The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 4: Heroes and heroines of chivalry
Children's literature
She was afraid at his threats, and dared not refuse, though she liked
it ill. So they two were wedded perforce, and neither took joy in it.
HAVELOK WINS BACK HIS KINGDOM
Retold by F. J. H. Darton
When they were married, Havelok knew not what to do. He had no home
whereto he might take Goldborough. Godrich had such hatred for
Athelwold's daughter that he would do nought to aid them; and Havelok
was in sore straits till he bethought himself of Grimsby.
Straightway he took Goldborough to Grimsby. But Grim himself was
dead. Nevertheless his sons welcomed Havelok gladly.
"Welcome, dear lord, and welcome to your fair lady," they said. "We
have here horses and nets and ships, gold and silver, and much else
that Grim our father bequeathed. But he bade us give them to you; take
them, dear lord; they are all yours. You shall be our lord, and we
will be your servants in all things."
So Havelok came back to Grimsby. But on the night of his coming
Goldborough was sad and sorrowful as she lay beside him, and she could
not sleep. Her wakeful eyes fell on Havelok, and she was aware
suddenly of a wondrous sight. A bright light, clear and flaming,
issued from his mouth, and lit up all the chamber. "What may this
mean?" she said to herself in sore dread. "Does it show me that some
high fortune shall come upon Havelok?"
She looked again, and saw a new wonder. On Havelok's shoulder a king's
mark shone, a noble cross of red gold; and as she looked, an angel's
voice spoke to her:
"Goldborough, let your sorrow be; Havelok, your husband, is a king's
son and a king's heir. The golden cross signifies that he shall
possess all Denmark and England, and shall be king of both realms."
When she heard the angel's voice Goldborough could not contain her
joy, but turned and kissed Havelok as he slept. Havelok had not heard
the angel, but he started out of his sleep at Goldborough's kiss.
"Dear lady, are you awake?" he said. "A strange dream have I just
dreamed. I thought I was in Denmark, on the highest hill that ever I
came to; it was so high that I could see, it seemed, all the world
spread out. As I sat there, I began to possess Denmark, with all its
towns and strong castles; and my arms were so long that I surrounded
in one grasp all Denmark, and drew it towards me till every man
therein cleaved to me. Another dream I dreamed also, that I flew over
the salt sea to England, and with me went all the folk of Denmark.
When I came to England, I took it all into my hand, and, Goldborough,
I gave it to you. Dear wife, what may this be?"
"May these dreams turn to joy, Havelok, as I deem they will," answered
Goldborough. "I say to you that you shall wear the crown of England in
time to come, and Denmark shall kneel at your feet. Within a year this
shall come to pass. Let us two go to Denmark speedily; and do you
pray Grim's sons that they go with you, all three."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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