English Translation

18a daughter of the Irish king. Olaf is also recognized by his royal grandfather, so to speak returns blood-legitimized to the homeland. Only now he submits himself to advertise Thorgerd, as a maid-son it would have been impossible from the beginning anyway. Like all others Thor- gerd of course also heard of the rumor about the royal descent of Olaf's mother. Nevertheless, she is indignant when her father Egil, in whom Olaf advertised for her, presents her Olaf's wishes. Egile takes up the advertising that Olaf' s father presents to him and replies to him: "I also know that you are a man of best origin and tall, and Olaf is famous for his journey. It is not surprising that men like him turn their gaze beyond the obvious, for he does not lack noble descent and good looks, but I have to discuss this first with Thorgerd, for it would not be possible for any man to get Thorgerde without their will. "Torgerd responds to the father who speaks for Olaf: "I have heard this saying that you loved me most of your children, but now I think you do not prove this, since you want to marry me to the son of a maidservant, he may also be handsome and yet perform so splendidly." Egil said: "You are not as well informed about this as in others; have you not heard that he is the daughter son of the Irish king Myrkjartan? He was born much more noble on the mother's side than on the father's part, and it would be quite equal to us.' Thorgerd didn't seem to want to acknowledge this. Now they broke off the conversation, and everyone stayed with his opinion. The daughter's pride of blood seems to be even stronger here than the father's awareness of blood, which also places equality as decisive for the marriage. It is only when Thorgerd Olaf gets to know himself and convinces himself of his noble nature and noble appearance that she consents to marry him. "Olaf called his name and that of his father. 'You (Thorgerd) will think that the maid son has become naughty, because he dares to sit next to you and talk to you.' Thorgerd answered, 'You will be well aware that you have passed bolder ventures than talking to women.' Then they came into conversation and talked all day. Not others heard what they were talking about. And before their conversation came to an end, Egil and Höskuld (the two fathers) were called here. Then the speech came again to Olaf's advertisement. Thorgerd now joined her father's decision. Now the matter was over, and the engagement took place immediately." (Laxd.) Similar examples are to be met again and again in the old transfers. Often a Germanic girl refuses to marry a man because he does not come from a good gender, because his blood does not seem as high-quality as hers and because she feels obliged to the ancestors as well as to the grandchildren to preserve this most precious heritage unabated. If Queen Brynhild, known to all of us from the German Nibelungenlied, wants to marry only the bravest of her candidates, who must prove himself by the action, i.e. here the competition, then also speak of blood pride and discipline. The contest, which Brynilde presents before every advertisement around her, is a selection battle, which is to show her the first and the most noble, whom her equals should show. Also the Germanic Brynhilde 24