Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Side 208

was not one of the Arthurian sagas but Pidriks saga, a compilation of
tales about Dietrich von Bern, which were translated from German sour-
ces in the thirteenth century, probably in Norway. One of the episodes in
Pidriks saga contains all the distinguishing features of the flying dragon
episode in Erex saga (see Appendix II).
The two dragon episodes share essential elements: three participants in
each case - Erex, Evida, and the victim on one hånd, and Fidrikr, Fasold,
and the victim on the other; a low-flying dragon, an armed man in the
animal’s jaws; the circumstances surrounding the abduction. The manner
of constructing a literary entity out of the elements differs markedly,
however. In Pidriks saga the author alternates authorial report with
dialogue; the sequence of events differs from that in Erex saga. In both
works we learn the details of the abduction from the victim, but in Erex
saga the information is not imparted until the end of the scene, whereas
in Pidriks saga the victim biurts out what has happened immediately
after requesting help. Throughout the rescue efforts, the victim in Erex
saga, unlike in Pidriks saga, remains unconscious. Authorial focus in
Pidriks saga is on the beast - through extensive description - and on the
victim - through extended dialogue, or to be more exact, monologue,
since Fidrikr and Fasold do not reply with words, only with action. In Erex
saga the author shifts the focus of interest to the hero by supplying
motivation and reporting - indirectly - his prayer for assistance. In effect,
in both sagas the dragon is pitted against two opponents: Fidrikr and
Fasold on one hånd, and Erex and God - the latter’s intervention is self-
understood because of Erex’ prayer - on the other. Erex saga contains a
number of religio-didactic comments and hence it comes as no surprise
that Erex should call on God prior to such a dangerous undertaking. The
detail is lacking in the flying dragon episode in Pidriks saga, but the idea
of seeking divine help may have come from Pidriks saga nonetheless, but
from a different episode - one that also tells of a struggle with a dragon
(see p. 322). In this other episode Fidrikr calls upon God for help, but
unlike Erex - whose first thought is to ask for divine assistance - Fidrikr
prays only when he realizes that his sword is powerless against the beast.
Fidrik’s prayer sounds almost like bargaining with God. The hero reminds
the Lord that this is the first time he has ever requested divine assistance,
and appeals to God’s sense of responsibility: if God doesn’t help Fidrikr,
his cause is lost.
The role played by the victim in the dragon episode differs consider-
ably in the two sagas. In Erex saga the focus is on Erex, and we do not
hear from the victim, who is unconscious throughout the struggle, until
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