74.  For this translation we are indebted to a literary friend who furnished us with it many years ago.

75.  Hervarar Saga, cap. vii.–xviii. pp. 57–221.

76.  

Profane not, youth—it is not thine
To judge the spirit of our line—
The bold berserkars’ rage divine,
Through whose inspiring, deeds are wrought
Past human strength and human thought.
When full upon his gloomy soul
The champion feels the influence roll,
He swims the lake, he leaps the wall,
Heeds not the depth nor plumbs the fall—
Unshielded, mailless, on he goes
Singly against a host of foes;
Their spears he holds as withered reeds,
Their mails like maidens’ silken weeds:
One ‘gainst a hundred will he strive,
Take countless wounds, and yet survive.
How rush the eagles to his cry
Of slaughter and of victory;
And blood he quaffs like Odin’s bowl,
Deep drinks his sword—deep drinks his soul,
And all that meet him in his ire
He gives to ruin, rout, and fire.
Then, like gorged lion, seeks some den,
And couches till he’s man agen.
Harold the Dauntless, Canto iii. st. 8.

77.  Saxonis Grammatici Hist. Dan., passim. Ihre, Glossarium Suio-Gothicum, sub voce Berserker. Depping, Histoire des Expeditions Maritimes des Normands, tom. i. chap. 2.

78.  Saxonis Grammatici Hist. Dan. lib. v.

79.  Son of the celebrated chief of this name. See before, page 77.

80.  See Introduction, sketch of Odin’s life.

81.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. vi.–viii. pp. 102–149. Ynglinga Saga, cap. xxix. (apud Snorronis Heimskringlam, tom. i.). Eyrbiggia Saga, passim.

82.  According to the ancient geographers, the flat earth lay in the centre, while the sea, like a circle, surrounded it. This sea was believed to contain many wonders.

83.  Saxo evidently alludes to that part of the coast situated on the Arctic Ocean, near the North Cape.

84.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. viii. p. 160–162.

85.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danorum, lib. viii. p. 162–164.

86.  These giants are famous in the Scandinavian mythology. “From the wings of one,” says the lay of Vafthrudnis, “whose abode is in the extremity of the heavens, and who has the eagle’s form, comes all the wind that blows on mankind.”—Edda Sæmundar hinns Froda, 1-21.

87.  To us these proverbs seem to have no great merit: they are, however, somewhat obscure.

88.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. viii. p. 164, &c.

89.  Query, Had Scott this legend in view when, in his Harold the Dauntless, he takes the Durham witch to the place where Zernabek was to be invoked?

90.  See before, page 68.

91.  Mallet, Histoire de Dannemarc, tom. iii. Saga af Olaf Trygveson (apud Snorronem, Heimskringla, tom. i.). Saxonis Grammatici Hist. Dan., lib. viii., ix.

92.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. ix. Mallet, Histoire, tom. iii.

93.  Sigurd and Siward are frequently conversive.

94.  See before, page 67.

95.  S. Remberti Vita S. Anscharil (apud Langebek, Scriptores Rerum Danicarum, tom. ii.). Suenonis Aggonis Historia Regum Danicæ (apud Langebek, tom. i. p. 48, &c.). Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. ix. Adamus Bremensis, Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. i. Mallet, Histoire, tom. iii. liv. i.

96.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. x. Suenonis Aggonis Historia Regum Danorum, cap. 3, 4. (apud Langebek, Scriptores Rerum Danicarum, tom. i p. 48, &c.). Gulielmus Gemmeticensis, De Ducibus Normanniæ, lib. iv. Ordericus Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. viii. Sigebertus Gemblacensis, Chronicon, A. D. 949. Wace, Roman de Rem, tom. i. Mallet, Histoire de Dannemarc, tom. iii. liv. 1. Depping, Histoire des Expeditions Maritimes des Normands, tom. ii. chap. 10.

97.  Illis temporibus Otto imperater Daciam sibi fecerat tributariam.

98.  Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. ii. cap. 11.

99.  Mallet, Histoire, tom. iii. p. 106, &c.

100.  Mallet, Histoire, tom. iii. liv. i.

101.  Adamus Bremensis, Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. ii. cap. 19.

102.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. x. Suenonis Aggonis Historia Regum Daniæ, cap. 4.

103.  This is another illustration of the truth contained in the fable of “The Three Black Crows.” Mallet pointed out the absurdity of the relation; yet modern historians have continued to adopt it.

104.  Adamus Bremensis, Historia Ecclesiastica, cap. 72. Suenonis Aggonis Historia Regum Daniæ, cap. 4. Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. x.

105.  “My beard is no traitor!”—Sir Thomas More. Is there any thing new under the sun?

106.  Saga of Olafi Tryggva-Syni, cap. 42–46. (apud Heimskringlam Snorronis, tom. i. p. 234, &c.). Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. x.

107.  Europe during the Middle Ages, vol. iv. p. 22, &c.

108.  See, in the third chapter of this book, the adventures of Olaf.

109.  These circumstances, so far as Olaf is concerned, will not be understood by the reader, unless he refers to that monarch’s life, in the chapter devoted to the history of Norway.

110.  See his reign, in the history of Norway, in the present volume.

111.  Saxon Chronicle, sub annis.

112.  Saxon Chronicle, sub annis. Matthæis Westmonasteriensis, Historia, p. 391. Wilhelmus Malmsburiensis, p. 64.

113.  Saxon Chronicle, sub annis. Turner’s Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. chap. ix.

114.  Osbernus, Vita S. Elphagi (apud Wharton, Anglia Sacra, tom. ii. p. 123–141.). Chronica Saxonicum, sub annis.

115.  Saxon Chronicle, sub annis. Turner’s Anglo-Saxons, vol. ii. p. 321.

116.  The Saxon Chronicle. Saga af Olafi Tryggva-Syni.

117.  See page 5.

118.  Kings of Sweden from the first century before our Saviour’s birth to the introduction of Christianity into Sweden; compiled from the Landfedgatal and from the Heimskringla of Snorro Sturleson:—

1. Dynasty of the Ynglings.
  A.C.
Odin 70
Niord 20
  A.D.
Freyer Yngve 10
Fiolner 14
Svegdir 34
Vanland or Valland 48
Visbur 98
Domald 130
Domar 162
Dyggve 190
Dag-Spaka the Wise 220
Agne 260
Alrek and Erik 280
Yngve and Alf 300
Hugleik 302
Jorunder and Erik 312
Aun hinn Gamle the Old 448
Egill Tunnadolgi 456
Ottar Vendilkraka 460
Adils 505
Eystein 531
Yngvar 545
Braut-Onund 565
Ingiald Illrada 623
Olaf Tractelia exiled about 630
2. Dynasty of the Skioldungs.
  A.D.
Ivar Vidfadme, died 647
Harald Hildetand 735
Sigurd Ring 750
Ragnar Lodbrok 794
Biorn Ironside 804
Erik Biornson 808
Erik Raefillson 820
Emund and Biorn 859
Erik Emundson 873
Biorn Erikson 923
Erik the Victorious 993
Erik Arsael 1001

The figures, it must be observed, are in a majority of cases purely conjectural. They have been adopted after the most careful investigation, by native critics; and we will not be so presumptuous as to reject them, especially when some of them are known to be correct.

119.  A: Kings of Sweden, according to the Universal History:—

1. Gylfo.
2. Odin.
3. Niord.
4. Frode.
5. Sigtrug.
6. Swibdager.
7. Asmund.
8. Uffo.
9. Hunding.
10. Regner.
11. Holward.
12. Attil I.
13. Hoder.
14. Rodern.
15. Attil II.
16. Hogmor and Hogrin.
17. Alaric.
18. Eric.
19. Halden.
20. Siward.
21. Eric II.
22. Halden II.
23. Ungwin.
24. Regnald.
25. Asmund I.
26. Haquin.
27. Gothar.
28. Adel.
29. Ostan.
30. Ingvar.
31. Asmund II.
32. Siward II.
33. Hirot.
34. Ingel.
35. Olaus Traetelga I.
36. Charles.
37. Bero or Biorn III.
38. Olaf Tretelga.
39. Ingo.
40. Eric III., surnamed Waderhead.
41. Eric IV., surnamed Segersell, or the Victorious.
42. Eric V., surnamed Stenchil Milde, or Happy-born.

The authors admit that they have omitted several names, probably from a doubt whether the kings in question ever reigned. Yet some of the names in both lists may be proved to be the same. How correct this? Doubtless the kings of Gothia sometimes reigned at Upsal, and vice versa. Indeed there is proof for this conjecture.

120.  Saxo Grammaticus. The Universal History. The Ynglinga Saga, &c.

121.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 5.

122.  This was also the name of Thor’s hammer or thunderbolt.

123.  The same accident is related by Saxo of a Danish king.

124.  See Introduction, page 31.

125.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 11–15. (apud Snorronis Heimskringlam, tom. i.).

126.  See Introduction, page 33.

127.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 15–22.

128.  See before, page 86.

129.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 22–29, p. 25–35. Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, p. 122.

130.  The reader who may wish to see how beautifully Saxo has confounded these simple events, may turn to the second book of his history.

131.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 29–36, p. 35–45.

132.  A hero of that race.

133.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 36–45. p. 45–54.

134.  Ibid., cap. 45, 46.

135.  Ynglinga Saga, passim.

136.  Saxo—Snorro—Johannes Magnus—Torfœus, in multis locis.

137.  Saxo—Snorro—Johannes Magnus—Torfœus, in multis locis.

138.  See before, page 31.

139.  See the extract from Wheaton’s History of the Northmen, p. 40.

140.  Saxo—Snorro—Johannes Magnus—Tacitus.

141.  Initâ Gothiâ.

142.  See before, page 21.

143.  See before, page 24.

144.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. i. Johannes Magnus, Historia Gothorum, page 14, &c. Loccenius, Historia Suevica, lib. i. Erici Olai Historia Suevorum Gothorumque, lib. i.

145.  See Introduction, page 42.

146.  page 57.

147.  See before, page 132.

148.  page 132.

149.  Authorities:—Saxo Grammaticus, lib. vii. Snorro Sturleson, cap. 22–29. Joannes Magnus, lib. i. Loccenius, lib. i. Ericus Olaus, lib. i.

150.  See page 134.

151.  See page 135.

152.  See page 136.

153.  See before, page 137.

154.  Saxonis Grammatici, passim. Snorro Sturleson, Heimskringla, cap. 29–46. Loccenius, Historia Suevica, lib. i. and ii. Erici Olai Historia, lib. i.

155.  Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, lib. viii. and ix. Loccenius, Historia Suevica, lib. ii. Erici Olai Historia, lib. i. Mallet, Histoire de Dannemarc, tom. iii. liv. i.

156.  Authorities:—Saxo—Loccenius—Eric Olaus—Joannes Magnus.

157.  See the next chapter.

158.  Erici Olai Historia Suevorum, lib. i. p. 20, 21. Loccenii Historia Suecana, lib. ii. p. 49–51.

159.  See Introduction, page 8.

160.  Torfœus, Historia Rerum Norvegicarum, tom. i. To this work we refer the more curious reader.

161.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 47. (apud Heimskringlam Snorronis, tom. i. p. 56.). Torfœus, Historia Norvegica, tom. i.

Chronology to illustrate the reigns of the Ynglings in Sweden and Norway,
by Schoning, editor of Snorro’s Heimskringla.[162]
A.C.
105. Birth of Odin.
90. ——— Niord.
75. ——— Skiold.
65. ——— Freyr.
40. Odin’s arrival in the north.
35. Birth of Semming.
32. ——— Fiolner.
17. ——— Frode.
A.D.
1. Swegdir.
34. Vanlaud.
45. Drifa.
67. Visbur.
100. Domald.
127. Daup.
133. Domar.
146. Dyggve.
148. Drotta.
170. Dan Mikillati.
191. Dag.
216. Agne.
220. Froste.
235. Frode II.
241. Alrek.
245. Skialfa.
262. Gudlaug.
265. Yngve II.
267. Alf.
290. Jorund.
290. Halfdan I.
292. Hugleik.
295. Hako. Gylaug.
300. Hagbard.
300. Fridleif III.
310. Starkater II.
316. Aune.
338. Ale.
370. Frode IV. Fraekne.
386. Egill.
391. Augvald, king of Rogaland.
419. Ottar Vendilkraka.
438. Helge.
446. Adils.
460. Ale, the Uplander.
465. Godgiest.
479. Hrolf Krake.
485. Eystein.
510. Solve, from Niardey.
518. Yngvar.
551. Braut-Aunund.
554. Halfdan.
565. Gudraud.
577. Hiordvard Ylfing.
580. Ingiald.
587. Ivar Vidfadme.
600. Asa.
613. Olaf Trætelja.
620. Solveiga or Solva.
630. Eystein Hardrade.
640. Ingiald.
658. Halfdan Huitbein.
663. Asa, daughter of Eystein.
677. Eirik, the son of Agnar.
691. Gudraud.
705. Eystein.
705. King Skiold.
710. Hilda, daughter of Eirik.
710. Dag, king of Westmaur.
738. Halfdan Millde.
738. King Alfarin.
743. Hlifa, daughter of Dag.
770. King Eystein.
771. Alfgeir.
771. King Gudreyd Mikillati.
774. Alfhilda, daughter of Alfarin.
804. Olaf, Alf of Gierstaden.
805. King Gandalf.
806. King Haugne.
823. Halfdan the Black.
824. King Gudreid died.
832. Ragnhilda, the mother of Harold Harfagre, born.
833. Rognvald born.
841. Halfdan the Black made king of Agder and Westfold.
847. King Sigurd the Stag died.
851. Halfdan made king of Sogne.
852. Takes to wife Ragnhilda, daughter of Sigurd the Stag.
853. Harald Harfagre born.
861. Nadodd discovers Iceland.
863. King Halfdan dies, and is succeeded by Harald.
864. Gardar visits Iceland.
865. Harald’s war with king Gandolf and others.
866. Alfheim subdued by Harald.
867. He undertakes an expedition to Drontheim.
867. Floke sails to Iceland.
869. Harald subdues Naumdal; marries Asa.
870. Compels Vermeland to submit.
870. Ingiolf visits Iceland.
871. Harald leads an expedition to western Gothland, and overthrows the Goths in battle.
872. Takes Snæfrida to wife. Second expedition into Drontheim.
875. Ingulf first settles in Iceland.
880. Harald’s nuptials with Gyda.
881. Nordmor and Raumadal submit to his arms.
882. Conquers Sunnmore.
883. Occupies the district of Fiord.
885. Is victor in the battle of Harfur’s Bay; becomes master of all Norway.
886. Visits Halogaland.
888. Undertakes an expedition to the western sea.
890. Cuts his hair, and receives the surname of Harfagre.
890. Thorolf is killed in Halogaland.
891. Queldulf and Skalgrim, having killed the two sons of duke Guthrum, go to Iceland.
893. Rognvald, jarl of Mörio, killed.
894. King Harald marries Ragnhilda.
895. Harald’s expedition to the Orkney Islands.
895. Hrolfus, or Rollo, compelled to leave Norway.
896. Enters Neustria or Normandy.
898. Eric called Blodöxe.
903. Harald divides his kingdom between his sons.
910. Eric of the Bloody Axe undertakes a piratical expedition.
918. Takes Gunhilda to wife. Kills Biorn’s brother.
923. Hako, afterwards Athelstane’s godson, born.
931. Sent to England.
932. Harald’s third expedition to the western sea.
933. Resigns the kingdom to his son Eric.
934. Harald, afterwards called Grafeld, born.
935. Halfdan the Black, king of Drontheim, dies.
936. Harald Harfagre dies.
937. King Erik Blodöxe kills his brothers Gudred and Olaf.
937. Hako, Athelstane’s godson, received as king by the people of Drontheim.
938. King Erik Blodöxe, forced to abandon his kingdom and Norway.
938. Hako Jarl, the son of Sigurd, born.
939. Erik made king of Northumberland.
940. King Hako publishes the code of Gulathing.
941. Publishes the code of Frosta.
941. Death of Athelstane.
943. Jamtland, and part of Helsing, added by king Hako to his dominions.
952. King Erik Blodöxe falls in battle.
953. Erik, the son of Harald, and his brothers, infest Norway.
935. Hako’s expedition to Denmark.
956. The Christian religion attempted to be introduced into Norway.
957. Part of Vikia occupied by the sons of Erik. King Hako defeats them and the Danes.
958. In another battle, in the island of Fredey, they are again vanquished. 958. King Harald Grenske, father of St. Olaf, born.
963. King Hako dies of his wounds.
963. The sons of Erik made kings of Norway.
965. Jarl Sigurd killed.
968. The emperor Otho I.’s expedition into Denmark.
968. Sigmund, son of Breste, born.
969. The sons of Erik slay the kings Trygve and Gudred.
969. Olaf, son of Trygve, born.
969. Jarl Erik, the son of Hako, born.
970. Jarl Hako flees into Denmark.
971. Returns to Drontheim.
972. Olaf, son of Trygve, comes to Esthonia.
974. Klype sent to England by king Sigurd.
975. King Sigurd dies. A grievous famine in Norway.
976. Jarl Hako goes to Denmark.
976. The emperor Otho II.’s expedition to Denmark.
977. King Harald Graafeld dies.
978. Harald, the son of Gorm, received in the kingdom of Norway. Hako made jarl of Norway.
978. Olaf Trygveson comes to the palace of Valdemar, king of Holmgard.
979. King Ragenfred recovers part of Norway.
980. Overthrown in battle, and forced to leave Norway.
981. Erik kills Skopte.
982. Harald son of Gorm’s expedition into Norway.
986. Olaf Trygveson marries Gyra.
988. Otho III.’s expedition into Denmark.
989. Gyra, the wife of Olaf Trygveson, dies.
990. Death of Harald, son of Gorm.
993. Olaf Trygveson baptized.
993. Saint Olaf born.
994. Jarl Hako’s war with the Jomsberg pirates.
996. Jarl Hako killed; Olaf Trygveson made king of Norway.
998. Saint Olaf baptized.
1000. Battle in which king Olaf loses his life and kingdom.

The preceding list differs in some respects from that of Suhm. We give only the kings from the Tree-cutter to the Saint.

  Died A.D.
Olaf Trætelia 640
Halfdan Whitben 700
Eystein 730
Halfdan Millde 784
Gudred Mikillati 824
Olaf Geirstada 840
Halfdan Swart 863
Harald Haarfager 934
Erik Blodöxe 940
Hako the Good 963
Harald Graafeld 977
Hako Jarl 995
Olaf Trygveson 1000
Olaf the Saint 1030

162.  Here are Danish and Gothic as well as Swedish princes and chiefs who had not the regal title. Schoning’s orthography, which we shall not alter, often differs from that which we have adopted in the text.

163.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 48–52. p. 57–60.

164.  Ynglinga Saga, cap. 53–55. p. 60–64.

165.  Snorro Sturleson, Saga Halfdanar Swarta, cap. 1-3. (apud Heimskringlam, tom. i. p. 65, &c.).