Nú er at segja frá Þorfinni jarli, at hann ríss upp í valnum. Hann tók fyrir brjóst konungi ok fann, at hann var dauðr. Hann gekk þá þangat, er þeir Hálfdan ok Ásmundr lágu. Hann sér, at Ásmundr var dauðr. Hann spyrr, hvárt Hálfdan mætti nokkut mæla. Hann kvað eigi trauða til þess. Jarl spyrr, hvárt hann væri eigi sárr.

Hálfdan kveðst eigi sárr vera, --"en fell ek af mæði," sagði hann, "eða hvat kanntu at segja mér til Ásmundar, bróður míns?"

Jarl svarar: "Hann er nú dauðr."

"Vissa ek þat," segir Hálfdan, "at hann var ekki at manni."

Jarl bar Hálfdan ór valnum, því at hann var mjök stirðr, svá at hann mátti eigi ganga. Jarl gekk til skemmu Ingibjargar, en er hún sá jarl, fagnaði hún honum vel ok spurði tíðenda. Jarl segir konung ok Ásmund, bróður hennar, dauðan ok allir borgarmenn. Ingibjörg varð mjök hrygg við ok grét. Jarl segir annat betra en at gráta. Jarl kvað nú skemmumeyjar hennar verða at skilja við hana. Jarl tók þá Ingibjörgu ok berr hana á hendi sér ok Hálfdan öðrum megin, gengu síðan til skógar, ok finnr fyrir sér lítinn bæ ok klappar á dyrum. Kona gekk þar út ok heilsar jarli. Hann tekr vel kveðju hennar. Sjá kona hét Gríma.

Jarl mælti þá: "Þat vilda ek, Gríma," segir hann, "at þú takir við börnum þessum ok geymir, þar til er ek kem eptir þeim, því at ek veit, at þau eru hér geymd fyrir víkingunum. Eru hér þrjár merkr silfrs, er ek vil gefa þér."

Hún tók við hvárutveggja, fénu ok börnunum, en jarl fór heim til borgar ok lagðist niðr í valinn. Engi maðr varð varr við hans ferð.

Sóti ok hans menn vakna snemma um morguninn ok hugðu gott til konungsdóttur. Gengr hann þegar frá skipunum ok hans menn allir til borgarinnar. Ok er þeir koma þar, rannsaka þeir valinn ok finna hvergi annan konungsson. Þeir sjá Þorfinn jarl ok spurðu, hvárt hann vissi ekki til annars konungssonar, en hann kveðst ekki til hans vita. Sóti hafði farit til skemmu Ingibjargar ok kom aptr ok sagði hana á burtu ok kvað jarl til barnanna vita. Jarl kveðst eigi til þeira vita, en Sóti lést mundu aflima hann, ef hann vildi eigi segja til barnanna. Jarl kvaðst eigi segja mundu. Sóti vildi eigi at heldr drepa jarl. Sóti tók þá undir sik bæði ríkit ok þegna. Gerðist hann þá konungr í mörku, þótt þat væri illa fengit. Þjónuðu honum ok menn heldr af hræðslu en góðvilja.

Jarl var hljóðr þann vetr. Lét Sóti leita þeira systkina, ok fundust þau ekki, en þegar farit var í nánd bæ Grímu, þá laust ávallt á hríð, ok urðu menn Sóta aptr at snúa.

Einn morgun snemma gengr jarl, svá at engi vissi, til bæjar Grímu. En er hann kom, stóð hún úti ok hjá henni bæði börnin. Hún heilsaði jarli glaðliga. Hann tók því vel. Þau systkin urðu þá harðla fegin fóstra sínum ok kysstu hann. Jarl kvað nú börnin mundu verða at skilja við Grímu ok kvaddi hana. Gekk hann nú burt með börnin, þar til er hann kom til sjóvarstrandar. Þar sá Hálfdan skipaflota.

Jarl átti þar eitt skip ok kvað Hálfdan skyldu þat eiga ok fjárhlut, -- "ok skaltu fara til Bjarmalands til Óttars jarls, bróður míns, ok segja, at hann taki við þér fyrir mín orð, en ef hann er tregr til, þá fá honum gull þetta til jartegna, ok mun hann þá við þér taka."

Hálfdan mælti: "Þat vil ek nú, fóstri minn, at þú færir með mér."

Jarl neitti því. Minntist hann þá við þau systkin ok gekk heim síðan, en Hálfdan fór á skip með Ingibjörgu ok helt í haf, ok byrjaði þeim vel, tók Bjarmaland. Hann gekk frá skipi með öllum mönnum sínum ok til hallar jarls. Hálfdan gekk fyrir jarl ok kveðr hann. Jarl tók honum vel ok spurði tíðenda. Hálfdan segir þá sem var, at Hringr konungr var andaðr ok þat með, at Þorfiðr jarl hafði sent hann þangat til halds ok trausts. Jarl lét seinliga við því. Þá fekk Hálfdan jarli gullit.

Jarl mælti þá: "Mikit þykkir bróður mínum undir, at ek taki við þér, enda skal ek ok svá gjarna gera."

Setti jarl þá Hálfdan it næsta sér, en Ingibjörgu var fylgt til skemmu dóttur jarls, er Þóra hét. Hún var bæði væn ok vitr.

Now to speak of Earl Thorfid, that he arose from among the slain. He looked upon the breast of the king and found that he was dead. He then went over to where Halfdan and Asmund lay. He saw that Asmund was dead. He asked if Halfdan might say something. He said he would not fail to do so. The earl asked whether or not he was injured.
 Halfdan said that he was not injured, -- “but I fell from exhaustion,” he said, “but what can you tell me about my brother, Asmund?”
 The earl answered: “He is now dead.”
 “I knew as much,” said Halfdan, “that he was not alive.”
 The earl bore Halfdan off from among the slain, since he was quite stiff, to the point that he could not walk. The earl went to Ingibjorg’s bower, and when she saw the earl, she welcomed him and asked the news. The earl told her that the king and Asmund, her brother, were dead, as well as all the men of the town. Ingibjorg became quite sorrowful, and wept. The earl said that there was something better than to cry. The earl said that her handmaidens should now part from her. The earl then took Ingibjorg by the hand and Halfdan in the other hand, and they then went to the forest, and found in front of them a small farmhouse and knocked on the door. A woman came out and greeted the earl. He welcomed her greeting. The woman was named Grima.
 The earl then spoke: “I would like, Grima,” he said, “that you accept these children and hide them until I come back for them, since I know, that they are safe here from the Vikings. Here are three marks of silver, that I will give you.”
 She received both the treasure and the children, and the earl went home to the town and was laid down among the slain. No one knew about his journey.
 Soti and his men awakened early in the morning, and looked for the king’s daughter. He then left the ship and he and his men all went to the town. But when they came there, they searched the field of the slain and found neither of the king’s sons. They saw Earl Thorfid and asked, whether he knew anything of the other king’s son, but he said that he knew nothing about him. Soti had gone to Ingibjorg’s bower, and came back and said that she was gone, and said that the earl must know something about the children. The earl said that he knew nothing of them, but Soti said that he would maim him, if he would not tell about the children. The earl said that he would not say anything. Soti did not really want to kill the earl. Soti then took dominion over both the realm and the servants. He was made king in the borderlands, although that was ill-gotten. Men served him more from fear than from good-will.
 The earl was silent that winter. Soti had the siblings searched for, but did not find them, and when they came into the vicinity of Grima’s farmhouse, a snowstorm broke out so that Soti’s men had to turn back.
 Early one morning the earl went secretly to Grima’s farmhouse. And when he came, she came outside with both of the children beside her. She greeted the earl warmly. He received it well. The siblings were glad to see their foster father and kissed him. The earl said that the children would have to part from Grima, and greeted her. He then went away with the children, until he came to the shore of a sea. There Halfdan saw a fleet of ships.

There the earl had a ship, and said that Halfdan should take it, along with a sum of money, -- “and you should travel to Bjarmaland, to my brother Earl Ottar, and he will receive you for my sake, but if he is reluctant, then he will get that gold as a token, and then he will receive you.”
 
            Halfdan said: “I would like you to travel with me now.”
 
            The earl refused this. He took leave of the siblings, and then went home, but Halfdan went on board with Ingiborg, and set sail into the sea, and they had a fair wind and arrived at Bjarmaland. Halfdan went before the earl and greeted him. The earl welcomed him, and asked the news. Halfdan told him what had happened, that King Hring was dead, and accordingly, that Earl Thorfid had sent him there for help and support. The earl was indifferent to them.  Then Halfdan gave the earl the gold.
 
            The earl said: “My brother thinks that it is of great importance that I receive you, which I will gladly do.”
 
            The earl seated Halfdan next to himself, but Ingiborg was led to the bower of the earl’s daughter, who was named Thora. She was both beautiful and wise.

Þá er Hálfdan hafði þetta unnit, gekk hann innar eptir hellinum, þar til er hann kom at afhelli einum. Þar sá hann konu sitja á stóli. Hár hennar var bundit við stólbrúðirnar. Fætr hennar váru í köldu jöklavatni.

Hún mælti, er hún sér manninn: "Skjótt drepr Járnnefr þik, maðr, ef hann veit, at þú ert hér."

Hálfdan mælti: "Ek hefi drepit hann ok svá Sleggju, eða hvat heitir þú?"

Hún kveðst Hildr heita ok vera dóttir Angantýs jarls af Skotlandi, --"bræður mínir hétu Sigmundr ok Sigurðr. Þeir váru tvíburar. Vér héldum fyrir land fram í fyrra sumar. Seiddi Járnnefr mik hingat ok öll oss, ok ætlaði hann sér at eiga mik, en drepa kerlingu sína, en ek vilda þat eigi."

Hálfdan leysti hana þá, ok gengu þau fram í hellinn, ok váru þeir bræðr mjök at komnir. Þeir váru svá magrir, at skinn var skorpit niðr við beinin. Hún settist undir herðar Sigurði, en Hálfdan undir herðar Sigmundi, ok dreypir víni á varir þeim, ok nærðust þeir skjótt, svá at þeir máttu mæla. Þeir spurðu, hverir þeim höfðu líf gefit. Hildr segir, at hann héti Hálfdan ok væri sonr Hrings konungs ór Danmörku. Þeir urðu því harðla fegnir, er þeir sáu systur sína heila, ok þakka þau öll Hálfdani, ok váru þau þar fimm nætr.

En í annan stað er at segja frá mönnum Hálfdanar, at þeir váru mjök hugsjúkir um hann, en Ingibjörg, systir hans, vakti bæði mótt ok dag ok neytti hvárki svefns né matar.

At fimm nóttum liðnum bjuggust þau öll í burt ór hellinum, ok hafði Hálfdan þaðan gull ok silfr ok margar gersimar ok kom heill til sinna manna. Urðu þeir honum fegnir ok þó mest systir hans. Segir hann þeim allt um ferðir sínar. Kærleikar miklir váru með þeim Hildi ok Ingibjörgu. Þar sat Hálfdan þann vetr, ok var nú allt kyrrt.

When Halfdan had accomplished that, he went into the cave, until he came to a side cave. There he saw a woman sitting on a stool. Her hair was bound to a chair post with a carved head. Her feet were in cold glacier water.
 
When she saw the man, she said: “Jarnnef will kill you without delay, sir, if he knows that you are here.”
 
Halfdan said: “I have killed him, and also slain Seggja. But what is your name?”
 
She said that her name was Hilda, and that she was the daughter of Earl Angantyr of Scotland, --“my brothers are called Sigmund and Sigurd. They are twins. We left the land last summer. Jarnnef brought me here by enchantment, and all of us, and he planned to own me, and kill his old wife, but I did not want that.”
 
Halfdan unfastened her, and they then went out of the cave, and the brothers had largely recovered. They were so thin that their skin had shriveled down to the bone. She set Sigurd on her shoulders, and Halfdan held Sigmund on his shoulders, and let wine drop on their lips, and they immediately drew near to one another, so that they could talk. They asked who had given them life. Hilda said that he was named Halfdan, and that he was the son of King Hring of Denmark. They were quite happy when they saw their sister safe, and they all thanked Halfdan. They stayed there for five nights.
 
But on the other hand, to speak of Halfdan’s men, they were quite worried about him, and Ingibjorg, his sister, stayed awake both night and day, and neither ate nor slept.

 
When five nights had passed, they all left the cave, and Halfdan took from there gold and silver, and many treasures, and came safely to his men. They were happy to see him, his sister most of all. He told them all about his journeys. Hilda and Ingibjorg were most welcoming. Halfdan stayed there for the winter, and all was now quiet.

Um morguninn stendr Hálfdan upp snemma ok klæðist. Þá hafði Brana búit skip hans at öllu ok til komnir menn hans. Hann bauð Brönu at fara með sér, en hún kvaðst þar vera verða, en bað þá fóstbræðr at bera byrðar sínar af gulli til skips, ok svá gera þeir. Brana tók sér byrði, ok var sú meiri en þeira allar, ok fara þau nú með þat ofan til skips.
Hálfdan stígr nú á skip, ok varð skilnaðr þeira Brönu bæði harðr ok langr, ok Brana ýtti drekanum frá landi. Hálfdan sigldi í haf, ok rann þegar á byrr. Brana hafði eptir hjá sér dreka Hálfdanar. Hann sigldi, þar til hann kom at eyjum þeim, er Hlaðeyjar heita. Þar réð fyrir sú kona, er Hlaðgerðr heitir. Þar dvaldist Hálfdan um hríð ok gaf henni mikit fé, en hún bað hann sín vitja, ef hann þyrfti lítils við. Hann játar því ok heldr síðan burt frá eyjunum ok léttir eigi fyrr en hann kemr í England fyrir borg Óláfs konungs.

Hálfdan gengr fyrir konunginn ok kveðr hann. Konungr tekr honum vel ok spyrr, hverr hann sé. Hann kveðst Hálfdan heita ok vera einn kaupmaðr, --"ok vil ek biðja yðr vetrvistar."

Konungr veitti honum þat. Hálfdan fekk eina skemmu at láta í fé sitt ok skipaði þar mönnum sínum at geyma. Þeir Sigurðr ok Sigmundr gengu með honum, hvert er hann fór.
Einn dag gengu þeir allir saman ok kómu at skíðgarði einum. Í garðinum sáu þeir skemmu eina mjök ágæta. Garðrinn var svá hár, at engir þarlenskir menn kómust inn yfir. Í garðinum var einn lundr mjök fagr. Hálfdan spurði þá bræðr, hvárt þeir mundu upp geta runnit garðinn. Sigurðr bar sik at ok rann upp til þriðjungs, en Sigmundr til miðs, en Hálfdan rann upp á garðinn ok gengr til lundarins. Þar sér hann eina jungfrú. Hún lék sér at gulli, ok kastaði hún því upp ok henti síðan. Eitt sinn missti hún þat, þá er hún vildi henda, ok fell þat niðr í garðinn. Hún leitar at gullinu. Hálfdan gengr at henni ok gefr henni annat gull, ok var þat stærra.

Hún þakkar honum vel ok mælti: "Engan mann hefi ek sét vænna en þik, ok þat vilda ek, at þit Marsibil, frændkona mín, ættist, því at þit eruð alllík."

In the morning Halfdan got up early, and dressed. Brana had completely prepared his ship and his men came. He asked Brana to travel with him, but she said that she would remain there, and bade the foster-brothers to carry their chests of gold to the ship, and they did so. Brana took her chest, which was bigger than all of the others, and they then went with that up to the ship. 
Halfdan then went on board, and his parting from Brana was both difficult and long. Brana pushed the ship from land. Halfdan sailed out into the harbor, and then ran before the fair wind. Brana had Halfdan’s dragon ship remaining with her. He sailed until he came to the Hladey Islands. A woman ruled there, who was named Hladger. Halfdan stayed there for a while, and gave her much treasure, and she invited him to stay with her for a bit if he needed to. He agreed, and a while later went off from the island and did not stop until he came to England before the stronghold of King Olaf.
 Halfdan went before the king and greeted him. The king welcomed him, and asked who he was. He said that he was named Halfdan, and that he was a merchant, --“and I wish to request winter quarters from you.”
The king granted him that request. Halfdan was given an outbuilding to store his treasure in, and arranged for his men to watch there. Sigurd and Sigmund went with him, wherever he went.
One day they all went together and came to a stockade. In the stockade they saw a splendid bower. The stockade was so high, that no native men could get in over it. In the enclosure there was a beautiful stand of trees. Halfdan then asked the brothers, whether they could get over it. Sigurd set to it and ran up a third of the way, and Sigmund halfway up, but Halfdan got into the enclosure and went to the clump of trees. There he saw a young maiden. She was playing with a gold ball, and cast it up, and then caught it. Once she missed it, when she wanted to catch it, and it fell down in the enclosure. She looked for the gold ball. Halfdan went to her and gave her another gold ball, which was bigger.
She thanked him, and said: “I have never seen a more handsome man than you, and I wish that you and my friend, Marsibil, would marry, since you are so much alike.”

Eptir þetta gengr hún inn í skemmuna, en Hálfdan ferr aptr til þeira bræðra. Sjá mey hét Alfífa, er Hálfdan gaf gullit. Hún var dóttir Sigurðar konungs af Skörðuborg. Þat var föðurbróðir Óláfs konungs.
Alfífa afhendir Marsibil gullit. Hún segir þetta eigi þat gull, er hún hefði fengit henni, --"en þó er þetta betra, eða hverr hefir gefit þér?"

Hún kvaðst fundit hafa einn mann úti i garðinum, --"ok hann gaf mér gullit, ok engan hefi ek sét vænna mann ok kurteisara utan þik eina, ok þætti mér þit mega vera hjón."

Marsibil varð svá reið við hana, at hún sló hana pústr, svá at hún grét, ok fell svá þeira tal.

Einn dag gekk Hálfdan til skemmu konungsdóttur einn saman. Þá var opinn skíðgarðrinn. Hann gekk inn í garðinn ok at þeim lundi, er fyrr sá hann. Þar sat Marsibil konungsdóttir. Enga mey þóttist hann hafa sét vænni. Hún kembdi sér með gullkambi.

En er hún sá Hálfdan, mælti hún: "Far brutt, maðr, ef þú vilt ekki verða drepinn, ok ertu furðu djarfr, er þú gengr inn orlofslauss."

Hálfdan lét eigi sem hann heyrði ok settist niðr hjá henni ok leysti til hnýtilsskauta eins. Þar váru í grös þau, er Brana hafði fengit honum, ok bað konungsdóttur eiga, en hún vill eigi. Hann leggr á kné henni ok gengr í burt síðan, en hún tekr upp grösin ok gengr í skemmu sína ok leggr knýtit undir höfuð sér ok sefr af þá nótt.

Um morguninn kallar hún Alfífu til máls við sik ok segir: "Þú, frændkona, skalt ganga til þess kaupmanns, er þú fannt í garðinum, ok seg, at hann komi sem snarast á minn fund, ok ger þetta leyniliga."

Alfífa mælti: "Mun nú svá, at þér hafi ekki verr á hann litist en mér, en nú skal ek fara.

Hún skundar mjök sinni ferð ok finnr Hálfdan ok sagði honnum ok biðr hann flýta sér. Hann gerir svá, ferr með henni ok finnr Marsibil konungsdóttur.

Hún mælti: "Mikil náttúra fylgir grösum þeim, er þú lagðir á kné mér í gær, því at ek ann þér svá mikit, at ek má eigi af þér sjá, ok í stað vil ek, at hvárt okkar játi öðru sína trú."

Hálfdan kvað svá vera skyldu, ok fór þat fram. Konungsdóttir bað hann opt þar koma ok eiga tal við sik. Hann játar því ok gekk í burt síðan.

Liðu nú svá tímar, þar til sem Áki, landvarnarmaðr konungs, kom heim. Hálfdan var svá mikils metinn af konungi, at hann sat honum it næsta. Áki færði konungi margar gersemar, ok var hann vanr at sitja honum it næsta, ok öfundaði hann mjök Hálfdan ok vildi hann gjarna feigan ok setr menn til höfuðs honum, ok varð þat þó aldri framgengt. Opt rægði Áki hann við konung, ok vildi hann þat eigi heyra.

After that, she went into her bower, and Halfdan went back to the brothers. The maiden was named Alfifa, to whom Halfdan gave the gold ball. She was the daughter of King Sigurd of Skorduborg, who was the uncle of King Olaf.
 Alfifa turned the gold ball over to Marsibil. She said that it was not the gold ball that she had given her, --“but it is better than that one, and who gave it to you?”
 She said that she had met a man out in the garden, --“and he gave me the gold ball. I have never seen such a handsome man, and more courteous than you yourself, and I thought that you might be a good match.”
Marsibil was so angry with her that she gave her a blow on the ear, and so their conversation ended.
One day Halfdan went to the bower along with the king’s daughter. The stockade was open. He went into the garden and to the clump of trees that he had seen before. Marsibil, the king’s daughter, was sitting there. He thought that he had never seen such a beautiful maiden. She was combing her hair with a gold comb.
 When she saw Halfdan, she said: “Go away, sir, if you don’t want to be killed, and you are quite bold, if you go in without permission.”
Halfdan pretended that he had not heard, and sat down beside her, and untied the cloth he had knotted up as a purse. Inside were the herbs, which Brana had gotten him. He offered them to the king’s daughter, but she refused them. He lay on her knee, and then went away, but she gathered up the herbs and went into her bower, and laid the purse under her head and slept on it that night.
In the morning, she called Alfifa to talk to him, and said: “You, my friend, must go to that merchant, who you found in the garden, and tell him that he should come to meet me immediately, and do it secretly.”

Alfifi said: “It will be so that you will not be less pleased with him than I was, and now I must go.”
 
She sped on her journey, and found Halfdan and told him to come quickly. He did so, went with her, and found Marsibil, the king’s daughter.
 
She said: “A great power accompanies the herbs, which you put on my knee yesterday, since I love you so much, that I can’t take my eyes off of you, and instead I wish that we each agree to be faithful to one another.”

Halfdan said that it would be so, and it proceeded. The king’s daughter bade him come there often and speak with her. He agreed to that, and then went off.

Time passed, until Aki, the land warden of the king, came home. Halfdan was so highly valued by the king, that he sat next to him. Aki brought the king many treasures, and he was accustomed to sitting next to him, and he was quite envious of Halfdan. He wished him dead, and set men after his head, although he was never successful. Aki often slandered him to the king, who would hear none of it. 

Á einu kveldi var þat, er þeir Áki ok Hálfdan drukku í höllinni, en konungr var farinn at sofa. Áki mælti: "Ertu mikill íþróttamaðr, Hálfdan?"

"Eigi er þat," sagði hann.

"Viltu reyna sund við mik?" sagði Áki.

"Má þat," sagði hann.

Áki varð glaðr við þetta, því at hann var sundmaðr mikill. Síðan fóru menn at sofa. Um morguninn stendr Áki snemma upp ok hyggr gott til at reyna sundit við Hálfdan, gengr fyrir konung ok segir honum viðtal þeira Hálfdanar ok biðr hann til fara ok sjá þenna leik með alla hirð sína. Konungr játar því, ok er nú út blásit allri hirðinni, ok ferr nú konungr sjálfr at sjá þenna leik. Vatn eitt var skammt frá borginni. Þar ætla þeir at reyna sundit, ok svá gera þeir ok kasta sér til sunds. Hálfdan var í brynjunni Brönunaut.

Leggst Áki nú at honum, ok færir Hálfdan hann í kaf ok helt honum niðri meir en eykt dags. Síðan kom Áki upp ok marði þar á vatni at kalla. Fylgdarmenn hans færðu hann at landi ok fylgdu honum í sitt herbergi, ok var honum svá kalt, at hann gat eigi mælt. Hálfdan lék þá enn marga leika á sundi ok fór síðan at landi ok gekk heim með konungi til hallar, ok virti hann Hálfdan meir en áð

Um morguninn eptir ferr Hálfdan til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni frá sundinu, en hún lét vel yfir ok bað hann þó varast Áka, segir, at hann muni svíkja hann, en Hálfdan sagði svá vera skyldu ok gengr í brutt síðan. Áki þóttist nú verr en skemmdr ok vildi nú gjarna svíkja Hálfdan með einhverju móti. Ok einu sinni býðr Áki honum burtreið, en Hálfdan játar því skjótt. Áki varð nú harðla glaðr ok segir konungi svá búit. Áki átti ess svá gott, at ekki var betra í Englandi nema ess konungsdóttur. Ess Áka hét Lóngant, en ess konungsdóttur hét Spóliant. Hálfdan gengr nú til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni frá viðtali þeira Áka. Hún lætr lítt yfir þessu. Hann bað hana at ljá sér ess sitt. Hún kveðst þat gera vilja ok bað hann hylja þat, svá at þat væri hvergi bert. Hann játar því ok gekk í burt síðan.  

En konungsdóttir kom at máli við Alfífu ok mælti:

"Ek vil senda þik til karls þess, er heðan er skammt í burt. Hann heitir Úlfr, en geymir ess mitt. Þat skaltu sækja leyniliga ok fá í hendr Hálfdani."

Alfífa flýtti ferðinni ok kom til Úlfs ok bar honum erendi sinnar frúr. Hann fekk henni essit, en hún færði Hálfdani.

It happened one evening, when Aki and Halfdan were drinking in the hall, and the king had gone to sleep. Aki said: “Are you a great sportsman, Halfdan?”
 
“Not so,” said he.
 
“Would you like to try swimming with me?” said Aki.
 
“Perhaps,” said he.
 
Aki was happy about that, since he was a great swimmer. Then everyone went to sleep. Aki got up early in the morning, and looked forward to trying swimming with Halfdan. He went before the king, and told him of the conversation with Halfdan, and asked him to come and see the contest, along with all of his court. The king agreed to that, and now called out all of his court, and now the king went himself to see the contest. There was a lake a short distance from the town. They planned to have the swimming meet there, and so they did, and threw themselves into the water. Halfdan was in the coat of mail that Brana had given him.
 
Aki now fell upon him, but Halfdan forced him underwater, and held him down for more than three hours. Then Aki came up and was waterlogged, so to speak. His retainers brought him to land and helped him to his lodgings, and he was so cold, that he could not speak. Halfdan then performed more feats in the water, and then went on land, and went home with the king to the hall, and he valued Halfdan more than ever.
 
The next morning Halfdan went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her of the swimming meet. She expressed approval, but told him to be wary of Aki, and said that he would betray him. Halfdan said that what would be would be, and then went off. Aki was thought to be even more shamed, and wished to betray Halfdan any way that he could.  One time Aki invited him to a joust, and Halfdan agreed immediately. Aki was now quite happy, and told the king what was planned. Aki had a steed that was so fine, that there was none better in England, save for the steed of the king’s daughter. Aki’s steed was named Longant, and the steed of the king’s daughter was named Spoliant. Halfdan now went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her of the conversation with Aki. She thought little of that. He asked her to lend him her steed. She said that she would do so, and bade him hide it, so that no one was aware. He agreed to that, and then went off. 
But the king’s daughter came to speak to Alfifa, and said:
 “I will send you to a man, who is a short distance away. He is named Ulf, and hides my steed. You shall seek it out in secret, and put it in Halfdan’s hands.”
 Alfifa set out, and came to Ulf and told him of the errand of her mistress. He brought her the steed, and she brought it to Halfdan.

Nú kemr sá dagr, er þeir Áki ok Hálfdan skulu á burt ríða. Tók Áki ess sitt ok ríðr á skóg, en Hálfdan á móti. Þeir riðu at einu díki. Hálfdan leggr til Áka burtstöng sinni ok hefr hann burt ór söðlinum ok kastar honum niðr í díkit, svá at hann stendr fastr í leirnum ok kemst hvergi í brutt. Fylgdarmenn hans hlupu at ok drógu hann upp, ok undi hann nú verr sínum hlut en áðr, en Hálfdan fekk af þessu frama mikinn. Áki hugsar um þat nótt ok dag at svíkja Hálfdan.

Áki hafði frétt, at Hálfdan átti systur eina, ok ætlaði hann hennar vilja at fá til óvirðingar við Hálfdan ok stendr upp eina nótt ór sæng sinni ok gengr til skemmu þeirar, er Ingibjörg ok Hildr lágu í. Hann var í skyrtu ok línbrókum. Eigi váru fleiri menn í skemmunni. En er Áki klappaði lófa sínum á hurðina ok mælti hljótt, at þær skyldi upp lúka, ok kvað Hálfdan þar vera, bað hún Hildi at fara til dyranna. Hildr fór til dyranna ok lýkr upp hurðunni ok sér, at þetta er Áki. Verða þær nú svá hræddar, at þær vita eigi, hvar þær skulu hafa sik, en Áka varð bilt inn at ganga ok studdist fram á dyrustafinn.
Ingibjörg mælti: "Þat vilda ek, at Brana, fóstra Hálfdanar, hjálpaði mér."

En er hún hafði þetta mælt, var Áki fastr við hurðina, svá at hann mátti hvergi þaðan fara, en veðrit tók at hvessa ok frysta, ok tók Áka at kólna, svá at hann skalf af kulda. Þar varð hann at standa alla nóttina. Ok um morguninn, er menn Hálfdanar kómu til skemmunnar, sáu þeir Áka, þar er hann stóð, ok sögðu Hálfdani. En þegar hann kom til, varð Áki þegar lauss, ok mátti hann eigi mæla. Hálfdan lét flytja hann til herbergis sjálfs hans. En þegar er Áki mátti mæla, ásakaði hann sik mjök ok þóttist mikla sneypu fengit hafa. Hann hugsaði nú at svíkja Hálfdan sem mest.

Now came the day that Aki and Halfdan were to ride off. Aki took his horse, and rode to a forest, and Halfdan against him. They rode to a ditch. Halfdan went after Aki with his lance, and tossed him out of his saddle and cast him down into the ditch, so that he was stuck fast in the mud, and could not come out. His retainers ran and dragged him up, and he was less content than ever with his lot in life. Halfdan gained much fame from this. Aki thought night and day about retaliating on Halfdan.
 
Aki had news that Halfdan had a sister, and he decided to bring dishonor on Halfdan through her. He got out of bed one night and went to the bower where Ingibjorg and Hilda were. He was dressed in a shirt and linen breeches. There were not many men in the bower. But when Aki knocked on the door with the palm of his hand, spoke softly that they should open up, and said that Halfdan was there, she bade Hilda to go to the door. Hilda went to the door and opened it up, and saw that it was Aki. They were now so terrified that they did not know where they should go. Aki went in immediately and leaned against the doorpost.
 
Ingibjorg said: “I wish that Brana, the foster mother of Halfdan, would help me.”
 
And when she had said that, Aki was stuck fast to the door, so that he could not leave. The weather blew up a gale and frost, and Aki started to freeze, so that he shivered from the cold. He stayed there the whole night. And in the morning, when Halfdan’s men came to the bower, they saw Aki there where he was standing, and told Halfdan. And when he arrived, Aki was let loose, but he was unable to speak, berated himself much, and thought that he had been greatly disgraced. He now thought even more of retaliating against Halfdan. 

Þat er nú því næst at segja, at konungr efnar jólaveislu mikla. Þar kom Sigurðr konungr af Skörðuborg ok margt annat stórmenni. Ok it fyrsta kveld, er menn váru komnir í sæti, gengr innar Marsibil konungsdóttir með sinn skara. Þær Hildr ok Ingibjörg váru þar í för með henni, ok sat á sína hönd henni hvár þeira, en þar út í frá sátu skemmumeyjar hennar. Alfífa lék sér á gólfinu.

Sigurðr konungr, faðir hennar, kallar hana til sín ok setr hana í kné sér ok mælti: "Seg mér, hvat konu þat er, sem sitr á hægri hönd frændkonu þinni?"

"Hún heitir Ingibjörg," segir Alfífa, "ok er systir kaupmanns þess, er hér kom í sumar."

Konungr mælti: "Þú skalt fara til Marsibil konungsdóttur ok seg, at hún láti þat fram gengt verða, at ek eiga þá konu."

Alfífa ferr ok fram kemr til sinnar frúr ok berr henni boðskap síns föður. Konungsdóttir bað hana við Hálfdan þetta ræða.

Líðr nú af nóttin, ok at morgni dags ganga þau á málstefnu konungsdóttir ok Hálfdan ok Sigurðr konungr. Hann biðr þá systur Hálfdanar. Konungsdóttir flytr þetta mál með honum.

Hálfdan mælti: "Fullkosta þykki mér konungi, þó at hann eigi Hildi."

Konungr byrjaði þá at nýju bónorðit. Hálfdan tók því vel, ok með samþykki bræðra hennar var þessu ráðit, ok var þá jólaveisluni snúit upp í brullaup, ok var at setit há1fán mánuð. Ok eptir veisluna gaf Sigurðr konungr mörgum góðar gjafir, ok fóru heim til Skörðuborgar með drottningu sína. Sigurðr fór með þeim, en Sigmundr var eptir hjá Hálfdani.

Next to tell, that the king prepared a great yuletide feast. King Sigurd came from Skorduborg, and many other great men. On the first evening, when people had taken their seats, the king’s daughter, Marsibil, came in with her companions. Hilda and Ingibjorg accompanied her, and each of them sat beside her, and a short distance away sat her handmaidens. Alfifa was playing on the floor.
 
King Sigurd, her father, called her to him and set her on his knee, and said: “Tell me, what woman that is, who sits at the right hand of your lady friend?”
 
“She is named Ingibjorg,” said Alfifa, “and is the sister of the merchant who came here last summer.”
The king said: “You shall go to the king’s daughter, Marsibil, and say, that she must see to it that I marry that woman.”

Alfifa went and came to her mistress, and gave her the message from her father. The king’s daughter told her to seek Halfdan’s advice.

The night now passed, and when daybreak came, the king’s daughter and Halfdan held a council, along with King Sigurd. He proposed to Halfdan’s sister. The king’s daughter brought the matter to him.  

Halfdan said: “I think it would be a worthy match for the king, if he marries Hilda.” 

The king began the courtship. Halfdan welcomed it, and with the agreement of her brothers, it was decided, and the yule feast was changed to a wedding, and it was set for half a month. And after the feast, King Sigurd gave many fine gifts, and traveled home to Skorduborg with his queen. Sigurd went with them, but Sigmund stayed with Halfdan.

At sumri komnu býst Hálfdan í burt af Englandi, ok einhvern dag gengr hann til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni, at hann ætlar í burt ok hefna föður síns.

Konungsdóttir mælti: "Tuttugu skip eru hér í höfninni, er ek vil gefa þér."

Hálfdan þakkar henni ok kvað systur sína skyldu hjá henni eptir vera. Hún játar því. Tekr hann þá orlof af henni ok systur sinni ok gengr burt síðan ok fyrir konung ok þakkar honum vetrvistina ok tekr af honum orlof, ok ganga þeir Sigmundr síðan til skipa.

En er Hálfdan var í burt farinn, kemr Áki at máli við konung ok mælti: "Vitið þér, herra, at Hálfdan hefir barnat dóttur yðra?"

"Eigi veit ek þat," segir konungr ok bað Áka í stað fara eptir honum við marga menn. Hann var þessarar ferðar fúss ok fór eptir Hálfdani með tíu menn.

Nú er frá þeim Hálfdani at segja, at þeir ganga eptir einni skógarbraut. Há1fdan gat þá at líta ferð Áka. Hann var þá í herklæðunum Brönunaut. Áka berr bráðan at, ok stíga þegar af baki ok sækja þegar at Hálfdani, en þeir Hálfdan ok Sigmundr snúast at bökum ok verjast allkarlmannliga, ok þó kemr þar, at Áki drap Sigmund með þeim hætti, at hann höggr undan honum báða fætr. Ok eptir fall Sigmundar reiðist Hálfdan ákafliga, svá at hann drepr alla menn af Áka, en handtekr hann sjálfan ok skerr af honum nefit ok stakk bæði augun ór honum ok skerr af honum bæði eyrun ok geldir hann. Síðan brýtr hann í honum báða fótleggina ok snýr aptr tánum, en fram hælunum, ok setr hann síðan á bak ok snýr essi hans heimleiðis til konungshallar. Hálfdan var hvárki móðr né sárr. Hann heygir þá Sigmund ok ferr síðan til skipa ok segir mönnum, hvat í hafi gerst með þeim Áka, en þeir létu vel yfir.
Hálfdan siglir nú með tuttugu skip af Englandi ok dreka sinn um fram. Hann kemr til Hlaðeyja, ok fagnar Hlaðgerðr honum vel ok gaf honum tuttugu skip með mönnum ok fé. Hálfdan þakkar henni þessa gjöf.

Nú skal segja frá Áka, at hann kemr heim ok rembist ekki alllítit, ok sjá konungsmenn hann ok segja konungi, at hann er heim kominn. Konungr sér nú Áka, hversu hann er útleikinn. Rekr konungr hann í burt, ok kemr Áki ekki síðan við þessa sögu.

When summer came, Halfdan set off from England, and one day he went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her that he intended to go off and avenge her father.
 
The king’s daughter said: “Twenty ships are here in the harbor, which I will give to you.”
 
Halfdan thanked her, and said that his sister should remain with her. She agreed to that. He then took leave of her and his sister, and then went off and went before the king, and thanked him for his hospitality over the winter, and took leave of him, and he and Sigmund then went to the ship.
 
But when Halfdan had left, Aki came to talk to the king, and said: “Do you know, sire, that Halfdan has gotten your daughter pregnant?”
 
“I did not know that,” said the king, and bade Aki go after him immediately with many men. He was ready for this journey, and went after Halfdan with ten men.
 
Now to speak of Halfdan and his men, that they went along a forest path. Halfdan was able to see Aki’s travels. He was in the battle clothes that Brana had given him. Aki soon attacked, and then dismounted and looked for Halfdan, but Halfdan and Sigmund turned back, and defended themselves bravely. However, it came to pass that Aki killed Sigmund in this manner, striking both feet out from under him. After Sigmund’s fall, Halfdan became quite angry, so that he killed all of Aki’s men, and seized him himself, and cut off his nose, and gouged out both of his eyes, and cut off both of his ears and castrated him. Then he broke both of his legs and tore off his toes from his heels, and then set him on the back of his steed and set it on a homeward journey to the hall of the king. Halfdan was neither tired nor injured. He buried Sigmund in a mound and then returned to his ship and told his men what had transpired with Aki, and they thought that this was fine.
 
Halfdan now sailed with twenty ships from England, with his dragon ship foremost. He came to Hladey and Hladgerd welcomed him and gave him twenty ships with men and treasure. Halfdan thanked her for this gift.
 
Now to tell of Aki, that he came home and did not strut very much, and the king’s men saw him and told the king that he had come home. The king now saw Aki, and the condition that he was in. The king now drove him away, and Aki does not appear again in this saga.

Nú skal víkja aptr til Hálfdanar, at hann siglir í burt frá Hlaðeyjum með fjóra tigi skipa ok heim til Danmerkr. Ok er víkingar vita, at ófriðr er kominn, skunda þeir til bardaga. Engir landsmenn vildu berjast með þeim. Fóru þeir til Hálfdanar, ok finnast þeir á sléttum völlum, ok tókst þar bardagi harðr. Gengu víkingar hart fram. Verðr skjótt mikit mannfall í her Hálfdanar. Hann mælti þá við menn sína, at þeir skyldu hlífa sér, en sæta eigi mjök áverkum við víkinga. Liðit Hálfdanar gengr þá hart fram, ok finnast þeir Snækollr ok Hálfdan í bardaganum, ok lýkr svá þeira viðskiptum, at Snækollr fellr dauðr til jarðar. En er Sóti sér fall bróður síns, veðr hann fram at Hálfdani ok höggr til hans. Hálfdan hljóp í lopt upp, ok missti Sóti hans, en mækir Sóta hljóp niðr í völlinn, ok laut hann eptir högginu. Í því slæmir Hálfdan undan honum báða fætrna í knjáliðunum.

Hann fell þá ok var þegar litlu dauðr ok mælti: "Mikinn sigr hefir þú nú unnit, Hálfdan," segir hann, "er þú hefir mik at velli lagt. Þat mæli ek um, at þú munir ekki til Marsibil konungsdóttur, heitkonu þinnar."

Eptir þetta dó Sóti, en Hálfdan drap hvert mannsbarn, er Sóta hafði fylgt. En Hálfdan gerðist konungr yfir Danmörku ok mundi ekki til Marsibil konungsdóttur.

Now to return to Halfdan, that he was sailing away from Hladey with forty ships, and home to Denmark. When Vikings know that unrest is coming, they hasten to battle. No landsmen wanted to battle with them. They went to Halfdan and met on a level field, and a fierce battle began. The Vikings advanced strongly. Soon many men had fallen in Halfdan’s troops. Halfdan then spoke to his men, that they should take cover and not expose themselves to many blows from the Vikings. Halfdan’s army advanced strongly, and Snaekoll and Halfdan found themselves in combat, and their stuggle ended with Snaekoll falling to the ground dead. But when Soti saw the death of his brother, he rushed forward at Halfdan, and struck at him. Halfdan lept up in the air, and Soti missed him, but Soti’s sword ran down to the field and struck him again. At that, Halfdan cut off both of his feet at the knee joint.
 
He fell then, and was half dead, and said: “You have now won a great victory, Halfdan,” he said, “since you have laid me out on the field. But I decree, that you shall have no recollection of Marsibil, your bethrothed.”
 
After that, Soti died, and Halfdan killed everyone that had followed Soti. Halfdan was made king over Denmark, but had no recollection of the king’s daughter, Marsibil.

Eina nátt, þá er Hálfdan lá í sæng sinni, vaknaði hann við þat, at þar var komin Brana, fóstra hans, at honum svá mælandi: "Stattu upp, Hálfdan," segir hún, "ef þú vilt eiga Marsibil konungsdóttur, því at Eirekr konungr ór Miklagarði er kominn í England ok biðr hennar, en hún læsir sik í skemmu sinni, ok nær konungr hennar máli aldri, ok far þú á Skrauta, dreka þínum."

Hálfdan stendr þá upp ok man allt, sem hann vakni af svefni. Hann ferr til skips einn saman ok hrindr fram drekanum. Kemr þegar á blásandi byrr. Léttir Hálfdan eigi ferð sinni, fyrr en hann kemr til Englands í þá höfn, er fyrr hafði hann út lagt, ok var þá komit at kveldi.

Hann gengr upp frá skipi ok kemr at skíðgarði konungsdóttur. Hann rennr þegar upp garðinn ok klappar á hurðina. Þær Marsibil ok Ingibjörg heyra höggit.

Ingibjörg mælti: "Við þetta högg varð mér gott, ok vilda ek upp láta."

Marsibil bað hana ráða. Hún lýkr nú upp hurðinni ok sá þar kominn Hálfdan, bróður sinn. Verða þær honum harðla fegnar.

Þegar um morguninn gengr Hálfdan fyrir Óláf konung ok biðr Marsibil sér til handa, en konungi brá svá við þessi orð, at hann gifti honum dóttur sína, en hafði áðr ætlat at drepa hann. Eirekr konungr bað nú Ingibjargar. Hálfdan gifti honum hana. Þá var þar kominn Sigurðr konungr af Skörðuborg ok með honum Sigurðr, fóstbróðir Hálfdanar. Hann bað Alfífu til handa honum, ok var hún honum gefin, ok váru þessi brullaup öll í einu. Stóðu þau hálfan mánuð með miklum prís.

En eptir veisluna af liðna gaf hvárr konungr öðrum gjafir góðar. Fór Eirekr konungr ok hans drottning heim í sitt ríki, ok ríktu þau þar til elli, ok er margt manna frá þeim komit. Þau Sigurðr ok Alfífa fóru heim til Skotlands, ok stýrði því ríki til dauðadags. Var þá andaðr Angantýr, faðir hans. Hann átti sér þann son, er Angantýr hét. Sá tók ríki eptir hann ok varð frægr maðr. Þau Hálfdan ok Marsibil fóru til Danmerkr ok ríktu þar til, er Óláfr konungr andaðist, en þá fóru þau til Englands ok ríktu þar til elli. Þau áttu þann son, er Ríkarðr hét. Hann varð konungr í Englandi eptir föður sinn.

Þat segja sumir menn, at sá Ríkarðr væri faðir Álaflekks. Ok lýkst hér nú saga Hálfdanar Brönufóstra.

One night, when Halfdan was lying in his bed, he was awakend by Brana, his foster mother, coming in, and speaking to him thusly: “Get up, Halfdan,” she said, “if you wish to marry the king’s daughter, Marsibil, since King Eirik of Miklagard has come to England. He is proposing to her, but she has shut herself up in her bower, and the king can never get her to speak. Go to Skrauti, your dragon ship.”
 
Halfdan stood up then, and remembered everything as he woke from sleep. He went to the ship alone and pushed the dragon ship out. A breeze then blew up. Halfdan did not end his journey until he came to England to the same harbor that he had set out from, and came there in the evening.
 
He went up from the ship and came to the stockade of the king’s daughter. He climbed the stockade and knocked on the door. Marsibil and Ingibjorg heard the knock.
 
Ingibjorg said: “That knock is a good omen, and I will open the door.”
 
Marsibil told her to decide.  She opened up the door and saw that Halfdan, her brother, had come. They gave him a hearty welcome.
 
In the morning, Halfdan went before King Olaf and asked for the hand of Marsibil. The king was so startled at these words that he bethrothed him his daughter, although he had previously planned to kill him. King Eirik now proposed to Ingibjorg. Halfdan gave her to him in marriage. Then King Sigurd came from Skorduborg, and with him, Sigurd, Halfdan’s foster brother. He asked Alfifa for her hand, and she was given to him, and they were all married at one time. They stayed there for half a month with great honor.

After the feast ended, each king gave fine gifts to the other. King Eirik and his queen went home their realm, and ruled there until they were old, and they had many descendents. Sigurd and Alfifa went home to Scotland and ruled that kingdom until their dying days. Angantyr, his father, had died. He had a son, who was named Angantyr.  Halfdan and Marsibil went to Denmark, and ruled there until King Olaf died, and then they went to England and ruled there until they were old. They had a son, who was named Rikard. He became king of England after his father.

Some men say, that Rikard was the father of Alaflekk. And so ends here the saga of Halfdan Bronufostri.