Viktor Rydberg's Investigations into Germanic Mythology, Vol. II

and hammers. It was Vidga, Völund and Bödvild’s son. He said he was a cousin of
Svipdag's and that it was his duty to fight Halfdan's kin. He challenged Hadding to a duel
and overpowered him, but rather than kill Hadding, Vidga held out his hand to him.
Vidga stayed for some time in Märingaborg, where all found delight in him.
128. Hadding Leads the East Teutons. Now the East Germanic tribes were in
danger of breaking up, but Hadding united them and was hailed as a great king. Vidga,
Völund's son, then severed all friendly relations with him, because Vidga's place was on
the side of Groa's sons, Svipdag and Jörmunrekr-Gudhorm.
129. Hadding’s Name as a Great King was Thjodrek. 44
130. The First Field Battle. Svipdag descended from Asgard to the Germanic
homeland, where he called the Swedes and Danes to arms against Hadding. Enormous
ships were built to carry the Scandinavian warriors over the sea. Jörmunrekr-Gudhorm's
army joined with them. Valkyries were seen riding through the air, coming in part from
Vanaheim and Asgard, and in part from Manheim. To Gudhorm's army came his fosterfather
Hafli with the giantesses Fenja and Menja; to Thjodrek-Hadding's army came
Vagnhöfdi with his daughter Hardgrep. Svipdag, through his skalds, let it be known to his
and to Jörmunrekr-Gudhorm's armies that anyone on their side who fell would be taken
by Valkyries to Freyja's hall, Sessrumnir. Thjodrek-Hadding let it be known among the
East Germanic warriors that anyone on his side who fell would come to Odin. The night
before every battle, the armies saw supernatural forms who battled in the starlight-- the
Vanir and the Aesir. When hail and storms came from the west and pounded Hadding's
troops, Odin and Thor, with golden spear and lightning hammer, could be seen driving
them back. Then came the deciding blow; both sides showed the same heroic courage,
but Sifka-Loki, who held himself outside of the warring crowd, had directed the western
troops so shrewdly that Thjodrek-Hadding's fylkings were dispersed, and he suffered a
stunning defeat. With Hamal and Hildebrand, Hadding fled back to Manheim.
131. A Time of Peace Lasting Many Years, now arose, during which Germania
was governed by Svipdag's viceroys and earls. In happy wedded-life with Freyja,
Svipdag fathered beautiful daughters and a son, Asmund, whom he appointed king of the
North.
132. Sifka-Loki’s Treachery. During these years, Sifka kept near Jörmunrekr-
Gudhorm and inflamed the enmity between the Germanic rulers with slander and lies, so
that they would mutually exterminate one another. Gudhorm had appointed Sifka and his
own son, Randver, to propose for him to the Northern ruler's daughter, Svanhild, and he
received her approval. When they returned with Svanhild, Sifka informed Gudhorm that
Randver and Svanhild were deceiving him. Gudhorm then let his only son hang and
caused Svanhild to be trampled by horses. Gudhorm also killed two other relatives, the
Harlungs, when Sifka, with lying accusations, provoked him against them. Svanhild had
two brothers, Sörli and Hamdir, who sought revenge on Gudhorm for their sister
Svanhild's death. They failed in their attempt, but they inflicted a terrible wound on
Gudhorm, from which he suffered thereafter.
133. The Hun War. The discord between the Aesir and the Vanir gave the giants
courage to attack Midgard again. They proposed a treaty to the exiled Aesir, but Odin,
who thought more of mankind's welfare than of his own, informed the Vanir of the
imminent attack and offered them his aid, which was sorely needed because the number
44 Þjóðrekr, Theodeoric, Dietrich.