The Saga of Jarl Ulf

 

I am Ulf the Crow

Small hands, small feet

The named Troll-Enemy show

Son of Bjorn of Bjornholm

Angardvardel’s bearer

 

The tale I tell is this

Once Odin’s brother Haloge

Maker of most ill mischief

Did have a daughter

That was Eisa fair who fled

 

She mothered Viking Halfdan

sailed Ellida over the waves

braved the sea-witch Ran

Then landed safe on Orkney shore

A tribute to demand

 

Ring followed Viking down

Named from Volund-Smith

His amulet of magical renown

Protecting wearers,

wrested from grave-spoiler’s grasp

 

At Thorsten’s wishes this sword then forged

rune covered Angurdvarel

Sheathed only when blood-gorged

Fashioned below in Svark-elf-heim

By Ivorsmith the dwarf

 

Passed in death to Fritheof

Outlaw, sea rover, booty plunderer

Exiled yet from homeland north

For love of Ingeborg—and temple razing

Sired in old age Guntheof

 

Guntheof land home made

And name restored to pride

Unfading favour found

Upon the isle of Bjornholm

Where was bestowed an earldom

 

These my father gave to me

The brave and daring tales of old

Angurdvardel, Elleda, Ring,

these three greatest treasures of the north

and, Lord of rede hall, my free men