料

The Story of Amleth, tranflated from the Danish Hiftory of Saxo-Gram

maticus.

I

N the Reign of Roderic, Horwendil and Fengo, Sons of Gerwendil, had the Garrifon of Jutland committed to them by the King. Horwendil was the braveft Pirate on the Sea, and for the Fame of his Exploits envied by Coller, King of Norway, who failed in pursuit of his Rival; they met, they fought, and the King was flain.

The Encounter of thefe Heroes, with the extraordinary Manner of their Meeting each other alone in the Receffes of a Wood, with other Circumstances as improbable as any in Romance, are related in the true Stile of fuch Writings, by Saxo-Grammaticus, in the third Book of his Danish History.

LVOL. II.

M

After

After the Death of Coller, and his Sifter Selam, Horwendil, having for three Years given the greatest Proofs of Valour, deftines his rich Spoils and choice Prey for Roderic, that he might rife in his Friendship. Grown familiar, he obtains his Daughter, Geruth, in Marriage, and by her had a Son, Amleth.

Fengo, fired with Envy at his Brother's Happiness, is refolved, by Treachery, to ruin him. So that Virtue is not always fecure against the Defigns of fuch as are the nearest to, and the most intimate with us. For when an Opportunity offered to commit Fratricide, he with bloody Hand fatiates the dire Luft of his Heart, poisoned with Envy; and enjoying the Wife of his murdered Brother, adds foul Inceft to his Fratricide. He who submits to one Offence too readily offends again, for one Crime is often the Provocation to another.

He contrived this Villany with such Art and Impudence as to frame an Excuse for his Guilt from counterfeit Benevolence, and give to Fratricide the Colour of Love. Geruth was of fo mild a Difpofition as never to give the least Offence, and yet he said she had incurred the feverest Hatred of her Husband, and that he had killed his Brother for her fake, and to fave her, thinking it ungenerous fo gentle a Lady, and without Gall, fhould endure the extream Moroseness of that Man.

His Succefs was equal to his Wifhes, for Princes may be deceived, and made to believe Untruths

Untruths in Courts where Buffoonery is fometimes favoured, and malicious Detraction honoured. Fenga hefitated not with murderous Hands to embrace a Brother's Wife, and with equal Villany commits a double Impiety.

Amleth fees this, but that he might not raise Sufpicions in his Uncle by an overprudent Care for his own Safety, puts on the Guife of Folly, and feigns himself distracted, and by this Sort of Device he not only covers his Defign, but faves himfelf. He lazily ftretched himself out every Day before his Mother's Hearth, rolling on the Ground, and covering himself with Filth; his Face difcoloured and befmeared with Gore and Naftiness, prefented the ridiculous Extravagance of a Natural. -Whatever he faid was like the Ravings of a Madman; whatever Action he performed favoured of extream Ignorance. In fhort, you would not say he was a Man, but a ridiculous Monster, produced by Fortune in a Frenzy.

Sometimes fitting by the Fire, and raking the Embers with his Hand, he would make wooden Hooks, and harden them in the Fire, and fasten the Ends within one another, that they might hold more firmly together; and when afked what he was about, would fay he made fharp Spikes to revenge his Father.

He was not a little laughed at for this Anfwer. The Vanity of fuch a ridiculous Performance was treated with Contempt by all, M 2 though

though it afterwards was of Use to him in the Profecution of his Design.

This Ingenuity gave to thofe of better Judgment the first Sufpicion of his Subtilty. The latent Ability of the Workman for greater Matters was seen by his Skill in leffer ones. Nor could it be thought that his Senses were impaired, who by the Work of his Hands difcovered fuch ingenious Artifice. Besides, he preferved his Heap of Brands that he had burnt at the Points to make them hard with the greatest Care.

There were thofe, who afferting that he was of uncommon Strength and Quickness of Parts, that he hid his good Sense under the Pretence of Folly, and covered the deep Defign of his Mind with crafty Invention, and that his Advice could not be more readily dif covered than by introducing to him at any Time in his Receffes a beautiful Woman, who might call forth his Mind to the Allurements of Love.

So prone is Nature to the Paffion of Love, that no Artifice can difguife it, and it is too violent to be interrupted by Policy. And therefore, if his Ignorance were counterfeit he would, when Occafion offered, yield Obedience to the Power of Love.

Certain Companions therefore are employed, who fhould engage him to ride to distant

Parts