Chapter XXIV: Part II (3)

Then he turned back, and it was half dark when he came to Sandhaugar and called for meat; and when he had eaten, he bade the farm folk go to the far side of the room. Then he took boards and loose timber which he dragged across the room, and made a great barrier so that none of the farm folk could come over it. No one dared to say anything against him or to murmur in any wise. The entrance was in the side wall of the chamber by the gable-end, and there was a dais there. Guest lay down there, but did not take off his clothes: a light was burning in the room over against the door: Guest lay there far into the night.

The good-wife came to Isledale river to the service, and men wondered how she had crossed the river. She said she did not know whether it was a man or a troll who had carried her over. The priest said, "It must surely be a man, although there are few like him. And let us say nothing about it," said he, "it may be that he is destined to work a remedy for your evils." The good-wife remained there through the night.

Now it is to be told concerning Grettir that when it drew towards midnight he heard great noises outside. Thereupon there came into the room a great giantess. She had in one hand a trough and in the other a short-sword, rather a big one. She looked round when she came in, and saw where Guest lay, and sprang at him; but he sprang up against her, and they struggled fiercely and wrestled for a long time in the room. She was the {178} stronger, but he gave way warily; and they broke all that was before them, as well as the panelling of the room. She dragged him forward through the door and so[305] into the porch, and he [Sidenote: p. 159] struggled hard against her. She wished to drag him out of the house, but that did not happen until they had broken all the fittings of the outer doorway and forced them out on their shoulders. Then she dragged him slowly down towards the river and right along to the gorge.

By that time Guest was exceedingly weary, but yet, one or other it had to be, either he had to gather his strength together, or else she would have hurled him down into the gorge. All night they struggled. He thought that he had never grappled with such a devil in the matter of strength. She had got such a grip upon him that he could do nothing with either hand, except to hold the witch by the middle; but when they came to the gorge of the river he swung the giantess round, and thereupon got his right hand free. Then quickly he gripped his knife that he wore in his girdle and drew it, and smote the shoulder of the giantess so that he cut off her right arm. So he got free: but she fell into the gorge, and so into the rapids below.

Guest was then both stiff and tired, and lay long on the rocks; then he went home when it began to grow light, and lay down in bed. He was all swollen black and blue.

And when the good-wife came from the service, it seemed to her that things had been somewhat disarranged in her house. Then she went to Guest and asked him what had happened, that all was broken and destroyed[306]. He told her all that had taken place. She thought it very wonderful, and asked who he was. He told her the truth, and asked her to send for the priest, and said he wished to meet him; and so it was done.

Then when Stein the priest came to Sandhaugar, he knew soon that it was Grettir Asmundarson who had come there, and who had called himself Guest.

The priest asked Grettir what he thought must have become of those men who had vanished. Grettir said he thought they {179} must have vanished into the gorge. The priest said that he could not believe Grettir's saying, if no signs of it were to be seen. Grettir said that they would know more accurately about it later. Then the priest went home. Grettir lay many days in bed. The good-wife looked after him well, and so the Christmas-time passed.

Grettir's account was that the giantess fell into the gulf when she got her wound; but the men of Barthardal say that day came upon her whilst they wrestled, and that she burst when he smote her hand off, and that she stands there on the cliff yet, a rock in the likeness of a woman[307].

The dwellers in the dale kept Grettir in hiding there. But after Christmas time, one day that winter, Grettir went to Isledale river. And when Grettir and the priest met, Grettir [Sidenote: p. 160] said "I see, priest, that you place little belief in my words. Now will I that you go with me to the river and see what the likelihood seems to you to be."

The priest did so. But when they came to the waterfall they saw that the sides of the gorge hung over[308]: it was a sheer cliff so great that one could in nowise come up, and it was nearly ten fathoms[309] from the top to the water below. They had a rope with them. Then the priest said, "It seems to me quite impossible for thee to get down."

Grettir said, "Assuredly it is possible, but best for those who are men of valour. I will examine what is in the waterfall, and thou shalt watch the rope."

{180}

The priest said it should be as he wished, drove a peg into the cliff, piled stones against it, and sat by it[310].

Now it must be told concerning Grettir that he knotted a stone into the rope, and so let it down to the water.

"What way," said the priest, "do you mean to go?"

"I will not be bound," said Grettir, "when I go into the water, so much my mind forebodes me."

After that he got ready for his exploit, and had little on; he girded himself with his short sword, and had no other weapon.

Then he plunged from the cliff down into the waterfall. The priest saw the soles of his feet, and knew no more what had become of him. Grettir dived under the waterfall, and that was difficult because there was a great eddy, and he had to dive right to the bottom before he could come up behind the waterfall. There was a jutting rock and he climbed upon it. There was a great cave behind the waterfall, and the river fell in front of it from the precipice. He went into the cave, and there was a big fire burning. Grettir saw that there sat a giant of frightful size. He was terrible to look upon: but when Grettir came to him, the giant leapt up and seized a pike, and hewed at the new-comer: for with the pike he could both cut and stab. It had a handle of wood: men at that time called a weapon made in such a way a _heptisax_. Grettir smote against it with his short sword, and struck the handle so that he cut it asunder. Then the giant tried to reach back for a sword which hung behind him in the cave. Thereupon Grettir smote him in the breast, and struck off almost all the lower part of his chest and his belly, so that the entrails gushed out of him down into the river, and were swept along the current.

And as the priest sat by the rope he saw some lumps, clotted [Sidenote: p. 161] with blood, carried down stream. Then he became unsteady, and thought that now he knew that Grettir must be dead: and he ran from keeping the rope and went home. It was then evening, and the priest said for certain that Grettir was dead, and added that it was a great loss of such a man.

Now the tale must be told concerning Grettir. He let little space go between his blows till the giant was dead. Then he {181} went further into the cave; he kindled a light and examined it. It is not said how much wealth he took in the cave, but men think that there was something. He stayed there far into the night. He found there the bones of two men, and put them into a bag. Then he left the cave and swam to the rope and shook it, for he thought that the priest must be there. But when he knew that the priest had gone home, then he had to draw himself up, hand over hand, and so he came up on to the cliff.

Then he went home to Isledale river, and came to the church porch, with the bag that the bones were in, and with a rune-staff, on which these verses were exceedingly well cut:

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 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

{182} Grettir was thought to have caused a great purging of the land. The priest buried these bones in the churchyard.

* * * * *

D. EXTRACTS FROM BJARKA R['I]MUR

(_Hr['o]lfs saga Kraka og Bjarkar['i]mur_ udgivne ved F. J['o]nsson, Koebenhavn, 1904)

58. Flestir [o,]mudhu Hetti heldr,
hann var ekki ['i] m['a]li sneldr,
einn dag f['o]ru their ['u]t af h[o,]ll,
sv['o] ekki vissi hirdhin [o,]ll.

59. Hjalti talar er felmtinn faer,
"f[o,]rum vidh ekki sk['o]gi naer,
h['e]r er s['u] ylgr sem etr upp menn,
okkr drepr h['u]n b['a]dha senn."

60. Ylgrin hlj['o]p ['u]r einum runn,
['o]gurlig medh gapanda munn,
h[o,]rmuligt vardh Hjalta vidhr,
['a] honum skalf baedhi leggr og lidhr.

61. ['O]taept Bjarki adh henni gengr,
ekki dvelr hann vidh thadh lengr,
h[o,]ggur sv['o] adh ['i] hamri st['o]dh,
hlj['o]p ['u]r henni ferligt bl['o]dh.

62. "Kj['o]stu Hjalti um kosti tv['o],"
kappinn B[o,]dhvar taladhi sv['o],
"drekk n['u] bl['o]dh edha drep eg thig h['e]r,
dugrinn l['i]z m['e]r engi ['i] th['e]r."

63. Ansar Hjalti af aernum m['o]dh,
"ekki thori eg adh drekka bl['o]dh,
n['y]tir flest ef naudhigr skal,
n['u] er ekki ['a] betra val."

64. Hjalti gj[o,]rir sem B[o,]dhvar bidhr,
adh bl['o]dhi fr['a] eg hann lagdhist nidhr,
drekkur s['i]dhan drykki thrj['a],
duga mun honum vidh einn adh rj['a].
IV, 58-64.

{183}
4. Hann hefr fengidh hjartadh snjalt
af h[o,]rdhum m['o]dhi,
fekk hann huginn og aflidh alt
af ylgjar bl['o]dhi.

5. ['I] grindur vandist gr['a]bj[o,]rn einn
['i] gardhinn Hleidhar,
var s['a] margur vargrinn beinn
og v['i]dha sveidhar.

6. Bjarka er kent, adh hjardharhunda
hafi hann drepna,
ekki er h['o]num allvel hent
vidh ['y]ta kepna.

7. Hr['o]lfur b['y]st og hirdh hans [o,]ll
adh h['u]na st['y]ri,
"S['a] skal mestr ['i] minni h[o,]ll
er maetir d['y]ri."

8. Beljandi hlj['o]p bj[o,]rninn framm
['u]r b['o]li krukku,
veifar s['i]num v['o]nda hramm,
sv['o] virdhar hrukku.

9. Hjalti s['e]r og horfir th['a] ['a],
er hafin er r['o]ma,
hafdhi hann ekki ['i] h[o,]ndum th['a]
nema hnefana t['o]ma.

10. Hr['o]lfur fleygdhi adh Hjalta th['a]
theim hildar vendi,
kappinn m['o]ti krummu br['a]
og kl['o]tidh hendi.

11. Lagdhi hann s['i]dhan bj[o,]rninn br['a]tt
vidh b['o]ginn haegra,
bessi fell ['i] br['u]dhar ['a]tt
og bar sig laegra.

12. Vann hann thadh til fraegdha fyst
og fleira s['i]dhar,
hans var lundin l[o,]ngum byst
['i] leiki gr['i]dhar.
{184}

13. H['e]r medh fekk hann Hjalta nafn
hins hjartapr['u]dha,
Bjarki var eigi betri en jafn
vidh b['y]ti skr['u]dha.
V, 4-13.

23. Adhals var gladhr afreksmadhr,
austur thangadh k['o]mu,
fyrdhar their medh fr['a]nan geir
flengja thegar til r['o]mu.

24. ['Y]tar b['y]ta engum fridh,
unnu vel til m['a]la,
thar fell ['A]li og alt hans lidh
ungr ['i] leiki st['a]la.

25. Hestrinn beztur Hrafn er kendr,
hafa their tekidh af ['A]la,
Hildisv['i]n er hj['a]lmrinn vendr,
hann kaus Bjarki ['i] m['a]la.

26. [O,]dhling badh th['a] eigi drafl
eiga um n[o,]kkur skipti,
thadh mun kosta k['o]ngligt afl,
hann kappann gripunum svipti.

27. Ekki th['o]tti B[o,]dhvar betr,
['i] burtu f['o]ru their Hjalti,
l['e]tust ['a]dhr en lidhinn er vetr
leita adh Fr['o]dha malti.

28. S['i]dhan r['i]dha seggir heim
og s[o,]gdhu k['o]ngi thetta,
hann kvedhst mundu handa theim
heimta sl['i]kt af l['e]tta.
VIII, 23-28.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM BJARKA R['I]MUR

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. {185}

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.

{186}

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 FROM TH['A]TTR ORMS ST['O]R['O]LFSSONAR

(_Fornmanna S[o,]gur_, Copenhagen, 1827, III. 204 _etc._; _Flateyarb['o]k_, Christiania, 1859-68, I. 527 _etc._)

7. Litlu s['i]dharr enn their Ormr ok ['A]sbj[o,]rn h[o,]fdhu skilit, f['y]stist ['A]sbj[o,]rn nordhr ['i] Saudheyjar, f['o]r hann vidh 4 menn ok 20 ['a] skipi, heldr nordhr fyrir Maeri, ok leggr seint dags at Saudhey {187} hinni ytri, g['a]nga ['a] land ok reisa tjald, eru thar um n['o]ttina, ok verdha vidh ekki varir; um morgininn ['a]rla r['i]s ['A]sbj[o,]rn upp, klaedhir sik, ok tekr v['o]pn s['i]n, ok gengr upp['a] land, en bidhr menn s['i]na b['i]dha s['i]n; en er nokkut sv['a] var lidhit fr['a] thv['i], er ['A]sbj[o,]rn hafdhi ['i] brott gengit, verdha their vidh that varir, at ketta ['o]grlig var komin ['i] tjaldsdyrnar, hon var kolsv[o,]rt at lit ok heldr grimmlig, thv['i]at eldr th['o]tti brenna or n[o,]sum hennar ok munni, eigi var hon ok vel eyg; theim br['a] mj[o,]k vidh thessa s['y]n, ok urdhu ['o]ttafullir. Ketta hleypr th['a] innar at theim, ok gr['i]pr hvern at [o,]dhrum, ok sv['a] er sagt at suma gleypti hon, en suma rifi hon til daudhs medh kl['o]m ok t[o,]nnum, 20 menn drap hon thar ['a] l['i]tilli stundu, en 3 kv['o]must ['u]t ok undan ok ['a] skip, ok h['e]ldu thegar undan landi; en ['A]sbj[o,]rn gengr thar til, er hann kemr at hellinum Br['u]sa, ok snarar thegar inn ['i]; honum vardh nokkut dimt fyrir augum, en skuggamikit var ['i] hellinum; hann verdhr eigi fyrr var vidh, enn hann er thrifinn ['a]lopt, ok faerdhr nidhr sv['a] hart, at ['A]sbirni th['o]tti furdha ['i], verdhr hann thess th['a] varr, at thar er kominn Br['u]si j[o,]tun, ok s['y]ndist heldr mikiligr. Br['u]si maelti th['a]: th['o] lagdhir th['u] mikit kapp ['a] at saekja h['i]ngat; skaltu n['u] ok eyrindi hafa, thv['i]at th['u] skalt h['e]r l['i]fit l['a]ta medh sv['a] miklum harmkvaelum, at that skal adhra letja at saekja mik heim medh ['o]fridhi; fletti hann th['a] ['A]sbj[o,]rn klaedhum, thv['i]at sv['a], var theirra mikill afla munr, at j[o,]tuninn vardh einn at r['a]dha theirra ['i] milli; b['a]lk mikinn s['a] ['A]sbj[o,]rn standa um thveran hellinn ok st['o]rt gat ['a] midhjum b['a]lkinum; j['a]rns['u]la st['o]r st['o]dh nokkut sv['a] fyrir framan b['a]lkinn. N['u] skal pr['o]fa that, segir Br['u]si, hv['a]rt th['u] ert nokkut hardhari enn adhrir menn. L['i]tit mun that at reyna, segir ['A]sbj[o,]rn....

S['i]dhan l['e]t ['A]sbj[o,]rn l['i]f sitt medh mikilli hreysti ok dreingskap.

8. That er at segja at their thr['i]r menn, er undan k['o]must, s['o]ttu kn['a]liga r['o]dhr, ok l['e]ttu eigi fyrr enn their k['o]mu at landi, s[o,]gdhu thau t['i]dhindi er gerzt h[o,]fdhu ['i] theirra f[o,]rum, kv['o]dhust aetla ['A]sbj[o,]rn daudhan, en kunnu ekki fr['a] at segja, hversu at hefdhi borizt um hans l['i]fl['a]t; kv['o]mu their s['e]r i skip medh kaupm[o,]nnum, ok fluttust sv['a] sudhr til Danmerkr; spurdhust n['u] thessi t['i]dhindi v['i]dha, ok th['o]ttu mikil. Tha var ordhit h[o,]fdh['i]ngja skipti ['i] Noregi, Hakon jarl daudhr, en ['O]lafr Tryggvason ['i] land kominn, ok baudh [o,]llum r['e]tta tr['u]. Ormr St['o]r['o]lfsson spurdhi ['u]t til ['I]slands um {188} farar ok l['i]fl['a]t ['A]sbjarnar, er m[o,]nnum th['o]tti sem vera mundi; th['o]tti honum that allmikill skadhi, ok undi eigi lengr ['a] ['I]slandi, ok t['o]k s['e]r far ['i] Reydharfirdhi, ok f['o]r thar utan; their kv['o]mu nordharliga vidh Noreg, ok sat hann um vetrinn ['i] Thr['a]ndheimi; th['a] hafdhi ['O]lafr r['a]dhit 3 vetr Noregi. Um v['o]rit bj['o]st Ormr at fara til Saudheya, their v['o]ru thv['i] naerr margir ['a] skipi, sem their ['A]sbj[o,]rn h[,]fdhu verit; their l[o,]gdhu at minni Saudhey s['i]dh um kveldit, ok tj[o,]ldudhu ['a] landi, ok l['a]gu thar um n['a]ttina....

9. N['u] gengr Ormr thar til er hann kemr at hellinum, s['e]r hann n['u] bjargit that st['o]ra, ok leizt ['u]m['a]tuligt nokkurum manni that ['i] brott at faera; th['o] dregr hann ['a] sik gl['o]fana Mengladharnauta, tekr s['i]dhan ['a] bjarginu ok faerir that burt or dyrunum, ok thikist Ormr th['a] aflraun mesta s['y]nt hafa; hann gekk th['a] inn['i] hellinn, ok lagdhi m['a]laj['a]rn ['i] dyrnar, en er hann var inn kominn, s['a] hann hvar kettan hlj['o]p medh gapanda ginit. Ormr hafdhi boga ok [o,]rvamaeli, lagdhi hann th['a] [o,]r ['a] streing, ok skaut at kettunni thremr [o,]rum, en hon hendi allar medh hvoptunum, ok beit ['i] sundr, hefir hon sik th['a] at Ormi, ok rekr klaernar framan ['i] f['a]ngit, sv['a] at Ormr kiknar vidh, en klaernar gengu ['i] gegnum klaedhin sv['a] at ['i] beini st['o]dh; hon aetlar th['a] at b['i]ta ['i] andlit Ormi, finnr hann th['a] at honum mun eigi veita, heitir th['a] ['a] sj['a]lfan gudh ok hinn heilaga Petrum postula, at g['a]nga til R['o]ms, ef hann ynni kettuna ok Br['u]sa, son hennar; s['i]dhan fann Ormr at m['i]nkadhist afl kettunnar, tekr hann th['a] annarri hendi um kverkr henni, en annarri um hrygg, ok gengr hana ['a] bak, ok br['y]tr ['i]sundr ['i] henni hrygginn, ok gengr sv['a] af henni daudhri. Ormr s['a] th['a], hvar b['a]lkr st['o]rr var um thveran hellinn; hann gengr th['a] innar at, en er hann kemr thar, s['e]r hann at fleinn mikill kemr utar ['i] gegnum b['a]lkinn, hann var baedhi digr ok l['a]ngr; Ormr gr['i]pr th['a] ['i] m['o]ti fleininum, ok leggr af ['u]t; Br['u]si kippir th['a] at s['e]r fleininum ok var hann fastr sv['a] at hvergi gekk; that undradhist Br['u]si, ok gaegdist upp yfir b['a]lkinn, en er Ormr s['e]r that, thr['i]fr hann ['i] skeggit ['a] Br['u]sa b['a]dhum h[o,]ndum, en Br['u]si bregzt vidh ['i] [o,]dhrum stadh, sviptast their th['a] fast um b['a]lkinn. Ormr hafdhi vafit skegginu um h[o,]nd s['e]r, ok rykkir til sv['a] fast, at hann r['i]fr af Br['u]sa allan skeggstadhinn, h[o,]kuna, kjaptana b['a]dha, v['a]ngafyllurnar upp alt at eyrum, gekk h['e]r medh holdit nidhr at beini. Br['u]si l['e]t th['a] {189} s['i]ga br['y]nnar, ok grettist heldr greppiliga. Ormr st[o,]kkr th['a] innar yfir b['a]lkinn, gr['i]past their th['a] til ok gl['i]ma lengi, maeddi Br['u]sa th['a] fast bl['o]dhr['a]s, tekr hann th['a] heldr at g['a]ngast fyrir, gefr Ormr th['a] ['a], ok rekr Br['u]sa at b['a]lkinum ok br['y]tr hann thar um ['a] bak aptr. Snemma sagdhi m['e]r that hugr, sagdhi Br['u]si, at ek munda af th['e]r nokkut erfitt f['a], thegar ek heyrdha th['i]n getit, enda er that n['u] fram komit, muntu n['u] vinna skj['o]tt um, ok h[o,]ggva h[o,]fudh af m['e]r, en that var satt, at mj[o,]k p['i]nda ek ['A]sbj[o,]rn pr['u]dha, th['a] er ek rakta or honum alla tharmana, ok gaf hann sik ekki vidh, fyrrenn hann d['o]. Illa gerdhir th['u] that, segir Ormr, at p['i]na hann sv['a] mj[o,]k jafnr[o,]skvan mann, skaltu ok hafa thess nokkurar menjar. Hann br['a] th['a] saxi ok reist bl['o]dh[o,]rn ['a] baki honum, ok skar [o,]ll rifin fr['a] hryggnum, ok dr['o] thar ['u]t l['u]ngun; l['e]t Br['u]si sv['a] l['i]f sitt medh litlum dreingskap; s['i]dhan bar Ormr eld at, ok brendi upp til [o,]sku baedhi Br['u]sa ok kettuna, ok er hann hafdhi thetta starfat, f['o]r hann burt or hellinum medh kistur tvaer fullar af gulli ok silfri, en that sem meira var f['e]maett, gaf hann ['i] vald Mengladhar, ok sv['a] eyna; skildu thau medh mikilli vin['a]ttu, kom Ormr til manna sinna ['i] nefndan t['i]ma, h['e]ldu s['i]dhan til meginlands. Sat Ormr ['i] Thr['a]ndheimi vetr annan.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACT FROM TH['A]TTR ORMS ST['O]R['O]LFSSONAR

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 Maeri, 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 the {190} door 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 the _Grettis 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 to {191} Denmark: 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 shaft {192} coming 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 Guldkoelve 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 Boenderne kaldte Lindorm, oedelagde 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 svarede {193} Henrik, at han vel vilde paatage sig dette, dog tilfoeiede han, at han ansaae det for umuligt at slippe fra saadan Kamp med Livet. Og belavede han sig da strax til Reisen, tog roerende Afsked med sin Herre og Konge og sagde iblandt andet: "Herre! om jeg ikke kommer tilbage, da soerg for min kone og for mine Boern!" Da han derefter var kommen over til Vendsyssel, lod han sig af Boenderne vise det Sted, hvor Uhyret havde sit Leie, og fik da at vide, at Ormen endnu den samme Dag havde vaeret ude af Hulen og borttaget en Hyrde og en Oxe, og at den efter Saedvane nu ikke vilde komme ud, foerend om tre Timer, naar den skulde ned til Vandet for at drikke efter Maaltidet. Henrik ifoerte 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 foerst en vaeldig Piil fra sin Bue, men uagtet den rammede noeie det sted, hvortil han havde sigtet, toernede den dog tilbage fra Ormens haarde Skael. Herover blev Uhyret saa optaendt af Vrede, at det strax gik henimod ham, agtende ham kun et ringe Maaltid; men Henrik havde iforveien hos en Smed ladet sig gioere 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 Haender. Da slog det ham med sin vaeldige Hale til Jorden, og skioendt han havde fuldkommen Jernrustning paa, kradsede det dog med sine forfaerdelige Kloeer saa at han, naesten doedeligt 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 foerte flere med sig i sit Baelte, og stak Dyret dermed i underlivet, hvor Sksaellene vare bloedest, saa at det tilsidst maate udpuste sin giftige Aande, medens han selv laae halv knust under dens Byrde. Da Boenderne i Vendsyssel som stode i nogen Afstand, under megen Frygt og lidet Haab omsider maerkede, at Striden sagtnede, og at begge Parter holdte sig rolige, naermede de sig og fandt Hr. Henrik naesten livloes under det draebte Udyr. Og efterat de i nogen Tid havde givet ham god Pleie, vendte han tilbage for at doe hos sin Konge, til hvem han gientagende anbefalede sin {194} Slaegt. Fra ham nedstammer Familien Lindenroth, som til Minde om denne vaeldige Strid foerer en Lindorm i sit Vaaben.

_MS_ 222. 4^o. Stamme och Slectebog over den hoeiadelige Familie af Lindenroth, in _Danmarks 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 Guldkoelve 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 could {195} not 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 in _Beowulf_, 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 from _Beowulf_.

* * * * *

G. THE OLD ENGLISH GENEALOGIES.

I. _THE MERCIAN GENEALOGY_.

Of the Old English Genealogies, the only one which, in its stages _below_ Woden, immediately concerns the student of _Beowulf_ is the Mercian. This contains three names which also occur in _Beowulf_, though two of them in a corrupt form--Offa, Wermund (Garmund, _Beowulf_), and Eomaer (Geomor, _Beowulf_).

This Mercian pedigree is found in its best form in _MS Cotton Vesp. B. VI_, fol. 109 _b_,[316] and in the sister MS at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (_C.C.C.C._ 183)[317]. Both these MSS are of {196} the 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 Aethelred (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 Aethelred, 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 Aethelred of Mercia, and is then brought up to date by additional names.

Genealogies which draw from the same source as the _Vespasian_ genealogies, and show the same peculiarities, are found in the _Historia Brittonum_ (ss. 57-61). They show, even more emphatically than do the _Vespasian_ lists, traces of having been originally drawn up in the time of Aethelred 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 a {197} modification of this revision which is found in the _Historia Brittonum_. Another was that which, as we have seen, must have been made between 811-814, and in this form is found in _MS 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 the _A.-S. Chronicle_ under 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 century A.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 from _Beowulf_, _Widsith_, Saxo Grammaticus, Sweyn Aageson and the _Vitae 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.

MS Cotton Vesp. B. VI. MS C.C.C.C. 183.

Aedhilred Peding Aedhelred Pending
Penda Pypbing Penda Pybbing
Pypba Crioding Pybba Creoding
Crioda Cynewalding Creoda Cynewalding
Cynewald Cnebbing Cynewald Cnebbing
Cnebba Icling Cnebba Icling
Icil Eamering Icel Eomaering
Eamer Angengeoting Eomaer Angengeoting
Angengeot Offing Angengiot Offing
Offa Uaermunding Offa Waermunding
Uermund Uihtlaeging Waermund Wihtlaeging
Uihtlaeg Wiodhulgeoting Wihtlaeg Wiotholgeoting
Weodhulgeot Wodning Weotholgiot Wodning
Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing

{198}

------------------------------------------------------------------------
_Historia Brittonum_[321]. _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle._
MS Harl 3859. MSS Cotton Tib. A. VI. and B.I.[322]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Penda Penda Pybbing
Pubba Pybba Creoding
Creoda Cynewalding
Cynewald Cnebbing
Cnebba Iceling
Icel Eomaering
Eamer Eomaer Angeltheowing
Ongen Angeltheow Offing
Offa Offa Waermunding
Guerdmund Waermund Wihtlaeging
Guithleg Wihtlaeg Wodening
Gueagon
Guedolgeat
[U]Uoden
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the _Historia Brittonum_, not with the other genealogies, but in s. 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 the _Historia Brittonum_, there is a pretty general agreement that this _Woden to Geat_ pedigree 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 the _Historia Brittonum_ was revised by {199} Nennius in the 9th century, or possibly at the end of the 8th[324]. The earliest MS of the _Historia_, that of Chartres, belongs to the 9th or 10th century--this is fragmentary and already interpolated; the received text is based upon _MS Harleian_ 3859, 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 the _Historia Brittonum_ as 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. The _Chartres MS._

D. Mommsen's critical text of the later revision, _Nennius interpretatus_, which he gives parallel to the _Historia Brittonum_.

A B C D

Hors et Hengist Hors & Hengist Cors et Haecgens Hors et Hengist
filii Guictgils filii Guictgils filii Guictils filii Guictgils
Guigta Guitta Guicta Guigta
Guectha Guectha Gueta Guectha
VVoden VVoden VVoden Voden
Frealaf Frealaf Frelab Frealaf
Fredulf Fredulf Freudulf Fredolf
Finn Finn Fran Finn
Frenn
Fodepald Fodepald Folcpald Folcvald
Geta Geta G[e]uta Gaeta
qui fuit, qui fuit, qui sunt [_sic_], Vanli
ut aiunt, ut aiunt, ut aiunt, Saxi
filius dei filius dei filius dei Negua

_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 century MS at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (_MS C.C.C.C._ 183).

{200}

A similar list is to be found in the _Anglo-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 oldest MS (Parker, end of the 9th century) to make room for later additions, but is found in _MSS Cotton Tiberius A. VI_ and _B. I._

_Cotton (Vespasian) _Corpus MS._ _A.-S. Chronicle_
MS._
UUoden Frealafing Woden Frealafing Woden Freotholafing
Frealaf Friodhulfing Frealaf Friothowulsing (sic) Freothelaf Freothulfing
Friodhulf Finning Freothowulf Godwulfing Frithulf Finning
Finn Goduulfing Finn Godulfing
Godulf Geoting Godwulf Geating Godulf Geating

The _Fodepald_ or _Folcpald_ who, in the _Historia Brittonum_, appears as the father of Finn, is clearly the _Folcwalda_ who appears as Finn's father in _Beowulf_ and _Widsith_. The Old English _w_ ([wynn]) has been mistaken for _p_, just as in _Pinefred_ for _Winefred_ in the _Life of Offa II_. In the _Vespasian MS_ and 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 in _Beowulf_ and _Widsith_: and that by confusion _Folcwald_ came to be written instead of _Godwulf_ in the genealogy, as given in the _Historia 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 that _Folcwalda_[327] was a _title_ which, 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 the _Chronicle_ {201} under the year 855 (notice concerning Aethelwulf) 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 the _Woden-Geat_ list. It became very well known, and is also found in Asser and the _Textus 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. 98 A); at Trinity College, Cambridge; and in the Biblioth[`e]que Nationale, Paris[330]; and one which recently came into the market in London.

Steph
|
Steldius
|
Boerinus
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | | |
Cinrinicius Gothus Iutus Wandalus Gethius Fresus Suethedus Dacus Geate
{202}

WEST-SAXON GENEALOGY--STAGES ABOVE WODEN

/------------------------------------------------\
CHRONICLE
PARKER MS ASSER TEXTUS ROFFENSIS I

Woden Fribowalding Uuoden Woden
Frithuwald Freawining Frithowald Frithewold
Frealaf Frithuwulfing Frealaf Frealaf
Frithuwulf Finning Frithuwulf Frithewulf
Fin Godwulfing Fingodwulf Finn
Godwulf Geating Godwulf
Geat Taetwaing Geata* ... Geata* ...
Taetwa Beawing Caetuua Tethwa
Beaw Sceldwaing Beauu Beaw
Sceldwea Heremoding Sceldwea Scaldwa
Heremod Itermoning Heremod Heremod
Itermon Hrathraing Itermod Iterman
Hathra Hathra
Huala Hwala
Beduuig Bedwig
se waes geboren in thaere Seth Scyf, se waes in
earce Noe etc. Noe, etc. dham arken geboran
[but son
of Sem, not Noe]

* quem Getam *dhene dha haethena
iamdudum pagani wuthedon for god
pro deo
venerabantur

CHRONICLE
ETHELWERD MSS COTT. TIB. A. VI [& B. I]

Uuothen Woden Frealafing
Frithouuald
Frealaf
Frithouulf Frealaf Fin[n]ing
Fin Finn Godwulfing [Godulfing]
Goduulfe Godulf Geat[t]ing
Geat Geata [Geatt] Taetwaing
Tetuua Taetwa Beawing
Beo Beaw Sceldweaing [Scealdwaing]
Scyld Scyldwa [Scealdwa] Heremoding
Heremod Itermoning
Itermon Hadhraing
Hadhra Hwalaing
Hwala Bedwiging
Bedwig Sceafing, [i]d est filius N['o]e, se
Scef. Ipse Scef cum uno waes geboren on thaere earce N['o]es
dromone advectus est in
insula oceani quae dicitur Scani, armis circundatus, eratque valde
recens puer, et ab incolis illius terrae ignotus; attamen ab eis
suscipitur et ut familiarem diligenti animo eum custodierunt et post
in regem eligunt; de cuius prosapia ordinem trahit Athulf [i.e.
Aethelwulf] rex.

{203}

/--------------------------------------
Chronicle
MS Cott. Tib. B. IV Textus Roffensis II MS Cott. Tib. B. V

Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing Woden Frealafing

Frealaf Finning Frealaf Finning Frealaf Finning
Fin Godulfing Finn Godulfing Finn Godulfing
Godulf Gating Godulf Eating Godulf Eating
Geat Taetwaing Eata Tethwafing Eat Beawing
Taetwa Beawing Tethwa Beawing
Beaw Scealdwaing Beaw Scealdwaging Beaw Scealdwaging
Scealdhwa Heremoding Scealwa Heremoding Scealwa Heremoding
Heremod Itermoning Heremod Hermanning Heremod Itermanning
Itermon Hadhrahing Herman Hathraing Iterman Hadhraing
Hathra Hadhra Hwalaing Hadhra Bedwiging
Hwala Beowung Hwala Bedwining
Beowi Sceafing, id est Beadwig Sceafing Bedwig Sceafing
filius Noe, se waes Se Scef waes Noes sunu se Scef waes N['o]es
sunu
geboren on thaere arce and he waes innan dhaere and he waes innan
Nones ... earce geboren thaere earce geboren

----------------------------------\
Langfedhgatal Flateyarb['o]k
Langebek, 1, 3 Christiania, 1860, 1, 27

Voden Voden, _er ver_
than kollvm ver _kollum_ Odinn
Oden
Frealaf Frilafr, _e.v.k._ Bors
Finn Burri, _e.v.k._ Finn
Godvlfi Godolfr
Eat

Beaf Beaf, _e.v.k._ Biar
Scealdna Skialldin, _e.v.k._ Skiolld
Heremotr Heremoth, _e.v.k._ Hermod
Itermann Trinaan
Athra Atra

Bedvig Beduigg
Seskef vel Seseph
Sescef

William of Malmesbury. Wodenius fuit filius Fridewaldi, Fridewaldus Frelafii, Frelafius Finni, Finnus Godulfi, Godulfus Getii, Getius Tetii, Tetius Beowii, Beowius Sceldii, Sceldius Sceaf. Iste, ut ferunt, in quandam insulam Germaniae Scandzam ... appulsus, navi sine remige, puerulus, posito ad caput frumenti manipulo, dormiens, ideoque Sceaf nuncupatus, ab hominibus regionis illius pro miraculo exceptus et sedulo nutritus, adulta aetate regnavit in oppido quod tunc Slaswic, nunc vero Haithebi appellatur ... Sceaf fuit filius Heremodii, Heremodius Stermonii, Stermonius Hadrae, Hadra Gwalae, Gwala Bedwigii, Bedwegius Strephii; hic, ut dicitur, fuit filius Noae in arca natus. {204}

The following marginal note occurs:

Iste Steldius p_r_im_us_ inhabitator Germanie fuit. Que Germania sic
dicta erat, quia instar ramor_um_ germina_n_ciu_m_ ab arbore, sic
nome_n_ regnaq_ue_ germania nuncupa_n_tur. In nouem filiis diuisa a
radice Boerini geminaueru_n_t. Ab istis nouem filiis Boerini
descenderu_n_t nouem gentes septentrionalem p_ar_tem inhabitantes, qui
quondam regnu_m_ Brita_n_nie inuaseru_n_t et optinueru_n_t, videlicet
Saxones, Angli, Iuthi, Daci, Norwagences, Gothi, Wandali, Geathi et
Fresi[331].

* * * * *

I. EXTRACT FROM THE LITTLE CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF LEIRE

From the _Annales Lundenses_. These Annals are comparatively late,
going up to the year 1307; but the short _Chronicle of the Kings of
Leire_, which is incorporated in them, is supposed to date from the
latter half of the 12th century. The text is given in Langebek,
_Scriptores Rerum Danicarum_, _I_, 224-6 (under the name of _Annales
Esromenses_) from _Cod. Arn. Mag._ 841. There is a critical edition by
Gertz, _Scriptores Minores historiae Danicae_, Copenhagen, 1917, based
upon _Cod. Arn. Mag._ 843. The text given below is mainly that of
Langebek, with corrections from Gertz's fine edition. See below, p.
216.

Erat ergo Dan rex in Dacia[332] per triennium. Anno tandem tertio cognouit uxorem suam Daniam, genuitque ex ea filium nomine Ro. Qui post patris obitum hereditarie possidebat regnum. Patrem uero suum Dan colle apud Lethram tumulauit Sialandiae, ubi sedem regni pro eo pater constituit, quam ipse post eum diuitiis multiplicibus ditauit. Tempore illo ciuitas magna erat in medio Sialandiae, ubi adhuc mons desertus est, nomine Hekebiarch, ubi sita erat ciuitas quae Hoekekoping nuncupata est; ad quam ut mox Ro rex uidit, quod mercatores a nauibus in uia currus conducentes multum expenderent, a loco illo ciuitatem amoueri jussit ad portum, ubi tenditur Isaefiorth, et circa fontem pulcherrimum domos disponere. Aedificauit ibi Ro ciuitatem honestam, cui nomen partitiuum imposuit post se et Fontem, partem capiens fontis partemque sui, Roskildam Danice uocans, quae hoc nomine uoca[bi]tur[333] in aeternum. Uixit autem rex Ro ita pacifice, ut nullus ei aciem opponeret, nec ipse usquam expeditionem direxit[334]. Erat autem uxor eius {205} fecunda sobole, ex qua genuit duos filios, nomen primi Helhgi et secundi Haldan[335]. Cumque cepissent pueri robore confortari et crescere, obiit pater eorum Ro, et sepultus est tumulo quodam Laethrae, post cuius obitum partiti sunt regnum filii, quod in duas partes diuidentes, alter terras, alter mare possidebat. Rexit itaque terras Haldanus, et genuit filium nomine Siwardum, cognomine Album, qui patrem suum Haldanum Laethrae tumulauit mortuum. Helgi autem rex erat marinus, et multos ad se traxit malificos, nauali bello bene adeptus diuersas partes, quasdam pace, quasdam cum piratica classe[336] petisse perhibetur....

The Chronicle then tells how Rolf was born, the son of Helgi and Yrse or Ursula: also of the death and burial of Helgi.