The Fridthjof's Saga: A Norse Romance on Helge

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Ii.

• attestation: Helge is described as dark and gloomy, dwelling among diviners with hands red from sacrificial blood offered on altars.

  "First, Helge, dark and gloomy, with sullen glance; He dwelt amid diviners; the hand he proffered Was red with blood of victims, on altars offered."

• attestation: King Bele instructed Helge that gods dwell in the Disarsal and their dominion extends as far as daylight and thought reach, not confined like a snail in its shell.

  ""In Disarsal, O Helge, the high gods dwell-- Not pinioned as the snail is within his shell; As far as daylight flieth, or thought's swift pinion, Far as resound the echoes, is gods' dominion."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Iii

• attestation: Helge and Halfdan jointly ruled the kingdom left by Bele, while Fridthjof alone inherited Framness as an only son.

  "Helge and Halfdan, by will of the people, took jointly the kingdom Left by their father; but Fridthjof, an only son, heired alone Framness, Took unmolested possession, and settled himself there in quiet."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Viii.

• attestation: Fridthjof described Helge sitting on the judgment seat 'a thunder cloud' with 'a pallid headsman with a dusky look', and Halfdan next to him playing carelessly with his sword like a grown-up child.

  "Upon the judgment seat, A thunder cloud, thy brother Helge sat,-- A pallid headsman with a dusky look. And next to him, a seeming grown up child, Sat Halfdan,---thoughtless, playing with his sword."

• attestation: Helge sent Fridthjof on a mission to collect tribute from Angantyr in the Orkney Islands, framed as punishment and test, not a genuine quest for Ingeborg's hand.

  ""A peasant's son," said he, contemptuously, "Could Ing'borg gain, but who profanes the temple Ill-suited seems to holy Valhal's daughter."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Ingeborg,

• attestation: Ingeborg feared Helge would sooner give his crown, pour out his life, or offer her as a sacrifice to Odin than give her to Fridthjof.

  "He'd sooner give his crown, pour out his life, Of me an offering make to Odin old, Or to old Ring, whom now he fights against."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Fridthjof At Sea.

• attestation: King Helge stood on shore singing and praying, beseeching goblins' aid to raise a storm against Fridthjof's ship as he sailed west.

  "On shore king Helge stood, By turns he sang and prayed, And in embittered mood Besought the goblins' aid."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > The Return.

• attestation: Helge was offered a choice between giving Ingeborg to Ring as restitution for slighted honor, or forfeiting the throne; Ingeborg was ultimately given to King Ring as his bride.

  "Before the brothers the choice was placed, To give their sister to Ring, disgraced. (By her alone could his wrongs be righted), Or give their throne for his offer slighted. Then hither and thither the messengers hied, But now has Ring carried home his bride.""

• attestation: Disar-dale is named as the battlefield where Helge and Halfdan fought Ring's army, with the river running crimson from the battle.

  "In Disar-dale did we prove our valor,-- The river foamed with a crimson color."

• attestation: At Ingeborg's wedding, Helge tore Fridthjof's arm-ring from her arm with an angry hand and hung it on Balder's image in the temple.

  "When Helge saw on her arm your band, He tore it off with an angry hand; On Balder's image now hangs the jewel."

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > Balder'S Funeral Pile.

• attestation: Helge is referred to as 'asas' kinsman sainted', indicating his descent from the Asa-gods in Tegnér's poem.

  "Darkness swam before the eyes Of asas' kinsman sainted;"

Pmb 113 > StartThe Small Print!For Public Domain EtextsStart** > The Reconciliation.

• attestation: The priest told Fridthjof that Helge had fallen: while marching in the Finnish mountains, he approached an abandoned shrine of Jumala to cast it down, but the rotten image fell on him and crushed him — thus Jumala beheld him.

  ""This Helge heard, and, blinded by his furious wrath, Went up the ruined steps against the hated god,-- Intent to cast the temple down. When there arrived The gate was closed,-- the key fast rusted in the lock. Then grasping both the door-posts, hard and fierce he shook The rotten pillars. All at once, with horrid crash, Down fell the ponderous image, crushing in its fall The Valhal-son. And thus he Jumala beheld.""

• attestation: Helge's death at the Finnish mountain shrine of Jumala — a Finnish deity — represents divine retribution for his impiety and hatred.

  "There stood an ancient shrine. To Jumala 'twas built Abandoned long ago,--the door was now fast closed

The Valhal-son. And thus he Jumala beheld."