8 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



not matched by an heroic spirit in the days of his youth. The E>if>riks 

 Saga says of him that he preferred crouching by the fire to riding out 

 with the men and preparing for warlike deeds. He was slovenly in 

 his personal appearance, refused to bathe either at home or at the 

 public bath, and never touched a comb to his hair. His chosen 

 companions were the kitchen boys and beggars. 



In the case of the young Amlethus 1 the stupidity and silliness 

 were feigned for the purpose of deceiving people and making them 

 think he was harmless, while he was preparing to avenge the death 

 of his father. Sitting by the fireplace, Amlethus seemed to take no 

 interest whatever in manly occupations. The unkempt person of 

 Dietleib, the grufmess of StarkaSr, the silence of Uffo, or his own fool- 

 ish remarks were for Amlethus a disguise which enabled him to carry 

 out his plans with sureness, and safety to himself. 



The Boy as Hero 



The duty of avenging a death devolved first upon the nearest of 

 kin. Naturally this was the task of a man. But, in the absence of 

 an older male relative, the work of vengeance was taken up manfully 

 by the young son or brother. No task was too great for him when 

 once he became convinced of his responsibility for it. 



The boys Hamj>ir and Sorli, 2 roused by their mother's reproach- 

 ful words, set out against the powerful King Jormunrekk to avenge 

 the death of their sister Swanhilde. As they were riding out of the 

 court their half-brother joined them. But on the way a quarrel 

 arose and Erpr, the half-brother, was felled to the ground. So only 

 the two went on into the land of the Goths. When their arrival 

 was announced to Jormunrekk in the drinking-hall, he laughed as he 

 stroked his beard. " Gladly would I see Hamj>ir and Sorli here in my , 

 hall. The boys I should bind with bow-strings and hang them high 

 on the gallows." 



At that moment the boys burst into the hall, rushed up to the 

 king, and hewed off, the one his hands, the other his feet. But, 



■ 5am). Gram., B. Ill, pp. 87 ff. 



■ "Guprtinarhv^," Edda, p. 443; "HampismiJI," Edda, p. 451. 



