Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Page 73

The Case of »Hernilds kvæði
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word of his plight to Earl Sigur, (11) who eggs the cowardly
Heiðrikur into freeing his brother. (12) Heiðrikur fights his
way to the dungeon and (13) sets Hermundur free. (14) They
both attack the king’s men and (15) do battle, (16) finishing
by burning the king’s hall with the king inside. [(C) Halga
says that she does not care about her father’s death as long
as Hermundur is still alive.] (17) Hermundur marries Halga,
[(D) Heiðrikur marries Beyða,] and (18) both brothers rule
the land.
»Hernilds kvæði«
(1) Sigurlund and Earl Atil are brothers who rule Atland.
(2) Earl Atil has two sons; (3) the elder Aksal is a coward,
(4) whereas the younger Hernild is very pugnacious and
(5) kills many man. (6) Lady Elin sees this and (7) tells her
father, the Count of Hergarð. (8) He instructs her to gather
men to oppose Hernild, and (9) they [(a) bind him with
difficulty and] throw him into a dungeon, where he is
given neither food nor drink. (10) Word of this reaches Earl
Atil, (11) who eggs the cowardly Aksal into freeing his
brother. (12) Aksal fights his way to the dungeon and (13)
sets Hernild free. (14) Hernild wants to attack the count,
[(b) but Aksal insists on first consulting with their father.
Atil thinks they should avenge themselves on Elin. The
count’s page hears this and tells the count, who gathers a
force.] (15) Both brothers together with their father battle
the count’s men, (16) finishing by burning the count at the
stake. [(c) Earl Atil then suggests that Hernild should take
Elin by force. When Hernild comes to the count’s ha.ll, a
witch is there to do battle with him. He is unable to over-
come her magic power and asks his father, who is an on-
looker, for help. Atil prays to heaven and then tells his
son to carve a cross on his sword. Hernild kills the witch and
takes Elin by force.] (17) Hernild marries Elin, [(d) Aksal
becomes his counselor,] and (18) both brothers rule for a
long time.