Saxo Grammaticus

Saxo Grammaticus (c. 1150 – c. 1220), also known as Saxo Longus, was a Danish historian and theologian. He is thought to have been a clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, the main advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the Gesta Danorum, the first full history of Denmark, from which the legend of Amleth would come to inspire the story of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Quotes

Gesta Danorum

Preface

  • Danicam uero regionem giganteo quondam cultu exercitam eximie magnitudinis saxa ueterum bustis ac specubus affixa testantur. Quod si quis ui monstruosa patratum ambigat, quorundam montium excelsa suspiciat dicatque, si callet, quis eorum uerticibus cautes tante granditatis inuexerit.
    • That the country of Denmark was once cultivated and worked by giants, is attested by the enormous stones attached to the barrows and caves of the ancients. Should any man question that this is accomplished by superhuman force, let him look up at the tops of certain mountains and say, if he knows how, what man hath carried such immense boulders up to their crests.
    • Sec. 3, par. 1 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Oliver Elton, 1894)

Book 3

  • Tot iuuenis artibus Geuari filia Nanna admodum delectata amplexum eius expetere coepit. Fit enim, ut uirtute iuuenum uirgines incalescant et, quorum minus complacet forma, probitas acceptetur. Multiplices enim amor aditus habet. Aliis forme decor, aliis animi uirtus, quibusdam artium usus uoluptatis iter aperit. Nonnullis comitas ueneris copiam parat, complures fame candor acceptos facit, nec leuius uulnus fortes quam pulchri puellis infligere solent.
    • All these accomplishments of the youth [Hother] pleased Nanna, the daughter of Gewar mightily, and she began to seek his embraces. For the valour of a youth will often kindle a maid, and the courage of those whose looks are not so winning is often acceptable. For love hath many avenues: the path of pleasure is opened to some by grace, to others by bravery of soul, and to some by skill in accomplishments. Courtesy brings to some stores of Love, while most are commended by brightness of beauty. Nor do the brave inflict a shallower wound on maidens than the comely.
    • Sec. 2, para. 2 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Oliver Elton, 1894)
  • Minus enim acceptantur dona, que prestat inuisus. Sane gratiora sunt, que ab amicis porriguntur. Adeo interdum ex offerente oblati precium pendet.
    • Presents from someone antipathetic to us are unacceptable, while those of friends give much greater pleasure; so it is that at times we rate the value of a gift by its giver.
    • Sec. 4, para. 3 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Peter Fisher, 1979)
  • At dii, quibus precipua apud Bizantium sedes habebatur, Othinum uariis maiestatis detrimentis diuinitatis gloriam maculasse cernentes collegio suo submouendum duxerunt. Nec solum primatu eiectum, sed etiam domestico honore cultuque spoliatum proscribendum curabant, satius existimantes probrosi antistitis potentiam subrui quam publice religionis habitum prophanari, ne uel ipsi alieno crimine implicati insontes nocentis nomine punirentur.
    • Now the gods, whose principal residence was reckoned to be at Byzantium, perceived that Odin had tarnished the honour of his divinity by these various lapses from dignity and reckoned he should quit their fraternity. They ensured that he was ousted from his pre-eminence, stripped of his personal titles and worship, and outlawed, believing it better for a scandalous president to be thrown from power than desecrate the character of public religion; nor did they wish to become involved in another’s wickedness and suffer innocently for his guilt.
    • Sec. 4, para. 9 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Peter Fisher, 1979)

Book 4

  • Tanta autem Hermutrude charitate tenebatur, ut maiorem future eius uiduitatis quam proprie necis solicitudinem animo insitam gestaret omnique studio circumspiceret, qualiter ei secundas nuptias ante belli ingressum conscisceret. Quam ob rem Hermutruda uirilem professa fiduciam ne in acie quidem se eum deserturam spopondit, detestabilem inquiens foeminam, que marito morte conseri formidaret. Quam promissionis nouitatem parum executa est. Nam quum Amlethus apud Iutiam a Vigleco acie interemptus fuisset, ultro in uictoris predam amplexumque concessit.
    Ita uotum omne foemineum fortune uarietas abripit, temporum mutatio dissoluit, et muliebris animi fidem lubrico nixam uestigio fortuiti rerum casus extenuant, que sicut ad pollicendum facilis, ita ad persoluendum segnis uariis uoluptatis irritamentis astringitur atque ad recentia semper auidius expetenda ueterum immemor anhela preceps cupiditate dissultat.
    • Yet he [Amleth] was enchained by such love for Hermutrude, that he was more deeply concerned in his mind about her future widowhood than about his own death, and cast about very zealously how he could decide on some second husband for her before the opening of the war. Hermutrude, therefore, declared that she had the courage of a man, and promised that she would not forsake him even on the field, saying that the woman who dreaded to be united with her lord in death was abominable. But she kept this rare promise ill; for when Amleth had been slain by Wiglek in battle in Jutland, she yielded herself up unasked to be the conqueror's spoil and bride.
      Thus all vows of women are loosed by change of fortune and melted by the shifting of time; the faith of their soul rests on a slippery foothold, and is weakened by casual chances; glib in promises, and as sluggish in performance, all manner of lustful promptings enslave it, and it bounds away with panting and precipitate desire, forgetful of old things, in the ever hot pursuit after something fresh.
    • Sec. 2, paras. 2–3 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Oliver Elton, 1894)

Book 9

  • Cui Regnerus in regnum succedit. Quo tempore rex Suetie Frø interfecto Noruagiensium rege Syuardo coniuges necessariorum eius prostibulo relegatas publice constuprandas exhibuit. Quo Regnerus audito auite ultionis studio Noruagiam petiuit. Eo ueniente matrone complures, que corporum suorum ludibria aut nuper passe fuerant aut in proximo pudicitie periculum uerebantur, uiriliter culte cupide castris eius adproperare coeperunt, profitentes se fatum contumelie prelaturas. Nec erubuit futurus muliebris improperii uindex aduersum auctorem turpitudinis, quarum ignominiam ulcisci uenerat, auxilia mutuari.
    Inter quas affuit et Lathgertha, perita bellandi foemina, que uirilem in uirgine animum gerens immisso humeris capillitio prima inter promptissimos dimicabat. Cuius incomparabilem operam admirantibus cunctis—quippe cesaries tergo inuolare conspecta foeminam esse prodebat...
    • He [Siward Ring] was succeeded on the throne by Ragnar. At this time Fro, the King of Sweden, after slaying Siward, the King of the Norwegians, put the wives of Siward's kinsfolk in bonds in a brothel, and delivered them to public outrage. When Ragnar heard of this, he went to Norway to avenge his grandfather. As he came, many of the matrons, who had either suffered insult to their persons or feared imminent peril to their chastity, hastened eagerly to his camp in male attire, declaring that they would prefer death to outrage. Nor did Ragnar, who was to punish this reproach upon the women, scorn to use against the author of the infamy the help of those whose shame he had come to avenge.
      Among them was Ladgerda, a skilled amazon, who, though a maiden, had the courage of a man, and fought in front among the bravest with her hair loose over her shoulders. All marvelled at her matchless deeds, for her locks flying down her back betrayed that she was a woman.
    • Sec. 4, paras. 1–2 (ed. Karsten Friis-Jensen, 2015; tr. Oliver Elton, 1894)
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