THE DANISH HISTORY OF SAXO GRAMMATICUS

Latin and English (the first nine books) from two different websites

Errors in the parallel alignment and overlooked typos please report to

Dawid Wiskott mailto:ruthwi@macam.ac.il

http://www.geocities.com/proppentrecker/index.html


preface and table of contents

GO BACK TO BOOK 7

 

BOOK EIGHT.

Dan 8.1.0 (p. 214,2)

1 Historiam belli Suetici Starcatherus, qui et eiusdem proelii praecipuum columen erat, primus Danico digessit eloquio, memoriae magis quam litteris tradito. 2 Cuius seriem ab ipso pro more patrio vulgariter editam digestamque Latialiter complecti statuens, imprimis praestantissimos utrisque partis proceres recensebo. 3 Neque enim mihi multitudinem complectendi cupido incessit, quam ne praecise quidem numerus capit. 4 Et prius eos, qui ab Haraldi partibus steterant, mox qui sub Ringonis stipendiis, stilo retexam.

STARKAD was the first to set in order in Danish speech the history of the Swedish war, a conflict whereof he was himself a mighty pillar; the said history being rather an oral than a written tradition. He set forth and arranged the course of this war in the mother tongue according to the fashion of our country; but I purpose to put it into Latin, and will first recount the most illustrious princes on either side. For I have felt no desire to include the multitude, which are even past exact numbering. And my pen shall relate first those on the side of Harald, and presently those who served under Ring.

Dan 8.2.1 (p. 214,9)

1 Igitur ex ducibus, qui ad Haraldum coierant, clarissimi noscitantur Suen ac Sambar, Ambar et Ella, Rathi Fionicus, Salgarthus et Roe, quem barbae prolixitas cognomento insignem effecit. 2 His accedunt Skalc Scanicus et Alf Aggi filius, quibus iunguntur Olvir latus et Gnepia vetulus. 3 His adnumeratur Gardh, Stang oppidi cultor.

Now the most famous of the captains that mustered to Harald are acknowledged to have been Sweyn and Sambar (Sam?), Ambar and Elli; Rati of Funen, Salgard and Roe (Hrothgar), whom his long beard distinguished by a nickname. Besides these, Skalk the Scanian, and Alf the son of Agg; to whom are joined Olwir the Broad, and Gnepie the Old. Besides these there was Gardh, founder of the town Stang.

Dan 8.2.2 (p. 214,14)

1 Cui adiciuntur necessarii Haraldi Blend, ultimae Tyles incola, ac Brand Micae cognomen habens; iisdem sociantur Torvy cum Torvingo, Tetar atque Hialto. 2 Qui quidem navigio Lethram advecti, instructis ad bella corporibus, ingenii quoque virtute pollebant, proceritatis habitum animorum exercitiis aemulantes; quippe spicula arcuum ballistarumque tormentis excutere ac plerumque viritim cum hoste decernere, poeses quoque patrio sermone contexere promptissime calluerunt. 3 Adeo animum cum corpore impensa exercitatione coluerant.

To these are added the kinsfolk or bound followers of Harald: Blend (Blaeng?), the dweller in furthest Thule[1](1), and Brand, whose surname was Crumb (Bitling?). Allied with these were Thorguy, with Thorwig, Tatar (Teit), and Hialte. These men voyaged to Leire with bodies armed for war; but they were also mighty in excellence of wit, and their trained courage matched their great stature; for they had skill in discharging arrows both from bow and catapult, and at fighting their foe as they commonly did, man to man; and also at readily stringing together verse in the speech of their country: so zealously had they trained mind and body alike.

Dan 8.2.3 (p. 214,22)

1 E Lethris autem prodiere Hortar Borghyque; praeterea Belgi cum Begatho. 2 Quibus adiecti sunt Bari ac Toli.

Now out of Leire came Hortar (Hjort) and Borrhy (Borgar or Borgny), and also Belgi and Beigad, to whom were added Bari and Toli.

Dan 8.2.4 (p. 214,24)

1 At Sle oppido cum Hacone genam scisso sub Hetha Wisnaque ducibus Tummi velificator excesserat; quarum muliebri corpori natura virilem animum erogavit. 2 Webiorgam quoque, eodem spiritu praeditam, Bo Brami filius et Brat Iutus belligerandi cupidine prosequuntur. 3 His agglomerantur Orm Anglicus, Ubbo Fresicus, Ary altero cassus lumine, Alf et Gøtar. 4 Post quos Dal corpulentus et Duc Sclavicus recensentur.

Now out of the town of Sle, under the captains Hetha (Heid) and Wisna, with Hakon Cut-cheek came Tummi the Sailmaker. On these captains, who had the bodies of women, nature bestowed the souls of men. Webiorg was also inspired with the same spirit, and was attended by Bo (Bui) Bramason and Brat the Jute, thirsting for war. In the same throng came Orm of England, Ubbe the Frisian, Ari the One-eyed, and Alf Gotar. Next in the count came Dal the Fat and Duk the Sclav;

Dan 8.2.5 (p. 214,30)

1 Wisnam vero, imbutam rigore feminam reique militaris apprime peritam, Sclava stipaverat manus, cuius praecipui Barri ac Gnizli satellites agnoscuntur. 2 Ceteri vero ex eadem cohorte corpus clipeolis tecti praelongis ensibus aeriique coloris parmulis utebantur, quas belli tempore aut in tergum repellentes aut impedimentorum gerulis dantes, abiectis pectorum munimentis expositisque ad discrimen omne corporibus, destrictis Martem mucronibus intenderunt. 3 E quibus Tolcar atque Ymi praecipui claruere. 4 Post quos Toki Iumensi provincia ortus cum Othrico, cui agnomen Iuvenis erat, illustris agnoscitur.

Wisna, a woman, filled with sternness, and a skilled warrior, was guarded by a band of Sclavs: her chief followers were Barri and Gnizli. But the rest of the same company had their bodies covered by little shields, and used very long swords and targets of skiey hue, which, in time of war, they either cast behind their backs or gave over to the baggage- bearers; while they cast away all protection to their breasts, and exposed their bodies to every peril, offering battle with drawn swords. The most illustrious of these were Tolkar and Ymi. After these, Toki of the province of Wohin was conspicuous together with Otrit surnamed the Young.

Dan 8.2.6 (p. 215,5)

1 At Hertha, promptissimis stipata comitibus, armatam bello centuriam afferebat. 2 Cuius primi fuere Grimar ac Grenzli; post hos Ger Livicus, Hama quoque et Hunger, Humbli Biarique regum fortissimi memorantur; hi persaepe, duellis feliciter gestis, insignes late victorias edidere. 3 Itaque memoratae virgines, non modo comiter, sed etiam pugnaciter cultae, terrestres in aciem copias ductavere. 4 Igitur centuriatim Danicus confluxit exercitus.

Hetha, guarded by a retinue of very active men, brought an armed company to the war, the chiefs of whom were Grim and Grenzli; next to whom are named Geir the Livonian, Hame also and Hunger, Humbli and Biari, bravest of the princes. These men often fought duels successfully, and won famous victories far and wide. The maidens I have named, in fighting as well as courteous array, led their land-forces to the battle-field. Thus the Danish army mustered company by company.

Dan 8.2.7 (p. 215,11)

1 Septentrionales pari ingenio, sed dispari voto alii Haraldo, pars Ringoni praesidio fuerunt. 2 Proceres in partem Haraldi concesserant Hømi et Høsathul, Hun Hastinusque et Hythin gracilis, Dahar quoque cognomento Grenski; sed et Haraldus Olavo genitus patre; ex Hathica vero provincia Har atque Herlevar cum Hothbroddo, cui Effreni cognomen erat, Danicis militavere castris; at ex Imica regione Hunchy et Haraldus adveniunt, quibus applicantur a Septentrione profecti Haki Bemonique filii Sygmundus et Serker. 3 Horum omnium clientelam rex liberali familiaritate coluerat; nam primis apud ipsum honoribus habiti, cultos auro gladios opimaque bellorum praemia perceperant.

There were seven kings, equal in spirit but differing in allegiance, some defending Harald, and some Ring. Moreover, the following went to the side of Harald: Homi and Hosathul (Eysothul?), Him...., Hastin and Hythin (Hedin) the Slight, also Dahar (Dag), named Grenski, and Harald Olafsson also. From the province of Aland came Har and Herlewar (Herleif), with Hothbrodd, surnamed the Furious; these fought in the Danish camp. But from Imisland arrived Humnehy (?) and Harald. They were joined by Haki and by Sigmund and Serker the sons of Bemon, all coming from the North. All these were retainers of the king, who befriended them most generously; for they were held in the highest distinction by him, receiving swords adorned with gold, and the choicest spoils of war.

Dan 8.2.8 (p. 215,20)

1 Advenerant et editi Gandalf sene, quos Haraldi familiares clientela vetus effecerat.

There came also.... the sons of Gandal the old, who were in the intimate favour of Harald by reason of ancient allegiance.

Dan 8.2.9 (p. 215,22)

1 Igitur frequens Danica classe pelagus Sialandiam Scaniae veluti intersito ponte committere videbatur. 2 Quas quidem provincias intermeare cupientibus consertissimo navium globo pedestre compendium exhibebat. 3 Sed ne improvidis bellum Sueonibus pararetur, mittuntur ab Haraldo, qui Ringoni palam inimicitiarum mandata perferrent ipsamque sequestrae pacis diremptionem vulgarent; iisdem pugnae locum praestituere iussum.

Thus the sea was studded with the Danish fleet, and seemed to interpose a bridge, uniting Zealand to Skaane. To those that wished to pass between those provinces, the sea offered a short road on foot over the dense mass of ships. But Harald would not have the Swedes unprepared in their arrangements for war, and sent men to Ring to carry his public declaration of hostilities, and notify the rupture of the mediating peace. The same men were directed to prescribe the place of combat.

Dan 8.3.1 (p. 215,28)

1 Igitur qui Haraldo militaverant, hi fuere, quos edidi; at ex parte Ringonis computantur Ulf, Aggi, Ewindar, Eyil luscus, Gøtar, Hildi, Guthi Alf patre genitus, Stur robustus, Sten, Wenicae paludis accola.

These then whom I have named were the fighters for Harald. Now, on the side of Ring were numbered Ulf, Aggi (Aki?), Windar (Eywind?), Egil the One-eyed; Gotar, Hildi, Guti Alfsson; Styr the Stout, and (Tolo-) Stein, who lived by the Wienic Mere.

Dan 8.3.2 (p. 216,1)

1 Applicantur iisdem Gerth alacer, Gromer Wermicus.

To these were joined Gerd the Glad and Gromer (Glum?) from Wermland.

Dan 8.3.3 (p. 216,2)

1 Post quos septentrionalis Albiae finitimi supputantur, Saxi Fletir et Sali Gothus.

After these are reckoned the dwellers north on the Elbe, Saxo the Splitter, Sali the Goth;

Dan 8.3.4 (p. 216,4)

1 Thord nutabundus, Throndar nasutus, Grunder, Othi, Grinder, Tovi, Coll, Byarchi, Hogni ingeniosus, Rokar fuscus; hi siquidem multitudinis collegium aspernati in unam se aciem a cetera cohorte secreverant.

Thord the Stumbler, Throndar Big-nose; Grundi, Oddi, Grindir, Tovi; Koll, Biarki, Hogni the Clever, Rokar the Swart. Now these scorned fellowship with the common soldiers, and had formed themselves into a separate rank apart from the rest of the company.

Dan 8.3.5 (p. 216,7)

1 Praeter hos Rani, cui Hyld mater erat, et Liuthbuthi, Sueno quoque superne tonsus, Soti pugil, Rethyr accipiter et Rolf uxorius numerantur; quibus conglobantur Ring Athylae filius Haraldusque Thotni editus vico.

Besides these are numbered Hrani Hildisson and Lyuth Guthi (Hljot Godi), Svein the Topshorn, (Soknarsoti?), Rethyr (Hreidar?) Hawk, and Rolf the Uxorious (Woman-lover). Massed with these were Ring Adilsson and Harald who came from Thotn district.

Dan 8.3.6 (p. 216,10)

1 His adnectuntur Walsten Wicensis, Thorulf spissus, Thengil procerus, Hun, Solve, Birvil pallidus, Burgar et Scumbar.

Joined to these were Walstein of Wick, Thorolf the Thick, Thengel the Tall, Hun, Solwe, Birwil the Pale, Borgar and Skumbar (Skum).

Dan 8.3.7 (p. 216,12)

1 At e Thelemarchia fortissimi venerant, quibus animi plurimum, fastus minimum erat: Thorlevar pertinax, Thorkill Guticus, Gretir iniquus irruptionumque avidus; his succedunt Haddir durus et Roldar articulus.

But from, Tellemark came the bravest of all, who had most courage but least arrogance — Thorleif the Stubborn, Thorkill the Gute (Gothlander), Grettir the Wicked and the Lover of Invasions. Next to these came Hadd the Hard and Rolder (Hroald) Toe-joint.

Dan 8.3.8 (p. 216,15)

1 E Norvagia vero memorantur Thronder Thrønski, Thori Moricus, Rafn candidus, Hafvar, Biarni, Blihar cognomento Simus, Biorn e vico Soghni, Findar maritimo genitus sinu, Bersi quoque apud Falsu oppidum creatus, Sywardus verris caput, Ericus fabulator, Halsten Huiti, Rutar Rawi, Erlingar, cui Colubra cognomentum erat.

From Norway we have the names of Thrand of Throndhjem, Thoke (Thore) of More, Hrafn the White, Haf (war), Biarni, Blihar (Blig?) surnamed Snub-nosed; Biorn from the district of Sogni; Findar (Finn) born in the Firth; Bersi born in the town F(I)alu; Siward Boarhead, Erik the Story-teller, Holmstein the White, Hrut Rawi (or Vafi, the Doubter), Erling surnamed Snake.

Dan 8.3.9 (p. 216,20)

1 At e Yathrica provincia prodiere Od Anglus, Alf multivagus, Enar protuberans, Yvarusque cognominatus Thruwar.

Now from the province of Jather came Odd the Englishman, Alf the Far-wanderer, Enar the Paunched, and Ywar surnamed Thriug.

Dan 8.3.10 (p. 216,22)

1 A Tyle autem venere Mar Rufus, eo videlicet pago, qui Mithfirthi dicitur, ortus educatusque, Grobar annosus, Grani Brundølicus, Grim ex oppido Skerium apud Scaha Fyrthi quidem provinciam satus; deinde Berhgar vates advertitur, cui Brahi et Rafnkil comites adhibentur.

Now from Thule (Iceland) came Mar the Red, born and bred in the district called Midfirth; Grombar the Aged, Gram Brundeluk (Bryndalk?) Grim from the town of Skier (um) born in Skagafiord. Next came Berg the Seer, accompanied by Bragi and Rafnkel.

Dan 8.3.11 (p. 216,26)

1 At Sueonum fortissimi hi fuere: Ari, Haki, Keclu-Karl, Croc agrestis, Guthfast, Gummi e Gyslamarchia. 2 Qui quidem Frø dei necessarii erant et fidissimi numinum arbitri. 3 Yngi quoque et Oly, Alver et Folki, patre Elrico nati, Ringonis militiam amplectuntur, viri quidem manu prompti, consilio vegeti proximaque Ringonem familiaritate complexi; iidem quoque ad Frø deum generis sui principium referebant. 4 Inter quos et Sigmundus aderat ex Sigtun oppido, forensis quidem athleta emptionumque ac venditionum contractibus assuetus. 5 Huic additur Frosty cognomento crucibulum; cui sociatur Alf elatus e vico Upsala; idem et iaculari promptus et in acie praeire solitus erat.

Now the bravest of the Swedes were these: Arwakki, Keklu-Karl (Kelke-Karl), Krok the Peasant, (from Akr), Gudfast and Gummi from Gislamark. These were kindred of the god Frey, and most faithful witnesses to the gods. Ingi (Yngwe) also, and Oly, Alver, Folki, all sons of Elrik (Alrek), embraced the service of Ring; they were men ready of hand, quick in counsel, and very close friends of Ring. They likewise held the god Frey to be the founder of their race. Amongst these from the town of Sigtun also came Sigmund, a champion advocate, versed in making contracts of sale and purchase; besides him Frosti surnamed Bowl: allied with him was Alf the Lofty (Proud?) from the district of Upsala; this man was a swift spear-thrower, and used to go in the front of the battle.

Dan 8.3.12 (p. 217,9)

1 At Olonem septem reges manu consilioque promptissimi stipavere, Holty videlicet et Hendil, Holmar, Levy et Hama; quibus Regnaldus Rutenus, Rathbarthi nepos, ascribitur; praeterea Sywaldus undecim salum paronibus sulcat. 2 Lesy Pannoniorum victor bracteatam auro liburnam aureo linteo excipit. 3 Thririkar vero instar draconis tortuosas habente proras navigio vehebatur. 4 Trygir quoque et Torwil divisim navigantes duodenas ductavere puppes.

Ole had a body-guard in which were seven kings, very ready of hand and of counsel; namely, Holti, Hendil, Holmar, Lewy (Leif), and Hame; with these was enrolled Regnald the Russian, the grandson of Radbard; and Siwald also furrowed the sea with eleven light ships. Lesy (Laesi), the conqueror of the Pannonians (Huns), fitted with a sail his swift galley ringed with gold. Thririkar (Erik Helsing) sailed in a ship whose prows were twisted like a dragon. Also Thrygir (Tryggve) and Torwil sailed and brought twelve ships jointly.

Dan 8.3.13 (p. 217,15)

1 Ceterum in tota Ringonis classe navium duo millia quingentae repertae sunt. 2 Gutonica vero classis in portu, cui Garnum nomen, Sueticam opperiebatur. 3 Itaque Ringo terrenum ductabat agmen; at Oloni navalibus praeesse copiis imperatum. 4 Igitur Gothis obviam Suetis veniendi inter Wic et Werundiam locus cum tempore denuntiatur. 5 Cernere tum erat late proris exaratum mare, prospectumque pelagi explicata malis carbasa praestruebant. 6 Et iam classis Suetis prospera navigatione usa, Danis adhuc adverso laborantibus caelo, maturius belli locum petiverat. 7 Ubi Ringo expositas classe copias simulque, quas ipse terreno ductarat itinere, gregatim in aciem dirigere parat. 8 Quae ubi campis laxius explicari coeperant, cornu alterum in Werundiam extrahi compertum est. 9 Quam multitudinem rex locis ordinibusque confusam equo circuiens, in fronte promptissimos quosque et praestantiori armatura cultos sub Olone, Regnaldo Wivilloque ducibus collocat; deinde veluti flexu quodam in duo cornua reliquam aciem cogit. 10 E quibus dextrum Yngonem cum Elrici filiis Trygonemque tueri iubet; at laevum Lesoni parere iussum. 11 Ceterum alas globosque maxime Curetum Estonumque consertior turma texuerat. 12 Ultima funditorum acies stabat.

In the entire fleet of Ring there were 2,500 ships. The fleet of Gotland was waiting for the Swedish fleet in the harbour named Garnum. So Ring led the land-force, while Ole was instructed to command the fleet. Now the Goths were appointed a time and a place between Wik and Werund for the conflict with the Swedes. Then was the sea to be seen furrowed up with prows, and the canvas unfurled upon the masts cut off the view over the ocean. The Danes had so far been distressed with bad weather; but the Swedish fleet had a fair voyage, and had reached the scene of battle earlier. Here Ring disembarked his forces from his fleet, and then massed and prepared to draw up in line both these and the army he had himself conducted overland. When these forces were at first loosely drawn up over the open country, it was found that one wing reached all the way to Werund. The multitude was confused in its places and ranks; but the king rode round it, and posted in the van all the smartest and most excellently-armed men, led by Ole, Regnald, and Wivil; then he massed the rest of the army on the two wings in a kind of curve. Ung, with the sons of Alrek, and Trig, he ordered to protect the right wing, while the left was put under the command of Laesi. Moreover, the wings and the masses were composed mainly of a close squadron of Kurlanders and of Esthonians. Last stood the line of slingers.

Dan 8.4.1 (p. 217,32)

1 Interea classis Danica, ventorum indulgentia aspirante, septem dierum continuam navigationem emensa, Calmarna oppidum subiit. 2 Mirareris late ventis velificatum mare, caelumque ex oculis intenta antennis lintea eripiebant. 3 Nam Sclavi ac Livi Saxonumque septem millia classem auxerant. 4 At per solidum proficiscentibus Scanienses, quod locorum periti essent, duces ac praevii destinantur.

Meantime the Danish fleet, favoured by kindly winds, sailed, without stopping, for twelve days, and came to the town (stead) of Kalmar. The wind-blown sails covering the waters were a marvel; and the canvas stretched upon the yards blotted out the sight of the heavens. For the fleet was augmented by the Sclavs and the Livonians and 7,000 Saxons. But the Skanians, knowing the country, were appointed as guides and scouts to those who were going over the dry land.

Dan 8.4.2 (p. 218,5)

1 Igitur, ubi praestolantibus Suetis Danicus supervenit exercitus, Ringo suis, quoadusque Haraldus aciem centuriasset, patienter considere iussis non ante signa canere praecepit, quam regem propter aquilas curru compositum aspexissent, praefatus sperare se facile collabi aciem posse, quae caeci ductamine niteretur. 2 Praeterea Haraldum supremo aetatis tempore alieni imperii cupiditate correptum non minus mente captum quam luminibus fore nec opibus exsatiari posse, qui, si annos respiciat, tumulo paene contentus esse debeat. 3 Suetis itaque pro libertate, pro patria ac liberis dimicandi necessitatem incumbere, hostem temeritate atque insolentia suscepisse bellum. 4 Praeterea ex parte adversa perpaucos Danos esse, Saxones complures, aliasque effeminatas gentes in acie stare. 5 Ob quod cogitare debere Sueones Noricosque, quantum Germanos ac Sclavos Septentrionalis semper turba praestiterit. 6 Spernendam ergo aciem fore, quae potius lubrica hominum colluvione quam solido militum robore contexta videatur. 7 Nec parum ea oratione militum animos accendebat.

So when the Danish army came upon the Swedes, who stood awaiting them, Ring told his men to stand quietly until Harald had drawn up his line of battle; bidding them not to sound the signal before they saw the king settled in his chariot beside the standards; for he said he should hope that an army would soon come to grief which trusted in the leading of a blind man. Harald, moreover, he said, had been seized in extreme age with the desire of foreign empire, and was as witless as he was sightless; wealth could not satisfy a man who, if he looked to his years, ought to be well-nigh contented with a grave. The Swedes therefore were bound to fight for their freedom, their country, and their children, while the enemy had undertaken the war in rashness and arrogance. Moreover, on the other side, there were very few Danes, but a mass of Saxons and other unmanly peoples stood arrayed. Swedes and Norwegians should therefore consider, how far the multitudes of the North had always surpassed the Germans and the Sclavs. They should therefore despise an army which seemed to be composed more of a mass of fickle offscourings than of a firm and stout soldiery.

Dan 8.4.3 (p. 218,20)

1 At Bruno, Haraldi loco aciem statuere iussus, cuneo frontem molitur, Hetham vero in dextero latere locat, Haconem laevo praeficit, Wisnam aquiliferam facit. 2 Igitur Haraldus curru eminens quam potuit celsa voce beneficia sua iniuriis a Ringone rependi queritur. 3 Ab illo sibi bellum inferri, qui regnum suo munere adeptus fuerit. 4 Ita Ringonem nec senis misereri nec avunculo parcere propriosque motus cunctae necessitudinis aut beneficentiae respectui praeferre. 5 Iubet itaque meminisse Danos, ut exteris semper victoriis inclaruerint, ut finitimis imperare potius quam obsequi consueverint, hortaturque, ne tantae gloriae decus devictae gentis insolentia labefactari sustineant nec imperium, quod sibi iuventa florenti pepererant, senectute confecto demi permittant.

By this harangue of King Ring he kindled high the hearts of the soldiers. Now Brun, being instructed to form the line on Harald's behalf, made the front in a wedge, posting Hetha on the right flank, putting Hakon in command of the left, and making Wisna standard-bearer. Harald stood up in his chariot and complained, in as loud a voice as he could, that Ring was requiting his benefits with wrongs; that the man who had got his kingdom. by Harald's own gift was now attacking him; so that Ring neither pitied an old man nor spared an uncle, but set his own ambitions before any regard for Harald's kinship or kindness. So he bade the Danes remember how they had always won glory by foreign conquest, and how they were more wont to command their neighbours than to obey them. He adjured them not to let such glory as theirs to be shaken by the insolence of a conquered nation, nor to suffer the empire, which he had won in the flower of his youth, to be taken from him in his outworn age.

Dan 8.4.4 (p. 218,30)

1 Deinde, canentibus lituis, summa utrimque vi conseritur bellum. 2 Crederes repente terris ingruere caelum, silvas camposque subsidere, misceri omnia, antiquum rediisse chaos, divina pariter et humana tumultuosa tempestate confundi, cunctaque simul in perniciem trahi. 3 Nam ubi ad teli iactum perventum, intolerabilis armorum stridor incredibili cuncta fragore complevit. 4 Vapor vulnerum repentinam caelo nebulam intendebat, dies effusa telorum grandine tegebatur. 5 Nec parum in acie funditorum opera valuit. 6 At ubi pila manu aut tormentis excussa, comminus gladiis ferratisque clavis decernitur. 7 Tum vero plurimum sanguinis periclitatum est. 8 Igitur fessis manare sudor corporibus coepit, mucronumque crepitacula eminus exaudiebantur.

Then the trumpets sounded, and both sides engaged in battle with all their strength. The sky seemed to fall suddenly on the earth, fields and woods to sink into the ground; all things were confounded, and old Chaos come again; heaven and earth mingling in one tempestuous turmoil, and the world rushing to universal ruin. For, when the spear-throwing began, the intolerable clash of arms filled the air with an incredible thunder. The steam of the wounds suddenly hung a mist over the sky, the daylight was hidden under the hail of spears. The help of the slingers was of great use in the battle. But when the missiles had all been flung from hand or engines, they fought with swords or iron-shod maces; and it was now at close quarters that most blood was spilt. Then the sweat streamed down their weary bodies, and the clash of the swords could be heard afar.

Dan 8.4.5 (p. 219,1)

1 Illic Starcatherus, qui belli huius seriem sermone patrio primus edidit, prior in acie dimicans Haraldi proceres Hun et Ella, Hort ac Burgha a se prostratos abscissamque Wisnae dexteram commemorat. 2 Ceterum Roa quendam cum duobus aliis, Gnepia et Garthar, a se in acie vulneratos occubuisse declarat. 3 Iisdem Scalki patrem, tacito nomine, applicat. 4 Idem fortissimum Danorum Haconem a se in terram prorutum seque ab eo ita mutuo vulneratum testatur, ut exsertum thorace pulmonem cervicemque medio tenus scissam, manum quoque uno truncam digito gerens excederet bello, diuque hiscens plaga nec cicatricis capax nec medelae habilis videretur.

Starkad, who was the first to set forth the history of this war in the telling, fought foremost in the fray, and relates that he overthrew the nobles of Harald, Hun and Elli, Hort and Burgha, and cut off the right hand of Wisna. He also relates that one Roa, with two others, Gnepie and Gardar, fell wounded by him in the field. To these he adds the father of Skalk, whose name is not given. He also declares that he cast Hakon, the bravest of the Danes, to the earth, but received from him such a wound in return that he had to leave the war with his lung protruding from his chest, his neck cleft to the centre, and his hand deprived of one finger; so that he long had a gaping wound, which seemed as if it would never either scar over or be curable.

Dan 8.4.6 (p. 219,10)

1 Eodem teste puella Weghbiorg in hostem dimicans Soti pugilem acie stravit. 2 Eandem athletarum caedibus imminentem Thorkillus Thelemarchiae ortus emisso per chordam spiculo traicit. 3 Tanta enim vi periti arcuum Gutones nervos intenderant, ut clipeos quoque iaculis transverberarent. 4 Nec alia efficacior caedis exstitit causa. 5 Loricas galeasque perinde ac inermia corpora sagittarum acumina penetrabant.

The same man witnesses that the maiden Weghbiorg (Webiorg) fought against the enemy and felled Soth the champion. While she was threatening to slay more champions, she was pierced through by an arrow from the bowstring of Thorkill, a native of Tellemark. For the skilled archers of the Gotlanders strung their bows so hard that the shafts pierced through even the shields; nothing proved more murderous; for the arrow-points made their way through hauberk and helmet as if they were men's defenceless bodies.

Dan 8.4.7 (p. 219,16)

1 Interea Ubbo Fresicus, promptissimus Haraldi miles ac prae aliis habitu corporis insignis, praeter undecim, quos in acie vulneraverat, viginti quinque delectorum pugilum interfecit. 2 Ii omnes Sueti sanguine fuere vel Gothi. 3 Deinde primam aggressus aciem consertissimos hostes insilit palantesque metu Sueones hac illac hasta gladioque dispellit. 4 Et iam paene res in fugam cesserat, cum Hadder, Rolder et Gretir, aemulatione virtutis athletam adorti, publicam perniciem privato redimere periculo statuerunt. 5 Verum comminus instare veriti spiculis procul agendum curabant, sicque crebrescentibus iaculis eminus Ubbo confoditur, nemine propius cum ipso manum conserere praesumente. 6 Centum quadraginta quattuor sagittae prius pectus proeliantis obsederant, quam, lapsis corporis viribus, solo poplitem daret. 7 Tum demum per Throndos eosque, qui Dala provinciam colunt, ingens a Danis clades accepta est. 8 Nam summa sagittariorum vi recruduit bellum, nec alia res nostris perniciosior fuit.

Meanwhile Ubbe the Frisian, who was the readiest of Harald's soldiers, and of notable bodily stature, slew twenty-five picked champions, besides eleven whom he had wounded in the field. All these were of Swedish or Gothic blood. Then he attacked the vanguard and burst into the thickest of the enemy, driving the Swedes struggling in a panic every way with spear and sword. It had all but come to a flight, when Hagder (Hadd), Rolder (Hroald), and Grettir attacked the champion, emulating his valour, and resolving at their own risk to retrieve the general ruin. But, fearing to assault him at close quarters, they accomplished their end with arrows from afar; and thus Ubbe was riddled by a shower of arrows, no one daring to fight him hand to hand. A hundred and forty-four arrows had pierced the breast of the warrior before his bodily strength failed and he bent his knee to the earth. Then at last the Danes suffered a great defeat, owing to the Thronds and the dwellers in the province of Dala. For the battle began afresh by reason of the vast mass of the archers, and nothing damaged our men more.

Dan 8.4.8 (p. 219,30)

1 At Haraldus, cum defectam lumine senectam ageret, triste suorum murmur exaudiens, intellexit superiorem hostibus arrisisse fortunam. 2 Igitur ut erat falcato curru vectus, Brunonem aurigae per insidias officio fungentem, qualem Ringo in centurianda acie tenorem habuerit, cognoscere iubet. 3 Qui, paulum soluto in risum vultu, corniculata illum acie proeliatum respondit. 4 Quo audito, rex trepidare animo coepit ac per summam admirationem percontari, quo Ringo talem ordinandi agminis doctrinam auctore contraxerit, maxime cum Othynus disciplinae huius traditor ac repertor exstiterit, nec ab ipso quispiam praeter se novum hoc rei bellicae documentum perceperit.

But when Harald, being now blind with age, heard the lamentable murmur of his men, he perceived that fortune had smiled on his enemies. So, as he was riding in a chariot armed with scythes, he told Brun, who was treacherously acting as charioteer, to find out in what manner Ring had his line drawn up. Brun's face relaxed into something of a smile, and he answered that he was fighting with a line in the form of a wedge. When the king heard this he began to be alarmed, and to ask in great astonishment from whom Ring could have learnt this method of disposing his line, especially as Odin was the discoverer and imparter of this teaching, and none but himself had ever learnt from him this new pattern of warfare.

Dan 8.4.9 (p. 219,39)

1 Ad quod silente Brunone, subiit regem Othynum hunc esse, olimque familiare sibi numen impraesentiarum dandae vel subtrahendae opis gratia versiformi corporis habitu tegi. 2 Cui mox supplicare obnixius coepit, uti Danis, quibus ante clementer affuerit, supremam quoque victoriam tribuat complementumque beneficii origini exaequaret, eidem se prostratorum manes muneris loco dedicaturum pollicitus. 3 At Bruno, nihil obsecrantis precibus motus, repente excussum curru regem arietavit in terram ereptamque cadenti clavam in ipsius caput detorsit proprioque eum gestamine interfecit. 4 Iacebant circa currum regis innumera exstinctorum corpora, rotarumque fastigium congeries funesta vincebat. 5 Temonem quoque cadaverum cumulus exaequaverat. 6 Nam in acie Ringonis ad duodecim millia proceres exanimati sunt; at ex parte Haraldi praeter popularium stragem ad triginta millia proceres corruerunt.

At this Brun was silent, and it came into the king's mind that here was Odin, and that the god whom he had once known so well was now disguised in a changeful shape, in order either to give help or withhold it. Presently he began to beseech him earnestly to grant the final victory to the Danes, since he had helped them so graciously before, and to fill up his last kindness to the measure of the first; promising to dedicate to him as a gift the spirits of all who fell. But Brun, utterly unmoved by his entreaties, suddenly jerked the king out of the chariot, battered him to the earth, plucked the club from him as he fell, whirled it upon his head, and slew him with his own weapon. Countless corpses lay round the king's chariot, and the horrid heap overtopped the wheels; the pile of carcases rose as high as the pole. For about 12,000 of the nobles of Ring fell upon the field. But on the side of Harald about 30,000 nobles fell, not to name the slaughter of the commons.

Dan 8.5.1 (p. 220,12)

1 Cuius Ringo nece cognita, dato signo laxare aciem suos bellumque remittere iubet. 2 Deinde sequestra pace foedus cum hostibus ferit, frustra pugnam absque duce protrahi monitis. 3 Post haec Sueonibus passim inter promiscuas cadaverum strues Haraldi corpus exquiri praecepit, ne regium funus debitis fraudaretur inferiis. 4 Igitur revolvendis interfectorum corporibus avida plebs inicere operam coepit. 5 In hanc curam dimidium diei extractum est. 6 Tandem cum corpore reperta clava, Haraldi manibus parentandum ratus, equum, quem insidebat, regio applicatum currui aureisque subselliis decenter instratum eius titulis dedicavit. 7 Inde vota nuncupat adicitque precem, uti Haraldus eo vectore usus fati consortes ad Tartara antecederet atque apud praestitem Orci Plutonem sociis hostibusque placidas expeteret sedes. 8 Deinde rogum exstruit, Danis inauratam regis sui puppim in flammae fomentum conicere iussis. 9 Cumque superiectum ignis cadaver absumeret, maerentes circuire proceres impensiusque cunctos hortari coepit, uti arma, aurum et quodcumque opimum esset, liberaliter in nutrimentum rogi sub tanti taliterque apud omnes meriti regis veneratione transmitterent. 10 Cineres quoque perusti corporis urnae contraditos Lethram perferri ibique cum equo et armis regio more funerari praecepit. 11 Tali parentationis cura iustis avunculo persolutis, Danorum sibi favorem conscivit odiumque hostium ad gratiam deflexit.

When Ring heard that Harald was dead, he gave the signal to his men to break up their line and cease fighting. Then under cover of truce he made treaty with the enemy, telling them that it was vain to prolong the fray without their captain. Next he told the Swedes to look everywhere among the confused piles of carcases for the body of Harald, that the corpse of the king might not wrongfully lack its due rights. So the populace set eagerly to the task of turning over the bodies of the slain, and over this work half the day was spent. At last the body was found with the club, and he thought that propitiation should be made to the shade of Harald. So he harnessed the horse on which he rode to the chariot of the king, decked it honourably with a golden saddle, and hallowed it in his honour. Then he proclaimed his vows, and added his prayer that Harald would ride on this and outstrip those who shared his death in their journey to Tartarus; and that he would pray Pluto, the lord of Orcus, to grant a calm abode there for friend and foe. Then he raised a pyre, and bade the Danes fling on the gilded chariot of their king as fuel to the fire. And while the flames were burning the body cast upon them, he went round the mourning nobles and earnestly charged them that they should freely give arms, gold, and every precious thing to feed the pyre in honour of so great a king, who had deserved so nobly of them all. He also ordered that the ashes of his body, when it was quite burnt, should be transferred to an urn, taken to Leire, and there, together with the horse and armour, receive a royal funeral. By paying these due rites of honour to his uncle's shade, he won the favour of the Danes, and turned the hate of his enemies into goodwill.

Dan 8.5.2 (p. 220,31)

1 Post haec a Danis, uti Hetham regni reliquiis praeficeret, exoratus, ne repente recidivae hostium vires coalescerent, Scaniam a Daniae corpore abruptam in Olonis praefecturam secrevit, Syalandiam vero reliquosque regni fines Hethae dumtaxat parere iussit. 2 Ita in potestatem Sueticam fortunae varietas Danicum redegit imperium. 3 Et hic quidem belli Brawici finis.

Then the Danes besought him to appoint Hetha over the remainder of the realm; but, that the fallen strength of the enemy might not suddenly rally, he severed Skaane from the mass of Denmark, and put it separately under the governorship of Ole, ordering that only Zealand and the other lands of the realm should be subject to Hetha. Thus the changes of fortune brought the empire of Denmark under the Swedish rule. So ended the Bravic war.

Dan 8.6.1 (p. 220,36)

1 At Sialandenses, qui Haraldo duce usi fuerant, cum adhuc prioris fortunae species animis oberraret, femineis parere legibus probrosum rati, Olonem accedunt postulantes, ne clarissimi regis militiae assuetos muliebri iugo obnoxios haberi pateretur. 2 Praeterea ad ipsum se defecturos, si pro condicionis eorum deformitate tollenda arma susciperet, pollicentur. 3 Nec segniter Olo supplicantibus affuit, tam avitae maiestatis memoria quam militum invitatus obsequio. 4 Igitur Hetham ad se venire iussam cunctis praeter Iutiam dominationis suae partibus cedere ante minis quam armis coegit ipsamque Iutiam, ne feminae liberum regni usum tribueret, vectigalem effecit.

But the Zealanders, who had had Harald for their captain, and still had the picture of their former fortune hovering before their minds, thought it shameful to obey the rule of a woman, and appealed to OLE not to suffer men that had been used to serve under a famous king to be kept under a woman's yoke. They also promised to revolt to him if he would take up arms to remove their ignominious lot. Ole, tempted as much by the memory of his ancestral glory as by the homage of the soldiers, was not slow to answer their entreaties. So he summoned Hetha, and forced her by threats rather than by arms to quit every region under her control except Jutland; and even Jutland he made a tributary state, so as not to allow a woman the free control of a kingdom. He also begot a son whom he named Omund.

Dan 8.6.2 (p. 221,8)

1 Ceterum crudelitati intentus tam impium regem agebat, ut superior reginae contemptus cunctis paenitentiam pareret, quibus regnum eius rubori fuisset. 2 Duodecim duces, sive patriae calamitatibus moti sive Oloni ob aliam olim causam infesti, insidias capiti eius praeparare coeperunt. 3 Ex his fuere Lennius, Atylo, Thoccus et Withnus, qui, quamquam apud Sclavos praefecturam gerebat, Danos tamen origine contingebat.

But he was given to cruelty, and showed himself such an unrighteous king, that all who had found it a shameful thing to be ruled by a queen now repented of their former scorn. Twelve generals, whether moved by the disasters of their country, or hating Ole for some other reason, began to plot against his life. Among these were Hlenni, Atyl, Thott, and Withne, the last of whom was a Dane by birth, though he held a government among the Sclavs.

Dan 8.6.3 (p. 221,14)

1 Ceterum ad peragendum facinus parum viribus atque ingenio freti pecunia Starcatherum asciscunt. 2 Ille, ut rem ferro exsequeretur, adductus, utentem balneis regem, susceptis cruenti ministerii partibus, attentare constituit. 3 Quo lavante ingressus, mox acri ipsius visu luminumque continua mobilitate vibrantium fulgore perstrictus, occulto metu hebetatis artubus, vestigium pressit relatoque pede manum propositumque suspendit. 4 Itaque, qui tot ducum, tot pugilum arma protriverat, unius inermis viri aciem ferre non potuit. 5 At Olo sane vultus sui conscius, obtecto ore, accedere eum propius et, quid afferat, edere iubet; quippe quem vetustas convictus et longa familiaritatis experientia ab insidiarum suspicione alienissimum faciebant. 6 At ille, destricto mucrone prosiliens, transverberat regem nitentisque assurgere iugulum ferit. 7 Centum et viginti auri librae in praemio reponebantur.

Moreover, not trusting in their strength and their cunning to accomplish their deed, they bribed Starkad to join them. He was prevailed to do the deed with the sword; he undertook the bloody work, and resolved to attack the king while at the bath. In he went while the king was washing, but was straightway stricken by the keenness of his gaze and by the restless and quivering glare of his eyes. His limbs were palsied with sudden dread; he paused, stepped back, and stayed his hand and his purpose. Thus he who had shattered the arms of so many captains and champions could not bear the gaze of a single unarmed man. But Ole, who well knew about his own countenance, covered his face, and asked him to come closer and tell him what his message was; for old fellowship and long-tried friendship made him the last to suspect treachery. But Starkad drew his sword, leapt forward, thrust the king through, and struck him in the throat as he tried to rise. One hundred and twenty marks of gold were kept for his reward.

Dan 8.6.4 (p. 221,26)

1 Postmodum paenitentia ac pudore perculsus, tanta animi acerbitate commissum facinus luxit, ut, si mentionem eius incidere contigisset, a lacrimis temperare non posset. 2 Adeo culpae atrocitatem resipiscens animus erubescebat. 3 Praeterea aliquot ex his, quorum instinctu usus fuerat, in sceleris a se commissi vindictam occidit et, cui facto manum tribuerat, praebuit ultionem.

Soon afterwards he was smitten with remorse and shame, and lamented his crime so bitterly, that he could not refrain from tears if it happened to be named. Thus his soul, when he came to his senses, blushed for his abominable sin. Moreover, to atone for the crime he had committed, he slew some of those who had inspired him to it, thus avenging the act to which he had lent his hand.

Dan 8.7.1 (p. 221,31)

1 Ceterum Omundum Dani, Olone ortum, creavere regem, plus parentis eius nobilitati quam meritis deferendum putantes. 2 Hic postquam maturuit, in nullo paternis operibus defectior exstitit. 3 Siquidem res ab Olone gestas aut aequare aut transscendere curae habuit. 4 Praeerat eo tempore aliquantae Normannorum genti Ringo, cuius filiam Esam Omundo matrimonium circumspicienti insignis commendaverat fama. 5 Verum poscendae eius spem singulare Ringonis studium minuebat. 6 Is quippe solum spectatae fortitudinis generum affectabat, tantum gloriae in armis reponens, quantum ceteri in opibus situm autumant. 7 Igitur Omundus, ut eo claritudinis genere illustris evaderet laudemque sibi fortitudinis conciliaret, viribus votum impetrare conatus, classe Norvagiam accedit, Ringonis regnum hereditatis nomine tentaturus.

Now the Danes made OMUND, the son of Ole, king, thinking that more heed should be paid to his father's birth than to his deserts. Omund, when he had grown up, fell in nowise behind the exploits of his father; for he made it his aim to equal or surpass the deeds of Ole. At this time a considerable tribe of the Northmen (Norwegians) was governed by Ring, and his daughter Esa's great fame commended her to Omund, who was looking out for a wife. But his hopes of wooing her were lessened by the peculiar inclination of Ring, who desired no son-in-law but one of tried valour; for he found as much honour in arms as others think lies in wealth. Omund therefore, wishing to become famous in that fashion, and to win the praise of valour, endeavoured to gain his desire by force, and sailed to Norway with a fleet, to make an attempt on the throne of Ring under plea of hereditary right.

Dan 8.7.2 (p. 222,6)

1 Excipit amice illum Iathriae regulus Oddo, qui Ringonem certissimum patrimonii eius invasorem assereret seque saepius ab eodem iniuriis lacessitum defleret. 2 Itaque Ringone interim apud Hyberniam piraticam exercente, provinciam propugnatore vacuam adortus, praeteritis popularium rebus, peculiaria Ringonis bona rapinae tradidit eiusque necessarios interfecit. 3 Nam Oddo quoque Omundo manum iunxerat. 4 Inter omnia autem facinora, quae varie ac multipliciter gesserat, numquam, quibus multitudine copiarum praestaret, vim inferre sustinuit, memor se, fortissimo parente editum, virtute, non numero bella gerere oportere.

Odd, the chief of Jather, who declared that Ring had assuredly seized his inheritance, and lamented that he harried him with continual wrongs, received Omund kindly. Ring, in the meantime, was on a roving raid in Ireland, so that Omund attacked a province without a defender. Sparing the goods of the common people, he gave the private property of Ring over to be plundered, and slew his kinsfolk; Odd also having joined his forces to Omund. Now, among all his divers and manifold deeds, he could never bring himself to attack an inferior force, remembering that he was the son of a most valiant father, and that he was bound to fight armed with courage, and not with numbers.

Dan 8.7.3 (p. 222,15)

1 Interea Ringonem a piratica revertentem adesse contigit. 2 De cuius reditu edoctus, praegrande moliri navigium coepit, unde tamquam e munimento superne hostem telis appeteret. 3 Huic Atylonis Scanici filii Homothus ac Tola remiges asciscuntur, quorum alter gubernatorem agere, alter prorae praeesse iussus. 4 Nec Ringoni in his excipiendis ingenium aut sollertia defuit; quippe exiguam copiarum partem ostendens, a tergo hostem incursandum curavit. 5 De cuius astutia Omundus per Oddonem certior factus, qui in insidiis constitutos opprimerent, mittit, Atylone Scanico Ringonem excipere iusso. 6 Is imperio pronius quam felicius obsecutus, fractis bello rebus acceptaque strage, victus refugit in Scaniam.

Meanwhile Ring had returned from roving; and when Omund heard he was back, he set to and built a vast ship, whence, as from a fortress, he could rain his missiles on the enemy. To manage this ship he enlisted Homod and Thole the rowers, the soils of Atyl the Skanian, one of whom was instructed to act as steersman, while the other was to command at the prow. Ring lacked neither skill nor. dexterity to encounter them. For he showed only a small part of his forces, and caused the enemy to be attacked on the rear. Omund, when told of his strategy by Odd, sent men to overpower those posted in ambush, telling Atyl the Skanian to encounter Ring. The order was executed with more rashness than success; and Atyl, with his power defeated and shattered, fled beaten to Skaane.

Dan 8.7.4 (p. 222,25)

1 Igitur omundus, reparatis per Oddonem viribus, pugnaturam pelago classem explicat. 2 Quo tempore Atylo bellum Norvagicum ex somniorum visis haud dubie speculatus, redimendae fugae gratia quam celerrime navigationem orsus, Omundum proelio propinquum grata societate prosequitur. 3 Cuius Omundus opera fretus pugnam tam feliciter quam fidenter ingreditur. 4 Nam habito per se conflictu, victoriam, quam in suis amiserat, recuperavit. 5 Quem Ringo, mortifico vulnere perstrictus, exsanguibus contemplatus oculis, manu, ut poterat, mota (nam vox linguam defecerat) accersitum, fore sibi generum obsecrat, iucunde se fatum excipere asserens, si tali filiam connubio reliquisset. 6 Nec responso exceptus exstinguitur. 7 Cuius excessum Omundus lacrimis prosecutus, Omothum, cuius fidam in bello operam expertus fuerat, alterius filiarum Ringonis connubio donat, alteram ipse complectitur.

Then Omund recruited his forces with the help of Odd, and drew up his fleet to fight on the open sea. Atyl at this time had true visions of the Norwegian war in his dreams, and started on his voyage in order to make up for his flight as quickly as possible, and delighted Omund by joining him on the eve of battle. Trusting in his help, Omund began to fight with equal confidence and success. For, by fighting himself, he retrieved the victory which he had lost when his servants were engaged. Ring, wounded to the death, gazed at him with faint eyes, and, beckoning to him with his hand, as well as he could — for his voice failed him — he besought him to be his son-in-law, saying that he would gladly meet his end if he left his daughter to such a husband. Before he could receive an answer he died. Omund wept for his death, and gave Homod, whose trusty help he had received in the war, in marriage to one of the daughters of Ring, taking the other himself.

Dan 8.7.5 (p. 222,37)

1 Eodem tempore Rusla virgo, strenuis militiae operibus muliebrem animum supergressa, apud Norvagiam cum fratre Throndo crebros de rerum summa conflictus habuerat. 2 Haec Omundum Norvagiensibus praeesse non sustinens, in omnes Danorum dediticios decreverat bellum. 3 Quod Omundus nuntio expertus, ad hunc tumultum comprimendum promptissimos destinat. 4 Quibus superatis, Rusla, superbiam ex victoria nacta, animum spe immodica raptum ad ipsam rerum Danicarum summam potiendam intendit. 5 Primum igitur Hallandiae partes adorta, ab Omotho et Tola a rege transmissis excipitur victaque bello refuga concessit ad classem. 6 Cuius triginta solae rates, ceteris ab hoste captis, fugam navigatione carpserunt. 7 Evitantem Donas sororem armis excipit Throndus, a qua victus totoque exercitu spoliatus, Dofrinas Alpes permetiendo neminem fugae comitem habuit. 8 Ita, quae paulo ante Danis cesserat, mox fratre superior fugam victoria mutavit.

At the same time the amazon Rusla, whose prowess in warfare exceeded the spirit of a woman, had many fights in Norway with her brother, Thrond, for the sovereignty. She could not endure that Omund rule over the Norwegians, and she had declared war against all the subjects of the Danes. Omund, when he heard of this, commissioned his most active men to suppress the rising. Rusla conquered them, and, waxing haughty on her triumph, was seized with overweening hopes, and bent her mind upon actually acquiring the sovereignty of Denmark. She began her attack on the region of Halland, but was met by Homod and Thode, whom the king had sent over. Beaten, she retreated to her fleet, of which only thirty ships managed to escape, the rest being taken by the enemy. Thrond encountered his sister as she was eluding the Danes, but was conquered by her and stripped of his entire army; he fled over the Dovrefjeld without a single companion. Thus she, who had first yielded before the Danes, soon overcame her brother, and turned her flight into a victory.

Dan 8.7.6 (p. 223,12)

1 Quo cognito, Omundus ingenti Norvagiam classe repetit primumque Thelemarchiae populum per Omothum et Tolam clandestino compendio missos adversum Ruslae dominationem erexit. 2 Quo evenit, ut Rusla, regno per populares exacta, apud insulas, quas spe salutis accesserat, supervenientibus Danis terga sine proelio daret. 3 Cuius fugam rex impensius persecutus, interceptam pelago classem internecione delevit incruentamque victoriam ac speciosa spolia cum summo hostium discrimine retulit. 4 At Rusla, perpaucis elapsa navigiis, incitatiori fluctus remigio persulcabat. 5 Quae dum Danos declinat, fraterno trucidatur occursu. 6 Adeo efficaciorem vim nocendi incircumspecta solent habere pericula, et quae minus metuuntur mala, plerumque instantibus graviora casus efficit. 7 At rex, Throndo ob interfectionem sororis praefectura donato, ceteris vero sub pensione coercitis, in patriam redit.

When Omund heard of this, he went back to Norway with a great fleet, first sending Homod and Thole by a short and secret way to rouse the people of Tellemark against the rule of Rusla. The end was that she was driven out of her kingdom by the commons, fled to the isles for safety, and turned her back, without a blow, upon the Danes as they came up. The king pursued her hotly, caught up her fleet on the sea, and utterly destroyed it, the enemy suffered mightily, and he won a bloodless victory and splendid spoils. But Rusla escaped with a very few ships, and rowed ploughing the waves furiously; but, while she was avoiding the Danes, she met her brother and was killed. So much more effectual for harm are dangers unsurmised; and chance sometimes makes the less alarming evil worse than that which threatens. The king gave Thrond a governorship for slaying his sister, put the rest under tribute, and returned home.

Dan 8.7.7 (p. 223,24)

1 Ea tempestate Thorias ac Bero, promptissimi Ruslae milites, apud Hyberniam piraticum munus edebant. 2 Hi, cognita dominae nece, quam se olim ulturos iureiurando promiserant, Omundum avide petitum duelli provocatione sollicitant. 3 Quod abnuere quondam probrosum regibus habebatur. 4 Veterum enim claritudo principum ex armis potius quam opibus aestimabatur. 5 Subeunt igitur Omothus et Tola, qui se provocatores regis pugna excepturos offerrent. 6 Quibus Omundus impense laudatis, primum eorum operam admittere vitandi ruboris gratia recusavit. 7 Ad ultimum crebris suorum precibus exoratus, aliena manu fortunam experiri sustinuit. 8 Quo certamine Beronem occubuisse, Thoriam graviter affectum pugna excessisse proditum est. 9 Quem rex, primo e vulneribus recreatum, mox in fidem acceptum, ducem Norvagiae creat. 10 Deinde, cum consuetum a Sclavis per legatos tributum exigeret, non solum legatorum caedibus, sed etiam vi Sclavica apud Iutiam lacessitus, septem reges uno certamine superavit solitumque tributi ius victoria confirmavit.

At this time Thorias (?) and Ber (Biorn), the most active of the soldiers of Rusla, were roving in Ireland; but when they heard of the death of their mistress, whom they had long ago sworn to avenge, they hotly attacked Omund, and challenged him to a duel, which it used to be accounted shameful for a king to refuse; for the fame of princes of old was reckoned more by arms than by riches. So Homod and Thole came forward, offering to meet in battle the men who had challenged the king. Omund praised them warmly, but at first declined for very shame to allow their help. At last, hard besought by his people, he brought himself to try his fortune by the hand of another. We are told that Ber fell in this combat, while Thorias left the battle severely wounded. The king, having first cured him of his wounds, took him into his service, and made him prince (earl) over Norway. Then he sent ambassadors to exact the usual tribute from the Sclavs; these were killed, and he was even attacked in Jutland by a Sclavish force; but he overcame seven kings in a single combat, and ratified by conquest his accustomed right to tribute.

Dan 8.8.1 (p. 223,38)

1 Interea Starcatherus prolixa iam aetate defessus, cum castrorum stipendiis ac gladiatorio munere emeritus haberetur, ne senii vitio pristinum gloriae decus amitteret, egregium fore putavit, si voluntarium sibi conscisceret exitum fatumque proprio maturasset arbitrio. 2 Itaque, qui toties excellentes ediderat pugnas, incruenta morte defungi ignobile ratus, ut specioso obitu praeteritae vitae claritatem augeret, maluit ab ingenuo quovis interfici quam serum naturae iaculum opperiri. 3 Adeo quondam rei bellicae deditis morbo oppetere probrosum existimatum est. 4 Itaque cum et corpore invalido et defectis perspicuitate luminibus esset, diuturnioris vitae moram perosus, emendi in se percussoris gratia aurum, quod pro Olonis interfectione meruerat, collo appensum gerebat, non aptius se violatae maiestatis iniuriam expiaturum ratus, quam si idem suae, quod Olonianae necis exstiterat, praemium effecisset aurumque, quod pro aliena clade tulerat, damno propriae salutis impenderet. 5 Hunc quippe usum scelestissimi pretii pulcherrimum credidit.

Meantime, Starkad, who was now worn out with extreme age, and who seemed to be past military service and the calling of a champion, was loth to lose his ancient glory through the fault of eld, and thought it would be a noble thing if he could make a voluntary end, and hasten his death by his own free will. Having so often fought nobly, he thought it would be mean to die a bloodless death; and, wishing to enhance the glory of his past life by the lustre of his end, he preferred to be slain by some man of gallant birth rather than await the tardy shaft of nature. So shameful was it thought that men devoted to war should die by disease. His body was weak, and his eyes could not see clearly, so that he hated to linger any more in life. In order to buy himself an executioner, he wore hanging on his neck the gold which he had earned for the murder of Ole; thinking there was no fitter way of atoning for the treason he had done than to make the price of Ole's death that of his own also, and to spend on the loss of his own life what he had earned by the slaying of another. This, he thought, would be the noblest use he could make of that shameful price.

Dan 8.8.2 (p. 224,12)

1 Itaque gemino cinctus ense, totidem baculorum adminiculo vacua virium vestigia tutabatur. 2 Quo viso, popularium quidam, geminum gladiorum usum seni supervacuum ratus, donari sibi alterum per ludibrium petivit. 3 Quem Starcatherus, spe petitionis facta, propius accedere iussum detracto lateri mucrone transverberat. 4 Quod Hatherus quidam, cuius patrem Lennonem Starcatherus olim parricidii paenitentia adductus occiderat, dum canibus feras insequeretur, aspiciens, omisso venationis officio, duos e comitibus iniciendi metus gratia, concitatis vehementer equis, in senem impetum dirigere iubet. 5 Qui dum, procursu edito, refugere cupiunt, Starcatheri baculis intercepti morte supplicia luerunt. 6 Quo spectaculo Hatherus admodum perterrefactus, propius equo advolat agnitumque senem, sed ab eo minime recognitus, an gladium vehiculo permutare vellet, interrogat. 7 Refert Starcatherus quondam poenas se ab irrisoribus exigere solitum nec umquam impune sibi a procacibus insultatum. 8 Sed neque iuvenem ex oris notis defuncta visu acies deprendere poterat. 9 Itaque carmen, quod indignationis suae magnitudinem patefaceret, in hunc subtexuit modum:

So he girded him with two swords, and guided his powerless steps leaning on two staves. One of the common people, seeing him, thinking two swords superfluous for the use of an old man, mockingly asked him to make him a present of one of them. Starkad, holding out hopes of consent, bade him come nearer, drew the sword from his side, and ran him through. This was seen by a certain Hather, whose father Hlenne Starkad had once killed in repentance for his own impious crime. Hatfier was hunting game with his dogs, but now gave over the chase, and bade two of his companions spur their horses hard and charge at the old man to frighten him. They galloped forward, and tried to make off, but were stopped by the staves of Starkad, and paid for it with their lives. Hather, terrified by the sight, galloped up closer, and saw who the old man was, but without being recognized by him in turn; and asked him if he would like to exchange his sword for a carriage. Starkad replied that he used in old days to chastise jeerers, and that the insolent had never insulted him unpunished. But his sightless eyes could not recognize the features of the youth; so he composed a song, wherein he should declare the greatness of his anger, as follows:

Dan 8.8.3 (p. 224,28)

1 Ut sine regressu pronas agit alveus undas,

"As the unreturning waters sweep down the channel;

sic aetas hominum, cursim labentibus annis,

so, as the years run by, the life of man flows on never to come back;

irreditura fluit; praeceps ruit orbita fati,

fast gallops the cycle of doom,

quam generat finem rerum factura senectus.

child of old age who shall make an end of all.

2 Illa oculos hominum pariter gressusque relidit,

Old age smites alike the eyes and the steps of men,

eripit os animumque viris famaeque nitorem

robs the warrior of his speech and soul,

paulatim premit et claros oblitterat actus;

tarnishes his fame by slow degrees, and wipes out his deeds of honour.

occupat occiduos artus, frustratur anhelae

It seizes his failing limbs,

vocis opus vegetamque premit torpedine mentem.

chokes his panting utterance, and numbs his nimble wit.

3 Dum paritur tussis, dum pellis scabida prurit,

When a cough is taken, when the skin itches with the scab,

dens stupet exesus, stomachus fastidia gignit,

and the teeth are numb and hollow, and the stomach turns squeamish,

evacuat iuvenile decus, marcore colorem

 — then old age  banishes the grace of youth, covers the complexion with decay,

oblinit et picea crebras serit in cute rugas.

and sows many a wrinkle in the dusky skin.

4 Obterit egregias artes, monumenta priorum

Old age crushes noble arts, brings down the memorials

obruit et titulos antiquae laudis adurit;

of men of old, and scorches ancient glories up; shatters wealth,

demolitur opes, pretium virtutis et usum

hungrily gnaws away the worth and good of virtue,

carpit edax, transvertit res et ab ordine turbat.

turns athwart and disorders all things.

Dan 8.8.4 (p. 225,5)

1 Ipse ego, quam noceat, didici, damnosa vetustas,

"I myself have felt the hurtful power of injurious age,

visu aeger, vocis modulis et pectore raucus;

I, dim-sighted, and hoarse in my tones and in my chest;

cunctaque in adversam fluxerunt commoda sortem.

and all helpful things have turned to my hurt.

2 Iamque minus vegetum corpus fulcimine tutor,

Now my body is less nimble, and I prop it up,

flaccida subiectis innixus membra bacillis.

leaning my faint limbs on the support of staves.

3 Lucis inops moderor vestigia fuste gemello

Sightless I guide my steps with two sticks,

et virga monstrante sequor compendia callis,

and follow the short path which the rod shows me,

stipitis auspicio potius quam lumine fisus.

trusting more in the leading of a stock than in my eyes.

4 Nemo mei curam celebrat, nec in agmine quisquam

None takes any charge of me, and no man in the ranks

solamen veterano adhibet, nisi forsan Hatherus

brings comfort to the veteran, unless, perchance, Hather is here,

adsit et infracti rebus succurrat amici.

and succours his shattered friend.

Dan 8.8.5 (p. 225,16)

1 Ille, semel quemcumque pio dignatur amore,

Whomsoever Hather once thinks worthy of his duteous love,

integer incepti studio constanter eodem

that man he attends continually with even zeal,

prosequitur primosque timet pervellere nexus.

constant to his purpose, and fearing to break his early ties.

2 Ille etiam bello meritis bene praemia crebro

He also often pays fit rewards to those that have deserved well in war,

digna refert animosque colit, largitur honorem

and fosters their courage; he bestows dignities on the brave,

fortibus et claros donis veneratur amicos.

and honours his famous friends with gifts.

3 Spargit opes laudisque suae cumulare nitorem

Free with his wealth, he is fain to increase with bounty

dapsilitate studet multos superare potentes.

the brightness of his name, and to surpass many of the mighty.

4 Nec minor ad Martem pietatem viribus aequat,

Nor is he less in war: his strength is equal to his goodness;

belligerare celer, labi piger, edere pugnam

he is swift in the fray, slow to waver, ready to give battle;

promptus et urgenti tergum dare nescius hosti.

and he cannot turn his back when the foe bears him hard.

Dan 8.8.6 (p. 225,27)

1 At mihi, si recolo, nascenti fata dedere

But for me, if I remember right, fate appointed at my birth

bella sequi belloque mori, miscere tumultus,

that wars I should follow and in war I should die, that I should mix in broils,

invigilare armis, vitam exercere cruentam.

watch in arms, and pass a life of bloodshed.

2 Castra quietis inops colui pacemque perosus

I was a man of camps, and rested not; hating peace,

sub signis, Gradive, tuis discrimine summo

I grew old under thy standard, O War-god,

consenui, victoque metu pugnare decorum,

in utmost peril; conquering fear, I thought it

turpe vacare ratus, crebras committere caedes

comely to fight, shameful to loiter,

egregium duxi et strages celebrare frequentes.

and noble to kill and kill again, to be for ever slaughtering!

3 Saepe graves bello reges concurrere vidi

Oft have I seen the stern kings meet in war,

et clipeos galeasque teri, crudescere campos

seen shield and helmet bruised, and the fields redden

sanguine, loricas affixa cuspide rumpi,

with blood, and the cuirass broken by the spear-point,

undique thoraces admisso cedere ferro,

and the corselets all around giving at the thrust of the steel,

luxuriare feras, inhumato milite pastas.

and the wild beasts battening on the unburied soldier.

4 Hic aliquis forte egregii conaminis auctor,

Here, as it chanced, one that attempted a mighty thing,

Marte manuque potens, medium dum pugnat in hostem,

a strong-handed warrior, fighting against the press of the foe,

intentam capiti loricam diffidit alter,

smote through the mail that covered my head,

casside perfossa, ferrumque in vertice mersit.

pierced my helmet, and plunged his blade into my crest.

5 Hic gladius saepe, dextra bellantis adactus,

This sword also hath often been driven by my right hand in war,

tegmine discisso, capiti destrictus inhaesit.

and, once unsheathed, hath cleft the skin and bitten into the skull."

Dan 8.8.7 (p. 226,6)

1 Contra Hatherus huiusmodi carmen habuit:

Hather, in answer, sang as follows:

2 Unde venis, patrias solitus scriptare poeses,

"Whence comest thou, who art used to write the poems of thy land,

infirmo dubium suspendens stipite gressum?

leaning thy wavering steps on a frail staff?

3 Quove ruis, Danicae vates promptissime Musae?

Or whither dost thou speed, who art the readiest bard of the Danish muse?

4 Roboris eximii cassus decor excidit omnis,

All the glory of thy great strength is faded and lost;

exsulat ore color animoque amota voluptas,

the hue is banished from thy face, the joy is gone out of thy soul;

destituit fauces vox et raucedine torpet;

the voice has left thy throat, and is hoarse and dull;

deseruit corpus habitus prior, ultima cepit

thy body has lost its former stature; the decay of death

illuvies formaeque notas cum robore carpsit.

begins, and has wasted thy features and thy force.

5 Ut ratis assiduo fluctu quassata fatiscit,

As a ship wearies, buffeted by continual billows,

sic longo annorum cursu generata senectus

even so old age, gendered by a long course of years,

triste parit funus, defunctaque viribus aetas

brings forth bitter death; and the life falls when its strength is done,

occidit et primae patitur dispendia sortis.

and suffers the loss of its ancient lot.

6 Quis vetuit te, note senex, iuvenilibus uti

Famous old man, who has told thee that thou mayst not duly follow

rite iocis, agitare pilam, morsa nuce vesci?

the sports of youth, or fling balls, or bite and eat the nut?

7 Iam satius reor, ut redam, qua saepe veharis,

I think it were better for thee now to sell thy sword,

venditor ensis emas facilemve in frena caballum,

and buy a carriage wherein to ride often, or a horse easy on the bit,

aut pretio leve curriculum merceris eodem.

or at the same cost to purchase a light cart.

8 Aptius invalidos, sua quos vestigia fallunt,

It will be more fitting for beasts of burden to carry

excipient iumenta senes; rota proficit illi

weak old men, when their steps fail them; the wheel,

orbibus acta suis, cui planta vacillat inanis.

driving round and round, serves for him whose foot totters feebly.

9 At si forte caves cassum venundare ferrum,

But if perchance thou art loth to sell the useless steel, thy sword,

ereptus tibi te perimet, ni veneat, ensis.

if it be not for sale, shall be taken from thee and shall slay thee."

Dan 8.8.8 (p. 226,29)

1 Ad haec Starcatherus:

Starkad answered:

2 Improbe, verba seris facili temeraria labro,

"Wretch, thy glib lips scatter idle words,

auribus inconcinna piis. Quid praemia ductus,

unfit for the ears of the good. Why seek the gifts to reward

qui gratis praestandus erat, per munera quaeris?

that guidance, which thou shouldst have offered for naught?

3 Nempe pedes gradiar, nec turpiter ense relicto

Surely I will walk afoot, and will not basely give up my sword

externam mercabor opem; natura meandi

and buy the help of a stranger; nature has given me

ius dedit et propriis iussit confidere plantis.

the right of passage, and hath bidden me trust in my own feet.

4 Cur, cui debueras ultro dux esse vianti,

Why mock and jeer with insolent speech

ludibrio insultas, sermone procaciter usus,

at him whom thou shouldst have offered

quaeque olim gessi memori dignissima fama,

to guide upon his way? Why give to dishonour

dedecori tribuis, meritum quoque crimine pensans?

my deeds of old, which deserve the memorial of fame?

5 Quid risu insequeris vetulum pugnare potentem,

Why requite my service with reproach? Why pursue with jeers

invictosque meos titulos et splendida facta

the old man mighty in battle, and put to shame my unsurpassed honours

probro adigis, famosa terens et fortia carpens?

and illustrious deeds, belittling my glories and girding at my prowess?

6 Qua probitate petis indignum viribus ensem?

For what valour of thine dost thou demand my sword, which thy strength does not deserve?

7 Haud latus hic imbelle decet dextramve bubulci

It befits not the right hand or the unwarlike side of a herdsman,

agrestem soliti calamo deducere Musam,

who is wont to make his peasant-music on the pipe,

procurare pecus, arvis armenta tueri.

to see to the flock, to keep the herds in the fields.

8 Nempe inter vernas, ollae vicinus obunctae,

Surely among the henchmen, close to the greasy pot,

crustula spumantis patinae bulligine tingis,

thou dippest thy crust in the bubbles of the foaming pan,

crassi adipis macrum perfundens unguine panem,

drenching a meagre slice in the rich, oily fat,

iusque tepens furtim digito sitiente liguris,

and stealthily, with thirsty finger, licking the warm juice;

doctior assuetam cineri prosternere pallam,

more skilled to spread thy accustomed cloak on the ashes,

indormedlem.spray.seedlem.spray.seire lari, somnos celebrare diurnos,

to sleep on the hearth, and slumber all day long,

sedulus officium nidentis obire culinae

and go busily about the work of the reeking kitchen,

quam bello fortem iaculis aperire cruorem.

than to make the brave blood flow with thy shafts in war.

9 Aversans lucem, latebrae sordentis amator,

Men think thee a hater of the light and a lover of a filthy hole,

mancipium ventris miserabile parque putaris

a wretched slave of thy belly, like a whelp

sordida cum siliquis lambenti farra catello.

who licks the coarse grain, husk and all.

Dan 8.8.9 (p. 227,17)

1 Hercule non tunc me ferro spoliare petebas,

"By heaven, thou didst not try to rob me of my sword

quando Fridlevi summo discrimine nati

when thrice at great peril I fought (for?) the son of Ole.

propugnator eram. Namque agmine prorsus in illo

For truly, in that array, my hand either broke the sword

aut gladium fregit manus aut obstantia fudit;

or shattered the obstacle,

haec gravitas ferientis erat. Quid, quando Curetum

so heavy was the blow of the smiter. What of the day when I first taught them,

litus et innumera constratum cuspide callem

to run with wood-shod feet over the shore of the Kurlanders,

primus ligniferis docui decurrere plantis?

and the path bestrewn with countless points?

2 Namque aditurus agros confertos murice ferreo

For when I was going to the fields studded with calthrops,

armabam laceros subiecto stipite gressus.

I guarded their wounded feet with clogs below them.

3 Hinc mecum egregiis congressum viribus Hamam

After this I slew Hame, who fought me mightily;

enecui; mox cum Wino duce Flebace nato

and soon, with the captain Rin the son of Flebak,

obtrivi Kurios vel quas alit Estia gentes,

I crushed the Kurlanders, yea, or all the tribes Esthonia breeds,

et populos, Semgalla, tuos. Post haec Thelemarchos

and thy peoples, O Semgala! Then I attacked the men of Tellemark,

aggressus, caput inde tuli livore cruentum,

and took thence my head bloody with bruises,

quassum malleolis armisque fabrilibus ictum.

shattered with mallets, and smitten with the welded weapons.

4 Hic primum didici, quid ferramenta valerent

Here first I learnt how strong was the iron wrought on the anvil,

incudis, quantumve animi popularibus esset.

or what valour the common people had.

5 Theutonici quoque me poenas auctore dedere,

Also it was my doing that the Teutons were punished,

cum natos, Suertinge, tuos, Frothonis iniqua

when, in avenging my lord, I laid low over their cups thy sons, O Swerting,

caede reos, domini vindex ad pocula stravi.

who were guilty of the wicked slaughter of Frode.

6 Nec minus hoc facinus, quando pro virgine cara

"Not less was the deed when, for the sake of a beloved maiden,

uno septenos necui certamine fratres,

I slew nine brethren in one fray;

teste loco, qui, me stomacho linquente, peresus

— witness the spot, which was consumed by the bowels that left me,

non parit arenti redivivum caespite gramen.

and brings not forth the grain anew on its scorched sod.

7 Moxque ducis Kerri bellum navale parantis

And soon, when Ker the captain made ready a war by sea,

vicimus egregio confertam milite puppim.

with a noble army we beat his serried ships.

8 Inde dedi leto Wazam, fabrumque procacem

Then I put Waske to death, and punished the insolent smith

multavi natibus caesis, ferroque peremi

by slashing his hinder parts; and with the sword

rupibus a niveis hebetantem tela Wisinnum.

I slew Wisin, who from the snowy rocks blunted the spears.

9 Quattuor hinc Leri natos pugilesque subegi

Then I slew the four sons of Ler, and the champions of Permland;

Biarmenses. Gentis Hibernae principe capto,

and then having taken the chief of the Irish race,

Duflinae populabar opes, semperque manebit

I rifled the wealth of Dublin; and our courage shall ever remain

nostra Brawellinis virtus conspecta trophaeis.

manifest by the trophies of Bravalla.

10 Quid moror? Excedunt numerum, quae fortiter egi,

Why do I linger? Countless are the deeds of my bravery,

quodque manu gessi, ad solidum celebrare recensens

and when I review the works of my hands I fail

deficio; sunt cuncta meo maiora relatu;

to number them to the full. The whole is greater than I can tell.

vincit opus famam, nec sermo suppetit actis.

My work is too great for fame, and speech serves not for my doings."

Dan 8.8.10 (p. 228,16)

1 Haec Starcatherus. 2 Tandem cum Hatherum Lenno patre ortum mutuo sermone expertus fuisset, animadvertens iuvenem splendido loco natum, feriendum ei iugulum praebuit, hortatus, ne a parentis sui interfectore poenas exigere vereretur. 3 Haec facientem auro, quod a Lennone receperat, potiturum esse promittit. 4 Et ut eiusdem in se vehementius animum efferaret, huiusmodi exhortatione usus esse traditur:

So sang Starkad. At last, when he found by their talk that Hather was the son of Hlenne, and saw that the youth was of illustrious birth, he offered him his throat to smite, bidding him not to shrink from punishing the slayer of his father. He promised him that if he did so he should possess the gold which he had himself received from Hlenne. And to enrage his heart more vehemently against him, he is said to have harangued him as follows:

Dan 8.8.11 (p. 228,22)

1 Praeterea, Hathere, privavi te patre Lenno;

"Moreover, Hather, I robbed thee of thy father Hlenne;

hanc mihi, quaeso, vicem referas, et obire volentem

requite me this, I pray, and strike down the old man

sterne senem, iugulumque meum pete vindice ferro.

who longs to die; aim at my throat with the avenging steel.

2 Quippe operam clari mens percussoris adoptat,

For my soul chooses the service of a noble smiter,

horret ab ignava fatum deposcere dextra.

and shrinks to ask its doom at a coward's hand.

3 Sponte pia legem fati praecurrere fas est:

Righteously may a man choose to forstall the ordinance of doom.

quod nequeas fugere, hoc etiam anticipare licebit.

What cannot be escaped it will be lawful also to anticipate.

4 Arbor alenda recens, vetus excidenda. Minister

The fresh tree must be fostered, the old one hewn down.

naturae est, quisquis fato confinia fundit

He is nature's instrument who destroys what is near its doom

et sternit, quod stare nequit. Mors optima tunc est,

and strikes down what cannot stand. Death is best

cum petitur, vitaeque piget, cum funus amatur,

when it is sought: and when the end is loved,

nec miseros casus incommoda proroget aetas.

life is wearisome. Let not the troubles of age prolong a miserable lot."

Dan 8.8.12 (p. 228,34)

1 Haec dicens exserta crumena pecuniam promit. 2 Hatherus autem, tam fruendi aeris quam paternae ultionis capessendae cupidine concitatus, obsecuturum se precibus nec praemia repulsurum spopondit. 3 Cui Starcatherus, cupide ense praebito, pronam postmodum cervicem applicuit, ne timide percussoris opus exsequeretur aut ferro muliebriter uteretur, hortatus, praefatusque, quod, si peracta caede ante cadaveris lapsum caput ac truncum medius intersiliret, armis innocuus redderetur. 4 Quod utrum instruendi percussoris gratia an puniendi dixerit, incertum est. 5 Fore enim poterat, ut saltantem eximii cadaveris moles obrueret. 6 Igitur Hatherus, adacto vegete gladio, senem capite demutilavit. 7 Quod corpori avulsum impactumque terrae glaebam morsu carpsisse fertur, ferocitatem animi moribundi oris atrocitate declarans. 8 Percussor tamen, promissis fraudem subesse veritus, saltu non incautus abstinuit. 9 Quem si temere peregisset, forte lapsi cadaveris ictu obrutus occisi senis poenas proprio funere persolvisset. 10 Verum ne tantum athletam busti inopem iacere pateretur, corpus eius in campo, qui vulgo Rølung dicitur, sepulturae mandandum curavit.

So saying, he took money from his pouch and gave it him. But Hather, desiring as much to enjoy the gold as to accomplish vengeance for his father, promised that he would comply with his prayer, and would not refuse the reward. Starkad eagerly handed him the sword, and at once stooped his neck beneath it, counselling him not to do the smiter's work timidly, or use the sword like a woman; and telling him that if, when he had killed him, he could spring between the head and the trunk before the corpse fell, he would be rendered proof against arms. It is not known whether he said this in order to instruct his executioner or to punish him, for perhaps, as he leapt, the bulk of the huge body would have crushed him. So Hather smote sharply with the sword and hacked off the head of the old man. When the severed head struck the ground, it is said to have bitten the earth; thus the fury of the dying lips declared the fierceness of the soul. But the smiter, thinking that the promise hid some treachery, warily refrained from leaping. Had he done so rashly, perhaps he would have been crushed by the corpse as it fell, and have paid with his own life for the old man's murder. But he would not allow so great a champion to lie unsepulchred, and had his body buried in the field that is commonly called Rolung.

Dan 8.9.1 (p. 229,12)

1 Omundus autem, ut accepi, pace integra summa cum tranquillitate decessit, duobus filiis et totidem filiabus relictis. 2 E quibus maximus natu Sywardus, fratre Buthlo adhuc tenero, regnum hereditate consequitur. 3 Quo tempore Sueonum rex Gøtarus, alteram Omundi filiarum ob eximiae pulchritudinis famam infinito amore complexus, Ebboni cuidam Sibbonis filio postulandae virginis gratia negotium legationis imponit. 4 Is, officio prudentius administrato, gratum de puellae consensu nuntium retulit. 5 Iamque nihil voto praeter nuptias deerat, quas Gøtarus apud alienos agere metuens, per Ebbonem, quo prius legato usus fuerat, sponsam sibi transmittendam efflagitat.

Now Omund, as I have heard, died most tranquilly, while peace was unbroken, leaving two sons and two daughters. The eldest of these, SIWARD, came to the throne by right of birth, while his brother Budle was still of tender years. At this time Gotar, King of the Swedes, conceived boundless love for one of the daughters of Omund, because of the report of her extraordinary beauty, and entrusted one Ebb, the son of Sibb, with the commission of asking for the maiden. Ebb did his work skilfully, and brought back the good news that the girl had consented. Nothing was now lacking to Gotar's wishes but the wedding; but, as he feared to hold this among strangers, he demanded that his betrothed should be sent to him in charge of Ebb, whom he had before used as envoy.

Dan 8.9.2 (p. 229,22)

1 Is cum, parva admodum familia comitatus, Hallandiam praeteriret, ad agrestem vicum se pernoctandi gratia contulit, in quo duorum fratrum habitationes adversas medium amnis secreverat. 2 Et hi quidem consuetudinem iugulandi, quos hospitaliter recepissent, habebant, liberalitatis specie latrocinium obscurare callentes. 3 Trabem enim in modum preli oblongam eandemque ferri acumine praeditam arcanis quibusdam vinculis in excelsa domus parte suspenderant, quam nocturno tempore subductis nexibus demittentes, subiectorum capita desecare solebant. 4 In quem modum complurium vertices pensili mole praeciderant. 5 Igitur Ebboni suisque post epulas abunde praebitas penes focum ministri torum exstruunt, ut applicatas igni cervices insidiosae trabis impulsu demeterent.

Ebb was crossing Halland with a very small escort, and went for a night's lodging to a country farm, where the dwellings of two brothers faced one another on the two sides of a river. Now these men used to receive folk hospitably and then murder them, but were skilful to hide their brigandage under a show of generosity. For they had hung on certain hidden chains, in a lofty part of the house, an oblong beam like a press, and furnished it with a steel point; they used to lower this in the night by letting down the fastenings, and cut off the heads of those that lay below. Many had they beheaded in this way with the hanging mass. So when Ebb and his men had been feasted abundantly, the servants laid them out a bed near the hearth, so that by the swing of the treacherous beam they might mow off their heads, which faced the fire.

Dan 8.9.3 (p. 229,33)

1 Quibus abscedentibus, Ebbo, impensum capitibus machinamentum suspiciens, socios, simulato somno, corpora transponere iubet, praefatus perquam salutarem iis loci variationem exsistere. 2 Fuere autem inter eos quidam ab Ebbonis clientela extranei, qui, spretis, quae ceteri exsequebantur, monitis, immoti, ut cuique iacendi locus obvenerat, cubuerunt. 3 Sub opacam vero noctem ab insidiarum ministris pendulum machinamenti pondus impellitur. 4 Quod nodis, quibus inhaerebat, excussum magnaque vi solo adactum subiectos exitio tradidit. 5 Igitur, qui facinoris exsequendi curam habebant, quo certius rei eventum discerent, illato lumine, Ebbonem, propter quem maxime rem adorsi fuerant, prudenter periculo occurrisse cognoscunt. 6 A quo protinus impetiti sanguine poenas dederunt. 7 Ebbo quoque, suis per mutuam stragem amissis, frequentem crustulis glacialibus amnem, invento forte navigio, superat Gøtaroque cladis suae potius quam legationis eventum declarat.

 When they departed, Ebb, suspecting the contrivance slung overhead, told his men to feign slumber and shift their bodies, saying that it would be very wholesome for them to change their place. Now among these were some who despised the orders which the others obeyed, and lay unmoved, each in the spot where he had chanced to lie down. Then towards the mirk of night the heavy hanging machine was set in motion by the doers of the treachery. Loosened from the knots of its fastening, it fell violently on the ground, and slew those beneath it. Thereupon those who had the charge of committing the crime brought in a light, that they might learn clearly what had happened, and saw that Ebb, on whose especial account they had undertaken the affair, had wisely been equal to the danger. He straightway set on them and punished them with death; and also, after losing his men in the mutual slaughter, he happened to find a vessel, crossed a river full of blocks of ice, and announced to Gotar the result, not so much of his mission as of his mishap.

Dan 8.9.4 (p. 230,6)

1 Quam rem Gøtarus a Sywardi instinctu profectam iudicans, iniuriarum vindictam armis exsequi parat. 2 A quo Sywardus apud Hallandiam expugnatus, sorore ab hostibus capta, concessit in Iutiam. 3 Ubi Sclavorum vulgus, pugnam sine principe ausum, acie superavit, tantum gloriae ex victoria nactus, quantum ex fuga dedecoris traxerat. 4 Verum iisdem, quos ductu vacuos debellaverat, paulo post ducem nactis, pugna apud Fioniam cessit. 5 Adversum quos identidem in Iutia proeliatus, infelicem pugnae eventum habuit. 6 Quo evenit, ut Scania Iutiaque exutus media dumtaxat regni veluti quasdam exesi corporis partes sine capite retineret. 7 Iarmericus ex eo genitus cum sororibus admodum parvulis praeda hostibus fuit; quarum altera Norvagiensibus, altera Germanis, quod venalia quondam solebant esse connubia, pretio venditata est.

Gotar judged that this affair had been inspired by Siward, and prepared to avenge his wrongs by arms. Siward, defeated by him in Halland, retreated into Jutland, the enemy having taken his sister. Here he conquered the common people of the Sclavs, who ventured to fight without a leader; and he won as much honour from this victory as he had got disgrace by his flight. But a little afterwards, the men whom he had subdued when they were ungeneraled, found a general and defeated Siward in Funen. Several times he fought them in Jutland, but with ill-success. The result was that he lost both Skaane and Jutland, and only retained the middle of his realm without the head, like the fragments of some body that had been consumed away. His son Jarmerik (Eormunrec), with his child-sisters, fell into the hands of the enemy; one of these was sold to the Germans, the other to the Norwegians; for in old time marriages were matters of purchase.

Dan 8.9.5 (p. 230,17)

1 Itaque Danorum regnum fortissime propagatum, tantis etiam maiorum titulis illustratum, tot victoriis auctum, ob unius viri inertiam ex summo nitore fortunae et florentissimo rerum statu eo ignominiae pervenit, ut pensionem, quam prius exigebat, exsolveret. 2 Sywardus autem, saepius victoria cassus ac deformium fugarum reus, post tot maiorum decora in tam erubescendo patriae statu confusa regni gubernacula gestare non sustinens, ne diuturnior vita ad extremam gloriae iacturam pertingeret, speciosum sibi fatum pugna parere properavit. 3 Quippe memorem calamitatis animum deponendae aegritudinis cupido salutis fastidio cruciabat. 4 Adeo demendi ruboris studium lucem ei invisam effecerat. 5 Igitur, comparatis pugnae copiis, Simoni cuidam sub Gøtaro Scaniam procuranti bellum aperte denuntiat. 6 Quod obstinatis temeritatis viribus exsecutus, occiso Simone, per summam hostium stragem vitam finivit; patriam tamen praestandae pensionis onere liberare nequivit.

Thus the kingdom of the Danes, which had been enlarged with such valour, made famous by such ancestral honours, and enriched by so many conquests, fell, all by the sloth of one man, from the most illustrious fortune and prosperity into such disgrace that it paid the tribute which it used to exact. But Siward, too often defeated and guilty of shameful flights, could not endure, after that glorious past, to hold the troubled helm of state any longer in this shameful condition of his land; and, fearing that living longer might strip him of his last shred of glory, he hastened to win an honourable death in battle. For his soul could not forget his calamity, it was fain to cast off its sickness, and was racked with weariness of life. So much did he abhor the light of life in his longing to wipe out his shame. So he mustered his army for battle, and openly declared war with one Simon, who was governor of Skaane under Gotar. This war he pursued with stubborn rashness; he slew Simon, and ended his own life amid a great slaughter of his foes. Yet his country could not be freed from the burden of the tribute.

Dan 8.10.1 (p. 230,30)

1 Interea Iarmericus apud regem Sclavorum Ismarum cum coaevo sibi collacteoque Gunnone coniectus in carcerem captivus degebat. 2 Quo demum erutus atque exercendae ruris culturae applicatus, rusticum opus exsequitur. 3 Ob cuius promptissimam administrationem ad regalium mancipiorum magisterium transfertur. 4 Eo quoque sincerissime gesto, in necessariorum regis gregem assumitur. 5 Ubi cum se iuxta aulicorum ritum egregia morum amoenitate gessisset, brevi in amicorum numerum translatus primum familiaritatis locum obtinuit ac veluti quibusdam meritorum gradibus fretus ab infima sorte ad spectatum honoris fastigium concessit. 6 Et ne segnem enervemque iuventam ageret, militaribus se studiis assuefecit, naturae dotes industria cumulans. 7 Grata omnibus Iarmerici indoles erat; soli reginae suspectum adolescentis ingenium fuit.

Jarmerik, meantime, with his foster-brother of the same age as himself, Gunn, was living in prison, in charge of Ismar, the King of the Sclavs. At last he was taken out and put to agriculture, doing the work of a peasant. So actively did he manage this matter that he was transferred and made master of the royal slaves. As he likewise did this business most uprightly, he was enrolled in the band of the king's retainers. Here he bore himself most pleasantly as courtiers use, and was soon taken into the number of the king's friends and obtained the first place in his intimacy; thus, on the strength of a series of great services, he passed from the lowest estate to the most distinguished height of honour. Also, loth to live a slack and enfeebled youth, he trained himself to the pursuits of war, enriching his natural gifts by diligence. All men loved Jarmerik, and only the queen mistrusted the young man's temper.

Dan 8.10.2 (p. 231,5)

1 Fratrem quoque regis fato functum repentinus rumor edocuit. 2 Cuius corpus Ismarus amplissimo funere elaturus, quo maior exsequiarum pompa fieret, regia comitate convivium instruit. 3 At Iarmericus, alias cum regina familiaris rei curas sortitus, ad fugam, cuius facultatem regalis absentia promittere videbatur, circumspiciendam accessit. 4 Animadvertebat enim se etiam inter opes positum miserabile regis mancipium fore et quasi alieno beneficio precarium spiritum possidere. 5 Praeterea, quamquam primis apud regem honoribus uteretur, libertatem deliciis praeferendam existimans, visendae patriae noscendique generis eximia cupiditate flagrabat. 6 Sciens autem, quod regina, ne quis captivorum elabi posset, competentibus providisset excubiis, quo viribus pervenire nequibat, arte assurgendum procurat. 7 Fiscellam itaque biblo ac vimine textam, qua agrestes instar hominis formata aves aristis deturbare consueverant, vivo cane complevit; quam etiam detracto sibi cultu, quo verisimilius humanam repraesentaret imaginem, texit. 8 Deinde privatum regis aerarium demolitus, egestam inde pecuniam notis sibi tantum recondidit locis.

A sudden report told them that the king's brother had died. Ismar, wishing to give his body a splendid funeral, prepared a banquet of royal bounty to increase the splendour of the obsequies. But Jarmerik, who used at other times to look after the household affairs together with the queen, began to cast about for means of escape; for a chance seemed to be offered by the absence of the king. For he saw that even in the lap of riches he would be the wretched thrall of a king, and that he would draw, as it were, his very breath on sufferance and at the gift of another. Moreover, though he held the highest offices with the king, he thought that freedom was better than delights, and burned with a mighty desire to visit his country and learn his lineage. But, knowing that the queen had provided sufficient guards to see that no prisoner escaped, he saw that he must approach by craft where he could not arrive by force. So he plaited one of those baskets of rushes and withies, shaped like a man, with which countrymen used to scare the birds from the corn, and put a live dog in it; then he took off his own clothes, and dressed it in them, to give a more plausible likeness to a human being. Then he broke into the private treasury of the king, took out the money, and hid himself in places of which he alone knew.

Dan 8.10.3 (p. 231,20)

1 Interea Gunno absentiam socii dissimulare iussus, illata in regiam fiscella impulsoque ad latrandum cane, percontanti, quidnam hoc esset, reginae mente captum clamitare retulit Iarmericum. 2 Illa ad aspectum statuae similitudinis errore delusa, insanum aede eici iubet. 3 Tunc Gunno perlatam foras statuam perinde ac furentem socium lectulo tradit. 4 Sub noctem vero vigiles epularum hilaritate ac vino provehit largiore, abscisaque dormientium capita, quo turpiore eos morte consumeret, inguini sociavit. 5 Excitata strepitu regina causamque eius discere cupiens concita fores petivit. 6 Sed dum caput incautius exserit, improviso Gunnonis ense confoditur. 7 Quae cum mortificum vulnus experta corrueret, reflexis in occisorem luminibus: 'Nullius', inquit, 'obtentu fraudis, si incolumi mihi vivere licuisset, his finibus impunitus excederes.' 8 Ad hunc modum crebras in percussorem minas moribunda profudit.

Meantime Gunn, whom he had told to conceal the absence of his friend, took the basket into the palace and stirred up the dog to bark; and when the queen asked what this was, he answered that Jarmerik was out of his mind and howling. She, beholding the effigy, was deceived by the likeness, and ordered that the madman should be cast out of the house. Then Gunn took the effigy out and put it to bed, as though it were his distraught friend. But towards night he plied the watch bountifully with wine and festal mirth, cut off their heads as they slept, and set them at their groins, in order to make their slaying more shameful. The queen, roused by the din, and wishing to learn the reason of it, hastily rushed to the doors. But while she unwarily put forth her head, the sword of Gunn suddenly pierced her through. Feeling a mortal wound, she sank, turned her eyes on her murderer, and said, "Had it been granted me to live unscathed, no screen or treachery should have let thee leave this land unpunished." A flood of such threats against her slayer poured from her dying lips.

Dan 8.10.4 (p. 231,32)

1 Post haec Iarmericus una cum Gunnone, praeclari facinoris socio, tabernaculum, in quo rex fraternas convivio celebrabat exsequias, cunctis temulentia victis, admoto furtim incendio complet. 2 Quo latius diffuso, quidam, ebrietatis stupore discusso, immissis equis deprehensos periculi insequuntur auctores. 3 At iuvenes primum iumentis, quae repererant, vecti ad ultimum, iisdem prolixiori cursu debilitatis, pedites dedere fugam. 4 Iamque paene occupatis amnis remedio fuit. 5 Pontem enim, quem ante morandi persecutoris gratia, praecisis ad medium trabibus, non modo onerum impatientem, sed etiam ruinae propinquum effecerant, praetergressi, in opacam de industria voraginem concesserunt. 6 Quibus imminentes Sclavi, dum, parum prospecto periculo, equis improvidi pontem onerant, desidentibus tabulatis excussi praecipitantur in flumen. 7 Sed dum enando ripam appetunt, a Gunnone et Iarmerico obstantibus intercepti, mersi aut interfecti sunt. 8 Ita iuvenes, egregia calliditate usi, non ut fugitiva mancipia, sed quasi praediti consilio senes maius aetate sua facinus ediderunt, quod acute conceperant, efficaciter adimplendo. 9 At ubi in litus ventum, rapto, quod fors obtulerat, navigio in altum procedunt. 10 Quos qui insequebantur barbari, navigare conspectos vociferando revocare conati, regnaturos, si redeant, spondent, quod publico veterum instituto regum percussoribus regnorum successio decreta fuerit. 11 Diu recedentium aures pertinax Sclavorum clamor promissis pellacibus exsurdabat.

Then Jarmerik, with Gunn, the partner of his noble deed, secretly set fire to the tent wherein the king was celebrating with a banquet the obsequies of his brother; all the company were overcome with liquor. The fire filled the tent and spread all about; and some of them, shaking off the torpor of drink, took horse and pursued those who had endangered them. But the young men fled at first on the beasts they had taken; and at last, when these were exhausted with their long gallop, took to flight on foot. They were all but caught, when a river saved them. For they crossed a bridge, of which, in order to delay the pursuer, they first cut the timbers down to the middle, thus making it not only unequal to a burden, but ready to come down; then they retreated into a dense morass. The Sclavs pressed on them hard and, not forseeing the danger, unwarily put the weight of their horses on the bridge; the flooring sank, and they were shaken off and flung into the river. But, as they swam up to the bank, they were met by Gunn and Jarmerik, and either drowned or slain. Thus the young men showed great cunning, and did a deed beyond their years, being more like sagacious old men than runaway slaves, and successfully achieving their shrewd design. When they reached the strand they seized a vessel chance threw in their way, and made for the deep. The barbarians who pursued them, tried, when they saw them sailing off, to bring them back by shouting promises after them that they should be kings if they returned; "for, by the public statute of the ancients, the succession was appointed to the slayers of the kings." As they retreated, their ears were long deafened by the Sclavs obstinately shouting their treacherous promises.

Dan 8.10.5 (p. 232,18)

1 Ea tempestate Buthlus, Sywardi frater, Danis perfunctorie praeerat, a quibus venienti Iarmerico regnum tradere coactus, ex rege privatus evasit. 2 Eodem tempore Gøtarus Sybbonem stupratae sororis insimulatum occidit. 3 Cuius nece affines permoti ad Iarmericum eiulabundi decurrunt seque in ultionem propinqui Gøtarum cum eo oppugnaturos promittunt. Nec parum promissa solverunt. 4 Nam eorum auxiliis oppresso Gøtaro, Iarmericum Suetia potiri contigit. 5 Qui cum duarum gentium imperio fungeretur, auctae dominationis fiducia Sclavos proelio tentat. 6 Quorum quadraginta captos, applicatis totidem lupis, laqueo adegit. 7 Quem supplicii modum, olim parricidis debitum, ob hoc circa hostes peragere voluit, ut, quantae in Danos rapacitatis exstiterint, ex ipsa atrocium beluarum communione videntibus conspicuum foret. 8 Subacta quoque regione, praesidia locis opportunis disponit.

At this time BUDLE, the brother of Siward, was Regent over the Danes, who forced him to make over the kingdom to JARMERIK when he came; so that Budle fell from a king into a common man. At the same time Gotar charged Sibb with debauching his sister, and slew him. Sibb's kindred, much angered by his death, came wailing to Jarmerik, and promised to attack Gotar with him, in order to avenge their kinsman. They kept their promise well, for Jarmerik, having overthrown Gotar by their help, gained Sweden. Thus, holding the sovereignty of both nations, he was encouraged by his increased power to attack the Sclavs, forty of whom he took and hung with a wolf tied to each of them. This kind of punishment was assigned of old to those who slew their own kindred; but he chose to inflict it upon enemies, that all might see plainly, just from their fellowship with ruthless beasts, how grasping they had shown themselves towards the Danes. When Jarmerik had conquered the country, he posted garrisons in all the fitting places,

Dan 8.10.6 (p. 232,30)

1 Inde profectus Sembonum, Curetum compluriumque Orientis gentium cladem exercuit. 2 Qua regis occupatione Sclavi datam sibi defectionis materiam iudicantes, interfectis, qui ab ipso praesides constituti fuerant, Daniam depopulati sunt. 3 Quorum classem Iarmericus, forte e piratica rediens, interceptam delevit, eoque facinore priores victoriarum titulos decoravit. 4 Ceterum optimates eorum, primo tibias loris traiectos moxque immanium taurorum ungulis alligatos molossisque incessentibus raptim in caenum voraginesque pertractos, lacrimabili spectaculo consumpsit. 5 Ea re hebetati Sclavorum animi summa cum trepidatione regis imperium coluerunt.

and departing thence, he made a slaughter of the Sembs and the Kurlanders, and many nations of the East. The Sclavs, thinking that this employment of the king gave them a chance of revolting, killed the governors whom he had appointed, and ravaged Denmark. Jarmerik, on his way back from roving, chanced to intercept their fleet, and destroyed it, a deed which added honour to his roll of conquests. He also put their nobles to death in a way that one would weep to see; namely, by first passing thongs through their legs, and then tying them to the hoofs of savage bulls; then hounds set on them and dragged them into miry swamps. This deed took the edge off the valour of the Sclavs, and they obeyed the authority of the king in fear and trembling.

Dan 8.10.7 (p. 233,1)

1 Iarmericus itaque, tot gentium manubiis locupletatus, ut tutum praedae domicilium compararet, in editissima rupe mirifico opere aedem molitur. 2 Aggerem collatis glaebis exstruit, fundamentum crebris conicit saxis, ima vallo, tricliniis media, summa propugnaculis cinxit; undiquesecus iuges excubias fixit. 3 Quattuor portae magnitudine praestantes a totidem plagis irrestrictos aditus dabant. 4 In huius domus magnificentiam omnem opum suarum apparatum congessit. 5 Ita domesticis rebus compositis, rursum in externas cupidinem vertit. 6 Igitur navigatione coepta, quattuor fratres genere Hellesponticos, obvios pelago factos piraticaeque admodum studiis assuetos, maritima pugna attentare non distulit. 7 Qua triduo gesta, sororem eorum cum medietate tributi, quo victos oneraverant, pactus, proelium revocavit.

Jarmerik, enriched with great spoils, wished to provide a safe storehouse for his booty, and built on a lofty hill a treasure- house of marvellous handiwork. Gathering sods, he raised a mound, laying a mass of rocks for the foundation, and girt the lower part with a rampart, the centre with rooms, and the top with battlements. All round he posted a line of sentries without a break. Four huge gates gave free access on the four sides; and into this lordly mansion he heaped all his splendid riches. Having thus settled his affairs at home, he again turned his ambition abroad. He began to voyage, and speedily fought a naval battle with four brothers whom he met on the high seas, Hellespontines by race, and veteran rovers. After this battle had lasted three days, he ceased fighting, having bargained for their sister and half the tribute which they had imposed on those they had conquered.

Dan 8.10.8 (p. 233,12)

1 Post haec Livorum regis filius Bicco captivitate, quam sub memoratis fratribus ducebat, elapsus, Iarmericum, a quo olim fratribus spoliatus fuerat, iniuriae haud oblitus accessit. 2 Apud quem benignius habitus, brevi arcanorum omnium arbiter singularis evasit. 3 Hunc ut suis per omnia tractabilem monitis sensit, in res quam maxime factu detestabiles consultantem adduxit atque ad scelera flagitiaque committenda compellit. 4 Adeo nocendi artem obsequii simulatione captabat. 5 Praecipue eum adversum eos, quos sanguine proxime contigisset, armabat. 6 Ita fraternam ultionem, quia viribus nequibat, fraude exsequi pertentabat. 7 Quo evenit, ut rex, virtutum loco vitiorum sordes amplexus, ob ea, quae perfidi monitoris impulsu atrociter gesserat, communibus in se locum odiis daret. 8 Adversum quem etiam Sclavorum tumultus exoritur. 9 Cuius sopiendi gratia duces eorum captos, traiectis fune tibiis, equis in diversa raptantibus praebuit lacerandos. 10 In hunc modum consumpti principes corporum suorum distractu pertinacis animi poenas dederunt. 11 Quae res Sclavorum obsequia in suo statu aequali ac solida subiectione continuit.

After this, Bikk, the son of the King of the Livonians, escaped from the captivity in which he lay under these said brothers, and went to Jarmerik. But he did not forget his wrongs, Jarmerik having long before deprived him of his own brothers. He was received kindly by the king, in all whose secret counsels he soon came to have a notable voice; and, as soon as he found the king pliable to his advice in all things, he led him, when his counsel was asked, into the most abominable acts, and drove him to commit crimes and infamies. Thus he sought some device to injure the king by a feint of loyalty, and tried above all to steel him against his nearest of blood; attempting to accomplish the revenge of his brother by guile, since he could not by force. So it came to pass that the king embraced filthy vices instead of virtues, and made himself generally hated by the cruel deeds which he committed at the instance of his treacherous adviser. Even the Sclavs began to rise against him; and, as a means of quelling them, he captured their leaders, passed a rope through their shanks, and delivered them to be torn asunder by horses pulling different ways. So perished their chief men, punished for their stubbornness of spirit by having their bodies rent apart. This kept the Sclavs duly obedient in unbroken and steady subjugation.

Dan 8.10.9 (p. 233,27)

1 Interea, qui ex sorore Iarmerici apud Germaniam orti educatique fuerant, avito nomine freti in avunculum arma suscipiunt, aeque sibi regnum atque ei deberi certantes. 2 Quorum munitiones rex apud Germaniam machinis demolitus, oppidis compluribus aut obsessis aut captis, nonnullis etiam solo aequatis, incruentam ad cives victoriam reportavit. 3 Occurrunt Hellespontici, pactis sororem nuptiis offerentes. 4 Quibus celebratis, rursum Bicconis instinctu Germaniam petens, captis bello sororiis laqueo spiritum eripere non dubitavit. 5 Optimates quoque convivii simulatione contractos eodem exemplo consumendos curavit.

Meantime, the sons of Jarmerik's sister, who had all been born and bred in Germany, took up arms, on the strength of their grandsire's title, against their uncle, contending that they had as good a right to the throne as he. The king demolished their strongholds in Germany with engines, blockaded or took several towns, and returned home with a bloodless victory. The Hellespontines came to meet him, proffering their sister for the promised marriage. After this had been celebrated, at Bikk's prompting he again went to Germany, took his nephews in war, and incontinently hanged them. He also got together the chief men under the pretence of a banquet and had them put to death in the same fashion.

Dan 8.10.10 (p. 233,36)

1 Interea Broderus, quem olim rex ex alio sustulerat matrimonio, novercae curam ab eo susceptam plenis sanctitatis excubiis celebrabat. 2 Quem Bicco apud patrem incesti crimine accusatum, ne falso insimulasse videretur, subornatorum testimonio insecutus est. 3 Cumque Broderus, accusationis partibus plene exhibitis, defensionis praesidia afferre non posset, pater ab amicis in convictum ferri sententiam iubet, minus impium ratus sumendam de filio vindictam alieno quam proprio delegare iudicio. 4 Quem ceteris proscriptione dignum decernentibus, Bicco, tristiorem de capite eius sententiam ferre non veritus, a nefarii stupri auctore poenam suspendio capiendam esse pronuntiat. 5 Quam ne quis a paterna crudelitate profectam putaret, eundem laqueo affixum a ministris subiecto assere excipiendum percensuit, ut, cum hi fessas oneri manus subducerent, perinde ac rei perempti iuvenis forent regemque parricidii crimine sua culpa liberum facerent. 6 Praeterea, nisi poena accusationem sequeretur, paternae eum saluti insidiaturum astruxit. 7 Adulteram vero Suanildam, quo turpius e vita excederet, pecudum ungulis proculcari debere.

Meantime, the king appointed Broder, his son by another marriage, to have charge over his stepmother, a duty which he fulfilled with full vigilance and integrity. But Bikk accused this man to his father of incest; and, to conceal the falsehood of the charge, suborned witnesses against him. When the plea of the accusation had been fully declared, Broder could not bring any support for his defence, and his father bade his friends pass sentence upon the convicted man, thinking it less impious to commit the punishment proper for his son to the judgment of others. All thought that he deserved outlawry except Bikk, who did not shrink from giving a more terrible vote against his life, and declaring that the perpetrator of an infamous seduction ought to be punished with hanging. But lest any should think that this punishment was due to the cruelty of his father, Bikk judged that, when he had been put in the noose, the servants should hold him up on a beam put beneath him, so that, when weariness made them take their hands from the burden, they might be as good as guilty of the young man's death, and by their own fault exonerate the king from an unnatural murder. He also pretended that, unless the accused were punished, he would plot against his father's life. The adulteress Swanhild, he said, ought to suffer a shameful end, trampled under the hoofs of beasts.

Dan 8.10.11 (p. 234,14)

1 Paruit Bicconi rex adactumque suspendio filium, ne strangulari posset, a circumstantibus tabulati ope allevandum curavit. 2 Igitur innoxium vinculum, parum compressis faucibus, solam poenae speciem prae se ferebat. 3 Reginam vero, firmissimo nexu humo astrictam, equinis obterendam calcibus praebuit. 4 Hanc tantae fuisse pulchritudinis fama est, ut ipsis quoque iumentis horrori foret artus eximio decore praeditos sordidis lacerare vestigiis. 5 Quo argumento rex innocentiam coniugis declarari coniectans, accidente erroris paenitentia, falso notatam festinat absolvere. 6 Advolat interea Bicco, qui supinam iumenta diris deturbare carminibus nec nisi pronam obteri posse firmaret; quippe eam formae suae beneficio servatam sciebat. 7 In hunc modum collocatum reginae corpus adactus iumentorum grex crebris alte vestigiis fodit. 8 Hic Suanildae exitus fuit.

The king yielded to Bikk; and, when his son was to be hanged, he made the bystanders hold him up by means of a plank, that he might not be choked. Thus his throat was only a little squeezed, the knot was harmless, and it was but a punishment in show. But the king had the queen tied very tight on the ground, and delivered her to be crushed under the hoofs of horses. The story goes that she was so beautiful, that even the beasts shrank from mangling limbs so lovely with their filthy feet. The king, divining that this proclaimed the innocence of his wife, began to repent of his error, and hastened to release the slandered lady. But meantime Bikk rushed up, declaring that when she was on her back she held off the beasts by awful charms, and could only be crushed if she lay on her face; for he knew that her beauty saved her. When the body of the queen was placed in this manner, the herd of beasts was driven upon it, and trod it down deep with their multitude of feet. Such was the end of Swanhild.

Dan 8.10.12 (p. 234,26)

1 Interea canis, cui Broderus assueverat, ceu quibusdam questubus aggressus regem, deflere domini supplicium videbatur, eiusdemque illatus accipiter intimas corpori plumas rostro detrahere coepit. 2 Ex cuius nuditate rex sumptis orbitatis auspiciis, omen intercepturus, praepropere, qui filium laqueo detraherent, mittit. 3 Per implumem enim aviculam futurum se, ni cavisset, absque liberis augurabatur.

Meantime, the favourite dog of Broder came creeping to the king making a sort of moan, and seemed to bewail its master's punishment; and his hawk, when it was brought in, began to pluck out its breast-feathers with its beak. The king took its nakedness as an omen of his bereavement, to frustrate which he quickly sent men to take his son down from the noose: for he divined by the featherless bird that he would be childless unless he took good heed.

Dan 8.10.13 (p. 234,32)

1 Liberato clade Brodero, Bicco, delationis poenas exsolvere metuens, nuntiare Hellesponticis pergit Suanildam a viro nefaria strage consumptam. 2 Quibus ulciscendae sororis gratia navigantibus, ad Iarmericum reversus, parari bellum ab Hellesponticis indicat. 3 Rex moenibus quam acie tutius dimicandum existimans, in eam, quam exaedificaverat, munitionem confugit. 4 Ubi ad ferendam obsidionem commeatibus penitiora, propugnacula armatis implebat. 5 Fulgentes auro cetrae circumpensique clipei supremum aedis ambitum adornabant.

Thus Broder was freed from death, and Bikk, fearing he would pay the penalty of an informer, went and told the men of the Hellespont that Swanhild had been abominably slain by her husband. When they set sail to avenge their sister, he came back to Jarmerik, and told him that the Hellespontines were preparing war. The king thought that it would be safer to fight with walls than in the field, and retreated into the stronghold which he had built. To stand the siege, he filled its inner parts with stores, and its battlements with men-at-arms. Targets and shields flashing with gold were hung round and adorned the topmost circle of the building.

Dan 8.10.14 (p. 235,1)

1 Contigit autem, ut Hellespontici, praedae partitionem acturi, magnam suorum manum peculatus insimulatam occiderent. 2 Igitur quod tantam copiarum partem intestina clade consumpserant, aulae expugnationem suis altiorem viribus rati, veneficam, cui Guthrunae erat vocabulum, consulunt. 3 Qua efficiente regiae partis propugnatores subito oculis capti, in se ipsos arma convertunt. 4 Quo viso, Hellespontici, applicata testudine, primos portarum aditus occupant. 5 Deinde, convulsis postibus irruptaque aede, caecas hostium phalanges obtruncant. 6 Eo tumultu superveniens Othinus mediosque proeliantium globos appetens, Danis, quos paterna semper pietate coluerat, ademptum praestigiis visum supera virtute restituit. 7 Hellesponticos vero, corpora adversum tela carminibus durare solitos, crebro silice converberandos esse perdocuit. 8 Ita utrumque agmen mutua caede consumptum interiit. 9 Iarmericus, utroque pede ac manibus spoliatus, trunco inter exanimes corpore rotabatur. 10 Cui Broderus parum idoneus successit in regnum.

It happened that the Hellespontines, before sharing their booty, accused a great band of their men of embezzling, and put them to death. Having now destroyed so large a part of their forces by internecine slaughter, they thought that their strength was not equal to storming the palace, and consulted a sorceress named Gudrun. She brought it to pass that the defenders of the king's side were suddenly blinded and turned their arms against one another. When the Hellespontines saw this, they brought up a shield-mantlet, and seized the approaches of the gates. Then they tore up the posts, burst into the building, and hewed down the blinded ranks of the enemy. In this uproar Odin appeared, and, making for the thick of the ranks of the fighters, restored by his divine power to the Danes that vision which they had lost by sleights; for he ever cherished them with fatherly love. He instructed them to shower stones to batter the Hellespontines, who used spells to harden their bodies against weapons. Thus both companies slew one another and perished. Jarmerik lost both feet and both hands, and his trunk was rolled among the dead. BRODER, little fit for it, followed him as king.

Dan 8.11.1 (p. 235,15)

1 Post hunc regnat Sywaldus. 2 Cuius filius Snio, senescente patre, strenuum piraticae complexus, patriae res non solum servavit, sed etiam diminutas in pristinum habitum revocavit. 3 Idem, tyrannide suscepta, Eskilli atque Alkilli pugilum insolentiam comprimendo Scaniam a Danicae iurisdictionis integritate submotam ad societatem patriae victoria reduxit. 4 Tandem filiae Gothorum regis mutuo amore perstrictus, conveniendae eius copiam clandestinis nuntiis tentat. 5 Qui a patre puellae intercepti suspendioque consumpti improvidae legationis poenas dederunt. 6 Quorum Snio ultionem exigere cupiens, cum Gothiam hostiliter aggressus fuisset, rege eius cum copiis occurrente, praelectorum pugilum provocatione rem per athletas gerere iussus, hanc duelli legem edidit, ut alteruter regum pro varia athletarum fortuna aut proprium perderet aut alienum lucraretur imperium, victique regnum in victoriae praemio reponeretur. 7 Quo evenit, ut Gothorum rex, propugnatorum suorum infortunio superatus, regno Danis cedere cogeretur.

The next king was SIWALD. His son SNIO took vigorously to roving in his father's old age, and not only preserved the fortunes of his country, but even restored them, lessened as they were, to their former estate. Likewise, when he came to the sovereignty, he crushed the insolence of the champions Eskil and Alkil, and by this conquest reunited to his country Skaane, which had been severed from the general jurisdiction of Denmark. At last he conceived a passion for the daughter of the King of the Goths; it was returned, and he sent secret messengers to seek a chance of meeting her. These men were intercepted by the father of the damsel and hanged: thus paying dearly for their rash mission. Snio, wishing to avenge their death, invaded Gothland. Its king met him with his forces, and the aforesaid champions challenged him to send strong men to fight. Snio laid down as condition of the duel, that each of the two kings should either lose his own empire or gain that of the other, according to the fortune of the champions, and that the kingdom of the conquered should be staked as the prize of the victory. The result was that the King of the Goths was beaten by reason of the ill-success of his defenders, and had to quit his kingdom for the Danes.

Dan 8.11.2 (p. 235,29)

1 Cuius filiam Snio cum in Sueonum regis connubium paterno impulsu comperisset adductam, quandam, obsoleto habitu per itinera publica stipem petere solitum, ad eam usque tentandam transmisit. 2 Qui cum egentium more propinquum liminibus discubitum habuisset, visa forte regina, exili vocula succinens: 'Amat', inquit, 'te Snio.' 3 Illa allapsum auribus sonum dissimulanter excipiens, nec visu gradu relato, procedit in regiam atque e vestigio regressa obscuro et vix aures offendente sibilo: 'Amantem', inquit, 'me redamo.' 4 Eo dicto vestigium extulit. 5 Quam egenus mutui amoris vocem edidisse gavisus, die postera foribus assidens, praesente domina, consueta sermonis brevitate: 'Locum', ait, 'voto suppetere convenit.' 6 Illa rursum argutae vocis industriam colligens summa cum dissimulatione discessit. 7 Parvo post percontatorem praeteriens Bøcherør brevi se perventuram asseruit; hunc quippe locum fuga petere destinavit. 8 Qua de re egenus certior redditus, solito percontationis acumine competens promisso tempus cognoscere perseverat. 9 Illa vero nec astu inferior nec sermone lucidior, quam brevissime potuit, hiemis initium nuncupavit. 10 Ceterum stipatores eius, qui levem amatoriae vocis iactum exceperant, plenum calliditatis ingenium extremae stoliditatis deliramentum esse credebant. 11 Quae cum Snio certius ex egeno cognosceret, reginam, sublatis mariti opibus, lavandi simulatione digressam navigio deportandam curavit. 12 Postea vero saepenumero inter ipsum ac Suetiae regem, altero iustas repetente faces, altero illicitas tueri perseverante, ancipiti eventu variaque victoria dimicatum est.

Snio, learning that this king's daughter had been taken away at the instance of her father to wed the King of the Swedes, sent a man clad in ragged attire, who used to ask alms on the public roads, to try her mind. And while he lay, as beggars do, by the threshold, he chanced to see the queen, and whined in a weak voice, "Snio loves thee." She feigned not to have heard the sound that stole on her ears, and neither looked nor stepped back, but went on to the palace, then returned straightway, and said in a low whisper, which scarcely reached his ears, "I love him who loves me"; and having said this she walked away. The beggar rejoiced that she had returned a word of love, and, as he sat on the next day at the gate, when the queen came up, he said, briefly as ever, "Wishes should have a tryst." Again she shrewdly caught his cunning speech, and passed on, dissembling wholly. A little later she passed by her questioner, and said that she would shortly go to Bocheror; for this was the spot to which she meant to flee. And when the beggar heard this, he insisted, with his wonted shrewd questions, upon being told a fitting time for the tryst. The woman was as cunning as he, and as little clear of speech, and named as quickly as she could the beginning of the winter. Her train, who had caught a flying word of this love-message, took her great cleverness for the raving of utter folly. And when Snio had been told all this by the beggar, he contrived to carry the queen off in a vessel; for she got away under pretence of bathing, and took her husband's treasures. After this there were constant wars between Snio and the King of Sweden, whereof the issue was doubtful and the victory changeful; the one king seeking to regain his lawful, the other to keep his unlawful love.

Dan 8.12.1 (p. 236,13)

1 Ea tempestate per summam caeli intemperantiam agrorum ubertate corrupta, ingens annonae caritas incidit. 2 Cumque oborta victualium raritate gravis plebem inedia laceraret, rex, quonam modo temporis difficultati succurreret, anxius, cum aliquanto maiorem bibulorum quam edacium impensam animadverteret, frugalitatem populo intulit. 3 Conviviorum usum abrogans, ne qua ex fruge potio pararetur, edixit, acerbitatem famis superflui haustus interdicto pellendam atque a siti abundantiam esus mutuandam existimans.

At this time the yield of crops was ruined by most inclement weather, and a mighty dearth of corn befell. Victuals began to be scarce, and the commons were distressed with famine, so that the king, anxiously pondering how to relieve the hardness of the times, and seeing that the thirsty spent somewhat more than the hungry, introduced thrift among the people. He abolished drinking-bouts, and decreed that no drink should be prepared from gram, thinking that the bitter famine should be got rid of by prohibiting needless drinking, and that plentiful food could be levied as a loan on thirst.

Dan 8.12.2 (p. 236,21)

1 Tunc quidam petulantioris gulae, proscriptam bibendi consuetudinem deflens, altum calliditatis genus complexus, novam voluptati licentiam reperit ac publicam continentiae legem privata intemperantia solvit, deliciarum usum a ridiculi operis acumine mutuatus. 2 Vetiti enim liquoris gustu minutim liguriendo usus, desiderium ebrietatis explevit. 3 Quamobrem conventus a rege, integerrimum se frugalitatis observatorem asseruit, utpote aviditatem haustus moderatae sumptionis ingenio castigantem, affixamque sibi culpam sorbitionis titulo tueri perseveravit. 4 Denique, adiecto minarum terrore, non modo bibere, verum etiam pitissare prohibitus, consuetudini tamen imperare non potuit. 5 Ut enim tamquam licite illicitis frueretur nec gulam alieno subiectam haberet imperio, madefactis potione crustulis, capace liquoris offula vescebatur cupitamque crapulam lento gustu provexit, interdictum satietatis modum haud secus ac licitum consecutus. 6 Adeo pertinacissima gulae rabies, salutem pro luxu devovens nec regia quidem comminatione deterrita, ad omne periculum spernendum temerarium solidaverat appetitum.

Then a certain wanton slave of his belly, lamenting the prohibition against drink, adopted a deep kind of knavery, and found a new way to indulge his desires. He broke the public law of temperance by his own excess, contriving to get at what he loved by a device both cunning and absurd. For he sipped the forbidden liquor drop by drop, and so satisfied his longing to be tipsy. When he was summoned for this by the king, he declared that there was no stricter observer of sobriety than he, inasmuch as he mortified his longing to quaff deep by this device for moderate drinking. He persisted in the fault with which he was taxed, saying that he only sucked. At last he was also menaced with threats, and forbidden not only to drink, but even to sip; yet he could not check his habits. For in order to enjoy the unlawful thing in a lawful way, and not to have his throat subject to the command of another, he sopped morsels of bread in liquor, and fed on the pieces thus soaked with drink; tasting slowly, so as to prolong the desired debauch, and attaining, though in no unlawful manner, the forbidden measure of satiety. Thus his stubborn and frantic intemperance risked his life, all for luxury; and, undeterred even by the threats of the king, he fortified his rash appetite to despise every peril.

Dan 8.12.3 (p. 236,36)

1 Secundo quoque perinde ac violatae constitutionis reus convenitur a rege. 2 Sed ne tunc quidem facti defensionem abiecit, nequaquam a se regalibus institutis obviam itum esse contendens aut decretam edicto continentiam suis profanatam illecebris, praesertim cum lata frugalitatis lex ita parsimoniae formam tradiderit, ut potandi magis quam edendi liquoris facultas inhibita videretur. 3 Tum rex obtestans deos per communem iurare salutem tale quid deinceps audentem capitaliter esse plexurum. 4 Ille mortem temperantia leviorem vitamque quam luxum deponere tolerabilius ratus, rursum aquis excoquit frugem, detostoque liquore, cum se nullam ulterius excusandae cupiditatis defensionem obiecturum speraret, palam potioni indulgendo ad calicum usum libera se fronte convertit, astuque in audaciam verso, regiam animadversionem opperiri quam frugi fieri maluit.

A second time he was summoned by the king on the charge of disobeying his regulation. Yet he did not even theft cease to defend his act, but maintained that he had in no wise contravened the royal decree, and that the temperance prescribed by the ordinance had been in no way violated by that which allured him; especially as the thrift ordered in the law of plain living was so described, that it was apparently forbidden to drink liquor, but not to eat it. Then the king called heaven to witness, and swore by the general good, that if he ventured on any such thing hereafter he would punish him with death. But the man thought that death was not so bad as temperance, and that it was easier to quit life than luxury; and he again boiled the grain in water, and then fermented the liquor; whereupon, despairing of any further plea to excuse his appetite, he openly indulged in drink, and turned to his cups again unabashed. Giving up cunning for effrontery, he chose rather to await the punishment of the king than to turn sober.

Dan 8.12.4 (p. 237,9)

1 Interrogante ergo rege, cur toties rei interdictae licentiam usurpasset: 'Desiderium hoc', inquit, 'rex, non tam aviditas mea quam habita in te benevolentia peperit; funeribus enim regiis inferias convivio persolvendas memineram. 2 Itaque ne epulum, quo tuae peragantur exsequiae, ob fermenti inopiam sollemni potionis usu careat, industria potius quam ingluvie ductus prohibiti liquoris temperamento providi. 3 Te autem ante alios inedia periturum prioremque busto opus habiturum non ambigo, cum ob hoc inusitatam parcitatis legem tuleris, quod defuturam tibi primum alimoniam verearis. 4 Tibi quippe, non aliis consulendo novum avaritiae auctorem agere sustines.' 5 Tam urbana hominis cavillatio iram regis in ruborem convertit. 6 Qui cum publicae salutis decretum in ludibrium sui recidisse conspiceret, omisso communis utilitatis consilio, revocavit edictum sententiamque solvere quam civium offensam contrahere maluit.

Therefore, when the king asked him why he had so often made free to use the forbidden thing, he said: "O king, this craving is begotten, not so much of my thirst, as of my goodwill towards thee! For I remembered that the funeral rites of a king must be paid with a drinking-bout. Therefore, led by good judgment more than the desire to swill, I have, by mixing the forbidden liquid, taken care that the feast whereat thy obsequies are performed should not, by reason of the scarcity of corn, lack the due and customary drinking. Now I do not doubt that thou wilt perish of famine before the rest, and be the first to need a tomb; for thou hast passed this strange law of thrift in fear that thou wilt be thyself the first to lack food. Thou art thinking for thyself, and not for others, when thou bringest thyself to start such strange miserly ways." This witty quibbling turned the anger of the king into shame; and when he saw that his ordinance for the general good came home in mockery to himself, he thought no more of the public profit, but revoked the edict, relaxing his purpose sooner than anger his subjects.

Dan 8.13.1 (p. 237,22)

1 Cumque, ut dixi, sive parum compluta humo seu nimium torrida, torpentibus satis ac parce fructificantibus campis, inediae languor defectam escis regionem attereret, nullumque, parum suppetentibus alimentis, trahendae famis superesset auxilium, Aggone atque Ebbone auctoribus plebiscito provisum est, ut, senibus ac parvulis caesis omnique demum imbelli aetate regno egesta, robustis dumtaxat patria donaretur, nec nisi aut armis aut agris colendis habiles domestici laris paternorumque penatium habitacula retinerent. 2 Quorum mater Gambaruc, id ad se deferentibus filiis, cum a scelesti decreti auctoribus salutem in crimine repositam animadverteret, damnata contionis sententia, necessitatem parricidio redimi oportere negabat, propius honestati consilium fore asserens animorumque ac corporum virtuti expetibilius, ut, servata erga parentes ac liberos pietate, patria excessuri sorte deligerentur. 3 Quae si senes invalidos obtulisset, robustiores se eorum loco exsilio offerrent eiusque pondus pro debilibus perferendum sua sponte susciperent. 4 Ceterum indignos esse vita, qui illam scelere et sacrilegio comparare parentesque ac prolem tam iniquo sententiae genere persequi sustinuissent, caritatis loco crudelitatis officia peracturi. 5 Postremo cunctos male patriam demereri, apud quos parentum aut liberorum amori proprii spiritus caritas praeponderaret.

Whether it was that the soil had too little rain, or that it was too hard baked, the crops, as I have said, were slack, and the fields gave but little produce; so that the land lacked victual, and was worn with a weary famine. The stock of food began to fail, and no help was left to stave off hunger. Then, at the proposal of Agg and of Ebb, it was provided by a decree of the people that the old men and the tiny children should be slain; that all who were too young to bear arms should be taken out of the land, and only the strong should be vouchsafed their own country; that none but able-bodied soldiers and husbandmen should continue to abide under their own roofs and in the houses of their fathers. When Agg and Ebb brought news of this to their mother Gambaruk, she saw that the authors of this infamous decree had found safety in crime. Condemning the decision of the assembly, she said that it was wrong to relieve distress by murder of kindred, and declared that a plan both more honourable and more desirable for the good of their souls and bodies would be, to preserve respect towards their parents and children, and choose by lot men who should quit the country. And if the lot fell on old men and weak, then the stronger should offer to go into exile in their place, and should of their own free will undertake to bear the burden of it for the feeble. But those men who had the heart to save their lives by crime and impiety, and to prosecute their parents and their children by so abominable a decree, did not deserve life; for they would be doing a work of cruelty and not of love. Finally, all those whose own lives were dearer to them than the love of their parents or their children, deserved but ill of their country.

Dan 8.13.2 (p. 238,3)

1 Huic voci ad contionem relatae plerique suffragiis assentiebantur. 2 Igitur omnium fortunis in sortem coniectis, qui designabantur, extorres adiudicati sunt. 3 Quo evenit, ut, qui sponte necessitati parere noluerant, fortunae iudicio obsequi cogerentur. 4 Primum itaque Blekingiam advecti ac deinde Moringiam praeternavigantes ad Gutlandiam se appulerunt, ubi et, Paulo teste, auctore Frig dea Longobardorum vocabulum, quorum postea gentem condiderunt, traduntur adepti. 5 Tandem ad Rugiam se applicantes desertisque navigiis solidum iter ingressi, cum multam terrarum partem emensi armisque depopulati essent, post editas late strages postremo, petitis in Italia sedibus, priscum gentis vocabulum suo nomine permutarunt.

These words were reported to the assembly, and assented to by the vote of the majority. So the fortunes of all were staked upon the lot and those upon whom it fell were doomed to be banished. Thus those who had been loth to obey necessity of their own accord had now to accept the award of chance. So they sailed first to Bleking, and then, sailing past Moring, they came to anchor at Gothland; where, according to Paulus, they are said to have been prompted by the goddess Frigg to take the name of the Longobardi (Lombards), whose nation they afterwards founded. In the end they landed at Rugen, and, abandoning their ships, began to march overland. They crossed and wasted a great portion of the world; and at last, finding an abode in Italy, changed the ancient name of the nation for their own.

Dan 8.13.3 (p. 238,13)

1 Interea Danorum tellus, rarescente cultorum opera sulcorumque vestigiis situ obductis, silvestrem induit vultum et, quasi nativi caespitis amoenitate deposita, informi succrescentium nemorum densitate perhorruit; quod praesens quoque camporum eius facies prodit. 2 Quae enim olim feracia frugum iugera fuerant, eadem nunc arboreo stipite conserta visuntur, atque ubi olim cultores, terram ultius versantes, vastas dissipavere glaebas, illic nunc enatum nemus servantia adhuc veteris culturae vestigium rura complectitur. 3 Quae nisi cultore vacua ac diuturno situ vasta mansissent, nequaquam unius ruris glaebam inter factos aratro sulcos tenacesque arborum radices partiri potuissent. 4 Colles quoque, quos in plano humandorum cadaverum cura veterum labor exstruxerat, praesens silvae congeries occupat. 5 Cernere etiam est crebros petrarum acervos silvarum saltibus intersitos, quas toto quondam rure dispersas, ne proscindendis ubique sulcis officerent, coniectis in struem molibus, rustica cura sublegit, malens exiguum agri perdere quam totum difficile reperire. 6 Unde ex eo, quod tunc exercendorum liberius arvorum gratia agrestium labor egerat, prioris aevi populus postero numerosior exstitisse perpenditur, qui brevibus agellis contentus agrestem operam citra veteris culturae vestigia cohibet. 7 Itaque praesens saeculi vultus capax quondam aristae solum nunc gignendis glandibus idoneo agrestemque stivam ac cereales culmos consita arboribus facie se permutasse miratur. 8 Et haec quidem de Snione, quam verissime potui, digesta sufficiant.

Meanwhile, the land of the Danes, where the tillers laboured less and less, and all traces of the furrows were covered with overgrowth, began to look like a forest. Almost stripped of its pleasant native turf, it bristled with the dense unshapely woods that grew up. Traces of this are yet seen in the aspect of its fields. What were once acres fertile in grain are now seen to be dotted with trunks of trees; and where of old the tillers turned the earth up deep and scattered the huge clods there has now sprung up a forest covering the fields, which still bear the tracks of ancient tillage. Had not these lands remained untilled and desolate with long overgrowth, the tenacious roots of trees could never have shared the soil of one and the same land with the furrows made by the plough. Moreover, the mounds which men laboriously built up of old on the level ground for the burial of the dead are now covered by a mass of woodland. Many piles of stones are also to be seen interspersed among the forest glades. These were once scattered over the whole country, but the peasants carefully gathered the boulders and piled them into a heap that they might not prevent furrows being cut in all directions; for they would sooner sacrifice a little of the land than find the whole of it stubborn. From this work, done by the toil of the peasants for the easier working of the fields, it is judged that the population in ancient times was greater than the present one, which is satisfied with small fields, and keeps its agriculture within narrower limits than those of the ancient tillage. Thus the present generation is amazed to behold that it has exchanged a soil which could once produce grain for one only fit to grow acorns, and the plough-handle and the cornstalks for a landscape studded with trees. Let this account of Snio, which I have put together as truly as I could, suffice.

Dan 8.14.1 (p. 238,34)

1 Huic succedit Biorn, itemque post ipsum Haraldus rerum assequitur summam. 2 Cuius filio Gormoni inter priscos Danorum duces non infimae laudis locum rerum strenue gestarum titulus tribuit. 3 Hic enim novum audaciae genus complexus, hereditarium fortitudinis spiritum scrutandis rerum naturae vestigiis quam armis excolere maluit, utque alios regum ardor bellicus, ita ipsum cognoscendorum mirabilium, quaecumque vel experimento deprehensa vel rumore vulgata fuerant, praecordialis stimulabat aviditas. 4 Cumque esset externa atque inusitata visendi cupidus, experiendam prae ceteris duxit Geruthi cuiusdam sedium acceptam a Tylensibus famam. 5 Incredibilia enim ab iis super opum inibi congestarum magnitudine iactabantur, sed iter omnino refertum periculo ac paene mortalibus invium ferebatur. 6 Ambitorem namque terrarum Oceanum navigandum, solem postponendum ac sidera, sub Chao peregrinandum ac demum in loca lucis expertia iugibusque tenebris obnoxia transeundum expertorum assertione constabat. 7 Sed in iuvenili animo circumstantis periculi metum non tam praedae quam gloriae cupido calcabat, multum sibi claritatis accessurum sperante, si rem admodum intentatam auderet.

Snio was succeeded by BIORN; and after him HARALD became sovereign. Harald's son GORM won no mean place of honour among the ancient generals of the Danes by his record of doughty deeds. For he ventured into fresh fields, preferring to practise his inherited valour, not in war, but in searching the secrets of nature; and, just as other kings are stirred by warlike ardour, so his heart thirsted to look into marvels; either what he could experience himself, or what were merely matters of report. And being desirous to go and see all things foreign and extraordinary, he thought that he must above all test a report which he had heard from the men of Thule concerning the abode of a certain Geirrod. For they boasted past belief of the mighty piles of treasure in that country, but said that the way was beset with peril, and hardly passable by mortal man. For those who had tried it declared that it was needful to sail over the ocean that goes round the lands, to leave the sun and stars behind, to journey down into chaos, and at last to pass into a land where no light was and where darkness reigned eternally. But the warrior trampled down in his soul all fear of the dangers that beset him. Not that he desired booty, but glory; for he hoped for a great increase of renown if he ventured on a wholly unattempted quest.

Dan 8.14.2 (p. 239,13)

1 Trecentis idem cum rege votum nuncupantibus, auctorem famae Thorkillum itineris ducem assumi placuit, utpote locorum gnarum peritumque adeundae regionis eius. 2 Is, officio non recusato, adversum inusitatam navigandi maris saevitiam firmiore structurae genere nodisque crebrioribus ac consertioribus clavis praeparanda iubet navigia solidari, eademque magnis repleri commeatibus ac bovinis superne tergoribus claudi, quae intrinseca navium spatia ab incursantium undarum aspergine tuerentur. 3 Inde tribus dumtaxat liburnis navigatio tenditur, unaquaque centenos capiente delectos.

Three hundred men announced that they had the same desire as the king; and he resolved that Thorkill, who had brought the news, should be chosen to guide them on the journey, as he knew the ground and was versed in the approaches to that country. Thorkill did not refuse the task, and advised that, to meet the extraordinary fury of the sea they had to cross, strongly-made vessels should be built, fitted with many knotted cords and close-set nails, filled with great store of provision, and covered above with ox-hides to protect the inner spaces of the ships from the spray of the waves breaking in. Then they sailed off in only three galleys, each containing a hundred chosen men.

Dan 8.14.3 (p. 239,21)

1 At ubi in Halogiam ventum, secundis flatibus destituti, varia pelagi iactatione dubiis navigationis casibus agebantur. 2 Tandem per summam alimentorum inopiam etiam pane defecti, exiguae pultis usu traxere famem. 3 Interiectis diebus eminus perstrepentem procellae fragorem perinde ac scopulos inundantis exaudiunt. 4 Igitur, intellecta telluris vicinia, agilitatis eximae iuvenis speculandae rei gratia cacumen mali conscendere iussus, praerupti situs insulam in conspectu esse denuntiat. 5 Laeti omnes regionem, quae ab eo significabatur, avidis insequuntur luminibus, attente promissi litoris praesidium exspectantes. 6 Cuius tandem aditum nacti, in editiorem soli partem per obstantes clivos praealtis callibus enituntur.

Now when they had come to Halogaland (Helgeland), they lost their favouring breezes, and were driven and tossed divers ways over the seas in perilous voyage. At last, in extreme want of food, and lacking even bread, they staved off hunger with a little pottage. Some days passed, and they heard the thunder of a storm brawling in the distance, as if it were deluging the rocks. By this perceiving that land was near, they bade a youth of great nimbleness climb to the masthead and look out; and he reported that a precipitous island was in sight. All were overjoyed, and gazed with thirsty eyes at the country at which he pointed, eagerly awaiting the refuge of the promised shore. At last they managed to reach it, and made their way out over the heights that blocked their way, along very steep paths, into the higher ground.

Dan 8.14.4 (p. 239,31)

1 Tunc Thorkillus ex armentis, quae in maritimis frequentia discurrebant, supra quod semel leniendae fami sufficeret, negat esse tollendum; futurum enim, si secus agerent, ut a diis loci praesidibus discedendi potentia privarentur. 2 At nautae, magis prorogandae satietatis quam servandi imperii cupidiores, incitamento gulae salutis consilium subiecerunt, exhausta navium gremia caesorum gregum corporibus onerantes. 3 Qui ideo captu perfaciles exstitere, quod ad inusitatos virorum aspectus, firmato pavore, mirabundi convenerant.

Then Thorkill told them to take no more of the herds that were running about in numbers on the coast, than would serve once to appease their hunger. If they disobeyed, the guardian gods of the spot would not let them depart. But the seamen, more anxious to go on filling their bellies than to obey orders, postponed counsels of safety to the temptations of gluttony, and loaded the now emptied holds of their ships with the carcases of slaughtered cattle. These beasts were very easy to capture, because they gathered in amazement at the unwonted sight of men, their fears being made bold.

Dan 8.14.5 (p. 239,38)

1 Nocte insequenti monstra, litori involantia ac toto concrepantia nemore, conclusas obsedere puppes. 2 Quorum unum ceteris grandius, ingenti fuste armatum, profundum passibus emetiebatur. 3 Idem propius admotum vociferari coepit non ante enavigaturos, quam fusi gregis iniuriam expiando, viris pro navium numero traditis, divini pecoris damna pensassent. 4 Cuius minis obsecutus Thorkillus, ut universorum incolumitatem paucorum discrimine tueretur, tres sorte denotatos exhibuit.

On the following night monsters dashed down upon the shore, filled the forest with clamour, and beleaguered and beset the ships. One of them, huger than the rest, strode over the waters, armed with a mighty club. Coming close up to them, he bellowed out that they should never sail away till they had atoned for the crime they had committed in slaughtering the flock, and had made good the losses of the herd of the gods by giving up one man for each of their ships. Thorkill yielded to these threats; and, in order to preserve the safety of all by imperilling a few, singled out three men by lot and gave them up.

Dan 8.14.6 (p. 240,4)

1 Quo facto, optato vento excepti in ulteriorem Byarmiam navigant. 2 Regio est perpetui frigoris capax praealtisque offusa nivibus, ne vim quidem fervoris persentiscit aestivi, inviorum abundans nemorum, frugum haud ferax inusitatisque alibi bestiis frequens. 3 Crebri in ea fluvii ob insitas alveis cautes stridulo spumantique volumine perferuntur. 4 Illic Thorkillus, subductis navibus, tendi in litore iubet, eo loci perventum astruens, unde brevis ad Geruthum transitus foret. 5 Prohibuit etiam ullum cum supervenientibus miscere sermonem, affirmans monstra nullo magis nocendi vim quam advenarum verbis parum comiter editis sumere, ideoque socios silentio tutiores exsistere; se vero solum tuto profari posse, qui prius gentis eius mores habitumque perviderit.

This done, a favouring wind took them, and they sailed to further Permland. It is a region of eternal cold, covered with very deep snows, and not sensible to the force even of the summer heats; full of pathless forests, not fertile in grain and haunted by beasts uncommon elsewhere. Its many rivers pour onwards in a hissing, foaming flood, because of the reefs imbedded in their channels. Here Thorkill drew up his ships ashore, and bade them pitch their tents on the beach, declaring that they had come to a spot whence the passage to Geirrod would be short. Moreover, he forbade them to exchange any speech with those that came up to them, declaring that nothing enabled the monsters to injure strangers so much as uncivil words on their part: it would be therefore safer for his companions to keep silence; none but he, who had seen all the manners and customs of this nation before, could speak safely.

Dan 8.14.7 (p. 240,14)

1 Crepusculo appetente, inusitatae magnitudinis vir, nominatim salutatis nauticis, intervenit. 2 Stupentibus cunctis, Thorkillus adventum eius alacriter excipiendum admonuit, Guthmundum hunc esse docens, Geruthi fratrem, cunctorum illic applicantium piissimum inter pericula protectorem. 3 Percontantique, quid ita ceteri silentium colerent, refert rudes admodum linguae eius ignoti pudere sermonis. 4 Tum Guthmundus hospitio invitatos curriculis excipit. 5 Procedentibus amnis aureo ponte permeabilis cernitur. 6 Cuius transeundi cupidos a proposito revocavit, docens eo alveo humana a monstruosis secrevisse naturam nec mortalibus ultra fas esse vestigiis.

As twilight approached, a man of extraordinary bigness greeted the sailors by their names, and came among them. All were aghast, but Thorkill told them to greet his arrival cheerfully, telling them that this was Gudmund, the brother of Geirrod, and the most faithful guardian in perils of all men who landed in that spot. When the man asked why all the rest thus kept silence, he answered that they were very unskilled in his language, and were ashamed to use a speech they did not know. Then Gudmund invited them to be his guests, and took them up in carriages. As they went forward, they saw a river which could be crossed by a bridge of gold. They wished to go over it, but Gudmund restrained them, telling them that by this channel nature had divided the world of men from the world of monsters, and that no mortal track might go further.

Dan 8.14.8 (p. 240,23)

1 Subinde ad ipsa ductoris penetralia pervenitur. 2 Illic Thorkillus, seductis copiis, hortari coepit, ut inter tentamentorum genera, quae varius obtulisset eventus, industrios viros agerent atque a peregrinis sibi dapibus temperantes propriis corpora sustentanda curarent discretasque ab indigenis sedes peterent, eorum neminem discubitu contingendo. 3 Fore enim illius escae participibus inter horridos monstrorum greges, amissa cunctorum memoria, sordida semper communione degendum. 4 Nec minus ministris eorum ac populis abstinendum edocuit.

Then they reached the dwelling of their guide; and here Thorkill took his companions apart and warned them to behave like men of good counsel amidst the divers temptations chance might throw in their way; to abstain from the food of the stranger, and nourish their bodies only on their own; and to seek a seat apart from the natives, and have no contact with any of them as they lay at meat. For if they partook of that food they would lose recollection of all things, and must live for ever in filthy intercourse amongst ghastly hordes of monsters. Likewise he told them that they must keep their hands off the servants and the cups of the people.

Dan 8.14.9 (p. 240,31)

1 Duodecim filii Guthmundi egregia indole totidemque filiae praeclui forma circumsteterant mensas. 2 Qui cum regem a suis dumtaxat illata delibare conspiceret, beneficii repulsam obiciens iniuriosum hospiti querebatur. 3 Nec Thorkillo competens facti excusatio defuit. 4 Quippe insolito cibo utentes plerumque graviter affici solere commemorat, regemque, non tam alieni obsequii ingratum quam propriae sospitatis studiosum, consueto more corpus curantem domesticis cenam obsoniis instruxisse. 5 Igitur haudquaquam contemptui imputari debere, quod fugiendae pestis salutari gereretur affectu.

Round the table stood twelve noble sons of Gudmund, and as many daughters of notable beauty. When Gudmund saw that the king barely tasted what his servants brought, he reproached him with repulsing his kindness, and complained that it was a slight on the host. But Thorkill was not at a loss for a fitting excuse. He reminded him that men who took unaccustomed food often suffered from it seriously, and that the king was not ungrateful for the service rendered by another, but was merely taking care of his health, when he refreshed himself as he was wont, and furnished his supper with his own viands. An act, therefore, that was only done in the healthy desire to escape some bane, ought in no wise to be put down to scorn.

Dan 8.14.10 (p. 240,39)

1 Videns autem Guthmundus apparatus sui fraudem hospitum frugalitate delusam, cum abstinentiam hebetare non posset, pudicitiam labefactare constituit, omnibus ingenii nervis ad debilitandam eorum temperantiam inhians. 2 Regi enim filiae matrimonium offerens, ceteris, quascumque e famulitio peterent, potiendas esse promittit. 3 Plerisque rem approbantibus, Thorkillus hunc quoque illecebrarum lapsum, sicut et ceteros, salubri monitu praecurrit, industriam suam inter cautum hospitem ac laetum convivam egregia moderatione partitus. 4 Quattuor e Danis oblatum amplexi, saluti libidinem praetulerunt. 5 Quod contagium lymphatos inopesque mentis effectos pristina rerum memoria spoliavit; quippe post id factum parum animo constitisse traduntur. 6 Qui si mores intra debitos temperantiae fines continuissent, Herculeos aequassent titulos, giganteam animo fortitudinem superassent perenniterque patriae mirificarum rerum insignes exstitissent auctores.

Now when Gudmund saw that the temperance of his guest had baffled his treacherous preparations, he determined to sap their chastity, if he could not weaken their abstinence, and eagerly strained every nerve of his wit to enfeeble their self-control. For he offered the king his daughter in marriage, and promised the rest that they should have whatever women of his household they desired. Most of them inclined to his offer: but Thorkill by his healthy admonitions prevented them, as he had done before, from falling into temptation. With wonderful management Thorkill divided his heed between the suspicious host and the delighted guests. Four of the Danes, to whom lust was more than their salvation, accepted the offer; the infection maddened them, distraught their wits, and blotted out their recollection: for they are said never to have been in their right mind after this. If these men had kept themselves within the rightful bounds of temperance, they would have equalled the glories of Hercules, surpassed with their spirit the bravery of giants, and been ennobled for ever by their wondrous services to their country.

Dan 8.14.11 (p. 241,11)

1 Adhuc Guthmundus propositi pertinacia dolum intendere perseverans, collaudatis horti sui deliciis, eo regem percipiendorum fructuum gratia perducere laborabat, blandimentis visus illecebrisque gulae cautelae constantiam elidere cupiens. 2 Adversum quas insidias rex Thorkillo, ut prius auctore firmatus, simulatae humanitatis obsequium sprevit, utendi excusationem a maturandi itineris negotio mutuatus. 3 Cuius prudentiae Guthmundus suam in omnibus cessisse considerans, spe peragendae fraudis abiecta, cunctos in ulteriorem fluminis ripam transvectos iter exsequi passus est.

Gudmund, stubborn to his purpose, and still spreading his nets, extolled the delights of his garden, and tried to lure the king thither to gather fruits, desiring to break down his constant wariness by the lust of the eye and the baits of the palate. The king, as before, was strengthened against these treacheries by Thorkill, and rejected this feint of kindly service; he excused himself from accepting it on the plea that he must hasten on his journey. Gudmund perceived that Thorkill was shrewder than he at every point; so, despairing to accomplish his treachery, he carried them all across the further side of the river, and let them finish their journey.

Dan 8.14.12 (p. 241,19)

1 Progressi atrum incultumque oppidum, vaporanti maxime nubi simile, haud procul abesse prospectant. 2 Pali propugnaculis intersiti desecta virorum capita praeferebant. 3 Eximiae ferocitatis canes tuentes aditum prae foribus excubare conspecti. 4 Quibus Thorkillus cornu abdomine illitum collambendum obiciens, incitatissimam rabiem parvula mitigavit impensa. 5 Superne portarum introitus patuit; quem scalis aequantes arduo potiuntur ingressu. 6 Atrae deintus informesque larvae conferserant urbem, quarum perstrepentes imagines aspicere horridius an audire fuerit, nescias; foeda omnia, putidumque caenum adeuntium nares intolerabili halitu fatigabat. 7 Deinde conclave saxeum, cui Geruthum fama erat pro regia assuevisse, reperiunt. 8 Cuius artam horrendamque crepidinem invisere statuentes, repressis gradibus in ipso paventes aditu constiterunt.

They went on; and saw, not far off, a gloomy, neglected town, looking more like a cloud exhaling vapour. Stakes interspersed among the battlements showed the severed heads of warriors and dogs of great ferocity were seen watching before the doors to guard the entrance. Thorkill threw them a horn smeared with fat to lick, and so, at slight cost, appeased their most furious rage. High up the gates lay open to enter, and they climbed to their level with ladders, entering with difficulty. Inside the town was crowded with murky and misshapen phantoms, and it was hard to say whether their shrieking figures were more ghastly to the eye or to the ear; everything was foul, and the reeking mire afflicted the nostrils of the visitors with its unbearable stench. Then they found the rocky dwelling which Geirrod was rumoured to inhabit for his palace. They resolved to visit its narrow and horrible ledge, but stayed their steps and halted in panic at the very entrance.

Dan 8.14.13 (p. 241,31)

1 Tunc Thorkillus, haerentes animo circumspiciens, cunctationem introitus virili adhortatione discussit, monens temperaturos sibi, ne ullam ineundae aedis supellectilem, tametsi possessu iucunda aut oculis grata videretur, attingerent, animosque tam ab omni avaritia aversos quam a metu remotos haberent, neque vel captu suavia concupiscerent vel spectatu horrida formidarent, quamquam in summa utriusque rei forent copia versaturi. 2 Fore enim, ut avidae capiendi manus subita nexus pertinacia a re tacta divelli nequirent et quasi inextricabili cum illa vinculo nodarentur. 3 Ceterum composite quaternos ingredi iubet. 4 Quorum Broderus et Buchi primi aditum tentant; hos cum rege Thorkillus insequitur; ceteri deinde compositis gradiuntur ordinibus.

Then Thorkill, seeing that they were of two minds, dispelled their hesitation to enter by manful encouragement, counselling them, to restrain themselves, and not to touch any piece of gear in the house they were about to enter, albeit it seemed delightful to have or pleasant to behold; to keep their hearts as far from all covetousness as from fear; neither to desire what was pleasant to take, nor dread what was awful to look upon, though they should find themselves amidst abundance of both these things. If they did, their greedy hands would suddenly be bound fast, unable to tear themselves away from the thing they touched, and knotted up with it as by inextricable bonds. Moreover, they should enter in order, four by four. Broder and Buchi (Buk?) were the first to show courage to attempt to enter the vile palace; Thorkill with the king followed them, and the rest advanced behind these in ordered ranks.

Dan 8.14.14 (p. 242,1)

1 Aedes, deintus obsoleta per totum ac vi taeterrimi vaporis offusa, cunctorum, quibus oculus aut mens offendi poterat, uberrima cernebatur. 2 Postes longaeva fuligine illiti, obductus illuvie paries, compactum e spiculis tectum, instratum colubris pavimentum atque omni sordium genere respersum inusitato advenas spectaculo terruerunt. 3 Super omnia perpetui foetoris asperitas tristes lacessebat olfactus. 4 Exsanguia quoque monstrorum simulacra ferreas oneraverant sedes; denique consessuum loca plumbeae crates secreverant; liminibus horrendae ianitorum excubiae praeerant. 5 Quorum alii consertis fustibus obstrepentes, alii mutua caprigeni tergoris agitatione deformem edidere lusum. 6 Hic secundo Thorkillus, avaras temere manus ad illicita tendi prohibens, iterare monitum coepit.

Inside, the house was seen to be ruinous throughout, and filled with a violent and abominable reek. And it also teemed with everything that could disgust the eye or the mind: the door-posts were begrimed with the soot of ages, the wall was plastered with filth, the roof was made up of spear-heads, the flooring was covered with snakes and bespattered with all manner of uncleanliness. Such an unwonted sight struck terror into the strangers, and, over all, the acrid and incessant stench assailed their afflicted nostrils. Also bloodless phantasmal monsters huddled on the iron seats, and the places for sitting were railed off by leaden trellises; and hideous doorkeepers stood at watch on the thresholds. Some of these, armed with clubs lashed together, yelled, while others played a gruesome game, tossing a goat's hide from one to the other with mutual motion of goatish backs. Here Thorkill again warned the men, and forbade them to stretch forth their covetous hands rashly to the forbidden things.

Dan 8.14.15 (p. 242,12)

1 Procedentes perfractam scopuli partem nec procul in editiore quodam suggestu senem pertuso corpore discissae rupis plagae adversum residere conspiciunt. 2 Praeterea feminas tres corporeis oneratas strumis ac veluti dorsi firmitate defectas iunctos occupasse discubitus. 3 Cupientes cognoscere socios Thorkillus, qui probe rerum causas noverat, docet Thor divum, gigantea quondam insolentia lacessitum, per obluctantis Geruthi praecordia torridam egisse chalybem eademque ulterius lapsa convulsi montis latera pertudisse; feminas vero vi fulminum tactas infracti corporis damno eiusdem numinis attentati poenas pependisse firmabat.

Going on through the breach in the crag, they beheld an old man with his body pierced through, sitting not far off, on a lofty seat facing the side of the rock that had been rent away. Moreover, three women, whose bodies were covered with tumours, and who seemed to have lost the strength of their back-bones, filled adjoining seats. Thorkill's companions were very curious; and he, who well knew the reason of the matter, told them that long ago the god Thor had been provoked by the insolence of the giants to drive red-hot irons through the vitals of Geirrod, who strove with him, and that the iron had slid further, torn up the mountain, and battered through its side; while the women had been stricken by the might of his thunderbolts, and had been punished (so he declared) for their attempt on the same deity, by having their bodies broken.

Dan 8.14.16 (p. 242,21)

1 Inde digressis dolia septem zonis aureis circumligata panduntur, quibus pensiles ex argento circuli crebros inseruerant nexus. 2 Iuxta quae inusitatae beluae dens, extremitates auro praeditus, reperitur. 3 Huic adiacebat ingens bubali cornu, exquisito gemmarum fulgore operosius cultum nec caelaturae artificio vacuum; iuxta quod eximii ponderis armilla patebat. 4 Cuius immodica quidam cupiditate succensus, avaras auro manus applicuit, ignarus excellentis metalli splendore extremam occultari perniciem nitentique praedae fatalem subesse pestem. 5 Alter quoque, parum cohibendae avaritiae potens, instabiles ad cornu manus porrexit. 6 Tertius, priorum fiduciam aemulatus nec satis digitis temperans, osse humeros onerare sustinuit. 7 Quae quidem praeda uti visu iucunda, ita usu prodigialis exstitit; illices enim formas subiecta oculis species exhibebat. 8 Armilla siquidem anguem induens venenato dentium acumine eum, a quo gerebatur, appetiit; cornu in draconem extractum sui spiritum latoris eripuit; os ensem fabricans aciem praecordiis gestantis immersit. 9 Ceteri sociae cladis fortunam veriti, insontes nocentium exemplo perituros putabant, ne innocentiae quidem incolumitatem tribuendam sperantes.

As the men were about to depart thence, there were disclosed to them seven butts hooped round with belts of gold; and from these hung circlets of silver entwined with them in manifold links. Near these was found the tusk of a strange beast, tipped at both ends with gold. Close by was a vast stag-horn, laboriously decked with choice and flashing gems, and this also did not lack chasing. Hard by was to be seen a very heavy bracelet. One man was kindled with an inordinate desire for this bracelet, and laid covetous hands upon the gold, not knowing that the glorious metal covered deadly mischief, and that a fatal bane lay hid under the shining spoil. A second also, unable to restrain his covetousness, reached out his quivering hands to the horn. A third, matching the confidence of the others, and having no control over his fingers, ventured to shoulder the tusk. The spoil seemed alike lovely to look upon and desirable to enjoy, for all that met the eye was fair and tempting to behold. But the bracelet suddenly took the form of a snake, and attacked him who was carrying it with its poisoned tooth; the horn lengthened out into a serpent, and took the life of the man who bore it; the tusk wrought itself into a sword, and plunged into the vitals of its bearer. The rest dreaded the fate of perishing with their friends, and thought that the guiltless would be destroyed like the guilty; they durst not hope that even innocence would be safe.

Dan 8.14.17 (p. 242,37)

1 Alterius deinde tabernaculi postica angustiorem indicante secessum, quoddam uberioris thesauri secretarium aperitur, in quo arma humanorum corporum habitu grandiora panduntur. 2 Inter quae regium paludamentum, cultiori coniunctum pilleo, ac mirifici operis cingulum visebantur. 3 Quorum Thorkillus admiratione captus, cupiditati frenos excussit, propositam animo temperantiam exuens, totiesque alios informare solitus ne proprios quidem appetitus cohibere sustinuit. 4 Amiculo enim manum inserens, ceteris consentaneum rapinae ausum temerario porrexit exemplo.

Then the side-door of another room showed them a narrow alcove: and a privy chamber with a yet richer treasure was revealed, wherein arms were laid out too great for those of human stature. Among these were seen a royal mantle, a handsome hat, and a belt marvellously wrought. Thorkill, struck with amazement at these things, gave rein to his covetousness, and cast off all his purposed self-restraint. He who so oft had trained others could not so much as conquer his own cravings. For he laid his hand upon the mantle, and his rash example tempted the rest to join in his enterprise of plunder.

Dan 8.14.18 (p. 243,7)

1 Quo facto, penetralia, ab imis concussa sedibus, inopinatae fluctuationis modo trepidare coeperunt. 2 Subinde a feminis conclamatum aequo diutius infandos tolerari praedones. 3 Igitur, qui prius semineces expertiaque vitae simulacra putabantur, perinde ac feminarum vocibus obsecuti, e suis repente sedibus dissultantes vehementi incursu advenas appetebant. 4 Cetera raucos extulere mugitus. 5 Tum Broderus et Buchi, ad olim nota sibi studia recurrentes, incursantes se Lamias adactis undique spiculis incessebant arcuumque ac fundarum tormentis agmen obtrivere monstrorum. 6 Nec alia vis repellendis efficacior fuit. 7 Viginti solos ex omni comitatu regio sagittariae artis interventus servavit, ceteri laniatui fuere monstris.

Thereupon the recess shook from its lowest foundations, and began suddenly to reel and totter. Straightway the women raised a shriek that the wicked robbers were being endured too long. Then they, who were before supposed to be half-dead or lifeless phantoms, seemed to obey the cries of the women, and, leaping suddenly up from their seats, attacked the strangers with furious onset. The other creatures bellowed hoarsely. But Broder and Buchi fell to their old and familiar arts, and attacked the witches, who ran at them, with a shower of spears from every side; and with the missiles from their bows and slings they crushed the array of monsters. There could be no stronger or more successful way to repulse them; but only twenty men out of all the king's company were rescued by the intervention of this archery; the rest were torn in pieces by the monsters.

Dan 8.14.19 (p. 243,17)

1 Regressos ad amnem superstites Guthmundus navigio traicit exceptosque domi, cum diu ac multum exoratos retentare non posset, ad ultimum donatos abire permisit. 2 Hic Buchi parum diligens sui custos, laxatis continentiae nervis, virtute, qua hactenus fruebatur, abiecta, unam e filiabus eius irrevocabili amore complexus, exitii sui connubium impetravit, moxque repentino verticis circuitu actus, pristinum memoriae habitum perdidit. 3 Ita egregius ille tot monstrorum domitor, tot periculorum subactor, unius virginis facibus superatus, peregrinatum a continentia animum miserabili iugo voluptatis inseruit. 4 Qui cum abiturum regem honestatis causa prosequeretur, vadum curriculo transiturus, altius desidentibus rotis, vi verticum implicatus absumitur.

The survivors returned to the river, and were ferried over by Gudmund, who entertained them at his house. Long and often as he besought them, he could not keep them back; so at last he gave them presents and let them go. Buchi relaxed his watch upon himself; his self-control became unstrung, and he forsook the virtue in which he hitherto rejoiced. For he conceived an incurable love for one of the daughters of Gudmund, and embraced her; but he obtained a bride to his undoing, for soon his brain suddenly began to whirl, and he lost his recollection. Thus the hero who had subdued all the monsters and overcome all the perils was mastered by passion for one girl; his soul strayed far from temperance, and he lay under a wretched sensual yoke. For the sake of respect, he started to accompany the departing king; but as he was about to ford the river in his carriage, his wheels sank deep, he was caught up in the violent eddies and destroyed.

Dan 8.14.20 (p. 243,27)

1 Rex amici casum gemitu prosecutus, maturata navigatione discessit. 2 Qua primum prospera usus, deinde adversa quassatus, periclitatis inedia sociis paucisque adhuc superstitibus, religionem animo intulit atque ad vota superis nuncupanda confugit, extremae necessitatis praesidium in deorum ope consistere iudicans. 3 Denique, aliis varias deorum potentias exorantibus ac diversae numinum maiestati rem divinam fieri oportere censentibus, ipse Utgarthilocum votis pariter ac propitiamentis aggressus, prosperam exoptati sideris temperiem assecutus est.

The king bewailed his friend's disaster and departed hastening on his voyage. This was at first prosperous, but afterwards he was tossed by bad weather; his men perished of hunger, and but few survived, so that he began to feel awe in his heart, and fell to making vows to heaven, thinking the gods alone could help him in his extreme need. At last the others besought sundry powers among the gods, and thought they ought to sacrifice to the majesty of divers deities; but the king, offering both vows and peace-offerings to Utgarda-Loki, obtained that fair season of weather for which he prayed.

Dan 8.15.1 (p. 243,35)

1 Domum veniens, cum tot maria se totque labores emensum animadverteret, fessum aerumnis spiritum a negotiis procul habendum ratus, petito ex Suetia matrimonio, superioris studii habitum otii meditatione mutavit. 2 Vita quoque per summum securitatis usum exacta, ad ultimum paene aetatis suae finem provectus, cum probabilibus quorundam argumentis animas immortales esse compertum haberet, quasnam sedes esset, exuto membris spiritu, petiturus, aut quid praemii propensa numinum veneratio mereretur, cogitatione secum varia disquirebat.

Coming home, and feeling that he had passed through all these seas and toils, he thought it was time for his spirit, wearied with calamities, to withdraw from his labours. So he took a queen from Sweden, and exchanged his old pursuits for meditative leisure. His life was prolonged in the utmost peace and quietness; but when he had almost come to the end of his days, certain men persuaded him by likely arguments that souls were immortal; so that he was constantly turning over in his mind the questions, to what abode he was to fare when the breath left his limbs, or what reward was earned by zealous adoration of the gods.

Dan 8.15.2 (p. 244,6)

1 Haec volventem subeunt quidam parum benigni in Thorkillum animi, docentes divino opus esse concultu tantaeque rei certitudinem, humano altiorem ingenio nec mortalibus cognitu facilem, caelestibus expetendam oraculis. 2 Quamobrem propitiandum esse Utgarthilocum, neminemque id Thorkillo aptius exsecuturum. 3 Fuere quoque, qui eundem insidiarum reum ac regii capitis hostem deferrent. 4 Qui cum ultimo se periculo destinari videret, criminationis auctores profectionis comites expetivit. 5 Tum, qui insontem notaverant, periculum alieno capiti praeparatum in se ipsos recidisse cernentes, consultum revocare tentabant. 6 Sed frustra regias aures implentes, etiam pavoris increpiti, Thorkillo duce navigare coguntur. 7 Ita excogitatis in alterum malis auctorem plerumque adigi necesse est. 8 Qui cum se inevitabili discriminis necessitate districtos animadverterent, navigium taurinis obstructum coriis provisis abunde commeatibus impleverunt.

While he was thus inclined, certain men who wished ill to Thorkill came and told Gorm that it was needful to consult the gods, and that assurance about so great a matter must be sought of the oracles of heaven, since it was too deep for human wit and hard for mortals to discover. Therefore, they said, Utgarda-Loki must be appeased, and no man would accomplish this more fitly than Thorkill. Others, again, laid information against him as guilty of treachery and an enemy of the king's life. Thorkill, seeing himself doomed to extreme peril, demanded that his accusers should share his journey. Then they who had aspersed an innocent man saw that the peril they had designed against the life of another had recoiled upon themselves, and tried to take back their plan. But vainly did they pester the ears of the king; he forced them to sail under the command of Thorkill, and even upbraided them with cowardice. Thus, when a mischief is designed against another, it is commonly sure to strike home to its author. And when these men saw that they were constrained, and could not possibly avoid the peril, they covered their ship with ox-hides, and filled it with abundant store of provision.

Dan 8.15.3 (p. 244,19)

1 Quo evecti eo pervenere loci, ubi regio inops, ignara siderum nec diurni luminis capax, perpetuae noctis specie caligabat. 2 Cumque diu sub inusitata caeli facie navigassent, tandem, incidente lignorum inopia, foculi nutrimentis defecti, nec suppetente decoctionis officina, crudis famem obsoniis propulerunt. 3 Verum complures vescentium ultimam pestem ab indigestae dapis satietate traxerunt. 4 Primum enim paulatim stomachis inusitato partus edulio languor irrepsit, deinde, latius manante contagio, vitalia morbus appetiit. 5 Sicque anceps utriusque intemperantiae malum, ut inediam gravem, ita gulam quoque suspectam effecerat, cum nec vesci tutum nec abstinere commodum nosceretur.

In this ship they sailed away, and came to a sunless land, which knew not the stars, was void of daylight, and seemed to overshadow them with eternal night. Long they sailed under this strange sky; at last their timber fell short, and they lacked fuel; and, having no place to boil their meat in, they staved off their hunger with raw viands. But most of those who ate contracted extreme disease, being glutted with undigested food. For the unusual diet first made a faintness steal gradually upon their stomachs; then the infection spread further, and the malady reached the vital parts. Thus there was danger in either extreme, which made it hurtful not to eat, and perilous to indulge; for it was found both unsafe to feed and bad for them to abstain.

Dan 8.15.4 (p. 244,29)

1 Igitur omnem salutis spem abicientibus - ut nervum tunc facilius rumpi solitum est, cum artius tenditur - patrocinium inopinatae commoditatis affulsit. 2 Subito enim ignis, haud procul emicare conspectus, exhaustis trahendae vitae fiduciam ingeneravit. 3 Quem Thorkillus tamquam divinitus datum remedium colligere statuens, quo sibi certiorem ad socios reditum strueret, cacumen mali infixae gemmae fulgore signavit. 4 Litore deinde potitus, subicit oculis angusti aditus artarumque faucium specum. 5 Quem, comitibus foris praestolari iussis, ingressus, duos eximiae granditatis aquilos conspicatur, corneis naribus contracta, quae fors obtulerat, igni nutrimenta praestantes. 6 Ceterum deformis introitus, obsoleti postes, ater situ paries, sordidum tectum, frequens anguibus pavimentum non oculum magis quam animum offendebant.

Then, when they were beginning to be in utter despair, a gleam of unexpected help relieved them, even as the string breaks most easily when it is stretched tightest. For suddenly the weary men saw the twinkle of a fire at no great distance, and conceived a hope of prolonging their lives. Thorkill thought this fire a heaven-sent relief, and resolved to go and take some of it. To be surer of getting back to his friends, Thorkill fastened a jewel upon the mast-head, to mark it by the gleam. When he got to the shore, his eyes fell on a cavern in a close defile, to which a narrow way led. Telling his companions to await him outside, he went in, and saw two men, swart and very huge, with horny noses, feeding their fire with any chance-given fuel. Moreover, the entrance was hideous, the door-posts were decayed, the walls grimy with mould, the roof filthy, and the floor swarming with snakes; all of which disgusted the eye as much as the mind.

Dan 8.15.5 (p. 245,3)

1 Tum gigantum alter salutatum eum rem conatu praearduam orsum esse dicebat, inusitati numinis adeundi cupiditate flagrantem atque extramundani climatis cognitionem investigabili scrutatione complexum. 2 A se autem propositi itineris semitas cogniturum, si tres veridicas sententias totidem proverbiis comprehensas expromeret. 3 Tum Thorkillus: 'Non mehercule incomptiorem naribus familiam pervidisse commemini; sed neque locum, quo minus libenter degerem, attigi'; item: 'Illum mihi pedem potiorem statuo, qui prior exitum capessere quiverit.'

Then one of the giants greeted him, and said that he had begun a most difficult venture in his burning desire to visit a strange god, and his attempt to explore with curious search an untrodden region beyond the world. Yet he promised to tell Thorkill the paths of the journey he proposed to make, if he would deliver three true judgments in the form of as many sayings. Then said Thorkill: "In good truth, I do not remember ever to have seen a household with more uncomely noses; nor have I ever come to a spot where I had less mind to live." Also he said: "That, I think, is my best foot which can get out of this foremost."

Dan 8.15.6 (p. 245,11)

1 Gigas Thorkilli prudentia delectatus, proverbiorum veritate laudata, docet ad inops graminis solum altisque offusum tenebris imprimis esse migrandum. 2 Ante autem quam destinatus possit locus accipi, navigationem quatriduo pertinaci remigio pertrahendam. 3 Illic visendum fore Utgarthilocum, taetros horrendosque specus sordida mansione complexum. 4 Thorkillus magnopere stupens, quod et longa et periculosa navigatio imperabatur, spe tamen dubia praesentem metum vincente, foculum expetivit. 5 Et gigas: 'Si ignem', inquit, 'desideras, necesse est, alias tres sententias similibus proverbiis edas.' 6 Tum Thorkillus: 'Consilio, tametsi exilis id auctor ediderit, obsequendum est.' 7 Item: 'Eo temeritatis processi, ut, si regredi quivero, salutem meam nulli magis quam pedibus debeam.' 8 Rursum: 'Si impraesentiarum recessu libere fruerer, ulterius a reditu temperandum curarem.'

The giant was pleased with the shrewdness of Thorkill, and praised his sayings, telling him that he must first travel to a grassless land which was veiled in deep darkness; but he must first voyage for four days, rowing incessantly, before he could reach his goal. There he could visit Utgarda-Loki, who had chosen hideous and grisly caves for his filthy dwelling. Thorkill was much aghast at being bidden to go on a voyage so long and hazardous; but his doubtful hopes prevailed over his present fears, and he asked for some live fuel. Then said the giant: "If thou needest fire, thou must deliver three more judgments in like sayings." Then said Thorkill: "Good counsel is to be obeyed, though a mean fellow gave it." Likewise: "I have gone so far in rashness, that if I can get back I shall owe my safety to none but my own legs." And again: "Were I free to retreat this moment, I would take good care never to come back."

Dan 8.15.7 (p. 245,23)

1 Inde, perlato ad socios igne, aurae indulgentiam nactus, quarto die ad propositum portum appulit, aggressusque cum sociis terram, apud quam continuae noctis facies alterni luminis vicissitudinem frustrabatur, aegre prospectum capientibus oculis, inusitatae molis scopulum conspicit. 2 Cuius perlustrandi cupidus a comitibus foris stationem peragentibus extusum silicibus ignem, opportunum contra daemones tutamentum, in aditu iussit accendi.

Thereupon Thorkill took the fire along to his companions; and finding a kindly wind, landed on the fourth day at the appointed harbour. With his crew he entered a land where an aspect of unbroken night checked the vicissitude of light and darkness. He could hardly see before him, but beheld a rock of enormous size. Wishing to explore it, he told his companions, who were standing posted at the door, to strike a fire from flints as a timely safeguard against demons, and kindle it in the entrance..

Dan 8.15.8 (p. 245,29)

1 Post haec, praelato per alios lumine, artis cavernae faucibus corpus subiciens, inter crebros serpentum allapsus ferreorum undique sedilium frequentiam contemplatur. 2 Inde placidior aquae moles subiectoque sabulo molliter influens conspectui obversata est. 3 Qua transita, paulo devexiorem situ speluncam aggreditur. 4 Ex qua item atrum obscenumque conclave visentibus aperitur. 5 Intra quod Utgarthilocus manus pedesque immensis catenarum molibus oneratus aspicitur, cuius olentes pili tam magnitudine quam rigore corneas aequaverant hastas. 6 Quorum unum Thorkillus, adnitentibus sociis, mento patientis excussum, quo promptior fides suis haberetur operibus, asservavit; statimque tanta foetoris vis ad circumstantes manavit, ut nisi repressis amiculo naribus respirare nequirent.

Then he made others bear a light before him, and stooped his body through the narrow jaws of the cavern, where he beheld a number of iron seats among a swarm of gliding serpents. Next there met his eye a sluggish mass of water gently flowing over a sandy bottom. He crossed this, and approached a cavern which sloped somewhat more steeply. Again, after this, a foul and gloomy room was disclosed to the visitors, wherein they saw Utgarda-Loki, laden hand and foot with enormous chains. Each of his reeking hairs was as large and stiff as a spear of cornel. Thorkill (his companions lending a hand), in order that his deeds might gain more credit, plucked one of these from the chin of Utgarda-Loki, who suffered it. Straightway such a noisome smell reached the bystanders, that they could not breathe without stopping their noses with their mantles

Dan 8.15.9 (p. 246,1)

1 Vixque egressu potiti, ab involantibus undique colubris conspuuntur. 2 Quinque dumtaxat Thorkilli comitum, ceteris veneno consumptis, navigium cum ductore conscendunt. 3 Imminent efferi daemones et in subiectos venenata passim sputa coniciunt. 4 At nautae praetentis coriorum umbraculis illapsum respuere virus. 5 Hic cuiusdam forte prospicere cupientis tactum veneno caput perinde ac ferro recisum cervici exemptum est; alius ocellos umbraculis exserens sub eadem vacuos luminum orbes retulit; alius exserta manu tegimen explicans, eiusdem tabi vi truncum ad se brachium revocavit.

They could scarcely make their way out, and were bespattered by the snakes which darted at them on every side. Only five of Thorkill's company embarked with their captain: the poison killed the rest. The demons hung furiously over them, and cast their poisonous slaver from every side upon the men below them. But the sailors sheltered themselves with their hides, and cast back the venom that fell upon them. One man by chance at this point wished to peep out; the poison touched his head, which was taken off his neck as if it had been severed with a sword. Another put his eyes out of their shelter, and when he brought them back under it they were blinded. Another thrust forth his hand while unfolding his covering, and, when he withdrew his arm, it was withered by the virulence of the same slaver.

Dan 8.15.10 (p. 246,9)

1 Igitur ceteris propensiora sibi numina nequicquam deprecantibus, Thorkillus, universitatis deum votis aggressus eique cum precibus libamenta defundens, mox purioris caeli usum ac perspicua rerum elementa prospera navigatione collegit. 2 Iamque alium sibi orbem atque ipsum rerum humanarum aditum perspicere videbantur. 3 Tandem ad Germaniam, Christianis tunc sacris initiatam, appulsus, apud eius populum divini cultus rudimenta percepit. 4 Ubi, sociorum manu ob inusitatum aeris haustum propemodum consumpta, duobus tantum, quos sors ultima praeterierat, comitatus, reditum ad patriam habuit. 5 Verum illitus ori marcor ita habitum corporis ac pristina formae lineamenta confudit, ut ne ab amicis quidem potuisset agnosci. 6 At ubi, detersa illuvie, notitiam sui visentibus reddidit, eximiam regi cognoscendae legationis aviditatem ingessit.

They besought their deities to be kinder to them; vainly, until Thorkill prayed to the god of the universe, and poured forth unto him libations as well as prayers; and thus, presently finding the sky even as before and the elements clear, he made a fair voyage. And now they seemed to behold another world, and the way towards the life of man. At last Thorkill landed in Germany, which had then been admitted to Christianity; and among its people he began to learn how to worship God. His band of men were almost destroyed, because of the dreadful air they had breathed, and he returned to his country accompanied by two men only, who had escaped the worst. But the corrupt matter which smeared his face so disguised his person and original features that not even his friends knew him. But when he wiped off the filth, he made himself recognizable by those who saw him, and inspired the king with the greatest eagerness to hear about his quest.

Dan 8.15.11 (p. 246,21)

1 Sed necdum aemulorum obtrectatione sopita, fuere, qui regem, cognitis, quae Thorkillus afferret, subito decessurum astruerent. 2 Auxit affirmationis fidem eiusdem rei falsa somnii praedictione suggesta credulitas. 3 Igitur, qui noctu Thorkillum opprimerent, regis imperio subornantur. 4 Cuius ille rei utcumque indicium nactus, clam cunctis relicto cubili, magni ponderis lignum subiecit, eoque facto, subornatis truncum caedentibus, regiae fraudis commentum elusit.

But the detraction of his rivals was not yet silenced; and some pretended that the king would die suddenly if he learnt Thorkill's tidings. The king was the more disposed to credit this saying, because he was already credulous by reason of a dream which falsely prophesied the same thing. Men were therefore hired by the king's command to slay Thorkill in the night. But somehow he got wind of it, left his bed unknown to all, and put a heavy log in his place. By this he baffled the treacherous device of the king, for the hirelings smote only the stock.

Dan 8.15.12 (p. 246,27)

1 Die postero regem corpus curantem aggressus: 'Ignosco', inquit, 'saevitiae tuae errorique veniam tribuo, qui prosperum legationis nuntium afferenti poenam pro gratia decrevisti. 2 Itaque te solum, pro quo caput tot aerumnis devovi, tot periculis contudi, quemque operum meorum gratissimum pensatorem speravi, acerrimum virtutis punitorem inveni. 3 Verum ultionis partibus praetermissis, interno animi tui rubore - si tamen ullus ingratos pudor afficit - laesionis meae vindice sum contentus. 4 Nec immerito te omnem daemonum rabiem aut beluarum saevitiam superare coniecto, quod tot monstrorum insidiis erutus a tuis immunis esse non potui.'

On the morrow Thorkill went up to the king as he sat at meat, and said: "I forgive thy cruelty and pardon thy error, in that thou hast decreed punishment, and not thanks, to him who brings good tidings of his errand. For thy sake I have devoted my life to all these afflictions, and battered it in all these perils; I hoped that thou wouldst requite my services with much gratitude; and behold! I have found thee, and thee alone, punish my valour sharpliest. But I forbear all vengeance, and am satisfied with the shame within thy heart — if, after all, any shame visits the thankless — as expiation for this wrongdoing towards me. I have a right to surmise that thou art worse than all demons in fury, and all beasts in cruelty, if, after escaping the snares of all these monsters, I have failed to be safe from thine."

Dan 8.15.13 (p. 246,36)

1 Rex, cuncta ex ipso cognoscere cupiens fatisque arduum obstare iudicans, eventuum ordinem exponere iubet. 2 Cumque per cetera avidis referentem auribus excepisset, postremo recensitam numinis sui mentionem sinistra opinione colligi passus non est. 3 Exprobratam enim Utgarthiloci foeditatem exaudire non sustinens, adeo indignitatis eius vicem doluit, ut impatientem dictorum spiritum inter ipsa narrantis recitamenta deponeret. 4 Itaque, dum vani numinis cultum cupide fovit, ubinam verus esset miseriarum carcer, agnovit. 5 Crinis quoque oliditas, quem Thorkillus, perinde atque operum suorum magnitudinem testaturum, capillitio gigantis excerpserat, in circumstantes effusa compluribus exitio fuit.

The king desired to learn everything from Thorkill's own lips; and, thinking it hard to escape destiny, bade him relate what had happened in due order. He listened eagerly to his recital of everything, till at last, when his own god was named, he could not endure him to be unfavourably judged. For he could not bear to hear Utgarda-Loki reproached with filthiness, and so resented his shameful misfortunes, that his very life could not brook such words, and he yielded it up in the midst of Thorkill's narrative. Thus, whilst he was so zealous in the worship of a false god, he came to find where the true prison of sorrows really was. Moreover, the reek of the hair, which Thorkill plucked from the locks of the giant to testify to the greatness of his own deeds, was exhaled upon the bystanders, so that many perished of it.

Dan 8.16.1 (p. 247,6)

1 Defuncto Gormone, Gotricus ex eo genitus regnat. 2 Hic non armis modo, sed etiam liberalitate conspicuus, incertum, fortior an clementior fuerit, adeoque severitatem mansuetudine castigabat, ut alteram altera rependere videretur. 3 Eodem tempore rex Norvagiae Goto, a Berone et Refone Tylensibus petitus, Refonem cultius ac familiarius habitum magni ponderis armilla donavit. 4 Quo Ulvo quidam aulicorum conspecto, magnitudinem doni impensiori laude complexus, neminem Gotoni parem humanitate firmabat. 5 At Refo, quamquam gratiam beneficio deberet, tamen immodici laudatoris tumidam vocem approbare non passus, Gotricum ei praetulit. 6 Ut enim vanam assentatoris affirmationem obtereret, absenti liberalitatis testimonium reddere quam praesentem beneficii datorem falso palpare maluit. 7 Partium quoque ingratitudinis argui quam inanis iactantiae laudem assentiendo prosequi regemque veritatis serio monere quam adulationis mendacio fallere aliquanto pretiosius duxit. 8 At Ulvo dictas in regem laudes non solum pertinaciter affirmare, sed etiam experimento prosequi perseverans, pignus cum negante proponit.

After the death of Gorm, GOTRIK his son came to the throne. He was notable not only for prowess but for generosity, and none can say whether his courage or his compassion was the greater. He so chastened his harshness with mercy, that he seemed to counterweigh the one with the other. At this time Gaut, the King of Norway, was visited by Ber (Biorn?) and Ref, men of Thule. Gaut treated Ref with attention and friendship, and presented him with a heavy bracelet. One of the courtiers, when he saw this, praised the greatness of the gift over-zealously, and declared that no one was equal to King Gaut in kindliness. But Ref, though he owed thanks for the benefit, could not approve the inflated words of this extravagant praiser, and said that Gotrik was more generous than Gaut. Wishing to crush the empty boast of the flatterer, he chose rather to bear witness to the generosity of the absent than tickle with lies the vanity of his benefactor who was present. For another thing, he thought it somewhat more desirable to be charged with ingratitude than to support with his assent such idle and boastful praise, and also to move the king by the solemn truth than to beguile him with lying flatteries. But Ulf persisted not only in stubbornly repeating his praises of the king, but in bringing them to the proof; and proposed their gainsayer a wager.

Dan 8.16.2 (p. 247,22)

1 Cuius consensu Refo in Daniam pergens, Gotricum, sella posita, stipendia inter milites partientem invenit. 2 A quo, quisnam esset, rogatus, vulpeculae sibi nomen esse respondit. 3 Cumque risu quosdam, alios admiratione complesset: 'Vulpem', inquit Gotricus, 'ore praedam excipere convenit.' 4 Ac mox detractum lacerto torquem accersiti labris inseruit. 5 Quem Refo confestim brachio applicans, id cunctis auro praeditum ostentabat, reliquum vero perinde atque ornamenti inops occultius habuit; eoque acumine ab invictae munificentiae dextera consentaneum prior munus accepit. 6 Quod ei non tam pretii magnitudo iucundum quam litis initae victoria faciebat. 7 A quo cum rex de pignoris positione cognosceret, fortuito magis quam de industria munificus erga ipsum exstitisse gaudebat, plus se voluptatis ex datione quam accipientem ex munere sentire testatus. 8 Igitur reversus Norvagiam Refo concertatorem pignus exsolvere recusantem occidit, filiamque Gotonis captivam Gotrico potiendam adducit.

With his consent Ref went to Denmark, and found Gotrik seated in state, and dealing out the pay to his soldiers. When the king asked him who he was, he said that his name was "Fox-cub" The answer filled some with mirth and some with marvel, and Gotrik said, "Yea, and it is fitting that a fox should catch his prey in his mouth." And thereupon he drew a bracelet from his arm, called the man to him, and put it between his lips. Straightway Ref put it upon his arm, which he displayed to them all adorned with gold, but the other arm he kept hidden as lacking ornament; for which shrewdness he received a gift equal to the first from that hand of matchless generosity. At this he was overjoyed, not so much because the reward was great, as because he had won his contention. And when the king learnt from him about the wager he had laid, he rejoiced that he had been lavish to him more by accident than of set purpose, and declared that he got more pleasure from the giving than the receiver from the gift. So Ref returned to Norway and slew his opponent, who refused to pay the wager. Then he took the daughter of Gaut captive, and brought her to Gotrik for his own.

Dan 8.16.3 (p. 247,36)

1 Cumque Gotricus, qui et Godefridus est appellatus, transfusis in exteros proeliis, famam ac vires felicibus propagasset auspiciis, inter cetera factorum monumenta hanc quoque Saxonibus tributi legem indixit, ut eorum duces, quoties apud Danos regni mutatio obvenisset, centum equos niveos suffecti regis initiis dedicarent. 2 Quod si novum Saxonibus ducem variata rerum successio peperisset, is quoque praedictae pensionis obsequio potestatis principium Danicae maiestatis titulis inclinaret, quo et gentis nostrae fateretur imperium et subiectionis suae sollemne praeberet indicium.

Gotrik, who is also called Godefride, carried his arms against foreigners, and increased his strength and glory by his successful generalship. Among his memorable deeds were the terms of tribute he imposed upon the Saxons; namely, that whenever a change of kings occurred among the Danes, their princes should devote a hundred snow-white horses to the new king on his accession. But if the Saxons should receive a new chief upon a change in the succession, this chief was likewise to pay the aforesaid tribute obediently, and bow at the outset of his power to the sovereign majesty of Denmark; thereby acknowledging the supremacy of our nation, and solemnly confessing his own subjection.

Dan 8.16.4 (p. 248,6)

1 Nec Germaniae quidem oppressione contentus, per Refonem legationi addictum Sueoniam tentat. 2 Quem Sueones aperta vi necare veriti, latrocinium ausi, incusso lapide dormientem consumpserunt; quippe molarem superne pensum, rescissis vinculis, subiecti cervicibus illabi fecere. 3 In cuius noxae expiationem actum est, ut singuli facinoris auctores bissena auri talenta, e plebe vero quilibet unam eiusdem generis unciam Gøtrico persolveret. 4 Vulpeculae pensionem vocabant.

Nor was it enough for Gotrik to subjugate Germany: he appointed Ref on a mission to try the strength of Sweden. The Swedes feared to slay him with open violence, but ventured to act like bandits, and killed him, as he slept, with the blow of a stone. For, hanging a millstone above him, they cut its fastenings, and let it drop upon his neck as he lay beneath. To expiate this crime it was decreed that each of the ringleaders should pay twelve golden talents, while each of the common people should pay Gotrik one ounce. Men called this "the Fox-cub's tribute". (Refsgild).

Dan 8.16.5 (p. 248,13)

1 Accidit interea, ut rex Francorum Karolus contusam bello Germaniam non solum Christianismi sacra suscipere, sed etiam dicioni suae parere compelleret. 2 Quo comperto, Gøtricus finitimas Albiae gentes adortus, Saxoniam, susceptum Karoli iugum cupidius amplexantem ac Romana arma Danicis praeferentem, ad pristinum regni sui titulum revocare tentabat. 3 Quo tempore Karolus victricia trans Rhenum castra receperat ideoque ab advenae hostis congressu, perinde ac fluvii interstitio vetitus, temperabat. 4 Quem cum ob res Gøtrici comprimendas iterato transmeare proponeret, a Leone Romanorum pontifice in urbis tuendae praesidium accersitus, mandato paruit, filio vero Pipino gerendi adversum Gøtricum belli partes commisit, ut, dum ipse in longinquum hostem ageret, hic contra vicinum susceptum pugnae negotium procuraret. 5 Oportebat enim, ut gemina curarum anxietate distractus, sparsa manu, aptum utrique remedium provideret.

Meanwhile it befell that Karl, King of the Franks, crushed Germany in war, and forced it not only to embrace the worship of Christianity, but also to obey his authority. When Gotrik heard of this, he attacked the nations bordering on the Elbe, and attempted to regain under his sway as of old the realm of Saxony, which eagerly accepted the yoke of Karl, and preferred the Roman to the Danish arms. Karl had at this time withdrawn his victorious camp beyond the Rhine, and therefore forbore to engage the stranger enemy, being prevented by the intervening river. But when he was intending to cross once more to subdue the power of Gotrik, he was summoned by Leo the Pope of the Romans to defend the city. Obeying this command, Karl intrusted his son Pepin with the conduct of the war aganst Gotrik; so that while he himself was working against a distant foe, Pepin might manage the conflict he had undertaken with his neighbour. For Karl was distracted by two anxieties, and had to furnish sufficient out of a scanty band to meet both of them.

Dan 8.16.6 (p. 248,26)

1 Interea Gøtricus, speciosam ex Saxonibus victoriam referens, contractis denuo viribus ac frequentiori copiarum robore comparato, non in Saxones modo, verum in omnem Germaniae populum amissae dominationis iniuriam ulcisci constituit. 2 Ac primo quidem classe Fresiam domat. 3 Quae provincia admodum situ humilis, quoties, saeviente Oceano, obiecta fluctibus aestuaria perrumpuntur, totam inundationis molem patentibus campis excipere consuevit. 4 Huic Gøtricus non tam artam quam inusitatam pensionem imposuit. 5 De cuius condicione et modo summatim referam.

Meanwhile Gotrik won a glorious victory over the Saxons. Then gathering new strength, and mustering a larger body of forces, he resolved to avenge the wrong he had suffered in losing his sovereignty, not only upon the Saxons, but upon the whole people of Germany. He began by subduing Friesland with his fleet. This province lies very low, and whenever the fury of the ocean bursts tho dykes that bar its waves, it is wont to receive the whole mass of the deluge over its open plains. On this country Gotrik imposed a kind of tribute, which was not so much harsh as strange. I will briefly relate its terms and the manner of it.

Dan 8.16.7 (p. 248,34)

1 Primum itaque ducentorum quadraginta pedum longitudinem habentis aedificii structura disponitur, bissenis distincta spatiis, quorum quodlibet vicenorum pedum intercapedine tenderetur, praedictae quantitatis summam totalis spatii dispendio reddente. 2 In huius itaque aedis capite regio considente quaestore, sub extremam eius partem rotundus e regione clipeus exhibetur. 3 Fresonibus igitur tributum daturis mos erat singulos nummos in huius scuti cavum conicere, e quibus eos dumtaxat in censum regium ratio computantis eligeret, qui eminus exactoris aures clarioris soni crepitaculo perstrinxissent. 4 Quo evenit, ut id solum aes quaestor in fiscum supputando colligeret, cuius casum remotiore auris indicio persensisset; cuius vero obscurior sonus citra computantis defecisset auditum, recipiebatur quidem in fiscum, sed nullum summae praestabat augmentum. 5 Compluribus igitur nummorum iactibus quaestorias aures nulla sensibili sonoritate pulsantibus, accidit, ut statam pro se stipem erogaturi multam interdum aeris partem inani pensione consumerent. 6 Cuius tributi onere per Karolum postea liberati produntur.

First, a building was arranged, two hundred and forty feet in length, and divided into twelve spaces; each of these stretching over an interval of twenty feet, and thus making together, when the whole room was exhausted, the aforesaid total. Now at the upper end of this building sat the king's treasurer, and in a line with him at its further end was displayed a round shield. When the Frisians came to pay tribute, they used to cast their coins one by one into the hollow of this shield; but only those coins which struck the ear of the distant toll-gatherer with a distinct clang were chosen by him, as he counted, to be reckoned among the royal tribute. The result was that the collector only reckoned that money towards the treasury of which his distant ear caught the sound as it fell. But that of which the sound was duller, and which fell out of his earshot, was received indeed into the treasury, but did not count as any increase to the sum paid. Now many coins that were cast in struck with no audible loudness whatever on the collector's ear, so that men who came to pay their appointed toll sometimes squandered much of their money in useless tribute. Karl is said to have freed them afterwards from the burden of this tax.

Dan 8.16.8 (p. 249,11)

1 Cumque Gøtricus, transcursa Fresia ac reverso iam Roma Karolo, in ulteriores se Germaniae provincias effundere statuisset, proprii satellitis insidiis circumventus, ferro domesticae fraudis interiit. 2 Quo audito, Karolus effuso gaudio exsultavit, nihil eo casu umquam fortunae suae Iucundius obvenisse confessus.

After Gotrik had crossed Friesland, and Karl had now come back from Rome, Gotrik determined to swoop down upon the further districts of Germany, but was treacherously attacked by one of his own servants, and perished at home by the sword of a traitor. When Karl heard this, he leapt up overjoyed, declaring that nothing more delightful had ever fallen to his lot than this happy chance.

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[1] (1) Furthest Thule — The names of Icelanders have thus crept into the account of a battle fought before the discovery of Iceland.