{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/onp/onp09.htm","path":"neu/onp/onp09.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/onp/onp09.htm","text":"THIS LAY is found in the mythic-heroic H\u00e1lfs saga, a typical fornaldarsaga, or \u201ctale of the olden times,\u201d consisting of narrative with interspersed poems, which in this instance preponderate. The prose is largely commentary, or furnishes connecting links, for the many lausav\u00edsur (\u201csingle stanzas\u201d) and other poems that make up the bulk of the saga.1 Indeed, in our lay it might be dispensed with altogether, for the action is admirably brought out in the dialogue and ensuing monologue. Though pleasing in invention and smooth in diction and versification (fornyrthislag), the stereotyped phrasing and evident borrowings from such older poems as Biarkam\u00f3l, Vikarsb\u00e1lk, and perhaps, Atlam\u00f3l, betray its late origin (thirteenth century). Only one stanza, the sixteenth, stands out in peculiar vigor as though a remnant of some nobler edifice.\nThe saga deals chiefly with the life of the famous sea-king H\u00e1lf and his chosen band, the H\u00e1lfsrekkiar. When after eighteen years of Viking life, he returns with his fleet to his native kingdom of Horthaland, his stepfather, \u00c1smund, who had ruled it in his stead, feigns submission and invites H\u00e1lf to his hall with half his company; and he accepts, against the earnest warnings of Innstein, his old companion at arms. They are made drunk, the hall is fired over their heads; but the heroes rouse themselves and break out of the hall. In the struggle outside they fall to a man, not wishing to survive their beloved leader; at least, this is clearly the intention of the lay. A later poet, to be sure, allowed several of H\u00e1lf\u2019s men to escape and avenge him in time. About them, we have in the saga the lays of \u00datstein2 and of Hr\u00f3k, in a somewhat similar vein.\n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 1 | \u201cUp to \u00c1smund\u2003would all of us from our dragons hie them,\u2014 most doughty men: p. 47 In their hall let us burn the host of warriors, and send to Hel \u00c1smund\u2019s heroes!\u201d | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 2 | \u201cLet half, only,\u2003of our host on our errand to \u00c1smund fare: hath he offered us, most open-handed, many wroughten rings of reddish gold.\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 3 | \u201cYou guess not, ring-giver,\u2003the guile of \u00c1smund: is that crafty king cunning in mind. If, war-lord, thou our warning heedest, put little faith in thy stepfather!\u201d | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 4 | \u201cHath \u00c1smund sworn\u2003oaths full many, and made pledges, as men do know: will a good liege not give the lie to his oaths, nor one atheling the other bewray.\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 5 | \u201cHath \u00d3thin grown\u2003angry with thee, since all too well thou \u00c1smund trustest: by wicked wiles he will undo us, unless on guard against him art!\u201d | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 6 | \u201cAye words of fear\u2003art fain to utter: that prince will not thus break his pledge. Gold we\u2019ll get there, and goodly things to have and to hold, from his hoard of rings.\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 7 | \u201cThis dream had I\u2014\u2003to heed it were wise!\u2014 that flames flickered fiercely about us, p. 48 whence hard was it to hack our way. What deem\u2019st thou, king, this dream betokens?\u201d3 | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 8 | \u201cA guilded helmet\u2003shall I give to each of the fearless heroes that follow me: would they seem to flash as though fire did blaze on the hair-hillocks4 of the hardy men.\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 9 | \u201cStill another dream\u2003I after had: that fire methought to flame on my shoulders; I guess that little good it bodeth. What deem\u2019st thou, king, this dream betokens?\u201d | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 10 | \u201cGolden byrnies\u2003on the backs rattle of war-workers who in wedges array them:5 the shield-bearers\u2019 shoulders they will shine upon, bright to behold like blazing fire.\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 11 | \u201cA third time still\u2003I this did dream: that in deepest sea we had sunk together; great tidings this must betoken. What deem\u2019st thou, king, this dream bodeth?\u201d | \n| H\u00c1LF said: | | \n| 12 | \u201cBe done with dreams\u2003and doting talk: I deem that naught thy dreams betoken. Say thou no more in my hearing of these thy dreams from this day onward.\u201d | \n| p. 49 | | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 13 | \u201cYe Hr\u00f3k brothers,\u2003in the host of the king, and \u00datstein eke: I utter warning! Let all of us go up to the hall, and listen not to the liege\u2019s words!\u201d | \n| \u00daTSTEIN said: | | \n| 14 | \u201cOur brave chieftain\u2003shall choose for us, the foremost in war, how fare we shall: as the liege liketh so let us, brother, risk our lives now and the leader follow!\u201d | \n| INNSTEIN said: | | \n| 15 | \u201cDid our lord listen,\u2003in the wars as we lay, many a time to my counsel; but now, ween I, he will in naught give heed to me, since hither we came.\u201d | \nThen went King H\u00e1lf with the half of his ship company to the hall of King \u00c1smund. There they found a great host. Great plenty reigned at the feast, and the drink was so strong that H\u00e1lf\u2019s men fell fast asleep. King \u00c1smund and his men set fire to the hall. Then said Innstein:\n| 16 | \u201cThere\u2019s smoke o\u2019er hawks6\u2003in the hall of the king: I wait me the drip of wax from swords.7 \u2019Tis time to deal out treasure and gold among H\u00e1lf\u2019s heroes, and helmets eke. | \n| 17 | \u201cThat would I now\u2003that H\u00e1lf awake: are fires kindled unquenchable. To \u00c1smund oughtest, wise atheling, to the grim-minded, his gifts requite!8 | \n| p. 50 | | \n| 18 | \u201cLet us bravely batter\u2003the beer-hall\u2019s walls! Gape even now the gable walls; will ever be sung, while earth lasteth, how H\u00e1lf\u2019s heroes hardily fared. | \n| 19 | \u201cBriskly forward,\u2003nor back a foot! Will the war-workers9 have to wield their swords: will themselves be seared with sore gashes and sore wounds, ere the battle is stilled. | \n| 20 | \u201cLet the warriors wend\u2003their way quickly out of the fire with the atheling! Forever liveth not any man: will the folk-warder not fear to die.\u201d | \nIt is told that King H\u00e1lf and his men made their way out of the blazing hall and that he was overwhelmed by the greater host outside\u2014he and his men. When the king was fallen, Innstein said:\n| 21 | \u201cHere saw I all,\u2003equally bold, fearlessly follow the folk-warder: well met, again, when after we meet!10 Than death, life is not lighter to bear!\u201d | \nThen those men joined the fray who had stayed by the ships. There fell many of H\u00e1lf\u2019s warriors. The battle lasted till night, ere Innstein fell. He said:\n| 22 | \u201cIs Hrok fallen\u2003with H\u00e1lf the king\u2014 the fearless one at the feet of his lord; but ill owe we to \u00d3thin now who overthrew a thane so brave. | \n| 23 | \u201cEighteen summers11\u2003I did follow the ruler, roving, to redden spears; p. 51 no other king eager for war shall I ever have, to grow old with him. | \n| 24 | \u201cWill Innstein here\u2003to the earth sink dead, whole-hearted henchman, by the head of his king. will men e\u2019er after to mind call it that laughing died this lord of men.\u201d | \n1 As, e.g., in the Reginsm\u00f3l-F\u00e1fnism\u00f3l of the Edda.\n2 As to the names of Innstein and his brother, \u00datstein, they seem to be connected with the royal estate of \u00datstein in Horthaland; cf. Haraldskv\u00e6thi 9 and note.\n3 Cf. the dreams of Kostbera, Atlam\u00f3l, 4 ff.\n4 Kenning for \u201chead.\u201d\n5 Reference is here made to the wedge formation favored by many Germanic tribes in battle.\n6 I.e., \u201cwarriors.\u201d\n7 Swords were dipped in wax to protect them against rust (and witchcraft).\n8 Ironic allusion to fires kindled for the welcome, and presents given at the departure, of guests.\n9 \u00c1smund\u2019s men.\n10 I.e., after death, in Valholl.\n11 The Viking expeditions took place only in summer.","title":"THE LAY OF INNSTEIN","type":"page"}