Add MS 4863

BANKS COLLECTION. Vol. VII (ff. 422). Collection of Romantic Sagas, none of them relating to Iceland, including a translation and some adaptations of foreign romances; 18th cent. 'No. 46' according to a note on f. 1. Viz.:-

(1) 'Eyreks Vydförla Saga'. Story of Eric the Widefarer, son of the first king of Þrándheimr, who journeys to Constantinople and India in search of Odáinsakr (the Field of Immortality), and reaches it by plunging down the throat of a dragon. For another copy of this saga see Add. MS. 11181, f. 26b. Printed in C. C. Rafn, Fornaldar Sögur Nordrlanda, iii, Copenhagen, pp. 661-674, and again in the 1st Part of the Flateyjarbók, published by P. T. Malling, Oslo, 1859, pp. 29-31. The present text closely resembles that of the Flateyjarbjk. ff. 1-66.

(2) 'Hálfdánar Eysteinsonar Saga': in 16 chapters. Story of Hálfdán, son of King Eysteinn of Þrándheimr. lt tells how Eysteinn conquers the town of Aldeigjuborg and kills the king of it, and how Hálfdán wins the princess of Aldeigjuborg after adventures with Vikings and giants. Other copies are in Add. MSS. 11157, f. 74, and 24969, f. 119. Printed as No. 11 of Nordiske Kämpa-Dater, ed. E. J. Björner, Stockholm, 1737, and in

Fornaldar Sögur, iii, pp. 519-558. The present text agrees substantially with that of Fornaldar Sögur. ff. 7-23b.

(3) 'Fertrams og Plato Saga': in 16 chapters. Story of Fertram and Plato, sons of King Artus of Frackland. Cf. Add. MS. 4857, art. 10. ff. 25-45b.

(4) 'Samsons Fagra Saga': in 25 chapters. Story of Samson the Fair, son of King Artus of England and his Queen Philippia, telling how he rescues his lady-love, Valentina, from the musical enchantments of the semi-troll Qventalyn, who is then killed by Ulfr, another hero. Printed as No. 12 in Nordiske Kämpa-Dater. ff. 47-68b.

(5) 'Vilhiálms Sióds Saga': in 38 chapters. Story of William, son of Richard, King of England: William visits Constantinople and other eastern cities in search of his father, who has disappeared in a magic darkness, and he finally finds him in a giant's cave and saves him. At the end of chapter 35 is a mention of William's assuming the name of Siódur from one of his associates, governor of a village in the neighbourhood of Nineveh, for an account of whom see chapp. 30 and 35, ff. 104, 115. ff. 69-118b.

(6) 'Þialar Joons Saga'; in 32 chapters. Earl John of Hólmgarður (a part of Russia) is driven from his country. He makes his way, by means of a wonderful instrument like an enormous file, through a supposedly impassable mountain into France. He returns by the same road (called the Thjaler-road), in company with the son of William, King of Valland (a part of France) and regains his earldom. Ed. Gunnlaugr Thorðarson, Reykjavik, 1857. ff. 119-151b.

(7) 'Asmundar Vykíngs Saga': in 24 chapters. Story of Asmundur, son of an earl in Iceland, who courts the king's daughter Helga. The king's counsellor, Herrander, is jealous of him and pushes him out to sea in a boat without oars, but he is picked up by a ship belonging to King Hringur of Gautland (Gothland in Sweden) and, after many Viking adventures, he marries Helga. Ed. Einar Thórðarson, Reykjavik, 1866. ff. 153-180.

(8) 'Örns Ötulfaxa Saga': in 10 chapters. Story of Örn, a Swede, who is taken by corsairs. It tells how he is loved by the daughter of the King of Barbary, tortured, and finally set free by order of the Grand Turk. Ötulfaxi (or Ötunfaxi) is the name of a wizard in the Saga of Thorstein Vikingsson. ff. 181-188.

(9) 'Ulfars Sterka Saga': in 26 chapters. Story of Ulfar the Strong and his brothers, the sons of Clarelius, King of Africa and nephew of Croesus. It tells how they capture the Saxon, Önundur the Fair, and how he and Ulfar become brothers in arms, rove as Vikings and conquer many kingdoms. ff. 189-216.

(10) 'Þorsteins Baearbarns Saga': in 10 chapters. Usually known as 'Þorsteins Baermagns Saga'. Story of a fabulous hero, surnamed Baearmagn, who joins the body-guard of King Ólafr Tryggvason of Norway.

The story tells of his visit to the lower world, and of his adventures with King Goðmundr of Glaesisvellir. Printed as No. 17 in Nordiske Kämpa- Dater, and in C. C. Rafn, Fornmanna Sögur, iii, Copenhagen, 1827, pp. 175-198. ff. 217-228b.

(11) 'Falentins og Ursins Saga': in 69 chapters. Story of Valentine and Orson, the twin sons of the Emperor Alexander and nephews of King Pepin of France. There is an imperfect but fuller copy in Add. MS. 11157, f. 90. The version here is probably the same version as the one (in 74 chapters) made by Jón Jónsson from the Dutch in the 17th cent., described by A. I. Arwidsson in Förteckning öfver Kongl. Bibliothekets i Stockholm isländska handskrifter, Stockholm, 1848, p. 61. ff. 229-335.

(12) 'Gaungu Hrólfs Saga: in 27 chapters, with an appendix. Story of Hrólfr, son of Sturlaugr. The appendix connects this fabulous hero with the conqueror of Normandy. Cf. Add. MS 4857, art. 1. ff. 337-400.

(13) 'Saga Haralds Hrirngsbana': in 14 chapters. Story of Haraldr, son of King Hríngr of Denmark, who kills his father in self-defence, and is thence called Hríngs-bani. ff. 401-422.

includes:

• ff. 1-6b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Eyreks Vydförla Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 7-23b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Hálfdánar Eysteinsonar Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 25-45b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Fertrams og Plato Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 47-68b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Samsons Fagra Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 69-118b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Vilhiálms Sióds Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 119-15 1b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: '_ialar Joons Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 153-180 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Asmundar Vykings Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 181-188 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Örns Ötulfaxa Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 189-216 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Ulfars sterka Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 217-228b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: '_orsteins Bæarbarns Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 229-335 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Falentins og Ursins Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 337-400 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Gaungu Hrólfs Saga': 18th cent.
• ff. 401-422 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga Haralds Hríngsbana': 18th cent.