(28.)
28. But Eystein
by yard slain, fared
to Býleist’s-
brother’s-daughter;3
and now lies
the liege buried
under rocks
’neath ridge’s brow
where, ice-cold,
by Eystein’s howe
Vathla inlet
opens to sea.
Chapter 47. Hálfdan the Generous Dies of a Malady
Hálfdan was the name of King Eystein’s son who ruled after him. He was called Hálfdan the Generous and the Stingy of Food. It is told that he gave his men for their pay as many gold coins as other kings did silver coins, but he starved them in their food. He was a great warrior and was for a long time on viking expeditions to gain treasure. He was married to Hlíf, the daughter of King Dag of Westmarir.1 Holtar in Westfold was his chief residence. There he died of a sickness, and he is buried in a mound at Borró. As says Thjóthólf:
(29.)
29. Loki’s child2
from life summoned
to her thing3
the third liege-lord,
when Hálfdan
of Holtar farm
left the life
allotted to him.
And his men
made for the king
at Borró
a barrow high.
Chapter 48. King Guthröth Slays King Harald and Marries his Daughter Ása
Guthröth was the name of Hálfdan’s son who ruled after him. He was called Guthröth the Generous, and some called him the Hunting-King. He was married to Álfhild, the daughter of King Álfar of Álfheim, who brought with her as dowry half of Vingulmork.1 Their son was Óláf, who later was called Geirstatha-Álf. Álfheim was at that time the name of the district between the Raum Elf River and the Gaut Elf River.2 But when Álfhild had died, King Guthröth sent messengers west to the king who ruled over Agthir3—the one who is called Harald the Redbeard—to sue for the hand of his daughter Asa; but Harald did not consent. The messengers returned and told the king of the outcome. Some time afterwards King Guthröth launched his ships and proceeded to Agthir with a large force. He approached undetected, landed with his army, and at night came to the estate of King Harald. When Harald was aware that a hostile force had come against him, he issued with the men he had with him and started to fight against great odds. He fell together with his son Gyrth. King Guthröth captured a large booty and took with him Asa, the daughter of King Harald, and married her. They had a son called Hálfdan. And when he was one year old, King Guthröth was on his royal progress. He had anchored his ship in Stiflu Sound. A great banquet was given him, and the king was very drunk. In the evening, when it was dark, the king went on land from his ship; and when he came to the head of the pier a man leapt at him and ran his spear through him. That was his death. The man was immediately killed. And in the morning, when it grew light, they recognized the man. It was the page of Queen Ása; nor did she conceal that it was done at her instigation. As says Thjóthólf:
(30.)
30. Was Guthröth,
the great-hearted,
of yore felled
by foulest play:
deep-wrought wiles
the wicked woman
’gainst drunk liege
laid vengefully.
With ease did
Ása’s evil
errand-boy
end the lord’s life;
and the prince,
pierced to the heart,
stumbling fell
by Stiflu Sound.
Chapter 49. King Óláf Shares Westfold with His Brother
Óláf succeeded his father. He was a man who wielded much power and was a great warrior. He was exceedingly handsome and very tall. He had possession of Westfold [only], because King Álfgeir had taken over all of Vingulmork and placed over it King Gandálf, his son. Both father and son made many incursions in Raumaríki and possessed themselves of the greater part of that district. Hogni was the son of Eystein the Powerful of the Upplands.1 He conquered all of Heithmork as well as Thótn and Hathaland. At that time the sons of Guthröth also lost possession of Vermaland, so that these districts [again] paid tribute to the king of Sweden. Óláf was twenty years of age when King Guthröth died. And when King Hálfdan, his brother, shared the rule with him, they divided Westfold between them. The western part fell to Óláf, and the eastern [?] part to Hálfdan. King Óláf resided at Geirstathir.2 He succumbed to a disease of his leg and is buried in a mound at Geirstathir. As says Thjóthólf:
(31.)
31. And óthin’s
offspring, of Yngling
kin, thewfully
throve in Norway.
Of yore ruled
his realm Óláf,
wide domains
in Westmarir,
till foot-ill
by Folden’s3 shore
overwhelmed
the hardy king.
Now buried
in barrow lies
the glad liege
at Geirstathir.
Chapter 50. King Rognvald Dies of a Bone Disease
Óláf’s son, Rognvald ruled over Westfold after his father. He was called Heithumhæri.1 About him, Thjóthólf of Hvinir composed the poem Yng-lingatal (Enumeration of the Ynglings). In it he says as follows:
(32.)
32. Best of names,
blue sky beneath,
that e’er was
given any king,
Rognvald had,
the ruler of ships,
Heithumhár
who was called aye.
The Saga of Hálfdan the Black
Chapter 1. King Hálfdan Regains Vingulmork and Raumaríki
Hálfdan was one year old when his father died. Ása, his mother, at once proceeded west to Agthir and established herself in the kingdom over which her father Harald had ruled, and there Hálfdan grew up. At an early age he was large and strong, and he had black hair. He was called Hálfdan the Black. He was eighteen when he succeeded to the kingdom in Agthir. Then 839 he immediately proceeded to Westfold and divided that kingdom with his brother Óláf, as has been set down before. In the fall of the same year he advanced with an army to Vingulmork against King Gandálf. There were many indecisive battles, but they finally agreed that Hálfdan should take possession of half of Vingulmork, which Guthröth, his father had had before him.
Thereupon King Hálfdan proceeded against Raumaríki and subdued it. King Sigtrygg, the son of King Eystein, heard of this. He resided at that time in Heithmork, after bringing Raumaríki under his sway, and moved against King Hálfdan. There was a great battle, and Hálfdan was victor. At the time his ranks broke in flight, King Sigtrygg received an arrow shot under his left arm and fell. Thereupon Hálfdan took possession of all of Raumaríki.
Another son of King Eystein, the brother of Sigtrygg, was [also] called Eystein. He ruled over Heithmork. When King Hálfdan returned to West-fold, King Eystein proceeded with an army against Raumaríki and subdued the greater part of it.
Chapter 2. King Hálfdan Overcomes King Eystein
Hálfdan the Black learned of these hostilities in Raumaríki and collected an army, with which he proceeded against King Eystein, and a battle ensued. Hálfdan was victorious, and Eystein fled to Heithmork, but King Hálfdan pursued him with his army, and they had another battle in which Hálfdan was victorious. Then Eystein fled north to the Dales,1 seeking the aid of Hersir2 Guthbrand. There he reinforced his troops and in the winter made an incursion into Heithmork. He encountered Hálfdan the Black on the large island in Lake Mjors.3 They had a battle, and many fell on both sides, but King Hálfdan was victorious. Among the dead was Guthorm, the son of Hersir Guthbrand, who was considered the most promising man in the Upplands. Then King Eystein again fled north to the Dales. From there he sent his kinsman, Hallvarth Skálk, to King Hálfdan to seek a truce, and because of the kinship [between them] Hálfdan yielded to King Eystein the half of
Heithmork, such as had been the case before. But Hálfdan conquered Thótn; also, the district called Land,4 as well as Hathaland, because he made war far and wide. So he was a very powerful king.
Hálfdan the Black prepares for battle.
Chapter 3. Hálfdan Adds Sogn to his Possessions
Hálfdan the Black married Ragnhild, daughter of Harald Goldenbeard, king of Sogn.1 They had a son to whom King Harald gave his own name, and he was brought up in Sogn on the estate of King Harald, his mother’s father. And when King Harald was in his old age and had no son, he gave his daughter’s son, Harald, his dominion and had him named king. Soon afterwards, Harald Goldenbeard died, and in the same winter his daughter Ragnhild. In the spring following, young King Harald took sick in Sogn and died. He was ten years old.
As soon as Hálfdan the Black learned of his death he journeyed to Sogn with a large force. He was received well there. He laid claim to the realm as heir of his son, nor was any resistance made to that; and so he added that realm to his own. Then he was joined by Earl Atli the Slender of Gaular.2 He was a friend of King Hálfdan, and the king set him over the Sogn District to speak judgment according to the laws of the land and to collect the taxes for the king. Thereupon the king proceeded to the Upplands and his realm there.
Chapter 4. Hálfdan Flees from the Sons of Gandálf
In the fall King Hálfdan journeyed to Vingulmork. One night, at midnight, when King Hálfdan sat at table, drinking, a man of his mounted guard came in and told him that a [hostile] force was approaching the house. The king arose at once and bade his followers arm themselves, then went out into the courtyard and drew up his men in battle array. Presently, the sons of Gandálf—Hýsing and Helsing—came up with a large host. A violent fight ensued; but because King Hálfdan faced a much superior power he fled to the woods after losing many of his men. Olvir the Wise, King Hálfdan’s foster father, was among those who fell. Subsequently, a host collected about King Hálfdan, and he proceeded to search for the sons of Gandálf. They met at Eith by Eyi1 and gave battle. Then there fell Hýsing and Helsing, but their brother Haki took to flight. Thereupon King Hálfdan brought all of Vingulmork under his control; but Haki fled into Álfheim.
Chapter 5. King Sigurth Hart Is Slain by the Berserker Haki
Sigurth Hart was the name of a king in Hringaríki.1 He was larger and stronger than any other man; also, he was exceedingly handsome. His father was Helgi the Keen, his mother, Áslaug, the daughter of Sigurth Serpent-in-the-Eye, the son of Ragnar Lothbrók.2 It is told that Sigurth was twelve years old when he slew the berserker3 Hildibrand in single combat, together with eleven [of his companions]. Many a deed of derring-do he performed, and there is a long saga about him.
Sigurth had two children. Ragnhild, his daughter, was a woman of exceeding beauty and excellence. She was twenty years at this time, and Guthorm, her brother, was a youth. We are told about Sigurth that he was accustomed to ride by himself into the wilderness, hunting large and dangerous beasts, and that he was always most eager in that pursuit. One day, Sigurth rode alone in the woods, as was his custom. And when he had ridden a long ways he came to a clearing not far from Hathaland. There he encountered the berserker Haki with thirty men. They fought, and Sigurth Hart fell, as did twelve of Haki’s men. Haki himself lost one of his arms and was wounded in three places. Thereupon Haki and his men rode to the estate of Sigurth and carried off his daughter Ragnhild and her brother Guthorm, together with many cattle and other valuables, and took them along to Hathaland, where he had large estates.
Then he prepared a feast, intending to celebrate his marriage with Ragnhild. But that was delayed for a long time because his wounds festered.
Haki the Hathaland berserker lay abed with his wounds during the fall and the beginning of winter. During Yuletide King Hálfdan was being entertained in Heithmork. He had been informed about all these occurrences. Early one morning when the king was dressed, he summoned Hárek Gand4 and told him to proceed to Hathaland—“and bring me Ragnhild, the daughter of Sigurth Hart.” Hárek got himself ready, together with some hundred men, and planned it so that they crossed the lake at dawn of day toward the dwelling of Haki and occupied all doors to the hall in which slept the followers [of Haki]. Then they went to the house where Haki slept, broke open the doors, and carried off Ragnhild and her brother Guthorm, as well as all the valuables they found there, and burned down the hall with all those who were within. They put a covering over a magnificent carriage, placed Ragnhild and her brother in it, and drove [down] to the ice [-covered lake]. Haki got up and pursued them for a while; but when he came to the ice-covered lake he turned down the hilt of his sword and let himself fall on its point, so that the sword pierced him through, and that was his death. He is interred on the shore of the lake there.
Queen Ragnhild’s dream.
King Hálfdan caught sight of them crossing the ice, because he had exceedingly sharp eyesight. He saw the tented carriage and surmised that Hárek’s mission had turned out the way he had intended. So he had his table set and sent messengers far and wide in the countryside to invite many people. And a great and splendid banquet was prepared on that day, and at this banquet King Hálfdan married Ragnhild, and in time she became a powerful queen. Her mother was Thyrrni, daughter of King Klakk-Harald of Jutland, the sister of Thyri, Savior of Denmark, the one who was married to Gorm the Old, king of Denmark, who ruled the Danish realm at that time.
Chapter 6. Queen Ragnhild’s Dream
Queen Ragnhild had great dreams, and she was a wise woman. One of her dreams was that she seemed to be in her garden, removing a thorn from her shirt. And as she held it, it grew in such a fashion that it became a long twig, so that one end of it touched the ground and took root quickly, while the other end reached up high into the air. Very soon thereafter the tree appeared to her so tall that she could hardly see over the top of it. It was also marvellously thick. The lowest part of it was red as blood, but farther up the trunk was fair and green, and its branches white as snow. There were many and big twigs on it, some above and some below. The limbs of the tree extended so far that they seemed to her to spread over all Norway and even much farther.1
Chapter 7. King Hálfdan’s Dream
King Hálfdan never dreamed. To him that seemed strange, so he went to a man called Thorleif the Wise, and asked for his advice concerning what could be done about it. Thorleif told him what he himself did when he was eager to know about something: he went to the pigsty to sleep there, and then he did not fail to have a dream.
The king did this, and he had this dream: it seemed to him that he had the longest hair of any man and that this hair was all in ringlets, some touching the ground, some reaching to the middle of his leg, some to his knees, some to his hip or middle, some reaching down no farther than his neck, whilst some sprouted out of his skull like little horns. But his curls were of all colors, with one lock exceeding all others in beauty, brightness, and length. He related this dream to Thorleif, and Thorleif interpreted it in this wise that a great line of descendants would come from him, and that they would govern the land with great distinction, though not all equally so; but that one would arise out of his line who would be greater and nobler than all the rest. And it is the opinion of all that this lock betokened Holy King Óláf.
King Hálfdan was a very wise man, both truthful and fair-dealing. He both made laws and kept them himself. He compelled all to keep them; and in order that violence should not overthrow the laws, he set up penalties, fixing everyone’s compensation according to his birth and position.
Queen Ragnhild bore a son. He was sprinkled with water and named Harald. He quickly grew into a tall handsome man. He grew up there and soon became accomplished and a man of good understanding. His mother loved him dearly, but his father, less.
Chapter 8. King Hálfdan’s Banquet Disappears
King Hálfdan was entertained at a Yuletide banquet in Hathaland. Then on Yule eve there occurred a strange incident: when they had sat d
own to the table—and a very large number were assembled there—all food and all ale disappeared from the tables. With a heavy heart the king remained sitting, but all the others went to their homes. Now in order to find out what had caused this event, the king ordered a Finn to be seized who was reputed to be skilled in many hidden things, to make him confess the truth. He tortured him, yet got nothing out of him. The Finn turned to the king’s son Harald for help, and Harald asked the king for mercy, but in vain. Then Harald let him escape, braving the king’s anger, and accompanied him himself. They came to some chieftain’s house where a great feast was being celebrated, and they were to all appearances welcomed there. And when they had remained there till spring, one day this chieftain said to Harald, “A mighty great affront your father thinks it that I took some food from him, this winter; but I shall reward you with some joyful news: your father is dead now, and you must return home. Then you will have as your own all the realms he ruled, and all of Norway besides.”
Chapter 9. King Hálfdan Is Drowned
Hálfdan the Black rode away from the entertainment in Hathaland and, as it happened, his way lay over Lake Rond.1 It was spring, and the sun shone with great warmth; and when they drove over Rykins Inlet—people had watered their cattle there during the winter, and their dung had fallen on the ice, and the sun’s warmth had melted the ice there. Now when the king drove over that stretch, the ice broke under him, and he perished with 860 many of his followers. He had reached his fortieth year then. There had been excellent seasons during his rule; and people were so affected by his death that when they learned of his demise and that his body was being taken to Hringaríki in order to be interred there, men of influence from Raumaríki, Westfold, and Heithmork came and prayed, all of them, to take the body with them to be buried in their lands; for it was thought that he who got possession of it could expect good seasons. They reached an agreement in this wise, that the body was assigned to four places: the head was laid in a mound at Stein in Hringaríki, but each of the others carried away their share and interred them in burial mounds in their homelands, and all are called the Mounds of Hálfdan.
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