In Balder’s fane, griefs loveliest prey,
Sweet Ing’borg weeps the livelong day:
Say, can her tears unheeded fall,
Nor call her champion to her side?’”
Tegnér, Frithiof Saga (Longfellow’s tr.).
While the old man was speaking Frithiof continued to play, ever and anon interjecting an enigmatical reference to the game, until at this point he said:
“Björn; thou in vain my queen pursuest,
She from childhood dearest, truest!
She’s my game’s most darling piece, and
Come what will—I’ll save my queen!”