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"O Frithiof why hast thou come hither to steal an old man's bride?" "I came not hither for so dark a purpose," answered Frithiof; "I came but to look on the face of my loved Ingebjorg once more." "I know it," replied the King; "I have tried thee, I have proved thee, and true as tried steel hast thou passed through the furnace.
Their blasting shriek grew louder, till at last it seemed to tear out of the fog just above our quarter, and I cowered while the Rathmines plunged bows under on a double swell that crossed. 'No more, said Frithiof, 'it is not good any more. Let us get away, in the name of God.
Sigurd invited him to remain, and he soon became the almost constant companion of the king and queen. One spring day Sigurd and Frithiof had ridden away on a hunting expedition and the old king being tired from the chase lay down on the ground to rest, feigning sleep.
It was calm enough when Frithiof started; the storm-winds were asleep, and the waters heaved gently as though they would fain help speed the dragon-ship peacefully on her way.
Unmindful of the anachronism, youth gloried in the noble disinterestedness of Frithiof, in his generosity to his rival, his melancholy philosophising and his high-minded love, as well as in his daring and his love of adventure. Manly breasts heaved in sympathy with him, and women's tears flowed at the story of Ingeborg's love. As the poet Snolisky has said
"And now," said Frithiof, "I will forever lead a viking's life. I care not for aught upon the land. The sea shall be my home. And I will seek climes far away from here." So he steered the good ship "Ellide" southward, and among the isles of Greece strove to forget the memories of bygone days.
'There is a feel in the water, said Frithiof, 'that I cannot understand. I think that we run downhills or somethings. She steers bad this morning. Nobody seems to know the laws that govern the pulse of the big waters.
Frithiof made more than one attempt to emancipate himself, but his attempts were always frustrated by the enemy; they were too many for him, and they talked and preached until he fled into the wood. The evenings held terror for him. He hated the bedroom, and went to it as to a place of execution. He became morose and avoided everybody.
But Old Hilding told them not to talk nonsense, for Ingebjorg was a king's daughter, and Frithiof but the son of a thane. In a room of his palace stood King Belé. He was leaning on his sword, musing over all that was past, and thinking of the future. He was an old man, and he felt that his strength was failing him. With him was his faithful friend Thorsten Vikingsson.
The birds and beasts of the forest drew near and whispered to Frithiof that he should slay the king and have Ingeborg for his own wife. But Frithiof was too fine and loyal to listen to such suggestions. Awaking, Sigurd Ring called Frithiof to him. "You are Frithiof the Bold," he said, "and from the first I knew you. Be patient now a little longer and you shall have Ingeborg, for my end is near."
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