426 CHAMPIONS AND BERSERKS. 



twelve Berserks. Nothing more is told of their journey before 

 they came to a bondi " (Hrolf Kraki's Saga, c. 39). 



" Haki and Hagbard were the names of two very famous 

 brothers. They were sea-kings and had a large host ; some- 

 times they went together, sometimes each went by himself ; 

 many champions followed each of them. King Haki went 

 with his host to Sweden against King Hugleik, who gathered 

 a host ; two brothers, Svipdag and Geigad, both far-famed and 

 great champions, came to help him. Haki had with him 

 twelve champions, among whom was Starkad the old ; Haki 

 himself was a very great champion. They met on the Fyris- 

 vellir (plain of Fyri) in a great battle ; Hugieik's men fell 

 fast. The champions Svipdag and Geigad then made an 

 onset, but six of Haki's champions went against each of them 

 and they were captured. Then Haki went into Hugieik's 

 shieldburg and slew him and his two sons. Thereupon the 

 Swedes fled, and Haki conquered the land and became king over 

 the Swedes. He stayed at home for three winters, and during 

 that time his champions went away on viking-expeditions and 

 thus earned property " (Ynglinga, c. 25). 



The twelve Berserks of Hrolf Kraki followed King Adils of 

 Sweden in a battle against King Ali of Norway, on condition 

 that they were to get pay, and be allowed to choose three 

 costly things for Hrolf. 



" After the battle, each of them asked three pounds of gold 

 as pay, and to take with them three costly things which they 

 might choose for Hrolf: they were, the helmet Hildigolt (war- 

 boar), the brynja FinnsJeif, which was impenetrable to weapons, 

 and the gold ring Sviagris (the Svia-pig) which the fore- 

 fathers of Adils had owned " (Prose Edda (Skaldskaparmal), 

 c. 44). 



" With Hakon Jarl were two brothers of Swedish kin : 

 one was named Halli, the other Leiknir. They were much 

 taller and stronger men than were to be found in Norway or in 

 other places. They went a-berserking, and when they were 

 angry lost their human nature and went mad like dogs ; they 

 feared neither fire nor iron, but in everyday life they were not 

 bad to have intercourse with if they were not offended, though 

 they were most overbearing if offended. Eirik Sigrsseli (the 

 victorious), King of Sweden, had sent the Berserks to the Jarl, 

 and told him to be careful to treat them well, and said, as was 

 true, that they could be a great help if regard was had to their 

 tempers " (Eyrbyggja, c. 25). 



