Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series B - 01.10.1983, Page 259
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know. Then she told him the news, that an army had come a1
into his father’s country, “and he now does not have more
30 of all France than Paris, because Markauld, king of the
Bretons, has all France under him. Now he besieges Paris,
and soon your father intends to surrender the city, because
33 it has availed no one yet to wage war against Markauld.
Now it would be greater fame for you to go home to give
your father help and prove yourself than lie here and not
36 know whether you are to be somebody or no one at all.”
He answered: “I would like to be at home now, but I can
not get there except through your magic art.”
39 She answered: “I shall get you home in good shape, but
then you shall challenge that Breton king to make trial
against a single man. Let that one have the kingdom after-
ward who comes off best from their exchanges. You shall
Marhaaldmar, Marhalldmar or Marhalldmar A3. 31 under
him] (has . . .) conquered A2, won A3. 32-33 because—Mark-
auld] -r-A3. 35 here] +and tumble about on my stomach A2.
36 whether—all] what sort of man you are yourself A3. 39-40
but then] on that condition that A3. 42-44 from—boldness]
here twelve months—what do you think is going on now B1
at home in France ?” He said he did not know. Then she
told him the news, that an army had come into his father’s
country, “and he holds only that part of his kingdom—
namely, that he is in Paris and is unable to move from there
at all, because the king of the Bretons has conquered the
whole country from him, and he thinks he will soon sur-
render the city of Paris to him. Now it would be very noble
of you to go to your father and give him such help as you
can, rather than to lie here and not know what sort of a
man you are.” He answered: “I would like to be at home
in France, but how can I get there unless your magic art
would help me ?”
She spoke: “That I can accomplish—to get you home
there in good shape, but when you now get there, then you
can challenge that Breton king, that he fight a duel with
you1. Let that one have the kingdom afterward who gets
the best of it in these exchanges of yours. He will probably
1 the correct text must be: with one of your men (Partalopi is
not supposed to offer to fight until the others have refused).
Partalopa Saga - 17