The Fridthjof's Saga: A Norse Romance on Hilding

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• relationship: Hilding is the foster-father and teacher of both Fridthjof and Ingeborg.

  "Hilding. Foster-father and teacher of Fridthjof and Ingeborg."

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• attestation: Hilding warned Fridthjof that Ingeborg's noble blood—descended from high ancestral lineage—made her an unsuitable match for the son of a commoner.

  "But Hilding said: "My foster-son, Your reason is by love outrun; The norns are partial in bestowing The blood that in her veins is flowing.

To Odin high, where bright stars shine, Ascendeth her ancestral line; No hope may son of Thorstein nourish, For like with like alone can flourish.""

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• attestation: Hilding reported that Ring attacked with five shields to their one, the battle was fought in Disar-dale where the river ran crimson, and ultimately Helge yielded and fled.

  ""The word I hear," Hilding said in sadness, "I fear will bring you but little gladness. You scarce had sailed when king Ring came on, Five shields I counted against our one. In Disar-dale did we prove our valor,-- The river foamed with a crimson color."

• attestation: Hilding rebuked Fridthjof's misogyny, saying he wronged the maid with senseless rage, for the wrathful norns hurled down adverse fortune none could escape — Ingeborg was not to blame.

  ""The blood that's youthful no boundaries heedeth," Old Hilding said, "how much it needeth The cooling touch of the snows of age. You wrong the maid with your senseless rage. My foster-daughter beware of blaming For adverse fortune which, heaven ordaining, The wrathful norns upon men below Hurl down, for none can escape the blow."

• attestation: Hilding told Fridthjof that Ingeborg bore her grief in silence like a widowed dove, never showing weakness, confiding her anguish only to Hilding, saying she was but an offering for Bele's kingdom.

  "Like silent Vidar, no outward token The maiden gave that her heart was broken. Her grief was mute as in southern grove The voiceless woe of the widowed dove. To me alone who her childhood guided Was all the pain she endured confided.

She often said: 'I am but an offering For Bele's kingdom; who talks of suffering!"