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me home sounds in their hearts。
Hear the story of the year： 〃The night of the snow…storm； theheavy dream of the winter night； all shall be dissolved； all shallrise again in the beauteous notes of the Bird of Popular Song； whonever dies！〃
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE BISHOP OF BORGLUM AND HIS WARRIORS
by Hans Christian Andersen
OUR scene is laid in Northern Jutland； in the so…called 〃wildmoor。〃 We hear what is called the 〃Wester…wow…wow〃… the peculiarroar of the North Sea as it breaks against the western coast ofJutland。 It rolls and thunders with a sound that perates formiles into the land； and we are quite near the roaring。 Before usrises a great mound of sand… a mountain we have long seen； and towardswhich we are wending our way； driving slowly along through the deepsand。 On this mountain of sand is a lofty old building… the convent ofBorglum。 In one of its wings （the larger one） there is still a church。And at this convent we now arrive in the late evening hour； but theweather is clear in the bright June night around us； and the eye canrange far； far over field and moor to the Bay of Aalborg； over heathand meadow； and far across the deep blue sea。
Now we are there； and roll past between barns and other farmbuildings； and at the left of the gate we turn aside to the Old CastleFarm； where the lime trees stand in lines along the walls； and；sheltered from the wind and weather； grow so luxuriantly that theirtwigs and leaves almost conceal the windows。
We mount the winding staircase of stone； and march through thelong passages under the heavy roof…beams。 The wind moans verystrangely here； both within and without。 It is hardly known how； butthe people say… yes； people say a great many things when they arefrightened or want to frighten others… they say that the old deadchoir…men glide silently past us into the church； where mass issung。 They can be heard in the rushing of the storm； and their singingbrings up strange thoughts in the hearers… thoughts of the old timesinto which we are carried back。
On the coast a ship is stranded； and the bishop's warriors arethere； and spare not those whom the sea has spared。 The sea washesaway the blood that has flowed from the cloven skulls。 The strandedgoods belong to the bishop； and there is a store of goods here。 Thesea casts up tubs and barrels filled with costly wine for theconvent cellar； and in the convent is already good store of beer andmead。 There is plenty in the kitchen… dead game and poultry； hamsand sausages； and fat fish swim in the ponds without。
The Bishop of Borglum is a mighty lord。 He has greatpossessions； but still he longs for more… everything must bow beforethe mighty Olaf Glob。 His rich cousin at Thyland is dead； and hiswidow is to have the rich inheritance。 But how es it that onerelation is always harder towards another than even strangers wouldbe？ The widow's husband had possessed all Thyland； with theexception of the church property。 Her son was not at home。 In hisboyhood he had already started on a journey； for his desire was to seeforeign lands and strange people。 For years there had been no newsof him。 Perhaps he had been long laid in the grave； and would nevere back to his home； to rule where his mother then ruled。
〃What has a woman to do with rule？〃 said the bishop。
He summoned the widow before a law court； but what did he gainthereby？ The widow had never been disobedient to the law； and wasstrong in her just rights。
Bishop Olaf of Borglum； what dost thou purpose？ What writestthou on yonder smooth parchment； sealing it with thy seal； andintrusting it to the horsemen and servants； who ride away； far away；to the city of the Pope？
It is the time of falling leaves and of stranded ships； and soonicy winter will e。
Twice had icy winter returned before the bishop weled thehorsemen and servants back to their home。 They came from Rome with apapal decree… a ban； or bull； against the widow who had dared tooffend the pious bishop。 〃Cursed be she and all that belongs to her。Let her be expelled from the congregation and the Church。 Let no manstretch forth a helping hand to her； and let friends and relationsavoid her as a plague and a pestilence！〃
〃What will not bend must break；〃 said the Bishop of Borglum
And all forsake the widow； but she holds fast to her God。 He isher helper and defender。
One servant only… an old maid… remained faithful to her； andwith the old servant； the widow herself followed the plough； and thecrop grew； although the land had been cursed by the Pope and by thebishop。
〃Thou child of perdition； I will yet carry out my purpose！〃cried the Bishop of Borglum。 〃Now will I lay the hand of the Pope uponthee； to summon thee before the tribunal that shall condemn thee！〃
Then did the widow yoke the last two oxen that remained to herto a wagon； and mounted up on the wagon； with her old servant； andtravelled away across the heath out of the Danish land。 As astranger she came into a foreign country； where a strange tongue wasspoken and where new customs prevailed。 Farther and farther shejourneyed； to where green hills rise into mountains； and the vineclothes their sides。 Strange merchants drive by her； and they lookanxiously after their wagons laden with merchandise。 They fear anattack from the armed followers of the robber…knights。 The two poorwomen； in their humble vehicle drawn by two black oxen； travelfearlessly through the dangerous sunken road and through thedarksome forest。 And now they were in Franconia。 And there met thema stalwart knight； with a train of twelve armed followers。 Hepaused； gazed at the strange vehicle； and questioned the women as tothe goal of their journey and the place whence they came。 Then oneof them mentioned Thyland in Denmark； and spoke of her sorrows； of herwoes； which were soon to cease； for so Divine Providence had willedit。 For the stranger knight is the widow's son！ He seized her hand； heembraced her； and the mother wept。 For years she had not been ableto weep； but had only bitten her lips till the blood started。
It is the time of falling leaves and of stranded ships； and soonwill icy winter e。
The sea rolled wine…tubs to the shore for the bishop's cellar。In the kitchen the deer roasted on the spit before the fire。 AtBorglum it was warm and cheerful in the heated rooms； while coldwinter raged without； when a piece of news was brought to thebishop。 〃Jens Glob； of Thyland； has e back； and his mother withhim。〃 Jens Glob laid a plaint against the bishop； and summonedhim before the temporal and the spiritual court。
〃That will avail him little；〃 said the bishop。 〃Best leave off thyefforts； knight Jens。〃
Again it is the time of falling leaves and stranded ships。 Icywinter es again； and the 〃white bees〃 are swarming； and sting thetraveller's face till they melt。
〃Keen weather to…day！〃 say the people； as they step in。
Jens Glob stands so deeply wrapped in thought； that he singesthe skirt of his wide garment。
〃Thou Borglum bishop；〃 he exclaims； 〃I shall subdue thee afterall！ Under the shield of the Pope； the law cannot reach thee； but JensGlob shall reach thee！〃
Then he writes a letter to his brother…in…law； Olaf Hase； inSallingland； and prays that knight to meet him on Christmas eve； atmass； in the church at Widberg。 The bishop himself is to read themass； and consequently will journey from Borglum to Thyland； andthis is known to Jens Glob。
Moorland and meadow are covered with ice and snow。 The marshwill bear horse and rider； the bishop with his priests and armedmen。 They ride the shortest way； through the waving reeds； where thewind moans sadly。
Blow thy brazen trumpet； thou trumpeter clad in fox…skin！ itsounds merrily in the clear air。 So they ride on over heath andmoorland… over what is the garden of Fata Morgana in the hot summer；though now icy； like all the country… towards the church of Widberg。
The wind is blowing his trumpet too… blowing it harder and harder。He blows up a storm… a terrible storm… that increases more and more。Towards the church they ride； as fast as they may through the storm。The church stands firm； but the storm careers on over field andmoorland； over land and sea。
Borglum's bishop reaches the ch