Add MS 4884

BANKS COLLECTION. Vol. XXVIII (ff. 215). Five romantic Sagas, together with one historical saga; 18th cent. 'No. 37' according to a note on f. 1. Viz.:-

(1) 'Sagann af Pontiano Keisara og Þeim Sio Vysu Meisturumm': story of the Emperor Pontianus and the Seven Wise Masters. The Latin original of the prose versions of this romance, Historia septem sapientium Rome, was published at Cologne circ. 1475. For an account of the origins and variations of the romance, see P. O. Bäckström, Svenska Folkböcker, i, Stockholm, 1845, pp. 1-7. ff. 1-64b.

(2) 'Sagann af An Bogsveigir': in 9 chapters. Story of Án the Bowbender, of the island of Hrafnista in Norway, telling how he acquires a bow and three enchanted arrows from a dwarf and avenges himself for having been outlawed. The story then relates how his great-grandson Ingimunðr settles at Vatnsdalr in north Iceland. Followed by two rhyming strophes, one on Án himself, and the other on his son, Thórir háleggr. Printed at Stockholm in 1737 as No. 15 in E. H. Björner, Nordiske Kämpadater, and at Copenhagen in 1829 in Fornaldar Sögur, ii, pp. 323-362. The present text agrees with the latter edition. See also Eugen Kölbing, 'Die Ans-rimur und die Anssaga bogsveigis', in Beiträge zur vergleichenden Geschichte der Romantischen Poesie und Prosa des Mittelalters, Breslau, 1876, pp. 187-197. ff. 65-81b.

(3) 'Saga Sveris Kongs Sigurðarsonar': in 166 chapters, preceded by a prologue. History of Sverrir, King of Norway (d. 1202), written by Karl Jónsson, Abbot of Thingeyrar from 1169-1181 and again from 1187- 1207. Printed in B. Thorlacius and E. C. Werlauff, Noregs Konunga Sögor, iv, Copenhagen, 1813, pp. 1-334, and again in Fornmanna Sögur, viii, Copenhagen, 1834. A version corresponding more closely to the text of this MS. appears in Flateyjarbók, ii, Oslo, 1862, pp. 533-701. ff. 83-166b.

(4) 'Sagann af Ajax Fraekna': in 13 chapters. Story of Ajax the Valiant, son of a Duke of Macedon, telling how he obtains a wishingstone and bewitches the Princess of Constantinople and her father, the King. It then tells how the King hangs his own son, his chief councillor

and his archbishop, thinking each time that he is hanging Ajax, who is finally betrothed to the Princess and brings back the missing men at the marriage-feast. ff. 167-178.

(5) 'Sagann af Asmunde og Triggva': in 10 chapters. Story of Ásmundr, who is fostered by Helgi, a heathen king of Hálogaland. It tells how the king's daughter is seduced by Ásmundr and dies, how Ásmundr flees and is outlawed, how his foster-brother, Tryggvi (the son of Helgi), finds him in Sicily and how they are both converted to Christianity. ff. 179-194.

(6) 'Sagan af Eiglc Einhenda og Ásmunde Berserkia bana': in 18 chapters. Story of Egill the One-handed and Asmundr the Berserkerkiller. Cf. Add. MS. 4874, art. 2. ff. 195-215b.

includes:

• ff. 1-64b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Pontiano Keisara': 18th cent.
• ff. 65-81b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af An Bogsveigir': 18th cent.
• ff. 83-166b Sverre of Norway: 'Saga Sveris Kongs Sigurðarsonar' , by Karl Jónsson: 18th cent.: Icelandic.
• ff. 83-166b Karl Jónsson, Abbot of Thingeyrar, north Iceland; d. circ 1213: 'Saga Sverris Kongs Sigurdarsonar': 18th cent.: Icelandic.
• ff. 83-166b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Saga Sveris Kongs Sigurdarsonar': 18th cent.
• ff. 167-178 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Ajax Frækna': 18th cent.
• ff. 179-194 Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagann af Asmunde og Triggva': 18th cent.
• ff. 195-215b Icelandic MSS Collection of sagas, annals, legal codes, etc. in Icelandic as follows:: 'Sagan af Eigle Einhenda og Asmunde Berserkia bana': 18th cent.