THE SCENE: The legendary viking hero Bodvar Bjarki recounts his greatest duel: a bitter fight with the champion Agner, who literally laughed in the face of death.
THE TEXT: I received my name of Warrior when I vanquished Agner, son of Ingel, and brought back home the trophy. As it struck my head, his sword, Hoking, shivered, dashed to pieces as it bit; the blade would have rent more deeply had it been forged with a tougher edge. In return, I cut his left hand asunder and part of the flank, then seeking the right side, my sword slipped down into his body and plunged deep through the middle of his ribs. I never saw, by heaven, a braver man; he collapsed half-conscious and leaning on his elbow welcomed his fate with a smile, laughed death to scorn, as he passed on to the other world exultant. High courage he had, one who knew how to conceal his moment of death with a grin, to suppress the utmost anguished of body and mind with a cheerful expression.
– Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus, 12th Century AD
