Denmark -- History -- To 1241; Folklore -- Scandinavia
I think that
it was a provision of fortune that neither of them should reap joy and
honour by the other's death. This event won back to Rorik the hearts of
the insurgents and regained him the tribute.
At this time Horwendil and Feng, whose father Gerwendil had been
governor of the Jutes, were appointed in his place by Rorik to defend
Jutland. But Horwendil held the monarchy for three years, and then, to
will the height of glory, devoted himself to roving. Then Koller, King
of Norway, in rivalry of his great deeds and renown, deemed it would be
a handsome deed if by his greater strength in arms he could bedim the
far-famed glory of the rover; and cruising about the sea, he watched for
Horwendil's fleet and came up with it. There was an island lying in the
middle of the sea, which each of the rovers, bringing his ships up on
either side, was holding. The captains were tempted by the pleasant look
of the beach, and the comeliness of the shores led them to look through
the interior of the springtide woods, to go through the glades, and roam
over the sequestered forests. It was here that the advance of Koller and
Horwendil brought them face to face without any witness. Then Horwendil
endeavoured to address the king first, asking him in what way it was his
pleasure to fight, and declaring that one best which needed the courage
of as few as possible. For, said he, the duel was the surest of all
modes of combat for winning the meed of bravery, because it relied only
upon native courage, and excluded all help from the hand of another.
Koller marvelled at so brave a judgment in a youth, and said: "Since
thou hast granted me the choice of battle, I think it is best to employ
that kind which needs only the endeavours of two, and is free from all
the tumult. Certainly it is more venturesome, and allows of a speedier
award of the victory. This thought we share, in this opinion we agree of
our own accord. But since the issue remains doubtful, we must pay
some regard to gentle dealing, and must not give way so far to our
inclinations as to leave the last offices undone. Hatred is in our
hearts; yet let piety be there also, which in its due time may take the
place of rigour. For the rights of nature reconcile us, though we are
parted by differences of purpose; they link us together, howsoever
rancour estrange our spirit. Let us, therefore, have this pious
stipulation, that the conqueror shall give funeral rites to the
conquered. For all allow that these are the last duties of human
kind, from which no righteous man shrinks. Let each army lay aside its
sternness and perform this function in harmony. Let jealousy depart
at death, let the feud be buried in the tomb. Let us not show such an
example of cruelty as to persecute one another's dust, though hatred has
come between us in our lives. It will be a boast for the victor if he
has borne his beaten foe in a lordly funeral. For the man who pays the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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