THE SCENE: Although he would eventually become known as a clever and effective King, the legendary viking Frothi first made a name for himself as a dragon slayer.
THE TEXT: Frothi believed him and crossed over alone to the island with no more company to attack the monster than when champions fight a duel. The dragon was returning to its cave after quenching its thirst as Frothi’s weapons struct, but its hard prickly exterior made light of it. His next attempt was foiled when he launched javelins, which only rebounded idly. When its back proved impenetrably hard he found on closer inspection that the softness of its stomach gave access to his sword. It tried to bite him in retaliation, but its sharp-pointed teeth only fastened on his shield, and with many quickly little jabs of its tongue it gasped away its life and poison at the same time.
– Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus, 12th Century AD
[Image Credit: Kate Pfeilschiefter]
