Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda (original) (raw)

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Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda

Legendary Sagas of the Northland

in English Translation

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Bósa Saga ok Herrauðs

The Saga of Bosi and Herraud

Some time before 1350

1. Frá Hringi ok sonum hans.

1: Of Hring and His Son

Hringr hefir konungr heitit, er réð fyrir Eystra-Gautlandi. Hann var sonr Gauta konungs, sonar Óðins, er konungr var í Svíþjóð ok kominn var utan af Asíam ok frægastar konungaættir eru frá komnar hér á Norðrlöndum. Þessi konungr, Hringr, var bróðir Gautreks ins milda at faðerni, en móðerni átti hann göfugt. Hringr konungr átti Sylgju, dóttur Sæfara jarls af Smálöndum; hún var fríð kona ok vel skapi farin. Bræðr hennar váru þeir Dagfari ok Náttfari. Þeir váru hirðmenn Haralds konungs hilditannar, er þá réð fyrir Danmörk ok mestum hluta Norðrlanda. Þau áttu einn son, er Herrauðr hét. Hann var mikill vexti ok fríðr sýnum, sterkr at afli ok vel at íþróttum búinn, svá at fáir menn máttu við hann jafnast. Hann var vinsæll af öllum mönnum, en ekki hafði hann mikit ástríki af feðr sínum, ok olli þat því, at konungr átti annan son frilluborinn, ok unni hann honum meira. Sá er nefndr Sjóðr. Konungr átti hann í æsku sinni, ok var hann nú fulltíða maðr. Konungr fekk honum lén mikit, ok var hann ráðgjafi konungs ok tók saman skatta hans, leiðangr ok landskyldir, ok var hann fyrir öllum inntektum ok útlátum, ok þótti flestum hann frekr í útheimtunum, en fastr í lyktum ok launum, en hollr var hann konungi ok vildi hans jafnan fullastan, ok hófst af því sá málsháttr af hans nafni, at sá er öðrum kallaðr sjóðfelldr, er honum sér mesta hagsmuni ok geymir bezt eftir. Sjóðr samdi til þess punga þá, er síðan váru kallaðir fésjóðar, at geyma í silfr þat, er tekit var í skuldir konungs. En þat, sem hann tók meira en til stóð, þá gerði hann þar at smápunga, ok kallaði hann þat slæg, ok umvendi hann því til kostnaðar, en landaurum var óbrigt. Ekki var Sjóðr þokkasæll af mönnum, en konungr unni honum mikit ok lét hann einn öllu ráða.

The king was named Hring, and ruled over East Gautland. He was the son of the King Gauti, son of Odinn, who was the king in Sweden and came out of Asia. The most famous line of kings here in the Northern lands are descended from him. This king, Hring, was the brother of Gautrek the Mild on his father's side, and of noble lineage on his mother's side. King Hring was married to Sylgja, daughter of Earl Seafarer of Smaland. She was a peaceful woman and good looking. Her brothers were Dagfari and Nattfari. They were retainers of King Harald Battletooth, who ruled over Denmark and the greatest part of the Northern lands. They had one son, who was called Herraud. He was well grown and good-looking, strong in power and good at sports, so that few men were his equal. He was well liked by everyone, but did not get much affection from his father, because the king had another son, born out of wedlock, and prized him more. This son was called Sjodr, or “Purse”. The king had fathered him in his youth, and he was now a full-grown man. The king gave him large fiefdoms, and he was a counselor of the king and collected his fees and estate taxes, and controlled the intakes and outlays. Most people thought him to be greedy in collections and tight-fisted in compensation, but he was loyal to the king, and quite devoted. His name became a well-known phrase, and thus people are called “pursers” who watch over one's affairs and look after them the best. Sjodur gathered for this purpose money bags, which were subsequently called “purses,” to keep the silver that was received in debt to the king. But that which he collected in excess, he put into small money-bags, and he called that "profit," and utilized this for expenses, leaving the remainder untouched. Sjodur was not well liked by people, but the king valued him highly and allowed him to rule over everything.

2. Ætt Bósa ok uppfóstr.

2: The Lineage and Fostering of Bosi

Maðr er nefndr Þvari ok var kallaðr Bryn-Þvari. Hann bjó skammt frá konungs atsetum. Hann hafði verit víkingr mikill inn fyrri hlut ævi sinnar, ok þá er hann var í víkingu, mætti hann skjaldmey einni, er Brynhildr hét. Hún var dóttir Agnars konungs ór Nóatúnum. Þau börðust, ok bárust sár á Brynhildi, þangat til at hún var óvíg. Tók Þvari hana þá til sín ok mikinn fjárhlut með henni. Hann lét græða hana at heilu, ok var hún síðan hnýtt ok bömluð, ok var hún því kölluð Brynhildr baga. Þvari gerði brúðlaup til hennar, ok sat hún á brúðbekk með hjálm ok brynju, en þó váru ástir þeira góðar. Lagði Þvari þá af hernað ok settist í bú, ok áttu tvá sonu, ok hét Smiðr inn eldri; hann var eigi mikill maðr vexti, manna fríðastr sýnum ok slyngr við allar íþróttir ok svá hagr, at hann lagði á allt gerva hönd. Bósi hét annarr sonr þeira. Hann var mikill vexti ok sterkr at afli, dökklitaðr ok ekki mjök fríðr ok líkr móður sinni at skaplyndi ok sköpun, kátr var hann ok keskimáll ok þráfylginn því, sem hann tók upp, ok eigi mjök fyrirleitinn við hvern sem hann átti. Móðir hans unni honum mikit, ok var hann kenndr við hana ok kallaðr Bögu-Bósi. Hafði hann ok margar tiltekjur til þess bæði í orðum ok verkum, at honum var þetta sannnefni. Busla hét kerling. Hún hafði verit frilla Þvara karls. Hún fóstraði sonu hans. Hún kunni margt í töfrum. Smiðr var henni miklu eftirlátari, ok nam hann margt at henni. Hún bauð Bósa at kenna honum galdra, en Bósi sagðist eigi vilja, at þat væri skrifat í sögu hans, at hann ynni nokkurn hlut með sleitum, þann sem honum skyldi með karlmennsku telja. Mjök var nær um aldr þeira Herrauðar konungssonar ok karlssona, ok var vingott með þeim, ok var Bósi jafnan í konungsgarði, ok lögðu þeir Herrauðr lag sitt saman. Sjóðr vandaði um þat, at Herrauðr gaf Bósa klæði af sér, því at hans váru jafnan í sundr rifin. Bósi þótti ok harðleikinn, ef hann var at gamni með þeim, en engi þorði um at vanda fyrir Herrauð, því at hann mælti allt eftir Bósa. Nú beiddi Sjóðr, at hirðmenn skyldi lemja hann ór leik.

The man was called Thvari and was called Bryn-Thvari. He lived a short distance from the king's residence. He had been a great viking in the previous part of his life, and when he was raiding, he met a “shield-maiden” who was called Brynhild. She was the daughter of King Agnar of Noatun. They fought one another and Brynhild was wounded, to the point where she was unable to fight. Thvari took her under his care, and much property with her. He nursed her back to health, but after that she was bent and twisted and thus she was called “Baga-Brynhild”. Thvari married her, and she sat on the bridal bench with a helmet and byrnie, but they loved each other dearly. Thvari left off plundering and settled down, and they had two sons. The oldest was called Smidur; he was not large, but quite handsome and clever at all sports and so skilful, that he excelled in everything he did.Their other son was named Bosi. He was well-grown and powerful, dark complexioned, and not very peaceful. He was like his mother in personality and appearance. He was cheerful and humorous, and persistent in everything he took up, and not very circumspect with people he was dealing with. His mother loved him very much and he was known after her and called “Baga-Bosi.” He had many pranks, both in words and deeds, so that he was well named.There was an old woman named Busla. She had been a concubine of Earl Thvara, and fostered his sons. She knew much magic. Smidur was much more docile, and learned much from her. She offered to teach Bosi magic also, but he said that he did not want to have written in his story that he gained anything by trickery, rather than by his manhood. Herraud, the king's son, and Thvari's sons were very close in age, and they did many things together. Sjodur complained that Herraud gave Bosi his clothes, since Bosi's were often ripped. Bosi was thought to be rather rough, if he was playing with the others, but no one dared to complain to Herraud, since he always defended Bosi. Now Sjodur asked the retainers to give Bosi a thrashing, so that he would stop playing.

3. Herrauðr fór í hernað með Bósa.

3: Herraud Goes Plundering with Bosi

Þat var nú eitthvert sinn, at hirðin hafði soppleik, ok léku menn með kappi miklu, ok gerðu þeir nú leik til Bósa, en hann tók hart í móti, ok gekk hönd ór liði á einum konungsmanni. Annan dag braut hann fót í öðrum. Inn þriðja dag veittust at honum tveir menn, en margir óþægðu honum. Sló hann þá augat ór einum með soppinum, en annan felldi hann, ok brotnaði hann á háls. Hlupu þeir þá til vápna ok vildu drepa Bósa, en Herrauðr stóð hjá honum með þá menn, sem hann gat fengit, ok var búit við sjálft, at þeir mundu berjast, áðr en konungr kom til. En fyrir tillögu Sjóðs gerði konungr Bósa útlægan, en Herrauðr kom honum undan, svá at honum varð eigi nát. Litlu síðar beiddi Herrauðr föður sinn at fá sér herskip ok röskva menn til fylgdar, því at hann lézt vilja ór landi ok afla sér meiri frægðar, ef þess verðr auðit. Konungr bar þat mál fyrir Sjóð, en hann kveðst ætla, at sneyðast mundi féhirzlurnar, áðr en Herrauðr er svá heiman gerr sem honum líkar. Konungr sagði, at þeir skyldu við þat leita, ok varð svá at vera sem konungr vildi, ok var nú búin ferð Herrauðar með miklum fékostnaði, ok var hann vandr at öllu, ok kom þeim bræðrum lítt saman. Hafði hann fimm skip ór landi, ok váru þau flest öll forn. Vaska menn hafði hann með sér ok mikit fé í gulli ok silfri, ok sigldi hann nú burt af Gautlandi ok suðr til Danmerkr. Einn dag í miklu veðri þá stóð maðr á bjargi ok beiddi fars. Herrauðr sagðist eigi gera sér króka til hans, en segir far til reiðu, ef hann náir skipinu. Þessi maðr stökk af bjarginu ok kom niðr á sveifinni fyrir utan stýrit, ok var þat fimmtán álna langt hlaup. Þar þekktu menn Bósa. Herrauðr fagnar honum vel ok segir hann skyldu vera stafnbúa á skipi sínu. Þaðan sigldu þeir til Saxlands ok herjuðu, hvar sem þeir fóru. Þeim varð gott til fjár, ok fóru þeir svá fimm vetr.

There was one time when the king's men had a ball game, and people were playing with much energy, and the action came to Bosi. He responded roughly, and the arm of one of the king's men was dislocated. The next day he broke the foot of another. On the third day two men went after him and many of them shoved him. He struck the eye out of one of them with the ball, and felled another and broke his neck. They ran for their weapons and wanted to kill Bosi, but Herraud stood by him with all the men he could get. They were about to strike, but then the King came. At the urging of Sjodur, the King made Bosi an outlaw, but Herraud helped him to get away so that he wasn't captured. A short time later, Herraud asked his father to get him some warships and sturdy men, because he wanted to leave the land and gain more fame, if this was possible. The King referred the matter to Sjodur, but he said that it would deplete the treasury if Herraud was outfitted as he wanted. The King said that they should try to do it, and it was as the King willed. Herraud's journey was prepared at great expense, since he was quite particular about everything, and the brothers did not agree on very much. He set off from the land with five ships, although most of them were old. He had brave men with him, and much treasure in gold and silver. He sailed now from Gautland and south to Denmark. One day, in bad weather, there was a man standing on a cliff asking for passage. Herraud said that he was not going to make a detour for him, but said that he could come along if he could reach the ship. The man jumped from the cliff and came down on the tiller jutting out from the helm. That was a jump of fifteen yards. Then the men recognized Bosi. Herraud received him well, and said that he should be the forecastle-man on his ship. From there they sailed to Saxland and plundered everywhere they went. They got a lot of treasure, and sailed thus five years.

4. Bósi drap Sjóð ok féll í ónáð.

**4: Bosi Kills Sjodur and Falls Out of Grace

Nú er þar til at taka heima í Gautlandi, þá er Herrauðr var í burt farinn, skoðaði Sjóðr féhirzlur föður síns. Váru þá tómar kistur allar ok svá töskur, ok varð honum oft it sama á munni: "Man ek þat," sagði hann, "at öðruvís var í þenna sjóð at líta." Síðan bjóst Sjóðr heiman at taka saman konungs skatta ok landskyldir, ok var hann þá frekr í flestum útheimtum. Hann kemr til Þvara karls ok beiddi þar leiðangrs sem annars staðar. Þvari sagðist frá eldr herferðum ok sagðist leiðangr eigi gera . Sjóðr sagði hann meira leiðangr eiga at gera en aðra menn ok kvað hann því ollat hafa, at Herrauðr fór ór landi, ok beiddi bóta fyrir þá menn, er Bósi hafði meitt. En Þvari sagði, at maðr ætti at ábyrgjast sik sjálfr, ef hann gengr til leiks, ok kvaðst eigi ausa út fé sínu fyrir slíkt, ok sló þá í deilu með þeim. Braut Sjóðr þá upp útibúr Þvara karls ok tók í burt tvær gullkistur ok mikit fé annat í vápnum ok klæðum, ok skildu þeir við svá búit. Fór Sjóðr heim ok hafði mikinn fjárhlut, ok sagði hann konungi frá ferðum sínum. Konungr kvað þat illa, er hann hafði rænt Þvara karl, ok kveðst ætla, at honum mundi þat illa gegna. Sjóðr kveðst eigi sakast um þat. Nú er at segja frá Herrauði ok Bósa, at þeir búast at sigla heim ór hernaði. Þá höfðu þeir frétt, at Sjóðr hafði rænt Þvara karl. Ætlaði Herrauðr þá at friða fyrir Bósa ok sætta hann við konung. Þeir fengu veðr svá mikil, at skip þeira skildust, ok týndust þau öll, sem Herrauðr hafði heiman haft, en hann komst með tvau skip í Elfarsker, en Bósa rak til Vindlands einskipa. Þar lá fyrir Sjóðr með tvau skip, nýkominn ór Austrvegi, ok hafði hann keypt konungi dýrgripi. En er Bósi vissi þat, bað hann menn sína vápnast, ok lagði hann til fundar við Sjóð ok spurði, hverju hann vildi bæta, er hann hafði rænt Þvara karl. Sjóðr kvað hann firna djarfan, er hann þorði slíkt at mæla, þar sem hann var áðr útlagi konungs, ok kvað honum vel yfir at láta, ef hann missti eigi meira. Þá tóku hvárirtveggju til vápna, ok sló í bardaga með þeim, ok lauk svá, at Bósi varð banamaðr Sjóðs. Gaf hann þá grið þeim, sem eftir váru, en tók at sér skipit ok allt þat, er á var. En er honum gaf byr, siglir hann undir Gautland ok fann þar Herrauð, fóstbróður sinn, ok sagði honum tíðendin, en Herrauðr sagði honum, at þat mundi eigi bæta um vinsældir hans við konung, - "eða hví fórtu á minn fund, svá nærri mér sem þú hefir höggvit?" "Ek vissa," sagði Bósi, "at mér mundi eigi tjá at forðast þik, ef þú vildir illu til þín slá, en ek þóttumst þar allt traust eiga, sem þú vart. "Kalla má," segir Herrauðr, "at lítill mannskaði væri at Sjóð, þó at mér væri skyldr, ok mun ek fara á fund föður míns ok freista, ef ek gæti sætt ykkr." Bósi kvaðst eigi vænta mikils létta af konungi, en Herrauðr sagði, at eigi dygði ófreistat. Fór hann á fund föður síns ok gekk fyrir hann ok kvaddi hann virðuliga. Faðir hans tók honum fáliga, því at hann hafði frétt áðr sameign þeira Bósa og Sjóðs. Herrauðr mælti til föður síns: "Þar er til bóta at sjá, sem þér eruð, við Bósa, félaga minn , því at hann hefir hent slys mikit. Hann hefir vegit sjóð, son þinn, þó at sakir væri nokkurar til, ok viljum vér bjóða sættir ok fé svá mikit sem þú vilt sjálfr kjósa ok þar með várt fylgi ok hylli ok slíka þjónustu sem þér vilið hann krefja." Konungr svarar þá reiðuliga: "Mikit kapp leggr þú á, Herrauðr, at fylgja illmenni þessu, ok mundi mörgum þykkja þér betr standa at hefna bróður þíns ok várrar svívirðu." Herrauðr svarar: "Lítill mannskaði var at Sjóð. Veit ek ok eigi, hvárt hann var minn bróðir eða eigi, þó at þú heldir mikit til hans, ok þykkir mér þú eigi virða mik mikils, at þú vilt eigi taka sættir fyrir mínar bænir, en ek þykkjumst þá bjóða betra mann í stað Sjóðs í þá þjónustu, sem hann hafði." Þá mælti konungr reiðr mjök: "Allt þitt formæli, sem þú veitir Bósa, skal mikit spilla til, ok þegar ek get honum nát, skal hann uppi hanga miklu hæra en menn viti dæmi til, at nokkurr þjófr hafi svá hátt hangit." Þá svarar Herrauðr reiðr mjök: "Þat munu margir mæla, at þér kunnið eigi sóma yðvarn at þiggja. Nú með því, at þú vilt mik einskis virða, þá máttu til þess ætla, at eitt skal yfir okkr Bósa ganga, ok skal ek svá verja hann sem sjálfan mik ok mér endist líf til ok karlmennska, ok munu þat þó margir mæla, at nógu dýrt muni þá keyptr einn ambáttarsonr, ef þér gefið oss við." Snýr Herrauðr þá í burt reiðr mjök ok létti eigi fyrr en hann fann Bósa ok sagði honum, hversu þeir feðgar höfðu skilit.

Now, back home in Gautland, when Herraud was away, Sjodur looked at his father's treasury. The chests and boxes were all empty, and the same words often came to his lips: “I remember,” he said, “when it was otherwise to look at this treasury.” Then Sjodur set about to gather the king's taxes and tributes, and he was harsh in most collections. He came to Thvari and requested the war taxes, as others paid. Thvari said that due to his age, he did not have to pay the war tax. Sjodur said that he had to pay more war tax than other men, and said that he was to blame that Herraud had left the country, and also asked for compensation for the men Bosi had injured. But Thvari said that men had to take their own responsibility if they went to the games, and that he was not going to pour out his treasure for such. They got into an argument. Sjodur then broke into Thvari's storehouse, and took away two chests of gold and much other treasure of weapons and clothes. With this being done, they parted. Sjodur went home and had many valuables, and told the king of his journeys. The king said that this was an ill thing, that he had robbed Thvari, and said that he thought that things would go badly. Sjodur said that he could not worry himself about that. Now to speak of Herraud and Bosi, that they prepared to sail home from plundering. They had heard the news that Sjodur had robbed Thvari. Herraud decided to make peace for Bosi, and reconcile him with the king. They had such fierce weather, that their ships were separated, and all were lost that Herraud had from home. He came with two ships to the Elfa Skerries, but Bosi was driven to Vindland with one ship. Sjodur was there with two ships, just arrived from the East, and he had gotten fine treasure for the king. When Bosi learned that, he ordered his men to arm themselves, and set off for a meeting with Sjodur and asked, how he intended to compensate for having robbed Thvari. Sjodur said that he thought it was rather bold, that he dared to speak thusly, since he was an outlaw of the king's, and told him that he was lucky, that he did not lose more. They both seized their weapons, and struck in battle, and it ended up that Bosi slew Sjodur. He spared all those who were with Sjodur, and took for himself the ship and everything that was on it. When he got a breeze, he sailed to Gautland and found Herraud, his foster brother, and told him the news. Herraud said to him that he would not exactly improve his friendship with the king – “or why do you come to meet me, when you have killed one so near to me?” “I know,” said Bosi, “that I would not be able to avoid you, if you wanted to strike ill, but I thought that you were the only person I could trust.” “You could say,” said Herraud, “that there was little valor in Sjodur, even though he was my kinsman. I will go to meet my father and try to reconcile you.”Bosi said that he did not expect much to be improved with the king, but Herraud said that there was no harm in trying. He went to meet his father and went before him and spoke to him respectfully. His father received him coldly for he had heard of the conflict between Bosi and Sjodur. Herraud spoke to his father: “It is right that Bosi, my companion, should make amends to you, since he has brought much mishap. He has killed Sjodur, your son, though there was some cause for this, and we wish to offer compensation and such great treasure as you will choose, and with that our faithfulness and favor, and such service as you will claim from him."The king answered angrily: “You put forth much ardor, to help this scoundrel, but many would think better of you to avenge your brother and our disgrace.” Herraud answered: “There was not much loss in Sjodur. I do not know whether he was my brother or not, although you valued him greatly. It seems to me that you do not value me very much, since you will not take the reconciliation I ask for, and I think I offer a better man for your service, in the place of Sjodur."The king spoke very angrily: “ All your talking, which you do on Bosi's behalf, is just going to make matters worse, and when I get him, he will hang higher than any thief has ever hanged before."Then Herraud answered very angrily: “Many people will say that you don't recognize what befits you. Now, since you will not even give me respect, then you must intend that the same will go for Bosi and myself, and I will defend him as my own self, until my life and courage end. And many will say that you will have bought a son of a bondswoman rather dearly, if you sacrifice us for him.”Herraud then turned angrily and did not stop until he found Bosi and told him what had transpired between him and his father.

**5. Busla tók konung til bænar.

**5: Busla Petitions the King

Hringr konungr lætr nú blása saman liði sínu ok ferr til móts við þá fóstbræðr, ok sló þar þegar í bardaga með þeim, ok hafði konungr lið hálfu meira eða þrjú slík. Þeir Herrauðr ok Bósi gengu vel fram ok drápu margan mann, en þó urðu þeir ofrliði bornir ok váru teknir ok settir í fjötra ok kastat í myrkvastofu, en konungr var svá reiðr, at hann vildi þegar láta drepa þá, en Herrauðr var svá vinsæll, at allir mæltu hann undan, ok var þá fyrst skipt herfangi ok grafnir inir dauðu. Váru margir menn á dagþingan við konung, at hann skyldi taka sættir af Herrauð, ok var hann leiddr fyrir konung. Konungr bauð honum grið, ok lögðu margir þar vel til, en Herrauðr segist eigi grið vilja þiggja, nema Bósi hafi bæði lífs grið ok lima, en konungr sagði þess enga ván. Herrauðr sagðist þess manns bani skyldu verða, sem réði lífláti Bósa, ok eigi konungi hlífa heldr en öðrum. Konungr segir þá, at þar færi eigi illa, at sá hefði brek, er beiðist. Var konungr þá svá reiðr, at eigi mátti orðum við hann koma, ok bað leiða Herrauð aftr í myrkvastofuna ok skyldi þá báða drepa um morguninn, því at konungr vildi eigi annat, ok þótti nú flestum óvænliga horfa. Þetta kveld kom Busla kerling at máli við Þvara karl ok spurði, hvárt hann ætlaði ekki at bjóða fé fyrir son sinn, en hann sagðist eigi vilja ausa út fé sínu ok sagðist vita, at hann gæti eigi keypt þeim manni líf, sem deyja skyldi ok feigr væri, ok spurði, hvar nú væri komit töfrum hennar, at hún veitti eigi Bósa nokkut lið, en hún sagði sér eigi mega göngumannligar fara en honum.

Þetta kveld it sama kom Busla í þat herbergi, sem Hringr konungr svaf í, ok hóf upp bæn þá, er síðar er kölluð Buslubæn, ok hefir hún víðfræg orðit síðan, ok eru þar í mörg orð ok ill, þau sem kristnum mönnum er þarfleysa í munn at hafa, en þó er þetta upphaf á henni:

"Hér liggr Hringr konungr, hilmir Gauta, einráðastr allra manna; ætlar þú son þinn sjálfr at myrða, Þau munu fádæmi fréttast víða. Heyr þú bæn Buslu, brátt mun hún sungin, svá at heyrast skal um heim allan, ok óþörf öllum, þeim sem á heyra, en þeim þó fjándligust, sem ek vil fortala.

Villist vættir, verði ódæmi, hristist hamrar, heimr sturlist, versni veðrátta, verði ódæmi, nema þú, Hringr konungr, Herrauð friðir ok honum Bósa bjargir veitir. Svá skal ek þjarma þér at brjósti, at hjarta þitt höggormar gnagi, en eyru þín aldregi heyri ok augu þín úthverf snúist, nema þú Bósa björg of veitir ok honum Herrauð heift upp gefir. Ef þú siglir, slitni reiði, en af stýri stökkvi krókar, rifni reflar, reki segl ofan, en aktaumar allir slitni, nema þú Herrauð heift upp gefir ok svá Bósa biðir til sátta.

Ef þú ríðr, raskist taumar, heltist hestar, en hrumist klárar, en götur allar ok gagnstígar troðist allar í tröllhendr fyrir þér, nema þú Bósa bjargir veitir ok Herrauð heift upp gefir. Sé þér í hvílu sem í hálmeldi, en í hásæti sem á hafbáru; þó skal þér seinna sýnu verra, en ef þú vilt við meyjar manns gaman hafa, villist þú þá vegarins; eða viltu þulu lengri?"

Þá svarar konungr: "Þegi þú, vánd vættr, ok vert í burtu, elligar mun ek láta meiða þik fyrir forbænir þínar." "Svá höfum vit nú fundizt," segir Busla, at vit munum eigi skilja, fyrr en ek hefi minn vilja." Konungr vildi þá upp standa, ok var hann þá fastr við sængina, en smásveinar vöknuðu eigi. Busla lét þá frammi annan þriðjung bænarinnar, ok mun ek láta þat um líða at skrifa hann, því at þat er öllum þarfleysa at hafa hann eftir, en þó má svá sízt eftir hafa hann, at hann sé eigi skrifaðr. En þó er þetta þar upphaf á:

"Tröll ok álfar ok töfranornir, búar, bergrisar brenni þínar hallir, hati þik hrímþursar, hestar streði þik, stráin stangi þik, en stormar æri þik, ok vei verði þér, nema þú vilja minn gerir." En er sú þula var úti, mælti konungr til hennar: "Fyrr en þú illmælir mér lengr, þá mun ek gefa Herrauði líf, en Bósi fari ór landi ok sé dræpr, nær ek get hann áhent." "Þá skal taka þér fram betr," segir Busla. Hóf hún þá upp þat vers, er Syrpuvers er kallat ok mestr galdr er í fólginn ok eigi er lofat at kveða eftir dagsetr, ok er þetta þar í nærri endanum: "Komi hér seggir sex, seg þú mér nöfn þeira öll óbundin, ek mun þér sýna: getr þú eigi ráðit, svá at mér rétt þykki, þá skulu þik hundar í hel gnaga, en sál þín sökkvi í víti." [Hér koma rúnir] "Ráð nú þessi nöfn, svá at rétt sé, elligar hríni allt þat á þér, sem ek hefi verst beðit, nema þú gerir minn vilja." En er Busla hafði úti bænina, vissi konungr varla, hverju hann vildi svara fyrir fortölum hennar. "Hverr er nú þinn vili?" segir konungr. "Sentu þá forsending," segir kerling, "þá sem tvísýni er á, hversu þeim gengr, ok ábyrgist þeir sik sjálfir." Konungr bað hana þá í burt fara, en hún vildi þat eigi, fyrr en konungr sór henni trúnaðareið, at hann skyldi halda þat, sem hann hafði henni lofat, en þá skyldi Buslubæn ekki á honum hrína. Hvarf þá kerling þá í burtu.

Hring now called his forces together with a trumpet blast, and proceeded against the foster brothers. He went into battle with them, and had two or three times as many men as they did. Herraud and Bosi comported themselves well, and killed many men, although they were eventually overwhelmed and taken and set in chains and cast in the dungeon. The king was so angry that he wanted to have them killed, but Herraud was so well liked and everyone spoke for him. The booty was first divided and the dead buried. There were many men advised the king, that he should make peace with Herraud, and so he was led before the king. The king offered him pardon and many people spoke favorably of this, but Herraud said that he would not accept it unless Bosi had was spared both life and limb. The king said that this would not happen. Herraud said that he would kill anyone who put Bosi to death, and even the king. The king said that it would not be bad if he got what he asked for. The king was so angry that no one could get a word to him, and ordered Herraud taken back to the dungeon and that both should be killed in the morning, for the king would not change his mind and most people thought things looked hopeless.That evening Busla had a talk with Thvara and asked if he did not intend to offer a ransom for his son, He said that he did not want to throw his money away, and said that he knew that he could not buy the life of a man who was fated to die. He asked where her magic was, and if she did not intend to help Bosi. She said that she would not be more miserly than he was.That same evening, Busla came into the room, where King Hring was sleeping, and recited this prayer, which since then has been called Busla's prayer. It has since then become widely known, and there are many ill words for which Christian men have no need to have in their mouths. This is how it begins: Here lies Hring the king Chief of the Gauts The most stubborn Of all men; Do you intend to murder Your son, yourself. The exceptional thing Will be widely known.Hear Busla's prayer Soon it will be sung So that it will be heard All over the world And unnecessary To those who hear And the most fiendish things Which I will tell.

Demons will go astray It will be unprecedented The cliffs will be split The world deranged The weather will worsen Unless you, King Hring Bring peace to Herraud And to Bosi Bring safety.So shall I be rough At your breast. At your heart Vipers will gnaw, And your ears Will never hear And your eyes Turned inside out Unless you to Bosi Bring safety And to Herraud Give peace.If you sail Your rigging will snap And from the rudder Barbs fly asunder With torn sheets Drive the sail over And straps of sail All torn Unless you to Herraud Bring peace, And so to Bosi Offer reconciliation.

If you ride, The reins will become disarrayed Horse become lame The nag becomes infirm In all the streets And paths All are trodden Into troll's hands Unless you give Safety to Bosi And to Herraud Give peace. May you be at rest On burning straw Or in the high seat Like on a sea wave Though you delay The worst sight If you want to have Man's play with a maid You'll lose the way Or do you want more?

Then the king answered: “Be quiet, woman, and begone, or otherwise I will have you tortured for your curses.”“So we have met now,” said Busla, “and we will not part before I have my way.” The king tried to stand up, but he was held fast to the bed and his servants did not awaken. Busla then continued with the second third of her prayer, but I must not let it be written here, because it is useless to anyone who repeats it. It is not likely to be repeated, if it is not written. However, this is the beginning:

Trolls and elves, And wizard-norns Burn your halls Frost-giants destroy you Horses stride on you Straw prick you And storms row you And woe be to you Unless you do my will.

When her charm was over, the king said to her: “Before you curse me any longer, I will give Herraud life, and Bosi must be carried out of the land and he will be killed if I ever get hold of him.”“Then I'll have to do you one better,” said Busla.Then she began that verse, which is called “Syrpa verse” which has the most powerful magic, and which is not allowed to be sung after sunset. This is near the end:

Six men come here, Say their names All unraveled I must show you If you are not able to solve this So that it seems right to me, Then hounds shall Gnaw you in hell And your soul Sink into the abyss.

Solve this name, so that it is right, or all the worst that I have prayed for will take effect, unless you do my will.”When Busla had finished her prayer, the king knew for certain, how he should answer her demands. “What is now your will,” said the king.“Send the two sons,” said the old woman, “on a dangerous mission, however it goes, and make them responsible for themselves.” The king bade her go away, but she did not want to do that, before the king swore an oath, that he would honor that which he had promised to her, and then Busla's prayer would not harm him. Then the old woman disappeared.

6. Konungr sendi Bósa forsending.

**6: The King Sends Bosi on a Mission

At morgni dags er konungr snemma uppi ok lét blása til þings, ok váru þeir þangat leiddir Herrauðr ok Bósi. Konungr spyrr þá ráðgjafa sína, hvat við þá skyldi gera , en flestir báðu hann vægja við Herrauð. Þá mælti konungr til hans: "Lítils viltu virða mik," segir hann, "en nú vil ek gera þat fyrir bæn vina minna, at Bósi skal hafa lífs grið ok lima, ok skal hann fara ór landi ok koma eigi aftr, fyrr en hann fær mér þat gammsegg, at skrifat er allt með gullstöfum utan, ok erum vit þá sáttir, en elligar skal hann heita hvers manns níðingr. En Herrauðr fari hvárt, er hann vill, at fylgja Bósa, eða geri hvert ráð fyrir sér, sem hann vill, því at eigi munum vit samvistum saman vera at svá búnu." Váru þeir þá leystir báðir, ok fóru þeir þá til Þvara karls ok váru hjá honum um vetrinn. En er váraði, bjuggu þeir ferð sína ór landi ok höfðu eitt skip ok á fjóra menn ok tuttugu, ok fóru þeir mjök at tilvísan Buslu, ok heldu þeir í Austrveg ok kómu undir Bjarmaland ok lögðu undir einn eyðiskóg.

In the morning, the king woke up early and sounded the trumpets for a meeting, and Herraud and Bosi were led in. The king then asked his advisors what he should do with them, and most of them advised him to spare Herraud.Then the king spoke to him: “You value me little,” he said, “but now I will do that which my friends ask, that Bosi shall be spared life and limb. He must leave the land and never return, until he gets me the vulture's egg, which is written outside with gold letters, and then we will be reconciled, but otherwise everyone will call him a scoundrel. But Herraud may go anywhere he wants to, either to follow Bosi, or to do his own pleasure. But he and I are not ready to be together."Then they were both freed, and they went to Thvarla and were with him for a winter. But when spring came, they began their journey from the land, and had a ship with twenty four men. They traveled much under Busla's guidance, and arrived in the East, and came to Bjarmaland and set anchor under cover of a wild wood.

Chapter 7 7. Þeir Bósi gistu at Hóketils.

**7: Bosi and Herraud Stay at Hoketil's

Hárekr hét sá konungr, er þar réð þá fyrir. Hann var kvángaðr ok átti tvá sonu. Hét annarr Hrærekr, en annarr Siggeirr. Þeir váru kappar miklir ok hirðmenn Goðmundar konungs á Glæsivöllum ok landvarnarmenn hans. Dóttir konungs hét Edda. Hún var fríð sýnum ok um flesta hluti vel kunnandi. Nú er at segja frá þeim fóstbræðrum, at þeir váru komnir undir Bjarmaland ok þann skóg, er Vínuskógr heitir. Þeir reistu tjald á landi mjök fjarri mannavegum. Um morguninn sagði Bósi mönnum sínum, at þeir Herrauðr mundu ganga á land ok kanna skóginn ok vita, hvers þeir yrði vísir. "En þér skuluð bíða okkar hér mánuð, en ef vit komum þá eigi aftr, þá skuluð þér sigla, hvert sem þér vilið." Mönnum þeira þótti mikit fyrir þessu, en þó varð svá at vera sem þeir vildu. Síðan ganga þeir fóstbræðr á skóginn ok höfðu þat eitt til matar, sem þeir skutu, dýr ok fugla, en stundum höfðu þeir ekki nema ber ok safa. Skógrinn ónýtti mjök klæði þeira. Einn dag kómu þeir at húsbæ einum. Þar stóð karl úti ok klauf skíð. Hann heilsar þeim ok spyrr þá at nafni. Þeir sögðu til it sanna ok spurðu, hvat karl hét, en hann kveðst heita Hóketill. Hann sagði þeim til reiðu nætrgreiða, ef þeir vildu, en þeir þágu þat. Karl fylgir þeim til stofu, ok var þar fámennt. Húsfreyja var við aldr. Dóttur áttu þau væna, ok dró hún klæði af gestum, ok váru þeim fengin þurr klæði. Síðan váru handlaugar fram látnar, ok var þeim reist borð ok gefit gott öl at drekka, ok skenkti bóndadóttir. Bósi leit oft hýrliga til hennar ok sté fæti sínum á rist henni, ok þetta bragð lék hún honum. Um kveldit var þeim fylgt at sofa með góðum umbúningi. Bóndi lá í lokrekkju, en bóndadóttir í miðjum skála, en þeim fóstbræðrum var skipat í stafnsæng við dyrr utar. En er fólk var sofnat, stóð Bósi upp ok gekk til sængr bóndadóttur ok lyfti klæðum af henni. Hún spyrr, hverr þar væri. Bósi sagði til sín. "Hví ferr þú hingat?" sagði hún. "Því, at mér var eigi hægt þar, sem um mik var búit," ok kveðst því vilja undir klæðin hjá henni. "Hvat viltu hér gera ?" sagði hún. "Ek vil herða jarl minn hjá þér," segir Bögu-Bósi. "Hvat jarli er þat?" sagði hún. "Hann er ungr ok hefir aldri í aflinn komit fyrri, en ungan skal jarlinn herða." Hann gaf henni fingrgull ok fór í sængina hjá henni. Hún spyrr nú, hvar jarlinn er. Hann bað hana taka milli fóta sér, en hún kippti hendinni ok bað ófagnað eiga jarl hans ok spurði, hví hann bæri með sér óvæni þetta, svá hart sem tré. Hann kvað hann mýkjast í myrkholunni. Hún bað hann fara með sem hann vildi. Hann setr nú jarlinn á millum fóta henni. Var þar gata eigi mjök rúm, en þó kom hann fram ferðinni. Lágu þau nú um stund, sem þeim líkar, áðr en bóndadóttir spyrr, hvárt jarlinum mundi hafa tekizt herzlan. En hann spyrr, hvárt hún vill herða oftar, en hún kvað sér þat vel líka, ef honum þykkir þurfa. Greinir þá ekki, hversu oft at þau léku sér á þeiri nótt, en hins getr, at Bósi spyrr, hvárt hún vissi ekki til, - "hvert at leita skyldi at gammseggi því, sem vit fóstbræðr erum eftir sendir ok gullstöfum er ritat utan." Hún kvaðst eigi minna mundu launa honum gullit ok góða nætrskemmtan en segja honum þat, sem hann vill vita, - "en hverr var þér svá reiðr, at þik vill feigan ok senda þik forsending?" "Eigi gengr illt til alls, ok verðr engi frægr af engu," segir hann, "eru þeir ok margir hlutir, at oft snúast til gæfu, þó at háskasamliga sé stofnaðir."

The king who ruled there was named Harek. He was married, and had two sons. One was named Hraerek and the other Siggeirr. They were great champions, and retainers of King Godmund of Glaesir Plain, and were his land guardians. The king's daughter was named Edda. She was pretty to look at, and very capable in most matters. Now to speak of the foster brothers, that they came to Bjarmaland, and to the wood, which is called Vinuskog. They pitched their tents in a far and remote land.In the morning, Bosi said to his men, that he and Herraud would go ashore and explore the wood, and get to know what they could see. "You should wait for us her for a month, and if we do not return, you should sail where-ever you wish."The men did not think much of this, but it was to be as Bosi and Herraud wished. Afterward the foster brothers went into the wood, and they had only what they shot to eat, animals and birds, and sometimes they had nothing except berries and tree sap. The woods tore their clothes very much.One day they came to a cottage. A man was standing outside and was splitting firewood. He greeted them and asked their names. They told him, and asked what he was named, and he said that he was called Hoketil. He offered them to stay the night, if they wanted to, and they accepted that. The man led them to a room, and there were few people there. The housewife was getting old. They had an attractive daughter, and she took the wet clothes from the guests, and dry clothes were brought for them. Then water was brought for hand-washing, and a table was set up and they were given good ale to drink, which the peasant's daughter poured out. Bosi often looked cheerily to her and put his feet on her instep, and she played the same trick with him.In the evening, they were led to sleep in a good bed. The farmer lay in a bed closet and his daughter in the middle of the room, and the foster brothers were in a gable bed by the door. And when everyone was asleep, Bosi stood up and went to the young woman's bed and lifted the bedclothes off of her. Bosi spoke to her."Why have you come here?" she said."Because it was not comfortable there as things were," and asked if he could get under the bedclothes with her."What do you want to do here?" she said."I want to make my earl hard with you," said Bogu-Bosi."What earl is that?" she said."He is young and his strength has never come forth, but an earl should be hardened when he is young."He gave her a gold ring and got into bed beside her. She asked now where the earl was. He asked her to feel between his legs, but she pulled back her hands and told him to keep his earl and asked, why he would carry such a monster, so hard as a tree. He said that it would soften in the dark hole. She told him to proceed as he wished. He then set the earl between her legs. The path was not very wide, but he completed the journey. They lay for a while, as they wished, before the young woman asked, whether then earl had taken the hardening. He asked if she would harden it again, and she said that she would like that very much, if it seemed necessary to him.It is not told how often they played at this through the night, but it is believed that Bosi asked whether she knew, - "how to get to the vulture's egg, which we foster brothers have been sent after, which has gold letters written outside."She said that the least she could do to repay him for the gold ring and the night's pleasure was to tell him that which he wanted to know, - "but who was so angry at you, that they wanted you to die and sent you on such a mission?"He said. "Many things often turn to gifts, although they start out dangerously."

8. Þeir félagar náðu gammsegginu.

**8: The Comrades Get the Vulture's Egg

"Hér í skógi þessum stendr hof mikit. Þat á Hárekr konungr, er hér ræðr fyrir Bjarmalandi. Þat er göfgat goð þat, er Jómali heitir. Þat er gull mikit ok gersemar. Fyrir því hofi ræðr móðir konungs, er Kolfrosta heitir. Hún er mögnuð af blótskap, svá at henni kemr engi hlutr á óvart. Hún veit þat fyrir með konstrum sínum, at hún á eigi at lifa út allan þenna mánuð, ok því fór hún hamfari austr á Glæsivöllu ok nam í burt Hleiði, systur Goðmundar konungs, ok ætlar, at hún skuli vera hofgyðja eftir sik. En þat er þó skaði mikill, því at hún er allra meyja fríðust ok kurteisust, ok væri betr, at þat færist undan." "Hvat er til vandhæfa í hofinu?" sagði Bósi. "Gammr er þar," sagði hún, "svá bölvaðr ok grimmr, at hann drepr allt þat, er fyrir verðr hans ódæmum. Hann horfir beint í móti dyrum ok þekkir hvat, er inn kemr, ok er því engu lífs at vænta, sem verðr fyrir hans klóagangi eða eitri. Þræll einn er í hofinu; hann vaktar mat gyðjunni. Tvævetra kvígu þarf hún í mál. Undir þessum gammi er egg þat, sem þú ert eftir sendr. Griðungr einn er í hofinu, trylldr ok blótaðr. Hann er bundinn með járnviðjum. Hann skal skjóta kvíguna, ok blandast þá ólyfjan við hana, ok tryllast þeir allir, sem af eta. Hana skal matgera fyrir Hleiði konungs systur, ok verðr hún þá líka tröll, sem hofgyðjan var áðr. Nú þykkir mér óvænt um, at þú munir sigra óvætti þessa, við svá mikinn tröllskap sem um er at eiga."

Bósi þakkar henni nú sögu sína ok gerði henni góðan danganda í skemmtanarlaun, ok fór þá báðum vel, ok sváfu þau nú allt til dags. En at morgi fór hann til Herrauðar ok sagði honum, hvat hann hafði frétt, ok dvöldust þeir þar þrjár nætr, ok sagði bóndadóttir þeim, hvat þeir skyldu stefna til hofsins, ok bað hún vel fyrir þeim at skilnaði. Fara þeir nú leið sína. Ok einn morgin snemma sá þeir, hvar maðr fór mikill vexti í grám kufli. Hann leiddi með sér naut. Þeir þóttust vita, at þat mundi vera þrællinn, ok stilltu þeir nú at honum. Bósi sló hann kylfuhögg svá stórt, at þat var hans bani. Síðan drápu þeir kvíguna ok flógu af henni belg ok stöppuðu upp með mosa ok lyng. Herrauðr fór í kufl þrælsins ok leiddi eftir sér kvígubelginn, en Bósi steypti kápu sinni yfir þrælinn ok bar hann á baki sér, þangat til at þeir sá hofit. Þá tók Bósi spjót sitt ok rak í rass þrælnum ok neðan eftir honum endilöngum, svá at oddrinn kom út við herðarnar.

Ganga þeir nú at hofinu. Herrauðr gekk inn í hofit í búningi þrælsins. Hofgyðjan var þá í svefni. Hann leiðir kvíguna á básinn, en leysir griðunginn. Hann hljóp upp á kvíguna. Mosabelgrinn varð léttr fyrir, ok rak griddi höfuðit út á múrinn ok braut af sér bæði hornin. Herrauðr greip þá í bæði eyrun á honum ok í granirnar ok snaraði hann svá ór hálsliðinum. Þá vaknaði gýgrin ok hljóp á fætr. Í þessu kom Bósi inn í hofit ok bar þrælinn uppi yfir höfði sér á spjótinu. Gammrinn brá nú við skjótt ok steypti sér ofan ór hreiðrinu ok vildi gleypa þann, sem inn var kominn. Svalg hann nú þrælinn ofan at mitti. Bósi þrýsti þá spjótinu, svá at þat gekk upp í háls gamminum, þar til at stóð í hjartanu. Gammrinn setti nú klærnar í þjóin á þrælsskrokkinum ok setti vænghnúfana við eyrat á Bósa, svá at hann fell í óvit. Fell gammrinn þá ok ofan á hann, ok váru hans fjörbrot ógurliga mikil.

Herrauðr réðst á móti hofgyðjunni, ok var þeira atgangr inn harðasti, ok hafði kerling illa skornar negl, ok reif hún hold hans niðr at beini. Þau bárust þangat at, sem Bósi var fallinn, ok var þar blóðugt mjök. Kerlingu varð hált í gammsblóðinu, ok fell hún á bak aftr, ok váru þá sviptingar miklar með þeim, svá at ýmsi váru undir. Bósi raknaði þá við ok greip höfuð griðungsins ok rak á nasir gýginni. Herrauðr sleit þá af henni höndina í axlarliðinum. Tók henni þá at dafna leikrinn, en í fjörbrotum hennar varð landskjálfti mikill. Þeir gengu nú um hofit ok rannsökuðu þat. Í hreiðri gammsins fundu þeir eggit, ok var þat allt með gullstöfum ritat. Þar fundu þeir gull svá mikit, at þeir höfðu nóg at bera. Þeir kómu at stalla þeim, sem Jómali sat á. Af honum tóku þeir gullkórónu, setta með tólf gimsteinum, ok men þat, sem kostaði þrjú hundruð marka gulls, ok ór knjám honum tóku þeir silfrbolla svá stóran, at engir fjórir menn mundu af drekka. Hann var fullr af rauðagulli. En pell þat, sem tjaldat var um Jómalann, var meira vert en þrír farmar af drómundi þeim, er ríkastr skríðr um Grikklandshaf. Þetta tóku þeir allt til sín. Þeir fundu afstúku eina í hofinu, ok var hún komin mjök leyniliga. Þar var fyrir steinhurð sterkliga læst, ok váru þeir at allan daginn at brjóta hana upp, áðr en þeir kómust inn. Þeir sá þar konu sitja á stóli. Eigi höfðu þeir aðra vænni sét. Hár hennar var bundit við stólbrúðir; þat var fagrt sem hálmr barinn eða gull teint. Járnfestr var um hana miðja, vandliga læst at henni. Hún var grátin mjök. En er hún sá mennina, spurði hún, hvat olli ókyrrleika þeim, "er verit hefir í morgin, eða hví þykkir ykkr líf ykkart svá illt, at þit fýsizt hingat í trölla hendr, því at þeir, sem hér ráða fyrir, munu þegar drepa ykkr, er þit sjáizt hér?" En þeir sögðu, at mörgu svaraði frestin. Þeir spurðu at, hvat hún hét ok hví hún væri þar svá harðliga haldin. Hún sagðist Hleiðr heita ok vera systir Goðmundar konungs austr á Glæsivöllum. "En tröllkona sú, sem hér ræðr fyrir, sótti mik þangat með fjölkynngi ok ætlar, at ek skuli ganga fyrir blótum í hofinu ok vera hér abbadís, þá hún er dauð, en ek vilda fyrr vera brennd." "Góð mundir þú vera þeim manni," segir Herrauðr, "er þik frelsaði heðan." Hún segist vita þat mundi engi gert geta. Herrauðr mælti: "Viltu eiga mik, ef ek kem þér heðan?" "Engan veit ek svá leiðan mennskan mann," segir hún, "at ek mundi eigi heldr vilja eiga en at vera blótuð hér í hofinu, eða hvert er nafn þitt?" "Herrauðr heiti ek," segir hann, "sonr Hrings konungs af Eystra- Gautlandi, en eigi þarft þú at óttast hofgyðjuna, því at vit Bósi höfum sungið yfir hausamótum hennar, en til þess máttu ætla, at ek þykkjust sæmda af þér verðr, ef ek leysi þik heðan." "Ekki hefi ek meira í veð at setja en sjálfa mik," segir hún, "ef þat er vili frænda minna." "Eigi mun ek til þeira giftingar leita," segir Herrauðr, "ok vil ek hér engan undandrátt í hafa, því at ek þykkjumst í engu þér varboðinn ok skal leysa þik sem áðr." "Eigi veit ek þann mann," segir hún, "at ek vil heldr eiga en þik, af þeim sem ek hefi sét." Þeir leysa hana nú. Herrauðr spyrr, hvárt hún vill heldr fara heim með þeim ok geri hann brúðlaup til hennar eða senda hana austr til bróður síns ok sjái hún hann aldri síðan. En hún kjöri at fara með honum, ok lofaði hvárt öðru trú sinni. Eftir þat báru þeir út gull ok gersemar ór hofinu, en síðan lögðu þeir eld í hofit ok brenndu upp at ösku, svá at enga örmul sá nema öskuna, ok fóru síðan burt með þat, sem þeir höfðu fengit, ok léttu eigi fyrr en þeir kómu til Hóketils karls ok dvöldust þar eigi lengi ok gáfu honum fé mikit ok báru á mörgum hestum gull ok gersemar til skips, ok urðu menn þeira þeim fegnir.

"Here in the forest stands a great temple. King Harek owns it, who rules here over Bjarmaland. The god called Jomali is worshipped. There is much gold and treasure. The king's mother, who is called Kolfrosta, is in charge of the temple. She is made strong by witchcraft so that nothing takes her by surprise. She knows beforehand with her magic that she will not live out this month, and so she traveled in the shape of an animal east to Glaesir Plain and took away Hleidi, the sister of King Godmund, and intends that she shall be one of her priestesses. That is a loss indeed, for she is the most beautiful and most courteous maiden, and it would be best if that could be prevented.""What is difficult about the temple?" said Bosi."The vulture is there," she said, "so cursed and savage, that it kills everything that comes near it. It stands watch right opposite the door and grabs everything that comes in, and thus there is no hope of life for anyone who comes near its claws or poison. There is a servant in the temple; he watches the food of the priestess. She needs a two-year-old heifer at each meal. Under this vulture is the egg, which you are sent to get. There is a bull in the temple, enchanted by trolls and cursed. It is bound with iron chains. It is supposed to mount the heifer, and the poison is blended with her, so that all who eat of it are enchanted by trolls. The heifer is to be prepared for Hleidi, the king's sister, so that she will be like a troll, which the head priestess was previously. It seems to me unlikely that you can accomplish this, with so much troll sorcery as there is.” Bosi thanked her for the information, and gave her a good reward with another round of pleasure. It went well for both of them and they slept until day. In the morning he went to Herraud and told him what he had heard, and, and they remained there for three nights. The peasant's daughter told them the direction of the temple, and bade them well at the parting. They then went on their way.Early one morning they saw a well-built man in a gray cloak. He led a cow with him. They thought that this must be the slave, and so they attacked him. Bosi struck him with a blow of a club so strong that it was his death. Afterward they slew the heifer and flayed the skin off of it and filled it with moss and heather. Herraud put on the cloak of the slave and led after him the heifer skin, and Bosi threw his cape over the slave and carried him on his back, until they saw the temple. Then Bosi took his spear and drove it into the behind of the slave and through the body, so that it came out at the shoulders. They then went to the temple. Herraud went into the temple in the clothing of the slave. The main priestess was there asleep. He led the heifer to the stall and loosed the bull. The bull mounted the heifer. The moss-filled skin deflated instantly, and the bull fell against the wall and broke both horns. Herraud then grabbed it by both the ears and the jaw, and twisted it from the neck joint.Then the old hag awakened and jumped to her feet. At that point, Bosi came into the court and held the slave up over his head on the spear. The vulture turned suddenly and dived down from its nest and wanted to swallow the person, who had come in. It swallowed the slave above the waist. Bosi thrust the spear so that it went up into the neck of the vulture, until it reached the heart. The vulture now set its claws in the thighs of the slave's body, and struck its wingtips against Bosi's ears, so that he fell unconscious. The vulture then fell upon him and was in a terrible death struggle. Herraud set against the priestess, and there was a great struggle between them. The priestess had poorly trimmed nails and tore his flesh down to the bone. The fight was carried over to where Bosi had fallen, and there was much blood. The old woman slipped on the vulture's blood, and fell on her back, and there was a great struggle between them, so that each alternately was underneath. Then Bosi came to and gripped the head of the bull and hit the old hag on the nose. Herraud cut one of her arms off at the shoulder. She tried to resist all the more, but in her death struggle there was a great earthquake. They then went around the temple, and searched it. In the nest of the vulture then found the egg, and it was all written in gold letters. They found so much gold, that they had more than enough to carry. They came to the altar where Jomali was sitting. They took the gold crown from him, set with twelve gemstones, and a necklace, worth three hundred gold marks, and from his knees they took a silver cup so large, that even four men could not empty it. It was full of red gold. But the precious canopy, which hung over Jomala, was worth more than the contents of three ships, the richest to sail the Mediterranean Sea . They took it all for themselves. They found a side room in the temple, which was secret. There was a stone door before it, strongly fastened, and it took them the whole day to break it down, before they could come in. They saw there a woman sitting on a chair. They had never seen a more beautiful woman. Her hair was bound to the chair posts; that was as beautiful as threshed straw or gold threads. There was an iron band around her waist, securely locked. She was crying terribly. When she saw the men, she asked what all the disturbance was about, "which there was this morning, and why do you think so little of your life, that you come here eagerly into the hands of trolls, since those who rule here will kill you, if you are seen here?"But they said they would answer that later. They asked her what she was called, and why she was held so severely. She said her name was Hleidi and that she was the sister of King Godmund, east at Glaesir Plain. "But the troll woman who rules here, brought me here by sorcery, and intends that I should carry on the worship in the temple and be an abbess here, when she is dead, but I would rather be burned alive.""You would be good to the man," said Herraud, "who released you from here." She said that she knew that it could not be done.Herraud said: "Will you marry me, if I get you out of here?""No-one knows such a loathsome man on earth," she said, "that I would not rather marry than be worshipped in this temple. But what is your name?""I am Herraud," he said, "son of King Hring of East-Gautland. But you do not have to fear the temple priestess, since Bosi and I have already sung over her skull sutures, and so you understand that it seems to me that I am entitled to some sort of honor from you if I release you from here."I have nothing more to pledge than myself," she said, "if that is the will of my family." "I don't intend to ask their permission," said Herraud, “and I don't want any evasion, since it seems to me that you underestimate me, and I will release you at any rate.”"I don't know any man," she said, "that I would rather marry than you, of all those I have seen."They now released her. Herraud asked if she would rather travel home with them and marry him, or send her east to her brother and he would never see her again. But she chose to go with him, and they each pledged to be true to the other. After that, they carried the gold and treasure out of the temple, and afterward set the temple on fire and it burned to ashes, so that there were no traces to be seen except the ashes. They set off with what they had gotten, and did not stop until they came to Hoketil's house. They did not stay there long, but gave him a lot of money. In the morning they carried gold and treasure down to the ship on many horses, and their men gave them welcome.

**9. Frá Brávallabardaga.

**9: About the Battle of Brow Plain

Þessu næst sigldu þeir burt af Bjarmalandi, sem byr gaf, ok er þá eigi getit um ferð þeira, fyrr en þeir kómu heim í Gautland, ok höfðu þeir þá tvá vetr í burt verit. Þeir gengu nú fyrir konung, ok færði Bósi honum eggit, ok var þá brotin rauf á skurninu, ok váru þar í tíu merkr gulls, ok hafði konungr skurnit fyrir borðker. Bósi gaf konungi þat kerit, er hann tók af Jómalanum, ok váru þeir nú sáttir. Í þenna tíma kómu þeir til hirðar konungs Dagfari ok Náttfari, bræðr drottningar, ok váru þeir sendir af Haraldi konungi hilditönn í liðsbón, því at þá var settr tími til bardagans á Brávöllum, er mestr hefir verit á Norðrlöndum, sem segir í sögu Sigurðar hrings, föður Ragnars loðbrókar. Hringr konungr bað Herrauð fara fyrir sik, en kveðst skyldu geyma brúðar hans á meðan, ok skyldu þeir þá vera sáttir um allt þat, sem þeira hafði í millum farit. Herrauðr gerði nú sem hans faðir beiddi ok fóru þeir Bósi með þeim bræðrum með fimm hundruð manna ok fundu Harald konung. Í þessi orrostu fell Haraldr konungr ok með honum fimmtán konungar annars hundraðs, sem segir í sögu hans, ok margir aðrir kappar, þeir sem konungum váru meiri. Þar fellu þeir Dagfari ok Náttfari, en þeir Herrauðr ok Bósi urðu báðir sárir ok kómust þó báðir ór bardaganum. Þá höfðu orðit þau umskipti í Gautlandi, sem síðar mun sagt verða, meðan þeir váru í burtu.

Soon after, when they got a breeze, they set sailed for Bjarmaland, and there is nothing to be heard of their journey, until they came home to Gautaland. They had been away for two winters. They then went before the king, and Bosi brought him the egg. The shell had broken, but it was still worth ten marks of gold, and the king used the shell for a table cup. Bosi gave the king the goblet, which he had taken from Jomala, and they were now reconciled.In that time, Dagfari and Nattfari came into the service of the king, the brothers of the queen. They were sent by King Harald Wartooth to ask for assistance since there was a time set for the battle at Brow Plain, the greatest there ever was in the North Lands, as it told in the Saga of Sigurd Hring, father of Ragnar Lodbrokar. King Hring asked Herraud to go in his place, and said that he would care for his bride in the meantime, and that everything was reconciled about that which had come between them in the past. Herraud did as his father asked, and he and Bosi traveled with the brothers with five hundred men and went to meet King Harald. King Harald fell in this battle, and with him one hundred and fifteen other kings, as is told in his saga, and also many other heroes, even greater than the kings. Dagfari and Nattfari both fell, and Herraud and Bosi were both wounded, but both survived the battle. However, there were changes in Gautland, as will be told later, while they were away.

10. Fall Hrings konungs.

**10: The Fall of King Hring

Nú af því, at eigi má í senn segja meir en eitt, þá verðr nú þat at skýra, sem fyrr hefir borit í sögunni, ok er þar nú til at taka fyrst, at Hleiðr, systir Goðmundar konungs, hvarf í burt af Glæsivöllum. Ok sem konungr saknar hennar, lætr hann leita hennar bæði á sjó ok landi, ok kunni hana engi upp at frétta. Þeir bræðr váru þá með konungi, Hrærekr ok Siggeirr. Konungr bað Siggeir bindast fyrir um eftirleit Hleiðar ok vinna þat til eiginorðs við hana. Siggeirr kvaðst ætla, at þat mundi eigi auðvelt at finna hana, ef hofgyðjan á Bjarmalandi vissi ekki til hennar. Þeir bjuggust nú ór landi ok höfðu fimm skip ok fóru til Bjarmalands ok fundu Hárek konung ok sögðu honum sín erendi, en hann bað þá fara til hofsins ok kvað eigi mundu laust fyrir liggja, ef Jómali eða gyðjan vissu ekki til hennar. Þeir fóru nú til hofsins ok fundu þar öskudyngjuna, ok sást engi örmul neins þess, er þar átti at vera. Fóru þeir nú um skóginn ok kómu til byggða Hóketils karls ok fréttu eftir, hvárt þau vissu ekki til, hverr hofinu hefði grandat. En karl kvaðst þat eigi vita, en hann sagði þó, at tveir gauzkir menn hefði legit undir Vínuskógi mjök lengi, ok hét annarr Herrauðr, en annarr Bögu-Bósi, ok kvað hann þá sér þykkja líkasta til at hafa gert slíkt stórræði. En bóndadóttir sagðist hafa fundit þá á veginum, þá þeir fóru til skips, ok þeir höfðu með sér Hleiði, systur Goðmundar konungs af Glæsivöllum, ok sögðu hennar til sín leita mega, ef nokkurr vilda hana finna. Ok sem þeir urðu þessa vísir, sögðu þeir þetta konungi, ok söfnuðu þeir nú liði um allt Bjarmaland ok fengu þar þrjú skip ok tuttugu ok sigldu síðan til Gautlands ok kómu þar þann tíma, sem þeir fóstbræðr váru í bardaganum á Brávöllum, ok var Hringr konungr fámennr heima, ok buðu þeir honum þegar bardaga eða gefa upp meyna. Konungr kjöri heldr at berjast, ok urðu þar skjót umskipti. Fell þar Hringr konungr ok mestr hluti liðs hans. Tóku þeir nú meyna, en ræntu fé öllu ok fóru í burt síðan ok léttu eigi, fyrr en þeir kómu heim á Glæsivöllu, ok varð Goðmundr konungr feginn systur sinni ok þakkaði þeim vel fyrir ferðina, ok þótti hún orðin in frægasta. Siggeirr biðr nú Hleiðar, en hún var treg til þess ok kvað þat makligt, at sá nyti sín, er hana frelsaði ór tröllahöndum. Konungr kvað Siggeir vel hafa til hennar unnit ok segist eiga at ráða gifting hennar, - "ok skal eigi útlendum höfðingjum gagnast at eiga þik, ef þú vilt eigi várum ráðum hlíta," ok varð nú svá at vera sem konungr vildi. Ok látum þá nú búast við brúðlaupi sínu, því at þeir hyggja nú gott til sín, en þat mætti verða, at beinaspjöll yrði á boðinu.

Now since it is not possible to say more than one story at the same time, it must now be explained what happened previously in the saga, and to deal first about when Hleidi, sister of King Godmund, disappeared from Glaesir Plain. As soon as the king realized that she was gone, he had a search for her both on sea and land, but he could not get any news of her. The brothers were then with the king, Hraerek and Siggeirr. The king asked Siggeirr to take charge of the search for Hleidi, and as a reward, he would win her as his wife. Siggeirr said that he would do this, but that it would not be easy to find her, if the temple priestess in Bjarmaland did not know anything about her. They prepared to leave the land, with five ships and set sail for Bjarmaland. They found King Harek and told him of their mission. He told them to go to the temple, but said that it would not be easy to seize her, if Jomala or the priestess knew nothing of her. They went now to the temple, but found only a heap of ashes, and saw no remnants of anything that should have been there. They now went around the forest, until they came to Hoketil's house, and asked if they knew anything about who had destroyed the temple. The man said that he did not know, although he said that two men from Gautland had been at anchor off Vinuskog for a long time, and one was called Herraud and the other Baga-Bosi. He said that it seemed to him most likely that they had done such an ambitious thing. But the peasant's daughter said that she had met them on the road, when they went to the ship, and that they had Hleidi with them, the sister of King Godmund from Glaesir Plain, and told the girl that if anyone was looking for her, they should come to them.When they were certain of this, they told the king, and collected an army from all over Bjarmaland, and got twenty-three ships. They sailed then to Gautland, and arrived at the time that the foster brothers were at the battle of Brow Plain. King Hring was at home with only a small number of men, and they told him either to fight or give up the maid. The king chose rather to fight, but soon there was a turn of events. King Hring fell, along with the greater part of his forces. They then took the maid, and fled with all the money and sailed away afterward, and did not stop until they came back to Glaesir Plain. King Godmund welcomed his sister, and thanked them profusely for the journey, which she thought was the most renowned. Siggeirr asked Hleidi for her hand, but she was reluctant, and said that it would be more proper for her to give benefit to the man who had saved her from the hands of the trolls. The king said that Siggeirr had won her well, and said that he was the one to settle her betrothal - "and no foreign chieftains will succeed in owning you, if you will not trust my advice,” and so it was as the king willed. And we had better let them get on with their preparations to marry, since they are looking forward to them, but it might still be that something will happen to spoil the comfort of the guests.

11. Bósi fekk fregnir af Glæsivöllum.

11: Bosi Gets News from Glaesir Plain

Þar er nú til máls at taka, at þeir Herrauðr ok Bósi kómu heim í Gautland hálfum mánuði síðar en þeir Siggeirr sigldu í burt. Sakna þeir nú vinar í stað ok taka nú ráðagerðir sínar, ok sótti Bósi föður sinn at ráðum, en hann sagði, at þeir mundu verða of seinir, ef þeir söfnuðu liði miklu, ok því sagði hann, at þeir mundu heldr ná konungsdóttur með djúpsettum ráðum ok snörum atburðum, ok var nú þetta ráðit, at þeir bjuggu eitt skip ok á þrjá tigi manna. Smiðr skyldi nú fara með þeim ok hafa alla forsögn um þeira ferð. Karl lagði þeim mörg ráð ok þau Busla. Sigldu þeir nú, þegar þeir váru búnir. Smiðr hafði byr ávallt, þá er hann stýrði, ok varð þeira ferð með meira flýti en líkendi mundi á þykkja, ok kómu þeir nú vánum bráðara austr á Glæsivöllu ok lögðu skipi sínu undir einn eyðiskóg. Smiðr hafi hulinshjálm yfir skipi þeira. Þeir gengu á land upp Herrauðr ok Bósi. Þeir kómu at húsabæ litlum ok kyrfiligum. Þar bjó karl ok kerling. Þau áttu dóttur væna ok vel kunnandi. Bóndi bauð þeim nætrgreiða; þat þágu þeir. Þar váru góð hýbýli. Þeim var unninn góðr beini, ok váru tekin upp borð ok gefit mungát at drekka. Bóndi var fálátr ok óspurull. Bóndadóttir var þar mannúðigust, ok skenkti hún gestum. Bósi var glaðkátr ok gerði henni smáglingrur; hún gerði honum ok svá í móti. Um kveldit var þeim fylgt at sofa, en þegar at ljós var slokit, þá kom Bögu-Bósi þar, sem bóndadóttir lá, ok lyfti klæði af henni. Hún spurði, hvat þar væri, en Bögu-Bósi sagði til sín. "Hvat viltu hingat?" sagði hún. "Ek vil brynna fola mínum í vínkeldu þinni," sagði hann. "Mun þat hægt vera, maðr minn ?" sagði hún; "eigi er hann vanr þvílíkum brunnhúsum, sem ek hefi." "Ek skal leiða hann at fram," sagði hann, "ok hrinda honum á kaf, ef hann vill eigi öðruvísi drekka." "Hvar er folinn þinn, hjartavinrinn minn ?" sagði hún. "Á millum fóta mér, ástin mín," kvað hann, "ok tak þú á honum ok þó kyrrt, því at hann er mjök styggr." Hún tók nú um göndulinn á honum ok strauk um ok mælti: "Þetta er fimligr foli ok þó mjök rétt hálsaðr." "Ekki er vel komit fyrir hann höfðinu," sagði hann, "en hann kringir betr makkanum, þá hann hefir drukkit." "Sjá nú fyrir öllu," segir hún. "Ligg þú sem gleiðust," kvað hann, "ok haf sem kyrrast." Hann brynnir nú folanum heldr ótæpiliga, svá at hann var allr á kafi. Bóndadóttur varð mjök dátt við þetta, svá at hún gat varla talat. "Muntu ekki drekkja folanum?" sagði hún. "Svá skal hann hafa sem hann þolir mest," sagði hann, "því at hann er mér oft óstýrinn fyrir þat hann fær ekki at drekka sem hann beiðist." Hann er nú at, sem honum líkar, ok hvílist síðan. Bóndadóttir undrast nú, hvaðan væta sjá mun komin, sem hún hefir í klofinu, því at allr beðrinn lék í einu lauðri undir henni. Hún mælti: "Mun ekki þat mega vera, at folinn þinn hafi drukkit meira en honum hefir gott gert ok hafi hann ælt upp meira en hann hefir drukkit?" "Veldr honum nú eitthvat," kvað hann, "því at hann er svá linr sem lunga." "Hann mun vera ölsjúkr," sagði hún, "sem aðrir drykkjumenn." "Þat er víst," kvað hann. Þau skemmta sér nú sem þeim líkar, ok var bóndadóttir ýmist ofan á eða undir, ok sagðist hún aldri hafa riðit hæggengara fola en þessum. Ok eftir margan gamanleik spyrr hún, hvat manni hann sé, en hann segir til it sanna ok spurði á móti, hvat þar væri títt í landinu. Hún segir, at þat væri nú nýjast, at þeir bræðr Hrærekr ok Siggeirr höfðu nát Hleiði konungssystur, en drepit Hring konung í Gautlandi, - "ok svá eru þeir nú frægir orðnir af för þessi, at engir þykkja nú þeim líkir í Austrvegi, ok hefir konungr gefit systur sína Siggeir, ok er þat þó á móti hennar vilja, ok á nú brúðlaupit at vera innan þriggja nátta. En þeir eru svá varir um sik, at þeir hafa njósn á hverri götu ok í hverri höfn, ok má þeim ekki á óvart koma, en þeim þykkir aldri örvænt, nær þeir Herrauðr ok Bósi koma at vitja meyjarinnar. Konungr hefir látit gera sér höll svá mikla, at á henni eru hundrað dyra, ok er jafnt langt í millum allra; hundrað manns má rúmliga sitja í millum hverra dyra; tveir dyrverðir eru við hverjar dyrr, ok á þar engi inn at ganga, sá sem eigi er þekktr við einhverjar dyrrnar, en þann, sem við engar er þekktr, skal taka ok hafa í varðhaldi, þar til at prófat er, hverr maðr hann er. Sæng stendr á miðju hallargólfi, ok er þar fimm palla upp at ganga. Þar skal liggja brúðrin ok brúðguminn, en hirðin öll skal vaka um kringum, ok má þeim því ekki á óvart koma. "Hverir eru með konungi?" segir Bósi, "þeir sem hann heldr mest af?" "Sá heitir Sigurðr," sagði hún, "hann er ráðgjafi konungs ok svá mikill meistari til hljóðfæra, at hans líki er engi, þó at allvíða sé leitat, ok þó mest á hörpuslátt. Hann er nú farinn til frillu sinnar; hún er ein bóndadóttir her við skóginn, ok lætr hann sauma sér klæði ok semr hljóðfæri sín." Ok fellr þar nú tal þeira, ok sofa þau af um náttina.

Now it must be told, that Herraud and Bosi came home to Gautland half a month after Siggeirr and his men had sailed away. They missed their friends in the town, but they took stock of the situation and Bosi sought out his father for advice. He said that they were too late to gather a great troop, and so he said that they should instead rescue the king's daughter with carefully laid plans and a swift attack. He advised them to set up a ship with thirty men. Smidur should now travel with them and have complete charge of the expedition. The man gave them much advice, and also Busla. They then sailed, when they were prepared. Smidur always had a favorable wind, when he steered, and so their journey went much faster than anyone would have thought, and they came quickly east to Glaesir Plain, and cast anchor off an isolated wood. Smidur threw a helmet over their ship that would make it invisible. Herraud and Bosi went on land. They came to a small, humble cottage. An old man and woman lived there. They had a beautiful, well-informed daughter. The peasant offered to have them stay the night; they accepted that. It was a good homestead.They were given good accommodations, and the table was set up and they were given ale to drink. The peasant was reserved and not inquisitive. His daughter was most affable, and served the guests. Bosi was of good humor, and flirted a bit, which she did in return.At evening-time they shown to their beds, and when the light was turned off, Baga-Bosi came to where the peasant girl lay, and lifted the bedclothes from her. She asked who was there, and Baga-Bosi told her. “What do you want?” she said.“I want to water my foal at your wine-well,” he said.“Do you think it will be possible, my man?” she said; “it is not used to the sort of springhouse that I have.”“I'll lead it there,” he said, “and push it deep, if it does not want to drink otherwise.”“Where is your foal, sweetheart?” she said.“Between my legs, my love,” he replied, “and you may touch him, but quietly, since he is very shy.”She took hold of his staff and stroked it and said, “It is a nimble foal, although rather straight at the neck.”“His head is not very well placed,” he said, “ but his neck curves better, when he has had something to drink.”“See to it all, now,” she said.“Lie as it pleases you,” he said, “and keep calm.”He now watered the foal rather generously, so that it dove in completely. The peasant girl was very startled at that, so that she could hardly speak.. “Aren't you going to drown the foal?” she said.“He shall have as much as he can take,” he said, “since he is often unruly when he is not able to drink when he wants to.”He continued as long as he wanted, and then rested. The peasant girl wondered where the wetness had come from, which she had in her cleft, since the whole bed was in a lather under her.She said, “Could it be that your foal has drunk more than is good for him, and has vomited up more than he has drunk?”“Something is wrong with him,” he said, "since he is soft as a lung.”“He must be ale-sick,” she said, "like other drunkards.”“That is certain,” he said. They enjoyed themselves now as they wished, and the peasant girl was sometimes on top, and sometimes underneath, and she said that she had never ridden such an easy-going foal as this one.After a lot of enjoyable play, she asked who he was. He answered truthfully, and asked in return, what the news was in the land. She said that the latest news was that the brothers, Hraerek and Siggeirr had gotten Hleidi, the king's sister, and killed King Hring in Gautland – “and therefore they are so notorious for this, that no one seems their equal in Austrveg. The king has given his sister to Siggeirr, even though it is against her will, and the wedding is to be within three nights. They are so wary, that they have lookouts on every street, and in every harbor. It is impossible to take them by surprise, and it never seems to them unexpected, that Herraud and Bosi will come to fetch the maid. The king has had a hall built that is so big, that it has a hundred doors, and the same distance between all of them; a hundred men can easily sit between each door; two guardsmen are at each door, and no one can go in who is not known by one of the doorkeepers. Those who are not recognized are taken into custody until it is determined who they are. There is a bed in the middle of the hall floor, and five steps going up to it. There the bride and bridegroom will lie, and all the retainers will keep watch around them, so that nothing will surprise them."Bosi said, “Who does the king value the most?”“He is called Sigurd,” he said. “He is an advisor to the king, and so great a master at music, that no one is his equal, although searched far and wide. He is especially skilled at playing the harp. He has gone to his mistress; she is a farmer's daughter here by the wood, and he has her sew his clothes and he tunes his instruments."Then their conversation ended, and they slept the night.

12. Frá brullaupsveizlu.

12: About the Wedding Feast

Um morguninn snemma kemr Bósi til Herrauðar ok segir honum, hvat hann hefir frétt um náttina, ok síðan bjuggust þeir frá bónda, ok gaf Bósi dóttur hans fingrgull, ok fóru þeir nú at tilvísan hennar, þar til at þeir sá þann bæ, er Sigurðr var á. Þeir sá nú, hvar hann fór ok einn sveinn með honum ok stefndu heim til hallarinnar. Þeir gengu nú á veginn fyrir Sigurð. Bósi rak spjótit í gegnum hann, en Herrauðr kyrkti sveininn til bana. Síðan fló Bósi belg af þeim báðum ok fór síðan til skips, ok sögðu Smið, hvat þeir höfðu afrekat. Þeir gerðu nú ráð sín. Smiðr færði Bósa í aðra nágrímuna, en fór sjálfr í aðra ok í þann búning, sem sveinninn hafði haft, en Bósi í þann, er Sigurðr hafði átt. Þeir sögðu Herrauð fyrir allt, hversu hann skyldi bera sik at, ok fara þeir nú heim til borgarinnar ok kómu at þeim hallardyrum, sem Goðmundr konungr var fyrir. Þóttist hann þar kenna Sigurð, ok fagnar hann honum vel ok leiðir hann inn, ok tók hann þegar við féhirzlum konungs ok ölgögnum ok kjallara ok hefir skipan á, hvert öl fyrst skal ganga, ok segir byrlurum fyrir, hversu ákaft þeir skulu skenkja. Sagði hann, at þat varðar mestu, at menn verði it fyrsta kveld sem drukknastir, því at þar eimir lengst af. Þessu næst var höfðingjum í sæti skipat ok brúðrin inn leidd ok á bekk sett ok með henni margar meyjar hæverskar. Goðmundr konungr sat í hásæti ok brúðguminn hjá honum. Hrærekr þjónaði brúðgumanum. Eigi er greint, hversu höfðingjum var skipat, en þess getr, at Sigurðr sló hörpu fyrir brúðunum. En er minni váru inn borin, sló Sigurðr svá, at menn sögðu, at eigi mundi fást hans líki, en hann kvað þar lítit mark at fyrst. Konungr bað hann eigi af spara. Ok sem inn kom þat minni, sem signat var Þór, þá skipti Sigurðr um slagina, ok tók þá at ókyrrast allt þat, sem laust var, hnífar ok borðdiskar ok allt þat, sem engi helt á, ok fjöldi manna stukku upp ór sínum sætum ok léku á gólfinu, ok gekk þetta langa stund. Því næst kom þat minni inn, er helgat var öllum Ásum. Sigurðr skipti þá enn um slagina ok stillti þá svá hátt, at dvergmála kvað í höllunni. Stóðu þá upp allir þeir, sem inni váru, nema brúðguminn ok brúðrin ok konungrinn, ok var nú allt á ferð ok för innan um alla höllina, ok gekk því langa stund. Konungr spyrr nú, hvárt hann kann nokkut fleiri slagi, en hann segir eftir vera nokkura smáleika ok bað fólkit hvílast fyrst. Settust menn nú til drykkju. Sló hann þar Gýgjarslag ok Drömbuð ok Hjarrandahljóð. Því næst kom inn Óðins minni. Þá lauk Sigurðr upp hörpunni. Hún var svá stór, at maðr mátti standa réttr í maganum á henni; hún var öll sem á gull sæi. Þar tók hann upp hvíta glófa gullsaumaða. Hann sló nú þann slag, sem Faldafeykir heitir, ok stukku þá faldarnir af konunum, ok léku þeir fyrir ofan þvertréin. Stukku þá upp konurnar ok allir menninir, ok engi hlutr var þá sá, at kyrr þoldi. En er þetta minni var af gengit, kom inn þat minni, er signat var Freyju, ok átti þat síðast at drekka. Tók Sigurðr þá þann streng, er lá um þvera strengina, ok bað konung búast við Rammaslag. En konungi brá svá við, at hann stökk upp ok svá brúðguminn ok brúðrin, ok léku nú engir vakrara en þau, ok gekk þessu langa stund. Smiðr tók nú í hönd brúðinni ok lék allra vakrast. Hann tók borðbúnað af stólnum ok kastaði upp í sængina, þegar hann sá sér færi á. En frá Herrauði er þat at segja, at hann lætr menn sína meiða öll þau skip, sem með sjónum váru, svá at ekki var sjófært. Suma hafði hann heima í borginni, ok báru þeir til sjóvar gull ok gersemar, er Smiðr hafði lagit þeim til handargagns. Var nú mjök húmat. Sumir váru uppi á höllunni ok skynjuðu, hvat inni var, ok drógu út um gluggann þat, sem upp var kastat í sængina, en sumir færðu til skipa ok sneru stöfnum frá landi.

Early in the morning Bosi came to Herraud and said to him that what he had heard during the night, and then they prepared to leave. Bosi gave the peasant's daughter a gold ring, and they followed her instructions until they saw the farm, where Sigurd was. They saw now where he was going, with a servant, and was heading home to the hall. They went then onto the road in front of Sigurd. Bosi ran his spear through him, and Herraud strangled the servant to death. Then Bosi flayed the skin off them both, and went to the ship, and told Smidur what they had achieved. They made their plans. Smidur put Bosi in the death mask of Sigurd, and put himself in the other, and dressed as the servant, and Bosi in the clothes that Sigurd had. They told Herraud everything that he should do, and they went home to the town, and came to the hall door, where King Godmund was waiting. He thought that he recognized "Sigurd", and greeted him well, and led him in. He then took charge of the treasure house of the king and the supplies of ale, and the cellars, and decided to whom the ale should go first and told the cup-bearers how generously they should pour drinks. He told them that it was most important that people should get as drunk as possible in the first evening, since in that was they would stay drunk the longest. Next, the chieftains were shown to their seats and the bride was led in and seated on her bench and with her many good mannered maids. King Godmund sat in the high seat and the bridegroom next to him. Hraerek served the bridegroom. It is not recorded how the chieftains were divided, but it is known that "Sigurd" played the harp for the bridal party. When the toasts were brought in, "Sigurd" played so, that people said that his equal was not to be had. But he said that this just marked the beginning. The king bade him not to spare his effort. And when the memorial cup, dedicated to Thor, was brought in, "Sigurd" changed the tune. Everything that was loose began to move, knives and table dishes and everything that was not held onto, and the mass of people rose up from their seats and waved to and fro on the floor. This went on for a long time. Next came the toast, which was dedicated to all the gods. "Sigurd" once again changed the tune, and played so loud that there was an echo in the hall. Everyone who was inside stood up, except the bridegroom and bride and the king, and everyone was moving around inside the hall. This went on for a long time. The king then asked if he knew any more tunes, but he said that there were a few small ones and suggested that everyone take a rest first. Then people settled down to drink. He played the “Ogress tune” and “Dreamshop” and “Plundering-song.” Next there was a toast to Odinn. Then "Sigurd" opened the harp. It was so big that a man could stand upright in its belly, and it was all set with gold. He then took up a white glove, embroidered in gold. He then struck the tune, which is called “Coif-Tosser,” and then all the coifs were raised off the women, and danced around up above on the crossbeams. The women and all the men jumped up, and nothing at all remained in its place. When that toast was finished, the toast was brought in which was dedicated to Freyja, and that was the last to be drunk. "Sigurd" then took that string, which lies crosswise on the other strings, and bade the king prepare for the tune called “Powerful Blow.” But the king was so startled that he jumped up and so did the bridegroom and bride, and no one danced more heartily than they did. This went on for a long time. Smidur then took hold of the bride and danced all the more vigorously. He took the service from the table and threw it up in the bed sheets, when he had the opportunity. It is said of Herraud, that he had his men damage all the ships, which were along the seacoast, so that they were not seaworthy. He had some go home to the town, and they carried the gold and treasure, which Smidur had laid at ready, down to the sea. It was now getting very dark. Some were up on the roof of the hall and were watching, what was going on inside, and dragged out of the window what was cast into the sheets. Some carried it down to the ships and turned the prow from land.

13. Brúðarrán.

13: The Abduction of the Bride

Þat berr nú til nýlundu, at þá þeir léku sem glaðast í höllunni, at maðr gekk inn í höllina. Sá var mikill vexti ok fríðr sýnum. Hann var í rauðum skarlatskyrtli ok silfrbelti um sik ok gullhlað um enni. Hann var slyppr ok fór leikandi sem aðrir, þar til er hann kom fyrir konung. Hann reiðir þá upp hnefann ok dregr svá snöggt um nasir konungi, at ór honum hrutu þrjár tennrnar, en blóð stökk ór nösum hans ok munni, en hann fell sjálfr í öngvit. Sigurðr sér nú þetta. Hann kastar nú hörpunni upp í sængina, en rak báða hnefana í millum herða kvámumanninum, en hann sneri undan, en Sigurðr eftir honum ok þeir Siggeirr ok allir aðrir, en sumir styrmdu yfir konunginum. Smiðr tók í hönd brúðinni ok leiddi hana upp í sængina ok læsti hana innan í maga hörpunnar, en þeir drógu hana út um glugginn, sem úti váru, ok svá Smið með, ok flýttu sér til skips ok gengu síðan út á þat. Þá var sá þar kominn, er konunginn hafði slegit. Sigurðr gekk ok út á skipit, er hann kom at, en Siggeirr eftir honum með brugðit sverð. Sigurðr snýr þá aftr í móti honum ok hratt honum á kaf; urðu hans menn at draga hann á land verr en dauðan. En Smiðr hjó landfestina, ok drógu menn segl upp ok gerðu bæði at sigla ok róa ok létu ganga út á haf slíkt er mátti. Hrærekr hljóp til skips ok margir menn aðrir með honum, en er skipum var fram hrundit, fell þar inn kolblár sjór, ok urðu þeir at landi at leggja ok urðu at hafa sitt hugarmót svá búit, váru ok allir menn verr en ráðlausir af drykkjuskap. Konungr raknar nú við ok var þó lítils máttar, ok leituðu menn við at næra hann, en hann var mjök máttdreginn. Snerist nú veizlan í sút ok sorg. En þá konungr hresstist, gerðu þeir ráð sín, ok kom þeim þat saman at slíta eigi fjölmenninu ok búast sem skjótast at fara eftir þeim fóstbræðrum. Ok látum þá nú búast, en víkjum sögunni aftr til þeira kumpána, at þeir sigla, þangat til at vegir skiljast ok annarr lá til Bjarmalands. Þá bað Bósi Herrauð sigla heim til Gautlands, en hann kvaðst eiga erendi til Bjarmalands. Herrauðr segist eigi við hann skilja, - "eða hvat er í erendum þínum þangat?" Hann segir þat mundu síðar sýnast. Smiðr bauð at bíða þeira fimm nætr. Bósi sagði, at þeim mundi þat vel duga, ok fóru þeir nú á bátnum til lands tveir saman ok földu bátinn í leyni nokkuru, en þeir gengu til byggða, þar sem karl bjó ok kerling. Þau áttu dóttur væna. Þar var vel við þeim tekit ok gefit gott vín at drekka um kveldit. Bögu-Bósi leit hýrliga til bóndadóttur, en hún var mjök tileygð til hans á móti. Litlu síðar fóru menn til svefns. Bósi kom til sængr bóndadóttur. Hún spyrr, hvat hann vill. Hann bað hana hólka stúfa sinn. Hún spyrr, hvar hólkrinn væri. Hann spurði, hvárt hún hefði engan. Hún sagðist engan hafa, þann sem honum væri hæfiligr. "Ek get rýmt hann, þó at þröngr sé," sagði hann. "Hvar er stúfinn þinn?" sagði hún. "Ek get nærri, hvat ek má ætla hólkborunni minni." Hann bað hana taka á millum fóta sér. Hún kippti at sér hendinni ok bað ófagnað eiga stúfa hans. "Hverju þykkir þér þetta líkt?" sagði hann. "Pundaraskafti föður míns ok sé brotin aftan af því kringlan." "Tilfyndin ertu, " sagði Bögu-Bósi; hann dró gull af hendi sér ok gaf henni. Hún spyrr, hvat hann vill á móti hafa. "Ek vil sponsa traus þína," sagði hann. "Ekki veit ek, hvernig þat er," segir hún. "Ligg þú sem breiðast," kvað han. Hún gerði sem hann bað. Hann ferr nú á millum fótanna á henni ok leggr síðan neðan í kviðinn á henni, svá at allt gekk upp undir bring- spölu. Hún brá við hart ok mælti: "Þú hleyptir inn sponsinu um augat, karlmaðr," kvað hún. "Ek skal ná því ór aftr," segir hann, "eða hversu varð þér við?" "Svá dátt sem ek hefði drukkit ferskan mjöð," kvað hún, "ok haf þú sem vakrast í auganu þvegilinn," sagði hún. Hann sparir nú ekki af, þar til at hana velgdi alla, svá at henni lá við at klígja, ok bað hann þá at hætta. Þau tóku nú hvíld, ok spyrr hún nú, hvat manna hann væri. Hann sagði it sanna ok spyrr, hvárt hún væri nokkut í kærleikum við Eddu konungsdóttur. Hún sagðist oft koma í skemmu konungsdóttur ok vera þar vel tekin. "Ek mun hafa þik at trúnaðarmanni," sagði hann, "ok vil ek gefa þér til þrjár merkr silfrs, at þú komir konungsdóttur í skóginn til mín." Hann tók nú ór pungi sínum þrjár valhnetr. Þær váru sem á gull sæi. Hann fekk henni þær ok bað hana segja konungsdóttur, at hún vissi einn þann lund í skóginum, at slíkar hnetr væri nógar. Hún sagði konungsdóttur eigi upporpna fyrir einum ok sagði henni fylgja at jafnaði gelding þann, "er Skálkr heitir ok er svá sterkr, at hann hefir tólf karla afl, hvat sem reyna þarf." Bósi kvaðst þat eigi hirða, ef ekki væri við fleirum at sjá. Um morguninn snemma fór hún at finna konungsdóttur ok sýnir henni gullhnetrnar ok sagðist vita, hvar slíkar mætti nógar finna. "Förum þangat sem fyrst," segir konungsdóttir, "ok þrællinn með okkr." Ok svá gera þau. Þeir kompánar váru nú komnir í skóginn ok snúa til móts við þau. Bósi heilsar jungfrúnni ok spyrr, hví hún ferr svá einmana. Hún kvað eigi hættligt um þat. "Þat er nú sem takast vill," segir Bósi, "ok ger nú hvárt er þú vilt, at fara með mér viljug eða geri ek skyndibrúðlaup til þín hér í skóginum." Þrællinn spyrr nú, hverr gaurr svá firna djarfr er, at slíkt lofar sér at gleypa. Herrauðr bað hann þegja, fúlan slána. Þrællinn sló með stórri kylfu til Herrauðar, en hann brá við skildinum. Höggit var svá þungt, at hann brotnaði allr. Herrauðr hljóp undir þrælinn, en hann tók fast í móti, ok váru þeira sviptingar sterkligar, ok fór þrællinn hvergi á hæl. Bósi kom þá at ok tók fætrna undan þrælnum, ok lögðu síðan snöru á háls honum ok hengdu hann þar á eikunum. Síðan setti Bósi konungsdóttur á handlegg sér ok bar hana til skips, ok létu frá landi ok fóru þar til, er þeir fundu Smið. Konungsdóttir barst lítt af, en þegar Smiðr hafði orð við hana, tók af henni allan óhug, ok sigldu heim í Gautland.

The next strange thing to happen was that while they danced happily in the hall, a man went into the hall. He was well built and handsome. He was in a red scarlet tunic and had a silver belt around his waist, and a gold band on his forehead. He was unarmed, and started dancing like the others, until he came before the king. He raised his fist and punched the king on the nose, so hard, that three teeth flew out of his mouth, and blood flowed from his nose and mouth, and he fell in a swoon. "Sigurd" saw this. He cast his harp up in the bed, and struck the stranger with his fists between the shoulders, so that he turned away. "Sigurd" went after him and Siggeirr and all the others, while others crowded around the king. Smidur took the bride by the hand and led her up in the bed, and locked her inside the harp. The men outside dragged her out through the window, along with Smidur, and rushed down to the ship and then went on board. The man who had struck the king was already there. Sigurd went out on the ship, when he got there, and Siggeirr after him with drawn sword. "Sigurd" turned then against him and pushed him overboard; his men dragged him on land half dead. "Sigurd" cut the moorings and the men hoisted the sail, and they both sailed and rowed and went out to sea as fast as they could. Hraerekr ran to the ship, and many other men with him, but when the ships were launched, the coal-black sea poured in, and they had to make for land. They had to change their plans, since all the men were worse than passed out from drunkenness. The king then came to, but he was still weak. His men tried to nourish him, but he was quite exhausted. The feast had turned to grief and worry, but when the king had refreshed himself, they made their plans. They decided not to disband the company, and prepared as quickly as they could to follow the foster brothers. While they were getting ready, we turn the story to the companions, who were sailing to where the way divides, and one way led to Bjarmaland. Bosi told Herraud to sail home to Gautaland, and said that he had business in Bjarmaland. Herraud said that he did not want to part, - “and what is your business there anyway?” Bosi said that would be shown later. Smidur offered to stay there five nights. Bosi said that would suffice very well, and they went to land in a boat, two together, and hid the boat in a secret place. They went to the cottage where the old man and woman lived. They had a good-looking daughter. They were given a good welcome, and given good wine to drink in the evening. Baga-Bosi smiled cheerfully at the farmer's daughter, but she was quite reserved toward him. A little later they went to sleep. Bosi came to the bed of the peasant's daughter. She asked what he wanted. He asked her to put a ring on his stump. She asked what sort of ring that might be. He asked if she didn't have one. She said that she didn't have any that would fit him properly. “I can make it wider, if it is too narrow,” he said. “Where is your stump?” she said. “I can imagine what I can expect from my ring hole” He asked her to touch between his legs. She pulled her hand back and said that his stump was unwelcome. “What do you think it is like?” he said. “My father's steel shaft, but the ring broken off.” “Fault finding are you,” said Baga-Bosi; He took a gold ring off his hand and gave it to her. She asked what he wanted in return. “ I want to plug up your hole,” he said. “I don't know what you mean,” she said. “Lie as widely as you can,” he said. She did as he asked. He then went between her legs and went then down in her belly, so that everything went up under her rib cage. She was startled, and said, “You are running the stopper right up to my eyes, man,” she said. “I'll get it out afterward,” he said, “and how did you like it.” “Just like a drink of fresh mead,” she said. "Keep the mop lively in the pail." “He spared nothing, until she warmed up, so that she began to feel nauseous, and asked him to stop. They then took a rest, and she asked him, who he was. He said truthfully and asked her whether she was friendly with the king's daughter, Edda. She said that she often went to the bower of the king's daughter, and was well received there. “I'll take you in confidence,” he said, “ and I will give you three marks of silver, if you bring the king's daughter to me in the wood. " He took three walnuts from his purse. They were as if they were made of gold. He gave them to her and told her to tell the king's daughter that he knew a grove in the wood where such nuts were plentiful. She said that the king's daughter would not be helpless with just one man, and said that a eunuch follows her everywhere, “who is called Skalk, and is so strong that he has the strength of twelve men, whenever there is a need.” Bosi said that did not bother him, as long as there were no more. Early in the morning she went to find the king's daughter and show her the gold nuts and to tell her she knew where more such could be found. “Let's go there immediately,” said the king's daughter, “and we will take my slave with me.” And they did so. The companions had already come to the wood, and turned toward them. Bosi greeted the maidens and asked why they were traveling so alone. She said that there was nothing to fear in that. “This is now how it will be,” said Bosi, “Do now what you wish, either to come with me willingly, or I will marry you right now, here in the wood.” The slave asked now, who the rough fellow was who was so bold, as to swallow such promises. Herraud told him to shut up, and not act like a fool. The slave struck at Herraud with a large cudgel, but Herraud broke it with his shield. The blow was so heavy, that it broke everything. Herraud ran at the slave, but he resisted heartily. There was a hard conflict between them and the slave would not retreat at all. Bosi came then and took the slave's feet out from under him, and then put a noose around the slave's neck, and hanged him there on the oak tree. Then Bosi took the king's daughter in his arms and carried her to the ship, and set off from land, and traveled, until they found Smidur. The king's daughter was a little carried away, but after Smidur had some words with her, she took everything calmed down, and they sailed home to Gautland.

14. Frá bardaga.

**14: Of the Battle

Þat byrjast nú, sem þeir bræðr höfðu fullbúið sitt lið ok höfðu ógrynni liðs. En svá hafði Goðmundi konungi orðit þungr pústrinn Herrauðar, at hann var eigi ferðugr at fara þessa ferð, ok skyldu þeir bræðr hafa af veg ok vanda. Þeir höfðu fjóra tigi skipa af Glæsivöllum, en juku þó mörgum við í ferðinni. Þeir kómu til Bjarmalands ok fundu Hárek konung, föður sinn, ok váru þeir Herrauðr ok Bósi nýfarnir þaðan. Hafði Hárekr konungr þá fulla vissu af því, at þeir höfðu tekit í burtu dóttur hans. Hafði hann þá búit lið sitt ok hafði fimmtán stór skip. Slæst hann nú í ferð með þeim bræðrum, ok höfðu þeir alls sex tigi skipa ok sigla nú til Gautlands. Nú er at segja af þeim Herrauði ok Bósa, at þeir safna liði, þegar eð þeir koma heim, ok vildu vera búnir, ef þeim væri eftirför veitt, en halda þá brúðlaupin, er gott tóm væri til. Þvari karl hafði látit smíða spjót ok öxar ok örvar, á meðan þeir váru í burtu, ok kom þar nú saman mikit fjölmenni. Þeir frétta nú, at þeir eru við land komnir Hárekr konungr ok synir hans, ok var nú eigi þusulaust. Lét Herrauðr nú leggja út skipum sínum á móti þeim; hafði hann lið mikit ok frítt ok þó miklu minna en þeir Hárekr. Lagði sínu skipi á móti konungi Smiðr Þvarason, en Bósi móti Hræreki, Herrauðr á móti Siggeiri, ok þurfti þar eigi at sökum at spyrja, ok tekst með þeim bardagi mjök harðr, ok váru hvárirtveggju inir áköfustu. Ok er bardaginn hafði eigi lengi staðit, réð Siggeirr til uppgöngu á skip Herrauðs ok varð skjótt mannsbani. Sniðill hét stafnbúi Herrauðar. Hann skaut spjóti at Siggeiri. Hann tók spjótit á lofti ok skaut aftr at þeim, er sendi. Spjótit flaug í gegnum Sniðil ok svá langt í skipsstafninn, at hann nisti hann þar við. Herrauðr sneri nú í móti Siggeiri ok leggr til hans með atgeir, svá at gekk í gegnum skjöldinn, en Siggeirr snaraði svá hart skjöldinn, at Herrauði varð lauss atgeirrinn, en hann hjó til Herrauðar, ok kom á hjálminn ok tók af fjórðunginn, ok fylgdi þar it hægra eyrat. En Herrauðr greip upp eina stóra ruddu af þiljunum ok laust á nasir honum, svá at hjálmblikit gekk at andlitinu, ok brotnaði í honum nefit ok ór honum allar tennrnar, ok stökk hann öfugr aftr á skip sitt ok fell þá í óvit ok lá mjök lengi. Smiðr barðist drengiliga. Hárekr konungr komst upp á skip hans við tólfta mann ok ryðst um fast. Smiðr snýr nú á mót honum ok hjó til hans með saxi því, sem Busla kerling hafði gefit honum, því at hann bitu eigi atkvæðalaus vápn. Höggit kom framan um þverar tennrnar, ok brotnuðu þær ór honum allar, gómbeinit brotnaði ok varrirnar sprungu báðar, ok hljóp þar ór blóð mikit. En við þetta högg brá honum svá, at hann varð at flugdreka ok spjó eitri yfir skipit, ok fengu margir menn bana. Hann steypti sér niðr at Smið ok gleypti hann ok svelgir honum niðr í sik. Þeir sáu nú, hvar fugl fló af landi ofan, sá er skergípr heitir. Hann hefir höfuð svá mikit ok hræðiligt, at honum er jafnat til fjándans, ok réðst á móti drekanum, ok var þeira atgangr hræðiligr. En svá lauk þeira viðskiptum, at þeir fellu báðir niðr, ok fell skergíprinn niðr í sjóinn, en drekinn kom niðr í skipi Siggeirs. Herrauðr var þar þá kominn ok lét ganga kylfuna á báðar hendr. Hann sló til Siggeirs, ok kom höggit undir eyrat, ok brotnaði í honum allr haussinn, en hann hraut fyrir borð ok kom aldri upp síðan. Hárekr konungr raknar nú við ok varð at einum gelti ok greip til Herrauðar með tönnunum ok reif af honum alla brynjuna ok festi tennrnar í brjóstinu á honum ok reif af honum báðar geirvörturnar niðr at beini, en hann hjó í móti á trýnit á geltinum, ok tók af fyrir framan augun. Var Herrauðr þá svá móðr, at hann fell á bak aftr, en galtinn trað hann undir fótum sér, en gat eigi bitit, er af var trýnit. Þá kom at glatunshundtík mikil á skipit ok hafði stórar vígtenn. Hún reif gat á náranum á geltinum ok rakti þar út þarmana ok hljóp fyrir borð. En Hárekr var þá í mannslíki ok steypti sér fyrir borð eftir henni, ok sukku þau til grunna, ok kom hvárki upp síðan, ok þótti mönnum sem þat mundi verit hafa Busla kerling, því at hún sást aldri síðan.

That so happened now, while the brothers had gathered their forces and had more forces. Because of a heavy box on the ear from Herraud, King Godmund had become unfit to make this journey, and so the brothers had the whole responsibility. They had forty ships from Glaesir Plain, and added many along the way. They came to Bjarmaland and found King Harek, their father, just after Bosi and Herraud had left. King Harek was now fully aware that they had taken away his daughter. He had gathered his own forces and had fifteen large ships. He struck out with the brothers, and they had in all sixteen ships and they sailed now to Gautland.Now to speak of Herraud and Bosi, that they gathered forces when they came home, and wanted to be prepared, if anyone was following them, and to hold the wedding if there was good leisure time for this. Thvari had had spears, axes and arrows made while they were away, and a large army now came together.They heard now that King Harek and his sons had come to the land, and there was a lot of commotion. Herraud now had his ships go out against them; he had a large force of freemen, although much less than Harek. Smidur Thvarason set his ship against the king's and Bosi against Hraerek, Herraud against Siggeir. There is no need to ask about the matter. A fierce battle broke out and both of them were the most vehement. The battle had not been under way for long, when Siggeirr boarded Herraud's ship and killed one of his men. Herraud's forecastle man was named Snidill. He shot a spear at Siggeirr. He grabbed the spear in the air, and shot it back to the person who had sent it. The spear flew right through Siggeirr, right to the ships prow, so that it pinned him against it. Herraud then turned toward Siggeirr and went after him with a halbard, so that it went through the shield, but Siggeir turned the shield so hard that Herraud lost hold of it. He hit Herraud, on his helmet and took off a fourth part of it, and following that his right ear. But Herraud grabbed a large club from the deck and hit him on the nose so that the visor went into his face, and broke his nose and all of his teeth were knocked out. He fell backwards, into his ship and fell into unconsciousness and lay there for a long time. Smidur fought bravely. King Harek came up to his ship with twelve men, and caused much damage. Smidur turned now toward him and struck at him with a short edged sword, which the old woman Busla had given him, since Harek could not be hurt, except with a weapon that had been charmed by a witch. The blow caught him in the face across the teeth, and knocked them all out. His palate was broken and both lips cut, and a lot of blood poured out of his mouth. But this blow upset him so that he became a flying dragon and spewed poison all over the ship, killing a lot of men. He dived down at Smidur and swallowed him. They saw now where a bird flew over the land, which was called skergripr. It had a head so huge and fearsome, that it was like a devil, and attacked the dragon, and there was a terrible battle. And so ended their combat, that they both fell down, and skergripr fell down into the sea, but the dragon came down into Siggeirr's ship. Herraud was already there and hurled the club with both hands. He struck at Siggeirr, and the blow came on his ear, his entire skull was broken and he was cast overboard and never came up again. King Harek then came to and was transformed into a boar. He gripped Herraud with his teeth, and tore off all his coat of mail, fastened its teeth in his breast, and ripped both nipples down to the bone. Herraud struck the boar's snout, and cut it off in below the eyes. Herraud was then so exhausted, that he fell on his back, but the boar trod him underfoot, although it was unable to bite because it's snout had been torn off. Then a great glutton-dog with huge teeth came onto the ship. It tore a hole in the boar's groin, and tore out its guts, and jumped overboard. Harek was then in human form, and dived overboard after it, and they sank to the bottom, and neither came up again. People thought that this must have been the witch Busla, since she was never seen again after that.

15. Þeir fóstbræðr fengu sigr.

15: The Foster-brothers Achieve Victory

Bögu-Bósi er nú kominn upp á skip Hræreks ok barðist alldrengiliga. Hann sá, hvar faðir sinn flaut með borðinu mjök máttdreginn. Stökk hann nú fyrir borð ok hjálpaði honum ok kom honum upp í skip sitt. Þá var Hrærekr kominn á skipit ok hafði drepit margan mann. Bósi kom þá upp á skipit ok var mjök móðr, en þó réðst hann í móti Hræreki ok hjó í skjöld hans ok klauf hann allan niðr í gegnum ok af honum fótinn í ristarliðnum. Sverðit kom í vindásinn ok stökk sundr í miðju. Hrærekr hjó á móti. Bósi snerist undan á hæli. Sverðit slapp af hjálminum ok niðr á herðarnar ok reif af honum alla brynjuna, ok fekk hann sár á herðablöðunum, ok gekk svá niðr um allt bakit, at öll klæðin rifnuðu af honum, svá at hann var nakinn allr eftir, ok af vinstra fæti hælbeinit. Bósi þreif upp ás einn, en Hrærekr vildi þá hlaupa fyrir borð. Bósi sló hann í sundr við hástokkinum, svá at sér fell hvárr hluturinn. Var nú ok fallinn mestr hluti liðs þeira, en þeir þágu grið, sem eftir lifðu. Þeir kanna nú lið sitt, ok var eigi eftir meir en hundrað manns liðfært, ok áttu þeir fóstbræðr nú miklum sigri at hrósa. Skiptu menn nú herfangi, en þeir váru græddir, sem græðandi váru.

Baga-Bosi now came up to Hraerek's ship and fought quite valiantly. He saw, how his father was floating quite exhausted. He jumped overboard and helped him and brought him up to his ship. Hraerek had come aboard and had killed many men. Bosi then came up on the ship and was quite exhausted, but he lunged at Hraerek and clove his shield all through, and cut off his foot at the ankle joint. The sword came to the windlass and cut it asunder in the middle. Hraerek struck against him. Bosi turned around. The sword struck his helmet and down on the shoulders, so that he was wounded in the shoulder blades, and so it went down his whole back. All of his clothes were ripped off of him, so that he was naked, and the heel bone cut off his left foot. Bosi thrust up a piece of a yard arm, but Hraerek tried to jump overboard. Bosi struck him asunder with the yard arm, so that both parts fell. By now, most of their forces had fallen, but those who survived were spared. They then took a tally of their forces, and not more than a hundred men were still able bodied, but the brothers had a great victory to boast. They divided the booty among their men, and tended to those who could be healed.

16. Herrauðr ok Bósi settust at ríkjum.

**16: Bosi and Herraud Settle in Their Kingdoms

Síðan bjuggust þeir við brúðlaupum sínum Herrauðr ok Bósi, ok skorti nú eigi tilföng bæði nóg ok góð, ok stóð veizlan mánuð, ok váru menn með virðuligum gjöfum á burt leystir. Tók Herrauðr þá konungsnafn yfir öllum þeim ríkjum, sem faðir hans hafði stýrt. Litlu síðar söfnuðu þeir liði ok fóru til Bjarmalands, ok beiddi Bósi sér þar viðtöku ok taldi þat til, at Edda ætti land allt eftir föður sinn, er nú var orðin eiginkona hans, ok segist hann svá helzt mega bæta landsmönnum þann mannskaða, sem þeir höfðu af honum fengit, at vera konungr yfir þeim ok styrkja þá með lögum ok réttarbótum. Ok með því at þeir váru höfðingjalausir, þá sá þeir engan sinn kost vænna en taka hann sér til konungs. Var Edda þeim kunnig áðr at öllum góðum siðum. Gerðist Bósi nú konungr yfir Bjarmalandi.

Hann átti son við frillu sinni, þeiri er hann herti jarlinn hjá. Sá hét Sviði inn sókndjarfi; hann var faðir Vilmundar viðutan. Bósi fór austr á Glæsivöllu ok sætti þá Goðmund konung ok Herrauð. Þau Hleiðr unnust mikit. Þeira dóttir var Þóra borgarhjörtr, er Ragnarr loðbrók átti. Svá hefir sagt verit, at í gammsegginu því, sem þeir sóttu til Bjarmalands, hafi fundizt yrmlingr sá, er gullslitr var á, ok gaf Herrauðr konungr hann dóttur sinni í tannfé, en hún lét leggja gull undir hann, ok óx hann svá mikit, at hann lá í hring um skemmu hennar, ok varð svá grimmr, at engi þorði næri honum at koma nema konungr ok sá, er honum færði mat. Uxa gamlan þurfti ormrinn í mál, ok þótti hann in mesta meinvættr. Heitstrengdi Herrauðr konungr þess at gifta þeim einum manni Þóru, dóttur sína, sem þyrði at ganga í skemmuna til máls við hana ok af réði orminn. En þat þorði engi fyrr at gera en til kom Ragnarr, sonr Sigurðar hrings. Sá Ragnarr var síðan kallaðr loðbrók, ok tók hann nafn af klæðum sínum, er hann lét gera sér, þá er hann vann orminn. Ok lúkum vér hér nú sögu Bögu-Bósa.

Afterward Bosi and Herraud arranged their weddings, and there was no shortage of supplies, both ample and good. The feast lasted a month, and men were sent away afterward with worthy gifts. Herraud took the name of king over all of the kingdom, which his father had ruled. A little later they gathered their forces and went to Bjarmaland. Bosi demanded acceptance there, and it so happened that Edda had inherited her father's land. She was now made his wife. He said that it would be the best way to compensate the landsmen for the loss of men which he had brought them, and for him to be king over them and strengthen them with laws and justice. And since they were without a leader, they realized that there was no better choice than to make him their king. Edda was known to them before, as well as all of her good qualities. So Bosi was made king over Bjarmaland.

He had a son with his lover, who had hardened his earl for him. His son was names Svid the Valiant; he was the father of Vilmund the Far-out.Bosi traveled eastward to Glaesir Plain, and reconciled King Godmund and Herraud. Herraud and Hleidi loved each other very much. Their daughter was Thora Borgarhjart, who gave birth to Ragnar Lodbrok.It has been said, that inside the vulture's egg, which they brought from Bjarmaland, was found a little snake, golden in color, and King Herraud gave it to his daughter as a teething gift. She put a piece of gold under the snake, and it grew so big, that it encircled her bower, and was so savage that no one dared come near her except the king, and those who brought it food, The snake needed an old ox for each meal, and everyone thought it was the greatest monstrosity. Herraud vowed solemnly that he would only marry Thora, his daughter, to the man who dared to go into her bower and destroy the snake. But no one dared to do that until Ragnar, son of Sigurd Hring. So Ragnar was afterward called Lodbrokar, or “hairy britches” and he took the name from his clothes, which he had made, when he conquered the snake. And now we end the saga of Baga-Bosa.

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SCHOLARSHIP & COMMENTARY

Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia, 1993:

Herrauds och Bosa Saga, edited by Olaf Verelius, 1672

"The saga is the proto-type of the fairy-tale like bridal-quest narrative. The triple kidnapping of the princess contrasts with the sexual scenes with the farmer's daughter. It is not the invention of the author but rather a prose paraphrase of a widespread type of erotic popular song."