24. _Theodoric_, son of Chlodowech, king of the Franks, is meant, and not
the famous Gothic king. Cf. v. 115, below.

25. _Breoca_: the same as Breca, prince of the Brondings, the opponent of
Beowulf in his famous swimming match (_Beowulf_, vv. 499-606).

27, 28. _Finn Folcwalding_ was the traditional hero of the Frisians. For
fragments of the stories connected with him, see _Beowulf_, vv.
1068-1159, and the fragmentary poem, _The Fight at Finnsburg_ (p. 34,
below). _Hnaef_, son of Hoc (hence ruler of the _Hocings_) also figures
in the Finn story. Hnaef's sister marries Finn. For a summary of the
story see the Introduction to _The Fight at Finnsburg_.

30. _Thuringians._ These people dwelt near the mouths of the Rhine and
the Maas.

31. _Ongentheow_, the king of Sweden, is frequently mentioned in
_Beowulf_ (e.g., vv. 2476 and 2783). _The Secgans_ are unknown, but
they are mentioned in v. 62, below, and in _The Fight at Finnsburg_,
v. 26.

32. The ancient home of the _Longobards_ (or Lombards) was between the
Baltic and the Elbe.

35. _Offa_: a legendary king of the Angles, while they still lived on the
continent toward the end of the fourth century. Legends of him are
found in Denmark and in England. Chambers concludes that the Danish
form is perhaps very near that known to the author of _Widsith_. Offa,
the son of the king, though a giant in stature, is dumb from his
youth, and when the German prince from the south challenges the aged
king to send a champion to defend his realm in single combat, Offa's
speech is restored and he goes to the combat. The fight was held at
Fifeldore, the River Eider, which was along the frontier between the
Germans and the Danes. Here Offa fought against two champions and
defeated them both, thus establishing the frontier for many years.
Note that the author of _Widsith_, who is of the Myrging race, is here
celebrating the defeat of his own people.

44. _Swabians_ probably refers to the Myrgings, who were of the stock of
the Suevi.

45. _Hrothwulf and Hrothgar._ See _Beowulf_, vv. 1017 and 1181 ff.
Hrothgar is Hrothwulf's uncle, and they live on friendly terms at
Heorot (Hrothgar's hall). Later it seems that Hrothwulf fails to
perform his duties as the guardian of Hrothgar's son, thus bringing to
an end his years of friendliness to Hrothgar and his sons. The fight
referred to is against In