--- title: Hermod and Hadvor (32) — The Yellow Fairy Book · full text with trees · page 2 description: Hermod and Hadvor (32), «The Yellow Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: (32) From the Icelandic. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/49/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Yellow Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/) / Hermod and Hadvor (32) # Hermod and Hadvor (32) · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/49/) **2** Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the Princess what had been done, whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated her to tell her what to do.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘First and foremost,’ said Olof, ‘you must get a wide cloak to wear over your other clothes, when you are put into the mound.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") The Giant’s ghost will walk after you are both left together in there, and he will have two dogs along with him.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") He will ask you to cut pieces out of his legs to give to the dogs, but that you must not promise to do unless he tells you where Hermod has gone to, and tells you how to find him.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") He will then let you stand on his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but he means to cheat you all the same, and will catch you by the cloak to pull you back again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on your shoulders, so that he will only get hold of that.’[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into it Hadvor also had to go without being allowed to make any defence.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") After they were both left there everything happened just as Olof had said.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince became a Giant again, and asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of his legs for the dogs; but she refused until he told her that Hermod was in a desert island, which she could not reach unless she took the skin off the soles of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes she could travel both on land and sea.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") This Hadvor now did, and the Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the mound.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") As she sprang out he caught hold of her cloak; but she had taken care to let it lie loose on her shoulders, and so escaped.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was the shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") This strait she easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") On reaching the island she found a sandy beach all along by the sea, and high cliffs above.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Nor could she see any way to get up these, and so, being both sad at heart and tired with the long journey, she lay down and fell asleep.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") As she slept she dreamed that a tall woman came to her and said, ‘I know that you are Princess Hadvor, and are searching for Hermod.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") He is on this island; but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no one to help you, for you cannot climb the cliffs by your own strength.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") I have therefore let down a rope, by which you will be able to climb up; and as the island is so large that you might not find Hermod’s dwelling-place so easily, I lay down this clew beside you.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") You need only hold the end of the thread, and the clew will run on before and show you the way.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") I also lay this belt beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep you from growing faint with hunger.’[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her dream had been true.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") The rope hung down from the cliff, and the clew and belt lay beside her.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The belt she put on, the rope enabled her to climb up the cliff, and the clew led her on till she came to the mouth of a cave, which was not very big.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") She went into the cave, and saw there a low couch, under which she crept and lay down.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and became aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave, and shook itself there, after which she heard a man coming towards the couch.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") She was sure this was Hermod, because she heard him speaking to himself about his own condition, and calling to mind Hadvor and other things in the old days.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Hadvor made no sign, but waited till he had fallen asleep, and then crept out and burned the lion’s skin, which he had left outside.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she went back into the cave and wakened Hermod, and they had a most joyful meeting.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a loss to know how to get out of the island.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Hadvor told Hermod her dream, and said she suspected there was some one in the island who would be able to help them.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Hermod said he knew of a Witch there, who was very ready to help anyone, and that the only plan was to go to her.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") So they went to the Witch’s cave, and found her there with her fifteen young sons, and asked her to help them to get to the mainland.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘There are other things easier than that,’ said she, ‘for the Giant that was buried will be waiting for you, and will attack you on the way, as he has turned himself into a big whale.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall lend you a boat, however, and if you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger, then you can name me by name.’[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out from the island, but on the way they saw a huge fish coming towards them, with great splashing and dashing of waves.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") They were sure of what it was, and thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on the Witch, and so they did.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The next minute they saw coming after them another huge whale, followed by fifteen smaller ones.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") All of these swam past the boat and went on to meet the whale.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a fierce battle then, and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to keep the boat from being filled by the waves.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") After this fight had gone on for some time, they saw that the sea was dyed with blood; the big whale and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared, and they got to land safe and sound.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the story goes back to the King’s hall, where strange things had happened in the meantime.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The Queen and her daughter had disappeared, but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Ever so many people had tried to drive them away, but no one could manage it.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus some time went on, while the King was almost beside himself with sorrow and care for the loss of his Queen, and because these monsters destroyed all mirth in the hall.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") One evening, however, while they all sat dull and down-hearted, in came Hermod with a sword by his side, and saluted the King, who received him with the greatest joy, as if he had come back from the dead.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Before Hermod sat down, however, he went to where the rat and the mouse were fighting, and cut them in two with his sword.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") All were astonished then by seeing two witches lying dead on the floor of the hall.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to be rid of such vile creatures.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Next he asked for the hand of Hadvor, which the King readily gave him, and being now an old man, gave the kingdom to him as well; and so Hermod became King.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Olof married a good-looking nobleman, and that is the end of the story.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/49/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/49/) - next →: [The Steadfast Tin-soldier](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/50/) - ↑ back to [The Yellow Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg640/)