Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-02
HROLF KRAKE.
From Dickens Once a Week.

The old sagaman must have had some in
sight into futurity when he said "This name
of HrOlf Krake shall be famous as long as the
world lasts" The gallant dOings of the Dan
ish iron-clad are certainly sufficient to bring
the name of the old hero into prominence in
these our times, and probably will ensure the
name being perpetuated. Few know any
thing of the original Hrolf Krake, though
they may have dim recollection of having
seen the name in the pedigrees of the old
Danish kings, among those those whose his
tory is either wholly mythical, or so much
mixed up with fable as to render their very
existence uncertain. A little more informa-
ton may be obtained from Saxo Grammati-
Gus, the Danish historian of the middle ages;
but most will be got from the sagas them
selves, from which the mOnkish Latin his
torian drew his information. 1t is from the
saga of Hrolf Krake, Inaccessible to most in
its Icelandic or Old Morse form, that we pro-
pose supplying the readers of ONCE WEEK
with sketch of the old warrior king.
/. Hon HrOlf Rrake fingered King HJoTvdTd.
In the good old days, when Denmark and
the isles were covered with fragrant birch
woods, there ruled in Leidre, on the lce-Jord,
mighty king called Hrolf His great hall
was of wood, hung within with tapestry, and
glittering with arms. Near the high seat
kings champions; but the twelve swords
were not hung up; they were ever in the
hands of the twelve strong men. Next to
the king, at one time, sat twelve Berserkirs,
men whom neither sword or fame could hurt,
who rushed to the battle foaming at the
mouth and gnawing at their shields; and the
rims of brass around the shields were many
times bitten through.
The mother of King Hrolf was Yrsa, and
she was queen of Sweden, for Adils the Swe-
dish king had taken her by violence, and had
slain Hrolfs father, Helgi. The sister of
Hrolf was Skulda, and she was of evil heart,
for her mother was an elf-woman. She was
married to King Hiorvard, with the advice
of King Hrolf and of King Adils of Sweden.
Now it fell out one day that Hrolf was stand
ing on the sands by the edge of the sea, and
HjOrvard was beside him. Then HrOlf said,
"My belt is unfastened, hold my sword whilst
l buckle it tightly about my loins. So Hjor-
ward held the sword Now when Hrolf had
done girding himself he said to his kinsman,
"Thou hast held my sword whilst l buckled
my belt; that is the act of an under king; so
now thou art king urder me, and must pay
me skat every year." Skat is tribute. King
Hjorvard became as red as blood; he an
swered not, but thenceforth paid him skat.
Yet more came of this, as you shall present
" hear.
ii. Hon Hing Hrolf. fought,ciM tie King of
S'peden.
Bodvar Bark urged the king often to make
war with the king of Sweden, and avenge the
blood of his father, whom King Adils had
treacherously slain. And when Hrolf thought
that his might was equal to that of the Swed-
ish king, he set out in his long ships and land
ed on the fiat white shores of Sweden. He
and his men went up into the woods, and left
few men to watch the vessels. The first night
they came to little farm planted in the midst
of the forest, where no sound reached save
the moan of the wind among the pines, and
the rattle of the falling cones, and the cry of
the ravens, or sometimes the song-glorious
as a trumpet blast-of the swans flying north
to the lakes where to nest and hatch their
young. In this farm dweIt an old man with
one eye; he went out and greeted the king,
and babe him be his guest with all his men
for that night Now Hrolf wondered whether
the old man would be able to entertain them
all, but he accepted; and sure enough, neither
ale nor beer was wanting, nor any manner of
good cheer. King Hrolf had with him his
twelve champions, his twelve Berserkirs, and
one hundred fighting men; and these and
their horses were well fed and well looked to
that night. After that the king and his men
had Toasted well, they went to rest. But they
awOke, for the cold became intense, and their
teeth chartered in their heads, and they crept
close to each other for warmth, and gathered
all the coverings they could find to keep in
heat. Yet the twelve champions lay still, and
they sought not fresh coverings; and they set
their teeth lest they should chatter When
the morning came, the old farmer asked how
all had slept. Bodvar answered, every well"
Then said the bonder to the king, "You think
of attacking King Adils at Upsala with all
these men, and are about to lead them into
fierce conflict, yet but few of them have the
courage to endure little cold. There is a
colder place than my hall, and that is the
grave, and those who fear cold will fear the
grave. Send back half your troops"
"Well said" answered the king, and he
sent fifty men to the ships. Then he babe
farewell to the aged bonder, and went on his
way. After travelling all day, by nightfall
they reached a little farm planted in the
midst of the forest, where no sound reached
save the moan of the wind among the pines,
and the patter OF falling cones, and now and
then the song, glorious as a trumpet blast, of
the swans flying north. Outside this farm
stood an old man with one eye, and lol the
king and his company beheld before them
the very farm and farmer they had left in the
morning. The bonder asked why his guests
OF the previous night had returned; and the
king hesitated about asking for another
nights lodging. But the old man invited all
In, and feasted them right well he stinted
them neither in meat nor in drink and after
they had Toasted they went to rest. A great