PART II

DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATING THE STORIES IN _BEOWULF_, AND THE _OFFA_-SAGA.

A. THE EARLY KINGS OF THE DANES ACCORDING TO SAXO GRAMMATICUS

Saxo, Book I, ed. Ascensius, fol. iii b; ed. Holder, p. 10, l. 25.

Uerum a Dan, ut fert antiquitas, regum nostrorum stemmata, ceu quodam deriuata principio, splendido successionis ordine profluxerunt. Huic filii Humblus et Lotherus fuere, ex Grytha, summae inter Teutones dignitatis matrona, suscepti.

Lecturi regem ueteres affixis humo saxis insistere, suffragiaque promere consueuerant, subiectorum lapidum firmitate facti constantiam ominaturi. Quo ritu Humblus, decedente patre, nouo patriae beneficio rex creatus, sequentis fortunae malignitate, ex rege priuatus euasit. Bello siquidem a Lothero captus, regni depositione spiritum mercatus est; haec sola quippe uicto salutis conditio reddebatur. Ita fraternis iniuriis imperium abdicare coactus, documentum hominibus praebuit, ut plus splendoris, ita minus securitatis, aulis quam tuguriis inesse. Ceterum iniuriae tam patiens fuit, ut honoris damno tanquam beneficio gratulari crederetur, sagaciter, ut puto, regiae conditionis habitum contemplatus. Sed nec Lotherus tolerabiliorem regem quam militem egit, ut prorsus insolentia ac scelere regnum auspicari uideretur; siquidem illustrissimum quemque uita aut opibus spoliare, patriamque bonis ciuibus uacuefacere probitatis loco duxit, regni aemulos ratus, quos nobilitate pares habuerat. Nec diu scelerum impunitus, patriae consternatione perimitur; eadem spiritum eripiente, quae regnum largita fuerat. {130}

Cuius filius Skyoldus naturam ab ipso, non mores sortitus, per summam tenerioris aetatis industriam cuncta paternae contagionis uestigia ingeniti erroris deuio praeteribat. Igitur ut a paternis uitiis prudenter desciuit, ita auitis uirtutibus feliciter respondit, remotiorem pariter ac praestantiorem hereditarii moris portionem amplexus. Huius adolescentia inter paternos uenatores immanis beluae subactione insignis extitit, mirandoque rei euentu futurae eius fortitudinis habitum ominata est. Nam cum a tutoribus forte, quorum summo studio educabatur, inspectandae uenationis licentiam impetrasset, obuium sibi insolitae granditatis ursum, telo uacuus, cingulo, cuius usum habebat, religandum curauit, necandumque comitibus praebuit. Sed et complures spectatae fortitudinis pugiles per idem tempus uiritim ab eo superati produntur, e quibus Attalus et Scatus clari illustresque fuere. Quindecim annos natus, inusitato corporis incremento perfectissimum humani roboris specimen praeferebat, tantaque indolis eius experimenta fuere, ut ab ipso ceteri Danorum reges communi quodam uocabulo Skioldungi nuncuparentur....

Saxo then relates the adventures of Gram, Hadingus and Frotho, whom he represents as respectively son, grandson and great-grandson of Skioldus. That Gram and Hadingus are interpolated in the family is shewn by the fact that the pedigree of Sweyn Aageson passes direct from Skiold to his son Frothi.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xi b; ed. Holder, p. 38, l. 4.

Hadingo filius Frotho succedit, cuius uarii insignesque casus fuere. Pubertatis annos emensus, iuuenilium praeferebat complementa uirtutum, quas ne desidiae corrumpendas praeberet, abstractum uoluptatibus animum assidua armorum intentione torquebat. Qui cum, paterno thesauro bellicis operibus absumpto, stipendiorum facultatem, qua militem aleret, non haberet, attentiusque necessarii usus subsidia circunspiceret, tali subeuntis indigenae carmine concitatur:

Insula non longe est praemollibus edita cliuis, Collibus aera tegens et opimae conscia praedae. Hic tenet eximium, montis possessor, aceruum {131} Implicitus giris serpens crebrisque reflexus Orbibus, et caudae sinuosa uolumina ducens, Multiplicesque agitans spiras, uirusque profundens. Quem superare uolens clypeo, quo conuenit uti, Taurinas intende cutes, corpusque bouinis Tergoribus tegito, nec amaro nuda ueneno Membra patere sinas; sanies, quod conspuit, urit. Lingua trisulca micans patulo licet ore resultet, Tristiaque horrifico minitetur uulnera rictu, Intrepidum mentis habitum retinere memento. Nec te permoueat spinosi dentis acumen, Nec rigor, aut rapida iactatum fauce uenenum. Tela licet temnat uis squamea, uentre sub imo Esse locum scito, quo ferrum mergere fas est; Hunc mucrone petens medium rimaberis anguem. Hinc montem securus adi, pressoque ligone Perfossos scrutare cauos; mox aere crumenas Imbue, completamque reduc ad littora puppim.

Credulus Frotho solitarius in insulam traiicit: ne comitatior beluam adoriretur, quam athletas aggredi moris fuerat. Quae cum aquis pota specum repeteret, impactum Frothonis ferrum aspero cutis horrore contempsit. Sed et spicula, quae in eam coniecta fuerant, eluso mittentis conatu laesionis irrita resultabant. At ubi nil tergi duritia cessit, uentris curiosius annotati mollities ferro patuit. Quae se morsu ulcisci cupiens, clypeo duntaxat spinosum oris acumen impegit. Crebris deinde linguam micatibus ducens, uitam pariter ac uirus efflauit.

Repertae pecuniae regem locupletem fecere....

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xv b; ed. Holder, p. 51, l. 4.

His, uirtute paribus, aequa regnandi incessit auiditas. Imperii cuique cura extitit; fraternus nullum respectus astrinxit. Quem enim nimia sui caritas ceperit, aliena deserit: nee sibi quisquam ambitiose atque aliis amice consulere potest. Horum maximus Haldanus, Roe et Scato fratribus interfectis, naturam scelere polluit: regnum parricidio carpsit. Et ne ullum crudelitatis exemplum omitteret, comprehensos eorum fautores prius {132} uinculorum poena coercuit, mox suspendio consumpsit. Cuius ex eo maxime fortuna ammirabilis fuit, quod, licet omnia temporum momenta ad exercenda atrocitatis officia contulisset, senectute uitam, non ferro, finierit.

Huius filii Roe et Helgo fuere. A Roe Roskildia condita memoratur: quam postmodum Sueno, furcatae barbae cognomento clarus, ciuibus auxit, amplitudine propagauit. Hic breui angustoque corpore fuit: Helgonem habitus procerior cepit. Qui, diuiso cum fratre regno, maris possessionem sortitus, regem Sclauiae Scalcum maritimis copiis lacessitum oppressit. Quam cum in prouinciam redegisset, uarios pelagi recessus uago nauigationis genere perlustrabat.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xvi a; ed. Holder, p. 53, l. 16.

Huic filius Roluo succedit, uir corporis animique dotibus uenustus, qui staturae magnitudinem pari uirtutis habitu commendaret.

_Ibid._, ed. Ascensius, fol. xvii a; ed. Holder, p. 55, l. 40.

Per idem tempus Agnerus quidam, Ingelli films, sororem Roluonis, Rutam nomine, matrimonio ducturus, ingenti conuiuio nuptias instruit. In quo cum pugiles, omni petulantiae genere debacchantes, in Ialtonem quendam nodosa passim ossa coniicerent, accidit, ut eius consessor, Biarco nomine, iacientis errore uehementem capite ictum exciperet. Qui dolore pariter ac ludibrio lacessitus, osse inuicem in iacientem remisso, frontem eius in occuput reflexit, idemque loco frontis intorsit, transuersum hominis animum uultus obliquitate mulctando. Ea res contumeliosam ioci insolentiam temperauit, pugilesque regia abire coegit. Qua conuiuii iniuria permotus, sponsus ferro cum Biarcone decernere statuit, uiolatae hilaritatis ultionem duelii nomine quaesiturus. In cuius ingressu, utri prior feriendi copia deberetur diutule certatum est. Non enim antiquitus in edendis agonibus crebrae ictuum uicissitudines petebantur: sed erat cum interuallo temporis etiam feriendi distincta successio; rarisque sed atrocibus plagis certamina gerebantur, ut gloria potius percussionum magnitudini, quam numero deferretur. Praelato ob generis dignitatem Agnero, tanta ui ictum ab eo editum {133} constat, ut, prima cassidis parte conscissa, supremam capitis cuticulam uulneraret, ferrumque mediis galeae interclusum foraminibus dimitteret. Tunc Biarco mutuo percussurus, quo plenius ferrum libraret, pedem trunco annixus, medium Agneri corpus praestantis acuminis mucrone transegit. Sunt qui asserant, morientem Agnerum soluto in risum ore per summam doloris dissimulationem spiritum reddidisse. Cuius ultionem pugiles auidius expetentes, simili per Biarconem exitio mulctati sunt. Utebatur quippe praestantis acuminis inusitataeque longitudinis gladio, quem Loeui uocabat. Talibus operum meritis exultanti nouam de se siluestris fera uictoriam praebuit. Ursum quippe eximiae magnitudinis obuium sibi inter dumeta factum iaculo confecit: comitemque suum Ialtonem, quo uiribus maior euaderet, applicato ore egestum belluae cruorem haurire iussit. Creditum namque erat, hoc potionis genere corporei roboris incrementa praestari. His facinorum uirtutibus clarissimas optimatum familiaritates adeptus, etiam regi percarus euasit; sororem eius Rutam uxorem asciuit, uictique sponsam uictoriae praemium habuit. Ab Atislo lacessiti Roluonis ultionem armis exegit, eumque uictum hello prostrauit. Tunc Roluo magni acuminis iuuenem Hiarthwarum nomine, sorore Sculda sibi in matrimonium data, annuoque uectigali imposito, Suetiae praefectum constituit, libertatis iacturam affinitatis beneficio leniturus.

Hoc loci quiddam memoratu iucundum operi inseratur. Adolescens quidam Wiggo nomine, corpoream Roluonis magnitudinem attentiori contemplatione scrutatus, ingentique eiusdem admiratione captus, percontari per ludibrium coepit, quisnam esset iste Krage, quem tanto staturae fastigio prodiga rerum natura ditasset; faceto cauillationis genere inusitatum proceritatis habitum prosecutus. Dicitur enim lingua Danica 'krage' truncus, cuius semicaesis ramis fastigia conscenduntur, ita ut pes, praecisorum stipitum obsequio perinde ac scalae beneficio nixus, sensimque ad superiora prouectus, petitae celsitudinis compendium assequatur. Quern uocis iactum Roluo perinde ac inclytum sibi cognomen amplexus, urbanitatem dicti ingentis armillae dono prosequitur. Qua Wiggo dexteram excultam extollens, laeua per pudoris simulationem post tergum {134} reflexa, ridiculum corporis incessum praebuit, praefatus, exiguo laetari munere, quem sors diutinae tenuisset inopiae. Rogatus, cur ita se gereret, inopem ornamenti manum nulloque cultus beneficio gloriantem ad aspectum reliquae uerecundo paupertatis rubore perfundi dicebat. Cuius dicti calliditate consentaneum priori munus obtinuit. Siquidem Roluo manum, quae ab ipso occultabatur, exemplo reliquae in medium accersendam curauit. Nec Wiggoni rependendi beneficii cura defuit. Siquidem arctissima uoti nuncupatione pollicitus est, si Roluonem ferro perire contingeret, ultionem se ab eius interfectoribus exacturum. Nec praetereundum, quod olim ingressuri curiam proceres famulatus sui principia alicuius magnae rei uoto principibus obligare solebant, uirtute tirocinium auspicantes.

Interea Sculda, tributariae solutionis pudore permota, diris animum commentis applicans, maritum, exprobrata condicionis deformitate, propulsandae seruitutis monitu concitatum atque ad insidias Roluoni nectendas perductum atrocissimis nouarum rerum consiliis imbuit, plus unumquenque libertati quam necessitudini debere testata. Igitur crebras armorum massas, diuersi generis tegminibus obuolutas, tributi more per Hiarthwarum in Daniam perferri iubet, occidendi noctu regis materiam praebituras. Refertis itaque falsa uectigalium mole nauigiis, Lethram pergitur, quod oppidum, a Roluone constructum eximiisque regni opibus illustratum, ceteris confinium prouinciarum urbibus regiae fundationis et sedis auctoritate praestabat. Rex aduentum Hiarthwari conuiualis impensae deliciis prosecutus ingenti se potione proluerat, hospitibus praeter morem ebrietatis intemperantiam formidantibus. Ceteris igitur altiorem carpentibus somnum, Sueones, quibus scelesti libido propositi communem quietis usum ademerat, cubiculis furtim delabi coepere. Aperitur ilico telorum occlusa congeries, et sua sibi quisque tacitus arma connectit. Deinde regiam petunt, irruptisque penetralibus in dormientium corpora ferrum destringunt. Experrecti complures, quibus non minus subitae cladis horror quam somni stupor incesserat, dubio nisu discrimini restitere, socii an hostes occurrerent, noctis errore incertum reddente. Eiusdem forte silentio noctis Hialto, qui {135} inter regios proceres spectatae probitatis merito praeeminebat, rus egressus, scorti se complexibus dederat. Hic cum obortum pugnae fragorem stupida procul aure sensisset, fortitudinem luxuriae praetulit, maluitque funestum Martis discrimen appetere, quam blandis Veneris illecebris indulgere. Quanta hunc militem regis caritate flagrasse putemus, qui, cum ignorantiae simulatione excusationem absentiae praestare posset, salutem suam manifesto periculo obicere, quam uoluptati seruare satius existimauit? Discedentem pellex percunctari coepit, si ipso careat, cuius aetatis uiro nubere debeat. Quam Hialto, perinde ac secretius allocuturus, propius accedere iussam, indignatus amoris sibi successorem requiri, praeciso naso deformem reddidit, erubescendoque uulnere libidinosae percunctationis dictum mulctauit, mentis lasciuiam oris iactura temperandam existimans. Quo facto, liberum quaesitae rei iudicium a se ei relinqui dixit. Post haec, repetito ocius oppido, confertissimis se globis immergit, aduersasque acies mutua uulnerum inflictione prosternit. Cumque dormientis adhuc Biarconis cubiculum praeteriret, expergisci iussum, tali uoce compellat:

Saxo's translation of the _Bjarkam['a]l_ follows. The part which concerns students of _Beowulf_ most is the account of how Roluo deposed and slew Roericus.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xix a; ed. Holder, p. 62, l. 1.

At nos, qui regem uoto meliore ueremur, Iungamus cuneos stabiles, tutisque phalangem Ordinibus mensi, qua rex praecepit, eamus Qui natum Boeki Roericum strauit auari, Implicuitque uirum leto uirtute carentem. Ille quidem praestans opibus, habituque fruendi Pauper erat, probitate minus quam foenore pollens; Aurum militia potius ratus, omnia lucro Posthabuit, laudisque carens congessit aceruos Aeris, et ingenuis uti contempsit amicis. Cumque lacessitus Roluonis classe fuisset, Egestum cistis aurum deferre ministros Iussit, et in primas urbis diffundere portas. {136} Dona magis quam bella parans, quia militis expers Munere, non armis, tentandum credidit hostem; Tanquam opibus solis bellum gesturus, et usu Rerum, non hominum, Martem producere posset. Ergo graues loculos et ditia claustra resoluit Armillas teretes et onustas protulit arcas, Exitii fomenta sui, ditissimus aeris, Bellatoris inops, hostique adimenda relinquens Pignora, quae patriis praebere pepercit amicis. Annellos ultro metuens dare, maxima nolens Pondera fudit opum, ueteris populator acerui. Rex tamen hunc prudens, oblataque munera spreuit, Rem pariter uitamque adimens; nec profuit hosti Census iners, quem longo auidus cumulauerat aeuo. Hunc pius inuasit Roluo, summasque perempti Cepit opes, inter dignos partitus amicos, Quicquid auara manus tantis congesserat annis; Irrumpensque opulenta magis quam fortia castra, Praebuit eximiam sociis sine sanguine praedam. Cui nil tam pulchrum fuit, ut non funderet illud, Aut carum, quod non sociis daret, aera fauillis Assimulans, famaque annos, non foenore mensus. Unde liquet, regem claro iam funere functum Praeclaros egisse dies, speciosaque fati Tempora, praeteritos decorasse uiriliter annos. Nam uirtute ardens, dum uiueret, omnia uicit, Egregio dignas sortitus corpore uires. Tam praeceps in bella fuit, quam concitus amnis In mare decurrit, pugnamque capessere promptus Ut ceruus rapidum bifido pede tendere cursum.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xxi a; ed. Holder, p. 67, l. 1.

Hanc maxime exhortationum seriem idcirco metrica ratione compegerim, quod earundem sententiarum intellectus Danici cuiusdam carminis compendio digestus a compluribus antiquitatis peritis memoriter usurpatur.

Contigit autem, potitis uictoria Gothis, omne Roluonis {137} agmen occumbere, neminemque, excepto Wiggone, ex tanta iuuentute residuum fore. Tantum enim excellentissimis regis meritis ea pugna a militibus tributum est, ut ipsius caedes omnibus oppetendae mortis cupiditatem ingeneraret, eique morte iungi uita iucundius duceretur.

Laetus Hiartuarus prandendi gratia positis mensis conuiuium pugnae succedere iubet, uictoriam epulis prosecuturus. Quibus oneratus magnae sibi ammirationi esse dixit, quod ex tanta Roluonis militia nemo, qui saluti fuga aut captione consuleret, repertus fuisset. Unde liquidum fuisse quanto fidei studio regis sui caritatem coluerint, cui superstites esse passi non fuerint. Fortunam quoque, quod sibi ne unius quidem eorum obsequium superesse permiserit, causabatur, quam libentissime se talium uirorum famulatu usurum testatus. Oblato Wiggone perinde ac munere gratulatus, an sibi militare uellet, perquirit. Annuenti destrictum gladium offert. Ille cuspidem refutans, capulum petit, hunc morem Roluoni in porrigendo militibus ense extitisse praefatus. Olim namque se regum clientelae daturi, tacto gladii capulo obsequium polliceri solebant. Quo pacto Wiggo capulum complexus, cuspidem per Hiartuarum agit, ultionis compos, cuius Roluoni ministerium pollicitus fuerat. Quo facto, ouans irruentibus in se Hiartuari militibus cupidius corpus obtulit, plus uoluptatis se ex tyranni nece quam amaritudinis ex propria sentire uociferans. Ita conuiuio in exequias uerso, uictoriae gaudium funeris luctus insequitur. Clarum ac semper memorabilem uirum, qui, uoto fortiter expleto, mortem sponte complexus suo ministerio mensas tyranni sanguine maculauit. Neque enim occidentium manus uiuax animi uirtus expauit, cum prius a se loca, quibus Roluo assueuerat, interfectoris eius cruore respersa cognosceret. Eadem itaque dies Hiartuari regnum finiuit ac peperit. Fraudulenter enim quaesitae res eadem sorte defluunt, qua petuntur, nullusque diuturnus est fructus, qui scelere ac perfidia partus fuerit. Quo euenit ut Sueones, paulo ante Daniae potitores, ne suae quidem salutis potientes existerent. Protinus enim a Syalandensibus deleti laesis Roluonis manibus iusta exsoluere piacula. Adeo plerunque fortunae saeuitia ulciscitur, quod dolo ac fallacia patratur.

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{138}

B. HR['O]LFS SAGA KRAKA, CAP. 23

(ed. Finnur J['o]nsson, Koebenhavn, 1904, p. 65 ff.)

S['i]dhan f['o]r B[o,]dhvarr leidh s['i]na til Hleidhargardhs. Hann kemr til konungs atsetu. B[o,]dhvarr leidhir s['i]dhan hest sinn ['a] stall hj['a] konungs hestum hinum beztu ok spyrr engan at; gekk s['i]dhan inn ['i] h[o,]llina, ok var thar f['a]tt manna. Hann sez utarliga, ok sem hann hefir verit thar litla hr['i]dh, heyrir hann thrausk n[o,]kkut utar ['i] hornit ['i] einhverjum stadh. B[o,]dhvarr l['i]tr thangat ok s['e]r, at mannsh[o,]nd kemr upp ['u]r mikilli beinahr['u]gu, er thar l['a]; h[o,]ndin var sv[o,]rt mj[o,]k. B[o,]dhvarr gengr thangat til ok spyrr, hverr thar vaeri ['i] beinahr['u]gunni; th['a] var honum svarat ok heldr ['o]framliga: "H[o,]ttr heiti ek, Bokki saell." "Hv['i] ertu h['e]r, segir B[o,]dhvarr, edha hvat gerir th['u]?" H[o,]ttr segir: "ek geri m['e]r skjaldborg, Bokki saell." B[o,]dhvarr sagdhi: "vesall ertu thinnar skjaldborgar." B[o,]dhvarr thr['i]fr til hans ok hnykkir honum upp ['u]r beinahr['u]gunni. H[o,]ttr kvadh th['a] h['a]tt vidh ok maelti: "n['u] viltu m['e]r bana, ger eigi thetta, sv['a] sem ek hefi n['u] vel um b['u]iz ['a]dhr, en th['u] hefir n['u] r['o]tat ['i] sundr skjaldborg minni, ok hafdha ek n['u] sv['a] gert hana h['a]va utan at m['e]r, at h['u]n hefir hl['i]ft m['e]r vidh [o,]llum h[o,]ggum ykkar, sv['a] _at_ engi h[o,]gg hafa komit ['a] mik lengi, en ekki var h['u]n enn sv['a] b['u]in, sem ek aetladhi h['u]n skyldi verdha." B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "ekki muntu f['a] skjaldborgina lengr." H[o,]ttr maelti ok gr['e]t: "skaltu n['u] bana m['e]r, Bokki saell?" B[o,]dhvarr badh hann ekki hafa h['a]tt, t['o]k hann upp s['i]dhan ok bar hann ['u]t ['u]r h[o,]llinni ok til vats n[o,]kkurs, sem thar var ['i] n['a]nd, ok g['a]fu f['a]ir at thessu gaum, ok th['o] hann upp allan. S['i]dhan gekk B[o,]dhvarr til thess r['u]ms, sem hann hafdhi ['a]dhr tekit, ok leiddi eptir s['e]r H[o,]tt ok thar setr hann H[o,]tt hj['a] s['e]r, en hann er sv['a] hraeddr, at skelfr ['a] honum leggr ok lidhr, en th['o] thykkiz hann skilja, at thessi madhr vill hj['a]lpa s['e]r. Eptir that kveldar ok dr['i]fa menn ['i] h[o,]llina ok sj['a] Hr['o]lfs kappar, at H[o,]ttr er settr ['a] bekk upp, ok thykkir theim s['a] madhr hafa gert sik aerit djarfan, er thetta hefir til tekit. Ilt tillit hefir H[o,]ttr, th['a] _er_ hann s['e]r kunningja s['i]na, thv['i] _at_ hann hefir ilt eitt af theim reynt; hann vill lifa gjarnan ok fara aptr ['i] beinahr['u]gu s['i]na, en B[o,]dhvarr heldr honum, sv['a] _at_ hann n['a]ir ekki ['i] burtu at fara, thv['i] _at_ hann th['o]ttiz ekki jafnberr fyrir h[o,]ggum theira, ef hann naedhi thangat {139} at komaz sem hann er n['u]. Hirdhmenn hafa n['u] sama vanda, ok kasta fyrst beinum sm['a]m um thvert g['o]lfit til B[o,]dhvars ok Hattar. B[o,]dhvarr laetr, sem hann sj['a]i eigi thetta. H[o,]ttr er sv['a] hraeddr, at hann tekr eigi mat n['e] drukk, ok thykkir honum th['a] ok th['a] sem hann muni vera lostinn; ok n['u] maelti H[o,]ttr til B[o,]dhvars: "Bokki saell, n['u] ferr at th['e]r st['o]r hn['u]ta, ok mun thetta aetlat okkr til naudha." B[o,]dhvarr badh hann thegja; hann setr vidh holan l['o]fann ok tekr sv['a] vidh hn['u]tunni; thar fylgir leggrinn medh; B[o,]dhvarr sendi aptr hn['u]tuna ok setr ['a] thann, sem kastadhi ok r['e]tt framan ['i] hann medh sv['a] hardhri svipan, at hann fekk bana; sl['o] th['a] miklum ['o]tta yfir hirdhmennina. Kemr n['u] thessi fregn fyrir Hr['o]lf konung ok kappa hans upp ['i] kastalann, at madhr mikil['u]dhligr s['e] kominn til hallarinnar ok hafi drepit einn hirdhmann hans, ok vildu their l['a]ta drepa manninn. Hr['o]lfr konungr spurdhiz eptir, hv['a]rt hirdhmadhrinn hefdhi verit saklauss drepinn. "Thv['i] var naesta," s[o,]gdhu their. K['o]muz th['a] fyrir Hr['o]lf konung [o,]ll sannindi h['e]r um. Hr['o]lfr konungr sagdhi that skyldu fjarri, at drepa skyldi manninn--"hafi thit h['e]r illan vanda upp tekit, at berja saklausa menn beinum; er m['e]r ['i] thv['i] ['o]virdhing, en ydhr st['o]r sk[o,]mm, at gera sl['i]kt; hefi ek jafnan raett um thetta ['a]dhr, ok hafi thit at thessu engan gaum gefit, ok hygg ek, at thessi madhr muni ekki alll['i]till fyrir s['e]r, er th['e]r hafidh n['u] ['a] leitat, ok kallidh hann til m['i]n, sv['a] _at_ ek viti, hverr hann er." B[o,]dhvarr gengr fyrir konung ok kvedhr hann kurteisliga. Konunga spyrr hann at nafni. "Hattargridha kalla mik hirdhmenn ydhar, en B[o,]dhvarr heiti ek." Konungr maelti: "hverjar baetr viltu bj['o]dha m['e]r fyrir hirdhmann minn?" B[o,]dhvarr segir: "til thess gerdhi hann, sem hann fekk." Konungr maelti: "viltu vera minn madhr ok skipa r['u]m hans?" B[o,]dhvarr segir: "ekki neita ek, at vera ydharr madhr, ok munu vit ekki skiljaz sv['a] b['u]it, vit H[o,]ttr, ok dveljaz naer th['e]r b['a]dhir, heldr en thessi hefir setit, elligar vit f[o,]rum burt b['a]dhir." Konungr maelti: "eigi s['e] ek at honum saemd en ek spara ekki mat vidh hann." B[o,]dhvarr gengr n['u] til thess r['u]ms, sem honum l['i]kadhi, en ekki vill hann that skipa, sem hinn hafdhi ['a]dhr; hann kippir upp ['i] einhverjum stadh thremr m[o,]nnum, ok s['i]dhan settuz their H[o,]ttr thar nidhr ok innar ['i] h[o,]llinni en theim var skipat. Heldr th['o]tti m[o,]nnum ['o]daelt vidh B[o,]dhvar, ok er theim hinn mesti ['i]hugi at honum. Ok sem leidh at j['o]lum, {140} gerdhuz menn ['o]k['a]tir. B[o,]dhvarr spyrr H[o,]tt, hverju thetta saetti; hann segir honum, at d['y]r eitt hafi thar komit tv['a] vetr ['i] samt, mikit ok ['o]gurligt--"ok hefir vaengi ['a] bakinu ok fl['y]gr that jafnan; tvau haust hefir that n['u] hingat vitjat ok gert mikinn skadha; ['a] that b['i]ta ekki v['a]pn, en kappar konungs koma ekki heim, their sem at eru einna mestir." B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "ekki er h[o,]llin sv['a] vel skipudh, sem ek aetladhi, ef eitt d['y]r skal h['e]r eydha r['i]ki ok f['e] konungsins." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "that er ekki d['y]r, heldr er that hit mesta tr[o,]ll." N['u] kemr j['o]laaptann; th['a] maelti konungr: "n['u] vil ek, at menn s['e] kyrrir ok hlj['o]dhir ['i] n['o]tt, ok banna ek [o,]llum m['i]num m[o,]nnum at ganga ['i] n[o,]kkurn h['a]ska vidh d['y]rit, en f['e] ferr eptir thv['i] sem audhnar; menn m['i]na vil ek ekki missa." Allir heita h['e]r g['o]dhu um, at gera eptir thv['i], sem konungr baudh. B[o,]dhvarr leyndiz ['i] burt um n['o]ttina; hann laetr H[o,]tt fara medh s['e]r, ok gerir hann that naudhugr ok kalladhi hann s['e]r st['y]rt til bana. B[o,]dhvarr segir, at betr mundi til takaz. Their ganga ['i] burt fr['a] h[o,]llinni, ok verdhr B[o,]dhvarr at bera hann; sv['a] er hann hraeddr. N['u] sj['a] their d['y]rit; ok thv['i] naest aepir H[o,]ttr sl['i]kt, sem hann m['a], ok kvadh dyrit mundu gleypa hann. B[o,]dhvarr badh bikkjuna hans thegja ok kastar honum nidhr ['i] mosann, ok thar liggr hann ok eigi medh [o,]llu ['o]hraeddr; eigi thorir hann heim at fara heldr. N['u] gengr B[o,]dhvarr m['o]ti d['y]rinu; that haefir honum, at sverdhit er fast ['i] umgj[o,]rdhinni, er hann vildi bregdha thv['i]. B[o,]dhvarr eggjar n['u] fast sverdhit ok th['a] bragdhar ['i] umgj[o,]rdhinni, ok n['u] faer hann brugdhit umgj[o,]rdhinni, sv['a] _at_ sverdhit gengr ['u]r sl['i]dhrunum, ok leggr thegar undir baegi d['y]rsins ok sv['a] fast, at st['o]dh ['i] hjartanu, ok datt th['a] d['y]rit til jardhar dautt nidhr. Eptir that ferr hann thangat sem H[o,]ttr liggr. B[o,]dhvarr tekr hann upp ok berr thangat, sem d['y]rit liggr dautt. H[o,]ttr skelfr ['a]kaft. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "n['u] skaltu drekka bl['o]dh d['y]rsins." Hann er lengi tregr, en th['o] thorir hann v['i]st eigi annat. B[o,]dhvarr laetr hann drekka tv['a], sopa st['o]ra; hann l['e]t hann ok eta n[o,]kkut af d['y]rshjartanu; eptir thetta tekr B[o,]dhvarr til hans, ok ['a]ttuz their vidh lengi. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "helzt ertu n['u] sterkr ordhinn, ok ekki vaenti ek, et th['u] hraedhiz n['u] hirdhmenn Hr['o]lfs konungs." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "eigi mun ek th['a] hraedhaz ok eigi thik upp fr['a] thessu." "Vel er th['a] ordhit, H[o,]ttr f['e]lagi; f[o,]ru vit n['u] til ok reisum upp d['y]rit ok b['u]um sv['a] um, at adhrir aetli at kvikt muni vera." {141} Their gera n['u] sv['a]. Eptir that fara their heim ok hafa kyrt um sik, ok veit engi madhr, hvat their hafa idhjat. Konungr spyrr um morguninn, hvat their viti til d['y]rsins, hv['a]rt that hafi n[o,]kkut thangat vitjat um n['o]ttina; honum var sagt, at f['e] alt vaeri heilt ['i] grindum ok ['o]sakat. Konungr badh menn forvitnaz, hv['a]rt engi saei l['i]kindi til, at that hefdhi heim komit. Vardhmenn gerdhu sv['a] ok k['o]mu skj['o]tt aptr ok s[o,]gdhu konungi, at d['y]rit faeri thar ok heldr geyst at borginni. Konungr badh hirdhmenn vera hrausta ok duga n['u] hvern eptir thv['i], sem hann hefdhi hug til, ok r['a]dha af ['o]vaett thenna; ok sv['a] var gert, sem konungr baudh, at their bjuggu sik til thess. Konungr horfdhi ['a] d['y]rit ok maelti s['i]dhan: "enga s['e] ek f[o,]r ['a] d['y]rinu, en hverr vill n['u] taka kaup einn ok ganga ['i] m['o]ti thv['i]?" B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "that vaeri naesta hrausts manns forvitnisb['o]t. H[o,]ttr f['e]lagi, rektu n['u] af th['e]r illmaelit that, at menn l['a]ta, sem engi krellr n['e] dugr muni ['i] ther vera; far n['u] ok drep th['u] d['y]rit; m['a]ttu sj['a], at engi er allf['u]ss til annarra." "J['a]," sagdhi H[o,]ttr, "ek mun til thessa r['a]dhaz." Konungr maelti: "ekki veit ek, hvadhan thessi hreysti er at th['e]r komin, H[o,]ttr, ok mikit hefir um thik skipaz ['a] skammri stundu." H[o,]ttr maelti: "gef m['e]r til sverdhit Gullinhjalta, er th['u] heldr ['a], ok skal ek th['a] fella d['y]rit edha f['a] bana." Hr['o]lf konungr maelti: "thetta sverdh er ekki beranda nema theim manni, sem baedhi er g['o]dhr drengr ok hraustr." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "sv['a] skaltu til aetla, at m['e]r s['e] sv['a] h['a]ttat." Konungr maelti: "hvat m['a] vita, nema fleira hafi skipz um hagi th['i]na, en sj['a] thykkir, en faestir menn thykkjaz thik kenna, at th['u] s['e]r enn sami madhr; n['u] tak vidh sverdhinu ok nj['o]t manna bezt, ef thetta er til unnit." S['i]dhan gengr H[o,]ttr at d['y]rinu alldjarfliga ok hoeggr til thess, th['a] _er_ hann kemr ['i] h[o,]ggfaeri, ok d['y]rit fellr nidhr dautt. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "sj['a]idh n['u], herra, hvat hann hefir til unnit." Konungr segir: "v['i]st hefir hann mikit skipaz, en ekki hefir H[o,]ttr einn d['y]rit drepit, heldr hefir th['u] that gert." B[o,]dhvarr segir: "vera m['a], at sv['a] s['e]." Konungr segir: "vissa ek, th['a] _er_ th['u] komt h['e]r, at f['a]ir mundu th['i]nir jafningjar vera, en that thykki m['e]r th['o] thitt verk fraegiligast, at th['u] hefir gert h['e]r annan kappa, thar _er_ H[o,]ttr er, ok ['o]vaenligr th['o]tti til mikillar giptu; ok n['u] vil ek _at_ hann heiti eigi H[o,]ttr lengr ok skal hann heita Hjalti upp fr['a] thessu; skaltu heita eptir sverdhinu Gullinhjalta." {142}

Then Bothvar went on his way to Leire, and came to the king's dwelling.

Bothvar stabled his horse by the king's best horses, without asking leave; and then he went into the hall, and there were few men there. He took a seat near the door, and when he had been there a little time he heard a rummaging in a corner. Bothvar looked that way and saw that a man's hand came up out of a great heap of bones which lay there, and the hand was very black. Bothvar went thither and asked who was there in the heap of bones.

Then an answer came, in a very weak voice, "Hott is my name, good fellow."

"Why art thou here?" said Bothvar, "and what art thou doing?"

Hott said, "I am making a shield-wall for myself, good fellow."

Bothvar said, "Out on thee and thy shield-wall!" and gripped him and jerked him up out of the heap of bones.

Then Hott cried out and said, "Now thou wilt be the death of me: do not do so. I had made it all so snug, and now thou hast scattered in pieces my shield-wall; and I had built it so high all round myself that it has protected me against all your blows, so that for long no blows have come upon me, and yet it was not so arranged as I meant it should be."

Then Bothvar said, "Thou wilt not build thy shield-wall any longer."

Hott said, weeping, "Wilt thou be the death of me, good fellow?" Bothvar told him not to make a noise, and then took him up and bore him out of the hall to some water which was close by, and washed him from head to foot. Few paid any heed to this.

Then Bothvar went to the place which he had taken before, and led Hott with him, and set Hott by his side. But Hott was so afraid that he was trembling in every limb, and yet he seemed to know that this man would help him.

After that it grew to evening, and men crowded into the hall: and Rolf's warriors saw that Hott was seated upon the bench. And it seemed to them that the man must be bold {143} enough, who had taken upon himself to put him there. Hott had an ill countenance when he saw his acquaintances, for he had received naught but evil from them. He wished to save his life and go back to his bone-heap, but Bothvar held him tightly so that he could not go away. For Hott thought that, if he could get back into his bone-heap, he would not be as much exposed to their blows as he was.

Now the retainers did as before; and first of all they tossed small bones across the floor towards Bothvar and Hott. Bothvar pretended not to see this. Hott was so afraid that he neither ate nor drank; and every moment he thought he would be smitten.

And now Hott said to Bothvar, "Good fellow, now a great knuckle bone is coming towards thee, aimed so as to do us sore injury." Bothvar told him to hold his tongue, and put up the hollow of his palm against the knuckle bone and caught it, and the leg bone was joined on to the knuckle bone. Then Bothvar sent the knuckle bone back, and hurled it straight at the man who had thrown it, with such a swift blow that it was the death of him. Then great fear came over the retainers.

Now news came to King Rolf and his men up in the castle that a stately man had come to the hall and killed a retainer, and that the retainers wished to kill the man. King Rolf asked whether the retainer who had been killed had given any offence. "Next to none," they said: then all the truth of the matter came up before King Rolf.

King Rolf said that it should be far from them to kill the man: "You have taken up an evil custom here in pelting men with bones without quarrel. It is a dishonour to me and a great shame to you to do so. I have spoken about it before, and you have paid no attention. I think that this man whom you have assailed must be a man of no small valour. Call him to me, so that I may know who he is."

Bothvar went before the king and greeted him courteously. The king asked him his name. "Your retainers call me Hott's protector, but my name is Bothvar."

The king said, "What compensation wilt thou offer me for my retainer?" {144}

Bothvar said, "He only got what he asked for."

The king said, "Wilt thou become my man and fill his place?"

Bothvar said, "I do not refuse to be your man, but Hott and I must not part so. And we must sit nearer to thee than this man whom I have slain has sat; otherwise we will both depart together." The king said, "I do not see much credit in Hott, but I will not grudge him meat." Then Bothvar went to the seat that seemed good to him, and would not fill that which the other had before. He pulled up three men in one place, and then he and Hott sat down there higher in the hall than the place which had been given to them. The men thought Bothvar overbearing, and there was the greatest ill will among them concerning him.

And when it drew near to Christmas, men became gloomy. Bothvar asked Hott the reason of this. Hott said to him that for two winters together a wild beast had come, great and awful, "And it has wings on its back, and flies. For two autumns it has attacked us here and done much damage. No weapon will wound it: and the champions of the king, those who are the greatest, come not back."

Bothvar said, "This hall is not so well arrayed as I thought, if one beast can lay waste the kingdom and the cattle of the king." Hott said, "It is no beast: it is the greatest troll."

Now Christmas-eve came; then said the king, "Now my will is that men to-night be still and quiet, and I forbid all my men to run into any peril with this beast. It must be with the cattle as fate will have it: but I do not wish to lose my men." All men promised to do as the king commanded. But Bothvar went out in secret that night; he caused Hott to go with him, but Hott did that only under compulsion, and said that it would be the death of him. Bothvar said that he hoped that it would be better than that. They went away from the hall, and Bothvar had to carry Hott, so frightened was he. Now they saw the beast; and thereupon Hott cried out as loud as he could, and said that the beast would swallow him. Bothvar said, "Be silent, thou dog," and threw him down in the mire. And there he lay in no small fear; but he did not dare to go home, any the more. {145}

Now Bothvar went against the beast, and it happened that his sword was fast in his sheath when he wished to draw it. Bothvar now tugged at his sword, it moved, he wrenched the scabbard so that the sword came out. And at once he plunged it into the beast's shoulder so mightily that it pierced him to the heart, and the beast fell down dead to the earth. After that Bothvar went where Hott lay. Bothvar took him up and bore him to where the beast lay dead. Hott was trembling all over. Bothvar said, "Now must thou drink the blood of the beast." For long Hott was unwilling, and yet he did not dare to do anything else. Bothvar made him drink two great sups; also he made him eat somewhat of the heart of the beast.

After that Bothvar turned to Hott, and they fought a long time.

Bothvar said, "Thou hast now become very strong, and I do not believe that thou wilt now fear the retainers of King Rolf."

Hott said, "I shall not fear them, nor thee either, from now on."

"That is good, fellow Hott. Let us now go and raise up the beast, and so array him that others may think that he is still alive." And they did so. After that they went home, and were quiet, and no man knew what they had achieved.

In the morning the king asked what news there was of the beast, and whether it had made any attack upon them in the night. And answer was made to the king, that all the cattle were safe and uninjured in their folds. The king bade his men examine whether any trace could be seen of the beast having visited them. The watchers did so, and came quickly back to the king with the news that the beast was making for the castle, and in great fury. The king bade his retainers be brave, and each play the man according as he had spirit, and do away with this monster. And they did as the king bade, and made them ready.

Then the king faced towards the beast and said, "I see no sign of movement in the beast. Who now will undertake to go against it?"

Bothvar said, "That would be an enterprise for a man of true valour. Fellow Hott, now clear thyself of that ill-repute, {146} in that men hold that there is no spirit or valour in thee. Go now and do thou kill the beast; thou canst see that there is no one else who is forward to do it."

"Yea," said Hott, "I will undertake this."

The king said, "I do not know whence this valour has come upon thee, Hott; and much has changed in thee in a short time."

Hott said, "Give me the sword Goldenboss, Gullinhjalti, which thou dost wield, and I will fell the beast or take my death." Rolf the king said, "That sword cannot be borne except by a man who is both a good warrior and valiant." Hott said, "So shalt thou ween that I am a man of that kind." The king said, "How can one know that more has not changed in thy temper than can be seen? Few men would know thee for the same man. Now take the sword and have joy of it, if this deed is accomplished." Then Hott went boldly to the beast and smote at it when he came within reach, and the beast fell down dead. Bothvar said, "See now, my lord, what he has achieved." The king said, "Verily, he has altered much, but Hott has not killed the beast alone, rather hast thou done it." Bothvar said, "It may be that it is so." The king said, "I knew when thou didst come here that few would be thine equals. But this seems to me nevertheless thy most honourable work, that thou hast made here another warrior of Hott, who did not seem shaped for much luck. And now I will that he shall be called no longer Hott, but Hjalti from this time; thou shalt be called after the sword Gullinhjalti (Goldenboss)."

* * * * *

C. EXTRACTS FROM GRETTIS SAGA

(ed. G. Magn['u]sson, 1853; R. C. Boer, 1900)

(_a_) _Glam episode_ (caps. 32-35)

Th['o]rhallr h['e]t madhr, er bj['o] ['a] Th['o]rhallsst[o,]dhum ['i] Forsaeludal. Forsaeludalr er upp af Vatnsdal. Th['o]rhallr var Gr['i]msson, Th['o]rhallssonar, Fridhmundarsonar, er nam Forsaeludal. Th['o]rhallr ['a]tti th['a] konu, er Gudhr['u]n h['e]t. Gr['i]mr h['e]t sonr theira, en Thur['i]dhr d['o]ttir; thau v['a]ru vel ['a] legg komin. Th['o]rhallr var vel audhigr {147} madhr, ok mest at kvikf['e], sv['a] at engi madhr ['a]tti jafnmart ganganda f['e], sem hann. Ekki var hann h[o,]fdhingi, en th['o] skilr['i]kr b['o]nd['i]. Thar var reimt mj[o,]k, ok fekk hann varla saudhamann, sv['a] at honum thoetti duga. Hann leitadhi r['a]dhs vidh marga vitra menn, hvat hann skyldi til bragdhs taka; en engi gat that r['a]dh til gefit, er dygdhi. Th['o]rhallr reidh til things hvert sumar. Hann ['a]tti hesta g['o]dha. That var eitt sumar ['a] althingi, at Th['o]rhallr gekk til b['u]dhar Skapta l[o,]gmanns, Th['o]roddssonar. Skapti var manna vitrastr, ok heilr['a]dhr, ef hann var beiddr. That skildi medh theim fedhgum: Th['o]roddr var forsp['a]r ok kalladhr undirhyggjumadhr af sumum m[o,]nnum, en Skapti lagdhi that til medh hverjum manni, sem hann aetladhi at duga skyldi, ef eigi vaeri af thv['i] brugdhit; thv['i] var hann kalladhr betrfedhrungr. Th['o]rhallr gekk ['i] b['u]dh Skapta; hann fagnadhi vel Th['o]rhalli, thv['i] hann vissi, at hann var r['i]kr madhr at f['e], ok spurdhi hvat at t['i]dhendum vaeri.

Th['o]rhallr maelti: "Heilraedhi vilda ek af ydhr thiggja."

"['I] litlum foerum em ek til thess," sagdhi Skapti; "edha hvat stendr thik?"

Th['o]rhallr maelti: "That er sv['a] h['a]ttat, at m['e]r helz l['i]tt ['a] saudham[o,]nnum. Verdhr theim heldr klakks['a]rt, en sumir gera engar lyktir ['a]. Vill n['u] engi til taka, s['a] er kunnigt er til, hvat fyrir b['y]r."

Skapti svarar: "Thar mun liggja meinvaettr n[o,]kkur, er menn eru tregari til at geyma s['i]dhr th['i]ns fj['a]r en annarra manna. N['u] fyrir thv['i], at th['u] hefir at m['e]r r['a]dh s['o]tt, th['a] skal ek f['a] th['e]r saudhamann, thann er Gl['a]mr heitir, aettadhr ['o]r Sv['i]thj['o]dh, ['o]r Sylgsd[o,]lum, er ['u]t kom ['i] fyrra sumar, mikill ok sterkr, ok ekki mj[o,]k vidh alth['y]dhu skap."

Th['o]rhallr kvaz ekki um that gefa, ef hann geymdi vel fj['a]rins; Skapti sagdhi [o,]dhrum eigi vaent horfa, ef hann geymdi eigi fyrir afls sakir ok ['a]raedhis; Th['o]rhallr gekk th['a] ['u]t. Thetta var at thinglausnum.

Th['o]rhalli var vant hesta tveggja lj['o]sbleikra, ok f['o]r sj['a]lfr at leita; af thv['i] thykkjaz menn vita, at hann var ekki mikilmenni. Hann gekk upp undir Sledh['a]s ok sudhr medh fjalli thv['i], er ['A]rmannsfell heitir. Th['a] s['a] hann, hvar madhr f['o]r ofan ['o]r Godhask['o]gi ok bar hr['i]s ['a] hesti. Br['a]tt bar saman fund theira; Th['o]rhallr spurdhi hann at nafni, en hann kvez Gl['a]mr heita. Thessi madhr {148} var mikill vexti ok undarligr ['i] yfirbragdhi, bl['a]eygdhr ok opineygdhr, ['u]lfgr['a]r ['a] h['a]rslit. Th['o]rhalli br['a] n[o,]kkut ['i] br['u]n, er hann s['a] thenna mann; en th['o] skildi hann, at honum mundi til thessa v['i]sat.

"Hvat er th['e]r bezt hent at vinna?" segir Th['o]rhallr.

Gl['a]mr kvadh s['e]r vel hent at geyma saudhfj['a]r ['a] vetrum.

"Viltu geyma saudhfj['a]r m['i]ns?" segir Th['o]rhallr; "gaf Skapti thik ['a] mitt vald."

"Sv['a] mun th['e]r hentust m['i]n vist, at ek fari sj['a]lfr['a]dhr; thv['i] ek em skapstyggr, ef m['e]r l['i]kar eigi vel," sagdhi Gl['a]mr.

"Ekki mun m['e]r mein at thv['i]," segir Th['o]rhallr, "ok vil ek, at th['u] farir til m['i]n."

"Gera m['a] ek that," segir Gl['a]mr; "edha eru thar n[o,]kkur vandhoefi ['a]?"

"Reimt thykkir thar vera," sagdhi Th['o]rhallr.

"Ekki hraedhumz ek flykur thaer," sagdhi Gl['a]mr, "ok thykkir m['e]r at ['o]dauflig[r]a."

"Thess muntu vidh thurfa," segir Th['o]rhallr, "ok hentar thar betr, at vera eigi alll['i]till fyrir s['e]r."

Eptir that kaupa their saman, ok skal Gl['a]mr koma at vetrn['o]ttum. Sidhan skildu their, ok fann Th['o]rhallr hesta s['i]na, thar sem hann hafdhi n['y]leitat. Reidh Th['o]rhallr heim, ok thakkadhi Skapta sinn velgerning.

Sumar leidh af, ok fr['e]tti Th['o]rhallr ekki til saudhamanns, ok engi kunni skyn ['a] honum. En at ['a]nefndum t['i]ma kom hann ['a] Th['o]rhallsstadhi. Tekr b['o]ndi vidh honum vel, en [o,]llum [o,]dhrum gaz ekki at honum, en h['u]sfreyju th['o] minst. Hann t['o]k vidh fj['a]rvardhveizlu, ok vardh honum l['i]tit fyrir thv['i]; hann var hlj['o]dhmikill ok dimmraddadhr, ok f['e]it st[o,]kk allt saman, thegar hann h['o]adhi. Kirkja var ['a] Th['o]rhallsst[o,]dhum; ekki vildi Gl['a]mr til hennar koma; hann var ['o]s[o,]ngvinn ok tr['u]lauss, stirfinn ok vidhskotaillr; [o,]llum var hann hvimleidhr.

N['u] leidh sv['a] thar til er kemr atfangadagr j['o]la. Th['a] st['o]dh Gl['a]mr snemma upp ok kalladhi til matar s['i]ns.

H['u]sfreyja svarar: "Ekki er that h['a]ttr kristinna manna, at mataz thenna dag, thv['i]at ['a] morgin er j['o]ladagr hinn fyrsti," segir hon, "ok er thv['i] fyrst skylt at fasta ['i] dag."

Hann svarar: "Marga hindrvitni hafi th['e]r, th['a] er ek s['e] til enskis koma. Veit ek eigi, at m[o,]nnum fari n['u] betr at, heldr {149} en th['a], er menn f['o]ru ekki medh sl['i]kt. Th['o]tti m['e]r th['a] betri sidhr, er menn v['a]ru heidhnir kalladhir; ok vil ek mat minn en engar refjur."

H['u]sfreyja maelti: "V['i]st veit ek, at th['e]r mun illa faraz ['i] dag, ef th['u] tekr thetta illbrigdhi til."

Gl['a]mr badh hana taka mat ['i] stadh; kvadh henni annat skyldu vera verra. Hon thordhi eigi annat, en at gera, sem hann vildi. Ok er hann var mettr, gekk hann ['u]t, ok var heldr gustillr. Vedhri var sv['a] farit, at myrkt var um at litaz, ok fl[o,]gradhi ['o]r dr['i]fa, ok gn['y]mikit, ok versnadhi mj[o,]k sem ['a] leidh daginn. Heyrdhu menn til saudhamanns [o,]ndverdhan daginn, en midhr er ['a] leidh daginn. T['o]k th['a] at fj['u]ka, ok gerdhi ['a] hr['i]dh um kveldit; k['o]mu menn til t['i]dha, ok leidh sv['a] fram at dagsetri; eigi kom Gl['a]mr heim. Var th['a] um talat, hv['a]rt hans skyldi eigi leita; en fyrir thv['i], at hr['i]dh var ['a] ok nidhamyrkr, th['a] vardh ekki af leitinni. Kom hann eigi heim j['o]lan['o]ttina; bidhu menn sv['a] fram um t['i]dhir. At oernum degi f['o]ru menn ['i] leitina, ok fundu f['e]it v['i]dha ['i] f[o,]nnum, lamit af ofvidhri edha hlaupit ['a] fj[o,]ll upp. Thv['i]naest k['o]mu their ['a] tradhk mikinn ofarliga ['i] dalnum. Th['o]tti theim thv['i] l['i]kt, sem thar hefdhi gl['i]mt verit heldr sterkliga, thv['i]at grj['o]tit var v['i]dha upp leyst, ok sv['a] j[o,]rdhin. Their hugdhu at vandliga ok s['a], hvar Gl['a]mr l['a], skamt ['a] brott fr['a] theim. Hann var daudhr, ok bl['a]r sem Hel, en digr sem naut. Theim baudh af honum ['o]thekt mikla, ok hraus theim mj[o,]k hugr vidh honum. En th['o] leitudhu their vidh at foera hann til kirkju, ok g['a]tu ekki komit honum, nema ['a] einn gilsthr[o,]m thar skamt ofan fr['a] s['e]r; ok f['o]ru heim vidh sv['a] b['u]it, ok s[o,]gdhu b['o]nda thenna atburdh. Hann spurdhi, hvat Gl['a]mi mundi hafa at bana ordhit. Their kv['a]dhuz rakit hafa spor sv['a] st['o]r, sem keraldsbotni vaeri nidhr skelt thadhan fr['a], sem tradhkrinn var, ok upp undir bj[o,]rg thau, er thar v['a]ru ofarliga ['i] dalnum, ok fylgdhu thar medh bl['o]dhdrefjar miklar. That dr['o]gu menn saman, at s['u] meinvaettr, er ['a]dhr hafdhi [thar] verit, mundi hafa deytt Gl['a]m; en hann mundi fengit hafa henni n[o,]kkurn ['a]verka, thann er tekit hafi til fulls, thv['i]at vidh th['a] meinvaetti hefir aldri vart ordhit s['i]dhan. Annan j['o]ladag var enn til farit at foera Gl['a]m til kirkju. V['a]ru eykir fyrir beittir, ok g['a]tu their hvergi foert hann, thegar sl['e]ttlendit var ok eigi var forbrekkis at fara. Gengu n['u] fr['a] vidh sv['a] b['u]it. Hinn thridhja dag f['o]r prestr medh theim, ok leitudhu allan daginn, {150} ok Gl['a]mr fannz eigi. Eigi vildi prestr optar til fara; en saudhamadhr fannz, thegar prestr var eigi ['i] ferdh. L['e]tu their th['a] fyrir vinnaz, at foera hann til kirkju; ok dysjudhu hann thar, sem th['a] var hann kominn. L['i]tlu s['i]dhar urdhu menn varir vidh that, at Gl['a]mr l['a] eigi kyrr. Vardh m[o,]nnum at thv['i] mikit mein, sv['a] at margir fellu ['i] ['o]vit, ef s['a] hann, en sumir heldu eigi vitinu. Thegar eptir j['o]lin th['o]ttuz menn sj['a] hann heima thar ['a] boenum. Urdhu menn ['a]kafliga hraeddir; stukku th['a] margir menn ['i] brott. Thvinaest t['o]k Gl['a]mr at r['i]dha h['u]sum ['a] naetr, sv['a] at l['a] vidh brotum. Gekk hann th['a] n['a]liga naetr ok daga. Varla thordhu menn at fara upp ['i] dalinn, th['o]at aetti n['o]g oerendi. Th['o]tti m[o,]nnum thar ['i] heradhinu mikit mein at thessu.

Um v['a]rit fekk Th['o]rhallr s['e]r hj['o]n ok gerdhi b['u] ['a] j[o,]rdhu sinni. T['o]k th['a] at minka aptrgangr, medhan s['o]largangr var mestr. Leidh sv['a] fram ['a] midhsumar. Thetta sumar kom ['u]t skip ['i] H['u]navatni; thar var ['a] s['a] madhr, er Thorgautr h['e]t. Hann var ['u]tlendr at kyni, mikill ok sterkr; hann hafdhi tveggja manna afl; hann var lauss ok einn fyrir s['e]r; hann vildi f['a] starfa n[o,]kkurn, thv['i](at) hann var f['e]lauss. Th['o]rhallr reidh til skips ok fann Thorgaut; spurdhi ef hann vildi vinna fyrir honum; Thorgautr kvadh that vel mega vera, ok kvez eigi vanda that.

"Sv['a] skaltu vidh b['u]az," segir Th['o]rhallr, "sem thar s['e] ekki veslingsm[o,]nnum hent at vera, fyrir aptrg[o,]ngum theim, er thar hafa verit um hr['i]dh, en ek vil ekki thik ['a] t['a]lar draga."

Thorgautr svarar: "Eigi thykkjumz ek upp gefinn, th['o]at ek sj['a] sm['a]v['a]fur; mun th['a] eigi [o,]dhrum daelt, ef ek hraedhumz; ok ekki bregdh ek vist minni fyrir that."

N['u] semr theim vel kaupstefnan, ok skal Thorgautr gaeta saudhfj['a]r at vetri.

Leidh n['u] af sumarit. T['o]k Thorgautr vidh f['e]nu at vetrn['a]ttum. Vel l['i]kadhi [o,]llum vidh hann. Jafnan kom Gl['a]mr heim ok reidh h['u]sum. That th['o]tti Thorgauti allk['a]tligt, ok kvadh, "thraelinn thurfa mundu naer at ganga, ef ek hraedhumz." Th['o]rhallr badh hann hafa f['a]tt um; "er bezt, at thit reynidh ekki medh ykkr."

Thorgautr maelti: "Sannliga er skekinn thr['o]ttr ['o]r ydhr; ok dett ek eigi nidhr milli doegra vidh skraf thetta."

N['u] f['o]r sv['a] fram um vetrinn allt til j['o]la. Atfangakveld j['o]la f['o]r saudhamadhr til fj['a]r. {151}

Th['a] maelti h['u]sfreyja: "Thurfa thoetti m['e]r, at n['u] foeri eigi at fornum br[o,]gdhum."

Hann svarar: "Ver eigi hraedd um that, h['u]sfreyja," sagdhi hann; "verdha mun eitthvert s[o,]guligt, ef ek kem ekki aptr." S['i]dhan gekk hann aptr til fj['a]r s['i]ns. Vedhr var heldr kalt, ok fj['u]k mikit. Thv['i] var Thorgautr vanr, at koma heim, th['a] er h['a]lfroekkvat var; en n['u] kom hann ekki heim ['i] that mund. K['o]mu t['i]dhamenn, sem vant var. That th['o]tti m[o,]nnum eigi ['o]l['i]kt ['a] horfaz sem fyrr. B['o]ndi vildi leita l['a]ta eptir saudhamanni, en t['i]dhamenn t[o,]lduz undan, ok s[o,]gdhuz eigi mundu haetta s['e]r ['u]t ['i] tr[o,]llahendr um naetr; ok treystiz b['o]ndi eigi at fara, ok vardh ekki af leitinni. J['o]ladag, er menn v['a]ru mettir, f['o]ru menn til ok leitudhu saudhamanns. Gengu their fyrst til dysjar Gl['a]ms, thv['i]at menn aetludhu af hans v[o,]ldum mundi ordhit um hvarf saudhamanns. En er their k['o]mu naer dysinni, s['a]u their thar mikil t['i]dhendi, ok thar fundu their saudhamann, ok var hann brotinn ['a] h['a]ls, ok lamit sundr hvert bein ['i] honum. S['i]dhan foerdhu their hann til kirkju, ok vardh engum manni mein at Thorgauti s['i]dhan. En Gl['a]mr t['o]k at magnaz af n['y]ju. Gerdhi hann n['u] sv['a] mikit af s['e]r, at menn allir stukku brott af Th['o]rhallsst[o,]dhum, ['u]tan b['o]ndi einn ok h['u]sfreyja. Nautamadhr hafdhi thar verit lengi hinn sami. Vildi Th['o]rhallr hann ekki lausan l['a]ta fyrir g['o]dhvilja sakir ok geymslu. Hann var mj[o,]k vidh aldr, ok th['o]tti honum mikit fyrir, at fara ['a] brott; s['a] hann ok, at allt f['o]r at ['o]nytju, that er b['o]ndi ['a]tti, ef engi geymdi. Ok einn t['i]ma eptir midhjan vetr var that einn morgin, at h['u]sfreyja f['o]r til fj['o]ss, at mj['o]lka k['y]r eptir t['i]ma. Th['a] var allj['o]st, thv['i]at engi treystiz fyrr ['u]ti at vera annarr en nautamadhr; hann f['o]r ['u]t, thegar l['y]sti. Hon heyrdhi brak mikit ['i] fj['o]sit, ok beljan [o,]skurliga; hon hlj['o]p inn oepandi ok kvaz eigi vita, hver ['o]doemi um vaeri ['i] fj['o]sinu. B['o]ndi gekk ['u]t ok kom til nautanna, ok stangadhi hvert annat. Th['o]tti honum thar eigi gott, ok gekk innar at hl[o,]dhunni. Hann s['a], hvar l['a], nautamadhr, ok hafdhi h[o,]fudhit ['i] [o,]dhrum b['a]si en foetr ['i] [o,]dhrum; hann l['a] ['a] bak aptr. B['o]ndi gekk at honum ok threifadhi um hann; finnr br['a]tt, at hann er daudhr ok sundr hryggrinn ['i] honum. Var hann brotinn um b['a]shelluna. N['u] th['o]tti b['o]nda eigi vaert, ok f['o]r ['i] brott af boenum medh allt that, sem hann m['a]tti ['i] brott flytja. En allt kvikf['e] that, sem eptir var, deyddi Gl['a]mr. Ok thvinaest f['o]r {152} hann um allan dalinn ok eyddi alla boei upp fr['a] Tungu. Var Th['o]rhallr th['a] medh vinum s['i]num that [sem] eptir var vetrarins. Engi madhr m['a]tti fara upp ['i] dalinn medh hest edhr hund, thv['i]at that var thegar drepit. En er v['a]radhi, ok s['o]largangr var sem mestr, l['e]tti heldr aptrg[o,]ngunum. Vildi Th['o]rhallr n['u] fara aptr til lands s['i]ns. Urdhu honum ekki audhfengin hj['o]n, en th['o] gerdhi hann b['u] ['a] Th['o]rhallsst[o,]dhum. F['o]r allt ['a] sama veg sem fyrr; thegar at haustadhi, t['o]ku at vaxa reimleikar. Var th['a] mest s['o]tt at b['o]ndad['o]ttur; ok sv['a] f['o]r, at hon l['e]z af thv['i]. Margra r['a]dha var ['i] leitat, ok vardh ekki at g[o,]rt. Th['o]tti m[o,]nnum til thess horfaz, at eydhaz mundi allr Vatnsdalr, ef eigi yrdhi boetr ['a] r['a]dhnar.

N['u] er thar til at taka, at Grettir ['A]smundarson sat heima at Bjargi um haustit, s['i]dhan their V['i]gabardhi skildu ['a] Th['o]reyjargn['u]pi. Ok er mj[o,]k var komit at vetrn['o]ttum, reidh Grettir heiman nordhr yfir h['a]lsa til V['i]dhidals, ok gisti ['a] Audhunarst[o,]dhum. Saettuz their Audhunn til fulls, ok gaf Grettir honum oexi g['o]dha, ok maeltu til vin['a]ttu medh s['e]r. Audhunn bj['o] lengi ['a] Audhunarst[o,]dhum ok var kynsaell madhr. Hans sonr var Egill, er ['a]tti ['U]lfheidhi, d['o]ttur Eyj['o]lfs Gudhmundarsonar, ok var theira sonr Eyj['o]lfr, er veginn var ['a] althingi. Hann var fadhir Orms, kapil['a]ns Thorl['a]ks biskups. Grettir reidh nordhr til Vatnsdals ok kom ['a] kynnisleit ['i] Tungu. Thar bj['o] th['a] J[o,]kull B['a]rdharson, m['o]dhurbr['o]dhir Grettis; J[o,]kull var mikill madhr ok sterkr ok hinn mesti ofsamadhr. Hann var siglingamadhr, ok mj[o,]k ['o]daell, en th['o] mikilhoefr madhr. Hann t['o]k vel vidh Gretti, ok var hann thar thrj['a]r naetr. Th['a] var sv['a] mikit ordh ['a] aptrg[o,]ngum Gl['a]ms, at m[o,]nnum var ekki jafnt['i]dhroett sem that. Grettir spurdhi inniliga at theim atburdhum, er h[o,]fdhu ordhit; J[o,]kull kvadh thar ekki meira af sagt en til vaeri hoeft; "edha er th['e]r forvitni ['a], fraendi! at koma thar?"

Grettir sagdhi, at that var satt.

J[o,]kull badh hann that eigi gera, "thv['i] that er gaefuraun mikil; en fraendr th['i]nir eiga mikit ['i] haettu, thar sem th['u] ert," sagdhi hann; "thykkir oss n['u] engi sl['i]kr af ungum m[o,]nnum sem th['u]; en illt mun af illum hlj['o]ta, thar sem Gl['a]mr er. Er ok miklu betra, at f['a]z vidh mennska menn en vidh ['o]vaettir sl['i]kar."

Grettir kvadh s['e]r hug ['a], at koma ['a] Th['o]rhallsstadhi, ok sj['a], hversu thar vaeri um gengit. {153}

J[o,]kull maelti: "S['e] ek n['u], at eigi tj['a]ir at letja thik; en satt er that sem maelt er, at sitt er hv['a]rt, gaefa edha gervigleikr."

"Th['a] er [o,]dhrum v['a] fyrir dyrum, er [o,]dhrum er inn um komit; ok hygg at, hversu th['e]r mun fara sj['a]lfum, ['a]dhr l['y]kr," kvadh Grettir.

J[o,]kull svarar: "Vera kann, at vit sj['a]im b['a]dhir n[o,]kkut fram, en hv['a]rrgi f['a]i vidh g[o,]rt."

Eptir that skildu their, ok l['i]kadhi hv['a]rigum annars sp['a]r.

Grettir reidh ['a] Th['o]rhallsstadhi, ok fagnadhi b['o]ndi honum vel. Hann spurdhi, hvert Grettir aetladhi at fara; en hann segiz thar vilja vera um n['o]ttina, ef b['o]nda l['i]kadhi, at sv['a] vaeri. Th['o]rhallr kvaz th[o,]kk fyrir kunna, at hann vaeri thar, "en f['a]m thykkir sloegr til at gista h['e]r um t['i]ma; muntu hafa heyrt getit um, hvat h['e]r er at vaela. En ek vilda gjarna, at th['u] hlytir engi vandraedhi af m['e]r. En th['o]at th['u] komiz heill ['a] brott, th['a] veit ek fyrir v['i]st, at th['u] missir hests th['i]ns; thv['i] engi heldr h['e]r heilum s['i]num fararskj['o]ta, s['a] er kemr."

Grettir kvadh gott til hesta, hvat sem af thessum yrdhi.

Th['o]rhallr vardh gladhr vidh, er Grettir vildi thar vera, ok t['o]k vidh honum b['a]dhum h[o,]ndum. Var hestr Grettis laestr ['i] h['u]si sterkliga. Their f['o]ru til svefns, ok leidh sv['a] af n['o]ttin, at ekki kom Gl['a]mr heim.

Th['a] maelti Th['o]rhallr: "Vel hefir brugdhit vidh th['i]na kv['a]mu, thv['i]at hverja n['o]tt er Gl['a]mr vanr at r['i]dha h['u]sum edha brj['o]ta upp hurdhir, sem th['u] m['a]tt merki sj['a]."

Grettir maelti: "Th['a] mun vera annathv['a]rt, at hann mun ekki lengi ['a] s['e]r sitja, edha mun af venjaz meirr en eina n['o]tt. Skal ek vera h['e]r n['o]tt adhra ok sj['a], hversu ferr."

Sidhan gengu their til hests Grettis, ok var ekki vidh hann glez. Allt th['o]tti b['o]nda at einu fara. N['u] er Grettir thar adhra n['o]tt, ok kom ekki thraellinn heim. Th['a] th['o]tti b['o]nda mj[o,]k vaenkaz. F['o]r hann th['a], at sj['a] hest Grettis. Th['a] var upp brotit h['u]sit, er b['o]ndi kom til, en hestrinn dreginn til dyra ['u]tar, ok lamit ['i] sundr ['i] honum hvert bein.

Th['o]rhallr sagdhi Gretti, hvar th['a] var komit, ok badh hann fordha s['e]r: "thv['i]at v['i]ss er daudhinn, ef th['u] b['i]dhr Gl['a]ms."

Grettir svarar: "Eigi m['a] ek minna hafa fyrir hest minn, en at sj['a] thraelinn." {154}

B['o]ndi sagdhi, at that var eigi bati, at sj['a] hann, "thv['i]at hann er ['o]l['i]kr n[o,]kkurri mannligri mynd; en g['o]dh thykki m['e]r hver s['u] stund, er th['u] vilt h['e]r vera."

N['u] l['i]dhr dagrinn; ok er menn skyldu fara til svefns, vildi Grettir eigi fara af klaedhum, ok lagdhiz nidhr ['i] setit gegnt lokrekkju b['o]nda. Hann hafdhi r[o,]ggvarfeld yfir s['e]r, ok knepti annat skautit nidhr undir foetr s['e]r, en annat snaradhi hann undir h[o,]fudh s['e]r, ok s['a] ['u]t um h[o,]fudhsm['a]ttina. Setstokkr var fyrir framan setit, mj[o,]k sterkr, ok spyrndi hann thar ['i]. Dyraumb['u]ningrinn allr var fr['a] brotinn ['u]tidyrunum, en n['u] var thar fyrir bundinn hurdharflaki, ok ['o]vendiliga um b['u]it. Thverthilit var allt brotit fr['a] sk['a]lanum, that sem thar fyrir framan hafdhi verit, baedhi fyrir ofan thvertr['e]it ok nedhan. Saengr allar v['a]ru ['o]r stadh foerdhar. Heldr var thar ['o]vistuligt. Lj['o]s brann ['i] sk['a]lanum um n['o]ttina. Ok er af mundi thridhjungr af n['o]tt, heyrdhi Grettir ['u]t dynur miklar. Var th['a] farit upp ['a] h['u]sin, ok ridhit sk['a]lanum ok barit haelunum, sv['a] at brakadhi ['i] hverju tr['e]. Thvi gekk lengi; th['a] var farit ofan af h['u]sunum ok til dyra gengit. Ok er upp var lokit hurdhunni, s['a] Grettir, at thraellinn r['e]tti inn h[o,]fudhit, ok s['y]ndiz honum afskraemiliga mikit ok undarliga st['o]rskorit. Gl['a]mr f['o]r seint ok r['e]ttiz upp, er hann kom inn ['i] dyrnar; hann gnaefadhi ofarliga vidh raefrinu; sn['y]r at sk['a]lanum ok lagdhi handleggina upp ['a] thvertr['e]it, ok gaegdhiz inn yfir sk['a]lann. Ekki l['e]t b['o]ndi heyra til s['i]n, thv['i]at honum th['o]tti oerit um, er hann heyrdhi, hvat um var ['u]ti. Grettir l['a] kyrr ok hroerdhi sik hvergi. Gl['a]mr s['a], at hr['u]ga n[o,]kkur l['a] ['i] setinu, ok r['e]z n['u] innar eptir sk['a]lanum ok threif ['i] feldinn stundarfast. Grettir spyrndi ['i] stokkinn, ok gekk thv['i] hvergi. Gl['a]mr hnykti ['i] annat sinn miklu fastara, ok bifadhiz hvergi feldrinn. ['I] thridhja sinn threif hann ['i] medh b['a]dhum h[o,]ndum sv['a] fast, at hann r['e]tti Gretti upp ['o]r setinu; kiptu n['u] ['i] sundr feldinum ['i] millum s['i]n. Gl['a]mr leit ['a] slitrit, er hann helt ['a], ok undradhiz mj[o,]k, hverr sv['a], fast mundi togaz vidh hann. Ok ['i] thv['i] hlj['o]p Grettir undir hendr honum, ok threif um hann midhjan, ok spenti ['a] honum hrygginn sem fastast gat hann, ok aetladhi hann, at Gl['a]mr skyldi kikna vidh. En thraellinn lagdhi at handleggjum Grettis sv['a] fast, at hann h[o,]rfadhi allr fyrir orku sakir. F['o]r Grettir th['a] undan ['i] ['y]ms setin. Gengu th['a] fr['a] stokkarnir, ok allt brotnadhi, that sem fyrir vardh. Vildi {155} Gl['a]mr leita ['u]t, en Grettir foerdhi vidh foetr, hvar sem hann m['a]tti. En th['o] gat Gl['a]mr dregit hann fram ['o]r sk['a]lanum. ['A]ttu their th['a] allhardha s['o]kn thv['i]at thraellinn aetladhi at koma honum ['u]t ['o]r boenum; en sv['a] illt sem var at eiga vidh Gl['a]m inni, th['a] s['a] Grettir, at th['o] var verra, at f['a]z vidh hann ['u]ti; ok thv['i] brauz hann ['i] m['o]ti af [o,]llu afli at fara ['u]t. Gl['a]mr foerdhiz ['i] aukana, ok knepti hann at s['e]r, er their k['o]mu ['i] anddyrit. Ok er Grettir s['e]r, at hann fekk eigi vidh spornat, hefir hann allt eitt atridhit, at hann hleypr sem hardhast ['i] fang thraelnum ok spyrnir b['a]dhum f['o]tum ['i] jardhfastan stein, er stodh ['i] dyrunum. Vidh thessu bj['o]z thraellinn eigi; hann hafdhi th['a] togaz vidh at draga Gretti at s['e]r; ok thv['i] kiknadhi Gl['a]mr ['a] bak aptr, ok rauk [o,]fugr ['u]t ['a] dyrnar, sv['a] at herdharnar n['a]mu uppdyrit, ok raefrit gekk ['i] sundr, baedhi vidhirnir ok thekjan frerin; fell hann sv['a] opinn ok [o,]fugr ['u]t ['o]r h['u]sunum, en Grettir ['a] hann ofan. Tunglskin var mikit ['u]ti ok gluggathykkn; hratt stundum fyrir, en stundum dr['o] fr['a]. N['u] ['i] thv['i], er Gl['a]mr fell, rak sk['y]it fr['a] tunglinu, en Gl['a]mr hvesti augun upp ['i] m['o]ti. Ok sv['a], hefir Grettir sagt sj['a]lfr, at th['a] eina s['y]n hafi hann s['e]t sv['a], at honum brygdhi vidh. Th['a] sigadhi sv['a] at honum af [o,]llu saman, moedhi ok thv['i], er hann s['a] at Gl['a]mr gaut s['i]num sj['o]num hardhliga, at hann gat eigi brugdhit saxinu, ok l['a] n['a]liga ['i] milli heims ok heljar. En thv['i] var meiri ['o]fagnadharkraptr medh Gl['a]mi en flestum [o,]dhrum aptrg[o,]ngum[o,]nnum, at hann maelti th['a] ['a] thessa leidh: "Mikit kapp hefir th['u] ['a] lagit, Grettir," sagdhi hann, "at finna mik. En that mun eigi undarligt thykkja, th['o]at th['u] hlj['o]tir ekki mikit happ af m['e]r. En that m['a] ek segja th['e]r, at th['u] hefir n['u] fengit helming afls thess ok throska, er th['e]r var aetladhr, ef th['u] hefdhir mik ekki fundit. N['u] fae ek that afl eigi af th['e]r tekit, er th['u] hefir ['a]dhr hrept; en thv['i] m['a] ek r['a]dha, at th['u] verdhr aldri sterkari en n['u] ertu, ok ertu th['o] n['o]gu sterkr, ok at thv['i] mun m[o,]rgum verdha. Th['u] hefir fraegr ordhit h['e]r til af verkum th['i]num; en hedhan af munu falla til th['i]n sektir ok v['i]gaferli, en flest [o,]ll verk th['i]n sn['u]az th['e]r til ['o]gaefu ok hamingjuleysis. Th['u] munt verdha ['u]tlaegr g[o,]rr, ok hlj['o]ta jafnan ['u]ti at b['u]a einn samt. Th['a] legg ek that ['a] vidh thik, at thessi augu s['e] th['e]r jafnan fyrir sj['o]num, sem ek ber eptir; ok mun th['e]r erfitt thykkja, einum at vera; ok that mun th['e]r til daudha draga."

Ok sem thraellinn hafdhi thetta maelt, th['a] rann af Gretti ['o]megin, {156} that sem ['a] honum hafdhi verit. Br['a] hann th['a] saxinu ok hj['o] h[o,]fudh af Gl['a]mi ok setti that vidh thj['o] honum. B['o]ndi kom th['a] ['u]t, ok hafdhi klaez, ['a] medhan Gl['a]mr l['e]t ganga t[o,]luna; en hvergi thordhi hann naer at koma, fyrr en Gl['a]mr var fallinn. Th['o]rhallr lofadhi gudh fyrir, ok thakkadhi vel Gretti, er hann hafdhi unnit thenna ['o]hreina anda. F['o]ru their th['a] til, ok brendu Gl['a]m at k[o,]ldum kolum. Eptir that [b['a]ru their [o,]sku hans ['i] eina h['i]t ok] gr['o]fu thar nidhr, sem s['i]zt v['a]ru fj['a]rhagar edha mannavegir. Gengu heim eptir that, ok var th['a] mj[o,]k komit at degi. Lagdhiz Grettir nidhr, thv['i]at hann var stirdhr mj[o,]k. Th['o]rhallr sendi menn ['a] naestu boei eptir m[o,]nnum; s['y]ndi ok sagdhi, hversu farit hafdhi. [O,]llum th['o]tti mikils um vert um thetta verk, theim er heyrdhu. Var that th['a] almaelt, at engi vaeri thv['i]l['i]kr madhr ['a] [o,]llu landinu fyrir afls sakir ok hreysti ok allrar atgervi, sem Grettir ['A]smundarson.

Th['o]rhallr leysti Gretti vel af gardhi ok gaf honum g['o]dhan hest ok klaedhi soemilig, thv['i][at] thau v['a]ru [o,]ll sundr leyst, er hann hafdhi ['a]dhr borit. Skildu their medh vin['a]ttu. Reidh Grettir thadhan ['i] ['A]s ['i] Vatnsdal, ok t['o]k Thorvaldr vidh honum vel ok spurdhi inniliga at sameign theira Gl['a]ms; en Grettir segir honum vidhskipti theira, ok kvaz aldri ['i] thv['i]l['i]ka aflraun komit hafa, sv['a] langa vidhreign sem their h[o,]fdhu saman ['a]tt.

Thorvaldr badh hann hafa sik spakan, "ok mun th['a] vel duga, en ella mun th['e]r slysgjarnt verdha."

Grettir kvadh ekki batnat hafa um lyndisbragdhit, ok sagdhiz n['u] miklu verr stiltr en ['a]dhr, ok allar m['o]tgerdhir verri thykkja. ['A] thv['i] fann hann mikla muni, at hann var ordhinn madhr sv['a] myrkfaelinn, at hann thordhi hvergi at fara einn saman, thegar myrkva t['o]k. S['y]ndiz honum th['a] hvers kyns skr['i]pi; ok that er haft s['i]dhan fyrir ordhtoeki, at theim lj['a]i Gl['a]mr augna edhr gefi gl['a]ms['y]ni, er mj[o,]k s['y]niz annan veg, en er. Grettir reidh heim til Bjargs, er hann hafdhi g[o,]rt oerendi s['i]n, ok sat heima um vetrinn.

(_b_) _Sandhaugar episode_ (caps. 64-66)

Steinn h['e]t prestr, er bj['o] at Eyjardals['a] ['i] B['a]rdhardal. Hann var b['u]thegn g['o]dhr ok r['i]kr at f['e]. Kjartan h['e]t son hans, r[o,]skr madhr ok vel ['a] legg kominn. Thorsteinn hv['i]ti h['e]t madhr, er {157} bj['o] at Sandhaugum, sudhr fr['a] Eyjardals['a]. Steinv[o,]r h['e]t kona hans, ung ok gladhl['a]t. Thau ['a]ttu b[o,]rn, ok v['a]ru thau ung ['i] thenna t['i]ma. Thar th['o]tti m[o,]nnum reimt mj[o,]k sakir tr[o,]llagangs. That bar til, tveim vetrum fyrr en Grettir kom nordhr ['i] sveitir, at Steinv[o,]r h['u]sfreyja at Sandhaugum f['o]r til j['o]lat['i]dha til Eyjardals['a]r eptir vana, en b['o]ndi var heima. L[o,]gdhuz menn nidhr til svefns um kveldit; ok um n['o]ttina heyrdhu menn brak mikit ['i] sk['a]lann, ok til saengr b['o]nda. Engi thordhi upp at standa at forvitnaz um, thv['i]at thar var f['a]ment mj[o,]k. H['u]sfreyja kom heim um morguninn, ok var b['o]ndi horfinn, ok vissi engi, hvat af honum var ordhit. Lidhu sv['a] hin naestu misseri. En annan vetr eptir, vildi h['u]sfreyja fara til t['i]dha; badh hon h['u]skarl sinn heima vera. Hann var tregr til; en badh hana r['a]dha. F['o]r thar allt ['a] s[o,]mu leidh, sem fyrr, at h['u]skarl var horfinn. Thetta th['o]tti m[o,]nnum undarligt. S['a]u menn th['a] bl['o]dhdrefjar n[o,]kkurar ['i] ['u]tidyrum. Th['o]ttuz menn that vita, at ['o]vaettir mundu hafa tekit th['a] b['a]dha. Thetta fr['e]ttiz v['i]dha um sveitir. Grettir hafdhi spurn af thessu. Ok medh thv['i] at honum var mj[o,]k lagit at koma af reimleikum edha aptrg[o,]ngum, th['a] gerdhi hann ferdh s['i]na til B['a]rdhardals, ok kom atfangadag j['o]la til Sandha[u]ga. Hann duldiz ok nefndiz Gestr. H['u]sfreyja s['a], at hann var furdhu mikill vexti, en heimaf['o]lk var furdhu hraett vidh hann. Hann beiddiz thar gistingar. H['u]sfreyja kvadh honum mat til reidhu, "en ['a]byrgz thik sj['a]lfr."

Hann kvadh sv['a] vera skyldu. "Mun ek vera heima," segir hann, "en th['u] far til t['i]dha, ef th['u] vilt."

Hon svarar: "M['e]r thykkir th['u] hraustr, ef th['u] thorir heima at vera."

"Eigi laet ek m['e]r at einu getit," sagdhi hann.

"Illt thykkir m['e]r heima at vera," segir hon, "en ekki komumz ek yfir ['a]na."

"Ek skal fylgja th['e]r yfir," segir Gestr.

S['i]dhan bj['o]z hon til tidha, ok d['o]ttir hennar medh henni, l['i]til vexti. Hl['a]ka mikil var ['u]ti, ok ['a]in ['i] leysingum; var ['a] henni jakaf[o,]r.

Th['a] maelti h['u]sfreyja: "['O]foert er yfir ['a]na, baedhi m[o,]nnum ok hestum."

"V[o,]dh munu ['a] vera," kvadh Gestr; "ok veridh eigi hraeddar." {158}

"Ber th['u] fyrst meyna," kvadh h['u]sfreyja, "hon er l['e]ttari."

"Ekki nenni ek at gera tvaer ferdhir at thessu," segir Gestr, "ok mun ek bera thik ['a] handlegg m['e]r."

Hon signdi sik ok maelti: "Thetta er ['o]foera; edha hvat gerir th['u] th['a] af meyjunni?"

"Sj['a] mun ek r['a]dh til thess," segir hann; ok greip thaer upp b['a]dhar ok setti hina yngri ['i] kn['e] m['o]dhur sinnar, ok bar thaer sv['a] ['a] vinstra armlegg s['e]r; en hafdhi lausa hina hoegri h[o,]nd ok ['o]dh sv['a], ['u]t ['a] vadhit. Eigi thordhu thaer at oepa, sv['a] v['a]ru thaer hraeddar. En ['a]in skall thegar upp ['a] brj['o]sti honum. Th['a] rak at honum jaka mikinn; en hann skaut vidh hendi theiri, er laus var, ok hratt fr['a] s['e]r. Gerdhi th['a] sv['a] dj['u]pt, at strauminn braut ['a] [o,]xlinni. ['O]dh hann sterkliga, thar til er hann kom at bakkanum [o,]dhrum megin, ok fleygir theim ['a] land. S['i]dhan sneri hann aptr, ok var th['a] h['a]lfroekkvit, er hann kom heim til Sandhauga; ok kalladhi til matar. Ok er hann var mettr, badh hann heimaf['o]lk fara innar ['i] stofu. Hann t['o]k th['a] bordh ok lausa vidhu, ok rak um thvera stofuna, ok gerdhi b['a]lk mikinn, sv['a] at engi heimamadhr komz fram yfir. Engi thordhi ['i] m['o]ti honum at maela, ok ['i] engum skyldi kretta. Gengit var ['i] hlidhvegginn stofunnar inn vidh gaflhladhit; ok thar thverpallr hj['a]. Thar lagdhiz Gestr nidhr ok f['o]r ekki af klaedhunum. Lj['o]s brann ['i] stofunni gegnt dyrum. Liggr Gestr sv['a] fram ['a] n['o]ttina.

H['u]sfreyja kom til Eyjardals['a]r til t['i]dha, ok undrudhu menn um ferdhir hennar yfir ['a]na. Hon sagdhiz eigi vita, hv['a]rt hana hefdhi yfir flutt madhr edha tr[o,]ll. Prestr kvadh mann v['i]st vera mundu, th['o]at f['a]rra maki s['e]; "ok l['a]tum hlj['o]tt yfir," sagdhi hann; "m['a] vera, at hann s['e] aetladhr til at vinna b['o]t ['a] vandraedhum th['i]num." Var h['u]sfreyja thar um n['o]ttina.

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti that at segja, at th['a] er dr['o] at midhri n['o]tt, heyrdhi hann ['u]t dynur miklar. Thv['i]naest kom inn ['i] stofuna tr[o,]llkona mikil. Hon hafdhi ['i] hendi trog, en annarri sk['a]lm, heldr mikla. Hon litaz um, er hon kom inn, ok s['a], hvar Gestr l['a], ok hlj['o]p at honum, en hann upp ['i] m['o]ti, ok r['e]dhuz ['a] grimmliga ok s['o]ttuz lengi ['i] stofunni. Hon var sterkari, en hann f['o]r undan koenliga. En allt that, sem fyrir theim vardh, brutu thau, jafnvel thverthilit undan stofunni. Hon dr['o] hann fram yfir dyrnar, ok sv['a] ['i] anddyrit; thar t['o]k hann fast ['i] m['o]ti. Hon {159} vildi draga hann ['u]t ['o]r boenum, en that vardh eigi fyrr en thau leystu fr['a] allan ['u]tidyraumb['u]ninginn ok b['a]ru hann ['u]t ['a] herdhum s['e]r. Thoefdhi hon th['a] ofan til ['a]rinnar ok allt fram at glj['u]frum. Th['a] var Gestr ['a]kafliga m['o]dhr, en th['o] vardh annathv['a]rt at gera: at herdha sik, ella mundi hon steypa honum ['i] glj['u]frin. Alla n['o]ttina s['o]ttuz thau. Eigi th['o]ttiz hann hafa fengiz vidh thv['i]l['i]kan ['o]fagnadh fyrir afls sakir. Hon hafdhi haldit honum sv['a] fast at s['e]r, at hann m['a]tti hv['a]rigri hendi taka til n[o,]kkurs, ['u]tan hann helt um hana midhja k[ett]una. Ok er thau k['o]mu ['a] ['a]rgljufrit, bregdhr hann flagdhkonunni til sveiflu. ['I] thv['i] vardh honum laus hin hoegri h[o,]ndin. Hann threif th['a] skj['o]tt til saxins, er hann var gyrdhr medh, ok bregdhr thv['i]; hoeggr th['a] ['a] [o,]xl tr[o,]llinu, sv['a] at af t['o]k h[o,]ndina hoegri, ok sv['a], vardh hann lauss. En hon steyptiz ['i] glj['u]frin ok sv['a] ['i] fossinn. Gestr var th['a] baedhi stirdhr ok m['o]dhr, ok l['a] thar lengi ['a] hamrinum. Gekk hann th['a] heim, er l['y]sa t['o]k, ok lagdhiz ['i] rekkju. Hann var allr thr['u]tinn ok bl['a]r.

Ok er h['u]sfreyja kom fr['a] t['i]dhum, th['o]tti henni heldr raskat um h['y]b['y]li s['i]n. Gekk hon th['a] til Gests ok spurdhi, hvat til hefdhi borit, er allt var brotit ok boelt. Hann sagdhi allt, sem farit hafdhi. Henni th['o]tti mikils um vert, ok spurdhi, hverr hann var. Hann sagdhi th['a] til hit sanna, ok badh soekja prest ok kvaz vildu finna hann. Var ok sv['a] g[o,]rt. En er Steinn prestr kom til Sandhauga, vardh hann br['a]tt thess v['i]ss, at thar var kominn Grettir ['A]smundarson, er Gestr nefndiz. Prestr spurdhi, hvat hann aetladhi af theim m[o,]nnum mundi vera ordhit, er thar h[o,]fdhu horfit. Grettir kvaz aetla, at ['i] glj['u]frin mundu their hafa horfit. Prestr kvaz eigi kunna at leggja tr['u]nadh ['a] sagnir hans, ef engi merki maetti til sj['a]. Grettir segir, at s['i]fdhar vissi their that goerr. F['o]r prestr heim. Grettir l['a] ['i] rekkju margar naetr. H['u]sfreyja gerdhi vidh hann hardhla vel; ok leidh sv['a] af j['o]lin. Thetta er s[o,]gn Grettis, at tr[o,]llkonan steypdhiz ['i] glj['u]frin vidh, er hon fekk s['a]rit; en B['a]rdhardalsmenn segja, at hana dagadhi uppi, th['a] er thau gl['i]mdu, ok spryngi, th['a] er hann hj['o] af henni h[o,]ndina, ok standi thar enn ['i] konu l['i]king ['a] bjarginu. Their dalb['u]arnir leyndu thar Gretti.

Um vetrinn eptir j['o]l var that einn dag, at Grettir f['o]r til Eyjardals['a]r. Ok er their Grettir funduz ok prestr, maelti Grettir: "S['e] ek that, prestr," segir hann, "at th['u] leggr l['i]tinn {160} tr['u]nadh ['a] sagnir m['i]nar. N['u] vil ek at th['u] farir medh m['e]r til ['a]rinnar, ok sj['a]ir, hver l['i]kendi th['e]r thykkir ['a] vera."

Prestr gerdhi sv['a]. En er their k['o]mu til fossins, s['a]u their sk['u]ta upp undir bergit; that var meitilberg sv['a] mikit, at hvergi m['a]tti upp komaz, ok naer t['i]u fadhma ofan at vatninu. Their h[o,]fdhu festi medh s['e]r.

Th['a] maelti prestr: "Langt um ['o]foert s['y]niz m['e]r th['e]r nidhr at fara."

Grettir svarar: "Foert er v['i]st; en theim mun bezt thar, sem ['a]gaetismenn eru. Mun ek forvitnaz, hvat ['i] fossinum er, en th['u] skalt geyma festar."

Prestr badh hann r['a]dha, ok keyrdhi nidhr hael ['a] berginu, ok bar at grj['o]t, [ok sat thar hj['a]].

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti at segja, at hann l['e]t stein ['i] festaraugat ok l['e]t sv['a] s['i]ga ofan at vatninu.

"Hvern veg aetlar th['u] n['u]," segir prestr, "at fara?"

"Ekki vil ek vera bundinn," segir Grettir, "th['a] er ek kem ['i] fossinn; sv['a] bodhar m['e]r hugr um."

Eptir that bj['o] hann sik til ferdhar, ok var f['a]klaeddr, ok gyrdhi sik medh saxinu, en hafdhi ekki fleiri v['a]pn. S['i]dhan hlj['o]p hann af bjarginu ok nidhr ['i] fossinn. S['a] prestr ['i] iljar honum, ok vissi s['i]dhan aldri, hvat af honum vardh. Grettir kafadhi undir fossinn, ok var that torvelt, thv['i]at idha var mikil, ok vardh hann allt til grunns at kafa, ['a]dhr en hann koemiz upp undir fossinn. Thar var forberg n[o,]kkut, ok komz hann inn thar upp ['a]. Thar var hellir mikill undir fossinum, ok fell ['a]in fram af berginu. Gekk hann th['a] inn ['i] hellinn, ok var thar eldr mikill ['a] br[o,]ndum. Grettir s['a], at thar sat j[o,]tunn [o,]gurliga mikill; hann var hraedhiligr at sj['a]. En er Grettir kom at honum, hlj['o]p j[o,]tunninn upp ok greip flein einn ok hj['o] til thess, er kominn var, thv['i]at baedhi m['a]tti h[o,]ggva ok leggja medh [honum]. Tr['e]skapt var ['i]; that k[o,]lludhu menn th['a] heptisax, er thannveg var g[o,]rt. Grettir hj['o] ['a] m['o]ti medh saxinu, ok kom ['a] skaptit, sv['a] at ['i] sundr t['o]k. J[o,]tunninn vildi th['a] seilaz ['a] bak s['e]r aptr til sverdhs, er thar hekk ['i] hellinum. ['I] thv['i] hj['o] Grettir framan ['a] brj['o]stit, sv['a] at n['a]liga t['o]k af alla bringspelina ok kvidhinn, sv['a] at idhrin steyptuz ['o]r honum ofan ['i] ['a]na, ok keyrdhi thau ofan eptir ['a]nni. Ok er prestr sat vidh festina, s['a] hann, at slydhrur n[o,]kkurar rak ofan eptir strengnum bl['o]dhugar {161} allar. Hann vardh th['a] lauss ['a] velli, ok th['o]ttiz n['u] vita, at Grettir mundi daudhr vera. Hlj['o]p hann th['a] fr['a] festarhaldinu ok f['o]r heim. Var th['a] komit at kveldi, ok sagdhi prestr v['i]sliga, at Grettir vaeri daudhr; ok sagdhi, at mikill skadhi vaeri eptir thv['i]l['i]kan mann.

N['u] er fr['a] Gretti at segja; hann l['e]t skamt h[o,]ggva ['i] milli, thar til er j[o,]tunninn d['o]. Gekk Grettir th['a] innar eptir hellinum. Hann kveikti lj['o]s ok kannadhi hellinn. Ekki er fr['a] thv['i] sagt, hversu mikit f['e] hann fekk ['i] hellinum; en that aetla menn, at verit hafi n[o,]kkut. Dvaldiz honum thar fram ['a] n['o]ttina. Hann fann thar tveggja manna bein, ok bar thau ['i] belg einn. Leitadhi hann th['a] ['o]r hellinum ok lagdhiz til festarinnar, ok hristi hana, ok aetladhi, at prestr mundi thar vera. En er hann vissi, at prestr var heim farinn, vardh hann th['a] at handstyrkja upp festina, ok komz hann sv['a] upp ['a] bjargit. F['o]r hann th['a] heim til Eyjardals['a]r ok kom ['i] forkirkju belginum theim, sem beinin v['a]ru ['i], ok thar medh r['u]nakefli thv['i], er v['i]sur thessar v['a]ru forkunnliga vel ['a] ristnar:

"Gekk ek ['i] glj['u]fr et d[o,]kkva gein veltiflug steina, vith hj[o,]rgaethi hr['i]thar hlunns ['u]rsv[o,]lum munni, fast l['a] framm ['a] brj['o]sti flugstraumr ['i] sal naumu heldr kom ['a] herthar sk['a]ldi h[o,]rth fj['o]n Braga kv['o]nar."

Ok en thessi:

"Lj['o]tr kom m['e]r ['i] m['o]ti mellu vinr ['o]r helli; hann fekz, heldr at s[o,]nnu harthfengr, vith mik lengi; hartheggjat l['e]t ek h[o,]ggvit heptisax af skepti; Gangs klauf brj['o]st ok bringu bjartr gunnlogi svarta[298]."

{162}

Thar sagdhi sv['a], at Grettir hafi bein thessi ['o]r hellinum haft. En er prestr kom til kirkju um morgininn, fann hann keflit ok that sem fylgdi, ok las r['u]narnar. En Grettir hafdhi farit heim til Sandhauga.

En th['a] er prestr fann Gretti, spurdhi hann inniliga eptir atburdhum; en hann sagdhi alla s[o,]gu um ferdh s['i]na, ok kvadh prest ['o]tr['u]liga hafa haldit festinni. Prestr l['e]t that ['a] sannaz. Th['o]ttuz menn that vita, at thessar ['o]vaettir mundu valdit hafa mannahv[o,]rfum thar ['i] dalnum. Vardh ok aldri mein af aptrg[o,]ngum edha reimleikum thar ['i] dalnum s['i]dhan. Th['o]tti Grettir thar g[o,]rt hafa mikla landhreinsan. Prestr jardhadhi bein thessi ['i] kirkjugardhi.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM GRETTIS SAGA

The _Grettis saga_ was first printed in the middle of the eighteenth century, in Iceland (Marc['u]sson, _Nockrer Marg-frooder Sogu-thatter_, 1756, pp. 81-163). It was edited by Magn['u]sson and Thordarson, Copenhagen, 1853, with a Danish translation, and again by Boer (_Altnordische Saga-bibliothek_, Halle, 1900). An edition was also printed at Reykjavik in 1900, edited by V. ['A]smundarson.

There are over forty MSS of the saga: _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_ (quoted in the notes below as A) forms the basis of all three modern editions. Boer has investigated the relationship of the MSS (_Die handschriftliche ueberlieferung der Grettissaga, Z.f.d.Ph._ XXXI, 40-60), and has published, in an appendix to his edition, the readings of five of the more important, in so far as he considers that they can be utilized to amend the text supplied by A.

The reader who consults the editions of both Magn['u]sson and Boer will be struck by the differences in the text, although both are following the same MS. Many of these differences are, of course, due to the fact that the editors are normalizing the spelling, but on different principles: many others, however, are due to the extraordinary difficulty of the MS itself. Mr Sigf['u]s Bloendal, of the Royal Library of Copenhagen, has examined _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_ for me, and he writes:

"It is the very worst MS I have ever met with. The writing is small, almost every word is abbreviated, and, worst of all, the writing is in many places effaced, partly by smoke (I suppose the MS needs must have been lying for years in some smoky and damp _badhstofa_) rendering the parchment almost as black as shoe-leather, but still more owing to the use of chemicals, which modern editors have been obliged to use, to make sure of what there really was in the text. By the use of much patience and a lens, one can read it, though, in most places. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the _Gl['a]mur_ episode, a big portion of which belongs to the very worst part of the MS, and the readings of that portion are therefore rather uncertain."

The Icelandic text given above agrees in the main with that in the excellent edition of Boer, to whom, in common with all students of the {163} _Grettis saga_, I am much indebted: but I have frequently adopted in preference a spelling or wording nearer to that of Magn['u]sson. In several of these instances (notably the spelling of the verses attributed to Grettir) I think Prof. Boer would probably himself agree.

The words or letters placed between square brackets are those which are not to be found in _Cod. Arn. Mag. 551 a_.

To Mr Bloendal, who has been at the labour of collating with the MS, for my benefit, both the passages given above, my grateful thanks are due.

There are English translations of the _Grettis saga_ by Morris and E. Magn['u]sson (1869, and in Morris' _Works_, 1911, vol. VII) and by G. A. Hight (_Everyman's Library_, 1914).

For a discussion of the relationship of the _Grettis saga_ to other stories, see also Boer, _Zur Grettissaga_, in _Z.f.d.Ph._ XXX, 1-71.

(_a_) _Glam episode_ (p. 146 above)

There was a man called Thorhall, who lived at Thorhall's Farm in Shadow-dale. Shadow-dale runs up from Water-dale. Thorhall was son of Grim, son of Thorhall, son of Frithmund, who settled Shadow-dale. Thorhall's wife was called Guthrun: their son was Grim, and Thurith their daughter--they were grown up.

[Sidenote: p. 147]

Thorhall was a wealthy man, and especially in cattle, so that no man had as much live stock as he. He was not a chief, yet a substantial yeoman. The place was much haunted, and he found it hard to get a shepherd to suit him. He sought counsel of many wise men, what device he should follow, but he got no counsel which was of use to him. Thorhall rode each summer to the All-Thing; he had good horses. That was one summer at the All-Thing, that Thorhall went to the booth of Skapti Thoroddsson, the Law-man.

Skapti was the wisest of men, and gave good advice if he was asked. There was this difference between Skapti and his father Thorodd: Thorodd had second sight, and some men called him underhanded; but Skapti gave to every man that advice which he believed would avail, if it were kept to: so he was called 'Better than his father.' Thorhall went to the booth of Skapti. Skapti greeted Thorhall well, for he knew that he was a prosperous man, and asked what news he had.

Thorhall said, "I should like good counsel from thee." "I am little use at that," said Skapti. "But what is thy need?" {164}

Thorhall said, "It happens so, that it is difficult for me to keep my shepherds: they easily get hurt, and some will not serve their time. And now no one will take on the task, who knows what is before him."

Skapti answered, "There must be some evil being about, if men are more unwilling to look after thy sheep than those of other folk. Now because thou hast sought counsel of me, I will find thee a shepherd, who is named Glam, a Swede, from Sylgsdale, who came out to Iceland last summer. He is great and strong, but not much to everybody's taste."

Thorhall said that he would not mind that, if he guarded the sheep well. Skapti said that if Glam had not the strength and courage to do that, there was no hope of anyone else. Then Thorhall went out; this was when the All-Thing was nearly ending.

Thorhall missed two light bay horses, and he went himself to look for them--so it seems that he was not a great man. He went up under Sledge-hill and south along the mountain called Armannsfell.

Then he saw where a man came down from Gothashaw, bearing faggots on a horse. They soon met, and Thorhall asked him his name, and he said he was called Glam. Glam [Sidenote: p. 148] was tall and strange in bearing, with blue[299] and glaring eyes, and wolf-grey hair. Thorhall opened his eyes when he saw him, but yet he discerned that this was he to whom he had been sent.

"What work art thou best fitted for?" said Thorhall.

Glam said he was well fitted to watch sheep in the winter.

"Wilt thou watch my sheep?" said Thorhall. "Skapti gave thee into my hand."

"You will have least trouble with me in your house if I go my own way, for I am hard of temper if I am not pleased," said Glam.

"That will not matter to me," said Thorhall, "and I wish that thou shouldst go to my house."

"That may I well do," said Glam, "but are there any difficulties?"

{165}

"It is thought to be haunted," said Thorhall.

"I am not afraid of such phantoms," said Glam, "and it seems to me all the less dull."

"Thou wilt need such a spirit," said Thorhall, "and it is better that the man there should not be a coward."

After that they struck their bargain, and Glam was to come at the winter-nights [14th-16th of October]. Then they parted, and Thorhall found his horses where he had just been searching. Thorhall rode home and thanked Skapti for his good deed.

Summer passed, and Thorhall heard nothing of his shepherd, and no one knew anything of him; but at the time appointed he came to Thorhall's Farm. The yeoman greeted him well, but all the others could not abide him, and Thorhall's wife least of all. Glam undertook the watching of the sheep, and it gave him little trouble. He had a great deep voice, and the sheep came together as soon as he called them. There was a church at Thorhall's Farm, but Glam would not go to it. He would have nothing to do with the service, and was godless; he was obstinate and surly and abhorred by all.

Now time went on till it came to Yule eve. Then Glam rose early and called for meat. The yeoman's wife answered, "That is not the custom of Christian men to eat meat today, because tomorrow is the first day of Yule," said she, "and therefore it is right that we should first fast today."

He answered, "Ye have many superstitions which I see are good for nothing. I do not know that men fare better now [Sidenote: p. 149] than before, when they had nought to do with such things. It seemed to me a better way when men were called heathen; and I want my meat and no tricks."

The yeoman's wife said, "I know for a certainty that it will fare ill with thee today, if thou dost this evil thing."

Glam bade her bring the meat at once, else he said it should be worse for her. She dared not do otherwise than he willed, and when he had eaten he went out, foul-mouthed.

Now it had gone so with the weather that it was heavy all round, and snow-flakes were falling, and it was blowing loud, and grew much worse as the day went on. The shepherd {166} was heard early in the day, but less later. Then wind began to drive the snow, and towards evening it became a tempest. Then men came to the service, and so it went on to nightfall. Glam did not come home. Then there was talk whether search ought not to be made for him, but because there was a tempest and it was pitch dark, no search was attempted. That Yule night he did not come home, and so men waited till after the service [next, i.e. Christmas, morning]. But when it was full day, men went to search, and found the sheep scattered in the snow-drifts[300], battered by the tempest, or strayed up into the mountains. Then they came on a great space beaten down, high up in the valley. It looked to them as if there had been somewhat violent wrestling there, because the stones had been torn up for a distance around, and the earth likewise. They looked closely and saw where Glam lay a little distance away. He was dead, and blue like Hel and swollen like an ox. They had great loathing of him, and their souls shuddered at him. Nevertheless they strove to bring him to the church, but they could get him no further than the edge of a ravine a little below, and they went home leaving matters so, and told the yeoman what had happened. He asked what appeared to have been the death of Glam. They said that, from the trodden spot, up to a place beneath the rocks high in the valley, they had tracked marks as big as if a cask-bottom had been stamped down, and great drops of blood with them. So men concluded from this, that the evil thing which had been there before must have killed Glam, but Glam must have done it damage which had been enough, in that nought has ever happened since from that evil thing.

The second day of Yule it was again essayed to bring Glam to the church.

Beasts of draught were harnessed, but they could not move him where it was level ground and not down hill, so they departed, leaving matters so.

The third day the priest went with them, and they searched [Sidenote: p. 150] all day, but Glam could not be found. The priest would go no {167} more, but Glam was found when the priest was not in the company. Then they gave up trying to carry him to the church, and buried him where he was, under a cairn.

A little later men became aware that Glam was not lying quiet. Great harm came to men from this, so that many fell into a swoon when they saw him, and some could not keep their wits. Just after Yule, men thought they saw him at home at the farm. They were exceedingly afraid, and many fled away. Thereupon Glam took to riding the house-roofs at nights, so that he nearly broke them in. He walked almost night and day. Men hardly dared to go up into the dale, even though they had business enough. Men in that country-side thought great harm of this.

In the spring Thorhall got farm-hands together and set up house on his land. Then the apparition began to grow less frequent whilst the sun's course was at its height; and so it went on till midsummer. That summer a ship came out to Hunawater. On it was a man called Thorgaut. He was an outlander by race, big and powerful; he had the strength of two men. He was in no man's service, and alone, and he wished to take up some work, since he had no money. Thorhall rode to the ship, and met Thorgaut. He asked him if he would work for him. Thorgaut said that might well be, and that he would make no difficulties.

"But thou must be prepared," said Thorhall, "that it is no place for weaklings, by reason of the hauntings which have been going on for a while, for I will not let thee into a trap."

Thorgaut answered, "It does not seem to me that I am undone, even though I were to see some little ghosts. It must be no easy matter for others if I am frightened, and I will not give up my place for that."

So now they agreed well, and Thorgaut was to watch the sheep when winter came.

Now the summer passed on. Thorgaut took charge of the sheep at the winter-nights. He was well-pleasing to all. Glam ever came home and rode on the roofs. Thorgaut thought it sporting, and said that the thrall would have to come nearer {168} in order to scare him. But Thorhall bade him keep quiet: "It is best that ye should not try your strength together." Thorgaut said, "Verily, your courage is shaken out of you: I shall not drop down with fear between day and night over such talk."

Now things went on through the winter up to Yule-tide. On Yule evening the shepherd went out to his sheep. Then [Sidenote: p. 151] the yeoman's wife said, "It is to be hoped that now things will not go in the old way."

He answered, "Be not afraid of that, mistress; something worth telling will have happened if I do not come back."

Then he went to his sheep. The weather was cold, and it snowed much. Thorgaut was wont to come home when it was twilight, but now he did not come at that time. Men came to the service, as was the custom. It seemed to people that things were going as they had before. The yeoman wished to have search made for the shepherd, but the church-goers excused themselves, and said they would not risk themselves out in the hands of the trolls by night. And the yeoman did not dare to go, so the search came to nothing.

On Yule-day, when men had eaten, they went and searched for the shepherd. They went first to Glam's cairn, because men thought that the shepherd's disappearance must have been through his bringing-about. But when they came near the cairn they saw great things, for there they found the shepherd with his neck broken and not a bone in him whole. Then they carried him to the church, and no harm happened to any man from Thorgaut afterwards; but Glam began to increase in strength anew. He did so much that all men fled away from Thorhall's Farm, except only the yeoman and his wife.

Now the same cattle-herd had been there a long time. Thorhall would not let him go, because of his good-will and good service. He was far gone in age and was very unwilling to leave: he saw that everything went to waste which the yeoman had, if no one looked after it. And once after mid-winter it happened one morning that the yeoman's wife went to the byre to milk the cows as usual. It was quite light, because no one dared to go out before, except the cattle-herd: he went {169} out as soon as it dawned. She heard great cracking in the byre and a hideous bellowing. She ran back, crying out, and said she did not know what devilry was going on in the byre.

The yeoman went out, and came to the cattle, and they were goring each other. It seemed to him no good to stay there, and he went further into the hay-barn. He saw where the cattle-herd lay, and he had his head in one stall and his feet in the next. He lay on his back. The yeoman went to him and felt him. He soon found that he was dead, and his back-bone broken in two; it had been broken over the partition slab.

Now it seemed no longer bearable to Thorhall, and he left his farm with all that he could carry away; but all the live-stock [Sidenote: p. 152] left behind Glam killed. After that he went through all the dale and laid waste all the farms up from Tongue. Thorhall spent what was left of the winter with his friends. No man could go up into the dale with horse or hound, because it was slain forthwith. But when spring came, and the course of the sun was highest, the apparitions abated somewhat. Now Thorhall wished to go back to his land. It was not easy for him to get servants, but still he set up house at Thorhall's Farm.

All went the same way as before. When autumn came on the hauntings began to increase. The yeoman's daughter was most attacked, and it fared so that she died. Many counsels were taken, but nothing was done. Things seemed to men to be looking as if all Water-dale must be laid waste, unless some remedies could be found.

Now the story must be taken up about Grettir, how he sat at home at Bjarg that autumn, after he had parted from Barthi-of-the-Slayings at Thorey's Peak. And when it had almost come to the winter-nights, Grettir rode from home, north over the neck to Willow-dale, and was a guest at Authun's Farm. He was fully reconciled to Authun, and gave him a good axe, and they spake of their wish for friendship one with the other. (Authun dwelt long at Authun's Farm, and much goodly offspring had he. Egil was his son, who wedded Ulfheith, daughter of Eyjolf Guthmundson; and their son was Eyjolf, who was slain at the All-Thing. He was father of Orm, chaplain to {170} Bishop Thorlak.) Grettir rode north to Water-dale and came on a visit to Tongue. At that time Jokul Barthson lived there, Grettir's uncle. Jokul was a man great and strong and very proud. He was a seafaring man, and very over-bearing, yet of great account. He received Grettir well, and Grettir was there three nights.

There was so much said about the apparitions of Glam that nothing was spoken of by men equally with that. Grettir inquired exactly about the events which had happened. Jokul said that nothing more had been spoken than had verily occurred. "But art thou anxious, kinsman, to go there?"

Grettir said that that was the truth. Jokul begged him not to do so, "For that is a great risk of thy luck, and thy kinsmen have much at stake where thou art," said he, "for none of the young men seems to us to be equal to thee; but ill will come of ill where Glam is, and it is much better to have to do with mortal men than with evil creatures like that."

Grettir said he was minded to go to Thorhall's Farm and [Sidenote: p. 153] see how things had fared there. Jokul said, "I see now that it is of no avail to stop thee, but true it is what men say, that good-luck is one thing, and goodliness another."

"Woe is before one man's door when it is come into another's house. Think how it may fare with thee thyself before the end," said Grettir.

Jokul answered, "It may be that both of us can see somewhat into the future, but neither can do aught in the matter."

After that they parted, and neither was pleased with the other's foreboding.

Grettir rode to Thorhall's Farm, and the yeoman greeted him well. He asked whither Grettir meant to go, but Grettir said he would stay there over the night if the yeoman would have it so. Thorhall said he owed him thanks for being there, "But few men find it a profit to stay here for any time. Thou must have heard what the dealings are here, and I would fain that thou shouldst have no troubles on my account; but though thou shouldst come whole away, I know for certain that thou {171} wilt lose thy steed, for no one who comes here keeps his horse whole."

Grettir said there were plenty of horses, whatever should become of this one.

Thorhall was glad that Grettir would stay there, and welcomed him exceedingly.

Grettir's horse was strongly locked in an out-house. They went to sleep, and so the night passed without Glam coming home. Then Thorhall said, "Things have taken a good turn against thy coming, for every night Glam has been wont to ride the roofs or break up the doors, even as thou canst see."

Grettir said, "Then must one of two things happen. Either he will not long hold himself in, or the wonted haunting will cease for more than one night. I will stay here another night and see how it goes."

Then they went to Grettir's horse, and he had not been attacked. Then everything seemed to the yeoman to be going one way. Now Grettir stayed for another night, and the thrall did not come home. Then things seemed to the yeoman to be taking a very hopeful turn. He went to look after Grettir's horse. When he came there, the stable was broken into, and the horse dragged out to the door, and every bone in him broken asunder.

Thorhall told Grettir what had happened, and bade him save his own life--"For thy death is sure if thou waitest for Glam."

Grettir answered, "The least I must have in exchange for my horse is to see the thrall."

The yeoman said that there was no good in seeing him: [Sidenote: p. 154] "For he is unlike any shape of man; but every hour that thou wilt stay here seems good to me."

Now the day went on, and when bed-time came Grettir would not put off his clothes, but lay down in the seat over against the yeoman's sleeping-chamber. He had a shaggy cloak over him, and wrapped one corner of it down under his feet, and twisted the other under his head and looked out through the head-opening. There was a great and strong partition beam in front of the seat, and he put his feet against it. The {172} doorframe was all broken away from the outer door, but now boards, fastened together carelessly anyhow, had been tied in front. The panelling which had been in front was all broken away from the hall, both above and below the cross-beam; the beds were all torn out of their places, and everything was very wretched[301].

A light burned in the hall during the night: and when a third part of the night was past, Grettir heard a great noise outside. Some creature had mounted upon the buildings and was riding upon the hall and beating it with its heels, so that it cracked in every rafter. This went on a long time. Then the creature came down from the buildings and went to the door. When the door was opened Grettir saw that the thrall had stretched in his head, and it seemed to him monstrously great and wonderfully huge. Glam went slowly and stretched himself up when he came inside the door. He towered up to the roof. He turned and laid his arm upon the cross-beam and glared in upon the hall. The yeoman did not let himself be heard, because the noise he heard outside seemed to him enough. Grettir lay quiet and did not move.

Glam saw that a heap lay upon the seat, and he stalked in up the hall and gripped the cloak wondrous fast. Grettir pressed his feet against the post and gave not at all. Glam pulled a second time much more violently, and the cloak did not move. A third time he gripped with both hands so mightily that he pulled Grettir up from the seat, and now the cloak was torn asunder between them.

Glam gazed at the portion which he held, and wondered much who could have pulled so hard against him; and at that moment Grettir leapt under his arms and grasped him round {173} the middle, and bent his back as mightily as he could, reckoning that Glam would sink to his knees at his attack. But the thrall laid such a grip on Grettir's arm that he recoiled at the might of it. Then Grettir gave way from one seat to another. The beams[302] started, and all that came in their way was broken. [Sidenote: p. 155] Glam wished to get out, but Grettir set his feet against any support he could find; nevertheless Glam dragged him forward out of the hall. And there they had a sore wrestling, in that the thrall meant to drag him right out of the building; but ill as it was to have to do with Glam inside, Grettir saw that it would be yet worse without, and so he struggled with all his might against going out. Glam put forth all his strength, and dragged Grettir towards himself when they came to the porch. And when Grettir saw that he could not resist, then all at once he flung himself against the breast of the thrall, as powerfully as he could, and pressed forward with both his feet against a stone which stood fast in the earth at the entrance. The thrall was not ready for this, he had been pulling to drag Grettir towards himself; and thereupon he stumbled on his back out of doors, so that his shoulders smote against the cross-piece of the door, and the roof clave asunder, both wood and frozen thatch. So Glam fell backwards out of the house and Grettir on top of him. There was bright moonshine and broken clouds without. At times they drifted in front of the moon and at times away. Now at the moment when Glam fell, the clouds cleared from before the moon, and Glam rolled up his eyes; and Grettir himself has said that that was the one sight he had seen which struck fear into him. Then such a sinking came over Grettir, from his weariness and from that sight of Glam rolling his eyes, that he had no strength to draw his knife and lay almost between life and death.

{174}

But in this was there more power for evil in Glam than in most other apparitions, in that he spake thus: "Much eagerness hast thou shown, Grettir," said he, "to meet with me. But no wonder will it seem if thou hast no good luck from me. And this can I tell thee, that thou hast now achieved one half of the power and might which was fated for thee if thou hadst not met with me. Now no power have I to take that might from thee to which thou hast attained. But in this may I have my way, that thou shalt never become stronger than now thou art, and yet art thou strong enough, as many a one shall find to his cost. Famous hast thou been till now for thy deeds, but from now on shall exiles and manslaughters fall to thy lot, and almost all of thy labours shall turn to ill-luck and unhappiness. Thou shalt be outlawed and doomed ever to dwell alone, away from men; and then lay I this fate on thee, that these eyes of mine be ever before thy sight, and it shall seem grievous unto thee to be alone, and that shall drag thee to thy death."

And when the thrall had said this, the swoon which had [Sidenote: p. 156] fallen upon Grettir passed from him. Then he drew his sword and smote off Glam's head, and placed it by his thigh.

Then the yeoman came out: he had clad himself whilst Glam was uttering his curse, but he dare in no wise come near before Glam had fallen. Thorhall praised God for it, and thanked Grettir well for having vanquished the unclean spirit.

Then they set to work and burned Glam to cold cinders. After, they put the ashes in a skin-bag and buried them as far as possible from the ways of man or beast. After that they went home, and by that time it was well on to day. Grettir lay down, for he was very stiff. Thorhall sent people to the next farm for men, and showed to them what had happened. To all those who heard of it, it seemed a work of great account; and that was then spoken by all, that no man in all the land was equal to Grettir Asmundarson for might and valour and all prowess. Thorhall sent Grettir from his house with honour, and gave him a good horse and fit clothing; for all the clothes which he had worn before were torn asunder. They parted great friends. Grettir rode thence to Ridge in Water-dale, and Thorvald greeted him well, and asked closely as to his meeting {175} with Glam. Grettir told him of their dealings, and said that never had he had such a trial of strength, so long a struggle had theirs been together.

Thorvald bade him keep quiet, "and then all will be well, otherwise there are bound to be troubles for thee."

Grettir said that his temper had not bettered, and that he was now more unruly than before, and all offences seemed worse to him. And in that he found a great difference, that he had become so afraid of the dark that he did not dare to go anywhere alone after night had fallen. All kinds of horrors appeared to him then. And that has since passed into a proverb, that Glam gives eyes, or gives "glam-sight" to those to whom things seem quite other than they are. Grettir rode home to Bjarg when he had done his errand, and remained at home during the winter.

(_b_) _Sandhaugar episode_ (p. 156 above)

There was a priest called Stein who lived at Eyjardals['a] (Isledale River) in Barthardal. He was a good husbandman and rich in cattle. His son was Kjartan, a doughty man and well grown. There was a man called Thorstein the White who [Sidenote: p. 157] lived at Sandhaugar (Sandheaps), south of Isledale river; his wife was called Steinvor, and she was young and merry. They had children, who were young then.

People thought the place was much haunted by reason of the visitation of trolls. It happened, two winters before Grettir came North into those districts, that the good-wife Steinvor at Sandhaugar went to a Christmas service, according to her custom, at Isledale river, but her husband remained at home. In the evening men went to bed, and during the night they heard a great rummage in the hall, and by the good-man's bed. No one dared to get up to look to it, because there were very few men about. The good-wife came home in the morning, but her husband had vanished, and no one knew what had become of him.

The next year passed away. But the winter after, the good-wife wished again to go to the church-service, and she bade her {176} manservant remain at home. He was unwilling, but said she must have her own way. All went in the same manner as before, and the servant vanished. People thought that strange. They saw some splashes of blood on the outer door, and men thought that evil beings must have taken away both the good-man and the servant.

The news of this spread wide throughout the country. Grettir heard of it; and because it was his fortune to get rid of hauntings and spirit-walkings, he took his way to Barthardal, and came to Sandhaugar on Yule eve. He disguised himself[303], and said his name was Guest. The good-wife saw that he was great of stature; and the farm-folk were much afraid of him. He asked for quarters for the night. The good-wife said that he could have meat forthwith, but "You must look after your own safety."

He said it should be so. "I will be at home," said he, "and you can go to the service if you will."

She answered, "You are a brave man, it seems to me, if you dare to remain at home."

"I do not care to have things all one way[304]," said he.

"It seems ill to me to be at home," said she, "but I cannot get over the river."

"I will see you over," said Guest.

Then she got ready to go to the service, and her small daughter with her. It was thawing, the river was in flood, and there were ice-floes in it. Then the good-wife said, "It is impossible for man or horse to get across the river."

"There must be fords in it," said Guest, "do not be afraid."

[Sidenote: p. 158]

"Do you carry the child first," said the good-wife, "she is the lighter."

"I do not care to make two journeys of it," said Guest, "and I will carry thee on my arm."

She crossed herself and said, "That is an impossible way; what will you do with the child?"

{177}

"I will see a way for that," said he; and then he took them both up, and set the child on her mother's knee and so bore them both on his left arm. But he had his right hand free, and thus he waded out into the ford.

They did not dare to cry out, so much afraid were they. The river washed at once up against his breast; then it tossed a great icefloe against him, but he put out the hand that was free and pushed it from him. Then it grew so deep that the river dashed over his shoulder; but he waded stoutly on, until he came to the bank on the other side, and threw Steinvor and her daughter on the land.

Then he turned back, and it was half dark when he came to Sandhaugar and called for meat; and when he had eaten, he bade the farm folk go to the far side of the room. Then he took boards and loose timber which he dragged across the room, and made a great barrier so that none of the farm folk could come over it. No one dared to say anything against him or to murmur in any wise. The entrance was in the side wall of the chamber by the gable-end, and there was a dais there. Guest lay down there, but did not take off his clothes: a light was burning in the room over against the door: Guest lay there far into the night.

The good-wife came to Isledale river to the service, and men wondered how she had crossed the river. She said she did not know whether it was a man or a troll who had carried her over. The priest said, "It must surely be a man, although there are few like him. And let us say nothing about it," said he, "it may be that he is destined to work a remedy for your evils." The good-wife remained there through the night.

Now it is to be told concerning Grettir that when it drew towards midnight he heard great noises outside. Thereupon there came into the room a great giantess. She had in one hand a trough and in the other a short-sword, rather a big one. She looked round when she came in, and saw where Guest lay, and sprang at him; but he sprang up against her, and they struggled fiercely and wrestled for a long time in the room. She was the {178} stronger, but he gave way warily; and they broke all that was before them, as well as the panelling of the room. She dragged him forward through the door and so[305] into the porch, and he [Sidenote: p. 159] struggled hard against her. She wished to drag him out of the house, but that did not happen until they had broken all the fittings of the outer doorway and forced them out on their shoulders. Then she dragged him slowly down towards the river and right along to the gorge.

By that time Guest was exceedingly weary, but yet, one or other it had to be, either he had to gather his strength together, or else she would have hurled him down into the gorge. All night they struggled. He thought that he had never grappled with such a devil in the matter of strength. She had got such a grip upon him that he could do nothing with either hand, except to hold the witch by the middle; but when they came to the gorge of the river he swung the giantess round, and thereupon got his right hand free. Then quickly he gripped his knife that he wore in his girdle and drew it, and smote the shoulder of the giantess so that he cut off her right arm. So he got free: but she fell into the gorge, and so into the rapids below.

Guest was then both stiff and tired, and lay long on the rocks; then he went home when it began to grow light, and lay down in bed. He was all swollen black and blue.

And when the good-wife came from the service, it seemed to her that things had been somewhat disarranged in her house. Then she went to Guest and asked him what had happened, that all was broken and destroyed[306]. He told her all that had taken place. She thought it very wonderful, and asked who he was. He told her the truth, and asked her to send for the priest, and said he wished to meet him; and so it was done.

Then when Stein the priest came to Sandhaugar, he knew soon that it was Grettir Asmundarson who had come there, and who had called himself Guest.

The priest asked Grettir what he thought must have become of those men who had vanished. Grettir said he thought they {179} must have vanished into the gorge. The priest said that he could not believe Grettir's saying, if no signs of it were to be seen. Grettir said that they would know more accurately about it later. Then the priest went home. Grettir lay many days in bed. The good-wife looked after him well, and so the Christmas-time passed.

Grettir's account was that the giantess fell into the gulf when she got her wound; but the men of Barthardal say that day came upon her whilst they wrestled, and that she burst when he smote her hand off, and that she stands there on the cliff yet, a rock in the likeness of a woman[307].

The dwellers in the dale kept Grettir in hiding there. But after Christmas time, one day that winter, Grettir went to Isledale river. And when Grettir and the priest met, Grettir [Sidenote: p. 160] said "I see, priest, that you place little belief in my words. Now will I that you go with me to the river and see what the likelihood seems to you to be."

The priest did so. But when they came to the waterfall they saw that the sides of the gorge hung over[308]: it was a sheer cliff so great that one could in nowise come up, and it was nearly ten fathoms[309] from the top to the water below. They had a rope with them. Then the priest said, "It seems to me quite impossible for thee to get down."

Grettir said, "Assuredly it is possible, but best for those who are men of valour. I will examine what is in the waterfall, and thou shalt watch the rope."

{180}

The priest said it should be as he wished, drove a peg into the cliff, piled stones against it, and sat by it[310].

Now it must be told concerning Grettir that he knotted a stone into the rope, and so let it down to the water.

"What way," said the priest, "do you mean to go?"

"I will not be bound," said Grettir, "when I go into the water, so much my mind forebodes me."

After that he got ready for his exploit, and had little on; he girded himself with his short sword, and had no other weapon.

Then he plunged from the cliff down into the waterfall. The priest saw the soles of his feet, and knew no more what had become of him. Grettir dived under the waterfall, and that was difficult because there was a great eddy, and he had to dive right to the bottom before he could come up behind the waterfall. There was a jutting rock and he climbed upon it. There was a great cave behind the waterfall, and the river fell in front of it from the precipice. He went into the cave, and there was a big fire burning. Grettir saw that there sat a giant of frightful size. He was terrible to look upon: but when Grettir came to him, the giant leapt up and seized a pike, and hewed at the new-comer: for with the pike he could both cut and stab. It had a handle of wood: men at that time called a weapon made in such a way a _heptisax_. Grettir smote against it with his short sword, and struck the handle so that he cut it asunder. Then the giant tried to reach back for a sword which hung behind him in the cave. Thereupon Grettir smote him in the breast, and struck off almost all the lower part of his chest and his belly, so that the entrails gushed out of him down into the river, and were swept along the current.

And as the priest sat by the rope he saw some lumps, clotted [Sidenote: p. 161] with blood, carried down stream. Then he became unsteady, and thought that now he knew that Grettir must be dead: and he ran from keeping the rope and went home. It was then evening, and the priest said for certain that Grettir was dead, and added that it was a great loss of such a man.

Now the tale must be told concerning Grettir. He let little space go between his blows till the giant was dead. Then he {181} went further into the cave; he kindled a light and examined it. It is not said how much wealth he took in the cave, but men think that there was something. He stayed there far into the night. He found there the bones of two men, and put them into a bag. Then he left the cave and swam to the rope and shook it, for he thought that the priest must be there. But when he knew that the priest had gone home, then he had to draw himself up, hand over hand, and so he came up on to the cliff.

Then he went home to Isledale river, and came to the church porch, with the bag that the bones were in, and with a rune-staff, on which these verses were exceedingly well cut:

There into gloomy gulf I passed, O'er which from the rock's throat is cast The swirling rush of waters wan, To meet the sword-player feared of man. By giant's hall the strong stream pressed Cold hands against the singer's breast; Huge weight upon him there did hurl The swallower of the changing whirl[311].

And this rhyme too:

The dreadful dweller of the cave Great strokes and many 'gainst me drave; Full hard he had to strive for it, But toiling long he wan no whit; For from its mighty shaft of tree The heft-sax smote I speedily; And dulled the flashing war-flame fair In the black breast that met me there.

[Sidenote: p. 162]

These verses told also that Grettir had taken these bones out of the cave. But when the priest came to the church in the morning he found the staff, and what was with it, and read the runes; but Grettir had gone home to Sandhaugar.

But when the priest met Grettir he asked him closely as to what had happened: and Grettir told him all the story of his journey. And he added that the priest had not watched the rope faithfully. The priest said that that was true enough.

Men thought for certain that these monsters must have caused the loss of men there in the dale; and there was never any loss from hauntings or spirit-walkings there afterwards.

{182} Grettir was thought to have caused a great purging of the land. The priest buried these bones in the churchyard.

* * * * *

D. EXTRACTS FROM BJARKA R['I]MUR

(_Hr['o]lfs saga Kraka og Bjarkar['i]mur_ udgivne ved F. J['o]nsson, Koebenhavn, 1904)

58. Flestir [o,]mudhu Hetti heldr, hann var ekki ['i] m['a]li sneldr, einn dag f['o]ru their ['u]t af h[o,]ll, sv['o] ekki vissi hirdhin [o,]ll.

59. Hjalti talar er felmtinn faer, "f[o,]rum vidh ekki sk['o]gi naer, h['e]r er s['u] ylgr sem etr upp menn, okkr drepr h['u]n b['a]dha senn."

60. Ylgrin hlj['o]p ['u]r einum runn, ['o]gurlig medh gapanda munn, h[o,]rmuligt vardh Hjalta vidhr, ['a] honum skalf baedhi leggr og lidhr.

61. ['O]taept Bjarki adh henni gengr, ekki dvelr hann vidh thadh lengr, h[o,]ggur sv['o] adh ['i] hamri st['o]dh, hlj['o]p ['u]r henni ferligt bl['o]dh.

62. "Kj['o]stu Hjalti um kosti tv['o]," kappinn B[o,]dhvar taladhi sv['o], "drekk n['u] bl['o]dh edha drep eg thig h['e]r, dugrinn l['i]z m['e]r engi ['i] th['e]r."

63. Ansar Hjalti af aernum m['o]dh, "ekki thori eg adh drekka bl['o]dh, n['y]tir flest ef naudhigr skal, n['u] er ekki ['a] betra val."

64. Hjalti gj[o,]rir sem B[o,]dhvar bidhr, adh bl['o]dhi fr['a] eg hann lagdhist nidhr, drekkur s['i]dhan drykki thrj['a], duga mun honum vidh einn adh rj['a]. IV, 58-64.

{183} 4. Hann hefr fengidh hjartadh snjalt af h[o,]rdhum m['o]dhi, fekk hann huginn og aflidh alt af ylgjar bl['o]dhi.

5. ['I] grindur vandist gr['a]bj[o,]rn einn ['i] gardhinn Hleidhar, var s['a] margur vargrinn beinn og v['i]dha sveidhar.

6. Bjarka er kent, adh hjardharhunda hafi hann drepna, ekki er h['o]num allvel hent vidh ['y]ta kepna.

7. Hr['o]lfur b['y]st og hirdh hans [o,]ll adh h['u]na st['y]ri, "S['a] skal mestr ['i] minni h[o,]ll er maetir d['y]ri."

8. Beljandi hlj['o]p bj[o,]rninn framm ['u]r b['o]li krukku, veifar s['i]num v['o]nda hramm, sv['o] virdhar hrukku.

9. Hjalti s['e]r og horfir th['a] ['a], er hafin er r['o]ma, hafdhi hann ekki ['i] h[o,]ndum th['a] nema hnefana t['o]ma.

10. Hr['o]lfur fleygdhi adh Hjalta th['a] theim hildar vendi, kappinn m['o]ti krummu br['a] og kl['o]tidh hendi.

11. Lagdhi hann s['i]dhan bj[o,]rninn br['a]tt vidh b['o]ginn haegra, bessi fell ['i] br['u]dhar ['a]tt og bar sig laegra.

12. Vann hann thadh til fraegdha fyst og fleira s['i]dhar, hans var lundin l[o,]ngum byst ['i] leiki gr['i]dhar. {184}

13. H['e]r medh fekk hann Hjalta nafn hins hjartapr['u]dha, Bjarki var eigi betri en jafn vidh b['y]ti skr['u]dha. V, 4-13.

23. Adhals var gladhr afreksmadhr, austur thangadh k['o]mu, fyrdhar their medh fr['a]nan geir flengja thegar til r['o]mu.

24. ['Y]tar b['y]ta engum fridh, unnu vel til m['a]la, thar fell ['A]li og alt hans lidh ungr ['i] leiki st['a]la.

25. Hestrinn beztur Hrafn er kendr, hafa their tekidh af ['A]la, Hildisv['i]n er hj['a]lmrinn vendr, hann kaus Bjarki ['i] m['a]la.

26. [O,]dhling badh th['a] eigi drafl eiga um n[o,]kkur skipti, thadh mun kosta k['o]ngligt afl, hann kappann gripunum svipti.

27. Ekki th['o]tti B[o,]dhvar betr, ['i] burtu f['o]ru their Hjalti, l['e]tust ['a]dhr en lidhinn er vetr leita adh Fr['o]dha malti.

28. S['i]dhan r['i]dha seggir heim og s[o,]gdhu k['o]ngi thetta, hann kvedhst mundu handa theim heimta sl['i]kt af l['e]tta. VIII, 23-28.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM BJARKA R['I]MUR

58. Most [of Rolf's retainers] much tormented Hott [Hjalti]; he was not cunning in speech. One day Hjalti and Bothvar went out of the hall, in such wise that none of the retainers knew thereof. {185}

59. Hjalti spake in great terror, "Let us not go near the wood; here is the she-wolf who eats up men; she will kill us both together."

60. The she-wolf leapt from a thicket, dread, with gaping jaws. A great terror was it to Hjalti, and he trembled in every limb.

61. Without delay or hesitation went Bjarki towards her, and hewed at her so that the axe went deep; a monstrous stream of blood gushed from her.

62. "Choose now, Hjalti, of two things"--so spake Bothvar the champion--"Drink now the blood, or I slay thee here; it seems unto me that there is no valour in thee."

63. Hjalti replied stoutly enough, "I cannot bring myself to drink blood; but if I needs must, it avails most [to submit], and now is there no better choice."

64. Hjalti did as Bothvar bade: he stooped down to the blood; then drank he three sups: that will suffice him to wrestle with one man.

IV, 58-64.

4. He [Hjalti] has gained good courage and keen spirit; he got strength and all valour from the she-wolf's blood.

5. A grey bear visited the folds at Hleithargarth; many such a ravager was there far and wide throughout the country.

6. The blame was laid upon Bjarki, because he had slain the herdsmen's dogs; it was not so suited for him to have to strive with men[312].

7. Rolf and all his household prepared to hunt the bear; "He who faces the beast shall be greatest in my hall."

8. Roaring did the bear leap forth from out its den, swinging its evil claws, so that men shrank back.

9. Hjalti saw, he turned and gazed where the battle began; nought had he then in his hands--his empty fists alone.

{186}

10. Rolf tossed then to Hjalti his wand of war [his sword]; the warrior put forth his hand towards it, and grasped the pommel.

11. Quickly then he smote the bear in the right shoulder; Bruin fell to the earth, and bore himself in more lowly wise.

12. That was the beginning of his exploits: many followed later; his spirit was ever excellent amid the play of battle.

13. Herefrom he got the name of Hjalti the stout-hearted: Bjarki was no more than his equal.

V, 4-13.

23. Joyful was the valiant Athils when they [Bjarki and Rolf's champions] came east to that place [Lake Wener]; troops with flashing spears rode quickly forthwith to the battle.

24. No truce gave they to their foes: well they earned their pay; there fell Ali and all his host, young in the game of swords.

25. The best of horses, Hrafn by name, they took from Ali; Bjarki chose for his reward the helm Hildisvin.

26. The prince [Athils] bade them have no talk about the business; he deprived the champions[313] of their treasures--that will be a test of his power.

27. Ill-pleased was Bothvar: he and Hjalti departed; they declared that before the winter was gone they would seek for the treasure [the malt of Frothi].

28. Then they rode home and told it to the king [Rolf]; he said it was their business to claim their due outright.

VIII, 23-28.

* * * * *

E. EXTRACT FROM TH['A]TTR ORMS ST['O]R['O]LFSSONAR

(_Fornmanna S[o,]gur_, Copenhagen, 1827, III. 204 _etc._; _Flateyarb['o]k_, Christiania, 1859-68, I. 527 _etc._)

7. Litlu s['i]dharr enn their Ormr ok ['A]sbj[o,]rn h[o,]fdhu skilit, f['y]stist ['A]sbj[o,]rn nordhr ['i] Saudheyjar, f['o]r hann vidh 4 menn ok 20 ['a] skipi, heldr nordhr fyrir Maeri, ok leggr seint dags at Saudhey {187} hinni ytri, g['a]nga ['a] land ok reisa tjald, eru thar um n['o]ttina, ok verdha vidh ekki varir; um morgininn ['a]rla r['i]s ['A]sbj[o,]rn upp, klaedhir sik, ok tekr v['o]pn s['i]n, ok gengr upp['a] land, en bidhr menn s['i]na b['i]dha s['i]n; en er nokkut sv['a] var lidhit fr['a] thv['i], er ['A]sbj[o,]rn hafdhi ['i] brott gengit, verdha their vidh that varir, at ketta ['o]grlig var komin ['i] tjaldsdyrnar, hon var kolsv[o,]rt at lit ok heldr grimmlig, thv['i]at eldr th['o]tti brenna or n[o,]sum hennar ok munni, eigi var hon ok vel eyg; theim br['a] mj[o,]k vidh thessa s['y]n, ok urdhu ['o]ttafullir. Ketta hleypr th['a] innar at theim, ok gr['i]pr hvern at [o,]dhrum, ok sv['a] er sagt at suma gleypti hon, en suma rifi hon til daudhs medh kl['o]m ok t[o,]nnum, 20 menn drap hon thar ['a] l['i]tilli stundu, en 3 kv['o]must ['u]t ok undan ok ['a] skip, ok h['e]ldu thegar undan landi; en ['A]sbj[o,]rn gengr thar til, er hann kemr at hellinum Br['u]sa, ok snarar thegar inn ['i]; honum vardh nokkut dimt fyrir augum, en skuggamikit var ['i] hellinum; hann verdhr eigi fyrr var vidh, enn hann er thrifinn ['a]lopt, ok faerdhr nidhr sv['a] hart, at ['A]sbirni th['o]tti furdha ['i], verdhr hann thess th['a] varr, at thar er kominn Br['u]si j[o,]tun, ok s['y]ndist heldr mikiligr. Br['u]si maelti th['a]: th['o] lagdhir th['u] mikit kapp ['a] at saekja h['i]ngat; skaltu n['u] ok eyrindi hafa, thv['i]at th['u] skalt h['e]r l['i]fit l['a]ta medh sv['a] miklum harmkvaelum, at that skal adhra letja at saekja mik heim medh ['o]fridhi; fletti hann th['a] ['A]sbj[o,]rn klaedhum, thv['i]at sv['a], var theirra mikill afla munr, at j[o,]tuninn vardh einn at r['a]dha theirra ['i] milli; b['a]lk mikinn s['a] ['A]sbj[o,]rn standa um thveran hellinn ok st['o]rt gat ['a] midhjum b['a]lkinum; j['a]rns['u]la st['o]r st['o]dh nokkut sv['a] fyrir framan b['a]lkinn. N['u] skal pr['o]fa that, segir Br['u]si, hv['a]rt th['u] ert nokkut hardhari enn adhrir menn. L['i]tit mun that at reyna, segir ['A]sbj[o,]rn....

S['i]dhan l['e]t ['A]sbj[o,]rn l['i]f sitt medh mikilli hreysti ok dreingskap.

8. That er at segja at their thr['i]r menn, er undan k['o]must, s['o]ttu kn['a]liga r['o]dhr, ok l['e]ttu eigi fyrr enn their k['o]mu at landi, s[o,]gdhu thau t['i]dhindi er gerzt h[o,]fdhu ['i] theirra f[o,]rum, kv['o]dhust aetla ['A]sbj[o,]rn daudhan, en kunnu ekki fr['a] at segja, hversu at hefdhi borizt um hans l['i]fl['a]t; kv['o]mu their s['e]r i skip medh kaupm[o,]nnum, ok fluttust sv['a] sudhr til Danmerkr; spurdhust n['u] thessi t['i]dhindi v['i]dha, ok th['o]ttu mikil. Tha var ordhit h[o,]fdh['i]ngja skipti ['i] Noregi, Hakon jarl daudhr, en ['O]lafr Tryggvason ['i] land kominn, ok baudh [o,]llum r['e]tta tr['u]. Ormr St['o]r['o]lfsson spurdhi ['u]t til ['I]slands um {188} farar ok l['i]fl['a]t ['A]sbjarnar, er m[o,]nnum th['o]tti sem vera mundi; th['o]tti honum that allmikill skadhi, ok undi eigi lengr ['a] ['I]slandi, ok t['o]k s['e]r far ['i] Reydharfirdhi, ok f['o]r thar utan; their kv['o]mu nordharliga vidh Noreg, ok sat hann um vetrinn ['i] Thr['a]ndheimi; th['a] hafdhi ['O]lafr r['a]dhit 3 vetr Noregi. Um v['o]rit bj['o]st Ormr at fara til Saudheya, their v['o]ru thv['i] naerr margir ['a] skipi, sem their ['A]sbj[o,]rn h[,]fdhu verit; their l[o,]gdhu at minni Saudhey s['i]dh um kveldit, ok tj[o,]ldudhu ['a] landi, ok l['a]gu thar um n['a]ttina....

9. N['u] gengr Ormr thar til er hann kemr at hellinum, s['e]r hann n['u] bjargit that st['o]ra, ok leizt ['u]m['a]tuligt nokkurum manni that ['i] brott at faera; th['o] dregr hann ['a] sik gl['o]fana Mengladharnauta, tekr s['i]dhan ['a] bjarginu ok faerir that burt or dyrunum, ok thikist Ormr th['a] aflraun mesta s['y]nt hafa; hann gekk th['a] inn['i] hellinn, ok lagdhi m['a]laj['a]rn ['i] dyrnar, en er hann var inn kominn, s['a] hann hvar kettan hlj['o]p medh gapanda ginit. Ormr hafdhi boga ok [o,]rvamaeli, lagdhi hann th['a] [o,]r ['a] streing, ok skaut at kettunni thremr [o,]rum, en hon hendi allar medh hvoptunum, ok beit ['i] sundr, hefir hon sik th['a] at Ormi, ok rekr klaernar framan ['i] f['a]ngit, sv['a] at Ormr kiknar vidh, en klaernar gengu ['i] gegnum klaedhin sv['a] at ['i] beini st['o]dh; hon aetlar th['a] at b['i]ta ['i] andlit Ormi, finnr hann th['a] at honum mun eigi veita, heitir th['a] ['a] sj['a]lfan gudh ok hinn heilaga Petrum postula, at g['a]nga til R['o]ms, ef hann ynni kettuna ok Br['u]sa, son hennar; s['i]dhan fann Ormr at m['i]nkadhist afl kettunnar, tekr hann th['a] annarri hendi um kverkr henni, en annarri um hrygg, ok gengr hana ['a] bak, ok br['y]tr ['i]sundr ['i] henni hrygginn, ok gengr sv['a] af henni daudhri. Ormr s['a] th['a], hvar b['a]lkr st['o]rr var um thveran hellinn; hann gengr th['a] innar at, en er hann kemr thar, s['e]r hann at fleinn mikill kemr utar ['i] gegnum b['a]lkinn, hann var baedhi digr ok l['a]ngr; Ormr gr['i]pr th['a] ['i] m['o]ti fleininum, ok leggr af ['u]t; Br['u]si kippir th['a] at s['e]r fleininum ok var hann fastr sv['a] at hvergi gekk; that undradhist Br['u]si, ok gaegdist upp yfir b['a]lkinn, en er Ormr s['e]r that, thr['i]fr hann ['i] skeggit ['a] Br['u]sa b['a]dhum h[o,]ndum, en Br['u]si bregzt vidh ['i] [o,]dhrum stadh, sviptast their th['a] fast um b['a]lkinn. Ormr hafdhi vafit skegginu um h[o,]nd s['e]r, ok rykkir til sv['a] fast, at hann r['i]fr af Br['u]sa allan skeggstadhinn, h[o,]kuna, kjaptana b['a]dha, v['a]ngafyllurnar upp alt at eyrum, gekk h['e]r medh holdit nidhr at beini. Br['u]si l['e]t th['a] {189} s['i]ga br['y]nnar, ok grettist heldr greppiliga. Ormr st[o,]kkr th['a] innar yfir b['a]lkinn, gr['i]past their th['a] til ok gl['i]ma lengi, maeddi Br['u]sa th['a] fast bl['o]dhr['a]s, tekr hann th['a] heldr at g['a]ngast fyrir, gefr Ormr th['a] ['a], ok rekr Br['u]sa at b['a]lkinum ok br['y]tr hann thar um ['a] bak aptr. Snemma sagdhi m['e]r that hugr, sagdhi Br['u]si, at ek munda af th['e]r nokkut erfitt f['a], thegar ek heyrdha th['i]n getit, enda er that n['u] fram komit, muntu n['u] vinna skj['o]tt um, ok h[o,]ggva h[o,]fudh af m['e]r, en that var satt, at mj[o,]k p['i]nda ek ['A]sbj[o,]rn pr['u]dha, th['a] er ek rakta or honum alla tharmana, ok gaf hann sik ekki vidh, fyrrenn hann d['o]. Illa gerdhir th['u] that, segir Ormr, at p['i]na hann sv['a] mj[o,]k jafnr[o,]skvan mann, skaltu ok hafa thess nokkurar menjar. Hann br['a] th['a] saxi ok reist bl['o]dh[o,]rn ['a] baki honum, ok skar [o,]ll rifin fr['a] hryggnum, ok dr['o] thar ['u]t l['u]ngun; l['e]t Br['u]si sv['a] l['i]f sitt medh litlum dreingskap; s['i]dhan bar Ormr eld at, ok brendi upp til [o,]sku baedhi Br['u]sa ok kettuna, ok er hann hafdhi thetta starfat, f['o]r hann burt or hellinum medh kistur tvaer fullar af gulli ok silfri, en that sem meira var f['e]maett, gaf hann ['i] vald Mengladhar, ok sv['a] eyna; skildu thau medh mikilli vin['a]ttu, kom Ormr til manna sinna ['i] nefndan t['i]ma, h['e]ldu s['i]dhan til meginlands. Sat Ormr ['i] Thr['a]ndheimi vetr annan.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACT FROM TH['A]TTR ORMS ST['O]R['O]LFSSONAR

7.

A little after Orm and Asbiorn had parted, Asbiorn wished to go north to Sandeyar[314]; he went aboard with twenty-four men, went north past Maeri, and landed late in the day at the outermost of the Sandeyar[314]. They landed and pitched a tent, and spent the night there, and met with nothing.

Early in the morning Asbiorn arose, clothed himself, took his arms, went inland, and bade his men wait for him.

But when some time had passed from Asbiorn's having gone away, they were aware that a monstrous[315] cat had come to the {190} door of the tent: she was coal-black in colour and very fierce, for it seemed as if fire was burning from her nostrils and mouth, and her eyes were nothing fair: they were much startled at this sight, and full of fear. Then the cat leapt within the tent upon them, and gripped one after the other, and so it is said that some she swallowed and some she tore to death with claws and teeth. Twenty men she killed in a short time, and three escaped aboard ship, and stood away from the shore.

But Asbiorn went till he came to the cave of Brusi, and hastened in forthwith. It was dim before his eyes, and very shadowy in the cave, and before he was aware of it, he was caught off his feet, and thrown down so violently that it seemed strange to him. Then was he aware that there was come the giant Brusi, and he seemed to him a great one.

Then said Brusi, "Thou didst seek with great eagerness to come hither--now shalt thou have business, in that thou shalt here leave thy life with so great torments that that shall stay others from attacking me in my lair."

Then he stripped Asbiorn of his clothes, forasmuch as so great was their difference in strength that the giant could do as he wished. Asbiorn saw a great barrier standing across the cave, and a mighty opening in the midst of it; a great iron column stood somewhat in front of the barrier. "Now it must be tried," said Brusi, "whether thou art somewhat hardier than other men." "Little will that be to test," said Asbiorn....

[Asbiorn then recites ten stanzas, Brusi tormenting him the while. The first stanza is almost identical with No. 50 in the _Grettis saga_.]

Then Asbiorn left his life with great valour and hardihood.

8.

Now it must be told concerning the three men who escaped; they rowed strongly, and stopped not until they came to land. They told the tidings of what had happened in their journey, and said that they thought that Asbiorn was dead, but that they could not tell how matters had happened concerning his death. They took ship with merchants, and so went south to {191} Denmark: now these tidings were spread far and wide, and seemed weighty.

There had been a change of rulers in Norway: jarl Hakon was dead, and Olaf Tryggvason come to land: and he proclaimed the true faith to all. Orm Storolfson heard, out in Iceland, about the expedition of Asbiorn, and the death which it seemed to men must have come upon him. It seemed to him a great loss, and he cared no longer to be in Iceland, and took passage at Reytharfirth and went abroad. They reached Norway far to the north, and he stayed the winter at Thrandheim: Olaf at that time had reigned three years in Norway.

In the spring Orm made ready for his journey to Sandeyar, and there were nearly as many in the ship as the company of Asbiorn had been.

They landed at Little Sandey late in the evening, and pitched a tent on the land, and lay there the night....

9.

Now Orm went till he came to the cave. He saw the great rock, and thought it was impossible for any man to move it. Then he drew on the gloves that Menglath had given him, and grasped the rock and moved it away from the door; this is reckoned Orm's great feat of strength. Then he went into the cave, and thrust his weapon against the door. When he came in, he saw a giantess (she-cat) springing towards him with gaping jaws. Orm had a bow and quiver; he put the arrow on the string, and shot thrice at the giantess. But she seized all the arrows in her mouth, and bit them asunder. Then she flung herself upon Orm, and thrust her claws into his breast, so that Orm stumbled, and her claws went through his clothes and pierced him to the bone. She tried then to bite his face, and Orm found himself in straits: he promised then to God, and the holy apostle Peter, to go to Rome, if he conquered the giantess and Brusi her son. Then Orm felt the power of the giantess diminishing: he placed one hand round her throat, and the other round her back, and bent it till he broke it in two, and so left her dead.

Then Orm saw where a great barrier ran across the cave: he went further in, and when he came to it he saw a great shaft {192} coming out through the barrier, both long and thick. Orm gripped the shaft and drew it away; Brusi pulled it towards himself, but it did not yield. Then Brusi wondered, and peeped up over the barrier. But when Orm saw that, he gripped Brusi by the beard with both hands, but Brusi pulled away, and so they tugged across the barrier. Orm twisted the beard round his hand, and tugged so violently that he pulled the flesh of Brusi away from the bone--from chin, jaws, cheeks, right up to the ears. Brusi knitted his brows and made a hideous face. Then Orm leapt in over the barrier, and they grappled and wrestled for a long time. But loss of blood wearied Brusi, and he began to fail in strength. Orm pressed on, pushed Brusi to the barrier, and broke his back across it. "Right early did my mind misgive me," said Brusi, "even so soon as I heard of thee, that I should have trouble from thee: and now has that come to pass. But now make quick work, and hew off my head. And true it is that much did I torture the gallant Asbiorn, in that I tore out all his entrails--yet did he not give in, before he died." "Ill didst thou do," said Orm, "to torture him, so fine a man as he was, and thou shalt have something in memory thereof." Then he drew his knife, and cut the "blood eagle" in the back of Brusi, shore off his ribs and drew out his lungs. So Brusi died in cowardly wise. Then Orm took fire, and burned to ashes both Brusi and the giantess. And when he had done that, he left the cave, with two chests full of gold and silver.

And all that was most of value he gave to Menglath, and the island likewise. So they parted with great friendship, and Orm came to his men at the time appointed, and then they sailed to the mainland. Orm remained a second winter at Thrandheim.

* * * * *

F. A DANISH DRAGON-SLAYING OF THE BEOWULF-TYPE

Paa den Tid, da kong Gram Guldkoelve regierede i Leire, vare der ved Hoffet to Ministre, Bessus og Henrik. Og da der paa samme Tid indkom idelige klager fra Indbyggerne i Vendsyssel, at et grueligt Udyr, som Boenderne kaldte Lindorm, oedelagde baade Mennesker og Kreaturer, gav Bessus det Raad, at Kongen skulde sende Henrik did hen, efterdi ingen i det ganske Rige kunde maale sig med ham in Tapperhed og Mod. Da svarede {193} Henrik, at han vel vilde paatage sig dette, dog tilfoeiede han, at han ansaae det for umuligt at slippe fra saadan Kamp med Livet. Og belavede han sig da strax til Reisen, tog roerende Afsked med sin Herre og Konge og sagde iblandt andet: "Herre! om jeg ikke kommer tilbage, da soerg for min kone og for mine Boern!" Da han derefter var kommen over til Vendsyssel, lod han sig af Boenderne vise det Sted, hvor Uhyret havde sit Leie, og fik da at vide, at Ormen endnu den samme Dag havde vaeret ude af Hulen og borttaget en Hyrde og en Oxe, og at den efter Saedvane nu ikke vilde komme ud, foerend om tre Timer, naar den skulde ned til Vandet for at drikke efter Maaltidet. Henrik ifoerte sig da sin fulde Rustning, og eftersom Ingen vovede at staae ham bi i dette Arbeide, lagde han sig ganske alene ved Vandet, dog saaledes, at Vinden ikke bar fra ham henimod Dyret. Da udsendte han foerst en vaeldig Piil fra sin Bue, men uagtet den rammede noeie det sted, hvortil han havde sigtet, toernede den dog tilbage fra Ormens haarde Skael. Herover blev Uhyret saa optaendt af Vrede, at det strax gik henimod ham, agtende ham kun et ringe Maaltid; men Henrik havde iforveien hos en Smed ladet sig gioere en stor Krog med Gjenhold, hvilken han jog ind i Beestets aabne Gab, saa at det ikke kunde blive den qvit, ihvormeget det end arbeidede, og ihvorvel Jernstangen brast i Henriks Haender. Da slog det ham med sin vaeldige Hale til Jorden, og skioendt han havde fuldkommen Jernrustning paa, kradsede det dog med sine forfaerdelige Kloeer saa at han, naesten doedeligt saaret, faldt i Besvimelse. Men da han, efterat Ormen i nogen Tid havde haft ham liggende under sin Bug, endelig kom lidt til sin Samling igien, greb han af yderste Evne en Daggert, af hvilke han foerte flere med sig i sit Baelte, og stak Dyret dermed i underlivet, hvor Sksaellene vare bloedest, saa at det tilsidst maate udpuste sin giftige Aande, medens han selv laae halv knust under dens Byrde. Da Boenderne i Vendsyssel som stode i nogen Afstand, under megen Frygt og lidet Haab omsider maerkede, at Striden sagtnede, og at begge Parter holdte sig rolige, naermede de sig og fandt Hr. Henrik naesten livloes under det draebte Udyr. Og efterat de i nogen Tid havde givet ham god Pleie, vendte han tilbage for at doe hos sin Konge, til hvem han gientagende anbefalede sin {194} Slaegt. Fra ham nedstammer Familien Lindenroth, som til Minde om denne vaeldige Strid foerer en Lindorm i sit Vaaben.

_MS_ 222. 4^o. Stamme och Slectebog over den hoeiadelige Familie af Lindenroth, in _Danmarks Folkesagn_, samlede af J. M. Thiele, 1843, I, 125-7.

A DANISH DRAGON-SLAYING OF THE BEOWULF-TYPE.

_Translation._

In the days when King Gram Guldkoelve ruled in Leire, there were two ministers at court, Bessus and Henry. And at that time constant complaints came to the court from the inhabitants of Vendsyssel, that a dread monster, which the peasants called a Drake, was destroying both man and beast. So Bessus gave counsel, that the king should send Henry against the dragon, seeing that no one in the whole kingdom was his equal in valour and courage. Henry answered that assuredly he would undertake it; but he added that he thought it impossible to escape from such a struggle with his life. And he made himself ready forthwith for the expedition, took a touching farewell of his lord and king, and said among other things: "My lord, if I come not back, care thou for my wife and my children."

Afterwards, when he crossed over to Vendsyssel, he caused the peasants to show him the place where the monster had its lair, and learnt how that very day the drake had been out of its den, and had carried off a herdsman and an ox; how, according to its wont, it would now not come out for three hours, when it would want to go down to the water to drink after its meal. Henry clothed himself in full armour, and inasmuch as no one dared to stand by him in that task, he lay down all alone by the water, but in such wise that the wind did not blow from him toward the monster. First of all he sent a mighty arrow from his bow: but, although it exactly hit the spot at which he had aimed, it darted back from the dragon's hard scales. At this the monster was so maddened, that it attacked him forthwith, reckoning him but a little meal. But Henry had had a mighty barbed crook prepared by a smith beforehand, which he thrust into the beast's open mouth, so that it could {195} not get rid of it, however much it strove, although the iron rod broke in Henry's hands. Then it smote him to the ground with its mighty tail, and although he was in complete armour, clutched at him with its dread claws, so that he fell in a swoon, wounded almost to death. But when he came somewhat to his senses again, after the drake for some time had had him lying under its belly, he rallied his last strength and grasped a dagger, of which he carried several with him in his belt, and smote it therewith in the belly, where the scales were weakest. So the monster at last breathed out its poisoned breath, whilst he himself lay half crushed under its weight. When the Vendsyssel peasants, who stood some distance away, in great fear and little hope, at last noticed that the battle had slackened, and that both combatants were still, they drew near and found Henry almost lifeless under the slain monster. And after they for some time had tended him well, he returned to die by his king, to whom he again commended his offspring. From him descends the family Lindenroth, which in memory of this mighty contest carries a drake on its coat of arms.

This story resembles the dragon fight in _Beowulf_, in that the hero faces the dragon as protector of the land, with forebodings, and after taking farewell; he attacks the dragon in its lair, single-handed; his first attack is frustrated by the dragon's scales; in spite of apparatus specially prepared, he is wounded and stunned by the dragon, but nevertheless smites the dragon in the soft parts and slays him; the watchers draw near when the fight is over. Yet these things merely prove that the two stories are of the same type; there is no evidence that this story is descended from _Beowulf_.

* * * * *

G. THE OLD ENGLISH GENEALOGIES.

I. _THE MERCIAN GENEALOGY_.

Of the Old English Genealogies, the only one which, in its stages _below_ Woden, immediately concerns the student of _Beowulf_ is the Mercian. This contains three names which also occur in _Beowulf_, though two of them in a corrupt form--Offa, Wermund (Garmund, _Beowulf_), and Eomaer (Geomor, _Beowulf_).

This Mercian pedigree is found in its best form in _MS Cotton Vesp. B. VI_, fol. 109 _b_,[316] and in the sister MS at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (_C.C.C.C._ 183)[317]. Both these MSS are of {196} the 9th century. They contain lists of popes and bishops, and pedigrees of kings. By noting where these lists stop, we get a limit for the final compilation of the document. It must have been drawn up in its present form between 811 and 814[318]. But it was obviously compiled from lists already existing, and some of them were even at that date old. For the genealogy of the Mercian kings, from Woden, is not traced directly down to this period 811-814, but in the first place only as far as Aethelred (reigning 675-704), son of Penda: that is to say, it stops considerably more than a century before the date of the document in which it appears. Additional pedigrees are then appended which show the subsequent stages down to and including Cenwulf, king of Mercia (reigning 796-821). It is difficult to account for such an arrangement except on the hypothesis that the genealogy was committed to writing in the reign of Aethelred, the monarch with whose name it terminates in its first form, and was then brought up to date by the addition of the supplementary names ending with Cenwulf. This is confirmed when we find that precisely the same arrangement holds good for the accompanying Northumbrian pedigree, which terminates with Ecgfrith (670-685), the contemporary of Aethelred of Mercia, and is then brought up to date by additional names.

Genealogies which draw from the same source as the _Vespasian_ genealogies, and show the same peculiarities, are found in the _Historia Brittonum_ (ss. 57-61). They show, even more emphatically than do the _Vespasian_ lists, traces of having been originally drawn up in the time of Aethelred of Mercia (675-704) or possibly of his father Penda, and of having then been brought up to date in subsequent revisions[319].

One such revision must have been made about 796[320]: it is a {197} modification of this revision which is found in the _Historia Brittonum_. Another was that which, as we have seen, must have been made between 811-814, and in this form is found in _MS Cotton Vespasian B. VI_, _MS C.C.C.C._ 183, both of the 9th century, and in the (much later) _MS Cotton Tiberius B. V_.

The genealogy up to Penda is also found in the _A.-S. Chronicle_ under the year 626 (accession of Penda).

This Mercian list, together with the Northumbrian and other pedigrees which accompany it, can claim to be the earliest extant English historical document, having been written down in the 7th century, and recording historic names which (allowing thirty years for a generation) cannot be later than the 4th century A.D. In most similar pedigrees the earliest names are meaningless to us. But the Mercian pedigree differs from the rest, in that we are able from _Beowulf_, _Widsith_, Saxo Grammaticus, Sweyn Aageson and the _Vitae Offarum_, to attach stories to the names of Wermund and Offa. How much of these stories is history, and how much fiction, it is difficult to say--but, with them, extant English history and English poetry and English fiction alike have their beginning.

MS Cotton Vesp. B. VI. MS C.C.C.C. 183.

Aedhilred Peding Aedhelred Pending Penda Pypbing Penda Pybbing Pypba Crioding Pybba Creoding Crioda Cynewalding Creoda Cynewalding Cynewald Cnebbing Cynewald Cnebbing Cnebba Icling Cnebba Icling Icil Eamering Icel Eomaering Eamer Angengeoting Eomaer Angengeoting Angengeot Offing Angengiot Offing Offa Uaermunding Offa Waermunding Uermund Uihtlaeging Waermund Wihtlaeging Uihtlaeg Wiodhulgeoting Wihtlaeg Wiotholgeoting Weodhulgeot Wodning Weotholgiot Wodning Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing

{198}

------------------------------------------------------------------------ _Historia Brittonum_[321]. _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle._ MS Harl 3859. MSS Cotton Tib. A. VI. and B.I.[322] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Penda Penda Pybbing Pubba Pybba Creoding Creoda Cynewalding Cynewald Cnebbing Cnebba Iceling Icel Eomaering Eamer Eomaer Angeltheowing Ongen Angeltheow Offing Offa Offa Waermunding Guerdmund Waermund Wihtlaeging Guithleg Wihtlaeg Wodening Gueagon Guedolgeat [U]Uoden ------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. _THE STAGES ABOVE WODEN._

(1) _WODEN TO GEAT._

The stages above Woden are found in two forms: a short list which traces the line from Woden up to Geat: and a longer list which carries the line from Geat to Sceaf and through Noah to Adam.

The line from Woden to Geat is found in the _Historia Brittonum_, not with the other genealogies, but in s. 31, where the pedigree of the Kentish royal family is given, when the arrival of Hengest in Britain is recounted. Notwithstanding the dispute regarding the origin and date of the _Historia Brittonum_, there is a pretty general agreement that this _Woden to Geat_ pedigree is one of the more primitive elements, and is not likely to be much later than the end of the 7th century[323]. The original nucleus of the _Historia Brittonum_ was revised by {199} Nennius in the 9th century, or possibly at the end of the 8th[324]. The earliest MS of the _Historia_, that of Chartres, belongs to the 9th or 10th century--this is fragmentary and already interpolated; the received text is based upon _MS Harleian_ 3859, dating from the end of the 11th century[325], or possibly somewhat later.

I give the pedigree in four forms:

A. The critical text of the _Historia Brittonum_ as edited by Th. Mommsen (_Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auct. Antiq., Chronica Minora_, III, Berolini, 1898, p. 171).

B. _MS Harl._ 3859, upon which Mommsen's text is based, fol. 180.

C. The _Chartres MS._

D. Mommsen's critical text of the later revision, _Nennius interpretatus_, which he gives parallel to the _Historia Brittonum_.

A B C D

Hors et Hengist Hors & Hengist Cors et Haecgens Hors et Hengist filii Guictgils filii Guictgils filii Guictils filii Guictgils Guigta Guitta Guicta Guigta Guectha Guectha Gueta Guectha VVoden VVoden VVoden Voden Frealaf Frealaf Frelab Frealaf Fredulf Fredulf Freudulf Fredolf Finn Finn Fran Finn Frenn Fodepald Fodepald Folcpald Folcvald Geta Geta G[e]uta Gaeta qui fuit, qui fuit, qui sunt [_sic_], Vanli ut aiunt, ut aiunt, ut aiunt, Saxi filius dei filius dei filius dei Negua

_MS Cotton Vespasian B. VI_ (9th century) contains a number of Anglo-Saxon genealogies and other lists revised up to the period 811-14[326]. The genealogy of the kings of Lindsey in this list has the stages from Woden to Geat. This genealogy is also found in the sister list in the 9th century MS at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (_MS C.C.C.C._ 183).

{200}

A similar list is to be found in the _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_ (entered under the year 547). But there it is appended to the genealogy of the Northumbrian kings. This genealogy has been erased in the oldest MS (Parker, end of the 9th century) to make room for later additions, but is found in _MSS Cotton Tiberius A. VI_ and _B. I._

_Cotton (Vespasian) _Corpus MS._ _A.-S. Chronicle_ MS._ UUoden Frealafing Woden Frealafing Woden Freotholafing Frealaf Friodhulfing Frealaf Friothowulsing (sic) Freothelaf Freothulfing Friodhulf Finning Freothowulf Godwulfing Frithulf Finning Finn Goduulfing Finn Godulfing Godulf Geoting Godwulf Geating Godulf Geating

The _Fodepald_ or _Folcpald_ who, in the _Historia Brittonum_, appears as the father of Finn, is clearly the _Folcwalda_ who appears as Finn's father in _Beowulf_ and _Widsith_. The Old English _w_ ([wynn]) has been mistaken for _p_, just as in _Pinefred_ for _Winefred_ in the _Life of Offa II_. In the _Vespasian MS_ and in other genealogies Godwulf is Finn's father. It has been very generally held that Finn and his father Godwulf are mythical heroes, quite distinct from the presumably historic Finn, son of Folcwalda, mentioned in _Beowulf_ and _Widsith_: and that by confusion _Folcwald_ came to be written instead of _Godwulf_ in the genealogy, as given in the _Historia Brittonum_. I doubt whether there is sufficient justification for this distinction between a presumed historic Finn Folcwalding and a mythical Finn Godwulfing. Is it not possible that Godwulf was a traditional, probably historic, king of the Frisians, father of Finn, and that _Folcwalda_[327] was a _title_ which, since it alliterated conveniently, in the end supplanted the proper name in epic poetry?

III. _THE STAGES ABOVE WODEN._

(2) _WODEN TO SCEAF._

The stages above Geat are found in the genealogy of the West-Saxon kings only[328]. This is recorded in the _Chronicle_ {201} under the year 855 (notice concerning Aethelwulf) and it was probably drawn up at the court of that king. Though it doubtless contains ancient names, it is apparently not so ancient as the _Woden-Geat_ list. It became very well known, and is also found in Asser and the _Textus Roffensis_. It was copied by later historians such as William of Malmesbury, and by the Icelandic genealogists[329].

The principal versions of this pedigree are given in tabular form below (pp. 202-3); omitting the merely second-hand reproductions, such as those of Florence of Worcester.

* * * * *

H. EXTRACT FROM THE CHRONICLE ROLL.

This roll was drawn up in the reign of Henry VI, and its compiler must have had access to a document now lost.

There are many copies of the roll extant--the "Moseley" Roll at University College, London (formerly in the Phillipps collection); at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (No. 98 A); at Trinity College, Cambridge; and in the Biblioth[`e]que Nationale, Paris[330]; and one which recently came into the market in London.

Steph | Steldius | Boerinus | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | | Cinrinicius Gothus Iutus Wandalus Gethius Fresus Suethedus Dacus Geate {202}

WEST-SAXON GENEALOGY--STAGES ABOVE WODEN

/------------------------------------------------\ CHRONICLE PARKER MS ASSER TEXTUS ROFFENSIS I

Woden Fribowalding Uuoden Woden Frithuwald Freawining Frithowald Frithewold Frealaf Frithuwulfing Frealaf Frealaf Frithuwulf Finning Frithuwulf Frithewulf Fin Godwulfing Fingodwulf Finn Godwulf Geating Godwulf Geat Taetwaing Geata* ... Geata* ... Taetwa Beawing Caetuua Tethwa Beaw Sceldwaing Beauu Beaw Sceldwea Heremoding Sceldwea Scaldwa Heremod Itermoning Heremod Heremod Itermon Hrathraing Itermod Iterman Hathra Hathra Huala Hwala Beduuig Bedwig se waes geboren in thaere Seth Scyf, se waes in earce Noe etc. Noe, etc. dham arken geboran [but son of Sem, not Noe]

* quem Getam *dhene dha haethena iamdudum pagani wuthedon for god pro deo venerabantur

CHRONICLE ETHELWERD MSS COTT. TIB. A. VI [& B. I]

Uuothen Woden Frealafing Frithouuald Frealaf Frithouulf Frealaf Fin[n]ing Fin Finn Godwulfing [Godulfing] Goduulfe Godulf Geat[t]ing Geat Geata [Geatt] Taetwaing Tetuua Taetwa Beawing Beo Beaw Sceldweaing [Scealdwaing] Scyld Scyldwa [Scealdwa] Heremoding Heremod Itermoning Itermon Hadhraing Hadhra Hwalaing Hwala Bedwiging Bedwig Sceafing, [i]d est filius N['o]e, se Scef. Ipse Scef cum uno waes geboren on thaere earce N['o]es dromone advectus est in insula oceani quae dicitur Scani, armis circundatus, eratque valde recens puer, et ab incolis illius terrae ignotus; attamen ab eis suscipitur et ut familiarem diligenti animo eum custodierunt et post in regem eligunt; de cuius prosapia ordinem trahit Athulf [i.e. Aethelwulf] rex.

{203}

/-------------------------------------- Chronicle MS Cott. Tib. B. IV Textus Roffensis II MS Cott. Tib. B. V

Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing

Frealaf Finning Frealaf Finning Frealaf Finning Fin Godulfing Finn Godulfing Finn Godulfing Godulf Gating Godulf Eating Godulf Eating Geat Taetwaing Eata Tethwafing Eat Beawing Taetwa Beawing Tethwa Beawing Beaw Scealdwaing Beaw Scealdwaging Beaw Scealdwaging Scealdhwa Heremoding Scealwa Heremoding Scealwa Heremoding Heremod Itermoning Heremod Hermanning Heremod Itermanning Itermon Hadhrahing Herman Hathraing Iterman Hadhraing Hathra Hadhra Hwalaing Hadhra Bedwiging Hwala Beowung Hwala Bedwining Beowi Sceafing, id est Beadwig Sceafing Bedwig Sceafing filius Noe, se waes Se Scef waes Noes sunu se Scef waes N['o]es sunu geboren on thaere arce and he waes innan dhaere and he waes innan Nones ... earce geboren thaere earce geboren

----------------------------------\ Langfedhgatal Flateyarb['o]k Langebek, 1, 3 Christiania, 1860, 1, 27

Voden Voden, _er ver_ than kollvm ver _kollum_ Odinn Oden Frealaf Frilafr, _e.v.k._ Bors Finn Burri, _e.v.k._ Finn Godvlfi Godolfr Eat

Beaf Beaf, _e.v.k._ Biar Scealdna Skialldin, _e.v.k._ Skiolld Heremotr Heremoth, _e.v.k._ Hermod Itermann Trinaan Athra Atra

Bedvig Beduigg Seskef vel Seseph Sescef

William of Malmesbury. Wodenius fuit filius Fridewaldi, Fridewaldus Frelafii, Frelafius Finni, Finnus Godulfi, Godulfus Getii, Getius Tetii, Tetius Beowii, Beowius Sceldii, Sceldius Sceaf. Iste, ut ferunt, in quandam insulam Germaniae Scandzam ... appulsus, navi sine remige, puerulus, posito ad caput frumenti manipulo, dormiens, ideoque Sceaf nuncupatus, ab hominibus regionis illius pro miraculo exceptus et sedulo nutritus, adulta aetate regnavit in oppido quod tunc Slaswic, nunc vero Haithebi appellatur ... Sceaf fuit filius Heremodii, Heremodius Stermonii, Stermonius Hadrae, Hadra Gwalae, Gwala Bedwigii, Bedwegius Strephii; hic, ut dicitur, fuit filius Noae in arca natus. {204}

The following marginal note occurs:

Iste Steldius p_r_im_us_ inhabitator Germanie fuit. Que Germania sic dicta erat, quia instar ramor_um_ germina_n_ciu_m_ ab arbore, sic nome_n_ regnaq_ue_ germania nuncupa_n_tur. In nouem filiis diuisa a radice Boerini geminaueru_n_t. Ab istis nouem filiis Boerini descenderu_n_t nouem gentes septentrionalem p_ar_tem inhabitantes, qui quondam regnu_m_ Brita_n_nie inuaseru_n_t et optinueru_n_t, videlicet Saxones, Angli, Iuthi, Daci, Norwagences, Gothi, Wandali, Geathi et Fresi[331].

* * * * *

I. EXTRACT FROM THE LITTLE CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF LEIRE

From the _Annales Lundenses_. These Annals are comparatively late, going up to the year 1307; but the short _Chronicle of the Kings of Leire_, which is incorporated in them, is supposed to date from the latter half of the 12th century. The text is given in Langebek, _Scriptores Rerum Danicarum_, _I_, 224-6 (under the name of _Annales Esromenses_) from _Cod. Arn. Mag._ 841. There is a critical edition by Gertz, _Scriptores Minores historiae Danicae_, Copenhagen, 1917, based upon _Cod. Arn. Mag._ 843. The text given below is mainly that of Langebek, with corrections from Gertz's fine edition. See below, p. 216.

Erat ergo Dan rex in Dacia[332] per triennium. Anno tandem tertio cognouit uxorem suam Daniam, genuitque ex ea filium nomine Ro. Qui post patris obitum hereditarie possidebat regnum. Patrem uero suum Dan colle apud Lethram tumulauit Sialandiae, ubi sedem regni pro eo pater constituit, quam ipse post eum diuitiis multiplicibus ditauit. Tempore illo ciuitas magna erat in medio Sialandiae, ubi adhuc mons desertus est, nomine Hekebiarch, ubi sita erat ciuitas quae Hoekekoping nuncupata est; ad quam ut mox Ro rex uidit, quod mercatores a nauibus in uia currus conducentes multum expenderent, a loco illo ciuitatem amoueri jussit ad portum, ubi tenditur Isaefiorth, et circa fontem pulcherrimum domos disponere. Aedificauit ibi Ro ciuitatem honestam, cui nomen partitiuum imposuit post se et Fontem, partem capiens fontis partemque sui, Roskildam Danice uocans, quae hoc nomine uoca[bi]tur[333] in aeternum. Uixit autem rex Ro ita pacifice, ut nullus ei aciem opponeret, nec ipse usquam expeditionem direxit[334]. Erat autem uxor eius {205} fecunda sobole, ex qua genuit duos filios, nomen primi Helhgi et secundi Haldan[335]. Cumque cepissent pueri robore confortari et crescere, obiit pater eorum Ro, et sepultus est tumulo quodam Laethrae, post cuius obitum partiti sunt regnum filii, quod in duas partes diuidentes, alter terras, alter mare possidebat. Rexit itaque terras Haldanus, et genuit filium nomine Siwardum, cognomine Album, qui patrem suum Haldanum Laethrae tumulauit mortuum. Helgi autem rex erat marinus, et multos ad se traxit malificos, nauali bello bene adeptus diuersas partes, quasdam pace, quasdam cum piratica classe[336] petisse perhibetur....

The Chronicle then tells how Rolf was born, the son of Helgi and Yrse or Ursula: also of the death and burial of Helgi.

Filius autem eius et Ursulae puer crescebat Rolf et fortitudine uigebat. Mater uero eius Ursula, uelo uiduitatis deposito, data est regi Suethiae Athislo, qui ex ea filiam sibi genuit, Rolf uero ex matre eius sororem nomine Skuld. Interea dum haec de rege marino Helgi agerentur, frater eius, rex Daciae, mortuus est Haldanus. Post quem[337] rex Sweciae Athisl a Danis suscepit tributum.

Interea ... confortabatur filius Helgi, Rolff, cognomine Krake. Quem post mortem Snyo[338] Dani [in][339] regem assumpserunt. Qui Sialandiae apud Lethram, sicut antecessores sui, saepissime moratus est. Sororem suam nomine Sculd secum habuit, Athisli regis filiam, et suae matris Ursulae, de qua superius dictum est; quam fraterno amore dilexit. Cui provinciam Hornshaeraeth Sialandiae ad pascendas puellas suas in expensam dedit, in qua uillam aedificauit, nomine Sculdelef, unde nomen suscepit. Hoc tempore erat quidam Comes Scaniae, nomine Hiarwarth, Teotonicus genere, Rolf tributarius, qui ad eum procos misit, ut {206} sororem suam Sculd Hiarwardo daret uxorem. Quo nolente, propria ipsius uoluntate puellae clanculo eam raptam sociauit sibi. Unde conspirauerunt inter se deliberantes Hiarwart et Sculd, quomodo Rolf interficeretur, et Hiarwardus superstes regni heres efficeretur. Non post multum vero temporis animosus ad uxoris exhortationem Hiarwart Sialandiam classe petiit. Genero suo Rolff tributum attulisse simulauit. Die quadam dilucescente ad Laethram misit, ut uideret tributum, Rolff nunciauit. Qui cum uidisset non tributum sed exercitum armatum, uallatus est Rolff militibus, et a Hyarwardo interfectus est. Hyarwardum autem Syalandenses et Scanienses, qui cum eo erant, in regem assumpserunt. Qui breui tempore, a mane usque ad primam, regali nomine potitus est. Tunc uenit Haky, frater Haghbardi, filius Hamundi; Hyarwardum interfecit et Danorum rex effectus est. Quo regnante, uenit quidam nomine Fritleff a partibus Septentrionalibus et filiam sibi desponsauit Rolff Crake, ex qua filium nomine Frothe genuit, cognomine Largus.

* * * * *

K. THE STORY OF OFFA IN SAXO GRAMMATICUS