1.
OF THE SITUATION OF COUNTRIES.
It
is said that the earth's circle which the human race inhabits is torn across
into many bights, so that great seas run into the land from the out-ocean.
Thus it is known that a great sea goes in at Narvesund (1), and up to the
land of Jerusalem. From the same sea a long sea-bight stretches towards the
north-east, and is called the Black Sea, and divides the three parts of the
earth; of which the eastern part is called Asia, and the western is called
by some Europa, by some Enea. Northward of the Black Sea lies Swithiod the
Great, or the Cold. The Great Swithiod is reckoned by some as not less than
the Great Serkland (2); others compare it to the Great Blueland (3). The northern
part of
Swithiod
lies uninhabited on account of frost and cold, as likewise the southern parts
of Blueland are waste from the burning of the sun. In Swithiod are many
great domains, and many races of men, and many kinds of languages. There
are giants, and there are dwarfs, and there are also blue men, and there are
any
kinds
of stranger creatures. There are huge wild beasts, and dreadful dragons.
On the south side of the mountains which lie outside of all inhabited lands
runs a river through Swithiod, which is properly called by the name of Tanais,
but was formerly called Tanaquisl, or Vanaquisl, and which falls into the
Black Sea. The country of the people on the Vanaquisl was called Vanaland,
or Vanaheim; and the river separates the three parts of the world, of which
the eastermost part is called Asia, and the westermost Europe.
ENDNOTES:
(1)
The Straits of Gibraltar.
(2)
Northern Africa.
(3)
Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa.
2. OF THE PEOPLE OF ASIA.
The country east of the Tanaquisl in Asia was called Asaland, or Asaheim, and the chief city in that land was called Asgaard. In that city was a chief called Odin, and it was a great place for sacrifice. It was the custom there that twelve temple priests should both direct the sacrifices, and also judge the people. They were called Diar, or Drotner, and all the people served and obeyed them. Odin was a great and very far-travelled warrior, who conquered many kingdoms, and so successful was he that in every battle the victory was on his side. It was the belief of his people that victory belonged to him in every battle. It was his custom when he sent his men into battle, or on any expedition, that he first laid his hand upon their heads, and called down a blessing upon them; and then they believed their undertaking would be successful. His people also were accustomed, whenever they fell into danger by land or sea, to call upon his name; and they thought that always they got comfort and aid by it, for where he was they thought help was near. Often he went away so far that he passed many seasons on his journeys.
3. OF ODIN'S BROTHERS.
Odin
had two brothers, the one called Ve, the other Vilje, and
they
governed the kingdom when he was absent. It happened once
when
Odin had gone to a great distance, and had been so long away
that
the people Of Asia doubted if he would ever return home,
that
his two brothers took it upon themselves to divide his
estate;
but both of them took his wife Frigg to themselves. Odin
soon after returned home, and took his wife back.
4. OF ODIN'S WAR WITH THE PEOPLE OF VANALAND.
Odin
went out with a great army against the Vanaland people; but
they
were well prepared, and defended their land; so that victory
was
changeable, and they ravaged the lands of each other, and did
great
damage. They tired of this at last, and on both sides
appointed
a meeting for establishing peace, made a truce, and
exchanged
hostages. The Vanaland people sent their best men,
Njord
the Rich, and his son Frey. The people of Asaland sent a
man
called Hone, whom they thought well suited to be a chief, as
he
was a stout and very handsome man; and with him they sent a
man
of great understanding called Mime. On the other side, the
Vanaland
people sent the wisest man in their community, who was
called
Kvase. Now, when Hone came to Vanaheim he was immediately
made
a chief, and Mime came to him with good counsel on all
occasions.
But when Hone stood in the Things or other meetings,
if
Mime was not near him, and any difficult matter was laid
before
him, he always answered in one way -- "Now let others give
their
advice"; so that the Vanaland people got a suspicion that
the
Asaland people had deceived them in the exchange of men. They
took
Mime, therefore, and beheaded him, and sent his head to the
Asaland
people. Odin took the head, smeared it with herbs so
that
it should not rot, and sang incantations over it. Thereby
he
gave it the power that it spoke to him, and discovered to him
many
secrets. Odin placed Njord and Frey as priests of the
sacrifices,
and they became Diar of the Asaland people. Njord's
daughter
Freya was priestess of the sacrifices, and first taught
the
Asaland people the magic art, as it was in use and fashion
among
the Vanaland people. While Njord was with the Vanaland
people
he had taken his own sister in marriage, for that was
allowed
by their law; and their children were Frey and Freya.
But
among the Asaland people it was forbidden to intermarry with
such near relations.
5. ODIN DIVIDES HIS KINGDOM: ALSO CONCERNING GEFION.
There
goes a great mountain barrier from north-east to south-
west,
which divides the Greater Swithiod from other kingdoms.
South
of this mountain ridge it is not far to Turkland, where
Odin
had great possessions. In those times the Roman chiefs went
wide
around in the world, subduing to themselves all people; and
on
this account many chiefs fled from their domains. But Odin
having
foreknowledge, and magic-sight, knew that his posterity
would
come to settle and dwell in the northern half of the world.
He
therefore set his brothers Ve and Vilje over Asgaard; and he
himself,
with all the gods and a great many other people,
wandered
out, first westward to Gardarike, and then south to
Saxland.
He had many sons; and after having subdued an extensive
kingdom
in Saxland, he set his sons to rule the country. He
himself
went northwards to the sea, and took up his abode in an
island
which is called Odins in Fyen. Then he sent Gefion across
the
sound to the north to discover new countries; and she came to
King
Gylve, who gave her a ploughgate of land. Then she went to
Jotunheim,
and bore four sons to a giant, and transformed them
into
a yoke of oxen. She yoked them to a plough, and broke out
the
land into the ocean right opposite to Odins. This land was
called
Sealand, and there she afterwards settled and dwelt.
Skjold,
a son of Odin, married her, and they dwelt at Leidre.
Where
the ploughed land was is a lake or sea called Laage. In
the
Swedish land the fjords of Laage correspond to the nesses in
Sealand.
Brage the Old sings thus of it: --
"Gefion from Gylve drove away,
To add new land to Denmark's sway --
Blythe Gefion ploughing in the smoke
That steamed up from her oxen-yoke:
Four heads, eight forehead stars had they,
Bright gleaming, as she ploughed away;
Dragging new lands from the deep main
To join them to the sweet isle's plain.
Now
when Odin heard that things were in a prosperous condition in
the
land to the east beside Gylve; he went thither, and Gylve
made
a peace with him, for Gylve thought he had no strength to
oppose
the people of Asaland. Odin and Gylve had many tricks and
enchantments
against each other; but the Asaland people had
always
the superiority. Odin took up his residence at the
Maelare
lake, at the place now called Old Sigtun. There he
erected
a large temple, where there were sacrifices according to
the
customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself
the
whole of that district, and called it Sigtun. To the temple
priests
he gave also domains. Njord dwelt in Noatun, Frey in
Upsal,
Heimdal in the Himinbergs, Thor in Thrudvang, Balder in
Breidablik;
to all of them he gave good estates.
6. OF ODIN'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
When
Odin of Asaland came to the north, and the Diar with him,
they
introduced and taught to others the arts which the people
long
afterwards have practised. Odin was the cleverest of all,
and
from him all the others learned their arts and
accomplishments;
and he knew them first, and knew many more than
other
people. But now, to tell why he is held in such high
respect,
we must mention various causes that contributed to it.
When
sitting among his friends his countenance was so beautiful
and
dignified, that the spirits of all were exhilarated by it,
but
when he was in war he appeared dreadful to his foes. This
arose
from his being able to change his skin and form in any way
he
liked. Another cause was, that he conversed so cleverly and
smoothly,
that all who heard believed him. He spoke everything
in
rhyme, such as now composed, which we call scald-craft. He
and
his temple priests were called song-smiths, for from them
came
that art of song into the northern countries. Odin could
make
his enemies in battle blind, or deaf, or terror-struck, and
their
weapons so blunt that they could no more but than a willow
wand;
on the other hand, his men rushed forwards without armour,
were
as mad as dogs or wolves, bit their shields, and were strong
as
bears or wild bulls, and killed people at a blow, but neither
fire nor iron told upon themselves. These were called Berserker.
7. OF ODIN'S FEATS.
Odin could transform his shape:
his body would lie as if dead, or
asleep;
but then he would be in shape of a fish, or worm, or
bird,
or beast, and be off in a twinkling to distant lands upon
his
own or other people's business. With words alone he could
quench
fire, still the ocean in tempest, and turn the wind to any
quarter
he pleased. Odin had a ship which was called
Skidbladnir,
in which he sailed over wide seas, and which he
could
roll up like a cloth. Odin carried with him Mime's head,
which
told him all the news of other countries. Sometimes even
he
called the dead out of the earth, or set himself beside the
burial-mounds;
whence he was called the ghost-sovereign, and lord
of
the mounds. He had two ravens, to whom he had taught the
speech
of man; and they flew far and wide through the land, and
brought
him the news. In all such things he was pre-eminently
wise.
He taught all these arts in Runes, and songs which are
called
incantations, and therefore the Asaland people are called
incantation-smiths.
Odin understood also the art in which the
greatest
power is lodged, and which he himself practised; namely,
what
is called magic. By means of this he could know beforehand
the
predestined fate of men, or their not yet completed lot; and
also
bring on the death, ill-luck, or bad health of people, and
take
the strength or wit from one person and give it to another.
But
after such witchcraft followed such weakness and anxiety,
that
it was not thought respectable for men to practise it; and
therefore
the priestesses were brought up in this art. Odin knew
finely
where all missing cattle were concealed under the earth,
and
understood the songs by which the earth, the hills, the
stones,
and mounds were opened to him; and he bound those who
dwell
in them by the power of his word, and went in and took what
he
pleased. From these arts he became very celebrated. His
enemies
dreaded him; his friends put their trust in him, and
relied
on his power and on himself. He taught the most of his
arts
to his priests of the sacrifices, and they came nearest to
himself
in all wisdom and witch-knowledge. Many others, however,
occupied
themselves much with it; and from that time witchcraft
spread
far and wide, and continued long. People sacrificed to
Odin
and the twelve chiefs from Asaland, and called them their
gods,
and believed in them long after. From Odin's name came the
name
Audun, which people gave to his sons; and from Thor's name
comes
Thore, also Thorarinn; and also it is sometimes compounded
with
other names, as Steenthor, or Havthor, or even altered in
other
ways.
8.
ODIN'S LAWGIVING.
Odin
established the same law in his land that had been in force
in
Asaland. Thus he established by law that all dead men should
be
burned, and their belongings laid with them upon the pile, and
the
ashes be cast into the sea or buried in the earth. Thus,
said
he, every one will come to Valhalla with the riches he had
with
him upon the pile; and he would also enjoy whatever he
himself
had buried in the earth. For men of consequence a mound
should
be raised to their memory, and for all other warriors who
had
been distinguished for manhood a standing stone; which custom
remained
long after Odin's time. On winter day there should be
blood-sacrifice
for a good year, and in the middle of winter for
a
good crop; and the third sacrifice should be on summer day, for
victory
in battle. Over all Swithiod the people paid Odin a
scatt
or tax -- so much on each head; but he had to defend the
country
from enemy or disturbance, and pay the expense of the
sacrifice
feasts for a good year.
9.
OF NJORD'S MARRIAGE.
Njord
took a wife called Skade; but she would not live with him
and
married afterwards Odin, and had many sons by him, of whom
one
was called Saeming; and about him Eyvind Skaldaspiller sings
thus:
--
"To Asa's son Queen Skade bore
Saeming, who dyed his shield in gore, --
The giant-queen of rock and snow,
Who loves to dwell on earth below,
The iron pine-tree's daughter, she
Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea,
To Odin bore full many a son,
Heroes of many a battle won."
To
Saeming Earl Hakon the Great reckoned back his pedigree. This
Swithiod
they called Mannheim, but the Great Swithiod they called
Godheim;
and of Godheim great wonders and novelties were related.
10.
OF ODIN'S DEATH.
Odin
died in his bed in Swithiod; and when he was near his death
he
made himself be marked with the point of a spear, and said he
was
going to Godheim, and would give a welcome there to all his
friends,
and all brave warriors should be dedicated to him; and
the
Swedes believed that he was gone to the ancient Asgaard, and
would
live there eternally. Then began the belief in Odin, and
the
calling upon him. The Swedes believed that he often showed
to
them before any great battle. To some he gave victory; others
he
invited to himself; and they reckoned both of these to be
fortunate.
Odin was burnt, and at his pile there was great
splendour.
It was their faith that the higher the smoke arose in
the
air, the higher he would be raised whose pile it was; and the
richer
he would be, the more property that was consumed with him.
11.
OF NJORD.
Njord
of Noatun was then the sole sovereign of the Swedes; and he
continued
the sacrifices, and was called the drot or sovereign by
the
Swedes, and he received scatt and gifts from them. In his
days
were peace and plenty, and such good years, in all respects,
that
the Swedes believed Njord ruled over the growth of seasons
and
the prosperity of the people. In his time all the diar or
gods
died, and blood-sacrifices were made for them. Njord died
on
a bed of sickness, and before he died made himself be marked
for
Odin with the spear-point. The Swedes burned him, and all
wept
over his grave-mound.
11.
FREY'S DEATH.
Frey
took the kingdom after Njord, and was called drot by the
Swedes,
and they paid taxes to him. He was, like his father,
fortunate
in friends and in good seasons. Frey built a great
temple
at Upsal, made it his chief seat, and gave it all his
taxes,
his land, and goods. Then began the Upsal domains, which
have
remained ever since. Then began in his days the Frode-
peace;
and then there were good seasons, in all the land, which
the
Swedes ascribed to Frey, so that he was more worshipped than
the
other gods, as the people became much richer in his days by
reason
of the peace and good seasons. His wife was called Gerd,
daughter
of Gymis, and their son was called Fjolne. Frey was
called
by another name, Yngve; and this name Yngve was considered
long
after in his race as a name of honour, so that his
descendants
have since been called Ynglinger. Frey fell into a
sickness;
and as his illness took the upper hand, his men took
the
plan of letting few approach him. In the meantime they
raised
a great mound, in which they placed a door with three
holes
in it. Now when Frey died they bore him secretly into the
mound,
but told the Swedes he was alive; and they kept watch over
him
for three years. They brought all the taxes into the mound,
and
through the one hole they put in the gold, through the other
the
silver, and through the third the copper money that was paid.
Peace
and good seasons continued.
13.
OF FREYA AND HER DAUGHTERS.
Freya
alone remained of the gods, and she became on this account
so
celebrated that all women of distinction were called by her
name,
whence they now have the title Frue; so that every woman is
called
frue, or mistress over her property, and the wife is
called
the house-frue. Freya continued the blood-sacrifices.
Freya
had also many other names. Her husband was called Oder,
and
her daughters Hnoss and Gerseme. They were so very
beautiful,
that afterwards the most precious jewels were called
by
their names.
When
it became known to the Swedes that Frey was dead, and yet
peace
and good seasons continued, they believed that it must be
so
as long as Frey remained in Sweden; and therefore they would
not
burn his remains, but called him the god of this world, and
afterwards
offered continually blood-sacrifices to him,
principally
for peace and good seasons.
14.
OF KING FJOLNE'S DEATH.
Fjolne,
Yngve Frey's son, ruled thereafter over the Swedes and
the
Upsal domains. He was powerful, and lucky in seasons and in
holding
the peace. Fredfrode ruled then in Leidre, and between
them
there was great friendship and visiting. Once when Fjolne
went
to Frode in Sealand, a great feast was prepared for him, and
invitations
to it were sent all over the country. Frode had a
large
house, in which there was a great vessel many ells high,
and
put together of great pieces of timber; and this vessel stood
in
a lower room. Above it was a loft, in the floor of which was
an
opening through which liquor was poured into this vessel. The
vessel
was full of mead, which was excessively strong. In the
evening
Fjolne, with his attendants, was taken into the adjoining
loft
to sleep. In the night he went out to the gallery to seek a
certain
place, and he was very sleepy and exceedingly drunk. As
he
came back to his room he went along the gallery to the door of
another
left, went into it, and his foot slipping, he fell into
the
vessel of mead and was drowned. So says Thjodolf of Kvine:
--
"In Frode's hall the fearful word,
The death-foreboding sound was heard:
The cry of fey denouncing doom,
Was heard at night in Frode's home.
And when brave Frode came, he found
Swithiod's dark chief, Fjolne, drowned.
In Frode's mansion drowned was he,
Drowned in a waveless, windless sea."
15.
OF SWEGDE.
Swegde
took the kingdom after his father, and he made a solemn
vow
to seek Godheim and Odin. He went with twelve men through
the
world, and came to Turkland, and the Great Svithiod, where he
found
many of his connections. He was five years on this
journey;
and when he returned home to Sweden he remained there
for
some time. He had got a wife in Vanheim, who was called
Vana,
and their son was Vanlande. Swegde went out afterwards to
seek
again for Godheim, and came to a mansion on the east side of
Swithiod
called Stein, where there was a stone as big as a large
house.
In the evening after sunset, as Swegde was going from the
drinking-table
to his sleeping-room, he cast his eye upon the
stone,
and saw that a dwarf was sitting under it. Swegde and his
man
were very drunk, and they ran towards the stone. The dwarf
stood
in the door, and called to Swegde, and told him to come in,
and
he should see Odin. Swegde ran into the stone, which
instantly
closed behind him, and Swegde never came back.
Thiodolf
of Kvine tells of this: --
"By Diurnir's elfin race,
Who haunt the cliffs and shun day's face,
The valiant Swegde was deceived,
The elf's false words the king believed.
The dauntless hero rushing on,
Passed through the yawning mouth of stone:
It yawned -- it shut -- the hero fell,
In Saekmime's hall, where giants dwell."
16.
OF VANLANDE, SWEGDE'S SON.
Vanlande,
Swegde's son, succeeded his father, and ruled over the
Upsal
domain. He was a great warrior, and went far around in
different
lands. Once he took up his winter abode in Finland
with
Snae the Old, and got his daughter Driva in marriage; but in
spring
he set out leaving Driva behind, and although he had
promised
to return within three years he did not come back for
ten.
Then Driva sent a message to the witch Huld; and sent
Visbur,
her son by Vanlande, to Sweden. Driva bribed the witch-
wife
Huld, either that she should bewitch Vanlande to return to
Finland,
or kill him. When this witch-work was going on Vanlande
was
at Upsal, and a great desire came over him to go to Finland;
but
his friends and counsellors advised him against it, and said
the
witchcraft of the Finn people showed itself in this desire of
his
to go there. He then became very drowsy, and laid himself
down
to sleep; but when he had slept but a little while he cried
out,
saying that the Mara was treading upon him. His men
hastened
to him to help him; but when they took hold of his head
she
trod on his legs, and when they laid hold of his legs she
pressed
upon his head; and it was his death. The Swedes took his
body
and burnt it at a river called Skytaa, where a standing
stone
was raised over him. Thus says Thjodolf: --
"And Vanlande, in a fatal hour,
Was dragg'd by Grimhild's daughter's power,
The witch-wife's, to the dwelling-place
Where men meet Odin face to face.
Trampled to death, to Skytaa's shore
The corpse his faithful followers bore;
And there they burnt, with heavy hearts,
The good chief killed by witchcraft's arts.
17.
OF VISBUR, VANLANDE'S SON.
Visbur
succeeded his father Vanlande. He married the daughter of
Aude
the Rich, and gave her as her bride-gift three large farms,
and
a gold ornament. They had two sons, Gisle and Ond; but
Visbur
left her and took another wife, whereupon she went home to
her
father with her two sons. Visbur had a son who was called
Domald,
and his stepmother used witchcraft to give him ill-luck.
Now,
when Visbur's sons were the one twelve and the other
thirteen
years of age, they went to their father's place, and
desired
to have their mother's dower; but he would not deliver it
to
them. Then they said that the gold ornament should be the
death
of the best man in all his race, and they returned home.
Then
they began again with enchantments and witchcraft, to try if
they
could destroy their father. The sorceress Huld said that by
witchcraft
she could bring it about by this means, that a
murderer
of his own kin should never be wanting in the Yngling
race;
and they agreed to have it so. Thereafter they collected
men,
came unexpectedly in the night on Visbur, and burned him in
his
house. So sings Thjodolf: --
"Have the fire-dogs' fierce tongues yelling
Lapt Visbur's blood on his own hearth?
Have the flames consumed the dwelling
Of the here's soul on earth?
Madly ye acted, who set free
The forest foe, red fire, night thief,
Fell brother of the raging sea,
Against your father and your chief."
18.
OF DOMALD, VISBUR'S SON.
Domald
took the heritage after his father Visbur, and ruled over
the
land. As in his time there was great famine and distress,
the
Swedes made great offerings of sacrifice at Upsal. The first
autumn
they sacrificed oxen, but the succeeding season was not
improved
thereby. The following autumn they sacrificed men, but
the
succeeding year was rather worse. The third autumn, when the
offer
of sacrifices should begin, a great multitude of Swedes
came
to Upsal; and now the chiefs held consultations with each
other,
and all agreed that the times of scarcity were on account
of
their king Domald, and they resolved to offer him for good
seasons,
and to assault and kill him, and sprinkle the stalle of
the
gods with his blood. And they did so. Thjodolf tells of
this:
--
"It has happened oft ere now,
That foeman's weapon has laid low
The crowned head, where battle plain,
Was miry red with the blood-rain.
But Domald dies by bloody arms,
Raised not by foes in war's alarms --
Raised by his Swedish liegemen's hand,
To bring good seasons to the land."
19.
OF DOMAR, DOMALD'S SON.
Domald's
son, called Domar, next ruled over the land. He reigned
long,
and in his days were good seasons and peace. Nothing is
told
of him but that he died in his bed in Upsal, and was
transported
to the Fyrisvold, where his body was burned on the
river
bank, and where his standing stone still remains. So says
Thjodolf:
--
"I have asked wise men to tell
Where Domar rests, and they knew well.
Domar, on Fyrie's wide-spread ground,
Was burned, and laid on Yngve's mound."
20.
OF DYGVE, DOMAR'S SON.
Dygve
was the name of his son, who succeeded him in ruling the
land;
and about him nothing is said but that he died in his bed.
Thjodolf
tells of it thus: --
"Dygve the Brave, the mighty king,
It is no hidden secret thing,
Has gone to meet a royal mate,
Riding upon the horse of Fate.
For Loke's daughter in her house
Of Yngve's race would have a spouse;
Therefore the fell-one snatched away
Brave Dygve from the light of day."
Dygve's
mother was Drott, a daughter of King Danp, the son of
Rig,
who was first called "king" in the Danish tongue. His
descendants
always afterwards considered the title of king the
title
of highest dignity. Dygve was the first of his family to
be
called king, for his predecessors had been called "Drottnar",
and
their wives "Drottningar", and their court "Drott". Each of
their
race was called Yngve, or Yngune, and the whole race
together
Ynglinger. The Queen Drott was a sister of King Dan
Mikillati,
from whom Denmark a took its name.
21.
OF DAG THE WISE.
King
Dygve's son, called Dag, succeeded to him, and was so wise a
man
that he understood the language of birds. He had a sparrow
which
told him much news, and flew to different countries. Once
the
sparrow flew to Reidgotaland, to a farm called Varva, where
he
flew into the peasant's corn-field and took his grain. The
peasant
came up, took a stone, and killed the sparrow. King Dag
was
ill-pleased that the sparrow did not come home; and as he, in
a
sacrifice of expiation, inquired after the sparrow, he got the
answer
that it was killed at Varva. Thereupon he ordered a great
army,
and went to Gotland; and when he came to Varva he landed
with
his men and plundered, and the people fled away before him.
King
Dag returned in the evening to his ships, after having
killed
many people and taken many prisoners. As they were going
across
a river at a place called Skjotan's [the Weapon's] Ford, a
labouring
thrall came running to the river-side, and threw a hay-
fork
into their troop. It struck the king on the head, so that
he
fell instantly from his horse and died. In those times the
chief
who ravaged a country was called Gram, and the men-at-arms
under
him Gramer. Thjodolf sings of it thus: --
"What news is this that the king's men,
Flying eastward through the glen,
Report? That Dag the Brave, whose name
Is sounded far and wide by Fame --
That Dag, who knew so well to wield
The battle-axe in bloody field,
Where brave men meet, no more will head
The brave -- that mighty Dag is dead!
"Varva was wasted with the sword,
And vengeance taken for the bird --
The little bird that used to bring
News to the ear of the great king.
Varva was ravaged, and the strife
Was ended, when the monarch's life
Was ended too -- the great Dag fell
By the hay-fork of a base thrall!"
22.
OF AGNE, DAG'S SON.
Agne
was the name of Dag's son, who was king after him -- a
powerful
and celebrated man, expert, and exercised in all feats.
It
happened one summer that King Agne went with his army to
Finland,
and landed and marauded. The Finland people gathered a
large
army, and proceeded to the strife under a chief called
Froste.
There was a great battle, in which King Agne gained the
victory,
and Froste fell there with a great many of his people.
King
Agne proceeded with armed hand through Finland, subdued it,
and
made enormous booty. He took Froste's daughter Skjalv, and
her
brother Loge, and carried them along with him. When he
sailed
from the east he came to land at Stoksund, and put up his
tent
on the flat side of the river, where then there was a wood.
King
Agne had at the time the gold ornament which had belonged to
Visbur.
He now married Skjalv, and she begged him to make burial
feast
in honour of her father. He invited a great many guests,
and
made a great feast. He had become very celebrated by his
expedition,
and there was a great drinking match. Now when King
Agne
had got drank, Skjalv bade him take care of his gold
ornament
which he had about his neck; therefore he took hold of
the
ornament, and bound it fast about his neck before he went to
sleep.
The land-tent stood at the wood side, and a high tree
over
the tent protected it against the heat of the sun. Now when
King
Agne was asleep, Skjalv took a noose, and fastened it under
the
ornament. Thereupon her men threw down the tent-poles, cast
the
loop of the noose up in the branches of the tree, and hauled
upon
it, so that the king was hanged close under the branches and
died;
and Skjalv with her men ran down to their ships, and rowed
away.
King Agne was buried upon the spot, which was afterwards
called
Agnefet; and it lies on the east side of the Tauren, and
west
of Stoksund. Thjodolf speaks of it thus: --
"How do ye like the high-souled maid,
Who, with the grim Fate-goddess' aid,
Avenged her sire? -- made Swithiod's king
Through air in golden halter swing?
How do ye like her, Agne's men?
Think ye that any chief again
Will court the fate your chief befell,
To ride on wooden horse to hell?"
23.
OF ALRIC AND ERIC.
The
sons of Agne were called Alric and Eric, and were kings
together
after him. They were powerful men, great warriors, and
expert
at all feats of arms. It was their custom to ride and
break
in horses both to walk and to gallop, which nobody
understood
so well as they; and they vied with each other who
could
ride best, and keep the best horses. It happened one day
that
both the brothers rode out together alone, and at a distance
from
their followers, with their best horses, and rode on to a
field;
but never came back. The people at last went out to look
after
them, and they were both found dead with their heads
crushed.
As they had no weapons, except it might be their
horses'
bridles, people believed that they had killed each other
with
these. So says Thjodolf: --
"Alric fell, by Eric slain,
Eric's life-blood dyed the plain,
Brother fell by brother's hand;
And they tell it in the land,
That they worked the wicked deed
With the sharp bits that guide the steed.
Shall it be said of Frey's brave sons,
The kingly race, the noble ones,
That they have fought in deadly battle
With the head-gear of their cattle?"
24.
OF YNGVE AND ALF.
Alric's
sons, Yngve and Ali, then succeeded to the kingly power
in
Sweden. Yngve was a great warrior, always victorious;
handsome,
expert in all exercises, strong and very sharp in
battle,
generous and full of mirth; so that he was both renowned
and
beloved. Alf was a silent, harsh, unfriendly man, and sat at
home
in the land, and never went out on war expeditions. His
mother
was called Dageid, a daughter of King Dag the Great, from
whom
the Dagling family is descended. King Alf had a wife named
Bera,
who was the most agreeable of women, very brisk and gay.
One
autumn Yngve, Alric's son, had arrived at Upsal from a viking
cruise
by which he was become very celebrated. He often sat long
in
the evening at the drinking-table; but Alf went willingly to
bed
very early. Queen Bera sat often till late in the evening,
and
she and Yngve conversed together for their amusement; but Alf
soon
told her that she should not sit up so late in the evening,
but
should go first to bed, so as not to waken him. She replied,
that
happy would be the woman who had Yngve instead of Alf for
her
husband; and as she often repeated the same, he became very
angry.
One evening Alf went into the hall, where Yngve and Bera
sat
on the high seat speaking to each other. Yngve had a short
sword
upon his knees, and the guests were so drunk that they did
not
observe the king coming in. King Alf went straight to the
high
seat, drew a sword from under his cloak, and pierced his
brother
Yngve through and through. Yngve leaped up, drew his
short
sword, and gave Alf his death-wound; so that both fell dead
on
the floor. Alf and Yngve were buried under mounds in
Fyrisvold.
Thus tells Thjodolf of it: --
"I tell you of a horrid thing,
A deed of dreadful note I sing --
How by false Bera, wicked queen,
The murderous brother-hands were seen
Each raised against a brother's life;
How wretched Alf with bloody knife
Gored Yngve's heart, and Yngve's blade
Alf on the bloody threshold laid.
Can men resist Fate's iron laws?
They slew each other without cause."
25.
OF HUGLEIK.
Hugleik
was the name of King Alf's son, who succeeded the two
brothers
in the kingdom of the Swedes, the sons of Yngve being
still
children. King Hugleik was no warrior, but sat quietly at
home
in his country. He was very rich, but had still more the
reputation
of being very greedy. He had at his court all sorts
of
players, who played on harps, fiddles, and viols; and had with
him
magicians, and all sorts of witches. Hake and Hagbard were
two
brothers, very celebrated as sea-kings, who had a great force
of
men-at-arms. Sometimes they cruised in company, sometimes
each
for himself, and many warriors followed them both. King
Hake
came with his troops to Sweden against King Hugleik, who, on
his
side, collected a great army to oppose him. Two brothers
came
to his assistance, Svipdag and Geigad, both very celebrated
men,
and powerful combatants. King Hake had about him twelve
champions,
and among them Starkad the Old; and King Hake himself
was
a murderous combatant. They met on Fyrisvold, and there was
a
great battle, in which King Hugleik's army was soon defeated.
Then
the combatants, Svipdag and Geigad, pressed forward
manfully;
but Hake's champions went six against one, and they
were
both taken prisoners. Then King Hake penetrated within the
shield-circle
around King Hugleik, and killed him and two of his
sons
within it. After this the Swedes fled; and King Hake
subdued
the country, and became king of Sweden. He then sat
quietly
at home for three years, but during that time his
combatants
went abroad on viking expeditions, and gathered
property
for themselves.
26.
KING GUDLOG'S DEATH.
Jorund
and Eric, the sons of Yngve Alricsson, lay all this time
in
their warships, and were great warriors. One summer they
marauded
in Denmark, where they met a King Gudlog from
Halogaland,
and had a battle with him, which ended in their
clearing
Gudlog's ship and taking him prisoner. They carried him
to
the land at Stromones, and hanged him there, and afterwards
his
men raised a mound over him. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller:
--
"By the fierce East-kings' cruel pride,
Gudlog must on the wild horse ride --
The wildest horse you e'er did see:
'Tis Sigur's steed -- the gallows tree.
At Stromones the tree did grow,
Where Gudlog's corpse waves on the bough.
A high stone stands on Stromo's heath,
To tell the gallant hero's death."