much success. They may be resumed briefly as follows:--

Swipdag, helped by the incantations of his dead mother, whom he had
raised from the dead to teach him spells of protection, sets forth on
his quests. He is the Odusseus of the Teutonic mythology. He desires to
avenge his father on Halfdan that slew him. To this end he must have a
weapon of might against Halfdan's club. The Moon-god tells him of the
blade Thiasse has forged. It has been stolen by Mimer, who has gone out
into the cold wilderness on the rim of the world. Swipdag achieves the
sword, and defeats and slays Halfdan. He now buys a wife, Menglad, of
her kinsmen the gods by the gift of the sword, which thus passes into
Frey's hands.

How he established a claim upon Frey, and who Menglad was, is explained
in Saxo's story of Eric, where the characters may be identified thus:--

Swipdag--Eric
Freya--Gunwara
Frey--Frode III
Niord--Fridlaf
Wuldor--Roller
Thor--Brac
Giants--The Greps
Giants--Coller.

Frey and Freya had been carried off by the giants, and Swipdag and his
faithful friend resolve to get them back for the Anses, who bewail their
absence. They journey to Monster-land, win back the lady, who ultimately
is to become the hero's wife, and return her to her kindred; but her
brother can only be rescued by his father Niord. It is by wit rather