Chapter XXII: How the bad time came -

1. During the whole summer the sun had been hidden behind the clouds, as if unwilling to look upon Irtha. There was perpetual calm, and the damp mist hung like a wet sail over the houses and marshes. The air was heavy and oppressive, and in men's hearts was neither joy nor cheerfulness.

2. In the midst of this stillness Irtha began to tremble as if she was dying. The mountains opened to vomit forth fire and flames. Some sank into the bosom of Irtha, and in other places mountains rose out of the plain. Aldland, called Atland by the navigators, disappeared, and the wild waves rose so high over hill and dale that everything was buried in the sea. Many people were swallowed up by Irtha, and others who had escaped the fire perished in the water.

3. It was also in Finda's land that Irtha vomited fire, and in Twiskland. Whole forests were burned one after the other, and when the wind blew from that quarter our land was covered with ashes. Rivers changed their course, and at their mouths new islands were formed of sand and drift.

4. During three years this continued, but at length it ceased, and forests became visible. Many countries were submerged, and in other places land rose above the sea, and the wood was destroyed through the half of Twiskland. Troops of Finda's people came and settled in the empty places. Our dispersed people were exterminated or made slaves. Then watchfulness was doubly impressed upon us, and time taught us that union is force.

Chapter XXIII: This was inscribed on the Waraburch by the Aldergamude -

1. The Waraburch is not a femme's burgh, but the place where all the foreign articles brought by navigators were stored. It lies three hours south from Medeasblik.

2. Thus is the preface:

3. Hills, bow your heads; weep, ye streams and clouds. Yes. Skenland blushes, an enslaved people tramples on your short kilt, O Frya.

4. This is the history:

5. In the year 101 after the submersion of Aldland a people came out of the east. That people was driven by another. Behind us, in Twiskland, they fell into disputes, divided into two parties, and each went its own way. Of the one no account has come to us, but the other came in the back of our Skenland, which was thinly inhabited, particularly the upper part. Therefore they were able to take possession of it without contest, and as they did no other harm, we would not make war about it.

6. Now that we have learned to know them, we will describe their customs, and after that how matters went between us. They were not wild people, like most of Finda's race; but, like the Egiptalandar, they have priests and also statues in their temples. The priests are the only rulers; they call themselves Magyarar, and their leader Magy. He is high priest and king in one. The rest of the people are of no account, and in subjection to them.

7. This people have not even a name; but we call them Finnar, because although all the festivals are melancholy and bloody, they are so formal that we are inferior to them in that respect. But still they are not to be envied, because they are slaves to their priests, and still more to their creeds.

8. They believe that evil spirits abound everywhere, and enter into men and beasts, but of Wr-alda's spirit they know nothing. They have weapons of stone, the Magyarar of copper. The Magyarar affirm that they can exorcise and recall the evil spirits, and this frightens the people, so that you never see a cheerful face.

9. When they were well established, the Magyarar sought our friendship, they praised our language and customs, our cattle and silver weapons, which they would willingly have exchanged for their gold and silver ornaments, and they always kept their people within their own boundaries, and that outwitted our watchfulness.

10. Eighty years afterwards, just at the time of the yule-feast, they overran our country like a snowstorm driven by the wind. All who could not flee away were killed. Frya was appealed to, but the Skenlandar had neglected her advice. Then all the forces were assembled, and three hours from Godahisburch they were withstood, but war continued.

11. Kat or Katerinne was the name of the burgh-femme of Godahisburch. Kat was proud and haughty, and would neither seek counsel nor aid from the folk-mother; but when the burghers knew this, they themselves sent messengers to Texland to the folk-mother. Minna - this was the name of the folk-mother - summoned all the navigators and the young men from Astflyland and Denamark.

12. From this expedition the history of Wodin sprang, which is inscribed on the burghs, and is here copied:

13. At Aldergamude there lived an old sea-king whose name was Sterik, and whose deeds were famous. This old fellow had three nephews. Wodin, the eldest, lived at Lumkamakia, near the Emude, in Astflyland, with his parents. He had once commanded troops. Tunis and Inka were naval warriors, and were just then staying with their father at Aldergamude.

14. When the young warriors had assembled together, they chose Wodin to be their commander or king, and the naval force chose Tunis for their sea-king and Inka for their admiral. The navigators then sailed for Denamark, where they took on board Wodin and his valiant host.

15. The wind was fair, so they arrived immediately in Skenland. When the northern brothers met together, Wodin divided his powerful army into three bodies. "Frya" was their war-cry, and they drove back the Finnar and Magyarar like children.

16. When the Magy heard how his forces had been utterly defeated, he sent messengers with truncheon and crown, who said to Wodin:

17. "O almighty king, we are guilty, but all that we have done was done from necessity. You think that we attacked your brothers out of illwill, but we were driven out by our enemies, who are still at our heels. We have often asked your burgh-femme for help, but she took no notice of us.

18. "The Magy says that if we kill half our numbers in fighting with each other, then the wild shepherds will come and kill all the rest. The Magy possesses great riches, but he has seen that Frya is much more powerful than all our spirits together. He will lay down his head in her lap.

19. "You are the most warlike king on Irtha, and your people are of silver. Become our king, and we will all be your slaves. What glory it would be for you if you could drive back the savages! Our trumpets would resound with your praises, and the fame of your deeds would precede you everywhere."

20. Wodin was strong, fierce, and warlike, but he was not clear-sighted, therefore he was taken in their toils, and crowned by the Magy.

21. Very many of the navigators and soldiers to whom this proceeding was displeasing went away secretly, taking Kat with them. But Kat, who did not wish to appear before either the folk-mother or the general assembly, jumped overboard. Then a storm arose and drove the ships upon the banks of Denamark, with the total destruction of their crews. This strait was afterwards called the Katsgat.

22. When Wodin was crowned, he attacked the savages, who were all horsemen, and fell upon Wodin's troops like a hailstorm; but like a whirlwind they were turned back, and did not dare to appear again.

23. When Wodin returned, Magy gave him his daughter to wife. Whereupon he was incensed with herbs; but they were magic herbs, and by degrees he became so audacious that he dared to disavow and ridicule the spirits of Frya and Wr-alda, while he bent his free head before the false and deceitful images. His reign lasted seven years, and then he disappeared. The Magy said that he was taken up by their gods and still reigned over us, but our people laughed at what they said.

24. When Wodin had disappeared some time, disputes arose. We wished to choose another king, but the Magy would not permit it. He asserted that it was his right given him by his idols. But besides this dispute there was one between the Magyarar and Finnar, who would honour neither Frya nor Wodin; but the Magy did just as he pleased, because his daughter had a son by Wodin, and he would have it that this son was of high descent.

25. While all were disputing and quarrelling, he crowned the boy as king, and set up himself as guardian and counsellor. Those who cared more for themselves than for justice let him work his own way, but the good men took their departure. Many Magyarar fled back with their troops, and the sea-people took ship, accompanied by a body of stalwart Finnar as rowers.

26. Next comes upon the stage the history of Nef Tunis and Nef Inka.

Chapter XXIV: All this is inscribed not only on the Waraburch, but also on the burgh Stavia, which lies behind the port of Staveren -

1. When Tunis wished to return home, he went first towards Denamark; but he might not land there, for so the folk-mother had ordered, nor was he to land at Flyland nor anywhere about there. In this way he would have lost all his people by want and hardship, so he landed at night to steal and sailed by day. Thus coasting along, he at length arrived at the colony of Kadik, so called because it was built with a stone quay.

2. Here they bought all kinds of stores, but Tutia the burgh-femme would not allow them to settle there. When they were ready they began to disagree. Tunis wished to sail through the straits to the Middel Sea, and enter the service of the rich king of Egiptaland, as he had done before, but Inka said he had had enough of all those Finda's people. Inka thought that perchance some high-lying part of Atland might remain as an island, where he and his people might live in peace.

3. As the two brothers could not agree, Tunis planted a red flag on the shore, and Inka a blue flag. Every man could choose which he pleased, and to their astonishment the greater part of the Finnar and Magyarar followed Inka, who had objected to serve the kings of Finda's people. When they had counted the people and divided the ships accordingly, the fleet separated. We shall here of Tunis afterwards, but nothing more of Inka.

4. Nef Tunis coasted through the straits to the Middel Sea. When Atland was submerged there was much suffering also on the shores of the Middel Sea, on which account many of Finda's people, Heinde and Fere Krekalandar, and people from Lyda's land, came to us. On the other hand, many of our people went to Lyda's land. The result of all this was that the Heinde and Fere Krekalandar were lost to the superintendence of the folk-mother.

5. Tunis had reckoned on this, and had therefore wished to find there a good haven from which he might go and serve under the rich princes; but as his fleet and his people had such a shattered appearance, the inhabitants on the coasts thought that they were pirates, and drove them away.

6. At last they arrived at the Phonisiar coast, in the year 193 after Atland was submerged.

7. Near the coast they found an island with two deep bays, so that there appeared to be three islands. In the middle one they established themselves, and afterwards built a burgh wall round the place. Then they wanted to give it a name, but disagreed about it. Some wanted to call it Fryasburch, others Neftunia; but the Magyarar and Finnar begged that it might be called Thyrhisburch.

8. Thyr was the name of one of their idols, and it was upon his feast-day that they had landed there; and in return they offered to recognise Tunis as their perpetual king. Tunis let himself be persuaded, and the others would not make any quarrel about it.

9. When they were well established, they sent some senior navigators and Magyarar on an expedition as far as the burgh of Sydon; but at first the inhabitants of the coast would have nothing to do with them, saying:

10. "You are only foreign adventurers whom we do not respect."

11. But when we sold them some of our silver weapons, everything went well. They also wished to buy our amber, and their inquiries about it were incessant. But Tunis, who was far-seeing, pretended that he had no more weapons or amber.

12. Then merchants came and begged him to let them have twenty vessels, which they would freight with the finest goods, and they would provide as many people to row as he would require. Twelve ships were laden with wine, honey, tanned leather, and saddles and bridles mounted in gold, such as had never been seen before.

13. Tunis sailed to the Flymar with all this treasure, which so enchanted the reeve of Westflyland that he induced Tunis to build a warehouse at the mouth of the Flymar. Afterwards this place was called Almanland, and the market where they traded at Wyringga was called Toletmark.

14. The folk-mother advised that they should sell everything except silver weapons, but no attention was paid to what she said. As the Thyriar had thus free play, they came from far and near to take away our goods, to the loss of our seafaring people. Therefore it was resolved in a general assembly to allow only seven Thyrier ships and no more in a year.

Chapter XXV: What the consequence of this was -

1. In the northernmost part of the Middel Sea there lies an island close to the coast. They now came and asked to buy that, on which a general assembly was held.

2. The folk-mother's advice was asked, and she wished to see them at some distance, so she saw no harm in it; but as we afterwards saw what a mistake we had made, we called the island Missellia. Hereafter will be seen what reason we had.

3. The Golar, as the missionary priests of Sydon were called, had observed that the land there was thinly peopled, and was far from the folk-mother. In order to make a favourable impression, they had themselves called in our language "Truth Followers"; but they had better have been called "Truth Shunners", or, in short, Trowydar, as our navigators afterwards called them.

Note: Golar is a Kaballistic or Jewish name and Sydon is a place in Lebanon. One site had the nerve to claim these as druids and druidic.

4. When they were well established, their merchants exchanged their beautiful copper weapons and all sorts of jewels for our silver weapons and hides of wild beasts, which were abundant in our southern countries; but the Golar celebrated all sorts of vile and monstrous festivals, which the inhabitants of the coast promoted with their wanton women and sweet poisonous wine.

5. If any of our people had so conducted himself that his life was in danger, the Golar afforded him a refuge, and sent him to Phonisia, that is, Palmland. When he was settled there, they made him write to his family, friends, and connections that the country was so good and the people so happy that no one could form any idea of it.

6. In Brittania there were plenty of men, but few women. When the Golar knew this, they carried off girls everywhere and gave them to the Britne for nothing. So all these girls served their purpose to steal children from Wr-alda in order to give them to false gods.

Chapter XXVI: Now we will write about the war between the burgh-femmes Kalta and Minerva -

1. And how we thereby lost all our southern lands and Brittania to the Golar.

2. Near the mouth of the Suder Hrenum and the Skelda there are the Siugon Elanda, named after Frya's seven watch-femmes of the week. In the middle of one island is the burgh of Walhallagara, and on the walls of this burgh the following history is inscribed.

3. Above it are the words, "Read, Learn, and Watch!"

4. In the year 563 after the submersion of Aldland a wise burgh-femme presided here, whose name was Minerva - called by the navigators Nyhellenia. This name was well chosen, for her counsels were new and clear above all others.

5. On the other side of the Skelda, at Flyburch, Syrhed presided. This femme was full of tricks. Her face was beautiful, and her tongue was nimble; but the advice that she gave was always conveyed in mysterious terms. Therefore the navigators called her Kalta, and the land-dwellers thought it was a title.

6. In the last will of the dead folk-mother, Rosamond was named first, Minerva second, and Syrhed third in succession. Minerva did not mind that, but Syrhed was very much offended. Like a foreign princess, she wished to be honoured, feared, and worshipped; but Minerva only desired to be loved. At last all the navigators, even from Denamark and Flymar, did homage to her. This hurt Syrhed, because she wanted to excel Minerva.

7. In order to give an impression of her great watchfulness, she had a cock put on her banner. So then Minerva went and put a sheep-dog and an owl on her banner. The dog, she said, guards his master and his flock, and the owl watches that the mice shall not devastate the fields; but the cock in his lewdness and his pride is only fit to murder his nearest relations. When Kalta found that her scheme had failed she was still more vexed, so she secretly sent for the Magyarar to teach her sorcery.

8. When she had had enough of this she threw herself into the hands of the Golar; but all her malpractices did not improve her position. When she saw that the navigators kept more and more aloof from her, she tried to win them back by fear. At the full moon, when the sea was stormy, she ran over the wild waves, calling to the navigators that they would all be lost if they did not worship her. Then she blinded their eyes, so that they mistook land for water and water for land, and in this way many a good ship was totally lost.

9. At the first war-feast, when all her countrymen were armed, she brought casks of beer, which she had drugged. When they were all drunk she mounted her war-horse, leaning her head upon her spear. Sunrise could not be more beautiful. When she saw that the eyes of all were fixed upon her, she opened her lips and said:

10. "Sons and daughters of Frya, you know that in these last times we have suffered much loss and misery because the navigators no longer come to buy our paper, but you do not know what the reason of it is. I have kept silence about it, but can do so no longer.

11. "Listen, then, my friends, that you may know on which side to show your teeth. On the other side of the Skelda, where from time to time there come ships from all parts, they make now paper from pumpkin leaves, by which they save flax and outdo us.

12. "Now, as the making of paper was always our principal industry, the folk-mother willed that people should learn it from us; but Minerva has bewitched all the people - yes, bewitched, my friends - as well as all our cattle that died lately. I must come out with it. If I were not burgh-femme, I should know what to do. I should burn the witch in her nest."

13. As soon as she had uttered these words she sped away to her burgh; but the drunken people were so excited that they did not stop to weigh what they had heard. In mad haste they hurried over the Sandfal, and as night came on they burst into the burgh. However, Kalta again missed her aim; for Minerva, her femmes, and her lamp were all saved by the alertness of the navigators.

Chapter XXVII: We now come to the history of Jon -

1. Jon, Jhon, Jan, are all the same name, though the pronunciation varies, as the navigators like to shorten everything to be able to make it easier to call. Jon - that is, "Given" - was a sea-king, born at Alderga, who sailed from the Flymar with a fleet of one hundred and twenty-seven ships fitted out for a long voyage, and laden with amber, tin, copper, cloth, linen, felt, otter-skins, beaver and rabbit skins.

2. He would also have taken paper from here, but when he saw how Kalta had destroyed the burgh he became so angry that he went off with all his people to Flyburch, and out of revenge set fire to it. His admiral and some of his people saved the lamp and the femmes, but they could not catch Syrhed, or Kalta. She climbed up on the furthest battlement, and they thought she must be killed in the flames; but what happened?

3. While all her people stood transfixed with horror, she appeared upon her steed more beautiful than ever, calling to them, "To Kalta!"

4. Then the other Skelda people poured out towards her. When the navigators saw that, they shouted, "We are for Minerva!"

5. From this arose a war in which thousands were killed.

6. At this time Rosamond, that is Rosamuda, the folk-mother, who had done all in her power by gentle means to preserve peace, when she saw how bad it was, made short work of it. Immediately she sent messengers throughout all the districts to call a general levy, which brought together all the warriors of the country. The landsmen who were fighting were all caught, but Jon with his navigators took refuge on board his fleet, taking with him the two lamps, as well as Minerva and the femmes of both the burghs.

7. Helprik, the commander, summoned him to appear; but while all the soldiers were on the other side of the Skelda, Jon sailed back to the Flymar, and then straight to our islands. His fighting men and many of our people took women and children on board, and when Jon saw that he and his people would be punished for their misdeeds, he secretly took his departure.

8. He did well, for all our islanders, and the other Skelda people who had been fighting were transported to Brittania. This step was a mistake, for now came the beginning of the end.

9. Kalta, who, people said, could go as easily on the water as on the land, went to the mainland and on to Missellia. Then came the Golar out of the Middel Sea with their ships to Kadik, and along all our coasts, and fell upon Brittania; but they could not make any good footing there, because the government was powerful and the exiles were still Children of Frya.

10. But now came Kalta and said, "You were born free, and for small offences have been sent away, not for your own improvement, but to get tin by your labour. If you wish to be free again, and take my advice, and live under my care, come away. I will provide you with arms, and will watch over you."

11. The news flew through the land like lightning, and before the carrier had made one revolution of the yule she was mistress of all the Thyriar in all our southern states as far as the Seiene. She built herself a burgh in Berchland to the north, and called it Kaltasburch. It still exists under the name of Kerenak. From this burgh she ruled as a tyrannical folk-mother, against their will, not for her followers, but over them, who were thenceforth called Kaltanar.

12. The Golar gradually obtained dominion over the whole of Brittania, partly because they no longer had any burghs; secondly, because they had there no burgh-femmes; and thirdly, because they had no real lamps. From all these causes the people could not learn anything. They were stupid and foolish, and having allowed the Golar to rob them of their arms, they were led about like a bull with a ring in his nose.

Chapter XXVIII: Now we shall write how it fared with Jon; it is inscribed at Texland -

1. Ten years after Jon went away, there arrived three ships in the Flymar; the people cried, "Huzza!" From their accounts the folk-mother had this written:

2. When Jon reached the Middel Sea, the reports of the Golar had preceded him, so that on the coast of Heinde Krekaland he was nowhere safe. Therefore he went with his fleet straight over to Lydia. There the black men wanted to catch them and eat them. At last they came to Thyr, but Minerva said:

3. "Keep clear, for here the air has been long poisoned by the priests."

4. The king was a descendant of Tunis, as we were afterwards informed; but as the priests wished to have a king, who, according to their ideas, was of long descent, they deified Tunis, to the vexation of his followers. After they had passed Thyr, the Thyriar seized one of the rearmost ships, and as the ship was too far behind us, we could not take it back again; but Jon swore to be revenged for it.

5. When night came, Jon went his course towards Fere Krekaland. At last they arrived at a country that looked very barren, but they found a harbour there. Minerva said:

6. "Here we need not perhaps have any fear of princes or priests, as they always look out for rich fat lands."

7. When they entered the harbour, there was not room for all the ships, and yet most of the people were too cowardly to go any further.

8. Then Jon, who wished to get away, went with his spear and banner, calling to the young people, to know who would volunteer to share his adventures. Minerva did the same thing, but wished to remain there. The greater part stopped with Minerva, but the young navigators went with Jon. Jon took the lamp of Kalta and her femmes with him. Minerva retained her lamp and her own femmes.

9. Between Fere and Heinde Krekaland Jon found some islands, which he thought desirable. Upon the largest he built a burgh in the wood between the mountains. From the smaller islands he made expeditions for vengeance on the Thyriar, and plundered their ships and their lands. Therefore these islands were called Rawer Elanda, as well as Jonhis Elanda.

10. When Minerva had examined the country which is called by the inhabitants Attika, she saw that the people were all goatherds, and that they lived on meat, wild roots, herbs, and honey. They were clothed in skins, and had their dwellings on the slopes of the hills, wherefore they were called Hellinggar.

11. At first they ran away, but when they found that we did not attack them, they came back and showed great friendship. Minerva asked if we might settle there peaceably. This was agreed to on the condition that we should help them to fight against their neighbours, who came continually to carry away their children and to rob their dwellings.

12. Then we built a burgh at an hour's distance from the harbour. By the advice of Minerva it was called Athenia, because, she said:

13. "Those who came after us ought to know that we are not here by cunning or violence, but were received as friends."

14. While we were building the burgh the principal personages came to see us, and when they saw that we had no slaves it did not please them, and they gave Minerva to understand it, as they thought that she was a princess.

15. But Minerva said, "How did you get your slaves?"

16. They answered, "We bought some and took others in war."

17. Minerva replied, "If nobody would buy slaves they would not steal your children, and you would have no wars about it. If you wish to remain our allies, you will free your slaves."

18. The princes did not like this, and wanted to drive us away; but the most enlightened of the people came and helped us to build our burgh, which was built of stone.

19. This is the history of Jon and Minerva.

20. When they had finished their story they asked respectfully for silver weapons; for, said they, "Our foes are powerful, but if we have good arms we can withstand them."

21. When this had been agreed to, the people asked if Frya's customs would flourish in Athenia and in other parts of Krekaland. The folk-mother answered:

22. "If the Fere Krekalandar belong to the direct descent of Frya, then they will flourish; but if they do not descend from Frya, then there will be a long contention about it, because the carrier must make five thousand revolutions of his yule before Finda's people will be ripe for liberty."

Chapter XXIX: This is about the Gertmannar -

1. When Hellenia or Minerva died, the priests pretended to be with us, and in order to make it appear so, they deified Hellenia. They refused to have any other burgh-femme chosen, saying that they feared there was no one among her femmes whom they could trust as they had trusted Minerva, surnamed Nyhellenia.

2. But we would not recognise Minerva as a goddess, because she herself had told us that no one could be perfectly good except the spirit of Wr-alda. Therefore we chose Gert, Pire's daughter, for our burgh-femme.

3. When the priests saw that they could not fry their herrings on our fire, they left Athenia, and said that we refused to acknowledge Minerva as a goddess out of envy, because she had shown so much affection to the natives.

4. Thereupon they gave the people statues of her, declaring that they might ask of them whatever they liked, as long as they were obedient to her. By these kinds of tales the stupid people were estranged from us, and at last they attacked us; but as we had built our stone burgh wall with two horns down to the sea, they could not get at us. Then, lo and behold! An Egiptalandar high priest, bright of eye, clear of brain, and enlightened of mind, whose name was Sekrops, came to give them advice.

5. When he saw that with his people he could not storm our wall, he sent messengers to Thyr. Thereupon there arrived three hundred ships full of wild mountain soldiers, which sailed unexpectedly into our haven while we were defending the walls.

6. When they had taken our harbour the wild soldiers wanted to plunder the state and our ships - one had already ravished a girl - but Sekrops would not permit it; and the Thyriar navigators, who still had Frya's blood in their veins, said:

7. "If you do that we will burn our ships, and you shall never see your mountains again."

8. Sekrops, who had no inclination towards murder or devastation, sent messengers to Gert, requiring her to give up the burgh, offering her free exit with all her live and dead property, and her followers the same. The wisest of the burghers, seeing that they could not hold the burgh, advised Gert to accept at once, before Sekrops became furious and changed his mind.

9. Three months afterwards Gert departed with the best of Frya's Children, and seven times twelve ships. Soon after they had left the harbour they fell in with at least thirty ships coming from Thyr with women and children. They were on their way to Athenia, but when they heard how things stood there they went with Gert. The sea-king of the Thyriar brought them altogether through the strait which at that time ran into the Rade Sea.

10. At last they landed at the Pangab, called in our language the five rivers, because five rivers flow together to the sea. Here they settled, and called it Gertmannia.

11. The king of Thyr afterwards, seeing that all his best navigators were gone, sent all his ships with his wild soldiers to catch them, dead or alive. When they arrived at the strait, both sea and Irtha trembled. The land was upheaved so that all the water ran out of the strait, and the muddy shores were raised up like a rampart. This happened on account of the virtues of the Gertmannar, as every one can plainly understand.

Chapter XXX: In the year 1005 after Aldland was submerged, this was inscribed on the eastern wall of Fryasburch -

1. After twelve years had elapsed without our seeing any Krekalandar in Almanland, there came three ships, finer than any that we possessed or had ever seen.

2. On the largest of them was a king of the Jonhis Elenda whose name was Ulysus, the fame of whose wisdom was great. To him a priestess had prophesied that he should become the king of all Krekaland provided he could obtain a lamp that had been lighted at the lamp in Texland. For this purpose he had brought great treasures with him, above all, jewels for women more beautiful than had ever been seen before. They were from Troia, a state that the Krekalandar had taken.

3. All these treasures he offered to the folk-mother, but the folk-mother would have nothing to do with them. At last, when he found that there was nothing to be got from her, he went to Walhallagara.

4. There there was established a burgh-femme whose name was Kat, but who was commonly called Kalip, because her lower lip stuck out like a mast-head. Here he tarried for years, to the scandal of all that knew it.

5. According to the report of the femmes, he obtained a lamp from her; but it did him no good, because when he got to sea his ship was lost, and he was taken up naked and destitute by another ship.

6. There was left behind by this king a scribe of pure Frya's blood, born in the new harbour of Athenia, who wrote for us what follows about Athenia, from which may be seen how truly the folk-mother Hellicht spoke when she said that the customs of Frya could never take firm hold in Athenia.

7. From the other Krekalandar you will have heard a great deal of bad about Sekrops, because he was not in good repute; but I dare affirm that he was an enlightened man, very renowned both among the inhabitants and among us, for he was against oppression, unlike the other priests, and was virtuous, and knew how to value the wisdom of distant nations. Knowing that, he permitted us to live according to our own Law Book.

8. There was a story current that he was favourable to us because he was the son of a daughter of Frya and an Egiptalandar priest - the reason of this was that he had blue eyes, and that many of our girls had been stolen and sold to Egiptaland, but he never confirmed this. However it may have been, certain it is that he showed us more friendship than all the other priests together.

9. When he died, his successors soon began to tear up our charters, and gradually to enact so many unsuitable statutes that at long last nothing remained of liberty but the shadow and the name. Besides, they would not allow the laws to be written, so that the knowledge of them was hidden from us. Formerly all the cases in Athenia were pleaded in our language, but afterwards in both languages, and at last in the native language only.

10. At first the men of Athenia only married women of our own race, but the young men as they grew up with the girls of the country took them to wife. The bastard children of this connection were the handsomest and cleverest in the World; but they were likewise the wickedest, wavering between the two parties, paying no regard to laws or customs except where they suited their own interests.

11. As long as a ray of Frya's spirit existed, all the building materials were for common use, and no one might build a house larger or better than his neighbour's; but when some degenerate statesmen got rich by sea-voyages and by the silver that their slaves got in the silver countries, they went to live out on the hills or in the valleys.

12. There, behind high enclosures of trees or walls, they built palaces with costly furniture, and in order to remain in good odour with the nasty priests, they placed there likenesses of false gods and unchaste statues. Sometimes the dirty priests and princes wished for the boys rather than the girls, and often led them astray from the paths of virtue by rich presents or by force.

13. Because riches were more valued by this lost and degenerate race than virtue or honour, one sometimes saw boys dressed in splendid flowing robes, to the disgrace of their parents and femmes, and to the shame of their own sex.

14. If our simple parents came to a general assembly at Athenia and made complaints, a cry was raised, "Hear, Hear! There is a sea-monster going to speak!"

15. Such is Athenia become, like a morass in a tropical country full of leeches, toads, and poisonous snakes, in which no man of decent habits can set his foot.

Chapter XXXI: This is inscribed in all our burghs -

1. How our Denamark was lost to us in the year 1602 after the submersion of Aldland.

2. Through the mad wantonness of Wodin, Magy had become master of the east part of Skenland. They dare not come over the hills and over the sea. The folk-mother would not prevent it. She said:

3. "I see no danger in their weapons, but much in taking the Skenlandar back again, because they are so degenerate and spoilt."

4. The general assembly were of the same opinion. Therefore it was left to him.

5. A good hundred years ago the Denamarkar began to trade; they gave their silver weapons in exchange for gold ornaments, as well as for copper and silver-ore. The folk-mother sent messengers to advise them to have nothing to do with this trade. There was danger to their morals in it, and if they lost their morals they would soon lose their liberty.

6. But the Denamarkar paid no attention to her. They did not believe that they could lose their morals, therefore they would not listen to her. At last they were at a loss themselves for weapons and necessaries, and this difficulty was their punishment. Their bodies were brilliantly adorned, but their cupboards and their sheds were empty.

7. Just one hundred years after the first ship with provisions sailed from the coast, poverty and want made their appearance, hunger spread her wings all over the land, dissension marched proudly about the streets and into the houses, charity found no place, and unity departed. The child asked its mother for food; she had no food to give, only jewels. The women applied to their husbands, the husbands appealed to the reeves; the reeves had nothing to give, or if they had, they hid it away.

8. Now the jewels must be sold, but while the navigators were away for that purpose, the frost came and laid a plank upon the sea and the strait. When the frost had made the bridge, vigilance ceased in the land, and treachery took its place. Instead of watching on the shores, they put their horses in their sledges and drove off to Skenland.

9. Then the Skenlandar, who hungered after the land of their forefathers, came to Denamark. One bright night they all came. They said:

10. "Now we have a right to the land of our fathers."

11. And while they were fighting about it, the Finnar came to the defenceless states and ran away with the children. As they had no good weapons, they lost the battle, and with it their freedom, and Magy became master.

12. All this was the consequence of their not reading Frya's Tex, and neglecting her counsels.

13. There are some who think that they were betrayed by the reeves, and that the femmes had long suspected it; but if any one attempted to speak about it, his mouth was shut by golden chains.

14. We can express no opinion about it, we can only say to you: Do not trust too much to the wisdom of your princes or of your femmes; but if you wish to keep things straight, everybody must watch over his passions, as well as the general welfare.

15. Two years afterwards Magy himself came with a fleet of light boats to steal the lamp from the folk-mother of Texland.

16. This wicked deed he accomplished one stormy winter night, while the wind roared and the hail rattled against the windows. The watchman on the tower hearing the noise, lighted his torch. As soon as the light from the tower fell upon the burgh, he saw that already armed men had got over the wall.

17. He immediately gave the alarm, but it was too late. Before the guard was ready, there were two thousand people battering the gate. The struggle did not last long. As the guard had not kept a good watch, they were overwhelmed.

18. While the fight was going on, a rascally Finn stole into the bedroom of the folk-mother, and would have raped her. She resisted him, and threw him down against the wall. When he got up, he ran his sword through her:

19. "If you will not have me, you shall have my sword."

20. A Denamarkar soldier came behind him and clave his head in two. There came from it a stream of black blood and a wreath of blue flame.

21. The Magy had the folk-mother nursed on his own ship. As soon as she was well enough to speak clearly, the Magy told her that she must sail with him, but that she should keep her lamp and her femmes, and should hold a station higher than she had ever done before.

22. Moreover, he said that he should ask her, in presence of all his chief men, if he would become the ruler of all the lands and people of Frya; that she must declare and affirm this, or he would let her die a painful death.

23. Then, when he had gathered all his chiefs around her bed, he asked, in a loud voice, "Frana, since you are a prophetess, shall I become ruler over all the lands and people of Frya?"

24. Frana did as if she took no notice of him; but at last she opened her lips, and said:

25. "My eyes are dim, but the other light dawns upon my soul. Yes, I see it. Hear, Irtha, and rejoice with me.

26. "At the time of the submersion of Aldland, the first spoke of the yule stood at the top. After that it went down, and our freedom with it.

27. "When two spokes, or two thousand years, shall have rolled down, the sons shall arise who have been bred of the fornication of the princes and priests with the people, and shall witness against their fathers. They shall all fall by murder, but what they have proclaimed shall endure, and shall bear fruit in the bosoms of able men, like good seed which is laid in thy lap.

28. "Yet a thousand years shall the spoke descend, and sink deeper in darkness, and in the blood shed over you by the wickedness of the princes and priests.

29. "After that, the dawn shall begin to glow. When they perceive this, the false princes and priests will strive and wrestle against freedom; but freedom, love, and unity will take the people under their protection, and rise out of the vile pool.

30. "The light which at first only glimmered shall flow over your surface, but you must not absorb it. At last the poisoned animals shall eat it, and die of it. All the stories that have been written in praise of the princes and priests shall be committed to the flames. Thenceforth your children shall live in peace."

31. When she had finished speaking she sank down.

32. The Magy, who had not understood her, shrieked out, "I asked you if I should become master of all the lands and people of Frya, and now you have been speaking to another."

33. Frana raised herself up, stared at him, and said, "Before seven days have passed your soul shall haunt the tombs with the night-birds, and your body shall be at the bottom of the sea."

34. Swelling with rage, the Magy said, "Very good; say that I am coming!"

35. Then he said to his executioners, "Throw this woman overboard!"

36. This was the end of the last of the folk-mothers. We do not ask for revenge. Time will provide that; but a thousand thousand times we will call with Frya - "Watch! Watch! Watch!"

Chapter XXXII: How it fared afterwards with the Magy -

1. After the murder of the folk-mother, he brought the lamp and the femmes into his own ship, together with all the booty that he chose. Afterwards he went up the Flymar because he wished to take the burgh-femme of Medeasblik or Stavia and install her as folk-mother; but there they were on their guard.

2. The navigators of Staveren and Alderga would gladly have gone to Jon, but the great fleet was out on a distant voyage; so they proceeded in their small fleet to Medeasblik, and kept themselves concealed in a sheltered place behind trees.

3. The Magy approached Medeasblik in broad daylight; nevertheless, his men boldly stormed the burgh. But as they landed from the boats, our people sallied forth from the creek, and shot their arrows with balls of burning turpentine upon the fleet. They were so well aimed that many of the ships were instantly on fire. Those left to guard the ships shot at us, but they could not reach us.

4. When at last a burning ship drifted towards the ship of the Magy, he ordered the man at the helm to sheer of, but this man was the Denamarkar who had cleft the head of the Finn. He said:

5. "You sent our folk-mother to the bottom of the sea to say that you were coming. In the bustle of the fight you might forget it; now I will take care that you keep your word."

6. The Magy tried to push him off, but the navigator, a real Child of Frya and strong as an ox, clutched his head with both hands, and pitched him into the surging billows. Then he hoisted up his brown shield, and sailed straight to our fleet. Thus the femmes came unhurt to us; but the lamp was extinguished, and no one knew how that had happened.

7. When those on the uninjured ships heard that the Magy was drowned, they sailed away, because their crews were Denamarkar. When the fleet was far enough off, our navigators turned and shot their burning arrows at the Finnar.

8. When the Finnar saw that, and found that they were betrayed, they fell into confusion, and lost all discipline and order. At this moment the garrison sallied forth from the burgh. Those who resisted were killed, and those who fled found their death in the marshes of the Krylinger Wald.

Chapter XXXIII: Postscript -

1. When the navigators were in the creek, there was a wag from Staveren among them, who said, "Medea may well laugh if we rescue her from the burgh."

2. Upon this, the femmes gave to the creek the name Medea Meilakkia.

3. The occurrences that happened after this everybody can remember. The femmes ought to relate it in their own way, and have it well inscribed. We consider that our task is fulfilled. Hail!

4. The end of the book.