country filled his
heart every day with greater compassion for the oppressed; and, longing
to spend his life for the freedom of his countrymen, he openly showed
a disposition to rebel. Frode took his forces over the Elbe, and killed
him near the village of Hanofra (Hanover), so named after Hanef. But
Swerting, though he was equally moved by the distress of his countrymen,
said nothing about the ills of his land, and revolved a plan for freedom
with a spirit yet more dogged than Hanef's. Men often doubt whether
this zeal was liker to vice or to virtue; but I certainly censure it as
criminal, because it was produced by a treacherous desire to revolt. It
may have seemed most expedient to seek the freedom of the country, but
it was not lawful to strive after this freedom by craft and treachery.
Therefore, since the deed of Swerting was far from honourable, neither
will it be called expedient; for it is nobler to attack openly him whom
you mean to attack, and to exhibit hatred in the light of day, than to
disguise a real wish to do harm under a spurious show of friendship. But
the gains of crime are inglorious, its fruits are brief and fading. For
even as that soul is slippery, which hides its insolent treachery by
stealthy arts, so is it right that whatsoever is akin to guilt should be
frail and fleeting. For guilt has been usually found to come home to its
author; and rumour relates that such was the fate of Swerting. For he
had resolved to surprise the king under the pretence of a banquet, and
burn him to death; but the king forestalled and slew him, though slain
by him in return. Hence the crime of one proved the destruction of both;
and thus, though the trick succeeded against the foe, it did not bestow
immunity on its author.

Frode was succeeded by his son Ingild, whose soul was perverted
from honour. He forsook the examples of his forefathers, and utterly
enthralled himself to the lures of the most wanton profligacy. Thus
he had not a shadow of goodness and righteousness, but embraced vices
instead of virtue; he cut the sinews of self-control, neglected the
duties of his kingly station, and sank into a filthy slave of riot.
Indeed, he fostered everything that was adverse or ill-fitted to an
orderly life. He tainted the glories of his father and grandfather by
practising the foulest lusts, and bedimmed the brightest honours of his
ancestors by most shameful deeds. For he was so prone to gluttony, that
he had no desir