“And lo! cloven in twain at a stroke

Fell King Helge’s gold shield from its pillar of oak: 
At the clang of the blow,
The live started above, the dead started below.” 

                                TEGNER, Frithiof Saga (Longfellow’s tr.).

[Sidenote:  Sigurd Ring a suitor.] Just after his departure came messengers from Sigurd Ring, the aged King of Ringric, in Norway, who, having lost his wife, sent to Helge and Halfdan to ask Ingeborg’s hand in marriage.  Before answering this royal suitor, Helge consulted the Vala, or prophetess, and the priests, and as they all declared that the omens were not in favor of this marriage, he gave an insolent refusal to the messengers.  This impolitic conduct so offended the would-be suitor that he immediately collected an army and prepared to march against the Kings of Sogn to avenge the insult with his sword.  When the rumor of his approach reached the cowardly brothers they were terrified, and fearing to encounter the foe alone, they sent Hilding to Frithiof to implore his aid.

Hilding gladly undertook the mission, although he had not much hope of its success.  He found Frithiof playing chess with a friend, Bjoern, and immediately made known his errand.

               “’From Bele’s high heirs

I come with courteous words and prayers: 
Disastrous tidings rouse the brave;
On thee a nation’s hope relies.

* * * * *

In Balder’s fane, grief’s loveliest prey,
Sweet Ing’borg weeps the livelong day: 
Say, can her tears unheeded fall,
Nor call her champion to her side?’”

                                    TEGNER, Frithiof Saga (Longfellow’s tr.).

But Frithiof was so deeply offended that even this appeal in the name of his beloved could not move him.  Quietly he continued his game of chess, and, when it was ended, told Hilding that he had no answer to give.  Rightly concluding that Frithiof would lend the kings no aid, Hilding returned to Helge and Halfdan, who, forced to fight without their bravest leader, preferred to make a treaty with Sigurd Ring, promising to give him not only their sister Ingeborg, but also a yearly tribute.

[Sidenote:  At Balder’s shrine.] While they were thus engaged at Sogn Sound, Frithiof hastened to Balder’s temple, where, as Hilding had declared, he found Ingeborg a prey to grief.  Now although it was considered a sacrilege for man and woman to exchange a word in the sacred building, Frithiof could not see his beloved in tears without attempting to console her; and, forgetting all else, he spoke to her and comforted her.  He repeated how dearly he loved her, quieted all her apprehensions of the gods’ anger by assuring her that Balder, the good, must view their innocent passion with approving eyes, said that love as pure as theirs could defile no sanctuary, and plighted his troth to her before the shrine.