Viking Tales of the North
Saga of Fridthjof the Bold
One morning early there was a knock at that door of the hall where the king, the queen and many others were sleeping. Asked the king who was calling at the door. Said he who was outside: Fridthjof is here. I am now busk and bowne for my departure. Then the door was opened. In stepped Fridthjof and sang this stave:
Now must I thank you,
Bountifully you have feasted
The feeder of the eagle.
Bowne am I for departure.
Ingeborg can I ne’er forget
While to both of us life is granted.
Fare she well! And take she
This costly gift for many kisses.
Therewith he threw the goodly ring to Ingeborg and bade her accept it. The king smiled at this stave and said: So, after all, it came to pass that she got more thanks for your winter quarters than I, and yet she has not been more kind to you than I. The king then sent his servants for drink and food, saying that they should eat and drink before Fridthjof went away. Sit up, queen, he added, and be of good cheer. She said she had not mind to eat so early. Says king Ring: Let us now all eat together, and so they did. But when they had been drinking a while said king Ring: I wish you might stay here, Fridthjof, for my sons are as yet nothing but children, but I am old and unfit to ward my land, if anybody should seek it for the purpose of harrying. Soon must I be off, my lord; and he sang this stave:
Live, king Ring,
Hale and long!
The highest of kings
‘Neath the northern skies!
Guard well, my king,
Your queen and land.
Nevermore shall meet again
Ingeborg and I.
Sang king Ring then:
Fare not thus from hence,
My Fridthjof! dearest
Son of kings,
So sad in mind!
Your costly gifts
I shall reward
Better far
Than you are aware.
Sang he this too:
Give I the famous
Fridthjof my wife,
And therewith all
That belongs to me.
Interrupted him straightaway Fridthjof, and sang:
I will not accept
Those gifts from you,
Lest fatal illness
Threatens my king.
Says the king: I should not have given these things to you had I not thought that this was the case; for I am sick, and I wish you to enjoy this in preference to all others, for you are above all men in Norway. I give you a king’s name, too; for her brothers, I think, will be less willing than I am to grant honor to you and give you the wife. Said Fridthjof: Accept many thanks form me, my lord, for your kindness, which is more than I could ask or even think; but as to my rank, I will take nothing more than a jarl’s name. Herewith king Ring, taking Fridthjof’s hand, gave him the government of the kingdom, which he had rued over, and jarl’s name therewith. Fridthjof was to rule until the sons of king Ring kept his sick-bed but a short time, and when he died there was great sorrow in his kingdom. A howe was raised over him, and, according to his wish, much fee was buried with him. Then Fridthjof made a great feast, which his folk came to. At this feast king Ring’s funeral and Ingeborg’s and Fridthjof’s wedding were celebrated together. Hereafter Fridthjof began to rule this kingdom, and was thought a most excellent man. He and Ingeborg had many children.
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