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APEX used utf-8 codes for quotation marks, hyphens, and all special characters; except in the introduction, "hi rend="ital" has been used for titles.
Landor was an English writer and poet. He is best known for his long poem Gebir (1798), which tells the story of a prince of
Spain who becomes enamoured with Queen Charoba of Egypt, his enemy. Robert
Southey praised it highly, but most other reviews were hostile, mainly because
of the indications in the poem of Landor’s anti-establishment
politics. His later volumes of Imaginary
Conversations (1824–1829) established his reputation as a
writer. He kept producing fresh instalments of these in his later years.
He also wrote critical essays on Shakespeare and drama.
In Gunnlaug romantic love is writ large. Walter Savage
Landor adapts a tale originally found in
Gunnlaugs saga ormstunga (Saga of Gunnlaug
Serpent-Tongue), where medieval Iceland is the scene of a
romantic love triangle, centering on the love for Helga the Fair. The saga
presented the theme of passionate love along with the ideals of heroic
honour. The story shares themes with a number of other sagas of the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries, which contain a competition among heroes
as to whose love is the greater. Landor found a simple, but profound, tension of
troubled love in this narrative. It is a truly heroic ideal of bravery,
manliness and courtship which unfolds in Landor’s verses. His
version maintains many of the Icelandic and Swedish place names, his
historical sense is romanticized with his poem taking place in a “verdant
Iceland”.
The saga had been printed with a Latin translation and commentary already in
1775, under the title Sagan af Gunnlaugi ormstungu ok
Skalld-Rafni, sive Gunnlaugi vermilingvis & Rafnis poetæ
vita. Ex Manuscriptis Legati Magnæani cum Interpretatione
Latina, as the first of the Icelandic sagas to be published in a
scholarly edition. But Landor’s version is based on a prose summary of
the saga from the work of the Norse scholar William Herbert
(1778–1847). Walter Scott gave a favourable review of
Herbert’s abilities as a Norse scholar in the Edinburgh
Review of October 1806. And Herbert’s scholarship was
instrumental in expanding the knowledge and repertoire of Norse themes in
English literature of the Victorian era. Below, the prose summary from
Herbert’s work is found, followed by Landor’s poem.
***
Gunlaug was the son of Illugi a man of great wealth and authority in Iceland. He was a youth of large and robust stature and distinguished by his poetry which was so satirical, that he acquired the name of Ormstunga, or Snake tongue.
In his earliest youth he was bold and restless; and at the age of fifteen having quarrelled with his father, who would not permit him to travel he fled to the house of Thorstein son of the famous Egill Skallagrimsson, who received him with kindness. Thorstein had a daughter called Helga the fair, who was esteemed the most beautiful woman in the island. A mutual and fatal attachment soon commenced between her and Gunlaug and the wild disposition of his mind was considerably softened by her gentle conversation.
The three following years were passed by Gunlaug partly at the abode of Thorstein, and partly at that of his father at the expiration of which he again pressed Illugi to send him abroad. The request was now granted, and a share in a trading vessel was purchased for him.
While Thorkell, who was to be the companion of his voyage, was employed in loading the vessel, Gunlaug preferred [t]he society of Helga, and returned to the house of Thorstein. He soon found an opportunity of asking for the hand of his daughter, which at first was refused on account of his fickle disposition; but Thorstein at length agreed that the marriage should take place if at the end of three years he returned to claim the promise.
Soon after Gunlaug sailed from Iceland, and having visited several other countries, he arrived at the court of king Olave at Upsala. There he met his countryman Rafen, a man of noble birth, and skilled in poetry; with whom he formed a close intimacy, which however was disturbed by a dispute about precedence in reciting their poems before the king.
Rafen returned to Iceland; and at the expiration of third year, Gunlaug being still absent, he solicited the hand of the fair Helga. Some difficulties were made by Thorstein, but he gave his consent at last to Rafen, in case Gunlaug should not return in the course of the next summer. A day was fixed for the nuptials: Gunlaug who had been severely hurt in wrestling, did riot appear; and the melancholy Helga was forced to espouse her new suitor.
On that very day Gunlaug arrived at the house of his father, and would have proceded [sic] immediately to the abode of Thorstein, but his lameness rendered it impracticable. The sorrows of the lovely Helga were doubled by the faithful return of the fond companion of her childhood, and the society of her husband became hateful to her.
Soon after Rafen was challenged by Gunlaug in the public assembly; for by the law of Iceland at that time, whoever had received an injury might call out the offender to single combat. Rafen, as challenged, gave the first blow his sword broke against the shield, but a splinter from it struck the face of Gunlaug. One being wounded, the other disarmed, each claimed the victory; but their relations interfered, and the next day, in a crowded assembly, it was decreed, that from that hour no duels should be fought in Iceland.
Rafen afterwards challenged Gunlaug to meet him again in Norway, and after some delay they and their followers arrived severally at Throndhiem, but earl Eric, who had heard their history, forbade their lighting in his dominions. Gunlaug passed the winter at his court in the deepest melancholy; but, galled at last by the satyrical reflections of some of the Norwegians, he asked leave to depart, and followed his antagonist towards the Swedish territory.
By the side of a lake they met upon a spot called Dvngiunes; and their companions, having protested, that they could not remain inactive, were permitted to join in the combat. The guides, who were less ambitious, seated themselves and did not interfere.
The conflict was bloody and expeditious; Gunlaug and Rafen were soon the only survivors, and after a few blows Gunlaug cut off the foot of his enemy, who did not however fall, but supported himself by the stump of a tree Gunlaug refused to continue the fight with a man, who was so maimed; but Rafen replied, that, “though he certainly was a little curtailed if he could procure water to drink, he should be still his match.” – “Do not then deceive me,” said Gunlaug, “if I bring thee water in my helmet.” Rafen answered, “That will I not.” Then went Gunlaug to the lake, and brought water his helmet, and presented it to him. Rafen took in his left hand, and at the same moment smote the head of Gunlaug with his sword. “Ill hast deceived me,” said Gunlaug, “and this was most when I trusted thee.” – “It was so replied but I cannot bear that thou shouldst enjoy fair Helga.” The fight was then renewed, and Gunlaug slew him; but the wound in his head was mortal, and he expired after the third night.
The beautiful Helga was afterwards married to a noble Icelander called Thorkell; but she never loved him and retained the sad recollection of her early attachment till the hour of death.
***
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