136 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



an active part to play in the story. The banishment of Wolfdiet- 

 rich's mother is of interest to us only because of its bearing upon the 

 career of her son, the real hero of the saga. Swanhilde also has 

 nothing to do, heroic or otherwise. The false Bikki invents a story 

 about her, the king believes it, and she is led to her terrible fate. 

 Swanhilde is, however, a telling figure without any effort on her part. 

 She was so lovely and her sunbright eyes so dazzling that even the wild 

 horses which were to trample her to death were held spellbound, and 

 refused to do their work until these eyes had been hidden from them. 1 



Midway between these passive women and the real heroines 

 are the characters that have a small part to play, but an individual 

 part, nevertheless, which has a material bearing upon the movement 

 of the story. They are the minor characters of whom nothing more 

 is required than a clear head, presence of mind, and quick wit at a 

 critical moment; or, perhaps, a willingness to endure hardship, and 

 a certain degree of intelligence in carrying out the plans of another 

 person. 



Signy 2 in the Halfdan Saga, for instance, had nothing to do with 

 planning or executing the vengeance for her father's death, but her 

 quick wit and ready act did save the life of her two brothers, and thus 

 preserve them, for the work of vengeance. The boys had come in 

 disguise into the banqueting hall of King Frothi, the slayer of their 

 father, and their own deadly enemy. Frothi, suspecting their 

 nearness, sent for a Vglva or seeress, promising her great rewards 

 if she could tell him where the boys were. The Vglva, obedient 

 to the king, opened her mouth and spoke: 



Two are inside. 

 I trust neither, 

 Those who from fire 

 Somewhat far sit. 



1 Other well-known women characters of this class are Hildeburh, mourning for her slaughtered kinsmen, 

 in the Finn Saga; Siegelinde, the mother of Siegfried, and Gerutha, the mother of Hamlet. Queen Helche, 

 the wife of Attila, the Hun, is mentioned very often in the sagas, and always as "the good Queen Helche," 

 "the beautiful Helche," whom everyone loved. The Evil Counsellor is represented among the women by 

 Skulde, Hrolf's half-sister, in the story of Hrolf and Wegg, and by Nipubr's Queen in the Valundr Saga. There 

 are also two women, whose names we do not know, the princess of Jerusalem, wooed by Orendel, and the 

 maiden who was the object of the feud between the brothers, Helgi and Hethinn. 



" "Saga Hrolfs Konungs Kraka," FornaUars0gw, Vol. 1, pp. 3 fi. 



