Viking Tales of the North
Saga of Fridthjof the Bold
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.
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