The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Signe
The Danish History, > Book Seven.
attestation: The queens Signe and Ulfhild quarrelled over nobility, breaking the brothers' fellowship — Signe was daughter of Siward King of Sweden, Ulfhild daughter of Karl governor of Gothland
"their queens, Signe and Ulfhild, one of whom was the daughter of Siward, King of Sweden, the other of Karl, the governor of Gothland, were continually wrangling"
relationship: Signe was the daughter of Sigar
"Signe, the daughter of Sigar"
attestation: Signe preferred Hakon over Hildigisl because she valued brave deeds over physical beauty
"this woman was inclined to love Hakon, chiefly for the high renown of his great deeds"
comparison: Signe openly praised Hakon over Hildigisl, declaring looks worthless compared to a choice spirit
"she preferred Hakon to Hildigisl, declaring that the latter had nothing to praise but his looks, while in the case of the other a wrinkled visage was outweighed by a choice spirit"
attestation: Signe sang a song praising valor over beauty, which bystanders interpreted as praise of Hagbard under the name of Hakon
"This utterance fell on the ears of the bystanders in such a way, that they thought she praised Hagbard under the name of Hakon"
attribution: Signe's song declared that valor is permanent while beauty fades, and that she prizes virtue over comeliness
"Valour and looks are swayed by different inclinations: one lasts on, the other perishes"
attestation: Signe supported Hagbard's disguise by explaining that a warrior-maiden's hands would naturally be hardened from war and seafaring
"Signe did not hesitate to back up his words with like dissembling, and replied that it was natural that hands which dealt more in wounds than wools, and in battle than in tasks of the house should show the hardness that befitted their service"
attribution: Signe vowed to die with Hagbard rather than live without him, forswearing all other lovers
"Trust me, dear; I wish to die with thee, if fate brings thy turn to perish first, and not to prolong my span of life at all, when once dismal death has cast thee to the tomb"
attribution: Signe declared her first lover worthy of her eternal devotion regardless of how death came to him
"I have resolved he is worthy of my love who gathered the first kisses of my mouth, and had the first fruits of my delicate youth"
attestation: Signe asked her waiting-women if they would join her in death, and they promised to follow her wishes
"Signe asked her weeping women whether they could endure to bear her company in the things which she purposed. They promised that they would carry out and perform themselves whatsoever their mistress should come to wish"
attestation: Signe declared she would follow her only lover in death and ordered torches set to the room and halters made from robes
"she wished to follow in death the only partner of her bed that she had ever had; and ordered that, as soon as the signal had been given from a place of watch, torches should be put to the room, then that halters should be made out of their robes"
attestation: Signe gave her women wine to drink so they would not flinch at death
"that they might blench the less at death, she gave them a draught of wine"