The Legend of the King’s Three Sons

In olden days there once lived a king and a queen; they were wise and

good, and their kingdom was known far and near as the happiest and

best-governed country in the world. They had three sons—Osric, Edric,

and Frithiof,—all handsome and brave and greatly beloved by their

parents; but, having no daughter, the king had adopted his little

orphan niece Isolde. She grew up with his sons, and was their

best-loved playfellow, both the king and queen making no distinction

between her and their own children.

As the princess grew older, she also grew fairer, till when she was

sixteen years old there was no maiden in the land so beautiful and

sweet as Isolde. All three brothers fell in love with her and wanted to

marry her, each in turn asking his father for her hand in marriage.

Now the king was greatly puzzled what to do, for he loved his sons all

equally well, so at length he decided that the princess should choose

for herself, and select the one she liked best. He therefore sent for

her, and told her that she was herself to choose as a husband whichever

of his sons she liked best.

“It is my duty as well as my pleasure to obey you, dear father,” said

Isolde; “but when you tell me to choose one of the princes as my

husband, you give me a very difficult task, for they are all equally

dear to me.”

When the king heard these words, he saw that his troubles were by no

means at an end, so he thought for a long time how he could best find a

way that would satisfy all parties, and at last decided to send all

three sons away for a year. At the end of that time they were to

return, and whoever had succeeded in bringing back the most precious

and valuable thing from his travels should receive the hand of Isolde

as his reward.

The three princes were quite willing to accept these terms, and

arranged among themselves that at the end of the year they would all

meet at their hunting-lodge and thence go together to the king’s palace

with their gifts; so, bidding farewell to their parents and Isolde,

they started off on their different journeys.

Osric, the eldest son, travelled from city to city, and explored

various foreign countries, without finding anything precious enough to

take home. At last, when he had almost given up all hope, he heard

that, not very far from where he then was, there lived a princess who

possessed a wonderful telescope, which was so powerful that one could

see all over the world with it. No country was too distant, and not

only could one see every town, but also every house and tree, and even

people and animals inside the houses.

“Surely,” thought Osric, “no one could find a more precious or valuable

thing than this glass, for nothing is hidden from it.” So, having

arrived at the castle where the princess dwelt, he told her the object

of his journey, and asked whether she would sell him her telescope.

At first the princess said she would not part with it, but when Osric

told her how much depended on his taking back so valuable a gift, she

consented to let him have it for a very large sum of money.

The prince did not mind this; he only thought the gold well spent, and

hastened homewards, full of hope that he would secure the hand of

Isolde.

Prince Edric fared much the same as his elder brother. He also

travelled about in distant countries, seeking in vain for something

rare and precious to bring home. At last, when the year was nearly at

an end, he reached a large and populous town, and in the inn where he

lodged he met a man who told him that in a cave outside the town there

lived a curious little dwarf called Völund, [1] who was famed for his

rare skill in all kinds of metal-work.

“Perhaps,” thought the prince, “he might be able to make me some rare

and costly article worthy to take back.” So he went to the dwarf, but

when he told him what he wanted, the dwarf said he was very sorry, but

he had quite given up working in metals.

“The last thing I made was a shield,” he continued, “but that is many

years ago now. I made it for myself, and am unwilling to part with it,

for not only is it almost the finest bit of work I ever did, but it has

also some very special properties.”

“And what are these special properties?” asked the prince.

“Well,” replied the dwarf, “it is not only a perfect safeguard in

battle, as no ordinary sword or arrow can pierce it, but if you sit on

it, it will carry you all over the world, through the air as well as

across the water. But there are some old runes, or ancient letters,

carved on the shield, which he who guides it must be able to read. But

I will show it you.”

So saying, he went to the back of the cave and brought forth a

beautiful shield, worked in gold, silver, and copper, the runic letters

being all formed of precious stones.

When Edric saw the shield and heard of its wonderful properties, he

thought it would not be possible to find anything more rare or

valuable. He therefore told the dwarf how much depended on his bringing

back so precious a gift, and entreated him to let him purchase it; and

he was so importunate and urged him so strongly that, although loth to

part with it, when the dwarf heard how much depended on his securing so

rare a gift, he agreed to sell it him for a large sum of money. He also

taught him how to read the runes, and Edric, thanking him for

consenting to part with his shield, started on his homeward journey,

filled with hope and confidence that he must win the princess’s hand.

Frithiof, the youngest son, was the last to start. He determined to

travel through his own country first, so he wandered about from place

to place, stopping in this town and that village, and wherever he met a

merchant, or hoped to find anything rare or beautiful, he made most

searching inquiries. All his efforts, however, proved fruitless. The

greater part of the year had already passed, and he was still as far as

ever from his goal, and he almost began to fear that no success would

crown his efforts.

At length he arrived at a large and populous town, where a big market

was being held, and numbers of people from all parts of the world came

thronging in, some to buy and some to sell. So he followed the crowd,

and then went on from stall to stall, and from one merchant to another,

inspecting their wares and chatting and asking for news. But though

there were many beautiful and many curious things, nothing specially

struck his fancy.

At length, tired and thirsty, he sat down beside a large fruit stall.

The merchant, seeing, as he thought, a likely customer, came forward

asking if he would not buy something—offering him grapes, peaches,

pineapples, and melons in turn.

But Frithiof shook his head; none of these tempted him, for on the very

top shelf he saw a magnificent crimson apple, streaked with green and

gold, lying on a bed of soft moss.

“I should like that apple,” said the prince, “and do not mind what I

pay for it. It is the only thing that I fancy, though all your fruit is

splendid.”

The merchant smiled, but shook his head.

“You have a quick eye,” he said to the prince, “for that apple is

indeed the rarest and most valuable thing I have. But it is not for

sale. It was given to one of my ancestors, who was a great doctor, by a

geni, and has the peculiar power, that if it is placed in the right

hand of any one who is sick, no matter how dangerous the illness, they

recover at once—ay, even if they are at the point of death—and many a

life it has saved.”

When the prince heard this, he wished more than ever to possess the

apple. He felt he could not possibly find anything that the princess,

who was so kind-hearted, would value more than the possession of this

apple, which would enable her to do good to others. He therefore

entreated the merchant to let him buy the apple, and when the man had

heard his tale, and all that depended upon his bringing back such a

rare and precious gift, he sold the apple to the prince, who, filled

with hope, now wended his way homewards.

And so it happened that, as they had arranged, the three brothers

arrived at the hunting-lodge, outside the capital, and after they had

related their adventures, Osric, the eldest, said, “Now let us hasten

to the palace, but before starting I should like to see what the

princess is doing.”

He thereupon drew forth his telescope and looked in the direction of

the palace, but no sooner had he done so, than an exclamation of terror

escaped his lips, for there on her couch lay the princess, white and

still as the driven snow, while beside her stood the king and queen and

the chief of the courtiers in a sorrowful group, sadly awaiting the

last breath of the fair Isolde.

When Osric beheld this grievous sight he was overwhelmed with grief,

and when his brothers heard what he had seen, they too were overcome

with sorrow. Gladly would each have given all they possessed to be back

in time, at least to bid her farewell.

Then Prince Edric remembered his magic shield, which would at once

carry them to the king’s palace, and, bringing it forth, the three

brothers seated themselves on it, and the shield rose up in the air and

in a few seconds they had reached the palace, and hastened up to the

princess’s chamber, where they found all the court assembled, sadly

awaiting the end.

Then Frithiof remembered his apple. Now was the time to test its power.

Stepping softly up to the couch, he bent over the still white form of

the princess and gently placed the apple in her right hand. Immediately

a change was visible, it seemed as if a fresh stream of life passed

through her body. The colour returned to her lips and cheeks, she

opened her eyes, and after a few minutes she was able to sit up and

speak.

The general rejoicing at the princess’s wonderful and unexpected

recovery, and at the happy and opportune return of the three princes,

can be better imagined than described.

But as soon as she was quite well, the king, mindful of his promise,

called together a great “Thing,” or national assembly, at which the

brothers were to exhibit the treasures they had brought back, when

judgment would be pronounced.

First came the eldest brother Osric, with his telescope. This was

handed round for the people to see, while he explained its strange and

marvellous properties, stating how by means of this glass he had saved

the princess, for he had been able to see how ill she was. He therefore

considered that he had earned the right to claim the princess’s hand.

Then Edric, the second brother, stepped forth and showed the beautiful

shield he had got from the dwarf, and explained its peculiar power. “Of

what use would have been my brother’s glass,” he asked, “without this

shield, which carried us hither in time to save her life? I claim,

therefore, that it was really due to the power of my shield that the

princess is not dead, and that I ought therefore to possess her hand in

marriage.”

And now it was Frithiof’s turn to come forward with the apple. He said,

“I fear that neither the telescope which first showed us that the

princess was ill, nor the shield which so quickly brought us hither,

would have sufficed to restore the Princess Isolde to life and health,

had it not been for the magic power of my apple. For what good could

our mere presence have done her? Our seeing her thus and unable to help

her, would only have added to our grief and pain. It is due to my apple

that the princess has been restored to us, and I therefore think my

claim to her hand is the greatest.”

Then there arose much questioning and reasoning in the “Thing” as to

which of the three articles were of the greatest value, but as they

could come to no satisfactory agreement, the judges declared that all

three articles were of equal value, for they had all equally

contributed to restore the princess to life and health, for if one had

been missing, the other two would have been valueless. So judgment was

pronounced that, all three gifts being equally valuable, neither of the

brothers could claim the princess’s hand.

Then the king happily hit upon the idea of allowing his sons to shoot

for the prize, and whoever was adjudged the best shot should wed the

princess.

So a target was set up, and Osric, armed with bow and arrow, stepped

forth first.

Taking careful aim, he drew his bow, and the arrow sped forth, but it

fell some distance short of the mark.

Then Edric stepped forth. He too took careful aim, and his arrow fell

nearer the mark.

And now it was Frithiof’s turn. He too took a very careful aim, and all

the people said his arrow went beyond the mark, and that he was the

best shot, but when they came to look for it, behold, it could nowhere

be found. In vain search was made in all directions, no sign of the

arrow could be found. The king therefore decided that Edric had won the

princess’s hand. The wedding forthwith took place amid great splendour

and rejoicing, and the princess and her husband then went to her own

country, where they reigned long and happily. The eldest brother,

Osric, greatly vexed that he had not been successful, started off on a

long journey, and nothing more was heard of him. So only the youngest

brother was left at home. But he was not at all satisfied with the way

matters had turned out, for he had always been considered by far the

best shot. He therefore searched every day in the field where the trial

had taken place, looking for his arrow. At length, after many days, he

found it lodged in an oak tree, far beyond the mark. He brought

witnesses to attest the truth of this, and though there could be no

question that his arrow had gone the furthest, the king said it was now

too late to go into the matter, for the princess was married and gone

away.

Then Frithiof grew very restless. He thought he had been unfairly

treated, and at length decided to go away, so he packed up his

belongings, and, bidding his parents farewell, started off in search of

adventures.

After passing along the wide plains that surrounded the capital, he

climbed a high range of mountains, and from thence descended into a

great forest. Here he wandered about for several days, but whichever

way he turned, he could see nothing but trees all around him. The small

store of food he had taken with him when he started was exhausted, and

tired, hungry, and footsore, he sat down to rest on a large flat grey

stone, unable to proceed any further. He thought the end of his days

had surely come, when suddenly he heard the noise of horses’ feet, and

looking up he saw ten men mounted on horseback coming rapidly towards

him. They were all richly dressed and well armed, the last one leading

a finely caparisoned palfrey.

When they came to the prince, the leader dismounted, and, bowing low

before him, begged him to honour them by mounting the steed they had

brought with them.

Frithiof gratefully accepted this offer, and, mounting the horse, the

party turned back the way they had come, riding rapidly on till they

arrived at a large town. Before entering the gates they dismounted, the

prince alone remaining on horseback, and then led the prince in state

to the palace.

Now, it happened that a most beautiful young queen reigned over this

province. She had been left an orphan at an early age, her father

entrusting his chief ministers with the care and responsibility of

looking after her and finding her a worthy husband. Queen Hildegard

received the prince with much friendliness. She told him that her fairy

godmother had bestowed on her the gift of seeing, whenever she wished,

what happened in other countries.

“A wandering minstrel came here and told us of the wonderful journeys

you and your brothers had made, and also of your sorrow at your failure

in the shooting competition for the Princess Isolde’s hand, though you

were the best shot of the three. Then a great wish seized me to try and

make you happy, so I followed your wanderings after you left your

father’s palace, and when I saw you, sad and tired, resting on the

great stone in my forest, I sent forth some of my knights to meet you

and bring you back, and now, with the consent of my ministers, I invite

you to remain here as my husband. You shall rule over my kingdom, and I

will try, as far as lies in my power, to make you forget all the

trouble and anxiety you have gone through.”

Frithiof was charmed with the beauty and kindness of the maiden, and

gladly consented to share her throne, and very happy days followed for

both of them. The wedding was on the most magnificent scale, and after

they were married, Frithiof, according to the custom of the country,

took the reins of government in his hands, amid the general rejoicing

of the people.

And now we must return to the old king. Soon after his youngest son had

gone away the queen died, and the king, well advanced in years, felt

very lonely and dull. One day, while seated beside the great open

hearth, in the big audience hall, a pedlar woman entered and displayed

her wares before him. She told him her name was Brunhilde—she had

evidently travelled much—and amused the king with tales of where she

had been and what she had seen.

When she was going away, the king told her she might come again, which

she did, day after day, till the king got so interested in her talk,

that he never was happy unless Brunhilde was with him, and at length he

asked her to marry him and be his queen.

In vain the chief ministers and courtiers dissuaded him from taking

this step. The king was determined, and the wedding took place.

No sooner had Brunhilde gained her object, than she showed that she

meant to be a real queen, not merely one in name. She always sat beside

the king in council, and interfered in all State matters. He would do

nothing without consulting her, and no matter how wrong or unfair it

might be, he always did whatever she wished.

One day she said to him, “It seems very strange to me, that you have

never made any attempt to recall your son, who went away. Why, only the

other day we heard that he had become king of a neighbouring country.

You may depend upon it that, as soon as he has got a sufficiently large

army, he will come back and attack you here, in order to revenge

himself for the fancied wrong he imagines was done him, in the trial of

skill for the princess’s hand. Now, take my advice, call out your army,

attack him first, and so ward off the danger that threatens your

country.”

At first the king would not listen to what the queen said; and declared

she was only frightening herself for nothing. But Brunhilde brought

forward fresh arguments each day, till at length the king thought she

must be right, and asked her what he had better do, so that the prince

should not suspect anything.

“You must first send messengers to him with presents,” said the queen,

“and invite him to come and see you, so that you may arrange with him

about his succession to the throne after your death, and also to

strengthen the friendship and neighbourly relations between your two

countries. After that we will consult further.”

The king thought her advice very good, and at once sent messengers

laden with presents to his son.

When they arrived at Prince Frithiof’s court, they told the young king

how anxious his father was to see him, and hoped he would make no long

tarrying in coming to visit him.

Frithiof, greatly pleased with the handsome gifts his father had sent

him, at once agreed to go, and hastened to make all preparations for

his journey. But when Queen Hildegard heard of it she became very

anxious, and entreated her husband not to leave her.

“I feel that some danger threatens you, and that you may even lose your

life,” she said.

But Frithiof laughed at her fears. “Surely you do not think my father

would entreat me to come to him if he meant to deal wrongly with me?

No, no, dear wife; set your heart at rest, and have no fears. I will

make but a short stay;” and so saying he bade her a fond farewell and

started off with the messengers, arriving after a short journey at his

father’s court.

But instead of the warm greeting promised him, to his surprise the king

received him but coldly, and began to reproach him for being so

undutiful as to go away.

“It was most unfilial behaviour,” broke in the queen, “and caused such

grief to your father that he was nearly at death’s door; and had

anything happened to him, your life would have been forfeited,

according to the laws of the land. As, however, you have given yourself

up willingly, and have come here when he sent for you, he will not

condemn you to death, but he gives you three tasks to perform, which

you must accomplish within the year.”

It was in vain that Frithiof declared he never meant to vex his father.

The queen would not let the old king speak, and said the only way

Frithiof could save his life was to carry out the tasks his father had

set him, which were as follows:—

“First, you must bring back a tent large enough to seat a hundred

knights, and yet so fine and thin that you can cover it with one hand;

secondly, you must bring me some of the famous water which cures all

sicknesses; and, thirdly, you must show me a man who is utterly unlike

any other man in the whole world.”

“And in what direction must I go to find these rarities?” asked

Frithiof.

“Nay, that is your affair,” said the king; when Brunhilde, taking his

arm, led him away into his own chamber; and Frithiof, without other

farewell, sorrowfully returned to his own kingdom.

On his arrival, Queen Hildegard hastened down to meet him, and seeing

him looking sad and silent, asked him anxiously how he had fared at his

father’s court.

At first Frithiof, not liking to frighten her, tried to put her off,

and made light of the scant courtesy shown him; but Hildegard, kneeling

down beside him, and taking his hand in hers, entreated him to conceal

nothing from her.

“I know you have had some difficult tasks given you, which will not be

easy to perform. But do not lose heart, dear husband. Tell me all, and

then we will see if some way cannot be found to carry them out. A thing

bravely faced is half accomplished, and it is not at all impossible

that with my kind godmother’s help I may be able to aid you. Tell me,

therefore, what makes you so anxious.”

Then Frithiof, taking heart, told Hildegard of the difficult tasks that

the queen had given him to do. “And if I fail to accomplish them within

the year I must forfeit my life,” he concluded.

“This is surely your stepmother’s doing,” said Hildegard. “She is a

jealous and, I fear also, a wicked woman. Let us hope she is not

planning any further mischief against you. She evidently thought these

tasks she gave you would be more than you could accomplish; but,

fortunately, I can help you in some of them. The tent your father wants

I happen to have; it was given me by my godmother, so that difficulty

is disposed of. Then the magic water which you are to bring is not far

from here. Nevertheless, it is not easy to get, for it is in a deep

well, inside a dark cave, which is guarded by seven lions and three

huge snakes. Several persons have tried to get in and fetch some of the

water, but no one has ever yet come back alive. I might give you some

poison to kill these monsters, but, unfortunately, the water loses all

its healing power if it is taken after the animals are dead. But I

think I may nevertheless be able to help you to get it.”

Queen Hildegard then sent for her cowherd, and he and his two

assistants drove seven oxen and three great boars to the mouth of the

cave. Here the animals were killed, and the carcases thrown down before

the lions and snakes. Then, while the monsters were gorging themselves

with the carcases of the dead animals, the queen told Frithiof to lower

her quickly down the well. She had provided herself with a large

crystal jar; this she immediately filled with the water, and when

Frithiof drew her up again, so exactly had she timed it, that they both

reached the mouth of the cave just as the lions and snakes were

finishing the last morsels of their meal. Thus the second task was

safely accomplished, and Frithiof and Hildegard hastened back to the

palace.

“The two first tasks are happily ended,” said Hildegard; “but the third

and most difficult one still remains to be done, and this you must

carry out by yourself. All I can do is to tell you how best to set to

work about it. You must know that I have a half-brother, called Randur.

He lives on an island not very far from here. He is nine feet high, has

one big eye in the middle of his forehead, and a black beard thirty

yards long, and as hard and stiff as pigs’ bristles. He also has a

dog’s snout instead of a mouth and nose, and a pair of green cat’s

eyes. In truth, it would be impossible to find another creature like

him. When he wants to go from one place to another, he swings himself

along by means of a great pole fifty yards long, and in this way he

almost seems to fly through the air like a bird. The island on which he

lives forms about one-third of my father’s kingdom, and my brother

thought he ought to have had a larger share. Then, also, my father had

a wonderful ring which my brother wished to keep, but this also fell to

my share, and since then my brother has shut himself up in his island.

Now, however, I will write to him, enclosing the ring he always

coveted. Perhaps that may dispose him to be more friendly to us, and we

may get him to go to the king’s court; for I know no one else who could

so well fulfil the third task given you. Now, therefore, you must go to

him, accompanied by a large following of knights and squires, for that

will please him. When you come near his castle, take off your crown,

and approach his throne bareheaded. He will then stretch forth his

hand, and you must bend your knee and kiss it, and then hand him my

letter and the ring. If after reading it he tells you to rise and seat

yourself beside him, we may hope that he will aid us. And now, good

luck attend you!”

Frithiof followed the queen’s instructions exactly. When he arrived at

the three-eyed king’s palace, both he and his attendants were greatly

startled at the frightful ugliness of the three-eyed monarch; but

quickly recovering himself, Frithiof handed him Hildegard’s letter and

the ring. When the giant saw the ring he seemed greatly pleased, and

said—

“I suppose my sister wants my help in some important matter, that she

sends me so valuable a present?”

He then bade Frithiof sit down beside him, and, having read his

sister’s letter, he said he was quite ready to help and carry out her

wishes.

He then stretched out his hand, grasped the long pole that always

rested near him, and in an instant he had swung himself out of sight.

The king feared at first that Randur had gone away altogether and left

them, but a loud shout told them he had only gone in advance. And thus

they went on, the giant waiting for them every now and then, and when

they reached him scolding them well for being so slow and dilatory; in

this way they at last arrived at the queen’s palace, and Randur at once

asked Hildegard what it was she wanted him to do.

The queen then told him what Frithiof’s father had required of her

husband, and begged her brother to accompany Frithiof back to his

father’s court. Randur, greatly pleased at having at last got the ring

he so much coveted, declared himself quite ready to do as she desired.

So they started off at once for the old king’s palace, which they

reached without any further adventures.

Frithiof announced his arrival to his father; but though he informed

him that he had obtained the three things required of him a year ago,

he carefully kept Randur in safe hiding till his presence should be

required, and asked that a “Thing” might be called together, in order

that he might show the people how he had succeeded in carrying out the

tasks assigned him.

So the old king issued a proclamation all through the land, and on the

appointed day so great was the interest and curiosity of every one,

from the king and his courtiers down to the very poorest labourer and

herdboy, that there was hardly standing-room in all the great “Thing”

valley.

Queen Brunhilde was furious at the thought that Frithiof should have

been successful, but she still hoped that, when the things were brought

to light, it would be found that he had failed in something.

The tent was produced first. When it was fairly set up, it was so large

and roomy that a hundred knights and squires easily found room inside,

yet it was so finely wrought, that when closed any one could cover it

with their hand. So all the people declared Prince Frithiof had fully

acquitted himself of his first task.

Then the prince brought forth the crystal jar with the healing water,

and handed it to his father. Queen Brunhilde, who was getting quite

yellow with anger, insisted upon tasting it to see whether it was the

right water and taken at the right time, so as not to lose its healing

qualities. But as she was quite well, no sooner had she tasted the

healing water, than she felt very ill, and had to take a second taste

ere she was well again. So the second task was pronounced to have also

been successfully accomplished.

“Now,” said the king, “there only remains the third and last task, and

that was the most difficult one. See that you have not failed in that”

Then Frithiof sent for the three-eyed giant, whom he had kept in safe

hiding till now.

When Randur appeared before the “Thing,” springing into their midst by

means of his long pole, everyone, but especially the old king, started

back in fear; they could not imagine how he had got there, and thought

he must have flown down from the skies. Never before had they seen so

hideous a creature. But, not taking any notice of the crowd, Randur

walked up to the queen, and placing the point of his long pole against

her chest, he raised her up in the air, and then hurled her to the

ground, when she fell down dead, and was immediately transformed into

the hideous old giantess she really was. Having accomplished this,

Randur made his way out of the “Thing,” and returned to his island.

Frithiof devoted all his efforts to restore and nurse the old king,

who, through anxiety and fright, had nearly been at death’s door. But a

few drops of the healing water sprinkled over him quickly restored him,

and being freed by the queen’s death from all her wicked enchantments,

he speedily recovered his former good sense, and found that all the

faults he had thought his son guilty of, were only the inventions of

wicked Queen Brunhilde.

He therefore called Frithiof to his bedside, and begged him to forgive

him all the injury he had tried to do him.

“I am only anxious now to make up to you, my dear son, for all you have

suffered, and beg you never to leave me again. I will gladly hand over

the kingdom to you, and live beside you in peace and quiet for the rest

of my days.”

So Frithiof was reconciled to his father, and at once sent messengers

to Hildegard, telling her what had happened, and begging her to hasten

to him. Queen Hildegard, when she received her husband’s message,

decided to give up her small kingdom to her brother, as a reward for

all he had done for them; and then, accompanied by some of her

husband’s ablest courtiers and friends, she rejoined Frithiof, and the

old king, happy at having his son again, lived to a good old age,

surrounded by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

[1] The Norse Vulcan.