Sigurd and His Brave Companions: A Tale of Medieval Norway

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THE SAGA OF VILMUND VIDUTAN AND HIS GALLANT COMPANIONS ARL, die Burner, so called because he burned down die woodsin the place where he settled, and sowed rye in the ashes, raised crops, and bred cattle and horses. He lived so far away from the 3 K Sigurd 6- His Brave Companions habitations of other human beings, that his son Vilmund grew up to manhood without ever having seen anybody besides his father and mother. When Vilmund was about eighteen years of age he returned one night from his hunting. He went and sat at the feet of his mother, and said, "Today I saw the loveliest animal of the woods. It was down by the brook under a bluff. The animal walked on its hind legs, like we do; it had a mane that looked like sunlight and fell down almost to its feet. It was better to look upon than a milkwhite doe or thefleetesthind. It made a noise sweeter than the song of the wood thrush or the cooing of the doves. Mother dear, I might have felled that lovely animal with an arrow, only it seemed to me that I must catch it alive and try to tame it, or I could never more be happy. But when I tried to steal up to it, it spied me and fled. Its footprints, in the sand by the brook, looked like the footprints of a human being, only smaller and narrower ." "Fair son," said his mother, laughing merrily, "it seems to me it was a good thing you did not pull your bowstring or throw your spear at the animal with a mane like sunshine, because I think the animal you spied by the brook was a maiden." 4 Sigurd if His Brave Companions "And pray, Mother, what kind of animal is a maiden?" "Son," said his mother, laughing still louder, "I was a maiden until I married your father." "Sweet Mother," said Vilmund, "if I should catch that lovely maiden with a mane like sunshine, might I too marry her and keep her with me always, as my father has had you at his side all the days of my life?" "Surely, son," the mother replied, "if the maiden would accept you for her husband." But when the mother told Karl, the Burner, about the adventure Vilmund had had by the brook, Karl said, "It seems to me it is time for our son to leave us, to learn something about life outside this wilderness." So the next morning the father talked to Vilmund, saying: "Son, before we came to live in this wood I was a knight, and your mother was an earl's daughter. Because her parents refused to give her in marriage to me, we fled and settled in this lonely spot. But now you have grown to manhood, and it is time for you to return to the world to learn about the ways of noble men; to live as is fitting for a youth of gentle birth and high lineage. I have taught you to ride your horse and wield your weapons, to have courtly manners and gentle speech. You will remember all this, when you 5 Sigurd b- His Brave Companions have left us to make your own fortune by gallant and manly deeds." From a closet Karl brought forth beautiful clothes, fitting for a young nobleman, and arms and armor of the very best. He chose the fleetest and fairest steed from his stable, and Vilmund prepared to set out on his quest. As he bade his mother good-bye, she told him: "Son, never refuse a challenge. Fight fairly and courageously whoever offers you battle. But when you have vanquished your adversary, be courteous and kind to him, as is seemly between noble knights." So Vilmund rode away, and for three days he followed the brook through the forests; but never did he spy a trace of the maiden. On the afternoon of the third day he came to the edge of the woods, and there he saw a most wonderful sight. It seemed to him as though the plain was dotted with giant white mushrooms , and men moved about—as many as ants by an anthill. Soon a young and handsome man, marvellously dressed and armed, mounted on a high white steed, came...