 Preface of Heimskringla, the stories of the kings of Norway called the Round World. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Eric Bjarnsson. Heimskringla, the stories of the king of Norway called the Round World by Snorri Sturluson. Translated by George Pope Morris and Idrik R. Magnussen. The Preface of Snorri Sturluson. In this book have I let write tales told concerning those chiefs who have borne sway in the Northlands and who spake the Danish tongue, even as I have heard men of lore tell me the same, and also concern of their lines of kindred according as they have been taught to me. Some of this is found in the tellings up of forefathers, wherein kings and other men of high degree have traced their kin, but some is written after olden songs or story lays which men have had for their giants. Now, though, we want not surely the truth thereof, yet this we know for a truth, that men of lore of old time have ever held such lore for true. The Adolf of Finn was sculled to Harold Fairhair, and he did the lay concerning King Roganvald higher than the hills, which is called the Tale of the Inlings. Roganvald was son of Olaf Gerstedelf, the brother of Haftan the Black. In this song are thirty of his forefathers named, and their deaths told of, and the steds where they lie. Thjolnir was he named who was son of Ingvi Frey, to whom for long time after have the Swedes done sacrifice, and the Inlings are named after his name. Ivan the Scaldspealer also told up the Tale of the forefathers of Earl Hakan the Mighty, in the lay called the Halaga Tale, which was done on Hakan. Therein is serming the son of Ingvi Frey named, and record is therein of the death of each of their house-steds. After the Adolf's Tale are the lives of the Inlings first written, and matters added there too from the tales of men of lore. The first age is called the Age of Burning, whereas the want was to burn all dead men, and raise up standing stones to them. But after that Frey was laid in Barrow at Upsala, many great men fell to raising barrows to the memory of their kin, no less often than standing stones. But after that Dan the Proud, King of the Danes, let make for him a Hawa, and bade him bear him thither dead with the kingly raiment and war gear, and his horse with all its saddle gear, and plantius wealth beside. Then many men of his kin did even so afterwards, and thence began the Mound Age in Denmark. But long thereafter the Burning Age held on among the Swedes and Norwegians. But when Harold Fairhair was king in Norway, Iceland was settled, and with the king were Skalds, whose songs folk yet know by heart, yea, and all songs on the kings who have since held Sui in Norway. And most store we set by that, which is said in such songs as were sung before the chiefs themselves or the sons of them. And we hold all that for true, which is found in these songs concerning their wayfarings and their battles. Now it is the manner of Skalds to praise those most whom they stand before while giving forth their song. But no one would dare to tell the king himself deeds, which all who hearkened, yea, and himself with all, wotted well were but windy talk and lying, for no praise would that be, but mocking rather. CONCERNING ARRY THE LEARNED THE MASS PRIEST ARRY THE LEARNED THE MASS PRIEST, WHO WAS THE SON OF THORGILLS, WHO WAS THE SON OF GELLAR, WAS THE FIRST MAN OF THIS LAND WHO WROTE DOWN LORE BOTH OLD AND NEW IN THE SPEECH OF THE NORTH. In the beginning of his book he wrote mostly of the settling of Iceland and the lawmaking therein, and then concerning the law-speakers, how long a time each had given forth the law, and began counting by years first till Christ's faith came to Iceland, and afterwards thence down to his own days. He set off his lore of years by many other matters, both the lives of kings in Norway and Denmark and in England also, yea, and by great tidings with all, that had befallen here in the land. And I deem his lore altogether most noteworthy, for of exceeding wisdom he was, and so old that he was born the winter next after the fall of King Harold Sigurdsson. He wrote, as himself seeth, the lives of the kings of Norway after the telling of Aad, the son of Kohl, the son of Hall of the Side. But Aad had learnt them from Torgir Offredskull, a man who was wise indeed, and so old that he dwelt at Nidnes, where Earl Hocken the mighty was slain. Even in the same stead King Olof Trikvisen let build the cheaping town that now is. Now Arethorgelsson, the priest, came seven winters old to Hockdale, to Hall, son of Thorin, and abode their fourteen winters. Hall was an exceeding wise man and of keen memory. He bore in mind how Thogbrand the priest christened him at three years old, the winter before Christ's faith was made law in Iceland. Ari, the priest, was twelve winters old when as Bishop Islef died. Hall had fared from land to land, and was trading fellow of King Olof the Holy, once he got great furtherance, and so his reign was well-beknown to him. But by the death of Bishop Islef were worn away well nigh eighty years from the fall of King Olof Trikvisen. Hall died nine years after Bishop Islef, and by then were his years reckoned at ninety-four, and he had set up house in Hockdale in his thirtieth year, and had dwelt there sixty-four winters as Ari writes. Tite, the son of Bishop Islef, was fostered at Halls in Hockdale, and kept house there afterwards. He taught Ari the priest and told him manifold lore which Ari wrote down afterwards. Ari also got manifold knowledge from Thurid, daughter of Snorri the priest, a woman wise of wit. She remembered Snorri her father, who was near thirty-five when as Christ's faith came to Iceland, and died one winter after the fall of King Olof the Holy. Therefore not marvellous was it that Ari knew truly many ancient tales both of our land and of the outlands, whereas he had learnt them from old men and wise, and was himself a man of eager wit and faithful memory. But the songs me seems are least misplaced, if they have been wrought aright, and are duly interpreted. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The story of the Inglings, part one. Chapter one. Herein is told of the parts of the earth. The round world, whereas man folk dwell, is much cheered apart by bites. Great seas go from the outer sea into the earth, and men know for sure that a sea goeth from the Orvy Sound right up to the land of Jerusalem. From that sea goeth a long bite to the northeast which is called the Black Sea, and sundrith the two world ridings. To the east is Asia, but to the west is called Europe of some, but of some Enia. But north of the Black Sea lies Sweden the Great, or the Cold. Sweden the Great, some men deem no less than Cirkeland the Great, and some make it even to Blueland the Great. The northern parts of this Sweden lie unpeopled by reason of the frost and the cold, even as the southern parts of Blueland are waste because of the sun's burning. Mighty Lordships there are in Sweden, and peoples of manifold kind, and many tongues with all. There are giants, and there are dwarves, yay, and blue men, and folk of many kinds and marvelous, and there be savage beasts and drakes wondrous great. Out of the north, from those mountains which are without all the peopled parts, falls a river over Sweden, which is called a right Tennaeus. But of old was called Tennaebranche, or Vannebranche. It comes unto the sea at the Black Sea. The land betwixt the Vannemouths was then called Vanneland, or Vanneholm. This water divides the two world ridings. That to the east is called Asia, that to the west Europe. Chapter 2. The Men of Asia. East of Tennaebranche in Asia was the land called Asland, or Asholm. But the chief berg which was in that land they called Asgarth, in which berg abode a chief called Odin, and that was a great stead of blood offerings. That was a custom there that twelve temple priests were set the highest of all the people. They were to rule the sacrifices, and judge betwixt man and man. They were called DR, or Drotnar, and all folk were bound to their service and worship. Odin was a great warrior, and exceeding far traveled, and had made many realms his own, and so victorious was he that in every battle he gained the day. Whence it befell that his men trout of him that he should of his own nature ever have the victory in every battle? His want it was, if he set his men to the wars or on other journeys, before they went to lay his hands on the heads of them, and to give them blessing, and they trout that they would fare well thereby. So it was with his men with all, that whence ever they had hard bested, either on sea or land, they called upon his name, and deemed that they had ease thereof, for they thought that in him they had all their trust. Now Odin often fared so far away that he abode many sea-sons on his journeys. Chapter 3 Of Odin's Brethren Odin had two brethren, one called Ve, the other Vili. These brethren of his ruled the realm whilst he was away. But on a time when as Odin was gone a long way off, and abided long away, the as-folk deemed they might never look to see him home again, so his brethren fell to sharing his goods, but his wife frig they must needs have in wedlock betwixt them both. But a little after came Odin home, and took to himself his wife once more. Chapter 4 War with the Vanir Now Odin fell with an host on the Vanir, but they besturred them manly and warded their land, and now one, now the other prevailed. Either harried the land of the other and wrots gave thereon. But when at last either grew loath thereof, they bespoke a meeting of truce between them, and made peace and delivered hostages one to the other, and the Vanir gave their noblest men, Njord the wealthy and his son Frey, but the as-folk gave in return him who was called Hurnir, and said that he was well-meet to be Lord. A big man he was, and the godliest to behold. With him sent the as-folk a man hekt Mimir, the wisest of men, but the Vanir in return him of the best wits in their company, Quasir by name. But when Hurnir came to Vanholm, then was he straightly made a lord, and Mimir taught him all good counsel. But when Hurnir was in his place at things, or assemblies, when so it befell that Mimir was not an eye him, and there came before him any hard matter, ever would he answer in one wise, let others give rule, said he. Then the Vanir misdoubbed them that the as-folk had beguiled them in the exchanging of men, and they took Mimir and cut his throat, and sent the head to the as-host. Then Odin took the head, and smeared it with such warts that it might not rot, and sang words of wizardry thereover, and gave it such might that it spake to him and told him many hidden matters. Odin made Njord and Frey temple priests, and they became DR among the as-folk. The daughter of Njord was Freyja. She was a temple priestess, and was the first to teach wizardry among the as-folk according to the want of the Vanir. While Njord was with the Vanir, he had had his sister to wife, for it was lawful there to do so, and their children were Frey and Freyja. But it was forbidden among the as-folk to wed such nirkin. Chapter 5 Odin shares the realm, also concerning Getheon. A great mountain wall goes from the northeast to the southwest, that parts sweeten the great from other realms, such of those mountains there is no long way to the land of the Turks, and there had Odin wide lands of his own. Now in those days fared the lords of the Roman folk wide over the world, and beat down all peoples under them, but many lords and kings fled away from their own before the trouble of them. So whereas Odin was foreseeing and wise in wizardry, he knew that his offspring should peeple the northern parts of the world. So he sent his brother in Ve and Vili over Asgardth, but himself went his ways, and all the DR with him and much other folk with all. And first he fared west into the Garth realm, and then south into Saxland. He had many sons, and got for himself realms wide through Saxland, and there he set his sons over the heeding of the land. Then he fared north to the sea, and abode in a certain island that is now called Odin's Isle in Fion. Then he sent Gefion north over the sound to seek new lands, and she came to Gilfee, and he gave her days plowland. Then went she to the giant home, and there bore four sons to a certain giant, and turned them into the likeness of oxen, and yoked them to the plow, and drew the land out into the sea, and west over against Odin's Isle, and that land is called Seilund, and there she dwelt afterward. Sheald, the son of Odin, wedded her, and they dwelt at Leithra. There is a sea or water left behind which is called the Low, and so it is that the Firths in the Low lie in such a wise that they answer to the Nesses in Seilund. So sings Braggie the Old. Glad Gefion dragged from Gilfee, great lord of the deep sea's sun. Do increase unto Denmark, hard drew the reeking beasts. Eight foreheads moons shone forth from foreheads as they went, and furrowed off the fair and friendly island home. But when Odin heard that good land was to be gotten east in Gilfee's country, he went thither, and made peace with him, because Gilfee deemed he had no might to withstand the Osfolk. Many dealings had Odin and Gilfee together in cunning tricks and wizardry, and ever were the Osfolk the mightier therein. Odin took up his abode at the Low, at the Stead which is now called Ancient Sigtown, and made there a great temple with blood offerings according to the custom of the Osfolk. He owned the land there as wide about as he called it Sigtown, and there gave he abode to the temple priests. Njord dwelt at Nyostown, but Frey at Uppsala, Haimdall at Hevenberg, Thor at Thundermede, Baldur at Broadbeam. Two all gave he good abiding places. Chapter 6 Concerning Odin's great prowess. It is said soothly of Odin of the Osfolk when he came into the North Countries and the DR with him, that they were the first to bring in and teach those crafts which men have long since applied. Odin was the noblest of all, and from him they all got the crafts, for he was the first that knew them all and the greatest number thereof to boot. Now it is to be told that whereas he was so greatly worshipped, these were the things that brought it about. He was so fair and noble of visage when he sat amid his friends, that every man's heart laughed there at. Whereas when he was awarring, then was his countenance terrible towards his foes. And this was the cause thereof, that he knew the art and craft whereby he could change his hue and shape in any wise that he would. And this again that the speech of him was so clear and smooth that all folk who listened there too deemed that alone for true which he spake. And in measures did he speak all things, even as that is now said which is called scaldcraft. He and his temple priests are called laysmiths, for that skill began through them in the Northlands. Such craft had Odin that in battle he could make his foes blind or deaf or fear stricken, and that their weapons would bite no more than wands. But his own men went without bernies, and were mad as dogs or wolves and bit on their shields, and were as strong as bears or bulls. Men folk they slew, and neither fire nor steel would deal with them, and this is what is called Berserk's Gong. Chapter 7 of Odin's Crafts Now Odin would change his shape. His body would lie there as of one sleeping or dead, while he himself was a fowl or a wild beast, a fish or a worm, and would go in the twinkling of an eye to far away lands on his own errands or the errands of others. Moreover he knew how by words alone to slake the fire or still the sea, and how to turn the wind to which so way he would. Odin had a ship called Schildbladner wherein he would fare over mighty seas, and that same ship might be folded together like a very napkin. Odin had ever Mimir's head by him, and that told him many tidings from other worlds. A while's would he wake up dead men from the earth or sit down under men hanged, wherefore was he called the Lord of the Ghosts or the Lord of the Hanged. Two ravens also he had which he had tamed to speak, and wide over the lands they flew and told him many tidings, and from all these things he became wondrous wise. All this craft taught he by runes and songs called wizard songs, wherefore are the Osfolk called smiths of wizardry. Odin was wise in that craft wherewith went most might, which is called spellcraft, and this he himself followed. Wherefore he had might to know the fate of men and things not yet come to pass, yea, or how to work for men bane or ill-hop or ill-heal, and to make wit or strength from men and give them unto others. But with this sorcery that is thus done goes so much lewdness that it was not thought to be without shame for menfolk to deal therein, so that cunning was taught to the temple priestesses. Odin knew of all buried treasures where they were hidden, and he knew lays whereby the earth opened before him, and mountains and rocks and mounds, and how to bind with words alone whoso might be found dwelling therein, and he would go in and take thence what he would. From all this craft he became exceedingly famed, and his foes dreaded him, but his friends put their trust in him, and had faith in his craft and himself. But he taught the more part of his cunning to the temple priests, and they were next to him in all wisdom and cunning. Albeit many others got to them much knowledge thereof, and thence has sorcery spread far and wide and endured long. But to Odin and those twelve lords did men do sacrifice, and called them their gods, and shrouded them long afterwards. Folk are called Audun after Odin's name, as men were wont so to call their sons, and Thorir and Thororion are named after Thor, or names are joined to it from other matters such as Steinthor or Hothor, and so in many otherwise. Odin settled such law in his hands as had of old time gone among the Osfolk, and he laid down with all that all dead men should be burned, and that with them their chattels should be borne to Baal. For he said that with such wealth as a man brought to his Baal should he come to Valhalla, and that there also should he enjoy whatsoever he had buried himself in the earth. But the ashes should men bear out to sea, or bury in the earth, and over noble men should a mound be raised for the memory of them, but in memory of all men of any mark should standing stones be raised, and for long after did that want endure. Folk were to hold sacrifice against the coming of winter for a good year, in midwinter for the growth of the earth, and a third in the summer that was an offering for gain and victory. All over Sweden men paid Odin Scott to it a penny for every head, but he was bound to ward their land from war and to sacrifice for them a good year. Chapter 9 The Wedding of Njord Njord wedded a woman called Skadi, but she would not of him, and so was wedded to Odin, and many sons they had, one whereof was called Serming, over whom hath Avin the Skaldsbiller made this. The reddener of Sheald, the sire of Osfolk, got the scotgiver on a giant maiden, while for more seasons in than whom dwelt the warrior's friend and Skadi with him, but she of the Rocklands rushing snow skids son a many bear unto Odin. Earl Hocken the Mighty carried back the tale of his forefathers to this Serming. Now this Sweden they called Manholm, but Sweden the Great called they Godholm, and of Godholm are many tales told and many marvels. Chapter 10 Of the Death of Odin Odin died in his bed in Sweden, but when he was come nigh to his death he let mark him with a spear point, and claimed as his own all men dead by weapon, and he said that he would go his ways to Godholm and welcome his friends there. Now were the Swedes minded that he would be come to that Asgardth of old days, there to live his life for ever, and then began anew the worship of Odin and the vowing of vows to him. Oft thought the Swedes that he showed himself to them in dreams before great battles should be, and to some he gave victory there and then, and to others bidding to come to him, and either lot they deemed good in now. Odin dead was burned, and his burning was done in the seemliest wise, but the trough of men was it in those days, that the higher the wreak reached up aloft the more exalted in heaven would he be who was burned there. Yea, and the richer the more treasure was burned with him. End of Section 1 Section 2 Of Hamshringla by Snorri Sturluson translated by George Pope Morris and Erickon Magnuson. This leap of Vox recording is in the public domain. The story of the Inglings, Part 2. Chapter 11 Of Njord So then Njord of Noa town became ruler over the Swedes and upheld the sacrifices, and the Swedes called him their lord and he took free scot of them. In his days was there exceeding good peace, and years of all kinds of plenty, so great that the Swedes trod thereby that Njord swayed the plenty of the year and the wealth-hap of mankind. In his days died the more part of the Diar, and to all of them were blood offerings made, and they were burned thereafter. Njord died in his bed, and let him be marked unto Odin or ever he died. The Swedes burned him and greeted Saur over his grave. Chapter 12 The Death of Frey Frey then took to him the realm after Njord. He was called lord of the Swedes, and took free scot of them. He was well-beloved and happy in good years, even as his father. Frey raised a great temple at Uppsala, and there had his chief abode, and endowed it with all his wealth, both land and chattels. Then began the wheel of Uppsala, which has endured ever since. In his days began the peace of Freud, and there also were plentious years throughout all lands, and that the Swedes laid to their account of Frey. And he was held dearer therefore than the other gods, as in his days the people were wealthier than aforetime from the good peace and plentious years. Gerd, the daughter of Gimir, was Frey's wife and their son was called Filnir. Frey was called by another name, that is to say Ingvi, and this name of Ingvi was long used for a name of honour in his blood, and his kindred were an after-time, called Inglings. Now Frey fell sick, but when his sickness waxed on him, men took council and let few folk come into him, and they built a great hawa, and made a door therein, and three windows. And so when Frey was dead they bore him privily into the hawa, and told Swedes that he was still alive, and there they guarded him for three winters, and poured all the scot into the mound. Gold through the one window, silver through the second, and copper pennies through the third, and this while endured plentious years and peace. CHAPTER XIII. OF FREYA ENTERED DAUGHTERS Now Freyha upheld the sacrifices, for she alone of the gods was left behind alive, and of the greatest fame she was, so that by her name should all women of honour be called. Even as now they are called Fruvor, ladies. So also every woman is called Freyha who rules over her own, but house Freyha she who rules a household. Now Freyha was somewhat shifting of mood. Orre was the name of her husband, but her daughters were Chras and Gersimi, and they were exceeding fair, and after them are called all things that are dearest to have. But now when all the Swedes wanted that Frey was dead, and the plentious years and good peace still endured, then they trod that so it would be while he still abode in Sweden. Neither would they burn him, but called him the god of the world, and sacrificed to him ever after, most of all for plentious years and peace. CHAPTER XIV. THE DEATH OF KING FILNIR Filnir, the son of Ingvi Frey, ruled over the Swedes and the wealth of Uppsala. He was a mighty man, and his years were full of plenty and peace. Peace Frody abode as then at Lythra, and great friendship there was betwixt these twain and bidding from house to house. But when as Filnir fared to Frody and Selund, then was there a great feast arrayed there against his coming. And folk were bid in there from lands far and wide. There had Frody a great homestead, and therein there wrought a mighty vat many ails high, which stood on mighty big beams. Now this stood down in a certain undercroft, and there was a loft above it. The floor-were-o was open, that the liquor might be poured down there by, but the vat was full of mingled mead, and that drink was wondrous strong. A night-time was Filnir brought to his lodging in the next loft, and his company with him. Amidst the night he went out unto the gallery to seek a privy place. And he was bewildered with sleep and dead drunk. So when he turned back to his lodging he went along the gallery, and unto the door of another loft, where into he went, and missed his footing, and fell into the mead-vat, and was lost there. So sings Theodolph of Finn. Now hath befallen in Frody's house the world of fate to fall on Filnir, that the windless wave of the wild bull's spears that Lord should do to death by drowning. Chapter 15 of Swegdir. Swegdir took the realm to him after his father, and he vowed a vow to go seek God-home and Odin the Old. He fared with twelve men wide through the world. He came out to Turkland and Sweden the Great, and found there many of his kin and friends, and he was five winters about his journey. Then he came home to Sweden and dwelt there at home yet a while. He had wedded a woman called Vanna out in Vanholm, and their son was called Vanland. But Swegdir fared yet again a seeking God-home. Now in the east parts of Sweden is a great stead called Stone, whereas a rock as big as big houses be. So one evening tied after sunset, when as Swegdir went from the drinking to his sleeping-bower, he looked on the Stone and lo! there sat a dwarf there under. Now Swegdir and his men were very drunk, and they ran to the Stone, and the dwarf stood in the door thereof and called on Swegdir, and bade him come in there if he would find Odin. Swegdir ran into the Stone and it shut behind him straight away, and Swegdir never came back again. So sings Theodolph a vin. There the day-shunning Durners offspring, the dark halls warden, one king Swegdir, went into the Stone, leapt the strong-hearted, the man all reckless after the dwarf kind. Then when the bright abode of giants, Sökmyr's hall, gave tie or the king. Chapter 16 of Vennland The son of Swegdir was Vennland, and he took the realm after his father, and ruled over the wealth of Uppsala. He was a great warrior and fared wide about the world. One winter tide he abode in Finland with snow the old, and there wedded his daughter Drift. But in the spring tide he went his ways and Drift was left behind, but he promised to come back after the space of three winters, yet came he not back in ten winters. Then sent Drift under hold the witch-wife, but sent Visper, the son of her, and Vennland to Sweden. Drift made a bargain with hold the witch-wife to this end, that she was to draw Vennland to Finland by spells or else slay him. But when the spell was set forth, then was Vennland at Uppsala. Then he grew feign of faring to Finland, but his friends and counsellors forbade him, and said that the wizardry of the Finns was busy in his desire. Then he became heavy with slumber, and laid himself down to sleep. But when he had slept but a short space, he cried out and said that the mare was treading him. His men went to him and would help him, but when they went to his head she betrothed his legs so that they were nigh broken, and when they went to the legs she so smothered the head of him that there he died. The Swedes took his corpse and burned it beside the river called Skutta. And there standing stones were set up to him. So sings the Adolf. Now the witch-white draved King Vennland down to visit Veeler's brother. There the troll-wise blind knight's witch-wife trod all about man's overthrower. The jewel-caster, he whom the mare quelled, unscrewed his bed. There was he burning. Chapter 17 The Death of Visper Visper took to him the heritage of Vennland his father, and fell to wedding the daughter of Avau the wealthy, to whom he gave as a dower three great towns and a gold necklace. Two sons they had, Gisel and Ondur. Then Visper left her alone, and took to him another wife, and she fared to her father with her sons. Visper had a son called Domald, and his stepmother let sing on luck at him. So when Visper's sons were twelve and thirteen years old each, they went to him and claimed the dower of their mother, but he would not yield up the same. Then they cried out that the gold necklace should be the bane of the best man of his kin, and so went their ways home. Then was yet more sorcery set of brewing, and to this end, that they should have might to slay their father. Therewith hold the witch-wife declared unto them that even so she would work her spell, yea and moreover that the slaying of kin by kin should ever after follow the blood of the Inglings, and there too they said yea. Then they gathered folk to them, and fell on Visper unawares a night-time, and burned him in his house. So sings the Adolf. And King Visper's Wilburg next swallowed up the sea's hot brother, when the seat wardens let loose the baneful thief of the woodland, on Visper their father, and the roaring wolf of the red-gleed bit, the mighty king, all in his hearth-keel. Chapter 18 The Death of Domald Domald took to him the heritage of Visper his father, and ruled the lands, and in his days there fell on the Swedes great hunger and famine. Then the Swedes set up great blood offerings at Uppsala. The first autumn they offered up oxen, but none the more was the earth's increase bettered. The next autumn they offered up men, and the increase of the year was the same, or worse it might be. But the third autumn came the Swedes flock meel to Uppsala when as the sacrifices should be. Then held the great men counseled together, and were of the accord that this scarcity was because of Domald their king, and with all that they should sacrifice him for the plenty of the year, yea that they should sit on him and slay him, and read in the seats of the gods with the blood of him, and even so they did. So say a Theodolf. Of Jor-Igon was it that they the sword-bearers must read in the meadows with blood of their lord. When the landfolk were bearing their blood-witted weapons away from the place where Domald lay life spent, when the Swedish people, feign of plenty, brought to undoing the bane of the yutufok. CHAPTER XIX THE DEATH OF DOMAR The son of Domald was Domar who next ruled the realm. His rule over the land endured long, and there was good plenty in peace throughout his days. Of him is not more told save that he died in his bed at Uppsala, and was born forth to Firi's meads, and burned there on the riverbank whereas are his standing-stones. So say a Theodolf. Oft have I of men of lore asked concerning the corpse of Ingvi, where in earth Domar was downborn by the roaring bright bane of Hoth. Now what I surely, that sickness-bitten fjolnir's offspring by Firi, burned. CHAPTER XX THE DEATH OF DIGVI Digvi was the name of his son who ruled over the land after him, and of whom not as told say that he died in his bed, as Theodolf says. Not I missed out me that Glitnir's goddess hath Digvi dead for her own plaything. For the sister of Wolf, the sister of Narfi, must come to choose the kingly man, and the over-ruler of Ingvi's people, Loki's sister, has bewitched. The mother of Digvi was Drot, the daughter of King Damp, the son of Rigg, who was the first who was called king in the time of the Danes, and his kin have ever after held the name of king for the highest among names of honour. Now Digvi was the first who was called king among his kin, but over his time they were called Drotnar and their wives Drotnagar, and the company of their court Drot. But Ingvi, or Inguni, was every one of that kin called through all the days of his life, and the whole race is called Ingling's. Queen Drot was sister of King Dan, the proud, after whom Denmark is named. Chapter 21 Of Day the Wise The son of King Digvi was Day, who took the kingdom after his time, and so wise a man he was that he knew the speech of fowl, and a certain sparrow he had, which told him many tidings, and ever flew from land to land, and on a time when the sparrow flew into writhe Gotland to a stead called Vorfi, he flew into a Carla's cornfield, and there got his meat. But the Carla came upon him, and caught up a stone, and smoked the sparrow dead. Now King Day was ill at ease that his sparrow came not home, so he betook him to sacrifice of atonement, to know what had betid, and he had answered that his sparrow was slain at Vorfi. So he summoned to him a great host, and went his ways to Gotland, he went up into the country and harried there, and folk fled away far and wide before him. Now King Day turned back with his army to the ships as evening tide drew on, and he had slain many folk and taken many, and as they crossed over a certain river at a place called Shootersford, or Webenford, a certain field thrall came out from the wood unto the riverbank, and cast a hayfork amidst their company, and it smote the king upon the head, and he fell from his horse straight away, and got his death therefrom, and his men went back to Sweden. In those days a lord who went to warring was called Gram, and the warriors were called Grammier, so sings the adult. Of Day heard I how forth he wended fain of fame to his fated death. When on to Vorfi came he that tameth the death rod's hunger for his sparrows avenging. Yea, i in that word, all unto the east ways, the folk of the king from fight must bear, that the fork that pitcheth the meat of Slepnir hath laid aloh that lord of battle. End of Section 2. Section 3 of Haimshringla by Snorri Sturluson translated by George Pope Morris and Erichr Magnusson. The Slibervox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 22 of Agni Agni was the name of Day's son, who was king in his stead, a mighty man and far famed, a great warrior and a man of all prowess in all matters. On a summer King Agni went with his army to Finland, and went to land and harried there, but the Finns drew together a great host and met him in battle, and Frosty was the name of their lord. So a fierce fight befell wherein King Agni gained the day, and Frosty fell there and many of his host with him. So King Agni fared, warshield aloft, threw Finland and laid it under him and got mighty great booty, and he took and had away with him Shelf, the daughter of Frosty, as well as Logi, her brother. So when he sailed from the east he made for stock sound, and pitched his tents south on the strand, where as wood then was. Now King Agni had that gold necklace which Visper had owned, but King Agni must need wed Shelf, and she prayed him to hold a funeral feast over her father, and he did so and bade to himself many mighty men and made a great feast. Of mighty fame was he grown because of this wayfaring. So at this feast were there great drinkings, and when King Agni was merry with drink, then Shelf bade him heed well the necklace which he had on his neck, so he fell to and bound it strongly on his neck or ever he went to sleep. But his land tent stood by the wood side, and there was a high tree over the tent to shade it from the sun's heat. So when as King Agni was asleep, then Shelf took a stout rope, and did it under the necklace. But her men overthrew the tent poles and cast a bite of the rope up to the tree boughs, and then hauled at it so that the king hung right under the tree limb and got his bane thereby. Then Shelf and her men ran a shipboard and rode away. King Agni was burned there, and sithence the place was called Agnusthwaite, being in the eastern part of the tower and the west of Stock Sound. So says Theodolph. I count it wondrous if Agnus's men deemed reeds of Shelf for the reeds of fate. When the gold gout that goodly king, Logie's sister, Hovaloft, he who on Tower Mead needs must tame the wind-cold steed of Cygnus' husband. Chapter 23 Of Ulrec and Eric Ulrec and Eric, sons of Agni, were kings in his stead. Mighty men were they, and great warriors, and skilled in manly deeds. Their want it was to ride horses and break them both to the amble and the gallop, and greater was their skill therein than of any other men, and with the utmost eagerness they strove with each other which rode the better, and had the best horses. On a time the two brethren rode away from other men with their best horses, taking their way out into a certain mead and never came back. And when men went to seek them they found them both dead, and the head of each one all to broken, but no weapon had they saved the bits of their horses, and men deemed that they had slain each other therewith. So sings Theodolph. Ulrec fell when as fell Eric, brought to his bane by his brother's weapons. There with the headgear of riding horses, day's kin, to his said, did kill each other. None yet had heard of horses' harness, plied in the fight by Frey's own offspring. Chapter 24 Of Alf and Ingvi Ingvi and Alf were the sons of Ulrec, and took king's rule next in Sweden. Ingvi was a great warrior and ever happy in battle, fair and of the greatest prowess, strong and most brisk in fight, bountiful of his wealth and one of cheerful heart, and from all this he became famed and beloved. But king Alf, his brother, sat at home, nor went to the wars, and he was called Alfling. He was a moody man, masterful and rough, his mother was day-bright, the daughter of king Day the mighty, from whom are come the dailings. King Alf had to wife Berra, the finest and eagerness of women, a woman most glissom of heart. Now Ingvi Ulrec's son was once again come in autumn tide to Uppsala from the Viking wars, full of all fame, and oft he sat long at drinking be nights. But often would king Alf be going early to bed. Queen Berra sat full, oft late of an evening, and Ingvi and she had privy talk together. Hereon would Alf oft be speaking to her and bidding her to go earlier to bed, for that he would not lie awake for her. Then said she that happy were the woman that had Ingvi to her husband rather than Alf, and Alf grew exceeding wrath when she spake that word full oft. On a night Alf went into the hall, when as Ingvi and Berra sat at talking in the high seat, and Ingvi had a sword across his knees. Now were men much drunken and gave no heed to the kings coming in, but king Alf went up to the high seat and drew a sword from under his cloak and thrust it through Ingvi, his brother. Then Ingvi sprang up and drew his glaive and smote Alf deadly, and they both fell dead to the floor, so Alf and Ingvi were laid in mound in Fieri's meads. So says the Adolf. There he the warden of holy stalls must lie dead, slaughtered by Alf the Slayer, when his days offspring or rage with Ingvi must read in blade in blood of Ingvi. Unmeat that Berra should wet to battle the slain men's lullars, when as two brethren, each unto each grown, all unhelpful for jealous grudge must slay each other. CHAPTER XXV THE FALL OF KING HUGLIK HUGLIK height the son of Alf, who had the kingdom of the Swedes after those brethren, because the sons of Ingvi were then but children in years. King Huglik was no warrior, but sat at home in the seat of peace. He was exceeding wealthy and niggard of wealth with all. He had in his court many of all kinds of minstrels, harp players and jig players and fiddlers, and spell-workers he had with him also, and all kind of cunning folk. Now Hockey and Hagbard were two brethren of great fame. Sea kings were they, and had a great company. And whilst they went both together, and whilst each one alone, and many champions there were with either. Now King Hockey went with his army to Sweden against King Huglik. So King Huglik gathered together and host against him, and there came into his fellowship two brethren, Swipdog and Gaigod, men of fame both and the greatest of champions. King Hockey had twelve champions with him, and Starkard the Old was then of his fellowship, and King Hockey himself with all was the greatest of champions. They met on Firry's Meads, and a great battle befell there, and a non-Huglik's folk fell fast. Then sat on those chiefs Swipdog and Gaigod, but Hockey's champions went six against each, and they were taken. Then went Hockey into the shield-burg against Huglik the King, and slew him there and his two sons with all. Thereupon the Swedes fled, but King Hockey now laid the lands under him, and became king over the Swedes, and sat at home by his lands for three winters. And amid that peace and quiet his champions went from him to the Viking wars, and thus get wealth to themselves. Chapter 26 The Death of King Gudlaug Jorund and Errik were the sons of Ingvi, the son of Alrik. They laid out at sea in their warships all this while, and were great warriors. One summer they harried in Denmark, and there happened on Gudlaug, the king of Halogaland, and had a battle with him, which had such end that Gudlaug's ship was cleared and he himself taken. They brought him a land at stream-isleness, and there hanged him, and there his folk heaped up a mound above him. So says Ivan the Skaldsbiler. Gudlaug, moreover, born down by the might of the Eastland kings, must tame the Grimheart horse of Sigar. The sons of Ingvi on the tree they horessed him the jewel-waster. There, then, corpse-ridden stands the windy tree, on the nests a drooping where the deep bays sunder. Tis the nests of stream-isle famed in story by the mark of a stone for the mound of a king. Chapter 27 Of King Haki Those brothers Errik and Jorund won much fame from this deed, and they deemed themselves far greater men than aforetime. They heard that King Haki of Sweden had sent his champions from him, so they made for Sweden and drew and host together. As soon as the Swedes knew that the Inglings were come thither, a countless host flocked to them. Then they laid their ships into the low, and made for Uppsala to fall on King Haki, but he went out into Firi's meads against them, and his company was far less than theirs. Fierce fight befell there, and King Haki said on so hard that he felled all who were in Iheim, and in the end slew King Errik and hewed down the banner of the Retherin. Then fled King Errund away to his ships with all his folk. Now King Haki had gotten such sore hurts that he saw that the day of his life would not be long, so he let take a swift ship that he had, and laid it with dead men and weapons, and let bring it out to sea, and ship the rudder and hoist up the sail, and then let lay fire in Tarwood and make a bale aboard. The wind blew offshore, and Haki was come nigh to death, or was verily dead, when he was laid on the bale, and the ship went blazing out into the main sea, and of great fame was that deed for long and long after. Chapter 28 The Death of Urund Urund, the son of King Ingvi, now became King at Uppsala and swayed the realm, and oft times went he o'oring in the summer tide. And on a summer he fared with his host to Denmark, and harried in Jutland, and in the autumn went up to Limfirth, and harried thereabout and laid his ships in odd sound. Then came thither with a mighty host Gilaug, King of Hologaland, the son of Gudlaug, who was aforenamed, and he fell to battle with Urund. But the folk of that land were ware thereof, they flocked thither from all quarters with ships both great and small. So there was King Urund overborn by multitudes, and his ships cleared, and he himself leaped overboard a swimming, but they laid hands on him, and brought him a land. Then let King Gilaug rear up a gallows, and led Urund there too, and hang him thereon, and thus his life-days ended. So sings the Adolf. Urund, who died in Yorigan, must lay down life in Limfirth, when the high-breasted hemp-rope slept near, when the high-breasted hemp-rope slept near, must needs bear the bane of Gudlaug, and there the leavings of Hagbard's goat, gripped hard the neck of the hercers' ruler. CHAPTER XXIX THE DEATH OF KING AUUN AUUN, OR ANI, was the son of Yorund, who was king over the Swedes after his father. He was a wise man, and held much by blood-offerings, no warrior but a boat on his lands in peace. Now in the days when these kings aforesaid bear rule at Uppsala, the kings over the Danes were first damned the proud, who lived to be exceeding old, then his son Frodi the proud, or the peaceful, and then Hofton and Friedleif. The sons of him, and these were great warriors, Hofton was the older and the foremost in all matters, and he went with an army against King Aoun of Sweden, and certain battles they had wherein Hofton ever gained the day, and in the end King Aoun fled into West Goutland, when as he had been king at Uppsala for five and twenty years, and for twenty-five winters he abode in Goutland, while King Hofton ruled at Uppsala. King Hofton died in his bed at Uppsala, and was laid in mound there. Thereafter came King Aoun yet again at Uppsala, and was then sixty years old. Then he made a great sacrifice for length of days, and gave Oden his son, and he was offered up to him. Then got King Aoun answer from Oden that he should live yet another sixty winters, so he reigned on at Uppsala for twenty-five winters more. Then came Ali the bold, the son of Friedleif, with an army to Sweden against King Aoun, and battles they had, and King Ali ever had the better part. And again King Aoun fled his realm, and went into West Goutland, and Ali was king in Uppsala twenty-five years or ever Stargard the old slew him. After the fall of Ali, King Aoun went back again to Uppsala, and ruled the realm there yet five and twenty winters. Then he made yet another great sacrifice for the lengthening of his life, and offered up another of his sons. But Oden answered him that he should live on ever even so long as he gave Oden one of his sons every tenth year, and bade him with all give a name to some county in his land according to the tale of those sons of his whom he should offer up to Oden. So when he had offered up seven sons, then he lived ten winters yet in such case that he might not go afoot, but was born about on a chair. Then he offered up yet again the eighth of his sons, and lived ten winters yet, and then lay bed ridden. Then he offered up his ninth son, and lived ten winters yet, and then must need drink from a horn even as a swaddling babe. Now had he one son yet left, and him also would he offer up, and give to Oden Uppsala with all in the countryside thereabout, and let call it Tenthland. But the Swedes forbade him, and there was no sacrifice. So King Aoun died, and was laid in Hau at Uppsala, ever since it is called Aoun's sickness when a man dies painless of eld. So sings Theodolph. In days gone at Uppsala must Aoun's sickness for Aoun work ending, and he the king to life-strong clinging sank back again to second childhood. Yea, the little end of the long sword that the bull-beareth, beareth he mouthward. There the sun-slayer drank from the sword-point of the yoke reindeer, drank lying lowly. No might had the east king hoary-headed to hold aloft the herd's head-weapon. End of Section 3 Section 4 of Heimskringla by Sonorie Sturlson Translated by George Pope Morris and Eureka Magnusson This, that provides recording, is in the public domain. The Story of the Inglings, Part 4 Chapter 30 of Eagle the foe of Tunny Eagle was the name of the son of Aoun, who was king of Sweden after his father. He was no warrior but a boat on his lands in peace. He had a thrall-height Tunny who had been with Aoun the old and was his treasurer, but when Aoun the old was dead then took Tunny, abundance of his wealth, and buried it under the earth. But now when Eagle became king he set Tunny amid the other thralls, and this he took exceeding ill and ran away, and many other thralls with him. And they dug up the money which Tunny had buried, and he gave the same to his men, and they took him to be lord over them. Thereafter their flock to him much folk of the renegades, and they lay abroad in the wild wood. But wiles would they fall on the countryside and rob men or slay them. Now King Eagle heard thereof and went to seek them with his host, but on a night when he had taken up his quarters came Tunny with his folk, and fell on them unawares as slew many of the king's men. So when King Eagle was where that war was come upon him, he turned against Tunny and set up his banner, but many of his folk fled away from him so furiously as Tunny. He and his set on, and King Eagle sought not for it but to flee. So Tunny and his folk draved the whole route to the wild wood, and then fared back to the people of land, and herried and robbed and found not to withstand them. All the wealth Tunny took in the countryside he gave to his men, whereof he became well-beloved and followed of many. Now King Eagle gathered an army together and went against Tunny, so they fought, and Tunny prevailed, and King Eagle fled away and lost many men. Eight battles had King Eagle and Tunny together, and in all of them Tunny gained the victory. So thereafter King Eagle fled away from the land and made for his sealant in Denmark and the court of King Frody the Bold, and there he promised for King Frody's helping scat from the Swedes. So Frody gave him an host and his champions with awe, and Eagle went his ways to Sweden. And when, as Tunny knew thereof, he went against him with his host, and they fought together a great battle wherein Tunny fell. So King Eagle took his realm to him, and the Danes went back home. King Eagle sent King Frody good gifts and great at each season, but paid no scat to the Danes, and yet held good the friendship tweaked him and Frody, and after Tunny's fall King Eagle ruled the realm alone, yet three winters. It fell out in Sweden that there was a certain bull set apart for sacrifice that waxed old, and was nourished so over abundantly that it grew outrageous. And so when men would take him, he fled away into the woods and went wild, and was long time in the thicket and dealt dreadfully with men. Now King Eagle was a mighty hunter, and off he rode day long through the woods a hunting wild deer. And so on a time when, as he had ridden with his men to the hunting, the king chased a certain deer along wild, and had followed after it on the spur into the woods away from all his folk. Then was he aware of that bull and rode to him and would slay him. The bull turned to meet him, and the king got a thrust at him, but the spear glanced from off him. Then the bull thrust his horn into the horse's flank, so that he fell flat, and the king with him. The king leaped to his feet and would draw his sword, but the bull thrust his horns into the breast of the king, so that they stood deep therein. Then came the king's good men there to enslute the bull. The king lived but a little while, and was laid in mound at Uppsala. Hereof says the adult, the happy of praise, high king of Tyre, must flee before the might of Tunny. The Judson's yoke beast reddened there after the bull's head-sword in the breast of Eagle. The beast, too, a great wild wide through the east, would had borne aloft the Browse High Temple, yea, and the sheathless sort of the bull-beasts stood deep in the heart of the son of the skill-fings. Chapter 31 of Ardurt, Ben-Dill Crow. Ardurt was the name of the son of Eagle, and he took the realm and kingdom after him. No friendship he held with King Frody, so Frody sent him to King Ardurt to claim the scat, which Eagle had promised him. Ardurt answered that the Swedes had never paid scat to the Danes, and said that neither would he do so now, and therewith the messengers went their ways back. Now, Frody was a great warrior, and so on a certain summer he went with his host to Sweden, made the fray there and harried and slew many folk and took some captives. There, Gad he, exceeding great prey, and burnt and wasted the dwellings of men, and wrought the greatest yeasts of war. But the next summer, Frody the king went to warring in the east countries, and there on King Ardurt heard tell that King Frody was not in the land, so he went abroad. His warships had made for Denmark and harried there and found not to withstand him. Now, he heard that men were gathered thick in sea land, and he turned west through ire sound, and then sailed south to Jutland, and lays his keels for Linford, and harries about Bendel, and burns there, and lays the land waste far and wide where so he came. Vat and Fausti were Frody's earls, whom he had set to the warding of the land whilst he was away thence. So when these earls heard that the sweet king was harrying in Denmark, they gathered force and leaped shipboard and sailed south to Linford, and came all unawares upon King Otter, and fell to fighting. But the Swedes met them well, and folk fell on either side. But as the folk of the Danes fell, came more in their stead from the countryside's around, and all ships with all were laid to that were at hand. So such in the battle had that there fell King Otter, and the more part of his host. The Danes took his dead body and brought it a land, and laid it on a certain mound, and there let wild things in common foul tear the carrion. With all they made a crow of tree, and sent it to Sweden with this word to the Swedes, that that King Otter of theirs was worth, but just so much as that. So afterwards men called him Otter Vendelkrow. So says the Odolf, into the urns grip fell the great Otter, the dowdy of deed before the Danes' weapons, when glides of war with bloody feet tore him about, and trod on Vendel. I hear these works of vat and fosty were set in tail by Swedish folk, that frody's island's earls between them had slain the famous fight upholder. Chapter 32, The Wedding of King Adels. Adels was the name of King Otter's son, who ruled in his stead. He was King, a long while an exceeding wealthy man, and went warring certain summers. Now King Adels came with his army to Saxland, a king reigned their over called Goetheuf, and his wife was Heid Eloth, the mighty, but not is told of their having children. This king was not in the land as then, so King Adels and his men rushed up to the king's stead, and robbed there, and some draved down the herds, to a strand slaughtering. Certain bond folk, both men and women, had had the hoarding of the herb, and all these the king's men took with them. Among these folk was a maiden wondrous fair, named Ursa, so King Adels fared home with his war giddings, and Ursa was not left among the bond-maids. Men speedily found that she was wise and fair-spoken, plenteous in knowledge of all matters, so they held her in great account, but the king most of all, so that it came about that King Adels wedded her, and Ursa was Queen and Sweden, and was deemed the greatest of noble women. Chapter 33, The Death of King Adels, King Helgi, the son of Half Dan, ruled in Halithra in those days, and he came to Sweden with so great a host that King Adels sought not for it, but to flee away. So King Helgi went to shore with his host and harried, and got plenteous ponder, and laid hands on Ursa, the queen, and had her away with him to Halithra and wedded her, and their son was Rolf Krake, but when Rolf was three winters old, then came Queen Elaf to Denmark, and there with all she told Queen Ursa that King Helgi, her husband, was no less her father with all, and that she Elaf was her mother. Then Ursa went back to Sweden to King Adels, and was Queen there ever after while she lived. King Helgi fell in battle when as Rolf Krake was eight winters old, who was straightway holding as King at Halithra. King Adels had mighty strife with a king called Eli, the uplander from out of Norway. King Adels and King Eli had a battle on the ice of the veneer lake, and Eli fell there, but Adels gained the day. Concerning this battle is much told in the story of the Skiol Duns, and also how Rolf Krake came to Uppsala to Adels, and that was when Rolf Krake sowed gold on the fierce meads. Now King Adels had great joints in good horses and had the best horses of that time. Slinger was the name of one of his horses, and another he had called Raven. Him he took from Eli, dead, and of him was begotten another horse, who was called Raven, which he sent to Hala Graland, to King Godgest, and King Godgest backed him, but might not stay him ere he was cast from his back and got his bane thereby, and this befell at armed in Hala Graland. Now King Adels happened to be at a sacrifice to the goddesses, and rode his horse through the hall of the goddesses, and the horse tripped his feet under him, and he fell and the king fell forward, front off him, so that his head smote on a stone, and he break his skull, and the brains lay on the stones, whereby he got his bane. Adels died at Uppsala, and was laid in mound there, and the Swedes called him a mighty king. So sings the Adolf, still have I heard of Adels life days, how that the witch white should waste them holy, how the dowdy king, the kin of Frey, must fall down from the steed's shoulder, and that the brain sea of the son of King Folk was mingled all with my regret, and the deed famed Folk of Eli, even at Uppsala, had his ending. Chapter 34, Fall of Rolf Kraki Eistein was the name of the son of Adels, who next ruled over the swede realm. In his days fell Rolf Kraki at Halithra. At that time kings harried much in the realm of Sweden, both Danes and Norsemen. Many sea kings there were, who were at the head of many Folk, but had no lands. He alone was accounted a right of sea king, who never slept under city roof tree, nor ever drank in heart engel. Chapter 35 of Eistein and of Solvi, the Jew king. There was a sea king named Solvi, the son of Hogni of Neordzal, who in those days harried in the east countries, and had a realm in Jutland with all. He made with his host for Sweden, and at that time was king Eistein of Feasting in the countryside, which is called Lofund. The Jew king, King Solvi, on him, unawares and a night time, and beset the king in his house, and burned him therein with all his court. Then went Solvi to Sigtown, and bad Folk named him King, and take him forth the same, but the Swedes gathered and host, and would defend the land, and a fight befell so great, that it is told thereof, that it break off never for the space of eleven days. Therein get King Solvi, the victorium was king over the swede realm, a long while, yay, until the Swedes betrayed him, and he was slain. Hereof, says the Adolf, I know how Eistein's ended life-thread life, hidden in Lofund country, and say the Swedes for sure that Jew Folk burnt indoors their dowdy ruler. The mountain tangles, biting sickness, ran on the king and the ship of the hearth fires, then, when the toffs barked, timber strutted, burnt over the king, and crowds of warriors. Chapter 36, the slaying of King Ingvar. Thereafter was Ingvar, the son of King Eistein, king over the swede realm. A great warrior was he, and was off aboard warships, because in those days was the swede realm much troubled by war, both of the Danes and the men of the east countries. Now King Ingvar made peace with the Danes, and then fell to warring in the east countries. One summer he had out his host and fared to Estonia, and hurried there summer long in the park called Stone. The other came down, the Estonian Folk with a great army and a battle befell, but by such odds were the Folk of the land greater that the Swedes might not withstand them, and King Ingvar fell there, but his folk fled away. He was laid in mound there, down by the very sea, where as it is called Ada Lysla, so the Swedes fared home after this overthrow, so says the adult, forth flew the news how folk of Lysla had Ingvar done to death the fighting, how Eston folk beside the sea heart smote the fair chieftain deadly. Now the eastern sea ever singeth Guy Mir's song for the swede king's joyance. Chapter 37 of King Rode, Onand Onand was the king of Ingvar. He was the next to take the kingdom in Sweden. In his day was there good peace in Sweden, and he was very rich in chattels. King Onand went with his army to Estonia for the avenging of his father. He went up a land with his host and hurried there far and wide and got great plunder and went back in autumn tide to Sweden. In his days were there plenty's years in Sweden, and King Onand was best beloved of all kings. Now Sweden is a great woodland country, and such great wild woods are there in that it is many days journey across them. So King Onand set himself with great care and cost to clearing the woods and peopling the clearings. He let it also make ways through the wild woods and wide about therein was found woodless land and thus great countryside were people there. So by this wise was the land widely settled for the folk of the land were enow for the peopling thereof. King Onand let cut roads throughout all Sweden, both through the woods and the mires, and the mountain wilds, wherefore was he called road Onand. King Onand set up a manner of his and every shire of Sweden and went through all the land a-guesting. Chapter 38 of Ingeald Evil Heart Road Onand had a sun height Ingeald. Now in those days was Invar king in Fjadr deland, and he had two sons by his wife, one height Elf and the other Agnar, and they were much of an age with Ingeald. Wide about Sweden in that time were their country kings of road Onand, and Swip Dag, the blind ruled over Tenthland. Uppsala is in that county, and there is the thing of all the Swedes Holden, and there also were great blood offerings, and many kings sought thither, and that was about midwinter. So on a certain winter where many folk come to Uppsala, and King Invar was there, and his sons, and both Elf, the son of King Invar and Ingeald, the son of King Onand were six winters old. So these fell to sporting as children used, and each was to rule over his own band, and so when they played together, then was Ingeald proven feebler than Elf, and so ill he deemed that he wept, so they're over. Then came to him Gout bid his foster brother, and let him away to Swip Dag, the blind his foster father, and told him how it had gone ill with him, and that he was feebler and of less pith in the play than Elf, the son of King Invar. Then answered Swip Dag that it was great shame thereof, so the next day Swip Dag let take the heart out of a wolf and roast it on a spit, and gave it thereafter to Ingeald, the king's son to eat, and thence forth became he the grimest of all men, and the evilest hearted. Now when Ingeald was come to Man's estate, then King Onand wooed a wife for him, even Gout killed the daughter of King Algot, who was the son of King Gout Trekk, the bounteous the son of Gout, after whom is Goutland named. King Algot thought assuredly that his daughter would be exceeding well wedded if she were given to the son of King Onand, if so be he was of the same mind as his father, so the maid was sent to Sweden, and Ingeald wedded her in due time. End of the story of the Inglings part four. Section five of Himes Kringla by Snorri Sturlson, translated by George Pope Morris and Erika Magnussen. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The story of the Inglings, part five, chapter 39 to 44. Chapter 39 The Death of Onand Now King Onand went from manor to manor of his in the autumn tide with his court and journeyed to a place called Heaven Heath, where there are certain straight mountain valleys, with steep mountains on either side thereof. Every rain was falling at that tide, but before had snow fallen on the hills, so now there tumbled down a mighty slip with stones and clay, but King Onand and his folk were in the way of that slip, and the king got his death thereby, and many of his men with him. So says the Adolf. Onand the king was caught by the bane of Yonacur's sons under the heaven fell, all unsparing on the Eastman's foeman, came the wrathful corpse destroyer. There the handler of Agni's bullrush by the world's bones was overwhelmed. Chapter 40 A Burning at Uppsala Then Ingyal, the son of King Onand, took the kingdom at Uppsala. Now the Uppsala kings were the master kings in Sweden, when as there were many county kings therein from the time that Odin was lord in Sweden. But the chiefs that abode at Uppsala were sole lords over the Sweden realm until that Agni died. But then was the realm first apportioned between brethren, as is aforeit, and afterwards the realm and kingdom drifted apart amongst kin, even as these were sundered. But some of these kings cleared great woodlands and peopled them, and thereby eeked out their realms. But when King Ingyal took the realm and kingdom, were there many county kings, as is written afore? Now King Ingyal let set afoot a great feast at Uppsala, with the mind to hold the airship feast over his father King Onand. And he let array a certain hall, neither less nor less seemingly than the hall at Uppsala, and he called it the Hall of the Seven Kings, and there were made therein seven high seats. King Ingyal sent men all over Sweden and bade to him kings and urls and other men of note. To this feast came King Algout, the father-in-law of Ingyal, and King Ingvar of Fyad run the land with his two sons, Alf and Agnar. King Spurs Nial Lur, with all of Merrick and Sigvat King of Aethland. But Grandma King of South Mandland was not come. So six kings were set down in the new hall, but one high seat of those that King Ingyal had let make was empty. All the folk that had come thither had place in the new hall, but King Ingyal had settled his own court and Goodman in the hall of Uppsala. Now the custom it was of those days that when an air ship feast was to beholden over kings or urls, he who made the said feast and was to be brought to his heritage should sit on a stool before the high seat until such time as the cup was born in, which was called the Braga cup. Then should he stand up to meet the Braga cup and take oath and drink out the cup thereafter and then be led into the high seat that was his father's and thus was he fully come into the heritage of all things after him. Now in like ways was it done here for when the Braga cup came in, up rose Ingyal the king and took a great bull's horn and took even such an oath that he would increase his realm by the half on every one of the four quarters of heaven or else would die. And there with all he drank out the horn, but when men were drunken at night time then spake King Ingyal to goat vid and hull vid the sons of Swip Dag and bade them armed with all their folk even as had been laid down a forehand that same night. So they went out to the new hall and bare fire there too and so then the hall fell ablaze and the six kings were burned therein with all their folk but all those who sought to come out were slain speedily thereafter King Ingyal laid under him all the dominions that these kings had owned and took scat therefrom. Chapter 41 The Wedding of Hyovard King Grandmar heard the tidings of all this burial and he deemed it might well be that the same fate was brewing for him if he paid not good heed there too. That same summer Hyovard the king who was called the Ylfing came with his host to Sweden and laid his ships in the Firth called Merkfirth but when King Grandmar knew that he sent men to him and bade him come feast with him with all his men and he took the bidding gladly because he had not harried the realm of King Grandmar. So when he came to the feast there was the welcome goodly and so in the evening when the cup came in it was the want of those kings who abode at home that at the feast which they let make folk should drink the nights to and to to every man a woman as far as men and women would pair and then the odd tale of them apart together but the Viking law was it that they should drink all in company even when they were a guesting now the high seat of King Hyovard was died over against the high seat of King Grandmar and all his men sat on that dais then King Grandmar bat his daughter Hildeguna to array herself and bear ale to the Vikings and she was the fairest of all women so she took a silver bowl and filled it and went before King Hyovard and spake hail to ye all oh ill-fings this in memory of Rolf Kraki and there was she drank the half of the cup and then gave it unto King Hyovard now he took the cup yay and her hand with all and bat her sit beside him but she said it was not the use of Vikings to drink sitting paired with women Hyovard answered and said it was more like that now he would for a shift do this to let the Viking law go somewhat and drink paired with her then sat Hildeguna beside him and they drank together and talked of many things that evening but the next day when the kings met even Grandmar and Hyovard Hyovard fell to his ruin and bat for Hildeguna King Grandmar laid the matter before Hild his wife and other great folk of his realm and said that they would have great avail in King Hyovard good rumor there was there at and to all it seemed well counseled and so the end was that Hildeguna was betrothed to King Hyovard and he wedded her Hyovard was to dwell with King Grandmar because he had no son born to ward his realm for him chapter 42 battle in Sweden between Ingild and the kinsmen in law Grandmar and Hyovard that same autumn King Ingild gathered force with the mind to fall on those folk alive he had an host out from all those realms which he had a four time late under him but when those kin in law heard thereof they gathered force in their realm and there came to their helping King Hogni and Hilder his son who ruled over East Gotland Hogni was the father of Hild whom Grandmar had to wife so King Ingild went up a land with all his host and had overwhelming odds against them now they meet in battle and of the hardest it was but when they had fought a little while there fled away the lords who ruled over Fiadrun the land and West Gotland and Narragan eighth land with all the host that were come from those lands and got them to the ships then was Ingild hard bestowed and got many wounds and there with fled away to his ships but swift dag the blind his foster father fell there and both his sons Goutvid and Halvid King Ingild fared back to Uppsala with things in such a plight and was ill content with his journey and deemed it well to be seen that the host which he had from his realm conquered by war would be but untrusty so war there was afterwards betwixt King Ingild and King Grandmar but when along while things had thus gone on the friends of either of them brought it so about that they made truce and the kings appointed a meeting between themselves and they met and made peace together even King Ingild and King Grandmar and King Heovard his son-in-law and the peace should hold good betwixt them whilst they all three lived and it was bound by oath and troth the next spring went King Grandmar to Uppsala to the blood offering as the want was at the coming of summer for good peace and such wise the lot fell to him there at that he would not live long so he went back home to his realm Chapter 43 Death of the King's Grandmar and Heovard the next autumn fared King Grandmar and King Heovard his son-in-law to guesting in the aisle called Silly at their own manner therein and so while they were at this feasting the other came King Ingild with his army on a night and took the house over them and burned them therein with all their folk thereafter he laid under him all the realm which those kings had had and set lords over it but King Hogni and Hilda his son would often ride up in the sweet realm and slay those men of Ingilds whom he had set over the realm of King Grandmar their kinsmen-in-law so for a long while was their mighty strife betwixt King Hogni and King Ingild nevertheless King Hogni held his realm in King Ingilds despite even to his death day King Ingild had two children by his wife the eldest the daughter was called Asa and the other Olaf the tree shaver but this lad Gautild the wife of King Ingild sent to Bovey her foster father in west goutland and there was he reared along with Saxie the son of Bovey who was called the splitter now men say that King Ingild slew twelve kings and betrayed them all when as they trusted in him he was called Ingild evil heart and was king over the greater part of Sweden Asa his daughter he wedded to Gudrad king of Skania she was of like mind to her father Asa brought it about that Gudrad slew his brother half down but half down was the father Ivar wide fathom with all Asa accomplished the death of Gudrad her husband and then fed away to her father and she was called Asa evil heart chapter 44 the death of Ingild evil heart Ivar wide fathom came to Skania after the fall of Gudrad his father's brother and straightway gathered together a great host and went his ways up Swedenward now Asa evil heart was before that gone to her father but King Ingild was a feasting at his manner of reigning when he knew that the host of King Ivar was coming on nor did he deem that he was of might to meet King Ivar in battle and on the other hand he deemed it certain that if he fled away his foes would gather together against him from every side so he and Asa fell to that council which has now become far famed for they made all their folk dead drunk and then let lay fire in the hall and the hall burned there and all the folk that were therein along with King Ingild and Asa so says the adult there was Ingild tried to his ending by the reek flinger at reigning manner when the house the fiery footed stalk through and through the god sprung king and such betiding all the people of Swedes must deem it most seldom told of when he himself his life of valor the first of all men must make not of end of section five section six of Hymes Gringla by Snorri Sturluson translated by George Pope Morris and Ira Kerr Magnuson this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the story of the Inglings part six chapter 45 to 55 chapter 45 of Ivar wide fathom Ivar wide fathom laid under him all the swede realm and he got to him all Denmark with all great part of Saxon land and all the east realm and the fifth part of England of his kin are all who since him have been kings of Denmark and Sweden also such as have been soul kings thereof for after Ingild evil heart the dominion of Uppsala fell from the kin of the Inglings that may be told up by the straight line of forefathers chapter 46 of Olaf tree shaver Olaf the son of King Ingild when he heard tell of the fall of his father fared with such focus would follow him because the whole assembly of the Swedes rose up with one accord for the driving away of the kin of King Ingild and all his friends Olaf fared first into the parts of Narek but when the Swedes heard of him where he was then he might no more abide there so he went west by the wildwood ways to the river which falls from the north into the thener and is called the elf there he dwelt with his folk and they fell to clearing of the woods and burning them and their siphons they abode and in a little there grew up their great people to countryside's and they called the land vermeland and exceeding good land was there but when it was told to King Olaf in Sweden that he was clearing the woods then they called him Olaf tree shaver deeming his ways worthy of mocking Olaf had two wife her who is called so big or so va the daughter of half done gold tooth west of so isles half done was the son of so v the son of so var the son of so v the old who first cleared so is the mother of Olaf tree shaver was gal tealed but her mother was a loft daughter of Olaf the far-sighted king of narek Olaf and so v had two sons in gild and half done and half done was reared in so is with so v his mother's brother and was called half done white leg chapter forty seven the burning of Olaf tree shaver now there were much folk who were outlaws that fled from sweden from king ivar and they heard that Olaf tree shaver had good land in vermeland and they're flocked to him so many folk that the land might not bear them so that there be fell great famine and hunger which evil they laid to the account of their king as is want of the Swedes for sooth to lay upon their kings both plenty and famine now king Olaf was a man but little given to blood offering and the Swedes were ill content there with and deemed that vence came the scarcity so they drew together a great host and fell on king Olaf and took the house over him and burned him there in and gave him to odin offering him up for the plenty of the year this befell by the vener as says theodol by the side of the lake the temple wolf swallowed the body of Olaf of him the tree shaver and there the lead-wrapped son of forniat did off the raiment of the king of the swede realm so the high king sprung from the kin of the upsault lords died long ago chapter 48 half done white leg taken for king such as were wisest among the swedes now found out that what had wrought the famine was that the folk were more than the land might bear and that the king had not at all to do with it now they fall to and fair with all their host west over the eyed wood and come down upon soles all unawares there they slew king salvi but laid hands on half done white leg and took him to be lord over them and gave him the name of king and he subdued soles to him thereafter he went with his host out to raw merc and wore there and won that folk in war chapter 49 of half done white leg half done white leg was a mighty king he had to wife asa the daughter of eyestown the terrible king of the uplands who ruled over heathmark half done and asa had two sons eyestown and goodrod half done got to him much of heathmark and thotten and hatterland and great part of westfold with all he lived to be old and died in his bed at thotten but was afterwards brought out to westfold and laid in mount in scaride at skeering saw so says the adult all folk know it how fate bereft the law upholders of lord half done how the hill wards helped some daughter there in thotten took the folk king low now scaride in skeering saw hangs over the bones of the elf of the bernie chapter 50 of engiol the brother of half done engiol the brother of half done was king of vermeland but after his death half done laid vermeland under him and took scat thereof and set earls there over while he lived chapter 51 the death of king eyestown eyestown son of king half done was king after him in rom rick and westfold he had to wife healed the daughter of eric son of agnar who was king of westfold agnar the father of eric was the son of sig trig the king of vandal king eric had no son and died while king half done white leg was yet alive so half done and eyestown his son took to them all westfold and eyestown ruled westfold while he lived in that time was giel king of varna and a mighty wizard he was now king eyestown went with certain warships over to varna and harried there and took what so he came across both raiment and other goods and the gear of the bonders withal and had a strand slaughtering there and then he went his ways then came king skeol down to the strand with his host but king eyestown was gone away and had crossed over the furth and skeol beheld the sales of him then he took his cloak and waved it abroad and blew there with and so as they sailed in past earls i'll king eyestown sat by the tiller and another ship was sailing an eye and so amid a certain cross-sea the sailyard of the other ship smote the king overboard and he got his bane thereby his men got his dead corpse and it was brought to borrow and a mound heaped up over it at the ending of the land out by the sea beside badla so says the adult king eyestown smitten by stroke of sailyard to the may of the brother of by leist fared the feast bestower his rest now findeth neath the seas bones by the shores ending whereby the goth king cometh ever the stream of badla ice cold through the great sea chapter 52 of king hoff down the bounteous and the meat grudging hoff down was the name of king eyestown's son who took the kingdom after him he was called hoff down the bounteous and the meat grudging for it is told of him that he gave in pay to his warriors as many pennies of gold as other kings will want to give pennies of silver yet he kept men short of meat a great warrior he was and long time cruised a warring and got wealth to him he had to wife hilliff the daughter of king day of west smear whole tar in west foe was his chief manner here he died in his bed and was laid in mound at borough even as the adult says to the thing of odin was the king then bitten by have had drunks maiden from the homes of men folk when as king hoff done dweller at whole tar the doom of norns had done fulfilling and battle winners there were your king buried in mound at borough later chapter 53 of good rod the hunter king good rod was the name of hoff down son who took the kingdom after him he was called good rod the proud but some called him the hunter king he had a wife called elfield the daughter of alpharen of elf home and had with her one half of bingo mark their son was olaf who was afterwards called gears stead elf elf home was then the name of the land batrix rom elf and gotel now when elf hilled was dead then sent king good rod his men west to adjeer to the king who ruled there over who was named herald red lip and they were to woo of him for their king asa his daughter but herald said them nay so the messengers came back and told the king of the speeding of their errand so a little after king good rod thrust his ships into the water and went with a great host out to adjeer he came all unawares and raised the fray coming a night time to king herald's dwelling but he when he knew that war was upon him went out with such focus he had and a fight there was but over great were the odds betwixt them and king herald fell there with his son gird king good rod took great booty and had home with him asa daughter of king herald and wedded her and they had a son called half down but when half down was one winter old in the autumn tide fared king good rod are guesting and lay on his ship and stifler sounding great drinkings there were and the king was very merry with drink so in the evening when it was dark the king went from the ship but when as he came to the gangway in then ran a man against him and thrust him through with a spear and that was his bane but the man was slain straightway but in the morning when it was light the man was known for queen asa's foot page neither did she hide that it was done by her reed so says the adult low king good rod great at heart dead your agon by treason died ahead revengeful false reed and evil wrought on the king by ale made merry and asa's man the evil traitor won by murder the mighty king so in the king on the ancient bed of stifler sound was stung to dying chapter 54 the death of king olof olof took the kingdom after his father he was a mighty man and a great warrior the fairest and strongest of all men and great of growth westfold he had because in those days king el gear took under him all bingo mark and set there over king gandalf his son then the father and son drave hard into rom rick and gained the more part of that realm and people haggney was the son of king i stein the mighty king of the uplands and he laid under him all he's mark and thought and had a land and therewithal fell vermeland from the sons of good rod and that folk turned them to paying tribute to the swede king now olof was 20 years old when as good rod died but when half done his brother came to the realm along with him then they shared the realm betwixt them olof had the eastern part but half down the southern king olof had his abode at gear sted but he got a disease in his foot and died thereof in his late in mount at gear so sings the adult a line descended from thrower the mighty had thriven well thus far in norway wide through westmir while agon king olof ruled the land right proudly until the foot ache by the earth's ending brought unto not that battle dealer the bold in warfare at gear sted there is the how heaped over the host king chapter 55 of rog bald higher than the hills rog bald was the son of king olof who was king in west folg after his father he was called higher than the hills and of him did the adult of have been make the england tail and so sayeth he that no I best neath the blue heavens of eek names ever owned of king whereas king rog neval who rules the rudder higher than the heaths is height most fitly end of chapter six the story of the englings part six chapter 45 to 55 section seven of hymes cringla by snorrie stirrelson translated by george pope morris and your ricker magnificent this liver box recording is in the public domain the story of half dawn the black chapter one half dawn fights with gondolf and sig trig half dawn was one winter old when his father fell asa his mother went forth with west to ag deer and straight way betook her to the realm her father herald had had there waxed half dawn and was big and strong even in his early years and black haired with all he was called half dawn the black when he was eighteen winters old he took the rule in ag deer and straight way he went to west folg and shared the realm with olof his brother that same autumn he went with an army to vingle mark against king galdolf and many battles they had together and now one now the other had the victory but in the end they made peace in such wise that half dawn was to have the half of vingle mark that his father good rod had had thereafter fared king half dawn up into romrick and laid it unto him where of her king sig trig the son of king ice down who as then a boat in heathmark and had a four time subdued realm rick then went king sig trig with an host against king half dawn and a great battle befell and king half dawn gained the day so as the host broke into flight was king sig trig smitten by an error under the left armpit and he fell there thereafter king half dawn laid all realm rick under him ice stein was another son of king ice stein and the brother of king sig trig and was then king in heathmark and when as king half dawn was gone west to west folg king ice stein went with his host west to realm rick and laid the land there under him far and wide chapter two battles between half dawn and ice stein half dawn the black heard that there was war in realm rick so he drew and host together and fared into realm rick to meet king ice stein and they had a battle there and half dawn gained the day and ice stein fled away up into heathmark king half dawn followed after him up into heathmark with his host and they had another battle there and half dawn prevailed but ice stein fled north into the dales to good brand the hare seer thence he got together men and went in the winter out into heathmark and met half dawn in a great island which lies amidst the lake of me ores there had they battle and many men fell on either side but half dawn gained the day there fell gu thorm the son of good brand the here seer who was deemed the hopefulist man of the uplands then ice stein fled again north into the dales and sent halvard rascal his kinsmen to meet king half dawn and bespeak peace with him so for kinship's sake king half dawn gave up to king ice stein the half of heathmark even as those kinfolk had owned it a foretown but half dawn brought thotten under him and the place called the land and he gained to him had a land also and was with and exceeding mighty king chapter three the wedding of half dawn the black half dawn the black took to wife a woman named ragna hill the daughter of herald goldbeard king of sagan a son they had to whom the king herald gave his own name and the child was reared at sagan in the house of king herald his mother's father but when as herald was clean worn out by years and was childless he gave his realm to herald his daughter's son and let him be made king and a little after died herald goldbeard that same winter died ragna hilled his daughter and the spring after king herald the young felt sick and died in sagan when he was already ten years old but as soon as half dawn the black heard of his death he went his ways with a great host and came north to sagan and was well taken to by folk so there he claimed for himself the kingdom and heritage after his son nor was there any to withstand him and so he brought that realm under him then came to him at lead the slender Earl of Galar who was a friend of king half dawn and the king set this earl oddly over the folk of sagan to be judged there by the law of the land and to gather together the scat for the king's hands then went king half dawn thence to his kingdom in the uplands chapter four battle betricks half dawn and Gandalf's sons king half dawn went in the autumn out to bingelmark and so on a night when as king half dawn was a feasting there came to him at midnight the man who had beholden the horse ward and told him that an host was come nigh to the stead then the king arose straightway and bat his men armed and therewith he went without and arrayed them but even therewith were come hither hyacing and helsing the sons of Gandalf with a great host and there was a great battle but whereas king half dawn was over born by multitude he must needs flee away to the woods having lost many men there fell over the sage his foster father thereafter much folk drew toward king half dawn and he went to seek the sons of Gandalf and met them at id by the aina scaries and there they fought and hyacing and helsing fell but hockey their brother fled away after that king half dawn laid all bingelmark under him but hockey fled into elf home chapter five the later wedding of king half dawn with the daughter of sigurd heart sigurd heart was the name of a king of ring rick he was bigger and stronger than any other man and the fairest to look on of all men his father was helgi the king but his mother was aslog the daughter of sigurd worman i the son of ragnar lord brock so tells the tale that sigurd was but twelve winters old when he slew hildebrand the bear sirk and the whole twelve of them in single combat many a work of fame he won and long is the tale told of him now sigurd had two children ragnill was the name of his daughter the grandest of all women and she was at this tide twenty years old but gu thorn her brother was but a youngling now it is told about the death of king sigurd that he would ride out alone into the wild woods even as his want was for he would hunt beasts great and hurtful to men and exceeding eager he was herein so on a day when as sigurd had ridden a long way he came into a certain clearing near by hadaland and there came against him hockey the bar sirk with thirty men and they fought there there fell sigurd heart and twelve men of hockey and he himself lost his hand and had three other wounds thereafter wrote hockey with his men to the dwelling of sigurd and took their ragnar hill his daughter and gu thorn her brother and had them away with him with much wealth and many goodly things and bore them home to hadaland where he had great manners then he let array a feast and was minded to wed ragnar hill but the matter was stayed because it went ill with his hurts so hockey the hadaland bear sirk lay wounded through harvest tide until winter began but at yuletide king howl down was guesting in heathmark and had heard all these tidings so on a morning early when the king was clad he called to him harrick the wolf and bat him fair over to hadaland and bring him ragnar hilled the daughter of sigurd heart harrick arrayed him and had a company of an hundred men so he sped his journey that in the gray of the morning they came over the water to hockey's dead and took all the doors of the hall wherein the house carls slept then went they to hockey sleeping bow and break it open and took thence away ragnar hilled and gooth thorn her brother and all the wealth that was there and the hall and all men therein they burnt up then they tilted over a wane in most seemly wise and set ragnar hill there in and gooth thorn and so went their ways back unto the ice hockey arose and went after them a while but when he came to the frozen water then he set the hills of his sword downward and fell on the point thereof so that the sword ran through him and there he got his bane and he is buried there on the water bank now king half done saw how they fared over the ice for he was the keenest eyed of all men and when he saw the tilted wane he deemed full surely that their errand had sped as he would have it so he let lay out the tables and sent men wide through the countryside and that many men to him and good feast there was holding that day for at that feast king half done wedded ragnar hilled and she was a mighty queen thereafter now the mother of ragnar hilled was thorny daughter of clack herald the king of jutland and sister of theory den marx wheel the wife of king gorm the old king of the danes who swayed the dane realm in those days chapter six of ragnar hill's dream queen ragnar hill dreamed great dreams for wise of wit she was and this was a dream of hers she thought she stood in her grass garth and took a thorn out of her smock and even while she held it at wax so that it grew into a great rod so that one end smoked down into the earth and struck fast root therein but the other end of the tree went high up aloft and even there with it seemed to her a tree so great that she might scare sea over it yay and wondrous thick it was now the lower part of this tree was red as blood but the bowl thereof fair green and goodly and the limbs up about as white as snow many in great branches there were on the tree some aloft and some aloft and the limbs of the tree were so great that she deemed they spread all over norway yay and far wider yet chapter seven the dream of half dawn king half down dream never and he deemed that a wondrous thing and opened his mind on it to a man named Thorleaf the sage and sought read of him how to amend it Thorleaf told him what he was want to do if he were curious in any matter to it that he went to sleep in a swine's stye and then lacked not ever of dreams so the king did so and this dream came to him for he thought he had the fairest hair of any man and it all fell in locks some low down till they touched the earth some to mid legs some to the knees some to the loins or the midst of his side some to the neck of him and some but just springing up from his head like little horns of diverse hues were these locks but one lock prevailed above all the others for fairness and brightness and greatness so he told his dream to Thorleaf and he arted it in such wise that great offspring would come of him and that his kin would rule over lands with great honor yet not all with the like honor and that one would come of his kin greater and higher than all and men hold it for sooth that that lock must be token king Olof the holy now king half down was a wise man trustee and upright he made laws and he demped himself and made all others he done lest the high hand should overthrow the law he himself made a tale of blood guilt and settled duly the weir guilds for each man after his birth and dignity now queen Ragon hill bore a son and he was sprinkled with water and named Harold and he speedily grew big and the fairest that might be there he waxed and was a right gray prowess from his early days and well stored with wit and wisdom his mother loved him much but his father not so much chapter eight the vanishing of half dawn's meat king half done was abiding through Yuletide and had a land and a marvel befell there on Yuletide when as men had gone to table and there were many men there for low all the little vanish from off the boards and all the good drink with all so the king sat behind heavy of mood and every man else made for his own home but the king to the end that he might know what had brought this thing about let take a certain fin who was a great wizard and would ring a true tail out of him and tormented him but got not of him now the fin quite ever for help on Harold the king's son and Harold prayed grace for him and got it not yet Harold delivered and let him go his ways against the will of the king and followed after him himself so they came on their journey to where a lord held a great feast and by seeming had goodly welcome there so when they had abided there till spring tide then spake the lord to Harold on a day and said great to do make a thigh father of his loss in that we took a little fiddle from him last winter but with a fair tale will I reward thee that low now thy father is dead and thou shalt go thy ways home and that we'll get to thee all the realm that thy father had and therewith shalt thou become the lord of all Norway chapter nine the death of king half done half done the black drave from a feast that had land and the road led him in such wise that he draved over the water of Rand spring tide it was and the sun was thawing all swiftly so as they drave over right kinswick there in the winter tide had been wakes for the neat but the muck had fallen on the ice and made holes therein by reason of the sun's thawing but when the king draved there over the ice break under him and there was king half done lost and much folk with him he was by then forty years old he had been of all others a king of plenteous years and so much men made of him that when they heard he was dead and his body brought to ring rick where folk were minded to bury it then came great lords from realm rick and westfold and heathmark and all prayed to have the corpse with them to lay it in mound among their own folk deeming that they got it might look to have plenteous years there with so at last they agreed to share the body in four and the head was laid in mound at stone in ring rick then of the others each took away their share and laid it in mound and all the mounds are called health don's mounds end of section seven