Add MS 4874

BANKS COLLECTION. Vol. XVIII (ff. 169). Seven romantic Sagas, the second having a note that it was written at Northern Skálanes in 1773; 18th cent. Articles 6 and 7 are written in a different hand from the remainder of the collection. 'No. 48' according to a note on f. 1. Viz.:-

(1) 'Sagann af Bragda Mávus': in 52 chapters. A version of the Quatre fils Aymon. The narrative fails into two parts, the first of which finishes at the end of chapter 21 and contains some adventures not included in other copies. The second part is divided into five sections, entitled 'Þaattur af Laause' (f. 32), 'Þaattur af Hroolfe Skugafyfle' (f. 48), 'Þattur af Vilhiálme Láussyne' (f. 53), 'Þattur af Geyrard Jarle' (f. 55b) and 'Þattur af Vilhialme Gyralldssyne' (f. 63b). Cf. Add. MS. 4869, art. 2. ff. 1-66.

(2) 'Sagann af Asmunde Berserkiabana og Eigle Einhennta': in 14 chapters. Story of the foster-brothers, Asmundr the Berserker-killer and Egill the One-handed, telling of their wonderful adventures in Asiatic Russia and Jötunheim. Other copies are in Add. MSS. 4884, f. 195, and 24969, f. 280. Printed at Upsala in 1693, with versions in Swedish and Latin by Peter Salan, under the title of Fostbrödernas Eigles och Asmunds Saga, and again at Copenhagen in C. C. Rafn, Fornaldar Sögur, iii, 1830, pp. 365-407, under the title of Sagan af Eigli einhenda ok Asmundi berserkjabana. ff. 66b-86.

(3) 'Sagann af Kattle Haeng': in 6 chapters. Story of Ketill, a Norwegian, who, after killing a dragon, says that he has just struck a 'haengr' (or male salmon) in two and so obtains the name of Ketill Haengr. The story tells how he wins the elfin sword Dragvendill from the King of Finmark, and performs feats with it. Another copy is in Add. MS. 11108, f. 209. Printed (together with art. 4) at Upsala in 1697, under the title of Ketilli Haengii et Grimonis Hirsutigenae, patris et filii Historia, with a Latin version by Olof Rudbeck. This saga was also printed in Fornaldar Sögur, ii, pp. 107-139. ff. 86b-94.

(4) 'Sagann af Gryme Lodennkynna': in 3 chapters. Story of Grímr Shaggycheek, a son of Ketill Haengr, telling how his bride vanishes on the wedding night, how he is saved many years later by a hag, and how he awakes in the night to find his bride sleeping by his side, with the haghide on the ground. Printed at Upsala in 1697 (see art. 3) and in Fornaldar Sögur, ii, pp. 141-157. ff. 94-98.

(5) 'Sagann af Jóne Kónge og Dámusta i Gricklande': in 9 chapters. Story telling how the Greek knight Dámuste kills King Jón of Smáland for love of the Greek princess, Gratiana. The story then relates how the princess herself is supposed to be dead and is laid in a tomb, how a semi-demon, Alheimr, tries to carry her away and how she is rescued by Dámuste, who marries her and becomes King of Greece. This seems to be an enlarged version of Jóns saga Upplendínga-konungs, of which there is a copy in Add. MS. 11108, f. 158. Published by Jón Árnason in Íslenzkar Þjóðsögur og Aefintýri, Leipzig 1862, pp. 284-285. See also K. Maurer, Islándische Volkssagen der Gegenwart, Leipzig 1860,

pp. 320-322, for some remarks on Alheimr. An abstract of the present saga with a few notes on its resemblance to the other Jóns-sagas, is given by Eugen Kölbing in Germania, xvii, Vienna, 1872, pp. 194-195. ff. 98b- 1 09.

(6) 'Sagann af Baering Fagra: in 41 chapters. Story of Baeringr the Fair, whose father dies before he is born. The story relates how his mother's brother is killed by Henry the False (of Holstein and Saxland), how his mother escapes with a fisherman to England, where she is received by King Richard, how Baeringr is knighted and has many adventures, and how he marries the sister of the Greek emperor. Ed. G. Cederschiöld, Fornsögur Suðrlanda, printed in Acta Universitatis Lundensis, xiv, Lund, 1877-1888, pp. 85-123, ff. 110-137b.

(7) 'Sagann af Ector hinum Sterka': in 25 chapters. Story of Hector the Strong and his warriors. It tells how, after the fall of Troy, Karmodus of the race of Priam returns to his native Tartary, how his wife bears a son to whom the shade of Hector gives his own name, and how this new Hector performs many knightly deeds. ff. 138-169b.

includes:

• ff. 1 - 66 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Bragda Mávus': 18th cent.
• ff. 66b-86 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga af Asmunde Berserkiabana og Eigle Einhennta': 1773.
• ff. 86b-94 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Kattle Hæng': 18th cent.
• ff. 94b-98 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Gryme Lodennkynna': 18th cent.
• ff. 98b-109 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Jóne Kónge og Dámusta': 18th cent.
• ff. 110- 1 37b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Bæring Fagra': 18th cent.
• ff. 138-169b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Ector hinum Sterka': 18th cent.