The Complete

Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Legendary Sagas of the Northland

in English Translation

FYRIR austan Vanakvísl í Asía var kallat Asíaland eða Asíaheimr, en þat fólk var kallat Æsir, er þar byggðu, en höfuðborgina kölluðu þeir Ásgarð. Óðinn var þar nefndr konungr yfir. Þar var blótstaðr mikill. Njörð ok Frey setti Óðinn blótgoða. Dóttir Njarðar hét Freyja. Hún fylgdi Óðni ok var friðla hans.

Menn þeir váru í Asía, er einn hét Álfrigg, annarr Dvalinn, þriði Berlingr, fjórði Grérr. Þeir áttu heima skammt frá höll konungs. Þeir váru menn svá hagir, at þeir lögðu á allt gerva hönd. Þess háttar menn, sem þeir váru, kölluðu menn dverga. Þeir byggðu einn stein. Þeir blönduðust þá meir við mannfólk en nú.

Óðinn unni mikit Freyju, enda var hún allra kvenna fegrst í þann tíma. Hún átti sér eina skemmu. Hún var, bæði fögr ok sterk, svá at þat segja menn, at ef hurðin var aftr ok læst, at engi maðr mætti koma í skemmmuna án vilja Freyju.

Þat var einn dag, er Freyju varð gengit til steinsins, hann var þá opinn. Dvergarnir váru at smíða eitt gullmen. Þat var þá mjök fullgert. Freyju leist vel á menit. Dvergunum leist ok vel á Freyju. Hún falaði menit at dvergunum, bauð í móti gull ok silfr ok aðra góða gripi. Þeir kváðust ekki féþurfi, sagðist hverr vilja sjálfr sinn part selja í meninu ok ekki annat fyrir vilja hafa en hún lægi sína nótt hjá hverjum þeira. Ok hvárt sem hún lét at þessu komast betr eða verr, þa keyptu þau þessu. Ok at liðnum fjórum náttum ok enduðum öllum skildaga, afhenda þeir Freyju menit. Fór hún heim í skemmu sína ok lét kyrrt yfir sér, sem ekki hefði í orðit.

I. To the East of Vanakvisl in Asia was a country called Asialand or Asiaheim. Its inhabitants were called Æsir and the chief city they called Asgarth. Othin was the name of their King, and it was a great place for heathen sacrifices. Othin appointed Njörth and Frey as priests. Njörth had a daughter called Freyja who accompanied Othin and was his mistress.

There were four men in Asia called Alfregg, Dvalin, Berling and Grer, who dwelt not far from the King's hall, and who were so clever that they could turn their hands to anything. Men of this kind were called dwarfs. They dwelt in a rock, but at that time they mixed more with men than they do now.

Othin loved Freyja very much, and she was the fairest of all women in her day. She had a bower of her own which was beautiful and strong, and it was said that if the door was closed and bolted, no-one could enter the bower against her will.

It chanced one day that Freyja went to the rock and found it open, and the dwarfs were forging a gold necklace, which was almost finished. Freyja was charmed with the necklace, and the dwarfs with Freyja. She asked them to sell it, offering gold and silver and other costly treasures in exchange for it. The dwarfs replied that they were not in need of money, but each one said that he would give up his share in the necklace.... [omitted: for nothing else except  for her to lie one night with each of them.] And at the end of four nights they handed it to Freyja. She went home to her bower and kept silence about it as if nothing had happened.

Maðr hét Fárbauti. Hann var karl einn ok átti sér kerlingu þá, er Laufey er nefnd. Hún var bæði mjó ok auðþreiflig; því var hún Nál kölluð. Þau áttu sér einn son barna. Sá var Loki nefndr. Hann var ekki mikill vöxtum, orðskár var hann snemma ok skjótligr í bragði. Hann hafði fram yfir aðra menn visku þá, er slægð heitir. Hann var mjök kyndugr þegar á unga aldri, því var hann kallaðr Loki lævíss. Hann réðst til Óðins í Ásgarð ok gerðist hans maðr. Óðinn mælti hvatvetna eftir honum, hvat sem hann tók til, enda lagði hann oft stórar þrautir fyrir hann, ok leysti hann þær allar vánu betr af höndum. Hann varð ok náliga alls víss, þess er við bar, sagði hann ok allt Óðni, þat er hann vissi.

Þat er ok sagt, at Loki varð víss, er Freyja hafði fengit menit ok svá, hvat hún hafði móti gefit; sagði hann þetta Óðni. En er Óðinn varð þess víss, sagði hann, at Loki skyldi ná meninu ok fá sér. Loki kvað þat óvænligt sakir þess, at engi maðr má í skemmuna komast fyrir utan vilja Freyju. Óðinn sagði, at hann skyldi fara verða ok eigi aftr koma, fyrr en hann hefði nát meninu. Loki sneri þá í brottu æpandi. Flestir urðu við þat kátir, er Loka gekk lítt til.

Hann gengr til skemmu Freyju, ok var hún læst. Hann leitaði við inn at komast ok gat eigi. Kuldaveðr var úti mikit, ok tók honum fast at kólna. Hann varð þá at einni flugu. Hann flökti þá um alla lása ok með öllum fellum ok gat hvergi loft fundit, svá at hann mætti inn komast. Uppi allt hjá burstinni ok þó eigi meiri boru fann hann en sem stinga mætti í nál; þá boru bograr hann inn. En er hann kom inn, var hann flenneygr mjök ok hugði at, ef nokkurir vekti, en hann gat þat sét, at allt svaf í skemmunni. Hann ferr þá innar at sænginni Freyju ok skynjar þá, at hún hefir menit á hálsi sér ok at nistin horfðu niðr á. Loki verðr þá at einni fló. Hann sest á kinn Freyju ok höggr svá, at Freyja vaknar ok snerist við ok sofnar aftr. Þá dregr Loki af sér flóar haminn, lokkar þá af henni menit, lýkr þá upp skemmunni ok ferr í burt ok færir Óðni.

Freyja vaknar um morgininn ok sér, at opnar eru dyrrnar, en ekki brotit, en menit var í brottu it góða. Hún þykkist vita, hver brögð í munu vera, gengr inn í höllina, þegar hún er klædd, fyrir Óðin konung ok talar um, at hann hafi illa látit gera at stela frá henni góðgrip hennar ok biðr hann fá sér aftr góðgrip sinn.

Óðinn segir, at hún skal þat aldri fá, svá at eins hefir hún at því komist,

- "nema þú orkir því, at þeir konungar tveir, at tuttugu konungar þjóna hvárum, verði missáttir ok berist nieð þeim álögum ok atkvæðum, at þeir skulu jafnskjótt upp standa ok berjast sem þeir áðr falla, utan nokkurr maðr kristinn verði svá röskr ok honum fylgi svá mikil gifta síns lánardrottins, at hann þori at ganga í bardaga þeira ok vega með vápnum þessa menn. Þá it fyrsta skal þeira þraut lyktast, hverjum höfðingja sem þat verðr lagit at leysa þá svá ór ánauð ok erfiði sinna fárligra framferða."
Freyja játtaði því ok tók við meninu.

II. There was a man called Farbauti who was a peasant and had a wife called Laufey. She was thin and meagre, and so she was called 'Needle.' They had no children except a son who was called Loki. He was not a big man, but he early developed a caustic tongue and was alert in trickery and unequalled in that kind of cleverness which is called cunning. He was very full of guile even in his youth, and for this reason he was called Loki the Sly. He set off to Othin's home in Asgarth and became his man. Othin always had a good word for him whatever he did, and often laid heavy tasks upon him, all of which he performed better than could have been expected. He also knew almost everything that happened, and he told Othin whatever he knew.
Now it is said that Loki got to know that Freyja had received the necklace ... and this he told to Othin. And when Othin heard of it he told Loki to fetch him the necklace. Loki said that there was not much hope of that, because no-one could get into Freyja's bower against her will. Othin told him to go, and not come back without the necklace. So Loki went off howling, and everyone was glad that he had got into trouble.

He went to Freyja's bower, but it was locked. He tried to get in but could not. The weather outside was very cold and he became thoroughly chilled. Then he turned himself into a fly, and flew around all the bolts and along the whole of the woodwork, but nowhere could he find a hole big enough to enter by, right up to the gable. He found only a hole no bigger than would allow of the insertion of a needle. Through this hole he crept. And when he got inside he stared around, wondering if anyone was awake. But he found that the room was all wrapped in slumber.
Then he went in and up to Freyja's bed and found that she was wearing the necklace and that the clasp was underneath her. Loki thereupon turned himself into a flea and settled on Freyja's cheek and stung her, till she awoke and turned over and went to sleep again. Then he laid aside his flea-form, drew the necklace from her gently, opened the door and departed, carrying the necklace to Othin.
When Freyja awoke in the morning she found that the door was open, though it had not been forced, and that her lovely necklace was gone. She had a shrewd idea of the trick that had been played on her, and when she was dressed she went into the hall to King Othin, and told him that he had done ill to rob her of her trinket, and begged him to return it.
Othin replied that considering how she had come by it she should never get it back:
"—Unless you bring about a quarrel between two kings, each of whom has twenty kings subject to him; so that they shall fight under the influence of such spells and charms that as fast as they fall they shall start up again and fight on—unless there be some Christian man so brave and so much favoured by the great good fortune of his liege lord that he shall dare to take arms and enter among the combatants and slay them. Then and not till then shall the labours of those princes be brought to an end—whoever may be the chief who is destined to free them from the oppression and toil of their disastrous lot."
Freyja agreed to this and recovered the necklace.

Í þann tíma, er liðnir váru frá falli Frið-Fróða fjórir vetr ok tuttugu, réð sá konungr Upplöndum í Noregi, at Erlingr hét. Hann átti sér drottningu ok tvá sonu. Hét Sörli sterki inn ellri, en Erlendr inn yngri. Þeir váru efniligir menn. Sörli var þeira sterkari. Þeir lögðu í hernað, þegar þeir höfðu aldr til. Þeir börðust við Sindra víking Sveigisson, Hákasonar sækonungs í Elfarskerjum, ok fell þar Sindri víkingr ok allt lið hans. Í þeiri orrostu fell ok Erlendr Erlingsson. Eftir þat helt Sörli í it Eystra salt ok herjaði þar ok vann svá mörg stórvirki, at seint er öll at skrifa.

III. Four and twenty years after the death of Frithfrothi a King called Erling ruled over the Highlands of Norway. He had a wife and two sons, of whom the elder was called Sörli the Strong, and the younger Erlend. They were promising young men. Sörli was the stronger of the two. As soon as they were old enough they took to raiding, and fought against the viking Sindri, the son of Sveigir, the son of Haki, a sea-king in the Skerries of the Elf. There fell Sindri the viking, and with him all his host; and Erlend the son of Erling also fell in that battle. After that Sörli sailed into the Baltic and harried there, and performed so many great deeds that it would take too long to recount them all. 

Hálfdan hefir konungr heitit. Hann réð fyrir Danmörk. Hann sat í stað, er Hróiskelda heitir. Hann átti Hveðnu ina ellri. Þeira synir váru þeir Högni ok Hákon. Þeir váru afburðarmenn á vöxt ok afl ok alla atgervi. Þeir lögðu í hernað, þegar þeir váru þroskaðir.

Nú er þar til at taka, at Sörli er, at á einu hausti heldr hann til Danmerkr. Hálfdan konungr hafði þá ætlat í konungastefnu. Hann var þá mjök hniginn í efra aldr, er sjá saga gerðist. Hann átti dreka svá góðan, at eigi fannst annarr slíkr á Norðrlöndum sakir sterkleika ok alls hagleiks. Hann flaut um strengi í höfninni, en Hálfdan konungr var á landi ok hafði látit heita fararmungát sitt. En er Sörli sá drekann, rann í hjarta hans eigingirnd mikil, svá at hann vildi drekann eiga fyrir hvern mun ok einn, enda er þat ok flestra manna sögn, at eigi hafi betri gripr verit í skipi en í þessu at fráteknum drekanum Elliða ok Gnoð ok Orminum langa á Norðrlöndum.

Hann talaði þá við menn sína, at þeir skyldu búast til bardaga, - "því at vér skulum drepa Hálfdan konung, en eignast drekann."
Máli hans svarar sá maðr, er Sævarr hét; hann var stafnbúi hans ok stallari: "Þat er eigi ráð, herra," segir hann, "því at Hálfdan er höfðingi mikill ok frægr maðr. Hann á ok sonu þá tvá, er ráðnir eru til hefnda, því at þeir eru nú einir hverir frægastir menn."

"Þó at þeir sé goðunum fremri," sagði Sörli, "þá skal ek einn veg berjast ok áðr."

Búast þeir nú til bardaga. Kemr nú njósn Hálfdani konungi. Bregðr hann við ok ferr til skipa ok menn hans allir, búast þegar til bardaga. Lögðu þat sumir menn til með Hálfdani, at honum væri óráð í at berjast ok hann skyldi flýja sakir liðsmunar. Konungr sagði, at fyrr skyldi hverr falla um annan þveran en hann skyldi flýja Búast nú hvárirtveggju til orrostu, ok slær nú í inn harðasta bardaga, ok lýkr með því, at Hálfdan konungr fellr ok allt lið hans. Síðan tók Sörli drekann ok allt þat, er á honum var fémætt.

Síðan spurði Sörli, at Högni var kominn ór hernaði ok lá við Óðinsey. Þangat heldr Sörli skipum sínum, ok þegar þeir finnast, sagði hann honum fall Hálfdanar, föður síns, ok býður honum sættir ok sjálfdæmi ok þar með fóstbræðralag, en Högni neitaði því öllu. Síðan börðust þeir, sem segir í Sörlastikka. Gekk Hákon allvel fram ok drap Sævar, merkjamann Sörla ok stafnbúa. Eftir þat drap Sörli Hákon, en Högni drap Erling konung, föður Sörla. Síðan börðust þeir Högni ok Sörli, ok fell Sörll fyrir Högna af mæði ok sárum, ok lét Högni síðan græða hann, ok svörðust þeir í fóstbræðralag ok heldu þat vel, meðan þeir lifðu báðir. En Sörli lifði þeira skemmr ok fell í Austrvegi fyrir víkingum, sem segir í Sörlastikka ok hér segir:

Fell inn forsnjalli fyrst inn víglysti ýgr í Austrvegi allr á helpalla, dauðr um dalreyðar dáðkunnr miskunnar, beit at brandmóti brynstingr víkingum.

En sem Högni frétti fall Sörla, herjaði hann í Austrveg á sama sumri ok hafði alls staðar sigr ok varð þar konungr yfir, ok segja menn svá, at tuttugu konungar urðu skattgildir undir Högna konung ok heldu af honum ríki. Högni varð svá frægr af sínum stórvirkjum ok hernaði, at hans nafn var jafnvel kunnigt norðr við Finnabú sem út í parís ok allt þar í milli.

IV. There was a King called Halfdan who ruled Denmark; and his capital was at Roskilde. He married Hvethna the elder, and their sons were Högni and Haakon. They were distinguished for their stature, strength and ability. As soon as they were old enough they took to piracy.

Now we must return to Sörli and relate how one autumn he set sail for Denmark. King Halfdan had been intending to go to a gathering of kings. He was far advanced in years at the time when the events related here took place. He had such a fine warship that for strength and excellence of every kind it had no equal in all the countries of the North. It was riding at anchor in the harbour, but King Halfdan had gone ashore to give orders for a carousal before starting on his voyage. And when Sörli saw the warship his heart was consumed with a burning desire to possess it at all possible hazards. And indeed it is generally agreed that there never was a greater treasure of a warship than this in all the countries of the North, except the warships Ellithi and Gnöth and the Long Serpent.

So he ordered his men to prepare themselves for battle—
"For we must slay King Halfdan and seize his warship."

A man called Sævar, his fo'c'sle-man and marshal, made answer:

"That is not advisable, Sire, for Halfdan is a great chief and a famous man. Moreover he has two sons who will be certain to avenge him, for they are both very famous men already."

"Though they be superior to the very gods," said Sörli, "yet we shall fight just as we have done before."

They prepared for battle, and the news reached King Halfdan. He started up and went with all his men to his ships, and they prepared them for battle at once. Some of Halfdan's men protested to him that it was not advisable to fight, and suggested that he should take to flight as the odds were too heavy against them. The King replied that they would all fall dead one on the top of another before he would flee.

Both sides now prepared to give battle, and closed forthwith in a fierce combat, the result of which was that King Halfdan fell with all his host; and Sörli took possession of the warship and everything on it that was of value.

Then Sörli learned that Högni had returned from a raiding expedition and was lying off Odinsø. Sörli set off thither with his ships, and when they met, he told him of the death of Halfdan, his father, and made him an offer of reconciliation on his own terms, suggesting also that they should become foster-brothers; but Högni declined all his offers. Then they joined battle, as is told in the poem dealing with Sörli. Haakon fought very boldly and slew Sævar, Sörli's standard-bearer and fo'c'sle-man. Then Sörli slew Haakon, but Högni slew King Erling, Sörli's father. After that Högni and Sörli fought together, and Sörli went down before Högni from weariness and wounds. And Högni afterwards caused him to be healed of his wounds, and they swore foster-brotherhood to one another, and both remained true to their oaths as long as they lived. Sörli was the first to die. He fell in the Baltic at the hands of vikings, as is told in the poem of which he is the subject.

And when Högni heard of Sörli's death, he went raiding in the Baltic the same summer, and was victorious everywhere. He became king over those regions; and it is said that twenty kings were vassals to King Högni and paid him tribute. Högni became so famous on account of his great deeds and his raiding expeditions that his name was as well known in the north of Finland as away in Paris, and everywhere in between.

Hjarrandi hefir konungr heitit. Hann réð fyrir Serklandi. Hann átti sér drottningu ok einn son, þann er Heðinn er nefndr. Hann var snemma afreksmaðr at afli, vexti ok atgervi. Hann lagði í hernað á æskualdri ok gerðist sækonungr ok herjaði víða um Spanía ok Græcia ok öll nálæg ríki, svá at hann skattgildi undir sik tuttugu konunga, svá at allir heldu af honum land ok lén. Heðinn sat á vetrum heima í Serklandi.

Þat er sagt einhvern tíma, at Heðinn fór á skóg með hirð sinni. Hann varð staddr í rjóðri einn sinna manna. Hann sá konu sitja á stóli í rjóðrinu, mikla vexti ok fríða sjónum. Hún kvaddi Heðin kurteisliga. Hann spurði hana at nafni, en hún nefndist Göndul. Síðan talast þau við, spyrr hún hann at stórvirkjum sínum, en hann sagði henni allt af létta ok spurði hana, hvárt hún vissi nokkurn konung sér jafnan at hreysti ok harðræði, frægðum ok framkvæmdum.

Hún kveðst þann vita, er ekki skyrti við hann ok eigi þjónuðu síðr tuttugu konungar en honum, ok kvað hann Högna heita ok sitja norðr í Danmörk.

"Þat veit ek," sagði Heðinn, "at þat skulum vit reyna, hvárr okkar fremri er."

"Mál mun þér," segir Göndul, "til manna þinna; þeir munu leita þín."
Síðan skilja þau, ferr hann til manna sinna, en hún sat þar eftir.

Þegar at várdögum býr Heðinn ferð sína, hefir einn dreka ok á þrjú hundruð manna. Hann heldr norðr í heima; hann siglir þat sumar ok þann vetr. At várdögum kom hann í Danmörk.

V. There was a King called Hjarrandi who ruled over Serkland. He had a wife and a son called Hethin, who quickly grew into a man remarkable for his strength, stature and ability. While still a youth he went on raiding expeditions and became a sea-king, harrying all round Spain and Greece and all the neighbouring kingdoms; so that he made twenty kings pay him tribute, holding their land and revenue as his vassals. In winter time Hethin used to stay at home in Serkland. It is said that on one occasion he went into a forest with his retinue. He left his men and found himself alone in a glade where he saw a woman, tall and fair, sitting on a throne. She spoke to him courteously, and when he asked her her name she said she was called Göndul. Then they talked together. She questioned him about his mighty deeds and he told her everything frankly and asked her whether she knew of any king to match himself in valour and hardihood, renown and prowess. She replied that she knew of one who did not fall short of him—one who had twenty kings subject to him just as Hethin had; and she added that his name was Högni and that he lived in the North, in Denmark.
"I know one thing," said Hethin; "we have got to prove which of us is the more valiant."
"It is high time for you to return to your men," said she; "they will be looking for you."
Then they parted. He returned to his men, and she remained sitting there.
At the very beginning of spring, Hethin prepared to set out. He had a warship, and three hundred and sixty men in it, and he made for the northern part of the world. He sailed all that summer and the following winter, and at the beginning of spring he reached Denmark.

Högni konungr sat þá heima. Ok er hann spyrr, at ágætr konungr er þar við land kominn, býðr hann honum heim til ágætrar veislu. Heðinn þekktist þat. Ok er þeir sátu við drykk, spurði Högni, hvert eyrendi Heðinn hefði, er hann fýstist svá langt norðr í heima. Heðinn sagði þat sitt eyrendi, at þeir reyndi með sér hug ok hreysti, íþróttir ok alla atgervi.

Högni lést þess búinn. Ok annan dag árla fóru þeir á sund ok í skotbakka. Þeir frömdu ok burtreið ok vápnfimi ok allar íþróttir ok váru svá jáfnir á alla atgervi, at engi þóttist mega í milli sjá, hvárr fremri væri.

Eftir þetta gert sverjast þeir í fóstbræðralag ok skyldu allt eiga at helmingi. Heðinn var ungr ok ókvæntr, en Högni var nokkuru ellri. Hann átti Hervöru Hjörvarðsdóttur, Heiðrekssonar úlfhams. Högni átti dóttur, er Hildr hét. Hún var allra kvenna vænst ok vitrust. Hann unni mikit dóttur sinni. Ekki átti hann barna fleira.

VI. King Högni was at home at that time; and when he heard that a famous king had come to his shores, he invited him to a magnificent banquet, and Hethin accepted the invitation. And as they sat drinking, Högni asked what motive brought Hethin so far north.
Hethin replied that his object was to compete with him in contests which would make trial of their courage and daring and all their prowess and skill.
Högni said he was ready for this; and early next morning they went swimming and shooting together. They rode a-tilt, and performed feats of arms and of skill of all kinds. And in all their exploits they were so equal that no-one could distinguish which was the better of the two. After that they swore foster-brotherhood to one another, and bound themselves to share everything equally.
Hethin was young and unmarried, but Högni was somewhat older. He had married Hervör, the daughter of Hjörvarth, the son of Heithrek Ulfham. Högni had a daughter who was called Hild, and who excelled all other women in beauty and understanding. He loved his daughter exceedingly. He had no other children.

Þat er sagt, at nokkuru síðar færi Högni í hernað, en Heðinn sat eftir ok skyldi geyma ríkis. Þat var einn dag, at Heðinn fór á skóg at skemmta sér. Þá var blítt veðr. Honum varð enn vikit í burt frá mönnum sínum. Hann kom í eitt rjóðr. Þar sá hann sitja konu á stóli þá sömu, er hann sá fyrr á Serklandi, ok leist honum sem hún væri nú allt fegri en fyrr. Hún kastaði enn orðum fyrr á hann ok gerði sik blíða í máli. Hún helt á einu horni, ok var lok yfir. Konungi rann hugr til hennar. Hún bauð honum at drekka, en konungr var þyrstr, því at honum var varmt orðit, tekr við ok drekkr. En er hann hafði drukkit, brá honum mjök undarliga við, því at hann mundi engan hlut þann, sem áðr hafði yfir gengit. Hann settist þá niðr, ok töluðust þau við.

Hún spurði, hvárt honum hefði nokkut svá reynst sem hún hafði sagt honum fyrr um íþróttir Högna ok harðræði.

Heðinn sagði þat satt vera, - "því at hann skorti ekki við mik neina atgervi, er vit reyndum, ok því höfum vit kallast jafnir."

"Ekki eru þit þó jafnir," segir hún.
"Hvat finnr þú til þess?" segir hann.

"Þat finn ek til," segir hún, "at Högni á sér drottningu af stórum ættum, en þú átt þér enga konu."

Hann svarar: "Högni giftir mér þegar Hildi, dóttur sína, er ek vil biðja, ok er ek þá ekki verr kvæntr en hann."

"Minnkast þá metnaðr þinn" segir hún, "ef þú biðr Högna mægða. Hitt væri heldr til, ef þik skyrti hvárki hug né hreysti, sem þú lætr at sé, at nema Hildi í burtu, en drepa drottningu með því móti at taka hana ok leggja hana niðr fyrir barðit á drekanum ok láta hann sníða hana sundr, þá er hann er fram settr."

Svá var Heðinn fanginn í illsku ok óminni af öli því, er hann hafði drukkit, at honum sýndist ekki annat ráð en þetta, ok ekki mundi hann til, at þeir Högni væri fóstbræðr.
Síðan skildu þau, ok fór Heðinn til manna sinna. Þetta var at áliðnu sumri. Heðinn skipar þá mönnum sínum at búa til drekann, því at hann kveðst heim vilja til Serklands. Síðan gekk hann til skemmu ok tók sinni hendi hvára, drottningu ok Hildi, ok gengr út með þær. Menn tóku klæði ok gripi Hildar. Þeir einir váru menn í ríkinu, at ekki þorðu at gera sakir Heðins ok manna hans, því at hann var mjök ófrýnligr.
Hildr spurði Heðin, hvat er hann ætlaði, en hann sagði henni.
Hún bað hann eigi svá gera, - "því at faðir minn mun gifta mik þér, ef þú vilt biðja mín."

"Eigi vil ek þat gera," segir Heðinn, "at biðja þín."

"Ok þó at þat sé," segir hún, "at þú vilir ekki annat en flytja mik í burt, þá munu þit faðir minn þó sættast, en ef þú gerir svá illa ok ómannliga, at þú vinnir bana móður minni, þá munu þit faðir minn aldri sættast, ok þessliga hafa mér draumar gengit, sem þit munið berjast ok drepast niðr, ok þó muni þar annat þyngra á koma, ok mun mér þat mikill harmr, ef ek skal horfa upp á föður minn, at hann skuli standa undir meingerðum ok miklum álögum, en mér er þó engi gleði í at sjá þik í illendum ok erfiðismunum." Heðinn kveðst aldri hirða, hvat er bak kæmi, ok sagðist gera mundu sem áðr.

Síðan vaknaði Heðinn ok sá svipinn af Göndul ok sýndist honum þá svört ok mikil. Heðinn mundi nú allt ok þótti mikit slys sitt, hugsar nú at fara nokkut langt í burt, svá at hann mætti eigi dagliga heyra brigsli sinna vándra framferða, ferr nú til skips, lætr skjótt ór landfestum, stendr byrr af landi, ok siglir svá í burt með Hildi.

VII. It is said that a little later Högni went on a raiding expedition while Hethin stayed behind to look after his kingdom. It chanced one day that Hethin went into a forest to pass the time. The weather was mild. He again wandered away from his men. He came upon a forest glade, and there he saw sitting on a throne the same woman whom he had seen before in Serkland—only now he thought her even fairer than before. She was again the first to speak and chattered to him gaily. She was holding a horn with a lid to it. The King fell in love with her. She offered him a drink and he felt thirsty, as he had grown warm; so he took the horn and drank; and when he had drunk, a very wonderful change came over him, for he remembered nothing that had happened to him previously. He then sat down and talked to her.
She asked him if what she had said to him before of the skill and courage of Högni had proved true and Hethin replied that it was true enough—"for he did not come short of me in any feat that we tried, and so we declared ourselves a match."
"Yet you two are not equal," said she.
"And why not?" asked Hethin.
"For this reason," replied she: "Högni has married a wife of high birth, whereas you have no wife."
He replied: "Högni will marry me to Hild his daughter as soon as I like to ask him, and then I shall be as well married as he."
"Your honour will be impaired," said she, "if you ask Högni for a marriage alliance. If, as you profess, you lack neither courage nor valour, you would do better to carry off Hild by force, and put the Queen to death by taking her and laying her down in front of the prow of your warship, and letting it cut her in two when it is launched."
The wickedness and forgetfulness contained in the ale which Hethin had drunk had so got the better of him that there seemed to him to be no alternative, and he had not the slightest recollection that he and Högni were 'foster-brothers.'
Presently they parted, and Hethin went back to his men. This took place in the late summer.
Then Hethin ordered his men to get ready the warship, saying that he intended to go home to Serkland. Then he went into the ladies' bower and took the Queen and Hild by either hand and led them out. Hild's clothes and jewels were also taken. There was no-one in the kingdom who had the courage to do anything; for they were afraid of Hethin and his men—he glowered so fiercely.
Hild asked Hethin what his intention was, and he told her. She besought him to think better of it, adding:
"My father will marry me to you if you ask him for me."
"Ask for you?" echoed Hethin; "I will never do that."
"And," she continued, "if you really must carry me off, even so my father will make it up with you. But if you do anything so wicked and unmanly as to put my mother to death, my father will never make it up with you. I have had a warning in dreams that you two will fight and slay one another. Yet I am afraid that there must be something still more terrible in store. It will be a great sorrow to me if I have to be the means of exposing my father to the ruinous effects of magic spells; nor shall I have any joy in seeing you in difficulties and toils."
Hethin replied that he cared not at all for the consequences, and that he would do as he had threatened.
"You cannot mend it now," said Hild, "because in this case you are not your own master."
Then Hethin went down to the sea-shore, and now was the warship launched. He thrust the Queen down in front of the prow, so that she perished. Hethin stepped into the warship. And when it was quite ready, he took it into his head to land alone, leaving his men behind; and he went into the same forest where he had gone before. And when he came into the glade, there he saw Göndul seated on her throne. They greeted one another cordially. Hethin told her what he had done and she expressed her approval.
She had with her the horn which she had carried before, and she offered him a drink from it. He took it and drank; and when he had drunk, sleep fell upon him, and he let his head sink into her lap. And when he had fallen asleep, she slipped away from under his head, saying:
"Now I devote both you and Högni and all your followers, and lay you under all the spells imposed by Othin."
Then Hethin awoke and saw the fleeting shadow of Göndul, but she appeared to him now to be big and black; and he recalled everything and realised how much mischief he had done. He decided now to go away somewhere a long way off, where he would not each day have his wicked deeds cast in his teeth. So he went to his ship, and made haste to free her from her moorings. A fair breeze was blowing off the land, and so he sailed away with Hild.

Nú kemr Högni heim, verðr nú víss ins sanna, at Heðinn hefir siglt í brott með Hildi ok drekann Hálfdanarnaut, en drottning lá dauð eftir. Högni varð við þetta mjök reiðr ok bað menn við bregða þegar ok sigla eftir Heðni. Gera þeir nú ok svá ok fá inn besta byr, koma æ þar at kveldi á þær hafnir, sem Heðinn hafði burt siglt áðr um morgininn.

Þat var einn dag, er Högni helt til hafnar, at þá váru segl Heðins at sjá við hafi. Þá halda þeir Högni þegar eftir. Þat er sannliga sagt, at þá fekk Heðinn andviðri í móti sér, en Högna helst inn sami byrr. Heðinn leggr þá upp at eyju þeiri, er Há heitir, ok leggr þar í lægi.

Bráðliga kemr Högni eftir, ok er þeir finnast, kveðr Heðinn hann blíðliga. "Þat er þér at segja, fóstbróðir," segir Heðinn, "at mik hefir hent svá mikit slys, at þat má engi bæta nema þú. Ek hefi hertekit dóttur þína ok dreka, en veitt líflát drottningu þinni ok þó eigi af eiginligri illsku minni, heldr af vándum spám ok illum álögum. Vil ek nú, at þú skerir einn ok skapir okkar í milli. Þat vil ek ok bjóða þér at leggja bæði af Hildi ok drekann, menn alla ok fé, en fara svá langt út heima, at ek koma aldri til Norðrlanda né þér í augsýn, meðan ek lifi."

Högni svarar: "Ek hefða gift þér Hildi, ef þú hefðir hennar beðit. Nú þó ok, at þú hefðir hertekit Hildi, þá mættim vit þó sættast fyrir þat. En nú, er þú hefir gert svá mikit óverkan, at þú hefir níðst á drottningu ok drepit hana, er engi ván á, at ek vili sættum taka. Skulu vér ok reyna þegar í stað, hvárir stærst kunna at höggva."

Heðinn svarar: "Hitt er ráð, ef þú vilt ekki annat en berjast, at vit reynim tveir með okkr, því at hér áttu við engan mann sakir nema við mik. Dugir þat eigi, at ómakligir menn gjaldi glæpa minna ok illgerða."

Fylgdarmenn þeira svöruðu allir sem eins munni, at þeir skyldu fyrr falla hverr á fætr öðrum, heldr en þeir næði höggum við at skiptast.

En er Heðinn sá, at Högni vildi ekki annat en berjast, þá bað hann sína menn á land ganga. "Skal ek eigi lengr bila við Högna né biðjast undan bardaga, ok dugi nú hverr eftir drengmennsku."

Ganga þeir nú á land ok berjast. Er Högni allæfr, en Heðinn bæði vápnfimr ok stórhöggr. Þat er með sannendum sagt, at svá mikil atkvæði ok illska fylgdi þessum álögum, at þó at þeir klyfist í herðar niðr, þá stóðu þeir upp sem áðr ok börðust. Hildr sat í einum lundi ok sá upp á þenna leik.

Þessi armæða ok ánauð gekk alla stund frá því, at þeir tóku til at berjast, ok framan til þess, er Óláfr Tryggvason varð konungr at Noregi. Segja menn, at þat væri fjórtán tigir ára ok þrjú ár, áðr en þessum ágæta manni, Óláfi konungi, yrði þat lagit, at hans hirðmaðr leysti þá frá þessu aumliga áfelli ok skaðligum skapraunum.

VIII.  When Högni returned home, he learnt that Hethin had sailed away with Hild and the warship Halfdanarnaut, leaving the dead body of the Queen in his tracks. Högni was furious and bade his men start up on the spot and sail in pursuit of Hethin. This they did, and a fair breeze sprang up. Every evening they reached the harbour from which Hethin had sailed away in the morning.
It happened one day that as Högni was making for a harbour, Hethin's sails were sighted out at sea; so Högni and his men gave chase. As a matter of fact, it is said that at this point Hethin got a head wind against him, whereas Högni had the luck to have a fair wind as before. Hethin then lay to off an island called Hoy, and there he rode at anchor. Högni quickly came alongside, and when they met, Hethin greeted him courteously.
"I must tell you, foster-brother," said Hethin, "that so great a misfortune has come upon me that no-one save you can remedy it. I have carried off your daughter and your warship, and put your wife to death, yet from no personal wickedness of my own, but rather from promptings of evil spirits and wicked spells. My wish now is that you shall have your own way entirely in this matter between yourself and me. I also offer to give up to you both Hild and the warship, and all the men and money contained in it, and to go to such distant lands that I can never return to the North nor into your sight as long as I live."
Högni replied: "Had you asked me for Hild I would have married her to you; and even in spite of your having carried her off by force we might have made up our quarrel. Now, however, since you have been guilty of such an outrage as to put the Queen to death in a most shameful manner, I certainly will not make terms with you. We will try here, on the spot, which of us is the more valiant fighter."
Hethin replied: "It would be best, if nothing less than fighting will satisfy you, that we two should measure our strength alone; for you have no quarrel with any man here save with me. There is no use in making innocent men pay for my crimes and evil deeds."
Their followers all swore with one accord that they would rather fall dead in heaps than that they two should exchange blows alone. And when Hethin saw that nothing would satisfy Högni, save that they should fight, he ordered his men to land, saying:
"I will no longer hold back from Högni, nor make excuses to avoid fighting. Let every man bear himself bravely!"
They thereupon landed and fell to fighting. Högni was full of fury, but Hethin was both dexterous with his weapons and mighty in his stroke. It is told for fact that so potent was the evil charm in the spell that even when they had cloven one another to the very shoulders, yet they started up as before and went on fighting. Hild sat in a grove and watched the battle.
This harrowing torment continued to oppress them from the time when they began to fight until Olaf Tryggvason became King of Norway. It is said to have gone on for a hundred and forty-three years, until it fell to the lot of this famous man that one of his retinue released them from their grievous calamities and tragic doom.

Á fyrsta ári ríkis Óláfs konungs er sagt, at hann kæmi við eyna Há ok lagði þar í lægi eitt kveld. Sá var þar vani við fyrr sagða ey, at þar hurfu hverja nátt varðmenn, svá at engi vissi, hvat af varð. Ívarr ljómi átti vörð at halda þessa nótt.

En er allir menn váru sofnaðir á skipum, tók Ívarr sverðit, er átt hafði Járnskjöldr, en Þorsteinn, sonr hans, hafði gefit honum, ok öll herklæði sín ok gekk upp á eyna.

En er hann er upp kominn á eyna, sá hann mann ganga í mót sér. Sá var mikill vexti ok allr blóðugr, með miklum áhyggjusvip. Ívarr spurði þenna mann at nafni. Hann kvaðst Heðinn heita ok vera Hjarrandason, kynjaðr utan ór Serklandi. "Er þér þat satt at segja, at þó at hér hafi horfit vökumenn, at þat er mér at kenna ok okkr Högna Hálfdanarsyni, því at vit erum orðnir fyrir svá miklum atkvæðum ok ánauðum ok okkrir menn, at vér berjumst bæði nætr ok daga, ok hefir þessu gengit marga mannsaldra, en Hildr Högnadóttir sitr ok sér upp á. En Óðinn hefir þetta lagit á oss ok ekki annat til undanlausnar en nokkurr kristinn maðr berist við oss, þá skal sá eigi upp standa, er hann drepr, ok þá er hverr sá leystr frá sinni ánauð. Nú vilda ek biðja þik, at þú færir til bardaga með oss, því at ek veit, at þú ert vel kristinn, svá ok, at konungr sá, er þú þjónar, er mikillar hamingju. Segir mér ok svá hugr um, at vér munum af honum ok hans mönnum nokkut gott hljóta."

Ivarr játtar at fara með honum.

Heðinn varð glaðr við þat ok mælti: "Þess skaltu varast at ganga eigi framan at Högna ok þess annars at drepa mik eigi fyrr en Högna sakar þess, at þat er einkis mennsks manns at ganga framan at Högna eða drepa hann, ef ek er áðr dauðr, því at hann hefir ægishjálm í augum ok hlífir engu vætta, ok því er þat eina til, at ek gangi at honum framan ok berjumst ek við hann, en þú gangir at baki honum ok veitir honum banatilræði, því at þér mun lítit fyrir verða at bana mér, þó at ek lifi vár allra lengst."

Síðan ganga þeir til bardaga, ok sér Ivarr, at þetta er allt satt, sem Heðinn hafði sagt honum. Gengr hann at baki Högna ok höggr í höfuð honum ok klýfr hann í herðar niðr. Fellr Högni þá dauðr ok stóð aldri upp síðan. Síðan drap hann þar þá menn alla, er at bardaganum váru, en síðast Heðinn, ok varð honum lítit fyrir því. Síðan gekk hann til skipa, ok varð þá lýst af degi. Hann fór til konungs ok sagði honum. Konungr lét vel yfir verki hans ok sagði honum giftuliga tekist hafa.

Eftir um daginn gengu þeir á land ok þar til, sem bardaginn hafði verit, ok sá þar engan stað þeira tíðenda, er þar höfðu verit, en sást blóð á sverði Ívars til merkja, ok aldri hurfu þar varðhaldsmenn síðan.

Konungr fór heim eftir þetta í ríki sitt.

IX. In the first year of King Olaf's reign, it is said that he came one evening to the island of Hoy and anchored there. It was a regular occurrence in the neighbourhood of this island that watchmen disappeared every night, and no-one knew what had become of them. On this particular night it was Ivar the Gleam who kept guard. And when all the men on the ships were asleep, Ivar took the sword that Jarnskjöld had had and that Thorstein his son had given him, and all his armour, and went up on to the island. And when he had landed on the island he saw a man coming towards him. He was very tall and covered with blood, and his face was full of sorrow. Ivar asked him his name, and he replied that he was called Hethin, the son of Hjarrandi, and that he had come of a stock in far Serkland, adding:
"I am telling you the truth when I say that the vanishing of the watchmen must be laid to the charge of me and Högni, the son of Halfdan. For we and our men have been laid under such powerful and destructive spells that we go on fighting night and day; and this has continued for many generations, while Hild, the daughter of Högni, sits and looks on. It is Othin who has laid this spell upon us; and our only hope of redemption is that a Christian man should give battle to us.—When that occurs, he whom the Christian slays shall not stand up again; and so will each one be freed from his distress. Now I would pray you that you will come to fight with us, because I know that you are a good Christian, and also that the King whom you serve is very lucky. I have a feeling too that we shall get some good from him and his men."
Ivar agreed to go with him.
Hethin was glad at that and said:
"You must take care not to encounter Högni face to face, and also not to slay me before you slay him; because no mortal man can encounter Högni face to face and slay him if I die before him, for the glance of his eye strikes terror and spares none. Therefore this is the only way: I will attack him in front and engage him in battle, while you go behind and give him his death stroke. You will find it an easy matter to slay me, when I am left alive last of all."
Then they went into the battle, and Ivar saw that all that Hethin had told him was quite true. He went behind Högni and struck him on the head, and clove his skull down to the shoulders, whereupon Högni fell down dead and never rose up again. After that he slew all the men who were fighting, and last of all he slew Hethin, which was no great task.
When he returned to the ships the day was dawning. He went to the King and told him what he had done. The King was very well pleased with his work and told him that he had had great good luck. Next day they landed and made their way to the spot where the battle had taken place; but they saw no sign of what had happened there. Yet the bloodstains on Ivar's sword were visible proofs; and never again did watchmen disappear on that coast.
After that the King went home to his realm.

This story, like the last, is taken from the long Saga of Olaf Tryggvason contained in the Flateyjarbók, Vol. i, pp. 275-283. Its connection, however, with the story of that King is of the slightest. According to the opinion of Finnur Jónsson¹ the story in its present form dates from the first half of the fourteenth century.

This story, like the Tháttr of Nornagest, shows evidence of a definite structural plan and falls into three distinct parts. In the first two chapters the scene is laid among the gods, and the story is set in motion by the forging of a necklace for the goddess Freyja by some dwarfs. This is stolen by Loki and given to Othin, who refuses to restore it to Freyja till she promises to bring about a perpetual battle between two mighty kings.

Then in chs. iii and iv we have an account of the adventures of a Viking prince named Sörli, from whom the story takes its (somewhat inappropriate) title². Sörli comes into contact (first as an enemy, later as a friend) with another prince called Högni, and this leads up to the main theme—the friendship and subsequent quarrel of Hethin and Högni, in whose tragic fate Freyja's promise is fulfilled. The perpetual battle between these two heroes is finally ended by one of Olaf Tryggvason's men, and it is through this that the story comes to be introduced into his Saga.

The story of Hethin and Högni was a favourite one in the North. It is told in Skáldskaparmál, ch. 49 and in Saxo Grammaticus' Danish History, Book v (Elton, pp. 195-198). The earliest Norse reference to it is to be found in Bragi's Ragnarsdrápa, str. 3-7. The story must also have been well known in the Orkneys, since we find the following verses in the Háttalykill by Jarl Rögnvald (1136-58) and an Icelandic skald Hall who flourished 1140-48³.

An Earl of Orkney, in some of his rambles on the coast of Norway, saw and fell in love with the King's daughter of the country. As their passion happened to be reciprocal he carried her off in her father's absence, who was engaged in war with some of his distant neighbours. On his return, he followed the fugitives to Orkney, accompanied by his army, to revenge on the Earl the rape of his daughter. On his arrival there, Hildina (which was her name) first spied him, and advised her now husband to go and attempt to pacify the King. He did so, and by his appearance and promises brought the King so over as to be satisfied with the match.

The story of Hethin and Högni however was not confined to Norway and its colonies; indeed it seems to have been popular throughout the whole Teutonic world. It forms the subject of the first part of the mediaeval German poem Kudrun, and characters from the story are mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon poems Widsith, l. 21, and Deor, l. 36 ff.

For a treatment of the different versions of the story as it was known to men of old, the reader may be referred to Miss Clarke's Sidelights on Teutonic History during the Migration Period (Cambridge, 1911), p. 190 ff., and to Chambers' Widsith, p. 100 ff. It may be mentioned here that in the main points of the story—the carrying off of Hild and the subsequent pursuit by the father—all the versions are agreed. The German version, however, differs in many respects from those of the North (except that of the Hildina)—especially in the fact that the combatants become reconciled. The various Scandinavian versions of the story also differ somewhat in detail among themselves. The story translated below is the only one which mentions the slaying by Hethin of Högni's wife, and it is only here that Hethin is described as being of foreign origin. Moreover this is the only version in which the goddess Freyja is made responsible for the Unending Battle. Indeed the supernatural element, and especially the influence of charms and spells, is more prominent in this version than in any of the others. It is only here, too, that we find the story of Göndul and the "potion of forgetfulness." On the other hand our version contains no reference to the statement made in Skáldskaparmál and Saxo that it was Hild who by her magic spells restored the dead to life each night.

In our version of the story the character of Hild is left wholly undeveloped. Indeed the writers of the Romantic Sagas are always so much more interested in incident than in character that highly individualised personality is rare. Even when as in the case of Hervör⁷, the very nature of the story presents an interesting and somewhat unusual personality, we are sometimes left with a feeling of dissatisfaction and a conviction that the writer did not realise the full merits and possibilities of his material. Högni is the usual type of hot-headed implacable sea-rover. The character of Hethin, however, presents some interesting features and strikes us as more modern in conception. Naturally gentle of disposition, he had been forced by malignant powers into a situation foreign to his nature. Hardly characteristic of a viking chief are his genuine regret for the harm he had done and his anxiety that the men of Högni and himself should not be called upon to forfeit their lives for his "crimes and misdeeds." The conventional viking, clear-eyed and purely material in his view of life, would have stayed to brave out the consequences. Hethin only wished "to go away somewhere a long way off, where he would not each day have his wicked deeds cast in his teeth." His remorse had broken him down.—"You will find it an easy matter to slay me when I am left alive last of all!"

This tháttr has been translated into English under the title of The Tale of Hogni and Hedinn in Three Northern Love Stories by W. Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon, London, 1875.

For a full bibliography of mss., translations, and the general literature dealing with this saga, cf. Islandica, Vol. v, pp. 41, 42.

Footnote 1: Oldnorske og Oldislandske Litteraturs Historie, Vol. ii, p. 837.

Footnote 2: The life of this prince is told at length in another saga—Sörla Saga Sterka which is published in Vol. iii of Ásmundarson's edition of the Fornaldarsögur.

Footnote 3: Cf. Finnur Jónsson, op. cit., Vol. ii, pp. 34, 35.

Footnote 4: Cf. A Tour through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland, by George Low, edited by J. A. Anderson (Kirkwall, 1879), p. 108 ff.

Footnote 5: On p. 217 ff. below I have attempted a translation of the first twelve stanzas from Hægstad's corrected text.

Footnote 6: Op. cit., p. 113.

Footnote 7: Cf. The Saga of Hervör and Heithrek translated below, p. 87 ff.

Footnote 8: Cf. Panzer, Hilde-Gudrun (Halle, 1901), passim; Frazer, Pausanias's Description of Greece (London, 1898), Vol. ii, p. 443 ff.; etc.