Stelle Preterea Haraldum supremo etatis te...; (Gesta Danorum (1185 - 1216), viii.4.2 (I, pp. 542-4)) [4904]

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ID 4904
Text Gesta Danorum (1185 - 1216) Saxo Grammaticus
Quotation Preterea Haraldum supremo etatis tempore alieni imperii cupiditate correptum non minus mente captum quam luminibus fore nec opibus exsatiari posse, qui, si annos respiciat, tumulo pene contentus esse debeat. Suetis itaque pro libertate, pro patria ac liberis dimicandi necessitatem incumbere, hostem temeritate atque insolentia suscepisse bellum. Preterea ex parte aduersa perpaucos Danos esse, Saxones complures aliasque effoeminatas gentes in acie stare. Ob quod cogitare debere Sueones Noricosque, quantum Germanos ac Sclauos Septentionalis semper turba prestiterit. Sperndendam ergo aciem fore, que potius lubrica hominum colluuione quam solido militum robore contexta uideatur.
Translation If greed for another's empire had seized hold of Harald in his declining years, he was as witless as he was sightless; such a person could not be satisfied with his wealth, even though, were he to consider his age, he ought to be pretty well content with a tomb. The Swedes were under strong compulsion to fight for their freedom, fatherland, and children, whereas their foes had undertaken this war solely through foolhardy arrogance. On the opposing side, moreover, there were actually very few Danes; the majority who stood in the enemy line were Saxons and other girlish peoples. Consequently Swedes and Norwegians should reflect how vastly superior the multitudes of the North had always been to Germans and Wends. Their army, compounded not of solid military timber, so it seemed, but the slimy dregs of humanity, would prove contemptible. (translation: Fisher, I, pp. 543-5)
Quotation source viii.4.2 (I, pp. 542-4)
Temporal Coverage 750 - 800
Associated use case(s)
Comment Referring to the mythical battle of Bråvalla under the legendary king Harald Hildetan.