Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series A - 01.06.1997, Side 373

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ted the King of England’s daughter. Mírmann, when asked for his counsel,
made a cautious reply, but said the king must try how it would turn out, so the
king agreed.
Ch.5. Emissaries were sent to England to ask for the king’s daughter in
marriage. The king and his nobles agreed, and so did Katrín, though she men-
tioned that Hlöðvir was old. The emissaries returned to Hlöðvir, who had
little to say, except to thank them. At the appointed time Katrín was fetched
and the wedding feast held.
Ch.6. The princess was beautiful, gently-spoken, generous, and popular.
But her thoughts soon turned to Mírmann’s exceptional qualities and skills,
and in a short time her desire was set on him, and not the king. She concealed
it, except from Mírmann, but he rejected her love and treated all her kindnes-
ses as if deriving from his relation with the king. He told the king what
honour he received from the queen, and the king understood what was
happening.
Ch.7. At this time Hlöðvir and his people were converted to Christianity.
So was Mírmann. Those who would not accept the faith went off to Spain,
which was ruled by Earl Bæringr, famous for his valour, or to Earl Hermann.
Hermann and Brígiða sent a letter to Hlöðvir regretting his conversion, de-
manding the return of Mírmann and threatening enmity. Hlöðvir showed the
letter to Mírmann, who was not surprised at its contents. Hlöðvir wished to
send missionaries to them, although Mírmann doubted they would have any
success. Hermann sternly rejected the missionaries, but Brígiða told them he
might soften if Mírmann came himself with the same message.
Ch.8. Hlöðvir asked Mírmann to go and try to convert his father. He was
apprehensive about the outcome, but went, with a well-armed retinue. Brígiða
was pleased at his arrival, but Hermann refused to hear the message from
Hlöðvir. Mírmann thought he should try again. He dreamed that a bear at-
tacked him, and he ordered his men to be in a state of readiness. He got his
mother and others to accompany him.
Ch.9. They sat down beside the earl in his temple near the god Maúmet.
The earl had his matchless sword Ýlfingr half-drawn. Mírmann gave Hlöðvir’s
message about their friendship and his wish that Hermann would change faith,
and the advantages of doing so, and added words of his own. Hermann would
have none of it. Mírmann explained the falseness of the heathen religion, and
after an angry response by the earl, spoke at length about God as creator of the