The Saga of Fridthjof the Bold
Chapter VII
Angantyr
was in Effia when Fridthjof landed there with his men. It was his custom
when he drank that some man should sit at the watch-window of his drinking-hall,
and look toward the wind and keep watch there. This man was to drink form
a horn, and whenever one horn was emptied by him another was filled. He
who was keeping watch at the time when Fridthjof landed hight Hallvard.
Hallvard saw the coming of Fridthjof and his men, and sang this stave:
In
the violent storm
I
see on board Ellide
Six
men a-bailing
And
seven a-rowing.
The
man in the prow,
Is
like Fridthjof the Bold,
The
valiant in battle.
And when he had drunk from the horn he threw it in through the window,
and said to the woman who gave him drink:
Thou
fair-walking woman!
Take
from the floor
The
horn turned over,
Which
I have emptied!
Men
I see on the sea,
Exhausted
by storm and rain,
Who
our help may need
Ere
the harbor they reach.
The jarl heard what Hallvard said, and asked for tidings. Says Hallvard:
Some men have landed here; they are quite exhausted, but I think they
are good fellows, and one of them is so doughty that he is carrying the
other men ashore. Said the jarl then: Go to meet them, and receive them
in a seemly manner, if it should happen to be Fridthjof, son of my friend,
the herser Thorstein; he is a most excellent man in respect to every accomplishment.
Then took up the word the man who hight Atle, a great viking, and said
he: Now it shall be found out whether Fridthjof, as it is said, has made
a solemn vow never to be the first in praying for peace from anybody.
Together with Atle there were ten bad and ambitious men, who often went
into berserks-gang. When they met Fridthjof they took their weapons. Said
Atle then: Now it seems good. Fridthjof, that you turn this way, for as
eagles fight face to face with their claws, so must we also, Fridthjof:
and moreover, now is the time for you to keep your word, and not be the
first to ask for peace. Fridthjof turned to meet them, and sang this stave:
Succeed
shall you never
In
cowing us down,
You
fainting cowards,
Dwellers
of these isles!
Rather
would I go
Alone
to fight
With
you men ten
Than
sue for peace.
Then Hallvard came to them and said: the jarl desires me to bid you all
welcome, and no one shall insult you. Fridthjof said that he heartily
accepted this greeting of welcome, and yet he was prepared to take either
peace or war. Thereupon they went to call on the jarl, who received Fridthjof
and all his men kindly. They spent the winter with the jarl, and were
held in great honor by him; the latter frequently made questions about
their voyages. This stave sang Bjorn:
During
ten whole days,
And
eight days more,
We,
fellows so merry,
Continued
a-baling,
While
billows dashed o’er us
From
both sides.
Made answer the jarl: Greatly has king Helge vexed you, and evil are such
kings as do nothing but put people to death by witchcraft: but I know,
Fridthjof, says Angantyr, what your errand hither is; you are sent hither
to gather tribute, and thereto I can speedily give the answer, that king
Helge shall have no tribute from me, but you may have as much fee from
me as you please, and you may call it tribute or anything else you have
a mind to. Fridthjof said he would accept the fee.