er death.

To the Knight Froda it seemed as though the gracious Lady Aslauga rose
in life and birth before him, so that his calm and steadfast heart,
true indeed to ladies' service, but never yet devoted to one particular
female image, burst forth in a clear flame of love for the fair daughter
of Sigurd. "What matters it," thought he to himself, "that it is more
than a hundred years since she disappeared from earth? She sees so
clearly into this heart of mine--and what more can a knight desire?
wherefore she shall henceforth be my honoured love, and shall inspire
me in battle and in song." And therewith he sang a lay on his new love,
which ran in the following manner:

"They ride over hill and dale apace
To seek for their love the fairest face--
They search through city and forest-glade
To find for their love the gentlest maid--
They climb wherever a path may lead
To seek the wisest dame for their meed.
Ride on, ye knights: but ye never may see
What the light of song has shown to me:
Loveliest, gentlest, and wisest of all,
Bold be the deeds that her name shall recall;
What though she ne'er bless my earthly sight?
Yet death shall reveal her countenance bright.
Fair world, good night! Good day, sweet love!
Who seeks here in faith shall find above."

"Such purpose may come to good," said a hollow voice near the knight;
and when he looked round, he saw the form of a poor peasant woman, so
closely wrapped in a grey mantle that he could not discern any part of
her countenance. She looked over his shoulder on the book, and said,
with a deep sigh, "I know that story well; and it fares no better with
me than with the princess of whom it tells." Froda looked at her with
astonishment. "Yes, yes," pursued she, with strange becks and nods; "I
am the descendant of the mighty Rolf, to whom the fairest castles and
forests and fields of this island once belonged; your castle and your
domains, Froda, amongst others, were his. We are now cast down to
poverty; and because I am not so fair as Aslauga there is no hope that
my possessions will be restored to me; and therefore I am fain to veil
my poor face from every eye." It seemed that she shed warm tears beneath
her mantle. At this Froda was greatly moved, and begged her, for
God's sake, to let him know how he could help her, for that he was a
descendant o