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Authors: Ben Waggoner (trans)
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have two sons to inherit after me. One is here with us, but the other is in Denmark with King Hring. It is the law of this land that a king’s elder son should rule as king after his father. [6] Now, in the case of my son Ketil, I do not wish to break the law through my own obstinacy, or on behalf of you men of this land. Yet I want to ask you all together to allow the son whom I believe is better suited to inherit the kingdom after me.”
They said that they were quite willing to trust his insight, which had always served them well, and they didn’t want to reject his advice in the end, since they had always taken it before and it had served them very well. The king said that he wanted Hrolf to take the kingdom, and said that he expected he would become an excellent man and a good leader of his people. The king asked for Ketil’s approval. Ketil said that he wasn’t greedy for the kingdom, and it would be well if Hrolf took it.
After that, they thanked him for the excellent peace and quiet that they had enjoyed for a long time, thanks to his lordly governance and royal management. The king arranged his affairs as he thought best. Each man went home, but those whose duty it was stayed by the king’s side. It didn’t take long before the sickness claimed his life. The queen felt this to be a terrible blow, and so did all the folk of the kingdom. He was deeply mourned by all the inhabitants, for no king had been more beloved, on account of his generosity and wisdom. Afterwards, he was buried in a mound, according to ancient custom.
Not much time had passed, when the queen prepared to go on a journey with a splendid retinue. She didn’t stop her travels until she arrived in Denmark to meet King Hring. She brought before the king the grief and hurt that she had suffered from the death of King Gautrek. She told him all of the arrangements that King Gautrek had made before he died.
When the king had heard these tidings, he was deeply saddened by the death of his sworn brother King Gautrek. He asked Queen Ingibjorg to stay with him for as long as she liked.
The queen answered, “We didn’t make this journey just to stay in your kingdom. But if you want to do something to honor us, my lord, then I ask you to come to Gautland at our invitation, with your foster-son Hrolf, so that he may become king there under your supervision, as King Gautrek had planned. Along with that, I want you to hold the inheritance-feast on behalf of King Gautrek, according to ancient custom.”
The king said that it would be done as she asked. Not long afterwards, the king started out on his journey with a fine retinue, and he didn’t stop until he came to Gautland, with Queen Ingibjorg and her son Hrolf with him. A splendid feast had already been prepared, and many of that land’s noblest men were there. King Gautrek’s inheritance-ale was drunk, and a great assembly was summoned to the feast. At the assembly, Hrolf was raised to the kingship, on the advice of King Hring and with the consent of all the people in the whole of Gautland. When everything was fulfilled and completed, King Hring returned to Denmark, and he was sent home with worthy gifts.
Hrolf began to rule the kingdom, and he made laws and rules according to his will. He soon became well-liked by his men. He was a wise ruler, and as generous as his father. He was twelve years old when he took the rulership of the kingdom. His brother Ketil stayed with him. Ingjald, his foster-brother, set out raiding in the summers, but always made his winter quarters in Gautland with King Hrolf. So matters went until Hrolf was fifteen years old.
CHAPTER VI
It’s said that the brothers were conversing once, and King Hrolf asked what Ketil thought of his rulership. Ketil said that it was fine, in most respects.
King Hrolf answered, “Since you have insight into this, you must tell me how what I have achieved by my own will seems defective.”
Ketil answered, “I can easily find the
They said that they were quite willing to trust his insight, which had always served them well, and they didn’t want to reject his advice in the end, since they had always taken it before and it had served them very well. The king said that he wanted Hrolf to take the kingdom, and said that he expected he would become an excellent man and a good leader of his people. The king asked for Ketil’s approval. Ketil said that he wasn’t greedy for the kingdom, and it would be well if Hrolf took it.
After that, they thanked him for the excellent peace and quiet that they had enjoyed for a long time, thanks to his lordly governance and royal management. The king arranged his affairs as he thought best. Each man went home, but those whose duty it was stayed by the king’s side. It didn’t take long before the sickness claimed his life. The queen felt this to be a terrible blow, and so did all the folk of the kingdom. He was deeply mourned by all the inhabitants, for no king had been more beloved, on account of his generosity and wisdom. Afterwards, he was buried in a mound, according to ancient custom.
Not much time had passed, when the queen prepared to go on a journey with a splendid retinue. She didn’t stop her travels until she arrived in Denmark to meet King Hring. She brought before the king the grief and hurt that she had suffered from the death of King Gautrek. She told him all of the arrangements that King Gautrek had made before he died.
When the king had heard these tidings, he was deeply saddened by the death of his sworn brother King Gautrek. He asked Queen Ingibjorg to stay with him for as long as she liked.
The queen answered, “We didn’t make this journey just to stay in your kingdom. But if you want to do something to honor us, my lord, then I ask you to come to Gautland at our invitation, with your foster-son Hrolf, so that he may become king there under your supervision, as King Gautrek had planned. Along with that, I want you to hold the inheritance-feast on behalf of King Gautrek, according to ancient custom.”
The king said that it would be done as she asked. Not long afterwards, the king started out on his journey with a fine retinue, and he didn’t stop until he came to Gautland, with Queen Ingibjorg and her son Hrolf with him. A splendid feast had already been prepared, and many of that land’s noblest men were there. King Gautrek’s inheritance-ale was drunk, and a great assembly was summoned to the feast. At the assembly, Hrolf was raised to the kingship, on the advice of King Hring and with the consent of all the people in the whole of Gautland. When everything was fulfilled and completed, King Hring returned to Denmark, and he was sent home with worthy gifts.
Hrolf began to rule the kingdom, and he made laws and rules according to his will. He soon became well-liked by his men. He was a wise ruler, and as generous as his father. He was twelve years old when he took the rulership of the kingdom. His brother Ketil stayed with him. Ingjald, his foster-brother, set out raiding in the summers, but always made his winter quarters in Gautland with King Hrolf. So matters went until Hrolf was fifteen years old.
CHAPTER VI
It’s said that the brothers were conversing once, and King Hrolf asked what Ketil thought of his rulership. Ketil said that it was fine, in most respects.
King Hrolf answered, “Since you have insight into this, you must tell me how what I have achieved by my own will seems defective.”
Ketil answered, “I can easily find the
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