[gothic-l] (unknown)

[malmqvist52 at YAHOO.SE]

Hi all,

Also here in Snorri's Ynlingasaga Reidgotaland seems to be equated
with "Gotlandz":
------------------------
21. OF DAG THE WISE.
   King Dygve's son, called Dag, succeeded to him, and was so wise a
man that he understood the language of birds.  He had a sparrow which
told him much news, and flew to different countries.  Once the
sparrow flew to Reidgotaland, to a farm called Varva, where he flew
into the peasant's corn-field and took his grain.  The peasant came
up, took a stone, and killed the sparrow.  King Dag was ill-pleased
that the sparrow did not come home; and as he, in a sacrifice of
expiation, inquired after the sparrow, he got the answer that it was
killed at Varva. Thereupon he ordered a great army, and went to
Gotland; and when he came to Varva he landed with his men and
plundered, and the people fled away before him. King Dag returned in
the evening to his ships, after having killed many people and taken
many prisoners.  As they were going across a river at a place called
Skjotan's [the Weapon's] Ford, a labouring thrall came running to the
river-side, and threw a hay- fork into their troop.  It struck the
king on the head, so that he fell instantly from his horse and died.
In those times the chief who ravaged a country was called Gram, and
the men-at-arms under him Gramer.  Thjodolf sings of it thus: --

"What news is this that the king's men,
Flying eastward through the glen,
Report?  That Dag the Brave, whose name
Is sounded far and wide by Fame --
That Dag, who knew so well to wield
The battle-axe in bloody field,
Where brave men meet, no more will head
The brave -- that mighty Dag is dead!
"Varva was wasted with the sword,
And vengeance taken for the bird --
The little bird that used to bring
News to the ear of the great king.
Varva was ravaged, and the strife
Was ended, when the monarch's life
Was ended too -- the great Dag fell
By the hay-fork of a base thrall!"
--------------------------------

Best wishes
Anders




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