Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

messengers, cast the horns away, and at the same time there was great noise and confusion in the
hall. The fire was extinguished, and Gudmund's men disappeared with Helgi, after having slain
three of King Olaf's men. Another year passed. Then there came to the king two men, who
brought Helgi with them, and disappeared again. At that time, Helgi was blind. The king asked
him many questions, and Helgi explained that he had spent most happy days at Gudmund's; but
King Olaf's prayers had at length made it difficult for Gudmund and his daughter to retain him,
and before his departure Ingibjörg picked his eyes out, in order that Norway's daughters should
not fall in love with them. With his gifts Gudmund had intended to deceive King Olaf; but upon
the whole Helgi had nothing but good to report about this heathen.
46.
MIDDLE AGE SAGAS (continued). SAXO CONCERNING
THIS SAME GUDMUND, RULER OF THE LOWER WORLD.
Saxo, the Danish historian, also knows Gudmund. He relates (Hist., Book 8) 6 that King
Gorm had resolved to find a mysterious country in regard to which there were many reports in
the North. Incredible treasures were preserved in that land. A certain Geruthus (Geirrod), known
in the traditions, dwelt there, but the way there was full of dangers and well-nigh inaccessible for
mortals. They who had any knowledge of the situation of the land insisted that it was necessary
to sail across the ocean surrounding the earth, leave sun and stars behind, and make a journey
sub Chao, 7 before reaching the land which is deprived of the light of day, and over whose
mountains and valleys darkness broods. First there was a perilous voyage to be made, and then a
journey in the lower world. With the experienced sailor Thorkillus as his guide, King Gorm left
Denmark with three ships and a numerous company, sailed past Halogaland, and, after strange
adventures on his way, came to Bjarmaland, situated beyond the known land of the same name,
and anchored near its coast. In this Bjarmia ulterior, it is always cold; to its snow-clad fields
there comes no summer warmth, through its deep wild forests flow rapid foaming rivers which
well forth from the rocky recesses, and the woods are full of wild beasts, the like of which are
unknown elsewhere. The inhabitants are monsters with whom it is dangerous for strangers to
enter into conversation, for from unconsidered words they get power to do harm. Therefore
Thorkillus was to do the talking alone for all his companions. He had chosen the place for
anchoring in such a manner that they had the shortest journey from there to Geruthus. In the
evening twilight, the travellers saw a man of unusual size coming to meet them, and to their joy
he greeted them by name. Thorkillus informed them that they should regard the coming of this
man as a good omen, for he was Geruthus' brother Guthmundus (Gudmund), a friendly person
and the most faithful protector in peril. When Thorkillus had explained the perpetual silence of
his companions by saying that they were too bashful to enter into conversation with one whose
language they did not understand, Guthmundus invited them to be his guests and led them by
paths down along a river. Then they came to a place where a golden bridge was built across the
river. The Danes felt a desire to cross the bridge and visit the land on the other side, but
Guthmundus warned them that, with the bed of this stream, Nature has drawn a line between the
human and superhuman and mysterious, and that the territory on the other side was proclaimed
6 Hereafter, this story will be referred to as Gorm's saga.
7 "into chaos," Elton translation. "beneath the realm of night" Fisher translation.