There was an earl called Herruth, who was mighty and the famous in Gautland. He was married. His daughter was called Thora, and she was the most beautiful of all women in terms of appearance, and was most courteous in all habits and skills, which were better to have than not to have. It was her nickname that she was called Borgarhjort, since she stood out from all women in beauty as the hart does from all other animals. The earl loved his daughter very much. He had a bower made for her a short ways from his hall, and about the bower was built a wooden fence. The earl made it his custom to send his daughter a present each day for her amusement. And it is said that one day he had his daughter sent a little heather-snake, which was excessively beautiful. She was so pleased with the little sna
