Skáldskaparmál
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A daughter named Áslaug lived after young Sigurdr; she was reared with Heimir in Hlymdalir, and great houses are sprung from her. It is said that Sigmundr, Völsungr's son, was so strong that he could drink venom and receive no hurt; and Sinfjötli his son and Sigurdr were so hard-skinned that no venom from without could harm them: wherefore Bragi the Skald has sung thus: When the wriggling Serpent Most skalds have made verses and divers short tales from these sagas. Bragi the Old wrote of the fall of Sörli and Hamdir in that song of praise which he composed on Ragnarr Lodbrók: Once Jörmunrekkr awakened The bloody dew of corpses, There stood the shielded swordsmen, The swirling weapons' Urger I see the heroes' slaughter
LII. Frá Fróða konungi ok kverninni Grótta "Why is gold called Fródi's Meal? This is the tale thereof: One of Odin's sons, named Skjöldr,--from whom the Skjöldungs are come,--had his abode and ruled in the realm which now is called Denmark, but then was known as Gotland. Skjöldr's son, who ruled the land after him, was named Fridleifr. Fridleifr's son was Fródi: he succeeded to the kingdom after his father, in the time when Augustus Caesar imposed peace on all the world; at that time Christ was born. But because Fródi was mightiest of all kings in the Northern lands, the peace was called by his name wherever the Danish tongue was spoken; and men call it the Peace of Fródi. No man injured any other, even though he met face to face his father's slayer or his brother's, loose or bound. Neither was there any thief nor robber then, so that a gold ring lay long on Jalangr's Heath. King Fródi went to a feast in Sweden at the court of the king who was called Fjölnir, and there he bought two maid-servants, Fenja and Menja: they were huge and strong. In that time two mill-stones were found in Denmark, so great that no one was so strong that he could turn them: the nature of the mill was such that whatsoever he who turned asked for, was ground out by the mill-stones. This mill was called Grótti. He who gave King Fródi the mill was named Hengikjöptr. King Fródi had the maid-servants led to the mill, and bade them grind gold; and they did so. First they ground gold and, peace and happiness for Fródi; then he would grant them rest or sleep no longer than the cuckoo held its peace or a song might be sung. It is said that they sang the song which is called the Lay of Grótti, and this is its beginning: Now are we come And before they ceased their singing, they ground out a host against Fródi, so that the sea-king called Mýsingr came there that same night and slew Fródi, taking much plunder. Then the Peace of Fródi was ended. Mýsingr took Grótti with him, and Fenja and Menja also, and bade them grind salt. And at midnight they asked whether Mýsingr were not weary of salt. He bade them grind longer. They had ground but a little while, when down sank the ship; and from that time there has been a whirlpool the sea where the water falls through the hole in the mill-stone. It was then that the sea became salt. "The lay of Grótti: They to the flour-mill They chanted the song They sung and slung 'Wealth grind we for Fródi, Here may no one But he spake no word 'Thou wast not, Fródi, 'Hardy was Hrungnir, Grótti had not come 'We nine winters 'We rolled the rock 'And soon after We cast down a king, 'This course we held 'Now are we come 'Hands must rest, 'The hands should hold 'Fire I see burning 'Thou shalt not hold 'My father's maid 'Grind we yet swifter! The maidens ground, And the sturdy bride Thus sang Einarr Skúlason: I have heard that Fródi's hand-maids So sang Egill: Glad are full many men
LIII. Frá Hrólfi kraka ok Vögg "Why is gold called Kraki's Seed? In Denmark there was a king called Hrólfr Kraki: he was most renowned of all ancient kings for munificence, valor, and graciousness. One evidence of his graciousness which is often brought into stories is this: A little lad and poor, Vöggr by name, came into the hall of King Hrólfr. At that time the king was young, and of slender stature. Vöggr came into his presence and looked up at him; and the king said: 'What wouldst thou say, lad, for thou lookest at me?' Vöggr answered: 'When I was at home, I heard say that Hrólfr the king at Hleidr was the greatest man in the northern lands; but now there sitteth in the high seat a little pole, and he is called King.' Then the king made answer: 'Thou, boy, hast given me a name, so that I shall be called Hrólfr the Pole (Kraki); and it is the custom that the giving of a name be accompanied by a gift. Now I see that with the name which thou has fastened on me, thou hast no gift such as would be acceptable to me, wherefore he that has wherewith to give shall give to the other.' And he took from his hand a gold ring and gave it to him. Then Vöggr said: 'Above all kings be thou most blessed of givers! Now I swear an oath that I shall be that man's slayer who slays thee.' Then spake the king, laughing loudly: 'Vöggr is pleased with a small thing.'
LIV. Frá Hrólfi hraka ok Aðilsi konungi "Another example is the tale told concerning the valor of Hrólfr Kraki: That king whom men call Adils ruled over Uppsala; he had to wife Yrsa, mother of Hrólfr Kraki. He was at strife with the king who ruled over Norway, whose name was Ali; the two joined battle on the ice of the lake called Vaeni. King Adils sent an embassy to Hrólfr Kraki, his stepson, praying him to come to his aid, and promised wages to all his host so long as they should be away; King Hrólfr himself should have three precious gifts, whatsoever three he might choose from all Sweden. King Hrólfr could not make the journey in person, owing to the strife in which he was engaged with the Saxons; but he sent to Adils his twelve berserks: Bödvar-Bjarki was there for one, and Hjalti the Stout-Hearted, Hvítserkr the Stern, Vöttr Véseti, and the brethren Svipdagr and Beigudr. In that battle King Áli fell, and the great part of his host with him; and King Adils took from him in death the helm Battle-Swine and his horse Raven. Then the berserks of Hrólfr Kraki demanded for their hire three pounds of gold for each man of them; and in addition they required that they might bear to Hrólfr Kraki those gifts of price which they had chosen for him: which were the Helm Battle-Boar and the birnie Finn's Heritage,--on neither of which iron would take hold,--and the gold ring which was called Pig of the Swedes, which Adils' forefathers had had. But the king denied them all these things, nor did he so much as pay their hire: the berserks went away ill-pleased with their share, and told the state of things to Hrólfr Kraki. "Straightway he begin his journey to Uppsala; and when he had brought his ships into the river Fýri, he rode at once to Uppsala, and his twelve berserks with him, all without safe-conduct. Yrsa, his mother, welcomed him and led him to lodgings, but not to the king's hall: fires were made there before them, and ale was given them to drink. Then men of King Adils came in and heaped firewood onto the fire, and made it so great that the clothes were burnt off Hrólfr and his men. And the fellows spake: 'Is it true that Hrólfr Kraki and his berserks shun neither fire nor iron?' Then Hrólfr Kraki leapt up, and all they that were with him; and he said: 'Add we to the fire took his shield and cast it onto the fire, and leapt over the flames, while the shield burnt; and he spake again: 'He flees not the flames Even so did his men, one after another; and they laid hands on those fellows who had heaped up the fire, and cast them into the flames. Then Yrsa came and gave Hrólfr Kraki a deer's horn full of gold, the ring Pig of the Swedes being with the gold; and she bade them ride away to the host. They vaulted onto their horses and rode down into the Plain of the Fýri; and soon they saw King Adils riding after them with his host all in armor, hoping to slay them. Then Hrólfr Kraki plunged his right hand down into the horn, grasped the gold, and strewed it all about the road. When the Swedes saw that, they leapt down out of their saddles, and each took up as much as he could lay hold of; but King Adils bade them ride on, and himself rode furiously . His horse was called Slöngvir, swiftest of all horses. Then Hrólfr Kraki saw that King Adils was drawing close up to him, took the ring, Pig of the Swedes, and threw it toward him, and bade him receive it as a gift. King Adils rode at the ring and thrust at it with his spear-point, and let it slide down over the shaft-socket. Then Hrólfr Kraki turned back and saw how he bent down, and spake: 'Now I have made him who is mightiest of Swedes stoop as a swine stoops.' Thus they parted. For this cause gold is called Seed of Kraki or of Fýri's Plain. Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler: God of the blade of battle, Even as Thjódólfr sang: The king sows the bright seed-corn
"It is said that the king called Hölgi, from whom Hálogaland is named, was the father of Thorgerdr Hölgabrúdr; sacrifice was made to both of them, and a cairn was raised over Hölgi: one layer of gold or silver (that was the sacrificial money), and another layer of mould and stones. Thus sang Skúli Thorsteinsson: When I reddened Reifnir's Roof-Bane,
In the ancient Bjarkamál many terms for gold are told: it says there: The king most gift-gracious The free-handed Lord gave, The warrior rejoiced; Gold is metaphorically termed Fire of the Hand, or of the Limb, or of the Leg, because it is red; but silver is called Snow, or Ice, or Hoar-Frost, because it is white. In like manner, gold or silver may be periphrased in metaphors of purse, or crucible, or lather, and both silver and gold may be called Hand-Stone, or Necklace, of any man who was wont to have a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if no other distinction is raised. As Thorleikr the Fair sang: The kindly Prince the Load casts And as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang: The land-strong King of Lurid Thus sang Einarr Skúlason: The Purse-Snow and the Sea-Fire And as he sang further: The Sea-Glow each day standeth Here gold is called Fire of the Eel's Stream-Road; and silver, Snow of Flagons. Thus sang Thórdr Mæri's Skald: The glad Giver of the Hand-Waste
"Man is called Breaker of Gold, even as Óttarr the Swarthy sang: I needs must use the Breaker Or Gold-Sender, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang: The Sender of Gold permitteth Gold-Caster, as Thorleikr sang: Gold-Caster makes loyal to him Gold's Adversary, as sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald: The gold's foe Hot Coals casteth Gold-Towerer, as is written here: The Gold-Towerer in friendship
Woman is periphrased in metaphors of gold, being called Willow or Giver of Gold, as Hallarsteinn sang: He who casts the Amber Here the whale is called Boar of Vidblindi; this Vidblindi was a giant who drew whales out of the sea like fishes. The Drink of Whales is the sea; Amber of the Sea is gold; woman is the Willow, or Dealer, of that gold which she gives; and the willow is a tree. Therefore, as is already shown, woman is periphrased with all manner of feminine tree-names: she is also called User of that which she gives; and the word for 'user' also signifies a log, the tree which falls in the forest. Thus sang Gunnlaugr Serpent's-Tongue: That dame was born to stir strife Woman is called Forest; so sang Hallarsteinn: With the well-trained Plane of Singing, Fagot, as Steinn sang: Thou shalt, O fresh Sif-Tender Prop, as Ormr Steinthórsson sang: The Prop of Stone was clothèd Post, as Steinarr sang: All my dreams of the gracious Goddess Birch, as Ormr sang: For a mark of the Birch Oak, even as stands here: The fair shaped Oak of Riches Linden, even as is written here: O dreadful, towering Elm-Tree
Man is periphrased in tree-metaphors, as we have written before; he is called Rowan, or Tester, of Weapons, or of Combats, of Expeditions and of Deeds, of Ships, and of all that which he wields and tests; thus sang Úlfr Uggason: But the flashing-eyed stiff Edge-Rope Tree and Beam, as Kormákr sang: The Beam of the murdering Sword-Twig Grove, as sang Hallfredr Troublous-Skald: The Mighty Grove and Faithful Here he is also called Ash. Box, as Arnórr sang: The Box of Ships bade the Rygir Ash, as Refr sang: The Strife-Lord, gracious Giver, Maple, as here: Hail, Maple of the Ice-Lumps Tree, as Refr sang: Since I have appointed Staff, as Óttarr sang: Thou, fierce War-Staff, maintainedst Thorn, as Arnórr sang: He gathered, the young Wealth-Thorn,
"How should battle be periphrased? By calling it Storm of Weapons or of Sheltering Shields, or of Odin or the Valkyrs, or of Host-Kings; and Din and Clashing. Thus sang Hornklofi: The king hath held a Spear-Storm Thus sang Eyvindr: And that hero Thus sang Bersi: In earlier days I seemed not Thus sang Einarr: The stark prince lets Hildr's Shield-Sails As Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang: The mail-sarks of the warriors, Even as here: They set the Point-Net's edge-band And again: 'Neath eagles' claws the king's foes
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