The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Snio
The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Folk-Tales.
- attestation: King Snio was the protagonist of the Crafty Soaker folk-tale, which involves baffling a prohibition on brewing.
"A terrible famine made the king (Snio) forbid brewing to save the barley for bread, and abolished all needless toping. The Soaker baffled the king"
The Danish History, > Book Eight.
attestation: Snio preserved and restored the fortunes of Denmark, which had been lessened, to their former state
"but even restored them, lessened as they were, to their former estate."
attestation: Under Snio's reign, Denmark recovered from a period of declining power and territory
"but even restored them, lessened as they were, to their former estate."
attestation: Snio was a vigorous sea-rover who actively raided to expand Danish power
"SNIO took vigorously to roving"
attestation: King Snio attempted to alleviate the famine through various measures but the people suffered greatly
"the commons were distressed with famine, so that the king, anxiously pondering how to relieve the hardness of the times, and seeing that the thirsty spent somewhat more than the hungry, introduced thrift among the people."
attestation: The king and the commons alike suffered from the shortage of food in the kingdom
"the commons were distressed with famine, so that the king, anxiously pondering how to relieve the hardness of the times, and seeing that the thirsty spent somewhat more than the hungry, introduced thrift among the people."
attribution: A speaker declares his thirst is motivated by goodwill toward the king, not mere craving for drink
"O king, this craving is begotten, not so much of my thirst, as of my goodwill towards thee!"
attribution: The speaker recalls that a king's funeral rites must be honored with a drinking-bout
"I remembered that the funeral rites of a king must be paid with a drinking-bout"
attestation: Snio was succeeded by Biorn, and after him Harald became sovereign; Harald's son Gorm was a notable general
"Snio was succeeded by BIORN; and after him HARALD became sovereign. Harald's son GORM won no mean place of honour among the ancient generals of the Danes by his record of doughty deeds"