Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Side 258
Appendix II
The Flying Dragon Episode
(cf. pp. 193-95)
Erex Saga
Ok einn dag heyra |?au ogurlig læti; pvi næst så J)au hvar einn flugdreki
flygr ok hefir einn mann i sér alvåpnadan, ok hefir solgit hann meir en i
beltisstad. Hann lifåi enn. Drekanum var5 madrinn j^ungr ok flaug lågt.
Erex harmar nu dauda dyrdligs drengs ok heitr af ollu hjarta å gud sér til
hjålpar, en manninum til lifs. Ridr sfdan fram at honum med oruggu
hjarta, vill heldr missa sitt Uf en leita eigi vid at hjålpa Jæim manni, ok
hoggr å bæxl drekanum, svå at hann kiknadi. Vid J)etta hogg lætr hann
upp manninn ok vendir sér at Erex, ok hleypr nu at honum med gapanda
munni. Erex hleypr af baki hestinum, ok leggr sinu spjoti i munn drekans
af ollu afli til hjartans, ok féll hann daudr å ess Erex, ok fékk pat J^egar
bana. Nu gengr Erex at [reim manni, sem å vellinum lå i oviti, ok hans fru
Evida, ok leita fiau honum Hfs, sem J^au megu. Ok sem hann raknar vid,
Jrakkar hann Jreim hjartanliga sina lifgjof. På spyrja |?au hann at nafni.
Hann svarar: “Ek heiti Plato, Vigdæiborgar hertogi, systursonr Herra
Valvens af Artus gardi. En pessi dreki tok mik i morgin sofanda af
minum skildi, ok er min fru ok hirdsveinar skamt å burt hedan leitandi
min. Nu gef ek mitt riki ok mik i pitt vald.” (48:9-50:5)
(One day they heard terrible noises and immediately thereafter they saw
a winged dragon flying along with a fully armed man in its jaws. And the
dragon had swallowed him to beyond the waist, but the man was still
alive. The dragon flew rather low because the man was heavy. Erex was
distressed now at the thought that such a splendid fellow should die, and
he appealed to God with all his heart for help in saving the life of that
man. Then he rode toward the dragon with fearless heart; he preferred to
lose his own life rather than not try to help that man. Erex struck at the
shoulder of the dragon, so that it recoiled from the blow. At this blow the
dragon let go of the man and turned upon Erex, hurling itself at him with
gaping jaws. Erex leaped off his horse and with all his might he thrust his
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