There into gloomy gulf I passed,O'er which from the rock's throat is castThe swirling rush of waters wan,To meet the sword-player feared of man.By giant's hall the strong stream pressedCold hands against the singer's breast;Huge weight upon him there did hurlThe swallower of the changing whirl[311].
There into gloomy gulf I passed,O'er which from the rock's throat is castThe swirling rush of waters wan,To meet the sword-player feared of man.By giant's hall the strong stream pressedCold hands against the singer's breast;Huge weight upon him there did hurlThe swallower of the changing whirl[311].
There into gloomy gulf I passed,
O'er which from the rock's throat is cast
The swirling rush of waters wan,
To meet the sword-player feared of man.
By giant's hall the strong stream pressed
Cold hands against the singer's breast;
Huge weight upon him there did hurl
The swallower of the changing whirl[311].
And this rhyme too:
The dreadful dweller of the caveGreat strokes and many 'gainst me drave;Full hard he had to strive for it,But toiling long he wan no whit;For from its mighty shaft of treeThe heft-sax smote I speedily;And dulled the flashing war-flame fairIn the black breast that met me there.
The dreadful dweller of the caveGreat strokes and many 'gainst me drave;Full hard he had to strive for it,But toiling long he wan no whit;For from its mighty shaft of treeThe heft-sax smote I speedily;And dulled the flashing war-flame fairIn the black breast that met me there.
The dreadful dweller of the cave
Great strokes and many 'gainst me drave;
Full hard he had to strive for it,
But toiling long he wan no whit;
For from its mighty shaft of tree
The heft-sax smote I speedily;
And dulled the flashing war-flame fair
In the black breast that met me there.
p.162
These verses told also that Grettir had taken these bones out of the cave. But when the priest came to the church in the morning he found the staff, and what was with it, and read the runes; but Grettir had gone home to Sandhaugar.
But when the priest met Grettir he asked him closely as to what had happened: and Grettir told him all the story of his journey. And he added that the priest had not watched the rope faithfully. The priest said that that was true enough.
Men thought for certain that these monsters must have caused the loss of men there in the dale; and there was never any loss from hauntings or spirit-walkings there afterwards.
Grettir was thought to have caused a great purging of the land. The priest buried these bones in the churchyard.
D. Extracts fromBjarka Rímur
(Hrólfs saga Kraka og Bjarkarímurudgivne ved F. Jónsson, København, 1904)
58. Flestir ǫmuðu Hetti heldr,hann var ekki í máli sneldr,einn dag fóru þeir út af hǫll,svó ekki vissi hirðin ǫll.59. Hjalti talar er felmtinn fær,"fǫrum við ekki skógi nær,hér er sú ylgr sem etr upp menn,okkr drepr hún báða senn."60. Ylgrin hljóp úr einum runn,ógurlig með gapanda munn,hǫrmuligt varð Hjalta viðr,á honum skalf bæði leggr og liðr.61. Ótæpt Bjarki að henni gengr,ekki dvelr hann við það lengr,hǫggur svó að í hamri stóð,hljóp úr henni ferligt blóð.62. "Kjóstu Hjalti um kosti tvó,"kappinn Bǫðvar talaði svó,"drekk nú blóð eða drep eg þig hér,dugrinn líz mér engi í þér."63. Ansar Hjalti af ærnum móð,"ekki þori eg að drekka blóð,nýtir flest ef nauðigr skal,nú er ekki á betra val."64. Hjalti gjǫrir sem Bǫðvar biðr,að blóði frá eg hann lagðist niðr,drekkur síðan drykki þrjá,duga mun honum við einn að rjá.IV, 58-64.4. Hann hefr fengið hjartað snjaltaf hǫrðum móði,fekk hann huginn og aflið altaf ylgjar blóði.5. Í grindur vandist grábjǫrn einní garðinn Hleiðar,var sá margur vargrinn beinnog víða sveiðar.6. Bjarka er kent, að hjarðarhundahafi hann drepna,ekki er hónum allvel hentvið ýta kepna.7. Hrólfur býst og hirð hans ǫllað húna stýri,"Sá skal mestr í minni hǫller mætir dýri."8. Beljandi hljóp bjǫrninn frammúr bóli krukku,veifar sínum vónda hramm,svó virðar hrukku.9. Hjalti sér og horfir þá á,er hafin er róma,hafði hann ekki í hǫndum þánema hnefana tóma.10. Hrólfur fleygði að Hjalta þáþeim hildar vendi,kappinn móti krummu bráog klótið hendi.11. Lagði hann síðan bjǫrninn bráttvið bóginn hægra,bessi fell í brúðar áttog bar sig lægra.12. Vann hann það til frægða fystog fleira síðar,hans var lundin lǫngum bystí leiki gríðar.13. Hér með fekk hann Hjalta nafnhins hjartaprúða,Bjarki var eigi betri en jafnvið býti skrúða.V, 4-13.23. Aðals var glaðr afreksmaðr,austur þangað kómu,fyrðar þeir með fránan geirflengja þegar til rómu.24. Ýtar býta engum frið,unnu vel til mála,þar fell Áli og alt hans liðungr í leiki stála.25. Hestrinn beztur Hrafn er kendr,hafa þeir tekið af Ála,Hildisvín er hjálmrinn vendr,hann kaus Bjarki í mála.26. Ǫðling bað þá eigi drafleiga um nǫkkur skipti,það mun kosta kóngligt afl,hann kappann gripunum svipti.27. Ekki þótti Bǫðvar betr,í burtu fóru þeir Hjalti,létust áðr en liðinn er vetrleita að Fróða malti.28. Síðan ríða seggir heimog sǫgðu kóngi þetta,hann kveðst mundu handa þeimheimta slíkt af létta.VIII, 23-28.
58. Flestir ǫmuðu Hetti heldr,hann var ekki í máli sneldr,einn dag fóru þeir út af hǫll,svó ekki vissi hirðin ǫll.
58. Flestir ǫmuðu Hetti heldr,
hann var ekki í máli sneldr,
einn dag fóru þeir út af hǫll,
svó ekki vissi hirðin ǫll.
59. Hjalti talar er felmtinn fær,"fǫrum við ekki skógi nær,hér er sú ylgr sem etr upp menn,okkr drepr hún báða senn."
59. Hjalti talar er felmtinn fær,
"fǫrum við ekki skógi nær,
hér er sú ylgr sem etr upp menn,
okkr drepr hún báða senn."
60. Ylgrin hljóp úr einum runn,ógurlig með gapanda munn,hǫrmuligt varð Hjalta viðr,á honum skalf bæði leggr og liðr.
60. Ylgrin hljóp úr einum runn,
ógurlig með gapanda munn,
hǫrmuligt varð Hjalta viðr,
á honum skalf bæði leggr og liðr.
61. Ótæpt Bjarki að henni gengr,ekki dvelr hann við það lengr,hǫggur svó að í hamri stóð,hljóp úr henni ferligt blóð.
61. Ótæpt Bjarki að henni gengr,
ekki dvelr hann við það lengr,
hǫggur svó að í hamri stóð,
hljóp úr henni ferligt blóð.
62. "Kjóstu Hjalti um kosti tvó,"kappinn Bǫðvar talaði svó,"drekk nú blóð eða drep eg þig hér,dugrinn líz mér engi í þér."
62. "Kjóstu Hjalti um kosti tvó,"
kappinn Bǫðvar talaði svó,
"drekk nú blóð eða drep eg þig hér,
dugrinn líz mér engi í þér."
63. Ansar Hjalti af ærnum móð,"ekki þori eg að drekka blóð,nýtir flest ef nauðigr skal,nú er ekki á betra val."
63. Ansar Hjalti af ærnum móð,
"ekki þori eg að drekka blóð,
nýtir flest ef nauðigr skal,
nú er ekki á betra val."
64. Hjalti gjǫrir sem Bǫðvar biðr,að blóði frá eg hann lagðist niðr,drekkur síðan drykki þrjá,duga mun honum við einn að rjá.IV, 58-64.
64. Hjalti gjǫrir sem Bǫðvar biðr,
að blóði frá eg hann lagðist niðr,
drekkur síðan drykki þrjá,
duga mun honum við einn að rjá.
IV, 58-64.
4. Hann hefr fengið hjartað snjaltaf hǫrðum móði,fekk hann huginn og aflið altaf ylgjar blóði.
4. Hann hefr fengið hjartað snjalt
af hǫrðum móði,
fekk hann huginn og aflið alt
af ylgjar blóði.
5. Í grindur vandist grábjǫrn einní garðinn Hleiðar,var sá margur vargrinn beinnog víða sveiðar.
5. Í grindur vandist grábjǫrn einn
í garðinn Hleiðar,
var sá margur vargrinn beinn
og víða sveiðar.
6. Bjarka er kent, að hjarðarhundahafi hann drepna,ekki er hónum allvel hentvið ýta kepna.
6. Bjarka er kent, að hjarðarhunda
hafi hann drepna,
ekki er hónum allvel hent
við ýta kepna.
7. Hrólfur býst og hirð hans ǫllað húna stýri,"Sá skal mestr í minni hǫller mætir dýri."
7. Hrólfur býst og hirð hans ǫll
að húna stýri,
"Sá skal mestr í minni hǫll
er mætir dýri."
8. Beljandi hljóp bjǫrninn frammúr bóli krukku,veifar sínum vónda hramm,svó virðar hrukku.
8. Beljandi hljóp bjǫrninn framm
úr bóli krukku,
veifar sínum vónda hramm,
svó virðar hrukku.
9. Hjalti sér og horfir þá á,er hafin er róma,hafði hann ekki í hǫndum þánema hnefana tóma.
9. Hjalti sér og horfir þá á,
er hafin er róma,
hafði hann ekki í hǫndum þá
nema hnefana tóma.
10. Hrólfur fleygði að Hjalta þáþeim hildar vendi,kappinn móti krummu bráog klótið hendi.
10. Hrólfur fleygði að Hjalta þá
þeim hildar vendi,
kappinn móti krummu brá
og klótið hendi.
11. Lagði hann síðan bjǫrninn bráttvið bóginn hægra,bessi fell í brúðar áttog bar sig lægra.
11. Lagði hann síðan bjǫrninn brátt
við bóginn hægra,
bessi fell í brúðar átt
og bar sig lægra.
12. Vann hann það til frægða fystog fleira síðar,hans var lundin lǫngum bystí leiki gríðar.
12. Vann hann það til frægða fyst
og fleira síðar,
hans var lundin lǫngum byst
í leiki gríðar.
13. Hér með fekk hann Hjalta nafnhins hjartaprúða,Bjarki var eigi betri en jafnvið býti skrúða.V, 4-13.
13. Hér með fekk hann Hjalta nafn
hins hjartaprúða,
Bjarki var eigi betri en jafn
við býti skrúða.
V, 4-13.
23. Aðals var glaðr afreksmaðr,austur þangað kómu,fyrðar þeir með fránan geirflengja þegar til rómu.
23. Aðals var glaðr afreksmaðr,
austur þangað kómu,
fyrðar þeir með fránan geir
flengja þegar til rómu.
24. Ýtar býta engum frið,unnu vel til mála,þar fell Áli og alt hans liðungr í leiki stála.
24. Ýtar býta engum frið,
unnu vel til mála,
þar fell Áli og alt hans lið
ungr í leiki stála.
25. Hestrinn beztur Hrafn er kendr,hafa þeir tekið af Ála,Hildisvín er hjálmrinn vendr,hann kaus Bjarki í mála.
25. Hestrinn beztur Hrafn er kendr,
hafa þeir tekið af Ála,
Hildisvín er hjálmrinn vendr,
hann kaus Bjarki í mála.
26. Ǫðling bað þá eigi drafleiga um nǫkkur skipti,það mun kosta kóngligt afl,hann kappann gripunum svipti.
26. Ǫðling bað þá eigi drafl
eiga um nǫkkur skipti,
það mun kosta kóngligt afl,
hann kappann gripunum svipti.
27. Ekki þótti Bǫðvar betr,í burtu fóru þeir Hjalti,létust áðr en liðinn er vetrleita að Fróða malti.
27. Ekki þótti Bǫðvar betr,
í burtu fóru þeir Hjalti,
létust áðr en liðinn er vetr
leita að Fróða malti.
28. Síðan ríða seggir heimog sǫgðu kóngi þetta,hann kveðst mundu handa þeimheimta slíkt af létta.VIII, 23-28.
28. Síðan ríða seggir heim
og sǫgðu kóngi þetta,
hann kveðst mundu handa þeim
heimta slíkt af létta.
VIII, 23-28.
Translation of Extracts fromBjarka Rímur
58. Most [of Rolf's retainers] much tormented Hott [Hjalti]; he was not cunning in speech. One day Hjalti and Bothvar went out of the hall, in such wise that none of the retainers knew thereof.
59. Hjalti spake in great terror, "Let us not go near the wood; here is the she-wolf who eats up men; she will kill us both together."
60. The she-wolf leapt from a thicket, dread, with gaping jaws. A great terror was it to Hjalti, and he trembled in every limb.
61. Without delay or hesitation went Bjarki towards her, and hewed at her so that the axe went deep; a monstrous stream of blood gushed from her.
62. "Choose now, Hjalti, of two things"—so spake Bothvar the champion—"Drink now the blood, or I slay thee here; it seems unto me that there is no valour in thee."
63. Hjalti replied stoutly enough, "I cannot bring myself to drink blood; but if I needs must, it avails most [to submit], and now is there no better choice."
64. Hjalti did as Bothvar bade: he stooped down to the blood; then drank he three sups: that will suffice him to wrestle with one man.
IV, 58-64.
4. He [Hjalti] has gained good courage and keen spirit; he got strength and all valour from the she-wolf's blood.
5. A grey bear visited the folds at Hleithargarth; many such a ravager was there far and wide throughout the country.
6. The blame was laid upon Bjarki, because he had slain the herdsmen's dogs; it was not so suited for him to have to strive with men[312].
7. Rolf and all his household prepared to hunt the bear; "He who faces the beast shall be greatest in my hall."
8. Roaring did the bear leap forth from out its den, swinging its evil claws, so that men shrank back.
9. Hjalti saw, he turned and gazed where the battle began; nought had he then in his hands—his empty fists alone.
10. Rolf tossed then to Hjalti his wand of war [his sword]; the warrior put forth his hand towards it, and grasped the pommel.
11. Quickly then he smote the bear in the right shoulder; Bruin fell to the earth, and bore himself in more lowly wise.
12. That was the beginning of his exploits: many followed later; his spirit was ever excellent amid the play of battle.
13. Herefrom he got the name of Hjalti the stout-hearted: Bjarki was no more than his equal.
V, 4-13.
23. Joyful was the valiant Athils when they [Bjarki and Rolf's champions] came east to that place [Lake Wener]; troops with flashing spears rode quickly forthwith to the battle.
24. No truce gave they to their foes: well they earned their pay; there fell Ali and all his host, young in the game of swords.
25. The best of horses, Hrafn by name, they took from Ali; Bjarki chose for his reward the helm Hildisvin.
26. The prince [Athils] bade them have no talk about the business; he deprived the champions[313]of their treasures—that will be a test of his power.
27. Ill-pleased was Bothvar: he and Hjalti departed; they declared that before the winter was gone they would seek for the treasure [the malt of Frothi].
28. Then they rode home and told it to the king [Rolf]; he said it was their business to claim their due outright.
VIII, 23-28.
E.Extract fromÞáttr Orms Stórólfssonar
(Fornmanna Sǫgur, Copenhagen, 1827, III. 204etc.;Flateyarbók, Christiania, 1859-68, I. 527etc.)
7. Litlu síðarr enn þeir Ormr ok Ásbjǫrn hǫfðu skilit, fýstist Ásbjǫrn norðr í Sauðeyjar, fór hann við 4 menn ok 20 á skipi, heldr norðr fyrir Mæri, ok leggr seint dags at Sauðeyhinni ytri, gánga á land ok reisa tjald, eru þar um nóttina, ok verða við ekki varir; um morgininn árla rís Ásbjǫrn upp, klæðir sik, ok tekr vópn sín, ok gengr uppá land, en biðr menn sína bíða sín; en er nokkut svá var liðit frá því, er Ásbjǫrn hafði í brott gengit, verða þeir við þat varir, at ketta ógrlig var komin í tjaldsdyrnar, hon var kolsvǫrt at lit ok heldr grimmlig, þvíat eldr þótti brenna or nǫsum hennar ok munni, eigi var hon ok vel eyg; þeim brá mjǫk við þessa sýn, ok urðu óttafullir. Ketta hleypr þá innar at þeim, ok grípr hvern at ǫðrum, ok svá er sagt at suma gleypti hon, en suma rifi hon til dauðs með klóm ok tǫnnum, 20 menn drap hon þar á lítilli stundu, en 3 kvómust út ok undan ok á skip, ok héldu þegar undan landi; en Ásbjǫrn gengr þar til, er hann kemr at hellinum Brúsa, ok snarar þegar inn í; honum varð nokkut dimt fyrir augum, en skuggamikit var í hellinum; hann verðr eigi fyrr var við, enn hann er þrifinn álopt, ok færðr niðr svá hart, at Ásbirni þótti furða í, verðr hann þess þá varr, at þar er kominn Brúsi jǫtun, ok sýndist heldr mikiligr. Brúsi mælti þá: þó lagðir þú mikit kapp á at sækja híngat; skaltu nú ok eyrindi hafa, þvíat þú skalt hér lífit láta með svá miklum harmkvælum, at þat skal aðra letja at sækja mik heim með ófriði; fletti hann þá Ásbjǫrn klæðum, þvíat svá, var þeirra mikill afla munr, at jǫtuninn varð einn at ráða þeirra í milli; bálk mikinn sá Ásbjǫrn standa um þveran hellinn ok stórt gat á miðjum bálkinum; járnsúla stór stóð nokkut svá fyrir framan bálkinn. Nú skal prófa þat, segir Brúsi, hvárt þú ert nokkut harðari enn aðrir menn. Lítit mun þat at reyna, segir Ásbjǫrn....
Síðan lét Ásbjǫrn líf sitt með mikilli hreysti ok dreingskap.
8. Þat er at segja at þeir þrír menn, er undan kómust, sóttu knáliga róðr, ok léttu eigi fyrr enn þeir kómu at landi, sǫgðu þau tíðindi er gerzt hǫfðu í þeirra fǫrum, kvóðust ætla Ásbjǫrn dauðan, en kunnu ekki frá at segja, hversu at hefði borizt um hans líflát; kvómu þeir sér i skip með kaupmǫnnum, ok fluttust svá suðr til Danmerkr; spurðust nú þessi tíðindi víða, ok þóttu mikil. Þa var orðit hǫfðíngja skipti í Noregi, Hakon jarl dauðr, en Ólafr Tryggvason í land kominn, ok bauð ǫllum rétta trú. Ormr Stórólfsson spurði út til Íslands umfarar ok líflát Ásbjarnar, er mǫnnum þótti sem vera mundi; þótti honum þat allmikill skaði, ok undi eigi lengr á Íslandi, ok tók sér far í Reyðarfirði, ok fór þar utan; þeir kvómu norðarliga við Noreg, ok sat hann um vetrinn í Þrándheimi; þá hafði Ólafr ráðit 3 vetr Noregi. Um vórit bjóst Ormr at fara til Sauðeya, þeir vóru því nærr margir á skipi, sem þeir Ásbjǫrn h[,]fðu verit; þeir lǫgðu at minni Sauðey síð um kveldit, ok tjǫlduðu á landi, ok lágu þar um náttina....
9. Nú gengr Ormr þar til er hann kemr at hellinum, sér hann nú bjargit þat stóra, ok leizt úmátuligt nokkurum manni þat í brott at færa; þó dregr hann á sik glófana Menglaðarnauta, tekr síðan á bjarginu ok færir þat burt or dyrunum, ok þikist Ormr þá aflraun mesta sýnt hafa; hann gekk þá inní hellinn, ok lagði málajárn í dyrnar, en er hann var inn kominn, sá hann hvar kettan hljóp með gapanda ginit. Ormr hafði boga ok ǫrvamæli, lagði hann þá ǫr á streing, ok skaut at kettunni þremr ǫrum, en hon hendi allar með hvoptunum, ok beit í sundr, hefir hon sik þá at Ormi, ok rekr klærnar framan í fángit, svá at Ormr kiknar við, en klærnar gengu í gegnum klæðin svá at í beini stóð; hon ætlar þá at bíta í andlit Ormi, finnr hann þá at honum mun eigi veita, heitir þá á sjálfan guð ok hinn heilaga Petrum postula, at gánga til Róms, ef hann ynni kettuna ok Brúsa, son hennar; síðan fann Ormr at mínkaðist afl kettunnar, tekr hann þá annarri hendi um kverkr henni, en annarri um hrygg, ok gengr hana á bak, ok brýtr ísundr í henni hrygginn, ok gengr svá af henni dauðri. Ormr sá þá, hvar bálkr stórr var um þveran hellinn; hann gengr þá innar at, en er hann kemr þar, sér hann at fleinn mikill kemr utar í gegnum bálkinn, hann var bæði digr ok lángr; Ormr grípr þá í móti fleininum, ok leggr af út; Brúsi kippir þá at sér fleininum ok var hann fastr svá at hvergi gekk; þat undraðist Brúsi, ok gægdist upp yfir bálkinn, en er Ormr sér þat, þrífr hann í skeggit á Brúsa báðum hǫndum, en Brúsi bregzt við í ǫðrum stað, sviptast þeir þá fast um bálkinn. Ormr hafði vafit skegginu um hǫnd sér, ok rykkir til svá fast, at hann rífr af Brúsa allan skeggstaðinn, hǫkuna, kjaptana báða, vángafyllurnar upp alt at eyrum, gekk hér með holdit niðr at beini. Brúsi lét þásíga brýnnar, ok grettist heldr greppiliga. Ormr stǫkkr þá innar yfir bálkinn, grípast þeir þá til ok glíma lengi, mæddi Brúsa þá fast blóðrás, tekr hann þá heldr at gángast fyrir, gefr Ormr þá á, ok rekr Brúsa at bálkinum ok brýtr hann þar um á bak aptr. Snemma sagði mér þat hugr, sagði Brúsi, at ek munda af þér nokkut erfitt fá, þegar ek heyrða þín getit, enda er þat nú fram komit, muntu nú vinna skjótt um, ok hǫggva hǫfuð af mér, en þat var satt, at mjǫk pínda ek Ásbjǫrn prúða, þá er ek rakta or honum alla þarmana, ok gaf hann sik ekki við, fyrrenn hann dó. Illa gerðir þú þat, segir Ormr, at pína hann svá mjǫk jafnrǫskvan mann, skaltu ok hafa þess nokkurar menjar. Hann brá þá saxi ok reist blóðǫrn á baki honum, ok skar ǫll rifin frá hryggnum, ok dró þar út lúngun; lét Brúsi svá líf sitt með litlum dreingskap; síðan bar Ormr eld at, ok brendi upp til ǫsku bæði Brúsa ok kettuna, ok er hann hafði þetta starfat, fór hann burt or hellinum með kistur tvær fullar af gulli ok silfri, en þat sem meira var fémætt, gaf hann í vald Menglaðar, ok svá eyna; skildu þau með mikilli vináttu, kom Ormr til manna sinna í nefndan tíma, héldu síðan til meginlands. Sat Ormr í Þrándheimi vetr annan.
Translation of Extract fromÞáttr Orms Stórólfssonar
7.
A little after Orm and Asbiorn had parted, Asbiorn wished to go north to Sandeyar[314]; he went aboard with twenty-four men, went north past Mæri, and landed late in the day at the outermost of the Sandeyar[314]. They landed and pitched a tent, and spent the night there, and met with nothing.
Early in the morning Asbiorn arose, clothed himself, took his arms, went inland, and bade his men wait for him.
But when some time had passed from Asbiorn's having gone away, they were aware that a monstrous[315]cat had come to thedoor of the tent: she was coal-black in colour and very fierce, for it seemed as if fire was burning from her nostrils and mouth, and her eyes were nothing fair: they were much startled at this sight, and full of fear. Then the cat leapt within the tent upon them, and gripped one after the other, and so it is said that some she swallowed and some she tore to death with claws and teeth. Twenty men she killed in a short time, and three escaped aboard ship, and stood away from the shore.
But Asbiorn went till he came to the cave of Brusi, and hastened in forthwith. It was dim before his eyes, and very shadowy in the cave, and before he was aware of it, he was caught off his feet, and thrown down so violently that it seemed strange to him. Then was he aware that there was come the giant Brusi, and he seemed to him a great one.
Then said Brusi, "Thou didst seek with great eagerness to come hither—now shalt thou have business, in that thou shalt here leave thy life with so great torments that that shall stay others from attacking me in my lair."
Then he stripped Asbiorn of his clothes, forasmuch as so great was their difference in strength that the giant could do as he wished. Asbiorn saw a great barrier standing across the cave, and a mighty opening in the midst of it; a great iron column stood somewhat in front of the barrier. "Now it must be tried," said Brusi, "whether thou art somewhat hardier than other men." "Little will that be to test," said Asbiorn....
[Asbiorn then recites ten stanzas, Brusi tormenting him the while. The first stanza is almost identical with No. 50 in theGrettis saga.]
[Asbiorn then recites ten stanzas, Brusi tormenting him the while. The first stanza is almost identical with No. 50 in theGrettis saga.]
Then Asbiorn left his life with great valour and hardihood.
8.
Now it must be told concerning the three men who escaped; they rowed strongly, and stopped not until they came to land. They told the tidings of what had happened in their journey, and said that they thought that Asbiorn was dead, but that they could not tell how matters had happened concerning his death. They took ship with merchants, and so went south toDenmark: now these tidings were spread far and wide, and seemed weighty.
There had been a change of rulers in Norway: jarl Hakon was dead, and Olaf Tryggvason come to land: and he proclaimed the true faith to all. Orm Storolfson heard, out in Iceland, about the expedition of Asbiorn, and the death which it seemed to men must have come upon him. It seemed to him a great loss, and he cared no longer to be in Iceland, and took passage at Reytharfirth and went abroad. They reached Norway far to the north, and he stayed the winter at Thrandheim: Olaf at that time had reigned three years in Norway.
In the spring Orm made ready for his journey to Sandeyar, and there were nearly as many in the ship as the company of Asbiorn had been.
They landed at Little Sandey late in the evening, and pitched a tent on the land, and lay there the night....
9.
Now Orm went till he came to the cave. He saw the great rock, and thought it was impossible for any man to move it. Then he drew on the gloves that Menglath had given him, and grasped the rock and moved it away from the door; this is reckoned Orm's great feat of strength. Then he went into the cave, and thrust his weapon against the door. When he came in, he saw a giantess (she-cat) springing towards him with gaping jaws. Orm had a bow and quiver; he put the arrow on the string, and shot thrice at the giantess. But she seized all the arrows in her mouth, and bit them asunder. Then she flung herself upon Orm, and thrust her claws into his breast, so that Orm stumbled, and her claws went through his clothes and pierced him to the bone. She tried then to bite his face, and Orm found himself in straits: he promised then to God, and the holy apostle Peter, to go to Rome, if he conquered the giantess and Brusi her son. Then Orm felt the power of the giantess diminishing: he placed one hand round her throat, and the other round her back, and bent it till he broke it in two, and so left her dead.
Then Orm saw where a great barrier ran across the cave: he went further in, and when he came to it he saw a great shaftcoming out through the barrier, both long and thick. Orm gripped the shaft and drew it away; Brusi pulled it towards himself, but it did not yield. Then Brusi wondered, and peeped up over the barrier. But when Orm saw that, he gripped Brusi by the beard with both hands, but Brusi pulled away, and so they tugged across the barrier. Orm twisted the beard round his hand, and tugged so violently that he pulled the flesh of Brusi away from the bone—from chin, jaws, cheeks, right up to the ears. Brusi knitted his brows and made a hideous face. Then Orm leapt in over the barrier, and they grappled and wrestled for a long time. But loss of blood wearied Brusi, and he began to fail in strength. Orm pressed on, pushed Brusi to the barrier, and broke his back across it. "Right early did my mind misgive me," said Brusi, "even so soon as I heard of thee, that I should have trouble from thee: and now has that come to pass. But now make quick work, and hew off my head. And true it is that much did I torture the gallant Asbiorn, in that I tore out all his entrails—yet did he not give in, before he died." "Ill didst thou do," said Orm, "to torture him, so fine a man as he was, and thou shalt have something in memory thereof." Then he drew his knife, and cut the "blood eagle" in the back of Brusi, shore off his ribs and drew out his lungs. So Brusi died in cowardly wise. Then Orm took fire, and burned to ashes both Brusi and the giantess. And when he had done that, he left the cave, with two chests full of gold and silver.
And all that was most of value he gave to Menglath, and the island likewise. So they parted with great friendship, and Orm came to his men at the time appointed, and then they sailed to the mainland. Orm remained a second winter at Thrandheim.
F.A Danish Dragon-slaying of the Beowulf-type
Paa den Tid, da kong Gram Guldkølve regierede i Leire, vare der ved Hoffet to Ministre, Bessus og Henrik. Og da der paa samme Tid indkom idelige klager fra Indbyggerne i Vendsyssel, at et grueligt Udyr, som Bønderne kaldte Lindorm, ødelagde baade Mennesker og Kreaturer, gav Bessus det Raad, at Kongen skulde sende Henrik did hen, efterdi ingen i det ganske Rige kunde maale sig med ham in Tapperhed og Mod. Da svaredeHenrik, at han vel vilde paatage sig dette, dog tilføiede han, at han ansaae det for umuligt at slippe fra saadan Kamp med Livet. Og belavede han sig da strax til Reisen, tog rørende Afsked med sin Herre og Konge og sagde iblandt andet: "Herre! om jeg ikke kommer tilbage, da sørg for min kone og for mine Børn!" Da han derefter var kommen over til Vendsyssel, lod han sig af Bønderne vise det Sted, hvor Uhyret havde sit Leie, og fik da at vide, at Ormen endnu den samme Dag havde været ude af Hulen og borttaget en Hyrde og en Oxe, og at den efter Sædvane nu ikke vilde komme ud, førend om tre Timer, naar den skulde ned til Vandet for at drikke efter Maaltidet. Henrik iførte sig da sin fulde Rustning, og eftersom Ingen vovede at staae ham bi i dette Arbeide, lagde han sig ganske alene ved Vandet, dog saaledes, at Vinden ikke bar fra ham henimod Dyret. Da udsendte han først en vældig Piil fra sin Bue, men uagtet den rammede nøie det sted, hvortil han havde sigtet, tørnede den dog tilbage fra Ormens haarde Skæl. Herover blev Uhyret saa optændt af Vrede, at det strax gik henimod ham, agtende ham kun et ringe Maaltid; men Henrik havde iforveien hos en Smed ladet sig giøre en stor Krog med Gjenhold, hvilken han jog ind i Beestets aabne Gab, saa at det ikke kunde blive den qvit, ihvormeget det end arbeidede, og ihvorvel Jernstangen brast i Henriks Hænder. Da slog det ham med sin vældige Hale til Jorden, og skiøndt han havde fuldkommen Jernrustning paa, kradsede det dog med sine forfærdelige Kløer saa at han, næsten dødeligt saaret, faldt i Besvimelse. Men da han, efterat Ormen i nogen Tid havde haft ham liggende under sin Bug, endelig kom lidt til sin Samling igien, greb han af yderste Evne en Daggert, af hvilke han førte flere med sig i sit Bælte, og stak Dyret dermed i underlivet, hvor Sksællene vare blødest, saa at det tilsidst maate udpuste sin giftige Aande, medens han selv laae halv knust under dens Byrde. Da Bønderne i Vendsyssel som stode i nogen Afstand, under megen Frygt og lidet Haab omsider mærkede, at Striden sagtnede, og at begge Parter holdte sig rolige, nærmede de sig og fandt Hr. Henrik næsten livløs under det dræbte Udyr. Og efterat de i nogen Tid havde givet ham god Pleie, vendte han tilbage for at dø hos sin Konge, til hvem han gientagende anbefalede sinSlægt. Fra ham nedstammer Familien Lindenroth, som til Minde om denne vældige Strid fører en Lindorm i sit Vaaben.
MS222. 4o. Stamme och Slectebog over den høiadelige Familie af Lindenroth, inDanmarks Folkesagn, samlede af J. M. Thiele, 1843,I, 125-7.
A DANISH DRAGON-SLAYING OF THE BEOWULF-TYPE.
Translation.
In the days when King Gram Guldkølve ruled in Leire, there were two ministers at court, Bessus and Henry. And at that time constant complaints came to the court from the inhabitants of Vendsyssel, that a dread monster, which the peasants called a Drake, was destroying both man and beast. So Bessus gave counsel, that the king should send Henry against the dragon, seeing that no one in the whole kingdom was his equal in valour and courage. Henry answered that assuredly he would undertake it; but he added that he thought it impossible to escape from such a struggle with his life. And he made himself ready forthwith for the expedition, took a touching farewell of his lord and king, and said among other things: "My lord, if I come not back, care thou for my wife and my children."
Afterwards, when he crossed over to Vendsyssel, he caused the peasants to show him the place where the monster had its lair, and learnt how that very day the drake had been out of its den, and had carried off a herdsman and an ox; how, according to its wont, it would now not come out for three hours, when it would want to go down to the water to drink after its meal. Henry clothed himself in full armour, and inasmuch as no one dared to stand by him in that task, he lay down all alone by the water, but in such wise that the wind did not blow from him toward the monster. First of all he sent a mighty arrow from his bow: but, although it exactly hit the spot at which he had aimed, it darted back from the dragon's hard scales. At this the monster was so maddened, that it attacked him forthwith, reckoning him but a little meal. But Henry had had a mighty barbed crook prepared by a smith beforehand, which he thrust into the beast's open mouth, so that it couldnot get rid of it, however much it strove, although the iron rod broke in Henry's hands. Then it smote him to the ground with its mighty tail, and although he was in complete armour, clutched at him with its dread claws, so that he fell in a swoon, wounded almost to death. But when he came somewhat to his senses again, after the drake for some time had had him lying under its belly, he rallied his last strength and grasped a dagger, of which he carried several with him in his belt, and smote it therewith in the belly, where the scales were weakest. So the monster at last breathed out its poisoned breath, whilst he himself lay half crushed under its weight. When the Vendsyssel peasants, who stood some distance away, in great fear and little hope, at last noticed that the battle had slackened, and that both combatants were still, they drew near and found Henry almost lifeless under the slain monster. And after they for some time had tended him well, he returned to die by his king, to whom he again commended his offspring. From him descends the family Lindenroth, which in memory of this mighty contest carries a drake on its coat of arms.
This story resembles the dragon fight inBeowulf, in that the hero faces the dragon as protector of the land, with forebodings, and after taking farewell; he attacks the dragon in its lair, single-handed; his first attack is frustrated by the dragon's scales; in spite of apparatus specially prepared, he is wounded and stunned by the dragon, but nevertheless smites the dragon in the soft parts and slays him; the watchers draw near when the fight is over. Yet these things merely prove that the two stories are of the same type; there is no evidence that this story is descended fromBeowulf.
This story resembles the dragon fight inBeowulf, in that the hero faces the dragon as protector of the land, with forebodings, and after taking farewell; he attacks the dragon in its lair, single-handed; his first attack is frustrated by the dragon's scales; in spite of apparatus specially prepared, he is wounded and stunned by the dragon, but nevertheless smites the dragon in the soft parts and slays him; the watchers draw near when the fight is over. Yet these things merely prove that the two stories are of the same type; there is no evidence that this story is descended fromBeowulf.
G. The Old English Genealogies.
I.THE MERCIAN GENEALOGY.
Of the Old English Genealogies, the only one which, in its stagesbelowWoden, immediately concerns the student ofBeowulfis the Mercian. This contains three names which also occur inBeowulf, though two of them in a corrupt form—Offa, Wermund (Garmund,Beowulf), and Eomær (Geomor,Beowulf).
This Mercian pedigree is found in its best form inMS Cotton Vesp. B. VI, fol. 109b,[316]and in the sisterMSat Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (C.C.C.C.183)[317]. Both theseMSSare ofthe 9th century. They contain lists of popes and bishops, and pedigrees of kings. By noting where these lists stop, we get a limit for the final compilation of the document. It must have been drawn up in its present form between 811 and 814[318]. But it was obviously compiled from lists already existing, and some of them were even at that date old. For the genealogy of the Mercian kings, from Woden, is not traced directly down to this period 811-814, but in the first place only as far as Æthelred (reigning 675-704), son of Penda: that is to say, it stops considerably more than a century before the date of the document in which it appears. Additional pedigrees are then appended which show the subsequent stages down to and including Cenwulf, king of Mercia (reigning 796-821). It is difficult to account for such an arrangement except on the hypothesis that the genealogy was committed to writing in the reign of Æthelred, the monarch with whose name it terminates in its first form, and was then brought up to date by the addition of the supplementary names ending with Cenwulf. This is confirmed when we find that precisely the same arrangement holds good for the accompanying Northumbrian pedigree, which terminates with Ecgfrith (670-685), the contemporary of Æthelred of Mercia, and is then brought up to date by additional names.
Genealogies which draw from the same source as theVespasiangenealogies, and show the same peculiarities, are found in theHistoria Brittonum(§§ 57-61). They show, even more emphatically than do theVespasianlists, traces of having been originally drawn up in the time of Æthelred of Mercia (675-704) or possibly of his father Penda, and of having then been brought up to date in subsequent revisions[319].
One such revision must have been made about 796[320]: it is amodification of this revision which is found in theHistoria Brittonum. Another was that which, as we have seen, must have been made between 811-814, and in this form is found inMS Cotton Vespasian B. VI,MS C.C.C.C.183, both of the 9th century, and in the (much later)MS Cotton Tiberius B. V.
The genealogy up to Penda is also found in theA.-S. Chronicleunder the year 626 (accession of Penda).
This Mercian list, together with the Northumbrian and other pedigrees which accompany it, can claim to be the earliest extant English historical document, having been written down in the 7th century, and recording historic names which (allowing thirty years for a generation) cannot be later than the 4th centuryA.D.In most similar pedigrees the earliest names are meaningless to us. But the Mercian pedigree differs from the rest, in that we are able fromBeowulf,Widsith, Saxo Grammaticus, Sweyn Aageson and theVitae Offarum, to attach stories to the names of Wermund and Offa. How much of these stories is history, and how much fiction, it is difficult to say—but, with them, extant English history and English poetry and English fiction alike have their beginning.
II.THE STAGES ABOVE WODEN.
(1)WODEN TO GEAT.
The stages above Woden are found in two forms: a short list which traces the line from Woden up to Geat: and a longer list which carries the line from Geat to Sceaf and through Noah to Adam.
The line from Woden to Geat is found in theHistoria Brittonum, not with the other genealogies, but in § 31, where the pedigree of the Kentish royal family is given, when the arrival of Hengest in Britain is recounted. Notwithstanding the dispute regarding the origin and date of theHistoria Brittonum, there is a pretty general agreement that thisWoden to Geatpedigree is one of the more primitive elements, and is not likely to be much later than the end of the 7th century[323]. The original nucleus of theHistoria Brittonumwas revised byNennius in the 9th century, or possibly at the end of the 8th[324]. The earliestMSof theHistoria, that of Chartres, belongs to the 9th or 10th century—this is fragmentary and already interpolated; the received text is based uponMS Harleian3859, dating from the end of the 11th century[325], or possibly somewhat later.
I give the pedigree in four forms:
A. The critical text of theHistoria Brittonumas edited by Th. Mommsen (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auct. Antiq., Chronica Minora,III, Berolini, 1898, p. 171).
B.MS Harl.3859, upon which Mommsen's text is based, fol. 180.
C. TheChartres MS.
D. Mommsen's critical text of the later revision,Nennius interpretatus, which he gives parallel to theHistoria Brittonum.
MS Cotton Vespasian B. VI(9th century) contains a number of Anglo-Saxon genealogies and other lists revised up to the period 811-14[326]. The genealogy of the kings of Lindsey in this list has the stages from Woden to Geat. This genealogy is also found in the sister list in the 9th centuryMSat Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (MS C.C.C.C.183).
A similar list is to be found in theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle(entered under the year 547). But there it is appended to the genealogy of the Northumbrian kings. This genealogy has been erased in the oldestMS(Parker, end of the 9th century) to make room for later additions, but is found inMSS Cotton Tiberius A. VIandB. I.
TheFodepaldorFolcpaldwho, in theHistoria Brittonum, appears as the father of Finn, is clearly theFolcwaldawho appears as Finn's father inBeowulfandWidsith. The Old Englishw(ƿ) has been mistaken forp, just as inPinefredforWinefredin theLife of Offa II. In theVespasian MSand in other genealogies Godwulf is Finn's father. It has been very generally held that Finn and his father Godwulf are mythical heroes, quite distinct from the presumably historic Finn, son of Folcwalda, mentioned inBeowulfandWidsith: and that by confusionFolcwaldcame to be written instead ofGodwulfin the genealogy, as given in theHistoria Brittonum. I doubt whether there is sufficient justification for this distinction between a presumed historic Finn Folcwalding and a mythical Finn Godwulfing. Is it not possible that Godwulf was a traditional, probably historic, king of the Frisians, father of Finn, and thatFolcwalda[327]was atitlewhich, since it alliterated conveniently, in the end supplanted the proper name in epic poetry?
III.THE STAGES ABOVE WODEN.
(2)WODEN TO SCEAF.
The stages above Geat are found in the genealogy of the West-Saxon kings only[328]. This is recorded in theChronicleunder the year 855 (notice concerning Æthelwulf) and it was probably drawn up at the court of that king. Though it doubtless contains ancient names, it is apparently not so ancient as theWoden-Geatlist. It became very well known, and is also found in Asser and theTextus Roffensis. It was copied by later historians such as William of Malmesbury, and by the Icelandic genealogists[329].
The principal versions of this pedigree are given in tabular form below (pp. 202-3); omitting the merely second-hand reproductions, such as those of Florence of Worcester.
H.Extract from the Chronicle Roll.
This roll was drawn up in the reign of Henry VI, and its compiler must have had access to a document now lost.
There are many copies of the roll extant—the "Moseley" Roll at University College, London (formerly in the Phillipps collection); at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (No. 98A); at Trinity College, Cambridge; and in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris[330]; and one which recently came into the market in London.