THE DANISH HISTORY OF SAXO GRAMMATICUS

Dan 1.1.2 (p. 10,9 )

1 Ex quibus Angul, a quo gentis Anglicae principia manasse memoriae proditum est, nomen suum provinciae, cui praeerat, aptandum curavit, levi monumenti genere perennem sui notitiam traditurus. 2 Cuius successores postmodum Britannia potiti priscum insulae nomen novo patriae suae vocabulo permutarunt. 3 Magni id factum a veteribus aestimatum. 4 Testis est Beda, non minima pars divini stili, qui in Anglia ortus sanctissimis suorum voluminum thesauris res patrias sociare curae habuit, aeque ad religionem pertinere iudicans patriae facta litteris illustrare et res divinas conscribere.

Of these two, Angul, the fountain, so runs the tradition, of the beginnings of the Anglian race, caused his name to be applied to the district which he ruled. This was an easy kind of memorial wherewith to immortalise his fame: for his successors a little later, when they gained possession of Britain, changed the original name of the island for a fresh title, that of their own land. This action was much thought of by the ancients: witness Bede, no mean figure among the writers of the Church, who was a native of England, and made it his care to embody the doings of his country in the most hallowed treasury of his pages; deeming it equally a religious duty to glorify in writing the deeds of his land, and to chronicle the history of the Church.

Dan 1.1.3 (p. 10,17 )

1 Verum a Dan (ut fert antiquitas) regum nostrorum stemmata, ceu quodam derivata principio, splendido successionis ordine profluxerunt. 2 Huic filii Humblus et Lotherus fuere, ex Grytha summae inter Theutones dignitatis matrona suscepti.

From Dan, however, so saith antiquity; the pedigrees of our kings have flowed in glorious series, like channels from some parent spring. Grytha, a matron most highly revered among the Teutons, bore him two sons, HUMBLE and LOTHER.

Dan 1.2.1 (p. 10,21 )

1 Lecturi regem veteres affixis humo saxis insistere suffragiaque promere consueverant, subiectorum lapidum firmitate facti constantiam ominaturi. 2 Quo ritu Humblus, decedente patre, novo patriae beneficio rex creatus sequentis fortunae malignitate ex rege privatus evasit. 3 Bello siquidem a Lothero captus regni depositione spiritum mercatus est; haec sola quippe victo salutis condicio reddebatur. 4 Ita fraternis iniuriis imperium abdicare coactus documentum hominibus praebuit, ut plus splendoris, ita minus securitatis aulis quam tuguriis inesse. 5 Ceterum iniuriae tam patiens fuit, ut honoris damno tamquam beneficio gratulari crederetur, sagaciter, ut puto, regiae condicionis habitum contemplatus.

The ancients, when they were to choose a king, were wont to stand on stones planted in the ground, and to proclaim their votes, in order to foreshadow from the steadfastness of the stones that the deed would be lasting. By this ceremony Humble was elected king at his father's death, thus winning a novel favour from his country; but by the malice of ensuing fate he fell from a king into a common man. For he was taken by Lother in war, and bought his life by yielding up his crown; such, in truth, were the only terms of escape offered him in his defeat. Forced, therefore, by the injustice of a brother to lay down his sovereignty, he furnished the lesson to mankind, that there is less safety, though more pomp, in the palace than in the cottage. Also, he bore his wrong so meekly that he seemed to rejoice at his loss of title as though it were a blessing; and I think he had a shrewd sense of the quality of a king's estate.

Dan 1.2.2 (p. 11,1 )

1 Sed nec Lotherus tolerabiliorem regem quam militem egit, ut prorsus insolentia ac scelere regnum auspicari videretur; siquidem illustrissimum quemque vita aut opibus spoliare patriamque bonis civibus vacuefacere probitatis loco duxit, regni aemulos ratus quos nobilitate pares habuerat. 2 Nec diu scelerum impunitus patriae consternatione perimitur, eadem spiritum eripiente, quae regnum largita fuerat.

But Lother played the king as insupportably as he had played the soldier, inaugurating his reign straightway with arrogance and crime; for he counted it uprightness to strip all the most eminent of life or goods, and to clear his country of its loyal citizens, thinking all his equals in birth his rivals for the crown. He was soon chastised for his wickedness; for he met his end in an insurrection of his country; which had once bestowed on him his kingdom, and now bereft him of his life.

Dan 1.3.1 (p. 11,7 )

1 Cuius filius Skyoldus naturam ab ipso, non mores sortitus per summam tenerioris aetatis industriam cuncta paternae contagionis vestigia ingeniti erroris devio praeteribat. 2 Igitur ut a paternis vitiis prudenter descivit, ita avitis virtutibus feliciter respondit, remotiorem pariter ac praestantiorem hereditarii moris portionem amplexus. 3 Huius adolescentia inter paternos venatores immanis beluae subactione insignis exstitit mirandoque rei eventu futurae eius fortitudinis habitum ominata est. 4 Nam cum a tutoribus forte, quorum summo studio educabatur, inspectandae venationis licentiam impetrasset, obvium sibi insolitae granditatis ursum telo vacuus cingulo, cuius usum habebat, religandum curavit necandumque comitibus praebuit. 5 Sed et complures spectatae fortitudinis pugiles per idem tempus viritim ab eo superati produntur, e quibus Attalus et Scatus clari illustresque fuere. 6 Quindecim annos natus inusitato corporis incremento perfectissimum humani roboris specimen praeferebat, tantaque indolis eius experimenta fuere, ut ab ipso ceteri Danorum reges communi quodam vocabulo Skioldungi nuncuparentur. 7 Praecurrebat igitur Skioldus virium complementum animi maturitate conflictusque gessit, quorum vix spectator ob teneritudinem esse poterat.

SKIOLD, his son, inherited his natural bent, but not his behaviour; avoiding his inborn perversity by great discretion in his tender years, and thus escaping all traces of his father's taint. So he appropriated what was alike the more excellent and the earlier share of the family character; for he wisely departed from his father's sins, and became a happy counterpart of his grandsire's virtues. This man was famous in his youth among the huntsmen of his father for his conquest of a monstrous beast: a marvellous incident, which augured his future prowess. For he chanced to obtain leave from his guardians, who were rearing him very carefully, to go and see the hunting. A bear of extraordinary size met him; he had no spear, but with the girdle that he commonly wore he contrived to bind it, and gave it to his escort to kill. More than this, many champions of tried prowess were at the same time of his life vanquished by him singly; of these Attal and Skat were renowned and famous. While but fifteen years of age he was of unusual bodily size and displayed mortal strength in its perfection, and so mighty were the proofs of his powers that the rest of the kings of the Danes were called after him by a common title, the SKIOLDUNG'S. Those who were wont to live an abandoned and flaccid life, and to sap their selfcontrol by wantonness, this man vigilantly spurred to the practice of virtue in an active career. Thus the ripeness of Skiold's spirit outstripped the fulness of his strength, and he fought battles at which one of his tender years could scarce look on.

1.3.3 øàä ìäìï

And as he thus waxed in years and valour he beheld the perfect beauty of Alfhild, daughter of the King of the Saxons, sued for her hand, and, for her sake, in the sight of the armies of the Teutons and the Danes, challenged and fought with Skat, governor of Allemannia, and a suitor for the same maiden; whom he slew, afterwards crushing the whole nation of the Allemannians, and forcing them to pay tribute, they being subjugated by the death of their captain.

Dan 1.3.2 (p. 11,24 )

1 Hic non armis modo, verum etiam patriae caritate conspicuus exstitit: siquidem impias leges abrogavit, salutares tulit, et quicquid ad emendandum patriae statum attinuit, summa diligentia praestitit. 2 Sed et regnum patris improbitate amissum virtute recuperavit. 3 Primus rescindendarum manumissionum legem edidit, servi, quem forte libertate donaverat, clandestinis insidiis petitus. 4 Proceres non solum domesticis stipendiis colebat, sed etiam spoliis ex hoste quaesitis, affirmare solitus pecuniam ad milites, gloriam ad ducem redundare debere. 5 Omnium aes alienum ex fisco suo solvebat et quasi cum aliorum regum fortitudine, munificentia ac liberalitate certabat. 6 Aegros fomentis prosequi remediaque graviter affectis benignius exhibere solebat, se non sui sed patriae curam suscepisse testatus. 7 Idem perditam et enervam vitam agentes continentiamque luxu labefacere solitos ad capessendam virtutem rerum agitatione sedulus excitabat.

Skiold was eminent for patriotism as well as arms. For he annulled unrighteous laws, and most heedfully executed whatsoever made for the amendment of his country's condition. Further, he regained by his virtue the realm that his father's wickedness had lost. He was the first to proclaim the law abolishing manumissions. A slave, to whom he had chanced to grant his freedom, had attempted his life by stealthy treachery, and he exacted a bitter penalty; as though it were just that the guilt of one freedman should be visited upon all. He paid off all men's debts from his own treasury, and contended, so to say, with all other monarchs in courage, bounty, and generous dealing. The sick he used to foster, and charitably gave medicines to those sore stricken; bearing witness that he had taken on him the care of his country and not of himself. He used to enrich his nobles not only with home taxes, but also with plunder taken in war; being wont to aver that the prize-money should flow to the soldiers, and the glory to the general.

Dan 1.3.3 (p. 12,9 )

1 In quo annorum virtutisque procursu ob Alvildam Saxonum regis filiam, quam summae pulchritudinis intuitu postulabat, cum Scato, Allemanniae satrapa, eiusdem puellae competitore, Theutonum Danorumque exercitu inspectante ex provocatione dimicavit interfectoque eo omnem Allemannorum gentem perinde ac ducis sui interitu debellatam tributaria ditione perdomuit.

And as he thus waxed in years and valour he beheld the perfect beauty of Alfhild, daughter of the King of the Saxons, sued for her hand, and, for her sake, in the sight of the armies of the Teutons and the Danes, challenged and fought with Skat, governor of Allemannia, and a suitor for the same maiden; whom he slew, afterwards crushing the whole nation of the Allemannians, and forcing them to pay tribute, they being subjugated by the death of their captain.

Dan 1.4.1 (p. 12,14 )

1 Puellam, cuius amore conflixerat, acerrimo nuptiarum aemulo liberatus in pugnae praemium recepit eamque sibi matrimonio copulavit. 2 Ex qua parvo post tempore Gram filium sustulit. 3 Cuius mirifica indoles ita paternas virtutes redoluit, ut prorsus per earum vestigia decurrere putaretur. 4 Corporis animique praestantissimis dotibus praeditam adolescentiam ad summum gloriae statum provexit, tantumque magnitudini eius a posteris tributum est, ut in vetustissimis Danorum carminibus ipsius vocabulo regia nobilitas censeatur. 5 Quicquid ad firmandas acuendasque vires attinuit, acerrima ingenii exercitatione tractabat. 6 A gladiatoribus vitandi inferendique ictus consuetudinem studioso exercitii genere contrahebat. 7 Educatoris sui Roari filiam coaevam sibi collactaneamque, quo maiorem incunabulis gratiam referret, uxorem ascivit, quam postmodum Besso cuidam, quod eius strenua opera saepenumero usus fuerat, mercedis loco coniugem tribuit. 8 Quo bellicorum operum socio fretus plus gloriae sua an Bessi virtute contraxerit, incertum reliquit.

Thus delivered of his bitterest rival in wooing, he took as the prize of combat the maiden, for the love of whom he had fought, and wedded her in marriage. Soon after, he had by her a son, GRAM, whose wondrous parts savoured so strongly of his father's virtues that he was deemed to tread in their very footsteps. The days of Gram's youth were enriched with surpassing gifts of mind and body, and he raised them to the crest of renown. Posterity did such homage to his greatness that in the most ancient poems of the Danes royal dignity is implied in his very name. He practiced with the most zealous training whatsoever serves to sharpen and strengthen the bodily powers. Taught by the fencers, he trained himself by sedulous practice to parrying and dealing blows. He took to wife the daughter of his upbringer, Roar, she being his foster-sister and of his own years, in order the better to show his gratefulness for his nursing. A little while after he gave her in marriage to a certain Bess, since he had ofttimes used his strenuous service. In this partner of his warlike deeds he put his trust; and he has left it a question whether he has won more renown by Bess's valour or his own.

Dan 1.4.2 (p. 13,10 )

1 Qui cum forte Sueonum regis Sigtrugi filiam Gro gigantum cuidam desponsam cognosceret, tam indignam regio sanguine copulam exsecratus bellum Sueticum auspicatur, Herculeae virtutis exemplo monstrorum nisibus obstaturus. 2 Inita Gothia cum deturbandorum obviorum gratia caprinis tergoribus amictus incederet ac variis ferarum pellibus circumactus horrificumque dextra gestamen complexus giganteas simularet exuvias, ipsam Gro silvestres forte latices cum paucis admodum pedissequis lavandi gratia petentem equo obviam habuit. 3 Quae sponsum adesse rata simulque tam insoliti cultus horrore muliebriter territa succussis frenis maxima cum totius corporis trepidatione patrio carmine sic coepit:

Gram, chancing to hear that Groa, daughter of Sigtryg, King of the Swedes, was plighted to a certain giant, and holding accursed an union so unworthy of the blood royal, entered on a Swedish war; being destined to emulate the prowess of Hercules in resisting the attempts of monsters. He went into Gothland, and, in order to frighten people out of his path, strode on clad in goats' skins, swathed in the motley hides of beasts, and grasping in his right hand a dreadful weapon, thus feigning the attire of a giant; when he met Groa herself riding with a very small escort of women on foot, and making her way, as it chanced, to the forest-pools to bathe, she thought it was her betrothed who had hastened to meet her, and was scared with feminine alarm at so strange a garb: so, flinging up the reins, and shaking terribly all over, she began in the song of her country, thus:

Dan 1.4.3 (p. 14,1 )

1 Conspicor invisum regi venisse gigantem

et gressu medias obtenebrare vias,

aut oculis fallor; nam tegmine saepe ferino

contigit audaces delituisse viros.

2 Tum Bessus sic orsus:

3 Virgo, caballi

quae premis armos,

verba vicissim

mutua fundens,

quod tibi nomen,

qua fueris, dic,

gente creata!

4 Ad haec Gro:

5 Gro mihi nomen,

rex pater exstat,

sanguine fulgens,

fulgidus armis.

6 Tu quoque, quis sis

aut satus unde,

promito nobis!

"I see that a giant, hated of the king, has come,
and darkens the highways with his stride.
Or my eyes play me false;
for it has oft befallen bold warriors
to skulk behind the skin of a beast."

Then began Bess:

"Maiden, seated
on the shoulders of the steed,
tell me, pouring forth in thy turn
words of answer,
what is thy name,
and of what line
art thou born?"

Groa replied:

"Groa is my name;
my sire is a king,
glorious in blood,
gleaming in armour.

Disclose to us, thou also,
who thou art,
or whence sprung!"

Dan 1.4.4 (p. 14,21 )

1 Cui Bessus:

2 Bessus ego sum,

fortis in armis,

trux inimicis,

gentibus horror,

atque alieno

saepe refundens

sanguine dextram.

3 Tum Gro:

4 Quis, rogo, vestrum

dirigit agmen?

5 Quo duce signa

bellica fertis?

6 Quis moderatur

proelia princeps?

7 Quove paratur

praestite bellum?

To whom Bess:

"I am Bess,
brave in battle,
ruthless to foes,
a terror to nations,
and oft drenching
my right hand
in the blood of foes."

Then said Groa:

"Who, prithee,
commands your lines?

Under what captain
raise ye the war-standards?

What prince
controls the battle?

Under whose guidance
is the war made ready?"

Dan 1.4.5 (p. 14,38 )

1 Contra sic Bessus:

2 Gram regit agmen

Marte beatus,

quem metus aut vis

flectere nescit;

nec rogus ardens

nec ferus ensis

aut maris umquam

terruit aestus.

3 Hoc duce belli

signa levamus

aurea, virgo.

4 Rursum Gro:

5 Hinc remeantes

vertite cursum,

ne proprio vos

opprimat omnes

agmine Sigtrug

inque feroci

stipite figat

illaqueata

guttura nexu

detque rigenti

corpora nodo

ac male torvus

trudat edaci

funera corvo.

Bess in answer:

"Gram, the blest in battle,
rules the array:
force nor fear
can swerve him;
flaming pyre
and cruel sword
and ocean billow
have never made him afraid.

Led by him, maiden,
we raise the golden
standards of war."

Groa once more:

"Turn your feet
and go back hence,
lest Sigtryg
vanquish you all
with his own array,
and fasten you
to a cruel stake,
your throats haltered
with the cord,
and doom your carcases
to the stiff noose,
and, glaring evilly,
thrust out your corpses
to the hungry raven."

Dan 1.4.6 (p. 15,25 )

1 Item Bessus:

2 Gram prior illum

Manibus addet

ac dabit Orco,

quam sua fatis

lumina claudat,

inque pavenda

vertice plexum

Tartara mittet.

3 Nulla Sueonum

castra timemus.

4 Quid minitaris

tristia nobis

funera, virgo?

Bess again:

"Gram, ere he shall shut
his own eyes in death,
shall first make him a ghost,
and, smiting him
on the crest,
shall send him
to Tartarus.

We fear no camp
of the Swedes.

Why threaten us
with ghastly dooms,
maiden?"

Dan 1.4.7 (p. 16,1 )

1 Ad quem Gro:

2 En ferar istinc

nota revisens

tecta parentis,

ne venientis

conspicer audax

agmina fratris.

3 Vos remeantes

ultima, quaeso,

fata morentur.

4 Ad quam Bessus:

5 Laeta revise

nata parentem,

nec cita nobis

fata precare,

nec tua bilis

pectora pulset.

6 Namque petenti

aspera primum

difficilisque

saepe secundo

femina cedit.

Groa answered him:

"Behold, I will
ride thence
to see again
the roof of my father
which I know,
that I may not rashly
set eyes on the array
of my brother who is coming.

And I pray that your death-doom
may tarry for you who abide."

Bess replied:

"Daughter, to thy father
go back with good cheer;
nor imprecate
swift death upon us,
nor let choler
shake thy bosom.

For often has a woman,
harsh at first
and hard to a wooer,
yielded the second time."

Dan 1.4.8 (p. 16,23 )

1 Post haec Gram horrendae monstruosaeque vocis habitum trucioris soni modulis aemulatus silentiique diuturnioris impatiens talibus puellam dictis aggreditur:

2 Ne timeat rabidi germanum virgo gigantis

me neque contiguum palleat esse sibi.

3 A Grip missus enim numquam nisi compare voto

fulcra puellarum concubitumque peto.

Whereupon Gram could brook no longer to be silent, and pitching his tones gruffly, so as to mimic a gruesome and superhuman voice, accosted the maiden thus:

"Let not the maiden fear the brother of the fleet giant,
nor turn pale because I am nigh her.

For I am sent by Grip, and never seek
the couch and embrace of damsels save when their wish matches mine."

Dan 1.4.9 (p. 16,30 )

1 Cui Gro:

2 Quae sensus exsors scortum velit esse gigantum?

Aut quae monstriferum possit amare torum?

3 Quae coniunx fore daemonum

possit monstrigeni conscia seminis

suumque giganti fero

consociare velit cubile?

4 Quis spina digitos fovet?

Quis sincera luto misceat oscula?

Quis membra iungat hispida

levibus impariter locatis?

Cum natura reclamitat,

haud plenum Veneris carpitur otium,

nec congruit monstris amor

femineo celebratus usu.

Groa answered:

"Who so mad as to wish to be the leman of giants?
Or what woman could love the bed that genders monsters?

Who could be the wife of demons,
and know the seed whose fruit is monstrous?
Or who would fain
share her couch
with a barbarous giant?

Who caresses thorns with her fingers?
Who would mingle honest kisses with mire?
Who would unite shaggy limbs
to smooth ones which correspond not?
Full ease of love cannot be taken
when nature cries out against it:
nor doth the love customary in the use of women
sort with monsters."

Dan 1.4.10 (p. 17,11 )

1 Gram contra:

2 Regum colla potentium

victrici toties perdomui manu,

fastus eorum turgidos

exsuperans potiore dextra.

3 Hinc aurum rutilans cape,

quo perpes maneat pactio munere

ac firma consistat fides

coniugiis adhibenda nostris.

4 Quo dicto discussis larvis, nativum oris decorem confessus tantum paene voluptatis vero sui aspectu puellae attulit, quantum adulterino terroris incussit; quam etiam formae suae luculentia ad concubitum provocatam amatoriis donis prosequi non omisit.

Gram rejoined:

"Oft with conquering hand
I have tamed the necks of mighty kings,
defeating with stronger arm
their insolent pride.

Thence take red-glowing gold,
that the troth may be made firm by the gift,
and that the faith to be brought to our wedlock
may stand fast."

Thus speaking, he cast off his disguises, and revealed his natural comeliness; and by a single sight of him he filled the damsel with well-nigh as much joy as he had struck her with fear before at his counterfeit. She was even incited to his embraces by the splendour of his beauty; nor did he fail to offer her the gifts of love.

Dan 1.4.11 (p. 17,24 )

1 Progressus ex obviis cognoscit binis callem latronibus obsideri. 2 Quos ad se spoliandum cupidius proruentes solo exanimavit impulsu. 3 Quo facto ne ullum hostili solo beneficium attulisse videretur, peremptorum corpora subiectis affixa stipitibus simulata pedum erectione distendit, ut, quibus re nocuerant vivi, specie minarentur exstincti, post fata quoque formidabiles forent nec iter imagine minus quam opere praepedirent. 4 Quamobrem constat eum latrones interimendo sibi, non Suetiae consulere studuisse, cuius quanto odio teneretur, tam insignis facti indicio patefecit.

Having won Groa, Bess proceeded and learnt that the road was beset by two robbers. These he slew simply by charging them as they rushed covetously forth to despoil him. This done, loth to seem to have done any service to the soil of an enemy, he put timbers under the carcases of the slain, fastened them thereto, and stretched them so as to counterfeit an upright standing position; so that in their death they might menace in seeming those whom their life had harmed in truth; and that, terrible even after their decease, they might block the road in effigy as much as they had once in deed. Whence it appears that in slaying the robbers he took thought for himself and not for Sweden: for he betokened by so singular an act how great a hatred of Sweden filled him.

Dan 1.4.12 (p. 17,32 )

1 Qui cum ab haruspicibus accepisset nisi auro Sigtrugum superari non posse, continuo ligneae clavae nexilem auri nodum adiecit eaque bello, quo regem aggrediebatur, instructus voti se compotem fecit. 2 Quod factum Bessus impensiori laudationis genere prosecutus sic cecinit:

3 Gram ferus clavae gerulus beatae

nescius ferri celebrabat ictu

ensis obtentum pepulitque trunco

tela potentis.

4 Fata sectatus superumque mentem

Sueonum pressit decus impotentum,

dum neci regem dedit et rigenti

contudit auro.

5 Namque pugnaces meditatus artes

robur amplexu rutilum gerebat

et ducem victor nitido supinum

verbere torsit.

6 Fata quem ferro perimi vetabant,

aureo prudens domuit rigore,

ense dum cassus potiore gessit

bella metallo.

7 Clarius post hoc agathum manebit

agnitum late meliore fama,

cui suus laudem decorisque culmen

arrogat auctor.

Having heard from the diviners that Sigtryg could only be conquered by gold, he straightway fixed a knob of gold to a wooden mace, equipped himself therewith in the war wherein he attacked the king, and obtained his desire. This exploit was besung by Bess in a most zealous strain of eulogy:

"Gram, the fierce wielder of the prosperous mace,
knowing not the steel, rained blows
on the outstretched sword, and with a stock beat off
the lances of the mighty.

"Following the decrees and will of the gods,
he brought low the glory of the powerless Swedes,
doing their king to death
and crushing him with the stiff gold.

"For he pondered on the arts of war:
he wielded in his clasp the ruddy-flashing wood,
and victoriously with noble stroke
made their fallen captain writhe.

"Shrewdly he conquered with the hardness of gold
him whom fate forbade should be slain by steel;
unsworded, waging war
with the worthier metal.

"This treasure, for which its deviser claims
glory and the height of honour, shall abide
yet more illustrious hereafter, known far and wide
in ampler fame."

Dan 1.4.13 (p. 18,21 )

1 Occiso Suetiae rege Sigtrugo, Gram quaesitum armis imperium possessione firmare cupiens Suarinum Gothiae praefectum ob affectati regni suspicionem in pugnae certamen devocatum oppressit fratresque eius septem matrimonio, novem pelice procreatos impari dimicationis genere fraternae necis ultionem petentes absumpsit.

Having now slain Sigtryg, the King of Sweden, Gram desired to confirm his possession of the empire which he had won in war; and therefore, suspecting Swarin the governor of Gothland of aspiring to the crown, he challenged him to combat, and slew him. This man's brethren, of whom he had seven lawfully born, and nine the sons of a concubine, sought to avenge their brother's death, but Gram, in an unequal contest, cut them off.

Dan 1.4.14 (p. 18,26 )

1 Hunc pater ultimae iam aetatis ob res egregie gestas imperii consortione donavit regnique summam cum sanguine suo communicare quam in occiduae vitae statu sine participe gerere tum utilius, tum etiam commodius duxit. 2 igitur cum Ringo splendido Sialandiae loco natus alterum ex his honori intempestivum, alterum iam virium cursu defunctum putaret, infirmam utriusque aetatem causatus novarum rerum studio maiorem Danorum partem sollicitat, hunc puerilis, illum senilis animi deliramento regiae potestati inhabilem protestando. 3 A quibus bello obtritus documento hominibus fuit nullam aetatis partem virtuti incongruam existimari debere.

Gram, for his marvellous prowess, was granted a share in the sovereignty by his father, who was now in extreme age, and thought it better and likewise more convenient to give his own blood a portion of the supremacy of the realm, than now in the setting of his life to administer it without a partner. Therefore Ring, a nobly-born Zealander, stirred the greater part of the Danes with desire for insurrection; fancying that one of these men was unripe for his rank, and that the other had run the course of his powers, alleging the weakness in years of both, and declaring that the wandering wit of an old man made the one, and that of a boy the other, unfit for royal power. But they fought and crushed him, making him an example to all men, that no season of life is to be deemed incompatible with valour.

Dan 1.4.15 (p. 19,3 )

1 Alia quoque complura Gram regis facinora fuere. 2 Adversus Sumblum Phinnorum regem bellum professus ad aspectum filiae eius Signes depositis armis ex hoste procus evasit eamque promisso coniugis suae repudio pactus despondit. 3 Quam cum bello Norvagico, quod adversum Suibdagerum regem ob sororis filiaeque stuprum susceperat, admodum occupatus Saxoniae regi Henrico Sumbli perfidia in matrimonium promissam nuntio didicisset, propior virginis quam militum caritati relicto exercitu tacitus in Phinniam contendit inchoatisque iam nuptiis superveniens extremae vilitatis veste sumpta despicabili sedendi loco discubuit. 4 Rogatus quidnam afferret, medendi sollertiam profitetur. 5 Ad postremum, omnibus ebrietate madentibus, puellam intuens mediis perstrepentis convivii gaudiis per summam femineae levitatis exsecrationem maximamque virtutum suarum gloriationem indignationis magnitudinem huiusmodi carmine patefecit:

Many other deeds also King Gram did. He declared war against Sumble, King of the Finns; but when he set eyes upon the King's daughter, Signe, he laid down his arms, the foeman turned into the suitor, and, promising to put away his own wife, he plighted troth with her. But, while much busied with a war against Norway, which he had taken up against King Swipdag for debauching his sister and his daughter, he heard from a messenger that Signe had, by Sumble's treachery, been promised in marriage to Henry, King of Saxony. Then, inclining to love the maiden more than his soldiers, he left his army, privily made his way to Finland, and came in upon the wedding, which was already begun. Putting on a garb of the utmost meanness, he lay down at the table in a seat of no honour. When asked what he brought, he professed skill in leechcraft. At last, when all were drenched in drunkenness, he gazed at the maiden, and amid the revels of the riotous banquet, cursing deep the fickleness of women, and vaunting loud his own deeds of valour, he poured out the greatness of his wrath in a song like this:

Dan 1.4.16 (p. 19,16 )

1 Solus in octo pariter spicula mortis egi

atque novenos gladio corripui reducto,

quando Suarinum exanimavi titulis abusum

nec meritum conciliantem sibi nomen: unde

saepe cruentum nece ferrum madidumque caede

sanguine tinxi peregrino timuique numquam

ad crepitus ensiculi vel galeae nitorem.

2 Nunc male me proiciens fert aliena vota

filia Sumbli fera Signe, vetus exsecrata

foedus et incompositum concipiens amorem,

femineae dat levitatis facinus notandum,

quae proceres illaqueat, pellicit atque foedat,

ante alios ingenuos praecipue refellens,

nec stabilis permanet ulli titubatque semper

ancipites parturiens dividuosque motus.

"Singly against eight at once I drove the darts of death,
and smote nine with a back-swung sword,
when I slew Swarin, who wrongfully assumed his honours
and tried to win fame unmerited; wherefore
I have oft dyed in foreign blood my blade red
with death and reeking with slaughter,
and have never blenched at the clash of dagger
or the sheen of helmet.

Now Signe, the daughter of Sumble,
vilely spurns me, and endures vows not mine,
cursing her ancient troth; and, conceiving an ill-ordered love,
commits a notable act of female lightness;
for she entangles, lures, and bestains princes,
rebuffing beyond all others the lordly of birth;
yet remaining firm to none, but ever wavering,
and bringing to birth impulses doubtful and divided."

Dan 1.4.17 (p. 19,31 )

1 Et cum dicto discubitu evolans Henricum inter sacra mensae et amicorum complexus obtruncat sponsamque mediis abstractam pronubis, magna convivarum parte prostrata, secum navigio deportat. 2 Igitur nuptiis in exsequias versis, doceri Finni potuerunt alienis amoribus manus inici non oportere.

And as he spoke he leapt up from where he lay, and there he cut Henry down while at the sacred board and the embraces of his friends, carried off his bride from amongst the bridesmaids, felled most of the guests, and bore her off with him in his ship. Thus the bridal was turned into a funeral; and the Finns might learn the lesson, that hands should not be laid upon the loves of other men.

Dan 1.4.18 (p. 19,35 )

1 His gestis a rege Norvagiae Suibdagero, dum stupratae sororis iniuriam ac lacessitam filiae pudicitiam ulcisci conatur, opprimitur. 2 Hoc proelium Saxonicis insigne copiis fuit, quas ad auxilia Suibdagero ferenda non tam ipsius caritas quam Henricianae ultionis cupiditas provocabat.

After this SWIPDAG, King of Norway, destroyed Gram, who was attempting to avenge the outrage on his sister and the attempt on his daughter's chastity. This battle was notable for the presence of the Saxon forces, who were incited to help Swipdag, not so much by love of him, as by desire to avenge Henry.

Dan 1.5.1 (p. 20,3 )

1 Filii Gram, Guthormus et Hadingus, quorum alterum Gro, alterum Signe enixa est, Suibdagero Daniam obtinente, per educatorem suum Brache nave Suetiam deportati Wagnophtho et Haphlio gigantibus non solum alendi, verum etiam defensandi traduntur.

GUTHORM and HADDING, the son of Gram (Groa being the mother of the first and Signe of the second), were sent over to Sweden in a ship by their foster-father, Brage (Swipdag being now master of Denmark), and put in charge of the giants Wagnhofde and Hafle, for guard as well as rearing.

Dan 1.5.2 (p. 20,7 )

1 Quorum summatim opera perstricturus ne publicae existimationi contraria aut veri fidem excedentia fidenter astruere videar, nosse operae pretium est, triplex quondam mathematicorum genus inauditi generis miracula discretis exercuisse praestigiis.

As I shall have briefly to relate doings of these folk, and would fain not seem to fabricate what conflicts with common belief or outsteps the faithful truth, it is worth the knowing that there were in old times three kinds of magicians who by diverse sleights practiced extraordinary marvels.

Dan 1.5.3 (p. 20,11 )

1 Horum primi fuere monstruosi generis viri, quos gigantes antiquitas nominavit, humanae magnitudinis habitum eximia corporum granditate vincentes.

The first of these were men of monstrous stock, termed by antiquity giants; these by their exceeding great bodily stature surpassed the size natural to mankind.

Dan 1.5.4 (p. 20,14 )

1 Secundi post hos primam physiculandi sollertiam obtinentes artem possedere Pythonicam. 2 Qui quantum superioribus habitu cessere corporeo, tantum vivaci mentis ingenio praestiterunt. 3 Hos inter gigantesque de rerum summa bellis certabatur assiduis, quoad magi victores giganteum armis genus subigerent sibique non solum regnandi ius, verum etiam divinitatis opinionem consciscerent. 4 Horum utrique per summam ludificandorum oculorum peritiam proprios alienosque vultus variis rerum imaginibus adumbrare callebant illicibusque formis veros obscurare conspectus.

Those who came after these were the first who gained skill in divination from entrails, and attained the Pythonic art. These surpassed the former in briskness of mental parts as much as they fell behind them in bodily condition. Constant wars for the supremacy were waged between these and the giants; till at last the sorcerers prevailed, subdued the tribe of giants by arms, and acquired not merely the privilege of ruling, but also the repute of being divine. Both of these kinds had extreme skill in deluding the eyesight, knowing how to obscure their own faces and those of others with divers semblances, and to darken the true aspects of things with beguiling shapes.

Dan 1.5.5 (p. 20,22 )

1 Tertii vero generis homines ex alterna superiorum copula pullulantes auctorum suorum naturae nec corporum magnitudine nec artium exercitio respondebant. 2 His tamen apud delusas praestigiis mentes divinitatis accessit opinio.

But the third kind of men, springing from the natural union of the first two, did not answer to the nature of their parents either in bodily size or in practice of magic arts; yet these gained credit for divinity with minds that were befooled by their jugglings.

Dan 1.5.6 (p. 20,26 )

1 Nec mirandum, si prodigialibus eorum portentis adducta barbaries in adulterinae religionis cultum concesserit, cum Latinorum quoque prudentiam pellexerit talium quorundam divinis honoribus celebrata mortalitas. 2 Haec idcirco tetigerim, ne, cum praestigia portentave perscripsero, lectoris incredula refragetur opinio. His praetermissis propositum repetam.

Nor must we marvel if, tempted by the prodigious miracles of these folk, the barbaric world fell to worshipping a false religion, when others like unto these, who were mere mortals, but were reverenced with divine honours, beguiled even the shrewdness of the Latins. I have touched on these things lest, when I relate of sleights and marvels, I be checked by the disbelief of the reader. Now I will leave these matters and return to my theme.

Dan 1.5.7 (p. 20,31 )

1 Occiso Gram Suibdagerus Daniae Suetiaeque imperiis auctus fratrem coniugis Guthormum, eadem saepius flagitante, exsilio abductum tributaque pollicitum Danis praefecit, Hadingo patris ultionem hostis beneficio praeferente.

Swipdag, now that he had slain Gram, was enriched with the realms of Denmark and Sweden; and because of the frequent importunities of his wife he brought back from banishment her brother Guthorm, upon his promising tribute, and made him ruler of the Danes. But Hadding preferred to avenge his father rather than take a boon from his foe.

Dan 1.6.1 (p. 20,34 )

1 Hic primis adolescentiae temporibus felicissimis naturae incrementis summam virilis aetatis perfectionem sortitus, omisso voluptatis studio, continua armorum meditatione flagrabat, memor se bellicoso patre natum omne vitae tempus spectatis militiae operibus exigere debere.

This man's nature so waxed and throve that in the early season of his youth he was granted the prime of manhood. Leaving the pursuit of pleasure, he was constantly zealous in warlike exercises; remembering that he was the son of a fighting father, and was bound to spend his whole span of life in approved deeds of warfare.

Dan 1.6.2 (p. 21,1 )

1 Cuius fortem animum Harthgrepa Wagnhofthi filia amoris sui illecebris emollire conata sedula affirmatione certabat oportere eum primum genialis tori munus suis erogare connubiis, quae infantiae eius exactioris curae fomenta porrexerit primaque subministrarit crepundia. 2 Nec simplici verborum exhortatione contenta carminis quoque modo sic orsa:

Hardgrep, daughter of Wagnhofde, tried to enfeeble his firm spirit with her lures of love, contending and constantly averring that he ought to offer the first dues of the marriage bed in wedlock with her, who had proffered to his childhood most zealous and careful fostering, and had furnished him with his first rattle. Nor was she content with admonishing in plain words, but began a strain of song as follows:

3 Quid tibi sic vaga vita fluit?

"Why doth thy life thus waste and wander?

Quid caelebs tua lustra teris,

Why dost thou pass thy years unwed,

arma sequens, iugulum sitiens?

following arms, thirsting for throats?

4 Nec species tua vota trahit;

Nor does my beauty draw thy vows.

eximia raperis rabie,

Carried away by excess of frenzy,

labilis in Venerem minime.

thou art little prone to love.

5 Caedibus atque cruore madens

Steeped in blood and slaughter,

bella toris potiora probas

thou judgest wars better than the bed,

nec stimulis animum recreas.

nor refreshest thy soul with incitements.

6 Otia nulla fero subeunt,

Thy fierceness finds no leisure;

lusus abest, feritas colitur;

dalliance is far from thee, and savagery fostered.

nec manus impietate vacat,

Nor is thy hand free from blasphemy

dum Venerem coluisse piget.

while thou loathest the rites of love.

7 Cedat odibilis iste rigor,

Let this hateful strictness pass away,

adveniat pius ille calor

let that loving warmth approach,

et Veneris mihi necte fidem,

and plight the troth of love to me,

quae puero tibi prima dedi

who gave thee the first breasts of milk in childhood,

ubera lactis opemque tuli,

and helped thee,

officium genetricis agens,

playing a mother's part,

usibus officiosa tuis.

duteous to thy needs."

Dan 1.6.3 (p. 21,26 )

1 Quo corporis eius magnitudinem humanis inhabilem amplexibus referente, cuius naturae contextum dubium non esset giganteo germini respondere: 2 'Non te moveat', inquit, 'insolitus meae granditatis aspectus. 3 Nunc enim contractioris, nunc capacioris, nunc exilis, nunc affluentis substantiae, modo corrugati, modo explicati corporis situm arbitraria mutatione transformo; nunc proceritate caelis invehor, nunc in hominem angustioris habitus condicione componor.' 4 Adhuc haesitante eo fidemque dictis habere cunctante, tale carmen adiecit:

When he answered that the size of her body was unwieldy for the embraces of a mortal, since doubtless her nature was framed in conformity to her giant stock, she said: "Be not moved by my unwonted look of size. For my substance is sometimes thinner, sometimes ampler; now meagre, now abundant; and I alter and change at my pleasure the condition of my body, which is at one time shrivelled up and at another time expanded: now my tallness rises to the heavens, and now I settle down into a human being, under a more bounded shape." As he still faltered, and was slow to believe her words, she added the following song:

5 Ne paveas nostri, iuvenis, commercia lecti.

"Youth, fear not the converse of my bed.

6 Corpoream gemina vario ratione figuram

I change my bodily outline in twofold wise,

et duplicem nervis legem praescribere suevi.

and am wont to enjoin a double law upon my sinews.

7 Nam sequor alternas diverso schemate formas

For I conform to shapes of different figure in turn,

arbitrio variata meo; nunc sidera cervix

and am altered at my own sweet will: now my neck is star-high,

aequat et excelso rapitur vicina Tonanti,

and soars nigh to the lofty Thunderer;

rursus in humanum ruit inclinata vigorem

then it falls and declines to human strength,

contiguumque polo caput in tellure refigit.

and plants again on earth that head which was near the firmament.

8 Sic levis in varios transmuto corpora flexus

Thus I lightly shift my body into diverse phases,

ambiguis conspecta modis: nunc colligit angens

and am beheld in varying wise;

stricti membra rigor, nunc gratia corporis alti

for changefully now cramped stiffness draws in my limbs, now the virtue

explicat et summas tribuit contingere nubes;

of my tall body unfolds them, and suffers them to touch the cloud-tops.

nunc brevitate premor, nunc laxo poplite tendor

Now I am short and straitened, now stretch out with loosened knee;

versilis inque novos converti cerea vultus.

and I have mutably changed myself like wax into strange aspects.

9 Nec me mirari debet, qui Protea novit.

He who knows of Proteus should not marvel at me.

10 Nunc premit effusos, modo clausos exserit artus

My shape never stays the same, and my aspect is twofold:

forma situs incerta sui speciesque biformis,

at one time it contrasts its outstretched limbs,

quae nunc extricat, nunc membra revolvit in orbem.

at another shoots them out when closed;

11 Exsero contractos artus tensosque subinde

now disentangling the members and now rolling them back into a coil.

corrugo, vultum formis partita gemellis

I dart out my ingathered limbs, and presently, while they are strained, I wrinkle them up,

et sortes complexa duas: maiore feroces

dividing my countenance between shapes twain, and adopting two forms;

territo, concubitus hominum breviore capesso.

with the greater of these I daunt the fierce, while with the shorter I seek the embraces of men."

Dan 1.6.4 (p. 22,17 )

1 His assertis Hadingi concubitu potita tanto iuvenis amore flagravit, ut, cum eum revisendae patriae cupidum comperisset, virili more culta prosequi non dubitaret laboribusque eius ac periculis interesse voluptatis loco duceret. 2 Quo comite susceptum iter ingressa penatibus forte pernoctatura succedit, quorum defuncti hospitis funus maestis ducebatur exsequiis. 3 Ubi magicae speculationis officio superum mentem rimari cupiens, diris admodum carminibus ligno insculptis iisdemque linguae defuncti per Hadingum suppositis, hac voce eum horrendum auribus carmen edere coegit:

By thus averring she obtained the embraces of Hadding; and her love for the youth burned so high that when she found him desirous of revisiting his own land, she did not hesitate to follow him in man's attire, and counted it as joy to share his hardships and perils. While upon the journey she had undertaken, she chanced to enter in his company, in order to pass the night, a dwelling, the funeral of whose dead master was being conducted with melancholy rites. Here, desiring to pry into the purposes of heaven by the help of a magical espial, she graved on wood some very dreadful spells, and caused Hadding to put them under the dead man's tongue; thus forcing him to utter, with the voice so given, a strain terrible to hear:

Dan 1.6.5 (p. 22,25 )

1 Inferis me qui retraxit, exsecrandus oppetat

"Perish accursed he who hath dragged me back from those below,

Tartaroque devocati spiritus poenas luat.

let him be punished for calling a spirit out of bale!

2 Quisquis ab inferna sede vocavit

"Whoso hath called me, who am lifeless and dead,

me functum fatis exanimemque

back from the abode below,

ac rursum superas egit in auras,

and hath brought me again into upper air,

sub Styge liventi tristibus umbris

let him pay full penalty with his own death

persolvat proprio funere poenas.

in the dreary shades beneath livid Styx.

3 En praeter placitum propositumque

Behold, counter to my will and purpose,

quaedam grata parum promere cogor.

I must declare some bitter tidings.

4 Ex hac namque pedem sede ferentes

For as ye go away from this house

angustum nemoris advenietis,

ye will come to the narrow path of a grove,

passim daemonibus praeda futuri.

and will be a prey to demons all about.

5 Tunc quae nostra chao fata reduxit

Then she who hath brought our death back from out of void,

et dedit hoc rursum visere lumen

and has given us a sight of this light

mire corporeis nexibus indens

once more, by her prayers wondrously drawing forth the ghost

Manes elicitos sollicitando,

and casting it into the bonds of the body,

quod nisa est temere, flebit acerbe.

shall bitterly bewail her rash enterprise.

6 Inferis me qui retraxit, exsecrandus oppetat

"Perish accursed he who hath dragged me back from those below,

Tartaroque devocati spiritus poenas luat.

let him be punished for calling a spirit out of bale!

7 Nam cum monstrigeni turbinis atra lues

"For when the black pestilence of the blast that engenders monsters

intima conatu presserit exta gravi

has crushed out the inmost entrails with stern effort,

atque manus vi vos verrerit, ungue fero

and when their hand has swept away the living with cruel nail,

artubus avulsis corpora rapta secans,

tearing off limbs and rending ravished bodies;

tunc, Hadinge, tibi vita superstes erit,

then Hadding, thy life shall survive,

nec rapient Manes infera regna tuos,

nor shall the nether realms bear off thy ghost,

nec gravis in Stygias spiritus ibit aquas.

nor thy spirit pass heavily to the waters of Styx;

8 Femina sed nostros crimine pressa suo

but the woman who hath made the wretched ghost come back hither,

placabit cineres, ipsa futura cinis,

crushed by her own guilt, shall appease our dust;

quae miseris umbris huc remeare dedit.

she shall be dust herself.

9 Inferis me qui retraxit, exsecrandus oppetat

"Perish accursed he who hath dragged me back from those below,

Tartaroque devocati spiritus poenas luat.

let him be punished for calling a spirit out of bale!"

Dan 1.6.6 (p. 23,18 )

1 Igitur cum apud praedictum nemus compacto ramalibus tecto noctem agerent, inusitatae granditatis manus domicilium penitus pererrare conspecta. 2 Quo monstro territus Hadingus nutricis opem implorat. 3 Tunc Harthgrepa artus explicans ac magno se turgore distendens manum artius apprehensam alumno praebuit abscindendam. 4 Ex cuius taeterrimis vulneribus plus tabi quam cruoris manavit. 5 Cuius facti postmodum ab originis suae consortibus laniata poenas pependit; neque illi aut naturae condicio aut corporis magnitudo, quo minus infestos hostium ungues experiretur, opitulata est.

So, while they were passing the night in the forest foretold them, in a shelter framed of twigs, a hand of extraordinary size was seen to wander over the inside of the dwelling. Terrified at this portent, Hadding entreated the aid of his nurse. Then Hardgrep, expanding her limbs and swelling to a mighty bigness, gripped the hand fast and held it to her foster-child to hew off. What flowed from the noisesome wounds he dealt was not so much blood as corrupt matter. But she paid the penalty of this act, presently being torn in pieces by her kindred of the same stock; nor did her constitution or her bodily size help her against feeling the attacks of her foes' claws.

Dan 1.6.7 (p. 23,26 )

1 Spoliatum nutrice Hadingum grandaevus forte quidam, altero orbus oculo, solitarium miseratus Lisero cuidam piratae sollemni pactionis iure conciliat. 2 Siquidem icturi foedus veteres vestigia sua mutui sanguinis aspersione perfundere consueverant, amicitiarum pignus alterni cruoris commercio firmaturi. 3 Quo pacto Liserus et Hadingus artissimis societatis vinculis colligati Lokero, Curetum tyranno, bellum denuntiant. 4 Quibus superatis, fugientem Hadingum praedictus senex ad penates suos equo devehendum curavit ibique suavissimae cuiusdam potionis beneficio recreatum vegetiori corporis firmitate constaturum praedixit. 5 Cuius augurii monitum huiusmodi carmine probavit:

Hadding, thus bereft of his foster-mother, chanced to be made an ally in a solemn covenant to a rover, Lysir, by a certain man of great age that had lost an eye, who took pity on his loneliness. Now the ancients, when about to make a league, were wont to besprinkle their footsteps with blood of one another, so to ratify their pledge of friendship by reciprocal barter of blood. Lysir and Hadding, being bound thus in the strictest league, declared war against Loker, the tyrant of the Kurlanders. They were defeated; and the old man aforementioned took Hadding, as he fled on horseback, to his own house, and there refreshed him with a certain pleasant draught, telling him that he would find himself quite brisk and sound in body. This prophetic advice he confirmed by a song as follows:

Dan 1.6.8 (p. 23,36 )

1 Hinc te tendentem gressus profugum ratus hostis

"As thou farest hence, a foe, thinking thee a deserter, will assail thee,

impetet, ut teneat vinclis faucisque ferinae

that he may keep thee bound and cast thee

obiectet depascendum laniatibus: at tu

to be devoured by the mangling jaws of beasts.

custodes variis rerum narratibus imple,

But fill thou the ears of the warders with divers tales,

cumque sopor dapibus functos exceperit altus,

and when they have done the feast and deep sleep holds them,

iniectos nexus et vincula dira relide.

snap off the fetters upon thee and the loathly chains.

2 Inde pedem referens, ubi se mora parvula fundet,

Turn thy feet thence, and when a little space has fled,

viribus in rabidum totis assurge leonem,

with all thy might rise up against a swift lion

qui captivorum iactare cadavera suevit,

who is wont to toss the carcases of the prisoners,

inque truces armos validis conare lacertis

and strive with thy stout arms against his savage shoulders,

et cordis fibras ferro rimare patenti.

and with naked sword search his heart-strings.

3 Protinus admissa vapidum cape fauce cruorem

Straightway put thy throat to him and drink the steaming blood,

corporeamque dapem mordacibus attere malis.

and devour with ravenous jaws the banquet of his body.

4 Tunc nova vis membris aderit, tunc robora nervis

Then renewed strength will come to thy limbs,

succedent inopina tuis solidique vigoris

then shall undreamed-of might enter thy sinews, and an accumulation

congeries penitus nervosos illinet artus.

of stout force shall bespread and nerve thy frame through~out.

5 Ipse struam votis aditum famulosque sopore

I myself will pave the path to thy prayers, and will subdue

conficiam et lenta stertentes nocte tenebo.

the henchmen in sleep, and keep them snoring throughout the lingering night."

Dan 1.6.9 (p. 24,17 )

1 Et cum dicto relatum equo iuvenem pristino loco restituit. 2 Tunc Hadingus amiculi eius rimas, sub quo trepidus delitebat, per summam rerum admirationem visus perspicuitate traiciens animadvertit equinis freta patere vestigiis, prohibitusque rei inconcessae captare conspectum plenos stuporis oculos a terribili itinerum suorum contemplatione deflexit.

And as he spoke, he took back the young man on his horse, and set him where he had found him. Hadding cowered trembling under his mantle; but so extreme was his wonder at the event, that with keen vision he peered through its holes. And he saw that before the steps of the horse lay the sea; but was told not to steal a glimpse of the forbidden thing, and therefore turned aside his amazed eyes from the dread spectacle of the roads that he journeyed.

Dan 1.6.10 (p. 24,22 )

1 Qui cum a Lokero captus omnem praedictionis eventum certissimis rerum experimentis circa se peractum sensisset, Handwanum, Hellesponti regem, apud Dunam urbem invictis murorum praesidiis vallatum moenibusque, non acie resistentem bello pertentat. 2 Quorum fastigio oppugnationis aditum prohibente, diversi generis aves loci illius domiciliis assuetas per aucupii peritos prendi iussit earumque pennis accensos igne fungos suffigi curavit; quae propria nidorum hospitia repetentes urbem incendio complevere. 3 Cuius exstinguendi gratia concurrentibus oppidanis, vacuas defensoribus portas reliquerunt. 4 Adortus Handwanum cepit eique redemptionis nomine corpus suum auro rependendi potestatem fecit, cumque hostem tollere liceret, spiritu donare maluit: adeo saevitiam clementia temperabat.

Then he was taken by Loker, and found by very sure experience that every point of the prophecy was fulfilled upon him. So he assailed Handwan, king of the Hellespont, who was entrenched behind an impregnable defence of wall in his city Duna, and withstood him not in the field, but with battlements. Its summit defying all approach by a besieger, he ordered that the divers kinds of birds who were wont to nest in that spot should be caught by skilled fowlers, and he caused wicks which had been set on fire to be fastened beneath their wings. The birds sought the shelter of their own nests, and filled the city with a blaze; all the townsmen flocked to quench it, and left the gates defenceless. He attacked and captured Handwan, but suffered him to redeem his life with gold for ransom. Thus, when he might have cut off his foe, he preferred to grant him the breath of life; so far did his mercy qualify his rage.

Dan 1.6.11 (p. 24,33 )

1 Post haec, multo Orientalium robore debellato, Suetiam reversus Suibdagerum apud Gutlandiam ingenti classe obvium pugna adortus oppressit sicque non solum exterorum manubiis, verum etiam paternae fraternaeque vindictae trophaeis ad eminentem claritatis gradum provectus exsilio regnum mutavit, cui patriam non ante repetere quam regere contigit.

After this he prevailed over a great force of men of the East, and came back to Sweden. Swipdag met him with a great fleet off Gottland; but Hadding attacked and destroyed him. And thus he advanced to a lofty pitch of renown, not only by the fruits of foreign spoil, but by the trophies of his vengeance for his brother and his father. And he exchanged exile for royalty, for he became king of his own land as soon as he regained it.

Dan 1.7.1 (p. 25,1 )

1 Ea tempestate cum Othinus quidam Europa tota falso divinitatis titulo censeretur, apud Upsalam tamen crebriorem deversandi usum habebat eamque sive ob incolarum inertiam sive locorum amoenitatem singulari quadam habitationis consuetudine dignabatur. 2 Cuius numen Septentrionis reges propensiore cultu prosequi cupientes effigiem ipsius aureo complexi simulacro statuam suae dignationis indicem maxima cum religionis simulatione Byzantium transmiserunt, cuius etiam brachiorum lineamenta consertissimo armillarum pondere perstringebant. 3 Ille tanta sui celebritate gavisus mittentium caritatem cupide exosculatus est. 4 Cuius coniunx Frigga, quo cultior progredi posset, accitis fabris aurum statuae detrahendum curavit. 5 Quibus Othinus suspendio consumptis statuam in crepidine collocavit, quam etiam mira artis industria ad humanos tactus vocalem reddidit. 6 At nihilominus Frigga, cultus sui nitorem divinis mariti honoribus anteponens, uni familiarium se stupro subiecit; cuius ingenio simulacrum demolita aurum publicae superstitioni consecratum ad privati luxus instrumentum convertit. 7 Nec pensi duxit impudicitiam sectari, quo promptius avaritia frueretur, indigna femina, quae numinis coniugio potiretur. 8 Hoc loci quid aliud adiecerim quam tale numen hac coniuge dignum exstitisse? 9 Tanto quondam errore mortalium ludificabantur ingenia. 10 Igitur Othinus, gemina uxoris iniuria lacessitus, haud levius imaginis suae quam tori laesione dolebat. 11 Duplici itaque ruboris irritamento perstrictus plenum ingenui pudoris exsilium carpsit eoque se contracti dedecoris sordes aboliturum putavit.

At this time there was one Odin, who was credited over all Europe with the honour, which was false, of godhead, but used more continually to sojourn at Upsala; and in this spot, either from the sloth of the inhabitants or from its own pleasantness, he vouchsafed to dwell with somewhat especial constancy. The kings of the North, desiring more zealously to worship his deity, embounded his likeness in a golden image; and this statue, which betokened their homage, they transmitted with much show of worship to Byzantium, fettering even the effigied arms with a serried mass of bracelets. Odin was overjoyed at such notoriety, and greeted warmly the devotion of the senders. But his queen Frigga, desiring to go forth more beautified, called smiths, and had the gold stripped from the statue. Odin hanged them, and mounted the statue upon a pedestal, which by the marvellous skill of his art he made to speak when a mortal touched it. But still Frigga preferred the splendour of her own apparel to the divine honours of her husband, and submitted herself to the embraces of one of her servants; and it was by this man's device she broke down the image, and turned to the service of her private wantonness that gold which had been devoted to public idolatry. Little thought she of practicing unchastity, that she might the easier satisfy her greed, this woman so unworthy to be the consort of a god; but what should I here add, save that such a godhead was worthy of such a wife? So great was the error that of old befooled the minds of men. Thus Odin, wounded by the double trespass of his wife, resented the outrage to his image as keenly as that to his bed; and, ruffled by these two stinging dishonours, took to an exile overflowing with noble shame, imagining so to wipe off the slur of his ignominy.

Dan 1.7.2 (p. 25,23 )

1 Cuius secessu Mithothyn quidam praestigiis celeber, perinde ac caelesti beneficio vegetatus, occasionem et ipse fingendae divinitatis arripuit barbarasque mentes novis erroris tenebris circumfusas praestigiarum fama ad caerimonias suo nomini persolvendas adduxit. 2 Hic deorum iram aut numinum violationem confusis permixtisque sacrificiis expiari negabat ideoque iis vota communiter nuncupari prohibebat, discreta superum cuique libamenta constituens. 3 Qui cum Othino redeunte, relicta praestigiarum ope, latendi gratia Pheoniam accessisset, concursu incolarum occiditur. 4 Cuius exstincti quoque flagitia patuere, siquidem busto suo propinquantes repentino mortis genere consumebat tantasque post fata pestes edidit, ut paene taetriora mortis quam vitae monumenta dedisse videretur, perinde ac necis suae poenas a noxiis exacturus. 5 Quo malo offusi incolae egestum tumulo corpus capite spoliant, acuto pectus stipite transfigentes; id genti remedio fuit.

When he had retired, one Mit-othin, who was famous for his juggling tricks, was likewise quickened, as though by inspiration from on high, to seize the opportunity of feigning to be a god; and, wrapping the minds of the barbarians in fresh darkness, he led them by the renown of his jugglings to pay holy observance to his name. He said that the wrath of the gods could never be appeased nor the outrage to their deity expiated by mixed and indiscriminate sacrifices, and therefore forbade that prayers for this end should be put up without distinction, appointing to each of those above his especial drink-offering. But when Odin was returning, he cast away all help of jugglings, went to Finland to hide himself, and was there attacked and slain by the inhabitants. Even in his death his abominations were made manifest, for those who came nigh his barrow were cut off by a kind of sudden death; and after his end, he spread such pestilence that he seemed almost to leave a filthier record in his death than in his life: it was as though he would extort from the guilty a punishment for his slaughter. The inhabitants, being in this trouble, took the body out of the mound, beheaded it, and impaled it through the breast with a sharp stake; and herein that people found relief.

Dan 1.7.3 (p. 25,36 )

1 Post haec Othinus, coniugis fato pristinae claritatis opinione recuperata ac veluti expiata divinitatis infamia, ab exsilio regressus cunctos, qui per absentiam suam caelestium honorum titulos gesserant, tamquam alienos deponere coegit subortosque magorum coetus veluti tenebras quasdam superveniente numinis sui fulgore discussit. 2 Nec solum eos deponendae divinitatis, verum etiam deserendae patriae imperio constrinxit, merito terris extrudendos ratus, qui se caelis tam nequiter ingerebant.

The death of Odin's wife revived the ancient splendour of his name, and seemed to wipe out the disgrace upon his deity; so, returning from exile, he forced all those, who had used his absence to assume the honours of divine rank, to resign them as usurped; and the gangs of sorcerers that had arisen he scattered like a darkness before the advancing glory of his godhead. And he forced them by his power not only to lay down their divinity, but further to quit the country, deeming that they, who tried to foist themselves so iniquitously into the skies, ought to be outcasts from the earth.

Dan 1.8.1 (p. 26,6 )

1 Interea Asmundus, Suibdageri filius, in ultionem patris pugna cum Hadingo congressus, ut filium Henricum, cuius caritatem etiam proprio spiritui praeferebat, fortissime dimicantem occidisse cognovit, avido fati animo lucem perosus tali carmen voce compegit:

Meanwhile Asmund, the son of Swipdag, fought with Hadding to avenge his father. And when he heard that Henry his son, his love for whom he set even before his own life, had fallen fighting valiantly, his soul longed for death, and loathed the light of day, and made a song in a strain like this:

2 Quis nostra fortis ausit arma sumere?

"What brave hath dared put on my armour?

Nil proficit cassis vacillanti nitens,

The sheen of the helmet serves not him who tottereth,

lorica iam nec commode fusum tegit;

nor doth the breastplate fitly shelter him that is sore spent.

armis ovemus interempto filio?

Our son is slain, let us riot in battle;

3 Cuius mori me cogit eminens amor,

my eager love for him driveth me to my death,

caro superstes ne relinquar pignori.

that I may not be left outliving my dear child.

4 Utraque ferrum comprimi iuvat manu;

In each hand I am fain to grasp the sword;

nunc bella praeter scuta nudo pectore

now without shield let us ply our warfare bare-breasted,

exerceamus fulgidis mucronibus.

with flashing blades.

5 Ferocitatis fama nostrae luceat;

Let the rumour of our rage beacon forth:

audacter agmen obteramus hostium,

boldly let us grind to powder the column of the foe;

nec longa nos exasperent certamina

nor let the battle be long and chafe us;

fugaque fractus conquiescat impetus.

nor let our onset be shattered in rout and be still."

Dan 1.8.2 (p. 26,23 )

1 Quo dicto geminam capulo manum iniciens, absque periculi respectu reflexo in tergum clipeo, complures in necem egit. 2 Igitur Hadingo familiarium sibi numinum praesidia postulante, subito Wagnofthus partibus eius propugnaturus advehitur. 3 Cuius aduncum Asmundus gladium contemplatus hanc in vocem carmine clamabundus erupit:

When he had said this, he gripped his hilt with both hands, and, fearless of peril, swung his shield upon his back and slew many. Hadding therefore called on the powers with which he was allied to protect him, and on a sudden Wagnhofde rode up to fight on his side. And when Asmund saw his crooked sword, he cried out, and broke into the following strain:

Dan 1.8.3 (p. 26,28 )

1 Quid gladio pugnas incurvo?

"Why fightest thou with curved sword?

2 Ensiculus fato tibi fiet,

The short sword shall prove thy doom,

framea torta necem generabit.

the javelin shall be flung and bring forth death.

3 Hostem namque manu superandum

Thou shouldst conquer thy foe by thy hand,

carminibus lacerari fidis,

but thou trustest that he can be rent by spells;

plus verbis quam vi connisus,

thou trustest more in words than rigour,

in magica vires ope ponens.

and puttest thy strength in thy great resource.

4 Quid me sic umbone retundis

Why dost thus beat me back with thy shield,

audaci iaculo minitando,

threatening with thy bold lance,

cum sis criminibus miserandis

when thou art so covered with wretched crimes

obsitus et maculis refertus?

and spotted all over?

5 Infamis sic te nota sparsit

Thus hath the brand of shame bestained thee,

putentem vitiis labeonem.

rotting in sin, lubber-lipped."

Dan 1.8.4 (p. 26,41 )

1 Haec vociferantem Hadingus hasta traicit amentata. 2 Sed nec mortis Asmundo solatia defuere. 3 Siquidem inter exiguas vitae reliquias vulneratum interfectoris pedem perpetua claudicatione mutilavit clademque suam parvulo ultionis momento memorabilem reddidit. 4 Ita alterum membri debilitas, alterum vitae finis excepit. 5 Corpus eius sollemni funere elatum apud Upsalam regiis procuratur exsequiis. 6 Cuius coniunx Gunnilda, ne ei superesset, spiritum sibi ferro surripuit virumque fato insequi quam vita deserere praeoptavit. 7 Huius corpus amici sepulturae mandantes mariti cineribus adiunxerunt, dignam eius tumulo rati, cuius caritatem vitae praetulerat. 8 Iacet itaque Gunnilda aliquanto speciosius virum busti quam tori societate complexa.

While he thus clamoured, Hadding, flinging his spear by the thong, pierced him through. But Asmund lacked not comfort even for his death; for while his life flickered in the socket he wounded the foot of his slayer, and by this short instant of revenge he memorized his fall, punishing the other with an incurable limp. Thus crippling of a limb befell one of them and loss of life the other. Asmund's body was buried in solemn state at Upsala and attended with royal obsequies. His wife Gunnhild, loth to outlive him, cut off her own life with the sword, choosing rather to follow her lord in death than to forsake him by living. Her friends, in consigning her body to burial, laid her with her husband's dust, thinking her worthy to share the mound of the man, her love for whom she had set above life. So there lies Gunnhild, clasping her lord somewhat more beautifully in the tomb than the had ever done in the bed.

Dan 1.8.5 (p. 27,10 )

1 Post haec, Hadingo victore Suetiam populante, Asmundi filius, Uffo nomine, conserendae manus diffidentia adductus in Daniam exercitum traicit hostilesque lares incessere quam proprios tueri satius duxit, opportunum propulsandarum iniuriarum genus existimans, quod ab hoste pateretur, hosti inferre. 2 Ita Danis ad propria defensanda redire compulsis salutemque patriae exterarum rerum dominio praeferentibus, domesticum solum hostilibus armis vacuefactum repetiit.

After this Hadding, now triumphant, wasted Sweden. But Asmund's son, named Uffe, shrinking from a conflict, transported his army into Denmark, thinking it better to assail the house of his enemy than to guard his own, and deeming it a timely method of repelling his wrongs to retaliate upon his foe what he was suffering at his hands. Thus the Danes had to return and defend their own, preferring the safety of their land to lordship of a foreign realm; and Uffe went back to his own country, now rid of an enemy's arms.

Dan 1.8.6 (p. 27,17 )

1 Igitur cum Hadingus e bello Suetico regressus aerarium suum, quo bellis ac spoliis quaesitas opes excipere consuevit, furto violatum animadverteret, continuo custodem eius Glumerum suspendio consumpsit callidoque commenti genere edixit, ut, si quis e noxiis ablata referre curasset, honoris locum, quem Glumerus possederat, obtineret. 2 Quo promisso sontium quidam beneficii percipiendi quam criminis tegendi studiosior redditus pecuniam regi reportandam curavit. 3 Quem conscii in summam principis amicitiam receptum putantes nec uberius quam fidelius honoratum credentes et ipsi pari praemii spe relatis pecuniis reatum detegunt. 4 Quorum confessio primum honoribus ac beneficiis excepta, mox suppliciis punita haud parvum vitandae credulitatis documentum reliquit. 5 Dignos dixerim, qui solutae taciturnitatis poenas patibulis luerent, quos cum silentii salubritas tutos praestare posset, vocis stoliditas in exitium pertraxit.

Hadding, on returning from the Swedish war, perceived that his treasury, wherein he was wont to store the wealth he had gotten by the spoils of war, had been forced and robbed, and straightway hanged its keeper Glumer, proclaiming by a crafty device, that, if any of the culprits brought about the recovery of the stolen goods, he should have the same post of honour as Glumer had filled. Upon this promise, one of the guilty men became more zealous to reap the bounty than to hide his crime, and had the money brought back to the king. His confederates fancied he had been received into the king's closest friendship, and believed that the honours paid him were as real as they were lavish; and therefore they also, hoping to be as well rewarded, brought back their moneys and avowed their guilt. Their confession was received at first with promotion and favours, and soon visited with punishment, thus bequeathing a signal lesson against being too confiding. I should judge that men, whose foolish blabbing brought them to destruction, when wholesome silence could have ensured their safety, well deserved to atone upon the gallows for their breach of reticence.

Dan 1.8.7 (p. 27,30 )

1 His gestis Hadingus per summum integrandi belli apparatum hiberna permensus, verno sole frigoribus liquatis, Suetiam repetit ibique lustrum militando confecit. 2 Cuius milites, diuturnae expeditionis negotio consumptis alimentis, ad ultimam paene tabem redacti silvestribus fungis famem lenire coeperunt. 3 Tandem per summam necessitatis indigentiam commanducatis equis, ad postremum canina cadavera corporibus indulserunt. 4 Sed neque humanis artubus vesci nefas habitum. 5 Itaque Danis in extremas desperationis angustias compulsis, nocte concubia sine auctore tale castris carmen insonuit:

After this Hadding passed the whole winter season in the utmost preparation for the renewal of the war. When the frosts had been melted by the springtime sun, he went back to Sweden and there spent five years in warfare. By dint of this prolonged expedition, his soldiers, having consumed all their provision, were reduced almost to the extremity of emaciation, and began to assuage their hunger with mushrooms from the wood. At last, under stress of extreme necessity, they devoured their horses, and finally satisfied themselves with the carcases of dogs. Worse still, they did not scruple to feed upon human limbs. So, when the Danes were brought unto the most desperate straits, there sounded in the camp, in the first sleep of the night, and no man uttering it, the following song:

Dan 1.8.8 (p. 28,1 )

1 Taetro penates omine patrios

"With foul augury have ye left the abode of your country,

liquistis, hoc rus Marte sequi rati.

thinking to harry these fields in War.

2 Quae vana mentes ludit opinio?

What idle notion mocks your minds?

Quae caeca sensus corripuit fides,

What blind self-confidence has seized your senses,

hoc arbitrantes posse solum capi?

that ye think this soil can thus be won.

3 Non amplitudo Suetica cedere,

The might of Sweden cannot yield or quail

non exterorum Marte valet quati.

before the War of the stranger;

4 At summa vestri defluet agminis,

but the whole of your column shall melt away

cum Marte nostros coeperit aggredi.

when it begins to assault our people in War.

5 Nam cum ferocem vim fuga solverit

For when flight has broken up the furious onset,

et proeliorum pars vaga labitur,

and the straggling part of the fighters wavers,

in terga dantes Marte prioribus

then to those who prevail in the War is given free scope

caedis potestas liberior datur;

to slay those who turn their backs,

maiorque ferri parta licentia,

and they have earned power to smite the harder

cum sors rebellem praecipitem fugat,

when fate drives the renewer of the war headlong.

nec tela tentat, quem metus abstrahit.

Nor let him whom cowardice deters aim the spears."

Dan 1.8.9 (p. 28,17 )

1 Quod praesagium crebra Danorum caede sequens lucis eventus implevit. 2 Nocte postera vocem huiusmodi incerto auctore editam Suetica auribus iuventus excepit:

This prophecy was accomplished on the morrow's dawn by a great slaughter of the Danes. On the next night the warriors of Sweden heard an utterance like this, none knowing who spake it:

3 Quid me sic Uffo provocat

"Why doth Uffe thus defy me

seditione gravi,

with grievous rebellion?

poenas daturus ultimas?

He shall pay the utmost penalty.

4 Confodietur enim

For he shall he buried and transpierced

multa premendus cuspide

under showers of lances,

exanimisque ruet

and shall fall lifeless

audaciam coepti luens.

in atonement for his insolent attempt.

5 Nec petulantis erit

Nor shall the guilt of his wanton rancour

livoris intactum scelus,

be unpunished;

augurioque meo,

and, as I forebode,

cum bella primum gesserit

as soon as he joins battle and fights,

contuleritque manum,

the points shall fasten

excepta membris spicula

in his limbs

corpus ubique petent,

and strike his body everywhere,

crudosque hiatus vulnerum

and his raw gaping wounds

fascia nulla premet,

no bandage shall bind up;

nec ampla plagarum loca

nor shall any remedy heal

contrahet ulla salus.

over thy wide gashes."

Dan 1.8.10 (p. 28,38 )

1 Eadem nocte congressis exercitibus, duo senes humano habitu taetriores capitibus coma vacuis inter siderum micatus triste visu calvitium praeferentes contrariis votorum studiis monstriferos divisere conatus. 2 Siquidem alter Danorum partibus intendebat, alter Sueonum studiosus exstabat.

On that same night the armies fought; when two hairless old men, of appearance fouler than human, and displaying their horrid baldness in the twinkling starlight, divided their monstrous efforts with opposing ardour, one of them being zealous on the Danish side, and the other as fervent for the Swedes.

Dan 1.8.11 (p. 29,1 )

1 Victus Hadingus, cum in Helsingiam confugisset ibique solis fervore percalefactum corpus frigida maris aqua sublueret, inauditi generis beluam crebris ictibus attentatam oppressit necatamque in castra perferendam curavit. 2 Quem facto ovantem obvia femina hac voce compellat:

Hadding was conquered and fled to Helsingland, where, while washing in the cold sea-water his body which was scorched with heat, he attacked and cut down with many blows a beast of unknown kind, and having killed it had it carried into camp. As he was exulting in this deed a woman met him and addressed him in these words:

3 Seu pede rura teras, seu ponto carbasa tendas,

"Whether thou tread the fields afoot, or spread canvas overseas,

infestos patiere deos totumque per orbem

thou shalt suffer the hate of the gods, and through all the world

propositis inimica tuis elementa videbis.

shalt behold the elements oppose thy purposes.

4 Rure rues, quatiere mari, dabiturque vaganti

Afield thou shalt fall, on sea thou shalt be tossed,

perpetuus tibi turbo comes, nec deseret umquam

an eternal tempest shall attend the steps of thy wandering, nor shall frost-bind

vela rigor nec tecta tegent, quae si petis, icta

ever quit thy sails; nor shall thy roof-tree roof thee, but if thou seekest it, it shall fall

tempestate ruent, diro pecus occidet algu.

smitten by the hurricane; thy herd shall perish of bitter chill.

5 Omnia praesentis sortem vitiata dolebunt.

All things shall be tainted, and shall lament that thy lot is there.

6 Ut scabies fugiere nocens, nec taetrior ulla

Thou shalt be shunned like a pestilent tetter, nor shall any plague

pestis erit. Tantum poenae vis caelica pensat.

be fouler than thou. Such chastisement doth the power of heaven mete out to thee,

7 Quippe unum e superis alieno corpore tectum

for truly thy sacrilegious hands have slain one of the dweller's above,

sacrilegae necuere manus: sic numinis almi

disguised in a shape that was not his: thus here art thou,

interfector ades! Sed cum te exceperit aequor,

the slayer of a benignant god! But when the sea receives thee,

carceris Aeolici laxos patiere furores.

the wrath of the prison of Eolus shall be loosed upon thy head.

8 Te Zephyrus Boreasque ruens, te proteret Auster,

The West and the furious North, the South wind shall beat thee down,

et coniuratos certabunt edere flatus,

shall league and send forth their blasts in rivalry;

donec divinum voto meliore rigorem

until with better prayers thou hast melted the sternness of heaven,

solveris et meritam tuleris placamine poenam.

and hast lifted with appeasement the punishment thou hast earned."

Dan 1.8.12 (p. 29,23 )

1 Regressus igitur Hadingus eodemque cuncta tenore perpessus tranquilla quaeque proprio turbidabat adventu. 2 Siquidem navigante eo oborta nimbi vis ingenti classem tempestate consumpsit. 3 Naufragum hospitia petentem subita penatium strages excepit. 4 Nec ante malo remedium fuit, quam scelere sacrificiis expiato cum superis in gratiam redire potuisset. 5 Siquidem propitiandorum numinum gratia Frø deo rem divinam furvis hostiis fecit. 6 Quem litationis morem annuo feriarum circuitu repetitum posteris imitandum reliquit. 7 Frøblot Sueones vocant.

So, when Hadding went back, he suffered all things after this one fashion, and his coming brought disquiet upon all peaceful places. For when he was at sea a mighty storm arose and destroyed his fleet in a great tempest: and when, a shipwrecked man, he sought entertainment, he found a sudden downfall of that house. Nor was there any cure for his trouble, ere he atoned by sacrifice for his crime, and was able to return into favour with heaven. For, in order to appease the deities, he sacrificed dusky victims to the god Frey. This manner of propitiation by sacrifice he repeated as an annual feast, and left posterity to follow. This rite the Swedes call Froblod (the sacrifice or feast of Frey).

Dan 1.8.13 (p. 29,31 )

1 Cumque forte gigantum quendam Nitherorum regis Haquini filiam Regnildam pactum animadverteret, indignam rei condicionem perosus per summam futurae copulae detestationem ingenuo ausu nuptias praecucurrit Norvagiamque profectus tam foedum regiae virginis amatorem armis oppressit. 2 Adeo namque virtutem otio praetulit, ut, cum regiis deliciis frui liceret, non solum suas, verum etiam alienas iniurias propulsare omni voluptate iucundius duceret. 3 Auctorem beneficii puella crebris offusum vulneribus ignara medendi cura prosequitur. 4 Cuius ne notitiam sibi temporis interiectus eriperet, crus eius annulo vulneri incluso obsignatum reliquit. 5 Eadem postmodum, a patre eligendi mariti libertate donata, contractam convivio iuventutem curiosiore corporum attrectatione lustrabat, deposita quondam insignia perquirens. 6 Spretis omnibus Hadingum latentis annuli indicio deprehensum amplectitur eique se coniugem donat, qui coniugio suo gigantem potiri passus non fuerat.

Hadding chanced to hear that a certain giant had taken in troth Ragnhild, daughter of Hakon, King of the Nitherians; and, loathing so ignominious a state of affairs, and utterly abominating the destined union, he forestalled the marriage by noble daring. For he went to Norway and overcame by arms him that was so foul, a lover for a princess. For he thought so much more of valour than of ease, that, though he was free to enjoy all the pleasures of a king, he accounted it sweeter than any delight to repel the wrongs done, not only to himself, but to others. The maiden, not knowing him, ministered with healing tendance to the man that had done her kindness and was bruised with many wounds. And in order that lapse of time might not make her forget him, she shut up a ring in his wound, and thus left a mark on his leg. Afterwards her father granted her freedom to choose her own husband; so when the young men were assembled at banquet, she went along them and felt their bodies carefully, searching for the tokens she had stored up long ago. All the rest she rejected, but Hadding she discovered by the sign of the secret ring; then she embraced him, and gave herself to be the wife of him who had not suffered a giant to win her in marriage.

Dan 1.8.14 (p. 30,7 )

1 Apud quam deversante Hadingo, mirum dictu prodigium incidit. 2 Siquidem cenante eo femina cicutarum gerula propter foculum humo caput extulisse conspecta porrectoque sinu percontari visa, qua mundi parte tam recentia gramina brumali tempore fuissent exorta. 3 Cuius cognoscendi cupidum regem proprio obvolutum amiculo refuga secum sub terras abduxit, credo diis infernalibus ita destinantibus, ut in ea loca vivus adduceretur, quae morienti petenda fuerant. 4 Primum igitur vapidae cuiusdam caliginis nubilum penetrantes perque callem diuturnis adesum meatibus incedentes quosdam praetextatos amictosque ostro proceres conspicantur; quibus praeteritis loca demum aprica subeunt, quae delata a femina gramina protulerunt. 5 Progressique praecipitis lapsus ac liventis aquae fluvium diversi generis tela rapido volumine detorquentem eundemque ponte meabilem factum offendunt. 6 Quo pertransito binas acies mutuis viribus concurrere contemplantur, quarum condicionem a femina percontante Hadingo: 'Ii sunt', inquit, 'qui ferro in necem acti cladis suae speciem continuo protestantur exemplo praesentique spectaculo praeteritae vitae facinus aemulantur.' 7 Procedentibus murus aditu transscensuque difficilis obsistebat, quem femina nequicquam transsilire conata, cum ne corrugati quidem corporis exilitate proficeret, galli caput, quem secum forte deferebat, abruptum ultra moenium saepta iactavit, statimque redivivus ales resumpti fidem spiraculi claro testabatur occentu.

While Hadding was sojourning with her a marvellous portent befell him. While he was at supper, a woman bearing hemlocks was seen to raise her head beside the brazier, and, stretching out the lap of her robe, seemed to ask, "in what part of the world such fresh herbs had grown in winter?" The king desired to know; and, wrapping him in her mantle, she drew him with her underground, and vanished. I take it that the nether gods purposed that he should pay a visit in the flesh to the regions whither he must go when he died. So they first pierced through a certain dark misty cloud, and then advancing along a path that was worn away with long thoroughfaring, they beheld certain men wearing rich robes, and nobles clad in purple; these passed, they at last approached sunny regions which produced the herbs the woman had brought away. Going further, they came on a swift and tumbling river of leaden waters, whirling down on its rapid current divers sorts of missiles, and likewise made passable by a bridge. When they had crossed this, they beheld two armies encountering one another with might and main. And when Hadding inquired of the woman about their estate: "These," she said, "are they who, having been slain by the sword, declare the manner of their death by a continual rehearsal, and enact the deeds of their past life in a living spectacle." Then a wall hard to approach and to climb blocked their further advance. The woman tried to leap it, but in vain, being unable to do so even with her slender wrinkled body; then she wrung off the head of a cock which she chanced to be taking down with her, and flung it beyond the barrier of the walls; and forthwith the bird came to life again, and testified by a loud crow to recovery of its breathing.

Dan 1.8.15 (p. 30,27 )

1 Regressus igitur Hadingus patriamque cum coniuge repetere orsus imminentium sibi piratarum insidias celeri navigatione cassavit. 2 Qui licet iisdem paene flatibus iuvarentur, ipsum tamen aequora praesulcantem paribus velis occupare non poterant.

Then Hadding turned back and began to make homewards with his wife; some rovers bore down on him, but by swift sailing he baffled their snares; for though it was almost the same wind that helped both, they were behind him as he clove the billows, and, as they had only just as much sail, could not overtake him.

Dan 1.8.16 (p. 30,31 )

1 Inter haec Uffo, cum mirae pulchritudinis filiam haberet, potiturum ea, qui vita Hadingum spoliaret, edixit. 2 Quo pacto Thuningus quidam admodum sollicitatus accita Byarmensium manu votivum studuit impetrare progressum. 3 Quem excepturus Hadingus dum classe Norvagiam praeteriret, animadvertit in litore senem crebro amiculi motu appellendi navigii monitus afferentem. 4 Quem, repugnantibus sociis damnosumque profectionis deverticulum affirmantibus, nave susceptum centuriandi exercitus auctorem habuit, in ordinanda agminum ratione curiosius attendere solitum, ut prima per dyadem phalanx ac per tetradem secunda constaret, tertia vero octoadis adiectione succresceret, semperque priorem insequens duplicitatis augmento transscenderet. 5 Idem quoque funditorum alas in extremam aciem concedere iussit iisque sagittariorum ordines sociavit. 6 Ita digestis in cuneum catervis, ipse post bellatorum terga consistens ac folliculo, quem cervici impensum habebat, ballistam extrahens, quae primum exilis visa, mox cornu tensiore prominuit, denos nervo calamos adaptavit, qui vegetiore iactu pariter in hostem detorti totidem numero vulnera confixerunt. 7 Tunc Byarmenses arma artibus permutantes carminibus in nimbos solvere caelum laetamque aeris faciem tristi imbrium aspergine confuderunt. 8 E contrario senex obortam nubium molem obvia nube pellebat madoremque pluviae nubili castigabat obiectu. 9 Victorem Hadingum dimissus senex non vi hostili, sed voluntario mortis genere consumendum praedixit clarisque bellis obscura ac longinquis finitima praeponere vetuit.

Meantime Uffe, who had a marvellously fair daughter, decreed that the man who slew Hadding should have her. This sorely tempted one Thuning, who got together a band of men of Perm (Byarmenses), being fain so to win the desired advancement. Hadding was going to fall upon him, but while he was passing Norway in his fleet he saw upon the beach an old man signing to him, with many wavings of his mantle, to put into shore. His companions opposed it, and declared that it would be a ruinous diversion from their journey; but he took the man on board, and was instructed by him how to order his army. For this man, in arranging the system of the columns, used to take special care that the front row consisted of two, the second of four, while the third increased and was made up to eight, and likewise each row was double that in front of it. Also the old man bade the wings of the slingers go back to the extremity of the line, and put with them the ranks of the archers. So when the squadrons were arranged in the wedge, he stood himself behind the warriors, and from the wallet which was slung round his neck drew an arbalist. This seemed small at first, but soon projected with more prolonged tip, and accommodated ten arrows to its string at once, which were shot all at once at the enemy in a brisk volley, and inflicted as many wounds. Then the men of Perm, quitting arms for cunning, by their spells loosed the sky in clouds of rain, and melted the joyous visage of the air in dismal drenching showers. But the old man, on the other hand, drove back with a cloud the heavy mass of storm which had arisen, and checked the dripping rain by this barrier of mist. Thus Hadding prevailed. But the old man, when he parted from him, foretold that the death whereby he would perish would be inflicted, not by the might of an enemy, but by his own hand. Also he forbade him to prefer obscure wars to such as were glorious, and border wars to those remote.

Dan 1.8.17 (p. 31,15 )

1 Quo relicto Hadingus ab Uffone per colloquii simulationem in Upsalam accersitus, amissis per insidias sociis, noctis habitu protectus aufugit. 2 Nam Danis aedis, in quam convivii nomine contracti fuerant, excessum petentibus, praesto erat, qui cuiusque exsertum foribus caput ferro demeteret. 3 Cuius facti iniuriam proelio insecutus Uffonem oppressit eiusque corpus deposito odio conspicui operis mausoleo mandavit, amplitudinem hostis elaborato busti splendore confessus. 4 Ita quem vivum hostili studio insectari solebat, exstinctum honoris impendio decorabat. 5 Et ut sibi devictae gentis animos conciliaret, fratrem Uffonis Hundingum regno praefecit, ne imperium potius in exteros transfusum quam in Asmundi familia continuatum videretur.

Hadding, after leaving him, was bidden by Uffe to Upsala on pretence of a interview; but lost all his escort by treachery, and made his escape sheltered by the night. For when the Danes sought to leave the house into which they had been gathered on pretext of a banquet, they found one awaiting them, who mowed off the head of each of them with his sword as it was thrust out of the door. For this wrongful act Hadding retaliated and slew Uffe; but put away his hatred and consigned his body to a sepulchre of notable handiwork, thus avowing the greatness of his foe by his pains to beautify his tomb, and decking in death with costly distinctions the man whom he used to pursue in his life with hot enmity. Then, to win the hearts of the people he had subdued, he appointed Hunding, the brother of Uffe, over the realm, that the sovereignty might seem to be maintained in the house of Asmund, and not to have passed into the hand of a stranger.

Dan 1.8.18 (p. 31,25 )

1 Cumque sublato iam aemulo complures annos per summam armorum desuetudinem rerum agitatione vacuus exegisset, tandem diutinum ruris cultum nimiamque maritimarum rerum abstinentiam causatus et quasi bellum pace iucundius ratus talibus se ipsum culpare desidiae modis aggreditur:

Thus his enemy was now removed, and he passed several years without any stirring events and in utter disuse of arms; but at last he pleaded the long while he had been tilling the earth, and the immoderate time he had forborne from exploits on the seas; and seeming to think war a merrier thing than peace, he began to upbraid himself with slothfulness in a strain like this:

2 Quid moror in latebris opacis,

"Why loiter I thus in darksome hiding,

collibus implicitus scruposis,

in the folds of rugged hills,

nec mare more sequor priori?

nor follow seafaring as of old?

3 Eripit ex oculis quietem

The continual howling of the band of wolves,

agminis increpitans lupini

and the plaintive cry of harmful beasts

stridor et usque polum levatus

that rises to heaven,

questus inutilium ferarum

and the fierce impatient lions,

impatiensque rigor leonum.

all rob my eyes of sleep.

4 Tristia sunt iuga vastitasque

Dreary are the ridges and the desolation to hearts

pectoribus truciora fisis.

that trusted to do wilder work.

5 Officiunt scopuli rigentes

The stark rocks and the rugged lie of the ground

difficilisque situs locorum

bar the way to spirits

mentibus aequor amare suetis.

who are wont to love the sea.

6 Nam freta remigiis probare,

It were better service to sound the firths with the oars,

mercibus ac spoliis ovare,

to revel in plundered wares,

aera aliena sequi locello,

to pursue the gold of others for my coffer,

aequoreis inhiare lucris

to gloat over sea-gotten gains,

officii potioris esset

than to dwell in rough lands

quam salebras nemorumque flexus

and winding woodlands

et steriles habitare saltus.

and barren glades."

Dan 1.8.19 (p. 32,13 )

1 Cuius uxor ruralis vitae studio maritimarum avium matutinos pertaesa concentus, quantum in silvestrium locorum usu voluptatis reponeret, hac voce detexit:

Then his wife, loving a life in the country, and weary of the marin harmony of the sea-birds, declared how great joy she found in frequenting the woodlands, in the following strain:

2 Me canorus angit ales immorantem litori

"The shrill bird vexes me as I tarry by the shore,

et soporis indigentem garriendo concitat.

and with its chattering rouses me when I cannot sleep.

3 Hinc sonorus aestuosa motionis impetus

Wherefore the noisy sweep of its boisterous rush

ex ocello dormientis mite demit otium,

takes gentle rest from my sleeping eye,

nec sinit pausare noctu mergus alte garrulus,

nor doth the loud-chattering sea-mew suffer me to rest in the night,

auribus fastidiosa delicatis inserens,

forcing its wearisome tale into my dainty ears;

nec volentem decubare recreari sustinet,

nor when I would lie down doth it suffer me to be refreshed,

tristiore flexione dirae vocis obstrepens.

clamouring with doleful modulation of its ill-boding voice.

4 Tutius silvis fruendum dulciusque censeo.

Safer and sweeter do I deem the enjoyment of the woods.

5 Quis minor quietis usus luce, nocte carpitur

How are the fruits of rest plucked less by day or night

quam marinis immorari fluctuando motibus?

than by tarrying tossed on the shifting sea?"

Dan 1.8.20 (p. 32,27 )

1 Eodem tempore Tosto quidam, obscuro Iutiae loco ortus, ferocitate clarus emersit. 2 Plebe namque vario petulantiae genere lacessita, late crudelitatis famam extulit tantaque malignitatis opinione percrebuit, ut Facinorosi cognomine notaretur. 3 Sed nec exterorum iniuriis abstinens post foedam patriae vexationem etiam Saxoniam tentat. 4 Cuius duce Syfrido laborantibus proelio sociis pacem petente, fore, quod ab ipso poscebatur, asseruit, dummodo sibi gerendi cum Hadingo belli societatem polliceri voluisset. 5 Refragantem illum condicionique parere metuentem acri minarum genere ad eam, quam optabat, promissionem perduxit. 6 Fit enim, ut, quod blande non struitur, minaciter impetretur.

At this time one Toste emerged, from the obscure spot of Jutland where he was born, into bloody notoriety. For by all manner of wanton attacks upon the common people he spread wide the fame of his cruelty, and gained so universal a repute for rancour, that he was branded with the name of the Wicked. Nor did he even refrain from wrongdoing to foreigners, but, after foully harrying his own land, went on to assault Saxony. The Saxon general Syfrid, when his men were hard put to it in the battle, entreated peace. Toste declared that he should have what he asked, but only if he would promise to become his ally in a war against Hadding. Syfrid demurred, dreading to fulfill the condition, but by sharp menaces Toste induced him to promise what he asked. For threats can sometimes gain a request which softdealing cannot compass.

Dan 1.8.21 (p. 32,37 )

1 A quo terrestri negotio superatus Hadingus, cum victoris classem inter fugiendum repertam perfossis lateribus navigationi inutilem reddidisset, conscensam scapham in altum direxit. 2 Quem Tosto occidisse ratus, cum diu inter promiscua necatorum cadavera quaesitum reperire non posset, ad classem regressus animadvertit eminus myoparonem mediis maris aestibus fluctuantem. 3 Quem cum deductis in altum navigiis persequi statuisset, fractionis periculo revocatus aegre litus repetiit. 4 Tunc correptis integris coeptum viae genus exsequitur. 5 Hadingus occupari se videns percontari comitem coepit, an nandi usu calleret, neganteque eo fugae diffidentia sponte eversi navigii concavas partes amplexus mortis fidem insequentibus fecit. 6 Securum deinde Tostonem inopinatumque et spoliorum reliquiis avidius incubantem adortus, prostrato exercitu, praedam deserere coegit suamque eius fuga ulciscitur.

Hadding was conquered by this man in an affair by land; but in the midst of his flight he came on his enemy's fleet, and made it unseaworthy by boring the sides; then he got a skiff and steered it out to sea. Toste thought he was slain, but though he sought long among the indiscriminate heaps of dead, could not find him, and came back to his fleet; when he saw from afar off a light boat tossing on the ocean billows. Putting out some vessels, he resolved to give it chase, but was brought back by peril of shipwreck, and only just reached the shore. Then he quickly took some sound craft, and accomplished the journey which he had before begun. Hadding, seeing he was caught, proceeded to ask his companion whether he was a skilled and practised swimmer; and when the other said he was not, Hadding despairing of flight, deliberately turned the vessel over and held on inside to its hollow, thus making his pursuers think him dead. Then he attacked Toste, who, careless and unaware, was greedily watching over the remnants of his spoil; cut down his army, forced him to quit his plunder, and avenged his own rout by that of Toste.

Dan 1.8.22 (p. 33,10 )

1 Nec Tostoni in vindictam sui animus defuit. 2 Nam cum ob accepti vulneris magnitudinem reparandarum intra patriam virium copiam non haberet, legati titulo Britanniam petiit. 3 In qua profectione navigationis socios in aleae lusum per lasciviam contraxit rixamque a tesserarum iactibus ortam funesta caede finire docuit. 4 Ita placido exercitii genere discordiam per totum navigium diffudit, cruentamque pugnam mutatus lite iocus progenuit. 5 Et ut aliquod ex alieno malo commodum caperet, correptis interfectorum pecuniis Collonem quendam piratica tunc temporis insignem ascivit. 6 Quo comite parvo post in patriam reversus, cum Hadingo suam quam militum fortunam expendere praeoptante ex provocatione congressus occiditur. 7 Nolebant enim priscae fortitudinis duces universorum discrimine exsequi, quod paucorum sorte peragi potuisset.

But Toste lacked not heart to avenge himself. For, not having store enough in his own land to recruit his forces — so heavy was the blow he had received — he went to Britain, calling himself an ambassador. Upon his outward voyage, for sheer wantonness, he got his crew together to play dice, and when a wrangle arose from the throwing of the cubes, he taught them to wind it up with a fatal affray. And so, by means of this peaceful sport, he spread the spirit of strife through the whole ship, and the jest gave place to quarrelling, which engendered bloody combat. Also, fain to get some gain out of the misfortunes of others, he seized the moneys of the slain, and attached to him a certain rover then famous, named Koll; and a little after returned in his company to his own land, where he was challenged and slain by Hadding, who preferred to hazard his own fortune rather than that of his soldiers. For generals of antique valour were loth to accomplish by general massacre what could be decided by the lot of a few.

Dan 1.8.23 (p. 33,22 )

1 His gestis Hadingo defunctae coniugis species per quietem obversata sic cecinit:

After these deeds the figure of Hadding's dead wife appeared before him in his sleep, and sang thus:

2 Belua nata tibi rabiem domitura ferarum,

"A monster is born to thee that shall tame the rage of wild beasts,

quaeque truci rabidos atteret ore lupos.

and crush with fierce mouth the fleet wolves."

3 At post pauca subiunxit:

Then she added a little:

4 Fac caveas: ex te nocuus tibi prodiit ales,

"Take thou heed; from thee hath issued a bird of harm,

felle ferox bubo, voce canorus olor. 5 Rex mane sopore discusso cuidam coniecturarum sagaci visum exponit. 6 Qui lupi nomine futurae ferocitatis filium interpretatus oloris vocabulo filiam denotavit, illum hostibus perniciosum, hanc patri insidiosam fore praesagiens.

in choler a wild screech-owl, in tongue a tuneful swan." On the morrow the king, when he had shaken off slumber, told the vision to a man skilled in interpretations, who explained the wolf to denote a son that would be truculent and the word swan as signifying a daughter; and foretold that the son would be deadly to enemies and the daughter treacherous to her father.

Dan 1.8.24 (p. 33,32 )

1 Eventus augurio respondit: siquidem Hadingi filia Ulvilda privato cuidam Guthormo denupta, sive copulae indignitate, sive claritatis affectatione permota, maritum in parentis caedem absque pietatis respectu sollicitat, reginam se quam regis filiam censeri malle praefata. 2 Cuius exhortationis modum iisdem paene verbis, quibus ab ipsa editus fuerat, explicare constitui; qui fere huiusmodi erat: 'O miseram me, cuius nobilitatem dispar copulae nexus obtenebrat!

The result answered to the prophecy. Hadding's daughter, Ulfhild, who was wife to a certain private person called Guthorm, was moved either by anger at her match, or with aspirations to glory, and throwing aside all heed of daughterly love, tempted her husband to slay her father; declaring that she preferred the name of queen to that of princess. I have resolved to set forth the manner of her exhortation almost in the words in which she uttered it; they were nearly these:

Dan 1.8.25 (p. 33,38 )

1 O infelicem, cuius stemmati rustica iugatur humilitas! 2 O infortunatam principis prolem, quam tori lege plebeius aequiparat! 3 Miserandam regis filiam, cuius decorem ignavus pater in obsoletos ac despicabiles transmisit amplexus! 4 Infaustam matris subolem, cuius felicitati tori commercium derogat, cuius munditiam immunditia ruralis attrectat, dignitatem indignitas vulgaris inclinat, ingenuitatem condicio maritalis extenuat! 5 At si quis tibi vigor inest, si qua mentem virtus possidet, si dignum te regis generum probas, socero fasces eripe, genus probitate redime, to Oceano Fresorum classem vadosis inflictamvertibus adortus caed prosapiae defectum virtute aestima, sanguinis damnum animo pensa! 6 Felicior est honos audacia quam hereditate quaesitus. 7 Melius virtute culmen quam successione conscenditur. 8 Aptius honores meritum quam natura conciliat. 9 Adde quod senectutem subruere nefas non est, quae proprio in ruinam pondere suppressa devergit. 10 Sufficiant socero tot temporum fasces; senilis tibi potestas obveniat, quae si te frustrata fuerit, alteri cedet. 11 Lapsui vicinum est quicquid senio constat. 12 Sat illi regnasse sit; tibi quandoque praeesse conveniat. 13 Malo praeterea virum regnare quam patrem. 14 Malo regis coniunx quam nata censeri. 15 Melius est principem interius amplecti quam exterius venerari, gloriosius nubere regi quam obsequi. 16 Ipse quoque tibi sceptrum quam socero malle debeas. 17 Proximum sibi quemque natura constituit. 18 Aderit coepto facultas, si facto voluntas accesserit. 19 Nihil est quod non ingenio cedat. 20 Instaurandum epulum est, exornandum convivium, providendi paratus, invitandus socer. 21 Fraudi viam familiaritas simulata praestabit. 22 Nullo melius quam affinitatis nomine insidiae teguntur. 23 Adde quod temulentia promptum caedi iter aperiet. 24 Cumque rex capitis cultui intentus fabulis mentem, barbae manum intulerit pilorumque perplexionem crinali spico seu pectinis enodatione discreverit, applicari ferrum visceribus sentiat. 25 Minor occupatis solet cautela perquiri. 26 Dextera tua tot scelerum vindex accedat. 27 Pium est ultricem miserorum manum extendere.'

"Miserable am I, whose nobleness is shadowed by an unequal yoke! Hapless am I, to whose pedigree is bound the lowliness of a peasant! Luckless issue of a king, to whom a common man is equal by law of marriage! Pitiable daughter of a prince, whose comeliness her spiritless father hath made over to base and contemptible embraces! Unhappy child of thy mother, with thy happiness marred by consorting with this bed! thy purity is handled by the impurity of a peasant, thy nobility is bowed down by ignoble commonness, thy high birth is impaired by the estate of thy husband! But thou, if any pith be in thee, if valour reign in thy soul at all, if thou deem thyself fit husband for a king's daughter, wrest the sceptre from her father, retrieve thy lineage by thy valour, balance with courage thy lack of ancestry, requite by bravery thy detriment of blood. Power won by daring is more prosperous than that won by inheritance. Boldness climbs to the top better than inheritance, and worth wins power better than birth. Moreover, it is no shame to overthrow old age, which of its own weight sinks and totters to its fall. It shall be enough for my father to have borne the sceptre for so long; let the dotard's power fall to thee; if it elude thee, it will pass to another. Whatsoever rests on old age is near its fall. Think that his reign has been long enough, and be it thine, though late in the day, to be first. Further, I would rather have my husband than my father king — would rather be ranked a king's wife than daughter. It is better to embrace a monarch in one's home, than to give him homage from afar; it is nobler to be a king's bride than his courtier. Thou, too, must surely prefer thyself to thy wife's father for bearing the sceptre; for nature has made each one nearest to himself. If there be a will for the deed, a way will open; there is nothing but yields to the wit of man. The feast must be kept, the banquet decked, the preparations looked to, and my father bidden. The path to treachery shall be smoothed by a pretence of friendship, for nothing cloaks a snare better than the name of kindred. Also his soddenness shall open a short way to his slaughter; for when the king shall be intent upon the dressing of his hair, and his hand is upon his beard and his mind upon stories; when he has parted his knotted locks, either with hairpin or disentangling comb, then let him feel the touch of the steel in his flesh. Busy men commonly devise little precaution. Let thy hand draw near to punish all his sins. It is a righteous deed to put forth thy hand to avenge the wretched!"

Dan 1.8.26 (p. 34,28 )

1 Talibus insistente Ulvilda, vir suggestione victus insidiis operam pollicetur. 2 Interea Hadingus generi dolum cavere somnio monitus, petito convivio, quod ei filia caritatis simulatione paraverat, armatorum non longe praesidia statuit, quibus adversum insidias, cum res exigeret, uteretur. 3 Quo cibum capiente, satelles in fraudis ministerium accitus, occultato sub veste ferro, opportunum sceleri tempus tacitus exspectabat. 4 Quo rex animadverso collocatis in vicino militibus signum lituo dedit. 5 Quibus continuo opem ferentibus, dolum in auctorem retorsit.

Thus Ulfhild importuned, and her husband was overcome by her promptings, and promised his help to the treachery. But meantime Hadding was warned in a dream to beware of his son-in-law's guile. He went to the feast, which his daughter had made ready for him with a show of love, and posted an armed guard hard by to use against the treachery when need was. As he ate, the henchman who was employed to do the deed of guile silently awaited a fitting moment for his crime, his dagger hid under his robe. The king, remarking him, blew on the trumpet a signal to the soldiers who were stationed near; they straightway brought aid, and he made the guile recoil on its deviser.

Dan 1.8.27 (p. 34,36 )

1 Interea rex Sueonum Hundingus occasum Hadingi falso acceptum nuntio inferiis excepturus, optimatibus contractis, eximiae capacitatis dolium cereali liquore completum deliciarum loco medium convivis apponi praecepit, et ne quid celebritatis deesset, ipse ministri partibus assumptis pincernam agere cunctatus non est. 2 Cumque exsequendi officii gratia regiam perlustraret, offenso gradu in dolium collapsus interclusum humore spiritum reddidit, deditque poenas sive Orco, quem falsa exsequiarum actione placabat, sive Hadingo, cuius interitum mentitus fuerat. 3 Quo cognito Hadingus parem veneratori gratiam relaturus exstinctoque superesse non passus suspendio se vulgo inspectante consumpsit.

Meanwhile Hunding, King of the Swedes, heard false tidings that Hadding was dead, and resolved to greet them with obsequies. So he gathered his nobles together, and filled a jar of extraordinary size with ale, and had this set in the midst of the feasters for their delight, and, to omit no mark of solemnity, himself assumed a servant's part, not hesitating to play the cupbearer. And while he was passing through the palace in fulfilment of his office, he stumbled and fell into the jar, and, being choked by the liquor, gave up the ghost; thus atoning either to Orcus, whom he was appeasing by a baseless performance of the rites, or to Hadding, about whose death he had spoken falsely. Hadding, when he heard this, wished to pay like thanks to his worshipper, and, not enduring to survive his death, hanged himself in sight of the whole people.