backwards, the Saxons
ran at him, but his servants came up and slaughtered them. After this
HALFDAN took Gurid to wife. But finding in her the fault of barrenness,
and desiring much to have offspring, he went to Upsala in order to
procure fruitfulness for her; and being told in answer, that he must
make atonement to the shades of his brother if he would raise up
children, he obeyed the oracle, and was comforted by gaining his desire.
For he had a son by Gurid, to whom he gave the name of Harald. Under his
title Halfdan tried to restore the kingdom of the Danes to its ancient
estate, as it was torn asunder by the injuries of the chiefs; but, while
fighting in Zealand, he attacked Wesete, a very famous champion, in
battle, and was slain. Gurid was at the battle in man's attire, from
love for her son. She saw the event; the young man fought hotly, but
his companions fled; and she took him on her shoulders to a neighbouring
wood. Weariness, more than anything else, kept the enemy from pursuing
him; but one of them shot him as he hung, with an arrow, through the
hinder parts, and Harald thought that his mother's care brought him more
shame than help.

HARALD, being of great beauty and unusual size, and surpassing those of
his age in strength and stature, received such favour from Odin (whose
oracle was thought to have been the cause of his birth), that steel
could not injure his perfect soundness. The result was, that shafts
which wounded others were disabled from doing him any harm. Nor was the
boon unrequited; for he is reported to have promised to Odin all the
souls which his sword cast out of their bodies. He also had his father's
deeds recorded for a memorial by craftsmen on a rock in Bleking, whereof
I have made mention.

After this, hearing that Wesete was to hold his wedding in Skaane, he
went to the feast disguised as a beggar; and when all were sunken in
wine and sleep, he battered the bride-chamber with a beam. But Wesete,
without inflicting a wound, so beat his mouth with a cudgel, that he
took out two teeth; but two grinders unexpectedly broke out afterwards
and repaired their loss: an event which earned him the name of
Hyldetand, which some declare he obtained on account of a prominent row
of teeth. Here he slew Wesete, and got the sovereignty of Skaane. Next
he attacked and killed Hather in Jutland; and his fall is marked by the
lasting name of the town. After this he overthrew Hunding and Rorik,
seized Lei