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 Russia. His daughter was Eyfura who was the fairest of all girls.

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 island of Bolm. They had twelve sons. The oldest and most famous was Angantyr, the second Hjorvard, the third Hervard, the fourth Hrani, then Brami, Barri, Reifnir, Tind, Saeming and Bui and the two Haddings, who had between them only as much strength as one of the others, because they were twins, and because they were the youngest. But Angantyr had the strength of two. They were all of them berserks, such strong and great fighters that they would never travel except as a band of twelve. And they were never in a battle they didn’t win. Because of this they became famous in all the lands and there wasn’t a king who did not give them what they wanted.

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 Uppsala and walk before the kings table, and there sat his daughter beside him. Then Hjorvard tells his errand to the king and his oath, and everyone in the hall listened. Hjorvard asks the king to say quickly what answer he will give. The king thinks about this matter, and he knows how powerful the brothers were and of what reputed kin.

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 Sweden.”

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 Sweden I promised the king’s daughter I’d not let you or anyone else go into this duel in front of me. So I should fight Angantyr.” And he drew his sword then and stepped up towards Angantyr, and they dedicated each other to Valhall. And they didn’t leave long between each heavy stroke.

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 Uppsala.

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 Sweden and the king’s daughter could not live after him and took her own life.

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 Munway Bay.

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;