Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 095.djvu/263

256 policy—too pusillanimous to be a decided conspirator, too discontented to be a faithful adherent of the monarchy. There is a Duke Waldemar introduced, a cousin of the king, who plays, or endeavours to play, a somewhat similar game to that attempted by the Duke of Augustenburg lately—with only this difference, that Duke Waldemar almost openly aspired to the throne. There is a young girl, a beautiful and interesting somnambulist, who holds rather a prominent station in the romance. The king, having seen her, has taken a fancy to her, and he is aided in his pursuit of this Aasè, who resides with her grandfather, by his infamous favourite, Ranè. It appears in the course of the narrative that Ranè, who was the king's professed friend, but secret enemy, having found out the retreat of the young girl and her aged relative, made use of this knowledge to lure the king into the toils prepared for him.

King Erik Glipping is on a visit at one of the castles of his noble adherent, Drost Peder; during his stay there, some daring outlaws and pirates are captured in the vicinity of the castle, and the king, always delighting in condemnations and executions, insists on passing sentence on these men without any legal trial. Among them is a young knight, the brother of one of his most stanch supporters, whom the king's own insults and severity had rendered desperate; but this claim to his clemency does not soften the feelings of the bloodthirsty monarch. In his interview with the outlaws, King Erik shows at once his ferocity and his timidity. Soon after the prisoners are secured the king declares to his host, Drost Peder, that before the evening closed in their execution should take place; adding,

The Drost petitions for some delay; he demurs at thus hurrying the poor wretches into eternity, and begs hard that they may at least be allowed to see a priest.

"There is no time for that," said the king. "I will not sleep under the same roof with robbers and murderers; if I am to be your guest, Drost Hessel, your other guests, who were uninvited, must sleep upon the wheel to-night."

"If it please you to command it, my liege," replied the Drost, "they can be sent forthwith to the dungeon-keep at Viborg, and then it will not be necessary for your grace either to sleep under the same roof with them, or to hasten this bloody tragedy. There are men among them who are not horn to end their lives in so hurried and fearful a manner."

"No one is born to such a fate," said the king, losing himself for a moment in thought. "If any one had his destiny sung to him in his cradle, it might benefit him in after-life. We ourselves do not know what may be in store for us. Is there any person of rank among them?"

"There is at feast one among them who did not always herd with the outcasts of mankind, and who, even now, has some remains of honour and feeling. His high birth and former situation arc now, indeed, the strongest witnesses against him. You yourself, my king, bestowed knighthood upon him."

"That shall not avail him—he must die. Who is he?"

"Sir Lavè Rimaardson, her gracious majesty's kinsman, and brother to the loyal Bent Rimaardson.