Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS. 325
daughter, together with the territory of Billoen.
He was
yet speaking when the swan appeared, making a great
noise with its wings, as if calling Helias, who now took a
sad leave of all, and followed by the tears of the inhabitants,
entered the boat, and was instantly drawn away by
the swan.
But the duchess and her daughter hastened to Nymwegen,
at which place they arrived before the knight of
the swan. There they related to the emperor all that had
taken place, and prayed for his intercession and aid.
While they were thus speaking, the sound of Helias's horn
was heard from the Rhine, and shortly after he himself
appeared before the emperor. But earnestly as the emperor
besought him not to forsake the duchess and her
beautiful daughter, it was all in vain. Helias now prayed
the emperor to aid and protect the two ladies, and having
received that prince's assurance that his prayer was
granted, again entered his boat. The swan beat with its
wings on seeing him, and soon both found themselves in
Lillefort.
King Oriant was sitting at table with his queen and
their five children when the boat arrived. At the lively
notes of Helias's horn, they all rushed to the windows of
the palace, and on seeing the two brothers, they hastened
down to embrace and kiss them. Their mother's first
question was "
: My son, where hast thou been so long ? ''
To which Helias answered "
: My mother, that I will tell
you at another time.'' She then asked what was become
of the swan, and Helias informed her that it had remained
in the water ; upon which the mother said :
" I this night
dreamed that the swan would recover its human form, if
the two beakers were shown to it."
This seemed good to
all, and when the swan saw the two beakers which the
goldsmith had made of its chain, it was instantly restored
to its human figure, and received the name of Esmeri;