Rolf

Rolf, in Norse mythology, was one of the most celebrated kings of Denmark, who was induced to adopt the surname Kraki by the following occurrence. A poor youth named Voeggur went to the palace and looked steadily at the king, until asked why he gazed so long, when he responded that he had heard that Rolf was the greatest man in Northland, but that he found the throne occupied by a Kraki (diminutive wight). Rolf responded, "Thou hast given me a name, now give me a present" (which always accompanied the bestowal of a name). Voeggur declared that he had nothing to give. "Then," said Rolf, "I, who have possessions, will give a present, " and he handed over a ring of gold, on receiving which Voeggur joyfully exclaimed, "Lord, I will avenge thee should any come near to thee in malice!" The king's reply to this — "Voeggur is pleased with a little matter" — became proverbial. The armies of Rolf Kraki were celebrated, especially the twelve Berserkers (according to others, eleven, himself being the twelfth), whom he once sent to assist his stepfather Adils, king of Sweden, against Ali, king of Norway. After gaining the victory, Adils refused to give the promised reward to either the Berserkers or king Rolf. The latter, accompanied by the Berserkers, accordingly visited the court of Adils and reminded him of his pledge. Adils invited the guests to a friendly banquet in the largest hall of his palace, in the center of which he caused an immense fire to be built, and then reminded Rolf and the Berserkers that they had vowed never to flee from either fire or water. The fire eventually seized Rolfs clothing, on which he rose, threw his shield into the flames, and passed through them with his companions, while he exclaimed, "He, surely, does not dread the fire who voluntarily rushes into it!" He then seized the servants who had kindled the fire and threw them into it, and emphatically demanded his pay. He obtained the ring Sviagris and a mighty horn filled with gold, and departed; but Adils rapidly assembled his warriors and followed in pursuit. To distract his pursuers, Rolf, having reached the heath of Fyriswall, scattered pieces of gold over the ground, and so actually delayed the pursuit; and when Adils approached him, he threw down the costly ring also. Adils dismounted from his horse to get the ring, and at this moment Rolf inflicted on the rear of his person a shameful wound, as he cried, "I have bent like a hog the richest man in Sweden." He then picked up the ring himself, and while the king's wound was bound up by his followers, succeeded in gaining the ships with his treasure and his mother, and returned to Denmark. From this incident gold was called Fyriswall seed, or Kraki's seed.