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212 Hollander: Jómsv. saga.
gusto in three episodes. And the epic style of the fairy-story
is seen in the pretender’s ever larger requests for ships in
multiples of three.
3) When Sveinn finally succeeds to his father’s throne
by help of his foster-father — unaware of the fact that the
king died by Pálnatoki’s hand — the arvel must be pre-
pared three times; for twice Pálnatoki begs himself to be
excused.
4) Still another instance of the tri-partite episode oc-
curs in the narrative of the battle, whose course is broken
into three parts by the twofold invocation of the tutelary
dæmonesses.
5) It is impossible to believe that the quarrels between
Strutharald and Yéseti, with their threefold reprisals, are
historic. Nor is it likely that the spirited entrance of the
young hero Yagn into the castle of the Jómsvíkings — as
the third party to join — has any basis in fact *).
7) There is a strong flavor of Fas. style in the parts
dealing with Pálnatoki2). When young, he roves about in
typical Yiking fashion and finally descends on the shores of
Bretland. Its earl Stefnir has heard of his irresistible power
and offers him his daughter and half his realm. When the
latter dies he again returns to his possessions in Funen,
there assisting Sveinn. After admitting that it is he who
has shot king Harald he takes to Yiking life again and
finally descends on Yindland ’whose king, like earl Stefnir,
rather gives up the district of Jóm than fight with him.
4) Is it noteworthy that the portion of the saga showing the fewest
differences of importance between the redactions is the one dealing with
this feud and the expeditions of Sigvaldi, Búi, and Vagn to join the Jóms-
vikings. This history of less important Danish personages was likely to be
unknown to (Icelandic) scribes, or else not frequently seen in MSS. ; hence,
none but differences in verbal detail are to be expected.
*) Notwithstanding a possible modicum of historicity; cf. Moffat, Pálna-
toki in Wales (Sagabook of the Viking Club, III, 1908, p. 168.), who also
holds Vagn to be Welsh Vaughan ”little”.
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