The Hervarar Saga ok Heiðreks on Hethin
Stories And Ballads > Part I > Introduction To The TháTtr Of SöRli
attestation: The main theme is the friendship and quarrel of Hethin and Hogni, whose tragic fate fulfills Freyja's promise
"the friendship and subsequent quarrel of Hethin and Högni, in whose tragic fate Freyja's promise is fulfilled."
attestation: The story of Hethin and Hogni is also told in Skaldskaparmal ch 49 and in Saxo's Danish History Book V
"The story of Hethin and Högni was a favourite one in the North. It is told in Skáldskaparmál, ch. 49 and in Saxo Grammaticus' Danish History, Book V"
attestation: The story of Hethin and Hogni was popular throughout the Teutonic world, appearing in the German poem Kudrun
"The story of Hethin and Högni however was not confined to Norway and its colonies; indeed it seems to have been popular throughout the whole Teutonic world. It forms the subject of the first part of the mediaeval German poem Kudrun"
attestation: Hethin was genuinely remorseful for the harm he'd done, unlike a conventional viking chief
"Naturally gentle of disposition, he had been forced by malignant powers into a situation foreign to his nature."
attestation: The motif of the Everlasting Battle appears in many literatures beyond the Hethin and Hogni story
"The motif of the Everlasting Battle is not confined the story of Hethin and Högni."
Stories And Ballads > Part I > The TháTtr Of SöRli
attestation: Hethin made twenty kings pay him tribute through raiding around Spain and Greece
"he went on raiding expeditions and became a sea-king, harrying all round Spain and Greece and all the neighbouring kingdoms; so that he made twenty kings pay him tribute"
attestation: Hethin met a woman named Gondul in a forest glade who told him of a king named Hogni in Denmark who matched him
"he saw a woman, tall and fair, sitting on a throne. She spoke to him courteously, and when he asked her her name she said she was called Göndul."
attestation: Hethin declared he must prove which of them was more valiant
""I know one thing," said Hethin; "we have got to prove which of us is the more valiant.""
attestation: Hethin met Gondul again in a forest while Hogni was away raiding
"Hethin went into a forest to pass the time. The weather was mild. He again wandered away from his men."
attestation: After drinking, Hethin forgot everything and sat talking with Gondul
"when he had drunk, a very wonderful change came over him, for he remembered nothing that had happened to him previously."
attestation: Hethin thrust the Queen down before the ship's prow so she perished
"He thrust the Queen down in front of the prow, so that she perished."
attestation: Hethin confessed to Hogni that he carried off Hild, the warship and killed the Queen, blaming evil spirits
"I have carried off your daughter and your warship, and put your wife to death, yet from no personal wickedness of my own, but rather from promptings of evil spirits and wicked spells."
attestation: Hethin proposed single combat so that innocent men would not suffer for his crimes
"if nothing less than fighting will satisfy you, that we two should measure our strength alone; for you have no quarrel with any man here save with me."
attestation: All their followers swore they would rather die than let the two fight alone
"Their followers all swore with one accord that they would rather fall dead in heaps than that they two should exchange blows alone."
attestation: Hethin and Hogni fought night and day for many generations under Othin's spell while Hild watched
"we and our men have been laid under such powerful and destructive spells that we go on fighting night and day; and this has continued for many generations, while Hild, the daughter of Högni, sits and looks on. It is Othin who has laid this spell upon us"
attestation: Hethin warned Ivar not to face Hogni directly because Hogni's glance struck terror and spared none
"no mortal man can encounter Högni face to face and slay him if I die before him, for the glance of his eye strikes terror and spares none."