Visit to Iceland and the Scandinavian NorthPfeiffer, Ida
History
Visit to Iceland and the Scandinavian North
Pfeiffer, Ida
Iceland -- Description and travel; Old Norse poetry -- History and criticism; Scandinavia -- Description and travel
Eric's fate was much more unfortunate, for he was kept in narrow and dark
confinement. A small rudely-furnished apartment, with narrow,
iron-barred windows, in one of the little turrets was his prison. The
entrance was closed by a solid oaken door, in which a small opening had
been made, through which his food was given him. For greater security
this oaken door was covered by an iron one. Round the outside of the
apartment a narrow gallery had been made, on which the guards were
posted, and could at all times see their prisoner through the barred
windows. The spot is still shewn at one of the windows where the king
sat for hours looking into the distance, his head leaning on his hand.
What must have been his feelings as he gazed on the bright sky, the
verdant turf, and the smiling lake! How many sighs must have been echoed
from these walls, how many sleepless nights must he have passed during
those two long years in anxious expectation of the future!
The guide who took us round the castle maintained that the floor was more
worn on this spot than any where else, and that the window-sash had been
hollowed by the elbow of the miserable king; but I could not perceive any
difference. Eric was kept imprisoned here for two years, and was then
taken to another prison.
There is a large picture-gallery in this castle; but it contains
principally portraits of kings, not only of Sweden, but of other
countries, from the Middle Ages down to the present time; also portraits
of ministers, generals, painters, poets, and learned men; of celebrated
Swedish females, who have sacrificed themselves for their country, and of
the most celebrated female beauties. The name and date of birth of each
person are affixed to his or her portrait, so that each visitor may find
his favourite without guide or catalogue. In many of them the colouring
and drawing are wretched enough, but we will hope that the resemblance is
all the more striking.
On our return several gentlemen were kind enough to direct my attention
to the most interesting points of the lake. Among these I must mention
Kakeholm, its broadest point; the island of Esmoi, on which a Swedish
female gained a battle; Norsberg, also celebrated for a battle which took
place there; and Sturrehof, the property of a great Swedish family. Near
Bjarkesoe a simple cross is erected, ostensibly on the spot where
Christianity was first introduced. Indeed the Malarsee has so many
historical associations, in addition to the attractions of its scenery,
that it is one of the most interesting seas not only of Sweden but of
Europe.
JOURNEY FROM STOCKHOLM TO UPSALA AND TO THE IRON-MINES OF DANEMORA
September 12th.
The intercourse between Stockholm and Upsala is very considerable. A
steamer leaves both places every day except Sunday, and traverses the
distance in six hours.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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