BEGINNING OF THE ATHLETIC GAMES
THE day when the “idrottir,” or athletic games, began had come. All the
warriors and champions who intended to take part in these contests had
arrived either by land or by water. For several days before, wherever
the eye turned, men were seen training and preparing themselves for the
games, and tents were scattered in every direction. The fairest women
and maidens of all the Viking realms were in Upsalir; they also had come
to witness the games. Many of them were of great beauty, and daughters
of Haulds and Bondi who owned vast tracts of land, and rivalled in power
some of the Hersirs. There was also a vast multitude of commoner people
who always collected on such occasions. These brought their tents and
provisions with them, and put up at any place they could find. At dawn
of day, when the games began, a great crowd had already collected on the
idrottir fields.
Among the daughters of Hersirs and high-born men who were present were
Signy, Ragnild, Helga, Hjordis, Sigrid, Ingebjorg, Thora, Sigrun,
Gudrun, Herborg, Bryngerd, Randgrid, Kara, Thorhalla, Bergthora,
Grimhild, Brynhild, Gudrod, Asta, Hildirid, Thorgerd, Thordis, Ingigerd,
Thurid, Hungerd, Hallgerd, Hildigunn, Asgerd, Ulfhild, Gyda, Thyri,
Olrun, Svanhild, Hrefna.
Women were always one of the most interesting features at the games.
They came to applaud and cheer the contestants, and to urge the men to
their utmost. No wonder that there was a saying, that at the games many
lost their hearts, and that numerous engagements and weddings were sure
to take place during the year that followed.
At sight of them, Ivar and every other man was filled with ambition. “I
must become a champion,” was the thought of every one, “so that these
fair creatures may admire me.” It was no wonder that so many handsome
girls and women had sent such a thrill of admiration through the vast
multitude, for before them stood the representative of all that was
beautiful, graceful, and accomplished in the Norselands.
A parterre of exquisite flowers could not have presented a more lovely
view. They were clad in their most becoming day or walking dress, which
came to just above the ankles. Their foreheads were adorned with diadems
of gold, and their necks and arms with necklaces and bracelets of gold.
Their waists were surrounded with belts of gold of variegated patterns
and exquisite workmanship, showing the taste and skill of the goldsmith.
Every one wore her mantle; these hung gracefully over their shoulders,
and were of different colors, red, purple, blue, brown, and white
predominating. All were more or less embroidered with silver and gold,
and made fast by artistic brooches of gold.
“What a beautiful sight!” Sigmund exclaimed. “Look, foster-brothers, at
their thick and glossy hair!” All the tints of blonde type were here
represented, from the lightest flaxen, amber, and burnished gold, to the
dark auburn and chestnut.
Sigurd, pointing out to Ivar a maiden who had superb hair, said: “See
how luxuriously her hair of gold glows against the azure of the sky.
Look at her eyes; they are as the deep blue of the sea we meet when we
are far away from the land.”
“Look at this one,” said Ivar, pointing to him one of the loveliest
maidens in this bevy of beauty. “See her hair hanging on her back, and
swaying in the breeze; it is the color of a field of wheat moving in the
wind, and gilded by the rays of the sun.”
“Look at this other one,” said again Hjalmar; “her hair is as black as
that of the raven. Her eyes seem to send forth flashes of fire. Some of
the kin from which she is descended must have come from the land of the
Huns; I think she must be from Gardariki.” She was unique among all,
with her raven hair, and much admired on that account, for the fair hues
generally predominated over the dark.
Sigurd said: “Foster-brothers, have you ever seen such eyes as those
that are here together? They are like a bunch of arrows in a quiver,
ready to be shot at us poor mortals, and to make us feel the pangs of
love. Some of them are dreamy, some are twinkling with mischief, some
are piercing, some are so loving, a few are so fiery, that one feels
that it is better not to excite the ire of the maiden who possesses
them. Look at their color—from the deep blue to the amethyst and
greenish tourmaline. Look at the hazel ones; there are but a few of
them, but oh, how lovely and poetical! They seem at times to send forth
flashes of genius, then to return again gently to their dreamy mood.
Well may the eyes be called the mirror of our thoughts, for they tell of
our love, sorrow, or anger.”
Among the great Vikings who had come to compete for the championship
were Haki, Starkad, Ingvald, Sigurd, Bodvar, Hervard, Ingimund, Heidrek,
Thorolf, Hallvard, Asmund, Agnar, Ragnar, Hodbrod, Gunnar, Volsung,
Thorvald, Siggier, Thordis, Einar, Björn, Ulf, Sigmund, Ogmund, Vemund,
Thormod, Gautrek, Thorbrand, Indridi, Gauti, Vikar, Fridthjolf, Hrolf,
Hjalmter, Halfdan, Eirek the Red, Alrek, Ottar, Visbur, Refil, Adils,
Ingald, Havar, Randver, Hogni, Arnvid, Grammar, Kolbak, Jorund, Arnkel,
Skeggi, Hromund, Hord, Gisli, Thorkel, Egil, Ketil, Ingolf, Leif,
Erling, Glum, Ogvald, Viga.
These men, and many others present, were the embodiment of all that was
chivalrous and brave in the Norselands. Many of them had passed a great
part of their lives at sea or in foreign lands, conquering and fighting,
carrying their victorious standards before them everywhere. Their ruddy
faces told that they were the sons of the sea, who had fought many a
time, with great skill, the daughters of Ægir and Ran. What tales many
could tell of the terrific gales they had encountered with their ships
while on their expeditions, voyaging on either the North Sea, the
Atlantic Ocean, or the Mediterranean, and almost every one could say
that some of their kinsmen had gone to the hall of Ran on their way to
or from home! Fear was unknown to them all.
What superb specimens of manhood they were! The finest the world could
show! Spartan-like in appearance, for all the weak at their birth had
not been allowed to live. What splendid proportions their bodies had!
What strong chests and powerful frames! What muscles! For from their
childhood these men had been trained, and practised athletic games, and
all had lived much in the open air. Many were tall, but there were also
many of medium height. A few were short. These were often the hardiest
and most agile, and could stand hardships much better than their taller
friends. Most of them were fair, but some few had dark hair and beards.
Yngvi, with his three beautiful daughters, a bevy of young maidens, and
wives of Hersirs and Haulds, and other guests, when they arrived on the
field took their places on an elevated spot, from which they could
survey the games.
Astrid was dressed in a red, ornamented kirtle, and over it a scarlet
cloak, ornamented with lace. Her long, fair hair reached down far below
her waist. Randalin wore a blue woven mantle, and under it a scarlet
dress, with a gold belt. Her hair reached down to her waist on both
sides, and she tucked its tresses under her belt. Gunnhild wore a
kirtle, a dress fitting the waist very lightly, and short, and over her
dress a close-fitting blue jacket.
Among the distinguished women were Drifa, the wife of the Hersir of the
island of Zeeland. She came, followed by three of her bondmaids. She had
a red dress, narrow below, long and tight at the waist, with long
sleeves, and wore a band of gold cloth round her forehead; her hair was
long and fine. Over her shoulders hung a white, gold-embroidered cloak.
Hallgerd, a beautiful woman, widow of the former Hersir of the island of
Fyen, who was very much sought for on account of her wealth, was dressed
most tastefully, and her belt of gold showed her graceful form to
advantage.
Yngvi, the Hersirs, and many prominent men and scalds, stood by
themselves, near them, and were to be the umpires. As soon as Ivar and
his foster-brothers had arrived on the fields, they went to salute the
daughters of the Hersir of Svithjod and all the fair maidens who were
their guests. A shower of smiles and bows from them told how the
compliment was appreciated, for many blushed.
Ivar and his foster-brothers saluted Yngvi and the other Hersirs. Yngvi
asked Ivar if he was a man of many athletic games.
Ivar replied: “My foster-father thought I knew many things well; but I
have not shown my skill to others, and I think thou wilt find it slight
when compared to that of some men.”
Ivar replied in this way, for he remembered the advice which his father
had given him, that a man with a thinking mind should not boast, but
rather be heedful in his mood, and beware, because the tongue is the
head’s bane.
Then all prepared themselves for the contests that were to
begin—wrestling, jumping, leaping, running, different games of ball,
swimming, and warlike exercises with spears, swords, bows and arrows.
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