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360
VORDINGBORG.’
Chap. LIV.
courtier from the breast of poor murdered Tove—how,
driven well nigh demented by the affection of his
sovereign, transferred from the corpse of the defunct
mistress to himself, he flung the precious stone into a lake
near Vordingborg, in which locality the affections of his
master were henceforth concentrated.
It was in the period of their power and glory that the
cities of the Hanseatic League, irritated at some real
or imaginary injury, despatched each severally his envoy
—seventy-seven they arrived together—to declare war
against the Danish sovereign. Loud laughed King
Valdemar when he was told of their arrival, and louder
still when he heard that those of South Germany,
fearing the inclemency of the Danish climate, had
muffled up then- persons in furs and skins, much after
the manner of Greenlanders and Esquimaux. The
king invites the embassy on the morrow to a state
banquet in the riddersaal of the castle. The ambassadors
arrive, seventy-seven in number, arranged according to
precedence, and are conducted to the hall of state where
the banquet is prepared. Sable and miniver, squirrel and
humble catskin envelop the portly persons of the proud
burghers of the important League. The king caused
the stoves to be heaped with wood, and the hall to be
heated like the fiery furnace of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego; have a carouse with his worthy envoys
he would: the doors were locked, the wine-cup passed,
the poor ambassadors in their heavy robes melt and
suffocate, the king and his courtiers at their ease enjoy
the fun ; they drink, they revel, regardless of the
sufferings of their guests, till nearly break of morn, when the
envoys are released, with compliments, and orders to
return the following day to a fresh banquet and receive
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