The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki by Jesse L. Byock

Author:Jesse L. Byock [Byock, Jesse L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sagas
ISBN: 9780140435931
Amazon: 014043593X
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Published: 1977-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

20. Bjorn’s Transformation into a Bear and the Birth of Bodvar

Then Bjorn disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him. When people realized that Bjorn was missing, they searched for him. As might have been expected, he was not to be found.

Next to be told is that the king’s cattle were being killed in large numbers by a grey bear, large and fierce. One evening it happened that Bera, the freeman’s daughter, saw the savage bear. It approached her unthreateningly. She thought she recognized in the bear the eyes42 of Bjorn, the king’s son, and so she did not try to run away. The beast then moved away from her, but she followed it all the way until it came to a cave.

When she entered the cave, a man was standing there. He greeted Bera, the freeman’s daughter, and she recognized that he was Bjorn, Hring’s son. Theirs was a joyful reunion. For a time they stayed together in the cave, because she did not want to part from him while she still had a choice. He told her it was not right for her to be there with him, because he was a beast by day, even if he again became a man at night.

King Hring, when he returned home from the wars, was told everything that had happened while he was away. He learned about the disappearance of his son Bjorn. He was also told about the huge creature that had arrived in the land, attacking mostly the king’s own livestock. The queen strongly urged killing the animal, but this was delayed for a time. The king expressed no opinion, even though he thought the events most unusual.

One night, while Bera and the prince lay in their bed, Bjorn began to speak, ‘I suspect that tomorrow will be my death’s day, for they will hunt and trap me. In truth, I find no pleasure in living because of the curse that lies upon me. You are my only delight, but that too will now cease. I want to give you the ring that is under my left arm. Tomorrow you will see the men stalking me. When I am dead, go to the king and ask him to give you whatever is under the beast’s left shoulder; he will grant you this request.

‘The queen,’ Bjorn continued, ‘will be suspicious of you when you want to leave. She will try to make you eat some of the bear’s meat, but you must not eat it, because, as you well know, you are pregnant and will give birth to three boys. They are ours, and it will be obvious from their appearance if you have eaten any of the bear’s meat. This queen is a great troll.43 Then go home to your father, where you will give birth to the boys, one of whom will seem best to you. If you are not able to raise them at home, because of their strange and uncontrollable natures, bring them here to the cave.

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