The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (Penguin Classics)

by Jesse L. Byock

  Regin began to serve the ale. In this task he was joined by many of his friends, and they plied the drinks so generously that men passed out and fell, one on top of the other. Meanwhile, the brothers, as noted earlier, hid in the woods.

  When the boys had been there awhile, they saw a man riding toward them from the hall. They soon recognized that it was Regin, their foster father. They were pleased to see him and greeted him well, but Regin ignored their greeting. Instead he turned his horse around, facing back toward the hall. The boys wondered at this, asking themselves what this action might mean. Regin turned his horse toward them for a second time, acting now so menacingly that he seemed likely to attack them at any moment. Helgi said, ‘I think I know what he wants.’

  Regin now rode back to the hall and the boys followed him. ‘My foster father behaves in this way,’ said Helgi, ‘because he does not want to violate his oaths to King Frodi. For this reason he will not speak to us, yet he will gladly help us.’

  Near the hall stood a grove of trees owned by the king. When they reached it, Regin said to himself, ‘If I sought vengeance against King Frodi for great wrongs, I would burn down this grove.’ He said nothing else.

  Hroar said, ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘He wants us to go back to the hall,’ answered Helgi, ‘and set it afire, excepting one doorway that leads outside.’

  ‘What can we do?’ asked Hroar. ‘We are just two boys facing overwhelming odds.’

  ‘Still,’ said Helgi, ‘we will do it, because we will have to risk it sometime if we are to avenge our losses.’ And so they carried out the plan.

  The next to tell is Jarl Saevil’s emergence from the hall with all his men. He said, ‘Let’s build up the fire and help these boys. I owe no obligation to King Frodi.’

  King Frodi had two smiths who were master craftsmen. Both were named Var. Regin led his own men out through the door of the hall; he also saved his friends and his in-laws.

  4. The Death of King Frodi

  King Frodi now awakened in the hall. Sighing loudly, he said, ‘I dreamed a dream, lads. It is one that promises no fair wind, and I will relate it to you. I dreamed that I thought someone was calling to us, saying, “Now you have come home, King, you and your men.” I answered, it seemed, angrily, “Home to where?” Then the voice called out again, this time so near to me that I felt the breath of the one calling. “Home to Hel. Home to Hel,”* said the one who called. Then, I awoke.’

  Just then, they heard Regin speaking a verse outside the door to the hall:

  6. Rain is without,†

  and the warriors of Halfdan,

  tough adversaries,

  say this to Frodi.

  Var the careful forged nails,

  and Var, the wary, formed the heads,

  but the smiths worked

  warnings for the wary.

  Then the king’s men, those who were inside, said that it was little news if it was raining outside or if the king’s smiths were forging nails or doing other smithy work.

  The king said, ‘You do not find news in that? It strikes me otherwise, for Regin has told us of some impending danger. He has given a sign of warning and will be sly and cunning with me.’

  Next the king, going to the door of the hall, saw that the enemy was in front. By then the whole hall was covered with flames. The king asked who was responsible for the fire. He was told that Helgi was in charge and that his brother Hroar was with him.

  The king proposed a truce to the boys. He offered that they alone could set the terms, saying, ‘It goes against nature’s order that among us kinsmen each man should want to be the killer of the other.’

  Helgi replied, ‘No one can trust you. You will betray us no less than you betrayed my father Halfdan. Now you must pay for your actions.’

  Then the king, turning back from the hall door, went to the entrance of his underground passageway, intending to save himself by escaping into the woods. But when he entered the passageway, he found Regin standing there. As Regin’s intentions were not peaceful, the king returned to the hall, where he and most of his followers burned to death. Sigrid, the mother of the brothers Helgi and Hroar, also burned to death inside the hall, because she chose not to leave.

  For their support the brothers thanked Jarl Saevil, their brother-in-law; Regin, their foster father; and all the company. To many they gave rich gifts. They took the kingdom, including all of King Frodi’s wealth, his lands and his movable property.

  The brothers were unlike in temperament. Hroar was mild and easy-going, whereas Helgi was a staunch warrior and was regarded as by far the more important of the two. Matters continued this way for a while.

  Here ends the tale of Frodi and now begins the story of Hroar and Helgi, the sons of Halfdan.

  5. King Helgi Rules Denmark and King Hroar Marries

  There was a king named Nordri; he ruled over parts of England. His daughter was named Ogn. Hroar spent many years with King Nordri and commanded the defence of the realm. Hroar was a trusted supporter of the king and a deep friendship grew between the two men. After a time Hroar married Ogn16 and settled there in the kingdom with King Nordri, his father-in-law. Helgi ruled over Denmark, controlling the inheritance from their father.

  Jarl Saevil and Signy ruled their own lands.17 Their son was named Hrok. In Denmark, King Helgi, the son of Halfdan, was unmarried. Regin now took sick and died; it was regarded as a great loss because he was a much loved man.

  6. King Helgi Attempts to Marry Queen Olof

  At that time a queen named Olof18 ruled over Saxland.* Like a warrior king, she dressed in a coat of mail, carried sword and shield, and wore a helmet. This was her nature: beautiful in looks, yet cruel and arrogant in temperament. Those who knew about such matters said that Olof was the best match in all the northern countries, but she had no intention of marrying any man.

  King Helgi heard about this proud queen. It seemed to him that marrying the woman, whether she was willing or not, would increase his fame and importance. So one day he set off with a large company of armed men and, without warning, he landed in the country ruled by the powerful Queen Olof. Helgi sent messengers to her hall, requesting that the queen be informed that he expected a feast to be prepared for him and his company. His messengers transmitted his request to the queen, who was taken by surprise and had no chance to gather her forces. Making the best of the situation, she invited King Helgi to a feast along with all his following.

  Helgi arrived at the feast and had himself placed in the high seat beside the queen. The two drank together throughout the evening. Nothing was lacking and Queen Olof showed no sign of displeasure. King Helgi said to the queen, ‘The situation is this: I want us to drink to our marriage this evening. There are enough people here for such a celebration and tonight we will share one bed.’

  She answered, ‘It seems to me that this plan has moved too fast. Yet I do not think that I could find a man more courteous than you, if I were of a mind to attach myself to any man.19 But I certainly do not expect you would want to undertake such a union with dishonour.’

  The king replied that it was fitting, because of her pride and arrogance, ‘that we remain together for as long as it pleases me’.

  She answered, ‘I would choose to have more of my friends here, but since I can now do nothing you must decide this matter. And I expect you to behave honourably toward me.’

  The drinking continued throughout the evening and long into the night. The queen was so cheerful that no one noticed in her anything other than that she thought well of the marriage. Finally, when Helgi was brought to bed, she was waiting there for him.

  The king had drunk so much that at once he fell down asleep onto the bed. Taking advantage of his state, the queen stuck him with a sleep thorn.* When the last of the men had left, the queen got up. She shaved off all his hair and smeared him with tar.

  Next, she took a leather sack made for sleeping and placed some clothes in it. After that she grabbed hold of
the king and stuffed him into the sack. Then she called her men and had them carry the king to his ships.

  The queen next awakened Helgi’s men, telling them that their king had gone back to the ships and, because of a favourable wind, was planning to set sail. They jumped up, each one moving as fast as he could, but, drunk and confused, they scarcely knew what to do.

  When the men arrived at the ships, the king was nowhere to be found. They did, however, see that a large sack was there. Curious about its contents, they decided to look while waiting for the king. They assumed that he would be coming a little later. When they untied the sack, they found their king, shamefully tricked. The sleep thorn fell away, and the king awoke, though his dreams had not been pleasant. He was now in a vile temper regarding the queen.

  But about Queen Olof, there is more to be told: She spent the night gathering her men and there was no lack of numbers. Meanwhile King Helgi could not decide how to get back at her. When he and his men heard from the land the sound of trumpets and the blast of war horns, Helgi realized that it would be best to get away as quickly as possible. As it turned out, a fair wind was blowing at the time. King Helgi sailed home to his kingdom, bearing this dishonour and disgrace. He was filled with resentment about the outcome and often contemplated how to take vengeance on the queen.

  7. King Helgi’s Vengeance

  Queen Olof remained now for a time in her kingdom; her arrogance and her overbearing manner had never been greater. After the feast she had offered King Helgi, she kept a strong guard around her. News of their dealings spread far and wide throughout the different lands. Everyone thought it a flagrant misdeed to have mocked such a king in this way.

  Not long afterward King Helgi again set sail in his ships. This time he headed toward Saxland, making for the queen’s royal residence. The queen had a large force ready, but Helgi landed his ships in a hidden inlet. He told his men to wait for him there until the third day and, if he had not returned by then, to go their own way.

  Helgi took with him two chests filled with gold and silver. He obtained some rags which he used for outer clothing. He then made his way to the woods and hid the treasure there.

  Next, going toward the queen’s hall, he met one of her slaves. He asked the man for news of the country. The thrall said the times were peaceful and good and asked the stranger who he was. Helgi let on that he was a poor beggar.

  ‘All the same,’ Helgi said, ‘I have found a huge treasure in the forest, and it seems advisable for me to show you where it is.’ They went to the woods and he showed the slave the treasure. The slave was much impressed by the value of the treasure, believing that good fortune had struck.

  ‘How greedy is the queen?’ asked the beggar.

  ‘She is the greediest of women,’ replied the slave.

  ‘Then this treasure will please her,’ said the beggar. ‘Though I found it, she will think she owns it because it is on her land. Good fortune must not now be turned to bad, so I will not hide this wealth. The queen can decide on my share as she wishes; deciding what will suit me best. But will she take the trouble to come here to get the treasure?’

  ‘I am sure that she will,’ answered the slave, ‘if it is done secretly.’

  ‘Here,’ said the beggar, ‘is a necklace and a ring. These I will give to you if you succeed in persuading her to go alone into the woods. On the other hand, I will devise a plan if she becomes angry with you.’

  After discussing the matter, they arrived at a bargain. The slave went home and told the queen that he had found a huge cache of treasure in the woods, ‘enough,’ he said, ‘to guarantee the happiness of many men.’ He asked her to come with him quickly to retrieve the wealth.

  She replied, ‘If what you say is true, this story will make your fortune; if not, it will bring death to you. But, since I have discovered you in the past to be reliable, I will trust in what you say.’

  Then she showed just how greedy she was. So that no one else would know, she arranged that the two of them would go alone in the dead of night.

  But when they came into the forest, Helgi was there waiting. He grabbed hold of the queen and told her that their meeting was an ideal opportunity to avenge his disgrace.

  The queen admitted that she had behaved badly toward him; ‘But now, I want to make it all up to you, and you shall wed me honourably.’

  ‘No,’ he said, ‘you will not have that choice. You will come with me to the ships and remain there for as long as it pleases me. For my own pride’s sake I must take some vengeance on you after the ugly and shameful way you toyed with me.’

  ‘For now,’ she said, ‘you are the one who will decide.’ The king then slept with the queen for many nights.

  Then the queen returned home. As just told, Helgi wreaked his vengeance on her, and now she became profoundly unhappy with her lot. King Helgi continued on his voyage, bringing war to others and acquiring fame.

  The Girl Yrsa

  After some time, Queen Olof gave birth to a child. It was a girl. The queen treated the child with complete neglect. She had a dog named Yrsa; she called the little girl after it, so that the child came to be named Yrsa.20 She was a beautiful child, but when she was twelve years old she was sent to tend the herd. The girl was told only that she was the daughter of a poor farmer and his elderly wife. The deceit was possible because the queen had concealed her condition so well that only a few people knew that she had given birth.

  So matters continued until the girl was thirteen. Then King Helgi returned to Olof’s lands and, curious to know what had happened there, he put on beggar’s clothes. He saw a large herd in a forest tended by a young woman. She was so beautiful that he thought he had never seen a more lovely woman. He asked her name and inquired about her family and kinship. She answered, ‘I am the daughter of a poor man and am called Yrsa.’

  ‘Your eyes are not those of a servant,’ he said, and suddenly feelings of love welled up in him. He said it would be proper for a beggar to marry her, because she was a poor man’s daughter.

  Although she asked him not to do this; he took her with him back to the ships and sailed home to his kingdom.

  When Queen Olof learned what had happened, she behaved deceitfully. In public she pretended to have no knowledge of the situation. In her private thoughts, however, she calculated that these events would bring grief and dishonour to King Helgi and that neither success nor joy would come of them. King Helgi married Yrsa and loved her very much.

  The Ring

  A ring owned by King Helgi was a widely famed treasure. Both brothers wanted it, and so too did their sister Signy. King Hroar once paid a visit to the kingdom of his brother King Helgi, who prepared a magnificent feast in Hroar’s honour.

  King Hroar said, ‘Between us, you are the greater man. I have settled in Northumberland and therefore am now willing to grant you my share of the kingdom that we own jointly. I will make this agreement if you will share with me some of our treasured possessions. I want the ring, the one that is the best treasure in your possession and that both of us would like to own.’

  ‘Brother,’ said Helgi, ‘after such a speech, nothing else is fitting but that you should have the ring.’

  King Hroar returned home to his kingdom and remained there in peace.

  8. Jarl Hrok Claims King Hroar’s Ring

  Next came the news that Jarl Saevil had died and that his son Hrok had then assumed rule. Hrok was a cruel and exceptionally greedy man.

  His mother often described the ring owned by her brothers. ‘To my mind, it would be proper,’ she said, ‘if they remembered us with a grant of some form of wealth. We supported them when they were taking vengeance for our father, yet they have not rewarded us for our help either in respect to your father or in respect to me.’

  Hrok agreed: ‘What you say is plain as day; the situation is disgraceful. I will go to them and find out what they are willing to do in order to satisfy our honour.’ Hrok then set off to meet King Helgi. He demanded a third
of the Danish kingdom or the great ring. He did not know that Hroar had the ring in his possession.

  King Helgi said, ‘You make bold demands and act with arrogance. We won the kingdom with our courage, staking our lives on the outcome. We acted with the support of your father and of my foster father Regin. Other good men also aided us. We will certainly reward you because of our kinship; that is, if you are willing to consent to our proposal. This kingdom has, however, cost me so much that I am by no means willing to lose it. Furthermore, King Hroar has now assumed ownership of the ring, and I doubt that it will be available to you.’

  Hrok left very dissatisfied. Next he sought out King Hroar, who received him with honour. Hrok stayed with Hroar for a time. Once, while sailing down the coast, they put in at a fjord. Hrok said, ‘It seems to me, kinsman, that it would be worthy of your honour if you placed the great ring under my control. By doing so you will dignify our kinship.’

  The king responded, ‘I have given so much to get this ring that I will by no means part with it.’

  Hrok said, ‘Then you must allow me to look at it, as I am very curious to know whether the ring is as much of a treasure as is claimed.’

  ‘That is a small thing to do for you,’ said Hroar, ‘and I will certainly let you look at it.’ He then produced the ring for Hrok to see.

  For a while Hrok studied the ring, declaring finally that there was no possibility of exaggeration when describing it. ‘I have never seen a comparable treasure, and the reason you esteem the ring so highly is obvious. The best solution, it seems to me, is that neither of us, or, for that matter, anyone else should enjoy it.’ He then threw the ring as far out as he could into the sea.