The Childhood of King Erik Menved: An Historical RomanceIngemann, Bernhard Severin
History
The Childhood of King Erik Menved: An Historical Romance
Ingemann, Bernhard Severin
Denmark -- History -- Erik Glipping, 1259-1286 -- Fiction; Denmark -- History -- Erik Menved, 1286-1319 -- Fiction
The learned Master Martinus, too, with the tenderest zeal, took upon
himself, in his own fashion, the education of the prince; but he
endeavoured in vain to form him into a philosopher, or to teach him his
dry, logical _Modos Significandi_. The prince had great respect for the
learned chancellor, but was never better pleased than when he could
escape from his Latin.
At Scanderborg, the merry, lively heir-apparent was most happy when
engaged in games of chivalry with his active squires and pages, among
whom the little friendly Aagé Jonsen was his dearest comrade. When, at
such times, Junker Christopher would spoil the game by some wanton
boyish trick, or cause division among the pages, the little king was
always umpire; and his strict impartiality rendered him as much beloved
by the young pages, as disliked by his quarrelsome brother. When his
daily exercise in arms was over, it often pleased Prince Erik to take
diversion on the lake at Scanderborg, where his skilful tutor, Drost
Peter, had also taught him to steer a boat easily and safely, even when
the waters were roughest.
Drost Peter's active participation in the affairs of government, as
well as his care for the important crown-prince, forbade him almost to
think of himself and his private affairs of the heart. But frequently,
when boating with his pupil on the Scanderborg lake till late in the
evening, he would fall into deep thought, while steering the little
vessel in the direction of the light from the ladies' apartment, that,
from a lofty turret, looked out on the waters, like Jomfru Ingé's
chamber at Flynderborg. He would often, on these occasions, sit for
hours in a kind of reverie, and steer for the distant light, without
observing what was taking place around him, until a lusty squall or an
uneasy tossing of the boat brought him to his senses. At times, when
in these reveries, he would suddenly start up and reproach himself with
his forgetfulness, when the daring Prince Erik had made a hazardous
alteration of the sails, and, by so doing, had embroiled himself in a
violent dispute with Junker Christopherson.
The king's chief amusement was hunting, of which he was passionately
fond, and for which he frequently neglected the most important state
affairs. Chamberlain Rané was still his constant favourite. The crafty
chamberlain was often absent on secret errands; but these appeared to
have reference merely to the usual love affairs, or to miserable
adventures of the basest description, which were generally pursued in
connection with the king's frequent hunting expeditions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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