Legends That Every Child Should Know; a Selection of the Great Legends of All Times for Young People by Mabie, Hamilton Wright, 1845-1916

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Legends That Every Child Should Know A Selection Of The Great Legends Of All Times For Young People Edited By Hamilton Wright Mabie Illustrated And Decorated By Blanche Ostertag Introduction

Hamilton W. Mabie. Chapter Page Chapter I

Chapter Ii Beowulf

Chapter Iii Childe Horn

Chapter Iv Sir Galahad

Chapter V Rustem And Sohrab

Chapter Vi The Seven Sleepers Of Ephesus

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Chapter Vii Guy Of Warwick

Chapter Viii Chevy Chase

Chapter Ix The Fate Of The Children Of Lir

Chapter X The Beleaguered City

Chapter Xi Prester John

Chapter Xii The Wandering Jew

Chapter Xiii King Robert Of Sicily

Interlude Chapter Xiv The Beato Torello Da Poppi

Chapter Xv The Lorelei

Chapter Xvi The Passing Of Arthur

Chapter Xvii Rip Van Winkle

Chapter Xviii The Gray Champion

Chapter Xix

And they said, "Farewell forever!"
Said, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!"
And the forests, dark and lonely,
Moved through all their depths of darkness^
Sighed, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!"
And the waves upon the margin,
Rising, rippling on the pebbles,
Sobbed, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!"
And the heron, the shuh-shu-gah,
From her haunts among the fen-lands,
Screamed, "Farewell, O Hiawatha!"
Thus departed Hiawatha,
Hiawatha the Beloved,
In the glory of the sunset,
In the purple mists of evening,
To the regions of the home-wind,
Of the northwest wind, Keewaydin,
To the Islands of the Blessed,
To the kingdom of Ponemah,
To the land of the Hereafter.

[Footnote: "The Song of Hiawatha," by H. W. Longfellow.]

CHAPTER II

BEOWULF

Old King Hrothgar built for himself a great palace, covered with gold, with benches all round outside, and a terrace leading up to it. It was bigger than any hall men had ever heard of, and there Hrothgar sat on his throne to share with men the good things God had given him. A band of brave knights gathered round him, all living together in peace and joy.

But there came a wicked monster, Grendel, out of the moors. He stole across the fens in the thick darkness, and touched the great iron bars of the door of the hall, which immediately sprang open. Then, with his eyes shooting out flame, he spied the knights sleeping after battle. With his steel finger nails the hideous fiend seized thirty of them in their sleep. He gave yells of joy, and sped as quick as lightning across the moors, to reach his home with his prey.

When the knights awoke, they raised a great cry of sorrow, whilst the aged King himself sat speechless with grief. None could do battle with the monster, he was too strong, too horrible for any one to conquer. For twelve long years Grendel warred against Hrothgar; like a dark shadow of death he prowled round about the hall, and lay in wait for his men on the misty moors. One thing he could not touch, and that was the King's sacred throne.

Now there lived in a far-off land a youngster called Beowulf, who had the strength of thirty men. He heard of the wicked deeds of Grendel, and the sorrow of the good King Hrothgar. So he had made ready a strong ship, and with fourteen friends set sail to visit Hrothgar, as he was in need of help. The good ship flew over the swelling ocean like a bird, till in due time the voyagers saw shining white cliffs before them. Then they knew their journey was at an end; they made fast their ship, grasped their weapons, and thanked God that they had had an easy voyage.

Now the coastguard spied them from a tower. He set off to the shore, riding on horseback, and brandishing a huge lance.