Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

The Complete Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda Legendary Sagas of the Northland in English Translation
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	Hrómundar Saga Gripssonar	Hrómund Gripsson's Saga
	17th Century	Translated by Gavin Chappell © 2011
	1. Frá ætt Hrómundar	Chapter 1
	Sá konungr réð fyrir Görðum í Danmörk, er Óláfr hét. Hann var sonr Gnóðar-Ásmundar. Hann var maðr frægr. Bræði tveir, Kári ok Örnúlfr, váru landvarnarmenn konungs, hermenn miklir. Þar bjó einn ríkr bóandi. Sá hét Gripr. Hann átti þá konu er Gunnlöð hét, dóttir Hróks ins svarta. Þau áttu níu sonu, er svá hétu: Hrólfr, Haki, Gautr, Þröstr, Angantýr, Logi, Hrómundr, Helgi, Hrókr. Þeir váru allir efniligir menn. Þó var Hrómundr fyrir þeim öllum. Hann kunni eigi at hræðast. Hann var augnafagr, hárbjartr ok herðamikill, mikill ok sterkr, líktist mjök Hróki, móðurföður sínum. Með konungi váru tveir menn. Hét einn Bíldr, annarr Váli. Þeir váru illir ok undirförulir. Konungr matti þá mikils. Eitt sinn helt Óláfr konungr austr fyrir Noreg með her sinn, ok heldu at Úlfaskerjum, herjuðu ok lágu við eitt eyland. Konungr býðr Kára ok Örnúlfi at ganga upp á eyjuna ok vita, hvárt þeir sæi engi herskip. Þeir gengu upp á landit ok litu sex herskip undir hömrum nokkurum. Þar var einn dreki allskrautligr. Kári kallar til þeira ok spyrr, hverr fyrir skipunum réði. Einn dólgr stóð upp á drekanum ok kvaðst Hröngviðr heita, -- "eða hvert er nafn þitt?" Kári sagði til sín ok síns bróður ok mælti: "Ek veit engan verri en þik, ok þar fyrir skal ek höggva þik í smá stykki." Hröngviðr mælti: "Ek hefi herjat sumar ok vetr í þrjú ok þrjá tigi ár ok háð sex tigi orrostur ok fengit jafnan sigr. Mitt sverð heitir Brynþvari, er aldri hefir sljóvgazt. Kom þú hér á morgun, Kári, ek skal slíðra hann í þínu brjósti." Kári kveðst eigi bila mundu. Hröngviðr mátti kjósa hvern dag mann fyrir sverðsins oddi.	A king reigned over Gordum in Denmark, who was called Olaf. He was the son of Gnodar-Asmund, and he was a famous man. Two brothers, Kari and Arnulf, were the king's land-wardens and great warriors. There was a powerful farmer named Grip who married a woman named Gunnlod, the daughter of Hrok the Black, and they had nine sons, named Hrolf, Haki, Gaut, Throst, Angantyr, Logi, Hromund, Helgi, and Hrok. They were all promising men, though Hromund was greater than the rest. He knew no fear, and was handsome, fair-haired and mighty, great and strong, much like Hrok, his uncle. With the king were two men, one named Bild, the other Vali. They were evil and crafty. The king was mighty. One time, Olaf sailed east to Norway with his fleet, and sailed to the Ulfar Skerries, harrying until he laid anchor at an island. The king told Kari and Arnulf to go up to the island and see if they could see any warships. They went ashore, and soon saw six warships. There was one most magnificent dragon-ship. Kari called to the occupants and asked who was in charge of the ships. An ugly man stood up in the dragon-ship and said that he was named Hrongvid, - 'and what is your name?' Kari said to him and his brother: 'I know none worse than you, and moreover, I shall cut you into tiny pieces.' Hrongvid said: 'I have harried summer and winter for thirty-three years, fighting sixty battles and always had the victory. My sword is named Brynthvari, and it never goes blunt. Come here tomorrow morning, Kari, and I shall sheath him in your breast.' Kari said he would not fail, and Hrongvid might choose the day to face the sword's point.
	2. Hrómundr drap Hröngvið víking	Chapter 2
	Þeir bræðr kómu aptr til konungs ok sögðu honum tíðendin. Konungr bauð at halda til orrostu, ok svá var gert. Hittust þeir, ok tókst þar harðr bardagi. Þeir bræðr gengu vel fram. Kári hafði jafnan átta eða tólf í hverju höggi. Hröngviðr sá þetta. Hljóp hann upp á konungs skip til Kára ok lagði sverðinu í gegnum hann. Þegar Kári hafði fengit sárit, segir hann til konungs: "Lifið heilir, herra, ek mun hjá Óðni gista." Hröngviðr vá Örnúlf upp á spjóti sínu. Eptir fall þeira bræðra kallar Hröngviðr, at þeir skuli upp gefast. Er þá illr kurr í liði konungs. Engi járn bitu Hröngvið. Nú er þess getit, at Hrómundr Gripsson var í fylgd með konungi. Hann tekr sér kylfu í hönd, bindr sér grátt ok sítt geitarskegg ok setr síðan hatt á höfuð sér, veðr svá fram ok finnr þá bræðr báða dauða, tekr upp merki konungs ok lemr með kylfunni blámenn til dauða. Hröngviðr spyrr, hverr sá væri, -- "eða er þetta nokkut faðir hans illa Kára?" Hrómundr segir nafn sitt ok kveðst hefna vilja þeira bræðra, -- "en eigi var Kári mér skyldr. Samt skal ek drepa þik." Ok í því gaf hann Hröngviði kylfuhögg svá mikit, at hann bar hallt höfuð eptir ok mælti: "Ek hefi verit víða í bardögum ok aldri fengit þvílíkt högg." Annat högg sló Hrómundr til Hröngviðar, svá at haussinn brotnaði. Í þriðja höggi missti hann lífit. Eptir þat gengu þeir, sem eptir lifðu, allir á hendr konungi, ok lyktaðist svá bardaginn.	The brothers came back to the king and told him the news. The king decided to accept the challenge, and so it was done. They met, and there they received hard battle. The brothers went well forward. Kari always felled eight or twelve men in each stroke. Hrongvid saw that. He ran up to the king's ship, to Kari and thrust his sword through him. As soon as Kari had taken a wound, he said to the king: "Live well, sire, I go to be the guest of Odin." Hrongvid fought Arnulf, felling Kari's brother with his spear. Then Hrongvid told them all that they should give up. An evil murmur came from the king's troop. Iron did not bite Hrongvid. Now the saga says that Hromund Gripsson was in the king's following. He took a club in his hand, bound to himself a long goat-beard and put a hood on his head, then stormed forward to find both the brothers dead. Then he took up the king's standard and beat the black men to death with his club. Hrongvid asked, who he was, "-- or was Kari your father that you are so wrathful?" Hromund gave his name and said he would avenge the brothers, --"Kari was not my father. All the same, I shall kill you." Then he gave Hrongvid so great a blow that he bowed his head and said: "I have been widely in battle and never taken such a stroke." Hromund gave to Hrongvid another stroke, so that his skull broke. In the third stroke, he lost his life. After that they went, those who lived, to the king, and so the battle ended.
	3. Hrómundi vísat til fjár	Chapter 3.
	Nú kannar Hrómundr skipin ok finnr einn mann hallast upp við í stafni. Hann spyrr þann mann at nafni. Sá kveðst Helgi heita inn frækni, bróðir Hröngviðar, -- "ok nenni ek eigi friðar at biðja." Hrómundr lét græða Helga inn frækna. Hann sigldi þar eptir í Svíþjóð ok gerðist landvarnarmaðr. Þar eptir helt Óláfr konungr liði sínu vestr til Suðreyja, gengu þar á land ok tóku strandhögg. Karl einn bjó þar nærri. Konungmenn höfðu tekit kýr hans ok ráku undan sér. Lét hann mjök aumliga um þann missi. Hrómundr kemr at ok spyrr, hverr sá væri. Karlinn segir, at byggð sín væri allskammt þaðan, ok kvað meiri fremd at brjóta hauga ok ræna drauga fé. Þessi kvaðst Máni at nafni. Hrómundr bað hann segja sér, ef hann vissi nokkut um soddan. Máni sagðist víst vita ok mælti: "Þráinn, sem vann Valland ok var þar konungr, berserkr mikill ok sterkr, fullr galdra, hann var settr í haug með sverði, herklæðum ok fé miklu, en fáir fýsast þangat." Hrómundr spyrr, hverja leið sigla skal þangat. Hann segir, at hann má sigla rétt suðr í sex daga. Hrómundr þakkar karli fregn þessa, gaf honum fé ok lét hann taka kýr sínar. Sigldu þeir svá þaðan eptir því, sem karl vísaði þeim til, ok at sex daga fresti sáu þeir hauginn rétt fyrir framstafni.	Now Hromund searched the ship and he found one man hiding up in the prow. He asked this man his name. The man said he was called Helgi the Valiant, and that he was the brother of Hrongvid, --"and I cannot bear to sue for peace." Hromund allowed Helgi the Valiant time to heal his wounds, and later he sailed to Sweden and became a land-warder there. King Olaf sailed west to the Hebrides with his fleet, and here they went ashore and rounded up a herd of cattle. A farmer lived nearby. The king's men took his cow and drove it down to the ships. He was greatly grieved by that loss. Hromund came and asked him where he dwelt. The man said that his name was Mani, and that he lived a short way away, and added that it would be a greater deed for them to break into a barrow and rob the drow's wealth. Hromund asked him to tell him if he knew anything about that. Mani said that certainly he knew and added: "Thrain, who conquered Gaul and was king there, he who was a great and mighty berserk, and an excellent sorcerer - he entered a barrow with his sword, armour and much wealth. But you must go there quickly." Hromund asked how long it would take them to sail there. Mani said that they should sail due south for six days. Hromund thanked the man for this information, gave him his wealth and let him take back his cow. Then they sailed as the man had advised them, and in six days' time they saw the barrow before the prow of the ship.
	4. Hrómundr vann haugbúa	Chapter 4.
	Þeir kómu vestan at Vallandi ok fundu hauginn ok rufu þegar. Ok at liðnum sex dögum kómu þeir glugga á hauginn. Sáu þeir, at þar sat á stóli dólgr mikill, blár ok digr, allr gulli klæddr, svá at leiptraði af. Rumdi hann mjök ok blés at eldi. Hrómundr spyrr, hverr nú vill ganga í hauginn, ok sá skuli kjósa sér þrjá gripi. Váli kvað: "Engi mundi vilja gefa líf sitt við því. Eru hér nú sex tigir manna, ok mun tröll þetta öllum dauða veita." Hrómundr mælti: "Vogat mundi Kári hafa þetta, ef lífs væri," -- ok kvað makligt, þótt sér væri niðr sleppt í festi, þótt betra sé at fást við átta aðra. Fór svá Hrómundr niðr í festinni. Var þat á nóttu. Ok er hann kom niðr, bar hann saman fé mikit ok batt í festarenda. Þráinn hafði verit á fyrri dögum konungr yfir Vallandi ok vann allt með göldrum, gerði margt illt af sér, ok þá hann var svá gamall, at hann kunni eigi at stríða lengr, lét hann setja sik lifanda í hauginn ok mikit fé með sér. Nú sér Hrómundr, hvar sverðit hangir uppi á einni súlu. Hann kippir því ofan, gyrðist með ok gengr fram at stólnum ok mælti: "Mér mun vera mál ór hauginum, fyrst engi hamlar, eða hverninn vegnar þér, þú hérna, inn gamli? Sástu eigi, at ek bar saman fé þitt, en þú höktir kyrr, hundr leiðr, eða hvat var þér í augum, er þú horfðir á, at ek tók sverðit ok menit ok fjölda þinna annarra gripa?" Þráinn kvað sér einskis um vert þykkja, ef hann léti sik kyrran sitja á stóli sinum, -- "ek kunna áðr fyrr at berjast. Er ek þá orðinn nógu ragr, ef þú einn skalt ræna mik auði, ok vil ek synja þér gripanna. Máttu sjá við mér dauðum." Þá mælti Hrómundr: "Rigaðu þér á fætr, ragr ok blauðr, ok tak þú sverðit aptr af mér, ef þú þorir." Draugr mælti: "Þat er engi fremd at bera sverð á mik vápnlausan. Heldr vil ek reyna afl við þik ok glímu." Hrómundr kastar þá sverðinu ok treysti afli sínu. Þráinn sá þetta ok leysti ofan ketil sinn, er hafði uppi. Hann var þá eigi frýnligr, blés þá at eldi, er hann var búinn at eta ór katlinum. Funi mikill var í milli fóta honum, en ketillinn fullr í búki. Hann var í stakki gullfáguðum. Báðar hendr hans váru brenglaðar, ok beygðust neglr fyrir góma. Hrómundr mælti: "Skríddu af stóli, skálkr argr, sviptr öllu fé." Þá sagði draugr: "Nú mun mál vera at fara á fætr, fyrst þú frýjar mér hugar." Dagr líðr, en kveldar, ok gerðist þá myrkt í hauginum. Hann gekk þá til glímu við Hrómund, en kastaði niðr katli sínum. Neytti þá Hrómundr afls, ok svá gengust þeir hart at, at grjót ok steinar gengu upp. Þá datt draugrinn á annat kné ok mælti: "Þú stjakar mér, ok víst ertu hraustr maðr." Hrómundr sagði: "Stattu stuðningslaust á fætr aptr. Miklu ertu linari en Máni karl sagði." Þá tók Þráinn at tryllast, ok fylltist upp haugrinn með illan daun. Setti hann þá klær sínar á hnakka Hrómundi ok sleit hold af beinum á lendar ofan ok mælti: "Kvarta eigi um, þótt gráni leikrinn ok sárni kroppr þinn, því at nú skal ek rífa þik kvikan í sundr." "Eigi veit ek," sagði Hrómundr, "hvaðan soddan kattakyn er komit í haug þenna." Draugrinn mælti: "Þú munt fæddr vera af Gunnlöðu. Eru fáir þínir líkar." "Illt mun vera," sagði Hrómundr, "at þú klórir mik lengi." Glímdu þeir hart ok lengi, svá at allt skalf, þat nærri var, þar til um síðir, at Hrómundr felldi hann á fótarbragði. Þá var orðit mjök dimmt. Þá mælti draugr: "Nú vannstu mik með ráðum ok tókst sverð mitt. Þat skipti með okkr leikum. Lengi hefi ek lifat í haugi mínum ok lafat á fé, en eigi er gott at trúa gripum sínum, þótt góðir þykki, of mjök, ok aldri hefi ek ætlat, at þú, Mistilteinn, mitt góða sverð, mundir verða mér til meins." Varð Hrómundr þá lauss ok náði sverðinu ok mælti: "Herm mér nú, hvat marga menn í hólmgöngu þú vannst með Mistilteini." "Hundrað fjóra ok tuttugu," kvað draugrinn, "ok fekk ek aldri skeinu. Semingr konungr, er var í Svíþjóð, ok ek reyndum okkrar íþróttir, ok hugði hann ek mundi seint unninn verða." "Lengi hefir þú," sagði Hrómundr, "verit mönnum til meins, ok mun þat happaverk at láta þik sem fyrst deyja." Hjó hann svá höfuðit af draugnum ok brenndi hann upp allan á báli, fór svá ór hauginum. Spurðu menn þá, hverninn Þráinn ok hann hefðu skilit. Hann kvað þat hafa gengit í kjör, -- "því at ek hjó af honum höfuðit." Eignaðist Hrómundr þá þrjá gripi, er hann sótti í hauginn, hring, men ok Mistiltein. Allir fengu þeir of fjár. Sigldi Óláfr konungr svá þaðan ok norðr til síns ríkis, settist síðan at landi sínu um kyrrt.	They sailed west to Gaul and soon found the barrow. And after six days had passed, they came to an opening in the barrow. They saw a great ugly man sitting in a chair, blue-skinned and stout, all clad in gold, so that it glittered. He chattered much and blew on the fire. Hromund asked now who would enter the barrow, and said that whoever did should choose three treasures for himself. Vali said: "No one would willingly give his life for that. There are sixty men here, and that troll will kill us all." Hromund said: "Kari would have dared to do this, if he was alive," --and added that he was prepared to descend into the barrow, although it would be better if he went with others. Hromund went down on a chain. It was night-time by then. And when he reached the bottom, he found much wealth and gathered it together. In previous days Thrain had been king over Gaul, and he had accomplished everything by sorcery. He did much evil, until he was so old that he no longer wanted to know adversity any longer, so he went alive into the barrow and took much wealth with him. Now Hromund saw where a sword hung up from a pillar. He took it down, belted it to himself and went forward and said: "I will speak with you before I leave the barrow, since you do not stop me. What is wrong with you, you there, old one? Do you not agree that while I gathered your wealth together you sat silent, hated dog? Was something in your eyes, that you looked on as I took your sword and jewellery and many of your other treasures?" Thrain said to himself that he would seem worth little if he allowed himself to sit silently in his chair, -- "I have little wish to fight. But I must have become a great coward, if you can rob my wealth. I refuse you my treasure. You will see me dead first." Then Hromund said: "It would be seemly if you rose, cowardly and craven one, and took your sword back from me, if you dare.'' The drow said: "That is no deed, to bear a sword against me, who am weaponless. I will test my strength with you and wrestle." Hromund threw down the sword and trusted in his own strength. Thrain saw that and got up from his cauldron. He blew on the fire, and now he was ready to eat out of the cauldron. A great fire lay between his feet, and the cauldron was full of goat-meat. He wore a gold-painted hide. Both his hands were gnarled, and his nails were crooked over the tips of his fingers. Hromund said: "Rise from the chair, cowardly slave, and take your wealth." Then the drow said: "Now will we have fitting speech, now you challenge my courage." Day passed, and dusk fell, and it grew dark in the barrow. Then the drow went to wrestle with Hromund, but he cast down his cauldron. Hromund had the advantage of strength, and so they went hard at it, so that rocks and stones sprang up. Then the drow fell to his left knee and said: "You knock me down, and certainly you are a brave man." Hromund said: "Stand without support to your back. You are as great a coward as Máni the farmer said." Thrain went crazy, and he filled the barrow with an evil reek. Then he set his claws to the back of Hromund's head and broke hold of the bone to his loins and said: "Do not complain about it, although the game grows coarse and I have wounded your throat, so that now I shall tear you apart still alive.'' "I do not know," said Hromund, "from where such cat-kin has come to this barrow." The drow said: "You were born to Gunnlod. All your like are so." "Evil will it be," said Hromund, "that you scratch me long." They wrestled hard and long, so that everything around them shook, until Hromund felled the drow with a foot-trick. By then it had become very dark. Then the drow said: "Now you want my advice having obtained my sword. I have lived long in my barrow and gloated over my wealth, but no good came from that treasure, although you think it good. I never intended that you would use Mistiltein, my good sword, to harm me." Hromund then loosed the sword and rested it on his knee, and said: "Tell me now, how many men did you defeat in duels with Mistiltein." "Four hundred and twenty," said the drow, "and I never received a graze. I tested my skill with King Seming, who ruled in Sweden, and he saw that I would soon be the victor." "Long have you," said Hromund, " been harmful to men, and I will work it that you die first." He struck the head off the drow, and burned him up in the fire, then went out of the barrow. Then the men asked how Thrain and he had parted. He said that he went in choice, --"then I struck off his head." Hromund kept three treasures that he found in the barrow, a ring, a necklace and Mistiltein. All of the others got money. Then King Olaf sailed away from there, north to his kingdom, and afterwards his land was well renowned.
	5. Hrómundr rægðr við konung	Chapter 5.
	Eptir þetta var Hrómundr mjök frægr, vinsæll ok stórgjöfull. Hann gaf einum manni, þeim er Hrókr hét, eitt sinn gullhring góðan, er vá eyri. Þat fekk Váli at vita ok drap Hrók á náttartíma, en tók hringinn. En sem konungr vissi þetta, kvaðst hann skyldu launa Vála einhvern tíma hans hrekki. Konungr átti tvær systr. Önnur þeira hét Dagný, en hin Svanhvít. Sú var framar at öllu, ok var engi hennar líki millum Svíþjóðar ok Hálogalands. Hrómundr Gripsson var nú heima ok gerði sér kátt við Svanhvít ok forðast hvárki Vála né Bíld. Hún mælti eitt sinn við Hrómund ok segir Váli og Bíldr muni rægja hann við konung. Hann mælti: "Ek hræðumst engar argar fýlur, ok svá lengi þú vil unna mér viðtals, þá mun ek tala við þik." Svá varð megn þessi rógburðr, at Hrómundr ok hans bróðir urðu at rýma frá konungs hirð ok fóru heim til föður síns. Lítit hér eptir talar Svanhvít við Óláf konung ok sagði: "Nú er Hrómundr dæmdr í brott frá konungs hirð, hverr vára sæmd jók þó mest, en aptr í staðinn hafi þér með yðr þá tvá, er hvárki rækja frægð né dáð." Konungr svarar: "Heyrt hefi ek getit hann mundi fífla þik, ok skal sverðit skilja ykkar ást." "Lítt manstu nú," sagði hún, "þegar hann einn gekk í hauginn, en engi annarr þorði, ok fyrr mun Váli ok Bíldr hengdr verða," sagði hún, gekk síðan snúðugt í brott.	Following this, Hromund was very famous, and popular and generous. He gave a man named Hrok his good gold ring, which weighed eight ounces. Vali got to know this and he killed Hrok one night, but took the ring. The king learnt of this and said that some time he would reward Vali for his trick. The king had two sisters, one named Dagny, and the other Svanhvit. Svanhvit was foremost of all women, and there was no one like her throughout Sweden and Halogaland. Hromund Gripsson now stayed at home, seeing much of Svanhvit, and avoiding neither Vali nor Bild. Svanhvit told Hromund that Vali and Bild would slander him to the king. He said "I am not afraid of such cowardly paltry fellows, and as long as you love me, then I will speak with you." But this slander grew so great that Hromund and his brothers abandoned the king's retinue and went home to their father. A little while later, Svanhvit spoke with King Olaf and said: "Now Hromund has abandoned your retinue, through whom my honour was greatly increased, and in his place you have those two who have neither courage nor renown." The king said: "I have heard it said that he had fooled you, and that your love shall know the sword." "You remember little now," she said, "but he went into the barrow when no one else dared. But before long Vali and Bild will be slain," she added, and afterwards went away quickly.
	6. Óláfr konungr átti orrostu	Chapter 6.
	Nokkuru síðar kómu tveir konungar af Svíþjóð. Hétu báðir Haldingjar. Helgi Hröngviðsbróðir var með þeim. Þeir buðu Óláfi konungi til orrostu vestr á Vænisís. Hann vill nú heldr mæta þeim en flýja óðal sitt, gerir nú orð Hrómundi ok bræðrum hans at fylgja sér. Þá vildi Hrómundr hvergi fara, kvað Bíld ok Vála vel duga ok vinna allt með konungi. Konungr fór af stað með lið sitt. Svanhvít klökknaði við ok fór heim til Hrómundar. Hann tók henni vel. "Virð nú til bæn mína," sagði hún, "meir en beiðni bróður míns ok veit nú lið konungi. Ek vil gefa þér einn skjöld með því bandi, er honum fylgir. Mun þik eigi saka, meðan þú hefir þat." Hrómundr þakkar henni gjöf þessa. Gladdist hún þá. Hann bjóst til ferðar ok bræðr hans átta. Nú kemr konungr með lið sitt til Vænisíss. Var þar fyrir Svía lið. En at morgni, þegar vígljóst var, vápnast þeir á ísnum, ok sóttu Svíar hart fram. Strax sem bardaginn hófst, var Bíldr veginn, en Váli kom þar eigi. Óláfr konungr ok konungr Haldingr varð sárr. Hrómundr hafði sett hrauktjald hinum megin vatnsins. Bræðr hans herklæðast snemma um morguninn. Hrómundr mælti: "Illa hefir mik dreymt í nótt, ok mun eigi ganga allt at óskum, ok mun ek ekki fara í dag til orrostu." Bræðr hans sögðu þat væri stór skömm at þora eigi at veita konungi lið, en vera þó kominn þess erendis. Þeir kómu til orrostu ok gengu hart fram, ok fell hverr um þveran annan, er þeim mætti af liði Haldingja. Ein fjölkynngiskona var þar komin í álptar ham. Hún gólaði með svá miklum galdralátum, at engi gáði at verja sik Óláfs manna. Flaug hún yfir þá Gripssyni ok söng hátt. Hún hét Lára. Helgi inn frækni mætti þeim bræðrum þat sama sinn ok drap þá alla átta saman.	Some time later, two Swedish kings, both named Halding, came to the land. With them was Helgi, Hrongvid's brother. They invited King Olaf to fight with them in the west, at Vaenisis. He was mightier than they, and would not flee his kingdom. He sent word to Hromund and his brothers to accompany him in the fight. But Hromund would go nowhere, and he said that Bild and Vali would help the king achieve everything. The king went to that place of battle with his army. Svanhvit left and went to Hromund, who received her well. "Consider my prayer," she said, "Go to aid my brother and join the army. I will give you a shield with a garter that was his aid. You will receive no injury while you have that." Hromund thanked her for this gift, and she was glad. He and his eight brothers prepared for the journey. Now the king came to Vaenisis with his army. The Swedish army was there. That morning, as soon as battle commenced, they went armed onto the ice, and the Swedes charged forward. Bild was slain the moment the battle began, but there was no sign of Vali. King Olaf and King Halding were both wounded. Hromund had pitched tents beside the water. His brothers put on their armour early in the morning. Hromund said: 'I have had bad dreams this night, and have no wish to enter the battle today." His brothers said that it would be a great shame that they dared not fight in the king's army, and it was better to go on this errand. They entered the battle and charged forward, but each fell about the other when they encountered the troop of Halding. A witch was there in the form of a swan. She cast magic with so many spells that no one among King Olaf's men noticed her. She flew over the sons of Grip, singing loudly. Her name was Lara. Helgi the Valiant met the brothers then, and killed all eight together.
	7. Frá framgöngu Hrómundar	Chapter 7.
	Í því bili kom Hrómundr í bardagann. Helgi inn frækni þekkti hann ok mælti: "Nú er sá kominn hér, sem vá Hröngvið, bróður minn. Megi þér nú sjá við hans sverði, sem hann sótti í hauginn. Varstu nú fjarri, er ek drap bræðr þína." Hrómundr mælti: "Eigi þarftu, Helgi, at frýja mér hugar, því at annathvárt ek eða þú skulum nú falla." Helgi sagði: "Mistilteinn er svá þungt vápn, at þú fær eigi valdit. Vil ek ljá þér þat annat sverð, er þú getr valdit." Hrómundr mælti: "Eigi þarftu at bregða mér um hugleysi. Muna muntu þat högg, er ek gaf Hröngviði, þá hauss hans molaðist." Helgi sagði: "Þú, Hrómundr, hefir bundit um þína hönd sokkaband meyjar einnar. Skil þik við skjöld þann, er þú berr. Þú fær engi sár, meðan þú berr þetta, ok held ek fyrir satt þú trúir á þá meyju." Hrómundr þoldi eigi þessi skapraunarorð ok kastaði niðr skildinum. Helgi frækni hafði jafnan sigr haft ok vann með fjölkynngi. Frilla hans hét Lára, sú sem þar var í álptarlíki. Helgi reiddi svá hátt sverð sitt upp yfir sik, at þat tók sundr fótlegg álptarinnar, ok renndi sverðit ofan í völlinn upp at hjöltum, ok mælti: "Nú er mín heill farin, ok illa tókst til, er ek missta þín." Hrómundr mælti: "Þú vannst, Helgi, it mesta slys, er þú drapst sjálfr frillu þína, ok farin mun þín heill." Datt Lára dauð niðr. En af því höggi, er Helgi hjó til Hrómundar, svá at sverðit hljóp at hjöltum ofan, snart oddr sverðsins kvið Hrómundar ok risti niðr, en Helgi laut eptir högginu. Var þá Hrómundr eigi seinn ok höggr Mistilteini í höfuð Helga, klauf hjálminn ok hausinn, svá at staðar nam í herðum. Brotnaði þá skarð í sverðit. Eptir þat tók Hrómundr tygilkníf sinn ok stakk á kviðinn á sér í sársbrúnirnar raufir, hratt svá inn ístrunni, er út hangdi, rifjar þar með saman kviðinn með bandi ok batt klæðin hart at, barðist svá í ákafa ok felldi hvern um annan þveran ok barðist fram til miðrar nætr. Flýði þat lið, sem eptir var af Haldingjum. Lýkr þar með orrostu. Hrómundr sér þá, at einn maðr stendr þar á ísnum. Veit hann sá sami muni hafa með göldrum gert ísinn á vatnit. Þekkti hann, at þetta var Váli. Hann kvað eigi óskylt at launa honum, hljóp til hans, reiddi Mistiltein ok vildi höggva hann. Váli blés sverðit ór hendi honum, ok hitti þat fyrir vök eina ok sökk niðr til grunns. Þá hló Váli ok mælti: "Nú ertu feigr, er þú misstir Mistiltein ór hendi þinni." Hrómundr sagði: "Fyrr muntu deyja en ek." Hljóp hann þá at Vála ok greip hann upp, færði niðr við ísinn, svá at hálsbeinit brotnaði. Lá þessi galdrarumr þar dauðr. En Hrómundr settist niðr á ísinn. Hann mælti: "Ek hafði eigi ráð meyjarinnar. Því hefi ek nú fengit fjórtán undir, ok þó þar til fellu bræðr mínir átta, ok mitt góða sverð, Mistilteinn, fell í vatnit, ok þess fæ ek aldri bætr, at ek missti sverðit." Gekk hann síðan þaðan ok heim at tjaldi sínu ok tók nokkura hvíld.	At that moment, Hromund entered the battle. Helgi the Valiant saw this and said: "Now is he come here, who fought Hrongvid my brother. You may now see him with his sword that he sought in the barrow. Now you must flee. I slew your brothers." Hromund said: "Helgi, you need not question my courage. Either you or I will now fall." Helgi said: "Mistiltein is so heavy a weapon, that you cannot control it. I will lend you another sword that you will be able to control." Hromund said: "You need not test my strength. You will remember the stroke that I gave Hrongvid, and crushed his skull." Helgi said: "Hromund, you have bound about your hand a maiden's garter. You know that it will shield you when you bear it. You will get no wound while you bear that, and so you will always be true to that maid." Hromund would not suffer these provocative words, and he cast down the shield. Helgi the Valiant always won victory but achieved everything by magic. His mistress was named Lara, who was there in the form of a swan. Helgi swung his sword so hard above himself that he accidentally cut off her leg, and the sword sank into the ground up to the hilt. He said: 'Now has my luck gone, and it goes badly for me that you will succeed." Hromund said: "Helgi, you are defeated. It was very bad luck when you slew your own mistress, and your health will go." Lara fell down dead. But with the stroke Helgi struck Hromund, the sword ran to the hilt, and the sword point slid into Hromund's belly, but Helgi stooped to strike again. Hromund made no delay and hewed Helgi's head with Mistiltein, cleaving helmet and skull, so that it sank into his shoulders. Then the notch in the sword broke. Hromund took his belt-knife and pierced his belly where it was ripped, pushed so the paunch-fat hung out, tore his belly and with the garter bound his clothes together. Then he fought so fiercely and felled men so they fell each across the other, and fought on into the middle of the night. Then that army fled, along with the Haldings. There the fight ended. Then Hromund saw that a man was standing there on the ice. He knew well that sorcery could turn the ice to water, and he noticed that it was Vali. He said that he was obliged to reward him, ran to him, swung Mistiltein and would have struck him. But Vali blew the sword out of his hand, and it flew over an opening in the ice and sank down to the bottom. Then Vali laughed and said: "Now you are doomed, now you have lost Mistiltein from out of your hand." Hromund said: "But before that you will die." Then he ran to Vali and lifted him up, then dashed him down on the ice, so his neck broke. This wizard lay there, dead, but Hromund sat down on the ice. He said: "I had no good advice from the maiden. I have now sent fourteen men under, and though my eight brothers also fell, and my sword Mistiltein fell in the water, and this loss I can never make good, that I lost my sword." Afterwards he went away from there, went home to his tent and took some rest.
	8. Hrómundr græddr á laun	Chapter 8.
	Nú eru konungs systr sóttar. Kannar Svanhvít sár Hrómundar ok saumar kviðinn saman ok leitar honum hægenda. Hún lét færa hann karli þeim til græðslu, er Hagall hét. Kerling hans var klók. Þau tóku vel við honum ok græddu hann at heilu. Þat fann Hrómundr, at þessi hjón váru margkunnug. Karl var vanr at veiða fiska, ok eitt sinn, er hann var at veiðiskap sínum, dró hann eina geddu, ok er hann kom heim ok krufði hana, fann hann í hennar maga Mistiltein, sverð Hrómundar, ok fekk honum þat. Hrómundr varð glaðr við ok kyssti á hjölt sverðsins ok umbunaði vel karli. Einn maðr var sá með Haldings konungs her, sem hét Blindr inn illi. Hann sagði konungi, at Hrómundr væri lífs ok græddr á laun hjá Hagali karli ok konu hans. Konungr kvað ótrúligt, at þau mundu þora at leyna honum. Konungr bauð at leita hans. Blindr fór með nokkura menn til húsa þeira Hagals ok spurði, ef Hrómundr væri þar geymdr. Kerling sagði hann mundi eigi þar finnast. Blindr leitaði vandliga ok fann eigi, því at kerling hafði falit Hrómund undir hitunarkatli sínum. Blindr ok hans félagar gengu þaðan, ok er þeir váru á leið komnir, sagði Blindr: "Eigi er ferð vár fræg orðin, ok skulum vér aptr snúa." Þeir gerðu svá, kómu heim ok fundu kerlingu. Sagði Blindr hún væri brögðótt, ok hefði hún geymt Hrómund undir katli sínum. "Leitið ok takið hann þar þá," kvað hún. En því sagði hún þetta, at þegar hún sá þeir sneru aptr, færði hún Hrómund í kvenskrúða ok lét hann mala ok snúa kvörn. Þeir leita nú í húsunum. Ok þegar þeir koma þar mærin sneri kvörninni, snuðruðu þeir allt um kring, en sú sama leit óhýrt til konungsmanna, sneru svá í brott, at þeir fundu eigi. Ok er þeir váru á leið komnir, sagði Blindr, at kerling mun hafa villt sjónir fyrir þeim ok sér þykki grunsamt, at Hrómundr muni hafa verit þat, sem sneri kvörninni í kvenklæðum, -- "ok sé ek oss hefir yfir sézt. Dugir oss eigi at þreyta við kerlingu, því at hún er oss klókari." Báðu þeir henni ills ok fóru heim aptr til konungs við svá búit.	Now the king's sisters searched the battlefield. Svanhvit found Hromund wounded and sewed his belly together, and searched his wounds. She sent him to a healer named Hagall. Hagall's wife was very cunning. They took him in and healed his wounds. Hromund discovered that this household was very knowledgeable. The man often went fishing, and one day when he was at his fishing he caught a pike, and when he came home and cut it open he found in its mouth Mistiltein, Hromund's sword, and took it to him. Hromund was glad at that, and he kissed the hilt of the sword and was instantly well. There was a man in King Halding's host who was called Blind the Evil. He told the king that Hromund was alive, healthy, and living with the farmer Hagall and his wife. The king said that this was false, that they would not dare to keep him in ignorance. But he told Blind to search for Hromund. Blind went with some men to Hagall's house and asked if Hromund was concealed there. Hagall's wife said he would not find him there. Blind searched carefully and could not find him, because the woman had concealed Hromund in her boiling cauldron. Blind and his fellows departed, but after they had gone some way, Blind said: "That was not the journey I foresaw. We must turn back." They did so, went back and found the woman. Blind said she was crafty, and she had concealed Hromund in the cauldron. "Look there and take him, then," she said. But she said that because as soon as they had left she had dressed Hromund in women's clothes and set him to grind corn and turn the quern. And as soon as they came there, the maid turned the quern. They searched all around, but again they found nothing, and so they went away. But as they were heading off, Blind said that the woman must have magically seen them and he thought that Hromund must have been the one who turned the quern in women's clothes, "and I see she has outdone us. I can do nothing against that woman, since she is so cunning." They wished her evil and went back to the king.
	9. Frá draumum Blinds	Chapter 9.
	Um vetrinn eptir bar margt fyrir Blind í svefni, ok segir konungi eitt sinn draum sinn ok mælti svá: "Mér þótti vargr einn renna austan. Hann beit yðr, konungr, ok veitti yðr áverka." Konungr kvaðst ráða þenna draum svá: "Hér mun koma konungr af nokkurum stað, ok mun fundrinn verða skæðr fyrst, en falla þó niðr til sátta." Enn kvað Blindr sik dreymt hafa, at honum þótti margir haukar sitja í einu húsi, -- "ok þekkti ek þar fálka þinn, herra. Hann var allr fjaðralauss ok flettr hamnum." Konungr mælti: "Vindr mun koma af skýjum ok skelfa vára borg." Þriðja draum sagði Blindr sváleiðis: "Mörg svín sá ek renna sunnan at konungs höllu, rótuðu jörðinni upp með rananum." Konungr mælti: "Þat er fyrir sjóvar ólgu, vátviðrum ok grasvexti þeim, er grær at vatnsins vökva, er sólin skínn í heiði." Fjórða draum sagði Blindr: "Mér þótti einn ógurligr hriki koma austan at. Hann beit yðr stóra und." Konungr mælti: "Sendimenn frá nokkurum konungi munu koma í mína höll. Þeir munu bíta upp öllum sínum vápnum, ok þar af mun ek reiðast." "Fimmti draumr er sá," sagði Blindr, "at mér þótti liggja um Svíaveldi grimmligr ormr." "Hér mun koma at landi," sagði konungr, "dreki vænn, hlaðinn gersemum." "Sétta sinn dreymdi mik," sagði Blindr, "at mér þótti koma af landi svört ský með klóm ok vængjum, ok flugu brott með þik, konungr. Þá dreymdi mik enn, at ormr einn væri hjá Hagali karli. Sá beit menn grimmliga. Át hann bæði mik ok yðr upp ok alla konungs menn, eða hvat mun þetta þýða?" Konungr mælti: "Heyrt hefi ek skammt frá hýbýlum Hagals liggi híðbjörn nokkurr. Ek mun fara at vinna björninn, ok mun hann þá byrstast mjök." "Hér næst dreymdi mik, at dreka hamr væri dreginn um konungs höll, ok hekk þar við lindi Hrómunds." Konungr mælti: "Þat veiztu, at Hrómundr missti sverðit ok linda í vatninu, eða ertu nú hræddr við Hrómund?" Fleiri drauma dreymdi Blind, hverja hann sagði konungi, en konungr réð þá alla sér í vil, en engan svá sem merking til höfðu. Nú segir Blindr enn einn draum sinn, þann er hann sjálfan snerti, ok mælti: "Mér þótti járnhringr settr á minn háls." Konungr sagði: "Þat er þýðing þess draums, at þú munt hengdr verða, ok þar með munu vit báðir feigir."	That winter, Blind saw much in his sleep, and he recounted one of his dreams to the king, saying: "It seemed to me a wolf ran eastward. He bit you, king, and gave you a blow." The king interpreted the dream. "The king of another country will come here, and when we first meet he will harm me, but later we will be at peace." Then Blind said that he had dreamed that it seemed to him that many hawks were sitting in a house, "and I noticed in there your spirit, sire. He was all featherless and stripped of his coat." The king said: "A wind will come from the skies and shake my stronghold." A third dream recounted Blind. "Many swine ran south of the king's hall, rooting up earth with their tusks." The king said: "That means that the swell rushes over the beach, and the land will be flooded with water while the sun shines in the brightness of the sky." Blind recounted a fourth dream. 'It seemed to me a furious giant came east. He bit you, which was a great wonder." The king said: 'The messengers of some king will come to my hall. They will bite up all his weapons, and then ride away." "I had a fifth dream," said Blind, "and it seemed that about me lay a grim serpent." "There will come to land," said the king, "a handsome dragon-ship, laden with treasure." "Sixth I dreamed," said Blind, "that it seemed that a black cloud with claws and wings came to the kingdom, and it flew away with you, king. Then I dreamed that a serpent was beside the farmer Hagall. It bit men furiously. It ate up you, and me, and all the retainers. What does that signify?" The king said: 'I have heard that not far from Hagall's house lies a hibernating bear. I will go against that bear, and he will bristle greatly." "Next I dreamed that a dragon-spirit was drawn about your hall, and it was thick with Hromund's shields." The king said: "You know that Hromund lost his sword and shield in the water. Or are you afraid of Hromund now?" Blind dreamed more dreams, and each he recounted to the king, but the king interpreted them all favourably, and saw no omens in them. Now Blind recounted another dream, in which he felt himself touched, and he said: "It seemed to me that an iron ring was set about my neck." The king said: "This dream means that you will be hanged, and with that we are both doomed."
	10. Hrómundr fekk Svanhvítar	Chapter 10.
	Eptir þetta safnar Óláfr konungr liði, helt síðan til Svíþjóðar. Hrómundr fylgdi honum. Kómu þeir óvart at höllu Haldings konungs. Hann lá í útiskemmu einni. Hann varð eigi fyrr varr við en upp var brotin skemmuhurðin. Haldingr hrópar á menn sína ok spyrr, hverir um nætr stríða. Hrómundr sagði til sín. Konungr sagði: "Þú munt vilja hefna þinna bræðra." Hrómundr kvað hann skyldi fátt tala um fall bræðra sinna, -- "skaltu nú þess gjalda ok hér lífit missa." Þá hljóp upp einn kappi Haldings konungs svá storr sem risi. Hrómundr drap þann. Haldingr konungr verst í hvílunni, en fekk ekkert sár, því at hvert sinn Hrómundr hjó til hans, kom sverðit flatt á konung. Þá tók Hrómundr kylfu ok lamdi Halding konung í hel. Þá mælti Hrómundr: "Hér hefi ek felldan Halding konung, ok hefi ek eigi sét frægra mann." Karlinn Blindr, er hét Bavis, var bundinn ok hengdr, ok rættist svá draumr hans. Tóku þeir þar mikit gull ok annat fé, heldu síðan heim. Óláfr konungr gifti Hrómundi Svanhvít. Þau unntust vel, áttu sonu ok dætr til samans ok váru afbragð annarra. Eru af þeim komnar konunga ættir ok kappar miklir, ok lýkr hér sögu Hrómundar Gripssonar.	After that, King Olaf gathered his troop, and afterwards sailed to Sweden. Hromund went with him. They surprised King Halding's hall. The king was in an outbuilding. He was unaware of the attack until the door of the building was broken down. Halding called to his men and asked them about this night attack. Hromund spoke to him. The king said: "You will avenge your brothers." Hromund said he should say little about the fall of his brothers, "Now you will pay, and here dispense with your life." Then up ran one of King Halding's warriors who was as big as a giant. Hromund killed him. King Halding was the worst for sorcery, and got no wounds, so that whenever Hromund struck him, the flat of his sword struck the king. The Hromund took a club, laid about King Halding and sent him to Hell. Then Hromund said: "Here I have felled King Halding, and I have never seen so valiant a man." The man Blind, who was also named Bavis, was bound and hanged, and so fulfilled his dream. There they took great gold and other wealth, then afterwards sailed home. King Olaf gave Svanhvit in marriage to Hromund. They loved each other greatly, and had sons and daughters together who were excellent people. From them, royal dynasties and great warriors trace their lineage. Here ends the saga of Hromund Gripsson.
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	Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia, 1988:	"The Saga of Hrómundr Gripsson" dates from the 17th century and is almost certianly based on Griplur, late-medieval rímur on the same subject. The Gríplur were probably based on a now-lost saga of Hrómundr Gripsson. This lost saga has been the focus of much scholarly debate."