Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Sörla  Þáttur eða 

Héðins Saga ok Högna

from the Flateyjarbók

The Tale of Hogni and Hedinn

1875

Translated by

Peter Tunstall

(c) 2005

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.

East of Vanaquisl in Asia was the land called Asialand or Asiahome, but the folk that dwelt there was called Æsir, and their chief town was Asgard. Odin was the name of the king thereof, and therein was a right holy place of sacrifice. Niord and Frey Odin made Temple-priests thereover: but the daughter of Niord was Freyia, and she was fellow to Odin and his concubine.
Now there were certain men in Asia, whereof one was called Alfrigg, the second Dwalin, the third Berling, the fourth Grerr: these had their abode but a little space from the King's hall, and were men so wise in craftsmanship, that they laid skilful hand on all matters; and such-like men as they were did men call dwarfs. In a rock was their dwelling, and in that day they mingled more with menfolk than as now they do.
Odin loved Freyia full sore, and withal she was the fairest woman of that day: she had a bower that was both fair arid strong; insomuch, say men, that if the door were shut to, none might come into the bower aforesaid without the will of Freyia.
Now on a day went Freyia afoot by that rock of the dwarfs, and it lay open: therein were the dwarfs a-smithying a golden collar, and the work was at point to be done: fair seemed that collar to Freyia, and fair seemed Freyia to the dwarfs.
Now would Freyia buy the collar of them, and bade them in return for it silver and gold, and other good things. They said they lacked not money, yet that each of them would sell his share of the collar for this thing, and for nought else—that she should lie a night by each of them: wherefore, whether she liked it better or worse, on such wise did she strike the bargain with them; and so the four nights being outworn, and all conditions fulfilled, they delivered the collar to Freyia; and she went home to her bower, and held her peace hereof, as if nought had befallen. 

East of Vanakvisl in Asia there was a place called Asialand or Asiaheim. And the people who lived there were called Aesir, and they called the chief town Asgard. Odin was the name of the king who reigned there. There was a great shrine there. Odin appointed Njord and Frey as high-priests. Njord’s daughter was called Freyja. She accompanied Odin and was his lover.
There were some men in Asia, one called Alfrigg, the next Dvalin, then Berling and Grer. They had their home not far from the king’s hall. They were such skilled craftsmen they could turn their hand to anything and do well. Men such as these were called dwarves. They lived in a certain stone. They mixed with people more in those days than now.
Odin loved Freyja a lot, and indeed she was the fairest of all women then living. She had a bower, both fair and strong—so strong, it is said, that when the door was shut and locked, no one could come in unless Freyja wanted them to.
One day Freyja was walking and happened to come to the rock. It was open. The dwarves were forging a gold necklace. It was nearly done. Freyja liked the looks of the necklace. The dwarves liked the looks of Freyja too. She asked to buy the necklace, offered gold and silver for it, and good treasures besides. They said they weren’t short of money, but each would sell his share of the necklace for one thing, and they didn’t want anything else, except for her to lie a night with each of them. And, whether this was gladly done on her part or otherwise, that’s the deal they struck. And four nights later, when these conditions had been met, they handed over the necklace to Freyja. She went home to her bower, and kept quiet, as if nothing has 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.  

Here was a man called Farbauti, which carl had to wife a carline called Laufey; she was both slim and slender, therefore was she called Needle. One child had these, a son called Loki; nought great of growth was he, but betimes shameless of tongue and nimble in gait; over all men had he that craft which is called cunning; guileful was he from his youth up, therefore was he called Loki the Sly.

Hereto said Freyia yea, and gat her collar again.

There was a man called Farbauti. He was a simple farmer and had a wife named Laufey. She was both slim and slight, so they called her Needle. They had a child, a son named Loki. He wasn’t great of growth. He soon had a sharp tongue though. Nimble and a fast mover. He outdid other men in that sort of wisdom which is called guile. He was very crafty, even from a young age, so they called him Loki Laeviss, Sly-as-Venom.

He set out for Asgard to find Odin and became his man. Odin always spoke according to Loki’s counsel, whatever he did. Of course, Odin also set him difficult tasks, but Loki pulled these off better than expected. He knew near enough everything that went on, and he told it all to Odin, whatever he knew.

Now it’s said that Loki got wise to Freyja and her necklace: how she’d come by it, and what she’d paid. He told Odin. And when Odin learnt this, he said Loki should get hold of that necklace and bring it to him. Not likely, said Loki, as no man could enter the bower unless Freyja wanted. Odin said that he must go away and not come back till he’d got the necklace. Loki slunk away then howling. Most folks smiled when Loki got nowhere.

He went to Freyja’s bower and it was locked. He tried to get in, but couldn’t. It was freezing outside and he began to get very cold.

Then he turned into a fly. He flapped around all the locks and joints but couldn’t find a gap to get in anywhere, except one, right up under the gable top, and even that was no bigger than you could stick a needle through, but he burrows in. And when he came inside, his eyes opened very wide, and he wondered if anyone was awake, but he could see they were all asleep in the bower. So he goes further in towards Freyja’s bed and spots that she has the necklace around her neck, but with the clasp underneath. So Loki turns into a flea. He settles on Freyja’s cheek and bites so that Freyja wakes up and turns over and goes back to sleep. Then Loki takes off the flea-form, teases the necklace off her, unlocks the bower and goes off back to Odin.

Freyja wakes that morning and sees that the door is open, but unbroken, and the good necklace was gone. She thinks she knows what trickery’s behind it, and marches into the hall, the moment she’s dressed, to see King Odin and tells him he’s done wrong to have her precious treasure stolen from her and asks him to give her treasure back.

Odin says she’ll never get it back, not after the way she got it, “unless you fix it so that two kings, each served by twenty kings, are set at odds and fight each other under such spells and curses that they stand up and carry on fighting as soon as they fall, that is unless some Christian man should be so bold, and accompanied by such great luck of his lord, that he dares to go into their battle and strike these men with weapons. Only then will their toil be done—thanks to whatever chief it may fall to to release them thus from the bonds and struggle of their baleful doings.”

Freyja agreed, and received the necklace.

3. Frá Sörla víkingi

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.

At that time, four and twenty years from the fall of Peace-Frodi, there ruled over Oppland in Norway a king called Erling. He had a queen and two sons. Sorli the Strong was the eldest, and Erlend the youngest. They were promising men. Sorli was the stronger of them. They set out raiding as soon as they were old enough. They fought Sindri the Viking, the son of Sveigir, the son of Haki the Sea-King, in the Elfar Skerries, and Sindri fell there with all his band. In that battle Erlend Erlingsson also fell. After that Sorli sailed to the eastern Baltic and harried there and did so many great deeds that it would take a long time to write 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.

Here was a king hight Halfdan, who ruled over Denmark, and abode in a stead called Roi's-well; he had to wife Hvedna the old, and their-sons were Hogni and Hakon, men peerless of growth and might, and all prowess: they betook them to warfare so soon as they were come to man's estate.
Now cometh the tale on Sorli again, for on an autumntide he sailed to Denmark. King Halfdan was minded as at this time to go to an assembly of the kings; he was well stricken in years when these things betid. He had a dragon so good that never was such another ship in all Norway for strength's sake, and all craftsmanship. Now was this ship lying moored in the haven, but King Halfdan was a-land and had let brew his farewell drink. But when Sorli saw the dragon, so great covetise ran into his heart that he must needs have her: and forsooth, as most men say, no ship so goodly hath ever been in the Northlands, but it were the dragon Ellida, or Gnod, or the Long Worm.
So Sorli spake to his men, bidding them array them for battle; "for we will slay King Halfdan and have -away his dragon."
Then answered his word a man called Saevar, his Forecastle-man and Marshal: "Ill rede, lord," saith he; "for King Halfdan is a mighty lord of great renown, and hath two sons to avenge him, who are either of them full famous men."
"Let them be mightier than the very Gods," said Sorli, "yet shall I none the less join battle."
So they arrayed them for the fight.
Now came tidings hereof to King Halfdan, and he started up and fared down to the ships with all his men, and they got them ready for battle.
Some men set before King Halfdan that it was ill rede to fight, and it were best to flee away because of the odds; but the king said that they should fall every one across the other's feet or ever he should flee. So either side arrayed them, and joined battle of the fiercest; the end whereof was such that King Halfdan fell and all his folk, and Sorli took his dragon and all that was of worth.
Thereafter heard Sorli that Hogni was come from warfare, and lay by Odins-isle; so thitherward straight stood Sorli, and when they met he told him of the fall of Halfdan his father, and offered him atonement and selfdoom, and they to become foster-brethren. But Hogni gainsayed him utterly: so they fought as it sayeth in Sorli's Song. Hakon went forth full fairly, and slew Saevar, Sorli's Banner-bearer and Forecastle-man, and therewith Sorli slew Hakon, and Hogni slew Erling the king, Sorli's father.
Then they fought together, Hogni and Sorli, and Sorli fell before Hogni for wounds and weariness' sake: but Hogni let heal him, and they swore the oath of brotherhood thereafter, and held it well whiles they both lived. Sorli was the shortest-lived of them; he fell in the Eastsea before the vikings, as it saith in the Sorli-Song, and here saith:—

"Fell there the fight-greedy,
Foremost of war-host,
Eager in East-seas,
All on Hells' hall-floor;
Died there the doughty
In dale-fishes joy-tide,
With byrny-rod biting
The vikings in brand-thing"

But when Hogni heard of the fall of Sorli, he went a warring in the Eastlands that same summer, and had the victory in every place, and became king thereover; and so say men that twenty kings paid tribute to King Hogni, and held their realms of him.
Hogni won so great fame from his doughty deeds and his warfare that he was as well known by name north in the Finn-steads, as right away in Paris-town; yea, and all betwixt and between.

Halfdan was another king. He ruled Denmark. His royal seat was at Roskilde. He married Hvedna the Elder. Their sons were Hogni and Hakon. They were outstanding men in strength and stature and every talent. They set out raiding as soon as they were fully grown.

Now the story goes that Sorli set course one autumn for Denmark. King Halfdan was thinking then of going to the Assembly of Kings. He was very advanced in years by now, when these things transpired. He owned a dragon-ship so good that its like was not to be found in the Northlands, thanks to its strength and craftsmanship. It was moored in the harbour, but King Halfdan was on land and had summoned guests to his farewell feast. But when Sorli saw the dragon-ship, a great envy flooded his heart, so that he wanted to own the dragon-ship at any cost, and have it all for himself—and indeed, as most admit, there’s never been a better bit of ship than this in the all the north, with the exception of the dragon-ships Ellidi and Gnod and The Long Serpent.
He talked to his men then, telling them to prepare for battle, “Because we must kill King Halfdan and have his ship.”

A man called Saevar answered his speech—he was Sorli’s forecastleman and marshal. “That’s not a good idea, lord,” he said, “Halfdan is a great chief and a man of renown. He also has two sons who are bound to take vengeance, since they’re now each of them men of the greatest renown.”
“Be they bolder than gods,” said Sorli, “I shall fight them all the same.”
Now they prepare for battle.
Now King Halfdan gets wind of this. He jumps up and makes for his ships along with all his men, readying themselves for battle. Some men put it to Halfdan that he wouldn’t be wise to fight, and that he should flee, because of the difference in numbers. The king said they’d lie in heaps first, their dead stacked one on top of another before he fled. Both sides prepare for battle now, and it ends up with King Halfdan dead and all his men. Then Sorli took the dragon-ship and everything on board that was of value.
Then Sorli heard that Hogni had come back from raiding and lay at anchor by the island of Odinsey. Sorli heads that way with his ships, and as soon as they meet, he told him of the death of his father Halfdan, and offered him a settlement, and he could set the terms, and offered to be his sworn brother, but Hogni rejected everything. Then they fought, as it says in Sorli’s Piece. Hakon went forward boldly and killed Saevar, Sorli’s standard-bearer and forecastleman. After that, Sorli killed Hakon, and Hogni killed King Erling, Sorli’s father. Then Hogni and Sorli fought, the two of them, and Sorli fell before Hogni from wounds and weariness, and after that Hogni had him healed, and they swore oaths of brotherhood and they held fast to that as long as they both lived. But Sorli died first and fell in the east to vikings, as it says in Sorli’s Piece, and here it says:

Fell first out eastward,
fierce, to hell’s hall-floor,
brave battle-craver,
o’er Baltic assaulting,
down, the deed-famous
one dead that summer
(the snakes’ soft season),
sliced mail-spike at vikings.

But when Hogni learnt of Sorli’s death, he went raiding in the east that same summer and had victory everywhere and became king there and, so they say, twenty kings became subject to Hogni and paid him tribute. Hogni became so famous from his exploits and raiding that his name was known equally well from Finnabu to Paris and everywhere in between.

5. Heðinn spyrr til Högna konungs

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.

Hiarandi as the name of a king who ruled over Serkland; a queen he had, and one son named Hedinn, who from his youth up was peerless of growth, and strength, and prowess: from his early days he betook him to warfare, and became a Sea-king, and harried wide about Spain and the land of the Greeks, and all realms thereabout, till twenty kings paid tribute to him, and held of him land and fief.

There was a king called Hjarrandi. He ruled over Serkland. He had a queen and a son called Hedin. Hedin soon grew to be an outstanding man in strength, stature and abilities. He took to raiding in his youth and became a sea-king and raided widely in Spain and Greece and all the lands nearby, so that he made twenty kings subject to him, so that they paid tribute and held their lands under him.

Hedin spent the winter at home in Serkland. It’s said that one time Hedin went hunting with his retinue. He wound up alone in a clearing. He saw a woman sitting on a chair in the clearing, tall and fair to see. She greeted him courteously. He asked her name, and she called herself Gondul. After this they spoke together. She asked him about his exploits, and he was happy to tell her everything, and he asked her if she knew of any king as bold and hardy as he, or as famous and successful. She said she did know one, every bit his equal, and twenty kings served him, “No less than yourself.” And she said he was called Hogni and that he lived in Denmark in the north.

“This much I know,” said Hedin, “that we must test which of us is best.”

“It’s probably time for you to go to your men,” says Gondul, “They’ll be looking for you.”

After that they part. He goes to his men, but she stayed sitting there. As soon it was spring, Hedin gets ready to leave. He has one dragon-ship and on it three hundred men. He sails north through the world. He sails that summer and winter. In the spring, he came to 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.

King Hogni sat at home this while, and when he heard tell how a noble king is come to his land he bade him home to a glorious feast, and that Hedinn took. And as they sat at the drink, Hogni asked what errand Hedinn had thither, that had driven him so far north in the world. Hedinn said that this was his errand, that they twain should try their hardihood and daring, their prowess and all their craftsmanship; and 1 logni said he was all ready thereto.

So betimes on the morrow fared they to swimming and shooting at marks, and strove in tilting and fencing and all prowess; and in all skill were they so alike that none thought he could see betwixt them which was the foremost. Thereafter they swore themselves fosterbiethren, and should halve all things between them.

Hedinn was young and unwedded, but Hogni was somewhat older, and he had to wife Hervor, daughter of Hiorvard, who was the son of Heidrek, who was the son of Wolfskin.

Hogni had a daughter, Hild by name, the fairest and wisest of all women, and he loved his daughter much. No other child had he.

King Hogni was at home then. And when he learns that a notable king has come to the land, he invites him home to a grand feast. Hedin accepted. And as they sat drinking, Hogni asked on what business Hedin had come, or what would make him want to travel so far north in the world. Hedin told him his business, that he wanted the two of them to test their courage and toughness against each other, their skills and all their abilities. Hogni said he was ready for that. And early the next day, they went swimming and shooting at targets. They competed at jousting and fencing and every sport and were so evenly matched in each skill that no one could find any difference between them, or say who was best. Afterwards they swear brotherhood and agree to share everything equally. Hedin was young and unmarried, but Hogni somewhat older. He was married to Hervor, daughter of Hjorvard, the son of Heidrek Wolfskin. Hogni had a daughter who was called Hild. She was the fairest and wisest of women. He loved his daughter a lot. He had no other children.

VII. The Beguiling of Hedinn, and of his Evil Deed.

So he went to the ship and they unmoored speedily: the wind blew off shore, and so he sailed away with Hild.

7. Hedin Tricked

It’s said that after a little while Hogni went out raiding, but Hedin stayed behind to watch over his kingdom. One day Hedin rode in the forest for fun. It was fine weather. Again he was separated from his men. He came to a clearing. There he saw sitting on a chair the same woman that he’d seen before in Serkland, and she seemed to him even more beautiful than before. Once again she said the first word, speaking pleasantly to him. She held out a horn with a lid. The king’s heart was filled with yearning for her. She invited him to drink, and the king was thirsty as he’d got hot, so he takes it and drinks. But when he’d drunk he was strangely altered, for he remembered nothing of what had gone before. He sat down and they spoke together. She asked whether he’d found the toughness and skill of Hogni to be as she’d told him. Hedin said it was true, “for there wasn’t a single skill we tested in which he fell short of me, and so we counted ourselves equal.”

“But you’re not equal,” says she.

“How do you figure that?” he says.

“I figure it like this,” she says, “Hogni has a queen of great lineage, but you have no wife at all.”

He answers, “Hogni would give me his daughter if I ask, and then I’ll be no less distinguished in marriage than him.”

“Your glory will be less then,” she says, “if you ask to marry into Hogni’s family. It would be better—if, as you say, you’re not short on courage or toughness—to carry off Hild and kill the queen in the following way: by taking her and laying her down in front of the prow of the dragon-ship, and letting it cut her in two as it’s launched.”

Hedin was so ensnared in evil and forgetfulness from that ale he’d drunk, that he saw no other choice, and it never entered his mind that he and Hogni were sworn brothers.

Then they parted, and Hedin went to his men. It was late summer.

Hedin sets his men to work now fitting out the dragon-ship, as he said he wanted to go home to Serkland. When this was done he went to the bower and took Hild and the queen, one in each arm, and goes out with them. His men took the clothes and treasures of Hild. There was no one in the realm who dared challenge Hedin and his men, so fierce he looked.

Hild asked Hedin what he planned to do, and he told her. She begged him not to do it, “because my father will give me to you if you only ask.”

“I don’t want to do that,” says Hedin, “to ask for you.”

“Even so,” she says, “even if nothing will dissuade you from carrying me off, my father will still forgive you, so long as you don’t do such an evil and unmanly thing as to cause my mother’s death, because then my father will never forgive you. And this is how my dreams have gone: that you will fight and kill each other. But even grimmer things will come to pass, and it will bring me great grief if I see my father subjected to harm and mighty spells, and it saddens me to see even you labouring under such spite.”

Hedin said he didn’t care what might follow, and said he would do exactly what he said he would.

“You can’t do anything about it now,” says Hild, “because you’re not in control of yourself.”

Then Hedin went to the shore. Then the dragon-ship was launched. He thrust the queen down in front of the prow. She lost her life there, and Hedin walks out onto the ship. And when it’s all fitted out and ready to go, he’s eager to land in that place where he’d been before and to go up onto the shore alone and into that same wood. And when he stepped forward into the clearing, there he saw Gondul sitting on her chair. They exchanged a friendly greeting. Hedin told her of his deeds. She was pleased at this. She had the horn that she’d used before, and invited him to drink from it. He took it and drank. And when he had drunk, sleep came over him and he sank into her lap. And when he was asleep, she slipped out from under his head and said, “Now with my power I compel you under all those terms and conditions that Odin decreed, cursing you with these spells, you and Hogni both, and all your men.”

Then Hedin woke up and saw a glimpse of Gondul, and now she seemed black and big. Hedin now remembered everything, and his misfortune seemed great, and he thinks of going away somewhere so that he won’t have to hear himself blamed every day for his evil deeds. He goes to his ship, quickly undoes the moorings—a fair wind is blowing seawards—and so sails off with Hild.

8. Tókust Hjaðningavíg

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. The Weird falleth on these twain, Hogni and Hedinn.

Now cometh Hogni home, and comes to wot the sooth, that Hedinn hath sailed away with Hild and the dragon Halfdans-loom, and his queen is left dead there. Full wroth was Hogni thereat, and bade men turn about straightway and sail after Hedinn. Even so did they speedily, and they had a wind of the best, and ever came at eve to the haven whence Hedinn had sailed the morning afore.
But on a day whenas Hogni made the haven, lo the sails of Hedinn in sight on the main; so Hogni, he and his, stood after them; and most sooth is it told that a head-wind fell on Hedinn, whiles the same fair wind went with Hogni.
So Hedinn brought-to at an isle called Ha, and lay in the roadstead there, and speedily came Hogni up with him; and when they met Hedinn greeted him softly: "Needs must I say, foster-brother," saith he, "how evil hath befallen me, that none may amend save thou: for I have taken from thee thy daughter and thy dragon; and thy queen I have done to death. And yet is this deed done not from my evil heart alone, but rather from wicked witchcraft and evil spells; and now will I that thou alone shear and shape betwixt us. But I will offer thee to forego both Hild and the dragon, my men and all my wealth, and to fare so far out in the world that I may never come into the Northlands again, or thine eye-sight, whiles I live."
Hogni answered: "I would have given thee Hild, hadst thou wooed her; yea, and though thou hadst borne away Hild from me, yet for all that might we have had peace: but whereas thou hast now wrought a dastard's deed in the laying down of my queen and slaying of her, there is no hope that I may ever take atonement from thee; but here, in this place, shall we try straightway which of us twain hath more skill in the smiting of strokes."
Hedinn answered: "Rede it were, since thou wilt nought else but battle, that we twain try it alone, for no man here is guilty against thee saving I alone: and nowise meet it is that guiltless men should pay for my folly and ill-doing."
But the followers of either of them answered as with one mouth, that they would all fall one upon the other rather than that they two should play alone.
So when Hedinn saw that Hogni would nought else but battle, he bade his men go up a-land: "For I will fail Hogni no longer, nor beg off the battle: so let each do according to his manhood."
So they go up a-land now and fight: full fierce is Hogni, and Hedinn apt at arms and mighty of stroke.
Soothly is it said that such mighty and evil spells went with the weird of these, that though they clave each other down to the shoulders, yet still they stood upon their feet and fought on: and ever sat Hild in a grove and looked on the play.
So this travail and torment went on ever from the time they first fell a-fighting till the time that Olaf Tryggvison was king in Norway; and men say that it was an hundred and forty and three years before the noble man, King Olaf, brought it so about that his courtman loosed them from this woeful labour and miserable grief of heart.

8. The Battle of the Hjadnings

Now Hogni comes home and learns the truth, that Hedin has sailed away with Hild and the dragon-ship Halfdan’s Gift, leaving the queen dead in his wake. Hogni became very angry at this and ordered his men to get a move on and sail after Hedin. They do so too, and get the perfect breeze, and day in day out they would come at evening to the very harbour that Hedin had left in the morning.

But one day as Hogni entered harbour, they could see Hedin’s sails at sea. Hogni and his crew made straight for them. And, strange but true, Hedin then got a head wind against him, but Hogni the best of sailing breezes. Hedin puts in at the island of Hoy and lays anchor in the harbour there. Hogni is soon upon him and when they meet Hedin said respectfully, “I have to tell you, my sworn brother,” says Hedin, “that such great misfortune has befallen me that no one can amend it but you. I have carried off your daughter and ship, and I caused the death of your queen, but not from any cruelty of my own, but because of evil prophesies and bad spells. Now I want you to set your own terms and decide on how to make peace between us. And I will also offer to give up to you both Hild and the ship with all my men and property, and to go away so far in the world that I never come again to the north or into your sight as long as I live.”

Hogni answers, “I would have given you Hild if you’d asked for her. And even now that you have carried her off, still we could have made peace for that. But now that you’ve done such evil and acted so shamefully with my queen, there’s little chance I’ll accept a settlement. We must find out right now which of us can strike the strongest.”

Hedin answers, “If you won’t settle for anything less than battle, then I suggest that we prove this issue between the two of us, since you have no quarrel with anyone here but me. It’s not right that innocent men should pay for my crimes and misdeeds.”

But their followers all swore with one voice that they would first fall at one another’s feet before the two of them would be able to trade blows. When Hedin saw that Hogni would accept nothing else but fighting, he ordered his men ashore. “I won’t give way to Hogni any longer, or excuse myself from this fight. And now each must look to his courage.”

They go ashore now and fight. Hogni is mad with rage, and Hedin nimble and deals stiff blows. And strange to say, but true, such great spells and evil attended this curse that even though they clove down through one another’s shoulders, they got just as before and fought on. Hild sat in a grove and watched this grim game. This baleful bondage went on without stopping from the moment they began to fight, and on till Olaf Tryggvason became king of Norway. They say that it was 143 years before it would be fated for that fine man, King Olaf, that one of his retainers freed them from this wretched doom and bitter trial.

9. Létti Hjaðningavígum

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. Hogni and Hedinn are loosed from their Weird.

The End Of This Tale.

9. The End of the Battle

In the first year of King Olaf’s reign, it’s said that he came to the Isle of Hoy and laid anchor there one evening. It was normal on the aforementioned island for watchmen to go missing every night, so that no one knew what had become of them. It was Ivar Gleam’s duty to keep watch this night. But when everyone had gone to sleep on board the ships, Ivar took his sword—which Jarnskjold had owned, but which Thorstein, his son, had given to Ivar—and put on all his armour and went up onto the island. But when he’s come up onto the island, he saw a man walking towards him. The man was great in size and all covered in blood, with a very grave face. Ivar asked this man his name. He said he was called Hedin and was the son of Hjarrandi, a Serklander by birth.

“I tell you truly: if watchmen have vanished here you can blame me and Hogni Halfdan’s son, for we are obliged by these spells and curses that enslave us and our men to fight both night and day, and so it has been these many generations, and Hogni’s daughter Hild sits and looks on. But Odin has lain this doom on us, and there can be no release unless some Christian man fights with us, and then the man he slays shall not stand up again, and then each of us will be freed from our curse. Now I would like to ask you to go into battle with us, for I know you are a good Christian, and also that the king you serve is a man of strong luck. And so my mind tells me that we will get something good from him and his men.”

Ivar agrees to go against him.

Hedin became glad at that and said, “You must be careful not to go face-to-face Hogni, and also not to kill me before he is down, because there is no human man who can face Hogni and kill him, if I am already dead, for he has an Aegis Helm in his eyes, from which no one can protect themselves. And so the only thing for it is for me to face him and fight with him, and you go behind him and deliver his death-blow, for you will have little trouble slaying me, even if I’m the only one left of us all.”

So they go into battle, and Ivar sees that it’s all true what Hedin has told him. He steps behind Hogni and hews into his head and cleaves him down to the shoulders. Hogni falls dead then and never stood up again. Then he killed all the men who were at the battle, and finally Hedin, and he was easy to kill. Afterwards he went to the ships, and day was just dawning. He went to the king and told him. The king was pleased at his night’s work, and said he’d had some good luck there. The following day they went ashore to where the battle had been and saw no trace of what had gone on there, but blood was seen on Ivar’s sword as proof, and no more watchmen went missing after that. Then the king went home to his kingdom.