The Complete

Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Legendary Sagas of the Northland

in English Translation

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Hálfdanar Saga Brönuföstra The Saga of Halfdan,
Brana’s Foster Son
Around 1300 Translated by George L. Hardman
© 2011
1. Frá Hringi konungi 1: Of King Hring

Hringr er konungr nefndr, er réð fyrir Danmörku Hann var vitr ok vinsæll. Hann átti drottningu, er Signý hét. Hún var dóttir Úlfheðins konungs af Reiðgotalandi. Hún var allra kvenna vænst ok vitrust. Hringr konungr ól bráðliga við henni þrjú börn, sonu tvá ok eina dóttur, er Ingibjörg hét. Hún var prýdd öllum kvenligum listum. Svá var ok skær hennar ásjóna sem skínanda gull, ok at öllu var hún svá sköpuð sem hverr mundi sik kjósa vilja. Synir Hrings konungs hétu Hálfdan ok Ásmundr. Þeir váru fríðir sýnum. Þó var Hálfdan fyrir þeim um alla hluti. Ásmundr var þá tíu vetra, en Hálfdan níu, er hér var komit sögunni. Konungr lét dóttur sinni skemmu reisa. Þat hús var gert með miklum hagleik. Konungsdóttur þjónuðu tólf skemmumeyjar, ok váru þær jarla dætr ok hertuga. Konungr unni harðla mikit dóttur sinni. Stendr nú hennar líf með þvílíkum blóma sem fyrr var sagt. Var konungr mjök gamlaðr.

Jarl er nefndr Þorfiðr. Hann var í ríki konungs ok einn hans mesti vinr ok honum hollr ok trúr í öllum ráðum. Jarl var manna vitrastr, ok því lét konungr hann jafnan með hirðinni vera. Hann fóstraði konungsbörnin ok unni þeim harðla mikit.

Jarl var einn með konungi, er Þórir hét. Hann var kallaðr inn sterki. Hann var svá sterkr, at engi var sterkari í ríkinu. Jarl var landvarnarmaðr konungs. Þat hafði ein flagðkona lagt á Þóri jarl, at hann mátti eigi mannsblóð sjá. Þó var hann mikils metinn af konungi. Hann sat þar optast, er á Fjóni hét.

Eina nótt bar svá til, þá er Ingibjörg lá í sæng í skemmu sinni ok svaf, at hún lét illa í svefni, ok eptir langan tíma liðinn vaknaði hún. Skemmumeyjar hennar spurðu, hvat hana hafði dreymt, en hún vildi eigi segja þeim. Annan dag eptir kom Þorfiðr jarl í skemmuna ok settist niðr hjá konungsdóttur. Þau taka tal sín á milli.

Ingibjörg mælti: "Ek vil segja þér draum minn, fóstri."

"Hversu er hann?" segir jarl.

Hún svarar: "Þat er upphaf í draumi mínum, at ek þóttumst úti stödd, ok varð mér litit til hafs. Þar sá ek dökkva nokkurn, ok var fyrst fjarri mér, en þó færðist mér hann nær ok nær. Um síðir sá ek, at þetta váru skip mörg ok urðu hér landföst, ok af þeim runnu ótal varga ok stefndu hingat til borgarinnar. Tveir melrakkar runnu fyrir vörgunum, ok váru báðir óþokkaligir. Öll váru þessi kvikendi grimmlig. Þau létu ekki ógert ok rifu bæði menn ok hesta ok allt þat, er þeir náðu. Ok þar kom at síðustu, at þeir sóttu at þér, fóstri minn, ok at föður mínum, ok í því vaknaða ek, ok ráð nú drauminn, fóstri minn," segir Ingibjörg.
Jarl tók til máls: "Þessi draumr er auðráðinn," segir hann. "Oss mun skjótt koma hersaga, en þá vil ek eigi ráða hann lengr."
Fell þar niðr tal þeira. Gekk jarl í burt.
Eitt kveld bar svá til, at konungr sat yfir drykkjuborðum, at upp lukust hallardyrr. Gengu þar inn tíu menn. Kenndi konungr þar Þóri jarl ok hans kumpána. Konungr spurði tíðenda. Jarl segir, at víkingar váru við land komnir, þeir er ekki létu ógert. Konungr spurði, hvat þeir hétu.
Jarl segir, at annarr þeira hét Sóti, en annarr Snækollr, -- "Sóti ferr þess erendis, at hann vill biðja dóttur þinnar."
Konungr spurði, hversu Sóti væri at sjá.
Jarl svarar: "Sóti er bölvaðr berserkr. Hann er hálflitr. Er hann öðrum megin blár, en öðrum megin rauðr. Hann hefir ekki klæði á búknum. Hann er sköllóttr um allt höfuðit, nema eitt hár stendr upp ór miðjum hausi hans."
Konungr mælti: "Heldr munu vér þá berjast en gifta þeim manni dóttur vára."
Allir fýstu þess heldr, þó at konungr hefði eigi lið við. Þeir víkingarnir höfðu fengit konungi tveggja daga frest at safna liði, ok fekk konungr lítit lið, af því at tíminn var stuttr, ok fekk hann alls þrjú hundruð manna.
Þat sama kveld, er bardaginn skyldi vera eptir um morguninn, mælti Hálfdan við Ásmund, bróður sinn:

"Þat vilda ek, bróðir, at vit færum ofan til strandar ok fyndum vit víkingana, því at mér er allmikil forvitni á at finna þá ok sjá Sóta."

Ásmundr mælti: "Þangat skal ek aldri koma, því at ek veit, at skjótt verð ek drepinn, ef ek kem þar"

Hálfdan mælti: "Þat vissa ek, at þú mundir ragr vera, því at þú þorir hvergi þik at hræra."

Ásmundr mælti þá: "Fylgja mun ek þér, ef þú ert einráðinn í at fara.

Hálfdan mælti: "Nú gerir þú vel, ok förum vit í stað."

The king was named Hring, who ruled over Denmark. He was wise and beloved. He had a queen, who was named Signy. She was the daughter of Ulfhedin, king of Reidgotaland. She was the most beautiful and the wisest of all women. King Hring soon had three children with her, two sons, and a daughter, who was named Ingibjorg. She was accomplished in all of the womanly arts. Her complexion was as bright as shining gold, and her appearance was such that anyone would want to choose her. The sons of King Hring were named Halfdan and Asmund. They were handsome in appearance. However, Halfdan excelled in all respects. Asmund was ten years old at the time, and Halfdan nine, when they came into the saga. The king had a bower built for his daughter. The house was quite skillfully built. Twelve handmaidens, who were the daughters of earls and dukes, served the king’s daughter. The king loved his daughter very much. Her life flowered, as was said before. The king was quite stricken in years.
The earl was named Thorfid. He lived in the king’s realm and was one of his best friends, and loyal and true to him in all matters. The earl was the wisest of men, and therefore the king valued him equally with his retainers. He fostered the king’s children and loved them very much.
There was an earl with the king who was named Thorir. He was called “The Strong.” He was so strong that no one in the kingdom was stronger. The earl protected the king’s lands. An ogress had decreed that earl Thorir could not gaze on human blood. However, he was quite valued by the king. He stayed there most often in a place called Fjoni.
It happened one night, when Ingibjorg was lying in her bed sleeping, that her rest was troubled, and after a long time she awakened. Her handmaidens asked what she had dreamed, but she did not want to tell them. The next day Earl Thorfid came into her bower and sat down next to the king’s daughter. They began to talk.
Ingibjorg said: “I will tell you about my dream, foster father.”
“How was it?” said the earl.
She answered: “My dream began, that I thought I was standing outside, looking a bit in the direction of the sea. I saw a darkening, which was first far away from me, but then it came nearer and nearer. After a while, I saw that there were many ships, which made landfall here, and an untold number of wolves running from them and headed here to the town. Two polar foxes ran before the wolves, and they were both quite repulsive. All of them were fierce beasts. They stopped at nothing and tore at both men and horses and anything they could catch. It finally happened that they attacked you, my foster father, and my father, and at that I awakened. Explain this dream, my foster father,” said Ingibjorg.
The earl spoke: “This dream is easily explained,” he said. “War news will soon come to us, and so I will not explain it further.”
 Their conversation ended. The earl left.
 One evening it so happened, that the king sat at his drinking table, when the hall door opened up. Ten men went in there. The king recongnized Earl Thorir and his men. The king asked the news. The earl said that Vikings had come to the land, and left nothing untouched. The king asked their names.
 The earl said that one was named Soti, and the other Snaekoll, -- “Soti’s mission is that he wishes to ask for your daughter in marriage.”
 The king asked, what Soti looked like.
 The earl answered: “Soti is a cursed berserk. He is of two colors. On one side he is blue, and the other side red. He does not have any clothes on his trunk. He is bald all over his head, except that one hair stands up on the middle of his scalp.”
 The king said: “Better we should fight than to give our daughter in marriage to that man.”
 Everyone thought that this was the better course, although the king had no troops with him. The Vikings had given the king two days delay to gather an army, and the king got a few troops, since the time was short, and he got three hundred men in all.
 The same evening, the night before the battle, Halfdan spoke with Asmund, his brother: “I would wish, brother, that we should go up to the coast and meet with the Vikings, since I am quite curious to find them, and to see Soti.”

 Asmund said: “I will never go there, since I know that I would soon be killed, if I come there.”
 Halfdan said: “I knew that you were going to be cowardly, since you never dare to bestir yourself.”

 Asmund then said: “I will follow you, if you are determined to go.”

 Halfdan said: “Now fare thee well, and let’s get going at once”

2. Víkingar felldu Hring konung 2: The Vikings Felled King Hring

Eptir þetta fóru þeir bræðr ok léttu eigi fyrr en þeir kómu til landtjalda Sóta. Hálfdan gekk fyrir Sóta ok kvaddi hann virðuliga. Sóti tók honum vel.

Hálfdan mælti: "Þat er þó satt at segja, at þú ert tíguligr maðr, Sóti, ok slíka vilda ek marga mína mága ok þú ert."

"Þú ert vel viti borinn sveinn," segir Sóti, "ok kannt glöggt at sjá mann á velli, ok mundir þú eigi auðnulauss, ef þú kæmir þér í sveit með mér."

Hálfdan svarar: "Gæfuskort mun ek til þess hafa at vera hjá svá góðum höfðingja sem þú ert, Sóti minn."

Sóti mælti:"Þat vilda ek, at þú færir eigi gjafarlauss í burtu, eða hvar er Hundi, féhirðir minn?"
"Hér em ek," segir Hundi.

"Fá þú þessum sveini þrjár merkr silfrs."

Hundi gerir svá. Halfdan þakkar Sóta ok ferr síðan út ór tjaldinu. Ásmundr, bróðir hans, hafði staðit úti fyrir tjaldinu, á meðan Hálfdan hafði inni verit. Gengu þeir nú heim til hallar. Segir Hálfdan Þorfinni jarli allt af ferðum sínum ok fær honum í hönd féit. Jarl lét vel yfir þessi ferð.

Um morguninn eptir bjóst konungr til bardaga. Þrjú váru hlið á borginni, ok ætlaði konungr at verja borgina. Skipaði hann Þorfinni jarli at verja eitt borgarhliðit, en annat varði Þórir jarl inn sterki, en konungr sjálfr it þriðja, ok hafði hverr þeira hundrað manna. Konungssynir váru báðir hjá Þorfinni jarli í bardaganum.

Nú skal segja frá þeim Sóta ok Snækolli, at þeir skipta svá liði, at Sóti skal stríða í móti konungi, Snækollr í móti Þóri jarli, en þriðjungr liðs móti Þorfinni jarli. Ganga víkingar nú frá skipum ok bíta í skjaldarrendr. Tekst þar bardagi ákafr. Sóti gekk hart fram, þar er konungr er fyrir. Snækollr sótti fast at Þóri jarli, svá at hann hjó á báðar hendr. Þórir jarl gekk hart fram í fyrstu. Því næst hjó Snækollr til fylgdarmanns Þóris jarls. Hann fekk þegar bana. En þegar jarl sá blóðit, hljóp jarl ór borgarhliðinu ok inn í borgina. Snækollr gekk þegar inn í hliðit með sína menn ok svá í borgina ok drepr þar Þóri jarl.

Þetta sér Þorfiðr jarl ok snýr þegar í móti Snækolli með nokkura menn, en Hálfdan varði á meðan þat hlið, er jarl hafði áðr varit. Nú var bardagi inn harðasti. Jarl sér þá, at Sóti sótti fast at konungi ok víkr þangat til, ok í því hjó Sóti til konungs. Jarl brá við skildi, ok klauf Sóti hann allan at endilöngu, ok kom sverðit á fót konungi, svá at af tók. Þá fell konungr. Jarl var bæði sárr ok móðr ok fellr í valinn um síðir. Þá var svá myrkt af nótt, at hvergi sá frá sér. Engi stóð uppi af konungsmönnum. Víkingar gengu til skipa, bæði móðir ok sárir. Drekka þeir lengi áfram um kveldit, en fóru síðan at sofa ok tóku á sik náðir.

 After that, the brothers set out, and did not stop until they came to Soti’s tent. Halfdan went before Soti and greeted him nobly. Soti welcomed him.
 
Halfdan said: “It is true to say that you are a princely man, Soti, and I wish all of my in-laws were like you.”
“You are well born to be a leader, lad,” said Soti, “and can clearly see a man on the field, and you would not be without good fortune if you came there in my country with me.”
Halfdan answered:  “I would be lacking in luck to be with such a good chieftain as you are, my dear Soti.”
Soti said: I would prefer that you not go away empty handed. Where is Hundi, my treasurer?”
 
“Here I am,” said Hundi.
“Get this lad three marks of silver.”

Hundi did so. Halfdan thanked Soti and then went out of the tent. Asmund, his brother, had stayed out before the tent, while Halfdan was inside. They now went home to the hall. Halfdan told Earl Thorfid all about his journey, and put the treasure in his hand. The earl expressed approval of his journey.
The morning after, the king prepared for battle. There were three gates to the town, and the king intended to defend the town. He gave an order for Thorfid to defend one of the town gates, and Thorir the Strong defended a second, and the king himself the third, and they each had a hundred men. The king’s sons were both with Thorfid in the battle.
Now to tell of Soti and Snaekoll, that they divided so the troops, so that Soti would fight against the king, Snaekoll against Earl Thorir, and a third of the troops against Earl Thorfid. The Vikings now went from the ship and cut the shield rims to bits. The battle was fierce. Soti advanced fiercely to where the king was. Snaekoll quickly attacked Earl Thorir, striking on both sides. Earl Thorir advanced strongly at first. Next Snaekoll struck at the followers of Earl Thorir. He then was killed. But when the earl saw blood, he abandoned the gates and ran into the town. Snaekoll went then into the gate with his men, and so into the town and there killed Earl Thorir.
 
Earl Thorfid saw this, and then turned against Snaekoll with some men, but Halfdan meanwhile defended the gate which the earl had previously guarded. Now there was a pitched battle. The earl saw that Soti was attacking the king strenuously, and went over there and at that, Soti struck at the king. The earl warded it off with his shield, and Soti clove it from end to end, and the sword ended up at the foot of the king, so that it cut it off. Then the king fell. The earl was both wounded and tired, and fell among the slain after a while. It was then so dark at night that no one could see before them. None of the king’s men survived. The Vikings went to the ship, both tired and wounded. They drank long into the evening, and then went to sleep and got some rest.

3. Jarl barg Hálfdani ok Ingibjörgu 3: The Earl Helped Halfdan and Ingibjorg

Nú er at segja frá Þorfinni jarli, at hann ríss upp í valnum. Hann tók fyrir brjóst konungi ok fann, at hann var dauðr. Hann gekk þá þangat, er þeir Hálfdan ok Ásmundr lágu. Hann sér, at Ásmundr var dauðr. Hann spyrr, hvárt Hálfdan mætti nokkut mæla. Hann kvað eigi trauða til þess. Jarl spyrr, hvárt hann væri eigi sárr.

Hálfdan kveðst eigi sárr vera, --"en fell ek af mæði," sagði hann, "eða hvat kanntu at segja mér til Ásmundar, bróður míns?"

Jarl svarar: "Hann er nú dauðr."

"Vissa ek þat," segir Hálfdan, "at hann var ekki at manni."

Jarl bar Hálfdan ór valnum, því at hann var mjök stirðr, svá at hann mátti eigi ganga. Jarl gekk til skemmu Ingibjargar, en er hún sá jarl, fagnaði hún honum vel ok spurði tíðenda. Jarl segir konung ok Ásmund, bróður hennar, dauðan ok allir borgarmenn. Ingibjörg varð mjök hrygg við ok grét. Jarl segir annat betra en at gráta. Jarl kvað nú skemmumeyjar hennar verða at skilja við hana. Jarl tók þá Ingibjörgu ok berr hana á hendi sér ok Hálfdan öðrum megin, gengu síðan til skógar, ok finnr fyrir sér lítinn bæ ok klappar á dyrum. Kona gekk þar út ok heilsar jarli. Hann tekr vel kveðju hennar. Sjá kona hét Gríma.

 

Jarl mælti þá: "Þat vilda ek, Gríma," segir hann, "at þú takir við börnum þessum ok geymir, þar til er ek kem eptir þeim, því at ek veit, at þau eru hér geymd fyrir víkingunum. Eru hér þrjár merkr silfrs, er ek vil gefa þér."

Hún tók við hvárutveggja, fénu ok börnunum, en jarl fór heim til borgar ok lagðist niðr í valinn. Engi maðr varð varr við hans ferð.

Sóti ok hans menn vakna snemma um morguninn ok hugðu gott til konungsdóttur. Gengr hann þegar frá skipunum ok hans menn allir til borgarinnar. Ok er þeir koma þar, rannsaka þeir valinn ok finna hvergi annan konungsson. Þeir sjá Þorfinn jarl ok spurðu, hvárt hann vissi ekki til annars konungssonar, en hann kveðst ekki til hans vita. Sóti hafði farit til skemmu Ingibjargar ok kom aptr ok sagði hana á burtu ok kvað jarl til barnanna vita. Jarl kveðst eigi til þeira vita, en Sóti lést mundu aflima hann, ef hann vildi eigi segja til barnanna. Jarl kvaðst eigi segja mundu. Sóti vildi eigi at heldr drepa jarl. Sóti tók þá undir sik bæði ríkit ok þegna. Gerðist hann þá konungr í mörku, þótt þat væri illa fengit. Þjónuðu honum ok menn heldr af hræðslu en góðvilja.

 

Jarl var hljóðr þann vetr. Lét Sóti leita þeira systkina, ok fundust þau ekki, en þegar farit var í nánd bæ Grímu, þá laust ávallt á hríð, ok urðu menn Sóta aptr at snúa.

Einn morgun snemma gengr jarl, svá at engi vissi, til bæjar Grímu. En er hann kom, stóð hún úti ok hjá henni bæði börnin. Hún heilsaði jarli glaðliga. Hann tók því vel. Þau systkin urðu þá harðla fegin fóstra sínum ok kysstu hann. Jarl kvað nú börnin mundu verða at skilja við Grímu ok kvaddi hana. Gekk hann nú burt með börnin, þar til er hann kom til sjóvarstrandar. Þar sá Hálfdan skipaflota.

Jarl átti þar eitt skip ok kvað Hálfdan skyldu þat eiga ok fjárhlut, -- "ok skaltu fara til Bjarmalands til Óttars jarls, bróður míns, ok segja, at hann taki við þér fyrir mín orð, en ef hann er tregr til, þá fá honum gull þetta til jartegna, ok mun hann þá við þér taka."

Hálfdan mælti: "Þat vil ek nú, fóstri minn, at þú færir með mér."

Jarl neitti því. Minntist hann þá við þau systkin ok gekk heim síðan, en Hálfdan fór á skip með Ingibjörgu ok helt í haf, ok byrjaði þeim vel, tók Bjarmaland. Hann gekk frá skipi með öllum mönnum sínum ok til hallar jarls. Hálfdan gekk fyrir jarl ok kveðr hann. Jarl tók honum vel ok spurði tíðenda. Hálfdan segir þá sem var, at Hringr konungr var andaðr ok þat með, at Þorfiðr jarl hafði sent hann þangat til halds ok trausts. Jarl lét seinliga við því. Þá fekk Hálfdan jarli gullit.

Jarl mælti þá: "Mikit þykkir bróður mínum undir, at ek taki við þér, enda skal ek ok svá gjarna gera."

Setti jarl þá Hálfdan it næsta sér, en Ingibjörgu var fylgt til skemmu dóttur jarls, er Þóra hét. Hún var bæði væn ok vitr.

Now to speak of Earl Thorfid, that he arose from among the slain. He looked upon the breast of the king and found that he was dead. He then went over to where Halfdan and Asmund lay. He saw that Asmund was dead. He asked if Halfdan might say something. He said he would not fail to do so. The earl asked whether or not he was injured.
 Halfdan said that he was not injured, -- “but I fell from exhaustion,” he said, “but what can you tell me about my brother, Asmund?”
 The earl answered: “He is now dead.”
 “I knew as much,” said Halfdan, “that he was not alive.”
 The earl bore Halfdan off from among the slain, since he was quite stiff, to the point that he could not walk. The earl went to Ingibjorg’s bower, and when she saw the earl, she welcomed him and asked the news. The earl told her that the king and Asmund, her brother, were dead, as well as all the men of the town. Ingibjorg became quite sorrowful, and wept. The earl said that there was something better than to cry. The earl said that her handmaidens should now part from her. The earl then took Ingibjorg by the hand and Halfdan in the other hand, and they then went to the forest, and found in front of them a small farmhouse and knocked on the door. A woman came out and greeted the earl. He welcomed her greeting. The woman was named Grima.
 The earl then spoke: “I would like, Grima,” he said, “that you accept these children and hide them until I come back for them, since I know, that they are safe here from the Vikings. Here are three marks of silver, that I will give you.”
 She received both the treasure and the children, and the earl went home to the town and was laid down among the slain. No one knew about his journey.
 Soti and his men awakened early in the morning, and looked for the king’s daughter. He then left the ship and he and his men all went to the town. But when they came there, they searched the field of the slain and found neither of the king’s sons. They saw Earl Thorfid and asked, whether he knew anything of the other king’s son, but he said that he knew nothing about him. Soti had gone to Ingibjorg’s bower, and came back and said that she was gone, and said that the earl must know something about the children. The earl said that he knew nothing of them, but Soti said that he would maim him, if he would not tell about the children. The earl said that he would not say anything. Soti did not really want to kill the earl. Soti then took dominion over both the realm and the servants. He was made king in the borderlands, although that was ill-gotten. Men served him more from fear than from good-will.
 The earl was silent that winter. Soti had the siblings searched for, but did not find them, and when they came into the vicinity of Grima’s farmhouse, a snowstorm broke out so that Soti’s men had to turn back.
 Early one morning the earl went secretly to Grima’s farmhouse. And when he came, she came outside with both of the children beside her. She greeted the earl warmly. He received it well. The siblings were glad to see their foster father and kissed him. The earl said that the children would have to part from Grima, and greeted her. He then went away with the children, until he came to the shore of a sea. There Halfdan saw a fleet of ships.

There the earl had a ship, and said that Halfdan should take it, along with a sum of money, -- “and you should travel to Bjarmaland, to my brother Earl Ottar, and he will receive you for my sake, but if he is reluctant, then he will get that gold as a token, and then he will receive you.”
 
            Halfdan said: “I would like you to travel with me now.”
 
            The earl refused this. He took leave of the siblings, and then went home, but Halfdan went on board with Ingiborg, and set sail into the sea, and they had a fair wind and arrived at Bjarmaland. Halfdan went before the earl and greeted him. The earl welcomed him, and asked the news. Halfdan told him what had happened, that King Hring was dead, and accordingly, that Earl Thorfid had sent him there for help and support. The earl was indifferent to them.  Then Halfdan gave the earl the gold.
 
            The earl said: “My brother thinks that it is of great importance that I receive you, which I will gladly do.”
 
            The earl seated Halfdan next to himself, but Ingiborg was led to the bower of the earl’s daughter, who was named Thora. She was both beautiful and wise.

4. Hálfdan barðist við tröll 4: Halfdan Fought with the Trolls

Einn dag gekk Hálfdan fyrir jarl ok kveðr hann. Jarl tók því vel ok spyrr, hvat undir kveðju sé. Hálfdan segist vilja halda fyrir land fram. Jarl fekk honum þrjú skip ok dreka mikinn inn fjórða. Skip þessi váru vel skipuð at mönnum ok vápnum. Hálfdan þakkaði jarli þessa gerð ok tók orlof af honum. Fór hann síðan til skipa ok Ingibjörg, systir hans, með honum. Þá var Hálfdan tólf vetra, er hann lét frá landi ok í haf. Helt hann víða um sumarit.

En er haustaði, vildi hann halda aptr til Bjarmalands. Kómu þá á fyrir honum þokur ok hafvillur, ok rakst hann um haf innan. Þá gerði at þeim stórviðri svá mikit, at skipin öll týndust nema dreki Hálfdanar, ok lét hann reka at honum marga snarvölu. Ok er þetta var gert, rekr drekann at björgum stórum ok upp á sand sléttan. Hálfdan segir, at þeir munu þar um búast, en þeir báðu hann fyrir sjá. Þeir setja þá upp drekann. Viðr var þar rekinn mikill á sandinn, ok taka þeir þar til skálasmíðar, ok var skjótt algerr. Hálfdan gengr á jökla jafnan ok nokkurir menn með honum, en sumir váru eptir hjá Ingibjörgu við skála. Menn Hálfdanar spurðu, hvat landi þetta væri. Hálfdan kvað þá mundu vera komna at Hellulands óbyggðum.

Einn dag gekk Hálfdan einn á jökla at afla fanga. Hann fór þann dag allan. Um síðir kom hann at einstigi nokkuru. Hann hafði öxi eina í hendi, er Óttarr jarl hafði gefit honum. Hálfdan gekk í einstigit. Spor váru klöppuð í berginu, en í milli sporanna var eigi skemmra en fjögra álna. Hálfdan krækti axarhyrnunni upp í sporin ok las sik svá upp eptir skaptinu, þar til er hann komst upp á bjargit.

Þar sá hann helli stóran ok í bjartan eld. Hann gengr at hellisdyrum ok sér, at tvau tröll sátu við eldinn, annat kvensvipt, en annat karlsvipt, ok höfðu soðketil í milli sín. Þar var í bæði hrossa slátr ok manna. Karl hafði krók í nefinu, en kerling hring. Þat var gaman þeira, at hann krækti króknum í hringinn, ok var þá upp á þeim ýmsir endarnir, en þá krókrinn slapp ór hringnum, fekk kerling bakfall.

Hún mælti þá: "Eigi vil ek þetta gaman hafa, Járnnefr minn sæll."
"Svá skal vera, Sleggja mín," segir hann, ok höfðu þá lokit ór katlinum.

Járnnefr tekr þá til orða: "Er nokkut eptir, Sleggja," segir hann, "af þeim hálfum þriðja tigi manna, er ek seidda hingat í fyrra vetr?"

Hún segir alllítit um þat. Hún gekk þá innar eptir hellinum ok kom svá aptr, at hún hafði sinn mann undir hvorri hendi sér, ok leggr niðr hjá eldinum ok segir, at eigi váru fleiri eptir. Hálfdan sér nú, at þetta váru röskligir menn ok svá líkir, at hvárigan mátti þekkja frá öðrum, ok ætlaði Hálfdan, at þeir væru tvíburar. Hálfdan snarar þá inn í hellinn ok at tröllkarlinum ok hjó á háls honum með öxinni, svá at af tók höfuðit, en hann sitr sem áðr.

Kerling sprettr þá upp ok mælti: "Þat er vel, Hálfdan," segir hún, "at vit höfum fundist."

Hann hefir sik nú undan, en hún sækir eptir, þar til er hún náði saxi einu. Hún sótti at honum fast, en hann varðist vel. Sleggja kastar saxinu ok hleypr undir Hálfdan. Þeira glíma var hörð ok löng, ok rak Sleggja hann um allan hellinn, en svá var hann mjúkr, at hún kom honum aldri af fótunum. Þar til rekst hann, at þau kómu at gjá einni. Hún var bæði djúp ok breið. Þá varð Sleggja framar á gjábakkanum. Í því var kippt undan henni fótunum ok datt hún ofan í gjána. Hálfdan helt þá í hárit á henni. Hann sá eitt sax gulli búit liggja hjá sér. Hann brá því skjótt ok hjó af Sleggju höfuðit. Hálfdan spurði, hverr honum hefði dugnað veitt eða saxit gefit, en engi svaraði honum þá um sinn.

One day Halfdan went before the earl and greeted him. The earl welcomed him, and asked what was under discussion. Halfdan said that he wanted to set out from the land. The earl got him three ships, and the fourth was a great dragon ship. These ships were well decked out with men and weapons. Halfdan thanked the earl for this, and took leave of him. He then went on board the ship, and Ingibjorg, his sister, with him. Halfdan was twelve years old at the time, when he set out to sea from the land. He traveled widely during the summer.
 When autumn came, he wanted to set out to Bjarmaland. He was then beset by fog and wild seas, and  was cast about the sea. They endured such bad weather, that all of the ships were lost except for Halfdan’s dragon ship, and he had many ropes thrust out at it. When that was done, the dragon ship came to a large cliff and up on smooth sand. Halfdan said that they should set up camp there, and they told him to take care of it. Then they laid up the dragon ship. There was a lot of wood tossed there on the sand, and they set about building a hut and were soon finished. Halfdan went to a level glacier, and some men with him, and some stayed back with Ingibjorg at the hut. People asked Halfdan what land that might be. Halfdan said that they had come to the uninhabited part of Helluland.
 One day Halfdan went to the glacier to procure provisions. He traveled the whole day. After a while he came to a narrow path. He had an axe in his hand, which Earl Ottarr had given him. Halfdan entered the narrow path. The track was chiseled into the cliff, and was no wider than four ells. Halfdan hooked the axe point up in the track, and hauled himself up, until he had come to the top the cliff.
 There he saw a large cave and a bright fire in it. He went to the mouth of the cave and saw that two trolls were sitting by the fire, one in the form of a man and one in the form of a woman, and they had a boiling kettle between them. In it was the meat of both horses and men. The man had a hook in his nose, and the woman had a ring. They enjoyed that he hooked the hook in the ring and they ended up in various ways when the hook slipped out of the ring, and the woman fell backwards.
 She said then: “I don’t enjoy that, my dear Jarnnef.”
 “So it shall be, Sleggja my dear,” he said, and they finished up the kettle.
 Jarnnef then started speaking: “Is there anything left, Sleggja,” said he, “of the twenty five men, who I brought here by enchantment last winter?”
 She said very little about that. She went into the cave and then came back with a man in each of her hands, and laid them down by the fire and said that there were not many left.     
Halfdan now saw that they were grown men and so alike, that one could not be distinguished from the other, and Halfdan decided that they were twins.
Halfdan then turned into the cave and struck the man-troll’s neck with the axe, so that his head was taken off, but he continued to sit as before.
 The woman sprang up and said: “It is a good thing, Halfdan, that we have met.”
 He drew back, but she went after him, until she got hold of a short sword. She attacked him fiercely, but he defended himself well. Sleggja cast the sword and ran under Halfdan. They wrestled hard and long, and Sleggja tossed him all around the cave, but he was so agile that she could not trip him up. They quarreled there until they came to a cleft. It was both deep and broad. Sleggja was forward to the edge of a rift. At that, her feet were  knocked from under her, and she fell into the cleft. Halfdan held onto her hair. He saw a sword decorated with gold lying next to her. He moved quickly and cut off Sleggja’s head. Halfdan asked who had given help to him or given the sword, but no one answered him for a while. 

5. Hálfdan barg jarlsdóttur 5: Halfdan Saved the Earl’s Daughter

Þá er Hálfdan hafði þetta unnit, gekk hann innar eptir hellinum, þar til er hann kom at afhelli einum. Þar sá hann konu sitja á stóli. Hár hennar var bundit við stólbrúðirnar. Fætr hennar váru í köldu jöklavatni.

Hún mælti, er hún sér manninn: "Skjótt drepr Járnnefr þik, maðr, ef hann veit, at þú ert hér."

Hálfdan mælti: "Ek hefi drepit hann ok svá Sleggju, eða hvat heitir þú?"

Hún kveðst Hildr heita ok vera dóttir Angantýs jarls af Skotlandi, --"bræður mínir hétu Sigmundr ok Sigurðr. Þeir váru tvíburar. Vér héldum fyrir land fram í fyrra sumar. Seiddi Járnnefr mik hingat ok öll oss, ok ætlaði hann sér at eiga mik, en drepa kerlingu sína, en ek vilda þat eigi."

Hálfdan leysti hana þá, ok gengu þau fram í hellinn, ok váru þeir bræðr mjök at komnir. Þeir váru svá magrir, at skinn var skorpit niðr við beinin. Hún settist undir herðar Sigurði, en Hálfdan undir herðar Sigmundi, ok dreypir víni á varir þeim, ok nærðust þeir skjótt, svá at þeir máttu mæla. Þeir spurðu, hverir þeim höfðu líf gefit. Hildr segir, at hann héti Hálfdan ok væri sonr Hrings konungs ór Danmörku. Þeir urðu því harðla fegnir, er þeir sáu systur sína heila, ok þakka þau öll Hálfdani, ok váru þau þar fimm nætr.

En í annan stað er at segja frá mönnum Hálfdanar, at þeir váru mjök hugsjúkir um hann, en Ingibjörg, systir hans, vakti bæði mótt ok dag ok neytti hvárki svefns né matar.

At fimm nóttum liðnum bjuggust þau öll í burt ór hellinum, ok hafði Hálfdan þaðan gull ok silfr ok margar gersimar ok kom heill til sinna manna. Urðu þeir honum fegnir ok þó mest systir hans. Segir hann þeim allt um ferðir sínar. Kærleikar miklir váru með þeim Hildi ok Ingibjörgu. Þar sat Hálfdan þann vetr, ok var nú allt kyrrt.

When Halfdan had accomplished that, he went into the cave, until he came to a side cave. There he saw a woman sitting on a stool. Her hair was bound to a chair post with a carved head. Her feet were in cold glacier water.
 
When she saw the man, she said: “Jarnnef will kill you without delay, sir, if he knows that you are here.”
 
Halfdan said: “I have killed him, and also slain Seggja. But what is your name?”
 
She said that her name was Hilda, and that she was the daughter of Earl Angantyr of Scotland, --“my brothers are called Sigmund and Sigurd. They are twins. We left the land last summer. Jarnnef brought me here by enchantment, and all of us, and he planned to own me, and kill his old wife, but I did not want that.”
 
Halfdan unfastened her, and they then went out of the cave, and the brothers had largely recovered. They were so thin that their skin had shriveled down to the bone. She set Sigurd on her shoulders, and Halfdan held Sigmund on his shoulders, and let wine drop on their lips, and they immediately drew near to one another, so that they could talk. They asked who had given them life. Hilda said that he was named Halfdan, and that he was the son of King Hring of Denmark. They were quite happy when they saw their sister safe, and they all thanked Halfdan. They stayed there for five nights.
 
But on the other hand, to speak of Halfdan’s men, they were quite worried about him, and Ingibjorg, his sister, stayed awake both night and day, and neither ate nor slept.

 
When five nights had passed, they all left the cave, and Halfdan took from there gold and silver, and many treasures, and came safely to his men. They were happy to see him, his sister most of all. He told them all about his journeys. Hilda and Ingibjorg were most welcoming. Halfdan stayed there for the winter, and all was now quiet.

6. Frá Hálfdani ok Brönu 6: Of Halfdan and Brana

At várdögum lét Hálfdan búa dreka sinn ok fram setja, ok helt hann á burt at áliðnu sumri. Þá kom stórviðri á mikit fyrir Hálfdani, ok varð hann at halda at þeim björgunum, er öðrum megin váru fjarðarins. Hálfdan segir, at þeir muni þar um búast, ok váru þeir þar vetr annan. Fóru þeir á jökla hvern dag Hálfdan, Sigmundr ok Sigurðr at afla matfanga. Skorti þá ekki vætta i skálanum.

Einn dag, þá er þeir fóstbræðr fóru á jökla, heyrðu þeir skellihlátra mikla um kveldit. Því næst sjá þeir þrjár flagðkonur, ok var sú í rauðum kyrtli, er fyrst gekk. Þat sá Hálfdan, at hún var með mennsku móti, en eigi hinar.

En þegar er þau fundust, mælti rauðkyrtla: "Hér er vel til yndis skipat, ok ætla ek mér við konungsson."

Hálfdan spyrr þær at nafni. "Ek heiti Brana," segir rauðkyrtla, "en systr mínar Molda ok Mána."

"Skamm hafi þínar systr," segir Hálfdan.

Brana ræðr þegar á Hálfdan, ok glíma þau lengi. Mána hleypr á Sigurð, en Molda á Sigmund. Þær vefja þeim utan um sik, en gátu eigi fellt þá. Þau Hálfdan ok Brana áttu langan atgang.

Brana mælti: "Ertu gamall maður, Hálfdan?"

"Sextán vetra," segir hann.

"Ok ertu þó enn eigi kvensterkr," segir hún.


"Hví skal þat eigi prófa nú?" segir Hálfdan.

Hann bregðr henni þá á mjöðm, svá at hún fellr. Hálfdan spyrr, hvern hún mundi hans gera, ef hann væri svá kominn sem hún.

Brana mælti: "Hvárki er ek blóðdrekkr né mannæta, ok eigi munda ek drepa þik, er ek gaf þér líf í hellinum Sleggju, ok kippta ek undan henni fótunum, ok gaf ek þér sax þat, er þú hjótt hana með."

"Hví sagðir þú mér þetta svá seint?" segir Hálfdan, "ok skaltu at vísu upp standa."

Tóku þau þá tal sín á milli. Brana mælti: "Þat skaltu vita, Hálfdan, at mennsk er ek í aðra ætt, því at móðir mín var dóttir Vilhjálms konungs ór Vallandi. Járnhauss, faðir minn, nam hana í burt. Átti hann mik við henni, ok bregðr mér meir til hennar, en þó nokkut til hans. Átta ek at þjóna hundrað flagða."

Hálfdan mælti: "Illa þykkir mér þú stödd vera, en nú skaltu horfa á grúfu, meðan ek leik við systr þínar."

Hún kvað svá vera skyldu. Hálfdan ferr þangat, er

þau Sigurðr ok Mána glímdu. Hann hrindir henni fyrir björg ofan heldr hraparliga, ok svá gerir hann við Moldu, ok sá heiðarliga í gaflhlaðit á henni. Brana lítr þá upp ok spyrr, hvar systr sínar sé.

"Ek hratt þeim ofan fyrir björg," segir Hálfdan.

"Þat var þér lítil fremd," segir hún, "því at önnur þeira var fimm vetra, en önnur sex, ok mun ek gott af þér hljóta ok svá þú af mér, en at sex nóttum liðnum vil ek þér félagar komið til hellis míns. Er hann heðan skammt í burt."

Hálfdan mælti, at svá skyldi vera. Fór Brana þá til hellis síns, en þeir félagar heim til skála síns.

When spring came, Halfdan had his dragon ship prepared, and traveled off at the beginning of summer. He ran into a great storm, and he had to make for the cliffs which were on the other side of the fjord. Halfdan said that they could set up camp there, and they were there for another winter. Halfdan, Sigmund and Sigurd went to the glacier every day to gather food. They had no lack of provisions in the hut.
 
One day, when the foster brothers went out to the glacier, they heard a roaring laughter in the evening. Next they saw three ogresses, and the one who went first had on a red kirtle. Halfdan saw that she was of human form, but not the others.
 

When they met, the woman in the red kirtle said: “This is quite fortuitous, and I expect that I am with a king’s son.” 
 Halfdan asked their names. 

“I am called Brana,” said the woman in the red kirtle, “and my sisters Molda and Mana.”

 “Your sisters should be ashamed,” said Halfdan.

 Brana then became quite angry at Halfdan, and they wrestled for a long time. Mana rushed at Sigurd, and Molda at Sigmund. They entangled, one around the other, but could not vanquish them. Halfdan and Brana had a long struggle.
 
Brana said: “Are you an old man, Halfdan?”
 
“Sixteen years old,” he said.

”And are you not a match for a woman?” she said.
 
“Why not try that out now?” he said.
 
He shoved her then with his hip, so that she fell. Halfdan asked what she would do to him, if she were in his position.
 
Brana said: “I am not a drinker of blood, or eater of men, and I would not kill you, since I gave you life in Sleggja’s cave, and pulled her feet from under her, and I gave you the sword which you struck her with.”
 
“Why are you telling me this so late?” said Halfdan, “and you must certainly stand up.”
 
They spoke among themselves. Brana said: “You must know, Halfdan, that I was human in another lineage, since my mother was the daughter of King Vilhjalm of Valland. Jarnhauss, my father, kidnapped her. He had me with her, and I take after her more, but a little bit after him. I had a hundred ogresses serving me.”
 
Halfdan said: “It seems to me that you are in a bad position, and now you must lie face down, while I vex your sisters.”
 
She said that she would. Halfdan went over to where Sigurd and Mana were wrestling. He threw her rather quickly over a cliff, and did the same with Molda, and looked at her squarely in the gable end. Brana looked up and asked where her sisters were.
 
“I threw them off the cliff,” said Halfdan.
 
“That was not very honorable for you,” she said, “since one of them was five years old and then other six. I will get good from you and you from me, and when six nights have passed, I wish you and your company to come to my cave. It’s not long from here.”
 
Halfdan said that it would be so. Brana went to her cave, and the company home to their huts.

7. Drepinn Járnhauss 7: Jarnhauss Killed

Þá er liðnir váru sex dagar, bjuggust þeir fóstbræðr heiman frá skálanum ok váru vel vápnaðir ok létta eigi fyrr en þeir koma til Brönu. Þá kom Brana í móti þeim ok kvaddi þá glaðliga.

Hún mælti: "Nú vil ek, Hálfdan, at þú veitir mér lið, ok drepum vit flögðin öll, því at ek hefi nú drepit nokkur með því móti, at ek hefi gert þau drukkin öll, svá at þau drápust niðr sjálf, en faðir minn liggr í einni kerru. Hann hefir þrjú höfuð ok öll ósýnilig. Hún stendr á miðju hellisgólfinu. Hún er stór, en honum kemr ekki á óvart. En þó at þú getir drepit hann, þá vil ek ekki sjá þat, en ek mun verða at fara til með þér, ef vel skal fara, ok þykkir mér þat erfitt, en ekki vápn má hann bíta nema sax þitt, ok vil ek þat hafa."

Hálfdan kvað svá vera skyldu ok fekk henni saxit, en hún fekk hverjum þeira bræðra kylfur stórar. Þær váru allar með járni slegnar. Þau gengu innar í hellinn. Brana fór fyrst. Hún slökkvir ljósit. Þeir félagar slá þá flögðin bæði hart ok tíðum. Þar fell margr tvíhöfðaðr jötunn.

Hálfdan sér þá, hvar Járnhauss lá í kerrunni. Hann hörglaðist þegar á fætr. Hálfdan sló sem honum var hægast við vangann á honum með kylfunni, en hann brá sér hvergi við ok mælti: "Svikit hefir þú mik nú, Brana dóttir. Veit ek, at hér er kominn Hálfdan Hringsson, Sigmundr ok Sigurðr."

Þeir bræðr slógu þá báðir senn til hans með kylfunum, en hann stóð sem áðr. Þá váru drepin öll önnur flögðin. Járnhauss tók til Sigurðar ok brá honum á lopt. Í því slær Hálfdan í knésbætr honum, svá at hann fellr, ok verðr Sigurðr undir honum. Hálfdan veit þá eigi, hvat hann skal til gera.

Þá kom Brana at ok mælti: "Ek mun sjálf verða at drepa föður minn, því at ek sé, at þér getið eigi banat honum, ok mun þat illa fyrir mælast, ef ek verð honum at bana, en þó skal þat nú vera."
Brana hleypr nú at ok höggr á háls honum með saxinu, ok lét hann svá sitt líf. Hálfdan velti honum þá ofan af Sigurði. Í því kom dagr yfir hellisgluggann. Ekki brá Brana sér við þat. Hún kippir upp einum hlemm ór hellisgólfinu. Þar var undir sjávardjúp. Þar ryðr hún niðr í flögðunum.

Þá er þau höfðu þetta gert, þakkar hún þeim þetta verk ok bað þá vera hjá sér um vetrinn. Hálfdan segir svá vera skyldu. Brana var þá allkát. Þær Hildr ok Ingibjörg fóru ok í hellinn. Hálfdan lá hjá Brönu hverja nótt, en þeir fóstbræðr tefldu um daga.

 When six days had passed, the foster brothers set out for home from their huts, and were well armed, and did not stop until they came to Brana. Brana then met them and greeted them warmly. 
She said: “I wish now, Halfdan, that you give me aid, and we will kill all of the ogresses, since I have now killed some in this manner, that I have gotten them all drunk, so that they will be dragged down themselves, and my father lies in a chariot. He has three heads, all invisible. The chariot stands in the middle of the floor of the cave. It is large, and nothing takes my father by surprise. But although you can kill him, I do not wish to see that, and I will go with you, if it turns out well, but I think it will be difficult, since no weapon can harm him except your sword, and I wish to have that.”
 
Halfdan said that it would be so, and got her the sword, and she got large clubs for each of the brothers. They were all forged with iron. They went into the cave. Brana went first. She extinguished the light. The companions struck the ogresses repeatedly and forcefully. Many two headed giants fell there.
 Halfdan saw where Jarnhauss lay in the chariot. He hobbled then to his feet. Halfdan struck where it was easiest, on his cheeks with the club, but he warded off each one and said: “You have betrayed me now, my daughter Brana. I know that Halfdan Hringsson has come here, and Sigmund and Sigurd.”
 
Both of the brothers struck him with their clubs, but he stood as before. All of the other ogresses were killed. Jarnhauss grabbed Sigurd and tossed him into the air. At that, Halfdan struck him in the hollow of the knee, so that he fell, and Sigurd was under him. Halfdan did not know what he should do.
 
Then Brana came and said: “I myself will have to kill my father, since I see, that you can’t kill him. It will be spoken ill of you, if I am the one who kills him, but so it shall be.”
Brana now ran over and struck him on the neck with the sword, and thus he lost his life. Halfdan then rolled him off of Sigurd. At that, day came to the cave window. Brana did not stop at that. She pulled up a trapdoor from the cave floor. Underneath it was as deep as the ocean. She swept the ogresses down there.
When they had done that, she thanked them for their work, and invited them to stay with her for the winter. Halfdan said that it would be so. Brana was quite merry. Hilda and Ingibjorg also went into the cave. Halfdan lay with Brana every night, and the foster brothers played chess by day.

8. Brana ræddi við Hálfdan 8: Brana Counsels Halfdan 

Brana hvarf í burtu hvern morgun, en kom ekki fyrr heim en at dagsetri. Einn tíma spyrr Brana Hálfdan, hversu langt væri til sumars.

"Sex vikr," segir hann.

"Þá er vel," segir hún, "at þér hefir eigi lengra þótt í hellinum en er, því at nú er sumardagr inn fyrsti á morgun, ok muntu heðan vilja burt halda, ok skal þat vera, þótt mér þykki annat betra, en ek fer eigi kona ein saman, ok er ek með barni, ok ertu faðir at því."

Hálfdan kveðst þess eigi þræta, --"ok vil ek, at þú sendir mér," segir hann, "ef þat er sveinn, en ger sem þér líkar, ef þat er mey."

Hún kvað svá vera skyldu, -"ok muntu sigla heðan til Englands. Þar ræðr fyrir sá konungr, er Óláfr heitir. Hann a ser dóttur, er Marsibil heitir. Hún er nú vænust kölluð allra meyja í heiminum. Hún kann allar kvenligar íþróttir, ok þat vilda ek, at þú fengir hennar. Þú skalt þar nefnast einn kaupmaðr, ok hér eru grös þau, er ek vil gefa þér. Þau skaltu gefa konungsdóttur, ok muntu þá fá hennar ást. Þau hafa þá náttúru, ef hún leggr þau undir höfuð sér ok sefr á þeim, þá ann hún þér sem lífi sínu. Ok hér eru klæði, er ek vil gefa pér. Á þau bíta engi járn nema sax þitt. Aldri muntu á sundi mæðast, ef þú ert í þeim, ok eigi eldr granda. Hringr er inn þriði gripr, er þú skalt eiga. Hann heitir Hnituðr. Hann er sundr tekinn í þrem hlutum. Ef óvinr þinn er hjá þér, ok hafir þú hringinn, þá máttu vita, hvern dauðdaga hann ætlar þér. Ef hann vill þik með vápnum vega, þá er hringrinn rauðr sem blóð, en ef hann vill þik í eitri svíkja, þá er hann svartr sem bik.

Gengu þau nú til sjóvar. Þar stóð skip á sandi. Brana mælti: "Hér er skip, er ek vil gefa þér, Hálfdan. Þat hefi ek smíðat í vetr. Hefir þat byr, hvert sem þú vilt sigla. Drekinn heitir Skrauti."

Hálfdan þakkar Brönu gjafirnar. Hún mælti: "Heðan af muntu kallaðr Hálfdan Brönufóstri. Áki heitir landvarnarmaðr Óláfs konungs. Hann er illr maðr ok ótrúr. Hann er kallaðr Áki inn illi, íþróttamaðr mikill. Láttu hann ekki svíkja þik."

Hálfdan hét góðu um þat. Þau gengu þá heim til hellis ok sofa af þá nótt.

Every morning Brana disappeared, and did not come home until evening. Once Brana asked Halfdan, how long it would be until summer.
 
“Six weeks,” he said.
 
“It would be well,” she said, “if you did not think any longer of the cave, since tomorrow is the first day of summer, and you will want to leave here, and it must be, that I should travel as a single woman, although it seems to me that it would be better otherwise. I am with child, and you are the father.”
 
Halfdan said that he would not dispute that, -- “and I want you to send it to me,” he said, “if it is a boy, but do as you wish, if it is a girl.”
 
She said that it would be so, -“and you must sail from here to England. A king rules there, who is called Olaf. He has a daughter named Marsibil. She is said to be the most beautiful of all the maidens in the world. She knows all of the feminine arts, and I want you to marry her. You shall be called a merchant there, and here are herbs, which I will give you. You shall give them to the king’s daughter, and you will get her love. They have a power that if she lays them under her head and sleeps on them, she will love you as her life. And here are clothes, which I will give you. No iron can cut them, except for your sword. You will never be tired in swimming, if you are in them, and no fire will do harm to you. The third treasure you shall own is a ring. It is called Hnitud. It comes apart into three pieces. If an enemy is close to you, and you have the ring, you may know what day of death he intends for you. If he wishes to smite you with weapons, then the ring is red as blood, but if he wishes to betray you with poison, it is black as pitch.”
 
They then went to the sea. A ship was standing on the sand. Brana said: “Here is a ship, which I will give to you, Halfdan. I made it during the winter. It will have a fair wind, wherever you wish to sail. The dragon ship is named Skrauti.”
 
Halfdan thanked Brana for the gifts. She said: “From now on you must be called Halfdan Bronufostri, the foster son of Brana. The sentry of King Olaf is called Aki. He is an evil man, and untrustworthy. He is called Aki the Evil, but he is a great sportsman. Do not let him betray you.”
 
Halfdan promised that. They went home to the cave and slept the night.

9. Hálfdan kom til Englands 9: Halfdan Came to England

Um morguninn stendr Hálfdan upp snemma ok klæðist. Þá hafði Brana búit skip hans at öllu ok til komnir menn hans. Hann bauð Brönu at fara með sér, en hún kvaðst þar vera verða, en bað þá fóstbræðr at bera byrðar sínar af gulli til skips, ok svá gera þeir. Brana tók sér byrði, ok var sú meiri en þeira allar, ok fara þau nú með þat ofan til skips.
Hálfdan stígr nú á skip, ok varð skilnaðr þeira Brönu bæði harðr ok langr, ok Brana ýtti drekanum frá landi. Hálfdan sigldi í haf, ok rann þegar á byrr. Brana hafði eptir hjá sér dreka Hálfdanar. Hann sigldi, þar til hann kom at eyjum þeim, er Hlaðeyjar heita. Þar réð fyrir sú kona, er Hlaðgerðr heitir. Þar dvaldist Hálfdan um hríð ok gaf henni mikit fé, en hún bað hann sín vitja, ef hann þyrfti lítils við. Hann játar því ok heldr síðan burt frá eyjunum ok léttir eigi fyrr en hann kemr í England fyrir borg Óláfs konungs.

Hálfdan gengr fyrir konunginn ok kveðr hann. Konungr tekr honum vel ok spyrr, hverr hann sé. Hann kveðst Hálfdan heita ok vera einn kaupmaðr, --"ok vil ek biðja yðr vetrvistar."

Konungr veitti honum þat. Hálfdan fekk eina skemmu at láta í fé sitt ok skipaði þar mönnum sínum at geyma. Þeir Sigurðr ok Sigmundr gengu með honum, hvert er hann fór.
Einn dag gengu þeir allir saman ok kómu at skíðgarði einum. Í garðinum sáu þeir skemmu eina mjök ágæta. Garðrinn var svá hár, at engir þarlenskir menn kómust inn yfir. Í garðinum var einn lundr mjök fagr. Hálfdan spurði þá bræðr, hvárt þeir mundu upp geta runnit garðinn. Sigurðr bar sik at ok rann upp til þriðjungs, en Sigmundr til miðs, en Hálfdan rann upp á garðinn ok gengr til lundarins. Þar sér hann eina jungfrú. Hún lék sér at gulli, ok kastaði hún því upp ok henti síðan. Eitt sinn missti hún þat, þá er hún vildi henda, ok fell þat niðr í garðinn. Hún leitar at gullinu. Hálfdan gengr at henni ok gefr henni annat gull, ok var þat stærra.

Hún þakkar honum vel ok mælti: "Engan mann hefi ek sét vænna en þik, ok þat vilda ek, at þit Marsibil, frændkona mín, ættist, því at þit eruð alllík."

In the morning Halfdan got up early, and dressed. Brana had completely prepared his ship and his men came. He asked Brana to travel with him, but she said that she would remain there, and bade the foster-brothers to carry their chests of gold to the ship, and they did so. Brana took her chest, which was bigger than all of the others, and they then went with that up to the ship. 
Halfdan then went on board, and his parting from Brana was both difficult and long. Brana pushed the ship from land. Halfdan sailed out into the harbor, and then ran before the fair wind. Brana had Halfdan’s dragon ship remaining with her. He sailed until he came to the Hladey Islands. A woman ruled there, who was named Hladger. Halfdan stayed there for a while, and gave her much treasure, and she invited him to stay with her for a bit if he needed to. He agreed, and a while later went off from the island and did not stop until he came to England before the stronghold of King Olaf.
 Halfdan went before the king and greeted him. The king welcomed him, and asked who he was. He said that he was named Halfdan, and that he was a merchant, --“and I wish to request winter quarters from you.”
The king granted him that request. Halfdan was given an outbuilding to store his treasure in, and arranged for his men to watch there. Sigurd and Sigmund went with him, wherever he went.
One day they all went together and came to a stockade. In the stockade they saw a splendid bower. The stockade was so high, that no native men could get in over it. In the enclosure there was a beautiful stand of trees. Halfdan then asked the brothers, whether they could get over it. Sigurd set to it and ran up a third of the way, and Sigmund halfway up, but Halfdan got into the enclosure and went to the clump of trees. There he saw a young maiden. She was playing with a gold ball, and cast it up, and then caught it. Once she missed it, when she wanted to catch it, and it fell down in the enclosure. She looked for the gold ball. Halfdan went to her and gave her another gold ball, which was bigger.
She thanked him, and said: “I have never seen a more handsome man than you, and I wish that you and my friend, Marsibil, would marry, since you are so much alike.”

10. Hálfdan hitti konungsdóttur 10: Halfdan Met the King’s Daughter

Eptir þetta gengr hún inn í skemmuna, en Hálfdan ferr aptr til þeira bræðra. Sjá mey hét Alfífa, er Hálfdan gaf gullit. Hún var dóttir Sigurðar konungs af Skörðuborg. Þat var föðurbróðir Óláfs konungs.
Alfífa afhendir Marsibil gullit. Hún segir þetta eigi þat gull, er hún hefði fengit henni, --"en þó er þetta betra, eða hverr hefir gefit þér?"

Hún kvaðst fundit hafa einn mann úti i garðinum, --"ok hann gaf mér gullit, ok engan hefi ek sét vænna mann ok kurteisara utan þik eina, ok þætti mér þit mega vera hjón."

Marsibil varð svá reið við hana, at hún sló hana pústr, svá at hún grét, ok fell svá þeira tal.

Einn dag gekk Hálfdan til skemmu konungsdóttur einn saman. Þá var opinn skíðgarðrinn. Hann gekk inn í garðinn ok at þeim lundi, er fyrr sá hann. Þar sat Marsibil konungsdóttir. Enga mey þóttist hann hafa sét vænni. Hún kembdi sér með gullkambi.

En er hún sá Hálfdan, mælti hún: "Far brutt, maðr, ef þú vilt ekki verða drepinn, ok ertu furðu djarfr, er þú gengr inn orlofslauss."

Hálfdan lét eigi sem hann heyrði ok settist niðr hjá henni ok leysti til hnýtilsskauta eins. Þar váru í grös þau, er Brana hafði fengit honum, ok bað konungsdóttur eiga, en hún vill eigi. Hann leggr á kné henni ok gengr í burt síðan, en hún tekr upp grösin ok gengr í skemmu sína ok leggr knýtit undir höfuð sér ok sefr af þá nótt.

Um morguninn kallar hún Alfífu til máls við sik ok segir: "Þú, frændkona, skalt ganga til þess kaupmanns, er þú fannt í garðinum, ok seg, at hann komi sem snarast á minn fund, ok ger þetta leyniliga."

Alfífa mælti: "Mun nú svá, at þér hafi ekki verr á hann litist en mér, en nú skal ek fara.

Hún skundar mjök sinni ferð ok finnr Hálfdan ok sagði honnum ok biðr hann flýta sér. Hann gerir svá, ferr með henni ok finnr Marsibil konungsdóttur.

Hún mælti: "Mikil náttúra fylgir grösum þeim, er þú lagðir á kné mér í gær, því at ek ann þér svá mikit, at ek má eigi af þér sjá, ok í stað vil ek, at hvárt okkar játi öðru sína trú."

Hálfdan kvað svá vera skyldu, ok fór þat fram. Konungsdóttir bað hann opt þar koma ok eiga tal við sik. Hann játar því ok gekk í burt síðan.

Liðu nú svá tímar, þar til sem Áki, landvarnarmaðr konungs, kom heim. Hálfdan var svá mikils metinn af konungi, at hann sat honum it næsta. Áki færði konungi margar gersemar, ok var hann vanr at sitja honum it næsta, ok öfundaði hann mjök Hálfdan ok vildi hann gjarna feigan ok setr menn til höfuðs honum, ok varð þat þó aldri framgengt. Opt rægði Áki hann við konung, ok vildi hann þat eigi heyra.

After that, she went into her bower, and Halfdan went back to the brothers. The maiden was named Alfifa, to whom Halfdan gave the gold ball. She was the daughter of King Sigurd of Skorduborg, who was the uncle of King Olaf.
 Alfifa turned the gold ball over to Marsibil. She said that it was not the gold ball that she had given her, --“but it is better than that one, and who gave it to you?”
 She said that she had met a man out in the garden, --“and he gave me the gold ball. I have never seen such a handsome man, and more courteous than you yourself, and I thought that you might be a good match.”
Marsibil was so angry with her that she gave her a blow on the ear, and so their conversation ended.
One day Halfdan went to the bower along with the king’s daughter. The stockade was open. He went into the garden and to the clump of trees that he had seen before. Marsibil, the king’s daughter, was sitting there. He thought that he had never seen such a beautiful maiden. She was combing her hair with a gold comb.
 When she saw Halfdan, she said: “Go away, sir, if you don’t want to be killed, and you are quite bold, if you go in without permission.”
Halfdan pretended that he had not heard, and sat down beside her, and untied the cloth he had knotted up as a purse. Inside were the herbs, which Brana had gotten him. He offered them to the king’s daughter, but she refused them. He lay on her knee, and then went away, but she gathered up the herbs and went into her bower, and laid the purse under her head and slept on it that night.
In the morning, she called Alfifa to talk to him, and said: “You, my friend, must go to that merchant, who you found in the garden, and tell him that he should come to meet me immediately, and do it secretly.”

Alfifi said: “It will be so that you will not be less pleased with him than I was, and now I must go.”
 
She sped on her journey, and found Halfdan and told him to come quickly. He did so, went with her, and found Marsibil, the king’s daughter.
 
She said: “A great power accompanies the herbs, which you put on my knee yesterday, since I love you so much, that I can’t take my eyes off of you, and instead I wish that we each agree to be faithful to one another.”

Halfdan said that it would be so, and it proceeded. The king’s daughter bade him come there often and speak with her. He agreed to that, and then went off.

Time passed, until Aki, the land warden of the king, came home. Halfdan was so highly valued by the king, that he sat next to him. Aki brought the king many treasures, and he was accustomed to sitting next to him, and he was quite envious of Halfdan. He wished him dead, and set men after his head, although he was never successful. Aki often slandered him to the king, who would hear none of it. 

11. Sundkapp Áka ok Hálfdanar 11: The Swimming Contest of Aki and Halfdan

Á einu kveldi var þat, er þeir Áki ok Hálfdan drukku í höllinni, en konungr var farinn at sofa. Áki mælti: "Ertu mikill íþróttamaðr, Hálfdan?"

"Eigi er þat," sagði hann.

"Viltu reyna sund við mik?" sagði Áki.

"Má þat," sagði hann.

 

Áki varð glaðr við þetta, því at hann var sundmaðr mikill. Síðan fóru menn at sofa. Um morguninn stendr Áki snemma upp ok hyggr gott til at reyna sundit við Hálfdan, gengr fyrir konung ok segir honum viðtal þeira Hálfdanar ok biðr hann til fara ok sjá þenna leik með alla hirð sína. Konungr játar því, ok er nú út blásit allri hirðinni, ok ferr nú konungr sjálfr at sjá þenna leik. Vatn eitt var skammt frá borginni. Þar ætla þeir at reyna sundit, ok svá gera þeir ok kasta sér til sunds. Hálfdan var í brynjunni Brönunaut.

 

Leggst Áki nú at honum, ok færir Hálfdan hann í kaf ok helt honum niðri meir en eykt dags. Síðan kom Áki upp ok marði þar á vatni at kalla. Fylgdarmenn hans færðu hann at landi ok fylgdu honum í sitt herbergi, ok var honum svá kalt, at hann gat eigi mælt. Hálfdan lék þá enn marga leika á sundi ok fór síðan at landi ok gekk heim með konungi til hallar, ok virti hann Hálfdan meir en áð

Um morguninn eptir ferr Hálfdan til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni frá sundinu, en hún lét vel yfir ok bað hann þó varast Áka, segir, at hann muni svíkja hann, en Hálfdan sagði svá vera skyldu ok gengr í brutt síðan. Áki þóttist nú verr en skemmdr ok vildi nú gjarna svíkja Hálfdan með einhverju móti. Ok einu sinni býðr Áki honum burtreið, en Hálfdan játar því skjótt. Áki varð nú harðla glaðr ok segir konungi svá búit. Áki átti ess svá gott, at ekki var betra í Englandi nema ess konungsdóttur. Ess Áka hét Lóngant, en ess konungsdóttur hét Spóliant. Hálfdan gengr nú til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni frá viðtali þeira Áka. Hún lætr lítt yfir þessu. Hann bað hana at ljá sér ess sitt. Hún kveðst þat gera vilja ok bað hann hylja þat, svá at þat væri hvergi bert. Hann játar því ok gekk í burt síðan.  

En konungsdóttir kom at máli við Alfífu ok mælti:

"Ek vil senda þik til karls þess, er heðan er skammt í burt. Hann heitir Úlfr, en geymir ess mitt. Þat skaltu sækja leyniliga ok fá í hendr Hálfdani."

Alfífa flýtti ferðinni ok kom til Úlfs ok bar honum erendi sinnar frúr. Hann fekk henni essit, en hún færði Hálfdani.

It happened one evening, when Aki and Halfdan were drinking in the hall, and the king had gone to sleep. Aki said: “Are you a great sportsman, Halfdan?”
 
“Not so,” said he.
 
“Would you like to try swimming with me?” said Aki.
 
“Perhaps,” said he.
 
Aki was happy about that, since he was a great swimmer. Then everyone went to sleep. Aki got up early in the morning, and looked forward to trying swimming with Halfdan. He went before the king, and told him of the conversation with Halfdan, and asked him to come and see the contest, along with all of his court. The king agreed to that, and now called out all of his court, and now the king went himself to see the contest. There was a lake a short distance from the town. They planned to have the swimming meet there, and so they did, and threw themselves into the water. Halfdan was in the coat of mail that Brana had given him.
 
Aki now fell upon him, but Halfdan forced him underwater, and held him down for more than three hours. Then Aki came up and was waterlogged, so to speak. His retainers brought him to land and helped him to his lodgings, and he was so cold, that he could not speak. Halfdan then performed more feats in the water, and then went on land, and went home with the king to the hall, and he valued Halfdan more than ever.
 
The next morning Halfdan went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her of the swimming meet. She expressed approval, but told him to be wary of Aki, and said that he would betray him. Halfdan said that what would be would be, and then went off. Aki was thought to be even more shamed, and wished to betray Halfdan any way that he could.  One time Aki invited him to a joust, and Halfdan agreed immediately. Aki was now quite happy, and told the king what was planned. Aki had a steed that was so fine, that there was none better in England, save for the steed of the king’s daughter. Aki’s steed was named Longant, and the steed of the king’s daughter was named Spoliant. Halfdan now went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her of the conversation with Aki. She thought little of that. He asked her to lend him her steed. She said that she would do so, and bade him hide it, so that no one was aware. He agreed to that, and then went off.
 
But the king’s daughter came to speak to Alfifa, and said:
 “I will send you to a man, who is a short distance away. He is named Ulf, and hides my steed. You shall seek it out in secret, and put it in Halfdan’s hands.”
 Alfifa set out, and came to Ulf and told him of the errand of her mistress. He brought her the steed, and she brought it to Halfdan.

12. Frá óförum Áka 12: Of Aki’s Downfall

Nú kemr sá dagr, er þeir Áki ok Hálfdan skulu á burt ríða. Tók Áki ess sitt ok ríðr á skóg, en Hálfdan á móti. Þeir riðu at einu díki. Hálfdan leggr til Áka burtstöng sinni ok hefr hann burt ór söðlinum ok kastar honum niðr í díkit, svá at hann stendr fastr í leirnum ok kemst hvergi í brutt. Fylgdarmenn hans hlupu at ok drógu hann upp, ok undi hann nú verr sínum hlut en áðr, en Hálfdan fekk af þessu frama mikinn. Áki hugsar um þat nótt ok dag at svíkja Hálfdan.

Áki hafði frétt, at Hálfdan átti systur eina, ok ætlaði hann hennar vilja at fá til óvirðingar við Hálfdan ok stendr upp eina nótt ór sæng sinni ok gengr til skemmu þeirar, er Ingibjörg ok Hildr lágu í. Hann var í skyrtu ok línbrókum. Eigi váru fleiri menn í skemmunni. En er Áki klappaði lófa sínum á hurðina ok mælti hljótt, at þær skyldi upp lúka, ok kvað Hálfdan þar vera, bað hún Hildi at fara til dyranna. Hildr fór til dyranna ok lýkr upp hurðunni ok sér, at þetta er Áki. Verða þær nú svá hræddar, at þær vita eigi, hvar þær skulu hafa sik, en Áka varð bilt inn at ganga ok studdist fram á dyrustafinn.
Ingibjörg mælti: "Þat vilda ek, at Brana, fóstra Hálfdanar, hjálpaði mér."

En er hún hafði þetta mælt, var Áki fastr við hurðina, svá at hann mátti hvergi þaðan fara, en veðrit tók at hvessa ok frysta, ok tók Áka at kólna, svá at hann skalf af kulda. Þar varð hann at standa alla nóttina. Ok um morguninn, er menn Hálfdanar kómu til skemmunnar, sáu þeir Áka, þar er hann stóð, ok sögðu Hálfdani. En þegar hann kom til, varð Áki þegar lauss, ok mátti hann eigi mæla. Hálfdan lét flytja hann til herbergis sjálfs hans. En þegar er Áki mátti mæla, ásakaði hann sik mjök ok þóttist mikla sneypu fengit hafa. Hann hugsaði nú at svíkja Hálfdan sem mest.

Now came the day that Aki and Halfdan were to ride off. Aki took his horse, and rode to a forest, and Halfdan against him. They rode to a ditch. Halfdan went after Aki with his lance, and tossed him out of his saddle and cast him down into the ditch, so that he was stuck fast in the mud, and could not come out. His retainers ran and dragged him up, and he was less content than ever with his lot in life. Halfdan gained much fame from this. Aki thought night and day about retaliating on Halfdan.
 
Aki had news that Halfdan had a sister, and he decided to bring dishonor on Halfdan through her. He got out of bed one night and went to the bower where Ingibjorg and Hilda were. He was dressed in a shirt and linen breeches. There were not many men in the bower. But when Aki knocked on the door with the palm of his hand, spoke softly that they should open up, and said that Halfdan was there, she bade Hilda to go to the door. Hilda went to the door and opened it up, and saw that it was Aki. They were now so terrified that they did not know where they should go. Aki went in immediately and leaned against the doorpost.
 
Ingibjorg said: “I wish that Brana, the foster mother of Halfdan, would help me.”
 
And when she had said that, Aki was stuck fast to the door, so that he could not leave. The weather blew up a gale and frost, and Aki started to freeze, so that he shivered from the cold. He stayed there the whole night. And in the morning, when Halfdan’s men came to the bower, they saw Aki there where he was standing, and told Halfdan. And when he arrived, Aki was let loose, but he was unable to speak, berated himself much, and thought that he had been greatly disgraced. He now thought even more of retaliating against Halfdan. 

13. Brana hjálpaði Hálfdani 13: Brana Helped Halfdan

Einn tíma býðr Áki konungi til veislu. Konungr fór við margan mann, ok var þar Hálfdan í ferð, Sigurðr ok Sigmundr, ok veitti Áki vel ok var kátr við Hálfdan. Einn dag veislunnar var þat, er þeir Hálfdan ok hans félagar drukku í einum kastala ok Áki hjá þeim, en konungr ok hans menn váru í öðrum stað. Áki var allkátr ok bar þeim ákaft drykkinn. Ok með því at drykkrinn var áfengr, duttu þeir skjótt niðr sofandi. Áki kallar þá at sér sína menn ok lætr bera eld at kastalanum ok ætlar at brenna þá inni. Eigi vissi konungr þetta. Kastalinn tekr nú at loga ok svá klæði þeira fóstbræðra. Í því bili kom kona ein fram ór skóginum. Hún var stór vexti ok veðr þegar eldinn ok tekr þá fóstbræðr alla í fang sér ok berr þá út ór eldinum fram á skóginn. Þar vaknar Hálfdán ok sér, at Brana er þar kommin.

Hún mælti: "Þat er forn orðskviðr ok er sannr, seint er afglapa at snotra, þar sem þú átt hlut at. Ek varaða þik, at þú skyldir eigi láta Áka svíkja þik. Hefi ek nú gengit frá meyjunni viku gamalli, ok trúi ek, at hún sé orðin fífl, ok má ek eigi hér vera lengr."

Skildu þau þá at sýn, en eigi at vináttu. Þá vakna þeir bræðr ok fara heim með Hálfdani ok sögðu konungi, hvat Áki hafði gert, en konungr gaf sér fátt at, því at hann var vinr Áka.

Nú skal segja frá Áka ok hans mönnum, at þegar þeir sjá konuna, hlaupa þeir í skóginn mjök hræddir, ok er Áki nú fyrst ór sögunni. Konungr kom heim eptir tíðendin.

Once Aki invited the king to a feast. The king went with many men, and Halfdan was there on the journey, as well as Sigurd and Sigmund. Aki entertained well, and was merry with Halfdan. One of the feast days, it so happened, Halfdan and his companions were drinking in a castle, and Aki with them, and the king and his men were elsewhere. Aki was quite merry and gave them quite a lot to drink. And since the drink was intoxicating, they immediately fell sound asleep. Aki then summoned his men, and had fire brought to the castle, and planned to burn them inside. The king did not know that. The castle now started to burn, and so also the clothes of the foster brothers. At that moment, a woman came out of the forest. She was grown large, and then waded into the fire and took all of the foster brothers in her grasp and took them out of the fire into the forest. Then Halfdan awakened, and saw that Brana had come there.
 She said: “There is an ancient proverb which says truly, a fool becomes wise late, as far as you are concerned. I warned you, that you should not allow Aki to betray you. I have now left a daughter a week old, and I believe that she will be seduced, and I can’t stay here any longer.”
 They then parted from sight, but not from friendship. Then the brothers awakened, and went home with Halfdan, and informed the king of what Aki had done, but the king did not pay much attention to it, since he was a friend of Aki.
 Now to tell of Aki and his men, that when they saw the woman, they ran quite terrified into the forest, and Aki is now quite out of the story. The king came home after the news.

14. Sigurðr konungr fekk Hildar 14: King Sigurd Married Hilda

Þat er nú því næst at segja, at konungr efnar jólaveislu mikla. Þar kom Sigurðr konungr af Skörðuborg ok margt annat stórmenni. Ok it fyrsta kveld, er menn váru komnir í sæti, gengr innar Marsibil konungsdóttir með sinn skara. Þær Hildr ok Ingibjörg váru þar í för með henni, ok sat á sína hönd henni hvár þeira, en þar út í frá sátu skemmumeyjar hennar. Alfífa lék sér á gólfinu.

Sigurðr konungr, faðir hennar, kallar hana til sín ok setr hana í kné sér ok mælti: "Seg mér, hvat konu þat er, sem sitr á hægri hönd frændkonu þinni?"

"Hún heitir Ingibjörg," segir Alfífa, "ok er systir kaupmanns þess, er hér kom í sumar."

Konungr mælti: "Þú skalt fara til Marsibil konungsdóttur ok seg, at hún láti þat fram gengt verða, at ek eiga þá konu."

Alfífa ferr ok fram kemr til sinnar frúr ok berr henni boðskap síns föður. Konungsdóttir bað hana við Hálfdan þetta ræða.

Líðr nú af nóttin, ok at morgni dags ganga þau á málstefnu konungsdóttir ok Hálfdan ok Sigurðr konungr. Hann biðr þá systur Hálfdanar. Konungsdóttir flytr þetta mál með honum.

Hálfdan mælti: "Fullkosta þykki mér konungi, þó at hann eigi Hildi."

Konungr byrjaði þá at nýju bónorðit. Hálfdan tók því vel, ok með samþykki bræðra hennar var þessu ráðit, ok var þá jólaveisluni snúit upp í brullaup, ok var at setit há1fán mánuð. Ok eptir veisluna gaf Sigurðr konungr mörgum góðar gjafir, ok fóru heim til Skörðuborgar með drottningu sína. Sigurðr fór með þeim, en Sigmundr var eptir hjá Hálfdani.

Next to tell, that the king prepared a great yuletide feast. King Sigurd came from Skorduborg, and many other great men. On the first evening, when people had taken their seats, the king’s daughter, Marsibil, came in with her companions. Hilda and Ingibjorg accompanied her, and each of them sat beside her, and a short distance away sat her handmaidens. Alfifa was playing on the floor.
 
King Sigurd, her father, called her to him and set her on his knee, and said: “Tell me, what woman that is, who sits at the right hand of your lady friend?”
 
“She is named Ingibjorg,” said Alfifa, “and is the sister of the merchant who came here last summer.”
The king said: “You shall go to the king’s daughter, Marsibil, and say, that she must see to it that I marry that woman.”

Alfifa went and came to her mistress, and gave her the message from her father. The king’s daughter told her to seek Halfdan’s advice.

The night now passed, and when daybreak came, the king’s daughter and Halfdan held a council, along with King Sigurd. He proposed to Halfdan’s sister. The king’s daughter brought the matter to him.  

Halfdan said: “I think it would be a worthy match for the king, if he marries Hilda.” 

The king began the courtship. Halfdan welcomed it, and with the agreement of her brothers, it was decided, and the yule feast was changed to a wedding, and it was set for half a month. And after the feast, King Sigurd gave many fine gifts, and traveled home to Skorduborg with his queen. Sigurd went with them, but Sigmund stayed with Halfdan.

15. Viðskilnaðr Hálfdanar við Áka 15: The Parting of Halfdan and Aki

At sumri komnu býst Hálfdan í burt af Englandi, ok einhvern dag gengr hann til skemmu konungsdóttur ok segir henni, at hann ætlar í burt ok hefna föður síns.


Konungsdóttir mælti: "Tuttugu skip eru hér í höfninni, er ek vil gefa þér."


Hálfdan þakkar henni ok kvað systur sína skyldu hjá henni eptir vera. Hún játar því. Tekr hann þá orlof af henni ok systur sinni ok gengr burt síðan ok fyrir konung ok þakkar honum vetrvistina ok tekr af honum orlof, ok ganga þeir Sigmundr síðan til skipa.


En er Hálfdan var í burt farinn, kemr Áki at máli við konung ok mælti: "Vitið þér, herra, at Hálfdan hefir barnat dóttur yðra?"


"Eigi veit ek þat," segir konungr ok bað Áka í stað fara eptir honum við marga menn. Hann var þessarar ferðar fúss ok fór eptir Hálfdani með tíu menn.

Nú er frá þeim Hálfdani at segja, at þeir ganga eptir einni skógarbraut. Há1fdan gat þá at líta ferð Áka. Hann var þá í herklæðunum Brönunaut. Áka berr bráðan at, ok stíga þegar af baki ok sækja þegar at Hálfdani, en þeir Hálfdan ok Sigmundr snúast at bökum ok verjast allkarlmannliga, ok þó kemr þar, at Áki drap Sigmund með þeim hætti, at hann höggr undan honum báða fætr. Ok eptir fall Sigmundar reiðist Hálfdan ákafliga, svá at hann drepr alla menn af Áka, en handtekr hann sjálfan ok skerr af honum nefit ok stakk bæði augun ór honum ok skerr af honum bæði eyrun ok geldir hann. Síðan brýtr hann í honum báða fótleggina ok snýr aptr tánum, en fram hælunum, ok setr hann síðan á bak ok snýr essi hans heimleiðis til konungshallar. Hálfdan var hvárki móðr né sárr. Hann heygir þá Sigmund ok ferr síðan til skipa ok segir mönnum, hvat í hafi gerst með þeim Áka, en þeir létu vel yfir.
Hálfdan siglir nú með tuttugu skip af Englandi ok dreka sinn um fram. Hann kemr til Hlaðeyja, ok fagnar Hlaðgerðr honum vel ok gaf honum tuttugu skip með mönnum ok fé. Hálfdan þakkar henni þessa gjöf.

Nú skal segja frá Áka, at hann kemr heim ok rembist ekki alllítit, ok sjá konungsmenn hann ok segja konungi, at hann er heim kominn. Konungr sér nú Áka, hversu hann er útleikinn. Rekr konungr hann í burt, ok kemr Áki ekki síðan við þessa sögu.

When summer came, Halfdan set off from England, and one day he went to the bower of the king’s daughter, and told her that he intended to go off and avenge her father.
 
The king’s daughter said: “Twenty ships are here in the harbor, which I will give to you.”
 
Halfdan thanked her, and said that his sister should remain with her. She agreed to that. He then took leave of her and his sister, and then went off and went before the king, and thanked him for his hospitality over the winter, and took leave of him, and he and Sigmund then went to the ship.
 
But when Halfdan had left, Aki came to talk to the king, and said: “Do you know, sire, that Halfdan has gotten your daughter pregnant?”
 
“I did not know that,” said the king, and bade Aki go after him immediately with many men. He was ready for this journey, and went after Halfdan with ten men.
 
Now to speak of Halfdan and his men, that they went along a forest path. Halfdan was able to see Aki’s travels. He was in the battle clothes that Brana had given him. Aki soon attacked, and then dismounted and looked for Halfdan, but Halfdan and Sigmund turned back, and defended themselves bravely. However, it came to pass that Aki killed Sigmund in this manner, striking both feet out from under him. After Sigmund’s fall, Halfdan became quite angry, so that he killed all of Aki’s men, and seized him himself, and cut off his nose, and gouged out both of his eyes, and cut off both of his ears and castrated him. Then he broke both of his legs and tore off his toes from his heels, and then set him on the back of his steed and set it on a homeward journey to the hall of the king. Halfdan was neither tired nor injured. He buried Sigmund in a mound and then returned to his ship and told his men what had transpired with Aki, and they thought that this was fine.
 
Halfdan now sailed with twenty ships from England, with his dragon ship foremost. He came to Hladey and Hladgerd welcomed him and gave him twenty ships with men and treasure. Halfdan thanked her for this gift.
 
Now to tell of Aki, that he came home and did not strut very much, and the king’s men saw him and told the king that he had come home. The king now saw Aki, and the condition that he was in. The king now drove him away, and Aki does not appear again in this saga.

16. Hálfdan drap Sóta 16: Halfdan Killed Soti

Nú skal víkja aptr til Hálfdanar, at hann siglir í burt frá Hlaðeyjum með fjóra tigi skipa ok heim til Danmerkr. Ok er víkingar vita, at ófriðr er kominn, skunda þeir til bardaga. Engir landsmenn vildu berjast með þeim. Fóru þeir til Hálfdanar, ok finnast þeir á sléttum völlum, ok tókst þar bardagi harðr. Gengu víkingar hart fram. Verðr skjótt mikit mannfall í her Hálfdanar. Hann mælti þá við menn sína, at þeir skyldu hlífa sér, en sæta eigi mjök áverkum við víkinga. Liðit Hálfdanar gengr þá hart fram, ok finnast þeir Snækollr ok Hálfdan í bardaganum, ok lýkr svá þeira viðskiptum, at Snækollr fellr dauðr til jarðar. En er Sóti sér fall bróður síns, veðr hann fram at Hálfdani ok höggr til hans. Hálfdan hljóp í lopt upp, ok missti Sóti hans, en mækir Sóta hljóp niðr í völlinn, ok laut hann eptir högginu. Í því slæmir Hálfdan undan honum báða fætrna í knjáliðunum.

Hann fell þá ok var þegar litlu dauðr ok mælti: "Mikinn sigr hefir þú nú unnit, Hálfdan," segir hann, "er þú hefir mik at velli lagt. Þat mæli ek um, at þú munir ekki til Marsibil konungsdóttur, heitkonu þinnar."

Eptir þetta dó Sóti, en Hálfdan drap hvert mannsbarn, er Sóta hafði fylgt. En Hálfdan gerðist konungr yfir Danmörku ok mundi ekki til Marsibil konungsdóttur.

Now to return to Halfdan, that he was sailing away from Hladey with forty ships, and home to Denmark. When Vikings know that unrest is coming, they hasten to battle. No landsmen wanted to battle with them. They went to Halfdan and met on a level field, and a fierce battle began. The Vikings advanced strongly. Soon many men had fallen in Halfdan’s troops. Halfdan then spoke to his men, that they should take cover and not expose themselves to many blows from the Vikings. Halfdan’s army advanced strongly, and Snaekoll and Halfdan found themselves in combat, and their stuggle ended with Snaekoll falling to the ground dead. But when Soti saw the death of his brother, he rushed forward at Halfdan, and struck at him. Halfdan lept up in the air, and Soti missed him, but Soti’s sword ran down to the field and struck him again. At that, Halfdan cut off both of his feet at the knee joint.
 
He fell then, and was half dead, and said: “You have now won a great victory, Halfdan,” he said, “since you have laid me out on the field. But I decree, that you shall have no recollection of Marsibil, your bethrothed.”
 
After that, Soti died, and Halfdan killed everyone that had followed Soti. Halfdan was made king over Denmark, but had no recollection of the king’s daughter, Marsibil.

17. Frá brúðkaupum 17: Of the Wedding

Eina nátt, þá er Hálfdan lá í sæng sinni, vaknaði hann við þat, at þar var komin Brana, fóstra hans, at honum svá mælandi: "Stattu upp, Hálfdan," segir hún, "ef þú vilt eiga Marsibil konungsdóttur, því at Eirekr konungr ór Miklagarði er kominn í England ok biðr hennar, en hún læsir sik í skemmu sinni, ok nær konungr hennar máli aldri, ok far þú á Skrauta, dreka þínum."

Hálfdan stendr þá upp ok man allt, sem hann vakni af svefni. Hann ferr til skips einn saman ok hrindr fram drekanum. Kemr þegar á blásandi byrr. Léttir Hálfdan eigi ferð sinni, fyrr en hann kemr til Englands í þá höfn, er fyrr hafði hann út lagt, ok var þá komit at kveldi.

Hann gengr upp frá skipi ok kemr at skíðgarði konungsdóttur. Hann rennr þegar upp garðinn ok klappar á hurðina. Þær Marsibil ok Ingibjörg heyra höggit.

Ingibjörg mælti: "Við þetta högg varð mér gott, ok vilda ek upp láta."

Marsibil bað hana ráða. Hún lýkr nú upp hurðinni ok sá þar kominn Hálfdan, bróður sinn. Verða þær honum harðla fegnar.

Þegar um morguninn gengr Hálfdan fyrir Óláf konung ok biðr Marsibil sér til handa, en konungi brá svá við þessi orð, at hann gifti honum dóttur sína, en hafði áðr ætlat at drepa hann. Eirekr konungr bað nú Ingibjargar. Hálfdan gifti honum hana. Þá var þar kominn Sigurðr konungr af Skörðuborg ok með honum Sigurðr, fóstbróðir Hálfdanar. Hann bað Alfífu til handa honum, ok var hún honum gefin, ok váru þessi brullaup öll í einu. Stóðu þau hálfan mánuð með miklum prís.

En eptir veisluna af liðna gaf hvárr konungr öðrum gjafir góðar. Fór Eirekr konungr ok hans drottning heim í sitt ríki, ok ríktu þau þar til elli, ok er margt manna frá þeim komit. Þau Sigurðr ok Alfífa fóru heim til Skotlands, ok stýrði því ríki til dauðadags. Var þá andaðr Angantýr, faðir hans. Hann átti sér þann son, er Angantýr hét. Sá tók ríki eptir hann ok varð frægr maðr. Þau Hálfdan ok Marsibil fóru til Danmerkr ok ríktu þar til, er Óláfr konungr andaðist, en þá fóru þau til Englands ok ríktu þar til elli. Þau áttu þann son, er Ríkarðr hét. Hann varð konungr í Englandi eptir föður sinn.

Þat segja sumir menn, at sá Ríkarðr væri faðir Álaflekks. Ok lýkst hér nú saga Hálfdanar Brönufóstra.

One night, when Halfdan was lying in his bed, he was awakend by Brana, his foster mother, coming in, and speaking to him thusly: “Get up, Halfdan,” she said, “if you wish to marry the king’s daughter, Marsibil, since King Eirik of Miklagard has come to England. He is proposing to her, but she has shut herself up in her bower, and the king can never get her to speak. Go to Skrauti, your dragon ship.”
 
Halfdan stood up then, and remembered everything as he woke from sleep. He went to the ship alone and pushed the dragon ship out. A breeze then blew up. Halfdan did not end his journey until he came to England to the same harbor that he had set out from, and came there in the evening.
 
He went up from the ship and came to the stockade of the king’s daughter. He climbed the stockade and knocked on the door. Marsibil and Ingibjorg heard the knock.
 
Ingibjorg said: “That knock is a good omen, and I will open the door.”
 
Marsibil told her to decide.  She opened up the door and saw that Halfdan, her brother, had come. They gave him a hearty welcome.
 
In the morning, Halfdan went before King Olaf and asked for the hand of Marsibil. The king was so startled at these words that he bethrothed him his daughter, although he had previously planned to kill him. King Eirik now proposed to Ingibjorg. Halfdan gave her to him in marriage. Then King Sigurd came from Skorduborg, and with him, Sigurd, Halfdan’s foster brother. He asked Alfifa for her hand, and she was given to him, and they were all married at one time. They stayed there for half a month with great honor.

After the feast ended, each king gave fine gifts to the other. King Eirik and his queen went home their realm, and ruled there until they were old, and they had many descendents. Sigurd and Alfifa went home to Scotland and ruled that kingdom until their dying days. Angantyr, his father, had died. He had a son, who was named Angantyr.  Halfdan and Marsibil went to Denmark, and ruled there until King Olaf died, and then they went to England and ruled there until they were old. They had a son, who was named Rikard. He became king of England after his father.

Some men say, that Rikard was the father of Alaflekk. And so ends here the saga of Halfdan Bronufostri. 

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SCHOLARSHIP & COMMENTARY
Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia, 1993:











"Many well-known folktale motifs can be found in Hálfdanar Saga Brönfóstra but these are not always skillfully juxtaposed. Also are included are a ring able to detect an opponent's evil intentions, a premonitory dream, and a spell making one unable to stand the sight of human blood. From a literary point of view, the most important passage is the hero's encounter with the two trolls in a cave, a motif complex closer to the Old English epic Beowulf than corresponding passages in any other Norse saga, including the often-cited Grettis saga loðinskinna.
"Verbatim parallels to passages in this episode exist in Gríms saga loðinskinna and in Ála flekks saga, and indicate conscious literary orrowing in the writing of these sagas, possibly from an even older, lost original. It is also probable that Hálfdanar saga Brönfóstra was known to the author of Sörli saga sterka.
"
Hálfdanar saga Brönfóstra is preserved in three vellum MSS from the 15th century, but its later popularity is attested by some four dozen paper MSS. In addition , the material was given poetic form on three occasions, as rímur of sixteen, seventeen and fourteen cantos from the first part of the 16th, the 18th, and the late 19th centuries, respectively. During the third quarter of the 18th century, the saga served as the model for the forgery Hafgeirs saga Flateyings."
Stephanie Ann Schlitz, Introduction to Icelandic Saga Manuscripts, 2007:

Hafgeirs saga Flateyings is preserved in a single paper manuscript, Add. 6, fol., and is housed in the collection of the Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies. The manuscript is unsigned, but according to the flyleaf:

Saga af Hafgeyre flateying udskreven af en Membran der kommen er fra Island 1774 in 4to exarata Seculo xij

(The Saga of Hafgeir Flateying was copied from a manuscript written in the twelfth century which had come from Iceland [to Copenhagen] in 1774).