iof's family longer than any man could remember, and they were famous throughout the land.
Frithiof made a banquet for Helge and Halfden and Ingeborg. As he sat at the table beside Ingeborg, they spoke together of the time when they were children. Almost they forgot that Frithiof was a man a full head taller than King Helge, and that Ingeborg was no longer a little maiden.
When the feast was over and Ingeborg went, she seemed to take the sunshine with her. Then Frithiof longed so much for his old playmate, that he went to King Helge and asked to have her for his wife.
But King Helge forgot the wish of his father. He answered Frithiof in scorn, and said his sister would be given to no man but a king.
Frithiof replied not a word. But he drew his magic sword with the flaming runes upon the blade. With one blow he cleft in twain King Helge's golden shield where it hung upon a tree. Then he turned and went to his own house.
After a time King Ring, the ruler of a country across the sea, sent messengers to ask for Ingeborg. The messengers brought gifts of gold. With them came many scalds with golden harps.
But Helge and Halfden refused to send Inge-
