The Saga of
Hervor
&
King Heidrek
the Wise
© Peter Tunstall, 2005
1. Sigrlami and the Dwarves
There
was a man called Sigrlami who ruled over Gardariki. That is
One
day as the king rode out hunting, he lost sight of his men. He rode deep into the
forest in pursuit of a hart but when the sun sank the following day, he still
hadn’t caught it. He’d ridden so far into the forest, he hardly knew where he
was. He saw a tall stone in the sunset, and by it two dwarves. He drew his knife
over them, binding them outside the stone by the power of graven iron. They
begged for their lives.
The
king asked, “What are your names?”
One
was called Dvalin, the other Dulin.
The
king said, “Since you two are the most skilled out of all the dwarves, you
shall make me a sword, the best that you can. The guard and boss shall be of
gold, and the grip too. It will bite iron like cloth and never rust. It will
bring victory in battles and single combats for all who bear it.”
They
agree to this. The king rides home. And when it comes to the appointed day, he
rides to the stone. The dwarves were outside. They hand him the sword and it
was indeed splendid. But as Dvalin stood in the doorway of the stone, he said:
“May
your sword, Sigrlami, be a man’s bane each time it is drawn and may three vile
deeds be done with that sword. It will also be death to your kin.”[1]
Then
the king swung his sword at the dwarves. They sprang into the rock. The sword
stuck right into the stone so that both edges were lost from sight, for the
door closed behind them in the stone.
Sigrlami
kept that sword and called it Tyrfing. It was the sharpest of swords and each
time it was drawn it shone like a sunbeam. Never could it be bared without
killing a man, and with warm blood it would always be sheathed. And nothing,
not human nor animal, could live a day if they got a wound from it, no matter
how great or small. It never failed to strike, nor did it stop till it hit the
earth, and any man who bore it in battle would have victory if he used it. The
king bore it in battles and single combats and had victory every time. That
sword is famous in all the old sagas.
2. Of Arngrim and his Sons
There
was a man called Arngrim. He was a famous viking. He journeyed east to
Gardariki and stayed a while with King Sigrlami and became the general of his
army, to get both lands and subjects, for the king was now old. Arngrim became
such a great chief now, the king gave him his daughter in marriage and
appointed him to the highest position in his realm. He gave him the sword
Tyrfing. Then the king settled down and nothing more is told of him.
Arngrim
went north with his wife Eyfura to his family estate and settled on the
3. Hjorvard’s Oathtaking
It
was Yule Eve, the time for men to make solemn vows at the ceremony of the
bragarfull, or chief’s cup, as is the custom. Then Arngrim’s sons made vows.
Hjorvard took this oath, that he would have the daughter of Ingjald king of the
Swedes, the girl who was famed through all lands for beauty and skill, or else
he would have no other woman.
That
same spring, the twelve brothers make their way and they come to
There
were two men staying with King Ingjald at this time, as his champions and
land-wards: Hjalmar the Great-Heart and Odd the Traveller who was called
Arrow-Odd. And when Hjalmar heard what the berserks said, he stepped up before
the table and spoke to the king: “Lord king, does your majesty remember now
what great honour I have brought you since I came to your kingdom and how many
battles I fought to win lands for you, and have I not always put my service at
your disposal? Now I ask you that you do me the honour of giving me your
daughter to whom my thoughts have always turned. And it is more appropriate
that you grant this boon to me than to the berserks who have wrought ill both
in your realm and in many other kingdoms.”
Now
the king thinks all the more, and it seems a very tricky problem, these two
leaders competing so much over his daughter.
The
king speaks thus and says that each of them is such a great man and so nobly
born that he will refuse them both his daughter. And he asks her to choose
which one she wants to have. She says that is fair: if her father wishes to
give her in marriage, then she wants the one she knows to be good, and not one
she has only heard stories of, and all of them bad, as with Arngrim’s sons.
Hjorvard
challenges Hjalmar to come south to the island of Samsey and curses him as a
coward despised by all if he goes first and weds the lady before the duel is
decided. Hjalmar says he won’t delay. Now Arngrim’s sons go home and tell their
father how it went. And Arngrim says he’s never feared for them on any of their
expeditions before now.
Immediately
afterwards, the brothers travel to Jarl Bjarmar and he welcomes them with a great
feast. And now Angantyr wishes to wed the jarl’s daughter, who was called
Svafa, and they celebrated their wedding feast. And now Angantyr tells the jarl
his dream: “It seemed to me,” he said, “that we brothers stood on Samsey and
found many birds and killed them all. Then I dreamt we turned along a different
way on the island and there flew towards us two eagles, and it seemed I went
against one, and we had tough dealings together, and we both put each other on
the floor before we stopped. And the other eagle fought with my eleven
brothers, and it seemed to me the eagle got the better of them.”
The
jarl says that there is no need to analyse that dream, for there he was shown
the fall of mighty men.
4. Battle on Samsey
But
when the brothers come home, they prepare themselves for the duelling place,
and their father leads them to the ship and then gave the sword Tyrfing to
Angantyr.
“I
think,” he says, “that there will be a need of good weapons.”
He
bids them farewell. After that, they leave.
And
when the brothers come to Samsey, they see two ships lying in the cove which is
called Munway. Those ships were the kind called ‘ashes’. They thought these
ships must belong to Hjalmar and Odd. Then Arngrim’s sons drew their swords and
bit on their shield-rims, and the berserk-state came on them. Then six of them
went out onto each of the ashes. And there were such good warriors on board there
that they all took up their weapons, and no one fled from his post, and no one
uttered a word of fear. And the berserks went up one side and down the other
and killed them all. Then they walked up onto the land roaring.
Hjalmar
and Odd had gone up onto the island to see if the berserks had come. And as
they walked out of the woods to their ships, the berserks came out of the ships
with bloodied weapons, and then the berserk-state went off them. And they
became weaker then that at other times, as after some kind of sickness. And Odd
intoned:
“One time only
I was frightened,
when from warships
they walked roaring
(and loud yowling
to the island climbed)
twelve together,
gloryless.”
Then
Hjalmar said to Odd, “Do you see there that all our men have fallen, and it
appears to me most likely now that we will all be Odin’s guests in Valhall
tonight.”
And
that, men say, is the only word of fear that Hjalmar spoke.
Odd
answers, “My advice would be this: that we get away from here to the wood,
because the two of us will not be able to fight those twelve who have killed
the bravest men who were in
Then
said Hjalmar, “We will never flee from our enemies but rather endure their
weapons. I will go to fight a berserk.”
Odd
answered, “Well, I’m not in the mood to lodge with Odin tonight, so they will
all be dead berserks before evening, and us two will live.”
That
conversation of theirs is proved by this these lines which Hjalmar chanted:
“Bold fellows fare
forth off warships,
twelve together,
gloryless;
we foster brothers
must feast with Odin,
this very evening
while those twelve live.”
Odd
says:
“To that an answer
I can give you:
This evening it’s they
who’ll eat with Odin,
those twelve berserks,
and the two of us live.”
Then
Hjalmar saw that Angantyr had Tyrfing in his hand because it shone like a
sunbeam. Hjalmar spoke: “Which do you want to fight: Angantyr on his own, or
his eleven brothers?”
Odd
says, “I want to fight with Angantyr. He will give hard knocks with Tyrfing,
but I believe my shirt is better protection than your byrnie.”
Hjalmar
spoke: “Wherever did we come to a battle, where you go forward in front of me?
That’s why you want to fight with Angantyr, because you think that will get you
more glory. Well, I’m the leader of this duelling expedition. In
Odd
called to the berserks and said:
“One on one, lads,
unless you’re scared;
single combat,
or where’s your courage?”
Then
Hjorvard went forward and he and Odd had a hard exchange of blows. And Odd’s
silk shirt was so reliable that no weapon could get a grip on it, and he had a
sword so good it bit mail like cloth. And he hadn’t dealt many cuts before
Hjorvard fell dead. Then Hervard stepped up and went the same way, then Hrani,
then one after the other, and Odd dealt them such a fierce onslaught that he
laid low all eleven brothers. And of Hjalmar’s match it’s to be told that
Hjalmar took sixteen wounds, and Angantyr fell dead.
Odd
went up to where Hjalmar was, and said:
“What’s up, Hjalmar?
Your hue’s altered.
I say many wounds
do weary you.
Your helm is hewn,
and the hauberk on your side;
I say your life
has left you now.”
Hjalmar
sang:
“I’ve sixteen wounds,
a slit byrnie;
there’s clouds before my eyes—
can’t see.
It entered my heart,
Angantyr’s sword,
fell bloodspike,
forged in poison.”
And
he sang again:
“I owned five
farms in all
but that was never
enough for me.
Now I must lie,
of life deprived,
sword-maimed,
on Samsey Isle.
Housecarls do sup
in the hall on mead,
with gems fêted,
at father’s place.
Many men is the ale
making weary,
but me, sword-tracks[2]
on Samsey torment.
I left the fair
valkyrie of cloaks[3]
on Agnafit
to the ocean side;
it’ll turn out true,
what she told to me,
that never after
would I be back.
Take the red-gold
ring off my hand
and bring it to young
Ingibjorg;
that grief will fix
fast in her mind,
that I’ll not come
to
I turned away
from womens’ song,
eager for joy,
east with Soti;
I sped my journey
and joined the crew,
left dear friends
one final time.
Raven flies from the east
from his lofty tree;
along after
the eagle flies.
To that last eagle
I leave my flesh.
He’ll banquet upon
on the blood of me.”
After
that Hjalmar dies. Odd brings these tidings home to
Angantyr
and his brothers were laid in a mound on Samsey with all their weapons.
5. Hervor Got the Sword Tyrfing
Bjarmar’s
daughter was with child. That was an exceptionally fair lass. She was sprinkled
with water[4]
and given a name and called Hervor, but it was the opinion of most that she
should be left outside,[5]
and they said she wouldn’t be too ladylike if she took after her father’s kin.
She was brought up with the Jarl and was as strong as the boys. And as soon as
she could do anything for herself, she trained more with shot and shield and
sword than sewing or embroidery. She did more bad than good too. And when these
things were forbidden to her, she ran into the woods and killed men for their
money. And when the Jarl hears of this highwayman, he went there with his
troops and caught Hervor and brought her home, and then she stayed at home for
a bit.
It
happened one time that Hervor was stood outside, near where some thralls were,
and she was having a go at them, just as she treated everyone.
Then
one of the thralls interrupted her, saying, “You, Hervor, all you want to do is
evil, but evil’s only to be expected of you. And the Jarl has forbidden anyone
to tell you about your parents because he thinks it shameful for you to know
about that, because the lowest thrall lay with his daughter and you are their
child.”
On
hearing this, Hervor became furious and went straight before the Jarl and
exclaimed:
“I needn’t boast
of noble kin
though mother found
Frodmar’s favour;
a great lineage
I liked to believe,
but here I’m told:
a herder of swine.”
The
Jarl declared:
“You’ve heard a great lie,
little of substance;
noble among men
your father was known.
Strewn all with soil
stands Angantyr’s
hall on Samsey,
south side of the island.”
She
said:
“Now, foster father,
I fain a visit
would pay upon
departed kin.
I’ll warrant they owned
wealth in plenty;
unless I perish
I’d like to get it.
From my hair with haste
headdress must go;
let’s off with the linen
before I leave.
Much depends,
upon my rising,
on cloak and shirt
being cut for me.”
Then
Hervor spoke with her mother and said:
“Prepare me now
with proper care,
truly wise woman,
as you would a son;
a certain truth
in sleep to me comes:
no joy will I have
here at all soon.”
Then
she got ready to leave alone with the gear and weapons of a man and made her
way to where some vikings were and sailed with them for a while and called
herself Hervard.
A
little later, the captain died and this ‘Hervard’ took command of the crew. And
when they came to the island of Samsey, ‘Hervard’ told them to stop there so he
could go up onto the island and said there’d be a good chance of treasure in
the mound. But all the crewmen speak against it and say that such evil things
walk there night and day that it’s worse there in the daytime than most places are
at night. In the end, they agree to drop anchor, and ‘Hervard’ climbed into the
boat and rowed ashore and landed in Munway just as the sun was setting. And he
met a man there watching his herd.
The young maiden
met at sunset
in Munway Cove
a man herding.
He
said:
“Of human kind,
who’s come to the island?
Hie you hastily
home to your lodging!”
She
said:
“Home to my lodging
I’ll hie me not,
as I know none
of the island folk;
so inform me fast
before you go:
where are Hjorvard’s
Howes[6]
meant to be?”
He
said:
“Don’t ask me that,
you don’t seem wise,
prince of pirates,
your plight is dire;
let’s flee as fast
as our feet can carry us;
it’s all too much
for men out here.”
She
said:
“Here’s a prize necklace
in payment for talk;
I doubt you’ll divert
the vikings’ boss.”
He
said:
“None can hand me
such hansom gems,
such good treasures
that I go not my way.”
She
said:
“Let’s not deign to fear
such fizzing and sizzling[7]
though the whole island
heave with fire;
let’s not take fright
at fallen heroes
quite so quickly,
come let us talk.”
He
said:
“Silly would seem
someone to me
who heads on alone
from here by night;
fire is blazing,
barrows open,
field burns and fen—
let’s go faster.”
Hotfoot to the holt
the herdsman was off then,
fled far away
from the words of this girl,
but Hervor’s heart
hard-knit in her breast
swells boldly now
about such matters.
And
so he took off home to his village, and they parted company there. And at that
she sees where the grave-fire is burning over on the edge of the island, and
she goes up there and is not afraid though all the mounds were in her path and
the dead standing outside. She waded through the flame as if through fog till
she came to the barrow of the berserks.
Then
she called:
“Awake, Angantyr!
Hervor wakes you,
only daughter
of you and Svafa;
from your crypt give me
that keenest blade,
the sword dwarves struck
for King Sigrlami.
Hervard, Hjorvard,
Hrani, Angantyr,
under forest roots
I rouse you all,
with buckler, with byrnie,
bright helm and harness,
a good sharp glaive,
and gold-reddened spear.
So much for you
sons of Arngrim,
mean men
to the mould adding,
when Eyfura’s boy
won’t even talk
to me tonight
in
Hervard, Hjorvard,
Hrani, Angantyr,
be racked in your ribs
as if rotting
deep in an anthill,
if you don’t hand over
Dvalin’s sword;
it does not suit
dead men to grip
a good weapon.”
Then
said Angantyr:
“Hervor, daughter,
what drives you to call so?
Brimful of bale-runes,
you’re bound for grief.
You’re out of your mind,
mad have you gone,
lost your wits now,
waking up dead men.
A father did not
dig my grave,
no parent buried me,
nor other kinsmen;
they had Tyrfing,
the two who lived,
though the owner was
but one in the end.”
She
said:
“It’s a lie what you say—
may the god only let you
sit hale in your howe
if you have not got it
laid in there with you;
reluctant you are
heirlooms to share
with your only child.”
Then
the mound opened and it was as though the whole barrow was fire and flame. And
Angantyr said:
“Hellgate gapes
and graves open,
all is fire
on the island’s rim;
it’s grim outside
to gaze around;
shift yourself, girl,
if you can, to your ships.”
She
answers:
“You can’t burn
any bonfires by night,
no flames flaring
to frighten me;
your daughter’s mind
does not tremble
though dead men there
in the door she see.”
Then
said Angantyr:
“I say to you, Hervor,
have a listen,
wise daughter, now
to what will be:
this sword Tyrfing
(try to believe it)
will, girl, your offspring
all destroy.
A lad you’ll bear
who later shall own
the sword Tyrfing
and trust his own strength;
people will call
the boy Heidrek,
he’ll grow mightiest
under heaven’s tent.”
She
declared:
“I cast this curse
on killed warriors,
that you entombed
shall all lie there
undead with dead
in the dank rotten;
give me, Angantyr,
from out of your mound
(it won’t help you to hide it)
the dwarves’ handiwork.”
He
says:
“I say you aren’t, girl,
like other humans,
to walk among howes
up here by night
with graven spear
and with Gothic steel,
with helm and harness
at the door to my hall.”
Then
said Hervor:
“I did think I was human,
at home with the living,
till down I came
to your dead men’s hall;
so hand me from your howe
what hates armour,
the hazard of shields,
Hjalmar’s bane.”
Then
said Angantyr:
“Hjalmar’s bane lies
below my shoulders;
the blade is wrapped
right round in flame;
one girl only
on earth up there
I guess would dare
take that glaive in hand.”
Hervor
said:
“I’ll take care of
and take in my hand
edge-sharp the blade,
could I but have it;
I’m not afraid
of fire burning;
the flame’s soon out
that I look over.”
Then
said Angantyr:
“You’re foolish, Hervor,
but full of daring,
to rush into fire
with your eyes open;
rather, young girl,
I think I’ll give you
the cleaver from my cairn,
I can’t refuse.”
Hervor
said:
“You did well,
warrior kinsman,
when from your grave
you gave the sword;