Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Guest replied: "It is generally believed that Guthorm the son of Gjuki ran a sword through him[pg 31]while he was asleep in bed with Guthrun. On the other hand, Germans say that Sigurth was slain out in the forest. In the Guthrúnar-rætha again it is stated that Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki had ridden to a gathering and that they slew him then. But one thing is agreed by all—that they set on him when he was down and off his guard, and that they were guilty of gross treachery towards him."

Guest answered: "Brynhild then slew seven of her slaves and five handmaidens, and ran herself through with a sword, commanding that she should be taken to the pyre along with these people and burned beside Sigurth. This was done, one pile being made for Sigurth and another for Brynhild, and he was burned first, and then Brynhild. She was taken in a chariot with a canopy of velvet and silk which was all ablaze with gold, and thus was she burnt."

Then Guest was asked if Brynhild had chanted a lay after she was dead. He replied that she had, and they asked him to recite it if he could.

Then Guest said: "As Brynhild was being driven to the pyre on the way to Hell, she was brought near some cliffs where an ogress dwelt. The ogress was standing outside the doors of her cave and wore a skin kirtle and was of a blackish hue. She carried a long faggot in her hand and cried:

'This will I contribute to your burning, Brynhild. It would have been better if you had been burned while you were still alive, before you were guilty of getting such a splendid man as Sigurth Fafnisbani slain. I was always friendly to him and therefore I shall attack[pg 32]you in a reproachful song which will make you hated by everybody who hears what you have done.'

Thou shalt not be suffered to pass through my courts
With their pillars of stone in my mansion drear,—
Better far wert thou busied at home with thy needle!
Not thine is the husband thou followest here.

Inconstant soul, why comest thou hither?
From the land of the Romans why visit'st thou me?
Full many a wolf hast thou made be partaker
Of the life-blood of men who were butchered by thee!

Upbraid me no more from thy rock bound dwelling
For battles I fought in the days of old.—
Thou wilt not be deemed to be nobler of nature
Than I, wheresoever our story is told!

In an evil hour, O Buthli's daughter,In an evil hour wert thou brought to birth.—
The Sons of Gjuki thou gavest to slaughter,
Their noble dwellings thou rased'st to earth.

A true account, if thou carest to hearken,
O thou lying soul, will I tell to thee;—
How empty of love and o'ershadowed by falsehood
The life that the Gjukings had destined for me!

Atli's daughter was I, yet the monarch bold-hearted
Assigned me a home neath the shade of the oak.
But twelve summers old, if thou carest to hearken,
Was this maid when her vows to the hero she spoke.

Hjalmgunnar the Old, of the Gothic nation,
Great chief, on the pathway to Hell did I speed;
And victory granted to Auth's young brother;
Then Othin's dread fury was roused at my deed.

Then a phalanx of bucklers did Othin set round me
On Skatalund's heights, shields crimson and white,—
Bade only that prince break the slumber that bound me
Who knew naught of terror, nor shrank from the fight.

And flames high towering and fiercely raging
Round my Southern hall did he set in a ring:
None other was destined to pass through in safety
Save the hero who treasure of Fafnir should bring.

The generous hero with treasure a-gleaming,
The Danish viking on Grani rode,—
Foremost champion in deeds of valour— Where my foster-father had his abode.

As brother with sister we slept together;
Eight nights' space he lay at my side.
There were we happy and slumbered idly,
Nor loving caresses did ever betide.

Yet Guthrun the daughter of Gjuki reviled me,
That I in the arms of her lover had slept.
O then was I 'ware of the thing I desired not—
The truth of my marriage from me had they kept.

All too long against storms of adversity struggling
Both women and men seek their fortunes to right;
But I with my Sigurth shall end my life's battle
At last. Now depart from me, daughter of Night!

Then the King's followers cried: "That's fine! Go on and tell us some more!"

But the King said: "You need not tell us any[pg 34]more about things of that kind." Then he continued: "Were you ever with the sons of Lothbrok?"

Guest replied: "I was only with them for a short time; I joined them when they were making an expedition to the south in the neighbourhood of the Alps, and when they destroyed Vifilsborg. Panic spread everywhere at their approach, for they were victorious wherever they went. They were intending at the time to go to Rome. It chanced one day that a certain man came up to King Björn Ironside and saluted him. The King received him in a friendly way and asked him whence he came. He said that he had come from the south, from Rome.

Then he took iron-bound shoes from his feet, and the tops of them were very thick, but underneath they were all torn.

'You can see now how severely my shoes have suffered,' said he, 'and tell by that what a long way it is from here to Rome.'

'It must be a very long way,' said the King; 'I shall turn back and give up the idea of attacking the territories of Rome.'

And the result was that they went no further on their way; and everyone thought it extraordinary that they should change their minds so suddenly at the word of one man, when they had all their plans laid. So after this the sons of Lothbrok went back to their homes in the north, and made no further raids in the south."

The King said: "It is clear that the saints in Rome would not allow them to make their way there. The man you spoke of must have been a Spirit sent from God to make them change their minds so quickly, so as not to bring destruction on Rome, the most holy place of Jesus Christ."

The Complete Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda Legendary Sagas of the Northland in English Translation
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	Norna-Gestr Saga	The Story of Norna-Gest
	Early 14th century	Translated by Nora Kershaw 1921
	1. Gestr kom til Óláfs konungs	Chapter 1.
	Svá er sagt, at á einum tíma, þá er Óláfr konungr Tryggvason sat í Þrándheimi, bar svá til, at einn maðr kom til hans at áliðnum degi ok kvaddi hann sæmiliga. Konungr tók honum vel ok spurði, hverr hann væri, en hann sagðist Gestr heita. Konungr svarar: "Gestr muntu hér vera, hversu sem þú heitir." Gestr svarar: "Satt segi ek til nafns míns, herra, en gjarna vilda ek at yðr gisting þiggja, ef kostr væri." Konungr sagði honum þat til reiðu vera. En með því at áliðinn var dagr, vildi konungr ekki tala við gestinn, því at hann gekk þá skjótt til aptansöngs ok síðan til borðs ok þá til svefns ok náða. Ok á þeiri sömu nótt vakti Óláfr konungr Tryggvason í sæng sinni ok las bænir sínar, en aðrir menn allir sváfu í því herbergi. Þá þótti konungi einn álfr eða andi nokkurr koma inn í húsit ok þó at luktum dyrum öllum. Hann kom fyrir rekkju hvers manns, er þar svaf, ok at lyktum kom hann til sængr eins manns, er þar lá utarliga. Þá mælti álfrinn ok nam staðar: "Furðu sterkr láss er hér fyrir tómu húsi, ok er konungr eigi jafnvíss um slíkt sem aðrir láta, er hann sé allra manna spakastr, er hann sefr nú svá fast." Eptir þat hverfr sá á brott at luktum dyrum. En snemma um morgininn eptir sendi konungr skósvein sinn at verða víss, hverr þessa sæng hafði byggt um nóttina; prófaðist svá, at þar hafði legit gestrinn. Konungr lét kalla hann fyrir sik ok spurði, hvers son hann væri. En hann svarar: "Þórðr hét faðir minn ok var kallaðr þingbítr, danskr at kyni. Hann bjó á þeim bæ í Danmörk, er Græningr heitir." "Þrifligr maðr ertu," segir konungr. Gestr sjá var djarfr í orðum ok meiri en flestir menn aðrir, sterkligr ok nokkut hniginn í efra aldr. Hann biðr konung at dveljast þá lengr með hirðinni. Konungr spurði, ef hann væri kristinn. Gestr lézt vera prímsigndr, en eigi skírðr. Konungr sagði honum heimilt at vera með hirðinni, -- "en skamma stund muntu með mér óskírðr." En því hafði álfrinn svá til orðs tekit um lásinn, at Gestr signdi sik um kveldit sem aðrir menn, en var þó reyndar heiðinn. Konungr mælti: "Ertu nokkurr íþróttamaðr?" Hann kvaðst leika á hörpu eða segja sögur, svá at gaman þætti at Konungr sagði þá: "Illa gerir Sveinn konungr þat, at hann lætr óskírða menn fara ór ríki sínu landa á meðal." Gestr svarar: "Ekki er þat Dana konungi at kenna, því at miklu fyrr fór ek burt ór Danmörk en Ottó keisari lét brenna Danavirki ok kúgaði Harald konung Gormsson ok Hákon blótjarl at taka við kristni." Margra hluta spyrr konungr Gest, en hann leysti flest vel ok vitrliga. Svá segja menn, at Gestr þessi kæmi á þriðja ári ríkis Ólafs konungs til hans. Á því ári kómu ok til hans þeir menn, er Grímar hétu ok váru sendir af Guðmundi af Glasisvöllum. Þeir færðu konungi horn tvau er Guðmundr gaf honum. Þau kölluðu þeir ok Gríma. Þeir höfðu ok fleiri erendi til konungs, sem síðar mun sagt verða. Nú er þat at segja, at Gestr dvaldist með konungi. Er honum skipat utar frá gestum. Hann var siðsamr maðr ok látaðr vel. Var hann ok þokkasamr af flestum mönnum ok virðist vel.	I. The story goes that on one occasion when King Olaf Tryggvason was living at Trondhjem, it chanced that a man came to him late in the day and addressed him respectfully. The King welcomed him and asked him who he was, and he said that his name was Guest. The King answered: "You shall be guest here, whatever you are called." Guest said: "I have told you my name truly, Sire, and I will gladly receive your hospitality if I may." The King told him he could have it readily. But since the day was far spent, the King would not enter into conversation with his guest; for he was going soon to vespers, and after that to dinner, and then to bed and to sleep. Now on that same night King Olaf Tryggvason was lying awake in his bed and saying his prayers, while all the other men in the hall were asleep. Then the King noticed that an elf or spirit of some kind had come into the hall, though all the doors were locked. He made his way past the beds of the men who were asleep there, one after another, and at last reached the bed of a man at the far end. Then the elf stopped and said: "An empty house, and a mighty strong bolt on the door! People say that the King is the wisest of men. If he were as clever in things of this kind as they say he would not sleep so soundly." After that he vanished through the door, locked as it was. Early next morning the King sent his servant to find out who had occupied that bed over night, and it proved to have been the stranger. The King ordered him to be summoned before him and asked him whose son he was. He answered: "My father's name was Thorth. He was a Dane and was called 'The Contentious,' and lived at a place called Groening in Denmark." "You are a well set-up man," said the King. Guest was bold of speech, and bigger in build than most men. He looked strong but was somewhat advanced in years. He asked the King if he might stay for a while in his retinue. The King asked if he were baptised. Guest said that he had been prime-signed but not baptised. The King said that he was free to remain in his retinue, but added: "You will not remain long unbaptised with me." The reason for the elf's remark about the bolt was that Guest had crossed himself, that evening like other men, but was in reality still a heathen. The King said: "Can you do anything in the way of sport or music?" He replied that he could play the harp and tell stories which people enjoyed. Then said the King: "King Svein has no right to let unbaptised men leave his kingdom and wander about from one country to another." Guest replied: "You must not blame the King of the Danes for this, for it is a long time since I left Denmark. In fact it was a long time before the Emperor Otto burnt the Dane-work and forced King Harold Gormsson and Earl Haakon the Heathen to become Christians." The King questioned Guest about many subjects and he always gave him good and intelligent answers. Men say that it was in the third year of King Olaf's reign that Guest came to him. In this year also there came to him two men called Grim who were sent by Guthmund from Glasisvellir. They brought to the King as a present from Guthmund two horns which were also called 'Grim.' They had also some further business with the King which we will return later. As for Guest, he remained with the King, and had a place at the far end of the visitors' seats. He was a man of breeding and had good manners, and was popular and much respected by everyone.
	2. Veðjan Gests ok hirðmanna	Chapter 2
	Litlu fyrir jól kom Úlfr heim inn rauði ok sveit manna með honum. Hann hafði verit um sumarit í konungs erendum, því at hann var settr til landsgæzlu um haustit í Víkinni við áhlaupum Dana. Var hann jafnan vanr at vera með Óláfi konungi um hávetri. Úlfr hafði at færa konungi marga góða gripi, er hann hafði aflat um sumarit, ok einn gullhring hafði hann aflat, er Hnituðr hét. Hann var hnitaðr saman í sjau stöðum, ok var með sínum lit hverr hlutrinn. Miklu var hann gullbetri en aðrir hringar. Þann hring hafði gefit Úlfi einn bóndi, er Loðmundr hét, en þenna hring hafði átt áðr Hálfr konungr, er Hálfsrekkar eru frá komnir ok við kenndir, er þeir höfðu kúgat fé af Hálfdani konungi í Ylfing. En Loðmundr beiddi Úlf í móti, at hann mundi halda bænum fyrir honum með fulltingi Óláfs konungs. Úlfr játaði honum því. Heldr konungr nú jól sín ríkuliga ok sitr í Þrándheimi. En inn átta dag jóla gefr Úlfr inn rauði hringinn Hnituð Óláfi konungi. Konungr þakkar honum gjöfina ok alla sína trúlynda þjónustu, er hann hefði jafnan veitt honum. Ferr þessi hringr víða um herbergi, þar er menn drukku inni, því at þá váru eigi hallir smíðaðar í þann tíma í Noregi. Sýnir nú hverr öðrum, ok þykkjast menn eigi sét hafa jafngott gull sem í hringnum var. Ok at lyktum kemr hann á gestabekk ok svá fyrir Gest inn ókunna. Hann lítr á ok selr aptr hringinn yfir þvera höndina, þá er hann helt áðr á kerinu. Finnst honum fátt til ok talar ekki til þessa gripar, en hefir gamanræður sem áðr við sína félaga. Einn herbergis sveinn skenkti utar á bekkinn gestanna. Hann spyrr: "Lízt yðr vel á hringinn? "Allvel," sögðu þeir, "utan Gesti inum nýkomna. Honum finnst ekki til, ok þat hyggjum vér, at hann kunni ekki til at sjá, at hann anzar ekki um slíka hluti." Herbergis sveinninn gengr innar fyrir konung ok segir honum þessi in sömu orð gestanna ok þessi inn komni gestr, hversu hann anzaði lítt til þessa gripar, er honum var sýnd slík gersimi. Konungr sagði þá: "Gestr inn komni mun fleira vita en þér munuð ætla, ok skal hann koma til mín í morgin ok segja mér nokkura sögu." Nú talast þeir við gestirnir utar á bekkinn. Þeir spyrja inn nýkomna gest, hvar hann hefir sét jafngóðan hring eða betra. Gestr svarar: "Með því at yðr þykkir undarligt, at ek tala svá fátt til, þá hefi ek víst sét þat gull, at engum mun er verra, nema betra sýnist." Nú hlæja konungsmenn mjök ok segja, at þar horfist til gamans mikils, -- "ok muntu vilja veðja við oss, at þú hafir sét jafngott gull sem þetta, svá at þú megir þat sanna. Skulum vér við setja fjórar merkr gangsilfrs, en þú kníf þinn ok belti, ok skal konungr um segja, hvárir sannara hafa." Gestr sagði þá: "Eigi skal nú hvárttveggja gera, vera í kallsi með yðr, enda halda eigi ummæli þau, sem þér biðið, ok skal víst veðja hér um ok svá mikit við leggja sem þér hafið mælt, en konungr skal um segja, hvárir sannara hafa." Hætta þeir nú sínu tali. Tekr Gestr hörpu sína ok slær vel ok lengi um kveldit, svá at öllum þykkir unað í á at heyra, ok slær þó Gunnarsslag bezt. Ok at lyktum slær hann Guðrúnarbrögð in fornu. Þau höfðu menn eigi fyrr heyrt. Ok eptir þat sváfu menn af um nóttina.	II. A little before Yule, Ulf the Red and his following came home. He had been engaged on the King's business all summer, for he had been appointed to guard the coasts of 'The Bay' against Danish raids. He never failed to be with King Olaf at mid-winter. Ulf had many fine treasures to bring to the King, which he had got during the summer, and one gold ring in particular which was called Hnituth. It was welded together in seven places and each piece had a different colour. It was made of much finer gold than rings usually are. The ring had been given to Ulf by a landowner called Lothmund, and before that it had belonged to King Half, from whom the Halfsrekkar take their name. The ring had come to them as forced tribute from King Halfdan Ylfing. Lothmund had asked Ulf in return for it that he would guard his home with the support of King Olaf, and Ulf had promised to do so. Now King Olaf was keeping Yule in magnificent style at his court in Trondhjem; and it was on the eighth day of Yule that Ulf gave him the gold ring Hnituth. The King thanked him for the gift as well as for all the faithful service which he had constantly rendered him. The ring was passed round the building in which the drinking was going on.—As yet no halls had been built in Norway. Now each man showed it to his neighbour and they thought that they had never seen such fine gold as that of which the ring was made. At last it came to the guest-table, and so to the guest who had just arrived. He looked at the ring and handed it back on the palm of his hand—the hand in which he had been holding his drinking horn. He was not much impressed with the treasure, and made no remarks about it, but went on jesting with his companions. A serving-man was pouring out drink at the end of the guest-table. "Do you not like the ring?" he asked. They said; "We all like it very much except the new-comer. He can't see anything in it; but we think he can't appreciate it simply because he doesn't care for things of this kind." The serving-man went up the hall to the King and told him exactly what the guests had said, adding that, the new-comer had taken little note of the treasure, valuable as it was, when it was shown to him. Then the King remarked: "The new-comer probably knows more than you think: he must come to me in the morning and tell me a story." Now he and the other guests at the farthest table were talking among themselves. They asked the new-comer where he had seen a better ring or even one as good as this. "Since you evidently think it strange," said he, "that I make so little of it, I may say that I have certainly seen gold which is in no way inferior, but actually better." The King's men now laughed heartily and said that that promised good sport, adding: "Will you agree to wager with us that you have seen gold as good as this, and prove it? We will stake four marks in current coin against your knife and belt; and the King shall decide who is in the right." Then said Guest: "I will neither be made a laughing-stock for you nor fail to keep the wager which you offer. And I will certainly lay a wager with you on the spot, and stake exactly what you have suggested, and the King shall judge who is in the right." Then they stopped talking, and Guest took his harp and played it well till far into the evening, so that it was a joy to all who heard him. What he rendered best was The Harping of Gunnar; and last of all he played the ancient Wiles of Guthrun, neither of which they had heard before. And after that they went to sleep for the night.
	3. Gestr vann veðféit	Chapter 3.
	Konungr stendr snemma upp um morguninn ok hlýðir tíðum. Ok er þeim er lokit, gengr konungr til borðs með hirð sinni. Ok er hann er kominn í hásæti, gengr gestasveitin innar fyrir konung ok Gestr með þeim ok segja honum sín ummæli öll ok veðjan þá, sem þeir höfðu haft áðr. Konungr svarar: "Lítit er mér um veðjan yðra, þó at þér setið peninga yðra við. Get ek þess til, at yðr hafi drykkr í höfuð fengit, ok þykki mér ráð, at þér hafið at engu, allra helzt ef Gesti þykkir svá betr." Gestr svarar: "Þat vil ek, at haldist öll ummæli vár." Konungr mælti: "Svá lízt mér á þik, Gestr, at mínir menn muni hafa mælt sik í þaular um þetta mál meir en þú, en þó mun þat nú skjótt reynt verða." Eptir þat gengu þeir í brott, ok fóru menn at drekka. Ok er drykkjuborð váru upp tekin, lætr konungr kalla Gest ok talar svá til hans: "Nú verðr þú skyldr til at bera fram gull nokkut, ef þú hefir til, svá at ek megi segja um veðjanina með yðr." "Þat munu þér vilja, herra," sagði Gestr. Hann þreifar þá til sjóðs eins, er hann hafði við sik, ok tók þar upp eitt knýti ok leysir til ok fær í hendr konungi. Konungr sér, at þetta er brotit af söðulhringju, ok sér, at þetta er allgott gull. Hann biðr þá taka hringinn Hnituð. Ok er svá var gert, berr konungr saman gullit ok hringinn ok mælti síðan: "Víst lízt mér þetta betra gull, er Gestr hefir fram borit, ok svá mun lítast fleirum mönnum, þó at sjái." Sönnuðu þetta þá margir menn með konungi. Síðan sagði hann Gesti veðféit. Þóttust gestirnir þá ósvinnir við orðnir um þetta mál. Gestr mælti þá: "Takið fé yðvart sjálfir, því at ek þarf eigi at hafa, en veðið ekki optar við ókunna menn, því at eigi viti þér, hvern þér hittið þann fyrir, at bæði hefir fleira sét ok heyrt en þér. En þakka vil ek yðr, herra, órskurðinn." Konungr mælti þá: "Nú vil ek, at þú segir, hvaðan þú fekkt gull þat, er þú ferr með." Gestr svarar: "Trauðr em ek þess, því at þat mun flestum þykkja ótrúligt, er ek segi þar til." "Þó viljum vér heyra," segir konungr, "með því at þú hefir oss áðr heitit sögu þinni." Gestr svarar: "Ef ek segi yðr, hversu farit er um gullit, þá get ek, at þér vilið heyra aðra sögu hér með." "Vera má þat," segir konungr, "at rétt getir þú þessa."	III. In the morning the King rose early and heard Mass; and after that he went to breakfast with his retinue. And when he had taken his place in the high seat, the guests came up to him, and Guest with them; and they told him all about their agreement and the wager which they had made. "I am not much taken with your wager," replied the King, "although it is your own money that you are staking. I suspect that the drink must have gone to your heads; and I think you would do well to give it up, especially if Guest agrees.""My wish is," replied Guest, "that the whole agreement should stand.""It looks to me, Guest," said the King, "as if it was my men rather than you whose tongues have got them into trouble; but we will soon put it to the test."After that they left him and went to drink; and when the drinking tables were removed, the King summoned Guest and spoke to him as follows: "Now is the time for you to produce the gold if you have any, so that I can decide your wager." "As you will, Sire!" replied Guest. Then he felt in a pouch which he had with him, and took out of it a fob which he untied, and then handed something to the King. The King saw that it was a piece of a saddle-buckle and that it was of exceedingly fine gold. Then he bade them bring the ring Hnituth; and when they did so, the King compared the ring and the piece of gold and said: "I have no doubt whatever that the gold which Guest has shown us is the finer, and anyone who looks at it must think so too." Everybody agreed with the King. Then he decided the wager in Guest's favour, and the other guests came to the conclusion that they had made fools of themselves over the business. Then Guest said: "Take your money and keep it yourselves, for I don't need it; but don't make any more wagers with strangers, for you never know when you may hit upon someone who has both seen and heard more than you have.—I thank you, Sire, for your decision!" Then the King said: "Now I want you to tell me where you got that gold from, which you carry about with you." Guest replied: "I am loth to tell you, because no-one will believe what I have to say about it." "Let us hear it all the same," said the King, "for you promised before that you would tell us your story." "If I tell you the history of this piece of gold," replied Guest, "I expect you will want to hear the rest of my story along with it." "I expect that that is just what will happen," said the King.
	4. Gestr segir frá Völsungum	Chapter 4.
	"Þá mun ek segja frá því, er ek fór suðr í Frakkland. Vilda ek forvitnast um konungs siðu ok mikit ágæti, er fór frá Sigurði Sigmundarsyni um vænleik hans ok þroska. Varð þá ekki til tíðenda, fyrr en ek kom til Frakklands ok til móts við Hjálprek konung. Hann hafði mikla hirð um sik. Þar var þá Sigurðr Sigmundarson, Völsungssonar, ok Hjördísar Eylimadóttur. Sigmundr fell í orrustu fyrir Hundings sonum, en Hjördís giftist Hálfi, syni Hjálpreks konunngs. Vex Sigurðr þar upp í barnæsku ok allir synir Sigmundar konungs. Váru þeir um fram alla menn um afl ok vöxt, Sinfjötli ok Helgi, er drap Hunding konung, ok því var hann Hundingsbani kallaðr. Þriði hét Hámundr. Sigurðr var þó allra þeira bræðra framast. Er mönnum þat ok kunnigt, at Sigurðr hefir verit göfgastr allra herkonunga ok bezt at sér í fornum sið. Þá var ok kominn til Hjálpreks konungs Reginn, sonr Hreiðmars. Hann var hverjum manni hagari ok dvergr á vöxt, vitr maðr, grimmr ok fjölkunnigr. Reginn kenndi Sigurði marga hluti ok elskaði hann mjök. Hann sagði þá frá foreldrum sínum ok svá atburðum undarligum, er þar höfðu gerzt. Ok er ek hafða skamma stund þar verit, gerðumst ek þjónustumaðr Sigurðar sem margir aðrir. Allir elskuðu hann mjök, því at hann var bæði blíðr ok lítillátr ok mildr af fé við oss.	IV. "Then I will tell you how once I went south into the land of the Franks. I wanted to see for myself what sort of a prince Sigurth the son of Sigmund was, and to discover if the reports which had reached me of his great beauty and courage were true. Nothing happened worth mentioning until I came to the land of the Franks and met King Hjalprek. He had a great court around him. Sigurth, the son of Sigmund, the son of Völsung, and of Hjördis, the daughter of Eylimi, was there at that time. Sigmund had fallen in battle against the sons of Hunding, and Hjördis had married Alf the son of King Hjalprek. There Sigurth grew up together with all the other sons of King Sigmund. Among these were Sinfjötli and Helgi, who surpassed all men in strength and stature. Helgi slew King Hunding, thereby earning the name Hundingsbani. The third son was called Hamund. Sigurth, however, outstripped all his brothers, and it is a well-known fact that he was the noblest of all warrior princes, and the very model of a king in heathen times. At that time, Regin, the son of Hreithmar, had also come to King Hjalprek. He was a dwarf in stature, but there was no-one more cunning than he. He was a wise man, but malign and skilled in magic. Regin taught Sigurth many things and was devoted to him. He told him about his birth and his wondrous adventures. And when I had been there a little while, I entered Sigurth's service like many others. He was very popular with everybody, because he was friendly and unassuming, and generous to all.
	5. Frá Hundingssonum	Chapter 5.
	Þat var einn dag, at vér kómum til húsa Regins, ok var Sigurði þá vel fagnat. Þá kvað Reginn vísu þessa: "Kominn er hingat konr Sigmundar, seggr inn snarraði, til sala várra, megn hefir mikit, en ek maðr gamall, er mér fangs ván af frekum úlfi." Ok enn kvað hann: "Ek mun fræða fólkdjarfan gram. Nú er Yngva konr með oss kominn. Sjá mun ræsir ríkstr und sólu, frægr um lönd öll með lofi sínu." Sigurðr var þá jafnan með Regin, ok hann sagði honum margt af Fáfni, er hann lá á Gnitaheiði í orms líki ok at hann var undarliga mikill vexti. Reginn gerði Sigurði sverð, er Gramr hét. Þat var svá snarpeggjat, at hann brá því í ána Rín ok lét reka ofan at ullarlagð fyrir strauminum, ok tók í sundr lagðinn. Síðan klauf Sigurðr steðja Regins með sverðinu. Eptir þat eggjaði Reginn Sigurð at drepa Fáfni, bróður sinn, ok kvað vísu þessa: "Hátt munu hlæja Hundings synir, þeir er Eylima aldrs vörnuðu, ef mik tegar meir at sækja hringa rauða en hefna föður." Eptir þetta býr Sigurðr ferð sína ok ætlar at herja á Hundings sonu, ok fær Hjálprekr konungr honum margt lið ok nokkur herskip. Í þeiri ferð var með Sigurði Hámundr, bróðir hans, ok Reginn dvergr. Ek var ok þar, ok kölluðu þeir mik þá Norna-Gest. Var Hjálpreki konungi kunnleiki á mér, þá er hann var í Danmörk með Sigmundi Völsungssyni. Þá átti Sigmundr Borghildi, ok skildu þau svá, at Borghildr drap Sinfjötla, son Sigmundar, með eitri. Síðan fekk Sigmundr suðr í Frakklandi Hjördísar Eylima dóttur, er Hundings synir drápu, ok átti Sigurðr bæði at hefna föður síns ok móðurföður. Helgi Sigmundarson, er Hundingsbani var kallaðr, var bróðir Sigurðar, er síðan var kallaðr Fáfnisbani. Helgi, bróðir Sigurðar, hafði drepit Hunding konung ok sonu hans þrjá, Eyjólf, Herröð, Hjörvarð. Lyngvi komst undan ok tveir bræðr hans, Álfr ok Hemingr. Váru þeir inir frægstu menn um alla atgervi, ok var Lyngvi fyrir þeim bræðrum. Þeir váru mjök fjölkunnigir. Þeir höfðu kúgat marga smákonunga ok marga kappa drepit ok margar borgir brennt ok gerðu it mesta hervirki í Spáníalandi ok Frakklandi. En þá var eigi keisararíki komit norðr hingað yfir fjallit. Hundings synir höfðu tekit undir sik þat ríki, er Sigurðr átti í Frakklandi, ok váru þeir þar mjök fjölmennir.	V. It chanced one day that we came to Regin's house and Sigurth was made welcome there. Then Regin spoke these verses: The son of Sigmund cometh to our hall, A valiant warrior. It must needs befall That I, less doughty and oppressed with age, Shall fall a victim to his wolfish rage. But I will cherish Yngvi's valorous heir, Since Fate hath sent him hither to our care, Train him to be, in valour and in worth, The mightiest and most famous prince on earth. At this time, Sigurth was constantly in Regin's company. Regin told him much about Fafnir—how he dwelt upon Gnitaheith in the form of a serpent, and also of his wondrous size. Regin made for Sigurth a sword called Gram. It was so sharp that when he thrust it into the River Rhine it cut in two a flock of wool which he had dropped into the river and which was drifting down stream, cutting it just as clean as it did the water itself. Later on, Sigurth clove Regin's stithy with the sword. After that Regin urged Sigurth to slay his brother Fafnir and Sigurth recited this verse: The sons of Hunding would laugh loud and high, Who shed the life-blood of King Eylimi, If that his grandson bold should more desire Rings of red gold than vengeance for his sire. [pg 23] After that Sigurth made ready an expedition to attack the sons of Hunding; and King Hjalprek gave him many men and some warships. Hamund, Sisurth's brother, was with him on this venture, and so was Regin the dwarf. I was present too, and they called me Nornagest. King Hjalprek had got to know me when he was in Denmark with Sigmund the son of Völsung. At that time, Sigmund was married to Borghild, but they parted because Borghild killed Sinfjötli the son of Sigmund by poison. Then Sigmund went south to the land of the Franks and married Hjördis, the daughter of King Eylimi. The sons of Hunding slew him, so Sigurth had both his father and grandfather to avenge. Helgi, the son of Sigmund, who was called Hundingsbani, was the brother of Sigurth who was afterwards called Fafnisbani. Helgi, Sigurth's brother, had slain King Hunding and three of his sons, Eyjulf, Hervarth, and Hjörvarth, but Lyngvi and his two remaining brothers, Alf and Heming, escaped. They were exceedingly famous for exploits and accomplishments of every kind; but Lyngvi surpassed all his brothers. They were very skilled in magic. They had reduced many petty kings to subjection, and slain many champions, and burnt many cities. They had worked the greatest havoc with their raids in Spain and in the land of the Franks. But at that time the Imperial Power had not yet been transferred to the regions north of the Alps. The sons of Hunding had seized the realm which had belonged to Sigurth in the land of the Franks, and they had very large forces there.
	6. Sigurðr felldi Hundingssonu	Chapter 6.
	Nú er at segja frá því, er Sigurðr bjóst til bardaga í mót Hundings sonum. Hann hafði mikit lið ok vel vápnat. Reginn hafði mjök ráðagerð fyrir liðinu. Hann hafði sverð þat, er Riðill hét, er hann hafði smíðat. Sigurðr bað Regin ljá sér sverðit. Hann gerði svá ok bað hann drepa Fáfni, þá er hann kæmi aptr ór þessi ferð. Sigurðr hét honum því. Síðan sigldum vér suðr með landi. Þá fengum vér gerningaveðr stór, ok kenndu þat margir Hundings sonum. Síðan sigldum vér nokkuru landhallara. Þá sám vér mann einn á bjargsnös nokkurri, er gekk fram af sjóvarhömrum. Hann var í heklu grænni ok blám brókum ok kneppta skó á fótum uppháva ok spjót í hendi. Þessi maðr ljóðr á oss ok kvað: "Hverir ríða hér Rævils hestum hávar unnir, haf glymjanda? Eru segl yður sjóvi stokkin. Mun-at vágmarar vind of standask." Reginn kvað í móti: "Hér erum vér Sigurðr á sjá komnir. Er oss byrr gefinn við bana sjálfan. Fellr brattr breki bröndum hæra. Hlunnvigg hrapa. Hverr spyrr at því?" Heklumaðrinn kvað.: "Hnikar hétu mik, þá er hugin gladdi Völsungr víða ok vegit hafði. Nú máttu kalla karl á bjargi Feng eða Fjölni. Far vil ek þiggja." Þá vikum vér at landi, ok lægði skjótt veðrit, ok bað Sigurðr karl ganga út á skipit. Hann gerði svá. Þá fell þegar veðrit, ok gerði inn bezta byr. Karl settist niðr fyrir kné Sigurði ok var mjök makráðr. Hann spurði, ef Sigurðr vildi nokkut ráð af honum þiggja. Sigurðr kveðst vilja, sagðist þat ætla, at hann mundi verða ráðdrjúgr, ef hann vildi mönnum gagn gera. Sigurðr kvað til heklumanns: "Segðu mér þat, Hnikarr, alls þú hvárttveggja veizt, goða heill ok guma: Hverjar eru beztar, ef berjast skal, heillir at sverða svipan?" Hnikarr kvað: "Mörg eru góð ef gumnar vitu heill at sverða svipan. Dyggva fylgju hygg ek ins dökkva vera af hrottameiði hrafns. Þat er annat, ef þú ert út of kominn ok til brottferðar búinn: Tvá þú lítr á tái standa hróðrfulla hali. Þat er it þriðja, ef þú þjóta heyrir úlf und asklimum. Heilla auðit verðr þér af hjálmstöfum, ef þú lítr þá fyrr fara. Engi skal gumna í gegn vega síð skínandi systur Mána. Þeir sigr hafa, er sjá kunnu, hjörleiks hvatir, eða hamalt fylkja. Þat er fár mikit, ef þú fæti drepr, þá er at vígi vegr: Tálar dísir standa þér á tvær hliðar Ok vilja þik sáran sjá. Kembdr ok þveginn skal kennast hverr ok at morgni mettr, því at óvíst er, hvat at aptni kemr. Illt er fyr heill at hrapa." Ok eptir þat sigldum vér suðr fyrir Holsetuland ok fyrir austan Frísland ok þar at landi. Þegar fregna Hundings synir um ferð vára ok safna liði ok verða brátt fjölmennir. Ok er vér finnumst, tekst harðr bardagi. Var Lyngvi þeira bræðra fremstr í allri framgöngu. Sóttu þó allir fast fram. Sigurðr sækir i móti svá hart, allt hrökk fyrir honum, því at Sverðit Gramr verðr þeim skeinuhætt, en Sigurði þarf eigi hugar at frýja. Ok er þeir Lyngvi finnast, skiptust þeir mörgum höggum við ok berjast alldjarfliga. Verðr þá hvíld á bardaganum, því at menn horfa á þetta einvígi. Þat var langa hríð, at hvárrgi þeira kom sári á annan, svá váru þeir vígfimir. Síðan sækja bræðr Lyngva fast fram ok drepa margan mann, en sumir flýjsta. Þá snýr Hámundr, bróðir Sigurðar, í móti þeim ok ek með honum. Verðr þá nokkur móttaka. En svá lýkr með þeim Sigurði ok Lyngva, at Sigurðr gerir hann handtekinn, ok var hann settr í járn. En er Sigurðr kom til vár, þá verða skjót umskipti. Falla þá Hundings synir ok allt lið þeira, enda myrkvir þá af nótt. Ok þá er lýsti um morgininn, var Hnikarr horfinn ok sást eigi síðan. Hyggja menn, at þat hafi Óðinn verit. Var þá um þat talat, hvern dauða Lyngvi skyldi hafa. Reginn lagði þat til ráðs, at rísta skyldi blóðörn á baki honum. Tók Reginn þá við sverði sínu af mér ok reist með því bak Lyngva, svá at hann skar rifin frá hryggnum ok dró þar út lungun. Svá dó Lyngvi með mikilli hreysti. Þá kvað Reginn: "Nú er blóðugr örn breiðum hjörvi bana Sigmundar á baki ristinn. Fár var fremri, sá er fold rýðr, hilmis nefi, ok hugin gladdi." Þar var allmikit herfang. Tóku liðsmenn Sigurðar þat allt, því at hann vildi ekki af hafa. Var þar mikit fé í klæðum ok vápnum. Síðan drap Sigurðr þá Fáfni ok Regin, því at hann vildi svíkja hann. Tók Sigurðr þá gull Fáfnis ok reið á burt með. Var hann síðan kallaðr Fáfnisbani. Eptir þat reið hann upp á Hindarheiði ok fann þar Brynhildi, ok fóru svá þeira skipti sem segir í sögu Sigurðar Fáfnisbana.	VI. Now I must tell you how Sigurth prepared for battle against the sons of Hunding. He had got together a large and well-armed host, and Regin was a mighty man in the councils of the force. He had a sword which was called Rithil and which he had forged himself. Sigurth asked Regin to lend him the sword. He did so, begging him to slay Fafnir when he should return from this adventure, and this Sigurth promised to do. After that we sailed away south along the coast, and then we met with a great storm raised by witchcraft, and many believed that it had been stirred up by the sons of Hunding. After this we hugged the shore somewhat more closely, and then we saw a man on a rocky promontory which jutted out from the cliffs. He wore a green cloak and dark breeches, and had high laced boots on his feet, and carried a spear in his hand. This man addressed us in the following stanza: What folk are ye who ride the sea-king's steed, Mounting the lofty billows, and proceed Athwart the tossing main? Drenched is your sail, Nor can your ships against the wind prevail. Regin replied: Hither come we with Sigurth o'er the foam, Whom ocean breezes blow to our last home.— Full soon the breakers, higher than the prow Will sink our 'ocean-steeds'; but who art thou? The man in the cloak replied: Hnikar the name men did for me employ, Young Völsung, when I gave the raven joy Of carnage. Call me either of the two— Fjölnir or Feng, but let me fare with you. Then we steered towards the land and the wind fell immediately; and Sigurth bade the man come on board. He did so, and a fair breeze sprang up. The man sat down at Sigurth's feet and was very friendly, asking if Sigurth would like to hear some advice from him. Sigurth said that he would, and added that he had an idea that Hnikar could give people very helpful advice if he were willing to turn it to their advantage. Then Sigurth said to the man in the cloak: O Hnikar, since you know the destiny Of gods and men, declare this unto me.— Which are the omens that should most delight When swords are swinging and a man must fight? Hnikar replied: Many propitious signs, if men could know, Appear when swords are swinging to and fro. I hold a warrior has a trusty guide When a dark raven hovers at his side. I hold it too for a propitious sign If men to make a journey should design, And, coming out of doors, see close at hand Two gallant warriors in the pathway stand. And if you hear beneath the rowan tree A howling wolf, the sound spells luck to thee, And luck shall helmed warriors bring to thee, If thou such warriors art the first to see. Facing the sinking and late shining light Of the Moon's sister, warriors should not fight. Victory is theirs who, eager for the fray, Can clearly see to order their array. I hold it no occasion for delight When a man stumbles as he goes to fight; For guileful spirits dog him on his way With mischief-bearing looks throughout the fray A man of wisdom, as each day goes past, Washes, and combs his hair, and breaks his fast. He knows not where by evening he may be.— Stumbling is bad luck, boding ill to thee. And after that we sailed southwards along the coast of Holstein and to the east of Friesland, and there we landed. The sons of Hunding heard at once of our expedition and gathered an army; and they soon had a larger force than we had, and when we encountered them there was a great battle. Lyngvi was the most valiant of the brothers in every onset, though they all fought bravely. Sigurth's attack was so fierce that everyone shrank before him, when they saw that they were threatened by the sword Gram. There was no need to reproach Sigurth with lack of courage. And when he and Lyngvi met, they exchanged many blows and fought with the greatest valour. Then there was a lull in the battle, for people turned to watch the single combat. For a long time neither of them was able to inflict a wound on the other, so skilled in arms were they. Then Lyngvi's brothers made a fierce attack and slew many of our men, while others took to flight. Then Hamund, Sigurth's brother, rushed to meet them, and I joined him, and then there was another encounter. The end of the affair between Sigurth and Lyngvi was that Sigurth made him prisoner and had him fettered. And when Sigurth joined us, matters very soon changed. Then the sons of Hunding fell and all their host; but then night was coming on. And when day dawned, Hnikar had vanished, and he was never seen again. We came to the conclusion that it must in reality have been Othin. A discussion then took place as to what death Lyngvi should suffer; Regin counselled that the 'blood eagle' should be carved on his back. Then I handed to Regin his sword and with it he carved Lyngvi's back till he had severed the ribs from the spine; and then he drew out the lungs. Thus died Lyngvi with great courage. Then Regin said: Full seldom has a bolder warrior Reddened the earth than Sigmund's murderer. Hugin he feasted. Now with biting sword The 'bloody eagle' on his back is scored. Great spoil was taken there. Sigurth's sailors got the whole of it because he would not take any himself. The clothes and weapons taken were worth much gold. Afterwards Sigurth slew Fafnir, and Regin also, because Regin had intended to deal treacherously with him. Sigurth took Fafnir's gold and rode away with it, and from that time on he was called Fafnisbani. After that he rode up to Hindarheith where he found Brynhild. What passed between them is told in the story of Sigurth Fafnisbani.
	7. Frá Sigurði ok Starkaði Stórverkssyni	Chapter 7.
	Síðan fær Sigurðr Guðrúnar Gjúkadóttur. Var hann þá um hríð með Gjúkungum, mágum sínum. Ek var með Sigurði norðr í Danmörk. Ek var ok með Sigurði, þá er Sigurðr konungr hringr sendi Gandálfs sonu, mága sína, til móts við Gjúkunga, Gunnar ok Högna, ok beiddi, at þeir mundi lúka honum skatt eða þola her ella, en þeir vildu verja land sitt. Þá hasla Gandálfs synir Gjúkungum völl við landamæri ok fara aptr síðan. En Gjúkungar biðja Sigurð Fáfnisbana fara til bardaga með sér. Hann sagði svá vera skyldu. Ek var þá enn með Sigurði. Sigldum vér þá enn norðr til Holtsetulands ok lendum þar, sem Járnamóðir heitir. En skammt frá höfninni váru settar upp heslistengr, þar sem orrostan skyldi vera. Sjám vér þá mörg skip sigla norðan. Váru Gandálfs synir fyrir þeim. Sækja þá hvárirtveggja. Sigurðr hringr var eigi þar, því at hann varð at verja land sitt, Svíþjóð, því at Kúrir ok Kvænir herjuðu þangat. Sigurðr var þá gamall mjök. Síðan lýstr saman liðinu, ok verðr þar mikil orrosta ok mannskæð. Gandálfs synir gengu fast fram, því at þeir váru bæði meiri ok sterkari en aðrir menn. Í þeira liði sást einn maðr, mikill ok sterkr. Drap þessi maðr menn ok hesta, svá at ekki stóð við, því at hann var líkari jötnum en mönnum. Gunnarr bað Sigurð sækja í móti mannskelmi þessum, því at hann kvað eigi svá mundu duga. Sigurðr réðst nú í móti þeim mikla manni ok nokkurir menn með honum, ok váru þá flestir þess ófúsir. "Finnum vér þá skjótt inn mikla mann," segir Gestr, "ok frétti Sigurðr hann at nafni ok hvaðan hann væri. Hann kveðst Starkaðr heita Stórverksson norðan af Fenhring ór Noregi. Sigurðr kveðst hans heyrt hafa getit ok optast at illu. "Eru slíkir menn eigi sparandi til ófagnaðar." Starkaðr mælti: "Hverr er þessi maðr, er mik lýtir svá mjök í orðum?" Sigurðr sagði til sín. Starkaðr mælti: "Ertu kallaðr Fáfnisbani?" "Svá er," segir Sigurðr. Starkaðr vill þá undan leita, en Sigurðr snýr eptir ok færir á lopt sverðit Gram ok lamdi hann með hjöltunum jaxlgarðinn, svá at hrutu ór honum tveir jaxlar. Var þat meiðsla högg. Sigurðr bað þá mannhundinn brott dragast þaðan. Starkaðr snarast þá í brott þaðan. En ek tók annan jaxlinn ok hefi ek með mér. Er sá nú hafðr í klukkustreng í Danmörk ok vegr sjau aura. Þykkir mönnum forvitni at sjá hann þar. Eptir flótta Starkaðar flýja Gandálfs synir. Tókum vér þá mikit herfang, ok fóru síðan konungar heim í ríki sitt ok setjast þar um hríð.	VII. Later on Sigurth married Guthrun the daughter of King Gjuki and then stayed for a while with his brothers-in-law, the sons of Gjuki. I returned to the North with Sigurth and was with him in Denmark, and I was also with him when Sigurth Hring sent his brothers-in-law, the sons of Gandalf, to Gunnar and Högni, the sons of Gjuki, and demanded that they should pay him tribute, threatening them with invasion in case they refused. But they[pg 28]decided to defend their country. Thereupon Gandalf's sons challenged the sons of Gjuki to a pitched battle on the frontier, and then returned home; but the sons of Gjuki asked Sigurth Fafnisbani to go to battle with them, and he agreed to do so. I was still with Sigurth at that time. Then we sailed again northwards along the coast of Holstein and landed at a place called Jarnamotha. Not far from the landing place hazel-wood poles had been set up to mark where the fight was to take place. Then we saw many ships sailing from the north under the command of the sons of Gandalf. Then the two hosts charged one another fiercely. Sigurth Hring was not there, because he had to defend his own land, Sweden, against the inroads of the Kurir and Kvænir. Sigurth was a very old man at that time. Then the forces came into collision, and there was a great battle and much slaughter. The sons of Gandalf fought bravely, for they were exceptionally big and strong. In that host there appeared a big strong man who made such slaughter of men and horses that no-one could withstand him, for he was more like a giant than a man. Gunnar bade Sigurth go and attack the scoundrel, adding that as things were, there would be no success. So Sigurth made ready to encounter the mighty man, and some others went with him, but most of them were far from eager. We quickly came upon the mighty man, and Sigurth asked him his name and whence he came. He said that he was Starkath, the son of Storverk, and that he came from the North, from Fenhring in Norway. Sigurth said that he had heard reports[pg 29]of him and generally little to his credit, adding that no mercy ought to be shown towards such people. Starkath said: "Who is this man who casts insults in my teeth?" Sigurth told him who he was. Starkath said: "Are you called Fafnisbani?" Sigurth said he was. Then Starkath sought to escape, but Sigurth pursued him and swung aloft the sword Gram and struck him on the jaw with the hilt so hard that two molars fell out of his mouth; it was a stunning blow. Then Sigurth bade the cur take himself off, and Starkath went away, and I picked up one of the teeth and carried it off with me. It is now used on a bell-rope at Lund in Denmark and weighs seven ounces; and people go and look at it there as a curiosity. As soon as Starkath had run away, the sons of Gandalf took to flight, and we captured great booty; and after that Sigurth went home to his realm and remained there for a while.
	8. Hversu Gestr eignaðist gullit	Chapter 8.
	Litlu síðar heyrðum vér getit níðingsvígs Starkaðar, er hann hafði drepit Ála konung í laugu. Var þat einn dag, at Sigurðr Fáfnisbani reið til einhverrar stefnu, þá reið hann í einhverja veisu, en hestrinn Grani hljóp upp svá hart, at í sundr stökk brjóstgjörðin ok fell niðr hringjan. En er ek sá, hvar at hún glóaði í leirinum, tók ek upp ok færða ek Sigurði, en hann gaf mér. Hafi þér nú fyrir litlu sét þetta sama gull. Þá stökk Sigurðr af baki, en ek strauk hest hans, ok þó ek leir af honum, ok tók ek einn lepp ór tagli hans til sýnis vaxtar hans." Sýndi Gestr þá leppinn, ok var hann sjau álna hár. Óláfr konungr mælti: "Gaman mikit þykki mér at sögum þínum." Lofuðu nú allir frásagnir hans ok frækleik. Vildi konungr, at hann segði miklu fleira um atburði frænda sinna. Segir Gestr þeim marga gamansamliga hluti allt til aptans. Fóru menn þá at sofa. En um morgininn eptir lét konungr kalla Gest ok vill enn fleira tala við Gest. Konungr mælti: "Eigi fæ ek skilit til fulls um aldr þinn, hver líkendi þat má vera, at þú sér maðr svá gamall, at værir við staddr þessi tíðendi. Verðr þú at segja sögu aðra, svá at vér verðim sannfróðari um slíka atburði." Gestr svarar: "Vita þóttumst ek þat fyrir, at þér mundið heyra vilja aðra sögu mína, ef ek segða um gullit, hversu farit væri." Konungr mælti: "Segja skaltu víst."	A short time after, we heard that Starkath had committed a foul murder, slaying King Ali in his bath. It chanced one day that as Sigurth Fafnisbani was riding to some gathering or other, he rode into a muddy pool, and his horse Grani leapt up so wildly that his saddle-girth burst asunder and the buckle fell to the ground. And when I saw where it lay shining in the mud, I picked it up and handed it to Sigurth; but he said that I might keep it. It was that very piece of gold that you were looking at a short time ago. Then Sigurth got down from his horse, and I rubbed it down and washed the mud off it; and I[pg 30]pulled a lock of hair out of its tail as a proof of its great size." Then Guest showed the lock and it was seven ells long. King Olaf said: "I think your stories are very entertaining." Everybody praised his stories and his talent. Then the King wanted him to tell them much more about the adventures he had met with on his travels. So Guest told them many amusing stories till late in the evening. It was then time to go to bed; but next morning the King sent for Guest, and wanted to talk to him still further. The King said: "I can't quite make out your age and how you can be old enough to have been present when these events took place. You will have to tell another story so as to make us better acquainted with things of this kind." Guest replied: "I suspected before that you would want to hear another of my stories, if I told you what had happened about the gold." "You must certainly tell me some more," replied the King.
	9. Frá Brynhildi ok Loðbrókarsonum	Chapter 9
	"Þá er nú enn at segja," segir Gestr, "at ek fór norðr til Danmerkr, ok settumst ek þar at föðurleifð minni, því at hann andaðist skjótt. Ok litlu síðar frétta ek dauða Sigurðar ok svá Gjúkunga, ok þótti mér þat mikil tíðendi." Konungr mælti: "Hvat varð Sigurði at bana?" Gestr svarar: "Sú er flestra manna sögn, at Guttormr Gjúkason legði hann sverði í gegnum sofanda í sæng Guðrúnar. En þýðverskir menn segja Sigurð drepinn hafa verit úti á skógi. En igðurnar sögðu svá, at Sigurðr ok Gjúka synir hefði riðit til þings nokkurs ok þá dræpi þeir hann. En þat er alsagt, at þeir vágu at honum liggjanda ok óvörum ok sviku hann í tryggð." En hirðmaðr einn spyrr: "Hversu fór Brynhildr þá með?" Gestr svarar: "Þá drap Brynhildr sjau þræla sína ok fimm ambáttir, en lagði sik sverði í gegnum ok bað sik aka með þessa menn til báls ok brenna sik dauða. Ok svá var gert, at henni var gert annat bál, en Sigurði annat, ok var hann fyrri brenndr en Brynhildr. Henni var ekit í reið einni, ok var tjaldat um guðvef ok purpura, ok glóaði allt við gull, ok svá var hún brennd." Þá spurðu menn Gest, hvárt Brynhildr hefði nokkut kveðit dauð. Hann kvað þat satt vera. Þeir báðu hann kveða, ef hann kynni. Þá mælti Gestr: "Þá er Brynhildi var ekit til brennunnar á helveg, ok var farit með hana nær hömrum nokkurum. Þar bjó ein gýgr. Hún var úti fyrir hellis dyrum ok var í skinnkyrtli ok svört yfirlits. Hún hefir í hendi sér skógarvönd langan ok mælti: "Þessu vil ek beina til brennu þinnar, Brynhildr, ok væri betr, at þú værir lifandi brennd fyrir ódáðir þínar þær, at þú lézt drepa Sigurð Fáfnisbana, svá ágætan mann, ok opt var ek honum sinnuð, ok fyrir þat skal ek ljóða á þik með hefndarorðum þeim, at öllum sér þú at leiðari, er slíkt heyra frá þér sagt." Eptir þetta ljóðast þær á, Brynhildr ok gýgr. Gýgr kvað: "Skaltu í gegnum ganga eigi grjóti studda garða mína. Betr sæmdi þér borða at rekja heldr en at vitja várra ranna. Hvat skaltu vitja af Vallandi, hverflynt höfuð, húsa minna? Þú hefir vörgum, ef þín vitja, mörgum til matar manns blóð gefit." Þá kvað Brynhildr: "Bregðu mér eigi, brúðr ór steini, þótt væra ek fyrr í víkingu. Ek mun okkar æðri þykkja, hvars eðli menn okkart kunnu." Gýgr kvað: Þú ert, Brynhildr Buðladóttir, heilli verstu í heim borin. Þú hefir Gjúka of glatat börnum ok búi þeira brugðit góðu." Brynhildr kvað: "Ek mun segja þér sanna ræðu, vélgjarnt höfuð, ef þik vita lystir, hvé gerðu mik Gjúka arfar ástalausa ok eiðrofa. Lét mik af harmi hugfullr konungr, átta systur undir eik búa. Var ek vetra tólf, ef þik vita lystir, þá er ek ungum gram eiða svarðak. Ek lét gamlan gýgjar bróður, Hjálmgunnar, næst heljar ganga. Gaf ek ungum sigr Auða bróður. Þar var mér Óðinn ofgreypr fyrir. Lauk hann mik skjöldum í Skatalundi rauðum ok hvítum. Randir snurtust. Þann bað hann slíta svefni mínum, er hvergi lands hræðask kynni. Lét hann um sal minn sunnanverðan hávan brenna hrotgarm viðar. Þar bað hann þegar einn yfir um ríða, þann er færði mér Fáfnis dýnu. Reið góðr Grana gullmiðlandi, þar er fóstri minn fletjum stýrði. Einn þótti hann þar öllum betri víkingr Dana í verðungu. Sváfum vit ok undum í sæng einni, sem hann bróðir minn of borinn væri. Hvárki mátti hönd yfir annat átta nóttum okkart leggja. Því brá mér Guðrún Gjúkadóttir, at ek Sigurði svæfi í armi. Þá varð ek þess vís, at ek vilda eigi, at þau véltu mik í verfangi. Munu við ofstríð alls til lengi konur ok karlar kvikvir fæðask. Vit skulum okkrum aldri slíta, Sigurðr, saman. Sökkstu nú, gýgr." Þá æpti gýgr ógurligri röddu ok hljóp inn í bjargit. Þá sögðu hirðmenn konungs: "Gaman er þetta, ok segðu enn fleira." Konungr mælti: "Eigi er nauðsyn at segja fleira frá þvílíkum hlutum." Konungr mælti: "Vartu nokkut með Loðbrókar sonum?" Gestr svarar: "Skamma stund var ek með þeim. Ek kom til þeira, þá er þeir herjuðu suðr at Mundíafjalli ok brutu Vífilsborg. Þá var allt við þá hrætt, því at þeir höfðu sigr, hvar sem þeir kómu, ok þá ætluðu þeir at fara til Rómaborgar. Þat var einn dag, at maðr nokkurr kom fyrir Björn konung járnsíðu ok heilsar honum. Konungr tekr honum vel ok spurði, hvaðan hann væri at kominn. Hann sagðist kominn sunnan frá Rómaborg. Konungr spurði: "Hvé langt er þangat?" Hann svaraði: "Hér máttu sjá, konungr, skó, er ek hefi á fótum." Tekr hann þá járnskó af fótum sér, ok váru allþykkir ofan, en mjök slitnir neðan. "Svá er löng leið heðan til Rómaborgar sem þér meguð nú sjá á skóm mínum, hversu hart at þeir hafa þolat." Konungr mælti: "Furðu löng leið er þetta at fara, ok munum vér aptr snúa ok herja eigi á Rómaríki." Ok svá gera þeir, at þeir fara eigi lengra, ok þótti hernum þetta undarligt, at snúa svá skjótt sínu skapi við eins manns orð, er þeir höfðu áðr allt ráðs fyrir gert. Fóru Loðbrókar synir við þetta aptr ok heim norðr ok herjuðu eigi lengra suðr." Konungr sagði: "Auðsýnt var þat, at helgir menn í Róma vildu eigi yfirgang þeira þangat, ok mun sá andi af guði sendr verit hafa, at svá skiptist skjótt þeira fyrirætlan at gera ekki spellvirki inum helgasta stað Jesú Kristí í Rómaborg."	IX. "I must tell you then," Guest began, "that I went north to Denmark and there settled down on my estate, for my father had died a short time before; and a little later I heard of the death of Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki, and I felt that that was news indeed." "What was the cause of Sigurth's death?" asked the King. Guest replied: "It is generally believed that Guthorm the son of Gjuki ran a sword through him[pg 31]while he was asleep in bed with Guthrun. On the other hand, Germans say that Sigurth was slain out in the forest. In the Guthrúnar-rætha again it is stated that Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki had ridden to a gathering and that they slew him then. But one thing is agreed by all—that they set on him when he was down and off his guard, and that they were guilty of gross treachery towards him." Then one of the retinue asked: "How did Brynhild behave then?" Guest answered: "Brynhild then slew seven of her slaves and five handmaidens, and ran herself through with a sword, commanding that she should be taken to the pyre along with these people and burned beside Sigurth. This was done, one pile being made for Sigurth and another for Brynhild, and he was burned first, and then Brynhild. She was taken in a chariot with a canopy of velvet and silk which was all ablaze with gold, and thus was she burnt." Then Guest was asked if Brynhild had chanted a lay after she was dead. He replied that she had, and they asked him to recite it if he could. Then Guest said: "As Brynhild was being driven to the pyre on the way to Hell, she was brought near some cliffs where an ogress dwelt. The ogress was standing outside the doors of her cave and wore a skin kirtle and was of a blackish hue. She carried a long faggot in her hand and cried: 'This will I contribute to your burning, Brynhild. It would have been better if you had been burned while you were still alive, before you were guilty of getting such a splendid man as Sigurth Fafnisbani slain. I was always friendly to him and therefore I shall attack[pg 32]you in a reproachful song which will make you hated by everybody who hears what you have done.' After that Brynhild and the ogress chanted to one another. The ogress sang as follows: Thou shalt not be suffered to pass through my courts With their pillars of stone in my mansion drear,— Better far wert thou busied at home with thy needle! Not thine is the husband thou followest here. Inconstant soul, why comest thou hither? From the land of the Romans why visit'st thou me? Full many a wolf hast thou made be partaker Of the life-blood of men who were butchered by thee! Then cried Brynhild: Upbraid me no more from thy rock bound dwelling For battles I fought in the days of old.— Thou wilt not be deemed to be nobler of nature Than I, wheresoever our story is told! The Ogress: In an evil hour, O Buthli's daughter,In an evil hour wert thou brought to birth.— The Sons of Gjuki thou gavest to slaughter, Their noble dwellings thou rased'st to earth. Brynhild: A true account, if thou carest to hearken, O thou lying soul, will I tell to thee;— How empty of love and o'ershadowed by falsehood The life that the Gjukings had destined for me! Atli's daughter was I, yet the monarch bold-hearted Assigned me a home neath the shade of the oak. But twelve summers old, if thou carest to hearken, Was this maid when her vows to the hero she spoke. Hjalmgunnar the Old, of the Gothic nation, Great chief, on the pathway to Hell did I speed; And victory granted to Auth's young brother; Then Othin's dread fury was roused at my deed. Then a phalanx of bucklers did Othin set round me On Skatalund's heights, shields crimson and white,— Bade only that prince break the slumber that bound me Who knew naught of terror, nor shrank from the fight. And flames high towering and fiercely raging Round my Southern hall did he set in a ring: None other was destined to pass through in safety Save the hero who treasure of Fafnir should bring. The generous hero with treasure a-gleaming, The Danish viking on Grani rode,— Foremost champion in deeds of valour— Where my foster-father had his abode. As brother with sister we slept together; Eight nights' space he lay at my side. There were we happy and slumbered idly, Nor loving caresses did ever betide. Yet Guthrun the daughter of Gjuki reviled me, That I in the arms of her lover had slept. O then was I 'ware of the thing I desired not— The truth of my marriage from me had they kept. All too long against storms of adversity struggling Both women and men seek their fortunes to right; But I with my Sigurth shall end my life's battle At last. Now depart from me, daughter of Night! Then the ogress gave a horrible shriek and leapt into the cliff." Then the King's followers cried: "That's fine! Go on and tell us some more!" But the King said: "You need not tell us any[pg 34]more about things of that kind." Then he continued: "Were you ever with the sons of Lothbrok?" Guest replied: "I was only with them for a short time; I joined them when they were making an expedition to the south in the neighbourhood of the Alps, and when they destroyed Vifilsborg. Panic spread everywhere at their approach, for they were victorious wherever they went. They were intending at the time to go to Rome. It chanced one day that a certain man came up to King Björn Ironside and saluted him. The King received him in a friendly way and asked him whence he came. He said that he had come from the south, from Rome. The King asked him: 'How long is the journey there?' He replied: 'You can see here, O King, the shoes which I am wearing.' Then he took iron-bound shoes from his feet, and the tops of them were very thick, but underneath they were all torn. 'You can see now how severely my shoes have suffered,' said he, 'and tell by that what a long way it is from here to Rome.' 'It must be a very long way,' said the King; 'I shall turn back and give up the idea of attacking the territories of Rome.' And the result was that they went no further on their way; and everyone thought it extraordinary that they should change their minds so suddenly at the word of one man, when they had all their plans laid. So after this the sons of Lothbrok went back to their homes in the north, and made no further raids in the south." [pg 35] The King said: "It is clear that the saints in Rome would not allow them to make their way there. The man you spoke of must have been a Spirit sent from God to make them change their minds so quickly, so as not to bring destruction on Rome, the most holy place of Jesus Christ."
	10. Hvar Gesti þótti bezt hirðvist	Chapter 10
	Enn spurði konungr Gest: "Hvar hefir þú þess komit til konunga, er þér hefir bezt þótt?" Gestr segir: "Mest gleði þótti mér með Sigurði ok Gjúkungum. En þeir Loðbrókar synir váru menn sjálfráðastir at lifa sem menn vildu. En með Eireki at Uppsölum var sæla mest. En Haraldr konungr hárfagri var vandastr at hirðsiðum allra fyrrnefndra konunga. Ek var ok með Hlöðvé konungi á Saxlandi, ok þar var ek prímsigndr því at ek mátti eigi þar vera elligar, því at þar var kristni vel haldin, ok þar þótti mér at öllu bezt." Konungr mælti: "Mörg tíðendi muntu segja kunna, ef vér viljum spyrja." Konungr fréttir nú margs Gest. En Gestr segir þat allt greiniliga, ok um síðir talar hann svá: "Nú má ek segja yðr, hví at ek em Norna-Gestr kallaðr." Konungr sagðist þat heyra vilja.	X. Then the King asked Guest: "Amongst the kings whom you have visited, whose was the court that you liked best?" Guest replied: "I enjoyed most being with Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki; but the sons of Lothbrok were those who allowed most freedom to their followers to live as they liked. Then again the richest place was that of Eric at Upsala; but King Harold the Fairhaired was more exacting than any of the kings I have mentioned in the duties that he imposed on his followers. I was with King Hlöthver too in the land of the Saxons, and there I was prime-signed; for it was not possible to remain with him otherwise, because the Christian religion was carefully observed there. That was the place I liked best on the whole." The King said: "You can give us a great deal of information whatever question we ask you." The King then asked Guest many further questions, and Guest told him everything clearly, and finally he said: "Now I must tell you why I am called Norna-gest." The King said he would like to hear.
	11. Nornir spáðu Gesti	Chapter 11
	"Þar var, þá er ek var fæddr upp með föður mínum í þeim stað, er Græningr heitir. Faðir minn var ríkr at peningum ok helt ríkuliga herbergi sín. Þar fóru þá um landit völur, er kallaðar váru spákonur ok spáðu mönnum aldr. Því buðu menn þeim ok gerðu þeim veizlur ok gáfu þeim gjafir at skilnaði. Faðir minn gerði ok svá, ok kómu þær til hans með sveit manna, ok skyldu þær spá mér örlög. Lá ek þá í vöggu, er þær skyldu tala um mitt mál. Þá brunnu yfir mér tvau kertisljós. Þær mæltu þá til mín ok sögðu mik mikinn auðnumann verða mundu ok meira en aðra mína foreldra eða höfðingja syni þar í landi ok sögðu allt svá skyldu fara um mitt ráð. In yngsta nornin þóttist of lítils metin hjá hinum tveimr, er þær spurðu hana eigi eptir slíkum spám, er svá váru mikils verðar. Var þar ok mikil ribbalda sveit, er henni hratt ór sæti sínu, ok fell hún til jarðar. Af þessu varð hún ákafa stygg. Kallar hún þá hátt ok reiðiliga ok bað hinar hætta svá góðum ummælum við mik, --"því at ek skapa honum þat, at hann skal eigi lifa lengr en kerti þat brennr, er upp er tendrat hjá sveininum." Eptir þetta tók in ellri völvan kertit ok slökkti ok biðr móður mína varðveita ok kveykja eigi fyrr en á síðasta degi lífs míns. Eptir þetta fóru spákonur í burt ok bundu ina ungu norn ok hafa hana svá í burt, ok gaf faðir minn þeim góðar gjafir at skilnaði. Þá er ek em roskinn maðr, fær móðir mín mér kerti þetta til varðveizlu. Hefi ek þat nú með mér." Konungr mælti: "Hví fórtu nú hingað til vár?" Gestr svarar: "Þessu sveif mé í skap. Ætlaða ek mik af þér nokkura auðnu hljóta mundu, því at þér hafið fyrir mér verit mjök lofaðr af góðum mönnum ok virtum." Konungr sagði: "Viltu nú taka helga skírn?" Gestr svarar: "Þar vil ek gera at yðru ráði." Var nú svá gert, ok tók konungr hann í kærleika við sik ok gerði hann hirðmann sinn. Gestr varð trúmaðr mikill ok fylgdi vel konungs siðum. Var hann ok vinsæll af mönnum.	XI. Guest began: "I was brought up at my father's home at a place called Groening. My father was a wealthy man and kept house in great style. At that time wise women used to go about the country. They were called 'spae-wives,' and they[pg 36]foretold people's futures. For this reason people used to invite them to their houses and gave them hospitality and bestowed gifts on them at parting. My father did the same, and they came to him with a great following to foretell my fate. I was lying in my cradle when the time came for them to prophesy about me, and two candles were burning above me. Then they foretold that I should be a favourite of Fortune, and a greater man than any of my kindred or forbears—greater even than the sons of the chief men in the land; and they said that all would come to pass just as it has done. But the youngest Norn thought that she was not receiving enough attention compared with the other two, since they were held in high account yet did not consult her about these prophecies. There was also a great crowd of roughs present, who pushed her off her seat, so that she fell to the ground. She was much vexed at this and called out loudly and angrily, telling them to stop prophesying such good things about me: 'For I ordain that the boy shall live no longer than that candle burns which is alight beside him.' Then the eldest spae-wife took the candle and extinguished it and bade my mother take charge of it and not light it until the last day of my life. After that the spae-wives went away, and my father gave them good gifts at parting. When I was full-grown, my mother gave me the candle to take charge of: I have it with me now." The King said: "Why have you come here to me now?" Guest replied: "The idea that came into my mind was this: I expected that I should get good luck fromyou, because I have heard you highly praised by good and wise men." The King said: "Will you receive holy baptism now?" Guest replied: "Yes, I will, since you advise it." So it came to pass; and the King took him into his favour and made him one of his retinue. Guest became a very good Christian and loyally followed the King's rules of life. He was also popular with everybody.
	12. Dauði Gests	Chapter 12
	Þat var einn dag, at konungr spurði Gest: "Hversu lengi vildir þú nú lifa, ef þú réðir?" Gestr svarar: "Skamma stund heðan af, ef guð vildi þat." Konungr mælti: "Hvat mun líða, ef þú tekr nú kerti þitt?" Gestr tók nú kerti sitt ór hörpustokki sínum. Konungr bað þá kveykja, ok svá var gert. Ok er kertit var tendrat, brann þat skjótt. Konungr spurði Gest: "Hversu gamall maðr ertu?" Gestr svarar: "Nú hefi ek þrjú hundruð vetra." "Allgamall ertu," sagði konungr. Gestr lagðist þá niðr. Hann bað þá ólea sik. Þat lét konungr gera. Ok er þat var gert, var lítit óbrunnit af kertinu. Þat fundu menn þá, at leið at Gesti. Var þat ok jafnskjótt, at brunnit var kertit ok Gestr andaðist, ok þótti öllum merkiligt hans andlát. Þótti konungi ok mikit mark at sögum hans, ok þótti sannast um lífdaga hans, sem hann sagði.	XII. It happened one day that the King asked Guest: "How much longer would you live if you could choose?" Guest replied: "Only a short time, please God!" The King said: "What will happen if you take your candle now?" Thereupon Guest took his candle out of the frame of his harp. The King ordered it to be lighted, and this was done. And when the candle was lighted it soon began to burn away. Then the King said to Guest: "How old are you?" And Guest replied: "I am now three hundred years old." "You are an old man," observed the King. Then Guest laid himself down and asked them to anoint him with oil. The King ordered it to be done, and when it was finished there was very little of the candle left unburnt. Then it became clear that Guest was drawing near to his end, and his spirit passed just as the torch flickered out; and they all marvelled at his passing. The King also set great store by his stories and held that the account which he had given of his life was perfectly true.
	[HOME][BACK] Nora Kershaw's INTRODUCTION TO THE THÁTTR OF NORNAGEST
	This story occurs as an episode in the long Saga of Olaf Tryggvason—to be distinguished from the shorter Saga of Olaf Tryggvason contained in theHeimskringla and translated by Morris and Magnússon in the Saga Library¹. The best known manuscript (F) of the longer saga is the Flateyjarbók which comes from the island of Flatey in Breithifjörth off the west of Iceland, and was written between 1386 and 1394. The second (S) is the Codex Arn. Magn. 62 in the Royal Library (at Copenhagen), which, like the former, contains a fragment only of the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason, but includes the Tháttr of Nornagest. This ms. dates, in all probability, from shortly after the middle of the fourteenth century. Finally, besides several paper mss. (comparatively late and unimportant), there is a ms. A (number 2845 of the Royal Library at Copenhagen) dating from the fifteenth century, in which the tháttr stands by itself. Rafn², in his edition of the Fornaldarsögur, based his text of the tháttr on A; but subsequent examination has rendered it probable that this ms. is hardly independent of F which gives an earlier and better text. As regards mss. F and S, the latter frequently gives a better reading than the former³. For this reason it was followed by Bugge⁴ who believed it to be the better source. Wilken⁵ however held thatF represents the 'Vulgate' of the tháttr, while Sgives a corrected and edited version. In his edition, therefore, he chiefly followed F, though he made use of S throughout, and also (for the poems) theCodex Regius of the Older Edda. His example has been followed by later editors, including Valdimar Ásmundarson⁶, from whose version the following translation has been made. The differences between all three mss. appear to be very slight, but Ásmundarson's edition approximates more closely to Wilken's than to Rafn's. Indeed the variations between the texts of Wilken's second edition⁷ and Ásmundarson are negligible. For a full bibliography of texts, translations, and literature relating to this saga the reader is referred to Islandica, Vol. v, p. 32. The saga itself dates from about 1300⁸. It is derived from tradition, mainly Icelandic; but the various stories contained in it differ greatly from one another in their historical value. This episode is probably to be regarded as legendary in part; and it would seem also to contain a good deal of conscious fiction. The tháttr falls naturally into three parts. The framework of the story—the arrival of Guest at the hall of Olaf Tryggvason, his inclusion in the King's retinue, and his baptism—forms a whole in itself and contains nothing inherently improbable save the manner of his death, where the folk-tale element creeps in. The first 'story within a story,' the account that Guest gives of his wanderings and more especially of the adventures of Sigurth, is legendary—or perhaps rather made up from old legends with the help of the Edda poems. As in the case of the Anglo-Saxon poem Widsith—and indeed to a much greater extent—the persons who figure in the stranger's stories lived in reality in widely different ages. Sigurth and his brothers-in-law belong to the early part of the fifth century, Harold the Fairhaired and the sons of Lothbrok to the latter part of the ninth century. Other characters such as Guthmund of Glasisvellir who is mentioned in the first chapters are probably mythical. The third part, which is perhaps the most interesting part of the tháttr, is the passage in which Guest explains how he came by his name. There can be no doubt that here we are in the region of pure folk-tale. The story of the visit of the Norns shows a very remarkable resemblance to the Greek legend of Althaea and Meleager. The same motif appears to some extent in the mediaeval French romances of Ogier the Dane, and is familiar to everyone in a slightly different form as the first part of the German folk-tale, Sleeping Beauty, where the reference to spinning should be noted. The poetry contained in this tháttr, unlike that in the Hervarar Saga, is all taken from the Older Edda. One of the poems, the Hellride of Brynhild, is given almost complete and there are long extracts fromReginsmál. There are, however, some references to poems which no longer exist⁹. In many respects the story of Nornagest is among the most interesting of the Romantic Sagas. It gives a vivid picture of life in a northern court—thenaïveté and friendliness of the conversation; the personal interest that the King took in his men; the intimacy and directness and simplicity of the intercourse between them. There is something, too, of the same boyish indulgence—e.g. in King Olaf's attitude towards the wager—which one notices in Hrolf Kraki's talk with Vögg¹⁰. Yet combined with the amiability of both kings is a certain natural dignity which is very convincing. Footnote 1: An abridged translation of the longer saga by J. Sephton is published in the Northern Library, Vol. ii (London, 1898). Footnote 2: Fornaldarsögur Northrlanda (Copenhagen, 1829), Introduction, pp. xix, xx. Footnote 3: Wilken, Die Prosaische Edda nebst Völsungasaga und Nornageststháttr (Paderborn, 1877), p. lxxxv ff. Footnote 4: Norrøne Skrifter af Sagnhistorisk Indhold (Christiania, 1873). Footnote 5: Op. cit., p. lxxxviii. Footnote 6: See Fornaldarsögur Northrlanda (Reykjavík, 1891), Vol. i, pp. 247-266. Footnote 7: The second edition follows the Codex Regius in the text of the poems included in the Tháttr more closely than did the first edition. Footnote 8: Cf. Finnur Jónsson, Den Oldnorske og Oldislandske Litteraturs Historie, Vol. ii, p. 847; also Mogk, Norwegisch-Isländischen Literatur (Strassburg, 1904), p. 822. Footnote 9: Cf. p. 19 below and note (p. 222). Footnote 10: Cf. Skáldskaparmál, ch. 3; also Hrólfs Saga Kraka, ch. 42.
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