Page:Storys (sic) of The wild huntsman.pdf/3

  THE

Wild Huntsman.

Wild Huntsman of the Danes, is the celebrated king Waldemar IV. who may be called the second founder of the Danish kingdom. The legend of the Wild Huntsman is as follows:

King Waldemar loved Tovelille, a maiden from Ryygen, and was quite inconsolable at her death; so much so, that he resolved never to part with her body, but made it be carried along with him wherever he journeyed.

All his courtiers were highly dissatisfied at this fancy, and one of them became curious to know what was the secret of the king's attachment to the corpse. On examining it with great attention, he found an enchanted ring on one of its fingers, which he took off and kept. After this the passion of the king suddenly changed, and he allowed the corpse to be buried; but the royal regard was now turned upon the courtier himself, so that he rose daily higher in favor,—the king demanded his constant presence, and would do nothing without his advice. Though people thought him happy under