Viking Tales of the North
Saga of Fridthjof the Bold
The Saga of Fridthjof
the Bold
Chapter 3
There was a king, by name Ring, who ruled over Ring-ric, which also is
a part of Norway. He was a mighty fylke-king, of great ability, but as
this time somewhat advanced in age. Spoke he to his men: I have heard
that the sons of Bele have broken off their friendship with Fridthjof,
a man of quite uncommon excellence. Now I will send some men to the kings,
and offer them this choice,–either they must become subject and tributary
to me, or I will equip an army against them; and I think it will be easy
to capture their kingdom, for they are not my peers either in forces or
in wisdom, and yet it would be a great honor to me in my old age to put
them to death. Hereupon king Ring’s messengers left, and, meeting the
brothers, Helge and Halfdan, in Sogn, they spoke to them as follows: This
message does king ring send you, that you must either pay a tribute to
him, or he will come and harry your kingdom. They made answer that they
were unwilling to learn in their youth that which they had no mind to
know in their old age, namely, to serve him with shame; and now, said
they, we shall gather all the army that we may be able to get together.
And so they did; but, as it seemed to them that their army would be small,
they sent Hilding’s foster-father to Fridthjof, asking him to come and
help the kings. Fridthjof was sitting at the knave-play (1)
when Hilding came. Said Hilding: Our kings send you their greetings, and
request your help for the battle with king Ring, who is going to invade
their kingdom with arrogance and wrong. Fridthjof answered nothing, but
said to Bjorn with him he was playing: There is an open place there, foster-brother,
and you will not be able to mend it; bit I will attack the red piece,
and see whether it can be saved. Said Hilding then again: King Helge bade
me say this to you, Fridthjof, that you should go into this warfare together
with them, or you might look for a severe treatment from them when they
come back. Said Bjorn: There is a choice between two, foster-brother,
and there are two moves by which you may escape. Says Fridthjof: Then
I think it advisable to attack the knave first, and yet the double game
is sure to be doubtful. No other answer to his errand did Hilding get,
and so, without delay, he went back and told the kings what Fridthjof
had said. They asked Hilding what meaning he could make out of those words.
Answered he: When he spoke of the open place, he thought, in my opinion,
of leaving his place in your expedition open; but when he pretended to
attack the red piece, I think he by this meant your sister, Ingeborg;
watch her, therefore, as well as you can. But when I threatened him with
severe treatment from you, Bjorn considered it a choice between two, but
Fridthjof said the knave must be attacked first, and by this he meant
king Ring. Then the kings busked themselves for departure, but before
they went they brought Ingeborg to Baldershage, and eight maidens with
her. Said they that Fridthjof would not be so daring that he would go
thither to meet her, for nobody is so rash as to injure anybody there.
But the brothers went south to Jadar, and met king Ring in Sokn-Sound.
What most of all made king Ring angry was that they brothers had said
that they though it a shame to fight with a man so old that he was unable
to mount his horse without help.
ENDNOTES:
1. Knave-play, chess. [Back]
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