“Forgive me, Duke Edwald,” answered Froda, somewhat abashed, but with cheerfulness, “I have spoken too boldly. Not till I am completely cured do I call you to the field.”
Then Edwald took up the gauntlet joyfully. He knelt once more before Hildegardis, who, turning away her face, gave him her fair hand to kiss, and walked, with his arm in that of his noble Danish friend, out of the hall.
CHAPTER VII.
While Froda’s wounds were healing Edwald would sometimes wander, when the shades of evening fell dark and silent around, on the flowery terraces beneath the windows of Hildegardis, and sing pleasant little songs; amongst others the following:—
“Heal fast, heal fast, ye hero-wounds;
O knight, be quickly strong;
Beloved strife
For fame and life,
O tarry not too long!”
But that one which the maidens of the castle loved best to learn from him was this, and it was perhaps the longest song that Edwald had ever sung in his whole life:—
“Would I on earth were lying,
By noble hero slain;
So that love’s gentle sighing
Breathed me to life again!
“Would I an emperor were,
Of wealth and power!
Would I were gathering twigs
In woodland bower!
“Would that in lone seclusion
I lived a hermit’s life!
Would, amid wild confusion,
I led the battle-strife!
“O would the lot were mine,
In bower or field,
To which my lady fair
Her smile would yield!”
At this time it happened that a man who held himself to be very wise, and who filled the office of secretary to the aged guardian of Hildegardis, came to the two knightly friends to propose a scheme to them. His proposal, in few words, was this, that as Froda could gain no advantage from his victory, he might in the approaching combat suffer himself to be thrown from his steed, and thus secure the lady for his comrade, at the same time fulfilling the wish of the Emperor, which might turn to his advantage hereafter in many ways.
At this the two friends at first laughed heartily; but then Froda advanced gravely towards the secretary, and said, “Thou trifler, doubtless the old duke would drive thee from his service did he know of thy folly, and teach thee to talk of the Emperor. Good-night, worthy sir, and trust me that when Edwald and I meet each other, it will be with all our heart and strength.”