Frithiof Saga, Canto VI: Frithiof at Chess - Esaias Tegnér

I.

BJÖRN and FRITHIOF, both contending, 

O'er their splendid board were bending; 

Now on silver squares thick gather, 

Now on gold, the struggling foes: 

Then came HILDING, gladly greeted, — 

'Welcome! the High-Chair waits; be seated! 

Drain thy Horn, kind Foster-Father, 

Let our doubtful contest close!' — 

II.

'BELE's Sons,' quoth HILDING , 'send me; 

Arm'd with pray'rs, to thee I wend me. 

Evil tidings round them hover, 

All the land on Thee relies'. — 

Answers FRITHIOF: — 'BJÖRN, in danger 

Stands thy King! beware the stranger; 

Yet a Pawn can all recover, — 

Pawns were made for sacrifice!' — 

III. 

'FRITHIOF, anger not the Kings so; 

Strong, remember, Eaglets' wings grow. 

Forces ring full well despises 

Conquer yet, oppos'd to thine.' —

'BJÖRN, the foe my Castle craveth! 

But the' attack with ease it braveth; 

Grim and high the fierce wall rises, 

Bright the Shield-tow'r shines within! 

IV. 

'ING'BORG wastes the day in weeping, — 

Sad, tho' in BALDER's sacred keeping; 

Tempts not war for Her release, and 

Mourn unheeded Her blue een?' —

'BJÖRN; thou' in vain my Queen pursuest, 

She from childhood dearest, truest! 

She's my Game's most darling Piece, and 

Come what will — I'll save my Queen!' —

V. 

'What! not ev'n reply conceded? — 

FRITHIOF, go I thus unheeded? 

Till that Child's-play yonder endeth 

Must my suit unheard remain?' — 

FRITHIOF rose, and as he' addresses 

The' old man — kind his hand he presses; — 

'Father! nought my firm soul bendeth, 

Thou hast heard, yet hear again: — 

VI. 

'Yes! my words take back unvarnish'd, — 

Deeply they've my honour tarnish'd; 

No strong ties to them unite me, 

Never will I be their man!' — 

'Well, in thine own path thou goest; 

I blame not the rage thou showest: 

All for the best guide ODEN rightly!' — 

So old HILDING's answer ran.

---

Esaias Tegnér (1782–1846) Sweden

Translated by G.S.

Source: Frithiof Saga. A Legend of the North, Esaias Tegnér, Black and Armstrong, 1839

Notes:

• Bele - Fylke-King (Independent Chief) of Sogne District, Norway
• Ingeborg - His only daughter
• Thorsten - A rich and powerful yeoman (Bonde), friend, chief stay and brother-in-arms of King Bele
• Frithiof - His son and Ingeborg's lover
• Bjorn - Frithiof's foster-brother
• Hilding - A venerable Peasant, the foster-father of Frithiof and Ingeborg

Esaias Tegnér's version of  Frithiof's Saga is based on the Icelandic original from around 1300, but warrants his name as author as he completely reworked it into the verse epic we have today.