, truly, that knight is Edwald; but what can you find
to notice in the meek-spirited, silent boy? Here, fix your eyes, my
maidens, on this majestic figure, if you would behold a knight indeed."
She was silent. A voice within her, as though of prophecy, said, "Now
the victor of the tournament rides into the courtyard;" and she, who
had never feared the presence of any human being, now felt humbled, and
almost painfully awed, when she beheld the northern knight.

At the evening meal the two newly-arrived knights were placed opposite
to the royal Hildegardis. As Froda, after the northern fashion, remained
in full armour, the golden image of Aslauga gleamed from his silver
breast-plate full before the eyes of the haughty lady. She smiled
scornfully, as if conscious that it depended on her will to drive that
image from the breast and from the heart of the stranger-knight.
Then suddenly a clear golden light passed through the hall, so that
Hildegardis said, "O, the keen lightning!" and covered her eyes with
both her hands. But Froda looked into the dazzling radiance with a
joyful gaze of welcome. At this Hildegardis feared him yet more, though
at the same time she thought, "This loftiest and most mysterious of men
must be born for me alone." Yet could she not forbear, almost against
her will, to look from time to time in friendly tenderness on the poor
Edwald, who sat there silent, and with a sweet smile seemed to pity and
to mock his own suffering and his own vain hopes.

When the two knights were alone in their sleeping-chamber Edwald looked
for a long time in silence into the dewy, balmy night. Then he sang to
his lute:

"A hero wise and brave,
A lowly, tender youth,
Are wandering through the land
In steadfast love and truth.

"The hero, by his deeds,
Both bliss and fame had won,
And still, with heartfelt joy,
The faithful child looked on."

But Froda took the lute from his hands, and said, "No, Edchen, I will
teach you another song; listen--!

"'There's a gleam in the hall, and like morning's light
Hath shone upon all her presence bright.
Suitors watch as she passes by--
She may gladden their hearts by one glance of her eye:
But coldly she gazeth upon the throng,
And they that have sought her may seek her long.
She turns her away from the richly clad knight,
She heeds