Saxo Concerning This Same Gudmund Ruler Of The Lower World

: THE MYTH IN REGARD TO THE LOWER WORLD.
: Teutonic Mythology

Saxo, the Danish historian, also knows Gudmund. He relates (Hist.

Dan., viii.) that King Gorm had resolved to find a mysterious country

in regard to which there were many reports in the North. Incredible

treasures were preserved in that land. A certain Geruthus, known in the

traditions, dwelt there, but the way thither was full of dangers and

well-nigh inaccessible for mortals. They who had any knowledge of the

situati
n of the land insisted that it was necessary to sail across the

ocean surrounding the earth, leave sun and stars behind, and make a

journey sub Chao, before reaching the land which is deprived of the

light of day, and over whose mountains and valleys darkness broods.

First there was a perilous voyage to be made, and then a journey in the

lower world. With the experienced sailor Thorkillus as his guide, King

Gorm left Denmark with three ships and a numerous company, sailed past

Halogaland, and came, after strange adventures on his way, to

Bjarmaland, situated beyond the known land of the same name, and

anchored near its coast. In this Bjarmia ulterior it is always cold;

to its snow-clad fields there comes no summer warmth, through its deep

wild forests flow rapid foaming rivers which well forth from the rocky

recesses, and the woods are full of wild beasts, the like of which are

unknown elsewhere. The inhabitants are monsters with whom it is

dangerous for strangers to enter into conversation, for from

unconsidered words they get power to do harm. Therefore Thorkillus was

to do the talking alone for all his companions. The place for anchoring

he had chosen in such a manner that they thence had the shortest journey

to Geruthus. In the evening twilight the travellers saw a man of unusual

size coming to meet them, and to their joy he greeted them by name.

Thorkillus informed them that they should regard the coming of this man

as a good omen, for he was the brother of Geruthus, Guthmundus, a

friendly person and the most faithful protector in peril. When

Thorkillus had explained the perpetual silence of his companions by

saying that they were too bashful to enter into conversation with one

whose language they did not understand, Guthmundus invited them to be

his guests and led them by paths down along a river. Then they came to a

place where a golden bridge was built across the river. The Danes felt a

desire to cross the bridge and visit the land on the other side, but

Guthmundus warned them that nature with the bed of this stream has drawn

a line between the human and superhuman and mysterious, and that the

ground on the other side was by a sacred order proclaimed unlawful for

the feet of mortals.[34] They therefore continued the march on that

side of the river on which they had hitherto gone, and so came to the

mysterious dwelling of Guthmundus, where a feast was spread before them,

at which twelve of his sons, all of noble appearance, and as many

daughters, most fair of face, waited upon them.



But the feast was a peculiar one. The Danes heeded the advice of

Thorkillus not to come into too close contact with their strange

table-companions or the servants, and instead of tasting the courses

presented of food and drink, they ate and drank of the provisions they

had taken with them from home. This they did because Thorkillus knew

that mortals who accept the courtesies here offered them lose all memory

of the past and remain for ever among "these non-human and dismal

beings." Danger threatened even those who were weak in reference to the

enticing loveliness of the daughters of Guthmundus. He offered King Gorm

a daughter in marriage. Gorm himself was prudent enough to decline the

honour; but four of his men could not resist the temptation, and had to

pay the penalty with the loss of their memory and with enfeebled minds.



One more trial awaited them. Guthmundus mentioned to the king that he

had a villa, and invited Gorm to accompany him thither and taste of the

delicious fruits. Thorkillus, who had a talent for inventing excuses,

now found one for the king's lips. The host, though displeased with the

reserve of the guests, still continued to show them friendliness, and

when they expressed their desire to see the domain of Geruthus, he

accompanied them all to the river, conducted them across it, and

promised to wait there until they returned.



The land which they now entered was the home of terrors. They had not

gone very far before they discovered before them a city, which seemed to

be built of dark mists. Human heads were raised on stakes which

surrounded the bulwarks of the city. Wild dogs, whose rage Thorkillus,

however, knew how to calm, kept watch outside of the gates. The gates

were located high up in the bulwark, and it was necessary to climb up on

ladders in order to get to them. Within the city was a crowd of beings

horrible to look at and to hear, and filth and rottenness and a terrible

stench were everywhere. Further in was a sort of mountain-fastness. When

they had reached its entrance the travellers were overpowered by its

awful aspect, but Thorkillus inspired them with courage. At the same

time he warned them most strictly not to touch any of the treasures that

might entice their eyes. All that sight and soul can conceive as

terrible and loathsome was gathered within this rocky citadel. The

door-frames were covered with the soot of centuries, the walls were

draped with filth, the roofs were composed of sharp stings, the floors

were made of serpents encased in foulness. At the thresholds crowds of

monsters acted as doorkeepers and were very noisy. On iron benches,

surrounded by a hurdle-work of lead, there lay giant monsters which

looked like lifeless images. Higher up in a rocky niche sat the aged

Geruthus, with his body pierced and nailed to the rock, and there lay

also three women with their backs broken. Thorkillus explained that it

was this Geruthus whom the god Thor had pierced with a red-hot iron; the

women had also received their punishment from the same god.



When the travellers left these places of punishment they came to a place

where they saw cisterns of mead (dolia) in great numbers. These were

plated with seven sheets of gold, and above them hung objects of silver,

round as to form, from which shot numerous braids down into the

cisterns. Near by was found a gold-plated tooth of some strange animal,

and near it, again, there lay an immense horn decorated with pictures

and flashing with precious stones, and also an arm-ring of great size.

Despite the warnings, three of Gorm's men laid greedy hands on these

works of art. But the greed got its reward. The arm-ring changed into a

venomous serpent; the horn into a dragon, which killed their robbers;

the tooth became a sword, which pierced the heart of him who bore it.

The others who witnessed the fate of their comrades expected that they

too, although innocent, should meet with some misfortune. But their

anxiety seemed unfounded, and when they looked about them again they

found the entrance to another treasury, which contained a wealth of

immense weapons, among which was kept a royal mantle, together with a

splendid head-gear and a belt, the finest work of art. Thorkillus

himself could not govern his greed when he saw these robes. He took hold

of the mantle, and thus gave the signal to the others to plunder. But

then the building shook in its foundations; the voices of shrieking

women were heard, who asked if these robbers were longer to be

tolerated; beings which hitherto had been lying as if half-dead or

lifeless started up and joined other spectres who attacked the Danes.

The latter would all have lost their lives had not their retreat been

covered by two excellent archers whom Gorm had with him. But of the men,

nearly three hundred in number, with whom the king had ventured into

this part of the lower world, there remained only twenty when they

finally reached the river, where Guthmundus, true to his promise, was

waiting for them, and carried them in a boat to his own domain. Here he

proposed to them that they should remain, but as he could not persuade

them, he gave them presents and let them return to their ships in safety

the same way as they had come.



[Footnote 34: Cujus transeundi cupidos revocavit, docens, eo alveo

humana a monstrosis rerum secrevisse naturam, nec mortalibus ultra fas

esse vestigiis.]



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