one and stepped upon the costly carpet. She
seized his hand, pressed it with tenderness to her heavenly bosom, and
touched his shield. His armor resounded, and a penetrating force
inspired his frame. His eyes flashed, and the heart beat loudly against
his breastplate. The beautiful Freya appeared more serene, and the
light that streamed from her became more brilliant.

"'The king is coming,' cried a splendid bird that was perched behind
the throne. The attendants threw an azure veil over the princess, which
concealed her heaving bosom. The hero lowered his shield, and looked
upward to the dome, whither two broad staircases wound from each side
of the hall. Soft music preceded the king, who soon appeared in the
dome, and descended with a numerous train.

"The beautiful bird unfolded its shining wings, and gently fluttering,
sang to the king as with a thousand voices:

"The stranger fair delay no longer maketh.
Warmth draweth near, Eternity begins.
From long and tedious dreams the Queen awaketh,
When land in eddying love with ocean spins.
Her farewell hence the chilly midnight taketh,
When Fable first the ancient title wins.
The world will kindle upon Freya's breast,
And every longing in its longing rest."

The King embraced his daughter with tenderness. The spirits of the
stars surrounded the throne, and the hero took his place in the order.
A numerous crowd of stars filled the hall in splendid groups. The
attendants brought a table and a little casket, containing a heap of
leaves, upon which were inscribed mystic figures of deep significance,
constructed of constellations. The king reverently kissed these leaves,
mixed them carefully together, and handed some to his daughter; the
rest he kept. The princess placed them in a row upon the table; then
the king closely examined his own, and chose with much reflection
before he added one to them. At times he seemed forced to choose this
or that leaf. But often his joy was evident, when he could complete by
a lucky leaf a beautiful harmony of signs and figures. As the play
commenced, tokens of the liveliest sympathy were visible among all the
by-standers, accompanied by peculiar looks and gestures, as if each one
had an invisible instrument in his hands which he plied diligently. At
the same time a gentle but deeply moving music was heard in the air,
seeming to arise from the st