PART II · Section 2

PART II

DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATING THE STORIES IN _BEOWULF_, AND THE _OFFA_-SAGA.

A. THE EARLY KINGS OF THE DANES ACCORDING TO SAXO GRAMMATICUS

Saxo, Book I, ed. Ascensius, fol. iii b; ed. Holder, p. 10, l. 25.

Uerum a Dan, ut fert antiquitas, regum nostrorum stemmata, ceu quodam deriuata principio, splendido successionis ordine profluxerunt. Huic filii Humblus et Lotherus fuere, ex Grytha, summae inter Teutones dignitatis matrona, suscepti.

Lecturi regem ueteres affixis humo saxis insistere, suffragiaque promere consueuerant, subiectorum lapidum firmitate facti constantiam ominaturi. Quo ritu Humblus, decedente patre, nouo patriae beneficio rex creatus, sequentis fortunae malignitate, ex rege priuatus euasit. Bello siquidem a Lothero captus, regni depositione spiritum mercatus est; haec sola quippe uicto salutis conditio reddebatur. Ita fraternis iniuriis imperium abdicare coactus, documentum hominibus praebuit, ut plus splendoris, ita minus securitatis, aulis quam tuguriis inesse. Ceterum iniuriae tam patiens fuit, ut honoris damno tanquam beneficio gratulari crederetur, sagaciter, ut puto, regiae conditionis habitum contemplatus. Sed nec Lotherus tolerabiliorem regem quam militem egit, ut prorsus insolentia ac scelere regnum auspicari uideretur; siquidem illustrissimum quemque uita aut opibus spoliare, patriamque bonis ciuibus uacuefacere probitatis loco duxit, regni aemulos ratus, quos nobilitate pares habuerat. Nec diu scelerum impunitus, patriae consternatione perimitur; eadem spiritum eripiente, quae regnum largita fuerat. {130}

Cuius filius Skyoldus naturam ab ipso, non mores sortitus, per summam tenerioris aetatis industriam cuncta paternae contagionis uestigia ingeniti erroris deuio praeteribat. Igitur ut a paternis uitiis prudenter desciuit, ita auitis uirtutibus feliciter respondit, remotiorem pariter ac praestantiorem hereditarii moris portionem amplexus. Huius adolescentia inter paternos uenatores immanis beluae subactione insignis extitit, mirandoque rei euentu futurae eius fortitudinis habitum ominata est. Nam cum a tutoribus forte, quorum summo studio educabatur, inspectandae uenationis licentiam impetrasset, obuium sibi insolitae granditatis ursum, telo uacuus, cingulo, cuius usum habebat, religandum curauit, necandumque comitibus praebuit. Sed et complures spectatae fortitudinis pugiles per idem tempus uiritim ab eo superati produntur, e quibus Attalus et Scatus clari illustresque fuere. Quindecim annos natus, inusitato corporis incremento perfectissimum humani roboris specimen praeferebat, tantaque indolis eius experimenta fuere, ut ab ipso ceteri Danorum reges communi quodam uocabulo Skioldungi nuncuparentur....

Saxo then relates the adventures of Gram, Hadingus and Frotho, whom he represents as respectively son, grandson and great-grandson of Skioldus. That Gram and Hadingus are interpolated in the family is shewn by the fact that the pedigree of Sweyn Aageson passes direct from Skiold to his son Frothi.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xi b; ed. Holder, p. 38, l. 4.

Hadingo filius Frotho succedit, cuius uarii insignesque casus fuere. Pubertatis annos emensus, iuuenilium praeferebat complementa uirtutum, quas ne desidiae corrumpendas praeberet, abstractum uoluptatibus animum assidua armorum intentione torquebat. Qui cum, paterno thesauro bellicis operibus absumpto, stipendiorum facultatem, qua militem aleret, non haberet, attentiusque necessarii usus subsidia circunspiceret, tali subeuntis indigenae carmine concitatur:

Insula non longe est praemollibus edita cliuis, Collibus aera tegens et opimae conscia praedae. Hic tenet eximium, montis possessor, aceruum {131} Implicitus giris serpens crebrisque reflexus Orbibus, et caudae sinuosa uolumina ducens, Multiplicesque agitans spiras, uirusque profundens. Quem superare uolens clypeo, quo conuenit uti, Taurinas intende cutes, corpusque bouinis Tergoribus tegito, nec amaro nuda ueneno Membra patere sinas; sanies, quod conspuit, urit. Lingua trisulca micans patulo licet ore resultet, Tristiaque horrifico minitetur uulnera rictu, Intrepidum mentis habitum retinere memento. Nec te permoueat spinosi dentis acumen, Nec rigor, aut rapida iactatum fauce uenenum. Tela licet temnat uis squamea, uentre sub imo Esse locum scito, quo ferrum mergere fas est; Hunc mucrone petens medium rimaberis anguem. Hinc montem securus adi, pressoque ligone Perfossos scrutare cauos; mox aere crumenas Imbue, completamque reduc ad littora puppim.

Credulus Frotho solitarius in insulam traiicit: ne comitatior beluam adoriretur, quam athletas aggredi moris fuerat. Quae cum aquis pota specum repeteret, impactum Frothonis ferrum aspero cutis horrore contempsit. Sed et spicula, quae in eam coniecta fuerant, eluso mittentis conatu laesionis irrita resultabant. At ubi nil tergi duritia cessit, uentris curiosius annotati mollities ferro patuit. Quae se morsu ulcisci cupiens, clypeo duntaxat spinosum oris acumen impegit. Crebris deinde linguam micatibus ducens, uitam pariter ac uirus efflauit.

Repertae pecuniae regem locupletem fecere....

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xv b; ed. Holder, p. 51, l. 4.

His, uirtute paribus, aequa regnandi incessit auiditas. Imperii cuique cura extitit; fraternus nullum respectus astrinxit. Quem enim nimia sui caritas ceperit, aliena deserit: nee sibi quisquam ambitiose atque aliis amice consulere potest. Horum maximus Haldanus, Roe et Scato fratribus interfectis, naturam scelere polluit: regnum parricidio carpsit. Et ne ullum crudelitatis exemplum omitteret, comprehensos eorum fautores prius {132} uinculorum poena coercuit, mox suspendio consumpsit. Cuius ex eo maxime fortuna ammirabilis fuit, quod, licet omnia temporum momenta ad exercenda atrocitatis officia contulisset, senectute uitam, non ferro, finierit.

Huius filii Roe et Helgo fuere. A Roe Roskildia condita memoratur: quam postmodum Sueno, furcatae barbae cognomento clarus, ciuibus auxit, amplitudine propagauit. Hic breui angustoque corpore fuit: Helgonem habitus procerior cepit. Qui, diuiso cum fratre regno, maris possessionem sortitus, regem Sclauiae Scalcum maritimis copiis lacessitum oppressit. Quam cum in prouinciam redegisset, uarios pelagi recessus uago nauigationis genere perlustrabat.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xvi a; ed. Holder, p. 53, l. 16.

Huic filius Roluo succedit, uir corporis animique dotibus uenustus, qui staturae magnitudinem pari uirtutis habitu commendaret.

_Ibid._, ed. Ascensius, fol. xvii a; ed. Holder, p. 55, l. 40.

Per idem tempus Agnerus quidam, Ingelli films, sororem Roluonis, Rutam nomine, matrimonio ducturus, ingenti conuiuio nuptias instruit. In quo cum pugiles, omni petulantiae genere debacchantes, in Ialtonem quendam nodosa passim ossa coniicerent, accidit, ut eius consessor, Biarco nomine, iacientis errore uehementem capite ictum exciperet. Qui dolore pariter ac ludibrio lacessitus, osse inuicem in iacientem remisso, frontem eius in occuput reflexit, idemque loco frontis intorsit, transuersum hominis animum uultus obliquitate mulctando. Ea res contumeliosam ioci insolentiam temperauit, pugilesque regia abire coegit. Qua conuiuii iniuria permotus, sponsus ferro cum Biarcone decernere statuit, uiolatae hilaritatis ultionem duelii nomine quaesiturus. In cuius ingressu, utri prior feriendi copia deberetur diutule certatum est. Non enim antiquitus in edendis agonibus crebrae ictuum uicissitudines petebantur: sed erat cum interuallo temporis etiam feriendi distincta successio; rarisque sed atrocibus plagis certamina gerebantur, ut gloria potius percussionum magnitudini, quam numero deferretur. Praelato ob generis dignitatem Agnero, tanta ui ictum ab eo editum {133} constat, ut, prima cassidis parte conscissa, supremam capitis cuticulam uulneraret, ferrumque mediis galeae interclusum foraminibus dimitteret. Tunc Biarco mutuo percussurus, quo plenius ferrum libraret, pedem trunco annixus, medium Agneri corpus praestantis acuminis mucrone transegit. Sunt qui asserant, morientem Agnerum soluto in risum ore per summam doloris dissimulationem spiritum reddidisse. Cuius ultionem pugiles auidius expetentes, simili per Biarconem exitio mulctati sunt. Utebatur quippe praestantis acuminis inusitataeque longitudinis gladio, quem Loeui uocabat. Talibus operum meritis exultanti nouam de se siluestris fera uictoriam praebuit. Ursum quippe eximiae magnitudinis obuium sibi inter dumeta factum iaculo confecit: comitemque suum Ialtonem, quo uiribus maior euaderet, applicato ore egestum belluae cruorem haurire iussit. Creditum namque erat, hoc potionis genere corporei roboris incrementa praestari. His facinorum uirtutibus clarissimas optimatum familiaritates adeptus, etiam regi percarus euasit; sororem eius Rutam uxorem asciuit, uictique sponsam uictoriae praemium habuit. Ab Atislo lacessiti Roluonis ultionem armis exegit, eumque uictum hello prostrauit. Tunc Roluo magni acuminis iuuenem Hiarthwarum nomine, sorore Sculda sibi in matrimonium data, annuoque uectigali imposito, Suetiae praefectum constituit, libertatis iacturam affinitatis beneficio leniturus.

Hoc loci quiddam memoratu iucundum operi inseratur. Adolescens quidam Wiggo nomine, corpoream Roluonis magnitudinem attentiori contemplatione scrutatus, ingentique eiusdem admiratione captus, percontari per ludibrium coepit, quisnam esset iste Krage, quem tanto staturae fastigio prodiga rerum natura ditasset; faceto cauillationis genere inusitatum proceritatis habitum prosecutus. Dicitur enim lingua Danica 'krage' truncus, cuius semicaesis ramis fastigia conscenduntur, ita ut pes, praecisorum stipitum obsequio perinde ac scalae beneficio nixus, sensimque ad superiora prouectus, petitae celsitudinis compendium assequatur. Quern uocis iactum Roluo perinde ac inclytum sibi cognomen amplexus, urbanitatem dicti ingentis armillae dono prosequitur. Qua Wiggo dexteram excultam extollens, laeua per pudoris simulationem post tergum {134} reflexa, ridiculum corporis incessum praebuit, praefatus, exiguo laetari munere, quem sors diutinae tenuisset inopiae. Rogatus, cur ita se gereret, inopem ornamenti manum nulloque cultus beneficio gloriantem ad aspectum reliquae uerecundo paupertatis rubore perfundi dicebat. Cuius dicti calliditate consentaneum priori munus obtinuit. Siquidem Roluo manum, quae ab ipso occultabatur, exemplo reliquae in medium accersendam curauit. Nec Wiggoni rependendi beneficii cura defuit. Siquidem arctissima uoti nuncupatione pollicitus est, si Roluonem ferro perire contingeret, ultionem se ab eius interfectoribus exacturum. Nec praetereundum, quod olim ingressuri curiam proceres famulatus sui principia alicuius magnae rei uoto principibus obligare solebant, uirtute tirocinium auspicantes.

Interea Sculda, tributariae solutionis pudore permota, diris animum commentis applicans, maritum, exprobrata condicionis deformitate, propulsandae seruitutis monitu concitatum atque ad insidias Roluoni nectendas perductum atrocissimis nouarum rerum consiliis imbuit, plus unumquenque libertati quam necessitudini debere testata. Igitur crebras armorum massas, diuersi generis tegminibus obuolutas, tributi more per Hiarthwarum in Daniam perferri iubet, occidendi noctu regis materiam praebituras. Refertis itaque falsa uectigalium mole nauigiis, Lethram pergitur, quod oppidum, a Roluone constructum eximiisque regni opibus illustratum, ceteris confinium prouinciarum urbibus regiae fundationis et sedis auctoritate praestabat. Rex aduentum Hiarthwari conuiualis impensae deliciis prosecutus ingenti se potione proluerat, hospitibus praeter morem ebrietatis intemperantiam formidantibus. Ceteris igitur altiorem carpentibus somnum, Sueones, quibus scelesti libido propositi communem quietis usum ademerat, cubiculis furtim delabi coepere. Aperitur ilico telorum occlusa congeries, et sua sibi quisque tacitus arma connectit. Deinde regiam petunt, irruptisque penetralibus in dormientium corpora ferrum destringunt. Experrecti complures, quibus non minus subitae cladis horror quam somni stupor incesserat, dubio nisu discrimini restitere, socii an hostes occurrerent, noctis errore incertum reddente. Eiusdem forte silentio noctis Hialto, qui {135} inter regios proceres spectatae probitatis merito praeeminebat, rus egressus, scorti se complexibus dederat. Hic cum obortum pugnae fragorem stupida procul aure sensisset, fortitudinem luxuriae praetulit, maluitque funestum Martis discrimen appetere, quam blandis Veneris illecebris indulgere. Quanta hunc militem regis caritate flagrasse putemus, qui, cum ignorantiae simulatione excusationem absentiae praestare posset, salutem suam manifesto periculo obicere, quam uoluptati seruare satius existimauit? Discedentem pellex percunctari coepit, si ipso careat, cuius aetatis uiro nubere debeat. Quam Hialto, perinde ac secretius allocuturus, propius accedere iussam, indignatus amoris sibi successorem requiri, praeciso naso deformem reddidit, erubescendoque uulnere libidinosae percunctationis dictum mulctauit, mentis lasciuiam oris iactura temperandam existimans. Quo facto, liberum quaesitae rei iudicium a se ei relinqui dixit. Post haec, repetito ocius oppido, confertissimis se globis immergit, aduersasque acies mutua uulnerum inflictione prosternit. Cumque dormientis adhuc Biarconis cubiculum praeteriret, expergisci iussum, tali uoce compellat:

Saxo's translation of the _Bjarkam['a]l_ follows. The part which concerns students of _Beowulf_ most is the account of how Roluo deposed and slew Roericus.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xix a; ed. Holder, p. 62, l. 1.

At nos, qui regem uoto meliore ueremur, Iungamus cuneos stabiles, tutisque phalangem Ordinibus mensi, qua rex praecepit, eamus Qui natum Boeki Roericum strauit auari, Implicuitque uirum leto uirtute carentem. Ille quidem praestans opibus, habituque fruendi Pauper erat, probitate minus quam foenore pollens; Aurum militia potius ratus, omnia lucro Posthabuit, laudisque carens congessit aceruos Aeris, et ingenuis uti contempsit amicis. Cumque lacessitus Roluonis classe fuisset, Egestum cistis aurum deferre ministros Iussit, et in primas urbis diffundere portas. {136} Dona magis quam bella parans, quia militis expers Munere, non armis, tentandum credidit hostem; Tanquam opibus solis bellum gesturus, et usu Rerum, non hominum, Martem producere posset. Ergo graues loculos et ditia claustra resoluit Armillas teretes et onustas protulit arcas, Exitii fomenta sui, ditissimus aeris, Bellatoris inops, hostique adimenda relinquens Pignora, quae patriis praebere pepercit amicis. Annellos ultro metuens dare, maxima nolens Pondera fudit opum, ueteris populator acerui. Rex tamen hunc prudens, oblataque munera spreuit, Rem pariter uitamque adimens; nec profuit hosti Census iners, quem longo auidus cumulauerat aeuo. Hunc pius inuasit Roluo, summasque perempti Cepit opes, inter dignos partitus amicos, Quicquid auara manus tantis congesserat annis; Irrumpensque opulenta magis quam fortia castra, Praebuit eximiam sociis sine sanguine praedam. Cui nil tam pulchrum fuit, ut non funderet illud, Aut carum, quod non sociis daret, aera fauillis Assimulans, famaque annos, non foenore mensus. Unde liquet, regem claro iam funere functum Praeclaros egisse dies, speciosaque fati Tempora, praeteritos decorasse uiriliter annos. Nam uirtute ardens, dum uiueret, omnia uicit, Egregio dignas sortitus corpore uires. Tam praeceps in bella fuit, quam concitus amnis In mare decurrit, pugnamque capessere promptus Ut ceruus rapidum bifido pede tendere cursum.

Saxo, Book II, ed. Ascensius, fol. xxi a; ed. Holder, p. 67, l. 1.

Hanc maxime exhortationum seriem idcirco metrica ratione compegerim, quod earundem sententiarum intellectus Danici cuiusdam carminis compendio digestus a compluribus antiquitatis peritis memoriter usurpatur.

Contigit autem, potitis uictoria Gothis, omne Roluonis {137} agmen occumbere, neminemque, excepto Wiggone, ex tanta iuuentute residuum fore. Tantum enim excellentissimis regis meritis ea pugna a militibus tributum est, ut ipsius caedes omnibus oppetendae mortis cupiditatem ingeneraret, eique morte iungi uita iucundius duceretur.

Laetus Hiartuarus prandendi gratia positis mensis conuiuium pugnae succedere iubet, uictoriam epulis prosecuturus. Quibus oneratus magnae sibi ammirationi esse dixit, quod ex tanta Roluonis militia nemo, qui saluti fuga aut captione consuleret, repertus fuisset. Unde liquidum fuisse quanto fidei studio regis sui caritatem coluerint, cui superstites esse passi non fuerint. Fortunam quoque, quod sibi ne unius quidem eorum obsequium superesse permiserit, causabatur, quam libentissime se talium uirorum famulatu usurum testatus. Oblato Wiggone perinde ac munere gratulatus, an sibi militare uellet, perquirit. Annuenti destrictum gladium offert. Ille cuspidem refutans, capulum petit, hunc morem Roluoni in porrigendo militibus ense extitisse praefatus. Olim namque se regum clientelae daturi, tacto gladii capulo obsequium polliceri solebant. Quo pacto Wiggo capulum complexus, cuspidem per Hiartuarum agit, ultionis compos, cuius Roluoni ministerium pollicitus fuerat. Quo facto, ouans irruentibus in se Hiartuari militibus cupidius corpus obtulit, plus uoluptatis se ex tyranni nece quam amaritudinis ex propria sentire uociferans. Ita conuiuio in exequias uerso, uictoriae gaudium funeris luctus insequitur. Clarum ac semper memorabilem uirum, qui, uoto fortiter expleto, mortem sponte complexus suo ministerio mensas tyranni sanguine maculauit. Neque enim occidentium manus uiuax animi uirtus expauit, cum prius a se loca, quibus Roluo assueuerat, interfectoris eius cruore respersa cognosceret. Eadem itaque dies Hiartuari regnum finiuit ac peperit. Fraudulenter enim quaesitae res eadem sorte defluunt, qua petuntur, nullusque diuturnus est fructus, qui scelere ac perfidia partus fuerit. Quo euenit ut Sueones, paulo ante Daniae potitores, ne suae quidem salutis potientes existerent. Protinus enim a Syalandensibus deleti laesis Roluonis manibus iusta exsoluere piacula. Adeo plerunque fortunae saeuitia ulciscitur, quod dolo ac fallacia patratur.

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{138}

B. HR['O]LFS SAGA KRAKA, CAP. 23

(ed. Finnur J['o]nsson, Koebenhavn, 1904, p. 65 ff.)

S['i]dhan f['o]r B[o,]dhvarr leidh s['i]na til Hleidhargardhs. Hann kemr til konungs atsetu. B[o,]dhvarr leidhir s['i]dhan hest sinn ['a] stall hj['a] konungs hestum hinum beztu ok spyrr engan at; gekk s['i]dhan inn ['i] h[o,]llina, ok var thar f['a]tt manna. Hann sez utarliga, ok sem hann hefir verit thar litla hr['i]dh, heyrir hann thrausk n[o,]kkut utar ['i] hornit ['i] einhverjum stadh. B[o,]dhvarr l['i]tr thangat ok s['e]r, at mannsh[o,]nd kemr upp ['u]r mikilli beinahr['u]gu, er thar l['a]; h[o,]ndin var sv[o,]rt mj[o,]k. B[o,]dhvarr gengr thangat til ok spyrr, hverr thar vaeri ['i] beinahr['u]gunni; th['a] var honum svarat ok heldr ['o]framliga: "H[o,]ttr heiti ek, Bokki saell." "Hv['i] ertu h['e]r, segir B[o,]dhvarr, edha hvat gerir th['u]?" H[o,]ttr segir: "ek geri m['e]r skjaldborg, Bokki saell." B[o,]dhvarr sagdhi: "vesall ertu thinnar skjaldborgar." B[o,]dhvarr thr['i]fr til hans ok hnykkir honum upp ['u]r beinahr['u]gunni. H[o,]ttr kvadh th['a] h['a]tt vidh ok maelti: "n['u] viltu m['e]r bana, ger eigi thetta, sv['a] sem ek hefi n['u] vel um b['u]iz ['a]dhr, en th['u] hefir n['u] r['o]tat ['i] sundr skjaldborg minni, ok hafdha ek n['u] sv['a] gert hana h['a]va utan at m['e]r, at h['u]n hefir hl['i]ft m['e]r vidh [o,]llum h[o,]ggum ykkar, sv['a] _at_ engi h[o,]gg hafa komit ['a] mik lengi, en ekki var h['u]n enn sv['a] b['u]in, sem ek aetladhi h['u]n skyldi verdha." B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "ekki muntu f['a] skjaldborgina lengr." H[o,]ttr maelti ok gr['e]t: "skaltu n['u] bana m['e]r, Bokki saell?" B[o,]dhvarr badh hann ekki hafa h['a]tt, t['o]k hann upp s['i]dhan ok bar hann ['u]t ['u]r h[o,]llinni ok til vats n[o,]kkurs, sem thar var ['i] n['a]nd, ok g['a]fu f['a]ir at thessu gaum, ok th['o] hann upp allan. S['i]dhan gekk B[o,]dhvarr til thess r['u]ms, sem hann hafdhi ['a]dhr tekit, ok leiddi eptir s['e]r H[o,]tt ok thar setr hann H[o,]tt hj['a] s['e]r, en hann er sv['a] hraeddr, at skelfr ['a] honum leggr ok lidhr, en th['o] thykkiz hann skilja, at thessi madhr vill hj['a]lpa s['e]r. Eptir that kveldar ok dr['i]fa menn ['i] h[o,]llina ok sj['a] Hr['o]lfs kappar, at H[o,]ttr er settr ['a] bekk upp, ok thykkir theim s['a] madhr hafa gert sik aerit djarfan, er thetta hefir til tekit. Ilt tillit hefir H[o,]ttr, th['a] _er_ hann s['e]r kunningja s['i]na, thv['i] _at_ hann hefir ilt eitt af theim reynt; hann vill lifa gjarnan ok fara aptr ['i] beinahr['u]gu s['i]na, en B[o,]dhvarr heldr honum, sv['a] _at_ hann n['a]ir ekki ['i] burtu at fara, thv['i] _at_ hann th['o]ttiz ekki jafnberr fyrir h[o,]ggum theira, ef hann naedhi thangat {139} at komaz sem hann er n['u]. Hirdhmenn hafa n['u] sama vanda, ok kasta fyrst beinum sm['a]m um thvert g['o]lfit til B[o,]dhvars ok Hattar. B[o,]dhvarr laetr, sem hann sj['a]i eigi thetta. H[o,]ttr er sv['a] hraeddr, at hann tekr eigi mat n['e] drukk, ok thykkir honum th['a] ok th['a] sem hann muni vera lostinn; ok n['u] maelti H[o,]ttr til B[o,]dhvars: "Bokki saell, n['u] ferr at th['e]r st['o]r hn['u]ta, ok mun thetta aetlat okkr til naudha." B[o,]dhvarr badh hann thegja; hann setr vidh holan l['o]fann ok tekr sv['a] vidh hn['u]tunni; thar fylgir leggrinn medh; B[o,]dhvarr sendi aptr hn['u]tuna ok setr ['a] thann, sem kastadhi ok r['e]tt framan ['i] hann medh sv['a] hardhri svipan, at hann fekk bana; sl['o] th['a] miklum ['o]tta yfir hirdhmennina. Kemr n['u] thessi fregn fyrir Hr['o]lf konung ok kappa hans upp ['i] kastalann, at madhr mikil['u]dhligr s['e] kominn til hallarinnar ok hafi drepit einn hirdhmann hans, ok vildu their l['a]ta drepa manninn. Hr['o]lfr konungr spurdhiz eptir, hv['a]rt hirdhmadhrinn hefdhi verit saklauss drepinn. "Thv['i] var naesta," s[o,]gdhu their. K['o]muz th['a] fyrir Hr['o]lf konung [o,]ll sannindi h['e]r um. Hr['o]lfr konungr sagdhi that skyldu fjarri, at drepa skyldi manninn--"hafi thit h['e]r illan vanda upp tekit, at berja saklausa menn beinum; er m['e]r ['i] thv['i] ['o]virdhing, en ydhr st['o]r sk[o,]mm, at gera sl['i]kt; hefi ek jafnan raett um thetta ['a]dhr, ok hafi thit at thessu engan gaum gefit, ok hygg ek, at thessi madhr muni ekki alll['i]till fyrir s['e]r, er th['e]r hafidh n['u] ['a] leitat, ok kallidh hann til m['i]n, sv['a] _at_ ek viti, hverr hann er." B[o,]dhvarr gengr fyrir konung ok kvedhr hann kurteisliga. Konunga spyrr hann at nafni. "Hattargridha kalla mik hirdhmenn ydhar, en B[o,]dhvarr heiti ek." Konungr maelti: "hverjar baetr viltu bj['o]dha m['e]r fyrir hirdhmann minn?" B[o,]dhvarr segir: "til thess gerdhi hann, sem hann fekk." Konungr maelti: "viltu vera minn madhr ok skipa r['u]m hans?" B[o,]dhvarr segir: "ekki neita ek, at vera ydharr madhr, ok munu vit ekki skiljaz sv['a] b['u]it, vit H[o,]ttr, ok dveljaz naer th['e]r b['a]dhir, heldr en thessi hefir setit, elligar vit f[o,]rum burt b['a]dhir." Konungr maelti: "eigi s['e] ek at honum saemd en ek spara ekki mat vidh hann." B[o,]dhvarr gengr n['u] til thess r['u]ms, sem honum l['i]kadhi, en ekki vill hann that skipa, sem hinn hafdhi ['a]dhr; hann kippir upp ['i] einhverjum stadh thremr m[o,]nnum, ok s['i]dhan settuz their H[o,]ttr thar nidhr ok innar ['i] h[o,]llinni en theim var skipat. Heldr th['o]tti m[o,]nnum ['o]daelt vidh B[o,]dhvar, ok er theim hinn mesti ['i]hugi at honum. Ok sem leidh at j['o]lum, {140} gerdhuz menn ['o]k['a]tir. B[o,]dhvarr spyrr H[o,]tt, hverju thetta saetti; hann segir honum, at d['y]r eitt hafi thar komit tv['a] vetr ['i] samt, mikit ok ['o]gurligt--"ok hefir vaengi ['a] bakinu ok fl['y]gr that jafnan; tvau haust hefir that n['u] hingat vitjat ok gert mikinn skadha; ['a] that b['i]ta ekki v['a]pn, en kappar konungs koma ekki heim, their sem at eru einna mestir." B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "ekki er h[o,]llin sv['a] vel skipudh, sem ek aetladhi, ef eitt d['y]r skal h['e]r eydha r['i]ki ok f['e] konungsins." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "that er ekki d['y]r, heldr er that hit mesta tr[o,]ll." N['u] kemr j['o]laaptann; th['a] maelti konungr: "n['u] vil ek, at menn s['e] kyrrir ok hlj['o]dhir ['i] n['o]tt, ok banna ek [o,]llum m['i]num m[o,]nnum at ganga ['i] n[o,]kkurn h['a]ska vidh d['y]rit, en f['e] ferr eptir thv['i] sem audhnar; menn m['i]na vil ek ekki missa." Allir heita h['e]r g['o]dhu um, at gera eptir thv['i], sem konungr baudh. B[o,]dhvarr leyndiz ['i] burt um n['o]ttina; hann laetr H[o,]tt fara medh s['e]r, ok gerir hann that naudhugr ok kalladhi hann s['e]r st['y]rt til bana. B[o,]dhvarr segir, at betr mundi til takaz. Their ganga ['i] burt fr['a] h[o,]llinni, ok verdhr B[o,]dhvarr at bera hann; sv['a] er hann hraeddr. N['u] sj['a] their d['y]rit; ok thv['i] naest aepir H[o,]ttr sl['i]kt, sem hann m['a], ok kvadh dyrit mundu gleypa hann. B[o,]dhvarr badh bikkjuna hans thegja ok kastar honum nidhr ['i] mosann, ok thar liggr hann ok eigi medh [o,]llu ['o]hraeddr; eigi thorir hann heim at fara heldr. N['u] gengr B[o,]dhvarr m['o]ti d['y]rinu; that haefir honum, at sverdhit er fast ['i] umgj[o,]rdhinni, er hann vildi bregdha thv['i]. B[o,]dhvarr eggjar n['u] fast sverdhit ok th['a] bragdhar ['i] umgj[o,]rdhinni, ok n['u] faer hann brugdhit umgj[o,]rdhinni, sv['a] _at_ sverdhit gengr ['u]r sl['i]dhrunum, ok leggr thegar undir baegi d['y]rsins ok sv['a] fast, at st['o]dh ['i] hjartanu, ok datt th['a] d['y]rit til jardhar dautt nidhr. Eptir that ferr hann thangat sem H[o,]ttr liggr. B[o,]dhvarr tekr hann upp ok berr thangat, sem d['y]rit liggr dautt. H[o,]ttr skelfr ['a]kaft. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "n['u] skaltu drekka bl['o]dh d['y]rsins." Hann er lengi tregr, en th['o] thorir hann v['i]st eigi annat. B[o,]dhvarr laetr hann drekka tv['a], sopa st['o]ra; hann l['e]t hann ok eta n[o,]kkut af d['y]rshjartanu; eptir thetta tekr B[o,]dhvarr til hans, ok ['a]ttuz their vidh lengi. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "helzt ertu n['u] sterkr ordhinn, ok ekki vaenti ek, et th['u] hraedhiz n['u] hirdhmenn Hr['o]lfs konungs." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "eigi mun ek th['a] hraedhaz ok eigi thik upp fr['a] thessu." "Vel er th['a] ordhit, H[o,]ttr f['e]lagi; f[o,]ru vit n['u] til ok reisum upp d['y]rit ok b['u]um sv['a] um, at adhrir aetli at kvikt muni vera." {141} Their gera n['u] sv['a]. Eptir that fara their heim ok hafa kyrt um sik, ok veit engi madhr, hvat their hafa idhjat. Konungr spyrr um morguninn, hvat their viti til d['y]rsins, hv['a]rt that hafi n[o,]kkut thangat vitjat um n['o]ttina; honum var sagt, at f['e] alt vaeri heilt ['i] grindum ok ['o]sakat. Konungr badh menn forvitnaz, hv['a]rt engi saei l['i]kindi til, at that hefdhi heim komit. Vardhmenn gerdhu sv['a] ok k['o]mu skj['o]tt aptr ok s[o,]gdhu konungi, at d['y]rit faeri thar ok heldr geyst at borginni. Konungr badh hirdhmenn vera hrausta ok duga n['u] hvern eptir thv['i], sem hann hefdhi hug til, ok r['a]dha af ['o]vaett thenna; ok sv['a] var gert, sem konungr baudh, at their bjuggu sik til thess. Konungr horfdhi ['a] d['y]rit ok maelti s['i]dhan: "enga s['e] ek f[o,]r ['a] d['y]rinu, en hverr vill n['u] taka kaup einn ok ganga ['i] m['o]ti thv['i]?" B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "that vaeri naesta hrausts manns forvitnisb['o]t. H[o,]ttr f['e]lagi, rektu n['u] af th['e]r illmaelit that, at menn l['a]ta, sem engi krellr n['e] dugr muni ['i] ther vera; far n['u] ok drep th['u] d['y]rit; m['a]ttu sj['a], at engi er allf['u]ss til annarra." "J['a]," sagdhi H[o,]ttr, "ek mun til thessa r['a]dhaz." Konungr maelti: "ekki veit ek, hvadhan thessi hreysti er at th['e]r komin, H[o,]ttr, ok mikit hefir um thik skipaz ['a] skammri stundu." H[o,]ttr maelti: "gef m['e]r til sverdhit Gullinhjalta, er th['u] heldr ['a], ok skal ek th['a] fella d['y]rit edha f['a] bana." Hr['o]lf konungr maelti: "thetta sverdh er ekki beranda nema theim manni, sem baedhi er g['o]dhr drengr ok hraustr." H[o,]ttr sagdhi: "sv['a] skaltu til aetla, at m['e]r s['e] sv['a] h['a]ttat." Konungr maelti: "hvat m['a] vita, nema fleira hafi skipz um hagi th['i]na, en sj['a] thykkir, en faestir menn thykkjaz thik kenna, at th['u] s['e]r enn sami madhr; n['u] tak vidh sverdhinu ok nj['o]t manna bezt, ef thetta er til unnit." S['i]dhan gengr H[o,]ttr at d['y]rinu alldjarfliga ok hoeggr til thess, th['a] _er_ hann kemr ['i] h[o,]ggfaeri, ok d['y]rit fellr nidhr dautt. B[o,]dhvarr maelti: "sj['a]idh n['u], herra, hvat hann hefir til unnit." Konungr segir: "v['i]st hefir hann mikit skipaz, en ekki hefir H[o,]ttr einn d['y]rit drepit, heldr hefir th['u] that gert." B[o,]dhvarr segir: "vera m['a], at sv['a] s['e]." Konungr segir: "vissa ek, th['a] _er_ th['u] komt h['e]r, at f['a]ir mundu th['i]nir jafningjar vera, en that thykki m['e]r th['o] thitt verk fraegiligast, at th['u] hefir gert h['e]r annan kappa, thar _er_ H[o,]ttr er, ok ['o]vaenligr th['o]tti til mikillar giptu; ok n['u] vil ek _at_ hann heiti eigi H[o,]ttr lengr ok skal hann heita Hjalti upp fr['a] thessu; skaltu heita eptir sverdhinu Gullinhjalta." {142}

Then Bothvar went on his way to Leire, and came to the king's dwelling.

Bothvar stabled his horse by the king's best horses, without asking leave; and then he went into the hall, and there were few men there. He took a seat near the door, and when he had been there a little time he heard a rummaging in a corner. Bothvar looked that way and saw that a man's hand came up out of a great heap of bones which lay there, and the hand was very black. Bothvar went thither and asked who was there in the heap of bones.

Then an answer came, in a very weak voice, "Hott is my name, good fellow."

"Why art thou here?" said Bothvar, "and what art thou doing?"

Hott said, "I am making a shield-wall for myself, good fellow."

Bothvar said, "Out on thee and thy shield-wall!" and gripped him and jerked him up out of the heap of bones.

Then Hott cried out and said, "Now thou wilt be the death of me: do not do so. I had made it all so snug, and now thou hast scattered in pieces my shield-wall; and I had built it so high all round myself that it has protected me against all your blows, so that for long no blows have come upon me, and yet it was not so arranged as I meant it should be."

Then Bothvar said, "Thou wilt not build thy shield-wall any longer."

Hott said, weeping, "Wilt thou be the death of me, good fellow?" Bothvar told him not to make a noise, and then took him up and bore him out of the hall to some water which was close by, and washed him from head to foot. Few paid any heed to this.

Then Bothvar went to the place which he had taken before, and led Hott with him, and set Hott by his side. But Hott was so afraid that he was trembling in every limb, and yet he seemed to know that this man would help him.

After that it grew to evening, and men crowded into the hall: and Rolf's warriors saw that Hott was seated upon the bench. And it seemed to them that the man must be bold {143} enough, who had taken upon himself to put him there. Hott had an ill countenance when he saw his acquaintances, for he had received naught but evil from them. He wished to save his life and go back to his bone-heap, but Bothvar held him tightly so that he could not go away. For Hott thought that, if he could get back into his bone-heap, he would not be as much exposed to their blows as he was.

Now the retainers did as before; and first of all they tossed small bones across the floor towards Bothvar and Hott. Bothvar pretended not to see this. Hott was so afraid that he neither ate nor drank; and every moment he thought he would be smitten.

And now Hott said to Bothvar, "Good fellow, now a great knuckle bone is coming towards thee, aimed so as to do us sore injury." Bothvar told him to hold his tongue, and put up the hollow of his palm against the knuckle bone and caught it, and the leg bone was joined on to the knuckle bone. Then Bothvar sent the knuckle bone back, and hurled it straight at the man who had thrown it, with such a swift blow that it was the death of him. Then great fear came over the retainers.

Now news came to King Rolf and his men up in the castle that a stately man had come to the hall and killed a retainer, and that the retainers wished to kill the man. King Rolf asked whether the retainer who had been killed had given any offence. "Next to none," they said: then all the truth of the matter came up before King Rolf.

King Rolf said that it should be far from them to kill the man: "You have taken up an evil custom here in pelting men with bones without quarrel. It is a dishonour to me and a great shame to you to do so. I have spoken about it before, and you have paid no attention. I think that this man whom you have assailed must be a man of no small valour. Call him to me, so that I may know who he is."

Bothvar went before the king and greeted him courteously. The king asked him his name. "Your retainers call me Hott's protector, but my name is Bothvar."

The king said, "What compensation wilt thou offer me for my retainer?" {144}

Bothvar said, "He only got what he asked for."

The king said, "Wilt thou become my man and fill his place?"

Bothvar said, "I do not refuse to be your man, but Hott and I must not part so. And we must sit nearer to thee than this man whom I have slain has sat; otherwise we will both depart together." The king said, "I do not see much credit in Hott, but I will not grudge him meat." Then Bothvar went to the seat that seemed good to him, and would not fill that which the other had before. He pulled up three men in one place, and then he and Hott sat down there higher in the hall than the place which had been given to them. The men thought Bothvar overbearing, and there was the greatest ill will among them concerning him.

And when it drew near to Christmas, men became gloomy. Bothvar asked Hott the reason of this. Hott said to him that for two winters together a wild beast had come, great and awful, "And it has wings on its back, and flies. For two autumns it has attacked us here and done much damage. No weapon will wound it: and the champions of the king, those who are the greatest, come not back."

Bothvar said, "This hall is not so well arrayed as I thought, if one beast can lay waste the kingdom and the cattle of the king." Hott said, "It is no beast: it is the greatest troll."

Now Christmas-eve came; then said the king, "Now my will is that men to-night be still and quiet, and I forbid all my men to run into any peril with this beast. It must be with the cattle as fate will have it: but I do not wish to lose my men." All men promised to do as the king commanded. But Bothvar went out in secret that night; he caused Hott to go with him, but Hott did that only under compulsion, and said that it would be the death of him. Bothvar said that he hoped that it would be better than that. They went away from the hall, and Bothvar had to carry Hott, so frightened was he. Now they saw the beast; and thereupon Hott cried out as loud as he could, and said that the beast would swallow him. Bothvar said, "Be silent, thou dog," and threw him down in the mire. And there he lay in no small fear; but he did not dare to go home, any the more. {145}

Now Bothvar went against the beast, and it happened that his sword was fast in his sheath when he wished to draw it. Bothvar now tugged at his sword, it moved, he wrenched the scabbard so that the sword came out. And at once he plunged it into the beast's shoulder so mightily that it pierced him to the heart, and the beast fell down dead to the earth. After that Bothvar went where Hott lay. Bothvar took him up and bore him to where the beast lay dead. Hott was trembling all over. Bothvar said, "Now must thou drink the blood of the beast." For long Hott was unwilling, and yet he did not dare to do anything else. Bothvar made him drink two great sups; also he made him eat somewhat of the heart of the beast.

After that Bothvar turned to Hott, and they fought a long time.

Bothvar said, "Thou hast now become very strong, and I do not believe that thou wilt now fear the retainers of King Rolf."

Hott said, "I shall not fear them, nor thee either, from now on."

"That is good, fellow Hott. Let us now go and raise up the beast, and so array him that others may think that he is still alive." And they did so. After that they went home, and were quiet, and no man knew what they had achieved.

In the morning the king asked what news there was of the beast, and whether it had made any attack upon them in the night. And answer was made to the king, that all the cattle were safe and uninjured in their folds. The king bade his men examine whether any trace could be seen of the beast having visited them. The watchers did so, and came quickly back to the king with the news that the beast was making for the castle, and in great fury. The king bade his retainers be brave, and each play the man according as he had spirit, and do away with this monster. And they did as the king bade, and made them ready.

Then the king faced towards the beast and said, "I see no sign of movement in the beast. Who now will undertake to go against it?"

Bothvar said, "That would be an enterprise for a man of true valour. Fellow Hott, now clear thyself of that ill-repute, {146} in that men hold that there is no spirit or valour in thee. Go now and do thou kill the beast; thou canst see that there is no one else who is forward to do it."

"Yea," said Hott, "I will undertake this."

The king said, "I do not know whence this valour has come upon thee, Hott; and much has changed in thee in a short time."

Hott said, "Give me the sword Goldenboss, Gullinhjalti, which thou dost wield, and I will fell the beast or take my death." Rolf the king said, "That sword cannot be borne except by a man who is both a good warrior and valiant." Hott said, "So shalt thou ween that I am a man of that kind." The king said, "How can one know that more has not changed in thy temper than can be seen? Few men would know thee for the same man. Now take the sword and have joy of it, if this deed is accomplished." Then Hott went boldly to the beast and smote at it when he came within reach, and the beast fell down dead. Bothvar said, "See now, my lord, what he has achieved." The king said, "Verily, he has altered much, but Hott has not killed the beast alone, rather hast thou done it." Bothvar said, "It may be that it is so." The king said, "I knew when thou didst come here that few would be thine equals. But this seems to me nevertheless thy most honourable work, that thou hast made here another warrior of Hott, who did not seem shaped for much luck. And now I will that he shall be called no longer Hott, but Hjalti from this time; thou shalt be called after the sword Gullinhjalti (Goldenboss)."

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