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Updated: May 29, 2025
Why would you not be ruled by her, you foolish golden head?" "Martin!" said Torfrida. "Take it and comb it, mistress, as you used to do. Comb out the golden locks again, fit to shine across the battle-field. She has let them get all tangled into elf-knots, that lazy slut within." Torfrida took it from his hands, dry-eyed, and went in.
Often he rebelled; often he broke loose, and made her angry, and himself ashamed: but the spell was on him, a far surer, as well as purer spell than any love-potion of which foolish Torfrida had ever dreamed, the only spell which can really civilize man, that of woman's tact and woman's purity. But there were relapses, as was natural.
Anon a war with Holland claimed attention, but in the meantime Hereward had fallen in love with a most beautiful damsel named Torfrida, niece of the Abbot of St. Berlin, reputed a sorceress. Her favour he won in the lists from Sir Ascelin, to whom she had committed it, and upon him she bestowed it, together with her love and a suit of magic armour, through which no sword could pierce.
We hear naught here in the greenwood, and must throw oneself on the kindness of a chance visitor." The Abbot leapt at the bait, and told them news, court gossip, bringing in great folks' names and his own, as often and as familiarly mingled as he could. "What of Richilda?" asked Torfrida. "Ever since young Arnoul was killed at Cassel " "Arnoul killed?" shrieked Torfrida.
In Holland Hereward remained a year, but as, under the terms of a wager made in a boastful mood, he went through the campaign without any armour and without changing his clothes, it was a disreputable looking man with many a wound who returned to Bruges, where, at the court of Adela, a jest was played on Torfrida by the countess, not without the privity of Hereward.
"Where shall we stow the mare?" asked Geri, "the boats are full already." "Leave her to me. On board, Torfrida." He got on board last, leading the mare by the bridle. "Swim, good lass!" said he, as they pushed off; and the good lass, who had done it many a time before, waded in, and was soon swimming behind. Hereward turned, and bent over the side in the darkness.
Torfrida went straight on, speaking to no one, not even to the prioress; and into Lady Godiva's chamber. There she dropped at the countess's feet, and laid her head upon her knees. "I am come, as you always told me I should do. But it has been a long way hither, and I am very tired." "My child! What is this? What brings you here?" "I am doing penance for my sins."
For they loved her with a love mightier than ever Hereward had heaped upon her; for she had given him all: but she had given those two wild men naught but the beatific vision of a noble woman. "On account of which," says the chronicler, "many troubles came to Hereward: because Torfrida was most wise, and of great counsel in need.
Whereon she turned upon him like a tigress, and bidding him remember that she was the daughter of Hereward and Torfrida, gave him such a beating that he, not wishing to draw sword upon her, surrendered at discretion; and they lived all their lives afterwards as happily as most other married people in those times.
"There are, in Provence and the South, what I wish there were here in Flanders, Courts of Love, at which all offenders against the sacred laws of Venus and Cupid are tried by an assembly of their peers, and punished according to their deserts." Torfrida turned scarlet.
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