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CHAPTER XI.

THE FOREST LEGEND.

In the midst of that vast tract of mountainous country called the Dovre fjeld, the adventurer may discover an extensive valley, in which, some years ago, dwelt a rich proprietor, the lord of a considerable, though rather barren, domain. His herds fed on the sides of many hills, his flocks supplied the neighbourhood with clothing, his harvest was laid up in several garners, and his storehouse was always filled with dried meat

*

* The storehouse is usually situated at a short distance from the place of abode.

and other kinds of provision. Above all, whenever he rode on horseback, which was only on solemn occasions, as to a wedding, or a distant funeral, he sat in an English saddle. But for nothing was he so much envied as the possession of a daughter-his only child. This beautiful creature was not only the delight of her father, but, if tradition speaks truly, the admiration of all Norway. Several songs are said to have been composed in honour of her charms, by no despicable poets, but to the unutterable regret of posterity, no portion of them has descended to our times, save one solitary fragment, found at the bottom of an earthen jar, which had lain for an unknown period amidst the rubbish of a lumber room. The following is a literal trans✩ lation of this remarkable relic:

The rose rests against the side of the house,
Which has pride in her confiding presence,
And is adorned with her beautiful blossoms,

And in return defends her from the storms.

Who is our rose but Lelah, the pride of the earth?

Beneath her father's shadow she dwells; she rests

upon him;

He covers her with the shield of his might.

Beautiful Lelah! for thee-for thee we sigh.

The snow on the broad bough of the tall pine
Is not so fair as Lelah, when she reclines
Upon the strength of her sire-happy Lelah!
Happy, happy sire!

The subject of these verses, Lelah Wolfinger, was indeed, if there be any truth in tradition, well worthy of the homage she received. Not only is she said to have been the most beautiful being the world has ever known, but in the sweetness of her temper, the kindness of her heart, and the extent of her generosity, she is also declared to have been unequalled. Being a rich heiress, as well as a lovely maiden, it may readily be supposed that she was not a little tormented by suitors. Indeed Penelope had not so many. The fame of her beauty attracted admirers from every corner of Norway; some determined to put themselves to death in her

presence, unless she would bid them live with a smile; and some offered to lay possessions at her feet that, one would think, would have tempted a nun: but she treated them all alike, and refused to abandon her own dear home, and the arms of her still dearer father.

Herr Wolfinger, on his part, was almost distracted by the crowd of assailants, who never ceased besieging him with entreaties for assistance and interference, and who courted his friendship with as much assiduity as they frequented his hospitable board; but he always put them aside with the declaration that his daughter was her own mistress, and that he had nothing to do with the matter. Nevertheless, as Lelah was now of marriageable years, he wished her to select a mate, and therefore cordially invited the suitors to remain as long as they pleased in his house. Liberal as the good old man appeared to be in his conduct, he had yet settled two things very decidedly in his mind: first, that all his endeavours should be directed

to make the choice of his daughter fall upon Jan Funensen, a young man whose large estates adjoined his own, but who had the misfortune to possess a stunted figure, and an ill-favoured countenance, with a mind as distorted, morose, and unprepossessing as his person.

And

secondly, he had resolved that no arguments whatever should induce him to sanction the pretensions of his kinsman, young Harold Wengern, a lad of great spirit, apprehension, and address. Harold's father had been a traveller; that is to say, he had journeyed to Christiania, where he fell in with designing companions, and incurred expenses which compelled him to part with almost the whole of his

estate.

On his death, his son found himself possessed of a very scanty subsistence; but being naturally of a sanguine temper, and having tolerable confidence in his own powers, he was very little disconcerted by the prospect of poverty, and contrived to support himself, his housekeeper,

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