Saxo Bruni Disguise

11. 12. These feats accomplished, Oli was only reunited with his
father when he had brought peace back to his home. After Sigvarth
had granted him dominion of the ocean, he destroyed seventy maritime
kings in contests of naval power. Those of foremost reputation among
them were Birvil, Hvirvil, and Thorvil, Nef and Ønef, Redvard, Rand,
and Brand. The wide fame of his achievement kindled those champions,
who yearned in every fibre to accomplish manly deeds and drew
them in shoals to strengthen his brotherhood of warriors. In addition
he enlisted in his bodyguard young fellows of headstrong temperament,
who were ardent for renown. He also received Starkath into his
retinue with the highest esteem and looked after him with more
friendship than profit. Provided with these forces, he corrected the
self-assertiveness of the neighbouring monarchs through the greatness
of his name, and, by removing their troops, also took away their
presumption and concern for mutual conflict.

11. 13. Afterwards he went to Harald, who gave him command over
the sea, and finally he was transferred to Ring’s band of soldier
confederates.

12. i. At that time there was a certain Bruni, whom Harald made the
one close confidant of all his plans. If ever he and Ring needed to
exchange messages of a more secret nature, they would commit their
instructions to this man. Bruni had gained this degree of intimacy
because he and Harald had been brought up together from the time they
had shaken the same rattles. However, amidst the toils of his constant
journeyings he was drowned in the waters of a river; Odin, assuming the
disguise of his name and clothing, carried out a deceitful embassy
whereby he undermined the kings’ close bond and sowed such strife
through his deep artifices that between those who had been joined in
friendliness and kinship he generated a hardened dislike, which, it
seems, could not be satisfied without warfare. At first there grew silent
differences between them until, as each made his partialities known,
iheir hidden acrimony burst into the open. They announced their
hostility, whereupon they devoted seven years to assembling the
machinery of war.

12. 2. Some claim that Harald was not prompted by resentment or
jealousy of the other’s crown, but, of his own free will and without
telling anyone, intentionally sought occasions for dying. When through
his old age and rigour he became a burden even to his subjects, he
preferred the sword to the rackings of disease and opted to surrender his
life on the battlefield rather than in his bed, so that he might meet an end
which fitted the performances of his past life. In order to contrive a
more glorious death and make his way to the underworld better
attended, he desired to enrol a large number of partners in his fate,
manufacturing an opportunity for his future destruction by these
voluntary preparations for war. For such reasons he was seized with
a yearning for his own as well as others’ deaths and, to balance the losses
on both sides, mobilized equal opposing forces, though he allowed
somewhat greater strength to Ring, whom he had rather come off
victorious and survive him.


- Gesta Danorum, Book VII