Legends That Every Child Should Know; a Selection of the Great Legends of All Times for Young People

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Hamilton Wright Mabie. Legends That Every Child Should Know; a Selection of the Great Legends of All Times for Young People

CHAPTER I. HAWATHA

CHAPTER II. BEOWULF

CHAPTER III. CHILDE HORN

CHAPTER IV. SIR GALAHAD

CHAPTER V. RUSTEM AND SOHRAB

CHAPTER VI. THE SEVEN SLEEPERS OF EPHESUS

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

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. THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER

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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.

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Now Beowulf heard that his own home had been burnt to the ground. It was a great grief to him, almost making him break out in a rage against Providence. His breast heaved with anger.

He meant to rid his country of the plague, and to fight the dragon single handed. He would have thought it shame to seek him with a large band, he who, as a lad, had killed Grendel and his kin. As he armed for the fray, many thoughts filled his mind; he remembered the days of his youth and manhood. "I fought many wars in my youth," he said, "and now that I am aged, and the keeper of my people, I will yet again seek the enemy and do famously."

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