The Adventures of Ciad, Son of the King of Norway
CIAD, Ceud, and Mith-Ceud were the three sons of the King of Norway. All over the world they were celebrated as fine, brave fellows, and they had come to think themselves so, too.
On a day after Ciad had been walking by the shore for a long time, thinking, he came back to his father’s castle. He said to his father and his brothers: “Ceud and Mith-Ceud and Ciad are celebrated far and wide as great heroes and gallant champions, but I have just been thinking, do we deserve this? Neither of us has ever done anything great. I think it is not right to bear the name of champion without having done something to earn it. I will leave my father’s castle, and go away and prove my right to the title of hero, or, if I fail, I will never come back.”
The King of Norway tried hard to persuade him not to go, but Ciad would not be persuaded. He said: “I am sorely ashamed of myself for bearing a title that I have not deserved.”
Then, when the King found that Ciad was bent on going, he asked him to take the pick of his men to accompany him on his adventures.
Ciad said: “No, I’ll go by myself.”
The King could not induce him to take any men.
Early next morning Ciad was up and breakfasted. He took his arms and his shield with him, and started off. He went to the seashore, and traveled away and away, along it.
When he had been traveling for three hours, he saw a speck far out at sea, but it was coming nearer and getting bigger every minute. At last he saw it was a boat, and when it came still nearer, he saw that a woman sat in it. When it was nearer still, he saw that she was a very beautiful lady.
He stood his ground, as the boat was coming straight toward him. At length the boat’s keel grated on the gravel, and Ciad helped the young lady on shore. He said: “Beautiful lady, who are you? Where do you come from? Or where do you go all alone?”