The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Gotwar
The Danish History, > Book Five.
attestation: Gotwar was the wife of Koll and was renowned for her rhetorical skill and disputational prowess
"The wife of Koll was Gotwar, who used to paralyse the most eloquent and fluent men by her glib and extraordinary insolence; for she was potent in wrangling"
attestation: Gotwar persuaded Frode with an oration about youth and fortune to pursue the marriage
"Bridals are for young men, but the tomb awaits the old. The steps of youth go forward in desires and in fortune; but old age declines helpless to the sepulchre"
attestation: The envoys were entertained by the King of the Huns at a three-day feast before stating their purpose
"They went with Gotwar, and were entertained by the King of the Huns at a three days' banquet, ere they uttered the purpose of their embassy"
attestation: Gotwar used both persuasive words and love-philtres to overcome the princess's resistance
"Gotwar, who tried to subdue the maiden not only with words but with love-philtres"
attestation: The love-potion transformed the princess's anger into desire and love for Frode
"by the drink which she gave she changed the strictness of the maiden to desire, and replaced her vanished anger with love and delight"
attestation: Gotwar challenged Erik to a flyting wagering her gold necklace against his life
"Gotwar, sorrowing at the destruction of her children who had miserably perished, and eager to avenge them, announced that it would please her to have a flyting with Erik"
attestation: The flyting between Gotwar and Erik was conducted in Latin verse on sexual themes
"Quando tuam limas admissa cote bipennem, Nonne terit tremulas mentula quassa nates?"
attestation: Gotwar lost the flyting to Erik and had to surrender her gold necklace to him
"Powerless to answer this, Gotwar had to give the gold to the man whom she had meant to kill, and thus wasted a lordly gift instead of punishing the slayer of her son"
attestation: Frode intended to stone Gotwar to death for concealing the adultery
"he would stone Gotwar to death for her complicity in concealing the crime"