Sveigthir set out again to look for God Home. In the eastern part of Sweden there is a large estate, called Stein. There stands a boulder as big as a large house. In the evening, after sunset, when Sveigthir went from the feast to his sleeping quarters he saw that a dwarf was sitting by the boulder. Sveigthir and his men were very drunk and ran toward the boulder. The dwarf stood in the doorway [of the rock] and called to Sveigthir, inviting him to enter in if he would see Óthin. Sveigthir ran in, and the rock at once closed after him, and he never came out again. As says Thjóthólf of Hvinir:
(5.)
5. Daylight-shy,
Durni’s kinsman,1
the rock’s warder,
wiled King Sveigthir,
after him
when hastened the thane,
Fjolnir’s son,
scion of godheads;
and that hall,
hewn by etins,
swallowed up
Sveigthir, the king.
Chapter 13. King Vanlandi Engenders a Son in Finnland and Is Killed by a Nightmare
Vanlandi was the name of Sveigthir’s son who succeeded him and ruled over the Uppsala crown goods. He was a great warrior and fared far and wide from country to country. He accepted an invitation to pass the winter in Finnland with Snær [“Snow”] the Old, and there he married his daughter Drífa [“Snowdrift”]. But in the spring he departed, leaving Drífa behind. He promised to return after three years, but did not within ten years. Then Drífa sent for Huld, a sorceress, and sent Vísbur, her son by Vanlandi, to Sweden. Drífa prevailed upon Huld by gifts that she should conjure Vanlandi back to Finnland or else kill him.
At the time when she exercised her sorcery, Vanlandi was at Uppsala. Then he became eager to go to Finnland; but his friends and counsellors prevented him from doing so, saying that most likely it was the witchcraft of the Finns which caused his longing. Then a drowsiness overcame him and he lay down to sleep. But he had hardly gone to sleep when he called out, saying that a nightmare1 rode him. His men went to him and wanted to help him. But when they took hold of his head the nightmare trod on his legs so they nearly broke; and when they seized his feet it pressed down on his head so that he died. The Swedes burned him by a river called Skúta, and there they erected memorial stones for him. As says Thjóthólf of Hvinir:
(6.)
6. A vile witch
caused Vanlandi
to visit
Víli’s brother,2
when that trod
the troll-woman,
wicked wench,
the warrior king;
was he burned
on bank of Skúta,
noble prince, whom
the nightmare killed.
Chapter 14. King Vísbur’s Sons Burn Him in His Hall
Vísbur was the heir of his father Vanlandi. He got in marriage the daughter of Authi the Wealthy, and for her bridal gift gave her three large estates and a gold necklace. They had two sons, Gísl [Ski-staff] and Ondur [Ski]. But Vísbur deserted her and got himself another wife, so she returned to her father with her two sons. Vísbur had a son called Dómaldi. Dómaldi’s stepmother inflicted harm on him through sorcery. When the sons of Vísbur were twelve and thirteen years old they came upon him and demanded from him their mother’s bridal gifts, but he would not yield them up. Then they said that the gold necklace would be the death of the best man in his line. Thereupon they left him and returned home. Then another incantation was chanted to enable them to kill their father. Then Huld, the sorceress, told them she would bring it about, but also that there would always be slaughter of kinsmen in the race of the Skyldings. They agreed to that. Then they gathered a host and fell upon Vísbur unawares at night and burned him in his hall. As says Thjóthólf:
(7.)
7. And Vísbur’s
vault-of-wishes1
Ægir’s sib2
swallowed forthwith,
when the throne’s
theft avengers
on their father
the fire did turn,
and the gleedes’
greedy-dog3 bit
the liege-lord,
loudly howling.
The seeress chants incantations against Vísbur.
Chapter 15. King Dómaldi Is Sacrificed for Better Seasons
Dómaldi succeeded his father Vísbur and ruled over his lands. In his days there was famine and starvation in Sweden. Then the Swedes made huge sacrifices in Uppsala. The first fall they sacrificed oxen, but the season did not improve for all that. A second fall they sacrificed humans, but the season remained the same or was even worse. In the third fall the Swedes came in great numbers to Uppsala at the time for the sacrifices. Then the chieftains held a council, and they agreed that the famine probably was due to Dómaldi, their king, and that they should sacrifice him for better seasons, and that they should attack and kill him and redden the altars with his blood; and so they did. As says Thjóthólf:
(8.)
8. The time was
when weapon-bearing
Swedes reddened
their soil with blood
of their liege.
Lifeless lay then
Dómaldi,
dead in his blood,
when that him,
harvest-eager,
his folk gave
as gift to gods.
Chapter 16. King Dómar Dies of a Malady
Dómar was the name of Dómaldi’s son, and he succeeded to the kingdom. His rule was a long one, and good seasons and peace prevailed in his days. Nothing more is told about him than that he died in Uppsala of a sickness. His body was brought to Fýrisvellir1 and was burned there by the river, and there stand his memorial stones. As says Thjóthólf:
(9.)
9. Oft had I
about Yngvi’s sib2
vainly asked
the wisest men:
where Dómar’s
his dead body
had been borne
on Hálf’s bale-fire.3
Now I know:
gnawed by disease,
Fjolnir’s kin4
by Fýri burned.
Chapter 17. King Dyggvi Dies of a Sickness
Dyggvi was the name of his son, who ruled the land after him, and nothing more is told about him than that he died of a sickness. As says Thjóthólf:
(10.)
10. I doubt not
but Dyggvi’s corpse
Hel does hold
to whore with him;
for Úlf’s sib1
a scion of kings
by right should
caress in death:
to love lured
Loki’s sister
Yngvi’s heir
o’er all Sweden.
The mother of Dyggvi was Drótt, the daughter of King Danp, the son of Ríg, who was the first to be called “king” in the Danish tongue.2 His kinsmen have ever since borne the title of “king” as that of the highest rank. Dyggvi was the first of his line to be called “king.” Before that they were called dróttnar, their spouses, drottningar, and the king’s men, drótt. But everyone in their line was always called “Yngvi” or “Ynguni,” and all of them, “Ynglings.” Queen Drótt was the sister of King Dan the Proud, after whom Denmark is named.
Chapter 18. King Dag Seeks Revenge for His Sparrow and Is Slain
Dag was the name of King Dyggvi’s son who succeeded to the kingdom. He was so wise that he understood the speech of birds. He had a sparrow which told him many tidings. It used to fly over various countries. One time this sparrow flew into Reithgothaland1 and to the farm called Vorvi. He flew to the field of a farmer and fed there. The farmer came up and seized a stone and killed the bird. King Dag felt greatly concerned when the sparrow did not return to him. He prepared a sacrifice, offering up a boar to Frey, to find out what had happened, and received the answer that his sparrow had been killed at Vorvi. Then he summoned a large fleet and proceeded to Gotland. And when he arrived at Vorvi he debar
ked with his army and harried there. The people fled in all directions. In the evening King Dag returned with his army to the ships after having slain many and taken many prisoners. But as they were crossing some river, at a place called Skjótansford or Vápnaford, a work slave ran out of the woods on to the river bank and hurled a pitchfork into their flock. It struck the king on his head, and he fell straightway from his horse and was dead. In those days a chieftain on a harrying expedition was called gram,2 and his men, gramir. As says Thjóthólf:
(11.)
11. Heard I have
that high-born Dag,
to death doomed,
undaunted came
to avenge
on Vorvi strand,
with spear armed,
his sparrow’s loss.
And eke that,
in eastern lands,
the king’s host
of combat told:
that this thane
by thrown hay-fork
from hind’s hands
to Hel should fare.
Chapter 19. King Agni Is Hanged by Skjálf to Avenge Her Father’s Death
Agni was the name of Dag’s son who was king after him, a famous man of much power, a great warrior, and a man of many accomplishments in every way. One summer King Agni proceeded to Finnland with his fleet, landing and harrying there. The Finns collected a great force to oppose him. The name of their leader was Frosti. A great battle ensued, and King Agni was victorious. Frosti and a great many others fell there. King Agni harried far and wide in Finnland, subjecting it and making enormous booty. He took Skjálf, Frosti’s daughter, prisoner and carried her away together with Logi, her brother. And when he returned west he anchored in Stokk Sound1 and erected his tents on the meadow south of it. A forest was there at that time. King Agni had [with him] the golden necklace which had belonged to Vísbur. King Agni proceeded to marry Skjálf. She prayed the king to make a funeral feast for her father. So he invited many men of note and celebrated a great feast. He had become most famous through his expedition. Then there was a great drinking bout. And when King Agni had become drunk, Skjálf asked him to take care of the necklace he wore. So he seized it and bound it fast to his neck before he went to sleep. His tent stood close by the forest, with a high tree over it to shield it against the sun’s heat. Now when King Agni had fallen asleep, Skjálf took a thick cord and fastened it to the necklace. Then her followers took down the tent posts and threw the coil of rope over the limbs of the tree, then pulled, so that the king hung high in the branches; and that was the death of him. Skjálf and her men ran to a boat and rowed away. King Agni’s body was burned there, and the place was later called Agnafit. It is east of Taur and west of Stokk Sound. As says Thjóthólf:
(12.)
12. Marvel were’t
if Agni’s men
did not scout
Queen Skjálf’s scheme, when
Logi’s sib
lifted aloft
the good king
by golden torque,
and hanged him
high ’neath heaven
like Signý’s
lover2 on gallows.
Chapter 20. Kings Alrek and Eirík Kill Each Other
Alrek and Eirík were the names of Agni’s sons who were kings after him. They were men of great power, great warriors, and skilled in all arts. It was their habit to ride horses, training them both for pacing and racing. They were exceedingly skillful in this. They vied with each other who was the better horseman and who had the better mounts. One time both the brothers rode away from their followers on their best horses. They traversed some level lands and did not return. A search was made for them, and both were found dead, with their heads battered. They had had no weapons besides the bridle bits of their horses, and it was believed that they had killed each other with them. As says Thjóthólf:
(23.)
13. Fell Alrek
where Eirík, too
breathed his last,
by brother slain.
With racer’s
reins, men said that
Dag’s kinsmen
killed each other.
Unheard was’t,
that with horses’ bits
Frey’s offspring
fought each other.
Chapter 21. King Álf Slays King Yngvi in a Jealous Rage and Is Killed by Him
Yngvi and Álf, the sons of Alrek, succeeded to the kingdom in Sweden after him and Eirík. Yngvi was a great man of war, victorious, handsome, much versed in all skills, strong and keen in battle, generous with his gifts, and of a most cheerful disposition. On account of these qualities he became famous and popular. King Álf, his brother, stayed in his own country and did not go on warlike expeditions. He was called Elfsi. He was a taciturn man, imperious, and of a morose disposition. His mother was Dageith, the daughter of King Dag the Powerful, from whom the Doglings are descended. Álf had a wife called Bera, a most beautiful woman, of strong character, and of a most cheerful disposition. One fall, Yngvi, the son of Alrek, had returned to Uppsala from a viking expedition in which he had gained great renown. Often he sat up late in the evening, drinking. King Álf used to go to bed early. Queen Bera frequently sat up in the evening, talking with Yngvi. Álf often spoke to her about that and asked her to come to bed earlier, saying that he did not want to stay awake for her. She answered that it was better for a woman to marry Yngvi than Álf, and as she often said that, he grew most furious. One evening Álf came into the hall when Yngvi and Bera sat together on the high-seat, talking. Yngvi had a sword on his knees. His men were very drunk and had not noticed the king come in. King Álf went up to the high-seat, drew his sword from under his cloak, and ran his brother Yngvi through with it. Yngvi leapt up, drew his sword and gave Álf his death blow; and both fell dead on the floor. Álf and Yngvi were buried in a funeral mound on the Fýri Plains. As says Thjóthólf:
(24.)
14. Eke must he
whom Álf did smite,
the fane’s priest,
fall on hall floor,
when his sword
the sib of Dag1
reddened, hot
with jealous rage.
Baleful was’t
that Bera should
egg to strife
the athelings twain,
so the thanes
thrust each other
through with swords
for sake of bride.
Chapter 22. Haki Slays King Hugleik in Battle
Hugleik was the name of Alf’s son who succeeded to the kingdom of Sweden after these brothers; because Yngvi’s sons were still children. King Hugleik was no warrior but remained quietly in his kingdom. He was exceedingly wealthy, and miserly of his goods. He was given to have in his retinue all sorts of jugglers, harpers, and fiddlers, and players on the viol. Also, he had with him sorcerers and all kinds of magicians.
Haki and Hagbarth was the name of two brothers of great fame. They were sea-kings and had a great fleet. Sometimes they joined forces, at others, they fought separately. Many men of valor followed each of them. King Haki with his force moved against King Hugleik, and King Hugleik gathered an army to counter him. Then two brothers, Svipdag and Geigath joined him, both famous men and the greatest warriors. King Haki had twelve champions in his company. Starkath the Old was one of them. King Haki also was a great champion. The armies met on the Fýri Plains, and a great battle ensued. Many of Hugleik’s men fell very soon. Then the two champions, Svipdag and Geigath advanced, but Haki’s champions went against them, six against each of them, and they were captured. Thereupon King Haki entered the shield castle1 of King Hugleik and killed him and both his sons. Then the Swedes fled, and King Haki conquered the lands and made himself king over the Swedes. He remained three years in the land, but while he remained there in peace, his champions left him and went on viking expeditions and thus amassed spoils for themselves.
Chapter 23. King Guthlaug of Hálogaland Is Overcome by Jorund and Ei
rík
Jorund and Eirík were the sons of Yngvi, the son of Alrek. During all this time they were at sea. They were great warriors. One summer they harried in Denmark, when they encountered Guthlaug, the king of the Háleygir1 and fought a battle with him. In the end Guthlaug’s ship was cleared of men [by the brothers], and he was taken prisoner. They brought him on land at Straumeyrar Ness and hanged him there. His followers threw up a mound in memory of him. As says Eyvind Skáldaspillir:
(15.)
15. Overcome
by East-Kings twain
Guthlaug rode
the grim steed, by
Sigar raised,2
when Yngvi’s sons
fastened him
on high gallows.
(16.)
16. On ness droops,
the dead bearing,
Fjolnir’s tree3
where forks the bight;
there, far-famed
for folk-warder,
by stone marked,
is Straumeyrarness.
The brothers, Eirík and Jorund, became very famous through this deed, and were considered to have grown much greater than before in stature. They learned that King Haki of Sweden had sent away his champions. Then they sailed to Sweden and collected an army. But when the Swedes learned that the Ynglings had come to their land, an immense army joined them. They sailed into Lake Mælaren and proceeded toward Uppsala to attack King Haki. He met them on the Fýri Plains with a much smaller force. A great battle ensued. King Haki advanced so vigorously that he felled all who stood nearest to him, and finally he slew King Eirík and knocked down the banner of the brothers. Thereupon King Jorund and all his men fled to their ships.
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