Denmark -- History -- To 1241; Folklore -- Scandinavia
So Fridleif, seeing that the
upper part of the creature was proof against attack, assailed the
lower side with his sword, and piercing the groin, drew blood from
the quivering beast. When it was dead, he unearthed the money from the
underground chamber and had it taken off in his ships.
When the year had come to an end, he took great pains to reconcile Biorn
and Ane, who had often challenged and fought one another, and made them
exchange their hatred for friendship; and even entrusted to them his
three-year-old son, Olaf, to rear. But his mistress, Juritha, the mother
of Olaf, he gave in marriage to Ane, whom he made one of his warriors;
thinking that she would endure more calmly to be put away, if she wedded
such a champion, and received his robust embrace instead of a king's.
The ancients were wont to consult the oracles of the Fates concerning
the destinies of their children. In this way Fridleif desired to search
into the fate of his son Olaf; and, after solemnly offering up his vows,
he went to the house of the gods in entreaty; where, looking into the
chapel, he saw three maidens, sitting on three seats. The first of them
was of a benignant temper, and bestowed upon the boy abundant beauty
and ample store of favour in the eyes of men. The second granted him
the gift of surpassing generosity. But the third, a woman of more
mischievous temper and malignant disposition, scorning the unanimous
kindness of her sisters, and likewise wishing to mar their gifts, marked
the future character of the boy with the slur of niggardliness. Thus the
benefits of the others were spoilt by the poison of a lamentable doom;
and hence, by virtue of the twofold nature of these gifts Olaf got his
surname from the meanness which was mingled with his bounty. So it came
about that this blemish which found its way into the gift marred the
whole sweetness of its first benignity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account