The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Thorkill

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Funeral Rites And Man'S Future State.

• attestation: Thorkill undertook a second voyage to Outgarth-Loki's cavern at King Guthrum's command, prompted by questions about the soul's immortality.

  "Guthrum is troubled as to the immortality and fate of the soul, and the reward of piety after death. To spite Thorkill, his enviers advised the king to send him to consult Outgarth-Loke"

• attestation: Thorkill found Utgard-Loki chained in a steep cavern and plucked a hair from his beard as a token.

  "Thorkill plucks a hair of his beard "as big as a cornel-wood spear.""

• attestation: The stench and poison of Loki's prison killed most of Thorkill's crew; only he and five survived by sheltering under hides.

  "only Thorkill and five of the crew, who had sheltered themselves with hides against the virulent poison the demons and snakes cast"

• attestation: Thorkill became a Christian upon reaching Germany after his voyage to Utgard-Loki.

  "Germany reached, where Thorkill became a Christian"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Endnotes:

• attestation: Large horns and tusks were described as prized possessions, and uroch's horns appear in Thorkill's Second Journey.

  "A horn and a tusk of great size are described as things of price, and great uroch's horns are mentioned in Thorkill's Second Journey"

The Danish History, > Book Two

• attestation: Thorkill, described as a notable miser and skilled orator, prepared to object to Frode's order to discard treasure

  "Thorkill, who was a more notable miser and a better orator than them all, dishelming and leaning on his shield"

• attribution: Thorkill argued passionately against discarding plunder won at the risk of their lives

  "Most of us who rate high what we have bought with our life-blood find thy bidding hard. We take it ill that we should fling away what we have won with utmost hazard"

• attribution: Thorkill argued that scattering gold would signal cowardice rather than strategy, emboldening the enemy

  "Shall we be a derision to our foes, we who were their terror? Shall we take scorn instead of glory?"

• attribution: Thorkill advocated dying nobly rather than surrendering treasure, arguing plunder should only be yielded through combat

  "It is better to die a noble death, than to molder away too much in love with the light life"

The Danish History, > Book Eight.

• attestation: A warrior trampled down all fear of danger in his soul, seeking glory rather than booty

  "the warrior trampled down in his soul all fear of the dangers that beset him. Not that he desired booty, but glory"

• attestation: Thorkill warned his companions of terrible dangers they would face, including monstrous beings and poisoned food

  "and he resolved that Thorkill, who had brought the news, should be chosen to guide them on the journey, as he knew the ground and was versed in the approaches to that country."

• attestation: The voyage took them through increasingly strange and hostile waters toward the edge of the world

  "in perilous voyage."

• attestation: Thorkill served as both guide and protector, using his knowledge to navigate supernatural perils

  "and he resolved that Thorkill, who had brought the news, should be chosen to guide them on the journey, as he knew the ground and was versed in the approaches to that country."

• attestation: Thorkill drew up his ships ashore and told his men to pitch tents on the beach, declaring the passage to Geirrod would be short

  "Thorkill drew up his ships ashore, and bade them pitch their tents on the beach, declaring that they had come to a spot whence the passage to Geirrod would be short"

• attestation: Thorkill forbade his companions from touching any food or drink offered by the giant-folk

  "Here Thorkill drew up his ships ashore, and bade them pitch their tents on the beach, declaring that they had come to a spot whence the passage to Geirrod would be short."

• attestation: Thorkill warned that anyone who ate the giants' food would lose their memory and be trapped forever

  "Here Thorkill drew up his ships ashore, and bade them pitch their tents on the beach, declaring that they had come to a spot whence the passage to Geirrod would be short."

• attestation: Giant-women offered the travelers hospitality which Thorkill identified as a trap

  "For he offered the king his daughter in marriage, and promised the rest that they should have whatever women of his household they desired."

• attestation: Thorkill divided his attention between the suspicious hosts and the delighted but endangered guests

  "Here Thorkill drew up his ships ashore, and bade them pitch their tents on the beach, declaring that they had come to a spot whence the passage to Geirrod would be short."

• attestation: Thorkill managed his attention between the suspicious giant hosts and the delighted Danish guests

  "With wonderful management Thorkill divided his heed between the suspicious host and the delighted guests"

• attestation: Thorkill kept the remaining Danes safe by strict enforcement of his warnings about supernatural dangers

  "With wonderful management Thorkill divided his heed between the suspicious host and the delighted guests."

• attestation: Thorkill warned his companions not to touch the treasures scattered throughout the hall

  "Here Thorkill again warned the men, and forbade them to stretch forth their covetous hands rashly to the forbidden things."

• attestation: The expedition escaped through a side-door while the giant forces were distracted

  "Then the side-door of another room showed them a narrow alcove: and a privy chamber with a yet richer treasure was revealed, wherein arms were laid out too great for those of human stature."

• attestation: Thorkill led the surviving party back to their ships through the hostile landscape

  "Thorkill, struck with amazement at these things, gave rein to his covetousness, and cast off all his purposed self-restraint."

• attestation: Thorkill proposed a second voyage, this time to find the dwelling of Utgarda-Loki

  "While he was thus inclined, certain men who wished ill to Thorkill came and told Gorm that it was needful to consult the gods, and that assurance about so great a matter must be sought of the oracles of heaven, since it was too deep for human wit and hard for mortals to discover."

• attestation: The second expedition was even more dangerous than the first journey to Geirrod

  "that his accusers should share his journey."

• attestation: Thorkill fastened a jewel on the mast-head so its gleam would help him find his ship again

  "Thorkill fastened a jewel upon the mast-head, to mark it by the gleam"

• attestation: Thorkill found a cavern in a close defile, reached by a narrow approach

  "To be surer of getting back to his friends, Thorkill fastened a jewel upon the mast-head, to mark it by the gleam."

• attestation: Thorkill took fire from the cave back to his companions and sailed with a favorable wind

  "Thereupon Thorkill took the fire along to his companions; and finding a kindly wind, landed on the fourth day at the appointed harbour"

• attestation: They landed on the fourth day at the appointed harbor after departing the cave

  "landed on the fourth day at the appointed harbour"

• attestation: The expedition entered a land of unbroken night, where darkness was perpetual

  "he entered a land where an aspect of unbroken night"

• attestation: Thorkill navigated through the supernatural darkness using the fire he had taken from the cave

  "Thereupon Thorkill took the fire along to his companions; and finding a kindly wind, landed on the fourth day at the appointed harbour."

• attestation: Thorkill finally landed in Germany, which had by then been admitted to Christianity

  "At last Thorkill landed in Germany, which had then been admitted to Christianity"

• attestation: Among the German Christians Thorkill began to learn the rudiments of the new faith

  "At last Thorkill landed in Germany, which had then been admitted to Christianity; and among its people he began to learn how to worship God."

• attestation: Thorkill returned to Denmark bearing news of what he had seen in the giant realms

  "At last Thorkill landed in Germany, which had then been admitted to Christianity; and among its people he began to learn how to worship God."