing the image of a lady upon his breast, fights not for the
hand of the beautiful Hildegardis, but only for the joy of battle and for
knightly fame." Then he took out of his stables a beautiful Danish steed,
embarked it carefully on board