Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XLVII - Odense
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
25G
ODENSE.
Chap. XLVII.
The supper over, an incense-burner, laden with
perfumed cedar-chips, was brought in, on the top of which
was laid a mass of papers.
“Will your Majesty deign to light the pile?”
requested Bager, offering a match. His Majesty did so
most graciously, and with quiet satisfaction saw reduced
to cinders his own bonds for sums so enormous he had
little hopes of defraying the debt. This is historical;
but here the Danes were not first, for Frmger lived
in Charles aV.’s reign, some years previous. Time
rolled on, and Bager had a numerous family, some
twelve or fourteen—you may see them all upon his
epitaphium. He portioned his daughters, got ruined
later, and had, like King Lear, to come to his children
for help and refuge; but they treated him badly. “ He
had much better,” said they, “ have kept his bonds,
instead of ruining himself for his sovereign’s sake, and
becoming a burden to his family.” So Olaf, sick at
heart, determines to try a ruse. He goes round to his
various friends and merchants with whom he had once
had dealings, and returns with a heavy coffer, which he
deposits in a place of safety, well closed with
wrought-iron lock and key. He has, he says, received gifts
from some, from others the payment of debts long due.
The contents of the coffer he intends to leave by his will
to the child who treats him best.
A change comes over the spirit of the ungrateful
offspring; it is now who shall treat the old man best—
all love and filial affection. So Bager, laughing in his
sleeve, ends his days in peace and comfort. He can
make no distinction at his death ; all have been kind to
him, “ his dutiful children the contents of the coffer
are to be equally divided amongst them ; it is heavy
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
