Thus beginneth the tale, telling how that King Beli ruled over
Sogn-land; three children had he, whereof Helgi was his first son, and
Halfdan his second, but Ingibiorg his daughter. Ingibiorg was fair of
face and wise of mind, and she was ever accounted the foremost of the
king's children.
Now a certain strand went west of the firth, and a great stead was
thereon, which was called Baldur's Meads; a Place of Peace was there,
and a great temple, and round about it a great garth of pales: many
gods were there, but amidst them all was Baldur held of most account. So
jealous were the heathen men of this stead, that they would have no hurt
done therein to man nor beast, nor might any man have dealings with a
woman there.
Sowstrand was the name of that stead whereas the king dwelt; but on
the other side the firth was an abode named Foreness, where dwelt a man
called Thorstein, the son of Viking; and his stead was over against the
king's dwelling.
Thorstein had a son by his wife called Frithiof: he was the tallest and
strongest of men, and more furnished of all prowess than any other man,
even from his youth up. Frithiof the Bold was he called, and so well
beloved was he, that all prayed for good things for him.
Now the king's children were but young when their mother died; but a
goodman of Sogn, named Hilding, prayed to have the king's daughter to
foster: so there was she reared well and needfully: and she was called
Ingibiorg the Fair. Frithiof also was fostered of goodman Hilding,
wherefore was he foster-brother to the king's daughter, and they two
were peerless among children.
Now King Beli's chattels began to ebb fast away from his hands, for he
was grown old.
Thorstein had rule over the third part of the realm, and in him lay the
king's greatest strength.
Every third year Thorstein feasted the king at exceeding great cost, and
the king feasted Thorstein the two years between.
Helgi, Beli's son, from his youth up turned much to blood-offering:
neither were those brethren well-beloved.
Thorstein had a ship called Ellidi, which pulled fifteen oars on either
board; it ran up high stem and stern, and was strong-built like an
ocean-going ship, and its bulwarks were clamped with iron.
So strong was Frithiof that he pulled the two bow oars of Ellidi;
but either oar was thirteen ells long, and two men pulled every oar
otherwhere.
Frithiof was deemed peerless amid the young men of that time, and the
king's sons envied him, whereas he was more praised than they.
Now King Beli fell sick; and when the sickness lay heavy on him he
called his sons to him and said to them: “This sickness will bring me to
mine end, therefore will I bid you this, that ye hold fast to those old
friends that I have had; for meseems in all things ye fall short of that
father and son, Thorstein and Frithiof, yea, both in good counsel and in
hardihood. A mound ye shall raise over me.”
So with that Beli died.
Thereafter Thorstein fell sick; so he spake to Frithiof: “Kinsman,” says
he, “I will crave this of thee, that thou bow thy will before the king's
sons, for their dignity's sake; yet doth my heart speak goodly things to
me concerning thy fortune. Now would I be laid in my mound over against
King Beli's mound, down by the sea on this side the firth, whereas it
may be easiest for us to cry out each to each of tidings drawing nigh.”
A little after this Thorstein departed, and was laid in mound even as he
had bidden; but Frithiof took the land and chattels after him. Biorn
and Asmund were Frithiof s foster-brethren; they were big and strong men
both.