Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Síða 74

82
The Case of »Hernilds kvæði
This analysis shows that there are indeed striking similari-
ties between »Hermundur illi« and »Hernilds kvæði.« Both
ballads tell about the career of pugnacious young man who
runs afoul of the local ruler, ultimately killing him (with the
help of a reputedly cowardly brother) and marrying his
daughter. The principal differences between the two ballad
stories are to be found in those parts dealing with the run-ins
with and ultimate slaying of the ruler. If, in fact, the composer
of »Hernilds kvæði« did base his new ballad on a recasting of
»Hermundur illi,« then he apparently telescoped the two run-
ins with the ruler of his source ballad into just one:
Hermundur kills king’s men.....Hernild kills count’s men.
King finds out.................
Halga calls Hermundur from
exile..........................
Hermundur saves Halga from
unwanted mariage...............
Halga’s handmaiden finds out Elin finds out and tells
and tells king................. count.
King orders jailing............Count orders jailing.
Hermundur freed by brother. .. Hernild freed by
brother.
On the other hand, the composer of »Hernilds kvæSi« seems
to have expanded the source ballad’s single retaliatory battle
with the king into two separate retaliatory battles, the first
with the count and the second with the witch who defends his
daughter:
Brothers fight king............Brothers and father fight
count.
They burn king alive........... They burn • count alive.
.......... Hernild fights witch with
father’s help.
.......... He defeats her and takes
Elin.