who wore the necklace, became afflicted with a terrible toothache. The banquet came to an end, and the guests took their leave without much ceremony. The royal three went to their beds in the hope of obtaining relief from their torments, but they passed the night in restless agony. However, in the morning their sufferings suddenly ceased, and with the recovery of their ordinary state of health they felt disposed to ascribe their last night's affliction to the carouse and the late hours. Banvilde, however, continued to be in low spirits through the day, the cause of which was this: In the hurry of undressing last night she had neglected to remove the gold ring from her arm. In the agony of her toothache she had struck the arm with the ring against the wall, by which she had irretrievably damaged a part of the beautiful setting. The ring being of great value and of most cunning workmanship, she dared not tell her father, who was a man prone to sudden anger, nor did she like to acquaint her mother with the mishap. Towards evening she went down to the grove which fringed the beach opposite which Volundur's tower on the island rose black against the sinking sun. 'Alas!' she thought, had I not done this serf such grievous injury, he would, perhaps, have served me in this matter.' She hesitated for a while, but, being by nature of a courageous disposition, she finally resolved to row herself over to his dungeon when it was quite dark, and force him to repair the ring. If he refuses, she thought, it will not be a hard matter to COW a chained cripple like him. Accordingly at dusk the fearless Banvilde launched her boat from the shore and pulled boldly out on the deep. Midway between the shore and the isle an ancient sprite lifted his head tangled with seaweed and sung, while with one hand he attempted to stay the progress of the boat : The sea is treacherous, But the reckless Banvilde struck him with her oar, saying: 'Down with ye, old Grass-beard!' for neither she nor her parents had faith in the gods, nor in the omens through which they often warn human beings of impending evil. Heedless of the premonition, she continued the journey, and landed a short while after at Sævarsted. A short walk brought her before the ancient tower, the gate of which she opened with a key she had secretly appropriated beforehand. Hardly had Volundur become aware of her presence when a thought flashed through his brain, the carrying out of which would indeed glut his craving of vengeance to the full. Concealing his fierce joy, he spoke to Banvilde in a friendly way, bade her to be seated, and promised her to repair the ornament in all haste; but to facilitate the work he requested her to blow the bellows. Said Banvilde, 'Whence comes it that these bellows are spattered all over with blood?' Answered Volundur: 'It is the blood of a couple of seals which vexed me for a long time, but which I at last succeeded in capturing when they least suspected it.' He then bade her to blow the bellows steadily. When she now had become tired and thirsty by her unremitting labour, he offered her a beaker of ale, previously charged with a potent sleeping draught, which she eagerly drained, whereupon she threw herself on the bench, and soon fell into a heavy slumber. Fearful was her awaking; in vain she shrieked ; too late she wept bitterly. Volundur said: Go to thy father, and say to him that Volundur is ready now to die, having found the means of wreaking vengeance on him and his house. Let him know that the drinking vessels he fills with mead and offers to his guests are made of the skulls of his own sons Gram and Skule, whom I have slain with my own hand and buried here beneath the clay floor, and that the blood which stains these bellows flowed from their headless trunks. Still they were but insignificant men, nor was his love for them so great that their death should appease my vengeance. But thou, who didst rob me in spite of my piteous prayers of the half of my sight, weepest now at thy own loss. Hardly, I trow, will any of your kingly suitors incline to marry thee, who hast been dishonoured by thy father's meanest serf.' Banvilde smiled grimly, and said: 'These thick walls have tongues as little as they have eyes. What has passed remains a secret, which I seal with your death. A secret vengeance is no vengeance: go then to Nifflheim, and unavenged, thou base traitor!'. So saying, she grasped a spear and made a furious thrust at Volundur; but, evading the assault, he seized Banvilde, bound her hand and foot, and flung her through the door into her boat, which, with the shock, slid away and went adrift. Then he engraved on a large plate of gold an account of all his achievements and of his vengeance, and placed it in such a manner that it would at once draw the attention of King Nidudr. Having accomplished his task, he seized a spear, and, placing its point against his naked breast, he cried with a loud voice: 'Odin, welcome to Valhal thy poor maimed serf!' At that supreme moment the distant tones of a song blending with the strain of harps fell softly on his ear, and, although it was broad daylight and the heavens clear and cloudless, he beheld in the east a great sparkling star, whose radiance the very sun could not dim or abate. To his further amazement he saw in the transparent air a mighty rainbow, glowing with colour, spanning the firmament from the point where the star shone to where it dyed the waters with its many coloured tints immediately opposite his dungeon. This strange and glorious sight caused Volundur to abandon his purpose. Mounting to the windowsill, he awaited the result of the awful portent. The bright luminary, after traversing the vast sweep of the rainbow, was nearing its terminal point when Volundur discovered that what he had deemed a star was in reality the radiant chariot of Freya. Seated in it was the divine Assynia herself, in her full glory and splendour, attended on either side by two beautiful maids as yet unknown to him. Around the white shoulders of the goddess undulated an ample azure robe, flowing behind her in many a wavy fold, until it merged in the blue ether. The maiden on the left side was robed in a strange garment made of freshly plucked green leaves, whereas the robe of the other was of bright scarlet. Volundur's heart beat tumultuously. Intuitively he felt that in the three divine beings seated in the golden chariot he beheld the symbolisation of the gold lump with the precious stones found by him and his brothers in distant Finmark. The chariot was drawn by two large wild cats, in size and aspect almost like panthers, typical of Desire being controlled by Love, while it at the same time urges it on. When the chariot reached the end of the rainbow, it seemed to Volundur that it would presently plunge into the depths of the sea. Upon it touching the surface, an ancient man and woman emerged from the sea, surrounded by a great many beautiful mermaids. The old man was the sea-god Ægir, the woman his wife Ran, and the young mermaids his daughters. Ran, although ordinarily of forbidding aspect, and habitually provided with the net in which she draws the bodies of drowned men, looked mild and placid, and was without her ominous net on this occasion. now The golden chariot was rapidly nearing Volundur's tower. Overcome with emotion, he recognised in the woman with the red robe his own beloved and long-lost wife Alvilde. With tears streaming down his wan cheeks, he stood motionless with outstretched arms, dumb with the weight of his exceeding joy. The goal was reached. Descending from the chariot, Freya took the hand of Alvilde and led her to Volundur, saying: Thy days of trial are past and gone, O Volundur, son of the Finn! Of the grief and ignominy which have wrung thine heart thou art thyself the avenger, but the happiness to come thou shalt owe to Freya. Behold thine Alvilde, whom Odin grants thee for thy mortal life, upon my intercession; and when thou at last depart this life, she shall take thee in her loving arms and lift thee with her to Valaskjalf, there to ply thy cunning trade in fashioning curious drinking-horns and splendid arms for the gods and Einheriar.' Thereupon Freya beckoned forth the beauteous woman in the green garment of interwoven leaves. In the one hand she carried a root freshly torn from the earth, and in the other a keen-edged knife. Cutting some small slices from the root, she applied them to Volun dur's severed ankle-strings, and to the socket of his extinguished eye; she next took some fresh leaves from the skirt of her robe and laid them over the wounds, breathing upon them a while. Then said the glad Volundur: Assuredly I know that the gracious "Eir," mild Disa (nymph) of the healing art, has touched me with her blessed hand.' Smiled the goddess in the azure garment, and said: 'When the soul wholly cherishes a beloved object, then Eir has power to heal and Freya to crown the heart with happiness; otherwise they are, like Swanhvide and Alrune, but stern Valkyries, who do not content themselves with merely slaying on the battle-field.' Having thus spoken, she beckoned forth her maid, the blithe Siofn with the soft glance, the half-closed eyelids, and the poppywreath circling her sable tresses. She touched the eye of Volundur with her finger, and he fell presently into a deep slumber. The elves transported the unconscious sleeper across the water, and laid him down on a mossy couch in a green natural arbour in the heart of the forest. Sweetly slept Volundur, but towards dawn he dreamt a strange dream. It seemed to him that, while he was reposing happily in the arms of his dear wife Alvilde, his two brothers Slagfidur and Eigil appeared before his bed, unutterably sad, with pale cheeks and bloody hands, gazing mournfully upon him. But perceiving how happy he was, a smile dawned upon their pale lips, and he was conscious of their loving sympathy. Slagfidur, the oldest, who was standing nearest to him, bent his head over the couch, beckoning continually as if he wished to tell him something. Eigil was more remote: he had seated himself on a stone at the entrance to the arbour, and spoke unceasingly, but so 'That part of heaven where Valhal is situate. low and confusedly that Volundur could not distinguish a single word. When Volundur awoke he found himself indeed in the arms of his dear Alvilde; but, glancing upwards, he perceived a branch of a tree bending above him swaying to and fro, and seemingly motioning him as Slagfidur had done in his dream. The low confused words of Eigil still sounded in his ears; but, turning his head towards the entrance of the arbour, he discovered that what he had thought to be the speech of Eigil was the murmuring of a little brook, which found its way through the grass and bushes near the door. As he pondered over this strange dream the tears came in the eyes of Volundur, for he had loved his brothers dearly, and their untimely fate contrasted sadly with his own great happiness. Now Alvilde awoke also, and, after having lovingly embraced him, spoke to him thus: Undoubtedly, my dear husband, thou feelest thyself strengthened after this soothing sleep, and possessed of thy old vigour. Go thou therefore at once to Nidudr's castle. He still sleeps, and knows not what has happened. And in order that none may recognise thee and hinder thy entrance, but deem thee one of the King's servants, throw this cloak over thy armour and enter boldly into his presence. Then tell him that Volundur has broken his fetters and escaped from his dungeon, and demand what is to be done.' Much pleased with this advice, Volundur donned his armour, over which he flung the cloak, and made his way unhindered to the King's sleeping-room, the guard at the door believing him to be one of the King's attendants. Strode Volundur up to the bed of the King. Nidudr was still asleep, but his slumber was haunted with ghastly dreams, and he trembled visibly. Cried Volundur with a loud voice: Awake, King Nidudr!' The King opened his eyes with a start and said: 'Who dares to disturb the King's sleep?' To which Volundur replied: 'I crave thy pardon, dread lord, but a strange thing has happened which thou oughtest to know: hadst thou killed Volundur long time ago, this thing could not have occurred.' Said Nidudr: 'Speak not his name. I fear him in the midst of his misery; for ever since he sent me the curious drinking vessels a burning fever has seized upon me which racks my body with intolerable pains.' Said Volundur: 'Rare and precious indeed were the drinking vessels he gave thee, for they were made of thy sons' skulls; their carcases rot beneath the bellows in Volundur's smithy, and your daughter drifts about in her boat on the wild sea, every wave of which shall not suffice to cleanse the blot which sullies her honour.' Then, flinging aside his cloak, he lifted his brand on high and cried fiercely: 'And now behold Volundur himself, who has come hither, thou dastard, to take thy life.' But before he could execute his purpose the King had already died of fear, and was on his road to Niflheim, there to receive the punishment awaiting miscreants and cowards. Then strode forth Volundur in his shining armour, and all the people gazed with wonder and awe. But the Queen took poison when she heard what had happened, and died. As for Banvilde, in her despair she flung herself into the sea, and Ran caught in her net her beautiful corpse. Soon the nobles and the people proclaimed Volundur King over the whole land of Sweden. He reigned for a great many years, and proved himself a wise ruler as well as a mighty man of war. He lived to a hoary age and was buried in a hill in the Valley of the Wolf, where |