Summary of the Thidrekssaga

Thus king Hertnit gathered a great army. And his wife Ostacia went out and moved her handhrærði sinn gand, which is what weThe audience of the saga, 13th century Norwegians would call casting a spellfæri at seiða, as in the past women who knew magic that we call völur would do. She did so much witchcraft and sorceryfjölkynngi ok trollskap that she summoned all kinds of animals, lions and bears and flying dragons, and tamed them all until they obeyed her and she set them against her enemies. And it is said in German songs that her army was like the EnemySatan, I presume himself. And she herself took the form of a flying dragon.

Now king Hertnit moved his army against king Isung, and when they found one another a severe battle erupted. King Isung and his sons went forward and killed many men, and the army fell for them wherever they came. Elsewhere Detlef the Dane with his men rode forth and also gave many men death, and the Wilkinenmen could not hold before him. And the third army led by Fasold the Proud also fought with great courage this day. The Wilkinenmen fell in this battle as grain being scythed.

Jarl Elsung came closer, and his sister-son Amelung said, when he saw Herrat: If you leave this woman behind, then you will escape with your lives. Master Hildebrand replied she had come with king Dietrich from Soest for another purpose. And one of Elsung's men said he had never heard an old man speak so fearlessly or haughtily. Dietrich replied that the old man had spent his entire life in honour and manliness. Don’t insult him for his age.

Amelung said: Now surrender, or I will pull your beard so that most of it will come off. Hildebrand replied: Try that, and you'll regret it. Who is your leader? OneMs A and B: Ingram said: Don't you know our jarl Elsung? We are certainly fools that we exchange words with you for so long.

He drew his sword and hit Hildebrand on his helm hat, and the sword cut through it, but beneath it was Hildegrim, Dietrich’s old helmet, and it withstood the blow. But king Dietrich now had Sigfrid's helmetGunther had given it to Osid in 357, and apparently Dietrich got it when Osid died, which was the best of all and studded with gold. And Hildebrand drew his sword Gram, which once belonged to Sigfridand which Hildebrand apparently took from Giselher in 390 and hit Ingram on his helmet and cut through helmet and head, torso and armour, and the sword hit the saddle bow.

Then Dietrich drew his sword Eckisax and struck the foremost knight on his shoulder so that his arm was cut off, and with another blow he hit jarl Elsung so that the sword cut off his arm and went into his jawbone, and he fell dead.

Now Alebrand asked who this old man standing before him was. And tell me quickly what your name is, and surrender your weapons to retain your life. Hildebrand replied that, before telling his name, he wanted to know the name of his opponent, and surrender your weapons freely or by force.

Then Alebrand swung his sword at the old man, and Hildebrand struck back, and the fight became hard and was twice as valiant as before. Then they became tired again, and Alebrand put down his shield to rest, and Hildebrand did the same.

And Alebrand said: tell me your name and surrender your weapons and you'll live, but if not then you will be killed. You did not tell me before, and without dishonour, but now you will, and without victory, and lose all your weapons, or you will die. And the young man became even fiercer and tried to kill the old man, but he defended himself bravely.

Now Hildebrand said: If you are from the Wölfing family, tell me, and I will make peace with you, but if you’re not I’ll kill you. And Alebrand replied: Give up if you want to live. But I am no more a Wölfing than you are, and now tell me who you are. If you knew who I am you wouldn't call my father a Wölfing. And again they fought even harder.

Then Hildebrand struck a mighty blow at the young man’s thigh, so that the armour was cut open and Alebrand was wounded so severely that he could hardly use his foot. And now Alebrand said: Here is my sword, I will surrender and can no longer fight. You have the fiend in your handhis sword; same sentence as in 402. The old man turned around his shield and stretched his hand to take the sword, but Alebrand struck at him and tried to cut off his hand. But the old man quickly brought his shield back and said: You learned that blow from your mother, and not from your father. And Hildebrand attacked so swiftly that Alebrand fell to the ground, and Hildebrand sprang on top of him and set his sword on the young man’s chest and said: Tell me quickly who you are and who your family is, or you will lose your life.

Then Alebrand said: I won’t tell you, and I don’t care about my life now that I’ve been vanquished by such an old gray goosegrágás. And Hildebrand said: If you want to keep your life, tell me quickly if you are Alebrand my son, and I’ll be Hildebrand your father. And Alebrand said: If you’re Hildebrand my father, then I’m Alebrand your son.

Then Hildebrand rose and Alebrand as well, and they kissed each other and regarded each other. Now Hildebrand became quite pleased with his son, and Alebrand with his father, and they jumped on their horses and rode to Bern. And Alebrand asked: Where did you part with king Dietrich? And Hildebrand told him everything that had happened and how they separated in the forest, and Alebrand rode there with all his men.