EN009.18 Frya

Ott 2023

2e. Frya was White

[009/18] Frya was white, like snow in the blush of dawn, and the blue of her eyes surpassed that of the rainbow.

Beautiful Frya! Like rays of the sun at noon shone her hair, fine as spiders’ webs.

Adept Frya! If she parted her lips, the birds fell silent and the leaves became still.

Formidable Frya! Under the force of her gaze, the lion would lie down at her feet and the viper hold back its venom.

Immaculate Frya! Her food was honey and her drink was the dew, gathered from the bosom of flowers.

[010] Bright Frya! The first thing she taught her children was self-control, the second was love of virtue. And when they grew up, she gave them to understand the value of freedom, for she said: “Without freedom, all other virtues will only help make you into slaves, bringing eternal shame upon your descent.”

Mild Frya! Never would she let metal be delved from Earth for her own esteem, but when it was done, it was for the benefit of all. Most fortunate Frya! As the stars swarm around Earth, her children flocked around her.

Wise Frya! When she had raised her children to the seventh generation, she summoned them all to Fleeland, and gave them her Tex, saying: “Let this be your guide, so that it will never go ill with you.”

Exalted Frya! When she had spoken, Earth throbbed like Wralda’s sea. Fleeland’s surface sank beneath her feet, the sky turned black and rain fell ceaselessly. And when her children looked to see their mother, she was already on her watch-star. Then, finally, thunder spoke from the clouds and lightning wrote upon the firmament: “Watch!”

Far-seeing Frya! The land whence she had ascended was now a stream, and except for her Tex, all that had come from her hands was overwhelmed.

Dutiful children! When they came to themselves again, they made this high mound, built the burg thereon, and upon its walls they wrote the Tex. And in order that all should be able to find it, they called the surrounding land ‘Texland’. Therefore shall it remain as long as Earth is Earth.

Sandbach 1876

[p.17 cont.] Frya was white like the snow at sunrise, and the blue of her eyes vied with the rainbow.

Beautiful Frya! Like the rays of the sun shone the locks of her hair, which were as fine as spiders’ webs.

Clever Frya! When she opened her lips the birds ceased to sing and the leaves to quiver.

Powerful Frya! At the glance of her eye the lion lay down at her feet and the adder withheld his poison.

Pure Frya! Her food was honey, and her beverage was dew gathered from the cups of the flowers.

Sensible Frya! The first lesson that she taught her children was self-control, and the second was the love of virtue; and when they were grown she taught them the value of liberty; for she said, "Without liberty all other virtues serve to make you slaves, and to disgrace your origin."

Generous Frya! She never allowed metal to be dug from the earth for her own benefit, but when she did it it was for the general use.

[p.19] Most happy Frya! Like the starry host in the firmament, her children clustered around her.

Wise Frya! When she had seen her children reach the seventh generation, she summoned them all to Flyland, and there gave them her Tex, saying, "Let this be your guide, and it can never go ill with you."

Exalted Frya! When she had thus spoken the earth shook like the sea of Wr-alda. The ground of Flyland sank beneath her feet, the air was dimmed by tears, and when they looked for their mother she was already risen to her watching star; then at length thunder burst from the clouds, and the lightning wrote upon the firmament "Watch!"

Far-seeing Frya! The land from which she had risen was now a stream, and except her Tex all that was in it was overwhelmed.

Obedient children! When they came to themselves again, they made this high mound and built this citadel upon it, and on the walls they wrote the Tex, and that every one should be able to find it they called the land about it Texland. Therefore it shall remain as long as the earth shall be the earth.