The Völsunga Saga on Hjordis

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XI. Of King Sigmund's last Battle, and of how he must yield up his

• attestation: Hjordis chose Sigmund over King Lyngi because Sigmund had greater fame, despite being older

  "yet will I choose him who is of greatest fame, King Sigmund to wife, albeit he is well stricken in years."

• attestation: King Eylimi's daughter Hjordis was reputed the fairest and wisest of womankind

  "his daughter was called Hjordis, the fairest and wisest of womankind"

• attestation: Hjordis was hidden in the woods with a bondmaid and much wealth during the battle

  "Hjordis was borne into the wood with a certain bondmaid, and mighty wealth went with them"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XII. Of the Shards of the Sword Gram, and how Hjordis went to

• attestation: Hjordis and her bondmaid exchanged identities to hide among the slain

  "Let us now change raiment, and be thou called by my name, and say that thou art the king's daughter."

• attestation: Hjordis revealed her identity through a test: her father had given her a gold ring that grew cold at dawn

  "My father erst gave me a little gold ring of such nature, that it groweth cold on my finger in the day-dawning"

• attestation: Alf tested the women by asking how they told time before dawn; the bondmaid's answer revealed her lower birth

  "whenas in my youth I was wont to drink much in the dawn, so now when I no longer use that manner, I am yet wont to wake up at that very same tide"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XIII. Of the Birth and Waxing of Sigurd Fafnir's-bane.

• attestation: Hjordis gave birth to Sigurd, who was brought to King Hjalprek and recognized as extraordinary from the keen eyes in his head

  "Hjordis brought forth a man-child, who was straightly borne before King Hjalprek, and then was the king glad thereof, when he saw the keen eyes in the head of him"