Fun_People Archive
2 Apr
Quote of the day - The Story of Alwilda

Date: Tue, 2 Apr 96 12:54:39 -0800
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: Quote of the day - The Story of Alwilda

Forwarded-by: Keith Bostic <bostic@bsdi.com>
Forwarded-by: Duncan Thornton <cmeditor@MTS.Net>
Forwarded-by: qotd-request@ensu.ucalgary.ca (Quote of the day)

Today's quote is from the 1837 title _The Pirates Own Book: Authentic
Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers_:

[In the Viking Era] Even the females of the North caught the epidemic
spirit, and proudly betook themselves to the dangers of sea-life.
Saxo-Grammaticus relates an interesting account of one of them. Alwilda,
the daughter of Synardus, a Gothic king, to deliver herself from the
violence imposed on her inclination, by a marriage with Alf, the sone of
Sygardus, king of Denmark, embraced the life of a rover; and attired as a
man, she embarked in a vessel of which the crew was composed of other young
women of tried courage, dressed in the same manner. Among the first of her
cruises, she landed at a place where a company of pirates where bewailing
the loss of their commander; and the strangers were so captivated with the
air and agreeable manners of Alwilda, that they unanimously chose her for
their leader. By this reinforcement she became so formidable that Prince
Alf was despatched to engage her. She sustained her attacks with great
courage and talent; but during a severe action in the gulf of Finland, Alf
boarded her vessel, and having killed the greatest part of her crew, seized
the captain, namely herself; whom nevertheless he knew not, because she had
a casque which covered her visage. The prince was agreeable surprised, on
removing the helmet, to recognize his beloved Alwilda; and it seems that
his valor had now recommended him to the fair princess, for he persuaded
her to accept his hand, married her on board, and then led her to partake
of his wealth, and share his throne.

	[Quote-for-the-Day discussion groups may wish to debate today's
	suggested topic:

	Does the above story primarily demonstrate
	  a) the dangers of cooptation by the patriarchy, or
	  b) the virtues of playing hard to get?
	]

© 1996 Peter Langston