The first nine books of the Danish history of Saxo Grammaticus
by Saxo, Grammaticus, d. ca. 1204;
Elton, Oliver, 1861-1945; Powell, F. York (Frederick York), 1850-1904
Published 1894
Publisher London, D. Nutt
https://ia800709.us.archive.org/4/items/firstninebookso00saxo/firstninebookso00saxo.pdf
On Project Gutenberg
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1150/1150-h/1150-h.htm
Book Nine contains stories of Ragnar
pp363-4 Ragnar meets Lagerda
Among them was Ladgerda, a skilled amazon, who, though a maiden, had the courage of a man, and fought in front among the bravest with her hair loose over her shoulders. All marvelled at her matchless deeds, for her locks flying down her back betrayed that she was a woman. Ragnar, when he had cut down the murderer of his grandfather, asked many questions of his fellow-soldiers concerning the maiden whom he had seen so forward in the fray, and declared that he had gained the victory by the might of one woman. Learning that she was of noble birth among the barbarians, he steadfastly wooed her by means of messengers. She spurned his mission in her heart, but feigned compliance. Giving false answers, she made her panting wooer confident that he would gain his desires; but ordered that a bear and a dog should be set at the porch of her dwelling, thinking to guard her own room against all the ardour of a lover by means of the beasts that blocked the way. Ragnar, comforted by the good news, embarked, crossed the sea, and, telling his men to stop in Gaulardale, as the valley is called, went to the dwelling of the maiden alone. Here the beasts met him, and he thrust one through with a spear, and caught the other by the throat, wrung its neck, and choked it. Thus he had the maiden as the prize of the peril he had overcome. By this marriage he had two daughters, whose names have not come down to us, and a son Fridleif. Then he lived three years at peace.
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