<h2 id="c11"><span class="h2line1">Chapter XI</span> <br/><span class="h2line2">Frithiof at the Court of Augantyr</span></h2>
<p>In his great hall near the sea sat Augantyr at
wassail with his champions, while outside the
window Halvar kept watch. A good swordsman
and stout drinker was he, and often as his
horn was empty he silently thrust it through the lattice
to be refilled. Suddenly he flung it far into the
hall and shouted: “I see a ship making to land! On
it pale warriors totter helplessly about; but so strong
and fresh are two of them that they carry the others
to the shore.”</p>
<p>Augantyr strode to the window and gazed out
toward the sea. Then he said: “That, methinks,
hath the look of ‘Ellida,’ Thorsten’s dragon ship,
and in one of yonder two stout warriors I seem to
see old Thorsten’s form and bearing. Hath he not
the air of a prince of all the land?”</p>
<p>When the black-bearded Atle heard this, the
Berserk fury seized him. He sprang from the
board with eyes rolling and shouted—“If this be
<span class="pb" id="Page_63">63</span>
Frithiof, now will I prove the truth of what is said,
that he hath power to render harmless every blade,
and never is the first to sue for peace.” He rushed
from the hall, followed by twelve of the warriors.
Hewing and thrusting furiously at the air with their
swords, they stormed down to the shore, where
Frithiof had built a fire to cheer his men. From
afar, Atle shouted:</p>
<p>“Easy were it now for me to slay thee; but
rather shalt thou have thy choice—to do battle
with me here, or fly. But if thou wilt yield and sue
for peace, then in friendly guise I’ll lead thee to our
lord.”</p>
<p>“Is it your custom thus to welcome toil-worn
heroes cast upon your shores?” was Frithiof’s
answer. “Then listen! Spent as I am with days
of hardship and distress, yet never will I sue for
peace from thee”; and therewith he drew his sword,
the runes on the blade growing red as fire. Fast
and furious fell the sword-strokes. Both shields at
the same moment dropped, riven in twain, upon the
ground; yet fearlessly the champions fought on.
At last down swept Angurvadel with resistless force,
and loudly clanging Atle’s blade was shattered.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div>
<p>Frithiof stepped back, saying, “Swordless I will
not slay thee; but if thou wouldst not yet have
peace then let us try a wrestling contest.”</p>
<p>Foaming with rage, Atle sprang at him and a
fearful struggle began. Like two eagles seizing on
their prey, they grappled with each other. The
earth shook with the trampling of their feet. It
seemed as if the heaving of their breasts would burst
the encasing mail, while in awe their comrades stood
about them waiting for the issue of the contest. At
length Thorsten’s mighty son succeeded in throwing
his adversary, and, kneeling on his breast, he cried:</p>
<p>“Were but my sword within my grasp, its blade
e’er now had pierced thee through, thou swarthy
Berserk!”</p>
<p>“Go, then, and fetch it—I will lie here the
while,” said Atle proudly. “All brave men to Valhalla’s
halls must wend at last—I to-day and thou
to-morrow.”</p>
<p>Still filled with the rage of battle, Frithiof with
one bound reached his sword and was about to despatch
his prostrate foe, who moved not, but lay
calmly gazing upward, when he suddenly relented
and, dropping his sword, held out his hand to the
vanquished Atle. Just then Halvar came hurrying
thither waving a white wand and crying:</p>
<div class="fig"> id="pic3"> <ANTIMG src="images/p3.jpg" alt="" width-obs="600" height-obs="433" /> <p class="caption"><i>FRITHIOF’S wrestle</i></p> </div>
<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div>
<p>“Cease, cease your furious strife! The savory
viands that await ye grow cold in their silver dishes,
and my thirst doth press me sore.”</p>
<p>Therewith the two heroes who but now had
striven in deadly combat together sought the court
of Augantyr in peace.</p>
<p>The appearance of the great hall filled Frithiof
with astonishment. In place of the usual oaken
planks the walls were covered with gilded leather
adorned with flowering vines. The chimney was
of marble; tapers in silver candlesticks illuminated
the halls; the doors were held fast with locks. A
bountiful meal stood ready spread in heavy silver
dishes, and near the high-seat a roasted stag adorned
the board, the horns entwined with leaves, the
hoofs gilded. On the high-seat of silver sat Augantyr,
clad in helm and mail of glittering steel, inlaid
with gold, a purple mantel sown with silver stars
depending from his shoulders. He arose as Frithiof
entered, and advanced to meet his guest, saying:</p>
<p>“Full many a horn have I drained in Thorsten’s
company, and glad am I to do fitting honor to his
valiant son.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div>
<p>Then leading him to a place beside him on the
high-seat, he called on all his warriors to fill their
horns and beakers and drink to Thorsten’s memory,
while the hall rang to the sound of harps, as minstrels
praised that hero’s glorious deeds.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Augantyr questioned his guest concerning
matters in the Northland; and in well-chosen
words, avoiding either praise or blame, Frithiof
related all that had passed, concluding with his voyage
and the terrible sea witches against whose power
they had been forced to contend. So eloquently
did he describe their adventures that Augantyr
listened with approving smiles, and the bold champions
about the board often interrupted the speaker
with their shouts. Then Augantyr inquired the
purpose of his voyage, and Frithiof told him frankly
of his love for Ingeborg, of Helge’s arrogance, and
the penance that had been laid upon him.</p>
<p>“For this have I come,” he concluded, “to demand
of thee in behalf of Kings Helge and Halfdan,
the tribute thou wast wont to pay in Bele’s lifetime.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div>
<p>Calmly Augantyr replied: “Never have I owned
another as my lord. Free do I live; free also are my
people about these seas. What I sent Bele was
not enforced, but given in friendship. His sons I
know not. If they would have tribute from me, let
them demand it with the sword—then shall they
have the best of answers! Yet thy father was my
friend.”</p>
<p>He beckoned to his daughter, who sat near him
on a golden stool, and she hastened to the women’s
chamber, soon returning with a purse whereon was
worked with rare skill a green forest scene—animals
of gold wandered beneath the trees, and above shone
a silver moon. The tassels were strung with costly
pearls, the clasp enriched with rubies. Augantyr
took this purse, filled it to the brim with pieces of
gold, and handed it to his guest, saying, “Take
this as a gift of welcome, son of Thorsten, and do
with it as thou wilt; but as for claim, I refuse to acknowledge
any such. Hear now my wish: tarry
thou here till Spring comes, as my honored guest.
Courage and boldness stand thee well in time of
danger, it is true, yet think not thine ‘Ellida’ may
withstand all the perils of the stormy season. And
remember there are demons in the sea more mighty
yet than those which thou didst vanquish.”</p>
<p>To this Frithiof gladly agreed, and he held out
his hand to his hospitable host, saying: “Be it,
then, as thou wilt!”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div>
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