Summary of the Thidrekssaga

Here the saga starts with a knight born in the town of Salerni. A powerful jarl named Rodger ruled there with his brother Brunstein. The jarl had a daughter named Hildeswid, and the jarl and all men in the town loved her very much,

A knight was named Samson, who served the jarl well, and he was honoured as he deserved. Knight Samson loved Hildeswid and wanted to win her favour, whether with good or with evil.

One day the jarl was at dinner and Samson served him. Then the jarl sent the best dishes from his table to his daughter Hildeswid on silver platters, and Samson took them to Hildeswid's castle together with his squire. Then he told his squire: Go and take my horse and arms, and all my treasure, and stand ready with them until I come.

Now Samson asked the one who guarded the door to let him in, and the man did so. Then Samson went into the castle to the highest tower, where Hildeswid had dinner. And he greeted her, and they received him well and invited him to dine with them. He did so and then told them why he cameHe apparently says he wants to take Hildeswid away, but the saga doesn't say so..

And shortly after, when dinner was done, she took her jewelry and said to her companionsfeminine: Now knight Samson has come to take me away against my father's and my relatives' will, and how can we withstand him? For even if there were a hundred knights here, he would still do as he pleased. And so I took my possessions with me, although it is a great dishonour to go from here and separate myself from my father and relatives. But please keep this a secret for as long as you can, because Samson is such a great warrior he'll kill a great many menwho would be sent after them.

Then Samson took the jarl's daughter in his arms and carried her from the castle, but all the women stayed behind weeping. And when he came to the courtgarðinn his squire was there with two horses, one saddled and one with his treasure. Samson armed himself, mounted, and took his wife in his lap. Then they rode forth from the castle on a long road that came to an uninhabited forest. He built a house and there they stayed for a long time.

Now Brunstein rode in the forest and came to a house, where a woman stood, and he recognised his kinswoman Hildeswid. He asked her what she was doing here and where her lover was and if she wanted to come with him, and she said she lived in this small house, and Samson rode forth last night, and she didn't know where. Then she asked what he was doing so deep in the forest at night, and where his night camp was, and Samson had told her that from here it would take an entire day to reach the forest's edge. And Brunstein told her what had happened.

Hildeswid thought it had been Samson who had burned the castle and killed the men, but Brunstein said was crazy to think Samson alone could have done that. And she should take her clothes and belongings and come with him, because she had stayed here long enough to the shame of her relatives.

She refused to come with him because she knew he'd do something else quicklynot entirely clear and he should turn his horse and now talk to the one who had come to speak with him. And Brunstein turned and saw that Samson was riding towards him. And they both took their swords, and Samson split Brunstein's helmet and head so that the sword ended up in his armpit, and with his next blow he hit a knight in the armpit, and he ran through the third knight with his sword. The rest fled, but Samson chased them until he had slain another two, and the last one got away with a heavy wound. This man went back to the castle and told everyone what had happened. All said that Samson was an incomparable knight.

Now Samson went back to his wife and said: I've been in this forest for too long, and I don't want to hide from my enemies any more. So take your possession and perpare yourself. Then he took three horses and loaded them with treasure, a fourth one for Hildeswid and a fifth one for himself.

Then it is said that king Samson and his wife Hildeswid got a son named Ermenrik. When the boy grew up he became strong, and Samson loved him very much. King Samson extended his realm and subjected many western lands and other places.

Now king Samson got another son from another wifeaccording to manuscript B; the other wife is missing from A called Dietmar after Samson's father's brother. When he grew up he was big and strong, manly and wise, and he was quite like his father in character.

King Samson was already an old man, and Ermenrik his son mature, but Dietmar was fifteensays B; A says twelve winters old. One day Samson was sitting on his throne, and his son Ermenrik served him. Then Samson said: My son, I do not want you to serve me or any other man, I want to give you a kingdomLiterally Vil ek nú gefa þér konungsnafn yfir: I now want to give you the king's name over with twelve of the largest cities in Spainthe Haspengau according to Ritter, all of which I won with my sword, and give you even more lands, because I received no kingdom as gift or inheritance, but still I am not lacking in them now.Samson appears to contradict himself here; I didn't get any gifts, but you will. Unclear

When young Dietmar heard this he went to his father and said: "Now you have given your son a kingdom and large realm, but I, too, have been in your following, and we have always been equal in everything, so now you should give me more power or a higher nameking's name, I presume."

King Samson heard this speech and did not reply, but looked at him in anger, and Dietmar thought he had spoken too rashly. And when he didn't get a reply he went back to his room.